The Winter Instructional Program is an excellent opportunity for players new to baseball or 9 year old players who will face live pitching for the first time.

SIGN UP: Sunday-August 8 & 15, 2010: 9am to 2pm, Mira Mesa Recreation Center, 8575 New Salem Dr.

DIVISIONS: Winter Instructional Program includes Pinto (ages 7 & 8), Mustang (9 & 10), Bronco (11 & 12), Pony (13 & 14), and Colt (15 & 16)**

COST: $85 per player; Includes shirt/hat but NOT fundraising.

**Colt fees TBD

Bring a copy (not original) of player’s birth certificate.

ASSESSMENTS: Sunday-8/22 (players will be scheduled at registration) at Camino Ruiz Neighborhood Park, 11498 Camino Ruiz

GAMES: Sundays-9/19 to 11/21

For more information go to www.mmyb.org or contact us at info@mmyb.org

It is easy to get involved, even if you don’t know how to sew. If you can sew bring your sewing machine. If you can’t sew… bring yourself and help them cut material, match pillows and package up in a box ready to ship. If you need further information contact Martha at 858-566-8847.

Event Information: July 31st, 2010 from 10am – 3pm at Callahan’s.
They will take a lunch break at Noon where you can purchase a lunch (at your own expense) in the restaurant area and then return to working on the pillows in the front room. Come for part or the entire event and help out this wonderful community service project.

Hope to see you there!

For more information about the project and the Mira Mesa Women’s Club, go to:
http://www.mmwomensclub.com/ComfortPillow.html

Mira Mesa Community Vision is seeking a logo for the Mira Mesa neighborhood, and is inviting artists and residents to submit their ideas.

The contest is supported and underwritten by the Mira Mesa Non-Profit Executive Council, and will be hosted by the logo contest site Hatchwise – www.Hatchwise.com. The goal of the contest is to develop a logo that is representative of the Mira Mesa community; one that can be used to promote Mira Mesa, potentially appearing on advertising materials, banners, etc., throughout the community.

From July 15 through July 25, Hatchwise will feature the contest under the title “Mira Mesa, San Diego , California “. Contestants may submit their entries in one of two formats – Vector format (using tools such as Illustrator and Corel Draw), or Bitmap (using tools such as Photoshop). To enter, artists must register as a “designer” at the Hatchwise site and set up an account. Registration is free – please see the Hatchwise site for all details regarding participation.

Mira Mesa Community Vision and the Mira Mesa Non-Profit Executive Council are offering a prize of $300 to the contest winner. (Hatchwise will collect a 10% fee from the winner, and is responsible for distributing the funds to the contest winner. Again, please see the Hatchwise site for all details before entering.). The contest winner will be decided by July 30, and the winner will be invited to appear at the Mira Mesa Town Council meeting on August 2 to display the winning entry.

“Mira Mesa is the largest community in San Diego , but despite its size this neighborhood tends to be overlooked. Residents of Mira Mesa are only now beginning to realize the important part their community plays in the overall success of the city” said Bari Vaz, Chairman of the Mira Mesa Community Vision project. “As the Mira Mesa community builds a sense of unity and discusses a vision for its future, the logo can be a symbol not only of this process but of the neighborhood’s future.”

Mike Davis, Chairman of the Non-Profit Executive Council, stated “Mira Mesa is a well positioned community with many local treasures that are not well known. We have a proactive Town Council, and up-and-coming Chamber of Commerce and a federation of nonprofits, called the Mira Mesa Nonprofit Executive Council, all working to make Mira Mesa a model neighborhood to live, work, shop and play. We have many other related efforts too, like the Community Vision and Cultural Cooperative that will help to nurture and embrace our community’s diverse character and sense of pride. The logo will help visualize the essence of all that and represent all that is good within our neighborhood.”

About Mira Mesa Community Vision:

Mira Mesa Community Vision is a project of several community non-profits, undertaken to participate in and respond to the San Diego Foundation’s “Regional Vision Initiative.” The goal of this project is to unite the Mira Mesa community in developing a plan for its future. Additional information may be found at the Mira Mesa Community Vision website, www.MiraMesaCommunityVision.org, or by contacting the MMCV at MiraMesaCommunityVision@gmail.com.

About Mira Mesa Non-Profit Executive Council (NEC):

The NEC is a loosely “federated” group of all nonprofit groups in Mira Mesa, where the leadership within each organization will coordinate understanding and adequately resolving our collective community issues and special needs in a collaborative, open communications, information sharing manner. Thus bringing the extensive influential power and visibility of our many nonprofits to our community’s needs, and the ability to coordinate between our triad of government (MMTC), commercial / business (Chamber) and nonprofit (citizens / NEC) entities, in sharing of information, resources and opportunities therein. For more information contact Mike at mike.davis.sd@gmail.com.

For Further Information, Please Contact:
Bari Vaz
Chairman, Mira Mesa Community Vision
http://www.MiraMesaCommunityVision.org
(858) 342-2033
MiraMesaCommunityVision@gmail.com

During the entire week of July 26th, Dance & Company will offer free classes to all new students. Dance classes range from Ballet to Hip Hop. They also offer classes in Choreography, Musical Theater, as well as Yoga, Pilates and more. Not only do they offer a wide array of amazing classes, but the instructors are amazing as well. You can check out the classes offered here: http://danceandcompany.net/classes.html

Dance & Company will also be introducing lunch time classes during the week and will offer these classes free to new and current students. Stop by and try as many classes as you’d like, on them!

Visit their website at www.danceandcompany.com for the current class schedule. You can email them at inquiries@danceandcompany.com or call them at (858) 750-3021 for additional information.

Dance & Company opened one year ago and is proven to be quite successful in developing an artistic outlet for the local Community. “We really want to grow into a major resource for our community—to teach local kids and adults about the importance of exercise, artistic expression and discipline through the medium of dance“, says Artist Director and co-owner Katie Lewis.

So make sure and take advantage of this great One Year Anniversary Special.

Dance & Company
Performing Arts Company
6635 Flanders Drive, Suite D
San Diego, CA 92121
(858) 750-3021

Here is the basic lineup for the day’s events:

• 7:00am – 11:00 am: Pancake Breakfast at Epicentre (Definitely worth getting up early for)
• 11:00am – (All Day): “Fun Day at the Park” runs all day long at the Mira Mesa Community Park and it is definitely the best place to celebrate Independence Day in Mira Mesa. There are rides for the kids, lots of food vendors, and tons of space to hangout and BBQ with friends and family. Just make sure to get there really early to grab a prime spot.
• 1:00pm: The 4th of July Parade. The Parade runs down Mira Mesa Blvd. from Greenford Dr. all the way down to Camino Ruiz where it turns right for one block and then another right on New Salem ending just past the Fire Station. Onlookers line the streets all the way down the Parade route, so grab your beach chair and stake out a good spot early.
• 9:00pm: FIREWORKS!!! Mira Mesa has a great fireworks display each year and it is well worth hanging out until 9:00 and watching. The fireworks are synchronized to the music of local radio station KYXY (96.5 FM), so make sure to bring your radio and some extra batteries.

One thing I would like to mention is that the Mira Mesa 4th of July festivities is put together completely by local volunteers and requires planning and fund-raising efforts throughout the year. Around $40,000 had to be raised this year to put on the event (including funding the fireworks) and at least that much will be required (if not more) to have it again next year. So, if you like to donate a little cash (even 5 to 10 dollars would help), it would be greatly appreciated. Just click on the “Donate to Fireworks Fund” button below and you will be taken to a Paypal link where you can make your donation.

A San Diego Unified School District approved pilot program, PEP began in 2006 and provides an alternative and voluntary choice for parents. Recent news reports have shown that today’s Kindergarten includes previously 1st Grade expectations while at the same time California has amongst the youngest populations of Kindergarten students (most states have cut-off birthdates of September 1st and some at June 1st to turn 5 years old). Many California districts have created similar classes to PEP to support these young children.

Research-based and modeled after Poway Unified School District’s program, PEP allows for the time needed for developmental maturation socially, emotionally, physically and cognitively to succeed with greater readiness for today’s very high academic standards in Kindergarten and 1st Grade.

Hickman parents and teachers are seeing the value of developmental readiness and maturity as overall school scores have risen, data shows great success of former PEP students, and parents are 100% supportive and appreciative of the program. PEP is not a remedial class, but a developmental Kindergarten that is California Standards-based. Primarily for students who enter Kindergarten still 4 years old, PEP provides for a strong foundation for early and long-term school success. Children participate in all regular school activities and events 8:00 – 11:30 a.m. daily. The second year the students begin a regular, full day Kindergarten with greater readiness skills.

Hickman Elementary is currently accepting PEP applications and CHOICE applications. The school is located in Mira Mesa at 10850 Montongo Street, San Diego, CA 92129 and the school number is (858) 271-5210.

Hickman’s office will reopen August 26th but during the summer break the Principal may be contacted by district e-mail (jwroblewski@sandi.net) for PEP enrollment information.

This Saturday and Sunday, May 15th and 16th is the perfect weekend to get rid of all those boxes of documents that you have been planning on shredding, but just haven’t gotten around to doing. Identity theft is huge and is growing more each year, so it is important to shred any documents that have information about you on them (except for the ones you need to keep, like tax records).

This weekend from 9AM – 4PM each day you can take your boxes of documents to the Mira Mesa High School parking lot and get them shredded for $10 for your first bankers box of documents, and $5 for each additional box. This can save you hours and hours of time in front of your personal shredder, as well as save the shredder’s motor.

At the same time you can bring all your old electronic junk you have sitting around the house to the High School parking lot and they will get rid of that for you as well. They are accepting things like: electronics, TV’s, computers, cables, wires, cords, monitor, laptop, cell phones, and more…

WHEN:
Saturday May 15, 2010
Sunday May 16, 2010
(9AM – 4PM Each Day)

WHERE:
Mira Mesa High School (Parking Lot)
10510 Reagan Road
San Diego, CA 92126-3298

The Mira Mesa High School Class of 2012 is also having a Huge Rummage Sale benefiting their Senior Prom from 8AM – Noon in the school parking lot on Saturday, so you do a little shopping after you get done recycling!

The dinner will be $35 per person. That includes a served dinner, with complimentary hors d’oeuvres during our reception from 6 to 7 p.m., and a dessert buffet. There will be a cash bar available throughout the reception and dinner. Prior to, during and following dinner there will be some special surprises and presentations for Sandy, with music and dancing into the evening. It should be a FABULOUS party!

Each year at the time of the Volunteer of the Year dinner the Mira Mesa Town Council also accepts donations in recognition of our honoree to the college scholarship fund that MMTC awards to graduating high school seniors based on their community service. In addition to attending the dinner, you can honor Sandy Smith by making a scholarship fund donation in any amount.

RSVP online (we need to know your dinner choice – grilled chicken with ratatouille and red potatoes, baked salmon with mango salsa served with rice and green beans, or vegetarian option) and pay via credit card at www.miramesatowncouncil.org or by mailing your check to the Mira Mesa Town Council, Attention – Volunteer of the Year Dinner Committee, PMB 230, 10606-8 Camino Ruiz, San Diego CA 92126.

This year’s Volunteer of the Year Dinner Committee, co-chaired by Mike Davis and Pam Stevens, includes Bari Vaz, Robin Stutsman, Debbie Vincent and Tri Huynh. Mira Mesa Town Council president Ted Brengel will be the master of ceremonies for the brief program when elected officials and fellow volunteers make their presentations to Sandy.

Sandy Smith has a long history of actively and enthusiastically volunteering with Mira Mesa community groups. In addition to serving in a variety of offices on the Mira Mesa Town Council Board, Sandy is a longtime member and current chair of the Mira Mesa Community 4th of July Committee, who raise all the funds needed for the July 4 fireworks and all-day celebration, as well as plan and host the day’s events. Sandy is also a long time Mira Mesa Theatre Guild member, having been on the Theatre Guild Board for many years, and a participant in Theatre Guild productions, including Monster Manor and Breakfast with Mrs. Claus. A realtor with RC Realty in Mira Mesa, Sandy is currently a business member on the Executive Committee of the Mira Mesa Community Planning Group. She has been part of HEROES and the Mira Mesa Chamber of Commerce since their inception.

Sandy Smith has also been a participant in the Stakeholders committee, Kiwanis, Epicentre (Teen Center) Oversight Committee, NEC and the Mira Mesa High School Business Partnership Council. Sandy likes to connect our community groups and volunteers to each other, and likes to work behind the scenes to make Mira Mesa a better place to live, work and play. In addition to volunteering herself, Sandy is exceptionally good at bringing new volunteers into our community groups.

Join the Mira Mesa Town Council and elected dignitaries on May 15 in honoring Sandy Smith, volunteer extraordinaire!

UPDATE: The Volunteer of the Year Dinner for Sandy Smith has reached its capacity for the dinner (starting with reception at 6 p.m., meal at 7, post-dinner program at 7:30 p.m.), but anyone else who would like to join in celebrating with Sandy Smith is welcome to join us for music and dancing from 8 to 11 p.m. in the Country Inn and Suites ballroom in western Mira Mesa. Donations to the Mira Mesa Town Council/Verne Goodwin college scholarship fund are encouraged. Please contact Pam Stevens for more information – pstevens@san.rr.com

Groupon is a “Deal of the Day” type of website that offers a new local discount “Groupon” each day. These can save you up to 90% on different products and services around San Diego.

The way it works is Groupon make deals with local merchants to offer big discounts on individual products or services for one day and they create an assurance contract with them. What that mean is they guarantee the merchant a certain minimum number of sales to be made. So if that number is met, the deal is on and it becomes available to everyone. But if that number is not met… nobody gets the deal for that product. This helps take some of the risk away from the retailer, as they can treat the “Groupon” as quantity discount coupon, and it is also a great promotional tool to get their name out there.

I have been a member for just over two weeks now and I have not seen a Deal fall below the required number, but I am sure it is possible.

Check out the image on the right to see a few of the great deals they offered recently. I actually would have liked to have purchased each one of those deals, but some of them were offered before I ever heard of Groupon San Diego. My boys would have loved me to get that paintball Groupon, and we always go to Belmont Park a couple of times each year, so that $10 All Day Pass would have been a no-brainer!

Not only is it a great site for saving you money on stuff for you and your family, but it also a great place to buy gifts as well.

To compete with the great success Groupon San Diego is having, the San Diego Union-Tribune and some partners have created their own version and it is called the “Signon Daily Deal“. They are brand new, but they offer some AWESOME DISCOUNTS as well. Yesterday I purchased a $100 voucher for the restaurant Bellefleur (great downtown eatery), which also included a Free Bottle of Wine for only $50. I am going to use it to take my wife out for a nice romantic night on the town.

So what are you waiting for? Head over to both Groupon San Diego and Signon Daily Deal and get on their Daily Alert lists today. It is absolutely free to sign-up, and I promise you that you will glad you did!

My Groupon Deal of the Day and Signon Daily Deal emails are literally the only emails I look forward to receiving each day, as I love saving money and finding new things to do in San Diego, as well as new places to eat.

It is actually more than a beta test, as it is fully functional and should be working fine. I just say we are beta testing it because I am sure there will be lots of tweaking and categories to be added, so if you start using it… please make sure to send us some feedback of what you like and don’t like, as well as anything you think we need to add.

Now the Classifieds will be different than the Business Directory (that we already have on MiraMesa.com), so please don’t list your business in this section. The Classified section is more for things like; Selling Cars and Household Items, listing Garage Sales, posting photos of Lost Pets, listing Rental Properties or Rooms for Rent, etc… and we even have a Help Wanted section so local businesses can hopefully find some good employees that live close to work.

So please give it a try and make sure to let your friends and neighbors know about it as well. Like any good idea, it will take a while to catch on… but hopefully each week it will grow more and more, and people will start to take advantage of it, especially since it is FREE!