Clubs & Organizations

Ramona's club's and organizations offer a variety of happenings during the fall season. Read on and take advantage of the many opportunities available.

Al-Anon

Al-Anon Family Group meets at 8 a.m. Saturdays and 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays at North Rural Recovery Center, 323 Hunter St. Visit www.alanonsandiego.org.

Ramona Natural Childbirth Support Group

Jeff Dean, a father of six children between the ages of 18 months and 15 years, will talk about birth and parenting from a father's perspective. He will discuss being a supportive partner during pregnancy and birth, balancing a full-time job with an active family, and life as a super daddy. The program, sponsored by the Ramona Natural Childbirth Support Group, will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18. The meeting is free and will take place at 809 Pine Heights, Ramona. Please call 760-787-0302. The topic for the Nov. 15 meeting is Positive Images of Birth.

Ramona Art Guild

The Ramona Art Guild will meet Wednesday, Oct. 18. Kathi Vargo will be demonstrating her work on gourds. She will be showing various techniques, addressing steps from the cleaning process to the finished piece. Her gourd art can be seen at The Old Ramona Hotel Gallery, Gourd Galleria in the "Artisan Gallery & More" in Escondido, and in Studio 8 at Spanish Village Art Center. The Art Guild meets at 7 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month in the Ramona Library Community Room at 1406 Montecito Road. The guild is open to artists and those interested in art. Dues are $15 annually. Refreshments are served. For more information, call Isabel McCauley at 760-789-0494.

Boys & Girls Club

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego - Ramona Branch will be running its annual recreation basketball league. Sign ups are now through Oct. 27 and league play begins Jan. 6. The third- and fourth-grade division plays at Wilson Gym, and the fifth- through eighth-division plays at Olive Peirce Middle School.

The cost is $80 for members and $130 for non-members. Assessments will be held on the following dates at OPMS:

Nov. 6 and 8: for boys Third and fourth, 6-7 p.m.; fifth and sixth, 7-8 p.m.; seventh and eighth, 8-9 p.m.

Nov. 7 and 9: for girls Third and fourth, 6-7 p.m.; fifth and sixth, 7-8 p.m.; seventh and eighth, 8-9 p.m.

Coaches are needed. All coaches must clear a background check before they can coach a team. Contact Rene Scribner at 760-788-7564, for more information.

Business Networking

Business Network International is a business and professional networking organization offering members an opportunity to share ideas, contacts and referrals. The Ramona chapter meets at 6:45 a.m. Tuesdays at Ramona Sizzler, 344 Main St. Call membership committee member Tim Lawless at 760- 440-9590, for more information.

San Vicente Saddle Club

For 20 years, a group of equestrians in the San Diego Country Estates have met to socialize, talk about horses, compete in equestrian events and take part in activities designed to continue the equestrian sport. Each year, the San Vicente Saddle Club presents events that range from organized monthly rides and fun shows, to out-of-the-saddle events. The club's goals are to fellowship with other riders (and non-riders alike), to foster safe equestrian activities, to offer opportunities to meet new riders as well as demonstrate equestrian skills. Meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month in the Rotunda at the International Equestrian Center in the San Diego Country Estates, 16911 Gunn Stage Road. For more information, visit www.sanvcentesaddleclub.com, or call Lily at 760-788-7533, or Kat at 760-788-2566.

Hospice

Elizabeth Hospice is facilitating a free education and support group for anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one. This group meets from 10:30 a.m. to noon Tuesdays at Ramona Medical Group, 1516 Main St., Suite 104. Call AnnMarie Whitehead at 760-737-2050.

Ramona United Methodist Church

Ramona United Methodist Church is presenting "The Mild, Mild West" a dinner mystery show at 7 p.m. Oct. 6 and 7. This zany western will be presented with a full dinner. Tickets are available through the church office 760-789-7106. All proceeds go to church ministries.

Fibromyalgia Support Group

Fibromyalgia Support Group of Ramona provides an opportunity of information sharing, encouragement and fellowship. For meeting location and time, contact Nancy Harding at 760-789-1635.

Girl Scouts of Ramona

Girl Scouts of Ramona are planning its annual Fall Festival for Oct. 21. The Fall Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Collier Park, 626 E St. The troops will be offering activities for the whole family, including a haunted house, games and crafts. In conjunction with the event, Girl Scouts are accepting donations of clothes, household goods, etc. for the annual Be Your Best, Do A Good Turn donation drive with the Salvation Army. All donations will support The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center. To assist the community on a more local level, Troop 8146 is offering free Halloween body art to anyone who brings a canned food donation. These donations will go to support the Ramona Food Cupboard. For more information, contact Tamara Sharpe, public relations, Ramona Service Unit, Girl Scouts at 760-315-2426.

Kiwanis of Ramona

Kiwanis of Ramona meets at 7 a.m. Saturdays at Ramona Sizzler, 344 Main St. For information, call newly elected President Ed Bacorn at 760-789-6391.

LeTip

LeTip of Ramona is a professional networking organization of women and men dedicated to the highest standards of competence and service. Its primary purpose is to give and receive qualified business tips or leads. Each business category is represented by one member. The group's meetings are from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Thursdays at Ramona Sizzler, 344 Main St. For individuals and businesses interested in becoming members, call Scott Brown at 760-789-7079 or visit www.letipoframona.com.

Chamber Mixer

Ramona Chamber of Commerce's October networking mixer will be held at Ramona Disposal, 324 Maple St. The mixer will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 19. Entry tickets are $5 and include business networking opportunities, drawings and more. For information, contact mixer chairperson Kathy Smiley at 760-788-9384 or visit www.ramonachamber.com.

Ramona Council of

Arts, Unlimited

Limited space is available for tumblers in gymnastics classes with Ramona Council of Arts, Unlimited. Affordable instruction in tap dance, hip hop, jazz and contemporary dance, fitness, tumbling and preschool dance is made available by qualified instructors to the youth and adults of Ramona. Registration for all Arts Unlimited classes will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. weekdays and Saturday mornings at 101 Eighth St. For more information regarding enrichment classes, call 760-788-0914 or visit www.artsunlimitedramona.org.

Concert Season Opens

The Ramona Concert season opens Oct. 7 with pianist Lincoln Mayorga and "4 Preps" lead singer Bruce Belland. The concert will feature music from the "Fifties to the Philharmonic." All concerts in the series will be held at the Charles Nunn Performing Arts Center. Concerts will begin at 7:30 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m. Season memberships are available: adults, $28; family, $58; and students, $10. Single performance tickets are also available for $15. For more information, call 760-789-7474 or 760-789-6463.

Ramona Garden Club

The Ramona Garden Club will be presenting two topics during its Oct. 11 meeting.

Ashley Calingo with the San Diego Vector Control Program will address ways to protect yourself from getting infected with the West Nile Virus and what the county is doing to stop the spread of the virus. Master gardener Clara Arvai will discuss how to control insects and certain diseases by applying cultural, and biological methods, omitting chemicals gardens. The club meets at noon the second Wednesday of each month at the Ramona Community Resource Room, 1406 Montecito Road. The meeting is open to the public. For information, call 760-788-8880.

Olde Ramona Hotel Gallery

The Olde Ramona Hotel Gallery will host a reception celebrating the 17th Annual Fine Arts Show and Exhibit from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14. This year's judge, Annie Dover, has devoted her life to education and art, and has been featured in "International Artist," "The Art Collector" and "Southwest Art." She will be presenting awards for first, second, third and three honorable mention awards in each of four categories, Oil/Acrylic, Photography & Computer Art, Watercolor/Water Media, and Other, which includes Pen & Ink, Collage, Pastels, Sculpture, Graphics and other media. The exhibit will remain through Oct. 28. For further information, visit The Olde Ramona Hotel Gallery, 845 Main St., Ramona, or call 760-789-3682.

Ramona Rotary Club

The Ramona Rotary Club meets at noon Tuesdays at Ramona Sizzler, 344 Main St.

For more information, call President Micki Mennet-Martin at 760-789-0802 or 760-420-0802.

Ramona Trails Association

Ramona Trails Association is actively involved in the trail planning of the community. RTA is a non-profit service group staffed by volunteers and financed by membership dues, fundraising events and donations. The group's mission is to retain access to and maintain existing non-motorized, multi-use trails as well as actively encouraging new trail development on both public and private lands. RTA general meetings are open to the public and are held the first Wednesdays of each month. The next meeting is at 7 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Ramona Community Center, 434 Aqua Lane. For information, visit www.ramonatrails.org or call John Degenfelder at 760-789-1716.

Vineyard Association

Ramona Valley Vineyard Association is a "grape-roots" organization that meets the fourth Tuesday of every month at members' homes/vineyards. The group discusses topics such as viticulture and other matters of interest to the vineyard and winemaking community. Current projects include encouragement of new vineyard development, vineyard expansion and utilization of sustainable agricultural practices. Ramona Valley is designated as an American Viticultural Area. The next RVVA meeting will be 7 p.m. on Oct. 24. New members and visitors are welcome. For more information and meeting location, e-mail RVVA organizer Bill Schweitzer at bill@paccielo.com.

Water Conservation Landscape Workshops

The Ramona Municipal Water District is offering free Water Conservation Landscape workshops to its customers. Classes are limited to 30 participants and begin in October from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. All classes will be held at the Ramona Community Center, 434 Aqua Lane. For more information, class dates, or to reserve your space, call Patty Bevers at 760-789-1330.

Ramona Woman's Club

The first meeting for this season will be held at 1 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Clubhouse, 524 Main St., Ramona. Francesca Ruble from the Children's Protective Services, Human Health Services of North County, will be the guest speaker. Jill McKenzie and Margaret Griffith-Jones will be hostesses. The first meeting of the Literary Club will be at 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9. The reviewer will be Jill McKenzie, who will be reporting on "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen. The hostess will be Fern Jackson. The card party and luncheon will be held at noon on Thursday, Oct. 12. Cost for the luncheon is $6 and reservations may be made through Dorothy Berry at 760-788-2073. The hostess will be Linda Knowles. All are welcome. The Lady Bugs will meet in the parking lot at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26 to travel to the Victoria Gardens in Lakeside. For more information, call Ethel Kiss at 760-789-4908.

Ramona Women's Connection

Residents are welcome to the "Country Store" at the Oct. 18 Women's Connection meeting at the Ramona Sizzler. The store will feature home-baked goodies, crafts and an array of "silent auction" items. The program starts at 11:30 a.m., come early for auction bidding. Guest speaker, Lisa Patterson, will be sharing her experiences of being a mother of seven boys. Lisa has a degree in computer programming and has designed programs for several businesses and public agencies. She tells how life can go from "Pieces to Purpose." The event is at 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 18 at the Ramona Sizzler. The cost of $8.50 includes the Sizzler salad-bar lunch. Free childcare is available by reservation. For reservations for the luncheon or childcare, please call Francine at 760-789-1526 or Carol at 760-788-1348.

Team Women Ramona/ Intermountain Chapter

Team Women Ramona/ Intermountain Chapter networking group meets from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. every other Monday at the Ramona Sizzler, 344 Main St. Each business may be represented by one member and the members will refer business within the chapter. Guests are welcome. RSVP to Russ Ann Zazas at 760-788-5571.

Ramona Star 4H

The Ramona Star 4H group will have enrollment information at the next meeting on Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. at Ramona Elementary's multipurpose room off Eighth Street. Projects include, beef, swine, horse, dog, sheep, goat, rabbit, sewing, foods, photography, scrapbooking, camping, poultry and child development. For more information, call Lori at 760-789-9006.