Poway Gives Back: Spirit Day, Homeless & Abraxas Student of the Month

DATE SET FOR 2013 POWAY SPIRIT DAY

The annual event that brings community members of all ages together to complete beautification projects all over our little city in the country is set for Saturday, April 13. Poway Spirit Day was created by the first graduating class of the Poway Community Leadership Institute and adopted by the Rotary Club of Poway five years ago as one of its major community service projects.

Again this year I'll be serving as project coordinator, working closely with Poway Parks Maintenance Supervisor Bob Hahn. In the coming weeks we'll be identifying projects to tackle and firming event details. In the past, projects have included cleaning trails, spreading mulch and pruning branches in neighborhoods, at Lake Poway, at Arbolitos and other parks as well as projects in the Senior Center. With the city's continuing budget issues it benefits us all to take action and keep Poway looking like the city we're so proud of.

Along with being a great way to give back, this can be a great team-building event for your service club, business and church organization. For now, please save the date and keep an eye on this column for updates and contact details.

POWAY HOSTS REGIONAL HOMELESS COUNT

This Friday (1/25), in the wee hours of the morning, volunteers will participate in the San Diego Point-In-Time Count, known as WeAllCount. It is led by the Regional Task Force on the Homeless, and will enable our region to better understand the scope, impact and potential solutions to homelessness, and qualify for funding to address the issue.

The Poway City Council Chambers, located at 13325 Civic Center Drive, will serve as the Deployment Center for North County regional volunteers. They need you to sign up and volunteer to count or to interview. Counting will take place this Friday between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. Interviews will be conducted on the days immediately following. You can choose where in the county you'd like to focus your efforts. Register to be a WeAllCount volunteer at CountSD.org or call Cindy Williams at 858-292-7627, ext. 13. 

ABRAXAS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT OF THE MONTH

Congratulations to Sarah McDonald, in her fourth year of Abraxas High's transition program, who was named Student of the Month of January 2013 by the school and the RB Sunrise Rotary Club. Teacher Janice Pepin, who was present at the club's breakfast meeting, says Sarah is doing a phenomenal job getting her life in order. She's been working hard, has lost 30 pounds since August, and is excited about the next phase of her life. As a reward for her hard work, she received a gift certificate and an award from RB Sunrise Rotary. Way to go!

HELLO DOLLY!

Mrs. Dolly Gallagher Levi is back to arrange more matches. Poway High School's production of the musical Hello Dolly, featuring the award-winning student performers and musicians, will take the stage at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts for five performances, beginning Friday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students, seniors and military. To get them contact Michelle Ulrich at 858-486-0549 or email ulrichfamily@cox.net. The Center is located at 15498 Espola Rd. on the Poway High campus.