Poway Gives Back: Yappy Hour, Poway Lion's Club & a Day of Service

By Bill Stoudenmire

POWAY LIONS PRESIDENT STAYS ON

Sharon Gruber will continue as President of the Poway Lions Club for another term. She is also director of the Miss Poway and Miss Teen Poway pageant, which the Lions Club sponsors. Their sponsorship of the pageant is the reason Sharon joined the club six years ago. Founded in 1917, Lions world-wide now have 1.35 million members in over 45,000 clubs and in 206 countries and geographic areas. The Poway club turned 50 in 2011. Lions are best known for fighting blindness with a mission of providing vision for all. They provide health screenings for glaucoma and high blood pressure at a couple events a month in San Diego, and help to provide low-cost eye exams and free glasses for those in need. Other projects include community service projects, caring for the environment, feeding the hungry, aiding seniors and the homeless and support for children and schools. The club meets the second and third Wednesday of the month, 7 p.m. at Coco's on Poway Road.

YAPPY HOUR

That's what the American Cancer Society of Valley Center is calling its social gathering of dog owners and their dogs, which is set for Saturday, Aug. 24, 6 to 10 p.m. at Hidden Valley Obedience Park, 3396 E. Valley Parkway in Escondido, next to the Escondido dog park. There, both 2-legged and 4-legged friends can mingle and learn how they can get involved in Bark for Life. Food and drinks will be available as a fund-raiser and they'll have a family-friendly movie in the park starting at 8:00 p.m. To find out more about Bark for Life, the fundraising walk at Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center Sept. 21, visit the American Cancer Society's Bark for Life web page.

DAY OF SERVICE

Members of the Lutheran Church of the Incarnation in Poway are teaming up for a day of service to give back to the community and, at the same time, commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, of which Incarnation is a member. The day is Sunday, Aug. 18. Projects will include everything from assembling hygiene kits for homeless high school students to repairing City trails, clearing trash along Twin Peaks Rd., quilting and knitting, singing at nursing homes and health centers and more. Church members are meeting on the 18th at 9 a.m. at the church, which is located at 16889 Espola Rd., and community members are encouraged to join in. Get more information and sign up at www.godamong.us.

HALF WAY THERE!

The Rotary Club of Poway-Scripps is actually more than half way to its goal of raising $30,000 to cover expenses for the 49th Poway Days Parade and 5K, which is set for Saturday, Sept. 7. Donations of $1,000 or more have been received from Walmart in Poway, Toyota of Poway, Janet DePrinzio and First Stat Nursing Services. Donations of all sizes are being accepted at www.powayparade.org and your help is needed. You can also register a parade entry or for the 5K on the site and sign up to volunteer on parade day. The 5K starts at 7 a.m. on the seventh and there will be a 1 mile “Walk in the Park” as well. The Poway Kiwanis Club is also putting on a pancake breakfast beginning at 7 a.m. near the finish area in Poway Community Park. The parade starts at 9 a.m. and will follow the tradition route down Poway Road to Bowron. Log on to help and we'll see you there.