San Diego, CA Focus

BIODIESEL IN SAN DIEGO:

Biodiesel is one of the alternatives I have been pushing for some time. It can be used in any diesel engine, is less polluting and has a smaller carbon footprint than regular diesel.

Here are some gas stations that offer biodiesel in the San Diego area:

Carr's Car Center: 3940 Mission Avenue, Oceanside, CA 92054, 760-433-2166. Offers B5 (5% biodiesel, good for any diesel engine). Open M-SAT 6AM-6PM.

Soco Group: 145 Vernon Way, El Cajon, CA 92020, 858-627-0440. Offers B20 (20% biodiesel, good for any diesel engine). Open 7 AM - 5PM M-F.

Pearson Ford/RTC Fuels: 4067 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92105, 619-243-0456. Offers B99 (99% biodiesel, good for new engines, some old engines not ok). Open 7AM-10PM.


Here is a great calendar of events for San Deigo, California, thanks to the San Diego County Democrats:


Escondido Democratic Club November 14 meeting
Date(s): Saturday, November 14, 2009
Time: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Description:
San Diego Union-Tribune political report John Marelius, who has been observing and reporting on politics at the state and national level for more than 30 years, Discusses Have Democrats Lost Their Edge?

Location: Escondido Library, 239 S. Kalmia Street
Contact: (760) 740-8595
Email: communications@escondidodems.org
Website: www.escondidodems.org

'California Politics' by Senator Kehoe
Date(s): Saturday, November 14, 2009
Time: 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Description:
At our November meeting, the Lake San Marcos Democratic Club is proud to present California Senator Christine Kehoe as our featured speaker on 'California Politics.' Christine was elected to the State Senate in 2004 to represent the 39th Senate District. She previously served in the State Assembly for two terms and served as Speaker Pro Tempore. From 1993 to 2000 she was on the San Diego City Council. Christine also served on the California Coastal Commission from 1997 to 2000. She currently chairs the State Senate's Appropriations Committee. She successfully passed several bills related to the wildfires of 2005 and 2007 that helped improve safety and prevention. In 2006 she chaired the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security, where she is now the vice-chair. Christine also served on the Governor's Blue Ribbon Fire Commission. She was also the first to chair the Legislative LGBT Caucus. She is a member of the Senate Committee on Budget & Fiscal Review; Natural Resources & Water; Transportation & Housing; Energy, Utilities and Communications; and Local Government; Energy and Environment Task Force for the Council of State Governments 2009 and 2010. NOTE: Social begins at 12:30pm and meeting at 1:00pm.

Location: AT OUR NEW LOCATION (Check Club Newsletter for details or phone, email or check website below).
Contact: (760) 752-1035
Email: SOLSM12@aol.com
Website: www.lsm.sddem.org

Cell Phone Bank November 14th, 2009
Date(s): Saturday, November 14, 2009
Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Description:
Come to our cell phone bank and help get out the vote to the "Mail-In Ballot" voters! Time is short. Ballots go out November 9th and we must get folks to return them with a "YES" on the recall and also VOTE FOR CHARLES 'CHUCK' LOWERY.

Location: Hill Street Cafe, 524 So Coast Hwy, Oceanside, CA 92054
Contact: (760) 754-6968
Email: Lowery4Council@gmail.com
Website: www.Lowery4Council.com

2009 Equality Awards honoring Jerry Brown, Stuart Milk and Diane Schroer
Date(s): Saturday, November 14, 2009
Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Description:
Equality California is honoring three individuals for their outstanding contributions to equality in the State of California. Business attire. Hosted bar and reception. Silent auction.

Location: Museum of Man, 1315 El Prado, Balboa Park
Price: $100.00 / Person
Contact: (619) 847-3531
Email: albert@eqca.org
Website: www.eqca.org/sandiego

Naturalization Ceremony Voter Registration
Date(s): Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Time: 10:10 AM - 12:00 PM
Description: Volunteers are needed to help register newly naturalized citizens.
Location: At Golden Hall, Corner of 3rd and B Street. Parking at Horton Plaza.
Contact: Greg Bolan. Note: The San Diego Voter Registration team uses Google Groups to send out volunteer emails.
Email: sdvoter@gmail.com

Delivering for High Tech, Bio Tech, & Green Tech in San Diego
Date(s): Thursday, November 19, 2009
Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Description:
Please Join Lisa Haie & Co-Hosts for a Cocktail Reception in support of Francine Busby for Congress 2010. At the Rancho Pacifica home of Lisa Haile. RSVP required for gate entry. RSVP online at www.busbyforcongress.com, to Leigh by email below, or by phone.

Cost: Minimum Suggested Donation: $100.
Location: 4663 Rancho Laguna Bend, San Diego, CA 92130
Contact: (760) 681-4108
Email: leigh@busbyforcongress.com
Website: www.busbyforcongress.com

South Bay Democratic Club meeting
Date(s): Saturday, November 21, 2009
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Location: 140 W 16th St., National City, 91950
Contact: Mona Rios at (619) 994-0884
Email: monarios@gmail.com

Chula Vista Democratic Club Meeting
Date(s): Sunday, November 22, 2009
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Description:
We are holding our first meeting and all are welcome to attend and partifipate. The meeting will mainly consist of club business - the "nuts and bolts" of the organization that still need to be addressed and ironed out. We hope to be an active group of Democrats that will help foster party ideals and encourage and support individuals running for office in Chula Vista. Looking forward to working with all of you.

Location: The Brew House at Eastlake
Contact: Ed Valerio
Email: president.cvdc@gmail.com

San Diego Democracy for America Meetup
Date(s): Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: At Giovanni's Restaurant, 9353 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, SD 92123 (Corner of Clairemont Mesa Blvd and Ruffin Rd. across from Registrar of Voters).
Contact: Carol at (858) 459-7044
Email: cchangus@san.rr.com

Oceanside City Recall Election
Date(s): Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Time: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Description: Last day to register for this City Recall election is November 23rd. Last day to request mail in ballot is December 1. Be sure and vote!
Location: City of Oceanside

East County Caucus for the San Diego Democratic Central Committee Meeting
Date(s): Saturday, December 12, 2009
Time: 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Location: At CWA Local 9400 Union Hall, 566 E. Main Street, El Cajon 92020.
Contact: Christopher Pearson
Email: chrispearson11@hotmail.com

Naturalization Ceremony Voter Registration
Date(s): Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Time: 10:10 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: At Golden Hall, Corner of 3rd and B Street. Parking at Horton Plaza.
Contact: Greg Bolan. Note: The San Diego Voter Registration team uses Google Groups to send out volunteer emails.
Email: sdvoter@gmail.com

Mesa Democratic Club Monthly Meeting
Date(s): Monday, January 11, 2010
Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Description:
We will be kicking of 2010 will elections of officers. While we do have a slate, we welcome others candidates who would like to play a leadership role. Speaker is not yet scheduled.
Remember, club dues are due in January.
Location: Party Headquarters
8340 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, Suite 105 (Turn into Industrial Park Driveway at lights)
Website: www.mesa.sddem.org

SDCDP Central Area Meeting
Date(s): Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Description:
Central Area members of SDCDP are encouraged to attend, especially members of the SD County Central Committee.
Location: 8340 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Suite 105, San Diego CA 92111 (Go North on Industrial Park Driveway)
Contact: (858) 277-3367
Email: CentralVC@sddemocrats.org


SAN DIEGO FOOD CO-OPS:

Ocean Beach People's Organic Food Co-op
4765 Voltaire St.
San Diego, California 92107
Phone: (619) 224-1387
FAX: (619) 224-5089
editor@oceanbeachpeoples.com
http://www.obpeoplesfood.coop

Ocean Beach People's Organic Food Market is a member-owned vegetarian consumer co-op that has been serving the community since 1971. Originally a worker's collective, the cooperative has grown to include 6000 feet of retail space and more than 8000 member/owners. The Co-op offers an extensive selection of organic produce, grocery, dairy, and bulk foods and herbs, as well as vitamins and homeopathics, cruelty-free bodycare, and aromatherapy products. Enjoy a full service sit-down deli featuring a delicious selection of home-style vegetarian and vegan entrees, salads, sandwiches, freshly prepared baked goods, desserts, and more! At People's, San Diego's only community owned grocery store, we specialize in products that are organic, wholesome, minimally processed, cruelty-free, and environmentally safe.

They also have a good community events calendar.

The UCSD Food Coop
0323F Student Cooperative Center,
San Diego, California 92093
Phone: (619) 546-8339
foodcoop@burn.ucsd.edu

I used to shop at this one way, way back when I went to UCSD. It was great then!

Since its introduction to the campus in 1978, the Food Co-op has committed itself to providing the UCSD community with a natural food alternative, as well as a resource for environmentally conscious products and information.

The Food Co-op carries a variety of food and non-food products ranging from baked goods, juices, sandwiches, fresh organic produce, macro-biotic and ethnic foods to cruelty-free cosmetics and environmentally safe cleaning agents. Many foods are stocked in bulk to reduce the price to the customer and the waste of packaging (please bring bags when buying!). Special orders can be made at discount prices (good for items not necessarily carried in the store, as well!).

Come in to shop, get informed, and/or volunteer as a general member of our store. For more information, call (858) 546-8339.

I will also point out some other UCSD co-ops that I liked when I was a student there.

The Ché Café

The Ché Café Collective is dedicated to providing cheap, healthy vegetarian food, all-ages entertainment, and alternative education. We have All-We-Can-Eat dinners every Thursday from 5 pm to 7 pm. Entertainment at the Ché ranges from poetry readings and plays to forums, or shows of local bands.

The Ché Café is surrounded by a grove of old eucalyptus trees and is next to the beautiful garden of the Farm Co-op. Tables and chairs inside and outside of the Ché and its close proximity to the Farm Co-op make it an inviting place to eat, study, or just hang out.

The Ché Café is open to having people come by and help out. The Café provides a great opportunity for people to get involved in the process of cooking, running a restaurant and/or putting on events at any level they feel comfortable at. Stop by or call us at (858) 534-2311.

(The Ché Café is located on the Revelle campus behind the Undergraduate library and down the hill from Stonehenge. We're the building with all the murals on it.) Read more about the Che Cafe Collective at its very own website: http://checafe.ucsd.edu/.

General Store

The General Store Co-op is a student-run store which was founded in 1980 to offer students a less expensive alternative to the high Price Center. [EDITOR'S NOTE: This is not quite right...the Price Center didn't even exist when the General Store was founded and greatly appreciated by students like myself.] As a student cooperative, we try to provide the University community with the best quality merchandise at the lowest prices. And we succeed! The General Store Co-op carries items such as selected essential school and office supplies, household and personal items, stationery and gift wrap, clothing (including UCSD logos), craft-center jewelry, and some food and snack items -- all of which range from 5-25% less than anywhere else on campus.

Students are generally most interested in the fact that we sell textbooks, which are guaranteed to cost less than at the UCSD bookstore. We also try to carry as many used texts as possible. Also, we buy back current editions year round. Stop by to check which classes' books we're carrying.

We encourage everyone to visit the General Store Co-op for our low prices and friendly service. Additionally, anyone is invited to come in and volunteer anytime as volunteers are the backbone of our organization. For further information or friendly help please feel free to call us at (858) 534-3932.