EAST COUNTY HAPPENINGS

Rock out in El Cajon at museum sale

The Heritage of the Americas Museum holds its annual rock sale from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, located in Cuyamaca College, 12110 Cuyamaca College Drive West, El Cajon. Free admission. A large array of rocks, gems and minerals will be available, and the museum’s Natural History Wing holds a vast collection of gems and minerals. Museum admission is free to members, students with current ID and for children 17 and under. Nonmember admission is $6 adults and $4 seniors. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Visit heritageoftheamericasmuseum.com. Call (619) 670-5194.

El Cajon clubs honor Citizen of the Year

East County Lions and Rotary service clubs and the El Cajon Chamber of Commerce host the Citizen of the Year award luncheon from noon to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at the El Cajon Elks Lodge 1812, 1400 E. Washington, El Cajon. This year’s honoree is Richard Agundez Jr., now a retired police officer and school resource officer.

He notably disarmed a shooter on the campus of Granite Hills High School in 2001 without any loss of life. He served the police department for 30 years and has been a resident of El Cajon since 1987. In retirement, he has continued to volunteer in the community, including as a vice president of the National Latino Police Officers Association. Agundez teaches yearly at the San Diego Explorer Academy, instructing teens interested in law enforcement careers.

He also holds an annual Thanksgiving Day food drive with his famliy; this year they provided 350 dinners to families in need.

The luncheon honoring him is $30, catered by Rita’s Catering. Please RSVP by Monday to (619) 440-6161, fax (619) 440-6164, or register at www.eastcountychamber.org. Mail checks to San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce, 201 S. Magnolia Ave., El Cajon, 92020.

Free class at Sharp resource center

The Sharp Grossmont Hospital Senior Resource Center is offering “Driver’s Education for the Seasoned Driver,” a free class from 9 to 10 a.m. Feb. 7 at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center, Main

Hall North, 8450 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa. This free class for mature drivers is geared toward those who want to educate themselves in safer driving practices. Learn how to assess your driving skills, find ways to protect yourself while driving and be a safer participant on the roadways. Register at (800) 827-4277 or visit sharp,com/ classes. Free on-site parking.

Harbison Canyon cleanup set for Saturday

Join I Love A Clean San Diego and the County of San Diego for a litter cleanup in Harbison Canyon from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Participants will divert litter from the Sweetwater Watershed and keep it from reaching the Pacific Ocean. Staff will have a check-in table and supplies at Old Ironsides County Park. Come at 9 a.m. to 326 Harbison Canyon Road, El Cajon, for a talk by the Education Team about watersheds and recycling correctly, then grab supplies and help clean up and remove invasive plants from the creek. This event requires a signed liability waiver for all volunteers, and anyone under 18 needs a waiver signed by a guardian. Register and download the waiver at bit.ly/3j4fd5o.

AAUW branch hosting two guest speakers

The La Mesa-el Cajon Branch of the American Association of University Women will host two accomplished speakers at its Feb. 11 meeting: Precious Jackson-hubbard and Mimi Test. Jackson-hubbard is principal of Bell Middle School and was named a “Phenomenal Woman” by the California Women’s Museum in 2021 and Middle School Administrator of the Year in 2022 by the Association of California School Administrators.

Test is a retired educator and coach in the Grossmont Union High School District. For her achievements with boys and girls swim teams at Granite Hills and Valhalla high schools, she was named league Coach of the Year in five consecutive years and is believed to be the first woman in t he county to coach a boys varsity sport.

She was named a coaching legend in 2000.

Social hour begins at 9:30 a.m. and the meeting starts at 10. Meetings are open to the public, held in King Hall at Foothills United Methodist Church, 4031 Avocado Blvd., La Mesa. Visit lamesaelcajon-ca.aauw.net.

North Island Credit Union offering scholarships

North Island Credit Union invites students in San Diego County to apply for its 2023 Student Scholarship Program. The credit union provides $20,000 in scholarships annually to students. Those eligible are San Diego County college-bound high school seniors and community college students transferring to four-year universities who are maintaining a 3.0 average. Other criteria are academic performance, school or community involvement, a letter of recommendation, and an essay submission. Find more information and apply at northisland.ccu.com/studentscholarship. Deadline is end of day March 10.

STEAM art contest envisions the future

The San Diego County Engineering Council is sponsoring a STEAM art contest for all county students in grades K-12. The theme is “Creating The Future,” and entries must include either a creative invention or a science, technology, engineering, art or math (STEAM) role model. Winners in each of two grade level categories will get a $25 gift certificate and be recognized during the San Diego Engineers Week Festival in February. Art and artist statements are due Feb. 10. The contest is hosted with the SWENEXT Eastlake High School Club. For details and to download contest flyers, visit sandiegoengineers.org/stem/art-contest.

Blood drives

The San Diego Blood Bank hosts these donor opportunities:

• Journey Community Church, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. today, 8363 Center Drive, La Mesa

• IDEA Center High School, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, 1600 Cuyamaca St., El Cajon

• Viejas Casino, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, 5003 Willows Road, Alpine, bingo parking lot

• Central Congregational Church, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 5, 8360 Lemon Ave., La Mesa, downstairs dining room Those 17 and older, weighing at least 114 pounds and in good health, may be eligible to donate. A good meal and plenty of fluids are recommended before donating. Appointments are honored first and walk-ins are welcome. Photo ID required. Call (800) 400-8251 or visit sandiegobloodbank.org.

Send items to fyi.east@sduniontribune.com at least two weeks before events.