The Life Connection • December 2009

An invaluable local environmental resource is in great peril and needs the support of people who care about organic growing, non-factory farms, biodiversity and nurturing the earth.

The Exotica Rare Fruit Nursery in Vista is a remarkable place that is home to many rare species of fruit tree as well as numerous types that are perfectly adapted for growing in Southern California. Steve Hays, the publisher of this magazine, has himself bought a now-flourishing apple tree there, as well as a Barbados Cherry, a bush that produces the fruit used in the production of Vitamin C-packed acerola. Add to that a stock assessed at a worth of a million dollars that includes Cherimoya, Kiwi, Persimmon, Papaya, Mango, and Pomegranate along with Nut varieties and Bamboo and, frankly, just about any fruit you can name, and you’ll have some idea of just what has been created there. Many of its trees are over twenty years old.

Steven Spangler, the caretaker of this precious botanical resource, reports that back rent is owed on three of his five acres. A hearing in Vista on November 19 gave him eight months to come up with a solution lest the land be taken over by a developer who wishes to use it for a commercial building. Steven has an option to purchase for $350,000 and is currently considering various options on how to purchase, including community ownership or making it a co-op. He seeks ideas, funding and community awareness of this local Eden that needs to be preserved.

More information about the Exotica Rare Fruit Nursery can be found at

www.yelp.com/biz/exotica-rare-fruit-nursery-vista. A Facebook Cause page has been started at http://apps.facebook.com/causes/399622?m=8c8a0ec7, as well as on the Web site of Leslie Goldman, San Diego’s Enchanted Gardener. The nursery can be contacted at 2508 E. Vista Way, Ste. B, Vista, CA, 92084. You can reach Steven Spangler directly at (760) 724-9093.

Encinitas Woman Receives Audubon/Toyota TogetherGreen Fellowship for Environmental Leadership

Amy Trujillo, a biologist for the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy, is one of 40 individuals nationwide selected as a 2009 TogetherGreen Fellow. The TogetherGreen Fellowship offers specialized training in conservation planning and execution, the chance to work and share best practices with gifted conservation professionals, and assistance with project outreach and evaluation. Each Fellow receives $10,000 towards a community-focused project to engage local residents in conserving land, water and energy, and contributing to greater environmental health.

For her fellowship, Trujillo will focus on bringing the San Elijo Lagoon and Escondido Creek communities into a discussion about the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy’s properties. By approaching neighbor concerns in a cooperative and non-confrontational manner, Trujillo hopes to transform neighbors into stewards of the local watershed environments. Engaging neighboring landowners in a dialogue about their concerns and developing various management strategies will help create mutually agreeable solutions – benefiting the San Elijo Lagoon, Escondido Creek, and their neighbors.

“At the Conservancy we recognize that excluding people from nature without addressing their needs will ultimately undermine conservation efforts. We must work to address issues important to our neighbors while maintaining our commitment to protecting this rare resource. The TogetherGreen program will help us bridge this gap,” said Trujillo.

Energize For December’s Challenges Dec 9 at VISION

Doctors, Psychologists and Ministers all agree that one of the best ways to prepare for long stretches of physical and mental stress (like Holiday shopping) is to energize in advance through relaxing meditation. At 7:00 PM on December 9, VISION creates a calm and peaceful environment in its sanctuary for everyone to enjoy a Special Meditative Service where you can find refuge from the challenges on the coming season. VISION; A Center for Spiritual Living is located at 11260 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. Visit visioncsl.com for further information and directions.

Holiday Whale and Dolphin Boat Trip from Dana Point Dec 12

Are the whales & dolphins “Calling to You”? Would you like to celebrate the Holidays with a magical day on the ocean communing with our ocean brothers and sisters? Animal Communicator Laurie “Reyon” Anderson will translate their messages of healing, wisdom and self empowerment for you as we view the cetaceans from a catamaran, Saturday, December 12, from Dana Point.

The boat trips begin with Reyon giving group messages for everyone from the Whales & Dolphins and then a group meditation with deep Whale sounds. Together we set our intentions to connect with the Whales & Dolphins, and receive their communications and their healing energies. After the boat trip we will join together for sharing and a circle prayer where we will close our sacred space.

Our meditation begins at 12:30 pm and the Boat leaves at 1:30 pm. The boat will return at approx. 4:30 pm.

Space is limited so register early to reserve your seat. The cost is $95 per adult and $65 for children 2-12 years old. To register or receive more information, contact Laurie Reyon at 619-271-9461 or e-mail her at puddysplace@yahoo.com.

Conscious Holiday Gift Bazaar in Los Angeles Dec 12 & 13

The Conscious Holiday Gift Bazaar—Dec. 12 & 13, 2009 from 10:00am to 8:00pm. Not your everyday gift show, one weekend only!

Raise the consciousness of the Holiday season with “Gifts for the Soul”. General Admission: $5 or bring a new, unwrapped gift for a child or teen and get in free! Live Music, Free Vegan Buffet for the first 200 attendees each day! Winter Solstice Concert on Saturday, 8:00pm-midnight. LAX Hilton, 5711 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles 90045; Online at consciousholidaygiftbazzar.com.

Holiday Bike Build for Underprivileged Kids
at the Celebration Center Dec. 13

Come spread some Holiday cheer and join the members of the Celebration Center on Sunday, December 13, as we build bikes by playing team games, listen to the music of Karl Anthony and see the excited faces of these underprivileged kids as they revel in the delight of receiving their first bike!

Remember when you got your very first bicycle for your birthday or Christmas! Your memories of riding until it was dark during summer vacation will stay with you always. Yet for many families throughout San Diego, it’s hard to afford luxuries like bikes for their children.

Our philanthropic holiday event will help change this by building bicycles for kids at Casa de Amparo and at a local Boys and Girls Club. You can be part of a team that will build a bike that will change the life of a child. Teams will build, design, and decorate bikes, and even create a personal note from the team to be given to each recipient. You’ll be making a real difference in the lives of underserved children in San Diego!

Cost to become a Team Member is $30 per adult, $5 for kids under 12. If you are unable to attend, you can still donate by sponsoring team members to build bikes. The event is from 12.30 -2.30pm. Register on-line at thecelebrationcenter.org or in person at the Larisa Stow and Shakti Tribe Concert on December 5. Deadline is December 6.

We are also accepting donations of non-perishable food items for the San Diego Food Bank and warm jackets for ages 4-18 for the Monarch School, which serves homeless children in downtown San Diego. Bring items to this event or to the Shakti Tribe concert. The Celebration Center is located at 5820 Oberlin Drive, #108, San Diego, CA 92121. Call (858) 320-0090 or visit thecelebrationcenter.org for more information.

“Holiday Musical Delight”
at Crossroads Spiritual Center Dec 13

Crossroads Spiritual Center is proud to present a fun-filled, spirit-filled concert on Sunday evening, December 13, at 7:00 p.m., featuring internationally known musicians: vocalist Gayle St. Gregory, pianist/vocalist Tommy Gannon, saxophonist/vocalist Don Bowman, and harpist Joan Sweet. Everyone is welcome. Come lift your spirits with us. Limited seating, $5 love offering at the door or advanced tickets by calling the Center at 760-431-1831. For additional information, biographies of the performers and directions to the Center, go to crossroadsntc.org. Crossroads Spiritual Center, 2734 Loker Avenue West, Suite H, Carlsbad, CA 92010.

Rhythmic Uprising Documentary Screening with
Live Dance and Music Dec 18 at Centro de la Raza

Join us at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, December 18 for an evening in the vibrant world of the performing arts. Live performances by San Diego’s own transcenDANCE Youth Arts Project and Centro Cultural de la Raza musicians and dancers will open a screening of the recently launched documentary Rhythmic Uprising. The film shows how community leaders in Bahia, Brazil use Afro-Brazilian cultural arts to change lives. After the film, the filmmakers will answer audience questions and join members of SD arts programs in a dialogue about the role of the arts in youth development.

The film will be screened at the Centro Cultural de la Raza, located in Balboa Park at 2125 Park Boulevard. Tickets are $10, $5 for students. For more information on the film and featured art projects, visit rhythmicuprising.org, tdarts.org and centroculturaldelaraza.org. Tickets are available at centroculturaldelaraza.org, by calling 619-235-6135, or at the door.

Love and Light Healing Center Christmas
Holiday Gathering Dec 19

This is a time for Healing! This is a time for allowing for Oneness Consciousness. Join us for a special holiday service filled with fun, entertainment, healing, and refreshments at the Love and Light Healing Center on Saturday, December 19, 5 pm to 8 pm. In the attitude of bringing East and West together. Located at 8630 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa, CA 91941. (619) 644-1895, Online at loveandlighthealingcenter.com.

Pioneer Players Spread Holiday Joy Dec 20

The Pioneer Players formed by a talented group of actors with all levels of abilities, invite everyone to a free Joyful Holiday Celebration to take place Sunday, December 20, 2:30 pm at the Seaside Center for Spiritual Living, 1613 Lake Drive, Encinitas, Ca 92024. Come and enjoy the singing, dance, music, hand bells coir, Greek dancing, and a play performance, Christmas on the Beach. Raffle prize and refreshments for all. For more information, call (858) 481-3998.

VISION’s Christmas Eve Celebration:
A Musical Extravaganza

If you are looking for a memorable Christmas Eve experience this year than VISION: A Center for Spiritual Living is the place to be. Special Musical guests will include: James Higgins, Rachel Drexler, Andy Anderson and Darryl Thompson. Also performing will be The Higher Vision Choir under the direction of the multi-talented Jim Bianchi. VISION’s Musical Director, Mark Danisovszky will be guiding the entire evening’s musical presentation including the VISION House Band made up of Don Bowman, Dan Ochipinti and Oliver Shirley.

This may very well be the Best Christmas Eve you have ever had. VISION is located at 11260 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. For further information or directions, visit online at visioncsl.com.

New Study Highlights Environmental
Advantages of Electronic Billing

PayItGreen, a partnership between financial institutions, financial industry service providers and businesses of all sizes, has released a new study that highlights the environmental advantages to be gained by eliminating paper billing and choosing electronic billing and payment options. Taking into account the costs of paper production, transportation and disposal, the study details the positive effects of the change if it were made by one household, by two percent of all U.S. households and by twenty percent of all U.S. households.

In addition to these and other figures available at payitgreen.org, there is also a free Green Calculator that tallies the environmental impact of individual families and suggests ways to reduce it.