Teams are set up according to abilities, rather than age, and can include as many as 15-20 players. Challenger games can be played as tee ball games, coach pitch, player pitch, or a combination of the three.

In 2012, Eastlake Little League has announced they will be launching their own Challenger Division.

Amy Slike, an Eastlake resident, & Arryo Vista Elementary School teacher and Eastlake Little League volunteer, said “The Challenger Division of Little League baseball is a program for differently abled youth to enjoy the full benefits of little league participation in an athletic environment structured to their needs.  Our games will be on Saturday mornings from 8:00 am till about 9:30. Our season will start up in March and will run through May”

One of the benefits of having a Challenger Division is that it encourages the use of “buddies” for the Challenger players. The buddies assist the Challenger players on the field, but whenever possible, encourage the players to bat and make plays themselves. However, the buddy is always nearby to help when needed.

Amy continues, “The structure of the division will be that all players will play the field while the other team bats. The team that is up to bat will bat the their (entire) line up. The last batter will be our “home-run” hitter and run all the way home after the hit. Score will not be kept during these games. The main focus will be for all to enjoy the game of baseball and develop friendships with other kids.”

Parents and teenagers are strongly encouraged to become involved in this uniquely-rewarding division of Little League.

Registration will be open until all spots are full.  Parents can print off the registration form and either mail it in or bring it to the field.

Registration: $50.00
www.eastlakell.com

The Chula Vista South Pony Baseball League will be hosting an International Youth Baseball Tournament vs. the Korean National Team.

This first class tournament will be taking place in our very own backyard and your support is needed to make this exhibition a success.

Here’s how you can help:

-Sign up as a sponsor
-Attend as a spectator, support competing athletes and purchase food & drinks at the Korean/American BBQ

Local business willing to donate food, supplies or provide financial support will have their name displayed on a banner. This banner will be hung at the exhibition with full media coverage. Thereafter, the banner will be given to the National Korean Team to take home. Gift bags will also handed out. This is a great opportunity to advertise your business and gain great exposure.

Spectators and fans are encouraged to come out, support the competing athletes and participate in the Korean/American BBQ by purchasing food and drinks.

Date: February 11, 2012
Game times begin at 9:00 am and 11:30 am followed by the BBQ.

For further information, please contact Gabriel Diaz, Chula Vista South Pony Baseball President at (619) 417-9101.

Otay Ranch Broncos Youth Football and Cheer is currently accepting applications for those interested in heading up a football team and a cheer team.

If you wish to be considered for a position as a Head Coach for Football, please send an e-mail to Coachingdirectors@otayranchbroncos.com and president@otayranchbroncos.com.  Those interested in a position for Head Coach for Cheer should send their e-mail to Cheerdirectors@otayranchbroncos.com and president@otayranchbroncos.com.

Please be sure to included the following:

• Name
• Address
• Primary phone number
• Division you are interested in Coaching for 2012:
• And a brief description of why you want to coach at ORYFC for 2012:

Applications are being accepted up through 5:00pm on February 17th, 2012.  For further information, please visit www.otayranchbroncos.com or send an e-mail to oryfc@otayranchbroncos.com.

Besides the show’s namesake, Cinderella offers a number of roles for aspiring actors and actresses: the Fairy God-Mother, Joy and Portia, Cinderella’s step-sisters, the Wicked Step-Mother, the Prince and his parents the King and Queen, and great chorus parts for townspeople, mice, rats, and horses.

Friday, Feb 10th – 7:00pm
Saturday, Feb 11th – 2:00pm, 7:00pm
Sunday, Feb 12th – 2:00pm

VENUE:       Mater Dei High School
1615 Mater Dei Dr
Chula Vista, CA 91913

PRICES:       $12 – Individual Online
$15 – At-the-Door Price
$6 – Group Discount (30 ticket minimum)

Special Children’s Event -  “Story Time with Cinderella”
Saturday, Feb. 4th and Saturday Feb. 11:  noon to 1 pm
A fun and interactive experience for your little prince or princess!
Patty Chavez – sc@cytsandiego.org for more information Seating is limited.

Councilman Rudy Ramirez will host his Public Office Hours at 6:00 PM on Monday, February 6, 2012 at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School at 2295 MacKenzie  Creek Road, Chula Vista, CA 91914.

Councilman Ramirez will be discussing an alleged housing scam where foreclosed homes are being rented out by a company that does not own the properties.

“Everyone has a role in stopping this type of fraud,” Ramirez said, “The City needs to take a lead in the situation.  We need to understand and then act on it.”

For more information, please contact Councilman Ramirez by phone at 619.585.5717.

The Eastlake Networking Group is a brand new group started by business professionals in Eastlake.  It was formed to help small and large businesses make connections and generate referrals. The group meets every week on Monday’s at Tacos & Tarros in the Otay Ranch Town Center. Meetings start at 11:30am and last till about 12:30pm. All business owners are encouraged to come out and there is no membership fee for joining.

Next Monday, the Eastlake Networking Group is hosting a free educational presentation on Mobile Marketing. There has been a lot of buzz about marketing to mobile users and how it can increase your business. The presentation will cover the basics and point you in the right direction on getting your mobile advertising strategy started.

Kurt Bunch, a Chula Vista Mobile Marketing expert said, “I really wanted to make local businesses aware about the potential of using mobile in their advertising campaigns,”

Kurt is the owner of The Chula Vista Living website and a member of the Eastlake Networking Group. He has also helped businesses with their mobile marketing campaigns. Kurt’s presentation is scheduled for this Monday February 6th, 11:30am at the Tacos & Tarros.

“I know a lot of businesses who have heard about this new avenue in mobile, but are not quite sure how to get it started.” Mobile marketing has seen a huge increase with the explosion of smart phone sales in the US. So many people use their smart phones for more than just making calls. Many of use them to find new businesses, get more information on products or just locate a cool new restaurant. This presentation will cover the basics and educate business owners on what to avoid.

To get more information on Eastlake Networking and to register for the free Mobile Marketing event check out the groups Facebook page. You can also register by calling 619-730-3969 or emailing webmaster@eastlakenetworking.com

A website is your new business card, another marketing tool to retain present customers and gather new ones.

The big question now is how you can get a great looking website without having to break your advertising budget. You want to try and do it yourself, but that funny looking internet code called HTML looks like more than you can handle. You have thought about hiring someone, getting a professional to help you, but you’re not sure where to start or what it’s going to cost.

In this business spotlight we sit down with local web designer Kurt Bunch. He gives us some professional insight into getting your business on the web. Kurt will also tell us about the new emerging mobile web market and how you can optimize your website for mobile devices.

This is a must read for any small business owner who is ready to bring their business into the digital age.

EastlakeTimes.com (ELT): How long have you been in the San Diego’s South Bay area?   
Kurt Bunch (Kurt): I moved to the Chula Vista area in 1989 from Temecula. Chula Vista was a lot smaller then. I graduated from Hilltop High School in 1990 and went to Southwestern College for 4 years to get my AA degree. I love living here in Chula Vista, seeing the city grow into what it is today.

ELT: How did you get involved in web design?
Kurt: After Southwestern College I went to the Advertising Arts College, presently known now as the Art Institute of California, for 4 years. I have always been interested in design and art, so this was a perfect way for me to do what I loved as a career choice. The internet was so new when I was going to school so I tried to learn as much as I could on how to create these cool looking sites I was seeing on the web.

ELT: Tell our readers about what you do.
Kurt: Currently I’m a freelance web and graphic designer. I help companies look good in whatever media they want to target. If they want a four color ad I can help them set it up so that it looks good when printed. If they want a website then I sit down with them and go over what they would like to have on the site about their business. I also do internet advertising and currently I have been getting into mobile web design.

ELT: What is mobile web design?
Kurt: More and more people are getting a smart phone and they are using that phone to find out information about businesses or to shop online and connect with friends. There is a whole new market of advertising now and what I do is show businesses how to create a mobile presence. For example a site that is designed for a desktop computer will look clunky or slow on a mobile phone. With a website designed for a mobile device their site can run faster and look a lot better. They can also use the technology to help their customers to find them when they are out and about. There are so many possibilities with mobile.

ELT: Do you help businesses with those funny looking barcodes that people can scan?
Kurt: QR codes, short for Quick Response codes, allows the user to use their smart phone and scan this code and be directed to any type of media. I can show them how they can add these QR codes to their print advertising and give people the ability to find out more about their business.  You can send them to your mobile website or even get them to sign up for a newsletter or coupon. The QR code is great for generating leads and in business we all know new leads are the key to success.

ELT: What are some of the pitfalls businesses fall into when getting a website.
Kurt: The one thing I tell all business owners, no matter what purchase the domain name of your business. Even if you have no plans on getting a website right away, secure that domain name before someone else does. One of the biggest questions I get is, “Someone has my domain name, and how can I get it back?” Unless you have a copyright to the name, not just a business license, the only way you can get the domain name back is to pay the owners asking price. Spend the $10-$15 and secure the domain name right after you buy your business license. Another issue is, “My son knows that internet stuff, and I’ll just have him do the website.” So if your son knows how to do math, are you going to let him balance your books? I see so many sites that are built incorrectly or using outdated code. Hire a professional to do your site; you want to put your best foot forward when a potential customer comes to your website.

ELT: What makes your service different?
Kurt: I love to give that local touch to all of my customers. If you have a project that you want done, then let’s sit down and talk about what you want. If it’s a website, then let’s find out what we need to add to make your business grow. I also like to give advice on every aspect of the site. I can help you with going mobile or optimizing your site for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) traffic. Also, after the site is done, I don’t just hand it over to you and go away. If you need to update the site or maybe remove some content, then I will be glad to help you out. It’s rewarding to see a small business feel good about the work I have done for them.

ELT: What services do you offer?
Kurt: I’m like the jack of all trades when it comes to web or graphic design. I can build you a website using the latest technology, and I can also create the printed marketing tools to advertise. If you have anything that you want done give me a call and we can discuss all of the options.

ELT: Where can our readers get more information?
Kurt: If they want to check out my latest work they can always check out my online portfolio at www.KurtBunch.com. There they can see my work, my skills, and how to reach me. I’m based right here in Chula Vista so any time they want to sit down and get a quote on design work, I’m ready.

Thank you so much Kurt for sitting down with us and going over web design. We have been extremely satisfied with the work you have done for us and we would like to recommend you to all of the small business owners out there. So many businesses are thinking about how they can grow their business in 2012, and a great looking website is an essential key to success.

The afternoon will also include carnival games, a train ride and a petting zoo. Kids who enjoy arts and crafts can participate in a free kids craft project and also visit a balloon artist and a face painter. All attendees will be eligible to win raffle prizes. Photos with Santa will be available for $5 or free of charge with a $25 minimum purchase from Terra Nova Plaza vendors.

Terra Nova Plaza is located at 394 East H Street in Chula Vista. For more information, call (760) 630-6687 or visit www.facebook.com/terranovaplaza.

Please go to www.bvgasa.org for more information and to log in and register. Bonita Valley Girls Softball is recognized as one of the best softball programs on the West Coast, winning numerous District, State and National Championships. If you need additional information, please contact Michael Gross at mike_g@bvgasa.org.

On behalf of the BVGASA, we look forward to seeing you on the field.

San Diego, CA — November 30, 2011 — Two local The UPS Store owners are serving an extra dose of holiday merriment at their five locations while helping to ensure the area’s most destitute individuals and families are kept warm during the region’s coldest season. Now through December 25, 2011, customers who bring in a new or gently used cold weather apparel item, including beanies, socks, gloves and scarves, can benefit from having their shipments expertly packed and save 25 percent off packaging and discounts on Air shipping. The wares will be distributed via winter survival backpacks to displaced San Diegans by Girls Think Tank (GTT), a nonprofit that empowers the community to advance basic dignity through advocacy and activism.

The five stores, owned by Greg Gagnon and Dennis Stein, also owner of North Park’s Sea Rocket Bistro, are located in La Jolla, UTC, Mira Mesa, North Park and Chula Vista. Addresses are below.

“While UPS is a huge, worldwide brand, we’re just two local store owners who want to serve our communities,” said Gagnon. “We considered Angel Tags and other holiday-appropriate ideas, but quickly recognized we can help the very people we pass on the streets each day. There’s something innately good about helping those in your own community, and it just feels right.”

Partnering with GTT, whose members are both housed and homeless, was a natural way to accomplish this. The organization has disseminated nearly 2,000 Winter Survival Backpacks since its inception in 2006 — and its members seek donations for these packs each year.

“We’re thankful for Dennis, Greg and the San Diego community’s support this season,” said Noor Kazmi, GTT’s president. “Many people think of San Diego as an eternally warm and sunny town, but people living on the streets die each year from exposure to the cold.”

San Diegans are advised to visit the following stores to make their donations and to take advantage of the holiday shipping specials:

La Jolla Village – 7660 Fay Ave., La Jolla, 92037 (next to Zenbu Sushi)
UTC/Golden Triangle – 7770 Regents Rd., San Diego, 92122 (next to Vons)
Chula Vista – 591 Telegraph Canyon Rd., Chula Vista, 91910 (next to Cox Communications)
Mira Mesa – 9450 Mira Mesa Blvd., San Di ego, 92126 (next to Ralphs)
North Park – 3245 University Ave., San Diego, 92104 (under Fresh & Easy)

About The UPS Store
UPS is a global brand using The UPS Stores as retail locations to serve community needs. The UPS Store nationwide teams up every season with the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. Being San Diego’s largest multi-center owners (five stores) gives Greg Gagnon and Dennis Stein the opportunity to impact their local community in positives ways. They offer seasonal community help as well as year-round one-stop, quality shopping for both business and personal needs.