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Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Check out our sports section for more sports stories!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

October 19, 2018 (El Cajon) - Unbelievable that it’s late October already, but we’re already on week nine of the prep football season and ECM Friday Night Lights is at Granite Hills for what should be a high-scoring matchup between the undefeated-in-league (5-3 overall, 3-0 league) Scottie Dawgs from Helix and the undefeated-in-every-sense-of-the-word Eagles (8-0 overall, 3-0 league).  The winner of this game is crowned the Grossmont Hills Championship game winner.

East County News Service

October 17, 2018 (La Mesa) – SANDAG will host a community conversation with East County on the future of transportation on Thursday, October 18^th at the La Mesa Arts Academy (4200 Parks Ave. in La Mesa) from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.. The even will be hosted by El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells and La Mesa Councilmember Kristine Alessio. Below are details.

By Miriam Raftery

October 16, 2018 (La Mesa) – Paul Sandoval, 33, died Wednesday after a shed he was demolishing in La Mesa collapsed on him, with a large beam landing on his back.  He was found with no pulse and though paramedics revived him, he suffered brain damage and ultimately could not survive. His kidneys and liver were donated to help others live.

From Maine lobsters to wine slushies, games to rock ‘n’ roll music, urban winery is pulling out all the stops for anniversary bash Oct. 13 from  12 noon to 10 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

October 11, 2018 (La Mesa) – With a motto of “when all else fails, wine works!” La Mesa Wine Works opened its doors two years ago as a cooperative urban winery tasting room serving up award-winning vintages from San Pasqual Winery and Wyatt Oaks.  Now the space has become a hub of activities ranging from live music on weekends to trivia nights, classes, fundraisers for charities and the ever-popular $5 wine night complete with wine slushies and frozen sangrias.

“Business has been good,” says Mike McWilliams of San Pasqual Winery.  On Saturday, October 13^th from 12 noon to 10 p.m., Wine Works is celebrating its two-year anniversary with festivities that start with Cousins Maine Lobster truck from noon to 3 p.m. and Quick Stop Grill from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.  Live music wil include the Sock Monkeys from 3 to5  pm. and the Phoenix Band from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.  Guests can also enjoy games and in the afternoon, $5 specials on all glasses of wine, wine slushiness and frozen sangrias. The party will go on rain or shine.

Source: La Mesa Chamber of Commerce

October 10, 2018 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce encourages you to join them and make a difference in the lives of La Mesa homebound seniors. The Chamber is gathering items now through November 30th for 24 seniors as part of its annual drive.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Dave Myers, Bill Baber, Akilah Weber and Guy McWhirter

September 29, 2018 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Councilmembers Bill Baber and Guy McWhirter are running on their records. Their challengers, retired Sheriff’s commander Dave Myers and physician Akilah Weber, are running on the slogan “Elect a cop and a doc.” East County Magazine sat down with all four candidates on our radio show, originally aired on KNSJ. 

Key issues in La Mesa include affordable housing and development vs. community character, downtown revitalization, crime and public safety, public health,  marijuana regulations, the city’s climate action plan, and a potential new library.

You can click the audio links at the bottom of this story to hear each interview, and scroll down for highlights. Candidates are listed in the order that they scheduled their interviews.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos provided by Jeff Phair

September 28, 2018 (La Mesa) – Last week,  San Diego Union-Tribune writer Karen Pearlman posted a photo of a Tyrannosaurus Rex metal sculpture that mysteriously appeared in La Mesa at the future site of the La Mesa Summit Estates, raising the question of why the giant dinosaur statue had suddenly shown up in the Jewel of the Hills, as La Mesa is known.

By Miriam Raftery

September 25, 2018 (Rancho San Diego) – The Valle de Oro Planning Group has voted 12-2 on September 4th to oppose a proposal by Skyline Church to build a senior living facility on 9 acres of open land  north of Highway 94 in Rancho San Diego.  Planners and long-time community residents say that when the evangelical megachurch was built, church leaders promised the county to preserve this site as open space. 

East County Dining Club

September 7, 2018 (La Mesa) – Our next East County Dining Club adventure will be on Wednesday, September 26^th at 6:30 p.m. at Fourpenny House, a delightfully cozy and delicious Scottish restaurant and pub in La Mesa’s downtown Village (8383 La Mesa Blvd.)  RSVP early to reserve space at this popular new eatery.

Savor Scottish foods such as bangers and mash, crofter’s pie, salmon, ale-braised mussels, artisanal cheese, Yorkshire wraps, bread pudding and more, plus custom-brewed craft beers, wine and spirits.  

Order anything you desire off the menu and Fourpenny House will donate 20% of proceeds to benefit East County Magazine and East County Wildfire and Emergency Alerts.

We will also have lots of prizes including gift certificates from Fourpenny House, Farmer's Table, Vine Cottage, Reanimated Records, books from Maxwell's House of Books, a Celtic music CD, jewelry, San Pasqual wine, and more!

East County News Service

September 22, 2018 (La Mesa) — The La Mesa Historical Society presents a history roundtable lecture series titled “Classic Craftsman to Modern Mud.”  A presentation on October 6th from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Grossmont Healthcare Auditorium (9001 Wakarusa) will discuss unique neighborhoods including Mt. Nebo and its exclusive tracts (Looking Park, Windsor Hills and Eastridge) that will be explored during the organization’s 13th Annual Home Tour "Modern Mud!" 

East County News Service

September 22, 2018 (La Mesa) - Bring your friends and family and enjoy fine food and conversation on Tech Break Tuesday, Sept 25th in La Mesa.  Several restaurants will support unplugged dining and offer drink or dining specials to encourage you to take a break from your phone for the duration of your meal. Restaurants in the La Mesa Village (who will participate from 5-9 pm) include: Centifonti's, FourPenny House, San Pasqual's Winery Tasting Room, and Trattoria Tiramisu. Just outside the Village, the Lunch Box will participate from 7:30 am - 2:00 pm.

For more information on specials, offers and locations, visit  www.unpluggedvillage.com.

East County News Service 

September 20, 2018 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Chamber of Commerce invites you to join an evening mixer at Red Lobster, 8703 Murray Drive in La Mesa, on October 10 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!  Type in “Sports” as your donation!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories!

Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Check out our sports section for more sports stories!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

September 14, 2018 (La Mesa) - Week five of Friday Night Lights takes us to Helix for the first time.  The Highlanders are facing a rare uphill battle early in the season; they’re 1-3 and tonight they faced the Saints of St. Augustine.

By Miriam Raftery

September 12, 2018 (La Mesa) — Vandals have damaged the La Mesa Depot and locomotive. Built in 1894, the depot is California’ oldest building in its original form, La Mesa Today reports.  A meeting is planned on September 25^th at the depot at the corner of Spring Street and La Mesa Boulevard to learn about efforts to raise funds to restore the depot, the last remaining station from the San Diego and Cuyamaca Railway.