Residents in La Mesa, Mount Helix, and other local neighborhoods complain of swarms biting during daylight hours

By Miriam Raftery

October 2, 2017 (Mt. Helix) – After numerous residents on the Mt. Helix Next Door forum complained of swarms of small, aggressive mosquitoes biting during daylight hours and often, indoors, East County Magazine contacted County Vector Control. We learned that the invasive Aedes mosquitoes have been found in 273 traps at 23 different locations between January 1^st and September 21^st this year.  View map.

By Miriam Raftery

October 2, 2017 (La Mesa) – A La Mesa resident allegedly shot a man in the head at Glen and Mariposa Streets, near State Route 125 above Lemon Avenue elementary school Sunday afternoon around 4:45 p.m. The street is also close to La Mesa Village where the Oktoberfest was ongoing at the time.

By Dr. Anthony D. McIvor

September 28, 2017 (La Mesa) --The City Council is understandably embarrassed by its serial fumbles on Little Flower Haven’s future. Having the four lawyers who sit on the dais (three Councilmembers and the City Attorney) publicly schooled by a lone attorney from Silvergate Development must have hurt. Most folks can understand that.

But the peevish attempt to shift culpability for the Little Flower fiasco by discrediting and then threatening to abolish the Design Review Board (DRB) resists all understanding. Burying the DRB in the Planning Commission would be a significant loss for residents. Here’s why.

By Miriam Raftery

September 27, 2017 (Mt. Helix) – Michael Todd Littlefield, 50, was taken into custody Monday on Weston Road near Grandview in the Mt. Helix area.  “Littlefield had a felony warrant for auto theft,” Ryan Keim, Media Relations Director for the San Diego Sheriff department informed East County Magazine.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Washing hands for at least 20 seconds with soap is an important step you can take to prevent spread of Hepatitis A.

September 25, 2017 (La Mesa) – After the County’s emergency declaration over Hepatitis A,  ECM learned that eight cases have been reported in La Mesa and at least six cases in Santee. So we asked both cities what steps they are taking to  address this public health problem.

By Miriam Raftery

September 24, 2017 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa City Council will take up several hot issues at its meeting on Tuesday, September 26^th at 6 p.m. The Council’s decision could make it easier for developers to increase density and decrease parking, create new marijuana regulations, and declare La Mesa a ‘ferret friendly” city.

A proposed change in meeting time and openings on several boards and commissions are also on the agenda.

East County News Service

September 20, 2017 (La Mesa) – State Senator Joel Anderson will be the featured speaker at the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting on Wednesday, September 27 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at Marie Callendar’s, 6950 Alvarado Road, San Diego.

Limited space still available! RSVP deadline extended.

September 12, 2017 (La Mesa) – Our next East County Dining Club event on September 21st at 6:30 p.m. just got even better! Sicilian Excellence will be offering tastes of Anticatindari and Buone Sergio Sicilian wines -- along with a delicious Italian special menu feast at Tiramisu Trattoria (8273 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa) plus local wine tasting  with the award-winning San Pasqual Winery,  Italian popular songs and arias performed by talented vocalist Valerie Watts, a wealth of prize drawings, and more are all part of the fun! 

We have a few seats left, so you can pay at the door ($28) but please call 619-698-7617 to RSVP or email editor@eastcountymagazine.org.

Cost  includes plated four-course special menu dinner, wine tasting, tax, tip, entertainment, opportunities to meet neighbors and make new friends.

Special menu:  Bruschetta, choice of soup or salad and choice of entrée:  Ravioli Ricotta, Spinaci or Zucca, Melanzana Alla Parmigiana, Pollo Marsala or Picata, Fettucine Bolognsee, Rigotoni Alla Norcina, Cavatelli di Ricotta, and delicious dessert: Tiramisu (plain or strawberry)

East County News Service

September 17, 2017 (La Mesa) – You’re invited to join La Mesa Conversations at their next mixer from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 27th at La Mesa Wine Works. The mixer topic will be an update to La Mesa's Climate Action Plan.

By Jonathan Goetz

September 14, 2017 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa City Council gave the green light to Silvergate’s 130-unit apartment development at the site of the former Little Flower Haven Convent on La Mesa Blvd., reversing their earlier 2-2 deadlock.  The item passed 4-0 with Councilman Colin Parent recused because he lives near the site.

The development sparked mass opposition from neighbors, primarily due to a parking variance that allowed 193 parking spaces under a  State "density bonus" law as opposed to 260 spaces under La Mesa municipal code, because 10% of the project will be affordable housing units.

Council insisted their hands were tied and that they risked jail time if they didn’t approve the development.  The reversal comes after the developer’s lawyer sent a letter threatening to sue the city if Council would not approve the project.

East County News Service

September 11, 2017 (La Mesa) – The two Chick-fil-A restaurants in the East County in Santee and La Mesa will host a fundraiser on Tuesday, Sept. 19 to support recovery efforts for Houston’s victims of Hurricane Harvey. Chick-fil-A officials said both stores will donate 15 percent of all sales between 5 and 8 p.m. to a Chick-fil-A fund earmarked for Houston residents.

East County News Service

September 7, 2017 (La Mesa) - La Mesa Historical Society presents its 12th Annual Home Tour on Saturday November 4th, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The La Mesa Historical Society is proud to showcase six amazing homes in the rural suburban neighborhood of La Mesa Highlands.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: “Bootsie,” found dead and mutilated in Lemon Grove, one of several similar cat deaths in recent weeks in East County communities.

September 3, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Residents in Spring Valley, Lemon Grove and Mt. Helix are voicing concerns after several cats were found cut in half, dismembered or eviscerated in recent weeks.  It is not yet known whether the gruesome finds were the result of human acts or animal predators.

Next event is Sept. 21 at Tiramisu Trattoria in La Mesa

September 1, 2017 (La Mesa) – Thanks to all who turned out to help make the launch of our East County Dining Club a big success! 

Over 75 people attend our premiere party  at Fabrison’s Country French Restaurant in  Jamul, where guests feasted on all-you-can-eat crepes and  savored wines from the award-winning Deerhorn Valley Vineyard.

If you haven’t yet joined our dining club (just $10 a year!) we strongly recommend doing so now since we expect future events to sell out.

East County Dining Club members  will receive early invitations and  first options to reserve space at all of our future special culinary events, two free drawing tickets at their next event, and a free “Best of East County” cookbook we are compiling with recipes from top restaurants, wineries, farms and more in our region. Join us to savor the flavors of the world at great restaurants here in East County!

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

August 29, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – The San Diego Sheriff’s department has released the identity of a 19-year-old shot dead in Lemon Grove on August 24^th by law enforcement officers after a pursuit that began in La Mesa and ended on Rebecca Lane in Lemon Grove.