Update Oct. 12: The Chamber has rescinded its endorsement of Measures U and V after receiving more information from the cities of La Mesa and  Lemon Grove.

By Miriam Raftery

October 6, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) –Community leaders in La Mesa and Lemon Grove are reacting with shock and outrage over endorsement by the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce (ECC) of Measures U and V, which would legalize medical marijuana dispensaries in the two cities.   Voters in both La Mesa and Lemon Grove rejected similar ballot measures in the last general election.

“The City of Lemon Grove is a dues-paying member of the ECC. Our tax dollars pay for those dues,” states an e-mail sent to  Lemon Grove’s mayor and others  from  Helen Ofield,  President of the Lemon Grove  Historical Society, and her husband, Jack.  “We urge the Lemon Grove City Council and City Manager to oppose the ECC’s action in the strongest possible terms and to cancel its membership in the ECC.”

By Mike Allen

October 3, 2016 (La Mesa) -- As the issue of climate change becomes more elevated, more cities are taking a harder look at their carbon footprints and mulling alternatives.

In California, at least two counties and a few smaller cities have already formed new entities that purchase a larger share of their energy from renewable sources and are doing it at cheaper rates than was previously provided by the investor owned utility.

By Liz Alper

October 1, 2016 (La Mesa) - This year's Oktoberfest in La Mesa was packed!  There were tons of people enjoying all the street vendors.

By Liz Alper

September 28, 2016 (San Diego) - The last La Mesa Chamber breakfast of the year was held at Marie Callender's at Alvarado Road.  The speaker was Senator Joel Anderson.

The majority of Senator Anderson's speech was comprised of his reasons for opposing Senate Bill 654.  SB654 aims to increase parental leave for new parents by six weeks.  Senator Anderson, a Republican and former small businessman, believes this will harm small businesses by putting them out of business.  He understands the struggle that small businesses have already and does not want to add six more weeks of parental leave to that. 

By Miriam Raftery

East County News Service

September 21, 2016 (La Mesa) — A firefighter was injured battling a blaze at a liquor store in the 6000 block of Lake Murray Boulevard late last night.  The liquor store was at the corner of  Lake Murray Blvd. and El Paso Street.

By Miriam Raftery

September 18, 2016 (Mt Helix) – I grew up in La Mesa, where my mother had a bird feeder.  It attracted many species, but never bluebirds.  Until recently, I’d seen bluebirds only rarely, in the mountain areas.  So I was delighted to spot one in our yard on Mt. Helix this week—and soon learned that bluebirds are expanding their range locally.

East County News Service

Photo:   Last year’s International Peace  Day in La Mesa drew a crowd.

September 17, 2016  (La Mesa)--The Interfaith Council of La Mesa is celebrating it's 3rd annual International Day of Peace in La Mesa on Sept. 25 at 3:30 p.m. in Aztec Park (7945 Morocco Drive) as part of a global effort.  All are welcome at the event, which aims to bring awareness to “the need to promote peace, unity and good will in both local and global communities.”  (View flyer)

You can listen now  to a podcast of our interview by clicking the audio link: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au..., or click "read more" and scroll down for highlights.

By Miriam Raftery

Mark your calendars for our candidate forum with Helix Water Board candidates and Lemon Grove Mayoral candidates on Wednesday, September 21 at the Lemon Grove Library.Meet candidates at 5 p.m. with the forum starting at 5:30.

September 16, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – John Linden has served on the Helix Water District Board since 2000.  He’s proud of his service and of the Helix district’s long history since its establishment back in the 1880s.  He’s running for reelection in district 1, against three challengers. We sat down for an interview with Linden that originally aired on KNSJ radio.

East County News Service

September 16, 2016 (La Mesa) -- Local author and La Mesa Historical Society President James Newland will make a presentation based on his book "Around Mt. Helix" at the La Mesa branch of the county library (8047 Allison Ave.) in La Mesa on Saturday, September 17 at 10:30 a.m.

East County News Service

September 16, 2016 (La Mesa) — The City of La Mesa announces a joint special meeting of the Environmental Sustainability Commission and La Mesa Planning Commission on Wednesday, September 21^st at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers (8130 Allison Avenue).   The meeting wil be to consider a presentation on La Mesa adopting a community choice energy program.

Regarding your article "new La Mesa Village Association has big ideas for revitalizing city's historic heart"

By Peter Carzis, Owner, Peter’s Gentlemen’s Apparel

Editor's note: Aaron Dean, chair of the new LMVA, spoke with ECM and provided his responses to concerns raised by Carzis and others.  You can read his remarks here.

October 14,2016 (La Mesa)--I attended the first meeting of this new group. They said they want this group to be a "fresh start" in the village, but yet they boast four Founding Members who are officers and directors of the "old" group that owes the taxpayers and the City of La Mesa $47,900.50.  (Per the city clerk, this amount was turned over to collection and none of the debt has been repaid as of today.)

By Miriam Raftery

September 7, 2016 (La Mesa)--La Mesa's first cooperative wine-tasting venture is born.

The Barnyard Cassanovas provided lively music from Johnny Cash to rock 'n' roll at the grand opening of La Mesa Wine Works on August 27th. Winemaker Linda McWilliams, sporting a T-shirt reading "Well behaved women rarely make history" and her husband,Mike, chatted with guests about wines offered up from  San Pasqual Winery and Wyatt Oaks  Winery,  both local ventures. 

East County News Service

September 4, 2016 (La Mesa) – The kick-off “Boulevard Stroll” in La Mesa last month was a big success.  If you missed the launch, Boulevard Stroll events will be held the first Wednesday each month from 4-8 p.m.  The next one is set for Wednesday, September 7 along La Mes Blvd and adjacent streets will feature 11 newly added businesses!  Start your stroll on the south end of the boulevard in the Vons Shopping Center.  

"To start the fun, in the courtyard by Albert's Mexican Food we'll have music and a couple performances by the TeeDee Dance Team . The School of Rock will be performing from 5-7 p.m. in front of Jolt-n-Joes.  We've created a new Kids Korner in front of Yogurt Mill where you will find a puppet show and face painting...Some of the other music to look for : Marissa Grace and her band, The PushPins, and Flavor Company Dancers," says Roz Oserin, organizer of the event.

Source: La Mesa City Council Press Release

August 29, 2016 (La Mesa) - The La Mesa Chamber is beginning to gather items for the seniors that the Chamber adopts each year during the holidays. It is the goal of the Chamber to collect, purchase and assemble items and place them in large gift baskets.

By Miriam Raftery

Hear our interview with Colin Parent, originally aired on on KNSJ Radio: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

August 25,2016 (La Mesa) – Recently,  we  sat down for an in-depth interview with Colin Parent, a lawyer with extensive experience as an affordable housing expert in the Governor’s administration. Currently he’s the policy counsel/attorney for Circulate San Diego, an nonprofit that advocates for public transit, safe and pedestrian-friendly streets, safe routes to school, and smart growth issues.  He’s also cofounder of La Mesa Conversations, a civic discussion group.

Now he’s running for the La Mesa City Council in a three-way race for two seats currently held by incumbents Ruth Sterling and Kristine Alessio.

“I’m running to improve La Mesa,” says Parent, who calls La Mesa a great place, but adds that it can be even better.  Here are the ideas he discussed: