By Leon Thompson

February 29, 2016 (Maryland Avenue Elementary School, La Mesa) – An overflow crowd attended the Town Hall meeting with the La Mesa City Council on February 20^th to discuss the City’s future.  Mayor Mark Arapostathis greeted the attendees.

In this part of La Mesa the subject of group-homes was very much on the minds of nearby residents.  The concentration of group-homes in this neighborhood is five times the normal number.  

By Miriam Raftery

Controversial plan outrages Alpine voters, Chaldeans and other district residents

Photo: Priscilla Schreiber will be forced off the board in November if the county approves the GUHSD's redistricting proposal.

February 25, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Grossmont Union High School District voted 4-1 to ditch district-wide elections and break up the district into five areas that will each elect its own trustee. (View map)  The board also voted to ask the San Diego County Committee on School Board Reorganization to waive a requirement that would ordinarily allow the public to vote on redistricting.

East County News Service

February 23, 2016 (La Mesa) -- The ideas came as quickly as someone could type them on the laptop as community residents in La Mesa shared their visions of an age-friendly community with the County’s Aging & Independence Services.

By  Miriam Raftery

February 23, 2016 (San Diego’s East County)—Grosssmont-Union High School District’s board is expected to cast a final vote Thursday at 4 p.m. on controversial redistricting maps. The board will also vote to seek a waiver from the state from a requirement that would ordinarily requiring putting the redistricting measure on the ballot, and waiver from a state requiring that new trustee area plans be in effect at least 120 days before the next election in November.  (View meeting notice. The meeting will be at the East County Regional Education Center, 924 East Main Street, El Cajon.)

The district contends it has acted appropriately in response to a threat of legal action over alleged voting rights violations. But critics say the plan would oust the board’s most outspoken dissenting member, Priscilla Schreiber, leave Alpine represented by an opponent of the Alpine High School, and divide Iraqi-Chaldean residents into multiple districts, diluting their power as a voting block.  It also carves out a new district in the Lemon Grove/Spring Valley area with no trustee currently residing in that district, which does have a history of representing people of color.

By Leon Thompson

February 18, 20016 (La Mesa) -- The first La Mesa Town Hall event of 2016 exposed tensions brewing in the relationship between citizens of La Mesa and the City Council.  These open forum sessions aim to give citizens a forum to share “ideas, comments and opinions on issues in their neighborhood and throughout the City,” according to the City’s website.

East County News Service

February 16, 2016 (La Mesa) -- The American Society of Landscape Architects, NY Upstate Chapter, recently awarded the Allison Avenue Office Building Retreat with a “Merit Award” in the Built Design category.  The project, located in La Mesa, California, transformed a bleak and uncomfortable asphalt side alley into an attractive outdoor client/employee space.

East County News Service

February 14, 2016 (La Mesa) -- The Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, a consumer health library at 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, is now hosting its Winter Art Exhibit featuring 24 watercolor paintings by award-winning art instructor Drew Bandish and five of his students. The students include Susan Hewitt of Lakeside, Royce Hinson of El Cajon, Lorri Lynch of Lakeside, Mirjam Schippers of El Cajon and Joan Vandenberg of El Cajon. The show runs through March 12.

East County News Service

February 11, 2016 (La Mesa) — Looking for love from a canine companion? Grossmont Center (5500 Grossmont Center Drive in La Mesa)  will host “Cupids and Canines,” an adoption event featuring hundreds of dogs, this Saturday, February 13 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

East County News Service

February 3, 2016 (La Mesa) – What could be a better aphrodisiac than a pairing of wonderful wines and scrumptious desserts?  

East County News Service

February 8, 2016 (La Mesa) -- La Mesa Conversations organizes informal mixers every other month, featuring short programs to catalyze the conversation among our attendees. On Thursday, February 18^th, the theme will be “Is La Mesa the next hip neighborhood in San Diego?”

East County News Service

February 4, 2016 (La Mesa) - The San Diego Bluegrass Society will hold its monthly jam at Fuddrucker's restaurant in Grossmont Center on Tuesday, February 16^th from 6:30 to 9 p.m.  The event includes open mic, pick up bands and the ever-popular musical jam session.

East County News Service

February 3, 2016 (La Mesa) – La Mesa residents can now keep up to five dogs per home.  On Tuesday, the Council voted 4-1 to increase the number from two, the current maximum.

By Mike Allen

January 30, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- The latest car-to-car shooting incident earlier this month on Interstate 8 brings the total to three in the last year, and four in the last three years, prompting the question whether this stretch of freeway from 70^th Street east to Los Coches Road is particularly dangerous.

East County News Service

January 26, 2016 (La Mesa) -- You’re invited to come hear from city staff, real estate professionals and business leaders about the future of La Mesa’s downtown. The discussion will cover market trends, recent policy changes and public investments to encourage investment and walkability downtown.  

By Miriam Raftery

January 16, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Ratepayers in the Helix Water district have been under a state mandate to reduce water use by 20% under the Governor’s orders imposed last year during the drought.  But a new draft regulatory framework just released by the Staste Water Board would cut that to 12%, if approved.