Source: La Mesa Village Association

July 24, 2023 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa Village Association (LMVA) announces that September marks the 30th Anniversary of the La Mesa Village Farmers Market (LMVFM) in downtown La Mesa, and we are inviting the community to help us celebrate. 

To celebrate 30 years, the La Mesa Village Farmers Market will host weekly giveaways starting on September 1, 2023. Weekly prizes include: $50 in LMVFM “Market Bucks” to be given away on the LMVFM Instagram page (@officiallamesafarmersmarket); 30th Anniversary canvas shopping bags will be given out by different vendors each week; free 30th Anniversary stickers available at the LMVFM information booth; and a surprise vendor-filled 30th Anniversary shopping bag to be given away on the LMVFM Instagram page. 

By Don Woods, La Mesa

Image: Rendering of a proposed digital billboard created by Clear Channel, via City of La Mesa documents

July 22, 2023 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa City Council will discuss a digital billboards proposal this Tuesday evening.

At a prior meeting, the City Council appointed Council members Pat Dillard and Jack Shu to form an “ad hoc” committee to consider a proposal by Clear Channel Outdoor Advertising company to erect a huge new, two-sided digital billboard along the north side of the I-8 freeway as it runs past the Grossmont Center shopping center. The committee has met and has now made a recommendation, which the Council will take up at its 6 p.m. meeting on Tuesday.

Item 14.2 on the Council’s Tuesday agenda says “The Digital Billboard Negotiating Ad-hoc Subcommittee recommends the Council direct staff to develop and circulate, within 30 days, a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the placement and installation of digital billboards in the City, to include: (1) a statement of facts identifying the process to authorize digital billboards; and (2) a listing of questions and concerns (for response) raised by the Digital Billboard Negotiating Ad-hoc Subcommittee”.

So instead of just discussing the proposal with Clear Channel, the ad hoc committee now wants to open up a bidding competition to see who is willing to pay the most to be allowed to erect a digital billboard. In effect, they are interested in selling the safety of La Mesa residents to the highest bidder!  

The committee’s recommendation shows a surprising lack of due diligence. It also seems to ignore a number of facts, and tries to put the cart before several horses.

East County News Service

July 17, 2023 (La  Mesa) – Spacebar Café and Wine Bistro in La Mesa hosts a comedy night on the fourth Friday each month from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

By Ken Stone,Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  La Mesa Councilman Jack Shu wore an orange shirt emblematic of the gun-safety movement. Image via Facebook

July 12, 2023 (La Mesa) - The La Mesa City Council on Tuesday night advanced a draft ordinance requiring residents to keep firearms locked away or disabled with a trigger lock unless carried by — or near — an authorized user in the home.

By Chris Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  a pilot of crashed Cessna (in blue) emerges from scene. Photo by Chris Stone

July 9, 2023 (La Mesa) - A pilot and co-pilot of a Cessna A185F suffered moderate injuries Sunday after their plane crashed into a ravine between a church and a residential area in La Mesa.

East County News Service

July 4, 2023 (La Mesa) – The Lake Murray Fireworks and Music Festival returns for a day of live music, food, fun and fireworks to celebrate Independence Day.

Enjoy music by bands including Republic of Music, Whiskey State of Mind, Big Time Operator, The Jackals, plus a day-long scavenger hunt and other children’s activities from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., followed by fireworks at 9 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Parole officers visit a residence, by Scorpion, Creative Commons 4.0 license

Updated June 28, 2023 with statement from Mary Xjimenez from the Calif. Dept. of  Corrections and Rehabilitation.

June 27, 2023 (La Mesa) – Should a parole office be allowed in  La Mesa,  just a few hundred feet from elementary schools and a preschool, around the corner from breweries and cannabis dispensaries, also near a senior daycare center and other sensitive uses?

That’s exactly what the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is considering, according to a letter sent to the city dated April 25.

Kristina Khokhobashvili  with the CDCR told ECM that the site, if approved, would serve not only parolees from East County and Chula Vista, but also the parolees who have tracking devices –which includes sexual predators and potentially violent offenders.

Thus far, she said, the state has not signed a lease for the site at 8374-8376 Hercules Street, across the street from  Carl Burger Dodge and Journey Church, which plans to open an elementary school on its property next year. According to Khokhobashvili, the state is still researching locations.

East County News Service

June 18, 2023 (La Mesa) — San Diego Concert Band will have two free performances in the next week locally, with two more next month. This week’s shows are:

East County News Service

June 8, 2023 (La Mesa)-- It's the best breakfast deal in town.  On Saturday, June 10, Heartland Firefighters of La Mesa will host a Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser at La Mesa Fire Station 11 (8034 Allison Avenue) from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. For just $5, guests can savor pancakes, eggs, sausage, coffee and orange juice, as well as  receive emergency preparedness training.

The public can receive training in several areas: CPR, Basic First Aid, and Crime Prevention. There will be training “stations” for the public to receive the information.

By Kathy Carpenter

June 6, 2023 (La Mesa) - "Gioia di vivere!” The joy of living is expressed in Slikworms, Lamplighters Theatre’s latest production, by local playwright Connie Terwilliger. A world premiere, Silkworms represents three generations of women. Silkworms need mulberry leaves to survive; both are interdependent.  Similarly, the women in this play need each other for support and love.

The grandmother provides wisdom and guidance, the mother provides love and support and the daughter provides hope and new beginnings. Together, they form a strong and unbreakable bond that sustains them through good times and bad. Silkworms is relatable, humorous and poignant.

By Jessyka Heredia

June 2, 2023 (La Mesa)-State Assembly candidate Colin Parent kicked off his campaign for the 79^th State Assembly  at Bolt Brewery in La Mesa on Wednesday with approximately 35 supporters in attendance.

Parent spoke briefly to the crowd, noting that in 2016 he became the first Democrat elected to the La Mesa City Council in years. “We have accomplished a lot already,” he said.

For example, he noted that the city “broke ground earlier this year on the first 100% affordable housing project in the city in decades--right next to the trolley, right caddy corner to city hall. It’s going to create hundreds of units for low- and moderate-income families.”  He added, “We also adopted some rules to make it much, much easier for homeowners to build Accessory Dwelling units (ADU) in their backyard.”

Parent also addressed equity issues, stating, ”Three years ago we decided for the first time to fly the pride flag and just this week, we fought back a proposal to eliminate that.”

Source:  AAUW

May 29, 2023 (La Mesa/El Cajon) - The June 10, 2023 installation meeting of the La Mesa-El Cajon Branch of the American Association of University Women will be held at the Bay Club Hotel and Marina at 2131 Shelter Island Dr. in San Diego. The luncheon meeting begins at 11:00 and dress is Tropical. The new officers will be led by President Elect, Jane Drinkwalter. For more information, lunch selections and reservations go to AAUW La Mesa-El Cajon (CA) Branch. The cost of the luncheon is $40.00.

Source:  City of La Mesa

May 27, 2023 (La Mesa) - During May’s Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, the La Mesa Police Department reminds drivers to always look twice for motorcycles. Safe riding and driving practices, and a shared responsibility from all road users, will help everyone get to their destination safely.

By Miriam Raftery

May 27, 2023  (San Diego’s East County) – The County of San Diego is kicking off its annual movies in the park, which this year features 150 movies at dozens of parks across the County.  Bring the family—along with blankets and lawn chairs—to cozy up for a night under the stars.

The season opens this Memorial Day weekend at Waterfront Park downtown and runs through October.  East  County and inland locations include Anza Borrego,Campo, El Cajon, Encanto, Escondido, Julian , Lakeside,  La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Pine Valley,  Potrero, Poway, Ramona, Rancho Penasquitos, Rolando, San Carlos, and Spring Valley.

Theme weekends have also been scheduled, including Juneteenth (June 16 and 17), Comic-Con (July 21-22), Ladies Night (Aug. 12), International Dog Day (Aug. 25 and 26), Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15) and Halloween (late October).