Click here for a list of La Mesa smoke-free restaurants.

By Dani Womack

Pastor Dani Womack is the Community Life Pastor at Crosspointe Life Church and Chairperson of the La Mesa Collaborative.

July 11, 2016 (La Mesa)--Summer is finally here and what better place to enjoy being outdoors than San Diego County! La Mesa has invested millions to renovate their Downtown Village, putting a priority on outdoor seating in public spaces and local restaurants have joined in by growing their outdoor dining patios. Many cities throughout San Diego County and the state have passed local laws restricting smoking in outdoor areas such as parks, beaches, farmer’s markets, and outdoor dining patios.

East County News Service

July 4, 2016 (El Cajon) — A female runner has reported being harassed twice in the past week along Westwind and Tyrone in El Cajon by two men (one white, one black) in their 20s.

East County News Service

Video credit:  Fremantle Media North America

June 27, 2016 (La Mesa) – Ellen "Gigi" Draper from La Mesa won a car on the Price is Right earlier this month. She and her husband, Robert “Bob” Draper went to Los Angeles the night before in order to be first in line in hopes of being picked by host Drew Carey.

“I had on an orange shirt and it says, `HI Drew, I need help. Married 58 years to Pop Pop, Mother of four boys and 1 girl, grandmother of 18 and great-grandmother of 15. I need a vacation – Gigi.”

East County News Service

June 23, 2016 (Casa de Oro) -- On Saturday June 25th, Butler’s Coffee House invites you to celebrate their grand opening. The event includes coffee, food, and live music. The ribbon cutting will start at 10:30 a.m. and includes a flag ceremony at 11:00 a.m.

By Chisato Iversen

June 22, 2016 (La Mesa) -- From helping the blind to supporting Meals on Wheels and Toys for Tots, the La Mesa Lions Club has long been a driving force to help local people in need.  East County Magazine sat down for an exclusive interview with Marge Dyke, former La Mesa Lion’s Club president.

Emergency SOS!  KNSJ, which has the emergency broadcast network for East County, is off the air due to vandals. Help us get KNSJ back on the air -- and also support East County Magazine!

SATURDAY, JUNE 18:  4 to 7 p.m.

Don't miss our summer solstice celebration of artists, authors, musicians, and thinkers will support East County Magazine and KNSJ, nonprofit media in the public interest.

Performers include: Fabio Rojas playing Latin music, comedians Benji Garcia  Karl Weiss, classical Indian dance by Nilanjana, dancer Gargi Chttopadhyaya, Indian drummers Sai Payan and Dijan Ashtianti, novelist Scott Sigler, and hip-hop by Poalypse Gotadajuice.

Savor delicious foods and libations! Plus win fabulous prizes in our opportunity drawings and silent auction, includnig Julian carriage rides, harbor cruises, dinners, dance classes, designer hand-crafted jewelry(coral/turquoise/shells and hand-painted stone), wine lovers baskets, boutique gift certificates, original art "Neptune's Capture" by Denver Native American artist Michaela Beavers, museum-quality Central AmericanMata Ortiz pottery, music CDs, books, gallery framing, butterfly kite, restaurant and cafe gift certificates,  yoga lessons, bakery basket of goodies, old time photography shoot, antiques, Fiesta basket, yoga lessons,and more!

Open to East County Magazine subscribers (subscribe free at the top right side of our homepage), KNSJ members, and invited guests. 

RSVP today for early bird rates: ($19, or $17 each with purchase of two tickets, groups of 6 or more $13 each.)   At the door: $22.  Call 619-698-7617 or email editor@eastcountymagazine.org to RSVP.

By Chisato Iversen

June 15, 2016 (La Mesa)-- Grace Kaminaka Tsuida, a student at Grossmont High School’s class of 1944, is a survivor of a Japanese-American internment camp during World War II.  As part of an AP class project at Grossmont High School , students documented the experiences of Grossmont students who were interned.  Their stories are documented in  Japanese American AP US American Reports  and can be seen in a special exhibit at the La Mesa Historical Society during June. 

Grace Kaminaka Tsuida  was born  Sept. 9,1926 in Lemon Grove. She made friends easily, like other children, until after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, when the U.S. government sent her family and others to an internment camp.  After their release, they were given an apology from the government, though it failed to acknowledge the humiliation and confusion they experience.  Now, 67 years later, Grace’s niece, Judy Miyamoto, helped arrange for Grace to finally receive her Grossmont High School Diploma.

Now 90 years old, Grace granted an exclusive interview with East County Magazine.   Please read her compelling story.

East County News Service

June 12, 2016 (La Mesa) - You're invited to celebrate the grand opening of The Lookout at Legacy Park in La Mesa on June 29th at 6:00 p.m. in honor of La Mesa's centennial.

East County News Service

June 3, 2016 (La Mesa) – The Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library is now hosting its Spring Art Exhibit featuring 19 watercolor paintings by award-winning artist Carol Roberts of Spring Valley. The show runs through June 30. The exhibit features paintings of landscapes, animals, birds, flowers and scenery, some of them inspired by Roberts’ scuba diving trips to New Guinea, Palau and Fiji.

East County News Service

June 2, 2016 (La Mesa) – The District Attorney’s office has added attempted murder to the list of charges facing Theodis Barley, 50, who was arrested May 12 on arson by La Mesa Police.. He is accused of setting fire to his sister’s home on Nebo Drive in La Mesa on May 9^th; authorities believe he knew that his sister was inside at the time.

East County News Service

May 26, 2016 (La Mesa) – AP students at Grossmont High School recently researched Japanese-American students who attended Grossmont and the impact that the 1942 internment of program had on their lives.  Now the results of their efforts are on display in a special exhibit at the La Mesa Historical Society: May through September on the 2nd & 4th Saturday  from 1-4pm: “WWII Internment and the Japanese-American Students of Grossmont High School.”

May 24, 2016 (La Mesa) -- La Mesa City Council meets today at 6 p.m. in City Hall. 

The agenda includes a proposal for the city to take over sponsorship of the “Back to the 50s” car show, an event formerly organized and funded by the La Mesa Village Merchants Association.

Council will also weigh changes to parking requirements in the downtown commercial area, as well as  whether  to approve proposed transportation and street improvements.

East County News Service

May 21, 2016 (La Mesa) – The City of La Mesa’s free family fun “Concerts at Six” series will be held once again in Harry Griffen Park (8550 Milden Street) each Sunday  evening from 6 to 7 p.m.   The season opens June 12 and runs through July 24.

For the season opener, the San Diego Concert Band will perform. Other musical entertainment through the season will include Rhythm and the Method, Jazz West, Sonic Epidemic, Silvermine, and Big Band Ambassadors.  For a full schedule of entertainers, scroll down:

Update May 13, 2016:  A court has denied a request from Dr. Dorin's attorney to view thousands of video clips, ECM has learned. Sharp spokesman John Cihomsky informed us today , "...The judge agreed with Sharp that releasing the footage would violate patient privacy, so we will not be releasing the footage to the attorney."

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

May 12, 2016 (La Mesa) – Sharp Healthcare has issued a revised statement regarding an investigation that used hidden videos to catch a doctor now accused of stealing narcotic drugs off an anesthesia cart at Sharp Grossmont Hospital.  ECM reported on privacy concerns raised in an  article on May 7^th.  The hospital initially said that videos were only sent to the California Medical Board as evidence in a complaint filed against Dr. Adam Dorin, and that those clips did not include patients. 

But today, John Cihomsky, vice president of public relations for Sharp, sent ECM an updated statement from Sharp. It indicates that 14 clips showing patients were mistakenly provided to Dr. Dorin’s attorney.  In the statement, Sharp admits to and apologizes for breaching those patients’ privacy.

East County News Service

May 10, 2016 (La Mesa) - The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host “Be Sun Smart,” a free presentation on skin care and safety from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 25. The program is part of the library’s Wellness Wednesday series, normally held on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Admission is free. Refreshments will be served. Advance RSVP is not necessary. Speaking will be Tina Mirpuri, care director with Synergy HomeCare of La Mesa, a franchised home care company.