East County New Service

December 8, 2017 (La Mesa) – Paul Kruze provided these photo of La Mesa’s holiday tree and street lighting,illuminated at the “La Mesa Shimmer” event.   

Shops along La Mesa Boulevard are also bedecked with holiday trim, just in time for the start of La Mesa’s annual Holiday in the Village celebration this Saturday, December 9^th from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, December 10^th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

East County News Service

December 2, 2017 (La Mesa) -- You are cordially invited to join La Mesa Conversations at its annual Holiday mixer on Friday, December 8th at Helix Brewing Company (8101 Commercial Street, La Mesa) from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Click here for a Google maps link.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News

November 23, 2017 (La Mesa) – A fire on Thanksgiving morning caused $250,000 in damage to a home and its contents in the 3800 of Carbo Court in La Mesa.

According to ECM news partner 10 News, Karla Fierro and her boyfriend helped her three children escape the fire, along with their dog. With help from a neighbor, they also evacuated a paralyzed man whom her boyfriend is caretaker for. The disabled man and his caretaker were treated at a hospital for smoke inhalation.

East County News Service

November 18, 2017 (La Mesa) – Looking for holiday cheer?  San Pasqual Winery’s tasting room in La Mesa is offering cork wreath making classes, an evening of wine and cheese, and live music nights featuring musicians specializing in jazz, classical, and guitar ranging from country to classic rock and more.  For a full schedule of holiday season happenings, scroll down.

East County News Service

November 14, 2017 (La Mesa) — Upcoming events at La Mesa Wine Works include yoga, live music, crazy hat day, trivia night and more. Scroll down for a schedule of events.

East County News Service

November 8, 2017 (La Mesa) - On Friday, November 10 and Saturday, November 11, Grossmont Center is pulling out all the stops to honor our veterans.  The event kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday evening in the Courtyard with a concert by the Navy's SW 32nd Street Brass Band.  These outstanding musicians will be performing traditional New Orleans jazz, Navy favorites and pop tunes.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

November 7, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – A man suspected of savagely stabbing a female delivery driver, 35, this morning at a convenience store in La Mesa has been taken into custody.  Sheriff’s deputies are investigating whether he may be linked to another woman found stabbed this morning in El Cajon.

The chilling sequence of events began shortly after 3 a.m. when a Frito Lay delivery truck driver was stabbed repeatedly outside of the 7-Eleven store on Avocado Boulevard in unincorporated La Mesa.  She staggered into the store, where she collapsed after telling a clerk she’d been attacked, 10 News reports.

By Valerie Watts

Costume contest winner had 1 in 10 chance to win thousands

By Maria Wiles

November 1, 2017 (La Mesa) - The Hills in La Mesa made one patron scream in excitement this Halloween weekend with a costume contest grand prize of $10,000.

La Mesa’s The Hills hosted their second annual $10,000 costume contest on Saturday, Oct. 28. The costume winner, chosen from crowd popular vote, had the choice of accepting $500 cash or taking a 1 out of 10 chance at winning a $10,000. The risk taker had to choose the correct black glass ball with a gold bell in it.

East County News Service

October 23, 2017 (La Mesa) – “Join us as we celebrate the strength of our community and help us gather toys, diapers and other items for children between the ages of 2-13 years old and the families of military personnel living in La Mesa military housing,” says Mary England, president of the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce.

By Jonathan Goetz

Photo, left:  Mackenzie Hyden, Michelle Porras, Zayda Estrada, and Sophia Torres in “Spiral Dance” 

October 20, 2017 (San Diego/La Mesa) - Bamboozled by Spencer John Powell's Kidz Danz Kompany was energetic, fast-paced and fun to watch. The music selection was stellar and made for an upbeat show; even a toddler in the row next to me was jumping up and down and dancing with the music. My favorite parts were the flips by Michelle Porras, the high energy classical piece “Psalms for the Children of Syria” and the graceful “Spiral Dance.”

East County News Service

October 19, 2017 (La Mesa) -- The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host “Eating a Fiber Rich Diet,” a free program on the benefits of a fiber rich diet, from 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 25. The program is part of the library’s “Wellness Wednesday” series, normally held on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Admission is free. Light refreshments will be served, including tasting samples of a fiber rich recipe. Advance RSVP is not necessary.

East County News Service

October 18, 2017 (La Mesa) -- You’re invited to join La Mesa Conversations and La Mesa First United Methodist Church's Community Outreach Ministry for a joint presentation of the new film "Tony - The Movie," a film about homelessness in San Diego.  The film we be showed on October 30^th.  Please visit http://tony-themovie.com/ to learn more about the film.

The screening at the church (4690 Palm Avenue, La Mesa) will be followed by a panel presentation and discussion about homelessness in San Diego and La Mesa, with a question and answer session.

East County News Service

October 16, 2017 (La Mesa) – Summit Transmissions, 7633 El Cajon Blvd. in La Mesa, has announced it is donating 10 percent from its sales on brake work performed in October to Brakes for Breasts (www.brakesforbreasts.org), a fundraising effort for a vaccine to prevent breast cancer. In addition, Jerry Kubitsky, owner, Summit Transmissions, said he is providing free brake pads, a $109 value, to every customer needing new brakes.

East County News Service

October 15, 2017 (Mt. Helix) -- The Mt. Helix Park Foundation and Grossmont Mt Helix Improvement Association (GMIA) are joining together for a fun-filled Halloween Harvest Family Festival at the top of Mt Helix Park for neighborhood families on Sunday, October 29^th from 2 to 5 p.m.