La Mesa/Mt. Helix

HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF RECREATION AND PARKS IN LA MESA

Source:  City of La Mesa

April 5, 2023 (La Mesa) - The City of La Mesa is developing a Recreation and Parks Master Plan (Plan). The Plan will be a comprehensive effort dedicated to improving parks, recreation programs, and services for La Mesa residents. This year-long effort will help set the framework for future planning, maintenance, development and rehabilitation of City parks and facilities.


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LA MESA CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERS DIGITAL BILLBOARDS, PUBLIC ART AND DECOUPLING PARKING ON NEW DEVELOPMENTS

By Jessyka Heredia 

April 2, 2023 (La Mesa) -- Clear Channel Outdoor Vice President of Public Affairs Layne Lawson gave the La Mesa City Council a presentation on a proposed digital billboard plan during the March 28 Council meeting. The company is proposing that the City enter a development agreement with Clear Channel for two digital billboards that would display advertisements generating an annual development fee payment of $125,000 per new advertising structure for the City, plus a 3% annual increase, starting in the second year. 


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WILD IN THE COUNTRY MAY 20 AT LIONS TIGERS & BEARS FEATURES CELEBRITY CHEF, BROADWAY STARS AND RADIO HOSTS

East County News Service

March 31, 2023 (Alpine) – Lions, Tigers & Bears, a nonprofit exotic animal sanctuary in Alpine, invites you to their annual fundraising bash, Wild in the Country on May 20.  This year’s event features emcees Jagger and Kristi from Magic 92.5 radio, as well as Broadway stars Sandra Joseph and Ron Bohmer, lead actors in Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables.  Dinner will be prepared by world renowned chef Jeffrey Strauss, known as “Chef to the Stars” for pleasing the palates of dignitaries, presidents, royalty and entertainment icons.

The main event will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. on May 20. There is also a pre-event reception for platinum and gold level ticket holders at 1 p.m.


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FUNDRAISER FOR CEREBRAL PALSY TODAY AT SURF RIDER PIZZA

April 1, 2023 (La Mesa) – Surfrider Pizza in La Mesa will donate 15% of all food and beverage sales on April 2 between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. to the James Cerebral Palsy Foundation (tax and gratuity not included). 

This applies to dine-in and to-go orders, but not to-go orders through a third party company. You must mention the fundraiser when you order, or print and bring the flyer in this article.


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LA MESA EARTH DAY FESTIVAL APRIL 22

East County News Service

March 11, 2023 (La Mesa) – The city of La Mesa invites you to the La Mesa Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at MacArthur Park (4900 Memorial Drive, La Mesa).


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LA MESA COUNCIL MOVES FORWARD ON PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT, FORMS COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER TOBACCO ORDINANCE

City also lifts pandemic emergency declaration, proposes enforcement of affordable housing rules

By Jessyka Heredia

March 21,2023 (La Mesa) -- At Tuesday’s meeting, the La Mesa City Council voted to have staff draft a project labor agreement, form a subcommittee to consider stricter regulation of tobacco sales, and create fees for monitoring compliance with affordable housing in the city, among other items.


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GROSSMONT CENTER TO HOST LA MESA CHAMBER MIXER APRIL 26 AT BJ’S

 

East County News Service

March 21, 2023 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Chamber of Commerce invites you to join their  annual mixer hosted by the management team at Grossmont Center. The location for this lively event is BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse in Grossmont Center on Wednesday, April 26 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.


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SPRING HARP FEST BRINGS NATIONAL BLUES HARMONICA STARS TO LA MESA APRIL 8

East County News Service

Photos courtesy Steve Covault, rockmusicphotos.com

March 3, 2023 (La Mesa) – Local and national stars will be playing American blues harmonica music at Spring Harp Fest. The family-fun event, which raises funds to benefit music education countywide, will be held April 8 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Harry Griffen Park, 9550 Milden Street in La Mesa.

Since 1999, the Spring Harp Fest has introduced local musicians and music lovers to the great American art of Blues Harmonica. The unique once-yearly showcase includes local jams, competition among unknown players, and some of the best professional players in the music scene.


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LA MESA COUNCIL HEARS CALTRANS REPORT ON DELAY OF STATE ROUTE 94/125 INTERCHANGE, PUBLIC CONCERNS OVER BATTERY STORAGE SITE

By Jessyka Heredia

 

March 19, 2023 (La Mesa) - On February 28th, the La Mesa City Council heard an update from Karen Jewel, the Caltrans Project Corridor Director, on the State Route 94/125 Interchange Project that aims to provide freeway-to-freeway connection from southbound SR-125 to eastbound SR94 as well as ease congestion and improve traffic flow. 


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LA MESA AGREES TO PAY $10 MILLION SETTLEMENT TO WOMAN HIT IN HEAD BY POLICE BEANBAG DURING PROTEST

By Miriam Raftery

March 17, 2023 (La Mesa) — The City of La Mesa has reached a settlement in a civil case filed by Leslie Furcron, a 59-year-old great-grandmother struck in the head by a beanbag projectile fired by a La Mesa Police officer during a racial justice protest that ended in a riot on May 30, 2020.  The City will pay out $10 million to Furcron in one of the largest officer use-of-force settlements in the San Diego region, according to her attorney, Dante Pride.


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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY

March 15, 2023 (La Mesa) -- Chuck Cibulka snapped this photo of a beautiful Western Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly on pink lantana blooms in La Mesa.


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BANK FAILURES PROMPT LA MESA CITY TREASURER TO ISSUE STATEMENT ON CITY’S FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  CC by NC-ND

Updated March 22 with responses from East County cities and the County.

March 13, 2023 (La Mesa) – Two failed banks have been taken over by federal regulators.  The Federal  Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has taken control Silicon Valley Bank on Friday and Signature Bank on Monday.  That’s sent ripples  of concern through the financial community, also prompting La Mesa’s Treasurer to assure residents that at least 99% of the city’s assets are safe.

How did the bank failures happen?

The failures are tied to the Trump administration’s rollback of Dodd-Frank banking regulations, an action that eased restrictions on banks with under $250 billion in assets. That measure passed Congress in 2018 with overwhelming Republican support, though a few Democrats also backed the regulatory rollbacks. Both failed banks had under $250 billion in assets and would have been subject to stress tests and other regulatory scrutiny before the rollback of regulations.

Silicon Valley Bank got in trouble when many of its tech industry and business start-up customers needed money and made large withdrawals. So SVB had to start selling assets, mainly bonds, at a loss to free up funds for those withdrawals until its losses became too high, fueling a bank run by customers fearful of losing their money. That prompted the FDIC to take action. Like SVB, Signature Bank had over 90% of its deposits that were unisured, over the federally insured amount.  Now, the federal government is stepping in to help restore funds for investors -- but will not bail out the banks, leaving shareholders and holders of unsecured corporate bonds to absorb the losses.


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LA MESA-EL CAJON BRANCH OF AAUW TO HOLD 21ST ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP BENEFIT APRIL 29

Source:  American Association of University Women 

March 11, 2023 (La Mesa/El Cajon) - The La Mesa-El Cajon AAUW Branch is hosting Susan Carol McCarthy, a Carlsbad resident, as the featured speaker at their 21st annual scholarship benefit and luncheon, held at the Handlery Hotel in Mission Valley, 950 Hotel Circle North on April 29 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.


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REVIEW - ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST AT LAMPLIGHTER’S IN LA MESA

By Kathy Carpenter

 

March 9, 2023 (La Mesa) - Individuality versus conformity is an eternal conflict and in the case of One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest, man versus institution. More than that, this is a story of people, with a huge, wonderful cast full of characters to connect to and learn from. The play is emotionally impactful and well-acted; you leave Lamplighters theatre with an impression of right or wrong and individuality at all costs. 


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HOOLEYFEST ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARTYING RETURNS MARCH 17-19

Hooleyfest, the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in East County, will return next weekend after a hiatus—and that’s no blarney. The celebrating will span three days from March 17th through 19th at Hooley’s Irish Pub and Grille in La Mesa’s Grossmont Center.

Plus, you can enjoy live Irish music such as the Rebel Celts and Piper Ben, other music by bands such as 80’Z All Stars and Whiskey Ridge as you hoist a pint of Guinness and savor traditional Irish foods and cheer.


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DRIVER, 18, DIES AFTER CRASHING INTO UNOCCUPIED CHP VEHICLE IN LA MESA

Teen driver who died was not wearing seat-belt

 

East County News Service

 

Updated March 3, 2023 with identity of the victim.

 

March 2, 2023 (La Mesa) – An 18-year-old El Cajon man, Eugene Nelson,has died after he lost control on I-8 west and struck a California Highway Patrol vehicle that had stopped to investigate a pair of unrelated solo-vehicle accidents on Feb. 25.

 

According to Officer Jared Grieshaber, the vehicles involved in those two accidents were blocking the center divider and the #1 lane of traffic. “The CHP officer on scene parked his patrol vehicle with the emergency lights activated, within the #1 lane, and partially within the center divider for scene safety,” Officer Grieshaber said.


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THE CITY OF LA MESA IS SEEKING INPUT FROM RESIDENTS ON RECREATION, PARKS AND LIBRARY NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY

Source:  City of La Mesa

February 26, 2023 (La Mesa) - The City of La Mesa is seeking input from residents to help in the planning of future park, recreation, and library facilities, services, and programming. The results of the survey will be used to establish priorities for improvements to our park and open space system, recreation opportunities and library services.


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LA MESA CELEBRATES HEALTHY HEART WEEK WITH FITNESS PLAZA RIBBON CUTTING

Source:  City of La Mesa

Updated Feb. 19: Photo, left, La Mesita Park fitness plaza, courtesy City of La Mesa

February 10, 2023 (La Mesa) – In celebration of Heathy Heart week, a ribbon cutting will be held for the City of La Mesa’s newest outdoor fitness plaza on February 14, 2023, at 12:15 p.m. at La Mesita park, 8855 Dallas Street. Funding for the equipment was made possible through a $40,000 Age-Friendly Communities Grant provided by the San Diego Foundation, in addition to a $10,000 Greenfields Outdoor Fitness Grant in celebration of the California Park and Recreation Society’s 75th Anniversary.


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: ROBINS ARRIVE IN REGION

By Miriam Raftery

 

Photos by Dawn Sebaugh

 

February 9, 2023 (Mt. Helix) – Harbingers of spring, American  Robins have arrived in our region.  Dawn Sebaugh, a resident of Mt. Helix, says, “Last week we had 60 to 100 robins land all over the backyard and our deck. It was like the movie The Birds.” 


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VALENTINE AND WINE EVENTS AT SAN PASQUAL WINERY IN LA MESA

By Miriam Raftery

February 8, 2023 (La Mesa) – San Pasqual Winery has Valentine’s week happenings in the Barrel Room at its tasting room in La Mesa’s downtown village.


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GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY HELD FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEX IN DOWNTOWN LA MESA

By Miriam Raftery

Photo and artwork credits: City of La Mesa and La Mesa Chamber of Comemrce.

February 3, 2023 (La Mesa) – The site of La Mesa’s former police station will soon be home to 147 affordable apartment homes. A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the site at 8181 Allison Avenue on January 24.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: LA MESA PLANNING COMMISSION APPOINTMENT MUST AVOID CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

An open letter to La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis 

By Aaron Amerling

Photo, left: Kathleen Brand

January 24, 2023 (La Mesa) -- I want to wholeheartedly recommend Kathleen Brand for the planning commissioner spot. She has over 20 years of history serving the people in La Mesa in both volunteer positions and on boards and committees, her work experience is in city planning and she has shown an even-keeled approach to sustaining growth while not losing what makes La Mesa, La Mesa.


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FALSE ALARM REPORTING SCHOOL SCHOOTER TRIGGERS HEAVY POLICE RESPONSE AT LEMON GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

By Miriam Raftery

January 24, 2023 (La Mesa) – Neighbors near Lemon Avenue Elementary School reporting seeing 15-20 police cars and a SWAT team late this afternoon.  The La Mesa Police Department sent a Nixle warning of police activity near Lemon Ave. and Glen, but at 4:19 posted this message on Facebook:  “La Mesa PD received a call of an active shooter at Lemon Avenue Elementary. It was a FALSE ALARM. Officers are still on scene but there are no injuries and no active threat to the community.


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LA MESA CITY COUNCIL APPROVES PALM AVE. APARTMENTS AND SWEARS IN A NEW FIRE CHIEF

By Christianne McCormick

Photo: Project approved for 4757 Palm Ave. in La Mesa’s downtown village, courtesy City of La Mesa

January 23, 2023 (La Mesa) -- On January 10, La Mesa’s City Council ratified the Design Review Board’s approval of the Palm Avenue Apartments, which are slated to be built at the same site where the historic Randall Lamb building burned down during the 2020 George Floyd riots. The vote was 4-0, with Councilmember Laura Lothian abstaining because her office is close to the site.  

The development proposed by Palm Street Ventures LLC has brought about much debate among La Mesa residents. The five-story building would house 64 rental units, with only 29 parking spaces – less than one for each unit.  There will also be room for at least one business in the building, where apartment rents are expected to start at around $1,000 for units designated as affordable and run from $2,100 to $2,900 for other units, per the developer, Palm Street Ventures LLC.


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A CREATIVE ATMOSPHERE: OPEN MIC NIGHT AT SPACE BAR

By Susan Taylor

Photo, left: poet and activist Jim Moreno

January 22, 2023 (La Mesa) – On a recent visit to the Space Bar Café and Wine Bistro, I heard poets, read my own poetry, and enjoyed a nice late Sunday afternoon.  A small nosh and glass of wine seemed in order, so owner Frank Moody quietly executed my order so as not to disturb the speakers at the Open Mic event on the small stage at the rear of the café.


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THE REVLON GIRL - IT’S NOT JUST LIPSTICK

By Kathy Carpenter

 

January 19, 2023 (La Mesa) - After tragedy, life needs to be rebuilt. Lamplighters Theatre presents The Revlon Girl, written by Neil Anthony Docking. With so many tragic events hitting the news these days, it's hard to recall the details from month to month. Disasters need to be remembered and documented. The Revelon Girl humanizes Aberfan in England in 1966, delivering the stories and healing process of four women who lost their children and the woman who volunteers to help them.


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AAUW MEETING FEB. 11 TO FEATURE A PHENOMENAL WOMAN AND A COACHING LEGEND

East County News Service

 

January 17, 2023 (La Mesa) -- February 11 is the monthly meeting of the La Mesa-El Cajon Branch of the American Association of University Women. Precious Jackson-Hubbard (left) and Mimi Test (below right) will be the featured speakers focusing on MS. Jackson-Hubbard’s upbringing and career and MS. Tests history of Title IX through a coach’s eyes.

Audio: 

American Association of University Women mtg announcement El Cajon/La Mesa

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MT. HELIX MAN SENTENCED FOR BRUTAL STABBING DEATH OF HUSBAND

East County News Service

Photo: Daniel Scott Jordan. Courtesy Washoe County Sheriff’s Office

January 12, 2023 (Mt. Helix) – A man who fled the state after his husband was found murdered at their Mt. Helix home was found in Nevada and this week pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.


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CALL FOR BIPOC ARTIST SUBMISSIONS AT VISIONARY DANCE SCHOOL

East County News Service

January 5, 2023 (La Mesa) -- Visionary Dance Theatre: School for the Performing Arts announces a call for submissions for BIPOC (black, indigenous and people of color) artists to design and paint building business signage at the front of their studio at 8674 La Mesa Boulevard in La Mesa. The artist awarded the project will receive $1,000 in compensation and will receive up to $500 to purchase supplies. 


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CHRISTMAS DAY APARTMENT FIRE DISPLACES SIX IN LA MESA

East County News Service

Photo via San Miguel Fire Dept. on Facebook

December 26, 2022 (La Mesa) – A blaze that may have begun in a Christmas tree yesterday damaged four units at a La Mesa apartment complex, displacing six people and killing a dog. 


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