East County News Service

January 9, 2017 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host a free program on “Easy Ways to Eating Right for a Healthy Body and Mind” from 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 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. Advance RSVP is not necessary. Handouts will be available.

Source: La Mesa Chamber of Commerce

File photo: Jacob meets with constituents in Dulzura

January 3, 2017 (La Mesa) - The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce will host County Supervisor Dianne Jacob for its first breakfast meeting of the year starting at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at the Marie Callender’s restaurant, 6950 Alvarado Road, San Diego.

East County News Service

January 3, 2017 (La Mesa) – About 100 people gathered on New Year’s Day afternoon at Mount Helix Park Amphitheater for a “Prayer Summit,” hosted by Unite San Diego, an East County-based coalition of pastors, elected officials, business owners and community leaders.

By  Laura Ball

January 1, 2017 (La Mesa/Mt. Helix) -- I have very active hummingbird feeders and have noticed a few birds with tumors on their beaks (see photo). I have been in contact with a specialist at the University of California-Davis Vet Med Center about this, and she had some suggestions on how to help them. The hummingbirds probably have avian pox, which is contagious - to birds only, not humans - and can spread through the feeders we all have in our yards.

East County News Service

Photo: George Runyan

December 27, 2016 (La Mesa) – Unite San Diego, a coalition of pastors, elected officials, business owners and community leaders, will host a New Year’s Day “Prayer Summit” from 2 to 3:30 p.m., Sunday, January, 1, at the Mount Helix Park Amphitheater, 4901 Mt. Helix Dr., La Mesa. The public is invited to attend. Admission is free. The program will include music, worship and prayers. A prelude to worship will begin at 1 p.m. Several hundred people are expected to attend, said Michael Griffiths of Unite San Diego.

East County News Service

December 16, 2016 (La Mesa and Santee)--The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce announces that applications are now available for the 2017 Miss La Mesa and Miss Santee Scholarship Pageants. Next year’s pageant will be held on Saturday, March 4th, 2017 at the beautiful new theater at Helix Charter High School.

 Each year the two cities seek young women between the ages of 12-26 to participate in a program that has become a tradition in the cities since the late 1960s and is an outstanding mentoring program for young women.

By Robin Norris Kendall

December 13, 2016 (La Mesa) -- The Coffee House Revolution has come to East County. Move over Starbucks—we can now choose to drink global, but sip local. Take, for example, Public Square Coffee House in the Village of La Mesa.

By Liz Alper

Photo via Merson on Wikipedia

December 10, 2016 (Cleveland) - Former Helix High School cornerback Jamar Taylor has signed a three-year, $15 million extension with the Cleveland Browns, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports.

December 9, 2016 (La Mesa)-- The new Holiday in the Village event will be bringing back some of La Mesa's most cherished holiday traditions--including chestnuts roasting on open fires,  holiday music and carnival rides for kids,  plus creating some new memories for all including booths with over 80 artisans.  Santa Claus will also be at the event slated for this Saturday,  December10th from 10 a.m.to 10 p.m. There's also a holiday card drive to brighten the holidays for U.S. troops overseas.

This is the first year that the new  La MesaVillage Association has been in charge of the event.  East County Magazine interviewed  Katie Halvin,  an organizer of the event,  on our radio show originally aired on KNSJ 89.1  FM. 

You can listen now by clicking the audio link.

Photo: View from atop Mt. Helix

East County News Service

December 7, 2016 (Mt. Helix) --You’re invited to start the New Year off on the right foot by joining the Grossmont Mt. Helix Improvement Association’s (GMIA) Walk Up Mt. Helix on Saturday, January 7th at 10:00 am.

East County News Service

December 1, 2016 (La Mesa) -- Nainsook Framing (8130 La Mesa Blvd.) in La Mesa is offering art classes this holiday season. Options include oil painting, watercolor and acrylic painting classes, all-day workshops, plus the latest craze—wine and art experiences where you can sip wine, savor snacks with friends and leave with a finished painting.

East County News Service

November 29, 2016 (La Mesa) - The last Boulevard Stroll of the year will be held on La Mesa Blvd. on December 7 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Santa will be in the Kids Corner from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. (he'll be inside Nainsook Framing + Art if it's raining).

East County News Service

November 29, 2016 (La Mesa) - The La Mesa Village Association's new event, Holiday in the Village, will be held on December 10^th from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., following a long history of Christmas in the Village events.

“As it is a new association sponsoring the event and the city is working to be more inclusive of all the holiday festivities at this time of year we have changed the name to reflect that,” the LMVA website states. Rest assured we will still have fire pits, caroling, lots of events for kids, and craft vendors to get everyone in the mood of the season!"

Update 11 p.m. -The strike set for  Monday has been called of due to progress in negotiations, the nurses' union has indicated.

Photo: United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals

East County News Service

November 27, 2016 (San Diego) – Registered nurses at Sharp Healthcare facilities announced Friday that they will stage a three-day strike starting Monday, November 28^th after contract negotiation talks broke down.

East County News Service

November 15, 2016 (La Mesa) – Friends of Angie Andrus are asking for public help to locate her.  According to Esther McElroy Beish, a family friend, Andrus suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, diabetes and high blood pressure. 

She was last seen in the Lake Murray area on October 24, when her vehicle was towed.   She could be living on the streets and confused.  “We have no idea where she is or if she is okay,” says Beish.