City of La Mesa Food Drive October 17

October 13, 2015 (La Mesa) -- The City of La Mesa Human Relations Advisory Commission is sponsoring a food drive to benefit the San Diego Food Bank. The food drive will be held on Saturday, October 17, from 8:00 am to noon in the municipal parking lot (Farmers Market site) at 8130 Allison Avenue, along Date Avenue. The drive-thru drop off will be fast and convenient – no need to get out of the car.

October 10, 2015 (La Mesa)--Visionary Dance Theatre opens its sixth season with a fall dance concert, “Shades” at the Kwaisun Studio (8380 Center Drive, La Mesa, CA 91942) on October 16th-17th, 2015 at 8pm.

October 10, 2015 (Alpine)--Could you use a bit of inspiration for your upcoming Halloween jack o’ lantern carving projects? There’s no better opportunity than learning from one of the best in the business – Master Carver Gene Granata. Granata will be displaying some of his jack o’ lantern creations, as well as offering carving tips, at the Alpine Education Foundation’s inaugural Night of the Jack o’ Lanterns event to be held at the Alpine Creek Town Center on Thursday, October 15 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. The event is free for all ages.

By Miriam Raftery

October 10, 2015 (El Cajon ) – The family of Elijah “Bear” Diaz, 20,  who vanished on August 29^th, will hold a spaghetti dinner fundraiser and raffle at Barona Clubhouse on October 23, 2015 at 6 p.m. 

“Since we believe Bear is not missing on his own terms, the family has hired a private investigator which these funds will go toward,” Katey Hoffman told East County Magazine. She is working with Lelanie Thompson,  Bear’s mother.

The cost is $10 and includes spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, drinks and desert.  Raffle tickets are $5 and prizes include jewelry, art, cooking wares, and gift cards.  Donations of additional raffle prizes are welcome.

By Mike Allen

Photos by Janis Russell

October 8, 2015 (La Mesa)--Emotions got nearly out of control at a packed Helix Water District meeting Oct. 7 as customers lashed out at the board’s plan to raise rates over the next five years.

After more than three hours of presentations from water district staff and testimony from angry customers, the five-member elected board voted 3-2 to adopt a five-year rate increase plan, beginning Nov. 1 and continuing to 2020.

13 more cases suspsected, including 2 deaths as outbreak widens

County News Service

October 8, 2015 (San Diego) – Five new patients are confirmed to have been infected with West Nile virus, bringing the total number of people who have contracted the mosquito-driven disease this year to 11. These include  the second fatality this year localy---a 73-year-old El Cajon man who died October 4.

One newly confirmed case was detected after a routine blood donation last week by a 56-year-old San Diego woman had symptoms consistent with the virus, and three other cases confirmed by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) in patients who were hospitalized in September: a 77-year-old San Diego woman, a 53-year-old San Diego man, and a 60-year-old Ramona woman.

In addition, there are 13 suspected San Diego County cases pending confirmation by CDPH, including two suspected deaths.

Source: City of La Mesa

October 7, 2015 (La Mesa)--On Thursday, October 8, from 9:30 to 12:00 noon, adult athletes age 50 and older from East County are teaming up with elementary school students for the annual East County Intergenerational Games in La Mesa.

This marks the 10th year the City of La Mesa hosts the Intergenerational Games event.  The games are held at La Mesa Arts Academy, 4200 Parks Avenue. Students from 2nd through 6th grade are paired with active adult’s age 50+ to compete in a circuit of non-competitive, fun activities.

East County News Service

September 9, 2015 - The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce has announced the entertainment lineup of its new “FallFest” event being held October 16th and October 17th at Grossmont Center (5500 Grossmont Center Drive, in the Macy’s parking lot.)

The entertainment lineup will combine the best in music with “a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll.”

October 5, 2015 (El Cajon)--The El Cajon Valley Host Lions Club will hold it's 25th annual Pancake Breakfast on Sunday October 25th between 8 am and 12 noon at the Ronald Regan Community Center 195 E. Douglas El Cajon.

Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District          

October 5, 2015 (El Cajon)--Omali Yeshitela, founder of the African People’s Socialist Party and the African Socialist International, is the featured speaker at Cuyamaca College’s Diversity Dialogues workshop, “Day in Solidarity with African People: Reparations for Stolen Black Lives,” set for 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, in the Performing Arts Center. The workshop is free and open to the public.

East County News Service

October 4, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)—Caltrans is weighing whether or not to grant state scenic highway designation of State Route 52 from Mast Boulevard in Santee to Santo Road in San Diego, where the highway passes through Mission Trails Regional Park.  Preserve Wild Santee began seeking the designation in 2012 and the San Diego City Council passed a unanimous resolution in support in 2013, yet Caltrans has not yet taken action.

Save Mission Trails and Preserve Wild Santee are both asking the public to send letters urging support of the scenic highway designation to preserve the natural beauty of this area from projects such a power plant proposal recently withdrawn by the developer.  Save Mission Trails has provided a sample letter that you can sign and send to those listed below.

Note to our readers: Please send us your best photos taken alone highway 52 between Mast and Santos Road! We will publish the most scenic and beauitful photos.

Update Oct. 6, 2015 - La Mesa Police report that this missing juvenile has been found with friends in Imperial Beach and has been returned to her family.

Update Oct. 4, 2015 1 p.m. - Olivia's mother confirms that a friend received an Instragram message that appears to be from Olivia.  The message indicates she is safe but does not want to come home.  It is not certain whether the message was sent by Olivia or possibly by someone with access to her account.

East County News Service

October 4, 2015 (La Mesa) – Public help is sought to locate Olivia Miller, 14, A Guatay resident who vanished Friday night in La Mesa. She was last seen at 7 p.m. at the Journey Community Church at 8363 Center Drive.

According to La Mesa Police dispatch, Olivia is 5 feet 1 inch tall, weighs 110 pounds, has black hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing a white baseball cap, black shirt and black pants. She may also have been wearing a white cardigan and carrying a brown backpack, her mother has advised East County Magazine.

Olivia’s mother, Sherrie Jockell, says Olivia had a picnic dinner with family at the church before services.  An assistant teacher in a class at church, Olivia never made it to class after dinner.  Family realized she was missing after the service, when she did not return to their car.  Olivia made no mention of going anywhere after church to her friends or family.

East County News Service

October 3, 2015 (El Cajon) – Neighbors helped an elderly man out of his home after a garage caught fire in the 2300 block of Charles Way before firefighters arrived Friday afternoon.

Heartland Fire and Rescue crews from El Cajon and La Mesa, assisted by the Santee and San Diego Fire Departments, were dispatched to the blaze. The first engine company arrived within four minutes to find a two-story detached garage with heavy fire and smoke.