LA MESA SAVES FLAG DAY PARADE: DONATIONS ROLL IN FROM RESIDENTS, BUSIENSSES AND CIVIC LEADERS
February 9, 2009 (Mesa) “ Thanks to the generosity of La Mesa citizens, business leaders and elected officials who donated out of their own pockets, La Mesa’s annual flag day parade has been saved from the budget chopping block. The 14th annual event will take place on Saturday,
“We met the goal and then some,” an e-mail signed by Council members Ernest Ewin and David Allan stated. “Thank you, Shannon O’Dunn for your leadership in this effort.” O’Dunn (photo), a La Mesa resident, ran for La Mesa Council in the last election.
“Our fund raising success for this event may surprise some who live outside our City-unless they work here,” the Council members” e-mail stated. “They need to come to our City and see why it happened...time and time again La Mesa will support what it believes in.”
In an earlier e-mail, Ewin thanked East County Magazine for publicizing the one-week fundraising drive to raise $10,500. Drew Ford and EDCO each donated $1,000, while Sycuan pitched in $750. All of La Mesa’s Council members (Ruth Stirling, Mark Arapostathos, Ernest Ewin and David Allan) and Mayor Art Madrid pledged donations ranging from $100 to $500 apiece. SDG&E, La Mesa Lion’s Club, and Liberty Charter School donated $500 each, while residents of La Mesa Village Plaza offered up $370.
Other donors included Act II, Alessio Leasing, Kristine Alessio, Bill Baber, Sherrall Bearss, Mike Bemis, Blumethal & Co., Chuck Bras, Ewin Brock LLP, Church of Scientology of San Diego, Elaine Clabaugh, Dr. Sunita Cooke, Manny Demetre, Kari Dodson, Mindi Drosi, Fischbeck and Oberndorfer, Friends of the La Mesa Library, John and Laurice Gerk, Giordano/Gio, Helen Givens, Joe and Carol Glidden, Steve Grooms, Sharon Hastings, Irene Hobbs, Homeland Florist, Karen Jarrard, Johnny B’s, Scott Kidwell family, Kathleen Kieferdor, Bonnie Kipperman, Kristin Hobbs Kjaero, Kurt Koehler, La Mesa Village Plaza Social Committee, Fran and Dexter Levy, the Lowes Family, Henry McAdams, Guy McWhirter, Mostly Mission, NIFCU, Park Estates, Pete’s Place, Miriam Raftery (editor of East County Magazine), Sara’s Selections Boutique, Steve South, Time & Treasures, Unique Travel, and Ken Wilson.