July 4, 2011 (La Mesa) – Christopher Sanchez, 22, of Paradise Hills was struck and killed last night by an eastbound Green Line San Diego Trolley approximately 200 yards east of the Grossmont Center trolley stop in Mesa, according to the County Medical Examiner. La Mesa Police and Fire personnel confirmed death at the scene due to obvious fatal trauma.

Swami’s Café

8248 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa CA 91941

(619)668-9030

Reviewed by a team of East County Eaters

 

July 2, 2011 (La Mesa) –When it came time to review Swami’s Café, East County Magazine found a team of eager volunteers. The menu is too vast and diverse for any single “eater” to assess, so we sent in our ravenous reviewers to sample the fare. Each enjoyed it so much that they went back again—and again!

June 29, 2011 (La Mesa)--William Warnock, 59, is under arrest for assault with a deadly weapon and felony criminal threats after an eight hour standoff with police. La Mesa Police responded to a call at 6100 Blain Place, La Mesa, around 10 p.m. last night after Warnock's wife reported that her husband had threatened to hurt her and also threatened to kill their 20-year-old son with a large screwdriver.

By Scott H. Kidwell, La Mesa

At the June 14, 2011 La Mesa City Council meeting Mayor Art Madrid moved to remove the city from the East County Economic Development Council and rather use the $5,000 annual membership fee to allow city officials to do more travel to defend city financing at state and federal levels. Time will tell how worthwhile this plan will be.

June 16, 2011 (La Mesa) – Kimberly Dawn Roehr of La Mesa has been arrested on four counts of burglary and one count of receiving stolen property, thanks to a tip from a local citizen who recognized her from the “San Diego’s Most Wanted-The FBI Files” television program.

The suspect had been recorded on video stealing hundreds of dollars of electronic merchandise at the Target store in Grossmont Center in January and February, according to the FBI.

June 11, 2011 (La Mesa) -- The City of La Mesa, in partnership with the La Mesa Park and Recreation Foundation, San Diego County La Mesa Branch Library, Readers Inc., and Friends of the La Mesa Library, will co-host Reading in the Park on Sat., June 18 from 10:00 a.m. to Noon at CollierPark, 4401 Palm Avenue, La Mesa.  

Hear children’s book authors give theatrical readings of their works and explain how their stories are created. Visit the craft table where kids can decorate a bookmark to take home. Everyone in the family can bring a gently used book to the event’s book exchange table and take home a fun new read. Guests can also sign up for La Mesa Library’s Summer Reading Program.

June 4, 2011 (La Mesa) -- This summer the City of La Mesa is offering fun, safe, and FREE outdoor family activities including the Chipotle “Sundays at Six” Summer Concert Series each Sunday in June and July at Harry Griffith Park. In addition, the city hosts a popular outdoor movie night July 29 at La Mesita Park plus a special "dive-in" showing at the La Mesa pool July 15.

New police station, fire station rehab, University Ave. revitalization, Alison Ave. upgrades, storm drain and wastewater collection projects named

May 29, 2011 (La Mesa) - The City of La Mesa has received eight awards for capital improvement projects.

Honors include four merit awards from American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), three project of the year awards from American Public Works Association (APWA), and one special recognition award from American Planning Association (APA).

May 25, 2011 (La Mesa)-- Firefighters from Heartland Fire & Rescue in La Mesa responded to a fire last night at 9:56 p.m. in the 5700 Block of Baltimore Drive. Upon arrival, the second floor condo was well involved in fire and the fire was extending to the third floor. 

May 23, 2011 (La Mesa) – A team of seventh graders from Day-McKellar Preparatory School in La Mesa will advance to the finals for the National History Day Competition in June 12-16 in Maryland. The team took first place at the California State National History Day Competition earlier this month with an award-winning performance on the 1980 U.S.-led Olympic boycott.

May 22, 2011 (La Mesa) -- Do you have a budding artist or a child that loves to act?  What about your sports enthusiast or do they love math and science?  La Mesa Community Services is offering these fourteen “memories-to-be-made” camps that will put a smile on any child’s face ages five years and up:  

*Art Smarts Art Camp, *Creative Theatre Camp, *Day Camp, *Engineering Camp, *Flag Football Camp, *Fencing Camp, *FRESHi Flix Filmmaking Camp, *Jump Rope Camp, *Mad Science Camp, *Math Zoom Camp, *Princess Camp, *Rock Star Camp, *Surf Camp, and *Tennis Camp.

Summer is just around the corner!  For more information, please visit www.cityoflamesa.com/classes or contact La Mesa Community Services at (619) 667-1300

May 21, 2011 (La Mesa)--On Tuesday, May 24, 2011, the City of La Mesa will host the Grand Opening of the Allison Avenue streetscape improvement project. The event will take place in front of and just east of the La Mesa Library (8074 Allison Avenue) at 4:30 pm.

Allison Avenue is located in the heart of La Mesa’s downtown and Civic Center providing access to shopping, the Trolley Station, bus stops, Civic Center, the Library and Post Office.

The award winning Allison Avenue project includes many new urban smart growth design concepts; including enhanced crosswalks with inlayed flashing pavement markers, decorative streetlights, walkability features, street trees,  landscaping, diagonal parking and improved bus shelters. 

On May 19, 2011, at about 1:15 PM, a man knocked a woman down and took her deposit bag near the Target Store in Grossmont Center. The suspect was described as a black male, 20 years old, muscular build wearing a white “do” rag, a white tee shirt and jeans. He was driven from the scene in a white Nissan X-Terra by a heavyset black female with long hair. 

The victim was a 49 year old female who sustained several abrasions as a result of the robbery. She was taken to Grossmont Hospital for evaluation. The loss was the deposit bag and its contents.  

May 5, 2011 (La Mesa) – Heidi Durfey, 24, has died after her sports utility vehicle (SUV) with her three young children inside rolled backward 60 feet and ran over her.  The tragedy occurerd on the driveway of her home in the 8700 block of Glenira Avene in La Mesa around 9:20 a.m. 

She became caught under the SUV as it rolled and was dragged beneath the vehicle. “It came to rest in the street with the front end of the vehicle on top of the victim’s head and chest,” said Sonny Saghera with Heartland Fire & Rescue. 

May 2, 2011 (La Mesa) – William S. Lerach has spent his career heading up prosecutions of some of Wall Street’s biggest corporate crooks. He's recovered billions of dollars for defrauded shareholders from big banks, corporations, accounting firms and insurance companies. After his most notable success—recovering $7.2 billion for defrauded shareholders of Enron—he appeared in the Oscar-nominated documentary, “Enron, the Smartest Guys in the Room.”

A frequent commentator on economic matters as well as securities and corporate law, Lerach now makes a chilling prediction: that America’s public and private pension funds are poised to fail.  The new financial crisis will threaten the financial security of retirees due to the actions of Wall Street, he warns.