By Miriam Raftery

May 19, 2019 (La Mesa) – Frustrated by a lack of compromise between local businesses for and against the Friday night farmers market in downtown La Mesa, the city council has voted unanimously to end its contract with the La Mesa Village Association to run the market.  Council will put out a request for proposals from other operators to potentially move the market to another location or a different day,or keep the same location and days, but with improvements to resolve the rift.

If no entity comes forward, East County’s longest running farmer’s market could end after July 31, when the LMVA contract runs out.

By Miriam Raftery

May 3, 2019 (La Mesa) – Chamber Bravura has performed in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Sydney Opera house, venues in Austria, Australia, England Ireland and Iceland.  They sang the mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican in Rome. Now the globally acclaimed young singers—middle and high school seniors from the San Diego region—are bringing their a capella choral magic to The Table: United Church of Christ of La Mesa.  Under direction of Katherine Girvin,  Chamber Bravura will perform at 2 p.m. in the church sanctuary at 5940 Kelton Avenue, La Mesa.  (www.tableucc.com)

Source:  City of La Mesa

May 1, 2019 (La Mesa) - The City of La Mesa invites the public to participate in the Livable La Mesa project by attending upcoming community action planning sessions. After collecting feedback from the community, La Mesa residents have prioritized the following domain topics for the La Mesa Age-Friendly Communities Action Plan: Outdoor Spaces & Buildings, Transportation, Housing, Social & Civic Participation, Community Information, and Health & Wellness. All action planning sessions are open to the public.  Residents are encouraged to attend any session for the topic areas that are important to them. Light refreshments will be provided.

April 3, 2019 (La Mesa) - La Mesa Police report that at 2 p.m. today,  Conception "Connie" Bibo, 89, was found safe in San Ysidro.

Bibo, who is believed to have pre-dementia and has memory issues. She had been last seen yesterday around 11:30 a..m. leaving her residence in the 6700 block of Alamo Way in tLa Mesa. Hers family returned home at approximately 2:30 p.m. and and discovered Mrs. Bibo and her vehicle (a gray 2013 Hyundai Elantra)were not at the residence.

Millennial pays off $68k debt in three years and inspires others on how she did it

East County News Service

March 30, 2019 (La Mesa) -- Guen Garrido, a 2007 UCLA graduate had $40,000 in school loans and another $20,000 plus in credit card debt. She will share her story and how she became debt free after three years of hard work and planning. Guen believes anyone can do the same thing and her wisdom will be shared at the conference as a keynote speaker for the tenth anniversary of San Diego Women’s Week on April 5.

East County News Service

March 20, 2019 (La Mesa) - The City of La Mesa is seeking volunteers for an ad hoc citizen committee on homelessness.  If you're passionate about homeless issues and want to make a positive difference in the community, you are encouraged to sign up.

Upcoming spring events April 10 and May 19 reap harvest of community opportunities

By Elisabeth Handley

March 18, 2019 (La Mesa) -- Spring heralds all things new, so what better time to plan a new garden or landscape renovation? La Mesa Beautiful’s spring events are the perfect venues to get ideas, talk to experts and have a lot of fun in the process.

March 13, 2019 (Hooleys) -- Several St. Patrick’s Day activities are planned in La Mesa this weekend. Hooley’s Public House is celebrating 20 years in East County with the return of Hooleyfest on Saturday and Sunday, March 16 and 17 at Hooley’s Grossmont Center location. The hours Saturday are 5 p.m. to midnight and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Ticket are available in advance at Hooleys or at the door.

On Sunday morning from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on March 17th, Grossmont Center kicks off a St. Patrick’s Day Family Fun Run, followed by a kids’ concert from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, what could be finer than an evening at Hooley’s Irish Pub and Grill with East County Dining Club--featuring great food and drinks, plus prize drawings?

Hooleys will donate a portion of every food and drink item purchased to benefit East County Magazine nonprofit news in the public interest and East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts.

Hooley’s was voted best Irish pub in the world (outside of Ireland) by an organization of international Irish pub owners.  Founder Craig McDonald has added authentic ambience along with traditional Irish foods, brews and bar offerings. 

Date:  Thursday, Feb. 28 at 6:30 p.m.

Location;  Hooley’s Irish Pub and Grill

Grossmont Center (5500 Grossmont Center Dr.), La Mesa

Please RSVP by Feb. 25 to be entered in an early bird prize drawing!

619-698-7617 or editor@eastcountymagazine.org

*We’ve priced this event for affordability!  You can order just an entrée, or as many other items as you wish off a special menu just for our dining club event!  Here are the delicious details:

February 6, 2019 (Mount Helix) -- Freelanc Photographer and videographer Martin Hoffman snapped these beautiful images of a double rainbow from the backyard of his Mount Helix home, looking southeast.

Council also approves changes to traffic-calming procedures, making it harder for neighobrhoods to approve speed humps



By Miriam Raftery

January 10, 2019 (La Mesa) – Heeding the urging of citizens for form a task force with citizens’ involvement to address homelessness,  La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis at Tuesday’s City Council agreed to take action—taking the first steps toward forming a committee to address the issues.

“It’s beyond just setting up ways to work with faith-based centers,” the Mayor said, referencing local churches helping to feed and provide temporary shelter to homeless people. He said the city also needs to look at “how to help people not become homeless.”

By Miriam Raftery

January 6, 2019 (La Mesa) – At the La Mesa City Council meeting on Tuesday, January 19^th, Mayor Mark Arapostathis will deliver his state of the city speech. Afterwards, the Council agenda includes several hot topics.

Council will hear a report on the independent investigation into a controversial use of force by a La Mesa Police school resources officer at Helix High School in January of last year. A video showed the officer knocking a handcuffed female student to the ground.  According to the city, the student declined to speak with the independent investigator and has filed a lawsuit against La Mesa.  

Council will also hear results of the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program and vote on whether to accept the report, which includes a 2019 work plan and ranked list of streets for traffic calming measures.

Council will also hear appeals involving two medical marijuana dispensary applications. 

East County News Service

Photo: Supervisor Dianne Jacob and La Mesa Councilmember Akilah Weber, M.D. will be guests at upcoming Chamber breakfasts.

January 4, 2019 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce has announced events during the first quarter of 2019. These include evening mixers at Surf Rider Pizza Co. as well as Rainbow Travel and Cruise, a breakfast with Supervisor Dianne Jacob, a ribbon cutting at San Diego Eye Professionals, breakfast with newly elected La Mesa City Councilmember Dr. Akilah Weber, and the 11^th annual Salute to Local Heroes and offier installation dinner.

Update December 20, 2018:  The State has sent a letter to La Mesa's city manager advising that it has dropped plans for a parole office at this location, at this time, but will seek an alternative site elsewhere in East County.

By Susan Nichols, President, Grossmont-Mt. Helix Improvement Association (GMIA)

December 19, 2018 (La Mesa) -- The Grossmont-Mt. Helix Improvement Association (GMIA), along with the greater community, continues to gather information to oppose the leasing of a building by the Department of Corrections for a Parole Operations Center amidst of their residential community. GMIA and the greater community have sought help from elected state officials, who are aware of the community plea to stop the parole office but have yet to provide substantive action.