By Miriam Raftery

December 12, 2018 (La Mesa)--  Following the swearing in of newly elected Councilwoman Akilah Weber and reelected Councilman Bill Baber, the La Mesa City Council heard public comments last night from numerous area residents concerned about a state parole office proposed in a new building on Grossmont Summit Drive next to the Brigantine restaurant, other businesses and home.

By Miriam Raftery

November 20, 2018 (La Mesa) – A prominent advertising and communications expert for many years who later became a powerhouse in local nonprofits as their voice in the community, Robert Power “Bob” Battenfield died September 30^th at his home of myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms (MDS/MPNs), a leukemia-like illness. 

A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 24 at 11 a.m. at the Fletcher Hills Presbyterian Church.

October 18, 2018  (La Mesa/Mt. Helix) -- You're invited to East County Magazine's Halloween party at our editor's "haunting Hideaway haven"  in the La Mesa/Mt. Helix area (4438 Hideaway Place, La Mesa).  The fun begins at 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 28th.

Costume contest for best individual and best couples costumes

Costumes are optional but recommended for those with the holiday "spirit!"

Music by Paul Nichols and Tim Luranc: guitar/harmonica/vocal: folks, blues, pop and of course, Monster Mash!

Cost: Just $10 and bring a dish to share.

RSVP  Call 619-698-7617 or email editor@eastcountymagazine.org and please let us know if you'll bring an appetizer, side dish, main dish or dessert.

Over $1,000 in prizes!

Special thanks to our major sponsor:

Prize sponsors:  Granite Lion Cellars, EMed Spa, Giardino's, Mountain Mike's, Ranch Feed & Supply, Barnes and Noble, Maxwell's  House of Books, Club Pilates, Prete a Porte Salon, Maldini's Pizzeria, San Diego Festival Chorus & Orchestra, Filippi's Pizza Grotto, Gypsy Treasures, authors Joyce Strand & Teresa Burrell, Visionary Dance Theatre, & more.

Proceeds benefit:   East County Wildfire and Emergency Alerts and East County Magazine community news published by the nonprofit 501c3 Heartland Coalition.

(actual photos of our past Halloween parties at our editor's Hideaway haven)

By Miriam Raftery

October 25, 2018 (La Mesa)—Brianna Bell, a Helix Charter High School student shown on video slammed to the ground in handcuffs by a La Mesa Police officer, has filed a federal lawsuit against the City of La Mesa (Brianna Bell v. City of La Mesa, Scott Wulfing, U.S. District Court Case No. 18CV2455 BEN BLM).

The lawsuit alleges that LMPD School Resource Officer Scott Wulfing used excessive force, violated Bell’s civil rights, inflicted emotional distress, and committed assault and battery. Officer Wulfing is also named individually in the suit. He is on administrative leave pending the outcome of a third party independent investigation.

East County News Service

Photo courtesy of LMPD

October 20, 2018 (La Mesa) -- La Mesa Police are advising motorcylists to “please slow down and be careful, your life may depend on it,” after investigating four accidents involving serious motorcycle collisions including a fatality crash in the past six weeks.  “Excessive speed has been a factor in all of these crashes,” a tweet sent by LMSD states.  #Slowdown #drivesafe

By Craig Reed, Envision La Mesa

October 16, 2018 (La Mesa) -- Envision La Mesa hosted its second Hidden Gems event on Saturday, October 13 at BMH Italian Deli located at 7670 El Cajon Blvd in La Mesa. More than 20 participants met Sammy Carini, the owner of the deli, while enjoying handcrafted deli sandwiches, soups, and cannolis.

From Maine lobsters to wine slushies, games to rock ‘n’ roll music, urban winery is pulling out all the stops for anniversary bash Oct. 13 from  12 noon to 10 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

October 11, 2018 (La Mesa) – With a motto of “when all else fails, wine works!” La Mesa Wine Works opened its doors two years ago as a cooperative urban winery tasting room serving up award-winning vintages from San Pasqual Winery and Wyatt Oaks.  Now the space has become a hub of activities ranging from live music on weekends to trivia nights, classes, fundraisers for charities and the ever-popular $5 wine night complete with wine slushies and frozen sangrias.

“Business has been good,” says Mike McWilliams of San Pasqual Winery.  On Saturday, October 13^th from 12 noon to 10 p.m., Wine Works is celebrating its two-year anniversary with festivities that start with Cousins Maine Lobster truck from noon to 3 p.m. and Quick Stop Grill from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.  Live music wil include the Sock Monkeys from 3 to5  pm. and the Phoenix Band from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.  Guests can also enjoy games and in the afternoon, $5 specials on all glasses of wine, wine slushiness and frozen sangrias. The party will go on rain or shine.

East County News Service

October 4, 2018 (La Mesa)—La Mesa Wine Works is pulling out all the stops for its second anniversary party – and not just stoppers in wine bottles.

For the celebration on Saturday, October 13 from 12 to 10 p.m., the wine tasting room will also have live music, food trucks including main lobsters, games, and during the afternoon hours, specials on all glasses of wine, wine slushies, and frozen sangrias ($5).

By Miriam Raftery

September 29, 2018 (La Mesa) – Our East County Dining Club filled up Fourpenny House in La Mesa Wednesday night for a sold-out event.  Guests savored dishes ranging from Scottish mussels to Yorkshire wraps, also enjoying a demonstration of the Scottish pipes by proprietary Peter Soutowood. 

East County Dining Club

September 7, 2018 (La Mesa) – Our next East County Dining Club adventure will be on Wednesday, September 26^th at 6:30 p.m. at Fourpenny House, a delightfully cozy and delicious Scottish restaurant and pub in La Mesa’s downtown Village (8383 La Mesa Blvd.)  RSVP early to reserve space at this popular new eatery.

Savor Scottish foods such as bangers and mash, crofter’s pie, salmon, ale-braised mussels, artisanal cheese, Yorkshire wraps, bread pudding and more, plus custom-brewed craft beers, wine and spirits.  

Order anything you desire off the menu and Fourpenny House will donate 20% of proceeds to benefit East County Magazine and East County Wildfire and Emergency Alerts.

We will also have lots of prizes including gift certificates from Fourpenny House, Farmer's Table, Vine Cottage, Reanimated Records, books from Maxwell's House of Books, a Celtic music CD, jewelry, San Pasqual wine, and more!

By Miriam Raftery

Hear our interview with Councilman Bill Baber on marijuana measures, originally aired on KNSJ radio, by clicking the audio link

September 13, 2018 (La Mesa) --The La Mesa City Council has approved by a 5-0 vote a ballot measure, Proposition V, which would allow the city to put a business excise tax on cannabis businesses in  La Mesa.  The tax, if approved, would be paid by the businesses, not consumers. The city’s finance departments estimate that the measure could raise $1.5 to $2 million per year.

“As a separate matter, we’re working on an adult use ordinance that would bring the opportunity for adult use businesses to come alongside medicinal,”  reveals Councilman Bill Baber in an interview with ECM on KNSJ Radio.  He envisions allowing dispensaries already complying with medical marijuana sales requirements to be the first to carry recreational cannabis.

Update 3:30 p.m.:  This missing person has been found.

September 4, 2018 (La Mesa) - Amir Abbas Khorram, 84, is missing and has dementia, so he may not remember his address. He was last seen this morning in the area of 7100 Colony Road, La Mesa.

He is Middle Eastern and speaks both Farsi and English. He walks with a cane and has white hair and a white beard.

East County News Service

August 28, 2018 (La Mesa) – You’re invited to “shop with joy and purpose” at the annual La Mesa Fair Trade Shopping event on Sunday, October 14^th from 8 a.m. to 1 :30 p.m. at St. Martin of Tours Parish Hall, 7710 El Cajon Blvd. in La Mesa.  La Mesa.  Enjoy Fair Trade Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and lots of samples while perusing the aisles of hand made baskets, jewelry, purses, belts, wallets, handbags, jackets, scarves, toys, pottery, Christmas ornaments, gift baskets, coffee, tea, chocolate and lots more from many vendors.

East County News Service

July 31, 2018 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce invite you to enjoy great food from a dozen restaurants, enter for a chance to win 40 free door prizes, and meet spotlighted business members at the 5^th annual Summer Bash Business Expo. The fun takes place Thursday, August 9 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the La Mesa Community Center (4975 Memorial Drive, La Mesa).

The next Unplugged Dining event is slated for August 21 at 5 p.m. at these four restaurants:  Fourpenny House Pub, Centifonti's, Trattoria Tiramisu, and San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room, all in La Mesa

East County News Service

July 24, 2018 (La Mesa) -- This past Tuesday, the La Mesa Village had quite a buzz emanating from Fourpenny House Pub.   People came to try out a new concept – unplugged dining.  As there are no TV’s, this cozy Scottish Brew Pub already has less emphasis on screens than many restaurants.  Taking it a step further on Tuesday, Fourpenny offered table games and displayed signs encouraging people to take a tech break while enjoying their meal.