East County News Service

September 4, 2015 (La Mesa) – The @Spacebar Café and Wine Bistro in La Mesa invites you to a wine tasting class featuring wines from Argentina and Chile, each paired with delicious tapas.  New World meets Old World at this event on September 13^th from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

By Kristin Kjaero

September 1, 2015 (La Mesa) – The delights of the summer are concluding to be supplanted by a rich selection of community offerings for fall. The final performances of the theater and concert season are joined by a variety of classes for every interest, a health fair, a craft fair, e-waste recycling, and outdoor nature and recreation activities galore.

East County News Service

Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture

August 18, 2015 (La Mesa)-- State, federal and County of San Diego officials have announced that 93 square miles covering portions of San Diego City and East County communities have been put under quarantine after the discovery of four Mediterranean fruit flies — a dangerous pest that can infest more than 250 crops.

Will travel to London to deliver the official Match Ball on the field for the USA v South Africa match

August 19, 2015 (La Mesa) -- Haley Harris, a 15-year-old sports enthusiast from San Diego, will be given the unforgettable experience of delivering the official Match Ball onto the field at Rugby World Cup 2015 in London, courtesy of DHL. Selected as the winner of the U.S. DHL Youth Leadership Scrum Contest, Haley will become a part of Rugby history by representing the U.S. on the world stage of Rugby World Cup 2015.  

August 14, 2015 (La Mesa) -- Applications are being accepted for several openings on the City’s Aging and Veterans Commission, Environmental Sustainability Commission, La Mesa Community Parking Commission, and Historic Preservation Commission.

“The Mayor and City Councilmembers value the input from our community volunteers,” said Mary Kennedy, City Clerk. “By bringing new ideas to the table and representing the community, you will be helping your City government make the best most informed decisions possible for the benefit of the entire community.”

August 5, 2015 (La Mesa) -- The City of La Mesa was recently approved for $992,500 from the SANDAG Smart Growth Incentive Grant Program (SGIP). The grant programs are funded by the TransNet regional half-cent sales tax for transportation approved by San Diego County voters. The grant will fund pedestrian and bicyclist safety enhancements along North Spring Street between University Avenue and the I-8 interchange.

By Kristin Kjaero

August 1, 2015 (La Mesa) – What a vibrant community we live in! August boasts five free concerts, three free movie screenings, two theater productions, the annual Helix High All Class Picnic, and the annual heART of Mt. Helix. There are free clubs for every age and interest at the La Mesa Library, a broad range of activities at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center, and a number of classes at the La Mesa Community Center start in August. For those who love nature there are a number of activities as Mission Trails Regional Park and the Water Conservation Garden, and for the fitness oriented there are several walking groups, aquatics, and even a boot camp. Get out and find your bliss, and while you’re at it meet your neighbors.

July 26, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--Heartland Fire & Rescue, serving the Cities of El Cajon, La Mesa and Lemon Grove, is currently accepting applications for the reserve portion of the Heartland Fire Academy through August 7, 2015. Applications will be accepted between 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at 100 E. Lexington Avenue in El Cajon.

"Meet us at The Lookout" and meet the artists

Kristin Kjaero

July 17, 2015 (La Mesa) -- La Mesa is marking the groundbreaking for it centennial legacy project with a public ceremony on July 23 at 9:00 a.m. 

Come meet and greet La Mesa residents and design competition winners Jess, Mary Lynn and Amy Dominguez, who will be on hand for the ceremony.

Food Bank Distribution July 18

School Supply Drive through August 9

July 16, 2015 (La Mesa) -- Journey Community Church currently has two outreach programs underway in La Mesa.

By Kathy Carpenter

Associate and Youth Reviewer www.sdtheatrereviews.com

July 7, 2015 (La Mesa) - Frustrated as a college student screenwriter, Chris Montgomery recalls, life happened. Years later, the La Mesa father decided his time had come.  After watching many children's shows both good and bad, he decided he could put together a movie kids would watch and  that parents would approve. Olivia's Island Adventure will premiere at the San Diego Performing Arts Center (4579 Mission Gorge Place, San Diego, CA 92120) on July 10-11, 2015 @ 6:45pm.

East County News Service

July 2, 2015 (La Mesa) –June Takekawa Hsu, an 85-year-old La Mesa resident, has died of injuries sustained in a crash on northbound I-5  in Del Mar on June 24th shortly before 5 a.m. , the County Medical Examiner’s office reports.

June 30, 2015 (La Mesa) --  On Friday, July 24, at La Mesita Park, the City of La Mesa presents the movie “Despicable Me 2” (rated PG).  The Movie starts at 8:00 pm with pre-show entertainment at 7:30 pm.  La Mesita Park is located adjacent to the Junior Seau Sports Complex at 8855 Dallas Street, La Mesa.  This is FUN family entertainment at its best -“Movie Night Under the Stars.”  

By Jaime Mirman

June 18, 2015 (La Mesa)--Our own San Diego Concert Band offered a concert on June 14 at Harry Griffen Park in La Mesa. The stage was surrounded by at least 250 enthusiastic listeners.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Heartland Fire & Rescue Chief Rick Sitta delivers good news at El Cajon Council meeting

June 9, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – If you live in the cities of El Cajon, La Mesa or Lemon Grove, your fire insurance rates will soon be going down. That’s because Heartland Fire & Rescue, which provides firefighting services for all three cities, has received a class 1 rating from the Insurance Services Office (ISO).   

The  ISO rates 47,000 fire departments across the United States and of those, only 98 have attained a class 1 rating, including only 8 fire districts in the entire state of California.  “Class 1 communities are very rare, and some of these scores are the highest we’ve ever seen,” says Stephanie Ruscansky from the ISO, who notes that only a small fraction of 1% of all agencies rated attain a Class 1 rating.