March 5, 2004 (Lemon Grove)--The painters of the Lemon Grove History Mural, Kathleen Strzelecki and Janne LaValle, will receive the esteemed Ben Dixon Award, the highest award bestowed annually by the Congress of History of San Diego & Imperial Counties, on March 8 between 11 a.m. and noon in the Marina Village Conference Center, 1936 Quivira Way, San Diego.  All are welcome to attend the annual two-day conference, Mar. 7 - 8 (www.congressofhistory.org).

The award recognizes those who have made a long term contribution to enriching and enhancing the cultural and historical resources of our region.  Between 2006 - 2013 Strzelecki and LaValle painted the five-panel history mural, an epic 65 feet wide by 18 feet tall, at 3308 Main Street in the heart of Lemon Grove.  The mural adorns a wall of the historic 1912 original general store, better known since 1980 as the famous Grove Pastry Shop.