La Mesa Stories
At the November 12 La Mesa City Council meeting, police chief Ed Aceves spoke about the Anti-Defamation League counter-terrorism seminar that he attended in Israel last month. One councilmember referred to the seminar during the …
A committee that includes La Mesa vice mayor Kristine Alessio filed paperwork at city hall on November 5 to launch a petition drive to place a term-limit measure on the November 2014 ballot. The committee's …
Sequestered on the eastern end of La Mesa on a recent Wednesday evening, I headed over to the Charcoal House (9566 Murray Drive) with my girlfriend and a buddy visiting from Colombia to dive into …
When fall rolls around, most Americans look forward to crackling fires, hot cocoa, and the changing leaves. There’s not a whole lot of that going on here in San Diego. But the fashionistas among us …
The La Mesa City Council on October 22 voted 3-2 to postpone for 60 days a decision about whether to place vice mayor Kristine Alessio's term-limit measure on the November 2014 ballot. The delay allowed …
La Mesa police have announced the arrest of 46-year-old transient Michael Colace in connection with last week’s robbery of a 7-Eleven store by a suspect wearing a bloody clown mask. It appears Colace led officers …
Police in La Mesa are looking for an armed bandit who robbed a 7-Eleven store on the 5700 block of Amaya Drive at gunpoint early this morning, October 17. The suspect, described as a white …
So, we’re going medieval for Halloween this year, thinking up costumes that can do double duty at Renaissance fairs (don’t ask). Fifteen years ago, I would have jumped at the chance to play a princess. …
Everyone and their mom is wearing tribal print clothing. It’s on backpacks, sweatshirts, shoes, and leggings. It’s to 2013 what Hypercolor shirts were to 1991. I recently ran into two men wearing the trend. Each …
A different kind of transportation made its debut at Lake Murray on October 14 at about 2:30 p.m. A long, hot-dog-shaped, bright red car/bike rolled along past joggers and walkers as they stared. As it …
Addie Tweet, age nine, and her six-year-old sister Ellie asked the La Mesa City Council on October 8 to approve a backyard-chicken law so their chickens can come home. Several months ago, the hens were …
At the October 8 La Mesa City Council meeting, discussion of a proposal to put a term-limit measure on the November 2014 ballot led to protests from two residents, support from seven others, and the …
The first sight I saw upon my arrival at La Mesa’s annual Oktoberfest was this guy, holding a bullhorn asking people if they wanted to go to Heaven or Hell. Talk about a buzz kill. …
This past June, the approximately 485 parking meters in downtown La Mesa generated $25,958; parking citations for meter infractions brought in another $6630, according to a report presented at the September 24 La Mesa City …
At 6 p.m. on September 26, people driving on Lake Murray Boulevard in La Mesa were slowing down to see a small, cute girl, about ten years old, holding a big yellow sign that declared …
On September 25 at 2:30 p.m., a dog named Chase collapsed at the two-and-a-half-mile mark on the Lake Murray running trail. Luckily, a kind woman was on hand to help the dog and his owner. …
Thousands of applicants, a little over 100 seats to fill at High Tech International school.
The city council on August 13 unanimously approved a special-use permit for the Oktoberfest that will be held October 4-6. There won't be any carnival rides at the event sponsored by the La Mesa Chamber …
A woman at the August 13 La Mesa City Council meeting asked for help curtailing drug activity at the Mohawk Street mobile-home park, where she has lived since 2000. "For the past eight years or …
Shortly before noon on Monday, August 12, a sheriff’s helicopter began circling over my neighborhood — just north of the Bancroft Drive and Campo Road intersection in La Mesa — announcing over their loudspeaker that …
Two things catch my attention: First, the song coming out of this eatery — “You Don’t Own Me.” Leslie Gore. I know it ’cause Carla sings it every time she thinks I’m pushing my weight …
Shortly after 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 21, I was driving home and noticed many law-enforcement vehicles at the corner of Bancroft Drive and Kenwood Drive. I later learned from sheriff’s department spokesman Sgt. Matt …
According to the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), the region's population will increase by 1.25 million people by the year 2050. Between now and then, close to 500,000 new jobs will be created. A …
Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church parishioners spent two days saying goodbye to Monsignor Michael Gallagher, the priest retiring after serving for 27 years as pastor. Receptions followed weekend services, and 600 people attended the …
During the public-comment portion of La Mesa City Council meetings, people may speak for three minutes on any non-agenda item. At the June 11 meeting, a woman wearing a button with the message, "I [heart] …
The June 8 "Community Dialogue on La Mesa's Fiscal Future,” hosted by La Mesa City Council members Ernest Ewin and Kristine Alessio, attracted eight people and consisted of conversation that extended 30 minutes beyond the …
Helix Water District recently replaced its 64-year-old “Homelands” tank to increase the facility’s water-storage capacity to 800,000 gallons, enhance system reliability, and satisfy current seismic requirements. Located in an unincorporated area of San Diego County, …
During the interactive portion of the May 30 community workshop on La Mesa's Downtown Village Specific Plan Update, about 100 people spent an hour visiting five stations devoted to issues related to the update. The …
At the May 28 La Mesa City Council meeting, police chief Ed Aceves joined vice mayor Mark Arapostathis in distributing school safety-patrol awards to fifth- and sixth-graders in the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District. The …
After a nearly two-and-a-half-hour hearing, the La Mesa City Council on May 28 voted 4-1 on actions to allow the construction of a 198-unit apartment complex on an 8.64-acre site located at 7834 Parkway Drive. …
Every summer, my daughter's hair turns green. No matter how much I spend on chlorine-fighting shampoo or how religiously I rinse her white-blonde tresses after swimming, it inevitably develops an aqua tint. I worry that …
The Printer “My buddy in San Francisco got his finger smashed in an old printing press. It actually turned the bone to powder. He had no phone in his warehouse to call for help, so …
Depending on who you believe, the origins of the Baja-style fish taco will take you two places. Fans of entrepreneurial success stories will favor the narrative popularized by San Diego restaurant mogul Ralph Rubio, who …
Sarah York wore one of this springs biggest trends, an animal inspired t-shirts. The 20-year old marketing major lists her military jacket among her favorite wardrobe items. She wore Steve Madden Troopa boots in cognac …
"People in apartments aren’t stable; they don’t become part of the community,” grouses G.W., who lives in La Mesa near Mt. Helix. She fears that her tony neighborhood will take a turn for the worse …
Author Dave Good writes about the rabbit he found (and now owns) and the San Diego bunny scene.
A writer for Out blog is amazed that readers misinterpreted the literary device she used in her book
Hoffer’s Cigar Bar in La Mesa is easy to miss, but that’s what locals like about it.
When I was a kid, kids dressed like kids. We wore pastels, itchy sweaters, and Sesame Street themed overalls. In recent years toddlers have begun dressing like tiny adults. It’s not unusual to see 3-year-olds …
B Side Players trombonist/Helix High associate music director Michael Benge tries to land Poncho Sanchez to do show with his students, but parents don’t want to enter into contract.
La Mesa's 2013 Oktoberfest will remain a one-weekend event, but organizers want to eliminate carnival rides and stink bombs, according to statements made at last week’s La Mesa City Council meeting. The Oktoberfest, sponsored by …
Two homicides were among the 226 violent crimes committed in La Mesa during 2012, according to the quarterly crime report that police chief Ed Aceves gave at the February 12 La Mesa City Council meeting. …
At a La Mesa town hall meeting last week (January 17), two residents urged the council to preserve the Spring House in Collier Park. The park on Palm Avenue was named for David Charles Collier, …
At a January 17 town-hall meeting in La Mesa, Ted Crisostomo, Neighborhood Watch captain for the Dalhart Avenue and Dallas Street area, objected to the possible opening of a 24-hour 7-Eleven near the Big Lots! …
December 26 started out in a horrible and terrifying way. I was awake for less than ten minutes when someone started pounding on my door and screaming for me. It was a neighbor, telling me …
Interview with Pastor Aaron Boehm
Charcoal House Restaurant in La Mesa offers the Wrinkle Room, full of cougars and saber-toothed tigers.
On December 3, drivers on Interstate 8 west saw an addition to the picture of district attorney Bonnie Dumanis on the 14-foot tall, 48-foot wide billboard near the El Cajon Boulevard exit. On the billboard …
Wearing a gray fedora and dressed in a white T-shirt, vest, shorts, and black shoes with bright white laces, Joe Spelton performed magic tricks at on Thursday, November 29, for a temporarily captive audience. The …
Helix High School band directors get creative in the absence of funding, including mattress sales and cow-chip bingo.