September 1, 2010 (La Mesa)--Michael Penwell is being sought by the La Mesa Police Department after fleeing from a traffic stop where numerous items of stolen property, narcotics and drug paraphernalia were found. Penwell is described as a white male, 25, with blond hair and hazel eyes. He is 5 feet, 7 inches tall with a thin build and multiple tattoos. He also has a felony parole warrant for his arrest.

August 31, 2010 (La Mesa) -- At 1:39 a.m., Heartland Fire dispatched a response for a residential structure fire at 20 Lake Helix Dr in La Mesa, with an initial report of smoke coming from the structure.

ECM news partner Channel 10 reports that fire crews were initially delayed access due to a locked gate and unmanned guard post at the gated community.

August 30, 2010 (La Mesa)--Norm MacDonald, star of movies and Saturday Night Live (SNL), will take the stage at Challenge Center’s 13th Annual Comedy Night on September 11 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. The event benefits the scholarship fund established by Challenge Center, a nonprofit gym in La Mesa that has achieved dramatic results helping patients with strokes, brain and spinal cord injuries, as well as other debilitating conditions. Tickets for the event are $175.

Candidate’s troubled past leads to new beginnings

By Kristin Kjaero and Miriam Raftery

In part one of this series on election races in La Mesa, East County Magazine spotlights Mayoral challenger Laura Lothian.

August 27, 2010 (La Mesa)--Currently a successful real estate salesperson for Windermere Pacific Coast Properties in La Mesa, Laura Lothian is challenging incumbent Mayor Art Madrid in the November election. Her qualifications include serving on the La Mesa Parking Commission, on the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and as a member of the Village Merchant’s Association and La Mesa Historical Society. She has been endorsed by Councilwoman Ruth Sterling.

By Buck Shott

August 19, 2010 (San Diego's East County) – The races are on for mayor and council positions in East Couny. Two local mayors’ seats are up for reelection in November. Both face challengers vying for the leadership spots in El Cajon and La Mesa. In addition, a pack of contenders is vying to run for council seats in East County’s cities of El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, and Santee. Here's the lineup: 

Helix Water District raises rates in contentious hearing

By Kristin Kjaero

August 19, 2010 (La Mesa) – “Get used to it. We’re going to pay more each year,” Helix Water District Board member John Linden told the audience, shortly before the board voted 3-2 to raise the three-tiered rate structure an average of 8% more starting in November. Last year rates increased 21+%.

Discussion at the rate increase hearing was lively to say the least, as tempers frayed and the public, General Manager and Board members accused one another of not being truthful and of micromanaging. The room was filled to capacity, and occasionally members of the audience called out and were gaveled back to order. A La Mesa Policeman stood in the back quietly observing.

August 18, 2010 (La Mesa) – Aesthetic Arts Institute of Plastic Surgery hosted a 100th birthday to celebrate the centennial of Morrison House, 8415 Grant Avenue in La Mesa, where the business has its offices.

La Mesa Chamber of Commerce announced that party-goers savored a barbecue, cake cutting, and prize drawings. In honor of the centennial, Aesthetic Arts will offer monthly specials to its customers throughout the year.

Revealing art exhibit Aug. 18-Sept. 26

August 13, 2010 (La Mesa) – O’Dunn Fine Art in La Mesa unveils “A Century of Naked Ladies”, kicking off the month-long exhibition with a special celebration August 18 from 5 to 9 p.m.
 
“These artists offer their interpretation of the female form: lush, humorous, pitiless, or compassionate,” says gallery owner Shannon O’Dunn. “Each piece portrays a particular woman nuanced by her place in time, her mood, and culture.”

August 10, 2010 (La Mesa) -- Two men robbed the Subway Sandwich Shop at 7404 University Avenue in La Mesa at 9:15 last night. The suspects pointed a handgun at the clerk, demanding money from the register. After the clerk handed them money, they fled westbound on University Avenue on foot. No one was injured and the suspects remain at large.

San Pasqual Winery hosts “A Perfect Pairing” event with Chef Dave and champion BBQ pitmaster secrets

August 2, 2010 (La Mesa) – San Pasqual Winery’s new tasting room in La Mesa’s downtown village invites the public to join its inaugural cooking class and sumptuous winemaker dinner on Saturday, August 7.

July 24, 2010 (La Mesa) – A woman holding her three-year-old son in one arm and a wallet and cell phone in her other hand was accosted at 9:45 last night in the Target parking lot at Grossmont Center. A man grabbed her arm and attempted to take her wallet and phone.  A struggle ensued.  The victim punched the suspect in the face and fled to her vehicle, managing to hold onto her wallet, but her phone was stolen.

Fun Continues Tonight at Gio's with more headliner comics

By Miriam Raftery

July 18, 2010 (La Mesa) – Brew-Ha-Ha’s first weekly comedy show upstairs at Gio Bistro and Wine Bar in La Mesa opened to a sold-out crowd last Sunday night. The act proved a rollicking success—artfully blending universally funny jokes with some East County-oriented punch lines.   Brew Ha Ha is the remedy for the blues--serving up light-hearted relief from tough times in an intimate yet friendly atmosphere with palate-pleasing food at Gio's.

July 16, 2010 (La Mesa) – A suspect accused of robbing a cab driver at knifepoint in La Mesa has been arrested, La Mesa Police report. The cab driver became suspicious after the suspect directed him to pull over several times in areas that were dark and remote. Instead, the driver stopped his cab in the 7900 block of La Mesa Boulevard at 1:30 a.m. and asked for his fare.

July 10, 2010 (La Mesa)—La Mesa Police have arrested two juveniles for stealing a woman’s wallet in front of the Von’s store at 9011 University Avenue. A third suspect remains at large.

Police received a call reporting the robbery at 8:21 p.m. The 21 year-old victim was in the Vons parking lot when the three suspects approached her from behind. One grabbed the victim’s wallet and forcibly took it. All three suspects ran away while witnesses chased them.

 
Police seek teens in grey car with license similar to ZRS573

July 10, 2010 (La Mesa) – At 11:53 a.m., La Mesa Police responded to a robbery inside the Jamba Juice store at Grossmont Center. A 23-year-old woman was approached by a suspect who asked to her her “i-phone4” phone. When she refused, he grabbed her phone and ran from the store. The victim chased him into the parking lot, where he got into a gray compact car with two other suspects. A struggle ensued and one suspect slammed the car door, injuring the victim.

July 8, 2010 (La Mesa) -- The City of La Mesa is offering two free summer movie nights. The movies are shown on large screens, providing family entertainment under the stars.  Now you can enjoy a "dive-in movie" while swimming or floating, or relish a movie in the park at dark.

July 8, 2010 (La Mesa) -- What does author Jack Brandais do when he’s not busy being the media spokesperson for the San Diego Unified School District, writing a driving column, or reviewing new cars? He hits the weekly Back to the 50’s car show in La Mesa! On July 22 at 6 pm, he’ll be signing copies of his book, Weekend Driver San Diego, at the Readers Inc. bookstore in the heart of La Mesa village.

July 5, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – C. Hook Theater will present Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat July 7-10. C. Hook Theater productions are held at the Performing Arts Center at The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Community Center, 6845 University Avenue in San Diego (one block west of 70th Street).

East County News Service

June 30, 2010 (La Mesa) – Last night at 11:43 p.m., a driver in La Mesa collided into a parked vehicle, causing a chain reaction collision in the 5300 block of Baltimore Drive.

By Miriam Raftery

June 28, 2010 (La Mesa) – “This is a wonderful opportunity for art collectors,” Shannon O’Dunn, owner of O’Dunn Fine Art in La Mesa, told East County Magazine. On Wednesday from 5-8 p.m., the gallery will host a reception and opening of a month-long exhibition of masterworks by Stanislaus J. “Stan” Sowinski, who died in January at his Rancho Bernardo residence at age 82. 

His large-scale oil paintings and Byzantine-style icons grace the walls of many public buildings including city halls and a university, as well as corporate headquarters, restaurants, and prominent churches.

 
June 24, 2010 (La Mesa) – A woman posed as a customer for two hours , then pulled out a silver revolver at 8:50 p.m. last night as an employee was removing cash from a register at closing time at Starbucks Coffee, 8497 Fletcher Parkway near PetCo. After the robbery, the suspect was seen driving west through the parking lot toward Jackson Drive in a blue 1990s two-door hatchback, possibly a Honda.

JUNE 17, 2010 (LA MESA) --The new book, La Mesa, highlights the history of the city in over 200 evocative historical images of notable events, institutions, landmarks and individuals in the area.

The book marks the kick off of the 2012 City of La Mesa Centennial celebration, and all author proceeds are being donated to the La Mesa Historical Society, from whose archives the images come.

Himalayan Cuisine
7918 El Cajon Boulevard
La Mesa, CA 91942-6710
(619) 461-2503
www.himalayancuisine1.com
 
By the East County Eater
 
June 13, 2010 (La Mesa) – You won’t have to travel to the “roof of the world” to savor spicy, flavorful foods of the Himalayan mountains region in Asia. Himalayan Cuisine in La Mesa offers a wide range of authentically-prepared dishes from the Himalayan region, which encompasses Nepal, India, and Tibet—as well as Mt. Everest and 100 other mountains over 23,000 feet. The owner of Himalayan Cuisine hails from Kathmandu in Nepal, known as the “land of the gods” for its many Buddhist and Hindu temples. Now he’s serving up traditional foods from his homeland to guests at Himalayan Cuisine in La Mesa.

 
 
June 13, 2010 (La Mesa) –Danica Tsuchida, a Steele Canyon High School student, received the grand prize in the 2nd annual Golden Artistry Jewelry Design Competition in May, receiving a $1,000 scholarship to the California Institute of Jewelry Training  and an internship at Golden Artistry in La Mesa.
 
Now, her fire-themed jewelry design (photo, right) has been produced in precious metals and gemstones (photo, left).  Her winning creation is on display at the San Diego County Fair through July 5 in the Gems, Minerals and Jewelry exhibit.

Other winners in the competition:

 
 
June 2, 2010 (La Mesa) - -Participants are revving up for La Mesa’s “Back to the ‘50s” car show, which will be held every Thursday night in June, July and August. The event takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. on La Mesa Boulevard in the downtown village of La Mesa. Cruising in classic cars (pre-1973) is encouraged!

Easy Rider director had roots in East County

by Christopher Mohr

Times have changed since La Mesa became a city in 1912--the year the Titanic sunk, Teddy Roosevelt ran as a Bull Moose, and silent movies were the hot pop culture crazes.

May 24, 2010 (La Mesa) – The jewel of the hills will be a century old in 2012—and city leaders are gearing up to celebrate La Mesa’s history and culture through exhibits, education venues, institutional presentations and community events. (Get ready to party hearty!)

How much do you know about La Mesa's history and how times have changed in the past 100 years?

by Christopher Mohr

May 24, 2010 (La Mesa) - Bryce Taylor, Sam Ferguson and Ellen Blackwell each won their respective divisions at the La Mesa Soap Box Derby Race on Saturday (May 22). The course was set up on a downhill section of Junior High Drive next to the La Mesa Middle School. Competitors faced each other in tournament bracket pairings to determine the division winners. 

May 24, 2010 (La Mesa) – Councilmember Ernest Ewin has proposed that La Mesa create a program to encourage residents to turn in unused and expired prescription drugs and also launch a “No Drugs Down the Toilet or Drain” campaign.  The proposal will be considered by Council on Tuesday, May 25 during the Council meeting starting at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

“Prescription drugs have long been recognized as a threat to child health and related criminal activity,” Ewin wrote in a memo to the Mayor and members of the City Council. “Also, drugs in landfills, our streams, bays and ocean are also of concern.”

City of La Mesa and City Heights Community Center also among honorees in San Diego's eastern regions

May 22, 2010 (San Diego) – Walk San Diego’s recent Golden Footprint Awards included a special recognition to Lemon Grove’s Mayor Mary Sessom for “outstanding vision and leadership in promoting walkable communities.”