By Liz Alper

September 28, 2016 (San Diego) - The last La Mesa Chamber breakfast of the year was held at Marie Callender's at Alvarado Road.  The speaker was Senator Joel Anderson.

The majority of Senator Anderson's speech was comprised of his reasons for opposing Senate Bill 654.  SB654 aims to increase parental leave for new parents by six weeks.  Senator Anderson, a Republican and former small businessman, believes this will harm small businesses by putting them out of business.  He understands the struggle that small businesses have already and does not want to add six more weeks of parental leave to that. 

Source:  La Mesa Chamber press release

September 10, 2016 (La Mesa) - The La Mesa Chamber announces the continuation of a holiday project inspired last year by a partnership between the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce, the La Mesa City Employees Association and Jerry Lester, local community supporter. The project benefits children within La Mesa that are identified by La Mesa Community Welfare and several La Mesa elementary schools to be in need. The driving force behind this project is Maxine Lynch and the La Mesa City Employees Association.

East County News Service

June 23, 2016 (La Mesa) – After 41 years, Sanfilippo Pizza in La Mesa will be closing permanently.

By Liz Alper

Photo by Miriam Raftery

April  22, 2016 (San Diego) – La Mesa Chamber of Commerce members and guests came bright and early to Marie Callender’s for a breakfast with new La Mesa police chief Walt Vasquez on April 13th.

East County News Service

April 9, 2016 (La Mesa) – On Saturday, April 30^th, the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce invites you to join an afternoon open house and celebrate one-year of Braces San Diego at their La Mesa location (7323 Jackson Drive) from 11 a.m. and 2 p.m..

Source: La Mesa Chamber

March 18, 2016 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce will host La Mesa Police Chief Walt Vasquez for a breakfast meeting starting at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 13, at the Marie Callender’s restaurant, 6950 Alvarado Road, San Diego. Breakfast sponsors include Carl Burger Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM World, El Camino Memorial Park and Hornbrook Center for Dentistry.

By Miriam Raftery

January 14, 2016 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce will host its 8^th annual Salute to Local Heroes & Installation Dinner on February 24 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Town and Country Resort Hotel (500 Hotel Circle, San Diego).

November 1, 2015 (La Mesa) - The La Mesa Chamber is beginning to gather items for the 22 seniors that the Chamber adopts each year during the holidays. It is the goal of the Chamber to collect, purchase and assemble items and place them in large gift baskets. These gift baskets are delivered along with a hot turkey dinner, with all of the trimmings to the selected seniors by the La Mesa Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol.

By Kristin Kjaero

October 1, 2015 (La Mesa) – Fall is in the air. Residents have a wealth of options this month with two large festivals, the annual Oktoberfest in the Village, and a new FalFest at Grossmont Center, as well as the annual Intergenerational Games. Local churches are offering a Blessing of Animals and a Fair Trade Gift Fair to sooth the soul, and entertainment opportunities include Halloween activities at Grossmont Center, a school vacation art camp at Mt. Helix, a new mystery at Lamplighters Community, and many clubs at the La Mesa Library. Let’s not overlook the opportunity to give back to our wonderful hometown at the annual Park Appreciation Day and the Human Advisory Commission’s Food Drive!

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.

By Miriam Raftery, Photos by Leon Thompson

August 18, 2015 (La Mesa) – More than 180 people attended the second annual Summer Bash Business Expo in La Mesa on August 12^th at the La Mesa Community Center, where 47 La Mesa Chamber of Commerce member businesses participated to spotlight their goods and services.

Guest savored food from 11 restaurants as well as wine served up by the Riviera Supper Club and the Regal bar plus Samuel Adams beer. In addition 47 guests were winners of door prizes given away. The Chamber also welcomed 14 new members to the organization. (Photo)

Photos courtesy of Sandra Small/ Photographer, Source: La Mesa Chamber of Commerce

August 11, 2015 (La Mesa) --A group of very happy and thirsty La Mesa Chamber members gathered to visit this new wine bar and be a part of the ribbon cutting to welcome Proprietor's Reserve  to La Mesa on Thursday, August 6th.  Owners, Barbara and Michael Rammelsberg were on hand and greeted members, with their warm smiles and bubbly personalities.  Barbara was there early, setting up the area to be sure that the cheeses and other delicious food items were ready as guests arrived.  

After the  ribbon cutting, guests were escorted into the restaurant and were treated to hot chicken wings and their special meatballs and other delectable items.  This is truly a family run business, as the crowd was introduced to their sons who were also on hand to meet attendees and were also reminded that their grandson works in the bar, the Turquoise Room as a bartender.  Michael spoke to the group and shared his vision, experience and goals for this new addition to the La Mesa business community. 

July 31, 2015  (La Mesa) - The La Mesa Chamber invites you to attend the upcoming “Summer Bash” Business Expo on Wednesday, August 12, 2015. This unique evening provides the public, as well as other business members with the opportunity to meet and enjoy conversation with over 50 local businesses that will be there. In addition to the fun-filled evening, the majority of the businesses participating will be giving away a free raffle item to lucky winners throughout the evening.

July 30, 2015 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce was proud to host a gift giving activity in partnership with the Town & Country Resort & Convention Center. "Christmas in July” allowed toys to be given to the La Mesa City Employees Association, who will distribute them to deserving children during this year’s holiday season.

By Kristin Kjaero

July 14, 2015 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Grossmont Center and the Cushman family, to submit a Special Events application to the City for a beer garden event October 16 – 17.

Describing it as “family-friendly,” the application proposes live music, 4-5 food vendors and 3-4 sponsor tables, to be held in the parking area where Hooley Fest has been held in the past.