Sign up for our eNewsletterBy Sara Butler
If you’re looking for Halloween plans that are more sweet than spooky, Howl-O-Ween Hounds may just be the treat for you.
Howl-O-Ween Hounds, an adoption event at Grossmont Center, brings together dozens of pet adoption agencies — 23 and counting, at the time of publication — in an effort to connect these animals with loving owners.
City prepares for changes after voters approve medical marijuana shops
By Dave Schwab
Now that Measure U has passed overturning La Mesa’s ban on medical marijuana, including dispensaries, it’s up to the city do an about-face to implement the initiative.
By Jeff Clemetson | Editor
The holidays are a time for traditions, and one of La Mesa’s holiday traditions is returning this year — albeit with a new name and a new organization behind it.
Holiday in the Village — formerly known as Christmas in the Village — will be held on Dec. 10 from 10 a.m.–10 p.m. on La Mesa Boulevard between Spring and Fourth streets.
Local singer gets a shot on ‘The Voice’
By Joyell Nevins
Michael Sanchez has gone from being a hometown piano player to a nationwide name — thanks to a load of talent, a dose of gumption, and Alicia Keyes.
The La Mesa resident is part of Team Alicia on season 11 of NBC’s “The Voice,” the singing competition. Tune in this Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, at 8 p.m. to watch him in the Knockout round. This is the final phase before the show goes live.
By Margie M. Palmer
Oktoberfest is arguably La Mesa’s largest civic event and for the first time in more than 40 years, the city is facilitating it.
In years past, the event had often been produced by the La Mesa Merchant’s Association and the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce. The Merchants Association and the Chamber parted ways after 2014; last year, the association failed to pay more than $47,000 in fees to the city to cover the cost of safety services, such as police, fire personnel and traffic control.
Boulevard business owners new and old look ahead
By Jeff Clemetson | Editor
A lot has been written in local publications, this one included, about the declining number of businesses in the downtown Village along La Mesa Boulevard. But many business owners, both long-time operators and new investors in La Mesa, believe downtown’s future is about to be the brightest it has ever been thanks to improvements like the streetscape project, shifting demographics and a commitment by the city to refocus on popular events.
“There’s this kind of natural energy, or shift if you want to call it that, but [downtown La Mesa] is changing and I think it’s changing rapidly,” said Aaron Dean, a business owner invested in several ventures in the Village. “I think over the next three to five years it’s going to be a completely different area. Some will say not for the better, most I think will say for the better.”
Former Marine’s Honda gets lots of ink
By Alex Owens
Jeremy Saylor is one Sharpie dude, and his Honda CRV is the beneficiary.
For the past two years, Saylor has been slowly decorating the car with various patterns using only a Sharpie pen.
“I’ve always been artistic and I love creating things with my hands, and I have a passion for cars,” is how the 36-year-old La Mesa resident explains his desire to slowly ink up his car.
La Mesa remains a magnet for antique shops
By Jeff Clemetson | Editor
Signs along Adams Avenue in San Diego’s Normal Heights neighborhood mark an area known as Antique Row. However, due to gentrification, the street has gone from hosting over 25 antique stores in its heyday to just one today.
In the age of Etsy and eBay, antique stores will likely populate shopping districts less than in the past, but there is still one place old-school antique buyers can go and browse through aisles of vintage treasures –– La Mesa. As of now, there are eight antique stores in La Mesa, most of them on La Mesa Boulevard and located near the Village.
By Jeremy Ogul
Oktoberfest in La Mesa will look somewhat different this fall: The La Mesa Village Merchants Association has applied to host a significantly smaller event, and the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce has splintered off to host its own event at Grossmont Center later in October.
By Jeremy Ogul | Editor
La Mesa Library has long been an anchor of the community, but several new libraries have emerged over the past couple years.
Unless you live down the street from one, you may not have noticed them — that’s because most of them take up no more than two or three square feet. Known as Little Free Libraries, they resemble birdhouses or oversized mailboxes with windows. They are usually placed in front yards and maintained by the homeowner.