La Mesa Courier - December 2012

Councilmembers Call Mayor’s Fair Trade Support UnfairBy Dave Schwab

A year-old brouhaha in La Mesa over fair trade was resurrected recently when Mayor Art Madrid wrote a letter personally commending backers of the initiative.

The issue isn’t whether Madrid had the right to issue such a commendation – what’s being questioned is the manner in which it was done and how it reflects on the city.

“Any group or entity could add the words ‘La Mesa,’” said Councilmember Ernest Ewin, who labeled Madrid’s action as inappropriate at the Nov. 13 La Mesa City Council meeting.

“But to be official and be recognized requires a formal action by at least three duly-elected representatives,” said Ewin after the council meeting. “To speak/designate for the entire city and council requires an action by at least a majority of the council.”

And Ewin claims that was not done – at least not properly.

“The mayor, rather than work through the council, did his own thing and legally spoke for himself – ‘not’ the council or the City of La Mesa,” he said.

Madrid defended his commendation, saying claims of it being improper was politicking and a misrepresentation.

“It is not only a misunderstanding. It is resentment by some of the councilmembers and their supporters that their

Election 2012 Results Favor New Candidates

President Barack Obama is still the head of state, but this year’s general election changed several things for the State of California and the City of La Mesa. With the only sure thing this election being lone candidate Mary Kennedy’s La Mesa city clerk position, many races were decided by single-digit percentage points.

State Assembly – 79th District

The new State Assembly 79th District now has its first elected representative: Shirley Weber beat Mary England 61.02 percent to 38.98 percent. Weber, a Demo-crat, is a San Diego State University professor who served on the San Diego Unified School Board for two consecu-tive four-year terms from 1988 to 1996.

In thanking her supporters, England, who announced her retirement from Lemon Grove City Council several months ago, said, “As the current President and CEO of the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce I will continue to serve the business community and hopefully continue to make an impact on the local economy and lives

of business people during these difficult times. I enjoy what I do and am currently making plans for our 5th annual “Casino Royale” event that happens on Feb. 21, 2013.”

La Mesa City CouncilAlthough incumbent Ruth Sterling kept

her seat on the La Mesa City Council, a new

See Election, Page 5

See Mayor, Page 4See Lighting Up La Mesa, Page 7

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December 2012 On the Internet at www.LaMesaCourier.com Volume 2 – Number 12

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

NEWS TIPS(619) 697-2500 [email protected]

ADVERTISE WITH US(619) 697-2500 [email protected]

Pardon us while we toot our own hornsLa Mesa Courier wins multiple honors in its freshman year. Page 9

Hearty HelpingsCentifonti's serves up meals from its eclectic menu. 3

Season's MeetingsSan Diego offers a variety of ways to get you into the spirit. Page 4

Happy HolidaysKeeping your pets safe is a gift for the entire family. Page 6

Find Boone!Our publisher has a rather shy English bulldog named Boone. He’s hiding somewhere in this very newspaper.

If you find Boone, go to ScoopSanDiego.com, click on the I Found Boone! icon and enter to win a $25 Visa gift card. Contest rules and restrictions apply.

"[This] is resentment by some of the

councilmembers and their supporters that their mayor is in a position they personally don’t

agree with." - Mayor Art Madrid

Shirley Weber Kristine Alessio

Lighting Up La Mesawith 23rd Christmas in the VillageBy Genevieve A. Suzuki

When La Mesa Courier contacted Christmas in the Village’s Chief Elf John Vigil, he was hanging lights on top of the roof of the Goodwill Plaza on the corner of La Mesa Boulevard and Spring Street.

In addition to defying gravity to light up La Mesa Boulevard, Vigil, who is in his eighth year as chairman of the holiday event, begins sacrificing his weekends in September to prepare for December’s Christmas in the Village. Lest you feel bad for the jolly elf, know that he affectionately calls his work “a labor of love for myself and the merchants of La Mesa.”

“I love it. If I didn’t love it, there’s no way I would give up every Saturday and Sunday until eight or ten o’clock,” said Vigil, who works as a banker at First Republic Bank by day.

Approximately 26,700 lights are strung up and down La Mesa Boulevard for the event – and those are just the clear white lights around the trees. The La Mesa

NoteworthyMurray Manor scores high API

Murray Manor Elementary received a score of 917 on the Academic Performance Index. The index, or API, is the cornerstone of California’s Public Schools Accountability Acts of 1999 and measures the academic performance and growth of school on a variety of academic measures. Murray Manor’s score reflects an increase of 13 points from last year.

Murray Manor is also the first school in the district to be above 80 percent proficient or advanced in both language arts and mathematics on the California STAR test.

$257,000 raised for Sharp Grossmont Hospital’s heart servicesSharp Grossmont Hospital Foundation’s 27th Anniversary Gala, “The Heart of Rock

‘N Roll,” raised $257,000 toward the hospital’s planned Heart and Vascular Center. Five hundred attendees gathered at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina Nov. 3 to dine, dance and bid on auction items, all in the name of charity.

Sharp Grossmont Hospital’s Heart and Vascular Center, scheduled to begin construction in March 2013, will be a 74,000-square-foot facility. It will include three new cardiac cath-eterization labs; a multi-purpose image-guided operating/procedural room and three shelled multi-purpose rooms and cardiac catheterization lab for future expansion.

Connie Conard, Grossmont Hospital Foundation board chair, and Ruth Simpson served as event co-chairs. Top level presenting sponsors include the Glenn Napierskie Family and Sharp Grossmont Hospital medical staff. Visionary sponsor Shea Family also contributed to the event.

Sharp continues to advanceIn addition to raising more than a quarter of a million dollars for a new Heart and

Vascular Center, Sharp Grossmont has also stepped up its technology. Thanks to the support of the Grossmont Hospital Foundation, Sharp patients now have access to the most advanced robotic surgery technology available with the da Vinci Si System, state-of-the-art equipment that enhances the operating experience for surgeons as well as improves patient outcomes.

In 2005, Sharp HealthCare was the first health care provider in San Diego to perform robotic surgery, which provides physicians with an alternate to both traditional open surgery and conventional laparoscopy while giving patients an effective, less-invasive surgical treat-ment option. Besides smaller incisions, other benefits of robotic-assisted surgery include faster recover, less pain, less scarring, lower risk of infection and a shorter hospital stay.

Sharp Grossmont surgeons use the robotic system in urology procedures including pros-tate, kidney and bladder surgeries, as well as gynecologic procedures including uterine, ovarian and tubal surgeries. Since robotic surgery debuted in 2008, Sharp Grossmont has treated more than 850 patients on the daVinci robot. To learn more about the Robotic Surgery Program at Sharp, visit www.sharp.com/robotic-surgery.

Junior Achievement raises $268,000Last month Junior Achievement of San Diego and Imperial Counties celebrated the best

of the business community’s “Past, Present, Future” at its San Diego Business Hall of Fame event at the Hotel Del Coronado. During the Nov. 2 event, current and past laureates honored

See Events, Page 8See Noteworthy, Page 10

DecemberEvents CalendarHOLIDAy OPeN HOuSe wItH StAte SeN. JOeL ANDerSON – Dec. 5

California State Sen. Joel Anderson hosts an open house at the DoubleTree Hotel at 14455 Penasquitos Dr. Dec. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. to provide the public with a 2012 legislative update. For more information or to RSVP, call the California Senate District Office at (619) 596-3136.

HeALtHy COOKING DeMONStrAtION wItH CHeF BerNArD – Dec. 11

Executive Chef Bernard Guillas and Chef de Cuisine Ron Oliver from The Marine Room team up with Registered Dietician Ursula Ridens for a healthy cooking demonstration that highlights nutritious substitutes for food allergies and sensitivities. Attendees can enter for a chance to win a copy of the chefs’ cookbook: Flying Pans: Two Chefs, One World. Light appe-tizers will be served. The event takes place Tuesday, Dec. 11, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Sharp Grossmont Hospital’s Main Auditorium, 5555 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa 91942. Free to the public. Seating is limited; registration required. To reserve your space, call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), or visit www.sharp.com/grossmont.

CHrIStMAS IN tHe VILLAGe – DeC. 14 & 15La Mesa Village is transformed into a Victorian Wonderland Dec. 14 and 15 from 5 to

10 p.m. Children get to enjoy Santa Claus, carnival rides, ponies and puppet shows.

Mt. HeLIx PArK CHrIStMAS CArOLING – Dec. 16Bring your whole family to the Mt. Helix Park Amphitheatre to celebrate the sounds of

the season Dec. 16 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Free hot coffee and cocoa are available. Parking and shuttles available next to the San Miguel Fire Station at 10105 Vivera Dr. in La Mesa beginning at 6 p.m. For more information go to www.mthelix-park.org or call (619) 741-4363.

HOLIDAy OPeN HOuSe – Dec. 18

The La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center invites the

From our family to yours, we wish you a healthy and happy holiday. Thank you for supporting Alvarado Hospital Medical Center over the last 40 years—we look forward

to being your award-winning healthcare provider for the next 40 years!

6655 Alvarado Road, San Diego, CA 92120

1-800-ALVARADO | www.AlvaradoHospital.com

We are here when you need us:

• First in western U.S. to earn two certifications in stroke care from The Joint Commission: Advanced Primary Stroke Center and Gold Seal of Approval for Stroke Rehabilitation

• San Diego County STEMI (heart attack) Receiving Center

• American College of Surgeons’ Commission-certified Community Cancer Program

LaMesaCourier.com — December 2012

See Marijuana, Page 12

SERVICE CLUB CALENDARLa Mesa Sunrise rotary ClubMeeting Location: Terra American Bistro, 7091 El Cajon Blvd.Website: lamesasunriserotary.comEmail: [email protected]: (619) 644-7146Meeting dates and times: Friday 7:15 a.m.Dec. 12 program: Sherry Taylor-Englund: The San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine

La Mesa rotary ClubMeeting Location: La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Dr.Website: Rotary Club of La MesaPhone: (619) 465-2477Meeting date and time: Wednesday noon

the Lake Murray Kiwanis ClubMeeting location: Breakfast Meeting, Marie Calendar’s Restaurant and BakeryWebsite: lakemurraykiwanis.orgEmail: [email protected] dates and times: First and third Saturday of the month, 7:30 a.m.

La Mesa Lions ClubMeeting location: La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Dr.Website: lamesalionsclub.comEmail: [email protected]: Manny Demetre, treasurer (619) 462-2742Meeting dates and times: Tuesday noon to 1:30 p.m.

Optimist Club of La MesaMeeting location: Marie Callendar’s Restaurant, Alvarado RoadMeeting date and time: Wednesday, 7:15 a.m.

Soroptimist International of La MesaMeeting location: Denny’s Restaurant, 2691 Navajo RoadWebsite: www.silamesa.orgMeeting dates and times: First and second Thursday of each month, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.

La Mesa to vote on MedicaL Marijuana in 2014By Dave Schwab

The medical marijuana battle puffed into La Mesa last month as the city council voted 4-1, after certifying signatures from more than 10 percent of city registered voters, to place an initiative to amend the municipal code to authorize and regulate medical marijuana dispensaries in La Mesa on the next statewide election ballot in November 2014.

However, in the wording of the motion on the same vote, councilmembers opted not to request that city staff do a report on the impact of medical marijuana dispensa-ries in the city, as several other cities in San Diego County, including Lemon Grove, have done.

Vey Linville, an emphysema sufferer who uses medical marijuana to treat his condition and member of the San Diego Chapter of Americans For Safe Access, a group advo-cating the advance-ment of legal medical marijuana therapeutics and research, addressed the council, pleading with it to place the measure on the ballot.

“The appellate court has held that (marijuana) storefront collec-tives in California are legal under state law,” said Linville, who told the Council he uses cannabis medicinally administered in tea to keep from “suffocating.”

Linville said he believes use of medical marijuana has improved his condition preventing him from having to undergo a lung transplant.

Noting safe access to medical mari-juana dispensaries for residents “has been ignored in La Mesa,” Linville said medical marijuana advocates have turned to the elec-tion ballot initiative process in an attempt to secure their legal rights.

Linville said the city council should take the medical marijuana issue seriously and urged them to actually pay a visit to a dispensary to “see for yourselves what really

goes on there.”Linville urged the council, should it

sanction any impact study on the medical marijuana question, “to do so in an unbiased fashion and not in a way that is politically driven.”

City attorney Glenn Sabine character-ized the ongoing legal battle over medical marijuana dispensaries as a “patchwork quilt of decisions.”

Saying any report he might be directed to compile for the city on medical marijuana “would not reinvent the wheel,” Sabine added such a report would largely be a reit-eration of a growing body of back-and-forth case law developing in the fight over legaliza-tion of marijuana for medical use.

Sabine advised the council to deal with the medical marijuana issue, now that the ballot initia-

tive has garnered enough signatures to place it on the elec-

tion ballot, by voting to place it on the next state-wide election ballot in November 2014 and/or

sanction a study to be done within 30 days on the impact of

allowing medical marijuana dispensaries in the city of La Mesa.

Councilwoman Ruth Sterling said she favored putting the medical marijuana initiative on the November 2014 ballot, adding to do otherwise would “short circuit democracy.”

“Let the voters make the decision,” Sterling said.

“It goes to the ballot no matter what,” said vice mayor Mark Arapostathis after being told by city attorney Glenn Sabine that any impact report done would be infor-mation-only and not preclude placing the initiative on the election ballot in 2014.

Testifying from the audience, David Smiley urged the council not to sanction a medical marijuana impact report. He said spending more money on a report on “infor-

La Mesa - Because your home may well be your largest asset, selling it is probably one of the most important decisions you will make in your life, and once you have made the decision, you’ll want to sell your home for the highest price in the shortest time possible without com-promising your sanity. Before you place your home on the market, here’s a way to help you to be as prepared as possible.

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See Mayor, Page 5

See Holiday Events, Page 9

See Editor, Page 9

Letter from the EditorBy Genevieve A. Suzuki

The Christmas spirit is alive and well in La Mesa. With the 23rd annual Christmas in the Village fast approaching, it’s hard to ignore the most popular holiday in the United States.

In stark contrast to the La Mesa Merchants Association’s generosity during this holiday season was this year’s Black Friday sales event around the country. This year several companies decided to get a jump on business by opening their doors as early as 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

And to that, I say, “Bah, humbug.”Thanksgiving is a time when many of us gather with family and friends to celebrate

togetherness. We say grace and give thanks for what we have, including our loved ones, stacked refrigerators and roofs over our heads.

It is – and should remain – a time to appreciate what we already have, not what we covet.Nevertheless, early in the week before Thanksgiving, stores began

leaking their Black Friday specials. You could get a flat-screen TV for a fraction of its usual marked-up price; a Magic Bullet for 50 percent off; and the Dyson vacuum cleaner of your dreams – but only if you’re willing to leave the comfort and warmth of your home to camp out in a line snaking around the store of your choice.

I admit to loving certain aspects of Black Friday. I enjoy the madness that ensues early Friday morning when my best friend and I brave the cool temperatures to see if we can acquire a random item on the cheap. We usually stop in at Starbucks at Grossmont Center to grab a non-fat gingerbread latte and then resume our hunt for a few special items.But we do this on Friday – not Thursday night or on the cusp of

Thursday and Friday.Instead, on Thursday, we take our time in preparing Thanksgiving

dinner. My friend, Tyler, brines the turkey while Becca and I create side dishes. This year I scored a delicious recipe for Cranberry Jell-O from a receptionist at Radiology at Kaiser Medical Center in La Mesa.

It takes hours, but the time we share with each other and our families is worth the investment. After stuffing our faces with the tradi-

tional fare and pies from Mama’s Kitchen, we sit and let our food comas take their tolls.

The last thing we want to do is pull on clothes for a jaunt out to Walmart.And yet, when we ventured out to Toys “R” Us on Grossmont Center Drive Friday

The Sun Shines Sooner…By Pam Crooks

Good journalism is alive and well in East County.At the 39th San Diego Press Club Awards held in October,

not only did the La Mesa Courier come away with eight awards, including four first place prizes (in our first year of publication, I might add!), but two other journalistic concerns also garnered a significant number of awards: EastCountyMagazine.org and La Mesa-Mount Helix Patch.com.

Our local Patch site, received 10 awards, including four firsts, while EastCountyMaga-zine.org, earned three first place awards out of 11 altogether. Congrats are in order for all of the editors, writers, graphic artists and photographers who contributed to this outstanding showing. But the real winners are the residents of East County.

As the former Union-Tribune (now called U-T San Diego) shrinks its staff of news reporters, feature writers and regional sections, important suburban news gets short shrift. Whereas in the past, reporters from the U-T covered East County businesses, community college, school board and water district elections, city council debates, local sports and arts in depth, today you’re lucky to find a few paragraphs about this expansive area of the County in its pages.

The two websites I mentioned above won their awards in direct competition with the U-T, in the category of “Daily Newspapers and Websites.” The La Mesa Courier was entered under the category of “Non-Daily Newspapers.” (We also have a website (LaMesaCourier.com), featuring our award-winning writers, but did not compete in that category.) Together you, the reader, can have the best of both worlds – print and online.

While the U-T had reams of information about national, city and statewide races and issues, prior to last month’s election, I gratefully turned to our East County sources to become better informed on the background and positions of the various candidates on my ballot. Who wins these seats really does matter.

“An informed citizenry is the bulwark of a democracy” is a quote usually attributed to Thomas Jefferson. Thankfully, even though large daily newspapers may be losing ground, new options for quality reporting are arising.

NOTE: To read more about the numerous awards given to the La Mesa Courier and our sister publications, the Mission Times Courier and the Mission Valley News, a the Press Club Awards, see page 9.

‘Tis The seasonWant to get into the holiday spirit? There are a number of options around San Diego

County for anyone looking to chase away the “Bah, humbug” blues.

North Park toyland Parade – Dec. 1The North Park Toyland Parade marches into its 49th year with vintage cars, marching

bands, dance groups, beauty queens and city officials. Santa Claus will also be making an appearance. The parade and festivities run along University Avenue between Utah and Iowa Streets from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Balboa Park December Nights – Dec. 7 & 8Balboa Park December Nights celebrates its 35th year

Dec. 7 from 5 to 10 p.m. and Dec. 8 from noon to 10 p.m. Participating Balboa Park museums open their doors free of charge from 5 to 9 p.m. both evenings and more than 300,000 visitors are expected to experience the joy of San Diego’s largest free community festival. Some of the more well-known traditions include food from around the globe at the International Christmas Festival at the House of Pacific Relations Cottages; the annual Santa Lucia Proces-sion at the Plaza de California; unique gift shopping at the museum stores and with the artisans of Spanish Village; and musical and dance presentations from the San Diego Junior Theatre, San Diego Civic Youth Ballet, Del Cerro Baptist’s Christmas Story Tree, and more. Visit www.balboapark.org/decembernights for more information.

San Diego Bay Parade of Lights – Dec. 9 & 16The San Diego Bay Parade of Lights is a holiday tradition hosted by the boating commu-

nity. This year’s theme is “Our 41st Anniversary, USS Santa Claus.” With more than 80 boats sparkling in the Bay, the event is sure to light up Sunday nights, Dec. 9 and 16, with the holiday spirit. The San Diego Bay Parade of Lights is 5:30 to 9 p.m. If you’re viewing the parade from land, the north and south ends of the Embarcadero are great spots as is the pathway along Coronado. Another excellent viewing point is the park behind Seaport Village. If you’re heading to Harbor Island, be sure to get there early as parking is at a premium.

Christmas in the Village – Dec. 14 & 15La Mesa Village is transformed into a Victorian Wonderland. Strolling minstrels, carolers

and street entertainers line La Mesa Boulevard from 5 to 10 p.m. Dec. 14 and 15. More importantly for the kids, the guy in the red suit is available for photo opportunities and gift requests. There are also carnival rides, ponies and puppet shows. See lmvma.com/SeasonalEv-ents/Christmas-In-The-Village.aspx for more information.

Old town Holiday in the Park – Dec. 15 & 16Old Town’s Holiday in the Park is a two-day celebration of the holidays, highlighted by

the 62nd Annual Las Posadas re-enactment. Museums, historic homes, stores and restaurants in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park will be open late and richly decorated in period

mayor is in a position they personally don’t agree with,” said Madrid, who was on the short end of the 3-2 council vote against the city’s endorsing free trade in October 2011. “Any council-member, as an individual, can support or endorse something.”

Noting the name of a city is not trademarked, Madrid said the commendation was personal only and did not bear the city’s seal or logo; therefore it should not have been miscon-strued as an official endorsement by the City of La Mesa.

“It was just my entitlement that I supported the concept,” he said.The City of La Mesa was lobbied in 2011 for its endorsement by Nancy Ryan and Anne

Pacheco, co- chairs of a local Fair Trade Steering Committee.Fair trade is defined as being a “market-based approach empowering farmers to get a fair

price for their harvest while providing safe working conditions and decent wages for workers guaranteeing their right to organize.”

La Mesa met five requirements to be considered to be in a position to endorse free trade, including having at least one free trade retail outlet for every 5,000 residents that sells merchandise meeting the group’s ethical standards.

Fair trade products are available at more than 20 La Mesa establishments, including Grossmont Nutrition Center, Gingham and All Things Bright & British. La Mesa organi-zations using fair trade products include St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church and School, United Church of Christ and First United Methodist Church, as well as the city’s Soroptomist, Kiwanis, Lions and Sunrise Rotary clubs.

La Mesan Scott Kidwell said the implications of the fair trade issue are broader than a personal squabble between councilmembers. Labeling fair trade as “political,” while char-acterizing the groups promoting it as having “deep pockets” and being “for profit,” Kidwell

said, “The city shouldn’t be involved in using city taxpayer resources” to endorse free trade.

Since La Mesa City Council’s 3-2 vote against officially endorsing free trade more than a year ago, Kidwell said the rules have been changed to gain support sidestep-

Mayor, from page 1

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See Election, Page 12

CiTy oF La MESa LaUNChES REdESigNEd wEbSiTE

Over the past few years, the City of La Mesa has seen a significant increase in the number of people visiting its website. Throughout 2012, cityoflamesa.com has received an average of nearly 28,000 visitors each month. For that reason, city staff began exploring options for a website redesign that would focus on the user and feature a design reflective of the La Mesa community. The redesigned site offers a cleaner, more colorful and user-friendly interface, and provides the public easier and quicker access to the most-searched-for information.

The newly redesigned homepage features a new Citizen Help Center menu and graphic links to the most popular pages. In addition, the navigation was reconfigured based on user statistics collected over the past year. According to city staff, the most frequently searched-for topics of interest include parks and other recreation facilities, classes and summer camps, and meeting agendas and minutes. The updated navigation has four specific user-centric areas, including Activities, Business, Government, and Residents. This allows more direct access for users who are looking for a specific type of content.

The site also boasts a new language translator and a searchable set of frequently asked questions. New buttons highlight existing online tools such as Request Tracker, used to report and track requests for service; Community Alert, used to enable city staff and law enforcement to quickly alert the public about activity or crime; and Notify Me, an email and SMS message notification service. Additionally, new social media and share buttons at the bottom of every page provide quick links to view and share information via Nixle, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and more. The site is also available in a mobile-friendly version.

Mayor, from page 4

ping council disapproval.“[Free trade backers] changed the requirement, on the local government level, so that all

that was needed was a commendation by an elected official, instead of getting an endorsing resolution from the entire governing body,” Kidwell said. “Something from just one elected official would be sufficient to push them over the top.”

Though Madrid’s written commendation of free trade was personal, Kidwell noted it is nonetheless being construed by free trade supporters on their websites as being “an official recognition” of their practices.

Ewin, who was in the majority on the 3-2 vote against free trade in 2011, said initia-tive backers soliciting councilmembers for their vote on a proclamation supporting free trade “was fine,” but added he voted against the measure because “I don’t think that’s the role of government.”

Ewin said free trade organizers “dumbing down” their requirements to secure the city’s unofficial endorsement constituted “the ends justifying the means.”

“I agendized it to make sure that people understood that, though the mayor had the right to do the commendation, that he chose to do it indirectly,” said Ewin. “Processes need to be respected. I’m very disappointed that there’s a way to get around the rules and procedures our city government follows.”

Although the mayor “did the right thing,” Ewin said the way in which the rules have been bent has caused the council to “lose its credibility.”

At the Nov. 13 meeting, La Mesa City Councilmember Ruth Stirling directed staff to write a letter “clarifying” that Madrid’s personal commendation of the fair practice’s group was a personal recommendation only, and in no way spoke for the council which had opposed the measure.

election, from page 1

councilperson was elected this year to take over Councilmember Dave Allan’s spot: Kristine C. Alessio took the second spot on the council with 25.10 percent of the vote. Local gallery owner Shannon O’Dunn came in third with 21.68 percent; Patrick Dean received 15.12 percent; and Laura Lothian received 10.38 percent of the vote. Alessio is an attorney and local business owner who has lived in La Mesa for 19 years.

Superior CourtDeputy district attorney Robert Amador is the newest Superior Court judge, having

beaten his opponent, Jim Miller, 59.14 percent to 40.86 percent. Amador has more than 29 years of experience as a prosecutor in the San Diego County District Attorney’s office.

County Board of educationGregg Robinson won the seat 56.05 percent over John Witt, who received 43.95 percent.

Grossmont union High School DistrictPriscilla Schreiber received the top vote with 28.22 percent. Jim Stieringer squeaked by

opponent Gary C. Woods with 18.78 percent over 18.64 percent.

La Mesa-Spring Valley School DistrictThe top two vote-getters were Emma Turner (37.44 percent) and Bill Baber (34.85

percent).


See Pet Safety, Page 12

See Just Business, Page 13

Just BusinessSomething must be in the air along Fletcher

Parkway. At least two businesses at the corner of Fletcher and Baltimore Drive have received stylish makeovers in an effort to raise their aesthetic appeals.

The McDonald’s at 8045 Fletcher Parkway hosted its grand re-opening Nov. 17 with a variety of giveaways and prizes. The fast food restaurant’s reno-vation included updating the play area for kids and adding WiFi for guests. Rather than the usual quick eats experience, the restaurant now looks more like a modern café.

Not to be outdone, McDonald’s neighbor, Pick Up Stix, at 8025 Fletcher Parkway, also received a facelift. Seating has been added and the décor given a color boost with Pick Up Stix’s signature red.

Grossmont Center hosts Smart KidsLocated near Sports Authority and Shakey’s Pizza, indoor children’s learning and play

center Smart Kids Time offers a series of parent/child activities dedicated to the educational, emotional and social development of children.

Open for several months, Smart Kids Time gives harried Grossmont Center shoppers a brilliant way to reward the kids – or themselves – for good behavior. For $24, children receive a two-hour game-lesson, and for $10, children can enjoy the game zone. Creativity kits are also sold for as little as $2 in the shop’s craft studio.

Smart Kids Time gives guests free materials for drawing, board games and features a children’s library. Parents can also treat themselves by purchasing one of several café drinks or

ShaRE a SaFE hoLiday wiTh yoUR pETBy Sari Reis

Christmas trees ablaze with bright lights and tinsel, colorful ornaments, candy canes, popcorn and underneath, presents decorated with ribbons and bows. All around the room are holly plants, mistletoe, lilies and poinsettias and oh, those wonderful smells coming from the kitchen. During the day and evening, neighbors and friends drop by to say hello, exchange holiday greetings and share gifts of chocolate and mulled wine.

Christmas is a wonderful time of year. A time we all look forward to, but it is also a time of potential perils for our pets. As pet parents, it is our responsibility to keep our “furry kids” safe, healthy and happy over the holidays.

Here are a few tips to help you:Christmas trees should be anchored to the ceiling or wall ensuring they can’t be knocked

over by rambunctious kids, or kitties. Pine needles need to be swept up as they can puncture holes in intestines if ingested by curious cats. Keep tinsel off the lower branches and off the tree all together if you have cats. These shiny pieces of tin can wreak havoc on an animal’s innards. Fragile ornaments should be hung near the top of the tree and don’t let the animals drink the water your tree may be seated in. That water contains tree sap that can be toxic to pets.

Cover it with a shield of some kind. Electrical cords need to be concealed so they can’t be gnawed on by puppies or kitties. Plants such as holly, mistletoe and lilies are toxic to felines so if you have cats, keep those plants out of reach.

Did you know that snow globes contain antifreeze? If

KpbS Editor addresses U-T’s declining influence

KPBS senior news editor Mark Sauer will be the featured guest speaker at the Dec. 5 general meeting of the La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club. Sauer has worked in journalism for over 30 years and will address the issue of partisan politics in mainstream media. San Diego County voters largely turned their backs during the 2012 election on the recommendations of U-T San Diego. Sauer will discuss what appears to be the diminishing political impact of San Diego’s only daily newspaper. Has the U-T moved too far to the right of local voters?

Mark Sauer spent 27 years as a reporter and editor at the San Diego Union-Tribune after stints at the Houston Post and two newspapers in his native Michigan. He has covered stories from the silly to the sublime, and along the way has interviewed everyone from panhandlers to presidents. His work exposing the false prosecutions of several San Diegans for murder, rape, and child abuse garnered Pulitzer Prize nominations and many awards. Sauer has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Michigan State University.

The La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club’s meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month at the La Mesa Community Center at 4975 Memorial Dr. in La Mesa. The meeting starts at 7 p.m., with refreshments and snacks served just before the meeting at 6:30 p.m.

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See Lighting Up La Mesa, Page 11

Lighting up La Mesa, from page 1

La Mesa ReadsBy Jessie Goodwin, Librarian

Winter has arrived, and along with it comes our Winter Reading Challenge. For every five items you check out, pick up a raffle ticket from library staff. Earn extra raffle tickets when you get caught reading in the branch. At the end of the program on Jan. 13 we’ll be raffling off some great prizes like gift cards, books, and more.

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling was last month’s most popular title at the La Mesa Library. Rowling’s first book for adults follows the story of a small English town during a divisive local election. The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner was another popular pick. Television writer Ruth Saunders believes her dreams have come true when her sitcom gets the green light. But her happiness is threatened by demanding actors and executives as well

as a crush on her boss. Finally, La Mesa readers lined up for Unnatural Acts by Stuart Woods. One of the latest in Woods’ long-running Stone Barrington series, Acts is a fast-paced thriller.

On Dec. 12 at 5 p.m. we will have our Coffee and Books program. Library staff offer book reviews and invite you to chat about what you’re reading. Also please join us on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. for a holiday concert. The Desert Moon String Quartet will play holiday music from around the world. The whole family is invited to enjoy this concert.

All San Diego County Library branches will close at 5 p.m. Dec. 24 and will be closed Dec. 25 for the Christmas holiday. We’ll also be closing at 5 p.m. Dec. 31 for New Year’s Eve.

The La Mesa Branch library is open seven days a week. We invite you to stop in to one of our many programs, browse our collection, and let our staff know how we can assist you. As always, please come in and check out what’s new.

United Church of Christ of La Mesa Presents Christmas Cantata

“For a few moments, take away the tinsel, the traditions, the fun and the fellowship, and discover the true message of Christmas. Christmas is a fact…a happening…history. Christmas is truth…God’s Word made flesh. Christmas is the birth of a person…Jesus Christ. Christmas is the new birth of the human race…you and me.”

With these words John F. Wilson, composer of “I Believe,” introduced his beloved cantata, I Believe. His music, highlighted with a multi-media presentation of scenes depicting the Christmas story, will be presented by the Chancel Choir of the United Church of Christ of La Mesa (UCCLM) at the 10 a.m. service of worship on Sunday, Dec. 16.

UCCLM, an open and affirming congregation, is located at 5940 Kelton Ave. in La Mesa. For more information, call (619) 464-1519 or visit www.ucclm.org.

Merchants Association also puts up colored lights around the Village. The work done to ensure La Mesa has a wonderful Christmas in the Village is done mostly for free, with Vigil receiving a stipend for his countless manpower hours.

The 23rd annual Christmas in the Village, which closes down La Mesa Boulevard Dec. 14 and 15, from Acacia to Fourth Avenue, will feature carnival rides, a horse-drawn carriage, a puppet show, and multiple stages of singers and carolers. Although there won’t be food trucks, there is ample opportunity to feed the family with the many Village restaurants, including Tiramisu, Centifonti’s, Gingham and Por Favor Mexican Restaurant.

There will be pre-parade festivities from 4 to 5 p.m., when clowns will be distributing balloon hats and candy canes to early arrivers. The parade, which will feature several musical acts, runs from 5 to 6: 30 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., musical performances will take the stages at Fourth Avenue, Third Avenue, Palm Avenue and in front of Goodwill Plaza. The horse-drawn carriage will be in front of First Republic Bank and the puppet show will front the Christian Science Reading Room.

There will also be five fire pits along the boulevard. On Friday night, the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club will be hosting s’mores at the Palm Avenue fire pit.

Most importantly, Christmas in the Village presents a very special guest – Santa Claus. This year Santa will be fittingly located in new Village shop, Royal Candy Castle. “That’s Santa’s house,” said Vigil. As with previous years, families will still be able to take free photos of their kids with Santa. “And if they don’t have a camera, we will have one so we can email the photos to them.”

“We’re the last free Santa,” said Vigil.And while the event is solely funded

by the La Mesa Merchants Association and monies made at La Mesa Village’s Oktober-fest, there is a lot of positive return for Village merchants’ investment. Vigil said the actual economic effect of Christmas in the Village for local merchants is roughly equivalent to Oktoberfest.

“Oktoberfest is a wonderful thing for our merchants, and Christmas in the Village rivals it in a shorter amount of time,” he said.

One reason Christmas in the Village is a success among Village merchants is its attendees, said Vigil, who is also vice president of the La Mesa Merchants Association.

It’s as simple as looking at the trash. Vigil said trash is actually in the receptacles during Christmas in the Village, whereas trash can be found everywhere during Oktoberfest.

“That’s because the crowd is different,” he said. “At Oktoberfest, you have people who come to experience a drinking event. At Christmas in the Village, there’s no alcohol, other than what is served at the Village restau-rants and bars. So you have more families, and when you have families, you have better sales.”

Holiday JazzFeel like jazzing up your holiday season? La Mesa resi-

dent and jazz vocalist Lillian Palmer is headlining the Coastal Communities Concert Band’s holiday

concert with Michael Ruhl benefiting Meals-on-Wheels Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. The concert is at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. General admission is $20 and seniors (60 and over) and children (12 and under) are $15. For tickets, call (800) 5-Senior or (760) 736-9900, or visit www.meals-on-wheels.org.

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events, from page 2

Grossmont High School

Foothiller FootstepsBy Connie and Lynn Baer

Among the many traditions at Grossmont High School is our school newspaper, which has had a long and wonderful history. In the 1924-1925 yearbook, the commercial department – a business skills department – published “for the first time in Grossmont’s history, a school paper.” Typed by the senior typing class, two editions of the Hill Chatter were successfully published. Hill Chatter was a bound combination of student handbook, literary magazine, newspaper and school clubs catalog.

On Feb. 18, 1927, the first Foothill Echoes, which is the current name of the newspaper, was published by the typing class, which gave the newspaper its name. The first eight-page issue was sold for five cents with plans to have a monthly publica-tion. The October 1928 news-paper encouraged everyone to buy a year’s subscription for 40 cents, thereby saving 10 cents since there were five issues a year, sold for 10 cents each. During the most recent decades, the newspaper has been given free to students, with the support of advertising revenue.

One remarkable thing about the school newspaper is how little the content has actu-ally changed. The articles deal with sports (especially football), school rules, fashion, film, and class activities. Student edito-rials are bolder now, but overall the focus of the newspaper is still on being a high school student. One thing that has changed, however, is the heading since each staff can alter the heading.

This school year, 2012-13, marks the 87th year of the Foothill Echoes, and the Echoes is changing with the times. It is now an online newspaper, accessible at www.foothillechoes.com. According to newspaper advisor Elizabeth Stellin, online publication “has enabled the students to write and get the stories out more quickly, so we can be a more timely news organization. It is more interactive. The readers can respond to polls and be more engaged with their school…” Another advantage is all of the previous articles are accessible as well as the current news of the school.

The GHS Museum has at least one issue from every year of its publication from 1927-28 on, except for one year, 1943-1944, of which we have none. Since the newspapers are an invaluable record of our school’s history, we welcome donations of newspapers from alumni and community members to complete our collection, which enables us to preserve Gross-mont’s remarkable history.

Connie Baer, GHS Class of 1965, and her sister Lynn Baer, Class of 1969, are directors of the GHS Museum. Please contact them with any questions or comments at [email protected] or call the museum at (619) 668-6140. The museum is open to the public from noon to 4 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month or by appointment on other Wednesdays.

helix highlightsBy Jennifer Osborn

It’s at this time of year when families begin thinking about where their eighth-grader will attend high school next fall. Did you know legislation was passed that no longer requires families to send their children for which their home is zoned? While school districts maintain “attendance areas,” there is more flexibility for families to choose a school that may better suit their children’s needs. This is an important choice, and one that deserves serious consideration.

Charter schools are public schools of choice. Helix Charter High School is a tuition-free, public, comprehensive high school and is open to any California high school student. Helix’s rigorous educational program focuses on college preparation so that graduates have the opportunity to attend college, should they choose. A Helix diploma ensures students meet the minimum requirements for admission to University of California and California State University schools.

The faculty and staff of Helix pride themselves on providing a quality education to all students and believe that student support will lead to success. For this reason, students have access to one-on-one tutoring, before- and after-school times to meet with teachers, and extended library hours. Helix also boasts a wide variety of extra-curricular activities and elec-tive courses, including CIF athletics, visual and performing arts, and numerous clubs, just to name a few.

Any California high school student can choose to attend Helix. In order to provide fami-lies with the information needed to make such an important choice, Helix administration will hold informational meetings beginning in February. In order to be considered for enrollment at Helix, it is mandatory that you attend one of these meetings. Dates will be available on our website as they are set.

To find out more about Helix prior to the enrollment meetings, we invite you to attend one of our Excellence in Education tours, a one-hour program that highlights our history, goals, accomplishments and needs, along with a tour of our campus. This month’s tour date is Dec. 4 from 1:30 to 2:30 pm. Tours begin in the library. Space is limited, so please call Linda Sullivan at (619) 644-1940, ext. 152 to reserve a spot.

We also invite our community to attend our 3rd Annual Helix Supporters’ Breakfast on Friday, Dec. 7, from 8:30 to 9:30 am. It is a free event at which breakfast is served, some student groups perform, and we share the accomplishments of the school and its students. It is a great time for the Helix community to come together, catch up with each other, and celebrate our school. Please RSVP to me at [email protected] if you wish to attend.

If you ever have questions or comments regarding Helix Charter High School, please don’t hesitate to contact me. We welcome your feedback!

wanted: Future EngineersChildren 7 to 12 years old are invited to the Engineering with

LEGOS Winter Camp Dec. 31 through Jan. 4 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students explore concepts in physics, architecture, mechanical and structural engineering, from Gear Cars to Battletracks. The engineer-designed curriculum challenges new and returning students to reach higher levels of engineering comprehension while having fun playing with LEGOS.

Campers should bring a snack and water bottle each day, every-thing else is provided at camp. Although the camp utilizes LEGOS, it is not affiliated with the LEGO Group. The camp will be held at the La Mesa Recreation Center, 4975 Memorial Drive, La Mesa in MacArthur Park.

Please call (619) 667-1300 for more information. View the sched-ules and enroll online at www.CityOfLaMesa.com/classes.

public to meet its neighbors at the annual Holiday Open House Dec. 18 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sponsored by Walmart Neighborhood Market, the event will feature refreshments and entertainment. The center is at 8450 La Mesa Blvd. Call (619) 667-1322 to RSVP.

New yeAr’S eVe PArty – Dec. 31The La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center hosts a New Year’s Eve party with music, dancing,

refreshments and fun Dec. 31 from 8 p.m. to midnight. Purchase tickets at the Adult Enrich-ment Center. Call (619) 667-1322 for more information.

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1928

1930

1950

1954

Standing, l. to r.: Vince Meehan, Genevieve Suzuki, Pam Crooks, Aleta El Sheikh.

Seated: Publishers Jim and Robin Madaffer

La Mesa Courier reCOGNIzeD By SAN DIeGO PreSS CLuB

La Mesa Courier and its sister publications, Mission Times Courier and Mission Valley News, were recognized for their contributions to local journalism with 14 awards at the San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards Oct. 23. All three community newspapers are published by Mission Publishing Group.

La Mesa Courier editor emeritus Pam Crooks won first place in the non-daily newspaper category for Real Estate with “Is La Mesa Real Estate Making a Comeback?” Crooks also took third place for her La Mesa Courier article, “Adventure 16 Celebrating 50 Years.”

Current La Mesa Courier editor Genevieve Suzuki came in second for her story, “Gingham Chef Aims to Put La Mesa on the Map,” in the non-daily newspapers category for Food & Restau-rant. Suzuki also won first for her non-daily newspaper General News entry, “U-T San Diego Jumps Right Into the Political Arena,” and second for her Travel article, “Falling in Love with Frank: Riverside’s Mission Inn an Easy Escape for San Diego.”

Editorial wasn’t the only department being honored that night. La Mesa Courier’s graphic artists received nods for their good work. La Mesa Courier graphic artist Aleta El Sheikh’s front page for the March 2012 issue won second for non-daily newspaper Front Page Design. Graphic artist Vince Meehan placed second among non-daily newspapers in Feature Layout Design for his design for “The Vine Cottage Restaurant” in La Mesa Courier.

Meehan also won first place among non-daily newspaper Features and Series categories with “The Future of Balboa Park” and “On Patrol with the Riverbed Enforcement Team” respectively, both published in the Mission Valley News. The Balboa Park feature won Meehan Best of Show honors among all non-daily newspaper categories as well.

La Mesa Courier contributors were also recognized for their pieces. Kathy Crawford won first among non-daily newspapers in the History category for “A Look Back: The Grossmont Art Colony,” and David Ogul took first among the non-daily newspaper Political/Government entries for his La Mesa Courier story, “La Mesa Redistricting.”

Additionally, Patti Anderson’s profile, “About Ken Kramer: Long-time La Mesa Resi-dent,” was third place among entries in its non-daily newspaper category; and Joy Raab placed first for her La Mesa Courier “Reader’s Inc. Storefront” entry among non-daily newspapers for Drawing or Illustration.

editor, from page 4

morning, we found ransacked shelves and empty sales bins, proof that much of the public didn’t feel the same. A salesclerk told me when they opened at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving the line went from the store all the way down to Walmart Neighborhood Market.

Perhaps sadder than our consumerism is the fact these companies’ employees are being made to stock shelves and report to their jobs on Thanksgiving night. And although it’s easy to say they’re getting double time, it’s much harder to face the fact that many employees don’t have a choice amid a recession.

This season, let’s take some time to give thanks again for what we have. After all, we shorted Thanksgiving by heading out after dinner Thursday night. Gratitude in a time when many are suffering for necessities is a gift we can all afford to give this year.

May you and yours have a wonderful holiday season, full of what is truly important in life – love and togetherness.

Holiday events, from page 4

holiday adornment (admission fees still apply to some locations). Enjoy songs and entertain-ment of the season throughout Old Town from 6 to 9 p.m. both days. Las Posadas on Dec. 16 is a re-enactment of the biblical journey of Mary and Joseph through Bethlehem. The event begins at 2 p.m. with carolers and children’s choirs in the state park, with the live theatrical procession starting at 4 p.m. A piñata party for children follows at 5 p.m.

Holiday of Lights at the Del Mar Fairgrounds – every day through Jan. 1

Check out more than 400 lighted holiday displays from the comfort of your own vehicle or via the open-air Holiday Hayride. Although the hayride is only offered on Fridays, Dec. 7 and 14, you can see the largest animated drive-through light show on the West Coast every day through Jan. 1. Del Mar Fairgrounds is at 2260 Durante Blvd. Go to www.holidayoflights.com for more information.

Seaworld’s Christmas Celebration – weekends through Dec. 16, daily Dec. 22 through Jan. 5

If you have a SeaWorld pass, ‘tis the season to really use it. SeaWorld really gets into the holiday spirit, complete with peppermint infused hot cocoa, DIY Christmas cookie kits and a SnowWorld that will have your family giggling and pitching snowballs as though they really live up north. Additionally, the Shamu show features a holiday spin with “Shamu’s Christmas.”

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Noteworthy, from page 2

See Holiday Budgeting, Page 14

since the event inception in 1986 joined community leaders to raise more than $268,000 to fund Junior Achievement programs in financial literacy, work readiness and entre-preneurship for K-12 students.

Junior Achievement also celebrated the business and philan-thropic leadership of the late Walter Zable, a past San Diego Business Hall of Fame laureate and founding father of Junior Achievement San Diego, and nominated Joe Craver of Red Cross and Mary Walshok of University of California, San Diego as the 2012 laureates. Andre Hoss and Josh Knopman of Place-Mate, an innovative new company created as part of Junior Achievement Company Program, took the title of Young Entrepreneurs of the Year.

CUT yoUR hoLiday ExpENSESBy Jason Alderman

The closer the holidays loom, the less time harried families have to buy gifts, plan seasonal events and make travel arrangements. Unfortu-nately, when time is at a premium and you’re forced to make last-minute decisions, it’s usually your budget that suffers.

As an occasional procrasti-nator myself, let me share a few tips I’ve picked up over the years that can help take the expense – and stress – out of holiday planning:

Before you start shopping, calculate how much you can afford to spend on the holidays as a portion of your overall budget. If your finances are in good shape, spend no more than 1.5 percent of your annual income. But if you’re deeply

in debt, can’t meet your regular monthly expenses or don’t have an emergency fund, this isn’t the time to rack up additional debt.

Once you determine an overall amount, tally up expected holiday-related expenses including gifts, decorations, new clothes and accessories, giftwrap, cards, postage, special meals and year-end gratu-ities. Don’t forget travel-related expenses if you plan to leave town, and try to recall unanticipated expenses from last year.

If you’re looking for ways to cut back, consider:

Arrange gift lotteries with family members and friends so everyone concentrates their time, effort and money on buying fewer,

nicer gifts.Speak candidly with friends,

coworkers and extended family about placing a moratorium on exchanging gifts. They’re probably feeling the pinch too.

If the gift-giving gesture is important to you, suggest pooling resources with others to make a size-able contribution to a charity you all believe in.

Once you’ve determined your overall holiday spending budget – and before you start shopping – make a detailed list that includes:

Everyone on your shopping list.

Spending limits and several gift alternatives for each person.

How much you actually spend

on each gift. If you overspend on one present you’ll need to make up for it elsewhere.

What you gave each person – to avoid giving them the same thing next year.

What each person gave you to avoid “re-gifting” disasters later on.

Other expenses (decorations, etc.)

Some people relish hunting for bargains; others loathe it. Either way, here are a few money-saving tips:

Clip newspaper and online coupons. Stores often match competitors’ prices even if their own items aren’t on sale. Plus, many consolidation websites post down-loadable coupons and sale codes for

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call Becky at619.697-2500


Seniors invited to La Mesa health Care Library discussion

The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library will host a free seniors discussion group on “COPD: When Breathing is Hard” from 10 to 11 a.m. Dec. 12.

Library director Kathy Quinn will present information about prevention, symptoms and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), also called emphysema or chronic bronchitis. More than 12 million Americans have COPD, and another 12 million people may have it but not know it. Handouts will be provided and light refreshments will be served. Quinn has served as director of the Herrick Library since 2007. She received her master’s degree in library and information science in 1992 from Dominican University in the Chicago area.

The Herrick Library, which opened in 2002, is a consumer health public library special-izing in health research information, accessible both on-site and via the Internet. The library is operated by the Grossmont Healthcare District, a public agency that supports health-related community programs and services in San Diego’s East County.

The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library is located at 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa. For more information, phone the library at (619) 8255010 or visit www.herricklibrary.org.

Holiday Concert with Pomerado brass QuintetThe Pomerado Brass Quintet returns to Mission Trails Regional Park on Sunday, Dec. 16,

from 3 to 4 p.m. The quintet will perform music selected especially for the holiday season, with pieces celebrating Christmas and Hanukkah. The quintet was formed in 2005 as an adjunct of the Pomerado Community Band and performs independently throughout San Diego County. Mission Trails Regional Park’s auditorium is particularly attractive for the quintet, which enjoys the venue’s good acoustics and open opportunity to communicate easily with its audience.

Jingle Bells aTop MT. hELixSounds of the season will emanate from the Mt. Helix Park Amphitheatre on Sunday,

Dec. 16 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. during the annual Sing-along Christmas Caroling. This free family event will be an evening of memory making for all generations. Gina Seashore, known locally as That Music Lady, will be leading the caroling with her regular group of musicians. Free hot coffee and cocoa will be available and SPRITES (a local mother-daughter philan-thropic group) will provide free baked goods. A barbershop quartet of elves will be visiting from the North Pole to greet attendees when they disembark from the free shuttles into the park. Parking and shuttles will be available next to the San Miguel Fire Station at 10105 Vivera Dr. in La Mesa beginning at 6 p.m. For more information go to www.mthelixpark.org or call (619) 741-4363.

Lighting up La Mesa, from page 7

Vigil has some advice if you’re planning to celebrate Christmas in the Village: “If you live in La Mesa, walk on down. If you live outside La Mesa, know this: There are 300 parking spaces in La Mesa and they’ll all be taken so just take the trolley. There’s no better way to get here.”

Christmas in the Village takes place along La Mesa Boulevard from Acacia to Fourth Avenue Friday, Dec. 14, and Saturday, Dec. 15, from 5 to 10 p.m.

People want to stay in the place they call home WE CAN HELP

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election, from page 5

Pet Safety, from page 6

one of those globes is broken or leaks, the contents can make a dog very sick or even kill it if ingested. Even in sunny California, a lot of people like to have the warmth and glow of a roaring fire during the Christmas season. If you are one of those people, be sure to have the screen in place so pets can’t get too close.

One of the best things about the holiday season is the opportunity to have friends and family come to visit. Although your pets may love the extra attention, for some pets, especially those who are shy, the extra people can create a lot of stress. If you have pets that are shy or fearful around strangers, give them the opportunity to be sequestered. Crates are great to keep your dogs safe and secure and kitties will often be just as happy being behind closed doors in another room. Ask your guests not to feed your animals treats or scraps from the table, although they would probably love it, it could make them sick.

Most importantly, stick to normal routines around the holidays. Walks, meals and frol-icking should be at the usual time. This will really help keep the pets’ stress levels down.

Remember, your “furry kids” are part of the family and Christmas should be fun for them as well as safe.

Happy Holidays!Sari Reis is a Certified Humane Education Specialist and the owner of Mission Valley Pet

Sitting Services. For more information please contact her at (760) 644-0289 or www.missionval-leypetsitting.com.

Marijuana, from page 3

mation that is already out there would be a waste.”Smiley also had a request of the council: “If you vote to place the initiative on the ballot,

make sure that our kids are protected, that placement of dispensaries are so many feet away from parks or schools,” he said.

Mayor Art Madrid, who cast the lone dissenting vote, in favor of requiring the city to do an impact report on medical marijuana, said more information on the subject would be better than less and perhaps offer insight into the controversial issue.

Grossmont Healthcare DistrictBetty Stieringer, W.R. “Bob” Ayres and Michael A. Emerson were the top three candi-

dates and will be on the board. Current board president Deborah McElravy lost her seat to Stieringer, who received the most votes of all the candidates with 22.23 percent. The Gross-mont Healthcare District monitors the health care services provided under contract at Gross-mont Hospital to assure patients’ needs are met and their reasonable expectations are exceeded. The district also addresses the unmet health care needs of its service communities.

Helix water DistrictJoel A. Scalzitti unseated Richard K. Smith with 56.46 percent over 43.54 percent of the

vote. The other two incumbents, John Linden and Chuck Muse, retained their positions on the board.

Visit us online: ModernTileStudio.com Or, visit our new showroom:

4674 Nebo Drive, La Mesa, CA 91941 619 463-4142

We have an extraordinary collection of glass, metal and porcelain tile for:

Kitchens & Baths Pools & Spas Walls & Floors

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TREE REMOVALS • STUMP GRINDING • YARD CLEAN UPSVery reasonable prices • Senior Discounts$1,000,000 Liability Insurance Workers Comp. Contractor Lic.#748347

Serving the local community for over 22 years! (619) 448-1515

Liberty

Christmas DinnerFarm to table dining, with a

commitment to local, sustainable,organic ingredients

Dine in or take out

www.TerraSD.comFor catering E-mail [email protected]

619.293.70887091 El Cajon Blvd. corner of 71st St.

La Mesa, CA 92115

Dinner seatings 2:30 pm - 6:30 pm • Reservations required.

*First Course*choice of:

ARUGULA SALAD poached pear, gorgonzola cheesecake, candied pecans, honey walnut vinaigrette

MUSHROOM & BRIE SOUP truffle oil drizzleLOBSTER BISQUE with brandy

PUMPKIN RAVIOLI roasted corn cream, toasted hazelnuts

*Second Course*choice of:

BROWN SUGAR MUSTARD GLAZED HAMHERB ROASTED TURKEY cranberry-onion compote

HERB CRUSTED PRIME RIB rosemary creamGRILLED PORK FLAT IRON apple-persimmon chutneyPAN ROASTED LOCAL FISH ginger-soy beurre blanc

All served with garlic braised winter greens, caramelized onion corn bread pudding & roasted acorn squash

*Dessert Trio*EGG NOG CRÈME BRULEE

PUMPKIN TOFFEE CHEESECAKE cinnamon crème anglaiseCHOCOLATE MOUSSE NAPOLEAN amaretto whipped cream

VEGETARIAN & CHILDREN’S OPTIONS AVAILABLE$39 per person plus tax and gratuity. $15 children under 12


What’s Cookingwith Julie by Julie White

RESTaURaNT REviEw

CENTiFoNTi’S oFFERS ChEESy goodNESSBy Jen Van Tieghem

With a spacious dining area and an eclectic menu, Centifonti’s Bar and Restaurant is one of many popular eateries in La Mesa’s village area. The business venture began as a specialty chocolate shop in 1999 and expanded into a restaurant in 2005. The family still makes its delectable chocolates, which are showcased in the restaurant along with a gelato counter with handmade flavors. I invited a friend to do some exploring with me here for dinner, even though the desserts were a sweet temptation.

Initially we took some time with the menu because Centifonti’s has a lot to offer. Burgers, salads and sandwiches caught my eye and, after changing my mind a few times, I settled on the turkey breast club. My dining partner went with a hearty helping of lasagna. While we waited we looked over the bar, which is an extension of the dining room. The seats were full of football fans taking in a Thursday night game on the big screen TVs. Centifonti’s full bar serves cocktails and boasts a good beer selection and a variety of wines. I decided a Stella Artois on tap would go well with my sandwich and my friend selected a red wine to complement her pasta.

While I didn’t take on Centifonti’s boot of beer, my German heri-tage demands I eventually face the 112 ounces of beer in a boot-shaped glass. Conquering a Das Boot beer glass is practically a rite of passage.

The sizable meals soon arrived at our table along with drinks from our helpful, bubbly waitress. My sandwich was stacked with ample portions of turkey, cheese, bacon and leafy lettuce. The aioli spread added the right amount of moisture to the sandwich.

Nevertheless, although I asked for a side of ranch for dipping my fries, I admit to also using it to dip my sandwich. And while my sandwich was good, my friend’s pasta, comprising a pile of ooey-gooey cheesy goodness, was that much better. I was lucky enough to get even a

bite from her.As happy as I was with my sandwich,

I couldn’t help being jealous I didn’t also go the pasta route. It didn’t help that the Fettuc-cine Alfredo over at the next table was also making my mouth water.

It seems my lack of foresight was the theme for the day. After all, if I had thought ahead, I wouldn’t have finished my sand-wich and would have instead saved room for dessert.

The cases of candied apples, chocolates, and cookies were incredibly enticing and I’ve

enjoyed their gelato on more than one occasion. Of course, this gives me another excuse to return, in addition to wanting to try Centifonti’s full breakfast menu.

Who knows, maybe I’ll opt to enjoy dessert for breakfast. Is gelato a breakfast food?

Chocolate Pecan PieOne piece of this rich pie will be all you can handle. You can enjoy it

at a holiday party or for dessert after your Christmas dinner. I wish you a happy holiday season. May this be a great year for you (and your sweet tooth).

Chocolate Pecan Pie:

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips.

1 cup white granulated sugar.

1 cup dark corn syrup.

3 eggs slightly beaten.

2 Tbsps. melted butter.

Pinch of salt.

1 Tbsp. vanilla extract.

6 oz. pecan halves.

1 9-inch unbaked pie crust. (Purchase a readymade crust or follow pie crust recipe below.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place unbaked piecrust in pie plate. Sprinkle chocolate on crust; combine remaining ingredients and pour over crust. Bake for 60 minutes. Cool and serve with whipped cream.

Homemade Pie Crust:

1¼ cups all-purpose flour.

Pinch of sugar.

Pinch of salt.

1 stick of cold butter – cut into small pieces.

¼ cup ice-cold water.

Place all ingredients into a food processor, pulse until mixture holds together. Add more cold water if dough is dry. Can also be made in a bowl with spoon. Shape dough into disk and roll into a piecrust shape.

Just Business, from page 6

snacks and partaking of the free WiFi.

Consumer-designed bankingUnion Bank, which has a branch on Spring Street, recently unveiled Banking By

DesignSM, an innovative new way of banking, which allows customers to design a checking account that fits their needs. Banking By Design “unbundles” the traditional checking account and offers a wide range of optional features, each with associated costs clearly visible and with many at no cost.

New and existing Union Bank customers can design their own checking account by choosing only the services they want. The base cost of $3 per month can easily be waived if the customer makes one direct deposit of $250 or more each statement period. Consumers can design their account at bankingbydesign.com, and after customizing it, they can call or visit a Union Bank branch to open the account. Accounts can also be designed in a Union Bank branch with the support of a personal banker, and the ability for consumers to open their Banking By Design account online after customizing will go live in January 2013, giving them yet another convenient option.

“Banking By Design was created in direct response to consumer research and demand for control and transparency in their banking, and its innovation builds on the idea that today’s consumer expects the ability to customize the products and services that are important to them,” said Union Bank Senior Executive Vice President Pierre P. Habis, head of Community Banking. “Consumers made it clear that they want a fair value exchange – they only want to pay for what they need. Banking By Design delivers on that, and we know this will be a welcome shift for consumers when it comes to their banking relationship with Union Bank.”

Just Business highlights business around La Mesa. Send your business news to [email protected].

140


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reader advisory: The National Trade association we belong to has purchased the above classifieds. Determining the value of their service or product is advised by this publication. In order to avoid misunderstandings, some advertisers do not offer employment but rather supply the readers with manuals, directories and other materials designed to help their clients establish mail order selling and other businesses at home. Under NO circumstance should you send any money in advance or give the client your checking, license ID, or credit card numbers. Also beware of ads that claim to guarantee loans regardless of credit and note that if a credit repair company does business only over the phone it is illegal to request any money before delivering its service. All funds are based in US dollars. Toll free numbers may or may not reach Canada.

Holiday Budgeting, from page 10

online retailers.Mobile shopping apps let in-store smart-

phone and tablet users scan product barcodes and make on-the-spot price comparisons, read reviews, download coupons, buy prod-ucts and more.

If you’re traveling for the holidays, note that many airlines charge $25 or more for each checked bag. Many stores and websites ship gifts for free, saving you hassle at the airport.

Carefully read purchase-return poli-cies for deadlines, exclusions (e.g., for sale or clearance items) and restocking charges.

Keep receipts. Many retailers will refund the price difference if an item goes on

sale within a few weeks after purchase.Check whether your credit card agree-

ment provides free product warranty exten-sions and/or price protection.

And finally, consider the gift of time. Older relatives don’t need more chocolates, but they probably could use help with chores, running errands or rides to doctor’s appoint-ments. Plus, they would probably appreciate your company. Offer to babysit for harried parents so they can run a few errands or simply recharge their batteries.

Jason Alderman directs Visa’s finan-cial education programs. To follow Jason Alderman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PracticalMoney.

Free CLASSIFIeDSFree classified ads are available to private parties and to non-profit organizations that do not charge for their services. Only one ad per party or organization will be accepted per issue as a free classified - additional ads must be paid for with submission of the ads. Free classifieds are limited to 25 words or less. Ads of more than 25 words cost 50¢ per additional word; payment must accompany the ad. All free classifieds will run for only one issue even if you indicate on the ad that you want it to run more than one time. All classified ads - free or paid - must be submitted by mail only or hand-delivered to Postal Annex at 6549 Mission Gorge Road, #199 • San Diego, CA 92120. THE LAST DATE PRE-PAID ADS WILL RUN IS PRINTED AFTER EACH AD - IF NO DATE IS GIVEN, THE AD RUNS ONLY ONE ISSUE. The following ad classifications are eligible for free classified ads: FOR SALE, GARAGE SALES, LOST & FOUND, WANTED, FOR RENT, NOTICES and YOUTH SERVICES. However, this does not include WANTED ads for multi-level sales or FOR RENT ads for vacation/rental condos or NOTICES for any profit-making organization.

PAID CLASSIFIeDS - $8/25 words or lessBUSINESS CLASSIFIEDS including SERVICES, CHILD CARE, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, NOTICES, HELP WANTED, & FOR SALE ads for any profit-making enterprise costs $8 for 25 words or less plus 50¢ per word over 25, payable in advance of publication only. NOTICES ads may NOT be ads normally classified under SERVICES (i.e., business ads) the Editor reserves the right to reject or re-classify any ads sent in under the NOTICES category that should more appropriately be placed elsewhere. PAID ADS may run for any consecutive number of issues, provided that proper payment for the ads is received in advance. NO PHONe CALLS wILL Be ACCePteD FOr reNewAL OF ADS. tHe LASt DAte Pre-PAID ADS wILL ruN IS PrINteD AFter eACH AD. IF NO DAte IS INCLuDeD AFter tHe AD, It ruNS ONLy ONCe. When count-ing words—a word is a word, regardless of the number of letters. A telephone number is a word. An address such as “10000 San Diego Mission Road” is 5 words. We do not mail “proofs of publication” for classifieds.

MAKe CHeCKS PAyABLe tO “LA MeSA COurIer”PLeASe reAD INStruCtIONS CAreFuLLy. CIrCLe tHe APPrOPrIAte

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Holiday Quick PicksSometimes it seems like the holidays sneak up on us, leaving us to scramble for last-

minute gifts for friends and family. Here are a few ideas to spark up the season:

Santa is Coming to California!Santa Is Coming to California! is an

new holiday picture book written and illus-trated especially for kids celebrating the season in the Golden State. Young readers get to see Santa on their home turf, as he guides his reindeer around local sites on the way to their house. Readers will soar by the Giant Sequoias, circle around the Santa Monica Pier, ride over San Diego’s Coronado Bridge, hang a left at the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, jingle across the Golden Gate, and fly up to the top of

the State Capitol in Sacramento. Because the book heralds Santa’s journey, your best bet is to purchase it before Christmas to educate the little ones about the Jolly Old Elf ’s route.

rum Cake LoungeIf you aren’t familiar with Rum Cake

Lounge, ‘tis the season to sink your teeth into all they have to offer. Their moist, flavorful cakes are an ideal addition to holiday festivities – both as a creative centerpiece and a delectable dessert. Rum Cake Lounge doesn’t use mixes or preservatives when creating their cakes. Instead they start with fresh, fine ingredients to concoct several signature flavors to please the palate. Our personal favorite was the Mandarin Orange Vanilla Bean, which contains just enough tangy citrus to complement the sweet-ness of vanilla. Place your orders as soon as possible and you’ll receive these tasty cakes at your front door in time to impress the folks. For more information, go to www.rumcakelounge.com or call (619) 309-6677.

the 2012 Hess Helicopter and rescue

We dare you to pick up a 2012 Hess Heli-copter and Rescue and not push a button. There’s no way you’ll be able to resist its spinning rotor blades and audible ignition, takeoff and fly by. Even better, you can take the Rescue truck out of the helicopter once you’ve perfected your landing. The Hess Toy Truck, a holiday tradition for 48 years on the East Coast, is available for online purchase for the first time. The 2012 Hess Heli-copter and Rescue is a great gift for any inquisitive child or adult who appreciates fine craftsmanship. It also features real working lights that flash or hold steady. Go to www.hesstoytruck.com to order a truck in time for Christmas.

Spontuneous You know it’s good if the local toy experts at

Geppetto’s recommend it. Spontuneous, which touts itself as the game where lyrics come to life, is a hilar-ious experience for all who play. The object of the game is to stump other players with a “trigger word” from a song. The first player to sing five words from a song containing the trigger word gets to advance on the board. Warning: Although they say talent is not required, showcasing your lack thereof could be a deal-breaker for anyone using a holiday party as a first date. Aimed at ages 9 and older, games last for 30 to 45 minutes. Get it at Geppetto’s at Fashion Valley for $24.99 before getting together for the holidays.

eppa SuperFruit red SangriaIf champagne is too bubbly and wine too intense,

consider taking a non-traditional route and toasting the New Year with Eppa SuperFruit Red Sangria. Eppa Sangria, crafted at the foothills of Duncan Peak in Mendocino County, comes in a sleek bottle and is delicious, certified organic, full of healthy ingredients and beautifully balanced. Varietals including organically grown Mendocino Cabernet and Syrah are blended with a unique combination of organic juices, including pomegranates, blueberries as well as Mediterranean blood oranges, acai berries and natural citrus essences to make a full-bodied beverage. At $12 a bottle, purchasing Eppa Sangria won’t break the bank, a practice you’ll want to continue well into 2013.

La Mesa Courier8030 University Ave. #145 • La Mesa, CA 91942

Phone: (619) 697-2500 • Fax: (619) 697-2505email: [email protected]

Visit our website at: www.LaMesaCourier.com

Editor:Genevieve A. Suzuki, ext. 121

ContributorsDave SchwabJen Van tieghem

Graphic Artist:Aleta el Sheikh

Editorial Internemilie trepanier

Advertising Consultants:Becky Suffridge, ext. 140

Publisher:Jim Madaffer, Mission Publishing Group, LLCwriters and Advertising Sales experts wanted

Please call 619-697-2500, Ext. 122Circulation: 20,000. Published 12 times in 2012 and delivered to all single family homes in 91941 and 91942 and at

over 150 bulk locations throughout our circulation area of La Mesa, California by Mission Publishing Group, LLC. Classified ads and articles must be submitted by mail, e-mail or dropped off at our business address, 6549 Mission Gorge Road, #199 • San Diego, CA 92120.

Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisements or material submitted which are deemed to be objectionable. Publisher’s liability for errors: La Mesa Courier assumes no financial liability for errors nor for omission of copy and upon request will furnish a letter of correction to the advertiser. The Publisher, Mission Publishing Group, LLC., shall not be liable for any error in published advertising unless an advertiser proof is requested in writing 12 days prior to publication date and clearly marked for corrections. If the error is not corrected by the Publisher, the liability, if any, shall not exceed the space occupied for the error. Further, the Publisher shall not be liable for any omission of an advertisement ordered to be published. On written request, Publisher shall reschedule and run the omitted advertisement at the advertiser’s cost. All claims for adjustment must be made in writing within 30 days of the date of publication. In no case shall the Publisher be liable for any general, special or consequential damages.

Equal Housing Opportunity: Real estate advertising in La Mesa Courier is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” La Mesa Courier will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate that is in violation of the law. This is to notify La Mesa Courier readers that all dwellings advertised in La Mesa Courier are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or TTY at 1-800-927-9275.

News and information printed in La Mesa Courier is obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but accuracy on information sent to the paper cannot be guaranteed. Articles and opinions of writers or letters to the editor that are submitted for publication to the La Mesa Courier are the views of the writers and should not be considered the views of the publisher. Content of paid advertisements is solely the responsibility of the advertiser. © 2012, all rights reserved.

the January issue of the La Mesa Courier will be published Friday, Dec. 28. the advertising deadline is tuesday, Dec. 18.

www.cityoflamesa100.com

1912-2012 La Mesa Centennial: Celebrating the American Hometown

November Centennial Events

Join us for these Centennial events:

Christmas in the VillageDecember 14-15, at La Mesa Village

Centennial Committee Volunteers

Meeting CancelledDecember 17, 4pm at theFire Administration Building EOC

For more information about these eventsand the Centennial, visit www.cityoflamesa100.com

u

- Photos courtesy of La Mesa Historical Society

The mission of the La Mesa Centennial is to promote La Mesa’s 100th birthday through a community-driven celebration of its heritage – past, present, and future.


Be sure to follow us!

E L C A J O NL A M E S A

9366 Gregory Street - Sweet 4BD/2BA home with a 2-car garage. Hardwood floors, freshly painted, new carpeting and tile. $375,000

Stephanie Davidson 619-246-5623

E L C A J O N

748 Camelot Parkway – Gorgeous 4BD/2.5BA, 2-story home, located in the prestigious Shadow Mountain. $730,000-$760,000

Anita Pickens 619-709-1252

1038 Vista Sierra Drive - 4BD/3BA home brings old world charm and modern conveniences together masterfully. $650,000

Roxanne Baer & Gary Hefl in 619-379-1758

A L P I N EL A M E S A

4560 4th Street - Adorable village home. Off ers Windsor Hills view. 2BD, bonus room, wonderful backyard. $299,000-$319,000

Shawn Fleming 619-857-3303

M I S S I O N H I L L S

919 W Lewis #1 - 3 Level home, 2 masters. Renovated kitchen, low HOAs. Only 9 unitsdevelopment. 2-car underground parking. $409,000

Adrian Alcantara 619-209-0709

2609 Lobeila Rd - Crown Hills view home. 3BD/2BA & spacious. Wonderful architectural features & dual fi replace. $395,000

Rosemary Joles 619-405-7673

C A M P OE L C A J O N

1000 S Mollison #2 - Great buy for a 3BD/2BA condo in great complex. Tons of amenities. $158,999

Jasmin Abdullah 858-568-5478

J U L I A N

7553 Gunslinger Trail - Stylish, spacious 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1,707 SF. Manufactured home on 1 acre. Incredibly priced. $185,000-$195,000

Lynn Christopher 619-993-4943

31135 Hwy 94 - 3BD/2.5BA, approx 2495 SF, over 3.5 acres. Bonus room, RV hookups, horse stalls, tack room & fully fenced. $285,000

Shirley Hays 619-659-0076

C R E S TL A K E S I D E

12072 Sterling Hill Lane – Available November 15th. Short term lease. 2-Story, well maintained, cathedral ceilings.

Pamela Walsh 619-750-9138

L A M E S A

7171 Cornell Ave - 3BD/2BA - IT’S ALL NEW! Roof, windows, kitchen, bathrooms, paint, flooring, custom fireplace. Well priced. $425,000

Marcia Tolin 619-804-1820

Canyon Rim Al Bahr Rd – 360 Majestic panoramic vistas from Prime Crest rural exclusive estate parcel. Views! $250,000

Lynn Christopher 619-993-4943

L E M O N G R O V ES A N D I E G O

5051 Abuela Drive – Single family 3BD/2BA detached home located in Villa Portofi no. $419,000

Chris Miller & Susan Malotte 619-797-6673

S A N D I E G O

8413 Summerdale Rd #A – 2BD/3BA home with small backyard. Clay tiles in kitchen & dining room. $175,000

Joss Carvalho 858-603-7256

3192 Sweetwater Rd - 3BD/3BA, investor’s dream. Remodeled and turnkey furnished. On a huge lot. Great income potential. $269,900

Nathan Abbo 619-261-2999

Windermere Real Estate

www.WindermereSoCal.com

Alpine(619) 659-0076

Carlsbad(760) 893-8040

Carmel Valley(858) 480-3603

La Mesa(619) 741-8588

La Mesa Village(619) 303-9500

San Diego Commercial(858) 350-6368

Solana Beach(858) 345-1377

Hillcrest/Mission Hills(619) 241-2122

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La Mesa Courier - December 2012

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