la mesa courier - june 2014

La Mesa Sunrise Rotary planted dozens of fruit trees at a home for some 70 people with

developmental disabilities. The event was part of International Rotarians at Work Day.

See No on H, Page 7See Yes on H, Page 6

See Orchard, 1See Auto Shop, Page 5

No on Proposition H By Jim Stieringer

My family has great faith and trust in the physicians, nurses and technicians of Sharp HealthCare. In fact as we age we depend more and more on the services of Grossmont Hospital. Why, then, have I written the “No on Proposition H” argument? The answer is simply that this proposition has nothing to do with health care.

It is about money. Your money. The proponents of Prop-osition H emphasize a “public/private partnership” and a “nonprofit healthcare system.”

Both phrases are disingenuous. As a nonprofit organiza-tion they are able to avoid taxes. Instead, any “profits” are

Yes on Proposition HBy Colleen Murphy

Vote Yes on Proposition H to continue one of San Diego’s and East County’s greatest success stories – Grossmont Hospital. This premier model of public/private partnership with Sharp HealthCare combines the public resources of a state-of-the-art community hospital with a nationally recog-nized nonprofit healthcare system.

Grossmont Healthcare District first affiliated with Sharp in 1991, knowing that a leading private healthcare provider could operate the hospital better than government AND control government spending to the public’s benefit. Since then, Sharp has saved taxpayers millions, investing more

GROSSMONT HOSPITAL AT A CROSSROADS

New auto shop opens at Grossmont HighBy Jeremy Ogul

Once a staple of any comprehensive high school, auto shop programs have become a sort of endangered species on modern campuses. Whereas East County once boasted at least six high school auto shop programs, the number has since dwin-dled to two.

Grossmont High School is one of the few whose auto shop program continues to thrive. The school opened a new automotive technology facility this spring, doubling down on a commitment to provide auto-motive career technical education options to students from La Mesa and other East County communities.

The 6,764-square-foot facility includes seven lift stations, a wheel alignment rack, a dynamometer, a wheel changing station, welding area, bead-blasting equipment, a standard classroom and a small engines lab. Each lift station has a dedicated elec-trical supply, compressed air, water and an exhaust handling system. Outside the building is an additional 5,456 square feet

Grossmont High School students change a tire inside

a new campus auto shop.

The interior of Grossmont High School’s new $2.15-million auto shop.

Rotary Club orchard bearing fruitBy Marty Graham

When the early risers of the La Mesa Sunrise Rotarians picked their project for the annual International Rotarians at Work Day, they decided to pick a project they knew would bear fruit.

Community Service Director Peggy Davis lives near Noah Homes, a residential campus for about 70 people with develop-mental disabilities in Spring Valley.

June 2014 On the Internet at www.LaMesaCourier.com Volume 4 – Number 6

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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

ADVERTISE WITH US(619) [email protected]

Memorial MakeoverLocal veterans memorial gets some much-needed TLC.

Page 5

Celebrate Flag DayLa Mesa’s Flag Day Parade is part of a long tradition of community participation.

Page 3

Library RefreshLa Mesa library upgraded with new laptop bar, kids’ discovery zone.

Page 8

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See News Briefs, Page 4

Noteworthy La Mesans in the News

La Mesa professor wins arts grantThe National Endowment

for the Arts has made a $12,500 grant to a music program led by La Mesa resident Marian Liebowitz, a professor of music at San Diego State University.

Through the Heartpower Performances program, music majors at SDSU perform and teach music to underserved populations who might otherwise never see a musical performance. Target audi-ences include young people, individ-uals with mental illnesses, patients in drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs and others whose expo-sure to the arts is limited by geog-raphy, ethnicity, economic status or disability.

Heartpower has presented more than 975 performances, clinics and workshops more than 90,000 audi-ence members since 2010.

“These are people who typically cannot get to concerts, but benefit from music being brought to them in their environment,” Liebowitz said in a written statement. “We start by exposing them to a wide variety of music genres, including classical, jazz and pop. Enrichment comes from offering a series of concerts, not just a one-time performance.”

Local author publishes first bookLa Mesa resident Marjorie

Hersom first heard the true story of Maria del los Santos y Castro, also known as Maria Dilessantos, when

her father told it at the Sunday dinner table.

On Nov. 30, 1850, a 17-year-old Maria Dilessantos married Nathaniel Savory.

The couple had 10 children, making Dilessantos the matriarch of a very large family. One of the 10 children was Helen Jane, who gave birth to Alice Webb, Hersom’s grandmother.

The Captive Bride, now on sale nationwide, tells Maria’s story.

Elementary student honored with Senate resolution

California State Sen. Joel Anderson on April 24 honored La Mesa student William Church with a Senate floor resolution in recogni-tion of Church’s promotion to the rank of colonel in the San Diego School Safety Patrol.

Church, a sixth-grader at Bancroft Elementary School, had previously been a sergeant in the safety patrol, which is primarily responsible for helping students safely cross streets to and from school.

California Highway Patrol Officer Mike Edwards described Church as a “very confident young man with goals” who has an impres-sive knowledge of the safety patrol rules and regulations.

Church is active in other extra-curricular activities including Boy Scouts, soccer, karate and the school’s Student Council.

NEWS IN BRIEFRummage sale fundraiser needs items, volunteers

Organizers from St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church are seeking donations and volunteers for their annual “Home-less Treasures” rummage sale, June 27 and 28, at St. Andrew’s, 8350 Lake Murray Blvd.

Children’s clothing, jewelry, house-hold items, decorations, antiques, elec-tronics, furniture, art, linens, tools, sporting goods, books, records, plants and small appliances can all be dropped off now in advance of the rummage sale. The organizers will not accept large appli-ances, televisions, VCRs, office equipment, computers, mattresses or encyclopedias.

Last year’s rummage sale raised more than $10,000 for the Third Avenue Chari-table Organization’s outreach programs that serves hundreds of the homeless, elderly and working poor in downtown San Diego with free meals, free medical care and free mental health counseling each week.

Call Dagmar Miller at (619) 403-6117 for more information on volunteering or donating items to the sale.

Delectable celebration of Torah plannedAccording to Jewish tradition, God

handed down the Torah at Mount Sinai some 3,300 years ago. Because the Israel-ites had just received the laws of kosher dining, they had not yet developed the practices necessary to eat poultry and beef, so they limited their cuisine to dairy.

Every year, Jews celebrate that occa-sion with the consumption of cheesecake, meatless lasagna, soufflé, cheese blintzes

and other dairy treats on the holiday of Shavuot.

Chabad of East County invites the whole community, regardless of reli-gious affiliation, to join them for a dairy treat buffet in celebration of Shavuot on Wednesday, June 4, at 5 p.m. at the San Carlos Recreation Center, 6445 Lake Badin Ave. in San Diego.

The group requests reservations in advance at www.JewishEC.com/reserve.

Firefighters plan pancake breakfast for charity

La Mesa Firefighters’ Local 4759 will host a pancake breakfast fundraiser on June 8 to raise money for the Burn Institute and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

The breakfast will be open from 8 a.m. to noon at Fire Station 11, 8034 Allison Ave.

Tickets are $5 and are available at the door. The breakfast includes pancakes, eggs, sausage, juice and coffee.

Mt. Helix Academy adopts robotsWith the purchase of six Nao robots,

Mt. Helix Academy has officially launched its new robotics program. The program-mable humanoid robots, which can move and interact in lifelike ways, will be used to teach robotics programming to junior high students. The robots will also be incorporated into lesson plans for younger students.

Police seek applicants for Youth Leadership Camp

La Mesa police are seeking appli-

LaMesaCourier.com — June 2014

Parade passing in front of Bank of La Mesa at the northeast corner of Spring and

Lookout (now La Mesa Boulevard). Image courtesy La Mesa Historical Society.

See Historical, Page 5

HISTORICAL VIEW:

Tradition on paradeBy James Newland

La Mesans have a long-standing tradition of gathering for community events - local fairs, promotional shows and parades.

The most visible, and for many, memorable events are those community parades. Due to this year’s school schedule, our current version of the La Mesa community parade—the Flag Day Parade—will be held on May 31 this year (yes, the city knows when Flag Day is, but schools are out of session by mid-June and it just can’t imagine this event without the kids).

Since its creation in 1997, La Mesa’s Flag Day Parade has drawn thousands of locals and visitors to come experience our “all-American” hometown tradition. Many school children, marching bands, service clubs, community and youth groups, businesses and public servants participate.

The first formal “La Mesa” parade was the Fourth of July parade in 1908. Our commu-nity, then known as La Mesa Springs, held the Independence Day event for five years straight before going on hiatus, then brought it back in the late 1920s.

In 1908, the Park-Grable Investment Co., the newly formed La Mesa Springs Improve-ment Club (a predecessor of the original Chamber of Commerce) and the growing number of merchants, churches and commu-nity organizations invited all to enjoy La Mesa’s hospitality and conviviality. Not bad for a community of a few hundred residents.

Interestingly, the La Mesa Historical Society recently received some additional historic photos of these early community events from its colleagues at the Mountain Empire Historical Society in Campo (a photo from the 1908 event is shared with you in this column).

As noted, the Fourth of July Parade made a comeback in 1927 and continued until 1930, when the Great Depression limited funds for such events. In 1934, it took the city’s six churches (Congregational, Baptist, Catholic, Episcopalian, Pentecostal Mission and Meth-odist) to sponsor a “Sunday School Parade” in October. Police Chief Mercer led the way for the marching “ministers” and over 100 school children.

It never became an annual event, though, and was supplanted by a Veterans Day Parade in 1937 and a string of Memorial Day parades before, and shortly after, World War II.

The City’s long-running August flower show, the Fiesta de los Flores, held some of the most well remembered parades. During this heyday of San Diego County community parades, the Fiesta parades from 1951 to 1955 featured high quality, themed, flower-decorated floats.

Other than the victory parades of the late 1950s and early 1960s, celebrating La Mesa’s time as “Youth Baseball Capital of America,” as the Sporting News had dubbed the community in 1957, the community held several smaller events including the Heartland Teen Beauty

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GiganticRummageSale!Friday, June 27 9am - 1pmSaturday, June 28 7am - 1pmNew items added on Saturday!St Andrew’s Lutheran Church8350 Lake Murray Blvd, San DiegoTo Benefit T.A.C.O. www.tacosd.org Serving San Diego’s Homeless



News Briefs, from page 2 Gen-X in La MesaBy Genevieve A. Suzuki

What do you do with a kid who has an enormous amount of energy in school, at home and at any restaurant with sit-down service?

That was the question we faced with our active daughter, Quinn, who acts as though sugar is being injected directly into her bloodstream. If she isn’t up one wall, she’s down the other. She’s like the Energizer Bunny but without the drum and option to remove her batteries.

“Redirect the energy,” advised a wise friend, who clearly never had her child ask her to read 100 bedtime stories at night and mean it.

So we did. Last year, we enrolled her in White Dragon Martial Arts, a school that offers kung fu and tai chi. My husband and I have been fans of kung fu since we were kids taking in Shaw Brothers movies. We figured Quinn could pick up discipline, self-defense and confidence during the classes and we could finally catch a break.

At first, Quinn was a little intimidated. She enjoyed her one-on-one lessons with her private instructor, Mr. K, whose patience knows no bounds, but she was a little overwhelmed by the group

classes. She especially did not enjoy the class that allowed the students to practice self-defense with a masked “bad guy,” who’s actually an instructor who must have pulled the short straw for the day as a hundred kids get to kick, punch and attack him in self-defense.

Eventually, however, Quinn began to really appre-ciate her classes. She made several friends, who offer inspiration and support as she learns new techniques, and she seems to be showing “martial spirit,” a neces-sary component for anyone learning kung fu at White Dragon.

A few months ago, Mr. K told us about White Dragon’s tournament, which would be held at the Jenny Craig Pavilion at University of San Diego in May. I was nervous about Quinn entering the tournament. “I don’t want her to be disappointed,” I told Derek, who assured me she would be fine as she competed against other students her age and level.

“She really knows her techniques,” he said. Derek had the inside scoop on Quinn’s kung fu skills because he is the one who takes her to her

lesson and classes three times a week. He stands outside and watches her through one of the windows, observing her progress and what she needs to improve. This is his daddy-daughter activity. It makes sense – I take her for pedi-cures, he takes her to learn to shove her nicely painted toes in the bad guy’s face.

On the morning of the tournament, I felt more anxious than Quinn, who was excited about getting a medal for her effort. Call it a case of the Tiger Moms, but I told Quinn that I’d get her some-thing from Toys ‘R’ Us if she placed first, that she’d get ice cream if she placed in the top three, and that if she got anything lower, it would be vegetables for a week.

While Quinn took her place on the mat in front of the three judges, I fumbled with my camera, trying to make sure I had a decent photo of my daughter’s first tourna-ment. Too bad a camera wasn’t on me – I was floored when she started going through her motions.

My little girl, a child who

See Gen-X, Page 13

cations from high school students, ages 15-18, for the third annual La Mesa Police Youth Leadership Camp, which will be held June 16 to 19.

Led by police and civilian staff, the camp will provide leadership training, personal development, academic enrichment, team-building experience and life skills to 22 participants. The camp includes classroom instruc-tion, athletic and academic challenges, discussions, community service field trips and other activities.

The camp is free to partic-ipants thanks to donations from local businesses.

The Police Department will accept applications from students at any East County high school. Applications must be received by June 9.

For more information or to apply, find the police department page on the city’s website at www.cityoflamesa.

com, call Lt. Angela DeSarro at (619) 667-7543 or email her at [email protected].

Local children ‘fire up their feet’

Lots of exercise helped three La Mesa elementary schools win cash awards as part of a national challenge in April to encourage students to walk or “roll” (on bicycles, scooters or other kid-powered vehicles) to school.

As part of the national Fire Up Your Feet and Safe Routes to School programs, schools across the country were challenged to track their students’ physical activity before, during and after school for a chance to win a share of $70,000 in prizes.

Lemon Avenue Elemen-tary and Northmont Elemen-tary both won awards of $1,000. Rolando Elemen-tary won a $200 award. The school PTA groups may use

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Genevieve A. Suzuki lives and practices family law in La Mesa.Her website iswww.sdlawyersuzuki.com.

Recently refurbished Vietnam Memorial. Image courtesy La Mesa Historical Society.

Auto Shop, from page 1Historical, from page 3

See Memorial, Page 14

of yard space with a wash rack surrounded by a 10-foot-tall block wall.

It is a significant improve-ment over the old auto shop, which had been around more than 60 years, said automo-tive technology teacher Jordie Lehr.

“Everything was old,” Lehr said. “Paint was falling off the ceiling. We were overloaded on the electrical capacity.”

Students will now be able to learn using modern, industry standard equipment, including the computer tech-nology that has become the norm in automotive work.

“With this new facility, I think it guarantees a place for this program in the future,” Lehr said.

Grossmont’s auto shop program owns five vehicles, including a 2008 Chevy Malibu and a 2008 GMC Acadia that were donated by General Motors. Local shops often donate parts, engines or their own labor, Lehr said.

“We get a lot of support from the automotive commu-nity because they know this is where the future is coming from,” Lehr said.

Grossmont alumnus Travis Polo, who graduated in 2002, said his experiences in the auto shop program at

Grossmont helped him get where he is now as the shop foreman of Toyota Certified Center of Santee.

“I had a mentor who told me that college isn’t for every-body, and I really believe that,” Polo said. “They all gave me that spark that got me really passionate about automotive.”

For Nessar Sakha, currently a senior at Gross-mont, one of the most obvious benefits of auto shop is the opportunity to fix his own car.

“If I didn’t have auto shop I would have wasted a lot of money having a mechanic fix really simple things now that I can do myself,” he said.

Sakha, who has taken auto shop classes all four years in high school, knows enough now to do a whole head gasket replacement. His dream is to be on the pit crew of a Formula 1 or NASCAR team.

“Engine performance is something I’m very passionate about,” he said.

The Grossmont Union High School District paid for the $2.15 million facility with funding from Proposition U, the $417 million general obli-gation bond that East County voters approved in November 2008. More than $228 million of the $417 million total have been spent so far.

Pageant’s 1961 parade and a few additional years of Memo-rial Day parades.

During the United States Bicentennial in 1976, La Mesa sponsored a parade in association with the Western States Musical Tournament featuring numerous high school marching bands.

Although La Mesa’s parades would go into a hiatus in the 1980s-90s, our down-town “village” was featured in the 1988 movie, Little Nikita—the staged scene—an All-American style commu-nity parade down La Mesa Boulevard!

Of course, you will see the La Mesa Historical Society participating in this year’s Flag Day Parade on May 31, as well as in several other community events this month. We will hold our Annual Meeting and Rose Garden Celebration on May 3 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Society’s own McKinney House. We will also have booths at the Friends of the La Mesa Library’s “Artists and Authors” Event on May 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and at the La Mesa Village Antique Street Fair on May 18.

Hope to see you all enjoying our long-standing traditional love for a good, old-fashioned parade.

VETERANS MEMORIAL GETS NEW LIFEBy James D. Newland

Oresta Zalopany Johnson couldn’t believe what she was seeing. La Mesa’s Vietnam Memorial at the corner of University and Spring streets was falling apart.

More than 40 years earlier,

scores of La Mesans ranging from teenagers to busi-nessmen had collected dona-tions to erect this monument in honor of the young men who had made the ultimate sacri-fice during the still ongoing Vietnam War.

In fact, La Mesa’s Vietnam Memorial, dedicated in 1970, was the first in California and one of the first in the country.

But during an unplanned stop at the site last year, Johnson noticed that many of the brass plaques bearing the names of fallen veterans had been stolen. The original pink quartz stone and concrete monument had seen better days. The landscaping was unkempt, the flagpole rusted and in distress.

Johnson contacted Denise Evers-Rhoads, the original chair of the Heartland Youth for Decency (HYFD) that had formed in 1969 and was a

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See Alzheimer’s, Page 12

See Yes on H, Page 15

Yes on H, from page 1

than $300 million to improve our hospital. At the same time, no employees of the hospital have received public benefits or public pensions.

To navigate the current changes and uncertainty in healthcare, Grossmont Hospital could not have a better partner than Sharp Health-Care. Grossmont Healthcare District Board Member Emer-itus Bob Yarris remembers the Grossmont Hospital’s dire months preceding the lease agreement with Sharp Health-Care in 1991:

“We had a growing number of empty beds, physicians were

relocating and we were forced to lay off valuable employees to address our ongoing budget crisis. There was deferred maintenance on all the build-ings. We struggled to meet employee and physician needs and expectations. We found it impossible to compete in the growing and competitive managed care market as a stand-alone hospital. We strug-gled to meet all these challenges while continuing to provide the quality patient care our community was accustomed to receiving.

Now, some 22 years later, I can share from experience,

having served both as an elected Grossmont Health-care District Board member for 16 years, and the Sharp Healthcare Board for 15 years, this was without a doubt, the right and best decision for our community. Sharp Healthcare has lived up to its reputation and commitment to provide accessible, quality-driven patient care to everyone it serves. Sharp has been a professional, visionary, and respectful partner. It has meant a new life for our hospital and patients it serves.”

East County needs this

NEW ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP CREATEDBy Marty Graham

La Mesa has a new support group for folks taking care of someone with dementia.

La Mesa Alzheimer’s Connection Director Kassandra King launched the group that meets weekly for people taking care of someone with dementia, whether it’s Alzheimer’s disease or a result of a stroke. The group, sponsored by the city of La Mesa, meets Thursday at 12:30 at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center.

“The term ‘dementia’ describes symptoms, and people have surprisingly basic questions that they still need information about,” King said. “We share and we listen, but we also learn strategies to help us as caregivers and as people.”

King has worked in dementia care for more than a decade, and has led such support groups

in the past, including one at Oakdale of La Mesa residential center.

“People need a place to talk; they want to tell their story, how her husband was someone special, how her mom never missed a trick,” King said. “A lot are still wondering if there’s a cure, they really want to know if their loved one will get better.”

And there’s just the overwhelming task of taking care of someone who is different all the time – and doesn’t see you the same way consis-tently either.

King, whose first book, called “The REAL Guide for Alzheimer’s Care: Rementia through Engagement, Assistance and Love,” will be released later this month by Plain View Press,

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See No on H, Page 15

See Lawsuit, Page 14

No on H, from page 1

paid out in excessive salaries to their management staff. In 2011 (the most recent report to IRS) they paid salaries in excess of $400,000 to each of more than a dozen adminis-trators. In perspective, your highly skilled and overworked family physician is lucky to earn half that amount. The 2011 IRS report includes Sharp’s wholly owned insur-ance company located (for some unspecified reason) in the Cayman Islands.

Until 2009, the Gross-mont Healthcare District (the publicly elected group) was awarding healthcare grants to numerous local community-based healthcare providers,

including Neighborhood Healthcare, Communities Against Substance Abuse, the Food Bank, American Red Cross Stoney’s Kids and Home of Guiding Hands. Since then, the grants program has been reduced by one third and, in some cases, charities have been eliminated entirely.

Many thoughtful East County voters have asked insightful questions:

“Why we are voting on a 30-year lease extension when the current lease has seven years remaining?” Good ques-tion. I can only guess the answer. It’s likely that the timing is attributable to the fact that Sharp is now able

to convince 4 of the 5 elected board members to place it on the ballot. They may not have the same makeup of the board in 2021 when the current lease expires.

“Why did they place this proposition on the primary election (June) ballot rather than the general election (November) ballot?” As a former member of the board who served with several incumbents, my educated guess is that it avoids contro-versy since no incumbent board member is up for elec-tion in June but will be on the ballot in November.

“How much money are

SCHOOL DISTRICT SUIT SETTLEDBy Ken Stone

John Pinachio has won the promotion he’s sought for many years. But was it a result of his lawsuit against the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District or just being the best person for the job?

On May 6, the school board approved his elevation from “Skilled Maintenance Worker 1” to “Skilled Maintenance Worker 2” — a $6,200-a-year raise.

It was Pinachio’s ninth try for the position.After being passed over eight other times,

Pinachio, 61, filed suit in July 2012, alleging he was the victim of age discrimination and retali-ation for what he called his role as a “whistle-blower” over his complaints to Cal-OSHA on

asbestos and lead paint issues.Now he’s working in the district for $66,400

a year — and not preparing for a July 18 trial before Judge Eddie Sturgeon in San Diego Superior Court.

Sturgeon canceled the trial — as well as a hearing on a district motion to toss the suit — after Pistachio’s attorney, Patrick O’Connor, notified the court April 22 that a settlement had been reached.

But details of the settlement were unclear.O’Connor told La Mesa Courier that “the

district will deny it, but it’s clear from the


La Mesa ReadsBy Jake Sexton, Librarian

To honor National Poetry Month this past April, we held a contest for poems written about a favorite book or author. Our top entry was a poem about the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, composed by local writer Karen Stromberg. Here is her entry:

Sound Catcher

After 39 years, this is all I’ve done.Dylan Thomas’ final words

Dylan, Welsh god of the sea, what have you donebut drown yourself in sound and longing,stroking the arched backs of words, seekingthe ones that curl together like cats on the tongue,the ones that electrify the dark, that sparkthe spongy dryness of the mind. But all your meaningswithin meaning cannot disguise the factthat you did not rage against the pain. You sliddown the narrow neck of anything you found,glass and flesh alike, and you drowned-youwho knew why water throws itself against the shore,spurred your own demise, taking your sweet syrupof sound, half-hidden on that agile tongueupon which all your honey’d words were hung.

qarrtsiluni, “Imitation,” 16 March 2012

If you are looking to jump start your own creative spark, there are a number of recent books that can help get you into a creative and artistic mindset.

One of my favorites in recent times is Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things No One Ever Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon. It pushes the unusual idea that the things that you create are not wholly unique concepts invented by you, but are prod-ucts of your entire life experience (including experiences of other people’s art) reshaped into something distinct. He then encour-ages you to both expand your experiences, seek out art that you love, and create what feels right without worrying about your final product being a unique snowflake.

Another creativity workbook is Jill Badonsky’s The Muse Is In: An Owner’s Manual to Your Creativity. It is filed with exercises, concepts and challenges to stretch your thinking into new directions and light a fire under you in times when you are having trouble finding the energy or inspiration to get your ideas out of your brain.

But my very favorite is Wonderbook: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction by Jeff VanderMeer and Jeremy Zerfoss. Although it is focused on fantasy literature, many of its tips would help with any style of writing or form of art. It features many interviews and essays by highly successful writers, analyses of effective plot structures, numerous thought and writing exercises, and is practically exploding with dispa-rate visual artworks that could put all new combinations of ideas into your head.

Once you have your creative mind working overtime, we have several upcoming programs to put that mind to work. On June 7, we will have a program by San Diego Book Arts, where you will make a stylishly-designed book of memories from scratch. This summer will also see monthly drawing classes from our talented staff member Hugo Perez, starting on June 18. Space for both of these programs is limited, so contact the library to reserve your spot.

LIBRARY GETS A MAKEOVERBy Jen Van Tieghem

Over a year ago, the folks at the La Mesa Library found out it was in for a little make-over and that the City of La Mesa and the San Diego County Library system would share the cost of a new carpet. But as with many remodeling projects, the plan soon grew into something bigger.

Say hello to the Refresh Project.

“Since carpet replace-ment is a good time to make additional improvements, San Diego County Library also invested additional funds to create an early literacy Discovery Zone for young kids, a larger story-time area, a new laptop bar, and additional seating,” said Charles Jarman, facilities manager of the San Diego County Library.

The Discovery Zone is at once eye-catching with a bright sign, low tables and an assort-ment of hands-on activities.

“Families gravitate to the Discovery Zone where the chil-dren enjoy playing with the learning manipulatives, play-

house and magnetic wall,” said Christine Plante, who serves as youth services librarian. “Studies show play is impor-tant in promoting healthy child development.”

The improvements benefit grown-up patrons as well. The laptop bar makes it conve-nient to plug in and work in a secluded corner of the library. Additional seats near the periodicals are equipped with laptop trays also making work or study at the library simpler.

The Friends of La Mesa contributed new window shades that reduce the intense afternoon sun that penetrates the high front windows.

The upgrades will go to

good use, as the La Mesa is one of most used libraries around – more than 65,000 items were checked out last month alone, Jarman said.

“Libraries are an impor-tant learning center in the lives of our young people and every resident in La Mesa,” said Mayor Art Madrid. “We are proud to be the home of one of the busiest branches in San Diego County.”

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JAZZWednesdays - Gilbert Castellanos Jazz Jam at Seven Grand. Free. 9 p.m. SevenGrandBars.com. – 3054 University Ave., 92104

Fridays - Sam Johnson Jazz Group at Cosmos Coffee Cafe. Free. 3 to 5 p.m. CosmosCoffeeCafe.com. – 8278 La Mesa Blvd., 91942

Saturdays - Jazz with George and Alan at Bistro Sixty. Free. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. www.BistroSixtySD.com - 5987 El Cajon Blvd., 92115

Saturdays – Douglas Kvandal with the LiveJazz! Quartet at the Amigo Spot at the Kings Inn. Free. 7 p.m. www.kingsinnsandiego.com. - 1333 Hotel Circle South, 92108

June 15 & 17 – “All That Jazz” featuring the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra at Cohen Social Hall. $20. Sunday – 3 p.m., Tuesday – 7:30 p.m. www.tiferethIsrael.com/tico - 6660 Cowles Mountain Blvd., 92119

June 21 – Stage IV Jazz at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room. Free. 7 p.m. www.SanPasqualWinery.com - 8364 La Mesa Blvd., 91942

CLASSICAL June 2 – Camera Lucida #8 at UC San Diego’s Conrad Prebys Concert Hall. $25. 7:30 p.m. www.SanDiegoSymphony.org - 9500 Gilman Drive, No. 0099, 92093

June 11 - Richard Strauss 150th Birthday Celebration: A Lifetime Love Affair with the Violin; Special Concert by Victoria Martino, violin, and James Lent, piano, at Antha-neum Music & Arts Library. $35. 7:30 p.m. LJathenaeum.org – 1008 Wall St., 92037

June 27 – Elvis: A Tribute to The King at the Embarcadero Marina Park South. $25-$55. 7:30 p.m. www.SanDiegoSymphony.org - 1 Marina Park Way, 92101

ALTERNATIVEJune 13 – Dead Feather Moon, Strange Vine, and Chess Wars at Casbah. $10. 9 p.m. www.CasbahMusic.com - 2501 Kettner Blvd., 92101

June 14 – The Shakedown Daddies at Pal Joey’s. Free 9 p.m. www.PalJoeysOnline.com - 5147 Waring Road, 92120

June 21 – Tornado Magnet at Riviera Supper Club. Free. 9 p.m. www.RivieraSupperClub.com - 7777 University Ave., 91941

POPTuesdays - Suzanne Shea and Bob Wade at Bistro Sixty. Free. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.www.BistroSixtySD.com.Call and hold your table 619-287-8186 - 5987 El Cajon Blvd., 92115

Wednesdays – Westside Inflection at Riviera Supper Club. Free. 8 p.m. www.RivieraSupperClub.com - 7777 University Ave., 91941Fridays – Nathan Welden at Bistro Sixty. Free. 6:30 p.m. www.BistroSixtySD.com - 5987 El Cajon Blvd., 92115

June 7 – Nadine Risha at Vision. $20. 7 p.m. www.visioncsl.com - 6154 Mission Gorge Road, Suite 100, 92120.

May 31 & June 28 - People of Earth at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room. Free. 7 p.m. www.SanPasqualWinery.com -

8364 La Mesa Blvd., 91942

June 7 – Danielle Taylor at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room. Free. 7 p.m. www.SanPasqualWinery.com - 8364 La Mesa Blvd., 91942

OTHERThursdays – Open Mic Acoustic Nights at Parkway Bar. Free. 7 p.m. www.ThePa-rkwayBar.com - 9188 Fletcher Parkway, 91942

May 31 – Black Market III at Riviera Supper Club. Free. 9 p.m. www.RivieraSupperClub.com - 7777 University Ave., 91941

May 31 – Hound Dog at Pal Joey’s. Free 9 p.m. www.PalJoeysOnline.com - 5147 Waring Road, 92120

May 31 - A Night with Jessica Hull & Patrick McKeone. Free. 8 p.m. www.TheParkwayBar.com - 9188 Fletcher Parkway, 91942

Bands, venues, and music-lovers: please submit listings for this calendar by emailing [email protected].


See Foothillers, Page 15

Grossmont High School

Foothiller Footsteps By Connie and Lynn BaerHelix Highlights

By Jennifer Osborn May 5 was an exciting day for all lovers of Grossmont High School. The Grossmont Union High School District hosted a grand reopening and dedication ceremony for the 92-year-old granite building known as The Castle, which housed Grossmont students for 84 years. The Castle has been lovingly renovated to adhere to modern earthquake and construction standards, yet to cherish and display its historic structure. Among the oldest high schools in San Diego County, Grossmont is the only school to have preserved its original school.

Some of the wonderful features visible in the Castle are the original hardwood floors, which have been reused in the hallways upstairs and downstairs. Throughout the building, the ceilings are open to views of the original support beams; also, the structural support beams have been exposed in several places to see the past beams alongside the present beams. The orig-inal wooden windows have been replicated using dual glaze glass.

Walking through the building from the lobby down the wooden hallway, you expe-rience the pride of the early students, shown in the 1926 photo of student Elizabeth Williams and friends proudly standing on the west side of the Castle. Today, the entrance leads directly to the back wing, which in 1937 was redesigned from an auditorium to a two-

story classroom building, nicknamed the Old Main, and home to the English Depart-ment from 1937 to 2006.

Some students may remember trying to sit on the radiator heaters at the back of their classrooms, only to quickly jump up to avoid burned bottoms. Another vivid student memory might be hearing the slamming of the sash window when the

cloth sash broke, allowing the window to become a “guillo-tine” as the window descended. Also, there were few secrets in the building since the inte-rior wooden hallways foretold the arrival of tardy students, thwarting their efforts to sneak in the door.

Over the past 92 years, stories abound that give the building its character. Bill Gray, now a retired English teacher, recalls one weekend working in his classroom downstairs with his dog on alert when they both heard footsteps above their heads; needless to say, they soon left when they discovered they were the only ones in the building. Eddie Ramos, a school utility worker, recalls a previous custodian who

Helix Charter High School will hold commencement ceremonies on June 5 at 6 p.m. Each student will be issued tickets to provide to their family and friends; only those with a ticket will be admitted. While graduation is the final celebration of the year, there are many other things for Helix students and staff to celebrate.

The Helix Drumline was named state cham-pions of the American Drumline Association for the third year in a row. According to Associate Band Director Michael Benge, there were 102 groups, in seven divisions, that competed at semi-finals. The groups came from as far north as Bakersfield and as far east as Las Vegas. Of those groups, 61 advanced to championships. Just a short four years ago, Helix’s Drum-line was finishing last in the lowest division. Congratulations are in order!

Helix alumnus and Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush made a surprise visit to his alma mater on May 2 to encourage students to set goals, work hard and not let anything keep them from reaching those goals. As part of his partnership with the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens, the Helix Foundation received $5,000 to use for scholarships, and Bush donated $20,000 to the Athletic Department.

Helix Art students were big winners in a recent art show. The 28th annual Grossmont Union High School District Student Art Show was held at Parkway Plaza in May. Five Helix students were recognized for their talent, including:

Beginning Mixed Media/Other Category

1st Place-Joy Baber 2nd Place-Alondra Lopez3rd Place-Elijiah Shareiff

Advanced Mixed Media/Other Category

2nd Place-Alexandra Beltran

Advanced Painting CategoryHonorable Mention-Lili De La Tova

Helix’s Architecture, Construction, and Engineering (ACE) club received more than $75,000 in scholarships at the ACE Mentor Program’s annual banquet. The ACE program mentors high school students and inspires them to pursue

careers in design and construction. Teams are composed of 15 to 25 students and work with mentors to produce a mock design. ACE runs through the entire school year, working on their project, taking field trips to construction sites, and other related activities. At the end of the year, each team presents their project at the banquet. Helix’s standout students and their prizes were:

Ricardo Felix: $50,000 to attend the New School of Architecture in downtown San Diego.Dustin Daneri: $5,000Emily Reveles: $5,000Yonas Tesfai: $5,000Molly Wells: ACE Summer Camp and $2,500Justin Perng: $2,500Emilio Morante Larios: $2,500 from Repro-haus (a 3D printing company)Alex Coburn: $2,000Spencer Miesner: $2,000Abdurahman Mohamed (Abdi): $1,500

Helix students received the most in cash prizes than students at any other school, and this is third year in a row that a Helix student took top honors for New School of Architecture.

Helix offices will remain open through June as families meet with their Grade Level Teams to select their classes for next year. Offices will be closed in July, and the 2014-15 school year will start on Aug. 6.

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Orchard, from page 1

See Pam Crooks, Page 14

The Sun Shines Sooner…By Pam Crooks

London is made for walking. I should know. I’ve just spent the last two weeks traipsing all over it. I feel like I’ve walked a hundred miles! And it wasn’t just visiting tourist sites. In fact, we did little of that this time around.

Our eldest son and his family are moving there for a few years, and my husband and I were helping them find a place to live and schools and daycare for the kids (compli-cated by the necessity of quickly finding a place close to the City center, for two tall adults and two fast-growing children – ages 4 and 9 months – at a price they could afford). It was fun actually, and we learned a lot about everyday life in that very cosmopolitan City.

There are a few shop-ping malls you can get to on the Tube (subway), but every community has its own phalanx of small grocery stores, pharmacies and restau-rants--and of course a pub or wine bar on just about every corner.

You don’t need a car, just a good head for directions and

a really good pair of shoes. Not having to worry about navigating freeways during rush hour, finding parking or the best price for gasoline was liberating. And I felt I could splurge on dessert because I had burned all those calories by walking everywhere.

All of this caused me to think proudly of La Mesa. In case you missed it, La Mesa ranked No. 1 in San Diego County for “walkability” last year. There are some pretty sharp people at City Hall who think a lot about this when developing new projects or considering infrastructure needs such as traffic signage, cross-walks and sidewalks. Michele Greenburg-McClung and others in Community Services are always looking for ways to encourage La Mesa residents to get out and walk the interesting neighborhoods around town.

They recently produced a great map available for down-load on the City’s website, showing routes in and around the Village for three great

“Every time I’ve been on campus, I think they need their own orchard,” Davis said. “”I’ve had residents over to my house to pick fruit and we take our extras over to them.”

On April 26, about 30 Rotarians, plus spouses and kids, showed up at the campus with 43 fruit trees, shovels and supplies and a truckload of trees. They also brought gopher baskets – big chicken wire tubs that go in the ground before the trees to keep gophers out of the tree’s critical root ball.

“We love this project,” Davis said. “It brings wonderful fruit, lovely smells and when it grows in, a beautiful place to walk.”

The half-acre orchard is part of the 11-acre campus on Campo Road in Spring Valley, where about 70 clients with Down syndrome, autism and other developmental or intellectual disabil-ities live in eight group homes. Many of spec-trum disorder residents have jobs in the nearby community, then return to the campus where the staff provides the special care and support their folks need.

The orchard project is near and dear to Molly Nocon, the CEO of Noah Homes. Her brother lived at the 11-acre campus for 14 years.

“We are one of the few homes that’s a campus that allows people to walk around, to go see their friends and find things to do instead of just waiting inside for someone to come and drive them places,” Nocon said. “We look at this wonderful place and ask ourselves how can we give our residents more to do, nor interac-tion, more things they can be interested in and participate in.”

“With the orchard, they can watch the fruit grow and learn how things grow; they get to water and to pick the fruit and bring it back home as snacks,” she said.

Before the work day, Noah Homes main-tenance staff, including Dennis Minyard and

Marco Arellano, cleared and prepared the soil and followed a basic design to lay out the irri-gation pipes and lines to where the fruit trees now stand.

The next day, they helped the 45 Rotarians and other volunteers.

“We planted apples, pears, pomegranate, figs and citrus,” Davis said. “We put a lot of mulch around to make the plants more sustainable.”

The Rotarians shopped at Rancho Valhalla Nursery, and the staff and management got into the spirit of the project, she said.

“Rancho Valhalla gave us a big discount and one of the staff came out Saturday and worked with us to make sure we were planting the best possible way,” Davis said. “We also had a gardener from the Cuyamaca College horti-culture department.”

The plans include putting up signs with each individual tree showing the fruit that will come so the residents can better enjoy the growing pains and the seasons, Nocon said.

After working for about four hours – including planting flats of flowers where resi-dents can see them from the patio, the groups of volunteers, residents and staff finished their work and had a barbecue.

“It grew into a wonderful community-oriented project,” Davis said. “There was enough work for everyone.”

Noah Homes has secured a grant from the Linnie Cooper Foundation to pay for concrete walkways, lighting and other improvements, so the orchard will be wheelchair acces-sible, according to Noah Homes Development Director Sandra Benton.

“We are so excited to have this place where our residents can go and enjoy the peace and quiet, and bring back fruit – where it used to be just unused space,” Nocon said. “Our volunteers are wonderful to us.”

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Alzheimer’s, from page 6 What’s Cookingwith Julie by Julie White

CHICKEN MARSALA

An Italian main course favorite, chicken Marsala is an easy, quick dinner that you can dish up within 10 minutes.

CHICKEN MARSALA

Ingredients:

Four boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in half and pounded 1/2 inch thick. (Place between 2 pieces of plastic wrap and gently pound with a mallet or heavy pan bot-tom.)1/4 cup flour4 tablespoons of olive oilSalt and pepper to taste8 ounces of white button or cremini mushrooms, sliced2 minced cloves of garlic (1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder can be substituted)2 tablespoon of butter 1/4 cup chicken broth (optional)1 cup Marsala wine

On a shallow plate, combine flour and salt and pepper. Dredge the pounded chicken in the flour mixture and set aside.Heat the oil over medium heat and cook until golden brown and done. Around 3 minutes a side should do it.Set aside on clean plate.Add remaining butter to pan and sauté the mushrooms and garlic until mushrooms are golden on the edges. Add the wine and a little chicken broth. Lower the heat and return the chicken to the sauce. Taste the sauce for sea-soning. You can add more broth for added sauce and even add a teaspoon of Dijon mustard to the sauce if you don’t care to use the wine.Serve over pasta or rice. Serves 4

subscribes to the rementia theory of dementia: that the person is still a person, but a different person.

“Rementia is respecting a person for where they are now, regarding them as whole, just different from what you knew and what you expected,” King said. “It’s about now. It’s about getting to know who they are now.”

The challenge is accepting that the person can’t be who you want them to be, not by choice.

“They start time trav-eling, for example, where they remember 30 years ago and think they are that person and you are part of that time,” King said. “They didn’t pick that year. They aren’t daydreaming – where you know it’s now and today and you can snap back.”

How does a caregiver deal with a loved one who believes it’s another time altogether?

“To bring information into the conversation that isn’t part of the person’s experience doesn’t work for them. If you don’t go along with her time travel, it will be a fight,” King said. “But you can also take the opportunity to get to know her – to see what you can learn about her while she was – is – in that time of her life. Most kids don’t know their parents very well, not as people, and it’s a great opportunity to learn.”

For the caregiver, the constantly changing person and constant stress can be exhausting.

“Spouses find it particu-larly distressing because they feel the foundation of their marriage has fallen down –

that this person is no longer the person I married and that sometimes he doesn’t even know who I am,” King said.

The group starts each week with a checking in list of how the caregivers are doing: How are your stress levels, how are your loved ones’ stress levels, and more. And then people talk.

“It’s a safe place to display anger, frustration and grief,” King said. “But it’s more than that, my groups get useful information and techniques to work more cooperatively with their patient.”

For example, a technique of validating the patient’s expe-rience can work for everyone. King gives as an example an elderly woman who would suddenly become very worried about picking her kids up at school. Instead of chiding her that her kids were grown and not at school, her caregiver realized she was trying to be a good mom.

“You’re worried about your kids. I can see that you’re a really responsible mother,” King told her. “We’ve arranged for them to be picked up and taken home today, so you can have the day off today.”

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News Briefs, from page 4 Gen-X, from page 4

seemed to have aimless energy in abundance, pulled herself together and showed off her martial spirit for everyone around her. She cried out, “One, two! One, two, three!” and performed each technique seamlessly.

As she jumped up and down for the medal ceremony, where she won the gold, I felt the largest adrenaline rush I have ever experienced. I can understand why parents become obsessed with their children’s accomplishments. My husband later had to have the calm-it-down talk with me when I started wondering whether she was going to be the first female Bruce Lee.

It’s funny how quick things change. The energy that once blighted me now confounds me in what it can achieve. White Dragon may have allowed Quinn to find her focus, but it helped me more in seeing the blessing in what I had misperceived to be a curse.

the money to invest in pedestrian and bicycle safety, bike racks, gym equipment and other resources to help kids engage in more physical activity.

Soap Box Derby winners advance to national races

Two local boys will be sent to the National All-American Soap Box Derby in Ohio after winning their respective divisions at the annual La Mesa Soap Box Derby on May 17.

Nine-year-old Andrew Knapp of Lake Forest took first place in the stock car division.

Nine year-old Brandon Stephenson of Lake-side took first place in the super stock car divi-sion. Stephenson also won the stock car division in the local race last year.

Knapp and Stephenson will be among 800 children competing in the national derby in late July. Their participation will be made possible with the financial support of Drew Ford and other local sponsors.

Later this fall, the La Mesa Kiwanis club will host rally races to give young derby drivers the chance to gain more experience in steering, braking and understanding double-elimination brackets.

For more information about the La Mesa Soap Box Derby program, call director Steve Blake at (619) 461-1608.

Construction firms honored by college districtTwo La Mesa construction firms were

among the five contractors honored by the San Diego Community College District this year.

The district recognized Diamond Pacific Construction for exemplary performance

by a Disabled-Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) contractor. Gregg Torwick, principal of Diamond Pacific Construction, is known among project managers as a “go-to” contractor, espe-cially when there is a list of last-minute jobs that need to be complete before a new building opens. Project managers who nominated Torwick praised his “no project is too small” approach and strong attention to detail and customer service.

The district also recognized Randall Lamb & Associates for exemplary performance by a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) professional services firm. Principal Bob Randall and his team provided invaluable expertise for Mesa College’s Utility Master Plan and electrical and communications projects, according to Mesa College project manager Mike Clark.

Taste of La Mesa tickets on saleMore than 30 restaurants and businesses

will offer samples of their best food and drink at the sixth annual Taste of La Mesa event on Monday, June 9.

Anthony’s Fish Grotto, Antica Trattoria, The Brigantine, BO-beau kitchen + garden, Hacienda Casa Blanca, Riviera Supper Club and Terra American Bistro are among the participating eateries.

General admission tickets cost $35. VIP tickets are $50 and include an extra hour of tasting time and preferred parking. Tickets do not include the cost of beverages.

Tickets can be purchased in person at the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce, San Pasqual Winery, Edible Arrangements and Anthony’s

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Memorial, from page 5 Pam Crooks, from page 11 Lawsuit, from page 7

settlement conference” that the new job was part of the deal. “If he didn’t get promoted, no settlement.”

O’Connor initially said the district would pay Pinachio $30,000. Hours later, he wrote via email: “I can’t discuss the matter. There is a confidentiality clause in the agreement.”

Mike Gibbs, the school district’s lawyer, said via email: “Pinachio’s recent promotion to SMWII was not in any way related to his lawsuit against the district or the settlement of that lawsuit. Mr. Pinachio simply applied for the open position, and after he was interviewed as one of three finalists, he was selected as the most qualified candidate.

“His selection was not a condition of the settlement.”

The deal becomes offi-cial June 6, court records indi-cate. And the district’s lawyer said: “We are waiting to receive the signed settlement documents (Release and Dismissal) from Mr. Pinachio’s attorney. The settle-ment will be final at that point.”

Brian Marshall, the La Mesa-Spring Valley schools superin-tendent, said the district had a retirement in the Maintenance Department.

“Using our hiring/interview

system (we are a merit system that is very strict and ensures that the best candidates are hired), [Pinachio] was the best candidate for the opening at the time of hire,” Marshall said.

In a court filing from February asking for the case to be dismissed, the district wrote

Pinachio “was not the best qualified for either SMW II posi-tion. The first position required a refrigeration license and plumbing experience…. Plain-tiff ’s experience in plumbing was limited to essentially ‘home handyman’ level experience … Plaintiff admitted during the interview process that he had very little experience in welding, saying just that he ‘had tried it before.’ ”

Quoting district maintenance director Chris Benker, one of the targets of the suit, the court filing also said Pinachio didn’t perform well in interviews.

“When asked three separate times why he would be the best candidate for the positions,” the filing said, “plaintiff repeatedly responded with ‘Because I’ve been here for 25 years,’ ‘I’m the senior-most SMW 1’ and ‘I’ve been here the longest.’ ”

Pinachio did not respond to requests for comment.

walks for different skill levels—from easy to chal-lenging. Have you heard of the “Secret Stairs of La Mesa”? (If you want a great workout, check those out on this map: www.cityoflamesa.com/documentscenter/view/1750.)

But it’s not just about fitness. The La Mesa/Spring Valley School District partners with the City to develop “Safe Routes to School” and promotes “Walk and Roll” days to encourage kids to walk or ride their bikes to school.

When you’re outdoors, you see things you don’t notice in the car. You meet your neighbors. You hear the birds and enjoy the way the sunlight plays on the trees. It feels right.

A few months ago, I began walking one or two mornings a week in the hills of Mt. Helix with a neighbor. She’s a veteran at this and likes to get an early start. We often see the sunrise. These are hills and streets I’ve been driving over for years, but walking them has opened my eyes to many things I never noticed before.

I would venture to say that there are many great walks available in just about every corner of our community, whether it be the Village, Lake Murray, Grossmont or Windsor Hills.

My son’s family found a comfortable house in a family-filled neighborhood of London called Chis-

wick, with a park, school, shopping and church only blocks away, and they are looking forward to exploring it on foot. I’m sad they’ll be so far away, but glad to know they are in a great place, not unlike La Mesa.

driving force behind the memorial’s construction and dedication.

Johnson, along with Evers-Rhoads and her husband, Jack Rhoads, both La Mesa natives and Helix High grad-uates now living in Arizona, quickly rallied others to help bring the monu-ment back to its original glory. Included in the effort were Denise’s siblings, Dianne and Dennis (both original HYFD members) and older brother Dan, a community/public art specialist.

The original goal of cleaning up the site and replacing the lost plaques quickly turned into a complete refur-bishment of the memorial property. Organizers connected with the national Vietnam Veterans of America and soon had researched additional names of local Vietnam soldiers to be added to the original list.

The HYFD alumni secured donated money, labor and materials. A website www.hyfd.org was created to accept contributions and disseminate information.

See Memorial, Page 15

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ADVERTISE to 10 Million Homes across the USA! Place your ad in over 140 community

newspapers, with circulation totaling over 10 million homes. Contact Independent Free Papers of America IFPA at [email protected] or visit our website cadnetads.com for more information.

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.

Statewide Ads

FREE CLASSIFIEDSFree classified ads are available to non-profit organizations that do not charge for their services and private party items for sale. Only one ad per or organization will be accepted per issue as a free classi-fied - 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 addi-tional 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. No calls will be answered for free classifieds. Free classifieds MAY NOT be submitted online. Free classifieds must be submitted by mail or hand-delivered to Postal Annex at: 6549 Mission Gorge Rd #199 San Diego, CA 92120

PAID CLASSIFIEDS - $10/25 words or lessAds cost $10 for 25 words or less plus 50¢ per word over 25, payable in advance of publication only. Editor reserves the right to reject or re-classify any ads. Paid ads may run for any con-secutive 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.

When counting words – a word is a word, regardless of the number of let-ters. 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. No personals are accepted. Paid classifieds may be submitted by mail or hand-deliv-ered to Postal Annex at: 6549 Mission Gorge Rd #199 San Diego, CA 92120. For your convenience, paid classified ads may be placed using our self-serve system online at ScoopSanDiego.com/Classifieds.

SPECIAL NOTICEThe La Mesa Courier reserves the right to edit or refuse classified ads due to inappropriate content, space consid-erations, etc. The La Mesa Courier assumes no financial responsibility for errors nor for omission of copy for classified ads. By submission of ad, advertisers agree to indemnify and hold the La Mesa Courier harmless from any claims and expenses arising from the publication of any ad. No refunds given or cancellations accepted unless such notice is received by mail 10 days prior to the publication date. MAKE SURE YOU REMIT THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THE AD – WE ARE UNABLE TO CONTACT YOU - NOR RUN THE AD - IF THE INCORRECT AMOUNT OF MONEY IS SENT WITH THE AD. Your cancelled check is your receipt.

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO “LA MESA COURIER”

PLEASE READ ABOVE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.CHECK THE APPROPRIATE CLASSIFICATION BELOW.

Make checks payable to “La Mesa Courier.”

Mail to 6549 Mission Gorge Road, #199San Diego, CA 92120.

FOR SALE CHILD CARE BUS. OPP.

NOTICES FOR RENT SERVICES(see restrictions above)

WANTED HELP WANTED LOST & FOUND

GARAGE SALES

AMOUNT OF PAYMENT INCLUDED WITH AD: $CHECK #

Local Classified AdsBUSINESS

OPPORTUNITYWill your job alone give you the lifestyle you deserve? Create true wealth and long term residual income with a part-time home based business. We train and help support you to success. www.GotFreedom.com Call 858-278-2120 Your future is counting on you! (12/14)

FOR RENTSenior living 62+ in San Carlos. Quiet, non-smoking complex with Pool and spa. No dogs. 2BR, 2 bath - $1235/mo. 7717 Tommy St. 619-461-4111 (07/14)

FOR SALEEPIES, Plants for sale. Beautiful colors. $5 plants, $3 cuttings. 619-670-8206 (06/14)

NOTICESAssisted Living and Home Care Support Group. Share & Empower Family Caregiver. 2nd & 4th Tuesday Month 5:30 pm Bugsy’s Coffee 8759 La Mesa Blvd 91942 (06/14)

SERVICESJenna’s Barber Shoppe. Styling for men, women & children. Wheelchair friendly. Old time expert haircuts at affordable prices. Colors & perms. 7424 Jackson Dr.#1A (across from Keil’s in Bank of America lot) Tues-Fri., 8:30-5:30 pm; Sat. 8:30-noon. Walk-ins or By appt., 619-644-3669. (12/14)

Quality exterior carpentry. Decks, Fences, Patio Covers and Termite Repair. Lic365241. www.aactionbuildersofsandiego.com. Bob 619-275-1493 (4/15)

Bathtubs and sinks refinished like new. San Carlos based business for over 25 years - same owner. Lic#560438. www.saveatubsd.com. 619-464-5141 (01/15)

German Setter Tile and Marble. Professional marble/tile setter with 28 years experience. European craftsmanship. Punctual & dependable. License# 872804. Contact Jens Sedemund: 619-415-6789 or [email protected] (12/14)

Dan Paterson Handyman/Carpentry: Repair and replacement of plumbing, electrical repair, installation of water heaters, doors, windows, cabinets, flooring, fencing. Pressure washing of driveways, all phases of home repair. And remodel including kitchen

and bathroom remodel. No job too small, free estimates. Raised in Allied Gardens, 17 years in construction. Dan Paterson 619-481-9978. (12/14)

BARGAIN BOYZ CONSTRUCTION/REPAIRS FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED BUILDING CONTRACTOR SPECIALIZING IN ALL HOME REPAIRS AND REMODELING NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL! LICENSE #828251-B. PHONE 619-654-3922. EMAIL [email protected] (10/14)

Roofing Lic# 691295-C39. Veteran Owned, Allied Gardens based. Celebrating 20 years in business. Full roof & repairs. Free Est. Veteran and Senior discounts. 619-823-7208. (07/14)

Quality in-home care for your loved one from a loving, experienced, trust certified caregiver in the La Mesa area. Excellent references available. Lupe 619-414-0557 (06/14)

House Cleaning. Saturday & Sunday o.k. Call Elena at 619-674-1582 (06/14)

WANTEDHelping Hands Animal Sanctuary seeks homes for cats, ages 1-7 years. Wood pellet litter and Friskies cat food needed. 619-460-6679 (06/14)


La Mesa Courier

8030 La Mesa Blvd. #145 La Mesa, CA 91942

Phone: (619) 697-2500Fax: (619) 697-2505

[email protected]

EditorDavid [email protected]

ContributorsJeremy OgulGenevieve SuzukiMarty Graham

Pam CrooksKen StoneJames Newland

Graphic ArtistAleta El [email protected]

[email protected]

PublisherMission Publishing Group, LLCJim [email protected]

Circulation: 24,000. Published 12 times in 2014, mailed to all addresses in 91941, delivered to all single family homes in 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 Rd #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 omit-ted advertisement at the advertiser’s cost. All claims for adjustment must be made in writ-ing 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, limita-tion 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 vio-lation 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 discrimina-tion 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 writ-ers and should not be considered the views of the publisher. Content of paid advertisements is solely the responsibility of the advertiser. © 2014, all rights reserved.

MEMBER

The July issue of the La Mesa Courier will be

published Friday, June 27. The advertising deadline

is Tuesday, June 10.

California Newspaper Publishers Association

Foothillers, from page 10

Memorial, from page 14

Yes on H, from page 6No on H, from page 7

News Briefs, from page 13

success story to continue. Your ‘yes’ vote on Prop-osition H means:

Grossmont Healthcare District will extend its lease agreement with Sharp HealthCare for 30 additional years, allowing nationally recog-nized Sharp HealthCare to continue managing the hospital until 2051.

Sharp – not taxpayers – will fund necessary future hospital facility repairs and improve-ments, including costly earthquake safety retro-fits. Sharp invests hundreds of millions of dollars in repairs and state-of-the-art, life-saving equip-ment at Grossmont Hospital.

Sharp invests in hospital improvements without further delay – including $20 million to complete the Heart & Vascular Center at no additional cost to taxpayers. Residents deserve these high quality healthcare services.

The San Diego County Taxpayers Association has endorsed Yes on H, concluding it makes good economic sense. Simply put: “Extending the lease will allow for Sharp to continue providing award winning service and investing into facilities at Grossmont Hospital rather than taxpayers.”

Sharp operates on a not-for-profit basis, guar-anteeing that all profits are reinvested in our community to improve healthcare services and hospital facilities. Grossmont Healthcare District does not penalize Sharp HealthCare with a lease fee to operate the hospital. That money instead goes into patient care at Grossmont Hospital. This is the way a public/private partnership should work – where the public resources of a state-of-the-art community hospital join with an award winning nonprofit healthcare system to benefit the public.

Both the San Diego County Republican and Democratic Parties have endorsed the continu-ation of this incredible partnership and success story. Every East County mayor, along with San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, endorse Proposi-tion H. Join hundreds of medical professionals, first responders, former patients, and leaders throughout our community supporting Proposi-tion H.

Colleen Murphy, RN The Sharp Experience Spokesperson

we talking about?” Grossmont Hospital is conservatively worth a half billion (with a “b”) dollars. In fact, East County taxpayers are currently spending $247 million in bond money (Proposition G, 2006) to make improvements and earth-quake upgrades. Those construc-tion projects are adding value to an already priceless asset.

“How much did Sharp pay for the current lease?” In 1991 they paid $42 million (about $1.4 million per year) by paying off the District’s 1985 and 1987 bond principal.

“How much is the Gross-mont Healthcare District Board currently asking (and how much is Sharp offering) for the next 30 years?” Answer: Zero dollars.

In summary, don’t be misled by those who suggest that this propo-sition is about your health. It isn’t. My professors in business school emphasized that a manager’s job is to acquire assets at the lowest possible price. No one can fault Sharp HealthCare for following this business maxim. Your “no” vote will not, in any way, affect the way your healthcare professionals treat your family’s illnesses and injuries. It may, however, slightly reduce the $1.4 million annual compensation of Sharp’s CEO.

Jim Stieringer is a former treasurer of the City of La Mesa. He was elected to five terms on the Grossmont Healthcare District Board where he served for 18 years. He currently serves as an elected member of the Governing Board of the Grossmont Union High School District.

upon entering the boiler room saw another person working on the boiler, only to realize there was no one there.

To learn more about this beloved East County historic treasure and Grossmont High School, visit the Museum on one of these dates: June 4, July 2 or Aug. 6, from 12 to 4 p.m.; or Saturday, June 21 from 1 to 3 p.m. Also, you may contact us at (619) 668-6140 or [email protected] for an appointment.

Fish Grotto.The event will be held

at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Dr.

For further details, call the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce at (619) 465-7700 or visit www.lamesachamber.com.

Golfers raise $410,000 for hospital

The Grossmont Hospital Foundation’s annual golf tour-nament benefiting Sharp Grossmont Hospital brought in more than $410,000 on April 17. That amount was $30,000 greater than last year’s record-setting sum.

Three hundred sixteen golfers participated in the event.

The tournament has raised more than $1,145,000 over the past three years, and in the 30 years since it began the tour-nament has raised more than $4.4 million.

Proceeds from this year’s event support patient services and programs at the hospital, including the new heart and vascular center.

Recycle electronic waste May 31-June 1

Get rid of old and unwanted television sets, computers, printers, VCRs, DVD players, copy machines, scanners, fax machines, toner cartridges and other elec-tronic waste at a free recycling event hosted by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce.

Items will be accepted between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, and Sunday, June 1, in the parking lot at Gross-mont Center, between Chuze Fitness and Fuddruckers.

Refrigerators, washers, dryers, fluores-cent light bulbs and household batteries will not be accepted. There will be a $5 service charge for the disposal of micro-wave ovens.

Visit www.lamesachamber.com for more details on which items can be recycled at the event.

Over the next year and a half, veterans groups and the community contributed nearly $11,000 in cash and thousands more in materials and services.

New plaques have been installed, the monument was refurbished, the flagpole replaced. An effort to erect a new feature, a granite-and-tile “chair” to honor prisoners of war and those missing in action, was underway.

More work needs to be done, but a re-dedication ceremony will be held June 14 at 9 a.m. before a crowd organizers anticipate could exceed 2,000.

Ideal Plumbing,Heating

Air & ElectricalServing our community since 1960! Panel upgrades, sub panels, outlets, ceiling fans, whole house fans, solar systems, recessed lighting, and more. BBB accredited business.(06-13)

www.idealsvc.com(619) 583-7963

Lic #348810

ELECTRICAL


Air & ElectricalServing our community since 1960! Kitchens, bathrooms, closets, grab bars, wak-in tubs, and more!. BBB accred-ited business.(06-13)


Lic #348810

REMODEL

PLUMBING


Air & ElectricalServing our community since 1960! Residential/commer-cial. Service, repair, installa-tion, thermostats, registers, filters, indoor air quality, and more. BBB accredited busi-ness.(06-13)


Lic #348810

AIR CONDITIONING


Air & ElectricalWater heaters, Garbage disposals, drain cleaning. Video pipe inspections, water softeners & filtration. Visit our Showroom! (06-12)

Serving our commu-nity since 1960!(619) 583-7963

Lic #348810


©MMVIII Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. A Realogy Company. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark licensed to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Office is Independently Owned And Operated. Cal. BRE #01767484

PacificSothebysRealty.com

Everyone, in every price range, deserves the quality of Sotheby’s Realty.

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New homes w/ hillside views in El Cajon, final 3 new homes! Large, open-concept floor plans all situated on large lots. Upgraded features include high ceilings, granite counters, SS appl., designer cabinets, hardwood, travertine & carpeted flooring. Oversized BR w/ large masters including jetted tubs and walk-in showers. Floor plans range from a single story 2,470 SF home to large 2840 SF two-story homes. No HOA fees. Move in ready!

JIM STINNETT 619.654.0331

Beautiful 3BR, 2BA is move-in ready! Features laminate flooring, updated bathrooms, granite counters in kitchen, new carpet, mature fruit trees, and RV parking! Hurry this home will not last long!

JULIE BOYADJIAN 619.250.1129

One-of-a-kind, single-level home situated on a 14,000 SF double lot. This historic, Spanish-styled architecture includes lush landscaping, private backyard, and remodeled kitchen with beautiful maple hardwood floor. For more photos & information, visit www.4455BertingSt.com.

AMY BERMAN 858.344.5856 • JENNIFER BERMAN 619.318.4634

EL CERRITO • $725,000 - $880,000

JAMUL • $695,000 - $765,000

3 bedrooms with an office & 2.5 bathrooms. The home features an open flowing floor plan ideally suited for casual entertaining with traditional portals at the front and rear to encourage the indoor/outdoor lifestyle.

JOE SOUTHWICK 619.589.8224

SAN CARLOS • $490,000

Recently renovated home w/ views of Cowles Mountain. Features 4BR, new custom cabinetry in kitchen & BA, granite counters, new fixtures, new paint inside & out, and new carpeting. Fruit trees in back.

GISELA NAJERA 619.254.6066


la mesa courier - june 2014

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