Just about everyone in La Mesa agrees the used-car and RV lots in the cityrsquos downtown need to go The property east of Baltimore

Drive and south of El Cajon Boulevard is ripe for a modern development that could enhance the cityrsquos aesthetics provide much-needed housing and breathe new life into the downtown econ-omy not to mention the cityrsquos tax coffers

The community consensus begins to crum-ble however at the next question How much should the property be allowed to change How

many homes can be squeezed onto the 45-acre lot How many stories should new buildings be allowed to rise above street level

Members of La Mesarsquos Kitzman family which has owned the property for decades say they want to transform the land into a 21st-century walkable bikeable transit-oriented mixed-use development called Park Station at the Crossroads of La Mesa They envision condos an upscale hotel and new shops and restaurants in buildings up to nine stories

The problem with their plan Current zoning requirements limit building heights in the area

You could say Todd Tobias was born in the wrong decade

The 41-year-old La Mesa native became a rabid sports fan after getting his first baseball card at the age of five but his

greatest passion is the short-lived American Football League (AFL) of the 1960s a decade he missed completely

Tobias has made a career out of his love of sports He spent many years working for the San Diego Hall of Champions sports museum managing its awards program helping it transi-tion to its current location and

acting as curator He also worked for the San Diego Chargers managing their memora-bilia and outfitting their professional offices

he helped the San Diego Padres with their throw-back displays at the new Petco Park he managed personal memorabilia collections for various pro football players and hersquos made a good living doing what he loves best being one of the most mdash if not the most mdash diligent collectors of historic sports memo-rabilia around

Tobias is all La Mesan He was born at Grossmont Hospital graduated from Grossmont High School and went to college at the University of San Diego all while living in La Mesa He continues to live there with his wife and three children today

His love for the AFL came after he decided to write his masterrsquos thesis on Sid Gilman the first head coach of the San Diego Chargers

He has amassed a tremendous amount of AFL memorabilia in the 15 or 16 years since purchasing from professional athletes eBay and garage and estate sales Items hersquos picked

See PARK STATION page 12

See FOOTBALL page 14

See PARKWAY page 16

Planning Commission to consider allowing 10-story buildings downtownMeeting set for Oct 1Jeremy OgulEditor

A nine-story building could obstruct the view from this home on El Capitan Drive (Photo by Jeremy Ogul)

Native La Mesan is all about the AFL

Last call at Parkway BarNeighborhood hangout to close

The lights are dim and the wood is old and polished inside the Parkway Bar the

acoustical tile ceiling painted a dark red It smells faintly of mustiness and bleach amplifiers and microphones stand randomly near the small low stage

The bar feels small mdash tucked between a pho restaurant and a Thai restaurant in a rundown strip

mall on Fletcher Parkway east of Highway 125 where the most promi-

nent tenant is Souplantation This is a neighborhood bar mdash a gath-

ering place for the La Mesa regulars that opens at 10 am every day Local

artistsrsquo work hangs on the walls and the old bricks and beams in the back have

been painted the same deep red as the ceiling tiles The U-shaped bar has beer

taps at one end next to a chalkboard on the wall that says ldquo38 days to closingrdquo

On Nov 1 the Parkway mdash which has been in operation since at least 1968 will close The owners of the strip mall had told ten-ants about their plans to renovate the mall and sent owners Doug and Katie Halvin a

Parkway Bar owner Katie Halvin displays a collectible t-shirt at the bar (Photo by Marty Graham)

Morgan M HurleyContributing Editor

Todd Tobias frequently flips through his binders full of football cards from the American Football League era of the 1960s (Photo by Morgan M Hurley)

Football and history fuel his passions

MartyGraham

Ken Denbow

Local artist captures beauty of Mission Trails

Groff painting from Hemingway Streetrsquos Open Space Park in San Carlos (Courtesy Larry Groff)

Artists create space with unique parameters and feel-ings Authors JK Rowling in ldquoHarry Potterrdquo and J R R Tolkien in ldquoLord of the Ringsrdquo created imaginary worlds where wizards unicorns Hobbits and dragons abound Mark Twain in ldquoHuckleberry Finnrdquo and Harper Lee in ldquoTo Kill a Mockingbirdrdquo view the ldquoreal worldrdquo through the eyes of a child to show the evils of slavery and racial stereo-types using humor and satire in

the former and gripping drama in the latter Da Vinci painted the ldquoMona Lisardquo an ordinary woman with an enchanting smile which has fascinated

viewers for 500 yearsSan Carlos resident and artist

Larry Groff paints unique scenes from San Diego particularly the San Carlos community that portray the beauty of the area infused with feelings ranging from the tranquility of a neigh-borhood with Cowles Mountain in the background to the frenetic interchanges of the Grossmont freeway overpass His talent was recently recognized at his first one-man show at Prince Street Gallery in New York City The show was a success with four paintings sold and invaluable contacts made for the future He

has been in many group shows in Boston one pre-viously in NYC as well as at the recently closed Noel-Baza Fine Arts Gallery in Little Italy

Larry was born in Charleston South Carolina but grew up in Boston He moved to San

Diego four years ago to take care of his father He and his wife Liz Hincks fell in love with San Diego

Groff worked in the nurs-

ing field for 25 years He had friends who were artists so five years into his nursing career he started attending art school at the Massachusetts College of Art while working as a nurse He obtained a masterrsquos degree in fine arts from Boston University

ldquoI decided to try art for myselfrdquo he said ldquoIt became an obsessionrdquo

Groff recently left nursing to become a computer animator for medical companies combining his art and medical careers

ldquoI havenrsquot made a lot of money but I wouldnrsquot trade it for any-thingrdquo Groff said

He is hoping to find represen-tation in San Francisco and Los Angeles in 2015 He is also look-ing into showing his San Carlos paintings at the San Carlos Public Library

For the past three summers Groff has been painting land-

scapes in Italy where he was working at a summer art pro-gram run by the world renowned painter Israel Hershberg

ldquoI get a great deal of satisfaction out of working with new artistsrdquo Groff said ldquoBut if someone wants to do it professionally they must be able to do it full timerdquo

He feels that schooling is good but no guarantee of success Rather he recommends someone work with a successful artist until the individual style is acquired

ldquoI try not to think about style I prefer it to develop on its own accord without my conscious input I paint in an overall paint-erly-realist style but it varies in type depending on the subject I am paintingrdquo Groff said ldquoIt is a constantly evolving process The feeling expressed in a painting comes unconsciously It mustnrsquot be contrivedrdquo

He chose to paint his San Carlos neighborhood rather than mountains or seascapes because he likes the play of light on peo-plersquos homes amidst the canyons and Mission Trails

ldquoTo me it is more interestingrdquo he said ldquoIt has more meaning to merdquo

Groff is currently working on a large canvas portraying the view from Tuxedo Park off Jackson Drive After that he plans to take it as it comes He finds sites just driving through the neighborhoods He also wel-comes commissions to paint a requested view or painting of a home Samples can be seen at lar-rygroffcom

mdashKen Denbow is a writer in San Diego Contact him at kilo-teltatellahotmailcomu

The opening reception at Groffrsquos one-man show at Prince Street Gallery in New York City (Courtesy Larry Groff)

2 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

La Mesa ndash A new report has just been released which reveals 7 costly mistakes that most homeowners make when selling their home and a 9 Step System that can help you sell your home fast and the most amount of money

This industry report shows clearly how the traditional ways of sell-ing homes have become increasingly less and less effective in todayrsquos market The fact of this matter is that fully three quarters of home-sellers donrsquot get what they want for their homes and become disil-lusioned and worse financially disadvantaged when they put their homes on the market

As this report uncovers most homesellers make 7 deadly mistakes that cost them literally thousands of dollars The good news is that each and every one of these mistakes is entirely preventable In an-swer to this issue industry insiders have prepared a free special report entitles ldquoThe 9 Step System to Get your Home Sold Fast and For Top Dollarrdquo To order your FREE copy of this report call toll-free 1-800-270-1494 and enter 1000 You can call anytime 24 hours a day 7 days a week

Get your free special report Now to find out how you can get the most money for your home

Courtesy of Dan Smith ReMax BRE 01346593

How Owners Lose Thousands When Selling Their Homes

12 Price EntreacuteePurchase any entreacutee and any two beverages and receive a

second entreacutee (of equal or lesser value) for half price Coupon good for up to two discounts per party of four Dine-in only Cannot be combined with any other offer discount or coupon Sales tax if applicable must be paid by guest No cash value

Valid at participating locations only Not valid with Kids Eat Free or Weekday Lunch Specials Offer expires 103114

POS Code MKTG Promo 2

La Mesa bull 70th Street amp I-8 Freeway6950 Alvarado Rd bull (619) 465-1910

POS C-4

Your choice of our perfectly portioned Chicken Pot Pie Shepherdrsquos Pie or Tuscan Shrimp Pot Pie each served with a Caesar salad Plus includes a FREE slice of our legendary pie

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Limited time only Price and participation may varyExcludes Cheesecakes Seasonal Fresh Fruit Pies and Promotional Pies

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POS C-4

The La Mesa Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)

celebrated its 20th anniversary on Aug 29 at a dinner hosted by the La Mesa Police Department More than 110 senior volun-teers attended to enjoy the celebration and proclamations and certificates of recognition were presented from several local elected officials including State Sen Joel Anderson Rep Duncan Hunter Rep Susan Davis and Assemblymember Shirley Weber

Anderson thanked the senior volunteers and praised their

Senior volunteers celebrate 20 years of service to La Mesa

commitment to the communityldquoTheir dedication to the public

safety of our community is inspiring to all of usrdquo he said ldquoI deeply appreciate the volunteersrsquo selfless actions and commitment to the police department and the residents of La Mesardquo

RSVP is a group of qualified citizens over the age of 55 who are dedicated to serving the public The program was established in 1994 by Police Chief Walter Mitchell and began with 20 vol-unteers who wanted to help out in our community The respon-sibilities of the volunteers range from organizing neighborhood watch programs and tutoring and mentoring disadvantaged or disabled youth to renovat-ing homes teaching English to

immigrants and assisting vic-tims of natural disasters

Before joining RSVP vol-unteers are trained in the areas they would like to serve Once they complete their training they are able to go around their community and help out Since the La Mesa RSVP was estab-lished 20 years ago it has grown to a group of 192 volunteers who altogether have put in a total of 338014 hours of community ser-vice RSVP has now grown to be an essential function of the La Mesa Police Department

mdashLea Park-Kim is district communications representative for state Sen Joel Anderson She can be reached at leapark-kimsencagovu

Members of the RSVP program were treated to lunch for the programrsquos 20th anniversary (Courtesy Sen Joel Anderson)

Lea Park-Kim

sdcnncom 3Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

C alifornia voters will decide this fall whether to approve

a $75 billion bond to repair Californiarsquos decrepit water system was a wise choice or not thanks to a last-minute vote by the state Legislature

The bond issue will appear as Proposition 1 on the Nov 4 gen-eral election ballot

Legislators say they think the bond issue will pass if for no other reason than the fact that the ongoing drought will make up votersrsquo minds for them

Although the state Senate passed the bill 37-0 and only two Assembly members voted against it there is not unani-mous support for all of the projects the bond would fund There were compromises made all through the yearlong process that upset as many people as they made happy

Three questions will dominate the debate as it moves toward Election Day

Whorsquos in favor

Most of whatrsquos called the water bureaucracy in California is in favor of the bond issuersquos passage Most of the statersquos water districts including the San Diego County Water Authority have come out

in support of the measure An umbrella organization of those agencies the Association of California Water Agencies will no doubt bring in public support of the measure Since agencies like SDCWA are public agencies they cannot contribute money or take active roles in the Yes on Prop 1 campaign This is not to say that individuals associated with the public agencies cannot take individual roles including personal financial roles They can and many will

Whorsquos against it

No one is predicting a landslide victory because there is still a lot of opposition to the measure in the north central and north-ern parts of the state Longtime observers will recall that a north-

California legislators put water bond to the voters

south split was the major reason the proposed Peripheral Canal was defeated at the polls back in the 1980s

In truth much of that oppo-sition is centered in the areas generally surrounding the old and fragile Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta which is the hinge point for moving water from the north to the south Itrsquos hard to determine whether the opponents fear this bond issue and what it

might bring or whether their complaints are more aimed at Gov Jerry Brownrsquos ambi-tious $25 billion plan to build two freeway-sized

tunnels underneath the Delta to make it easier to ship water from the Sacramento River south without damaging the Delta fur-ther The bond issue apparently contains absolutely no mention of mdash and no money for mdash anything to do with the tunnels

There is also opposition in the north and central coastal areas where some water officials say storage facilities mdash dams and reservoirs mdash for them were left out completely One new dam and reservoir the Sites Dam is slated for Northern California near Colusa and another at Temperance Flat northeast of Fresno They will account for $27 billion of the $75 billion called for in the ballot measure That leaves almost $5 billion to be spent on a laundry list of other

water-related projects to make the statersquos water supply more stable and available in the future

Whatrsquos in it for La MesaQuite a bit actually and very

little of it for surface storage of water San Diego County is in pretty good shape for dams and reservoir capacity Having doubled the capacity of San Vicente the dam at Olivenhain Sweetwater Reservoir and other areas here we have places to put water We just need the water to put in those places

We also have hundreds of thousands of acre feet of water through the deal with Imperial Irrigation District and the Carlsbad Desalination plant coming online next year

The bond issue would provide money statewide for water recy-cling including drinkable and non-drinkable water reclama-tion and purification It would provide funding for integrated regional water management projects including ground-water storage recharging our depleted underground aquifers and the like

A large number of water-related projects called for in the ballot measure would directly benefit our region and San Diego county will have a fair shot at a lot of that money Our region will qualify for about 11 percent of that $75 billion

Bonus Will all this happen quickly if the bond is passed come Nov 4

NoPassage of the proposition on

Nov 4 will not mean that people will start moving dirt and build-ing dams the morning of Nov 5

It will be a tough slog setting up the various boards com-missions and entities that will eventually govern all of this spending and it will be more involved mdash and political mdash than yoursquod like to believe

mdashDoug Curlee can be reached at dougsdcnncomu

$25BILLION

Cost of Gov Jerry

Brownrsquos plan to

build tunnels

under the Delta

East Countyrsquos San Vicente Dam was recently raised to increase water storage capacity (Courtesy San Diego County Water Authority)

Much of Southern Californiarsquos water originates in the fragile Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Courtesy San Diego County Water Authority)

DougCurleeContributing Editor

4 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

Did you know that most light in proper doses improves health and wellness by enhancing your bodyrsquos ability to heal and replenish For example Sunlight in healthy moderations gives you energy warmth and creates a photostimulation effect internally that promotes natural restoration

It empowers your body to work FOR YOU and is scientifically proven to increase hormone production reduce pain lower blood sugar (diabetes) eliminate toxins and stimulate your immune system

And now you can initiate that same ldquocellularrdquo healing power through low level laser therapymdashsafely from your own home It works to stimulate and fuel your bodyrsquos natural healing process similar to sunlight

Itrsquos 100 safe effective and FDA approved

Low Level Lasers Engage Your Body at the Cellular Level

You learned it in schoolmdashyour body is composed of cells and atoms And those cells need energy to remain healthy So when yoursquore sick or injured it means your cells are sick and injured too And their energy level is reduced to a sick ailing state

And this is exactly where the Low Level Laser worksmdashat the cellular and atomic level Low level laser therapy enhances your bodyrsquos ability to carry electrons that stimulate and re-energize sick injured and damaged cells And it helps improve cell permeability which means your cells are better able to channel the nutrients and material they need for health

Low Level Lasers Trigger Natural Healing

Medications and surgeries are invasive They may introduce infections and other complications while medications can cause allergic reactions and produce side effects that require additional medications as counter measures And all the while add more toxins to your body that bring a whole different set of problems

Low Level Lasers naturally stimulate your body to empower itself by engaging your immune system and energizing your cells to heal themselves They work WITH your bodymdashnot against it

Low Level Lasers Are Safe For Home Use

You donrsquot need to special training to use low level lasers They are perfectly safe to use in the comfort of your home Whether itrsquos a nagging pain from overuse or a more serious medical condition Low Level Lasers promote relief healing and overall improved health

And they can be focused specifically on the area where you need it most for pinpoint effectivenessmdashback neck hands kneesmdashanywhere you suffer pain and injury which is a cell problem

So if you suffer fromhellipbull Backneckjoint pain bull Tendonitis bull Diabetesbull ArthritisRheumatism bull Fibromyalgia bull And more

First 319 callers wersquollinclude a special DVD explaining

this incredible technology

Call now it takes only 30 seconds1-800-303-6923 for a FREE Information packet

Enter Code when calling

wwwLaserWellnessPMAcomSeminarsFDA Approved forOsteoarthritis of the Hands

SPECIAL OFFER RECEIVE A RESTAURANT GIFT CARD FOR ATTENDING OUR SEMINAR

Low Level LaserhellipNaturally Enhances Health amp Wellness

Attend one of ourseminars for a hands

on demonstration

Disclaimer No medical claims are being made or implied LLLT is widely used and has FDA approvals on many things including Osteoarthritis of the hands carpal tunnel pain hair growth and vetpet use

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2231

$50

sdcnncom 5Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

apartments townhomes con-dominiums and single-family residences

First a child care provider must be licensed by the state Department of Social Services Once a tenant is licensed to pro-vide family child care he or she must give the landlord or property owner 30 daysrsquo written notice of the intent to begin operating the day care service in the rental home The license will include the number of children that the provider is allowed to care for The state license application includes a notice form for landlord notifica-tion which is helpful

That form also explains the renterrsquos right to operate a family day care Landlords or property managers cannot discriminate against a tenant for operating a day care However landlords do have the option of requiring a higher security deposit as long as it does not exceed the maximum allowable under state law

Next proof of liability insur-ance mdash or waivers signed by parents mdash must be shared with landlords Operators of in-home day care are required to fulfill one of three options when it comes to insurance obtain liability insur-ance secure a bond of $300000 or if they choose not to secure

Apartments can serve as day care centers

An increase in the number of working parents has made

home-based day care a service in demand For working par-ents finding good child care is invaluable Child care offered at a residence in a familiar neigh-borhood can be a source of great comfort to working moms and dads

But if you rent your home or apartment can you still be a day care provider

The short answer YesThe right for renters to oper-

ate such a vital service is state law spelled out in the California Health and Safety Code Small family day care facilities are not considered a ldquobusiness use of prop-ertyrdquo so they would be protected under any leases or rental agree-ments that prohibit operating a business out of a rental home

Renters who wish to open a family day care in their home should have little to no conflict if they meet certain conditions follow clear rules and communi-cate the details with their landlord or property manager This applies to rental homes of any kind

AlanPentico

HPV vaccine saves lives

Every year around the world more than 270000 women die

from cervical cancer With more than 85 percent of these deaths in low- and middle-income countries cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide

The ldquopap smearrdquo has been one of the most amazing public

KellyCulwell

Dear editor

Y our cartoon [See Aug 22 issue] about the two white

medical personnel receiving the experimental Ebola vaccine was as ignorant and racist as it gets Both of these medical personnel went to Africa to help putting their lives on the line for a bunch of people they didnrsquot know When they contracted the disease they did not know if the vaccine would save their lives They volunteered to be the guinea pigs If they had decided to first try it on some non-white person and the results had been negative the jerk who produced that racist rant and the idiot that placed it in the La Mesa Courier would have been scream-ing about that

mdashConnie Butt via Facebook

Letters are lightly edited for clarity grammar spelling and style Send letters to jeremysdcnncom u

the insurance or bond they must inform each parent of that decision and obtain affidavits acknowledging that the parents are aware of the lack of insur-ance or bond

Then be a good neighbor The same rules that apply to other residents also apply to child care providers For example control excessive noise that might be disruptive for other tenants and be mindful of activities or behavior that could damage the property

Finally emphasize the ben-efits of having a family home day care in your neighborhood or apartment community Having a day care provider as a neighbor likely means that you have an extra set of eyes on your commu-nity A person whorsquos been hired to care for young children likely will be vigilant about ensuring safe clean surroundings Think of it as an extra neighborhood watch

The California Department of Social Services has a guide for family child care and tenant rights Find it at tinycctenantcare

mdashAlan Pentico is executive director of the San Diego County Apartment Associationu

health interventions over the past 50 years in the US and most developed countries and its use has led to a steep decline in the incidence and deaths from cervi-cal cancer However weak health systems and limited numbers of trained providers have made screening in low- and middle-income countries difficult Even in the US over 11000 cases of cervical cancer were diagnosed in 2010

Following development of the

pap smear the discovery of the link between the human papil-loma virus (HPV) and cervical cancer has proven to be a major advancement in the prevention of this deadly disease Almost all sexually active individuals will be infected with HPV at some point in their lives and some may be repeatedly infected

The peak time for infection is shortly after becoming sexu-ally active The majority of HPV infections resolve spontaneously and do not cause symptoms or disease However persistent infections with specific types

of HPV (usually types 16 and 18) may lead to precancerous lesions If untreated these lesions may progress to cervi-cal cancer

The HPV vaccine was intro-duced eight years ago and the HPV rate among teenage girls in the US has already dropped by 56 percent since then

There is however still a lot of work to be done Nationwide just 33 percent of girls ages 13 to 17 mdash and only 7 percent of boys in the same age group mdash

See VACCINE page 7

6 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 OPINION sdcnncom

Our affiliate offers Gardasil mdash one of two FDA-approved HPV vaccines mdash in all of our health centers

CDC recommends vaccina-tion of girls and boys ages 9 ndash 26

Routine vaccination is a series of three shots over the course of six months

Other immunizations that are important for women of reproductive age mdash both for general health and prior to pregnancy mdash include Hepatitis B influenza Measles Mumps

Our current hot weather reminds me how every

summer at least one dog is found in a hot car mdash and sadly that dog becomes sick or dies

When I hear these stories or see poorly cared for dogs on the streets I often wonder why anyone who cannot adequately care for a pet chooses to become a pet parent

Pets are not just furry cute creatures made to entertain you They are living beings that deserve the same quality of life that you have

You may think yoursquore per-forming a good deed by buying or adopting a pet but yoursquore

Not every pet adoption is a good adoptionJimMadaffer

really doing the pet a disservice if you donrsquot carefully evaluate the responsibilities the job title holds

About 164 million house-holds in the US owned pets in 2012 according to The Humane Society That number grew rap-idly from 40 years ago when only 67 million households had pets

Itrsquos great to know that more and more families are becom-ing pet owners But becoming a pet parent should be thor-oughly considered just as if you were to consider having a child The responsibilities may not be the same but there are some including

Ensuring your dog has a bal-anced diet and exercise regimen

Ensuring your dog is properly bathed and groomed

Ensuring your dog is properly

trainedFurther before you head to a

breeder or animal shelter ask yourself these questions

Do I have the time to commit to a dog

Do I have the resources to ensure a dog will have a quality life

Am I committed to caring for it for the next 10 to 20 years

Do I know the laws governing pet licensing where I live

Irsquom not a veterinarian or a zoologist but I am a reasonable person and choosing to be a pet owner when yoursquore not ready is unreasonable

mdashJim Madaffer is the owner of Madaffer Enterprises a former San Diego Councilmember and the proud pet parent of two bulldogsu

Happy Hour ndash Get $1 off all pints Weekdays Tuesday ndash Friday 1130 am ndash 3 pm Late Night Tuesday ndash Saturday 8 pm to close

Daily Beer and Food Specials Monday $10 craft beer pitchers and 50-cent wings Tuesday $3 taco specials Wednesday Happy hour prices all day ($1 off all pints) Thursday Specialty beer tapped between 4 and 5 pm Friday $4 Potato skins Saturday Rib and ale combo only $10 Sunday $12 craft beer pitchers $5 pulled pork nachos

Welcome to West Coast Barbecue and Brew ndash your neighborhood BBQ pub We have a rotating draft beer selection featuring some of the finest brews around In addition to the tasty BBQ menu items please check out our daily specials food board on our patio including soups sandwiches and salads We are now open for lunch at 1130 am six days a week Tuesday through Sunday We open at 4 pm on Mondays

6126 Lake Murray Blvd La Mesa (located in the Ross Shopping Center)

619-462-3660wwwwestcoastbbqandbrewcom

Tu-Th 1130am-10pm Fri amp Sat 1130 am - 11 pm Sun 1130 - 8pm Mon 4-9 pm

have gotten all three doses of the vaccine (In California the odds are slightly better mdash 43 percent of girls and 13 percent of boys ages 13 to 17 have received all three doses) As a result millions of people are still infected with HPV every year and nearly all sexually active people will con-tract a form of HPV at some point in their lives

Key facts about HPV and the HPV vaccine

70 percent of cervical cancers worldwide are caused by only two types of HPV (16 and 18)

and Rubella (MMR) Tetanus Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) and Varicella for those who have not had chicken pox

Share this article with your friends and family and spread the word about the importance of getting teens vaccinated against HPV

For more information or to make an appointment visit plannedorg or call 1-888-743-7526 (PLAN)

mdashKelly Culwell is the Medical Director for Planned Parenthood of the Southwest For more infor-mation visit plannedorgu

Business Spotlight West Coast Barbeque

Vaccine from page 6

sdcnncom 7Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierOPINION

NEW CLIENT FIRST TIME EXAM

9160 Fletcher ParkwayLa Mesa CA 91942

wwwfletcherhillsanimalhospitalcom

Call to schedule your discounted exam

(619) 463-6604

SPECIAL OFFER COUPON

50 OFF50 OFF

A N I M A L H O S P I TA L

As I write this monthrsquos column my husband and I are sitting

on top of the world in a colleaguersquos cabin on Mt Palomar a weekend getaway from the fall heat wave and pressures of everyday life

We havenrsquot been here in many years The views are stunning of course but what I notice this time are the number and variety of birds mdash birds that are quite different from ones we enjoy feed-ing and watching in La Mesa

Irsquove had my eyes glued to binoc-ulars since we arrived and filled the pond and feeders the owners have placed around the property They also have a number of bird books so I think I rightly identi-fied quite a few species

But there is one elusive fellow I just canrsquot seem to get in my sights His distinctive call is close then far away

Itrsquos time to consult the expert I record the birdrsquos call with my phone and hope to play it for Ed Henry a La Mesa friend who happens to be president of the San Diego Audubon Society an advocacy and educational orga-nization devoted to the welfare of wild birds in our region

Ed is one of the reasons Irsquove recently become so fascinated by local birds He sends out emails almost daily to over 100 inter-ested people showing amazing photos of birds he spots at his La Mesa bird feeders and around San Diego County (or wherever he happens to be traveling at the moment) The variety is astounding

Turns out the San Diego region is one of the richest birding areas in North America with over 500 different species identified here In fact people from all over the world come to see our birds especially during the annual San Diego Bird Festival in March offered by San Diego Audubon

One reason we have a great diversity of birds is because of the unusual variety of habitats in San Diego County mdash from the off-shore islands and extensive coastline to inland valleys and grasslands riverbeds moun-

The Sun Shines Sooner

tains and desert Ed explained This region is also a migratory flyway

Ed was always aware of birds but his recent passion for bird-ing began in 2006 not long after retiring from a 33-year career as an anthropology and ethnomu-sicology professor at San Diego State when he decided to check out the San Diego Bird Festival Hersquos been involved with San Diego Audubon ever since serv-ing as its board president for the last three years

ldquoMy awakening to birds was gradual and occurred through chance contacts with people who knew more than Irdquo he said ldquoI grew up in Nebraska where residents pay most attention to pheasants mdash which happen to be gorgeous as well as good eating and hunting mdash and ducks but also see a few songbirdsrdquo

In Michigan (where he com-pleted his graduate studies) he came in contact with grosbeaks nuthatches and chickadees among others And he became curious about exotic birds he saw in India while doing field research in a small village there

ldquoMoving to San Diego in 1974 I had my first views of long-billed curlews marbled godwits and lit-erally hundreds morerdquo

He and his wife Connie have made La Mesa their home and

enjoyed birds in their backyard here since 1988

ldquoNature is the highest form of artrdquo wrote Emily Dickinson

According to Ed Henry ldquoThe most accessible wild creatures for the majority of Americans are birds In birds we see the shapes colors patterns and movement that constitute a vital part of nature and we hear their sounds toordquo

Wersquore fortunate to live in a place with such rich bio-diversity that is so accessible But San Diego County also contains more rare threatened and endangered species than any comparable land area in the continental United States

Thank goodness there is a passionate dedicated volunteer like Ed Henry to lead San Diego Audubon mdash an organization working every day to protect our birds and other wildlife and to educate and inspire people like me to appreciate not only their beauty but their importance

mdashPam Crooks was the found-ing editor of La Mesa Courier and continues to live in the Mt Helix area Reach her by email at SunShinesSoonergmailcom To learn more or to sign up for the 2015 San Diego Bird Festival visit sandiegoaudubonorgu

A beautiful Yellow-Breasted Chat was spotted recently in the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park (Photo by Ed Henry)

PamCrooks

This La Mesan is a true lsquobird brainrsquo

8 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

A Special

Thank You to My Neighbors

wwwmidwayorg

As we celebrate our 10th anniversary we know San Diegorsquos support has made Midwayrsquos success possible

So for a limited time San Diegans can purchase adult admissions for only $10

Thatrsquos a 50 discount

ldquoThank You San Diegordquo

$10 USS Midway Admission

Just for San Diegans

Bill YoungSafety CorpsLA MESA RESIDENT

Tickets available at wwwmidwayorg and at the ticket booth during museum hours May not be combined with other offers and cannot be resold Proof of ID with a San

Diego zip code required at time of purchase 202

The US Postal Service delivers mail to the front door of most

Uptown residents but that could change if Congress adopts a postal reform bill designed to reduce the cost of delivering mail

Rep Darrell Issa (R-San Diego) has introduced two bills mdash the Postal Reform Act of 2013 and the Secure Delivery for America Act of 2014 mdash that would force the Postal Service to transi-tion away from door delivery at 30 million addresses by 2022 Instead of delivering mail to the door of every residence postal carriers would deliver to curbside mailboxes or cen-tralized cluster boxes that house the mailboxes of multiple residents

That idea is unacceptable to Rep Susan Davis (D-San Diego) who gathered a group of supporters in Talmadge on Aug 27 to denounce the proposal She also introduced a resolution in Congress opposing centralized delivery

ldquoWe donrsquot need thisrdquo Davis said ldquoThe most vulnerable people in our communities will suffer as a resultrdquo

Davis said elderly and disabled citizens would be hurt by the switch to cluster boxes especially if they receive prescriptions by mail because of the increased dis-tance they may be forced to travel to retrieve their mail

Furthermore the cluster boxes are unsightly magnets for theft and vandalism she said

When Davis surveyed commu-nity groups in her district earlier this summer the North Park Planning Committee passed a resolution opposing centralized delivery

ldquoIn the older communities in the mid-city cluster boxes would affect the community character and the historicity of a neighbor-hood like Talmadge which to me looks like Mayberryrdquo said Vicki Granowitz chair of the North Park Planning Committee ldquoItrsquos intact itrsquos beautiful and to have cluster boxes every so often really destroys what these communities look likerdquo

Combined with bus shelters and

No mail at the doorLocal representatives debate

changes to mail delivery

Jeremy OgulEditor

ugly utility boxes cluster boxes would affect property values Granowitz said

ldquoJust think if you would want this in front of your houserdquo she said ldquoDonrsquot do this to us pleaserdquo

The Postal Service has already begun phasing out door delivery in new developments but Issarsquos legislation would essentially make cluster boxes mandatory in many neighborhoods that currently receive door delivery Issarsquos bill

would require the cluster boxes to be placed ldquoin locations that maximize delivery efficiency ease of use for postal patrons and respect for private property rightsrdquo

Rep Scott Peters (D-San Diego) who also spoke at the press conference said that while there are economic challenges that the Postal Service

must address Congress should not get involved in mandating the specific measures the Postal Service should take

Issa disagrees with Davis and Peters

ldquoThe consequence of doing noth-ing to address an Internet-era erosion in the volume of traditional mail delivery is a multi-billion dollar taxpayer funded bailout of the Postal Servicerdquo Issa said ldquoUnfortunately some [representa-tives] holding a press conference and pretending there isnrsquot a prob-lem wonrsquot solve itrdquo

The Postal Reform Act includes exceptions and provisions that would allow seniors and others with physical hardships to keep their door delivery if they already have it and it would give the Postal Service the flexibility to determine where to implement centralized delivery Issa said

ldquoIn reality less than 10 percent of postal customers would see any change under this legislation to their deliveryrdquo Issa said

Despite the financial issues the Postal Service faces the debate over cluster boxes may amount to little more than hot air in the near term Congress only has until Dec 12 to act on legislation in the current session Most of which will be legislative recess Neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate have voted on Issarsquos or Davisrsquos legislationu

Rep Susan Davis speaks in San Diego (Photo by Jeremy Ogul)

ldquoWe donrsquot need this The most vulnerable people in our communities will suffer as a resultrdquo-Rep Susan Davis

sdcnncom 9Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

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RESIDENTIAL bull COMMERCIAL bull RENTALSWater HeatersTankless bull Drain Stoppages bullToilets

Faucets - Kitchen amp Bath bull Water Softeners amp FiltersPressure Regulators bull Camera Inspections of Drains

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Kitchen amp Bath Remodeling bull Aging-In-Place Design

Rebate savings depends on equipment purchasedSee dealer for details

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$1950IN REBATES

$1500 OFFANY SERVICE CALL

May not combine coupon with any other offers Coupon not valid towardsSMA Program Present coupon at time of service Expires 103114 LMC

2014 REBATES

619-583-7963 bull IDEALSVCCOM bull LIC 3488105161 WARING RD SAN DIEGO

idealsvccom 619-583-7963

EDUCATION

Haunt yourself with contemporary classic horror fiction

Pop culture has a way of show-ing us what our collective

minds love loathe and fear In honor of Halloween I wanted to spend this monthrsquos column looking at the state of popu-lar horror fiction using that to explore the modern American psyche However the only thing this research showed me is that Americans really really love Stephen King

So with that plan foiled I fig-ured Irsquod just recommend some great scary reads past present and near-future

Guillermo del Toro is known primarily for his work in movies but has recently begun writing fiction After bringing us imagi-native films like ldquoPacific Rimrdquo ldquoHellboyrdquo and ldquoPanrsquos Labyrinthrdquo he paired with author Chuck Hogan for a horror trilogy called ldquoThe Strainrdquo

Deciding that seductive brood-ing teen vampires have become passeacute the authors chose to make their vampires ugly mon-sters whose heads split open to bite and drain their victims while vampirism itself is a virus that spreads with the speed of a zombie apocalypse The book series has already been turned into a TV show with its own cult following and that will undoubt-

edly bring more attention to the books all of which are available at the San Diego County Library

The new book Irsquom dying to read is called ldquoHorrorstoumlrrdquo by Grady Hendrix It should hit bookstores (and the library) shortly after I finish typing this If you like your horror with a side of wit and sly

social commentary this is your novel Itrsquos set in a furniture store that bears more than a little resemblance to IKEA where sin-ister and supernatural forces are on the prowl and the poor corpo-rate drones who work there must solve a horrific mystery in order to survive (presumably while fol-

lowing proper corporate protocol and providing excellent customer service) But just as exciting to me the book itself is a parody of an IKEA-style catalog illustrated with furniture schematics and cheery living room photos becom-ing creepier and creepier as the story moves along

Wersquoll end with one of the classics H P Lovecraft This par-anoid reclusive pulp writer from the 1920s was relatively unknown in his day but has become an underground legend His name

is synonymous with foreboding tales of occult rituals evil space gods and of course the descent from reason to madness Taken together his short stories invoke a universe in which humans are insignificant specks whose sanity could be rent asunder if they even began to glimpse the secret powers underlying their existence Lovecraft has dozens of short story collections pick up those containing ldquoThe Call of Cthulhurdquo and ldquoThe Whisperer in the Darknessrdquo Reading any of his stories will leave you feeling unsettled and reluctant to turn off the lights

In conclusion BooFor less-scary costumed fun the

library will be holding its second Star Wars Reads Day from 11 am to 1 pm on Saturday Oct 11 There will be Star Wars-themed crafts games and snacks as well as a costume contest and a visit by local members of the Rebel Legion and 501st Legion devoted Star Wars fans who wear authentic costumes to support community events Last yearrsquos Star Wars Reads Day saw over 125 kids and adults participating so wersquore expecting a great turnout

mdashJake Sexton is librarian at the La Mesa branch of the San Diego County Library Reach him at 619-469-2151 or visit the library at 8074 Allison Aveu

Above The Strain is being adapted to television (Courtesy William Morrow)Left Horrorstoumlr is an innovative horror twist on an IKEA catalog (Courtesy Quirk Books)

JakeSexton

LA MESA READS

10 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

ENTERTAINMENT

La Mesa Village is usually known as a quaint and quiet

part of town but those of us who have been around for a while know therersquos much more to that stretch of La Mesa Boulevard than antique stores and thrift shops

Oktoberfest perhaps the most exciting event hosted in La Mesa each year descends upon the Village for three days over the first weekend in October This year it falls particularly early on Oct 3 ndash 5 with live entertain-ment multiple beer gardens street vendors and more slated to draw the masses

For families venturing to the free event there are carnival games rides and other activities in the Kids Zone (for children under 12) Diverse food options located throughout the 10 blocks of Oktoberfest are an obvious crowd pleaser for all ages Plus the streets are lined with booths of crafts and other products that may inspire an early holiday shopping spree

But itrsquos the big kids who have the most reasons to head to Oktoberfest

The aptly named Big Beer Garden presented by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and the smaller Nebo Drive Beer Garden by the La Mesa Village Merchantrsquos Association are where you will find most of the action at Oktoberfest

The former is located in the Allison Street parking lot (between Pine Street and Palm Avenue) and is home to a large festival stage to go along with the nectar of the hops This beer garden is family-friendly so patrons can feel free to bring their children Pets are not allowed inside the event

Various bands will play the Big Beer Garden all three days pre-senting mostly classic rock lsquonrsquo roll (The Ideas Rock and Roll Trio and The Car Tune Dogs) and some German music (Our Song) This area will also have food options

Good times brewing for annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

mdash including festival favorites like brats and pulled pork sand-wiches mdash to keep partiers fueled throughout the day and night The beer garden will also host a stein-holding contest each eve-ning around 8 pm hosted by Samuel Adams

The Nebo Drive Beer Garden (next to the La Mesa Train Museum) also has a lot to offer Though smaller in scale this adults-only beer garden provides ample enticement with at least three German beers being served It will also host the Bavarian Beer Garden Band on Friday and Saturday These factors will give an authentic feel to this area harkening back to the ldquooriginal Oktoberfest viberdquo according to Bill Dyke of the Bavarian Beer Garden Band

Festivalgoers should note a trol-ley ride to the La Mesa Boulevard stop (near Spring Street) literally drops you right in the middle of the festival Frequent trains going by make public transportation the ideal designated driver for Oktoberfesters ready to imbibe like our German counterparts Popular ride-sharing services are another smart choice for getting to and from La Mesa Trust me mdash you donrsquot want to even attempt to look for parking

In addition to the beer gar-dens and festival food vendors the businesses in and around La Mesa Village will have their doors open to welcome visitors One such spot is Hofferrsquos Cigar Bar which boasts an impressive tap list of craft beers

ldquo[Oktoberfest] brings out a much wilder clientele than we are used to but also a lot of new faces that might have never been in nor heard of usrdquo Hofferrsquos bar manager Ryan Bartman said ldquoSo all in all itrsquos great for businessrdquo

Other businesses along La Mesa Boulevard that should benefit from the increased foot traffic include Konnichiwa Sushi and Bar (bet you didnrsquot know La Mesa Village had sushi) Cosmos Coffee Cafeacute for those needing a caffeine boost to keep going and Trattoria Tiramisu with its authentic Italian dishes and stellar wine list when yoursquove had

enough beers and brats Whether La Mesa is your home

or a place yoursquove never ventured Oktoberfest is the ideal time to enjoy the festival spirit discover the businesses of the village and do the chicken dance like you never have before Whatever you do donrsquot forget to take home a commemorative beer boot

mdashJen Van Tieghem can be reached at jensdcnncomu

JenVan Tieghem

The Tarantino familyrsquos gourmet sausages are always a crowd favorite at La Mesarsquos Oktoberfest a three-day beer and brat extravaganza (Courtesy La Mesa Chamber of Commerce)

La Mesa OktoberfestSchedule of Events

Friday Oct 3Street festival 11 am - 9 pm Big Beer Garden 4 - 1130 pm (last call at 11 pm)The Ideas Rock and Roll Trio 4 - 5 pm The Car Tune Dogs 6 - 10 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden Noon - 9 pm (last call at 830 pm)Bavarian Beer Garden Band 6 - 9 pm

Saturday Oct 4 Street festival 11 am - 9 pm Big Beer Garden 11 am - 1130 pm (last call at 11 pm) Our Song Noon - 4 pmThe Car Tune Dogs 6 - 10 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden 12 - 9 pm (last call at 830 pm)Bavarian Beer Garden Band 2 - 4 pm

Sunday Oct 5 Street festival Noon - 5 pm BIG Beer Garden 1 - 430 pm (last call at 4 pm)Our Song 1 - 4 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden 12 - 430 pm (last call at 4 pm)

Fun FactsVendors Over 250Attendees expected 200000Years of La Mesa Oktoberfest 41 City blocks used forOktoberfest 10Estimated cost for police fire and other city staff time $77000 paid for by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and La Mesa Village Merchants Association

sdcnncom 11Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Jazz

Fridays Charlie Arbelaez Trio at The Rook Free 9 pm TheRookBarcom 7745 University Ave La Mesa

Sundays samdi-ego Jazz Trio at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room Free 2 - 5 pm SanPasqualWinerycom 8364 La Mesa Blvd La Mesa

Oct 15 ldquoThe Music of Will Toddrdquo with the SDSU Chamber Choir Grossmont College Jazz faculty and composerpianist Will Todd at St John of the Cross Catholic Church Suggested donation 730 pm Grossmontedu 8086 Broadway Lemon Grove

PopTuesdays Suzanne Shea and Bob Wade at Bistro Sixty Free 630 to 830 pm BistroSixtySDcom Call and hold your table 619-287-8186 5987 El Cajon Blvd College Area

Wednesdays Westside Inflection at Riviera Supper Club Free 8 pm RivieraSupperClubcom 7777 University Ave La Mesa

Fridays Nathan Welden at Bistro Sixty Free 630 pm BistroSixtySDcom 5987 El Cajon Blvd College Area

Classical

Oct 16 Youth Choir of San Diego at Cuyamaca College Price $8 ($5 for students) 7 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Oct 17 Cuyamaca College Choir at Cuyamaca College Price $8 ($5 for students) 730 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Oct 31 Quatuor Mosaiumlques Classical String Quartet at Cuyamaca College Price $10 730 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Alternative

Sept 27 TaKillya at Chico Club Free 9 pm ChicoClub1940com 7366 El Cajon Blvd La Mesa

Oct 4 Baja Bugs at Riviera Supper Club Free 9 pm RivieraSupperClubcom 7777 University Ave La Mesa

Oct 31 Fifth Annual Halloween Monster Bash with The Farmers at Parkway Bar Free 9 pm TheParkwayBarcom 9188 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa

Other

Thursdays (through Oct 30) Open Mic Acoustic Nights at Parkway Bar Free 7 pm TheParkwayBarcom 9188 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa

Sept 27 Little Kings at Hooleyrsquos Free 9 pm Hooleyscom 5500 Grossmont Center Dr 277 La Mesa

Oct 18 Oktoberfest featuring The Bavarian Beergarden Band at Butcherrsquos Brewing Free 4-10 pm ButchersBrewingcom 9962 Prospect Ave Suite F Santee

Oct 18 Jefferson Washington at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room Free 7 pm SanPasqualWinerycom 8364 La Mesa Blvd La Mesa

Bands venues and music-lovers please submit listings for this calendar by emailing Jensdcnncomu

to 46 feet or about four stories So the Kitzmans have hired

development consultants Urban Housing Partners to convince city leaders to change the zoning on the property to allow build-ing heights up to 110 feet The zoning the Kitzmans are asking for could accommodate up to 363 dwelling units 61000 square feet of commercial retail space 146000 square feet of commer-cial office space or a hotel of up to 250 guest rooms

The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the pro-posed zoning changes on June 18 They made no decision at the time because the Kitzmansrsquo co-applicant American Legion Post 282 announced they were withdrawing their support for the zoning change

The Kitzmans through their South Baltimore LLC resub-mitted their application over the summer The Planning Commission will hear the new and reduced application at a meeting at City Hall on Wednesday Oct 1 at 7 pm

Residents east and west of the project site have been some of the most vocal critics of the proposal to rezone the property

Don Bell whose house on El Capitan Drive overlooks the Park Station property said he and his neighbors are not against redeveloping and improving the property

ldquoItrsquos blight down thererdquo Bell said

What they are against how-ever is rezoning the property

ldquoThe problem really is that the Planning Commission is going to give them a blank checkrdquo he said

Nearby neighbors know and accept that change is inevitable but the added traffic and parking problems that would come from a 10-story building would be unac-ceptable and detrimental to the community said Suda House who also has a view of the Park Station property from her home on El Capitan

ldquoDevelop the heck out of it but keep it below 46 feetrdquo House said

One vocal supporter of the Kitzmanrsquos plan has been Jack Rowell a La Mesa native who now sells real estate across the San Diego region Any new homes that can be added to the La Mesa market will be a good thing Rowell said

ldquoI have a bunch of [potential

buyers] who want La Mesa but itrsquos a fight over every prop-erty especially things under $500000rdquo Rowell said ldquoPeople want the La Mesa schools People want the convenience of La Mesardquo

The only other place where housing prices are compara-ble for high-quality schools is Poway and Poway doesnrsquot have La Mesarsquos Village or its prox-imity to regional destinations Rowell said

Rowell said he understands why nearby neighbors donrsquot want their views to change but therersquos no reason to believe home values will suffer with an increase in supply

ldquoTheyrsquore talking about 300 to 500 condo unitsrdquo Rowell said ldquoThatrsquos like spitting in the oceanrdquo

For Aaron Amerling orga-nizer of the ldquoFight Park Station La Mesa ndash No More Than Fourrdquo Facebook page the colorful renderings of Park Station are a Trojan Horse designed to mis-lead people about what the site could become

ldquoThe Kitzmans do not have the funds to develop thatrdquo Amerling said ldquoThe whole idea is to upzone the land because that improves the resale valuerdquo

If city leaders approve the new zoning the Kitzmans or a new owner could build something completely different than what theyrsquove been advertising

City leaders have been cau-tious about commenting directly on the proposal only issuing vague statements about main-taining the character of the downtown village

Regardless of the Planning Commissionrsquos decision next week the final decision on whether to rezone the property will be made by the full City Council at a later dateu

LOCAL NEWSGen-X in La MesaGive peace a chanceGenevieve Suzuki

G iving peace a chance seems more complicated than it

should beWith all of the strife going on

in this world peace seems to be an almost impossible proposition The appalling brutal treatment of American hostages at the hands of ISIS members resulted in many of us feeling complete repulsion at the state of global affairs

I know I felt sick Even worse I began to feel hopeless

So when Anne Pacheco a member of the Interfaith Council of La Mesa asked me to attend the first International Day of Peace Sept 21 at Aztec Park her invitation stirred something in my soul The day which touted ldquoThe Right of Peoples to Peacerdquo would be a joint effort among people of most of the worldrsquos religions including Judaism Christianity Islam Buddhism Hinduism Native American and Baharsquoi

And although I promised Anne I would attend I thought it was an awfully lofty goal Really All of these people gathering for peace on a Sunday a day many hold holy in their churches

But I was pleasantly surprised when approximately 200 people

showed up with chairs umbrellas hats and hearts at Aztec Park that mild sunny day Many of us pur-chased sky blue scarves from the Sisters of Saint Francis to wear in solidarity for peace Shucks even Mayor Art Madrid wore a scarf over a yellow shirt

I admit however getting my husband Derek to don the blue scarf wasnrsquot easy In fact it wasnrsquot easy getting him there in the first place

Itrsquos not that Derek is against world peace (even though our daughter to this day refuses to add that request to her nightly prayers) Itrsquos more that Sunday is for football in Derekrsquos world and this day of peace was causing him to miss hooting and hollering for his fantasy football team

Nevertheless Derek relented and accompanied me and our daughter to the event This com-promise is one from which most of the world could learn Is Derek a community activist No but Derek is focused on the big pic-ture namely a happy wife and home Focusing on the big pic-ture would help many find peace in their lives locally and globally

As I sat there amid others dedi-cated to peace and non-violence I realized the one common emo-tional positive is the future We all want a better future for our fami-lies and our children We donrsquot

want to leave behind a legacy of anger brutality and war

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we said together at the beginning of the program

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we insisted again

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we vowedAs Rebecca Littlejohn of Vista

La Mesa Christian Church said ldquoWe are gathered in hope today for hope is how we surviverdquo

Thanks to this special inaugural day I was reminded of how impor-tant it was for me to have hope and that reminder allowed me to place aside that earlier feeling of hopelessness conjured by evil deeds in another land After all if I allow myself to fall hopeless I have nothing to give my child On the other hand if I cling to hope it will then be passed on to my daughter who would hold that ideal in her mind and mdash hopefully mdash see it to fruition

As the Native American prayer during the program stated ldquoGive us the wisdom to teach our chil-dren to love to respect and to be kind to each other so that they may grow with peace in mindrdquo

mdashGenevieve A Suzuki is editor emeritus of the La Mesa Courier She continues to live and practice family law in La Mesa Her web-site is sdlawyersuzukicomu

Find out what your home is worth on-line

Visit wwwsandiegohouseareacomOr scan this QR Code with your phone now

Tom Bowker Coldwell Banker West BRE01024513

A rendering by Park Station opponents shows the potential scale of buildings (Courtesy Aaron Amerling)

Park Station from page 1

12 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

Music professorrsquos jazz album wins acclaim

Follow your passionThat has been a guiding

principal for Grossmont College music instructor and jazz bassist extraordinaire Justin Grinnell who ditched plans to study mathematics shortly after enrolling at San Diego State University back in 1999 and meeting musicians ldquowho were doing music all the timerdquo

Good thing Grinnell has become an integral part of a vibrant Grossmont College music program and gigs as a pit orchestra member at myriad venues including the Old Globe La Jolla Playhouse and the San Diego Civic Theatre for a number of Tony Award-winning musicals

And now his debut disc the Justin Grinnell Quartetrsquos Without You has been nomi-nated for a San Diego Music Award for best jazz album

Grinnell is no stranger to awards He is a member of the Danny Green Trio which won the 2009 San Diego Music Award for Best Jazz Album for its debut CD The triorsquos second release A Thousand Ways Home reached No 17 on the Jazz Week Charts for national radio airplay after its 2012 debut

ldquoIrsquom doing what I loverdquo said Grinnell who is on track to earn his Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern California next spring ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the col-lege or university levelrdquo

Grinnell has earned praise from the best in the business

ldquoNot only is Justin a fantastic person but he is such an accom-plished musician a great sight reader which is so important because we do all kinds of tricky music and having someone who is able to read so well is an invalu-able asset and hersquos adept in a lot of different musical stylesrdquo said critically-acclaimed Jazz guitar-ist and composer Peter Sprague ldquoHe also has just such a wonder-ful spirit when it comes to playing music Irsquom really happy to know him and being able to play with him from time to timerdquo

A native of Santa Rosa California Grinnell initially planned to study mathematics and become an engineer But after enrolling in a few music classes at San Diego State and jamming with newfound friends he switched gears It was while he was at SDSU that Grinnell began gigging with future Grossmont College Music Department chair Derek Cannon and met his future wife Melonie a pianist who also teaches music at Grossmont College

With both a bachelorrsquos and masterrsquos degree in jazz perfor-mance from San Diego State in hand Grinnell began working in 2005 as an adjunct music profes-

sor at Grossmont College He also serves as an adjunct music professor at the University of San Diego and taught part time at Southwestern College from 2008 to 2011

ldquoGrossmont College is specialrdquo Grinnell said ldquoIt feels like family here Everyone is part of a com-munity that is working together on behalf of our students doing our best to help them succeed in a business thatrsquos hard to make a living in That camaraderie is pricelessrdquo

Grinnellrsquos passion serves him well in a business where talent alone often isnrsquot enough to sup-port a family

ldquoI tell my students all the time that if theyrsquore looking for job security donrsquot look at a career in jazz musicrdquo Grinnell said adding that he makes a living cobbling together his adjunct

professorships private lessons and regular performances

Grinnell and his wife are juggling their careers while rais-ing two young sons His debut album falls into the category of West Coast-flavored straight-ahead jazz He wrote six of the nine tunes on the disc with the remaining three being covers Especially tasty are the origi-nal ldquoHit the Brakesrdquo and a jazz cover of The Beatlesrsquo Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite

Grinnell however is comfort-able playing a wide variety of styles that range from classical to funk He is a member of the Brazilian jazz-inspired Danny Green Trio (Danny Green also teaches at Grossmont College) and the modern jazz group ARC Trio among others

The Justin Grinnell Quintet will be playing three concerts at Grossmont College in the coming weeks Shows are sched-uled for Sept 28 Oct 26 and Nov 30 in Building 26 Room 220 at 630 pm A full itiner-ary of upcoming performances around the region can be found at JustinGrinnellcom

The San Diego Music Awards take place Oct 6 at Humphreys By The Bay on San Diegorsquos Shelter Island

mdashDavid Ogul writes on behalf of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Email him at ogulcommunica-tionsgmailcomu

ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the college or university levelrdquo-Justin Grinnell

LOCAL NEWS

Justin Grinnell has just released his debut jazz album which has been nominated for a San Diego Music Award (Photo by Jon Naugle)

DavidOgul

sdcnncom 13Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

AUDIT PENDING

wwwsdcnncom

123 Camino de la Reina Suite 202 EastSan Diego CA 92108

P 6195197775 bull F 619-519-7840

1

2

3

4

5

Great Value Proven Results

Community NewsNumber one source of community information Hyper-local news and features In print and online updated daily

Market SaturationCombined distribution of door-to-door delivery high traffic locations and news racks Over 200000 readers

Award Winning JournalismProud recipient of numerous ldquoExcellence in Journalism AwardsrdquoRegular recipient of local and national press awards

Audited DistributionAudited by one of the nationrsquos largest newspaper auditing firms Circulation Verification Council (CVC)Guaranteed distribution

For advertising call(619) 961-1958

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Distributed Countywide

up along the way include thousands of football cards (both Topps and Fleer) player and coach jerseys jackets personal letters autographed footballs bobbleheads pins programs team photographs and much much more He even has a life-sized bust of Chargers wide receiver Lance Alworth which is a story in itself just ask him

This native sonrsquos collection is not limited to the San Diego Chargers but what he has gathered about them is more than impressive His comprehensive collection also includes items from the Los Angeles Chargers and every other football team that played during the AFL time period

Over the years hersquos met and interviewed dozens of players coaches and families becoming close with many of them Two of his larger per-sonal collections are of Gilman the Chargers first coach and Alworth

In 2004 he wrote ldquoCharging Through the AFL Los Angeles and San Diego Chargers football in the 1960srdquo He followed that up with ldquoBombs Away Air Coryelle and the San Diego Chargersrdquo in 2006 Both books rely heavily on interviews and photographs of their respective periods

A few years ago Tobias decided to channel his love for the AFL through his website TalesFromTheAmericanFootballLeaguecom Here Tobias shares his many interviews of the past runs a blog where he opines on the latest news of players related to the AFL deposits videos stats historical data photos and even has a forum section where others can share their love for the league and its players

He said his goal with the site is to ldquoedutain (educate and entertain) football lovers with stories about all things AFLrdquo To support his internet endeavor hersquos also taken up social media and can be followed on twitter at TalesfromtheAFL and on two locations on Facebook ldquoTales from the American Football Leaguerdquo and ldquoI loved the 1960s Chargersrdquo (a public group) On the latter he shares vintage photographs of the team and banters with the families of players He shares links back to his blog and web-site on both pages

His many follow-ers recently noticed Tobias absent from posting for a time Thatrsquos because he recently gave up approximately 85 percent of his collec-tion to pursue his dream of opening a lacrosse store in La Mesa with an old friend Despite months of hard work that opportunity never panned out Now the five pallets of blood sweat and tears that he consigned to an auction house a few months ago are sitting in a warehouse somewhere in the Midwest being individually categorized and valued in preparation for a national Internet-based auction block next spring

ldquoI was trying to trade one passion for anotherrdquo Tobias said ldquoIf Irsquod known it would have just been trading one passion for money I never would have done it but it is what it isrdquo

Deciding what to keep was a challenge but Tobias said it came down not to which collections were worth the most money but which provided him the most enjoyment

The two-dozen binders still resident on his shelves are neatly filled to the brim with pages of plastic inserts containing football cards with most every card there signed

Tobias said he pulls each binder down two or three times per week just to look through them Inside are vast collections of football cards Many are duplicated but they are categorized in dozens of ways Some collections are still incomplete mdash like his 1965 collection of every card Topps put out for that year he is only missing two out of 176 cards mdash and each time he removes that binder from the shelf he strategizes new ways he can complete that collection There is a story behind every collection and another for every card

He has some cards that hersquos certain do not exist anywhere else and he has numerous cards that had the wrong playerrsquos image printed on them in the publishing housersquos haste to get them out in advance of the new season Hersquos reached out to many of the players over the years sending along his books and asking for autographs and he has the response letters to prove it

In the wake of his failed business attempt Tobias finds himself facing a forgotten challenge looking for work

ldquoI havenrsquot had to do that since graduating collegerdquo he said ldquoFor now Irsquom just working in the back yard putting in a sprinkler system and taking my mind off of it

ldquoSan Diego can be a tough place to live in if you are a sports histo-rianrdquo he said ldquoItrsquos probably time for me to find another line of workrdquo

mdashMorgan M Hurley can be contacted at morgansdcnncomu

Todd Tobiasrsquos collections include signed football cards from the 1965 Chargers and other rare collectibles such as a bust of Lance Alworth (Photos by Morgan Hurley)

Football from page 1

14 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

CALENDAR

Prescription drug collectionSaturday Sept 27

Get rid of your unwanted expired or leftover prescription drugs at this National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day event hosted by the La Mesa Police Department and the US Drug Enforcement Administration The effort is designed to prevent prescription drug abuse Drop your drugs no questions asked from 10 am to 2 pm at the police station parking lot 8085 University Ave For other drop off locations or more informa-tion visit deadiversionusdojgov and click ldquoGot Drugsrdquo

Free electronic waste recyclingSaturday and Sunday Sept 27 ndash 28

State law prohibits disposal of certain electronic items in the trash because many of them con-tain hazardous substances The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce is hosting this free event to help residents properly recycle old televisions computers print-ers VCRs DVD players copiers scanners fax machines toner car-tridges and other approved items Microwave ovens can be disposed of for a service fee of $5 Items will be collected from 9 am to 4 pm in the parking lot between Fuddruckers restaurant and Chuze Fitness at the Grossmont Shopping Center 5500 Grossmont Center Dr The following items will not be accepted refrigerators washers dryers fluorescent light bulbs and household batteries For more details on items that will be accepted visit lamesachambercom

Generational diversity workshopTuesday Oct 2

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series profes-sional development consultant Victoria Hankins will lead a dis-cussion on the multigenerational workplace With four genera-tions working side by side in the American workforce challenges often arise regarding communi-cation styles differing workplace values and misconceptions about workplace motivators Hankins will outline the differences between the four generations and provide tips on how to effectively work in cross-generational teams The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 1030 to 1130 am in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

OktoberfestFriday through Sunday Oct 3 4 and 5

See our article on page 11 in this monthrsquos La Mesa Courier for all the details on the annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

La Mesa City Council Candidates ForumTuesday Oct 7

La Mesa mayoral candidates Art

Madrid and Mark Arapostathis will join City Council candidates Patrick Dean Mary England Pete Gregorovic and Guy McWhirter at this forum hosted and moder-ated by the Community Outreach Ministry of La Mesa First United Methodist Church in the church social hall at 4690 Palm Ave A meet-and-greet will begin at 630 pm The program begins at 7 pm All are welcome

Free blood pressure screeningTuesday Oct 7

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center 9000 Wakarusa St in La Mesa No appointment neces-sary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Senior ExpoThursday Oct 9

The city of La Mesa organizes this free event to help connect senior citizens and their families to the most helpful senior service pro-viders including La Mesa Police Department Crime Prevention Aging and Independence Services Metropolitan Transit System ldquo211rdquo Sharp Senior Resource Center Meals on Wheels DMV Senior Ombudsman Program SDGampE Medical Baseline Program Elderhelp Jewish Family Services Yellow Cab California Telephone Access Program HICAP San Diego

County District Attorneyrsquos Elder Abuse Unit and more The event will be held from 830 am to 130 pm at the La Mesa Community Center 4975 Memorial Dr A shuttle will be available from the Spring Street trolley station Organizers are asking seniors to RSVP by Oct 3 by calling 619-667-1322

Depression and bipolar disorder screeningFriday Oct 10

Dr William Brock will pres-ent a free educational seminar on the signs and symptoms of depression bipolar disorder and other anxiety disorders from 1130 am to 1230 pm Adults ages 60 and older can receive free anonymous screen-ings from Sharp Grossmont Behavioral Health Services from 1030 am to 1130 am and from 1230 pm to 130 pm The seminar and screenings will be held at the Grossmont Healthcare Districtrsquos Herrick Library at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are suggested but not required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

ldquoGot Plansrdquo Career and college fairSaturday Oct 11

High school students and their parents are invited to meet with admissions representatives from public and private universities community colleges vocational

schools and the military at this annual event organized by the Grossmont Union High School District and the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Free workshops will provide information on financial aid changes to SAT and ACT requirements transfer options between two-year colleges and four-year universities and other career topics Some workshops will be offered in Spanish and Arabic The fair is open from 1 to 4 pm at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For more information call Jason Martinez at 619-593-2713

Bunco BashSaturday Oct 11

Soroptimist International of Lemon Grove hosts this special autumn-themed Bunco event to raise money for the grouprsquos projects to help women and chil-dren in our community For $20 participants get three rounds of Bunco a door prize ticket and complimentary fall snacks and dessert Wine will be available for purchase Bunco winners receive gift baskets and raffle prizes will also be offered The event will be held from 1 to 4 pm at St John of the Cross Knights of Columbus Hall at Broadway and Columbus Drive in Lemon Grove Reservations are required Contact Gloria Ferreira at 619-466-3699 or email her at soroptgloriagmailcom

Pooch in the ParkSaturday Oct 11

Kiwanis Club of La Mesa and the Human Relations Advisory Commission will host this com-munity get-together from 9 am to noon at Harry Griffen Regional Park 9550 Milden St For $20 pet owners can enter up to two dogs into a contest show for a chance to win in one of five categories or the ldquobest in showrdquo trophy Raffle prizes giveaways and other demon-strations will round out the morning For more informa-tion contact Glenna Boemen at gab11853aolcom

Fair trade gift fair Sunday Oct 12

The St Martin of Tours Parish Hall will become a world bazaar featuring unique and handcrafted fair trade gifts deacutecor apparel and jewelry from artisans in developing countries from 8 am to 1 pm As they browse the displays created by local vendors who sell fair trade products shoppers will be able to sample or purchase fair trade refreshments including choco-late tea coffee bananas soda and Ben and Jerryrsquos ice cream The parish hall is at 7710 El Cajon Blvd in La Mesa Call 619-466-3241 for additional information

See CALENDAR page 22

sdcnncom 15Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierCALENDAR

Telephone DirectoryPolice non-emergency line 619-667-1400Fire non-emergency line 619-667-1461Animal Control 619-667-7536Graffiti removal 619-667-7560Weed abatement 619-667-1465Traffic signal maintenance 619-667-1166Streetlight maintenance 619-667-1450

Mayor Art Madrid 619-667-1100City Councilmembers 619-667-1106

EDCO 619-287-7555Helix Water District 619-466-0585Helix Water after hours emergency 619-466-3234

Gov Jerry Brown 916-445-2841US Sen Barbara Boxer 619-239-3884US Sen Dianne Feinstein 619-231-9712US Rep Susan Davis 619-280-5353State Sen Joel Anderson 619-596-3136State Assemblymember Shirley Weber 619-531-7913

Community titan Jerry Fazio announces plans to retire

A fter 35 years with the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County

Jerry Fazio has announced his retirement

Faziorsquos last day on the job as executive director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation will be Oct 24 His official retirement date following vacation will be Dec 4 three days after his 35th anniversary with the youth organization that has served hundreds of thousands of young people in the East County since its founding in 1961

Since joining the organization on Dec 1 1979 Fazio has served in several executive positions with the Girlsrsquo Club and Boys amp Girls Clubs He has also done two stints mdash the most recent of which began in July 2008 mdash as execu-tive director of the foundation a nonprofit fundraising entity

Faziorsquos honors during his career have included El Cajon Citizen of the Year in 1992 Boys amp Girls Clubs Pacific Region Executive of the Year in 2006 and National Executive Director of the Year from Boys amp Girls Clubs of America in 2007 He is known throughout San Diego for his friendly smile and fund-raising passion on behalf of the organization

ldquoHe is the instantly recog-nizable fundraiser and pitch man for our organizationrdquo said Jack Doyle board president of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation ldquoDuring his 35 years Jerry has steered the development of our new and updated facilities in El Cajon Lakeside Santee and La Mesa He leaves us a legacy to be proud of in East County We wish him well as he moves into retirementrdquo

Faziorsquos decision to retire was prompted by recent good news from doctors that he is cancer-free five years after beginning his battle against colon cancer the same disease that led to the 2008 death of his first wife Nancy

ldquoWhile preparing for my cancer

SDCNN Staff

tests I indulged in a little specu-lation about how I might handle the news whether good or badrdquo Fazio said ldquoI concluded that no matter what after 35 years the time has come for me to retire I will concentrate on my faith my health my grandchildren and my gorgeous wife Melissa And if an opportunity comes along to help a good community cause I might just do that toordquo

Faziorsquos recent work with the foundation has focused on an $89 million fundraising effort called the La Mesa Capital Campaign The campaignrsquos goal is to build a new clubhouse in La Mesa reno-vate an existing teen center in the city and fund an endowment to operate both facilities

Forrest Higgins CEO of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County will add the role of campaign coordinator to his job with the assistance from staff According to Higgins more than $5 million for the La Mesa Capital Campaign has been raised during Faziorsquos leadership

ldquoJerry has been integral part of the success and growth of the Boys amp Girls Club of East Countyrdquo Higgins said ldquoHis dedi-cation and passion to the youth and families of East County will be greatly missedrdquo

Since 1961 the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County have been meeting the developmental needs of children and youth The orga-nizationrsquos mission statement ldquoTo inspire and enable all young people especially those who need us most to become responsible caring productive citizensrdquou

Jerry Fazio (Courtesy Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County)

notice to which the couple didnrsquot respond in time to renew their five-year lease Katie said

The next they heard they had to close the bar by Nov 1

ldquoI truly believe that when one door closes another one opensrdquo says Katie Halvin who runs the bar with her husband Doug ldquoAs poignant as it is to lose the bar I know we lost it because we didnrsquot pay attention when we should haverdquo

For the past five years Katie Halvinrsquos life has been intertwined with the bar Her first date with now-husband Doug landed her there mdash an Internet connection that led to a meet up in Harry Griffen Park

ldquoWe talked for a while and then he took me to his neighborhood hangout to have a beer and shoot some poolrdquo Katie recalls Katie was retiring from the Navy as a chief torpedo man and she was ready to settle down again ldquoWe got married at the Carlton Oaks [Country Club] mdash the whole bar was thererdquo

Before long Katie and Doug took over the bar which is leased from the Ross Family Trust Calls and emails to the property man-ager were not returned

ldquoWhen we took it over there were drugs gangs uglinessrdquo she said ldquoI wonrsquot put up with thatrdquo

What was left was a band of devoted regulars a tradition of small local live music and soon local art on the walls and events supporting local artists on the calendar

Cathryn Beeks the local music guru from 1021 KPRI radio began working with Halvin in November to book homegrown and up-and-coming acts at the bar mdash which led to notable shows from the Kilborn Alley Blues Band Roni Lee and many others

ldquoItrsquos very sad that the bar is closing Itrsquos run by very special people and there isnrsquot a venue like this in San Diegordquo Beeks said ldquoI found out about them because a lot of my friends were play-ing there They had a very loyal group of musicians before I ever showed uprdquo

The Parkway is also home to a very popular and solidly booked open mic night run by local singer-songwriter Jessica Hull

The Farmers local legends who evolved from the Beat Farmers also play regularly The live music will continue intermittently with the Farmers playing the closing

night Halloween party on Oct 31For Katie Halvin the closing

isnrsquot the end Property manager Aaron Dean intends to redevelop the strip mall where the Parkway now stands into a restaurant with a full bar and microbrewery and include an outdoor music venue

ldquoHe contacted me and hired me to be the director of enter-tainment at the new venuerdquo she said ldquoThey hope to start con-struction in December and finish it by August 2015rdquo ldquoOne side of my brain is ecstatic with oppor-tunityrdquo she said ldquoThe other feels the sadness of this lossrdquo

Meanwhile the Halvins are looking around in the area to find another place to open a bar like the Parkway

ldquoItrsquos our regulars Irsquom really worried aboutrdquo she said ldquoSome are at a point where most of their friends and family are gone and we are their community and fellowship We know who has cancer who has a new baby we know who to check on if they donrsquot show uprdquo

mdashMarty Graham is a freelance writer Email her at martygra-hamcoxnetu

Parkway from page 1

Sycuan Resort and Casino

For exciting casino action right in your own backyard therersquos nowhere closer than Sycuan Casino With Vegas-style gaming scrumptious dining options live headliner entertainment and nearby golf resort yoursquoll find your-self coming back again and again

You can choose from 2000 video amp reel slots as well as video poker For you card players there are more than 40 tables to play Blackjack ThreendashCard amp FourndashCard Poker Sycuanndashstyle craps and roulette

Enjoy the fresh air in the nonndashsmoking room with more than 350 slot machines 9 gaming tables Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet and a Poker Room with daily tourna-ments ndash all smokendashfree

For your dining pleasure Sycuan offers five different res-

taurant options to tempt your taste buds For those looking for a variety of delectable options Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet is an all-you-can-eat feast featuring slow-roasted Prime Rib buttery crab legs and over 100 fresh selec-tions and delicious dessert bar There isnrsquot a bad seat in the house at GameDay Sports Bar amp Grill where you can catch the big game on 39 large screen televisions 16 beers on tap with full cocktail selection delicious food menu and 29 bar-top video poker machines to play while you root on your team

With excellent acoustics and state-of-the-art sound and light-ing Sycuan Live amp Up Close is San Diegorsquos premiere venue for live entertainment Bringing exciting crowd pleasing acts from all musical genres therersquos something for everyone on their concert calendar

Just a short drive nearby Sycuan Golf Resort offers San Diegorsquos only 54-hole golf facility Exciting course play includes

3007 Dehesa RdEl Cajon CA 92019800-457-5568sycuanresortcom

mature tree-lined fairways eleva-tion changes water features and impeccable greens No matter if yoursquore a seasoned player or a first-timer the two challenging 18-hole championship golf courses and fun 18-hole par 3 course are guaranteed to give you unforget-table experiences from beginning to end To complete your stay-cat-ion enjoy one of their 100 spacious hotel rooms all recently remodeled and offer beautiful views of the golf courses pools and private putting greens If golf isnrsquot in your plans you can pamper yourself with a relaxing spa service

Not only is Sycuan the closest casino to downtown they offer free shuttle bus rides from a number of convenient locations throughout San Diego County For more infor-mation please visit Sycuancom

Guests must be 18 or older to enter casino 21 or older to enter theatre and Sports Bar Please play responsibly

Get away for the day at Sycuan CasinohellipReal Friendly Real Closeu

16 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

Short-term hands-on programs

Half-day classes 4 days a week

Monthly payment plans available

wwwtheaccountingacademycom

PETSlsquoOh where oh where has my little dog gonersquoSariReis

The only thing more devas-tating to a pet parent than

when their furry kid is missing is to have them never return Yet this sad scenario occurs every day Walk through any neighborhood and you will see the signs posted on trees and telephone poles ldquoMissing Our beloved dog Skippyrdquo These heart-rending pleas for help are always accompanied by a photograph of a sweet furry face and the offer of a reward for their return

As pet parents one of our pri-mary responsibilities is to keep our pets safe To do this we need to keep them securely confined in our homes our backyards or on leashes If your dog has access to the backyard be certain it is entirely fenced in with no poten-tial escape routes Make sure all gates are locked when you or anyone else goes in or out Inform pool service people landscap-ers or gardeners that you have a dog in the yard and the gate must be secured at all times Be particularly careful when enter-ing or leaving your home Open doors slowly to ensure a cat or dog is not lurking nearby ready to make a quick escape Never leave the door open for any length of time Even an indoor kitty may be curious if the door is left open for a minute or two Tell visitors cleaning ladies and anyone else who may have access to your home that you have pets and they are not to be let out

Some people like to give their dogs off-leash time on city streets in their neighborhoods They believe their pup is well-trained and will come on command and not run away But the sight of a

squirrel or stray cat can waylay the best trained dog and send them on a chase Many of these dogs never make it back home

There are also those feline parents who believe it is essen-tial to a catrsquos well-being for them to investigate and play outdoors Although the kitties may enjoy outdoor time it is very danger-ous With rattlesnakes coyotes stray dogs and traffic many out-door kitties never make it home again and soon become one of those sad notices posted on a tree

Even with the best inten-tions our pets may still make an escape Your best opportunity in getting them back is to ensure they can be identified Put an ID

tag on their collar listing your name and phone number and microchip them Although there are numerous companies that offer microchips and monitoring services one of the best is ldquoHome Againrdquo If you do microchip your pet remember to notify the man-ufacturer if you move or change your phone number Although the cost of micro-chipping is very reasonable many shelters and veterinary clinics hold spe-cial micro-chipping days so you can get your pets done for a dis-counted price Having your pet micro-chipped greatly increases the potential of getting him home again Can you actually put a price tag on that

ldquoHome Againrdquo stated that one out of three pets will go missing during their lifetime Make sure that one isnrsquot yours

mdashSari 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 missionvalley-petsittingcomu

One out of three pets will

go missing during their

lifetime

Lucille a 5-year-old spayed Labrador RetrieverAustralian Cattle Dog mix is

an energetic lady with tons of love to give her new family She has a friendly personality with everyone she meets and loves to learn new tricks She already knows commands such as sit down shake crawl beg and is currently learning how to wave ldquobye-byerdquo She is very treat-motivated and eager to please

She is very smart and outgoing and has gotten along well with other dogs on social walks This silly girl is always smiling and ready for a new adventure Born a true athlete she would love to participate in future training and would make an excellent workout partner Adequate exercise and mental stimulation are a must for this spirited lady

Lucille will do best in an active home with older children or adults She has a lot of love to give and may benefit from having another dog in the family as long as she meets them first to make sure theyrsquore a good match

Her adoption fee includes her spay current vaccinations permanent microchip identification a certificate for a free veterinary exam 30 days of complimentary medical insurance and a license for residents of Oceanside or Vista

Lucille is available for adoption at the San Diego Humane Society 5500 Gaines St in San Diego To learn more about Lucille call 619-299-7012u

Adopt a pet Looking for a home

LucilleBreed Labrador Retriever Australian Cattle Dog mixAge 5 years old Gender Female (spayed)Colors Black and WhiteID 142265Adoption Fee $9500

ADOPTION HOURSWeekdays 11 am ndash 6 pm Weekends 11 am ndash 5 pm

SD Humane Society amp SPCA5500 Gaines St (92110)

619-299-7012 | sdhumaneorg

(ThinkStock)

sdcnncom 17Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Foothiller FootstepsAdvanced Placement curriculum exposes students to college-level study

Helix HighlightsMaking students college-ready

Connie and LynnBaer

JenniferOsborn

A parent of a Helix Charter High School student once

noted that her daughter was never asked ldquoAre you going to collegerdquo Instead she was asked ldquoWhere are you going to collegerdquo A subtle difference in wording but a vast difference in meaning

Helixrsquos mission states ldquoHelix Charter High School provides a comprehensive education that prepares all students to gradu-

ate college-ready and equipped to reach their personal and aca-demic potentialrdquo

While the belief at Helix is not that every graduate needs to attend college in order to be suc-cessful it is definitely our goal to ensure that every graduate has the option to continue their edu-cation if they so choose

For the class of 2014 82 per-cent of Helix graduates stated they planned to attend college Forty-five percent went directly to a four-year college and 37 percent planned to attend two-

year institutions Approximately 12 percent attend University of California schools and 22 per-cent attend San Diego State or other California State University campuses

Support classroom projectsHave you heard of Donors

Choose Donors Choose is an online charity started by a class-room teacher from the Bronx New York He and his colleagues had great ideas for their students but no funding to bring their ideas to fruition

On the Donors Choose website teachers post classroom project requests and visitors to the web-site can help grant the teachersrsquo wishes by donating any amount big or small to their projects Donors Choose allows everyone to be a philanthropist

Over the past few years Helix teachers have been the recipi-ents of hundreds of thousands of dollars in supplies for classroom projects that would otherwise not have been possible Be a part of it Visit the website at donorschooseorg and search ldquoHelix La Mesardquo in the search box

Students shine nationallyThis past summer four Helix

Speech amp Debate team member students went to Kansas City Miski Abdi Spencer McCall Rebeca McClellan and Rachel Orey each qualified to compete in the National Forensics League National Championships McCall was a semifinalist in Student Senate and a quarterfinalist in Impromptu Orey was an octafi-nalist in Poetry

What else is going on at HelixLenelle Wyliersquos honors biology

classes have been accepted to attend the Science Lecture Series at the Scripps Research Institute

Jeff Kepperrsquos Oceanography class will be working with the

Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute and raising white sea bass in the classroom This is the second group of white sea bass raised by Helix students

Highland Players present The Odd Couple by Neil Simon Nov 5-8 and Nov 13-14 at 7 pm in the Black Box Theater They will perform both the original laquomaleraquo version and the ldquofemalerdquo version in repertory Tickets are $10 and will be available at helixdramaweeblycom or at the door Performances may sell out so buy early

Take a tourFinally we are always inter-

ested in letting our community know about Helix Charter High School The Excellence in Education Tour is offered twice a month and is open to anyone who wishes to attend It is a one-hour tour and program that highlights our vision history accomplish-ments goals and needs This monthrsquos tours will take place on Tuesday October 7 from 830 ndash 930 am and Thursday October 23 from 530 ndash 630 pm More information can be found at helix-charternet We hope to see you there

mdashJennifer Osborn is the com-munity relations officer for Helix Charter High School Email her at josbornhelixcharternetu

A commitment to educational excellence has always been a

part of the culture of Grossmont High School In the 1980s Grossmont began offering a new curriculum mdash Advanced Placement mdash that challenges the high school student to master a rigorous college-level curricu-lum Each May the students may then take the AP Exam Passing the exam with a score of 3 4 or 5 will in most cases translate to the student receiv-ing college credit or course exemption

In 1981 Grossmont English teacher Kay Adams offered an after-school tutorial for her senior students who wanted to take the AP English Language and Composition Exam Twenty-one students met with her to receive preparation for the exam all 21 students passed the exam with five stu-dents receiving a 5 the highest score

ldquoI learned more than I ever taughtrdquo Adams said ldquoThose students were the brightest minds I ever metrdquo

Beginning in 1982 AP

courses became a yearly English course offering

Other challenges presented themselves to early AP teach-ers In the 1980s through 1996 Sue Emerson AP Biology teacher found ways to cre-atively schedule her class On Wednesdays the students came in an hour early to complete the sophisticated experiments the curriculum required

ldquoOne fun activity was a nation-wide project studying wetlandsrdquo Emerson recalled ldquoThe students shared information with schools around the country via telecom-munication from their study of the Tijuana River Estuaryrdquo

Today Grossmont offers 15 different honors courses which prepare the students for the diverse variety of subsequent 19 Advanced Placement courses

Art AP Art History Studio Drawing 2-D Design

Business AP Computer Science

English AP Literature and Composition Language and Composition

Language AP Spanish Language Spanish Literature and Culture French Language and Culture

Math AP Calculus StatisticsPerforming Arts AP Music

Advanced Placement Theory

Science AP Biology Environmental Science Physics

Social Science AP European History US History Psychology US Government

Over the years the curriculum has evolved AP French Language and Culture teacher Azita Mahmoudi noted that the ldquoAP test has changed from a narrow grammar-based test to an open-ended test based on cultural knowledgerdquo

ldquoPhysics isnrsquot dif-ficult It only has the reputation of being dif-ficultrdquo said longtime AP Physics teacher Tom Eklund

Eklundrsquos creative lessons include the one shown in the 2012 photograph of student Jessie Hodges dropping his project off the bleachers and measuring its fall

During the past five years the number of tests taken by Grossmont students has risen from 453 in 2009 to 646 in 2014 While the passing rate dropped from 65 to 58 percent in those

same years more Foothillers were given the opportunity to challenge themselves and prepare for post secondary education

A continuing goal of Grossmont staff is to have more enrolled students take the test however each test costs $89 with many students taking more than one test

Those wishing to sponsor one or more tests with a tax-deduct-

ible donation may contribute to the GHS Educational Foundationrsquos AP Scholarship Fund by sending a check to GHS Educational Foundation PO Box 1043 La Mesa CA 91944

ldquoGrossmont High School is proud to support our honors and Advanced Placement curricu-lumrdquo said Principal Dan Barnes ldquoWe are very excited to see the very high increase in partici-pation in our courses over the past three years and contin-ued success by our

teachers and students shown in their AP exam pass ratesrdquo

Visit Grossmont and wit-ness firsthand a campus that celebrates it heritage and embraces its future Regular public hours are noon to 4 pm on Wednesday Oct 1 and Nov 5 or by appointment

Contact the Grossmont High School Museum by phone at 619-668-6140 or by email at ghs-museumguhsdnetu

AP Physics students participate in an experiment at Grossmont High School in 2012 (Courtesy GHS Museum)

18 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

PUZZLESSUDOKU

Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9 Each number can appear only once in each row column and 3x3 block Use logic and process elimination to solve the puzzle

copy 2014 Janric Enterprises Dist by creatorscom

CROSSWORD

Business 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 wwwGotFreedomcom Call 858-278-2120 Your future is counting on you (1214)

For SaleNICE 1BD HOUSE IN LA MESA LIVDEN LG KITCHEN BATH WD LG BEDROOM NICE SUNDECK $1000 INCLUDES GE WATER TRASH CALL CLARA 6194650591 (0914)

Sweet male and female Tea-cup Yorkie 12 weeks old $500 Will be 4 lbs at full growth Microchiped shots and dewormed coming with registration papers mlcpetsyahoocom 661-858-0633 (0914)

NoticesWIDOW OR WIDOWER Interested in social activities You are welcome to join our club Widows or Widowers (WOW) of San Diego Website wwwwowsdorg Phone 619-448-6088 (0914)

ServicesJennarsquos Barber Shoppe Styling for men women amp children Wheelchair friendly Old time expert

haircuts at affordable prices Colors amp perms 7424 Jackson Dr1A (across from Keilrsquos in Bank of America lot) Tues-Fri 830-530pm Sat 830-noon Walk-ins or By appt 619-644-3669 (1214)

Lindarsquos Puppy Love licensed insured pet sitting service offering daily walks cat care overnight stays-your home lots of love 619-857-3674 wwwlindaspuppylovecom (615)

Locksmith - Discount Deadbolts and Rekeying - security door viewers patio door locks simulated alarms magnetic door stops Cliff Henderson 619-840-3327 - Lic LCO4353 - Bonded - Never a trip charge (0615)

Quality exterior carpentry Decks Fences Patio Covers and Termite Repair Lic365241 wwwaactionbuildersofsandiegocom Bob 619-275-1493 (415)

Bathtubs and sinks refinished like new San Carlos based business for over 25 years - same owner Lic560438 wwwsaveatubsdcom 619-464-5141 (0115)

German Setter Tile and Marble Professional marbletile setter with 28 years experience European craftsmanship Punctual amp dependable License 872804 Contact Jens Sedemund 619-415-6789 or jensgermansettercom (1214)

Dan Patterson HandymanCarpentry Repair and replacement of plumbing electrical repair installation of water heaters doors windows cabinets flooring fencing Pressure washing of driveways all phases of

Finding Senior Housing can be complex but it doesnrsquot have to be

(800) 217-3942A Place for Mom is the nationrsquos largest senior living referral

information service We do not own operate endorse or recommend any senior living community We are paid by partner communities

so our services are completely free to families

ldquoYou can trust A Place for Mom to help yourdquo

ndash Joan Lunden

BUSINESS amp SERVICES

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 (1214)

BARGAIN BOYZ CONSTRUCTIONREPAIRS 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 jimmysupancoxnet (1014)

PLUMBERhellipLicensed and Insured Over 25 years experience La Mesa resident OwnerOperator Reasonable rates Courteous service Lic 527864 Call Peter 619-698-0313 wwwFelberPlumbingcom (0914)

ROOFING Lic 691295-C39 Veteran owned Allied Gardens based Celebrating 20 years Full roof amp repair Free est Veteran amp Senior discounts 619-823-7208 (615)

WantedHelping Hands Animal Sanctuary seeks laundry detergent (all free and clear) and fabric softener (Downey free and gentle) 619-460-6679 (0914)

Job WantedNanny seeking work certified bkgd ck CPR First Aide 20 years experience wchildren and babies Great references Call Peggy 619-246-6572 or 512-755-0813

ANSWERS ON PAGE 20

Experienced amp Professional

Renee Differ

reneediffercoxnet619-516-0400

INDIVIDUALS amp BUSINESSES

SAME SEX MARRIAGE FILING

BOOKKEEPING amp PAYROLL

MOBILE APPOINTMENTS

TAX CONSULTANT

Ideal PlumbingHeating

Air amp ElectricalWater heaters garbage disposals drain cleaning Video pipe inspections water softeners amp filtration Faucets and toilets Visit our Show-room (06-12)

Serving ourcommunity since 1960

(619) 583-7963Lic 348810

PLUMBING

sdcnncom 19Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierPUZZLES CLASSIFIEDS

Sudoku amp Crosswordpuzzle answers from

page 19

The Academic Senate at Grossmont College last

month honored math instruc-tor Michael Lambe a Mt Helix resident with the Distinguished Faculty award the first ever for a part-time member of the col-lege faculty

Lambersquos 36 years as part-time instructor at Grossmont College concurrent to his 39-year teach-ing career with the Grossmont Union High School District gave him a unique perspective and insight on nurturing stu-dent success His dual career has made him especially aware of the need to make the transi-tion from high school to college as seamless as possible and to ensure secondary level curricu-lum prepares students for higher education

His interaction between Grossmont College and Monte Vista High School where he was chair of the math depart-

Math teacher is Grossmont Collegersquos part-time instructor of the year

ment made him a natural to help develop the first articula-tion agreement between the college and high school which helps students smoothly transi-tion without duplicating classes or experiencing delays

It wasnrsquot just students who benefitted from Lambersquos experi-ence with both systems When

driver education was eliminated from the high school curriculum and instructors were facing lay-offs he worked with the high school and college districts to develop a two-year program that prepared the former driver edu-cation instructors to acquire the teaching credentials needed to become math instructors

ldquoItrsquos been a fantastic career mdash Irsquove been blessedrdquo Lambe said

Following his retirement from the high school district Lambe was recruited four years ago as the collegersquos part-time senate officer with the Academic Senate and chair of the of the Academic Senate Part-Time Committee As head of the new committee he began tackling issues like office hours college governance and academic rank on behalf of part-timers

ldquoMichael has unified the [Academic Senatersquos Part-Time] committee and made it the most respected and cohesive voice for part-time faculty on the campusrdquo said one of his colleagues in a nomination for Lambe for the Distinguished Faculty award ldquoHe has brought part-time faculty issues into the college governance conversation as never before and helped part-time faculty be better informed through excellent professional development activities and communicationsrdquo

Lambe described his efforts on behalf of part-time instructors as a way of paying it forward

ldquoEven as a part-timer I have done a lot of things that full-time department members dordquo he said ldquoThis is my profession mdash my calling and my love This

award is the greatest honor I have ever received My col-leagues couldnrsquot have given me anything greater and to be the first recipient is tremendousrdquo

In addition to honoring Lambe for his achievements as a member of the part-time faculty the academic senate also honored Spanish instruc-tor Yolanda Guerrero with the Distinguished Faculty award for full-time faculty

President Sunita V Cooke said Lambe and Guerrero exem-plify Grossmont Collegersquos faculty members who are passionate about teaching and motivated to boost their profession and their colleagues

ldquoThe campus community owes a debt of gratitude to fac-ulty members with that kind of dedicationrdquo she said ldquoTheir generosity is an inspiration to us allrdquo

At Cuyamaca College Spanish instructor Patricia Santana won the Outstanding Faculty Award for full-time tenured faculty Arabic instructor Aklas Sheia won the award for outstanding part-time faculty

mdashDella Elliott is public information assistant for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College Districtu

DellaElliott

Michael Lambe gives a math lesson something hersquos been doing for nearly four decades in local classrooms (Courtesy Grossmont College)

20 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

Join us for a 3-course dinner and information on Chronic back pain causes and solutions Recent advances in back pain relief Different surgical options QampA with leading San Diego spine specialist

Presented by Choll Kim MD PhD a San Diego Magazine ldquoTop Doctorrdquo and Medical Director of the Advanced SpineInstitute at Alvarado Hospital ndash named Americarsquos 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgerytrade and Orthopedic Surgerytrade in 2014

Cost $10person Seating is limited mdash RSVP requiredCall (619) 229-4548 to register

Location Terra Bistro7091 El Cajon Blvd San Diego 92115

MONDAY SEPT 29 6-8 PMTERRA AMERICAN BISTRO

AlvaradoHospitalcom | (619) 287-3270

Zucchini pancakes

Whatrsquos Cooking with

Julie AnnWhite

Julie

Grate away on your box grater to create this deli-

cious dinner side dish Herersquos a savory treat to serve with a salad or light chicken or fish meal They are a little bit addictive and really easy to make

Serves four (makes six small pancakes)

Ingredients3 medium zucchini grated on a box grater or food processor12 red or yellow onion grated2 large eggs lightly beaten8 Tbsp Panko bread crumbs (flour can be used instead)1 tsp baking powder1 tsp kosher saltPinch of black pepper2 Tbsp butter14 cup olive oil for frying

DirectionsGrate the zucchini and onion into a medium bowl Press with a

few paper towels to absorb juice Add remaining ingredients and stir well If batter is runny add more breadcrumbs or flour Heat large skillet and melt butter and oil over medium heat Drop the zucchini mixture into six to eight golf ball-sized gently patted pancakes Cook until golden brown Serve warmu

Put down your iPhone 6 push aside your Samsung Note 4

and turn off the TV La Mesa is asking its citizens to invest some time in one of their 14 local parks for Park Appreciation Day Oct 18

ldquoThis community event demon-strates the spirit and commitment that La Mesans have for their public facilitiesrdquo said Yvonne Garrett assistant city manager and director of community ser-vices in La Mesa ldquoLocal residents and visitors have a sense of own-ership and take pride in La Mesa parks Park Appreciation Day is an opportunity for individuals to share that enthusiasm with friends and neighborsrdquo

The impetus for La Mesa Park Appreciation Day began in 2005 when a member of a local church congregation contacted the city to ask whether their church could take on a community project in La Mesa said Garrett who is also staff director for La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation

Because the city had recently eliminated several temporary park maintenance worker posi-tions and had received a similar request for a local project from another organization city staff thought it would be a good idea

Citizen groups pitch in for Park Appreciation Day

to gather the various groups to help clean up the parks prompting the creation of Park Appreciation Day

La Mesa community services manager Mike Pacheco said he has been impressed with the pride La Mesans have in their community as well as their desire to volunteer for the city

ldquoParks and recreation pro-grams bring tremendous benefits to people of all agesrdquo Pacheco said ldquoThey contribute to help-ing us live longer better lives through active pursuits new life skills educational programs and safe activities Great parks and programs also help build a stronger community connecting individuals families and groups through the power of play Recreation programs and engag-ing exciting facilities help keep kids active and off the streetsrdquo

Park Appreciation Day proj-ects include spreading mulch planting flowers and painting picnic tables and restrooms Pacheco said

Since its inception several local groups have consistently volun-teered each year Christ Lutheran Church Journey Church Helix Interact Club Friends of Canine Corners Kiwanis Club of La Mesa La Mesa Rotary La Mesa Beautiful La Mesa Lions Club and La Mesa Police Department

Last year more than 150 vol-unteers participated on Park

Appreciation Day and removed 22 cubic yards of green material plus nine cubic yards of trash according to Garrett

Although most of La Mesarsquos parks have the same groups cleaning them every year Porter Park Fitness Plaza located at 8425 University Ave is still without a group Porter needs additional native plants installed in some areas in the beds Garrett said

Disclosure Writer Genevieve A Suzuki serves as a commissioner for the La Mesa Community Services Commission and is a member of La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation She is happy to put away her iPhone Oct 18 to help clean her local parku

Genevieve Suzuki

Make La Mesa beautifulInterested in getting

involved with La Mesa Park Appreciation Day Oct 18 Want to encourage your civic church or social group to adopt a park

All ages are welcome to par-ticipate Signed waivers are required Parents must accom-pany children under 18 at the parks unless their children are with a supervised group

Sign up by calling 619-667-1304 or email communitycila-mesacaus

sdcnncom 21Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierDINING LOCAL NEWS

New Patient Special

bull SedationDentistrybull Implantsbull Same-DayCrownsbull LaserTreatmentbull Invisalign

Wersquove been in practice for over

25 years in La Mesa

$113 for exam x-rays oral cancer screening and cleaning

In absence of gum disease A $520 value

Donrsquot avoid the dentist Remove the anxiety and fear with Sedation Dentistry

A Shop For Smiles

Dr Hagstrom619-465-5252 | 8923 La Mesa Blvd | La Mesa CA 91942

wwwashopforsmilescom

Visit us today

Baseball book signingSunday Oct 12

Geoff Miller mental skills coach for the Atlanta Braves will discuss and sign copies of his new book ldquoIntangibles Big-League Stories and Strategies for Winning the Mental Game mdash in Baseball and in Liferdquo at 2 pm at Barnes amp Noble 5500 Grossmont Center Dr

Diverse Capacities workshopWednesday Oct 15

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Mariko Peshon will lead a work-shop focusing on the physical emotional and social abilities and disabilities that often go unrec-ognized and unaccommodated in our communities The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

East County Intergenerational GamesTuesday Oct 16

Active adults ages 50 and older will team up with kids between the ages of 7 and 12 for a morning of fun noncompetitive activi-ties at La Mesa Middle School 4200 Parks Ave from 830 am to noon The games include street hockey shot frisbee toss ldquoskeeballrdquo pitch t-ball and trivia games Snacks and lunch are included Interested adults must register in advance by contacting the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center at 619-667-1322

Introduction to home caregivingSaturday Oct 18

Caring for a loved one at home often involves transfers personal care proper body mechanics and other specific skills and knowl-edge Learn and practice the basics with a registered nurse at this event from 9 am to 1 pm in classroom 1314 of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Brier Patch Campus 9000 Wakarusa St Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or

register online at sharpcom

Workshop Finding Your Voice in the Social Justice MovementTuesday Oct 21

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Kenyon Whitman will lead an interactive workshop exploring social justice concepts how to develop a leadership style and creative ways to effectively com-municate in diverse groups The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the stu-dent center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

Medicare and drug cover-age updates for 2015Friday Oct 24

A free lecture will cover Medicare insurance changes for 2015 Medicare Parts A B D HMOs and more Presented by Community Education Specialist Pablo Corona the lec-ture will also cover the Medicare Saving Program and Extra-Help Program that assist with prescription costs for Medicare Parts B and D The talk begins at 10 am at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Lung function screeningWednesday Oct 29

Do you have trouble catching your breath after a short walk The Pulmonary Department at Sharp Grossmont Hospital will offer a free basic lung function test from 9 am to 2 pm for anyone who has not yet seen a doctor about breathing prob-lems The screening will be held at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center Building F Room 16 9000 Wakarusa St Appointments are required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Free blood pressure screeningFriday Oct 17

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center 8450 La Mesa Blvd No appointment necessary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Park Appreciation DaySaturday Oct 18

Groups of volunteers will get to work on projects to beautify and improve parks across town from 8 am to noon All ages are welcome but children under the age of 18 need to submit a waiver signed by a parent or legal guard-ian If your church or civic group wants to get involved call 619-667-1300 or email communitycila-mesacaus

lsquoHowl-oweenrsquo dog cos-tume contest and picnicSaturday Oct 18

Dress up your dogs in a cute or spooky Halloween costume and bring them out to Canine Corners the dog park at Harry Griffen Regional Park between 11 am and 3 pm Proud pet par-ents will have the chance to get their poochrsquos picture taken at the pumpkin patch as well as meet representatives from animal rescue groups the county sheriffrsquos K-9 unit and other vendors The costume contest begins at 1130 am A hot dog picnic lunch will be offered for $3 Canine Corners volunteers will accept donations to help with the maintenance of the dog park

Picnic with the parrotsSunday Oct 26

At Socal Parrotrsquos annual fundraising event attendees have a rare chance to view the non-profit organizationrsquos reha-bilitation facility meet animals talk with experts observe live art bid in a silent auction and buy into a raffle Based in Jamul SoCal Parrot works to protect and care for wild and endan-gered parrots across the region Tickets to the all-day fundrais-ing event range from $32 to $100 and can be purchased online at socalparrotorgu

Calendar from page 15

Send details of your com-munity events to the editor at jeremysdcnncom Deadline is the third Friday of the month

22 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 CALENDAR

Why a fiscally conservative vote-by-mail plan got no GOP love

A bill that would drastically change the way San Diego

Countyrsquos special elections are run passed without any Republican help mdash it got just two votes total from GOP lawmakers in Sacramento

It might surprise you to learn then that when the idea first emerged Democrats helped lead the charge against it

How some leading party mem-bers reversed course in just a few years says a lot about the current political landscape and the future of elections in San Diego County

Democrats wrote the current bill mdash which would create a five-year pilot program in San Diego County that would make spe-cial elections for open seats run primarily by mail with a drasti-cally reduced number of polling places mdash and they led the politi-cal charge for it

But Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez the billrsquos author remembers how hard she fought to kill the idea of vote-by-mail elections years ago

ldquoWhat happens I think so often is there is this attachment to the status quo therersquos fear about changing thingsrdquo Gonzalez said

Gonzalez said her mind was changed by a couple factors One is that she discovered during her years as a labor advocate that voters who had a ballot mailed to them before the election were roughly five times more likely to actually vote

The other she said is she realized the county was spend-ing a huge amount more per person who voted at the polls versus by mail

County officials said that in the March 2013 special election to fill the vacant 40th state Senate district seat they spent $221 per

Ari Bloomekatz

in-person voter verses $9 per mail voter

Then therersquos the fact that pathetic voter turnout in each of the last several elections has favored Republican candidates across the board

ldquoWe have all watched as voter turnout has plummeted in recent elections and itrsquos our responsi-bility to do something about itrdquo Gonzalez wrote in a press release after the bill passed

Some observers speculated that some Republicans simply didnrsquot support the bill because it was being led by promi-nent Democrats like Gonzalez (Gonzalez agrees thatrsquos probably true)

But if you want to understand why GOP support was so hard to come by for a bill steeped in fiscally conservative principles and that originated from a con-servative San Diego County government consider these three points

Republicans seized on civil rights groupsrsquo hesitation

Some of the strongest initial opposition to the vote-by-mail legislation came from civil rights groups concerned the new pro-cedures could disenfranchise immigrants and the disabled

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund initially opposed the bill but dropped its opposition after working with Gonzalez and San Diego County officials on protec-

tions for immigrantsStill MALDEF and other

groups wouldnrsquot officially support the measure

ldquoThere is some research out there that shows that mail-in ballots do have an adverse impact on minority votersrdquo said Denise Hulett an attorney with MALDEF

Hulett said MALDEF supports testing out vote-by-mail but isnrsquot sold on it yet

Those groupsrsquo reluctance had an impact on Republican legislators like Escondido Assemblywoman Marie Waldron She said she didnrsquot feel comfortable signing on to a bill without MALDEF and other civil rights groupsrsquo support

ldquoI have to wonder if this is disenfranchising a significant number of people that vote at the pollsrdquo Waldron said ldquoWhat about the people who are maybe you know possibly visually impaired or something like thatrdquo

The money wasnrsquot enoughSan Diego County Registrar

Michael Vu strongly supports the pilot program and believes it could trim costs by 30 - 40 percent

But somehow the cost-savings issue wasnrsquot enough to win over the vast majority of Republican legislators

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez said he thought the cost-savings touted by Democrats were only rough estimates and was not inclined to vote for a bill just

because of those projectionsldquoAs Irsquove said a number of times

before all these bills that theyrsquore putting through hellip really doesnrsquot address the issue of what wersquore trying to do which is get more people to voterdquo he said

Instead of just moving imme-diately to vote-by-mail Chavez wants to create a bipartisan special committee to study new voting technologies

Republicans fear voter fraud

Republicansrsquo fear of potential voter fraud through expansion of vote-by-mail overshadowed potential economic gains

The bill ldquoincludes no protec-tions to ensure the integrity and security of all-mail elections While interesting we need to be careful changing election lawsrdquo wrote Amanda Fulkerson of the Assembly Republican Caucus which advocated fiercely against the bill

ldquoRight now our members feel that we should not jeopardize our consistent voting system until we have further facts and statistics on all-mail electionsrdquo Fulkerson wrote

Republicans believed the threat of fraud would be compounded by another voting-related bill moving through the legislature at the same time

That bill would change the rules about how long mail ballots can be received and counted after an election

Currently vote-by-mail ballots must be received by election offi-cials before polls close on the day of the election The new law would allow ballots to be received no later than three days after the election (if it was time-stamped or post-marked on or before Election Day)

Assembly Republicans feared the two bills combined could allow for abuse of the system

State Sen Joel Anderson was one Republican who voted against the mail-counting bill but in favor of Gonzalezrsquos vote-by-mail effort

Anderson said that he voted against the mail-counting bill because he saw it as ldquocompletely gaming the systemrdquo but believes the vote-by-mail bill is ldquobetter for the voters itrsquos better for my constituentsrdquo

Put yourselves in the shoes of

Vu and other county officials for a minute

Nearly every time an election comes up the county spends anywhere from $1 million to $12 million-plus and organizes hordes of poll workers and pre-cincts across the county

And what happens at the end of the day

Turnout is generally low and increasing numbers of residents opt to vote by mail anyway

As Vu tells it he just wants to save the county money and acknowledge the changing winds when it comes to vote-by-mail

But nothing is ever as simple as a dollar saved in Sacramento mdash especially when it comes to something as fundamental as how voters choose their elected officials

Gonzalez said most people do not understand how difficult this bill was to pass politically Sure Republicans barley supported it but there was strong opposition from many Democrats too The instinct to preserve the status quo when it comes to elections among legislators in Sacramento is strong she said

ldquoIt was kind of funny Irsquom in Republican land carrying this bill pissing off Democrats and voting rights groups and minor-ity groupsrdquo she said ldquoI had to convince everybody that this is OK that change is OKrdquo

Brown has until Sept 30 to sign the bill

mdashAri Bloomekatz is an inves-tigative reporter for Voice of San Diego focusing on county govern-ment You can reach him directly at aribloomekatzvoiceofsandi-egoorg or 619-550-5669u

(Courtesy Flickr user bludgeoner86Creative Commons)

Voice of San Diego

sdcnncom 23Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

Everyone in every price range deserves the quality of Sothebyrsquos Realty

8310 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa CA 91942 bull 6193371700

SPRING VALLEY bull $362000LA MESA bull $499000CARDIFF BY THE SEA bull $525000

Spacious Sweetwater Springs home on corner lot Recently updated kitchen amp bath w granite countertops SS appl wine refrigerator and wood floors Upstairs BRs w mirrored wardrobe doors and ceiling fans Sliding doors to private view deck ideal for watching the sunset

JOE SOUTHWICK 6195898224

Just listed Tastefully remodeled single level entertainerrsquos paradise Large great room with chefrsquos kitchen Private backyard with pool hot tub palapa-covered bar amp grill shade patio and sun deck

JULIE ADAMS 6194810200

Rarely available 2BR 1BA twin home in the highly sought after Park Place neighborhood of Cardiff By The Sea Community pool and spa 25+ acre canyon with walking trails sand volleyball and more

YVETTE WOODS 6199223436

Laurarsquos Solds 2014 bull (619) 540-7744 bull LauraLothianRealEstatecomMost Homes Sold in La Mesa Last 11 Years

Want your home sold Ask a busy agent Call Laura Lothian TODAY 6195407744

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD GASLAMP

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SOLD SAN CARLOS SOLD SAN CARLOS SOLD SANTEE

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SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE

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PacificSothebysRealtycomcopyMMVIII Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC A Realogy Company All Rights Reserved Sothebyrsquos International Realtyreg is a registered trademark licensed to Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC An Equal Opportunity Company Equal Housing Opportunity Each Office is Independently Owned And Operated Cal BRE 01767484 Seller will entertain offers within the listed range

SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX

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Source TrendGraphix MLS data for zip codes 91941 amp 91942 January 1 2003 to January 1 2014

24 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

Ken Denbow

Local artist captures beauty of Mission Trails

Groff painting from Hemingway Streetrsquos Open Space Park in San Carlos (Courtesy Larry Groff)

Artists create space with unique parameters and feel-ings Authors JK Rowling in ldquoHarry Potterrdquo and J R R Tolkien in ldquoLord of the Ringsrdquo created imaginary worlds where wizards unicorns Hobbits and dragons abound Mark Twain in ldquoHuckleberry Finnrdquo and Harper Lee in ldquoTo Kill a Mockingbirdrdquo view the ldquoreal worldrdquo through the eyes of a child to show the evils of slavery and racial stereo-types using humor and satire in

the former and gripping drama in the latter Da Vinci painted the ldquoMona Lisardquo an ordinary woman with an enchanting smile which has fascinated

viewers for 500 yearsSan Carlos resident and artist

Larry Groff paints unique scenes from San Diego particularly the San Carlos community that portray the beauty of the area infused with feelings ranging from the tranquility of a neigh-borhood with Cowles Mountain in the background to the frenetic interchanges of the Grossmont freeway overpass His talent was recently recognized at his first one-man show at Prince Street Gallery in New York City The show was a success with four paintings sold and invaluable contacts made for the future He

has been in many group shows in Boston one pre-viously in NYC as well as at the recently closed Noel-Baza Fine Arts Gallery in Little Italy

Larry was born in Charleston South Carolina but grew up in Boston He moved to San

Diego four years ago to take care of his father He and his wife Liz Hincks fell in love with San Diego

Groff worked in the nurs-

ing field for 25 years He had friends who were artists so five years into his nursing career he started attending art school at the Massachusetts College of Art while working as a nurse He obtained a masterrsquos degree in fine arts from Boston University

ldquoI decided to try art for myselfrdquo he said ldquoIt became an obsessionrdquo

Groff recently left nursing to become a computer animator for medical companies combining his art and medical careers

ldquoI havenrsquot made a lot of money but I wouldnrsquot trade it for any-thingrdquo Groff said

He is hoping to find represen-tation in San Francisco and Los Angeles in 2015 He is also look-ing into showing his San Carlos paintings at the San Carlos Public Library

For the past three summers Groff has been painting land-

scapes in Italy where he was working at a summer art pro-gram run by the world renowned painter Israel Hershberg

ldquoI get a great deal of satisfaction out of working with new artistsrdquo Groff said ldquoBut if someone wants to do it professionally they must be able to do it full timerdquo

He feels that schooling is good but no guarantee of success Rather he recommends someone work with a successful artist until the individual style is acquired

ldquoI try not to think about style I prefer it to develop on its own accord without my conscious input I paint in an overall paint-erly-realist style but it varies in type depending on the subject I am paintingrdquo Groff said ldquoIt is a constantly evolving process The feeling expressed in a painting comes unconsciously It mustnrsquot be contrivedrdquo

He chose to paint his San Carlos neighborhood rather than mountains or seascapes because he likes the play of light on peo-plersquos homes amidst the canyons and Mission Trails

ldquoTo me it is more interestingrdquo he said ldquoIt has more meaning to merdquo

Groff is currently working on a large canvas portraying the view from Tuxedo Park off Jackson Drive After that he plans to take it as it comes He finds sites just driving through the neighborhoods He also wel-comes commissions to paint a requested view or painting of a home Samples can be seen at lar-rygroffcom

mdashKen Denbow is a writer in San Diego Contact him at kilo-teltatellahotmailcomu

The opening reception at Groffrsquos one-man show at Prince Street Gallery in New York City (Courtesy Larry Groff)

2 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

La Mesa ndash A new report has just been released which reveals 7 costly mistakes that most homeowners make when selling their home and a 9 Step System that can help you sell your home fast and the most amount of money

This industry report shows clearly how the traditional ways of sell-ing homes have become increasingly less and less effective in todayrsquos market The fact of this matter is that fully three quarters of home-sellers donrsquot get what they want for their homes and become disil-lusioned and worse financially disadvantaged when they put their homes on the market

As this report uncovers most homesellers make 7 deadly mistakes that cost them literally thousands of dollars The good news is that each and every one of these mistakes is entirely preventable In an-swer to this issue industry insiders have prepared a free special report entitles ldquoThe 9 Step System to Get your Home Sold Fast and For Top Dollarrdquo To order your FREE copy of this report call toll-free 1-800-270-1494 and enter 1000 You can call anytime 24 hours a day 7 days a week

Get your free special report Now to find out how you can get the most money for your home

Courtesy of Dan Smith ReMax BRE 01346593

How Owners Lose Thousands When Selling Their Homes

12 Price EntreacuteePurchase any entreacutee and any two beverages and receive a

second entreacutee (of equal or lesser value) for half price Coupon good for up to two discounts per party of four Dine-in only Cannot be combined with any other offer discount or coupon Sales tax if applicable must be paid by guest No cash value

Valid at participating locations only Not valid with Kids Eat Free or Weekday Lunch Specials Offer expires 103114

POS Code MKTG Promo 2

La Mesa bull 70th Street amp I-8 Freeway6950 Alvarado Rd bull (619) 465-1910

POS C-4

Your choice of our perfectly portioned Chicken Pot Pie Shepherdrsquos Pie or Tuscan Shrimp Pot Pie each served with a Caesar salad Plus includes a FREE slice of our legendary pie

THROUGHOUTTHE DAY

Limited time only Price and participation may varyExcludes Cheesecakes Seasonal Fresh Fruit Pies and Promotional Pies

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PIE FROM THE FIRSTCOURSE TO THE LAST

LEGENDARY PIESLEGENDARY PRICE

POS C-4

The La Mesa Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)

celebrated its 20th anniversary on Aug 29 at a dinner hosted by the La Mesa Police Department More than 110 senior volun-teers attended to enjoy the celebration and proclamations and certificates of recognition were presented from several local elected officials including State Sen Joel Anderson Rep Duncan Hunter Rep Susan Davis and Assemblymember Shirley Weber

Anderson thanked the senior volunteers and praised their

Senior volunteers celebrate 20 years of service to La Mesa

commitment to the communityldquoTheir dedication to the public

safety of our community is inspiring to all of usrdquo he said ldquoI deeply appreciate the volunteersrsquo selfless actions and commitment to the police department and the residents of La Mesardquo

RSVP is a group of qualified citizens over the age of 55 who are dedicated to serving the public The program was established in 1994 by Police Chief Walter Mitchell and began with 20 vol-unteers who wanted to help out in our community The respon-sibilities of the volunteers range from organizing neighborhood watch programs and tutoring and mentoring disadvantaged or disabled youth to renovat-ing homes teaching English to

immigrants and assisting vic-tims of natural disasters

Before joining RSVP vol-unteers are trained in the areas they would like to serve Once they complete their training they are able to go around their community and help out Since the La Mesa RSVP was estab-lished 20 years ago it has grown to a group of 192 volunteers who altogether have put in a total of 338014 hours of community ser-vice RSVP has now grown to be an essential function of the La Mesa Police Department

mdashLea Park-Kim is district communications representative for state Sen Joel Anderson She can be reached at leapark-kimsencagovu

Members of the RSVP program were treated to lunch for the programrsquos 20th anniversary (Courtesy Sen Joel Anderson)

Lea Park-Kim

sdcnncom 3Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

C alifornia voters will decide this fall whether to approve

a $75 billion bond to repair Californiarsquos decrepit water system was a wise choice or not thanks to a last-minute vote by the state Legislature

The bond issue will appear as Proposition 1 on the Nov 4 gen-eral election ballot

Legislators say they think the bond issue will pass if for no other reason than the fact that the ongoing drought will make up votersrsquo minds for them

Although the state Senate passed the bill 37-0 and only two Assembly members voted against it there is not unani-mous support for all of the projects the bond would fund There were compromises made all through the yearlong process that upset as many people as they made happy

Three questions will dominate the debate as it moves toward Election Day

Whorsquos in favor

Most of whatrsquos called the water bureaucracy in California is in favor of the bond issuersquos passage Most of the statersquos water districts including the San Diego County Water Authority have come out

in support of the measure An umbrella organization of those agencies the Association of California Water Agencies will no doubt bring in public support of the measure Since agencies like SDCWA are public agencies they cannot contribute money or take active roles in the Yes on Prop 1 campaign This is not to say that individuals associated with the public agencies cannot take individual roles including personal financial roles They can and many will

Whorsquos against it

No one is predicting a landslide victory because there is still a lot of opposition to the measure in the north central and north-ern parts of the state Longtime observers will recall that a north-

California legislators put water bond to the voters

south split was the major reason the proposed Peripheral Canal was defeated at the polls back in the 1980s

In truth much of that oppo-sition is centered in the areas generally surrounding the old and fragile Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta which is the hinge point for moving water from the north to the south Itrsquos hard to determine whether the opponents fear this bond issue and what it

might bring or whether their complaints are more aimed at Gov Jerry Brownrsquos ambi-tious $25 billion plan to build two freeway-sized

tunnels underneath the Delta to make it easier to ship water from the Sacramento River south without damaging the Delta fur-ther The bond issue apparently contains absolutely no mention of mdash and no money for mdash anything to do with the tunnels

There is also opposition in the north and central coastal areas where some water officials say storage facilities mdash dams and reservoirs mdash for them were left out completely One new dam and reservoir the Sites Dam is slated for Northern California near Colusa and another at Temperance Flat northeast of Fresno They will account for $27 billion of the $75 billion called for in the ballot measure That leaves almost $5 billion to be spent on a laundry list of other

water-related projects to make the statersquos water supply more stable and available in the future

Whatrsquos in it for La MesaQuite a bit actually and very

little of it for surface storage of water San Diego County is in pretty good shape for dams and reservoir capacity Having doubled the capacity of San Vicente the dam at Olivenhain Sweetwater Reservoir and other areas here we have places to put water We just need the water to put in those places

We also have hundreds of thousands of acre feet of water through the deal with Imperial Irrigation District and the Carlsbad Desalination plant coming online next year

The bond issue would provide money statewide for water recy-cling including drinkable and non-drinkable water reclama-tion and purification It would provide funding for integrated regional water management projects including ground-water storage recharging our depleted underground aquifers and the like

A large number of water-related projects called for in the ballot measure would directly benefit our region and San Diego county will have a fair shot at a lot of that money Our region will qualify for about 11 percent of that $75 billion

Bonus Will all this happen quickly if the bond is passed come Nov 4

NoPassage of the proposition on

Nov 4 will not mean that people will start moving dirt and build-ing dams the morning of Nov 5

It will be a tough slog setting up the various boards com-missions and entities that will eventually govern all of this spending and it will be more involved mdash and political mdash than yoursquod like to believe

mdashDoug Curlee can be reached at dougsdcnncomu

$25BILLION

Cost of Gov Jerry

Brownrsquos plan to

build tunnels

under the Delta

East Countyrsquos San Vicente Dam was recently raised to increase water storage capacity (Courtesy San Diego County Water Authority)

Much of Southern Californiarsquos water originates in the fragile Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Courtesy San Diego County Water Authority)

DougCurleeContributing Editor

4 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

Did you know that most light in proper doses improves health and wellness by enhancing your bodyrsquos ability to heal and replenish For example Sunlight in healthy moderations gives you energy warmth and creates a photostimulation effect internally that promotes natural restoration

It empowers your body to work FOR YOU and is scientifically proven to increase hormone production reduce pain lower blood sugar (diabetes) eliminate toxins and stimulate your immune system

And now you can initiate that same ldquocellularrdquo healing power through low level laser therapymdashsafely from your own home It works to stimulate and fuel your bodyrsquos natural healing process similar to sunlight

Itrsquos 100 safe effective and FDA approved

Low Level Lasers Engage Your Body at the Cellular Level

You learned it in schoolmdashyour body is composed of cells and atoms And those cells need energy to remain healthy So when yoursquore sick or injured it means your cells are sick and injured too And their energy level is reduced to a sick ailing state

And this is exactly where the Low Level Laser worksmdashat the cellular and atomic level Low level laser therapy enhances your bodyrsquos ability to carry electrons that stimulate and re-energize sick injured and damaged cells And it helps improve cell permeability which means your cells are better able to channel the nutrients and material they need for health

Low Level Lasers Trigger Natural Healing

Medications and surgeries are invasive They may introduce infections and other complications while medications can cause allergic reactions and produce side effects that require additional medications as counter measures And all the while add more toxins to your body that bring a whole different set of problems

Low Level Lasers naturally stimulate your body to empower itself by engaging your immune system and energizing your cells to heal themselves They work WITH your bodymdashnot against it

Low Level Lasers Are Safe For Home Use

You donrsquot need to special training to use low level lasers They are perfectly safe to use in the comfort of your home Whether itrsquos a nagging pain from overuse or a more serious medical condition Low Level Lasers promote relief healing and overall improved health

And they can be focused specifically on the area where you need it most for pinpoint effectivenessmdashback neck hands kneesmdashanywhere you suffer pain and injury which is a cell problem

So if you suffer fromhellipbull Backneckjoint pain bull Tendonitis bull Diabetesbull ArthritisRheumatism bull Fibromyalgia bull And more

First 319 callers wersquollinclude a special DVD explaining

this incredible technology

Call now it takes only 30 seconds1-800-303-6923 for a FREE Information packet

Enter Code when calling

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Attend one of ourseminars for a hands

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2231

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sdcnncom 5Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

apartments townhomes con-dominiums and single-family residences

First a child care provider must be licensed by the state Department of Social Services Once a tenant is licensed to pro-vide family child care he or she must give the landlord or property owner 30 daysrsquo written notice of the intent to begin operating the day care service in the rental home The license will include the number of children that the provider is allowed to care for The state license application includes a notice form for landlord notifica-tion which is helpful

That form also explains the renterrsquos right to operate a family day care Landlords or property managers cannot discriminate against a tenant for operating a day care However landlords do have the option of requiring a higher security deposit as long as it does not exceed the maximum allowable under state law

Next proof of liability insur-ance mdash or waivers signed by parents mdash must be shared with landlords Operators of in-home day care are required to fulfill one of three options when it comes to insurance obtain liability insur-ance secure a bond of $300000 or if they choose not to secure

Apartments can serve as day care centers

An increase in the number of working parents has made

home-based day care a service in demand For working par-ents finding good child care is invaluable Child care offered at a residence in a familiar neigh-borhood can be a source of great comfort to working moms and dads

But if you rent your home or apartment can you still be a day care provider

The short answer YesThe right for renters to oper-

ate such a vital service is state law spelled out in the California Health and Safety Code Small family day care facilities are not considered a ldquobusiness use of prop-ertyrdquo so they would be protected under any leases or rental agree-ments that prohibit operating a business out of a rental home

Renters who wish to open a family day care in their home should have little to no conflict if they meet certain conditions follow clear rules and communi-cate the details with their landlord or property manager This applies to rental homes of any kind

AlanPentico

HPV vaccine saves lives

Every year around the world more than 270000 women die

from cervical cancer With more than 85 percent of these deaths in low- and middle-income countries cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide

The ldquopap smearrdquo has been one of the most amazing public

KellyCulwell

Dear editor

Y our cartoon [See Aug 22 issue] about the two white

medical personnel receiving the experimental Ebola vaccine was as ignorant and racist as it gets Both of these medical personnel went to Africa to help putting their lives on the line for a bunch of people they didnrsquot know When they contracted the disease they did not know if the vaccine would save their lives They volunteered to be the guinea pigs If they had decided to first try it on some non-white person and the results had been negative the jerk who produced that racist rant and the idiot that placed it in the La Mesa Courier would have been scream-ing about that

mdashConnie Butt via Facebook

Letters are lightly edited for clarity grammar spelling and style Send letters to jeremysdcnncom u

the insurance or bond they must inform each parent of that decision and obtain affidavits acknowledging that the parents are aware of the lack of insur-ance or bond

Then be a good neighbor The same rules that apply to other residents also apply to child care providers For example control excessive noise that might be disruptive for other tenants and be mindful of activities or behavior that could damage the property

Finally emphasize the ben-efits of having a family home day care in your neighborhood or apartment community Having a day care provider as a neighbor likely means that you have an extra set of eyes on your commu-nity A person whorsquos been hired to care for young children likely will be vigilant about ensuring safe clean surroundings Think of it as an extra neighborhood watch

The California Department of Social Services has a guide for family child care and tenant rights Find it at tinycctenantcare

mdashAlan Pentico is executive director of the San Diego County Apartment Associationu

health interventions over the past 50 years in the US and most developed countries and its use has led to a steep decline in the incidence and deaths from cervi-cal cancer However weak health systems and limited numbers of trained providers have made screening in low- and middle-income countries difficult Even in the US over 11000 cases of cervical cancer were diagnosed in 2010

Following development of the

pap smear the discovery of the link between the human papil-loma virus (HPV) and cervical cancer has proven to be a major advancement in the prevention of this deadly disease Almost all sexually active individuals will be infected with HPV at some point in their lives and some may be repeatedly infected

The peak time for infection is shortly after becoming sexu-ally active The majority of HPV infections resolve spontaneously and do not cause symptoms or disease However persistent infections with specific types

of HPV (usually types 16 and 18) may lead to precancerous lesions If untreated these lesions may progress to cervi-cal cancer

The HPV vaccine was intro-duced eight years ago and the HPV rate among teenage girls in the US has already dropped by 56 percent since then

There is however still a lot of work to be done Nationwide just 33 percent of girls ages 13 to 17 mdash and only 7 percent of boys in the same age group mdash

See VACCINE page 7

6 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 OPINION sdcnncom

Our affiliate offers Gardasil mdash one of two FDA-approved HPV vaccines mdash in all of our health centers

CDC recommends vaccina-tion of girls and boys ages 9 ndash 26

Routine vaccination is a series of three shots over the course of six months

Other immunizations that are important for women of reproductive age mdash both for general health and prior to pregnancy mdash include Hepatitis B influenza Measles Mumps

Our current hot weather reminds me how every

summer at least one dog is found in a hot car mdash and sadly that dog becomes sick or dies

When I hear these stories or see poorly cared for dogs on the streets I often wonder why anyone who cannot adequately care for a pet chooses to become a pet parent

Pets are not just furry cute creatures made to entertain you They are living beings that deserve the same quality of life that you have

You may think yoursquore per-forming a good deed by buying or adopting a pet but yoursquore

Not every pet adoption is a good adoptionJimMadaffer

really doing the pet a disservice if you donrsquot carefully evaluate the responsibilities the job title holds

About 164 million house-holds in the US owned pets in 2012 according to The Humane Society That number grew rap-idly from 40 years ago when only 67 million households had pets

Itrsquos great to know that more and more families are becom-ing pet owners But becoming a pet parent should be thor-oughly considered just as if you were to consider having a child The responsibilities may not be the same but there are some including

Ensuring your dog has a bal-anced diet and exercise regimen

Ensuring your dog is properly bathed and groomed

Ensuring your dog is properly

trainedFurther before you head to a

breeder or animal shelter ask yourself these questions

Do I have the time to commit to a dog

Do I have the resources to ensure a dog will have a quality life

Am I committed to caring for it for the next 10 to 20 years

Do I know the laws governing pet licensing where I live

Irsquom not a veterinarian or a zoologist but I am a reasonable person and choosing to be a pet owner when yoursquore not ready is unreasonable

mdashJim Madaffer is the owner of Madaffer Enterprises a former San Diego Councilmember and the proud pet parent of two bulldogsu

Happy Hour ndash Get $1 off all pints Weekdays Tuesday ndash Friday 1130 am ndash 3 pm Late Night Tuesday ndash Saturday 8 pm to close

Daily Beer and Food Specials Monday $10 craft beer pitchers and 50-cent wings Tuesday $3 taco specials Wednesday Happy hour prices all day ($1 off all pints) Thursday Specialty beer tapped between 4 and 5 pm Friday $4 Potato skins Saturday Rib and ale combo only $10 Sunday $12 craft beer pitchers $5 pulled pork nachos

Welcome to West Coast Barbecue and Brew ndash your neighborhood BBQ pub We have a rotating draft beer selection featuring some of the finest brews around In addition to the tasty BBQ menu items please check out our daily specials food board on our patio including soups sandwiches and salads We are now open for lunch at 1130 am six days a week Tuesday through Sunday We open at 4 pm on Mondays

6126 Lake Murray Blvd La Mesa (located in the Ross Shopping Center)

619-462-3660wwwwestcoastbbqandbrewcom

Tu-Th 1130am-10pm Fri amp Sat 1130 am - 11 pm Sun 1130 - 8pm Mon 4-9 pm

have gotten all three doses of the vaccine (In California the odds are slightly better mdash 43 percent of girls and 13 percent of boys ages 13 to 17 have received all three doses) As a result millions of people are still infected with HPV every year and nearly all sexually active people will con-tract a form of HPV at some point in their lives

Key facts about HPV and the HPV vaccine

70 percent of cervical cancers worldwide are caused by only two types of HPV (16 and 18)

and Rubella (MMR) Tetanus Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) and Varicella for those who have not had chicken pox

Share this article with your friends and family and spread the word about the importance of getting teens vaccinated against HPV

For more information or to make an appointment visit plannedorg or call 1-888-743-7526 (PLAN)

mdashKelly Culwell is the Medical Director for Planned Parenthood of the Southwest For more infor-mation visit plannedorgu

Business Spotlight West Coast Barbeque

Vaccine from page 6

sdcnncom 7Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierOPINION

NEW CLIENT FIRST TIME EXAM

9160 Fletcher ParkwayLa Mesa CA 91942

wwwfletcherhillsanimalhospitalcom

Call to schedule your discounted exam

(619) 463-6604

SPECIAL OFFER COUPON

50 OFF50 OFF

A N I M A L H O S P I TA L

As I write this monthrsquos column my husband and I are sitting

on top of the world in a colleaguersquos cabin on Mt Palomar a weekend getaway from the fall heat wave and pressures of everyday life

We havenrsquot been here in many years The views are stunning of course but what I notice this time are the number and variety of birds mdash birds that are quite different from ones we enjoy feed-ing and watching in La Mesa

Irsquove had my eyes glued to binoc-ulars since we arrived and filled the pond and feeders the owners have placed around the property They also have a number of bird books so I think I rightly identi-fied quite a few species

But there is one elusive fellow I just canrsquot seem to get in my sights His distinctive call is close then far away

Itrsquos time to consult the expert I record the birdrsquos call with my phone and hope to play it for Ed Henry a La Mesa friend who happens to be president of the San Diego Audubon Society an advocacy and educational orga-nization devoted to the welfare of wild birds in our region

Ed is one of the reasons Irsquove recently become so fascinated by local birds He sends out emails almost daily to over 100 inter-ested people showing amazing photos of birds he spots at his La Mesa bird feeders and around San Diego County (or wherever he happens to be traveling at the moment) The variety is astounding

Turns out the San Diego region is one of the richest birding areas in North America with over 500 different species identified here In fact people from all over the world come to see our birds especially during the annual San Diego Bird Festival in March offered by San Diego Audubon

One reason we have a great diversity of birds is because of the unusual variety of habitats in San Diego County mdash from the off-shore islands and extensive coastline to inland valleys and grasslands riverbeds moun-

The Sun Shines Sooner

tains and desert Ed explained This region is also a migratory flyway

Ed was always aware of birds but his recent passion for bird-ing began in 2006 not long after retiring from a 33-year career as an anthropology and ethnomu-sicology professor at San Diego State when he decided to check out the San Diego Bird Festival Hersquos been involved with San Diego Audubon ever since serv-ing as its board president for the last three years

ldquoMy awakening to birds was gradual and occurred through chance contacts with people who knew more than Irdquo he said ldquoI grew up in Nebraska where residents pay most attention to pheasants mdash which happen to be gorgeous as well as good eating and hunting mdash and ducks but also see a few songbirdsrdquo

In Michigan (where he com-pleted his graduate studies) he came in contact with grosbeaks nuthatches and chickadees among others And he became curious about exotic birds he saw in India while doing field research in a small village there

ldquoMoving to San Diego in 1974 I had my first views of long-billed curlews marbled godwits and lit-erally hundreds morerdquo

He and his wife Connie have made La Mesa their home and

enjoyed birds in their backyard here since 1988

ldquoNature is the highest form of artrdquo wrote Emily Dickinson

According to Ed Henry ldquoThe most accessible wild creatures for the majority of Americans are birds In birds we see the shapes colors patterns and movement that constitute a vital part of nature and we hear their sounds toordquo

Wersquore fortunate to live in a place with such rich bio-diversity that is so accessible But San Diego County also contains more rare threatened and endangered species than any comparable land area in the continental United States

Thank goodness there is a passionate dedicated volunteer like Ed Henry to lead San Diego Audubon mdash an organization working every day to protect our birds and other wildlife and to educate and inspire people like me to appreciate not only their beauty but their importance

mdashPam Crooks was the found-ing editor of La Mesa Courier and continues to live in the Mt Helix area Reach her by email at SunShinesSoonergmailcom To learn more or to sign up for the 2015 San Diego Bird Festival visit sandiegoaudubonorgu

A beautiful Yellow-Breasted Chat was spotted recently in the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park (Photo by Ed Henry)

PamCrooks

This La Mesan is a true lsquobird brainrsquo

8 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

A Special

Thank You to My Neighbors

wwwmidwayorg

As we celebrate our 10th anniversary we know San Diegorsquos support has made Midwayrsquos success possible

So for a limited time San Diegans can purchase adult admissions for only $10

Thatrsquos a 50 discount

ldquoThank You San Diegordquo

$10 USS Midway Admission

Just for San Diegans

Bill YoungSafety CorpsLA MESA RESIDENT

Tickets available at wwwmidwayorg and at the ticket booth during museum hours May not be combined with other offers and cannot be resold Proof of ID with a San

Diego zip code required at time of purchase 202

The US Postal Service delivers mail to the front door of most

Uptown residents but that could change if Congress adopts a postal reform bill designed to reduce the cost of delivering mail

Rep Darrell Issa (R-San Diego) has introduced two bills mdash the Postal Reform Act of 2013 and the Secure Delivery for America Act of 2014 mdash that would force the Postal Service to transi-tion away from door delivery at 30 million addresses by 2022 Instead of delivering mail to the door of every residence postal carriers would deliver to curbside mailboxes or cen-tralized cluster boxes that house the mailboxes of multiple residents

That idea is unacceptable to Rep Susan Davis (D-San Diego) who gathered a group of supporters in Talmadge on Aug 27 to denounce the proposal She also introduced a resolution in Congress opposing centralized delivery

ldquoWe donrsquot need thisrdquo Davis said ldquoThe most vulnerable people in our communities will suffer as a resultrdquo

Davis said elderly and disabled citizens would be hurt by the switch to cluster boxes especially if they receive prescriptions by mail because of the increased dis-tance they may be forced to travel to retrieve their mail

Furthermore the cluster boxes are unsightly magnets for theft and vandalism she said

When Davis surveyed commu-nity groups in her district earlier this summer the North Park Planning Committee passed a resolution opposing centralized delivery

ldquoIn the older communities in the mid-city cluster boxes would affect the community character and the historicity of a neighbor-hood like Talmadge which to me looks like Mayberryrdquo said Vicki Granowitz chair of the North Park Planning Committee ldquoItrsquos intact itrsquos beautiful and to have cluster boxes every so often really destroys what these communities look likerdquo

Combined with bus shelters and

No mail at the doorLocal representatives debate

changes to mail delivery

Jeremy OgulEditor

ugly utility boxes cluster boxes would affect property values Granowitz said

ldquoJust think if you would want this in front of your houserdquo she said ldquoDonrsquot do this to us pleaserdquo

The Postal Service has already begun phasing out door delivery in new developments but Issarsquos legislation would essentially make cluster boxes mandatory in many neighborhoods that currently receive door delivery Issarsquos bill

would require the cluster boxes to be placed ldquoin locations that maximize delivery efficiency ease of use for postal patrons and respect for private property rightsrdquo

Rep Scott Peters (D-San Diego) who also spoke at the press conference said that while there are economic challenges that the Postal Service

must address Congress should not get involved in mandating the specific measures the Postal Service should take

Issa disagrees with Davis and Peters

ldquoThe consequence of doing noth-ing to address an Internet-era erosion in the volume of traditional mail delivery is a multi-billion dollar taxpayer funded bailout of the Postal Servicerdquo Issa said ldquoUnfortunately some [representa-tives] holding a press conference and pretending there isnrsquot a prob-lem wonrsquot solve itrdquo

The Postal Reform Act includes exceptions and provisions that would allow seniors and others with physical hardships to keep their door delivery if they already have it and it would give the Postal Service the flexibility to determine where to implement centralized delivery Issa said

ldquoIn reality less than 10 percent of postal customers would see any change under this legislation to their deliveryrdquo Issa said

Despite the financial issues the Postal Service faces the debate over cluster boxes may amount to little more than hot air in the near term Congress only has until Dec 12 to act on legislation in the current session Most of which will be legislative recess Neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate have voted on Issarsquos or Davisrsquos legislationu

Rep Susan Davis speaks in San Diego (Photo by Jeremy Ogul)

ldquoWe donrsquot need this The most vulnerable people in our communities will suffer as a resultrdquo-Rep Susan Davis

sdcnncom 9Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

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EDUCATION

Haunt yourself with contemporary classic horror fiction

Pop culture has a way of show-ing us what our collective

minds love loathe and fear In honor of Halloween I wanted to spend this monthrsquos column looking at the state of popu-lar horror fiction using that to explore the modern American psyche However the only thing this research showed me is that Americans really really love Stephen King

So with that plan foiled I fig-ured Irsquod just recommend some great scary reads past present and near-future

Guillermo del Toro is known primarily for his work in movies but has recently begun writing fiction After bringing us imagi-native films like ldquoPacific Rimrdquo ldquoHellboyrdquo and ldquoPanrsquos Labyrinthrdquo he paired with author Chuck Hogan for a horror trilogy called ldquoThe Strainrdquo

Deciding that seductive brood-ing teen vampires have become passeacute the authors chose to make their vampires ugly mon-sters whose heads split open to bite and drain their victims while vampirism itself is a virus that spreads with the speed of a zombie apocalypse The book series has already been turned into a TV show with its own cult following and that will undoubt-

edly bring more attention to the books all of which are available at the San Diego County Library

The new book Irsquom dying to read is called ldquoHorrorstoumlrrdquo by Grady Hendrix It should hit bookstores (and the library) shortly after I finish typing this If you like your horror with a side of wit and sly

social commentary this is your novel Itrsquos set in a furniture store that bears more than a little resemblance to IKEA where sin-ister and supernatural forces are on the prowl and the poor corpo-rate drones who work there must solve a horrific mystery in order to survive (presumably while fol-

lowing proper corporate protocol and providing excellent customer service) But just as exciting to me the book itself is a parody of an IKEA-style catalog illustrated with furniture schematics and cheery living room photos becom-ing creepier and creepier as the story moves along

Wersquoll end with one of the classics H P Lovecraft This par-anoid reclusive pulp writer from the 1920s was relatively unknown in his day but has become an underground legend His name

is synonymous with foreboding tales of occult rituals evil space gods and of course the descent from reason to madness Taken together his short stories invoke a universe in which humans are insignificant specks whose sanity could be rent asunder if they even began to glimpse the secret powers underlying their existence Lovecraft has dozens of short story collections pick up those containing ldquoThe Call of Cthulhurdquo and ldquoThe Whisperer in the Darknessrdquo Reading any of his stories will leave you feeling unsettled and reluctant to turn off the lights

In conclusion BooFor less-scary costumed fun the

library will be holding its second Star Wars Reads Day from 11 am to 1 pm on Saturday Oct 11 There will be Star Wars-themed crafts games and snacks as well as a costume contest and a visit by local members of the Rebel Legion and 501st Legion devoted Star Wars fans who wear authentic costumes to support community events Last yearrsquos Star Wars Reads Day saw over 125 kids and adults participating so wersquore expecting a great turnout

mdashJake Sexton is librarian at the La Mesa branch of the San Diego County Library Reach him at 619-469-2151 or visit the library at 8074 Allison Aveu

Above The Strain is being adapted to television (Courtesy William Morrow)Left Horrorstoumlr is an innovative horror twist on an IKEA catalog (Courtesy Quirk Books)

JakeSexton

LA MESA READS

10 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

ENTERTAINMENT

La Mesa Village is usually known as a quaint and quiet

part of town but those of us who have been around for a while know therersquos much more to that stretch of La Mesa Boulevard than antique stores and thrift shops

Oktoberfest perhaps the most exciting event hosted in La Mesa each year descends upon the Village for three days over the first weekend in October This year it falls particularly early on Oct 3 ndash 5 with live entertain-ment multiple beer gardens street vendors and more slated to draw the masses

For families venturing to the free event there are carnival games rides and other activities in the Kids Zone (for children under 12) Diverse food options located throughout the 10 blocks of Oktoberfest are an obvious crowd pleaser for all ages Plus the streets are lined with booths of crafts and other products that may inspire an early holiday shopping spree

But itrsquos the big kids who have the most reasons to head to Oktoberfest

The aptly named Big Beer Garden presented by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and the smaller Nebo Drive Beer Garden by the La Mesa Village Merchantrsquos Association are where you will find most of the action at Oktoberfest

The former is located in the Allison Street parking lot (between Pine Street and Palm Avenue) and is home to a large festival stage to go along with the nectar of the hops This beer garden is family-friendly so patrons can feel free to bring their children Pets are not allowed inside the event

Various bands will play the Big Beer Garden all three days pre-senting mostly classic rock lsquonrsquo roll (The Ideas Rock and Roll Trio and The Car Tune Dogs) and some German music (Our Song) This area will also have food options

Good times brewing for annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

mdash including festival favorites like brats and pulled pork sand-wiches mdash to keep partiers fueled throughout the day and night The beer garden will also host a stein-holding contest each eve-ning around 8 pm hosted by Samuel Adams

The Nebo Drive Beer Garden (next to the La Mesa Train Museum) also has a lot to offer Though smaller in scale this adults-only beer garden provides ample enticement with at least three German beers being served It will also host the Bavarian Beer Garden Band on Friday and Saturday These factors will give an authentic feel to this area harkening back to the ldquooriginal Oktoberfest viberdquo according to Bill Dyke of the Bavarian Beer Garden Band

Festivalgoers should note a trol-ley ride to the La Mesa Boulevard stop (near Spring Street) literally drops you right in the middle of the festival Frequent trains going by make public transportation the ideal designated driver for Oktoberfesters ready to imbibe like our German counterparts Popular ride-sharing services are another smart choice for getting to and from La Mesa Trust me mdash you donrsquot want to even attempt to look for parking

In addition to the beer gar-dens and festival food vendors the businesses in and around La Mesa Village will have their doors open to welcome visitors One such spot is Hofferrsquos Cigar Bar which boasts an impressive tap list of craft beers

ldquo[Oktoberfest] brings out a much wilder clientele than we are used to but also a lot of new faces that might have never been in nor heard of usrdquo Hofferrsquos bar manager Ryan Bartman said ldquoSo all in all itrsquos great for businessrdquo

Other businesses along La Mesa Boulevard that should benefit from the increased foot traffic include Konnichiwa Sushi and Bar (bet you didnrsquot know La Mesa Village had sushi) Cosmos Coffee Cafeacute for those needing a caffeine boost to keep going and Trattoria Tiramisu with its authentic Italian dishes and stellar wine list when yoursquove had

enough beers and brats Whether La Mesa is your home

or a place yoursquove never ventured Oktoberfest is the ideal time to enjoy the festival spirit discover the businesses of the village and do the chicken dance like you never have before Whatever you do donrsquot forget to take home a commemorative beer boot

mdashJen Van Tieghem can be reached at jensdcnncomu

JenVan Tieghem

The Tarantino familyrsquos gourmet sausages are always a crowd favorite at La Mesarsquos Oktoberfest a three-day beer and brat extravaganza (Courtesy La Mesa Chamber of Commerce)

La Mesa OktoberfestSchedule of Events

Friday Oct 3Street festival 11 am - 9 pm Big Beer Garden 4 - 1130 pm (last call at 11 pm)The Ideas Rock and Roll Trio 4 - 5 pm The Car Tune Dogs 6 - 10 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden Noon - 9 pm (last call at 830 pm)Bavarian Beer Garden Band 6 - 9 pm

Saturday Oct 4 Street festival 11 am - 9 pm Big Beer Garden 11 am - 1130 pm (last call at 11 pm) Our Song Noon - 4 pmThe Car Tune Dogs 6 - 10 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden 12 - 9 pm (last call at 830 pm)Bavarian Beer Garden Band 2 - 4 pm

Sunday Oct 5 Street festival Noon - 5 pm BIG Beer Garden 1 - 430 pm (last call at 4 pm)Our Song 1 - 4 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden 12 - 430 pm (last call at 4 pm)

Fun FactsVendors Over 250Attendees expected 200000Years of La Mesa Oktoberfest 41 City blocks used forOktoberfest 10Estimated cost for police fire and other city staff time $77000 paid for by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and La Mesa Village Merchants Association

sdcnncom 11Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Jazz

Fridays Charlie Arbelaez Trio at The Rook Free 9 pm TheRookBarcom 7745 University Ave La Mesa

Sundays samdi-ego Jazz Trio at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room Free 2 - 5 pm SanPasqualWinerycom 8364 La Mesa Blvd La Mesa

Oct 15 ldquoThe Music of Will Toddrdquo with the SDSU Chamber Choir Grossmont College Jazz faculty and composerpianist Will Todd at St John of the Cross Catholic Church Suggested donation 730 pm Grossmontedu 8086 Broadway Lemon Grove

PopTuesdays Suzanne Shea and Bob Wade at Bistro Sixty Free 630 to 830 pm BistroSixtySDcom Call and hold your table 619-287-8186 5987 El Cajon Blvd College Area

Wednesdays Westside Inflection at Riviera Supper Club Free 8 pm RivieraSupperClubcom 7777 University Ave La Mesa

Fridays Nathan Welden at Bistro Sixty Free 630 pm BistroSixtySDcom 5987 El Cajon Blvd College Area

Classical

Oct 16 Youth Choir of San Diego at Cuyamaca College Price $8 ($5 for students) 7 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Oct 17 Cuyamaca College Choir at Cuyamaca College Price $8 ($5 for students) 730 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Oct 31 Quatuor Mosaiumlques Classical String Quartet at Cuyamaca College Price $10 730 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Alternative

Sept 27 TaKillya at Chico Club Free 9 pm ChicoClub1940com 7366 El Cajon Blvd La Mesa

Oct 4 Baja Bugs at Riviera Supper Club Free 9 pm RivieraSupperClubcom 7777 University Ave La Mesa

Oct 31 Fifth Annual Halloween Monster Bash with The Farmers at Parkway Bar Free 9 pm TheParkwayBarcom 9188 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa

Other

Thursdays (through Oct 30) Open Mic Acoustic Nights at Parkway Bar Free 7 pm TheParkwayBarcom 9188 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa

Sept 27 Little Kings at Hooleyrsquos Free 9 pm Hooleyscom 5500 Grossmont Center Dr 277 La Mesa

Oct 18 Oktoberfest featuring The Bavarian Beergarden Band at Butcherrsquos Brewing Free 4-10 pm ButchersBrewingcom 9962 Prospect Ave Suite F Santee

Oct 18 Jefferson Washington at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room Free 7 pm SanPasqualWinerycom 8364 La Mesa Blvd La Mesa

Bands venues and music-lovers please submit listings for this calendar by emailing Jensdcnncomu

to 46 feet or about four stories So the Kitzmans have hired

development consultants Urban Housing Partners to convince city leaders to change the zoning on the property to allow build-ing heights up to 110 feet The zoning the Kitzmans are asking for could accommodate up to 363 dwelling units 61000 square feet of commercial retail space 146000 square feet of commer-cial office space or a hotel of up to 250 guest rooms

The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the pro-posed zoning changes on June 18 They made no decision at the time because the Kitzmansrsquo co-applicant American Legion Post 282 announced they were withdrawing their support for the zoning change

The Kitzmans through their South Baltimore LLC resub-mitted their application over the summer The Planning Commission will hear the new and reduced application at a meeting at City Hall on Wednesday Oct 1 at 7 pm

Residents east and west of the project site have been some of the most vocal critics of the proposal to rezone the property

Don Bell whose house on El Capitan Drive overlooks the Park Station property said he and his neighbors are not against redeveloping and improving the property

ldquoItrsquos blight down thererdquo Bell said

What they are against how-ever is rezoning the property

ldquoThe problem really is that the Planning Commission is going to give them a blank checkrdquo he said

Nearby neighbors know and accept that change is inevitable but the added traffic and parking problems that would come from a 10-story building would be unac-ceptable and detrimental to the community said Suda House who also has a view of the Park Station property from her home on El Capitan

ldquoDevelop the heck out of it but keep it below 46 feetrdquo House said

One vocal supporter of the Kitzmanrsquos plan has been Jack Rowell a La Mesa native who now sells real estate across the San Diego region Any new homes that can be added to the La Mesa market will be a good thing Rowell said

ldquoI have a bunch of [potential

buyers] who want La Mesa but itrsquos a fight over every prop-erty especially things under $500000rdquo Rowell said ldquoPeople want the La Mesa schools People want the convenience of La Mesardquo

The only other place where housing prices are compara-ble for high-quality schools is Poway and Poway doesnrsquot have La Mesarsquos Village or its prox-imity to regional destinations Rowell said

Rowell said he understands why nearby neighbors donrsquot want their views to change but therersquos no reason to believe home values will suffer with an increase in supply

ldquoTheyrsquore talking about 300 to 500 condo unitsrdquo Rowell said ldquoThatrsquos like spitting in the oceanrdquo

For Aaron Amerling orga-nizer of the ldquoFight Park Station La Mesa ndash No More Than Fourrdquo Facebook page the colorful renderings of Park Station are a Trojan Horse designed to mis-lead people about what the site could become

ldquoThe Kitzmans do not have the funds to develop thatrdquo Amerling said ldquoThe whole idea is to upzone the land because that improves the resale valuerdquo

If city leaders approve the new zoning the Kitzmans or a new owner could build something completely different than what theyrsquove been advertising

City leaders have been cau-tious about commenting directly on the proposal only issuing vague statements about main-taining the character of the downtown village

Regardless of the Planning Commissionrsquos decision next week the final decision on whether to rezone the property will be made by the full City Council at a later dateu

LOCAL NEWSGen-X in La MesaGive peace a chanceGenevieve Suzuki

G iving peace a chance seems more complicated than it

should beWith all of the strife going on

in this world peace seems to be an almost impossible proposition The appalling brutal treatment of American hostages at the hands of ISIS members resulted in many of us feeling complete repulsion at the state of global affairs

I know I felt sick Even worse I began to feel hopeless

So when Anne Pacheco a member of the Interfaith Council of La Mesa asked me to attend the first International Day of Peace Sept 21 at Aztec Park her invitation stirred something in my soul The day which touted ldquoThe Right of Peoples to Peacerdquo would be a joint effort among people of most of the worldrsquos religions including Judaism Christianity Islam Buddhism Hinduism Native American and Baharsquoi

And although I promised Anne I would attend I thought it was an awfully lofty goal Really All of these people gathering for peace on a Sunday a day many hold holy in their churches

But I was pleasantly surprised when approximately 200 people

showed up with chairs umbrellas hats and hearts at Aztec Park that mild sunny day Many of us pur-chased sky blue scarves from the Sisters of Saint Francis to wear in solidarity for peace Shucks even Mayor Art Madrid wore a scarf over a yellow shirt

I admit however getting my husband Derek to don the blue scarf wasnrsquot easy In fact it wasnrsquot easy getting him there in the first place

Itrsquos not that Derek is against world peace (even though our daughter to this day refuses to add that request to her nightly prayers) Itrsquos more that Sunday is for football in Derekrsquos world and this day of peace was causing him to miss hooting and hollering for his fantasy football team

Nevertheless Derek relented and accompanied me and our daughter to the event This com-promise is one from which most of the world could learn Is Derek a community activist No but Derek is focused on the big pic-ture namely a happy wife and home Focusing on the big pic-ture would help many find peace in their lives locally and globally

As I sat there amid others dedi-cated to peace and non-violence I realized the one common emo-tional positive is the future We all want a better future for our fami-lies and our children We donrsquot

want to leave behind a legacy of anger brutality and war

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we said together at the beginning of the program

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we insisted again

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we vowedAs Rebecca Littlejohn of Vista

La Mesa Christian Church said ldquoWe are gathered in hope today for hope is how we surviverdquo

Thanks to this special inaugural day I was reminded of how impor-tant it was for me to have hope and that reminder allowed me to place aside that earlier feeling of hopelessness conjured by evil deeds in another land After all if I allow myself to fall hopeless I have nothing to give my child On the other hand if I cling to hope it will then be passed on to my daughter who would hold that ideal in her mind and mdash hopefully mdash see it to fruition

As the Native American prayer during the program stated ldquoGive us the wisdom to teach our chil-dren to love to respect and to be kind to each other so that they may grow with peace in mindrdquo

mdashGenevieve A Suzuki is editor emeritus of the La Mesa Courier She continues to live and practice family law in La Mesa Her web-site is sdlawyersuzukicomu

Find out what your home is worth on-line

Visit wwwsandiegohouseareacomOr scan this QR Code with your phone now

Tom Bowker Coldwell Banker West BRE01024513

A rendering by Park Station opponents shows the potential scale of buildings (Courtesy Aaron Amerling)

Park Station from page 1

12 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

Music professorrsquos jazz album wins acclaim

Follow your passionThat has been a guiding

principal for Grossmont College music instructor and jazz bassist extraordinaire Justin Grinnell who ditched plans to study mathematics shortly after enrolling at San Diego State University back in 1999 and meeting musicians ldquowho were doing music all the timerdquo

Good thing Grinnell has become an integral part of a vibrant Grossmont College music program and gigs as a pit orchestra member at myriad venues including the Old Globe La Jolla Playhouse and the San Diego Civic Theatre for a number of Tony Award-winning musicals

And now his debut disc the Justin Grinnell Quartetrsquos Without You has been nomi-nated for a San Diego Music Award for best jazz album

Grinnell is no stranger to awards He is a member of the Danny Green Trio which won the 2009 San Diego Music Award for Best Jazz Album for its debut CD The triorsquos second release A Thousand Ways Home reached No 17 on the Jazz Week Charts for national radio airplay after its 2012 debut

ldquoIrsquom doing what I loverdquo said Grinnell who is on track to earn his Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern California next spring ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the col-lege or university levelrdquo

Grinnell has earned praise from the best in the business

ldquoNot only is Justin a fantastic person but he is such an accom-plished musician a great sight reader which is so important because we do all kinds of tricky music and having someone who is able to read so well is an invalu-able asset and hersquos adept in a lot of different musical stylesrdquo said critically-acclaimed Jazz guitar-ist and composer Peter Sprague ldquoHe also has just such a wonder-ful spirit when it comes to playing music Irsquom really happy to know him and being able to play with him from time to timerdquo

A native of Santa Rosa California Grinnell initially planned to study mathematics and become an engineer But after enrolling in a few music classes at San Diego State and jamming with newfound friends he switched gears It was while he was at SDSU that Grinnell began gigging with future Grossmont College Music Department chair Derek Cannon and met his future wife Melonie a pianist who also teaches music at Grossmont College

With both a bachelorrsquos and masterrsquos degree in jazz perfor-mance from San Diego State in hand Grinnell began working in 2005 as an adjunct music profes-

sor at Grossmont College He also serves as an adjunct music professor at the University of San Diego and taught part time at Southwestern College from 2008 to 2011

ldquoGrossmont College is specialrdquo Grinnell said ldquoIt feels like family here Everyone is part of a com-munity that is working together on behalf of our students doing our best to help them succeed in a business thatrsquos hard to make a living in That camaraderie is pricelessrdquo

Grinnellrsquos passion serves him well in a business where talent alone often isnrsquot enough to sup-port a family

ldquoI tell my students all the time that if theyrsquore looking for job security donrsquot look at a career in jazz musicrdquo Grinnell said adding that he makes a living cobbling together his adjunct

professorships private lessons and regular performances

Grinnell and his wife are juggling their careers while rais-ing two young sons His debut album falls into the category of West Coast-flavored straight-ahead jazz He wrote six of the nine tunes on the disc with the remaining three being covers Especially tasty are the origi-nal ldquoHit the Brakesrdquo and a jazz cover of The Beatlesrsquo Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite

Grinnell however is comfort-able playing a wide variety of styles that range from classical to funk He is a member of the Brazilian jazz-inspired Danny Green Trio (Danny Green also teaches at Grossmont College) and the modern jazz group ARC Trio among others

The Justin Grinnell Quintet will be playing three concerts at Grossmont College in the coming weeks Shows are sched-uled for Sept 28 Oct 26 and Nov 30 in Building 26 Room 220 at 630 pm A full itiner-ary of upcoming performances around the region can be found at JustinGrinnellcom

The San Diego Music Awards take place Oct 6 at Humphreys By The Bay on San Diegorsquos Shelter Island

mdashDavid Ogul writes on behalf of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Email him at ogulcommunica-tionsgmailcomu

ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the college or university levelrdquo-Justin Grinnell

LOCAL NEWS

Justin Grinnell has just released his debut jazz album which has been nominated for a San Diego Music Award (Photo by Jon Naugle)

DavidOgul

sdcnncom 13Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

AUDIT PENDING

wwwsdcnncom

123 Camino de la Reina Suite 202 EastSan Diego CA 92108

P 6195197775 bull F 619-519-7840

1

2

3

4

5

Great Value Proven Results

Community NewsNumber one source of community information Hyper-local news and features In print and online updated daily

Market SaturationCombined distribution of door-to-door delivery high traffic locations and news racks Over 200000 readers

Award Winning JournalismProud recipient of numerous ldquoExcellence in Journalism AwardsrdquoRegular recipient of local and national press awards

Audited DistributionAudited by one of the nationrsquos largest newspaper auditing firms Circulation Verification Council (CVC)Guaranteed distribution

For advertising call(619) 961-1958

mikesdcnncom

1 2 3

4 5

23000 Distribution Bi-WeeklyZip Codes 92103 92104 92105 92116

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15000 Distribution Bi-WeeklyServing San Diegorsquos LGBT Community

Distributed Countywide

up along the way include thousands of football cards (both Topps and Fleer) player and coach jerseys jackets personal letters autographed footballs bobbleheads pins programs team photographs and much much more He even has a life-sized bust of Chargers wide receiver Lance Alworth which is a story in itself just ask him

This native sonrsquos collection is not limited to the San Diego Chargers but what he has gathered about them is more than impressive His comprehensive collection also includes items from the Los Angeles Chargers and every other football team that played during the AFL time period

Over the years hersquos met and interviewed dozens of players coaches and families becoming close with many of them Two of his larger per-sonal collections are of Gilman the Chargers first coach and Alworth

In 2004 he wrote ldquoCharging Through the AFL Los Angeles and San Diego Chargers football in the 1960srdquo He followed that up with ldquoBombs Away Air Coryelle and the San Diego Chargersrdquo in 2006 Both books rely heavily on interviews and photographs of their respective periods

A few years ago Tobias decided to channel his love for the AFL through his website TalesFromTheAmericanFootballLeaguecom Here Tobias shares his many interviews of the past runs a blog where he opines on the latest news of players related to the AFL deposits videos stats historical data photos and even has a forum section where others can share their love for the league and its players

He said his goal with the site is to ldquoedutain (educate and entertain) football lovers with stories about all things AFLrdquo To support his internet endeavor hersquos also taken up social media and can be followed on twitter at TalesfromtheAFL and on two locations on Facebook ldquoTales from the American Football Leaguerdquo and ldquoI loved the 1960s Chargersrdquo (a public group) On the latter he shares vintage photographs of the team and banters with the families of players He shares links back to his blog and web-site on both pages

His many follow-ers recently noticed Tobias absent from posting for a time Thatrsquos because he recently gave up approximately 85 percent of his collec-tion to pursue his dream of opening a lacrosse store in La Mesa with an old friend Despite months of hard work that opportunity never panned out Now the five pallets of blood sweat and tears that he consigned to an auction house a few months ago are sitting in a warehouse somewhere in the Midwest being individually categorized and valued in preparation for a national Internet-based auction block next spring

ldquoI was trying to trade one passion for anotherrdquo Tobias said ldquoIf Irsquod known it would have just been trading one passion for money I never would have done it but it is what it isrdquo

Deciding what to keep was a challenge but Tobias said it came down not to which collections were worth the most money but which provided him the most enjoyment

The two-dozen binders still resident on his shelves are neatly filled to the brim with pages of plastic inserts containing football cards with most every card there signed

Tobias said he pulls each binder down two or three times per week just to look through them Inside are vast collections of football cards Many are duplicated but they are categorized in dozens of ways Some collections are still incomplete mdash like his 1965 collection of every card Topps put out for that year he is only missing two out of 176 cards mdash and each time he removes that binder from the shelf he strategizes new ways he can complete that collection There is a story behind every collection and another for every card

He has some cards that hersquos certain do not exist anywhere else and he has numerous cards that had the wrong playerrsquos image printed on them in the publishing housersquos haste to get them out in advance of the new season Hersquos reached out to many of the players over the years sending along his books and asking for autographs and he has the response letters to prove it

In the wake of his failed business attempt Tobias finds himself facing a forgotten challenge looking for work

ldquoI havenrsquot had to do that since graduating collegerdquo he said ldquoFor now Irsquom just working in the back yard putting in a sprinkler system and taking my mind off of it

ldquoSan Diego can be a tough place to live in if you are a sports histo-rianrdquo he said ldquoItrsquos probably time for me to find another line of workrdquo

mdashMorgan M Hurley can be contacted at morgansdcnncomu

Todd Tobiasrsquos collections include signed football cards from the 1965 Chargers and other rare collectibles such as a bust of Lance Alworth (Photos by Morgan Hurley)

Football from page 1

14 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

CALENDAR

Prescription drug collectionSaturday Sept 27

Get rid of your unwanted expired or leftover prescription drugs at this National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day event hosted by the La Mesa Police Department and the US Drug Enforcement Administration The effort is designed to prevent prescription drug abuse Drop your drugs no questions asked from 10 am to 2 pm at the police station parking lot 8085 University Ave For other drop off locations or more informa-tion visit deadiversionusdojgov and click ldquoGot Drugsrdquo

Free electronic waste recyclingSaturday and Sunday Sept 27 ndash 28

State law prohibits disposal of certain electronic items in the trash because many of them con-tain hazardous substances The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce is hosting this free event to help residents properly recycle old televisions computers print-ers VCRs DVD players copiers scanners fax machines toner car-tridges and other approved items Microwave ovens can be disposed of for a service fee of $5 Items will be collected from 9 am to 4 pm in the parking lot between Fuddruckers restaurant and Chuze Fitness at the Grossmont Shopping Center 5500 Grossmont Center Dr The following items will not be accepted refrigerators washers dryers fluorescent light bulbs and household batteries For more details on items that will be accepted visit lamesachambercom

Generational diversity workshopTuesday Oct 2

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series profes-sional development consultant Victoria Hankins will lead a dis-cussion on the multigenerational workplace With four genera-tions working side by side in the American workforce challenges often arise regarding communi-cation styles differing workplace values and misconceptions about workplace motivators Hankins will outline the differences between the four generations and provide tips on how to effectively work in cross-generational teams The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 1030 to 1130 am in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

OktoberfestFriday through Sunday Oct 3 4 and 5

See our article on page 11 in this monthrsquos La Mesa Courier for all the details on the annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

La Mesa City Council Candidates ForumTuesday Oct 7

La Mesa mayoral candidates Art

Madrid and Mark Arapostathis will join City Council candidates Patrick Dean Mary England Pete Gregorovic and Guy McWhirter at this forum hosted and moder-ated by the Community Outreach Ministry of La Mesa First United Methodist Church in the church social hall at 4690 Palm Ave A meet-and-greet will begin at 630 pm The program begins at 7 pm All are welcome

Free blood pressure screeningTuesday Oct 7

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center 9000 Wakarusa St in La Mesa No appointment neces-sary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Senior ExpoThursday Oct 9

The city of La Mesa organizes this free event to help connect senior citizens and their families to the most helpful senior service pro-viders including La Mesa Police Department Crime Prevention Aging and Independence Services Metropolitan Transit System ldquo211rdquo Sharp Senior Resource Center Meals on Wheels DMV Senior Ombudsman Program SDGampE Medical Baseline Program Elderhelp Jewish Family Services Yellow Cab California Telephone Access Program HICAP San Diego

County District Attorneyrsquos Elder Abuse Unit and more The event will be held from 830 am to 130 pm at the La Mesa Community Center 4975 Memorial Dr A shuttle will be available from the Spring Street trolley station Organizers are asking seniors to RSVP by Oct 3 by calling 619-667-1322

Depression and bipolar disorder screeningFriday Oct 10

Dr William Brock will pres-ent a free educational seminar on the signs and symptoms of depression bipolar disorder and other anxiety disorders from 1130 am to 1230 pm Adults ages 60 and older can receive free anonymous screen-ings from Sharp Grossmont Behavioral Health Services from 1030 am to 1130 am and from 1230 pm to 130 pm The seminar and screenings will be held at the Grossmont Healthcare Districtrsquos Herrick Library at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are suggested but not required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

ldquoGot Plansrdquo Career and college fairSaturday Oct 11

High school students and their parents are invited to meet with admissions representatives from public and private universities community colleges vocational

schools and the military at this annual event organized by the Grossmont Union High School District and the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Free workshops will provide information on financial aid changes to SAT and ACT requirements transfer options between two-year colleges and four-year universities and other career topics Some workshops will be offered in Spanish and Arabic The fair is open from 1 to 4 pm at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For more information call Jason Martinez at 619-593-2713

Bunco BashSaturday Oct 11

Soroptimist International of Lemon Grove hosts this special autumn-themed Bunco event to raise money for the grouprsquos projects to help women and chil-dren in our community For $20 participants get three rounds of Bunco a door prize ticket and complimentary fall snacks and dessert Wine will be available for purchase Bunco winners receive gift baskets and raffle prizes will also be offered The event will be held from 1 to 4 pm at St John of the Cross Knights of Columbus Hall at Broadway and Columbus Drive in Lemon Grove Reservations are required Contact Gloria Ferreira at 619-466-3699 or email her at soroptgloriagmailcom

Pooch in the ParkSaturday Oct 11

Kiwanis Club of La Mesa and the Human Relations Advisory Commission will host this com-munity get-together from 9 am to noon at Harry Griffen Regional Park 9550 Milden St For $20 pet owners can enter up to two dogs into a contest show for a chance to win in one of five categories or the ldquobest in showrdquo trophy Raffle prizes giveaways and other demon-strations will round out the morning For more informa-tion contact Glenna Boemen at gab11853aolcom

Fair trade gift fair Sunday Oct 12

The St Martin of Tours Parish Hall will become a world bazaar featuring unique and handcrafted fair trade gifts deacutecor apparel and jewelry from artisans in developing countries from 8 am to 1 pm As they browse the displays created by local vendors who sell fair trade products shoppers will be able to sample or purchase fair trade refreshments including choco-late tea coffee bananas soda and Ben and Jerryrsquos ice cream The parish hall is at 7710 El Cajon Blvd in La Mesa Call 619-466-3241 for additional information

See CALENDAR page 22

sdcnncom 15Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierCALENDAR

Telephone DirectoryPolice non-emergency line 619-667-1400Fire non-emergency line 619-667-1461Animal Control 619-667-7536Graffiti removal 619-667-7560Weed abatement 619-667-1465Traffic signal maintenance 619-667-1166Streetlight maintenance 619-667-1450

Mayor Art Madrid 619-667-1100City Councilmembers 619-667-1106

EDCO 619-287-7555Helix Water District 619-466-0585Helix Water after hours emergency 619-466-3234

Gov Jerry Brown 916-445-2841US Sen Barbara Boxer 619-239-3884US Sen Dianne Feinstein 619-231-9712US Rep Susan Davis 619-280-5353State Sen Joel Anderson 619-596-3136State Assemblymember Shirley Weber 619-531-7913

Community titan Jerry Fazio announces plans to retire

A fter 35 years with the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County

Jerry Fazio has announced his retirement

Faziorsquos last day on the job as executive director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation will be Oct 24 His official retirement date following vacation will be Dec 4 three days after his 35th anniversary with the youth organization that has served hundreds of thousands of young people in the East County since its founding in 1961

Since joining the organization on Dec 1 1979 Fazio has served in several executive positions with the Girlsrsquo Club and Boys amp Girls Clubs He has also done two stints mdash the most recent of which began in July 2008 mdash as execu-tive director of the foundation a nonprofit fundraising entity

Faziorsquos honors during his career have included El Cajon Citizen of the Year in 1992 Boys amp Girls Clubs Pacific Region Executive of the Year in 2006 and National Executive Director of the Year from Boys amp Girls Clubs of America in 2007 He is known throughout San Diego for his friendly smile and fund-raising passion on behalf of the organization

ldquoHe is the instantly recog-nizable fundraiser and pitch man for our organizationrdquo said Jack Doyle board president of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation ldquoDuring his 35 years Jerry has steered the development of our new and updated facilities in El Cajon Lakeside Santee and La Mesa He leaves us a legacy to be proud of in East County We wish him well as he moves into retirementrdquo

Faziorsquos decision to retire was prompted by recent good news from doctors that he is cancer-free five years after beginning his battle against colon cancer the same disease that led to the 2008 death of his first wife Nancy

ldquoWhile preparing for my cancer

SDCNN Staff

tests I indulged in a little specu-lation about how I might handle the news whether good or badrdquo Fazio said ldquoI concluded that no matter what after 35 years the time has come for me to retire I will concentrate on my faith my health my grandchildren and my gorgeous wife Melissa And if an opportunity comes along to help a good community cause I might just do that toordquo

Faziorsquos recent work with the foundation has focused on an $89 million fundraising effort called the La Mesa Capital Campaign The campaignrsquos goal is to build a new clubhouse in La Mesa reno-vate an existing teen center in the city and fund an endowment to operate both facilities

Forrest Higgins CEO of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County will add the role of campaign coordinator to his job with the assistance from staff According to Higgins more than $5 million for the La Mesa Capital Campaign has been raised during Faziorsquos leadership

ldquoJerry has been integral part of the success and growth of the Boys amp Girls Club of East Countyrdquo Higgins said ldquoHis dedi-cation and passion to the youth and families of East County will be greatly missedrdquo

Since 1961 the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County have been meeting the developmental needs of children and youth The orga-nizationrsquos mission statement ldquoTo inspire and enable all young people especially those who need us most to become responsible caring productive citizensrdquou

Jerry Fazio (Courtesy Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County)

notice to which the couple didnrsquot respond in time to renew their five-year lease Katie said

The next they heard they had to close the bar by Nov 1

ldquoI truly believe that when one door closes another one opensrdquo says Katie Halvin who runs the bar with her husband Doug ldquoAs poignant as it is to lose the bar I know we lost it because we didnrsquot pay attention when we should haverdquo

For the past five years Katie Halvinrsquos life has been intertwined with the bar Her first date with now-husband Doug landed her there mdash an Internet connection that led to a meet up in Harry Griffen Park

ldquoWe talked for a while and then he took me to his neighborhood hangout to have a beer and shoot some poolrdquo Katie recalls Katie was retiring from the Navy as a chief torpedo man and she was ready to settle down again ldquoWe got married at the Carlton Oaks [Country Club] mdash the whole bar was thererdquo

Before long Katie and Doug took over the bar which is leased from the Ross Family Trust Calls and emails to the property man-ager were not returned

ldquoWhen we took it over there were drugs gangs uglinessrdquo she said ldquoI wonrsquot put up with thatrdquo

What was left was a band of devoted regulars a tradition of small local live music and soon local art on the walls and events supporting local artists on the calendar

Cathryn Beeks the local music guru from 1021 KPRI radio began working with Halvin in November to book homegrown and up-and-coming acts at the bar mdash which led to notable shows from the Kilborn Alley Blues Band Roni Lee and many others

ldquoItrsquos very sad that the bar is closing Itrsquos run by very special people and there isnrsquot a venue like this in San Diegordquo Beeks said ldquoI found out about them because a lot of my friends were play-ing there They had a very loyal group of musicians before I ever showed uprdquo

The Parkway is also home to a very popular and solidly booked open mic night run by local singer-songwriter Jessica Hull

The Farmers local legends who evolved from the Beat Farmers also play regularly The live music will continue intermittently with the Farmers playing the closing

night Halloween party on Oct 31For Katie Halvin the closing

isnrsquot the end Property manager Aaron Dean intends to redevelop the strip mall where the Parkway now stands into a restaurant with a full bar and microbrewery and include an outdoor music venue

ldquoHe contacted me and hired me to be the director of enter-tainment at the new venuerdquo she said ldquoThey hope to start con-struction in December and finish it by August 2015rdquo ldquoOne side of my brain is ecstatic with oppor-tunityrdquo she said ldquoThe other feels the sadness of this lossrdquo

Meanwhile the Halvins are looking around in the area to find another place to open a bar like the Parkway

ldquoItrsquos our regulars Irsquom really worried aboutrdquo she said ldquoSome are at a point where most of their friends and family are gone and we are their community and fellowship We know who has cancer who has a new baby we know who to check on if they donrsquot show uprdquo

mdashMarty Graham is a freelance writer Email her at martygra-hamcoxnetu

Parkway from page 1

Sycuan Resort and Casino

For exciting casino action right in your own backyard therersquos nowhere closer than Sycuan Casino With Vegas-style gaming scrumptious dining options live headliner entertainment and nearby golf resort yoursquoll find your-self coming back again and again

You can choose from 2000 video amp reel slots as well as video poker For you card players there are more than 40 tables to play Blackjack ThreendashCard amp FourndashCard Poker Sycuanndashstyle craps and roulette

Enjoy the fresh air in the nonndashsmoking room with more than 350 slot machines 9 gaming tables Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet and a Poker Room with daily tourna-ments ndash all smokendashfree

For your dining pleasure Sycuan offers five different res-

taurant options to tempt your taste buds For those looking for a variety of delectable options Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet is an all-you-can-eat feast featuring slow-roasted Prime Rib buttery crab legs and over 100 fresh selec-tions and delicious dessert bar There isnrsquot a bad seat in the house at GameDay Sports Bar amp Grill where you can catch the big game on 39 large screen televisions 16 beers on tap with full cocktail selection delicious food menu and 29 bar-top video poker machines to play while you root on your team

With excellent acoustics and state-of-the-art sound and light-ing Sycuan Live amp Up Close is San Diegorsquos premiere venue for live entertainment Bringing exciting crowd pleasing acts from all musical genres therersquos something for everyone on their concert calendar

Just a short drive nearby Sycuan Golf Resort offers San Diegorsquos only 54-hole golf facility Exciting course play includes

3007 Dehesa RdEl Cajon CA 92019800-457-5568sycuanresortcom

mature tree-lined fairways eleva-tion changes water features and impeccable greens No matter if yoursquore a seasoned player or a first-timer the two challenging 18-hole championship golf courses and fun 18-hole par 3 course are guaranteed to give you unforget-table experiences from beginning to end To complete your stay-cat-ion enjoy one of their 100 spacious hotel rooms all recently remodeled and offer beautiful views of the golf courses pools and private putting greens If golf isnrsquot in your plans you can pamper yourself with a relaxing spa service

Not only is Sycuan the closest casino to downtown they offer free shuttle bus rides from a number of convenient locations throughout San Diego County For more infor-mation please visit Sycuancom

Guests must be 18 or older to enter casino 21 or older to enter theatre and Sports Bar Please play responsibly

Get away for the day at Sycuan CasinohellipReal Friendly Real Closeu

16 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

Short-term hands-on programs

Half-day classes 4 days a week

Monthly payment plans available

wwwtheaccountingacademycom

PETSlsquoOh where oh where has my little dog gonersquoSariReis

The only thing more devas-tating to a pet parent than

when their furry kid is missing is to have them never return Yet this sad scenario occurs every day Walk through any neighborhood and you will see the signs posted on trees and telephone poles ldquoMissing Our beloved dog Skippyrdquo These heart-rending pleas for help are always accompanied by a photograph of a sweet furry face and the offer of a reward for their return

As pet parents one of our pri-mary responsibilities is to keep our pets safe To do this we need to keep them securely confined in our homes our backyards or on leashes If your dog has access to the backyard be certain it is entirely fenced in with no poten-tial escape routes Make sure all gates are locked when you or anyone else goes in or out Inform pool service people landscap-ers or gardeners that you have a dog in the yard and the gate must be secured at all times Be particularly careful when enter-ing or leaving your home Open doors slowly to ensure a cat or dog is not lurking nearby ready to make a quick escape Never leave the door open for any length of time Even an indoor kitty may be curious if the door is left open for a minute or two Tell visitors cleaning ladies and anyone else who may have access to your home that you have pets and they are not to be let out

Some people like to give their dogs off-leash time on city streets in their neighborhoods They believe their pup is well-trained and will come on command and not run away But the sight of a

squirrel or stray cat can waylay the best trained dog and send them on a chase Many of these dogs never make it back home

There are also those feline parents who believe it is essen-tial to a catrsquos well-being for them to investigate and play outdoors Although the kitties may enjoy outdoor time it is very danger-ous With rattlesnakes coyotes stray dogs and traffic many out-door kitties never make it home again and soon become one of those sad notices posted on a tree

Even with the best inten-tions our pets may still make an escape Your best opportunity in getting them back is to ensure they can be identified Put an ID

tag on their collar listing your name and phone number and microchip them Although there are numerous companies that offer microchips and monitoring services one of the best is ldquoHome Againrdquo If you do microchip your pet remember to notify the man-ufacturer if you move or change your phone number Although the cost of micro-chipping is very reasonable many shelters and veterinary clinics hold spe-cial micro-chipping days so you can get your pets done for a dis-counted price Having your pet micro-chipped greatly increases the potential of getting him home again Can you actually put a price tag on that

ldquoHome Againrdquo stated that one out of three pets will go missing during their lifetime Make sure that one isnrsquot yours

mdashSari 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 missionvalley-petsittingcomu

One out of three pets will

go missing during their

lifetime

Lucille a 5-year-old spayed Labrador RetrieverAustralian Cattle Dog mix is

an energetic lady with tons of love to give her new family She has a friendly personality with everyone she meets and loves to learn new tricks She already knows commands such as sit down shake crawl beg and is currently learning how to wave ldquobye-byerdquo She is very treat-motivated and eager to please

She is very smart and outgoing and has gotten along well with other dogs on social walks This silly girl is always smiling and ready for a new adventure Born a true athlete she would love to participate in future training and would make an excellent workout partner Adequate exercise and mental stimulation are a must for this spirited lady

Lucille will do best in an active home with older children or adults She has a lot of love to give and may benefit from having another dog in the family as long as she meets them first to make sure theyrsquore a good match

Her adoption fee includes her spay current vaccinations permanent microchip identification a certificate for a free veterinary exam 30 days of complimentary medical insurance and a license for residents of Oceanside or Vista

Lucille is available for adoption at the San Diego Humane Society 5500 Gaines St in San Diego To learn more about Lucille call 619-299-7012u

Adopt a pet Looking for a home

LucilleBreed Labrador Retriever Australian Cattle Dog mixAge 5 years old Gender Female (spayed)Colors Black and WhiteID 142265Adoption Fee $9500

ADOPTION HOURSWeekdays 11 am ndash 6 pm Weekends 11 am ndash 5 pm

SD Humane Society amp SPCA5500 Gaines St (92110)

619-299-7012 | sdhumaneorg

(ThinkStock)

sdcnncom 17Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Foothiller FootstepsAdvanced Placement curriculum exposes students to college-level study

Helix HighlightsMaking students college-ready

Connie and LynnBaer

JenniferOsborn

A parent of a Helix Charter High School student once

noted that her daughter was never asked ldquoAre you going to collegerdquo Instead she was asked ldquoWhere are you going to collegerdquo A subtle difference in wording but a vast difference in meaning

Helixrsquos mission states ldquoHelix Charter High School provides a comprehensive education that prepares all students to gradu-

ate college-ready and equipped to reach their personal and aca-demic potentialrdquo

While the belief at Helix is not that every graduate needs to attend college in order to be suc-cessful it is definitely our goal to ensure that every graduate has the option to continue their edu-cation if they so choose

For the class of 2014 82 per-cent of Helix graduates stated they planned to attend college Forty-five percent went directly to a four-year college and 37 percent planned to attend two-

year institutions Approximately 12 percent attend University of California schools and 22 per-cent attend San Diego State or other California State University campuses

Support classroom projectsHave you heard of Donors

Choose Donors Choose is an online charity started by a class-room teacher from the Bronx New York He and his colleagues had great ideas for their students but no funding to bring their ideas to fruition

On the Donors Choose website teachers post classroom project requests and visitors to the web-site can help grant the teachersrsquo wishes by donating any amount big or small to their projects Donors Choose allows everyone to be a philanthropist

Over the past few years Helix teachers have been the recipi-ents of hundreds of thousands of dollars in supplies for classroom projects that would otherwise not have been possible Be a part of it Visit the website at donorschooseorg and search ldquoHelix La Mesardquo in the search box

Students shine nationallyThis past summer four Helix

Speech amp Debate team member students went to Kansas City Miski Abdi Spencer McCall Rebeca McClellan and Rachel Orey each qualified to compete in the National Forensics League National Championships McCall was a semifinalist in Student Senate and a quarterfinalist in Impromptu Orey was an octafi-nalist in Poetry

What else is going on at HelixLenelle Wyliersquos honors biology

classes have been accepted to attend the Science Lecture Series at the Scripps Research Institute

Jeff Kepperrsquos Oceanography class will be working with the

Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute and raising white sea bass in the classroom This is the second group of white sea bass raised by Helix students

Highland Players present The Odd Couple by Neil Simon Nov 5-8 and Nov 13-14 at 7 pm in the Black Box Theater They will perform both the original laquomaleraquo version and the ldquofemalerdquo version in repertory Tickets are $10 and will be available at helixdramaweeblycom or at the door Performances may sell out so buy early

Take a tourFinally we are always inter-

ested in letting our community know about Helix Charter High School The Excellence in Education Tour is offered twice a month and is open to anyone who wishes to attend It is a one-hour tour and program that highlights our vision history accomplish-ments goals and needs This monthrsquos tours will take place on Tuesday October 7 from 830 ndash 930 am and Thursday October 23 from 530 ndash 630 pm More information can be found at helix-charternet We hope to see you there

mdashJennifer Osborn is the com-munity relations officer for Helix Charter High School Email her at josbornhelixcharternetu

A commitment to educational excellence has always been a

part of the culture of Grossmont High School In the 1980s Grossmont began offering a new curriculum mdash Advanced Placement mdash that challenges the high school student to master a rigorous college-level curricu-lum Each May the students may then take the AP Exam Passing the exam with a score of 3 4 or 5 will in most cases translate to the student receiv-ing college credit or course exemption

In 1981 Grossmont English teacher Kay Adams offered an after-school tutorial for her senior students who wanted to take the AP English Language and Composition Exam Twenty-one students met with her to receive preparation for the exam all 21 students passed the exam with five stu-dents receiving a 5 the highest score

ldquoI learned more than I ever taughtrdquo Adams said ldquoThose students were the brightest minds I ever metrdquo

Beginning in 1982 AP

courses became a yearly English course offering

Other challenges presented themselves to early AP teach-ers In the 1980s through 1996 Sue Emerson AP Biology teacher found ways to cre-atively schedule her class On Wednesdays the students came in an hour early to complete the sophisticated experiments the curriculum required

ldquoOne fun activity was a nation-wide project studying wetlandsrdquo Emerson recalled ldquoThe students shared information with schools around the country via telecom-munication from their study of the Tijuana River Estuaryrdquo

Today Grossmont offers 15 different honors courses which prepare the students for the diverse variety of subsequent 19 Advanced Placement courses

Art AP Art History Studio Drawing 2-D Design

Business AP Computer Science

English AP Literature and Composition Language and Composition

Language AP Spanish Language Spanish Literature and Culture French Language and Culture

Math AP Calculus StatisticsPerforming Arts AP Music

Advanced Placement Theory

Science AP Biology Environmental Science Physics

Social Science AP European History US History Psychology US Government

Over the years the curriculum has evolved AP French Language and Culture teacher Azita Mahmoudi noted that the ldquoAP test has changed from a narrow grammar-based test to an open-ended test based on cultural knowledgerdquo

ldquoPhysics isnrsquot dif-ficult It only has the reputation of being dif-ficultrdquo said longtime AP Physics teacher Tom Eklund

Eklundrsquos creative lessons include the one shown in the 2012 photograph of student Jessie Hodges dropping his project off the bleachers and measuring its fall

During the past five years the number of tests taken by Grossmont students has risen from 453 in 2009 to 646 in 2014 While the passing rate dropped from 65 to 58 percent in those

same years more Foothillers were given the opportunity to challenge themselves and prepare for post secondary education

A continuing goal of Grossmont staff is to have more enrolled students take the test however each test costs $89 with many students taking more than one test

Those wishing to sponsor one or more tests with a tax-deduct-

ible donation may contribute to the GHS Educational Foundationrsquos AP Scholarship Fund by sending a check to GHS Educational Foundation PO Box 1043 La Mesa CA 91944

ldquoGrossmont High School is proud to support our honors and Advanced Placement curricu-lumrdquo said Principal Dan Barnes ldquoWe are very excited to see the very high increase in partici-pation in our courses over the past three years and contin-ued success by our

teachers and students shown in their AP exam pass ratesrdquo

Visit Grossmont and wit-ness firsthand a campus that celebrates it heritage and embraces its future Regular public hours are noon to 4 pm on Wednesday Oct 1 and Nov 5 or by appointment

Contact the Grossmont High School Museum by phone at 619-668-6140 or by email at ghs-museumguhsdnetu

AP Physics students participate in an experiment at Grossmont High School in 2012 (Courtesy GHS Museum)

18 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

PUZZLESSUDOKU

Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9 Each number can appear only once in each row column and 3x3 block Use logic and process elimination to solve the puzzle

copy 2014 Janric Enterprises Dist by creatorscom

CROSSWORD

Business 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 wwwGotFreedomcom Call 858-278-2120 Your future is counting on you (1214)

For SaleNICE 1BD HOUSE IN LA MESA LIVDEN LG KITCHEN BATH WD LG BEDROOM NICE SUNDECK $1000 INCLUDES GE WATER TRASH CALL CLARA 6194650591 (0914)

Sweet male and female Tea-cup Yorkie 12 weeks old $500 Will be 4 lbs at full growth Microchiped shots and dewormed coming with registration papers mlcpetsyahoocom 661-858-0633 (0914)

NoticesWIDOW OR WIDOWER Interested in social activities You are welcome to join our club Widows or Widowers (WOW) of San Diego Website wwwwowsdorg Phone 619-448-6088 (0914)

ServicesJennarsquos Barber Shoppe Styling for men women amp children Wheelchair friendly Old time expert

haircuts at affordable prices Colors amp perms 7424 Jackson Dr1A (across from Keilrsquos in Bank of America lot) Tues-Fri 830-530pm Sat 830-noon Walk-ins or By appt 619-644-3669 (1214)

Lindarsquos Puppy Love licensed insured pet sitting service offering daily walks cat care overnight stays-your home lots of love 619-857-3674 wwwlindaspuppylovecom (615)

Locksmith - Discount Deadbolts and Rekeying - security door viewers patio door locks simulated alarms magnetic door stops Cliff Henderson 619-840-3327 - Lic LCO4353 - Bonded - Never a trip charge (0615)

Quality exterior carpentry Decks Fences Patio Covers and Termite Repair Lic365241 wwwaactionbuildersofsandiegocom Bob 619-275-1493 (415)

Bathtubs and sinks refinished like new San Carlos based business for over 25 years - same owner Lic560438 wwwsaveatubsdcom 619-464-5141 (0115)

German Setter Tile and Marble Professional marbletile setter with 28 years experience European craftsmanship Punctual amp dependable License 872804 Contact Jens Sedemund 619-415-6789 or jensgermansettercom (1214)

Dan Patterson HandymanCarpentry Repair and replacement of plumbing electrical repair installation of water heaters doors windows cabinets flooring fencing Pressure washing of driveways all phases of

Finding Senior Housing can be complex but it doesnrsquot have to be

(800) 217-3942A Place for Mom is the nationrsquos largest senior living referral

information service We do not own operate endorse or recommend any senior living community We are paid by partner communities

so our services are completely free to families

ldquoYou can trust A Place for Mom to help yourdquo

ndash Joan Lunden

BUSINESS amp SERVICES

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 (1214)

BARGAIN BOYZ CONSTRUCTIONREPAIRS 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 jimmysupancoxnet (1014)

PLUMBERhellipLicensed and Insured Over 25 years experience La Mesa resident OwnerOperator Reasonable rates Courteous service Lic 527864 Call Peter 619-698-0313 wwwFelberPlumbingcom (0914)

ROOFING Lic 691295-C39 Veteran owned Allied Gardens based Celebrating 20 years Full roof amp repair Free est Veteran amp Senior discounts 619-823-7208 (615)

WantedHelping Hands Animal Sanctuary seeks laundry detergent (all free and clear) and fabric softener (Downey free and gentle) 619-460-6679 (0914)

Job WantedNanny seeking work certified bkgd ck CPR First Aide 20 years experience wchildren and babies Great references Call Peggy 619-246-6572 or 512-755-0813

ANSWERS ON PAGE 20

Experienced amp Professional

Renee Differ

reneediffercoxnet619-516-0400

INDIVIDUALS amp BUSINESSES

SAME SEX MARRIAGE FILING

BOOKKEEPING amp PAYROLL

MOBILE APPOINTMENTS

TAX CONSULTANT

Ideal PlumbingHeating

Air amp ElectricalWater heaters garbage disposals drain cleaning Video pipe inspections water softeners amp filtration Faucets and toilets Visit our Show-room (06-12)

Serving ourcommunity since 1960

(619) 583-7963Lic 348810

PLUMBING

sdcnncom 19Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierPUZZLES CLASSIFIEDS

Sudoku amp Crosswordpuzzle answers from

page 19

The Academic Senate at Grossmont College last

month honored math instruc-tor Michael Lambe a Mt Helix resident with the Distinguished Faculty award the first ever for a part-time member of the col-lege faculty

Lambersquos 36 years as part-time instructor at Grossmont College concurrent to his 39-year teach-ing career with the Grossmont Union High School District gave him a unique perspective and insight on nurturing stu-dent success His dual career has made him especially aware of the need to make the transi-tion from high school to college as seamless as possible and to ensure secondary level curricu-lum prepares students for higher education

His interaction between Grossmont College and Monte Vista High School where he was chair of the math depart-

Math teacher is Grossmont Collegersquos part-time instructor of the year

ment made him a natural to help develop the first articula-tion agreement between the college and high school which helps students smoothly transi-tion without duplicating classes or experiencing delays

It wasnrsquot just students who benefitted from Lambersquos experi-ence with both systems When

driver education was eliminated from the high school curriculum and instructors were facing lay-offs he worked with the high school and college districts to develop a two-year program that prepared the former driver edu-cation instructors to acquire the teaching credentials needed to become math instructors

ldquoItrsquos been a fantastic career mdash Irsquove been blessedrdquo Lambe said

Following his retirement from the high school district Lambe was recruited four years ago as the collegersquos part-time senate officer with the Academic Senate and chair of the of the Academic Senate Part-Time Committee As head of the new committee he began tackling issues like office hours college governance and academic rank on behalf of part-timers

ldquoMichael has unified the [Academic Senatersquos Part-Time] committee and made it the most respected and cohesive voice for part-time faculty on the campusrdquo said one of his colleagues in a nomination for Lambe for the Distinguished Faculty award ldquoHe has brought part-time faculty issues into the college governance conversation as never before and helped part-time faculty be better informed through excellent professional development activities and communicationsrdquo

Lambe described his efforts on behalf of part-time instructors as a way of paying it forward

ldquoEven as a part-timer I have done a lot of things that full-time department members dordquo he said ldquoThis is my profession mdash my calling and my love This

award is the greatest honor I have ever received My col-leagues couldnrsquot have given me anything greater and to be the first recipient is tremendousrdquo

In addition to honoring Lambe for his achievements as a member of the part-time faculty the academic senate also honored Spanish instruc-tor Yolanda Guerrero with the Distinguished Faculty award for full-time faculty

President Sunita V Cooke said Lambe and Guerrero exem-plify Grossmont Collegersquos faculty members who are passionate about teaching and motivated to boost their profession and their colleagues

ldquoThe campus community owes a debt of gratitude to fac-ulty members with that kind of dedicationrdquo she said ldquoTheir generosity is an inspiration to us allrdquo

At Cuyamaca College Spanish instructor Patricia Santana won the Outstanding Faculty Award for full-time tenured faculty Arabic instructor Aklas Sheia won the award for outstanding part-time faculty

mdashDella Elliott is public information assistant for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College Districtu

DellaElliott

Michael Lambe gives a math lesson something hersquos been doing for nearly four decades in local classrooms (Courtesy Grossmont College)

20 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

Join us for a 3-course dinner and information on Chronic back pain causes and solutions Recent advances in back pain relief Different surgical options QampA with leading San Diego spine specialist

Presented by Choll Kim MD PhD a San Diego Magazine ldquoTop Doctorrdquo and Medical Director of the Advanced SpineInstitute at Alvarado Hospital ndash named Americarsquos 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgerytrade and Orthopedic Surgerytrade in 2014

Cost $10person Seating is limited mdash RSVP requiredCall (619) 229-4548 to register

Location Terra Bistro7091 El Cajon Blvd San Diego 92115

MONDAY SEPT 29 6-8 PMTERRA AMERICAN BISTRO

AlvaradoHospitalcom | (619) 287-3270

Zucchini pancakes

Whatrsquos Cooking with

Julie AnnWhite

Julie

Grate away on your box grater to create this deli-

cious dinner side dish Herersquos a savory treat to serve with a salad or light chicken or fish meal They are a little bit addictive and really easy to make

Serves four (makes six small pancakes)

Ingredients3 medium zucchini grated on a box grater or food processor12 red or yellow onion grated2 large eggs lightly beaten8 Tbsp Panko bread crumbs (flour can be used instead)1 tsp baking powder1 tsp kosher saltPinch of black pepper2 Tbsp butter14 cup olive oil for frying

DirectionsGrate the zucchini and onion into a medium bowl Press with a

few paper towels to absorb juice Add remaining ingredients and stir well If batter is runny add more breadcrumbs or flour Heat large skillet and melt butter and oil over medium heat Drop the zucchini mixture into six to eight golf ball-sized gently patted pancakes Cook until golden brown Serve warmu

Put down your iPhone 6 push aside your Samsung Note 4

and turn off the TV La Mesa is asking its citizens to invest some time in one of their 14 local parks for Park Appreciation Day Oct 18

ldquoThis community event demon-strates the spirit and commitment that La Mesans have for their public facilitiesrdquo said Yvonne Garrett assistant city manager and director of community ser-vices in La Mesa ldquoLocal residents and visitors have a sense of own-ership and take pride in La Mesa parks Park Appreciation Day is an opportunity for individuals to share that enthusiasm with friends and neighborsrdquo

The impetus for La Mesa Park Appreciation Day began in 2005 when a member of a local church congregation contacted the city to ask whether their church could take on a community project in La Mesa said Garrett who is also staff director for La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation

Because the city had recently eliminated several temporary park maintenance worker posi-tions and had received a similar request for a local project from another organization city staff thought it would be a good idea

Citizen groups pitch in for Park Appreciation Day

to gather the various groups to help clean up the parks prompting the creation of Park Appreciation Day

La Mesa community services manager Mike Pacheco said he has been impressed with the pride La Mesans have in their community as well as their desire to volunteer for the city

ldquoParks and recreation pro-grams bring tremendous benefits to people of all agesrdquo Pacheco said ldquoThey contribute to help-ing us live longer better lives through active pursuits new life skills educational programs and safe activities Great parks and programs also help build a stronger community connecting individuals families and groups through the power of play Recreation programs and engag-ing exciting facilities help keep kids active and off the streetsrdquo

Park Appreciation Day proj-ects include spreading mulch planting flowers and painting picnic tables and restrooms Pacheco said

Since its inception several local groups have consistently volun-teered each year Christ Lutheran Church Journey Church Helix Interact Club Friends of Canine Corners Kiwanis Club of La Mesa La Mesa Rotary La Mesa Beautiful La Mesa Lions Club and La Mesa Police Department

Last year more than 150 vol-unteers participated on Park

Appreciation Day and removed 22 cubic yards of green material plus nine cubic yards of trash according to Garrett

Although most of La Mesarsquos parks have the same groups cleaning them every year Porter Park Fitness Plaza located at 8425 University Ave is still without a group Porter needs additional native plants installed in some areas in the beds Garrett said

Disclosure Writer Genevieve A Suzuki serves as a commissioner for the La Mesa Community Services Commission and is a member of La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation She is happy to put away her iPhone Oct 18 to help clean her local parku

Genevieve Suzuki

Make La Mesa beautifulInterested in getting

involved with La Mesa Park Appreciation Day Oct 18 Want to encourage your civic church or social group to adopt a park

All ages are welcome to par-ticipate Signed waivers are required Parents must accom-pany children under 18 at the parks unless their children are with a supervised group

Sign up by calling 619-667-1304 or email communitycila-mesacaus

sdcnncom 21Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierDINING LOCAL NEWS

New Patient Special

bull SedationDentistrybull Implantsbull Same-DayCrownsbull LaserTreatmentbull Invisalign

Wersquove been in practice for over

25 years in La Mesa

$113 for exam x-rays oral cancer screening and cleaning

In absence of gum disease A $520 value

Donrsquot avoid the dentist Remove the anxiety and fear with Sedation Dentistry

A Shop For Smiles

Dr Hagstrom619-465-5252 | 8923 La Mesa Blvd | La Mesa CA 91942

wwwashopforsmilescom

Visit us today

Baseball book signingSunday Oct 12

Geoff Miller mental skills coach for the Atlanta Braves will discuss and sign copies of his new book ldquoIntangibles Big-League Stories and Strategies for Winning the Mental Game mdash in Baseball and in Liferdquo at 2 pm at Barnes amp Noble 5500 Grossmont Center Dr

Diverse Capacities workshopWednesday Oct 15

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Mariko Peshon will lead a work-shop focusing on the physical emotional and social abilities and disabilities that often go unrec-ognized and unaccommodated in our communities The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

East County Intergenerational GamesTuesday Oct 16

Active adults ages 50 and older will team up with kids between the ages of 7 and 12 for a morning of fun noncompetitive activi-ties at La Mesa Middle School 4200 Parks Ave from 830 am to noon The games include street hockey shot frisbee toss ldquoskeeballrdquo pitch t-ball and trivia games Snacks and lunch are included Interested adults must register in advance by contacting the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center at 619-667-1322

Introduction to home caregivingSaturday Oct 18

Caring for a loved one at home often involves transfers personal care proper body mechanics and other specific skills and knowl-edge Learn and practice the basics with a registered nurse at this event from 9 am to 1 pm in classroom 1314 of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Brier Patch Campus 9000 Wakarusa St Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or

register online at sharpcom

Workshop Finding Your Voice in the Social Justice MovementTuesday Oct 21

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Kenyon Whitman will lead an interactive workshop exploring social justice concepts how to develop a leadership style and creative ways to effectively com-municate in diverse groups The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the stu-dent center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

Medicare and drug cover-age updates for 2015Friday Oct 24

A free lecture will cover Medicare insurance changes for 2015 Medicare Parts A B D HMOs and more Presented by Community Education Specialist Pablo Corona the lec-ture will also cover the Medicare Saving Program and Extra-Help Program that assist with prescription costs for Medicare Parts B and D The talk begins at 10 am at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Lung function screeningWednesday Oct 29

Do you have trouble catching your breath after a short walk The Pulmonary Department at Sharp Grossmont Hospital will offer a free basic lung function test from 9 am to 2 pm for anyone who has not yet seen a doctor about breathing prob-lems The screening will be held at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center Building F Room 16 9000 Wakarusa St Appointments are required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Free blood pressure screeningFriday Oct 17

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center 8450 La Mesa Blvd No appointment necessary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Park Appreciation DaySaturday Oct 18

Groups of volunteers will get to work on projects to beautify and improve parks across town from 8 am to noon All ages are welcome but children under the age of 18 need to submit a waiver signed by a parent or legal guard-ian If your church or civic group wants to get involved call 619-667-1300 or email communitycila-mesacaus

lsquoHowl-oweenrsquo dog cos-tume contest and picnicSaturday Oct 18

Dress up your dogs in a cute or spooky Halloween costume and bring them out to Canine Corners the dog park at Harry Griffen Regional Park between 11 am and 3 pm Proud pet par-ents will have the chance to get their poochrsquos picture taken at the pumpkin patch as well as meet representatives from animal rescue groups the county sheriffrsquos K-9 unit and other vendors The costume contest begins at 1130 am A hot dog picnic lunch will be offered for $3 Canine Corners volunteers will accept donations to help with the maintenance of the dog park

Picnic with the parrotsSunday Oct 26

At Socal Parrotrsquos annual fundraising event attendees have a rare chance to view the non-profit organizationrsquos reha-bilitation facility meet animals talk with experts observe live art bid in a silent auction and buy into a raffle Based in Jamul SoCal Parrot works to protect and care for wild and endan-gered parrots across the region Tickets to the all-day fundrais-ing event range from $32 to $100 and can be purchased online at socalparrotorgu

Calendar from page 15

Send details of your com-munity events to the editor at jeremysdcnncom Deadline is the third Friday of the month

22 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 CALENDAR

Why a fiscally conservative vote-by-mail plan got no GOP love

A bill that would drastically change the way San Diego

Countyrsquos special elections are run passed without any Republican help mdash it got just two votes total from GOP lawmakers in Sacramento

It might surprise you to learn then that when the idea first emerged Democrats helped lead the charge against it

How some leading party mem-bers reversed course in just a few years says a lot about the current political landscape and the future of elections in San Diego County

Democrats wrote the current bill mdash which would create a five-year pilot program in San Diego County that would make spe-cial elections for open seats run primarily by mail with a drasti-cally reduced number of polling places mdash and they led the politi-cal charge for it

But Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez the billrsquos author remembers how hard she fought to kill the idea of vote-by-mail elections years ago

ldquoWhat happens I think so often is there is this attachment to the status quo therersquos fear about changing thingsrdquo Gonzalez said

Gonzalez said her mind was changed by a couple factors One is that she discovered during her years as a labor advocate that voters who had a ballot mailed to them before the election were roughly five times more likely to actually vote

The other she said is she realized the county was spend-ing a huge amount more per person who voted at the polls versus by mail

County officials said that in the March 2013 special election to fill the vacant 40th state Senate district seat they spent $221 per

Ari Bloomekatz

in-person voter verses $9 per mail voter

Then therersquos the fact that pathetic voter turnout in each of the last several elections has favored Republican candidates across the board

ldquoWe have all watched as voter turnout has plummeted in recent elections and itrsquos our responsi-bility to do something about itrdquo Gonzalez wrote in a press release after the bill passed

Some observers speculated that some Republicans simply didnrsquot support the bill because it was being led by promi-nent Democrats like Gonzalez (Gonzalez agrees thatrsquos probably true)

But if you want to understand why GOP support was so hard to come by for a bill steeped in fiscally conservative principles and that originated from a con-servative San Diego County government consider these three points

Republicans seized on civil rights groupsrsquo hesitation

Some of the strongest initial opposition to the vote-by-mail legislation came from civil rights groups concerned the new pro-cedures could disenfranchise immigrants and the disabled

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund initially opposed the bill but dropped its opposition after working with Gonzalez and San Diego County officials on protec-

tions for immigrantsStill MALDEF and other

groups wouldnrsquot officially support the measure

ldquoThere is some research out there that shows that mail-in ballots do have an adverse impact on minority votersrdquo said Denise Hulett an attorney with MALDEF

Hulett said MALDEF supports testing out vote-by-mail but isnrsquot sold on it yet

Those groupsrsquo reluctance had an impact on Republican legislators like Escondido Assemblywoman Marie Waldron She said she didnrsquot feel comfortable signing on to a bill without MALDEF and other civil rights groupsrsquo support

ldquoI have to wonder if this is disenfranchising a significant number of people that vote at the pollsrdquo Waldron said ldquoWhat about the people who are maybe you know possibly visually impaired or something like thatrdquo

The money wasnrsquot enoughSan Diego County Registrar

Michael Vu strongly supports the pilot program and believes it could trim costs by 30 - 40 percent

But somehow the cost-savings issue wasnrsquot enough to win over the vast majority of Republican legislators

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez said he thought the cost-savings touted by Democrats were only rough estimates and was not inclined to vote for a bill just

because of those projectionsldquoAs Irsquove said a number of times

before all these bills that theyrsquore putting through hellip really doesnrsquot address the issue of what wersquore trying to do which is get more people to voterdquo he said

Instead of just moving imme-diately to vote-by-mail Chavez wants to create a bipartisan special committee to study new voting technologies

Republicans fear voter fraud

Republicansrsquo fear of potential voter fraud through expansion of vote-by-mail overshadowed potential economic gains

The bill ldquoincludes no protec-tions to ensure the integrity and security of all-mail elections While interesting we need to be careful changing election lawsrdquo wrote Amanda Fulkerson of the Assembly Republican Caucus which advocated fiercely against the bill

ldquoRight now our members feel that we should not jeopardize our consistent voting system until we have further facts and statistics on all-mail electionsrdquo Fulkerson wrote

Republicans believed the threat of fraud would be compounded by another voting-related bill moving through the legislature at the same time

That bill would change the rules about how long mail ballots can be received and counted after an election

Currently vote-by-mail ballots must be received by election offi-cials before polls close on the day of the election The new law would allow ballots to be received no later than three days after the election (if it was time-stamped or post-marked on or before Election Day)

Assembly Republicans feared the two bills combined could allow for abuse of the system

State Sen Joel Anderson was one Republican who voted against the mail-counting bill but in favor of Gonzalezrsquos vote-by-mail effort

Anderson said that he voted against the mail-counting bill because he saw it as ldquocompletely gaming the systemrdquo but believes the vote-by-mail bill is ldquobetter for the voters itrsquos better for my constituentsrdquo

Put yourselves in the shoes of

Vu and other county officials for a minute

Nearly every time an election comes up the county spends anywhere from $1 million to $12 million-plus and organizes hordes of poll workers and pre-cincts across the county

And what happens at the end of the day

Turnout is generally low and increasing numbers of residents opt to vote by mail anyway

As Vu tells it he just wants to save the county money and acknowledge the changing winds when it comes to vote-by-mail

But nothing is ever as simple as a dollar saved in Sacramento mdash especially when it comes to something as fundamental as how voters choose their elected officials

Gonzalez said most people do not understand how difficult this bill was to pass politically Sure Republicans barley supported it but there was strong opposition from many Democrats too The instinct to preserve the status quo when it comes to elections among legislators in Sacramento is strong she said

ldquoIt was kind of funny Irsquom in Republican land carrying this bill pissing off Democrats and voting rights groups and minor-ity groupsrdquo she said ldquoI had to convince everybody that this is OK that change is OKrdquo

Brown has until Sept 30 to sign the bill

mdashAri Bloomekatz is an inves-tigative reporter for Voice of San Diego focusing on county govern-ment You can reach him directly at aribloomekatzvoiceofsandi-egoorg or 619-550-5669u

(Courtesy Flickr user bludgeoner86Creative Commons)

Voice of San Diego

sdcnncom 23Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

Everyone in every price range deserves the quality of Sothebyrsquos Realty

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SPRING VALLEY bull $362000LA MESA bull $499000CARDIFF BY THE SEA bull $525000

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YVETTE WOODS 6199223436

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Want your home sold Ask a busy agent Call Laura Lothian TODAY 6195407744

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Source TrendGraphix MLS data for zip codes 91941 amp 91942 January 1 2003 to January 1 2014

24 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

La Mesa ndash A new report has just been released which reveals 7 costly mistakes that most homeowners make when selling their home and a 9 Step System that can help you sell your home fast and the most amount of money

This industry report shows clearly how the traditional ways of sell-ing homes have become increasingly less and less effective in todayrsquos market The fact of this matter is that fully three quarters of home-sellers donrsquot get what they want for their homes and become disil-lusioned and worse financially disadvantaged when they put their homes on the market

As this report uncovers most homesellers make 7 deadly mistakes that cost them literally thousands of dollars The good news is that each and every one of these mistakes is entirely preventable In an-swer to this issue industry insiders have prepared a free special report entitles ldquoThe 9 Step System to Get your Home Sold Fast and For Top Dollarrdquo To order your FREE copy of this report call toll-free 1-800-270-1494 and enter 1000 You can call anytime 24 hours a day 7 days a week

Get your free special report Now to find out how you can get the most money for your home

Courtesy of Dan Smith ReMax BRE 01346593

How Owners Lose Thousands When Selling Their Homes

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Valid at participating locations only Not valid with Kids Eat Free or Weekday Lunch Specials Offer expires 103114

POS Code MKTG Promo 2

La Mesa bull 70th Street amp I-8 Freeway6950 Alvarado Rd bull (619) 465-1910

POS C-4

Your choice of our perfectly portioned Chicken Pot Pie Shepherdrsquos Pie or Tuscan Shrimp Pot Pie each served with a Caesar salad Plus includes a FREE slice of our legendary pie

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The La Mesa Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)

celebrated its 20th anniversary on Aug 29 at a dinner hosted by the La Mesa Police Department More than 110 senior volun-teers attended to enjoy the celebration and proclamations and certificates of recognition were presented from several local elected officials including State Sen Joel Anderson Rep Duncan Hunter Rep Susan Davis and Assemblymember Shirley Weber

Anderson thanked the senior volunteers and praised their

Senior volunteers celebrate 20 years of service to La Mesa

commitment to the communityldquoTheir dedication to the public

safety of our community is inspiring to all of usrdquo he said ldquoI deeply appreciate the volunteersrsquo selfless actions and commitment to the police department and the residents of La Mesardquo

RSVP is a group of qualified citizens over the age of 55 who are dedicated to serving the public The program was established in 1994 by Police Chief Walter Mitchell and began with 20 vol-unteers who wanted to help out in our community The respon-sibilities of the volunteers range from organizing neighborhood watch programs and tutoring and mentoring disadvantaged or disabled youth to renovat-ing homes teaching English to

immigrants and assisting vic-tims of natural disasters

Before joining RSVP vol-unteers are trained in the areas they would like to serve Once they complete their training they are able to go around their community and help out Since the La Mesa RSVP was estab-lished 20 years ago it has grown to a group of 192 volunteers who altogether have put in a total of 338014 hours of community ser-vice RSVP has now grown to be an essential function of the La Mesa Police Department

mdashLea Park-Kim is district communications representative for state Sen Joel Anderson She can be reached at leapark-kimsencagovu

Members of the RSVP program were treated to lunch for the programrsquos 20th anniversary (Courtesy Sen Joel Anderson)

Lea Park-Kim

sdcnncom 3Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

C alifornia voters will decide this fall whether to approve

a $75 billion bond to repair Californiarsquos decrepit water system was a wise choice or not thanks to a last-minute vote by the state Legislature

The bond issue will appear as Proposition 1 on the Nov 4 gen-eral election ballot

Legislators say they think the bond issue will pass if for no other reason than the fact that the ongoing drought will make up votersrsquo minds for them

Although the state Senate passed the bill 37-0 and only two Assembly members voted against it there is not unani-mous support for all of the projects the bond would fund There were compromises made all through the yearlong process that upset as many people as they made happy

Three questions will dominate the debate as it moves toward Election Day

Whorsquos in favor

Most of whatrsquos called the water bureaucracy in California is in favor of the bond issuersquos passage Most of the statersquos water districts including the San Diego County Water Authority have come out

in support of the measure An umbrella organization of those agencies the Association of California Water Agencies will no doubt bring in public support of the measure Since agencies like SDCWA are public agencies they cannot contribute money or take active roles in the Yes on Prop 1 campaign This is not to say that individuals associated with the public agencies cannot take individual roles including personal financial roles They can and many will

Whorsquos against it

No one is predicting a landslide victory because there is still a lot of opposition to the measure in the north central and north-ern parts of the state Longtime observers will recall that a north-

California legislators put water bond to the voters

south split was the major reason the proposed Peripheral Canal was defeated at the polls back in the 1980s

In truth much of that oppo-sition is centered in the areas generally surrounding the old and fragile Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta which is the hinge point for moving water from the north to the south Itrsquos hard to determine whether the opponents fear this bond issue and what it

might bring or whether their complaints are more aimed at Gov Jerry Brownrsquos ambi-tious $25 billion plan to build two freeway-sized

tunnels underneath the Delta to make it easier to ship water from the Sacramento River south without damaging the Delta fur-ther The bond issue apparently contains absolutely no mention of mdash and no money for mdash anything to do with the tunnels

There is also opposition in the north and central coastal areas where some water officials say storage facilities mdash dams and reservoirs mdash for them were left out completely One new dam and reservoir the Sites Dam is slated for Northern California near Colusa and another at Temperance Flat northeast of Fresno They will account for $27 billion of the $75 billion called for in the ballot measure That leaves almost $5 billion to be spent on a laundry list of other

water-related projects to make the statersquos water supply more stable and available in the future

Whatrsquos in it for La MesaQuite a bit actually and very

little of it for surface storage of water San Diego County is in pretty good shape for dams and reservoir capacity Having doubled the capacity of San Vicente the dam at Olivenhain Sweetwater Reservoir and other areas here we have places to put water We just need the water to put in those places

We also have hundreds of thousands of acre feet of water through the deal with Imperial Irrigation District and the Carlsbad Desalination plant coming online next year

The bond issue would provide money statewide for water recy-cling including drinkable and non-drinkable water reclama-tion and purification It would provide funding for integrated regional water management projects including ground-water storage recharging our depleted underground aquifers and the like

A large number of water-related projects called for in the ballot measure would directly benefit our region and San Diego county will have a fair shot at a lot of that money Our region will qualify for about 11 percent of that $75 billion

Bonus Will all this happen quickly if the bond is passed come Nov 4

NoPassage of the proposition on

Nov 4 will not mean that people will start moving dirt and build-ing dams the morning of Nov 5

It will be a tough slog setting up the various boards com-missions and entities that will eventually govern all of this spending and it will be more involved mdash and political mdash than yoursquod like to believe

mdashDoug Curlee can be reached at dougsdcnncomu

$25BILLION

Cost of Gov Jerry

Brownrsquos plan to

build tunnels

under the Delta

East Countyrsquos San Vicente Dam was recently raised to increase water storage capacity (Courtesy San Diego County Water Authority)

Much of Southern Californiarsquos water originates in the fragile Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Courtesy San Diego County Water Authority)

DougCurleeContributing Editor

4 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

Did you know that most light in proper doses improves health and wellness by enhancing your bodyrsquos ability to heal and replenish For example Sunlight in healthy moderations gives you energy warmth and creates a photostimulation effect internally that promotes natural restoration

It empowers your body to work FOR YOU and is scientifically proven to increase hormone production reduce pain lower blood sugar (diabetes) eliminate toxins and stimulate your immune system

And now you can initiate that same ldquocellularrdquo healing power through low level laser therapymdashsafely from your own home It works to stimulate and fuel your bodyrsquos natural healing process similar to sunlight

Itrsquos 100 safe effective and FDA approved

Low Level Lasers Engage Your Body at the Cellular Level

You learned it in schoolmdashyour body is composed of cells and atoms And those cells need energy to remain healthy So when yoursquore sick or injured it means your cells are sick and injured too And their energy level is reduced to a sick ailing state

And this is exactly where the Low Level Laser worksmdashat the cellular and atomic level Low level laser therapy enhances your bodyrsquos ability to carry electrons that stimulate and re-energize sick injured and damaged cells And it helps improve cell permeability which means your cells are better able to channel the nutrients and material they need for health

Low Level Lasers Trigger Natural Healing

Medications and surgeries are invasive They may introduce infections and other complications while medications can cause allergic reactions and produce side effects that require additional medications as counter measures And all the while add more toxins to your body that bring a whole different set of problems

Low Level Lasers naturally stimulate your body to empower itself by engaging your immune system and energizing your cells to heal themselves They work WITH your bodymdashnot against it

Low Level Lasers Are Safe For Home Use

You donrsquot need to special training to use low level lasers They are perfectly safe to use in the comfort of your home Whether itrsquos a nagging pain from overuse or a more serious medical condition Low Level Lasers promote relief healing and overall improved health

And they can be focused specifically on the area where you need it most for pinpoint effectivenessmdashback neck hands kneesmdashanywhere you suffer pain and injury which is a cell problem

So if you suffer fromhellipbull Backneckjoint pain bull Tendonitis bull Diabetesbull ArthritisRheumatism bull Fibromyalgia bull And more

First 319 callers wersquollinclude a special DVD explaining

this incredible technology

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sdcnncom 5Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

apartments townhomes con-dominiums and single-family residences

First a child care provider must be licensed by the state Department of Social Services Once a tenant is licensed to pro-vide family child care he or she must give the landlord or property owner 30 daysrsquo written notice of the intent to begin operating the day care service in the rental home The license will include the number of children that the provider is allowed to care for The state license application includes a notice form for landlord notifica-tion which is helpful

That form also explains the renterrsquos right to operate a family day care Landlords or property managers cannot discriminate against a tenant for operating a day care However landlords do have the option of requiring a higher security deposit as long as it does not exceed the maximum allowable under state law

Next proof of liability insur-ance mdash or waivers signed by parents mdash must be shared with landlords Operators of in-home day care are required to fulfill one of three options when it comes to insurance obtain liability insur-ance secure a bond of $300000 or if they choose not to secure

Apartments can serve as day care centers

An increase in the number of working parents has made

home-based day care a service in demand For working par-ents finding good child care is invaluable Child care offered at a residence in a familiar neigh-borhood can be a source of great comfort to working moms and dads

But if you rent your home or apartment can you still be a day care provider

The short answer YesThe right for renters to oper-

ate such a vital service is state law spelled out in the California Health and Safety Code Small family day care facilities are not considered a ldquobusiness use of prop-ertyrdquo so they would be protected under any leases or rental agree-ments that prohibit operating a business out of a rental home

Renters who wish to open a family day care in their home should have little to no conflict if they meet certain conditions follow clear rules and communi-cate the details with their landlord or property manager This applies to rental homes of any kind

AlanPentico

HPV vaccine saves lives

Every year around the world more than 270000 women die

from cervical cancer With more than 85 percent of these deaths in low- and middle-income countries cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide

The ldquopap smearrdquo has been one of the most amazing public

KellyCulwell

Dear editor

Y our cartoon [See Aug 22 issue] about the two white

medical personnel receiving the experimental Ebola vaccine was as ignorant and racist as it gets Both of these medical personnel went to Africa to help putting their lives on the line for a bunch of people they didnrsquot know When they contracted the disease they did not know if the vaccine would save their lives They volunteered to be the guinea pigs If they had decided to first try it on some non-white person and the results had been negative the jerk who produced that racist rant and the idiot that placed it in the La Mesa Courier would have been scream-ing about that

mdashConnie Butt via Facebook

Letters are lightly edited for clarity grammar spelling and style Send letters to jeremysdcnncom u

the insurance or bond they must inform each parent of that decision and obtain affidavits acknowledging that the parents are aware of the lack of insur-ance or bond

Then be a good neighbor The same rules that apply to other residents also apply to child care providers For example control excessive noise that might be disruptive for other tenants and be mindful of activities or behavior that could damage the property

Finally emphasize the ben-efits of having a family home day care in your neighborhood or apartment community Having a day care provider as a neighbor likely means that you have an extra set of eyes on your commu-nity A person whorsquos been hired to care for young children likely will be vigilant about ensuring safe clean surroundings Think of it as an extra neighborhood watch

The California Department of Social Services has a guide for family child care and tenant rights Find it at tinycctenantcare

mdashAlan Pentico is executive director of the San Diego County Apartment Associationu

health interventions over the past 50 years in the US and most developed countries and its use has led to a steep decline in the incidence and deaths from cervi-cal cancer However weak health systems and limited numbers of trained providers have made screening in low- and middle-income countries difficult Even in the US over 11000 cases of cervical cancer were diagnosed in 2010

Following development of the

pap smear the discovery of the link between the human papil-loma virus (HPV) and cervical cancer has proven to be a major advancement in the prevention of this deadly disease Almost all sexually active individuals will be infected with HPV at some point in their lives and some may be repeatedly infected

The peak time for infection is shortly after becoming sexu-ally active The majority of HPV infections resolve spontaneously and do not cause symptoms or disease However persistent infections with specific types

of HPV (usually types 16 and 18) may lead to precancerous lesions If untreated these lesions may progress to cervi-cal cancer

The HPV vaccine was intro-duced eight years ago and the HPV rate among teenage girls in the US has already dropped by 56 percent since then

There is however still a lot of work to be done Nationwide just 33 percent of girls ages 13 to 17 mdash and only 7 percent of boys in the same age group mdash

See VACCINE page 7

6 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 OPINION sdcnncom

Our affiliate offers Gardasil mdash one of two FDA-approved HPV vaccines mdash in all of our health centers

CDC recommends vaccina-tion of girls and boys ages 9 ndash 26

Routine vaccination is a series of three shots over the course of six months

Other immunizations that are important for women of reproductive age mdash both for general health and prior to pregnancy mdash include Hepatitis B influenza Measles Mumps

Our current hot weather reminds me how every

summer at least one dog is found in a hot car mdash and sadly that dog becomes sick or dies

When I hear these stories or see poorly cared for dogs on the streets I often wonder why anyone who cannot adequately care for a pet chooses to become a pet parent

Pets are not just furry cute creatures made to entertain you They are living beings that deserve the same quality of life that you have

You may think yoursquore per-forming a good deed by buying or adopting a pet but yoursquore

Not every pet adoption is a good adoptionJimMadaffer

really doing the pet a disservice if you donrsquot carefully evaluate the responsibilities the job title holds

About 164 million house-holds in the US owned pets in 2012 according to The Humane Society That number grew rap-idly from 40 years ago when only 67 million households had pets

Itrsquos great to know that more and more families are becom-ing pet owners But becoming a pet parent should be thor-oughly considered just as if you were to consider having a child The responsibilities may not be the same but there are some including

Ensuring your dog has a bal-anced diet and exercise regimen

Ensuring your dog is properly bathed and groomed

Ensuring your dog is properly

trainedFurther before you head to a

breeder or animal shelter ask yourself these questions

Do I have the time to commit to a dog

Do I have the resources to ensure a dog will have a quality life

Am I committed to caring for it for the next 10 to 20 years

Do I know the laws governing pet licensing where I live

Irsquom not a veterinarian or a zoologist but I am a reasonable person and choosing to be a pet owner when yoursquore not ready is unreasonable

mdashJim Madaffer is the owner of Madaffer Enterprises a former San Diego Councilmember and the proud pet parent of two bulldogsu

Happy Hour ndash Get $1 off all pints Weekdays Tuesday ndash Friday 1130 am ndash 3 pm Late Night Tuesday ndash Saturday 8 pm to close

Daily Beer and Food Specials Monday $10 craft beer pitchers and 50-cent wings Tuesday $3 taco specials Wednesday Happy hour prices all day ($1 off all pints) Thursday Specialty beer tapped between 4 and 5 pm Friday $4 Potato skins Saturday Rib and ale combo only $10 Sunday $12 craft beer pitchers $5 pulled pork nachos

Welcome to West Coast Barbecue and Brew ndash your neighborhood BBQ pub We have a rotating draft beer selection featuring some of the finest brews around In addition to the tasty BBQ menu items please check out our daily specials food board on our patio including soups sandwiches and salads We are now open for lunch at 1130 am six days a week Tuesday through Sunday We open at 4 pm on Mondays

6126 Lake Murray Blvd La Mesa (located in the Ross Shopping Center)

619-462-3660wwwwestcoastbbqandbrewcom

Tu-Th 1130am-10pm Fri amp Sat 1130 am - 11 pm Sun 1130 - 8pm Mon 4-9 pm

have gotten all three doses of the vaccine (In California the odds are slightly better mdash 43 percent of girls and 13 percent of boys ages 13 to 17 have received all three doses) As a result millions of people are still infected with HPV every year and nearly all sexually active people will con-tract a form of HPV at some point in their lives

Key facts about HPV and the HPV vaccine

70 percent of cervical cancers worldwide are caused by only two types of HPV (16 and 18)

and Rubella (MMR) Tetanus Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) and Varicella for those who have not had chicken pox

Share this article with your friends and family and spread the word about the importance of getting teens vaccinated against HPV

For more information or to make an appointment visit plannedorg or call 1-888-743-7526 (PLAN)

mdashKelly Culwell is the Medical Director for Planned Parenthood of the Southwest For more infor-mation visit plannedorgu

Business Spotlight West Coast Barbeque

Vaccine from page 6

sdcnncom 7Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierOPINION

NEW CLIENT FIRST TIME EXAM

9160 Fletcher ParkwayLa Mesa CA 91942

wwwfletcherhillsanimalhospitalcom

Call to schedule your discounted exam

(619) 463-6604

SPECIAL OFFER COUPON

50 OFF50 OFF

A N I M A L H O S P I TA L

As I write this monthrsquos column my husband and I are sitting

on top of the world in a colleaguersquos cabin on Mt Palomar a weekend getaway from the fall heat wave and pressures of everyday life

We havenrsquot been here in many years The views are stunning of course but what I notice this time are the number and variety of birds mdash birds that are quite different from ones we enjoy feed-ing and watching in La Mesa

Irsquove had my eyes glued to binoc-ulars since we arrived and filled the pond and feeders the owners have placed around the property They also have a number of bird books so I think I rightly identi-fied quite a few species

But there is one elusive fellow I just canrsquot seem to get in my sights His distinctive call is close then far away

Itrsquos time to consult the expert I record the birdrsquos call with my phone and hope to play it for Ed Henry a La Mesa friend who happens to be president of the San Diego Audubon Society an advocacy and educational orga-nization devoted to the welfare of wild birds in our region

Ed is one of the reasons Irsquove recently become so fascinated by local birds He sends out emails almost daily to over 100 inter-ested people showing amazing photos of birds he spots at his La Mesa bird feeders and around San Diego County (or wherever he happens to be traveling at the moment) The variety is astounding

Turns out the San Diego region is one of the richest birding areas in North America with over 500 different species identified here In fact people from all over the world come to see our birds especially during the annual San Diego Bird Festival in March offered by San Diego Audubon

One reason we have a great diversity of birds is because of the unusual variety of habitats in San Diego County mdash from the off-shore islands and extensive coastline to inland valleys and grasslands riverbeds moun-

The Sun Shines Sooner

tains and desert Ed explained This region is also a migratory flyway

Ed was always aware of birds but his recent passion for bird-ing began in 2006 not long after retiring from a 33-year career as an anthropology and ethnomu-sicology professor at San Diego State when he decided to check out the San Diego Bird Festival Hersquos been involved with San Diego Audubon ever since serv-ing as its board president for the last three years

ldquoMy awakening to birds was gradual and occurred through chance contacts with people who knew more than Irdquo he said ldquoI grew up in Nebraska where residents pay most attention to pheasants mdash which happen to be gorgeous as well as good eating and hunting mdash and ducks but also see a few songbirdsrdquo

In Michigan (where he com-pleted his graduate studies) he came in contact with grosbeaks nuthatches and chickadees among others And he became curious about exotic birds he saw in India while doing field research in a small village there

ldquoMoving to San Diego in 1974 I had my first views of long-billed curlews marbled godwits and lit-erally hundreds morerdquo

He and his wife Connie have made La Mesa their home and

enjoyed birds in their backyard here since 1988

ldquoNature is the highest form of artrdquo wrote Emily Dickinson

According to Ed Henry ldquoThe most accessible wild creatures for the majority of Americans are birds In birds we see the shapes colors patterns and movement that constitute a vital part of nature and we hear their sounds toordquo

Wersquore fortunate to live in a place with such rich bio-diversity that is so accessible But San Diego County also contains more rare threatened and endangered species than any comparable land area in the continental United States

Thank goodness there is a passionate dedicated volunteer like Ed Henry to lead San Diego Audubon mdash an organization working every day to protect our birds and other wildlife and to educate and inspire people like me to appreciate not only their beauty but their importance

mdashPam Crooks was the found-ing editor of La Mesa Courier and continues to live in the Mt Helix area Reach her by email at SunShinesSoonergmailcom To learn more or to sign up for the 2015 San Diego Bird Festival visit sandiegoaudubonorgu

A beautiful Yellow-Breasted Chat was spotted recently in the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park (Photo by Ed Henry)

PamCrooks

This La Mesan is a true lsquobird brainrsquo

8 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

A Special

Thank You to My Neighbors

wwwmidwayorg

As we celebrate our 10th anniversary we know San Diegorsquos support has made Midwayrsquos success possible

So for a limited time San Diegans can purchase adult admissions for only $10

Thatrsquos a 50 discount

ldquoThank You San Diegordquo

$10 USS Midway Admission

Just for San Diegans

Bill YoungSafety CorpsLA MESA RESIDENT

Tickets available at wwwmidwayorg and at the ticket booth during museum hours May not be combined with other offers and cannot be resold Proof of ID with a San

Diego zip code required at time of purchase 202

The US Postal Service delivers mail to the front door of most

Uptown residents but that could change if Congress adopts a postal reform bill designed to reduce the cost of delivering mail

Rep Darrell Issa (R-San Diego) has introduced two bills mdash the Postal Reform Act of 2013 and the Secure Delivery for America Act of 2014 mdash that would force the Postal Service to transi-tion away from door delivery at 30 million addresses by 2022 Instead of delivering mail to the door of every residence postal carriers would deliver to curbside mailboxes or cen-tralized cluster boxes that house the mailboxes of multiple residents

That idea is unacceptable to Rep Susan Davis (D-San Diego) who gathered a group of supporters in Talmadge on Aug 27 to denounce the proposal She also introduced a resolution in Congress opposing centralized delivery

ldquoWe donrsquot need thisrdquo Davis said ldquoThe most vulnerable people in our communities will suffer as a resultrdquo

Davis said elderly and disabled citizens would be hurt by the switch to cluster boxes especially if they receive prescriptions by mail because of the increased dis-tance they may be forced to travel to retrieve their mail

Furthermore the cluster boxes are unsightly magnets for theft and vandalism she said

When Davis surveyed commu-nity groups in her district earlier this summer the North Park Planning Committee passed a resolution opposing centralized delivery

ldquoIn the older communities in the mid-city cluster boxes would affect the community character and the historicity of a neighbor-hood like Talmadge which to me looks like Mayberryrdquo said Vicki Granowitz chair of the North Park Planning Committee ldquoItrsquos intact itrsquos beautiful and to have cluster boxes every so often really destroys what these communities look likerdquo

Combined with bus shelters and

No mail at the doorLocal representatives debate

changes to mail delivery

Jeremy OgulEditor

ugly utility boxes cluster boxes would affect property values Granowitz said

ldquoJust think if you would want this in front of your houserdquo she said ldquoDonrsquot do this to us pleaserdquo

The Postal Service has already begun phasing out door delivery in new developments but Issarsquos legislation would essentially make cluster boxes mandatory in many neighborhoods that currently receive door delivery Issarsquos bill

would require the cluster boxes to be placed ldquoin locations that maximize delivery efficiency ease of use for postal patrons and respect for private property rightsrdquo

Rep Scott Peters (D-San Diego) who also spoke at the press conference said that while there are economic challenges that the Postal Service

must address Congress should not get involved in mandating the specific measures the Postal Service should take

Issa disagrees with Davis and Peters

ldquoThe consequence of doing noth-ing to address an Internet-era erosion in the volume of traditional mail delivery is a multi-billion dollar taxpayer funded bailout of the Postal Servicerdquo Issa said ldquoUnfortunately some [representa-tives] holding a press conference and pretending there isnrsquot a prob-lem wonrsquot solve itrdquo

The Postal Reform Act includes exceptions and provisions that would allow seniors and others with physical hardships to keep their door delivery if they already have it and it would give the Postal Service the flexibility to determine where to implement centralized delivery Issa said

ldquoIn reality less than 10 percent of postal customers would see any change under this legislation to their deliveryrdquo Issa said

Despite the financial issues the Postal Service faces the debate over cluster boxes may amount to little more than hot air in the near term Congress only has until Dec 12 to act on legislation in the current session Most of which will be legislative recess Neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate have voted on Issarsquos or Davisrsquos legislationu

Rep Susan Davis speaks in San Diego (Photo by Jeremy Ogul)

ldquoWe donrsquot need this The most vulnerable people in our communities will suffer as a resultrdquo-Rep Susan Davis

sdcnncom 9Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

Heating amp Air Conditioning

RESIDENTIAL bull COMMERCIAL bull RENTALSWater HeatersTankless bull Drain Stoppages bullToilets

Faucets - Kitchen amp Bath bull Water Softeners amp FiltersPressure Regulators bull Camera Inspections of Drains

Garbage Disposals bull Slab Leaks amp RepipesAir Conditioning amp Heating bull Indoor Air QualityElectrical Repairs amp Upgrades bull Lighting Systems

Kitchen amp Bath Remodeling bull Aging-In-Place Design

Rebate savings depends on equipment purchasedSee dealer for details

TAKE ADVANTAGE OFUP TO

$1950IN REBATES

$1500 OFFANY SERVICE CALL

May not combine coupon with any other offers Coupon not valid towardsSMA Program Present coupon at time of service Expires 103114 LMC

2014 REBATES

619-583-7963 bull IDEALSVCCOM bull LIC 3488105161 WARING RD SAN DIEGO

idealsvccom 619-583-7963

EDUCATION

Haunt yourself with contemporary classic horror fiction

Pop culture has a way of show-ing us what our collective

minds love loathe and fear In honor of Halloween I wanted to spend this monthrsquos column looking at the state of popu-lar horror fiction using that to explore the modern American psyche However the only thing this research showed me is that Americans really really love Stephen King

So with that plan foiled I fig-ured Irsquod just recommend some great scary reads past present and near-future

Guillermo del Toro is known primarily for his work in movies but has recently begun writing fiction After bringing us imagi-native films like ldquoPacific Rimrdquo ldquoHellboyrdquo and ldquoPanrsquos Labyrinthrdquo he paired with author Chuck Hogan for a horror trilogy called ldquoThe Strainrdquo

Deciding that seductive brood-ing teen vampires have become passeacute the authors chose to make their vampires ugly mon-sters whose heads split open to bite and drain their victims while vampirism itself is a virus that spreads with the speed of a zombie apocalypse The book series has already been turned into a TV show with its own cult following and that will undoubt-

edly bring more attention to the books all of which are available at the San Diego County Library

The new book Irsquom dying to read is called ldquoHorrorstoumlrrdquo by Grady Hendrix It should hit bookstores (and the library) shortly after I finish typing this If you like your horror with a side of wit and sly

social commentary this is your novel Itrsquos set in a furniture store that bears more than a little resemblance to IKEA where sin-ister and supernatural forces are on the prowl and the poor corpo-rate drones who work there must solve a horrific mystery in order to survive (presumably while fol-

lowing proper corporate protocol and providing excellent customer service) But just as exciting to me the book itself is a parody of an IKEA-style catalog illustrated with furniture schematics and cheery living room photos becom-ing creepier and creepier as the story moves along

Wersquoll end with one of the classics H P Lovecraft This par-anoid reclusive pulp writer from the 1920s was relatively unknown in his day but has become an underground legend His name

is synonymous with foreboding tales of occult rituals evil space gods and of course the descent from reason to madness Taken together his short stories invoke a universe in which humans are insignificant specks whose sanity could be rent asunder if they even began to glimpse the secret powers underlying their existence Lovecraft has dozens of short story collections pick up those containing ldquoThe Call of Cthulhurdquo and ldquoThe Whisperer in the Darknessrdquo Reading any of his stories will leave you feeling unsettled and reluctant to turn off the lights

In conclusion BooFor less-scary costumed fun the

library will be holding its second Star Wars Reads Day from 11 am to 1 pm on Saturday Oct 11 There will be Star Wars-themed crafts games and snacks as well as a costume contest and a visit by local members of the Rebel Legion and 501st Legion devoted Star Wars fans who wear authentic costumes to support community events Last yearrsquos Star Wars Reads Day saw over 125 kids and adults participating so wersquore expecting a great turnout

mdashJake Sexton is librarian at the La Mesa branch of the San Diego County Library Reach him at 619-469-2151 or visit the library at 8074 Allison Aveu

Above The Strain is being adapted to television (Courtesy William Morrow)Left Horrorstoumlr is an innovative horror twist on an IKEA catalog (Courtesy Quirk Books)

JakeSexton

LA MESA READS

10 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

ENTERTAINMENT

La Mesa Village is usually known as a quaint and quiet

part of town but those of us who have been around for a while know therersquos much more to that stretch of La Mesa Boulevard than antique stores and thrift shops

Oktoberfest perhaps the most exciting event hosted in La Mesa each year descends upon the Village for three days over the first weekend in October This year it falls particularly early on Oct 3 ndash 5 with live entertain-ment multiple beer gardens street vendors and more slated to draw the masses

For families venturing to the free event there are carnival games rides and other activities in the Kids Zone (for children under 12) Diverse food options located throughout the 10 blocks of Oktoberfest are an obvious crowd pleaser for all ages Plus the streets are lined with booths of crafts and other products that may inspire an early holiday shopping spree

But itrsquos the big kids who have the most reasons to head to Oktoberfest

The aptly named Big Beer Garden presented by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and the smaller Nebo Drive Beer Garden by the La Mesa Village Merchantrsquos Association are where you will find most of the action at Oktoberfest

The former is located in the Allison Street parking lot (between Pine Street and Palm Avenue) and is home to a large festival stage to go along with the nectar of the hops This beer garden is family-friendly so patrons can feel free to bring their children Pets are not allowed inside the event

Various bands will play the Big Beer Garden all three days pre-senting mostly classic rock lsquonrsquo roll (The Ideas Rock and Roll Trio and The Car Tune Dogs) and some German music (Our Song) This area will also have food options

Good times brewing for annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

mdash including festival favorites like brats and pulled pork sand-wiches mdash to keep partiers fueled throughout the day and night The beer garden will also host a stein-holding contest each eve-ning around 8 pm hosted by Samuel Adams

The Nebo Drive Beer Garden (next to the La Mesa Train Museum) also has a lot to offer Though smaller in scale this adults-only beer garden provides ample enticement with at least three German beers being served It will also host the Bavarian Beer Garden Band on Friday and Saturday These factors will give an authentic feel to this area harkening back to the ldquooriginal Oktoberfest viberdquo according to Bill Dyke of the Bavarian Beer Garden Band

Festivalgoers should note a trol-ley ride to the La Mesa Boulevard stop (near Spring Street) literally drops you right in the middle of the festival Frequent trains going by make public transportation the ideal designated driver for Oktoberfesters ready to imbibe like our German counterparts Popular ride-sharing services are another smart choice for getting to and from La Mesa Trust me mdash you donrsquot want to even attempt to look for parking

In addition to the beer gar-dens and festival food vendors the businesses in and around La Mesa Village will have their doors open to welcome visitors One such spot is Hofferrsquos Cigar Bar which boasts an impressive tap list of craft beers

ldquo[Oktoberfest] brings out a much wilder clientele than we are used to but also a lot of new faces that might have never been in nor heard of usrdquo Hofferrsquos bar manager Ryan Bartman said ldquoSo all in all itrsquos great for businessrdquo

Other businesses along La Mesa Boulevard that should benefit from the increased foot traffic include Konnichiwa Sushi and Bar (bet you didnrsquot know La Mesa Village had sushi) Cosmos Coffee Cafeacute for those needing a caffeine boost to keep going and Trattoria Tiramisu with its authentic Italian dishes and stellar wine list when yoursquove had

enough beers and brats Whether La Mesa is your home

or a place yoursquove never ventured Oktoberfest is the ideal time to enjoy the festival spirit discover the businesses of the village and do the chicken dance like you never have before Whatever you do donrsquot forget to take home a commemorative beer boot

mdashJen Van Tieghem can be reached at jensdcnncomu

JenVan Tieghem

The Tarantino familyrsquos gourmet sausages are always a crowd favorite at La Mesarsquos Oktoberfest a three-day beer and brat extravaganza (Courtesy La Mesa Chamber of Commerce)

La Mesa OktoberfestSchedule of Events

Friday Oct 3Street festival 11 am - 9 pm Big Beer Garden 4 - 1130 pm (last call at 11 pm)The Ideas Rock and Roll Trio 4 - 5 pm The Car Tune Dogs 6 - 10 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden Noon - 9 pm (last call at 830 pm)Bavarian Beer Garden Band 6 - 9 pm

Saturday Oct 4 Street festival 11 am - 9 pm Big Beer Garden 11 am - 1130 pm (last call at 11 pm) Our Song Noon - 4 pmThe Car Tune Dogs 6 - 10 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden 12 - 9 pm (last call at 830 pm)Bavarian Beer Garden Band 2 - 4 pm

Sunday Oct 5 Street festival Noon - 5 pm BIG Beer Garden 1 - 430 pm (last call at 4 pm)Our Song 1 - 4 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden 12 - 430 pm (last call at 4 pm)

Fun FactsVendors Over 250Attendees expected 200000Years of La Mesa Oktoberfest 41 City blocks used forOktoberfest 10Estimated cost for police fire and other city staff time $77000 paid for by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and La Mesa Village Merchants Association

sdcnncom 11Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Jazz

Fridays Charlie Arbelaez Trio at The Rook Free 9 pm TheRookBarcom 7745 University Ave La Mesa

Sundays samdi-ego Jazz Trio at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room Free 2 - 5 pm SanPasqualWinerycom 8364 La Mesa Blvd La Mesa

Oct 15 ldquoThe Music of Will Toddrdquo with the SDSU Chamber Choir Grossmont College Jazz faculty and composerpianist Will Todd at St John of the Cross Catholic Church Suggested donation 730 pm Grossmontedu 8086 Broadway Lemon Grove

PopTuesdays Suzanne Shea and Bob Wade at Bistro Sixty Free 630 to 830 pm BistroSixtySDcom Call and hold your table 619-287-8186 5987 El Cajon Blvd College Area

Wednesdays Westside Inflection at Riviera Supper Club Free 8 pm RivieraSupperClubcom 7777 University Ave La Mesa

Fridays Nathan Welden at Bistro Sixty Free 630 pm BistroSixtySDcom 5987 El Cajon Blvd College Area

Classical

Oct 16 Youth Choir of San Diego at Cuyamaca College Price $8 ($5 for students) 7 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Oct 17 Cuyamaca College Choir at Cuyamaca College Price $8 ($5 for students) 730 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Oct 31 Quatuor Mosaiumlques Classical String Quartet at Cuyamaca College Price $10 730 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Alternative

Sept 27 TaKillya at Chico Club Free 9 pm ChicoClub1940com 7366 El Cajon Blvd La Mesa

Oct 4 Baja Bugs at Riviera Supper Club Free 9 pm RivieraSupperClubcom 7777 University Ave La Mesa

Oct 31 Fifth Annual Halloween Monster Bash with The Farmers at Parkway Bar Free 9 pm TheParkwayBarcom 9188 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa

Other

Thursdays (through Oct 30) Open Mic Acoustic Nights at Parkway Bar Free 7 pm TheParkwayBarcom 9188 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa

Sept 27 Little Kings at Hooleyrsquos Free 9 pm Hooleyscom 5500 Grossmont Center Dr 277 La Mesa

Oct 18 Oktoberfest featuring The Bavarian Beergarden Band at Butcherrsquos Brewing Free 4-10 pm ButchersBrewingcom 9962 Prospect Ave Suite F Santee

Oct 18 Jefferson Washington at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room Free 7 pm SanPasqualWinerycom 8364 La Mesa Blvd La Mesa

Bands venues and music-lovers please submit listings for this calendar by emailing Jensdcnncomu

to 46 feet or about four stories So the Kitzmans have hired

development consultants Urban Housing Partners to convince city leaders to change the zoning on the property to allow build-ing heights up to 110 feet The zoning the Kitzmans are asking for could accommodate up to 363 dwelling units 61000 square feet of commercial retail space 146000 square feet of commer-cial office space or a hotel of up to 250 guest rooms

The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the pro-posed zoning changes on June 18 They made no decision at the time because the Kitzmansrsquo co-applicant American Legion Post 282 announced they were withdrawing their support for the zoning change

The Kitzmans through their South Baltimore LLC resub-mitted their application over the summer The Planning Commission will hear the new and reduced application at a meeting at City Hall on Wednesday Oct 1 at 7 pm

Residents east and west of the project site have been some of the most vocal critics of the proposal to rezone the property

Don Bell whose house on El Capitan Drive overlooks the Park Station property said he and his neighbors are not against redeveloping and improving the property

ldquoItrsquos blight down thererdquo Bell said

What they are against how-ever is rezoning the property

ldquoThe problem really is that the Planning Commission is going to give them a blank checkrdquo he said

Nearby neighbors know and accept that change is inevitable but the added traffic and parking problems that would come from a 10-story building would be unac-ceptable and detrimental to the community said Suda House who also has a view of the Park Station property from her home on El Capitan

ldquoDevelop the heck out of it but keep it below 46 feetrdquo House said

One vocal supporter of the Kitzmanrsquos plan has been Jack Rowell a La Mesa native who now sells real estate across the San Diego region Any new homes that can be added to the La Mesa market will be a good thing Rowell said

ldquoI have a bunch of [potential

buyers] who want La Mesa but itrsquos a fight over every prop-erty especially things under $500000rdquo Rowell said ldquoPeople want the La Mesa schools People want the convenience of La Mesardquo

The only other place where housing prices are compara-ble for high-quality schools is Poway and Poway doesnrsquot have La Mesarsquos Village or its prox-imity to regional destinations Rowell said

Rowell said he understands why nearby neighbors donrsquot want their views to change but therersquos no reason to believe home values will suffer with an increase in supply

ldquoTheyrsquore talking about 300 to 500 condo unitsrdquo Rowell said ldquoThatrsquos like spitting in the oceanrdquo

For Aaron Amerling orga-nizer of the ldquoFight Park Station La Mesa ndash No More Than Fourrdquo Facebook page the colorful renderings of Park Station are a Trojan Horse designed to mis-lead people about what the site could become

ldquoThe Kitzmans do not have the funds to develop thatrdquo Amerling said ldquoThe whole idea is to upzone the land because that improves the resale valuerdquo

If city leaders approve the new zoning the Kitzmans or a new owner could build something completely different than what theyrsquove been advertising

City leaders have been cau-tious about commenting directly on the proposal only issuing vague statements about main-taining the character of the downtown village

Regardless of the Planning Commissionrsquos decision next week the final decision on whether to rezone the property will be made by the full City Council at a later dateu

LOCAL NEWSGen-X in La MesaGive peace a chanceGenevieve Suzuki

G iving peace a chance seems more complicated than it

should beWith all of the strife going on

in this world peace seems to be an almost impossible proposition The appalling brutal treatment of American hostages at the hands of ISIS members resulted in many of us feeling complete repulsion at the state of global affairs

I know I felt sick Even worse I began to feel hopeless

So when Anne Pacheco a member of the Interfaith Council of La Mesa asked me to attend the first International Day of Peace Sept 21 at Aztec Park her invitation stirred something in my soul The day which touted ldquoThe Right of Peoples to Peacerdquo would be a joint effort among people of most of the worldrsquos religions including Judaism Christianity Islam Buddhism Hinduism Native American and Baharsquoi

And although I promised Anne I would attend I thought it was an awfully lofty goal Really All of these people gathering for peace on a Sunday a day many hold holy in their churches

But I was pleasantly surprised when approximately 200 people

showed up with chairs umbrellas hats and hearts at Aztec Park that mild sunny day Many of us pur-chased sky blue scarves from the Sisters of Saint Francis to wear in solidarity for peace Shucks even Mayor Art Madrid wore a scarf over a yellow shirt

I admit however getting my husband Derek to don the blue scarf wasnrsquot easy In fact it wasnrsquot easy getting him there in the first place

Itrsquos not that Derek is against world peace (even though our daughter to this day refuses to add that request to her nightly prayers) Itrsquos more that Sunday is for football in Derekrsquos world and this day of peace was causing him to miss hooting and hollering for his fantasy football team

Nevertheless Derek relented and accompanied me and our daughter to the event This com-promise is one from which most of the world could learn Is Derek a community activist No but Derek is focused on the big pic-ture namely a happy wife and home Focusing on the big pic-ture would help many find peace in their lives locally and globally

As I sat there amid others dedi-cated to peace and non-violence I realized the one common emo-tional positive is the future We all want a better future for our fami-lies and our children We donrsquot

want to leave behind a legacy of anger brutality and war

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we said together at the beginning of the program

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we insisted again

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we vowedAs Rebecca Littlejohn of Vista

La Mesa Christian Church said ldquoWe are gathered in hope today for hope is how we surviverdquo

Thanks to this special inaugural day I was reminded of how impor-tant it was for me to have hope and that reminder allowed me to place aside that earlier feeling of hopelessness conjured by evil deeds in another land After all if I allow myself to fall hopeless I have nothing to give my child On the other hand if I cling to hope it will then be passed on to my daughter who would hold that ideal in her mind and mdash hopefully mdash see it to fruition

As the Native American prayer during the program stated ldquoGive us the wisdom to teach our chil-dren to love to respect and to be kind to each other so that they may grow with peace in mindrdquo

mdashGenevieve A Suzuki is editor emeritus of the La Mesa Courier She continues to live and practice family law in La Mesa Her web-site is sdlawyersuzukicomu

Find out what your home is worth on-line

Visit wwwsandiegohouseareacomOr scan this QR Code with your phone now

Tom Bowker Coldwell Banker West BRE01024513

A rendering by Park Station opponents shows the potential scale of buildings (Courtesy Aaron Amerling)

Park Station from page 1

12 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

Music professorrsquos jazz album wins acclaim

Follow your passionThat has been a guiding

principal for Grossmont College music instructor and jazz bassist extraordinaire Justin Grinnell who ditched plans to study mathematics shortly after enrolling at San Diego State University back in 1999 and meeting musicians ldquowho were doing music all the timerdquo

Good thing Grinnell has become an integral part of a vibrant Grossmont College music program and gigs as a pit orchestra member at myriad venues including the Old Globe La Jolla Playhouse and the San Diego Civic Theatre for a number of Tony Award-winning musicals

And now his debut disc the Justin Grinnell Quartetrsquos Without You has been nomi-nated for a San Diego Music Award for best jazz album

Grinnell is no stranger to awards He is a member of the Danny Green Trio which won the 2009 San Diego Music Award for Best Jazz Album for its debut CD The triorsquos second release A Thousand Ways Home reached No 17 on the Jazz Week Charts for national radio airplay after its 2012 debut

ldquoIrsquom doing what I loverdquo said Grinnell who is on track to earn his Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern California next spring ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the col-lege or university levelrdquo

Grinnell has earned praise from the best in the business

ldquoNot only is Justin a fantastic person but he is such an accom-plished musician a great sight reader which is so important because we do all kinds of tricky music and having someone who is able to read so well is an invalu-able asset and hersquos adept in a lot of different musical stylesrdquo said critically-acclaimed Jazz guitar-ist and composer Peter Sprague ldquoHe also has just such a wonder-ful spirit when it comes to playing music Irsquom really happy to know him and being able to play with him from time to timerdquo

A native of Santa Rosa California Grinnell initially planned to study mathematics and become an engineer But after enrolling in a few music classes at San Diego State and jamming with newfound friends he switched gears It was while he was at SDSU that Grinnell began gigging with future Grossmont College Music Department chair Derek Cannon and met his future wife Melonie a pianist who also teaches music at Grossmont College

With both a bachelorrsquos and masterrsquos degree in jazz perfor-mance from San Diego State in hand Grinnell began working in 2005 as an adjunct music profes-

sor at Grossmont College He also serves as an adjunct music professor at the University of San Diego and taught part time at Southwestern College from 2008 to 2011

ldquoGrossmont College is specialrdquo Grinnell said ldquoIt feels like family here Everyone is part of a com-munity that is working together on behalf of our students doing our best to help them succeed in a business thatrsquos hard to make a living in That camaraderie is pricelessrdquo

Grinnellrsquos passion serves him well in a business where talent alone often isnrsquot enough to sup-port a family

ldquoI tell my students all the time that if theyrsquore looking for job security donrsquot look at a career in jazz musicrdquo Grinnell said adding that he makes a living cobbling together his adjunct

professorships private lessons and regular performances

Grinnell and his wife are juggling their careers while rais-ing two young sons His debut album falls into the category of West Coast-flavored straight-ahead jazz He wrote six of the nine tunes on the disc with the remaining three being covers Especially tasty are the origi-nal ldquoHit the Brakesrdquo and a jazz cover of The Beatlesrsquo Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite

Grinnell however is comfort-able playing a wide variety of styles that range from classical to funk He is a member of the Brazilian jazz-inspired Danny Green Trio (Danny Green also teaches at Grossmont College) and the modern jazz group ARC Trio among others

The Justin Grinnell Quintet will be playing three concerts at Grossmont College in the coming weeks Shows are sched-uled for Sept 28 Oct 26 and Nov 30 in Building 26 Room 220 at 630 pm A full itiner-ary of upcoming performances around the region can be found at JustinGrinnellcom

The San Diego Music Awards take place Oct 6 at Humphreys By The Bay on San Diegorsquos Shelter Island

mdashDavid Ogul writes on behalf of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Email him at ogulcommunica-tionsgmailcomu

ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the college or university levelrdquo-Justin Grinnell

LOCAL NEWS

Justin Grinnell has just released his debut jazz album which has been nominated for a San Diego Music Award (Photo by Jon Naugle)

DavidOgul

sdcnncom 13Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

AUDIT PENDING

wwwsdcnncom

123 Camino de la Reina Suite 202 EastSan Diego CA 92108

P 6195197775 bull F 619-519-7840

1

2

3

4

5

Great Value Proven Results

Community NewsNumber one source of community information Hyper-local news and features In print and online updated daily

Market SaturationCombined distribution of door-to-door delivery high traffic locations and news racks Over 200000 readers

Award Winning JournalismProud recipient of numerous ldquoExcellence in Journalism AwardsrdquoRegular recipient of local and national press awards

Audited DistributionAudited by one of the nationrsquos largest newspaper auditing firms Circulation Verification Council (CVC)Guaranteed distribution

For advertising call(619) 961-1958

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Distributed Countywide

up along the way include thousands of football cards (both Topps and Fleer) player and coach jerseys jackets personal letters autographed footballs bobbleheads pins programs team photographs and much much more He even has a life-sized bust of Chargers wide receiver Lance Alworth which is a story in itself just ask him

This native sonrsquos collection is not limited to the San Diego Chargers but what he has gathered about them is more than impressive His comprehensive collection also includes items from the Los Angeles Chargers and every other football team that played during the AFL time period

Over the years hersquos met and interviewed dozens of players coaches and families becoming close with many of them Two of his larger per-sonal collections are of Gilman the Chargers first coach and Alworth

In 2004 he wrote ldquoCharging Through the AFL Los Angeles and San Diego Chargers football in the 1960srdquo He followed that up with ldquoBombs Away Air Coryelle and the San Diego Chargersrdquo in 2006 Both books rely heavily on interviews and photographs of their respective periods

A few years ago Tobias decided to channel his love for the AFL through his website TalesFromTheAmericanFootballLeaguecom Here Tobias shares his many interviews of the past runs a blog where he opines on the latest news of players related to the AFL deposits videos stats historical data photos and even has a forum section where others can share their love for the league and its players

He said his goal with the site is to ldquoedutain (educate and entertain) football lovers with stories about all things AFLrdquo To support his internet endeavor hersquos also taken up social media and can be followed on twitter at TalesfromtheAFL and on two locations on Facebook ldquoTales from the American Football Leaguerdquo and ldquoI loved the 1960s Chargersrdquo (a public group) On the latter he shares vintage photographs of the team and banters with the families of players He shares links back to his blog and web-site on both pages

His many follow-ers recently noticed Tobias absent from posting for a time Thatrsquos because he recently gave up approximately 85 percent of his collec-tion to pursue his dream of opening a lacrosse store in La Mesa with an old friend Despite months of hard work that opportunity never panned out Now the five pallets of blood sweat and tears that he consigned to an auction house a few months ago are sitting in a warehouse somewhere in the Midwest being individually categorized and valued in preparation for a national Internet-based auction block next spring

ldquoI was trying to trade one passion for anotherrdquo Tobias said ldquoIf Irsquod known it would have just been trading one passion for money I never would have done it but it is what it isrdquo

Deciding what to keep was a challenge but Tobias said it came down not to which collections were worth the most money but which provided him the most enjoyment

The two-dozen binders still resident on his shelves are neatly filled to the brim with pages of plastic inserts containing football cards with most every card there signed

Tobias said he pulls each binder down two or three times per week just to look through them Inside are vast collections of football cards Many are duplicated but they are categorized in dozens of ways Some collections are still incomplete mdash like his 1965 collection of every card Topps put out for that year he is only missing two out of 176 cards mdash and each time he removes that binder from the shelf he strategizes new ways he can complete that collection There is a story behind every collection and another for every card

He has some cards that hersquos certain do not exist anywhere else and he has numerous cards that had the wrong playerrsquos image printed on them in the publishing housersquos haste to get them out in advance of the new season Hersquos reached out to many of the players over the years sending along his books and asking for autographs and he has the response letters to prove it

In the wake of his failed business attempt Tobias finds himself facing a forgotten challenge looking for work

ldquoI havenrsquot had to do that since graduating collegerdquo he said ldquoFor now Irsquom just working in the back yard putting in a sprinkler system and taking my mind off of it

ldquoSan Diego can be a tough place to live in if you are a sports histo-rianrdquo he said ldquoItrsquos probably time for me to find another line of workrdquo

mdashMorgan M Hurley can be contacted at morgansdcnncomu

Todd Tobiasrsquos collections include signed football cards from the 1965 Chargers and other rare collectibles such as a bust of Lance Alworth (Photos by Morgan Hurley)

Football from page 1

14 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

CALENDAR

Prescription drug collectionSaturday Sept 27

Get rid of your unwanted expired or leftover prescription drugs at this National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day event hosted by the La Mesa Police Department and the US Drug Enforcement Administration The effort is designed to prevent prescription drug abuse Drop your drugs no questions asked from 10 am to 2 pm at the police station parking lot 8085 University Ave For other drop off locations or more informa-tion visit deadiversionusdojgov and click ldquoGot Drugsrdquo

Free electronic waste recyclingSaturday and Sunday Sept 27 ndash 28

State law prohibits disposal of certain electronic items in the trash because many of them con-tain hazardous substances The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce is hosting this free event to help residents properly recycle old televisions computers print-ers VCRs DVD players copiers scanners fax machines toner car-tridges and other approved items Microwave ovens can be disposed of for a service fee of $5 Items will be collected from 9 am to 4 pm in the parking lot between Fuddruckers restaurant and Chuze Fitness at the Grossmont Shopping Center 5500 Grossmont Center Dr The following items will not be accepted refrigerators washers dryers fluorescent light bulbs and household batteries For more details on items that will be accepted visit lamesachambercom

Generational diversity workshopTuesday Oct 2

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series profes-sional development consultant Victoria Hankins will lead a dis-cussion on the multigenerational workplace With four genera-tions working side by side in the American workforce challenges often arise regarding communi-cation styles differing workplace values and misconceptions about workplace motivators Hankins will outline the differences between the four generations and provide tips on how to effectively work in cross-generational teams The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 1030 to 1130 am in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

OktoberfestFriday through Sunday Oct 3 4 and 5

See our article on page 11 in this monthrsquos La Mesa Courier for all the details on the annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

La Mesa City Council Candidates ForumTuesday Oct 7

La Mesa mayoral candidates Art

Madrid and Mark Arapostathis will join City Council candidates Patrick Dean Mary England Pete Gregorovic and Guy McWhirter at this forum hosted and moder-ated by the Community Outreach Ministry of La Mesa First United Methodist Church in the church social hall at 4690 Palm Ave A meet-and-greet will begin at 630 pm The program begins at 7 pm All are welcome

Free blood pressure screeningTuesday Oct 7

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center 9000 Wakarusa St in La Mesa No appointment neces-sary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Senior ExpoThursday Oct 9

The city of La Mesa organizes this free event to help connect senior citizens and their families to the most helpful senior service pro-viders including La Mesa Police Department Crime Prevention Aging and Independence Services Metropolitan Transit System ldquo211rdquo Sharp Senior Resource Center Meals on Wheels DMV Senior Ombudsman Program SDGampE Medical Baseline Program Elderhelp Jewish Family Services Yellow Cab California Telephone Access Program HICAP San Diego

County District Attorneyrsquos Elder Abuse Unit and more The event will be held from 830 am to 130 pm at the La Mesa Community Center 4975 Memorial Dr A shuttle will be available from the Spring Street trolley station Organizers are asking seniors to RSVP by Oct 3 by calling 619-667-1322

Depression and bipolar disorder screeningFriday Oct 10

Dr William Brock will pres-ent a free educational seminar on the signs and symptoms of depression bipolar disorder and other anxiety disorders from 1130 am to 1230 pm Adults ages 60 and older can receive free anonymous screen-ings from Sharp Grossmont Behavioral Health Services from 1030 am to 1130 am and from 1230 pm to 130 pm The seminar and screenings will be held at the Grossmont Healthcare Districtrsquos Herrick Library at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are suggested but not required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

ldquoGot Plansrdquo Career and college fairSaturday Oct 11

High school students and their parents are invited to meet with admissions representatives from public and private universities community colleges vocational

schools and the military at this annual event organized by the Grossmont Union High School District and the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Free workshops will provide information on financial aid changes to SAT and ACT requirements transfer options between two-year colleges and four-year universities and other career topics Some workshops will be offered in Spanish and Arabic The fair is open from 1 to 4 pm at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For more information call Jason Martinez at 619-593-2713

Bunco BashSaturday Oct 11

Soroptimist International of Lemon Grove hosts this special autumn-themed Bunco event to raise money for the grouprsquos projects to help women and chil-dren in our community For $20 participants get three rounds of Bunco a door prize ticket and complimentary fall snacks and dessert Wine will be available for purchase Bunco winners receive gift baskets and raffle prizes will also be offered The event will be held from 1 to 4 pm at St John of the Cross Knights of Columbus Hall at Broadway and Columbus Drive in Lemon Grove Reservations are required Contact Gloria Ferreira at 619-466-3699 or email her at soroptgloriagmailcom

Pooch in the ParkSaturday Oct 11

Kiwanis Club of La Mesa and the Human Relations Advisory Commission will host this com-munity get-together from 9 am to noon at Harry Griffen Regional Park 9550 Milden St For $20 pet owners can enter up to two dogs into a contest show for a chance to win in one of five categories or the ldquobest in showrdquo trophy Raffle prizes giveaways and other demon-strations will round out the morning For more informa-tion contact Glenna Boemen at gab11853aolcom

Fair trade gift fair Sunday Oct 12

The St Martin of Tours Parish Hall will become a world bazaar featuring unique and handcrafted fair trade gifts deacutecor apparel and jewelry from artisans in developing countries from 8 am to 1 pm As they browse the displays created by local vendors who sell fair trade products shoppers will be able to sample or purchase fair trade refreshments including choco-late tea coffee bananas soda and Ben and Jerryrsquos ice cream The parish hall is at 7710 El Cajon Blvd in La Mesa Call 619-466-3241 for additional information

See CALENDAR page 22

sdcnncom 15Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierCALENDAR

Telephone DirectoryPolice non-emergency line 619-667-1400Fire non-emergency line 619-667-1461Animal Control 619-667-7536Graffiti removal 619-667-7560Weed abatement 619-667-1465Traffic signal maintenance 619-667-1166Streetlight maintenance 619-667-1450

Mayor Art Madrid 619-667-1100City Councilmembers 619-667-1106

EDCO 619-287-7555Helix Water District 619-466-0585Helix Water after hours emergency 619-466-3234

Gov Jerry Brown 916-445-2841US Sen Barbara Boxer 619-239-3884US Sen Dianne Feinstein 619-231-9712US Rep Susan Davis 619-280-5353State Sen Joel Anderson 619-596-3136State Assemblymember Shirley Weber 619-531-7913

Community titan Jerry Fazio announces plans to retire

A fter 35 years with the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County

Jerry Fazio has announced his retirement

Faziorsquos last day on the job as executive director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation will be Oct 24 His official retirement date following vacation will be Dec 4 three days after his 35th anniversary with the youth organization that has served hundreds of thousands of young people in the East County since its founding in 1961

Since joining the organization on Dec 1 1979 Fazio has served in several executive positions with the Girlsrsquo Club and Boys amp Girls Clubs He has also done two stints mdash the most recent of which began in July 2008 mdash as execu-tive director of the foundation a nonprofit fundraising entity

Faziorsquos honors during his career have included El Cajon Citizen of the Year in 1992 Boys amp Girls Clubs Pacific Region Executive of the Year in 2006 and National Executive Director of the Year from Boys amp Girls Clubs of America in 2007 He is known throughout San Diego for his friendly smile and fund-raising passion on behalf of the organization

ldquoHe is the instantly recog-nizable fundraiser and pitch man for our organizationrdquo said Jack Doyle board president of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation ldquoDuring his 35 years Jerry has steered the development of our new and updated facilities in El Cajon Lakeside Santee and La Mesa He leaves us a legacy to be proud of in East County We wish him well as he moves into retirementrdquo

Faziorsquos decision to retire was prompted by recent good news from doctors that he is cancer-free five years after beginning his battle against colon cancer the same disease that led to the 2008 death of his first wife Nancy

ldquoWhile preparing for my cancer

SDCNN Staff

tests I indulged in a little specu-lation about how I might handle the news whether good or badrdquo Fazio said ldquoI concluded that no matter what after 35 years the time has come for me to retire I will concentrate on my faith my health my grandchildren and my gorgeous wife Melissa And if an opportunity comes along to help a good community cause I might just do that toordquo

Faziorsquos recent work with the foundation has focused on an $89 million fundraising effort called the La Mesa Capital Campaign The campaignrsquos goal is to build a new clubhouse in La Mesa reno-vate an existing teen center in the city and fund an endowment to operate both facilities

Forrest Higgins CEO of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County will add the role of campaign coordinator to his job with the assistance from staff According to Higgins more than $5 million for the La Mesa Capital Campaign has been raised during Faziorsquos leadership

ldquoJerry has been integral part of the success and growth of the Boys amp Girls Club of East Countyrdquo Higgins said ldquoHis dedi-cation and passion to the youth and families of East County will be greatly missedrdquo

Since 1961 the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County have been meeting the developmental needs of children and youth The orga-nizationrsquos mission statement ldquoTo inspire and enable all young people especially those who need us most to become responsible caring productive citizensrdquou

Jerry Fazio (Courtesy Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County)

notice to which the couple didnrsquot respond in time to renew their five-year lease Katie said

The next they heard they had to close the bar by Nov 1

ldquoI truly believe that when one door closes another one opensrdquo says Katie Halvin who runs the bar with her husband Doug ldquoAs poignant as it is to lose the bar I know we lost it because we didnrsquot pay attention when we should haverdquo

For the past five years Katie Halvinrsquos life has been intertwined with the bar Her first date with now-husband Doug landed her there mdash an Internet connection that led to a meet up in Harry Griffen Park

ldquoWe talked for a while and then he took me to his neighborhood hangout to have a beer and shoot some poolrdquo Katie recalls Katie was retiring from the Navy as a chief torpedo man and she was ready to settle down again ldquoWe got married at the Carlton Oaks [Country Club] mdash the whole bar was thererdquo

Before long Katie and Doug took over the bar which is leased from the Ross Family Trust Calls and emails to the property man-ager were not returned

ldquoWhen we took it over there were drugs gangs uglinessrdquo she said ldquoI wonrsquot put up with thatrdquo

What was left was a band of devoted regulars a tradition of small local live music and soon local art on the walls and events supporting local artists on the calendar

Cathryn Beeks the local music guru from 1021 KPRI radio began working with Halvin in November to book homegrown and up-and-coming acts at the bar mdash which led to notable shows from the Kilborn Alley Blues Band Roni Lee and many others

ldquoItrsquos very sad that the bar is closing Itrsquos run by very special people and there isnrsquot a venue like this in San Diegordquo Beeks said ldquoI found out about them because a lot of my friends were play-ing there They had a very loyal group of musicians before I ever showed uprdquo

The Parkway is also home to a very popular and solidly booked open mic night run by local singer-songwriter Jessica Hull

The Farmers local legends who evolved from the Beat Farmers also play regularly The live music will continue intermittently with the Farmers playing the closing

night Halloween party on Oct 31For Katie Halvin the closing

isnrsquot the end Property manager Aaron Dean intends to redevelop the strip mall where the Parkway now stands into a restaurant with a full bar and microbrewery and include an outdoor music venue

ldquoHe contacted me and hired me to be the director of enter-tainment at the new venuerdquo she said ldquoThey hope to start con-struction in December and finish it by August 2015rdquo ldquoOne side of my brain is ecstatic with oppor-tunityrdquo she said ldquoThe other feels the sadness of this lossrdquo

Meanwhile the Halvins are looking around in the area to find another place to open a bar like the Parkway

ldquoItrsquos our regulars Irsquom really worried aboutrdquo she said ldquoSome are at a point where most of their friends and family are gone and we are their community and fellowship We know who has cancer who has a new baby we know who to check on if they donrsquot show uprdquo

mdashMarty Graham is a freelance writer Email her at martygra-hamcoxnetu

Parkway from page 1

Sycuan Resort and Casino

For exciting casino action right in your own backyard therersquos nowhere closer than Sycuan Casino With Vegas-style gaming scrumptious dining options live headliner entertainment and nearby golf resort yoursquoll find your-self coming back again and again

You can choose from 2000 video amp reel slots as well as video poker For you card players there are more than 40 tables to play Blackjack ThreendashCard amp FourndashCard Poker Sycuanndashstyle craps and roulette

Enjoy the fresh air in the nonndashsmoking room with more than 350 slot machines 9 gaming tables Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet and a Poker Room with daily tourna-ments ndash all smokendashfree

For your dining pleasure Sycuan offers five different res-

taurant options to tempt your taste buds For those looking for a variety of delectable options Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet is an all-you-can-eat feast featuring slow-roasted Prime Rib buttery crab legs and over 100 fresh selec-tions and delicious dessert bar There isnrsquot a bad seat in the house at GameDay Sports Bar amp Grill where you can catch the big game on 39 large screen televisions 16 beers on tap with full cocktail selection delicious food menu and 29 bar-top video poker machines to play while you root on your team

With excellent acoustics and state-of-the-art sound and light-ing Sycuan Live amp Up Close is San Diegorsquos premiere venue for live entertainment Bringing exciting crowd pleasing acts from all musical genres therersquos something for everyone on their concert calendar

Just a short drive nearby Sycuan Golf Resort offers San Diegorsquos only 54-hole golf facility Exciting course play includes

3007 Dehesa RdEl Cajon CA 92019800-457-5568sycuanresortcom

mature tree-lined fairways eleva-tion changes water features and impeccable greens No matter if yoursquore a seasoned player or a first-timer the two challenging 18-hole championship golf courses and fun 18-hole par 3 course are guaranteed to give you unforget-table experiences from beginning to end To complete your stay-cat-ion enjoy one of their 100 spacious hotel rooms all recently remodeled and offer beautiful views of the golf courses pools and private putting greens If golf isnrsquot in your plans you can pamper yourself with a relaxing spa service

Not only is Sycuan the closest casino to downtown they offer free shuttle bus rides from a number of convenient locations throughout San Diego County For more infor-mation please visit Sycuancom

Guests must be 18 or older to enter casino 21 or older to enter theatre and Sports Bar Please play responsibly

Get away for the day at Sycuan CasinohellipReal Friendly Real Closeu

16 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

Short-term hands-on programs

Half-day classes 4 days a week

Monthly payment plans available

wwwtheaccountingacademycom

PETSlsquoOh where oh where has my little dog gonersquoSariReis

The only thing more devas-tating to a pet parent than

when their furry kid is missing is to have them never return Yet this sad scenario occurs every day Walk through any neighborhood and you will see the signs posted on trees and telephone poles ldquoMissing Our beloved dog Skippyrdquo These heart-rending pleas for help are always accompanied by a photograph of a sweet furry face and the offer of a reward for their return

As pet parents one of our pri-mary responsibilities is to keep our pets safe To do this we need to keep them securely confined in our homes our backyards or on leashes If your dog has access to the backyard be certain it is entirely fenced in with no poten-tial escape routes Make sure all gates are locked when you or anyone else goes in or out Inform pool service people landscap-ers or gardeners that you have a dog in the yard and the gate must be secured at all times Be particularly careful when enter-ing or leaving your home Open doors slowly to ensure a cat or dog is not lurking nearby ready to make a quick escape Never leave the door open for any length of time Even an indoor kitty may be curious if the door is left open for a minute or two Tell visitors cleaning ladies and anyone else who may have access to your home that you have pets and they are not to be let out

Some people like to give their dogs off-leash time on city streets in their neighborhoods They believe their pup is well-trained and will come on command and not run away But the sight of a

squirrel or stray cat can waylay the best trained dog and send them on a chase Many of these dogs never make it back home

There are also those feline parents who believe it is essen-tial to a catrsquos well-being for them to investigate and play outdoors Although the kitties may enjoy outdoor time it is very danger-ous With rattlesnakes coyotes stray dogs and traffic many out-door kitties never make it home again and soon become one of those sad notices posted on a tree

Even with the best inten-tions our pets may still make an escape Your best opportunity in getting them back is to ensure they can be identified Put an ID

tag on their collar listing your name and phone number and microchip them Although there are numerous companies that offer microchips and monitoring services one of the best is ldquoHome Againrdquo If you do microchip your pet remember to notify the man-ufacturer if you move or change your phone number Although the cost of micro-chipping is very reasonable many shelters and veterinary clinics hold spe-cial micro-chipping days so you can get your pets done for a dis-counted price Having your pet micro-chipped greatly increases the potential of getting him home again Can you actually put a price tag on that

ldquoHome Againrdquo stated that one out of three pets will go missing during their lifetime Make sure that one isnrsquot yours

mdashSari 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 missionvalley-petsittingcomu

One out of three pets will

go missing during their

lifetime

Lucille a 5-year-old spayed Labrador RetrieverAustralian Cattle Dog mix is

an energetic lady with tons of love to give her new family She has a friendly personality with everyone she meets and loves to learn new tricks She already knows commands such as sit down shake crawl beg and is currently learning how to wave ldquobye-byerdquo She is very treat-motivated and eager to please

She is very smart and outgoing and has gotten along well with other dogs on social walks This silly girl is always smiling and ready for a new adventure Born a true athlete she would love to participate in future training and would make an excellent workout partner Adequate exercise and mental stimulation are a must for this spirited lady

Lucille will do best in an active home with older children or adults She has a lot of love to give and may benefit from having another dog in the family as long as she meets them first to make sure theyrsquore a good match

Her adoption fee includes her spay current vaccinations permanent microchip identification a certificate for a free veterinary exam 30 days of complimentary medical insurance and a license for residents of Oceanside or Vista

Lucille is available for adoption at the San Diego Humane Society 5500 Gaines St in San Diego To learn more about Lucille call 619-299-7012u

Adopt a pet Looking for a home

LucilleBreed Labrador Retriever Australian Cattle Dog mixAge 5 years old Gender Female (spayed)Colors Black and WhiteID 142265Adoption Fee $9500

ADOPTION HOURSWeekdays 11 am ndash 6 pm Weekends 11 am ndash 5 pm

SD Humane Society amp SPCA5500 Gaines St (92110)

619-299-7012 | sdhumaneorg

(ThinkStock)

sdcnncom 17Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Foothiller FootstepsAdvanced Placement curriculum exposes students to college-level study

Helix HighlightsMaking students college-ready

Connie and LynnBaer

JenniferOsborn

A parent of a Helix Charter High School student once

noted that her daughter was never asked ldquoAre you going to collegerdquo Instead she was asked ldquoWhere are you going to collegerdquo A subtle difference in wording but a vast difference in meaning

Helixrsquos mission states ldquoHelix Charter High School provides a comprehensive education that prepares all students to gradu-

ate college-ready and equipped to reach their personal and aca-demic potentialrdquo

While the belief at Helix is not that every graduate needs to attend college in order to be suc-cessful it is definitely our goal to ensure that every graduate has the option to continue their edu-cation if they so choose

For the class of 2014 82 per-cent of Helix graduates stated they planned to attend college Forty-five percent went directly to a four-year college and 37 percent planned to attend two-

year institutions Approximately 12 percent attend University of California schools and 22 per-cent attend San Diego State or other California State University campuses

Support classroom projectsHave you heard of Donors

Choose Donors Choose is an online charity started by a class-room teacher from the Bronx New York He and his colleagues had great ideas for their students but no funding to bring their ideas to fruition

On the Donors Choose website teachers post classroom project requests and visitors to the web-site can help grant the teachersrsquo wishes by donating any amount big or small to their projects Donors Choose allows everyone to be a philanthropist

Over the past few years Helix teachers have been the recipi-ents of hundreds of thousands of dollars in supplies for classroom projects that would otherwise not have been possible Be a part of it Visit the website at donorschooseorg and search ldquoHelix La Mesardquo in the search box

Students shine nationallyThis past summer four Helix

Speech amp Debate team member students went to Kansas City Miski Abdi Spencer McCall Rebeca McClellan and Rachel Orey each qualified to compete in the National Forensics League National Championships McCall was a semifinalist in Student Senate and a quarterfinalist in Impromptu Orey was an octafi-nalist in Poetry

What else is going on at HelixLenelle Wyliersquos honors biology

classes have been accepted to attend the Science Lecture Series at the Scripps Research Institute

Jeff Kepperrsquos Oceanography class will be working with the

Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute and raising white sea bass in the classroom This is the second group of white sea bass raised by Helix students

Highland Players present The Odd Couple by Neil Simon Nov 5-8 and Nov 13-14 at 7 pm in the Black Box Theater They will perform both the original laquomaleraquo version and the ldquofemalerdquo version in repertory Tickets are $10 and will be available at helixdramaweeblycom or at the door Performances may sell out so buy early

Take a tourFinally we are always inter-

ested in letting our community know about Helix Charter High School The Excellence in Education Tour is offered twice a month and is open to anyone who wishes to attend It is a one-hour tour and program that highlights our vision history accomplish-ments goals and needs This monthrsquos tours will take place on Tuesday October 7 from 830 ndash 930 am and Thursday October 23 from 530 ndash 630 pm More information can be found at helix-charternet We hope to see you there

mdashJennifer Osborn is the com-munity relations officer for Helix Charter High School Email her at josbornhelixcharternetu

A commitment to educational excellence has always been a

part of the culture of Grossmont High School In the 1980s Grossmont began offering a new curriculum mdash Advanced Placement mdash that challenges the high school student to master a rigorous college-level curricu-lum Each May the students may then take the AP Exam Passing the exam with a score of 3 4 or 5 will in most cases translate to the student receiv-ing college credit or course exemption

In 1981 Grossmont English teacher Kay Adams offered an after-school tutorial for her senior students who wanted to take the AP English Language and Composition Exam Twenty-one students met with her to receive preparation for the exam all 21 students passed the exam with five stu-dents receiving a 5 the highest score

ldquoI learned more than I ever taughtrdquo Adams said ldquoThose students were the brightest minds I ever metrdquo

Beginning in 1982 AP

courses became a yearly English course offering

Other challenges presented themselves to early AP teach-ers In the 1980s through 1996 Sue Emerson AP Biology teacher found ways to cre-atively schedule her class On Wednesdays the students came in an hour early to complete the sophisticated experiments the curriculum required

ldquoOne fun activity was a nation-wide project studying wetlandsrdquo Emerson recalled ldquoThe students shared information with schools around the country via telecom-munication from their study of the Tijuana River Estuaryrdquo

Today Grossmont offers 15 different honors courses which prepare the students for the diverse variety of subsequent 19 Advanced Placement courses

Art AP Art History Studio Drawing 2-D Design

Business AP Computer Science

English AP Literature and Composition Language and Composition

Language AP Spanish Language Spanish Literature and Culture French Language and Culture

Math AP Calculus StatisticsPerforming Arts AP Music

Advanced Placement Theory

Science AP Biology Environmental Science Physics

Social Science AP European History US History Psychology US Government

Over the years the curriculum has evolved AP French Language and Culture teacher Azita Mahmoudi noted that the ldquoAP test has changed from a narrow grammar-based test to an open-ended test based on cultural knowledgerdquo

ldquoPhysics isnrsquot dif-ficult It only has the reputation of being dif-ficultrdquo said longtime AP Physics teacher Tom Eklund

Eklundrsquos creative lessons include the one shown in the 2012 photograph of student Jessie Hodges dropping his project off the bleachers and measuring its fall

During the past five years the number of tests taken by Grossmont students has risen from 453 in 2009 to 646 in 2014 While the passing rate dropped from 65 to 58 percent in those

same years more Foothillers were given the opportunity to challenge themselves and prepare for post secondary education

A continuing goal of Grossmont staff is to have more enrolled students take the test however each test costs $89 with many students taking more than one test

Those wishing to sponsor one or more tests with a tax-deduct-

ible donation may contribute to the GHS Educational Foundationrsquos AP Scholarship Fund by sending a check to GHS Educational Foundation PO Box 1043 La Mesa CA 91944

ldquoGrossmont High School is proud to support our honors and Advanced Placement curricu-lumrdquo said Principal Dan Barnes ldquoWe are very excited to see the very high increase in partici-pation in our courses over the past three years and contin-ued success by our

teachers and students shown in their AP exam pass ratesrdquo

Visit Grossmont and wit-ness firsthand a campus that celebrates it heritage and embraces its future Regular public hours are noon to 4 pm on Wednesday Oct 1 and Nov 5 or by appointment

Contact the Grossmont High School Museum by phone at 619-668-6140 or by email at ghs-museumguhsdnetu

AP Physics students participate in an experiment at Grossmont High School in 2012 (Courtesy GHS Museum)

18 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

PUZZLESSUDOKU

Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9 Each number can appear only once in each row column and 3x3 block Use logic and process elimination to solve the puzzle

copy 2014 Janric Enterprises Dist by creatorscom

CROSSWORD

Business 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 wwwGotFreedomcom Call 858-278-2120 Your future is counting on you (1214)

For SaleNICE 1BD HOUSE IN LA MESA LIVDEN LG KITCHEN BATH WD LG BEDROOM NICE SUNDECK $1000 INCLUDES GE WATER TRASH CALL CLARA 6194650591 (0914)

Sweet male and female Tea-cup Yorkie 12 weeks old $500 Will be 4 lbs at full growth Microchiped shots and dewormed coming with registration papers mlcpetsyahoocom 661-858-0633 (0914)

NoticesWIDOW OR WIDOWER Interested in social activities You are welcome to join our club Widows or Widowers (WOW) of San Diego Website wwwwowsdorg Phone 619-448-6088 (0914)

ServicesJennarsquos Barber Shoppe Styling for men women amp children Wheelchair friendly Old time expert

haircuts at affordable prices Colors amp perms 7424 Jackson Dr1A (across from Keilrsquos in Bank of America lot) Tues-Fri 830-530pm Sat 830-noon Walk-ins or By appt 619-644-3669 (1214)

Lindarsquos Puppy Love licensed insured pet sitting service offering daily walks cat care overnight stays-your home lots of love 619-857-3674 wwwlindaspuppylovecom (615)

Locksmith - Discount Deadbolts and Rekeying - security door viewers patio door locks simulated alarms magnetic door stops Cliff Henderson 619-840-3327 - Lic LCO4353 - Bonded - Never a trip charge (0615)

Quality exterior carpentry Decks Fences Patio Covers and Termite Repair Lic365241 wwwaactionbuildersofsandiegocom Bob 619-275-1493 (415)

Bathtubs and sinks refinished like new San Carlos based business for over 25 years - same owner Lic560438 wwwsaveatubsdcom 619-464-5141 (0115)

German Setter Tile and Marble Professional marbletile setter with 28 years experience European craftsmanship Punctual amp dependable License 872804 Contact Jens Sedemund 619-415-6789 or jensgermansettercom (1214)

Dan Patterson HandymanCarpentry Repair and replacement of plumbing electrical repair installation of water heaters doors windows cabinets flooring fencing Pressure washing of driveways all phases of

Finding Senior Housing can be complex but it doesnrsquot have to be

(800) 217-3942A Place for Mom is the nationrsquos largest senior living referral

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so our services are completely free to families

ldquoYou can trust A Place for Mom to help yourdquo

ndash Joan Lunden

BUSINESS amp SERVICES

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 (1214)

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WantedHelping Hands Animal Sanctuary seeks laundry detergent (all free and clear) and fabric softener (Downey free and gentle) 619-460-6679 (0914)

Job WantedNanny seeking work certified bkgd ck CPR First Aide 20 years experience wchildren and babies Great references Call Peggy 619-246-6572 or 512-755-0813

ANSWERS ON PAGE 20

Experienced amp Professional

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INDIVIDUALS amp BUSINESSES

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TAX CONSULTANT

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Air amp ElectricalWater heaters garbage disposals drain cleaning Video pipe inspections water softeners amp filtration Faucets and toilets Visit our Show-room (06-12)

Serving ourcommunity since 1960

(619) 583-7963Lic 348810

PLUMBING

sdcnncom 19Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierPUZZLES CLASSIFIEDS

Sudoku amp Crosswordpuzzle answers from

page 19

The Academic Senate at Grossmont College last

month honored math instruc-tor Michael Lambe a Mt Helix resident with the Distinguished Faculty award the first ever for a part-time member of the col-lege faculty

Lambersquos 36 years as part-time instructor at Grossmont College concurrent to his 39-year teach-ing career with the Grossmont Union High School District gave him a unique perspective and insight on nurturing stu-dent success His dual career has made him especially aware of the need to make the transi-tion from high school to college as seamless as possible and to ensure secondary level curricu-lum prepares students for higher education

His interaction between Grossmont College and Monte Vista High School where he was chair of the math depart-

Math teacher is Grossmont Collegersquos part-time instructor of the year

ment made him a natural to help develop the first articula-tion agreement between the college and high school which helps students smoothly transi-tion without duplicating classes or experiencing delays

It wasnrsquot just students who benefitted from Lambersquos experi-ence with both systems When

driver education was eliminated from the high school curriculum and instructors were facing lay-offs he worked with the high school and college districts to develop a two-year program that prepared the former driver edu-cation instructors to acquire the teaching credentials needed to become math instructors

ldquoItrsquos been a fantastic career mdash Irsquove been blessedrdquo Lambe said

Following his retirement from the high school district Lambe was recruited four years ago as the collegersquos part-time senate officer with the Academic Senate and chair of the of the Academic Senate Part-Time Committee As head of the new committee he began tackling issues like office hours college governance and academic rank on behalf of part-timers

ldquoMichael has unified the [Academic Senatersquos Part-Time] committee and made it the most respected and cohesive voice for part-time faculty on the campusrdquo said one of his colleagues in a nomination for Lambe for the Distinguished Faculty award ldquoHe has brought part-time faculty issues into the college governance conversation as never before and helped part-time faculty be better informed through excellent professional development activities and communicationsrdquo

Lambe described his efforts on behalf of part-time instructors as a way of paying it forward

ldquoEven as a part-timer I have done a lot of things that full-time department members dordquo he said ldquoThis is my profession mdash my calling and my love This

award is the greatest honor I have ever received My col-leagues couldnrsquot have given me anything greater and to be the first recipient is tremendousrdquo

In addition to honoring Lambe for his achievements as a member of the part-time faculty the academic senate also honored Spanish instruc-tor Yolanda Guerrero with the Distinguished Faculty award for full-time faculty

President Sunita V Cooke said Lambe and Guerrero exem-plify Grossmont Collegersquos faculty members who are passionate about teaching and motivated to boost their profession and their colleagues

ldquoThe campus community owes a debt of gratitude to fac-ulty members with that kind of dedicationrdquo she said ldquoTheir generosity is an inspiration to us allrdquo

At Cuyamaca College Spanish instructor Patricia Santana won the Outstanding Faculty Award for full-time tenured faculty Arabic instructor Aklas Sheia won the award for outstanding part-time faculty

mdashDella Elliott is public information assistant for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College Districtu

DellaElliott

Michael Lambe gives a math lesson something hersquos been doing for nearly four decades in local classrooms (Courtesy Grossmont College)

20 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

Join us for a 3-course dinner and information on Chronic back pain causes and solutions Recent advances in back pain relief Different surgical options QampA with leading San Diego spine specialist

Presented by Choll Kim MD PhD a San Diego Magazine ldquoTop Doctorrdquo and Medical Director of the Advanced SpineInstitute at Alvarado Hospital ndash named Americarsquos 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgerytrade and Orthopedic Surgerytrade in 2014

Cost $10person Seating is limited mdash RSVP requiredCall (619) 229-4548 to register

Location Terra Bistro7091 El Cajon Blvd San Diego 92115

MONDAY SEPT 29 6-8 PMTERRA AMERICAN BISTRO

AlvaradoHospitalcom | (619) 287-3270

Zucchini pancakes

Whatrsquos Cooking with

Julie AnnWhite

Julie

Grate away on your box grater to create this deli-

cious dinner side dish Herersquos a savory treat to serve with a salad or light chicken or fish meal They are a little bit addictive and really easy to make

Serves four (makes six small pancakes)

Ingredients3 medium zucchini grated on a box grater or food processor12 red or yellow onion grated2 large eggs lightly beaten8 Tbsp Panko bread crumbs (flour can be used instead)1 tsp baking powder1 tsp kosher saltPinch of black pepper2 Tbsp butter14 cup olive oil for frying

DirectionsGrate the zucchini and onion into a medium bowl Press with a

few paper towels to absorb juice Add remaining ingredients and stir well If batter is runny add more breadcrumbs or flour Heat large skillet and melt butter and oil over medium heat Drop the zucchini mixture into six to eight golf ball-sized gently patted pancakes Cook until golden brown Serve warmu

Put down your iPhone 6 push aside your Samsung Note 4

and turn off the TV La Mesa is asking its citizens to invest some time in one of their 14 local parks for Park Appreciation Day Oct 18

ldquoThis community event demon-strates the spirit and commitment that La Mesans have for their public facilitiesrdquo said Yvonne Garrett assistant city manager and director of community ser-vices in La Mesa ldquoLocal residents and visitors have a sense of own-ership and take pride in La Mesa parks Park Appreciation Day is an opportunity for individuals to share that enthusiasm with friends and neighborsrdquo

The impetus for La Mesa Park Appreciation Day began in 2005 when a member of a local church congregation contacted the city to ask whether their church could take on a community project in La Mesa said Garrett who is also staff director for La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation

Because the city had recently eliminated several temporary park maintenance worker posi-tions and had received a similar request for a local project from another organization city staff thought it would be a good idea

Citizen groups pitch in for Park Appreciation Day

to gather the various groups to help clean up the parks prompting the creation of Park Appreciation Day

La Mesa community services manager Mike Pacheco said he has been impressed with the pride La Mesans have in their community as well as their desire to volunteer for the city

ldquoParks and recreation pro-grams bring tremendous benefits to people of all agesrdquo Pacheco said ldquoThey contribute to help-ing us live longer better lives through active pursuits new life skills educational programs and safe activities Great parks and programs also help build a stronger community connecting individuals families and groups through the power of play Recreation programs and engag-ing exciting facilities help keep kids active and off the streetsrdquo

Park Appreciation Day proj-ects include spreading mulch planting flowers and painting picnic tables and restrooms Pacheco said

Since its inception several local groups have consistently volun-teered each year Christ Lutheran Church Journey Church Helix Interact Club Friends of Canine Corners Kiwanis Club of La Mesa La Mesa Rotary La Mesa Beautiful La Mesa Lions Club and La Mesa Police Department

Last year more than 150 vol-unteers participated on Park

Appreciation Day and removed 22 cubic yards of green material plus nine cubic yards of trash according to Garrett

Although most of La Mesarsquos parks have the same groups cleaning them every year Porter Park Fitness Plaza located at 8425 University Ave is still without a group Porter needs additional native plants installed in some areas in the beds Garrett said

Disclosure Writer Genevieve A Suzuki serves as a commissioner for the La Mesa Community Services Commission and is a member of La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation She is happy to put away her iPhone Oct 18 to help clean her local parku

Genevieve Suzuki

Make La Mesa beautifulInterested in getting

involved with La Mesa Park Appreciation Day Oct 18 Want to encourage your civic church or social group to adopt a park

All ages are welcome to par-ticipate Signed waivers are required Parents must accom-pany children under 18 at the parks unless their children are with a supervised group

Sign up by calling 619-667-1304 or email communitycila-mesacaus

sdcnncom 21Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierDINING LOCAL NEWS

New Patient Special

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$113 for exam x-rays oral cancer screening and cleaning

In absence of gum disease A $520 value

Donrsquot avoid the dentist Remove the anxiety and fear with Sedation Dentistry

A Shop For Smiles

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Visit us today

Baseball book signingSunday Oct 12

Geoff Miller mental skills coach for the Atlanta Braves will discuss and sign copies of his new book ldquoIntangibles Big-League Stories and Strategies for Winning the Mental Game mdash in Baseball and in Liferdquo at 2 pm at Barnes amp Noble 5500 Grossmont Center Dr

Diverse Capacities workshopWednesday Oct 15

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Mariko Peshon will lead a work-shop focusing on the physical emotional and social abilities and disabilities that often go unrec-ognized and unaccommodated in our communities The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

East County Intergenerational GamesTuesday Oct 16

Active adults ages 50 and older will team up with kids between the ages of 7 and 12 for a morning of fun noncompetitive activi-ties at La Mesa Middle School 4200 Parks Ave from 830 am to noon The games include street hockey shot frisbee toss ldquoskeeballrdquo pitch t-ball and trivia games Snacks and lunch are included Interested adults must register in advance by contacting the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center at 619-667-1322

Introduction to home caregivingSaturday Oct 18

Caring for a loved one at home often involves transfers personal care proper body mechanics and other specific skills and knowl-edge Learn and practice the basics with a registered nurse at this event from 9 am to 1 pm in classroom 1314 of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Brier Patch Campus 9000 Wakarusa St Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or

register online at sharpcom

Workshop Finding Your Voice in the Social Justice MovementTuesday Oct 21

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Kenyon Whitman will lead an interactive workshop exploring social justice concepts how to develop a leadership style and creative ways to effectively com-municate in diverse groups The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the stu-dent center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

Medicare and drug cover-age updates for 2015Friday Oct 24

A free lecture will cover Medicare insurance changes for 2015 Medicare Parts A B D HMOs and more Presented by Community Education Specialist Pablo Corona the lec-ture will also cover the Medicare Saving Program and Extra-Help Program that assist with prescription costs for Medicare Parts B and D The talk begins at 10 am at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Lung function screeningWednesday Oct 29

Do you have trouble catching your breath after a short walk The Pulmonary Department at Sharp Grossmont Hospital will offer a free basic lung function test from 9 am to 2 pm for anyone who has not yet seen a doctor about breathing prob-lems The screening will be held at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center Building F Room 16 9000 Wakarusa St Appointments are required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Free blood pressure screeningFriday Oct 17

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center 8450 La Mesa Blvd No appointment necessary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Park Appreciation DaySaturday Oct 18

Groups of volunteers will get to work on projects to beautify and improve parks across town from 8 am to noon All ages are welcome but children under the age of 18 need to submit a waiver signed by a parent or legal guard-ian If your church or civic group wants to get involved call 619-667-1300 or email communitycila-mesacaus

lsquoHowl-oweenrsquo dog cos-tume contest and picnicSaturday Oct 18

Dress up your dogs in a cute or spooky Halloween costume and bring them out to Canine Corners the dog park at Harry Griffen Regional Park between 11 am and 3 pm Proud pet par-ents will have the chance to get their poochrsquos picture taken at the pumpkin patch as well as meet representatives from animal rescue groups the county sheriffrsquos K-9 unit and other vendors The costume contest begins at 1130 am A hot dog picnic lunch will be offered for $3 Canine Corners volunteers will accept donations to help with the maintenance of the dog park

Picnic with the parrotsSunday Oct 26

At Socal Parrotrsquos annual fundraising event attendees have a rare chance to view the non-profit organizationrsquos reha-bilitation facility meet animals talk with experts observe live art bid in a silent auction and buy into a raffle Based in Jamul SoCal Parrot works to protect and care for wild and endan-gered parrots across the region Tickets to the all-day fundrais-ing event range from $32 to $100 and can be purchased online at socalparrotorgu

Calendar from page 15

Send details of your com-munity events to the editor at jeremysdcnncom Deadline is the third Friday of the month

22 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 CALENDAR

Why a fiscally conservative vote-by-mail plan got no GOP love

A bill that would drastically change the way San Diego

Countyrsquos special elections are run passed without any Republican help mdash it got just two votes total from GOP lawmakers in Sacramento

It might surprise you to learn then that when the idea first emerged Democrats helped lead the charge against it

How some leading party mem-bers reversed course in just a few years says a lot about the current political landscape and the future of elections in San Diego County

Democrats wrote the current bill mdash which would create a five-year pilot program in San Diego County that would make spe-cial elections for open seats run primarily by mail with a drasti-cally reduced number of polling places mdash and they led the politi-cal charge for it

But Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez the billrsquos author remembers how hard she fought to kill the idea of vote-by-mail elections years ago

ldquoWhat happens I think so often is there is this attachment to the status quo therersquos fear about changing thingsrdquo Gonzalez said

Gonzalez said her mind was changed by a couple factors One is that she discovered during her years as a labor advocate that voters who had a ballot mailed to them before the election were roughly five times more likely to actually vote

The other she said is she realized the county was spend-ing a huge amount more per person who voted at the polls versus by mail

County officials said that in the March 2013 special election to fill the vacant 40th state Senate district seat they spent $221 per

Ari Bloomekatz

in-person voter verses $9 per mail voter

Then therersquos the fact that pathetic voter turnout in each of the last several elections has favored Republican candidates across the board

ldquoWe have all watched as voter turnout has plummeted in recent elections and itrsquos our responsi-bility to do something about itrdquo Gonzalez wrote in a press release after the bill passed

Some observers speculated that some Republicans simply didnrsquot support the bill because it was being led by promi-nent Democrats like Gonzalez (Gonzalez agrees thatrsquos probably true)

But if you want to understand why GOP support was so hard to come by for a bill steeped in fiscally conservative principles and that originated from a con-servative San Diego County government consider these three points

Republicans seized on civil rights groupsrsquo hesitation

Some of the strongest initial opposition to the vote-by-mail legislation came from civil rights groups concerned the new pro-cedures could disenfranchise immigrants and the disabled

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund initially opposed the bill but dropped its opposition after working with Gonzalez and San Diego County officials on protec-

tions for immigrantsStill MALDEF and other

groups wouldnrsquot officially support the measure

ldquoThere is some research out there that shows that mail-in ballots do have an adverse impact on minority votersrdquo said Denise Hulett an attorney with MALDEF

Hulett said MALDEF supports testing out vote-by-mail but isnrsquot sold on it yet

Those groupsrsquo reluctance had an impact on Republican legislators like Escondido Assemblywoman Marie Waldron She said she didnrsquot feel comfortable signing on to a bill without MALDEF and other civil rights groupsrsquo support

ldquoI have to wonder if this is disenfranchising a significant number of people that vote at the pollsrdquo Waldron said ldquoWhat about the people who are maybe you know possibly visually impaired or something like thatrdquo

The money wasnrsquot enoughSan Diego County Registrar

Michael Vu strongly supports the pilot program and believes it could trim costs by 30 - 40 percent

But somehow the cost-savings issue wasnrsquot enough to win over the vast majority of Republican legislators

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez said he thought the cost-savings touted by Democrats were only rough estimates and was not inclined to vote for a bill just

because of those projectionsldquoAs Irsquove said a number of times

before all these bills that theyrsquore putting through hellip really doesnrsquot address the issue of what wersquore trying to do which is get more people to voterdquo he said

Instead of just moving imme-diately to vote-by-mail Chavez wants to create a bipartisan special committee to study new voting technologies

Republicans fear voter fraud

Republicansrsquo fear of potential voter fraud through expansion of vote-by-mail overshadowed potential economic gains

The bill ldquoincludes no protec-tions to ensure the integrity and security of all-mail elections While interesting we need to be careful changing election lawsrdquo wrote Amanda Fulkerson of the Assembly Republican Caucus which advocated fiercely against the bill

ldquoRight now our members feel that we should not jeopardize our consistent voting system until we have further facts and statistics on all-mail electionsrdquo Fulkerson wrote

Republicans believed the threat of fraud would be compounded by another voting-related bill moving through the legislature at the same time

That bill would change the rules about how long mail ballots can be received and counted after an election

Currently vote-by-mail ballots must be received by election offi-cials before polls close on the day of the election The new law would allow ballots to be received no later than three days after the election (if it was time-stamped or post-marked on or before Election Day)

Assembly Republicans feared the two bills combined could allow for abuse of the system

State Sen Joel Anderson was one Republican who voted against the mail-counting bill but in favor of Gonzalezrsquos vote-by-mail effort

Anderson said that he voted against the mail-counting bill because he saw it as ldquocompletely gaming the systemrdquo but believes the vote-by-mail bill is ldquobetter for the voters itrsquos better for my constituentsrdquo

Put yourselves in the shoes of

Vu and other county officials for a minute

Nearly every time an election comes up the county spends anywhere from $1 million to $12 million-plus and organizes hordes of poll workers and pre-cincts across the county

And what happens at the end of the day

Turnout is generally low and increasing numbers of residents opt to vote by mail anyway

As Vu tells it he just wants to save the county money and acknowledge the changing winds when it comes to vote-by-mail

But nothing is ever as simple as a dollar saved in Sacramento mdash especially when it comes to something as fundamental as how voters choose their elected officials

Gonzalez said most people do not understand how difficult this bill was to pass politically Sure Republicans barley supported it but there was strong opposition from many Democrats too The instinct to preserve the status quo when it comes to elections among legislators in Sacramento is strong she said

ldquoIt was kind of funny Irsquom in Republican land carrying this bill pissing off Democrats and voting rights groups and minor-ity groupsrdquo she said ldquoI had to convince everybody that this is OK that change is OKrdquo

Brown has until Sept 30 to sign the bill

mdashAri Bloomekatz is an inves-tigative reporter for Voice of San Diego focusing on county govern-ment You can reach him directly at aribloomekatzvoiceofsandi-egoorg or 619-550-5669u

(Courtesy Flickr user bludgeoner86Creative Commons)

Voice of San Diego

sdcnncom 23Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

Everyone in every price range deserves the quality of Sothebyrsquos Realty

8310 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa CA 91942 bull 6193371700

SPRING VALLEY bull $362000LA MESA bull $499000CARDIFF BY THE SEA bull $525000

Spacious Sweetwater Springs home on corner lot Recently updated kitchen amp bath w granite countertops SS appl wine refrigerator and wood floors Upstairs BRs w mirrored wardrobe doors and ceiling fans Sliding doors to private view deck ideal for watching the sunset

JOE SOUTHWICK 6195898224

Just listed Tastefully remodeled single level entertainerrsquos paradise Large great room with chefrsquos kitchen Private backyard with pool hot tub palapa-covered bar amp grill shade patio and sun deck

JULIE ADAMS 6194810200

Rarely available 2BR 1BA twin home in the highly sought after Park Place neighborhood of Cardiff By The Sea Community pool and spa 25+ acre canyon with walking trails sand volleyball and more

YVETTE WOODS 6199223436

Laurarsquos Solds 2014 bull (619) 540-7744 bull LauraLothianRealEstatecomMost Homes Sold in La Mesa Last 11 Years

Want your home sold Ask a busy agent Call Laura Lothian TODAY 6195407744

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PacificSothebysRealtycomcopyMMVIII Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC A Realogy Company All Rights Reserved Sothebyrsquos International Realtyreg is a registered trademark licensed to Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC An Equal Opportunity Company Equal Housing Opportunity Each Office is Independently Owned And Operated Cal BRE 01767484 Seller will entertain offers within the listed range

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Source TrendGraphix MLS data for zip codes 91941 amp 91942 January 1 2003 to January 1 2014

24 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

C alifornia voters will decide this fall whether to approve

a $75 billion bond to repair Californiarsquos decrepit water system was a wise choice or not thanks to a last-minute vote by the state Legislature

The bond issue will appear as Proposition 1 on the Nov 4 gen-eral election ballot

Legislators say they think the bond issue will pass if for no other reason than the fact that the ongoing drought will make up votersrsquo minds for them

Although the state Senate passed the bill 37-0 and only two Assembly members voted against it there is not unani-mous support for all of the projects the bond would fund There were compromises made all through the yearlong process that upset as many people as they made happy

Three questions will dominate the debate as it moves toward Election Day

Whorsquos in favor

Most of whatrsquos called the water bureaucracy in California is in favor of the bond issuersquos passage Most of the statersquos water districts including the San Diego County Water Authority have come out

in support of the measure An umbrella organization of those agencies the Association of California Water Agencies will no doubt bring in public support of the measure Since agencies like SDCWA are public agencies they cannot contribute money or take active roles in the Yes on Prop 1 campaign This is not to say that individuals associated with the public agencies cannot take individual roles including personal financial roles They can and many will

Whorsquos against it

No one is predicting a landslide victory because there is still a lot of opposition to the measure in the north central and north-ern parts of the state Longtime observers will recall that a north-

California legislators put water bond to the voters

south split was the major reason the proposed Peripheral Canal was defeated at the polls back in the 1980s

In truth much of that oppo-sition is centered in the areas generally surrounding the old and fragile Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta which is the hinge point for moving water from the north to the south Itrsquos hard to determine whether the opponents fear this bond issue and what it

might bring or whether their complaints are more aimed at Gov Jerry Brownrsquos ambi-tious $25 billion plan to build two freeway-sized

tunnels underneath the Delta to make it easier to ship water from the Sacramento River south without damaging the Delta fur-ther The bond issue apparently contains absolutely no mention of mdash and no money for mdash anything to do with the tunnels

There is also opposition in the north and central coastal areas where some water officials say storage facilities mdash dams and reservoirs mdash for them were left out completely One new dam and reservoir the Sites Dam is slated for Northern California near Colusa and another at Temperance Flat northeast of Fresno They will account for $27 billion of the $75 billion called for in the ballot measure That leaves almost $5 billion to be spent on a laundry list of other

water-related projects to make the statersquos water supply more stable and available in the future

Whatrsquos in it for La MesaQuite a bit actually and very

little of it for surface storage of water San Diego County is in pretty good shape for dams and reservoir capacity Having doubled the capacity of San Vicente the dam at Olivenhain Sweetwater Reservoir and other areas here we have places to put water We just need the water to put in those places

We also have hundreds of thousands of acre feet of water through the deal with Imperial Irrigation District and the Carlsbad Desalination plant coming online next year

The bond issue would provide money statewide for water recy-cling including drinkable and non-drinkable water reclama-tion and purification It would provide funding for integrated regional water management projects including ground-water storage recharging our depleted underground aquifers and the like

A large number of water-related projects called for in the ballot measure would directly benefit our region and San Diego county will have a fair shot at a lot of that money Our region will qualify for about 11 percent of that $75 billion

Bonus Will all this happen quickly if the bond is passed come Nov 4

NoPassage of the proposition on

Nov 4 will not mean that people will start moving dirt and build-ing dams the morning of Nov 5

It will be a tough slog setting up the various boards com-missions and entities that will eventually govern all of this spending and it will be more involved mdash and political mdash than yoursquod like to believe

mdashDoug Curlee can be reached at dougsdcnncomu

$25BILLION

Cost of Gov Jerry

Brownrsquos plan to

build tunnels

under the Delta

East Countyrsquos San Vicente Dam was recently raised to increase water storage capacity (Courtesy San Diego County Water Authority)

Much of Southern Californiarsquos water originates in the fragile Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Courtesy San Diego County Water Authority)

DougCurleeContributing Editor

4 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

Did you know that most light in proper doses improves health and wellness by enhancing your bodyrsquos ability to heal and replenish For example Sunlight in healthy moderations gives you energy warmth and creates a photostimulation effect internally that promotes natural restoration

It empowers your body to work FOR YOU and is scientifically proven to increase hormone production reduce pain lower blood sugar (diabetes) eliminate toxins and stimulate your immune system

And now you can initiate that same ldquocellularrdquo healing power through low level laser therapymdashsafely from your own home It works to stimulate and fuel your bodyrsquos natural healing process similar to sunlight

Itrsquos 100 safe effective and FDA approved

Low Level Lasers Engage Your Body at the Cellular Level

You learned it in schoolmdashyour body is composed of cells and atoms And those cells need energy to remain healthy So when yoursquore sick or injured it means your cells are sick and injured too And their energy level is reduced to a sick ailing state

And this is exactly where the Low Level Laser worksmdashat the cellular and atomic level Low level laser therapy enhances your bodyrsquos ability to carry electrons that stimulate and re-energize sick injured and damaged cells And it helps improve cell permeability which means your cells are better able to channel the nutrients and material they need for health

Low Level Lasers Trigger Natural Healing

Medications and surgeries are invasive They may introduce infections and other complications while medications can cause allergic reactions and produce side effects that require additional medications as counter measures And all the while add more toxins to your body that bring a whole different set of problems

Low Level Lasers naturally stimulate your body to empower itself by engaging your immune system and energizing your cells to heal themselves They work WITH your bodymdashnot against it

Low Level Lasers Are Safe For Home Use

You donrsquot need to special training to use low level lasers They are perfectly safe to use in the comfort of your home Whether itrsquos a nagging pain from overuse or a more serious medical condition Low Level Lasers promote relief healing and overall improved health

And they can be focused specifically on the area where you need it most for pinpoint effectivenessmdashback neck hands kneesmdashanywhere you suffer pain and injury which is a cell problem

So if you suffer fromhellipbull Backneckjoint pain bull Tendonitis bull Diabetesbull ArthritisRheumatism bull Fibromyalgia bull And more

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sdcnncom 5Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

apartments townhomes con-dominiums and single-family residences

First a child care provider must be licensed by the state Department of Social Services Once a tenant is licensed to pro-vide family child care he or she must give the landlord or property owner 30 daysrsquo written notice of the intent to begin operating the day care service in the rental home The license will include the number of children that the provider is allowed to care for The state license application includes a notice form for landlord notifica-tion which is helpful

That form also explains the renterrsquos right to operate a family day care Landlords or property managers cannot discriminate against a tenant for operating a day care However landlords do have the option of requiring a higher security deposit as long as it does not exceed the maximum allowable under state law

Next proof of liability insur-ance mdash or waivers signed by parents mdash must be shared with landlords Operators of in-home day care are required to fulfill one of three options when it comes to insurance obtain liability insur-ance secure a bond of $300000 or if they choose not to secure

Apartments can serve as day care centers

An increase in the number of working parents has made

home-based day care a service in demand For working par-ents finding good child care is invaluable Child care offered at a residence in a familiar neigh-borhood can be a source of great comfort to working moms and dads

But if you rent your home or apartment can you still be a day care provider

The short answer YesThe right for renters to oper-

ate such a vital service is state law spelled out in the California Health and Safety Code Small family day care facilities are not considered a ldquobusiness use of prop-ertyrdquo so they would be protected under any leases or rental agree-ments that prohibit operating a business out of a rental home

Renters who wish to open a family day care in their home should have little to no conflict if they meet certain conditions follow clear rules and communi-cate the details with their landlord or property manager This applies to rental homes of any kind

AlanPentico

HPV vaccine saves lives

Every year around the world more than 270000 women die

from cervical cancer With more than 85 percent of these deaths in low- and middle-income countries cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide

The ldquopap smearrdquo has been one of the most amazing public

KellyCulwell

Dear editor

Y our cartoon [See Aug 22 issue] about the two white

medical personnel receiving the experimental Ebola vaccine was as ignorant and racist as it gets Both of these medical personnel went to Africa to help putting their lives on the line for a bunch of people they didnrsquot know When they contracted the disease they did not know if the vaccine would save their lives They volunteered to be the guinea pigs If they had decided to first try it on some non-white person and the results had been negative the jerk who produced that racist rant and the idiot that placed it in the La Mesa Courier would have been scream-ing about that

mdashConnie Butt via Facebook

Letters are lightly edited for clarity grammar spelling and style Send letters to jeremysdcnncom u

the insurance or bond they must inform each parent of that decision and obtain affidavits acknowledging that the parents are aware of the lack of insur-ance or bond

Then be a good neighbor The same rules that apply to other residents also apply to child care providers For example control excessive noise that might be disruptive for other tenants and be mindful of activities or behavior that could damage the property

Finally emphasize the ben-efits of having a family home day care in your neighborhood or apartment community Having a day care provider as a neighbor likely means that you have an extra set of eyes on your commu-nity A person whorsquos been hired to care for young children likely will be vigilant about ensuring safe clean surroundings Think of it as an extra neighborhood watch

The California Department of Social Services has a guide for family child care and tenant rights Find it at tinycctenantcare

mdashAlan Pentico is executive director of the San Diego County Apartment Associationu

health interventions over the past 50 years in the US and most developed countries and its use has led to a steep decline in the incidence and deaths from cervi-cal cancer However weak health systems and limited numbers of trained providers have made screening in low- and middle-income countries difficult Even in the US over 11000 cases of cervical cancer were diagnosed in 2010

Following development of the

pap smear the discovery of the link between the human papil-loma virus (HPV) and cervical cancer has proven to be a major advancement in the prevention of this deadly disease Almost all sexually active individuals will be infected with HPV at some point in their lives and some may be repeatedly infected

The peak time for infection is shortly after becoming sexu-ally active The majority of HPV infections resolve spontaneously and do not cause symptoms or disease However persistent infections with specific types

of HPV (usually types 16 and 18) may lead to precancerous lesions If untreated these lesions may progress to cervi-cal cancer

The HPV vaccine was intro-duced eight years ago and the HPV rate among teenage girls in the US has already dropped by 56 percent since then

There is however still a lot of work to be done Nationwide just 33 percent of girls ages 13 to 17 mdash and only 7 percent of boys in the same age group mdash

See VACCINE page 7

6 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 OPINION sdcnncom

Our affiliate offers Gardasil mdash one of two FDA-approved HPV vaccines mdash in all of our health centers

CDC recommends vaccina-tion of girls and boys ages 9 ndash 26

Routine vaccination is a series of three shots over the course of six months

Other immunizations that are important for women of reproductive age mdash both for general health and prior to pregnancy mdash include Hepatitis B influenza Measles Mumps

Our current hot weather reminds me how every

summer at least one dog is found in a hot car mdash and sadly that dog becomes sick or dies

When I hear these stories or see poorly cared for dogs on the streets I often wonder why anyone who cannot adequately care for a pet chooses to become a pet parent

Pets are not just furry cute creatures made to entertain you They are living beings that deserve the same quality of life that you have

You may think yoursquore per-forming a good deed by buying or adopting a pet but yoursquore

Not every pet adoption is a good adoptionJimMadaffer

really doing the pet a disservice if you donrsquot carefully evaluate the responsibilities the job title holds

About 164 million house-holds in the US owned pets in 2012 according to The Humane Society That number grew rap-idly from 40 years ago when only 67 million households had pets

Itrsquos great to know that more and more families are becom-ing pet owners But becoming a pet parent should be thor-oughly considered just as if you were to consider having a child The responsibilities may not be the same but there are some including

Ensuring your dog has a bal-anced diet and exercise regimen

Ensuring your dog is properly bathed and groomed

Ensuring your dog is properly

trainedFurther before you head to a

breeder or animal shelter ask yourself these questions

Do I have the time to commit to a dog

Do I have the resources to ensure a dog will have a quality life

Am I committed to caring for it for the next 10 to 20 years

Do I know the laws governing pet licensing where I live

Irsquom not a veterinarian or a zoologist but I am a reasonable person and choosing to be a pet owner when yoursquore not ready is unreasonable

mdashJim Madaffer is the owner of Madaffer Enterprises a former San Diego Councilmember and the proud pet parent of two bulldogsu

Happy Hour ndash Get $1 off all pints Weekdays Tuesday ndash Friday 1130 am ndash 3 pm Late Night Tuesday ndash Saturday 8 pm to close

Daily Beer and Food Specials Monday $10 craft beer pitchers and 50-cent wings Tuesday $3 taco specials Wednesday Happy hour prices all day ($1 off all pints) Thursday Specialty beer tapped between 4 and 5 pm Friday $4 Potato skins Saturday Rib and ale combo only $10 Sunday $12 craft beer pitchers $5 pulled pork nachos

Welcome to West Coast Barbecue and Brew ndash your neighborhood BBQ pub We have a rotating draft beer selection featuring some of the finest brews around In addition to the tasty BBQ menu items please check out our daily specials food board on our patio including soups sandwiches and salads We are now open for lunch at 1130 am six days a week Tuesday through Sunday We open at 4 pm on Mondays

6126 Lake Murray Blvd La Mesa (located in the Ross Shopping Center)

619-462-3660wwwwestcoastbbqandbrewcom

Tu-Th 1130am-10pm Fri amp Sat 1130 am - 11 pm Sun 1130 - 8pm Mon 4-9 pm

have gotten all three doses of the vaccine (In California the odds are slightly better mdash 43 percent of girls and 13 percent of boys ages 13 to 17 have received all three doses) As a result millions of people are still infected with HPV every year and nearly all sexually active people will con-tract a form of HPV at some point in their lives

Key facts about HPV and the HPV vaccine

70 percent of cervical cancers worldwide are caused by only two types of HPV (16 and 18)

and Rubella (MMR) Tetanus Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) and Varicella for those who have not had chicken pox

Share this article with your friends and family and spread the word about the importance of getting teens vaccinated against HPV

For more information or to make an appointment visit plannedorg or call 1-888-743-7526 (PLAN)

mdashKelly Culwell is the Medical Director for Planned Parenthood of the Southwest For more infor-mation visit plannedorgu

Business Spotlight West Coast Barbeque

Vaccine from page 6

sdcnncom 7Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierOPINION

NEW CLIENT FIRST TIME EXAM

9160 Fletcher ParkwayLa Mesa CA 91942

wwwfletcherhillsanimalhospitalcom

Call to schedule your discounted exam

(619) 463-6604

SPECIAL OFFER COUPON

50 OFF50 OFF

A N I M A L H O S P I TA L

As I write this monthrsquos column my husband and I are sitting

on top of the world in a colleaguersquos cabin on Mt Palomar a weekend getaway from the fall heat wave and pressures of everyday life

We havenrsquot been here in many years The views are stunning of course but what I notice this time are the number and variety of birds mdash birds that are quite different from ones we enjoy feed-ing and watching in La Mesa

Irsquove had my eyes glued to binoc-ulars since we arrived and filled the pond and feeders the owners have placed around the property They also have a number of bird books so I think I rightly identi-fied quite a few species

But there is one elusive fellow I just canrsquot seem to get in my sights His distinctive call is close then far away

Itrsquos time to consult the expert I record the birdrsquos call with my phone and hope to play it for Ed Henry a La Mesa friend who happens to be president of the San Diego Audubon Society an advocacy and educational orga-nization devoted to the welfare of wild birds in our region

Ed is one of the reasons Irsquove recently become so fascinated by local birds He sends out emails almost daily to over 100 inter-ested people showing amazing photos of birds he spots at his La Mesa bird feeders and around San Diego County (or wherever he happens to be traveling at the moment) The variety is astounding

Turns out the San Diego region is one of the richest birding areas in North America with over 500 different species identified here In fact people from all over the world come to see our birds especially during the annual San Diego Bird Festival in March offered by San Diego Audubon

One reason we have a great diversity of birds is because of the unusual variety of habitats in San Diego County mdash from the off-shore islands and extensive coastline to inland valleys and grasslands riverbeds moun-

The Sun Shines Sooner

tains and desert Ed explained This region is also a migratory flyway

Ed was always aware of birds but his recent passion for bird-ing began in 2006 not long after retiring from a 33-year career as an anthropology and ethnomu-sicology professor at San Diego State when he decided to check out the San Diego Bird Festival Hersquos been involved with San Diego Audubon ever since serv-ing as its board president for the last three years

ldquoMy awakening to birds was gradual and occurred through chance contacts with people who knew more than Irdquo he said ldquoI grew up in Nebraska where residents pay most attention to pheasants mdash which happen to be gorgeous as well as good eating and hunting mdash and ducks but also see a few songbirdsrdquo

In Michigan (where he com-pleted his graduate studies) he came in contact with grosbeaks nuthatches and chickadees among others And he became curious about exotic birds he saw in India while doing field research in a small village there

ldquoMoving to San Diego in 1974 I had my first views of long-billed curlews marbled godwits and lit-erally hundreds morerdquo

He and his wife Connie have made La Mesa their home and

enjoyed birds in their backyard here since 1988

ldquoNature is the highest form of artrdquo wrote Emily Dickinson

According to Ed Henry ldquoThe most accessible wild creatures for the majority of Americans are birds In birds we see the shapes colors patterns and movement that constitute a vital part of nature and we hear their sounds toordquo

Wersquore fortunate to live in a place with such rich bio-diversity that is so accessible But San Diego County also contains more rare threatened and endangered species than any comparable land area in the continental United States

Thank goodness there is a passionate dedicated volunteer like Ed Henry to lead San Diego Audubon mdash an organization working every day to protect our birds and other wildlife and to educate and inspire people like me to appreciate not only their beauty but their importance

mdashPam Crooks was the found-ing editor of La Mesa Courier and continues to live in the Mt Helix area Reach her by email at SunShinesSoonergmailcom To learn more or to sign up for the 2015 San Diego Bird Festival visit sandiegoaudubonorgu

A beautiful Yellow-Breasted Chat was spotted recently in the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park (Photo by Ed Henry)

PamCrooks

This La Mesan is a true lsquobird brainrsquo

8 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

A Special

Thank You to My Neighbors

wwwmidwayorg

As we celebrate our 10th anniversary we know San Diegorsquos support has made Midwayrsquos success possible

So for a limited time San Diegans can purchase adult admissions for only $10

Thatrsquos a 50 discount

ldquoThank You San Diegordquo

$10 USS Midway Admission

Just for San Diegans

Bill YoungSafety CorpsLA MESA RESIDENT

Tickets available at wwwmidwayorg and at the ticket booth during museum hours May not be combined with other offers and cannot be resold Proof of ID with a San

Diego zip code required at time of purchase 202

The US Postal Service delivers mail to the front door of most

Uptown residents but that could change if Congress adopts a postal reform bill designed to reduce the cost of delivering mail

Rep Darrell Issa (R-San Diego) has introduced two bills mdash the Postal Reform Act of 2013 and the Secure Delivery for America Act of 2014 mdash that would force the Postal Service to transi-tion away from door delivery at 30 million addresses by 2022 Instead of delivering mail to the door of every residence postal carriers would deliver to curbside mailboxes or cen-tralized cluster boxes that house the mailboxes of multiple residents

That idea is unacceptable to Rep Susan Davis (D-San Diego) who gathered a group of supporters in Talmadge on Aug 27 to denounce the proposal She also introduced a resolution in Congress opposing centralized delivery

ldquoWe donrsquot need thisrdquo Davis said ldquoThe most vulnerable people in our communities will suffer as a resultrdquo

Davis said elderly and disabled citizens would be hurt by the switch to cluster boxes especially if they receive prescriptions by mail because of the increased dis-tance they may be forced to travel to retrieve their mail

Furthermore the cluster boxes are unsightly magnets for theft and vandalism she said

When Davis surveyed commu-nity groups in her district earlier this summer the North Park Planning Committee passed a resolution opposing centralized delivery

ldquoIn the older communities in the mid-city cluster boxes would affect the community character and the historicity of a neighbor-hood like Talmadge which to me looks like Mayberryrdquo said Vicki Granowitz chair of the North Park Planning Committee ldquoItrsquos intact itrsquos beautiful and to have cluster boxes every so often really destroys what these communities look likerdquo

Combined with bus shelters and

No mail at the doorLocal representatives debate

changes to mail delivery

Jeremy OgulEditor

ugly utility boxes cluster boxes would affect property values Granowitz said

ldquoJust think if you would want this in front of your houserdquo she said ldquoDonrsquot do this to us pleaserdquo

The Postal Service has already begun phasing out door delivery in new developments but Issarsquos legislation would essentially make cluster boxes mandatory in many neighborhoods that currently receive door delivery Issarsquos bill

would require the cluster boxes to be placed ldquoin locations that maximize delivery efficiency ease of use for postal patrons and respect for private property rightsrdquo

Rep Scott Peters (D-San Diego) who also spoke at the press conference said that while there are economic challenges that the Postal Service

must address Congress should not get involved in mandating the specific measures the Postal Service should take

Issa disagrees with Davis and Peters

ldquoThe consequence of doing noth-ing to address an Internet-era erosion in the volume of traditional mail delivery is a multi-billion dollar taxpayer funded bailout of the Postal Servicerdquo Issa said ldquoUnfortunately some [representa-tives] holding a press conference and pretending there isnrsquot a prob-lem wonrsquot solve itrdquo

The Postal Reform Act includes exceptions and provisions that would allow seniors and others with physical hardships to keep their door delivery if they already have it and it would give the Postal Service the flexibility to determine where to implement centralized delivery Issa said

ldquoIn reality less than 10 percent of postal customers would see any change under this legislation to their deliveryrdquo Issa said

Despite the financial issues the Postal Service faces the debate over cluster boxes may amount to little more than hot air in the near term Congress only has until Dec 12 to act on legislation in the current session Most of which will be legislative recess Neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate have voted on Issarsquos or Davisrsquos legislationu

Rep Susan Davis speaks in San Diego (Photo by Jeremy Ogul)

ldquoWe donrsquot need this The most vulnerable people in our communities will suffer as a resultrdquo-Rep Susan Davis

sdcnncom 9Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

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EDUCATION

Haunt yourself with contemporary classic horror fiction

Pop culture has a way of show-ing us what our collective

minds love loathe and fear In honor of Halloween I wanted to spend this monthrsquos column looking at the state of popu-lar horror fiction using that to explore the modern American psyche However the only thing this research showed me is that Americans really really love Stephen King

So with that plan foiled I fig-ured Irsquod just recommend some great scary reads past present and near-future

Guillermo del Toro is known primarily for his work in movies but has recently begun writing fiction After bringing us imagi-native films like ldquoPacific Rimrdquo ldquoHellboyrdquo and ldquoPanrsquos Labyrinthrdquo he paired with author Chuck Hogan for a horror trilogy called ldquoThe Strainrdquo

Deciding that seductive brood-ing teen vampires have become passeacute the authors chose to make their vampires ugly mon-sters whose heads split open to bite and drain their victims while vampirism itself is a virus that spreads with the speed of a zombie apocalypse The book series has already been turned into a TV show with its own cult following and that will undoubt-

edly bring more attention to the books all of which are available at the San Diego County Library

The new book Irsquom dying to read is called ldquoHorrorstoumlrrdquo by Grady Hendrix It should hit bookstores (and the library) shortly after I finish typing this If you like your horror with a side of wit and sly

social commentary this is your novel Itrsquos set in a furniture store that bears more than a little resemblance to IKEA where sin-ister and supernatural forces are on the prowl and the poor corpo-rate drones who work there must solve a horrific mystery in order to survive (presumably while fol-

lowing proper corporate protocol and providing excellent customer service) But just as exciting to me the book itself is a parody of an IKEA-style catalog illustrated with furniture schematics and cheery living room photos becom-ing creepier and creepier as the story moves along

Wersquoll end with one of the classics H P Lovecraft This par-anoid reclusive pulp writer from the 1920s was relatively unknown in his day but has become an underground legend His name

is synonymous with foreboding tales of occult rituals evil space gods and of course the descent from reason to madness Taken together his short stories invoke a universe in which humans are insignificant specks whose sanity could be rent asunder if they even began to glimpse the secret powers underlying their existence Lovecraft has dozens of short story collections pick up those containing ldquoThe Call of Cthulhurdquo and ldquoThe Whisperer in the Darknessrdquo Reading any of his stories will leave you feeling unsettled and reluctant to turn off the lights

In conclusion BooFor less-scary costumed fun the

library will be holding its second Star Wars Reads Day from 11 am to 1 pm on Saturday Oct 11 There will be Star Wars-themed crafts games and snacks as well as a costume contest and a visit by local members of the Rebel Legion and 501st Legion devoted Star Wars fans who wear authentic costumes to support community events Last yearrsquos Star Wars Reads Day saw over 125 kids and adults participating so wersquore expecting a great turnout

mdashJake Sexton is librarian at the La Mesa branch of the San Diego County Library Reach him at 619-469-2151 or visit the library at 8074 Allison Aveu

Above The Strain is being adapted to television (Courtesy William Morrow)Left Horrorstoumlr is an innovative horror twist on an IKEA catalog (Courtesy Quirk Books)

JakeSexton

LA MESA READS

10 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

ENTERTAINMENT

La Mesa Village is usually known as a quaint and quiet

part of town but those of us who have been around for a while know therersquos much more to that stretch of La Mesa Boulevard than antique stores and thrift shops

Oktoberfest perhaps the most exciting event hosted in La Mesa each year descends upon the Village for three days over the first weekend in October This year it falls particularly early on Oct 3 ndash 5 with live entertain-ment multiple beer gardens street vendors and more slated to draw the masses

For families venturing to the free event there are carnival games rides and other activities in the Kids Zone (for children under 12) Diverse food options located throughout the 10 blocks of Oktoberfest are an obvious crowd pleaser for all ages Plus the streets are lined with booths of crafts and other products that may inspire an early holiday shopping spree

But itrsquos the big kids who have the most reasons to head to Oktoberfest

The aptly named Big Beer Garden presented by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and the smaller Nebo Drive Beer Garden by the La Mesa Village Merchantrsquos Association are where you will find most of the action at Oktoberfest

The former is located in the Allison Street parking lot (between Pine Street and Palm Avenue) and is home to a large festival stage to go along with the nectar of the hops This beer garden is family-friendly so patrons can feel free to bring their children Pets are not allowed inside the event

Various bands will play the Big Beer Garden all three days pre-senting mostly classic rock lsquonrsquo roll (The Ideas Rock and Roll Trio and The Car Tune Dogs) and some German music (Our Song) This area will also have food options

Good times brewing for annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

mdash including festival favorites like brats and pulled pork sand-wiches mdash to keep partiers fueled throughout the day and night The beer garden will also host a stein-holding contest each eve-ning around 8 pm hosted by Samuel Adams

The Nebo Drive Beer Garden (next to the La Mesa Train Museum) also has a lot to offer Though smaller in scale this adults-only beer garden provides ample enticement with at least three German beers being served It will also host the Bavarian Beer Garden Band on Friday and Saturday These factors will give an authentic feel to this area harkening back to the ldquooriginal Oktoberfest viberdquo according to Bill Dyke of the Bavarian Beer Garden Band

Festivalgoers should note a trol-ley ride to the La Mesa Boulevard stop (near Spring Street) literally drops you right in the middle of the festival Frequent trains going by make public transportation the ideal designated driver for Oktoberfesters ready to imbibe like our German counterparts Popular ride-sharing services are another smart choice for getting to and from La Mesa Trust me mdash you donrsquot want to even attempt to look for parking

In addition to the beer gar-dens and festival food vendors the businesses in and around La Mesa Village will have their doors open to welcome visitors One such spot is Hofferrsquos Cigar Bar which boasts an impressive tap list of craft beers

ldquo[Oktoberfest] brings out a much wilder clientele than we are used to but also a lot of new faces that might have never been in nor heard of usrdquo Hofferrsquos bar manager Ryan Bartman said ldquoSo all in all itrsquos great for businessrdquo

Other businesses along La Mesa Boulevard that should benefit from the increased foot traffic include Konnichiwa Sushi and Bar (bet you didnrsquot know La Mesa Village had sushi) Cosmos Coffee Cafeacute for those needing a caffeine boost to keep going and Trattoria Tiramisu with its authentic Italian dishes and stellar wine list when yoursquove had

enough beers and brats Whether La Mesa is your home

or a place yoursquove never ventured Oktoberfest is the ideal time to enjoy the festival spirit discover the businesses of the village and do the chicken dance like you never have before Whatever you do donrsquot forget to take home a commemorative beer boot

mdashJen Van Tieghem can be reached at jensdcnncomu

JenVan Tieghem

The Tarantino familyrsquos gourmet sausages are always a crowd favorite at La Mesarsquos Oktoberfest a three-day beer and brat extravaganza (Courtesy La Mesa Chamber of Commerce)

La Mesa OktoberfestSchedule of Events

Friday Oct 3Street festival 11 am - 9 pm Big Beer Garden 4 - 1130 pm (last call at 11 pm)The Ideas Rock and Roll Trio 4 - 5 pm The Car Tune Dogs 6 - 10 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden Noon - 9 pm (last call at 830 pm)Bavarian Beer Garden Band 6 - 9 pm

Saturday Oct 4 Street festival 11 am - 9 pm Big Beer Garden 11 am - 1130 pm (last call at 11 pm) Our Song Noon - 4 pmThe Car Tune Dogs 6 - 10 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden 12 - 9 pm (last call at 830 pm)Bavarian Beer Garden Band 2 - 4 pm

Sunday Oct 5 Street festival Noon - 5 pm BIG Beer Garden 1 - 430 pm (last call at 4 pm)Our Song 1 - 4 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden 12 - 430 pm (last call at 4 pm)

Fun FactsVendors Over 250Attendees expected 200000Years of La Mesa Oktoberfest 41 City blocks used forOktoberfest 10Estimated cost for police fire and other city staff time $77000 paid for by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and La Mesa Village Merchants Association

sdcnncom 11Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Jazz

Fridays Charlie Arbelaez Trio at The Rook Free 9 pm TheRookBarcom 7745 University Ave La Mesa

Sundays samdi-ego Jazz Trio at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room Free 2 - 5 pm SanPasqualWinerycom 8364 La Mesa Blvd La Mesa

Oct 15 ldquoThe Music of Will Toddrdquo with the SDSU Chamber Choir Grossmont College Jazz faculty and composerpianist Will Todd at St John of the Cross Catholic Church Suggested donation 730 pm Grossmontedu 8086 Broadway Lemon Grove

PopTuesdays Suzanne Shea and Bob Wade at Bistro Sixty Free 630 to 830 pm BistroSixtySDcom Call and hold your table 619-287-8186 5987 El Cajon Blvd College Area

Wednesdays Westside Inflection at Riviera Supper Club Free 8 pm RivieraSupperClubcom 7777 University Ave La Mesa

Fridays Nathan Welden at Bistro Sixty Free 630 pm BistroSixtySDcom 5987 El Cajon Blvd College Area

Classical

Oct 16 Youth Choir of San Diego at Cuyamaca College Price $8 ($5 for students) 7 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Oct 17 Cuyamaca College Choir at Cuyamaca College Price $8 ($5 for students) 730 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Oct 31 Quatuor Mosaiumlques Classical String Quartet at Cuyamaca College Price $10 730 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Alternative

Sept 27 TaKillya at Chico Club Free 9 pm ChicoClub1940com 7366 El Cajon Blvd La Mesa

Oct 4 Baja Bugs at Riviera Supper Club Free 9 pm RivieraSupperClubcom 7777 University Ave La Mesa

Oct 31 Fifth Annual Halloween Monster Bash with The Farmers at Parkway Bar Free 9 pm TheParkwayBarcom 9188 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa

Other

Thursdays (through Oct 30) Open Mic Acoustic Nights at Parkway Bar Free 7 pm TheParkwayBarcom 9188 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa

Sept 27 Little Kings at Hooleyrsquos Free 9 pm Hooleyscom 5500 Grossmont Center Dr 277 La Mesa

Oct 18 Oktoberfest featuring The Bavarian Beergarden Band at Butcherrsquos Brewing Free 4-10 pm ButchersBrewingcom 9962 Prospect Ave Suite F Santee

Oct 18 Jefferson Washington at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room Free 7 pm SanPasqualWinerycom 8364 La Mesa Blvd La Mesa

Bands venues and music-lovers please submit listings for this calendar by emailing Jensdcnncomu

to 46 feet or about four stories So the Kitzmans have hired

development consultants Urban Housing Partners to convince city leaders to change the zoning on the property to allow build-ing heights up to 110 feet The zoning the Kitzmans are asking for could accommodate up to 363 dwelling units 61000 square feet of commercial retail space 146000 square feet of commer-cial office space or a hotel of up to 250 guest rooms

The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the pro-posed zoning changes on June 18 They made no decision at the time because the Kitzmansrsquo co-applicant American Legion Post 282 announced they were withdrawing their support for the zoning change

The Kitzmans through their South Baltimore LLC resub-mitted their application over the summer The Planning Commission will hear the new and reduced application at a meeting at City Hall on Wednesday Oct 1 at 7 pm

Residents east and west of the project site have been some of the most vocal critics of the proposal to rezone the property

Don Bell whose house on El Capitan Drive overlooks the Park Station property said he and his neighbors are not against redeveloping and improving the property

ldquoItrsquos blight down thererdquo Bell said

What they are against how-ever is rezoning the property

ldquoThe problem really is that the Planning Commission is going to give them a blank checkrdquo he said

Nearby neighbors know and accept that change is inevitable but the added traffic and parking problems that would come from a 10-story building would be unac-ceptable and detrimental to the community said Suda House who also has a view of the Park Station property from her home on El Capitan

ldquoDevelop the heck out of it but keep it below 46 feetrdquo House said

One vocal supporter of the Kitzmanrsquos plan has been Jack Rowell a La Mesa native who now sells real estate across the San Diego region Any new homes that can be added to the La Mesa market will be a good thing Rowell said

ldquoI have a bunch of [potential

buyers] who want La Mesa but itrsquos a fight over every prop-erty especially things under $500000rdquo Rowell said ldquoPeople want the La Mesa schools People want the convenience of La Mesardquo

The only other place where housing prices are compara-ble for high-quality schools is Poway and Poway doesnrsquot have La Mesarsquos Village or its prox-imity to regional destinations Rowell said

Rowell said he understands why nearby neighbors donrsquot want their views to change but therersquos no reason to believe home values will suffer with an increase in supply

ldquoTheyrsquore talking about 300 to 500 condo unitsrdquo Rowell said ldquoThatrsquos like spitting in the oceanrdquo

For Aaron Amerling orga-nizer of the ldquoFight Park Station La Mesa ndash No More Than Fourrdquo Facebook page the colorful renderings of Park Station are a Trojan Horse designed to mis-lead people about what the site could become

ldquoThe Kitzmans do not have the funds to develop thatrdquo Amerling said ldquoThe whole idea is to upzone the land because that improves the resale valuerdquo

If city leaders approve the new zoning the Kitzmans or a new owner could build something completely different than what theyrsquove been advertising

City leaders have been cau-tious about commenting directly on the proposal only issuing vague statements about main-taining the character of the downtown village

Regardless of the Planning Commissionrsquos decision next week the final decision on whether to rezone the property will be made by the full City Council at a later dateu

LOCAL NEWSGen-X in La MesaGive peace a chanceGenevieve Suzuki

G iving peace a chance seems more complicated than it

should beWith all of the strife going on

in this world peace seems to be an almost impossible proposition The appalling brutal treatment of American hostages at the hands of ISIS members resulted in many of us feeling complete repulsion at the state of global affairs

I know I felt sick Even worse I began to feel hopeless

So when Anne Pacheco a member of the Interfaith Council of La Mesa asked me to attend the first International Day of Peace Sept 21 at Aztec Park her invitation stirred something in my soul The day which touted ldquoThe Right of Peoples to Peacerdquo would be a joint effort among people of most of the worldrsquos religions including Judaism Christianity Islam Buddhism Hinduism Native American and Baharsquoi

And although I promised Anne I would attend I thought it was an awfully lofty goal Really All of these people gathering for peace on a Sunday a day many hold holy in their churches

But I was pleasantly surprised when approximately 200 people

showed up with chairs umbrellas hats and hearts at Aztec Park that mild sunny day Many of us pur-chased sky blue scarves from the Sisters of Saint Francis to wear in solidarity for peace Shucks even Mayor Art Madrid wore a scarf over a yellow shirt

I admit however getting my husband Derek to don the blue scarf wasnrsquot easy In fact it wasnrsquot easy getting him there in the first place

Itrsquos not that Derek is against world peace (even though our daughter to this day refuses to add that request to her nightly prayers) Itrsquos more that Sunday is for football in Derekrsquos world and this day of peace was causing him to miss hooting and hollering for his fantasy football team

Nevertheless Derek relented and accompanied me and our daughter to the event This com-promise is one from which most of the world could learn Is Derek a community activist No but Derek is focused on the big pic-ture namely a happy wife and home Focusing on the big pic-ture would help many find peace in their lives locally and globally

As I sat there amid others dedi-cated to peace and non-violence I realized the one common emo-tional positive is the future We all want a better future for our fami-lies and our children We donrsquot

want to leave behind a legacy of anger brutality and war

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we said together at the beginning of the program

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we insisted again

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we vowedAs Rebecca Littlejohn of Vista

La Mesa Christian Church said ldquoWe are gathered in hope today for hope is how we surviverdquo

Thanks to this special inaugural day I was reminded of how impor-tant it was for me to have hope and that reminder allowed me to place aside that earlier feeling of hopelessness conjured by evil deeds in another land After all if I allow myself to fall hopeless I have nothing to give my child On the other hand if I cling to hope it will then be passed on to my daughter who would hold that ideal in her mind and mdash hopefully mdash see it to fruition

As the Native American prayer during the program stated ldquoGive us the wisdom to teach our chil-dren to love to respect and to be kind to each other so that they may grow with peace in mindrdquo

mdashGenevieve A Suzuki is editor emeritus of the La Mesa Courier She continues to live and practice family law in La Mesa Her web-site is sdlawyersuzukicomu

Find out what your home is worth on-line

Visit wwwsandiegohouseareacomOr scan this QR Code with your phone now

Tom Bowker Coldwell Banker West BRE01024513

A rendering by Park Station opponents shows the potential scale of buildings (Courtesy Aaron Amerling)

Park Station from page 1

12 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

Music professorrsquos jazz album wins acclaim

Follow your passionThat has been a guiding

principal for Grossmont College music instructor and jazz bassist extraordinaire Justin Grinnell who ditched plans to study mathematics shortly after enrolling at San Diego State University back in 1999 and meeting musicians ldquowho were doing music all the timerdquo

Good thing Grinnell has become an integral part of a vibrant Grossmont College music program and gigs as a pit orchestra member at myriad venues including the Old Globe La Jolla Playhouse and the San Diego Civic Theatre for a number of Tony Award-winning musicals

And now his debut disc the Justin Grinnell Quartetrsquos Without You has been nomi-nated for a San Diego Music Award for best jazz album

Grinnell is no stranger to awards He is a member of the Danny Green Trio which won the 2009 San Diego Music Award for Best Jazz Album for its debut CD The triorsquos second release A Thousand Ways Home reached No 17 on the Jazz Week Charts for national radio airplay after its 2012 debut

ldquoIrsquom doing what I loverdquo said Grinnell who is on track to earn his Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern California next spring ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the col-lege or university levelrdquo

Grinnell has earned praise from the best in the business

ldquoNot only is Justin a fantastic person but he is such an accom-plished musician a great sight reader which is so important because we do all kinds of tricky music and having someone who is able to read so well is an invalu-able asset and hersquos adept in a lot of different musical stylesrdquo said critically-acclaimed Jazz guitar-ist and composer Peter Sprague ldquoHe also has just such a wonder-ful spirit when it comes to playing music Irsquom really happy to know him and being able to play with him from time to timerdquo

A native of Santa Rosa California Grinnell initially planned to study mathematics and become an engineer But after enrolling in a few music classes at San Diego State and jamming with newfound friends he switched gears It was while he was at SDSU that Grinnell began gigging with future Grossmont College Music Department chair Derek Cannon and met his future wife Melonie a pianist who also teaches music at Grossmont College

With both a bachelorrsquos and masterrsquos degree in jazz perfor-mance from San Diego State in hand Grinnell began working in 2005 as an adjunct music profes-

sor at Grossmont College He also serves as an adjunct music professor at the University of San Diego and taught part time at Southwestern College from 2008 to 2011

ldquoGrossmont College is specialrdquo Grinnell said ldquoIt feels like family here Everyone is part of a com-munity that is working together on behalf of our students doing our best to help them succeed in a business thatrsquos hard to make a living in That camaraderie is pricelessrdquo

Grinnellrsquos passion serves him well in a business where talent alone often isnrsquot enough to sup-port a family

ldquoI tell my students all the time that if theyrsquore looking for job security donrsquot look at a career in jazz musicrdquo Grinnell said adding that he makes a living cobbling together his adjunct

professorships private lessons and regular performances

Grinnell and his wife are juggling their careers while rais-ing two young sons His debut album falls into the category of West Coast-flavored straight-ahead jazz He wrote six of the nine tunes on the disc with the remaining three being covers Especially tasty are the origi-nal ldquoHit the Brakesrdquo and a jazz cover of The Beatlesrsquo Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite

Grinnell however is comfort-able playing a wide variety of styles that range from classical to funk He is a member of the Brazilian jazz-inspired Danny Green Trio (Danny Green also teaches at Grossmont College) and the modern jazz group ARC Trio among others

The Justin Grinnell Quintet will be playing three concerts at Grossmont College in the coming weeks Shows are sched-uled for Sept 28 Oct 26 and Nov 30 in Building 26 Room 220 at 630 pm A full itiner-ary of upcoming performances around the region can be found at JustinGrinnellcom

The San Diego Music Awards take place Oct 6 at Humphreys By The Bay on San Diegorsquos Shelter Island

mdashDavid Ogul writes on behalf of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Email him at ogulcommunica-tionsgmailcomu

ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the college or university levelrdquo-Justin Grinnell

LOCAL NEWS

Justin Grinnell has just released his debut jazz album which has been nominated for a San Diego Music Award (Photo by Jon Naugle)

DavidOgul

sdcnncom 13Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

AUDIT PENDING

wwwsdcnncom

123 Camino de la Reina Suite 202 EastSan Diego CA 92108

P 6195197775 bull F 619-519-7840

1

2

3

4

5

Great Value Proven Results

Community NewsNumber one source of community information Hyper-local news and features In print and online updated daily

Market SaturationCombined distribution of door-to-door delivery high traffic locations and news racks Over 200000 readers

Award Winning JournalismProud recipient of numerous ldquoExcellence in Journalism AwardsrdquoRegular recipient of local and national press awards

Audited DistributionAudited by one of the nationrsquos largest newspaper auditing firms Circulation Verification Council (CVC)Guaranteed distribution

For advertising call(619) 961-1958

mikesdcnncom

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Distributed Countywide

up along the way include thousands of football cards (both Topps and Fleer) player and coach jerseys jackets personal letters autographed footballs bobbleheads pins programs team photographs and much much more He even has a life-sized bust of Chargers wide receiver Lance Alworth which is a story in itself just ask him

This native sonrsquos collection is not limited to the San Diego Chargers but what he has gathered about them is more than impressive His comprehensive collection also includes items from the Los Angeles Chargers and every other football team that played during the AFL time period

Over the years hersquos met and interviewed dozens of players coaches and families becoming close with many of them Two of his larger per-sonal collections are of Gilman the Chargers first coach and Alworth

In 2004 he wrote ldquoCharging Through the AFL Los Angeles and San Diego Chargers football in the 1960srdquo He followed that up with ldquoBombs Away Air Coryelle and the San Diego Chargersrdquo in 2006 Both books rely heavily on interviews and photographs of their respective periods

A few years ago Tobias decided to channel his love for the AFL through his website TalesFromTheAmericanFootballLeaguecom Here Tobias shares his many interviews of the past runs a blog where he opines on the latest news of players related to the AFL deposits videos stats historical data photos and even has a forum section where others can share their love for the league and its players

He said his goal with the site is to ldquoedutain (educate and entertain) football lovers with stories about all things AFLrdquo To support his internet endeavor hersquos also taken up social media and can be followed on twitter at TalesfromtheAFL and on two locations on Facebook ldquoTales from the American Football Leaguerdquo and ldquoI loved the 1960s Chargersrdquo (a public group) On the latter he shares vintage photographs of the team and banters with the families of players He shares links back to his blog and web-site on both pages

His many follow-ers recently noticed Tobias absent from posting for a time Thatrsquos because he recently gave up approximately 85 percent of his collec-tion to pursue his dream of opening a lacrosse store in La Mesa with an old friend Despite months of hard work that opportunity never panned out Now the five pallets of blood sweat and tears that he consigned to an auction house a few months ago are sitting in a warehouse somewhere in the Midwest being individually categorized and valued in preparation for a national Internet-based auction block next spring

ldquoI was trying to trade one passion for anotherrdquo Tobias said ldquoIf Irsquod known it would have just been trading one passion for money I never would have done it but it is what it isrdquo

Deciding what to keep was a challenge but Tobias said it came down not to which collections were worth the most money but which provided him the most enjoyment

The two-dozen binders still resident on his shelves are neatly filled to the brim with pages of plastic inserts containing football cards with most every card there signed

Tobias said he pulls each binder down two or three times per week just to look through them Inside are vast collections of football cards Many are duplicated but they are categorized in dozens of ways Some collections are still incomplete mdash like his 1965 collection of every card Topps put out for that year he is only missing two out of 176 cards mdash and each time he removes that binder from the shelf he strategizes new ways he can complete that collection There is a story behind every collection and another for every card

He has some cards that hersquos certain do not exist anywhere else and he has numerous cards that had the wrong playerrsquos image printed on them in the publishing housersquos haste to get them out in advance of the new season Hersquos reached out to many of the players over the years sending along his books and asking for autographs and he has the response letters to prove it

In the wake of his failed business attempt Tobias finds himself facing a forgotten challenge looking for work

ldquoI havenrsquot had to do that since graduating collegerdquo he said ldquoFor now Irsquom just working in the back yard putting in a sprinkler system and taking my mind off of it

ldquoSan Diego can be a tough place to live in if you are a sports histo-rianrdquo he said ldquoItrsquos probably time for me to find another line of workrdquo

mdashMorgan M Hurley can be contacted at morgansdcnncomu

Todd Tobiasrsquos collections include signed football cards from the 1965 Chargers and other rare collectibles such as a bust of Lance Alworth (Photos by Morgan Hurley)

Football from page 1

14 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

CALENDAR

Prescription drug collectionSaturday Sept 27

Get rid of your unwanted expired or leftover prescription drugs at this National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day event hosted by the La Mesa Police Department and the US Drug Enforcement Administration The effort is designed to prevent prescription drug abuse Drop your drugs no questions asked from 10 am to 2 pm at the police station parking lot 8085 University Ave For other drop off locations or more informa-tion visit deadiversionusdojgov and click ldquoGot Drugsrdquo

Free electronic waste recyclingSaturday and Sunday Sept 27 ndash 28

State law prohibits disposal of certain electronic items in the trash because many of them con-tain hazardous substances The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce is hosting this free event to help residents properly recycle old televisions computers print-ers VCRs DVD players copiers scanners fax machines toner car-tridges and other approved items Microwave ovens can be disposed of for a service fee of $5 Items will be collected from 9 am to 4 pm in the parking lot between Fuddruckers restaurant and Chuze Fitness at the Grossmont Shopping Center 5500 Grossmont Center Dr The following items will not be accepted refrigerators washers dryers fluorescent light bulbs and household batteries For more details on items that will be accepted visit lamesachambercom

Generational diversity workshopTuesday Oct 2

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series profes-sional development consultant Victoria Hankins will lead a dis-cussion on the multigenerational workplace With four genera-tions working side by side in the American workforce challenges often arise regarding communi-cation styles differing workplace values and misconceptions about workplace motivators Hankins will outline the differences between the four generations and provide tips on how to effectively work in cross-generational teams The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 1030 to 1130 am in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

OktoberfestFriday through Sunday Oct 3 4 and 5

See our article on page 11 in this monthrsquos La Mesa Courier for all the details on the annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

La Mesa City Council Candidates ForumTuesday Oct 7

La Mesa mayoral candidates Art

Madrid and Mark Arapostathis will join City Council candidates Patrick Dean Mary England Pete Gregorovic and Guy McWhirter at this forum hosted and moder-ated by the Community Outreach Ministry of La Mesa First United Methodist Church in the church social hall at 4690 Palm Ave A meet-and-greet will begin at 630 pm The program begins at 7 pm All are welcome

Free blood pressure screeningTuesday Oct 7

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center 9000 Wakarusa St in La Mesa No appointment neces-sary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Senior ExpoThursday Oct 9

The city of La Mesa organizes this free event to help connect senior citizens and their families to the most helpful senior service pro-viders including La Mesa Police Department Crime Prevention Aging and Independence Services Metropolitan Transit System ldquo211rdquo Sharp Senior Resource Center Meals on Wheels DMV Senior Ombudsman Program SDGampE Medical Baseline Program Elderhelp Jewish Family Services Yellow Cab California Telephone Access Program HICAP San Diego

County District Attorneyrsquos Elder Abuse Unit and more The event will be held from 830 am to 130 pm at the La Mesa Community Center 4975 Memorial Dr A shuttle will be available from the Spring Street trolley station Organizers are asking seniors to RSVP by Oct 3 by calling 619-667-1322

Depression and bipolar disorder screeningFriday Oct 10

Dr William Brock will pres-ent a free educational seminar on the signs and symptoms of depression bipolar disorder and other anxiety disorders from 1130 am to 1230 pm Adults ages 60 and older can receive free anonymous screen-ings from Sharp Grossmont Behavioral Health Services from 1030 am to 1130 am and from 1230 pm to 130 pm The seminar and screenings will be held at the Grossmont Healthcare Districtrsquos Herrick Library at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are suggested but not required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

ldquoGot Plansrdquo Career and college fairSaturday Oct 11

High school students and their parents are invited to meet with admissions representatives from public and private universities community colleges vocational

schools and the military at this annual event organized by the Grossmont Union High School District and the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Free workshops will provide information on financial aid changes to SAT and ACT requirements transfer options between two-year colleges and four-year universities and other career topics Some workshops will be offered in Spanish and Arabic The fair is open from 1 to 4 pm at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For more information call Jason Martinez at 619-593-2713

Bunco BashSaturday Oct 11

Soroptimist International of Lemon Grove hosts this special autumn-themed Bunco event to raise money for the grouprsquos projects to help women and chil-dren in our community For $20 participants get three rounds of Bunco a door prize ticket and complimentary fall snacks and dessert Wine will be available for purchase Bunco winners receive gift baskets and raffle prizes will also be offered The event will be held from 1 to 4 pm at St John of the Cross Knights of Columbus Hall at Broadway and Columbus Drive in Lemon Grove Reservations are required Contact Gloria Ferreira at 619-466-3699 or email her at soroptgloriagmailcom

Pooch in the ParkSaturday Oct 11

Kiwanis Club of La Mesa and the Human Relations Advisory Commission will host this com-munity get-together from 9 am to noon at Harry Griffen Regional Park 9550 Milden St For $20 pet owners can enter up to two dogs into a contest show for a chance to win in one of five categories or the ldquobest in showrdquo trophy Raffle prizes giveaways and other demon-strations will round out the morning For more informa-tion contact Glenna Boemen at gab11853aolcom

Fair trade gift fair Sunday Oct 12

The St Martin of Tours Parish Hall will become a world bazaar featuring unique and handcrafted fair trade gifts deacutecor apparel and jewelry from artisans in developing countries from 8 am to 1 pm As they browse the displays created by local vendors who sell fair trade products shoppers will be able to sample or purchase fair trade refreshments including choco-late tea coffee bananas soda and Ben and Jerryrsquos ice cream The parish hall is at 7710 El Cajon Blvd in La Mesa Call 619-466-3241 for additional information

See CALENDAR page 22

sdcnncom 15Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierCALENDAR

Telephone DirectoryPolice non-emergency line 619-667-1400Fire non-emergency line 619-667-1461Animal Control 619-667-7536Graffiti removal 619-667-7560Weed abatement 619-667-1465Traffic signal maintenance 619-667-1166Streetlight maintenance 619-667-1450

Mayor Art Madrid 619-667-1100City Councilmembers 619-667-1106

EDCO 619-287-7555Helix Water District 619-466-0585Helix Water after hours emergency 619-466-3234

Gov Jerry Brown 916-445-2841US Sen Barbara Boxer 619-239-3884US Sen Dianne Feinstein 619-231-9712US Rep Susan Davis 619-280-5353State Sen Joel Anderson 619-596-3136State Assemblymember Shirley Weber 619-531-7913

Community titan Jerry Fazio announces plans to retire

A fter 35 years with the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County

Jerry Fazio has announced his retirement

Faziorsquos last day on the job as executive director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation will be Oct 24 His official retirement date following vacation will be Dec 4 three days after his 35th anniversary with the youth organization that has served hundreds of thousands of young people in the East County since its founding in 1961

Since joining the organization on Dec 1 1979 Fazio has served in several executive positions with the Girlsrsquo Club and Boys amp Girls Clubs He has also done two stints mdash the most recent of which began in July 2008 mdash as execu-tive director of the foundation a nonprofit fundraising entity

Faziorsquos honors during his career have included El Cajon Citizen of the Year in 1992 Boys amp Girls Clubs Pacific Region Executive of the Year in 2006 and National Executive Director of the Year from Boys amp Girls Clubs of America in 2007 He is known throughout San Diego for his friendly smile and fund-raising passion on behalf of the organization

ldquoHe is the instantly recog-nizable fundraiser and pitch man for our organizationrdquo said Jack Doyle board president of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation ldquoDuring his 35 years Jerry has steered the development of our new and updated facilities in El Cajon Lakeside Santee and La Mesa He leaves us a legacy to be proud of in East County We wish him well as he moves into retirementrdquo

Faziorsquos decision to retire was prompted by recent good news from doctors that he is cancer-free five years after beginning his battle against colon cancer the same disease that led to the 2008 death of his first wife Nancy

ldquoWhile preparing for my cancer

SDCNN Staff

tests I indulged in a little specu-lation about how I might handle the news whether good or badrdquo Fazio said ldquoI concluded that no matter what after 35 years the time has come for me to retire I will concentrate on my faith my health my grandchildren and my gorgeous wife Melissa And if an opportunity comes along to help a good community cause I might just do that toordquo

Faziorsquos recent work with the foundation has focused on an $89 million fundraising effort called the La Mesa Capital Campaign The campaignrsquos goal is to build a new clubhouse in La Mesa reno-vate an existing teen center in the city and fund an endowment to operate both facilities

Forrest Higgins CEO of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County will add the role of campaign coordinator to his job with the assistance from staff According to Higgins more than $5 million for the La Mesa Capital Campaign has been raised during Faziorsquos leadership

ldquoJerry has been integral part of the success and growth of the Boys amp Girls Club of East Countyrdquo Higgins said ldquoHis dedi-cation and passion to the youth and families of East County will be greatly missedrdquo

Since 1961 the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County have been meeting the developmental needs of children and youth The orga-nizationrsquos mission statement ldquoTo inspire and enable all young people especially those who need us most to become responsible caring productive citizensrdquou

Jerry Fazio (Courtesy Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County)

notice to which the couple didnrsquot respond in time to renew their five-year lease Katie said

The next they heard they had to close the bar by Nov 1

ldquoI truly believe that when one door closes another one opensrdquo says Katie Halvin who runs the bar with her husband Doug ldquoAs poignant as it is to lose the bar I know we lost it because we didnrsquot pay attention when we should haverdquo

For the past five years Katie Halvinrsquos life has been intertwined with the bar Her first date with now-husband Doug landed her there mdash an Internet connection that led to a meet up in Harry Griffen Park

ldquoWe talked for a while and then he took me to his neighborhood hangout to have a beer and shoot some poolrdquo Katie recalls Katie was retiring from the Navy as a chief torpedo man and she was ready to settle down again ldquoWe got married at the Carlton Oaks [Country Club] mdash the whole bar was thererdquo

Before long Katie and Doug took over the bar which is leased from the Ross Family Trust Calls and emails to the property man-ager were not returned

ldquoWhen we took it over there were drugs gangs uglinessrdquo she said ldquoI wonrsquot put up with thatrdquo

What was left was a band of devoted regulars a tradition of small local live music and soon local art on the walls and events supporting local artists on the calendar

Cathryn Beeks the local music guru from 1021 KPRI radio began working with Halvin in November to book homegrown and up-and-coming acts at the bar mdash which led to notable shows from the Kilborn Alley Blues Band Roni Lee and many others

ldquoItrsquos very sad that the bar is closing Itrsquos run by very special people and there isnrsquot a venue like this in San Diegordquo Beeks said ldquoI found out about them because a lot of my friends were play-ing there They had a very loyal group of musicians before I ever showed uprdquo

The Parkway is also home to a very popular and solidly booked open mic night run by local singer-songwriter Jessica Hull

The Farmers local legends who evolved from the Beat Farmers also play regularly The live music will continue intermittently with the Farmers playing the closing

night Halloween party on Oct 31For Katie Halvin the closing

isnrsquot the end Property manager Aaron Dean intends to redevelop the strip mall where the Parkway now stands into a restaurant with a full bar and microbrewery and include an outdoor music venue

ldquoHe contacted me and hired me to be the director of enter-tainment at the new venuerdquo she said ldquoThey hope to start con-struction in December and finish it by August 2015rdquo ldquoOne side of my brain is ecstatic with oppor-tunityrdquo she said ldquoThe other feels the sadness of this lossrdquo

Meanwhile the Halvins are looking around in the area to find another place to open a bar like the Parkway

ldquoItrsquos our regulars Irsquom really worried aboutrdquo she said ldquoSome are at a point where most of their friends and family are gone and we are their community and fellowship We know who has cancer who has a new baby we know who to check on if they donrsquot show uprdquo

mdashMarty Graham is a freelance writer Email her at martygra-hamcoxnetu

Parkway from page 1

Sycuan Resort and Casino

For exciting casino action right in your own backyard therersquos nowhere closer than Sycuan Casino With Vegas-style gaming scrumptious dining options live headliner entertainment and nearby golf resort yoursquoll find your-self coming back again and again

You can choose from 2000 video amp reel slots as well as video poker For you card players there are more than 40 tables to play Blackjack ThreendashCard amp FourndashCard Poker Sycuanndashstyle craps and roulette

Enjoy the fresh air in the nonndashsmoking room with more than 350 slot machines 9 gaming tables Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet and a Poker Room with daily tourna-ments ndash all smokendashfree

For your dining pleasure Sycuan offers five different res-

taurant options to tempt your taste buds For those looking for a variety of delectable options Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet is an all-you-can-eat feast featuring slow-roasted Prime Rib buttery crab legs and over 100 fresh selec-tions and delicious dessert bar There isnrsquot a bad seat in the house at GameDay Sports Bar amp Grill where you can catch the big game on 39 large screen televisions 16 beers on tap with full cocktail selection delicious food menu and 29 bar-top video poker machines to play while you root on your team

With excellent acoustics and state-of-the-art sound and light-ing Sycuan Live amp Up Close is San Diegorsquos premiere venue for live entertainment Bringing exciting crowd pleasing acts from all musical genres therersquos something for everyone on their concert calendar

Just a short drive nearby Sycuan Golf Resort offers San Diegorsquos only 54-hole golf facility Exciting course play includes

3007 Dehesa RdEl Cajon CA 92019800-457-5568sycuanresortcom

mature tree-lined fairways eleva-tion changes water features and impeccable greens No matter if yoursquore a seasoned player or a first-timer the two challenging 18-hole championship golf courses and fun 18-hole par 3 course are guaranteed to give you unforget-table experiences from beginning to end To complete your stay-cat-ion enjoy one of their 100 spacious hotel rooms all recently remodeled and offer beautiful views of the golf courses pools and private putting greens If golf isnrsquot in your plans you can pamper yourself with a relaxing spa service

Not only is Sycuan the closest casino to downtown they offer free shuttle bus rides from a number of convenient locations throughout San Diego County For more infor-mation please visit Sycuancom

Guests must be 18 or older to enter casino 21 or older to enter theatre and Sports Bar Please play responsibly

Get away for the day at Sycuan CasinohellipReal Friendly Real Closeu

16 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

Short-term hands-on programs

Half-day classes 4 days a week

Monthly payment plans available

wwwtheaccountingacademycom

PETSlsquoOh where oh where has my little dog gonersquoSariReis

The only thing more devas-tating to a pet parent than

when their furry kid is missing is to have them never return Yet this sad scenario occurs every day Walk through any neighborhood and you will see the signs posted on trees and telephone poles ldquoMissing Our beloved dog Skippyrdquo These heart-rending pleas for help are always accompanied by a photograph of a sweet furry face and the offer of a reward for their return

As pet parents one of our pri-mary responsibilities is to keep our pets safe To do this we need to keep them securely confined in our homes our backyards or on leashes If your dog has access to the backyard be certain it is entirely fenced in with no poten-tial escape routes Make sure all gates are locked when you or anyone else goes in or out Inform pool service people landscap-ers or gardeners that you have a dog in the yard and the gate must be secured at all times Be particularly careful when enter-ing or leaving your home Open doors slowly to ensure a cat or dog is not lurking nearby ready to make a quick escape Never leave the door open for any length of time Even an indoor kitty may be curious if the door is left open for a minute or two Tell visitors cleaning ladies and anyone else who may have access to your home that you have pets and they are not to be let out

Some people like to give their dogs off-leash time on city streets in their neighborhoods They believe their pup is well-trained and will come on command and not run away But the sight of a

squirrel or stray cat can waylay the best trained dog and send them on a chase Many of these dogs never make it back home

There are also those feline parents who believe it is essen-tial to a catrsquos well-being for them to investigate and play outdoors Although the kitties may enjoy outdoor time it is very danger-ous With rattlesnakes coyotes stray dogs and traffic many out-door kitties never make it home again and soon become one of those sad notices posted on a tree

Even with the best inten-tions our pets may still make an escape Your best opportunity in getting them back is to ensure they can be identified Put an ID

tag on their collar listing your name and phone number and microchip them Although there are numerous companies that offer microchips and monitoring services one of the best is ldquoHome Againrdquo If you do microchip your pet remember to notify the man-ufacturer if you move or change your phone number Although the cost of micro-chipping is very reasonable many shelters and veterinary clinics hold spe-cial micro-chipping days so you can get your pets done for a dis-counted price Having your pet micro-chipped greatly increases the potential of getting him home again Can you actually put a price tag on that

ldquoHome Againrdquo stated that one out of three pets will go missing during their lifetime Make sure that one isnrsquot yours

mdashSari 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 missionvalley-petsittingcomu

One out of three pets will

go missing during their

lifetime

Lucille a 5-year-old spayed Labrador RetrieverAustralian Cattle Dog mix is

an energetic lady with tons of love to give her new family She has a friendly personality with everyone she meets and loves to learn new tricks She already knows commands such as sit down shake crawl beg and is currently learning how to wave ldquobye-byerdquo She is very treat-motivated and eager to please

She is very smart and outgoing and has gotten along well with other dogs on social walks This silly girl is always smiling and ready for a new adventure Born a true athlete she would love to participate in future training and would make an excellent workout partner Adequate exercise and mental stimulation are a must for this spirited lady

Lucille will do best in an active home with older children or adults She has a lot of love to give and may benefit from having another dog in the family as long as she meets them first to make sure theyrsquore a good match

Her adoption fee includes her spay current vaccinations permanent microchip identification a certificate for a free veterinary exam 30 days of complimentary medical insurance and a license for residents of Oceanside or Vista

Lucille is available for adoption at the San Diego Humane Society 5500 Gaines St in San Diego To learn more about Lucille call 619-299-7012u

Adopt a pet Looking for a home

LucilleBreed Labrador Retriever Australian Cattle Dog mixAge 5 years old Gender Female (spayed)Colors Black and WhiteID 142265Adoption Fee $9500

ADOPTION HOURSWeekdays 11 am ndash 6 pm Weekends 11 am ndash 5 pm

SD Humane Society amp SPCA5500 Gaines St (92110)

619-299-7012 | sdhumaneorg

(ThinkStock)

sdcnncom 17Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Foothiller FootstepsAdvanced Placement curriculum exposes students to college-level study

Helix HighlightsMaking students college-ready

Connie and LynnBaer

JenniferOsborn

A parent of a Helix Charter High School student once

noted that her daughter was never asked ldquoAre you going to collegerdquo Instead she was asked ldquoWhere are you going to collegerdquo A subtle difference in wording but a vast difference in meaning

Helixrsquos mission states ldquoHelix Charter High School provides a comprehensive education that prepares all students to gradu-

ate college-ready and equipped to reach their personal and aca-demic potentialrdquo

While the belief at Helix is not that every graduate needs to attend college in order to be suc-cessful it is definitely our goal to ensure that every graduate has the option to continue their edu-cation if they so choose

For the class of 2014 82 per-cent of Helix graduates stated they planned to attend college Forty-five percent went directly to a four-year college and 37 percent planned to attend two-

year institutions Approximately 12 percent attend University of California schools and 22 per-cent attend San Diego State or other California State University campuses

Support classroom projectsHave you heard of Donors

Choose Donors Choose is an online charity started by a class-room teacher from the Bronx New York He and his colleagues had great ideas for their students but no funding to bring their ideas to fruition

On the Donors Choose website teachers post classroom project requests and visitors to the web-site can help grant the teachersrsquo wishes by donating any amount big or small to their projects Donors Choose allows everyone to be a philanthropist

Over the past few years Helix teachers have been the recipi-ents of hundreds of thousands of dollars in supplies for classroom projects that would otherwise not have been possible Be a part of it Visit the website at donorschooseorg and search ldquoHelix La Mesardquo in the search box

Students shine nationallyThis past summer four Helix

Speech amp Debate team member students went to Kansas City Miski Abdi Spencer McCall Rebeca McClellan and Rachel Orey each qualified to compete in the National Forensics League National Championships McCall was a semifinalist in Student Senate and a quarterfinalist in Impromptu Orey was an octafi-nalist in Poetry

What else is going on at HelixLenelle Wyliersquos honors biology

classes have been accepted to attend the Science Lecture Series at the Scripps Research Institute

Jeff Kepperrsquos Oceanography class will be working with the

Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute and raising white sea bass in the classroom This is the second group of white sea bass raised by Helix students

Highland Players present The Odd Couple by Neil Simon Nov 5-8 and Nov 13-14 at 7 pm in the Black Box Theater They will perform both the original laquomaleraquo version and the ldquofemalerdquo version in repertory Tickets are $10 and will be available at helixdramaweeblycom or at the door Performances may sell out so buy early

Take a tourFinally we are always inter-

ested in letting our community know about Helix Charter High School The Excellence in Education Tour is offered twice a month and is open to anyone who wishes to attend It is a one-hour tour and program that highlights our vision history accomplish-ments goals and needs This monthrsquos tours will take place on Tuesday October 7 from 830 ndash 930 am and Thursday October 23 from 530 ndash 630 pm More information can be found at helix-charternet We hope to see you there

mdashJennifer Osborn is the com-munity relations officer for Helix Charter High School Email her at josbornhelixcharternetu

A commitment to educational excellence has always been a

part of the culture of Grossmont High School In the 1980s Grossmont began offering a new curriculum mdash Advanced Placement mdash that challenges the high school student to master a rigorous college-level curricu-lum Each May the students may then take the AP Exam Passing the exam with a score of 3 4 or 5 will in most cases translate to the student receiv-ing college credit or course exemption

In 1981 Grossmont English teacher Kay Adams offered an after-school tutorial for her senior students who wanted to take the AP English Language and Composition Exam Twenty-one students met with her to receive preparation for the exam all 21 students passed the exam with five stu-dents receiving a 5 the highest score

ldquoI learned more than I ever taughtrdquo Adams said ldquoThose students were the brightest minds I ever metrdquo

Beginning in 1982 AP

courses became a yearly English course offering

Other challenges presented themselves to early AP teach-ers In the 1980s through 1996 Sue Emerson AP Biology teacher found ways to cre-atively schedule her class On Wednesdays the students came in an hour early to complete the sophisticated experiments the curriculum required

ldquoOne fun activity was a nation-wide project studying wetlandsrdquo Emerson recalled ldquoThe students shared information with schools around the country via telecom-munication from their study of the Tijuana River Estuaryrdquo

Today Grossmont offers 15 different honors courses which prepare the students for the diverse variety of subsequent 19 Advanced Placement courses

Art AP Art History Studio Drawing 2-D Design

Business AP Computer Science

English AP Literature and Composition Language and Composition

Language AP Spanish Language Spanish Literature and Culture French Language and Culture

Math AP Calculus StatisticsPerforming Arts AP Music

Advanced Placement Theory

Science AP Biology Environmental Science Physics

Social Science AP European History US History Psychology US Government

Over the years the curriculum has evolved AP French Language and Culture teacher Azita Mahmoudi noted that the ldquoAP test has changed from a narrow grammar-based test to an open-ended test based on cultural knowledgerdquo

ldquoPhysics isnrsquot dif-ficult It only has the reputation of being dif-ficultrdquo said longtime AP Physics teacher Tom Eklund

Eklundrsquos creative lessons include the one shown in the 2012 photograph of student Jessie Hodges dropping his project off the bleachers and measuring its fall

During the past five years the number of tests taken by Grossmont students has risen from 453 in 2009 to 646 in 2014 While the passing rate dropped from 65 to 58 percent in those

same years more Foothillers were given the opportunity to challenge themselves and prepare for post secondary education

A continuing goal of Grossmont staff is to have more enrolled students take the test however each test costs $89 with many students taking more than one test

Those wishing to sponsor one or more tests with a tax-deduct-

ible donation may contribute to the GHS Educational Foundationrsquos AP Scholarship Fund by sending a check to GHS Educational Foundation PO Box 1043 La Mesa CA 91944

ldquoGrossmont High School is proud to support our honors and Advanced Placement curricu-lumrdquo said Principal Dan Barnes ldquoWe are very excited to see the very high increase in partici-pation in our courses over the past three years and contin-ued success by our

teachers and students shown in their AP exam pass ratesrdquo

Visit Grossmont and wit-ness firsthand a campus that celebrates it heritage and embraces its future Regular public hours are noon to 4 pm on Wednesday Oct 1 and Nov 5 or by appointment

Contact the Grossmont High School Museum by phone at 619-668-6140 or by email at ghs-museumguhsdnetu

AP Physics students participate in an experiment at Grossmont High School in 2012 (Courtesy GHS Museum)

18 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

PUZZLESSUDOKU

Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9 Each number can appear only once in each row column and 3x3 block Use logic and process elimination to solve the puzzle

copy 2014 Janric Enterprises Dist by creatorscom

CROSSWORD

Business 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 wwwGotFreedomcom Call 858-278-2120 Your future is counting on you (1214)

For SaleNICE 1BD HOUSE IN LA MESA LIVDEN LG KITCHEN BATH WD LG BEDROOM NICE SUNDECK $1000 INCLUDES GE WATER TRASH CALL CLARA 6194650591 (0914)

Sweet male and female Tea-cup Yorkie 12 weeks old $500 Will be 4 lbs at full growth Microchiped shots and dewormed coming with registration papers mlcpetsyahoocom 661-858-0633 (0914)

NoticesWIDOW OR WIDOWER Interested in social activities You are welcome to join our club Widows or Widowers (WOW) of San Diego Website wwwwowsdorg Phone 619-448-6088 (0914)

ServicesJennarsquos Barber Shoppe Styling for men women amp children Wheelchair friendly Old time expert

haircuts at affordable prices Colors amp perms 7424 Jackson Dr1A (across from Keilrsquos in Bank of America lot) Tues-Fri 830-530pm Sat 830-noon Walk-ins or By appt 619-644-3669 (1214)

Lindarsquos Puppy Love licensed insured pet sitting service offering daily walks cat care overnight stays-your home lots of love 619-857-3674 wwwlindaspuppylovecom (615)

Locksmith - Discount Deadbolts and Rekeying - security door viewers patio door locks simulated alarms magnetic door stops Cliff Henderson 619-840-3327 - Lic LCO4353 - Bonded - Never a trip charge (0615)

Quality exterior carpentry Decks Fences Patio Covers and Termite Repair Lic365241 wwwaactionbuildersofsandiegocom Bob 619-275-1493 (415)

Bathtubs and sinks refinished like new San Carlos based business for over 25 years - same owner Lic560438 wwwsaveatubsdcom 619-464-5141 (0115)

German Setter Tile and Marble Professional marbletile setter with 28 years experience European craftsmanship Punctual amp dependable License 872804 Contact Jens Sedemund 619-415-6789 or jensgermansettercom (1214)

Dan Patterson HandymanCarpentry Repair and replacement of plumbing electrical repair installation of water heaters doors windows cabinets flooring fencing Pressure washing of driveways all phases of

Finding Senior Housing can be complex but it doesnrsquot have to be

(800) 217-3942A Place for Mom is the nationrsquos largest senior living referral

information service We do not own operate endorse or recommend any senior living community We are paid by partner communities

so our services are completely free to families

ldquoYou can trust A Place for Mom to help yourdquo

ndash Joan Lunden

BUSINESS amp SERVICES

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 (1214)

BARGAIN BOYZ CONSTRUCTIONREPAIRS 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 jimmysupancoxnet (1014)

PLUMBERhellipLicensed and Insured Over 25 years experience La Mesa resident OwnerOperator Reasonable rates Courteous service Lic 527864 Call Peter 619-698-0313 wwwFelberPlumbingcom (0914)

ROOFING Lic 691295-C39 Veteran owned Allied Gardens based Celebrating 20 years Full roof amp repair Free est Veteran amp Senior discounts 619-823-7208 (615)

WantedHelping Hands Animal Sanctuary seeks laundry detergent (all free and clear) and fabric softener (Downey free and gentle) 619-460-6679 (0914)

Job WantedNanny seeking work certified bkgd ck CPR First Aide 20 years experience wchildren and babies Great references Call Peggy 619-246-6572 or 512-755-0813

ANSWERS ON PAGE 20

Experienced amp Professional

Renee Differ

reneediffercoxnet619-516-0400

INDIVIDUALS amp BUSINESSES

SAME SEX MARRIAGE FILING

BOOKKEEPING amp PAYROLL

MOBILE APPOINTMENTS

TAX CONSULTANT

Ideal PlumbingHeating

Air amp ElectricalWater heaters garbage disposals drain cleaning Video pipe inspections water softeners amp filtration Faucets and toilets Visit our Show-room (06-12)

Serving ourcommunity since 1960

(619) 583-7963Lic 348810

PLUMBING

sdcnncom 19Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierPUZZLES CLASSIFIEDS

Sudoku amp Crosswordpuzzle answers from

page 19

The Academic Senate at Grossmont College last

month honored math instruc-tor Michael Lambe a Mt Helix resident with the Distinguished Faculty award the first ever for a part-time member of the col-lege faculty

Lambersquos 36 years as part-time instructor at Grossmont College concurrent to his 39-year teach-ing career with the Grossmont Union High School District gave him a unique perspective and insight on nurturing stu-dent success His dual career has made him especially aware of the need to make the transi-tion from high school to college as seamless as possible and to ensure secondary level curricu-lum prepares students for higher education

His interaction between Grossmont College and Monte Vista High School where he was chair of the math depart-

Math teacher is Grossmont Collegersquos part-time instructor of the year

ment made him a natural to help develop the first articula-tion agreement between the college and high school which helps students smoothly transi-tion without duplicating classes or experiencing delays

It wasnrsquot just students who benefitted from Lambersquos experi-ence with both systems When

driver education was eliminated from the high school curriculum and instructors were facing lay-offs he worked with the high school and college districts to develop a two-year program that prepared the former driver edu-cation instructors to acquire the teaching credentials needed to become math instructors

ldquoItrsquos been a fantastic career mdash Irsquove been blessedrdquo Lambe said

Following his retirement from the high school district Lambe was recruited four years ago as the collegersquos part-time senate officer with the Academic Senate and chair of the of the Academic Senate Part-Time Committee As head of the new committee he began tackling issues like office hours college governance and academic rank on behalf of part-timers

ldquoMichael has unified the [Academic Senatersquos Part-Time] committee and made it the most respected and cohesive voice for part-time faculty on the campusrdquo said one of his colleagues in a nomination for Lambe for the Distinguished Faculty award ldquoHe has brought part-time faculty issues into the college governance conversation as never before and helped part-time faculty be better informed through excellent professional development activities and communicationsrdquo

Lambe described his efforts on behalf of part-time instructors as a way of paying it forward

ldquoEven as a part-timer I have done a lot of things that full-time department members dordquo he said ldquoThis is my profession mdash my calling and my love This

award is the greatest honor I have ever received My col-leagues couldnrsquot have given me anything greater and to be the first recipient is tremendousrdquo

In addition to honoring Lambe for his achievements as a member of the part-time faculty the academic senate also honored Spanish instruc-tor Yolanda Guerrero with the Distinguished Faculty award for full-time faculty

President Sunita V Cooke said Lambe and Guerrero exem-plify Grossmont Collegersquos faculty members who are passionate about teaching and motivated to boost their profession and their colleagues

ldquoThe campus community owes a debt of gratitude to fac-ulty members with that kind of dedicationrdquo she said ldquoTheir generosity is an inspiration to us allrdquo

At Cuyamaca College Spanish instructor Patricia Santana won the Outstanding Faculty Award for full-time tenured faculty Arabic instructor Aklas Sheia won the award for outstanding part-time faculty

mdashDella Elliott is public information assistant for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College Districtu

DellaElliott

Michael Lambe gives a math lesson something hersquos been doing for nearly four decades in local classrooms (Courtesy Grossmont College)

20 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

Join us for a 3-course dinner and information on Chronic back pain causes and solutions Recent advances in back pain relief Different surgical options QampA with leading San Diego spine specialist

Presented by Choll Kim MD PhD a San Diego Magazine ldquoTop Doctorrdquo and Medical Director of the Advanced SpineInstitute at Alvarado Hospital ndash named Americarsquos 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgerytrade and Orthopedic Surgerytrade in 2014

Cost $10person Seating is limited mdash RSVP requiredCall (619) 229-4548 to register

Location Terra Bistro7091 El Cajon Blvd San Diego 92115

MONDAY SEPT 29 6-8 PMTERRA AMERICAN BISTRO

AlvaradoHospitalcom | (619) 287-3270

Zucchini pancakes

Whatrsquos Cooking with

Julie AnnWhite

Julie

Grate away on your box grater to create this deli-

cious dinner side dish Herersquos a savory treat to serve with a salad or light chicken or fish meal They are a little bit addictive and really easy to make

Serves four (makes six small pancakes)

Ingredients3 medium zucchini grated on a box grater or food processor12 red or yellow onion grated2 large eggs lightly beaten8 Tbsp Panko bread crumbs (flour can be used instead)1 tsp baking powder1 tsp kosher saltPinch of black pepper2 Tbsp butter14 cup olive oil for frying

DirectionsGrate the zucchini and onion into a medium bowl Press with a

few paper towels to absorb juice Add remaining ingredients and stir well If batter is runny add more breadcrumbs or flour Heat large skillet and melt butter and oil over medium heat Drop the zucchini mixture into six to eight golf ball-sized gently patted pancakes Cook until golden brown Serve warmu

Put down your iPhone 6 push aside your Samsung Note 4

and turn off the TV La Mesa is asking its citizens to invest some time in one of their 14 local parks for Park Appreciation Day Oct 18

ldquoThis community event demon-strates the spirit and commitment that La Mesans have for their public facilitiesrdquo said Yvonne Garrett assistant city manager and director of community ser-vices in La Mesa ldquoLocal residents and visitors have a sense of own-ership and take pride in La Mesa parks Park Appreciation Day is an opportunity for individuals to share that enthusiasm with friends and neighborsrdquo

The impetus for La Mesa Park Appreciation Day began in 2005 when a member of a local church congregation contacted the city to ask whether their church could take on a community project in La Mesa said Garrett who is also staff director for La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation

Because the city had recently eliminated several temporary park maintenance worker posi-tions and had received a similar request for a local project from another organization city staff thought it would be a good idea

Citizen groups pitch in for Park Appreciation Day

to gather the various groups to help clean up the parks prompting the creation of Park Appreciation Day

La Mesa community services manager Mike Pacheco said he has been impressed with the pride La Mesans have in their community as well as their desire to volunteer for the city

ldquoParks and recreation pro-grams bring tremendous benefits to people of all agesrdquo Pacheco said ldquoThey contribute to help-ing us live longer better lives through active pursuits new life skills educational programs and safe activities Great parks and programs also help build a stronger community connecting individuals families and groups through the power of play Recreation programs and engag-ing exciting facilities help keep kids active and off the streetsrdquo

Park Appreciation Day proj-ects include spreading mulch planting flowers and painting picnic tables and restrooms Pacheco said

Since its inception several local groups have consistently volun-teered each year Christ Lutheran Church Journey Church Helix Interact Club Friends of Canine Corners Kiwanis Club of La Mesa La Mesa Rotary La Mesa Beautiful La Mesa Lions Club and La Mesa Police Department

Last year more than 150 vol-unteers participated on Park

Appreciation Day and removed 22 cubic yards of green material plus nine cubic yards of trash according to Garrett

Although most of La Mesarsquos parks have the same groups cleaning them every year Porter Park Fitness Plaza located at 8425 University Ave is still without a group Porter needs additional native plants installed in some areas in the beds Garrett said

Disclosure Writer Genevieve A Suzuki serves as a commissioner for the La Mesa Community Services Commission and is a member of La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation She is happy to put away her iPhone Oct 18 to help clean her local parku

Genevieve Suzuki

Make La Mesa beautifulInterested in getting

involved with La Mesa Park Appreciation Day Oct 18 Want to encourage your civic church or social group to adopt a park

All ages are welcome to par-ticipate Signed waivers are required Parents must accom-pany children under 18 at the parks unless their children are with a supervised group

Sign up by calling 619-667-1304 or email communitycila-mesacaus

sdcnncom 21Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierDINING LOCAL NEWS

New Patient Special

bull SedationDentistrybull Implantsbull Same-DayCrownsbull LaserTreatmentbull Invisalign

Wersquove been in practice for over

25 years in La Mesa

$113 for exam x-rays oral cancer screening and cleaning

In absence of gum disease A $520 value

Donrsquot avoid the dentist Remove the anxiety and fear with Sedation Dentistry

A Shop For Smiles

Dr Hagstrom619-465-5252 | 8923 La Mesa Blvd | La Mesa CA 91942

wwwashopforsmilescom

Visit us today

Baseball book signingSunday Oct 12

Geoff Miller mental skills coach for the Atlanta Braves will discuss and sign copies of his new book ldquoIntangibles Big-League Stories and Strategies for Winning the Mental Game mdash in Baseball and in Liferdquo at 2 pm at Barnes amp Noble 5500 Grossmont Center Dr

Diverse Capacities workshopWednesday Oct 15

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Mariko Peshon will lead a work-shop focusing on the physical emotional and social abilities and disabilities that often go unrec-ognized and unaccommodated in our communities The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

East County Intergenerational GamesTuesday Oct 16

Active adults ages 50 and older will team up with kids between the ages of 7 and 12 for a morning of fun noncompetitive activi-ties at La Mesa Middle School 4200 Parks Ave from 830 am to noon The games include street hockey shot frisbee toss ldquoskeeballrdquo pitch t-ball and trivia games Snacks and lunch are included Interested adults must register in advance by contacting the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center at 619-667-1322

Introduction to home caregivingSaturday Oct 18

Caring for a loved one at home often involves transfers personal care proper body mechanics and other specific skills and knowl-edge Learn and practice the basics with a registered nurse at this event from 9 am to 1 pm in classroom 1314 of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Brier Patch Campus 9000 Wakarusa St Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or

register online at sharpcom

Workshop Finding Your Voice in the Social Justice MovementTuesday Oct 21

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Kenyon Whitman will lead an interactive workshop exploring social justice concepts how to develop a leadership style and creative ways to effectively com-municate in diverse groups The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the stu-dent center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

Medicare and drug cover-age updates for 2015Friday Oct 24

A free lecture will cover Medicare insurance changes for 2015 Medicare Parts A B D HMOs and more Presented by Community Education Specialist Pablo Corona the lec-ture will also cover the Medicare Saving Program and Extra-Help Program that assist with prescription costs for Medicare Parts B and D The talk begins at 10 am at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Lung function screeningWednesday Oct 29

Do you have trouble catching your breath after a short walk The Pulmonary Department at Sharp Grossmont Hospital will offer a free basic lung function test from 9 am to 2 pm for anyone who has not yet seen a doctor about breathing prob-lems The screening will be held at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center Building F Room 16 9000 Wakarusa St Appointments are required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Free blood pressure screeningFriday Oct 17

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center 8450 La Mesa Blvd No appointment necessary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Park Appreciation DaySaturday Oct 18

Groups of volunteers will get to work on projects to beautify and improve parks across town from 8 am to noon All ages are welcome but children under the age of 18 need to submit a waiver signed by a parent or legal guard-ian If your church or civic group wants to get involved call 619-667-1300 or email communitycila-mesacaus

lsquoHowl-oweenrsquo dog cos-tume contest and picnicSaturday Oct 18

Dress up your dogs in a cute or spooky Halloween costume and bring them out to Canine Corners the dog park at Harry Griffen Regional Park between 11 am and 3 pm Proud pet par-ents will have the chance to get their poochrsquos picture taken at the pumpkin patch as well as meet representatives from animal rescue groups the county sheriffrsquos K-9 unit and other vendors The costume contest begins at 1130 am A hot dog picnic lunch will be offered for $3 Canine Corners volunteers will accept donations to help with the maintenance of the dog park

Picnic with the parrotsSunday Oct 26

At Socal Parrotrsquos annual fundraising event attendees have a rare chance to view the non-profit organizationrsquos reha-bilitation facility meet animals talk with experts observe live art bid in a silent auction and buy into a raffle Based in Jamul SoCal Parrot works to protect and care for wild and endan-gered parrots across the region Tickets to the all-day fundrais-ing event range from $32 to $100 and can be purchased online at socalparrotorgu

Calendar from page 15

Send details of your com-munity events to the editor at jeremysdcnncom Deadline is the third Friday of the month

22 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 CALENDAR

Why a fiscally conservative vote-by-mail plan got no GOP love

A bill that would drastically change the way San Diego

Countyrsquos special elections are run passed without any Republican help mdash it got just two votes total from GOP lawmakers in Sacramento

It might surprise you to learn then that when the idea first emerged Democrats helped lead the charge against it

How some leading party mem-bers reversed course in just a few years says a lot about the current political landscape and the future of elections in San Diego County

Democrats wrote the current bill mdash which would create a five-year pilot program in San Diego County that would make spe-cial elections for open seats run primarily by mail with a drasti-cally reduced number of polling places mdash and they led the politi-cal charge for it

But Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez the billrsquos author remembers how hard she fought to kill the idea of vote-by-mail elections years ago

ldquoWhat happens I think so often is there is this attachment to the status quo therersquos fear about changing thingsrdquo Gonzalez said

Gonzalez said her mind was changed by a couple factors One is that she discovered during her years as a labor advocate that voters who had a ballot mailed to them before the election were roughly five times more likely to actually vote

The other she said is she realized the county was spend-ing a huge amount more per person who voted at the polls versus by mail

County officials said that in the March 2013 special election to fill the vacant 40th state Senate district seat they spent $221 per

Ari Bloomekatz

in-person voter verses $9 per mail voter

Then therersquos the fact that pathetic voter turnout in each of the last several elections has favored Republican candidates across the board

ldquoWe have all watched as voter turnout has plummeted in recent elections and itrsquos our responsi-bility to do something about itrdquo Gonzalez wrote in a press release after the bill passed

Some observers speculated that some Republicans simply didnrsquot support the bill because it was being led by promi-nent Democrats like Gonzalez (Gonzalez agrees thatrsquos probably true)

But if you want to understand why GOP support was so hard to come by for a bill steeped in fiscally conservative principles and that originated from a con-servative San Diego County government consider these three points

Republicans seized on civil rights groupsrsquo hesitation

Some of the strongest initial opposition to the vote-by-mail legislation came from civil rights groups concerned the new pro-cedures could disenfranchise immigrants and the disabled

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund initially opposed the bill but dropped its opposition after working with Gonzalez and San Diego County officials on protec-

tions for immigrantsStill MALDEF and other

groups wouldnrsquot officially support the measure

ldquoThere is some research out there that shows that mail-in ballots do have an adverse impact on minority votersrdquo said Denise Hulett an attorney with MALDEF

Hulett said MALDEF supports testing out vote-by-mail but isnrsquot sold on it yet

Those groupsrsquo reluctance had an impact on Republican legislators like Escondido Assemblywoman Marie Waldron She said she didnrsquot feel comfortable signing on to a bill without MALDEF and other civil rights groupsrsquo support

ldquoI have to wonder if this is disenfranchising a significant number of people that vote at the pollsrdquo Waldron said ldquoWhat about the people who are maybe you know possibly visually impaired or something like thatrdquo

The money wasnrsquot enoughSan Diego County Registrar

Michael Vu strongly supports the pilot program and believes it could trim costs by 30 - 40 percent

But somehow the cost-savings issue wasnrsquot enough to win over the vast majority of Republican legislators

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez said he thought the cost-savings touted by Democrats were only rough estimates and was not inclined to vote for a bill just

because of those projectionsldquoAs Irsquove said a number of times

before all these bills that theyrsquore putting through hellip really doesnrsquot address the issue of what wersquore trying to do which is get more people to voterdquo he said

Instead of just moving imme-diately to vote-by-mail Chavez wants to create a bipartisan special committee to study new voting technologies

Republicans fear voter fraud

Republicansrsquo fear of potential voter fraud through expansion of vote-by-mail overshadowed potential economic gains

The bill ldquoincludes no protec-tions to ensure the integrity and security of all-mail elections While interesting we need to be careful changing election lawsrdquo wrote Amanda Fulkerson of the Assembly Republican Caucus which advocated fiercely against the bill

ldquoRight now our members feel that we should not jeopardize our consistent voting system until we have further facts and statistics on all-mail electionsrdquo Fulkerson wrote

Republicans believed the threat of fraud would be compounded by another voting-related bill moving through the legislature at the same time

That bill would change the rules about how long mail ballots can be received and counted after an election

Currently vote-by-mail ballots must be received by election offi-cials before polls close on the day of the election The new law would allow ballots to be received no later than three days after the election (if it was time-stamped or post-marked on or before Election Day)

Assembly Republicans feared the two bills combined could allow for abuse of the system

State Sen Joel Anderson was one Republican who voted against the mail-counting bill but in favor of Gonzalezrsquos vote-by-mail effort

Anderson said that he voted against the mail-counting bill because he saw it as ldquocompletely gaming the systemrdquo but believes the vote-by-mail bill is ldquobetter for the voters itrsquos better for my constituentsrdquo

Put yourselves in the shoes of

Vu and other county officials for a minute

Nearly every time an election comes up the county spends anywhere from $1 million to $12 million-plus and organizes hordes of poll workers and pre-cincts across the county

And what happens at the end of the day

Turnout is generally low and increasing numbers of residents opt to vote by mail anyway

As Vu tells it he just wants to save the county money and acknowledge the changing winds when it comes to vote-by-mail

But nothing is ever as simple as a dollar saved in Sacramento mdash especially when it comes to something as fundamental as how voters choose their elected officials

Gonzalez said most people do not understand how difficult this bill was to pass politically Sure Republicans barley supported it but there was strong opposition from many Democrats too The instinct to preserve the status quo when it comes to elections among legislators in Sacramento is strong she said

ldquoIt was kind of funny Irsquom in Republican land carrying this bill pissing off Democrats and voting rights groups and minor-ity groupsrdquo she said ldquoI had to convince everybody that this is OK that change is OKrdquo

Brown has until Sept 30 to sign the bill

mdashAri Bloomekatz is an inves-tigative reporter for Voice of San Diego focusing on county govern-ment You can reach him directly at aribloomekatzvoiceofsandi-egoorg or 619-550-5669u

(Courtesy Flickr user bludgeoner86Creative Commons)

Voice of San Diego

sdcnncom 23Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

Everyone in every price range deserves the quality of Sothebyrsquos Realty

8310 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa CA 91942 bull 6193371700

SPRING VALLEY bull $362000LA MESA bull $499000CARDIFF BY THE SEA bull $525000

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JOE SOUTHWICK 6195898224

Just listed Tastefully remodeled single level entertainerrsquos paradise Large great room with chefrsquos kitchen Private backyard with pool hot tub palapa-covered bar amp grill shade patio and sun deck

JULIE ADAMS 6194810200

Rarely available 2BR 1BA twin home in the highly sought after Park Place neighborhood of Cardiff By The Sea Community pool and spa 25+ acre canyon with walking trails sand volleyball and more

YVETTE WOODS 6199223436

Laurarsquos Solds 2014 bull (619) 540-7744 bull LauraLothianRealEstatecomMost Homes Sold in La Mesa Last 11 Years

Want your home sold Ask a busy agent Call Laura Lothian TODAY 6195407744

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SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE

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Source TrendGraphix MLS data for zip codes 91941 amp 91942 January 1 2003 to January 1 2014

24 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

Did you know that most light in proper doses improves health and wellness by enhancing your bodyrsquos ability to heal and replenish For example Sunlight in healthy moderations gives you energy warmth and creates a photostimulation effect internally that promotes natural restoration

It empowers your body to work FOR YOU and is scientifically proven to increase hormone production reduce pain lower blood sugar (diabetes) eliminate toxins and stimulate your immune system

And now you can initiate that same ldquocellularrdquo healing power through low level laser therapymdashsafely from your own home It works to stimulate and fuel your bodyrsquos natural healing process similar to sunlight

Itrsquos 100 safe effective and FDA approved

Low Level Lasers Engage Your Body at the Cellular Level

You learned it in schoolmdashyour body is composed of cells and atoms And those cells need energy to remain healthy So when yoursquore sick or injured it means your cells are sick and injured too And their energy level is reduced to a sick ailing state

And this is exactly where the Low Level Laser worksmdashat the cellular and atomic level Low level laser therapy enhances your bodyrsquos ability to carry electrons that stimulate and re-energize sick injured and damaged cells And it helps improve cell permeability which means your cells are better able to channel the nutrients and material they need for health

Low Level Lasers Trigger Natural Healing

Medications and surgeries are invasive They may introduce infections and other complications while medications can cause allergic reactions and produce side effects that require additional medications as counter measures And all the while add more toxins to your body that bring a whole different set of problems

Low Level Lasers naturally stimulate your body to empower itself by engaging your immune system and energizing your cells to heal themselves They work WITH your bodymdashnot against it

Low Level Lasers Are Safe For Home Use

You donrsquot need to special training to use low level lasers They are perfectly safe to use in the comfort of your home Whether itrsquos a nagging pain from overuse or a more serious medical condition Low Level Lasers promote relief healing and overall improved health

And they can be focused specifically on the area where you need it most for pinpoint effectivenessmdashback neck hands kneesmdashanywhere you suffer pain and injury which is a cell problem

So if you suffer fromhellipbull Backneckjoint pain bull Tendonitis bull Diabetesbull ArthritisRheumatism bull Fibromyalgia bull And more

First 319 callers wersquollinclude a special DVD explaining

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Call now it takes only 30 seconds1-800-303-6923 for a FREE Information packet

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apartments townhomes con-dominiums and single-family residences

First a child care provider must be licensed by the state Department of Social Services Once a tenant is licensed to pro-vide family child care he or she must give the landlord or property owner 30 daysrsquo written notice of the intent to begin operating the day care service in the rental home The license will include the number of children that the provider is allowed to care for The state license application includes a notice form for landlord notifica-tion which is helpful

That form also explains the renterrsquos right to operate a family day care Landlords or property managers cannot discriminate against a tenant for operating a day care However landlords do have the option of requiring a higher security deposit as long as it does not exceed the maximum allowable under state law

Next proof of liability insur-ance mdash or waivers signed by parents mdash must be shared with landlords Operators of in-home day care are required to fulfill one of three options when it comes to insurance obtain liability insur-ance secure a bond of $300000 or if they choose not to secure

Apartments can serve as day care centers

An increase in the number of working parents has made

home-based day care a service in demand For working par-ents finding good child care is invaluable Child care offered at a residence in a familiar neigh-borhood can be a source of great comfort to working moms and dads

But if you rent your home or apartment can you still be a day care provider

The short answer YesThe right for renters to oper-

ate such a vital service is state law spelled out in the California Health and Safety Code Small family day care facilities are not considered a ldquobusiness use of prop-ertyrdquo so they would be protected under any leases or rental agree-ments that prohibit operating a business out of a rental home

Renters who wish to open a family day care in their home should have little to no conflict if they meet certain conditions follow clear rules and communi-cate the details with their landlord or property manager This applies to rental homes of any kind

AlanPentico

HPV vaccine saves lives

Every year around the world more than 270000 women die

from cervical cancer With more than 85 percent of these deaths in low- and middle-income countries cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide

The ldquopap smearrdquo has been one of the most amazing public

KellyCulwell

Dear editor

Y our cartoon [See Aug 22 issue] about the two white

medical personnel receiving the experimental Ebola vaccine was as ignorant and racist as it gets Both of these medical personnel went to Africa to help putting their lives on the line for a bunch of people they didnrsquot know When they contracted the disease they did not know if the vaccine would save their lives They volunteered to be the guinea pigs If they had decided to first try it on some non-white person and the results had been negative the jerk who produced that racist rant and the idiot that placed it in the La Mesa Courier would have been scream-ing about that

mdashConnie Butt via Facebook

Letters are lightly edited for clarity grammar spelling and style Send letters to jeremysdcnncom u

the insurance or bond they must inform each parent of that decision and obtain affidavits acknowledging that the parents are aware of the lack of insur-ance or bond

Then be a good neighbor The same rules that apply to other residents also apply to child care providers For example control excessive noise that might be disruptive for other tenants and be mindful of activities or behavior that could damage the property

Finally emphasize the ben-efits of having a family home day care in your neighborhood or apartment community Having a day care provider as a neighbor likely means that you have an extra set of eyes on your commu-nity A person whorsquos been hired to care for young children likely will be vigilant about ensuring safe clean surroundings Think of it as an extra neighborhood watch

The California Department of Social Services has a guide for family child care and tenant rights Find it at tinycctenantcare

mdashAlan Pentico is executive director of the San Diego County Apartment Associationu

health interventions over the past 50 years in the US and most developed countries and its use has led to a steep decline in the incidence and deaths from cervi-cal cancer However weak health systems and limited numbers of trained providers have made screening in low- and middle-income countries difficult Even in the US over 11000 cases of cervical cancer were diagnosed in 2010

Following development of the

pap smear the discovery of the link between the human papil-loma virus (HPV) and cervical cancer has proven to be a major advancement in the prevention of this deadly disease Almost all sexually active individuals will be infected with HPV at some point in their lives and some may be repeatedly infected

The peak time for infection is shortly after becoming sexu-ally active The majority of HPV infections resolve spontaneously and do not cause symptoms or disease However persistent infections with specific types

of HPV (usually types 16 and 18) may lead to precancerous lesions If untreated these lesions may progress to cervi-cal cancer

The HPV vaccine was intro-duced eight years ago and the HPV rate among teenage girls in the US has already dropped by 56 percent since then

There is however still a lot of work to be done Nationwide just 33 percent of girls ages 13 to 17 mdash and only 7 percent of boys in the same age group mdash

See VACCINE page 7

6 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 OPINION sdcnncom

Our affiliate offers Gardasil mdash one of two FDA-approved HPV vaccines mdash in all of our health centers

CDC recommends vaccina-tion of girls and boys ages 9 ndash 26

Routine vaccination is a series of three shots over the course of six months

Other immunizations that are important for women of reproductive age mdash both for general health and prior to pregnancy mdash include Hepatitis B influenza Measles Mumps

Our current hot weather reminds me how every

summer at least one dog is found in a hot car mdash and sadly that dog becomes sick or dies

When I hear these stories or see poorly cared for dogs on the streets I often wonder why anyone who cannot adequately care for a pet chooses to become a pet parent

Pets are not just furry cute creatures made to entertain you They are living beings that deserve the same quality of life that you have

You may think yoursquore per-forming a good deed by buying or adopting a pet but yoursquore

Not every pet adoption is a good adoptionJimMadaffer

really doing the pet a disservice if you donrsquot carefully evaluate the responsibilities the job title holds

About 164 million house-holds in the US owned pets in 2012 according to The Humane Society That number grew rap-idly from 40 years ago when only 67 million households had pets

Itrsquos great to know that more and more families are becom-ing pet owners But becoming a pet parent should be thor-oughly considered just as if you were to consider having a child The responsibilities may not be the same but there are some including

Ensuring your dog has a bal-anced diet and exercise regimen

Ensuring your dog is properly bathed and groomed

Ensuring your dog is properly

trainedFurther before you head to a

breeder or animal shelter ask yourself these questions

Do I have the time to commit to a dog

Do I have the resources to ensure a dog will have a quality life

Am I committed to caring for it for the next 10 to 20 years

Do I know the laws governing pet licensing where I live

Irsquom not a veterinarian or a zoologist but I am a reasonable person and choosing to be a pet owner when yoursquore not ready is unreasonable

mdashJim Madaffer is the owner of Madaffer Enterprises a former San Diego Councilmember and the proud pet parent of two bulldogsu

Happy Hour ndash Get $1 off all pints Weekdays Tuesday ndash Friday 1130 am ndash 3 pm Late Night Tuesday ndash Saturday 8 pm to close

Daily Beer and Food Specials Monday $10 craft beer pitchers and 50-cent wings Tuesday $3 taco specials Wednesday Happy hour prices all day ($1 off all pints) Thursday Specialty beer tapped between 4 and 5 pm Friday $4 Potato skins Saturday Rib and ale combo only $10 Sunday $12 craft beer pitchers $5 pulled pork nachos

Welcome to West Coast Barbecue and Brew ndash your neighborhood BBQ pub We have a rotating draft beer selection featuring some of the finest brews around In addition to the tasty BBQ menu items please check out our daily specials food board on our patio including soups sandwiches and salads We are now open for lunch at 1130 am six days a week Tuesday through Sunday We open at 4 pm on Mondays

6126 Lake Murray Blvd La Mesa (located in the Ross Shopping Center)

619-462-3660wwwwestcoastbbqandbrewcom

Tu-Th 1130am-10pm Fri amp Sat 1130 am - 11 pm Sun 1130 - 8pm Mon 4-9 pm

have gotten all three doses of the vaccine (In California the odds are slightly better mdash 43 percent of girls and 13 percent of boys ages 13 to 17 have received all three doses) As a result millions of people are still infected with HPV every year and nearly all sexually active people will con-tract a form of HPV at some point in their lives

Key facts about HPV and the HPV vaccine

70 percent of cervical cancers worldwide are caused by only two types of HPV (16 and 18)

and Rubella (MMR) Tetanus Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) and Varicella for those who have not had chicken pox

Share this article with your friends and family and spread the word about the importance of getting teens vaccinated against HPV

For more information or to make an appointment visit plannedorg or call 1-888-743-7526 (PLAN)

mdashKelly Culwell is the Medical Director for Planned Parenthood of the Southwest For more infor-mation visit plannedorgu

Business Spotlight West Coast Barbeque

Vaccine from page 6

sdcnncom 7Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierOPINION

NEW CLIENT FIRST TIME EXAM

9160 Fletcher ParkwayLa Mesa CA 91942

wwwfletcherhillsanimalhospitalcom

Call to schedule your discounted exam

(619) 463-6604

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50 OFF50 OFF

A N I M A L H O S P I TA L

As I write this monthrsquos column my husband and I are sitting

on top of the world in a colleaguersquos cabin on Mt Palomar a weekend getaway from the fall heat wave and pressures of everyday life

We havenrsquot been here in many years The views are stunning of course but what I notice this time are the number and variety of birds mdash birds that are quite different from ones we enjoy feed-ing and watching in La Mesa

Irsquove had my eyes glued to binoc-ulars since we arrived and filled the pond and feeders the owners have placed around the property They also have a number of bird books so I think I rightly identi-fied quite a few species

But there is one elusive fellow I just canrsquot seem to get in my sights His distinctive call is close then far away

Itrsquos time to consult the expert I record the birdrsquos call with my phone and hope to play it for Ed Henry a La Mesa friend who happens to be president of the San Diego Audubon Society an advocacy and educational orga-nization devoted to the welfare of wild birds in our region

Ed is one of the reasons Irsquove recently become so fascinated by local birds He sends out emails almost daily to over 100 inter-ested people showing amazing photos of birds he spots at his La Mesa bird feeders and around San Diego County (or wherever he happens to be traveling at the moment) The variety is astounding

Turns out the San Diego region is one of the richest birding areas in North America with over 500 different species identified here In fact people from all over the world come to see our birds especially during the annual San Diego Bird Festival in March offered by San Diego Audubon

One reason we have a great diversity of birds is because of the unusual variety of habitats in San Diego County mdash from the off-shore islands and extensive coastline to inland valleys and grasslands riverbeds moun-

The Sun Shines Sooner

tains and desert Ed explained This region is also a migratory flyway

Ed was always aware of birds but his recent passion for bird-ing began in 2006 not long after retiring from a 33-year career as an anthropology and ethnomu-sicology professor at San Diego State when he decided to check out the San Diego Bird Festival Hersquos been involved with San Diego Audubon ever since serv-ing as its board president for the last three years

ldquoMy awakening to birds was gradual and occurred through chance contacts with people who knew more than Irdquo he said ldquoI grew up in Nebraska where residents pay most attention to pheasants mdash which happen to be gorgeous as well as good eating and hunting mdash and ducks but also see a few songbirdsrdquo

In Michigan (where he com-pleted his graduate studies) he came in contact with grosbeaks nuthatches and chickadees among others And he became curious about exotic birds he saw in India while doing field research in a small village there

ldquoMoving to San Diego in 1974 I had my first views of long-billed curlews marbled godwits and lit-erally hundreds morerdquo

He and his wife Connie have made La Mesa their home and

enjoyed birds in their backyard here since 1988

ldquoNature is the highest form of artrdquo wrote Emily Dickinson

According to Ed Henry ldquoThe most accessible wild creatures for the majority of Americans are birds In birds we see the shapes colors patterns and movement that constitute a vital part of nature and we hear their sounds toordquo

Wersquore fortunate to live in a place with such rich bio-diversity that is so accessible But San Diego County also contains more rare threatened and endangered species than any comparable land area in the continental United States

Thank goodness there is a passionate dedicated volunteer like Ed Henry to lead San Diego Audubon mdash an organization working every day to protect our birds and other wildlife and to educate and inspire people like me to appreciate not only their beauty but their importance

mdashPam Crooks was the found-ing editor of La Mesa Courier and continues to live in the Mt Helix area Reach her by email at SunShinesSoonergmailcom To learn more or to sign up for the 2015 San Diego Bird Festival visit sandiegoaudubonorgu

A beautiful Yellow-Breasted Chat was spotted recently in the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park (Photo by Ed Henry)

PamCrooks

This La Mesan is a true lsquobird brainrsquo

8 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

A Special

Thank You to My Neighbors

wwwmidwayorg

As we celebrate our 10th anniversary we know San Diegorsquos support has made Midwayrsquos success possible

So for a limited time San Diegans can purchase adult admissions for only $10

Thatrsquos a 50 discount

ldquoThank You San Diegordquo

$10 USS Midway Admission

Just for San Diegans

Bill YoungSafety CorpsLA MESA RESIDENT

Tickets available at wwwmidwayorg and at the ticket booth during museum hours May not be combined with other offers and cannot be resold Proof of ID with a San

Diego zip code required at time of purchase 202

The US Postal Service delivers mail to the front door of most

Uptown residents but that could change if Congress adopts a postal reform bill designed to reduce the cost of delivering mail

Rep Darrell Issa (R-San Diego) has introduced two bills mdash the Postal Reform Act of 2013 and the Secure Delivery for America Act of 2014 mdash that would force the Postal Service to transi-tion away from door delivery at 30 million addresses by 2022 Instead of delivering mail to the door of every residence postal carriers would deliver to curbside mailboxes or cen-tralized cluster boxes that house the mailboxes of multiple residents

That idea is unacceptable to Rep Susan Davis (D-San Diego) who gathered a group of supporters in Talmadge on Aug 27 to denounce the proposal She also introduced a resolution in Congress opposing centralized delivery

ldquoWe donrsquot need thisrdquo Davis said ldquoThe most vulnerable people in our communities will suffer as a resultrdquo

Davis said elderly and disabled citizens would be hurt by the switch to cluster boxes especially if they receive prescriptions by mail because of the increased dis-tance they may be forced to travel to retrieve their mail

Furthermore the cluster boxes are unsightly magnets for theft and vandalism she said

When Davis surveyed commu-nity groups in her district earlier this summer the North Park Planning Committee passed a resolution opposing centralized delivery

ldquoIn the older communities in the mid-city cluster boxes would affect the community character and the historicity of a neighbor-hood like Talmadge which to me looks like Mayberryrdquo said Vicki Granowitz chair of the North Park Planning Committee ldquoItrsquos intact itrsquos beautiful and to have cluster boxes every so often really destroys what these communities look likerdquo

Combined with bus shelters and

No mail at the doorLocal representatives debate

changes to mail delivery

Jeremy OgulEditor

ugly utility boxes cluster boxes would affect property values Granowitz said

ldquoJust think if you would want this in front of your houserdquo she said ldquoDonrsquot do this to us pleaserdquo

The Postal Service has already begun phasing out door delivery in new developments but Issarsquos legislation would essentially make cluster boxes mandatory in many neighborhoods that currently receive door delivery Issarsquos bill

would require the cluster boxes to be placed ldquoin locations that maximize delivery efficiency ease of use for postal patrons and respect for private property rightsrdquo

Rep Scott Peters (D-San Diego) who also spoke at the press conference said that while there are economic challenges that the Postal Service

must address Congress should not get involved in mandating the specific measures the Postal Service should take

Issa disagrees with Davis and Peters

ldquoThe consequence of doing noth-ing to address an Internet-era erosion in the volume of traditional mail delivery is a multi-billion dollar taxpayer funded bailout of the Postal Servicerdquo Issa said ldquoUnfortunately some [representa-tives] holding a press conference and pretending there isnrsquot a prob-lem wonrsquot solve itrdquo

The Postal Reform Act includes exceptions and provisions that would allow seniors and others with physical hardships to keep their door delivery if they already have it and it would give the Postal Service the flexibility to determine where to implement centralized delivery Issa said

ldquoIn reality less than 10 percent of postal customers would see any change under this legislation to their deliveryrdquo Issa said

Despite the financial issues the Postal Service faces the debate over cluster boxes may amount to little more than hot air in the near term Congress only has until Dec 12 to act on legislation in the current session Most of which will be legislative recess Neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate have voted on Issarsquos or Davisrsquos legislationu

Rep Susan Davis speaks in San Diego (Photo by Jeremy Ogul)

ldquoWe donrsquot need this The most vulnerable people in our communities will suffer as a resultrdquo-Rep Susan Davis

sdcnncom 9Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

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EDUCATION

Haunt yourself with contemporary classic horror fiction

Pop culture has a way of show-ing us what our collective

minds love loathe and fear In honor of Halloween I wanted to spend this monthrsquos column looking at the state of popu-lar horror fiction using that to explore the modern American psyche However the only thing this research showed me is that Americans really really love Stephen King

So with that plan foiled I fig-ured Irsquod just recommend some great scary reads past present and near-future

Guillermo del Toro is known primarily for his work in movies but has recently begun writing fiction After bringing us imagi-native films like ldquoPacific Rimrdquo ldquoHellboyrdquo and ldquoPanrsquos Labyrinthrdquo he paired with author Chuck Hogan for a horror trilogy called ldquoThe Strainrdquo

Deciding that seductive brood-ing teen vampires have become passeacute the authors chose to make their vampires ugly mon-sters whose heads split open to bite and drain their victims while vampirism itself is a virus that spreads with the speed of a zombie apocalypse The book series has already been turned into a TV show with its own cult following and that will undoubt-

edly bring more attention to the books all of which are available at the San Diego County Library

The new book Irsquom dying to read is called ldquoHorrorstoumlrrdquo by Grady Hendrix It should hit bookstores (and the library) shortly after I finish typing this If you like your horror with a side of wit and sly

social commentary this is your novel Itrsquos set in a furniture store that bears more than a little resemblance to IKEA where sin-ister and supernatural forces are on the prowl and the poor corpo-rate drones who work there must solve a horrific mystery in order to survive (presumably while fol-

lowing proper corporate protocol and providing excellent customer service) But just as exciting to me the book itself is a parody of an IKEA-style catalog illustrated with furniture schematics and cheery living room photos becom-ing creepier and creepier as the story moves along

Wersquoll end with one of the classics H P Lovecraft This par-anoid reclusive pulp writer from the 1920s was relatively unknown in his day but has become an underground legend His name

is synonymous with foreboding tales of occult rituals evil space gods and of course the descent from reason to madness Taken together his short stories invoke a universe in which humans are insignificant specks whose sanity could be rent asunder if they even began to glimpse the secret powers underlying their existence Lovecraft has dozens of short story collections pick up those containing ldquoThe Call of Cthulhurdquo and ldquoThe Whisperer in the Darknessrdquo Reading any of his stories will leave you feeling unsettled and reluctant to turn off the lights

In conclusion BooFor less-scary costumed fun the

library will be holding its second Star Wars Reads Day from 11 am to 1 pm on Saturday Oct 11 There will be Star Wars-themed crafts games and snacks as well as a costume contest and a visit by local members of the Rebel Legion and 501st Legion devoted Star Wars fans who wear authentic costumes to support community events Last yearrsquos Star Wars Reads Day saw over 125 kids and adults participating so wersquore expecting a great turnout

mdashJake Sexton is librarian at the La Mesa branch of the San Diego County Library Reach him at 619-469-2151 or visit the library at 8074 Allison Aveu

Above The Strain is being adapted to television (Courtesy William Morrow)Left Horrorstoumlr is an innovative horror twist on an IKEA catalog (Courtesy Quirk Books)

JakeSexton

LA MESA READS

10 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

ENTERTAINMENT

La Mesa Village is usually known as a quaint and quiet

part of town but those of us who have been around for a while know therersquos much more to that stretch of La Mesa Boulevard than antique stores and thrift shops

Oktoberfest perhaps the most exciting event hosted in La Mesa each year descends upon the Village for three days over the first weekend in October This year it falls particularly early on Oct 3 ndash 5 with live entertain-ment multiple beer gardens street vendors and more slated to draw the masses

For families venturing to the free event there are carnival games rides and other activities in the Kids Zone (for children under 12) Diverse food options located throughout the 10 blocks of Oktoberfest are an obvious crowd pleaser for all ages Plus the streets are lined with booths of crafts and other products that may inspire an early holiday shopping spree

But itrsquos the big kids who have the most reasons to head to Oktoberfest

The aptly named Big Beer Garden presented by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and the smaller Nebo Drive Beer Garden by the La Mesa Village Merchantrsquos Association are where you will find most of the action at Oktoberfest

The former is located in the Allison Street parking lot (between Pine Street and Palm Avenue) and is home to a large festival stage to go along with the nectar of the hops This beer garden is family-friendly so patrons can feel free to bring their children Pets are not allowed inside the event

Various bands will play the Big Beer Garden all three days pre-senting mostly classic rock lsquonrsquo roll (The Ideas Rock and Roll Trio and The Car Tune Dogs) and some German music (Our Song) This area will also have food options

Good times brewing for annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

mdash including festival favorites like brats and pulled pork sand-wiches mdash to keep partiers fueled throughout the day and night The beer garden will also host a stein-holding contest each eve-ning around 8 pm hosted by Samuel Adams

The Nebo Drive Beer Garden (next to the La Mesa Train Museum) also has a lot to offer Though smaller in scale this adults-only beer garden provides ample enticement with at least three German beers being served It will also host the Bavarian Beer Garden Band on Friday and Saturday These factors will give an authentic feel to this area harkening back to the ldquooriginal Oktoberfest viberdquo according to Bill Dyke of the Bavarian Beer Garden Band

Festivalgoers should note a trol-ley ride to the La Mesa Boulevard stop (near Spring Street) literally drops you right in the middle of the festival Frequent trains going by make public transportation the ideal designated driver for Oktoberfesters ready to imbibe like our German counterparts Popular ride-sharing services are another smart choice for getting to and from La Mesa Trust me mdash you donrsquot want to even attempt to look for parking

In addition to the beer gar-dens and festival food vendors the businesses in and around La Mesa Village will have their doors open to welcome visitors One such spot is Hofferrsquos Cigar Bar which boasts an impressive tap list of craft beers

ldquo[Oktoberfest] brings out a much wilder clientele than we are used to but also a lot of new faces that might have never been in nor heard of usrdquo Hofferrsquos bar manager Ryan Bartman said ldquoSo all in all itrsquos great for businessrdquo

Other businesses along La Mesa Boulevard that should benefit from the increased foot traffic include Konnichiwa Sushi and Bar (bet you didnrsquot know La Mesa Village had sushi) Cosmos Coffee Cafeacute for those needing a caffeine boost to keep going and Trattoria Tiramisu with its authentic Italian dishes and stellar wine list when yoursquove had

enough beers and brats Whether La Mesa is your home

or a place yoursquove never ventured Oktoberfest is the ideal time to enjoy the festival spirit discover the businesses of the village and do the chicken dance like you never have before Whatever you do donrsquot forget to take home a commemorative beer boot

mdashJen Van Tieghem can be reached at jensdcnncomu

JenVan Tieghem

The Tarantino familyrsquos gourmet sausages are always a crowd favorite at La Mesarsquos Oktoberfest a three-day beer and brat extravaganza (Courtesy La Mesa Chamber of Commerce)

La Mesa OktoberfestSchedule of Events

Friday Oct 3Street festival 11 am - 9 pm Big Beer Garden 4 - 1130 pm (last call at 11 pm)The Ideas Rock and Roll Trio 4 - 5 pm The Car Tune Dogs 6 - 10 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden Noon - 9 pm (last call at 830 pm)Bavarian Beer Garden Band 6 - 9 pm

Saturday Oct 4 Street festival 11 am - 9 pm Big Beer Garden 11 am - 1130 pm (last call at 11 pm) Our Song Noon - 4 pmThe Car Tune Dogs 6 - 10 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden 12 - 9 pm (last call at 830 pm)Bavarian Beer Garden Band 2 - 4 pm

Sunday Oct 5 Street festival Noon - 5 pm BIG Beer Garden 1 - 430 pm (last call at 4 pm)Our Song 1 - 4 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden 12 - 430 pm (last call at 4 pm)

Fun FactsVendors Over 250Attendees expected 200000Years of La Mesa Oktoberfest 41 City blocks used forOktoberfest 10Estimated cost for police fire and other city staff time $77000 paid for by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and La Mesa Village Merchants Association

sdcnncom 11Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Jazz

Fridays Charlie Arbelaez Trio at The Rook Free 9 pm TheRookBarcom 7745 University Ave La Mesa

Sundays samdi-ego Jazz Trio at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room Free 2 - 5 pm SanPasqualWinerycom 8364 La Mesa Blvd La Mesa

Oct 15 ldquoThe Music of Will Toddrdquo with the SDSU Chamber Choir Grossmont College Jazz faculty and composerpianist Will Todd at St John of the Cross Catholic Church Suggested donation 730 pm Grossmontedu 8086 Broadway Lemon Grove

PopTuesdays Suzanne Shea and Bob Wade at Bistro Sixty Free 630 to 830 pm BistroSixtySDcom Call and hold your table 619-287-8186 5987 El Cajon Blvd College Area

Wednesdays Westside Inflection at Riviera Supper Club Free 8 pm RivieraSupperClubcom 7777 University Ave La Mesa

Fridays Nathan Welden at Bistro Sixty Free 630 pm BistroSixtySDcom 5987 El Cajon Blvd College Area

Classical

Oct 16 Youth Choir of San Diego at Cuyamaca College Price $8 ($5 for students) 7 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Oct 17 Cuyamaca College Choir at Cuyamaca College Price $8 ($5 for students) 730 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Oct 31 Quatuor Mosaiumlques Classical String Quartet at Cuyamaca College Price $10 730 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Alternative

Sept 27 TaKillya at Chico Club Free 9 pm ChicoClub1940com 7366 El Cajon Blvd La Mesa

Oct 4 Baja Bugs at Riviera Supper Club Free 9 pm RivieraSupperClubcom 7777 University Ave La Mesa

Oct 31 Fifth Annual Halloween Monster Bash with The Farmers at Parkway Bar Free 9 pm TheParkwayBarcom 9188 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa

Other

Thursdays (through Oct 30) Open Mic Acoustic Nights at Parkway Bar Free 7 pm TheParkwayBarcom 9188 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa

Sept 27 Little Kings at Hooleyrsquos Free 9 pm Hooleyscom 5500 Grossmont Center Dr 277 La Mesa

Oct 18 Oktoberfest featuring The Bavarian Beergarden Band at Butcherrsquos Brewing Free 4-10 pm ButchersBrewingcom 9962 Prospect Ave Suite F Santee

Oct 18 Jefferson Washington at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room Free 7 pm SanPasqualWinerycom 8364 La Mesa Blvd La Mesa

Bands venues and music-lovers please submit listings for this calendar by emailing Jensdcnncomu

to 46 feet or about four stories So the Kitzmans have hired

development consultants Urban Housing Partners to convince city leaders to change the zoning on the property to allow build-ing heights up to 110 feet The zoning the Kitzmans are asking for could accommodate up to 363 dwelling units 61000 square feet of commercial retail space 146000 square feet of commer-cial office space or a hotel of up to 250 guest rooms

The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the pro-posed zoning changes on June 18 They made no decision at the time because the Kitzmansrsquo co-applicant American Legion Post 282 announced they were withdrawing their support for the zoning change

The Kitzmans through their South Baltimore LLC resub-mitted their application over the summer The Planning Commission will hear the new and reduced application at a meeting at City Hall on Wednesday Oct 1 at 7 pm

Residents east and west of the project site have been some of the most vocal critics of the proposal to rezone the property

Don Bell whose house on El Capitan Drive overlooks the Park Station property said he and his neighbors are not against redeveloping and improving the property

ldquoItrsquos blight down thererdquo Bell said

What they are against how-ever is rezoning the property

ldquoThe problem really is that the Planning Commission is going to give them a blank checkrdquo he said

Nearby neighbors know and accept that change is inevitable but the added traffic and parking problems that would come from a 10-story building would be unac-ceptable and detrimental to the community said Suda House who also has a view of the Park Station property from her home on El Capitan

ldquoDevelop the heck out of it but keep it below 46 feetrdquo House said

One vocal supporter of the Kitzmanrsquos plan has been Jack Rowell a La Mesa native who now sells real estate across the San Diego region Any new homes that can be added to the La Mesa market will be a good thing Rowell said

ldquoI have a bunch of [potential

buyers] who want La Mesa but itrsquos a fight over every prop-erty especially things under $500000rdquo Rowell said ldquoPeople want the La Mesa schools People want the convenience of La Mesardquo

The only other place where housing prices are compara-ble for high-quality schools is Poway and Poway doesnrsquot have La Mesarsquos Village or its prox-imity to regional destinations Rowell said

Rowell said he understands why nearby neighbors donrsquot want their views to change but therersquos no reason to believe home values will suffer with an increase in supply

ldquoTheyrsquore talking about 300 to 500 condo unitsrdquo Rowell said ldquoThatrsquos like spitting in the oceanrdquo

For Aaron Amerling orga-nizer of the ldquoFight Park Station La Mesa ndash No More Than Fourrdquo Facebook page the colorful renderings of Park Station are a Trojan Horse designed to mis-lead people about what the site could become

ldquoThe Kitzmans do not have the funds to develop thatrdquo Amerling said ldquoThe whole idea is to upzone the land because that improves the resale valuerdquo

If city leaders approve the new zoning the Kitzmans or a new owner could build something completely different than what theyrsquove been advertising

City leaders have been cau-tious about commenting directly on the proposal only issuing vague statements about main-taining the character of the downtown village

Regardless of the Planning Commissionrsquos decision next week the final decision on whether to rezone the property will be made by the full City Council at a later dateu

LOCAL NEWSGen-X in La MesaGive peace a chanceGenevieve Suzuki

G iving peace a chance seems more complicated than it

should beWith all of the strife going on

in this world peace seems to be an almost impossible proposition The appalling brutal treatment of American hostages at the hands of ISIS members resulted in many of us feeling complete repulsion at the state of global affairs

I know I felt sick Even worse I began to feel hopeless

So when Anne Pacheco a member of the Interfaith Council of La Mesa asked me to attend the first International Day of Peace Sept 21 at Aztec Park her invitation stirred something in my soul The day which touted ldquoThe Right of Peoples to Peacerdquo would be a joint effort among people of most of the worldrsquos religions including Judaism Christianity Islam Buddhism Hinduism Native American and Baharsquoi

And although I promised Anne I would attend I thought it was an awfully lofty goal Really All of these people gathering for peace on a Sunday a day many hold holy in their churches

But I was pleasantly surprised when approximately 200 people

showed up with chairs umbrellas hats and hearts at Aztec Park that mild sunny day Many of us pur-chased sky blue scarves from the Sisters of Saint Francis to wear in solidarity for peace Shucks even Mayor Art Madrid wore a scarf over a yellow shirt

I admit however getting my husband Derek to don the blue scarf wasnrsquot easy In fact it wasnrsquot easy getting him there in the first place

Itrsquos not that Derek is against world peace (even though our daughter to this day refuses to add that request to her nightly prayers) Itrsquos more that Sunday is for football in Derekrsquos world and this day of peace was causing him to miss hooting and hollering for his fantasy football team

Nevertheless Derek relented and accompanied me and our daughter to the event This com-promise is one from which most of the world could learn Is Derek a community activist No but Derek is focused on the big pic-ture namely a happy wife and home Focusing on the big pic-ture would help many find peace in their lives locally and globally

As I sat there amid others dedi-cated to peace and non-violence I realized the one common emo-tional positive is the future We all want a better future for our fami-lies and our children We donrsquot

want to leave behind a legacy of anger brutality and war

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we said together at the beginning of the program

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we insisted again

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we vowedAs Rebecca Littlejohn of Vista

La Mesa Christian Church said ldquoWe are gathered in hope today for hope is how we surviverdquo

Thanks to this special inaugural day I was reminded of how impor-tant it was for me to have hope and that reminder allowed me to place aside that earlier feeling of hopelessness conjured by evil deeds in another land After all if I allow myself to fall hopeless I have nothing to give my child On the other hand if I cling to hope it will then be passed on to my daughter who would hold that ideal in her mind and mdash hopefully mdash see it to fruition

As the Native American prayer during the program stated ldquoGive us the wisdom to teach our chil-dren to love to respect and to be kind to each other so that they may grow with peace in mindrdquo

mdashGenevieve A Suzuki is editor emeritus of the La Mesa Courier She continues to live and practice family law in La Mesa Her web-site is sdlawyersuzukicomu

Find out what your home is worth on-line

Visit wwwsandiegohouseareacomOr scan this QR Code with your phone now

Tom Bowker Coldwell Banker West BRE01024513

A rendering by Park Station opponents shows the potential scale of buildings (Courtesy Aaron Amerling)

Park Station from page 1

12 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

Music professorrsquos jazz album wins acclaim

Follow your passionThat has been a guiding

principal for Grossmont College music instructor and jazz bassist extraordinaire Justin Grinnell who ditched plans to study mathematics shortly after enrolling at San Diego State University back in 1999 and meeting musicians ldquowho were doing music all the timerdquo

Good thing Grinnell has become an integral part of a vibrant Grossmont College music program and gigs as a pit orchestra member at myriad venues including the Old Globe La Jolla Playhouse and the San Diego Civic Theatre for a number of Tony Award-winning musicals

And now his debut disc the Justin Grinnell Quartetrsquos Without You has been nomi-nated for a San Diego Music Award for best jazz album

Grinnell is no stranger to awards He is a member of the Danny Green Trio which won the 2009 San Diego Music Award for Best Jazz Album for its debut CD The triorsquos second release A Thousand Ways Home reached No 17 on the Jazz Week Charts for national radio airplay after its 2012 debut

ldquoIrsquom doing what I loverdquo said Grinnell who is on track to earn his Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern California next spring ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the col-lege or university levelrdquo

Grinnell has earned praise from the best in the business

ldquoNot only is Justin a fantastic person but he is such an accom-plished musician a great sight reader which is so important because we do all kinds of tricky music and having someone who is able to read so well is an invalu-able asset and hersquos adept in a lot of different musical stylesrdquo said critically-acclaimed Jazz guitar-ist and composer Peter Sprague ldquoHe also has just such a wonder-ful spirit when it comes to playing music Irsquom really happy to know him and being able to play with him from time to timerdquo

A native of Santa Rosa California Grinnell initially planned to study mathematics and become an engineer But after enrolling in a few music classes at San Diego State and jamming with newfound friends he switched gears It was while he was at SDSU that Grinnell began gigging with future Grossmont College Music Department chair Derek Cannon and met his future wife Melonie a pianist who also teaches music at Grossmont College

With both a bachelorrsquos and masterrsquos degree in jazz perfor-mance from San Diego State in hand Grinnell began working in 2005 as an adjunct music profes-

sor at Grossmont College He also serves as an adjunct music professor at the University of San Diego and taught part time at Southwestern College from 2008 to 2011

ldquoGrossmont College is specialrdquo Grinnell said ldquoIt feels like family here Everyone is part of a com-munity that is working together on behalf of our students doing our best to help them succeed in a business thatrsquos hard to make a living in That camaraderie is pricelessrdquo

Grinnellrsquos passion serves him well in a business where talent alone often isnrsquot enough to sup-port a family

ldquoI tell my students all the time that if theyrsquore looking for job security donrsquot look at a career in jazz musicrdquo Grinnell said adding that he makes a living cobbling together his adjunct

professorships private lessons and regular performances

Grinnell and his wife are juggling their careers while rais-ing two young sons His debut album falls into the category of West Coast-flavored straight-ahead jazz He wrote six of the nine tunes on the disc with the remaining three being covers Especially tasty are the origi-nal ldquoHit the Brakesrdquo and a jazz cover of The Beatlesrsquo Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite

Grinnell however is comfort-able playing a wide variety of styles that range from classical to funk He is a member of the Brazilian jazz-inspired Danny Green Trio (Danny Green also teaches at Grossmont College) and the modern jazz group ARC Trio among others

The Justin Grinnell Quintet will be playing three concerts at Grossmont College in the coming weeks Shows are sched-uled for Sept 28 Oct 26 and Nov 30 in Building 26 Room 220 at 630 pm A full itiner-ary of upcoming performances around the region can be found at JustinGrinnellcom

The San Diego Music Awards take place Oct 6 at Humphreys By The Bay on San Diegorsquos Shelter Island

mdashDavid Ogul writes on behalf of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Email him at ogulcommunica-tionsgmailcomu

ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the college or university levelrdquo-Justin Grinnell

LOCAL NEWS

Justin Grinnell has just released his debut jazz album which has been nominated for a San Diego Music Award (Photo by Jon Naugle)

DavidOgul

sdcnncom 13Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

AUDIT PENDING

wwwsdcnncom

123 Camino de la Reina Suite 202 EastSan Diego CA 92108

P 6195197775 bull F 619-519-7840

1

2

3

4

5

Great Value Proven Results

Community NewsNumber one source of community information Hyper-local news and features In print and online updated daily

Market SaturationCombined distribution of door-to-door delivery high traffic locations and news racks Over 200000 readers

Award Winning JournalismProud recipient of numerous ldquoExcellence in Journalism AwardsrdquoRegular recipient of local and national press awards

Audited DistributionAudited by one of the nationrsquos largest newspaper auditing firms Circulation Verification Council (CVC)Guaranteed distribution

For advertising call(619) 961-1958

mikesdcnncom

1 2 3

4 5

23000 Distribution Bi-WeeklyZip Codes 92103 92104 92105 92116

20000 Distribution MonthlyZip Codes 92101 92102

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15000 Distribution Bi-WeeklyServing San Diegorsquos LGBT Community

Distributed Countywide

up along the way include thousands of football cards (both Topps and Fleer) player and coach jerseys jackets personal letters autographed footballs bobbleheads pins programs team photographs and much much more He even has a life-sized bust of Chargers wide receiver Lance Alworth which is a story in itself just ask him

This native sonrsquos collection is not limited to the San Diego Chargers but what he has gathered about them is more than impressive His comprehensive collection also includes items from the Los Angeles Chargers and every other football team that played during the AFL time period

Over the years hersquos met and interviewed dozens of players coaches and families becoming close with many of them Two of his larger per-sonal collections are of Gilman the Chargers first coach and Alworth

In 2004 he wrote ldquoCharging Through the AFL Los Angeles and San Diego Chargers football in the 1960srdquo He followed that up with ldquoBombs Away Air Coryelle and the San Diego Chargersrdquo in 2006 Both books rely heavily on interviews and photographs of their respective periods

A few years ago Tobias decided to channel his love for the AFL through his website TalesFromTheAmericanFootballLeaguecom Here Tobias shares his many interviews of the past runs a blog where he opines on the latest news of players related to the AFL deposits videos stats historical data photos and even has a forum section where others can share their love for the league and its players

He said his goal with the site is to ldquoedutain (educate and entertain) football lovers with stories about all things AFLrdquo To support his internet endeavor hersquos also taken up social media and can be followed on twitter at TalesfromtheAFL and on two locations on Facebook ldquoTales from the American Football Leaguerdquo and ldquoI loved the 1960s Chargersrdquo (a public group) On the latter he shares vintage photographs of the team and banters with the families of players He shares links back to his blog and web-site on both pages

His many follow-ers recently noticed Tobias absent from posting for a time Thatrsquos because he recently gave up approximately 85 percent of his collec-tion to pursue his dream of opening a lacrosse store in La Mesa with an old friend Despite months of hard work that opportunity never panned out Now the five pallets of blood sweat and tears that he consigned to an auction house a few months ago are sitting in a warehouse somewhere in the Midwest being individually categorized and valued in preparation for a national Internet-based auction block next spring

ldquoI was trying to trade one passion for anotherrdquo Tobias said ldquoIf Irsquod known it would have just been trading one passion for money I never would have done it but it is what it isrdquo

Deciding what to keep was a challenge but Tobias said it came down not to which collections were worth the most money but which provided him the most enjoyment

The two-dozen binders still resident on his shelves are neatly filled to the brim with pages of plastic inserts containing football cards with most every card there signed

Tobias said he pulls each binder down two or three times per week just to look through them Inside are vast collections of football cards Many are duplicated but they are categorized in dozens of ways Some collections are still incomplete mdash like his 1965 collection of every card Topps put out for that year he is only missing two out of 176 cards mdash and each time he removes that binder from the shelf he strategizes new ways he can complete that collection There is a story behind every collection and another for every card

He has some cards that hersquos certain do not exist anywhere else and he has numerous cards that had the wrong playerrsquos image printed on them in the publishing housersquos haste to get them out in advance of the new season Hersquos reached out to many of the players over the years sending along his books and asking for autographs and he has the response letters to prove it

In the wake of his failed business attempt Tobias finds himself facing a forgotten challenge looking for work

ldquoI havenrsquot had to do that since graduating collegerdquo he said ldquoFor now Irsquom just working in the back yard putting in a sprinkler system and taking my mind off of it

ldquoSan Diego can be a tough place to live in if you are a sports histo-rianrdquo he said ldquoItrsquos probably time for me to find another line of workrdquo

mdashMorgan M Hurley can be contacted at morgansdcnncomu

Todd Tobiasrsquos collections include signed football cards from the 1965 Chargers and other rare collectibles such as a bust of Lance Alworth (Photos by Morgan Hurley)

Football from page 1

14 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

CALENDAR

Prescription drug collectionSaturday Sept 27

Get rid of your unwanted expired or leftover prescription drugs at this National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day event hosted by the La Mesa Police Department and the US Drug Enforcement Administration The effort is designed to prevent prescription drug abuse Drop your drugs no questions asked from 10 am to 2 pm at the police station parking lot 8085 University Ave For other drop off locations or more informa-tion visit deadiversionusdojgov and click ldquoGot Drugsrdquo

Free electronic waste recyclingSaturday and Sunday Sept 27 ndash 28

State law prohibits disposal of certain electronic items in the trash because many of them con-tain hazardous substances The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce is hosting this free event to help residents properly recycle old televisions computers print-ers VCRs DVD players copiers scanners fax machines toner car-tridges and other approved items Microwave ovens can be disposed of for a service fee of $5 Items will be collected from 9 am to 4 pm in the parking lot between Fuddruckers restaurant and Chuze Fitness at the Grossmont Shopping Center 5500 Grossmont Center Dr The following items will not be accepted refrigerators washers dryers fluorescent light bulbs and household batteries For more details on items that will be accepted visit lamesachambercom

Generational diversity workshopTuesday Oct 2

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series profes-sional development consultant Victoria Hankins will lead a dis-cussion on the multigenerational workplace With four genera-tions working side by side in the American workforce challenges often arise regarding communi-cation styles differing workplace values and misconceptions about workplace motivators Hankins will outline the differences between the four generations and provide tips on how to effectively work in cross-generational teams The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 1030 to 1130 am in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

OktoberfestFriday through Sunday Oct 3 4 and 5

See our article on page 11 in this monthrsquos La Mesa Courier for all the details on the annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

La Mesa City Council Candidates ForumTuesday Oct 7

La Mesa mayoral candidates Art

Madrid and Mark Arapostathis will join City Council candidates Patrick Dean Mary England Pete Gregorovic and Guy McWhirter at this forum hosted and moder-ated by the Community Outreach Ministry of La Mesa First United Methodist Church in the church social hall at 4690 Palm Ave A meet-and-greet will begin at 630 pm The program begins at 7 pm All are welcome

Free blood pressure screeningTuesday Oct 7

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center 9000 Wakarusa St in La Mesa No appointment neces-sary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Senior ExpoThursday Oct 9

The city of La Mesa organizes this free event to help connect senior citizens and their families to the most helpful senior service pro-viders including La Mesa Police Department Crime Prevention Aging and Independence Services Metropolitan Transit System ldquo211rdquo Sharp Senior Resource Center Meals on Wheels DMV Senior Ombudsman Program SDGampE Medical Baseline Program Elderhelp Jewish Family Services Yellow Cab California Telephone Access Program HICAP San Diego

County District Attorneyrsquos Elder Abuse Unit and more The event will be held from 830 am to 130 pm at the La Mesa Community Center 4975 Memorial Dr A shuttle will be available from the Spring Street trolley station Organizers are asking seniors to RSVP by Oct 3 by calling 619-667-1322

Depression and bipolar disorder screeningFriday Oct 10

Dr William Brock will pres-ent a free educational seminar on the signs and symptoms of depression bipolar disorder and other anxiety disorders from 1130 am to 1230 pm Adults ages 60 and older can receive free anonymous screen-ings from Sharp Grossmont Behavioral Health Services from 1030 am to 1130 am and from 1230 pm to 130 pm The seminar and screenings will be held at the Grossmont Healthcare Districtrsquos Herrick Library at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are suggested but not required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

ldquoGot Plansrdquo Career and college fairSaturday Oct 11

High school students and their parents are invited to meet with admissions representatives from public and private universities community colleges vocational

schools and the military at this annual event organized by the Grossmont Union High School District and the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Free workshops will provide information on financial aid changes to SAT and ACT requirements transfer options between two-year colleges and four-year universities and other career topics Some workshops will be offered in Spanish and Arabic The fair is open from 1 to 4 pm at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For more information call Jason Martinez at 619-593-2713

Bunco BashSaturday Oct 11

Soroptimist International of Lemon Grove hosts this special autumn-themed Bunco event to raise money for the grouprsquos projects to help women and chil-dren in our community For $20 participants get three rounds of Bunco a door prize ticket and complimentary fall snacks and dessert Wine will be available for purchase Bunco winners receive gift baskets and raffle prizes will also be offered The event will be held from 1 to 4 pm at St John of the Cross Knights of Columbus Hall at Broadway and Columbus Drive in Lemon Grove Reservations are required Contact Gloria Ferreira at 619-466-3699 or email her at soroptgloriagmailcom

Pooch in the ParkSaturday Oct 11

Kiwanis Club of La Mesa and the Human Relations Advisory Commission will host this com-munity get-together from 9 am to noon at Harry Griffen Regional Park 9550 Milden St For $20 pet owners can enter up to two dogs into a contest show for a chance to win in one of five categories or the ldquobest in showrdquo trophy Raffle prizes giveaways and other demon-strations will round out the morning For more informa-tion contact Glenna Boemen at gab11853aolcom

Fair trade gift fair Sunday Oct 12

The St Martin of Tours Parish Hall will become a world bazaar featuring unique and handcrafted fair trade gifts deacutecor apparel and jewelry from artisans in developing countries from 8 am to 1 pm As they browse the displays created by local vendors who sell fair trade products shoppers will be able to sample or purchase fair trade refreshments including choco-late tea coffee bananas soda and Ben and Jerryrsquos ice cream The parish hall is at 7710 El Cajon Blvd in La Mesa Call 619-466-3241 for additional information

See CALENDAR page 22

sdcnncom 15Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierCALENDAR

Telephone DirectoryPolice non-emergency line 619-667-1400Fire non-emergency line 619-667-1461Animal Control 619-667-7536Graffiti removal 619-667-7560Weed abatement 619-667-1465Traffic signal maintenance 619-667-1166Streetlight maintenance 619-667-1450

Mayor Art Madrid 619-667-1100City Councilmembers 619-667-1106

EDCO 619-287-7555Helix Water District 619-466-0585Helix Water after hours emergency 619-466-3234

Gov Jerry Brown 916-445-2841US Sen Barbara Boxer 619-239-3884US Sen Dianne Feinstein 619-231-9712US Rep Susan Davis 619-280-5353State Sen Joel Anderson 619-596-3136State Assemblymember Shirley Weber 619-531-7913

Community titan Jerry Fazio announces plans to retire

A fter 35 years with the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County

Jerry Fazio has announced his retirement

Faziorsquos last day on the job as executive director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation will be Oct 24 His official retirement date following vacation will be Dec 4 three days after his 35th anniversary with the youth organization that has served hundreds of thousands of young people in the East County since its founding in 1961

Since joining the organization on Dec 1 1979 Fazio has served in several executive positions with the Girlsrsquo Club and Boys amp Girls Clubs He has also done two stints mdash the most recent of which began in July 2008 mdash as execu-tive director of the foundation a nonprofit fundraising entity

Faziorsquos honors during his career have included El Cajon Citizen of the Year in 1992 Boys amp Girls Clubs Pacific Region Executive of the Year in 2006 and National Executive Director of the Year from Boys amp Girls Clubs of America in 2007 He is known throughout San Diego for his friendly smile and fund-raising passion on behalf of the organization

ldquoHe is the instantly recog-nizable fundraiser and pitch man for our organizationrdquo said Jack Doyle board president of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation ldquoDuring his 35 years Jerry has steered the development of our new and updated facilities in El Cajon Lakeside Santee and La Mesa He leaves us a legacy to be proud of in East County We wish him well as he moves into retirementrdquo

Faziorsquos decision to retire was prompted by recent good news from doctors that he is cancer-free five years after beginning his battle against colon cancer the same disease that led to the 2008 death of his first wife Nancy

ldquoWhile preparing for my cancer

SDCNN Staff

tests I indulged in a little specu-lation about how I might handle the news whether good or badrdquo Fazio said ldquoI concluded that no matter what after 35 years the time has come for me to retire I will concentrate on my faith my health my grandchildren and my gorgeous wife Melissa And if an opportunity comes along to help a good community cause I might just do that toordquo

Faziorsquos recent work with the foundation has focused on an $89 million fundraising effort called the La Mesa Capital Campaign The campaignrsquos goal is to build a new clubhouse in La Mesa reno-vate an existing teen center in the city and fund an endowment to operate both facilities

Forrest Higgins CEO of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County will add the role of campaign coordinator to his job with the assistance from staff According to Higgins more than $5 million for the La Mesa Capital Campaign has been raised during Faziorsquos leadership

ldquoJerry has been integral part of the success and growth of the Boys amp Girls Club of East Countyrdquo Higgins said ldquoHis dedi-cation and passion to the youth and families of East County will be greatly missedrdquo

Since 1961 the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County have been meeting the developmental needs of children and youth The orga-nizationrsquos mission statement ldquoTo inspire and enable all young people especially those who need us most to become responsible caring productive citizensrdquou

Jerry Fazio (Courtesy Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County)

notice to which the couple didnrsquot respond in time to renew their five-year lease Katie said

The next they heard they had to close the bar by Nov 1

ldquoI truly believe that when one door closes another one opensrdquo says Katie Halvin who runs the bar with her husband Doug ldquoAs poignant as it is to lose the bar I know we lost it because we didnrsquot pay attention when we should haverdquo

For the past five years Katie Halvinrsquos life has been intertwined with the bar Her first date with now-husband Doug landed her there mdash an Internet connection that led to a meet up in Harry Griffen Park

ldquoWe talked for a while and then he took me to his neighborhood hangout to have a beer and shoot some poolrdquo Katie recalls Katie was retiring from the Navy as a chief torpedo man and she was ready to settle down again ldquoWe got married at the Carlton Oaks [Country Club] mdash the whole bar was thererdquo

Before long Katie and Doug took over the bar which is leased from the Ross Family Trust Calls and emails to the property man-ager were not returned

ldquoWhen we took it over there were drugs gangs uglinessrdquo she said ldquoI wonrsquot put up with thatrdquo

What was left was a band of devoted regulars a tradition of small local live music and soon local art on the walls and events supporting local artists on the calendar

Cathryn Beeks the local music guru from 1021 KPRI radio began working with Halvin in November to book homegrown and up-and-coming acts at the bar mdash which led to notable shows from the Kilborn Alley Blues Band Roni Lee and many others

ldquoItrsquos very sad that the bar is closing Itrsquos run by very special people and there isnrsquot a venue like this in San Diegordquo Beeks said ldquoI found out about them because a lot of my friends were play-ing there They had a very loyal group of musicians before I ever showed uprdquo

The Parkway is also home to a very popular and solidly booked open mic night run by local singer-songwriter Jessica Hull

The Farmers local legends who evolved from the Beat Farmers also play regularly The live music will continue intermittently with the Farmers playing the closing

night Halloween party on Oct 31For Katie Halvin the closing

isnrsquot the end Property manager Aaron Dean intends to redevelop the strip mall where the Parkway now stands into a restaurant with a full bar and microbrewery and include an outdoor music venue

ldquoHe contacted me and hired me to be the director of enter-tainment at the new venuerdquo she said ldquoThey hope to start con-struction in December and finish it by August 2015rdquo ldquoOne side of my brain is ecstatic with oppor-tunityrdquo she said ldquoThe other feels the sadness of this lossrdquo

Meanwhile the Halvins are looking around in the area to find another place to open a bar like the Parkway

ldquoItrsquos our regulars Irsquom really worried aboutrdquo she said ldquoSome are at a point where most of their friends and family are gone and we are their community and fellowship We know who has cancer who has a new baby we know who to check on if they donrsquot show uprdquo

mdashMarty Graham is a freelance writer Email her at martygra-hamcoxnetu

Parkway from page 1

Sycuan Resort and Casino

For exciting casino action right in your own backyard therersquos nowhere closer than Sycuan Casino With Vegas-style gaming scrumptious dining options live headliner entertainment and nearby golf resort yoursquoll find your-self coming back again and again

You can choose from 2000 video amp reel slots as well as video poker For you card players there are more than 40 tables to play Blackjack ThreendashCard amp FourndashCard Poker Sycuanndashstyle craps and roulette

Enjoy the fresh air in the nonndashsmoking room with more than 350 slot machines 9 gaming tables Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet and a Poker Room with daily tourna-ments ndash all smokendashfree

For your dining pleasure Sycuan offers five different res-

taurant options to tempt your taste buds For those looking for a variety of delectable options Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet is an all-you-can-eat feast featuring slow-roasted Prime Rib buttery crab legs and over 100 fresh selec-tions and delicious dessert bar There isnrsquot a bad seat in the house at GameDay Sports Bar amp Grill where you can catch the big game on 39 large screen televisions 16 beers on tap with full cocktail selection delicious food menu and 29 bar-top video poker machines to play while you root on your team

With excellent acoustics and state-of-the-art sound and light-ing Sycuan Live amp Up Close is San Diegorsquos premiere venue for live entertainment Bringing exciting crowd pleasing acts from all musical genres therersquos something for everyone on their concert calendar

Just a short drive nearby Sycuan Golf Resort offers San Diegorsquos only 54-hole golf facility Exciting course play includes

3007 Dehesa RdEl Cajon CA 92019800-457-5568sycuanresortcom

mature tree-lined fairways eleva-tion changes water features and impeccable greens No matter if yoursquore a seasoned player or a first-timer the two challenging 18-hole championship golf courses and fun 18-hole par 3 course are guaranteed to give you unforget-table experiences from beginning to end To complete your stay-cat-ion enjoy one of their 100 spacious hotel rooms all recently remodeled and offer beautiful views of the golf courses pools and private putting greens If golf isnrsquot in your plans you can pamper yourself with a relaxing spa service

Not only is Sycuan the closest casino to downtown they offer free shuttle bus rides from a number of convenient locations throughout San Diego County For more infor-mation please visit Sycuancom

Guests must be 18 or older to enter casino 21 or older to enter theatre and Sports Bar Please play responsibly

Get away for the day at Sycuan CasinohellipReal Friendly Real Closeu

16 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

Short-term hands-on programs

Half-day classes 4 days a week

Monthly payment plans available

wwwtheaccountingacademycom

PETSlsquoOh where oh where has my little dog gonersquoSariReis

The only thing more devas-tating to a pet parent than

when their furry kid is missing is to have them never return Yet this sad scenario occurs every day Walk through any neighborhood and you will see the signs posted on trees and telephone poles ldquoMissing Our beloved dog Skippyrdquo These heart-rending pleas for help are always accompanied by a photograph of a sweet furry face and the offer of a reward for their return

As pet parents one of our pri-mary responsibilities is to keep our pets safe To do this we need to keep them securely confined in our homes our backyards or on leashes If your dog has access to the backyard be certain it is entirely fenced in with no poten-tial escape routes Make sure all gates are locked when you or anyone else goes in or out Inform pool service people landscap-ers or gardeners that you have a dog in the yard and the gate must be secured at all times Be particularly careful when enter-ing or leaving your home Open doors slowly to ensure a cat or dog is not lurking nearby ready to make a quick escape Never leave the door open for any length of time Even an indoor kitty may be curious if the door is left open for a minute or two Tell visitors cleaning ladies and anyone else who may have access to your home that you have pets and they are not to be let out

Some people like to give their dogs off-leash time on city streets in their neighborhoods They believe their pup is well-trained and will come on command and not run away But the sight of a

squirrel or stray cat can waylay the best trained dog and send them on a chase Many of these dogs never make it back home

There are also those feline parents who believe it is essen-tial to a catrsquos well-being for them to investigate and play outdoors Although the kitties may enjoy outdoor time it is very danger-ous With rattlesnakes coyotes stray dogs and traffic many out-door kitties never make it home again and soon become one of those sad notices posted on a tree

Even with the best inten-tions our pets may still make an escape Your best opportunity in getting them back is to ensure they can be identified Put an ID

tag on their collar listing your name and phone number and microchip them Although there are numerous companies that offer microchips and monitoring services one of the best is ldquoHome Againrdquo If you do microchip your pet remember to notify the man-ufacturer if you move or change your phone number Although the cost of micro-chipping is very reasonable many shelters and veterinary clinics hold spe-cial micro-chipping days so you can get your pets done for a dis-counted price Having your pet micro-chipped greatly increases the potential of getting him home again Can you actually put a price tag on that

ldquoHome Againrdquo stated that one out of three pets will go missing during their lifetime Make sure that one isnrsquot yours

mdashSari 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 missionvalley-petsittingcomu

One out of three pets will

go missing during their

lifetime

Lucille a 5-year-old spayed Labrador RetrieverAustralian Cattle Dog mix is

an energetic lady with tons of love to give her new family She has a friendly personality with everyone she meets and loves to learn new tricks She already knows commands such as sit down shake crawl beg and is currently learning how to wave ldquobye-byerdquo She is very treat-motivated and eager to please

She is very smart and outgoing and has gotten along well with other dogs on social walks This silly girl is always smiling and ready for a new adventure Born a true athlete she would love to participate in future training and would make an excellent workout partner Adequate exercise and mental stimulation are a must for this spirited lady

Lucille will do best in an active home with older children or adults She has a lot of love to give and may benefit from having another dog in the family as long as she meets them first to make sure theyrsquore a good match

Her adoption fee includes her spay current vaccinations permanent microchip identification a certificate for a free veterinary exam 30 days of complimentary medical insurance and a license for residents of Oceanside or Vista

Lucille is available for adoption at the San Diego Humane Society 5500 Gaines St in San Diego To learn more about Lucille call 619-299-7012u

Adopt a pet Looking for a home

LucilleBreed Labrador Retriever Australian Cattle Dog mixAge 5 years old Gender Female (spayed)Colors Black and WhiteID 142265Adoption Fee $9500

ADOPTION HOURSWeekdays 11 am ndash 6 pm Weekends 11 am ndash 5 pm

SD Humane Society amp SPCA5500 Gaines St (92110)

619-299-7012 | sdhumaneorg

(ThinkStock)

sdcnncom 17Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Foothiller FootstepsAdvanced Placement curriculum exposes students to college-level study

Helix HighlightsMaking students college-ready

Connie and LynnBaer

JenniferOsborn

A parent of a Helix Charter High School student once

noted that her daughter was never asked ldquoAre you going to collegerdquo Instead she was asked ldquoWhere are you going to collegerdquo A subtle difference in wording but a vast difference in meaning

Helixrsquos mission states ldquoHelix Charter High School provides a comprehensive education that prepares all students to gradu-

ate college-ready and equipped to reach their personal and aca-demic potentialrdquo

While the belief at Helix is not that every graduate needs to attend college in order to be suc-cessful it is definitely our goal to ensure that every graduate has the option to continue their edu-cation if they so choose

For the class of 2014 82 per-cent of Helix graduates stated they planned to attend college Forty-five percent went directly to a four-year college and 37 percent planned to attend two-

year institutions Approximately 12 percent attend University of California schools and 22 per-cent attend San Diego State or other California State University campuses

Support classroom projectsHave you heard of Donors

Choose Donors Choose is an online charity started by a class-room teacher from the Bronx New York He and his colleagues had great ideas for their students but no funding to bring their ideas to fruition

On the Donors Choose website teachers post classroom project requests and visitors to the web-site can help grant the teachersrsquo wishes by donating any amount big or small to their projects Donors Choose allows everyone to be a philanthropist

Over the past few years Helix teachers have been the recipi-ents of hundreds of thousands of dollars in supplies for classroom projects that would otherwise not have been possible Be a part of it Visit the website at donorschooseorg and search ldquoHelix La Mesardquo in the search box

Students shine nationallyThis past summer four Helix

Speech amp Debate team member students went to Kansas City Miski Abdi Spencer McCall Rebeca McClellan and Rachel Orey each qualified to compete in the National Forensics League National Championships McCall was a semifinalist in Student Senate and a quarterfinalist in Impromptu Orey was an octafi-nalist in Poetry

What else is going on at HelixLenelle Wyliersquos honors biology

classes have been accepted to attend the Science Lecture Series at the Scripps Research Institute

Jeff Kepperrsquos Oceanography class will be working with the

Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute and raising white sea bass in the classroom This is the second group of white sea bass raised by Helix students

Highland Players present The Odd Couple by Neil Simon Nov 5-8 and Nov 13-14 at 7 pm in the Black Box Theater They will perform both the original laquomaleraquo version and the ldquofemalerdquo version in repertory Tickets are $10 and will be available at helixdramaweeblycom or at the door Performances may sell out so buy early

Take a tourFinally we are always inter-

ested in letting our community know about Helix Charter High School The Excellence in Education Tour is offered twice a month and is open to anyone who wishes to attend It is a one-hour tour and program that highlights our vision history accomplish-ments goals and needs This monthrsquos tours will take place on Tuesday October 7 from 830 ndash 930 am and Thursday October 23 from 530 ndash 630 pm More information can be found at helix-charternet We hope to see you there

mdashJennifer Osborn is the com-munity relations officer for Helix Charter High School Email her at josbornhelixcharternetu

A commitment to educational excellence has always been a

part of the culture of Grossmont High School In the 1980s Grossmont began offering a new curriculum mdash Advanced Placement mdash that challenges the high school student to master a rigorous college-level curricu-lum Each May the students may then take the AP Exam Passing the exam with a score of 3 4 or 5 will in most cases translate to the student receiv-ing college credit or course exemption

In 1981 Grossmont English teacher Kay Adams offered an after-school tutorial for her senior students who wanted to take the AP English Language and Composition Exam Twenty-one students met with her to receive preparation for the exam all 21 students passed the exam with five stu-dents receiving a 5 the highest score

ldquoI learned more than I ever taughtrdquo Adams said ldquoThose students were the brightest minds I ever metrdquo

Beginning in 1982 AP

courses became a yearly English course offering

Other challenges presented themselves to early AP teach-ers In the 1980s through 1996 Sue Emerson AP Biology teacher found ways to cre-atively schedule her class On Wednesdays the students came in an hour early to complete the sophisticated experiments the curriculum required

ldquoOne fun activity was a nation-wide project studying wetlandsrdquo Emerson recalled ldquoThe students shared information with schools around the country via telecom-munication from their study of the Tijuana River Estuaryrdquo

Today Grossmont offers 15 different honors courses which prepare the students for the diverse variety of subsequent 19 Advanced Placement courses

Art AP Art History Studio Drawing 2-D Design

Business AP Computer Science

English AP Literature and Composition Language and Composition

Language AP Spanish Language Spanish Literature and Culture French Language and Culture

Math AP Calculus StatisticsPerforming Arts AP Music

Advanced Placement Theory

Science AP Biology Environmental Science Physics

Social Science AP European History US History Psychology US Government

Over the years the curriculum has evolved AP French Language and Culture teacher Azita Mahmoudi noted that the ldquoAP test has changed from a narrow grammar-based test to an open-ended test based on cultural knowledgerdquo

ldquoPhysics isnrsquot dif-ficult It only has the reputation of being dif-ficultrdquo said longtime AP Physics teacher Tom Eklund

Eklundrsquos creative lessons include the one shown in the 2012 photograph of student Jessie Hodges dropping his project off the bleachers and measuring its fall

During the past five years the number of tests taken by Grossmont students has risen from 453 in 2009 to 646 in 2014 While the passing rate dropped from 65 to 58 percent in those

same years more Foothillers were given the opportunity to challenge themselves and prepare for post secondary education

A continuing goal of Grossmont staff is to have more enrolled students take the test however each test costs $89 with many students taking more than one test

Those wishing to sponsor one or more tests with a tax-deduct-

ible donation may contribute to the GHS Educational Foundationrsquos AP Scholarship Fund by sending a check to GHS Educational Foundation PO Box 1043 La Mesa CA 91944

ldquoGrossmont High School is proud to support our honors and Advanced Placement curricu-lumrdquo said Principal Dan Barnes ldquoWe are very excited to see the very high increase in partici-pation in our courses over the past three years and contin-ued success by our

teachers and students shown in their AP exam pass ratesrdquo

Visit Grossmont and wit-ness firsthand a campus that celebrates it heritage and embraces its future Regular public hours are noon to 4 pm on Wednesday Oct 1 and Nov 5 or by appointment

Contact the Grossmont High School Museum by phone at 619-668-6140 or by email at ghs-museumguhsdnetu

AP Physics students participate in an experiment at Grossmont High School in 2012 (Courtesy GHS Museum)

18 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

PUZZLESSUDOKU

Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9 Each number can appear only once in each row column and 3x3 block Use logic and process elimination to solve the puzzle

copy 2014 Janric Enterprises Dist by creatorscom

CROSSWORD

Business 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 wwwGotFreedomcom Call 858-278-2120 Your future is counting on you (1214)

For SaleNICE 1BD HOUSE IN LA MESA LIVDEN LG KITCHEN BATH WD LG BEDROOM NICE SUNDECK $1000 INCLUDES GE WATER TRASH CALL CLARA 6194650591 (0914)

Sweet male and female Tea-cup Yorkie 12 weeks old $500 Will be 4 lbs at full growth Microchiped shots and dewormed coming with registration papers mlcpetsyahoocom 661-858-0633 (0914)

NoticesWIDOW OR WIDOWER Interested in social activities You are welcome to join our club Widows or Widowers (WOW) of San Diego Website wwwwowsdorg Phone 619-448-6088 (0914)

ServicesJennarsquos Barber Shoppe Styling for men women amp children Wheelchair friendly Old time expert

haircuts at affordable prices Colors amp perms 7424 Jackson Dr1A (across from Keilrsquos in Bank of America lot) Tues-Fri 830-530pm Sat 830-noon Walk-ins or By appt 619-644-3669 (1214)

Lindarsquos Puppy Love licensed insured pet sitting service offering daily walks cat care overnight stays-your home lots of love 619-857-3674 wwwlindaspuppylovecom (615)

Locksmith - Discount Deadbolts and Rekeying - security door viewers patio door locks simulated alarms magnetic door stops Cliff Henderson 619-840-3327 - Lic LCO4353 - Bonded - Never a trip charge (0615)

Quality exterior carpentry Decks Fences Patio Covers and Termite Repair Lic365241 wwwaactionbuildersofsandiegocom Bob 619-275-1493 (415)

Bathtubs and sinks refinished like new San Carlos based business for over 25 years - same owner Lic560438 wwwsaveatubsdcom 619-464-5141 (0115)

German Setter Tile and Marble Professional marbletile setter with 28 years experience European craftsmanship Punctual amp dependable License 872804 Contact Jens Sedemund 619-415-6789 or jensgermansettercom (1214)

Dan Patterson HandymanCarpentry Repair and replacement of plumbing electrical repair installation of water heaters doors windows cabinets flooring fencing Pressure washing of driveways all phases of

Finding Senior Housing can be complex but it doesnrsquot have to be

(800) 217-3942A Place for Mom is the nationrsquos largest senior living referral

information service We do not own operate endorse or recommend any senior living community We are paid by partner communities

so our services are completely free to families

ldquoYou can trust A Place for Mom to help yourdquo

ndash Joan Lunden

BUSINESS amp SERVICES

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 (1214)

BARGAIN BOYZ CONSTRUCTIONREPAIRS 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 jimmysupancoxnet (1014)

PLUMBERhellipLicensed and Insured Over 25 years experience La Mesa resident OwnerOperator Reasonable rates Courteous service Lic 527864 Call Peter 619-698-0313 wwwFelberPlumbingcom (0914)

ROOFING Lic 691295-C39 Veteran owned Allied Gardens based Celebrating 20 years Full roof amp repair Free est Veteran amp Senior discounts 619-823-7208 (615)

WantedHelping Hands Animal Sanctuary seeks laundry detergent (all free and clear) and fabric softener (Downey free and gentle) 619-460-6679 (0914)

Job WantedNanny seeking work certified bkgd ck CPR First Aide 20 years experience wchildren and babies Great references Call Peggy 619-246-6572 or 512-755-0813

ANSWERS ON PAGE 20

Experienced amp Professional

Renee Differ

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INDIVIDUALS amp BUSINESSES

SAME SEX MARRIAGE FILING

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TAX CONSULTANT

Ideal PlumbingHeating

Air amp ElectricalWater heaters garbage disposals drain cleaning Video pipe inspections water softeners amp filtration Faucets and toilets Visit our Show-room (06-12)

Serving ourcommunity since 1960

(619) 583-7963Lic 348810

PLUMBING

sdcnncom 19Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierPUZZLES CLASSIFIEDS

Sudoku amp Crosswordpuzzle answers from

page 19

The Academic Senate at Grossmont College last

month honored math instruc-tor Michael Lambe a Mt Helix resident with the Distinguished Faculty award the first ever for a part-time member of the col-lege faculty

Lambersquos 36 years as part-time instructor at Grossmont College concurrent to his 39-year teach-ing career with the Grossmont Union High School District gave him a unique perspective and insight on nurturing stu-dent success His dual career has made him especially aware of the need to make the transi-tion from high school to college as seamless as possible and to ensure secondary level curricu-lum prepares students for higher education

His interaction between Grossmont College and Monte Vista High School where he was chair of the math depart-

Math teacher is Grossmont Collegersquos part-time instructor of the year

ment made him a natural to help develop the first articula-tion agreement between the college and high school which helps students smoothly transi-tion without duplicating classes or experiencing delays

It wasnrsquot just students who benefitted from Lambersquos experi-ence with both systems When

driver education was eliminated from the high school curriculum and instructors were facing lay-offs he worked with the high school and college districts to develop a two-year program that prepared the former driver edu-cation instructors to acquire the teaching credentials needed to become math instructors

ldquoItrsquos been a fantastic career mdash Irsquove been blessedrdquo Lambe said

Following his retirement from the high school district Lambe was recruited four years ago as the collegersquos part-time senate officer with the Academic Senate and chair of the of the Academic Senate Part-Time Committee As head of the new committee he began tackling issues like office hours college governance and academic rank on behalf of part-timers

ldquoMichael has unified the [Academic Senatersquos Part-Time] committee and made it the most respected and cohesive voice for part-time faculty on the campusrdquo said one of his colleagues in a nomination for Lambe for the Distinguished Faculty award ldquoHe has brought part-time faculty issues into the college governance conversation as never before and helped part-time faculty be better informed through excellent professional development activities and communicationsrdquo

Lambe described his efforts on behalf of part-time instructors as a way of paying it forward

ldquoEven as a part-timer I have done a lot of things that full-time department members dordquo he said ldquoThis is my profession mdash my calling and my love This

award is the greatest honor I have ever received My col-leagues couldnrsquot have given me anything greater and to be the first recipient is tremendousrdquo

In addition to honoring Lambe for his achievements as a member of the part-time faculty the academic senate also honored Spanish instruc-tor Yolanda Guerrero with the Distinguished Faculty award for full-time faculty

President Sunita V Cooke said Lambe and Guerrero exem-plify Grossmont Collegersquos faculty members who are passionate about teaching and motivated to boost their profession and their colleagues

ldquoThe campus community owes a debt of gratitude to fac-ulty members with that kind of dedicationrdquo she said ldquoTheir generosity is an inspiration to us allrdquo

At Cuyamaca College Spanish instructor Patricia Santana won the Outstanding Faculty Award for full-time tenured faculty Arabic instructor Aklas Sheia won the award for outstanding part-time faculty

mdashDella Elliott is public information assistant for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College Districtu

DellaElliott

Michael Lambe gives a math lesson something hersquos been doing for nearly four decades in local classrooms (Courtesy Grossmont College)

20 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

Join us for a 3-course dinner and information on Chronic back pain causes and solutions Recent advances in back pain relief Different surgical options QampA with leading San Diego spine specialist

Presented by Choll Kim MD PhD a San Diego Magazine ldquoTop Doctorrdquo and Medical Director of the Advanced SpineInstitute at Alvarado Hospital ndash named Americarsquos 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgerytrade and Orthopedic Surgerytrade in 2014

Cost $10person Seating is limited mdash RSVP requiredCall (619) 229-4548 to register

Location Terra Bistro7091 El Cajon Blvd San Diego 92115

MONDAY SEPT 29 6-8 PMTERRA AMERICAN BISTRO

AlvaradoHospitalcom | (619) 287-3270

Zucchini pancakes

Whatrsquos Cooking with

Julie AnnWhite

Julie

Grate away on your box grater to create this deli-

cious dinner side dish Herersquos a savory treat to serve with a salad or light chicken or fish meal They are a little bit addictive and really easy to make

Serves four (makes six small pancakes)

Ingredients3 medium zucchini grated on a box grater or food processor12 red or yellow onion grated2 large eggs lightly beaten8 Tbsp Panko bread crumbs (flour can be used instead)1 tsp baking powder1 tsp kosher saltPinch of black pepper2 Tbsp butter14 cup olive oil for frying

DirectionsGrate the zucchini and onion into a medium bowl Press with a

few paper towels to absorb juice Add remaining ingredients and stir well If batter is runny add more breadcrumbs or flour Heat large skillet and melt butter and oil over medium heat Drop the zucchini mixture into six to eight golf ball-sized gently patted pancakes Cook until golden brown Serve warmu

Put down your iPhone 6 push aside your Samsung Note 4

and turn off the TV La Mesa is asking its citizens to invest some time in one of their 14 local parks for Park Appreciation Day Oct 18

ldquoThis community event demon-strates the spirit and commitment that La Mesans have for their public facilitiesrdquo said Yvonne Garrett assistant city manager and director of community ser-vices in La Mesa ldquoLocal residents and visitors have a sense of own-ership and take pride in La Mesa parks Park Appreciation Day is an opportunity for individuals to share that enthusiasm with friends and neighborsrdquo

The impetus for La Mesa Park Appreciation Day began in 2005 when a member of a local church congregation contacted the city to ask whether their church could take on a community project in La Mesa said Garrett who is also staff director for La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation

Because the city had recently eliminated several temporary park maintenance worker posi-tions and had received a similar request for a local project from another organization city staff thought it would be a good idea

Citizen groups pitch in for Park Appreciation Day

to gather the various groups to help clean up the parks prompting the creation of Park Appreciation Day

La Mesa community services manager Mike Pacheco said he has been impressed with the pride La Mesans have in their community as well as their desire to volunteer for the city

ldquoParks and recreation pro-grams bring tremendous benefits to people of all agesrdquo Pacheco said ldquoThey contribute to help-ing us live longer better lives through active pursuits new life skills educational programs and safe activities Great parks and programs also help build a stronger community connecting individuals families and groups through the power of play Recreation programs and engag-ing exciting facilities help keep kids active and off the streetsrdquo

Park Appreciation Day proj-ects include spreading mulch planting flowers and painting picnic tables and restrooms Pacheco said

Since its inception several local groups have consistently volun-teered each year Christ Lutheran Church Journey Church Helix Interact Club Friends of Canine Corners Kiwanis Club of La Mesa La Mesa Rotary La Mesa Beautiful La Mesa Lions Club and La Mesa Police Department

Last year more than 150 vol-unteers participated on Park

Appreciation Day and removed 22 cubic yards of green material plus nine cubic yards of trash according to Garrett

Although most of La Mesarsquos parks have the same groups cleaning them every year Porter Park Fitness Plaza located at 8425 University Ave is still without a group Porter needs additional native plants installed in some areas in the beds Garrett said

Disclosure Writer Genevieve A Suzuki serves as a commissioner for the La Mesa Community Services Commission and is a member of La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation She is happy to put away her iPhone Oct 18 to help clean her local parku

Genevieve Suzuki

Make La Mesa beautifulInterested in getting

involved with La Mesa Park Appreciation Day Oct 18 Want to encourage your civic church or social group to adopt a park

All ages are welcome to par-ticipate Signed waivers are required Parents must accom-pany children under 18 at the parks unless their children are with a supervised group

Sign up by calling 619-667-1304 or email communitycila-mesacaus

sdcnncom 21Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierDINING LOCAL NEWS

New Patient Special

bull SedationDentistrybull Implantsbull Same-DayCrownsbull LaserTreatmentbull Invisalign

Wersquove been in practice for over

25 years in La Mesa

$113 for exam x-rays oral cancer screening and cleaning

In absence of gum disease A $520 value

Donrsquot avoid the dentist Remove the anxiety and fear with Sedation Dentistry

A Shop For Smiles

Dr Hagstrom619-465-5252 | 8923 La Mesa Blvd | La Mesa CA 91942

wwwashopforsmilescom

Visit us today

Baseball book signingSunday Oct 12

Geoff Miller mental skills coach for the Atlanta Braves will discuss and sign copies of his new book ldquoIntangibles Big-League Stories and Strategies for Winning the Mental Game mdash in Baseball and in Liferdquo at 2 pm at Barnes amp Noble 5500 Grossmont Center Dr

Diverse Capacities workshopWednesday Oct 15

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Mariko Peshon will lead a work-shop focusing on the physical emotional and social abilities and disabilities that often go unrec-ognized and unaccommodated in our communities The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

East County Intergenerational GamesTuesday Oct 16

Active adults ages 50 and older will team up with kids between the ages of 7 and 12 for a morning of fun noncompetitive activi-ties at La Mesa Middle School 4200 Parks Ave from 830 am to noon The games include street hockey shot frisbee toss ldquoskeeballrdquo pitch t-ball and trivia games Snacks and lunch are included Interested adults must register in advance by contacting the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center at 619-667-1322

Introduction to home caregivingSaturday Oct 18

Caring for a loved one at home often involves transfers personal care proper body mechanics and other specific skills and knowl-edge Learn and practice the basics with a registered nurse at this event from 9 am to 1 pm in classroom 1314 of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Brier Patch Campus 9000 Wakarusa St Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or

register online at sharpcom

Workshop Finding Your Voice in the Social Justice MovementTuesday Oct 21

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Kenyon Whitman will lead an interactive workshop exploring social justice concepts how to develop a leadership style and creative ways to effectively com-municate in diverse groups The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the stu-dent center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

Medicare and drug cover-age updates for 2015Friday Oct 24

A free lecture will cover Medicare insurance changes for 2015 Medicare Parts A B D HMOs and more Presented by Community Education Specialist Pablo Corona the lec-ture will also cover the Medicare Saving Program and Extra-Help Program that assist with prescription costs for Medicare Parts B and D The talk begins at 10 am at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Lung function screeningWednesday Oct 29

Do you have trouble catching your breath after a short walk The Pulmonary Department at Sharp Grossmont Hospital will offer a free basic lung function test from 9 am to 2 pm for anyone who has not yet seen a doctor about breathing prob-lems The screening will be held at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center Building F Room 16 9000 Wakarusa St Appointments are required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Free blood pressure screeningFriday Oct 17

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center 8450 La Mesa Blvd No appointment necessary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Park Appreciation DaySaturday Oct 18

Groups of volunteers will get to work on projects to beautify and improve parks across town from 8 am to noon All ages are welcome but children under the age of 18 need to submit a waiver signed by a parent or legal guard-ian If your church or civic group wants to get involved call 619-667-1300 or email communitycila-mesacaus

lsquoHowl-oweenrsquo dog cos-tume contest and picnicSaturday Oct 18

Dress up your dogs in a cute or spooky Halloween costume and bring them out to Canine Corners the dog park at Harry Griffen Regional Park between 11 am and 3 pm Proud pet par-ents will have the chance to get their poochrsquos picture taken at the pumpkin patch as well as meet representatives from animal rescue groups the county sheriffrsquos K-9 unit and other vendors The costume contest begins at 1130 am A hot dog picnic lunch will be offered for $3 Canine Corners volunteers will accept donations to help with the maintenance of the dog park

Picnic with the parrotsSunday Oct 26

At Socal Parrotrsquos annual fundraising event attendees have a rare chance to view the non-profit organizationrsquos reha-bilitation facility meet animals talk with experts observe live art bid in a silent auction and buy into a raffle Based in Jamul SoCal Parrot works to protect and care for wild and endan-gered parrots across the region Tickets to the all-day fundrais-ing event range from $32 to $100 and can be purchased online at socalparrotorgu

Calendar from page 15

Send details of your com-munity events to the editor at jeremysdcnncom Deadline is the third Friday of the month

22 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 CALENDAR

Why a fiscally conservative vote-by-mail plan got no GOP love

A bill that would drastically change the way San Diego

Countyrsquos special elections are run passed without any Republican help mdash it got just two votes total from GOP lawmakers in Sacramento

It might surprise you to learn then that when the idea first emerged Democrats helped lead the charge against it

How some leading party mem-bers reversed course in just a few years says a lot about the current political landscape and the future of elections in San Diego County

Democrats wrote the current bill mdash which would create a five-year pilot program in San Diego County that would make spe-cial elections for open seats run primarily by mail with a drasti-cally reduced number of polling places mdash and they led the politi-cal charge for it

But Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez the billrsquos author remembers how hard she fought to kill the idea of vote-by-mail elections years ago

ldquoWhat happens I think so often is there is this attachment to the status quo therersquos fear about changing thingsrdquo Gonzalez said

Gonzalez said her mind was changed by a couple factors One is that she discovered during her years as a labor advocate that voters who had a ballot mailed to them before the election were roughly five times more likely to actually vote

The other she said is she realized the county was spend-ing a huge amount more per person who voted at the polls versus by mail

County officials said that in the March 2013 special election to fill the vacant 40th state Senate district seat they spent $221 per

Ari Bloomekatz

in-person voter verses $9 per mail voter

Then therersquos the fact that pathetic voter turnout in each of the last several elections has favored Republican candidates across the board

ldquoWe have all watched as voter turnout has plummeted in recent elections and itrsquos our responsi-bility to do something about itrdquo Gonzalez wrote in a press release after the bill passed

Some observers speculated that some Republicans simply didnrsquot support the bill because it was being led by promi-nent Democrats like Gonzalez (Gonzalez agrees thatrsquos probably true)

But if you want to understand why GOP support was so hard to come by for a bill steeped in fiscally conservative principles and that originated from a con-servative San Diego County government consider these three points

Republicans seized on civil rights groupsrsquo hesitation

Some of the strongest initial opposition to the vote-by-mail legislation came from civil rights groups concerned the new pro-cedures could disenfranchise immigrants and the disabled

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund initially opposed the bill but dropped its opposition after working with Gonzalez and San Diego County officials on protec-

tions for immigrantsStill MALDEF and other

groups wouldnrsquot officially support the measure

ldquoThere is some research out there that shows that mail-in ballots do have an adverse impact on minority votersrdquo said Denise Hulett an attorney with MALDEF

Hulett said MALDEF supports testing out vote-by-mail but isnrsquot sold on it yet

Those groupsrsquo reluctance had an impact on Republican legislators like Escondido Assemblywoman Marie Waldron She said she didnrsquot feel comfortable signing on to a bill without MALDEF and other civil rights groupsrsquo support

ldquoI have to wonder if this is disenfranchising a significant number of people that vote at the pollsrdquo Waldron said ldquoWhat about the people who are maybe you know possibly visually impaired or something like thatrdquo

The money wasnrsquot enoughSan Diego County Registrar

Michael Vu strongly supports the pilot program and believes it could trim costs by 30 - 40 percent

But somehow the cost-savings issue wasnrsquot enough to win over the vast majority of Republican legislators

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez said he thought the cost-savings touted by Democrats were only rough estimates and was not inclined to vote for a bill just

because of those projectionsldquoAs Irsquove said a number of times

before all these bills that theyrsquore putting through hellip really doesnrsquot address the issue of what wersquore trying to do which is get more people to voterdquo he said

Instead of just moving imme-diately to vote-by-mail Chavez wants to create a bipartisan special committee to study new voting technologies

Republicans fear voter fraud

Republicansrsquo fear of potential voter fraud through expansion of vote-by-mail overshadowed potential economic gains

The bill ldquoincludes no protec-tions to ensure the integrity and security of all-mail elections While interesting we need to be careful changing election lawsrdquo wrote Amanda Fulkerson of the Assembly Republican Caucus which advocated fiercely against the bill

ldquoRight now our members feel that we should not jeopardize our consistent voting system until we have further facts and statistics on all-mail electionsrdquo Fulkerson wrote

Republicans believed the threat of fraud would be compounded by another voting-related bill moving through the legislature at the same time

That bill would change the rules about how long mail ballots can be received and counted after an election

Currently vote-by-mail ballots must be received by election offi-cials before polls close on the day of the election The new law would allow ballots to be received no later than three days after the election (if it was time-stamped or post-marked on or before Election Day)

Assembly Republicans feared the two bills combined could allow for abuse of the system

State Sen Joel Anderson was one Republican who voted against the mail-counting bill but in favor of Gonzalezrsquos vote-by-mail effort

Anderson said that he voted against the mail-counting bill because he saw it as ldquocompletely gaming the systemrdquo but believes the vote-by-mail bill is ldquobetter for the voters itrsquos better for my constituentsrdquo

Put yourselves in the shoes of

Vu and other county officials for a minute

Nearly every time an election comes up the county spends anywhere from $1 million to $12 million-plus and organizes hordes of poll workers and pre-cincts across the county

And what happens at the end of the day

Turnout is generally low and increasing numbers of residents opt to vote by mail anyway

As Vu tells it he just wants to save the county money and acknowledge the changing winds when it comes to vote-by-mail

But nothing is ever as simple as a dollar saved in Sacramento mdash especially when it comes to something as fundamental as how voters choose their elected officials

Gonzalez said most people do not understand how difficult this bill was to pass politically Sure Republicans barley supported it but there was strong opposition from many Democrats too The instinct to preserve the status quo when it comes to elections among legislators in Sacramento is strong she said

ldquoIt was kind of funny Irsquom in Republican land carrying this bill pissing off Democrats and voting rights groups and minor-ity groupsrdquo she said ldquoI had to convince everybody that this is OK that change is OKrdquo

Brown has until Sept 30 to sign the bill

mdashAri Bloomekatz is an inves-tigative reporter for Voice of San Diego focusing on county govern-ment You can reach him directly at aribloomekatzvoiceofsandi-egoorg or 619-550-5669u

(Courtesy Flickr user bludgeoner86Creative Commons)

Voice of San Diego

sdcnncom 23Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

Everyone in every price range deserves the quality of Sothebyrsquos Realty

8310 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa CA 91942 bull 6193371700

SPRING VALLEY bull $362000LA MESA bull $499000CARDIFF BY THE SEA bull $525000

Spacious Sweetwater Springs home on corner lot Recently updated kitchen amp bath w granite countertops SS appl wine refrigerator and wood floors Upstairs BRs w mirrored wardrobe doors and ceiling fans Sliding doors to private view deck ideal for watching the sunset

JOE SOUTHWICK 6195898224

Just listed Tastefully remodeled single level entertainerrsquos paradise Large great room with chefrsquos kitchen Private backyard with pool hot tub palapa-covered bar amp grill shade patio and sun deck

JULIE ADAMS 6194810200

Rarely available 2BR 1BA twin home in the highly sought after Park Place neighborhood of Cardiff By The Sea Community pool and spa 25+ acre canyon with walking trails sand volleyball and more

YVETTE WOODS 6199223436

Laurarsquos Solds 2014 bull (619) 540-7744 bull LauraLothianRealEstatecomMost Homes Sold in La Mesa Last 11 Years

Want your home sold Ask a busy agent Call Laura Lothian TODAY 6195407744

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

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SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE

PENDING PACIFIC BEACH

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PacificSothebysRealtycomcopyMMVIII Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC A Realogy Company All Rights Reserved Sothebyrsquos International Realtyreg is a registered trademark licensed to Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC An Equal Opportunity Company Equal Housing Opportunity Each Office is Independently Owned And Operated Cal BRE 01767484 Seller will entertain offers within the listed range

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Source TrendGraphix MLS data for zip codes 91941 amp 91942 January 1 2003 to January 1 2014

24 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

apartments townhomes con-dominiums and single-family residences

First a child care provider must be licensed by the state Department of Social Services Once a tenant is licensed to pro-vide family child care he or she must give the landlord or property owner 30 daysrsquo written notice of the intent to begin operating the day care service in the rental home The license will include the number of children that the provider is allowed to care for The state license application includes a notice form for landlord notifica-tion which is helpful

That form also explains the renterrsquos right to operate a family day care Landlords or property managers cannot discriminate against a tenant for operating a day care However landlords do have the option of requiring a higher security deposit as long as it does not exceed the maximum allowable under state law

Next proof of liability insur-ance mdash or waivers signed by parents mdash must be shared with landlords Operators of in-home day care are required to fulfill one of three options when it comes to insurance obtain liability insur-ance secure a bond of $300000 or if they choose not to secure

Apartments can serve as day care centers

An increase in the number of working parents has made

home-based day care a service in demand For working par-ents finding good child care is invaluable Child care offered at a residence in a familiar neigh-borhood can be a source of great comfort to working moms and dads

But if you rent your home or apartment can you still be a day care provider

The short answer YesThe right for renters to oper-

ate such a vital service is state law spelled out in the California Health and Safety Code Small family day care facilities are not considered a ldquobusiness use of prop-ertyrdquo so they would be protected under any leases or rental agree-ments that prohibit operating a business out of a rental home

Renters who wish to open a family day care in their home should have little to no conflict if they meet certain conditions follow clear rules and communi-cate the details with their landlord or property manager This applies to rental homes of any kind

AlanPentico

HPV vaccine saves lives

Every year around the world more than 270000 women die

from cervical cancer With more than 85 percent of these deaths in low- and middle-income countries cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide

The ldquopap smearrdquo has been one of the most amazing public

KellyCulwell

Dear editor

Y our cartoon [See Aug 22 issue] about the two white

medical personnel receiving the experimental Ebola vaccine was as ignorant and racist as it gets Both of these medical personnel went to Africa to help putting their lives on the line for a bunch of people they didnrsquot know When they contracted the disease they did not know if the vaccine would save their lives They volunteered to be the guinea pigs If they had decided to first try it on some non-white person and the results had been negative the jerk who produced that racist rant and the idiot that placed it in the La Mesa Courier would have been scream-ing about that

mdashConnie Butt via Facebook

Letters are lightly edited for clarity grammar spelling and style Send letters to jeremysdcnncom u

the insurance or bond they must inform each parent of that decision and obtain affidavits acknowledging that the parents are aware of the lack of insur-ance or bond

Then be a good neighbor The same rules that apply to other residents also apply to child care providers For example control excessive noise that might be disruptive for other tenants and be mindful of activities or behavior that could damage the property

Finally emphasize the ben-efits of having a family home day care in your neighborhood or apartment community Having a day care provider as a neighbor likely means that you have an extra set of eyes on your commu-nity A person whorsquos been hired to care for young children likely will be vigilant about ensuring safe clean surroundings Think of it as an extra neighborhood watch

The California Department of Social Services has a guide for family child care and tenant rights Find it at tinycctenantcare

mdashAlan Pentico is executive director of the San Diego County Apartment Associationu

health interventions over the past 50 years in the US and most developed countries and its use has led to a steep decline in the incidence and deaths from cervi-cal cancer However weak health systems and limited numbers of trained providers have made screening in low- and middle-income countries difficult Even in the US over 11000 cases of cervical cancer were diagnosed in 2010

Following development of the

pap smear the discovery of the link between the human papil-loma virus (HPV) and cervical cancer has proven to be a major advancement in the prevention of this deadly disease Almost all sexually active individuals will be infected with HPV at some point in their lives and some may be repeatedly infected

The peak time for infection is shortly after becoming sexu-ally active The majority of HPV infections resolve spontaneously and do not cause symptoms or disease However persistent infections with specific types

of HPV (usually types 16 and 18) may lead to precancerous lesions If untreated these lesions may progress to cervi-cal cancer

The HPV vaccine was intro-duced eight years ago and the HPV rate among teenage girls in the US has already dropped by 56 percent since then

There is however still a lot of work to be done Nationwide just 33 percent of girls ages 13 to 17 mdash and only 7 percent of boys in the same age group mdash

See VACCINE page 7

6 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 OPINION sdcnncom

Our affiliate offers Gardasil mdash one of two FDA-approved HPV vaccines mdash in all of our health centers

CDC recommends vaccina-tion of girls and boys ages 9 ndash 26

Routine vaccination is a series of three shots over the course of six months

Other immunizations that are important for women of reproductive age mdash both for general health and prior to pregnancy mdash include Hepatitis B influenza Measles Mumps

Our current hot weather reminds me how every

summer at least one dog is found in a hot car mdash and sadly that dog becomes sick or dies

When I hear these stories or see poorly cared for dogs on the streets I often wonder why anyone who cannot adequately care for a pet chooses to become a pet parent

Pets are not just furry cute creatures made to entertain you They are living beings that deserve the same quality of life that you have

You may think yoursquore per-forming a good deed by buying or adopting a pet but yoursquore

Not every pet adoption is a good adoptionJimMadaffer

really doing the pet a disservice if you donrsquot carefully evaluate the responsibilities the job title holds

About 164 million house-holds in the US owned pets in 2012 according to The Humane Society That number grew rap-idly from 40 years ago when only 67 million households had pets

Itrsquos great to know that more and more families are becom-ing pet owners But becoming a pet parent should be thor-oughly considered just as if you were to consider having a child The responsibilities may not be the same but there are some including

Ensuring your dog has a bal-anced diet and exercise regimen

Ensuring your dog is properly bathed and groomed

Ensuring your dog is properly

trainedFurther before you head to a

breeder or animal shelter ask yourself these questions

Do I have the time to commit to a dog

Do I have the resources to ensure a dog will have a quality life

Am I committed to caring for it for the next 10 to 20 years

Do I know the laws governing pet licensing where I live

Irsquom not a veterinarian or a zoologist but I am a reasonable person and choosing to be a pet owner when yoursquore not ready is unreasonable

mdashJim Madaffer is the owner of Madaffer Enterprises a former San Diego Councilmember and the proud pet parent of two bulldogsu

Happy Hour ndash Get $1 off all pints Weekdays Tuesday ndash Friday 1130 am ndash 3 pm Late Night Tuesday ndash Saturday 8 pm to close

Daily Beer and Food Specials Monday $10 craft beer pitchers and 50-cent wings Tuesday $3 taco specials Wednesday Happy hour prices all day ($1 off all pints) Thursday Specialty beer tapped between 4 and 5 pm Friday $4 Potato skins Saturday Rib and ale combo only $10 Sunday $12 craft beer pitchers $5 pulled pork nachos

Welcome to West Coast Barbecue and Brew ndash your neighborhood BBQ pub We have a rotating draft beer selection featuring some of the finest brews around In addition to the tasty BBQ menu items please check out our daily specials food board on our patio including soups sandwiches and salads We are now open for lunch at 1130 am six days a week Tuesday through Sunday We open at 4 pm on Mondays

6126 Lake Murray Blvd La Mesa (located in the Ross Shopping Center)

619-462-3660wwwwestcoastbbqandbrewcom

Tu-Th 1130am-10pm Fri amp Sat 1130 am - 11 pm Sun 1130 - 8pm Mon 4-9 pm

have gotten all three doses of the vaccine (In California the odds are slightly better mdash 43 percent of girls and 13 percent of boys ages 13 to 17 have received all three doses) As a result millions of people are still infected with HPV every year and nearly all sexually active people will con-tract a form of HPV at some point in their lives

Key facts about HPV and the HPV vaccine

70 percent of cervical cancers worldwide are caused by only two types of HPV (16 and 18)

and Rubella (MMR) Tetanus Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) and Varicella for those who have not had chicken pox

Share this article with your friends and family and spread the word about the importance of getting teens vaccinated against HPV

For more information or to make an appointment visit plannedorg or call 1-888-743-7526 (PLAN)

mdashKelly Culwell is the Medical Director for Planned Parenthood of the Southwest For more infor-mation visit plannedorgu

Business Spotlight West Coast Barbeque

Vaccine from page 6

sdcnncom 7Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierOPINION

NEW CLIENT FIRST TIME EXAM

9160 Fletcher ParkwayLa Mesa CA 91942

wwwfletcherhillsanimalhospitalcom

Call to schedule your discounted exam

(619) 463-6604

SPECIAL OFFER COUPON

50 OFF50 OFF

A N I M A L H O S P I TA L

As I write this monthrsquos column my husband and I are sitting

on top of the world in a colleaguersquos cabin on Mt Palomar a weekend getaway from the fall heat wave and pressures of everyday life

We havenrsquot been here in many years The views are stunning of course but what I notice this time are the number and variety of birds mdash birds that are quite different from ones we enjoy feed-ing and watching in La Mesa

Irsquove had my eyes glued to binoc-ulars since we arrived and filled the pond and feeders the owners have placed around the property They also have a number of bird books so I think I rightly identi-fied quite a few species

But there is one elusive fellow I just canrsquot seem to get in my sights His distinctive call is close then far away

Itrsquos time to consult the expert I record the birdrsquos call with my phone and hope to play it for Ed Henry a La Mesa friend who happens to be president of the San Diego Audubon Society an advocacy and educational orga-nization devoted to the welfare of wild birds in our region

Ed is one of the reasons Irsquove recently become so fascinated by local birds He sends out emails almost daily to over 100 inter-ested people showing amazing photos of birds he spots at his La Mesa bird feeders and around San Diego County (or wherever he happens to be traveling at the moment) The variety is astounding

Turns out the San Diego region is one of the richest birding areas in North America with over 500 different species identified here In fact people from all over the world come to see our birds especially during the annual San Diego Bird Festival in March offered by San Diego Audubon

One reason we have a great diversity of birds is because of the unusual variety of habitats in San Diego County mdash from the off-shore islands and extensive coastline to inland valleys and grasslands riverbeds moun-

The Sun Shines Sooner

tains and desert Ed explained This region is also a migratory flyway

Ed was always aware of birds but his recent passion for bird-ing began in 2006 not long after retiring from a 33-year career as an anthropology and ethnomu-sicology professor at San Diego State when he decided to check out the San Diego Bird Festival Hersquos been involved with San Diego Audubon ever since serv-ing as its board president for the last three years

ldquoMy awakening to birds was gradual and occurred through chance contacts with people who knew more than Irdquo he said ldquoI grew up in Nebraska where residents pay most attention to pheasants mdash which happen to be gorgeous as well as good eating and hunting mdash and ducks but also see a few songbirdsrdquo

In Michigan (where he com-pleted his graduate studies) he came in contact with grosbeaks nuthatches and chickadees among others And he became curious about exotic birds he saw in India while doing field research in a small village there

ldquoMoving to San Diego in 1974 I had my first views of long-billed curlews marbled godwits and lit-erally hundreds morerdquo

He and his wife Connie have made La Mesa their home and

enjoyed birds in their backyard here since 1988

ldquoNature is the highest form of artrdquo wrote Emily Dickinson

According to Ed Henry ldquoThe most accessible wild creatures for the majority of Americans are birds In birds we see the shapes colors patterns and movement that constitute a vital part of nature and we hear their sounds toordquo

Wersquore fortunate to live in a place with such rich bio-diversity that is so accessible But San Diego County also contains more rare threatened and endangered species than any comparable land area in the continental United States

Thank goodness there is a passionate dedicated volunteer like Ed Henry to lead San Diego Audubon mdash an organization working every day to protect our birds and other wildlife and to educate and inspire people like me to appreciate not only their beauty but their importance

mdashPam Crooks was the found-ing editor of La Mesa Courier and continues to live in the Mt Helix area Reach her by email at SunShinesSoonergmailcom To learn more or to sign up for the 2015 San Diego Bird Festival visit sandiegoaudubonorgu

A beautiful Yellow-Breasted Chat was spotted recently in the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park (Photo by Ed Henry)

PamCrooks

This La Mesan is a true lsquobird brainrsquo

8 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

A Special

Thank You to My Neighbors

wwwmidwayorg

As we celebrate our 10th anniversary we know San Diegorsquos support has made Midwayrsquos success possible

So for a limited time San Diegans can purchase adult admissions for only $10

Thatrsquos a 50 discount

ldquoThank You San Diegordquo

$10 USS Midway Admission

Just for San Diegans

Bill YoungSafety CorpsLA MESA RESIDENT

Tickets available at wwwmidwayorg and at the ticket booth during museum hours May not be combined with other offers and cannot be resold Proof of ID with a San

Diego zip code required at time of purchase 202

The US Postal Service delivers mail to the front door of most

Uptown residents but that could change if Congress adopts a postal reform bill designed to reduce the cost of delivering mail

Rep Darrell Issa (R-San Diego) has introduced two bills mdash the Postal Reform Act of 2013 and the Secure Delivery for America Act of 2014 mdash that would force the Postal Service to transi-tion away from door delivery at 30 million addresses by 2022 Instead of delivering mail to the door of every residence postal carriers would deliver to curbside mailboxes or cen-tralized cluster boxes that house the mailboxes of multiple residents

That idea is unacceptable to Rep Susan Davis (D-San Diego) who gathered a group of supporters in Talmadge on Aug 27 to denounce the proposal She also introduced a resolution in Congress opposing centralized delivery

ldquoWe donrsquot need thisrdquo Davis said ldquoThe most vulnerable people in our communities will suffer as a resultrdquo

Davis said elderly and disabled citizens would be hurt by the switch to cluster boxes especially if they receive prescriptions by mail because of the increased dis-tance they may be forced to travel to retrieve their mail

Furthermore the cluster boxes are unsightly magnets for theft and vandalism she said

When Davis surveyed commu-nity groups in her district earlier this summer the North Park Planning Committee passed a resolution opposing centralized delivery

ldquoIn the older communities in the mid-city cluster boxes would affect the community character and the historicity of a neighbor-hood like Talmadge which to me looks like Mayberryrdquo said Vicki Granowitz chair of the North Park Planning Committee ldquoItrsquos intact itrsquos beautiful and to have cluster boxes every so often really destroys what these communities look likerdquo

Combined with bus shelters and

No mail at the doorLocal representatives debate

changes to mail delivery

Jeremy OgulEditor

ugly utility boxes cluster boxes would affect property values Granowitz said

ldquoJust think if you would want this in front of your houserdquo she said ldquoDonrsquot do this to us pleaserdquo

The Postal Service has already begun phasing out door delivery in new developments but Issarsquos legislation would essentially make cluster boxes mandatory in many neighborhoods that currently receive door delivery Issarsquos bill

would require the cluster boxes to be placed ldquoin locations that maximize delivery efficiency ease of use for postal patrons and respect for private property rightsrdquo

Rep Scott Peters (D-San Diego) who also spoke at the press conference said that while there are economic challenges that the Postal Service

must address Congress should not get involved in mandating the specific measures the Postal Service should take

Issa disagrees with Davis and Peters

ldquoThe consequence of doing noth-ing to address an Internet-era erosion in the volume of traditional mail delivery is a multi-billion dollar taxpayer funded bailout of the Postal Servicerdquo Issa said ldquoUnfortunately some [representa-tives] holding a press conference and pretending there isnrsquot a prob-lem wonrsquot solve itrdquo

The Postal Reform Act includes exceptions and provisions that would allow seniors and others with physical hardships to keep their door delivery if they already have it and it would give the Postal Service the flexibility to determine where to implement centralized delivery Issa said

ldquoIn reality less than 10 percent of postal customers would see any change under this legislation to their deliveryrdquo Issa said

Despite the financial issues the Postal Service faces the debate over cluster boxes may amount to little more than hot air in the near term Congress only has until Dec 12 to act on legislation in the current session Most of which will be legislative recess Neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate have voted on Issarsquos or Davisrsquos legislationu

Rep Susan Davis speaks in San Diego (Photo by Jeremy Ogul)

ldquoWe donrsquot need this The most vulnerable people in our communities will suffer as a resultrdquo-Rep Susan Davis

sdcnncom 9Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

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EDUCATION

Haunt yourself with contemporary classic horror fiction

Pop culture has a way of show-ing us what our collective

minds love loathe and fear In honor of Halloween I wanted to spend this monthrsquos column looking at the state of popu-lar horror fiction using that to explore the modern American psyche However the only thing this research showed me is that Americans really really love Stephen King

So with that plan foiled I fig-ured Irsquod just recommend some great scary reads past present and near-future

Guillermo del Toro is known primarily for his work in movies but has recently begun writing fiction After bringing us imagi-native films like ldquoPacific Rimrdquo ldquoHellboyrdquo and ldquoPanrsquos Labyrinthrdquo he paired with author Chuck Hogan for a horror trilogy called ldquoThe Strainrdquo

Deciding that seductive brood-ing teen vampires have become passeacute the authors chose to make their vampires ugly mon-sters whose heads split open to bite and drain their victims while vampirism itself is a virus that spreads with the speed of a zombie apocalypse The book series has already been turned into a TV show with its own cult following and that will undoubt-

edly bring more attention to the books all of which are available at the San Diego County Library

The new book Irsquom dying to read is called ldquoHorrorstoumlrrdquo by Grady Hendrix It should hit bookstores (and the library) shortly after I finish typing this If you like your horror with a side of wit and sly

social commentary this is your novel Itrsquos set in a furniture store that bears more than a little resemblance to IKEA where sin-ister and supernatural forces are on the prowl and the poor corpo-rate drones who work there must solve a horrific mystery in order to survive (presumably while fol-

lowing proper corporate protocol and providing excellent customer service) But just as exciting to me the book itself is a parody of an IKEA-style catalog illustrated with furniture schematics and cheery living room photos becom-ing creepier and creepier as the story moves along

Wersquoll end with one of the classics H P Lovecraft This par-anoid reclusive pulp writer from the 1920s was relatively unknown in his day but has become an underground legend His name

is synonymous with foreboding tales of occult rituals evil space gods and of course the descent from reason to madness Taken together his short stories invoke a universe in which humans are insignificant specks whose sanity could be rent asunder if they even began to glimpse the secret powers underlying their existence Lovecraft has dozens of short story collections pick up those containing ldquoThe Call of Cthulhurdquo and ldquoThe Whisperer in the Darknessrdquo Reading any of his stories will leave you feeling unsettled and reluctant to turn off the lights

In conclusion BooFor less-scary costumed fun the

library will be holding its second Star Wars Reads Day from 11 am to 1 pm on Saturday Oct 11 There will be Star Wars-themed crafts games and snacks as well as a costume contest and a visit by local members of the Rebel Legion and 501st Legion devoted Star Wars fans who wear authentic costumes to support community events Last yearrsquos Star Wars Reads Day saw over 125 kids and adults participating so wersquore expecting a great turnout

mdashJake Sexton is librarian at the La Mesa branch of the San Diego County Library Reach him at 619-469-2151 or visit the library at 8074 Allison Aveu

Above The Strain is being adapted to television (Courtesy William Morrow)Left Horrorstoumlr is an innovative horror twist on an IKEA catalog (Courtesy Quirk Books)

JakeSexton

LA MESA READS

10 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

ENTERTAINMENT

La Mesa Village is usually known as a quaint and quiet

part of town but those of us who have been around for a while know therersquos much more to that stretch of La Mesa Boulevard than antique stores and thrift shops

Oktoberfest perhaps the most exciting event hosted in La Mesa each year descends upon the Village for three days over the first weekend in October This year it falls particularly early on Oct 3 ndash 5 with live entertain-ment multiple beer gardens street vendors and more slated to draw the masses

For families venturing to the free event there are carnival games rides and other activities in the Kids Zone (for children under 12) Diverse food options located throughout the 10 blocks of Oktoberfest are an obvious crowd pleaser for all ages Plus the streets are lined with booths of crafts and other products that may inspire an early holiday shopping spree

But itrsquos the big kids who have the most reasons to head to Oktoberfest

The aptly named Big Beer Garden presented by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and the smaller Nebo Drive Beer Garden by the La Mesa Village Merchantrsquos Association are where you will find most of the action at Oktoberfest

The former is located in the Allison Street parking lot (between Pine Street and Palm Avenue) and is home to a large festival stage to go along with the nectar of the hops This beer garden is family-friendly so patrons can feel free to bring their children Pets are not allowed inside the event

Various bands will play the Big Beer Garden all three days pre-senting mostly classic rock lsquonrsquo roll (The Ideas Rock and Roll Trio and The Car Tune Dogs) and some German music (Our Song) This area will also have food options

Good times brewing for annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

mdash including festival favorites like brats and pulled pork sand-wiches mdash to keep partiers fueled throughout the day and night The beer garden will also host a stein-holding contest each eve-ning around 8 pm hosted by Samuel Adams

The Nebo Drive Beer Garden (next to the La Mesa Train Museum) also has a lot to offer Though smaller in scale this adults-only beer garden provides ample enticement with at least three German beers being served It will also host the Bavarian Beer Garden Band on Friday and Saturday These factors will give an authentic feel to this area harkening back to the ldquooriginal Oktoberfest viberdquo according to Bill Dyke of the Bavarian Beer Garden Band

Festivalgoers should note a trol-ley ride to the La Mesa Boulevard stop (near Spring Street) literally drops you right in the middle of the festival Frequent trains going by make public transportation the ideal designated driver for Oktoberfesters ready to imbibe like our German counterparts Popular ride-sharing services are another smart choice for getting to and from La Mesa Trust me mdash you donrsquot want to even attempt to look for parking

In addition to the beer gar-dens and festival food vendors the businesses in and around La Mesa Village will have their doors open to welcome visitors One such spot is Hofferrsquos Cigar Bar which boasts an impressive tap list of craft beers

ldquo[Oktoberfest] brings out a much wilder clientele than we are used to but also a lot of new faces that might have never been in nor heard of usrdquo Hofferrsquos bar manager Ryan Bartman said ldquoSo all in all itrsquos great for businessrdquo

Other businesses along La Mesa Boulevard that should benefit from the increased foot traffic include Konnichiwa Sushi and Bar (bet you didnrsquot know La Mesa Village had sushi) Cosmos Coffee Cafeacute for those needing a caffeine boost to keep going and Trattoria Tiramisu with its authentic Italian dishes and stellar wine list when yoursquove had

enough beers and brats Whether La Mesa is your home

or a place yoursquove never ventured Oktoberfest is the ideal time to enjoy the festival spirit discover the businesses of the village and do the chicken dance like you never have before Whatever you do donrsquot forget to take home a commemorative beer boot

mdashJen Van Tieghem can be reached at jensdcnncomu

JenVan Tieghem

The Tarantino familyrsquos gourmet sausages are always a crowd favorite at La Mesarsquos Oktoberfest a three-day beer and brat extravaganza (Courtesy La Mesa Chamber of Commerce)

La Mesa OktoberfestSchedule of Events

Friday Oct 3Street festival 11 am - 9 pm Big Beer Garden 4 - 1130 pm (last call at 11 pm)The Ideas Rock and Roll Trio 4 - 5 pm The Car Tune Dogs 6 - 10 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden Noon - 9 pm (last call at 830 pm)Bavarian Beer Garden Band 6 - 9 pm

Saturday Oct 4 Street festival 11 am - 9 pm Big Beer Garden 11 am - 1130 pm (last call at 11 pm) Our Song Noon - 4 pmThe Car Tune Dogs 6 - 10 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden 12 - 9 pm (last call at 830 pm)Bavarian Beer Garden Band 2 - 4 pm

Sunday Oct 5 Street festival Noon - 5 pm BIG Beer Garden 1 - 430 pm (last call at 4 pm)Our Song 1 - 4 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden 12 - 430 pm (last call at 4 pm)

Fun FactsVendors Over 250Attendees expected 200000Years of La Mesa Oktoberfest 41 City blocks used forOktoberfest 10Estimated cost for police fire and other city staff time $77000 paid for by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and La Mesa Village Merchants Association

sdcnncom 11Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Jazz

Fridays Charlie Arbelaez Trio at The Rook Free 9 pm TheRookBarcom 7745 University Ave La Mesa

Sundays samdi-ego Jazz Trio at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room Free 2 - 5 pm SanPasqualWinerycom 8364 La Mesa Blvd La Mesa

Oct 15 ldquoThe Music of Will Toddrdquo with the SDSU Chamber Choir Grossmont College Jazz faculty and composerpianist Will Todd at St John of the Cross Catholic Church Suggested donation 730 pm Grossmontedu 8086 Broadway Lemon Grove

PopTuesdays Suzanne Shea and Bob Wade at Bistro Sixty Free 630 to 830 pm BistroSixtySDcom Call and hold your table 619-287-8186 5987 El Cajon Blvd College Area

Wednesdays Westside Inflection at Riviera Supper Club Free 8 pm RivieraSupperClubcom 7777 University Ave La Mesa

Fridays Nathan Welden at Bistro Sixty Free 630 pm BistroSixtySDcom 5987 El Cajon Blvd College Area

Classical

Oct 16 Youth Choir of San Diego at Cuyamaca College Price $8 ($5 for students) 7 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Oct 17 Cuyamaca College Choir at Cuyamaca College Price $8 ($5 for students) 730 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Oct 31 Quatuor Mosaiumlques Classical String Quartet at Cuyamaca College Price $10 730 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Alternative

Sept 27 TaKillya at Chico Club Free 9 pm ChicoClub1940com 7366 El Cajon Blvd La Mesa

Oct 4 Baja Bugs at Riviera Supper Club Free 9 pm RivieraSupperClubcom 7777 University Ave La Mesa

Oct 31 Fifth Annual Halloween Monster Bash with The Farmers at Parkway Bar Free 9 pm TheParkwayBarcom 9188 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa

Other

Thursdays (through Oct 30) Open Mic Acoustic Nights at Parkway Bar Free 7 pm TheParkwayBarcom 9188 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa

Sept 27 Little Kings at Hooleyrsquos Free 9 pm Hooleyscom 5500 Grossmont Center Dr 277 La Mesa

Oct 18 Oktoberfest featuring The Bavarian Beergarden Band at Butcherrsquos Brewing Free 4-10 pm ButchersBrewingcom 9962 Prospect Ave Suite F Santee

Oct 18 Jefferson Washington at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room Free 7 pm SanPasqualWinerycom 8364 La Mesa Blvd La Mesa

Bands venues and music-lovers please submit listings for this calendar by emailing Jensdcnncomu

to 46 feet or about four stories So the Kitzmans have hired

development consultants Urban Housing Partners to convince city leaders to change the zoning on the property to allow build-ing heights up to 110 feet The zoning the Kitzmans are asking for could accommodate up to 363 dwelling units 61000 square feet of commercial retail space 146000 square feet of commer-cial office space or a hotel of up to 250 guest rooms

The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the pro-posed zoning changes on June 18 They made no decision at the time because the Kitzmansrsquo co-applicant American Legion Post 282 announced they were withdrawing their support for the zoning change

The Kitzmans through their South Baltimore LLC resub-mitted their application over the summer The Planning Commission will hear the new and reduced application at a meeting at City Hall on Wednesday Oct 1 at 7 pm

Residents east and west of the project site have been some of the most vocal critics of the proposal to rezone the property

Don Bell whose house on El Capitan Drive overlooks the Park Station property said he and his neighbors are not against redeveloping and improving the property

ldquoItrsquos blight down thererdquo Bell said

What they are against how-ever is rezoning the property

ldquoThe problem really is that the Planning Commission is going to give them a blank checkrdquo he said

Nearby neighbors know and accept that change is inevitable but the added traffic and parking problems that would come from a 10-story building would be unac-ceptable and detrimental to the community said Suda House who also has a view of the Park Station property from her home on El Capitan

ldquoDevelop the heck out of it but keep it below 46 feetrdquo House said

One vocal supporter of the Kitzmanrsquos plan has been Jack Rowell a La Mesa native who now sells real estate across the San Diego region Any new homes that can be added to the La Mesa market will be a good thing Rowell said

ldquoI have a bunch of [potential

buyers] who want La Mesa but itrsquos a fight over every prop-erty especially things under $500000rdquo Rowell said ldquoPeople want the La Mesa schools People want the convenience of La Mesardquo

The only other place where housing prices are compara-ble for high-quality schools is Poway and Poway doesnrsquot have La Mesarsquos Village or its prox-imity to regional destinations Rowell said

Rowell said he understands why nearby neighbors donrsquot want their views to change but therersquos no reason to believe home values will suffer with an increase in supply

ldquoTheyrsquore talking about 300 to 500 condo unitsrdquo Rowell said ldquoThatrsquos like spitting in the oceanrdquo

For Aaron Amerling orga-nizer of the ldquoFight Park Station La Mesa ndash No More Than Fourrdquo Facebook page the colorful renderings of Park Station are a Trojan Horse designed to mis-lead people about what the site could become

ldquoThe Kitzmans do not have the funds to develop thatrdquo Amerling said ldquoThe whole idea is to upzone the land because that improves the resale valuerdquo

If city leaders approve the new zoning the Kitzmans or a new owner could build something completely different than what theyrsquove been advertising

City leaders have been cau-tious about commenting directly on the proposal only issuing vague statements about main-taining the character of the downtown village

Regardless of the Planning Commissionrsquos decision next week the final decision on whether to rezone the property will be made by the full City Council at a later dateu

LOCAL NEWSGen-X in La MesaGive peace a chanceGenevieve Suzuki

G iving peace a chance seems more complicated than it

should beWith all of the strife going on

in this world peace seems to be an almost impossible proposition The appalling brutal treatment of American hostages at the hands of ISIS members resulted in many of us feeling complete repulsion at the state of global affairs

I know I felt sick Even worse I began to feel hopeless

So when Anne Pacheco a member of the Interfaith Council of La Mesa asked me to attend the first International Day of Peace Sept 21 at Aztec Park her invitation stirred something in my soul The day which touted ldquoThe Right of Peoples to Peacerdquo would be a joint effort among people of most of the worldrsquos religions including Judaism Christianity Islam Buddhism Hinduism Native American and Baharsquoi

And although I promised Anne I would attend I thought it was an awfully lofty goal Really All of these people gathering for peace on a Sunday a day many hold holy in their churches

But I was pleasantly surprised when approximately 200 people

showed up with chairs umbrellas hats and hearts at Aztec Park that mild sunny day Many of us pur-chased sky blue scarves from the Sisters of Saint Francis to wear in solidarity for peace Shucks even Mayor Art Madrid wore a scarf over a yellow shirt

I admit however getting my husband Derek to don the blue scarf wasnrsquot easy In fact it wasnrsquot easy getting him there in the first place

Itrsquos not that Derek is against world peace (even though our daughter to this day refuses to add that request to her nightly prayers) Itrsquos more that Sunday is for football in Derekrsquos world and this day of peace was causing him to miss hooting and hollering for his fantasy football team

Nevertheless Derek relented and accompanied me and our daughter to the event This com-promise is one from which most of the world could learn Is Derek a community activist No but Derek is focused on the big pic-ture namely a happy wife and home Focusing on the big pic-ture would help many find peace in their lives locally and globally

As I sat there amid others dedi-cated to peace and non-violence I realized the one common emo-tional positive is the future We all want a better future for our fami-lies and our children We donrsquot

want to leave behind a legacy of anger brutality and war

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we said together at the beginning of the program

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we insisted again

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we vowedAs Rebecca Littlejohn of Vista

La Mesa Christian Church said ldquoWe are gathered in hope today for hope is how we surviverdquo

Thanks to this special inaugural day I was reminded of how impor-tant it was for me to have hope and that reminder allowed me to place aside that earlier feeling of hopelessness conjured by evil deeds in another land After all if I allow myself to fall hopeless I have nothing to give my child On the other hand if I cling to hope it will then be passed on to my daughter who would hold that ideal in her mind and mdash hopefully mdash see it to fruition

As the Native American prayer during the program stated ldquoGive us the wisdom to teach our chil-dren to love to respect and to be kind to each other so that they may grow with peace in mindrdquo

mdashGenevieve A Suzuki is editor emeritus of the La Mesa Courier She continues to live and practice family law in La Mesa Her web-site is sdlawyersuzukicomu

Find out what your home is worth on-line

Visit wwwsandiegohouseareacomOr scan this QR Code with your phone now

Tom Bowker Coldwell Banker West BRE01024513

A rendering by Park Station opponents shows the potential scale of buildings (Courtesy Aaron Amerling)

Park Station from page 1

12 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

Music professorrsquos jazz album wins acclaim

Follow your passionThat has been a guiding

principal for Grossmont College music instructor and jazz bassist extraordinaire Justin Grinnell who ditched plans to study mathematics shortly after enrolling at San Diego State University back in 1999 and meeting musicians ldquowho were doing music all the timerdquo

Good thing Grinnell has become an integral part of a vibrant Grossmont College music program and gigs as a pit orchestra member at myriad venues including the Old Globe La Jolla Playhouse and the San Diego Civic Theatre for a number of Tony Award-winning musicals

And now his debut disc the Justin Grinnell Quartetrsquos Without You has been nomi-nated for a San Diego Music Award for best jazz album

Grinnell is no stranger to awards He is a member of the Danny Green Trio which won the 2009 San Diego Music Award for Best Jazz Album for its debut CD The triorsquos second release A Thousand Ways Home reached No 17 on the Jazz Week Charts for national radio airplay after its 2012 debut

ldquoIrsquom doing what I loverdquo said Grinnell who is on track to earn his Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern California next spring ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the col-lege or university levelrdquo

Grinnell has earned praise from the best in the business

ldquoNot only is Justin a fantastic person but he is such an accom-plished musician a great sight reader which is so important because we do all kinds of tricky music and having someone who is able to read so well is an invalu-able asset and hersquos adept in a lot of different musical stylesrdquo said critically-acclaimed Jazz guitar-ist and composer Peter Sprague ldquoHe also has just such a wonder-ful spirit when it comes to playing music Irsquom really happy to know him and being able to play with him from time to timerdquo

A native of Santa Rosa California Grinnell initially planned to study mathematics and become an engineer But after enrolling in a few music classes at San Diego State and jamming with newfound friends he switched gears It was while he was at SDSU that Grinnell began gigging with future Grossmont College Music Department chair Derek Cannon and met his future wife Melonie a pianist who also teaches music at Grossmont College

With both a bachelorrsquos and masterrsquos degree in jazz perfor-mance from San Diego State in hand Grinnell began working in 2005 as an adjunct music profes-

sor at Grossmont College He also serves as an adjunct music professor at the University of San Diego and taught part time at Southwestern College from 2008 to 2011

ldquoGrossmont College is specialrdquo Grinnell said ldquoIt feels like family here Everyone is part of a com-munity that is working together on behalf of our students doing our best to help them succeed in a business thatrsquos hard to make a living in That camaraderie is pricelessrdquo

Grinnellrsquos passion serves him well in a business where talent alone often isnrsquot enough to sup-port a family

ldquoI tell my students all the time that if theyrsquore looking for job security donrsquot look at a career in jazz musicrdquo Grinnell said adding that he makes a living cobbling together his adjunct

professorships private lessons and regular performances

Grinnell and his wife are juggling their careers while rais-ing two young sons His debut album falls into the category of West Coast-flavored straight-ahead jazz He wrote six of the nine tunes on the disc with the remaining three being covers Especially tasty are the origi-nal ldquoHit the Brakesrdquo and a jazz cover of The Beatlesrsquo Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite

Grinnell however is comfort-able playing a wide variety of styles that range from classical to funk He is a member of the Brazilian jazz-inspired Danny Green Trio (Danny Green also teaches at Grossmont College) and the modern jazz group ARC Trio among others

The Justin Grinnell Quintet will be playing three concerts at Grossmont College in the coming weeks Shows are sched-uled for Sept 28 Oct 26 and Nov 30 in Building 26 Room 220 at 630 pm A full itiner-ary of upcoming performances around the region can be found at JustinGrinnellcom

The San Diego Music Awards take place Oct 6 at Humphreys By The Bay on San Diegorsquos Shelter Island

mdashDavid Ogul writes on behalf of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Email him at ogulcommunica-tionsgmailcomu

ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the college or university levelrdquo-Justin Grinnell

LOCAL NEWS

Justin Grinnell has just released his debut jazz album which has been nominated for a San Diego Music Award (Photo by Jon Naugle)

DavidOgul

sdcnncom 13Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

AUDIT PENDING

wwwsdcnncom

123 Camino de la Reina Suite 202 EastSan Diego CA 92108

P 6195197775 bull F 619-519-7840

1

2

3

4

5

Great Value Proven Results

Community NewsNumber one source of community information Hyper-local news and features In print and online updated daily

Market SaturationCombined distribution of door-to-door delivery high traffic locations and news racks Over 200000 readers

Award Winning JournalismProud recipient of numerous ldquoExcellence in Journalism AwardsrdquoRegular recipient of local and national press awards

Audited DistributionAudited by one of the nationrsquos largest newspaper auditing firms Circulation Verification Council (CVC)Guaranteed distribution

For advertising call(619) 961-1958

mikesdcnncom

1 2 3

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23000 Distribution Bi-WeeklyZip Codes 92103 92104 92105 92116

20000 Distribution MonthlyZip Codes 92101 92102

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15000 Distribution MonthlyZip Code 92108

20000 Distribution MonthlyZip Codes 91941 91942

15000 Distribution Bi-WeeklyServing San Diegorsquos LGBT Community

Distributed Countywide

up along the way include thousands of football cards (both Topps and Fleer) player and coach jerseys jackets personal letters autographed footballs bobbleheads pins programs team photographs and much much more He even has a life-sized bust of Chargers wide receiver Lance Alworth which is a story in itself just ask him

This native sonrsquos collection is not limited to the San Diego Chargers but what he has gathered about them is more than impressive His comprehensive collection also includes items from the Los Angeles Chargers and every other football team that played during the AFL time period

Over the years hersquos met and interviewed dozens of players coaches and families becoming close with many of them Two of his larger per-sonal collections are of Gilman the Chargers first coach and Alworth

In 2004 he wrote ldquoCharging Through the AFL Los Angeles and San Diego Chargers football in the 1960srdquo He followed that up with ldquoBombs Away Air Coryelle and the San Diego Chargersrdquo in 2006 Both books rely heavily on interviews and photographs of their respective periods

A few years ago Tobias decided to channel his love for the AFL through his website TalesFromTheAmericanFootballLeaguecom Here Tobias shares his many interviews of the past runs a blog where he opines on the latest news of players related to the AFL deposits videos stats historical data photos and even has a forum section where others can share their love for the league and its players

He said his goal with the site is to ldquoedutain (educate and entertain) football lovers with stories about all things AFLrdquo To support his internet endeavor hersquos also taken up social media and can be followed on twitter at TalesfromtheAFL and on two locations on Facebook ldquoTales from the American Football Leaguerdquo and ldquoI loved the 1960s Chargersrdquo (a public group) On the latter he shares vintage photographs of the team and banters with the families of players He shares links back to his blog and web-site on both pages

His many follow-ers recently noticed Tobias absent from posting for a time Thatrsquos because he recently gave up approximately 85 percent of his collec-tion to pursue his dream of opening a lacrosse store in La Mesa with an old friend Despite months of hard work that opportunity never panned out Now the five pallets of blood sweat and tears that he consigned to an auction house a few months ago are sitting in a warehouse somewhere in the Midwest being individually categorized and valued in preparation for a national Internet-based auction block next spring

ldquoI was trying to trade one passion for anotherrdquo Tobias said ldquoIf Irsquod known it would have just been trading one passion for money I never would have done it but it is what it isrdquo

Deciding what to keep was a challenge but Tobias said it came down not to which collections were worth the most money but which provided him the most enjoyment

The two-dozen binders still resident on his shelves are neatly filled to the brim with pages of plastic inserts containing football cards with most every card there signed

Tobias said he pulls each binder down two or three times per week just to look through them Inside are vast collections of football cards Many are duplicated but they are categorized in dozens of ways Some collections are still incomplete mdash like his 1965 collection of every card Topps put out for that year he is only missing two out of 176 cards mdash and each time he removes that binder from the shelf he strategizes new ways he can complete that collection There is a story behind every collection and another for every card

He has some cards that hersquos certain do not exist anywhere else and he has numerous cards that had the wrong playerrsquos image printed on them in the publishing housersquos haste to get them out in advance of the new season Hersquos reached out to many of the players over the years sending along his books and asking for autographs and he has the response letters to prove it

In the wake of his failed business attempt Tobias finds himself facing a forgotten challenge looking for work

ldquoI havenrsquot had to do that since graduating collegerdquo he said ldquoFor now Irsquom just working in the back yard putting in a sprinkler system and taking my mind off of it

ldquoSan Diego can be a tough place to live in if you are a sports histo-rianrdquo he said ldquoItrsquos probably time for me to find another line of workrdquo

mdashMorgan M Hurley can be contacted at morgansdcnncomu

Todd Tobiasrsquos collections include signed football cards from the 1965 Chargers and other rare collectibles such as a bust of Lance Alworth (Photos by Morgan Hurley)

Football from page 1

14 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

CALENDAR

Prescription drug collectionSaturday Sept 27

Get rid of your unwanted expired or leftover prescription drugs at this National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day event hosted by the La Mesa Police Department and the US Drug Enforcement Administration The effort is designed to prevent prescription drug abuse Drop your drugs no questions asked from 10 am to 2 pm at the police station parking lot 8085 University Ave For other drop off locations or more informa-tion visit deadiversionusdojgov and click ldquoGot Drugsrdquo

Free electronic waste recyclingSaturday and Sunday Sept 27 ndash 28

State law prohibits disposal of certain electronic items in the trash because many of them con-tain hazardous substances The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce is hosting this free event to help residents properly recycle old televisions computers print-ers VCRs DVD players copiers scanners fax machines toner car-tridges and other approved items Microwave ovens can be disposed of for a service fee of $5 Items will be collected from 9 am to 4 pm in the parking lot between Fuddruckers restaurant and Chuze Fitness at the Grossmont Shopping Center 5500 Grossmont Center Dr The following items will not be accepted refrigerators washers dryers fluorescent light bulbs and household batteries For more details on items that will be accepted visit lamesachambercom

Generational diversity workshopTuesday Oct 2

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series profes-sional development consultant Victoria Hankins will lead a dis-cussion on the multigenerational workplace With four genera-tions working side by side in the American workforce challenges often arise regarding communi-cation styles differing workplace values and misconceptions about workplace motivators Hankins will outline the differences between the four generations and provide tips on how to effectively work in cross-generational teams The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 1030 to 1130 am in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

OktoberfestFriday through Sunday Oct 3 4 and 5

See our article on page 11 in this monthrsquos La Mesa Courier for all the details on the annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

La Mesa City Council Candidates ForumTuesday Oct 7

La Mesa mayoral candidates Art

Madrid and Mark Arapostathis will join City Council candidates Patrick Dean Mary England Pete Gregorovic and Guy McWhirter at this forum hosted and moder-ated by the Community Outreach Ministry of La Mesa First United Methodist Church in the church social hall at 4690 Palm Ave A meet-and-greet will begin at 630 pm The program begins at 7 pm All are welcome

Free blood pressure screeningTuesday Oct 7

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center 9000 Wakarusa St in La Mesa No appointment neces-sary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Senior ExpoThursday Oct 9

The city of La Mesa organizes this free event to help connect senior citizens and their families to the most helpful senior service pro-viders including La Mesa Police Department Crime Prevention Aging and Independence Services Metropolitan Transit System ldquo211rdquo Sharp Senior Resource Center Meals on Wheels DMV Senior Ombudsman Program SDGampE Medical Baseline Program Elderhelp Jewish Family Services Yellow Cab California Telephone Access Program HICAP San Diego

County District Attorneyrsquos Elder Abuse Unit and more The event will be held from 830 am to 130 pm at the La Mesa Community Center 4975 Memorial Dr A shuttle will be available from the Spring Street trolley station Organizers are asking seniors to RSVP by Oct 3 by calling 619-667-1322

Depression and bipolar disorder screeningFriday Oct 10

Dr William Brock will pres-ent a free educational seminar on the signs and symptoms of depression bipolar disorder and other anxiety disorders from 1130 am to 1230 pm Adults ages 60 and older can receive free anonymous screen-ings from Sharp Grossmont Behavioral Health Services from 1030 am to 1130 am and from 1230 pm to 130 pm The seminar and screenings will be held at the Grossmont Healthcare Districtrsquos Herrick Library at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are suggested but not required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

ldquoGot Plansrdquo Career and college fairSaturday Oct 11

High school students and their parents are invited to meet with admissions representatives from public and private universities community colleges vocational

schools and the military at this annual event organized by the Grossmont Union High School District and the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Free workshops will provide information on financial aid changes to SAT and ACT requirements transfer options between two-year colleges and four-year universities and other career topics Some workshops will be offered in Spanish and Arabic The fair is open from 1 to 4 pm at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For more information call Jason Martinez at 619-593-2713

Bunco BashSaturday Oct 11

Soroptimist International of Lemon Grove hosts this special autumn-themed Bunco event to raise money for the grouprsquos projects to help women and chil-dren in our community For $20 participants get three rounds of Bunco a door prize ticket and complimentary fall snacks and dessert Wine will be available for purchase Bunco winners receive gift baskets and raffle prizes will also be offered The event will be held from 1 to 4 pm at St John of the Cross Knights of Columbus Hall at Broadway and Columbus Drive in Lemon Grove Reservations are required Contact Gloria Ferreira at 619-466-3699 or email her at soroptgloriagmailcom

Pooch in the ParkSaturday Oct 11

Kiwanis Club of La Mesa and the Human Relations Advisory Commission will host this com-munity get-together from 9 am to noon at Harry Griffen Regional Park 9550 Milden St For $20 pet owners can enter up to two dogs into a contest show for a chance to win in one of five categories or the ldquobest in showrdquo trophy Raffle prizes giveaways and other demon-strations will round out the morning For more informa-tion contact Glenna Boemen at gab11853aolcom

Fair trade gift fair Sunday Oct 12

The St Martin of Tours Parish Hall will become a world bazaar featuring unique and handcrafted fair trade gifts deacutecor apparel and jewelry from artisans in developing countries from 8 am to 1 pm As they browse the displays created by local vendors who sell fair trade products shoppers will be able to sample or purchase fair trade refreshments including choco-late tea coffee bananas soda and Ben and Jerryrsquos ice cream The parish hall is at 7710 El Cajon Blvd in La Mesa Call 619-466-3241 for additional information

See CALENDAR page 22

sdcnncom 15Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierCALENDAR

Telephone DirectoryPolice non-emergency line 619-667-1400Fire non-emergency line 619-667-1461Animal Control 619-667-7536Graffiti removal 619-667-7560Weed abatement 619-667-1465Traffic signal maintenance 619-667-1166Streetlight maintenance 619-667-1450

Mayor Art Madrid 619-667-1100City Councilmembers 619-667-1106

EDCO 619-287-7555Helix Water District 619-466-0585Helix Water after hours emergency 619-466-3234

Gov Jerry Brown 916-445-2841US Sen Barbara Boxer 619-239-3884US Sen Dianne Feinstein 619-231-9712US Rep Susan Davis 619-280-5353State Sen Joel Anderson 619-596-3136State Assemblymember Shirley Weber 619-531-7913

Community titan Jerry Fazio announces plans to retire

A fter 35 years with the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County

Jerry Fazio has announced his retirement

Faziorsquos last day on the job as executive director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation will be Oct 24 His official retirement date following vacation will be Dec 4 three days after his 35th anniversary with the youth organization that has served hundreds of thousands of young people in the East County since its founding in 1961

Since joining the organization on Dec 1 1979 Fazio has served in several executive positions with the Girlsrsquo Club and Boys amp Girls Clubs He has also done two stints mdash the most recent of which began in July 2008 mdash as execu-tive director of the foundation a nonprofit fundraising entity

Faziorsquos honors during his career have included El Cajon Citizen of the Year in 1992 Boys amp Girls Clubs Pacific Region Executive of the Year in 2006 and National Executive Director of the Year from Boys amp Girls Clubs of America in 2007 He is known throughout San Diego for his friendly smile and fund-raising passion on behalf of the organization

ldquoHe is the instantly recog-nizable fundraiser and pitch man for our organizationrdquo said Jack Doyle board president of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation ldquoDuring his 35 years Jerry has steered the development of our new and updated facilities in El Cajon Lakeside Santee and La Mesa He leaves us a legacy to be proud of in East County We wish him well as he moves into retirementrdquo

Faziorsquos decision to retire was prompted by recent good news from doctors that he is cancer-free five years after beginning his battle against colon cancer the same disease that led to the 2008 death of his first wife Nancy

ldquoWhile preparing for my cancer

SDCNN Staff

tests I indulged in a little specu-lation about how I might handle the news whether good or badrdquo Fazio said ldquoI concluded that no matter what after 35 years the time has come for me to retire I will concentrate on my faith my health my grandchildren and my gorgeous wife Melissa And if an opportunity comes along to help a good community cause I might just do that toordquo

Faziorsquos recent work with the foundation has focused on an $89 million fundraising effort called the La Mesa Capital Campaign The campaignrsquos goal is to build a new clubhouse in La Mesa reno-vate an existing teen center in the city and fund an endowment to operate both facilities

Forrest Higgins CEO of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County will add the role of campaign coordinator to his job with the assistance from staff According to Higgins more than $5 million for the La Mesa Capital Campaign has been raised during Faziorsquos leadership

ldquoJerry has been integral part of the success and growth of the Boys amp Girls Club of East Countyrdquo Higgins said ldquoHis dedi-cation and passion to the youth and families of East County will be greatly missedrdquo

Since 1961 the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County have been meeting the developmental needs of children and youth The orga-nizationrsquos mission statement ldquoTo inspire and enable all young people especially those who need us most to become responsible caring productive citizensrdquou

Jerry Fazio (Courtesy Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County)

notice to which the couple didnrsquot respond in time to renew their five-year lease Katie said

The next they heard they had to close the bar by Nov 1

ldquoI truly believe that when one door closes another one opensrdquo says Katie Halvin who runs the bar with her husband Doug ldquoAs poignant as it is to lose the bar I know we lost it because we didnrsquot pay attention when we should haverdquo

For the past five years Katie Halvinrsquos life has been intertwined with the bar Her first date with now-husband Doug landed her there mdash an Internet connection that led to a meet up in Harry Griffen Park

ldquoWe talked for a while and then he took me to his neighborhood hangout to have a beer and shoot some poolrdquo Katie recalls Katie was retiring from the Navy as a chief torpedo man and she was ready to settle down again ldquoWe got married at the Carlton Oaks [Country Club] mdash the whole bar was thererdquo

Before long Katie and Doug took over the bar which is leased from the Ross Family Trust Calls and emails to the property man-ager were not returned

ldquoWhen we took it over there were drugs gangs uglinessrdquo she said ldquoI wonrsquot put up with thatrdquo

What was left was a band of devoted regulars a tradition of small local live music and soon local art on the walls and events supporting local artists on the calendar

Cathryn Beeks the local music guru from 1021 KPRI radio began working with Halvin in November to book homegrown and up-and-coming acts at the bar mdash which led to notable shows from the Kilborn Alley Blues Band Roni Lee and many others

ldquoItrsquos very sad that the bar is closing Itrsquos run by very special people and there isnrsquot a venue like this in San Diegordquo Beeks said ldquoI found out about them because a lot of my friends were play-ing there They had a very loyal group of musicians before I ever showed uprdquo

The Parkway is also home to a very popular and solidly booked open mic night run by local singer-songwriter Jessica Hull

The Farmers local legends who evolved from the Beat Farmers also play regularly The live music will continue intermittently with the Farmers playing the closing

night Halloween party on Oct 31For Katie Halvin the closing

isnrsquot the end Property manager Aaron Dean intends to redevelop the strip mall where the Parkway now stands into a restaurant with a full bar and microbrewery and include an outdoor music venue

ldquoHe contacted me and hired me to be the director of enter-tainment at the new venuerdquo she said ldquoThey hope to start con-struction in December and finish it by August 2015rdquo ldquoOne side of my brain is ecstatic with oppor-tunityrdquo she said ldquoThe other feels the sadness of this lossrdquo

Meanwhile the Halvins are looking around in the area to find another place to open a bar like the Parkway

ldquoItrsquos our regulars Irsquom really worried aboutrdquo she said ldquoSome are at a point where most of their friends and family are gone and we are their community and fellowship We know who has cancer who has a new baby we know who to check on if they donrsquot show uprdquo

mdashMarty Graham is a freelance writer Email her at martygra-hamcoxnetu

Parkway from page 1

Sycuan Resort and Casino

For exciting casino action right in your own backyard therersquos nowhere closer than Sycuan Casino With Vegas-style gaming scrumptious dining options live headliner entertainment and nearby golf resort yoursquoll find your-self coming back again and again

You can choose from 2000 video amp reel slots as well as video poker For you card players there are more than 40 tables to play Blackjack ThreendashCard amp FourndashCard Poker Sycuanndashstyle craps and roulette

Enjoy the fresh air in the nonndashsmoking room with more than 350 slot machines 9 gaming tables Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet and a Poker Room with daily tourna-ments ndash all smokendashfree

For your dining pleasure Sycuan offers five different res-

taurant options to tempt your taste buds For those looking for a variety of delectable options Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet is an all-you-can-eat feast featuring slow-roasted Prime Rib buttery crab legs and over 100 fresh selec-tions and delicious dessert bar There isnrsquot a bad seat in the house at GameDay Sports Bar amp Grill where you can catch the big game on 39 large screen televisions 16 beers on tap with full cocktail selection delicious food menu and 29 bar-top video poker machines to play while you root on your team

With excellent acoustics and state-of-the-art sound and light-ing Sycuan Live amp Up Close is San Diegorsquos premiere venue for live entertainment Bringing exciting crowd pleasing acts from all musical genres therersquos something for everyone on their concert calendar

Just a short drive nearby Sycuan Golf Resort offers San Diegorsquos only 54-hole golf facility Exciting course play includes

3007 Dehesa RdEl Cajon CA 92019800-457-5568sycuanresortcom

mature tree-lined fairways eleva-tion changes water features and impeccable greens No matter if yoursquore a seasoned player or a first-timer the two challenging 18-hole championship golf courses and fun 18-hole par 3 course are guaranteed to give you unforget-table experiences from beginning to end To complete your stay-cat-ion enjoy one of their 100 spacious hotel rooms all recently remodeled and offer beautiful views of the golf courses pools and private putting greens If golf isnrsquot in your plans you can pamper yourself with a relaxing spa service

Not only is Sycuan the closest casino to downtown they offer free shuttle bus rides from a number of convenient locations throughout San Diego County For more infor-mation please visit Sycuancom

Guests must be 18 or older to enter casino 21 or older to enter theatre and Sports Bar Please play responsibly

Get away for the day at Sycuan CasinohellipReal Friendly Real Closeu

16 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

Short-term hands-on programs

Half-day classes 4 days a week

Monthly payment plans available

wwwtheaccountingacademycom

PETSlsquoOh where oh where has my little dog gonersquoSariReis

The only thing more devas-tating to a pet parent than

when their furry kid is missing is to have them never return Yet this sad scenario occurs every day Walk through any neighborhood and you will see the signs posted on trees and telephone poles ldquoMissing Our beloved dog Skippyrdquo These heart-rending pleas for help are always accompanied by a photograph of a sweet furry face and the offer of a reward for their return

As pet parents one of our pri-mary responsibilities is to keep our pets safe To do this we need to keep them securely confined in our homes our backyards or on leashes If your dog has access to the backyard be certain it is entirely fenced in with no poten-tial escape routes Make sure all gates are locked when you or anyone else goes in or out Inform pool service people landscap-ers or gardeners that you have a dog in the yard and the gate must be secured at all times Be particularly careful when enter-ing or leaving your home Open doors slowly to ensure a cat or dog is not lurking nearby ready to make a quick escape Never leave the door open for any length of time Even an indoor kitty may be curious if the door is left open for a minute or two Tell visitors cleaning ladies and anyone else who may have access to your home that you have pets and they are not to be let out

Some people like to give their dogs off-leash time on city streets in their neighborhoods They believe their pup is well-trained and will come on command and not run away But the sight of a

squirrel or stray cat can waylay the best trained dog and send them on a chase Many of these dogs never make it back home

There are also those feline parents who believe it is essen-tial to a catrsquos well-being for them to investigate and play outdoors Although the kitties may enjoy outdoor time it is very danger-ous With rattlesnakes coyotes stray dogs and traffic many out-door kitties never make it home again and soon become one of those sad notices posted on a tree

Even with the best inten-tions our pets may still make an escape Your best opportunity in getting them back is to ensure they can be identified Put an ID

tag on their collar listing your name and phone number and microchip them Although there are numerous companies that offer microchips and monitoring services one of the best is ldquoHome Againrdquo If you do microchip your pet remember to notify the man-ufacturer if you move or change your phone number Although the cost of micro-chipping is very reasonable many shelters and veterinary clinics hold spe-cial micro-chipping days so you can get your pets done for a dis-counted price Having your pet micro-chipped greatly increases the potential of getting him home again Can you actually put a price tag on that

ldquoHome Againrdquo stated that one out of three pets will go missing during their lifetime Make sure that one isnrsquot yours

mdashSari 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 missionvalley-petsittingcomu

One out of three pets will

go missing during their

lifetime

Lucille a 5-year-old spayed Labrador RetrieverAustralian Cattle Dog mix is

an energetic lady with tons of love to give her new family She has a friendly personality with everyone she meets and loves to learn new tricks She already knows commands such as sit down shake crawl beg and is currently learning how to wave ldquobye-byerdquo She is very treat-motivated and eager to please

She is very smart and outgoing and has gotten along well with other dogs on social walks This silly girl is always smiling and ready for a new adventure Born a true athlete she would love to participate in future training and would make an excellent workout partner Adequate exercise and mental stimulation are a must for this spirited lady

Lucille will do best in an active home with older children or adults She has a lot of love to give and may benefit from having another dog in the family as long as she meets them first to make sure theyrsquore a good match

Her adoption fee includes her spay current vaccinations permanent microchip identification a certificate for a free veterinary exam 30 days of complimentary medical insurance and a license for residents of Oceanside or Vista

Lucille is available for adoption at the San Diego Humane Society 5500 Gaines St in San Diego To learn more about Lucille call 619-299-7012u

Adopt a pet Looking for a home

LucilleBreed Labrador Retriever Australian Cattle Dog mixAge 5 years old Gender Female (spayed)Colors Black and WhiteID 142265Adoption Fee $9500

ADOPTION HOURSWeekdays 11 am ndash 6 pm Weekends 11 am ndash 5 pm

SD Humane Society amp SPCA5500 Gaines St (92110)

619-299-7012 | sdhumaneorg

(ThinkStock)

sdcnncom 17Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Foothiller FootstepsAdvanced Placement curriculum exposes students to college-level study

Helix HighlightsMaking students college-ready

Connie and LynnBaer

JenniferOsborn

A parent of a Helix Charter High School student once

noted that her daughter was never asked ldquoAre you going to collegerdquo Instead she was asked ldquoWhere are you going to collegerdquo A subtle difference in wording but a vast difference in meaning

Helixrsquos mission states ldquoHelix Charter High School provides a comprehensive education that prepares all students to gradu-

ate college-ready and equipped to reach their personal and aca-demic potentialrdquo

While the belief at Helix is not that every graduate needs to attend college in order to be suc-cessful it is definitely our goal to ensure that every graduate has the option to continue their edu-cation if they so choose

For the class of 2014 82 per-cent of Helix graduates stated they planned to attend college Forty-five percent went directly to a four-year college and 37 percent planned to attend two-

year institutions Approximately 12 percent attend University of California schools and 22 per-cent attend San Diego State or other California State University campuses

Support classroom projectsHave you heard of Donors

Choose Donors Choose is an online charity started by a class-room teacher from the Bronx New York He and his colleagues had great ideas for their students but no funding to bring their ideas to fruition

On the Donors Choose website teachers post classroom project requests and visitors to the web-site can help grant the teachersrsquo wishes by donating any amount big or small to their projects Donors Choose allows everyone to be a philanthropist

Over the past few years Helix teachers have been the recipi-ents of hundreds of thousands of dollars in supplies for classroom projects that would otherwise not have been possible Be a part of it Visit the website at donorschooseorg and search ldquoHelix La Mesardquo in the search box

Students shine nationallyThis past summer four Helix

Speech amp Debate team member students went to Kansas City Miski Abdi Spencer McCall Rebeca McClellan and Rachel Orey each qualified to compete in the National Forensics League National Championships McCall was a semifinalist in Student Senate and a quarterfinalist in Impromptu Orey was an octafi-nalist in Poetry

What else is going on at HelixLenelle Wyliersquos honors biology

classes have been accepted to attend the Science Lecture Series at the Scripps Research Institute

Jeff Kepperrsquos Oceanography class will be working with the

Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute and raising white sea bass in the classroom This is the second group of white sea bass raised by Helix students

Highland Players present The Odd Couple by Neil Simon Nov 5-8 and Nov 13-14 at 7 pm in the Black Box Theater They will perform both the original laquomaleraquo version and the ldquofemalerdquo version in repertory Tickets are $10 and will be available at helixdramaweeblycom or at the door Performances may sell out so buy early

Take a tourFinally we are always inter-

ested in letting our community know about Helix Charter High School The Excellence in Education Tour is offered twice a month and is open to anyone who wishes to attend It is a one-hour tour and program that highlights our vision history accomplish-ments goals and needs This monthrsquos tours will take place on Tuesday October 7 from 830 ndash 930 am and Thursday October 23 from 530 ndash 630 pm More information can be found at helix-charternet We hope to see you there

mdashJennifer Osborn is the com-munity relations officer for Helix Charter High School Email her at josbornhelixcharternetu

A commitment to educational excellence has always been a

part of the culture of Grossmont High School In the 1980s Grossmont began offering a new curriculum mdash Advanced Placement mdash that challenges the high school student to master a rigorous college-level curricu-lum Each May the students may then take the AP Exam Passing the exam with a score of 3 4 or 5 will in most cases translate to the student receiv-ing college credit or course exemption

In 1981 Grossmont English teacher Kay Adams offered an after-school tutorial for her senior students who wanted to take the AP English Language and Composition Exam Twenty-one students met with her to receive preparation for the exam all 21 students passed the exam with five stu-dents receiving a 5 the highest score

ldquoI learned more than I ever taughtrdquo Adams said ldquoThose students were the brightest minds I ever metrdquo

Beginning in 1982 AP

courses became a yearly English course offering

Other challenges presented themselves to early AP teach-ers In the 1980s through 1996 Sue Emerson AP Biology teacher found ways to cre-atively schedule her class On Wednesdays the students came in an hour early to complete the sophisticated experiments the curriculum required

ldquoOne fun activity was a nation-wide project studying wetlandsrdquo Emerson recalled ldquoThe students shared information with schools around the country via telecom-munication from their study of the Tijuana River Estuaryrdquo

Today Grossmont offers 15 different honors courses which prepare the students for the diverse variety of subsequent 19 Advanced Placement courses

Art AP Art History Studio Drawing 2-D Design

Business AP Computer Science

English AP Literature and Composition Language and Composition

Language AP Spanish Language Spanish Literature and Culture French Language and Culture

Math AP Calculus StatisticsPerforming Arts AP Music

Advanced Placement Theory

Science AP Biology Environmental Science Physics

Social Science AP European History US History Psychology US Government

Over the years the curriculum has evolved AP French Language and Culture teacher Azita Mahmoudi noted that the ldquoAP test has changed from a narrow grammar-based test to an open-ended test based on cultural knowledgerdquo

ldquoPhysics isnrsquot dif-ficult It only has the reputation of being dif-ficultrdquo said longtime AP Physics teacher Tom Eklund

Eklundrsquos creative lessons include the one shown in the 2012 photograph of student Jessie Hodges dropping his project off the bleachers and measuring its fall

During the past five years the number of tests taken by Grossmont students has risen from 453 in 2009 to 646 in 2014 While the passing rate dropped from 65 to 58 percent in those

same years more Foothillers were given the opportunity to challenge themselves and prepare for post secondary education

A continuing goal of Grossmont staff is to have more enrolled students take the test however each test costs $89 with many students taking more than one test

Those wishing to sponsor one or more tests with a tax-deduct-

ible donation may contribute to the GHS Educational Foundationrsquos AP Scholarship Fund by sending a check to GHS Educational Foundation PO Box 1043 La Mesa CA 91944

ldquoGrossmont High School is proud to support our honors and Advanced Placement curricu-lumrdquo said Principal Dan Barnes ldquoWe are very excited to see the very high increase in partici-pation in our courses over the past three years and contin-ued success by our

teachers and students shown in their AP exam pass ratesrdquo

Visit Grossmont and wit-ness firsthand a campus that celebrates it heritage and embraces its future Regular public hours are noon to 4 pm on Wednesday Oct 1 and Nov 5 or by appointment

Contact the Grossmont High School Museum by phone at 619-668-6140 or by email at ghs-museumguhsdnetu

AP Physics students participate in an experiment at Grossmont High School in 2012 (Courtesy GHS Museum)

18 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

PUZZLESSUDOKU

Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9 Each number can appear only once in each row column and 3x3 block Use logic and process elimination to solve the puzzle

copy 2014 Janric Enterprises Dist by creatorscom

CROSSWORD

Business 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 wwwGotFreedomcom Call 858-278-2120 Your future is counting on you (1214)

For SaleNICE 1BD HOUSE IN LA MESA LIVDEN LG KITCHEN BATH WD LG BEDROOM NICE SUNDECK $1000 INCLUDES GE WATER TRASH CALL CLARA 6194650591 (0914)

Sweet male and female Tea-cup Yorkie 12 weeks old $500 Will be 4 lbs at full growth Microchiped shots and dewormed coming with registration papers mlcpetsyahoocom 661-858-0633 (0914)

NoticesWIDOW OR WIDOWER Interested in social activities You are welcome to join our club Widows or Widowers (WOW) of San Diego Website wwwwowsdorg Phone 619-448-6088 (0914)

ServicesJennarsquos Barber Shoppe Styling for men women amp children Wheelchair friendly Old time expert

haircuts at affordable prices Colors amp perms 7424 Jackson Dr1A (across from Keilrsquos in Bank of America lot) Tues-Fri 830-530pm Sat 830-noon Walk-ins or By appt 619-644-3669 (1214)

Lindarsquos Puppy Love licensed insured pet sitting service offering daily walks cat care overnight stays-your home lots of love 619-857-3674 wwwlindaspuppylovecom (615)

Locksmith - Discount Deadbolts and Rekeying - security door viewers patio door locks simulated alarms magnetic door stops Cliff Henderson 619-840-3327 - Lic LCO4353 - Bonded - Never a trip charge (0615)

Quality exterior carpentry Decks Fences Patio Covers and Termite Repair Lic365241 wwwaactionbuildersofsandiegocom Bob 619-275-1493 (415)

Bathtubs and sinks refinished like new San Carlos based business for over 25 years - same owner Lic560438 wwwsaveatubsdcom 619-464-5141 (0115)

German Setter Tile and Marble Professional marbletile setter with 28 years experience European craftsmanship Punctual amp dependable License 872804 Contact Jens Sedemund 619-415-6789 or jensgermansettercom (1214)

Dan Patterson HandymanCarpentry Repair and replacement of plumbing electrical repair installation of water heaters doors windows cabinets flooring fencing Pressure washing of driveways all phases of

Finding Senior Housing can be complex but it doesnrsquot have to be

(800) 217-3942A Place for Mom is the nationrsquos largest senior living referral

information service We do not own operate endorse or recommend any senior living community We are paid by partner communities

so our services are completely free to families

ldquoYou can trust A Place for Mom to help yourdquo

ndash Joan Lunden

BUSINESS amp SERVICES

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 (1214)

BARGAIN BOYZ CONSTRUCTIONREPAIRS 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 jimmysupancoxnet (1014)

PLUMBERhellipLicensed and Insured Over 25 years experience La Mesa resident OwnerOperator Reasonable rates Courteous service Lic 527864 Call Peter 619-698-0313 wwwFelberPlumbingcom (0914)

ROOFING Lic 691295-C39 Veteran owned Allied Gardens based Celebrating 20 years Full roof amp repair Free est Veteran amp Senior discounts 619-823-7208 (615)

WantedHelping Hands Animal Sanctuary seeks laundry detergent (all free and clear) and fabric softener (Downey free and gentle) 619-460-6679 (0914)

Job WantedNanny seeking work certified bkgd ck CPR First Aide 20 years experience wchildren and babies Great references Call Peggy 619-246-6572 or 512-755-0813

ANSWERS ON PAGE 20

Experienced amp Professional

Renee Differ

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Air amp ElectricalWater heaters garbage disposals drain cleaning Video pipe inspections water softeners amp filtration Faucets and toilets Visit our Show-room (06-12)

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PLUMBING

sdcnncom 19Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierPUZZLES CLASSIFIEDS

Sudoku amp Crosswordpuzzle answers from

page 19

The Academic Senate at Grossmont College last

month honored math instruc-tor Michael Lambe a Mt Helix resident with the Distinguished Faculty award the first ever for a part-time member of the col-lege faculty

Lambersquos 36 years as part-time instructor at Grossmont College concurrent to his 39-year teach-ing career with the Grossmont Union High School District gave him a unique perspective and insight on nurturing stu-dent success His dual career has made him especially aware of the need to make the transi-tion from high school to college as seamless as possible and to ensure secondary level curricu-lum prepares students for higher education

His interaction between Grossmont College and Monte Vista High School where he was chair of the math depart-

Math teacher is Grossmont Collegersquos part-time instructor of the year

ment made him a natural to help develop the first articula-tion agreement between the college and high school which helps students smoothly transi-tion without duplicating classes or experiencing delays

It wasnrsquot just students who benefitted from Lambersquos experi-ence with both systems When

driver education was eliminated from the high school curriculum and instructors were facing lay-offs he worked with the high school and college districts to develop a two-year program that prepared the former driver edu-cation instructors to acquire the teaching credentials needed to become math instructors

ldquoItrsquos been a fantastic career mdash Irsquove been blessedrdquo Lambe said

Following his retirement from the high school district Lambe was recruited four years ago as the collegersquos part-time senate officer with the Academic Senate and chair of the of the Academic Senate Part-Time Committee As head of the new committee he began tackling issues like office hours college governance and academic rank on behalf of part-timers

ldquoMichael has unified the [Academic Senatersquos Part-Time] committee and made it the most respected and cohesive voice for part-time faculty on the campusrdquo said one of his colleagues in a nomination for Lambe for the Distinguished Faculty award ldquoHe has brought part-time faculty issues into the college governance conversation as never before and helped part-time faculty be better informed through excellent professional development activities and communicationsrdquo

Lambe described his efforts on behalf of part-time instructors as a way of paying it forward

ldquoEven as a part-timer I have done a lot of things that full-time department members dordquo he said ldquoThis is my profession mdash my calling and my love This

award is the greatest honor I have ever received My col-leagues couldnrsquot have given me anything greater and to be the first recipient is tremendousrdquo

In addition to honoring Lambe for his achievements as a member of the part-time faculty the academic senate also honored Spanish instruc-tor Yolanda Guerrero with the Distinguished Faculty award for full-time faculty

President Sunita V Cooke said Lambe and Guerrero exem-plify Grossmont Collegersquos faculty members who are passionate about teaching and motivated to boost their profession and their colleagues

ldquoThe campus community owes a debt of gratitude to fac-ulty members with that kind of dedicationrdquo she said ldquoTheir generosity is an inspiration to us allrdquo

At Cuyamaca College Spanish instructor Patricia Santana won the Outstanding Faculty Award for full-time tenured faculty Arabic instructor Aklas Sheia won the award for outstanding part-time faculty

mdashDella Elliott is public information assistant for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College Districtu

DellaElliott

Michael Lambe gives a math lesson something hersquos been doing for nearly four decades in local classrooms (Courtesy Grossmont College)

20 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

Join us for a 3-course dinner and information on Chronic back pain causes and solutions Recent advances in back pain relief Different surgical options QampA with leading San Diego spine specialist

Presented by Choll Kim MD PhD a San Diego Magazine ldquoTop Doctorrdquo and Medical Director of the Advanced SpineInstitute at Alvarado Hospital ndash named Americarsquos 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgerytrade and Orthopedic Surgerytrade in 2014

Cost $10person Seating is limited mdash RSVP requiredCall (619) 229-4548 to register

Location Terra Bistro7091 El Cajon Blvd San Diego 92115

MONDAY SEPT 29 6-8 PMTERRA AMERICAN BISTRO

AlvaradoHospitalcom | (619) 287-3270

Zucchini pancakes

Whatrsquos Cooking with

Julie AnnWhite

Julie

Grate away on your box grater to create this deli-

cious dinner side dish Herersquos a savory treat to serve with a salad or light chicken or fish meal They are a little bit addictive and really easy to make

Serves four (makes six small pancakes)

Ingredients3 medium zucchini grated on a box grater or food processor12 red or yellow onion grated2 large eggs lightly beaten8 Tbsp Panko bread crumbs (flour can be used instead)1 tsp baking powder1 tsp kosher saltPinch of black pepper2 Tbsp butter14 cup olive oil for frying

DirectionsGrate the zucchini and onion into a medium bowl Press with a

few paper towels to absorb juice Add remaining ingredients and stir well If batter is runny add more breadcrumbs or flour Heat large skillet and melt butter and oil over medium heat Drop the zucchini mixture into six to eight golf ball-sized gently patted pancakes Cook until golden brown Serve warmu

Put down your iPhone 6 push aside your Samsung Note 4

and turn off the TV La Mesa is asking its citizens to invest some time in one of their 14 local parks for Park Appreciation Day Oct 18

ldquoThis community event demon-strates the spirit and commitment that La Mesans have for their public facilitiesrdquo said Yvonne Garrett assistant city manager and director of community ser-vices in La Mesa ldquoLocal residents and visitors have a sense of own-ership and take pride in La Mesa parks Park Appreciation Day is an opportunity for individuals to share that enthusiasm with friends and neighborsrdquo

The impetus for La Mesa Park Appreciation Day began in 2005 when a member of a local church congregation contacted the city to ask whether their church could take on a community project in La Mesa said Garrett who is also staff director for La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation

Because the city had recently eliminated several temporary park maintenance worker posi-tions and had received a similar request for a local project from another organization city staff thought it would be a good idea

Citizen groups pitch in for Park Appreciation Day

to gather the various groups to help clean up the parks prompting the creation of Park Appreciation Day

La Mesa community services manager Mike Pacheco said he has been impressed with the pride La Mesans have in their community as well as their desire to volunteer for the city

ldquoParks and recreation pro-grams bring tremendous benefits to people of all agesrdquo Pacheco said ldquoThey contribute to help-ing us live longer better lives through active pursuits new life skills educational programs and safe activities Great parks and programs also help build a stronger community connecting individuals families and groups through the power of play Recreation programs and engag-ing exciting facilities help keep kids active and off the streetsrdquo

Park Appreciation Day proj-ects include spreading mulch planting flowers and painting picnic tables and restrooms Pacheco said

Since its inception several local groups have consistently volun-teered each year Christ Lutheran Church Journey Church Helix Interact Club Friends of Canine Corners Kiwanis Club of La Mesa La Mesa Rotary La Mesa Beautiful La Mesa Lions Club and La Mesa Police Department

Last year more than 150 vol-unteers participated on Park

Appreciation Day and removed 22 cubic yards of green material plus nine cubic yards of trash according to Garrett

Although most of La Mesarsquos parks have the same groups cleaning them every year Porter Park Fitness Plaza located at 8425 University Ave is still without a group Porter needs additional native plants installed in some areas in the beds Garrett said

Disclosure Writer Genevieve A Suzuki serves as a commissioner for the La Mesa Community Services Commission and is a member of La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation She is happy to put away her iPhone Oct 18 to help clean her local parku

Genevieve Suzuki

Make La Mesa beautifulInterested in getting

involved with La Mesa Park Appreciation Day Oct 18 Want to encourage your civic church or social group to adopt a park

All ages are welcome to par-ticipate Signed waivers are required Parents must accom-pany children under 18 at the parks unless their children are with a supervised group

Sign up by calling 619-667-1304 or email communitycila-mesacaus

sdcnncom 21Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierDINING LOCAL NEWS

New Patient Special

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$113 for exam x-rays oral cancer screening and cleaning

In absence of gum disease A $520 value

Donrsquot avoid the dentist Remove the anxiety and fear with Sedation Dentistry

A Shop For Smiles

Dr Hagstrom619-465-5252 | 8923 La Mesa Blvd | La Mesa CA 91942

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Visit us today

Baseball book signingSunday Oct 12

Geoff Miller mental skills coach for the Atlanta Braves will discuss and sign copies of his new book ldquoIntangibles Big-League Stories and Strategies for Winning the Mental Game mdash in Baseball and in Liferdquo at 2 pm at Barnes amp Noble 5500 Grossmont Center Dr

Diverse Capacities workshopWednesday Oct 15

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Mariko Peshon will lead a work-shop focusing on the physical emotional and social abilities and disabilities that often go unrec-ognized and unaccommodated in our communities The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

East County Intergenerational GamesTuesday Oct 16

Active adults ages 50 and older will team up with kids between the ages of 7 and 12 for a morning of fun noncompetitive activi-ties at La Mesa Middle School 4200 Parks Ave from 830 am to noon The games include street hockey shot frisbee toss ldquoskeeballrdquo pitch t-ball and trivia games Snacks and lunch are included Interested adults must register in advance by contacting the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center at 619-667-1322

Introduction to home caregivingSaturday Oct 18

Caring for a loved one at home often involves transfers personal care proper body mechanics and other specific skills and knowl-edge Learn and practice the basics with a registered nurse at this event from 9 am to 1 pm in classroom 1314 of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Brier Patch Campus 9000 Wakarusa St Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or

register online at sharpcom

Workshop Finding Your Voice in the Social Justice MovementTuesday Oct 21

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Kenyon Whitman will lead an interactive workshop exploring social justice concepts how to develop a leadership style and creative ways to effectively com-municate in diverse groups The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the stu-dent center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

Medicare and drug cover-age updates for 2015Friday Oct 24

A free lecture will cover Medicare insurance changes for 2015 Medicare Parts A B D HMOs and more Presented by Community Education Specialist Pablo Corona the lec-ture will also cover the Medicare Saving Program and Extra-Help Program that assist with prescription costs for Medicare Parts B and D The talk begins at 10 am at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Lung function screeningWednesday Oct 29

Do you have trouble catching your breath after a short walk The Pulmonary Department at Sharp Grossmont Hospital will offer a free basic lung function test from 9 am to 2 pm for anyone who has not yet seen a doctor about breathing prob-lems The screening will be held at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center Building F Room 16 9000 Wakarusa St Appointments are required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Free blood pressure screeningFriday Oct 17

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center 8450 La Mesa Blvd No appointment necessary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Park Appreciation DaySaturday Oct 18

Groups of volunteers will get to work on projects to beautify and improve parks across town from 8 am to noon All ages are welcome but children under the age of 18 need to submit a waiver signed by a parent or legal guard-ian If your church or civic group wants to get involved call 619-667-1300 or email communitycila-mesacaus

lsquoHowl-oweenrsquo dog cos-tume contest and picnicSaturday Oct 18

Dress up your dogs in a cute or spooky Halloween costume and bring them out to Canine Corners the dog park at Harry Griffen Regional Park between 11 am and 3 pm Proud pet par-ents will have the chance to get their poochrsquos picture taken at the pumpkin patch as well as meet representatives from animal rescue groups the county sheriffrsquos K-9 unit and other vendors The costume contest begins at 1130 am A hot dog picnic lunch will be offered for $3 Canine Corners volunteers will accept donations to help with the maintenance of the dog park

Picnic with the parrotsSunday Oct 26

At Socal Parrotrsquos annual fundraising event attendees have a rare chance to view the non-profit organizationrsquos reha-bilitation facility meet animals talk with experts observe live art bid in a silent auction and buy into a raffle Based in Jamul SoCal Parrot works to protect and care for wild and endan-gered parrots across the region Tickets to the all-day fundrais-ing event range from $32 to $100 and can be purchased online at socalparrotorgu

Calendar from page 15

Send details of your com-munity events to the editor at jeremysdcnncom Deadline is the third Friday of the month

22 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 CALENDAR

Why a fiscally conservative vote-by-mail plan got no GOP love

A bill that would drastically change the way San Diego

Countyrsquos special elections are run passed without any Republican help mdash it got just two votes total from GOP lawmakers in Sacramento

It might surprise you to learn then that when the idea first emerged Democrats helped lead the charge against it

How some leading party mem-bers reversed course in just a few years says a lot about the current political landscape and the future of elections in San Diego County

Democrats wrote the current bill mdash which would create a five-year pilot program in San Diego County that would make spe-cial elections for open seats run primarily by mail with a drasti-cally reduced number of polling places mdash and they led the politi-cal charge for it

But Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez the billrsquos author remembers how hard she fought to kill the idea of vote-by-mail elections years ago

ldquoWhat happens I think so often is there is this attachment to the status quo therersquos fear about changing thingsrdquo Gonzalez said

Gonzalez said her mind was changed by a couple factors One is that she discovered during her years as a labor advocate that voters who had a ballot mailed to them before the election were roughly five times more likely to actually vote

The other she said is she realized the county was spend-ing a huge amount more per person who voted at the polls versus by mail

County officials said that in the March 2013 special election to fill the vacant 40th state Senate district seat they spent $221 per

Ari Bloomekatz

in-person voter verses $9 per mail voter

Then therersquos the fact that pathetic voter turnout in each of the last several elections has favored Republican candidates across the board

ldquoWe have all watched as voter turnout has plummeted in recent elections and itrsquos our responsi-bility to do something about itrdquo Gonzalez wrote in a press release after the bill passed

Some observers speculated that some Republicans simply didnrsquot support the bill because it was being led by promi-nent Democrats like Gonzalez (Gonzalez agrees thatrsquos probably true)

But if you want to understand why GOP support was so hard to come by for a bill steeped in fiscally conservative principles and that originated from a con-servative San Diego County government consider these three points

Republicans seized on civil rights groupsrsquo hesitation

Some of the strongest initial opposition to the vote-by-mail legislation came from civil rights groups concerned the new pro-cedures could disenfranchise immigrants and the disabled

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund initially opposed the bill but dropped its opposition after working with Gonzalez and San Diego County officials on protec-

tions for immigrantsStill MALDEF and other

groups wouldnrsquot officially support the measure

ldquoThere is some research out there that shows that mail-in ballots do have an adverse impact on minority votersrdquo said Denise Hulett an attorney with MALDEF

Hulett said MALDEF supports testing out vote-by-mail but isnrsquot sold on it yet

Those groupsrsquo reluctance had an impact on Republican legislators like Escondido Assemblywoman Marie Waldron She said she didnrsquot feel comfortable signing on to a bill without MALDEF and other civil rights groupsrsquo support

ldquoI have to wonder if this is disenfranchising a significant number of people that vote at the pollsrdquo Waldron said ldquoWhat about the people who are maybe you know possibly visually impaired or something like thatrdquo

The money wasnrsquot enoughSan Diego County Registrar

Michael Vu strongly supports the pilot program and believes it could trim costs by 30 - 40 percent

But somehow the cost-savings issue wasnrsquot enough to win over the vast majority of Republican legislators

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez said he thought the cost-savings touted by Democrats were only rough estimates and was not inclined to vote for a bill just

because of those projectionsldquoAs Irsquove said a number of times

before all these bills that theyrsquore putting through hellip really doesnrsquot address the issue of what wersquore trying to do which is get more people to voterdquo he said

Instead of just moving imme-diately to vote-by-mail Chavez wants to create a bipartisan special committee to study new voting technologies

Republicans fear voter fraud

Republicansrsquo fear of potential voter fraud through expansion of vote-by-mail overshadowed potential economic gains

The bill ldquoincludes no protec-tions to ensure the integrity and security of all-mail elections While interesting we need to be careful changing election lawsrdquo wrote Amanda Fulkerson of the Assembly Republican Caucus which advocated fiercely against the bill

ldquoRight now our members feel that we should not jeopardize our consistent voting system until we have further facts and statistics on all-mail electionsrdquo Fulkerson wrote

Republicans believed the threat of fraud would be compounded by another voting-related bill moving through the legislature at the same time

That bill would change the rules about how long mail ballots can be received and counted after an election

Currently vote-by-mail ballots must be received by election offi-cials before polls close on the day of the election The new law would allow ballots to be received no later than three days after the election (if it was time-stamped or post-marked on or before Election Day)

Assembly Republicans feared the two bills combined could allow for abuse of the system

State Sen Joel Anderson was one Republican who voted against the mail-counting bill but in favor of Gonzalezrsquos vote-by-mail effort

Anderson said that he voted against the mail-counting bill because he saw it as ldquocompletely gaming the systemrdquo but believes the vote-by-mail bill is ldquobetter for the voters itrsquos better for my constituentsrdquo

Put yourselves in the shoes of

Vu and other county officials for a minute

Nearly every time an election comes up the county spends anywhere from $1 million to $12 million-plus and organizes hordes of poll workers and pre-cincts across the county

And what happens at the end of the day

Turnout is generally low and increasing numbers of residents opt to vote by mail anyway

As Vu tells it he just wants to save the county money and acknowledge the changing winds when it comes to vote-by-mail

But nothing is ever as simple as a dollar saved in Sacramento mdash especially when it comes to something as fundamental as how voters choose their elected officials

Gonzalez said most people do not understand how difficult this bill was to pass politically Sure Republicans barley supported it but there was strong opposition from many Democrats too The instinct to preserve the status quo when it comes to elections among legislators in Sacramento is strong she said

ldquoIt was kind of funny Irsquom in Republican land carrying this bill pissing off Democrats and voting rights groups and minor-ity groupsrdquo she said ldquoI had to convince everybody that this is OK that change is OKrdquo

Brown has until Sept 30 to sign the bill

mdashAri Bloomekatz is an inves-tigative reporter for Voice of San Diego focusing on county govern-ment You can reach him directly at aribloomekatzvoiceofsandi-egoorg or 619-550-5669u

(Courtesy Flickr user bludgeoner86Creative Commons)

Voice of San Diego

sdcnncom 23Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

Everyone in every price range deserves the quality of Sothebyrsquos Realty

8310 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa CA 91942 bull 6193371700

SPRING VALLEY bull $362000LA MESA bull $499000CARDIFF BY THE SEA bull $525000

Spacious Sweetwater Springs home on corner lot Recently updated kitchen amp bath w granite countertops SS appl wine refrigerator and wood floors Upstairs BRs w mirrored wardrobe doors and ceiling fans Sliding doors to private view deck ideal for watching the sunset

JOE SOUTHWICK 6195898224

Just listed Tastefully remodeled single level entertainerrsquos paradise Large great room with chefrsquos kitchen Private backyard with pool hot tub palapa-covered bar amp grill shade patio and sun deck

JULIE ADAMS 6194810200

Rarely available 2BR 1BA twin home in the highly sought after Park Place neighborhood of Cardiff By The Sea Community pool and spa 25+ acre canyon with walking trails sand volleyball and more

YVETTE WOODS 6199223436

Laurarsquos Solds 2014 bull (619) 540-7744 bull LauraLothianRealEstatecomMost Homes Sold in La Mesa Last 11 Years

Want your home sold Ask a busy agent Call Laura Lothian TODAY 6195407744

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

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SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE

PENDING PACIFIC BEACH

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PacificSothebysRealtycomcopyMMVIII Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC A Realogy Company All Rights Reserved Sothebyrsquos International Realtyreg is a registered trademark licensed to Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC An Equal Opportunity Company Equal Housing Opportunity Each Office is Independently Owned And Operated Cal BRE 01767484 Seller will entertain offers within the listed range

SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX

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Source TrendGraphix MLS data for zip codes 91941 amp 91942 January 1 2003 to January 1 2014

24 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

Our affiliate offers Gardasil mdash one of two FDA-approved HPV vaccines mdash in all of our health centers

CDC recommends vaccina-tion of girls and boys ages 9 ndash 26

Routine vaccination is a series of three shots over the course of six months

Other immunizations that are important for women of reproductive age mdash both for general health and prior to pregnancy mdash include Hepatitis B influenza Measles Mumps

Our current hot weather reminds me how every

summer at least one dog is found in a hot car mdash and sadly that dog becomes sick or dies

When I hear these stories or see poorly cared for dogs on the streets I often wonder why anyone who cannot adequately care for a pet chooses to become a pet parent

Pets are not just furry cute creatures made to entertain you They are living beings that deserve the same quality of life that you have

You may think yoursquore per-forming a good deed by buying or adopting a pet but yoursquore

Not every pet adoption is a good adoptionJimMadaffer

really doing the pet a disservice if you donrsquot carefully evaluate the responsibilities the job title holds

About 164 million house-holds in the US owned pets in 2012 according to The Humane Society That number grew rap-idly from 40 years ago when only 67 million households had pets

Itrsquos great to know that more and more families are becom-ing pet owners But becoming a pet parent should be thor-oughly considered just as if you were to consider having a child The responsibilities may not be the same but there are some including

Ensuring your dog has a bal-anced diet and exercise regimen

Ensuring your dog is properly bathed and groomed

Ensuring your dog is properly

trainedFurther before you head to a

breeder or animal shelter ask yourself these questions

Do I have the time to commit to a dog

Do I have the resources to ensure a dog will have a quality life

Am I committed to caring for it for the next 10 to 20 years

Do I know the laws governing pet licensing where I live

Irsquom not a veterinarian or a zoologist but I am a reasonable person and choosing to be a pet owner when yoursquore not ready is unreasonable

mdashJim Madaffer is the owner of Madaffer Enterprises a former San Diego Councilmember and the proud pet parent of two bulldogsu

Happy Hour ndash Get $1 off all pints Weekdays Tuesday ndash Friday 1130 am ndash 3 pm Late Night Tuesday ndash Saturday 8 pm to close

Daily Beer and Food Specials Monday $10 craft beer pitchers and 50-cent wings Tuesday $3 taco specials Wednesday Happy hour prices all day ($1 off all pints) Thursday Specialty beer tapped between 4 and 5 pm Friday $4 Potato skins Saturday Rib and ale combo only $10 Sunday $12 craft beer pitchers $5 pulled pork nachos

Welcome to West Coast Barbecue and Brew ndash your neighborhood BBQ pub We have a rotating draft beer selection featuring some of the finest brews around In addition to the tasty BBQ menu items please check out our daily specials food board on our patio including soups sandwiches and salads We are now open for lunch at 1130 am six days a week Tuesday through Sunday We open at 4 pm on Mondays

6126 Lake Murray Blvd La Mesa (located in the Ross Shopping Center)

619-462-3660wwwwestcoastbbqandbrewcom

Tu-Th 1130am-10pm Fri amp Sat 1130 am - 11 pm Sun 1130 - 8pm Mon 4-9 pm

have gotten all three doses of the vaccine (In California the odds are slightly better mdash 43 percent of girls and 13 percent of boys ages 13 to 17 have received all three doses) As a result millions of people are still infected with HPV every year and nearly all sexually active people will con-tract a form of HPV at some point in their lives

Key facts about HPV and the HPV vaccine

70 percent of cervical cancers worldwide are caused by only two types of HPV (16 and 18)

and Rubella (MMR) Tetanus Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) and Varicella for those who have not had chicken pox

Share this article with your friends and family and spread the word about the importance of getting teens vaccinated against HPV

For more information or to make an appointment visit plannedorg or call 1-888-743-7526 (PLAN)

mdashKelly Culwell is the Medical Director for Planned Parenthood of the Southwest For more infor-mation visit plannedorgu

Business Spotlight West Coast Barbeque

Vaccine from page 6

sdcnncom 7Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierOPINION

NEW CLIENT FIRST TIME EXAM

9160 Fletcher ParkwayLa Mesa CA 91942

wwwfletcherhillsanimalhospitalcom

Call to schedule your discounted exam

(619) 463-6604

SPECIAL OFFER COUPON

50 OFF50 OFF

A N I M A L H O S P I TA L

As I write this monthrsquos column my husband and I are sitting

on top of the world in a colleaguersquos cabin on Mt Palomar a weekend getaway from the fall heat wave and pressures of everyday life

We havenrsquot been here in many years The views are stunning of course but what I notice this time are the number and variety of birds mdash birds that are quite different from ones we enjoy feed-ing and watching in La Mesa

Irsquove had my eyes glued to binoc-ulars since we arrived and filled the pond and feeders the owners have placed around the property They also have a number of bird books so I think I rightly identi-fied quite a few species

But there is one elusive fellow I just canrsquot seem to get in my sights His distinctive call is close then far away

Itrsquos time to consult the expert I record the birdrsquos call with my phone and hope to play it for Ed Henry a La Mesa friend who happens to be president of the San Diego Audubon Society an advocacy and educational orga-nization devoted to the welfare of wild birds in our region

Ed is one of the reasons Irsquove recently become so fascinated by local birds He sends out emails almost daily to over 100 inter-ested people showing amazing photos of birds he spots at his La Mesa bird feeders and around San Diego County (or wherever he happens to be traveling at the moment) The variety is astounding

Turns out the San Diego region is one of the richest birding areas in North America with over 500 different species identified here In fact people from all over the world come to see our birds especially during the annual San Diego Bird Festival in March offered by San Diego Audubon

One reason we have a great diversity of birds is because of the unusual variety of habitats in San Diego County mdash from the off-shore islands and extensive coastline to inland valleys and grasslands riverbeds moun-

The Sun Shines Sooner

tains and desert Ed explained This region is also a migratory flyway

Ed was always aware of birds but his recent passion for bird-ing began in 2006 not long after retiring from a 33-year career as an anthropology and ethnomu-sicology professor at San Diego State when he decided to check out the San Diego Bird Festival Hersquos been involved with San Diego Audubon ever since serv-ing as its board president for the last three years

ldquoMy awakening to birds was gradual and occurred through chance contacts with people who knew more than Irdquo he said ldquoI grew up in Nebraska where residents pay most attention to pheasants mdash which happen to be gorgeous as well as good eating and hunting mdash and ducks but also see a few songbirdsrdquo

In Michigan (where he com-pleted his graduate studies) he came in contact with grosbeaks nuthatches and chickadees among others And he became curious about exotic birds he saw in India while doing field research in a small village there

ldquoMoving to San Diego in 1974 I had my first views of long-billed curlews marbled godwits and lit-erally hundreds morerdquo

He and his wife Connie have made La Mesa their home and

enjoyed birds in their backyard here since 1988

ldquoNature is the highest form of artrdquo wrote Emily Dickinson

According to Ed Henry ldquoThe most accessible wild creatures for the majority of Americans are birds In birds we see the shapes colors patterns and movement that constitute a vital part of nature and we hear their sounds toordquo

Wersquore fortunate to live in a place with such rich bio-diversity that is so accessible But San Diego County also contains more rare threatened and endangered species than any comparable land area in the continental United States

Thank goodness there is a passionate dedicated volunteer like Ed Henry to lead San Diego Audubon mdash an organization working every day to protect our birds and other wildlife and to educate and inspire people like me to appreciate not only their beauty but their importance

mdashPam Crooks was the found-ing editor of La Mesa Courier and continues to live in the Mt Helix area Reach her by email at SunShinesSoonergmailcom To learn more or to sign up for the 2015 San Diego Bird Festival visit sandiegoaudubonorgu

A beautiful Yellow-Breasted Chat was spotted recently in the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park (Photo by Ed Henry)

PamCrooks

This La Mesan is a true lsquobird brainrsquo

8 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

A Special

Thank You to My Neighbors

wwwmidwayorg

As we celebrate our 10th anniversary we know San Diegorsquos support has made Midwayrsquos success possible

So for a limited time San Diegans can purchase adult admissions for only $10

Thatrsquos a 50 discount

ldquoThank You San Diegordquo

$10 USS Midway Admission

Just for San Diegans

Bill YoungSafety CorpsLA MESA RESIDENT

Tickets available at wwwmidwayorg and at the ticket booth during museum hours May not be combined with other offers and cannot be resold Proof of ID with a San

Diego zip code required at time of purchase 202

The US Postal Service delivers mail to the front door of most

Uptown residents but that could change if Congress adopts a postal reform bill designed to reduce the cost of delivering mail

Rep Darrell Issa (R-San Diego) has introduced two bills mdash the Postal Reform Act of 2013 and the Secure Delivery for America Act of 2014 mdash that would force the Postal Service to transi-tion away from door delivery at 30 million addresses by 2022 Instead of delivering mail to the door of every residence postal carriers would deliver to curbside mailboxes or cen-tralized cluster boxes that house the mailboxes of multiple residents

That idea is unacceptable to Rep Susan Davis (D-San Diego) who gathered a group of supporters in Talmadge on Aug 27 to denounce the proposal She also introduced a resolution in Congress opposing centralized delivery

ldquoWe donrsquot need thisrdquo Davis said ldquoThe most vulnerable people in our communities will suffer as a resultrdquo

Davis said elderly and disabled citizens would be hurt by the switch to cluster boxes especially if they receive prescriptions by mail because of the increased dis-tance they may be forced to travel to retrieve their mail

Furthermore the cluster boxes are unsightly magnets for theft and vandalism she said

When Davis surveyed commu-nity groups in her district earlier this summer the North Park Planning Committee passed a resolution opposing centralized delivery

ldquoIn the older communities in the mid-city cluster boxes would affect the community character and the historicity of a neighbor-hood like Talmadge which to me looks like Mayberryrdquo said Vicki Granowitz chair of the North Park Planning Committee ldquoItrsquos intact itrsquos beautiful and to have cluster boxes every so often really destroys what these communities look likerdquo

Combined with bus shelters and

No mail at the doorLocal representatives debate

changes to mail delivery

Jeremy OgulEditor

ugly utility boxes cluster boxes would affect property values Granowitz said

ldquoJust think if you would want this in front of your houserdquo she said ldquoDonrsquot do this to us pleaserdquo

The Postal Service has already begun phasing out door delivery in new developments but Issarsquos legislation would essentially make cluster boxes mandatory in many neighborhoods that currently receive door delivery Issarsquos bill

would require the cluster boxes to be placed ldquoin locations that maximize delivery efficiency ease of use for postal patrons and respect for private property rightsrdquo

Rep Scott Peters (D-San Diego) who also spoke at the press conference said that while there are economic challenges that the Postal Service

must address Congress should not get involved in mandating the specific measures the Postal Service should take

Issa disagrees with Davis and Peters

ldquoThe consequence of doing noth-ing to address an Internet-era erosion in the volume of traditional mail delivery is a multi-billion dollar taxpayer funded bailout of the Postal Servicerdquo Issa said ldquoUnfortunately some [representa-tives] holding a press conference and pretending there isnrsquot a prob-lem wonrsquot solve itrdquo

The Postal Reform Act includes exceptions and provisions that would allow seniors and others with physical hardships to keep their door delivery if they already have it and it would give the Postal Service the flexibility to determine where to implement centralized delivery Issa said

ldquoIn reality less than 10 percent of postal customers would see any change under this legislation to their deliveryrdquo Issa said

Despite the financial issues the Postal Service faces the debate over cluster boxes may amount to little more than hot air in the near term Congress only has until Dec 12 to act on legislation in the current session Most of which will be legislative recess Neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate have voted on Issarsquos or Davisrsquos legislationu

Rep Susan Davis speaks in San Diego (Photo by Jeremy Ogul)

ldquoWe donrsquot need this The most vulnerable people in our communities will suffer as a resultrdquo-Rep Susan Davis

sdcnncom 9Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

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RESIDENTIAL bull COMMERCIAL bull RENTALSWater HeatersTankless bull Drain Stoppages bullToilets

Faucets - Kitchen amp Bath bull Water Softeners amp FiltersPressure Regulators bull Camera Inspections of Drains

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EDUCATION

Haunt yourself with contemporary classic horror fiction

Pop culture has a way of show-ing us what our collective

minds love loathe and fear In honor of Halloween I wanted to spend this monthrsquos column looking at the state of popu-lar horror fiction using that to explore the modern American psyche However the only thing this research showed me is that Americans really really love Stephen King

So with that plan foiled I fig-ured Irsquod just recommend some great scary reads past present and near-future

Guillermo del Toro is known primarily for his work in movies but has recently begun writing fiction After bringing us imagi-native films like ldquoPacific Rimrdquo ldquoHellboyrdquo and ldquoPanrsquos Labyrinthrdquo he paired with author Chuck Hogan for a horror trilogy called ldquoThe Strainrdquo

Deciding that seductive brood-ing teen vampires have become passeacute the authors chose to make their vampires ugly mon-sters whose heads split open to bite and drain their victims while vampirism itself is a virus that spreads with the speed of a zombie apocalypse The book series has already been turned into a TV show with its own cult following and that will undoubt-

edly bring more attention to the books all of which are available at the San Diego County Library

The new book Irsquom dying to read is called ldquoHorrorstoumlrrdquo by Grady Hendrix It should hit bookstores (and the library) shortly after I finish typing this If you like your horror with a side of wit and sly

social commentary this is your novel Itrsquos set in a furniture store that bears more than a little resemblance to IKEA where sin-ister and supernatural forces are on the prowl and the poor corpo-rate drones who work there must solve a horrific mystery in order to survive (presumably while fol-

lowing proper corporate protocol and providing excellent customer service) But just as exciting to me the book itself is a parody of an IKEA-style catalog illustrated with furniture schematics and cheery living room photos becom-ing creepier and creepier as the story moves along

Wersquoll end with one of the classics H P Lovecraft This par-anoid reclusive pulp writer from the 1920s was relatively unknown in his day but has become an underground legend His name

is synonymous with foreboding tales of occult rituals evil space gods and of course the descent from reason to madness Taken together his short stories invoke a universe in which humans are insignificant specks whose sanity could be rent asunder if they even began to glimpse the secret powers underlying their existence Lovecraft has dozens of short story collections pick up those containing ldquoThe Call of Cthulhurdquo and ldquoThe Whisperer in the Darknessrdquo Reading any of his stories will leave you feeling unsettled and reluctant to turn off the lights

In conclusion BooFor less-scary costumed fun the

library will be holding its second Star Wars Reads Day from 11 am to 1 pm on Saturday Oct 11 There will be Star Wars-themed crafts games and snacks as well as a costume contest and a visit by local members of the Rebel Legion and 501st Legion devoted Star Wars fans who wear authentic costumes to support community events Last yearrsquos Star Wars Reads Day saw over 125 kids and adults participating so wersquore expecting a great turnout

mdashJake Sexton is librarian at the La Mesa branch of the San Diego County Library Reach him at 619-469-2151 or visit the library at 8074 Allison Aveu

Above The Strain is being adapted to television (Courtesy William Morrow)Left Horrorstoumlr is an innovative horror twist on an IKEA catalog (Courtesy Quirk Books)

JakeSexton

LA MESA READS

10 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

ENTERTAINMENT

La Mesa Village is usually known as a quaint and quiet

part of town but those of us who have been around for a while know therersquos much more to that stretch of La Mesa Boulevard than antique stores and thrift shops

Oktoberfest perhaps the most exciting event hosted in La Mesa each year descends upon the Village for three days over the first weekend in October This year it falls particularly early on Oct 3 ndash 5 with live entertain-ment multiple beer gardens street vendors and more slated to draw the masses

For families venturing to the free event there are carnival games rides and other activities in the Kids Zone (for children under 12) Diverse food options located throughout the 10 blocks of Oktoberfest are an obvious crowd pleaser for all ages Plus the streets are lined with booths of crafts and other products that may inspire an early holiday shopping spree

But itrsquos the big kids who have the most reasons to head to Oktoberfest

The aptly named Big Beer Garden presented by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and the smaller Nebo Drive Beer Garden by the La Mesa Village Merchantrsquos Association are where you will find most of the action at Oktoberfest

The former is located in the Allison Street parking lot (between Pine Street and Palm Avenue) and is home to a large festival stage to go along with the nectar of the hops This beer garden is family-friendly so patrons can feel free to bring their children Pets are not allowed inside the event

Various bands will play the Big Beer Garden all three days pre-senting mostly classic rock lsquonrsquo roll (The Ideas Rock and Roll Trio and The Car Tune Dogs) and some German music (Our Song) This area will also have food options

Good times brewing for annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

mdash including festival favorites like brats and pulled pork sand-wiches mdash to keep partiers fueled throughout the day and night The beer garden will also host a stein-holding contest each eve-ning around 8 pm hosted by Samuel Adams

The Nebo Drive Beer Garden (next to the La Mesa Train Museum) also has a lot to offer Though smaller in scale this adults-only beer garden provides ample enticement with at least three German beers being served It will also host the Bavarian Beer Garden Band on Friday and Saturday These factors will give an authentic feel to this area harkening back to the ldquooriginal Oktoberfest viberdquo according to Bill Dyke of the Bavarian Beer Garden Band

Festivalgoers should note a trol-ley ride to the La Mesa Boulevard stop (near Spring Street) literally drops you right in the middle of the festival Frequent trains going by make public transportation the ideal designated driver for Oktoberfesters ready to imbibe like our German counterparts Popular ride-sharing services are another smart choice for getting to and from La Mesa Trust me mdash you donrsquot want to even attempt to look for parking

In addition to the beer gar-dens and festival food vendors the businesses in and around La Mesa Village will have their doors open to welcome visitors One such spot is Hofferrsquos Cigar Bar which boasts an impressive tap list of craft beers

ldquo[Oktoberfest] brings out a much wilder clientele than we are used to but also a lot of new faces that might have never been in nor heard of usrdquo Hofferrsquos bar manager Ryan Bartman said ldquoSo all in all itrsquos great for businessrdquo

Other businesses along La Mesa Boulevard that should benefit from the increased foot traffic include Konnichiwa Sushi and Bar (bet you didnrsquot know La Mesa Village had sushi) Cosmos Coffee Cafeacute for those needing a caffeine boost to keep going and Trattoria Tiramisu with its authentic Italian dishes and stellar wine list when yoursquove had

enough beers and brats Whether La Mesa is your home

or a place yoursquove never ventured Oktoberfest is the ideal time to enjoy the festival spirit discover the businesses of the village and do the chicken dance like you never have before Whatever you do donrsquot forget to take home a commemorative beer boot

mdashJen Van Tieghem can be reached at jensdcnncomu

JenVan Tieghem

The Tarantino familyrsquos gourmet sausages are always a crowd favorite at La Mesarsquos Oktoberfest a three-day beer and brat extravaganza (Courtesy La Mesa Chamber of Commerce)

La Mesa OktoberfestSchedule of Events

Friday Oct 3Street festival 11 am - 9 pm Big Beer Garden 4 - 1130 pm (last call at 11 pm)The Ideas Rock and Roll Trio 4 - 5 pm The Car Tune Dogs 6 - 10 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden Noon - 9 pm (last call at 830 pm)Bavarian Beer Garden Band 6 - 9 pm

Saturday Oct 4 Street festival 11 am - 9 pm Big Beer Garden 11 am - 1130 pm (last call at 11 pm) Our Song Noon - 4 pmThe Car Tune Dogs 6 - 10 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden 12 - 9 pm (last call at 830 pm)Bavarian Beer Garden Band 2 - 4 pm

Sunday Oct 5 Street festival Noon - 5 pm BIG Beer Garden 1 - 430 pm (last call at 4 pm)Our Song 1 - 4 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden 12 - 430 pm (last call at 4 pm)

Fun FactsVendors Over 250Attendees expected 200000Years of La Mesa Oktoberfest 41 City blocks used forOktoberfest 10Estimated cost for police fire and other city staff time $77000 paid for by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and La Mesa Village Merchants Association

sdcnncom 11Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Jazz

Fridays Charlie Arbelaez Trio at The Rook Free 9 pm TheRookBarcom 7745 University Ave La Mesa

Sundays samdi-ego Jazz Trio at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room Free 2 - 5 pm SanPasqualWinerycom 8364 La Mesa Blvd La Mesa

Oct 15 ldquoThe Music of Will Toddrdquo with the SDSU Chamber Choir Grossmont College Jazz faculty and composerpianist Will Todd at St John of the Cross Catholic Church Suggested donation 730 pm Grossmontedu 8086 Broadway Lemon Grove

PopTuesdays Suzanne Shea and Bob Wade at Bistro Sixty Free 630 to 830 pm BistroSixtySDcom Call and hold your table 619-287-8186 5987 El Cajon Blvd College Area

Wednesdays Westside Inflection at Riviera Supper Club Free 8 pm RivieraSupperClubcom 7777 University Ave La Mesa

Fridays Nathan Welden at Bistro Sixty Free 630 pm BistroSixtySDcom 5987 El Cajon Blvd College Area

Classical

Oct 16 Youth Choir of San Diego at Cuyamaca College Price $8 ($5 for students) 7 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Oct 17 Cuyamaca College Choir at Cuyamaca College Price $8 ($5 for students) 730 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Oct 31 Quatuor Mosaiumlques Classical String Quartet at Cuyamaca College Price $10 730 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Alternative

Sept 27 TaKillya at Chico Club Free 9 pm ChicoClub1940com 7366 El Cajon Blvd La Mesa

Oct 4 Baja Bugs at Riviera Supper Club Free 9 pm RivieraSupperClubcom 7777 University Ave La Mesa

Oct 31 Fifth Annual Halloween Monster Bash with The Farmers at Parkway Bar Free 9 pm TheParkwayBarcom 9188 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa

Other

Thursdays (through Oct 30) Open Mic Acoustic Nights at Parkway Bar Free 7 pm TheParkwayBarcom 9188 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa

Sept 27 Little Kings at Hooleyrsquos Free 9 pm Hooleyscom 5500 Grossmont Center Dr 277 La Mesa

Oct 18 Oktoberfest featuring The Bavarian Beergarden Band at Butcherrsquos Brewing Free 4-10 pm ButchersBrewingcom 9962 Prospect Ave Suite F Santee

Oct 18 Jefferson Washington at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room Free 7 pm SanPasqualWinerycom 8364 La Mesa Blvd La Mesa

Bands venues and music-lovers please submit listings for this calendar by emailing Jensdcnncomu

to 46 feet or about four stories So the Kitzmans have hired

development consultants Urban Housing Partners to convince city leaders to change the zoning on the property to allow build-ing heights up to 110 feet The zoning the Kitzmans are asking for could accommodate up to 363 dwelling units 61000 square feet of commercial retail space 146000 square feet of commer-cial office space or a hotel of up to 250 guest rooms

The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the pro-posed zoning changes on June 18 They made no decision at the time because the Kitzmansrsquo co-applicant American Legion Post 282 announced they were withdrawing their support for the zoning change

The Kitzmans through their South Baltimore LLC resub-mitted their application over the summer The Planning Commission will hear the new and reduced application at a meeting at City Hall on Wednesday Oct 1 at 7 pm

Residents east and west of the project site have been some of the most vocal critics of the proposal to rezone the property

Don Bell whose house on El Capitan Drive overlooks the Park Station property said he and his neighbors are not against redeveloping and improving the property

ldquoItrsquos blight down thererdquo Bell said

What they are against how-ever is rezoning the property

ldquoThe problem really is that the Planning Commission is going to give them a blank checkrdquo he said

Nearby neighbors know and accept that change is inevitable but the added traffic and parking problems that would come from a 10-story building would be unac-ceptable and detrimental to the community said Suda House who also has a view of the Park Station property from her home on El Capitan

ldquoDevelop the heck out of it but keep it below 46 feetrdquo House said

One vocal supporter of the Kitzmanrsquos plan has been Jack Rowell a La Mesa native who now sells real estate across the San Diego region Any new homes that can be added to the La Mesa market will be a good thing Rowell said

ldquoI have a bunch of [potential

buyers] who want La Mesa but itrsquos a fight over every prop-erty especially things under $500000rdquo Rowell said ldquoPeople want the La Mesa schools People want the convenience of La Mesardquo

The only other place where housing prices are compara-ble for high-quality schools is Poway and Poway doesnrsquot have La Mesarsquos Village or its prox-imity to regional destinations Rowell said

Rowell said he understands why nearby neighbors donrsquot want their views to change but therersquos no reason to believe home values will suffer with an increase in supply

ldquoTheyrsquore talking about 300 to 500 condo unitsrdquo Rowell said ldquoThatrsquos like spitting in the oceanrdquo

For Aaron Amerling orga-nizer of the ldquoFight Park Station La Mesa ndash No More Than Fourrdquo Facebook page the colorful renderings of Park Station are a Trojan Horse designed to mis-lead people about what the site could become

ldquoThe Kitzmans do not have the funds to develop thatrdquo Amerling said ldquoThe whole idea is to upzone the land because that improves the resale valuerdquo

If city leaders approve the new zoning the Kitzmans or a new owner could build something completely different than what theyrsquove been advertising

City leaders have been cau-tious about commenting directly on the proposal only issuing vague statements about main-taining the character of the downtown village

Regardless of the Planning Commissionrsquos decision next week the final decision on whether to rezone the property will be made by the full City Council at a later dateu

LOCAL NEWSGen-X in La MesaGive peace a chanceGenevieve Suzuki

G iving peace a chance seems more complicated than it

should beWith all of the strife going on

in this world peace seems to be an almost impossible proposition The appalling brutal treatment of American hostages at the hands of ISIS members resulted in many of us feeling complete repulsion at the state of global affairs

I know I felt sick Even worse I began to feel hopeless

So when Anne Pacheco a member of the Interfaith Council of La Mesa asked me to attend the first International Day of Peace Sept 21 at Aztec Park her invitation stirred something in my soul The day which touted ldquoThe Right of Peoples to Peacerdquo would be a joint effort among people of most of the worldrsquos religions including Judaism Christianity Islam Buddhism Hinduism Native American and Baharsquoi

And although I promised Anne I would attend I thought it was an awfully lofty goal Really All of these people gathering for peace on a Sunday a day many hold holy in their churches

But I was pleasantly surprised when approximately 200 people

showed up with chairs umbrellas hats and hearts at Aztec Park that mild sunny day Many of us pur-chased sky blue scarves from the Sisters of Saint Francis to wear in solidarity for peace Shucks even Mayor Art Madrid wore a scarf over a yellow shirt

I admit however getting my husband Derek to don the blue scarf wasnrsquot easy In fact it wasnrsquot easy getting him there in the first place

Itrsquos not that Derek is against world peace (even though our daughter to this day refuses to add that request to her nightly prayers) Itrsquos more that Sunday is for football in Derekrsquos world and this day of peace was causing him to miss hooting and hollering for his fantasy football team

Nevertheless Derek relented and accompanied me and our daughter to the event This com-promise is one from which most of the world could learn Is Derek a community activist No but Derek is focused on the big pic-ture namely a happy wife and home Focusing on the big pic-ture would help many find peace in their lives locally and globally

As I sat there amid others dedi-cated to peace and non-violence I realized the one common emo-tional positive is the future We all want a better future for our fami-lies and our children We donrsquot

want to leave behind a legacy of anger brutality and war

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we said together at the beginning of the program

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we insisted again

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we vowedAs Rebecca Littlejohn of Vista

La Mesa Christian Church said ldquoWe are gathered in hope today for hope is how we surviverdquo

Thanks to this special inaugural day I was reminded of how impor-tant it was for me to have hope and that reminder allowed me to place aside that earlier feeling of hopelessness conjured by evil deeds in another land After all if I allow myself to fall hopeless I have nothing to give my child On the other hand if I cling to hope it will then be passed on to my daughter who would hold that ideal in her mind and mdash hopefully mdash see it to fruition

As the Native American prayer during the program stated ldquoGive us the wisdom to teach our chil-dren to love to respect and to be kind to each other so that they may grow with peace in mindrdquo

mdashGenevieve A Suzuki is editor emeritus of the La Mesa Courier She continues to live and practice family law in La Mesa Her web-site is sdlawyersuzukicomu

Find out what your home is worth on-line

Visit wwwsandiegohouseareacomOr scan this QR Code with your phone now

Tom Bowker Coldwell Banker West BRE01024513

A rendering by Park Station opponents shows the potential scale of buildings (Courtesy Aaron Amerling)

Park Station from page 1

12 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

Music professorrsquos jazz album wins acclaim

Follow your passionThat has been a guiding

principal for Grossmont College music instructor and jazz bassist extraordinaire Justin Grinnell who ditched plans to study mathematics shortly after enrolling at San Diego State University back in 1999 and meeting musicians ldquowho were doing music all the timerdquo

Good thing Grinnell has become an integral part of a vibrant Grossmont College music program and gigs as a pit orchestra member at myriad venues including the Old Globe La Jolla Playhouse and the San Diego Civic Theatre for a number of Tony Award-winning musicals

And now his debut disc the Justin Grinnell Quartetrsquos Without You has been nomi-nated for a San Diego Music Award for best jazz album

Grinnell is no stranger to awards He is a member of the Danny Green Trio which won the 2009 San Diego Music Award for Best Jazz Album for its debut CD The triorsquos second release A Thousand Ways Home reached No 17 on the Jazz Week Charts for national radio airplay after its 2012 debut

ldquoIrsquom doing what I loverdquo said Grinnell who is on track to earn his Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern California next spring ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the col-lege or university levelrdquo

Grinnell has earned praise from the best in the business

ldquoNot only is Justin a fantastic person but he is such an accom-plished musician a great sight reader which is so important because we do all kinds of tricky music and having someone who is able to read so well is an invalu-able asset and hersquos adept in a lot of different musical stylesrdquo said critically-acclaimed Jazz guitar-ist and composer Peter Sprague ldquoHe also has just such a wonder-ful spirit when it comes to playing music Irsquom really happy to know him and being able to play with him from time to timerdquo

A native of Santa Rosa California Grinnell initially planned to study mathematics and become an engineer But after enrolling in a few music classes at San Diego State and jamming with newfound friends he switched gears It was while he was at SDSU that Grinnell began gigging with future Grossmont College Music Department chair Derek Cannon and met his future wife Melonie a pianist who also teaches music at Grossmont College

With both a bachelorrsquos and masterrsquos degree in jazz perfor-mance from San Diego State in hand Grinnell began working in 2005 as an adjunct music profes-

sor at Grossmont College He also serves as an adjunct music professor at the University of San Diego and taught part time at Southwestern College from 2008 to 2011

ldquoGrossmont College is specialrdquo Grinnell said ldquoIt feels like family here Everyone is part of a com-munity that is working together on behalf of our students doing our best to help them succeed in a business thatrsquos hard to make a living in That camaraderie is pricelessrdquo

Grinnellrsquos passion serves him well in a business where talent alone often isnrsquot enough to sup-port a family

ldquoI tell my students all the time that if theyrsquore looking for job security donrsquot look at a career in jazz musicrdquo Grinnell said adding that he makes a living cobbling together his adjunct

professorships private lessons and regular performances

Grinnell and his wife are juggling their careers while rais-ing two young sons His debut album falls into the category of West Coast-flavored straight-ahead jazz He wrote six of the nine tunes on the disc with the remaining three being covers Especially tasty are the origi-nal ldquoHit the Brakesrdquo and a jazz cover of The Beatlesrsquo Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite

Grinnell however is comfort-able playing a wide variety of styles that range from classical to funk He is a member of the Brazilian jazz-inspired Danny Green Trio (Danny Green also teaches at Grossmont College) and the modern jazz group ARC Trio among others

The Justin Grinnell Quintet will be playing three concerts at Grossmont College in the coming weeks Shows are sched-uled for Sept 28 Oct 26 and Nov 30 in Building 26 Room 220 at 630 pm A full itiner-ary of upcoming performances around the region can be found at JustinGrinnellcom

The San Diego Music Awards take place Oct 6 at Humphreys By The Bay on San Diegorsquos Shelter Island

mdashDavid Ogul writes on behalf of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Email him at ogulcommunica-tionsgmailcomu

ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the college or university levelrdquo-Justin Grinnell

LOCAL NEWS

Justin Grinnell has just released his debut jazz album which has been nominated for a San Diego Music Award (Photo by Jon Naugle)

DavidOgul

sdcnncom 13Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

AUDIT PENDING

wwwsdcnncom

123 Camino de la Reina Suite 202 EastSan Diego CA 92108

P 6195197775 bull F 619-519-7840

1

2

3

4

5

Great Value Proven Results

Community NewsNumber one source of community information Hyper-local news and features In print and online updated daily

Market SaturationCombined distribution of door-to-door delivery high traffic locations and news racks Over 200000 readers

Award Winning JournalismProud recipient of numerous ldquoExcellence in Journalism AwardsrdquoRegular recipient of local and national press awards

Audited DistributionAudited by one of the nationrsquos largest newspaper auditing firms Circulation Verification Council (CVC)Guaranteed distribution

For advertising call(619) 961-1958

mikesdcnncom

1 2 3

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23000 Distribution Bi-WeeklyZip Codes 92103 92104 92105 92116

20000 Distribution MonthlyZip Codes 92101 92102

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15000 Distribution MonthlyZip Code 92108

20000 Distribution MonthlyZip Codes 91941 91942

15000 Distribution Bi-WeeklyServing San Diegorsquos LGBT Community

Distributed Countywide

up along the way include thousands of football cards (both Topps and Fleer) player and coach jerseys jackets personal letters autographed footballs bobbleheads pins programs team photographs and much much more He even has a life-sized bust of Chargers wide receiver Lance Alworth which is a story in itself just ask him

This native sonrsquos collection is not limited to the San Diego Chargers but what he has gathered about them is more than impressive His comprehensive collection also includes items from the Los Angeles Chargers and every other football team that played during the AFL time period

Over the years hersquos met and interviewed dozens of players coaches and families becoming close with many of them Two of his larger per-sonal collections are of Gilman the Chargers first coach and Alworth

In 2004 he wrote ldquoCharging Through the AFL Los Angeles and San Diego Chargers football in the 1960srdquo He followed that up with ldquoBombs Away Air Coryelle and the San Diego Chargersrdquo in 2006 Both books rely heavily on interviews and photographs of their respective periods

A few years ago Tobias decided to channel his love for the AFL through his website TalesFromTheAmericanFootballLeaguecom Here Tobias shares his many interviews of the past runs a blog where he opines on the latest news of players related to the AFL deposits videos stats historical data photos and even has a forum section where others can share their love for the league and its players

He said his goal with the site is to ldquoedutain (educate and entertain) football lovers with stories about all things AFLrdquo To support his internet endeavor hersquos also taken up social media and can be followed on twitter at TalesfromtheAFL and on two locations on Facebook ldquoTales from the American Football Leaguerdquo and ldquoI loved the 1960s Chargersrdquo (a public group) On the latter he shares vintage photographs of the team and banters with the families of players He shares links back to his blog and web-site on both pages

His many follow-ers recently noticed Tobias absent from posting for a time Thatrsquos because he recently gave up approximately 85 percent of his collec-tion to pursue his dream of opening a lacrosse store in La Mesa with an old friend Despite months of hard work that opportunity never panned out Now the five pallets of blood sweat and tears that he consigned to an auction house a few months ago are sitting in a warehouse somewhere in the Midwest being individually categorized and valued in preparation for a national Internet-based auction block next spring

ldquoI was trying to trade one passion for anotherrdquo Tobias said ldquoIf Irsquod known it would have just been trading one passion for money I never would have done it but it is what it isrdquo

Deciding what to keep was a challenge but Tobias said it came down not to which collections were worth the most money but which provided him the most enjoyment

The two-dozen binders still resident on his shelves are neatly filled to the brim with pages of plastic inserts containing football cards with most every card there signed

Tobias said he pulls each binder down two or three times per week just to look through them Inside are vast collections of football cards Many are duplicated but they are categorized in dozens of ways Some collections are still incomplete mdash like his 1965 collection of every card Topps put out for that year he is only missing two out of 176 cards mdash and each time he removes that binder from the shelf he strategizes new ways he can complete that collection There is a story behind every collection and another for every card

He has some cards that hersquos certain do not exist anywhere else and he has numerous cards that had the wrong playerrsquos image printed on them in the publishing housersquos haste to get them out in advance of the new season Hersquos reached out to many of the players over the years sending along his books and asking for autographs and he has the response letters to prove it

In the wake of his failed business attempt Tobias finds himself facing a forgotten challenge looking for work

ldquoI havenrsquot had to do that since graduating collegerdquo he said ldquoFor now Irsquom just working in the back yard putting in a sprinkler system and taking my mind off of it

ldquoSan Diego can be a tough place to live in if you are a sports histo-rianrdquo he said ldquoItrsquos probably time for me to find another line of workrdquo

mdashMorgan M Hurley can be contacted at morgansdcnncomu

Todd Tobiasrsquos collections include signed football cards from the 1965 Chargers and other rare collectibles such as a bust of Lance Alworth (Photos by Morgan Hurley)

Football from page 1

14 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

CALENDAR

Prescription drug collectionSaturday Sept 27

Get rid of your unwanted expired or leftover prescription drugs at this National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day event hosted by the La Mesa Police Department and the US Drug Enforcement Administration The effort is designed to prevent prescription drug abuse Drop your drugs no questions asked from 10 am to 2 pm at the police station parking lot 8085 University Ave For other drop off locations or more informa-tion visit deadiversionusdojgov and click ldquoGot Drugsrdquo

Free electronic waste recyclingSaturday and Sunday Sept 27 ndash 28

State law prohibits disposal of certain electronic items in the trash because many of them con-tain hazardous substances The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce is hosting this free event to help residents properly recycle old televisions computers print-ers VCRs DVD players copiers scanners fax machines toner car-tridges and other approved items Microwave ovens can be disposed of for a service fee of $5 Items will be collected from 9 am to 4 pm in the parking lot between Fuddruckers restaurant and Chuze Fitness at the Grossmont Shopping Center 5500 Grossmont Center Dr The following items will not be accepted refrigerators washers dryers fluorescent light bulbs and household batteries For more details on items that will be accepted visit lamesachambercom

Generational diversity workshopTuesday Oct 2

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series profes-sional development consultant Victoria Hankins will lead a dis-cussion on the multigenerational workplace With four genera-tions working side by side in the American workforce challenges often arise regarding communi-cation styles differing workplace values and misconceptions about workplace motivators Hankins will outline the differences between the four generations and provide tips on how to effectively work in cross-generational teams The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 1030 to 1130 am in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

OktoberfestFriday through Sunday Oct 3 4 and 5

See our article on page 11 in this monthrsquos La Mesa Courier for all the details on the annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

La Mesa City Council Candidates ForumTuesday Oct 7

La Mesa mayoral candidates Art

Madrid and Mark Arapostathis will join City Council candidates Patrick Dean Mary England Pete Gregorovic and Guy McWhirter at this forum hosted and moder-ated by the Community Outreach Ministry of La Mesa First United Methodist Church in the church social hall at 4690 Palm Ave A meet-and-greet will begin at 630 pm The program begins at 7 pm All are welcome

Free blood pressure screeningTuesday Oct 7

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center 9000 Wakarusa St in La Mesa No appointment neces-sary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Senior ExpoThursday Oct 9

The city of La Mesa organizes this free event to help connect senior citizens and their families to the most helpful senior service pro-viders including La Mesa Police Department Crime Prevention Aging and Independence Services Metropolitan Transit System ldquo211rdquo Sharp Senior Resource Center Meals on Wheels DMV Senior Ombudsman Program SDGampE Medical Baseline Program Elderhelp Jewish Family Services Yellow Cab California Telephone Access Program HICAP San Diego

County District Attorneyrsquos Elder Abuse Unit and more The event will be held from 830 am to 130 pm at the La Mesa Community Center 4975 Memorial Dr A shuttle will be available from the Spring Street trolley station Organizers are asking seniors to RSVP by Oct 3 by calling 619-667-1322

Depression and bipolar disorder screeningFriday Oct 10

Dr William Brock will pres-ent a free educational seminar on the signs and symptoms of depression bipolar disorder and other anxiety disorders from 1130 am to 1230 pm Adults ages 60 and older can receive free anonymous screen-ings from Sharp Grossmont Behavioral Health Services from 1030 am to 1130 am and from 1230 pm to 130 pm The seminar and screenings will be held at the Grossmont Healthcare Districtrsquos Herrick Library at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are suggested but not required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

ldquoGot Plansrdquo Career and college fairSaturday Oct 11

High school students and their parents are invited to meet with admissions representatives from public and private universities community colleges vocational

schools and the military at this annual event organized by the Grossmont Union High School District and the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Free workshops will provide information on financial aid changes to SAT and ACT requirements transfer options between two-year colleges and four-year universities and other career topics Some workshops will be offered in Spanish and Arabic The fair is open from 1 to 4 pm at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For more information call Jason Martinez at 619-593-2713

Bunco BashSaturday Oct 11

Soroptimist International of Lemon Grove hosts this special autumn-themed Bunco event to raise money for the grouprsquos projects to help women and chil-dren in our community For $20 participants get three rounds of Bunco a door prize ticket and complimentary fall snacks and dessert Wine will be available for purchase Bunco winners receive gift baskets and raffle prizes will also be offered The event will be held from 1 to 4 pm at St John of the Cross Knights of Columbus Hall at Broadway and Columbus Drive in Lemon Grove Reservations are required Contact Gloria Ferreira at 619-466-3699 or email her at soroptgloriagmailcom

Pooch in the ParkSaturday Oct 11

Kiwanis Club of La Mesa and the Human Relations Advisory Commission will host this com-munity get-together from 9 am to noon at Harry Griffen Regional Park 9550 Milden St For $20 pet owners can enter up to two dogs into a contest show for a chance to win in one of five categories or the ldquobest in showrdquo trophy Raffle prizes giveaways and other demon-strations will round out the morning For more informa-tion contact Glenna Boemen at gab11853aolcom

Fair trade gift fair Sunday Oct 12

The St Martin of Tours Parish Hall will become a world bazaar featuring unique and handcrafted fair trade gifts deacutecor apparel and jewelry from artisans in developing countries from 8 am to 1 pm As they browse the displays created by local vendors who sell fair trade products shoppers will be able to sample or purchase fair trade refreshments including choco-late tea coffee bananas soda and Ben and Jerryrsquos ice cream The parish hall is at 7710 El Cajon Blvd in La Mesa Call 619-466-3241 for additional information

See CALENDAR page 22

sdcnncom 15Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierCALENDAR

Telephone DirectoryPolice non-emergency line 619-667-1400Fire non-emergency line 619-667-1461Animal Control 619-667-7536Graffiti removal 619-667-7560Weed abatement 619-667-1465Traffic signal maintenance 619-667-1166Streetlight maintenance 619-667-1450

Mayor Art Madrid 619-667-1100City Councilmembers 619-667-1106

EDCO 619-287-7555Helix Water District 619-466-0585Helix Water after hours emergency 619-466-3234

Gov Jerry Brown 916-445-2841US Sen Barbara Boxer 619-239-3884US Sen Dianne Feinstein 619-231-9712US Rep Susan Davis 619-280-5353State Sen Joel Anderson 619-596-3136State Assemblymember Shirley Weber 619-531-7913

Community titan Jerry Fazio announces plans to retire

A fter 35 years with the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County

Jerry Fazio has announced his retirement

Faziorsquos last day on the job as executive director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation will be Oct 24 His official retirement date following vacation will be Dec 4 three days after his 35th anniversary with the youth organization that has served hundreds of thousands of young people in the East County since its founding in 1961

Since joining the organization on Dec 1 1979 Fazio has served in several executive positions with the Girlsrsquo Club and Boys amp Girls Clubs He has also done two stints mdash the most recent of which began in July 2008 mdash as execu-tive director of the foundation a nonprofit fundraising entity

Faziorsquos honors during his career have included El Cajon Citizen of the Year in 1992 Boys amp Girls Clubs Pacific Region Executive of the Year in 2006 and National Executive Director of the Year from Boys amp Girls Clubs of America in 2007 He is known throughout San Diego for his friendly smile and fund-raising passion on behalf of the organization

ldquoHe is the instantly recog-nizable fundraiser and pitch man for our organizationrdquo said Jack Doyle board president of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation ldquoDuring his 35 years Jerry has steered the development of our new and updated facilities in El Cajon Lakeside Santee and La Mesa He leaves us a legacy to be proud of in East County We wish him well as he moves into retirementrdquo

Faziorsquos decision to retire was prompted by recent good news from doctors that he is cancer-free five years after beginning his battle against colon cancer the same disease that led to the 2008 death of his first wife Nancy

ldquoWhile preparing for my cancer

SDCNN Staff

tests I indulged in a little specu-lation about how I might handle the news whether good or badrdquo Fazio said ldquoI concluded that no matter what after 35 years the time has come for me to retire I will concentrate on my faith my health my grandchildren and my gorgeous wife Melissa And if an opportunity comes along to help a good community cause I might just do that toordquo

Faziorsquos recent work with the foundation has focused on an $89 million fundraising effort called the La Mesa Capital Campaign The campaignrsquos goal is to build a new clubhouse in La Mesa reno-vate an existing teen center in the city and fund an endowment to operate both facilities

Forrest Higgins CEO of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County will add the role of campaign coordinator to his job with the assistance from staff According to Higgins more than $5 million for the La Mesa Capital Campaign has been raised during Faziorsquos leadership

ldquoJerry has been integral part of the success and growth of the Boys amp Girls Club of East Countyrdquo Higgins said ldquoHis dedi-cation and passion to the youth and families of East County will be greatly missedrdquo

Since 1961 the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County have been meeting the developmental needs of children and youth The orga-nizationrsquos mission statement ldquoTo inspire and enable all young people especially those who need us most to become responsible caring productive citizensrdquou

Jerry Fazio (Courtesy Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County)

notice to which the couple didnrsquot respond in time to renew their five-year lease Katie said

The next they heard they had to close the bar by Nov 1

ldquoI truly believe that when one door closes another one opensrdquo says Katie Halvin who runs the bar with her husband Doug ldquoAs poignant as it is to lose the bar I know we lost it because we didnrsquot pay attention when we should haverdquo

For the past five years Katie Halvinrsquos life has been intertwined with the bar Her first date with now-husband Doug landed her there mdash an Internet connection that led to a meet up in Harry Griffen Park

ldquoWe talked for a while and then he took me to his neighborhood hangout to have a beer and shoot some poolrdquo Katie recalls Katie was retiring from the Navy as a chief torpedo man and she was ready to settle down again ldquoWe got married at the Carlton Oaks [Country Club] mdash the whole bar was thererdquo

Before long Katie and Doug took over the bar which is leased from the Ross Family Trust Calls and emails to the property man-ager were not returned

ldquoWhen we took it over there were drugs gangs uglinessrdquo she said ldquoI wonrsquot put up with thatrdquo

What was left was a band of devoted regulars a tradition of small local live music and soon local art on the walls and events supporting local artists on the calendar

Cathryn Beeks the local music guru from 1021 KPRI radio began working with Halvin in November to book homegrown and up-and-coming acts at the bar mdash which led to notable shows from the Kilborn Alley Blues Band Roni Lee and many others

ldquoItrsquos very sad that the bar is closing Itrsquos run by very special people and there isnrsquot a venue like this in San Diegordquo Beeks said ldquoI found out about them because a lot of my friends were play-ing there They had a very loyal group of musicians before I ever showed uprdquo

The Parkway is also home to a very popular and solidly booked open mic night run by local singer-songwriter Jessica Hull

The Farmers local legends who evolved from the Beat Farmers also play regularly The live music will continue intermittently with the Farmers playing the closing

night Halloween party on Oct 31For Katie Halvin the closing

isnrsquot the end Property manager Aaron Dean intends to redevelop the strip mall where the Parkway now stands into a restaurant with a full bar and microbrewery and include an outdoor music venue

ldquoHe contacted me and hired me to be the director of enter-tainment at the new venuerdquo she said ldquoThey hope to start con-struction in December and finish it by August 2015rdquo ldquoOne side of my brain is ecstatic with oppor-tunityrdquo she said ldquoThe other feels the sadness of this lossrdquo

Meanwhile the Halvins are looking around in the area to find another place to open a bar like the Parkway

ldquoItrsquos our regulars Irsquom really worried aboutrdquo she said ldquoSome are at a point where most of their friends and family are gone and we are their community and fellowship We know who has cancer who has a new baby we know who to check on if they donrsquot show uprdquo

mdashMarty Graham is a freelance writer Email her at martygra-hamcoxnetu

Parkway from page 1

Sycuan Resort and Casino

For exciting casino action right in your own backyard therersquos nowhere closer than Sycuan Casino With Vegas-style gaming scrumptious dining options live headliner entertainment and nearby golf resort yoursquoll find your-self coming back again and again

You can choose from 2000 video amp reel slots as well as video poker For you card players there are more than 40 tables to play Blackjack ThreendashCard amp FourndashCard Poker Sycuanndashstyle craps and roulette

Enjoy the fresh air in the nonndashsmoking room with more than 350 slot machines 9 gaming tables Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet and a Poker Room with daily tourna-ments ndash all smokendashfree

For your dining pleasure Sycuan offers five different res-

taurant options to tempt your taste buds For those looking for a variety of delectable options Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet is an all-you-can-eat feast featuring slow-roasted Prime Rib buttery crab legs and over 100 fresh selec-tions and delicious dessert bar There isnrsquot a bad seat in the house at GameDay Sports Bar amp Grill where you can catch the big game on 39 large screen televisions 16 beers on tap with full cocktail selection delicious food menu and 29 bar-top video poker machines to play while you root on your team

With excellent acoustics and state-of-the-art sound and light-ing Sycuan Live amp Up Close is San Diegorsquos premiere venue for live entertainment Bringing exciting crowd pleasing acts from all musical genres therersquos something for everyone on their concert calendar

Just a short drive nearby Sycuan Golf Resort offers San Diegorsquos only 54-hole golf facility Exciting course play includes

3007 Dehesa RdEl Cajon CA 92019800-457-5568sycuanresortcom

mature tree-lined fairways eleva-tion changes water features and impeccable greens No matter if yoursquore a seasoned player or a first-timer the two challenging 18-hole championship golf courses and fun 18-hole par 3 course are guaranteed to give you unforget-table experiences from beginning to end To complete your stay-cat-ion enjoy one of their 100 spacious hotel rooms all recently remodeled and offer beautiful views of the golf courses pools and private putting greens If golf isnrsquot in your plans you can pamper yourself with a relaxing spa service

Not only is Sycuan the closest casino to downtown they offer free shuttle bus rides from a number of convenient locations throughout San Diego County For more infor-mation please visit Sycuancom

Guests must be 18 or older to enter casino 21 or older to enter theatre and Sports Bar Please play responsibly

Get away for the day at Sycuan CasinohellipReal Friendly Real Closeu

16 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

Short-term hands-on programs

Half-day classes 4 days a week

Monthly payment plans available

wwwtheaccountingacademycom

PETSlsquoOh where oh where has my little dog gonersquoSariReis

The only thing more devas-tating to a pet parent than

when their furry kid is missing is to have them never return Yet this sad scenario occurs every day Walk through any neighborhood and you will see the signs posted on trees and telephone poles ldquoMissing Our beloved dog Skippyrdquo These heart-rending pleas for help are always accompanied by a photograph of a sweet furry face and the offer of a reward for their return

As pet parents one of our pri-mary responsibilities is to keep our pets safe To do this we need to keep them securely confined in our homes our backyards or on leashes If your dog has access to the backyard be certain it is entirely fenced in with no poten-tial escape routes Make sure all gates are locked when you or anyone else goes in or out Inform pool service people landscap-ers or gardeners that you have a dog in the yard and the gate must be secured at all times Be particularly careful when enter-ing or leaving your home Open doors slowly to ensure a cat or dog is not lurking nearby ready to make a quick escape Never leave the door open for any length of time Even an indoor kitty may be curious if the door is left open for a minute or two Tell visitors cleaning ladies and anyone else who may have access to your home that you have pets and they are not to be let out

Some people like to give their dogs off-leash time on city streets in their neighborhoods They believe their pup is well-trained and will come on command and not run away But the sight of a

squirrel or stray cat can waylay the best trained dog and send them on a chase Many of these dogs never make it back home

There are also those feline parents who believe it is essen-tial to a catrsquos well-being for them to investigate and play outdoors Although the kitties may enjoy outdoor time it is very danger-ous With rattlesnakes coyotes stray dogs and traffic many out-door kitties never make it home again and soon become one of those sad notices posted on a tree

Even with the best inten-tions our pets may still make an escape Your best opportunity in getting them back is to ensure they can be identified Put an ID

tag on their collar listing your name and phone number and microchip them Although there are numerous companies that offer microchips and monitoring services one of the best is ldquoHome Againrdquo If you do microchip your pet remember to notify the man-ufacturer if you move or change your phone number Although the cost of micro-chipping is very reasonable many shelters and veterinary clinics hold spe-cial micro-chipping days so you can get your pets done for a dis-counted price Having your pet micro-chipped greatly increases the potential of getting him home again Can you actually put a price tag on that

ldquoHome Againrdquo stated that one out of three pets will go missing during their lifetime Make sure that one isnrsquot yours

mdashSari 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 missionvalley-petsittingcomu

One out of three pets will

go missing during their

lifetime

Lucille a 5-year-old spayed Labrador RetrieverAustralian Cattle Dog mix is

an energetic lady with tons of love to give her new family She has a friendly personality with everyone she meets and loves to learn new tricks She already knows commands such as sit down shake crawl beg and is currently learning how to wave ldquobye-byerdquo She is very treat-motivated and eager to please

She is very smart and outgoing and has gotten along well with other dogs on social walks This silly girl is always smiling and ready for a new adventure Born a true athlete she would love to participate in future training and would make an excellent workout partner Adequate exercise and mental stimulation are a must for this spirited lady

Lucille will do best in an active home with older children or adults She has a lot of love to give and may benefit from having another dog in the family as long as she meets them first to make sure theyrsquore a good match

Her adoption fee includes her spay current vaccinations permanent microchip identification a certificate for a free veterinary exam 30 days of complimentary medical insurance and a license for residents of Oceanside or Vista

Lucille is available for adoption at the San Diego Humane Society 5500 Gaines St in San Diego To learn more about Lucille call 619-299-7012u

Adopt a pet Looking for a home

LucilleBreed Labrador Retriever Australian Cattle Dog mixAge 5 years old Gender Female (spayed)Colors Black and WhiteID 142265Adoption Fee $9500

ADOPTION HOURSWeekdays 11 am ndash 6 pm Weekends 11 am ndash 5 pm

SD Humane Society amp SPCA5500 Gaines St (92110)

619-299-7012 | sdhumaneorg

(ThinkStock)

sdcnncom 17Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Foothiller FootstepsAdvanced Placement curriculum exposes students to college-level study

Helix HighlightsMaking students college-ready

Connie and LynnBaer

JenniferOsborn

A parent of a Helix Charter High School student once

noted that her daughter was never asked ldquoAre you going to collegerdquo Instead she was asked ldquoWhere are you going to collegerdquo A subtle difference in wording but a vast difference in meaning

Helixrsquos mission states ldquoHelix Charter High School provides a comprehensive education that prepares all students to gradu-

ate college-ready and equipped to reach their personal and aca-demic potentialrdquo

While the belief at Helix is not that every graduate needs to attend college in order to be suc-cessful it is definitely our goal to ensure that every graduate has the option to continue their edu-cation if they so choose

For the class of 2014 82 per-cent of Helix graduates stated they planned to attend college Forty-five percent went directly to a four-year college and 37 percent planned to attend two-

year institutions Approximately 12 percent attend University of California schools and 22 per-cent attend San Diego State or other California State University campuses

Support classroom projectsHave you heard of Donors

Choose Donors Choose is an online charity started by a class-room teacher from the Bronx New York He and his colleagues had great ideas for their students but no funding to bring their ideas to fruition

On the Donors Choose website teachers post classroom project requests and visitors to the web-site can help grant the teachersrsquo wishes by donating any amount big or small to their projects Donors Choose allows everyone to be a philanthropist

Over the past few years Helix teachers have been the recipi-ents of hundreds of thousands of dollars in supplies for classroom projects that would otherwise not have been possible Be a part of it Visit the website at donorschooseorg and search ldquoHelix La Mesardquo in the search box

Students shine nationallyThis past summer four Helix

Speech amp Debate team member students went to Kansas City Miski Abdi Spencer McCall Rebeca McClellan and Rachel Orey each qualified to compete in the National Forensics League National Championships McCall was a semifinalist in Student Senate and a quarterfinalist in Impromptu Orey was an octafi-nalist in Poetry

What else is going on at HelixLenelle Wyliersquos honors biology

classes have been accepted to attend the Science Lecture Series at the Scripps Research Institute

Jeff Kepperrsquos Oceanography class will be working with the

Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute and raising white sea bass in the classroom This is the second group of white sea bass raised by Helix students

Highland Players present The Odd Couple by Neil Simon Nov 5-8 and Nov 13-14 at 7 pm in the Black Box Theater They will perform both the original laquomaleraquo version and the ldquofemalerdquo version in repertory Tickets are $10 and will be available at helixdramaweeblycom or at the door Performances may sell out so buy early

Take a tourFinally we are always inter-

ested in letting our community know about Helix Charter High School The Excellence in Education Tour is offered twice a month and is open to anyone who wishes to attend It is a one-hour tour and program that highlights our vision history accomplish-ments goals and needs This monthrsquos tours will take place on Tuesday October 7 from 830 ndash 930 am and Thursday October 23 from 530 ndash 630 pm More information can be found at helix-charternet We hope to see you there

mdashJennifer Osborn is the com-munity relations officer for Helix Charter High School Email her at josbornhelixcharternetu

A commitment to educational excellence has always been a

part of the culture of Grossmont High School In the 1980s Grossmont began offering a new curriculum mdash Advanced Placement mdash that challenges the high school student to master a rigorous college-level curricu-lum Each May the students may then take the AP Exam Passing the exam with a score of 3 4 or 5 will in most cases translate to the student receiv-ing college credit or course exemption

In 1981 Grossmont English teacher Kay Adams offered an after-school tutorial for her senior students who wanted to take the AP English Language and Composition Exam Twenty-one students met with her to receive preparation for the exam all 21 students passed the exam with five stu-dents receiving a 5 the highest score

ldquoI learned more than I ever taughtrdquo Adams said ldquoThose students were the brightest minds I ever metrdquo

Beginning in 1982 AP

courses became a yearly English course offering

Other challenges presented themselves to early AP teach-ers In the 1980s through 1996 Sue Emerson AP Biology teacher found ways to cre-atively schedule her class On Wednesdays the students came in an hour early to complete the sophisticated experiments the curriculum required

ldquoOne fun activity was a nation-wide project studying wetlandsrdquo Emerson recalled ldquoThe students shared information with schools around the country via telecom-munication from their study of the Tijuana River Estuaryrdquo

Today Grossmont offers 15 different honors courses which prepare the students for the diverse variety of subsequent 19 Advanced Placement courses

Art AP Art History Studio Drawing 2-D Design

Business AP Computer Science

English AP Literature and Composition Language and Composition

Language AP Spanish Language Spanish Literature and Culture French Language and Culture

Math AP Calculus StatisticsPerforming Arts AP Music

Advanced Placement Theory

Science AP Biology Environmental Science Physics

Social Science AP European History US History Psychology US Government

Over the years the curriculum has evolved AP French Language and Culture teacher Azita Mahmoudi noted that the ldquoAP test has changed from a narrow grammar-based test to an open-ended test based on cultural knowledgerdquo

ldquoPhysics isnrsquot dif-ficult It only has the reputation of being dif-ficultrdquo said longtime AP Physics teacher Tom Eklund

Eklundrsquos creative lessons include the one shown in the 2012 photograph of student Jessie Hodges dropping his project off the bleachers and measuring its fall

During the past five years the number of tests taken by Grossmont students has risen from 453 in 2009 to 646 in 2014 While the passing rate dropped from 65 to 58 percent in those

same years more Foothillers were given the opportunity to challenge themselves and prepare for post secondary education

A continuing goal of Grossmont staff is to have more enrolled students take the test however each test costs $89 with many students taking more than one test

Those wishing to sponsor one or more tests with a tax-deduct-

ible donation may contribute to the GHS Educational Foundationrsquos AP Scholarship Fund by sending a check to GHS Educational Foundation PO Box 1043 La Mesa CA 91944

ldquoGrossmont High School is proud to support our honors and Advanced Placement curricu-lumrdquo said Principal Dan Barnes ldquoWe are very excited to see the very high increase in partici-pation in our courses over the past three years and contin-ued success by our

teachers and students shown in their AP exam pass ratesrdquo

Visit Grossmont and wit-ness firsthand a campus that celebrates it heritage and embraces its future Regular public hours are noon to 4 pm on Wednesday Oct 1 and Nov 5 or by appointment

Contact the Grossmont High School Museum by phone at 619-668-6140 or by email at ghs-museumguhsdnetu

AP Physics students participate in an experiment at Grossmont High School in 2012 (Courtesy GHS Museum)

18 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

PUZZLESSUDOKU

Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9 Each number can appear only once in each row column and 3x3 block Use logic and process elimination to solve the puzzle

copy 2014 Janric Enterprises Dist by creatorscom

CROSSWORD

Business 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 wwwGotFreedomcom Call 858-278-2120 Your future is counting on you (1214)

For SaleNICE 1BD HOUSE IN LA MESA LIVDEN LG KITCHEN BATH WD LG BEDROOM NICE SUNDECK $1000 INCLUDES GE WATER TRASH CALL CLARA 6194650591 (0914)

Sweet male and female Tea-cup Yorkie 12 weeks old $500 Will be 4 lbs at full growth Microchiped shots and dewormed coming with registration papers mlcpetsyahoocom 661-858-0633 (0914)

NoticesWIDOW OR WIDOWER Interested in social activities You are welcome to join our club Widows or Widowers (WOW) of San Diego Website wwwwowsdorg Phone 619-448-6088 (0914)

ServicesJennarsquos Barber Shoppe Styling for men women amp children Wheelchair friendly Old time expert

haircuts at affordable prices Colors amp perms 7424 Jackson Dr1A (across from Keilrsquos in Bank of America lot) Tues-Fri 830-530pm Sat 830-noon Walk-ins or By appt 619-644-3669 (1214)

Lindarsquos Puppy Love licensed insured pet sitting service offering daily walks cat care overnight stays-your home lots of love 619-857-3674 wwwlindaspuppylovecom (615)

Locksmith - Discount Deadbolts and Rekeying - security door viewers patio door locks simulated alarms magnetic door stops Cliff Henderson 619-840-3327 - Lic LCO4353 - Bonded - Never a trip charge (0615)

Quality exterior carpentry Decks Fences Patio Covers and Termite Repair Lic365241 wwwaactionbuildersofsandiegocom Bob 619-275-1493 (415)

Bathtubs and sinks refinished like new San Carlos based business for over 25 years - same owner Lic560438 wwwsaveatubsdcom 619-464-5141 (0115)

German Setter Tile and Marble Professional marbletile setter with 28 years experience European craftsmanship Punctual amp dependable License 872804 Contact Jens Sedemund 619-415-6789 or jensgermansettercom (1214)

Dan Patterson HandymanCarpentry Repair and replacement of plumbing electrical repair installation of water heaters doors windows cabinets flooring fencing Pressure washing of driveways all phases of

Finding Senior Housing can be complex but it doesnrsquot have to be

(800) 217-3942A Place for Mom is the nationrsquos largest senior living referral

information service We do not own operate endorse or recommend any senior living community We are paid by partner communities

so our services are completely free to families

ldquoYou can trust A Place for Mom to help yourdquo

ndash Joan Lunden

BUSINESS amp SERVICES

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 (1214)

BARGAIN BOYZ CONSTRUCTIONREPAIRS 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 jimmysupancoxnet (1014)

PLUMBERhellipLicensed and Insured Over 25 years experience La Mesa resident OwnerOperator Reasonable rates Courteous service Lic 527864 Call Peter 619-698-0313 wwwFelberPlumbingcom (0914)

ROOFING Lic 691295-C39 Veteran owned Allied Gardens based Celebrating 20 years Full roof amp repair Free est Veteran amp Senior discounts 619-823-7208 (615)

WantedHelping Hands Animal Sanctuary seeks laundry detergent (all free and clear) and fabric softener (Downey free and gentle) 619-460-6679 (0914)

Job WantedNanny seeking work certified bkgd ck CPR First Aide 20 years experience wchildren and babies Great references Call Peggy 619-246-6572 or 512-755-0813

ANSWERS ON PAGE 20

Experienced amp Professional

Renee Differ

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Air amp ElectricalWater heaters garbage disposals drain cleaning Video pipe inspections water softeners amp filtration Faucets and toilets Visit our Show-room (06-12)

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PLUMBING

sdcnncom 19Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierPUZZLES CLASSIFIEDS

Sudoku amp Crosswordpuzzle answers from

page 19

The Academic Senate at Grossmont College last

month honored math instruc-tor Michael Lambe a Mt Helix resident with the Distinguished Faculty award the first ever for a part-time member of the col-lege faculty

Lambersquos 36 years as part-time instructor at Grossmont College concurrent to his 39-year teach-ing career with the Grossmont Union High School District gave him a unique perspective and insight on nurturing stu-dent success His dual career has made him especially aware of the need to make the transi-tion from high school to college as seamless as possible and to ensure secondary level curricu-lum prepares students for higher education

His interaction between Grossmont College and Monte Vista High School where he was chair of the math depart-

Math teacher is Grossmont Collegersquos part-time instructor of the year

ment made him a natural to help develop the first articula-tion agreement between the college and high school which helps students smoothly transi-tion without duplicating classes or experiencing delays

It wasnrsquot just students who benefitted from Lambersquos experi-ence with both systems When

driver education was eliminated from the high school curriculum and instructors were facing lay-offs he worked with the high school and college districts to develop a two-year program that prepared the former driver edu-cation instructors to acquire the teaching credentials needed to become math instructors

ldquoItrsquos been a fantastic career mdash Irsquove been blessedrdquo Lambe said

Following his retirement from the high school district Lambe was recruited four years ago as the collegersquos part-time senate officer with the Academic Senate and chair of the of the Academic Senate Part-Time Committee As head of the new committee he began tackling issues like office hours college governance and academic rank on behalf of part-timers

ldquoMichael has unified the [Academic Senatersquos Part-Time] committee and made it the most respected and cohesive voice for part-time faculty on the campusrdquo said one of his colleagues in a nomination for Lambe for the Distinguished Faculty award ldquoHe has brought part-time faculty issues into the college governance conversation as never before and helped part-time faculty be better informed through excellent professional development activities and communicationsrdquo

Lambe described his efforts on behalf of part-time instructors as a way of paying it forward

ldquoEven as a part-timer I have done a lot of things that full-time department members dordquo he said ldquoThis is my profession mdash my calling and my love This

award is the greatest honor I have ever received My col-leagues couldnrsquot have given me anything greater and to be the first recipient is tremendousrdquo

In addition to honoring Lambe for his achievements as a member of the part-time faculty the academic senate also honored Spanish instruc-tor Yolanda Guerrero with the Distinguished Faculty award for full-time faculty

President Sunita V Cooke said Lambe and Guerrero exem-plify Grossmont Collegersquos faculty members who are passionate about teaching and motivated to boost their profession and their colleagues

ldquoThe campus community owes a debt of gratitude to fac-ulty members with that kind of dedicationrdquo she said ldquoTheir generosity is an inspiration to us allrdquo

At Cuyamaca College Spanish instructor Patricia Santana won the Outstanding Faculty Award for full-time tenured faculty Arabic instructor Aklas Sheia won the award for outstanding part-time faculty

mdashDella Elliott is public information assistant for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College Districtu

DellaElliott

Michael Lambe gives a math lesson something hersquos been doing for nearly four decades in local classrooms (Courtesy Grossmont College)

20 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

Join us for a 3-course dinner and information on Chronic back pain causes and solutions Recent advances in back pain relief Different surgical options QampA with leading San Diego spine specialist

Presented by Choll Kim MD PhD a San Diego Magazine ldquoTop Doctorrdquo and Medical Director of the Advanced SpineInstitute at Alvarado Hospital ndash named Americarsquos 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgerytrade and Orthopedic Surgerytrade in 2014

Cost $10person Seating is limited mdash RSVP requiredCall (619) 229-4548 to register

Location Terra Bistro7091 El Cajon Blvd San Diego 92115

MONDAY SEPT 29 6-8 PMTERRA AMERICAN BISTRO

AlvaradoHospitalcom | (619) 287-3270

Zucchini pancakes

Whatrsquos Cooking with

Julie AnnWhite

Julie

Grate away on your box grater to create this deli-

cious dinner side dish Herersquos a savory treat to serve with a salad or light chicken or fish meal They are a little bit addictive and really easy to make

Serves four (makes six small pancakes)

Ingredients3 medium zucchini grated on a box grater or food processor12 red or yellow onion grated2 large eggs lightly beaten8 Tbsp Panko bread crumbs (flour can be used instead)1 tsp baking powder1 tsp kosher saltPinch of black pepper2 Tbsp butter14 cup olive oil for frying

DirectionsGrate the zucchini and onion into a medium bowl Press with a

few paper towels to absorb juice Add remaining ingredients and stir well If batter is runny add more breadcrumbs or flour Heat large skillet and melt butter and oil over medium heat Drop the zucchini mixture into six to eight golf ball-sized gently patted pancakes Cook until golden brown Serve warmu

Put down your iPhone 6 push aside your Samsung Note 4

and turn off the TV La Mesa is asking its citizens to invest some time in one of their 14 local parks for Park Appreciation Day Oct 18

ldquoThis community event demon-strates the spirit and commitment that La Mesans have for their public facilitiesrdquo said Yvonne Garrett assistant city manager and director of community ser-vices in La Mesa ldquoLocal residents and visitors have a sense of own-ership and take pride in La Mesa parks Park Appreciation Day is an opportunity for individuals to share that enthusiasm with friends and neighborsrdquo

The impetus for La Mesa Park Appreciation Day began in 2005 when a member of a local church congregation contacted the city to ask whether their church could take on a community project in La Mesa said Garrett who is also staff director for La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation

Because the city had recently eliminated several temporary park maintenance worker posi-tions and had received a similar request for a local project from another organization city staff thought it would be a good idea

Citizen groups pitch in for Park Appreciation Day

to gather the various groups to help clean up the parks prompting the creation of Park Appreciation Day

La Mesa community services manager Mike Pacheco said he has been impressed with the pride La Mesans have in their community as well as their desire to volunteer for the city

ldquoParks and recreation pro-grams bring tremendous benefits to people of all agesrdquo Pacheco said ldquoThey contribute to help-ing us live longer better lives through active pursuits new life skills educational programs and safe activities Great parks and programs also help build a stronger community connecting individuals families and groups through the power of play Recreation programs and engag-ing exciting facilities help keep kids active and off the streetsrdquo

Park Appreciation Day proj-ects include spreading mulch planting flowers and painting picnic tables and restrooms Pacheco said

Since its inception several local groups have consistently volun-teered each year Christ Lutheran Church Journey Church Helix Interact Club Friends of Canine Corners Kiwanis Club of La Mesa La Mesa Rotary La Mesa Beautiful La Mesa Lions Club and La Mesa Police Department

Last year more than 150 vol-unteers participated on Park

Appreciation Day and removed 22 cubic yards of green material plus nine cubic yards of trash according to Garrett

Although most of La Mesarsquos parks have the same groups cleaning them every year Porter Park Fitness Plaza located at 8425 University Ave is still without a group Porter needs additional native plants installed in some areas in the beds Garrett said

Disclosure Writer Genevieve A Suzuki serves as a commissioner for the La Mesa Community Services Commission and is a member of La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation She is happy to put away her iPhone Oct 18 to help clean her local parku

Genevieve Suzuki

Make La Mesa beautifulInterested in getting

involved with La Mesa Park Appreciation Day Oct 18 Want to encourage your civic church or social group to adopt a park

All ages are welcome to par-ticipate Signed waivers are required Parents must accom-pany children under 18 at the parks unless their children are with a supervised group

Sign up by calling 619-667-1304 or email communitycila-mesacaus

sdcnncom 21Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierDINING LOCAL NEWS

New Patient Special

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$113 for exam x-rays oral cancer screening and cleaning

In absence of gum disease A $520 value

Donrsquot avoid the dentist Remove the anxiety and fear with Sedation Dentistry

A Shop For Smiles

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Visit us today

Baseball book signingSunday Oct 12

Geoff Miller mental skills coach for the Atlanta Braves will discuss and sign copies of his new book ldquoIntangibles Big-League Stories and Strategies for Winning the Mental Game mdash in Baseball and in Liferdquo at 2 pm at Barnes amp Noble 5500 Grossmont Center Dr

Diverse Capacities workshopWednesday Oct 15

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Mariko Peshon will lead a work-shop focusing on the physical emotional and social abilities and disabilities that often go unrec-ognized and unaccommodated in our communities The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

East County Intergenerational GamesTuesday Oct 16

Active adults ages 50 and older will team up with kids between the ages of 7 and 12 for a morning of fun noncompetitive activi-ties at La Mesa Middle School 4200 Parks Ave from 830 am to noon The games include street hockey shot frisbee toss ldquoskeeballrdquo pitch t-ball and trivia games Snacks and lunch are included Interested adults must register in advance by contacting the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center at 619-667-1322

Introduction to home caregivingSaturday Oct 18

Caring for a loved one at home often involves transfers personal care proper body mechanics and other specific skills and knowl-edge Learn and practice the basics with a registered nurse at this event from 9 am to 1 pm in classroom 1314 of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Brier Patch Campus 9000 Wakarusa St Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or

register online at sharpcom

Workshop Finding Your Voice in the Social Justice MovementTuesday Oct 21

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Kenyon Whitman will lead an interactive workshop exploring social justice concepts how to develop a leadership style and creative ways to effectively com-municate in diverse groups The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the stu-dent center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

Medicare and drug cover-age updates for 2015Friday Oct 24

A free lecture will cover Medicare insurance changes for 2015 Medicare Parts A B D HMOs and more Presented by Community Education Specialist Pablo Corona the lec-ture will also cover the Medicare Saving Program and Extra-Help Program that assist with prescription costs for Medicare Parts B and D The talk begins at 10 am at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Lung function screeningWednesday Oct 29

Do you have trouble catching your breath after a short walk The Pulmonary Department at Sharp Grossmont Hospital will offer a free basic lung function test from 9 am to 2 pm for anyone who has not yet seen a doctor about breathing prob-lems The screening will be held at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center Building F Room 16 9000 Wakarusa St Appointments are required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Free blood pressure screeningFriday Oct 17

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center 8450 La Mesa Blvd No appointment necessary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Park Appreciation DaySaturday Oct 18

Groups of volunteers will get to work on projects to beautify and improve parks across town from 8 am to noon All ages are welcome but children under the age of 18 need to submit a waiver signed by a parent or legal guard-ian If your church or civic group wants to get involved call 619-667-1300 or email communitycila-mesacaus

lsquoHowl-oweenrsquo dog cos-tume contest and picnicSaturday Oct 18

Dress up your dogs in a cute or spooky Halloween costume and bring them out to Canine Corners the dog park at Harry Griffen Regional Park between 11 am and 3 pm Proud pet par-ents will have the chance to get their poochrsquos picture taken at the pumpkin patch as well as meet representatives from animal rescue groups the county sheriffrsquos K-9 unit and other vendors The costume contest begins at 1130 am A hot dog picnic lunch will be offered for $3 Canine Corners volunteers will accept donations to help with the maintenance of the dog park

Picnic with the parrotsSunday Oct 26

At Socal Parrotrsquos annual fundraising event attendees have a rare chance to view the non-profit organizationrsquos reha-bilitation facility meet animals talk with experts observe live art bid in a silent auction and buy into a raffle Based in Jamul SoCal Parrot works to protect and care for wild and endan-gered parrots across the region Tickets to the all-day fundrais-ing event range from $32 to $100 and can be purchased online at socalparrotorgu

Calendar from page 15

Send details of your com-munity events to the editor at jeremysdcnncom Deadline is the third Friday of the month

22 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 CALENDAR

Why a fiscally conservative vote-by-mail plan got no GOP love

A bill that would drastically change the way San Diego

Countyrsquos special elections are run passed without any Republican help mdash it got just two votes total from GOP lawmakers in Sacramento

It might surprise you to learn then that when the idea first emerged Democrats helped lead the charge against it

How some leading party mem-bers reversed course in just a few years says a lot about the current political landscape and the future of elections in San Diego County

Democrats wrote the current bill mdash which would create a five-year pilot program in San Diego County that would make spe-cial elections for open seats run primarily by mail with a drasti-cally reduced number of polling places mdash and they led the politi-cal charge for it

But Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez the billrsquos author remembers how hard she fought to kill the idea of vote-by-mail elections years ago

ldquoWhat happens I think so often is there is this attachment to the status quo therersquos fear about changing thingsrdquo Gonzalez said

Gonzalez said her mind was changed by a couple factors One is that she discovered during her years as a labor advocate that voters who had a ballot mailed to them before the election were roughly five times more likely to actually vote

The other she said is she realized the county was spend-ing a huge amount more per person who voted at the polls versus by mail

County officials said that in the March 2013 special election to fill the vacant 40th state Senate district seat they spent $221 per

Ari Bloomekatz

in-person voter verses $9 per mail voter

Then therersquos the fact that pathetic voter turnout in each of the last several elections has favored Republican candidates across the board

ldquoWe have all watched as voter turnout has plummeted in recent elections and itrsquos our responsi-bility to do something about itrdquo Gonzalez wrote in a press release after the bill passed

Some observers speculated that some Republicans simply didnrsquot support the bill because it was being led by promi-nent Democrats like Gonzalez (Gonzalez agrees thatrsquos probably true)

But if you want to understand why GOP support was so hard to come by for a bill steeped in fiscally conservative principles and that originated from a con-servative San Diego County government consider these three points

Republicans seized on civil rights groupsrsquo hesitation

Some of the strongest initial opposition to the vote-by-mail legislation came from civil rights groups concerned the new pro-cedures could disenfranchise immigrants and the disabled

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund initially opposed the bill but dropped its opposition after working with Gonzalez and San Diego County officials on protec-

tions for immigrantsStill MALDEF and other

groups wouldnrsquot officially support the measure

ldquoThere is some research out there that shows that mail-in ballots do have an adverse impact on minority votersrdquo said Denise Hulett an attorney with MALDEF

Hulett said MALDEF supports testing out vote-by-mail but isnrsquot sold on it yet

Those groupsrsquo reluctance had an impact on Republican legislators like Escondido Assemblywoman Marie Waldron She said she didnrsquot feel comfortable signing on to a bill without MALDEF and other civil rights groupsrsquo support

ldquoI have to wonder if this is disenfranchising a significant number of people that vote at the pollsrdquo Waldron said ldquoWhat about the people who are maybe you know possibly visually impaired or something like thatrdquo

The money wasnrsquot enoughSan Diego County Registrar

Michael Vu strongly supports the pilot program and believes it could trim costs by 30 - 40 percent

But somehow the cost-savings issue wasnrsquot enough to win over the vast majority of Republican legislators

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez said he thought the cost-savings touted by Democrats were only rough estimates and was not inclined to vote for a bill just

because of those projectionsldquoAs Irsquove said a number of times

before all these bills that theyrsquore putting through hellip really doesnrsquot address the issue of what wersquore trying to do which is get more people to voterdquo he said

Instead of just moving imme-diately to vote-by-mail Chavez wants to create a bipartisan special committee to study new voting technologies

Republicans fear voter fraud

Republicansrsquo fear of potential voter fraud through expansion of vote-by-mail overshadowed potential economic gains

The bill ldquoincludes no protec-tions to ensure the integrity and security of all-mail elections While interesting we need to be careful changing election lawsrdquo wrote Amanda Fulkerson of the Assembly Republican Caucus which advocated fiercely against the bill

ldquoRight now our members feel that we should not jeopardize our consistent voting system until we have further facts and statistics on all-mail electionsrdquo Fulkerson wrote

Republicans believed the threat of fraud would be compounded by another voting-related bill moving through the legislature at the same time

That bill would change the rules about how long mail ballots can be received and counted after an election

Currently vote-by-mail ballots must be received by election offi-cials before polls close on the day of the election The new law would allow ballots to be received no later than three days after the election (if it was time-stamped or post-marked on or before Election Day)

Assembly Republicans feared the two bills combined could allow for abuse of the system

State Sen Joel Anderson was one Republican who voted against the mail-counting bill but in favor of Gonzalezrsquos vote-by-mail effort

Anderson said that he voted against the mail-counting bill because he saw it as ldquocompletely gaming the systemrdquo but believes the vote-by-mail bill is ldquobetter for the voters itrsquos better for my constituentsrdquo

Put yourselves in the shoes of

Vu and other county officials for a minute

Nearly every time an election comes up the county spends anywhere from $1 million to $12 million-plus and organizes hordes of poll workers and pre-cincts across the county

And what happens at the end of the day

Turnout is generally low and increasing numbers of residents opt to vote by mail anyway

As Vu tells it he just wants to save the county money and acknowledge the changing winds when it comes to vote-by-mail

But nothing is ever as simple as a dollar saved in Sacramento mdash especially when it comes to something as fundamental as how voters choose their elected officials

Gonzalez said most people do not understand how difficult this bill was to pass politically Sure Republicans barley supported it but there was strong opposition from many Democrats too The instinct to preserve the status quo when it comes to elections among legislators in Sacramento is strong she said

ldquoIt was kind of funny Irsquom in Republican land carrying this bill pissing off Democrats and voting rights groups and minor-ity groupsrdquo she said ldquoI had to convince everybody that this is OK that change is OKrdquo

Brown has until Sept 30 to sign the bill

mdashAri Bloomekatz is an inves-tigative reporter for Voice of San Diego focusing on county govern-ment You can reach him directly at aribloomekatzvoiceofsandi-egoorg or 619-550-5669u

(Courtesy Flickr user bludgeoner86Creative Commons)

Voice of San Diego

sdcnncom 23Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

Everyone in every price range deserves the quality of Sothebyrsquos Realty

8310 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa CA 91942 bull 6193371700

SPRING VALLEY bull $362000LA MESA bull $499000CARDIFF BY THE SEA bull $525000

Spacious Sweetwater Springs home on corner lot Recently updated kitchen amp bath w granite countertops SS appl wine refrigerator and wood floors Upstairs BRs w mirrored wardrobe doors and ceiling fans Sliding doors to private view deck ideal for watching the sunset

JOE SOUTHWICK 6195898224

Just listed Tastefully remodeled single level entertainerrsquos paradise Large great room with chefrsquos kitchen Private backyard with pool hot tub palapa-covered bar amp grill shade patio and sun deck

JULIE ADAMS 6194810200

Rarely available 2BR 1BA twin home in the highly sought after Park Place neighborhood of Cardiff By The Sea Community pool and spa 25+ acre canyon with walking trails sand volleyball and more

YVETTE WOODS 6199223436

Laurarsquos Solds 2014 bull (619) 540-7744 bull LauraLothianRealEstatecomMost Homes Sold in La Mesa Last 11 Years

Want your home sold Ask a busy agent Call Laura Lothian TODAY 6195407744

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

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PacificSothebysRealtycomcopyMMVIII Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC A Realogy Company All Rights Reserved Sothebyrsquos International Realtyreg is a registered trademark licensed to Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC An Equal Opportunity Company Equal Housing Opportunity Each Office is Independently Owned And Operated Cal BRE 01767484 Seller will entertain offers within the listed range

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Source TrendGraphix MLS data for zip codes 91941 amp 91942 January 1 2003 to January 1 2014

24 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

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A N I M A L H O S P I TA L

As I write this monthrsquos column my husband and I are sitting

on top of the world in a colleaguersquos cabin on Mt Palomar a weekend getaway from the fall heat wave and pressures of everyday life

We havenrsquot been here in many years The views are stunning of course but what I notice this time are the number and variety of birds mdash birds that are quite different from ones we enjoy feed-ing and watching in La Mesa

Irsquove had my eyes glued to binoc-ulars since we arrived and filled the pond and feeders the owners have placed around the property They also have a number of bird books so I think I rightly identi-fied quite a few species

But there is one elusive fellow I just canrsquot seem to get in my sights His distinctive call is close then far away

Itrsquos time to consult the expert I record the birdrsquos call with my phone and hope to play it for Ed Henry a La Mesa friend who happens to be president of the San Diego Audubon Society an advocacy and educational orga-nization devoted to the welfare of wild birds in our region

Ed is one of the reasons Irsquove recently become so fascinated by local birds He sends out emails almost daily to over 100 inter-ested people showing amazing photos of birds he spots at his La Mesa bird feeders and around San Diego County (or wherever he happens to be traveling at the moment) The variety is astounding

Turns out the San Diego region is one of the richest birding areas in North America with over 500 different species identified here In fact people from all over the world come to see our birds especially during the annual San Diego Bird Festival in March offered by San Diego Audubon

One reason we have a great diversity of birds is because of the unusual variety of habitats in San Diego County mdash from the off-shore islands and extensive coastline to inland valleys and grasslands riverbeds moun-

The Sun Shines Sooner

tains and desert Ed explained This region is also a migratory flyway

Ed was always aware of birds but his recent passion for bird-ing began in 2006 not long after retiring from a 33-year career as an anthropology and ethnomu-sicology professor at San Diego State when he decided to check out the San Diego Bird Festival Hersquos been involved with San Diego Audubon ever since serv-ing as its board president for the last three years

ldquoMy awakening to birds was gradual and occurred through chance contacts with people who knew more than Irdquo he said ldquoI grew up in Nebraska where residents pay most attention to pheasants mdash which happen to be gorgeous as well as good eating and hunting mdash and ducks but also see a few songbirdsrdquo

In Michigan (where he com-pleted his graduate studies) he came in contact with grosbeaks nuthatches and chickadees among others And he became curious about exotic birds he saw in India while doing field research in a small village there

ldquoMoving to San Diego in 1974 I had my first views of long-billed curlews marbled godwits and lit-erally hundreds morerdquo

He and his wife Connie have made La Mesa their home and

enjoyed birds in their backyard here since 1988

ldquoNature is the highest form of artrdquo wrote Emily Dickinson

According to Ed Henry ldquoThe most accessible wild creatures for the majority of Americans are birds In birds we see the shapes colors patterns and movement that constitute a vital part of nature and we hear their sounds toordquo

Wersquore fortunate to live in a place with such rich bio-diversity that is so accessible But San Diego County also contains more rare threatened and endangered species than any comparable land area in the continental United States

Thank goodness there is a passionate dedicated volunteer like Ed Henry to lead San Diego Audubon mdash an organization working every day to protect our birds and other wildlife and to educate and inspire people like me to appreciate not only their beauty but their importance

mdashPam Crooks was the found-ing editor of La Mesa Courier and continues to live in the Mt Helix area Reach her by email at SunShinesSoonergmailcom To learn more or to sign up for the 2015 San Diego Bird Festival visit sandiegoaudubonorgu

A beautiful Yellow-Breasted Chat was spotted recently in the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park (Photo by Ed Henry)

PamCrooks

This La Mesan is a true lsquobird brainrsquo

8 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

A Special

Thank You to My Neighbors

wwwmidwayorg

As we celebrate our 10th anniversary we know San Diegorsquos support has made Midwayrsquos success possible

So for a limited time San Diegans can purchase adult admissions for only $10

Thatrsquos a 50 discount

ldquoThank You San Diegordquo

$10 USS Midway Admission

Just for San Diegans

Bill YoungSafety CorpsLA MESA RESIDENT

Tickets available at wwwmidwayorg and at the ticket booth during museum hours May not be combined with other offers and cannot be resold Proof of ID with a San

Diego zip code required at time of purchase 202

The US Postal Service delivers mail to the front door of most

Uptown residents but that could change if Congress adopts a postal reform bill designed to reduce the cost of delivering mail

Rep Darrell Issa (R-San Diego) has introduced two bills mdash the Postal Reform Act of 2013 and the Secure Delivery for America Act of 2014 mdash that would force the Postal Service to transi-tion away from door delivery at 30 million addresses by 2022 Instead of delivering mail to the door of every residence postal carriers would deliver to curbside mailboxes or cen-tralized cluster boxes that house the mailboxes of multiple residents

That idea is unacceptable to Rep Susan Davis (D-San Diego) who gathered a group of supporters in Talmadge on Aug 27 to denounce the proposal She also introduced a resolution in Congress opposing centralized delivery

ldquoWe donrsquot need thisrdquo Davis said ldquoThe most vulnerable people in our communities will suffer as a resultrdquo

Davis said elderly and disabled citizens would be hurt by the switch to cluster boxes especially if they receive prescriptions by mail because of the increased dis-tance they may be forced to travel to retrieve their mail

Furthermore the cluster boxes are unsightly magnets for theft and vandalism she said

When Davis surveyed commu-nity groups in her district earlier this summer the North Park Planning Committee passed a resolution opposing centralized delivery

ldquoIn the older communities in the mid-city cluster boxes would affect the community character and the historicity of a neighbor-hood like Talmadge which to me looks like Mayberryrdquo said Vicki Granowitz chair of the North Park Planning Committee ldquoItrsquos intact itrsquos beautiful and to have cluster boxes every so often really destroys what these communities look likerdquo

Combined with bus shelters and

No mail at the doorLocal representatives debate

changes to mail delivery

Jeremy OgulEditor

ugly utility boxes cluster boxes would affect property values Granowitz said

ldquoJust think if you would want this in front of your houserdquo she said ldquoDonrsquot do this to us pleaserdquo

The Postal Service has already begun phasing out door delivery in new developments but Issarsquos legislation would essentially make cluster boxes mandatory in many neighborhoods that currently receive door delivery Issarsquos bill

would require the cluster boxes to be placed ldquoin locations that maximize delivery efficiency ease of use for postal patrons and respect for private property rightsrdquo

Rep Scott Peters (D-San Diego) who also spoke at the press conference said that while there are economic challenges that the Postal Service

must address Congress should not get involved in mandating the specific measures the Postal Service should take

Issa disagrees with Davis and Peters

ldquoThe consequence of doing noth-ing to address an Internet-era erosion in the volume of traditional mail delivery is a multi-billion dollar taxpayer funded bailout of the Postal Servicerdquo Issa said ldquoUnfortunately some [representa-tives] holding a press conference and pretending there isnrsquot a prob-lem wonrsquot solve itrdquo

The Postal Reform Act includes exceptions and provisions that would allow seniors and others with physical hardships to keep their door delivery if they already have it and it would give the Postal Service the flexibility to determine where to implement centralized delivery Issa said

ldquoIn reality less than 10 percent of postal customers would see any change under this legislation to their deliveryrdquo Issa said

Despite the financial issues the Postal Service faces the debate over cluster boxes may amount to little more than hot air in the near term Congress only has until Dec 12 to act on legislation in the current session Most of which will be legislative recess Neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate have voted on Issarsquos or Davisrsquos legislationu

Rep Susan Davis speaks in San Diego (Photo by Jeremy Ogul)

ldquoWe donrsquot need this The most vulnerable people in our communities will suffer as a resultrdquo-Rep Susan Davis

sdcnncom 9Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

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EDUCATION

Haunt yourself with contemporary classic horror fiction

Pop culture has a way of show-ing us what our collective

minds love loathe and fear In honor of Halloween I wanted to spend this monthrsquos column looking at the state of popu-lar horror fiction using that to explore the modern American psyche However the only thing this research showed me is that Americans really really love Stephen King

So with that plan foiled I fig-ured Irsquod just recommend some great scary reads past present and near-future

Guillermo del Toro is known primarily for his work in movies but has recently begun writing fiction After bringing us imagi-native films like ldquoPacific Rimrdquo ldquoHellboyrdquo and ldquoPanrsquos Labyrinthrdquo he paired with author Chuck Hogan for a horror trilogy called ldquoThe Strainrdquo

Deciding that seductive brood-ing teen vampires have become passeacute the authors chose to make their vampires ugly mon-sters whose heads split open to bite and drain their victims while vampirism itself is a virus that spreads with the speed of a zombie apocalypse The book series has already been turned into a TV show with its own cult following and that will undoubt-

edly bring more attention to the books all of which are available at the San Diego County Library

The new book Irsquom dying to read is called ldquoHorrorstoumlrrdquo by Grady Hendrix It should hit bookstores (and the library) shortly after I finish typing this If you like your horror with a side of wit and sly

social commentary this is your novel Itrsquos set in a furniture store that bears more than a little resemblance to IKEA where sin-ister and supernatural forces are on the prowl and the poor corpo-rate drones who work there must solve a horrific mystery in order to survive (presumably while fol-

lowing proper corporate protocol and providing excellent customer service) But just as exciting to me the book itself is a parody of an IKEA-style catalog illustrated with furniture schematics and cheery living room photos becom-ing creepier and creepier as the story moves along

Wersquoll end with one of the classics H P Lovecraft This par-anoid reclusive pulp writer from the 1920s was relatively unknown in his day but has become an underground legend His name

is synonymous with foreboding tales of occult rituals evil space gods and of course the descent from reason to madness Taken together his short stories invoke a universe in which humans are insignificant specks whose sanity could be rent asunder if they even began to glimpse the secret powers underlying their existence Lovecraft has dozens of short story collections pick up those containing ldquoThe Call of Cthulhurdquo and ldquoThe Whisperer in the Darknessrdquo Reading any of his stories will leave you feeling unsettled and reluctant to turn off the lights

In conclusion BooFor less-scary costumed fun the

library will be holding its second Star Wars Reads Day from 11 am to 1 pm on Saturday Oct 11 There will be Star Wars-themed crafts games and snacks as well as a costume contest and a visit by local members of the Rebel Legion and 501st Legion devoted Star Wars fans who wear authentic costumes to support community events Last yearrsquos Star Wars Reads Day saw over 125 kids and adults participating so wersquore expecting a great turnout

mdashJake Sexton is librarian at the La Mesa branch of the San Diego County Library Reach him at 619-469-2151 or visit the library at 8074 Allison Aveu

Above The Strain is being adapted to television (Courtesy William Morrow)Left Horrorstoumlr is an innovative horror twist on an IKEA catalog (Courtesy Quirk Books)

JakeSexton

LA MESA READS

10 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

ENTERTAINMENT

La Mesa Village is usually known as a quaint and quiet

part of town but those of us who have been around for a while know therersquos much more to that stretch of La Mesa Boulevard than antique stores and thrift shops

Oktoberfest perhaps the most exciting event hosted in La Mesa each year descends upon the Village for three days over the first weekend in October This year it falls particularly early on Oct 3 ndash 5 with live entertain-ment multiple beer gardens street vendors and more slated to draw the masses

For families venturing to the free event there are carnival games rides and other activities in the Kids Zone (for children under 12) Diverse food options located throughout the 10 blocks of Oktoberfest are an obvious crowd pleaser for all ages Plus the streets are lined with booths of crafts and other products that may inspire an early holiday shopping spree

But itrsquos the big kids who have the most reasons to head to Oktoberfest

The aptly named Big Beer Garden presented by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and the smaller Nebo Drive Beer Garden by the La Mesa Village Merchantrsquos Association are where you will find most of the action at Oktoberfest

The former is located in the Allison Street parking lot (between Pine Street and Palm Avenue) and is home to a large festival stage to go along with the nectar of the hops This beer garden is family-friendly so patrons can feel free to bring their children Pets are not allowed inside the event

Various bands will play the Big Beer Garden all three days pre-senting mostly classic rock lsquonrsquo roll (The Ideas Rock and Roll Trio and The Car Tune Dogs) and some German music (Our Song) This area will also have food options

Good times brewing for annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

mdash including festival favorites like brats and pulled pork sand-wiches mdash to keep partiers fueled throughout the day and night The beer garden will also host a stein-holding contest each eve-ning around 8 pm hosted by Samuel Adams

The Nebo Drive Beer Garden (next to the La Mesa Train Museum) also has a lot to offer Though smaller in scale this adults-only beer garden provides ample enticement with at least three German beers being served It will also host the Bavarian Beer Garden Band on Friday and Saturday These factors will give an authentic feel to this area harkening back to the ldquooriginal Oktoberfest viberdquo according to Bill Dyke of the Bavarian Beer Garden Band

Festivalgoers should note a trol-ley ride to the La Mesa Boulevard stop (near Spring Street) literally drops you right in the middle of the festival Frequent trains going by make public transportation the ideal designated driver for Oktoberfesters ready to imbibe like our German counterparts Popular ride-sharing services are another smart choice for getting to and from La Mesa Trust me mdash you donrsquot want to even attempt to look for parking

In addition to the beer gar-dens and festival food vendors the businesses in and around La Mesa Village will have their doors open to welcome visitors One such spot is Hofferrsquos Cigar Bar which boasts an impressive tap list of craft beers

ldquo[Oktoberfest] brings out a much wilder clientele than we are used to but also a lot of new faces that might have never been in nor heard of usrdquo Hofferrsquos bar manager Ryan Bartman said ldquoSo all in all itrsquos great for businessrdquo

Other businesses along La Mesa Boulevard that should benefit from the increased foot traffic include Konnichiwa Sushi and Bar (bet you didnrsquot know La Mesa Village had sushi) Cosmos Coffee Cafeacute for those needing a caffeine boost to keep going and Trattoria Tiramisu with its authentic Italian dishes and stellar wine list when yoursquove had

enough beers and brats Whether La Mesa is your home

or a place yoursquove never ventured Oktoberfest is the ideal time to enjoy the festival spirit discover the businesses of the village and do the chicken dance like you never have before Whatever you do donrsquot forget to take home a commemorative beer boot

mdashJen Van Tieghem can be reached at jensdcnncomu

JenVan Tieghem

The Tarantino familyrsquos gourmet sausages are always a crowd favorite at La Mesarsquos Oktoberfest a three-day beer and brat extravaganza (Courtesy La Mesa Chamber of Commerce)

La Mesa OktoberfestSchedule of Events

Friday Oct 3Street festival 11 am - 9 pm Big Beer Garden 4 - 1130 pm (last call at 11 pm)The Ideas Rock and Roll Trio 4 - 5 pm The Car Tune Dogs 6 - 10 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden Noon - 9 pm (last call at 830 pm)Bavarian Beer Garden Band 6 - 9 pm

Saturday Oct 4 Street festival 11 am - 9 pm Big Beer Garden 11 am - 1130 pm (last call at 11 pm) Our Song Noon - 4 pmThe Car Tune Dogs 6 - 10 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden 12 - 9 pm (last call at 830 pm)Bavarian Beer Garden Band 2 - 4 pm

Sunday Oct 5 Street festival Noon - 5 pm BIG Beer Garden 1 - 430 pm (last call at 4 pm)Our Song 1 - 4 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden 12 - 430 pm (last call at 4 pm)

Fun FactsVendors Over 250Attendees expected 200000Years of La Mesa Oktoberfest 41 City blocks used forOktoberfest 10Estimated cost for police fire and other city staff time $77000 paid for by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and La Mesa Village Merchants Association

sdcnncom 11Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Jazz

Fridays Charlie Arbelaez Trio at The Rook Free 9 pm TheRookBarcom 7745 University Ave La Mesa

Sundays samdi-ego Jazz Trio at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room Free 2 - 5 pm SanPasqualWinerycom 8364 La Mesa Blvd La Mesa

Oct 15 ldquoThe Music of Will Toddrdquo with the SDSU Chamber Choir Grossmont College Jazz faculty and composerpianist Will Todd at St John of the Cross Catholic Church Suggested donation 730 pm Grossmontedu 8086 Broadway Lemon Grove

PopTuesdays Suzanne Shea and Bob Wade at Bistro Sixty Free 630 to 830 pm BistroSixtySDcom Call and hold your table 619-287-8186 5987 El Cajon Blvd College Area

Wednesdays Westside Inflection at Riviera Supper Club Free 8 pm RivieraSupperClubcom 7777 University Ave La Mesa

Fridays Nathan Welden at Bistro Sixty Free 630 pm BistroSixtySDcom 5987 El Cajon Blvd College Area

Classical

Oct 16 Youth Choir of San Diego at Cuyamaca College Price $8 ($5 for students) 7 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Oct 17 Cuyamaca College Choir at Cuyamaca College Price $8 ($5 for students) 730 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Oct 31 Quatuor Mosaiumlques Classical String Quartet at Cuyamaca College Price $10 730 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Alternative

Sept 27 TaKillya at Chico Club Free 9 pm ChicoClub1940com 7366 El Cajon Blvd La Mesa

Oct 4 Baja Bugs at Riviera Supper Club Free 9 pm RivieraSupperClubcom 7777 University Ave La Mesa

Oct 31 Fifth Annual Halloween Monster Bash with The Farmers at Parkway Bar Free 9 pm TheParkwayBarcom 9188 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa

Other

Thursdays (through Oct 30) Open Mic Acoustic Nights at Parkway Bar Free 7 pm TheParkwayBarcom 9188 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa

Sept 27 Little Kings at Hooleyrsquos Free 9 pm Hooleyscom 5500 Grossmont Center Dr 277 La Mesa

Oct 18 Oktoberfest featuring The Bavarian Beergarden Band at Butcherrsquos Brewing Free 4-10 pm ButchersBrewingcom 9962 Prospect Ave Suite F Santee

Oct 18 Jefferson Washington at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room Free 7 pm SanPasqualWinerycom 8364 La Mesa Blvd La Mesa

Bands venues and music-lovers please submit listings for this calendar by emailing Jensdcnncomu

to 46 feet or about four stories So the Kitzmans have hired

development consultants Urban Housing Partners to convince city leaders to change the zoning on the property to allow build-ing heights up to 110 feet The zoning the Kitzmans are asking for could accommodate up to 363 dwelling units 61000 square feet of commercial retail space 146000 square feet of commer-cial office space or a hotel of up to 250 guest rooms

The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the pro-posed zoning changes on June 18 They made no decision at the time because the Kitzmansrsquo co-applicant American Legion Post 282 announced they were withdrawing their support for the zoning change

The Kitzmans through their South Baltimore LLC resub-mitted their application over the summer The Planning Commission will hear the new and reduced application at a meeting at City Hall on Wednesday Oct 1 at 7 pm

Residents east and west of the project site have been some of the most vocal critics of the proposal to rezone the property

Don Bell whose house on El Capitan Drive overlooks the Park Station property said he and his neighbors are not against redeveloping and improving the property

ldquoItrsquos blight down thererdquo Bell said

What they are against how-ever is rezoning the property

ldquoThe problem really is that the Planning Commission is going to give them a blank checkrdquo he said

Nearby neighbors know and accept that change is inevitable but the added traffic and parking problems that would come from a 10-story building would be unac-ceptable and detrimental to the community said Suda House who also has a view of the Park Station property from her home on El Capitan

ldquoDevelop the heck out of it but keep it below 46 feetrdquo House said

One vocal supporter of the Kitzmanrsquos plan has been Jack Rowell a La Mesa native who now sells real estate across the San Diego region Any new homes that can be added to the La Mesa market will be a good thing Rowell said

ldquoI have a bunch of [potential

buyers] who want La Mesa but itrsquos a fight over every prop-erty especially things under $500000rdquo Rowell said ldquoPeople want the La Mesa schools People want the convenience of La Mesardquo

The only other place where housing prices are compara-ble for high-quality schools is Poway and Poway doesnrsquot have La Mesarsquos Village or its prox-imity to regional destinations Rowell said

Rowell said he understands why nearby neighbors donrsquot want their views to change but therersquos no reason to believe home values will suffer with an increase in supply

ldquoTheyrsquore talking about 300 to 500 condo unitsrdquo Rowell said ldquoThatrsquos like spitting in the oceanrdquo

For Aaron Amerling orga-nizer of the ldquoFight Park Station La Mesa ndash No More Than Fourrdquo Facebook page the colorful renderings of Park Station are a Trojan Horse designed to mis-lead people about what the site could become

ldquoThe Kitzmans do not have the funds to develop thatrdquo Amerling said ldquoThe whole idea is to upzone the land because that improves the resale valuerdquo

If city leaders approve the new zoning the Kitzmans or a new owner could build something completely different than what theyrsquove been advertising

City leaders have been cau-tious about commenting directly on the proposal only issuing vague statements about main-taining the character of the downtown village

Regardless of the Planning Commissionrsquos decision next week the final decision on whether to rezone the property will be made by the full City Council at a later dateu

LOCAL NEWSGen-X in La MesaGive peace a chanceGenevieve Suzuki

G iving peace a chance seems more complicated than it

should beWith all of the strife going on

in this world peace seems to be an almost impossible proposition The appalling brutal treatment of American hostages at the hands of ISIS members resulted in many of us feeling complete repulsion at the state of global affairs

I know I felt sick Even worse I began to feel hopeless

So when Anne Pacheco a member of the Interfaith Council of La Mesa asked me to attend the first International Day of Peace Sept 21 at Aztec Park her invitation stirred something in my soul The day which touted ldquoThe Right of Peoples to Peacerdquo would be a joint effort among people of most of the worldrsquos religions including Judaism Christianity Islam Buddhism Hinduism Native American and Baharsquoi

And although I promised Anne I would attend I thought it was an awfully lofty goal Really All of these people gathering for peace on a Sunday a day many hold holy in their churches

But I was pleasantly surprised when approximately 200 people

showed up with chairs umbrellas hats and hearts at Aztec Park that mild sunny day Many of us pur-chased sky blue scarves from the Sisters of Saint Francis to wear in solidarity for peace Shucks even Mayor Art Madrid wore a scarf over a yellow shirt

I admit however getting my husband Derek to don the blue scarf wasnrsquot easy In fact it wasnrsquot easy getting him there in the first place

Itrsquos not that Derek is against world peace (even though our daughter to this day refuses to add that request to her nightly prayers) Itrsquos more that Sunday is for football in Derekrsquos world and this day of peace was causing him to miss hooting and hollering for his fantasy football team

Nevertheless Derek relented and accompanied me and our daughter to the event This com-promise is one from which most of the world could learn Is Derek a community activist No but Derek is focused on the big pic-ture namely a happy wife and home Focusing on the big pic-ture would help many find peace in their lives locally and globally

As I sat there amid others dedi-cated to peace and non-violence I realized the one common emo-tional positive is the future We all want a better future for our fami-lies and our children We donrsquot

want to leave behind a legacy of anger brutality and war

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we said together at the beginning of the program

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we insisted again

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we vowedAs Rebecca Littlejohn of Vista

La Mesa Christian Church said ldquoWe are gathered in hope today for hope is how we surviverdquo

Thanks to this special inaugural day I was reminded of how impor-tant it was for me to have hope and that reminder allowed me to place aside that earlier feeling of hopelessness conjured by evil deeds in another land After all if I allow myself to fall hopeless I have nothing to give my child On the other hand if I cling to hope it will then be passed on to my daughter who would hold that ideal in her mind and mdash hopefully mdash see it to fruition

As the Native American prayer during the program stated ldquoGive us the wisdom to teach our chil-dren to love to respect and to be kind to each other so that they may grow with peace in mindrdquo

mdashGenevieve A Suzuki is editor emeritus of the La Mesa Courier She continues to live and practice family law in La Mesa Her web-site is sdlawyersuzukicomu

Find out what your home is worth on-line

Visit wwwsandiegohouseareacomOr scan this QR Code with your phone now

Tom Bowker Coldwell Banker West BRE01024513

A rendering by Park Station opponents shows the potential scale of buildings (Courtesy Aaron Amerling)

Park Station from page 1

12 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

Music professorrsquos jazz album wins acclaim

Follow your passionThat has been a guiding

principal for Grossmont College music instructor and jazz bassist extraordinaire Justin Grinnell who ditched plans to study mathematics shortly after enrolling at San Diego State University back in 1999 and meeting musicians ldquowho were doing music all the timerdquo

Good thing Grinnell has become an integral part of a vibrant Grossmont College music program and gigs as a pit orchestra member at myriad venues including the Old Globe La Jolla Playhouse and the San Diego Civic Theatre for a number of Tony Award-winning musicals

And now his debut disc the Justin Grinnell Quartetrsquos Without You has been nomi-nated for a San Diego Music Award for best jazz album

Grinnell is no stranger to awards He is a member of the Danny Green Trio which won the 2009 San Diego Music Award for Best Jazz Album for its debut CD The triorsquos second release A Thousand Ways Home reached No 17 on the Jazz Week Charts for national radio airplay after its 2012 debut

ldquoIrsquom doing what I loverdquo said Grinnell who is on track to earn his Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern California next spring ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the col-lege or university levelrdquo

Grinnell has earned praise from the best in the business

ldquoNot only is Justin a fantastic person but he is such an accom-plished musician a great sight reader which is so important because we do all kinds of tricky music and having someone who is able to read so well is an invalu-able asset and hersquos adept in a lot of different musical stylesrdquo said critically-acclaimed Jazz guitar-ist and composer Peter Sprague ldquoHe also has just such a wonder-ful spirit when it comes to playing music Irsquom really happy to know him and being able to play with him from time to timerdquo

A native of Santa Rosa California Grinnell initially planned to study mathematics and become an engineer But after enrolling in a few music classes at San Diego State and jamming with newfound friends he switched gears It was while he was at SDSU that Grinnell began gigging with future Grossmont College Music Department chair Derek Cannon and met his future wife Melonie a pianist who also teaches music at Grossmont College

With both a bachelorrsquos and masterrsquos degree in jazz perfor-mance from San Diego State in hand Grinnell began working in 2005 as an adjunct music profes-

sor at Grossmont College He also serves as an adjunct music professor at the University of San Diego and taught part time at Southwestern College from 2008 to 2011

ldquoGrossmont College is specialrdquo Grinnell said ldquoIt feels like family here Everyone is part of a com-munity that is working together on behalf of our students doing our best to help them succeed in a business thatrsquos hard to make a living in That camaraderie is pricelessrdquo

Grinnellrsquos passion serves him well in a business where talent alone often isnrsquot enough to sup-port a family

ldquoI tell my students all the time that if theyrsquore looking for job security donrsquot look at a career in jazz musicrdquo Grinnell said adding that he makes a living cobbling together his adjunct

professorships private lessons and regular performances

Grinnell and his wife are juggling their careers while rais-ing two young sons His debut album falls into the category of West Coast-flavored straight-ahead jazz He wrote six of the nine tunes on the disc with the remaining three being covers Especially tasty are the origi-nal ldquoHit the Brakesrdquo and a jazz cover of The Beatlesrsquo Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite

Grinnell however is comfort-able playing a wide variety of styles that range from classical to funk He is a member of the Brazilian jazz-inspired Danny Green Trio (Danny Green also teaches at Grossmont College) and the modern jazz group ARC Trio among others

The Justin Grinnell Quintet will be playing three concerts at Grossmont College in the coming weeks Shows are sched-uled for Sept 28 Oct 26 and Nov 30 in Building 26 Room 220 at 630 pm A full itiner-ary of upcoming performances around the region can be found at JustinGrinnellcom

The San Diego Music Awards take place Oct 6 at Humphreys By The Bay on San Diegorsquos Shelter Island

mdashDavid Ogul writes on behalf of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Email him at ogulcommunica-tionsgmailcomu

ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the college or university levelrdquo-Justin Grinnell

LOCAL NEWS

Justin Grinnell has just released his debut jazz album which has been nominated for a San Diego Music Award (Photo by Jon Naugle)

DavidOgul

sdcnncom 13Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

AUDIT PENDING

wwwsdcnncom

123 Camino de la Reina Suite 202 EastSan Diego CA 92108

P 6195197775 bull F 619-519-7840

1

2

3

4

5

Great Value Proven Results

Community NewsNumber one source of community information Hyper-local news and features In print and online updated daily

Market SaturationCombined distribution of door-to-door delivery high traffic locations and news racks Over 200000 readers

Award Winning JournalismProud recipient of numerous ldquoExcellence in Journalism AwardsrdquoRegular recipient of local and national press awards

Audited DistributionAudited by one of the nationrsquos largest newspaper auditing firms Circulation Verification Council (CVC)Guaranteed distribution

For advertising call(619) 961-1958

mikesdcnncom

1 2 3

4 5

23000 Distribution Bi-WeeklyZip Codes 92103 92104 92105 92116

20000 Distribution MonthlyZip Codes 92101 92102

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15000 Distribution MonthlyZip Code 92108

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15000 Distribution Bi-WeeklyServing San Diegorsquos LGBT Community

Distributed Countywide

up along the way include thousands of football cards (both Topps and Fleer) player and coach jerseys jackets personal letters autographed footballs bobbleheads pins programs team photographs and much much more He even has a life-sized bust of Chargers wide receiver Lance Alworth which is a story in itself just ask him

This native sonrsquos collection is not limited to the San Diego Chargers but what he has gathered about them is more than impressive His comprehensive collection also includes items from the Los Angeles Chargers and every other football team that played during the AFL time period

Over the years hersquos met and interviewed dozens of players coaches and families becoming close with many of them Two of his larger per-sonal collections are of Gilman the Chargers first coach and Alworth

In 2004 he wrote ldquoCharging Through the AFL Los Angeles and San Diego Chargers football in the 1960srdquo He followed that up with ldquoBombs Away Air Coryelle and the San Diego Chargersrdquo in 2006 Both books rely heavily on interviews and photographs of their respective periods

A few years ago Tobias decided to channel his love for the AFL through his website TalesFromTheAmericanFootballLeaguecom Here Tobias shares his many interviews of the past runs a blog where he opines on the latest news of players related to the AFL deposits videos stats historical data photos and even has a forum section where others can share their love for the league and its players

He said his goal with the site is to ldquoedutain (educate and entertain) football lovers with stories about all things AFLrdquo To support his internet endeavor hersquos also taken up social media and can be followed on twitter at TalesfromtheAFL and on two locations on Facebook ldquoTales from the American Football Leaguerdquo and ldquoI loved the 1960s Chargersrdquo (a public group) On the latter he shares vintage photographs of the team and banters with the families of players He shares links back to his blog and web-site on both pages

His many follow-ers recently noticed Tobias absent from posting for a time Thatrsquos because he recently gave up approximately 85 percent of his collec-tion to pursue his dream of opening a lacrosse store in La Mesa with an old friend Despite months of hard work that opportunity never panned out Now the five pallets of blood sweat and tears that he consigned to an auction house a few months ago are sitting in a warehouse somewhere in the Midwest being individually categorized and valued in preparation for a national Internet-based auction block next spring

ldquoI was trying to trade one passion for anotherrdquo Tobias said ldquoIf Irsquod known it would have just been trading one passion for money I never would have done it but it is what it isrdquo

Deciding what to keep was a challenge but Tobias said it came down not to which collections were worth the most money but which provided him the most enjoyment

The two-dozen binders still resident on his shelves are neatly filled to the brim with pages of plastic inserts containing football cards with most every card there signed

Tobias said he pulls each binder down two or three times per week just to look through them Inside are vast collections of football cards Many are duplicated but they are categorized in dozens of ways Some collections are still incomplete mdash like his 1965 collection of every card Topps put out for that year he is only missing two out of 176 cards mdash and each time he removes that binder from the shelf he strategizes new ways he can complete that collection There is a story behind every collection and another for every card

He has some cards that hersquos certain do not exist anywhere else and he has numerous cards that had the wrong playerrsquos image printed on them in the publishing housersquos haste to get them out in advance of the new season Hersquos reached out to many of the players over the years sending along his books and asking for autographs and he has the response letters to prove it

In the wake of his failed business attempt Tobias finds himself facing a forgotten challenge looking for work

ldquoI havenrsquot had to do that since graduating collegerdquo he said ldquoFor now Irsquom just working in the back yard putting in a sprinkler system and taking my mind off of it

ldquoSan Diego can be a tough place to live in if you are a sports histo-rianrdquo he said ldquoItrsquos probably time for me to find another line of workrdquo

mdashMorgan M Hurley can be contacted at morgansdcnncomu

Todd Tobiasrsquos collections include signed football cards from the 1965 Chargers and other rare collectibles such as a bust of Lance Alworth (Photos by Morgan Hurley)

Football from page 1

14 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

CALENDAR

Prescription drug collectionSaturday Sept 27

Get rid of your unwanted expired or leftover prescription drugs at this National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day event hosted by the La Mesa Police Department and the US Drug Enforcement Administration The effort is designed to prevent prescription drug abuse Drop your drugs no questions asked from 10 am to 2 pm at the police station parking lot 8085 University Ave For other drop off locations or more informa-tion visit deadiversionusdojgov and click ldquoGot Drugsrdquo

Free electronic waste recyclingSaturday and Sunday Sept 27 ndash 28

State law prohibits disposal of certain electronic items in the trash because many of them con-tain hazardous substances The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce is hosting this free event to help residents properly recycle old televisions computers print-ers VCRs DVD players copiers scanners fax machines toner car-tridges and other approved items Microwave ovens can be disposed of for a service fee of $5 Items will be collected from 9 am to 4 pm in the parking lot between Fuddruckers restaurant and Chuze Fitness at the Grossmont Shopping Center 5500 Grossmont Center Dr The following items will not be accepted refrigerators washers dryers fluorescent light bulbs and household batteries For more details on items that will be accepted visit lamesachambercom

Generational diversity workshopTuesday Oct 2

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series profes-sional development consultant Victoria Hankins will lead a dis-cussion on the multigenerational workplace With four genera-tions working side by side in the American workforce challenges often arise regarding communi-cation styles differing workplace values and misconceptions about workplace motivators Hankins will outline the differences between the four generations and provide tips on how to effectively work in cross-generational teams The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 1030 to 1130 am in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

OktoberfestFriday through Sunday Oct 3 4 and 5

See our article on page 11 in this monthrsquos La Mesa Courier for all the details on the annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

La Mesa City Council Candidates ForumTuesday Oct 7

La Mesa mayoral candidates Art

Madrid and Mark Arapostathis will join City Council candidates Patrick Dean Mary England Pete Gregorovic and Guy McWhirter at this forum hosted and moder-ated by the Community Outreach Ministry of La Mesa First United Methodist Church in the church social hall at 4690 Palm Ave A meet-and-greet will begin at 630 pm The program begins at 7 pm All are welcome

Free blood pressure screeningTuesday Oct 7

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center 9000 Wakarusa St in La Mesa No appointment neces-sary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Senior ExpoThursday Oct 9

The city of La Mesa organizes this free event to help connect senior citizens and their families to the most helpful senior service pro-viders including La Mesa Police Department Crime Prevention Aging and Independence Services Metropolitan Transit System ldquo211rdquo Sharp Senior Resource Center Meals on Wheels DMV Senior Ombudsman Program SDGampE Medical Baseline Program Elderhelp Jewish Family Services Yellow Cab California Telephone Access Program HICAP San Diego

County District Attorneyrsquos Elder Abuse Unit and more The event will be held from 830 am to 130 pm at the La Mesa Community Center 4975 Memorial Dr A shuttle will be available from the Spring Street trolley station Organizers are asking seniors to RSVP by Oct 3 by calling 619-667-1322

Depression and bipolar disorder screeningFriday Oct 10

Dr William Brock will pres-ent a free educational seminar on the signs and symptoms of depression bipolar disorder and other anxiety disorders from 1130 am to 1230 pm Adults ages 60 and older can receive free anonymous screen-ings from Sharp Grossmont Behavioral Health Services from 1030 am to 1130 am and from 1230 pm to 130 pm The seminar and screenings will be held at the Grossmont Healthcare Districtrsquos Herrick Library at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are suggested but not required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

ldquoGot Plansrdquo Career and college fairSaturday Oct 11

High school students and their parents are invited to meet with admissions representatives from public and private universities community colleges vocational

schools and the military at this annual event organized by the Grossmont Union High School District and the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Free workshops will provide information on financial aid changes to SAT and ACT requirements transfer options between two-year colleges and four-year universities and other career topics Some workshops will be offered in Spanish and Arabic The fair is open from 1 to 4 pm at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For more information call Jason Martinez at 619-593-2713

Bunco BashSaturday Oct 11

Soroptimist International of Lemon Grove hosts this special autumn-themed Bunco event to raise money for the grouprsquos projects to help women and chil-dren in our community For $20 participants get three rounds of Bunco a door prize ticket and complimentary fall snacks and dessert Wine will be available for purchase Bunco winners receive gift baskets and raffle prizes will also be offered The event will be held from 1 to 4 pm at St John of the Cross Knights of Columbus Hall at Broadway and Columbus Drive in Lemon Grove Reservations are required Contact Gloria Ferreira at 619-466-3699 or email her at soroptgloriagmailcom

Pooch in the ParkSaturday Oct 11

Kiwanis Club of La Mesa and the Human Relations Advisory Commission will host this com-munity get-together from 9 am to noon at Harry Griffen Regional Park 9550 Milden St For $20 pet owners can enter up to two dogs into a contest show for a chance to win in one of five categories or the ldquobest in showrdquo trophy Raffle prizes giveaways and other demon-strations will round out the morning For more informa-tion contact Glenna Boemen at gab11853aolcom

Fair trade gift fair Sunday Oct 12

The St Martin of Tours Parish Hall will become a world bazaar featuring unique and handcrafted fair trade gifts deacutecor apparel and jewelry from artisans in developing countries from 8 am to 1 pm As they browse the displays created by local vendors who sell fair trade products shoppers will be able to sample or purchase fair trade refreshments including choco-late tea coffee bananas soda and Ben and Jerryrsquos ice cream The parish hall is at 7710 El Cajon Blvd in La Mesa Call 619-466-3241 for additional information

See CALENDAR page 22

sdcnncom 15Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierCALENDAR

Telephone DirectoryPolice non-emergency line 619-667-1400Fire non-emergency line 619-667-1461Animal Control 619-667-7536Graffiti removal 619-667-7560Weed abatement 619-667-1465Traffic signal maintenance 619-667-1166Streetlight maintenance 619-667-1450

Mayor Art Madrid 619-667-1100City Councilmembers 619-667-1106

EDCO 619-287-7555Helix Water District 619-466-0585Helix Water after hours emergency 619-466-3234

Gov Jerry Brown 916-445-2841US Sen Barbara Boxer 619-239-3884US Sen Dianne Feinstein 619-231-9712US Rep Susan Davis 619-280-5353State Sen Joel Anderson 619-596-3136State Assemblymember Shirley Weber 619-531-7913

Community titan Jerry Fazio announces plans to retire

A fter 35 years with the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County

Jerry Fazio has announced his retirement

Faziorsquos last day on the job as executive director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation will be Oct 24 His official retirement date following vacation will be Dec 4 three days after his 35th anniversary with the youth organization that has served hundreds of thousands of young people in the East County since its founding in 1961

Since joining the organization on Dec 1 1979 Fazio has served in several executive positions with the Girlsrsquo Club and Boys amp Girls Clubs He has also done two stints mdash the most recent of which began in July 2008 mdash as execu-tive director of the foundation a nonprofit fundraising entity

Faziorsquos honors during his career have included El Cajon Citizen of the Year in 1992 Boys amp Girls Clubs Pacific Region Executive of the Year in 2006 and National Executive Director of the Year from Boys amp Girls Clubs of America in 2007 He is known throughout San Diego for his friendly smile and fund-raising passion on behalf of the organization

ldquoHe is the instantly recog-nizable fundraiser and pitch man for our organizationrdquo said Jack Doyle board president of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation ldquoDuring his 35 years Jerry has steered the development of our new and updated facilities in El Cajon Lakeside Santee and La Mesa He leaves us a legacy to be proud of in East County We wish him well as he moves into retirementrdquo

Faziorsquos decision to retire was prompted by recent good news from doctors that he is cancer-free five years after beginning his battle against colon cancer the same disease that led to the 2008 death of his first wife Nancy

ldquoWhile preparing for my cancer

SDCNN Staff

tests I indulged in a little specu-lation about how I might handle the news whether good or badrdquo Fazio said ldquoI concluded that no matter what after 35 years the time has come for me to retire I will concentrate on my faith my health my grandchildren and my gorgeous wife Melissa And if an opportunity comes along to help a good community cause I might just do that toordquo

Faziorsquos recent work with the foundation has focused on an $89 million fundraising effort called the La Mesa Capital Campaign The campaignrsquos goal is to build a new clubhouse in La Mesa reno-vate an existing teen center in the city and fund an endowment to operate both facilities

Forrest Higgins CEO of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County will add the role of campaign coordinator to his job with the assistance from staff According to Higgins more than $5 million for the La Mesa Capital Campaign has been raised during Faziorsquos leadership

ldquoJerry has been integral part of the success and growth of the Boys amp Girls Club of East Countyrdquo Higgins said ldquoHis dedi-cation and passion to the youth and families of East County will be greatly missedrdquo

Since 1961 the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County have been meeting the developmental needs of children and youth The orga-nizationrsquos mission statement ldquoTo inspire and enable all young people especially those who need us most to become responsible caring productive citizensrdquou

Jerry Fazio (Courtesy Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County)

notice to which the couple didnrsquot respond in time to renew their five-year lease Katie said

The next they heard they had to close the bar by Nov 1

ldquoI truly believe that when one door closes another one opensrdquo says Katie Halvin who runs the bar with her husband Doug ldquoAs poignant as it is to lose the bar I know we lost it because we didnrsquot pay attention when we should haverdquo

For the past five years Katie Halvinrsquos life has been intertwined with the bar Her first date with now-husband Doug landed her there mdash an Internet connection that led to a meet up in Harry Griffen Park

ldquoWe talked for a while and then he took me to his neighborhood hangout to have a beer and shoot some poolrdquo Katie recalls Katie was retiring from the Navy as a chief torpedo man and she was ready to settle down again ldquoWe got married at the Carlton Oaks [Country Club] mdash the whole bar was thererdquo

Before long Katie and Doug took over the bar which is leased from the Ross Family Trust Calls and emails to the property man-ager were not returned

ldquoWhen we took it over there were drugs gangs uglinessrdquo she said ldquoI wonrsquot put up with thatrdquo

What was left was a band of devoted regulars a tradition of small local live music and soon local art on the walls and events supporting local artists on the calendar

Cathryn Beeks the local music guru from 1021 KPRI radio began working with Halvin in November to book homegrown and up-and-coming acts at the bar mdash which led to notable shows from the Kilborn Alley Blues Band Roni Lee and many others

ldquoItrsquos very sad that the bar is closing Itrsquos run by very special people and there isnrsquot a venue like this in San Diegordquo Beeks said ldquoI found out about them because a lot of my friends were play-ing there They had a very loyal group of musicians before I ever showed uprdquo

The Parkway is also home to a very popular and solidly booked open mic night run by local singer-songwriter Jessica Hull

The Farmers local legends who evolved from the Beat Farmers also play regularly The live music will continue intermittently with the Farmers playing the closing

night Halloween party on Oct 31For Katie Halvin the closing

isnrsquot the end Property manager Aaron Dean intends to redevelop the strip mall where the Parkway now stands into a restaurant with a full bar and microbrewery and include an outdoor music venue

ldquoHe contacted me and hired me to be the director of enter-tainment at the new venuerdquo she said ldquoThey hope to start con-struction in December and finish it by August 2015rdquo ldquoOne side of my brain is ecstatic with oppor-tunityrdquo she said ldquoThe other feels the sadness of this lossrdquo

Meanwhile the Halvins are looking around in the area to find another place to open a bar like the Parkway

ldquoItrsquos our regulars Irsquom really worried aboutrdquo she said ldquoSome are at a point where most of their friends and family are gone and we are their community and fellowship We know who has cancer who has a new baby we know who to check on if they donrsquot show uprdquo

mdashMarty Graham is a freelance writer Email her at martygra-hamcoxnetu

Parkway from page 1

Sycuan Resort and Casino

For exciting casino action right in your own backyard therersquos nowhere closer than Sycuan Casino With Vegas-style gaming scrumptious dining options live headliner entertainment and nearby golf resort yoursquoll find your-self coming back again and again

You can choose from 2000 video amp reel slots as well as video poker For you card players there are more than 40 tables to play Blackjack ThreendashCard amp FourndashCard Poker Sycuanndashstyle craps and roulette

Enjoy the fresh air in the nonndashsmoking room with more than 350 slot machines 9 gaming tables Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet and a Poker Room with daily tourna-ments ndash all smokendashfree

For your dining pleasure Sycuan offers five different res-

taurant options to tempt your taste buds For those looking for a variety of delectable options Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet is an all-you-can-eat feast featuring slow-roasted Prime Rib buttery crab legs and over 100 fresh selec-tions and delicious dessert bar There isnrsquot a bad seat in the house at GameDay Sports Bar amp Grill where you can catch the big game on 39 large screen televisions 16 beers on tap with full cocktail selection delicious food menu and 29 bar-top video poker machines to play while you root on your team

With excellent acoustics and state-of-the-art sound and light-ing Sycuan Live amp Up Close is San Diegorsquos premiere venue for live entertainment Bringing exciting crowd pleasing acts from all musical genres therersquos something for everyone on their concert calendar

Just a short drive nearby Sycuan Golf Resort offers San Diegorsquos only 54-hole golf facility Exciting course play includes

3007 Dehesa RdEl Cajon CA 92019800-457-5568sycuanresortcom

mature tree-lined fairways eleva-tion changes water features and impeccable greens No matter if yoursquore a seasoned player or a first-timer the two challenging 18-hole championship golf courses and fun 18-hole par 3 course are guaranteed to give you unforget-table experiences from beginning to end To complete your stay-cat-ion enjoy one of their 100 spacious hotel rooms all recently remodeled and offer beautiful views of the golf courses pools and private putting greens If golf isnrsquot in your plans you can pamper yourself with a relaxing spa service

Not only is Sycuan the closest casino to downtown they offer free shuttle bus rides from a number of convenient locations throughout San Diego County For more infor-mation please visit Sycuancom

Guests must be 18 or older to enter casino 21 or older to enter theatre and Sports Bar Please play responsibly

Get away for the day at Sycuan CasinohellipReal Friendly Real Closeu

16 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

Short-term hands-on programs

Half-day classes 4 days a week

Monthly payment plans available

wwwtheaccountingacademycom

PETSlsquoOh where oh where has my little dog gonersquoSariReis

The only thing more devas-tating to a pet parent than

when their furry kid is missing is to have them never return Yet this sad scenario occurs every day Walk through any neighborhood and you will see the signs posted on trees and telephone poles ldquoMissing Our beloved dog Skippyrdquo These heart-rending pleas for help are always accompanied by a photograph of a sweet furry face and the offer of a reward for their return

As pet parents one of our pri-mary responsibilities is to keep our pets safe To do this we need to keep them securely confined in our homes our backyards or on leashes If your dog has access to the backyard be certain it is entirely fenced in with no poten-tial escape routes Make sure all gates are locked when you or anyone else goes in or out Inform pool service people landscap-ers or gardeners that you have a dog in the yard and the gate must be secured at all times Be particularly careful when enter-ing or leaving your home Open doors slowly to ensure a cat or dog is not lurking nearby ready to make a quick escape Never leave the door open for any length of time Even an indoor kitty may be curious if the door is left open for a minute or two Tell visitors cleaning ladies and anyone else who may have access to your home that you have pets and they are not to be let out

Some people like to give their dogs off-leash time on city streets in their neighborhoods They believe their pup is well-trained and will come on command and not run away But the sight of a

squirrel or stray cat can waylay the best trained dog and send them on a chase Many of these dogs never make it back home

There are also those feline parents who believe it is essen-tial to a catrsquos well-being for them to investigate and play outdoors Although the kitties may enjoy outdoor time it is very danger-ous With rattlesnakes coyotes stray dogs and traffic many out-door kitties never make it home again and soon become one of those sad notices posted on a tree

Even with the best inten-tions our pets may still make an escape Your best opportunity in getting them back is to ensure they can be identified Put an ID

tag on their collar listing your name and phone number and microchip them Although there are numerous companies that offer microchips and monitoring services one of the best is ldquoHome Againrdquo If you do microchip your pet remember to notify the man-ufacturer if you move or change your phone number Although the cost of micro-chipping is very reasonable many shelters and veterinary clinics hold spe-cial micro-chipping days so you can get your pets done for a dis-counted price Having your pet micro-chipped greatly increases the potential of getting him home again Can you actually put a price tag on that

ldquoHome Againrdquo stated that one out of three pets will go missing during their lifetime Make sure that one isnrsquot yours

mdashSari 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 missionvalley-petsittingcomu

One out of three pets will

go missing during their

lifetime

Lucille a 5-year-old spayed Labrador RetrieverAustralian Cattle Dog mix is

an energetic lady with tons of love to give her new family She has a friendly personality with everyone she meets and loves to learn new tricks She already knows commands such as sit down shake crawl beg and is currently learning how to wave ldquobye-byerdquo She is very treat-motivated and eager to please

She is very smart and outgoing and has gotten along well with other dogs on social walks This silly girl is always smiling and ready for a new adventure Born a true athlete she would love to participate in future training and would make an excellent workout partner Adequate exercise and mental stimulation are a must for this spirited lady

Lucille will do best in an active home with older children or adults She has a lot of love to give and may benefit from having another dog in the family as long as she meets them first to make sure theyrsquore a good match

Her adoption fee includes her spay current vaccinations permanent microchip identification a certificate for a free veterinary exam 30 days of complimentary medical insurance and a license for residents of Oceanside or Vista

Lucille is available for adoption at the San Diego Humane Society 5500 Gaines St in San Diego To learn more about Lucille call 619-299-7012u

Adopt a pet Looking for a home

LucilleBreed Labrador Retriever Australian Cattle Dog mixAge 5 years old Gender Female (spayed)Colors Black and WhiteID 142265Adoption Fee $9500

ADOPTION HOURSWeekdays 11 am ndash 6 pm Weekends 11 am ndash 5 pm

SD Humane Society amp SPCA5500 Gaines St (92110)

619-299-7012 | sdhumaneorg

(ThinkStock)

sdcnncom 17Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Foothiller FootstepsAdvanced Placement curriculum exposes students to college-level study

Helix HighlightsMaking students college-ready

Connie and LynnBaer

JenniferOsborn

A parent of a Helix Charter High School student once

noted that her daughter was never asked ldquoAre you going to collegerdquo Instead she was asked ldquoWhere are you going to collegerdquo A subtle difference in wording but a vast difference in meaning

Helixrsquos mission states ldquoHelix Charter High School provides a comprehensive education that prepares all students to gradu-

ate college-ready and equipped to reach their personal and aca-demic potentialrdquo

While the belief at Helix is not that every graduate needs to attend college in order to be suc-cessful it is definitely our goal to ensure that every graduate has the option to continue their edu-cation if they so choose

For the class of 2014 82 per-cent of Helix graduates stated they planned to attend college Forty-five percent went directly to a four-year college and 37 percent planned to attend two-

year institutions Approximately 12 percent attend University of California schools and 22 per-cent attend San Diego State or other California State University campuses

Support classroom projectsHave you heard of Donors

Choose Donors Choose is an online charity started by a class-room teacher from the Bronx New York He and his colleagues had great ideas for their students but no funding to bring their ideas to fruition

On the Donors Choose website teachers post classroom project requests and visitors to the web-site can help grant the teachersrsquo wishes by donating any amount big or small to their projects Donors Choose allows everyone to be a philanthropist

Over the past few years Helix teachers have been the recipi-ents of hundreds of thousands of dollars in supplies for classroom projects that would otherwise not have been possible Be a part of it Visit the website at donorschooseorg and search ldquoHelix La Mesardquo in the search box

Students shine nationallyThis past summer four Helix

Speech amp Debate team member students went to Kansas City Miski Abdi Spencer McCall Rebeca McClellan and Rachel Orey each qualified to compete in the National Forensics League National Championships McCall was a semifinalist in Student Senate and a quarterfinalist in Impromptu Orey was an octafi-nalist in Poetry

What else is going on at HelixLenelle Wyliersquos honors biology

classes have been accepted to attend the Science Lecture Series at the Scripps Research Institute

Jeff Kepperrsquos Oceanography class will be working with the

Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute and raising white sea bass in the classroom This is the second group of white sea bass raised by Helix students

Highland Players present The Odd Couple by Neil Simon Nov 5-8 and Nov 13-14 at 7 pm in the Black Box Theater They will perform both the original laquomaleraquo version and the ldquofemalerdquo version in repertory Tickets are $10 and will be available at helixdramaweeblycom or at the door Performances may sell out so buy early

Take a tourFinally we are always inter-

ested in letting our community know about Helix Charter High School The Excellence in Education Tour is offered twice a month and is open to anyone who wishes to attend It is a one-hour tour and program that highlights our vision history accomplish-ments goals and needs This monthrsquos tours will take place on Tuesday October 7 from 830 ndash 930 am and Thursday October 23 from 530 ndash 630 pm More information can be found at helix-charternet We hope to see you there

mdashJennifer Osborn is the com-munity relations officer for Helix Charter High School Email her at josbornhelixcharternetu

A commitment to educational excellence has always been a

part of the culture of Grossmont High School In the 1980s Grossmont began offering a new curriculum mdash Advanced Placement mdash that challenges the high school student to master a rigorous college-level curricu-lum Each May the students may then take the AP Exam Passing the exam with a score of 3 4 or 5 will in most cases translate to the student receiv-ing college credit or course exemption

In 1981 Grossmont English teacher Kay Adams offered an after-school tutorial for her senior students who wanted to take the AP English Language and Composition Exam Twenty-one students met with her to receive preparation for the exam all 21 students passed the exam with five stu-dents receiving a 5 the highest score

ldquoI learned more than I ever taughtrdquo Adams said ldquoThose students were the brightest minds I ever metrdquo

Beginning in 1982 AP

courses became a yearly English course offering

Other challenges presented themselves to early AP teach-ers In the 1980s through 1996 Sue Emerson AP Biology teacher found ways to cre-atively schedule her class On Wednesdays the students came in an hour early to complete the sophisticated experiments the curriculum required

ldquoOne fun activity was a nation-wide project studying wetlandsrdquo Emerson recalled ldquoThe students shared information with schools around the country via telecom-munication from their study of the Tijuana River Estuaryrdquo

Today Grossmont offers 15 different honors courses which prepare the students for the diverse variety of subsequent 19 Advanced Placement courses

Art AP Art History Studio Drawing 2-D Design

Business AP Computer Science

English AP Literature and Composition Language and Composition

Language AP Spanish Language Spanish Literature and Culture French Language and Culture

Math AP Calculus StatisticsPerforming Arts AP Music

Advanced Placement Theory

Science AP Biology Environmental Science Physics

Social Science AP European History US History Psychology US Government

Over the years the curriculum has evolved AP French Language and Culture teacher Azita Mahmoudi noted that the ldquoAP test has changed from a narrow grammar-based test to an open-ended test based on cultural knowledgerdquo

ldquoPhysics isnrsquot dif-ficult It only has the reputation of being dif-ficultrdquo said longtime AP Physics teacher Tom Eklund

Eklundrsquos creative lessons include the one shown in the 2012 photograph of student Jessie Hodges dropping his project off the bleachers and measuring its fall

During the past five years the number of tests taken by Grossmont students has risen from 453 in 2009 to 646 in 2014 While the passing rate dropped from 65 to 58 percent in those

same years more Foothillers were given the opportunity to challenge themselves and prepare for post secondary education

A continuing goal of Grossmont staff is to have more enrolled students take the test however each test costs $89 with many students taking more than one test

Those wishing to sponsor one or more tests with a tax-deduct-

ible donation may contribute to the GHS Educational Foundationrsquos AP Scholarship Fund by sending a check to GHS Educational Foundation PO Box 1043 La Mesa CA 91944

ldquoGrossmont High School is proud to support our honors and Advanced Placement curricu-lumrdquo said Principal Dan Barnes ldquoWe are very excited to see the very high increase in partici-pation in our courses over the past three years and contin-ued success by our

teachers and students shown in their AP exam pass ratesrdquo

Visit Grossmont and wit-ness firsthand a campus that celebrates it heritage and embraces its future Regular public hours are noon to 4 pm on Wednesday Oct 1 and Nov 5 or by appointment

Contact the Grossmont High School Museum by phone at 619-668-6140 or by email at ghs-museumguhsdnetu

AP Physics students participate in an experiment at Grossmont High School in 2012 (Courtesy GHS Museum)

18 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

PUZZLESSUDOKU

Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9 Each number can appear only once in each row column and 3x3 block Use logic and process elimination to solve the puzzle

copy 2014 Janric Enterprises Dist by creatorscom

CROSSWORD

Business 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 wwwGotFreedomcom Call 858-278-2120 Your future is counting on you (1214)

For SaleNICE 1BD HOUSE IN LA MESA LIVDEN LG KITCHEN BATH WD LG BEDROOM NICE SUNDECK $1000 INCLUDES GE WATER TRASH CALL CLARA 6194650591 (0914)

Sweet male and female Tea-cup Yorkie 12 weeks old $500 Will be 4 lbs at full growth Microchiped shots and dewormed coming with registration papers mlcpetsyahoocom 661-858-0633 (0914)

NoticesWIDOW OR WIDOWER Interested in social activities You are welcome to join our club Widows or Widowers (WOW) of San Diego Website wwwwowsdorg Phone 619-448-6088 (0914)

ServicesJennarsquos Barber Shoppe Styling for men women amp children Wheelchair friendly Old time expert

haircuts at affordable prices Colors amp perms 7424 Jackson Dr1A (across from Keilrsquos in Bank of America lot) Tues-Fri 830-530pm Sat 830-noon Walk-ins or By appt 619-644-3669 (1214)

Lindarsquos Puppy Love licensed insured pet sitting service offering daily walks cat care overnight stays-your home lots of love 619-857-3674 wwwlindaspuppylovecom (615)

Locksmith - Discount Deadbolts and Rekeying - security door viewers patio door locks simulated alarms magnetic door stops Cliff Henderson 619-840-3327 - Lic LCO4353 - Bonded - Never a trip charge (0615)

Quality exterior carpentry Decks Fences Patio Covers and Termite Repair Lic365241 wwwaactionbuildersofsandiegocom Bob 619-275-1493 (415)

Bathtubs and sinks refinished like new San Carlos based business for over 25 years - same owner Lic560438 wwwsaveatubsdcom 619-464-5141 (0115)

German Setter Tile and Marble Professional marbletile setter with 28 years experience European craftsmanship Punctual amp dependable License 872804 Contact Jens Sedemund 619-415-6789 or jensgermansettercom (1214)

Dan Patterson HandymanCarpentry Repair and replacement of plumbing electrical repair installation of water heaters doors windows cabinets flooring fencing Pressure washing of driveways all phases of

Finding Senior Housing can be complex but it doesnrsquot have to be

(800) 217-3942A Place for Mom is the nationrsquos largest senior living referral

information service We do not own operate endorse or recommend any senior living community We are paid by partner communities

so our services are completely free to families

ldquoYou can trust A Place for Mom to help yourdquo

ndash Joan Lunden

BUSINESS amp SERVICES

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 (1214)

BARGAIN BOYZ CONSTRUCTIONREPAIRS 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 jimmysupancoxnet (1014)

PLUMBERhellipLicensed and Insured Over 25 years experience La Mesa resident OwnerOperator Reasonable rates Courteous service Lic 527864 Call Peter 619-698-0313 wwwFelberPlumbingcom (0914)

ROOFING Lic 691295-C39 Veteran owned Allied Gardens based Celebrating 20 years Full roof amp repair Free est Veteran amp Senior discounts 619-823-7208 (615)

WantedHelping Hands Animal Sanctuary seeks laundry detergent (all free and clear) and fabric softener (Downey free and gentle) 619-460-6679 (0914)

Job WantedNanny seeking work certified bkgd ck CPR First Aide 20 years experience wchildren and babies Great references Call Peggy 619-246-6572 or 512-755-0813

ANSWERS ON PAGE 20

Experienced amp Professional

Renee Differ

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INDIVIDUALS amp BUSINESSES

SAME SEX MARRIAGE FILING

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Ideal PlumbingHeating

Air amp ElectricalWater heaters garbage disposals drain cleaning Video pipe inspections water softeners amp filtration Faucets and toilets Visit our Show-room (06-12)

Serving ourcommunity since 1960

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PLUMBING

sdcnncom 19Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierPUZZLES CLASSIFIEDS

Sudoku amp Crosswordpuzzle answers from

page 19

The Academic Senate at Grossmont College last

month honored math instruc-tor Michael Lambe a Mt Helix resident with the Distinguished Faculty award the first ever for a part-time member of the col-lege faculty

Lambersquos 36 years as part-time instructor at Grossmont College concurrent to his 39-year teach-ing career with the Grossmont Union High School District gave him a unique perspective and insight on nurturing stu-dent success His dual career has made him especially aware of the need to make the transi-tion from high school to college as seamless as possible and to ensure secondary level curricu-lum prepares students for higher education

His interaction between Grossmont College and Monte Vista High School where he was chair of the math depart-

Math teacher is Grossmont Collegersquos part-time instructor of the year

ment made him a natural to help develop the first articula-tion agreement between the college and high school which helps students smoothly transi-tion without duplicating classes or experiencing delays

It wasnrsquot just students who benefitted from Lambersquos experi-ence with both systems When

driver education was eliminated from the high school curriculum and instructors were facing lay-offs he worked with the high school and college districts to develop a two-year program that prepared the former driver edu-cation instructors to acquire the teaching credentials needed to become math instructors

ldquoItrsquos been a fantastic career mdash Irsquove been blessedrdquo Lambe said

Following his retirement from the high school district Lambe was recruited four years ago as the collegersquos part-time senate officer with the Academic Senate and chair of the of the Academic Senate Part-Time Committee As head of the new committee he began tackling issues like office hours college governance and academic rank on behalf of part-timers

ldquoMichael has unified the [Academic Senatersquos Part-Time] committee and made it the most respected and cohesive voice for part-time faculty on the campusrdquo said one of his colleagues in a nomination for Lambe for the Distinguished Faculty award ldquoHe has brought part-time faculty issues into the college governance conversation as never before and helped part-time faculty be better informed through excellent professional development activities and communicationsrdquo

Lambe described his efforts on behalf of part-time instructors as a way of paying it forward

ldquoEven as a part-timer I have done a lot of things that full-time department members dordquo he said ldquoThis is my profession mdash my calling and my love This

award is the greatest honor I have ever received My col-leagues couldnrsquot have given me anything greater and to be the first recipient is tremendousrdquo

In addition to honoring Lambe for his achievements as a member of the part-time faculty the academic senate also honored Spanish instruc-tor Yolanda Guerrero with the Distinguished Faculty award for full-time faculty

President Sunita V Cooke said Lambe and Guerrero exem-plify Grossmont Collegersquos faculty members who are passionate about teaching and motivated to boost their profession and their colleagues

ldquoThe campus community owes a debt of gratitude to fac-ulty members with that kind of dedicationrdquo she said ldquoTheir generosity is an inspiration to us allrdquo

At Cuyamaca College Spanish instructor Patricia Santana won the Outstanding Faculty Award for full-time tenured faculty Arabic instructor Aklas Sheia won the award for outstanding part-time faculty

mdashDella Elliott is public information assistant for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College Districtu

DellaElliott

Michael Lambe gives a math lesson something hersquos been doing for nearly four decades in local classrooms (Courtesy Grossmont College)

20 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

Join us for a 3-course dinner and information on Chronic back pain causes and solutions Recent advances in back pain relief Different surgical options QampA with leading San Diego spine specialist

Presented by Choll Kim MD PhD a San Diego Magazine ldquoTop Doctorrdquo and Medical Director of the Advanced SpineInstitute at Alvarado Hospital ndash named Americarsquos 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgerytrade and Orthopedic Surgerytrade in 2014

Cost $10person Seating is limited mdash RSVP requiredCall (619) 229-4548 to register

Location Terra Bistro7091 El Cajon Blvd San Diego 92115

MONDAY SEPT 29 6-8 PMTERRA AMERICAN BISTRO

AlvaradoHospitalcom | (619) 287-3270

Zucchini pancakes

Whatrsquos Cooking with

Julie AnnWhite

Julie

Grate away on your box grater to create this deli-

cious dinner side dish Herersquos a savory treat to serve with a salad or light chicken or fish meal They are a little bit addictive and really easy to make

Serves four (makes six small pancakes)

Ingredients3 medium zucchini grated on a box grater or food processor12 red or yellow onion grated2 large eggs lightly beaten8 Tbsp Panko bread crumbs (flour can be used instead)1 tsp baking powder1 tsp kosher saltPinch of black pepper2 Tbsp butter14 cup olive oil for frying

DirectionsGrate the zucchini and onion into a medium bowl Press with a

few paper towels to absorb juice Add remaining ingredients and stir well If batter is runny add more breadcrumbs or flour Heat large skillet and melt butter and oil over medium heat Drop the zucchini mixture into six to eight golf ball-sized gently patted pancakes Cook until golden brown Serve warmu

Put down your iPhone 6 push aside your Samsung Note 4

and turn off the TV La Mesa is asking its citizens to invest some time in one of their 14 local parks for Park Appreciation Day Oct 18

ldquoThis community event demon-strates the spirit and commitment that La Mesans have for their public facilitiesrdquo said Yvonne Garrett assistant city manager and director of community ser-vices in La Mesa ldquoLocal residents and visitors have a sense of own-ership and take pride in La Mesa parks Park Appreciation Day is an opportunity for individuals to share that enthusiasm with friends and neighborsrdquo

The impetus for La Mesa Park Appreciation Day began in 2005 when a member of a local church congregation contacted the city to ask whether their church could take on a community project in La Mesa said Garrett who is also staff director for La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation

Because the city had recently eliminated several temporary park maintenance worker posi-tions and had received a similar request for a local project from another organization city staff thought it would be a good idea

Citizen groups pitch in for Park Appreciation Day

to gather the various groups to help clean up the parks prompting the creation of Park Appreciation Day

La Mesa community services manager Mike Pacheco said he has been impressed with the pride La Mesans have in their community as well as their desire to volunteer for the city

ldquoParks and recreation pro-grams bring tremendous benefits to people of all agesrdquo Pacheco said ldquoThey contribute to help-ing us live longer better lives through active pursuits new life skills educational programs and safe activities Great parks and programs also help build a stronger community connecting individuals families and groups through the power of play Recreation programs and engag-ing exciting facilities help keep kids active and off the streetsrdquo

Park Appreciation Day proj-ects include spreading mulch planting flowers and painting picnic tables and restrooms Pacheco said

Since its inception several local groups have consistently volun-teered each year Christ Lutheran Church Journey Church Helix Interact Club Friends of Canine Corners Kiwanis Club of La Mesa La Mesa Rotary La Mesa Beautiful La Mesa Lions Club and La Mesa Police Department

Last year more than 150 vol-unteers participated on Park

Appreciation Day and removed 22 cubic yards of green material plus nine cubic yards of trash according to Garrett

Although most of La Mesarsquos parks have the same groups cleaning them every year Porter Park Fitness Plaza located at 8425 University Ave is still without a group Porter needs additional native plants installed in some areas in the beds Garrett said

Disclosure Writer Genevieve A Suzuki serves as a commissioner for the La Mesa Community Services Commission and is a member of La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation She is happy to put away her iPhone Oct 18 to help clean her local parku

Genevieve Suzuki

Make La Mesa beautifulInterested in getting

involved with La Mesa Park Appreciation Day Oct 18 Want to encourage your civic church or social group to adopt a park

All ages are welcome to par-ticipate Signed waivers are required Parents must accom-pany children under 18 at the parks unless their children are with a supervised group

Sign up by calling 619-667-1304 or email communitycila-mesacaus

sdcnncom 21Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierDINING LOCAL NEWS

New Patient Special

bull SedationDentistrybull Implantsbull Same-DayCrownsbull LaserTreatmentbull Invisalign

Wersquove been in practice for over

25 years in La Mesa

$113 for exam x-rays oral cancer screening and cleaning

In absence of gum disease A $520 value

Donrsquot avoid the dentist Remove the anxiety and fear with Sedation Dentistry

A Shop For Smiles

Dr Hagstrom619-465-5252 | 8923 La Mesa Blvd | La Mesa CA 91942

wwwashopforsmilescom

Visit us today

Baseball book signingSunday Oct 12

Geoff Miller mental skills coach for the Atlanta Braves will discuss and sign copies of his new book ldquoIntangibles Big-League Stories and Strategies for Winning the Mental Game mdash in Baseball and in Liferdquo at 2 pm at Barnes amp Noble 5500 Grossmont Center Dr

Diverse Capacities workshopWednesday Oct 15

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Mariko Peshon will lead a work-shop focusing on the physical emotional and social abilities and disabilities that often go unrec-ognized and unaccommodated in our communities The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

East County Intergenerational GamesTuesday Oct 16

Active adults ages 50 and older will team up with kids between the ages of 7 and 12 for a morning of fun noncompetitive activi-ties at La Mesa Middle School 4200 Parks Ave from 830 am to noon The games include street hockey shot frisbee toss ldquoskeeballrdquo pitch t-ball and trivia games Snacks and lunch are included Interested adults must register in advance by contacting the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center at 619-667-1322

Introduction to home caregivingSaturday Oct 18

Caring for a loved one at home often involves transfers personal care proper body mechanics and other specific skills and knowl-edge Learn and practice the basics with a registered nurse at this event from 9 am to 1 pm in classroom 1314 of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Brier Patch Campus 9000 Wakarusa St Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or

register online at sharpcom

Workshop Finding Your Voice in the Social Justice MovementTuesday Oct 21

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Kenyon Whitman will lead an interactive workshop exploring social justice concepts how to develop a leadership style and creative ways to effectively com-municate in diverse groups The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the stu-dent center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

Medicare and drug cover-age updates for 2015Friday Oct 24

A free lecture will cover Medicare insurance changes for 2015 Medicare Parts A B D HMOs and more Presented by Community Education Specialist Pablo Corona the lec-ture will also cover the Medicare Saving Program and Extra-Help Program that assist with prescription costs for Medicare Parts B and D The talk begins at 10 am at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Lung function screeningWednesday Oct 29

Do you have trouble catching your breath after a short walk The Pulmonary Department at Sharp Grossmont Hospital will offer a free basic lung function test from 9 am to 2 pm for anyone who has not yet seen a doctor about breathing prob-lems The screening will be held at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center Building F Room 16 9000 Wakarusa St Appointments are required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Free blood pressure screeningFriday Oct 17

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center 8450 La Mesa Blvd No appointment necessary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Park Appreciation DaySaturday Oct 18

Groups of volunteers will get to work on projects to beautify and improve parks across town from 8 am to noon All ages are welcome but children under the age of 18 need to submit a waiver signed by a parent or legal guard-ian If your church or civic group wants to get involved call 619-667-1300 or email communitycila-mesacaus

lsquoHowl-oweenrsquo dog cos-tume contest and picnicSaturday Oct 18

Dress up your dogs in a cute or spooky Halloween costume and bring them out to Canine Corners the dog park at Harry Griffen Regional Park between 11 am and 3 pm Proud pet par-ents will have the chance to get their poochrsquos picture taken at the pumpkin patch as well as meet representatives from animal rescue groups the county sheriffrsquos K-9 unit and other vendors The costume contest begins at 1130 am A hot dog picnic lunch will be offered for $3 Canine Corners volunteers will accept donations to help with the maintenance of the dog park

Picnic with the parrotsSunday Oct 26

At Socal Parrotrsquos annual fundraising event attendees have a rare chance to view the non-profit organizationrsquos reha-bilitation facility meet animals talk with experts observe live art bid in a silent auction and buy into a raffle Based in Jamul SoCal Parrot works to protect and care for wild and endan-gered parrots across the region Tickets to the all-day fundrais-ing event range from $32 to $100 and can be purchased online at socalparrotorgu

Calendar from page 15

Send details of your com-munity events to the editor at jeremysdcnncom Deadline is the third Friday of the month

22 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 CALENDAR

Why a fiscally conservative vote-by-mail plan got no GOP love

A bill that would drastically change the way San Diego

Countyrsquos special elections are run passed without any Republican help mdash it got just two votes total from GOP lawmakers in Sacramento

It might surprise you to learn then that when the idea first emerged Democrats helped lead the charge against it

How some leading party mem-bers reversed course in just a few years says a lot about the current political landscape and the future of elections in San Diego County

Democrats wrote the current bill mdash which would create a five-year pilot program in San Diego County that would make spe-cial elections for open seats run primarily by mail with a drasti-cally reduced number of polling places mdash and they led the politi-cal charge for it

But Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez the billrsquos author remembers how hard she fought to kill the idea of vote-by-mail elections years ago

ldquoWhat happens I think so often is there is this attachment to the status quo therersquos fear about changing thingsrdquo Gonzalez said

Gonzalez said her mind was changed by a couple factors One is that she discovered during her years as a labor advocate that voters who had a ballot mailed to them before the election were roughly five times more likely to actually vote

The other she said is she realized the county was spend-ing a huge amount more per person who voted at the polls versus by mail

County officials said that in the March 2013 special election to fill the vacant 40th state Senate district seat they spent $221 per

Ari Bloomekatz

in-person voter verses $9 per mail voter

Then therersquos the fact that pathetic voter turnout in each of the last several elections has favored Republican candidates across the board

ldquoWe have all watched as voter turnout has plummeted in recent elections and itrsquos our responsi-bility to do something about itrdquo Gonzalez wrote in a press release after the bill passed

Some observers speculated that some Republicans simply didnrsquot support the bill because it was being led by promi-nent Democrats like Gonzalez (Gonzalez agrees thatrsquos probably true)

But if you want to understand why GOP support was so hard to come by for a bill steeped in fiscally conservative principles and that originated from a con-servative San Diego County government consider these three points

Republicans seized on civil rights groupsrsquo hesitation

Some of the strongest initial opposition to the vote-by-mail legislation came from civil rights groups concerned the new pro-cedures could disenfranchise immigrants and the disabled

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund initially opposed the bill but dropped its opposition after working with Gonzalez and San Diego County officials on protec-

tions for immigrantsStill MALDEF and other

groups wouldnrsquot officially support the measure

ldquoThere is some research out there that shows that mail-in ballots do have an adverse impact on minority votersrdquo said Denise Hulett an attorney with MALDEF

Hulett said MALDEF supports testing out vote-by-mail but isnrsquot sold on it yet

Those groupsrsquo reluctance had an impact on Republican legislators like Escondido Assemblywoman Marie Waldron She said she didnrsquot feel comfortable signing on to a bill without MALDEF and other civil rights groupsrsquo support

ldquoI have to wonder if this is disenfranchising a significant number of people that vote at the pollsrdquo Waldron said ldquoWhat about the people who are maybe you know possibly visually impaired or something like thatrdquo

The money wasnrsquot enoughSan Diego County Registrar

Michael Vu strongly supports the pilot program and believes it could trim costs by 30 - 40 percent

But somehow the cost-savings issue wasnrsquot enough to win over the vast majority of Republican legislators

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez said he thought the cost-savings touted by Democrats were only rough estimates and was not inclined to vote for a bill just

because of those projectionsldquoAs Irsquove said a number of times

before all these bills that theyrsquore putting through hellip really doesnrsquot address the issue of what wersquore trying to do which is get more people to voterdquo he said

Instead of just moving imme-diately to vote-by-mail Chavez wants to create a bipartisan special committee to study new voting technologies

Republicans fear voter fraud

Republicansrsquo fear of potential voter fraud through expansion of vote-by-mail overshadowed potential economic gains

The bill ldquoincludes no protec-tions to ensure the integrity and security of all-mail elections While interesting we need to be careful changing election lawsrdquo wrote Amanda Fulkerson of the Assembly Republican Caucus which advocated fiercely against the bill

ldquoRight now our members feel that we should not jeopardize our consistent voting system until we have further facts and statistics on all-mail electionsrdquo Fulkerson wrote

Republicans believed the threat of fraud would be compounded by another voting-related bill moving through the legislature at the same time

That bill would change the rules about how long mail ballots can be received and counted after an election

Currently vote-by-mail ballots must be received by election offi-cials before polls close on the day of the election The new law would allow ballots to be received no later than three days after the election (if it was time-stamped or post-marked on or before Election Day)

Assembly Republicans feared the two bills combined could allow for abuse of the system

State Sen Joel Anderson was one Republican who voted against the mail-counting bill but in favor of Gonzalezrsquos vote-by-mail effort

Anderson said that he voted against the mail-counting bill because he saw it as ldquocompletely gaming the systemrdquo but believes the vote-by-mail bill is ldquobetter for the voters itrsquos better for my constituentsrdquo

Put yourselves in the shoes of

Vu and other county officials for a minute

Nearly every time an election comes up the county spends anywhere from $1 million to $12 million-plus and organizes hordes of poll workers and pre-cincts across the county

And what happens at the end of the day

Turnout is generally low and increasing numbers of residents opt to vote by mail anyway

As Vu tells it he just wants to save the county money and acknowledge the changing winds when it comes to vote-by-mail

But nothing is ever as simple as a dollar saved in Sacramento mdash especially when it comes to something as fundamental as how voters choose their elected officials

Gonzalez said most people do not understand how difficult this bill was to pass politically Sure Republicans barley supported it but there was strong opposition from many Democrats too The instinct to preserve the status quo when it comes to elections among legislators in Sacramento is strong she said

ldquoIt was kind of funny Irsquom in Republican land carrying this bill pissing off Democrats and voting rights groups and minor-ity groupsrdquo she said ldquoI had to convince everybody that this is OK that change is OKrdquo

Brown has until Sept 30 to sign the bill

mdashAri Bloomekatz is an inves-tigative reporter for Voice of San Diego focusing on county govern-ment You can reach him directly at aribloomekatzvoiceofsandi-egoorg or 619-550-5669u

(Courtesy Flickr user bludgeoner86Creative Commons)

Voice of San Diego

sdcnncom 23Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

Everyone in every price range deserves the quality of Sothebyrsquos Realty

8310 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa CA 91942 bull 6193371700

SPRING VALLEY bull $362000LA MESA bull $499000CARDIFF BY THE SEA bull $525000

Spacious Sweetwater Springs home on corner lot Recently updated kitchen amp bath w granite countertops SS appl wine refrigerator and wood floors Upstairs BRs w mirrored wardrobe doors and ceiling fans Sliding doors to private view deck ideal for watching the sunset

JOE SOUTHWICK 6195898224

Just listed Tastefully remodeled single level entertainerrsquos paradise Large great room with chefrsquos kitchen Private backyard with pool hot tub palapa-covered bar amp grill shade patio and sun deck

JULIE ADAMS 6194810200

Rarely available 2BR 1BA twin home in the highly sought after Park Place neighborhood of Cardiff By The Sea Community pool and spa 25+ acre canyon with walking trails sand volleyball and more

YVETTE WOODS 6199223436

Laurarsquos Solds 2014 bull (619) 540-7744 bull LauraLothianRealEstatecomMost Homes Sold in La Mesa Last 11 Years

Want your home sold Ask a busy agent Call Laura Lothian TODAY 6195407744

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD GASLAMP

SOLD RANCHO SAN DIEGO

SOLD BANKERS HILL

SOLD SAN CARLOS SOLD SAN CARLOS SOLD SANTEE

SOLD LAKE MURRAY

SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE

PENDING PACIFIC BEACH

SOLD STEELE CANYON

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PacificSothebysRealtycomcopyMMVIII Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC A Realogy Company All Rights Reserved Sothebyrsquos International Realtyreg is a registered trademark licensed to Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC An Equal Opportunity Company Equal Housing Opportunity Each Office is Independently Owned And Operated Cal BRE 01767484 Seller will entertain offers within the listed range

SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX

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Source TrendGraphix MLS data for zip codes 91941 amp 91942 January 1 2003 to January 1 2014

24 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

A Special

Thank You to My Neighbors

wwwmidwayorg

As we celebrate our 10th anniversary we know San Diegorsquos support has made Midwayrsquos success possible

So for a limited time San Diegans can purchase adult admissions for only $10

Thatrsquos a 50 discount

ldquoThank You San Diegordquo

$10 USS Midway Admission

Just for San Diegans

Bill YoungSafety CorpsLA MESA RESIDENT

Tickets available at wwwmidwayorg and at the ticket booth during museum hours May not be combined with other offers and cannot be resold Proof of ID with a San

Diego zip code required at time of purchase 202

The US Postal Service delivers mail to the front door of most

Uptown residents but that could change if Congress adopts a postal reform bill designed to reduce the cost of delivering mail

Rep Darrell Issa (R-San Diego) has introduced two bills mdash the Postal Reform Act of 2013 and the Secure Delivery for America Act of 2014 mdash that would force the Postal Service to transi-tion away from door delivery at 30 million addresses by 2022 Instead of delivering mail to the door of every residence postal carriers would deliver to curbside mailboxes or cen-tralized cluster boxes that house the mailboxes of multiple residents

That idea is unacceptable to Rep Susan Davis (D-San Diego) who gathered a group of supporters in Talmadge on Aug 27 to denounce the proposal She also introduced a resolution in Congress opposing centralized delivery

ldquoWe donrsquot need thisrdquo Davis said ldquoThe most vulnerable people in our communities will suffer as a resultrdquo

Davis said elderly and disabled citizens would be hurt by the switch to cluster boxes especially if they receive prescriptions by mail because of the increased dis-tance they may be forced to travel to retrieve their mail

Furthermore the cluster boxes are unsightly magnets for theft and vandalism she said

When Davis surveyed commu-nity groups in her district earlier this summer the North Park Planning Committee passed a resolution opposing centralized delivery

ldquoIn the older communities in the mid-city cluster boxes would affect the community character and the historicity of a neighbor-hood like Talmadge which to me looks like Mayberryrdquo said Vicki Granowitz chair of the North Park Planning Committee ldquoItrsquos intact itrsquos beautiful and to have cluster boxes every so often really destroys what these communities look likerdquo

Combined with bus shelters and

No mail at the doorLocal representatives debate

changes to mail delivery

Jeremy OgulEditor

ugly utility boxes cluster boxes would affect property values Granowitz said

ldquoJust think if you would want this in front of your houserdquo she said ldquoDonrsquot do this to us pleaserdquo

The Postal Service has already begun phasing out door delivery in new developments but Issarsquos legislation would essentially make cluster boxes mandatory in many neighborhoods that currently receive door delivery Issarsquos bill

would require the cluster boxes to be placed ldquoin locations that maximize delivery efficiency ease of use for postal patrons and respect for private property rightsrdquo

Rep Scott Peters (D-San Diego) who also spoke at the press conference said that while there are economic challenges that the Postal Service

must address Congress should not get involved in mandating the specific measures the Postal Service should take

Issa disagrees with Davis and Peters

ldquoThe consequence of doing noth-ing to address an Internet-era erosion in the volume of traditional mail delivery is a multi-billion dollar taxpayer funded bailout of the Postal Servicerdquo Issa said ldquoUnfortunately some [representa-tives] holding a press conference and pretending there isnrsquot a prob-lem wonrsquot solve itrdquo

The Postal Reform Act includes exceptions and provisions that would allow seniors and others with physical hardships to keep their door delivery if they already have it and it would give the Postal Service the flexibility to determine where to implement centralized delivery Issa said

ldquoIn reality less than 10 percent of postal customers would see any change under this legislation to their deliveryrdquo Issa said

Despite the financial issues the Postal Service faces the debate over cluster boxes may amount to little more than hot air in the near term Congress only has until Dec 12 to act on legislation in the current session Most of which will be legislative recess Neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate have voted on Issarsquos or Davisrsquos legislationu

Rep Susan Davis speaks in San Diego (Photo by Jeremy Ogul)

ldquoWe donrsquot need this The most vulnerable people in our communities will suffer as a resultrdquo-Rep Susan Davis

sdcnncom 9Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

Heating amp Air Conditioning

RESIDENTIAL bull COMMERCIAL bull RENTALSWater HeatersTankless bull Drain Stoppages bullToilets

Faucets - Kitchen amp Bath bull Water Softeners amp FiltersPressure Regulators bull Camera Inspections of Drains

Garbage Disposals bull Slab Leaks amp RepipesAir Conditioning amp Heating bull Indoor Air QualityElectrical Repairs amp Upgrades bull Lighting Systems

Kitchen amp Bath Remodeling bull Aging-In-Place Design

Rebate savings depends on equipment purchasedSee dealer for details

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$1950IN REBATES

$1500 OFFANY SERVICE CALL

May not combine coupon with any other offers Coupon not valid towardsSMA Program Present coupon at time of service Expires 103114 LMC

2014 REBATES

619-583-7963 bull IDEALSVCCOM bull LIC 3488105161 WARING RD SAN DIEGO

idealsvccom 619-583-7963

EDUCATION

Haunt yourself with contemporary classic horror fiction

Pop culture has a way of show-ing us what our collective

minds love loathe and fear In honor of Halloween I wanted to spend this monthrsquos column looking at the state of popu-lar horror fiction using that to explore the modern American psyche However the only thing this research showed me is that Americans really really love Stephen King

So with that plan foiled I fig-ured Irsquod just recommend some great scary reads past present and near-future

Guillermo del Toro is known primarily for his work in movies but has recently begun writing fiction After bringing us imagi-native films like ldquoPacific Rimrdquo ldquoHellboyrdquo and ldquoPanrsquos Labyrinthrdquo he paired with author Chuck Hogan for a horror trilogy called ldquoThe Strainrdquo

Deciding that seductive brood-ing teen vampires have become passeacute the authors chose to make their vampires ugly mon-sters whose heads split open to bite and drain their victims while vampirism itself is a virus that spreads with the speed of a zombie apocalypse The book series has already been turned into a TV show with its own cult following and that will undoubt-

edly bring more attention to the books all of which are available at the San Diego County Library

The new book Irsquom dying to read is called ldquoHorrorstoumlrrdquo by Grady Hendrix It should hit bookstores (and the library) shortly after I finish typing this If you like your horror with a side of wit and sly

social commentary this is your novel Itrsquos set in a furniture store that bears more than a little resemblance to IKEA where sin-ister and supernatural forces are on the prowl and the poor corpo-rate drones who work there must solve a horrific mystery in order to survive (presumably while fol-

lowing proper corporate protocol and providing excellent customer service) But just as exciting to me the book itself is a parody of an IKEA-style catalog illustrated with furniture schematics and cheery living room photos becom-ing creepier and creepier as the story moves along

Wersquoll end with one of the classics H P Lovecraft This par-anoid reclusive pulp writer from the 1920s was relatively unknown in his day but has become an underground legend His name

is synonymous with foreboding tales of occult rituals evil space gods and of course the descent from reason to madness Taken together his short stories invoke a universe in which humans are insignificant specks whose sanity could be rent asunder if they even began to glimpse the secret powers underlying their existence Lovecraft has dozens of short story collections pick up those containing ldquoThe Call of Cthulhurdquo and ldquoThe Whisperer in the Darknessrdquo Reading any of his stories will leave you feeling unsettled and reluctant to turn off the lights

In conclusion BooFor less-scary costumed fun the

library will be holding its second Star Wars Reads Day from 11 am to 1 pm on Saturday Oct 11 There will be Star Wars-themed crafts games and snacks as well as a costume contest and a visit by local members of the Rebel Legion and 501st Legion devoted Star Wars fans who wear authentic costumes to support community events Last yearrsquos Star Wars Reads Day saw over 125 kids and adults participating so wersquore expecting a great turnout

mdashJake Sexton is librarian at the La Mesa branch of the San Diego County Library Reach him at 619-469-2151 or visit the library at 8074 Allison Aveu

Above The Strain is being adapted to television (Courtesy William Morrow)Left Horrorstoumlr is an innovative horror twist on an IKEA catalog (Courtesy Quirk Books)

JakeSexton

LA MESA READS

10 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

ENTERTAINMENT

La Mesa Village is usually known as a quaint and quiet

part of town but those of us who have been around for a while know therersquos much more to that stretch of La Mesa Boulevard than antique stores and thrift shops

Oktoberfest perhaps the most exciting event hosted in La Mesa each year descends upon the Village for three days over the first weekend in October This year it falls particularly early on Oct 3 ndash 5 with live entertain-ment multiple beer gardens street vendors and more slated to draw the masses

For families venturing to the free event there are carnival games rides and other activities in the Kids Zone (for children under 12) Diverse food options located throughout the 10 blocks of Oktoberfest are an obvious crowd pleaser for all ages Plus the streets are lined with booths of crafts and other products that may inspire an early holiday shopping spree

But itrsquos the big kids who have the most reasons to head to Oktoberfest

The aptly named Big Beer Garden presented by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and the smaller Nebo Drive Beer Garden by the La Mesa Village Merchantrsquos Association are where you will find most of the action at Oktoberfest

The former is located in the Allison Street parking lot (between Pine Street and Palm Avenue) and is home to a large festival stage to go along with the nectar of the hops This beer garden is family-friendly so patrons can feel free to bring their children Pets are not allowed inside the event

Various bands will play the Big Beer Garden all three days pre-senting mostly classic rock lsquonrsquo roll (The Ideas Rock and Roll Trio and The Car Tune Dogs) and some German music (Our Song) This area will also have food options

Good times brewing for annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

mdash including festival favorites like brats and pulled pork sand-wiches mdash to keep partiers fueled throughout the day and night The beer garden will also host a stein-holding contest each eve-ning around 8 pm hosted by Samuel Adams

The Nebo Drive Beer Garden (next to the La Mesa Train Museum) also has a lot to offer Though smaller in scale this adults-only beer garden provides ample enticement with at least three German beers being served It will also host the Bavarian Beer Garden Band on Friday and Saturday These factors will give an authentic feel to this area harkening back to the ldquooriginal Oktoberfest viberdquo according to Bill Dyke of the Bavarian Beer Garden Band

Festivalgoers should note a trol-ley ride to the La Mesa Boulevard stop (near Spring Street) literally drops you right in the middle of the festival Frequent trains going by make public transportation the ideal designated driver for Oktoberfesters ready to imbibe like our German counterparts Popular ride-sharing services are another smart choice for getting to and from La Mesa Trust me mdash you donrsquot want to even attempt to look for parking

In addition to the beer gar-dens and festival food vendors the businesses in and around La Mesa Village will have their doors open to welcome visitors One such spot is Hofferrsquos Cigar Bar which boasts an impressive tap list of craft beers

ldquo[Oktoberfest] brings out a much wilder clientele than we are used to but also a lot of new faces that might have never been in nor heard of usrdquo Hofferrsquos bar manager Ryan Bartman said ldquoSo all in all itrsquos great for businessrdquo

Other businesses along La Mesa Boulevard that should benefit from the increased foot traffic include Konnichiwa Sushi and Bar (bet you didnrsquot know La Mesa Village had sushi) Cosmos Coffee Cafeacute for those needing a caffeine boost to keep going and Trattoria Tiramisu with its authentic Italian dishes and stellar wine list when yoursquove had

enough beers and brats Whether La Mesa is your home

or a place yoursquove never ventured Oktoberfest is the ideal time to enjoy the festival spirit discover the businesses of the village and do the chicken dance like you never have before Whatever you do donrsquot forget to take home a commemorative beer boot

mdashJen Van Tieghem can be reached at jensdcnncomu

JenVan Tieghem

The Tarantino familyrsquos gourmet sausages are always a crowd favorite at La Mesarsquos Oktoberfest a three-day beer and brat extravaganza (Courtesy La Mesa Chamber of Commerce)

La Mesa OktoberfestSchedule of Events

Friday Oct 3Street festival 11 am - 9 pm Big Beer Garden 4 - 1130 pm (last call at 11 pm)The Ideas Rock and Roll Trio 4 - 5 pm The Car Tune Dogs 6 - 10 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden Noon - 9 pm (last call at 830 pm)Bavarian Beer Garden Band 6 - 9 pm

Saturday Oct 4 Street festival 11 am - 9 pm Big Beer Garden 11 am - 1130 pm (last call at 11 pm) Our Song Noon - 4 pmThe Car Tune Dogs 6 - 10 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden 12 - 9 pm (last call at 830 pm)Bavarian Beer Garden Band 2 - 4 pm

Sunday Oct 5 Street festival Noon - 5 pm BIG Beer Garden 1 - 430 pm (last call at 4 pm)Our Song 1 - 4 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden 12 - 430 pm (last call at 4 pm)

Fun FactsVendors Over 250Attendees expected 200000Years of La Mesa Oktoberfest 41 City blocks used forOktoberfest 10Estimated cost for police fire and other city staff time $77000 paid for by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and La Mesa Village Merchants Association

sdcnncom 11Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Jazz

Fridays Charlie Arbelaez Trio at The Rook Free 9 pm TheRookBarcom 7745 University Ave La Mesa

Sundays samdi-ego Jazz Trio at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room Free 2 - 5 pm SanPasqualWinerycom 8364 La Mesa Blvd La Mesa

Oct 15 ldquoThe Music of Will Toddrdquo with the SDSU Chamber Choir Grossmont College Jazz faculty and composerpianist Will Todd at St John of the Cross Catholic Church Suggested donation 730 pm Grossmontedu 8086 Broadway Lemon Grove

PopTuesdays Suzanne Shea and Bob Wade at Bistro Sixty Free 630 to 830 pm BistroSixtySDcom Call and hold your table 619-287-8186 5987 El Cajon Blvd College Area

Wednesdays Westside Inflection at Riviera Supper Club Free 8 pm RivieraSupperClubcom 7777 University Ave La Mesa

Fridays Nathan Welden at Bistro Sixty Free 630 pm BistroSixtySDcom 5987 El Cajon Blvd College Area

Classical

Oct 16 Youth Choir of San Diego at Cuyamaca College Price $8 ($5 for students) 7 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Oct 17 Cuyamaca College Choir at Cuyamaca College Price $8 ($5 for students) 730 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Oct 31 Quatuor Mosaiumlques Classical String Quartet at Cuyamaca College Price $10 730 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Alternative

Sept 27 TaKillya at Chico Club Free 9 pm ChicoClub1940com 7366 El Cajon Blvd La Mesa

Oct 4 Baja Bugs at Riviera Supper Club Free 9 pm RivieraSupperClubcom 7777 University Ave La Mesa

Oct 31 Fifth Annual Halloween Monster Bash with The Farmers at Parkway Bar Free 9 pm TheParkwayBarcom 9188 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa

Other

Thursdays (through Oct 30) Open Mic Acoustic Nights at Parkway Bar Free 7 pm TheParkwayBarcom 9188 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa

Sept 27 Little Kings at Hooleyrsquos Free 9 pm Hooleyscom 5500 Grossmont Center Dr 277 La Mesa

Oct 18 Oktoberfest featuring The Bavarian Beergarden Band at Butcherrsquos Brewing Free 4-10 pm ButchersBrewingcom 9962 Prospect Ave Suite F Santee

Oct 18 Jefferson Washington at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room Free 7 pm SanPasqualWinerycom 8364 La Mesa Blvd La Mesa

Bands venues and music-lovers please submit listings for this calendar by emailing Jensdcnncomu

to 46 feet or about four stories So the Kitzmans have hired

development consultants Urban Housing Partners to convince city leaders to change the zoning on the property to allow build-ing heights up to 110 feet The zoning the Kitzmans are asking for could accommodate up to 363 dwelling units 61000 square feet of commercial retail space 146000 square feet of commer-cial office space or a hotel of up to 250 guest rooms

The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the pro-posed zoning changes on June 18 They made no decision at the time because the Kitzmansrsquo co-applicant American Legion Post 282 announced they were withdrawing their support for the zoning change

The Kitzmans through their South Baltimore LLC resub-mitted their application over the summer The Planning Commission will hear the new and reduced application at a meeting at City Hall on Wednesday Oct 1 at 7 pm

Residents east and west of the project site have been some of the most vocal critics of the proposal to rezone the property

Don Bell whose house on El Capitan Drive overlooks the Park Station property said he and his neighbors are not against redeveloping and improving the property

ldquoItrsquos blight down thererdquo Bell said

What they are against how-ever is rezoning the property

ldquoThe problem really is that the Planning Commission is going to give them a blank checkrdquo he said

Nearby neighbors know and accept that change is inevitable but the added traffic and parking problems that would come from a 10-story building would be unac-ceptable and detrimental to the community said Suda House who also has a view of the Park Station property from her home on El Capitan

ldquoDevelop the heck out of it but keep it below 46 feetrdquo House said

One vocal supporter of the Kitzmanrsquos plan has been Jack Rowell a La Mesa native who now sells real estate across the San Diego region Any new homes that can be added to the La Mesa market will be a good thing Rowell said

ldquoI have a bunch of [potential

buyers] who want La Mesa but itrsquos a fight over every prop-erty especially things under $500000rdquo Rowell said ldquoPeople want the La Mesa schools People want the convenience of La Mesardquo

The only other place where housing prices are compara-ble for high-quality schools is Poway and Poway doesnrsquot have La Mesarsquos Village or its prox-imity to regional destinations Rowell said

Rowell said he understands why nearby neighbors donrsquot want their views to change but therersquos no reason to believe home values will suffer with an increase in supply

ldquoTheyrsquore talking about 300 to 500 condo unitsrdquo Rowell said ldquoThatrsquos like spitting in the oceanrdquo

For Aaron Amerling orga-nizer of the ldquoFight Park Station La Mesa ndash No More Than Fourrdquo Facebook page the colorful renderings of Park Station are a Trojan Horse designed to mis-lead people about what the site could become

ldquoThe Kitzmans do not have the funds to develop thatrdquo Amerling said ldquoThe whole idea is to upzone the land because that improves the resale valuerdquo

If city leaders approve the new zoning the Kitzmans or a new owner could build something completely different than what theyrsquove been advertising

City leaders have been cau-tious about commenting directly on the proposal only issuing vague statements about main-taining the character of the downtown village

Regardless of the Planning Commissionrsquos decision next week the final decision on whether to rezone the property will be made by the full City Council at a later dateu

LOCAL NEWSGen-X in La MesaGive peace a chanceGenevieve Suzuki

G iving peace a chance seems more complicated than it

should beWith all of the strife going on

in this world peace seems to be an almost impossible proposition The appalling brutal treatment of American hostages at the hands of ISIS members resulted in many of us feeling complete repulsion at the state of global affairs

I know I felt sick Even worse I began to feel hopeless

So when Anne Pacheco a member of the Interfaith Council of La Mesa asked me to attend the first International Day of Peace Sept 21 at Aztec Park her invitation stirred something in my soul The day which touted ldquoThe Right of Peoples to Peacerdquo would be a joint effort among people of most of the worldrsquos religions including Judaism Christianity Islam Buddhism Hinduism Native American and Baharsquoi

And although I promised Anne I would attend I thought it was an awfully lofty goal Really All of these people gathering for peace on a Sunday a day many hold holy in their churches

But I was pleasantly surprised when approximately 200 people

showed up with chairs umbrellas hats and hearts at Aztec Park that mild sunny day Many of us pur-chased sky blue scarves from the Sisters of Saint Francis to wear in solidarity for peace Shucks even Mayor Art Madrid wore a scarf over a yellow shirt

I admit however getting my husband Derek to don the blue scarf wasnrsquot easy In fact it wasnrsquot easy getting him there in the first place

Itrsquos not that Derek is against world peace (even though our daughter to this day refuses to add that request to her nightly prayers) Itrsquos more that Sunday is for football in Derekrsquos world and this day of peace was causing him to miss hooting and hollering for his fantasy football team

Nevertheless Derek relented and accompanied me and our daughter to the event This com-promise is one from which most of the world could learn Is Derek a community activist No but Derek is focused on the big pic-ture namely a happy wife and home Focusing on the big pic-ture would help many find peace in their lives locally and globally

As I sat there amid others dedi-cated to peace and non-violence I realized the one common emo-tional positive is the future We all want a better future for our fami-lies and our children We donrsquot

want to leave behind a legacy of anger brutality and war

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we said together at the beginning of the program

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we insisted again

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we vowedAs Rebecca Littlejohn of Vista

La Mesa Christian Church said ldquoWe are gathered in hope today for hope is how we surviverdquo

Thanks to this special inaugural day I was reminded of how impor-tant it was for me to have hope and that reminder allowed me to place aside that earlier feeling of hopelessness conjured by evil deeds in another land After all if I allow myself to fall hopeless I have nothing to give my child On the other hand if I cling to hope it will then be passed on to my daughter who would hold that ideal in her mind and mdash hopefully mdash see it to fruition

As the Native American prayer during the program stated ldquoGive us the wisdom to teach our chil-dren to love to respect and to be kind to each other so that they may grow with peace in mindrdquo

mdashGenevieve A Suzuki is editor emeritus of the La Mesa Courier She continues to live and practice family law in La Mesa Her web-site is sdlawyersuzukicomu

Find out what your home is worth on-line

Visit wwwsandiegohouseareacomOr scan this QR Code with your phone now

Tom Bowker Coldwell Banker West BRE01024513

A rendering by Park Station opponents shows the potential scale of buildings (Courtesy Aaron Amerling)

Park Station from page 1

12 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

Music professorrsquos jazz album wins acclaim

Follow your passionThat has been a guiding

principal for Grossmont College music instructor and jazz bassist extraordinaire Justin Grinnell who ditched plans to study mathematics shortly after enrolling at San Diego State University back in 1999 and meeting musicians ldquowho were doing music all the timerdquo

Good thing Grinnell has become an integral part of a vibrant Grossmont College music program and gigs as a pit orchestra member at myriad venues including the Old Globe La Jolla Playhouse and the San Diego Civic Theatre for a number of Tony Award-winning musicals

And now his debut disc the Justin Grinnell Quartetrsquos Without You has been nomi-nated for a San Diego Music Award for best jazz album

Grinnell is no stranger to awards He is a member of the Danny Green Trio which won the 2009 San Diego Music Award for Best Jazz Album for its debut CD The triorsquos second release A Thousand Ways Home reached No 17 on the Jazz Week Charts for national radio airplay after its 2012 debut

ldquoIrsquom doing what I loverdquo said Grinnell who is on track to earn his Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern California next spring ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the col-lege or university levelrdquo

Grinnell has earned praise from the best in the business

ldquoNot only is Justin a fantastic person but he is such an accom-plished musician a great sight reader which is so important because we do all kinds of tricky music and having someone who is able to read so well is an invalu-able asset and hersquos adept in a lot of different musical stylesrdquo said critically-acclaimed Jazz guitar-ist and composer Peter Sprague ldquoHe also has just such a wonder-ful spirit when it comes to playing music Irsquom really happy to know him and being able to play with him from time to timerdquo

A native of Santa Rosa California Grinnell initially planned to study mathematics and become an engineer But after enrolling in a few music classes at San Diego State and jamming with newfound friends he switched gears It was while he was at SDSU that Grinnell began gigging with future Grossmont College Music Department chair Derek Cannon and met his future wife Melonie a pianist who also teaches music at Grossmont College

With both a bachelorrsquos and masterrsquos degree in jazz perfor-mance from San Diego State in hand Grinnell began working in 2005 as an adjunct music profes-

sor at Grossmont College He also serves as an adjunct music professor at the University of San Diego and taught part time at Southwestern College from 2008 to 2011

ldquoGrossmont College is specialrdquo Grinnell said ldquoIt feels like family here Everyone is part of a com-munity that is working together on behalf of our students doing our best to help them succeed in a business thatrsquos hard to make a living in That camaraderie is pricelessrdquo

Grinnellrsquos passion serves him well in a business where talent alone often isnrsquot enough to sup-port a family

ldquoI tell my students all the time that if theyrsquore looking for job security donrsquot look at a career in jazz musicrdquo Grinnell said adding that he makes a living cobbling together his adjunct

professorships private lessons and regular performances

Grinnell and his wife are juggling their careers while rais-ing two young sons His debut album falls into the category of West Coast-flavored straight-ahead jazz He wrote six of the nine tunes on the disc with the remaining three being covers Especially tasty are the origi-nal ldquoHit the Brakesrdquo and a jazz cover of The Beatlesrsquo Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite

Grinnell however is comfort-able playing a wide variety of styles that range from classical to funk He is a member of the Brazilian jazz-inspired Danny Green Trio (Danny Green also teaches at Grossmont College) and the modern jazz group ARC Trio among others

The Justin Grinnell Quintet will be playing three concerts at Grossmont College in the coming weeks Shows are sched-uled for Sept 28 Oct 26 and Nov 30 in Building 26 Room 220 at 630 pm A full itiner-ary of upcoming performances around the region can be found at JustinGrinnellcom

The San Diego Music Awards take place Oct 6 at Humphreys By The Bay on San Diegorsquos Shelter Island

mdashDavid Ogul writes on behalf of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Email him at ogulcommunica-tionsgmailcomu

ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the college or university levelrdquo-Justin Grinnell

LOCAL NEWS

Justin Grinnell has just released his debut jazz album which has been nominated for a San Diego Music Award (Photo by Jon Naugle)

DavidOgul

sdcnncom 13Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

AUDIT PENDING

wwwsdcnncom

123 Camino de la Reina Suite 202 EastSan Diego CA 92108

P 6195197775 bull F 619-519-7840

1

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3

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5

Great Value Proven Results

Community NewsNumber one source of community information Hyper-local news and features In print and online updated daily

Market SaturationCombined distribution of door-to-door delivery high traffic locations and news racks Over 200000 readers

Award Winning JournalismProud recipient of numerous ldquoExcellence in Journalism AwardsrdquoRegular recipient of local and national press awards

Audited DistributionAudited by one of the nationrsquos largest newspaper auditing firms Circulation Verification Council (CVC)Guaranteed distribution

For advertising call(619) 961-1958

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Distributed Countywide

up along the way include thousands of football cards (both Topps and Fleer) player and coach jerseys jackets personal letters autographed footballs bobbleheads pins programs team photographs and much much more He even has a life-sized bust of Chargers wide receiver Lance Alworth which is a story in itself just ask him

This native sonrsquos collection is not limited to the San Diego Chargers but what he has gathered about them is more than impressive His comprehensive collection also includes items from the Los Angeles Chargers and every other football team that played during the AFL time period

Over the years hersquos met and interviewed dozens of players coaches and families becoming close with many of them Two of his larger per-sonal collections are of Gilman the Chargers first coach and Alworth

In 2004 he wrote ldquoCharging Through the AFL Los Angeles and San Diego Chargers football in the 1960srdquo He followed that up with ldquoBombs Away Air Coryelle and the San Diego Chargersrdquo in 2006 Both books rely heavily on interviews and photographs of their respective periods

A few years ago Tobias decided to channel his love for the AFL through his website TalesFromTheAmericanFootballLeaguecom Here Tobias shares his many interviews of the past runs a blog where he opines on the latest news of players related to the AFL deposits videos stats historical data photos and even has a forum section where others can share their love for the league and its players

He said his goal with the site is to ldquoedutain (educate and entertain) football lovers with stories about all things AFLrdquo To support his internet endeavor hersquos also taken up social media and can be followed on twitter at TalesfromtheAFL and on two locations on Facebook ldquoTales from the American Football Leaguerdquo and ldquoI loved the 1960s Chargersrdquo (a public group) On the latter he shares vintage photographs of the team and banters with the families of players He shares links back to his blog and web-site on both pages

His many follow-ers recently noticed Tobias absent from posting for a time Thatrsquos because he recently gave up approximately 85 percent of his collec-tion to pursue his dream of opening a lacrosse store in La Mesa with an old friend Despite months of hard work that opportunity never panned out Now the five pallets of blood sweat and tears that he consigned to an auction house a few months ago are sitting in a warehouse somewhere in the Midwest being individually categorized and valued in preparation for a national Internet-based auction block next spring

ldquoI was trying to trade one passion for anotherrdquo Tobias said ldquoIf Irsquod known it would have just been trading one passion for money I never would have done it but it is what it isrdquo

Deciding what to keep was a challenge but Tobias said it came down not to which collections were worth the most money but which provided him the most enjoyment

The two-dozen binders still resident on his shelves are neatly filled to the brim with pages of plastic inserts containing football cards with most every card there signed

Tobias said he pulls each binder down two or three times per week just to look through them Inside are vast collections of football cards Many are duplicated but they are categorized in dozens of ways Some collections are still incomplete mdash like his 1965 collection of every card Topps put out for that year he is only missing two out of 176 cards mdash and each time he removes that binder from the shelf he strategizes new ways he can complete that collection There is a story behind every collection and another for every card

He has some cards that hersquos certain do not exist anywhere else and he has numerous cards that had the wrong playerrsquos image printed on them in the publishing housersquos haste to get them out in advance of the new season Hersquos reached out to many of the players over the years sending along his books and asking for autographs and he has the response letters to prove it

In the wake of his failed business attempt Tobias finds himself facing a forgotten challenge looking for work

ldquoI havenrsquot had to do that since graduating collegerdquo he said ldquoFor now Irsquom just working in the back yard putting in a sprinkler system and taking my mind off of it

ldquoSan Diego can be a tough place to live in if you are a sports histo-rianrdquo he said ldquoItrsquos probably time for me to find another line of workrdquo

mdashMorgan M Hurley can be contacted at morgansdcnncomu

Todd Tobiasrsquos collections include signed football cards from the 1965 Chargers and other rare collectibles such as a bust of Lance Alworth (Photos by Morgan Hurley)

Football from page 1

14 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

CALENDAR

Prescription drug collectionSaturday Sept 27

Get rid of your unwanted expired or leftover prescription drugs at this National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day event hosted by the La Mesa Police Department and the US Drug Enforcement Administration The effort is designed to prevent prescription drug abuse Drop your drugs no questions asked from 10 am to 2 pm at the police station parking lot 8085 University Ave For other drop off locations or more informa-tion visit deadiversionusdojgov and click ldquoGot Drugsrdquo

Free electronic waste recyclingSaturday and Sunday Sept 27 ndash 28

State law prohibits disposal of certain electronic items in the trash because many of them con-tain hazardous substances The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce is hosting this free event to help residents properly recycle old televisions computers print-ers VCRs DVD players copiers scanners fax machines toner car-tridges and other approved items Microwave ovens can be disposed of for a service fee of $5 Items will be collected from 9 am to 4 pm in the parking lot between Fuddruckers restaurant and Chuze Fitness at the Grossmont Shopping Center 5500 Grossmont Center Dr The following items will not be accepted refrigerators washers dryers fluorescent light bulbs and household batteries For more details on items that will be accepted visit lamesachambercom

Generational diversity workshopTuesday Oct 2

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series profes-sional development consultant Victoria Hankins will lead a dis-cussion on the multigenerational workplace With four genera-tions working side by side in the American workforce challenges often arise regarding communi-cation styles differing workplace values and misconceptions about workplace motivators Hankins will outline the differences between the four generations and provide tips on how to effectively work in cross-generational teams The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 1030 to 1130 am in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

OktoberfestFriday through Sunday Oct 3 4 and 5

See our article on page 11 in this monthrsquos La Mesa Courier for all the details on the annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

La Mesa City Council Candidates ForumTuesday Oct 7

La Mesa mayoral candidates Art

Madrid and Mark Arapostathis will join City Council candidates Patrick Dean Mary England Pete Gregorovic and Guy McWhirter at this forum hosted and moder-ated by the Community Outreach Ministry of La Mesa First United Methodist Church in the church social hall at 4690 Palm Ave A meet-and-greet will begin at 630 pm The program begins at 7 pm All are welcome

Free blood pressure screeningTuesday Oct 7

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center 9000 Wakarusa St in La Mesa No appointment neces-sary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Senior ExpoThursday Oct 9

The city of La Mesa organizes this free event to help connect senior citizens and their families to the most helpful senior service pro-viders including La Mesa Police Department Crime Prevention Aging and Independence Services Metropolitan Transit System ldquo211rdquo Sharp Senior Resource Center Meals on Wheels DMV Senior Ombudsman Program SDGampE Medical Baseline Program Elderhelp Jewish Family Services Yellow Cab California Telephone Access Program HICAP San Diego

County District Attorneyrsquos Elder Abuse Unit and more The event will be held from 830 am to 130 pm at the La Mesa Community Center 4975 Memorial Dr A shuttle will be available from the Spring Street trolley station Organizers are asking seniors to RSVP by Oct 3 by calling 619-667-1322

Depression and bipolar disorder screeningFriday Oct 10

Dr William Brock will pres-ent a free educational seminar on the signs and symptoms of depression bipolar disorder and other anxiety disorders from 1130 am to 1230 pm Adults ages 60 and older can receive free anonymous screen-ings from Sharp Grossmont Behavioral Health Services from 1030 am to 1130 am and from 1230 pm to 130 pm The seminar and screenings will be held at the Grossmont Healthcare Districtrsquos Herrick Library at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are suggested but not required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

ldquoGot Plansrdquo Career and college fairSaturday Oct 11

High school students and their parents are invited to meet with admissions representatives from public and private universities community colleges vocational

schools and the military at this annual event organized by the Grossmont Union High School District and the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Free workshops will provide information on financial aid changes to SAT and ACT requirements transfer options between two-year colleges and four-year universities and other career topics Some workshops will be offered in Spanish and Arabic The fair is open from 1 to 4 pm at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For more information call Jason Martinez at 619-593-2713

Bunco BashSaturday Oct 11

Soroptimist International of Lemon Grove hosts this special autumn-themed Bunco event to raise money for the grouprsquos projects to help women and chil-dren in our community For $20 participants get three rounds of Bunco a door prize ticket and complimentary fall snacks and dessert Wine will be available for purchase Bunco winners receive gift baskets and raffle prizes will also be offered The event will be held from 1 to 4 pm at St John of the Cross Knights of Columbus Hall at Broadway and Columbus Drive in Lemon Grove Reservations are required Contact Gloria Ferreira at 619-466-3699 or email her at soroptgloriagmailcom

Pooch in the ParkSaturday Oct 11

Kiwanis Club of La Mesa and the Human Relations Advisory Commission will host this com-munity get-together from 9 am to noon at Harry Griffen Regional Park 9550 Milden St For $20 pet owners can enter up to two dogs into a contest show for a chance to win in one of five categories or the ldquobest in showrdquo trophy Raffle prizes giveaways and other demon-strations will round out the morning For more informa-tion contact Glenna Boemen at gab11853aolcom

Fair trade gift fair Sunday Oct 12

The St Martin of Tours Parish Hall will become a world bazaar featuring unique and handcrafted fair trade gifts deacutecor apparel and jewelry from artisans in developing countries from 8 am to 1 pm As they browse the displays created by local vendors who sell fair trade products shoppers will be able to sample or purchase fair trade refreshments including choco-late tea coffee bananas soda and Ben and Jerryrsquos ice cream The parish hall is at 7710 El Cajon Blvd in La Mesa Call 619-466-3241 for additional information

See CALENDAR page 22

sdcnncom 15Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierCALENDAR

Telephone DirectoryPolice non-emergency line 619-667-1400Fire non-emergency line 619-667-1461Animal Control 619-667-7536Graffiti removal 619-667-7560Weed abatement 619-667-1465Traffic signal maintenance 619-667-1166Streetlight maintenance 619-667-1450

Mayor Art Madrid 619-667-1100City Councilmembers 619-667-1106

EDCO 619-287-7555Helix Water District 619-466-0585Helix Water after hours emergency 619-466-3234

Gov Jerry Brown 916-445-2841US Sen Barbara Boxer 619-239-3884US Sen Dianne Feinstein 619-231-9712US Rep Susan Davis 619-280-5353State Sen Joel Anderson 619-596-3136State Assemblymember Shirley Weber 619-531-7913

Community titan Jerry Fazio announces plans to retire

A fter 35 years with the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County

Jerry Fazio has announced his retirement

Faziorsquos last day on the job as executive director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation will be Oct 24 His official retirement date following vacation will be Dec 4 three days after his 35th anniversary with the youth organization that has served hundreds of thousands of young people in the East County since its founding in 1961

Since joining the organization on Dec 1 1979 Fazio has served in several executive positions with the Girlsrsquo Club and Boys amp Girls Clubs He has also done two stints mdash the most recent of which began in July 2008 mdash as execu-tive director of the foundation a nonprofit fundraising entity

Faziorsquos honors during his career have included El Cajon Citizen of the Year in 1992 Boys amp Girls Clubs Pacific Region Executive of the Year in 2006 and National Executive Director of the Year from Boys amp Girls Clubs of America in 2007 He is known throughout San Diego for his friendly smile and fund-raising passion on behalf of the organization

ldquoHe is the instantly recog-nizable fundraiser and pitch man for our organizationrdquo said Jack Doyle board president of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation ldquoDuring his 35 years Jerry has steered the development of our new and updated facilities in El Cajon Lakeside Santee and La Mesa He leaves us a legacy to be proud of in East County We wish him well as he moves into retirementrdquo

Faziorsquos decision to retire was prompted by recent good news from doctors that he is cancer-free five years after beginning his battle against colon cancer the same disease that led to the 2008 death of his first wife Nancy

ldquoWhile preparing for my cancer

SDCNN Staff

tests I indulged in a little specu-lation about how I might handle the news whether good or badrdquo Fazio said ldquoI concluded that no matter what after 35 years the time has come for me to retire I will concentrate on my faith my health my grandchildren and my gorgeous wife Melissa And if an opportunity comes along to help a good community cause I might just do that toordquo

Faziorsquos recent work with the foundation has focused on an $89 million fundraising effort called the La Mesa Capital Campaign The campaignrsquos goal is to build a new clubhouse in La Mesa reno-vate an existing teen center in the city and fund an endowment to operate both facilities

Forrest Higgins CEO of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County will add the role of campaign coordinator to his job with the assistance from staff According to Higgins more than $5 million for the La Mesa Capital Campaign has been raised during Faziorsquos leadership

ldquoJerry has been integral part of the success and growth of the Boys amp Girls Club of East Countyrdquo Higgins said ldquoHis dedi-cation and passion to the youth and families of East County will be greatly missedrdquo

Since 1961 the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County have been meeting the developmental needs of children and youth The orga-nizationrsquos mission statement ldquoTo inspire and enable all young people especially those who need us most to become responsible caring productive citizensrdquou

Jerry Fazio (Courtesy Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County)

notice to which the couple didnrsquot respond in time to renew their five-year lease Katie said

The next they heard they had to close the bar by Nov 1

ldquoI truly believe that when one door closes another one opensrdquo says Katie Halvin who runs the bar with her husband Doug ldquoAs poignant as it is to lose the bar I know we lost it because we didnrsquot pay attention when we should haverdquo

For the past five years Katie Halvinrsquos life has been intertwined with the bar Her first date with now-husband Doug landed her there mdash an Internet connection that led to a meet up in Harry Griffen Park

ldquoWe talked for a while and then he took me to his neighborhood hangout to have a beer and shoot some poolrdquo Katie recalls Katie was retiring from the Navy as a chief torpedo man and she was ready to settle down again ldquoWe got married at the Carlton Oaks [Country Club] mdash the whole bar was thererdquo

Before long Katie and Doug took over the bar which is leased from the Ross Family Trust Calls and emails to the property man-ager were not returned

ldquoWhen we took it over there were drugs gangs uglinessrdquo she said ldquoI wonrsquot put up with thatrdquo

What was left was a band of devoted regulars a tradition of small local live music and soon local art on the walls and events supporting local artists on the calendar

Cathryn Beeks the local music guru from 1021 KPRI radio began working with Halvin in November to book homegrown and up-and-coming acts at the bar mdash which led to notable shows from the Kilborn Alley Blues Band Roni Lee and many others

ldquoItrsquos very sad that the bar is closing Itrsquos run by very special people and there isnrsquot a venue like this in San Diegordquo Beeks said ldquoI found out about them because a lot of my friends were play-ing there They had a very loyal group of musicians before I ever showed uprdquo

The Parkway is also home to a very popular and solidly booked open mic night run by local singer-songwriter Jessica Hull

The Farmers local legends who evolved from the Beat Farmers also play regularly The live music will continue intermittently with the Farmers playing the closing

night Halloween party on Oct 31For Katie Halvin the closing

isnrsquot the end Property manager Aaron Dean intends to redevelop the strip mall where the Parkway now stands into a restaurant with a full bar and microbrewery and include an outdoor music venue

ldquoHe contacted me and hired me to be the director of enter-tainment at the new venuerdquo she said ldquoThey hope to start con-struction in December and finish it by August 2015rdquo ldquoOne side of my brain is ecstatic with oppor-tunityrdquo she said ldquoThe other feels the sadness of this lossrdquo

Meanwhile the Halvins are looking around in the area to find another place to open a bar like the Parkway

ldquoItrsquos our regulars Irsquom really worried aboutrdquo she said ldquoSome are at a point where most of their friends and family are gone and we are their community and fellowship We know who has cancer who has a new baby we know who to check on if they donrsquot show uprdquo

mdashMarty Graham is a freelance writer Email her at martygra-hamcoxnetu

Parkway from page 1

Sycuan Resort and Casino

For exciting casino action right in your own backyard therersquos nowhere closer than Sycuan Casino With Vegas-style gaming scrumptious dining options live headliner entertainment and nearby golf resort yoursquoll find your-self coming back again and again

You can choose from 2000 video amp reel slots as well as video poker For you card players there are more than 40 tables to play Blackjack ThreendashCard amp FourndashCard Poker Sycuanndashstyle craps and roulette

Enjoy the fresh air in the nonndashsmoking room with more than 350 slot machines 9 gaming tables Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet and a Poker Room with daily tourna-ments ndash all smokendashfree

For your dining pleasure Sycuan offers five different res-

taurant options to tempt your taste buds For those looking for a variety of delectable options Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet is an all-you-can-eat feast featuring slow-roasted Prime Rib buttery crab legs and over 100 fresh selec-tions and delicious dessert bar There isnrsquot a bad seat in the house at GameDay Sports Bar amp Grill where you can catch the big game on 39 large screen televisions 16 beers on tap with full cocktail selection delicious food menu and 29 bar-top video poker machines to play while you root on your team

With excellent acoustics and state-of-the-art sound and light-ing Sycuan Live amp Up Close is San Diegorsquos premiere venue for live entertainment Bringing exciting crowd pleasing acts from all musical genres therersquos something for everyone on their concert calendar

Just a short drive nearby Sycuan Golf Resort offers San Diegorsquos only 54-hole golf facility Exciting course play includes

3007 Dehesa RdEl Cajon CA 92019800-457-5568sycuanresortcom

mature tree-lined fairways eleva-tion changes water features and impeccable greens No matter if yoursquore a seasoned player or a first-timer the two challenging 18-hole championship golf courses and fun 18-hole par 3 course are guaranteed to give you unforget-table experiences from beginning to end To complete your stay-cat-ion enjoy one of their 100 spacious hotel rooms all recently remodeled and offer beautiful views of the golf courses pools and private putting greens If golf isnrsquot in your plans you can pamper yourself with a relaxing spa service

Not only is Sycuan the closest casino to downtown they offer free shuttle bus rides from a number of convenient locations throughout San Diego County For more infor-mation please visit Sycuancom

Guests must be 18 or older to enter casino 21 or older to enter theatre and Sports Bar Please play responsibly

Get away for the day at Sycuan CasinohellipReal Friendly Real Closeu

16 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

Short-term hands-on programs

Half-day classes 4 days a week

Monthly payment plans available

wwwtheaccountingacademycom

PETSlsquoOh where oh where has my little dog gonersquoSariReis

The only thing more devas-tating to a pet parent than

when their furry kid is missing is to have them never return Yet this sad scenario occurs every day Walk through any neighborhood and you will see the signs posted on trees and telephone poles ldquoMissing Our beloved dog Skippyrdquo These heart-rending pleas for help are always accompanied by a photograph of a sweet furry face and the offer of a reward for their return

As pet parents one of our pri-mary responsibilities is to keep our pets safe To do this we need to keep them securely confined in our homes our backyards or on leashes If your dog has access to the backyard be certain it is entirely fenced in with no poten-tial escape routes Make sure all gates are locked when you or anyone else goes in or out Inform pool service people landscap-ers or gardeners that you have a dog in the yard and the gate must be secured at all times Be particularly careful when enter-ing or leaving your home Open doors slowly to ensure a cat or dog is not lurking nearby ready to make a quick escape Never leave the door open for any length of time Even an indoor kitty may be curious if the door is left open for a minute or two Tell visitors cleaning ladies and anyone else who may have access to your home that you have pets and they are not to be let out

Some people like to give their dogs off-leash time on city streets in their neighborhoods They believe their pup is well-trained and will come on command and not run away But the sight of a

squirrel or stray cat can waylay the best trained dog and send them on a chase Many of these dogs never make it back home

There are also those feline parents who believe it is essen-tial to a catrsquos well-being for them to investigate and play outdoors Although the kitties may enjoy outdoor time it is very danger-ous With rattlesnakes coyotes stray dogs and traffic many out-door kitties never make it home again and soon become one of those sad notices posted on a tree

Even with the best inten-tions our pets may still make an escape Your best opportunity in getting them back is to ensure they can be identified Put an ID

tag on their collar listing your name and phone number and microchip them Although there are numerous companies that offer microchips and monitoring services one of the best is ldquoHome Againrdquo If you do microchip your pet remember to notify the man-ufacturer if you move or change your phone number Although the cost of micro-chipping is very reasonable many shelters and veterinary clinics hold spe-cial micro-chipping days so you can get your pets done for a dis-counted price Having your pet micro-chipped greatly increases the potential of getting him home again Can you actually put a price tag on that

ldquoHome Againrdquo stated that one out of three pets will go missing during their lifetime Make sure that one isnrsquot yours

mdashSari 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 missionvalley-petsittingcomu

One out of three pets will

go missing during their

lifetime

Lucille a 5-year-old spayed Labrador RetrieverAustralian Cattle Dog mix is

an energetic lady with tons of love to give her new family She has a friendly personality with everyone she meets and loves to learn new tricks She already knows commands such as sit down shake crawl beg and is currently learning how to wave ldquobye-byerdquo She is very treat-motivated and eager to please

She is very smart and outgoing and has gotten along well with other dogs on social walks This silly girl is always smiling and ready for a new adventure Born a true athlete she would love to participate in future training and would make an excellent workout partner Adequate exercise and mental stimulation are a must for this spirited lady

Lucille will do best in an active home with older children or adults She has a lot of love to give and may benefit from having another dog in the family as long as she meets them first to make sure theyrsquore a good match

Her adoption fee includes her spay current vaccinations permanent microchip identification a certificate for a free veterinary exam 30 days of complimentary medical insurance and a license for residents of Oceanside or Vista

Lucille is available for adoption at the San Diego Humane Society 5500 Gaines St in San Diego To learn more about Lucille call 619-299-7012u

Adopt a pet Looking for a home

LucilleBreed Labrador Retriever Australian Cattle Dog mixAge 5 years old Gender Female (spayed)Colors Black and WhiteID 142265Adoption Fee $9500

ADOPTION HOURSWeekdays 11 am ndash 6 pm Weekends 11 am ndash 5 pm

SD Humane Society amp SPCA5500 Gaines St (92110)

619-299-7012 | sdhumaneorg

(ThinkStock)

sdcnncom 17Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Foothiller FootstepsAdvanced Placement curriculum exposes students to college-level study

Helix HighlightsMaking students college-ready

Connie and LynnBaer

JenniferOsborn

A parent of a Helix Charter High School student once

noted that her daughter was never asked ldquoAre you going to collegerdquo Instead she was asked ldquoWhere are you going to collegerdquo A subtle difference in wording but a vast difference in meaning

Helixrsquos mission states ldquoHelix Charter High School provides a comprehensive education that prepares all students to gradu-

ate college-ready and equipped to reach their personal and aca-demic potentialrdquo

While the belief at Helix is not that every graduate needs to attend college in order to be suc-cessful it is definitely our goal to ensure that every graduate has the option to continue their edu-cation if they so choose

For the class of 2014 82 per-cent of Helix graduates stated they planned to attend college Forty-five percent went directly to a four-year college and 37 percent planned to attend two-

year institutions Approximately 12 percent attend University of California schools and 22 per-cent attend San Diego State or other California State University campuses

Support classroom projectsHave you heard of Donors

Choose Donors Choose is an online charity started by a class-room teacher from the Bronx New York He and his colleagues had great ideas for their students but no funding to bring their ideas to fruition

On the Donors Choose website teachers post classroom project requests and visitors to the web-site can help grant the teachersrsquo wishes by donating any amount big or small to their projects Donors Choose allows everyone to be a philanthropist

Over the past few years Helix teachers have been the recipi-ents of hundreds of thousands of dollars in supplies for classroom projects that would otherwise not have been possible Be a part of it Visit the website at donorschooseorg and search ldquoHelix La Mesardquo in the search box

Students shine nationallyThis past summer four Helix

Speech amp Debate team member students went to Kansas City Miski Abdi Spencer McCall Rebeca McClellan and Rachel Orey each qualified to compete in the National Forensics League National Championships McCall was a semifinalist in Student Senate and a quarterfinalist in Impromptu Orey was an octafi-nalist in Poetry

What else is going on at HelixLenelle Wyliersquos honors biology

classes have been accepted to attend the Science Lecture Series at the Scripps Research Institute

Jeff Kepperrsquos Oceanography class will be working with the

Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute and raising white sea bass in the classroom This is the second group of white sea bass raised by Helix students

Highland Players present The Odd Couple by Neil Simon Nov 5-8 and Nov 13-14 at 7 pm in the Black Box Theater They will perform both the original laquomaleraquo version and the ldquofemalerdquo version in repertory Tickets are $10 and will be available at helixdramaweeblycom or at the door Performances may sell out so buy early

Take a tourFinally we are always inter-

ested in letting our community know about Helix Charter High School The Excellence in Education Tour is offered twice a month and is open to anyone who wishes to attend It is a one-hour tour and program that highlights our vision history accomplish-ments goals and needs This monthrsquos tours will take place on Tuesday October 7 from 830 ndash 930 am and Thursday October 23 from 530 ndash 630 pm More information can be found at helix-charternet We hope to see you there

mdashJennifer Osborn is the com-munity relations officer for Helix Charter High School Email her at josbornhelixcharternetu

A commitment to educational excellence has always been a

part of the culture of Grossmont High School In the 1980s Grossmont began offering a new curriculum mdash Advanced Placement mdash that challenges the high school student to master a rigorous college-level curricu-lum Each May the students may then take the AP Exam Passing the exam with a score of 3 4 or 5 will in most cases translate to the student receiv-ing college credit or course exemption

In 1981 Grossmont English teacher Kay Adams offered an after-school tutorial for her senior students who wanted to take the AP English Language and Composition Exam Twenty-one students met with her to receive preparation for the exam all 21 students passed the exam with five stu-dents receiving a 5 the highest score

ldquoI learned more than I ever taughtrdquo Adams said ldquoThose students were the brightest minds I ever metrdquo

Beginning in 1982 AP

courses became a yearly English course offering

Other challenges presented themselves to early AP teach-ers In the 1980s through 1996 Sue Emerson AP Biology teacher found ways to cre-atively schedule her class On Wednesdays the students came in an hour early to complete the sophisticated experiments the curriculum required

ldquoOne fun activity was a nation-wide project studying wetlandsrdquo Emerson recalled ldquoThe students shared information with schools around the country via telecom-munication from their study of the Tijuana River Estuaryrdquo

Today Grossmont offers 15 different honors courses which prepare the students for the diverse variety of subsequent 19 Advanced Placement courses

Art AP Art History Studio Drawing 2-D Design

Business AP Computer Science

English AP Literature and Composition Language and Composition

Language AP Spanish Language Spanish Literature and Culture French Language and Culture

Math AP Calculus StatisticsPerforming Arts AP Music

Advanced Placement Theory

Science AP Biology Environmental Science Physics

Social Science AP European History US History Psychology US Government

Over the years the curriculum has evolved AP French Language and Culture teacher Azita Mahmoudi noted that the ldquoAP test has changed from a narrow grammar-based test to an open-ended test based on cultural knowledgerdquo

ldquoPhysics isnrsquot dif-ficult It only has the reputation of being dif-ficultrdquo said longtime AP Physics teacher Tom Eklund

Eklundrsquos creative lessons include the one shown in the 2012 photograph of student Jessie Hodges dropping his project off the bleachers and measuring its fall

During the past five years the number of tests taken by Grossmont students has risen from 453 in 2009 to 646 in 2014 While the passing rate dropped from 65 to 58 percent in those

same years more Foothillers were given the opportunity to challenge themselves and prepare for post secondary education

A continuing goal of Grossmont staff is to have more enrolled students take the test however each test costs $89 with many students taking more than one test

Those wishing to sponsor one or more tests with a tax-deduct-

ible donation may contribute to the GHS Educational Foundationrsquos AP Scholarship Fund by sending a check to GHS Educational Foundation PO Box 1043 La Mesa CA 91944

ldquoGrossmont High School is proud to support our honors and Advanced Placement curricu-lumrdquo said Principal Dan Barnes ldquoWe are very excited to see the very high increase in partici-pation in our courses over the past three years and contin-ued success by our

teachers and students shown in their AP exam pass ratesrdquo

Visit Grossmont and wit-ness firsthand a campus that celebrates it heritage and embraces its future Regular public hours are noon to 4 pm on Wednesday Oct 1 and Nov 5 or by appointment

Contact the Grossmont High School Museum by phone at 619-668-6140 or by email at ghs-museumguhsdnetu

AP Physics students participate in an experiment at Grossmont High School in 2012 (Courtesy GHS Museum)

18 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

PUZZLESSUDOKU

Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9 Each number can appear only once in each row column and 3x3 block Use logic and process elimination to solve the puzzle

copy 2014 Janric Enterprises Dist by creatorscom

CROSSWORD

Business 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 wwwGotFreedomcom Call 858-278-2120 Your future is counting on you (1214)

For SaleNICE 1BD HOUSE IN LA MESA LIVDEN LG KITCHEN BATH WD LG BEDROOM NICE SUNDECK $1000 INCLUDES GE WATER TRASH CALL CLARA 6194650591 (0914)

Sweet male and female Tea-cup Yorkie 12 weeks old $500 Will be 4 lbs at full growth Microchiped shots and dewormed coming with registration papers mlcpetsyahoocom 661-858-0633 (0914)

NoticesWIDOW OR WIDOWER Interested in social activities You are welcome to join our club Widows or Widowers (WOW) of San Diego Website wwwwowsdorg Phone 619-448-6088 (0914)

ServicesJennarsquos Barber Shoppe Styling for men women amp children Wheelchair friendly Old time expert

haircuts at affordable prices Colors amp perms 7424 Jackson Dr1A (across from Keilrsquos in Bank of America lot) Tues-Fri 830-530pm Sat 830-noon Walk-ins or By appt 619-644-3669 (1214)

Lindarsquos Puppy Love licensed insured pet sitting service offering daily walks cat care overnight stays-your home lots of love 619-857-3674 wwwlindaspuppylovecom (615)

Locksmith - Discount Deadbolts and Rekeying - security door viewers patio door locks simulated alarms magnetic door stops Cliff Henderson 619-840-3327 - Lic LCO4353 - Bonded - Never a trip charge (0615)

Quality exterior carpentry Decks Fences Patio Covers and Termite Repair Lic365241 wwwaactionbuildersofsandiegocom Bob 619-275-1493 (415)

Bathtubs and sinks refinished like new San Carlos based business for over 25 years - same owner Lic560438 wwwsaveatubsdcom 619-464-5141 (0115)

German Setter Tile and Marble Professional marbletile setter with 28 years experience European craftsmanship Punctual amp dependable License 872804 Contact Jens Sedemund 619-415-6789 or jensgermansettercom (1214)

Dan Patterson HandymanCarpentry Repair and replacement of plumbing electrical repair installation of water heaters doors windows cabinets flooring fencing Pressure washing of driveways all phases of

Finding Senior Housing can be complex but it doesnrsquot have to be

(800) 217-3942A Place for Mom is the nationrsquos largest senior living referral

information service We do not own operate endorse or recommend any senior living community We are paid by partner communities

so our services are completely free to families

ldquoYou can trust A Place for Mom to help yourdquo

ndash Joan Lunden

BUSINESS amp SERVICES

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 (1214)

BARGAIN BOYZ CONSTRUCTIONREPAIRS 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 jimmysupancoxnet (1014)

PLUMBERhellipLicensed and Insured Over 25 years experience La Mesa resident OwnerOperator Reasonable rates Courteous service Lic 527864 Call Peter 619-698-0313 wwwFelberPlumbingcom (0914)

ROOFING Lic 691295-C39 Veteran owned Allied Gardens based Celebrating 20 years Full roof amp repair Free est Veteran amp Senior discounts 619-823-7208 (615)

WantedHelping Hands Animal Sanctuary seeks laundry detergent (all free and clear) and fabric softener (Downey free and gentle) 619-460-6679 (0914)

Job WantedNanny seeking work certified bkgd ck CPR First Aide 20 years experience wchildren and babies Great references Call Peggy 619-246-6572 or 512-755-0813

ANSWERS ON PAGE 20

Experienced amp Professional

Renee Differ

reneediffercoxnet619-516-0400

INDIVIDUALS amp BUSINESSES

SAME SEX MARRIAGE FILING

BOOKKEEPING amp PAYROLL

MOBILE APPOINTMENTS

TAX CONSULTANT

Ideal PlumbingHeating

Air amp ElectricalWater heaters garbage disposals drain cleaning Video pipe inspections water softeners amp filtration Faucets and toilets Visit our Show-room (06-12)

Serving ourcommunity since 1960

(619) 583-7963Lic 348810

PLUMBING

sdcnncom 19Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierPUZZLES CLASSIFIEDS

Sudoku amp Crosswordpuzzle answers from

page 19

The Academic Senate at Grossmont College last

month honored math instruc-tor Michael Lambe a Mt Helix resident with the Distinguished Faculty award the first ever for a part-time member of the col-lege faculty

Lambersquos 36 years as part-time instructor at Grossmont College concurrent to his 39-year teach-ing career with the Grossmont Union High School District gave him a unique perspective and insight on nurturing stu-dent success His dual career has made him especially aware of the need to make the transi-tion from high school to college as seamless as possible and to ensure secondary level curricu-lum prepares students for higher education

His interaction between Grossmont College and Monte Vista High School where he was chair of the math depart-

Math teacher is Grossmont Collegersquos part-time instructor of the year

ment made him a natural to help develop the first articula-tion agreement between the college and high school which helps students smoothly transi-tion without duplicating classes or experiencing delays

It wasnrsquot just students who benefitted from Lambersquos experi-ence with both systems When

driver education was eliminated from the high school curriculum and instructors were facing lay-offs he worked with the high school and college districts to develop a two-year program that prepared the former driver edu-cation instructors to acquire the teaching credentials needed to become math instructors

ldquoItrsquos been a fantastic career mdash Irsquove been blessedrdquo Lambe said

Following his retirement from the high school district Lambe was recruited four years ago as the collegersquos part-time senate officer with the Academic Senate and chair of the of the Academic Senate Part-Time Committee As head of the new committee he began tackling issues like office hours college governance and academic rank on behalf of part-timers

ldquoMichael has unified the [Academic Senatersquos Part-Time] committee and made it the most respected and cohesive voice for part-time faculty on the campusrdquo said one of his colleagues in a nomination for Lambe for the Distinguished Faculty award ldquoHe has brought part-time faculty issues into the college governance conversation as never before and helped part-time faculty be better informed through excellent professional development activities and communicationsrdquo

Lambe described his efforts on behalf of part-time instructors as a way of paying it forward

ldquoEven as a part-timer I have done a lot of things that full-time department members dordquo he said ldquoThis is my profession mdash my calling and my love This

award is the greatest honor I have ever received My col-leagues couldnrsquot have given me anything greater and to be the first recipient is tremendousrdquo

In addition to honoring Lambe for his achievements as a member of the part-time faculty the academic senate also honored Spanish instruc-tor Yolanda Guerrero with the Distinguished Faculty award for full-time faculty

President Sunita V Cooke said Lambe and Guerrero exem-plify Grossmont Collegersquos faculty members who are passionate about teaching and motivated to boost their profession and their colleagues

ldquoThe campus community owes a debt of gratitude to fac-ulty members with that kind of dedicationrdquo she said ldquoTheir generosity is an inspiration to us allrdquo

At Cuyamaca College Spanish instructor Patricia Santana won the Outstanding Faculty Award for full-time tenured faculty Arabic instructor Aklas Sheia won the award for outstanding part-time faculty

mdashDella Elliott is public information assistant for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College Districtu

DellaElliott

Michael Lambe gives a math lesson something hersquos been doing for nearly four decades in local classrooms (Courtesy Grossmont College)

20 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

Join us for a 3-course dinner and information on Chronic back pain causes and solutions Recent advances in back pain relief Different surgical options QampA with leading San Diego spine specialist

Presented by Choll Kim MD PhD a San Diego Magazine ldquoTop Doctorrdquo and Medical Director of the Advanced SpineInstitute at Alvarado Hospital ndash named Americarsquos 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgerytrade and Orthopedic Surgerytrade in 2014

Cost $10person Seating is limited mdash RSVP requiredCall (619) 229-4548 to register

Location Terra Bistro7091 El Cajon Blvd San Diego 92115

MONDAY SEPT 29 6-8 PMTERRA AMERICAN BISTRO

AlvaradoHospitalcom | (619) 287-3270

Zucchini pancakes

Whatrsquos Cooking with

Julie AnnWhite

Julie

Grate away on your box grater to create this deli-

cious dinner side dish Herersquos a savory treat to serve with a salad or light chicken or fish meal They are a little bit addictive and really easy to make

Serves four (makes six small pancakes)

Ingredients3 medium zucchini grated on a box grater or food processor12 red or yellow onion grated2 large eggs lightly beaten8 Tbsp Panko bread crumbs (flour can be used instead)1 tsp baking powder1 tsp kosher saltPinch of black pepper2 Tbsp butter14 cup olive oil for frying

DirectionsGrate the zucchini and onion into a medium bowl Press with a

few paper towels to absorb juice Add remaining ingredients and stir well If batter is runny add more breadcrumbs or flour Heat large skillet and melt butter and oil over medium heat Drop the zucchini mixture into six to eight golf ball-sized gently patted pancakes Cook until golden brown Serve warmu

Put down your iPhone 6 push aside your Samsung Note 4

and turn off the TV La Mesa is asking its citizens to invest some time in one of their 14 local parks for Park Appreciation Day Oct 18

ldquoThis community event demon-strates the spirit and commitment that La Mesans have for their public facilitiesrdquo said Yvonne Garrett assistant city manager and director of community ser-vices in La Mesa ldquoLocal residents and visitors have a sense of own-ership and take pride in La Mesa parks Park Appreciation Day is an opportunity for individuals to share that enthusiasm with friends and neighborsrdquo

The impetus for La Mesa Park Appreciation Day began in 2005 when a member of a local church congregation contacted the city to ask whether their church could take on a community project in La Mesa said Garrett who is also staff director for La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation

Because the city had recently eliminated several temporary park maintenance worker posi-tions and had received a similar request for a local project from another organization city staff thought it would be a good idea

Citizen groups pitch in for Park Appreciation Day

to gather the various groups to help clean up the parks prompting the creation of Park Appreciation Day

La Mesa community services manager Mike Pacheco said he has been impressed with the pride La Mesans have in their community as well as their desire to volunteer for the city

ldquoParks and recreation pro-grams bring tremendous benefits to people of all agesrdquo Pacheco said ldquoThey contribute to help-ing us live longer better lives through active pursuits new life skills educational programs and safe activities Great parks and programs also help build a stronger community connecting individuals families and groups through the power of play Recreation programs and engag-ing exciting facilities help keep kids active and off the streetsrdquo

Park Appreciation Day proj-ects include spreading mulch planting flowers and painting picnic tables and restrooms Pacheco said

Since its inception several local groups have consistently volun-teered each year Christ Lutheran Church Journey Church Helix Interact Club Friends of Canine Corners Kiwanis Club of La Mesa La Mesa Rotary La Mesa Beautiful La Mesa Lions Club and La Mesa Police Department

Last year more than 150 vol-unteers participated on Park

Appreciation Day and removed 22 cubic yards of green material plus nine cubic yards of trash according to Garrett

Although most of La Mesarsquos parks have the same groups cleaning them every year Porter Park Fitness Plaza located at 8425 University Ave is still without a group Porter needs additional native plants installed in some areas in the beds Garrett said

Disclosure Writer Genevieve A Suzuki serves as a commissioner for the La Mesa Community Services Commission and is a member of La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation She is happy to put away her iPhone Oct 18 to help clean her local parku

Genevieve Suzuki

Make La Mesa beautifulInterested in getting

involved with La Mesa Park Appreciation Day Oct 18 Want to encourage your civic church or social group to adopt a park

All ages are welcome to par-ticipate Signed waivers are required Parents must accom-pany children under 18 at the parks unless their children are with a supervised group

Sign up by calling 619-667-1304 or email communitycila-mesacaus

sdcnncom 21Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierDINING LOCAL NEWS

New Patient Special

bull SedationDentistrybull Implantsbull Same-DayCrownsbull LaserTreatmentbull Invisalign

Wersquove been in practice for over

25 years in La Mesa

$113 for exam x-rays oral cancer screening and cleaning

In absence of gum disease A $520 value

Donrsquot avoid the dentist Remove the anxiety and fear with Sedation Dentistry

A Shop For Smiles

Dr Hagstrom619-465-5252 | 8923 La Mesa Blvd | La Mesa CA 91942

wwwashopforsmilescom

Visit us today

Baseball book signingSunday Oct 12

Geoff Miller mental skills coach for the Atlanta Braves will discuss and sign copies of his new book ldquoIntangibles Big-League Stories and Strategies for Winning the Mental Game mdash in Baseball and in Liferdquo at 2 pm at Barnes amp Noble 5500 Grossmont Center Dr

Diverse Capacities workshopWednesday Oct 15

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Mariko Peshon will lead a work-shop focusing on the physical emotional and social abilities and disabilities that often go unrec-ognized and unaccommodated in our communities The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

East County Intergenerational GamesTuesday Oct 16

Active adults ages 50 and older will team up with kids between the ages of 7 and 12 for a morning of fun noncompetitive activi-ties at La Mesa Middle School 4200 Parks Ave from 830 am to noon The games include street hockey shot frisbee toss ldquoskeeballrdquo pitch t-ball and trivia games Snacks and lunch are included Interested adults must register in advance by contacting the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center at 619-667-1322

Introduction to home caregivingSaturday Oct 18

Caring for a loved one at home often involves transfers personal care proper body mechanics and other specific skills and knowl-edge Learn and practice the basics with a registered nurse at this event from 9 am to 1 pm in classroom 1314 of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Brier Patch Campus 9000 Wakarusa St Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or

register online at sharpcom

Workshop Finding Your Voice in the Social Justice MovementTuesday Oct 21

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Kenyon Whitman will lead an interactive workshop exploring social justice concepts how to develop a leadership style and creative ways to effectively com-municate in diverse groups The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the stu-dent center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

Medicare and drug cover-age updates for 2015Friday Oct 24

A free lecture will cover Medicare insurance changes for 2015 Medicare Parts A B D HMOs and more Presented by Community Education Specialist Pablo Corona the lec-ture will also cover the Medicare Saving Program and Extra-Help Program that assist with prescription costs for Medicare Parts B and D The talk begins at 10 am at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Lung function screeningWednesday Oct 29

Do you have trouble catching your breath after a short walk The Pulmonary Department at Sharp Grossmont Hospital will offer a free basic lung function test from 9 am to 2 pm for anyone who has not yet seen a doctor about breathing prob-lems The screening will be held at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center Building F Room 16 9000 Wakarusa St Appointments are required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Free blood pressure screeningFriday Oct 17

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center 8450 La Mesa Blvd No appointment necessary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Park Appreciation DaySaturday Oct 18

Groups of volunteers will get to work on projects to beautify and improve parks across town from 8 am to noon All ages are welcome but children under the age of 18 need to submit a waiver signed by a parent or legal guard-ian If your church or civic group wants to get involved call 619-667-1300 or email communitycila-mesacaus

lsquoHowl-oweenrsquo dog cos-tume contest and picnicSaturday Oct 18

Dress up your dogs in a cute or spooky Halloween costume and bring them out to Canine Corners the dog park at Harry Griffen Regional Park between 11 am and 3 pm Proud pet par-ents will have the chance to get their poochrsquos picture taken at the pumpkin patch as well as meet representatives from animal rescue groups the county sheriffrsquos K-9 unit and other vendors The costume contest begins at 1130 am A hot dog picnic lunch will be offered for $3 Canine Corners volunteers will accept donations to help with the maintenance of the dog park

Picnic with the parrotsSunday Oct 26

At Socal Parrotrsquos annual fundraising event attendees have a rare chance to view the non-profit organizationrsquos reha-bilitation facility meet animals talk with experts observe live art bid in a silent auction and buy into a raffle Based in Jamul SoCal Parrot works to protect and care for wild and endan-gered parrots across the region Tickets to the all-day fundrais-ing event range from $32 to $100 and can be purchased online at socalparrotorgu

Calendar from page 15

Send details of your com-munity events to the editor at jeremysdcnncom Deadline is the third Friday of the month

22 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 CALENDAR

Why a fiscally conservative vote-by-mail plan got no GOP love

A bill that would drastically change the way San Diego

Countyrsquos special elections are run passed without any Republican help mdash it got just two votes total from GOP lawmakers in Sacramento

It might surprise you to learn then that when the idea first emerged Democrats helped lead the charge against it

How some leading party mem-bers reversed course in just a few years says a lot about the current political landscape and the future of elections in San Diego County

Democrats wrote the current bill mdash which would create a five-year pilot program in San Diego County that would make spe-cial elections for open seats run primarily by mail with a drasti-cally reduced number of polling places mdash and they led the politi-cal charge for it

But Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez the billrsquos author remembers how hard she fought to kill the idea of vote-by-mail elections years ago

ldquoWhat happens I think so often is there is this attachment to the status quo therersquos fear about changing thingsrdquo Gonzalez said

Gonzalez said her mind was changed by a couple factors One is that she discovered during her years as a labor advocate that voters who had a ballot mailed to them before the election were roughly five times more likely to actually vote

The other she said is she realized the county was spend-ing a huge amount more per person who voted at the polls versus by mail

County officials said that in the March 2013 special election to fill the vacant 40th state Senate district seat they spent $221 per

Ari Bloomekatz

in-person voter verses $9 per mail voter

Then therersquos the fact that pathetic voter turnout in each of the last several elections has favored Republican candidates across the board

ldquoWe have all watched as voter turnout has plummeted in recent elections and itrsquos our responsi-bility to do something about itrdquo Gonzalez wrote in a press release after the bill passed

Some observers speculated that some Republicans simply didnrsquot support the bill because it was being led by promi-nent Democrats like Gonzalez (Gonzalez agrees thatrsquos probably true)

But if you want to understand why GOP support was so hard to come by for a bill steeped in fiscally conservative principles and that originated from a con-servative San Diego County government consider these three points

Republicans seized on civil rights groupsrsquo hesitation

Some of the strongest initial opposition to the vote-by-mail legislation came from civil rights groups concerned the new pro-cedures could disenfranchise immigrants and the disabled

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund initially opposed the bill but dropped its opposition after working with Gonzalez and San Diego County officials on protec-

tions for immigrantsStill MALDEF and other

groups wouldnrsquot officially support the measure

ldquoThere is some research out there that shows that mail-in ballots do have an adverse impact on minority votersrdquo said Denise Hulett an attorney with MALDEF

Hulett said MALDEF supports testing out vote-by-mail but isnrsquot sold on it yet

Those groupsrsquo reluctance had an impact on Republican legislators like Escondido Assemblywoman Marie Waldron She said she didnrsquot feel comfortable signing on to a bill without MALDEF and other civil rights groupsrsquo support

ldquoI have to wonder if this is disenfranchising a significant number of people that vote at the pollsrdquo Waldron said ldquoWhat about the people who are maybe you know possibly visually impaired or something like thatrdquo

The money wasnrsquot enoughSan Diego County Registrar

Michael Vu strongly supports the pilot program and believes it could trim costs by 30 - 40 percent

But somehow the cost-savings issue wasnrsquot enough to win over the vast majority of Republican legislators

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez said he thought the cost-savings touted by Democrats were only rough estimates and was not inclined to vote for a bill just

because of those projectionsldquoAs Irsquove said a number of times

before all these bills that theyrsquore putting through hellip really doesnrsquot address the issue of what wersquore trying to do which is get more people to voterdquo he said

Instead of just moving imme-diately to vote-by-mail Chavez wants to create a bipartisan special committee to study new voting technologies

Republicans fear voter fraud

Republicansrsquo fear of potential voter fraud through expansion of vote-by-mail overshadowed potential economic gains

The bill ldquoincludes no protec-tions to ensure the integrity and security of all-mail elections While interesting we need to be careful changing election lawsrdquo wrote Amanda Fulkerson of the Assembly Republican Caucus which advocated fiercely against the bill

ldquoRight now our members feel that we should not jeopardize our consistent voting system until we have further facts and statistics on all-mail electionsrdquo Fulkerson wrote

Republicans believed the threat of fraud would be compounded by another voting-related bill moving through the legislature at the same time

That bill would change the rules about how long mail ballots can be received and counted after an election

Currently vote-by-mail ballots must be received by election offi-cials before polls close on the day of the election The new law would allow ballots to be received no later than three days after the election (if it was time-stamped or post-marked on or before Election Day)

Assembly Republicans feared the two bills combined could allow for abuse of the system

State Sen Joel Anderson was one Republican who voted against the mail-counting bill but in favor of Gonzalezrsquos vote-by-mail effort

Anderson said that he voted against the mail-counting bill because he saw it as ldquocompletely gaming the systemrdquo but believes the vote-by-mail bill is ldquobetter for the voters itrsquos better for my constituentsrdquo

Put yourselves in the shoes of

Vu and other county officials for a minute

Nearly every time an election comes up the county spends anywhere from $1 million to $12 million-plus and organizes hordes of poll workers and pre-cincts across the county

And what happens at the end of the day

Turnout is generally low and increasing numbers of residents opt to vote by mail anyway

As Vu tells it he just wants to save the county money and acknowledge the changing winds when it comes to vote-by-mail

But nothing is ever as simple as a dollar saved in Sacramento mdash especially when it comes to something as fundamental as how voters choose their elected officials

Gonzalez said most people do not understand how difficult this bill was to pass politically Sure Republicans barley supported it but there was strong opposition from many Democrats too The instinct to preserve the status quo when it comes to elections among legislators in Sacramento is strong she said

ldquoIt was kind of funny Irsquom in Republican land carrying this bill pissing off Democrats and voting rights groups and minor-ity groupsrdquo she said ldquoI had to convince everybody that this is OK that change is OKrdquo

Brown has until Sept 30 to sign the bill

mdashAri Bloomekatz is an inves-tigative reporter for Voice of San Diego focusing on county govern-ment You can reach him directly at aribloomekatzvoiceofsandi-egoorg or 619-550-5669u

(Courtesy Flickr user bludgeoner86Creative Commons)

Voice of San Diego

sdcnncom 23Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

Everyone in every price range deserves the quality of Sothebyrsquos Realty

8310 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa CA 91942 bull 6193371700

SPRING VALLEY bull $362000LA MESA bull $499000CARDIFF BY THE SEA bull $525000

Spacious Sweetwater Springs home on corner lot Recently updated kitchen amp bath w granite countertops SS appl wine refrigerator and wood floors Upstairs BRs w mirrored wardrobe doors and ceiling fans Sliding doors to private view deck ideal for watching the sunset

JOE SOUTHWICK 6195898224

Just listed Tastefully remodeled single level entertainerrsquos paradise Large great room with chefrsquos kitchen Private backyard with pool hot tub palapa-covered bar amp grill shade patio and sun deck

JULIE ADAMS 6194810200

Rarely available 2BR 1BA twin home in the highly sought after Park Place neighborhood of Cardiff By The Sea Community pool and spa 25+ acre canyon with walking trails sand volleyball and more

YVETTE WOODS 6199223436

Laurarsquos Solds 2014 bull (619) 540-7744 bull LauraLothianRealEstatecomMost Homes Sold in La Mesa Last 11 Years

Want your home sold Ask a busy agent Call Laura Lothian TODAY 6195407744

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD GASLAMP

SOLD RANCHO SAN DIEGO

SOLD BANKERS HILL

SOLD SAN CARLOS SOLD SAN CARLOS SOLD SANTEE

SOLD LAKE MURRAY

SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE

PENDING PACIFIC BEACH

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PacificSothebysRealtycomcopyMMVIII Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC A Realogy Company All Rights Reserved Sothebyrsquos International Realtyreg is a registered trademark licensed to Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC An Equal Opportunity Company Equal Housing Opportunity Each Office is Independently Owned And Operated Cal BRE 01767484 Seller will entertain offers within the listed range

SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX

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Source TrendGraphix MLS data for zip codes 91941 amp 91942 January 1 2003 to January 1 2014

24 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

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RESIDENTIAL bull COMMERCIAL bull RENTALSWater HeatersTankless bull Drain Stoppages bullToilets

Faucets - Kitchen amp Bath bull Water Softeners amp FiltersPressure Regulators bull Camera Inspections of Drains

Garbage Disposals bull Slab Leaks amp RepipesAir Conditioning amp Heating bull Indoor Air QualityElectrical Repairs amp Upgrades bull Lighting Systems

Kitchen amp Bath Remodeling bull Aging-In-Place Design

Rebate savings depends on equipment purchasedSee dealer for details

TAKE ADVANTAGE OFUP TO

$1950IN REBATES

$1500 OFFANY SERVICE CALL

May not combine coupon with any other offers Coupon not valid towardsSMA Program Present coupon at time of service Expires 103114 LMC

2014 REBATES

619-583-7963 bull IDEALSVCCOM bull LIC 3488105161 WARING RD SAN DIEGO

idealsvccom 619-583-7963

EDUCATION

Haunt yourself with contemporary classic horror fiction

Pop culture has a way of show-ing us what our collective

minds love loathe and fear In honor of Halloween I wanted to spend this monthrsquos column looking at the state of popu-lar horror fiction using that to explore the modern American psyche However the only thing this research showed me is that Americans really really love Stephen King

So with that plan foiled I fig-ured Irsquod just recommend some great scary reads past present and near-future

Guillermo del Toro is known primarily for his work in movies but has recently begun writing fiction After bringing us imagi-native films like ldquoPacific Rimrdquo ldquoHellboyrdquo and ldquoPanrsquos Labyrinthrdquo he paired with author Chuck Hogan for a horror trilogy called ldquoThe Strainrdquo

Deciding that seductive brood-ing teen vampires have become passeacute the authors chose to make their vampires ugly mon-sters whose heads split open to bite and drain their victims while vampirism itself is a virus that spreads with the speed of a zombie apocalypse The book series has already been turned into a TV show with its own cult following and that will undoubt-

edly bring more attention to the books all of which are available at the San Diego County Library

The new book Irsquom dying to read is called ldquoHorrorstoumlrrdquo by Grady Hendrix It should hit bookstores (and the library) shortly after I finish typing this If you like your horror with a side of wit and sly

social commentary this is your novel Itrsquos set in a furniture store that bears more than a little resemblance to IKEA where sin-ister and supernatural forces are on the prowl and the poor corpo-rate drones who work there must solve a horrific mystery in order to survive (presumably while fol-

lowing proper corporate protocol and providing excellent customer service) But just as exciting to me the book itself is a parody of an IKEA-style catalog illustrated with furniture schematics and cheery living room photos becom-ing creepier and creepier as the story moves along

Wersquoll end with one of the classics H P Lovecraft This par-anoid reclusive pulp writer from the 1920s was relatively unknown in his day but has become an underground legend His name

is synonymous with foreboding tales of occult rituals evil space gods and of course the descent from reason to madness Taken together his short stories invoke a universe in which humans are insignificant specks whose sanity could be rent asunder if they even began to glimpse the secret powers underlying their existence Lovecraft has dozens of short story collections pick up those containing ldquoThe Call of Cthulhurdquo and ldquoThe Whisperer in the Darknessrdquo Reading any of his stories will leave you feeling unsettled and reluctant to turn off the lights

In conclusion BooFor less-scary costumed fun the

library will be holding its second Star Wars Reads Day from 11 am to 1 pm on Saturday Oct 11 There will be Star Wars-themed crafts games and snacks as well as a costume contest and a visit by local members of the Rebel Legion and 501st Legion devoted Star Wars fans who wear authentic costumes to support community events Last yearrsquos Star Wars Reads Day saw over 125 kids and adults participating so wersquore expecting a great turnout

mdashJake Sexton is librarian at the La Mesa branch of the San Diego County Library Reach him at 619-469-2151 or visit the library at 8074 Allison Aveu

Above The Strain is being adapted to television (Courtesy William Morrow)Left Horrorstoumlr is an innovative horror twist on an IKEA catalog (Courtesy Quirk Books)

JakeSexton

LA MESA READS

10 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

ENTERTAINMENT

La Mesa Village is usually known as a quaint and quiet

part of town but those of us who have been around for a while know therersquos much more to that stretch of La Mesa Boulevard than antique stores and thrift shops

Oktoberfest perhaps the most exciting event hosted in La Mesa each year descends upon the Village for three days over the first weekend in October This year it falls particularly early on Oct 3 ndash 5 with live entertain-ment multiple beer gardens street vendors and more slated to draw the masses

For families venturing to the free event there are carnival games rides and other activities in the Kids Zone (for children under 12) Diverse food options located throughout the 10 blocks of Oktoberfest are an obvious crowd pleaser for all ages Plus the streets are lined with booths of crafts and other products that may inspire an early holiday shopping spree

But itrsquos the big kids who have the most reasons to head to Oktoberfest

The aptly named Big Beer Garden presented by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and the smaller Nebo Drive Beer Garden by the La Mesa Village Merchantrsquos Association are where you will find most of the action at Oktoberfest

The former is located in the Allison Street parking lot (between Pine Street and Palm Avenue) and is home to a large festival stage to go along with the nectar of the hops This beer garden is family-friendly so patrons can feel free to bring their children Pets are not allowed inside the event

Various bands will play the Big Beer Garden all three days pre-senting mostly classic rock lsquonrsquo roll (The Ideas Rock and Roll Trio and The Car Tune Dogs) and some German music (Our Song) This area will also have food options

Good times brewing for annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

mdash including festival favorites like brats and pulled pork sand-wiches mdash to keep partiers fueled throughout the day and night The beer garden will also host a stein-holding contest each eve-ning around 8 pm hosted by Samuel Adams

The Nebo Drive Beer Garden (next to the La Mesa Train Museum) also has a lot to offer Though smaller in scale this adults-only beer garden provides ample enticement with at least three German beers being served It will also host the Bavarian Beer Garden Band on Friday and Saturday These factors will give an authentic feel to this area harkening back to the ldquooriginal Oktoberfest viberdquo according to Bill Dyke of the Bavarian Beer Garden Band

Festivalgoers should note a trol-ley ride to the La Mesa Boulevard stop (near Spring Street) literally drops you right in the middle of the festival Frequent trains going by make public transportation the ideal designated driver for Oktoberfesters ready to imbibe like our German counterparts Popular ride-sharing services are another smart choice for getting to and from La Mesa Trust me mdash you donrsquot want to even attempt to look for parking

In addition to the beer gar-dens and festival food vendors the businesses in and around La Mesa Village will have their doors open to welcome visitors One such spot is Hofferrsquos Cigar Bar which boasts an impressive tap list of craft beers

ldquo[Oktoberfest] brings out a much wilder clientele than we are used to but also a lot of new faces that might have never been in nor heard of usrdquo Hofferrsquos bar manager Ryan Bartman said ldquoSo all in all itrsquos great for businessrdquo

Other businesses along La Mesa Boulevard that should benefit from the increased foot traffic include Konnichiwa Sushi and Bar (bet you didnrsquot know La Mesa Village had sushi) Cosmos Coffee Cafeacute for those needing a caffeine boost to keep going and Trattoria Tiramisu with its authentic Italian dishes and stellar wine list when yoursquove had

enough beers and brats Whether La Mesa is your home

or a place yoursquove never ventured Oktoberfest is the ideal time to enjoy the festival spirit discover the businesses of the village and do the chicken dance like you never have before Whatever you do donrsquot forget to take home a commemorative beer boot

mdashJen Van Tieghem can be reached at jensdcnncomu

JenVan Tieghem

The Tarantino familyrsquos gourmet sausages are always a crowd favorite at La Mesarsquos Oktoberfest a three-day beer and brat extravaganza (Courtesy La Mesa Chamber of Commerce)

La Mesa OktoberfestSchedule of Events

Friday Oct 3Street festival 11 am - 9 pm Big Beer Garden 4 - 1130 pm (last call at 11 pm)The Ideas Rock and Roll Trio 4 - 5 pm The Car Tune Dogs 6 - 10 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden Noon - 9 pm (last call at 830 pm)Bavarian Beer Garden Band 6 - 9 pm

Saturday Oct 4 Street festival 11 am - 9 pm Big Beer Garden 11 am - 1130 pm (last call at 11 pm) Our Song Noon - 4 pmThe Car Tune Dogs 6 - 10 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden 12 - 9 pm (last call at 830 pm)Bavarian Beer Garden Band 2 - 4 pm

Sunday Oct 5 Street festival Noon - 5 pm BIG Beer Garden 1 - 430 pm (last call at 4 pm)Our Song 1 - 4 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden 12 - 430 pm (last call at 4 pm)

Fun FactsVendors Over 250Attendees expected 200000Years of La Mesa Oktoberfest 41 City blocks used forOktoberfest 10Estimated cost for police fire and other city staff time $77000 paid for by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and La Mesa Village Merchants Association

sdcnncom 11Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Jazz

Fridays Charlie Arbelaez Trio at The Rook Free 9 pm TheRookBarcom 7745 University Ave La Mesa

Sundays samdi-ego Jazz Trio at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room Free 2 - 5 pm SanPasqualWinerycom 8364 La Mesa Blvd La Mesa

Oct 15 ldquoThe Music of Will Toddrdquo with the SDSU Chamber Choir Grossmont College Jazz faculty and composerpianist Will Todd at St John of the Cross Catholic Church Suggested donation 730 pm Grossmontedu 8086 Broadway Lemon Grove

PopTuesdays Suzanne Shea and Bob Wade at Bistro Sixty Free 630 to 830 pm BistroSixtySDcom Call and hold your table 619-287-8186 5987 El Cajon Blvd College Area

Wednesdays Westside Inflection at Riviera Supper Club Free 8 pm RivieraSupperClubcom 7777 University Ave La Mesa

Fridays Nathan Welden at Bistro Sixty Free 630 pm BistroSixtySDcom 5987 El Cajon Blvd College Area

Classical

Oct 16 Youth Choir of San Diego at Cuyamaca College Price $8 ($5 for students) 7 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Oct 17 Cuyamaca College Choir at Cuyamaca College Price $8 ($5 for students) 730 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Oct 31 Quatuor Mosaiumlques Classical String Quartet at Cuyamaca College Price $10 730 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Alternative

Sept 27 TaKillya at Chico Club Free 9 pm ChicoClub1940com 7366 El Cajon Blvd La Mesa

Oct 4 Baja Bugs at Riviera Supper Club Free 9 pm RivieraSupperClubcom 7777 University Ave La Mesa

Oct 31 Fifth Annual Halloween Monster Bash with The Farmers at Parkway Bar Free 9 pm TheParkwayBarcom 9188 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa

Other

Thursdays (through Oct 30) Open Mic Acoustic Nights at Parkway Bar Free 7 pm TheParkwayBarcom 9188 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa

Sept 27 Little Kings at Hooleyrsquos Free 9 pm Hooleyscom 5500 Grossmont Center Dr 277 La Mesa

Oct 18 Oktoberfest featuring The Bavarian Beergarden Band at Butcherrsquos Brewing Free 4-10 pm ButchersBrewingcom 9962 Prospect Ave Suite F Santee

Oct 18 Jefferson Washington at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room Free 7 pm SanPasqualWinerycom 8364 La Mesa Blvd La Mesa

Bands venues and music-lovers please submit listings for this calendar by emailing Jensdcnncomu

to 46 feet or about four stories So the Kitzmans have hired

development consultants Urban Housing Partners to convince city leaders to change the zoning on the property to allow build-ing heights up to 110 feet The zoning the Kitzmans are asking for could accommodate up to 363 dwelling units 61000 square feet of commercial retail space 146000 square feet of commer-cial office space or a hotel of up to 250 guest rooms

The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the pro-posed zoning changes on June 18 They made no decision at the time because the Kitzmansrsquo co-applicant American Legion Post 282 announced they were withdrawing their support for the zoning change

The Kitzmans through their South Baltimore LLC resub-mitted their application over the summer The Planning Commission will hear the new and reduced application at a meeting at City Hall on Wednesday Oct 1 at 7 pm

Residents east and west of the project site have been some of the most vocal critics of the proposal to rezone the property

Don Bell whose house on El Capitan Drive overlooks the Park Station property said he and his neighbors are not against redeveloping and improving the property

ldquoItrsquos blight down thererdquo Bell said

What they are against how-ever is rezoning the property

ldquoThe problem really is that the Planning Commission is going to give them a blank checkrdquo he said

Nearby neighbors know and accept that change is inevitable but the added traffic and parking problems that would come from a 10-story building would be unac-ceptable and detrimental to the community said Suda House who also has a view of the Park Station property from her home on El Capitan

ldquoDevelop the heck out of it but keep it below 46 feetrdquo House said

One vocal supporter of the Kitzmanrsquos plan has been Jack Rowell a La Mesa native who now sells real estate across the San Diego region Any new homes that can be added to the La Mesa market will be a good thing Rowell said

ldquoI have a bunch of [potential

buyers] who want La Mesa but itrsquos a fight over every prop-erty especially things under $500000rdquo Rowell said ldquoPeople want the La Mesa schools People want the convenience of La Mesardquo

The only other place where housing prices are compara-ble for high-quality schools is Poway and Poway doesnrsquot have La Mesarsquos Village or its prox-imity to regional destinations Rowell said

Rowell said he understands why nearby neighbors donrsquot want their views to change but therersquos no reason to believe home values will suffer with an increase in supply

ldquoTheyrsquore talking about 300 to 500 condo unitsrdquo Rowell said ldquoThatrsquos like spitting in the oceanrdquo

For Aaron Amerling orga-nizer of the ldquoFight Park Station La Mesa ndash No More Than Fourrdquo Facebook page the colorful renderings of Park Station are a Trojan Horse designed to mis-lead people about what the site could become

ldquoThe Kitzmans do not have the funds to develop thatrdquo Amerling said ldquoThe whole idea is to upzone the land because that improves the resale valuerdquo

If city leaders approve the new zoning the Kitzmans or a new owner could build something completely different than what theyrsquove been advertising

City leaders have been cau-tious about commenting directly on the proposal only issuing vague statements about main-taining the character of the downtown village

Regardless of the Planning Commissionrsquos decision next week the final decision on whether to rezone the property will be made by the full City Council at a later dateu

LOCAL NEWSGen-X in La MesaGive peace a chanceGenevieve Suzuki

G iving peace a chance seems more complicated than it

should beWith all of the strife going on

in this world peace seems to be an almost impossible proposition The appalling brutal treatment of American hostages at the hands of ISIS members resulted in many of us feeling complete repulsion at the state of global affairs

I know I felt sick Even worse I began to feel hopeless

So when Anne Pacheco a member of the Interfaith Council of La Mesa asked me to attend the first International Day of Peace Sept 21 at Aztec Park her invitation stirred something in my soul The day which touted ldquoThe Right of Peoples to Peacerdquo would be a joint effort among people of most of the worldrsquos religions including Judaism Christianity Islam Buddhism Hinduism Native American and Baharsquoi

And although I promised Anne I would attend I thought it was an awfully lofty goal Really All of these people gathering for peace on a Sunday a day many hold holy in their churches

But I was pleasantly surprised when approximately 200 people

showed up with chairs umbrellas hats and hearts at Aztec Park that mild sunny day Many of us pur-chased sky blue scarves from the Sisters of Saint Francis to wear in solidarity for peace Shucks even Mayor Art Madrid wore a scarf over a yellow shirt

I admit however getting my husband Derek to don the blue scarf wasnrsquot easy In fact it wasnrsquot easy getting him there in the first place

Itrsquos not that Derek is against world peace (even though our daughter to this day refuses to add that request to her nightly prayers) Itrsquos more that Sunday is for football in Derekrsquos world and this day of peace was causing him to miss hooting and hollering for his fantasy football team

Nevertheless Derek relented and accompanied me and our daughter to the event This com-promise is one from which most of the world could learn Is Derek a community activist No but Derek is focused on the big pic-ture namely a happy wife and home Focusing on the big pic-ture would help many find peace in their lives locally and globally

As I sat there amid others dedi-cated to peace and non-violence I realized the one common emo-tional positive is the future We all want a better future for our fami-lies and our children We donrsquot

want to leave behind a legacy of anger brutality and war

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we said together at the beginning of the program

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we insisted again

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we vowedAs Rebecca Littlejohn of Vista

La Mesa Christian Church said ldquoWe are gathered in hope today for hope is how we surviverdquo

Thanks to this special inaugural day I was reminded of how impor-tant it was for me to have hope and that reminder allowed me to place aside that earlier feeling of hopelessness conjured by evil deeds in another land After all if I allow myself to fall hopeless I have nothing to give my child On the other hand if I cling to hope it will then be passed on to my daughter who would hold that ideal in her mind and mdash hopefully mdash see it to fruition

As the Native American prayer during the program stated ldquoGive us the wisdom to teach our chil-dren to love to respect and to be kind to each other so that they may grow with peace in mindrdquo

mdashGenevieve A Suzuki is editor emeritus of the La Mesa Courier She continues to live and practice family law in La Mesa Her web-site is sdlawyersuzukicomu

Find out what your home is worth on-line

Visit wwwsandiegohouseareacomOr scan this QR Code with your phone now

Tom Bowker Coldwell Banker West BRE01024513

A rendering by Park Station opponents shows the potential scale of buildings (Courtesy Aaron Amerling)

Park Station from page 1

12 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

Music professorrsquos jazz album wins acclaim

Follow your passionThat has been a guiding

principal for Grossmont College music instructor and jazz bassist extraordinaire Justin Grinnell who ditched plans to study mathematics shortly after enrolling at San Diego State University back in 1999 and meeting musicians ldquowho were doing music all the timerdquo

Good thing Grinnell has become an integral part of a vibrant Grossmont College music program and gigs as a pit orchestra member at myriad venues including the Old Globe La Jolla Playhouse and the San Diego Civic Theatre for a number of Tony Award-winning musicals

And now his debut disc the Justin Grinnell Quartetrsquos Without You has been nomi-nated for a San Diego Music Award for best jazz album

Grinnell is no stranger to awards He is a member of the Danny Green Trio which won the 2009 San Diego Music Award for Best Jazz Album for its debut CD The triorsquos second release A Thousand Ways Home reached No 17 on the Jazz Week Charts for national radio airplay after its 2012 debut

ldquoIrsquom doing what I loverdquo said Grinnell who is on track to earn his Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern California next spring ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the col-lege or university levelrdquo

Grinnell has earned praise from the best in the business

ldquoNot only is Justin a fantastic person but he is such an accom-plished musician a great sight reader which is so important because we do all kinds of tricky music and having someone who is able to read so well is an invalu-able asset and hersquos adept in a lot of different musical stylesrdquo said critically-acclaimed Jazz guitar-ist and composer Peter Sprague ldquoHe also has just such a wonder-ful spirit when it comes to playing music Irsquom really happy to know him and being able to play with him from time to timerdquo

A native of Santa Rosa California Grinnell initially planned to study mathematics and become an engineer But after enrolling in a few music classes at San Diego State and jamming with newfound friends he switched gears It was while he was at SDSU that Grinnell began gigging with future Grossmont College Music Department chair Derek Cannon and met his future wife Melonie a pianist who also teaches music at Grossmont College

With both a bachelorrsquos and masterrsquos degree in jazz perfor-mance from San Diego State in hand Grinnell began working in 2005 as an adjunct music profes-

sor at Grossmont College He also serves as an adjunct music professor at the University of San Diego and taught part time at Southwestern College from 2008 to 2011

ldquoGrossmont College is specialrdquo Grinnell said ldquoIt feels like family here Everyone is part of a com-munity that is working together on behalf of our students doing our best to help them succeed in a business thatrsquos hard to make a living in That camaraderie is pricelessrdquo

Grinnellrsquos passion serves him well in a business where talent alone often isnrsquot enough to sup-port a family

ldquoI tell my students all the time that if theyrsquore looking for job security donrsquot look at a career in jazz musicrdquo Grinnell said adding that he makes a living cobbling together his adjunct

professorships private lessons and regular performances

Grinnell and his wife are juggling their careers while rais-ing two young sons His debut album falls into the category of West Coast-flavored straight-ahead jazz He wrote six of the nine tunes on the disc with the remaining three being covers Especially tasty are the origi-nal ldquoHit the Brakesrdquo and a jazz cover of The Beatlesrsquo Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite

Grinnell however is comfort-able playing a wide variety of styles that range from classical to funk He is a member of the Brazilian jazz-inspired Danny Green Trio (Danny Green also teaches at Grossmont College) and the modern jazz group ARC Trio among others

The Justin Grinnell Quintet will be playing three concerts at Grossmont College in the coming weeks Shows are sched-uled for Sept 28 Oct 26 and Nov 30 in Building 26 Room 220 at 630 pm A full itiner-ary of upcoming performances around the region can be found at JustinGrinnellcom

The San Diego Music Awards take place Oct 6 at Humphreys By The Bay on San Diegorsquos Shelter Island

mdashDavid Ogul writes on behalf of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Email him at ogulcommunica-tionsgmailcomu

ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the college or university levelrdquo-Justin Grinnell

LOCAL NEWS

Justin Grinnell has just released his debut jazz album which has been nominated for a San Diego Music Award (Photo by Jon Naugle)

DavidOgul

sdcnncom 13Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

AUDIT PENDING

wwwsdcnncom

123 Camino de la Reina Suite 202 EastSan Diego CA 92108

P 6195197775 bull F 619-519-7840

1

2

3

4

5

Great Value Proven Results

Community NewsNumber one source of community information Hyper-local news and features In print and online updated daily

Market SaturationCombined distribution of door-to-door delivery high traffic locations and news racks Over 200000 readers

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Audited DistributionAudited by one of the nationrsquos largest newspaper auditing firms Circulation Verification Council (CVC)Guaranteed distribution

For advertising call(619) 961-1958

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Distributed Countywide

up along the way include thousands of football cards (both Topps and Fleer) player and coach jerseys jackets personal letters autographed footballs bobbleheads pins programs team photographs and much much more He even has a life-sized bust of Chargers wide receiver Lance Alworth which is a story in itself just ask him

This native sonrsquos collection is not limited to the San Diego Chargers but what he has gathered about them is more than impressive His comprehensive collection also includes items from the Los Angeles Chargers and every other football team that played during the AFL time period

Over the years hersquos met and interviewed dozens of players coaches and families becoming close with many of them Two of his larger per-sonal collections are of Gilman the Chargers first coach and Alworth

In 2004 he wrote ldquoCharging Through the AFL Los Angeles and San Diego Chargers football in the 1960srdquo He followed that up with ldquoBombs Away Air Coryelle and the San Diego Chargersrdquo in 2006 Both books rely heavily on interviews and photographs of their respective periods

A few years ago Tobias decided to channel his love for the AFL through his website TalesFromTheAmericanFootballLeaguecom Here Tobias shares his many interviews of the past runs a blog where he opines on the latest news of players related to the AFL deposits videos stats historical data photos and even has a forum section where others can share their love for the league and its players

He said his goal with the site is to ldquoedutain (educate and entertain) football lovers with stories about all things AFLrdquo To support his internet endeavor hersquos also taken up social media and can be followed on twitter at TalesfromtheAFL and on two locations on Facebook ldquoTales from the American Football Leaguerdquo and ldquoI loved the 1960s Chargersrdquo (a public group) On the latter he shares vintage photographs of the team and banters with the families of players He shares links back to his blog and web-site on both pages

His many follow-ers recently noticed Tobias absent from posting for a time Thatrsquos because he recently gave up approximately 85 percent of his collec-tion to pursue his dream of opening a lacrosse store in La Mesa with an old friend Despite months of hard work that opportunity never panned out Now the five pallets of blood sweat and tears that he consigned to an auction house a few months ago are sitting in a warehouse somewhere in the Midwest being individually categorized and valued in preparation for a national Internet-based auction block next spring

ldquoI was trying to trade one passion for anotherrdquo Tobias said ldquoIf Irsquod known it would have just been trading one passion for money I never would have done it but it is what it isrdquo

Deciding what to keep was a challenge but Tobias said it came down not to which collections were worth the most money but which provided him the most enjoyment

The two-dozen binders still resident on his shelves are neatly filled to the brim with pages of plastic inserts containing football cards with most every card there signed

Tobias said he pulls each binder down two or three times per week just to look through them Inside are vast collections of football cards Many are duplicated but they are categorized in dozens of ways Some collections are still incomplete mdash like his 1965 collection of every card Topps put out for that year he is only missing two out of 176 cards mdash and each time he removes that binder from the shelf he strategizes new ways he can complete that collection There is a story behind every collection and another for every card

He has some cards that hersquos certain do not exist anywhere else and he has numerous cards that had the wrong playerrsquos image printed on them in the publishing housersquos haste to get them out in advance of the new season Hersquos reached out to many of the players over the years sending along his books and asking for autographs and he has the response letters to prove it

In the wake of his failed business attempt Tobias finds himself facing a forgotten challenge looking for work

ldquoI havenrsquot had to do that since graduating collegerdquo he said ldquoFor now Irsquom just working in the back yard putting in a sprinkler system and taking my mind off of it

ldquoSan Diego can be a tough place to live in if you are a sports histo-rianrdquo he said ldquoItrsquos probably time for me to find another line of workrdquo

mdashMorgan M Hurley can be contacted at morgansdcnncomu

Todd Tobiasrsquos collections include signed football cards from the 1965 Chargers and other rare collectibles such as a bust of Lance Alworth (Photos by Morgan Hurley)

Football from page 1

14 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

CALENDAR

Prescription drug collectionSaturday Sept 27

Get rid of your unwanted expired or leftover prescription drugs at this National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day event hosted by the La Mesa Police Department and the US Drug Enforcement Administration The effort is designed to prevent prescription drug abuse Drop your drugs no questions asked from 10 am to 2 pm at the police station parking lot 8085 University Ave For other drop off locations or more informa-tion visit deadiversionusdojgov and click ldquoGot Drugsrdquo

Free electronic waste recyclingSaturday and Sunday Sept 27 ndash 28

State law prohibits disposal of certain electronic items in the trash because many of them con-tain hazardous substances The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce is hosting this free event to help residents properly recycle old televisions computers print-ers VCRs DVD players copiers scanners fax machines toner car-tridges and other approved items Microwave ovens can be disposed of for a service fee of $5 Items will be collected from 9 am to 4 pm in the parking lot between Fuddruckers restaurant and Chuze Fitness at the Grossmont Shopping Center 5500 Grossmont Center Dr The following items will not be accepted refrigerators washers dryers fluorescent light bulbs and household batteries For more details on items that will be accepted visit lamesachambercom

Generational diversity workshopTuesday Oct 2

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series profes-sional development consultant Victoria Hankins will lead a dis-cussion on the multigenerational workplace With four genera-tions working side by side in the American workforce challenges often arise regarding communi-cation styles differing workplace values and misconceptions about workplace motivators Hankins will outline the differences between the four generations and provide tips on how to effectively work in cross-generational teams The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 1030 to 1130 am in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

OktoberfestFriday through Sunday Oct 3 4 and 5

See our article on page 11 in this monthrsquos La Mesa Courier for all the details on the annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

La Mesa City Council Candidates ForumTuesday Oct 7

La Mesa mayoral candidates Art

Madrid and Mark Arapostathis will join City Council candidates Patrick Dean Mary England Pete Gregorovic and Guy McWhirter at this forum hosted and moder-ated by the Community Outreach Ministry of La Mesa First United Methodist Church in the church social hall at 4690 Palm Ave A meet-and-greet will begin at 630 pm The program begins at 7 pm All are welcome

Free blood pressure screeningTuesday Oct 7

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center 9000 Wakarusa St in La Mesa No appointment neces-sary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Senior ExpoThursday Oct 9

The city of La Mesa organizes this free event to help connect senior citizens and their families to the most helpful senior service pro-viders including La Mesa Police Department Crime Prevention Aging and Independence Services Metropolitan Transit System ldquo211rdquo Sharp Senior Resource Center Meals on Wheels DMV Senior Ombudsman Program SDGampE Medical Baseline Program Elderhelp Jewish Family Services Yellow Cab California Telephone Access Program HICAP San Diego

County District Attorneyrsquos Elder Abuse Unit and more The event will be held from 830 am to 130 pm at the La Mesa Community Center 4975 Memorial Dr A shuttle will be available from the Spring Street trolley station Organizers are asking seniors to RSVP by Oct 3 by calling 619-667-1322

Depression and bipolar disorder screeningFriday Oct 10

Dr William Brock will pres-ent a free educational seminar on the signs and symptoms of depression bipolar disorder and other anxiety disorders from 1130 am to 1230 pm Adults ages 60 and older can receive free anonymous screen-ings from Sharp Grossmont Behavioral Health Services from 1030 am to 1130 am and from 1230 pm to 130 pm The seminar and screenings will be held at the Grossmont Healthcare Districtrsquos Herrick Library at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are suggested but not required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

ldquoGot Plansrdquo Career and college fairSaturday Oct 11

High school students and their parents are invited to meet with admissions representatives from public and private universities community colleges vocational

schools and the military at this annual event organized by the Grossmont Union High School District and the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Free workshops will provide information on financial aid changes to SAT and ACT requirements transfer options between two-year colleges and four-year universities and other career topics Some workshops will be offered in Spanish and Arabic The fair is open from 1 to 4 pm at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For more information call Jason Martinez at 619-593-2713

Bunco BashSaturday Oct 11

Soroptimist International of Lemon Grove hosts this special autumn-themed Bunco event to raise money for the grouprsquos projects to help women and chil-dren in our community For $20 participants get three rounds of Bunco a door prize ticket and complimentary fall snacks and dessert Wine will be available for purchase Bunco winners receive gift baskets and raffle prizes will also be offered The event will be held from 1 to 4 pm at St John of the Cross Knights of Columbus Hall at Broadway and Columbus Drive in Lemon Grove Reservations are required Contact Gloria Ferreira at 619-466-3699 or email her at soroptgloriagmailcom

Pooch in the ParkSaturday Oct 11

Kiwanis Club of La Mesa and the Human Relations Advisory Commission will host this com-munity get-together from 9 am to noon at Harry Griffen Regional Park 9550 Milden St For $20 pet owners can enter up to two dogs into a contest show for a chance to win in one of five categories or the ldquobest in showrdquo trophy Raffle prizes giveaways and other demon-strations will round out the morning For more informa-tion contact Glenna Boemen at gab11853aolcom

Fair trade gift fair Sunday Oct 12

The St Martin of Tours Parish Hall will become a world bazaar featuring unique and handcrafted fair trade gifts deacutecor apparel and jewelry from artisans in developing countries from 8 am to 1 pm As they browse the displays created by local vendors who sell fair trade products shoppers will be able to sample or purchase fair trade refreshments including choco-late tea coffee bananas soda and Ben and Jerryrsquos ice cream The parish hall is at 7710 El Cajon Blvd in La Mesa Call 619-466-3241 for additional information

See CALENDAR page 22

sdcnncom 15Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierCALENDAR

Telephone DirectoryPolice non-emergency line 619-667-1400Fire non-emergency line 619-667-1461Animal Control 619-667-7536Graffiti removal 619-667-7560Weed abatement 619-667-1465Traffic signal maintenance 619-667-1166Streetlight maintenance 619-667-1450

Mayor Art Madrid 619-667-1100City Councilmembers 619-667-1106

EDCO 619-287-7555Helix Water District 619-466-0585Helix Water after hours emergency 619-466-3234

Gov Jerry Brown 916-445-2841US Sen Barbara Boxer 619-239-3884US Sen Dianne Feinstein 619-231-9712US Rep Susan Davis 619-280-5353State Sen Joel Anderson 619-596-3136State Assemblymember Shirley Weber 619-531-7913

Community titan Jerry Fazio announces plans to retire

A fter 35 years with the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County

Jerry Fazio has announced his retirement

Faziorsquos last day on the job as executive director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation will be Oct 24 His official retirement date following vacation will be Dec 4 three days after his 35th anniversary with the youth organization that has served hundreds of thousands of young people in the East County since its founding in 1961

Since joining the organization on Dec 1 1979 Fazio has served in several executive positions with the Girlsrsquo Club and Boys amp Girls Clubs He has also done two stints mdash the most recent of which began in July 2008 mdash as execu-tive director of the foundation a nonprofit fundraising entity

Faziorsquos honors during his career have included El Cajon Citizen of the Year in 1992 Boys amp Girls Clubs Pacific Region Executive of the Year in 2006 and National Executive Director of the Year from Boys amp Girls Clubs of America in 2007 He is known throughout San Diego for his friendly smile and fund-raising passion on behalf of the organization

ldquoHe is the instantly recog-nizable fundraiser and pitch man for our organizationrdquo said Jack Doyle board president of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation ldquoDuring his 35 years Jerry has steered the development of our new and updated facilities in El Cajon Lakeside Santee and La Mesa He leaves us a legacy to be proud of in East County We wish him well as he moves into retirementrdquo

Faziorsquos decision to retire was prompted by recent good news from doctors that he is cancer-free five years after beginning his battle against colon cancer the same disease that led to the 2008 death of his first wife Nancy

ldquoWhile preparing for my cancer

SDCNN Staff

tests I indulged in a little specu-lation about how I might handle the news whether good or badrdquo Fazio said ldquoI concluded that no matter what after 35 years the time has come for me to retire I will concentrate on my faith my health my grandchildren and my gorgeous wife Melissa And if an opportunity comes along to help a good community cause I might just do that toordquo

Faziorsquos recent work with the foundation has focused on an $89 million fundraising effort called the La Mesa Capital Campaign The campaignrsquos goal is to build a new clubhouse in La Mesa reno-vate an existing teen center in the city and fund an endowment to operate both facilities

Forrest Higgins CEO of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County will add the role of campaign coordinator to his job with the assistance from staff According to Higgins more than $5 million for the La Mesa Capital Campaign has been raised during Faziorsquos leadership

ldquoJerry has been integral part of the success and growth of the Boys amp Girls Club of East Countyrdquo Higgins said ldquoHis dedi-cation and passion to the youth and families of East County will be greatly missedrdquo

Since 1961 the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County have been meeting the developmental needs of children and youth The orga-nizationrsquos mission statement ldquoTo inspire and enable all young people especially those who need us most to become responsible caring productive citizensrdquou

Jerry Fazio (Courtesy Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County)

notice to which the couple didnrsquot respond in time to renew their five-year lease Katie said

The next they heard they had to close the bar by Nov 1

ldquoI truly believe that when one door closes another one opensrdquo says Katie Halvin who runs the bar with her husband Doug ldquoAs poignant as it is to lose the bar I know we lost it because we didnrsquot pay attention when we should haverdquo

For the past five years Katie Halvinrsquos life has been intertwined with the bar Her first date with now-husband Doug landed her there mdash an Internet connection that led to a meet up in Harry Griffen Park

ldquoWe talked for a while and then he took me to his neighborhood hangout to have a beer and shoot some poolrdquo Katie recalls Katie was retiring from the Navy as a chief torpedo man and she was ready to settle down again ldquoWe got married at the Carlton Oaks [Country Club] mdash the whole bar was thererdquo

Before long Katie and Doug took over the bar which is leased from the Ross Family Trust Calls and emails to the property man-ager were not returned

ldquoWhen we took it over there were drugs gangs uglinessrdquo she said ldquoI wonrsquot put up with thatrdquo

What was left was a band of devoted regulars a tradition of small local live music and soon local art on the walls and events supporting local artists on the calendar

Cathryn Beeks the local music guru from 1021 KPRI radio began working with Halvin in November to book homegrown and up-and-coming acts at the bar mdash which led to notable shows from the Kilborn Alley Blues Band Roni Lee and many others

ldquoItrsquos very sad that the bar is closing Itrsquos run by very special people and there isnrsquot a venue like this in San Diegordquo Beeks said ldquoI found out about them because a lot of my friends were play-ing there They had a very loyal group of musicians before I ever showed uprdquo

The Parkway is also home to a very popular and solidly booked open mic night run by local singer-songwriter Jessica Hull

The Farmers local legends who evolved from the Beat Farmers also play regularly The live music will continue intermittently with the Farmers playing the closing

night Halloween party on Oct 31For Katie Halvin the closing

isnrsquot the end Property manager Aaron Dean intends to redevelop the strip mall where the Parkway now stands into a restaurant with a full bar and microbrewery and include an outdoor music venue

ldquoHe contacted me and hired me to be the director of enter-tainment at the new venuerdquo she said ldquoThey hope to start con-struction in December and finish it by August 2015rdquo ldquoOne side of my brain is ecstatic with oppor-tunityrdquo she said ldquoThe other feels the sadness of this lossrdquo

Meanwhile the Halvins are looking around in the area to find another place to open a bar like the Parkway

ldquoItrsquos our regulars Irsquom really worried aboutrdquo she said ldquoSome are at a point where most of their friends and family are gone and we are their community and fellowship We know who has cancer who has a new baby we know who to check on if they donrsquot show uprdquo

mdashMarty Graham is a freelance writer Email her at martygra-hamcoxnetu

Parkway from page 1

Sycuan Resort and Casino

For exciting casino action right in your own backyard therersquos nowhere closer than Sycuan Casino With Vegas-style gaming scrumptious dining options live headliner entertainment and nearby golf resort yoursquoll find your-self coming back again and again

You can choose from 2000 video amp reel slots as well as video poker For you card players there are more than 40 tables to play Blackjack ThreendashCard amp FourndashCard Poker Sycuanndashstyle craps and roulette

Enjoy the fresh air in the nonndashsmoking room with more than 350 slot machines 9 gaming tables Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet and a Poker Room with daily tourna-ments ndash all smokendashfree

For your dining pleasure Sycuan offers five different res-

taurant options to tempt your taste buds For those looking for a variety of delectable options Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet is an all-you-can-eat feast featuring slow-roasted Prime Rib buttery crab legs and over 100 fresh selec-tions and delicious dessert bar There isnrsquot a bad seat in the house at GameDay Sports Bar amp Grill where you can catch the big game on 39 large screen televisions 16 beers on tap with full cocktail selection delicious food menu and 29 bar-top video poker machines to play while you root on your team

With excellent acoustics and state-of-the-art sound and light-ing Sycuan Live amp Up Close is San Diegorsquos premiere venue for live entertainment Bringing exciting crowd pleasing acts from all musical genres therersquos something for everyone on their concert calendar

Just a short drive nearby Sycuan Golf Resort offers San Diegorsquos only 54-hole golf facility Exciting course play includes

3007 Dehesa RdEl Cajon CA 92019800-457-5568sycuanresortcom

mature tree-lined fairways eleva-tion changes water features and impeccable greens No matter if yoursquore a seasoned player or a first-timer the two challenging 18-hole championship golf courses and fun 18-hole par 3 course are guaranteed to give you unforget-table experiences from beginning to end To complete your stay-cat-ion enjoy one of their 100 spacious hotel rooms all recently remodeled and offer beautiful views of the golf courses pools and private putting greens If golf isnrsquot in your plans you can pamper yourself with a relaxing spa service

Not only is Sycuan the closest casino to downtown they offer free shuttle bus rides from a number of convenient locations throughout San Diego County For more infor-mation please visit Sycuancom

Guests must be 18 or older to enter casino 21 or older to enter theatre and Sports Bar Please play responsibly

Get away for the day at Sycuan CasinohellipReal Friendly Real Closeu

16 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

Short-term hands-on programs

Half-day classes 4 days a week

Monthly payment plans available

wwwtheaccountingacademycom

PETSlsquoOh where oh where has my little dog gonersquoSariReis

The only thing more devas-tating to a pet parent than

when their furry kid is missing is to have them never return Yet this sad scenario occurs every day Walk through any neighborhood and you will see the signs posted on trees and telephone poles ldquoMissing Our beloved dog Skippyrdquo These heart-rending pleas for help are always accompanied by a photograph of a sweet furry face and the offer of a reward for their return

As pet parents one of our pri-mary responsibilities is to keep our pets safe To do this we need to keep them securely confined in our homes our backyards or on leashes If your dog has access to the backyard be certain it is entirely fenced in with no poten-tial escape routes Make sure all gates are locked when you or anyone else goes in or out Inform pool service people landscap-ers or gardeners that you have a dog in the yard and the gate must be secured at all times Be particularly careful when enter-ing or leaving your home Open doors slowly to ensure a cat or dog is not lurking nearby ready to make a quick escape Never leave the door open for any length of time Even an indoor kitty may be curious if the door is left open for a minute or two Tell visitors cleaning ladies and anyone else who may have access to your home that you have pets and they are not to be let out

Some people like to give their dogs off-leash time on city streets in their neighborhoods They believe their pup is well-trained and will come on command and not run away But the sight of a

squirrel or stray cat can waylay the best trained dog and send them on a chase Many of these dogs never make it back home

There are also those feline parents who believe it is essen-tial to a catrsquos well-being for them to investigate and play outdoors Although the kitties may enjoy outdoor time it is very danger-ous With rattlesnakes coyotes stray dogs and traffic many out-door kitties never make it home again and soon become one of those sad notices posted on a tree

Even with the best inten-tions our pets may still make an escape Your best opportunity in getting them back is to ensure they can be identified Put an ID

tag on their collar listing your name and phone number and microchip them Although there are numerous companies that offer microchips and monitoring services one of the best is ldquoHome Againrdquo If you do microchip your pet remember to notify the man-ufacturer if you move or change your phone number Although the cost of micro-chipping is very reasonable many shelters and veterinary clinics hold spe-cial micro-chipping days so you can get your pets done for a dis-counted price Having your pet micro-chipped greatly increases the potential of getting him home again Can you actually put a price tag on that

ldquoHome Againrdquo stated that one out of three pets will go missing during their lifetime Make sure that one isnrsquot yours

mdashSari 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 missionvalley-petsittingcomu

One out of three pets will

go missing during their

lifetime

Lucille a 5-year-old spayed Labrador RetrieverAustralian Cattle Dog mix is

an energetic lady with tons of love to give her new family She has a friendly personality with everyone she meets and loves to learn new tricks She already knows commands such as sit down shake crawl beg and is currently learning how to wave ldquobye-byerdquo She is very treat-motivated and eager to please

She is very smart and outgoing and has gotten along well with other dogs on social walks This silly girl is always smiling and ready for a new adventure Born a true athlete she would love to participate in future training and would make an excellent workout partner Adequate exercise and mental stimulation are a must for this spirited lady

Lucille will do best in an active home with older children or adults She has a lot of love to give and may benefit from having another dog in the family as long as she meets them first to make sure theyrsquore a good match

Her adoption fee includes her spay current vaccinations permanent microchip identification a certificate for a free veterinary exam 30 days of complimentary medical insurance and a license for residents of Oceanside or Vista

Lucille is available for adoption at the San Diego Humane Society 5500 Gaines St in San Diego To learn more about Lucille call 619-299-7012u

Adopt a pet Looking for a home

LucilleBreed Labrador Retriever Australian Cattle Dog mixAge 5 years old Gender Female (spayed)Colors Black and WhiteID 142265Adoption Fee $9500

ADOPTION HOURSWeekdays 11 am ndash 6 pm Weekends 11 am ndash 5 pm

SD Humane Society amp SPCA5500 Gaines St (92110)

619-299-7012 | sdhumaneorg

(ThinkStock)

sdcnncom 17Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Foothiller FootstepsAdvanced Placement curriculum exposes students to college-level study

Helix HighlightsMaking students college-ready

Connie and LynnBaer

JenniferOsborn

A parent of a Helix Charter High School student once

noted that her daughter was never asked ldquoAre you going to collegerdquo Instead she was asked ldquoWhere are you going to collegerdquo A subtle difference in wording but a vast difference in meaning

Helixrsquos mission states ldquoHelix Charter High School provides a comprehensive education that prepares all students to gradu-

ate college-ready and equipped to reach their personal and aca-demic potentialrdquo

While the belief at Helix is not that every graduate needs to attend college in order to be suc-cessful it is definitely our goal to ensure that every graduate has the option to continue their edu-cation if they so choose

For the class of 2014 82 per-cent of Helix graduates stated they planned to attend college Forty-five percent went directly to a four-year college and 37 percent planned to attend two-

year institutions Approximately 12 percent attend University of California schools and 22 per-cent attend San Diego State or other California State University campuses

Support classroom projectsHave you heard of Donors

Choose Donors Choose is an online charity started by a class-room teacher from the Bronx New York He and his colleagues had great ideas for their students but no funding to bring their ideas to fruition

On the Donors Choose website teachers post classroom project requests and visitors to the web-site can help grant the teachersrsquo wishes by donating any amount big or small to their projects Donors Choose allows everyone to be a philanthropist

Over the past few years Helix teachers have been the recipi-ents of hundreds of thousands of dollars in supplies for classroom projects that would otherwise not have been possible Be a part of it Visit the website at donorschooseorg and search ldquoHelix La Mesardquo in the search box

Students shine nationallyThis past summer four Helix

Speech amp Debate team member students went to Kansas City Miski Abdi Spencer McCall Rebeca McClellan and Rachel Orey each qualified to compete in the National Forensics League National Championships McCall was a semifinalist in Student Senate and a quarterfinalist in Impromptu Orey was an octafi-nalist in Poetry

What else is going on at HelixLenelle Wyliersquos honors biology

classes have been accepted to attend the Science Lecture Series at the Scripps Research Institute

Jeff Kepperrsquos Oceanography class will be working with the

Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute and raising white sea bass in the classroom This is the second group of white sea bass raised by Helix students

Highland Players present The Odd Couple by Neil Simon Nov 5-8 and Nov 13-14 at 7 pm in the Black Box Theater They will perform both the original laquomaleraquo version and the ldquofemalerdquo version in repertory Tickets are $10 and will be available at helixdramaweeblycom or at the door Performances may sell out so buy early

Take a tourFinally we are always inter-

ested in letting our community know about Helix Charter High School The Excellence in Education Tour is offered twice a month and is open to anyone who wishes to attend It is a one-hour tour and program that highlights our vision history accomplish-ments goals and needs This monthrsquos tours will take place on Tuesday October 7 from 830 ndash 930 am and Thursday October 23 from 530 ndash 630 pm More information can be found at helix-charternet We hope to see you there

mdashJennifer Osborn is the com-munity relations officer for Helix Charter High School Email her at josbornhelixcharternetu

A commitment to educational excellence has always been a

part of the culture of Grossmont High School In the 1980s Grossmont began offering a new curriculum mdash Advanced Placement mdash that challenges the high school student to master a rigorous college-level curricu-lum Each May the students may then take the AP Exam Passing the exam with a score of 3 4 or 5 will in most cases translate to the student receiv-ing college credit or course exemption

In 1981 Grossmont English teacher Kay Adams offered an after-school tutorial for her senior students who wanted to take the AP English Language and Composition Exam Twenty-one students met with her to receive preparation for the exam all 21 students passed the exam with five stu-dents receiving a 5 the highest score

ldquoI learned more than I ever taughtrdquo Adams said ldquoThose students were the brightest minds I ever metrdquo

Beginning in 1982 AP

courses became a yearly English course offering

Other challenges presented themselves to early AP teach-ers In the 1980s through 1996 Sue Emerson AP Biology teacher found ways to cre-atively schedule her class On Wednesdays the students came in an hour early to complete the sophisticated experiments the curriculum required

ldquoOne fun activity was a nation-wide project studying wetlandsrdquo Emerson recalled ldquoThe students shared information with schools around the country via telecom-munication from their study of the Tijuana River Estuaryrdquo

Today Grossmont offers 15 different honors courses which prepare the students for the diverse variety of subsequent 19 Advanced Placement courses

Art AP Art History Studio Drawing 2-D Design

Business AP Computer Science

English AP Literature and Composition Language and Composition

Language AP Spanish Language Spanish Literature and Culture French Language and Culture

Math AP Calculus StatisticsPerforming Arts AP Music

Advanced Placement Theory

Science AP Biology Environmental Science Physics

Social Science AP European History US History Psychology US Government

Over the years the curriculum has evolved AP French Language and Culture teacher Azita Mahmoudi noted that the ldquoAP test has changed from a narrow grammar-based test to an open-ended test based on cultural knowledgerdquo

ldquoPhysics isnrsquot dif-ficult It only has the reputation of being dif-ficultrdquo said longtime AP Physics teacher Tom Eklund

Eklundrsquos creative lessons include the one shown in the 2012 photograph of student Jessie Hodges dropping his project off the bleachers and measuring its fall

During the past five years the number of tests taken by Grossmont students has risen from 453 in 2009 to 646 in 2014 While the passing rate dropped from 65 to 58 percent in those

same years more Foothillers were given the opportunity to challenge themselves and prepare for post secondary education

A continuing goal of Grossmont staff is to have more enrolled students take the test however each test costs $89 with many students taking more than one test

Those wishing to sponsor one or more tests with a tax-deduct-

ible donation may contribute to the GHS Educational Foundationrsquos AP Scholarship Fund by sending a check to GHS Educational Foundation PO Box 1043 La Mesa CA 91944

ldquoGrossmont High School is proud to support our honors and Advanced Placement curricu-lumrdquo said Principal Dan Barnes ldquoWe are very excited to see the very high increase in partici-pation in our courses over the past three years and contin-ued success by our

teachers and students shown in their AP exam pass ratesrdquo

Visit Grossmont and wit-ness firsthand a campus that celebrates it heritage and embraces its future Regular public hours are noon to 4 pm on Wednesday Oct 1 and Nov 5 or by appointment

Contact the Grossmont High School Museum by phone at 619-668-6140 or by email at ghs-museumguhsdnetu

AP Physics students participate in an experiment at Grossmont High School in 2012 (Courtesy GHS Museum)

18 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

PUZZLESSUDOKU

Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9 Each number can appear only once in each row column and 3x3 block Use logic and process elimination to solve the puzzle

copy 2014 Janric Enterprises Dist by creatorscom

CROSSWORD

Business 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 wwwGotFreedomcom Call 858-278-2120 Your future is counting on you (1214)

For SaleNICE 1BD HOUSE IN LA MESA LIVDEN LG KITCHEN BATH WD LG BEDROOM NICE SUNDECK $1000 INCLUDES GE WATER TRASH CALL CLARA 6194650591 (0914)

Sweet male and female Tea-cup Yorkie 12 weeks old $500 Will be 4 lbs at full growth Microchiped shots and dewormed coming with registration papers mlcpetsyahoocom 661-858-0633 (0914)

NoticesWIDOW OR WIDOWER Interested in social activities You are welcome to join our club Widows or Widowers (WOW) of San Diego Website wwwwowsdorg Phone 619-448-6088 (0914)

ServicesJennarsquos Barber Shoppe Styling for men women amp children Wheelchair friendly Old time expert

haircuts at affordable prices Colors amp perms 7424 Jackson Dr1A (across from Keilrsquos in Bank of America lot) Tues-Fri 830-530pm Sat 830-noon Walk-ins or By appt 619-644-3669 (1214)

Lindarsquos Puppy Love licensed insured pet sitting service offering daily walks cat care overnight stays-your home lots of love 619-857-3674 wwwlindaspuppylovecom (615)

Locksmith - Discount Deadbolts and Rekeying - security door viewers patio door locks simulated alarms magnetic door stops Cliff Henderson 619-840-3327 - Lic LCO4353 - Bonded - Never a trip charge (0615)

Quality exterior carpentry Decks Fences Patio Covers and Termite Repair Lic365241 wwwaactionbuildersofsandiegocom Bob 619-275-1493 (415)

Bathtubs and sinks refinished like new San Carlos based business for over 25 years - same owner Lic560438 wwwsaveatubsdcom 619-464-5141 (0115)

German Setter Tile and Marble Professional marbletile setter with 28 years experience European craftsmanship Punctual amp dependable License 872804 Contact Jens Sedemund 619-415-6789 or jensgermansettercom (1214)

Dan Patterson HandymanCarpentry Repair and replacement of plumbing electrical repair installation of water heaters doors windows cabinets flooring fencing Pressure washing of driveways all phases of

Finding Senior Housing can be complex but it doesnrsquot have to be

(800) 217-3942A Place for Mom is the nationrsquos largest senior living referral

information service We do not own operate endorse or recommend any senior living community We are paid by partner communities

so our services are completely free to families

ldquoYou can trust A Place for Mom to help yourdquo

ndash Joan Lunden

BUSINESS amp SERVICES

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 (1214)

BARGAIN BOYZ CONSTRUCTIONREPAIRS 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 jimmysupancoxnet (1014)

PLUMBERhellipLicensed and Insured Over 25 years experience La Mesa resident OwnerOperator Reasonable rates Courteous service Lic 527864 Call Peter 619-698-0313 wwwFelberPlumbingcom (0914)

ROOFING Lic 691295-C39 Veteran owned Allied Gardens based Celebrating 20 years Full roof amp repair Free est Veteran amp Senior discounts 619-823-7208 (615)

WantedHelping Hands Animal Sanctuary seeks laundry detergent (all free and clear) and fabric softener (Downey free and gentle) 619-460-6679 (0914)

Job WantedNanny seeking work certified bkgd ck CPR First Aide 20 years experience wchildren and babies Great references Call Peggy 619-246-6572 or 512-755-0813

ANSWERS ON PAGE 20

Experienced amp Professional

Renee Differ

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INDIVIDUALS amp BUSINESSES

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TAX CONSULTANT

Ideal PlumbingHeating

Air amp ElectricalWater heaters garbage disposals drain cleaning Video pipe inspections water softeners amp filtration Faucets and toilets Visit our Show-room (06-12)

Serving ourcommunity since 1960

(619) 583-7963Lic 348810

PLUMBING

sdcnncom 19Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierPUZZLES CLASSIFIEDS

Sudoku amp Crosswordpuzzle answers from

page 19

The Academic Senate at Grossmont College last

month honored math instruc-tor Michael Lambe a Mt Helix resident with the Distinguished Faculty award the first ever for a part-time member of the col-lege faculty

Lambersquos 36 years as part-time instructor at Grossmont College concurrent to his 39-year teach-ing career with the Grossmont Union High School District gave him a unique perspective and insight on nurturing stu-dent success His dual career has made him especially aware of the need to make the transi-tion from high school to college as seamless as possible and to ensure secondary level curricu-lum prepares students for higher education

His interaction between Grossmont College and Monte Vista High School where he was chair of the math depart-

Math teacher is Grossmont Collegersquos part-time instructor of the year

ment made him a natural to help develop the first articula-tion agreement between the college and high school which helps students smoothly transi-tion without duplicating classes or experiencing delays

It wasnrsquot just students who benefitted from Lambersquos experi-ence with both systems When

driver education was eliminated from the high school curriculum and instructors were facing lay-offs he worked with the high school and college districts to develop a two-year program that prepared the former driver edu-cation instructors to acquire the teaching credentials needed to become math instructors

ldquoItrsquos been a fantastic career mdash Irsquove been blessedrdquo Lambe said

Following his retirement from the high school district Lambe was recruited four years ago as the collegersquos part-time senate officer with the Academic Senate and chair of the of the Academic Senate Part-Time Committee As head of the new committee he began tackling issues like office hours college governance and academic rank on behalf of part-timers

ldquoMichael has unified the [Academic Senatersquos Part-Time] committee and made it the most respected and cohesive voice for part-time faculty on the campusrdquo said one of his colleagues in a nomination for Lambe for the Distinguished Faculty award ldquoHe has brought part-time faculty issues into the college governance conversation as never before and helped part-time faculty be better informed through excellent professional development activities and communicationsrdquo

Lambe described his efforts on behalf of part-time instructors as a way of paying it forward

ldquoEven as a part-timer I have done a lot of things that full-time department members dordquo he said ldquoThis is my profession mdash my calling and my love This

award is the greatest honor I have ever received My col-leagues couldnrsquot have given me anything greater and to be the first recipient is tremendousrdquo

In addition to honoring Lambe for his achievements as a member of the part-time faculty the academic senate also honored Spanish instruc-tor Yolanda Guerrero with the Distinguished Faculty award for full-time faculty

President Sunita V Cooke said Lambe and Guerrero exem-plify Grossmont Collegersquos faculty members who are passionate about teaching and motivated to boost their profession and their colleagues

ldquoThe campus community owes a debt of gratitude to fac-ulty members with that kind of dedicationrdquo she said ldquoTheir generosity is an inspiration to us allrdquo

At Cuyamaca College Spanish instructor Patricia Santana won the Outstanding Faculty Award for full-time tenured faculty Arabic instructor Aklas Sheia won the award for outstanding part-time faculty

mdashDella Elliott is public information assistant for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College Districtu

DellaElliott

Michael Lambe gives a math lesson something hersquos been doing for nearly four decades in local classrooms (Courtesy Grossmont College)

20 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

Join us for a 3-course dinner and information on Chronic back pain causes and solutions Recent advances in back pain relief Different surgical options QampA with leading San Diego spine specialist

Presented by Choll Kim MD PhD a San Diego Magazine ldquoTop Doctorrdquo and Medical Director of the Advanced SpineInstitute at Alvarado Hospital ndash named Americarsquos 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgerytrade and Orthopedic Surgerytrade in 2014

Cost $10person Seating is limited mdash RSVP requiredCall (619) 229-4548 to register

Location Terra Bistro7091 El Cajon Blvd San Diego 92115

MONDAY SEPT 29 6-8 PMTERRA AMERICAN BISTRO

AlvaradoHospitalcom | (619) 287-3270

Zucchini pancakes

Whatrsquos Cooking with

Julie AnnWhite

Julie

Grate away on your box grater to create this deli-

cious dinner side dish Herersquos a savory treat to serve with a salad or light chicken or fish meal They are a little bit addictive and really easy to make

Serves four (makes six small pancakes)

Ingredients3 medium zucchini grated on a box grater or food processor12 red or yellow onion grated2 large eggs lightly beaten8 Tbsp Panko bread crumbs (flour can be used instead)1 tsp baking powder1 tsp kosher saltPinch of black pepper2 Tbsp butter14 cup olive oil for frying

DirectionsGrate the zucchini and onion into a medium bowl Press with a

few paper towels to absorb juice Add remaining ingredients and stir well If batter is runny add more breadcrumbs or flour Heat large skillet and melt butter and oil over medium heat Drop the zucchini mixture into six to eight golf ball-sized gently patted pancakes Cook until golden brown Serve warmu

Put down your iPhone 6 push aside your Samsung Note 4

and turn off the TV La Mesa is asking its citizens to invest some time in one of their 14 local parks for Park Appreciation Day Oct 18

ldquoThis community event demon-strates the spirit and commitment that La Mesans have for their public facilitiesrdquo said Yvonne Garrett assistant city manager and director of community ser-vices in La Mesa ldquoLocal residents and visitors have a sense of own-ership and take pride in La Mesa parks Park Appreciation Day is an opportunity for individuals to share that enthusiasm with friends and neighborsrdquo

The impetus for La Mesa Park Appreciation Day began in 2005 when a member of a local church congregation contacted the city to ask whether their church could take on a community project in La Mesa said Garrett who is also staff director for La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation

Because the city had recently eliminated several temporary park maintenance worker posi-tions and had received a similar request for a local project from another organization city staff thought it would be a good idea

Citizen groups pitch in for Park Appreciation Day

to gather the various groups to help clean up the parks prompting the creation of Park Appreciation Day

La Mesa community services manager Mike Pacheco said he has been impressed with the pride La Mesans have in their community as well as their desire to volunteer for the city

ldquoParks and recreation pro-grams bring tremendous benefits to people of all agesrdquo Pacheco said ldquoThey contribute to help-ing us live longer better lives through active pursuits new life skills educational programs and safe activities Great parks and programs also help build a stronger community connecting individuals families and groups through the power of play Recreation programs and engag-ing exciting facilities help keep kids active and off the streetsrdquo

Park Appreciation Day proj-ects include spreading mulch planting flowers and painting picnic tables and restrooms Pacheco said

Since its inception several local groups have consistently volun-teered each year Christ Lutheran Church Journey Church Helix Interact Club Friends of Canine Corners Kiwanis Club of La Mesa La Mesa Rotary La Mesa Beautiful La Mesa Lions Club and La Mesa Police Department

Last year more than 150 vol-unteers participated on Park

Appreciation Day and removed 22 cubic yards of green material plus nine cubic yards of trash according to Garrett

Although most of La Mesarsquos parks have the same groups cleaning them every year Porter Park Fitness Plaza located at 8425 University Ave is still without a group Porter needs additional native plants installed in some areas in the beds Garrett said

Disclosure Writer Genevieve A Suzuki serves as a commissioner for the La Mesa Community Services Commission and is a member of La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation She is happy to put away her iPhone Oct 18 to help clean her local parku

Genevieve Suzuki

Make La Mesa beautifulInterested in getting

involved with La Mesa Park Appreciation Day Oct 18 Want to encourage your civic church or social group to adopt a park

All ages are welcome to par-ticipate Signed waivers are required Parents must accom-pany children under 18 at the parks unless their children are with a supervised group

Sign up by calling 619-667-1304 or email communitycila-mesacaus

sdcnncom 21Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierDINING LOCAL NEWS

New Patient Special

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Wersquove been in practice for over

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$113 for exam x-rays oral cancer screening and cleaning

In absence of gum disease A $520 value

Donrsquot avoid the dentist Remove the anxiety and fear with Sedation Dentistry

A Shop For Smiles

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Visit us today

Baseball book signingSunday Oct 12

Geoff Miller mental skills coach for the Atlanta Braves will discuss and sign copies of his new book ldquoIntangibles Big-League Stories and Strategies for Winning the Mental Game mdash in Baseball and in Liferdquo at 2 pm at Barnes amp Noble 5500 Grossmont Center Dr

Diverse Capacities workshopWednesday Oct 15

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Mariko Peshon will lead a work-shop focusing on the physical emotional and social abilities and disabilities that often go unrec-ognized and unaccommodated in our communities The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

East County Intergenerational GamesTuesday Oct 16

Active adults ages 50 and older will team up with kids between the ages of 7 and 12 for a morning of fun noncompetitive activi-ties at La Mesa Middle School 4200 Parks Ave from 830 am to noon The games include street hockey shot frisbee toss ldquoskeeballrdquo pitch t-ball and trivia games Snacks and lunch are included Interested adults must register in advance by contacting the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center at 619-667-1322

Introduction to home caregivingSaturday Oct 18

Caring for a loved one at home often involves transfers personal care proper body mechanics and other specific skills and knowl-edge Learn and practice the basics with a registered nurse at this event from 9 am to 1 pm in classroom 1314 of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Brier Patch Campus 9000 Wakarusa St Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or

register online at sharpcom

Workshop Finding Your Voice in the Social Justice MovementTuesday Oct 21

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Kenyon Whitman will lead an interactive workshop exploring social justice concepts how to develop a leadership style and creative ways to effectively com-municate in diverse groups The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the stu-dent center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

Medicare and drug cover-age updates for 2015Friday Oct 24

A free lecture will cover Medicare insurance changes for 2015 Medicare Parts A B D HMOs and more Presented by Community Education Specialist Pablo Corona the lec-ture will also cover the Medicare Saving Program and Extra-Help Program that assist with prescription costs for Medicare Parts B and D The talk begins at 10 am at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Lung function screeningWednesday Oct 29

Do you have trouble catching your breath after a short walk The Pulmonary Department at Sharp Grossmont Hospital will offer a free basic lung function test from 9 am to 2 pm for anyone who has not yet seen a doctor about breathing prob-lems The screening will be held at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center Building F Room 16 9000 Wakarusa St Appointments are required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Free blood pressure screeningFriday Oct 17

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center 8450 La Mesa Blvd No appointment necessary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Park Appreciation DaySaturday Oct 18

Groups of volunteers will get to work on projects to beautify and improve parks across town from 8 am to noon All ages are welcome but children under the age of 18 need to submit a waiver signed by a parent or legal guard-ian If your church or civic group wants to get involved call 619-667-1300 or email communitycila-mesacaus

lsquoHowl-oweenrsquo dog cos-tume contest and picnicSaturday Oct 18

Dress up your dogs in a cute or spooky Halloween costume and bring them out to Canine Corners the dog park at Harry Griffen Regional Park between 11 am and 3 pm Proud pet par-ents will have the chance to get their poochrsquos picture taken at the pumpkin patch as well as meet representatives from animal rescue groups the county sheriffrsquos K-9 unit and other vendors The costume contest begins at 1130 am A hot dog picnic lunch will be offered for $3 Canine Corners volunteers will accept donations to help with the maintenance of the dog park

Picnic with the parrotsSunday Oct 26

At Socal Parrotrsquos annual fundraising event attendees have a rare chance to view the non-profit organizationrsquos reha-bilitation facility meet animals talk with experts observe live art bid in a silent auction and buy into a raffle Based in Jamul SoCal Parrot works to protect and care for wild and endan-gered parrots across the region Tickets to the all-day fundrais-ing event range from $32 to $100 and can be purchased online at socalparrotorgu

Calendar from page 15

Send details of your com-munity events to the editor at jeremysdcnncom Deadline is the third Friday of the month

22 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 CALENDAR

Why a fiscally conservative vote-by-mail plan got no GOP love

A bill that would drastically change the way San Diego

Countyrsquos special elections are run passed without any Republican help mdash it got just two votes total from GOP lawmakers in Sacramento

It might surprise you to learn then that when the idea first emerged Democrats helped lead the charge against it

How some leading party mem-bers reversed course in just a few years says a lot about the current political landscape and the future of elections in San Diego County

Democrats wrote the current bill mdash which would create a five-year pilot program in San Diego County that would make spe-cial elections for open seats run primarily by mail with a drasti-cally reduced number of polling places mdash and they led the politi-cal charge for it

But Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez the billrsquos author remembers how hard she fought to kill the idea of vote-by-mail elections years ago

ldquoWhat happens I think so often is there is this attachment to the status quo therersquos fear about changing thingsrdquo Gonzalez said

Gonzalez said her mind was changed by a couple factors One is that she discovered during her years as a labor advocate that voters who had a ballot mailed to them before the election were roughly five times more likely to actually vote

The other she said is she realized the county was spend-ing a huge amount more per person who voted at the polls versus by mail

County officials said that in the March 2013 special election to fill the vacant 40th state Senate district seat they spent $221 per

Ari Bloomekatz

in-person voter verses $9 per mail voter

Then therersquos the fact that pathetic voter turnout in each of the last several elections has favored Republican candidates across the board

ldquoWe have all watched as voter turnout has plummeted in recent elections and itrsquos our responsi-bility to do something about itrdquo Gonzalez wrote in a press release after the bill passed

Some observers speculated that some Republicans simply didnrsquot support the bill because it was being led by promi-nent Democrats like Gonzalez (Gonzalez agrees thatrsquos probably true)

But if you want to understand why GOP support was so hard to come by for a bill steeped in fiscally conservative principles and that originated from a con-servative San Diego County government consider these three points

Republicans seized on civil rights groupsrsquo hesitation

Some of the strongest initial opposition to the vote-by-mail legislation came from civil rights groups concerned the new pro-cedures could disenfranchise immigrants and the disabled

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund initially opposed the bill but dropped its opposition after working with Gonzalez and San Diego County officials on protec-

tions for immigrantsStill MALDEF and other

groups wouldnrsquot officially support the measure

ldquoThere is some research out there that shows that mail-in ballots do have an adverse impact on minority votersrdquo said Denise Hulett an attorney with MALDEF

Hulett said MALDEF supports testing out vote-by-mail but isnrsquot sold on it yet

Those groupsrsquo reluctance had an impact on Republican legislators like Escondido Assemblywoman Marie Waldron She said she didnrsquot feel comfortable signing on to a bill without MALDEF and other civil rights groupsrsquo support

ldquoI have to wonder if this is disenfranchising a significant number of people that vote at the pollsrdquo Waldron said ldquoWhat about the people who are maybe you know possibly visually impaired or something like thatrdquo

The money wasnrsquot enoughSan Diego County Registrar

Michael Vu strongly supports the pilot program and believes it could trim costs by 30 - 40 percent

But somehow the cost-savings issue wasnrsquot enough to win over the vast majority of Republican legislators

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez said he thought the cost-savings touted by Democrats were only rough estimates and was not inclined to vote for a bill just

because of those projectionsldquoAs Irsquove said a number of times

before all these bills that theyrsquore putting through hellip really doesnrsquot address the issue of what wersquore trying to do which is get more people to voterdquo he said

Instead of just moving imme-diately to vote-by-mail Chavez wants to create a bipartisan special committee to study new voting technologies

Republicans fear voter fraud

Republicansrsquo fear of potential voter fraud through expansion of vote-by-mail overshadowed potential economic gains

The bill ldquoincludes no protec-tions to ensure the integrity and security of all-mail elections While interesting we need to be careful changing election lawsrdquo wrote Amanda Fulkerson of the Assembly Republican Caucus which advocated fiercely against the bill

ldquoRight now our members feel that we should not jeopardize our consistent voting system until we have further facts and statistics on all-mail electionsrdquo Fulkerson wrote

Republicans believed the threat of fraud would be compounded by another voting-related bill moving through the legislature at the same time

That bill would change the rules about how long mail ballots can be received and counted after an election

Currently vote-by-mail ballots must be received by election offi-cials before polls close on the day of the election The new law would allow ballots to be received no later than three days after the election (if it was time-stamped or post-marked on or before Election Day)

Assembly Republicans feared the two bills combined could allow for abuse of the system

State Sen Joel Anderson was one Republican who voted against the mail-counting bill but in favor of Gonzalezrsquos vote-by-mail effort

Anderson said that he voted against the mail-counting bill because he saw it as ldquocompletely gaming the systemrdquo but believes the vote-by-mail bill is ldquobetter for the voters itrsquos better for my constituentsrdquo

Put yourselves in the shoes of

Vu and other county officials for a minute

Nearly every time an election comes up the county spends anywhere from $1 million to $12 million-plus and organizes hordes of poll workers and pre-cincts across the county

And what happens at the end of the day

Turnout is generally low and increasing numbers of residents opt to vote by mail anyway

As Vu tells it he just wants to save the county money and acknowledge the changing winds when it comes to vote-by-mail

But nothing is ever as simple as a dollar saved in Sacramento mdash especially when it comes to something as fundamental as how voters choose their elected officials

Gonzalez said most people do not understand how difficult this bill was to pass politically Sure Republicans barley supported it but there was strong opposition from many Democrats too The instinct to preserve the status quo when it comes to elections among legislators in Sacramento is strong she said

ldquoIt was kind of funny Irsquom in Republican land carrying this bill pissing off Democrats and voting rights groups and minor-ity groupsrdquo she said ldquoI had to convince everybody that this is OK that change is OKrdquo

Brown has until Sept 30 to sign the bill

mdashAri Bloomekatz is an inves-tigative reporter for Voice of San Diego focusing on county govern-ment You can reach him directly at aribloomekatzvoiceofsandi-egoorg or 619-550-5669u

(Courtesy Flickr user bludgeoner86Creative Commons)

Voice of San Diego

sdcnncom 23Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

Everyone in every price range deserves the quality of Sothebyrsquos Realty

8310 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa CA 91942 bull 6193371700

SPRING VALLEY bull $362000LA MESA bull $499000CARDIFF BY THE SEA bull $525000

Spacious Sweetwater Springs home on corner lot Recently updated kitchen amp bath w granite countertops SS appl wine refrigerator and wood floors Upstairs BRs w mirrored wardrobe doors and ceiling fans Sliding doors to private view deck ideal for watching the sunset

JOE SOUTHWICK 6195898224

Just listed Tastefully remodeled single level entertainerrsquos paradise Large great room with chefrsquos kitchen Private backyard with pool hot tub palapa-covered bar amp grill shade patio and sun deck

JULIE ADAMS 6194810200

Rarely available 2BR 1BA twin home in the highly sought after Park Place neighborhood of Cardiff By The Sea Community pool and spa 25+ acre canyon with walking trails sand volleyball and more

YVETTE WOODS 6199223436

Laurarsquos Solds 2014 bull (619) 540-7744 bull LauraLothianRealEstatecomMost Homes Sold in La Mesa Last 11 Years

Want your home sold Ask a busy agent Call Laura Lothian TODAY 6195407744

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

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SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE

PENDING PACIFIC BEACH

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PacificSothebysRealtycomcopyMMVIII Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC A Realogy Company All Rights Reserved Sothebyrsquos International Realtyreg is a registered trademark licensed to Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC An Equal Opportunity Company Equal Housing Opportunity Each Office is Independently Owned And Operated Cal BRE 01767484 Seller will entertain offers within the listed range

SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX

Source TrendGraphix MLS data for zip codes 91941 amp 91942 January 1 2003 to January 1 2014

24 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

ENTERTAINMENT

La Mesa Village is usually known as a quaint and quiet

part of town but those of us who have been around for a while know therersquos much more to that stretch of La Mesa Boulevard than antique stores and thrift shops

Oktoberfest perhaps the most exciting event hosted in La Mesa each year descends upon the Village for three days over the first weekend in October This year it falls particularly early on Oct 3 ndash 5 with live entertain-ment multiple beer gardens street vendors and more slated to draw the masses

For families venturing to the free event there are carnival games rides and other activities in the Kids Zone (for children under 12) Diverse food options located throughout the 10 blocks of Oktoberfest are an obvious crowd pleaser for all ages Plus the streets are lined with booths of crafts and other products that may inspire an early holiday shopping spree

But itrsquos the big kids who have the most reasons to head to Oktoberfest

The aptly named Big Beer Garden presented by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and the smaller Nebo Drive Beer Garden by the La Mesa Village Merchantrsquos Association are where you will find most of the action at Oktoberfest

The former is located in the Allison Street parking lot (between Pine Street and Palm Avenue) and is home to a large festival stage to go along with the nectar of the hops This beer garden is family-friendly so patrons can feel free to bring their children Pets are not allowed inside the event

Various bands will play the Big Beer Garden all three days pre-senting mostly classic rock lsquonrsquo roll (The Ideas Rock and Roll Trio and The Car Tune Dogs) and some German music (Our Song) This area will also have food options

Good times brewing for annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

mdash including festival favorites like brats and pulled pork sand-wiches mdash to keep partiers fueled throughout the day and night The beer garden will also host a stein-holding contest each eve-ning around 8 pm hosted by Samuel Adams

The Nebo Drive Beer Garden (next to the La Mesa Train Museum) also has a lot to offer Though smaller in scale this adults-only beer garden provides ample enticement with at least three German beers being served It will also host the Bavarian Beer Garden Band on Friday and Saturday These factors will give an authentic feel to this area harkening back to the ldquooriginal Oktoberfest viberdquo according to Bill Dyke of the Bavarian Beer Garden Band

Festivalgoers should note a trol-ley ride to the La Mesa Boulevard stop (near Spring Street) literally drops you right in the middle of the festival Frequent trains going by make public transportation the ideal designated driver for Oktoberfesters ready to imbibe like our German counterparts Popular ride-sharing services are another smart choice for getting to and from La Mesa Trust me mdash you donrsquot want to even attempt to look for parking

In addition to the beer gar-dens and festival food vendors the businesses in and around La Mesa Village will have their doors open to welcome visitors One such spot is Hofferrsquos Cigar Bar which boasts an impressive tap list of craft beers

ldquo[Oktoberfest] brings out a much wilder clientele than we are used to but also a lot of new faces that might have never been in nor heard of usrdquo Hofferrsquos bar manager Ryan Bartman said ldquoSo all in all itrsquos great for businessrdquo

Other businesses along La Mesa Boulevard that should benefit from the increased foot traffic include Konnichiwa Sushi and Bar (bet you didnrsquot know La Mesa Village had sushi) Cosmos Coffee Cafeacute for those needing a caffeine boost to keep going and Trattoria Tiramisu with its authentic Italian dishes and stellar wine list when yoursquove had

enough beers and brats Whether La Mesa is your home

or a place yoursquove never ventured Oktoberfest is the ideal time to enjoy the festival spirit discover the businesses of the village and do the chicken dance like you never have before Whatever you do donrsquot forget to take home a commemorative beer boot

mdashJen Van Tieghem can be reached at jensdcnncomu

JenVan Tieghem

The Tarantino familyrsquos gourmet sausages are always a crowd favorite at La Mesarsquos Oktoberfest a three-day beer and brat extravaganza (Courtesy La Mesa Chamber of Commerce)

La Mesa OktoberfestSchedule of Events

Friday Oct 3Street festival 11 am - 9 pm Big Beer Garden 4 - 1130 pm (last call at 11 pm)The Ideas Rock and Roll Trio 4 - 5 pm The Car Tune Dogs 6 - 10 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden Noon - 9 pm (last call at 830 pm)Bavarian Beer Garden Band 6 - 9 pm

Saturday Oct 4 Street festival 11 am - 9 pm Big Beer Garden 11 am - 1130 pm (last call at 11 pm) Our Song Noon - 4 pmThe Car Tune Dogs 6 - 10 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden 12 - 9 pm (last call at 830 pm)Bavarian Beer Garden Band 2 - 4 pm

Sunday Oct 5 Street festival Noon - 5 pm BIG Beer Garden 1 - 430 pm (last call at 4 pm)Our Song 1 - 4 pmNebo Drive Beer Garden 12 - 430 pm (last call at 4 pm)

Fun FactsVendors Over 250Attendees expected 200000Years of La Mesa Oktoberfest 41 City blocks used forOktoberfest 10Estimated cost for police fire and other city staff time $77000 paid for by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and La Mesa Village Merchants Association

sdcnncom 11Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Jazz

Fridays Charlie Arbelaez Trio at The Rook Free 9 pm TheRookBarcom 7745 University Ave La Mesa

Sundays samdi-ego Jazz Trio at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room Free 2 - 5 pm SanPasqualWinerycom 8364 La Mesa Blvd La Mesa

Oct 15 ldquoThe Music of Will Toddrdquo with the SDSU Chamber Choir Grossmont College Jazz faculty and composerpianist Will Todd at St John of the Cross Catholic Church Suggested donation 730 pm Grossmontedu 8086 Broadway Lemon Grove

PopTuesdays Suzanne Shea and Bob Wade at Bistro Sixty Free 630 to 830 pm BistroSixtySDcom Call and hold your table 619-287-8186 5987 El Cajon Blvd College Area

Wednesdays Westside Inflection at Riviera Supper Club Free 8 pm RivieraSupperClubcom 7777 University Ave La Mesa

Fridays Nathan Welden at Bistro Sixty Free 630 pm BistroSixtySDcom 5987 El Cajon Blvd College Area

Classical

Oct 16 Youth Choir of San Diego at Cuyamaca College Price $8 ($5 for students) 7 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Oct 17 Cuyamaca College Choir at Cuyamaca College Price $8 ($5 for students) 730 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Oct 31 Quatuor Mosaiumlques Classical String Quartet at Cuyamaca College Price $10 730 pm Cuyamacaedu 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy Rancho San Diego

Alternative

Sept 27 TaKillya at Chico Club Free 9 pm ChicoClub1940com 7366 El Cajon Blvd La Mesa

Oct 4 Baja Bugs at Riviera Supper Club Free 9 pm RivieraSupperClubcom 7777 University Ave La Mesa

Oct 31 Fifth Annual Halloween Monster Bash with The Farmers at Parkway Bar Free 9 pm TheParkwayBarcom 9188 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa

Other

Thursdays (through Oct 30) Open Mic Acoustic Nights at Parkway Bar Free 7 pm TheParkwayBarcom 9188 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa

Sept 27 Little Kings at Hooleyrsquos Free 9 pm Hooleyscom 5500 Grossmont Center Dr 277 La Mesa

Oct 18 Oktoberfest featuring The Bavarian Beergarden Band at Butcherrsquos Brewing Free 4-10 pm ButchersBrewingcom 9962 Prospect Ave Suite F Santee

Oct 18 Jefferson Washington at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room Free 7 pm SanPasqualWinerycom 8364 La Mesa Blvd La Mesa

Bands venues and music-lovers please submit listings for this calendar by emailing Jensdcnncomu

to 46 feet or about four stories So the Kitzmans have hired

development consultants Urban Housing Partners to convince city leaders to change the zoning on the property to allow build-ing heights up to 110 feet The zoning the Kitzmans are asking for could accommodate up to 363 dwelling units 61000 square feet of commercial retail space 146000 square feet of commer-cial office space or a hotel of up to 250 guest rooms

The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the pro-posed zoning changes on June 18 They made no decision at the time because the Kitzmansrsquo co-applicant American Legion Post 282 announced they were withdrawing their support for the zoning change

The Kitzmans through their South Baltimore LLC resub-mitted their application over the summer The Planning Commission will hear the new and reduced application at a meeting at City Hall on Wednesday Oct 1 at 7 pm

Residents east and west of the project site have been some of the most vocal critics of the proposal to rezone the property

Don Bell whose house on El Capitan Drive overlooks the Park Station property said he and his neighbors are not against redeveloping and improving the property

ldquoItrsquos blight down thererdquo Bell said

What they are against how-ever is rezoning the property

ldquoThe problem really is that the Planning Commission is going to give them a blank checkrdquo he said

Nearby neighbors know and accept that change is inevitable but the added traffic and parking problems that would come from a 10-story building would be unac-ceptable and detrimental to the community said Suda House who also has a view of the Park Station property from her home on El Capitan

ldquoDevelop the heck out of it but keep it below 46 feetrdquo House said

One vocal supporter of the Kitzmanrsquos plan has been Jack Rowell a La Mesa native who now sells real estate across the San Diego region Any new homes that can be added to the La Mesa market will be a good thing Rowell said

ldquoI have a bunch of [potential

buyers] who want La Mesa but itrsquos a fight over every prop-erty especially things under $500000rdquo Rowell said ldquoPeople want the La Mesa schools People want the convenience of La Mesardquo

The only other place where housing prices are compara-ble for high-quality schools is Poway and Poway doesnrsquot have La Mesarsquos Village or its prox-imity to regional destinations Rowell said

Rowell said he understands why nearby neighbors donrsquot want their views to change but therersquos no reason to believe home values will suffer with an increase in supply

ldquoTheyrsquore talking about 300 to 500 condo unitsrdquo Rowell said ldquoThatrsquos like spitting in the oceanrdquo

For Aaron Amerling orga-nizer of the ldquoFight Park Station La Mesa ndash No More Than Fourrdquo Facebook page the colorful renderings of Park Station are a Trojan Horse designed to mis-lead people about what the site could become

ldquoThe Kitzmans do not have the funds to develop thatrdquo Amerling said ldquoThe whole idea is to upzone the land because that improves the resale valuerdquo

If city leaders approve the new zoning the Kitzmans or a new owner could build something completely different than what theyrsquove been advertising

City leaders have been cau-tious about commenting directly on the proposal only issuing vague statements about main-taining the character of the downtown village

Regardless of the Planning Commissionrsquos decision next week the final decision on whether to rezone the property will be made by the full City Council at a later dateu

LOCAL NEWSGen-X in La MesaGive peace a chanceGenevieve Suzuki

G iving peace a chance seems more complicated than it

should beWith all of the strife going on

in this world peace seems to be an almost impossible proposition The appalling brutal treatment of American hostages at the hands of ISIS members resulted in many of us feeling complete repulsion at the state of global affairs

I know I felt sick Even worse I began to feel hopeless

So when Anne Pacheco a member of the Interfaith Council of La Mesa asked me to attend the first International Day of Peace Sept 21 at Aztec Park her invitation stirred something in my soul The day which touted ldquoThe Right of Peoples to Peacerdquo would be a joint effort among people of most of the worldrsquos religions including Judaism Christianity Islam Buddhism Hinduism Native American and Baharsquoi

And although I promised Anne I would attend I thought it was an awfully lofty goal Really All of these people gathering for peace on a Sunday a day many hold holy in their churches

But I was pleasantly surprised when approximately 200 people

showed up with chairs umbrellas hats and hearts at Aztec Park that mild sunny day Many of us pur-chased sky blue scarves from the Sisters of Saint Francis to wear in solidarity for peace Shucks even Mayor Art Madrid wore a scarf over a yellow shirt

I admit however getting my husband Derek to don the blue scarf wasnrsquot easy In fact it wasnrsquot easy getting him there in the first place

Itrsquos not that Derek is against world peace (even though our daughter to this day refuses to add that request to her nightly prayers) Itrsquos more that Sunday is for football in Derekrsquos world and this day of peace was causing him to miss hooting and hollering for his fantasy football team

Nevertheless Derek relented and accompanied me and our daughter to the event This com-promise is one from which most of the world could learn Is Derek a community activist No but Derek is focused on the big pic-ture namely a happy wife and home Focusing on the big pic-ture would help many find peace in their lives locally and globally

As I sat there amid others dedi-cated to peace and non-violence I realized the one common emo-tional positive is the future We all want a better future for our fami-lies and our children We donrsquot

want to leave behind a legacy of anger brutality and war

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we said together at the beginning of the program

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we insisted again

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we vowedAs Rebecca Littlejohn of Vista

La Mesa Christian Church said ldquoWe are gathered in hope today for hope is how we surviverdquo

Thanks to this special inaugural day I was reminded of how impor-tant it was for me to have hope and that reminder allowed me to place aside that earlier feeling of hopelessness conjured by evil deeds in another land After all if I allow myself to fall hopeless I have nothing to give my child On the other hand if I cling to hope it will then be passed on to my daughter who would hold that ideal in her mind and mdash hopefully mdash see it to fruition

As the Native American prayer during the program stated ldquoGive us the wisdom to teach our chil-dren to love to respect and to be kind to each other so that they may grow with peace in mindrdquo

mdashGenevieve A Suzuki is editor emeritus of the La Mesa Courier She continues to live and practice family law in La Mesa Her web-site is sdlawyersuzukicomu

Find out what your home is worth on-line

Visit wwwsandiegohouseareacomOr scan this QR Code with your phone now

Tom Bowker Coldwell Banker West BRE01024513

A rendering by Park Station opponents shows the potential scale of buildings (Courtesy Aaron Amerling)

Park Station from page 1

12 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

Music professorrsquos jazz album wins acclaim

Follow your passionThat has been a guiding

principal for Grossmont College music instructor and jazz bassist extraordinaire Justin Grinnell who ditched plans to study mathematics shortly after enrolling at San Diego State University back in 1999 and meeting musicians ldquowho were doing music all the timerdquo

Good thing Grinnell has become an integral part of a vibrant Grossmont College music program and gigs as a pit orchestra member at myriad venues including the Old Globe La Jolla Playhouse and the San Diego Civic Theatre for a number of Tony Award-winning musicals

And now his debut disc the Justin Grinnell Quartetrsquos Without You has been nomi-nated for a San Diego Music Award for best jazz album

Grinnell is no stranger to awards He is a member of the Danny Green Trio which won the 2009 San Diego Music Award for Best Jazz Album for its debut CD The triorsquos second release A Thousand Ways Home reached No 17 on the Jazz Week Charts for national radio airplay after its 2012 debut

ldquoIrsquom doing what I loverdquo said Grinnell who is on track to earn his Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern California next spring ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the col-lege or university levelrdquo

Grinnell has earned praise from the best in the business

ldquoNot only is Justin a fantastic person but he is such an accom-plished musician a great sight reader which is so important because we do all kinds of tricky music and having someone who is able to read so well is an invalu-able asset and hersquos adept in a lot of different musical stylesrdquo said critically-acclaimed Jazz guitar-ist and composer Peter Sprague ldquoHe also has just such a wonder-ful spirit when it comes to playing music Irsquom really happy to know him and being able to play with him from time to timerdquo

A native of Santa Rosa California Grinnell initially planned to study mathematics and become an engineer But after enrolling in a few music classes at San Diego State and jamming with newfound friends he switched gears It was while he was at SDSU that Grinnell began gigging with future Grossmont College Music Department chair Derek Cannon and met his future wife Melonie a pianist who also teaches music at Grossmont College

With both a bachelorrsquos and masterrsquos degree in jazz perfor-mance from San Diego State in hand Grinnell began working in 2005 as an adjunct music profes-

sor at Grossmont College He also serves as an adjunct music professor at the University of San Diego and taught part time at Southwestern College from 2008 to 2011

ldquoGrossmont College is specialrdquo Grinnell said ldquoIt feels like family here Everyone is part of a com-munity that is working together on behalf of our students doing our best to help them succeed in a business thatrsquos hard to make a living in That camaraderie is pricelessrdquo

Grinnellrsquos passion serves him well in a business where talent alone often isnrsquot enough to sup-port a family

ldquoI tell my students all the time that if theyrsquore looking for job security donrsquot look at a career in jazz musicrdquo Grinnell said adding that he makes a living cobbling together his adjunct

professorships private lessons and regular performances

Grinnell and his wife are juggling their careers while rais-ing two young sons His debut album falls into the category of West Coast-flavored straight-ahead jazz He wrote six of the nine tunes on the disc with the remaining three being covers Especially tasty are the origi-nal ldquoHit the Brakesrdquo and a jazz cover of The Beatlesrsquo Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite

Grinnell however is comfort-able playing a wide variety of styles that range from classical to funk He is a member of the Brazilian jazz-inspired Danny Green Trio (Danny Green also teaches at Grossmont College) and the modern jazz group ARC Trio among others

The Justin Grinnell Quintet will be playing three concerts at Grossmont College in the coming weeks Shows are sched-uled for Sept 28 Oct 26 and Nov 30 in Building 26 Room 220 at 630 pm A full itiner-ary of upcoming performances around the region can be found at JustinGrinnellcom

The San Diego Music Awards take place Oct 6 at Humphreys By The Bay on San Diegorsquos Shelter Island

mdashDavid Ogul writes on behalf of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Email him at ogulcommunica-tionsgmailcomu

ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the college or university levelrdquo-Justin Grinnell

LOCAL NEWS

Justin Grinnell has just released his debut jazz album which has been nominated for a San Diego Music Award (Photo by Jon Naugle)

DavidOgul

sdcnncom 13Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

AUDIT PENDING

wwwsdcnncom

123 Camino de la Reina Suite 202 EastSan Diego CA 92108

P 6195197775 bull F 619-519-7840

1

2

3

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5

Great Value Proven Results

Community NewsNumber one source of community information Hyper-local news and features In print and online updated daily

Market SaturationCombined distribution of door-to-door delivery high traffic locations and news racks Over 200000 readers

Award Winning JournalismProud recipient of numerous ldquoExcellence in Journalism AwardsrdquoRegular recipient of local and national press awards

Audited DistributionAudited by one of the nationrsquos largest newspaper auditing firms Circulation Verification Council (CVC)Guaranteed distribution

For advertising call(619) 961-1958

mikesdcnncom

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Distributed Countywide

up along the way include thousands of football cards (both Topps and Fleer) player and coach jerseys jackets personal letters autographed footballs bobbleheads pins programs team photographs and much much more He even has a life-sized bust of Chargers wide receiver Lance Alworth which is a story in itself just ask him

This native sonrsquos collection is not limited to the San Diego Chargers but what he has gathered about them is more than impressive His comprehensive collection also includes items from the Los Angeles Chargers and every other football team that played during the AFL time period

Over the years hersquos met and interviewed dozens of players coaches and families becoming close with many of them Two of his larger per-sonal collections are of Gilman the Chargers first coach and Alworth

In 2004 he wrote ldquoCharging Through the AFL Los Angeles and San Diego Chargers football in the 1960srdquo He followed that up with ldquoBombs Away Air Coryelle and the San Diego Chargersrdquo in 2006 Both books rely heavily on interviews and photographs of their respective periods

A few years ago Tobias decided to channel his love for the AFL through his website TalesFromTheAmericanFootballLeaguecom Here Tobias shares his many interviews of the past runs a blog where he opines on the latest news of players related to the AFL deposits videos stats historical data photos and even has a forum section where others can share their love for the league and its players

He said his goal with the site is to ldquoedutain (educate and entertain) football lovers with stories about all things AFLrdquo To support his internet endeavor hersquos also taken up social media and can be followed on twitter at TalesfromtheAFL and on two locations on Facebook ldquoTales from the American Football Leaguerdquo and ldquoI loved the 1960s Chargersrdquo (a public group) On the latter he shares vintage photographs of the team and banters with the families of players He shares links back to his blog and web-site on both pages

His many follow-ers recently noticed Tobias absent from posting for a time Thatrsquos because he recently gave up approximately 85 percent of his collec-tion to pursue his dream of opening a lacrosse store in La Mesa with an old friend Despite months of hard work that opportunity never panned out Now the five pallets of blood sweat and tears that he consigned to an auction house a few months ago are sitting in a warehouse somewhere in the Midwest being individually categorized and valued in preparation for a national Internet-based auction block next spring

ldquoI was trying to trade one passion for anotherrdquo Tobias said ldquoIf Irsquod known it would have just been trading one passion for money I never would have done it but it is what it isrdquo

Deciding what to keep was a challenge but Tobias said it came down not to which collections were worth the most money but which provided him the most enjoyment

The two-dozen binders still resident on his shelves are neatly filled to the brim with pages of plastic inserts containing football cards with most every card there signed

Tobias said he pulls each binder down two or three times per week just to look through them Inside are vast collections of football cards Many are duplicated but they are categorized in dozens of ways Some collections are still incomplete mdash like his 1965 collection of every card Topps put out for that year he is only missing two out of 176 cards mdash and each time he removes that binder from the shelf he strategizes new ways he can complete that collection There is a story behind every collection and another for every card

He has some cards that hersquos certain do not exist anywhere else and he has numerous cards that had the wrong playerrsquos image printed on them in the publishing housersquos haste to get them out in advance of the new season Hersquos reached out to many of the players over the years sending along his books and asking for autographs and he has the response letters to prove it

In the wake of his failed business attempt Tobias finds himself facing a forgotten challenge looking for work

ldquoI havenrsquot had to do that since graduating collegerdquo he said ldquoFor now Irsquom just working in the back yard putting in a sprinkler system and taking my mind off of it

ldquoSan Diego can be a tough place to live in if you are a sports histo-rianrdquo he said ldquoItrsquos probably time for me to find another line of workrdquo

mdashMorgan M Hurley can be contacted at morgansdcnncomu

Todd Tobiasrsquos collections include signed football cards from the 1965 Chargers and other rare collectibles such as a bust of Lance Alworth (Photos by Morgan Hurley)

Football from page 1

14 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

CALENDAR

Prescription drug collectionSaturday Sept 27

Get rid of your unwanted expired or leftover prescription drugs at this National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day event hosted by the La Mesa Police Department and the US Drug Enforcement Administration The effort is designed to prevent prescription drug abuse Drop your drugs no questions asked from 10 am to 2 pm at the police station parking lot 8085 University Ave For other drop off locations or more informa-tion visit deadiversionusdojgov and click ldquoGot Drugsrdquo

Free electronic waste recyclingSaturday and Sunday Sept 27 ndash 28

State law prohibits disposal of certain electronic items in the trash because many of them con-tain hazardous substances The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce is hosting this free event to help residents properly recycle old televisions computers print-ers VCRs DVD players copiers scanners fax machines toner car-tridges and other approved items Microwave ovens can be disposed of for a service fee of $5 Items will be collected from 9 am to 4 pm in the parking lot between Fuddruckers restaurant and Chuze Fitness at the Grossmont Shopping Center 5500 Grossmont Center Dr The following items will not be accepted refrigerators washers dryers fluorescent light bulbs and household batteries For more details on items that will be accepted visit lamesachambercom

Generational diversity workshopTuesday Oct 2

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series profes-sional development consultant Victoria Hankins will lead a dis-cussion on the multigenerational workplace With four genera-tions working side by side in the American workforce challenges often arise regarding communi-cation styles differing workplace values and misconceptions about workplace motivators Hankins will outline the differences between the four generations and provide tips on how to effectively work in cross-generational teams The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 1030 to 1130 am in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

OktoberfestFriday through Sunday Oct 3 4 and 5

See our article on page 11 in this monthrsquos La Mesa Courier for all the details on the annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

La Mesa City Council Candidates ForumTuesday Oct 7

La Mesa mayoral candidates Art

Madrid and Mark Arapostathis will join City Council candidates Patrick Dean Mary England Pete Gregorovic and Guy McWhirter at this forum hosted and moder-ated by the Community Outreach Ministry of La Mesa First United Methodist Church in the church social hall at 4690 Palm Ave A meet-and-greet will begin at 630 pm The program begins at 7 pm All are welcome

Free blood pressure screeningTuesday Oct 7

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center 9000 Wakarusa St in La Mesa No appointment neces-sary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Senior ExpoThursday Oct 9

The city of La Mesa organizes this free event to help connect senior citizens and their families to the most helpful senior service pro-viders including La Mesa Police Department Crime Prevention Aging and Independence Services Metropolitan Transit System ldquo211rdquo Sharp Senior Resource Center Meals on Wheels DMV Senior Ombudsman Program SDGampE Medical Baseline Program Elderhelp Jewish Family Services Yellow Cab California Telephone Access Program HICAP San Diego

County District Attorneyrsquos Elder Abuse Unit and more The event will be held from 830 am to 130 pm at the La Mesa Community Center 4975 Memorial Dr A shuttle will be available from the Spring Street trolley station Organizers are asking seniors to RSVP by Oct 3 by calling 619-667-1322

Depression and bipolar disorder screeningFriday Oct 10

Dr William Brock will pres-ent a free educational seminar on the signs and symptoms of depression bipolar disorder and other anxiety disorders from 1130 am to 1230 pm Adults ages 60 and older can receive free anonymous screen-ings from Sharp Grossmont Behavioral Health Services from 1030 am to 1130 am and from 1230 pm to 130 pm The seminar and screenings will be held at the Grossmont Healthcare Districtrsquos Herrick Library at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are suggested but not required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

ldquoGot Plansrdquo Career and college fairSaturday Oct 11

High school students and their parents are invited to meet with admissions representatives from public and private universities community colleges vocational

schools and the military at this annual event organized by the Grossmont Union High School District and the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Free workshops will provide information on financial aid changes to SAT and ACT requirements transfer options between two-year colleges and four-year universities and other career topics Some workshops will be offered in Spanish and Arabic The fair is open from 1 to 4 pm at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For more information call Jason Martinez at 619-593-2713

Bunco BashSaturday Oct 11

Soroptimist International of Lemon Grove hosts this special autumn-themed Bunco event to raise money for the grouprsquos projects to help women and chil-dren in our community For $20 participants get three rounds of Bunco a door prize ticket and complimentary fall snacks and dessert Wine will be available for purchase Bunco winners receive gift baskets and raffle prizes will also be offered The event will be held from 1 to 4 pm at St John of the Cross Knights of Columbus Hall at Broadway and Columbus Drive in Lemon Grove Reservations are required Contact Gloria Ferreira at 619-466-3699 or email her at soroptgloriagmailcom

Pooch in the ParkSaturday Oct 11

Kiwanis Club of La Mesa and the Human Relations Advisory Commission will host this com-munity get-together from 9 am to noon at Harry Griffen Regional Park 9550 Milden St For $20 pet owners can enter up to two dogs into a contest show for a chance to win in one of five categories or the ldquobest in showrdquo trophy Raffle prizes giveaways and other demon-strations will round out the morning For more informa-tion contact Glenna Boemen at gab11853aolcom

Fair trade gift fair Sunday Oct 12

The St Martin of Tours Parish Hall will become a world bazaar featuring unique and handcrafted fair trade gifts deacutecor apparel and jewelry from artisans in developing countries from 8 am to 1 pm As they browse the displays created by local vendors who sell fair trade products shoppers will be able to sample or purchase fair trade refreshments including choco-late tea coffee bananas soda and Ben and Jerryrsquos ice cream The parish hall is at 7710 El Cajon Blvd in La Mesa Call 619-466-3241 for additional information

See CALENDAR page 22

sdcnncom 15Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierCALENDAR

Telephone DirectoryPolice non-emergency line 619-667-1400Fire non-emergency line 619-667-1461Animal Control 619-667-7536Graffiti removal 619-667-7560Weed abatement 619-667-1465Traffic signal maintenance 619-667-1166Streetlight maintenance 619-667-1450

Mayor Art Madrid 619-667-1100City Councilmembers 619-667-1106

EDCO 619-287-7555Helix Water District 619-466-0585Helix Water after hours emergency 619-466-3234

Gov Jerry Brown 916-445-2841US Sen Barbara Boxer 619-239-3884US Sen Dianne Feinstein 619-231-9712US Rep Susan Davis 619-280-5353State Sen Joel Anderson 619-596-3136State Assemblymember Shirley Weber 619-531-7913

Community titan Jerry Fazio announces plans to retire

A fter 35 years with the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County

Jerry Fazio has announced his retirement

Faziorsquos last day on the job as executive director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation will be Oct 24 His official retirement date following vacation will be Dec 4 three days after his 35th anniversary with the youth organization that has served hundreds of thousands of young people in the East County since its founding in 1961

Since joining the organization on Dec 1 1979 Fazio has served in several executive positions with the Girlsrsquo Club and Boys amp Girls Clubs He has also done two stints mdash the most recent of which began in July 2008 mdash as execu-tive director of the foundation a nonprofit fundraising entity

Faziorsquos honors during his career have included El Cajon Citizen of the Year in 1992 Boys amp Girls Clubs Pacific Region Executive of the Year in 2006 and National Executive Director of the Year from Boys amp Girls Clubs of America in 2007 He is known throughout San Diego for his friendly smile and fund-raising passion on behalf of the organization

ldquoHe is the instantly recog-nizable fundraiser and pitch man for our organizationrdquo said Jack Doyle board president of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation ldquoDuring his 35 years Jerry has steered the development of our new and updated facilities in El Cajon Lakeside Santee and La Mesa He leaves us a legacy to be proud of in East County We wish him well as he moves into retirementrdquo

Faziorsquos decision to retire was prompted by recent good news from doctors that he is cancer-free five years after beginning his battle against colon cancer the same disease that led to the 2008 death of his first wife Nancy

ldquoWhile preparing for my cancer

SDCNN Staff

tests I indulged in a little specu-lation about how I might handle the news whether good or badrdquo Fazio said ldquoI concluded that no matter what after 35 years the time has come for me to retire I will concentrate on my faith my health my grandchildren and my gorgeous wife Melissa And if an opportunity comes along to help a good community cause I might just do that toordquo

Faziorsquos recent work with the foundation has focused on an $89 million fundraising effort called the La Mesa Capital Campaign The campaignrsquos goal is to build a new clubhouse in La Mesa reno-vate an existing teen center in the city and fund an endowment to operate both facilities

Forrest Higgins CEO of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County will add the role of campaign coordinator to his job with the assistance from staff According to Higgins more than $5 million for the La Mesa Capital Campaign has been raised during Faziorsquos leadership

ldquoJerry has been integral part of the success and growth of the Boys amp Girls Club of East Countyrdquo Higgins said ldquoHis dedi-cation and passion to the youth and families of East County will be greatly missedrdquo

Since 1961 the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County have been meeting the developmental needs of children and youth The orga-nizationrsquos mission statement ldquoTo inspire and enable all young people especially those who need us most to become responsible caring productive citizensrdquou

Jerry Fazio (Courtesy Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County)

notice to which the couple didnrsquot respond in time to renew their five-year lease Katie said

The next they heard they had to close the bar by Nov 1

ldquoI truly believe that when one door closes another one opensrdquo says Katie Halvin who runs the bar with her husband Doug ldquoAs poignant as it is to lose the bar I know we lost it because we didnrsquot pay attention when we should haverdquo

For the past five years Katie Halvinrsquos life has been intertwined with the bar Her first date with now-husband Doug landed her there mdash an Internet connection that led to a meet up in Harry Griffen Park

ldquoWe talked for a while and then he took me to his neighborhood hangout to have a beer and shoot some poolrdquo Katie recalls Katie was retiring from the Navy as a chief torpedo man and she was ready to settle down again ldquoWe got married at the Carlton Oaks [Country Club] mdash the whole bar was thererdquo

Before long Katie and Doug took over the bar which is leased from the Ross Family Trust Calls and emails to the property man-ager were not returned

ldquoWhen we took it over there were drugs gangs uglinessrdquo she said ldquoI wonrsquot put up with thatrdquo

What was left was a band of devoted regulars a tradition of small local live music and soon local art on the walls and events supporting local artists on the calendar

Cathryn Beeks the local music guru from 1021 KPRI radio began working with Halvin in November to book homegrown and up-and-coming acts at the bar mdash which led to notable shows from the Kilborn Alley Blues Band Roni Lee and many others

ldquoItrsquos very sad that the bar is closing Itrsquos run by very special people and there isnrsquot a venue like this in San Diegordquo Beeks said ldquoI found out about them because a lot of my friends were play-ing there They had a very loyal group of musicians before I ever showed uprdquo

The Parkway is also home to a very popular and solidly booked open mic night run by local singer-songwriter Jessica Hull

The Farmers local legends who evolved from the Beat Farmers also play regularly The live music will continue intermittently with the Farmers playing the closing

night Halloween party on Oct 31For Katie Halvin the closing

isnrsquot the end Property manager Aaron Dean intends to redevelop the strip mall where the Parkway now stands into a restaurant with a full bar and microbrewery and include an outdoor music venue

ldquoHe contacted me and hired me to be the director of enter-tainment at the new venuerdquo she said ldquoThey hope to start con-struction in December and finish it by August 2015rdquo ldquoOne side of my brain is ecstatic with oppor-tunityrdquo she said ldquoThe other feels the sadness of this lossrdquo

Meanwhile the Halvins are looking around in the area to find another place to open a bar like the Parkway

ldquoItrsquos our regulars Irsquom really worried aboutrdquo she said ldquoSome are at a point where most of their friends and family are gone and we are their community and fellowship We know who has cancer who has a new baby we know who to check on if they donrsquot show uprdquo

mdashMarty Graham is a freelance writer Email her at martygra-hamcoxnetu

Parkway from page 1

Sycuan Resort and Casino

For exciting casino action right in your own backyard therersquos nowhere closer than Sycuan Casino With Vegas-style gaming scrumptious dining options live headliner entertainment and nearby golf resort yoursquoll find your-self coming back again and again

You can choose from 2000 video amp reel slots as well as video poker For you card players there are more than 40 tables to play Blackjack ThreendashCard amp FourndashCard Poker Sycuanndashstyle craps and roulette

Enjoy the fresh air in the nonndashsmoking room with more than 350 slot machines 9 gaming tables Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet and a Poker Room with daily tourna-ments ndash all smokendashfree

For your dining pleasure Sycuan offers five different res-

taurant options to tempt your taste buds For those looking for a variety of delectable options Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet is an all-you-can-eat feast featuring slow-roasted Prime Rib buttery crab legs and over 100 fresh selec-tions and delicious dessert bar There isnrsquot a bad seat in the house at GameDay Sports Bar amp Grill where you can catch the big game on 39 large screen televisions 16 beers on tap with full cocktail selection delicious food menu and 29 bar-top video poker machines to play while you root on your team

With excellent acoustics and state-of-the-art sound and light-ing Sycuan Live amp Up Close is San Diegorsquos premiere venue for live entertainment Bringing exciting crowd pleasing acts from all musical genres therersquos something for everyone on their concert calendar

Just a short drive nearby Sycuan Golf Resort offers San Diegorsquos only 54-hole golf facility Exciting course play includes

3007 Dehesa RdEl Cajon CA 92019800-457-5568sycuanresortcom

mature tree-lined fairways eleva-tion changes water features and impeccable greens No matter if yoursquore a seasoned player or a first-timer the two challenging 18-hole championship golf courses and fun 18-hole par 3 course are guaranteed to give you unforget-table experiences from beginning to end To complete your stay-cat-ion enjoy one of their 100 spacious hotel rooms all recently remodeled and offer beautiful views of the golf courses pools and private putting greens If golf isnrsquot in your plans you can pamper yourself with a relaxing spa service

Not only is Sycuan the closest casino to downtown they offer free shuttle bus rides from a number of convenient locations throughout San Diego County For more infor-mation please visit Sycuancom

Guests must be 18 or older to enter casino 21 or older to enter theatre and Sports Bar Please play responsibly

Get away for the day at Sycuan CasinohellipReal Friendly Real Closeu

16 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

Short-term hands-on programs

Half-day classes 4 days a week

Monthly payment plans available

wwwtheaccountingacademycom

PETSlsquoOh where oh where has my little dog gonersquoSariReis

The only thing more devas-tating to a pet parent than

when their furry kid is missing is to have them never return Yet this sad scenario occurs every day Walk through any neighborhood and you will see the signs posted on trees and telephone poles ldquoMissing Our beloved dog Skippyrdquo These heart-rending pleas for help are always accompanied by a photograph of a sweet furry face and the offer of a reward for their return

As pet parents one of our pri-mary responsibilities is to keep our pets safe To do this we need to keep them securely confined in our homes our backyards or on leashes If your dog has access to the backyard be certain it is entirely fenced in with no poten-tial escape routes Make sure all gates are locked when you or anyone else goes in or out Inform pool service people landscap-ers or gardeners that you have a dog in the yard and the gate must be secured at all times Be particularly careful when enter-ing or leaving your home Open doors slowly to ensure a cat or dog is not lurking nearby ready to make a quick escape Never leave the door open for any length of time Even an indoor kitty may be curious if the door is left open for a minute or two Tell visitors cleaning ladies and anyone else who may have access to your home that you have pets and they are not to be let out

Some people like to give their dogs off-leash time on city streets in their neighborhoods They believe their pup is well-trained and will come on command and not run away But the sight of a

squirrel or stray cat can waylay the best trained dog and send them on a chase Many of these dogs never make it back home

There are also those feline parents who believe it is essen-tial to a catrsquos well-being for them to investigate and play outdoors Although the kitties may enjoy outdoor time it is very danger-ous With rattlesnakes coyotes stray dogs and traffic many out-door kitties never make it home again and soon become one of those sad notices posted on a tree

Even with the best inten-tions our pets may still make an escape Your best opportunity in getting them back is to ensure they can be identified Put an ID

tag on their collar listing your name and phone number and microchip them Although there are numerous companies that offer microchips and monitoring services one of the best is ldquoHome Againrdquo If you do microchip your pet remember to notify the man-ufacturer if you move or change your phone number Although the cost of micro-chipping is very reasonable many shelters and veterinary clinics hold spe-cial micro-chipping days so you can get your pets done for a dis-counted price Having your pet micro-chipped greatly increases the potential of getting him home again Can you actually put a price tag on that

ldquoHome Againrdquo stated that one out of three pets will go missing during their lifetime Make sure that one isnrsquot yours

mdashSari 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 missionvalley-petsittingcomu

One out of three pets will

go missing during their

lifetime

Lucille a 5-year-old spayed Labrador RetrieverAustralian Cattle Dog mix is

an energetic lady with tons of love to give her new family She has a friendly personality with everyone she meets and loves to learn new tricks She already knows commands such as sit down shake crawl beg and is currently learning how to wave ldquobye-byerdquo She is very treat-motivated and eager to please

She is very smart and outgoing and has gotten along well with other dogs on social walks This silly girl is always smiling and ready for a new adventure Born a true athlete she would love to participate in future training and would make an excellent workout partner Adequate exercise and mental stimulation are a must for this spirited lady

Lucille will do best in an active home with older children or adults She has a lot of love to give and may benefit from having another dog in the family as long as she meets them first to make sure theyrsquore a good match

Her adoption fee includes her spay current vaccinations permanent microchip identification a certificate for a free veterinary exam 30 days of complimentary medical insurance and a license for residents of Oceanside or Vista

Lucille is available for adoption at the San Diego Humane Society 5500 Gaines St in San Diego To learn more about Lucille call 619-299-7012u

Adopt a pet Looking for a home

LucilleBreed Labrador Retriever Australian Cattle Dog mixAge 5 years old Gender Female (spayed)Colors Black and WhiteID 142265Adoption Fee $9500

ADOPTION HOURSWeekdays 11 am ndash 6 pm Weekends 11 am ndash 5 pm

SD Humane Society amp SPCA5500 Gaines St (92110)

619-299-7012 | sdhumaneorg

(ThinkStock)

sdcnncom 17Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Foothiller FootstepsAdvanced Placement curriculum exposes students to college-level study

Helix HighlightsMaking students college-ready

Connie and LynnBaer

JenniferOsborn

A parent of a Helix Charter High School student once

noted that her daughter was never asked ldquoAre you going to collegerdquo Instead she was asked ldquoWhere are you going to collegerdquo A subtle difference in wording but a vast difference in meaning

Helixrsquos mission states ldquoHelix Charter High School provides a comprehensive education that prepares all students to gradu-

ate college-ready and equipped to reach their personal and aca-demic potentialrdquo

While the belief at Helix is not that every graduate needs to attend college in order to be suc-cessful it is definitely our goal to ensure that every graduate has the option to continue their edu-cation if they so choose

For the class of 2014 82 per-cent of Helix graduates stated they planned to attend college Forty-five percent went directly to a four-year college and 37 percent planned to attend two-

year institutions Approximately 12 percent attend University of California schools and 22 per-cent attend San Diego State or other California State University campuses

Support classroom projectsHave you heard of Donors

Choose Donors Choose is an online charity started by a class-room teacher from the Bronx New York He and his colleagues had great ideas for their students but no funding to bring their ideas to fruition

On the Donors Choose website teachers post classroom project requests and visitors to the web-site can help grant the teachersrsquo wishes by donating any amount big or small to their projects Donors Choose allows everyone to be a philanthropist

Over the past few years Helix teachers have been the recipi-ents of hundreds of thousands of dollars in supplies for classroom projects that would otherwise not have been possible Be a part of it Visit the website at donorschooseorg and search ldquoHelix La Mesardquo in the search box

Students shine nationallyThis past summer four Helix

Speech amp Debate team member students went to Kansas City Miski Abdi Spencer McCall Rebeca McClellan and Rachel Orey each qualified to compete in the National Forensics League National Championships McCall was a semifinalist in Student Senate and a quarterfinalist in Impromptu Orey was an octafi-nalist in Poetry

What else is going on at HelixLenelle Wyliersquos honors biology

classes have been accepted to attend the Science Lecture Series at the Scripps Research Institute

Jeff Kepperrsquos Oceanography class will be working with the

Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute and raising white sea bass in the classroom This is the second group of white sea bass raised by Helix students

Highland Players present The Odd Couple by Neil Simon Nov 5-8 and Nov 13-14 at 7 pm in the Black Box Theater They will perform both the original laquomaleraquo version and the ldquofemalerdquo version in repertory Tickets are $10 and will be available at helixdramaweeblycom or at the door Performances may sell out so buy early

Take a tourFinally we are always inter-

ested in letting our community know about Helix Charter High School The Excellence in Education Tour is offered twice a month and is open to anyone who wishes to attend It is a one-hour tour and program that highlights our vision history accomplish-ments goals and needs This monthrsquos tours will take place on Tuesday October 7 from 830 ndash 930 am and Thursday October 23 from 530 ndash 630 pm More information can be found at helix-charternet We hope to see you there

mdashJennifer Osborn is the com-munity relations officer for Helix Charter High School Email her at josbornhelixcharternetu

A commitment to educational excellence has always been a

part of the culture of Grossmont High School In the 1980s Grossmont began offering a new curriculum mdash Advanced Placement mdash that challenges the high school student to master a rigorous college-level curricu-lum Each May the students may then take the AP Exam Passing the exam with a score of 3 4 or 5 will in most cases translate to the student receiv-ing college credit or course exemption

In 1981 Grossmont English teacher Kay Adams offered an after-school tutorial for her senior students who wanted to take the AP English Language and Composition Exam Twenty-one students met with her to receive preparation for the exam all 21 students passed the exam with five stu-dents receiving a 5 the highest score

ldquoI learned more than I ever taughtrdquo Adams said ldquoThose students were the brightest minds I ever metrdquo

Beginning in 1982 AP

courses became a yearly English course offering

Other challenges presented themselves to early AP teach-ers In the 1980s through 1996 Sue Emerson AP Biology teacher found ways to cre-atively schedule her class On Wednesdays the students came in an hour early to complete the sophisticated experiments the curriculum required

ldquoOne fun activity was a nation-wide project studying wetlandsrdquo Emerson recalled ldquoThe students shared information with schools around the country via telecom-munication from their study of the Tijuana River Estuaryrdquo

Today Grossmont offers 15 different honors courses which prepare the students for the diverse variety of subsequent 19 Advanced Placement courses

Art AP Art History Studio Drawing 2-D Design

Business AP Computer Science

English AP Literature and Composition Language and Composition

Language AP Spanish Language Spanish Literature and Culture French Language and Culture

Math AP Calculus StatisticsPerforming Arts AP Music

Advanced Placement Theory

Science AP Biology Environmental Science Physics

Social Science AP European History US History Psychology US Government

Over the years the curriculum has evolved AP French Language and Culture teacher Azita Mahmoudi noted that the ldquoAP test has changed from a narrow grammar-based test to an open-ended test based on cultural knowledgerdquo

ldquoPhysics isnrsquot dif-ficult It only has the reputation of being dif-ficultrdquo said longtime AP Physics teacher Tom Eklund

Eklundrsquos creative lessons include the one shown in the 2012 photograph of student Jessie Hodges dropping his project off the bleachers and measuring its fall

During the past five years the number of tests taken by Grossmont students has risen from 453 in 2009 to 646 in 2014 While the passing rate dropped from 65 to 58 percent in those

same years more Foothillers were given the opportunity to challenge themselves and prepare for post secondary education

A continuing goal of Grossmont staff is to have more enrolled students take the test however each test costs $89 with many students taking more than one test

Those wishing to sponsor one or more tests with a tax-deduct-

ible donation may contribute to the GHS Educational Foundationrsquos AP Scholarship Fund by sending a check to GHS Educational Foundation PO Box 1043 La Mesa CA 91944

ldquoGrossmont High School is proud to support our honors and Advanced Placement curricu-lumrdquo said Principal Dan Barnes ldquoWe are very excited to see the very high increase in partici-pation in our courses over the past three years and contin-ued success by our

teachers and students shown in their AP exam pass ratesrdquo

Visit Grossmont and wit-ness firsthand a campus that celebrates it heritage and embraces its future Regular public hours are noon to 4 pm on Wednesday Oct 1 and Nov 5 or by appointment

Contact the Grossmont High School Museum by phone at 619-668-6140 or by email at ghs-museumguhsdnetu

AP Physics students participate in an experiment at Grossmont High School in 2012 (Courtesy GHS Museum)

18 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

PUZZLESSUDOKU

Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9 Each number can appear only once in each row column and 3x3 block Use logic and process elimination to solve the puzzle

copy 2014 Janric Enterprises Dist by creatorscom

CROSSWORD

Business 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 wwwGotFreedomcom Call 858-278-2120 Your future is counting on you (1214)

For SaleNICE 1BD HOUSE IN LA MESA LIVDEN LG KITCHEN BATH WD LG BEDROOM NICE SUNDECK $1000 INCLUDES GE WATER TRASH CALL CLARA 6194650591 (0914)

Sweet male and female Tea-cup Yorkie 12 weeks old $500 Will be 4 lbs at full growth Microchiped shots and dewormed coming with registration papers mlcpetsyahoocom 661-858-0633 (0914)

NoticesWIDOW OR WIDOWER Interested in social activities You are welcome to join our club Widows or Widowers (WOW) of San Diego Website wwwwowsdorg Phone 619-448-6088 (0914)

ServicesJennarsquos Barber Shoppe Styling for men women amp children Wheelchair friendly Old time expert

haircuts at affordable prices Colors amp perms 7424 Jackson Dr1A (across from Keilrsquos in Bank of America lot) Tues-Fri 830-530pm Sat 830-noon Walk-ins or By appt 619-644-3669 (1214)

Lindarsquos Puppy Love licensed insured pet sitting service offering daily walks cat care overnight stays-your home lots of love 619-857-3674 wwwlindaspuppylovecom (615)

Locksmith - Discount Deadbolts and Rekeying - security door viewers patio door locks simulated alarms magnetic door stops Cliff Henderson 619-840-3327 - Lic LCO4353 - Bonded - Never a trip charge (0615)

Quality exterior carpentry Decks Fences Patio Covers and Termite Repair Lic365241 wwwaactionbuildersofsandiegocom Bob 619-275-1493 (415)

Bathtubs and sinks refinished like new San Carlos based business for over 25 years - same owner Lic560438 wwwsaveatubsdcom 619-464-5141 (0115)

German Setter Tile and Marble Professional marbletile setter with 28 years experience European craftsmanship Punctual amp dependable License 872804 Contact Jens Sedemund 619-415-6789 or jensgermansettercom (1214)

Dan Patterson HandymanCarpentry Repair and replacement of plumbing electrical repair installation of water heaters doors windows cabinets flooring fencing Pressure washing of driveways all phases of

Finding Senior Housing can be complex but it doesnrsquot have to be

(800) 217-3942A Place for Mom is the nationrsquos largest senior living referral

information service We do not own operate endorse or recommend any senior living community We are paid by partner communities

so our services are completely free to families

ldquoYou can trust A Place for Mom to help yourdquo

ndash Joan Lunden

BUSINESS amp SERVICES

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 (1214)

BARGAIN BOYZ CONSTRUCTIONREPAIRS 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 jimmysupancoxnet (1014)

PLUMBERhellipLicensed and Insured Over 25 years experience La Mesa resident OwnerOperator Reasonable rates Courteous service Lic 527864 Call Peter 619-698-0313 wwwFelberPlumbingcom (0914)

ROOFING Lic 691295-C39 Veteran owned Allied Gardens based Celebrating 20 years Full roof amp repair Free est Veteran amp Senior discounts 619-823-7208 (615)

WantedHelping Hands Animal Sanctuary seeks laundry detergent (all free and clear) and fabric softener (Downey free and gentle) 619-460-6679 (0914)

Job WantedNanny seeking work certified bkgd ck CPR First Aide 20 years experience wchildren and babies Great references Call Peggy 619-246-6572 or 512-755-0813

ANSWERS ON PAGE 20

Experienced amp Professional

Renee Differ

reneediffercoxnet619-516-0400

INDIVIDUALS amp BUSINESSES

SAME SEX MARRIAGE FILING

BOOKKEEPING amp PAYROLL

MOBILE APPOINTMENTS

TAX CONSULTANT

Ideal PlumbingHeating

Air amp ElectricalWater heaters garbage disposals drain cleaning Video pipe inspections water softeners amp filtration Faucets and toilets Visit our Show-room (06-12)

Serving ourcommunity since 1960

(619) 583-7963Lic 348810

PLUMBING

sdcnncom 19Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierPUZZLES CLASSIFIEDS

Sudoku amp Crosswordpuzzle answers from

page 19

The Academic Senate at Grossmont College last

month honored math instruc-tor Michael Lambe a Mt Helix resident with the Distinguished Faculty award the first ever for a part-time member of the col-lege faculty

Lambersquos 36 years as part-time instructor at Grossmont College concurrent to his 39-year teach-ing career with the Grossmont Union High School District gave him a unique perspective and insight on nurturing stu-dent success His dual career has made him especially aware of the need to make the transi-tion from high school to college as seamless as possible and to ensure secondary level curricu-lum prepares students for higher education

His interaction between Grossmont College and Monte Vista High School where he was chair of the math depart-

Math teacher is Grossmont Collegersquos part-time instructor of the year

ment made him a natural to help develop the first articula-tion agreement between the college and high school which helps students smoothly transi-tion without duplicating classes or experiencing delays

It wasnrsquot just students who benefitted from Lambersquos experi-ence with both systems When

driver education was eliminated from the high school curriculum and instructors were facing lay-offs he worked with the high school and college districts to develop a two-year program that prepared the former driver edu-cation instructors to acquire the teaching credentials needed to become math instructors

ldquoItrsquos been a fantastic career mdash Irsquove been blessedrdquo Lambe said

Following his retirement from the high school district Lambe was recruited four years ago as the collegersquos part-time senate officer with the Academic Senate and chair of the of the Academic Senate Part-Time Committee As head of the new committee he began tackling issues like office hours college governance and academic rank on behalf of part-timers

ldquoMichael has unified the [Academic Senatersquos Part-Time] committee and made it the most respected and cohesive voice for part-time faculty on the campusrdquo said one of his colleagues in a nomination for Lambe for the Distinguished Faculty award ldquoHe has brought part-time faculty issues into the college governance conversation as never before and helped part-time faculty be better informed through excellent professional development activities and communicationsrdquo

Lambe described his efforts on behalf of part-time instructors as a way of paying it forward

ldquoEven as a part-timer I have done a lot of things that full-time department members dordquo he said ldquoThis is my profession mdash my calling and my love This

award is the greatest honor I have ever received My col-leagues couldnrsquot have given me anything greater and to be the first recipient is tremendousrdquo

In addition to honoring Lambe for his achievements as a member of the part-time faculty the academic senate also honored Spanish instruc-tor Yolanda Guerrero with the Distinguished Faculty award for full-time faculty

President Sunita V Cooke said Lambe and Guerrero exem-plify Grossmont Collegersquos faculty members who are passionate about teaching and motivated to boost their profession and their colleagues

ldquoThe campus community owes a debt of gratitude to fac-ulty members with that kind of dedicationrdquo she said ldquoTheir generosity is an inspiration to us allrdquo

At Cuyamaca College Spanish instructor Patricia Santana won the Outstanding Faculty Award for full-time tenured faculty Arabic instructor Aklas Sheia won the award for outstanding part-time faculty

mdashDella Elliott is public information assistant for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College Districtu

DellaElliott

Michael Lambe gives a math lesson something hersquos been doing for nearly four decades in local classrooms (Courtesy Grossmont College)

20 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

Join us for a 3-course dinner and information on Chronic back pain causes and solutions Recent advances in back pain relief Different surgical options QampA with leading San Diego spine specialist

Presented by Choll Kim MD PhD a San Diego Magazine ldquoTop Doctorrdquo and Medical Director of the Advanced SpineInstitute at Alvarado Hospital ndash named Americarsquos 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgerytrade and Orthopedic Surgerytrade in 2014

Cost $10person Seating is limited mdash RSVP requiredCall (619) 229-4548 to register

Location Terra Bistro7091 El Cajon Blvd San Diego 92115

MONDAY SEPT 29 6-8 PMTERRA AMERICAN BISTRO

AlvaradoHospitalcom | (619) 287-3270

Zucchini pancakes

Whatrsquos Cooking with

Julie AnnWhite

Julie

Grate away on your box grater to create this deli-

cious dinner side dish Herersquos a savory treat to serve with a salad or light chicken or fish meal They are a little bit addictive and really easy to make

Serves four (makes six small pancakes)

Ingredients3 medium zucchini grated on a box grater or food processor12 red or yellow onion grated2 large eggs lightly beaten8 Tbsp Panko bread crumbs (flour can be used instead)1 tsp baking powder1 tsp kosher saltPinch of black pepper2 Tbsp butter14 cup olive oil for frying

DirectionsGrate the zucchini and onion into a medium bowl Press with a

few paper towels to absorb juice Add remaining ingredients and stir well If batter is runny add more breadcrumbs or flour Heat large skillet and melt butter and oil over medium heat Drop the zucchini mixture into six to eight golf ball-sized gently patted pancakes Cook until golden brown Serve warmu

Put down your iPhone 6 push aside your Samsung Note 4

and turn off the TV La Mesa is asking its citizens to invest some time in one of their 14 local parks for Park Appreciation Day Oct 18

ldquoThis community event demon-strates the spirit and commitment that La Mesans have for their public facilitiesrdquo said Yvonne Garrett assistant city manager and director of community ser-vices in La Mesa ldquoLocal residents and visitors have a sense of own-ership and take pride in La Mesa parks Park Appreciation Day is an opportunity for individuals to share that enthusiasm with friends and neighborsrdquo

The impetus for La Mesa Park Appreciation Day began in 2005 when a member of a local church congregation contacted the city to ask whether their church could take on a community project in La Mesa said Garrett who is also staff director for La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation

Because the city had recently eliminated several temporary park maintenance worker posi-tions and had received a similar request for a local project from another organization city staff thought it would be a good idea

Citizen groups pitch in for Park Appreciation Day

to gather the various groups to help clean up the parks prompting the creation of Park Appreciation Day

La Mesa community services manager Mike Pacheco said he has been impressed with the pride La Mesans have in their community as well as their desire to volunteer for the city

ldquoParks and recreation pro-grams bring tremendous benefits to people of all agesrdquo Pacheco said ldquoThey contribute to help-ing us live longer better lives through active pursuits new life skills educational programs and safe activities Great parks and programs also help build a stronger community connecting individuals families and groups through the power of play Recreation programs and engag-ing exciting facilities help keep kids active and off the streetsrdquo

Park Appreciation Day proj-ects include spreading mulch planting flowers and painting picnic tables and restrooms Pacheco said

Since its inception several local groups have consistently volun-teered each year Christ Lutheran Church Journey Church Helix Interact Club Friends of Canine Corners Kiwanis Club of La Mesa La Mesa Rotary La Mesa Beautiful La Mesa Lions Club and La Mesa Police Department

Last year more than 150 vol-unteers participated on Park

Appreciation Day and removed 22 cubic yards of green material plus nine cubic yards of trash according to Garrett

Although most of La Mesarsquos parks have the same groups cleaning them every year Porter Park Fitness Plaza located at 8425 University Ave is still without a group Porter needs additional native plants installed in some areas in the beds Garrett said

Disclosure Writer Genevieve A Suzuki serves as a commissioner for the La Mesa Community Services Commission and is a member of La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation She is happy to put away her iPhone Oct 18 to help clean her local parku

Genevieve Suzuki

Make La Mesa beautifulInterested in getting

involved with La Mesa Park Appreciation Day Oct 18 Want to encourage your civic church or social group to adopt a park

All ages are welcome to par-ticipate Signed waivers are required Parents must accom-pany children under 18 at the parks unless their children are with a supervised group

Sign up by calling 619-667-1304 or email communitycila-mesacaus

sdcnncom 21Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierDINING LOCAL NEWS

New Patient Special

bull SedationDentistrybull Implantsbull Same-DayCrownsbull LaserTreatmentbull Invisalign

Wersquove been in practice for over

25 years in La Mesa

$113 for exam x-rays oral cancer screening and cleaning

In absence of gum disease A $520 value

Donrsquot avoid the dentist Remove the anxiety and fear with Sedation Dentistry

A Shop For Smiles

Dr Hagstrom619-465-5252 | 8923 La Mesa Blvd | La Mesa CA 91942

wwwashopforsmilescom

Visit us today

Baseball book signingSunday Oct 12

Geoff Miller mental skills coach for the Atlanta Braves will discuss and sign copies of his new book ldquoIntangibles Big-League Stories and Strategies for Winning the Mental Game mdash in Baseball and in Liferdquo at 2 pm at Barnes amp Noble 5500 Grossmont Center Dr

Diverse Capacities workshopWednesday Oct 15

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Mariko Peshon will lead a work-shop focusing on the physical emotional and social abilities and disabilities that often go unrec-ognized and unaccommodated in our communities The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

East County Intergenerational GamesTuesday Oct 16

Active adults ages 50 and older will team up with kids between the ages of 7 and 12 for a morning of fun noncompetitive activi-ties at La Mesa Middle School 4200 Parks Ave from 830 am to noon The games include street hockey shot frisbee toss ldquoskeeballrdquo pitch t-ball and trivia games Snacks and lunch are included Interested adults must register in advance by contacting the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center at 619-667-1322

Introduction to home caregivingSaturday Oct 18

Caring for a loved one at home often involves transfers personal care proper body mechanics and other specific skills and knowl-edge Learn and practice the basics with a registered nurse at this event from 9 am to 1 pm in classroom 1314 of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Brier Patch Campus 9000 Wakarusa St Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or

register online at sharpcom

Workshop Finding Your Voice in the Social Justice MovementTuesday Oct 21

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Kenyon Whitman will lead an interactive workshop exploring social justice concepts how to develop a leadership style and creative ways to effectively com-municate in diverse groups The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the stu-dent center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

Medicare and drug cover-age updates for 2015Friday Oct 24

A free lecture will cover Medicare insurance changes for 2015 Medicare Parts A B D HMOs and more Presented by Community Education Specialist Pablo Corona the lec-ture will also cover the Medicare Saving Program and Extra-Help Program that assist with prescription costs for Medicare Parts B and D The talk begins at 10 am at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Lung function screeningWednesday Oct 29

Do you have trouble catching your breath after a short walk The Pulmonary Department at Sharp Grossmont Hospital will offer a free basic lung function test from 9 am to 2 pm for anyone who has not yet seen a doctor about breathing prob-lems The screening will be held at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center Building F Room 16 9000 Wakarusa St Appointments are required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Free blood pressure screeningFriday Oct 17

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center 8450 La Mesa Blvd No appointment necessary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Park Appreciation DaySaturday Oct 18

Groups of volunteers will get to work on projects to beautify and improve parks across town from 8 am to noon All ages are welcome but children under the age of 18 need to submit a waiver signed by a parent or legal guard-ian If your church or civic group wants to get involved call 619-667-1300 or email communitycila-mesacaus

lsquoHowl-oweenrsquo dog cos-tume contest and picnicSaturday Oct 18

Dress up your dogs in a cute or spooky Halloween costume and bring them out to Canine Corners the dog park at Harry Griffen Regional Park between 11 am and 3 pm Proud pet par-ents will have the chance to get their poochrsquos picture taken at the pumpkin patch as well as meet representatives from animal rescue groups the county sheriffrsquos K-9 unit and other vendors The costume contest begins at 1130 am A hot dog picnic lunch will be offered for $3 Canine Corners volunteers will accept donations to help with the maintenance of the dog park

Picnic with the parrotsSunday Oct 26

At Socal Parrotrsquos annual fundraising event attendees have a rare chance to view the non-profit organizationrsquos reha-bilitation facility meet animals talk with experts observe live art bid in a silent auction and buy into a raffle Based in Jamul SoCal Parrot works to protect and care for wild and endan-gered parrots across the region Tickets to the all-day fundrais-ing event range from $32 to $100 and can be purchased online at socalparrotorgu

Calendar from page 15

Send details of your com-munity events to the editor at jeremysdcnncom Deadline is the third Friday of the month

22 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 CALENDAR

Why a fiscally conservative vote-by-mail plan got no GOP love

A bill that would drastically change the way San Diego

Countyrsquos special elections are run passed without any Republican help mdash it got just two votes total from GOP lawmakers in Sacramento

It might surprise you to learn then that when the idea first emerged Democrats helped lead the charge against it

How some leading party mem-bers reversed course in just a few years says a lot about the current political landscape and the future of elections in San Diego County

Democrats wrote the current bill mdash which would create a five-year pilot program in San Diego County that would make spe-cial elections for open seats run primarily by mail with a drasti-cally reduced number of polling places mdash and they led the politi-cal charge for it

But Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez the billrsquos author remembers how hard she fought to kill the idea of vote-by-mail elections years ago

ldquoWhat happens I think so often is there is this attachment to the status quo therersquos fear about changing thingsrdquo Gonzalez said

Gonzalez said her mind was changed by a couple factors One is that she discovered during her years as a labor advocate that voters who had a ballot mailed to them before the election were roughly five times more likely to actually vote

The other she said is she realized the county was spend-ing a huge amount more per person who voted at the polls versus by mail

County officials said that in the March 2013 special election to fill the vacant 40th state Senate district seat they spent $221 per

Ari Bloomekatz

in-person voter verses $9 per mail voter

Then therersquos the fact that pathetic voter turnout in each of the last several elections has favored Republican candidates across the board

ldquoWe have all watched as voter turnout has plummeted in recent elections and itrsquos our responsi-bility to do something about itrdquo Gonzalez wrote in a press release after the bill passed

Some observers speculated that some Republicans simply didnrsquot support the bill because it was being led by promi-nent Democrats like Gonzalez (Gonzalez agrees thatrsquos probably true)

But if you want to understand why GOP support was so hard to come by for a bill steeped in fiscally conservative principles and that originated from a con-servative San Diego County government consider these three points

Republicans seized on civil rights groupsrsquo hesitation

Some of the strongest initial opposition to the vote-by-mail legislation came from civil rights groups concerned the new pro-cedures could disenfranchise immigrants and the disabled

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund initially opposed the bill but dropped its opposition after working with Gonzalez and San Diego County officials on protec-

tions for immigrantsStill MALDEF and other

groups wouldnrsquot officially support the measure

ldquoThere is some research out there that shows that mail-in ballots do have an adverse impact on minority votersrdquo said Denise Hulett an attorney with MALDEF

Hulett said MALDEF supports testing out vote-by-mail but isnrsquot sold on it yet

Those groupsrsquo reluctance had an impact on Republican legislators like Escondido Assemblywoman Marie Waldron She said she didnrsquot feel comfortable signing on to a bill without MALDEF and other civil rights groupsrsquo support

ldquoI have to wonder if this is disenfranchising a significant number of people that vote at the pollsrdquo Waldron said ldquoWhat about the people who are maybe you know possibly visually impaired or something like thatrdquo

The money wasnrsquot enoughSan Diego County Registrar

Michael Vu strongly supports the pilot program and believes it could trim costs by 30 - 40 percent

But somehow the cost-savings issue wasnrsquot enough to win over the vast majority of Republican legislators

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez said he thought the cost-savings touted by Democrats were only rough estimates and was not inclined to vote for a bill just

because of those projectionsldquoAs Irsquove said a number of times

before all these bills that theyrsquore putting through hellip really doesnrsquot address the issue of what wersquore trying to do which is get more people to voterdquo he said

Instead of just moving imme-diately to vote-by-mail Chavez wants to create a bipartisan special committee to study new voting technologies

Republicans fear voter fraud

Republicansrsquo fear of potential voter fraud through expansion of vote-by-mail overshadowed potential economic gains

The bill ldquoincludes no protec-tions to ensure the integrity and security of all-mail elections While interesting we need to be careful changing election lawsrdquo wrote Amanda Fulkerson of the Assembly Republican Caucus which advocated fiercely against the bill

ldquoRight now our members feel that we should not jeopardize our consistent voting system until we have further facts and statistics on all-mail electionsrdquo Fulkerson wrote

Republicans believed the threat of fraud would be compounded by another voting-related bill moving through the legislature at the same time

That bill would change the rules about how long mail ballots can be received and counted after an election

Currently vote-by-mail ballots must be received by election offi-cials before polls close on the day of the election The new law would allow ballots to be received no later than three days after the election (if it was time-stamped or post-marked on or before Election Day)

Assembly Republicans feared the two bills combined could allow for abuse of the system

State Sen Joel Anderson was one Republican who voted against the mail-counting bill but in favor of Gonzalezrsquos vote-by-mail effort

Anderson said that he voted against the mail-counting bill because he saw it as ldquocompletely gaming the systemrdquo but believes the vote-by-mail bill is ldquobetter for the voters itrsquos better for my constituentsrdquo

Put yourselves in the shoes of

Vu and other county officials for a minute

Nearly every time an election comes up the county spends anywhere from $1 million to $12 million-plus and organizes hordes of poll workers and pre-cincts across the county

And what happens at the end of the day

Turnout is generally low and increasing numbers of residents opt to vote by mail anyway

As Vu tells it he just wants to save the county money and acknowledge the changing winds when it comes to vote-by-mail

But nothing is ever as simple as a dollar saved in Sacramento mdash especially when it comes to something as fundamental as how voters choose their elected officials

Gonzalez said most people do not understand how difficult this bill was to pass politically Sure Republicans barley supported it but there was strong opposition from many Democrats too The instinct to preserve the status quo when it comes to elections among legislators in Sacramento is strong she said

ldquoIt was kind of funny Irsquom in Republican land carrying this bill pissing off Democrats and voting rights groups and minor-ity groupsrdquo she said ldquoI had to convince everybody that this is OK that change is OKrdquo

Brown has until Sept 30 to sign the bill

mdashAri Bloomekatz is an inves-tigative reporter for Voice of San Diego focusing on county govern-ment You can reach him directly at aribloomekatzvoiceofsandi-egoorg or 619-550-5669u

(Courtesy Flickr user bludgeoner86Creative Commons)

Voice of San Diego

sdcnncom 23Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

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8310 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa CA 91942 bull 6193371700

SPRING VALLEY bull $362000LA MESA bull $499000CARDIFF BY THE SEA bull $525000

Spacious Sweetwater Springs home on corner lot Recently updated kitchen amp bath w granite countertops SS appl wine refrigerator and wood floors Upstairs BRs w mirrored wardrobe doors and ceiling fans Sliding doors to private view deck ideal for watching the sunset

JOE SOUTHWICK 6195898224

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JULIE ADAMS 6194810200

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YVETTE WOODS 6199223436

Laurarsquos Solds 2014 bull (619) 540-7744 bull LauraLothianRealEstatecomMost Homes Sold in La Mesa Last 11 Years

Want your home sold Ask a busy agent Call Laura Lothian TODAY 6195407744

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PacificSothebysRealtycomcopyMMVIII Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC A Realogy Company All Rights Reserved Sothebyrsquos International Realtyreg is a registered trademark licensed to Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC An Equal Opportunity Company Equal Housing Opportunity Each Office is Independently Owned And Operated Cal BRE 01767484 Seller will entertain offers within the listed range

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Source TrendGraphix MLS data for zip codes 91941 amp 91942 January 1 2003 to January 1 2014

24 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

to 46 feet or about four stories So the Kitzmans have hired

development consultants Urban Housing Partners to convince city leaders to change the zoning on the property to allow build-ing heights up to 110 feet The zoning the Kitzmans are asking for could accommodate up to 363 dwelling units 61000 square feet of commercial retail space 146000 square feet of commer-cial office space or a hotel of up to 250 guest rooms

The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the pro-posed zoning changes on June 18 They made no decision at the time because the Kitzmansrsquo co-applicant American Legion Post 282 announced they were withdrawing their support for the zoning change

The Kitzmans through their South Baltimore LLC resub-mitted their application over the summer The Planning Commission will hear the new and reduced application at a meeting at City Hall on Wednesday Oct 1 at 7 pm

Residents east and west of the project site have been some of the most vocal critics of the proposal to rezone the property

Don Bell whose house on El Capitan Drive overlooks the Park Station property said he and his neighbors are not against redeveloping and improving the property

ldquoItrsquos blight down thererdquo Bell said

What they are against how-ever is rezoning the property

ldquoThe problem really is that the Planning Commission is going to give them a blank checkrdquo he said

Nearby neighbors know and accept that change is inevitable but the added traffic and parking problems that would come from a 10-story building would be unac-ceptable and detrimental to the community said Suda House who also has a view of the Park Station property from her home on El Capitan

ldquoDevelop the heck out of it but keep it below 46 feetrdquo House said

One vocal supporter of the Kitzmanrsquos plan has been Jack Rowell a La Mesa native who now sells real estate across the San Diego region Any new homes that can be added to the La Mesa market will be a good thing Rowell said

ldquoI have a bunch of [potential

buyers] who want La Mesa but itrsquos a fight over every prop-erty especially things under $500000rdquo Rowell said ldquoPeople want the La Mesa schools People want the convenience of La Mesardquo

The only other place where housing prices are compara-ble for high-quality schools is Poway and Poway doesnrsquot have La Mesarsquos Village or its prox-imity to regional destinations Rowell said

Rowell said he understands why nearby neighbors donrsquot want their views to change but therersquos no reason to believe home values will suffer with an increase in supply

ldquoTheyrsquore talking about 300 to 500 condo unitsrdquo Rowell said ldquoThatrsquos like spitting in the oceanrdquo

For Aaron Amerling orga-nizer of the ldquoFight Park Station La Mesa ndash No More Than Fourrdquo Facebook page the colorful renderings of Park Station are a Trojan Horse designed to mis-lead people about what the site could become

ldquoThe Kitzmans do not have the funds to develop thatrdquo Amerling said ldquoThe whole idea is to upzone the land because that improves the resale valuerdquo

If city leaders approve the new zoning the Kitzmans or a new owner could build something completely different than what theyrsquove been advertising

City leaders have been cau-tious about commenting directly on the proposal only issuing vague statements about main-taining the character of the downtown village

Regardless of the Planning Commissionrsquos decision next week the final decision on whether to rezone the property will be made by the full City Council at a later dateu

LOCAL NEWSGen-X in La MesaGive peace a chanceGenevieve Suzuki

G iving peace a chance seems more complicated than it

should beWith all of the strife going on

in this world peace seems to be an almost impossible proposition The appalling brutal treatment of American hostages at the hands of ISIS members resulted in many of us feeling complete repulsion at the state of global affairs

I know I felt sick Even worse I began to feel hopeless

So when Anne Pacheco a member of the Interfaith Council of La Mesa asked me to attend the first International Day of Peace Sept 21 at Aztec Park her invitation stirred something in my soul The day which touted ldquoThe Right of Peoples to Peacerdquo would be a joint effort among people of most of the worldrsquos religions including Judaism Christianity Islam Buddhism Hinduism Native American and Baharsquoi

And although I promised Anne I would attend I thought it was an awfully lofty goal Really All of these people gathering for peace on a Sunday a day many hold holy in their churches

But I was pleasantly surprised when approximately 200 people

showed up with chairs umbrellas hats and hearts at Aztec Park that mild sunny day Many of us pur-chased sky blue scarves from the Sisters of Saint Francis to wear in solidarity for peace Shucks even Mayor Art Madrid wore a scarf over a yellow shirt

I admit however getting my husband Derek to don the blue scarf wasnrsquot easy In fact it wasnrsquot easy getting him there in the first place

Itrsquos not that Derek is against world peace (even though our daughter to this day refuses to add that request to her nightly prayers) Itrsquos more that Sunday is for football in Derekrsquos world and this day of peace was causing him to miss hooting and hollering for his fantasy football team

Nevertheless Derek relented and accompanied me and our daughter to the event This com-promise is one from which most of the world could learn Is Derek a community activist No but Derek is focused on the big pic-ture namely a happy wife and home Focusing on the big pic-ture would help many find peace in their lives locally and globally

As I sat there amid others dedi-cated to peace and non-violence I realized the one common emo-tional positive is the future We all want a better future for our fami-lies and our children We donrsquot

want to leave behind a legacy of anger brutality and war

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we said together at the beginning of the program

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we insisted again

ldquoWe want peacerdquo we vowedAs Rebecca Littlejohn of Vista

La Mesa Christian Church said ldquoWe are gathered in hope today for hope is how we surviverdquo

Thanks to this special inaugural day I was reminded of how impor-tant it was for me to have hope and that reminder allowed me to place aside that earlier feeling of hopelessness conjured by evil deeds in another land After all if I allow myself to fall hopeless I have nothing to give my child On the other hand if I cling to hope it will then be passed on to my daughter who would hold that ideal in her mind and mdash hopefully mdash see it to fruition

As the Native American prayer during the program stated ldquoGive us the wisdom to teach our chil-dren to love to respect and to be kind to each other so that they may grow with peace in mindrdquo

mdashGenevieve A Suzuki is editor emeritus of the La Mesa Courier She continues to live and practice family law in La Mesa Her web-site is sdlawyersuzukicomu

Find out what your home is worth on-line

Visit wwwsandiegohouseareacomOr scan this QR Code with your phone now

Tom Bowker Coldwell Banker West BRE01024513

A rendering by Park Station opponents shows the potential scale of buildings (Courtesy Aaron Amerling)

Park Station from page 1

12 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

Music professorrsquos jazz album wins acclaim

Follow your passionThat has been a guiding

principal for Grossmont College music instructor and jazz bassist extraordinaire Justin Grinnell who ditched plans to study mathematics shortly after enrolling at San Diego State University back in 1999 and meeting musicians ldquowho were doing music all the timerdquo

Good thing Grinnell has become an integral part of a vibrant Grossmont College music program and gigs as a pit orchestra member at myriad venues including the Old Globe La Jolla Playhouse and the San Diego Civic Theatre for a number of Tony Award-winning musicals

And now his debut disc the Justin Grinnell Quartetrsquos Without You has been nomi-nated for a San Diego Music Award for best jazz album

Grinnell is no stranger to awards He is a member of the Danny Green Trio which won the 2009 San Diego Music Award for Best Jazz Album for its debut CD The triorsquos second release A Thousand Ways Home reached No 17 on the Jazz Week Charts for national radio airplay after its 2012 debut

ldquoIrsquom doing what I loverdquo said Grinnell who is on track to earn his Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern California next spring ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the col-lege or university levelrdquo

Grinnell has earned praise from the best in the business

ldquoNot only is Justin a fantastic person but he is such an accom-plished musician a great sight reader which is so important because we do all kinds of tricky music and having someone who is able to read so well is an invalu-able asset and hersquos adept in a lot of different musical stylesrdquo said critically-acclaimed Jazz guitar-ist and composer Peter Sprague ldquoHe also has just such a wonder-ful spirit when it comes to playing music Irsquom really happy to know him and being able to play with him from time to timerdquo

A native of Santa Rosa California Grinnell initially planned to study mathematics and become an engineer But after enrolling in a few music classes at San Diego State and jamming with newfound friends he switched gears It was while he was at SDSU that Grinnell began gigging with future Grossmont College Music Department chair Derek Cannon and met his future wife Melonie a pianist who also teaches music at Grossmont College

With both a bachelorrsquos and masterrsquos degree in jazz perfor-mance from San Diego State in hand Grinnell began working in 2005 as an adjunct music profes-

sor at Grossmont College He also serves as an adjunct music professor at the University of San Diego and taught part time at Southwestern College from 2008 to 2011

ldquoGrossmont College is specialrdquo Grinnell said ldquoIt feels like family here Everyone is part of a com-munity that is working together on behalf of our students doing our best to help them succeed in a business thatrsquos hard to make a living in That camaraderie is pricelessrdquo

Grinnellrsquos passion serves him well in a business where talent alone often isnrsquot enough to sup-port a family

ldquoI tell my students all the time that if theyrsquore looking for job security donrsquot look at a career in jazz musicrdquo Grinnell said adding that he makes a living cobbling together his adjunct

professorships private lessons and regular performances

Grinnell and his wife are juggling their careers while rais-ing two young sons His debut album falls into the category of West Coast-flavored straight-ahead jazz He wrote six of the nine tunes on the disc with the remaining three being covers Especially tasty are the origi-nal ldquoHit the Brakesrdquo and a jazz cover of The Beatlesrsquo Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite

Grinnell however is comfort-able playing a wide variety of styles that range from classical to funk He is a member of the Brazilian jazz-inspired Danny Green Trio (Danny Green also teaches at Grossmont College) and the modern jazz group ARC Trio among others

The Justin Grinnell Quintet will be playing three concerts at Grossmont College in the coming weeks Shows are sched-uled for Sept 28 Oct 26 and Nov 30 in Building 26 Room 220 at 630 pm A full itiner-ary of upcoming performances around the region can be found at JustinGrinnellcom

The San Diego Music Awards take place Oct 6 at Humphreys By The Bay on San Diegorsquos Shelter Island

mdashDavid Ogul writes on behalf of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Email him at ogulcommunica-tionsgmailcomu

ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the college or university levelrdquo-Justin Grinnell

LOCAL NEWS

Justin Grinnell has just released his debut jazz album which has been nominated for a San Diego Music Award (Photo by Jon Naugle)

DavidOgul

sdcnncom 13Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

AUDIT PENDING

wwwsdcnncom

123 Camino de la Reina Suite 202 EastSan Diego CA 92108

P 6195197775 bull F 619-519-7840

1

2

3

4

5

Great Value Proven Results

Community NewsNumber one source of community information Hyper-local news and features In print and online updated daily

Market SaturationCombined distribution of door-to-door delivery high traffic locations and news racks Over 200000 readers

Award Winning JournalismProud recipient of numerous ldquoExcellence in Journalism AwardsrdquoRegular recipient of local and national press awards

Audited DistributionAudited by one of the nationrsquos largest newspaper auditing firms Circulation Verification Council (CVC)Guaranteed distribution

For advertising call(619) 961-1958

mikesdcnncom

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23000 Distribution Bi-WeeklyZip Codes 92103 92104 92105 92116

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15000 Distribution Bi-WeeklyServing San Diegorsquos LGBT Community

Distributed Countywide

up along the way include thousands of football cards (both Topps and Fleer) player and coach jerseys jackets personal letters autographed footballs bobbleheads pins programs team photographs and much much more He even has a life-sized bust of Chargers wide receiver Lance Alworth which is a story in itself just ask him

This native sonrsquos collection is not limited to the San Diego Chargers but what he has gathered about them is more than impressive His comprehensive collection also includes items from the Los Angeles Chargers and every other football team that played during the AFL time period

Over the years hersquos met and interviewed dozens of players coaches and families becoming close with many of them Two of his larger per-sonal collections are of Gilman the Chargers first coach and Alworth

In 2004 he wrote ldquoCharging Through the AFL Los Angeles and San Diego Chargers football in the 1960srdquo He followed that up with ldquoBombs Away Air Coryelle and the San Diego Chargersrdquo in 2006 Both books rely heavily on interviews and photographs of their respective periods

A few years ago Tobias decided to channel his love for the AFL through his website TalesFromTheAmericanFootballLeaguecom Here Tobias shares his many interviews of the past runs a blog where he opines on the latest news of players related to the AFL deposits videos stats historical data photos and even has a forum section where others can share their love for the league and its players

He said his goal with the site is to ldquoedutain (educate and entertain) football lovers with stories about all things AFLrdquo To support his internet endeavor hersquos also taken up social media and can be followed on twitter at TalesfromtheAFL and on two locations on Facebook ldquoTales from the American Football Leaguerdquo and ldquoI loved the 1960s Chargersrdquo (a public group) On the latter he shares vintage photographs of the team and banters with the families of players He shares links back to his blog and web-site on both pages

His many follow-ers recently noticed Tobias absent from posting for a time Thatrsquos because he recently gave up approximately 85 percent of his collec-tion to pursue his dream of opening a lacrosse store in La Mesa with an old friend Despite months of hard work that opportunity never panned out Now the five pallets of blood sweat and tears that he consigned to an auction house a few months ago are sitting in a warehouse somewhere in the Midwest being individually categorized and valued in preparation for a national Internet-based auction block next spring

ldquoI was trying to trade one passion for anotherrdquo Tobias said ldquoIf Irsquod known it would have just been trading one passion for money I never would have done it but it is what it isrdquo

Deciding what to keep was a challenge but Tobias said it came down not to which collections were worth the most money but which provided him the most enjoyment

The two-dozen binders still resident on his shelves are neatly filled to the brim with pages of plastic inserts containing football cards with most every card there signed

Tobias said he pulls each binder down two or three times per week just to look through them Inside are vast collections of football cards Many are duplicated but they are categorized in dozens of ways Some collections are still incomplete mdash like his 1965 collection of every card Topps put out for that year he is only missing two out of 176 cards mdash and each time he removes that binder from the shelf he strategizes new ways he can complete that collection There is a story behind every collection and another for every card

He has some cards that hersquos certain do not exist anywhere else and he has numerous cards that had the wrong playerrsquos image printed on them in the publishing housersquos haste to get them out in advance of the new season Hersquos reached out to many of the players over the years sending along his books and asking for autographs and he has the response letters to prove it

In the wake of his failed business attempt Tobias finds himself facing a forgotten challenge looking for work

ldquoI havenrsquot had to do that since graduating collegerdquo he said ldquoFor now Irsquom just working in the back yard putting in a sprinkler system and taking my mind off of it

ldquoSan Diego can be a tough place to live in if you are a sports histo-rianrdquo he said ldquoItrsquos probably time for me to find another line of workrdquo

mdashMorgan M Hurley can be contacted at morgansdcnncomu

Todd Tobiasrsquos collections include signed football cards from the 1965 Chargers and other rare collectibles such as a bust of Lance Alworth (Photos by Morgan Hurley)

Football from page 1

14 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

CALENDAR

Prescription drug collectionSaturday Sept 27

Get rid of your unwanted expired or leftover prescription drugs at this National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day event hosted by the La Mesa Police Department and the US Drug Enforcement Administration The effort is designed to prevent prescription drug abuse Drop your drugs no questions asked from 10 am to 2 pm at the police station parking lot 8085 University Ave For other drop off locations or more informa-tion visit deadiversionusdojgov and click ldquoGot Drugsrdquo

Free electronic waste recyclingSaturday and Sunday Sept 27 ndash 28

State law prohibits disposal of certain electronic items in the trash because many of them con-tain hazardous substances The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce is hosting this free event to help residents properly recycle old televisions computers print-ers VCRs DVD players copiers scanners fax machines toner car-tridges and other approved items Microwave ovens can be disposed of for a service fee of $5 Items will be collected from 9 am to 4 pm in the parking lot between Fuddruckers restaurant and Chuze Fitness at the Grossmont Shopping Center 5500 Grossmont Center Dr The following items will not be accepted refrigerators washers dryers fluorescent light bulbs and household batteries For more details on items that will be accepted visit lamesachambercom

Generational diversity workshopTuesday Oct 2

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series profes-sional development consultant Victoria Hankins will lead a dis-cussion on the multigenerational workplace With four genera-tions working side by side in the American workforce challenges often arise regarding communi-cation styles differing workplace values and misconceptions about workplace motivators Hankins will outline the differences between the four generations and provide tips on how to effectively work in cross-generational teams The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 1030 to 1130 am in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

OktoberfestFriday through Sunday Oct 3 4 and 5

See our article on page 11 in this monthrsquos La Mesa Courier for all the details on the annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

La Mesa City Council Candidates ForumTuesday Oct 7

La Mesa mayoral candidates Art

Madrid and Mark Arapostathis will join City Council candidates Patrick Dean Mary England Pete Gregorovic and Guy McWhirter at this forum hosted and moder-ated by the Community Outreach Ministry of La Mesa First United Methodist Church in the church social hall at 4690 Palm Ave A meet-and-greet will begin at 630 pm The program begins at 7 pm All are welcome

Free blood pressure screeningTuesday Oct 7

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center 9000 Wakarusa St in La Mesa No appointment neces-sary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Senior ExpoThursday Oct 9

The city of La Mesa organizes this free event to help connect senior citizens and their families to the most helpful senior service pro-viders including La Mesa Police Department Crime Prevention Aging and Independence Services Metropolitan Transit System ldquo211rdquo Sharp Senior Resource Center Meals on Wheels DMV Senior Ombudsman Program SDGampE Medical Baseline Program Elderhelp Jewish Family Services Yellow Cab California Telephone Access Program HICAP San Diego

County District Attorneyrsquos Elder Abuse Unit and more The event will be held from 830 am to 130 pm at the La Mesa Community Center 4975 Memorial Dr A shuttle will be available from the Spring Street trolley station Organizers are asking seniors to RSVP by Oct 3 by calling 619-667-1322

Depression and bipolar disorder screeningFriday Oct 10

Dr William Brock will pres-ent a free educational seminar on the signs and symptoms of depression bipolar disorder and other anxiety disorders from 1130 am to 1230 pm Adults ages 60 and older can receive free anonymous screen-ings from Sharp Grossmont Behavioral Health Services from 1030 am to 1130 am and from 1230 pm to 130 pm The seminar and screenings will be held at the Grossmont Healthcare Districtrsquos Herrick Library at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are suggested but not required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

ldquoGot Plansrdquo Career and college fairSaturday Oct 11

High school students and their parents are invited to meet with admissions representatives from public and private universities community colleges vocational

schools and the military at this annual event organized by the Grossmont Union High School District and the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Free workshops will provide information on financial aid changes to SAT and ACT requirements transfer options between two-year colleges and four-year universities and other career topics Some workshops will be offered in Spanish and Arabic The fair is open from 1 to 4 pm at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For more information call Jason Martinez at 619-593-2713

Bunco BashSaturday Oct 11

Soroptimist International of Lemon Grove hosts this special autumn-themed Bunco event to raise money for the grouprsquos projects to help women and chil-dren in our community For $20 participants get three rounds of Bunco a door prize ticket and complimentary fall snacks and dessert Wine will be available for purchase Bunco winners receive gift baskets and raffle prizes will also be offered The event will be held from 1 to 4 pm at St John of the Cross Knights of Columbus Hall at Broadway and Columbus Drive in Lemon Grove Reservations are required Contact Gloria Ferreira at 619-466-3699 or email her at soroptgloriagmailcom

Pooch in the ParkSaturday Oct 11

Kiwanis Club of La Mesa and the Human Relations Advisory Commission will host this com-munity get-together from 9 am to noon at Harry Griffen Regional Park 9550 Milden St For $20 pet owners can enter up to two dogs into a contest show for a chance to win in one of five categories or the ldquobest in showrdquo trophy Raffle prizes giveaways and other demon-strations will round out the morning For more informa-tion contact Glenna Boemen at gab11853aolcom

Fair trade gift fair Sunday Oct 12

The St Martin of Tours Parish Hall will become a world bazaar featuring unique and handcrafted fair trade gifts deacutecor apparel and jewelry from artisans in developing countries from 8 am to 1 pm As they browse the displays created by local vendors who sell fair trade products shoppers will be able to sample or purchase fair trade refreshments including choco-late tea coffee bananas soda and Ben and Jerryrsquos ice cream The parish hall is at 7710 El Cajon Blvd in La Mesa Call 619-466-3241 for additional information

See CALENDAR page 22

sdcnncom 15Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierCALENDAR

Telephone DirectoryPolice non-emergency line 619-667-1400Fire non-emergency line 619-667-1461Animal Control 619-667-7536Graffiti removal 619-667-7560Weed abatement 619-667-1465Traffic signal maintenance 619-667-1166Streetlight maintenance 619-667-1450

Mayor Art Madrid 619-667-1100City Councilmembers 619-667-1106

EDCO 619-287-7555Helix Water District 619-466-0585Helix Water after hours emergency 619-466-3234

Gov Jerry Brown 916-445-2841US Sen Barbara Boxer 619-239-3884US Sen Dianne Feinstein 619-231-9712US Rep Susan Davis 619-280-5353State Sen Joel Anderson 619-596-3136State Assemblymember Shirley Weber 619-531-7913

Community titan Jerry Fazio announces plans to retire

A fter 35 years with the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County

Jerry Fazio has announced his retirement

Faziorsquos last day on the job as executive director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation will be Oct 24 His official retirement date following vacation will be Dec 4 three days after his 35th anniversary with the youth organization that has served hundreds of thousands of young people in the East County since its founding in 1961

Since joining the organization on Dec 1 1979 Fazio has served in several executive positions with the Girlsrsquo Club and Boys amp Girls Clubs He has also done two stints mdash the most recent of which began in July 2008 mdash as execu-tive director of the foundation a nonprofit fundraising entity

Faziorsquos honors during his career have included El Cajon Citizen of the Year in 1992 Boys amp Girls Clubs Pacific Region Executive of the Year in 2006 and National Executive Director of the Year from Boys amp Girls Clubs of America in 2007 He is known throughout San Diego for his friendly smile and fund-raising passion on behalf of the organization

ldquoHe is the instantly recog-nizable fundraiser and pitch man for our organizationrdquo said Jack Doyle board president of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation ldquoDuring his 35 years Jerry has steered the development of our new and updated facilities in El Cajon Lakeside Santee and La Mesa He leaves us a legacy to be proud of in East County We wish him well as he moves into retirementrdquo

Faziorsquos decision to retire was prompted by recent good news from doctors that he is cancer-free five years after beginning his battle against colon cancer the same disease that led to the 2008 death of his first wife Nancy

ldquoWhile preparing for my cancer

SDCNN Staff

tests I indulged in a little specu-lation about how I might handle the news whether good or badrdquo Fazio said ldquoI concluded that no matter what after 35 years the time has come for me to retire I will concentrate on my faith my health my grandchildren and my gorgeous wife Melissa And if an opportunity comes along to help a good community cause I might just do that toordquo

Faziorsquos recent work with the foundation has focused on an $89 million fundraising effort called the La Mesa Capital Campaign The campaignrsquos goal is to build a new clubhouse in La Mesa reno-vate an existing teen center in the city and fund an endowment to operate both facilities

Forrest Higgins CEO of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County will add the role of campaign coordinator to his job with the assistance from staff According to Higgins more than $5 million for the La Mesa Capital Campaign has been raised during Faziorsquos leadership

ldquoJerry has been integral part of the success and growth of the Boys amp Girls Club of East Countyrdquo Higgins said ldquoHis dedi-cation and passion to the youth and families of East County will be greatly missedrdquo

Since 1961 the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County have been meeting the developmental needs of children and youth The orga-nizationrsquos mission statement ldquoTo inspire and enable all young people especially those who need us most to become responsible caring productive citizensrdquou

Jerry Fazio (Courtesy Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County)

notice to which the couple didnrsquot respond in time to renew their five-year lease Katie said

The next they heard they had to close the bar by Nov 1

ldquoI truly believe that when one door closes another one opensrdquo says Katie Halvin who runs the bar with her husband Doug ldquoAs poignant as it is to lose the bar I know we lost it because we didnrsquot pay attention when we should haverdquo

For the past five years Katie Halvinrsquos life has been intertwined with the bar Her first date with now-husband Doug landed her there mdash an Internet connection that led to a meet up in Harry Griffen Park

ldquoWe talked for a while and then he took me to his neighborhood hangout to have a beer and shoot some poolrdquo Katie recalls Katie was retiring from the Navy as a chief torpedo man and she was ready to settle down again ldquoWe got married at the Carlton Oaks [Country Club] mdash the whole bar was thererdquo

Before long Katie and Doug took over the bar which is leased from the Ross Family Trust Calls and emails to the property man-ager were not returned

ldquoWhen we took it over there were drugs gangs uglinessrdquo she said ldquoI wonrsquot put up with thatrdquo

What was left was a band of devoted regulars a tradition of small local live music and soon local art on the walls and events supporting local artists on the calendar

Cathryn Beeks the local music guru from 1021 KPRI radio began working with Halvin in November to book homegrown and up-and-coming acts at the bar mdash which led to notable shows from the Kilborn Alley Blues Band Roni Lee and many others

ldquoItrsquos very sad that the bar is closing Itrsquos run by very special people and there isnrsquot a venue like this in San Diegordquo Beeks said ldquoI found out about them because a lot of my friends were play-ing there They had a very loyal group of musicians before I ever showed uprdquo

The Parkway is also home to a very popular and solidly booked open mic night run by local singer-songwriter Jessica Hull

The Farmers local legends who evolved from the Beat Farmers also play regularly The live music will continue intermittently with the Farmers playing the closing

night Halloween party on Oct 31For Katie Halvin the closing

isnrsquot the end Property manager Aaron Dean intends to redevelop the strip mall where the Parkway now stands into a restaurant with a full bar and microbrewery and include an outdoor music venue

ldquoHe contacted me and hired me to be the director of enter-tainment at the new venuerdquo she said ldquoThey hope to start con-struction in December and finish it by August 2015rdquo ldquoOne side of my brain is ecstatic with oppor-tunityrdquo she said ldquoThe other feels the sadness of this lossrdquo

Meanwhile the Halvins are looking around in the area to find another place to open a bar like the Parkway

ldquoItrsquos our regulars Irsquom really worried aboutrdquo she said ldquoSome are at a point where most of their friends and family are gone and we are their community and fellowship We know who has cancer who has a new baby we know who to check on if they donrsquot show uprdquo

mdashMarty Graham is a freelance writer Email her at martygra-hamcoxnetu

Parkway from page 1

Sycuan Resort and Casino

For exciting casino action right in your own backyard therersquos nowhere closer than Sycuan Casino With Vegas-style gaming scrumptious dining options live headliner entertainment and nearby golf resort yoursquoll find your-self coming back again and again

You can choose from 2000 video amp reel slots as well as video poker For you card players there are more than 40 tables to play Blackjack ThreendashCard amp FourndashCard Poker Sycuanndashstyle craps and roulette

Enjoy the fresh air in the nonndashsmoking room with more than 350 slot machines 9 gaming tables Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet and a Poker Room with daily tourna-ments ndash all smokendashfree

For your dining pleasure Sycuan offers five different res-

taurant options to tempt your taste buds For those looking for a variety of delectable options Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet is an all-you-can-eat feast featuring slow-roasted Prime Rib buttery crab legs and over 100 fresh selec-tions and delicious dessert bar There isnrsquot a bad seat in the house at GameDay Sports Bar amp Grill where you can catch the big game on 39 large screen televisions 16 beers on tap with full cocktail selection delicious food menu and 29 bar-top video poker machines to play while you root on your team

With excellent acoustics and state-of-the-art sound and light-ing Sycuan Live amp Up Close is San Diegorsquos premiere venue for live entertainment Bringing exciting crowd pleasing acts from all musical genres therersquos something for everyone on their concert calendar

Just a short drive nearby Sycuan Golf Resort offers San Diegorsquos only 54-hole golf facility Exciting course play includes

3007 Dehesa RdEl Cajon CA 92019800-457-5568sycuanresortcom

mature tree-lined fairways eleva-tion changes water features and impeccable greens No matter if yoursquore a seasoned player or a first-timer the two challenging 18-hole championship golf courses and fun 18-hole par 3 course are guaranteed to give you unforget-table experiences from beginning to end To complete your stay-cat-ion enjoy one of their 100 spacious hotel rooms all recently remodeled and offer beautiful views of the golf courses pools and private putting greens If golf isnrsquot in your plans you can pamper yourself with a relaxing spa service

Not only is Sycuan the closest casino to downtown they offer free shuttle bus rides from a number of convenient locations throughout San Diego County For more infor-mation please visit Sycuancom

Guests must be 18 or older to enter casino 21 or older to enter theatre and Sports Bar Please play responsibly

Get away for the day at Sycuan CasinohellipReal Friendly Real Closeu

16 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

Short-term hands-on programs

Half-day classes 4 days a week

Monthly payment plans available

wwwtheaccountingacademycom

PETSlsquoOh where oh where has my little dog gonersquoSariReis

The only thing more devas-tating to a pet parent than

when their furry kid is missing is to have them never return Yet this sad scenario occurs every day Walk through any neighborhood and you will see the signs posted on trees and telephone poles ldquoMissing Our beloved dog Skippyrdquo These heart-rending pleas for help are always accompanied by a photograph of a sweet furry face and the offer of a reward for their return

As pet parents one of our pri-mary responsibilities is to keep our pets safe To do this we need to keep them securely confined in our homes our backyards or on leashes If your dog has access to the backyard be certain it is entirely fenced in with no poten-tial escape routes Make sure all gates are locked when you or anyone else goes in or out Inform pool service people landscap-ers or gardeners that you have a dog in the yard and the gate must be secured at all times Be particularly careful when enter-ing or leaving your home Open doors slowly to ensure a cat or dog is not lurking nearby ready to make a quick escape Never leave the door open for any length of time Even an indoor kitty may be curious if the door is left open for a minute or two Tell visitors cleaning ladies and anyone else who may have access to your home that you have pets and they are not to be let out

Some people like to give their dogs off-leash time on city streets in their neighborhoods They believe their pup is well-trained and will come on command and not run away But the sight of a

squirrel or stray cat can waylay the best trained dog and send them on a chase Many of these dogs never make it back home

There are also those feline parents who believe it is essen-tial to a catrsquos well-being for them to investigate and play outdoors Although the kitties may enjoy outdoor time it is very danger-ous With rattlesnakes coyotes stray dogs and traffic many out-door kitties never make it home again and soon become one of those sad notices posted on a tree

Even with the best inten-tions our pets may still make an escape Your best opportunity in getting them back is to ensure they can be identified Put an ID

tag on their collar listing your name and phone number and microchip them Although there are numerous companies that offer microchips and monitoring services one of the best is ldquoHome Againrdquo If you do microchip your pet remember to notify the man-ufacturer if you move or change your phone number Although the cost of micro-chipping is very reasonable many shelters and veterinary clinics hold spe-cial micro-chipping days so you can get your pets done for a dis-counted price Having your pet micro-chipped greatly increases the potential of getting him home again Can you actually put a price tag on that

ldquoHome Againrdquo stated that one out of three pets will go missing during their lifetime Make sure that one isnrsquot yours

mdashSari 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 missionvalley-petsittingcomu

One out of three pets will

go missing during their

lifetime

Lucille a 5-year-old spayed Labrador RetrieverAustralian Cattle Dog mix is

an energetic lady with tons of love to give her new family She has a friendly personality with everyone she meets and loves to learn new tricks She already knows commands such as sit down shake crawl beg and is currently learning how to wave ldquobye-byerdquo She is very treat-motivated and eager to please

She is very smart and outgoing and has gotten along well with other dogs on social walks This silly girl is always smiling and ready for a new adventure Born a true athlete she would love to participate in future training and would make an excellent workout partner Adequate exercise and mental stimulation are a must for this spirited lady

Lucille will do best in an active home with older children or adults She has a lot of love to give and may benefit from having another dog in the family as long as she meets them first to make sure theyrsquore a good match

Her adoption fee includes her spay current vaccinations permanent microchip identification a certificate for a free veterinary exam 30 days of complimentary medical insurance and a license for residents of Oceanside or Vista

Lucille is available for adoption at the San Diego Humane Society 5500 Gaines St in San Diego To learn more about Lucille call 619-299-7012u

Adopt a pet Looking for a home

LucilleBreed Labrador Retriever Australian Cattle Dog mixAge 5 years old Gender Female (spayed)Colors Black and WhiteID 142265Adoption Fee $9500

ADOPTION HOURSWeekdays 11 am ndash 6 pm Weekends 11 am ndash 5 pm

SD Humane Society amp SPCA5500 Gaines St (92110)

619-299-7012 | sdhumaneorg

(ThinkStock)

sdcnncom 17Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Foothiller FootstepsAdvanced Placement curriculum exposes students to college-level study

Helix HighlightsMaking students college-ready

Connie and LynnBaer

JenniferOsborn

A parent of a Helix Charter High School student once

noted that her daughter was never asked ldquoAre you going to collegerdquo Instead she was asked ldquoWhere are you going to collegerdquo A subtle difference in wording but a vast difference in meaning

Helixrsquos mission states ldquoHelix Charter High School provides a comprehensive education that prepares all students to gradu-

ate college-ready and equipped to reach their personal and aca-demic potentialrdquo

While the belief at Helix is not that every graduate needs to attend college in order to be suc-cessful it is definitely our goal to ensure that every graduate has the option to continue their edu-cation if they so choose

For the class of 2014 82 per-cent of Helix graduates stated they planned to attend college Forty-five percent went directly to a four-year college and 37 percent planned to attend two-

year institutions Approximately 12 percent attend University of California schools and 22 per-cent attend San Diego State or other California State University campuses

Support classroom projectsHave you heard of Donors

Choose Donors Choose is an online charity started by a class-room teacher from the Bronx New York He and his colleagues had great ideas for their students but no funding to bring their ideas to fruition

On the Donors Choose website teachers post classroom project requests and visitors to the web-site can help grant the teachersrsquo wishes by donating any amount big or small to their projects Donors Choose allows everyone to be a philanthropist

Over the past few years Helix teachers have been the recipi-ents of hundreds of thousands of dollars in supplies for classroom projects that would otherwise not have been possible Be a part of it Visit the website at donorschooseorg and search ldquoHelix La Mesardquo in the search box

Students shine nationallyThis past summer four Helix

Speech amp Debate team member students went to Kansas City Miski Abdi Spencer McCall Rebeca McClellan and Rachel Orey each qualified to compete in the National Forensics League National Championships McCall was a semifinalist in Student Senate and a quarterfinalist in Impromptu Orey was an octafi-nalist in Poetry

What else is going on at HelixLenelle Wyliersquos honors biology

classes have been accepted to attend the Science Lecture Series at the Scripps Research Institute

Jeff Kepperrsquos Oceanography class will be working with the

Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute and raising white sea bass in the classroom This is the second group of white sea bass raised by Helix students

Highland Players present The Odd Couple by Neil Simon Nov 5-8 and Nov 13-14 at 7 pm in the Black Box Theater They will perform both the original laquomaleraquo version and the ldquofemalerdquo version in repertory Tickets are $10 and will be available at helixdramaweeblycom or at the door Performances may sell out so buy early

Take a tourFinally we are always inter-

ested in letting our community know about Helix Charter High School The Excellence in Education Tour is offered twice a month and is open to anyone who wishes to attend It is a one-hour tour and program that highlights our vision history accomplish-ments goals and needs This monthrsquos tours will take place on Tuesday October 7 from 830 ndash 930 am and Thursday October 23 from 530 ndash 630 pm More information can be found at helix-charternet We hope to see you there

mdashJennifer Osborn is the com-munity relations officer for Helix Charter High School Email her at josbornhelixcharternetu

A commitment to educational excellence has always been a

part of the culture of Grossmont High School In the 1980s Grossmont began offering a new curriculum mdash Advanced Placement mdash that challenges the high school student to master a rigorous college-level curricu-lum Each May the students may then take the AP Exam Passing the exam with a score of 3 4 or 5 will in most cases translate to the student receiv-ing college credit or course exemption

In 1981 Grossmont English teacher Kay Adams offered an after-school tutorial for her senior students who wanted to take the AP English Language and Composition Exam Twenty-one students met with her to receive preparation for the exam all 21 students passed the exam with five stu-dents receiving a 5 the highest score

ldquoI learned more than I ever taughtrdquo Adams said ldquoThose students were the brightest minds I ever metrdquo

Beginning in 1982 AP

courses became a yearly English course offering

Other challenges presented themselves to early AP teach-ers In the 1980s through 1996 Sue Emerson AP Biology teacher found ways to cre-atively schedule her class On Wednesdays the students came in an hour early to complete the sophisticated experiments the curriculum required

ldquoOne fun activity was a nation-wide project studying wetlandsrdquo Emerson recalled ldquoThe students shared information with schools around the country via telecom-munication from their study of the Tijuana River Estuaryrdquo

Today Grossmont offers 15 different honors courses which prepare the students for the diverse variety of subsequent 19 Advanced Placement courses

Art AP Art History Studio Drawing 2-D Design

Business AP Computer Science

English AP Literature and Composition Language and Composition

Language AP Spanish Language Spanish Literature and Culture French Language and Culture

Math AP Calculus StatisticsPerforming Arts AP Music

Advanced Placement Theory

Science AP Biology Environmental Science Physics

Social Science AP European History US History Psychology US Government

Over the years the curriculum has evolved AP French Language and Culture teacher Azita Mahmoudi noted that the ldquoAP test has changed from a narrow grammar-based test to an open-ended test based on cultural knowledgerdquo

ldquoPhysics isnrsquot dif-ficult It only has the reputation of being dif-ficultrdquo said longtime AP Physics teacher Tom Eklund

Eklundrsquos creative lessons include the one shown in the 2012 photograph of student Jessie Hodges dropping his project off the bleachers and measuring its fall

During the past five years the number of tests taken by Grossmont students has risen from 453 in 2009 to 646 in 2014 While the passing rate dropped from 65 to 58 percent in those

same years more Foothillers were given the opportunity to challenge themselves and prepare for post secondary education

A continuing goal of Grossmont staff is to have more enrolled students take the test however each test costs $89 with many students taking more than one test

Those wishing to sponsor one or more tests with a tax-deduct-

ible donation may contribute to the GHS Educational Foundationrsquos AP Scholarship Fund by sending a check to GHS Educational Foundation PO Box 1043 La Mesa CA 91944

ldquoGrossmont High School is proud to support our honors and Advanced Placement curricu-lumrdquo said Principal Dan Barnes ldquoWe are very excited to see the very high increase in partici-pation in our courses over the past three years and contin-ued success by our

teachers and students shown in their AP exam pass ratesrdquo

Visit Grossmont and wit-ness firsthand a campus that celebrates it heritage and embraces its future Regular public hours are noon to 4 pm on Wednesday Oct 1 and Nov 5 or by appointment

Contact the Grossmont High School Museum by phone at 619-668-6140 or by email at ghs-museumguhsdnetu

AP Physics students participate in an experiment at Grossmont High School in 2012 (Courtesy GHS Museum)

18 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

PUZZLESSUDOKU

Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9 Each number can appear only once in each row column and 3x3 block Use logic and process elimination to solve the puzzle

copy 2014 Janric Enterprises Dist by creatorscom

CROSSWORD

Business 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 wwwGotFreedomcom Call 858-278-2120 Your future is counting on you (1214)

For SaleNICE 1BD HOUSE IN LA MESA LIVDEN LG KITCHEN BATH WD LG BEDROOM NICE SUNDECK $1000 INCLUDES GE WATER TRASH CALL CLARA 6194650591 (0914)

Sweet male and female Tea-cup Yorkie 12 weeks old $500 Will be 4 lbs at full growth Microchiped shots and dewormed coming with registration papers mlcpetsyahoocom 661-858-0633 (0914)

NoticesWIDOW OR WIDOWER Interested in social activities You are welcome to join our club Widows or Widowers (WOW) of San Diego Website wwwwowsdorg Phone 619-448-6088 (0914)

ServicesJennarsquos Barber Shoppe Styling for men women amp children Wheelchair friendly Old time expert

haircuts at affordable prices Colors amp perms 7424 Jackson Dr1A (across from Keilrsquos in Bank of America lot) Tues-Fri 830-530pm Sat 830-noon Walk-ins or By appt 619-644-3669 (1214)

Lindarsquos Puppy Love licensed insured pet sitting service offering daily walks cat care overnight stays-your home lots of love 619-857-3674 wwwlindaspuppylovecom (615)

Locksmith - Discount Deadbolts and Rekeying - security door viewers patio door locks simulated alarms magnetic door stops Cliff Henderson 619-840-3327 - Lic LCO4353 - Bonded - Never a trip charge (0615)

Quality exterior carpentry Decks Fences Patio Covers and Termite Repair Lic365241 wwwaactionbuildersofsandiegocom Bob 619-275-1493 (415)

Bathtubs and sinks refinished like new San Carlos based business for over 25 years - same owner Lic560438 wwwsaveatubsdcom 619-464-5141 (0115)

German Setter Tile and Marble Professional marbletile setter with 28 years experience European craftsmanship Punctual amp dependable License 872804 Contact Jens Sedemund 619-415-6789 or jensgermansettercom (1214)

Dan Patterson HandymanCarpentry Repair and replacement of plumbing electrical repair installation of water heaters doors windows cabinets flooring fencing Pressure washing of driveways all phases of

Finding Senior Housing can be complex but it doesnrsquot have to be

(800) 217-3942A Place for Mom is the nationrsquos largest senior living referral

information service We do not own operate endorse or recommend any senior living community We are paid by partner communities

so our services are completely free to families

ldquoYou can trust A Place for Mom to help yourdquo

ndash Joan Lunden

BUSINESS amp SERVICES

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 (1214)

BARGAIN BOYZ CONSTRUCTIONREPAIRS 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 jimmysupancoxnet (1014)

PLUMBERhellipLicensed and Insured Over 25 years experience La Mesa resident OwnerOperator Reasonable rates Courteous service Lic 527864 Call Peter 619-698-0313 wwwFelberPlumbingcom (0914)

ROOFING Lic 691295-C39 Veteran owned Allied Gardens based Celebrating 20 years Full roof amp repair Free est Veteran amp Senior discounts 619-823-7208 (615)

WantedHelping Hands Animal Sanctuary seeks laundry detergent (all free and clear) and fabric softener (Downey free and gentle) 619-460-6679 (0914)

Job WantedNanny seeking work certified bkgd ck CPR First Aide 20 years experience wchildren and babies Great references Call Peggy 619-246-6572 or 512-755-0813

ANSWERS ON PAGE 20

Experienced amp Professional

Renee Differ

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INDIVIDUALS amp BUSINESSES

SAME SEX MARRIAGE FILING

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Ideal PlumbingHeating

Air amp ElectricalWater heaters garbage disposals drain cleaning Video pipe inspections water softeners amp filtration Faucets and toilets Visit our Show-room (06-12)

Serving ourcommunity since 1960

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PLUMBING

sdcnncom 19Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierPUZZLES CLASSIFIEDS

Sudoku amp Crosswordpuzzle answers from

page 19

The Academic Senate at Grossmont College last

month honored math instruc-tor Michael Lambe a Mt Helix resident with the Distinguished Faculty award the first ever for a part-time member of the col-lege faculty

Lambersquos 36 years as part-time instructor at Grossmont College concurrent to his 39-year teach-ing career with the Grossmont Union High School District gave him a unique perspective and insight on nurturing stu-dent success His dual career has made him especially aware of the need to make the transi-tion from high school to college as seamless as possible and to ensure secondary level curricu-lum prepares students for higher education

His interaction between Grossmont College and Monte Vista High School where he was chair of the math depart-

Math teacher is Grossmont Collegersquos part-time instructor of the year

ment made him a natural to help develop the first articula-tion agreement between the college and high school which helps students smoothly transi-tion without duplicating classes or experiencing delays

It wasnrsquot just students who benefitted from Lambersquos experi-ence with both systems When

driver education was eliminated from the high school curriculum and instructors were facing lay-offs he worked with the high school and college districts to develop a two-year program that prepared the former driver edu-cation instructors to acquire the teaching credentials needed to become math instructors

ldquoItrsquos been a fantastic career mdash Irsquove been blessedrdquo Lambe said

Following his retirement from the high school district Lambe was recruited four years ago as the collegersquos part-time senate officer with the Academic Senate and chair of the of the Academic Senate Part-Time Committee As head of the new committee he began tackling issues like office hours college governance and academic rank on behalf of part-timers

ldquoMichael has unified the [Academic Senatersquos Part-Time] committee and made it the most respected and cohesive voice for part-time faculty on the campusrdquo said one of his colleagues in a nomination for Lambe for the Distinguished Faculty award ldquoHe has brought part-time faculty issues into the college governance conversation as never before and helped part-time faculty be better informed through excellent professional development activities and communicationsrdquo

Lambe described his efforts on behalf of part-time instructors as a way of paying it forward

ldquoEven as a part-timer I have done a lot of things that full-time department members dordquo he said ldquoThis is my profession mdash my calling and my love This

award is the greatest honor I have ever received My col-leagues couldnrsquot have given me anything greater and to be the first recipient is tremendousrdquo

In addition to honoring Lambe for his achievements as a member of the part-time faculty the academic senate also honored Spanish instruc-tor Yolanda Guerrero with the Distinguished Faculty award for full-time faculty

President Sunita V Cooke said Lambe and Guerrero exem-plify Grossmont Collegersquos faculty members who are passionate about teaching and motivated to boost their profession and their colleagues

ldquoThe campus community owes a debt of gratitude to fac-ulty members with that kind of dedicationrdquo she said ldquoTheir generosity is an inspiration to us allrdquo

At Cuyamaca College Spanish instructor Patricia Santana won the Outstanding Faculty Award for full-time tenured faculty Arabic instructor Aklas Sheia won the award for outstanding part-time faculty

mdashDella Elliott is public information assistant for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College Districtu

DellaElliott

Michael Lambe gives a math lesson something hersquos been doing for nearly four decades in local classrooms (Courtesy Grossmont College)

20 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

Join us for a 3-course dinner and information on Chronic back pain causes and solutions Recent advances in back pain relief Different surgical options QampA with leading San Diego spine specialist

Presented by Choll Kim MD PhD a San Diego Magazine ldquoTop Doctorrdquo and Medical Director of the Advanced SpineInstitute at Alvarado Hospital ndash named Americarsquos 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgerytrade and Orthopedic Surgerytrade in 2014

Cost $10person Seating is limited mdash RSVP requiredCall (619) 229-4548 to register

Location Terra Bistro7091 El Cajon Blvd San Diego 92115

MONDAY SEPT 29 6-8 PMTERRA AMERICAN BISTRO

AlvaradoHospitalcom | (619) 287-3270

Zucchini pancakes

Whatrsquos Cooking with

Julie AnnWhite

Julie

Grate away on your box grater to create this deli-

cious dinner side dish Herersquos a savory treat to serve with a salad or light chicken or fish meal They are a little bit addictive and really easy to make

Serves four (makes six small pancakes)

Ingredients3 medium zucchini grated on a box grater or food processor12 red or yellow onion grated2 large eggs lightly beaten8 Tbsp Panko bread crumbs (flour can be used instead)1 tsp baking powder1 tsp kosher saltPinch of black pepper2 Tbsp butter14 cup olive oil for frying

DirectionsGrate the zucchini and onion into a medium bowl Press with a

few paper towels to absorb juice Add remaining ingredients and stir well If batter is runny add more breadcrumbs or flour Heat large skillet and melt butter and oil over medium heat Drop the zucchini mixture into six to eight golf ball-sized gently patted pancakes Cook until golden brown Serve warmu

Put down your iPhone 6 push aside your Samsung Note 4

and turn off the TV La Mesa is asking its citizens to invest some time in one of their 14 local parks for Park Appreciation Day Oct 18

ldquoThis community event demon-strates the spirit and commitment that La Mesans have for their public facilitiesrdquo said Yvonne Garrett assistant city manager and director of community ser-vices in La Mesa ldquoLocal residents and visitors have a sense of own-ership and take pride in La Mesa parks Park Appreciation Day is an opportunity for individuals to share that enthusiasm with friends and neighborsrdquo

The impetus for La Mesa Park Appreciation Day began in 2005 when a member of a local church congregation contacted the city to ask whether their church could take on a community project in La Mesa said Garrett who is also staff director for La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation

Because the city had recently eliminated several temporary park maintenance worker posi-tions and had received a similar request for a local project from another organization city staff thought it would be a good idea

Citizen groups pitch in for Park Appreciation Day

to gather the various groups to help clean up the parks prompting the creation of Park Appreciation Day

La Mesa community services manager Mike Pacheco said he has been impressed with the pride La Mesans have in their community as well as their desire to volunteer for the city

ldquoParks and recreation pro-grams bring tremendous benefits to people of all agesrdquo Pacheco said ldquoThey contribute to help-ing us live longer better lives through active pursuits new life skills educational programs and safe activities Great parks and programs also help build a stronger community connecting individuals families and groups through the power of play Recreation programs and engag-ing exciting facilities help keep kids active and off the streetsrdquo

Park Appreciation Day proj-ects include spreading mulch planting flowers and painting picnic tables and restrooms Pacheco said

Since its inception several local groups have consistently volun-teered each year Christ Lutheran Church Journey Church Helix Interact Club Friends of Canine Corners Kiwanis Club of La Mesa La Mesa Rotary La Mesa Beautiful La Mesa Lions Club and La Mesa Police Department

Last year more than 150 vol-unteers participated on Park

Appreciation Day and removed 22 cubic yards of green material plus nine cubic yards of trash according to Garrett

Although most of La Mesarsquos parks have the same groups cleaning them every year Porter Park Fitness Plaza located at 8425 University Ave is still without a group Porter needs additional native plants installed in some areas in the beds Garrett said

Disclosure Writer Genevieve A Suzuki serves as a commissioner for the La Mesa Community Services Commission and is a member of La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation She is happy to put away her iPhone Oct 18 to help clean her local parku

Genevieve Suzuki

Make La Mesa beautifulInterested in getting

involved with La Mesa Park Appreciation Day Oct 18 Want to encourage your civic church or social group to adopt a park

All ages are welcome to par-ticipate Signed waivers are required Parents must accom-pany children under 18 at the parks unless their children are with a supervised group

Sign up by calling 619-667-1304 or email communitycila-mesacaus

sdcnncom 21Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierDINING LOCAL NEWS

New Patient Special

bull SedationDentistrybull Implantsbull Same-DayCrownsbull LaserTreatmentbull Invisalign

Wersquove been in practice for over

25 years in La Mesa

$113 for exam x-rays oral cancer screening and cleaning

In absence of gum disease A $520 value

Donrsquot avoid the dentist Remove the anxiety and fear with Sedation Dentistry

A Shop For Smiles

Dr Hagstrom619-465-5252 | 8923 La Mesa Blvd | La Mesa CA 91942

wwwashopforsmilescom

Visit us today

Baseball book signingSunday Oct 12

Geoff Miller mental skills coach for the Atlanta Braves will discuss and sign copies of his new book ldquoIntangibles Big-League Stories and Strategies for Winning the Mental Game mdash in Baseball and in Liferdquo at 2 pm at Barnes amp Noble 5500 Grossmont Center Dr

Diverse Capacities workshopWednesday Oct 15

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Mariko Peshon will lead a work-shop focusing on the physical emotional and social abilities and disabilities that often go unrec-ognized and unaccommodated in our communities The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

East County Intergenerational GamesTuesday Oct 16

Active adults ages 50 and older will team up with kids between the ages of 7 and 12 for a morning of fun noncompetitive activi-ties at La Mesa Middle School 4200 Parks Ave from 830 am to noon The games include street hockey shot frisbee toss ldquoskeeballrdquo pitch t-ball and trivia games Snacks and lunch are included Interested adults must register in advance by contacting the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center at 619-667-1322

Introduction to home caregivingSaturday Oct 18

Caring for a loved one at home often involves transfers personal care proper body mechanics and other specific skills and knowl-edge Learn and practice the basics with a registered nurse at this event from 9 am to 1 pm in classroom 1314 of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Brier Patch Campus 9000 Wakarusa St Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or

register online at sharpcom

Workshop Finding Your Voice in the Social Justice MovementTuesday Oct 21

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Kenyon Whitman will lead an interactive workshop exploring social justice concepts how to develop a leadership style and creative ways to effectively com-municate in diverse groups The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the stu-dent center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

Medicare and drug cover-age updates for 2015Friday Oct 24

A free lecture will cover Medicare insurance changes for 2015 Medicare Parts A B D HMOs and more Presented by Community Education Specialist Pablo Corona the lec-ture will also cover the Medicare Saving Program and Extra-Help Program that assist with prescription costs for Medicare Parts B and D The talk begins at 10 am at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Lung function screeningWednesday Oct 29

Do you have trouble catching your breath after a short walk The Pulmonary Department at Sharp Grossmont Hospital will offer a free basic lung function test from 9 am to 2 pm for anyone who has not yet seen a doctor about breathing prob-lems The screening will be held at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center Building F Room 16 9000 Wakarusa St Appointments are required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Free blood pressure screeningFriday Oct 17

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center 8450 La Mesa Blvd No appointment necessary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Park Appreciation DaySaturday Oct 18

Groups of volunteers will get to work on projects to beautify and improve parks across town from 8 am to noon All ages are welcome but children under the age of 18 need to submit a waiver signed by a parent or legal guard-ian If your church or civic group wants to get involved call 619-667-1300 or email communitycila-mesacaus

lsquoHowl-oweenrsquo dog cos-tume contest and picnicSaturday Oct 18

Dress up your dogs in a cute or spooky Halloween costume and bring them out to Canine Corners the dog park at Harry Griffen Regional Park between 11 am and 3 pm Proud pet par-ents will have the chance to get their poochrsquos picture taken at the pumpkin patch as well as meet representatives from animal rescue groups the county sheriffrsquos K-9 unit and other vendors The costume contest begins at 1130 am A hot dog picnic lunch will be offered for $3 Canine Corners volunteers will accept donations to help with the maintenance of the dog park

Picnic with the parrotsSunday Oct 26

At Socal Parrotrsquos annual fundraising event attendees have a rare chance to view the non-profit organizationrsquos reha-bilitation facility meet animals talk with experts observe live art bid in a silent auction and buy into a raffle Based in Jamul SoCal Parrot works to protect and care for wild and endan-gered parrots across the region Tickets to the all-day fundrais-ing event range from $32 to $100 and can be purchased online at socalparrotorgu

Calendar from page 15

Send details of your com-munity events to the editor at jeremysdcnncom Deadline is the third Friday of the month

22 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 CALENDAR

Why a fiscally conservative vote-by-mail plan got no GOP love

A bill that would drastically change the way San Diego

Countyrsquos special elections are run passed without any Republican help mdash it got just two votes total from GOP lawmakers in Sacramento

It might surprise you to learn then that when the idea first emerged Democrats helped lead the charge against it

How some leading party mem-bers reversed course in just a few years says a lot about the current political landscape and the future of elections in San Diego County

Democrats wrote the current bill mdash which would create a five-year pilot program in San Diego County that would make spe-cial elections for open seats run primarily by mail with a drasti-cally reduced number of polling places mdash and they led the politi-cal charge for it

But Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez the billrsquos author remembers how hard she fought to kill the idea of vote-by-mail elections years ago

ldquoWhat happens I think so often is there is this attachment to the status quo therersquos fear about changing thingsrdquo Gonzalez said

Gonzalez said her mind was changed by a couple factors One is that she discovered during her years as a labor advocate that voters who had a ballot mailed to them before the election were roughly five times more likely to actually vote

The other she said is she realized the county was spend-ing a huge amount more per person who voted at the polls versus by mail

County officials said that in the March 2013 special election to fill the vacant 40th state Senate district seat they spent $221 per

Ari Bloomekatz

in-person voter verses $9 per mail voter

Then therersquos the fact that pathetic voter turnout in each of the last several elections has favored Republican candidates across the board

ldquoWe have all watched as voter turnout has plummeted in recent elections and itrsquos our responsi-bility to do something about itrdquo Gonzalez wrote in a press release after the bill passed

Some observers speculated that some Republicans simply didnrsquot support the bill because it was being led by promi-nent Democrats like Gonzalez (Gonzalez agrees thatrsquos probably true)

But if you want to understand why GOP support was so hard to come by for a bill steeped in fiscally conservative principles and that originated from a con-servative San Diego County government consider these three points

Republicans seized on civil rights groupsrsquo hesitation

Some of the strongest initial opposition to the vote-by-mail legislation came from civil rights groups concerned the new pro-cedures could disenfranchise immigrants and the disabled

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund initially opposed the bill but dropped its opposition after working with Gonzalez and San Diego County officials on protec-

tions for immigrantsStill MALDEF and other

groups wouldnrsquot officially support the measure

ldquoThere is some research out there that shows that mail-in ballots do have an adverse impact on minority votersrdquo said Denise Hulett an attorney with MALDEF

Hulett said MALDEF supports testing out vote-by-mail but isnrsquot sold on it yet

Those groupsrsquo reluctance had an impact on Republican legislators like Escondido Assemblywoman Marie Waldron She said she didnrsquot feel comfortable signing on to a bill without MALDEF and other civil rights groupsrsquo support

ldquoI have to wonder if this is disenfranchising a significant number of people that vote at the pollsrdquo Waldron said ldquoWhat about the people who are maybe you know possibly visually impaired or something like thatrdquo

The money wasnrsquot enoughSan Diego County Registrar

Michael Vu strongly supports the pilot program and believes it could trim costs by 30 - 40 percent

But somehow the cost-savings issue wasnrsquot enough to win over the vast majority of Republican legislators

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez said he thought the cost-savings touted by Democrats were only rough estimates and was not inclined to vote for a bill just

because of those projectionsldquoAs Irsquove said a number of times

before all these bills that theyrsquore putting through hellip really doesnrsquot address the issue of what wersquore trying to do which is get more people to voterdquo he said

Instead of just moving imme-diately to vote-by-mail Chavez wants to create a bipartisan special committee to study new voting technologies

Republicans fear voter fraud

Republicansrsquo fear of potential voter fraud through expansion of vote-by-mail overshadowed potential economic gains

The bill ldquoincludes no protec-tions to ensure the integrity and security of all-mail elections While interesting we need to be careful changing election lawsrdquo wrote Amanda Fulkerson of the Assembly Republican Caucus which advocated fiercely against the bill

ldquoRight now our members feel that we should not jeopardize our consistent voting system until we have further facts and statistics on all-mail electionsrdquo Fulkerson wrote

Republicans believed the threat of fraud would be compounded by another voting-related bill moving through the legislature at the same time

That bill would change the rules about how long mail ballots can be received and counted after an election

Currently vote-by-mail ballots must be received by election offi-cials before polls close on the day of the election The new law would allow ballots to be received no later than three days after the election (if it was time-stamped or post-marked on or before Election Day)

Assembly Republicans feared the two bills combined could allow for abuse of the system

State Sen Joel Anderson was one Republican who voted against the mail-counting bill but in favor of Gonzalezrsquos vote-by-mail effort

Anderson said that he voted against the mail-counting bill because he saw it as ldquocompletely gaming the systemrdquo but believes the vote-by-mail bill is ldquobetter for the voters itrsquos better for my constituentsrdquo

Put yourselves in the shoes of

Vu and other county officials for a minute

Nearly every time an election comes up the county spends anywhere from $1 million to $12 million-plus and organizes hordes of poll workers and pre-cincts across the county

And what happens at the end of the day

Turnout is generally low and increasing numbers of residents opt to vote by mail anyway

As Vu tells it he just wants to save the county money and acknowledge the changing winds when it comes to vote-by-mail

But nothing is ever as simple as a dollar saved in Sacramento mdash especially when it comes to something as fundamental as how voters choose their elected officials

Gonzalez said most people do not understand how difficult this bill was to pass politically Sure Republicans barley supported it but there was strong opposition from many Democrats too The instinct to preserve the status quo when it comes to elections among legislators in Sacramento is strong she said

ldquoIt was kind of funny Irsquom in Republican land carrying this bill pissing off Democrats and voting rights groups and minor-ity groupsrdquo she said ldquoI had to convince everybody that this is OK that change is OKrdquo

Brown has until Sept 30 to sign the bill

mdashAri Bloomekatz is an inves-tigative reporter for Voice of San Diego focusing on county govern-ment You can reach him directly at aribloomekatzvoiceofsandi-egoorg or 619-550-5669u

(Courtesy Flickr user bludgeoner86Creative Commons)

Voice of San Diego

sdcnncom 23Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

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SPRING VALLEY bull $362000LA MESA bull $499000CARDIFF BY THE SEA bull $525000

Spacious Sweetwater Springs home on corner lot Recently updated kitchen amp bath w granite countertops SS appl wine refrigerator and wood floors Upstairs BRs w mirrored wardrobe doors and ceiling fans Sliding doors to private view deck ideal for watching the sunset

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YVETTE WOODS 6199223436

Laurarsquos Solds 2014 bull (619) 540-7744 bull LauraLothianRealEstatecomMost Homes Sold in La Mesa Last 11 Years

Want your home sold Ask a busy agent Call Laura Lothian TODAY 6195407744

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Source TrendGraphix MLS data for zip codes 91941 amp 91942 January 1 2003 to January 1 2014

24 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

Music professorrsquos jazz album wins acclaim

Follow your passionThat has been a guiding

principal for Grossmont College music instructor and jazz bassist extraordinaire Justin Grinnell who ditched plans to study mathematics shortly after enrolling at San Diego State University back in 1999 and meeting musicians ldquowho were doing music all the timerdquo

Good thing Grinnell has become an integral part of a vibrant Grossmont College music program and gigs as a pit orchestra member at myriad venues including the Old Globe La Jolla Playhouse and the San Diego Civic Theatre for a number of Tony Award-winning musicals

And now his debut disc the Justin Grinnell Quartetrsquos Without You has been nomi-nated for a San Diego Music Award for best jazz album

Grinnell is no stranger to awards He is a member of the Danny Green Trio which won the 2009 San Diego Music Award for Best Jazz Album for its debut CD The triorsquos second release A Thousand Ways Home reached No 17 on the Jazz Week Charts for national radio airplay after its 2012 debut

ldquoIrsquom doing what I loverdquo said Grinnell who is on track to earn his Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern California next spring ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the col-lege or university levelrdquo

Grinnell has earned praise from the best in the business

ldquoNot only is Justin a fantastic person but he is such an accom-plished musician a great sight reader which is so important because we do all kinds of tricky music and having someone who is able to read so well is an invalu-able asset and hersquos adept in a lot of different musical stylesrdquo said critically-acclaimed Jazz guitar-ist and composer Peter Sprague ldquoHe also has just such a wonder-ful spirit when it comes to playing music Irsquom really happy to know him and being able to play with him from time to timerdquo

A native of Santa Rosa California Grinnell initially planned to study mathematics and become an engineer But after enrolling in a few music classes at San Diego State and jamming with newfound friends he switched gears It was while he was at SDSU that Grinnell began gigging with future Grossmont College Music Department chair Derek Cannon and met his future wife Melonie a pianist who also teaches music at Grossmont College

With both a bachelorrsquos and masterrsquos degree in jazz perfor-mance from San Diego State in hand Grinnell began working in 2005 as an adjunct music profes-

sor at Grossmont College He also serves as an adjunct music professor at the University of San Diego and taught part time at Southwestern College from 2008 to 2011

ldquoGrossmont College is specialrdquo Grinnell said ldquoIt feels like family here Everyone is part of a com-munity that is working together on behalf of our students doing our best to help them succeed in a business thatrsquos hard to make a living in That camaraderie is pricelessrdquo

Grinnellrsquos passion serves him well in a business where talent alone often isnrsquot enough to sup-port a family

ldquoI tell my students all the time that if theyrsquore looking for job security donrsquot look at a career in jazz musicrdquo Grinnell said adding that he makes a living cobbling together his adjunct

professorships private lessons and regular performances

Grinnell and his wife are juggling their careers while rais-ing two young sons His debut album falls into the category of West Coast-flavored straight-ahead jazz He wrote six of the nine tunes on the disc with the remaining three being covers Especially tasty are the origi-nal ldquoHit the Brakesrdquo and a jazz cover of The Beatlesrsquo Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite

Grinnell however is comfort-able playing a wide variety of styles that range from classical to funk He is a member of the Brazilian jazz-inspired Danny Green Trio (Danny Green also teaches at Grossmont College) and the modern jazz group ARC Trio among others

The Justin Grinnell Quintet will be playing three concerts at Grossmont College in the coming weeks Shows are sched-uled for Sept 28 Oct 26 and Nov 30 in Building 26 Room 220 at 630 pm A full itiner-ary of upcoming performances around the region can be found at JustinGrinnellcom

The San Diego Music Awards take place Oct 6 at Humphreys By The Bay on San Diegorsquos Shelter Island

mdashDavid Ogul writes on behalf of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Email him at ogulcommunica-tionsgmailcomu

ldquoThe only thing I really want to do is keep working with great musicians perform with the jazz masters and teach jazz at the college or university levelrdquo-Justin Grinnell

LOCAL NEWS

Justin Grinnell has just released his debut jazz album which has been nominated for a San Diego Music Award (Photo by Jon Naugle)

DavidOgul

sdcnncom 13Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

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123 Camino de la Reina Suite 202 EastSan Diego CA 92108

P 6195197775 bull F 619-519-7840

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Award Winning JournalismProud recipient of numerous ldquoExcellence in Journalism AwardsrdquoRegular recipient of local and national press awards

Audited DistributionAudited by one of the nationrsquos largest newspaper auditing firms Circulation Verification Council (CVC)Guaranteed distribution

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Distributed Countywide

up along the way include thousands of football cards (both Topps and Fleer) player and coach jerseys jackets personal letters autographed footballs bobbleheads pins programs team photographs and much much more He even has a life-sized bust of Chargers wide receiver Lance Alworth which is a story in itself just ask him

This native sonrsquos collection is not limited to the San Diego Chargers but what he has gathered about them is more than impressive His comprehensive collection also includes items from the Los Angeles Chargers and every other football team that played during the AFL time period

Over the years hersquos met and interviewed dozens of players coaches and families becoming close with many of them Two of his larger per-sonal collections are of Gilman the Chargers first coach and Alworth

In 2004 he wrote ldquoCharging Through the AFL Los Angeles and San Diego Chargers football in the 1960srdquo He followed that up with ldquoBombs Away Air Coryelle and the San Diego Chargersrdquo in 2006 Both books rely heavily on interviews and photographs of their respective periods

A few years ago Tobias decided to channel his love for the AFL through his website TalesFromTheAmericanFootballLeaguecom Here Tobias shares his many interviews of the past runs a blog where he opines on the latest news of players related to the AFL deposits videos stats historical data photos and even has a forum section where others can share their love for the league and its players

He said his goal with the site is to ldquoedutain (educate and entertain) football lovers with stories about all things AFLrdquo To support his internet endeavor hersquos also taken up social media and can be followed on twitter at TalesfromtheAFL and on two locations on Facebook ldquoTales from the American Football Leaguerdquo and ldquoI loved the 1960s Chargersrdquo (a public group) On the latter he shares vintage photographs of the team and banters with the families of players He shares links back to his blog and web-site on both pages

His many follow-ers recently noticed Tobias absent from posting for a time Thatrsquos because he recently gave up approximately 85 percent of his collec-tion to pursue his dream of opening a lacrosse store in La Mesa with an old friend Despite months of hard work that opportunity never panned out Now the five pallets of blood sweat and tears that he consigned to an auction house a few months ago are sitting in a warehouse somewhere in the Midwest being individually categorized and valued in preparation for a national Internet-based auction block next spring

ldquoI was trying to trade one passion for anotherrdquo Tobias said ldquoIf Irsquod known it would have just been trading one passion for money I never would have done it but it is what it isrdquo

Deciding what to keep was a challenge but Tobias said it came down not to which collections were worth the most money but which provided him the most enjoyment

The two-dozen binders still resident on his shelves are neatly filled to the brim with pages of plastic inserts containing football cards with most every card there signed

Tobias said he pulls each binder down two or three times per week just to look through them Inside are vast collections of football cards Many are duplicated but they are categorized in dozens of ways Some collections are still incomplete mdash like his 1965 collection of every card Topps put out for that year he is only missing two out of 176 cards mdash and each time he removes that binder from the shelf he strategizes new ways he can complete that collection There is a story behind every collection and another for every card

He has some cards that hersquos certain do not exist anywhere else and he has numerous cards that had the wrong playerrsquos image printed on them in the publishing housersquos haste to get them out in advance of the new season Hersquos reached out to many of the players over the years sending along his books and asking for autographs and he has the response letters to prove it

In the wake of his failed business attempt Tobias finds himself facing a forgotten challenge looking for work

ldquoI havenrsquot had to do that since graduating collegerdquo he said ldquoFor now Irsquom just working in the back yard putting in a sprinkler system and taking my mind off of it

ldquoSan Diego can be a tough place to live in if you are a sports histo-rianrdquo he said ldquoItrsquos probably time for me to find another line of workrdquo

mdashMorgan M Hurley can be contacted at morgansdcnncomu

Todd Tobiasrsquos collections include signed football cards from the 1965 Chargers and other rare collectibles such as a bust of Lance Alworth (Photos by Morgan Hurley)

Football from page 1

14 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

CALENDAR

Prescription drug collectionSaturday Sept 27

Get rid of your unwanted expired or leftover prescription drugs at this National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day event hosted by the La Mesa Police Department and the US Drug Enforcement Administration The effort is designed to prevent prescription drug abuse Drop your drugs no questions asked from 10 am to 2 pm at the police station parking lot 8085 University Ave For other drop off locations or more informa-tion visit deadiversionusdojgov and click ldquoGot Drugsrdquo

Free electronic waste recyclingSaturday and Sunday Sept 27 ndash 28

State law prohibits disposal of certain electronic items in the trash because many of them con-tain hazardous substances The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce is hosting this free event to help residents properly recycle old televisions computers print-ers VCRs DVD players copiers scanners fax machines toner car-tridges and other approved items Microwave ovens can be disposed of for a service fee of $5 Items will be collected from 9 am to 4 pm in the parking lot between Fuddruckers restaurant and Chuze Fitness at the Grossmont Shopping Center 5500 Grossmont Center Dr The following items will not be accepted refrigerators washers dryers fluorescent light bulbs and household batteries For more details on items that will be accepted visit lamesachambercom

Generational diversity workshopTuesday Oct 2

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series profes-sional development consultant Victoria Hankins will lead a dis-cussion on the multigenerational workplace With four genera-tions working side by side in the American workforce challenges often arise regarding communi-cation styles differing workplace values and misconceptions about workplace motivators Hankins will outline the differences between the four generations and provide tips on how to effectively work in cross-generational teams The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 1030 to 1130 am in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

OktoberfestFriday through Sunday Oct 3 4 and 5

See our article on page 11 in this monthrsquos La Mesa Courier for all the details on the annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

La Mesa City Council Candidates ForumTuesday Oct 7

La Mesa mayoral candidates Art

Madrid and Mark Arapostathis will join City Council candidates Patrick Dean Mary England Pete Gregorovic and Guy McWhirter at this forum hosted and moder-ated by the Community Outreach Ministry of La Mesa First United Methodist Church in the church social hall at 4690 Palm Ave A meet-and-greet will begin at 630 pm The program begins at 7 pm All are welcome

Free blood pressure screeningTuesday Oct 7

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center 9000 Wakarusa St in La Mesa No appointment neces-sary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Senior ExpoThursday Oct 9

The city of La Mesa organizes this free event to help connect senior citizens and their families to the most helpful senior service pro-viders including La Mesa Police Department Crime Prevention Aging and Independence Services Metropolitan Transit System ldquo211rdquo Sharp Senior Resource Center Meals on Wheels DMV Senior Ombudsman Program SDGampE Medical Baseline Program Elderhelp Jewish Family Services Yellow Cab California Telephone Access Program HICAP San Diego

County District Attorneyrsquos Elder Abuse Unit and more The event will be held from 830 am to 130 pm at the La Mesa Community Center 4975 Memorial Dr A shuttle will be available from the Spring Street trolley station Organizers are asking seniors to RSVP by Oct 3 by calling 619-667-1322

Depression and bipolar disorder screeningFriday Oct 10

Dr William Brock will pres-ent a free educational seminar on the signs and symptoms of depression bipolar disorder and other anxiety disorders from 1130 am to 1230 pm Adults ages 60 and older can receive free anonymous screen-ings from Sharp Grossmont Behavioral Health Services from 1030 am to 1130 am and from 1230 pm to 130 pm The seminar and screenings will be held at the Grossmont Healthcare Districtrsquos Herrick Library at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are suggested but not required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

ldquoGot Plansrdquo Career and college fairSaturday Oct 11

High school students and their parents are invited to meet with admissions representatives from public and private universities community colleges vocational

schools and the military at this annual event organized by the Grossmont Union High School District and the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Free workshops will provide information on financial aid changes to SAT and ACT requirements transfer options between two-year colleges and four-year universities and other career topics Some workshops will be offered in Spanish and Arabic The fair is open from 1 to 4 pm at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For more information call Jason Martinez at 619-593-2713

Bunco BashSaturday Oct 11

Soroptimist International of Lemon Grove hosts this special autumn-themed Bunco event to raise money for the grouprsquos projects to help women and chil-dren in our community For $20 participants get three rounds of Bunco a door prize ticket and complimentary fall snacks and dessert Wine will be available for purchase Bunco winners receive gift baskets and raffle prizes will also be offered The event will be held from 1 to 4 pm at St John of the Cross Knights of Columbus Hall at Broadway and Columbus Drive in Lemon Grove Reservations are required Contact Gloria Ferreira at 619-466-3699 or email her at soroptgloriagmailcom

Pooch in the ParkSaturday Oct 11

Kiwanis Club of La Mesa and the Human Relations Advisory Commission will host this com-munity get-together from 9 am to noon at Harry Griffen Regional Park 9550 Milden St For $20 pet owners can enter up to two dogs into a contest show for a chance to win in one of five categories or the ldquobest in showrdquo trophy Raffle prizes giveaways and other demon-strations will round out the morning For more informa-tion contact Glenna Boemen at gab11853aolcom

Fair trade gift fair Sunday Oct 12

The St Martin of Tours Parish Hall will become a world bazaar featuring unique and handcrafted fair trade gifts deacutecor apparel and jewelry from artisans in developing countries from 8 am to 1 pm As they browse the displays created by local vendors who sell fair trade products shoppers will be able to sample or purchase fair trade refreshments including choco-late tea coffee bananas soda and Ben and Jerryrsquos ice cream The parish hall is at 7710 El Cajon Blvd in La Mesa Call 619-466-3241 for additional information

See CALENDAR page 22

sdcnncom 15Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierCALENDAR

Telephone DirectoryPolice non-emergency line 619-667-1400Fire non-emergency line 619-667-1461Animal Control 619-667-7536Graffiti removal 619-667-7560Weed abatement 619-667-1465Traffic signal maintenance 619-667-1166Streetlight maintenance 619-667-1450

Mayor Art Madrid 619-667-1100City Councilmembers 619-667-1106

EDCO 619-287-7555Helix Water District 619-466-0585Helix Water after hours emergency 619-466-3234

Gov Jerry Brown 916-445-2841US Sen Barbara Boxer 619-239-3884US Sen Dianne Feinstein 619-231-9712US Rep Susan Davis 619-280-5353State Sen Joel Anderson 619-596-3136State Assemblymember Shirley Weber 619-531-7913

Community titan Jerry Fazio announces plans to retire

A fter 35 years with the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County

Jerry Fazio has announced his retirement

Faziorsquos last day on the job as executive director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation will be Oct 24 His official retirement date following vacation will be Dec 4 three days after his 35th anniversary with the youth organization that has served hundreds of thousands of young people in the East County since its founding in 1961

Since joining the organization on Dec 1 1979 Fazio has served in several executive positions with the Girlsrsquo Club and Boys amp Girls Clubs He has also done two stints mdash the most recent of which began in July 2008 mdash as execu-tive director of the foundation a nonprofit fundraising entity

Faziorsquos honors during his career have included El Cajon Citizen of the Year in 1992 Boys amp Girls Clubs Pacific Region Executive of the Year in 2006 and National Executive Director of the Year from Boys amp Girls Clubs of America in 2007 He is known throughout San Diego for his friendly smile and fund-raising passion on behalf of the organization

ldquoHe is the instantly recog-nizable fundraiser and pitch man for our organizationrdquo said Jack Doyle board president of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation ldquoDuring his 35 years Jerry has steered the development of our new and updated facilities in El Cajon Lakeside Santee and La Mesa He leaves us a legacy to be proud of in East County We wish him well as he moves into retirementrdquo

Faziorsquos decision to retire was prompted by recent good news from doctors that he is cancer-free five years after beginning his battle against colon cancer the same disease that led to the 2008 death of his first wife Nancy

ldquoWhile preparing for my cancer

SDCNN Staff

tests I indulged in a little specu-lation about how I might handle the news whether good or badrdquo Fazio said ldquoI concluded that no matter what after 35 years the time has come for me to retire I will concentrate on my faith my health my grandchildren and my gorgeous wife Melissa And if an opportunity comes along to help a good community cause I might just do that toordquo

Faziorsquos recent work with the foundation has focused on an $89 million fundraising effort called the La Mesa Capital Campaign The campaignrsquos goal is to build a new clubhouse in La Mesa reno-vate an existing teen center in the city and fund an endowment to operate both facilities

Forrest Higgins CEO of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County will add the role of campaign coordinator to his job with the assistance from staff According to Higgins more than $5 million for the La Mesa Capital Campaign has been raised during Faziorsquos leadership

ldquoJerry has been integral part of the success and growth of the Boys amp Girls Club of East Countyrdquo Higgins said ldquoHis dedi-cation and passion to the youth and families of East County will be greatly missedrdquo

Since 1961 the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County have been meeting the developmental needs of children and youth The orga-nizationrsquos mission statement ldquoTo inspire and enable all young people especially those who need us most to become responsible caring productive citizensrdquou

Jerry Fazio (Courtesy Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County)

notice to which the couple didnrsquot respond in time to renew their five-year lease Katie said

The next they heard they had to close the bar by Nov 1

ldquoI truly believe that when one door closes another one opensrdquo says Katie Halvin who runs the bar with her husband Doug ldquoAs poignant as it is to lose the bar I know we lost it because we didnrsquot pay attention when we should haverdquo

For the past five years Katie Halvinrsquos life has been intertwined with the bar Her first date with now-husband Doug landed her there mdash an Internet connection that led to a meet up in Harry Griffen Park

ldquoWe talked for a while and then he took me to his neighborhood hangout to have a beer and shoot some poolrdquo Katie recalls Katie was retiring from the Navy as a chief torpedo man and she was ready to settle down again ldquoWe got married at the Carlton Oaks [Country Club] mdash the whole bar was thererdquo

Before long Katie and Doug took over the bar which is leased from the Ross Family Trust Calls and emails to the property man-ager were not returned

ldquoWhen we took it over there were drugs gangs uglinessrdquo she said ldquoI wonrsquot put up with thatrdquo

What was left was a band of devoted regulars a tradition of small local live music and soon local art on the walls and events supporting local artists on the calendar

Cathryn Beeks the local music guru from 1021 KPRI radio began working with Halvin in November to book homegrown and up-and-coming acts at the bar mdash which led to notable shows from the Kilborn Alley Blues Band Roni Lee and many others

ldquoItrsquos very sad that the bar is closing Itrsquos run by very special people and there isnrsquot a venue like this in San Diegordquo Beeks said ldquoI found out about them because a lot of my friends were play-ing there They had a very loyal group of musicians before I ever showed uprdquo

The Parkway is also home to a very popular and solidly booked open mic night run by local singer-songwriter Jessica Hull

The Farmers local legends who evolved from the Beat Farmers also play regularly The live music will continue intermittently with the Farmers playing the closing

night Halloween party on Oct 31For Katie Halvin the closing

isnrsquot the end Property manager Aaron Dean intends to redevelop the strip mall where the Parkway now stands into a restaurant with a full bar and microbrewery and include an outdoor music venue

ldquoHe contacted me and hired me to be the director of enter-tainment at the new venuerdquo she said ldquoThey hope to start con-struction in December and finish it by August 2015rdquo ldquoOne side of my brain is ecstatic with oppor-tunityrdquo she said ldquoThe other feels the sadness of this lossrdquo

Meanwhile the Halvins are looking around in the area to find another place to open a bar like the Parkway

ldquoItrsquos our regulars Irsquom really worried aboutrdquo she said ldquoSome are at a point where most of their friends and family are gone and we are their community and fellowship We know who has cancer who has a new baby we know who to check on if they donrsquot show uprdquo

mdashMarty Graham is a freelance writer Email her at martygra-hamcoxnetu

Parkway from page 1

Sycuan Resort and Casino

For exciting casino action right in your own backyard therersquos nowhere closer than Sycuan Casino With Vegas-style gaming scrumptious dining options live headliner entertainment and nearby golf resort yoursquoll find your-self coming back again and again

You can choose from 2000 video amp reel slots as well as video poker For you card players there are more than 40 tables to play Blackjack ThreendashCard amp FourndashCard Poker Sycuanndashstyle craps and roulette

Enjoy the fresh air in the nonndashsmoking room with more than 350 slot machines 9 gaming tables Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet and a Poker Room with daily tourna-ments ndash all smokendashfree

For your dining pleasure Sycuan offers five different res-

taurant options to tempt your taste buds For those looking for a variety of delectable options Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet is an all-you-can-eat feast featuring slow-roasted Prime Rib buttery crab legs and over 100 fresh selec-tions and delicious dessert bar There isnrsquot a bad seat in the house at GameDay Sports Bar amp Grill where you can catch the big game on 39 large screen televisions 16 beers on tap with full cocktail selection delicious food menu and 29 bar-top video poker machines to play while you root on your team

With excellent acoustics and state-of-the-art sound and light-ing Sycuan Live amp Up Close is San Diegorsquos premiere venue for live entertainment Bringing exciting crowd pleasing acts from all musical genres therersquos something for everyone on their concert calendar

Just a short drive nearby Sycuan Golf Resort offers San Diegorsquos only 54-hole golf facility Exciting course play includes

3007 Dehesa RdEl Cajon CA 92019800-457-5568sycuanresortcom

mature tree-lined fairways eleva-tion changes water features and impeccable greens No matter if yoursquore a seasoned player or a first-timer the two challenging 18-hole championship golf courses and fun 18-hole par 3 course are guaranteed to give you unforget-table experiences from beginning to end To complete your stay-cat-ion enjoy one of their 100 spacious hotel rooms all recently remodeled and offer beautiful views of the golf courses pools and private putting greens If golf isnrsquot in your plans you can pamper yourself with a relaxing spa service

Not only is Sycuan the closest casino to downtown they offer free shuttle bus rides from a number of convenient locations throughout San Diego County For more infor-mation please visit Sycuancom

Guests must be 18 or older to enter casino 21 or older to enter theatre and Sports Bar Please play responsibly

Get away for the day at Sycuan CasinohellipReal Friendly Real Closeu

16 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

Short-term hands-on programs

Half-day classes 4 days a week

Monthly payment plans available

wwwtheaccountingacademycom

PETSlsquoOh where oh where has my little dog gonersquoSariReis

The only thing more devas-tating to a pet parent than

when their furry kid is missing is to have them never return Yet this sad scenario occurs every day Walk through any neighborhood and you will see the signs posted on trees and telephone poles ldquoMissing Our beloved dog Skippyrdquo These heart-rending pleas for help are always accompanied by a photograph of a sweet furry face and the offer of a reward for their return

As pet parents one of our pri-mary responsibilities is to keep our pets safe To do this we need to keep them securely confined in our homes our backyards or on leashes If your dog has access to the backyard be certain it is entirely fenced in with no poten-tial escape routes Make sure all gates are locked when you or anyone else goes in or out Inform pool service people landscap-ers or gardeners that you have a dog in the yard and the gate must be secured at all times Be particularly careful when enter-ing or leaving your home Open doors slowly to ensure a cat or dog is not lurking nearby ready to make a quick escape Never leave the door open for any length of time Even an indoor kitty may be curious if the door is left open for a minute or two Tell visitors cleaning ladies and anyone else who may have access to your home that you have pets and they are not to be let out

Some people like to give their dogs off-leash time on city streets in their neighborhoods They believe their pup is well-trained and will come on command and not run away But the sight of a

squirrel or stray cat can waylay the best trained dog and send them on a chase Many of these dogs never make it back home

There are also those feline parents who believe it is essen-tial to a catrsquos well-being for them to investigate and play outdoors Although the kitties may enjoy outdoor time it is very danger-ous With rattlesnakes coyotes stray dogs and traffic many out-door kitties never make it home again and soon become one of those sad notices posted on a tree

Even with the best inten-tions our pets may still make an escape Your best opportunity in getting them back is to ensure they can be identified Put an ID

tag on their collar listing your name and phone number and microchip them Although there are numerous companies that offer microchips and monitoring services one of the best is ldquoHome Againrdquo If you do microchip your pet remember to notify the man-ufacturer if you move or change your phone number Although the cost of micro-chipping is very reasonable many shelters and veterinary clinics hold spe-cial micro-chipping days so you can get your pets done for a dis-counted price Having your pet micro-chipped greatly increases the potential of getting him home again Can you actually put a price tag on that

ldquoHome Againrdquo stated that one out of three pets will go missing during their lifetime Make sure that one isnrsquot yours

mdashSari 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 missionvalley-petsittingcomu

One out of three pets will

go missing during their

lifetime

Lucille a 5-year-old spayed Labrador RetrieverAustralian Cattle Dog mix is

an energetic lady with tons of love to give her new family She has a friendly personality with everyone she meets and loves to learn new tricks She already knows commands such as sit down shake crawl beg and is currently learning how to wave ldquobye-byerdquo She is very treat-motivated and eager to please

She is very smart and outgoing and has gotten along well with other dogs on social walks This silly girl is always smiling and ready for a new adventure Born a true athlete she would love to participate in future training and would make an excellent workout partner Adequate exercise and mental stimulation are a must for this spirited lady

Lucille will do best in an active home with older children or adults She has a lot of love to give and may benefit from having another dog in the family as long as she meets them first to make sure theyrsquore a good match

Her adoption fee includes her spay current vaccinations permanent microchip identification a certificate for a free veterinary exam 30 days of complimentary medical insurance and a license for residents of Oceanside or Vista

Lucille is available for adoption at the San Diego Humane Society 5500 Gaines St in San Diego To learn more about Lucille call 619-299-7012u

Adopt a pet Looking for a home

LucilleBreed Labrador Retriever Australian Cattle Dog mixAge 5 years old Gender Female (spayed)Colors Black and WhiteID 142265Adoption Fee $9500

ADOPTION HOURSWeekdays 11 am ndash 6 pm Weekends 11 am ndash 5 pm

SD Humane Society amp SPCA5500 Gaines St (92110)

619-299-7012 | sdhumaneorg

(ThinkStock)

sdcnncom 17Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Foothiller FootstepsAdvanced Placement curriculum exposes students to college-level study

Helix HighlightsMaking students college-ready

Connie and LynnBaer

JenniferOsborn

A parent of a Helix Charter High School student once

noted that her daughter was never asked ldquoAre you going to collegerdquo Instead she was asked ldquoWhere are you going to collegerdquo A subtle difference in wording but a vast difference in meaning

Helixrsquos mission states ldquoHelix Charter High School provides a comprehensive education that prepares all students to gradu-

ate college-ready and equipped to reach their personal and aca-demic potentialrdquo

While the belief at Helix is not that every graduate needs to attend college in order to be suc-cessful it is definitely our goal to ensure that every graduate has the option to continue their edu-cation if they so choose

For the class of 2014 82 per-cent of Helix graduates stated they planned to attend college Forty-five percent went directly to a four-year college and 37 percent planned to attend two-

year institutions Approximately 12 percent attend University of California schools and 22 per-cent attend San Diego State or other California State University campuses

Support classroom projectsHave you heard of Donors

Choose Donors Choose is an online charity started by a class-room teacher from the Bronx New York He and his colleagues had great ideas for their students but no funding to bring their ideas to fruition

On the Donors Choose website teachers post classroom project requests and visitors to the web-site can help grant the teachersrsquo wishes by donating any amount big or small to their projects Donors Choose allows everyone to be a philanthropist

Over the past few years Helix teachers have been the recipi-ents of hundreds of thousands of dollars in supplies for classroom projects that would otherwise not have been possible Be a part of it Visit the website at donorschooseorg and search ldquoHelix La Mesardquo in the search box

Students shine nationallyThis past summer four Helix

Speech amp Debate team member students went to Kansas City Miski Abdi Spencer McCall Rebeca McClellan and Rachel Orey each qualified to compete in the National Forensics League National Championships McCall was a semifinalist in Student Senate and a quarterfinalist in Impromptu Orey was an octafi-nalist in Poetry

What else is going on at HelixLenelle Wyliersquos honors biology

classes have been accepted to attend the Science Lecture Series at the Scripps Research Institute

Jeff Kepperrsquos Oceanography class will be working with the

Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute and raising white sea bass in the classroom This is the second group of white sea bass raised by Helix students

Highland Players present The Odd Couple by Neil Simon Nov 5-8 and Nov 13-14 at 7 pm in the Black Box Theater They will perform both the original laquomaleraquo version and the ldquofemalerdquo version in repertory Tickets are $10 and will be available at helixdramaweeblycom or at the door Performances may sell out so buy early

Take a tourFinally we are always inter-

ested in letting our community know about Helix Charter High School The Excellence in Education Tour is offered twice a month and is open to anyone who wishes to attend It is a one-hour tour and program that highlights our vision history accomplish-ments goals and needs This monthrsquos tours will take place on Tuesday October 7 from 830 ndash 930 am and Thursday October 23 from 530 ndash 630 pm More information can be found at helix-charternet We hope to see you there

mdashJennifer Osborn is the com-munity relations officer for Helix Charter High School Email her at josbornhelixcharternetu

A commitment to educational excellence has always been a

part of the culture of Grossmont High School In the 1980s Grossmont began offering a new curriculum mdash Advanced Placement mdash that challenges the high school student to master a rigorous college-level curricu-lum Each May the students may then take the AP Exam Passing the exam with a score of 3 4 or 5 will in most cases translate to the student receiv-ing college credit or course exemption

In 1981 Grossmont English teacher Kay Adams offered an after-school tutorial for her senior students who wanted to take the AP English Language and Composition Exam Twenty-one students met with her to receive preparation for the exam all 21 students passed the exam with five stu-dents receiving a 5 the highest score

ldquoI learned more than I ever taughtrdquo Adams said ldquoThose students were the brightest minds I ever metrdquo

Beginning in 1982 AP

courses became a yearly English course offering

Other challenges presented themselves to early AP teach-ers In the 1980s through 1996 Sue Emerson AP Biology teacher found ways to cre-atively schedule her class On Wednesdays the students came in an hour early to complete the sophisticated experiments the curriculum required

ldquoOne fun activity was a nation-wide project studying wetlandsrdquo Emerson recalled ldquoThe students shared information with schools around the country via telecom-munication from their study of the Tijuana River Estuaryrdquo

Today Grossmont offers 15 different honors courses which prepare the students for the diverse variety of subsequent 19 Advanced Placement courses

Art AP Art History Studio Drawing 2-D Design

Business AP Computer Science

English AP Literature and Composition Language and Composition

Language AP Spanish Language Spanish Literature and Culture French Language and Culture

Math AP Calculus StatisticsPerforming Arts AP Music

Advanced Placement Theory

Science AP Biology Environmental Science Physics

Social Science AP European History US History Psychology US Government

Over the years the curriculum has evolved AP French Language and Culture teacher Azita Mahmoudi noted that the ldquoAP test has changed from a narrow grammar-based test to an open-ended test based on cultural knowledgerdquo

ldquoPhysics isnrsquot dif-ficult It only has the reputation of being dif-ficultrdquo said longtime AP Physics teacher Tom Eklund

Eklundrsquos creative lessons include the one shown in the 2012 photograph of student Jessie Hodges dropping his project off the bleachers and measuring its fall

During the past five years the number of tests taken by Grossmont students has risen from 453 in 2009 to 646 in 2014 While the passing rate dropped from 65 to 58 percent in those

same years more Foothillers were given the opportunity to challenge themselves and prepare for post secondary education

A continuing goal of Grossmont staff is to have more enrolled students take the test however each test costs $89 with many students taking more than one test

Those wishing to sponsor one or more tests with a tax-deduct-

ible donation may contribute to the GHS Educational Foundationrsquos AP Scholarship Fund by sending a check to GHS Educational Foundation PO Box 1043 La Mesa CA 91944

ldquoGrossmont High School is proud to support our honors and Advanced Placement curricu-lumrdquo said Principal Dan Barnes ldquoWe are very excited to see the very high increase in partici-pation in our courses over the past three years and contin-ued success by our

teachers and students shown in their AP exam pass ratesrdquo

Visit Grossmont and wit-ness firsthand a campus that celebrates it heritage and embraces its future Regular public hours are noon to 4 pm on Wednesday Oct 1 and Nov 5 or by appointment

Contact the Grossmont High School Museum by phone at 619-668-6140 or by email at ghs-museumguhsdnetu

AP Physics students participate in an experiment at Grossmont High School in 2012 (Courtesy GHS Museum)

18 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

PUZZLESSUDOKU

Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9 Each number can appear only once in each row column and 3x3 block Use logic and process elimination to solve the puzzle

copy 2014 Janric Enterprises Dist by creatorscom

CROSSWORD

Business 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 wwwGotFreedomcom Call 858-278-2120 Your future is counting on you (1214)

For SaleNICE 1BD HOUSE IN LA MESA LIVDEN LG KITCHEN BATH WD LG BEDROOM NICE SUNDECK $1000 INCLUDES GE WATER TRASH CALL CLARA 6194650591 (0914)

Sweet male and female Tea-cup Yorkie 12 weeks old $500 Will be 4 lbs at full growth Microchiped shots and dewormed coming with registration papers mlcpetsyahoocom 661-858-0633 (0914)

NoticesWIDOW OR WIDOWER Interested in social activities You are welcome to join our club Widows or Widowers (WOW) of San Diego Website wwwwowsdorg Phone 619-448-6088 (0914)

ServicesJennarsquos Barber Shoppe Styling for men women amp children Wheelchair friendly Old time expert

haircuts at affordable prices Colors amp perms 7424 Jackson Dr1A (across from Keilrsquos in Bank of America lot) Tues-Fri 830-530pm Sat 830-noon Walk-ins or By appt 619-644-3669 (1214)

Lindarsquos Puppy Love licensed insured pet sitting service offering daily walks cat care overnight stays-your home lots of love 619-857-3674 wwwlindaspuppylovecom (615)

Locksmith - Discount Deadbolts and Rekeying - security door viewers patio door locks simulated alarms magnetic door stops Cliff Henderson 619-840-3327 - Lic LCO4353 - Bonded - Never a trip charge (0615)

Quality exterior carpentry Decks Fences Patio Covers and Termite Repair Lic365241 wwwaactionbuildersofsandiegocom Bob 619-275-1493 (415)

Bathtubs and sinks refinished like new San Carlos based business for over 25 years - same owner Lic560438 wwwsaveatubsdcom 619-464-5141 (0115)

German Setter Tile and Marble Professional marbletile setter with 28 years experience European craftsmanship Punctual amp dependable License 872804 Contact Jens Sedemund 619-415-6789 or jensgermansettercom (1214)

Dan Patterson HandymanCarpentry Repair and replacement of plumbing electrical repair installation of water heaters doors windows cabinets flooring fencing Pressure washing of driveways all phases of

Finding Senior Housing can be complex but it doesnrsquot have to be

(800) 217-3942A Place for Mom is the nationrsquos largest senior living referral

information service We do not own operate endorse or recommend any senior living community We are paid by partner communities

so our services are completely free to families

ldquoYou can trust A Place for Mom to help yourdquo

ndash Joan Lunden

BUSINESS amp SERVICES

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 (1214)

BARGAIN BOYZ CONSTRUCTIONREPAIRS 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 jimmysupancoxnet (1014)

PLUMBERhellipLicensed and Insured Over 25 years experience La Mesa resident OwnerOperator Reasonable rates Courteous service Lic 527864 Call Peter 619-698-0313 wwwFelberPlumbingcom (0914)

ROOFING Lic 691295-C39 Veteran owned Allied Gardens based Celebrating 20 years Full roof amp repair Free est Veteran amp Senior discounts 619-823-7208 (615)

WantedHelping Hands Animal Sanctuary seeks laundry detergent (all free and clear) and fabric softener (Downey free and gentle) 619-460-6679 (0914)

Job WantedNanny seeking work certified bkgd ck CPR First Aide 20 years experience wchildren and babies Great references Call Peggy 619-246-6572 or 512-755-0813

ANSWERS ON PAGE 20

Experienced amp Professional

Renee Differ

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INDIVIDUALS amp BUSINESSES

SAME SEX MARRIAGE FILING

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TAX CONSULTANT

Ideal PlumbingHeating

Air amp ElectricalWater heaters garbage disposals drain cleaning Video pipe inspections water softeners amp filtration Faucets and toilets Visit our Show-room (06-12)

Serving ourcommunity since 1960

(619) 583-7963Lic 348810

PLUMBING

sdcnncom 19Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierPUZZLES CLASSIFIEDS

Sudoku amp Crosswordpuzzle answers from

page 19

The Academic Senate at Grossmont College last

month honored math instruc-tor Michael Lambe a Mt Helix resident with the Distinguished Faculty award the first ever for a part-time member of the col-lege faculty

Lambersquos 36 years as part-time instructor at Grossmont College concurrent to his 39-year teach-ing career with the Grossmont Union High School District gave him a unique perspective and insight on nurturing stu-dent success His dual career has made him especially aware of the need to make the transi-tion from high school to college as seamless as possible and to ensure secondary level curricu-lum prepares students for higher education

His interaction between Grossmont College and Monte Vista High School where he was chair of the math depart-

Math teacher is Grossmont Collegersquos part-time instructor of the year

ment made him a natural to help develop the first articula-tion agreement between the college and high school which helps students smoothly transi-tion without duplicating classes or experiencing delays

It wasnrsquot just students who benefitted from Lambersquos experi-ence with both systems When

driver education was eliminated from the high school curriculum and instructors were facing lay-offs he worked with the high school and college districts to develop a two-year program that prepared the former driver edu-cation instructors to acquire the teaching credentials needed to become math instructors

ldquoItrsquos been a fantastic career mdash Irsquove been blessedrdquo Lambe said

Following his retirement from the high school district Lambe was recruited four years ago as the collegersquos part-time senate officer with the Academic Senate and chair of the of the Academic Senate Part-Time Committee As head of the new committee he began tackling issues like office hours college governance and academic rank on behalf of part-timers

ldquoMichael has unified the [Academic Senatersquos Part-Time] committee and made it the most respected and cohesive voice for part-time faculty on the campusrdquo said one of his colleagues in a nomination for Lambe for the Distinguished Faculty award ldquoHe has brought part-time faculty issues into the college governance conversation as never before and helped part-time faculty be better informed through excellent professional development activities and communicationsrdquo

Lambe described his efforts on behalf of part-time instructors as a way of paying it forward

ldquoEven as a part-timer I have done a lot of things that full-time department members dordquo he said ldquoThis is my profession mdash my calling and my love This

award is the greatest honor I have ever received My col-leagues couldnrsquot have given me anything greater and to be the first recipient is tremendousrdquo

In addition to honoring Lambe for his achievements as a member of the part-time faculty the academic senate also honored Spanish instruc-tor Yolanda Guerrero with the Distinguished Faculty award for full-time faculty

President Sunita V Cooke said Lambe and Guerrero exem-plify Grossmont Collegersquos faculty members who are passionate about teaching and motivated to boost their profession and their colleagues

ldquoThe campus community owes a debt of gratitude to fac-ulty members with that kind of dedicationrdquo she said ldquoTheir generosity is an inspiration to us allrdquo

At Cuyamaca College Spanish instructor Patricia Santana won the Outstanding Faculty Award for full-time tenured faculty Arabic instructor Aklas Sheia won the award for outstanding part-time faculty

mdashDella Elliott is public information assistant for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College Districtu

DellaElliott

Michael Lambe gives a math lesson something hersquos been doing for nearly four decades in local classrooms (Courtesy Grossmont College)

20 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

Join us for a 3-course dinner and information on Chronic back pain causes and solutions Recent advances in back pain relief Different surgical options QampA with leading San Diego spine specialist

Presented by Choll Kim MD PhD a San Diego Magazine ldquoTop Doctorrdquo and Medical Director of the Advanced SpineInstitute at Alvarado Hospital ndash named Americarsquos 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgerytrade and Orthopedic Surgerytrade in 2014

Cost $10person Seating is limited mdash RSVP requiredCall (619) 229-4548 to register

Location Terra Bistro7091 El Cajon Blvd San Diego 92115

MONDAY SEPT 29 6-8 PMTERRA AMERICAN BISTRO

AlvaradoHospitalcom | (619) 287-3270

Zucchini pancakes

Whatrsquos Cooking with

Julie AnnWhite

Julie

Grate away on your box grater to create this deli-

cious dinner side dish Herersquos a savory treat to serve with a salad or light chicken or fish meal They are a little bit addictive and really easy to make

Serves four (makes six small pancakes)

Ingredients3 medium zucchini grated on a box grater or food processor12 red or yellow onion grated2 large eggs lightly beaten8 Tbsp Panko bread crumbs (flour can be used instead)1 tsp baking powder1 tsp kosher saltPinch of black pepper2 Tbsp butter14 cup olive oil for frying

DirectionsGrate the zucchini and onion into a medium bowl Press with a

few paper towels to absorb juice Add remaining ingredients and stir well If batter is runny add more breadcrumbs or flour Heat large skillet and melt butter and oil over medium heat Drop the zucchini mixture into six to eight golf ball-sized gently patted pancakes Cook until golden brown Serve warmu

Put down your iPhone 6 push aside your Samsung Note 4

and turn off the TV La Mesa is asking its citizens to invest some time in one of their 14 local parks for Park Appreciation Day Oct 18

ldquoThis community event demon-strates the spirit and commitment that La Mesans have for their public facilitiesrdquo said Yvonne Garrett assistant city manager and director of community ser-vices in La Mesa ldquoLocal residents and visitors have a sense of own-ership and take pride in La Mesa parks Park Appreciation Day is an opportunity for individuals to share that enthusiasm with friends and neighborsrdquo

The impetus for La Mesa Park Appreciation Day began in 2005 when a member of a local church congregation contacted the city to ask whether their church could take on a community project in La Mesa said Garrett who is also staff director for La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation

Because the city had recently eliminated several temporary park maintenance worker posi-tions and had received a similar request for a local project from another organization city staff thought it would be a good idea

Citizen groups pitch in for Park Appreciation Day

to gather the various groups to help clean up the parks prompting the creation of Park Appreciation Day

La Mesa community services manager Mike Pacheco said he has been impressed with the pride La Mesans have in their community as well as their desire to volunteer for the city

ldquoParks and recreation pro-grams bring tremendous benefits to people of all agesrdquo Pacheco said ldquoThey contribute to help-ing us live longer better lives through active pursuits new life skills educational programs and safe activities Great parks and programs also help build a stronger community connecting individuals families and groups through the power of play Recreation programs and engag-ing exciting facilities help keep kids active and off the streetsrdquo

Park Appreciation Day proj-ects include spreading mulch planting flowers and painting picnic tables and restrooms Pacheco said

Since its inception several local groups have consistently volun-teered each year Christ Lutheran Church Journey Church Helix Interact Club Friends of Canine Corners Kiwanis Club of La Mesa La Mesa Rotary La Mesa Beautiful La Mesa Lions Club and La Mesa Police Department

Last year more than 150 vol-unteers participated on Park

Appreciation Day and removed 22 cubic yards of green material plus nine cubic yards of trash according to Garrett

Although most of La Mesarsquos parks have the same groups cleaning them every year Porter Park Fitness Plaza located at 8425 University Ave is still without a group Porter needs additional native plants installed in some areas in the beds Garrett said

Disclosure Writer Genevieve A Suzuki serves as a commissioner for the La Mesa Community Services Commission and is a member of La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation She is happy to put away her iPhone Oct 18 to help clean her local parku

Genevieve Suzuki

Make La Mesa beautifulInterested in getting

involved with La Mesa Park Appreciation Day Oct 18 Want to encourage your civic church or social group to adopt a park

All ages are welcome to par-ticipate Signed waivers are required Parents must accom-pany children under 18 at the parks unless their children are with a supervised group

Sign up by calling 619-667-1304 or email communitycila-mesacaus

sdcnncom 21Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierDINING LOCAL NEWS

New Patient Special

bull SedationDentistrybull Implantsbull Same-DayCrownsbull LaserTreatmentbull Invisalign

Wersquove been in practice for over

25 years in La Mesa

$113 for exam x-rays oral cancer screening and cleaning

In absence of gum disease A $520 value

Donrsquot avoid the dentist Remove the anxiety and fear with Sedation Dentistry

A Shop For Smiles

Dr Hagstrom619-465-5252 | 8923 La Mesa Blvd | La Mesa CA 91942

wwwashopforsmilescom

Visit us today

Baseball book signingSunday Oct 12

Geoff Miller mental skills coach for the Atlanta Braves will discuss and sign copies of his new book ldquoIntangibles Big-League Stories and Strategies for Winning the Mental Game mdash in Baseball and in Liferdquo at 2 pm at Barnes amp Noble 5500 Grossmont Center Dr

Diverse Capacities workshopWednesday Oct 15

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Mariko Peshon will lead a work-shop focusing on the physical emotional and social abilities and disabilities that often go unrec-ognized and unaccommodated in our communities The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

East County Intergenerational GamesTuesday Oct 16

Active adults ages 50 and older will team up with kids between the ages of 7 and 12 for a morning of fun noncompetitive activi-ties at La Mesa Middle School 4200 Parks Ave from 830 am to noon The games include street hockey shot frisbee toss ldquoskeeballrdquo pitch t-ball and trivia games Snacks and lunch are included Interested adults must register in advance by contacting the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center at 619-667-1322

Introduction to home caregivingSaturday Oct 18

Caring for a loved one at home often involves transfers personal care proper body mechanics and other specific skills and knowl-edge Learn and practice the basics with a registered nurse at this event from 9 am to 1 pm in classroom 1314 of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Brier Patch Campus 9000 Wakarusa St Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or

register online at sharpcom

Workshop Finding Your Voice in the Social Justice MovementTuesday Oct 21

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Kenyon Whitman will lead an interactive workshop exploring social justice concepts how to develop a leadership style and creative ways to effectively com-municate in diverse groups The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the stu-dent center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

Medicare and drug cover-age updates for 2015Friday Oct 24

A free lecture will cover Medicare insurance changes for 2015 Medicare Parts A B D HMOs and more Presented by Community Education Specialist Pablo Corona the lec-ture will also cover the Medicare Saving Program and Extra-Help Program that assist with prescription costs for Medicare Parts B and D The talk begins at 10 am at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Lung function screeningWednesday Oct 29

Do you have trouble catching your breath after a short walk The Pulmonary Department at Sharp Grossmont Hospital will offer a free basic lung function test from 9 am to 2 pm for anyone who has not yet seen a doctor about breathing prob-lems The screening will be held at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center Building F Room 16 9000 Wakarusa St Appointments are required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Free blood pressure screeningFriday Oct 17

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center 8450 La Mesa Blvd No appointment necessary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Park Appreciation DaySaturday Oct 18

Groups of volunteers will get to work on projects to beautify and improve parks across town from 8 am to noon All ages are welcome but children under the age of 18 need to submit a waiver signed by a parent or legal guard-ian If your church or civic group wants to get involved call 619-667-1300 or email communitycila-mesacaus

lsquoHowl-oweenrsquo dog cos-tume contest and picnicSaturday Oct 18

Dress up your dogs in a cute or spooky Halloween costume and bring them out to Canine Corners the dog park at Harry Griffen Regional Park between 11 am and 3 pm Proud pet par-ents will have the chance to get their poochrsquos picture taken at the pumpkin patch as well as meet representatives from animal rescue groups the county sheriffrsquos K-9 unit and other vendors The costume contest begins at 1130 am A hot dog picnic lunch will be offered for $3 Canine Corners volunteers will accept donations to help with the maintenance of the dog park

Picnic with the parrotsSunday Oct 26

At Socal Parrotrsquos annual fundraising event attendees have a rare chance to view the non-profit organizationrsquos reha-bilitation facility meet animals talk with experts observe live art bid in a silent auction and buy into a raffle Based in Jamul SoCal Parrot works to protect and care for wild and endan-gered parrots across the region Tickets to the all-day fundrais-ing event range from $32 to $100 and can be purchased online at socalparrotorgu

Calendar from page 15

Send details of your com-munity events to the editor at jeremysdcnncom Deadline is the third Friday of the month

22 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 CALENDAR

Why a fiscally conservative vote-by-mail plan got no GOP love

A bill that would drastically change the way San Diego

Countyrsquos special elections are run passed without any Republican help mdash it got just two votes total from GOP lawmakers in Sacramento

It might surprise you to learn then that when the idea first emerged Democrats helped lead the charge against it

How some leading party mem-bers reversed course in just a few years says a lot about the current political landscape and the future of elections in San Diego County

Democrats wrote the current bill mdash which would create a five-year pilot program in San Diego County that would make spe-cial elections for open seats run primarily by mail with a drasti-cally reduced number of polling places mdash and they led the politi-cal charge for it

But Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez the billrsquos author remembers how hard she fought to kill the idea of vote-by-mail elections years ago

ldquoWhat happens I think so often is there is this attachment to the status quo therersquos fear about changing thingsrdquo Gonzalez said

Gonzalez said her mind was changed by a couple factors One is that she discovered during her years as a labor advocate that voters who had a ballot mailed to them before the election were roughly five times more likely to actually vote

The other she said is she realized the county was spend-ing a huge amount more per person who voted at the polls versus by mail

County officials said that in the March 2013 special election to fill the vacant 40th state Senate district seat they spent $221 per

Ari Bloomekatz

in-person voter verses $9 per mail voter

Then therersquos the fact that pathetic voter turnout in each of the last several elections has favored Republican candidates across the board

ldquoWe have all watched as voter turnout has plummeted in recent elections and itrsquos our responsi-bility to do something about itrdquo Gonzalez wrote in a press release after the bill passed

Some observers speculated that some Republicans simply didnrsquot support the bill because it was being led by promi-nent Democrats like Gonzalez (Gonzalez agrees thatrsquos probably true)

But if you want to understand why GOP support was so hard to come by for a bill steeped in fiscally conservative principles and that originated from a con-servative San Diego County government consider these three points

Republicans seized on civil rights groupsrsquo hesitation

Some of the strongest initial opposition to the vote-by-mail legislation came from civil rights groups concerned the new pro-cedures could disenfranchise immigrants and the disabled

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund initially opposed the bill but dropped its opposition after working with Gonzalez and San Diego County officials on protec-

tions for immigrantsStill MALDEF and other

groups wouldnrsquot officially support the measure

ldquoThere is some research out there that shows that mail-in ballots do have an adverse impact on minority votersrdquo said Denise Hulett an attorney with MALDEF

Hulett said MALDEF supports testing out vote-by-mail but isnrsquot sold on it yet

Those groupsrsquo reluctance had an impact on Republican legislators like Escondido Assemblywoman Marie Waldron She said she didnrsquot feel comfortable signing on to a bill without MALDEF and other civil rights groupsrsquo support

ldquoI have to wonder if this is disenfranchising a significant number of people that vote at the pollsrdquo Waldron said ldquoWhat about the people who are maybe you know possibly visually impaired or something like thatrdquo

The money wasnrsquot enoughSan Diego County Registrar

Michael Vu strongly supports the pilot program and believes it could trim costs by 30 - 40 percent

But somehow the cost-savings issue wasnrsquot enough to win over the vast majority of Republican legislators

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez said he thought the cost-savings touted by Democrats were only rough estimates and was not inclined to vote for a bill just

because of those projectionsldquoAs Irsquove said a number of times

before all these bills that theyrsquore putting through hellip really doesnrsquot address the issue of what wersquore trying to do which is get more people to voterdquo he said

Instead of just moving imme-diately to vote-by-mail Chavez wants to create a bipartisan special committee to study new voting technologies

Republicans fear voter fraud

Republicansrsquo fear of potential voter fraud through expansion of vote-by-mail overshadowed potential economic gains

The bill ldquoincludes no protec-tions to ensure the integrity and security of all-mail elections While interesting we need to be careful changing election lawsrdquo wrote Amanda Fulkerson of the Assembly Republican Caucus which advocated fiercely against the bill

ldquoRight now our members feel that we should not jeopardize our consistent voting system until we have further facts and statistics on all-mail electionsrdquo Fulkerson wrote

Republicans believed the threat of fraud would be compounded by another voting-related bill moving through the legislature at the same time

That bill would change the rules about how long mail ballots can be received and counted after an election

Currently vote-by-mail ballots must be received by election offi-cials before polls close on the day of the election The new law would allow ballots to be received no later than three days after the election (if it was time-stamped or post-marked on or before Election Day)

Assembly Republicans feared the two bills combined could allow for abuse of the system

State Sen Joel Anderson was one Republican who voted against the mail-counting bill but in favor of Gonzalezrsquos vote-by-mail effort

Anderson said that he voted against the mail-counting bill because he saw it as ldquocompletely gaming the systemrdquo but believes the vote-by-mail bill is ldquobetter for the voters itrsquos better for my constituentsrdquo

Put yourselves in the shoes of

Vu and other county officials for a minute

Nearly every time an election comes up the county spends anywhere from $1 million to $12 million-plus and organizes hordes of poll workers and pre-cincts across the county

And what happens at the end of the day

Turnout is generally low and increasing numbers of residents opt to vote by mail anyway

As Vu tells it he just wants to save the county money and acknowledge the changing winds when it comes to vote-by-mail

But nothing is ever as simple as a dollar saved in Sacramento mdash especially when it comes to something as fundamental as how voters choose their elected officials

Gonzalez said most people do not understand how difficult this bill was to pass politically Sure Republicans barley supported it but there was strong opposition from many Democrats too The instinct to preserve the status quo when it comes to elections among legislators in Sacramento is strong she said

ldquoIt was kind of funny Irsquom in Republican land carrying this bill pissing off Democrats and voting rights groups and minor-ity groupsrdquo she said ldquoI had to convince everybody that this is OK that change is OKrdquo

Brown has until Sept 30 to sign the bill

mdashAri Bloomekatz is an inves-tigative reporter for Voice of San Diego focusing on county govern-ment You can reach him directly at aribloomekatzvoiceofsandi-egoorg or 619-550-5669u

(Courtesy Flickr user bludgeoner86Creative Commons)

Voice of San Diego

sdcnncom 23Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

Everyone in every price range deserves the quality of Sothebyrsquos Realty

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JOE SOUTHWICK 6195898224

Just listed Tastefully remodeled single level entertainerrsquos paradise Large great room with chefrsquos kitchen Private backyard with pool hot tub palapa-covered bar amp grill shade patio and sun deck

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YVETTE WOODS 6199223436

Laurarsquos Solds 2014 bull (619) 540-7744 bull LauraLothianRealEstatecomMost Homes Sold in La Mesa Last 11 Years

Want your home sold Ask a busy agent Call Laura Lothian TODAY 6195407744

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Source TrendGraphix MLS data for zip codes 91941 amp 91942 January 1 2003 to January 1 2014

24 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

AUDIT PENDING

wwwsdcnncom

123 Camino de la Reina Suite 202 EastSan Diego CA 92108

P 6195197775 bull F 619-519-7840

1

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Great Value Proven Results

Community NewsNumber one source of community information Hyper-local news and features In print and online updated daily

Market SaturationCombined distribution of door-to-door delivery high traffic locations and news racks Over 200000 readers

Award Winning JournalismProud recipient of numerous ldquoExcellence in Journalism AwardsrdquoRegular recipient of local and national press awards

Audited DistributionAudited by one of the nationrsquos largest newspaper auditing firms Circulation Verification Council (CVC)Guaranteed distribution

For advertising call(619) 961-1958

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Distributed Countywide

up along the way include thousands of football cards (both Topps and Fleer) player and coach jerseys jackets personal letters autographed footballs bobbleheads pins programs team photographs and much much more He even has a life-sized bust of Chargers wide receiver Lance Alworth which is a story in itself just ask him

This native sonrsquos collection is not limited to the San Diego Chargers but what he has gathered about them is more than impressive His comprehensive collection also includes items from the Los Angeles Chargers and every other football team that played during the AFL time period

Over the years hersquos met and interviewed dozens of players coaches and families becoming close with many of them Two of his larger per-sonal collections are of Gilman the Chargers first coach and Alworth

In 2004 he wrote ldquoCharging Through the AFL Los Angeles and San Diego Chargers football in the 1960srdquo He followed that up with ldquoBombs Away Air Coryelle and the San Diego Chargersrdquo in 2006 Both books rely heavily on interviews and photographs of their respective periods

A few years ago Tobias decided to channel his love for the AFL through his website TalesFromTheAmericanFootballLeaguecom Here Tobias shares his many interviews of the past runs a blog where he opines on the latest news of players related to the AFL deposits videos stats historical data photos and even has a forum section where others can share their love for the league and its players

He said his goal with the site is to ldquoedutain (educate and entertain) football lovers with stories about all things AFLrdquo To support his internet endeavor hersquos also taken up social media and can be followed on twitter at TalesfromtheAFL and on two locations on Facebook ldquoTales from the American Football Leaguerdquo and ldquoI loved the 1960s Chargersrdquo (a public group) On the latter he shares vintage photographs of the team and banters with the families of players He shares links back to his blog and web-site on both pages

His many follow-ers recently noticed Tobias absent from posting for a time Thatrsquos because he recently gave up approximately 85 percent of his collec-tion to pursue his dream of opening a lacrosse store in La Mesa with an old friend Despite months of hard work that opportunity never panned out Now the five pallets of blood sweat and tears that he consigned to an auction house a few months ago are sitting in a warehouse somewhere in the Midwest being individually categorized and valued in preparation for a national Internet-based auction block next spring

ldquoI was trying to trade one passion for anotherrdquo Tobias said ldquoIf Irsquod known it would have just been trading one passion for money I never would have done it but it is what it isrdquo

Deciding what to keep was a challenge but Tobias said it came down not to which collections were worth the most money but which provided him the most enjoyment

The two-dozen binders still resident on his shelves are neatly filled to the brim with pages of plastic inserts containing football cards with most every card there signed

Tobias said he pulls each binder down two or three times per week just to look through them Inside are vast collections of football cards Many are duplicated but they are categorized in dozens of ways Some collections are still incomplete mdash like his 1965 collection of every card Topps put out for that year he is only missing two out of 176 cards mdash and each time he removes that binder from the shelf he strategizes new ways he can complete that collection There is a story behind every collection and another for every card

He has some cards that hersquos certain do not exist anywhere else and he has numerous cards that had the wrong playerrsquos image printed on them in the publishing housersquos haste to get them out in advance of the new season Hersquos reached out to many of the players over the years sending along his books and asking for autographs and he has the response letters to prove it

In the wake of his failed business attempt Tobias finds himself facing a forgotten challenge looking for work

ldquoI havenrsquot had to do that since graduating collegerdquo he said ldquoFor now Irsquom just working in the back yard putting in a sprinkler system and taking my mind off of it

ldquoSan Diego can be a tough place to live in if you are a sports histo-rianrdquo he said ldquoItrsquos probably time for me to find another line of workrdquo

mdashMorgan M Hurley can be contacted at morgansdcnncomu

Todd Tobiasrsquos collections include signed football cards from the 1965 Chargers and other rare collectibles such as a bust of Lance Alworth (Photos by Morgan Hurley)

Football from page 1

14 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

CALENDAR

Prescription drug collectionSaturday Sept 27

Get rid of your unwanted expired or leftover prescription drugs at this National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day event hosted by the La Mesa Police Department and the US Drug Enforcement Administration The effort is designed to prevent prescription drug abuse Drop your drugs no questions asked from 10 am to 2 pm at the police station parking lot 8085 University Ave For other drop off locations or more informa-tion visit deadiversionusdojgov and click ldquoGot Drugsrdquo

Free electronic waste recyclingSaturday and Sunday Sept 27 ndash 28

State law prohibits disposal of certain electronic items in the trash because many of them con-tain hazardous substances The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce is hosting this free event to help residents properly recycle old televisions computers print-ers VCRs DVD players copiers scanners fax machines toner car-tridges and other approved items Microwave ovens can be disposed of for a service fee of $5 Items will be collected from 9 am to 4 pm in the parking lot between Fuddruckers restaurant and Chuze Fitness at the Grossmont Shopping Center 5500 Grossmont Center Dr The following items will not be accepted refrigerators washers dryers fluorescent light bulbs and household batteries For more details on items that will be accepted visit lamesachambercom

Generational diversity workshopTuesday Oct 2

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series profes-sional development consultant Victoria Hankins will lead a dis-cussion on the multigenerational workplace With four genera-tions working side by side in the American workforce challenges often arise regarding communi-cation styles differing workplace values and misconceptions about workplace motivators Hankins will outline the differences between the four generations and provide tips on how to effectively work in cross-generational teams The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 1030 to 1130 am in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

OktoberfestFriday through Sunday Oct 3 4 and 5

See our article on page 11 in this monthrsquos La Mesa Courier for all the details on the annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

La Mesa City Council Candidates ForumTuesday Oct 7

La Mesa mayoral candidates Art

Madrid and Mark Arapostathis will join City Council candidates Patrick Dean Mary England Pete Gregorovic and Guy McWhirter at this forum hosted and moder-ated by the Community Outreach Ministry of La Mesa First United Methodist Church in the church social hall at 4690 Palm Ave A meet-and-greet will begin at 630 pm The program begins at 7 pm All are welcome

Free blood pressure screeningTuesday Oct 7

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center 9000 Wakarusa St in La Mesa No appointment neces-sary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Senior ExpoThursday Oct 9

The city of La Mesa organizes this free event to help connect senior citizens and their families to the most helpful senior service pro-viders including La Mesa Police Department Crime Prevention Aging and Independence Services Metropolitan Transit System ldquo211rdquo Sharp Senior Resource Center Meals on Wheels DMV Senior Ombudsman Program SDGampE Medical Baseline Program Elderhelp Jewish Family Services Yellow Cab California Telephone Access Program HICAP San Diego

County District Attorneyrsquos Elder Abuse Unit and more The event will be held from 830 am to 130 pm at the La Mesa Community Center 4975 Memorial Dr A shuttle will be available from the Spring Street trolley station Organizers are asking seniors to RSVP by Oct 3 by calling 619-667-1322

Depression and bipolar disorder screeningFriday Oct 10

Dr William Brock will pres-ent a free educational seminar on the signs and symptoms of depression bipolar disorder and other anxiety disorders from 1130 am to 1230 pm Adults ages 60 and older can receive free anonymous screen-ings from Sharp Grossmont Behavioral Health Services from 1030 am to 1130 am and from 1230 pm to 130 pm The seminar and screenings will be held at the Grossmont Healthcare Districtrsquos Herrick Library at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are suggested but not required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

ldquoGot Plansrdquo Career and college fairSaturday Oct 11

High school students and their parents are invited to meet with admissions representatives from public and private universities community colleges vocational

schools and the military at this annual event organized by the Grossmont Union High School District and the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Free workshops will provide information on financial aid changes to SAT and ACT requirements transfer options between two-year colleges and four-year universities and other career topics Some workshops will be offered in Spanish and Arabic The fair is open from 1 to 4 pm at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For more information call Jason Martinez at 619-593-2713

Bunco BashSaturday Oct 11

Soroptimist International of Lemon Grove hosts this special autumn-themed Bunco event to raise money for the grouprsquos projects to help women and chil-dren in our community For $20 participants get three rounds of Bunco a door prize ticket and complimentary fall snacks and dessert Wine will be available for purchase Bunco winners receive gift baskets and raffle prizes will also be offered The event will be held from 1 to 4 pm at St John of the Cross Knights of Columbus Hall at Broadway and Columbus Drive in Lemon Grove Reservations are required Contact Gloria Ferreira at 619-466-3699 or email her at soroptgloriagmailcom

Pooch in the ParkSaturday Oct 11

Kiwanis Club of La Mesa and the Human Relations Advisory Commission will host this com-munity get-together from 9 am to noon at Harry Griffen Regional Park 9550 Milden St For $20 pet owners can enter up to two dogs into a contest show for a chance to win in one of five categories or the ldquobest in showrdquo trophy Raffle prizes giveaways and other demon-strations will round out the morning For more informa-tion contact Glenna Boemen at gab11853aolcom

Fair trade gift fair Sunday Oct 12

The St Martin of Tours Parish Hall will become a world bazaar featuring unique and handcrafted fair trade gifts deacutecor apparel and jewelry from artisans in developing countries from 8 am to 1 pm As they browse the displays created by local vendors who sell fair trade products shoppers will be able to sample or purchase fair trade refreshments including choco-late tea coffee bananas soda and Ben and Jerryrsquos ice cream The parish hall is at 7710 El Cajon Blvd in La Mesa Call 619-466-3241 for additional information

See CALENDAR page 22

sdcnncom 15Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierCALENDAR

Telephone DirectoryPolice non-emergency line 619-667-1400Fire non-emergency line 619-667-1461Animal Control 619-667-7536Graffiti removal 619-667-7560Weed abatement 619-667-1465Traffic signal maintenance 619-667-1166Streetlight maintenance 619-667-1450

Mayor Art Madrid 619-667-1100City Councilmembers 619-667-1106

EDCO 619-287-7555Helix Water District 619-466-0585Helix Water after hours emergency 619-466-3234

Gov Jerry Brown 916-445-2841US Sen Barbara Boxer 619-239-3884US Sen Dianne Feinstein 619-231-9712US Rep Susan Davis 619-280-5353State Sen Joel Anderson 619-596-3136State Assemblymember Shirley Weber 619-531-7913

Community titan Jerry Fazio announces plans to retire

A fter 35 years with the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County

Jerry Fazio has announced his retirement

Faziorsquos last day on the job as executive director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation will be Oct 24 His official retirement date following vacation will be Dec 4 three days after his 35th anniversary with the youth organization that has served hundreds of thousands of young people in the East County since its founding in 1961

Since joining the organization on Dec 1 1979 Fazio has served in several executive positions with the Girlsrsquo Club and Boys amp Girls Clubs He has also done two stints mdash the most recent of which began in July 2008 mdash as execu-tive director of the foundation a nonprofit fundraising entity

Faziorsquos honors during his career have included El Cajon Citizen of the Year in 1992 Boys amp Girls Clubs Pacific Region Executive of the Year in 2006 and National Executive Director of the Year from Boys amp Girls Clubs of America in 2007 He is known throughout San Diego for his friendly smile and fund-raising passion on behalf of the organization

ldquoHe is the instantly recog-nizable fundraiser and pitch man for our organizationrdquo said Jack Doyle board president of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation ldquoDuring his 35 years Jerry has steered the development of our new and updated facilities in El Cajon Lakeside Santee and La Mesa He leaves us a legacy to be proud of in East County We wish him well as he moves into retirementrdquo

Faziorsquos decision to retire was prompted by recent good news from doctors that he is cancer-free five years after beginning his battle against colon cancer the same disease that led to the 2008 death of his first wife Nancy

ldquoWhile preparing for my cancer

SDCNN Staff

tests I indulged in a little specu-lation about how I might handle the news whether good or badrdquo Fazio said ldquoI concluded that no matter what after 35 years the time has come for me to retire I will concentrate on my faith my health my grandchildren and my gorgeous wife Melissa And if an opportunity comes along to help a good community cause I might just do that toordquo

Faziorsquos recent work with the foundation has focused on an $89 million fundraising effort called the La Mesa Capital Campaign The campaignrsquos goal is to build a new clubhouse in La Mesa reno-vate an existing teen center in the city and fund an endowment to operate both facilities

Forrest Higgins CEO of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County will add the role of campaign coordinator to his job with the assistance from staff According to Higgins more than $5 million for the La Mesa Capital Campaign has been raised during Faziorsquos leadership

ldquoJerry has been integral part of the success and growth of the Boys amp Girls Club of East Countyrdquo Higgins said ldquoHis dedi-cation and passion to the youth and families of East County will be greatly missedrdquo

Since 1961 the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County have been meeting the developmental needs of children and youth The orga-nizationrsquos mission statement ldquoTo inspire and enable all young people especially those who need us most to become responsible caring productive citizensrdquou

Jerry Fazio (Courtesy Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County)

notice to which the couple didnrsquot respond in time to renew their five-year lease Katie said

The next they heard they had to close the bar by Nov 1

ldquoI truly believe that when one door closes another one opensrdquo says Katie Halvin who runs the bar with her husband Doug ldquoAs poignant as it is to lose the bar I know we lost it because we didnrsquot pay attention when we should haverdquo

For the past five years Katie Halvinrsquos life has been intertwined with the bar Her first date with now-husband Doug landed her there mdash an Internet connection that led to a meet up in Harry Griffen Park

ldquoWe talked for a while and then he took me to his neighborhood hangout to have a beer and shoot some poolrdquo Katie recalls Katie was retiring from the Navy as a chief torpedo man and she was ready to settle down again ldquoWe got married at the Carlton Oaks [Country Club] mdash the whole bar was thererdquo

Before long Katie and Doug took over the bar which is leased from the Ross Family Trust Calls and emails to the property man-ager were not returned

ldquoWhen we took it over there were drugs gangs uglinessrdquo she said ldquoI wonrsquot put up with thatrdquo

What was left was a band of devoted regulars a tradition of small local live music and soon local art on the walls and events supporting local artists on the calendar

Cathryn Beeks the local music guru from 1021 KPRI radio began working with Halvin in November to book homegrown and up-and-coming acts at the bar mdash which led to notable shows from the Kilborn Alley Blues Band Roni Lee and many others

ldquoItrsquos very sad that the bar is closing Itrsquos run by very special people and there isnrsquot a venue like this in San Diegordquo Beeks said ldquoI found out about them because a lot of my friends were play-ing there They had a very loyal group of musicians before I ever showed uprdquo

The Parkway is also home to a very popular and solidly booked open mic night run by local singer-songwriter Jessica Hull

The Farmers local legends who evolved from the Beat Farmers also play regularly The live music will continue intermittently with the Farmers playing the closing

night Halloween party on Oct 31For Katie Halvin the closing

isnrsquot the end Property manager Aaron Dean intends to redevelop the strip mall where the Parkway now stands into a restaurant with a full bar and microbrewery and include an outdoor music venue

ldquoHe contacted me and hired me to be the director of enter-tainment at the new venuerdquo she said ldquoThey hope to start con-struction in December and finish it by August 2015rdquo ldquoOne side of my brain is ecstatic with oppor-tunityrdquo she said ldquoThe other feels the sadness of this lossrdquo

Meanwhile the Halvins are looking around in the area to find another place to open a bar like the Parkway

ldquoItrsquos our regulars Irsquom really worried aboutrdquo she said ldquoSome are at a point where most of their friends and family are gone and we are their community and fellowship We know who has cancer who has a new baby we know who to check on if they donrsquot show uprdquo

mdashMarty Graham is a freelance writer Email her at martygra-hamcoxnetu

Parkway from page 1

Sycuan Resort and Casino

For exciting casino action right in your own backyard therersquos nowhere closer than Sycuan Casino With Vegas-style gaming scrumptious dining options live headliner entertainment and nearby golf resort yoursquoll find your-self coming back again and again

You can choose from 2000 video amp reel slots as well as video poker For you card players there are more than 40 tables to play Blackjack ThreendashCard amp FourndashCard Poker Sycuanndashstyle craps and roulette

Enjoy the fresh air in the nonndashsmoking room with more than 350 slot machines 9 gaming tables Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet and a Poker Room with daily tourna-ments ndash all smokendashfree

For your dining pleasure Sycuan offers five different res-

taurant options to tempt your taste buds For those looking for a variety of delectable options Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet is an all-you-can-eat feast featuring slow-roasted Prime Rib buttery crab legs and over 100 fresh selec-tions and delicious dessert bar There isnrsquot a bad seat in the house at GameDay Sports Bar amp Grill where you can catch the big game on 39 large screen televisions 16 beers on tap with full cocktail selection delicious food menu and 29 bar-top video poker machines to play while you root on your team

With excellent acoustics and state-of-the-art sound and light-ing Sycuan Live amp Up Close is San Diegorsquos premiere venue for live entertainment Bringing exciting crowd pleasing acts from all musical genres therersquos something for everyone on their concert calendar

Just a short drive nearby Sycuan Golf Resort offers San Diegorsquos only 54-hole golf facility Exciting course play includes

3007 Dehesa RdEl Cajon CA 92019800-457-5568sycuanresortcom

mature tree-lined fairways eleva-tion changes water features and impeccable greens No matter if yoursquore a seasoned player or a first-timer the two challenging 18-hole championship golf courses and fun 18-hole par 3 course are guaranteed to give you unforget-table experiences from beginning to end To complete your stay-cat-ion enjoy one of their 100 spacious hotel rooms all recently remodeled and offer beautiful views of the golf courses pools and private putting greens If golf isnrsquot in your plans you can pamper yourself with a relaxing spa service

Not only is Sycuan the closest casino to downtown they offer free shuttle bus rides from a number of convenient locations throughout San Diego County For more infor-mation please visit Sycuancom

Guests must be 18 or older to enter casino 21 or older to enter theatre and Sports Bar Please play responsibly

Get away for the day at Sycuan CasinohellipReal Friendly Real Closeu

16 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

Short-term hands-on programs

Half-day classes 4 days a week

Monthly payment plans available

wwwtheaccountingacademycom

PETSlsquoOh where oh where has my little dog gonersquoSariReis

The only thing more devas-tating to a pet parent than

when their furry kid is missing is to have them never return Yet this sad scenario occurs every day Walk through any neighborhood and you will see the signs posted on trees and telephone poles ldquoMissing Our beloved dog Skippyrdquo These heart-rending pleas for help are always accompanied by a photograph of a sweet furry face and the offer of a reward for their return

As pet parents one of our pri-mary responsibilities is to keep our pets safe To do this we need to keep them securely confined in our homes our backyards or on leashes If your dog has access to the backyard be certain it is entirely fenced in with no poten-tial escape routes Make sure all gates are locked when you or anyone else goes in or out Inform pool service people landscap-ers or gardeners that you have a dog in the yard and the gate must be secured at all times Be particularly careful when enter-ing or leaving your home Open doors slowly to ensure a cat or dog is not lurking nearby ready to make a quick escape Never leave the door open for any length of time Even an indoor kitty may be curious if the door is left open for a minute or two Tell visitors cleaning ladies and anyone else who may have access to your home that you have pets and they are not to be let out

Some people like to give their dogs off-leash time on city streets in their neighborhoods They believe their pup is well-trained and will come on command and not run away But the sight of a

squirrel or stray cat can waylay the best trained dog and send them on a chase Many of these dogs never make it back home

There are also those feline parents who believe it is essen-tial to a catrsquos well-being for them to investigate and play outdoors Although the kitties may enjoy outdoor time it is very danger-ous With rattlesnakes coyotes stray dogs and traffic many out-door kitties never make it home again and soon become one of those sad notices posted on a tree

Even with the best inten-tions our pets may still make an escape Your best opportunity in getting them back is to ensure they can be identified Put an ID

tag on their collar listing your name and phone number and microchip them Although there are numerous companies that offer microchips and monitoring services one of the best is ldquoHome Againrdquo If you do microchip your pet remember to notify the man-ufacturer if you move or change your phone number Although the cost of micro-chipping is very reasonable many shelters and veterinary clinics hold spe-cial micro-chipping days so you can get your pets done for a dis-counted price Having your pet micro-chipped greatly increases the potential of getting him home again Can you actually put a price tag on that

ldquoHome Againrdquo stated that one out of three pets will go missing during their lifetime Make sure that one isnrsquot yours

mdashSari 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 missionvalley-petsittingcomu

One out of three pets will

go missing during their

lifetime

Lucille a 5-year-old spayed Labrador RetrieverAustralian Cattle Dog mix is

an energetic lady with tons of love to give her new family She has a friendly personality with everyone she meets and loves to learn new tricks She already knows commands such as sit down shake crawl beg and is currently learning how to wave ldquobye-byerdquo She is very treat-motivated and eager to please

She is very smart and outgoing and has gotten along well with other dogs on social walks This silly girl is always smiling and ready for a new adventure Born a true athlete she would love to participate in future training and would make an excellent workout partner Adequate exercise and mental stimulation are a must for this spirited lady

Lucille will do best in an active home with older children or adults She has a lot of love to give and may benefit from having another dog in the family as long as she meets them first to make sure theyrsquore a good match

Her adoption fee includes her spay current vaccinations permanent microchip identification a certificate for a free veterinary exam 30 days of complimentary medical insurance and a license for residents of Oceanside or Vista

Lucille is available for adoption at the San Diego Humane Society 5500 Gaines St in San Diego To learn more about Lucille call 619-299-7012u

Adopt a pet Looking for a home

LucilleBreed Labrador Retriever Australian Cattle Dog mixAge 5 years old Gender Female (spayed)Colors Black and WhiteID 142265Adoption Fee $9500

ADOPTION HOURSWeekdays 11 am ndash 6 pm Weekends 11 am ndash 5 pm

SD Humane Society amp SPCA5500 Gaines St (92110)

619-299-7012 | sdhumaneorg

(ThinkStock)

sdcnncom 17Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Foothiller FootstepsAdvanced Placement curriculum exposes students to college-level study

Helix HighlightsMaking students college-ready

Connie and LynnBaer

JenniferOsborn

A parent of a Helix Charter High School student once

noted that her daughter was never asked ldquoAre you going to collegerdquo Instead she was asked ldquoWhere are you going to collegerdquo A subtle difference in wording but a vast difference in meaning

Helixrsquos mission states ldquoHelix Charter High School provides a comprehensive education that prepares all students to gradu-

ate college-ready and equipped to reach their personal and aca-demic potentialrdquo

While the belief at Helix is not that every graduate needs to attend college in order to be suc-cessful it is definitely our goal to ensure that every graduate has the option to continue their edu-cation if they so choose

For the class of 2014 82 per-cent of Helix graduates stated they planned to attend college Forty-five percent went directly to a four-year college and 37 percent planned to attend two-

year institutions Approximately 12 percent attend University of California schools and 22 per-cent attend San Diego State or other California State University campuses

Support classroom projectsHave you heard of Donors

Choose Donors Choose is an online charity started by a class-room teacher from the Bronx New York He and his colleagues had great ideas for their students but no funding to bring their ideas to fruition

On the Donors Choose website teachers post classroom project requests and visitors to the web-site can help grant the teachersrsquo wishes by donating any amount big or small to their projects Donors Choose allows everyone to be a philanthropist

Over the past few years Helix teachers have been the recipi-ents of hundreds of thousands of dollars in supplies for classroom projects that would otherwise not have been possible Be a part of it Visit the website at donorschooseorg and search ldquoHelix La Mesardquo in the search box

Students shine nationallyThis past summer four Helix

Speech amp Debate team member students went to Kansas City Miski Abdi Spencer McCall Rebeca McClellan and Rachel Orey each qualified to compete in the National Forensics League National Championships McCall was a semifinalist in Student Senate and a quarterfinalist in Impromptu Orey was an octafi-nalist in Poetry

What else is going on at HelixLenelle Wyliersquos honors biology

classes have been accepted to attend the Science Lecture Series at the Scripps Research Institute

Jeff Kepperrsquos Oceanography class will be working with the

Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute and raising white sea bass in the classroom This is the second group of white sea bass raised by Helix students

Highland Players present The Odd Couple by Neil Simon Nov 5-8 and Nov 13-14 at 7 pm in the Black Box Theater They will perform both the original laquomaleraquo version and the ldquofemalerdquo version in repertory Tickets are $10 and will be available at helixdramaweeblycom or at the door Performances may sell out so buy early

Take a tourFinally we are always inter-

ested in letting our community know about Helix Charter High School The Excellence in Education Tour is offered twice a month and is open to anyone who wishes to attend It is a one-hour tour and program that highlights our vision history accomplish-ments goals and needs This monthrsquos tours will take place on Tuesday October 7 from 830 ndash 930 am and Thursday October 23 from 530 ndash 630 pm More information can be found at helix-charternet We hope to see you there

mdashJennifer Osborn is the com-munity relations officer for Helix Charter High School Email her at josbornhelixcharternetu

A commitment to educational excellence has always been a

part of the culture of Grossmont High School In the 1980s Grossmont began offering a new curriculum mdash Advanced Placement mdash that challenges the high school student to master a rigorous college-level curricu-lum Each May the students may then take the AP Exam Passing the exam with a score of 3 4 or 5 will in most cases translate to the student receiv-ing college credit or course exemption

In 1981 Grossmont English teacher Kay Adams offered an after-school tutorial for her senior students who wanted to take the AP English Language and Composition Exam Twenty-one students met with her to receive preparation for the exam all 21 students passed the exam with five stu-dents receiving a 5 the highest score

ldquoI learned more than I ever taughtrdquo Adams said ldquoThose students were the brightest minds I ever metrdquo

Beginning in 1982 AP

courses became a yearly English course offering

Other challenges presented themselves to early AP teach-ers In the 1980s through 1996 Sue Emerson AP Biology teacher found ways to cre-atively schedule her class On Wednesdays the students came in an hour early to complete the sophisticated experiments the curriculum required

ldquoOne fun activity was a nation-wide project studying wetlandsrdquo Emerson recalled ldquoThe students shared information with schools around the country via telecom-munication from their study of the Tijuana River Estuaryrdquo

Today Grossmont offers 15 different honors courses which prepare the students for the diverse variety of subsequent 19 Advanced Placement courses

Art AP Art History Studio Drawing 2-D Design

Business AP Computer Science

English AP Literature and Composition Language and Composition

Language AP Spanish Language Spanish Literature and Culture French Language and Culture

Math AP Calculus StatisticsPerforming Arts AP Music

Advanced Placement Theory

Science AP Biology Environmental Science Physics

Social Science AP European History US History Psychology US Government

Over the years the curriculum has evolved AP French Language and Culture teacher Azita Mahmoudi noted that the ldquoAP test has changed from a narrow grammar-based test to an open-ended test based on cultural knowledgerdquo

ldquoPhysics isnrsquot dif-ficult It only has the reputation of being dif-ficultrdquo said longtime AP Physics teacher Tom Eklund

Eklundrsquos creative lessons include the one shown in the 2012 photograph of student Jessie Hodges dropping his project off the bleachers and measuring its fall

During the past five years the number of tests taken by Grossmont students has risen from 453 in 2009 to 646 in 2014 While the passing rate dropped from 65 to 58 percent in those

same years more Foothillers were given the opportunity to challenge themselves and prepare for post secondary education

A continuing goal of Grossmont staff is to have more enrolled students take the test however each test costs $89 with many students taking more than one test

Those wishing to sponsor one or more tests with a tax-deduct-

ible donation may contribute to the GHS Educational Foundationrsquos AP Scholarship Fund by sending a check to GHS Educational Foundation PO Box 1043 La Mesa CA 91944

ldquoGrossmont High School is proud to support our honors and Advanced Placement curricu-lumrdquo said Principal Dan Barnes ldquoWe are very excited to see the very high increase in partici-pation in our courses over the past three years and contin-ued success by our

teachers and students shown in their AP exam pass ratesrdquo

Visit Grossmont and wit-ness firsthand a campus that celebrates it heritage and embraces its future Regular public hours are noon to 4 pm on Wednesday Oct 1 and Nov 5 or by appointment

Contact the Grossmont High School Museum by phone at 619-668-6140 or by email at ghs-museumguhsdnetu

AP Physics students participate in an experiment at Grossmont High School in 2012 (Courtesy GHS Museum)

18 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

PUZZLESSUDOKU

Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9 Each number can appear only once in each row column and 3x3 block Use logic and process elimination to solve the puzzle

copy 2014 Janric Enterprises Dist by creatorscom

CROSSWORD

Business 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 wwwGotFreedomcom Call 858-278-2120 Your future is counting on you (1214)

For SaleNICE 1BD HOUSE IN LA MESA LIVDEN LG KITCHEN BATH WD LG BEDROOM NICE SUNDECK $1000 INCLUDES GE WATER TRASH CALL CLARA 6194650591 (0914)

Sweet male and female Tea-cup Yorkie 12 weeks old $500 Will be 4 lbs at full growth Microchiped shots and dewormed coming with registration papers mlcpetsyahoocom 661-858-0633 (0914)

NoticesWIDOW OR WIDOWER Interested in social activities You are welcome to join our club Widows or Widowers (WOW) of San Diego Website wwwwowsdorg Phone 619-448-6088 (0914)

ServicesJennarsquos Barber Shoppe Styling for men women amp children Wheelchair friendly Old time expert

haircuts at affordable prices Colors amp perms 7424 Jackson Dr1A (across from Keilrsquos in Bank of America lot) Tues-Fri 830-530pm Sat 830-noon Walk-ins or By appt 619-644-3669 (1214)

Lindarsquos Puppy Love licensed insured pet sitting service offering daily walks cat care overnight stays-your home lots of love 619-857-3674 wwwlindaspuppylovecom (615)

Locksmith - Discount Deadbolts and Rekeying - security door viewers patio door locks simulated alarms magnetic door stops Cliff Henderson 619-840-3327 - Lic LCO4353 - Bonded - Never a trip charge (0615)

Quality exterior carpentry Decks Fences Patio Covers and Termite Repair Lic365241 wwwaactionbuildersofsandiegocom Bob 619-275-1493 (415)

Bathtubs and sinks refinished like new San Carlos based business for over 25 years - same owner Lic560438 wwwsaveatubsdcom 619-464-5141 (0115)

German Setter Tile and Marble Professional marbletile setter with 28 years experience European craftsmanship Punctual amp dependable License 872804 Contact Jens Sedemund 619-415-6789 or jensgermansettercom (1214)

Dan Patterson HandymanCarpentry Repair and replacement of plumbing electrical repair installation of water heaters doors windows cabinets flooring fencing Pressure washing of driveways all phases of

Finding Senior Housing can be complex but it doesnrsquot have to be

(800) 217-3942A Place for Mom is the nationrsquos largest senior living referral

information service We do not own operate endorse or recommend any senior living community We are paid by partner communities

so our services are completely free to families

ldquoYou can trust A Place for Mom to help yourdquo

ndash Joan Lunden

BUSINESS amp SERVICES

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 (1214)

BARGAIN BOYZ CONSTRUCTIONREPAIRS 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 jimmysupancoxnet (1014)

PLUMBERhellipLicensed and Insured Over 25 years experience La Mesa resident OwnerOperator Reasonable rates Courteous service Lic 527864 Call Peter 619-698-0313 wwwFelberPlumbingcom (0914)

ROOFING Lic 691295-C39 Veteran owned Allied Gardens based Celebrating 20 years Full roof amp repair Free est Veteran amp Senior discounts 619-823-7208 (615)

WantedHelping Hands Animal Sanctuary seeks laundry detergent (all free and clear) and fabric softener (Downey free and gentle) 619-460-6679 (0914)

Job WantedNanny seeking work certified bkgd ck CPR First Aide 20 years experience wchildren and babies Great references Call Peggy 619-246-6572 or 512-755-0813

ANSWERS ON PAGE 20

Experienced amp Professional

Renee Differ

reneediffercoxnet619-516-0400

INDIVIDUALS amp BUSINESSES

SAME SEX MARRIAGE FILING

BOOKKEEPING amp PAYROLL

MOBILE APPOINTMENTS

TAX CONSULTANT

Ideal PlumbingHeating

Air amp ElectricalWater heaters garbage disposals drain cleaning Video pipe inspections water softeners amp filtration Faucets and toilets Visit our Show-room (06-12)

Serving ourcommunity since 1960

(619) 583-7963Lic 348810

PLUMBING

sdcnncom 19Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierPUZZLES CLASSIFIEDS

Sudoku amp Crosswordpuzzle answers from

page 19

The Academic Senate at Grossmont College last

month honored math instruc-tor Michael Lambe a Mt Helix resident with the Distinguished Faculty award the first ever for a part-time member of the col-lege faculty

Lambersquos 36 years as part-time instructor at Grossmont College concurrent to his 39-year teach-ing career with the Grossmont Union High School District gave him a unique perspective and insight on nurturing stu-dent success His dual career has made him especially aware of the need to make the transi-tion from high school to college as seamless as possible and to ensure secondary level curricu-lum prepares students for higher education

His interaction between Grossmont College and Monte Vista High School where he was chair of the math depart-

Math teacher is Grossmont Collegersquos part-time instructor of the year

ment made him a natural to help develop the first articula-tion agreement between the college and high school which helps students smoothly transi-tion without duplicating classes or experiencing delays

It wasnrsquot just students who benefitted from Lambersquos experi-ence with both systems When

driver education was eliminated from the high school curriculum and instructors were facing lay-offs he worked with the high school and college districts to develop a two-year program that prepared the former driver edu-cation instructors to acquire the teaching credentials needed to become math instructors

ldquoItrsquos been a fantastic career mdash Irsquove been blessedrdquo Lambe said

Following his retirement from the high school district Lambe was recruited four years ago as the collegersquos part-time senate officer with the Academic Senate and chair of the of the Academic Senate Part-Time Committee As head of the new committee he began tackling issues like office hours college governance and academic rank on behalf of part-timers

ldquoMichael has unified the [Academic Senatersquos Part-Time] committee and made it the most respected and cohesive voice for part-time faculty on the campusrdquo said one of his colleagues in a nomination for Lambe for the Distinguished Faculty award ldquoHe has brought part-time faculty issues into the college governance conversation as never before and helped part-time faculty be better informed through excellent professional development activities and communicationsrdquo

Lambe described his efforts on behalf of part-time instructors as a way of paying it forward

ldquoEven as a part-timer I have done a lot of things that full-time department members dordquo he said ldquoThis is my profession mdash my calling and my love This

award is the greatest honor I have ever received My col-leagues couldnrsquot have given me anything greater and to be the first recipient is tremendousrdquo

In addition to honoring Lambe for his achievements as a member of the part-time faculty the academic senate also honored Spanish instruc-tor Yolanda Guerrero with the Distinguished Faculty award for full-time faculty

President Sunita V Cooke said Lambe and Guerrero exem-plify Grossmont Collegersquos faculty members who are passionate about teaching and motivated to boost their profession and their colleagues

ldquoThe campus community owes a debt of gratitude to fac-ulty members with that kind of dedicationrdquo she said ldquoTheir generosity is an inspiration to us allrdquo

At Cuyamaca College Spanish instructor Patricia Santana won the Outstanding Faculty Award for full-time tenured faculty Arabic instructor Aklas Sheia won the award for outstanding part-time faculty

mdashDella Elliott is public information assistant for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College Districtu

DellaElliott

Michael Lambe gives a math lesson something hersquos been doing for nearly four decades in local classrooms (Courtesy Grossmont College)

20 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

Join us for a 3-course dinner and information on Chronic back pain causes and solutions Recent advances in back pain relief Different surgical options QampA with leading San Diego spine specialist

Presented by Choll Kim MD PhD a San Diego Magazine ldquoTop Doctorrdquo and Medical Director of the Advanced SpineInstitute at Alvarado Hospital ndash named Americarsquos 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgerytrade and Orthopedic Surgerytrade in 2014

Cost $10person Seating is limited mdash RSVP requiredCall (619) 229-4548 to register

Location Terra Bistro7091 El Cajon Blvd San Diego 92115

MONDAY SEPT 29 6-8 PMTERRA AMERICAN BISTRO

AlvaradoHospitalcom | (619) 287-3270

Zucchini pancakes

Whatrsquos Cooking with

Julie AnnWhite

Julie

Grate away on your box grater to create this deli-

cious dinner side dish Herersquos a savory treat to serve with a salad or light chicken or fish meal They are a little bit addictive and really easy to make

Serves four (makes six small pancakes)

Ingredients3 medium zucchini grated on a box grater or food processor12 red or yellow onion grated2 large eggs lightly beaten8 Tbsp Panko bread crumbs (flour can be used instead)1 tsp baking powder1 tsp kosher saltPinch of black pepper2 Tbsp butter14 cup olive oil for frying

DirectionsGrate the zucchini and onion into a medium bowl Press with a

few paper towels to absorb juice Add remaining ingredients and stir well If batter is runny add more breadcrumbs or flour Heat large skillet and melt butter and oil over medium heat Drop the zucchini mixture into six to eight golf ball-sized gently patted pancakes Cook until golden brown Serve warmu

Put down your iPhone 6 push aside your Samsung Note 4

and turn off the TV La Mesa is asking its citizens to invest some time in one of their 14 local parks for Park Appreciation Day Oct 18

ldquoThis community event demon-strates the spirit and commitment that La Mesans have for their public facilitiesrdquo said Yvonne Garrett assistant city manager and director of community ser-vices in La Mesa ldquoLocal residents and visitors have a sense of own-ership and take pride in La Mesa parks Park Appreciation Day is an opportunity for individuals to share that enthusiasm with friends and neighborsrdquo

The impetus for La Mesa Park Appreciation Day began in 2005 when a member of a local church congregation contacted the city to ask whether their church could take on a community project in La Mesa said Garrett who is also staff director for La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation

Because the city had recently eliminated several temporary park maintenance worker posi-tions and had received a similar request for a local project from another organization city staff thought it would be a good idea

Citizen groups pitch in for Park Appreciation Day

to gather the various groups to help clean up the parks prompting the creation of Park Appreciation Day

La Mesa community services manager Mike Pacheco said he has been impressed with the pride La Mesans have in their community as well as their desire to volunteer for the city

ldquoParks and recreation pro-grams bring tremendous benefits to people of all agesrdquo Pacheco said ldquoThey contribute to help-ing us live longer better lives through active pursuits new life skills educational programs and safe activities Great parks and programs also help build a stronger community connecting individuals families and groups through the power of play Recreation programs and engag-ing exciting facilities help keep kids active and off the streetsrdquo

Park Appreciation Day proj-ects include spreading mulch planting flowers and painting picnic tables and restrooms Pacheco said

Since its inception several local groups have consistently volun-teered each year Christ Lutheran Church Journey Church Helix Interact Club Friends of Canine Corners Kiwanis Club of La Mesa La Mesa Rotary La Mesa Beautiful La Mesa Lions Club and La Mesa Police Department

Last year more than 150 vol-unteers participated on Park

Appreciation Day and removed 22 cubic yards of green material plus nine cubic yards of trash according to Garrett

Although most of La Mesarsquos parks have the same groups cleaning them every year Porter Park Fitness Plaza located at 8425 University Ave is still without a group Porter needs additional native plants installed in some areas in the beds Garrett said

Disclosure Writer Genevieve A Suzuki serves as a commissioner for the La Mesa Community Services Commission and is a member of La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation She is happy to put away her iPhone Oct 18 to help clean her local parku

Genevieve Suzuki

Make La Mesa beautifulInterested in getting

involved with La Mesa Park Appreciation Day Oct 18 Want to encourage your civic church or social group to adopt a park

All ages are welcome to par-ticipate Signed waivers are required Parents must accom-pany children under 18 at the parks unless their children are with a supervised group

Sign up by calling 619-667-1304 or email communitycila-mesacaus

sdcnncom 21Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierDINING LOCAL NEWS

New Patient Special

bull SedationDentistrybull Implantsbull Same-DayCrownsbull LaserTreatmentbull Invisalign

Wersquove been in practice for over

25 years in La Mesa

$113 for exam x-rays oral cancer screening and cleaning

In absence of gum disease A $520 value

Donrsquot avoid the dentist Remove the anxiety and fear with Sedation Dentistry

A Shop For Smiles

Dr Hagstrom619-465-5252 | 8923 La Mesa Blvd | La Mesa CA 91942

wwwashopforsmilescom

Visit us today

Baseball book signingSunday Oct 12

Geoff Miller mental skills coach for the Atlanta Braves will discuss and sign copies of his new book ldquoIntangibles Big-League Stories and Strategies for Winning the Mental Game mdash in Baseball and in Liferdquo at 2 pm at Barnes amp Noble 5500 Grossmont Center Dr

Diverse Capacities workshopWednesday Oct 15

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Mariko Peshon will lead a work-shop focusing on the physical emotional and social abilities and disabilities that often go unrec-ognized and unaccommodated in our communities The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

East County Intergenerational GamesTuesday Oct 16

Active adults ages 50 and older will team up with kids between the ages of 7 and 12 for a morning of fun noncompetitive activi-ties at La Mesa Middle School 4200 Parks Ave from 830 am to noon The games include street hockey shot frisbee toss ldquoskeeballrdquo pitch t-ball and trivia games Snacks and lunch are included Interested adults must register in advance by contacting the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center at 619-667-1322

Introduction to home caregivingSaturday Oct 18

Caring for a loved one at home often involves transfers personal care proper body mechanics and other specific skills and knowl-edge Learn and practice the basics with a registered nurse at this event from 9 am to 1 pm in classroom 1314 of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Brier Patch Campus 9000 Wakarusa St Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or

register online at sharpcom

Workshop Finding Your Voice in the Social Justice MovementTuesday Oct 21

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Kenyon Whitman will lead an interactive workshop exploring social justice concepts how to develop a leadership style and creative ways to effectively com-municate in diverse groups The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the stu-dent center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

Medicare and drug cover-age updates for 2015Friday Oct 24

A free lecture will cover Medicare insurance changes for 2015 Medicare Parts A B D HMOs and more Presented by Community Education Specialist Pablo Corona the lec-ture will also cover the Medicare Saving Program and Extra-Help Program that assist with prescription costs for Medicare Parts B and D The talk begins at 10 am at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Lung function screeningWednesday Oct 29

Do you have trouble catching your breath after a short walk The Pulmonary Department at Sharp Grossmont Hospital will offer a free basic lung function test from 9 am to 2 pm for anyone who has not yet seen a doctor about breathing prob-lems The screening will be held at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center Building F Room 16 9000 Wakarusa St Appointments are required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Free blood pressure screeningFriday Oct 17

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center 8450 La Mesa Blvd No appointment necessary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Park Appreciation DaySaturday Oct 18

Groups of volunteers will get to work on projects to beautify and improve parks across town from 8 am to noon All ages are welcome but children under the age of 18 need to submit a waiver signed by a parent or legal guard-ian If your church or civic group wants to get involved call 619-667-1300 or email communitycila-mesacaus

lsquoHowl-oweenrsquo dog cos-tume contest and picnicSaturday Oct 18

Dress up your dogs in a cute or spooky Halloween costume and bring them out to Canine Corners the dog park at Harry Griffen Regional Park between 11 am and 3 pm Proud pet par-ents will have the chance to get their poochrsquos picture taken at the pumpkin patch as well as meet representatives from animal rescue groups the county sheriffrsquos K-9 unit and other vendors The costume contest begins at 1130 am A hot dog picnic lunch will be offered for $3 Canine Corners volunteers will accept donations to help with the maintenance of the dog park

Picnic with the parrotsSunday Oct 26

At Socal Parrotrsquos annual fundraising event attendees have a rare chance to view the non-profit organizationrsquos reha-bilitation facility meet animals talk with experts observe live art bid in a silent auction and buy into a raffle Based in Jamul SoCal Parrot works to protect and care for wild and endan-gered parrots across the region Tickets to the all-day fundrais-ing event range from $32 to $100 and can be purchased online at socalparrotorgu

Calendar from page 15

Send details of your com-munity events to the editor at jeremysdcnncom Deadline is the third Friday of the month

22 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 CALENDAR

Why a fiscally conservative vote-by-mail plan got no GOP love

A bill that would drastically change the way San Diego

Countyrsquos special elections are run passed without any Republican help mdash it got just two votes total from GOP lawmakers in Sacramento

It might surprise you to learn then that when the idea first emerged Democrats helped lead the charge against it

How some leading party mem-bers reversed course in just a few years says a lot about the current political landscape and the future of elections in San Diego County

Democrats wrote the current bill mdash which would create a five-year pilot program in San Diego County that would make spe-cial elections for open seats run primarily by mail with a drasti-cally reduced number of polling places mdash and they led the politi-cal charge for it

But Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez the billrsquos author remembers how hard she fought to kill the idea of vote-by-mail elections years ago

ldquoWhat happens I think so often is there is this attachment to the status quo therersquos fear about changing thingsrdquo Gonzalez said

Gonzalez said her mind was changed by a couple factors One is that she discovered during her years as a labor advocate that voters who had a ballot mailed to them before the election were roughly five times more likely to actually vote

The other she said is she realized the county was spend-ing a huge amount more per person who voted at the polls versus by mail

County officials said that in the March 2013 special election to fill the vacant 40th state Senate district seat they spent $221 per

Ari Bloomekatz

in-person voter verses $9 per mail voter

Then therersquos the fact that pathetic voter turnout in each of the last several elections has favored Republican candidates across the board

ldquoWe have all watched as voter turnout has plummeted in recent elections and itrsquos our responsi-bility to do something about itrdquo Gonzalez wrote in a press release after the bill passed

Some observers speculated that some Republicans simply didnrsquot support the bill because it was being led by promi-nent Democrats like Gonzalez (Gonzalez agrees thatrsquos probably true)

But if you want to understand why GOP support was so hard to come by for a bill steeped in fiscally conservative principles and that originated from a con-servative San Diego County government consider these three points

Republicans seized on civil rights groupsrsquo hesitation

Some of the strongest initial opposition to the vote-by-mail legislation came from civil rights groups concerned the new pro-cedures could disenfranchise immigrants and the disabled

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund initially opposed the bill but dropped its opposition after working with Gonzalez and San Diego County officials on protec-

tions for immigrantsStill MALDEF and other

groups wouldnrsquot officially support the measure

ldquoThere is some research out there that shows that mail-in ballots do have an adverse impact on minority votersrdquo said Denise Hulett an attorney with MALDEF

Hulett said MALDEF supports testing out vote-by-mail but isnrsquot sold on it yet

Those groupsrsquo reluctance had an impact on Republican legislators like Escondido Assemblywoman Marie Waldron She said she didnrsquot feel comfortable signing on to a bill without MALDEF and other civil rights groupsrsquo support

ldquoI have to wonder if this is disenfranchising a significant number of people that vote at the pollsrdquo Waldron said ldquoWhat about the people who are maybe you know possibly visually impaired or something like thatrdquo

The money wasnrsquot enoughSan Diego County Registrar

Michael Vu strongly supports the pilot program and believes it could trim costs by 30 - 40 percent

But somehow the cost-savings issue wasnrsquot enough to win over the vast majority of Republican legislators

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez said he thought the cost-savings touted by Democrats were only rough estimates and was not inclined to vote for a bill just

because of those projectionsldquoAs Irsquove said a number of times

before all these bills that theyrsquore putting through hellip really doesnrsquot address the issue of what wersquore trying to do which is get more people to voterdquo he said

Instead of just moving imme-diately to vote-by-mail Chavez wants to create a bipartisan special committee to study new voting technologies

Republicans fear voter fraud

Republicansrsquo fear of potential voter fraud through expansion of vote-by-mail overshadowed potential economic gains

The bill ldquoincludes no protec-tions to ensure the integrity and security of all-mail elections While interesting we need to be careful changing election lawsrdquo wrote Amanda Fulkerson of the Assembly Republican Caucus which advocated fiercely against the bill

ldquoRight now our members feel that we should not jeopardize our consistent voting system until we have further facts and statistics on all-mail electionsrdquo Fulkerson wrote

Republicans believed the threat of fraud would be compounded by another voting-related bill moving through the legislature at the same time

That bill would change the rules about how long mail ballots can be received and counted after an election

Currently vote-by-mail ballots must be received by election offi-cials before polls close on the day of the election The new law would allow ballots to be received no later than three days after the election (if it was time-stamped or post-marked on or before Election Day)

Assembly Republicans feared the two bills combined could allow for abuse of the system

State Sen Joel Anderson was one Republican who voted against the mail-counting bill but in favor of Gonzalezrsquos vote-by-mail effort

Anderson said that he voted against the mail-counting bill because he saw it as ldquocompletely gaming the systemrdquo but believes the vote-by-mail bill is ldquobetter for the voters itrsquos better for my constituentsrdquo

Put yourselves in the shoes of

Vu and other county officials for a minute

Nearly every time an election comes up the county spends anywhere from $1 million to $12 million-plus and organizes hordes of poll workers and pre-cincts across the county

And what happens at the end of the day

Turnout is generally low and increasing numbers of residents opt to vote by mail anyway

As Vu tells it he just wants to save the county money and acknowledge the changing winds when it comes to vote-by-mail

But nothing is ever as simple as a dollar saved in Sacramento mdash especially when it comes to something as fundamental as how voters choose their elected officials

Gonzalez said most people do not understand how difficult this bill was to pass politically Sure Republicans barley supported it but there was strong opposition from many Democrats too The instinct to preserve the status quo when it comes to elections among legislators in Sacramento is strong she said

ldquoIt was kind of funny Irsquom in Republican land carrying this bill pissing off Democrats and voting rights groups and minor-ity groupsrdquo she said ldquoI had to convince everybody that this is OK that change is OKrdquo

Brown has until Sept 30 to sign the bill

mdashAri Bloomekatz is an inves-tigative reporter for Voice of San Diego focusing on county govern-ment You can reach him directly at aribloomekatzvoiceofsandi-egoorg or 619-550-5669u

(Courtesy Flickr user bludgeoner86Creative Commons)

Voice of San Diego

sdcnncom 23Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

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8310 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa CA 91942 bull 6193371700

SPRING VALLEY bull $362000LA MESA bull $499000CARDIFF BY THE SEA bull $525000

Spacious Sweetwater Springs home on corner lot Recently updated kitchen amp bath w granite countertops SS appl wine refrigerator and wood floors Upstairs BRs w mirrored wardrobe doors and ceiling fans Sliding doors to private view deck ideal for watching the sunset

JOE SOUTHWICK 6195898224

Just listed Tastefully remodeled single level entertainerrsquos paradise Large great room with chefrsquos kitchen Private backyard with pool hot tub palapa-covered bar amp grill shade patio and sun deck

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YVETTE WOODS 6199223436

Laurarsquos Solds 2014 bull (619) 540-7744 bull LauraLothianRealEstatecomMost Homes Sold in La Mesa Last 11 Years

Want your home sold Ask a busy agent Call Laura Lothian TODAY 6195407744

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Source TrendGraphix MLS data for zip codes 91941 amp 91942 January 1 2003 to January 1 2014

24 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

CALENDAR

Prescription drug collectionSaturday Sept 27

Get rid of your unwanted expired or leftover prescription drugs at this National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day event hosted by the La Mesa Police Department and the US Drug Enforcement Administration The effort is designed to prevent prescription drug abuse Drop your drugs no questions asked from 10 am to 2 pm at the police station parking lot 8085 University Ave For other drop off locations or more informa-tion visit deadiversionusdojgov and click ldquoGot Drugsrdquo

Free electronic waste recyclingSaturday and Sunday Sept 27 ndash 28

State law prohibits disposal of certain electronic items in the trash because many of them con-tain hazardous substances The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce is hosting this free event to help residents properly recycle old televisions computers print-ers VCRs DVD players copiers scanners fax machines toner car-tridges and other approved items Microwave ovens can be disposed of for a service fee of $5 Items will be collected from 9 am to 4 pm in the parking lot between Fuddruckers restaurant and Chuze Fitness at the Grossmont Shopping Center 5500 Grossmont Center Dr The following items will not be accepted refrigerators washers dryers fluorescent light bulbs and household batteries For more details on items that will be accepted visit lamesachambercom

Generational diversity workshopTuesday Oct 2

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series profes-sional development consultant Victoria Hankins will lead a dis-cussion on the multigenerational workplace With four genera-tions working side by side in the American workforce challenges often arise regarding communi-cation styles differing workplace values and misconceptions about workplace motivators Hankins will outline the differences between the four generations and provide tips on how to effectively work in cross-generational teams The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 1030 to 1130 am in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

OktoberfestFriday through Sunday Oct 3 4 and 5

See our article on page 11 in this monthrsquos La Mesa Courier for all the details on the annual Oktoberfest extravaganza

La Mesa City Council Candidates ForumTuesday Oct 7

La Mesa mayoral candidates Art

Madrid and Mark Arapostathis will join City Council candidates Patrick Dean Mary England Pete Gregorovic and Guy McWhirter at this forum hosted and moder-ated by the Community Outreach Ministry of La Mesa First United Methodist Church in the church social hall at 4690 Palm Ave A meet-and-greet will begin at 630 pm The program begins at 7 pm All are welcome

Free blood pressure screeningTuesday Oct 7

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center 9000 Wakarusa St in La Mesa No appointment neces-sary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Senior ExpoThursday Oct 9

The city of La Mesa organizes this free event to help connect senior citizens and their families to the most helpful senior service pro-viders including La Mesa Police Department Crime Prevention Aging and Independence Services Metropolitan Transit System ldquo211rdquo Sharp Senior Resource Center Meals on Wheels DMV Senior Ombudsman Program SDGampE Medical Baseline Program Elderhelp Jewish Family Services Yellow Cab California Telephone Access Program HICAP San Diego

County District Attorneyrsquos Elder Abuse Unit and more The event will be held from 830 am to 130 pm at the La Mesa Community Center 4975 Memorial Dr A shuttle will be available from the Spring Street trolley station Organizers are asking seniors to RSVP by Oct 3 by calling 619-667-1322

Depression and bipolar disorder screeningFriday Oct 10

Dr William Brock will pres-ent a free educational seminar on the signs and symptoms of depression bipolar disorder and other anxiety disorders from 1130 am to 1230 pm Adults ages 60 and older can receive free anonymous screen-ings from Sharp Grossmont Behavioral Health Services from 1030 am to 1130 am and from 1230 pm to 130 pm The seminar and screenings will be held at the Grossmont Healthcare Districtrsquos Herrick Library at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are suggested but not required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

ldquoGot Plansrdquo Career and college fairSaturday Oct 11

High school students and their parents are invited to meet with admissions representatives from public and private universities community colleges vocational

schools and the military at this annual event organized by the Grossmont Union High School District and the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Free workshops will provide information on financial aid changes to SAT and ACT requirements transfer options between two-year colleges and four-year universities and other career topics Some workshops will be offered in Spanish and Arabic The fair is open from 1 to 4 pm at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For more information call Jason Martinez at 619-593-2713

Bunco BashSaturday Oct 11

Soroptimist International of Lemon Grove hosts this special autumn-themed Bunco event to raise money for the grouprsquos projects to help women and chil-dren in our community For $20 participants get three rounds of Bunco a door prize ticket and complimentary fall snacks and dessert Wine will be available for purchase Bunco winners receive gift baskets and raffle prizes will also be offered The event will be held from 1 to 4 pm at St John of the Cross Knights of Columbus Hall at Broadway and Columbus Drive in Lemon Grove Reservations are required Contact Gloria Ferreira at 619-466-3699 or email her at soroptgloriagmailcom

Pooch in the ParkSaturday Oct 11

Kiwanis Club of La Mesa and the Human Relations Advisory Commission will host this com-munity get-together from 9 am to noon at Harry Griffen Regional Park 9550 Milden St For $20 pet owners can enter up to two dogs into a contest show for a chance to win in one of five categories or the ldquobest in showrdquo trophy Raffle prizes giveaways and other demon-strations will round out the morning For more informa-tion contact Glenna Boemen at gab11853aolcom

Fair trade gift fair Sunday Oct 12

The St Martin of Tours Parish Hall will become a world bazaar featuring unique and handcrafted fair trade gifts deacutecor apparel and jewelry from artisans in developing countries from 8 am to 1 pm As they browse the displays created by local vendors who sell fair trade products shoppers will be able to sample or purchase fair trade refreshments including choco-late tea coffee bananas soda and Ben and Jerryrsquos ice cream The parish hall is at 7710 El Cajon Blvd in La Mesa Call 619-466-3241 for additional information

See CALENDAR page 22

sdcnncom 15Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierCALENDAR

Telephone DirectoryPolice non-emergency line 619-667-1400Fire non-emergency line 619-667-1461Animal Control 619-667-7536Graffiti removal 619-667-7560Weed abatement 619-667-1465Traffic signal maintenance 619-667-1166Streetlight maintenance 619-667-1450

Mayor Art Madrid 619-667-1100City Councilmembers 619-667-1106

EDCO 619-287-7555Helix Water District 619-466-0585Helix Water after hours emergency 619-466-3234

Gov Jerry Brown 916-445-2841US Sen Barbara Boxer 619-239-3884US Sen Dianne Feinstein 619-231-9712US Rep Susan Davis 619-280-5353State Sen Joel Anderson 619-596-3136State Assemblymember Shirley Weber 619-531-7913

Community titan Jerry Fazio announces plans to retire

A fter 35 years with the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County

Jerry Fazio has announced his retirement

Faziorsquos last day on the job as executive director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation will be Oct 24 His official retirement date following vacation will be Dec 4 three days after his 35th anniversary with the youth organization that has served hundreds of thousands of young people in the East County since its founding in 1961

Since joining the organization on Dec 1 1979 Fazio has served in several executive positions with the Girlsrsquo Club and Boys amp Girls Clubs He has also done two stints mdash the most recent of which began in July 2008 mdash as execu-tive director of the foundation a nonprofit fundraising entity

Faziorsquos honors during his career have included El Cajon Citizen of the Year in 1992 Boys amp Girls Clubs Pacific Region Executive of the Year in 2006 and National Executive Director of the Year from Boys amp Girls Clubs of America in 2007 He is known throughout San Diego for his friendly smile and fund-raising passion on behalf of the organization

ldquoHe is the instantly recog-nizable fundraiser and pitch man for our organizationrdquo said Jack Doyle board president of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation ldquoDuring his 35 years Jerry has steered the development of our new and updated facilities in El Cajon Lakeside Santee and La Mesa He leaves us a legacy to be proud of in East County We wish him well as he moves into retirementrdquo

Faziorsquos decision to retire was prompted by recent good news from doctors that he is cancer-free five years after beginning his battle against colon cancer the same disease that led to the 2008 death of his first wife Nancy

ldquoWhile preparing for my cancer

SDCNN Staff

tests I indulged in a little specu-lation about how I might handle the news whether good or badrdquo Fazio said ldquoI concluded that no matter what after 35 years the time has come for me to retire I will concentrate on my faith my health my grandchildren and my gorgeous wife Melissa And if an opportunity comes along to help a good community cause I might just do that toordquo

Faziorsquos recent work with the foundation has focused on an $89 million fundraising effort called the La Mesa Capital Campaign The campaignrsquos goal is to build a new clubhouse in La Mesa reno-vate an existing teen center in the city and fund an endowment to operate both facilities

Forrest Higgins CEO of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County will add the role of campaign coordinator to his job with the assistance from staff According to Higgins more than $5 million for the La Mesa Capital Campaign has been raised during Faziorsquos leadership

ldquoJerry has been integral part of the success and growth of the Boys amp Girls Club of East Countyrdquo Higgins said ldquoHis dedi-cation and passion to the youth and families of East County will be greatly missedrdquo

Since 1961 the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County have been meeting the developmental needs of children and youth The orga-nizationrsquos mission statement ldquoTo inspire and enable all young people especially those who need us most to become responsible caring productive citizensrdquou

Jerry Fazio (Courtesy Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County)

notice to which the couple didnrsquot respond in time to renew their five-year lease Katie said

The next they heard they had to close the bar by Nov 1

ldquoI truly believe that when one door closes another one opensrdquo says Katie Halvin who runs the bar with her husband Doug ldquoAs poignant as it is to lose the bar I know we lost it because we didnrsquot pay attention when we should haverdquo

For the past five years Katie Halvinrsquos life has been intertwined with the bar Her first date with now-husband Doug landed her there mdash an Internet connection that led to a meet up in Harry Griffen Park

ldquoWe talked for a while and then he took me to his neighborhood hangout to have a beer and shoot some poolrdquo Katie recalls Katie was retiring from the Navy as a chief torpedo man and she was ready to settle down again ldquoWe got married at the Carlton Oaks [Country Club] mdash the whole bar was thererdquo

Before long Katie and Doug took over the bar which is leased from the Ross Family Trust Calls and emails to the property man-ager were not returned

ldquoWhen we took it over there were drugs gangs uglinessrdquo she said ldquoI wonrsquot put up with thatrdquo

What was left was a band of devoted regulars a tradition of small local live music and soon local art on the walls and events supporting local artists on the calendar

Cathryn Beeks the local music guru from 1021 KPRI radio began working with Halvin in November to book homegrown and up-and-coming acts at the bar mdash which led to notable shows from the Kilborn Alley Blues Band Roni Lee and many others

ldquoItrsquos very sad that the bar is closing Itrsquos run by very special people and there isnrsquot a venue like this in San Diegordquo Beeks said ldquoI found out about them because a lot of my friends were play-ing there They had a very loyal group of musicians before I ever showed uprdquo

The Parkway is also home to a very popular and solidly booked open mic night run by local singer-songwriter Jessica Hull

The Farmers local legends who evolved from the Beat Farmers also play regularly The live music will continue intermittently with the Farmers playing the closing

night Halloween party on Oct 31For Katie Halvin the closing

isnrsquot the end Property manager Aaron Dean intends to redevelop the strip mall where the Parkway now stands into a restaurant with a full bar and microbrewery and include an outdoor music venue

ldquoHe contacted me and hired me to be the director of enter-tainment at the new venuerdquo she said ldquoThey hope to start con-struction in December and finish it by August 2015rdquo ldquoOne side of my brain is ecstatic with oppor-tunityrdquo she said ldquoThe other feels the sadness of this lossrdquo

Meanwhile the Halvins are looking around in the area to find another place to open a bar like the Parkway

ldquoItrsquos our regulars Irsquom really worried aboutrdquo she said ldquoSome are at a point where most of their friends and family are gone and we are their community and fellowship We know who has cancer who has a new baby we know who to check on if they donrsquot show uprdquo

mdashMarty Graham is a freelance writer Email her at martygra-hamcoxnetu

Parkway from page 1

Sycuan Resort and Casino

For exciting casino action right in your own backyard therersquos nowhere closer than Sycuan Casino With Vegas-style gaming scrumptious dining options live headliner entertainment and nearby golf resort yoursquoll find your-self coming back again and again

You can choose from 2000 video amp reel slots as well as video poker For you card players there are more than 40 tables to play Blackjack ThreendashCard amp FourndashCard Poker Sycuanndashstyle craps and roulette

Enjoy the fresh air in the nonndashsmoking room with more than 350 slot machines 9 gaming tables Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet and a Poker Room with daily tourna-ments ndash all smokendashfree

For your dining pleasure Sycuan offers five different res-

taurant options to tempt your taste buds For those looking for a variety of delectable options Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet is an all-you-can-eat feast featuring slow-roasted Prime Rib buttery crab legs and over 100 fresh selec-tions and delicious dessert bar There isnrsquot a bad seat in the house at GameDay Sports Bar amp Grill where you can catch the big game on 39 large screen televisions 16 beers on tap with full cocktail selection delicious food menu and 29 bar-top video poker machines to play while you root on your team

With excellent acoustics and state-of-the-art sound and light-ing Sycuan Live amp Up Close is San Diegorsquos premiere venue for live entertainment Bringing exciting crowd pleasing acts from all musical genres therersquos something for everyone on their concert calendar

Just a short drive nearby Sycuan Golf Resort offers San Diegorsquos only 54-hole golf facility Exciting course play includes

3007 Dehesa RdEl Cajon CA 92019800-457-5568sycuanresortcom

mature tree-lined fairways eleva-tion changes water features and impeccable greens No matter if yoursquore a seasoned player or a first-timer the two challenging 18-hole championship golf courses and fun 18-hole par 3 course are guaranteed to give you unforget-table experiences from beginning to end To complete your stay-cat-ion enjoy one of their 100 spacious hotel rooms all recently remodeled and offer beautiful views of the golf courses pools and private putting greens If golf isnrsquot in your plans you can pamper yourself with a relaxing spa service

Not only is Sycuan the closest casino to downtown they offer free shuttle bus rides from a number of convenient locations throughout San Diego County For more infor-mation please visit Sycuancom

Guests must be 18 or older to enter casino 21 or older to enter theatre and Sports Bar Please play responsibly

Get away for the day at Sycuan CasinohellipReal Friendly Real Closeu

16 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

Short-term hands-on programs

Half-day classes 4 days a week

Monthly payment plans available

wwwtheaccountingacademycom

PETSlsquoOh where oh where has my little dog gonersquoSariReis

The only thing more devas-tating to a pet parent than

when their furry kid is missing is to have them never return Yet this sad scenario occurs every day Walk through any neighborhood and you will see the signs posted on trees and telephone poles ldquoMissing Our beloved dog Skippyrdquo These heart-rending pleas for help are always accompanied by a photograph of a sweet furry face and the offer of a reward for their return

As pet parents one of our pri-mary responsibilities is to keep our pets safe To do this we need to keep them securely confined in our homes our backyards or on leashes If your dog has access to the backyard be certain it is entirely fenced in with no poten-tial escape routes Make sure all gates are locked when you or anyone else goes in or out Inform pool service people landscap-ers or gardeners that you have a dog in the yard and the gate must be secured at all times Be particularly careful when enter-ing or leaving your home Open doors slowly to ensure a cat or dog is not lurking nearby ready to make a quick escape Never leave the door open for any length of time Even an indoor kitty may be curious if the door is left open for a minute or two Tell visitors cleaning ladies and anyone else who may have access to your home that you have pets and they are not to be let out

Some people like to give their dogs off-leash time on city streets in their neighborhoods They believe their pup is well-trained and will come on command and not run away But the sight of a

squirrel or stray cat can waylay the best trained dog and send them on a chase Many of these dogs never make it back home

There are also those feline parents who believe it is essen-tial to a catrsquos well-being for them to investigate and play outdoors Although the kitties may enjoy outdoor time it is very danger-ous With rattlesnakes coyotes stray dogs and traffic many out-door kitties never make it home again and soon become one of those sad notices posted on a tree

Even with the best inten-tions our pets may still make an escape Your best opportunity in getting them back is to ensure they can be identified Put an ID

tag on their collar listing your name and phone number and microchip them Although there are numerous companies that offer microchips and monitoring services one of the best is ldquoHome Againrdquo If you do microchip your pet remember to notify the man-ufacturer if you move or change your phone number Although the cost of micro-chipping is very reasonable many shelters and veterinary clinics hold spe-cial micro-chipping days so you can get your pets done for a dis-counted price Having your pet micro-chipped greatly increases the potential of getting him home again Can you actually put a price tag on that

ldquoHome Againrdquo stated that one out of three pets will go missing during their lifetime Make sure that one isnrsquot yours

mdashSari 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 missionvalley-petsittingcomu

One out of three pets will

go missing during their

lifetime

Lucille a 5-year-old spayed Labrador RetrieverAustralian Cattle Dog mix is

an energetic lady with tons of love to give her new family She has a friendly personality with everyone she meets and loves to learn new tricks She already knows commands such as sit down shake crawl beg and is currently learning how to wave ldquobye-byerdquo She is very treat-motivated and eager to please

She is very smart and outgoing and has gotten along well with other dogs on social walks This silly girl is always smiling and ready for a new adventure Born a true athlete she would love to participate in future training and would make an excellent workout partner Adequate exercise and mental stimulation are a must for this spirited lady

Lucille will do best in an active home with older children or adults She has a lot of love to give and may benefit from having another dog in the family as long as she meets them first to make sure theyrsquore a good match

Her adoption fee includes her spay current vaccinations permanent microchip identification a certificate for a free veterinary exam 30 days of complimentary medical insurance and a license for residents of Oceanside or Vista

Lucille is available for adoption at the San Diego Humane Society 5500 Gaines St in San Diego To learn more about Lucille call 619-299-7012u

Adopt a pet Looking for a home

LucilleBreed Labrador Retriever Australian Cattle Dog mixAge 5 years old Gender Female (spayed)Colors Black and WhiteID 142265Adoption Fee $9500

ADOPTION HOURSWeekdays 11 am ndash 6 pm Weekends 11 am ndash 5 pm

SD Humane Society amp SPCA5500 Gaines St (92110)

619-299-7012 | sdhumaneorg

(ThinkStock)

sdcnncom 17Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Foothiller FootstepsAdvanced Placement curriculum exposes students to college-level study

Helix HighlightsMaking students college-ready

Connie and LynnBaer

JenniferOsborn

A parent of a Helix Charter High School student once

noted that her daughter was never asked ldquoAre you going to collegerdquo Instead she was asked ldquoWhere are you going to collegerdquo A subtle difference in wording but a vast difference in meaning

Helixrsquos mission states ldquoHelix Charter High School provides a comprehensive education that prepares all students to gradu-

ate college-ready and equipped to reach their personal and aca-demic potentialrdquo

While the belief at Helix is not that every graduate needs to attend college in order to be suc-cessful it is definitely our goal to ensure that every graduate has the option to continue their edu-cation if they so choose

For the class of 2014 82 per-cent of Helix graduates stated they planned to attend college Forty-five percent went directly to a four-year college and 37 percent planned to attend two-

year institutions Approximately 12 percent attend University of California schools and 22 per-cent attend San Diego State or other California State University campuses

Support classroom projectsHave you heard of Donors

Choose Donors Choose is an online charity started by a class-room teacher from the Bronx New York He and his colleagues had great ideas for their students but no funding to bring their ideas to fruition

On the Donors Choose website teachers post classroom project requests and visitors to the web-site can help grant the teachersrsquo wishes by donating any amount big or small to their projects Donors Choose allows everyone to be a philanthropist

Over the past few years Helix teachers have been the recipi-ents of hundreds of thousands of dollars in supplies for classroom projects that would otherwise not have been possible Be a part of it Visit the website at donorschooseorg and search ldquoHelix La Mesardquo in the search box

Students shine nationallyThis past summer four Helix

Speech amp Debate team member students went to Kansas City Miski Abdi Spencer McCall Rebeca McClellan and Rachel Orey each qualified to compete in the National Forensics League National Championships McCall was a semifinalist in Student Senate and a quarterfinalist in Impromptu Orey was an octafi-nalist in Poetry

What else is going on at HelixLenelle Wyliersquos honors biology

classes have been accepted to attend the Science Lecture Series at the Scripps Research Institute

Jeff Kepperrsquos Oceanography class will be working with the

Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute and raising white sea bass in the classroom This is the second group of white sea bass raised by Helix students

Highland Players present The Odd Couple by Neil Simon Nov 5-8 and Nov 13-14 at 7 pm in the Black Box Theater They will perform both the original laquomaleraquo version and the ldquofemalerdquo version in repertory Tickets are $10 and will be available at helixdramaweeblycom or at the door Performances may sell out so buy early

Take a tourFinally we are always inter-

ested in letting our community know about Helix Charter High School The Excellence in Education Tour is offered twice a month and is open to anyone who wishes to attend It is a one-hour tour and program that highlights our vision history accomplish-ments goals and needs This monthrsquos tours will take place on Tuesday October 7 from 830 ndash 930 am and Thursday October 23 from 530 ndash 630 pm More information can be found at helix-charternet We hope to see you there

mdashJennifer Osborn is the com-munity relations officer for Helix Charter High School Email her at josbornhelixcharternetu

A commitment to educational excellence has always been a

part of the culture of Grossmont High School In the 1980s Grossmont began offering a new curriculum mdash Advanced Placement mdash that challenges the high school student to master a rigorous college-level curricu-lum Each May the students may then take the AP Exam Passing the exam with a score of 3 4 or 5 will in most cases translate to the student receiv-ing college credit or course exemption

In 1981 Grossmont English teacher Kay Adams offered an after-school tutorial for her senior students who wanted to take the AP English Language and Composition Exam Twenty-one students met with her to receive preparation for the exam all 21 students passed the exam with five stu-dents receiving a 5 the highest score

ldquoI learned more than I ever taughtrdquo Adams said ldquoThose students were the brightest minds I ever metrdquo

Beginning in 1982 AP

courses became a yearly English course offering

Other challenges presented themselves to early AP teach-ers In the 1980s through 1996 Sue Emerson AP Biology teacher found ways to cre-atively schedule her class On Wednesdays the students came in an hour early to complete the sophisticated experiments the curriculum required

ldquoOne fun activity was a nation-wide project studying wetlandsrdquo Emerson recalled ldquoThe students shared information with schools around the country via telecom-munication from their study of the Tijuana River Estuaryrdquo

Today Grossmont offers 15 different honors courses which prepare the students for the diverse variety of subsequent 19 Advanced Placement courses

Art AP Art History Studio Drawing 2-D Design

Business AP Computer Science

English AP Literature and Composition Language and Composition

Language AP Spanish Language Spanish Literature and Culture French Language and Culture

Math AP Calculus StatisticsPerforming Arts AP Music

Advanced Placement Theory

Science AP Biology Environmental Science Physics

Social Science AP European History US History Psychology US Government

Over the years the curriculum has evolved AP French Language and Culture teacher Azita Mahmoudi noted that the ldquoAP test has changed from a narrow grammar-based test to an open-ended test based on cultural knowledgerdquo

ldquoPhysics isnrsquot dif-ficult It only has the reputation of being dif-ficultrdquo said longtime AP Physics teacher Tom Eklund

Eklundrsquos creative lessons include the one shown in the 2012 photograph of student Jessie Hodges dropping his project off the bleachers and measuring its fall

During the past five years the number of tests taken by Grossmont students has risen from 453 in 2009 to 646 in 2014 While the passing rate dropped from 65 to 58 percent in those

same years more Foothillers were given the opportunity to challenge themselves and prepare for post secondary education

A continuing goal of Grossmont staff is to have more enrolled students take the test however each test costs $89 with many students taking more than one test

Those wishing to sponsor one or more tests with a tax-deduct-

ible donation may contribute to the GHS Educational Foundationrsquos AP Scholarship Fund by sending a check to GHS Educational Foundation PO Box 1043 La Mesa CA 91944

ldquoGrossmont High School is proud to support our honors and Advanced Placement curricu-lumrdquo said Principal Dan Barnes ldquoWe are very excited to see the very high increase in partici-pation in our courses over the past three years and contin-ued success by our

teachers and students shown in their AP exam pass ratesrdquo

Visit Grossmont and wit-ness firsthand a campus that celebrates it heritage and embraces its future Regular public hours are noon to 4 pm on Wednesday Oct 1 and Nov 5 or by appointment

Contact the Grossmont High School Museum by phone at 619-668-6140 or by email at ghs-museumguhsdnetu

AP Physics students participate in an experiment at Grossmont High School in 2012 (Courtesy GHS Museum)

18 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

PUZZLESSUDOKU

Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9 Each number can appear only once in each row column and 3x3 block Use logic and process elimination to solve the puzzle

copy 2014 Janric Enterprises Dist by creatorscom

CROSSWORD

Business 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 wwwGotFreedomcom Call 858-278-2120 Your future is counting on you (1214)

For SaleNICE 1BD HOUSE IN LA MESA LIVDEN LG KITCHEN BATH WD LG BEDROOM NICE SUNDECK $1000 INCLUDES GE WATER TRASH CALL CLARA 6194650591 (0914)

Sweet male and female Tea-cup Yorkie 12 weeks old $500 Will be 4 lbs at full growth Microchiped shots and dewormed coming with registration papers mlcpetsyahoocom 661-858-0633 (0914)

NoticesWIDOW OR WIDOWER Interested in social activities You are welcome to join our club Widows or Widowers (WOW) of San Diego Website wwwwowsdorg Phone 619-448-6088 (0914)

ServicesJennarsquos Barber Shoppe Styling for men women amp children Wheelchair friendly Old time expert

haircuts at affordable prices Colors amp perms 7424 Jackson Dr1A (across from Keilrsquos in Bank of America lot) Tues-Fri 830-530pm Sat 830-noon Walk-ins or By appt 619-644-3669 (1214)

Lindarsquos Puppy Love licensed insured pet sitting service offering daily walks cat care overnight stays-your home lots of love 619-857-3674 wwwlindaspuppylovecom (615)

Locksmith - Discount Deadbolts and Rekeying - security door viewers patio door locks simulated alarms magnetic door stops Cliff Henderson 619-840-3327 - Lic LCO4353 - Bonded - Never a trip charge (0615)

Quality exterior carpentry Decks Fences Patio Covers and Termite Repair Lic365241 wwwaactionbuildersofsandiegocom Bob 619-275-1493 (415)

Bathtubs and sinks refinished like new San Carlos based business for over 25 years - same owner Lic560438 wwwsaveatubsdcom 619-464-5141 (0115)

German Setter Tile and Marble Professional marbletile setter with 28 years experience European craftsmanship Punctual amp dependable License 872804 Contact Jens Sedemund 619-415-6789 or jensgermansettercom (1214)

Dan Patterson HandymanCarpentry Repair and replacement of plumbing electrical repair installation of water heaters doors windows cabinets flooring fencing Pressure washing of driveways all phases of

Finding Senior Housing can be complex but it doesnrsquot have to be

(800) 217-3942A Place for Mom is the nationrsquos largest senior living referral

information service We do not own operate endorse or recommend any senior living community We are paid by partner communities

so our services are completely free to families

ldquoYou can trust A Place for Mom to help yourdquo

ndash Joan Lunden

BUSINESS amp SERVICES

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 (1214)

BARGAIN BOYZ CONSTRUCTIONREPAIRS 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 jimmysupancoxnet (1014)

PLUMBERhellipLicensed and Insured Over 25 years experience La Mesa resident OwnerOperator Reasonable rates Courteous service Lic 527864 Call Peter 619-698-0313 wwwFelberPlumbingcom (0914)

ROOFING Lic 691295-C39 Veteran owned Allied Gardens based Celebrating 20 years Full roof amp repair Free est Veteran amp Senior discounts 619-823-7208 (615)

WantedHelping Hands Animal Sanctuary seeks laundry detergent (all free and clear) and fabric softener (Downey free and gentle) 619-460-6679 (0914)

Job WantedNanny seeking work certified bkgd ck CPR First Aide 20 years experience wchildren and babies Great references Call Peggy 619-246-6572 or 512-755-0813

ANSWERS ON PAGE 20

Experienced amp Professional

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INDIVIDUALS amp BUSINESSES

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Ideal PlumbingHeating

Air amp ElectricalWater heaters garbage disposals drain cleaning Video pipe inspections water softeners amp filtration Faucets and toilets Visit our Show-room (06-12)

Serving ourcommunity since 1960

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PLUMBING

sdcnncom 19Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierPUZZLES CLASSIFIEDS

Sudoku amp Crosswordpuzzle answers from

page 19

The Academic Senate at Grossmont College last

month honored math instruc-tor Michael Lambe a Mt Helix resident with the Distinguished Faculty award the first ever for a part-time member of the col-lege faculty

Lambersquos 36 years as part-time instructor at Grossmont College concurrent to his 39-year teach-ing career with the Grossmont Union High School District gave him a unique perspective and insight on nurturing stu-dent success His dual career has made him especially aware of the need to make the transi-tion from high school to college as seamless as possible and to ensure secondary level curricu-lum prepares students for higher education

His interaction between Grossmont College and Monte Vista High School where he was chair of the math depart-

Math teacher is Grossmont Collegersquos part-time instructor of the year

ment made him a natural to help develop the first articula-tion agreement between the college and high school which helps students smoothly transi-tion without duplicating classes or experiencing delays

It wasnrsquot just students who benefitted from Lambersquos experi-ence with both systems When

driver education was eliminated from the high school curriculum and instructors were facing lay-offs he worked with the high school and college districts to develop a two-year program that prepared the former driver edu-cation instructors to acquire the teaching credentials needed to become math instructors

ldquoItrsquos been a fantastic career mdash Irsquove been blessedrdquo Lambe said

Following his retirement from the high school district Lambe was recruited four years ago as the collegersquos part-time senate officer with the Academic Senate and chair of the of the Academic Senate Part-Time Committee As head of the new committee he began tackling issues like office hours college governance and academic rank on behalf of part-timers

ldquoMichael has unified the [Academic Senatersquos Part-Time] committee and made it the most respected and cohesive voice for part-time faculty on the campusrdquo said one of his colleagues in a nomination for Lambe for the Distinguished Faculty award ldquoHe has brought part-time faculty issues into the college governance conversation as never before and helped part-time faculty be better informed through excellent professional development activities and communicationsrdquo

Lambe described his efforts on behalf of part-time instructors as a way of paying it forward

ldquoEven as a part-timer I have done a lot of things that full-time department members dordquo he said ldquoThis is my profession mdash my calling and my love This

award is the greatest honor I have ever received My col-leagues couldnrsquot have given me anything greater and to be the first recipient is tremendousrdquo

In addition to honoring Lambe for his achievements as a member of the part-time faculty the academic senate also honored Spanish instruc-tor Yolanda Guerrero with the Distinguished Faculty award for full-time faculty

President Sunita V Cooke said Lambe and Guerrero exem-plify Grossmont Collegersquos faculty members who are passionate about teaching and motivated to boost their profession and their colleagues

ldquoThe campus community owes a debt of gratitude to fac-ulty members with that kind of dedicationrdquo she said ldquoTheir generosity is an inspiration to us allrdquo

At Cuyamaca College Spanish instructor Patricia Santana won the Outstanding Faculty Award for full-time tenured faculty Arabic instructor Aklas Sheia won the award for outstanding part-time faculty

mdashDella Elliott is public information assistant for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College Districtu

DellaElliott

Michael Lambe gives a math lesson something hersquos been doing for nearly four decades in local classrooms (Courtesy Grossmont College)

20 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

Join us for a 3-course dinner and information on Chronic back pain causes and solutions Recent advances in back pain relief Different surgical options QampA with leading San Diego spine specialist

Presented by Choll Kim MD PhD a San Diego Magazine ldquoTop Doctorrdquo and Medical Director of the Advanced SpineInstitute at Alvarado Hospital ndash named Americarsquos 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgerytrade and Orthopedic Surgerytrade in 2014

Cost $10person Seating is limited mdash RSVP requiredCall (619) 229-4548 to register

Location Terra Bistro7091 El Cajon Blvd San Diego 92115

MONDAY SEPT 29 6-8 PMTERRA AMERICAN BISTRO

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Zucchini pancakes

Whatrsquos Cooking with

Julie AnnWhite

Julie

Grate away on your box grater to create this deli-

cious dinner side dish Herersquos a savory treat to serve with a salad or light chicken or fish meal They are a little bit addictive and really easy to make

Serves four (makes six small pancakes)

Ingredients3 medium zucchini grated on a box grater or food processor12 red or yellow onion grated2 large eggs lightly beaten8 Tbsp Panko bread crumbs (flour can be used instead)1 tsp baking powder1 tsp kosher saltPinch of black pepper2 Tbsp butter14 cup olive oil for frying

DirectionsGrate the zucchini and onion into a medium bowl Press with a

few paper towels to absorb juice Add remaining ingredients and stir well If batter is runny add more breadcrumbs or flour Heat large skillet and melt butter and oil over medium heat Drop the zucchini mixture into six to eight golf ball-sized gently patted pancakes Cook until golden brown Serve warmu

Put down your iPhone 6 push aside your Samsung Note 4

and turn off the TV La Mesa is asking its citizens to invest some time in one of their 14 local parks for Park Appreciation Day Oct 18

ldquoThis community event demon-strates the spirit and commitment that La Mesans have for their public facilitiesrdquo said Yvonne Garrett assistant city manager and director of community ser-vices in La Mesa ldquoLocal residents and visitors have a sense of own-ership and take pride in La Mesa parks Park Appreciation Day is an opportunity for individuals to share that enthusiasm with friends and neighborsrdquo

The impetus for La Mesa Park Appreciation Day began in 2005 when a member of a local church congregation contacted the city to ask whether their church could take on a community project in La Mesa said Garrett who is also staff director for La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation

Because the city had recently eliminated several temporary park maintenance worker posi-tions and had received a similar request for a local project from another organization city staff thought it would be a good idea

Citizen groups pitch in for Park Appreciation Day

to gather the various groups to help clean up the parks prompting the creation of Park Appreciation Day

La Mesa community services manager Mike Pacheco said he has been impressed with the pride La Mesans have in their community as well as their desire to volunteer for the city

ldquoParks and recreation pro-grams bring tremendous benefits to people of all agesrdquo Pacheco said ldquoThey contribute to help-ing us live longer better lives through active pursuits new life skills educational programs and safe activities Great parks and programs also help build a stronger community connecting individuals families and groups through the power of play Recreation programs and engag-ing exciting facilities help keep kids active and off the streetsrdquo

Park Appreciation Day proj-ects include spreading mulch planting flowers and painting picnic tables and restrooms Pacheco said

Since its inception several local groups have consistently volun-teered each year Christ Lutheran Church Journey Church Helix Interact Club Friends of Canine Corners Kiwanis Club of La Mesa La Mesa Rotary La Mesa Beautiful La Mesa Lions Club and La Mesa Police Department

Last year more than 150 vol-unteers participated on Park

Appreciation Day and removed 22 cubic yards of green material plus nine cubic yards of trash according to Garrett

Although most of La Mesarsquos parks have the same groups cleaning them every year Porter Park Fitness Plaza located at 8425 University Ave is still without a group Porter needs additional native plants installed in some areas in the beds Garrett said

Disclosure Writer Genevieve A Suzuki serves as a commissioner for the La Mesa Community Services Commission and is a member of La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation She is happy to put away her iPhone Oct 18 to help clean her local parku

Genevieve Suzuki

Make La Mesa beautifulInterested in getting

involved with La Mesa Park Appreciation Day Oct 18 Want to encourage your civic church or social group to adopt a park

All ages are welcome to par-ticipate Signed waivers are required Parents must accom-pany children under 18 at the parks unless their children are with a supervised group

Sign up by calling 619-667-1304 or email communitycila-mesacaus

sdcnncom 21Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierDINING LOCAL NEWS

New Patient Special

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$113 for exam x-rays oral cancer screening and cleaning

In absence of gum disease A $520 value

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Baseball book signingSunday Oct 12

Geoff Miller mental skills coach for the Atlanta Braves will discuss and sign copies of his new book ldquoIntangibles Big-League Stories and Strategies for Winning the Mental Game mdash in Baseball and in Liferdquo at 2 pm at Barnes amp Noble 5500 Grossmont Center Dr

Diverse Capacities workshopWednesday Oct 15

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Mariko Peshon will lead a work-shop focusing on the physical emotional and social abilities and disabilities that often go unrec-ognized and unaccommodated in our communities The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

East County Intergenerational GamesTuesday Oct 16

Active adults ages 50 and older will team up with kids between the ages of 7 and 12 for a morning of fun noncompetitive activi-ties at La Mesa Middle School 4200 Parks Ave from 830 am to noon The games include street hockey shot frisbee toss ldquoskeeballrdquo pitch t-ball and trivia games Snacks and lunch are included Interested adults must register in advance by contacting the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center at 619-667-1322

Introduction to home caregivingSaturday Oct 18

Caring for a loved one at home often involves transfers personal care proper body mechanics and other specific skills and knowl-edge Learn and practice the basics with a registered nurse at this event from 9 am to 1 pm in classroom 1314 of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Brier Patch Campus 9000 Wakarusa St Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or

register online at sharpcom

Workshop Finding Your Voice in the Social Justice MovementTuesday Oct 21

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Kenyon Whitman will lead an interactive workshop exploring social justice concepts how to develop a leadership style and creative ways to effectively com-municate in diverse groups The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the stu-dent center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

Medicare and drug cover-age updates for 2015Friday Oct 24

A free lecture will cover Medicare insurance changes for 2015 Medicare Parts A B D HMOs and more Presented by Community Education Specialist Pablo Corona the lec-ture will also cover the Medicare Saving Program and Extra-Help Program that assist with prescription costs for Medicare Parts B and D The talk begins at 10 am at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Lung function screeningWednesday Oct 29

Do you have trouble catching your breath after a short walk The Pulmonary Department at Sharp Grossmont Hospital will offer a free basic lung function test from 9 am to 2 pm for anyone who has not yet seen a doctor about breathing prob-lems The screening will be held at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center Building F Room 16 9000 Wakarusa St Appointments are required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Free blood pressure screeningFriday Oct 17

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center 8450 La Mesa Blvd No appointment necessary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Park Appreciation DaySaturday Oct 18

Groups of volunteers will get to work on projects to beautify and improve parks across town from 8 am to noon All ages are welcome but children under the age of 18 need to submit a waiver signed by a parent or legal guard-ian If your church or civic group wants to get involved call 619-667-1300 or email communitycila-mesacaus

lsquoHowl-oweenrsquo dog cos-tume contest and picnicSaturday Oct 18

Dress up your dogs in a cute or spooky Halloween costume and bring them out to Canine Corners the dog park at Harry Griffen Regional Park between 11 am and 3 pm Proud pet par-ents will have the chance to get their poochrsquos picture taken at the pumpkin patch as well as meet representatives from animal rescue groups the county sheriffrsquos K-9 unit and other vendors The costume contest begins at 1130 am A hot dog picnic lunch will be offered for $3 Canine Corners volunteers will accept donations to help with the maintenance of the dog park

Picnic with the parrotsSunday Oct 26

At Socal Parrotrsquos annual fundraising event attendees have a rare chance to view the non-profit organizationrsquos reha-bilitation facility meet animals talk with experts observe live art bid in a silent auction and buy into a raffle Based in Jamul SoCal Parrot works to protect and care for wild and endan-gered parrots across the region Tickets to the all-day fundrais-ing event range from $32 to $100 and can be purchased online at socalparrotorgu

Calendar from page 15

Send details of your com-munity events to the editor at jeremysdcnncom Deadline is the third Friday of the month

22 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 CALENDAR

Why a fiscally conservative vote-by-mail plan got no GOP love

A bill that would drastically change the way San Diego

Countyrsquos special elections are run passed without any Republican help mdash it got just two votes total from GOP lawmakers in Sacramento

It might surprise you to learn then that when the idea first emerged Democrats helped lead the charge against it

How some leading party mem-bers reversed course in just a few years says a lot about the current political landscape and the future of elections in San Diego County

Democrats wrote the current bill mdash which would create a five-year pilot program in San Diego County that would make spe-cial elections for open seats run primarily by mail with a drasti-cally reduced number of polling places mdash and they led the politi-cal charge for it

But Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez the billrsquos author remembers how hard she fought to kill the idea of vote-by-mail elections years ago

ldquoWhat happens I think so often is there is this attachment to the status quo therersquos fear about changing thingsrdquo Gonzalez said

Gonzalez said her mind was changed by a couple factors One is that she discovered during her years as a labor advocate that voters who had a ballot mailed to them before the election were roughly five times more likely to actually vote

The other she said is she realized the county was spend-ing a huge amount more per person who voted at the polls versus by mail

County officials said that in the March 2013 special election to fill the vacant 40th state Senate district seat they spent $221 per

Ari Bloomekatz

in-person voter verses $9 per mail voter

Then therersquos the fact that pathetic voter turnout in each of the last several elections has favored Republican candidates across the board

ldquoWe have all watched as voter turnout has plummeted in recent elections and itrsquos our responsi-bility to do something about itrdquo Gonzalez wrote in a press release after the bill passed

Some observers speculated that some Republicans simply didnrsquot support the bill because it was being led by promi-nent Democrats like Gonzalez (Gonzalez agrees thatrsquos probably true)

But if you want to understand why GOP support was so hard to come by for a bill steeped in fiscally conservative principles and that originated from a con-servative San Diego County government consider these three points

Republicans seized on civil rights groupsrsquo hesitation

Some of the strongest initial opposition to the vote-by-mail legislation came from civil rights groups concerned the new pro-cedures could disenfranchise immigrants and the disabled

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund initially opposed the bill but dropped its opposition after working with Gonzalez and San Diego County officials on protec-

tions for immigrantsStill MALDEF and other

groups wouldnrsquot officially support the measure

ldquoThere is some research out there that shows that mail-in ballots do have an adverse impact on minority votersrdquo said Denise Hulett an attorney with MALDEF

Hulett said MALDEF supports testing out vote-by-mail but isnrsquot sold on it yet

Those groupsrsquo reluctance had an impact on Republican legislators like Escondido Assemblywoman Marie Waldron She said she didnrsquot feel comfortable signing on to a bill without MALDEF and other civil rights groupsrsquo support

ldquoI have to wonder if this is disenfranchising a significant number of people that vote at the pollsrdquo Waldron said ldquoWhat about the people who are maybe you know possibly visually impaired or something like thatrdquo

The money wasnrsquot enoughSan Diego County Registrar

Michael Vu strongly supports the pilot program and believes it could trim costs by 30 - 40 percent

But somehow the cost-savings issue wasnrsquot enough to win over the vast majority of Republican legislators

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez said he thought the cost-savings touted by Democrats were only rough estimates and was not inclined to vote for a bill just

because of those projectionsldquoAs Irsquove said a number of times

before all these bills that theyrsquore putting through hellip really doesnrsquot address the issue of what wersquore trying to do which is get more people to voterdquo he said

Instead of just moving imme-diately to vote-by-mail Chavez wants to create a bipartisan special committee to study new voting technologies

Republicans fear voter fraud

Republicansrsquo fear of potential voter fraud through expansion of vote-by-mail overshadowed potential economic gains

The bill ldquoincludes no protec-tions to ensure the integrity and security of all-mail elections While interesting we need to be careful changing election lawsrdquo wrote Amanda Fulkerson of the Assembly Republican Caucus which advocated fiercely against the bill

ldquoRight now our members feel that we should not jeopardize our consistent voting system until we have further facts and statistics on all-mail electionsrdquo Fulkerson wrote

Republicans believed the threat of fraud would be compounded by another voting-related bill moving through the legislature at the same time

That bill would change the rules about how long mail ballots can be received and counted after an election

Currently vote-by-mail ballots must be received by election offi-cials before polls close on the day of the election The new law would allow ballots to be received no later than three days after the election (if it was time-stamped or post-marked on or before Election Day)

Assembly Republicans feared the two bills combined could allow for abuse of the system

State Sen Joel Anderson was one Republican who voted against the mail-counting bill but in favor of Gonzalezrsquos vote-by-mail effort

Anderson said that he voted against the mail-counting bill because he saw it as ldquocompletely gaming the systemrdquo but believes the vote-by-mail bill is ldquobetter for the voters itrsquos better for my constituentsrdquo

Put yourselves in the shoes of

Vu and other county officials for a minute

Nearly every time an election comes up the county spends anywhere from $1 million to $12 million-plus and organizes hordes of poll workers and pre-cincts across the county

And what happens at the end of the day

Turnout is generally low and increasing numbers of residents opt to vote by mail anyway

As Vu tells it he just wants to save the county money and acknowledge the changing winds when it comes to vote-by-mail

But nothing is ever as simple as a dollar saved in Sacramento mdash especially when it comes to something as fundamental as how voters choose their elected officials

Gonzalez said most people do not understand how difficult this bill was to pass politically Sure Republicans barley supported it but there was strong opposition from many Democrats too The instinct to preserve the status quo when it comes to elections among legislators in Sacramento is strong she said

ldquoIt was kind of funny Irsquom in Republican land carrying this bill pissing off Democrats and voting rights groups and minor-ity groupsrdquo she said ldquoI had to convince everybody that this is OK that change is OKrdquo

Brown has until Sept 30 to sign the bill

mdashAri Bloomekatz is an inves-tigative reporter for Voice of San Diego focusing on county govern-ment You can reach him directly at aribloomekatzvoiceofsandi-egoorg or 619-550-5669u

(Courtesy Flickr user bludgeoner86Creative Commons)

Voice of San Diego

sdcnncom 23Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

Everyone in every price range deserves the quality of Sothebyrsquos Realty

8310 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa CA 91942 bull 6193371700

SPRING VALLEY bull $362000LA MESA bull $499000CARDIFF BY THE SEA bull $525000

Spacious Sweetwater Springs home on corner lot Recently updated kitchen amp bath w granite countertops SS appl wine refrigerator and wood floors Upstairs BRs w mirrored wardrobe doors and ceiling fans Sliding doors to private view deck ideal for watching the sunset

JOE SOUTHWICK 6195898224

Just listed Tastefully remodeled single level entertainerrsquos paradise Large great room with chefrsquos kitchen Private backyard with pool hot tub palapa-covered bar amp grill shade patio and sun deck

JULIE ADAMS 6194810200

Rarely available 2BR 1BA twin home in the highly sought after Park Place neighborhood of Cardiff By The Sea Community pool and spa 25+ acre canyon with walking trails sand volleyball and more

YVETTE WOODS 6199223436

Laurarsquos Solds 2014 bull (619) 540-7744 bull LauraLothianRealEstatecomMost Homes Sold in La Mesa Last 11 Years

Want your home sold Ask a busy agent Call Laura Lothian TODAY 6195407744

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

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PacificSothebysRealtycomcopyMMVIII Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC A Realogy Company All Rights Reserved Sothebyrsquos International Realtyreg is a registered trademark licensed to Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC An Equal Opportunity Company Equal Housing Opportunity Each Office is Independently Owned And Operated Cal BRE 01767484 Seller will entertain offers within the listed range

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Source TrendGraphix MLS data for zip codes 91941 amp 91942 January 1 2003 to January 1 2014

24 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

Telephone DirectoryPolice non-emergency line 619-667-1400Fire non-emergency line 619-667-1461Animal Control 619-667-7536Graffiti removal 619-667-7560Weed abatement 619-667-1465Traffic signal maintenance 619-667-1166Streetlight maintenance 619-667-1450

Mayor Art Madrid 619-667-1100City Councilmembers 619-667-1106

EDCO 619-287-7555Helix Water District 619-466-0585Helix Water after hours emergency 619-466-3234

Gov Jerry Brown 916-445-2841US Sen Barbara Boxer 619-239-3884US Sen Dianne Feinstein 619-231-9712US Rep Susan Davis 619-280-5353State Sen Joel Anderson 619-596-3136State Assemblymember Shirley Weber 619-531-7913

Community titan Jerry Fazio announces plans to retire

A fter 35 years with the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County

Jerry Fazio has announced his retirement

Faziorsquos last day on the job as executive director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation will be Oct 24 His official retirement date following vacation will be Dec 4 three days after his 35th anniversary with the youth organization that has served hundreds of thousands of young people in the East County since its founding in 1961

Since joining the organization on Dec 1 1979 Fazio has served in several executive positions with the Girlsrsquo Club and Boys amp Girls Clubs He has also done two stints mdash the most recent of which began in July 2008 mdash as execu-tive director of the foundation a nonprofit fundraising entity

Faziorsquos honors during his career have included El Cajon Citizen of the Year in 1992 Boys amp Girls Clubs Pacific Region Executive of the Year in 2006 and National Executive Director of the Year from Boys amp Girls Clubs of America in 2007 He is known throughout San Diego for his friendly smile and fund-raising passion on behalf of the organization

ldquoHe is the instantly recog-nizable fundraiser and pitch man for our organizationrdquo said Jack Doyle board president of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County Foundation ldquoDuring his 35 years Jerry has steered the development of our new and updated facilities in El Cajon Lakeside Santee and La Mesa He leaves us a legacy to be proud of in East County We wish him well as he moves into retirementrdquo

Faziorsquos decision to retire was prompted by recent good news from doctors that he is cancer-free five years after beginning his battle against colon cancer the same disease that led to the 2008 death of his first wife Nancy

ldquoWhile preparing for my cancer

SDCNN Staff

tests I indulged in a little specu-lation about how I might handle the news whether good or badrdquo Fazio said ldquoI concluded that no matter what after 35 years the time has come for me to retire I will concentrate on my faith my health my grandchildren and my gorgeous wife Melissa And if an opportunity comes along to help a good community cause I might just do that toordquo

Faziorsquos recent work with the foundation has focused on an $89 million fundraising effort called the La Mesa Capital Campaign The campaignrsquos goal is to build a new clubhouse in La Mesa reno-vate an existing teen center in the city and fund an endowment to operate both facilities

Forrest Higgins CEO of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County will add the role of campaign coordinator to his job with the assistance from staff According to Higgins more than $5 million for the La Mesa Capital Campaign has been raised during Faziorsquos leadership

ldquoJerry has been integral part of the success and growth of the Boys amp Girls Club of East Countyrdquo Higgins said ldquoHis dedi-cation and passion to the youth and families of East County will be greatly missedrdquo

Since 1961 the Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County have been meeting the developmental needs of children and youth The orga-nizationrsquos mission statement ldquoTo inspire and enable all young people especially those who need us most to become responsible caring productive citizensrdquou

Jerry Fazio (Courtesy Boys amp Girls Clubs of East County)

notice to which the couple didnrsquot respond in time to renew their five-year lease Katie said

The next they heard they had to close the bar by Nov 1

ldquoI truly believe that when one door closes another one opensrdquo says Katie Halvin who runs the bar with her husband Doug ldquoAs poignant as it is to lose the bar I know we lost it because we didnrsquot pay attention when we should haverdquo

For the past five years Katie Halvinrsquos life has been intertwined with the bar Her first date with now-husband Doug landed her there mdash an Internet connection that led to a meet up in Harry Griffen Park

ldquoWe talked for a while and then he took me to his neighborhood hangout to have a beer and shoot some poolrdquo Katie recalls Katie was retiring from the Navy as a chief torpedo man and she was ready to settle down again ldquoWe got married at the Carlton Oaks [Country Club] mdash the whole bar was thererdquo

Before long Katie and Doug took over the bar which is leased from the Ross Family Trust Calls and emails to the property man-ager were not returned

ldquoWhen we took it over there were drugs gangs uglinessrdquo she said ldquoI wonrsquot put up with thatrdquo

What was left was a band of devoted regulars a tradition of small local live music and soon local art on the walls and events supporting local artists on the calendar

Cathryn Beeks the local music guru from 1021 KPRI radio began working with Halvin in November to book homegrown and up-and-coming acts at the bar mdash which led to notable shows from the Kilborn Alley Blues Band Roni Lee and many others

ldquoItrsquos very sad that the bar is closing Itrsquos run by very special people and there isnrsquot a venue like this in San Diegordquo Beeks said ldquoI found out about them because a lot of my friends were play-ing there They had a very loyal group of musicians before I ever showed uprdquo

The Parkway is also home to a very popular and solidly booked open mic night run by local singer-songwriter Jessica Hull

The Farmers local legends who evolved from the Beat Farmers also play regularly The live music will continue intermittently with the Farmers playing the closing

night Halloween party on Oct 31For Katie Halvin the closing

isnrsquot the end Property manager Aaron Dean intends to redevelop the strip mall where the Parkway now stands into a restaurant with a full bar and microbrewery and include an outdoor music venue

ldquoHe contacted me and hired me to be the director of enter-tainment at the new venuerdquo she said ldquoThey hope to start con-struction in December and finish it by August 2015rdquo ldquoOne side of my brain is ecstatic with oppor-tunityrdquo she said ldquoThe other feels the sadness of this lossrdquo

Meanwhile the Halvins are looking around in the area to find another place to open a bar like the Parkway

ldquoItrsquos our regulars Irsquom really worried aboutrdquo she said ldquoSome are at a point where most of their friends and family are gone and we are their community and fellowship We know who has cancer who has a new baby we know who to check on if they donrsquot show uprdquo

mdashMarty Graham is a freelance writer Email her at martygra-hamcoxnetu

Parkway from page 1

Sycuan Resort and Casino

For exciting casino action right in your own backyard therersquos nowhere closer than Sycuan Casino With Vegas-style gaming scrumptious dining options live headliner entertainment and nearby golf resort yoursquoll find your-self coming back again and again

You can choose from 2000 video amp reel slots as well as video poker For you card players there are more than 40 tables to play Blackjack ThreendashCard amp FourndashCard Poker Sycuanndashstyle craps and roulette

Enjoy the fresh air in the nonndashsmoking room with more than 350 slot machines 9 gaming tables Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet and a Poker Room with daily tourna-ments ndash all smokendashfree

For your dining pleasure Sycuan offers five different res-

taurant options to tempt your taste buds For those looking for a variety of delectable options Paiparsquos Surf amp Turf Buffet is an all-you-can-eat feast featuring slow-roasted Prime Rib buttery crab legs and over 100 fresh selec-tions and delicious dessert bar There isnrsquot a bad seat in the house at GameDay Sports Bar amp Grill where you can catch the big game on 39 large screen televisions 16 beers on tap with full cocktail selection delicious food menu and 29 bar-top video poker machines to play while you root on your team

With excellent acoustics and state-of-the-art sound and light-ing Sycuan Live amp Up Close is San Diegorsquos premiere venue for live entertainment Bringing exciting crowd pleasing acts from all musical genres therersquos something for everyone on their concert calendar

Just a short drive nearby Sycuan Golf Resort offers San Diegorsquos only 54-hole golf facility Exciting course play includes

3007 Dehesa RdEl Cajon CA 92019800-457-5568sycuanresortcom

mature tree-lined fairways eleva-tion changes water features and impeccable greens No matter if yoursquore a seasoned player or a first-timer the two challenging 18-hole championship golf courses and fun 18-hole par 3 course are guaranteed to give you unforget-table experiences from beginning to end To complete your stay-cat-ion enjoy one of their 100 spacious hotel rooms all recently remodeled and offer beautiful views of the golf courses pools and private putting greens If golf isnrsquot in your plans you can pamper yourself with a relaxing spa service

Not only is Sycuan the closest casino to downtown they offer free shuttle bus rides from a number of convenient locations throughout San Diego County For more infor-mation please visit Sycuancom

Guests must be 18 or older to enter casino 21 or older to enter theatre and Sports Bar Please play responsibly

Get away for the day at Sycuan CasinohellipReal Friendly Real Closeu

16 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 LOCAL NEWS

Short-term hands-on programs

Half-day classes 4 days a week

Monthly payment plans available

wwwtheaccountingacademycom

PETSlsquoOh where oh where has my little dog gonersquoSariReis

The only thing more devas-tating to a pet parent than

when their furry kid is missing is to have them never return Yet this sad scenario occurs every day Walk through any neighborhood and you will see the signs posted on trees and telephone poles ldquoMissing Our beloved dog Skippyrdquo These heart-rending pleas for help are always accompanied by a photograph of a sweet furry face and the offer of a reward for their return

As pet parents one of our pri-mary responsibilities is to keep our pets safe To do this we need to keep them securely confined in our homes our backyards or on leashes If your dog has access to the backyard be certain it is entirely fenced in with no poten-tial escape routes Make sure all gates are locked when you or anyone else goes in or out Inform pool service people landscap-ers or gardeners that you have a dog in the yard and the gate must be secured at all times Be particularly careful when enter-ing or leaving your home Open doors slowly to ensure a cat or dog is not lurking nearby ready to make a quick escape Never leave the door open for any length of time Even an indoor kitty may be curious if the door is left open for a minute or two Tell visitors cleaning ladies and anyone else who may have access to your home that you have pets and they are not to be let out

Some people like to give their dogs off-leash time on city streets in their neighborhoods They believe their pup is well-trained and will come on command and not run away But the sight of a

squirrel or stray cat can waylay the best trained dog and send them on a chase Many of these dogs never make it back home

There are also those feline parents who believe it is essen-tial to a catrsquos well-being for them to investigate and play outdoors Although the kitties may enjoy outdoor time it is very danger-ous With rattlesnakes coyotes stray dogs and traffic many out-door kitties never make it home again and soon become one of those sad notices posted on a tree

Even with the best inten-tions our pets may still make an escape Your best opportunity in getting them back is to ensure they can be identified Put an ID

tag on their collar listing your name and phone number and microchip them Although there are numerous companies that offer microchips and monitoring services one of the best is ldquoHome Againrdquo If you do microchip your pet remember to notify the man-ufacturer if you move or change your phone number Although the cost of micro-chipping is very reasonable many shelters and veterinary clinics hold spe-cial micro-chipping days so you can get your pets done for a dis-counted price Having your pet micro-chipped greatly increases the potential of getting him home again Can you actually put a price tag on that

ldquoHome Againrdquo stated that one out of three pets will go missing during their lifetime Make sure that one isnrsquot yours

mdashSari 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 missionvalley-petsittingcomu

One out of three pets will

go missing during their

lifetime

Lucille a 5-year-old spayed Labrador RetrieverAustralian Cattle Dog mix is

an energetic lady with tons of love to give her new family She has a friendly personality with everyone she meets and loves to learn new tricks She already knows commands such as sit down shake crawl beg and is currently learning how to wave ldquobye-byerdquo She is very treat-motivated and eager to please

She is very smart and outgoing and has gotten along well with other dogs on social walks This silly girl is always smiling and ready for a new adventure Born a true athlete she would love to participate in future training and would make an excellent workout partner Adequate exercise and mental stimulation are a must for this spirited lady

Lucille will do best in an active home with older children or adults She has a lot of love to give and may benefit from having another dog in the family as long as she meets them first to make sure theyrsquore a good match

Her adoption fee includes her spay current vaccinations permanent microchip identification a certificate for a free veterinary exam 30 days of complimentary medical insurance and a license for residents of Oceanside or Vista

Lucille is available for adoption at the San Diego Humane Society 5500 Gaines St in San Diego To learn more about Lucille call 619-299-7012u

Adopt a pet Looking for a home

LucilleBreed Labrador Retriever Australian Cattle Dog mixAge 5 years old Gender Female (spayed)Colors Black and WhiteID 142265Adoption Fee $9500

ADOPTION HOURSWeekdays 11 am ndash 6 pm Weekends 11 am ndash 5 pm

SD Humane Society amp SPCA5500 Gaines St (92110)

619-299-7012 | sdhumaneorg

(ThinkStock)

sdcnncom 17Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Foothiller FootstepsAdvanced Placement curriculum exposes students to college-level study

Helix HighlightsMaking students college-ready

Connie and LynnBaer

JenniferOsborn

A parent of a Helix Charter High School student once

noted that her daughter was never asked ldquoAre you going to collegerdquo Instead she was asked ldquoWhere are you going to collegerdquo A subtle difference in wording but a vast difference in meaning

Helixrsquos mission states ldquoHelix Charter High School provides a comprehensive education that prepares all students to gradu-

ate college-ready and equipped to reach their personal and aca-demic potentialrdquo

While the belief at Helix is not that every graduate needs to attend college in order to be suc-cessful it is definitely our goal to ensure that every graduate has the option to continue their edu-cation if they so choose

For the class of 2014 82 per-cent of Helix graduates stated they planned to attend college Forty-five percent went directly to a four-year college and 37 percent planned to attend two-

year institutions Approximately 12 percent attend University of California schools and 22 per-cent attend San Diego State or other California State University campuses

Support classroom projectsHave you heard of Donors

Choose Donors Choose is an online charity started by a class-room teacher from the Bronx New York He and his colleagues had great ideas for their students but no funding to bring their ideas to fruition

On the Donors Choose website teachers post classroom project requests and visitors to the web-site can help grant the teachersrsquo wishes by donating any amount big or small to their projects Donors Choose allows everyone to be a philanthropist

Over the past few years Helix teachers have been the recipi-ents of hundreds of thousands of dollars in supplies for classroom projects that would otherwise not have been possible Be a part of it Visit the website at donorschooseorg and search ldquoHelix La Mesardquo in the search box

Students shine nationallyThis past summer four Helix

Speech amp Debate team member students went to Kansas City Miski Abdi Spencer McCall Rebeca McClellan and Rachel Orey each qualified to compete in the National Forensics League National Championships McCall was a semifinalist in Student Senate and a quarterfinalist in Impromptu Orey was an octafi-nalist in Poetry

What else is going on at HelixLenelle Wyliersquos honors biology

classes have been accepted to attend the Science Lecture Series at the Scripps Research Institute

Jeff Kepperrsquos Oceanography class will be working with the

Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute and raising white sea bass in the classroom This is the second group of white sea bass raised by Helix students

Highland Players present The Odd Couple by Neil Simon Nov 5-8 and Nov 13-14 at 7 pm in the Black Box Theater They will perform both the original laquomaleraquo version and the ldquofemalerdquo version in repertory Tickets are $10 and will be available at helixdramaweeblycom or at the door Performances may sell out so buy early

Take a tourFinally we are always inter-

ested in letting our community know about Helix Charter High School The Excellence in Education Tour is offered twice a month and is open to anyone who wishes to attend It is a one-hour tour and program that highlights our vision history accomplish-ments goals and needs This monthrsquos tours will take place on Tuesday October 7 from 830 ndash 930 am and Thursday October 23 from 530 ndash 630 pm More information can be found at helix-charternet We hope to see you there

mdashJennifer Osborn is the com-munity relations officer for Helix Charter High School Email her at josbornhelixcharternetu

A commitment to educational excellence has always been a

part of the culture of Grossmont High School In the 1980s Grossmont began offering a new curriculum mdash Advanced Placement mdash that challenges the high school student to master a rigorous college-level curricu-lum Each May the students may then take the AP Exam Passing the exam with a score of 3 4 or 5 will in most cases translate to the student receiv-ing college credit or course exemption

In 1981 Grossmont English teacher Kay Adams offered an after-school tutorial for her senior students who wanted to take the AP English Language and Composition Exam Twenty-one students met with her to receive preparation for the exam all 21 students passed the exam with five stu-dents receiving a 5 the highest score

ldquoI learned more than I ever taughtrdquo Adams said ldquoThose students were the brightest minds I ever metrdquo

Beginning in 1982 AP

courses became a yearly English course offering

Other challenges presented themselves to early AP teach-ers In the 1980s through 1996 Sue Emerson AP Biology teacher found ways to cre-atively schedule her class On Wednesdays the students came in an hour early to complete the sophisticated experiments the curriculum required

ldquoOne fun activity was a nation-wide project studying wetlandsrdquo Emerson recalled ldquoThe students shared information with schools around the country via telecom-munication from their study of the Tijuana River Estuaryrdquo

Today Grossmont offers 15 different honors courses which prepare the students for the diverse variety of subsequent 19 Advanced Placement courses

Art AP Art History Studio Drawing 2-D Design

Business AP Computer Science

English AP Literature and Composition Language and Composition

Language AP Spanish Language Spanish Literature and Culture French Language and Culture

Math AP Calculus StatisticsPerforming Arts AP Music

Advanced Placement Theory

Science AP Biology Environmental Science Physics

Social Science AP European History US History Psychology US Government

Over the years the curriculum has evolved AP French Language and Culture teacher Azita Mahmoudi noted that the ldquoAP test has changed from a narrow grammar-based test to an open-ended test based on cultural knowledgerdquo

ldquoPhysics isnrsquot dif-ficult It only has the reputation of being dif-ficultrdquo said longtime AP Physics teacher Tom Eklund

Eklundrsquos creative lessons include the one shown in the 2012 photograph of student Jessie Hodges dropping his project off the bleachers and measuring its fall

During the past five years the number of tests taken by Grossmont students has risen from 453 in 2009 to 646 in 2014 While the passing rate dropped from 65 to 58 percent in those

same years more Foothillers were given the opportunity to challenge themselves and prepare for post secondary education

A continuing goal of Grossmont staff is to have more enrolled students take the test however each test costs $89 with many students taking more than one test

Those wishing to sponsor one or more tests with a tax-deduct-

ible donation may contribute to the GHS Educational Foundationrsquos AP Scholarship Fund by sending a check to GHS Educational Foundation PO Box 1043 La Mesa CA 91944

ldquoGrossmont High School is proud to support our honors and Advanced Placement curricu-lumrdquo said Principal Dan Barnes ldquoWe are very excited to see the very high increase in partici-pation in our courses over the past three years and contin-ued success by our

teachers and students shown in their AP exam pass ratesrdquo

Visit Grossmont and wit-ness firsthand a campus that celebrates it heritage and embraces its future Regular public hours are noon to 4 pm on Wednesday Oct 1 and Nov 5 or by appointment

Contact the Grossmont High School Museum by phone at 619-668-6140 or by email at ghs-museumguhsdnetu

AP Physics students participate in an experiment at Grossmont High School in 2012 (Courtesy GHS Museum)

18 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

PUZZLESSUDOKU

Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9 Each number can appear only once in each row column and 3x3 block Use logic and process elimination to solve the puzzle

copy 2014 Janric Enterprises Dist by creatorscom

CROSSWORD

Business 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 wwwGotFreedomcom Call 858-278-2120 Your future is counting on you (1214)

For SaleNICE 1BD HOUSE IN LA MESA LIVDEN LG KITCHEN BATH WD LG BEDROOM NICE SUNDECK $1000 INCLUDES GE WATER TRASH CALL CLARA 6194650591 (0914)

Sweet male and female Tea-cup Yorkie 12 weeks old $500 Will be 4 lbs at full growth Microchiped shots and dewormed coming with registration papers mlcpetsyahoocom 661-858-0633 (0914)

NoticesWIDOW OR WIDOWER Interested in social activities You are welcome to join our club Widows or Widowers (WOW) of San Diego Website wwwwowsdorg Phone 619-448-6088 (0914)

ServicesJennarsquos Barber Shoppe Styling for men women amp children Wheelchair friendly Old time expert

haircuts at affordable prices Colors amp perms 7424 Jackson Dr1A (across from Keilrsquos in Bank of America lot) Tues-Fri 830-530pm Sat 830-noon Walk-ins or By appt 619-644-3669 (1214)

Lindarsquos Puppy Love licensed insured pet sitting service offering daily walks cat care overnight stays-your home lots of love 619-857-3674 wwwlindaspuppylovecom (615)

Locksmith - Discount Deadbolts and Rekeying - security door viewers patio door locks simulated alarms magnetic door stops Cliff Henderson 619-840-3327 - Lic LCO4353 - Bonded - Never a trip charge (0615)

Quality exterior carpentry Decks Fences Patio Covers and Termite Repair Lic365241 wwwaactionbuildersofsandiegocom Bob 619-275-1493 (415)

Bathtubs and sinks refinished like new San Carlos based business for over 25 years - same owner Lic560438 wwwsaveatubsdcom 619-464-5141 (0115)

German Setter Tile and Marble Professional marbletile setter with 28 years experience European craftsmanship Punctual amp dependable License 872804 Contact Jens Sedemund 619-415-6789 or jensgermansettercom (1214)

Dan Patterson HandymanCarpentry Repair and replacement of plumbing electrical repair installation of water heaters doors windows cabinets flooring fencing Pressure washing of driveways all phases of

Finding Senior Housing can be complex but it doesnrsquot have to be

(800) 217-3942A Place for Mom is the nationrsquos largest senior living referral

information service We do not own operate endorse or recommend any senior living community We are paid by partner communities

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ldquoYou can trust A Place for Mom to help yourdquo

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BUSINESS amp SERVICES

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 (1214)

BARGAIN BOYZ CONSTRUCTIONREPAIRS 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 jimmysupancoxnet (1014)

PLUMBERhellipLicensed and Insured Over 25 years experience La Mesa resident OwnerOperator Reasonable rates Courteous service Lic 527864 Call Peter 619-698-0313 wwwFelberPlumbingcom (0914)

ROOFING Lic 691295-C39 Veteran owned Allied Gardens based Celebrating 20 years Full roof amp repair Free est Veteran amp Senior discounts 619-823-7208 (615)

WantedHelping Hands Animal Sanctuary seeks laundry detergent (all free and clear) and fabric softener (Downey free and gentle) 619-460-6679 (0914)

Job WantedNanny seeking work certified bkgd ck CPR First Aide 20 years experience wchildren and babies Great references Call Peggy 619-246-6572 or 512-755-0813

ANSWERS ON PAGE 20

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PLUMBING

sdcnncom 19Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierPUZZLES CLASSIFIEDS

Sudoku amp Crosswordpuzzle answers from

page 19

The Academic Senate at Grossmont College last

month honored math instruc-tor Michael Lambe a Mt Helix resident with the Distinguished Faculty award the first ever for a part-time member of the col-lege faculty

Lambersquos 36 years as part-time instructor at Grossmont College concurrent to his 39-year teach-ing career with the Grossmont Union High School District gave him a unique perspective and insight on nurturing stu-dent success His dual career has made him especially aware of the need to make the transi-tion from high school to college as seamless as possible and to ensure secondary level curricu-lum prepares students for higher education

His interaction between Grossmont College and Monte Vista High School where he was chair of the math depart-

Math teacher is Grossmont Collegersquos part-time instructor of the year

ment made him a natural to help develop the first articula-tion agreement between the college and high school which helps students smoothly transi-tion without duplicating classes or experiencing delays

It wasnrsquot just students who benefitted from Lambersquos experi-ence with both systems When

driver education was eliminated from the high school curriculum and instructors were facing lay-offs he worked with the high school and college districts to develop a two-year program that prepared the former driver edu-cation instructors to acquire the teaching credentials needed to become math instructors

ldquoItrsquos been a fantastic career mdash Irsquove been blessedrdquo Lambe said

Following his retirement from the high school district Lambe was recruited four years ago as the collegersquos part-time senate officer with the Academic Senate and chair of the of the Academic Senate Part-Time Committee As head of the new committee he began tackling issues like office hours college governance and academic rank on behalf of part-timers

ldquoMichael has unified the [Academic Senatersquos Part-Time] committee and made it the most respected and cohesive voice for part-time faculty on the campusrdquo said one of his colleagues in a nomination for Lambe for the Distinguished Faculty award ldquoHe has brought part-time faculty issues into the college governance conversation as never before and helped part-time faculty be better informed through excellent professional development activities and communicationsrdquo

Lambe described his efforts on behalf of part-time instructors as a way of paying it forward

ldquoEven as a part-timer I have done a lot of things that full-time department members dordquo he said ldquoThis is my profession mdash my calling and my love This

award is the greatest honor I have ever received My col-leagues couldnrsquot have given me anything greater and to be the first recipient is tremendousrdquo

In addition to honoring Lambe for his achievements as a member of the part-time faculty the academic senate also honored Spanish instruc-tor Yolanda Guerrero with the Distinguished Faculty award for full-time faculty

President Sunita V Cooke said Lambe and Guerrero exem-plify Grossmont Collegersquos faculty members who are passionate about teaching and motivated to boost their profession and their colleagues

ldquoThe campus community owes a debt of gratitude to fac-ulty members with that kind of dedicationrdquo she said ldquoTheir generosity is an inspiration to us allrdquo

At Cuyamaca College Spanish instructor Patricia Santana won the Outstanding Faculty Award for full-time tenured faculty Arabic instructor Aklas Sheia won the award for outstanding part-time faculty

mdashDella Elliott is public information assistant for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College Districtu

DellaElliott

Michael Lambe gives a math lesson something hersquos been doing for nearly four decades in local classrooms (Courtesy Grossmont College)

20 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

Join us for a 3-course dinner and information on Chronic back pain causes and solutions Recent advances in back pain relief Different surgical options QampA with leading San Diego spine specialist

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Location Terra Bistro7091 El Cajon Blvd San Diego 92115

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Zucchini pancakes

Whatrsquos Cooking with

Julie AnnWhite

Julie

Grate away on your box grater to create this deli-

cious dinner side dish Herersquos a savory treat to serve with a salad or light chicken or fish meal They are a little bit addictive and really easy to make

Serves four (makes six small pancakes)

Ingredients3 medium zucchini grated on a box grater or food processor12 red or yellow onion grated2 large eggs lightly beaten8 Tbsp Panko bread crumbs (flour can be used instead)1 tsp baking powder1 tsp kosher saltPinch of black pepper2 Tbsp butter14 cup olive oil for frying

DirectionsGrate the zucchini and onion into a medium bowl Press with a

few paper towels to absorb juice Add remaining ingredients and stir well If batter is runny add more breadcrumbs or flour Heat large skillet and melt butter and oil over medium heat Drop the zucchini mixture into six to eight golf ball-sized gently patted pancakes Cook until golden brown Serve warmu

Put down your iPhone 6 push aside your Samsung Note 4

and turn off the TV La Mesa is asking its citizens to invest some time in one of their 14 local parks for Park Appreciation Day Oct 18

ldquoThis community event demon-strates the spirit and commitment that La Mesans have for their public facilitiesrdquo said Yvonne Garrett assistant city manager and director of community ser-vices in La Mesa ldquoLocal residents and visitors have a sense of own-ership and take pride in La Mesa parks Park Appreciation Day is an opportunity for individuals to share that enthusiasm with friends and neighborsrdquo

The impetus for La Mesa Park Appreciation Day began in 2005 when a member of a local church congregation contacted the city to ask whether their church could take on a community project in La Mesa said Garrett who is also staff director for La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation

Because the city had recently eliminated several temporary park maintenance worker posi-tions and had received a similar request for a local project from another organization city staff thought it would be a good idea

Citizen groups pitch in for Park Appreciation Day

to gather the various groups to help clean up the parks prompting the creation of Park Appreciation Day

La Mesa community services manager Mike Pacheco said he has been impressed with the pride La Mesans have in their community as well as their desire to volunteer for the city

ldquoParks and recreation pro-grams bring tremendous benefits to people of all agesrdquo Pacheco said ldquoThey contribute to help-ing us live longer better lives through active pursuits new life skills educational programs and safe activities Great parks and programs also help build a stronger community connecting individuals families and groups through the power of play Recreation programs and engag-ing exciting facilities help keep kids active and off the streetsrdquo

Park Appreciation Day proj-ects include spreading mulch planting flowers and painting picnic tables and restrooms Pacheco said

Since its inception several local groups have consistently volun-teered each year Christ Lutheran Church Journey Church Helix Interact Club Friends of Canine Corners Kiwanis Club of La Mesa La Mesa Rotary La Mesa Beautiful La Mesa Lions Club and La Mesa Police Department

Last year more than 150 vol-unteers participated on Park

Appreciation Day and removed 22 cubic yards of green material plus nine cubic yards of trash according to Garrett

Although most of La Mesarsquos parks have the same groups cleaning them every year Porter Park Fitness Plaza located at 8425 University Ave is still without a group Porter needs additional native plants installed in some areas in the beds Garrett said

Disclosure Writer Genevieve A Suzuki serves as a commissioner for the La Mesa Community Services Commission and is a member of La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation She is happy to put away her iPhone Oct 18 to help clean her local parku

Genevieve Suzuki

Make La Mesa beautifulInterested in getting

involved with La Mesa Park Appreciation Day Oct 18 Want to encourage your civic church or social group to adopt a park

All ages are welcome to par-ticipate Signed waivers are required Parents must accom-pany children under 18 at the parks unless their children are with a supervised group

Sign up by calling 619-667-1304 or email communitycila-mesacaus

sdcnncom 21Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierDINING LOCAL NEWS

New Patient Special

bull SedationDentistrybull Implantsbull Same-DayCrownsbull LaserTreatmentbull Invisalign

Wersquove been in practice for over

25 years in La Mesa

$113 for exam x-rays oral cancer screening and cleaning

In absence of gum disease A $520 value

Donrsquot avoid the dentist Remove the anxiety and fear with Sedation Dentistry

A Shop For Smiles

Dr Hagstrom619-465-5252 | 8923 La Mesa Blvd | La Mesa CA 91942

wwwashopforsmilescom

Visit us today

Baseball book signingSunday Oct 12

Geoff Miller mental skills coach for the Atlanta Braves will discuss and sign copies of his new book ldquoIntangibles Big-League Stories and Strategies for Winning the Mental Game mdash in Baseball and in Liferdquo at 2 pm at Barnes amp Noble 5500 Grossmont Center Dr

Diverse Capacities workshopWednesday Oct 15

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Mariko Peshon will lead a work-shop focusing on the physical emotional and social abilities and disabilities that often go unrec-ognized and unaccommodated in our communities The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

East County Intergenerational GamesTuesday Oct 16

Active adults ages 50 and older will team up with kids between the ages of 7 and 12 for a morning of fun noncompetitive activi-ties at La Mesa Middle School 4200 Parks Ave from 830 am to noon The games include street hockey shot frisbee toss ldquoskeeballrdquo pitch t-ball and trivia games Snacks and lunch are included Interested adults must register in advance by contacting the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center at 619-667-1322

Introduction to home caregivingSaturday Oct 18

Caring for a loved one at home often involves transfers personal care proper body mechanics and other specific skills and knowl-edge Learn and practice the basics with a registered nurse at this event from 9 am to 1 pm in classroom 1314 of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Brier Patch Campus 9000 Wakarusa St Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or

register online at sharpcom

Workshop Finding Your Voice in the Social Justice MovementTuesday Oct 21

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Kenyon Whitman will lead an interactive workshop exploring social justice concepts how to develop a leadership style and creative ways to effectively com-municate in diverse groups The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the stu-dent center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

Medicare and drug cover-age updates for 2015Friday Oct 24

A free lecture will cover Medicare insurance changes for 2015 Medicare Parts A B D HMOs and more Presented by Community Education Specialist Pablo Corona the lec-ture will also cover the Medicare Saving Program and Extra-Help Program that assist with prescription costs for Medicare Parts B and D The talk begins at 10 am at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Lung function screeningWednesday Oct 29

Do you have trouble catching your breath after a short walk The Pulmonary Department at Sharp Grossmont Hospital will offer a free basic lung function test from 9 am to 2 pm for anyone who has not yet seen a doctor about breathing prob-lems The screening will be held at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center Building F Room 16 9000 Wakarusa St Appointments are required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Free blood pressure screeningFriday Oct 17

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center 8450 La Mesa Blvd No appointment necessary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Park Appreciation DaySaturday Oct 18

Groups of volunteers will get to work on projects to beautify and improve parks across town from 8 am to noon All ages are welcome but children under the age of 18 need to submit a waiver signed by a parent or legal guard-ian If your church or civic group wants to get involved call 619-667-1300 or email communitycila-mesacaus

lsquoHowl-oweenrsquo dog cos-tume contest and picnicSaturday Oct 18

Dress up your dogs in a cute or spooky Halloween costume and bring them out to Canine Corners the dog park at Harry Griffen Regional Park between 11 am and 3 pm Proud pet par-ents will have the chance to get their poochrsquos picture taken at the pumpkin patch as well as meet representatives from animal rescue groups the county sheriffrsquos K-9 unit and other vendors The costume contest begins at 1130 am A hot dog picnic lunch will be offered for $3 Canine Corners volunteers will accept donations to help with the maintenance of the dog park

Picnic with the parrotsSunday Oct 26

At Socal Parrotrsquos annual fundraising event attendees have a rare chance to view the non-profit organizationrsquos reha-bilitation facility meet animals talk with experts observe live art bid in a silent auction and buy into a raffle Based in Jamul SoCal Parrot works to protect and care for wild and endan-gered parrots across the region Tickets to the all-day fundrais-ing event range from $32 to $100 and can be purchased online at socalparrotorgu

Calendar from page 15

Send details of your com-munity events to the editor at jeremysdcnncom Deadline is the third Friday of the month

22 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 CALENDAR

Why a fiscally conservative vote-by-mail plan got no GOP love

A bill that would drastically change the way San Diego

Countyrsquos special elections are run passed without any Republican help mdash it got just two votes total from GOP lawmakers in Sacramento

It might surprise you to learn then that when the idea first emerged Democrats helped lead the charge against it

How some leading party mem-bers reversed course in just a few years says a lot about the current political landscape and the future of elections in San Diego County

Democrats wrote the current bill mdash which would create a five-year pilot program in San Diego County that would make spe-cial elections for open seats run primarily by mail with a drasti-cally reduced number of polling places mdash and they led the politi-cal charge for it

But Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez the billrsquos author remembers how hard she fought to kill the idea of vote-by-mail elections years ago

ldquoWhat happens I think so often is there is this attachment to the status quo therersquos fear about changing thingsrdquo Gonzalez said

Gonzalez said her mind was changed by a couple factors One is that she discovered during her years as a labor advocate that voters who had a ballot mailed to them before the election were roughly five times more likely to actually vote

The other she said is she realized the county was spend-ing a huge amount more per person who voted at the polls versus by mail

County officials said that in the March 2013 special election to fill the vacant 40th state Senate district seat they spent $221 per

Ari Bloomekatz

in-person voter verses $9 per mail voter

Then therersquos the fact that pathetic voter turnout in each of the last several elections has favored Republican candidates across the board

ldquoWe have all watched as voter turnout has plummeted in recent elections and itrsquos our responsi-bility to do something about itrdquo Gonzalez wrote in a press release after the bill passed

Some observers speculated that some Republicans simply didnrsquot support the bill because it was being led by promi-nent Democrats like Gonzalez (Gonzalez agrees thatrsquos probably true)

But if you want to understand why GOP support was so hard to come by for a bill steeped in fiscally conservative principles and that originated from a con-servative San Diego County government consider these three points

Republicans seized on civil rights groupsrsquo hesitation

Some of the strongest initial opposition to the vote-by-mail legislation came from civil rights groups concerned the new pro-cedures could disenfranchise immigrants and the disabled

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund initially opposed the bill but dropped its opposition after working with Gonzalez and San Diego County officials on protec-

tions for immigrantsStill MALDEF and other

groups wouldnrsquot officially support the measure

ldquoThere is some research out there that shows that mail-in ballots do have an adverse impact on minority votersrdquo said Denise Hulett an attorney with MALDEF

Hulett said MALDEF supports testing out vote-by-mail but isnrsquot sold on it yet

Those groupsrsquo reluctance had an impact on Republican legislators like Escondido Assemblywoman Marie Waldron She said she didnrsquot feel comfortable signing on to a bill without MALDEF and other civil rights groupsrsquo support

ldquoI have to wonder if this is disenfranchising a significant number of people that vote at the pollsrdquo Waldron said ldquoWhat about the people who are maybe you know possibly visually impaired or something like thatrdquo

The money wasnrsquot enoughSan Diego County Registrar

Michael Vu strongly supports the pilot program and believes it could trim costs by 30 - 40 percent

But somehow the cost-savings issue wasnrsquot enough to win over the vast majority of Republican legislators

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez said he thought the cost-savings touted by Democrats were only rough estimates and was not inclined to vote for a bill just

because of those projectionsldquoAs Irsquove said a number of times

before all these bills that theyrsquore putting through hellip really doesnrsquot address the issue of what wersquore trying to do which is get more people to voterdquo he said

Instead of just moving imme-diately to vote-by-mail Chavez wants to create a bipartisan special committee to study new voting technologies

Republicans fear voter fraud

Republicansrsquo fear of potential voter fraud through expansion of vote-by-mail overshadowed potential economic gains

The bill ldquoincludes no protec-tions to ensure the integrity and security of all-mail elections While interesting we need to be careful changing election lawsrdquo wrote Amanda Fulkerson of the Assembly Republican Caucus which advocated fiercely against the bill

ldquoRight now our members feel that we should not jeopardize our consistent voting system until we have further facts and statistics on all-mail electionsrdquo Fulkerson wrote

Republicans believed the threat of fraud would be compounded by another voting-related bill moving through the legislature at the same time

That bill would change the rules about how long mail ballots can be received and counted after an election

Currently vote-by-mail ballots must be received by election offi-cials before polls close on the day of the election The new law would allow ballots to be received no later than three days after the election (if it was time-stamped or post-marked on or before Election Day)

Assembly Republicans feared the two bills combined could allow for abuse of the system

State Sen Joel Anderson was one Republican who voted against the mail-counting bill but in favor of Gonzalezrsquos vote-by-mail effort

Anderson said that he voted against the mail-counting bill because he saw it as ldquocompletely gaming the systemrdquo but believes the vote-by-mail bill is ldquobetter for the voters itrsquos better for my constituentsrdquo

Put yourselves in the shoes of

Vu and other county officials for a minute

Nearly every time an election comes up the county spends anywhere from $1 million to $12 million-plus and organizes hordes of poll workers and pre-cincts across the county

And what happens at the end of the day

Turnout is generally low and increasing numbers of residents opt to vote by mail anyway

As Vu tells it he just wants to save the county money and acknowledge the changing winds when it comes to vote-by-mail

But nothing is ever as simple as a dollar saved in Sacramento mdash especially when it comes to something as fundamental as how voters choose their elected officials

Gonzalez said most people do not understand how difficult this bill was to pass politically Sure Republicans barley supported it but there was strong opposition from many Democrats too The instinct to preserve the status quo when it comes to elections among legislators in Sacramento is strong she said

ldquoIt was kind of funny Irsquom in Republican land carrying this bill pissing off Democrats and voting rights groups and minor-ity groupsrdquo she said ldquoI had to convince everybody that this is OK that change is OKrdquo

Brown has until Sept 30 to sign the bill

mdashAri Bloomekatz is an inves-tigative reporter for Voice of San Diego focusing on county govern-ment You can reach him directly at aribloomekatzvoiceofsandi-egoorg or 619-550-5669u

(Courtesy Flickr user bludgeoner86Creative Commons)

Voice of San Diego

sdcnncom 23Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

Everyone in every price range deserves the quality of Sothebyrsquos Realty

8310 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa CA 91942 bull 6193371700

SPRING VALLEY bull $362000LA MESA bull $499000CARDIFF BY THE SEA bull $525000

Spacious Sweetwater Springs home on corner lot Recently updated kitchen amp bath w granite countertops SS appl wine refrigerator and wood floors Upstairs BRs w mirrored wardrobe doors and ceiling fans Sliding doors to private view deck ideal for watching the sunset

JOE SOUTHWICK 6195898224

Just listed Tastefully remodeled single level entertainerrsquos paradise Large great room with chefrsquos kitchen Private backyard with pool hot tub palapa-covered bar amp grill shade patio and sun deck

JULIE ADAMS 6194810200

Rarely available 2BR 1BA twin home in the highly sought after Park Place neighborhood of Cardiff By The Sea Community pool and spa 25+ acre canyon with walking trails sand volleyball and more

YVETTE WOODS 6199223436

Laurarsquos Solds 2014 bull (619) 540-7744 bull LauraLothianRealEstatecomMost Homes Sold in La Mesa Last 11 Years

Want your home sold Ask a busy agent Call Laura Lothian TODAY 6195407744

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD GASLAMP

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SOLD SAN CARLOS SOLD SAN CARLOS SOLD SANTEE

SOLD LAKE MURRAY

SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE

PENDING PACIFIC BEACH

SOLD STEELE CANYON

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PacificSothebysRealtycomcopyMMVIII Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC A Realogy Company All Rights Reserved Sothebyrsquos International Realtyreg is a registered trademark licensed to Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC An Equal Opportunity Company Equal Housing Opportunity Each Office is Independently Owned And Operated Cal BRE 01767484 Seller will entertain offers within the listed range

SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX

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Source TrendGraphix MLS data for zip codes 91941 amp 91942 January 1 2003 to January 1 2014

24 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

Short-term hands-on programs

Half-day classes 4 days a week

Monthly payment plans available

wwwtheaccountingacademycom

PETSlsquoOh where oh where has my little dog gonersquoSariReis

The only thing more devas-tating to a pet parent than

when their furry kid is missing is to have them never return Yet this sad scenario occurs every day Walk through any neighborhood and you will see the signs posted on trees and telephone poles ldquoMissing Our beloved dog Skippyrdquo These heart-rending pleas for help are always accompanied by a photograph of a sweet furry face and the offer of a reward for their return

As pet parents one of our pri-mary responsibilities is to keep our pets safe To do this we need to keep them securely confined in our homes our backyards or on leashes If your dog has access to the backyard be certain it is entirely fenced in with no poten-tial escape routes Make sure all gates are locked when you or anyone else goes in or out Inform pool service people landscap-ers or gardeners that you have a dog in the yard and the gate must be secured at all times Be particularly careful when enter-ing or leaving your home Open doors slowly to ensure a cat or dog is not lurking nearby ready to make a quick escape Never leave the door open for any length of time Even an indoor kitty may be curious if the door is left open for a minute or two Tell visitors cleaning ladies and anyone else who may have access to your home that you have pets and they are not to be let out

Some people like to give their dogs off-leash time on city streets in their neighborhoods They believe their pup is well-trained and will come on command and not run away But the sight of a

squirrel or stray cat can waylay the best trained dog and send them on a chase Many of these dogs never make it back home

There are also those feline parents who believe it is essen-tial to a catrsquos well-being for them to investigate and play outdoors Although the kitties may enjoy outdoor time it is very danger-ous With rattlesnakes coyotes stray dogs and traffic many out-door kitties never make it home again and soon become one of those sad notices posted on a tree

Even with the best inten-tions our pets may still make an escape Your best opportunity in getting them back is to ensure they can be identified Put an ID

tag on their collar listing your name and phone number and microchip them Although there are numerous companies that offer microchips and monitoring services one of the best is ldquoHome Againrdquo If you do microchip your pet remember to notify the man-ufacturer if you move or change your phone number Although the cost of micro-chipping is very reasonable many shelters and veterinary clinics hold spe-cial micro-chipping days so you can get your pets done for a dis-counted price Having your pet micro-chipped greatly increases the potential of getting him home again Can you actually put a price tag on that

ldquoHome Againrdquo stated that one out of three pets will go missing during their lifetime Make sure that one isnrsquot yours

mdashSari 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 missionvalley-petsittingcomu

One out of three pets will

go missing during their

lifetime

Lucille a 5-year-old spayed Labrador RetrieverAustralian Cattle Dog mix is

an energetic lady with tons of love to give her new family She has a friendly personality with everyone she meets and loves to learn new tricks She already knows commands such as sit down shake crawl beg and is currently learning how to wave ldquobye-byerdquo She is very treat-motivated and eager to please

She is very smart and outgoing and has gotten along well with other dogs on social walks This silly girl is always smiling and ready for a new adventure Born a true athlete she would love to participate in future training and would make an excellent workout partner Adequate exercise and mental stimulation are a must for this spirited lady

Lucille will do best in an active home with older children or adults She has a lot of love to give and may benefit from having another dog in the family as long as she meets them first to make sure theyrsquore a good match

Her adoption fee includes her spay current vaccinations permanent microchip identification a certificate for a free veterinary exam 30 days of complimentary medical insurance and a license for residents of Oceanside or Vista

Lucille is available for adoption at the San Diego Humane Society 5500 Gaines St in San Diego To learn more about Lucille call 619-299-7012u

Adopt a pet Looking for a home

LucilleBreed Labrador Retriever Australian Cattle Dog mixAge 5 years old Gender Female (spayed)Colors Black and WhiteID 142265Adoption Fee $9500

ADOPTION HOURSWeekdays 11 am ndash 6 pm Weekends 11 am ndash 5 pm

SD Humane Society amp SPCA5500 Gaines St (92110)

619-299-7012 | sdhumaneorg

(ThinkStock)

sdcnncom 17Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa Courier

Foothiller FootstepsAdvanced Placement curriculum exposes students to college-level study

Helix HighlightsMaking students college-ready

Connie and LynnBaer

JenniferOsborn

A parent of a Helix Charter High School student once

noted that her daughter was never asked ldquoAre you going to collegerdquo Instead she was asked ldquoWhere are you going to collegerdquo A subtle difference in wording but a vast difference in meaning

Helixrsquos mission states ldquoHelix Charter High School provides a comprehensive education that prepares all students to gradu-

ate college-ready and equipped to reach their personal and aca-demic potentialrdquo

While the belief at Helix is not that every graduate needs to attend college in order to be suc-cessful it is definitely our goal to ensure that every graduate has the option to continue their edu-cation if they so choose

For the class of 2014 82 per-cent of Helix graduates stated they planned to attend college Forty-five percent went directly to a four-year college and 37 percent planned to attend two-

year institutions Approximately 12 percent attend University of California schools and 22 per-cent attend San Diego State or other California State University campuses

Support classroom projectsHave you heard of Donors

Choose Donors Choose is an online charity started by a class-room teacher from the Bronx New York He and his colleagues had great ideas for their students but no funding to bring their ideas to fruition

On the Donors Choose website teachers post classroom project requests and visitors to the web-site can help grant the teachersrsquo wishes by donating any amount big or small to their projects Donors Choose allows everyone to be a philanthropist

Over the past few years Helix teachers have been the recipi-ents of hundreds of thousands of dollars in supplies for classroom projects that would otherwise not have been possible Be a part of it Visit the website at donorschooseorg and search ldquoHelix La Mesardquo in the search box

Students shine nationallyThis past summer four Helix

Speech amp Debate team member students went to Kansas City Miski Abdi Spencer McCall Rebeca McClellan and Rachel Orey each qualified to compete in the National Forensics League National Championships McCall was a semifinalist in Student Senate and a quarterfinalist in Impromptu Orey was an octafi-nalist in Poetry

What else is going on at HelixLenelle Wyliersquos honors biology

classes have been accepted to attend the Science Lecture Series at the Scripps Research Institute

Jeff Kepperrsquos Oceanography class will be working with the

Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute and raising white sea bass in the classroom This is the second group of white sea bass raised by Helix students

Highland Players present The Odd Couple by Neil Simon Nov 5-8 and Nov 13-14 at 7 pm in the Black Box Theater They will perform both the original laquomaleraquo version and the ldquofemalerdquo version in repertory Tickets are $10 and will be available at helixdramaweeblycom or at the door Performances may sell out so buy early

Take a tourFinally we are always inter-

ested in letting our community know about Helix Charter High School The Excellence in Education Tour is offered twice a month and is open to anyone who wishes to attend It is a one-hour tour and program that highlights our vision history accomplish-ments goals and needs This monthrsquos tours will take place on Tuesday October 7 from 830 ndash 930 am and Thursday October 23 from 530 ndash 630 pm More information can be found at helix-charternet We hope to see you there

mdashJennifer Osborn is the com-munity relations officer for Helix Charter High School Email her at josbornhelixcharternetu

A commitment to educational excellence has always been a

part of the culture of Grossmont High School In the 1980s Grossmont began offering a new curriculum mdash Advanced Placement mdash that challenges the high school student to master a rigorous college-level curricu-lum Each May the students may then take the AP Exam Passing the exam with a score of 3 4 or 5 will in most cases translate to the student receiv-ing college credit or course exemption

In 1981 Grossmont English teacher Kay Adams offered an after-school tutorial for her senior students who wanted to take the AP English Language and Composition Exam Twenty-one students met with her to receive preparation for the exam all 21 students passed the exam with five stu-dents receiving a 5 the highest score

ldquoI learned more than I ever taughtrdquo Adams said ldquoThose students were the brightest minds I ever metrdquo

Beginning in 1982 AP

courses became a yearly English course offering

Other challenges presented themselves to early AP teach-ers In the 1980s through 1996 Sue Emerson AP Biology teacher found ways to cre-atively schedule her class On Wednesdays the students came in an hour early to complete the sophisticated experiments the curriculum required

ldquoOne fun activity was a nation-wide project studying wetlandsrdquo Emerson recalled ldquoThe students shared information with schools around the country via telecom-munication from their study of the Tijuana River Estuaryrdquo

Today Grossmont offers 15 different honors courses which prepare the students for the diverse variety of subsequent 19 Advanced Placement courses

Art AP Art History Studio Drawing 2-D Design

Business AP Computer Science

English AP Literature and Composition Language and Composition

Language AP Spanish Language Spanish Literature and Culture French Language and Culture

Math AP Calculus StatisticsPerforming Arts AP Music

Advanced Placement Theory

Science AP Biology Environmental Science Physics

Social Science AP European History US History Psychology US Government

Over the years the curriculum has evolved AP French Language and Culture teacher Azita Mahmoudi noted that the ldquoAP test has changed from a narrow grammar-based test to an open-ended test based on cultural knowledgerdquo

ldquoPhysics isnrsquot dif-ficult It only has the reputation of being dif-ficultrdquo said longtime AP Physics teacher Tom Eklund

Eklundrsquos creative lessons include the one shown in the 2012 photograph of student Jessie Hodges dropping his project off the bleachers and measuring its fall

During the past five years the number of tests taken by Grossmont students has risen from 453 in 2009 to 646 in 2014 While the passing rate dropped from 65 to 58 percent in those

same years more Foothillers were given the opportunity to challenge themselves and prepare for post secondary education

A continuing goal of Grossmont staff is to have more enrolled students take the test however each test costs $89 with many students taking more than one test

Those wishing to sponsor one or more tests with a tax-deduct-

ible donation may contribute to the GHS Educational Foundationrsquos AP Scholarship Fund by sending a check to GHS Educational Foundation PO Box 1043 La Mesa CA 91944

ldquoGrossmont High School is proud to support our honors and Advanced Placement curricu-lumrdquo said Principal Dan Barnes ldquoWe are very excited to see the very high increase in partici-pation in our courses over the past three years and contin-ued success by our

teachers and students shown in their AP exam pass ratesrdquo

Visit Grossmont and wit-ness firsthand a campus that celebrates it heritage and embraces its future Regular public hours are noon to 4 pm on Wednesday Oct 1 and Nov 5 or by appointment

Contact the Grossmont High School Museum by phone at 619-668-6140 or by email at ghs-museumguhsdnetu

AP Physics students participate in an experiment at Grossmont High School in 2012 (Courtesy GHS Museum)

18 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

PUZZLESSUDOKU

Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9 Each number can appear only once in each row column and 3x3 block Use logic and process elimination to solve the puzzle

copy 2014 Janric Enterprises Dist by creatorscom

CROSSWORD

Business 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 wwwGotFreedomcom Call 858-278-2120 Your future is counting on you (1214)

For SaleNICE 1BD HOUSE IN LA MESA LIVDEN LG KITCHEN BATH WD LG BEDROOM NICE SUNDECK $1000 INCLUDES GE WATER TRASH CALL CLARA 6194650591 (0914)

Sweet male and female Tea-cup Yorkie 12 weeks old $500 Will be 4 lbs at full growth Microchiped shots and dewormed coming with registration papers mlcpetsyahoocom 661-858-0633 (0914)

NoticesWIDOW OR WIDOWER Interested in social activities You are welcome to join our club Widows or Widowers (WOW) of San Diego Website wwwwowsdorg Phone 619-448-6088 (0914)

ServicesJennarsquos Barber Shoppe Styling for men women amp children Wheelchair friendly Old time expert

haircuts at affordable prices Colors amp perms 7424 Jackson Dr1A (across from Keilrsquos in Bank of America lot) Tues-Fri 830-530pm Sat 830-noon Walk-ins or By appt 619-644-3669 (1214)

Lindarsquos Puppy Love licensed insured pet sitting service offering daily walks cat care overnight stays-your home lots of love 619-857-3674 wwwlindaspuppylovecom (615)

Locksmith - Discount Deadbolts and Rekeying - security door viewers patio door locks simulated alarms magnetic door stops Cliff Henderson 619-840-3327 - Lic LCO4353 - Bonded - Never a trip charge (0615)

Quality exterior carpentry Decks Fences Patio Covers and Termite Repair Lic365241 wwwaactionbuildersofsandiegocom Bob 619-275-1493 (415)

Bathtubs and sinks refinished like new San Carlos based business for over 25 years - same owner Lic560438 wwwsaveatubsdcom 619-464-5141 (0115)

German Setter Tile and Marble Professional marbletile setter with 28 years experience European craftsmanship Punctual amp dependable License 872804 Contact Jens Sedemund 619-415-6789 or jensgermansettercom (1214)

Dan Patterson HandymanCarpentry Repair and replacement of plumbing electrical repair installation of water heaters doors windows cabinets flooring fencing Pressure washing of driveways all phases of

Finding Senior Housing can be complex but it doesnrsquot have to be

(800) 217-3942A Place for Mom is the nationrsquos largest senior living referral

information service We do not own operate endorse or recommend any senior living community We are paid by partner communities

so our services are completely free to families

ldquoYou can trust A Place for Mom to help yourdquo

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BUSINESS amp SERVICES

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 (1214)

BARGAIN BOYZ CONSTRUCTIONREPAIRS 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 jimmysupancoxnet (1014)

PLUMBERhellipLicensed and Insured Over 25 years experience La Mesa resident OwnerOperator Reasonable rates Courteous service Lic 527864 Call Peter 619-698-0313 wwwFelberPlumbingcom (0914)

ROOFING Lic 691295-C39 Veteran owned Allied Gardens based Celebrating 20 years Full roof amp repair Free est Veteran amp Senior discounts 619-823-7208 (615)

WantedHelping Hands Animal Sanctuary seeks laundry detergent (all free and clear) and fabric softener (Downey free and gentle) 619-460-6679 (0914)

Job WantedNanny seeking work certified bkgd ck CPR First Aide 20 years experience wchildren and babies Great references Call Peggy 619-246-6572 or 512-755-0813

ANSWERS ON PAGE 20

Experienced amp Professional

Renee Differ

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INDIVIDUALS amp BUSINESSES

SAME SEX MARRIAGE FILING

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Ideal PlumbingHeating

Air amp ElectricalWater heaters garbage disposals drain cleaning Video pipe inspections water softeners amp filtration Faucets and toilets Visit our Show-room (06-12)

Serving ourcommunity since 1960

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PLUMBING

sdcnncom 19Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierPUZZLES CLASSIFIEDS

Sudoku amp Crosswordpuzzle answers from

page 19

The Academic Senate at Grossmont College last

month honored math instruc-tor Michael Lambe a Mt Helix resident with the Distinguished Faculty award the first ever for a part-time member of the col-lege faculty

Lambersquos 36 years as part-time instructor at Grossmont College concurrent to his 39-year teach-ing career with the Grossmont Union High School District gave him a unique perspective and insight on nurturing stu-dent success His dual career has made him especially aware of the need to make the transi-tion from high school to college as seamless as possible and to ensure secondary level curricu-lum prepares students for higher education

His interaction between Grossmont College and Monte Vista High School where he was chair of the math depart-

Math teacher is Grossmont Collegersquos part-time instructor of the year

ment made him a natural to help develop the first articula-tion agreement between the college and high school which helps students smoothly transi-tion without duplicating classes or experiencing delays

It wasnrsquot just students who benefitted from Lambersquos experi-ence with both systems When

driver education was eliminated from the high school curriculum and instructors were facing lay-offs he worked with the high school and college districts to develop a two-year program that prepared the former driver edu-cation instructors to acquire the teaching credentials needed to become math instructors

ldquoItrsquos been a fantastic career mdash Irsquove been blessedrdquo Lambe said

Following his retirement from the high school district Lambe was recruited four years ago as the collegersquos part-time senate officer with the Academic Senate and chair of the of the Academic Senate Part-Time Committee As head of the new committee he began tackling issues like office hours college governance and academic rank on behalf of part-timers

ldquoMichael has unified the [Academic Senatersquos Part-Time] committee and made it the most respected and cohesive voice for part-time faculty on the campusrdquo said one of his colleagues in a nomination for Lambe for the Distinguished Faculty award ldquoHe has brought part-time faculty issues into the college governance conversation as never before and helped part-time faculty be better informed through excellent professional development activities and communicationsrdquo

Lambe described his efforts on behalf of part-time instructors as a way of paying it forward

ldquoEven as a part-timer I have done a lot of things that full-time department members dordquo he said ldquoThis is my profession mdash my calling and my love This

award is the greatest honor I have ever received My col-leagues couldnrsquot have given me anything greater and to be the first recipient is tremendousrdquo

In addition to honoring Lambe for his achievements as a member of the part-time faculty the academic senate also honored Spanish instruc-tor Yolanda Guerrero with the Distinguished Faculty award for full-time faculty

President Sunita V Cooke said Lambe and Guerrero exem-plify Grossmont Collegersquos faculty members who are passionate about teaching and motivated to boost their profession and their colleagues

ldquoThe campus community owes a debt of gratitude to fac-ulty members with that kind of dedicationrdquo she said ldquoTheir generosity is an inspiration to us allrdquo

At Cuyamaca College Spanish instructor Patricia Santana won the Outstanding Faculty Award for full-time tenured faculty Arabic instructor Aklas Sheia won the award for outstanding part-time faculty

mdashDella Elliott is public information assistant for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College Districtu

DellaElliott

Michael Lambe gives a math lesson something hersquos been doing for nearly four decades in local classrooms (Courtesy Grossmont College)

20 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

Join us for a 3-course dinner and information on Chronic back pain causes and solutions Recent advances in back pain relief Different surgical options QampA with leading San Diego spine specialist

Presented by Choll Kim MD PhD a San Diego Magazine ldquoTop Doctorrdquo and Medical Director of the Advanced SpineInstitute at Alvarado Hospital ndash named Americarsquos 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgerytrade and Orthopedic Surgerytrade in 2014

Cost $10person Seating is limited mdash RSVP requiredCall (619) 229-4548 to register

Location Terra Bistro7091 El Cajon Blvd San Diego 92115

MONDAY SEPT 29 6-8 PMTERRA AMERICAN BISTRO

AlvaradoHospitalcom | (619) 287-3270

Zucchini pancakes

Whatrsquos Cooking with

Julie AnnWhite

Julie

Grate away on your box grater to create this deli-

cious dinner side dish Herersquos a savory treat to serve with a salad or light chicken or fish meal They are a little bit addictive and really easy to make

Serves four (makes six small pancakes)

Ingredients3 medium zucchini grated on a box grater or food processor12 red or yellow onion grated2 large eggs lightly beaten8 Tbsp Panko bread crumbs (flour can be used instead)1 tsp baking powder1 tsp kosher saltPinch of black pepper2 Tbsp butter14 cup olive oil for frying

DirectionsGrate the zucchini and onion into a medium bowl Press with a

few paper towels to absorb juice Add remaining ingredients and stir well If batter is runny add more breadcrumbs or flour Heat large skillet and melt butter and oil over medium heat Drop the zucchini mixture into six to eight golf ball-sized gently patted pancakes Cook until golden brown Serve warmu

Put down your iPhone 6 push aside your Samsung Note 4

and turn off the TV La Mesa is asking its citizens to invest some time in one of their 14 local parks for Park Appreciation Day Oct 18

ldquoThis community event demon-strates the spirit and commitment that La Mesans have for their public facilitiesrdquo said Yvonne Garrett assistant city manager and director of community ser-vices in La Mesa ldquoLocal residents and visitors have a sense of own-ership and take pride in La Mesa parks Park Appreciation Day is an opportunity for individuals to share that enthusiasm with friends and neighborsrdquo

The impetus for La Mesa Park Appreciation Day began in 2005 when a member of a local church congregation contacted the city to ask whether their church could take on a community project in La Mesa said Garrett who is also staff director for La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation

Because the city had recently eliminated several temporary park maintenance worker posi-tions and had received a similar request for a local project from another organization city staff thought it would be a good idea

Citizen groups pitch in for Park Appreciation Day

to gather the various groups to help clean up the parks prompting the creation of Park Appreciation Day

La Mesa community services manager Mike Pacheco said he has been impressed with the pride La Mesans have in their community as well as their desire to volunteer for the city

ldquoParks and recreation pro-grams bring tremendous benefits to people of all agesrdquo Pacheco said ldquoThey contribute to help-ing us live longer better lives through active pursuits new life skills educational programs and safe activities Great parks and programs also help build a stronger community connecting individuals families and groups through the power of play Recreation programs and engag-ing exciting facilities help keep kids active and off the streetsrdquo

Park Appreciation Day proj-ects include spreading mulch planting flowers and painting picnic tables and restrooms Pacheco said

Since its inception several local groups have consistently volun-teered each year Christ Lutheran Church Journey Church Helix Interact Club Friends of Canine Corners Kiwanis Club of La Mesa La Mesa Rotary La Mesa Beautiful La Mesa Lions Club and La Mesa Police Department

Last year more than 150 vol-unteers participated on Park

Appreciation Day and removed 22 cubic yards of green material plus nine cubic yards of trash according to Garrett

Although most of La Mesarsquos parks have the same groups cleaning them every year Porter Park Fitness Plaza located at 8425 University Ave is still without a group Porter needs additional native plants installed in some areas in the beds Garrett said

Disclosure Writer Genevieve A Suzuki serves as a commissioner for the La Mesa Community Services Commission and is a member of La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation She is happy to put away her iPhone Oct 18 to help clean her local parku

Genevieve Suzuki

Make La Mesa beautifulInterested in getting

involved with La Mesa Park Appreciation Day Oct 18 Want to encourage your civic church or social group to adopt a park

All ages are welcome to par-ticipate Signed waivers are required Parents must accom-pany children under 18 at the parks unless their children are with a supervised group

Sign up by calling 619-667-1304 or email communitycila-mesacaus

sdcnncom 21Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierDINING LOCAL NEWS

New Patient Special

bull SedationDentistrybull Implantsbull Same-DayCrownsbull LaserTreatmentbull Invisalign

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$113 for exam x-rays oral cancer screening and cleaning

In absence of gum disease A $520 value

Donrsquot avoid the dentist Remove the anxiety and fear with Sedation Dentistry

A Shop For Smiles

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Visit us today

Baseball book signingSunday Oct 12

Geoff Miller mental skills coach for the Atlanta Braves will discuss and sign copies of his new book ldquoIntangibles Big-League Stories and Strategies for Winning the Mental Game mdash in Baseball and in Liferdquo at 2 pm at Barnes amp Noble 5500 Grossmont Center Dr

Diverse Capacities workshopWednesday Oct 15

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Mariko Peshon will lead a work-shop focusing on the physical emotional and social abilities and disabilities that often go unrec-ognized and unaccommodated in our communities The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

East County Intergenerational GamesTuesday Oct 16

Active adults ages 50 and older will team up with kids between the ages of 7 and 12 for a morning of fun noncompetitive activi-ties at La Mesa Middle School 4200 Parks Ave from 830 am to noon The games include street hockey shot frisbee toss ldquoskeeballrdquo pitch t-ball and trivia games Snacks and lunch are included Interested adults must register in advance by contacting the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center at 619-667-1322

Introduction to home caregivingSaturday Oct 18

Caring for a loved one at home often involves transfers personal care proper body mechanics and other specific skills and knowl-edge Learn and practice the basics with a registered nurse at this event from 9 am to 1 pm in classroom 1314 of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Brier Patch Campus 9000 Wakarusa St Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or

register online at sharpcom

Workshop Finding Your Voice in the Social Justice MovementTuesday Oct 21

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Kenyon Whitman will lead an interactive workshop exploring social justice concepts how to develop a leadership style and creative ways to effectively com-municate in diverse groups The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the stu-dent center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

Medicare and drug cover-age updates for 2015Friday Oct 24

A free lecture will cover Medicare insurance changes for 2015 Medicare Parts A B D HMOs and more Presented by Community Education Specialist Pablo Corona the lec-ture will also cover the Medicare Saving Program and Extra-Help Program that assist with prescription costs for Medicare Parts B and D The talk begins at 10 am at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Lung function screeningWednesday Oct 29

Do you have trouble catching your breath after a short walk The Pulmonary Department at Sharp Grossmont Hospital will offer a free basic lung function test from 9 am to 2 pm for anyone who has not yet seen a doctor about breathing prob-lems The screening will be held at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center Building F Room 16 9000 Wakarusa St Appointments are required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Free blood pressure screeningFriday Oct 17

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center 8450 La Mesa Blvd No appointment necessary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Park Appreciation DaySaturday Oct 18

Groups of volunteers will get to work on projects to beautify and improve parks across town from 8 am to noon All ages are welcome but children under the age of 18 need to submit a waiver signed by a parent or legal guard-ian If your church or civic group wants to get involved call 619-667-1300 or email communitycila-mesacaus

lsquoHowl-oweenrsquo dog cos-tume contest and picnicSaturday Oct 18

Dress up your dogs in a cute or spooky Halloween costume and bring them out to Canine Corners the dog park at Harry Griffen Regional Park between 11 am and 3 pm Proud pet par-ents will have the chance to get their poochrsquos picture taken at the pumpkin patch as well as meet representatives from animal rescue groups the county sheriffrsquos K-9 unit and other vendors The costume contest begins at 1130 am A hot dog picnic lunch will be offered for $3 Canine Corners volunteers will accept donations to help with the maintenance of the dog park

Picnic with the parrotsSunday Oct 26

At Socal Parrotrsquos annual fundraising event attendees have a rare chance to view the non-profit organizationrsquos reha-bilitation facility meet animals talk with experts observe live art bid in a silent auction and buy into a raffle Based in Jamul SoCal Parrot works to protect and care for wild and endan-gered parrots across the region Tickets to the all-day fundrais-ing event range from $32 to $100 and can be purchased online at socalparrotorgu

Calendar from page 15

Send details of your com-munity events to the editor at jeremysdcnncom Deadline is the third Friday of the month

22 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 CALENDAR

Why a fiscally conservative vote-by-mail plan got no GOP love

A bill that would drastically change the way San Diego

Countyrsquos special elections are run passed without any Republican help mdash it got just two votes total from GOP lawmakers in Sacramento

It might surprise you to learn then that when the idea first emerged Democrats helped lead the charge against it

How some leading party mem-bers reversed course in just a few years says a lot about the current political landscape and the future of elections in San Diego County

Democrats wrote the current bill mdash which would create a five-year pilot program in San Diego County that would make spe-cial elections for open seats run primarily by mail with a drasti-cally reduced number of polling places mdash and they led the politi-cal charge for it

But Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez the billrsquos author remembers how hard she fought to kill the idea of vote-by-mail elections years ago

ldquoWhat happens I think so often is there is this attachment to the status quo therersquos fear about changing thingsrdquo Gonzalez said

Gonzalez said her mind was changed by a couple factors One is that she discovered during her years as a labor advocate that voters who had a ballot mailed to them before the election were roughly five times more likely to actually vote

The other she said is she realized the county was spend-ing a huge amount more per person who voted at the polls versus by mail

County officials said that in the March 2013 special election to fill the vacant 40th state Senate district seat they spent $221 per

Ari Bloomekatz

in-person voter verses $9 per mail voter

Then therersquos the fact that pathetic voter turnout in each of the last several elections has favored Republican candidates across the board

ldquoWe have all watched as voter turnout has plummeted in recent elections and itrsquos our responsi-bility to do something about itrdquo Gonzalez wrote in a press release after the bill passed

Some observers speculated that some Republicans simply didnrsquot support the bill because it was being led by promi-nent Democrats like Gonzalez (Gonzalez agrees thatrsquos probably true)

But if you want to understand why GOP support was so hard to come by for a bill steeped in fiscally conservative principles and that originated from a con-servative San Diego County government consider these three points

Republicans seized on civil rights groupsrsquo hesitation

Some of the strongest initial opposition to the vote-by-mail legislation came from civil rights groups concerned the new pro-cedures could disenfranchise immigrants and the disabled

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund initially opposed the bill but dropped its opposition after working with Gonzalez and San Diego County officials on protec-

tions for immigrantsStill MALDEF and other

groups wouldnrsquot officially support the measure

ldquoThere is some research out there that shows that mail-in ballots do have an adverse impact on minority votersrdquo said Denise Hulett an attorney with MALDEF

Hulett said MALDEF supports testing out vote-by-mail but isnrsquot sold on it yet

Those groupsrsquo reluctance had an impact on Republican legislators like Escondido Assemblywoman Marie Waldron She said she didnrsquot feel comfortable signing on to a bill without MALDEF and other civil rights groupsrsquo support

ldquoI have to wonder if this is disenfranchising a significant number of people that vote at the pollsrdquo Waldron said ldquoWhat about the people who are maybe you know possibly visually impaired or something like thatrdquo

The money wasnrsquot enoughSan Diego County Registrar

Michael Vu strongly supports the pilot program and believes it could trim costs by 30 - 40 percent

But somehow the cost-savings issue wasnrsquot enough to win over the vast majority of Republican legislators

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez said he thought the cost-savings touted by Democrats were only rough estimates and was not inclined to vote for a bill just

because of those projectionsldquoAs Irsquove said a number of times

before all these bills that theyrsquore putting through hellip really doesnrsquot address the issue of what wersquore trying to do which is get more people to voterdquo he said

Instead of just moving imme-diately to vote-by-mail Chavez wants to create a bipartisan special committee to study new voting technologies

Republicans fear voter fraud

Republicansrsquo fear of potential voter fraud through expansion of vote-by-mail overshadowed potential economic gains

The bill ldquoincludes no protec-tions to ensure the integrity and security of all-mail elections While interesting we need to be careful changing election lawsrdquo wrote Amanda Fulkerson of the Assembly Republican Caucus which advocated fiercely against the bill

ldquoRight now our members feel that we should not jeopardize our consistent voting system until we have further facts and statistics on all-mail electionsrdquo Fulkerson wrote

Republicans believed the threat of fraud would be compounded by another voting-related bill moving through the legislature at the same time

That bill would change the rules about how long mail ballots can be received and counted after an election

Currently vote-by-mail ballots must be received by election offi-cials before polls close on the day of the election The new law would allow ballots to be received no later than three days after the election (if it was time-stamped or post-marked on or before Election Day)

Assembly Republicans feared the two bills combined could allow for abuse of the system

State Sen Joel Anderson was one Republican who voted against the mail-counting bill but in favor of Gonzalezrsquos vote-by-mail effort

Anderson said that he voted against the mail-counting bill because he saw it as ldquocompletely gaming the systemrdquo but believes the vote-by-mail bill is ldquobetter for the voters itrsquos better for my constituentsrdquo

Put yourselves in the shoes of

Vu and other county officials for a minute

Nearly every time an election comes up the county spends anywhere from $1 million to $12 million-plus and organizes hordes of poll workers and pre-cincts across the county

And what happens at the end of the day

Turnout is generally low and increasing numbers of residents opt to vote by mail anyway

As Vu tells it he just wants to save the county money and acknowledge the changing winds when it comes to vote-by-mail

But nothing is ever as simple as a dollar saved in Sacramento mdash especially when it comes to something as fundamental as how voters choose their elected officials

Gonzalez said most people do not understand how difficult this bill was to pass politically Sure Republicans barley supported it but there was strong opposition from many Democrats too The instinct to preserve the status quo when it comes to elections among legislators in Sacramento is strong she said

ldquoIt was kind of funny Irsquom in Republican land carrying this bill pissing off Democrats and voting rights groups and minor-ity groupsrdquo she said ldquoI had to convince everybody that this is OK that change is OKrdquo

Brown has until Sept 30 to sign the bill

mdashAri Bloomekatz is an inves-tigative reporter for Voice of San Diego focusing on county govern-ment You can reach him directly at aribloomekatzvoiceofsandi-egoorg or 619-550-5669u

(Courtesy Flickr user bludgeoner86Creative Commons)

Voice of San Diego

sdcnncom 23Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

Everyone in every price range deserves the quality of Sothebyrsquos Realty

8310 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa CA 91942 bull 6193371700

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JULIE ADAMS 6194810200

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YVETTE WOODS 6199223436

Laurarsquos Solds 2014 bull (619) 540-7744 bull LauraLothianRealEstatecomMost Homes Sold in La Mesa Last 11 Years

Want your home sold Ask a busy agent Call Laura Lothian TODAY 6195407744

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

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PacificSothebysRealtycomcopyMMVIII Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC A Realogy Company All Rights Reserved Sothebyrsquos International Realtyreg is a registered trademark licensed to Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC An Equal Opportunity Company Equal Housing Opportunity Each Office is Independently Owned And Operated Cal BRE 01767484 Seller will entertain offers within the listed range

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Source TrendGraphix MLS data for zip codes 91941 amp 91942 January 1 2003 to January 1 2014

24 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

Foothiller FootstepsAdvanced Placement curriculum exposes students to college-level study

Helix HighlightsMaking students college-ready

Connie and LynnBaer

JenniferOsborn

A parent of a Helix Charter High School student once

noted that her daughter was never asked ldquoAre you going to collegerdquo Instead she was asked ldquoWhere are you going to collegerdquo A subtle difference in wording but a vast difference in meaning

Helixrsquos mission states ldquoHelix Charter High School provides a comprehensive education that prepares all students to gradu-

ate college-ready and equipped to reach their personal and aca-demic potentialrdquo

While the belief at Helix is not that every graduate needs to attend college in order to be suc-cessful it is definitely our goal to ensure that every graduate has the option to continue their edu-cation if they so choose

For the class of 2014 82 per-cent of Helix graduates stated they planned to attend college Forty-five percent went directly to a four-year college and 37 percent planned to attend two-

year institutions Approximately 12 percent attend University of California schools and 22 per-cent attend San Diego State or other California State University campuses

Support classroom projectsHave you heard of Donors

Choose Donors Choose is an online charity started by a class-room teacher from the Bronx New York He and his colleagues had great ideas for their students but no funding to bring their ideas to fruition

On the Donors Choose website teachers post classroom project requests and visitors to the web-site can help grant the teachersrsquo wishes by donating any amount big or small to their projects Donors Choose allows everyone to be a philanthropist

Over the past few years Helix teachers have been the recipi-ents of hundreds of thousands of dollars in supplies for classroom projects that would otherwise not have been possible Be a part of it Visit the website at donorschooseorg and search ldquoHelix La Mesardquo in the search box

Students shine nationallyThis past summer four Helix

Speech amp Debate team member students went to Kansas City Miski Abdi Spencer McCall Rebeca McClellan and Rachel Orey each qualified to compete in the National Forensics League National Championships McCall was a semifinalist in Student Senate and a quarterfinalist in Impromptu Orey was an octafi-nalist in Poetry

What else is going on at HelixLenelle Wyliersquos honors biology

classes have been accepted to attend the Science Lecture Series at the Scripps Research Institute

Jeff Kepperrsquos Oceanography class will be working with the

Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute and raising white sea bass in the classroom This is the second group of white sea bass raised by Helix students

Highland Players present The Odd Couple by Neil Simon Nov 5-8 and Nov 13-14 at 7 pm in the Black Box Theater They will perform both the original laquomaleraquo version and the ldquofemalerdquo version in repertory Tickets are $10 and will be available at helixdramaweeblycom or at the door Performances may sell out so buy early

Take a tourFinally we are always inter-

ested in letting our community know about Helix Charter High School The Excellence in Education Tour is offered twice a month and is open to anyone who wishes to attend It is a one-hour tour and program that highlights our vision history accomplish-ments goals and needs This monthrsquos tours will take place on Tuesday October 7 from 830 ndash 930 am and Thursday October 23 from 530 ndash 630 pm More information can be found at helix-charternet We hope to see you there

mdashJennifer Osborn is the com-munity relations officer for Helix Charter High School Email her at josbornhelixcharternetu

A commitment to educational excellence has always been a

part of the culture of Grossmont High School In the 1980s Grossmont began offering a new curriculum mdash Advanced Placement mdash that challenges the high school student to master a rigorous college-level curricu-lum Each May the students may then take the AP Exam Passing the exam with a score of 3 4 or 5 will in most cases translate to the student receiv-ing college credit or course exemption

In 1981 Grossmont English teacher Kay Adams offered an after-school tutorial for her senior students who wanted to take the AP English Language and Composition Exam Twenty-one students met with her to receive preparation for the exam all 21 students passed the exam with five stu-dents receiving a 5 the highest score

ldquoI learned more than I ever taughtrdquo Adams said ldquoThose students were the brightest minds I ever metrdquo

Beginning in 1982 AP

courses became a yearly English course offering

Other challenges presented themselves to early AP teach-ers In the 1980s through 1996 Sue Emerson AP Biology teacher found ways to cre-atively schedule her class On Wednesdays the students came in an hour early to complete the sophisticated experiments the curriculum required

ldquoOne fun activity was a nation-wide project studying wetlandsrdquo Emerson recalled ldquoThe students shared information with schools around the country via telecom-munication from their study of the Tijuana River Estuaryrdquo

Today Grossmont offers 15 different honors courses which prepare the students for the diverse variety of subsequent 19 Advanced Placement courses

Art AP Art History Studio Drawing 2-D Design

Business AP Computer Science

English AP Literature and Composition Language and Composition

Language AP Spanish Language Spanish Literature and Culture French Language and Culture

Math AP Calculus StatisticsPerforming Arts AP Music

Advanced Placement Theory

Science AP Biology Environmental Science Physics

Social Science AP European History US History Psychology US Government

Over the years the curriculum has evolved AP French Language and Culture teacher Azita Mahmoudi noted that the ldquoAP test has changed from a narrow grammar-based test to an open-ended test based on cultural knowledgerdquo

ldquoPhysics isnrsquot dif-ficult It only has the reputation of being dif-ficultrdquo said longtime AP Physics teacher Tom Eklund

Eklundrsquos creative lessons include the one shown in the 2012 photograph of student Jessie Hodges dropping his project off the bleachers and measuring its fall

During the past five years the number of tests taken by Grossmont students has risen from 453 in 2009 to 646 in 2014 While the passing rate dropped from 65 to 58 percent in those

same years more Foothillers were given the opportunity to challenge themselves and prepare for post secondary education

A continuing goal of Grossmont staff is to have more enrolled students take the test however each test costs $89 with many students taking more than one test

Those wishing to sponsor one or more tests with a tax-deduct-

ible donation may contribute to the GHS Educational Foundationrsquos AP Scholarship Fund by sending a check to GHS Educational Foundation PO Box 1043 La Mesa CA 91944

ldquoGrossmont High School is proud to support our honors and Advanced Placement curricu-lumrdquo said Principal Dan Barnes ldquoWe are very excited to see the very high increase in partici-pation in our courses over the past three years and contin-ued success by our

teachers and students shown in their AP exam pass ratesrdquo

Visit Grossmont and wit-ness firsthand a campus that celebrates it heritage and embraces its future Regular public hours are noon to 4 pm on Wednesday Oct 1 and Nov 5 or by appointment

Contact the Grossmont High School Museum by phone at 619-668-6140 or by email at ghs-museumguhsdnetu

AP Physics students participate in an experiment at Grossmont High School in 2012 (Courtesy GHS Museum)

18 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

PUZZLESSUDOKU

Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9 Each number can appear only once in each row column and 3x3 block Use logic and process elimination to solve the puzzle

copy 2014 Janric Enterprises Dist by creatorscom

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Sweet male and female Tea-cup Yorkie 12 weeks old $500 Will be 4 lbs at full growth Microchiped shots and dewormed coming with registration papers mlcpetsyahoocom 661-858-0633 (0914)

NoticesWIDOW OR WIDOWER Interested in social activities You are welcome to join our club Widows or Widowers (WOW) of San Diego Website wwwwowsdorg Phone 619-448-6088 (0914)

ServicesJennarsquos Barber Shoppe Styling for men women amp children Wheelchair friendly Old time expert

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Lindarsquos Puppy Love licensed insured pet sitting service offering daily walks cat care overnight stays-your home lots of love 619-857-3674 wwwlindaspuppylovecom (615)

Locksmith - Discount Deadbolts and Rekeying - security door viewers patio door locks simulated alarms magnetic door stops Cliff Henderson 619-840-3327 - Lic LCO4353 - Bonded - Never a trip charge (0615)

Quality exterior carpentry Decks Fences Patio Covers and Termite Repair Lic365241 wwwaactionbuildersofsandiegocom Bob 619-275-1493 (415)

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Dan Patterson HandymanCarpentry Repair and replacement of plumbing electrical repair installation of water heaters doors windows cabinets flooring fencing Pressure washing of driveways all phases of

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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 (1214)

BARGAIN BOYZ CONSTRUCTIONREPAIRS 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 jimmysupancoxnet (1014)

PLUMBERhellipLicensed and Insured Over 25 years experience La Mesa resident OwnerOperator Reasonable rates Courteous service Lic 527864 Call Peter 619-698-0313 wwwFelberPlumbingcom (0914)

ROOFING Lic 691295-C39 Veteran owned Allied Gardens based Celebrating 20 years Full roof amp repair Free est Veteran amp Senior discounts 619-823-7208 (615)

WantedHelping Hands Animal Sanctuary seeks laundry detergent (all free and clear) and fabric softener (Downey free and gentle) 619-460-6679 (0914)

Job WantedNanny seeking work certified bkgd ck CPR First Aide 20 years experience wchildren and babies Great references Call Peggy 619-246-6572 or 512-755-0813

ANSWERS ON PAGE 20

Experienced amp Professional

Renee Differ

reneediffercoxnet619-516-0400

INDIVIDUALS amp BUSINESSES

SAME SEX MARRIAGE FILING

BOOKKEEPING amp PAYROLL

MOBILE APPOINTMENTS

TAX CONSULTANT

Ideal PlumbingHeating

Air amp ElectricalWater heaters garbage disposals drain cleaning Video pipe inspections water softeners amp filtration Faucets and toilets Visit our Show-room (06-12)

Serving ourcommunity since 1960

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PLUMBING

sdcnncom 19Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierPUZZLES CLASSIFIEDS

Sudoku amp Crosswordpuzzle answers from

page 19

The Academic Senate at Grossmont College last

month honored math instruc-tor Michael Lambe a Mt Helix resident with the Distinguished Faculty award the first ever for a part-time member of the col-lege faculty

Lambersquos 36 years as part-time instructor at Grossmont College concurrent to his 39-year teach-ing career with the Grossmont Union High School District gave him a unique perspective and insight on nurturing stu-dent success His dual career has made him especially aware of the need to make the transi-tion from high school to college as seamless as possible and to ensure secondary level curricu-lum prepares students for higher education

His interaction between Grossmont College and Monte Vista High School where he was chair of the math depart-

Math teacher is Grossmont Collegersquos part-time instructor of the year

ment made him a natural to help develop the first articula-tion agreement between the college and high school which helps students smoothly transi-tion without duplicating classes or experiencing delays

It wasnrsquot just students who benefitted from Lambersquos experi-ence with both systems When

driver education was eliminated from the high school curriculum and instructors were facing lay-offs he worked with the high school and college districts to develop a two-year program that prepared the former driver edu-cation instructors to acquire the teaching credentials needed to become math instructors

ldquoItrsquos been a fantastic career mdash Irsquove been blessedrdquo Lambe said

Following his retirement from the high school district Lambe was recruited four years ago as the collegersquos part-time senate officer with the Academic Senate and chair of the of the Academic Senate Part-Time Committee As head of the new committee he began tackling issues like office hours college governance and academic rank on behalf of part-timers

ldquoMichael has unified the [Academic Senatersquos Part-Time] committee and made it the most respected and cohesive voice for part-time faculty on the campusrdquo said one of his colleagues in a nomination for Lambe for the Distinguished Faculty award ldquoHe has brought part-time faculty issues into the college governance conversation as never before and helped part-time faculty be better informed through excellent professional development activities and communicationsrdquo

Lambe described his efforts on behalf of part-time instructors as a way of paying it forward

ldquoEven as a part-timer I have done a lot of things that full-time department members dordquo he said ldquoThis is my profession mdash my calling and my love This

award is the greatest honor I have ever received My col-leagues couldnrsquot have given me anything greater and to be the first recipient is tremendousrdquo

In addition to honoring Lambe for his achievements as a member of the part-time faculty the academic senate also honored Spanish instruc-tor Yolanda Guerrero with the Distinguished Faculty award for full-time faculty

President Sunita V Cooke said Lambe and Guerrero exem-plify Grossmont Collegersquos faculty members who are passionate about teaching and motivated to boost their profession and their colleagues

ldquoThe campus community owes a debt of gratitude to fac-ulty members with that kind of dedicationrdquo she said ldquoTheir generosity is an inspiration to us allrdquo

At Cuyamaca College Spanish instructor Patricia Santana won the Outstanding Faculty Award for full-time tenured faculty Arabic instructor Aklas Sheia won the award for outstanding part-time faculty

mdashDella Elliott is public information assistant for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College Districtu

DellaElliott

Michael Lambe gives a math lesson something hersquos been doing for nearly four decades in local classrooms (Courtesy Grossmont College)

20 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

Join us for a 3-course dinner and information on Chronic back pain causes and solutions Recent advances in back pain relief Different surgical options QampA with leading San Diego spine specialist

Presented by Choll Kim MD PhD a San Diego Magazine ldquoTop Doctorrdquo and Medical Director of the Advanced SpineInstitute at Alvarado Hospital ndash named Americarsquos 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgerytrade and Orthopedic Surgerytrade in 2014

Cost $10person Seating is limited mdash RSVP requiredCall (619) 229-4548 to register

Location Terra Bistro7091 El Cajon Blvd San Diego 92115

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Zucchini pancakes

Whatrsquos Cooking with

Julie AnnWhite

Julie

Grate away on your box grater to create this deli-

cious dinner side dish Herersquos a savory treat to serve with a salad or light chicken or fish meal They are a little bit addictive and really easy to make

Serves four (makes six small pancakes)

Ingredients3 medium zucchini grated on a box grater or food processor12 red or yellow onion grated2 large eggs lightly beaten8 Tbsp Panko bread crumbs (flour can be used instead)1 tsp baking powder1 tsp kosher saltPinch of black pepper2 Tbsp butter14 cup olive oil for frying

DirectionsGrate the zucchini and onion into a medium bowl Press with a

few paper towels to absorb juice Add remaining ingredients and stir well If batter is runny add more breadcrumbs or flour Heat large skillet and melt butter and oil over medium heat Drop the zucchini mixture into six to eight golf ball-sized gently patted pancakes Cook until golden brown Serve warmu

Put down your iPhone 6 push aside your Samsung Note 4

and turn off the TV La Mesa is asking its citizens to invest some time in one of their 14 local parks for Park Appreciation Day Oct 18

ldquoThis community event demon-strates the spirit and commitment that La Mesans have for their public facilitiesrdquo said Yvonne Garrett assistant city manager and director of community ser-vices in La Mesa ldquoLocal residents and visitors have a sense of own-ership and take pride in La Mesa parks Park Appreciation Day is an opportunity for individuals to share that enthusiasm with friends and neighborsrdquo

The impetus for La Mesa Park Appreciation Day began in 2005 when a member of a local church congregation contacted the city to ask whether their church could take on a community project in La Mesa said Garrett who is also staff director for La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation

Because the city had recently eliminated several temporary park maintenance worker posi-tions and had received a similar request for a local project from another organization city staff thought it would be a good idea

Citizen groups pitch in for Park Appreciation Day

to gather the various groups to help clean up the parks prompting the creation of Park Appreciation Day

La Mesa community services manager Mike Pacheco said he has been impressed with the pride La Mesans have in their community as well as their desire to volunteer for the city

ldquoParks and recreation pro-grams bring tremendous benefits to people of all agesrdquo Pacheco said ldquoThey contribute to help-ing us live longer better lives through active pursuits new life skills educational programs and safe activities Great parks and programs also help build a stronger community connecting individuals families and groups through the power of play Recreation programs and engag-ing exciting facilities help keep kids active and off the streetsrdquo

Park Appreciation Day proj-ects include spreading mulch planting flowers and painting picnic tables and restrooms Pacheco said

Since its inception several local groups have consistently volun-teered each year Christ Lutheran Church Journey Church Helix Interact Club Friends of Canine Corners Kiwanis Club of La Mesa La Mesa Rotary La Mesa Beautiful La Mesa Lions Club and La Mesa Police Department

Last year more than 150 vol-unteers participated on Park

Appreciation Day and removed 22 cubic yards of green material plus nine cubic yards of trash according to Garrett

Although most of La Mesarsquos parks have the same groups cleaning them every year Porter Park Fitness Plaza located at 8425 University Ave is still without a group Porter needs additional native plants installed in some areas in the beds Garrett said

Disclosure Writer Genevieve A Suzuki serves as a commissioner for the La Mesa Community Services Commission and is a member of La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation She is happy to put away her iPhone Oct 18 to help clean her local parku

Genevieve Suzuki

Make La Mesa beautifulInterested in getting

involved with La Mesa Park Appreciation Day Oct 18 Want to encourage your civic church or social group to adopt a park

All ages are welcome to par-ticipate Signed waivers are required Parents must accom-pany children under 18 at the parks unless their children are with a supervised group

Sign up by calling 619-667-1304 or email communitycila-mesacaus

sdcnncom 21Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierDINING LOCAL NEWS

New Patient Special

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$113 for exam x-rays oral cancer screening and cleaning

In absence of gum disease A $520 value

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Visit us today

Baseball book signingSunday Oct 12

Geoff Miller mental skills coach for the Atlanta Braves will discuss and sign copies of his new book ldquoIntangibles Big-League Stories and Strategies for Winning the Mental Game mdash in Baseball and in Liferdquo at 2 pm at Barnes amp Noble 5500 Grossmont Center Dr

Diverse Capacities workshopWednesday Oct 15

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Mariko Peshon will lead a work-shop focusing on the physical emotional and social abilities and disabilities that often go unrec-ognized and unaccommodated in our communities The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

East County Intergenerational GamesTuesday Oct 16

Active adults ages 50 and older will team up with kids between the ages of 7 and 12 for a morning of fun noncompetitive activi-ties at La Mesa Middle School 4200 Parks Ave from 830 am to noon The games include street hockey shot frisbee toss ldquoskeeballrdquo pitch t-ball and trivia games Snacks and lunch are included Interested adults must register in advance by contacting the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center at 619-667-1322

Introduction to home caregivingSaturday Oct 18

Caring for a loved one at home often involves transfers personal care proper body mechanics and other specific skills and knowl-edge Learn and practice the basics with a registered nurse at this event from 9 am to 1 pm in classroom 1314 of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Brier Patch Campus 9000 Wakarusa St Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or

register online at sharpcom

Workshop Finding Your Voice in the Social Justice MovementTuesday Oct 21

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Kenyon Whitman will lead an interactive workshop exploring social justice concepts how to develop a leadership style and creative ways to effectively com-municate in diverse groups The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the stu-dent center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

Medicare and drug cover-age updates for 2015Friday Oct 24

A free lecture will cover Medicare insurance changes for 2015 Medicare Parts A B D HMOs and more Presented by Community Education Specialist Pablo Corona the lec-ture will also cover the Medicare Saving Program and Extra-Help Program that assist with prescription costs for Medicare Parts B and D The talk begins at 10 am at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Lung function screeningWednesday Oct 29

Do you have trouble catching your breath after a short walk The Pulmonary Department at Sharp Grossmont Hospital will offer a free basic lung function test from 9 am to 2 pm for anyone who has not yet seen a doctor about breathing prob-lems The screening will be held at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center Building F Room 16 9000 Wakarusa St Appointments are required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Free blood pressure screeningFriday Oct 17

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center 8450 La Mesa Blvd No appointment necessary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Park Appreciation DaySaturday Oct 18

Groups of volunteers will get to work on projects to beautify and improve parks across town from 8 am to noon All ages are welcome but children under the age of 18 need to submit a waiver signed by a parent or legal guard-ian If your church or civic group wants to get involved call 619-667-1300 or email communitycila-mesacaus

lsquoHowl-oweenrsquo dog cos-tume contest and picnicSaturday Oct 18

Dress up your dogs in a cute or spooky Halloween costume and bring them out to Canine Corners the dog park at Harry Griffen Regional Park between 11 am and 3 pm Proud pet par-ents will have the chance to get their poochrsquos picture taken at the pumpkin patch as well as meet representatives from animal rescue groups the county sheriffrsquos K-9 unit and other vendors The costume contest begins at 1130 am A hot dog picnic lunch will be offered for $3 Canine Corners volunteers will accept donations to help with the maintenance of the dog park

Picnic with the parrotsSunday Oct 26

At Socal Parrotrsquos annual fundraising event attendees have a rare chance to view the non-profit organizationrsquos reha-bilitation facility meet animals talk with experts observe live art bid in a silent auction and buy into a raffle Based in Jamul SoCal Parrot works to protect and care for wild and endan-gered parrots across the region Tickets to the all-day fundrais-ing event range from $32 to $100 and can be purchased online at socalparrotorgu

Calendar from page 15

Send details of your com-munity events to the editor at jeremysdcnncom Deadline is the third Friday of the month

22 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 CALENDAR

Why a fiscally conservative vote-by-mail plan got no GOP love

A bill that would drastically change the way San Diego

Countyrsquos special elections are run passed without any Republican help mdash it got just two votes total from GOP lawmakers in Sacramento

It might surprise you to learn then that when the idea first emerged Democrats helped lead the charge against it

How some leading party mem-bers reversed course in just a few years says a lot about the current political landscape and the future of elections in San Diego County

Democrats wrote the current bill mdash which would create a five-year pilot program in San Diego County that would make spe-cial elections for open seats run primarily by mail with a drasti-cally reduced number of polling places mdash and they led the politi-cal charge for it

But Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez the billrsquos author remembers how hard she fought to kill the idea of vote-by-mail elections years ago

ldquoWhat happens I think so often is there is this attachment to the status quo therersquos fear about changing thingsrdquo Gonzalez said

Gonzalez said her mind was changed by a couple factors One is that she discovered during her years as a labor advocate that voters who had a ballot mailed to them before the election were roughly five times more likely to actually vote

The other she said is she realized the county was spend-ing a huge amount more per person who voted at the polls versus by mail

County officials said that in the March 2013 special election to fill the vacant 40th state Senate district seat they spent $221 per

Ari Bloomekatz

in-person voter verses $9 per mail voter

Then therersquos the fact that pathetic voter turnout in each of the last several elections has favored Republican candidates across the board

ldquoWe have all watched as voter turnout has plummeted in recent elections and itrsquos our responsi-bility to do something about itrdquo Gonzalez wrote in a press release after the bill passed

Some observers speculated that some Republicans simply didnrsquot support the bill because it was being led by promi-nent Democrats like Gonzalez (Gonzalez agrees thatrsquos probably true)

But if you want to understand why GOP support was so hard to come by for a bill steeped in fiscally conservative principles and that originated from a con-servative San Diego County government consider these three points

Republicans seized on civil rights groupsrsquo hesitation

Some of the strongest initial opposition to the vote-by-mail legislation came from civil rights groups concerned the new pro-cedures could disenfranchise immigrants and the disabled

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund initially opposed the bill but dropped its opposition after working with Gonzalez and San Diego County officials on protec-

tions for immigrantsStill MALDEF and other

groups wouldnrsquot officially support the measure

ldquoThere is some research out there that shows that mail-in ballots do have an adverse impact on minority votersrdquo said Denise Hulett an attorney with MALDEF

Hulett said MALDEF supports testing out vote-by-mail but isnrsquot sold on it yet

Those groupsrsquo reluctance had an impact on Republican legislators like Escondido Assemblywoman Marie Waldron She said she didnrsquot feel comfortable signing on to a bill without MALDEF and other civil rights groupsrsquo support

ldquoI have to wonder if this is disenfranchising a significant number of people that vote at the pollsrdquo Waldron said ldquoWhat about the people who are maybe you know possibly visually impaired or something like thatrdquo

The money wasnrsquot enoughSan Diego County Registrar

Michael Vu strongly supports the pilot program and believes it could trim costs by 30 - 40 percent

But somehow the cost-savings issue wasnrsquot enough to win over the vast majority of Republican legislators

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez said he thought the cost-savings touted by Democrats were only rough estimates and was not inclined to vote for a bill just

because of those projectionsldquoAs Irsquove said a number of times

before all these bills that theyrsquore putting through hellip really doesnrsquot address the issue of what wersquore trying to do which is get more people to voterdquo he said

Instead of just moving imme-diately to vote-by-mail Chavez wants to create a bipartisan special committee to study new voting technologies

Republicans fear voter fraud

Republicansrsquo fear of potential voter fraud through expansion of vote-by-mail overshadowed potential economic gains

The bill ldquoincludes no protec-tions to ensure the integrity and security of all-mail elections While interesting we need to be careful changing election lawsrdquo wrote Amanda Fulkerson of the Assembly Republican Caucus which advocated fiercely against the bill

ldquoRight now our members feel that we should not jeopardize our consistent voting system until we have further facts and statistics on all-mail electionsrdquo Fulkerson wrote

Republicans believed the threat of fraud would be compounded by another voting-related bill moving through the legislature at the same time

That bill would change the rules about how long mail ballots can be received and counted after an election

Currently vote-by-mail ballots must be received by election offi-cials before polls close on the day of the election The new law would allow ballots to be received no later than three days after the election (if it was time-stamped or post-marked on or before Election Day)

Assembly Republicans feared the two bills combined could allow for abuse of the system

State Sen Joel Anderson was one Republican who voted against the mail-counting bill but in favor of Gonzalezrsquos vote-by-mail effort

Anderson said that he voted against the mail-counting bill because he saw it as ldquocompletely gaming the systemrdquo but believes the vote-by-mail bill is ldquobetter for the voters itrsquos better for my constituentsrdquo

Put yourselves in the shoes of

Vu and other county officials for a minute

Nearly every time an election comes up the county spends anywhere from $1 million to $12 million-plus and organizes hordes of poll workers and pre-cincts across the county

And what happens at the end of the day

Turnout is generally low and increasing numbers of residents opt to vote by mail anyway

As Vu tells it he just wants to save the county money and acknowledge the changing winds when it comes to vote-by-mail

But nothing is ever as simple as a dollar saved in Sacramento mdash especially when it comes to something as fundamental as how voters choose their elected officials

Gonzalez said most people do not understand how difficult this bill was to pass politically Sure Republicans barley supported it but there was strong opposition from many Democrats too The instinct to preserve the status quo when it comes to elections among legislators in Sacramento is strong she said

ldquoIt was kind of funny Irsquom in Republican land carrying this bill pissing off Democrats and voting rights groups and minor-ity groupsrdquo she said ldquoI had to convince everybody that this is OK that change is OKrdquo

Brown has until Sept 30 to sign the bill

mdashAri Bloomekatz is an inves-tigative reporter for Voice of San Diego focusing on county govern-ment You can reach him directly at aribloomekatzvoiceofsandi-egoorg or 619-550-5669u

(Courtesy Flickr user bludgeoner86Creative Commons)

Voice of San Diego

sdcnncom 23Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

Everyone in every price range deserves the quality of Sothebyrsquos Realty

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JULIE ADAMS 6194810200

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YVETTE WOODS 6199223436

Laurarsquos Solds 2014 bull (619) 540-7744 bull LauraLothianRealEstatecomMost Homes Sold in La Mesa Last 11 Years

Want your home sold Ask a busy agent Call Laura Lothian TODAY 6195407744

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

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PacificSothebysRealtycomcopyMMVIII Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC A Realogy Company All Rights Reserved Sothebyrsquos International Realtyreg is a registered trademark licensed to Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC An Equal Opportunity Company Equal Housing Opportunity Each Office is Independently Owned And Operated Cal BRE 01767484 Seller will entertain offers within the listed range

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Source TrendGraphix MLS data for zip codes 91941 amp 91942 January 1 2003 to January 1 2014

24 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

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Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9 Each number can appear only once in each row column and 3x3 block Use logic and process elimination to solve the puzzle

copy 2014 Janric Enterprises Dist by creatorscom

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For SaleNICE 1BD HOUSE IN LA MESA LIVDEN LG KITCHEN BATH WD LG BEDROOM NICE SUNDECK $1000 INCLUDES GE WATER TRASH CALL CLARA 6194650591 (0914)

Sweet male and female Tea-cup Yorkie 12 weeks old $500 Will be 4 lbs at full growth Microchiped shots and dewormed coming with registration papers mlcpetsyahoocom 661-858-0633 (0914)

NoticesWIDOW OR WIDOWER Interested in social activities You are welcome to join our club Widows or Widowers (WOW) of San Diego Website wwwwowsdorg Phone 619-448-6088 (0914)

ServicesJennarsquos Barber Shoppe Styling for men women amp children Wheelchair friendly Old time expert

haircuts at affordable prices Colors amp perms 7424 Jackson Dr1A (across from Keilrsquos in Bank of America lot) Tues-Fri 830-530pm Sat 830-noon Walk-ins or By appt 619-644-3669 (1214)

Lindarsquos Puppy Love licensed insured pet sitting service offering daily walks cat care overnight stays-your home lots of love 619-857-3674 wwwlindaspuppylovecom (615)

Locksmith - Discount Deadbolts and Rekeying - security door viewers patio door locks simulated alarms magnetic door stops Cliff Henderson 619-840-3327 - Lic LCO4353 - Bonded - Never a trip charge (0615)

Quality exterior carpentry Decks Fences Patio Covers and Termite Repair Lic365241 wwwaactionbuildersofsandiegocom Bob 619-275-1493 (415)

Bathtubs and sinks refinished like new San Carlos based business for over 25 years - same owner Lic560438 wwwsaveatubsdcom 619-464-5141 (0115)

German Setter Tile and Marble Professional marbletile setter with 28 years experience European craftsmanship Punctual amp dependable License 872804 Contact Jens Sedemund 619-415-6789 or jensgermansettercom (1214)

Dan Patterson HandymanCarpentry Repair and replacement of plumbing electrical repair installation of water heaters doors windows cabinets flooring fencing Pressure washing of driveways all phases of

Finding Senior Housing can be complex but it doesnrsquot have to be

(800) 217-3942A Place for Mom is the nationrsquos largest senior living referral

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ldquoYou can trust A Place for Mom to help yourdquo

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BUSINESS amp SERVICES

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 (1214)

BARGAIN BOYZ CONSTRUCTIONREPAIRS 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 jimmysupancoxnet (1014)

PLUMBERhellipLicensed and Insured Over 25 years experience La Mesa resident OwnerOperator Reasonable rates Courteous service Lic 527864 Call Peter 619-698-0313 wwwFelberPlumbingcom (0914)

ROOFING Lic 691295-C39 Veteran owned Allied Gardens based Celebrating 20 years Full roof amp repair Free est Veteran amp Senior discounts 619-823-7208 (615)

WantedHelping Hands Animal Sanctuary seeks laundry detergent (all free and clear) and fabric softener (Downey free and gentle) 619-460-6679 (0914)

Job WantedNanny seeking work certified bkgd ck CPR First Aide 20 years experience wchildren and babies Great references Call Peggy 619-246-6572 or 512-755-0813

ANSWERS ON PAGE 20

Experienced amp Professional

Renee Differ

reneediffercoxnet619-516-0400

INDIVIDUALS amp BUSINESSES

SAME SEX MARRIAGE FILING

BOOKKEEPING amp PAYROLL

MOBILE APPOINTMENTS

TAX CONSULTANT

Ideal PlumbingHeating

Air amp ElectricalWater heaters garbage disposals drain cleaning Video pipe inspections water softeners amp filtration Faucets and toilets Visit our Show-room (06-12)

Serving ourcommunity since 1960

(619) 583-7963Lic 348810

PLUMBING

sdcnncom 19Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierPUZZLES CLASSIFIEDS

Sudoku amp Crosswordpuzzle answers from

page 19

The Academic Senate at Grossmont College last

month honored math instruc-tor Michael Lambe a Mt Helix resident with the Distinguished Faculty award the first ever for a part-time member of the col-lege faculty

Lambersquos 36 years as part-time instructor at Grossmont College concurrent to his 39-year teach-ing career with the Grossmont Union High School District gave him a unique perspective and insight on nurturing stu-dent success His dual career has made him especially aware of the need to make the transi-tion from high school to college as seamless as possible and to ensure secondary level curricu-lum prepares students for higher education

His interaction between Grossmont College and Monte Vista High School where he was chair of the math depart-

Math teacher is Grossmont Collegersquos part-time instructor of the year

ment made him a natural to help develop the first articula-tion agreement between the college and high school which helps students smoothly transi-tion without duplicating classes or experiencing delays

It wasnrsquot just students who benefitted from Lambersquos experi-ence with both systems When

driver education was eliminated from the high school curriculum and instructors were facing lay-offs he worked with the high school and college districts to develop a two-year program that prepared the former driver edu-cation instructors to acquire the teaching credentials needed to become math instructors

ldquoItrsquos been a fantastic career mdash Irsquove been blessedrdquo Lambe said

Following his retirement from the high school district Lambe was recruited four years ago as the collegersquos part-time senate officer with the Academic Senate and chair of the of the Academic Senate Part-Time Committee As head of the new committee he began tackling issues like office hours college governance and academic rank on behalf of part-timers

ldquoMichael has unified the [Academic Senatersquos Part-Time] committee and made it the most respected and cohesive voice for part-time faculty on the campusrdquo said one of his colleagues in a nomination for Lambe for the Distinguished Faculty award ldquoHe has brought part-time faculty issues into the college governance conversation as never before and helped part-time faculty be better informed through excellent professional development activities and communicationsrdquo

Lambe described his efforts on behalf of part-time instructors as a way of paying it forward

ldquoEven as a part-timer I have done a lot of things that full-time department members dordquo he said ldquoThis is my profession mdash my calling and my love This

award is the greatest honor I have ever received My col-leagues couldnrsquot have given me anything greater and to be the first recipient is tremendousrdquo

In addition to honoring Lambe for his achievements as a member of the part-time faculty the academic senate also honored Spanish instruc-tor Yolanda Guerrero with the Distinguished Faculty award for full-time faculty

President Sunita V Cooke said Lambe and Guerrero exem-plify Grossmont Collegersquos faculty members who are passionate about teaching and motivated to boost their profession and their colleagues

ldquoThe campus community owes a debt of gratitude to fac-ulty members with that kind of dedicationrdquo she said ldquoTheir generosity is an inspiration to us allrdquo

At Cuyamaca College Spanish instructor Patricia Santana won the Outstanding Faculty Award for full-time tenured faculty Arabic instructor Aklas Sheia won the award for outstanding part-time faculty

mdashDella Elliott is public information assistant for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College Districtu

DellaElliott

Michael Lambe gives a math lesson something hersquos been doing for nearly four decades in local classrooms (Courtesy Grossmont College)

20 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

Join us for a 3-course dinner and information on Chronic back pain causes and solutions Recent advances in back pain relief Different surgical options QampA with leading San Diego spine specialist

Presented by Choll Kim MD PhD a San Diego Magazine ldquoTop Doctorrdquo and Medical Director of the Advanced SpineInstitute at Alvarado Hospital ndash named Americarsquos 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgerytrade and Orthopedic Surgerytrade in 2014

Cost $10person Seating is limited mdash RSVP requiredCall (619) 229-4548 to register

Location Terra Bistro7091 El Cajon Blvd San Diego 92115

MONDAY SEPT 29 6-8 PMTERRA AMERICAN BISTRO

AlvaradoHospitalcom | (619) 287-3270

Zucchini pancakes

Whatrsquos Cooking with

Julie AnnWhite

Julie

Grate away on your box grater to create this deli-

cious dinner side dish Herersquos a savory treat to serve with a salad or light chicken or fish meal They are a little bit addictive and really easy to make

Serves four (makes six small pancakes)

Ingredients3 medium zucchini grated on a box grater or food processor12 red or yellow onion grated2 large eggs lightly beaten8 Tbsp Panko bread crumbs (flour can be used instead)1 tsp baking powder1 tsp kosher saltPinch of black pepper2 Tbsp butter14 cup olive oil for frying

DirectionsGrate the zucchini and onion into a medium bowl Press with a

few paper towels to absorb juice Add remaining ingredients and stir well If batter is runny add more breadcrumbs or flour Heat large skillet and melt butter and oil over medium heat Drop the zucchini mixture into six to eight golf ball-sized gently patted pancakes Cook until golden brown Serve warmu

Put down your iPhone 6 push aside your Samsung Note 4

and turn off the TV La Mesa is asking its citizens to invest some time in one of their 14 local parks for Park Appreciation Day Oct 18

ldquoThis community event demon-strates the spirit and commitment that La Mesans have for their public facilitiesrdquo said Yvonne Garrett assistant city manager and director of community ser-vices in La Mesa ldquoLocal residents and visitors have a sense of own-ership and take pride in La Mesa parks Park Appreciation Day is an opportunity for individuals to share that enthusiasm with friends and neighborsrdquo

The impetus for La Mesa Park Appreciation Day began in 2005 when a member of a local church congregation contacted the city to ask whether their church could take on a community project in La Mesa said Garrett who is also staff director for La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation

Because the city had recently eliminated several temporary park maintenance worker posi-tions and had received a similar request for a local project from another organization city staff thought it would be a good idea

Citizen groups pitch in for Park Appreciation Day

to gather the various groups to help clean up the parks prompting the creation of Park Appreciation Day

La Mesa community services manager Mike Pacheco said he has been impressed with the pride La Mesans have in their community as well as their desire to volunteer for the city

ldquoParks and recreation pro-grams bring tremendous benefits to people of all agesrdquo Pacheco said ldquoThey contribute to help-ing us live longer better lives through active pursuits new life skills educational programs and safe activities Great parks and programs also help build a stronger community connecting individuals families and groups through the power of play Recreation programs and engag-ing exciting facilities help keep kids active and off the streetsrdquo

Park Appreciation Day proj-ects include spreading mulch planting flowers and painting picnic tables and restrooms Pacheco said

Since its inception several local groups have consistently volun-teered each year Christ Lutheran Church Journey Church Helix Interact Club Friends of Canine Corners Kiwanis Club of La Mesa La Mesa Rotary La Mesa Beautiful La Mesa Lions Club and La Mesa Police Department

Last year more than 150 vol-unteers participated on Park

Appreciation Day and removed 22 cubic yards of green material plus nine cubic yards of trash according to Garrett

Although most of La Mesarsquos parks have the same groups cleaning them every year Porter Park Fitness Plaza located at 8425 University Ave is still without a group Porter needs additional native plants installed in some areas in the beds Garrett said

Disclosure Writer Genevieve A Suzuki serves as a commissioner for the La Mesa Community Services Commission and is a member of La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation She is happy to put away her iPhone Oct 18 to help clean her local parku

Genevieve Suzuki

Make La Mesa beautifulInterested in getting

involved with La Mesa Park Appreciation Day Oct 18 Want to encourage your civic church or social group to adopt a park

All ages are welcome to par-ticipate Signed waivers are required Parents must accom-pany children under 18 at the parks unless their children are with a supervised group

Sign up by calling 619-667-1304 or email communitycila-mesacaus

sdcnncom 21Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierDINING LOCAL NEWS

New Patient Special

bull SedationDentistrybull Implantsbull Same-DayCrownsbull LaserTreatmentbull Invisalign

Wersquove been in practice for over

25 years in La Mesa

$113 for exam x-rays oral cancer screening and cleaning

In absence of gum disease A $520 value

Donrsquot avoid the dentist Remove the anxiety and fear with Sedation Dentistry

A Shop For Smiles

Dr Hagstrom619-465-5252 | 8923 La Mesa Blvd | La Mesa CA 91942

wwwashopforsmilescom

Visit us today

Baseball book signingSunday Oct 12

Geoff Miller mental skills coach for the Atlanta Braves will discuss and sign copies of his new book ldquoIntangibles Big-League Stories and Strategies for Winning the Mental Game mdash in Baseball and in Liferdquo at 2 pm at Barnes amp Noble 5500 Grossmont Center Dr

Diverse Capacities workshopWednesday Oct 15

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Mariko Peshon will lead a work-shop focusing on the physical emotional and social abilities and disabilities that often go unrec-ognized and unaccommodated in our communities The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

East County Intergenerational GamesTuesday Oct 16

Active adults ages 50 and older will team up with kids between the ages of 7 and 12 for a morning of fun noncompetitive activi-ties at La Mesa Middle School 4200 Parks Ave from 830 am to noon The games include street hockey shot frisbee toss ldquoskeeballrdquo pitch t-ball and trivia games Snacks and lunch are included Interested adults must register in advance by contacting the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center at 619-667-1322

Introduction to home caregivingSaturday Oct 18

Caring for a loved one at home often involves transfers personal care proper body mechanics and other specific skills and knowl-edge Learn and practice the basics with a registered nurse at this event from 9 am to 1 pm in classroom 1314 of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Brier Patch Campus 9000 Wakarusa St Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or

register online at sharpcom

Workshop Finding Your Voice in the Social Justice MovementTuesday Oct 21

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Kenyon Whitman will lead an interactive workshop exploring social justice concepts how to develop a leadership style and creative ways to effectively com-municate in diverse groups The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the stu-dent center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

Medicare and drug cover-age updates for 2015Friday Oct 24

A free lecture will cover Medicare insurance changes for 2015 Medicare Parts A B D HMOs and more Presented by Community Education Specialist Pablo Corona the lec-ture will also cover the Medicare Saving Program and Extra-Help Program that assist with prescription costs for Medicare Parts B and D The talk begins at 10 am at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Lung function screeningWednesday Oct 29

Do you have trouble catching your breath after a short walk The Pulmonary Department at Sharp Grossmont Hospital will offer a free basic lung function test from 9 am to 2 pm for anyone who has not yet seen a doctor about breathing prob-lems The screening will be held at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center Building F Room 16 9000 Wakarusa St Appointments are required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Free blood pressure screeningFriday Oct 17

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center 8450 La Mesa Blvd No appointment necessary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Park Appreciation DaySaturday Oct 18

Groups of volunteers will get to work on projects to beautify and improve parks across town from 8 am to noon All ages are welcome but children under the age of 18 need to submit a waiver signed by a parent or legal guard-ian If your church or civic group wants to get involved call 619-667-1300 or email communitycila-mesacaus

lsquoHowl-oweenrsquo dog cos-tume contest and picnicSaturday Oct 18

Dress up your dogs in a cute or spooky Halloween costume and bring them out to Canine Corners the dog park at Harry Griffen Regional Park between 11 am and 3 pm Proud pet par-ents will have the chance to get their poochrsquos picture taken at the pumpkin patch as well as meet representatives from animal rescue groups the county sheriffrsquos K-9 unit and other vendors The costume contest begins at 1130 am A hot dog picnic lunch will be offered for $3 Canine Corners volunteers will accept donations to help with the maintenance of the dog park

Picnic with the parrotsSunday Oct 26

At Socal Parrotrsquos annual fundraising event attendees have a rare chance to view the non-profit organizationrsquos reha-bilitation facility meet animals talk with experts observe live art bid in a silent auction and buy into a raffle Based in Jamul SoCal Parrot works to protect and care for wild and endan-gered parrots across the region Tickets to the all-day fundrais-ing event range from $32 to $100 and can be purchased online at socalparrotorgu

Calendar from page 15

Send details of your com-munity events to the editor at jeremysdcnncom Deadline is the third Friday of the month

22 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 CALENDAR

Why a fiscally conservative vote-by-mail plan got no GOP love

A bill that would drastically change the way San Diego

Countyrsquos special elections are run passed without any Republican help mdash it got just two votes total from GOP lawmakers in Sacramento

It might surprise you to learn then that when the idea first emerged Democrats helped lead the charge against it

How some leading party mem-bers reversed course in just a few years says a lot about the current political landscape and the future of elections in San Diego County

Democrats wrote the current bill mdash which would create a five-year pilot program in San Diego County that would make spe-cial elections for open seats run primarily by mail with a drasti-cally reduced number of polling places mdash and they led the politi-cal charge for it

But Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez the billrsquos author remembers how hard she fought to kill the idea of vote-by-mail elections years ago

ldquoWhat happens I think so often is there is this attachment to the status quo therersquos fear about changing thingsrdquo Gonzalez said

Gonzalez said her mind was changed by a couple factors One is that she discovered during her years as a labor advocate that voters who had a ballot mailed to them before the election were roughly five times more likely to actually vote

The other she said is she realized the county was spend-ing a huge amount more per person who voted at the polls versus by mail

County officials said that in the March 2013 special election to fill the vacant 40th state Senate district seat they spent $221 per

Ari Bloomekatz

in-person voter verses $9 per mail voter

Then therersquos the fact that pathetic voter turnout in each of the last several elections has favored Republican candidates across the board

ldquoWe have all watched as voter turnout has plummeted in recent elections and itrsquos our responsi-bility to do something about itrdquo Gonzalez wrote in a press release after the bill passed

Some observers speculated that some Republicans simply didnrsquot support the bill because it was being led by promi-nent Democrats like Gonzalez (Gonzalez agrees thatrsquos probably true)

But if you want to understand why GOP support was so hard to come by for a bill steeped in fiscally conservative principles and that originated from a con-servative San Diego County government consider these three points

Republicans seized on civil rights groupsrsquo hesitation

Some of the strongest initial opposition to the vote-by-mail legislation came from civil rights groups concerned the new pro-cedures could disenfranchise immigrants and the disabled

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund initially opposed the bill but dropped its opposition after working with Gonzalez and San Diego County officials on protec-

tions for immigrantsStill MALDEF and other

groups wouldnrsquot officially support the measure

ldquoThere is some research out there that shows that mail-in ballots do have an adverse impact on minority votersrdquo said Denise Hulett an attorney with MALDEF

Hulett said MALDEF supports testing out vote-by-mail but isnrsquot sold on it yet

Those groupsrsquo reluctance had an impact on Republican legislators like Escondido Assemblywoman Marie Waldron She said she didnrsquot feel comfortable signing on to a bill without MALDEF and other civil rights groupsrsquo support

ldquoI have to wonder if this is disenfranchising a significant number of people that vote at the pollsrdquo Waldron said ldquoWhat about the people who are maybe you know possibly visually impaired or something like thatrdquo

The money wasnrsquot enoughSan Diego County Registrar

Michael Vu strongly supports the pilot program and believes it could trim costs by 30 - 40 percent

But somehow the cost-savings issue wasnrsquot enough to win over the vast majority of Republican legislators

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez said he thought the cost-savings touted by Democrats were only rough estimates and was not inclined to vote for a bill just

because of those projectionsldquoAs Irsquove said a number of times

before all these bills that theyrsquore putting through hellip really doesnrsquot address the issue of what wersquore trying to do which is get more people to voterdquo he said

Instead of just moving imme-diately to vote-by-mail Chavez wants to create a bipartisan special committee to study new voting technologies

Republicans fear voter fraud

Republicansrsquo fear of potential voter fraud through expansion of vote-by-mail overshadowed potential economic gains

The bill ldquoincludes no protec-tions to ensure the integrity and security of all-mail elections While interesting we need to be careful changing election lawsrdquo wrote Amanda Fulkerson of the Assembly Republican Caucus which advocated fiercely against the bill

ldquoRight now our members feel that we should not jeopardize our consistent voting system until we have further facts and statistics on all-mail electionsrdquo Fulkerson wrote

Republicans believed the threat of fraud would be compounded by another voting-related bill moving through the legislature at the same time

That bill would change the rules about how long mail ballots can be received and counted after an election

Currently vote-by-mail ballots must be received by election offi-cials before polls close on the day of the election The new law would allow ballots to be received no later than three days after the election (if it was time-stamped or post-marked on or before Election Day)

Assembly Republicans feared the two bills combined could allow for abuse of the system

State Sen Joel Anderson was one Republican who voted against the mail-counting bill but in favor of Gonzalezrsquos vote-by-mail effort

Anderson said that he voted against the mail-counting bill because he saw it as ldquocompletely gaming the systemrdquo but believes the vote-by-mail bill is ldquobetter for the voters itrsquos better for my constituentsrdquo

Put yourselves in the shoes of

Vu and other county officials for a minute

Nearly every time an election comes up the county spends anywhere from $1 million to $12 million-plus and organizes hordes of poll workers and pre-cincts across the county

And what happens at the end of the day

Turnout is generally low and increasing numbers of residents opt to vote by mail anyway

As Vu tells it he just wants to save the county money and acknowledge the changing winds when it comes to vote-by-mail

But nothing is ever as simple as a dollar saved in Sacramento mdash especially when it comes to something as fundamental as how voters choose their elected officials

Gonzalez said most people do not understand how difficult this bill was to pass politically Sure Republicans barley supported it but there was strong opposition from many Democrats too The instinct to preserve the status quo when it comes to elections among legislators in Sacramento is strong she said

ldquoIt was kind of funny Irsquom in Republican land carrying this bill pissing off Democrats and voting rights groups and minor-ity groupsrdquo she said ldquoI had to convince everybody that this is OK that change is OKrdquo

Brown has until Sept 30 to sign the bill

mdashAri Bloomekatz is an inves-tigative reporter for Voice of San Diego focusing on county govern-ment You can reach him directly at aribloomekatzvoiceofsandi-egoorg or 619-550-5669u

(Courtesy Flickr user bludgeoner86Creative Commons)

Voice of San Diego

sdcnncom 23Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

Everyone in every price range deserves the quality of Sothebyrsquos Realty

8310 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa CA 91942 bull 6193371700

SPRING VALLEY bull $362000LA MESA bull $499000CARDIFF BY THE SEA bull $525000

Spacious Sweetwater Springs home on corner lot Recently updated kitchen amp bath w granite countertops SS appl wine refrigerator and wood floors Upstairs BRs w mirrored wardrobe doors and ceiling fans Sliding doors to private view deck ideal for watching the sunset

JOE SOUTHWICK 6195898224

Just listed Tastefully remodeled single level entertainerrsquos paradise Large great room with chefrsquos kitchen Private backyard with pool hot tub palapa-covered bar amp grill shade patio and sun deck

JULIE ADAMS 6194810200

Rarely available 2BR 1BA twin home in the highly sought after Park Place neighborhood of Cardiff By The Sea Community pool and spa 25+ acre canyon with walking trails sand volleyball and more

YVETTE WOODS 6199223436

Laurarsquos Solds 2014 bull (619) 540-7744 bull LauraLothianRealEstatecomMost Homes Sold in La Mesa Last 11 Years

Want your home sold Ask a busy agent Call Laura Lothian TODAY 6195407744

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD GASLAMP

SOLD RANCHO SAN DIEGO

SOLD BANKERS HILL

SOLD SAN CARLOS SOLD SAN CARLOS SOLD SANTEE

SOLD LAKE MURRAY

SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE

PENDING PACIFIC BEACH

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PacificSothebysRealtycomcopyMMVIII Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC A Realogy Company All Rights Reserved Sothebyrsquos International Realtyreg is a registered trademark licensed to Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC An Equal Opportunity Company Equal Housing Opportunity Each Office is Independently Owned And Operated Cal BRE 01767484 Seller will entertain offers within the listed range

SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX

Source TrendGraphix MLS data for zip codes 91941 amp 91942 January 1 2003 to January 1 2014

24 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

Sudoku amp Crosswordpuzzle answers from

page 19

The Academic Senate at Grossmont College last

month honored math instruc-tor Michael Lambe a Mt Helix resident with the Distinguished Faculty award the first ever for a part-time member of the col-lege faculty

Lambersquos 36 years as part-time instructor at Grossmont College concurrent to his 39-year teach-ing career with the Grossmont Union High School District gave him a unique perspective and insight on nurturing stu-dent success His dual career has made him especially aware of the need to make the transi-tion from high school to college as seamless as possible and to ensure secondary level curricu-lum prepares students for higher education

His interaction between Grossmont College and Monte Vista High School where he was chair of the math depart-

Math teacher is Grossmont Collegersquos part-time instructor of the year

ment made him a natural to help develop the first articula-tion agreement between the college and high school which helps students smoothly transi-tion without duplicating classes or experiencing delays

It wasnrsquot just students who benefitted from Lambersquos experi-ence with both systems When

driver education was eliminated from the high school curriculum and instructors were facing lay-offs he worked with the high school and college districts to develop a two-year program that prepared the former driver edu-cation instructors to acquire the teaching credentials needed to become math instructors

ldquoItrsquos been a fantastic career mdash Irsquove been blessedrdquo Lambe said

Following his retirement from the high school district Lambe was recruited four years ago as the collegersquos part-time senate officer with the Academic Senate and chair of the of the Academic Senate Part-Time Committee As head of the new committee he began tackling issues like office hours college governance and academic rank on behalf of part-timers

ldquoMichael has unified the [Academic Senatersquos Part-Time] committee and made it the most respected and cohesive voice for part-time faculty on the campusrdquo said one of his colleagues in a nomination for Lambe for the Distinguished Faculty award ldquoHe has brought part-time faculty issues into the college governance conversation as never before and helped part-time faculty be better informed through excellent professional development activities and communicationsrdquo

Lambe described his efforts on behalf of part-time instructors as a way of paying it forward

ldquoEven as a part-timer I have done a lot of things that full-time department members dordquo he said ldquoThis is my profession mdash my calling and my love This

award is the greatest honor I have ever received My col-leagues couldnrsquot have given me anything greater and to be the first recipient is tremendousrdquo

In addition to honoring Lambe for his achievements as a member of the part-time faculty the academic senate also honored Spanish instruc-tor Yolanda Guerrero with the Distinguished Faculty award for full-time faculty

President Sunita V Cooke said Lambe and Guerrero exem-plify Grossmont Collegersquos faculty members who are passionate about teaching and motivated to boost their profession and their colleagues

ldquoThe campus community owes a debt of gratitude to fac-ulty members with that kind of dedicationrdquo she said ldquoTheir generosity is an inspiration to us allrdquo

At Cuyamaca College Spanish instructor Patricia Santana won the Outstanding Faculty Award for full-time tenured faculty Arabic instructor Aklas Sheia won the award for outstanding part-time faculty

mdashDella Elliott is public information assistant for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College Districtu

DellaElliott

Michael Lambe gives a math lesson something hersquos been doing for nearly four decades in local classrooms (Courtesy Grossmont College)

20 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 EDUCATION

Join us for a 3-course dinner and information on Chronic back pain causes and solutions Recent advances in back pain relief Different surgical options QampA with leading San Diego spine specialist

Presented by Choll Kim MD PhD a San Diego Magazine ldquoTop Doctorrdquo and Medical Director of the Advanced SpineInstitute at Alvarado Hospital ndash named Americarsquos 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgerytrade and Orthopedic Surgerytrade in 2014

Cost $10person Seating is limited mdash RSVP requiredCall (619) 229-4548 to register

Location Terra Bistro7091 El Cajon Blvd San Diego 92115

MONDAY SEPT 29 6-8 PMTERRA AMERICAN BISTRO

AlvaradoHospitalcom | (619) 287-3270

Zucchini pancakes

Whatrsquos Cooking with

Julie AnnWhite

Julie

Grate away on your box grater to create this deli-

cious dinner side dish Herersquos a savory treat to serve with a salad or light chicken or fish meal They are a little bit addictive and really easy to make

Serves four (makes six small pancakes)

Ingredients3 medium zucchini grated on a box grater or food processor12 red or yellow onion grated2 large eggs lightly beaten8 Tbsp Panko bread crumbs (flour can be used instead)1 tsp baking powder1 tsp kosher saltPinch of black pepper2 Tbsp butter14 cup olive oil for frying

DirectionsGrate the zucchini and onion into a medium bowl Press with a

few paper towels to absorb juice Add remaining ingredients and stir well If batter is runny add more breadcrumbs or flour Heat large skillet and melt butter and oil over medium heat Drop the zucchini mixture into six to eight golf ball-sized gently patted pancakes Cook until golden brown Serve warmu

Put down your iPhone 6 push aside your Samsung Note 4

and turn off the TV La Mesa is asking its citizens to invest some time in one of their 14 local parks for Park Appreciation Day Oct 18

ldquoThis community event demon-strates the spirit and commitment that La Mesans have for their public facilitiesrdquo said Yvonne Garrett assistant city manager and director of community ser-vices in La Mesa ldquoLocal residents and visitors have a sense of own-ership and take pride in La Mesa parks Park Appreciation Day is an opportunity for individuals to share that enthusiasm with friends and neighborsrdquo

The impetus for La Mesa Park Appreciation Day began in 2005 when a member of a local church congregation contacted the city to ask whether their church could take on a community project in La Mesa said Garrett who is also staff director for La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation

Because the city had recently eliminated several temporary park maintenance worker posi-tions and had received a similar request for a local project from another organization city staff thought it would be a good idea

Citizen groups pitch in for Park Appreciation Day

to gather the various groups to help clean up the parks prompting the creation of Park Appreciation Day

La Mesa community services manager Mike Pacheco said he has been impressed with the pride La Mesans have in their community as well as their desire to volunteer for the city

ldquoParks and recreation pro-grams bring tremendous benefits to people of all agesrdquo Pacheco said ldquoThey contribute to help-ing us live longer better lives through active pursuits new life skills educational programs and safe activities Great parks and programs also help build a stronger community connecting individuals families and groups through the power of play Recreation programs and engag-ing exciting facilities help keep kids active and off the streetsrdquo

Park Appreciation Day proj-ects include spreading mulch planting flowers and painting picnic tables and restrooms Pacheco said

Since its inception several local groups have consistently volun-teered each year Christ Lutheran Church Journey Church Helix Interact Club Friends of Canine Corners Kiwanis Club of La Mesa La Mesa Rotary La Mesa Beautiful La Mesa Lions Club and La Mesa Police Department

Last year more than 150 vol-unteers participated on Park

Appreciation Day and removed 22 cubic yards of green material plus nine cubic yards of trash according to Garrett

Although most of La Mesarsquos parks have the same groups cleaning them every year Porter Park Fitness Plaza located at 8425 University Ave is still without a group Porter needs additional native plants installed in some areas in the beds Garrett said

Disclosure Writer Genevieve A Suzuki serves as a commissioner for the La Mesa Community Services Commission and is a member of La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation She is happy to put away her iPhone Oct 18 to help clean her local parku

Genevieve Suzuki

Make La Mesa beautifulInterested in getting

involved with La Mesa Park Appreciation Day Oct 18 Want to encourage your civic church or social group to adopt a park

All ages are welcome to par-ticipate Signed waivers are required Parents must accom-pany children under 18 at the parks unless their children are with a supervised group

Sign up by calling 619-667-1304 or email communitycila-mesacaus

sdcnncom 21Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierDINING LOCAL NEWS

New Patient Special

bull SedationDentistrybull Implantsbull Same-DayCrownsbull LaserTreatmentbull Invisalign

Wersquove been in practice for over

25 years in La Mesa

$113 for exam x-rays oral cancer screening and cleaning

In absence of gum disease A $520 value

Donrsquot avoid the dentist Remove the anxiety and fear with Sedation Dentistry

A Shop For Smiles

Dr Hagstrom619-465-5252 | 8923 La Mesa Blvd | La Mesa CA 91942

wwwashopforsmilescom

Visit us today

Baseball book signingSunday Oct 12

Geoff Miller mental skills coach for the Atlanta Braves will discuss and sign copies of his new book ldquoIntangibles Big-League Stories and Strategies for Winning the Mental Game mdash in Baseball and in Liferdquo at 2 pm at Barnes amp Noble 5500 Grossmont Center Dr

Diverse Capacities workshopWednesday Oct 15

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Mariko Peshon will lead a work-shop focusing on the physical emotional and social abilities and disabilities that often go unrec-ognized and unaccommodated in our communities The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

East County Intergenerational GamesTuesday Oct 16

Active adults ages 50 and older will team up with kids between the ages of 7 and 12 for a morning of fun noncompetitive activi-ties at La Mesa Middle School 4200 Parks Ave from 830 am to noon The games include street hockey shot frisbee toss ldquoskeeballrdquo pitch t-ball and trivia games Snacks and lunch are included Interested adults must register in advance by contacting the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center at 619-667-1322

Introduction to home caregivingSaturday Oct 18

Caring for a loved one at home often involves transfers personal care proper body mechanics and other specific skills and knowl-edge Learn and practice the basics with a registered nurse at this event from 9 am to 1 pm in classroom 1314 of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Brier Patch Campus 9000 Wakarusa St Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or

register online at sharpcom

Workshop Finding Your Voice in the Social Justice MovementTuesday Oct 21

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Kenyon Whitman will lead an interactive workshop exploring social justice concepts how to develop a leadership style and creative ways to effectively com-municate in diverse groups The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the stu-dent center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

Medicare and drug cover-age updates for 2015Friday Oct 24

A free lecture will cover Medicare insurance changes for 2015 Medicare Parts A B D HMOs and more Presented by Community Education Specialist Pablo Corona the lec-ture will also cover the Medicare Saving Program and Extra-Help Program that assist with prescription costs for Medicare Parts B and D The talk begins at 10 am at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Lung function screeningWednesday Oct 29

Do you have trouble catching your breath after a short walk The Pulmonary Department at Sharp Grossmont Hospital will offer a free basic lung function test from 9 am to 2 pm for anyone who has not yet seen a doctor about breathing prob-lems The screening will be held at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center Building F Room 16 9000 Wakarusa St Appointments are required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Free blood pressure screeningFriday Oct 17

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center 8450 La Mesa Blvd No appointment necessary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Park Appreciation DaySaturday Oct 18

Groups of volunteers will get to work on projects to beautify and improve parks across town from 8 am to noon All ages are welcome but children under the age of 18 need to submit a waiver signed by a parent or legal guard-ian If your church or civic group wants to get involved call 619-667-1300 or email communitycila-mesacaus

lsquoHowl-oweenrsquo dog cos-tume contest and picnicSaturday Oct 18

Dress up your dogs in a cute or spooky Halloween costume and bring them out to Canine Corners the dog park at Harry Griffen Regional Park between 11 am and 3 pm Proud pet par-ents will have the chance to get their poochrsquos picture taken at the pumpkin patch as well as meet representatives from animal rescue groups the county sheriffrsquos K-9 unit and other vendors The costume contest begins at 1130 am A hot dog picnic lunch will be offered for $3 Canine Corners volunteers will accept donations to help with the maintenance of the dog park

Picnic with the parrotsSunday Oct 26

At Socal Parrotrsquos annual fundraising event attendees have a rare chance to view the non-profit organizationrsquos reha-bilitation facility meet animals talk with experts observe live art bid in a silent auction and buy into a raffle Based in Jamul SoCal Parrot works to protect and care for wild and endan-gered parrots across the region Tickets to the all-day fundrais-ing event range from $32 to $100 and can be purchased online at socalparrotorgu

Calendar from page 15

Send details of your com-munity events to the editor at jeremysdcnncom Deadline is the third Friday of the month

22 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 CALENDAR

Why a fiscally conservative vote-by-mail plan got no GOP love

A bill that would drastically change the way San Diego

Countyrsquos special elections are run passed without any Republican help mdash it got just two votes total from GOP lawmakers in Sacramento

It might surprise you to learn then that when the idea first emerged Democrats helped lead the charge against it

How some leading party mem-bers reversed course in just a few years says a lot about the current political landscape and the future of elections in San Diego County

Democrats wrote the current bill mdash which would create a five-year pilot program in San Diego County that would make spe-cial elections for open seats run primarily by mail with a drasti-cally reduced number of polling places mdash and they led the politi-cal charge for it

But Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez the billrsquos author remembers how hard she fought to kill the idea of vote-by-mail elections years ago

ldquoWhat happens I think so often is there is this attachment to the status quo therersquos fear about changing thingsrdquo Gonzalez said

Gonzalez said her mind was changed by a couple factors One is that she discovered during her years as a labor advocate that voters who had a ballot mailed to them before the election were roughly five times more likely to actually vote

The other she said is she realized the county was spend-ing a huge amount more per person who voted at the polls versus by mail

County officials said that in the March 2013 special election to fill the vacant 40th state Senate district seat they spent $221 per

Ari Bloomekatz

in-person voter verses $9 per mail voter

Then therersquos the fact that pathetic voter turnout in each of the last several elections has favored Republican candidates across the board

ldquoWe have all watched as voter turnout has plummeted in recent elections and itrsquos our responsi-bility to do something about itrdquo Gonzalez wrote in a press release after the bill passed

Some observers speculated that some Republicans simply didnrsquot support the bill because it was being led by promi-nent Democrats like Gonzalez (Gonzalez agrees thatrsquos probably true)

But if you want to understand why GOP support was so hard to come by for a bill steeped in fiscally conservative principles and that originated from a con-servative San Diego County government consider these three points

Republicans seized on civil rights groupsrsquo hesitation

Some of the strongest initial opposition to the vote-by-mail legislation came from civil rights groups concerned the new pro-cedures could disenfranchise immigrants and the disabled

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund initially opposed the bill but dropped its opposition after working with Gonzalez and San Diego County officials on protec-

tions for immigrantsStill MALDEF and other

groups wouldnrsquot officially support the measure

ldquoThere is some research out there that shows that mail-in ballots do have an adverse impact on minority votersrdquo said Denise Hulett an attorney with MALDEF

Hulett said MALDEF supports testing out vote-by-mail but isnrsquot sold on it yet

Those groupsrsquo reluctance had an impact on Republican legislators like Escondido Assemblywoman Marie Waldron She said she didnrsquot feel comfortable signing on to a bill without MALDEF and other civil rights groupsrsquo support

ldquoI have to wonder if this is disenfranchising a significant number of people that vote at the pollsrdquo Waldron said ldquoWhat about the people who are maybe you know possibly visually impaired or something like thatrdquo

The money wasnrsquot enoughSan Diego County Registrar

Michael Vu strongly supports the pilot program and believes it could trim costs by 30 - 40 percent

But somehow the cost-savings issue wasnrsquot enough to win over the vast majority of Republican legislators

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez said he thought the cost-savings touted by Democrats were only rough estimates and was not inclined to vote for a bill just

because of those projectionsldquoAs Irsquove said a number of times

before all these bills that theyrsquore putting through hellip really doesnrsquot address the issue of what wersquore trying to do which is get more people to voterdquo he said

Instead of just moving imme-diately to vote-by-mail Chavez wants to create a bipartisan special committee to study new voting technologies

Republicans fear voter fraud

Republicansrsquo fear of potential voter fraud through expansion of vote-by-mail overshadowed potential economic gains

The bill ldquoincludes no protec-tions to ensure the integrity and security of all-mail elections While interesting we need to be careful changing election lawsrdquo wrote Amanda Fulkerson of the Assembly Republican Caucus which advocated fiercely against the bill

ldquoRight now our members feel that we should not jeopardize our consistent voting system until we have further facts and statistics on all-mail electionsrdquo Fulkerson wrote

Republicans believed the threat of fraud would be compounded by another voting-related bill moving through the legislature at the same time

That bill would change the rules about how long mail ballots can be received and counted after an election

Currently vote-by-mail ballots must be received by election offi-cials before polls close on the day of the election The new law would allow ballots to be received no later than three days after the election (if it was time-stamped or post-marked on or before Election Day)

Assembly Republicans feared the two bills combined could allow for abuse of the system

State Sen Joel Anderson was one Republican who voted against the mail-counting bill but in favor of Gonzalezrsquos vote-by-mail effort

Anderson said that he voted against the mail-counting bill because he saw it as ldquocompletely gaming the systemrdquo but believes the vote-by-mail bill is ldquobetter for the voters itrsquos better for my constituentsrdquo

Put yourselves in the shoes of

Vu and other county officials for a minute

Nearly every time an election comes up the county spends anywhere from $1 million to $12 million-plus and organizes hordes of poll workers and pre-cincts across the county

And what happens at the end of the day

Turnout is generally low and increasing numbers of residents opt to vote by mail anyway

As Vu tells it he just wants to save the county money and acknowledge the changing winds when it comes to vote-by-mail

But nothing is ever as simple as a dollar saved in Sacramento mdash especially when it comes to something as fundamental as how voters choose their elected officials

Gonzalez said most people do not understand how difficult this bill was to pass politically Sure Republicans barley supported it but there was strong opposition from many Democrats too The instinct to preserve the status quo when it comes to elections among legislators in Sacramento is strong she said

ldquoIt was kind of funny Irsquom in Republican land carrying this bill pissing off Democrats and voting rights groups and minor-ity groupsrdquo she said ldquoI had to convince everybody that this is OK that change is OKrdquo

Brown has until Sept 30 to sign the bill

mdashAri Bloomekatz is an inves-tigative reporter for Voice of San Diego focusing on county govern-ment You can reach him directly at aribloomekatzvoiceofsandi-egoorg or 619-550-5669u

(Courtesy Flickr user bludgeoner86Creative Commons)

Voice of San Diego

sdcnncom 23Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

Everyone in every price range deserves the quality of Sothebyrsquos Realty

8310 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa CA 91942 bull 6193371700

SPRING VALLEY bull $362000LA MESA bull $499000CARDIFF BY THE SEA bull $525000

Spacious Sweetwater Springs home on corner lot Recently updated kitchen amp bath w granite countertops SS appl wine refrigerator and wood floors Upstairs BRs w mirrored wardrobe doors and ceiling fans Sliding doors to private view deck ideal for watching the sunset

JOE SOUTHWICK 6195898224

Just listed Tastefully remodeled single level entertainerrsquos paradise Large great room with chefrsquos kitchen Private backyard with pool hot tub palapa-covered bar amp grill shade patio and sun deck

JULIE ADAMS 6194810200

Rarely available 2BR 1BA twin home in the highly sought after Park Place neighborhood of Cardiff By The Sea Community pool and spa 25+ acre canyon with walking trails sand volleyball and more

YVETTE WOODS 6199223436

Laurarsquos Solds 2014 bull (619) 540-7744 bull LauraLothianRealEstatecomMost Homes Sold in La Mesa Last 11 Years

Want your home sold Ask a busy agent Call Laura Lothian TODAY 6195407744

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD GASLAMP

SOLD RANCHO SAN DIEGO

SOLD BANKERS HILL

SOLD SAN CARLOS SOLD SAN CARLOS SOLD SANTEE

SOLD LAKE MURRAY

SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE

PENDING PACIFIC BEACH

SOLD STEELE CANYON

SOLD NORTH PARK

PacificSothebysRealtycomcopyMMVIII Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC A Realogy Company All Rights Reserved Sothebyrsquos International Realtyreg is a registered trademark licensed to Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC An Equal Opportunity Company Equal Housing Opportunity Each Office is Independently Owned And Operated Cal BRE 01767484 Seller will entertain offers within the listed range

SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX

Source TrendGraphix MLS data for zip codes 91941 amp 91942 January 1 2003 to January 1 2014

24 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

Join us for a 3-course dinner and information on Chronic back pain causes and solutions Recent advances in back pain relief Different surgical options QampA with leading San Diego spine specialist

Presented by Choll Kim MD PhD a San Diego Magazine ldquoTop Doctorrdquo and Medical Director of the Advanced SpineInstitute at Alvarado Hospital ndash named Americarsquos 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgerytrade and Orthopedic Surgerytrade in 2014

Cost $10person Seating is limited mdash RSVP requiredCall (619) 229-4548 to register

Location Terra Bistro7091 El Cajon Blvd San Diego 92115

MONDAY SEPT 29 6-8 PMTERRA AMERICAN BISTRO

AlvaradoHospitalcom | (619) 287-3270

Zucchini pancakes

Whatrsquos Cooking with

Julie AnnWhite

Julie

Grate away on your box grater to create this deli-

cious dinner side dish Herersquos a savory treat to serve with a salad or light chicken or fish meal They are a little bit addictive and really easy to make

Serves four (makes six small pancakes)

Ingredients3 medium zucchini grated on a box grater or food processor12 red or yellow onion grated2 large eggs lightly beaten8 Tbsp Panko bread crumbs (flour can be used instead)1 tsp baking powder1 tsp kosher saltPinch of black pepper2 Tbsp butter14 cup olive oil for frying

DirectionsGrate the zucchini and onion into a medium bowl Press with a

few paper towels to absorb juice Add remaining ingredients and stir well If batter is runny add more breadcrumbs or flour Heat large skillet and melt butter and oil over medium heat Drop the zucchini mixture into six to eight golf ball-sized gently patted pancakes Cook until golden brown Serve warmu

Put down your iPhone 6 push aside your Samsung Note 4

and turn off the TV La Mesa is asking its citizens to invest some time in one of their 14 local parks for Park Appreciation Day Oct 18

ldquoThis community event demon-strates the spirit and commitment that La Mesans have for their public facilitiesrdquo said Yvonne Garrett assistant city manager and director of community ser-vices in La Mesa ldquoLocal residents and visitors have a sense of own-ership and take pride in La Mesa parks Park Appreciation Day is an opportunity for individuals to share that enthusiasm with friends and neighborsrdquo

The impetus for La Mesa Park Appreciation Day began in 2005 when a member of a local church congregation contacted the city to ask whether their church could take on a community project in La Mesa said Garrett who is also staff director for La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation

Because the city had recently eliminated several temporary park maintenance worker posi-tions and had received a similar request for a local project from another organization city staff thought it would be a good idea

Citizen groups pitch in for Park Appreciation Day

to gather the various groups to help clean up the parks prompting the creation of Park Appreciation Day

La Mesa community services manager Mike Pacheco said he has been impressed with the pride La Mesans have in their community as well as their desire to volunteer for the city

ldquoParks and recreation pro-grams bring tremendous benefits to people of all agesrdquo Pacheco said ldquoThey contribute to help-ing us live longer better lives through active pursuits new life skills educational programs and safe activities Great parks and programs also help build a stronger community connecting individuals families and groups through the power of play Recreation programs and engag-ing exciting facilities help keep kids active and off the streetsrdquo

Park Appreciation Day proj-ects include spreading mulch planting flowers and painting picnic tables and restrooms Pacheco said

Since its inception several local groups have consistently volun-teered each year Christ Lutheran Church Journey Church Helix Interact Club Friends of Canine Corners Kiwanis Club of La Mesa La Mesa Rotary La Mesa Beautiful La Mesa Lions Club and La Mesa Police Department

Last year more than 150 vol-unteers participated on Park

Appreciation Day and removed 22 cubic yards of green material plus nine cubic yards of trash according to Garrett

Although most of La Mesarsquos parks have the same groups cleaning them every year Porter Park Fitness Plaza located at 8425 University Ave is still without a group Porter needs additional native plants installed in some areas in the beds Garrett said

Disclosure Writer Genevieve A Suzuki serves as a commissioner for the La Mesa Community Services Commission and is a member of La Mesa Park amp Recreation Foundation She is happy to put away her iPhone Oct 18 to help clean her local parku

Genevieve Suzuki

Make La Mesa beautifulInterested in getting

involved with La Mesa Park Appreciation Day Oct 18 Want to encourage your civic church or social group to adopt a park

All ages are welcome to par-ticipate Signed waivers are required Parents must accom-pany children under 18 at the parks unless their children are with a supervised group

Sign up by calling 619-667-1304 or email communitycila-mesacaus

sdcnncom 21Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierDINING LOCAL NEWS

New Patient Special

bull SedationDentistrybull Implantsbull Same-DayCrownsbull LaserTreatmentbull Invisalign

Wersquove been in practice for over

25 years in La Mesa

$113 for exam x-rays oral cancer screening and cleaning

In absence of gum disease A $520 value

Donrsquot avoid the dentist Remove the anxiety and fear with Sedation Dentistry

A Shop For Smiles

Dr Hagstrom619-465-5252 | 8923 La Mesa Blvd | La Mesa CA 91942

wwwashopforsmilescom

Visit us today

Baseball book signingSunday Oct 12

Geoff Miller mental skills coach for the Atlanta Braves will discuss and sign copies of his new book ldquoIntangibles Big-League Stories and Strategies for Winning the Mental Game mdash in Baseball and in Liferdquo at 2 pm at Barnes amp Noble 5500 Grossmont Center Dr

Diverse Capacities workshopWednesday Oct 15

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Mariko Peshon will lead a work-shop focusing on the physical emotional and social abilities and disabilities that often go unrec-ognized and unaccommodated in our communities The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

East County Intergenerational GamesTuesday Oct 16

Active adults ages 50 and older will team up with kids between the ages of 7 and 12 for a morning of fun noncompetitive activi-ties at La Mesa Middle School 4200 Parks Ave from 830 am to noon The games include street hockey shot frisbee toss ldquoskeeballrdquo pitch t-ball and trivia games Snacks and lunch are included Interested adults must register in advance by contacting the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center at 619-667-1322

Introduction to home caregivingSaturday Oct 18

Caring for a loved one at home often involves transfers personal care proper body mechanics and other specific skills and knowl-edge Learn and practice the basics with a registered nurse at this event from 9 am to 1 pm in classroom 1314 of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Brier Patch Campus 9000 Wakarusa St Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or

register online at sharpcom

Workshop Finding Your Voice in the Social Justice MovementTuesday Oct 21

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Kenyon Whitman will lead an interactive workshop exploring social justice concepts how to develop a leadership style and creative ways to effectively com-municate in diverse groups The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the stu-dent center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

Medicare and drug cover-age updates for 2015Friday Oct 24

A free lecture will cover Medicare insurance changes for 2015 Medicare Parts A B D HMOs and more Presented by Community Education Specialist Pablo Corona the lec-ture will also cover the Medicare Saving Program and Extra-Help Program that assist with prescription costs for Medicare Parts B and D The talk begins at 10 am at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Lung function screeningWednesday Oct 29

Do you have trouble catching your breath after a short walk The Pulmonary Department at Sharp Grossmont Hospital will offer a free basic lung function test from 9 am to 2 pm for anyone who has not yet seen a doctor about breathing prob-lems The screening will be held at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center Building F Room 16 9000 Wakarusa St Appointments are required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Free blood pressure screeningFriday Oct 17

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center 8450 La Mesa Blvd No appointment necessary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Park Appreciation DaySaturday Oct 18

Groups of volunteers will get to work on projects to beautify and improve parks across town from 8 am to noon All ages are welcome but children under the age of 18 need to submit a waiver signed by a parent or legal guard-ian If your church or civic group wants to get involved call 619-667-1300 or email communitycila-mesacaus

lsquoHowl-oweenrsquo dog cos-tume contest and picnicSaturday Oct 18

Dress up your dogs in a cute or spooky Halloween costume and bring them out to Canine Corners the dog park at Harry Griffen Regional Park between 11 am and 3 pm Proud pet par-ents will have the chance to get their poochrsquos picture taken at the pumpkin patch as well as meet representatives from animal rescue groups the county sheriffrsquos K-9 unit and other vendors The costume contest begins at 1130 am A hot dog picnic lunch will be offered for $3 Canine Corners volunteers will accept donations to help with the maintenance of the dog park

Picnic with the parrotsSunday Oct 26

At Socal Parrotrsquos annual fundraising event attendees have a rare chance to view the non-profit organizationrsquos reha-bilitation facility meet animals talk with experts observe live art bid in a silent auction and buy into a raffle Based in Jamul SoCal Parrot works to protect and care for wild and endan-gered parrots across the region Tickets to the all-day fundrais-ing event range from $32 to $100 and can be purchased online at socalparrotorgu

Calendar from page 15

Send details of your com-munity events to the editor at jeremysdcnncom Deadline is the third Friday of the month

22 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 CALENDAR

Why a fiscally conservative vote-by-mail plan got no GOP love

A bill that would drastically change the way San Diego

Countyrsquos special elections are run passed without any Republican help mdash it got just two votes total from GOP lawmakers in Sacramento

It might surprise you to learn then that when the idea first emerged Democrats helped lead the charge against it

How some leading party mem-bers reversed course in just a few years says a lot about the current political landscape and the future of elections in San Diego County

Democrats wrote the current bill mdash which would create a five-year pilot program in San Diego County that would make spe-cial elections for open seats run primarily by mail with a drasti-cally reduced number of polling places mdash and they led the politi-cal charge for it

But Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez the billrsquos author remembers how hard she fought to kill the idea of vote-by-mail elections years ago

ldquoWhat happens I think so often is there is this attachment to the status quo therersquos fear about changing thingsrdquo Gonzalez said

Gonzalez said her mind was changed by a couple factors One is that she discovered during her years as a labor advocate that voters who had a ballot mailed to them before the election were roughly five times more likely to actually vote

The other she said is she realized the county was spend-ing a huge amount more per person who voted at the polls versus by mail

County officials said that in the March 2013 special election to fill the vacant 40th state Senate district seat they spent $221 per

Ari Bloomekatz

in-person voter verses $9 per mail voter

Then therersquos the fact that pathetic voter turnout in each of the last several elections has favored Republican candidates across the board

ldquoWe have all watched as voter turnout has plummeted in recent elections and itrsquos our responsi-bility to do something about itrdquo Gonzalez wrote in a press release after the bill passed

Some observers speculated that some Republicans simply didnrsquot support the bill because it was being led by promi-nent Democrats like Gonzalez (Gonzalez agrees thatrsquos probably true)

But if you want to understand why GOP support was so hard to come by for a bill steeped in fiscally conservative principles and that originated from a con-servative San Diego County government consider these three points

Republicans seized on civil rights groupsrsquo hesitation

Some of the strongest initial opposition to the vote-by-mail legislation came from civil rights groups concerned the new pro-cedures could disenfranchise immigrants and the disabled

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund initially opposed the bill but dropped its opposition after working with Gonzalez and San Diego County officials on protec-

tions for immigrantsStill MALDEF and other

groups wouldnrsquot officially support the measure

ldquoThere is some research out there that shows that mail-in ballots do have an adverse impact on minority votersrdquo said Denise Hulett an attorney with MALDEF

Hulett said MALDEF supports testing out vote-by-mail but isnrsquot sold on it yet

Those groupsrsquo reluctance had an impact on Republican legislators like Escondido Assemblywoman Marie Waldron She said she didnrsquot feel comfortable signing on to a bill without MALDEF and other civil rights groupsrsquo support

ldquoI have to wonder if this is disenfranchising a significant number of people that vote at the pollsrdquo Waldron said ldquoWhat about the people who are maybe you know possibly visually impaired or something like thatrdquo

The money wasnrsquot enoughSan Diego County Registrar

Michael Vu strongly supports the pilot program and believes it could trim costs by 30 - 40 percent

But somehow the cost-savings issue wasnrsquot enough to win over the vast majority of Republican legislators

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez said he thought the cost-savings touted by Democrats were only rough estimates and was not inclined to vote for a bill just

because of those projectionsldquoAs Irsquove said a number of times

before all these bills that theyrsquore putting through hellip really doesnrsquot address the issue of what wersquore trying to do which is get more people to voterdquo he said

Instead of just moving imme-diately to vote-by-mail Chavez wants to create a bipartisan special committee to study new voting technologies

Republicans fear voter fraud

Republicansrsquo fear of potential voter fraud through expansion of vote-by-mail overshadowed potential economic gains

The bill ldquoincludes no protec-tions to ensure the integrity and security of all-mail elections While interesting we need to be careful changing election lawsrdquo wrote Amanda Fulkerson of the Assembly Republican Caucus which advocated fiercely against the bill

ldquoRight now our members feel that we should not jeopardize our consistent voting system until we have further facts and statistics on all-mail electionsrdquo Fulkerson wrote

Republicans believed the threat of fraud would be compounded by another voting-related bill moving through the legislature at the same time

That bill would change the rules about how long mail ballots can be received and counted after an election

Currently vote-by-mail ballots must be received by election offi-cials before polls close on the day of the election The new law would allow ballots to be received no later than three days after the election (if it was time-stamped or post-marked on or before Election Day)

Assembly Republicans feared the two bills combined could allow for abuse of the system

State Sen Joel Anderson was one Republican who voted against the mail-counting bill but in favor of Gonzalezrsquos vote-by-mail effort

Anderson said that he voted against the mail-counting bill because he saw it as ldquocompletely gaming the systemrdquo but believes the vote-by-mail bill is ldquobetter for the voters itrsquos better for my constituentsrdquo

Put yourselves in the shoes of

Vu and other county officials for a minute

Nearly every time an election comes up the county spends anywhere from $1 million to $12 million-plus and organizes hordes of poll workers and pre-cincts across the county

And what happens at the end of the day

Turnout is generally low and increasing numbers of residents opt to vote by mail anyway

As Vu tells it he just wants to save the county money and acknowledge the changing winds when it comes to vote-by-mail

But nothing is ever as simple as a dollar saved in Sacramento mdash especially when it comes to something as fundamental as how voters choose their elected officials

Gonzalez said most people do not understand how difficult this bill was to pass politically Sure Republicans barley supported it but there was strong opposition from many Democrats too The instinct to preserve the status quo when it comes to elections among legislators in Sacramento is strong she said

ldquoIt was kind of funny Irsquom in Republican land carrying this bill pissing off Democrats and voting rights groups and minor-ity groupsrdquo she said ldquoI had to convince everybody that this is OK that change is OKrdquo

Brown has until Sept 30 to sign the bill

mdashAri Bloomekatz is an inves-tigative reporter for Voice of San Diego focusing on county govern-ment You can reach him directly at aribloomekatzvoiceofsandi-egoorg or 619-550-5669u

(Courtesy Flickr user bludgeoner86Creative Commons)

Voice of San Diego

sdcnncom 23Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

Everyone in every price range deserves the quality of Sothebyrsquos Realty

8310 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa CA 91942 bull 6193371700

SPRING VALLEY bull $362000LA MESA bull $499000CARDIFF BY THE SEA bull $525000

Spacious Sweetwater Springs home on corner lot Recently updated kitchen amp bath w granite countertops SS appl wine refrigerator and wood floors Upstairs BRs w mirrored wardrobe doors and ceiling fans Sliding doors to private view deck ideal for watching the sunset

JOE SOUTHWICK 6195898224

Just listed Tastefully remodeled single level entertainerrsquos paradise Large great room with chefrsquos kitchen Private backyard with pool hot tub palapa-covered bar amp grill shade patio and sun deck

JULIE ADAMS 6194810200

Rarely available 2BR 1BA twin home in the highly sought after Park Place neighborhood of Cardiff By The Sea Community pool and spa 25+ acre canyon with walking trails sand volleyball and more

YVETTE WOODS 6199223436

Laurarsquos Solds 2014 bull (619) 540-7744 bull LauraLothianRealEstatecomMost Homes Sold in La Mesa Last 11 Years

Want your home sold Ask a busy agent Call Laura Lothian TODAY 6195407744

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD GASLAMP

SOLD RANCHO SAN DIEGO

SOLD BANKERS HILL

SOLD SAN CARLOS SOLD SAN CARLOS SOLD SANTEE

SOLD LAKE MURRAY

SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE

PENDING PACIFIC BEACH

SOLD STEELE CANYON

SOLD NORTH PARK

PacificSothebysRealtycomcopyMMVIII Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC A Realogy Company All Rights Reserved Sothebyrsquos International Realtyreg is a registered trademark licensed to Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC An Equal Opportunity Company Equal Housing Opportunity Each Office is Independently Owned And Operated Cal BRE 01767484 Seller will entertain offers within the listed range

SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX

Source TrendGraphix MLS data for zip codes 91941 amp 91942 January 1 2003 to January 1 2014

24 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

New Patient Special

bull SedationDentistrybull Implantsbull Same-DayCrownsbull LaserTreatmentbull Invisalign

Wersquove been in practice for over

25 years in La Mesa

$113 for exam x-rays oral cancer screening and cleaning

In absence of gum disease A $520 value

Donrsquot avoid the dentist Remove the anxiety and fear with Sedation Dentistry

A Shop For Smiles

Dr Hagstrom619-465-5252 | 8923 La Mesa Blvd | La Mesa CA 91942

wwwashopforsmilescom

Visit us today

Baseball book signingSunday Oct 12

Geoff Miller mental skills coach for the Atlanta Braves will discuss and sign copies of his new book ldquoIntangibles Big-League Stories and Strategies for Winning the Mental Game mdash in Baseball and in Liferdquo at 2 pm at Barnes amp Noble 5500 Grossmont Center Dr

Diverse Capacities workshopWednesday Oct 15

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Mariko Peshon will lead a work-shop focusing on the physical emotional and social abilities and disabilities that often go unrec-ognized and unaccommodated in our communities The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the student center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

East County Intergenerational GamesTuesday Oct 16

Active adults ages 50 and older will team up with kids between the ages of 7 and 12 for a morning of fun noncompetitive activi-ties at La Mesa Middle School 4200 Parks Ave from 830 am to noon The games include street hockey shot frisbee toss ldquoskeeballrdquo pitch t-ball and trivia games Snacks and lunch are included Interested adults must register in advance by contacting the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center at 619-667-1322

Introduction to home caregivingSaturday Oct 18

Caring for a loved one at home often involves transfers personal care proper body mechanics and other specific skills and knowl-edge Learn and practice the basics with a registered nurse at this event from 9 am to 1 pm in classroom 1314 of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Brier Patch Campus 9000 Wakarusa St Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or

register online at sharpcom

Workshop Finding Your Voice in the Social Justice MovementTuesday Oct 21

As part of Cuyamaca Collegersquos Diversity Dialogues series University of San Diego Leadership Studies instructor Kenyon Whitman will lead an interactive workshop exploring social justice concepts how to develop a leadership style and creative ways to effectively com-municate in diverse groups The workshop free and open to the public will be held from 11 am to noon in room 207 of the stu-dent center at Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy For additional information call Lauren Vaknin in the Student Affairs Office at 619-660-4295

Medicare and drug cover-age updates for 2015Friday Oct 24

A free lecture will cover Medicare insurance changes for 2015 Medicare Parts A B D HMOs and more Presented by Community Education Specialist Pablo Corona the lec-ture will also cover the Medicare Saving Program and Extra-Help Program that assist with prescription costs for Medicare Parts B and D The talk begins at 10 am at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center at 9001 Wakarusa St in La Mesa Reservations are required in advance Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Lung function screeningWednesday Oct 29

Do you have trouble catching your breath after a short walk The Pulmonary Department at Sharp Grossmont Hospital will offer a free basic lung function test from 9 am to 2 pm for anyone who has not yet seen a doctor about breathing prob-lems The screening will be held at the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center Building F Room 16 9000 Wakarusa St Appointments are required Call 800-827-4277 or register online at sharpcom

Free blood pressure screeningFriday Oct 17

Have your blood pressure checked by a registered nurse between 930 and 11 am at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center 8450 La Mesa Blvd No appointment necessary Call 619-740-4214 for more information

Park Appreciation DaySaturday Oct 18

Groups of volunteers will get to work on projects to beautify and improve parks across town from 8 am to noon All ages are welcome but children under the age of 18 need to submit a waiver signed by a parent or legal guard-ian If your church or civic group wants to get involved call 619-667-1300 or email communitycila-mesacaus

lsquoHowl-oweenrsquo dog cos-tume contest and picnicSaturday Oct 18

Dress up your dogs in a cute or spooky Halloween costume and bring them out to Canine Corners the dog park at Harry Griffen Regional Park between 11 am and 3 pm Proud pet par-ents will have the chance to get their poochrsquos picture taken at the pumpkin patch as well as meet representatives from animal rescue groups the county sheriffrsquos K-9 unit and other vendors The costume contest begins at 1130 am A hot dog picnic lunch will be offered for $3 Canine Corners volunteers will accept donations to help with the maintenance of the dog park

Picnic with the parrotsSunday Oct 26

At Socal Parrotrsquos annual fundraising event attendees have a rare chance to view the non-profit organizationrsquos reha-bilitation facility meet animals talk with experts observe live art bid in a silent auction and buy into a raffle Based in Jamul SoCal Parrot works to protect and care for wild and endan-gered parrots across the region Tickets to the all-day fundrais-ing event range from $32 to $100 and can be purchased online at socalparrotorgu

Calendar from page 15

Send details of your com-munity events to the editor at jeremysdcnncom Deadline is the third Friday of the month

22 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 CALENDAR

Why a fiscally conservative vote-by-mail plan got no GOP love

A bill that would drastically change the way San Diego

Countyrsquos special elections are run passed without any Republican help mdash it got just two votes total from GOP lawmakers in Sacramento

It might surprise you to learn then that when the idea first emerged Democrats helped lead the charge against it

How some leading party mem-bers reversed course in just a few years says a lot about the current political landscape and the future of elections in San Diego County

Democrats wrote the current bill mdash which would create a five-year pilot program in San Diego County that would make spe-cial elections for open seats run primarily by mail with a drasti-cally reduced number of polling places mdash and they led the politi-cal charge for it

But Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez the billrsquos author remembers how hard she fought to kill the idea of vote-by-mail elections years ago

ldquoWhat happens I think so often is there is this attachment to the status quo therersquos fear about changing thingsrdquo Gonzalez said

Gonzalez said her mind was changed by a couple factors One is that she discovered during her years as a labor advocate that voters who had a ballot mailed to them before the election were roughly five times more likely to actually vote

The other she said is she realized the county was spend-ing a huge amount more per person who voted at the polls versus by mail

County officials said that in the March 2013 special election to fill the vacant 40th state Senate district seat they spent $221 per

Ari Bloomekatz

in-person voter verses $9 per mail voter

Then therersquos the fact that pathetic voter turnout in each of the last several elections has favored Republican candidates across the board

ldquoWe have all watched as voter turnout has plummeted in recent elections and itrsquos our responsi-bility to do something about itrdquo Gonzalez wrote in a press release after the bill passed

Some observers speculated that some Republicans simply didnrsquot support the bill because it was being led by promi-nent Democrats like Gonzalez (Gonzalez agrees thatrsquos probably true)

But if you want to understand why GOP support was so hard to come by for a bill steeped in fiscally conservative principles and that originated from a con-servative San Diego County government consider these three points

Republicans seized on civil rights groupsrsquo hesitation

Some of the strongest initial opposition to the vote-by-mail legislation came from civil rights groups concerned the new pro-cedures could disenfranchise immigrants and the disabled

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund initially opposed the bill but dropped its opposition after working with Gonzalez and San Diego County officials on protec-

tions for immigrantsStill MALDEF and other

groups wouldnrsquot officially support the measure

ldquoThere is some research out there that shows that mail-in ballots do have an adverse impact on minority votersrdquo said Denise Hulett an attorney with MALDEF

Hulett said MALDEF supports testing out vote-by-mail but isnrsquot sold on it yet

Those groupsrsquo reluctance had an impact on Republican legislators like Escondido Assemblywoman Marie Waldron She said she didnrsquot feel comfortable signing on to a bill without MALDEF and other civil rights groupsrsquo support

ldquoI have to wonder if this is disenfranchising a significant number of people that vote at the pollsrdquo Waldron said ldquoWhat about the people who are maybe you know possibly visually impaired or something like thatrdquo

The money wasnrsquot enoughSan Diego County Registrar

Michael Vu strongly supports the pilot program and believes it could trim costs by 30 - 40 percent

But somehow the cost-savings issue wasnrsquot enough to win over the vast majority of Republican legislators

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez said he thought the cost-savings touted by Democrats were only rough estimates and was not inclined to vote for a bill just

because of those projectionsldquoAs Irsquove said a number of times

before all these bills that theyrsquore putting through hellip really doesnrsquot address the issue of what wersquore trying to do which is get more people to voterdquo he said

Instead of just moving imme-diately to vote-by-mail Chavez wants to create a bipartisan special committee to study new voting technologies

Republicans fear voter fraud

Republicansrsquo fear of potential voter fraud through expansion of vote-by-mail overshadowed potential economic gains

The bill ldquoincludes no protec-tions to ensure the integrity and security of all-mail elections While interesting we need to be careful changing election lawsrdquo wrote Amanda Fulkerson of the Assembly Republican Caucus which advocated fiercely against the bill

ldquoRight now our members feel that we should not jeopardize our consistent voting system until we have further facts and statistics on all-mail electionsrdquo Fulkerson wrote

Republicans believed the threat of fraud would be compounded by another voting-related bill moving through the legislature at the same time

That bill would change the rules about how long mail ballots can be received and counted after an election

Currently vote-by-mail ballots must be received by election offi-cials before polls close on the day of the election The new law would allow ballots to be received no later than three days after the election (if it was time-stamped or post-marked on or before Election Day)

Assembly Republicans feared the two bills combined could allow for abuse of the system

State Sen Joel Anderson was one Republican who voted against the mail-counting bill but in favor of Gonzalezrsquos vote-by-mail effort

Anderson said that he voted against the mail-counting bill because he saw it as ldquocompletely gaming the systemrdquo but believes the vote-by-mail bill is ldquobetter for the voters itrsquos better for my constituentsrdquo

Put yourselves in the shoes of

Vu and other county officials for a minute

Nearly every time an election comes up the county spends anywhere from $1 million to $12 million-plus and organizes hordes of poll workers and pre-cincts across the county

And what happens at the end of the day

Turnout is generally low and increasing numbers of residents opt to vote by mail anyway

As Vu tells it he just wants to save the county money and acknowledge the changing winds when it comes to vote-by-mail

But nothing is ever as simple as a dollar saved in Sacramento mdash especially when it comes to something as fundamental as how voters choose their elected officials

Gonzalez said most people do not understand how difficult this bill was to pass politically Sure Republicans barley supported it but there was strong opposition from many Democrats too The instinct to preserve the status quo when it comes to elections among legislators in Sacramento is strong she said

ldquoIt was kind of funny Irsquom in Republican land carrying this bill pissing off Democrats and voting rights groups and minor-ity groupsrdquo she said ldquoI had to convince everybody that this is OK that change is OKrdquo

Brown has until Sept 30 to sign the bill

mdashAri Bloomekatz is an inves-tigative reporter for Voice of San Diego focusing on county govern-ment You can reach him directly at aribloomekatzvoiceofsandi-egoorg or 619-550-5669u

(Courtesy Flickr user bludgeoner86Creative Commons)

Voice of San Diego

sdcnncom 23Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

Everyone in every price range deserves the quality of Sothebyrsquos Realty

8310 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa CA 91942 bull 6193371700

SPRING VALLEY bull $362000LA MESA bull $499000CARDIFF BY THE SEA bull $525000

Spacious Sweetwater Springs home on corner lot Recently updated kitchen amp bath w granite countertops SS appl wine refrigerator and wood floors Upstairs BRs w mirrored wardrobe doors and ceiling fans Sliding doors to private view deck ideal for watching the sunset

JOE SOUTHWICK 6195898224

Just listed Tastefully remodeled single level entertainerrsquos paradise Large great room with chefrsquos kitchen Private backyard with pool hot tub palapa-covered bar amp grill shade patio and sun deck

JULIE ADAMS 6194810200

Rarely available 2BR 1BA twin home in the highly sought after Park Place neighborhood of Cardiff By The Sea Community pool and spa 25+ acre canyon with walking trails sand volleyball and more

YVETTE WOODS 6199223436

Laurarsquos Solds 2014 bull (619) 540-7744 bull LauraLothianRealEstatecomMost Homes Sold in La Mesa Last 11 Years

Want your home sold Ask a busy agent Call Laura Lothian TODAY 6195407744

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD GASLAMP

SOLD RANCHO SAN DIEGO

SOLD BANKERS HILL

SOLD SAN CARLOS SOLD SAN CARLOS SOLD SANTEE

SOLD LAKE MURRAY

SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE

PENDING PACIFIC BEACH

SOLD STEELE CANYON

SOLD NORTH PARK

PacificSothebysRealtycomcopyMMVIII Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC A Realogy Company All Rights Reserved Sothebyrsquos International Realtyreg is a registered trademark licensed to Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC An Equal Opportunity Company Equal Housing Opportunity Each Office is Independently Owned And Operated Cal BRE 01767484 Seller will entertain offers within the listed range

SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX

Source TrendGraphix MLS data for zip codes 91941 amp 91942 January 1 2003 to January 1 2014

24 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

Why a fiscally conservative vote-by-mail plan got no GOP love

A bill that would drastically change the way San Diego

Countyrsquos special elections are run passed without any Republican help mdash it got just two votes total from GOP lawmakers in Sacramento

It might surprise you to learn then that when the idea first emerged Democrats helped lead the charge against it

How some leading party mem-bers reversed course in just a few years says a lot about the current political landscape and the future of elections in San Diego County

Democrats wrote the current bill mdash which would create a five-year pilot program in San Diego County that would make spe-cial elections for open seats run primarily by mail with a drasti-cally reduced number of polling places mdash and they led the politi-cal charge for it

But Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez the billrsquos author remembers how hard she fought to kill the idea of vote-by-mail elections years ago

ldquoWhat happens I think so often is there is this attachment to the status quo therersquos fear about changing thingsrdquo Gonzalez said

Gonzalez said her mind was changed by a couple factors One is that she discovered during her years as a labor advocate that voters who had a ballot mailed to them before the election were roughly five times more likely to actually vote

The other she said is she realized the county was spend-ing a huge amount more per person who voted at the polls versus by mail

County officials said that in the March 2013 special election to fill the vacant 40th state Senate district seat they spent $221 per

Ari Bloomekatz

in-person voter verses $9 per mail voter

Then therersquos the fact that pathetic voter turnout in each of the last several elections has favored Republican candidates across the board

ldquoWe have all watched as voter turnout has plummeted in recent elections and itrsquos our responsi-bility to do something about itrdquo Gonzalez wrote in a press release after the bill passed

Some observers speculated that some Republicans simply didnrsquot support the bill because it was being led by promi-nent Democrats like Gonzalez (Gonzalez agrees thatrsquos probably true)

But if you want to understand why GOP support was so hard to come by for a bill steeped in fiscally conservative principles and that originated from a con-servative San Diego County government consider these three points

Republicans seized on civil rights groupsrsquo hesitation

Some of the strongest initial opposition to the vote-by-mail legislation came from civil rights groups concerned the new pro-cedures could disenfranchise immigrants and the disabled

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund initially opposed the bill but dropped its opposition after working with Gonzalez and San Diego County officials on protec-

tions for immigrantsStill MALDEF and other

groups wouldnrsquot officially support the measure

ldquoThere is some research out there that shows that mail-in ballots do have an adverse impact on minority votersrdquo said Denise Hulett an attorney with MALDEF

Hulett said MALDEF supports testing out vote-by-mail but isnrsquot sold on it yet

Those groupsrsquo reluctance had an impact on Republican legislators like Escondido Assemblywoman Marie Waldron She said she didnrsquot feel comfortable signing on to a bill without MALDEF and other civil rights groupsrsquo support

ldquoI have to wonder if this is disenfranchising a significant number of people that vote at the pollsrdquo Waldron said ldquoWhat about the people who are maybe you know possibly visually impaired or something like thatrdquo

The money wasnrsquot enoughSan Diego County Registrar

Michael Vu strongly supports the pilot program and believes it could trim costs by 30 - 40 percent

But somehow the cost-savings issue wasnrsquot enough to win over the vast majority of Republican legislators

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez said he thought the cost-savings touted by Democrats were only rough estimates and was not inclined to vote for a bill just

because of those projectionsldquoAs Irsquove said a number of times

before all these bills that theyrsquore putting through hellip really doesnrsquot address the issue of what wersquore trying to do which is get more people to voterdquo he said

Instead of just moving imme-diately to vote-by-mail Chavez wants to create a bipartisan special committee to study new voting technologies

Republicans fear voter fraud

Republicansrsquo fear of potential voter fraud through expansion of vote-by-mail overshadowed potential economic gains

The bill ldquoincludes no protec-tions to ensure the integrity and security of all-mail elections While interesting we need to be careful changing election lawsrdquo wrote Amanda Fulkerson of the Assembly Republican Caucus which advocated fiercely against the bill

ldquoRight now our members feel that we should not jeopardize our consistent voting system until we have further facts and statistics on all-mail electionsrdquo Fulkerson wrote

Republicans believed the threat of fraud would be compounded by another voting-related bill moving through the legislature at the same time

That bill would change the rules about how long mail ballots can be received and counted after an election

Currently vote-by-mail ballots must be received by election offi-cials before polls close on the day of the election The new law would allow ballots to be received no later than three days after the election (if it was time-stamped or post-marked on or before Election Day)

Assembly Republicans feared the two bills combined could allow for abuse of the system

State Sen Joel Anderson was one Republican who voted against the mail-counting bill but in favor of Gonzalezrsquos vote-by-mail effort

Anderson said that he voted against the mail-counting bill because he saw it as ldquocompletely gaming the systemrdquo but believes the vote-by-mail bill is ldquobetter for the voters itrsquos better for my constituentsrdquo

Put yourselves in the shoes of

Vu and other county officials for a minute

Nearly every time an election comes up the county spends anywhere from $1 million to $12 million-plus and organizes hordes of poll workers and pre-cincts across the county

And what happens at the end of the day

Turnout is generally low and increasing numbers of residents opt to vote by mail anyway

As Vu tells it he just wants to save the county money and acknowledge the changing winds when it comes to vote-by-mail

But nothing is ever as simple as a dollar saved in Sacramento mdash especially when it comes to something as fundamental as how voters choose their elected officials

Gonzalez said most people do not understand how difficult this bill was to pass politically Sure Republicans barley supported it but there was strong opposition from many Democrats too The instinct to preserve the status quo when it comes to elections among legislators in Sacramento is strong she said

ldquoIt was kind of funny Irsquom in Republican land carrying this bill pissing off Democrats and voting rights groups and minor-ity groupsrdquo she said ldquoI had to convince everybody that this is OK that change is OKrdquo

Brown has until Sept 30 to sign the bill

mdashAri Bloomekatz is an inves-tigative reporter for Voice of San Diego focusing on county govern-ment You can reach him directly at aribloomekatzvoiceofsandi-egoorg or 619-550-5669u

(Courtesy Flickr user bludgeoner86Creative Commons)

Voice of San Diego

sdcnncom 23Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014 La Mesa CourierLOCAL NEWS

Everyone in every price range deserves the quality of Sothebyrsquos Realty

8310 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa CA 91942 bull 6193371700

SPRING VALLEY bull $362000LA MESA bull $499000CARDIFF BY THE SEA bull $525000

Spacious Sweetwater Springs home on corner lot Recently updated kitchen amp bath w granite countertops SS appl wine refrigerator and wood floors Upstairs BRs w mirrored wardrobe doors and ceiling fans Sliding doors to private view deck ideal for watching the sunset

JOE SOUTHWICK 6195898224

Just listed Tastefully remodeled single level entertainerrsquos paradise Large great room with chefrsquos kitchen Private backyard with pool hot tub palapa-covered bar amp grill shade patio and sun deck

JULIE ADAMS 6194810200

Rarely available 2BR 1BA twin home in the highly sought after Park Place neighborhood of Cardiff By The Sea Community pool and spa 25+ acre canyon with walking trails sand volleyball and more

YVETTE WOODS 6199223436

Laurarsquos Solds 2014 bull (619) 540-7744 bull LauraLothianRealEstatecomMost Homes Sold in La Mesa Last 11 Years

Want your home sold Ask a busy agent Call Laura Lothian TODAY 6195407744

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD GASLAMP

SOLD RANCHO SAN DIEGO

SOLD BANKERS HILL

SOLD SAN CARLOS SOLD SAN CARLOS SOLD SANTEE

SOLD LAKE MURRAY

SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE

PENDING PACIFIC BEACH

SOLD STEELE CANYON

SOLD NORTH PARK

PacificSothebysRealtycomcopyMMVIII Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC A Realogy Company All Rights Reserved Sothebyrsquos International Realtyreg is a registered trademark licensed to Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC An Equal Opportunity Company Equal Housing Opportunity Each Office is Independently Owned And Operated Cal BRE 01767484 Seller will entertain offers within the listed range

SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX

Source TrendGraphix MLS data for zip codes 91941 amp 91942 January 1 2003 to January 1 2014

24 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014

Everyone in every price range deserves the quality of Sothebyrsquos Realty

8310 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa CA 91942 bull 6193371700

SPRING VALLEY bull $362000LA MESA bull $499000CARDIFF BY THE SEA bull $525000

Spacious Sweetwater Springs home on corner lot Recently updated kitchen amp bath w granite countertops SS appl wine refrigerator and wood floors Upstairs BRs w mirrored wardrobe doors and ceiling fans Sliding doors to private view deck ideal for watching the sunset

JOE SOUTHWICK 6195898224

Just listed Tastefully remodeled single level entertainerrsquos paradise Large great room with chefrsquos kitchen Private backyard with pool hot tub palapa-covered bar amp grill shade patio and sun deck

JULIE ADAMS 6194810200

Rarely available 2BR 1BA twin home in the highly sought after Park Place neighborhood of Cardiff By The Sea Community pool and spa 25+ acre canyon with walking trails sand volleyball and more

YVETTE WOODS 6199223436

Laurarsquos Solds 2014 bull (619) 540-7744 bull LauraLothianRealEstatecomMost Homes Sold in La Mesa Last 11 Years

Want your home sold Ask a busy agent Call Laura Lothian TODAY 6195407744

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD GASLAMP

SOLD RANCHO SAN DIEGO

SOLD BANKERS HILL

SOLD SAN CARLOS SOLD SAN CARLOS SOLD SANTEE

SOLD LAKE MURRAY

SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE SOLD LA MESA VILLAGE

PENDING PACIFIC BEACH

SOLD STEELE CANYON

SOLD NORTH PARK

PacificSothebysRealtycomcopyMMVIII Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC A Realogy Company All Rights Reserved Sothebyrsquos International Realtyreg is a registered trademark licensed to Sothebyrsquos International Realty Affiliates LLC An Equal Opportunity Company Equal Housing Opportunity Each Office is Independently Owned And Operated Cal BRE 01767484 Seller will entertain offers within the listed range

SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX

SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX SOLD MOUNT HELIX

Source TrendGraphix MLS data for zip codes 91941 amp 91942 January 1 2003 to January 1 2014

24 La Mesa Courier Sept 26 ndash Oct 23 2014