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July May 2013 2013
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Volume Volume 33 –– Number Number 75
Council to Consider Pickleball Play in La Mesa INSIDE Seeks to La Mesa Named THIS ISSUE THIS PBID Sept. 10 Collier Park Tighten Traffic Laws Tree City USA for 33rd Year Movie and a Picnic Catch Wreck-It Ralph for free at La Mesita Park in July. Santee Surprise East County Page 2 destination provides an ideal getaway for lake lovers. Page 6
A Sunny Disposition Pam Crooks meets Tobias Newman and family at EMTD. Page 5 Mind for Music Local music teacher Evans Kontopols inspires and challenges students Take Your Pick to reach their It’s time to vote potential. for your favorites around town! Page 7
By Dave Schwab By Gina McGalliard La Mesa City Council voted unanimously to set By Andy Cohen Everyone’s heard of tennis, ings in revised Collier Park. a Sept. 10 date to consider a controversial DuringJustine his eight years as a La (PBID) Mesa residents paddleball,Based ping-pong and squashDistrict Property Improvement member of the La Mesa City Council, and Timfor Frazee serve as San – but have heard of pickleball? proposal toyou fund streetscape improvements La even Vice Mayor Mark ambassa- Arapostathis has Pickleball, Mesa Downtownwhich Village.has been Diego’s East County regularly fielded theat USA Pickleball Asso- complaints from steadily gaining in The popularity Council dors vote for came constituents about pedestrians ciation. The couple learned about for several decades, is a 11 game its June meeting after propo- occupying the center medians of pickleball from Tim’s mother, a played indoors or outdoors one-PBID, nents ofonthe a funding busy intersections. Most are harmformer professional tennis player. third the size of amechanism tennis court establishing a self- less panhandlers just trying to earn Knowing the game was popular with perforated balls and lightassessed tax district plan to a few bucks. Some are homeless. A among seniors, however, and wary weight paddles. Invented in 1965 improvements, fund streetscape work to earn their donations by it was simply few a watered-down in Washington by stepped Congressman forward to update the entertaining passersby. version of other racquet sports, Joel Pritchard and Council his friend Bill progress. on their simply pay it took them almost Most a year motorists before Bell, the game was named after The Council they also tried voted ittooutthese folks no notice. Others, in the themselves. But Pritchard’s cocker spaniel, Pickles, give leftover funding earmarked spirit of lending a helping hand, are changed on a trip to Tucson, who had a habit offor chasing stray that streetscape improvement only too happy to roll down their Ariz. balls. The first pickleball tournaplanning to the PBID windows and offer up whatever “WeFormawere there for five days, ment was held in tion 1976, and in to assist Committee them pittance they can spare. To some in retaining a consultant to constituents, their presence can reassess their proposal. be downright intimidating. But to In April, PBID opponents, citing a long delay in some city officials they constitute a SB 604, dubbed “The Safe proponents updating the Council on their funding dangerous distraction to drivers on Intersections Act,” allows plan, called upon proponents to do so within 45 days. some of the city’s busiest streets. local governments to enact “All of our members are busy professionals with “Whenever you mix vehicles ordinances that would prohibit heavy workloads,” said Lynn McRea, a La Mesa and pedestrians, it’s not safe,” said solicitors from panhandling on accountant and PBID Formation Committee spokes- La Mesa Police Chief Ed Aceves. medians near intersections. woman, explaining her group’s delay in returning to “This is a public safety issue,” the council with a status report. said City Councilman Ernie Ewin. Noting La Mesa has been chosen by SANDAG, “We’ll have kids setting up lawn cials view as a real problem, the city public works department has chairs and atawningsByatGenevieve El Cajon the Players region’sinterested transportation planning agency, togroup in joining La Mesa's East County can meet A. Suzuki Blvd.until and 11 thea.m. I-8 onramp to promote modified the medians at some of the Collierfunding Park on Palm Avenue Wednesday and Friday mornings receive for capital improvements, McRea For the 33rd year in a row,intersections, La Mesa earned the busiest adding to city’s said, “We’re delighted to hear La Mesa was chosen car washes, and it’s distracting distinction of being a Tree City USA, an honor bestowed additional lanes in some cases and played four out of theThey five days drivers. walk into the lanes to receive grant Pickleball funding forAssociaVillage revitalization.” 1984 the USA upon the city by and the Arbor Day Foundation for its reconstructing the medians we were there. We were hooked and impede traffic.” Get the rest of the story on the by visiting www. tion was formed. By the '90s, pickcommitment to effective urban forest management. away,” said Justine. “Because To help combat what city offiSee Traffic Laws, Page 3 LaMesaCourier.com and enter “PBID inright the search box. leball was being played all around La Mesa achieved Tree City USA recognition by it’s a lot easier [when] you’re the country. playing on one-third the size of a meeting the program’s four requirements: a tree board The game has earned a tennis court, and it’s a much more department, a tree-care ordinance, an annual commudevoted following in La Mesa, easier game to play than tennis.” nity forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, an Arbor where players meet to battle it out By Genevieve A. Suzuki See Tree City USA, Page 5 See Pickleball, Page on Wednesday and Friday mornIf Mike McWilliams has his2 way, La dent Tawny Port, for guests. “Everyone is so
toasting La Mesa’s First Winery
Page 12
Mesa is entering a new era, one in which it’s excited about this. It’s such a great location.” more than good antiquing. Young cites as her favorite San Pasqual Laknown Mesafor Journal McWilliams and his wife, Linda, hosted wine the 2010 Lake County Malbec, which the grand opening of La Mesa’s first winery was recently chosen to go to France as a – the San Pasqual Winery – at 8410 Center representative wine of California’s Malbecs. June A. 22 Suzuki and 23. Around 200 people La Mesa residents Linda Oftedahl and By St. Genevieve celebrated during the Saturday opening, Albie Tuckwell have been members of the Lillian Palmer seems like the and sweet amid music by West Coast Blues Sock hard to believe, however, this organized HOA San Pasqual Winery club for several years. neighbor next door as she walks her dog, Monkeys, and food from Bistro|Sixty, president is a crooning, sensual diva in her Oftedahl was a member of Callaway Winery incarnation. Sparky, a scruffy adopted pound pooch she other Hooleys Irish Pub & Grill, Haritna, Holiday club ship for minutes something Andbefore yet it jumping only takes a few in affectionately “Sparkalicious.” a Inn, Trolleycalls Stop Deli, TrattoriaPalmer, Tiramisu, closer to home. “I live in La Mesa so it’s Palmer’s presence to realize what a force the svelte redhead, waves to her fellow creations4u.com andhappily Sadie Rose Bakery. better support local business,” is. Atotrue entertainer, Palmershe cansaid. vamp residents in her Drive “I hope it’s Baltimore the beginning of atownhome trend,” said lady Oftedahl, a commercial real estate like Vivian Leigh in Gone with the Wind one complex, politelyholding inquiring about events in of McWilliams, a celebratory glass researcher, said she is happy San Pasqual their liveswine. only “We a friend know.changed to minute, perform a scene from Hitchcock’s white got would the zoning movedthe its next, winery fromsuddenly Pacific Beach to Laa before dropping allow this. We some will follow.” Rebecca Because she hope serves asothers the president Mesa. “Ifrom just an love Mesa. It’s line oldindustrial Cheech & La Chong film. is fabulous,” said Holly of her“This homeowners association, it’s Young, not funny Palmer said it all started the family favorite neighborhood,” sheatsaid. a San Pasqual who my surprising that sheWinery would bestaff on amember first-name poured dessert wines, the It’s decaSee Winery, basis with at least half the including neighborhood. Journal,Page Page15 9
HOA President Hits the High Note
Jewel of a Lady Taste of LaView Mesa Historical introduces the Local restaurants author who coined served up smiles at La Mesa’sevent. motto. Chamber 12 Page 16 NEWS NEWS TIPS TIPS (619) (619) 697-2500 697-2500 x121 x124 Editor@LaMesaCourier.com Editor@LaMesaCourier.com
ADVERTISE ADVERTISE WITH WITH US US (619) 697-2500 x140 (619) 697-2500 x140 Sales@LaMesaCourier.com Sales@LaMesaCourier.com
Mike and Linda McWilliams Lillian Palmer
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