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Volume Volume 33 –– Number Number 85
Pickleball Play in INSIDE THIS THIS ISSUE
Lake Murray Village Lineup
Collier Park By Gina McGalliard
League of Their Own See why La Mesa was “Kid Ball Capital of America.” Santee Surprise Page 3 East County destination provides an ideal getaway for lake lovers. Page 6
Pipe Dream Local church makes music with its refurbished organ. Page 11
Mind for Music Local music teacher Evans Kontopols inspires and challenges students Zest for Zydeco to reach their Louisiana potential. charm comes Page to 7 Grossmont Aug. 16. Page 13
La Mesa Named Tree City USA for 33rd Year
Everyone’s heard of tennis, ings in Collier Park. La Mesa residents Justine paddleball, ping-pong and squash – but have you heard of pickleball? and Tim Frazee even serve as San Pickleball, which has been Diego’s East County ambassasteadily gaining in popularity dors for the USA Pickleball Assofor several decades, is a game ciation. The couple learned about played indoors or outdoors on one- pickleball from Tim’s mother, a third the size of a tennis court former professional tennis player. with perforated balls and light- Knowing the game was popular weight paddles. Invented in 1965 among seniors, however, and wary in Washington by Congressman it was simply a watered-down Joel Pritchard and his friend Bill version of other racquet sports, Bell, the game was named after it took them almost a year before Pritchard’s cocker spaniel, Pickles, they tried it out themselves. But who hadCohen a habit of chasing stray that changed on a trip to Tucson, By Andy Ariz. balls. The first Diego pickleball Many San Gas tourna& “We were there for five days, ment was held in 1976, and in Electric (SDG&E) customers are about to see their utility bills go up. The company, a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, received approval May 9 from the California Public Utilities Commission to increase By Jeremy Ogul
While crime occurs at businesses all over La Mesa, the Lake Murray Village shopping center has been the site of several recent crimes. All details below were provided by La Mesa Police Department.
July 5, 2013: Wells Fargo bank robbery: Just after 4:30 p.m., a middle-aged white male approached the teller with a demand note. The suspect, 5 feet 7 inches tall with a heavy build, had graying dark hair and a mustache.
SDG&E Rates Set to Rise Sept. 1
Shopping for Crime
at Lake Murray Village
May 25, 2013: Parking lot purse snatching: Just after 8 p.m., a vehicle drove past a woman who was pushing a shopping cart to her vehicle. The rear passenger reached out and grabbed the victim’s purse, knocking her down. The driver was a Hispanic female in her early 30s with a heavy build. The passenger was a Hispanic male in his early 30s with a thin build.
the rates charged to some In April they robbed the Lake Murray Village shopping consumers, with the new taco shop. Two weeks later center has shoppers and busirates taking effect Sept. 1. someone robbed a man at the ness owners wondering what Utility rates in the State ATM. A couple weeks after draws criminals to the area of California are set on a four- that, two people snatched a at the intersection of Lake in joining Mesa's East County meetMurray at year Players basis. interested Every four years, Lawoman’s purse in group the can Vons Boulevard andA.BaltiBy Genevieve Suzuki May 8, 2013: Wells Fargo Collier Park on Palm Avenue Wednesday Friday mornings a.m.Drive. the state’s utility companies parkingand lot. A little overuntil a 11 more robbery. Just beforethe For the 33rd year inATM a row, La Mesa earned must present a proposed oper- month later, someone robbed But La Mesa police say 11 p.m., a white or lightdistinction of being a Tree City USA, an honor bestowed and played four out of the five days ating budget will meet the Wells Fargo branch. they do not see an emerging 1984 the USAthat Pickleball Associaskinned Hispanic male upon the city by the Arbor Day Foundation for its were ofthere. We over were pattern hooked of crime there. Statistheir expenses a profit string crimes tion was formed.plus By the '90s, pick- Awe displayed a handgun and commitment to effective urban forest management. right several away,” said Justine. margin forbeing investors. the past months at “Because tics show that 17 police reports leball was playedThese all around La Mesa achieved Tree City USA recognition See Crime Lineup, Page 9by it’s a lot easier [when] you’re the country.See SDG&E, Page 4 See Robberies, Page 9 four requirements: a tree board meeting the program’s playing on one-third the size of a 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 See Tree City USA, Page 5 See Pickleball, Page 2 on Wednesday and Friday morn-
City Leaves Kumeyaay Lake Campground Out in the Cold By Jeremy Ogul
La Mesa Journal
Just a few months ago it looked like the city of San Diego had finally scrounged enough money to reopen overnight camping at the Kumeyaay Lake Campground in Mission Trails Regional Park. By Genevieve A. Suzuki Those plans were foiled in June, however, when the hardboard to believe, Lillian Palmer seems like thecity’s sweet pension voted however, to chargethis the organized city more HOA than president is a crooning, sensual neighbor next door as she walks her dog, the mayor or the city council had anticipated.diva in her other incarnation. Sparky, a scruffy adopted pound pooch As shea result, about $4 million in spending was autoAnd yetThat it only takes few allocated minutes to in affectionately calls “Sparkalicious.” Palmer, a eliminated. matically money hadabeen Palmer’s presence to realize what a force the svelte redhead, waves happily to herincrease fellow library hours, hire more recruits from the police is. A true entertainer, Palmer can vamp academieslady and expand offerings at Mission Trails. residents in her Baltimore Drive townhome like Vivian Leigh in Gone with the one no overcomplex, politely inquiring about eventsThat in means it will be yet another year withWind minute, perform aLake. sceneWhile fromopen Hitchcock’s at Kumeyaay for day their lives only a friend would know. night camping Wasted Space: Vacant campsite at Kumeyaay use, the campground been closed for actual campinga Rebecca thehas next, before suddenly dropping BecauseLake sheCampground serves as the president in Mission Trails Regional of Park, withhomeowners view of Kwaayassociation, it’s sincenot September 2011. Budget in 2008 resulted funny line from an oldcuts Cheech & Chong film.in her Paay Peak in background.surprising Photo by David Cooksy. overnight camping being limited Friday at andthe Saturday Palmer said it alltostarted family that she would be on a first-name Lillian Palmer nights. See Campground, basis with at least half the neighborhood. It’s See Journal,Page Page109
HOA President Hits the High Note
Jewel of a Lady Historical View Comic-Con 2013 introduces the Fans came The author whoto coined One Convention La Mesa’s motto.to Rule Them All. Page 12 Page 17 NEWS NEWS TIPS TIPS (619) (619) 697-2500 697-2500 x121 x124 Editor@LaMesaCourier.com Editor@LaMesaCourier.com
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