INSIDE Commission Holds THIS ISSUE CCA Open Forum
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VOLUME 9 ISSUE 6 June 28 – July 25, 2019 Follow us on social media Fav reader of La Mesa sdnews.com children’s librarian Page 18 INSIDE Commission holds THIS ISSUE CCA open forum B THEATER By DOUG CURLEE | La Mesa Courier Stage of magic The city of La Mesa has decided, after four years of effort, that it’s time to start the process of actually setting up a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program to take control of energy costs. CCAs are becoming the way to go for increasing numbers of local governments interested in renew- able energy supplies, to meet state requirements for lowering the use of fossil fuels by 2045. This is part of the overall La Mesa climate action La Mesa actor stars in “Harry Potter” plan passed by the City Council in March of 2018 — spinoff production.Page 11 in fact, it’s the major portion of that overall plan. The city’s Environmental Sustainability Commission held an open meeting on June 17 to B FOOD & DRINK tell interested citizens what they might expect to see Hungry for history? when this all goes into effect. On July 15, the commission will present its draft PARK plan to actually make all this happen. Scott Anders, of CCA 101, told the audience that things will change for them on their utility bills once PROGRESS the CCA is up and running. SEE Page 5 “This will place control of your electric rates in the hands of local governmental agencies,” he said. A young La Mesa resident on the new playground structure at Vista La Mesa Park (Photo by Jeff Clemetson) SEE CCA forum, Page 3 Casa de Pico’s traditional Mexican food serves locals, tourists alike. Page 17 Fireworks a go despite funding shortfall B FEATURE A big birthday ORGANIZERS SAY NEXT YEAR’S EVENT IS IN DOUBT UNLESS MORE MONEY RAISED SOON By JEFF CLEMETSON | La Mesa Courier nation’s birthday continues into the future. Since the July Fourth fireworks According to the Lake Murray display and music festival at Fireworks and MusicFest Lake Murray was brought back GoFundMe page, the group has in 2017 after a six-year hiatus, raised $60,000 of its $85,000 thousands of residents of the goal, with much of those funds Navajo neighborhoods, La Mesa coming from sponsors such as title San Diego gets ready to celebrate and visitors from all over San sponsor Stormberg Orthodontics. 250 years. Page 20 Diego County have enjoyed the Despite the $25,000 shortfall, event and its high-quality fam- the show will go on. ily fun and entertainment. This “Right now it’s happening,” said B ALSO INSIDE year’s festival promises to deliv- Rob Hotz, a volunteer organizer of Opinion 6 er much of the same. However, the fireworks festival. “We have Politics 8 organizers are worried about a enough to pull this year off. We Sports 12 lack of money raised to seed next have dipped into the majority of Education 14 year’s event and are calling on our savings from previous years Art 18 the community to step up and in order to do that.” Calendar 21 donate what they can to en- Volunteer organizers for the Lake Murray Fireworks and MusicFest fundraise Classifieds 22 sure the local celebration of our SEE Fireworks, Page 4 at La Mesa’s Flag Day Parade on June 1. (Courtesy photo) B CONTACT US Center For Family Health & Dermatology Editorial More than half of San Diegans over 65 (858) 270-3103 x130 will develop skin cancer at least once. [email protected] Annual skin checks are the best way to prevent skin cancer, call today to make an appointment. Advertising All dermatological and cosmetic procedures offered. (951) 296-7794 Accepts most major insurance including Medicare! [email protected] Schedule your visit today: www.sdnews.com 6280 San Diego Community Newspaper Group Jackson Dr. STE 8 619-464-1607 June 28 – July 25, 2019 2 La Mesa Courier NEWS Grossmont Center Competing proposals for La Mesa’s Friday farmers market By JEFF CLEMETSON | La Mesa Courier booths. A city staff suggestion to The final RFP was from plans Wednesday operate a shuttle was left out of Grossmont Center to move the At the end of March, La Mesa the new RFP because it was cost Friday market to its parking City Council voted to allow the prohibitive. The LMVA would con- lot. Trevor Moore, Grossmont farmers markets city’s Friday farmers market in sider reducing hot food vendors — Center’s director of public rela- the Village to operate as is until another suggestion by city staff — tions and events, said that mov- By JEFF CLEMETSON | La Mesa Courier The next Shop Local market is the end of July. The council also if granted another CUP, although ing the market would provide June 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will initiated the city staff to start Soutowood said the association stability for the event. Grossmont Center is going big be partnered with a health fair put looking at other entities to pos- members would do so grudgingly. “People want something to on markets. on by East County Chamber of sibly take over the market by put- Soutowood said the Village be done that will at least solid- In addition to a craft-orient- Commerce and Sharp Healthcare. ting out a request for proposals is still the best place to hold the ify the long-term plan for that ed market it already holds on “We are trying to provide a (RFP) for a new farmers market, market because of its walkability market,” he said. “It’s been in a some Saturdays, starting July 24 home for other organizations to and also give the current mar- and proximity to transit — and state of flux the last few years, the shopping center will hold a partner with us that are good for ket operators, La Mesa Village also its aesthetics. which is not good for farmers farmers market on Wednesday East County,” Moore said. Association (LMVA), a chance to “The market is — as much as markets in general. So we feel, afternoons. And also, Grossmont For the Wednesday markets, amend its conditional use permit the stands [vendors] — it is the ex- with our long-term vision for Center has thrown its hat into the Grossmont has teamed up with (CUP) to make the market more perience of being somewhere love- the center and where we’re ring to take over La Mesa’s Friday the La Mesa Parks & Recreation palatable for businesses in the ly, and the Village is the loveliest going as a shopping center in Farmers Markets as well. Foundation and some of the pro- Village that claim the market is place to have the market,” he said. 2020, we feel that we should be Trevor Moore, Grossmont ceeds from the events will go to hurting their bottom line. There are two proposals that the long-term host of either that Center’s director of public rela- fund park projects in the city. The public RFP process at- would bring the famers market market or [a] market of that sort tions and events, explained how “I’m all about sustainability,” tracted four options that the City back to its previous location of that makes sense for the people the new Wednesday market Moore said. “My feeling is that if Council will likely consider. the Civic Center parking lot. One of East County.” would differ from the shopping you have a really decent cause for The LMVA submitted an RFP of those proposals is from current The City Council is expected to center’s existing and possible fu- what you’re doing and supporting that would keep the market market manager Brian Beevers, vote on the farmers market pro- ture markets. that with your dollars, that’s re- where and when it is already, who would prefer to stay with the posals at one of its July meeting, “It’s going to be a produc- ally good, not only for your own on Friday evenings in the down- LMVA and operate the market in most likely July 23. er-only market,” he said “We business but also for who you’re town Village. LMVA chair Peter the Village but has opted to have Besides the RFP to run La are not really going to support donating those dollars to.” Soutowood said the new RFP, a backup plan in case the City Mesa’s Friday market, other the local artisanal communi- The new Wednesday markets however, does include some Council votes to remove it from groups in the city are also con- ty or crafters or self-makers won’t be the first time Grossmont changes which had previously downtown. sidering starting markets of their at this particular event. We Center has held farmers markets. been suggested by city staff in a La Mesa Chamber of Commerce own. Brew Coffee Spot owner Joe have another market on the Moore said the center held a mar- report. Those changes include also proposed a market that it Paraiso said he is considering last Saturday of every month ket that was “short-lived” a few starting the market later to allow would manage in the Civic Center hosting markets in his parking called our Shop Local Market years ago. restaurants more access to park- parking lot. Chamber president lot, which has already hosted car which we do have available for “It didn’t end up panning out,” ing during lunch; having drop off Mary England said would bring shows in the past.