By JAKE SEXTON For decades, libraries have been commemorating Banned Books Week, a time to celebrate the freedom to read and highlight both the dangers of censorship and the benefits of reading without restriction. Most libraries uphold intellectual freedom through the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights, which empowers them to hold firm against challenges to their materials. But in the past year, some have pushed hard to have certain books removed from the shelves of school and public libraries, sometimes being successful. So, this year’s Banned Books Week is especially rele ..read more

The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce (LMCC) welcomes The Pioneer BBQ on Wednesday, Sept. 28 to the business community with a mixer & ribbon cutting. The fun begins at 5:30 p.m. and will end at 7 p.m. at The Pioneer BBQ, 8622 Lake Murray Drive. The business is located in the Navajo Shopping Center. The Pioneer offers a full rack of specialties including smoked meat combos, pork topped burgers, the party fowl and a tangy twist on several barbecue classics. The Pioneer serves BBQ in-house, caters and offers “take out” orders. Meet Galin Crist, manager and her staff and sample some of the items ser ..read more

By DAVE THOMAS As summer turns to fall, certain traditions show up. Kids go back to school, football returns to the gridiron, people start thinking about the holiday season and so on. Another tradition that many locals look forward to is La Mesa Oktoberfest. This year’s event takes place Sept. 30 – Oct. 2. For La Mesa residents and visitors, this will be the 49th edition of the popular event. Attendees get to partake in games, dancing, dachshund races, kid’s activities, food and of course German beer. The entertainment will be non-stop as usual, with something for everyone to enjoy. There are ..read more

Public invited to attend Oct. 2 presentation on ballot propositions The public is invited to attend a presentation on the pros and cons of the seven propositions on the ballot in California for the Nov. 8 midterm elections. The event is presented by the San Diego League of Women Voters (LWVSD) and hosted by the Social Justice and Services Ministry of the United Church of Christ of La Mesa. Plan to attend the event on Sunday, Oct. 2, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 5940 Kelton Avenue in La Mesa. For further information, visit tableucc.com or contact Colleen James at (619) 309-8489.     RW ..read more

By CONNIE and LYNN BAER Grossmont High students and staff are excited to begin a more normal school year, hoping for the return of traditions and camaraderie challenged during the past two years.   Freshmen orientation For 102 years, GHS has welcomed freshmen to its campus. Over the years, concerned staff have designed different ways to assist in the transition to high school and ways to build student spirit. During the 1950-1970s, a unique freshmen tradition was to white wash the G on Cowles Mt. Last year’s drive-through freshmen orientation was certainly the most unique. This year ..read more

By KEVIN OSBORN and LAUREN KNUTH Helix Charter High School welcomed back our students earlier this month with one of our new traditions – Welcome Back Days. As we adjust to a new normal after COVID, we decided the best way to start the school year is with team-building and connection. These first two school days were low-pressure and focused on building meaningful connections among students and their teachers. We hope it made the transition a little smoother for everyone. Our annual Scottie Pride Day was held a few days before school started, where our incoming freshmen were greeted and g ..read more

The Special District Leadership Foundation announced recently that Helix Water District is the recipient of the District Transparency Certificate of Excellence in recognition of the district’s outstanding efforts to promote transparency and good governance. The district has consistently received this award since 2015. “This award demonstrates the commitment of our board and staff to open government and accountability to the people and communities we serve,” said Helix General Manager Carlos Lugo. “We are very proud of what we have done to empower the public and facilitate engagement with our c ..read more

By DAVE THOMAS If you like food, wine and a good time, plan to head out to the 15th annual Mt. Helix Park Food & Wine Festival on Saturday, Aug. 20. The event is going back to a full-scale production, and attendees are invited to “party with a purpose,” surrounded by spectacular 360-degree views, while supporting one of San Diego’s most beautiful historic places. The sunset at 1,400 feet never disappoints and provides a stunning backdrop as guests experience San Diego’s best restaurants, beverage companies, and artists. Then, dance under the stars to music by well-known Beach Boys cover ba ..read more

City Tacos founder Gerry Torres recently became a United States citizen in a ceremony held at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in downtown. Torres is originally from Mexico City and he moved to San Diego in 1992. After working in various roles in the food and beverage industry in San Diego, Miami, and Hawaii for 22 years, Torres opened his first City Tacos in North Park in 2014. He has since expanded to seven locations overall, including La Mesa, East Village (Ballpark), Pacific Beach, Encinitas, Sorrento Valley, and Los Angeles on the campus of University of Southern Calif ..read more

By DAVE THOMAS La Mesa’s San Pasqual Winery recently received five medals at the 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, including: gold for their 2021 Albariño (San Diego County), silver for their 2017 Cabernet Franc (San Diego County), silver for their 2021 Riesling (South Coast AVA), silver for their 2016 Malbec (San Diego County), and bronze for their 2016 Petite Sirah (Clarksburg). The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, started in 1983 as the Cloverdale Citrus Wine Competition. This year’s event included more th an 5,800 entries, from nearly 1,000 wineries across the United ..read more