Your Weekly La Mesa Chamber News

In case you missed last week's e-blast: May 27 Eblast See more past email blasts here.

On Wednesday, June 8, the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce invites you to join us at an evening mixer at Anthony’s Fish Grotto. This popular location has been a favorite of locals for years, so join us and sample the food that has made them famous. Enjoy great hors d’oeuvres, wine by the glass, as well as mixed drinks and soft drinks at happy hour prices. Anthony’s Fish Grotto is a strong supporter of our community and we encourage you to join us and relax on this summer evening by the lakeside patio.

The Chamber will host a raffle and other prizes throughout the evening. Be sure to make plans to join us and bring your business cards while you mix and mingle!

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

Time: 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Location: 9530 Murray Dr., La Mesa

Cost:

FREE to Chamber Members

$10.00 for Guests with RSVP

$20 for all “at door” attendees

Don’t miss out on the summer fun!

Welcome Plates, Tags & More to our business community. Owner Eline Wilson prides herself on making the process of providing great DMV services, tags for your vehicle, notary services and more conveniently for you. Plates, Tags & More is located at 7317 El Cajon Blvd., Suite103C in La Mesa. Elaine has early bird hours by appointment, as well as will stay after hours to accommodate your needs. She has a mobile notary service as well. Unfortunately, the processing of new vehicle tags and license plates must be done in her office so that service cannot be mobile. There is no need to stand in line at the DMV when you want to renew your vehicle tags or other related services– call Elaine and she will set a convenient appointment for you - 619 635-1246!

Elaine will be serving refreshments and beverages to make the evening enjoyable. The Chamber will hold raffles and there will be other activities to entertain you.

Be sure to bring your business cards, and come mix and mingle!

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Time: 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Official Ribbon Cutting: 6:00 p.m.

Location: 7317 El Cajon Blvd. #103C, La Mesa

Shawndie Smith is excited to host another Taco Tuesday at her business THOUGHTFUL CREATIONS located at 8270 La Mesa Blvd. #101 on Tuesday, June 21st between the hours of 5:30 and 7 pm. Shawndie is offering raffles and silent auction items in addition to the great menu she will be serving. This evening mixer is free to Chamber members and $5 for guests.

Tuesday, June 21st

5:30 p.m.- 7:00p.m.

Location: Thoughtful Creations

8270 La Mesa Blvd. #101, La Mesa

Park behind her business in the Union Bank parking lot

Cost: Free to members - $5 for guests

Join us on Wednesday, June 29th, and welcome Duke’s Old Fashioned Onion Burgers to our business community. This newly renovated building has been transformed into a friendly neighborhood restaurant serving the finest Oklahoma style hamburgers, fresh cut fries and hand-dipped milkshakes. Founder and Owner Frank Schultz prides himself on making dressings, pickles, ketchup, and other items from scratch and serving only fresh items to his customers. 

In addition to ordering your favorite type of hamburger, you can “take a walk on the wild side” by ordering different types of fries to add to your meal. Duke’s Old Fashioned Onion Burgers offers steak and blue cheese fries, taco fries, chili cheese fries, Spanish fries, onions, jalapeno fries and more! Only fresh Angus beef patties are served and are cooked to order. Add a hand-dipped milkshake to your meal and you are set!  Duke’s Old Fashioned Onion Burgers is the perfect place to join friends and grab a bite to eat in a comfortable setting. 

Join us and sample the burgers, fries and see why Duke’s Old Fashioned Onion Burgers are becoming popular within the area. Join us and meet Founder and Owner Frank Schultz as well as his staff and personally welcome them to our business community.

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Time: 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Ribbon Cutting at 6:00 p.m.

Location: 5020 Baltimore Dr., La Mesa

Cost:

Chamber Members FREE

Guests $10

Don’t be left out – RSVP now so we know you will be joining us!

June 3, 2022 City Manager Update

Free Paper Shred Event

Don’t discard – shred your household documents in a quick and easy way by bringing them to La Mesa’s free paper shredding event. 

WHEN: Saturday, June 11, 2022

9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

WHERE: In the Date Avenue parking lot, north of La Mesa City Hall, located at 8130 Allison Avenue

• Limit two boxes per La Mesa household
• Shredding will be done onsite by a professional company
• No appointment necessary

A limited amount of free mulch will be available on a self-loading, first-come, first-served basis.

This City event is made possible through the generous support of the EDCO Disposal Corporation. Questions can be directed to 619.287.7555 or 619.667.1338.

June 2 - August 25

Every Thursday from 5 - 8 p.m.

The La Mesa Village Association is hosting the 2022 La Mesa Classic Car Show! The event runs June 2 - August 25, every Thursday from 5 - 8 pm. Visitors can stroll down La Mesa Blvd. to see beautiful pre-1974 cars, trucks, and vans (located between 4th St. - Spring St.). Also enjoy live music every week from local bands that play atop the iconic La Mesa Lumber truck "stage" located at 3rd & La Mesa Blvd. and a DJ, also from 5 - 8 pm!

This is a FREE, family-friendly community event! Come out and celebrate summer with family & friends. And, be sure to dine, shop & explore all that La Mesa Village has to offer while you're here!

Voting Centers Open Starting June 4

On Saturday, June 4, voting centers open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All will be open again on Election Day, June 7, when voting hours change to 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Vote centers replace polling places and provide more services. You can visit any one of the County’s vote centers to drop off your ballot or vote in person.

Voters can still mark their ballot from home. Be sure to sign and date the return envelope, seal your completed ballot inside and return it to one of the Registrar’s official ballot drop box locations or vote centers. Or return your ballot through the U.S. Postal Service as long as it’s postmarked by June 7.

Voting centers in La Mesa (hours vary):

• Parkway Middle School (9009 Park Plaza Dr)
• La Mesa Arts Academy (4200 Parks Ave)
• Maryland Avenue Elementary School (5400 Maryland Ave)
• La Mesa First United Methodist Church (4690 Palm Ave)
• United Church of Christ of La Mesa (5940 Kelton Ave)

Responding to Children About Violent Incidents

Children who learn of violent incidents like the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas can experience a great deal of anxiety and fear. Those emotions can last for days or weeks.

The County of San Diego's deputy director for Behavorial Health Services, Dr. Piedad Garcia, said to answer children’s questions simply, without dramatizing the incident. And provide perspective, explaining that these incidents are not a common occurrence.

Garcia said children’s caregivers need to be aware of their own stress levels and try to stay calm. Children look to parents for a sense of security and safety. Adults should talk to another adult about what they’re feeling, too.

The County of San Diego operates the Access and Crisis Line seven days a week, 24 hours a day, where people can get help for issues such as depression, anxiety, anger or other mental health challenges. The number is 888-724-7240. Read more about this topic from the County here. 

Traffic Advisory - Gateside Road Closed

As we work to improve our roadways and enhance the commuting experience for our residents, we have an update on a temporary road closure.

Westbound Gateside Road from Spring Street to Gateside Way is now closed for two months for construction of improvements. Please plan your route accordingly and follow posted detours.

Eastbound Gateside to Spring and Palm is open to traffic although it may be reduced to one lane at time.

If you have any questions about the detour routes, please do not hesitate to email our News Desk at news@cityoflamesa.us or call 619-667-1191.

Waite Drive Park Community Workshop #2

Join us for another community workshop for Waite Drive Park to provide input on two concept designs for the future neighborhood park. 

WHEN: Wednesday, June 15, 2022 | 6 p.m.

WHERE: Helix Charter High School

7323 University Ave, La Mesa, 91942

Room 1300

For more information, contact recreation@cityoflamesa.us or call 619.667.1300

Sundays at Six Summer Concert Series

Sundays at Six Summer Concerts Series is coming soon! Mark your calendar for each Sunday at 6 p.m. starting June 19 for our annual concerts at Harry Griffen Park, located at 9550 Milden St., La Mesa.

For more information, visit cityoflamesa.us/specialevents, contact friends@lamesaparks.org or call 619.667.1319.

Lake Murray Fireworks and Musicfest

Join us as we raise funds for a July 4th celebration to include a day of food, fun, bands, and fireworks.

After several years on hiatus, the beloved San Diego Lake Murray Music Fest and Fireworks show is coming back on July 4th. The music fest is held at Lake Murray Community Park in San Carlos and the fireworks can be seen throughout the Navajo community, from La Mesa to Del Cerro and beyond.

This event has been sorely missed by our community and the hype of its return is swelling. You won’t want to miss out on being part of the team who brings this event back to our neighborhood!

When: JULY 4, 2022 11a-9p

Location: Lake Murray Community Park, 7001 Murray Park Dr. San Diego 92119

Tentative Schedule:

Music Fest concert in the park: 11:00pm – 9pm

Fireworks show: 9pm

Music Fest attendance: 3,000+ people with rotating crowds

For details visit: www.lakemurrayfireworks.org

The Chamber’s 13th annual popular “foodie” event is set for Monday, July 18, 2022. This special evening where guests can “eat their hearts out” will happen between 5-8 p.m. at the newly renovated Town & Country Hotel in Mission Valley. The popularity and crowd of this annual event has outgrown the La Mesa Community Center, where it was held for the first 10 years. So, make plans to join us and “Taste, Savor and Mingle” in one ballroom, with plenty of room to stroll throughout the food and business vendor tables. Enjoy great food samplings, free prizes from business sponsors/vendors, a silent auction and raffles during this fun-filled evening. Visit taste.lamesachamber.com.

To become a sponsor or for details/questions, call (619) 465-7700 or email rsvp@lamesachamber.com.

The SIP San Diego Passport is your ticket to tasting flights at every urban winery, meadery & cidery in the SIP SD organization!

That’s 16 flights for only $59! 

Click below for all the details and to purchase your Passport!

From Teague Insurance: Free Webinar: California Wage & Hour Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

California employers struggle to keep up with changes in California wage and hour law, in order to avoid costly lawsuits. The experienced employment law attorney presenting this webinar will highlight the most dangerous mistakes employers are making in 2022. The presentation will help employers understand recent changes in California wage law, and it will cover the best strategies for bringing the company into compliance.

Join us for a presentation and live questions and answers with San Diego employment law attorney Chris Olmsted.

Register Now to sign up for this free webinar on June 21 at 8:30 AM PST.

Order at-home COVID-19 tests at no cost

Every U.S. household can get up to 3 orders of at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests at no cost!

Visit COVID.gov/tests to place your order. You'll need to enter your name and mailing address. (You can also give your email address if you want status updates on your order.)

Each new order includes 8 free COVID-19 tests shipped to your home at no cost — 2 separate packages of 4 tests each.

At-home tests, or "self tests," give rapid results and can be taken anywhere, regardless of your vaccination status or whether or not you have symptoms. Visit CDC.gov to learn when to test yourself, how to use an at-home test, and what your test results mean.

The rising cost of energy is straining a lot of Southern California households. SDG&E hears your concerns and wants you to know what you are paying for. Supplying power to the community includes the cost of energy production, delivering that energy, plus the costs of building and maintaining infrastructure that ensures clean, safe and reliable energy in the future.

Why is SDG&E’s pricing higher than other utilities? 

1. We use a higher amount of renewable energy to address climate change than other utilities
2. We have developed the nation's leading wildfire safety program to keep communities safe
3. Technology subsidies required by the state and paid for by customers, such as Net Energy Metering, increases electricity costs for customers without solar by about $260 per year
4. Legislative mandates that account for about 24% of electricity rates
5. We make improvements to ensure the power grid remains safe and reliable 

Your energy bill is impacted by weather, how much energy you use and energy market conditions. What you may not know is that your energy bill is also impacted by regulatory proceedings at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). SDG&E, alongside consumer advocates and other key stakeholders, participates in many CPUC proceedings throughout the year. SDG&E works aggressively to reduce the energy cost burden on its customers while continuing the pursuit of California’s ambitious climate goals.

The price SDG&E pays for electricity and natural gas is the exact same price our customers are charged. There is no markup of any kind and SDG&E makes no profit on energy procurement. There are no quick fixes for lowering the cost of energy but SDG&E provides several programs for those needing payment assistance. Learn more at sdge.com/assistance. 

To learn more about SDG&E’s energy pricing, visit sdgeratesinfo.com. 

June 8 - Evening Mixer at Anthony’s Fish Grotto : 5:30-7pm on the “Lake” at Anthony’s Fish Grotto | 9530 Murray Drive in La Mesa | Details/RSVP

June 15 - Plates, Tags & More Ribbon Cutting : 5:30-7pm at 7317 El Cajon Blvd. #103C, La Mesa | Details/RSVP

June 21 - "Taco Tuesday" Mixer : 5:30-7pm at Thoughtful Creations | 8270 La Mesa Blvd. #101 in La Mesa | Details/RSVP

June 29 - Duke's Old Fashioned Onion Burgers Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting : 5:30-7pm at 5020 Baltimore Drive, La Mesa | Details/RSVP

FEATURED! July 18 - "Taste of San Diego - East" : 5-8pm at Town and Country San Diego | 500 Hotel Circle North in Mission Valley | Details/Buy Tickets

FEATURED! August 18 - "Summer Bash" Business Expo : 5-7:30pm at Courtyard by Marriott San Diego El Cajon | 141 N Magnolia Ave, El Cajon | Details/Buy Tickets

September 15 - Joint Mixer with La Mesa and Santee Chambers : 5-7pm at Lantern Crest Senior Living | 300 Lantern Crest Way, Santee, CA 92071 | Details/RSVP

September 21 - Annual Evening Mixer at Hooleys Public House : 5:30-7pm at Hooleys Public House | 5500 Grossmont Center Drive #277 in La Mesa | Details/RSVP

FEATURED! October 19 - Salute to Local Heroes & Installation Dinner : 5:30-8:45pm at Sycuan Casino Resort | 5485 Casino Way, El Cajon | Details

December 7 - Toy Drive for La Mesa Military Families & Party at BJ's : 5:30-7pm at BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse | 5500 Grossmont Center Dr. in La Mesa | Details/RSVP

NOTE: We recommend those that are feeling ill, or who have been exposed to someone who is ill – please stay home.