“I’m Billy from La Mesa… I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”
Those were among the first words spoken by NBA great and always-cheerful Bill Walton to a hometown crowd of nearly 250 Thursday morning for the grand opening of a state-of-the-art gymnasium named for him at the Boys & Girls Clubs of East County.
The 10,000-square-foot La Mesa gym is the crown jewel of the Brady Family Clubhouse, just down the road from Helix High, where Walton, now 65, attended school in the 1960s with his older brother, Bruce. He starred at UCLA as a center for the Bruins basketball team, followed by a successful 14-year NBA career.
LA MESA (KUSI) – Students at La Mesa Arts Academy are finally returning to in-person learning!
KUSI’s Elizabeth Alvarez was live on campus as the older students welcomed they younger students with balloons, signs and just a great celebration.
Big party planned for students at La Mesa Arts Academy today as students return to in-person learning after 13 months! @kusi gmsd@KUSINewspic.twitter.com/lyHskUqqRk
San Diego
Tuesday was election day in the 79th California Assembly District, but at a polling station in La Mesa, you might have missed it.
A few signs indicated that the La Mesa Arts Academy campus was doubling as a polling station, and site manager John Kurko stood outside to greet voters. There was no line though; voters trickled in one or two at a time after work.
La Mesa Councilwoman Dr. Akilah Weber won the special primary election with a majority of almost 52 percent, avoiding a potential run-off in June. She will take the seat formerly held by her mother, Shirley Weber, who was appointed to serve as California Secretary of State.
LA MESA
After more than a year on hold, Peter Pan Junior Theater folks are getting ready to sprinkle their pixie dust this summer in the long-planned performances of “Peter Pan.”
It’s been a long road for the local acting company of young East County thespians, who last March were poised to celebrate the group’s 50th year with the eponymous play that is performed every 10 years. About one week away from opening night in 2020, with ticket sales booming, PPJT Director Mark Arapostathis was told the musical about the boy who wouldn’t grow up couldn’t go on.
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Parents everywhere face a mother lode of work, especially now. I get it. At my corner desk nestled in the front room, I’m bombarded by hungry faces every 90 minutes. I’m torn between being a short-order cook, making snacks and lunches for my totally capable tweens, and yelling, “Go get your own damn snacks!”
The latter often results in someone scarfing down the closest junk food or leaving a mound of dishes on a sticky countertop after a creative kitchen adventure.
There has to be a better way. I consulted kids culinary instructors to find out where to begin, and they shared bite-sized steps you can take to lighten your load.