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There are so many La Mesas
La Mesa Blvd., Collier Park, Normal Ave., MacArthur Park, secret stairways, Windsor Hills, Old Highway 80
They named Mt. Helix after a snail
- Frank Arredondo has seen them, romping down his La Mesa street as if they owned it: coyotes. “I sit out on the front porch, and I smoke and drink coffee. Usually it’s early, before sunup.” Arredondo, my next-door neighbor, wears reading glasses perched out near the tip of his nose. He has dark, trimmed hair and olive-ish skin. We sit out in the evening chill in wood chairs on my front porch.
- By Dave Good, Oct. 9, 2019
Welcome to the village — now calm down!
- For many La Mesa residents (and visitors) accustomed to driving east along La Mesa Boulevard from University Avenue into the “village” area, it is unclear why ongoing construction eliminated the well-used right-turn lane at the intersection of La Mesa Boulevard and Acacia Avenue. The now-eliminated turn lane allowed drivers to turn right onto Acacia Avenue, bypassing the two-and-a-half-block business area just prior to Spring Street. Drivers could, without delaying or impeding those desiring to continue on La Mesa Boulevard.
- By Jay Anderson, June 29, 2015
100 years later — the plan for Collier Park
- By 9:30 a.m. on February 25, Collier Park tennis-court nets were lowered for the pickleball games that are played Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings in La Mesa's oldest park. As players with paddles concentrated on a perforated ball, a woman wheeled a stroller through the parking lot.
- By Liz Swain, Feb. 28, 2015
La Mesa's ugly corner
- La Mesa resident Linda Johnson walks frequently through her hometown and is on the board of La Mesa Beautiful. The nonprofit organization "works collectively to preserve and increase the beauty" of the city, according to the website for the group that gives awards recognizing residential and business landscapes. During a recent walk, Johnson said she felt compelled to take pictures and file a code-compliance complaint about what she described as an "eyesore,"
- By Liz Swain, Feb. 24, 2015
La Mesa's Anything-but-Normal Avenue
- My Normal is just off University Avenue, and extends from the Von's shopping center to die back parking lot of Helix High School. It's hard to see it from here, but we live in the shadow of the lofty heights of Mt. Helix. Nevertheless, we have been called "Ghetto Mesa," and worse, terms to which I take exception.
- By Adam Gettinger-Brizuela, Sept. 27, 2007
La Mesa
- Suppose we start from the trolley stop at Spring Street and La Mesa Boulevard. Rather than take the boulevard with its countless antiques shops, we go east on Allison, make a left on Pine, the greenest and homiest of the cross streets that take us to University Avenue. After crossing University, we’ll turn right and perhaps look down upon a game of Little League baseball or old-timers’ softball before we make a left on Memorial Drive, into MacArthur Park.
- By Ken Kuhlken, Dec. 24, 2003
Discover the "secret" steps and stairways of La Mesa
- Head for Windsor Hills to find what may be the county's most secret set of stairs. From the intersection of Windsor Drive and Canterbury Drive, you climb a total of 245 steps, interrupted by two cross streets, to reach the top of Summit Drive. Looking behind you, you may catch a glimpse of the sun sinking into a fog bank over Mission Bay.
- By Jerry Schad, July 20, 2000
Where sweet peace and love abideth
- During my childhood in the early’50s, Highway 80 cut through the heart of most every town and city along its route. A few years later, the interstates would turn those stretches of highway into business loops. I’m charmed by those business loops that once were highways to someplace. Along them, our towns and cities grew.
- By Ken Kuhlken, Nov. 20, 1997