Articles by Ana Nita

More than a century ago, East County San Diego was one of the world premiere locations for movie making, starting with silent productions filmed in Lakeside by the American Film Manufacturing Company, also known as Flying “A” Studios, with famous Allan Dwan as a director. First ever movies to be completed in Lakeside are “A Daughter of Liberty” and “A Trooper’s Heart,” both released on May 25, 1911 under Flying “A” Studios tutelage.

Last Saturday, there was no better way to tear the kids away from their electronics, other than by promising they could get dirty head to toes in a vat full of grapes. Stomping the grapes is a traditional way of smashing the fruits to make wine, although the wineries now days use modern technologies to separate the skin from the grape. Many of us still remember the famous scene performed by Lucy Ball in “Bitter Grapes” where she ends up in a wrestling match with another woman inside the vat.

“This is not just a job for me. It feels like family in here. We offer loyalty, commitment, respect and love to our members and we make them feel very welcomed,” said Marcie Banegas the member services representative for Crunch Fitness, the first gym to ever open in Lakeside. Although Crunch has been functioning for few months already, they held its ribbon cutting ceremony on July 27, with fun stuff to do for all ages: food, cool vendors, raffle prizes and membership deals for grown-ups and bouncy house, face painting and games for the little ones.

With all six San Diego County Planning Commissioners voting “yes” for the new sand mining project on Moreno Ave. in Lakeside, owner Bob Turner and his project engineer Kenneth J. Discenza are finally ready to celebrate. “It’s about time,” said Turner, pointing out that it took 20 years to reach this resolution.  Discenza is hoping to start digging on Sept. 15, but that still depends on a long list of conditions included in the Major Use Permit and Reclamation Plan.