With the door closing on 2023 and 2024 entering the picture, it is time to look back at some of the highlights over the last 12 months from the Mensajero de Mission Times circulation areas.
Among some of the reports that garnered attention:
JANUARY
El Patrick Henry girls’ soccer team captured the Parker Cup Finals with a 2-0 win over Francis Parker. It was Patrick Henry’s second girls’ soccer crown of the young season.
San Carlos resident Matt Adams announced his retirement (effective at end of March) from the Building Industry Association of San Diego County (BIA). 
Three of four Club de fútbol cruzados teams won their respective divisions at the annual January Kick Off Soccer Tournament in Escondido.
FEBRUARY
Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP) Foundation was excited to share information on its new educational program for teenagers who love the outdoors and might want to pursue careers in nature-related fields.
The MTRP Foundation’s Eco Ambassadors program will provide inspiring programming at the park to a cohort of 20 high school students on Sunday afternoons.
El Friends of Del Cerro (FODC) went looking for more residents to get involved in safety, beautification and community cohesiveness. Those attending a February meeting of the group had the possibility of serving on a committee to improve the overall well-being of Del Cerro. 
Del Cerro author jennifer coburn discussed her new historical fiction novel, Cradles of the Reich, at San Carlos Branch Library. The novel gives readers an inside look at the bucolic Heim Hochland, one of the real Third Reich breeding homes.
MARCH
El Jardín Comunitario San Carlos y Patrick Henry High School Garden Club paired up recently to spruce up the garden boxes in front of the Brew Coffee Spot on Lake Murray Boulevard in La Mesa. The business has supported the Garden for many years, and now offers discounts to all SCCG members. 
El Patrick Henry High School girls’ soccer team captured the CIF Division II title. The Lady Patriots tallied a 2-1 victory over Francis Parker. It was the team’s first appearance in the Finals dating back to 2005.
Women’s History Month proved a good time to celebrate the business contributions of a number of area women. The National Women’s Business Council stated in one of its annual reports that 42 percent of all U.S. companies are owned by a woman. Women are also more likely to begin a business than are their male counterparts.
The seventh San Diego State University Day of Giving was slated for March 14. The 24-hour fundraising day is geared towards encouraging supporters and donors to come together as one to positively impact the school’s programs, and build upon a tradition of excellence.
Following a three-year hiatus due to COVID, the Jewish Family Service College Avenue Center reopened to the public for in-person programming weekdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The facility offers a wide-range of activities for the mind and body, prepared lunch and social connection for adults of all backgrounds, over the age of 60.
APRIL
escuela secundaria patricio henry profesor terri clark implemented a unit that specifically covers human trafficking in her physical education classes. Following the abduction of her niece to a human trafficking ring by a boy who the niece thought had legitimately befriended her, Clark felt she wanted to raise awareness on this all-important issue.
Rolando residents were still seeking help in regards to the homeless issue in their area. It hasn’t been uncommon to see tents, shopping carts full of items, garbage and more on the streets as residents seek a solution from local officials.
The City’s Park & Recreation Board was to consider a proposal from District 7 Councilmember Raul Campillo to establish an off-leash dog park at the Allied Gardens Community Park. That was following a public workshop held in September 2022 and the Allied Gardens Recreation Council’s unanimous support to approve the project in November 2022.
Martin y kathleen blanco, co-owners of Joyeros de mejora, are retiring after running their business for some 45 years. In 1978, Martin and Kathleen began the business as a young married couple. Maria Hopkins, who has worked for the business for 25 years, was set to move into the ownership position.
MAY
escuela secundaria patricio henry seniors and teachers were preparing for graduation on June 14. Both COVID-19 and college applications had presented challenging situations for students in recent years. 
A letter penned by local resident Danna Givot noted equity was missing when it comes to Colegio-Biblioteca Rolando. Givot was asking Mayor Todd Gloria and Council President Sean Elo-Rivera to use the zoning leverage they have with developers at 6650 Montezuma Road to get the library the easement for permanent, exclusive parking spaces that equity demands.
Winners of the 29el Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP) photo were made public. The photos captured all over Mission Trails represented categories that included: Adults, plants, animals, landscapes, and people.
JUNE
Devoted escuela secundaria patricio henry profesor Jodi Haff was calling it a career after more than 30 years in the profession. Haff joined PHHS in 1996 where she taught psychology and AVID, a college preparatory class.
El Optimist Club of Allied Gardens was highlighted for the many good things it does in the community. The club works primarily with youth up to age 18. They partner with schools in the Allied Gardens area such as Foster Elementary, Lewis Middle and Patrick Henry High School, doing all they can to help those schools.
Some 600 students were on hand for the escuela secundaria patricio henry prom held recently at the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla.
JULY
escuela secundaria patricio henry Principal michelle irwin announced she was stepping down to take on a job as a Middle School Area Superintendent for the San Diego Unified School District. Irwin has worked in the SUSD for nearly 30 years.
Four candidates were set to vie for the District 4 Supervisor position in a summer special election. They were amy reichert, Monica Montgomery Steppe, Janessa Goldbeck y Paul McQuigg. Reichert and Montgomery Steppe would emerge victorious and ultimately face off in the fall, with the latter winning the office.
Temple Emanu-El en del cerro received the Light of Pride award at Light up the Cathedral. The interfaith religious service during Pride week always honors a faith-based group or organization which serves the LGBTQ+ community.
AUGUST
The City of San Diego purchased the lot on the NW corner of Jackson Drive and Golfcrest Drive in preparation of building the new San Carlos Branch Library. On Saturday, Aug. 5, a special Navajo Area Community meeting was held, with Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, Mayor Todd Gloria, and City Councilmember Raul Campillo among the dignitaries. Branch Librarian , David Ege, was the MC.
El Navajo Community Planners scheduled a special meeting on Monday, Aug. 21 for a presentation and then to vote on, the All Peoples Church. The church wants to build a structure on land it owns near I-8 and College Avenue. NCP ultimately voted unanimously against the project.
Local treasure Dr. Douglas Grosmark was set to retire after 34 years of service to Del Cerro. Dr. Grosmark has served as a sole practitioner in the field of dentistry, serving everyone from two-year-olds to centenarians.
As summer winds down, San Diego State University students and faculty are preparing for the upcoming fall semester. The new academic school year, which starts on Aug. 21, will feature many of the same amenities from previous years, as well as some exciting new additions to the campus. One of the newest additions to the school is Ellen Ochoa Pavilion. Previously named “West Commons,” the area pays tribute to Ochoa (pictured on left), who became the first Hispanic woman to visit space in 1993. The remaining ceremony for the La Mesa native and SDSU grad took place in early May.
SEPTEMBER
El Patrick Henry girls’ flag football team was set to tackle its first season of action. Under the direction of head coach Alona “Lonii” Harper, the Lady Patriots are part of the inaugural season of action at the CIF level. PHHS will be part of the San Diego City Conference, which includes Morse High, Scripps Ranch, Point Loma, Mira Mesa, University City, Cathedral, and San Diego High.
El Rolando Community Council (RCC) recently hosted a very memorable movie night in Clay Neighborhood Park. By all accounts it was another great example of the valuable role community councils play in bringing residents together in positive ways. RCC members didn’t just bring neighbors together, they were good neighbors themselves, inviting nearby College Area residents to join in the fun.
El San Carlos LL 8/10’s (pictured lead photo) made it to the recent Southern California state championship game where they fell to Golden Hill. A second loss in the tourney eliminated the local team. They were the first-ever team from San Carlos to have advanced to the state title game.
OCTOBER
From windshields to front yards, San Diego residents have woken up morning after morning to antisemtic flyers littering their property. At least eight separate neighborhoods, including del cerro, San Carlos, y jardines aliados, have been hit over the past few months.
The San Diego Police Department is investigating two reports of assault from San Diego State University students. In both incidents, students said they got into vehicles in the College Area that they believed to be the ride shares they had ordered. The driver allegedly assaulted them and let them out of the car elsewhere.
As the months turn from summer to fall in San Diego, the Jardín Comunitario San Carlos has begun to prepare for the leaves to change. From engaging workshops, fruitful produce and various community events, there’s boundless opportunities to harvest community and crops.
NOVEMBER
During the academic school year of 2023-24, Patrick Henry High School’s principal position has been passed from retired principal to retired principal after the previous administrator, Michelle Irwin, stepped into a new role as a Middle School Area Superintendent for the San Diego Unified School District in June. Originally, the Mensajero de Mission Times reported that the school’s goal was to have the position filled by Aug. 21, the start of the academic school year; however, the search continues. 
The Israel-Hamas war prompts activism on the SDSU campus. On Oct. 9, approximately 100 students and community members made a peaceful walk around campus in support of Israel, wearing shirts that said “Fighting with Love” and carrying Israeli flags. The march was organized by the Hillel Center, Alpha Epsilon Pi and Students Supporting Israel to show support for the Jewish and Israeli community. There were also events held in support of Palestine. A march was held on Oct. 11, where students gathered with Palestinian flags and signs, including a large banner reading “End U.S. Funds to Israel.” When the group reached Hepner Hall, they chanted “Free Palestine.”
DECEMBER
Patrick Henry High ASB (Associated Student Body) donates more than 1,600 pounds of food during holidays. According to the San Diego Food Bank, an estimated 743,000 individuals are nutrition insecure – 23% of San Diegans. Of that percentage, 194,000 are children. 
With the holidays upon us, giving back to those a little less fortunate oftentimes takes the spotlight. Between the 25 service-based student organizations and the large Greek life community, San Diego State University students have contributed countless hours of community service to different causes. Service projects both here and across the border have taken place to help others out.
Have yourself a Merry Christmas at Mt. Helix Park. The Park is hosting a celebration, ‘Christmas on Mt. Helix,’ on Saturday, Dec. 9. The event is returning for the first time in five years. There was no celebration due to the rain in 2019 and shutdowns during the pandemic years.
History has it, the first home in del cerro was built in 1954. Our community is several weeks away from being 70 years old.
Editor’s note: Jessica Mills, Juri Kim, Lainie Alfaro, Natali Gonzalez, Noah Lyons, Tamar Caspi, Karen Austin, Jay Wilson, Shain Haug, Mickey Zeichick contributed to this article.
