Santee's Bird of the Month

 

Here's a photo of a lesser goldfinch that we found frolicking in the wild flowers at Town Center Community Park last week. If you have sharp photo of a bird taken in the city of Santee, send it to the Community Services Department at trodgers@ci.santee.ca.us and we'll post the best photo at the end of the month along with your name in the Santee Review, our online newsletter.

Earthquake Preparedness a Good Idea

After a series of earthquakes shook the Imperial County community of Brawley on Sunday, scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey advised today that there is a high likelihood of more seismic activity in the area over the next 24 hours.

“With this potential for more temblors, it is important for everyone to remember to secure heavy objects like tall dressers or TV sets before an earthquake occurs so these household items won’t  topple over during an earthquake,” said Santee Fire Chief Robert Leigh.

“Should an earthquake occur, remember to get low, protect your head and seek shelter under a sturdy table or desk,” he said.  “It’s important to be prepared and have a plan in place to minimize injury and damage.”

For more information and to sign up for Alert San Diego,  visit the county’s website by clicking here.

Summer Concerts Done, Bluegrass Festival on the Horizon

We rocked you, got you dancing the night away and brought in gourmet food trucks to satisfy your yen for everything from sausage to sushi.

The city of Santee’s summer concert series – nine concerts over 64 days – featured everything from rock to reggae and country to calypso. Last Thursday’s concert by the Cat-illacs was the series finale.

Attendance was higher than ever, as the Town Center Community Park venue continues to grow in popularity.

The concert series not only provided a cool place to hang out during the hot summer days, it was a gathering place for the community to come together. Longtime residents renewed friendships and those new to our city made new friends in the family friendly atmosphere.

Many thanks to sponsors Barona Resort & Casino, Cox Communications, and Union Bank who made the concert series possible.

Didn’t get enough music in the park? Next up, the pickers and fiddlers are coming to town. That would be the Santee Bluegrass Festival scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 22 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Town Center Community Park East, 550 Park Center Drive.

The festival features samples of fine wines, micro-brew beers, a variety of food and a chance to bid on donated silent auction items such as a Taylor electric guitar, airline tickets and baskets more.

This event is a fund-raiser to help support the Santee Teen Center, park improvement projects, and the Recreation Scholarship Program that assists qualifying families to participate in our recreation programs at a discount.

Tickets for the Santee Bluegrass Festival, which are $35 in advance or $40 the day of the event, are available online or at Santee City Hall, 10601 Magnolia Ave. Building 6.  Check out the web page to view the full array of silent auction items, food and beverage vendors and event sponsors.

Santee Kids Ride for Prizes

6-year-old Chris Festerly of Santee

In case you missed the event, we made a video of the Best Trick Jam held at Woodglen Vista Skate & BMX Park on Aug. 12.
Local skateboarders, BMX and scooter riders from ages 6 to 17 competed for prizes donated by East County BMX and Avalanche Skate Shop. 

The winners were:

·         BMX Expert Division – Ernesto Fernandez, 17, Lakeside
·         BMX Novice Division– Noah Lunn, 13, Santee
·         Scooter Expert Division – Austin Smith, 15, Santee
·         Skate Expert Division – Dakota Elliott, 15, Santee
·         Skate Novice Division – Chris Festerly, 6, Santee

Many thanks from the Santee Community Services Department to East County BMX, Avalanche Skate Shop and all of the competitors and community members who came out to support the event. 

Here’s the link to the video on YouTube video

9th Annual Santee Best Trick BMX and Skate Jam

Ernesto

Bring the family and watch some of the more spectacular freestyle BMX, scooter and skateboard riders this Sunday Aug. 12 at the 9th Annual Best Trick Jam at Santee’s Woodglen Vista Skate & BMX Park.

“The Jam is a Santee tradition that draws some of the best freestyle performers in the county,” said Chris Myers, a recreation coordinator who supervises the park. “It’s also a chance for the community to see the value of having this wonderful facility available to local kids.”

Scooter and skateboarders will compete from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The BMX riders will perform from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.  First-place winners in novice and expert divisions will be awarded prizes donated by Avalanche Board Shop and East County BMX.

The competition is open to riders from ages 6 to 17. Entry fee is $10 for Santee residents; $14 for non-residents. Onsite registration is from noon to 2:30 p.m.

Tickets for a suggested donation of $5 will be available to win a Gary Young Pro BMX bike, along with an autographed poster of Gary Young. The winning ticket will be chosen at the end of the event. You do not need to be present to win.

Woodglen Vista Park is located at (click here for Google map) 10250 Woodglen Vista Drive just west of North Magnolia Avenue.

Information is available at (619) 258-4100 ext. 210 or at www.santee.ci.santee.ca.us

Santee Street Projects Update

 

Here’s the latest on street projects in the city of Santee:

 

• Storm drain work has been completed on Carlton Hills Boulevard between the San Diego River bridge and the street’s northern terminus.  Asphalt patching will begin Aug. 13 and is expected to be completed in a week. The final phase of work, an asphalt overlay, is scheduled to begin September 4.
•  Asphalt patching on Carlton Hills Boulevard south of the bridge to Mission Gorge Road will occur in conjunction with the same work beginning Aug. 13 north of the bridge. The final step, an asphalt overlay, will be completed in early 2013.
• Work on Mission Gorge Road has been completed.

If you have any questions, contact the city’s project engineer, Toby Espinola, at (619) 258-4100 ext. 174

 

 

 

Celebrate National Night Out This Tuesday PM

Santee residents are invited to join the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department in taking a stand against crime by attending National Night Out  this Tuesday, Aug. 7.

The event is scheduled for  5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Woodglen Vista Apartments, 10450 North Magnolia Ave.

More than 150 local residents turned out for the event last year; nationwide more than 37 million people participated.

National Night Out was started in 1984 to promote community-police partnerships, crime prevention and neighborhood camaraderie.  It’s also a great way to learn tips for making your household safer.

At the Santee event, crime prevention specialists will be available to talk about such topics as preventing identity theft, proper use of 9-1-1, and preventing drug abuse. You can also learn about fire prevention from Santee fire officials.  A firm named Shred-It will also be there to dispose of any documents you’d like to get rid of.

One of the experts you can meet is Nancy Ortiz, a crime prevention specialist assigned to the Sheriff’s Dept. Santee Station. She can be reached at (619) 956-4022.