Santee Memorial Program

Honor a friend, relative or favorite organization during this season of giving by donating a park bench, picnic table or tree in their name at one of Santee’s city parks.

Although benches and tables are a standardized design selected by the Community Services Department, contributors can choose from a variety of tree species that are suitable to donate.

Park benches can be donated for $1,400. Picnic tables are $1,000.  For each bench or picnic table donated, the city will install a 5-by-10-inch memorial plaque carrying the name of the person or organization being commemorated. Trees are $100 for a 15-gallon size, $200 for a 24-inch box and $700 for a 36-inch box. Each donated tree is recognized with a brass leaf etched with the honoree’s name that is placed on a commemorative tree plaque at City Hall.

The donation covers the cost of acquisition and installation.

All donated trees, tables and benches will be maintained by the city of Santee for the duration of their useful life.

In addition to acknowledging someone you wish to remember, your contribution will support recreational opportunities and enhance Santee’s parks.

Applications can be obtained at the Community Services Department at City Hall, 10601 Magnolia Avenue, Santee, CA  92071.

The application is also available to download on the park page of the City's website.

A Festive Kickoff for the Holidays

More than 4,000 people turned out last Friday for the city’s annual Holiday Lighting Celebration at Santee Trolley Square.

The event, which celebrates the start of the holiday season, featured live music from the  Bayou Brothers,  roving carolers in period costumes, a variety of crafts for kids, and a chance to go ice skating or tour the shopping center in a horse-drawn carriage.

“The whole place was just a bustle of activity,” said Special Events Supervisor Cherie Meek.

Santa Claus posed for photos with children, who were given free chocolate-chip cookies made by Mrs. Claus.

A craft booth set up by Lowe’s home improvement store helped kids put together more than 1,000 craft projects. Children decorated (and presumably ate) more than 2,000 cookies donated by Souplantation and Eccentric International Chefs Bakery and Deli.

With the wave of a magic wand and a flash from sparklers, a 20-foot-tall holiday tree was lighted. At the same moment, decorative lights on entry monuments at four major intersections in Santee were turned on.

The event was sponsored by Waste Management, Santee Trolley Square, Welk Resorts, Daphne's California Greek, Fireworks America and MTS.

The Holiday Season Just got Brighter and Smarter for SDG&E Customers

SDG&E’s annual LED Holiday Light Exchange is back for the 6^th year

This holiday season, SDG&E is continuing their very own holiday tradition by giving their customers the opportunity to exchange up to three strands of holiday lights for energy-efficient, multi-colored LED holiday lights. SDG&E’s LED Holiday Light Exchange is one of the county’s most popular and well-attended events, as last year’s exchanges saw more than 4,300 customers exchange over 12,635 strands of lights.  To date, SDG&E has exchanged 40,885 LED holiday light strands with over 14,000 customers throughout the SDG&E service territory.

For customers to receive their three complimentary light strands, they must bring in old lights and present a copy of their current SDG&E bill or their California ID to one of the 6 exchanges.  The LED lights shine brighter, look great and last up to 100 times longer than the normal incandescent holiday lights. Moreover, the lights save households money on their energy bills, are cool to the touch, reduce fire risk, and safer for use both inside and outside the home. 

Beginning November 20, SDG&E’s six lighting exchanges take place throughout the county. This year’s exchange locations are El Cajon (Nov. 20), Seaport Village (Nov. 26), Balboa Park (Dec. 2 & 3), Chula Vista (Dec. 3) and Escondido (Dec. 4).

As a special incentive, SDG&E representatives are presenting the first 25 people in line to exchange lights with a free Smart power Strip, an energy saving device designed to detect when the electronic item is in standby power mode and stop power-flow to the outlet.

To see the complete list of locations and program details, visit sdge.com/LEDs.

City Wide Paving Project Update

Mission Gorge Road

Due to the recent rains and extremely low overnight temperatures, the final asphalt overlay on Mission Gorge Road has been postponed until favorable nighttime weather will allow the overlay to be completed.  A minimum temperature of 50 degrees is required in order to properly place the asphalt.  The asphalt overlay must be performed during the night hours due to the volume of traffic on Mission Gorge Road.  The City will monitor the weather reports, but it is likely the overlay will be completed after the holidays.

Carlton Hills Drive

Video detection cameras have been installed and placed in service at all signalized intersections of Carlton Hills Blvd.  The installation of the cameras will improve the traffic flow along Carlton Hills Blvd.

Concrete work will begin in the next 2 weeks according to the contractors schedule.  Every street intersection along Carlton Hills Blvd. will will receive pedestrian ramps.

If you have any questions, please contact Toby Espinola, P.E., City Project Manager, at (619) 258-4100 x 174.

Emergency Alert System Nationwide Test

Don't be alarmed, just be aware.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will conduct its first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System at 11 a.m. Pacific Time on Wednesday Nov. 9.

The test, expected to last about 3 minutes, will be broadcast on radio and TV, briefly interrupting normal programming.

The event may catch people’s attention because it will be presented as an actual emergency rather than a test.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are also participating.

The EAS is a national alert and warning system established to enable the U.S. president to address the public during emergencies. NOAA's National Weather Service, governors and state and local emergency authorities also use parts of the system to issue more localized emergency alerts.

The goal of the nationwide test is to help the government determine the reliability of the system and its effectiveness in notifying the public of emergencies and potential dangers nationally and regionally.

Santee Fire Chief Robert Leigh said the event should serve as a reminder that everyone should put together an emergency preparedness kit and establish an emergency plan for their families.

More information on the test is available online at: http://www.fema.gov/eastest/

City Wide Paving Project Update

East Glendon Circle Neighborhood

The asphalt overlay has been completed with final striping to be scheduled.

Rumson Drive
The asphalt overlay has been completed with final striping to be scheduled.

Mission Gorge Road
All concrete replacement work and asphalt patchig has been completed.  The final asphalt overlay is scheduled for Monday night, November 14 through November 17.  Night work hours will be from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

If you have any questions, please contact Toby Espinola, P.E., City Project Manager at (619) 258-4100 x 174.