Families Flock to Santee Easter Egg Event

Easter Bunny Christine Edwards

More than 8,000 people swarmed the Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve March 30 to participate in Santee’s 10th Annual Eggstravaganza.

The daylong family event included food, music, pony rides, carnival rides, a petting zoo, face painting, crafts and more.

About 2,700 children from age 8 and younger scrambled for treats at 40 egg hunts that were staged at two zones, one for small children and another for older kids.

More than 50 volunteers helped out at the event, which is co-sponsored by the city of Santee and Padre Dam Municipal Water District, which operates the 190-acre preserve.

Values in Motion Award Winners for 2012

Five Santee city employees were recently honored at the annual “Values in Motion” ceremony for excellence in  job performance and for living out the city’s mission, vision, and values. Below is a description of the accomplishments of these local public servants.

L to R: Hernandez, Valverde, Miller, Christensen, Keane

John Keane – Associate Civil Engineer, Development Services
In addition to his primary job overseeing private development projects,  Keane stepped up to manage  the city ‘s land development section while his supervisor was on maternity leave. Furthering his reputation as a team player, he also took on the initial phase of the Carlton Oaks Bridge Seismic Retrofit project.

Linda Christensen – Senior Buyer, Finance Department
Prior to preparing bid documents for the fire department’s structural firefighting gear, Christensen decided to use the national bidding and cooperative purchasing capabilities provided by the United States General Services Administration (GSA). Linda drafted hundreds of pages of bid materials that the GSA subsequently adopted as model specifications for similar transactions nationwide.

Kathy Valverde – Assistant to the City Manager

Valverde was recognized for her leadership of Sustainable Santee, the City’s program that has reduced energy costs by almost $200,000 annually through a series of energy upgrades. Kathy was instrumental in managing the funding for the replacement of 1,783 city street lights with energy efficient fixtures, and helped prompt the installation of power-generating solar panels on the roof of Sportsplex USA Santee.

Steve Miller – Associate Civil Engineer, Development Services
Miller was instrumental in helping the city obtain grant funding for traffic safety projects. In 2012, he prepared four cost estimates, which helped secure three grants totaling more than $1 million.

Jeff Hernandez – Fire Captain
Capt. Hernandez was recognized for implementing a new digital reporting system that allows fire crews to utilize iPads to perform inspections and eliminates the need for all paper forms. The data is now stored electronically and can be accessed from any fire department computer.

Water Board Extends Teen Center Lease

Directors of the Padre Dam Municipal Water District today unanimously approved a one-year extension of a $1-per-month lease with the city of Santee for the Santee Teen Center at the Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve for fiscal year 2013-14.

Santee Teen Center participants thank Padre Dam board.

The board’s action solidifies the water agency’s role as a partner and sponsor of the city’s after-school teen program, which has operated from a 1,140-square-foot building at the park since May 2005. “It is our pleasure to be able to extend this contract so that we can continue the program at the Teen Center,” noted Board President Bill Pommering.

Faced with harsh budget cuts triggered by the state’s elimination of redevelopment funding, the city last year negotiated with the water district to reduce the Teen Center rent from $1,036 per month to $1 per month. The district obliged, and the city has been able to continue operating the Teen Center’s after-school program that benefits local students as well as working parents.

 “We appreciate the board’s renewal of the reduced-cost lease, which is a fine example of an inter-agency partnership that benefits the public,” said Santee Community Services Director Bill Maertz.

For more information about the city of Santee Teen Center at the Lakes visit the city of Santee website.

 

 

Santana High Girls Win City Trophy



No. 16 Amber Schisler led Santana with three hits (click to enlarge)

The Santana High School girls’ softball team yesterday captured the Santee City Championship for the second consecutive year by a score of 3-1 over rival West Hills High School.

Santana was led by pitcher Amber Schisler, who allowed only one run and had three runs batted in (RBIs), including a game winning two-run single.

Santana, which has a 7-2 record, is currently ranked 5th in the county by the UT San Diego in girls’ softball. The paper ranks West Hills, which has a 4-6 record, in the top 20.

The game was played before a crowd of more than 100 at Sportsplex USA Santee at Town Center Community Park.

Traffic Alert - Water Main Break

A 36” main water transmission line into Santee is leaking significantly at Mission Gorge and Big Rock Road. Lane closures will be in effect on both the east and west bound lanes of traffic on Mission Gorge between Big Rock Road and Carribean Way through tonight, expecting to last through Saturday. At this time, no customers are without water service. Padre Dam crews are working to excavate the road to determine the source of the leak and make repairs. Please visit Padre Dam’s website at http://www.padredam.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=43 for additional updates.

Just Say No to Panhandlers

A recent spate of complaints about aggressive panhandlers in Santee triggered a report this week by city staff on potential ways to curb problems associated with transients.
Residents can do their part by not giving money to panhandlers, who typically use the money  to  feed their tobacco, drug or alcohol addictions.

If you see people with signs asking for money or are approached and asked for money, please call the San Diego County Sheriff’s non-emergency number to report it at 858-565-5200.

To ensure your money is actually helping poor and homeless people, you should donate to nonprofit charities such as United Way, Project Alpha, St. Vincent de Paul Village,  Veteran’s Village of San Diego, the Santee Food Bank or Feeding America.

Keep in mind that some panhandlers are professionals who make their living by begging on the streets. Some collect more tax-free money than many people with jobs. Click here to read a story about a panhandler in Oklahoma City who says he easily made $60,000 a year.

This week, the City Council voted 4-0 to have city staff explore methods to better control panhandling,  as well as problems associated with homeless people camping in the thick foliage along the San Diego River.

City staff will look at  amending the city’s soliciting ordinance to prohibit aggressive conduct.

Getting the Buzz? Report Mosquito Problems

If mosquitoes are bugging you at your home, business or neighborhood park, there is a solution.

You can help ensure the problem gets attention by calling the county Vector Control Division at (858) 694-2888 or email them at vector@sdcounty.ca.gov.

 The county’s program to control mosquitos is aimed at curbing the spread of West Nile virus, which can be harmful to birds, other wildlife and humans.

Vector Control allocates its resources based on several “data points,” one of which is complaints from the public.  Bottom line: Calling will help the county pinpoint  the location of mosquito problem areas.

Aerial drops of anti-mosquito larvacide pellets from helicopters usually start in May and continue through the summer.  However, the county can deploy additional mosquito abatement resources before, during and after the aerial program.

Calling All Eggheads: Spring Eggstravaganza is March 30

Ryann Hague and friend Alyssa Northum at Eggstravaganza

The city of Santee is excited to partner with the Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve to present the 10th Annual Spring Eggstravaganza, a daylong event with an old-fashioned Easter theme.

About 20,000 plastic eggs will be stashed around the Santee Lakes on Saturday, March 30th for kids ages 8 and younger to find. Each child participating in an egg hunt will receive a goody bag filled with snacks, coupons, and small toys.

In addition to the egg hunts, families can look forward to crafts, inflatables, carnival rides, pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, and Primo DJ.

Adding to the photo opportunities, characters such as the Easter bunny, Boomers’ kangaroo, the Chick-fil-A cow and Wendy’s Frosty will be roaming the event in full costume.

Last year, an estimated 8,000 children and adults attended the event, and a similar crowd is expected this year. Please plan ahead for parking locations. A free shuttle is available from several locations inside Santee Lakes.

Eggstravaganza begins at 9:00 a.m. with continuous egg hunts throughout the day until 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $0.50 each, and activities and rides range from 1 to 10 tickets. Admission to the event is free, but there is a $5 charge to park inside the recreation preserve. For more information click here, or call   (619) 258-4100 ext. 201.

Thanks to Balfour Beatty Construction for its generous support.

Sign Up For Spring Session

Satisfy your yen for yoga. Nurture that emerging ballerina. Get your kicks learning karate.

These are just a few of the many opportunities available through classes offered by the city of Santee Recreation Division.

Registration is now open for spring session classes, which offer something fun or enlightening for people of all ages.

The spring recreation program is offering all new Hip-hop Kids and Family Boogie classes. Most performing arts classes, such as Hip-hop Kids, will perform at the Santee Street Fair and San Diego County Fair, providing an opportunity to see your child perform live on stage.

Santee’s Recreation Division offers classes for kids that are great for building confidence, coordination, and creativity. This session, we’re offering additional Eclectic Yoga and Zumba classes for adults who are looking for a little down time and an upbeat workout.

The city is also offering early registration for its awesome (and very affordable) Summer Day Camp for grades 1 to 5, the X-Factor Camp for grades 6 to 9, and our Junior Camp Leader program.

The camps feature craft projects, sports, games, art creations, weekly field trips, weekly swim sessions at the City of Santee Aquatics Center, and a camp T-shirt.

Teens enrolled in the Junior Leader Program help our day camp staff with activities and supervise trips and special events. This is an ideal opportunity for young people to gain work experience, leadership training, and professional development.

To register or get more information, click here  or call (619)258-4100 ext. 222.

Santee’s Bird of the Month

We found  our bird of the month for March, an immature or juvenile red-shouldered hawk, perched on a branch and scanning for a meal along the San Diego River at Town Center Community Park.

Red-shouldered Hawk at Town Center Community Park

These forest hawks are typically found in habitats that feature tall woods and water. They prey on everything from small mammals to frogs and snakes. Red-shouldered hawks are smaller than red-tail hawks, which have broad, pale wings with a dark bar at the leading edge.

Santee has a wealth of  riparian habitat along the San Diego River, as well as hillsides with chaparral and coastal sage scrub surrounding the city that offer great bird-watching opportunities.

Santee’s Recreation Manager Takes On Leadership Role

Santee’s Recreation Services Manager Sue Richardson was installed this week as president of the San Diego/Imperial County’s district of the California Park and Recreation Society.

Sue Richardson, Recreation Services Manager

The statewide professional development organization allows park and recreation officials to exchange ideas and gain knowledge on how to better serve the needs of their communities.

Richardson has worked for the city of Santee’s Community Services Department since 2004. She oversees the city’s recreation division that provides classes, summer camps and programs for all ages. The division is also responsible for management of Woodglen Vista Skate and BMX park, Santee Teen Center at the Lakes, facility rentals, and special events.

She also serves as a staff liaison to the Santee Park and Recreation Committee and has worked on projects including the development of Town Center Community Park, the Park and Recreation Master Plan, Mast Park Master Plan, school joint use agreement committees, and the development of dog parks in Santee. 

Sue began her career at the El Cajon Recreation Department while earning her degree in Recreation Administration from San Diego State University. Following college, she worked at (then) N.A.S. Miramar Navy Morale, Welfare and Recreation, where she coordinated alcohol-free recreation programs and events for enlisted service members. She was promoted to Director of Leisure Services and assisted with the department transition into Marine Corps Community Services as part of the base realignment. She is a Certified Park and Recreation Professional through the National Recreation and Park Association and holds a graduate degree from California State University East Bay in Recreation and Tourism.

According to Richardson, her greatest joys in working in the recreation field is being able to offer programs that teach new skills and contribute to healthy lifestyles, being able to contribute to projects that get people outdoors, such as Santee’s River Park trails along the San Diego River, and working with professionals at other agencies and within the Santee community.