December 8, 2011 (Santee) – The Santee Post Office shut down briefly yesterday after an 83-year-old driver hit the gas pedal instead of the brakes while pulling into a handicapped parking space.

 November 20, 2011 (Santee) -- Parker,  the puppy whose former owner paid $1,000 for her at a pet store only to abandon her a few weeks later when she broke her leg, was adopted into a new home on November 18. The energetic Beagle/Boston Terrier mix pup, marketed by a pet store as a “Boggle,” is recovering from specialized surgery for a broken leg. 

Applications for those in need accepted Nov. 12, 16, and 29

 November 11, 2011 (Santee) – As the holiday season begins to pick up steam, the Santee Santas are already in full swing with their holiday preparations to ensure that every Santee resident enjoys some holiday cheer.

By Miriam Raftery

November 6, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) –“This is a historic time for East County,” Jo Marie Diamond, president and chief executive officer of the East Count Economic Development Council (ECEDC) told guests at last week’s “Sky’s the limit” bus tour of East County.  Three busloads of business leaders rolled through our region's urban, suburban, and small town communities, learning some surprising facts along the way.

If you haven’t traveled through East County in a while, you may be surprised at the many recent changes. 

By Miriam Raftery

October 13, 2011 (Santee) – San Diego Sheriff’s office is treating vandalism at West Hills High School as a hate crime. A juvenile who is a former student has been arrested for damage that was "extensive and spread throughout the entire campus,” according to Sergeant Craig Johnson.  Red and white spray painted messages included “ vulgar language, graffiti depicting the male anatomy, anti-homosexual and racial slurs, and the German Swastika among other things.”

By Miriam Raftery

October 12, 2011 (Santee)—Without a squawk of opposition from the audience, the Santee City Council voted 3-2 to let city residents keep chickens. Roosters, however, are still banned, since only hens for egg production are allowed.

September 27, 2011 (Santee) – The City of Santee will hold a community workshop on proposed changes and long-term financial outlook for landscape maintenance zones currently administered by the City. The meeting is set for Wednesday, October 5 at 6:30 p.m. in Building 7 at City Hall Complex, 10601 Magnolia Avenue.

September 23, 2011 (Santee)--Sip wine while tapping your toes to some lively music at the Santee Wine and Bluegrass Festival this Saturday, September 24.   The festival runs from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at 550 Park Center Drive, Santee, CA 92071. Advance tickets are $30; tickets purchased after September 12 are $35.

By Anne Tolch, Vice Chairperson, Sustainability Alliance of Southern California

September 21, 2011 (San Diego) -- For many years there was the assertion that smoking posed no danger to our health, but we now know the science community was right. It also took a while to figure out that acid rain really posed problems. Fortunately, our society has implemented policies to address these serious issues. The same is true for climate change. In the end, we will work together to solve it.

What climate change skeptics such as Santee Mayor Randy Voepel may not realize is that reducing our reliance on fossil fuels will provide many other benefits. These include creating good jobs and cleaner air, saving money for businesses and families, and strengthening national security. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions will also help protect farmers’ harvests and food supplies from drought, as well as reduce risks of devastating wildfires and floods.

Voepel's beliefs share much in common with Flat Earth Society views

By Miriam Raftery
 

September 16, 2011 (Santee) – SanDiego350.org, a coalition of three dozen  community organizations, invited local officials to participate in a Sept. 24 event titled “Moving San Diego to a Clean Energy Future.” Far from fringe extremists, the group includes major entities such as the American Lung Association, U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce, San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, Sustainability Alliance of Southern California, and Earthcare at First United Methodist Church.

Santee Mayor Randy Voepel fired back a vitriolic response. “I do not believe that climate change is man made,” the Mayor said in an e-mail declining the invitation, calling himself a “proud, Rush Limbaugh, Tea party, Conservative that will never cease fighting socialism.”

Tom Cantor, owner of Scantibodies and founder of Life and Light Foundation that runs museum, is accused by employee of providing “bad science” to public

September 12, 2011 (Santee) --San Diego New Atheists and Agnostics (SDNA), a Web-based organization of over 700 members, plans a demonstration against the Creation and Earth History Museum in Santee on September 24. That’s the same date when the Museum plans to participate in a nationwide “Museum Day” organized by the Smithsonian Institute, as ECM previously reported.

July 30, 2011 (Santee) – Santee’s Sheriff Station will be among law enforcement outlets nationwide to participate in National Night Out, America’s Night Out Against Crime on August 2 from 5-7 p.m. Activities include block parties, cookouts, a neighborhood walk, safety fairs, child fingerprinting, raffles, free shredding, free disposal of expired or unwanted prescription drugs, games, entertainment and more.

July 12, 2011 (Santee)--The Santee Fire Department along with units from Lakeside and La Mesa responded to the report of a residential structure fire at 9117 Fonteyn Ct. in Santee this afternoon. The first fire unit arrived just over eightminutes after the time of dispatch; 19 firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control and restricted the damage to the garage area.

Photos by Mark and Miriam Raftery

 
July 6, 2011 (Santee) -- The City of Santee hosted its annual "Santee Salutes" patriotic celebration on July 4th, drawing families from across East County for this major event.

Scroll down to view photos of participants enjoying fun in the sun, followed by fireworks in the park after dark.

July 4, 2011 (Santee) - An estimated 7,000 people turned out for Santee Salutes, including families from throughout East County as well as local dignitaries including Assemblyman Brian Jones and Mayor Randy Voepel.  Live music, patriotic presentations, carnival rides and a spectacular fireworks show were all part of the festivities.  

 
June 28, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- Communities across San Diego's inland regions will host a variety of events celebrating Independence Day on Monday, July 4th including festivals, parades, picnics, an ice cream social, Western-themed events, and of course, fireworks. 
 
 
Below are highlights of celebrations planned in numerous East County and inland San Diego areas:

June 10, 2011 (Santee) -- The Santee Summer Concert Series, now in its 28th year begins June 16 and features a live band from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. every Thursday through August 18 (Except July 7). The series features the return of four bands that last year were crowd favorites, plus six other bands that range from doo-wop to authentic blues.

Bands will perform on a raised stage overlooking a lawn at the east side of Town Center Community Park just north of the former concert at Trolley Square.

May 29. 2011 (Santee)--Villas at Mission Trails, a new condominium project located east of Mission Trails Regional Park, has broken ground.

May 24, 2011 (Santee) –Sean Breese, 28, of La Mesa has been arrested for attempting to rob a woman at the Santee Town Center this morning. The victim told Sheriff’s detectives that the suspect tried to forcefully grab her purse out of her hands as she stood in front of Panda Express.

“During the violent struggle with the suspect, the victim was able to scream, alerting others around her,” said Sgt. Tom Poulin.

May 23, 2011 (Santee) --The Santee Chamber of Commerce is hosting its Third Annual Street Fair on Saturday, May 28, 2011 from 10am to 7pm to support the Santee Food Bank. The Street Fair will be on Riverview Parkway at Mission Gorge Road, next to the Trolley Square shopping center. Around 300 Food booths and vendor displays, and rides will be open from 10am to 7pm. A beer garden sponsored and operated by Santee Sportsplex will be open from 6 pm to 11pm.

May 7, 2011 (Lakeside) – A fatality accident on the new section of Highway 52 has claimed the life of Gary Leroy York, 68. York was driving his three-wheel motorcycle westbound on State Route 52 when he was rear-ended by a sedan and ejected just west of Fanita Drive in Santee on Friday at 8:40 a.m.

May 7 5K Run/walk will give public glimpse of new park lands—see it first in our ECM video adventure

By Miriam Raftery
Photos by Pam Wilmer
Video by Billy Ortiz

April 27, 2011 (Santee) – San Diego River Run is moving its 5K fun run/walk to the Walker Lakes property in Santee this year.  Participants will be the first members of the public to experience this site, which will soon become part of the San Diego River Trail, which is not yet open to the public.

East County Magazine’s Billy Ortiz got a special preview tour.  View his video adventure here.

April 27, 2011 (Santee) – Sportsplex USA has teamed up with SoccerNation to organize an indoor soccer tournament to recognize and honor active, non-active military friends and family as well as local area veterans.

The tournament will take place at Sportsplex USA Santee located at 9951 Riverwalk Drive, Santee 92071 on Saturday, May 21st between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and will bring together soccer enthusiasts and military supporters from all over San Diego County.

By Jeremy Los

“This issue has received band-aid approaches to fix it when it needs a tourniquet.” – La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid

“We look at them as a resource… they are the eyes and ears of the community… they certainly know when something is going on.” – El Cajon Mayor Mark Lewis, on the homeless in his town

 "I do not feel there needs to be a regional center for the homeless in East County." -- Lemon Grove Mayor Mary Sessom

"I am not in the homeless business." - Santee Mayor Randy Voepel

April 26, 2011 – Four East County mayors shared their reactions on a new study on the many homeless in our region. Their views differed dramatically on how to address the homeless problem.  In addition, three of the four mayors questioned the study findings and voiced doubts on the numbers of homeless people listed in their cities. 

According to the 2011 Point-In-Time Count by the Regional Task Force on the Homeless, East County is now home to 8.9% of San Diego County’s homeless population, with El Cajon staking claim to the highest number of homeless people. However, the majority of El Cajon's homeless are in shelters--while in other East County communities, the homeless are living on the streets, in cars, or camped along riverbeds.  

April 23, 2011 (Santee) – Sheriff’s Bomb and Arson squad responded to a call of a possible pipe squad in a gutter in the 9500 block of Cuyamaca Street in Santee Thursday evening. The device, a foot-long, three-inch-wide PVC pipe, was capped at both ends which appeared to be glued shut. No wires were visible.

Suspects also accused of using stolen credit cards at local businesses

By Miriam Raftery

April 12, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego Sheriff detectives, following an extensive theft and fraud investigation, have made several arrests related to vehicle burglaries at local hiking trails including the El Capitan Preserve in Lakeside, Blue Sky Open Space Trail in Santee, and trailheads at Mission Trails Regional Park in San Diego.

By Miriam Raftery
 

March 24, 2011 (Santee) – Padre Dam Municipal Water District announced today that its Board of Directors voted on March 22 to end its agreement with Sudweeks Development LLC to construct and operate a cable ski park at Santee Lakes. Sudweeks “was unable to proceed with the project and requested a settlement. The lack of available financing in the current economy played a major role in Sudweeks’ request,” a press release issued by the district revealed.
 

“We saw the cable ski park as a new and exciting family recreation opportunity, and as an innovative use of recycled water for recreation, which is what Santee Lakes is all about,” said Padre Dam’s General Manager, Allen Carlisle. The project, which would have been built on Lake 1, also included a restaurant, pro shop and recreational beach area.
 

But Julie Naggar, who has led opposition to the project, said she is relieved by the cancellation. “I just think it’s a win for the neighborhood… The people who love this park come here for the beauty of it. A daily ski park would have been unbearable, with the noise and the crowds.”

By Miriam Raftery

March 20, 2011 (Santee) – An estimated 20,000 people turned out to run, walk, bike and party atop the last link of Highway 52 at yesterday’s “Sea to Santee” celebration. Now open to traffic, the new freeway segment is the last link connecting Highway 67 in East County to Interstate 5 and La Jolla.

Transportation improvements have historically heralded changes in East County, starting with cattle drives and the coming of stagecoach and railway lines in the 19th century. Invention of the "horseless carriage" brought construction of Highways 94 and 80, connecting East County to San Diego and Arizona. The aviation era led to the airfield at Gillespie Field. More recently, construction of Interstate 8, Highway 67 and now Highway 52 further improved access to East County for visitors from around the county and across the nation. 

The new highway will also make it faster for East County residents to reach San Diego destinations including employment and yes, beaches.  Surf's up, Santee!

March 18, 2011 (Santee)—Thousands of East County residents are expected to party hearty at Saturday's “52 from Sea to Santee” grand opening festival being held right on top of the new freeway connector, State Route 52, on March 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The long-awaited stretch of freeway will connect to State Route 67, creating a straight route to Santee from I-5 and the sea.

This one-of-a-kind community festival will include a three-mile run/walk/ride, music, ribbon cutting ceremony, sponsor/vendor booths, and fun for all ages. East County Magazine will have a booth there, along with many local businesses. See below for location and parking details.