East County News Service

January 29, 2025 (Santee) – Bring your dog for fun times at Fido Fest, or adopt a furry companion from rescue groups.  The city of Santee event will take place on Saturday, Feb. 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Town Center Community Park East, 550 Park Center Drive East in Santee.

Contests will be held for the biggest and smallest dogs, best costume, and best trick. There will also be “arfs” and crafts, demonstrations, off-leash areas, vendors and giveaways.

Source: SDG&E

January 6, 2025 (San Diego)  – Due to extreme fire weather conditions and forecasted Santa Ana winds, San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) has notified 64,866 customers that it may have to turn off power to reduce wildfire risk as early as Tuesday. Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) are approved by state regulators as an important safety tool of last resort to mitigate fire risk during dangerous weather conditions. 

This week marks the driest start to the rainy season in San Diego County in 174 years. As a result of these dry conditions and expected Santa Ana winds, the National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for parts of Orange and San Diego Counties beginning Tuesday evening through late Wednesday night. SDG&E’s meteorology team is closely monitoring weather conditions. 

Power shutoffs are possible in the following areas:

By Olivia Barnard

December 10, 2024 (Lakeside) -- I first met Robin Pawl and her horses Shelby, Indy, Ka Lio, and Phoenix on a Saturday afternoon. The faded Lakeside hills framed the riding center as hawks called out and the pepper trees swayed. I loved horses growing up, but I had never been on a ranch. I didn’t know what to expect from volunteering with horses or students with disabilities. But The Magic Horse website’s description of therapeutic riding practices was interesting, the place charming and intriguing, and I was going to give it a shot.

Upon meeting Robin and the horses, I couldn’t have predicted how much personal growth would come out of our experiences together. In sharing my experiences, I hope to inspire others to take the opportunity and discover the magic of the horse, just as I did.

By Mike Allen

December 6, 2024 (Santee) --Another concession vendor bites the dust at Santee Lakes No. 4.

Angry Pete’s exercised its option not to renew its lease at the scenic decked outpost in the middle of the park last month,  then closed down its window effective Dec.1.

On his Facebook page, Angry Pete’s owner Pete Harbison said his business and himself were stretched too thin to keep the outlet going.

“The hard truth is that like many businesses, we've faced a challenging and rough road. The ever-increasing food and labor costs have made it harder and harder to maintain our business at a break-even level. We don't want to get rich, but we do need to at least break even,” Harbison said. “On top of that, despite pouring all of my time, energy and finances into staying open, I've had to face the reality that I’ve left very little for my own family—in both time & security.”

East County News Service

November 26, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – This holiday season, you can give the gift of life.  The San Diego Blood Bank is hosting a series of blood drives across East County between December 18 and December 24 in locations including Spring Valley, La Mesa, El Cajon, Lakeside, Alpine and Ramona.  Below are details.

Source:  San Diego Watercolor Society

Photo:  "Got My Eye On You” by Dottie Thompson.  Watercolor, 18 x 24".  Image courtesy of San Diego Watercolor Society

November 19, 2024 (Lakeside) - Dottie Thompson, an artist and resident of Lakeside, California, has won the Best of Theme award in the highly competitive November 2024 San Diego Watercolor Society (SDWS) Member’s gallery exhibition “Evoking Mystery”. Thompson’s painting titled “Got My Eye On You” was selected by prominent local artist Alice Kayuha for this honor, out of 251 entries. Kayuha commented, “This painting fits the Best of Theme because it is really mysterious. When you first look at it, you don’t even realize what it is. Then you look more closely. and you realize that it is an eye, probably of a crocodile or alligator. The reflection really begins to take on the presence of an eye looking at you. So it really has a mystery to it.”

By Miriam Raftery

November 5, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – All four East County cities had measures on the ballot to raise or extend sale taxes, and three of the four are winning by large margins.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left to right:  District 4 candidates Kim Hales and Ivan Andujar,  District 2 candidates Robert Lloyd Senior and Suzanne Till

November 2, 2024 (Santee) – Four candidates are vying for two seats on the Padre Dam Municipal Water District. The district provides water, including recycled water, to over 100,000 East County residents and businesses.  In division 4, appointed incumbent Ivan Andujar, a facility operations manager at Lions, Tigers and Bears, faces a challenge from biologist Kim Hales.  In division 2, incumbent Suzanne Till , a veteran with a PhD in water resources management, is being challenged by business owner Robert “Bob” Loyd, Sr.  Key issues include water affordability, accessibility, and reliabilty.

By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office

Video by Alex Aguirre

October 21, 2024 (Santee) - County officials all stepped aside for Howard the dog to take the first dig at the groundbreaking for the new 23,000-square-foot County animal shelter. When completed in early 2026, it will provide a new standard of care in animal housing for long-term animals as they patiently wait for a new home.

The new shelter in Santee will serve animals and residents in the South and Southeast County with an on-site small animal hospital. It will also serve as a fire evacuation site with animal intake and care during local disasters and will be energy efficient.

October 12, 2024 (Santee) -- Looking for a totally tubular time? The Santee Brews & Bites Festival Fundraiser will be far out dude! Fast Times, the ultimate 80’s experience band, will be headlining this year’s Brews & Bites on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Town Center Community Park East (550 Park Center Dr., Santee). You may want to embrace the gnarly tunes with a totally bodacious outfit* as you sip and snack the night away with foods and brews from an array of local vendors.

*Rad attire not required.

Celebration of Life set for October 26

October 7, 2024 (Santee) -- Bob Schulze, beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, and brother, passed away peacefully in his sleep from a heart attack on August 30, 2024. Born June 23, 1966 in Huntington, Long Island, New York, Bob moved to California at the age of three, living in Garden Grove and spending most of his adult life in Santee.  

Bob proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1984 to 1987 and dedicated over 30 years to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, from which he recently retired. He was passionate about keeping his country safe and prosperous, serving both at home and abroad.

Bob’s true passions extended beyond his professional career. He was a gifted singer and actor, with a love for the stage and making people laugh. Bob was the co-founder of Off Broadway Live musical theater in Santee, where his larger-than-life personality, joy for entertaining, and bringing smiles to others was a gift he shared with all.

School bond also on ballot for Santee voters

By Mike Allen

Photo:  Monique Silver, left, and Tracie Silver, right

October 5, 2024 (Santee) --The Santee School District has two seats on its governing board up for election next month. Dianne El-Hajj is running unopposed for Seat No. 2, while Seat No. 4 has two candidates, retired teacher Monique Silver and teacher's aide Tracie Thill.

The candidates shared their views on issues ranging from closing the post-COVID learning gap to parental rights vs.censorship and inclusivity.

By Jonathan Goetz

Photo, California's 75th Assembly District (AD-75) courtesy: NBC San Diego.

September 19, 2024 (Lakeside) -- County Republican Party Chairman Corey Gustafson comes out swinging against former San Diego Councilman Carl Demaio in a letter leaked over the weekend in Times of San Diego. The GOP Chair rallies Republican Central Committee Members to support Lakeside Union School District Board Trustee Andrew Hayes in California's 75th Assembly District (AD-75), in the General election featuring two Republican candidates in what has become known as "California's jungle primary system."

The GOP Chair's letter broke over the weekend from Ken Stone, who summarizes in Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association, the latest of many DeMaio controversies.  Stone writes that "perennial candidate Carl DeMaio is being accused of attempted bribery, bullying, threats and lies as his Reform California group endorses 'rogue' Republicans amid his own race for Assembly."

Update September 11, 2024 -- Parole has been denied for Williams. At yesterday's hearing, Board of Parole Hearings Commissioner Kevin Chappell stated that Williams still poses a threat to public safety, telling Williams "“By your testimony today, it is really unclear if you understand why you committed this horrendous act of violence.”  Testimony was overwhelmingly against Williams' release, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

By Miriam Raftery

September 9, 2024 (Santee, CA) – It’s been 23 years since 15-year-old Charles Andrew “Andy” Williams took his father’s revolver to school and repeatedly opened fire, killing two students and injured 13 other people at Santana High School in Santee.

Tomorrow, as the result of a new law regarding youthful offenders, he will have his first parole hearing—drawing a strong response from community members, many stilll traumatized by loss and grief.

By Mike Allen

Photo: Former Padre Dam Municipal Water District director Augie Scalzitti is challenging Councilman Dustin Trotter.

August 27, 2024 (Santee)-- This November, Santee voters are facing several choices on their ballots, one for mayor and one for District Four Council representative, as well as whether to enact a half cent increase to their sales tax.

In the 4th District, incumbent Councilman Dustin Trotter is being challenged by Augie Scalzitti. Development is emerging as a key issue in this race.