The Santee Magazine - V12.3 Fall 2023

9625 Mission Gorge Road, Suite B2-315 Santee, CA 92071 619.449.1515 SanteeChamber.com

2023 Chamber Officers

Melissa Dombo, Chair of the Board Raceway Electric & Solar – 619.596.1918

Daniel Buksa, Chair Elect Mission Realty Group – 619.368.8371

Mike Aiken, 1st Vice Chair Carlton Oaks Golf - 619.540.3295

Susie Parks, Secretary Coffee Corner - 619.368.5525

Richard Hatcher, Treasurer California Coast Credit Union 619.889.5981

Darcy Fagerwold, Past Chair Expressions Dance & Movement Center 619.490.7000

2023 Office Staff

Kristen Dare, ACE CEO

Jennae Gonzalez Operations Manager

Heather Bury-Charpentier Communications Coordinator

Bethany Cook Bookkeeper

Tina Firestone Retention Specialist

2023 Chamber Directors

Curtis Anderson Salon Thrive - 619.888.8407

Greg Gagnon The UPS Store - 619.249.6657

Bryan Koci Whissel Realty - 619.244.0339

Rocky Qualin Padre Dam Municipal Water District 619.258.4610

Barbara Ryan Santee School District - 619.258.2250 x1452

James Sly East County Economic Development Council 619.729.1413

Pam White City of Santee - 619.258.4100 ext 223

Sarah Wood Allegiance Heating & Air Conditioning 619.244.4584

@SanteeChamber @SanteeChamber @SanteeChamber @SanteeChamber

HELLO SANTEE!

With our summer coming to an end of new school years on the horizon, I am so happy to reflect on the passing of this season. We kicked off summer with our 13th Santee Street Fair over Memorial Day weekend and it was a perfect day - family fun at every turn, Santee sunshine giving just enough warmth for the day, and commerce abound with food concessionaires and retailers throughout the fair. Thank you so much to all our volunteers, community partners and sponsors who helped make this event so successful. I’d like to especially thank my two keystaffers who make it all happen: Jennae Gonzalez and Heather Bury-Charpentier.

Up next we will be hosting our 5th annual Veterans Appreciation Golf Tournament on November 9th (see the inside back cover for more details). This is easily another favorite workday of mine as we get some of our favorite Vets on the course (for me, this is my dad), highlight Veteran-Owned businesses and provide resources for Veteran Service Organizations. All of this makes for another perfect Santee day, boosting our local economy while celebrating our military heroes who enrich our region. Feel free to get in touch soon if you are interested in participating, as this event has traditionally sold out each year.

Jumping into this issue, you may notice we are highlighting the Beauty and Personal Care industry. There are an abundance of services available in Santee in these areas and we hope to share a few of them here. This industry was hit hard in recent years and has proven to persevere and remain relevant. We know people have many choices when choosing their service professionals, but as always, we want to encourage you to Shop Santee. It may take a village to raise a child, but it takes a community to support a business and our thriving business community easily translates to a thriving Santee.

Publisher

Santee Chamber of Commerce

Editor

Kristen Dare

Graphic Design

Nick Ossey

Contributing Editors

Melissa Dombo

Jennae Gonzalez

Committee Members

Heather Bury-Charpentier

Kristen Dare

Jennae Gonzalez

Contributing Writers

Terri Bozher

Kristen Dare

Melissa Dombo

Darcy Fagerwold

Jennae Gonzalez

Jim Morris

John Olsen

Contributing Photographers

Barbie Bates

Kristen Dare

Melissa Dombo

Jim Morris

John Olsen

Lynda Marrokal

Printer

Advantage, Inc.

- Kristen Dare, ACE Chamber of Commerce, CEO

CHAIR'S MESSAGE

Hello Santee,

As we gear up and begin a new school year, I am delighted to connect with you through The Santee Magazine. As the current Chair on the Board of Directors for the Santee Chamber of Commerce and co-owner of Raceway Electric & Solar—it's a privilege to serve our vibrant community and witness the growth of our local businesses.

I'm excited to share a glimpse of recent happenings brought to you by The Santee Chamber. The Santee Street Fair held at the end of May was a true highlight, showcasing the heart of our community and the spirit of entrepreneurship. It was satisfying to see our streets filled with locals and visitors alike, celebrating the talents, products, and services our local businesses offer.

Looking ahead, mark your calendars for our upcoming Veterans Appreciation Golf Tournament this November. This event honors our veterans and provides an opportunity for camaraderie. Be sure to secure your spot early by booking a four-some through the event page https://shorturl.at/dnDLS and join us for a day of both fun and purpose.

Santee's local business network continues to thrive, exemplifying the strength that comes from collaboration and support. It's heartening to see businesses in our "Beauty & Salon Services" industry contribute to the wellness and aesthetics of our community; this magazine issue is dedicated to their craft. Read on as we spotlight businesses in this category, emphasizing the dedication our local entrepreneurs have to enhancing our quality of life.

Moreover, keep an eye out for more information about our new event, Party with a Purpose. This event, a networking opportunity and scholarship fundraiser, is dedicated to empowering local high school students pursuing trades careers. Our commitment to education and community growth remains steadfast, and we invite you to be a part of this meaningful initiative. This year, our focus shines brightly on the Construction Trades, an essential career path.

As we welcome the changing seasons and embrace the potential they hold, I encourage you to continue to shop local. From bustling local businesses to community events that foster connection and growth, Santee's heart beats strong.

- Melissa Dombo Santee Chamber of Commerce, Chair of the Board

Community Catalysts

Community Conveners

Community Champions

MEET THE OWNER AND MEMBERS OF SANTEE’S MY SALON SUITES

I opened MY SALON Suite of Santee in June of 2019 after almost two years of searching for the perfect location and doing the many things it takes to build and successfully open a franchise business. I spent the best of my childhood years growing up in Vista, but wound up in LA when my family moved there before I was a teenager. I always looked back fondly on those carefree years in North County and hoped one day to return, although I didn’t think I’d have the opportunity before I retired. That changed when I was forced to make a career change and discovered MY SALON Suite.

My father was a professional photographer and had a studio in Downey. When I was old enough, I started working for him and fell in love with photography too. At that point, I committed to a career in photography, and a few years later I graduated from the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA with a degree in photography. When my father retired, I took over the family business and ran it successfully for many years. I specialized in consumer and corporate portraiture, as well as product and advertising photography, in the studio and on location. Throughout my career, I had many occasions to work with hair and make-up artists and so I grew to understand and respect the artistry of what they do.

After almost 30 years in the photography business, a major back surgery several years ago meant that I was unable to continue with the sometimes very physical work of photography, so out of necessity, I started to search for another career. That’s when I discovered MY SALON Suite, and my opportunity to move back to San Diego. I loved the fact that my tenants would be artists like me! These are my people, I get them!

It is very gratifying to me that my job is to help hardworking, creative, and talented beauty industry professionals leave the salon or spa environment to open their own businesses where they can have more freedom, make more money, set their own hours, decorate as they wish to express their creativity, and escape the drama that can sometimes detract from a more traditional salon experience. I am rewarded every day knowing that through my efforts, others can have an improved quality of life.

MY SALON Suite is different from traditional salons and spas in that it operates as an upscale beauty mall, consisting of 26 different businesses under

one roof. Our tenants (we refer to them as Members) rent private, separate, high-end suites and operate as independent businesses, setting their own hours and making their own bookings. Each suite is equipped with all of the amenities a beauty professional could ask for: ample cabinetry, hand sinks, paid water and power, two WiFi networks, a laundry room, plenty of free parking, an exclusive secure entry system, and when needed, privacy. In addition, suites for hair stylists include styling stations with full-length mirrors, and shampoo bowls. Each business owner has their own page on our website, where they can list their services, rates, hours, contact information, and provide links to their social media.

The following is an official write-up I requested and MY SALON Suite provided:

MY SALON Suite is a co-working style space where salon professionals provide beauty services to their clients in private, fully equipped, luxury suites. Unlike at a traditional salon, MY SALON Suite Members are beauty entrepreneurs who enjoy the financial freedom of business ownership, the space to express their individual style, and a supportive community of beauty professionals who inspire each other every day.

MY SALON Suite of Santee offers 26 high-end salon and spa suites equipped with a double-entry security system allowing safe, 24-hour access for Members and their clients. At this location, Members provide services ranging from haircuts, color, and barbering for men, women, and children, to skincare, waxing, teeth whitening, lashes, facials, peels, body contouring, and microblading. Beauty professionals, who set their own hours, prices, and policies, also receive access to industry resources, discounts, and training to help grow their businesses, as well as Square, to manage payment and appointment scheduling.

MY SALON Suite is home to over 7,000 Members throughout more than 270 locations across the U.S. and Canada.

– Jim Morris

– Owner MY SALON Suite

HAIR CARE S K I N C A R E

H a i r b y M i s s T h i n g / / E m i l e e T h i n g

6 1 9 - 9 7 1 - 5 1 5 3

T h e C h a r i s m a B e a u t y S t u d i o / / C a r i s s a O s t e e n

8 5 8 - 8 4 4 - 6 0 2 5

H a i r B y A l i c i a N i c h o l e / / A l i c i a G a r c i a

6 1 9 - 2 7 7 - 6 0 0 9

H a i r B y C h r i s t i n a / / C h r i s t i n a R o d r i g u e z

9 1 5 - 2 7 2 - 8 0 2 8

T h e S a n D i e g o B l o n d e / / C h e l s e a M i l l e r

6 1 9 - 9 7 1 - 7 6 0 1

L C S a l o n S u i t e / / C a s s a n d r a G a o a

6 1 9 - 5 6 9 - 0 9 4 4

L C S a l o n S u i t e / / L a c e y R e i f

6 1 9 - 4 3 8 - 8 1 9 9

H a i r B y C h r i s t i n a / / C h r i s t i n a R o d r i g u e z

9 1 5 - 2 7 2 - 8 0 2 8

L o o k s b y L i s a S a l o n / / L i s a C l e m e n t

6 1 9 - 6 4 7 - 3 2 2 0

G r e e n z C u t z / / N i c k G r e e n z

3 2 3 - 2 7 2 - 7 1 5 5

H a i r B y V i c t o r i a / / V i c t o r i a S i m mo n s

6 1 9 - 9 3 0 - 3 9 8 2

P e r f e c t C r e a t i o n s H a i r L o u n g e / / E l e n a A r c e

6 1 9 - 8 6 6 - 5 7 7 7

J u s t W a x e d b y J a z z i e / / J a z z i e D a y

6 1 9 - 9 7 1 - 5 1 5 3

W a x i n g B y A u t u m n / / A u t u m n D i c k e n s

6 1 9 - 2 7 7 - 6 0 0 9

W a x i n g B y A s h l e y / / A s h l e y T i g h e

6 1 9 - 8 9 0 - 6 9 8 0

R a d i a n c e B y R a c h / / R a c h e l B o w m a n

T w i n E s t h e t i c s / / T r a n N g u y e n

C a s s i d y J a n e B r o w s / / C a s s i d y C a r i g

6 1 9 - 9 2 2 - 8 2 4 1 ( 6 1 9 ) 6 2 6 - 7 2 0 8 8 5 8 - 3 0 2 - 1 6 4 8

E y e s O n M e S k i n c a r e / / S t e p h e n G o m o r y

6 1 9 - 3 4 5 - 5 3 2 6

K e l s a y A e s t h e t i c s / / H a n n a h K e l s a y

6 1 9 - 7 9 2 - 6 2 1 6

B e a u t i f u l l y B a r e S D / / S a v a n n a h P e r e z

6 1 9 - 4 0 3 - 1 6 8 9

E D D E N + C o / / N i c o l e C a s t i l l o

6 1 9 - 7 9 1 - 5 6 4 2

B e a u t y B a r o f S a n D i e g o / / B r o o k e F l o r e s

6 1 9 - 5 5 0 - 9 0 6 3

W a x i n g B y J a s mi n / / J a s m i n R o b i s o n

6 1 9 - 7 6 3 - 7 0 1 1

WHY DO PARENTS CHOOSE EXPRESSIONS DANCE & MOVEMENT CENTER?

Sarah, mother of 5 year old Harper, said, “We love EVERYTHING about our experience with Expressions! Everyone is professional, the teachers are well trained and fantastic with the littles, the dance curriculum is rigorous and tailored to the level and needs of the students - it’s an amazing studio and we are so grateful to be members of their dance family!”

Ann, mom of Santana High student Megan, says, “I absolutely love this studio. My daughter has been dancing at Expressions for 10 years and it has become her second home. She has made lifelong friends that have become her dance family. She loves the opportunities the studio has given her to become a leader and to reach her own personal goals.”

Renee’s daughter, Sarah, is part of EDMC’s Junior Faculty program. Renee said, “The quality of the instruction, the professionalism of the organization, and the values they promote are exceptional. This is a place where students not only get an excellent dance education, but also grow in character.”

After training through EDMC’s Teaching Assistant and Junior Faculty program, Melissa’s daughter, Kiana, joined the faculty at Expressions and EDMC’s young adult dance company, Impact Dance. Melissa said, “EDMC in my opinion, is an extended family. This is a place where my heart can be at ease knowing my child is in a safe, loving, fun, learning environment. They’re teaching not only many genres of dance but communication skills, developing self confidence, and character building besides physical strength and endurance. Overall support for each child’s personal challenges allows them to go out into the world being the very best they can be.”

– Darcy Fagerwold Expressions Dance & Movement Center

Thank You 2023 Sponsors

SOCIALIZING SANTEE

On Saturday May 27th, the Santee Chamber hosted our 13th annual Santee Street Fair on Riverview Parkway behind Trolley Square. This event is such a massive undertaking for our small staff and board members. I really appreciate every single volunteer (especially Mr. Volunteer, Charli Plavi), our local Boy Scouts, and all the students and residents that poured in from our community.

There is no way this event would be possible without the unwavering support of the community and those who help to pull it off with our team. Our staff members work insane hours leading up to the event and there’s not enough money in the world to pay them their worth on the day of the fair. We welcomed tens of thousands throughout the day to:

- Shop with over 200 vendors including Santee Chamber members, craft artisans and regional guests

- Eat anything from Nats Sweets’ cookies or Handel’s Ice Cream to traditional Filipino lumpia to classics from Delish Dogs

- Drink among 21+ adults in our Craft Beer Garden sponsored by Goodman

Orthodontics and Raceway Electric & Solar showcasing Santee Favorites 3 Frogs, PIB, and BNS with DJ Dean Velasco spinning all day

- Learn from local first responders like our Santee Fire Department who also provided first-aid and our Santee Sheriff’s Department who may have had to intervene on a lost kiddo or two (don’t worry: parents were found QUICKLY!)

- View art from the Santee School District Foundation’s collection of K-8 art submissions from each of the nine school sites in town

- Perform on stage with our local celebrity MC Clint August as a musician from Staump’s Music School, dancer from Expressions Dance & Movement Center or more!

Thank you to all who supported and attended – save the date for Saturday May 25th for next year!

SHOP SANTEE

Santee certainly has no shortage of amazing hair salons to choose from. With so many great picks and wonderful stylists in town, be sure to refer your friends and families locally and Shop Santee!

Addiction Hair Nail & Spa 9420 Cuyamaca Street

Beauty Bar by Thrive 8840 North Magnolia Avenue #160

CC’s Hair Salon 10251 Mast Boulevard Unit A-S

C’est La Vie 9830 Prospect Avenue Unit C

Fantastic Sams Cut & Color 9723 Mission Gorge Road

Forever Hair and Nail 9155 Mission Gorge Road

Glitz & Glam Beauty Parlor 9560 North Cuyamaca Street #102

Great Clips 9665 Mission Gorge Road Suite A1

Hair It Is Etc 9225 Carlton Hills Boulevard Unit 26

Hot Rodz and Betties Hair Garage 9610 Carlton Hills Boulevard

My Salon Suite 214 Town Center Parkway

Salon Thrive 278 Town Center Parkway Unit 101

Solis Hair Salon 8781 North Cuyamaca Street, Unit E

Supercuts 235 Town Center Parkway Suite F

Stevie The Salon 9910 Mission Gorge Road

T. M Salon 9730 North Cuyamaca Street Unit H

Need a barbershop instead? Be sure to check out our list on Page 27 from real estate expert, John Olsen!

– Kristen Dare, ACE Santee Chamber of Commerce

Photos courtesy of Salon Thrive and Beauty Bar by Thrive

WELCOME BACK!

The district’s theme for this school year is “belonging.” A feeling of acceptance and belonging is important in a high-performing culture, and our team is dedicated to creating an educational environment that fosters belongi

A sense of belonging builds a thriving community, and we are so grateful for our wonderful community! Thank you to Santee School District families, staff, and community members for getting our schools first-day-ready during School Beautification Day! Special thanks to Pathways Community Church, Sonrise Church, and the District's Maintenance and Operations team for making this event such a success!

Where young minds meet open doors!

Shaping a brighter and more hopeful future

SDG&E® is proud to be a partner in the journey towards a brighter and more hopeful future for businesses and communities alike. We value the opportunity to make a positive difference and we look forward to nurturing partnerships that strenghten the communities where we live and serve.

MY HOMETOWN

MEET HEATHER CANTIN - SANTEE RESIDENT AND FORMER MISS SANTEE AND AREA MANAGER AT ITAN

I am fortunate to work for a company with a business owner who invests in personal development and life-long skills for all employees. As someone who has a passion for the beauty industry and selfconfidence, I knew that iTAN was the right place for me. I quickly discovered that working at iTAN was a lot more than just a “tanning salon”. I was surrounded by empowered, confident, and ambitious women that led with dedication. Through iTAN I have been able to gain key leadership skills and develop my professional capabilities.

One of the biggest challenges I have faced as an Area Manager, and I’m sure many other local businesses have faced as well, is high employee turnover. I began working at iTAN in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and was faced with the challenges of a new economic reality. At iTAN Santee we have an extensive training process to ensure all of our consultants are equipped with the knowledge to provide a great experience for all of our customers. I am proud to say that we have an amazing team at iTAN Santee that continues to exceed customer satisfaction.

There are so many things that I could rave about being an Area Manager at iTAN, but my most favorites have to be the impact I am able to make each day on our employees and clients. I have trained and mentored many employees to challenge themselves and show up as who they want to be each day. Here at iTAN, my goal is to give my employees the tools and techniques to be successful in their future endeavors. Our clients are our number 1 priority here at iTAN. We strive to build meaningful relationships and have all clients leave with a smile on their face.

Santee, my home sweet home! Growing up in Santee, I attended community events, shopped at local businesses, and even participated in the Miss Santee program. The community of Santee is near and dear to my heart, as I have watched it flourish into an amazing family-oriented community over the last 21 years. Being able to serve and provide a great experience to customers that also call Santee home is rewarding.

– Heather Cantin Area Manager at iTan

Do More Recreating this Fall City of Santee

Hosting a gathering soon & need a space to rent?

Santee has both indoor and outdoor space available for rent. Reservations for Picnic Shelters can be made online. For room rental availability, pricing or any other questions on how to obtain reservations call the number below.

Need transportation to the Teen Center?

We offer bus transportation for 6th-8th graders to the Santee Teen Center during the school year.

Want to be a vendor?

Looking for a creative and fun way to promote your business sign up to be a vendor at the Santee Brews & Bites Festival Fundraiser.

Find out more by contacting: specialevents@cityofsanteeca.gov or Apply HERE

Still have questions? Contact Community Services at (619) 258-4100 ext. 222 or go online at SanteeRec.com

CITY OF SANTEE News

Increasing Ambulance Services

A top priority for SanteeLakeside Emergency Medical Authority (SLEMSA) leadership has been to increase ambulance service levels.

On May 12, the first of two additional basic life support (BLS) ambulances were placed in service in Lakeside. A second 12-hour ambulance went into service in Santee on June 30.

The City of Santee is excited to announce the new Santee Community Center is at 75% design and funded for future construction. After years of discussion with experts, community workshops, and City Council Meetings, this facility is thoughtfully planned to serve all residents in our community. The Center will be located in the east parking lot of the YMCA. Additional parking will be constructed on the north side of the YMCA. Scan the QR Code to read more about the facility.

Community Center

Tuesday, Oct. 31 | 11:30 - 5:00 p.m.

Santee City Hall

Clean Up Santee

Keep your home and community clean! Attend a Community Clean-Up & Paper Shred event, Sept. 16 | 8-12PM at Santee City Hall. Schedule free bulky item pick-ups through Waste Management by calling (619) 596-5100. Santee residents get 2 free landfill passes a year. Call Sycamore Landfill at (619) 562-0530.

Honor a hero today!

Veterans Day - Self Guided Walk

Saturday, Nov. 11 | All Day Veterans Memorial Bridge: Mast Blvd

Santee Holiday Lighting

Santee Holiday Lighting

Friday, Nov. 17 | 5:30- 8:30 p.m.

Santee Trolley Square

Additional opportunity for a Selfie with Santa on Nov 18, 4:30-7:30pm @ Santee Trolley Square

Spooky Snapshots

PRESERVING THE FUTURE OF CARLTON OAKS COUNTRY CLUB AND RESORT

For decades, the greens and banquet spaces at Carlton Oaks Golf Club have been a beloved community gathering place for Santee residents, neighbors, and families and friends visiting the area.

While golf courses around San Diego County continue to be lost to redevelopment, we believe that the golf course is a valuable community resource that is important to preserve. Escalating operational and maintenance costs lead Carlton Oaks ownership to explore opportunities to save the golf course. We’ve teamed up with Lennar Homes to create the vision for the new “Carlton Oaks Country Club and Resort” – a vibrant and integrated resort experience with enhanced recreational and residential opportunities.

The collaboration with Lennar will enable us to provide a new 18-hole golf course and improved on-site amenities, including an upgraded boutique hotel, new practice areas, improved tournament hall, learning center, pool, and restaurant. These changes will help Carlton Oaks be competitive with country clubs in the local region, while the new residents of the Carlton Oaks Country Club and Resort will also provide much needed year-round patronage and help contribute to the resort’s long-term sustainability.

We began community outreach on the project in 2020 and have been working closely with our neighbors and the City to refine the plans; we encourage you to get involved with us. Visit www.CarltonOaksInfo.com to learn more and join the project email list. As we proceed through the City’s review process, the website will be a valuable resource to stay informed of project milestones and and get the facts.

We’re excited about the future of Carlton Oaks and look forward to continuing to serve the Santee community.

– Carlton Oaks Country Club

5 WAYS TO CELEBRATE

5 WAYS TO INDULGE

IN PERSONAL CARE THIS FALL

Get a Facial with Megan at Flashy Lash: 619-905-9554

San Diego’s top luxury, one-stop, beauty shop specializing in custom lash extensions, brow sculpting, skin care, tanning, and more! Flashy Lash gives an experience like nowhere else with the adorable decor, thorough consultations, comfortable furniture, private atmosphere, and total royal treatment included with every service!

Clean Up Your Skin at European Wax Center: 619-357-4040

Bring out your inner sparkle with silky, smooth skin. Put the days of nicks, razor burn, and stubble behind you by letting their wax experts pamper you with the best waxing services in Santee. Book a full body wax, leg wax, arm wax, Brazilian wax, bikini wax, or an eyebrow waxing reservation today to put your best foot forward!

Get the Full Works at Beauty Bar by Thrive: 619-312-2454

East County San Diego’s top rated upper end salon offering hair styling and makeup, brow treatments, lash extensions, facials and more. Get done up from head to toe in their beautifully updated space from a selection of experienced stylists who are professional and trend savvy.

Relax Your Body and Mind at Massage Envy: 619-448-3689

Find the perfect place for customized, affordable, and convenient massages, stretch, and facials at Massage Envy - Santee. Professional massage or skin care services are performed by highly qualified therapists and estheticians who care about helping you look and feel your best.

Paint those Nails at any of these Salons:

SANTEE SCOOP

Hi, I’m John Olsen, a longtime resident and business advocate of Santee. As an active member of the Santee Chamber I often showcase upcoming development projects and events around town. Be sure to follow me for more on Facebook.com/SanteeUpdate

As we send our kids back to school, start a new job, try out a new hairstyle, or just get freshened up, you may be looking to find a new barber. Here in Santee, we have no shortage of barbers nearby with a whopping 14 listed on Google!

One of the gems of Santee is Raymond’s Barbershop. The shop in Santee is their 2nd location, with their 1st location in North Park being established in 1978. Raymond’s has been passed down through generations to its current owner, Javier Betancourt, a 3rd generation barber. Raymond’s has been serving Santee since 2014 and is known for their quality cuts and top tier service, so much so that they were awarded the 2022 Santee’s Favorite award!

When asked what his favorite experience as a barber in Santee has been, Javier said:

"Definitely growing within the community. This has been the place of first haircuts, cuts for weddings, for funerals, first dates. We’re there for everything. We’rethereateveryage.[…]Wegettoseeourclientsfromayoungagefromfirst dayofschool,tobuyingtheirfirstcar,togoingonfirstdates.[…]Everybarbershop isacommunityhubforyoungmen.It’sjustbeenapleasuretoexperienceitall."

One of the great services that Raymond’s offers is Free Back-to-School cuts. The start of the 2023 school year marks the 8th year they have offered free cuts for local students K-12 as they return to school. If you missed them this year, be sure to add them to your calendar for next year. They typically offer them on the Sunday before school begins from 10-2pm.

Barbershops in Santee:

• Raymond’s Barbershop

• Al’s Santee Barber Shop

• HD Barbershop

• Sal’s Barber Shop

• Forever Barber

• J’s Great Cuts

• Zam’s Barber Shop

• Moose’s Barbershop and Shave

• Scotty’s Barber Shop

• Carlton Hills Barber

• The Originals Barbershop

• H V Hair & Barber

• Greenzcutz Barbershop

• Nael’s Barbershop

Brought to you by:

SHOP SANTEE – YOUTH EDITION

Momentum Tutoring, Kiwanis Club of Santee, and the Santee Chamber of Commerce joined forces to host Santee’s first Children’s Business Fair at West Hills High School in Santee. The event was held on Saturday August 10th from 10:00AM - 1:00PM and the air conditioned gymnasium was filled with 45 youth-run businesses. Kids from age 7 to 17 showed off their creative skill sets offering items from handmade jewelry, crocheted hats, sewn purses, miniature aquariums to original art and more. This was such a joy to watch come to fruition, and couldn’t have been done without the help of Jennae Gonzalez on our staff, Terri Bozher from Momentum Tutoring, AJ Topad from the Kiwanis Club and our group of amazing volunteer judges: Mayor John Minto, Darcy Fagerwold, Caitlyn Young, John Hossick, Arli Wolfson, Ken Yuratis, and two student volunteers as well.

The Santee Children’s Business Fair gave enterprising young people an opportunity to bring their business ideas to life. The Santee Children’s Business Fair allowed “kidpreneurs” to pitch their products and services to real people for a real profit while learning the academic and social skills required to successfully run a business. The City of Santee provided all the kidpreneurs one-day business licenses, each personally signed by Mayor Minto himself! ALL the participants were recognized with personalized certificates from California Senator Brian Jones, San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson, and Momentum Tutoring/Kiwanis Club/Santee Chamber. We are looking forward to hosting this annually moving forward!

Learn more:

Open

Momentum Tutoring - www.momentumtutoring.org

Kiwanis Club of Santee - www.santeekiwanis.org

Santee Chamber of Commerce - www.santeechamber.com

– Terri Bozher, Momentum Tutoring & Kristen Dare, Santee Chamber

PADRE DAM BOARD VICE PRESIDENT AUGUST A. CAIRES PASSES AWAY

Padre Dam Municipal Water District’s Board Vice President and former General Manager August Caires passed away on August 2. Board President Bill Pommering shares, “Augie served this District and his community with outstanding distinction for nearly 30 years. He was a good friend and colleague to many of us. He will be missed greatly.”

Caires led the District as General Manager from 1993 to 2006 and served on Padre Dam’s Board of Directors from 2007 to 2023. He served as Board President in 2009 and 2017 and Vice President in 2008, 2011, 2015-2016 and 2023. Caires served on the East County Advanced Water Purification Program’s Joint Powers Authority Board of Directors from 2019 to 2023. He was also a Veteran of the United States Army.

During his tenure, he represented Padre Dam on the San Diego Metro Commission/ Metro Wastewater Joint Powers Authority, the San Diego Independent Rates Oversight Committee, the Association of California Water Agencies’ Water Management Committee and the Association of California Water Agencies/Joint Powers Insurance Authority. His commitment to the community extended beyond his role with Padre Dam; he served on the Grossmont College Foundation Board as well as 40 years as a member of the Rotary Club of Santee-Lakeside, serving as President for three terms and earning the Rotarian of the Year award for demonstrating “Service Above Self.”

Caires’ professional background includes 41 years of public service, including 27 years as a public agency CEO. Among his many accomplishments as Padre Dam’s General Manager, Caires created the Workforce Partnership which made labor, management and the Board equal partners in strategic planning – a great tradition of collaboration that continues today. In 2002, Caires was honored as one of the Top Ten Leaders in the Public Works Profession in the United States and Canada by the American Public Works Association.

“Augie’s passing leaves a deep sadness among Padre Dam employees.” President Pommering stated. “I have known and worked with him since 2009. I will miss his counsel, I will miss his friendship and I will miss Augie.” Caires was a tireless proponent of infrastructure integrity, water quality and fire safety. His aspirations and advocacy for the Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve resulted in the planning and approval of many projects, and his forethought and leadership were instrumental in making it a nationally recognized, award winning park. He was a strong advocate for ensuring water reliability while working to keep costs down, and was instrumental in the District’s efforts to advance water recycling and bring a local water supply to East County through the East County Advanced Water Purification Program.

During his time as General Manager, Caires played a pivotal role in the building of a new Customer Service Center in order to co-locate the District’s Administration offices with the Operations facilities already located at Santee Lakes. In July 2023, the building was rededicated as the August A. Caires Customer Service Center in recognition for Caires’ outstanding public service to the District, community and San Diego region.

– Emma Shea Padre Dam Municipal Water District

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