Santee Events

06/02/2026

✂️🐾 BIG NEWS FOR SANTEE PET LOVERS! 🐾✂️
Our local, family-owned favorite Essential Grooming & Wellness has grown! Yesterday, the community gathered together for an official ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of their brand-new facility expansion! 🎉✨
If you’ve ever brought your furry family members here, you already know they aren't just about a standard bath and trim—they are completely dedicated to low-stress, wellness-focused pet care. They’ve been serving our community beautifully, and now they have even more space to provide specialized cat grooming, deluxe therapeutic spa treatments, and top-tier care for your pups. 🐶🐱❤️

It was an absolute honor to capture the excitement, the smiles, and the official ribbon snip for the East County Community Times! Seeing our beloved local small businesses thrive and expand is truly what makes Santee so special.
👇 Check the comments below for the links to the full photo gallery and my SmugMug portfolio! 👇
Congratulations to the entire team at Essential Grooming & Wellness on this beautiful new space! We can't wait to see you continue to thrive! 🥳🥂

06/01/2026

Going to be Fun

Hear ye, hear ye! ⚔️👑 Join the Kiwanis Club of Santee for Santee Knights, a full weekend of medieval entertainment featuring live jousting, sword fighting, music, food, games, vendors, and fun for the whole family June 5–7 at the Santee Historical Society. Check the event schedule for more details.

Dust off your crowns, cloaks, and armor and prepare for an unforgettable renaissance adventure!

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Rwp0CB

05/31/2026

Huge Turnout for the 5th Annual Santee Pride Walk & Festival! 🏳️‍🌈
Yesterday, I had the privilege of capturing the incredible energy at the Santee Pride Walk and Festival while shooting for the East County Community Times. The turnout was absolutely massive, proving once again how much love, support, and beautiful diversity lives right here in our community.
The incredible crowd caught the attention of the entire region, with major media coverage on scene from CBS 8, ABC 10, K**I, and the San Diego Union-Tribune!
A truly powerful moment came from Rev. Jaime Pangman as he led the walk, reminding us all of what true community belonging looks like:
"We see who you are and love who you are—not 'you're welcome as long as you leave these parts of yourself at home.'"

Thank you to everyone who came out to walk, celebrate, and fill our streets with joy.

📸 Photos! I’ll be posting a handful here, but you can find the complete gallery of high-resolution downloads and prints in the SmugMug link in the first comment below. Drop a comment if you spot yourself!

05/30/2026

What a beautiful day in Santee yesterday! ☀️⛳️
I had a wonderful time out on the green at Carlton Oaks Golf Club shooting for the East County Community Times. The City of Santee’s 3rd Annual Heroes Golf Classic Tournament was an absolute blast! From the 0700 roll call and breakfast burritos to the shotgun start and midday taco mess, it was a fantastic turnout filled with camaraderie, competition, and plenty of good ole Santee fun.
It was great seeing Mayor John Minto and Councilmember Rob McNelis, City Manager Wendy Kaserman out there supporting the event alongside the community! Together, everyone hit the green to play alongside members of our adopted military unit, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 (HMH-462), with proceeds directly supporting them. 🇺🇸
A huge thank you to our city leaders, local sponsors, players, and volunteers who made the day such a huge success!
📸 PHOTOS ARE READY: I will post a link in the comments below where you can view the full gallery from yesterday. If you see any shots you like, you can buy prints and downloads directly at my cost!

05/28/2026

Santee city council meeting
We kicked things off with a legislative invocation by Zach Wilbur from Palm Church, followed by some fantastic community presentations. A huge congratulations to the Total Altruism Project (T.A.P.) on their update and the California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) State Award Presentation! 🏆 It is always wonderful to see our local parks and community projects recognized at the state level. Staying informed on what’s happening in our city! Tonight’s agenda includes a very important presentation by the County of San Diego regarding the San Diego River Basin Sewer Pipe Lining Project right at the San Diego River Trail Walker Preserve Site.

05/26/2026

🇺🇸 Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future 🇺🇸
This morning, I had the deep honor of photographing a truly moving Memorial Day Flag Retirement Ceremony at the Santee Veterans Memorial Monument at Santee Lakes, shooting for the East County Community Times.
It was an incredible turnout on this beautiful morning as our community gathered to show our respect. A massive thank you to today's official event sponsor, Lightning Electrical Services, for making this beautiful gathering possible (and for keeping everyone energized with a wonderful spread of coffee and donuts!).
A very special thank you as well to Santee community Foundation, VFW Post 9327 of Santee for hosting such a reverent ceremony, and to the young ladies of Santee Girl Scout Troop 5183, who did an outstanding job assisting with the dignified retirement of the flags.
It is mornings like this that remind me why our Santee community is so special. Stay tuned to the East County Community Times for the full photo coverage!
👇 I will be posting a link in the first comment below to the full gallery. You are welcome to view, download, or purchase prints at my cost. 📸

05/25/2026

Happy Memorial Day

05/24/2026

What an incredible day yesterday at the Santee Street Fair! ☀️ I was out capturing all the action for the East County Community Times, and I just have to say—the setup this year was absolutely fantastic.The community turnout was huge, with over 30,000 neighbors coming out to enjoy the 300+ vendor booths, the craft beer festival, and the amazing live music. Speaking of music, that stage setup was an excellent idea—it kept the energy high all day long! 🎶👏I had a wonderful time meeting so many of you and capturing the vibrant, candid spirit of our community.👇 I will post a link to my full SmugMug gallery in the first comment below! 👇You are more than welcome to browse through. All digital downloads and physical prints are available directly at my cost as a thank-you to this amazing community. Enjoy the memories! 📸✨

05/23/2026

🥐 WELCOME TO SANTEE, 85°C BAKERY CAFE! 🧋
East County has a delicious new addition! While I missed yesterday’s official morning ribbon-cutting, I made sure to head down to capture the excitement, energy, and—of course—the amazing grand opening giveaways! 📸✨
If you haven’t heard the buzz yet, 85°C Bakery Cafe is a world-famous global phenomenon known for its incredible "self-serve" selection of fresh Asian- and European-inspired pastries, stunning cakes, and handcrafted boba and coffee. Fun fact: The name comes from their belief that 85°C (185°F) is the perfect, optimal temperature to brew coffee! ☕️
The energy at the grand opening was fantastic, with lines of excited locals waiting to get their hands on their iconic Iced Sea Salt Coffee, Brioche, and Marble Taro buns. East County has been waiting for a spot like this, and judging by the crowd, Santee is ready to keep them very busy!
Check out my photos below from yesterday's celebration to see a glimpse of the action and some of the lucky giveaway winners! 👇

📍 Where to find them: 70 Town Center Pkwy, Santee, CA 92071

⏰ Store Hours: Open Daily from 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Monday – Sunday)

👉 Have you tried them out yet? What's your go-to pastry or drink order? Let us know in the comments!

05/23/2026

Looking for a dessert that looks like a work of art and tastes absolutely incredible? 🍓✨
Meet Delicias—a wonderful new family-owned small business crafting the most stunning, premium gelatinas you’ve ever seen. These aren't just ordinary treats; they are true masterpieces.
Every single dessert is handcrafted with premium ingredients, bringing a vibrant, beautiful, and delicious touch to any table. When you order from Delicias, you aren't just getting an unforgettable dessert—you are supporting a passionate local family starting out on a sweet new journey.
Premium, Handcrafted Gelatinas Made with Love ❤️
Description: True professional texture and taste. Perfect for parties, gifts, or your next sweet craving!