Miss Santee and Miss Santee Teen 2010

Congratulations to Kimberly Swank, Miss Santee 2010, and Taylor Shelton, Miss Santee Teen 2010, who were crowned Friday night during the Miss La Mesa and Miss Santee Pageants at Sonrise Community Church.  Both Kimberly and Taylor have been runners-up before, and it was good to see them win this year (although there were many deserving young women in the competition this year).  I will have a more in-depth story on the Pageant soon, including the runners-up for this year and the winners of the companion Miss La Mesa Pageant.

Santee Kicks Off the Holiday Season

The holiday season officially came to Santee on Friday, November 20, when the annual Holiday Lighting Celebration took place at Santee Trolley Square. Put on by the City of Santee and sponsored by Waste Management, Santee Trolley Square, Daphne’s Greek Cafe, and Fireworks America, the event brought  a jolt of spirit to help start the season. Other participants this year included Target, Lowe’s, and the Santana High School cheerleaders. Also on hand were Miss Santee and Miss Teen Santee with their court, and Santa and Mrs. Claus.

I noticed that this year, whether because of the economy or other reasons, the Celebration was smaller than the previous year’s. There was still the music, the lighting of the tree, the iceless skating rink, and the carriage rides, but little more. Gone were the booths that filled the parking lot in front of the amphitheater last year. And the musical entertainment was also toned down, though still festive.

Singing Solo, a local program that provides kids age 6-18 the opportunity to sing in public, provided the pre-lighting music as well as covering for the main music group during their breaks.  The Singing Solo artists ranged from six-year-old Emily singing “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” to seventeen-year-old Kelsie doing a rocking version of  “Santa on the Rooftop.”  Also on the ticket for the evening was the U.S. Navy Band Southwest Brass Quintet with a selection of holiday music.

The highlight of the evening, of course, is always the lighting of the tree on the amphitheater stage. This year host and tree lighting duties were handled by Vice Mayor Brian Jones and his family, with help from the Clauses. Also on hand for the lighting were representatives from the City, Waste Management, Trolley Square, and the Miss Santee court.

The evening was fun, even though lower key than last year. But I do hope that this won’t be a trend for the future and that next year will have the community and business involvement missing this year.

(L-R) Santee Princesses Madison and Michelle, Miss Santee – Sierra Billock, Miss Teen Santee – Nicole Ehlke, Miss Congeniality – Maria Maes, Miss Teen Santee First Runner-Up – Taylor Shelton, Miss Teen Santee Third Runner-Up – Rebecca Hudson, Santee Princess Miranda

Lighting the Tree

Carriage Ride

Real Horsepower

Carolers

Santana Cheerleaders at the Cookie Decorating Station

Santee Chamber of Commerce’s Own Reindeer (?) Greets the Clauses

Miss Santee & Miss Santee Teen 2009

Earlier this month the Miss Santee/Miss Santee Teen Pageant was held at Sonrise Community Church.  I was not able to attend, but I did get to meet the young ladies who won at the SanTree Fest the following week.  I would like to introduce them to you (wiht thanks to the Santee Chamber of Commerce for the bio information).

Miss Santee, Sierra Billock, and Miss Santee Teen, Nicole Elhke

Sierra Billock is 21 and a marketing major at San Marcos State University.  She also works as a Brand Manager for Bath and Body Works, and enjoys golf when she has time.  Last year Sierra was named Miss Congeniality.  This was her fourth time competing in the Miss Santee Pageant.  She receives a $300 college scholarship donated by Santee businesses.

Nicole Elhke is 16 and a junior at West Hills High School.  This was her second try for Miss Santee Teen, and she credits last year’s winner, Lizzie Lingasin, for helping her prepare for this year’s pageant.  Nicole works as a tutor at her school and is on the Principal’s Honor Roll.  She also volunteers at Alvarado Hospital and plans to become a pediatric emergency room doctor.  She receives a $125 scholarship sponsored by Viejas.

Holiday Season Has Arrived

Yes, the Holiday Season has officially arrived in Santee.  Friday night (November 21) was the Holiday Lighting Celebration at Santee Trolley Square, complete with Santa Claus, Princesses, music, food, and lots of fun.  A very large crowd took part in the festivities, a welcome reminder that not all is gloom and doom as the news media seems to show these days.

The activities centered around the amphitheater, where Santa Claus and Mayor Randy Voepel were joined by the Miss Santee and Miss Santee Teen princesses for the actual lighting.  On the Target side were various community and business booths, including Camp Bow Wow, Waste Management, the Park and Recreation Department, Verizon, and KSON.  Several of the booths had prize wheels to spin along with a variety of goodies and trinkets to win.  This year the celebration included an iceless skating rink made of waxed plastic resin panels.  I didn’t try it out – not with my back – but the people who were out there seemed to be doing just fine and having a good time.

 

On the other side of the center were several craft and activity booths staffed by Lowe’s, Target, and the Santana Cheerleaders.  There were also carriage rides, which were very popular.  And of course, after his tree lighting duties Santa made time to meet the children who had come down.

Entertainment in the amphitheater was provided by the country band Southbound Jonny and the West Hills High School Choir.  Unfortunately the amplification wasn’t set up well for the choir, so it was difficult to hear this talented group of teens.  But Southbound Jonny was definitely a big hit, and had people dancing and singing along.

Thanks to all of the businesses and groups that donated time, talent, money, and more to make this a successful celebration.

Mayor Randy Voepel fires the shot that lights the tree

 

Fireworks – Always a nice touch

Mayor Randy Voepel – the Hardest Working Man in Santee – with

Miss Santee, Heather DePriest, and Miss Santee Teen, Lizzie Lingasin

KUSI Interviews Mayor Voepel

Dancing to Southbound Jonny

The Lovely Runners Up

 

L-R: Sierra Billock, Miss Congeniality; Heather DePriest, Miss Santee, Kimberly Swank, Miss Santee First Runner Up; Maria Maes, Miss Santee Teen Fourth Runner Up; Lizzie Lingasin, Miss Santee Teen; Melissa Green, Miss Santee Second Runner Up; Cara Henson, Miss Santee Teen Third Runner Up; Michelle Green, Miss Santee Teen Second Runner Up; Emily Zobel, Miss Santee Teen First Runner Up

West Hills High School Choir Entertains

The Popular Carriage Rides

Southbound Jonny Is…

Jon Watson – Lead Vocals and Acoustic Guitar

Glen Wolff – Lead Guitar and Vocals

Dave Largent – Drums and Vocals

Dave Edelman – Fiddle and Madolin

Giorgio Tupanjanin – Bass