We know what Mom really wants - a chance to relax and have someone else take care of the details for once! Gift her with a personalized beauty getaway for big Mother’s Day points.
One of the best hikes in town is at the Placerita Nature Center. At the Center, visitors can stroll around the 350-plus acres and experience the natural wonder of Santa Clarita. Trails are open to people of all ages and they are accessible for both strollers and wheelchairs. You can also bring your dogs as long as they stay on leash. There is a natural history museum on-site, live animal exhibits and moonlight hikes. The Center also hosts an Astronomy Club, Junior Rangers and summer camp for the kids. Historically, the Center is also the place to find the Oak of the Golden Dream. This is the spot where gold was first discovered in California.
No one ever said marriage was easy and couples rarely enter into a relationship thinking the worst. Still, statistics are pretty grim and many marriages end in failure before the decade anniversary party.
There is nothing like a little sparkle during the holidays and if you are now sporting a diamond ring on your left hand, that means you will soon be planning a special event of your own - your wedding.
As you prepare for the big day, deciding a date may be one of the easiest decisions you make. Today’s weddings are big productions and there are hundreds of little details you will have to iron out before the day of your dreams arrives. Have no fear, though. There are several local experts who love weddings and are ready to help.
It’s an oft-lamented truth about taxes that you can run but you can’t hide. And even if you do run, you can’t run for long.
April 15 is closer than you think.
The good news is April 15 is still far enough away for you to be proactive.
According to some of the SCV’s most seasoned and savvy tax professionals, you don’t have to dread this annual rite of spring. The right information can make all the difference.
New Year’s resolutions are a part of our make up, whether we are serious about them or not. The desire to change ourselves - whether it’s losing weight, quitting the butts or learning how to say no - is a lot easier to define when we have a start date.
I am one of those individuals who loves to stroll office supply stores. I have to say, there’s nothing like a brand-new day planner. As I crack open the binder and tenderly turn the crisp, clean pages, it’s hard not to look at all the empty boxes and think, “This year I’m getting organized.” And, of course, I have the best of intentions.
While you’re out shopping for last-minute gifts, won’t you consider picking up a little something (like a can of soup, or a fax machine!) for Santa Clarita’s non-profits that do so much for our community?
I’m 35,000 feet above the earth, daydreaming about carbon offsets. They’re the latest thing, you know, and I’m dying to be the first on my block to own one.
I may ask Santa for more than one, in fact. I am, after all, traveling 3,000 round-trip miles to New York, and I don’t think I will be able to stomach the environmental guilt without them. If you plan on doing any holiday traveling, you may not be able to live without them, either.
Ten years ago the community saw a need for a centralized location that would allow local nonprofit organizations to come together and share ideas, assess needs and get help. The City of Santa Clarita, along with The Newhall Land and Farming Company and United Way, created the SCV Resource Center. Based at city hall, the Resource Center met with local charity-based organizations to offer assistance and training.
The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center has been around for the past 30 years. Located in an oak-lined lot off of Market Street in Newhall, the Center is a meeting spot for many seniors who gather for exercise, a little bridge, some educational classes and a good meal, just to name a few of the more than 100 distinct services provided.
While the rest of the country waits for spring to indulge in landscape jobs, we in Santa Clarita have the luxury of mild fall weather, making this the perfect time for outdoor home improvements.
This time of year, you might want to consider adding something new and exciting like a swimming pool, a sports court, a new focal point, or feature some exciting new décor - especially around the entry of your home - to earn the “ahhh-factor” for the holidays. It’s also time to consider improving or even creating new areas in your landscape. And for those who love gardening, now is the time to plant trees, winter edible crops, seed for early spring flowers and to do major pruning. It’s also time to prep for new lawns or lawn regeneration. Let’s get started!
As the year comes to a close it’s time to relax and take stock. Time to reflect on past accomplishments, new acquaintances made, old friendships strengthened and the blessings of family. It’s a season of good cheer and fellowship as we unwind from the cares of the world.
My dad used to tell us a great story. When he was just starting out in his own business (he installed chain link fences), he did a job for a man who was opening up a one-of-a-kind restaurant. This man told my dad that his restaurant would feature hamburgers and milkshakes at prices any family could afford. There would be no seats in this place. People would simply step up to the window, place their order and walk out with their food in a bag. My dad, ever the dreamer, thought it was a fabulous idea.
Northern Los Angeles county is home to several new wineries producing top-quality, award-winning wines. Many wine snobs will turn up their noses at anything that doesn’t originate in Napa or Sonoma county; too bad, because they’re missing out on some great grapes. One of the newest wineries is Leona Valley Winery, straddling the San Andreas fault between the SCV and Palmdale. Corey Jones and David Reynolds own Leona Valley Winery. The couple bought their Leona Valley property in 2000 and soon decided to embark on their winery adventure.
More than 22,000 students are registered in the William S. Hart Union High School District. With six comprehensive high schools, six junior highs, a continuation school, middle college high school, independent study program, an adult school and Regional Occupational Program, the Hart District recently added an innovative early-college high school on the new Canyon Country campus of College of the Canyons.
Seven Cries of Today's Teens: Hear their Hearts, Make the Connection
Does your teen cry out to be trusted, loved, and to feel safe and secure? Do they have a purpose, and long to be heard, valued, and supported? Based on a customized survey developed by Tim Smith and George Gallup, our teens, the "millennials" say these are their seven greatest needs. These seven cries of today's teens will be the focus of the 7th Annual Teen Scene Unplugged, scheduled for Tuesday, September 18, 2007, at the Hyatt Valencia, 24500 Town Center Drive. A very popular event offered by the City of Santa Clarita and the Blue Ribbon Task Force, Teen Scene Unplugged draws over 500 parents, teens and community members every year.
I got my introduction to summer 2007 in Santa Clarita at about 10 p.m. on a Thursday a few weeks ago… two introductions, actually. The first came in the form of a group of junior highers who narrowly missed bouncing off the radiator of my car. I was on my way to Ralph’s and they were jaywalking around a blind curve, wearing mostly dark clothes. The second introduction came moments later in the Ralph’s parking lot, when I almost bounced off a front radiator myself. The radiator in question was attached to the front of a Chevy Silverado, which was in turn attached to some reckless high school kid who, though he may have been old enough to hold a driver’s license, wasn’t exactly driving like he deserved one.
When we moved to Santa Clarita in 1988, it was common to hear coyotes yipping outside at night. Soon, however, the nightly serenade faded as development spread and the wildlife moved away. This year, however, their nocturnal yippings are becoming commonplace again. I’ve seen more of the lithe, beautiful creatures lately than I have in years. I’ve also seen more posters for missing cats. Statistics tell us we can thank the lack of rain for this new invasion, not only by coyotes but also by deer, raccoons, skunks, rodents and snakes.
Santa Clarita residents are lucky to have a beautiful vacation spot right in their own backyard. One just needs to travel north on Interstate 5 to find the Castaic Lake Recreation facility. The lake is stocked with a wide variety of fish such as bass, trout and catfish, enough to make any angler content. There are actually two bodies of water at the facility. The upper lake is used for sailing, power boating, jet skiing and fishing. There are boat rentals and a tackle shop on site. The lower lake is reserved for non-power boating, canoeing and swimming.
That's Amore!
A co-ed shower that will impress even the most cynical guest! Game ideas: Every guest is asked to bring a wrapped item (with no name) that they feels represents their relationship/friendship with the bride for her to keep. This can be really fun and a great ice breaker as the bride is asked to guess who gave her which item. If the group has a great sense of humor, the guest can be asked to bring a new pair of underwear for the bride to help get her ready for her honeymoon. The guests would bring a pair that best fits their personality so the bride can guess who they are from. (the underwear are turned in - unwrapped - to the party hostess who hangs them on display for all to see on a clothesline). This is so much fun assuming it’s the right crowd!
Stevenson Ranch is outside of the Santa Clarita city limits and is governed by the County of Los Angeles. The West Ranch Town Council (originally billed as the Stevenson Ranch Town Council) was established in 1992 as an advisory group by Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich. The name West Ranch Town Council was coined as a way to include homeowners who live in the communities of Westridge, Sunset Pointe and Southern Oaks. The council discusses everything from upcoming development to graffiti in the area. Elections are held on a bi-annual basis during the community fireworks show.
It’s summer and if you haven’t already taken a vacation, you are planning one. There are so many great places to go - Maui, Cabo, Lake Tahoe or Vegas. - As for me, I’ve already taken a vacation this year - to Wisconsin. My friend has a 92-acre spread in this little town called Mayville, which is located somewhere between Milwaukee and Madison. She doesn’t raise cattle but rents out part of her land to local farmers who grow hay and a variety of other crops I can’t identify. The rest of her property is surrounded by trees, wildflowers, various creatures and a huge natural pond, the result of iron ore mining back in the turn of the century.
Christmas Year-round
Last Christmas a sweet young couple made the holiday a little merrier in our home. I know it's not out of the norm for people to help others around the holidays but this couple went above and beyond for my three children. I was so touched that strangers would take the time to make sure each gift was perfectly tailored to each of my children. It was clear the greatest gift was the love and caring they displayed to me and my kids. As summer approaches it still feels like Christmas for us. I can't be happier to live in a place where human kindness is so overflowing.
With 17 city parks spread over more than 250 acres, an active arts community and a wide variety of community events, the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department is one of the busiest (and we've heard, the most fun) at city hall. Rick Gould is the director and he oversees everything involving recreation in the City of Santa Clarita. The purpose of Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department is to develop and implement programs that encourage healthy lifestyles and celebrate the community's diversity.
Frank Garcia was an Antelope Valley boy. His dad, a sergeant in the Army National Guard, often warned his son to stay out of trouble and get a good job with a good retirement plan and benefits. It was something Frank always remembered about his hardworking dad, but it was an uncle, a firefighter in the Air Force and for the Forest Service, who hooked him on the fire department. "I watched him and I liked what I saw," Frank said. Working at Station 111 on Seco Canyon Road, Frank Garcia remembers the days he would bring his three sons, Steven and twins Mark and Kenny, along with wife Joanne, to the station for dinners and special occasions.
It's the question everyone keeps asking: What's going to happen with the local real estate market? Some have raised the specter of a housing crash. But the real estate bubble (if there is such a thing) has not popped - at least not yet. Home prices in Santa Clarita, while down from their high of two years ago, have not slipped as much as many expected. That's good news for homeowners, but there is a catch. Homes are not plummeting in value, but they aren't exactly jumping off the MLS list, either. Buyers are still holding out for cheaper prices, while owners not desperate to sell are holding out for a healthier real estate climate.
Over 3,700 square feet of quality upgrades: travertine and tile flooring, plantation shutters, double door entry, tech center, kitchen with granite counters; 5 bedrooms and 3 baths upstairs, 1 full bed/bath down! Huge master suite with two walk-ins and incredible bathroom! Views! For a verbal tour of this home call 1-800-757-8019, extension 2020 to hear a recorded description of all its features and amenities.
I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was about 10. I lost my faith in the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy around the same time. But I never stopped believing in Superman. How could I? He lived in my house. The Superman under my roof didn't wear a red cape and boots. On most days I'd spy him in a white shirt and a tie, carrying a briefcase out the door before anyone else in the house was even out of their slippers. I always suspected he was Superman because he fit the description so well. He was the fastest person I knew. I raced him on countless occasions and never came close to catching him except for the times he let me win.
Fifth grade teacher Kim Tredick was recently awarded $25,000 from the Milken Family Foundation for being recognized as an educator dedicated to making every student successful. The cash award was a surprise for this Sulphur Springs teacher and the check presentation was a media event with not only local press, but every major news channel in attendance.
Local magazine serving Santa Clarita,
California. Articles and features about local businesses, fashion,
restaurants, people in the news, home life, politics, home design,
family and health issues. Interactive opinion polls with current
weather and community calendars. Local movie times updated daily
with synopsis and movie posters. The best direct mail publication
in the Santa Clarita Valley. We offer online and print advertising,
as well as web design and media services.
Visit the Inside Features archive