A new fire station now has dedication plaques following a Friday morning celebration.
Station 150 located on Golden Valley Road in Canyon Country is the newest firehouse in the City of Santa Clarita.
The new facility houses a three-bay apparatus room, several offices as well as a training room and dormitories for a 10 shift personnel.
The location also houses a hazardous materials squad.
The 3rd annual of the Michael Hoefflin Foundation Walk for Kids with Cancer was held on March 23, 2013 at COC Cougar Stadium to help raise awareness and funds to families affected by children’s cancer.
The event also had their first 5k run as medals were awarded to the top three runners of each age group that participated.
The Michael Hoefflin Foundation was created in 1995 with the goal to help with emotional and financial support to the families going through the struggle of their children with cancer.
“We hope through research their will be treatments when a child is diagnosed with cancer that very quickly they can be cured and go on and live a natural life without all the horrible side-effects,” said Chris Hoefflin founder of the Michael Hoefflin Foundation.
For more information visit www.mhf.org
College of the Canyons is fast approaching breaking ground on the new culinary arts building as soon as August.
College of the Canyons is just $1 million short of its goal of $6.7 million to fund the new culinary arts building program.
“In the course of the next six months we’re doing a major push both in the college, in the college family and the [Santa Clarita Valley] community to get that last million dollars so, we can break ground in August,” Doris Marie Zimmer, Chair of the Foundation Board of Directors, said.
The new culinary arts building program will be a 12-month project and is expected to be open sometime around 2014.
The new culinary arts building will be located behind Mentry Hall were the Village is currently is located. It will 12,000 square feet and one story high.
“Well, the students will benefit from having this program on campus because they have to pick up their other requirements to get their AA Degree, “Murray Wood, Chief Foundation Development Officer/COC Foundation & Culinary Capital Campaign Chair said.
“So, instead traveling from Castaic to the campus they will be right on the campus. And they will be part of the campus community which is something that has been missing for them for six years now.”
The new building will feature: a sweets kitchen, a savory kitchen, a demonstration kitchen, culinary lab space, herb garden, an area for wine studies, a large dining area and instructor office spaces.
“Well, several afternoons a week the culinary arts facility cafe will be open for both the campus community and people from the outside who wish to come for lunch and pay for it,” Wood explained.
The new culinary arts building will be able to accommodate approximately 700 students, double the amount of current student enrollment. It will eliminate a long waiting lists for classes.
During the culinary arts conception six years ago, COC’s culinary arts have been honing their skills outside of campus. The previous kitchens used for COC’s culinary arts program were located in COC’s cafeteria, Westfield Valencia Town Center and Castaic.
“I will be using the [culinary arts] program to recruit chefs for my El Cholo restaurant, Pasadena, Calif,” Brian Salisbury, Co-Chair Culinary Capital Campaign, said.
SANTA CLARITA- College students will be on the loose next week with the start of the weeklong celebration known as spring break.
According to inforgraphicshowcase.com 60% of college students have a run in with police, and another 60% are injured.
College students on average drink ten alcoholic beverages per day while on spring break, as opposed to the six on average during a normal school week.
Staying safe is easy by keeping a close eye on your drink and getting a designated driver assigned as soon as the fun starts.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the Valencia campus flagpole for COC’s new administration building on Thursday, March 14, 2013 to mark the beginning of construction on the building.
The ceremony was held by the Santa Clarita District Board of Trustees and College of the Canyons Chancellor Dr. Dianne Van Hook.
The new Administration and Student Services building will hold a financial aid office, the transfer and career center, and the counseling center.
“Right now students need to go to six or seven different locations to do all of the things that are required to apply, to register, to pay their fees, to get their financial aid,” said Dianne Van Hook, “By putting it all in one location it makes it a lot easier for students.”
The project is estimated to cost $17.8 million to complete.
“Part of our financing comes from Measure M and that’s something that the voters of the Santa Clarita Valley voted on,” said Bruce Fortine, member of the Board of Trustees.
The building will be 4,600 square feet to house all of the departments that students will need in order to complete the registration and admission process.
“Centralizing all of the services here on campus…having it all in one building is what this building is really going to be about,” said Michael Kramer, President of the Associated Student Government.
The new building is expected to be finished by January 2015.
Looking to change the direction of your life? The great people at Charter College are ready to help you make that happen! Dave and Tami get an up close look at the wonderful opportunities available to the SCV at Charter College.
Joe Messina actually joins us on our set this week with unbelievable news from around the world. You will shake your head in astonishment when you hear what are federal government is funding now.
Mike Bjorkman gives us an update on our local real estate market.
Puma, cougar or mountain lion? Even the name “panther” is sometimes used, but the only panther we have in United States is the Florida panther. It is a subspecies of the mountain lion that is found only in Florida. It is endangered, with only 50 large cats left.
I was always surprised to hear the mountain lion called by other names, and wondered if it was another animal altogether – but no. It is still the same one.
Why so many names? It can be found in many parts of the country and gets “local” names that stick. The conquistadors from Spain called it leon (lion) and gato monte (cats of the mountains), so that name became mountain lion.
The Incas called it puma. “Cougar” comes from a South American Indian word, cuguacuarana. To shorten this, it became cuguar, and then the spelling changed to make it cougar. “Panther” seems to be a generic word for all large cats with a solid-color coat.
After a while in California, I thought all of those were local terms, and that “mountain lion” was really the official name. Not so. I found out scientists use the name “puma,” and the Latin name is puma concolor.
What attracts us to the mountain lion?
By a strange set of circumstances and an incredible amount of luck, I was able to see a mountain lion in front of my house in the middle of the night through the front window. I was totally safe inside, but I can tell you the hair stood up on my head and I became cold with fear, but I was filled with admiration at the way the animal moved. You could feel the power in the supple and smooth walk; you could see the muscles flexing and the self-confidence of the great animal.
Suddenly it looked in my direction and swooshed its tail in the air, and I could tell it knew it was being watched.
It left, but I stood at the window filled with gratitude to have witnessed a wild king, inspiring respect and fear (even if it was attracted by a piece of rotten meat in my garbage can).
They are solitary cats and need to have a “home range” where they can hunt. The male range is larger and can overlap with the smaller ranges of a few females. They use trees as scratching posts, and they mark their territory with scrapes made of little piles of needles, leaves or dirt covered with urine or feces. That is a message for other mountain lions: Stay off, this is my place.
They are vocal. They can purr like a cat and they can hiss, yowl and scream – but they cannot roar. Faced with danger, they can make a shrill, piercing whistle which is also used by the female to call her cubs.
The average life span is 12 years, but some reports have been made of mountain lions between 18 and 20 years old, even in their natural habitat. They are great tree climbers (think of them as large cats), and they can jump high. They can make vertical jump of 4.6 feet up, and when they run, they can cover 23 feet in a single leap. They can swim, but they do not like to get wet, so it is an animal with few limitations and very powerful.
When they have a large prey they want to kill, they will start by stalking it from about 30 feet away, then they take two or three great running bounds to land on the victim’s back. They kill the prey by breaking the neck below the base of the skull with one bite. They will drag the body to a quiet place to eat in safety and will bury the rest to come back for a few days.
They kill deer, but also coyote, mice, marmots, hare, raccoons, birds, large insects such as grasshoppers, domestic animals and roaming livestock. They can even eat porcupines and do not seem to be bothered by the spines.
They seem to be monogamous during the mating season. The female starts the courting and mating act. The gestation is about three months, but there is no regular time of the year for reproduction. They have an average of three kittens which are born wooly, spotted and with short tails. They will get teeth at one month old and are weaned at three months. They may stay with their mom until they are one year old and learn to hunt with her. An adult female will breed every other year.
Mountain lions should be feared and respected. If you see one on a trail, never try to approach it, and give it a way to escape. Stop and back away slowly. Do not run. Stand and face the animal. Pick up young children and put them on your shoulders. Speak firmly in a loud voice and make eye contact. Do not bend over to pick up stones, as you would look like a four-legged prey animal. Open your jacket and raise your arms to look big.
The idea is to convince the mountain lion that you are not prey, and that you could mean danger. Fight back if you are attacked; lions have been driven away by prey that fights back.
Do not hike or jog alone, especially at dusk or dawn when mountain lions are hunting.
Mountain lions do not want to confront humans. They do their best to avoid us, and meeting one is an unlikely event. Please keep it that way.
Evelyne Vandersande has been a docent at Placerita Canyon Nature Center for 27 years. She lives in Newhall.
Pilar Abalos, 43, of Poway, a woman being investigated for a rash of identity thefts in the Santa Clarita Valley, and now also in Ventura County, made her court appearance at Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday.
And after pleading not guilty in San Fernando, she was promptly re-arrested.
“She was in court today for an arraignment and plea,” according to a court official.
Abalos is being charged with two counts of identity theft and six counts second degree commercial burglary, according to court records.
Abalos is suspected of being involved in an ID theft ring whereby wallets of victims — whose appearance is similar to Abalos — are stolen, and then Abalos allegedly used her likeness to steal more from the victims.
“We have a case on her in Ventura County,” said Sgt. Alan Hartkop, “and there are some other charges, but I don’t know exactly how many counts.”
Abalos was still in the process of booking, which can take up to six hours, as of noon Wednesday.
Hartkop confirmed that Abalos was arrested shortly after her appearance. He did not have a court date for her Ventura County case, yet.
“We do work in conjunction with other agencies all the time in investigations,” Hartkop said, noting that this was being handled as a separate investigation. “We’re still preliminarily involved in this right now.”
This is the second arrest in the case.
On Feb. 5, deputies with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station arrested Valerie Lynne Ray, 54, of Los Angeles, on charges related to three local incidents.
Detectives believe Ray is the person who physically stole the wallets, and Abalos then used her likeness to commit identity fraud and steal large amounts of money.
Ray is being charged with six counts in connection with a crime ring that believed to have stolen from Crescenta Valley, Ventura County and local residents, said Deputy Josh Dubin of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.
UPDATED STORY Mon, 03/04/2013 – 10:36am
A suspect accused of preying on white, blond grocery store shoppers made a $220,000 bail Sunday afternoon, but will be due back at Los Angeles Superior Court in San Fernando on March 27 to face six charges.
Pilar Abalos, 42, of Poway, is accused of three counts of burglary and three counts of ID theft in a case that saw tens of thousands of dollars stolen from different victims who all had a similar appearance to Abalos.
Detectives believe that Abalos had an accomplice, Valerie Lynne Ray, 54, of Los Angeles, steal the wallets from the victims, and then Abalos would take their credit card information to stores and banks and steal their money.
A detective with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station was responsible for the capture of a suspect who is being looked at in cases throughout Southern California.
Abalos was recently arrested by the Inglewood Police Department on an unrelated case and posted a $100,000 bond, according to Sheriff’s Department arrest record.
“Through hours of investigation and diligent police work, a detective with the Sheriff’s Department was able to catch this suspect who is thought to have scammed thousands of dollars from victims throughout Southern California, including the Santa Clarita Valley,” said Deputy Josh Dubin of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.
Abalos is currently being held on $220,000 bail at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood.
She was booked there at 12:52 p.m. Saturday, according to arrest records. A Sheriff’s Department spokesman for the Lynwood facility could not identify the arresting agency.
This is the second arrest in the case.
On Feb. 5, deputies with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station arrested Valerie Lynne Ray, 54, of Los Angeles, on charges related to three local incidents.
Detectives believe Ray is the person who physically stole the wallets, and Abalos then used her likeness to commit identity fraud and steal large amounts of money.
Ray is being charged with six counts in connection with a crime ring that believed to have stolen from Crescenta Valley, Ventura County and local residents, said Dubin.
“We believe the woman we have in custody is the woman who physically stole the wallets and IDs,” Dubin said. “She then gave those IDs and wallets to the (person of interest).”
Dubin added that there are likely additional counts pending from other cities.
“The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station detective assigned to investigate this incident partnered with neighboring law enforcement agencies, local news media and the community we serve in order to solve this case,” Dubin said.
Click here for additional information.
ORIGINAL STORY
A Saturday crime spree left three women victimized of thousands of dollars after a suspect targeting white, blond women in grocery stores stole their wallets, credit card information and IDs, a Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station official said Thursday.
One of the victims had brown hair, and due to the fact that she didn’t resemble the victim closely enough, the victim was able to prevent further theft.
“They went to a gas station, numerous banks and numerous jewelry stores,” said Deputy Josh Dubin of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.
“Three white women were preyed upon from various grocery stores in the Santa Clarita area,” Dubin said, adding that all of the victims had a close resemblance to the female suspect.
Deputies are searching for one suspect and a person of interest who was a passenger in the SUV. The passenger was a man who was with the woman filling up a vehicle at local gas stations.
“We need the public’s help in finding out who this woman is, who the man is, and where there car is,” he said. There’s a potential suspect that was in a black sedan seen at the gas station with the suspects.
The car that they were seen driving, according to video surveillance captured at local gas stations, was a silver Cadillac SUV for the woman and a male passenger. The third person of interest was in a black sedan that may be a Honda or a BMW — the model of the car is difficult to make out on the security-camera footage, Dubin said.
“So these wallets were stolen, and we have some surveillance photos — they went into banks using the IDs and withdrew thousands of dollars,” he said.
Soon after the report surfaced, sheriff’s deputies from the Thousand Oaks station reported that a similar crime took place Jan. 10. The incidents are believed to be related, according to Sheriff’s Station officials.
Detectives from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station’s Robbery Team are seeking public assistance in identifying a person of interest thought to be responsible for attempted armed robbery Feb. 3.
The person captured with security footage entered the Sam’s Club, and although the business was closed to the public, held several store employees at gunpoint, according to a Sheriff’s Station news release.
After demanding money, this person of interest became alarmed and fled the location.
During the course of this investigation, detectives were able to obtain the attached photos of the suspected robber.
The suspect is described as a Hispanic man, approximately 25 to 35 years-old, 5 foot 8, approximately 175 to 200 pounds.
If you know the identity of the person shown in these photos, or his whereabouts, detectives are asking that you call LA Crime Stoppers by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
ORIGINAL STORY
Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station detectives are investigating an attempted armed robbery at Sam’s Club on Carl Boyer Drive.
The incident, which took place Sunday around 2 a.m., left no one injured. Detectives are still trying to determine what, if anything, the suspect was able to steal.
“The suspect pried a door open and pointed a firearm in the direction of one of the store employees,” said Deputy Josh Dubin.
“After the suspect made his way into the store, employees were able to observe the gunman and one of the employees was able to call 911,” the official said.
Officials initially thought the suspect moved all the employees to the back of the store at gunpoint, but that turned out not to be true.
After deputies contacted an employee able to escape outside to call 911, the Sheriff’s Station’s Special Enforcement Team, which is a Special Weapons And Tactics team for the Sheriff’s Station, responded.
After the Special Enforcement Team entered the store, it was able to determine that the suspect had fled the scene.
A crime lab technician was called to the location and detectives are awaiting results of lab tests for evidence, as well as reviewing video footage to determine if they can identify a suspect.
Nothing of significant value has been reported stolen at this time.
Due to the late hour of the robbery, the store was closed and no customers were inside, but there were approximately eight employees.
The Sams Club is located at the 26400 block of Carl Boyer Drive.
In this episode:
Santa Clarita City Council members approved a first-of-its-kind housing project with a unanimous vote Tuesday at City Hall.
Also:
A woman being investigated for a rash of identity thefts in the Santa Clarita Valley, and now also in Ventura County, made her court appearance at Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday; Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station detectives are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect who’s wanted for trying to rob a Sam’s Club last month; Santa Clarita Residents thinking of buying their first home may qualify for affordable loans through the City’s FirstHOME program; local weather.
Finally:
Now until Wednesday, April 17th the California Highway Patrol Explorers in Newhall will be collecting new stuffed toys for the Michael Hoefflin Foundation, a local non-profit that provides financial and emotional support for families with children facing cancer in Santa Clarita and the surrounding valleys.
SCV NewsBreak is a co-presentation of KHTS AM-1220 and SCVTV. It can be viewed on both organizations’ websites – HomeTownStation.com, SCVTV.com and SCVNews.com.
Television viewers can catch it on SCVTV at the top of every hour from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., repeating the following morning at 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. SCVTV runs on Time Warner Cable Channel 20 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, and streaming on SCVTV.com.
A man who scammed more than 19 women by contacting them through online dating sites and then conning them out of money and jewelry was sentenced, a District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman said Wednesday.
Jeffrey Elvington, 39, of Saugus, (right) was sentenced to a year in jail and three years probation after making a plea deal with the D.A.
Jeffrey Elvington
“He pleaded no contest to one count of second degree commercial burglary that occurred on Nov. 2 at Macy’s,” said Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the District Attorney’s Office.
“He also pleaded no contest to one felony count of grand theft, which occurred in December of 2012,” she said. “He pleaded no contest to those two counts.”
The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station’s Detective Bureau sought the public’s help in identifying more victims after they uncovered five victims who were scammed by Elvington
Through their investigation, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station detectives identified more than 19 victims, according to a station official.
Detectives investigated Elvington for using popular dating websites like Match.com to gain the trust of women and then steal their property.
“In one case, he was saying he was a personal chef for the stars,” said Sgt. James Anderson, who is in charge of the investigation. “In another case, he said he was working for the government and the military in the special forces. He would make up elaborate professions to make himself seem more desirable to the people he scammed.”
He would then steal things like their credit card information from his victims, and use their credit card numbers to purchase high-end electronics to later sell.
The suspect has contacted many other women over the last two years. All but one of the victims are Santa Clarita residents.
“He was buying a lot of iPads,” Anderson said. “It’s thousands of dollars.”
Detectives from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station conducted a surveillance and search warrant in the Saugus area of Santa Clarita. That’s where the suspect was contacted and arrested.
Photo by Evan Thomason, City of Santa Clarita
Professional cyclist Timmy Duggan is gearing up for one of the nation’s largest sporting events, the Amgen Tour of California. Duggan rode into Santa Clarita this week to accept a challenge from SCVTV Sports Director Dave Caldwell.
The 2012 U.S. olympian and USPRO National Champion went head-to-head with Caldwell in a trike race at the SCV Boys and Girls Club Tuesday afternoon.
He used his time there to stress the necessary safety measures he takes before each ride.
“No doubt, a helmet has saved my life a couple of times,” Duggan said at the start line. “We’re out there taking risks on our bikes, riding upwards of 60 miles per hour. A crash without a helmet there obviously could be catastrophic.”
High-speed races are not the only time riders are vulnerable to a head injury, he said.
Photo by Evan Thomason, City of Santa Clarita
“Just riding through school in a neighborhood, even then it’s important to wear a helmet. You never know what sort of accident could be lurking around the next corner.”
Duggan will be competing in the 2013 Amgen Tour of California in May. The eight-day event is a prestigious cycling event that brings together professional athletes from all over the world.
The Amgen Tour will begin in Escondido, Calif. on May 12 and end in Santa Rosa, Calif. on May 19.
Photo by Evan Thomason, City of Santa Clarita
Santa Clarita is one 12 cities to host various stages of the race this year. Riders will finish stage three in Santa Clarita on Tuesday, May 14 and begin stage four to Santa Barbara from Santa Clarita on Wednesday, May 15.
For a list of events planned around Amgen’s ride into Santa Clarita, click here.
More information about the race here.
Photo Courtesy: City of Santa Clarita
Landeros Family
Residents thinking of buying their first home in Santa Clarita may qualify for affordable loans through the City’s FirstHOME program. Local residents are invited to attend one of four informational meetings for the next round of FirstHOME loans beginning on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to noon in the Century Room at City Hall, located at 23920 Valencia Boulevard.
FirstHOME is a program designed to assist eligible lower income families in purchasing their first home and is made possible through funding from the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
Due to high demand for FirstHOME loans, interested applicants must attend at least one informational meeting to be entered into a lottery for eligibility to apply for the FirstHOME Program. Applicants who have lived or worked inside City limits for at least the last 6 months will be given priority in the lottery. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance into the program by late summer 2013, and may begin their search for homes as early as October 2013.
The program offers a second mortgage loan at a rate of zero percent. The deferred-payment, second mortgage can be used to assist in purchasing a home within City limits. Household income limits vary with household size. For example, the maximum annual income for a household of four is $66,250.
Homes purchased through the program may be single family or condominiums and must be located inside the City limits. Mobile home purchases are not eligible. Loans cannot exceed 50 percent of the sale price of the home. Additional limits on the number of bedrooms and total loan amounts also apply.
Photo Courtesy: City of Santa Clarita
Quach Family
Additional informational meetings will be hosted in the Century Room at City Hall at various dates and times, including: Thursday, May 23, 2013 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Wednesday, May 29, 2013 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; and Saturday, June 1, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Spanish translation services will be offered at the first meeting held at City Hall from 10:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 1, 2013.
Interested homebuyers must RSVP for one of the meetings by clicking on the link under FirstHOME online at Santa-Clarita.com/housing, or call (661) 286-4141. Program fact sheets in English and Spanish are also available for downloading on the website.
For more information on the City’s FirstHOME Program, contact (661) 286-4141 or visit Santa-Clarita.com/Housing.
The City of Santa Clarita, in partnership with the Santa Clarita Valley International Program (SCVIP), is inviting local teen artists and authors to submit artwork, poetry, or essays as part of the Sister Cities Young Artists and Young Authors Showcase contest, which is themed “The Power of Exchange.”
Sponsored by Sisters Cities International, local youth are encouraged to enter pieces that reflect how exchanges of people and ideas facilitate community development and educational opportunities, whether in person, online or through the mail. Submissions should illustrate the long-term impact that exchanges have had on the participant or his or her community.
One winner will be selected from the categories of artwork, poetry, and essay and will receive a $100 prize each. These local winning entries will be submitted to Sisters Cities International in Washington D.C. where they will compete with entries from other Sister Cities for the grand prize of $1,000 per category.
Sisters Cities International is a non-profit organization that fosters partnerships among communities around the globe to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation – one individual, one community at a time. Currently, the City of Santa Clarita has two international Sister Cities in Tena, Ecuador and Sariaya, Philippines.
To qualify, contestants must be between the ages of 13 and 18 by May 1, 2013. Interested teens may submit only one original work, along with a completed entry form found at scvipsantaclarita.org. Submissions are due by Friday, April 19, 2013 in Suite 120 in City Hall, located at 23920 Valencia Boulevard. Judging will take place on Wednesday, April 29, 2013.
For more information on contest rules and entry specifications, please visit scvipsantaclarita.org or facebook.com/scvip, or contact Tess Simgen at (661) 286-4157 or scvip@santa-clarita.com.
The Inaugural rare and collectable books silent book-auction hosted by the Friends of the Public Library (FOTPL) closed Mar. 25, winning bids have not been collected but books that usually sell for a dollar have seen bids in the $10 to $150 range.
“The Friends of the Library [hosted] its first book auction thanks to an overflow of donations from generous community members,” said Mayor Bob Kellar, “We hope this event will encourage community members to find new books to read and enjoy this year.”
The event sponsored by the FOTPL, offered a wide selection of unique books available for bidding at the Canyon Country, Newhall and Valencia Library. All proceeds from the auction will go toward supporting the Friends of the Library.
The Friends of Santa Clarita Public Library is an active group of Santa Clarita residents who volunteer, advocate and fundraise to meet the needs of the Santa Clarita Public Library. All of the proceeds from fundraising events and programs sponsored by the Friends of the Library go towards providing new materials and programming at the Santa Clarita Public Library.
If you would like to join their group, membership to the Friends of Santa Clarita Public Library is open to the community. For more information about how to join, please visit SantaClaritaLibrary.com.
Santa Clarita City Council members approved a first-of-its-kind housing project with a unanimous vote Tuesday at City Hall.
The Habitat for Heroes project is a unique program that offers homes at below-market cost to veterans returning from their service.
“One of the reasons that we’re doing this is to address the high number of foreclosures that veterans have had over the years,” said Donna Deutchman, CEO of the Habitat for Humanity of San Fernando/Santa Clarita valleys.
“Veterans have returned home without some of the skills that others their age have acquired during their service. We need to help them utilize the extraordinary that they have learned,” she said.
The project, which includes 87 homes next door to Bowman High School, received unanimous approval from the city’s Planning Commission in February — with one condition.
After a local environmental group raised concern over the site’s proximity to Whittaker-Bermite, planning commissioner Chuck Heffernan asked for soil testing on the site.
The tests showed zero levels of contamination.
City Council members will vote Tuesday on approval for a first-of-its-kind housing program aimed at helping Santa Clarita Valley veterans.
A city staff recommendation calls for an approval of the housing tract that would be built for veterans returning from service.
The housing program passed soil tests with flying colors, clearing the way for a vote by City Council members.
The Santa Clarita Planning Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the SCV Habitat for Heroes project, a community of 11 one-story houses and 76 duplex units to be built on Center Pointe Parkway next to Bowman High School.
The broadly supported development project will go to the City Council for final approval. But first, the soil will be tested because the property abuts the Whittaker-Bermite site, where munitions were manufactured there from the 1930s to the 1980s – leaving contaminants behind in some areas.
The Habitat for Humanity people will have to dig some holes in the ground first – but at a cost of less than $5,000, that’s not a big deal when you’re talking about building 87 affordable homes for returning military veterans and their families.
Habitat for Humanity of SFV/SCV officials reported that there was absolutely no soil contamination, which bodes well for the project.
Commissioner Chuck Heffernan called for the soils test after Lynne Plambeck and Cam Noltemeyer of SCOPE (Santa Clarita Organization for Planning and the Environment) noted that the only environmental work done on the property was a review of paperwork.
The review, called a Phase-1 environmental study, showed there was no history of contamination on the Habitat property. Had the Phase-1 study showed any possibility of contamination, a Phase-2 study – actual digging and testing – would have been done.
B.J. Atkins, the environmental scientist who performed the Phase-1 study (and coincidentally, a fellow Newhall County Water Board member with Plambeck) said six, 3-foot-deep holes could be dug and the soils tested for less than $5,000 – even though he didn’t think it necessary.
“Ten years from now when somebody asks the question,” said Commissioner Tim Burkhart, “it’ll be the best $5,000 ever spent.”
Atkins said he’d complete the work before the project goes to the City Council. In the unlikely event any contaminants showed up, they would be properly removed.
More than a year in the making, the SCV Habitat for Heroes project is one of two veterans housing projects being pursued simultaneously by Habitat for Humanity of SFV/SCV. A second project in Sylmar has already been green-lighted by the city of Los Angeles, Habitat CEO Donna Deutchman said.
Deutchman’s group, which has been building affordable homes – not just for veterans – since 1990, recently completed a 61-unit housing project in Pacoima.
Carl Goldman of KHTS radio, who organized a large advisory group for the Santa Clarita project, recently visited the Pacoima development.
Noting that it’s a gated community in the middle of “one of the roughest, toughest barrios,” Goldman likened it to “Dorothy leaving Kansas and entering Oz.”
“It’s become the neighborhood village (like) we used to see in America 100 years ago,” Goldman said.\
More than just housing, Deutchman described an “enriched neighborhood environment” with an array of services brought together by Habitat for Humanity – educational, health and social services that are designed to help the ex-military residents attain self-sufficiency.
Thirty percent of young veterans are unemployed and 25 percent of unemployed Americans are vets, she said.
Numbering more than 10,000 today, Santa Clarita has “an inordinate amount of veterans,” Deutchman said, making it a sensible place for a veterans housing project.
And more are on the way. J.D. Kennedy, commander of American Legion Post 507, noted that about 10,000 active vets are returning from tours in the Middle East.
“Our servicemen and -women deserve the best welcome home possible,” he said.
Many of them will need “self-sufficiency skills,” Deutchman said. “Many have not gotten a college degree, (and) many have young families.”
Even if the housing project hasn’t yet received its final approval, eight veterans have already been pre-approved to move in, Deutchman said.
To qualify, she said, a veteran must have been honorably discharged, have reasonably good credit, a household income between $45,000 and $83,000, and they can’t show up on the Megan’s Law list of sex offenders.
And when they sign on the dotted line, they agree to put in 500 hours’ worth of sweat equity and take the enrichment classes.
That was one of the major selling points of the project for planning commissioner Diane Trautman.
“What I found exciting was all of the support services being offered,” she said. “They’re really building a village here. This is very well thought out.”
Growing up in Suburbia; where the places contain a familiar quietness, friends are never changing, the beer never empty, and the pizza, a hidden hometown gem. A group of young adults bursting with potential, frozen by their own self-indulged helplessness, spend endless florescent-lite nights at a mini-mart parking lot parading in the same day-to-day fashion.
Director John Demita and a cast and crew of talented and dedicated College of the Canyons students and faculty is set to showcase its latest production of SubUrbia on March 27th-29th located in the Back Box Theatre.
The play is about an eclectic group of young adults aimlessly staggering through the stagnant consistency of mundane suburban life located in “Burnfield,” New Jersey. Among the somber haze of a 7-Eleven’s neon glow, the group of misfits spend their time drinking, eating Oreo’s, harassing the Pakistani convenient store owner Nazeer, conversing and ranting through out the night.
Jeff, played by Todd Hughlett, is a dreamer and sporadic student who tries to convince his artist girlfriend Sooze, played by Bre Combs, to stay in Burnfield instead of moving to New York to pursue her dreams. Buff, played by Devin Heath, is an outgoing partier, dancing and humping throughout the play, lost in his own slacker oblivion. He tries to pursue Bee-Bee, played by Celina Galang, a nurse’s aid at the critical ward of the local hospital. Then there is Tim a borderline alcoholic and Air Force veteran, played by Austen Paros.
The play contains realistic and conversational dialogue that accelerates into absurd rants and scattered outburst of activities that touch on serious subject matter, masked by dark humor. A change of pace occurs when Pony, high school friend turned semi-famous musician played by Timmy Jasperson, returns with his female publicist Erica, played by Chelsea Van Duyn, in a black limo. The reunion triggers a series of events to unfold during the course of one night that shakes the consistency into a progression towards change.
Written by Eric Bogosian, Suburbia’s first debut was held at the Lincoln Center Theatre Company’s festival of American Plays. Bogosian paints a dim and tragic look into the lives of individuals trying to overcome their idleness and fear to find their direction and purpose.
The production’s set consists of a convenient store and a parking lot where the group meets. Demita explains that the set comes out towards the audience so guests will feel like they are part of the show. Actors must make their environment come to life through natural, pedestrian-like movement and behavior, in a way that they can be visible to audience members.
For him as a director, Demita explains that one of the most rewarding parts of the watching a project evolve is when you “create an illusion that it’s all magically happening, without anyone noticing any of the plans or structure that you’ve crammed onto it or found within it and facilitated.” He loves when something looks like it wasn’t directed and happened spontaneously.
The actors had to be prepared to walk into rehearsals ready and willing to change and mold into the directors vision. Jasperson explains that when he approaches a new character he likes to discover the “similarities and differences [I] have with the characters and figure out where to take that character.” He explains that one has to “find a medium” that fits along with the directors vision and the flow of the other cast members.
Since the play is so contemporary and topical, and at times smudged with vulgarity, Demita said he helps the actors “find the most truthful performances that they can and at the same time shape the performance and production into narrative that the audience will feel relaxed into watching,” said Demita.
Hughlett explains that you have to be constantly willing to adapt when discovering the context of the play and working with the director. “I’ve learned to evolve and constantly be on my feet,” Huglett said.
Since the play is heavily grounded in reality, Demita asks his actors to explore their character and relationships with others characters in the play, and he adjust accordingly so the play contains a “slice of life” quality.
Despite the plays tragic moments, Demita hopes audience members will leave the theatre feeling optimistic that each character’s life is going to change and move forward with their lives. Instead of focusing on the failures the characters have faced, he said, “I would like them think there’s the possibility of something better happening the next day,” and, “no one will make the same mistakes.” He adds, “I’d like to find some optimistism,” because “I don’t like hopelessness as a rule.”
The play and its characters are like a slice of “Burnfield” pizza, full of flavor, tinged with grease and the humorously blunt moments is like the bitter coolness of a refreshing beer helpful for washing down the otherwise ambitious content. Satisfying till the last bite, SubUrbia will open March 27th -29th at 8pm and Saturday March 30th at 2pm and 8pm in the Black Box Theatre. Tickets are $10 and $5 for students and can be purchased at the box office or online at www.canyonspac.com. Tickets are limited so be sure to purchase tickets in advanced.
In this episode:
Sports director Dave Caldwell challenges 2012 Olympian and National US Pro Champion Timmy Duggan to a trike race at the SCV Boys and Girls Clun in Newhall; The sentencing for a local ponzi scheme artist has been pushed back to May 2, according to federal court documents.
Also:
Two Valencia brothers are now serving sentences for a string of commercial burglaries; County documents show Pico Canyon Park is a viable location for a future library to serve Stevenson Ranch; local weather.
Sports:
College of the Canyons men’s basketball coach Howard Fisher is one of five finalists for the 2013 Red Auerbach College Coach of the Year Award.
Finally:
The City of Santa Clarita is looking for volunteers for the 20th annual Cowboy Festival.
SCV NewsBreak is a co-presentation of KHTS AM-1220 and SCVTV. It can be viewed on both organizations’ websites – HomeTownStation.com, SCVTV.com and SCVNews.com.
Television viewers can catch it on SCVTV at the top of every hour from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., repeating the following morning at 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. SCVTV runs on Time Warner Cable Channel 20 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, and streaming on SCVTV.com.
The NCAA March Madness has finally arrived! Fans from across the country are gearing up to watch their favorite college basketball teams in hopes of having a winning bracket. Most of us will be glued to our T.V.’s for the next couple of weeks while rooting for our favorite teams, in style, of course. Even if you are not a big sports fanatic, you can still join in on the fun with some sports fashion. Following the next couple of weeks there will be many opportunities to watch the games at home, at a friends, or even watching courtside at the game. With some style help, here are a couple sample outfits to showcase your spirit. Regardless of your favorite teams, March is a great season to celebrate sports and college fashion. As the competition unfolds, make sure to watch and cheer on your teams, IN STYLE, this March Madness!
Style Guide: Jersey, Shorts, Bracelet, Purse
Style Guide: Tank, Pants, Shoes, Backpack, Hat
Style Guide: Tank, Pants, Sweatshirt, Shoes
Style Guide: Shirt, Pants, Purse, Heels
What will you be wearing for March?
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Coupling a sparkling start with a solid, first-place showing in the GSAC, The Master’s College baseball team has caught the eye of coaches around the country in the first regular-season edition of the 2013 NAIA Baseball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, tabbing the Mustangs as the nation’s No. 5 squad.
More than two months into the 2013 campaign, the Mustangs are 26-9 overall and 18-6 in the GSAC where they enjoy a 3½-game lead over second-place Concordia, the country’s 13th-ranked club.
Commenting on his team’s lofty ranking, 17th-year head coach Monte Brooks said, “ Thank the Lord for this experience! We’re extremely excited! It’s an honor for the coaches across the country to recognize us as a baseball program that’s having a tremendous season. On the flip side, we know that we still have a lot of season left to play.
“These kids have done very well. It’s been true of many teams that our goals are short and tend to zoom in on the minor things. Focusing on one pitch at a time and one hit at a time is how we are going to approach the coming games. We feel when you take that approach it removes all the other distractions and variables that would prohibit you from playing to your max potential.”
The Mustangs and Concordia put their freshly-minted rankings on the line this week in a three-game series in Irvine, meeting in a single game on Wednesday before battling in a doubleheader a day later. The Mustangs took two of three from the Eagles back in early February.
Four men and one woman were arrested Monday after Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies, acting on a tip about a stolen car, showed up to at a Stevenson Ranch hotel.
Jose Olea, 28, of Homeland; Stella Arias, 29, of Los Angeles; Victor Martinez, 19, of Los Angeles; Alvaro Martinez, 23, of Los Angeles; and Juan Dominguez, 18, of Riverside, are all due in court Wednesday on charges related to possession of narcotics, ID theft and conspiracy to commit ID theft, according to Sheriff’s Station officials.
“An embezzled vehicle was spotted in the parking lot of a hotel in Stevenson Ranch,” said Lt. Tom Bryski of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.
“The car was found with fake IDs in it, and we able to find out what room the individuals were staying in and detain them,” he said.
Deputies were tipped off to the location of the car and the suspects due to a GPS unit that was located in the stolen rental car.
Two suspects were arrested outside of the hotel on the 25300 block of The Old Road. Three more were found in rooms at the hotel, and left the room after being contacted by Sheriff’s Station deputies.
All of the suspects are being held at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station on $90,000 bail except for Olea, who has a no-bail hold because he is on parole.
They are all expected to appear at Los Angeles Superior Court in San Fernando on Wednesday.
The Albert Einstein Academy of Santa Clarita is seeking sponsors for its student-parent golf tournament to raise money for the school and its Rocket Booster Club. The tournament will be held May 31 at the Elkins Ranch Golf Club in Fillmore.
The event will be open to AEA students and parents, and will include a putting contest, long ball and closest-to-the-pin prizes, and post-tournament awards ceremony, BBQ Dinner, no-host bar, silent auction, and raffle.
Elkins Ranch Golf Course is a 6,302 yard 18-hole PGA championship course nestled in the scenic orange groves of Fillmore, California.
Albert Einstein Academy of Santa Clarita is a charter school now in its third year in Valencia. AEA seeks to prepare secondary students for college and 21st century careers through an intensive interdisciplinary educational experience. The school currently offers classes for 7th through 11th grade students, with a 12th grade class being added in the 2013-2014 school year.
Available sponsorships for the tournament include:
Tee sponsor: $100 (with Tee sign for your company or family)
Hole-In-One sponsor: $500
Putting Contest sponsor: $500
Silver sponsor: $1000
Gold sponsor: $1500 (includes 4 players and a Tee sign)
Platinum sponsor: $2500 (incdlues 8 players, 2 tables, recognition, speaking opportunity, and Tee sign)
For more information, contact Troy Spayd at (661) 476-4850.
Two Valencia brothers are now serving sentences for a string of commercial burglaries that ended with their arrests in October, according to a District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Tuesday.
“Jonathan Newell, 43, pleaded guilty to three counts, which were all commercial burglary counts,” according to a court official who asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to talk to the media.
Jonathan Newell agreed late Monday to the sentence.
Newell is expected to start a four-years, four-month sentence in county jail April 9, when he comes back to Los Angeles Superior Court in San Fernando for sentencing.
Robert Newell, 38, and Jonathan Newell, 43, took separate deals, and both are serving their time at the Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic.
Both Newell brothers were arrested by deputies on Oct. 1 at 3:30 a.m. on burglary charges, according to Sheriff’s Station arrest records.
The brothers’ burglaries took place in Saugus and Canyon Country.
Robert Newell, whose occupation was listed as a security officer, took a deal in November of last year for two two-year sentences that will be served concurrently.
He was given 730 days, but his estimated release date is September of this year, and that could be adjusted based on the local prison population.
Jonathan Newell, who was out on parole under AB 109, the Post-Release Community Supervision Act, was sentenced to four years and four months.
AB 109 is a controversial 2011 law that grants early parole to offenders whose crimes are considered, nonviolent and nonsexual.
Judge Lloyd Nash is presiding over the case.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputies from the Parks Bureau Special Problems Team observed a male adult sitting in a parked truck with the driver’s door open at the rear of a motel, adjacent to Castaic Lake Park on Saturday.
The deputies noticed what appeared to be a hypodermic needle in the man’s hand and it appeared he was about to inject his foot. The deputies detained him and identified the suspect as a resident of Valencia.
After further investigation it was determined that the suspect had a Felony warrant for Possession for Sales of Heroin and he was also in possession of a small baggie which contained Heroin.
He was immediately arrested and booked at Santa Clarita Station Possession for Sales of Heroin and the felony warrant.
Castaic Lake Park is located at 32132 Ridge Route Road Castaic.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Departments Parks Bureau is dedicated to providing a safe and drug free environment at all Los Angeles County Parks.
Pico Canyon Park is a viable location for a future library to serve Stevenson Ranch, according to documents from the County of Los Angeles Public Library system.
The 20-acre park on Pico Canyon Road, home to the “Old Glory” oak tree that was moved there nearly a decade ago following a community effort to save it, is the last place left on the County Library’s list of suitable sites that’s both available and big enough to host a new library.
All of the commercial properties that had been under consideration for lease or purchase are either unavailable or too small, according to the documents, which stem from a public meeting earlier this month.
“In most cases, existing restrictions prohibited the use of specific commercial sites for library construction,” according to a fact sheet. “In other instances, sites did not contain sufficient square footage to accommodate the requirements of a library; or parking and locations did not serve the community in a balanced geographic area central to serving the entire community.”
The county looked at raw land in the area, but “no properties were available for development within the next 5–10 years.”
The county hopes to start construction on a new library in 2014 and open it in 2016. Much of the anticipated $16 million construction cost is in the bank, through developer fees and funds paid by the city of Santa Clarita when it took over the three county libraries inside city limits. The city bought the Valencia Library and the former Newhall library building from the county, and it reimbursed the county for recent improvements to the Canyon Country Jo Anne Darcy Library, which the city had paid to build.
The county says it needs a 15,000-square-foot building to serve the west side communities, with adequate parking and ADA accessibility. That’s based on 2020 census projections at 0.5 square feet per person. Plans call for 2.5 reader seats, one computer and four parking spaces for every 1,000 patrons served.
Pico Canyon Park would fit the mold. “The park is county-owned park land,” the fact sheet states. “The Parks and Playground Act of 1909 permit(s) public facilities, including libraries, for recreation and enjoyment (to) be built in parks, and the county has built libraries in other parks across Los Angeles County.”
The county’s Dr. Richard Rioux Memorial Park would work, too, but it’s an “active park” with “lots of programming” and isn’t being considered.
Jake Kuredjian County Park wouldn’t work because the county has a joint use agreement for it with the Newhall School District.
Raw land owned by homebuilder DR Horton at The Old Road and Sagecrest is available and would be a “great site for Identity of the community,” but an environmental review process alone could take up to a year and again, the library documents show that no development site would be ready for five to 10 years.
Another undeveloped site on Pico Canyon Road has “difficult topography” and “many oak trees.”
The existing commercial structures that had been under consideration were:
* Linens and Things – no longer available.
* Billiards and Barstools, 25420 The Old Road – too small (8,800 square feet).
* Stevenson Ranch Road & Hemingway (Dance Studio) – too small (9,700); shared parking.
* Magic Mountain Exit, (27430 The Old Road Restaurant Site – no longer available; too small (8,300).
* 25922 & 25926 The Old Road – no longer available; too small (10,100); shared parking.
* 25261 The Old Road (Commercial Center with Outback Steakhouse) – shared parking; “below minimum programming requirements.”
* Val Surf, Valencia Market Place, 25950 The Old Road – CCR restrictions; shared parking; “below minimum programming requirements.”
The City of Santa Clarita is looking for teens and adults ages 15 years or older to volunteer at the 20th Annual Cowboy Festival, taking place at Melody Ranch Motion Pictures Studio and other venues within the City from Thursday, April 18 through Sunday, April 21, 2013.
Those interested in volunteering are required to attend the annual Volunteer Roundup at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3, at the Santa Clarita Activities Center, located at 20880 Centre Pointe Parkway.
The Volunteer Roundup is an orientation about the Cowboy Festival where events will be introduced and all questions will be answered. Volunteers will gain an insider’s look into the Festival and be entered into raffles to win free cowboy memorabilia. At the Volunteer Roundup participants will receive a volunteer shirt, have the chance to make changes to shift assignments and sign up for available positions including: ticket takers, volunteer check-in, safety patrol, ushering, food court, merchandise, and more.
This year, all volunteers are required to register through the City’s new online Rec1 software, which is a convenient and easy-to-use online registration service. Interested participants can select the jobs and shifts desired from the comfort of their own home at Santa-Clarita.com/index.aspx?page=857
For more information about the Volunteer Roundup events and other volunteer opportunities with the City, please contact Volunteer Services Supervisor Susana Coronel at (661) 250-3726 or email volunteers@santa-clarita.com.
Social Media Marketing Made Simple You’ve probably heard of social media. You may even understand the value social media can bring to your business. Now wondering how to start? In this introductory session, we cover strategies and best practices to get the most out of your social media activities, including:
Register online at: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=p8kdgpiab&oeidk=a07e72sxsmd81070d85
Date: Wednesday, March 27 Time: 9 am – 11 am Cost: FREE + $2 parking fee (kiosk located in lot 14) Location: University Center at College of the Canyons, Room 223 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita 91355 |
New Client Orientation – AV This orientation will give insight into starting and running a successful small business. You will learn all about what the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has to offer and how we can assist you in establishing or maintaining your small business through one-on-one consultation and training seminars. We offer the New Client Orientation free of charge to all new clients. Register online at: http://tinyurl.com/New-Client-Orientation-040113 Date: Monday, April 1 Time: 10 am – 11 am Cost: FREE Location: University of Antelope Valley 44055 North Sierra Highway, Lancaster 93534 |
Access to Capital – Finding Funding for Your Business If you want/need a loan to start or build your business, or if you need some financial help to survive this recession, this workshop is for you. Learn the 5 C’s of credit so you will know what lenders are looking for when considering lending you money. You will receive information about available small business loan programs designed to assist businesses during a recession. Lastly, you will learn about the importance of having a well thought out business plan when asking for credit loan consideration from a bank or other lenders. Register online at: http://tinyurl.com/Access-to-Capital-040513
Date: Friday, April 5 Time: 10 am – 12 pm Cost: FREE Location: University of Antelope Valley 44055 North Sierra Highway, Lancaster 93534 |
How to Successfully Start Your New Business – Citi Sponsored! This hands-on workshop will help you get started quickly as you learn the steps necessary to successfully launch your new business. Learn to prepare a written plan you can use to build and grow a profitable business. Learn the best way to structure your business as you identify and focus on the key marketing, sales and financial issues of your business and how to bring it all together. This powerful event has helped many entrepreneurs achieve success. Register online at: http://tinyurl.com/Start-New-Bus-040913 Date: Tuesday, April 9 Time: 9 am – 11 am Cost: FREE + $2 parking fee (kiosk located in lot 14) Location: University Center at College of the Canyons, Room 222 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita 91355 |
Export Trade Finance & Insurance – Getting Paid! Topics covered will include:
This is the sixth in a series of eight International Trade workshops running every two weeks through May 7, 2013. You are invited to attend the series or any individual training of interest to you. Register online at: http://tinyurl.com/Trade-Finance-Insurance-040913
Date: Tuesday, April 9 Time: 9 am – 12 pm Cost: FREE + $2 parking fee (kiosk located in lot 14) Location: University Center at College of the Canyons, Room 223 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita 91355 |
How to Successfully Start Your New Business This hands-on workshop will help you get started quickly as you learn the steps necessary to successfully launch your new business. Learn to prepare a written plan you can use to build and grow a profitable business. Learn the best way to structure your business as you identify and focus on the key marketing, sales and financial issues of your business and how to bring it all together. This powerful event has helped many entrepreneurs achieve success. Date: Wednesday, April 10 Time: 5 pm - 7 pm Cost: $30 + $2 parking fee (kiosk located in lot 14) Location: University Center at College of the Canyons, Room 222 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita 91355 |
HR Law for Supervisors & Managers Supervisors and managers are the first line of defense in complying with Human Resources laws. Adequate knowledge of and training in this area is essential to legal compliance and in preventing complaints, charges, and lawsuits. Topics covered include how to legally and effectively:
Also covers federal and California laws and regulations in the following areas:
Date: Thursday, April 11 Time: 9 am - 1 pm Cost: $35 + $2 parking fee (kiosk located in lot 14) Location: University Center at College of the Canyons, Room 223 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita 91355 |
New Client Orientation This orientation will give insight into starting and running a successful small business. You will learn all about what the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has to offer and how we can assist you in establishing or maintaining your small business through one-on-one consultation and training seminars. We offer the New Client Orientation free of charge to all new clients. Register online at: http://tinyurl.com/New-Client-Orientation-41213 Location: University Center at College of the Canyons, Room 222 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita 91355 Date: Friday, April 12 Time: 10 am – 11 am Cost: FREE + $2 parking fee (kiosk located in lot 14) |
A rash of thefts, some leading to ID thefts but most leading to pawn shop visits, have deputies looking to send a simple message: “If you make your valuables available, someone’s going to get them.”
Deputy Regina Yost, who supervises the Crime Prevention Unit’s Valencia zone, said she feels like “a broken record,” because she has to keep repeating about not becoming a victim.
Each of the CPU’s five zone leaders put out such a report that detail Part-1 crimes, a designation created by the FBI in order to classify crimes that range anywhere from petty theft to rape or murder.
Nearly all of the incidents are thefts or burglaries, and many of those are preventable, she said. The hope is to drive down crime by making people aware of the risks they may be taking with their valuables.
“I get a lot of positive feedback where people say, ‘Thank you for reporting that, I wasn’t aware there’s really been a problem in my neighborhood,’” Yost said.
“But I think most of the people either don’t care enough or they think it’s safe so they don’t worry about it,” Yost said, mentioning an afternoon burglary incident from the prior week.
It happened between 9 a.m. and noon in well-to-do Valencia neighborhood. A woman parked her car in her garage but left the garage unlocked.
A thief walked into the garage, stole the woman’s purse with credit cards and cash and then walked away unnoticed during the middle of the day.
These so-called crimes of opportunity account for about 60 percent of the incidents Yost handles, she said.
“Right now, we have a big issue with pawning,” Yost said. “IPads and purses and (valuables) — that’s all pawnable,” she said.
“I think the biggest thing is iPods and iPhones — if a person sees a charger cord hanging from any part of a vehicle, they assume an item is connected to it,” she mentioning expensive bags for equipment or briefcases.
Based on the reports she sees, there are anywhere from 18 to 30 Part-1 crimes in her zone, Yost said. There are anywhere from four to 10 burglary incidents each week, and most are preventable.
“I put the same caution in my report every week,” Yost said. “I think a lot of people aren’t realizing what’s going on in their neighborhood. We want people to know there are programs available,” she said, mentioning the reports, Tweets and other outreach efforts the Sheriff’s Station has created.
Every week, her Nixle report contains the following caution:
“Do not become a victim! Please do not leave valuables unattended or visible in your vehicles. Secure items in locked trunks or take personal belongings with you when you exit your vehicle. If possible, park in well-lit areas.”
Another alarming trend for deputies is when unlocked garages are broken into, Yost said.
In many cases, a homeowner will close a garage door, but leave the side door unlocked, which makes for an easy target for thieves.
The fact that people have valuables on their property might be creating a “false sense of security,” Yost said.
People also need to make sure they don’t leave anything visible in their car when they walk away from it, regardless of if the car’s alarmed.
Not only is the stuff difficult to recover, but most “smash-and-grab” incidents don’t leave fingerprints behind for deputies to track down.
“There’s only been maybe a few cases where there was a car alarm that went off, where the person said they came out and didn’t see anything,” Yost said
“Could that scare somebody off? Maybe,” she said. “But if you’re locking your car and securing valuable items then you’re much less likely to becomes victim.”
Steven Karkenny
For the second time this season, Steve Karkenny (Chatsworth, CA) has earned the GSAC’s “Player of the Week” award. Karkenny earned the same honors two weeks ago on March 12.
This time, Karkenny capped off an outstanding week with a 9-for-14 (.643) performance in the Mustangs’ three-game sweep of San Diego Christian. The GSAC’s leading hitter and run-producer hit 10-for-18 (.556) during the week, hit a pair of home runs, drove in seven runs, and scored six more himself.
The Mustangs look to continue their conference dominance as they travel to Irvine to engage in a crucial three-game series with second-place Concordia. The two squads meet in a single game on Wednesday at 12:00 PM, and then tangle in a doubleheader on Thursday.
Thane Ringler
After the first two rounds of play in the 2013 Battle at Primm, the no. 11 nationally ranked Master’s College men’s golf team sits in first place out of a field of 17 teams with a score of 9-under 567 (280, 287).
The Mustangs finished the first day with three players under par. Thane Ringler (Hutchinson, KS) carded a 4-under 140 (71-69) and is tied for seventh place. John Lawson (Mobile, AL) sits tied for 11th place at 3-under 141 (75, 66), while Michael Reitz (Denver, CO) finished tied for 15th at 2-under 142 (70, 72).
Andrew Bergoon (Mobile, AL) tied for 54th place at 6-over 150 (71, 79) while Nolan Sand (Hoquiam, WA) sits tied for 67th at 152 (79, 73).
Statistically, the Mustangs lead the 17 team leaderboard with four eagles. The squad ranks sixth in pars (110), and eighth in birdies (30).
“We as a team had our first two under par rounds, for the year, today,” reported Mustang golf coach Jason Semelsberger. “Praise the Lord! Tomorrow is a new day, and we obviously need to go out an execute well once again”.
TMC now looks to retain their first place standing, and claim their first victory of the season tomorrow in the final round of the Battle at Primm tournament.
Wow! We have a packed show today! We kick it off with Gangrel and Peter Maivia who join us to tell us about what they are doing to raise money for Valencia High School’s Sports Med program. This is going to be an amazing event!
Wine anyone? Marlee Lauffer and Eve Bushman visit us to talk about a fantastic fundraiser coming to the Old Town Newhall Library to benefit the WiSH Foundation. This is one you won’t want to miss!
Scott Norton fills us in on the Special Olympics Shoot-a-thon taking place on March 30th!
Spotlight Art Center is bringing something very unique to our SCV Seniors. Flip Kobler and Cindy Marcus are here to let you know how you can get your child involved in something that we think is really cool!
We rap the show up with the Castaic Animal Shelter. There is a new batch of lovely animals looking for a good home.
In this episode
A Stevenson Ranch man was sentenced to 43 years to life in state prison for charges relating to a 2012 sexual assault and rape.
Also:
City Council members are set to vote on a first-of-its-kind housing tract at City Hall Tuesday.
Three hikers are safe and one teenager is dead after falling down the side of a mountain in Eaton Canyon.
Sports:
2013 SCV Hoops Finale presented by SCVTV and The Signal Multimedia.
Finally:
An early morning crash Sunday in the Antelope Valley left one man dead and a child with minor injuries.
SCV NewsBreak is a co-presentation of KHTS AM-1220 and SCVTV. It can be viewed on both organizations’ websites – HomeTownStation.com, SCVTV.com and SCVNews.com.
Television viewers can catch it on SCVTV at the top of every hour from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., repeating the following morning at 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. SCVTV runs on Time Warner Cable Channel 20 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, and streaming on SCVTV.com.