The commander in chief delivers a message to U.S. troops and Department of Defense personnel on the partial shutdown of the government. Available in high definition.
(c)2013 DoD | SCVTV
[CLWA] – 
The Castaic Lake Water Agency has been awarded a District Transparency Certificate of Excellence by the Special District Leadership Foundation in recognition of its outstanding efforts to promote transparency and good governance.
“This award is a testament to the Agency’s commitment to open and transparent government,” said Dan Masnada, General Manager. ”Agency staff is to be commended for its contributions that empower the public with information and facilitate engagement and oversight.”
In order to receive the award, a special district must demonstrate the completion of eight essential governance transparency requirements, including conducting ethics training for all board members, properly conducting open and public meetings and filing financial transactions and compensation reports to the State Controller in a timely manner.
The Agency also fulfilled fifteen website requirements, including providing readily available information to the public, such as board agendas, past minutes, current Agency budget and the most recent financial audit.
Finally, the Agency must demonstrate outreach to its constituents that engages the public in its governance, through newsletters, special community engagement projects and a community transparency review.
SDLF is an independent, non-profit organization formed to promote good governance and best practices among California’s special districts through certification, accreditation and other recognition programs.
About the Castaic Lake Water Agency
The Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA) is the Santa Clarita Valley’s public water wholesaler. CLWA is one of 29 State Water Project contractors and receives water imported from northern California and Kern County through the California Aqueduct. CLWA operates two large treatment plants, three major pump stations, three water storage facilities and over 45 miles of large diameter transmission pipelines delivering water to four local water retailers.
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The application period for admission to the fall 2014 term for all CSU campuses will open on Tuesday, October 1. Students intending to apply for fall admission should visit the website www.csumentor.edu to complete the online application.
“A degree from a California State University campus continues to be one of the great values in all of higher education as our alums boast higher career earnings and graduate with far less debt than those from other institutions,” said Ephraim P. Smith, CSU executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer. “Our ongoing challenge is meeting the ever-increasing demand from students who hope to earn those degrees. If California is to meet the future needs for the highly educated workforce that our state’s key industries demand, funding to allow for increasing enrollment is critical.”
For the past several years, the CSU has had to turn away between 20,000-25,000 fully eligible new students each year due to massive cuts in state funding. With the state’s reinvestment in higher education in the 2013-14 budget, CSU’s enrollment will increase by about 6,000 students over the course of the year. This still leaves nearly 20,000 students who may be turned away because of inadequate funding. At their recent September meeting, CSU Board of Trustees reviewed an initial budget proposal for 2014-15 that includes a request of additional funding to grow enrollment.
High school seniors, community college transfer students and others applying for admission as undergraduates are encouraged to apply no later than Nov. 30, 2013. After that date, most CSU campuses will stop accepting applications. CSU Mentor is the best systemwide source for updated information on applying to campuses and programs.
A new tool that will provide students with additional insight into making their college decision is a degree database recently launched by the CSU Chancellor’s Office. This resource provides potential students with a comprehensive listing of all undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the 23 campuses.
The next step after applying is to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application beginning in January 2014. More than half of all CSU undergraduates receive enough in financial aid to cover the full cost of their tuition fees. CSU students also benefit from one of the lowest tuition rates in the nation.
About the California State University
The California State University is the largest system of senior higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, approximately 437,000 students and 44,000 faculty and staff. The CSU awards over 96,000 degrees annually and since its creation in 1961 has conferred nearly 2.8 million.
More than 180,000 people were arrested for Driving Under the Influence in 2011. This bit of information as well as a host of other interesting facts on DUI such as arrests, adjudication, treatment and driver license actions can be found in the 2013 California DUI Management Information System (DUI-MIS) Report located on the DMV website, www.dmv.ca.gov.
“Our DMV Research and Development Branch works diligently to compile DUI data that has led to numerous improvements in DUI laws and how the courts report DUI cases to the DMV,” said DMV Chief Deputy Director Jean Shiomoto. “This report is highly relied upon by the California Legislature, courts, district attorneys, probation departments, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) and many other traffic safety organizations and researchers nationwide.”
Male drivers between the ages of 21-30 lead in DUI arrests however; the number of females arrested for DUI has risen each year for over two decades. Another, disturbing finding is that the average blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of those convicted was .16, twice the legal limit. Alcohol is not the only factor when it comes to DUI, drug-involved fatalities have risen by 39.3% during the past ten years.
It’s not all bad news however; the number of drivers under the age of 18 involved in fatal and injury DUI crashes has decreased in the last decade.
History and Objectives of the DUI-MIS Report
The DUI-MIS report, in its 22nd year, is produced in response to legislation that requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to maintain statistical DUI data that would enhance the ability of the Legislature to make informed and timely policy decisions.
The basic theme of the report is to track the processing of DUI offenders from the point of arrest and to identify the frequency offenders flow through each branch of the system – from law enforcement through adjudication to treatment and license control actions.
Another major component of the report is to evaluate the effectiveness of court and administrative sanctions on convicted DUI offenders.
The data are drawn and cross-referenced from sources such as the California Highway Patrol, Department of Justice, Department of Motor Vehicles, and the courts, and it is compiled into a single reference report.
Highlights of the Report
* More than 180,000 people were arrested for DUI in 2011;
* The typical DUI arrestee in 2011 was a 21–30-year-old-male, though the numbers of females arrested for DUI in California have risen each year for over two decades;
* 73.1% of 2010 DUI arrests resulted in convictions, though rates varied by county;
* The main Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of those convicted was .16, twice the legal limit;
* Alcohol-involved crash fatalities increased slightly by 1.6% in 2011 with 1,089 deaths;
* Drug-involved fatalities have risen by 39.3% during the past decade with 709 deaths.
While the total number of alcohol and drug involved crash fatalities combined (1,488 due to overlap) had decreased during the prior five consecutive years, it actually increased by 5.0% in 2011.
Weekly statewide fire situation report from CAL FIRE\.
(c) CAL FIRE | SCVTV
©2013 KHTS AM-1220 | SCVTV
In this episode:
One firefighter was treated for minor burns and two deputies were treated for smoke inhalation in an apartment fire in Canyon Country early Monday morning; The Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall only visited our valley for four days, but the impact was far-reaching.
Also:
An increased budget for College of the Canyons means more classes for students next year; Fiends and family of the young men and women who’ve died in traffic collisions here in the SCV gathered in a solemn celebration Saturday night; The Lombardi family kicked off their annual fall festival at the Lombardi Ranch Sunday; local weather.
Sports:
Highlights from Friday’s Galpin of Santa Clarita Game of the Week when the Valencia Vikings hosted the Santa Monica Vikings at Dr. Paul Priesz stadium.
[Antonovich] – Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich joined the Santa Clarita Valley Latino Chamber in celebrating its third annual gala.
Honorees included Santa Clarita Valley Latino Chamber CEO Bill Miranda and President of the Board Bob Pacheco.
Established in 2010, the mission of the Santa Clarita Valley Latino Chamber of Commerce is to promote the success and prosperity of Latino businesses in the Santa Clarita Valley.
Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich remembered our nation’s veterans on Friday while speaking at the traveling Vietnam War memorial in Santa Clarita; home to more than 14,000 veterans.
“This impressive memorial allows those who cannot travel to Washington D.C. to pay their respects to those who fought and died in Vietnam,” said Supervisor Antonovich.
Chuck Morris, pictured here, initiated the process of bringing the traveling Vietnam Memorial to the Santa Clarita Valley. The wall is a 3/5 scale model of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C., it stands six feet tall at the center and covers almost 300 feet from end to end.
Juno flies by Earth Oct 9, and how to glimpse the Moon’s far side.
(c)2013 NASA/JPL/CalTech | SCVTV
TRANSCRIPT
Jane Houston Jones: What’s Up for October. Juno’s Earth flyby, International Observe the Moon Night
and how to view the moon’s far side.
Hello and welcome. I’m Jane Houston Jones from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
Jones: On October 9 at 3:21 p.m. Eastern time, or 19:21 Universal Coordinated Time, NASA’s Juno spacecraft performs a close flyby of Earth. At closest approach, Juno will come to within 347 miles or 559 kilometers of our planet’s surface.
This flyby will provide a gravity assist to the spacecraft, allowing it to pick up the extra speed it needs in order to get to its destination: the giant planet Jupiter.
Sound effect.
Jones: October 12 is International Observe the Moon Night, and the moon will be visible before sunset.
It’s a night dedicated to encouraging people to look up and take notice of our nearest neighbor.
As the moon sets in the west at midnight, Jupiter is just rising in the East.
On the 25th you’ll find Jupiter above the moon. Most people think we see the same 50 per cent of the lunar surface every month.
But a gentle wobble of the moon in the Earth’s sky lets us peek at an additional 9 per cent of the moon’s surface.
This wobble, or libration, lets us occasionally see a bit around the east and west limb of the moon and over the north and south poles.
This phenomenon becomes apparent when viewing Mare Frigoris in the north and Mare Crisium on the moon’s east limb over time
Catch a glimpse of the far side’s Mare Orientale on the western limb near the first of the month. It’s the youngest impact crater on the moon.
Mare Marginis, Smithii and Australe are all visible after dark on the 11th through the 13th.Try spotting them through any size telescope during International Observe the Moon Night.
You can read about all of NASA’s missions, including lunar missions and Juno, at w w w dot NASA dot gov.
That’s all for this month. I’m Jane Houston Jones.
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.
In July, as we heard the tragic details of two deadly passenger train crashes in Europe, we had the same thought: the lessons of the deadly 2008 Chatsworth train crash have yet to be learned.
These accidents and many others could have been prevented if positive train control – a modern, integrated safety system to monitor and control train movements – were in place.
While airlines and car manufacturers are routinely required to upgrade safety technologies in new models, rail companies continue to use signaling systems developed in the 19th century or operate on track with no signals at all. Many rail accidents occur because a single engineer misses a red light.
The industry’s failure to deploy modern signaling systems – known as positive train control or PTC – has had deadly results, and while federal law requires many U.S. rail lines to deploy this technology by 2015, several rail companies are lobbying to delay its implementation.
The latest blow to implementation came last month when legislation was introduced in the Senate to delay PTC deployment by at least five years.
We believe that PTC – a technology that automatically overrides an engineer’s control of a train to prevent collisions and stop trains in certain dangerous situations – must be implemented as soon as possible, especially on high-risk lines.
In just the last 10 years, the National Transportation Safety Board has completed 26 investigations of train accidents in the United States that could have been prevented by PTC. These accidents claimed 65 lives and injured more than 1,000 people. Damages totaled hundreds of millions of dollars.
The most deadly accident that could have been prevented by PTC was the Metrolink-Union Pacific collision near Chatsworth. The force of that collision caused the Metrolink locomotive to telescope into the lead passenger coach by more than 50 feet.
Within weeks of the Chatsworth tragedy, Congress passed and President George Bush signed into law the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, which calls for implementation of PTC on rail lines that carry passengers and certain hazardous materials.
Nearly five years later, only four railroads – Alaska Railroad, Amtrak, BNSF and Los Angeles-based Metrolink – have stepped up with plans to meet the 2015 deadline. The others, notably the freight railroads represented by the Association of American Railroads, say meeting that deadline is unlikely.
They claim that it is too costly, too complicated and too soon. If you look at the history of railroading, that’s a familiar refrain. The same complaint was used when Congress called for automatic couplers and air brakes.
PTC could also prove to be a spectacular safety and business investment. Benefits of PTC include decreased delays, increased capacity, improved reliability and environmental benefits, including better energy utilization and reduced emissions.
What must be especially frustrating for the four railroads that are implementing PTC is that they could still be penalized. In order for it to work, all railroads that share track must be equipped. In fact, that’s the very reason a federal PTC mandate makes sense. Those four railroads, in good faith, will keep moving ahead while other lines delay and defer.
Positive train control would allow freight and commuter trains from different companies to communicate with each other and prevent collisions. But until all trains that operate on PTC lines are equipped with the technology, an inherent danger still exists because the full benefits require interoperability.
The result will be more NTSB investigations of deadly crashes, such as the May 2011 rear-end collision between two CSX freight trains in Mineral Springs, N.C., and the June 2012 collision of two Union Pacific trains in Goodwell, Okla. These collisions killed five crew members, destroyed cars and goods and put tracks out of service for days.
Implementing PTC will lead to safer railroads, for passengers, employees and the millions of families living near rail lines. We owe it to the Chatsworth victims not to delay.
Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein represents California in the U.S. Senate. Deborah Hersman is chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. Their commentary originally appeared in the Ventura County Star.
[White House] – “President Obama says that if Congress does not fulfill its responsibility to pass a budget today, much of the United States government will be forced to shut down tomorrow.”
(c)2013 The White House | SCVTV
OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
5:00 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody. Of all the responsibilities the Constitution endows to Congress, two should be fairly simple: pass a budget, and pay America’s bills.
But if the United States Congress does not fulfill its responsibility to pass a budget today, much of the United States government will be forced to shut down tomorrow. And I want to be very clear about what that shutdown would mean — what will remain open and what will not.
With regard to operations that will continue: If you’re on Social Security, you will keep receiving your checks. If you’re on Medicare, your doctor will still see you. Everyone’s mail will still be delivered. And government operations related to national security or public safety will go on. Our troops will continue to serve with skill, honor, and courage. Air traffic controllers, prison guards, those who are with border control — our Border Patrol will remain on their posts, but their paychecks will be delayed until the government reopens. NASA will shut down almost entirely, but Mission Control will remain open to support the astronauts serving on the Space Station.
I also want to be very clear about what would change. Office buildings would close. Paychecks would be delayed. Vital services that seniors and veterans, women and children, businesses and our economy depend on would be hamstrung. Business owners would see delays in raising capital, seeking infrastructure permits, or rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy. Veterans who’ve sacrificed for their country will find their support centers unstaffed. Tourists will find every one of America’s national parks and monuments, from Yosemite to the Smithsonian to the Statue of Liberty, immediately closed. And of course, the communities and small businesses that rely on these national treasures for their livelihoods will be out of customers and out of luck.
And in keeping with the broad ramifications of a shutdown, I think it’s important that everybody understand the federal government is America’s largest employer. More than 2 million civilian workers and 1.4 million active-duty military serve in all 50 states and all around the world. In the event of a government shutdown, hundreds of thousands of these dedicated public servants who stay on the job will do so without pay — and several hundred thousand more will be immediately and indefinitely furloughed without pay.
What, of course, will not be furloughed are the bills that they have to pay — their mortgages, their tuition payments, their car notes. These Americans are our neighbors. Their kids go to our schools. They worship where we do. They serve their country with pride. They are the customers of every business in this country. And they would be hurt greatly, and as a consequence, all of us will be hurt greatly, should Congress choose to shut the people’s government down.
So a shutdown will have a very real economic impact on real people, right away. Past shutdowns have disrupted the economy significantly. This one would, too. It would throw a wrench into the gears of our economy at a time when those gears have gained some traction.
Five years ago right now, our economy was in meltdown. Today, our businesses have created 7.5 million new jobs over the past three and a half years. The housing market is healing and our deficits are falling fast. The idea of putting the American people’s hard-earned progress at risk is the height of irresponsibility.
And it doesn’t have to happen. Let me repeat this: It does not have to happen. All of this is entirely preventable if the House chooses to do what the Senate has already done — and that’s the simple act of funding our government without making extraneous and controversial demands in the process, the same way other Congresses have for more than 200 years.
Unfortunately, right now House Republicans continue to tie funding of the government to ideological demands like limiting a woman’s access to contraception, or delaying the Affordable Care Act, all to save face after making some impossible promises to the extreme right wing of their party.
So let me be clear about this. An important part of the Affordable Care Act takes effect tomorrow no matter what Congress decides to do today. The Affordable Care Act is moving forward. That funding is already in place. You can’t shut it down. This is a law that passed both houses of Congress; a law that bears my signature; a law that the Supreme Court upheld as constitutional; a law that voters chose not to repeal last November; a law that is already providing benefits to millions of Americans in the form of young people staying on their parents’ plan until they’re 26, seniors getting cheaper prescription drugs, making sure that insurance companies aren’t imposing lifetime limits when you already have health insurance, providing rebates for consumers when insurance companies are spending too much money on overhead instead of health care. Those things are already happening.
Starting tomorrow, tens of millions of Americans will be able to visit HealthCare.gov to shop for affordable health care coverage. So Americans who’ve lived for years in some cases with the fear that one illness could send them into bankruptcy, Americans who’ve been priced out of the market just because they’ve been sick once, they’ll finally be able to afford coverage — quality coverage — many of them for the first time in their lives.
Some of them may be sick as we speak. And this is their best opportunity to get some security and some relief. Tens of thousands of Americans die every single year because they don’t have access to affordable health care. Despite this, Republicans have said that if we lock these Americans out of affordable health care for one more year — if we sacrifice the health care of millions of Americans — then they’ll fund the government for a couple more months. Does anybody truly believe that we won’t have this fight again in a couple more months? Even at Christmas?
So here’s the bottom line: I’m always willing to work with anyone of either party to make sure the Affordable Care Act works better, to make sure our government works better. I’m always willing to work with anyone to grow our economy faster, or to create new jobs faster, to get our fiscal house in order for the long run. I’ve demonstrated this time and time again, oftentimes to the consternation of my own party.
But one faction of one party, in one house of Congress, in one branch of government doesn’t get to shut down the entire government just to refight the results of an election.
Keeping the people’s government open is not a concession to me. Keeping vital services running and hundreds of thousands of Americans on the job is not something you “give” to the other side. It’s our basic responsibility. It’s something that we’re doing for our military, and our businesses, and our economy, and all the hardworking people out there — the person working for the Agricultural Department out in some rural community who’s out there helping some farmers make sure that they’re making some modest profit for all the hard work they’re putting in. They’re the person working for HUD who’s helping somebody buy a house for the first time. They’re somebody in a VA office who’s counseling one of our vets who’s got PTSD.
That’s who we’re here to serve. That’s why we’re supposed to be carrying out these responsibilities. It’s why we should be avoiding these kinds of constant brinksmanship. It’s something that we do in the ordinary process of this extraordinary system of government that we have. You don’t get to extract a ransom for doing your job; for doing what you’re supposed to be doing anyway; or just because there’s a law there that you don’t like.
The American people sent us here to govern. They sent us here to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to make their lives a little bit better — to create new jobs, to restore economic security, to rebuild the prospects of upward mobility. That’s what they expect.
And they understand that there are differences between the parties and we’re going to be having some tough fights around those differences. And I respect the fact that the other party is not supposed to agree with me 100 percent of the time, just like I don’t agree with them. But they do also expect that we don’t bring the entire government to a halt or the entire economy to a halt just because of those differences.
That’s what they deserve. They’ve worked too hard, for too long to recover from previous crises just to have folks here in Washington manufacture yet another one that they have to dig themselves out of.
So Congress needs to keep our government open, needs to pay our bills on time, and never, ever threaten the full faith and credit of the United States of America.
And time is running out. My hope and expectation is that in the eleventh hour, once again, that Congress will choose to do the right thing and that the House of Representatives, in particular, will choose the right thing.
Thank you very much.
Assemblyman Steve Fox
Assemblyman Steve Fox, D-Palmdale, today announced that Assembly Bill (AB) 631 was approved by Governor Jerry Brown. The bill, which also was passed unanimously by legislators in both the Senate and Assembly, allows juvenile court schools to provide extra English and math classes to students who have fallen behind academically.
“Children who struggle with reading and math often deal with unemployment as adults,” said Fox. “Education is the mechanism that moves people into the mainstreams of society.”
The passage of AB 631 allows for additional English and mathematics classes for children in juvenile court schools to improve student proficiency. Test scores demonstrate many students in these schools are three or more years below grade level academically. Historically, when students lag behind scholastically, they continue to struggle as they move through the educational system or simply drop out. The goals of AB 631 are to target academic weaknesses of students while they are in juvenile court schools and to provide enriched educational opportunities that keep them from returning to juvenile camps.
“Now, the children who come to juvenile court schools may be able to change the course of their lives,” Fox said. “I am grateful to Governor Brown for his commitment to these vulnerable students and the future of our economy.”
AB 631 is the first bill in Fox’s freshman legislative package to be signed into law.
Assemblyman Scott Wilk
Assemblyman Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, attended a Joint Oversight Hearing with the Assembly Health and Accountability & Administrative Review Committees last week to review the Drug Medi-Cal Program and allegations of widespread fraud. The hearing focused on examining the provider certification, claims payment and auditing process in the Drug Medi-Cal Program.
Sen. Steve Knight
The California Legislature officially adjourned the first year of the 2013–2014 legislative session on Friday, September 13th, 2013. I am proud to say that of the original 15 measures I introduced this year, one has already been signed into law and three bills are awaiting signature from Governor Brown. Additionally, six bills will continue through the legislative process in January of next year and pick up where we left off this year.
The three bills that are currently on the Governor’s desk waiting to be signed into law are Senate Bills (SB) 290, 328 and 582. SB 290 provides that veterans stationed in California one year prior to an honorable discharge will receive in–state tuition rates at four–year institutions. SB 328 provides an additional tool for counties to receive bids for major projects and development plans. SB 582 asks the state to conduct a feasibility study to evaluate the success of a web portal for taxpayers to access necessary forms from the Board of Equalization, Franchise Tax Board and the Employment Department Development.
My staff will be diligently researching for next year’s legislative package through January 2014. Although the Legislature is in interim, the fall is a great time to continue working on the remaining legislation, gain stakeholders opinion, and draft meaningful proposals to help the residents of Senate District 21, as well as the State of California as a whole.
Legislators met up on a different battleground one evening before session ended this month for a little fun in off work hours. Rather than the floor of the Senate or Assembly, we faced off on the baseball diamond at Raley Field, home of the Sacramento Rivercats, minor league farm team for the Oakland Athletics. The final score was 4–2, with Republicans edging out the Democrats in the final inning of the matchup. The game, slated to go 7 innings was tied 2–2 at the end of regulation. Our Republican team scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning, earning bragging rights for the year. I played third base for most of the game, switching over to second base with a few innings left. Not only did we have fun and bring home the win, we were able to raise approximately $20,000 for the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater Sacramento.
My top priority as a Legislator has always been to serve the people I represent in the best way possible. My district staff works tirelessly and diligently to assist constituents with local matters and my capitol staff is exhaustively dedicated to ensuring that the voices of my constituents are heard on a statewide level in Sacramento. That being said, with the 2013 legislative session having come to a close, fall is the time when my staff and I start to prepare for the upcoming year. We will research legislative ideas, evaluate our options, and finalize our decision for the legislative package we will carry in the 2014 legislative year, which commences in January. Always wanting to keep in touch with my constituents’ needs and priorities, I welcome input and ideas that will improve life in the Antelope, Victor, and Santa Clarita Valleys. Each year since I have been elected I have used ideas straight from the district, and I continue to do so. So please contact my offices, send me an e–mail, or contact me through my website to submit your legislative ideas. I look forward to hearing your input.
At the end of August my Santa Clarita District Representative Sarah Tyndall presented Dr. Dianne Van Hook with a Senate Resolution honoring her achievements of the past 25 years with College of the Canyons. Dr. Van Hook is the current Chancellor at COC, and through her vision and leadership has put College of the Canyons on the map for community colleges. She has gone above and beyond when it comes to the students of the college and has made a lasting impression on all who work with her. The numerous contributions she has made have allowed the school to grow from 4,000 students in 1988 to 27,000 students today, along with the college’s budget growing to $181 million. There is no doubt that Dr. Van Hook will only continue to help COC achieve remarkable benchmarks.
From left: Michele Jenkins, Joan MacGregor, Dianne Van Hook, Bruce Fortine, Steve Zimmer, and Michael Berger.
Photo courtesy of College of the Canyons.
Lillian (Stratton) Pratt, the very first Miss Hesperia and Rodeo Queen of 1948 made the long journey from her current residence in Washington state to graciously serve as Grand Marshal of the Hesperia Days Parade, which was quite befitting, considering the theme of this year’s parade was “Good Old Days.” Hundreds of residents lined Main Street to cheer on their school bands and R.O.T.C., and to observe the hard work local businesses displayed with their floats. I would like to thank the City of Hesperia, Hesperia Parks and Recreation Department, local officials, and the parade presenters, Hesperia Kiwanis Club International, for once again presenting a spectacular event in the High Desert.
Parade watchers take in the floats and sights of the Hesperia Days Parade.
I had the pleasure of honoring Randy Jaqua of Jaqua & Sons, Masonry Center in Lancaster as a 2013 Outstanding Small Business. Jaqua & Sons has been a family–owned business for more than 60 years and is now owned by the 3rd generation. Randy and his staff will be happy to help you with all your masonry needs.
Senator Steve Knight presents Outstanding Small Business Award to Randy Jaqua.
While the legislature is in interim break I have the opportunity to attend meetings in the district that I am not typically able to attend due to my responsibilities in Sacramento. This month I was invited to give a legislative update to the Santa Clarita Chapter of Republican Women Federated. With all that has happened in the last month in Sacramento, I had many updates to share with the group. I was asked many questions about recently passed bills regarding the State Budget, giving drivers licenses to illegal immigrants and the changes to student privacy in restrooms.
Senator Knight accepts a certificate from SCRWF President, Paige Weaver.
Photo courtesy of Tammy Messina.
An issue that I have found to be of great concern for many of my constituents is the recently enacted California Fire Prevention Fee. I understand there are many questions and frustrations regarding the tax, and my aim is to aid and assist my constituents in whatever way possible. With this in mind, I co–hosted a Fire Fee tele–townhall along with Board of Equalization Member George Runner, Senators Tom Berryhill and Anthony Cannella, Assembly Republican Leader Connie Conway, and Assemblymembers Frank Bigelow, Shannon Grove, Jim Patterson and Scott Wilk. I wanted to have a free and open dialogue to provide answers as well as present the most up–to–date and accurate information. Here are the top 5 points everyone should know about the fee:
I am honored to recognize Victorville Motors as an Outstanding Business in the 21st Senate District. Victorville Motors has been selling cars for decades in the High Desert and undeniably takes great pride in supporting our local schools, foundations, and community projects. In fact, they actually give away new cars to winning 9th – 12th grade students with perfect attendance at participating high schools throughout the High Desert. The incentive program, “It’s a Gas to go to Class,” is expanding to teachers as well, with “It’s a Gas to Teach Class!” I see that high school attendance is up in the High Desert, which increases school revenues as well. I’m sure that the incentive of winning a new Dodge Dart has something to do with it! Thank you Billy Mack and Jeff Smilen for your dedication. Chet Watts, President, and Tim Watts, Chief Operating Officer of Victorville Motors, say it best, “We’ve been honored to be a part of the High Desert since 1970, and we are passionate about continuing to do our part to make the Victor Valley a better place to live and work.”
Billy Mack, Director of Sales, and Jeff Smilen, Sales Manager/Team Leader.
My Antelope Valley Representative Lisa Moulton recently presented Department Administrator Virginia Farley and Physician–in–Charge David Bronstein, MD, of the Kaiser Permanente Palmdale Medical Offices with a certificate of recognition for the outstanding work Kaiser has done for the community of Palmdale. It is vital for good, quality healthcare to come into a community and be successful in not only providing their services, but also educating the public on numerous health concerns; and Kaiser has done just that not just in Palmdale, but the entire Antelope Valley.
District Representative Lisa Moulton, Department Administrator Virginia Farley and Physician–in–Charge David Bronstein, MD. Photo courtesy of Kaiser Permanente.
The Antelope Valley Board of Trade (AVBOT) Aerospace Committee met with Khaki Rodway, Director of Payload Sales and Operations of XCOR Aerospace in Mojave this month. XCOR is another great company regrettably moving out of California to Texas due to the high cost of doing business in California.
Members of AVBOT meeting at Mojave Air and Space Port.
My staff was honored to attend the Remembrance Ceremony at the Fallen Heroes Memorial at the Antelope Valley Mall. Representatives from the California Highway Patrol, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, U. S. Forest Service, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation took part in the ceremony honoring the fallen heroes that gave their lives on September 11, 2001.
The Fallen Heroes Memorial Ceremony remembered the people who died that day in the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Let us never forget!!
The American Flag flies proudly from an engine of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
One of the great opportunities of my job as State Senator is meeting with caring people like Sue Page and Donna Gaddis of The Children’s Center of the Antelope Valley. The Children’s Center is a private non–profit organization located in northern Los Angeles County that provides a continuum of services to child victims of abuse, children at risk of abuse, and their families. The staff and volunteers are recognized community leaders in areas relating to the welfare and safety of children. Thank you all for your care and support for the families of the Antelope Valley.
Meeting with Sue Page and Donna Gaddis at The Children’s Center of the Antelope Valley.
My staff and I toured Rancho Raviri with owner Lee Baron and learned about the finest almond barques in butterscotch, dark, milk and white chocolate, as well as a variety of savory and sweet almonds, flavored to perfection. For over 60 years Rancho Raviri Almond Gifts has been a great place to buy a gift for a special occasion. With the holidays coming up, remember Rancho Raviri has a wonderful selection of gifts and gift baskets. Thanks to Lee and his staff for all their hard work and commitment to the Antelope Valley.
Senator Steve Knight presents a Certificate of Recognition to business partners Lee Baron and Susan Jankowski.
There will be a Small Business Information Fair on October 4th, 9:30am–1:30pm at the San Bernardino County Government Center Rotunda, located at 385 N. Arrowhead Avenue, San Bernardino. Government and small business agencies will be available at this free event.
