In this all new episode we have The Santa Clarita Valley Men of Harmony. These men are incredible! You won’t want to miss their performance.
Lead Pastor from Real Life Church, Rusty George joins us to let us in all the fantastic events and classes they have coming up.
A Toast and a Wish takes place this upcoming Saturday so Gail Pinsker and Amy Daniels join us to let us in on the details. You will not want to miss this wonderful event!
In this episode:
Unemployment numbers are in and they are showing slight improvement.
Also:
The Economic Development Corporation is asking the City of Santa Clarita for nearly 200,000 dollars to continue support for their efforts to bring business to the city.
The California Highway Patrol’s Newhall Explorer program is hosting a stuffed toy drive this month to benefit the Michael Hoefflin Foundation, which supports families of kids with cancer.
Finally:
Several ramp and lane closures along the I-5 freeway are scheduled for the month of April.
The Friends of Santa Clarita Public Library is hosting a Membership Drive during the month of April for anyone interested in supporting services and programs at our local libraries.
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 College of the Canyons Veteran’s Affairs Department will present writer/director Martin Papazian’s debut, award-winning film “Least Among Saints” during a free community screening on Friday, April 19.
Hailed by critics as “authentically moving,” “life-affirming” and “emotionally uplifting,” “Least Among Saints” tells the story of veteran Anthony Hayward, who returns home from war to find his marriage broken and his future uncertain.
But just when it appears that Hayward is at the end of his rope, he receives an unexpected request from his troubled 10-year-old neighbor, Wade. Unable to turn the young boy away, Hayward soon finds himself on a quest to help find Wade’s missing father — along with one last shot at self-redemption.
“Though based around the story of a returning veteran and the issues many soldiers face upon returning from war, this film has a spirit and message that will be beneficial to all audiences,” said Renard Thomas, Director of Veteran Affairs at the college. “I highly encourage all students and community members to attend this inspirational event.”
The presentation of the film “Least Among Saints” will take place at 6 p.m. Friday, April 19, in Mentry Hall, Room 305, located on the college’s Valencia campus.
Admission for this event is free. To reserve your tickets please RSVP with the COC Adult Reentry & Veterans Center by calling (661) 212-3649.
Seating will be available on a first come, first served basis, but may be limited.
This film is intended for mature audiences only.
For more information visit www.canyons.edu/calendar.
More about Veteran’s Affairs at COC
The College of the Canyons Veteran’s Affairs department assists veteran students and their families with the transition back into college life.
As a Military Friendly School, COC has addressed the many challenges facing veteran students by establishing an on-campus Veteran’s Center, which serves as a hub of resources meant to help ease this transition.
By advising students on how to utilize their Veteran Educational Benefits and navigate the college environment to meet their educational goals, the Veteran’s Affairs department supports student growth for each veteran to become a contributing citizen, recognized for their professional and civic achievement.
Veteran students can also visit the Center to learn about other off-campus resources and community organizations that may be able to provide additional assistance.
For more information please visit www.canyons.edu/offices/VA/.
After its Mar. 14 groundbreaking ceremony and a slew of pre-construction tasks, College of the Canyons has finally received the states approval to begin construction of its new Student Services/Administration Building.
“All contracts have been signed, bonds and insurance paperwork has been completed,” said Jim Schrage, Vice President of Facilities at COC, “The construction project will begin immediately.”
The $17.8 million, 4,600 sq. ft. student services building will house the financial aid office, transfer and career center and counseling center.
The Student Services/Administration Building is expected to be finished by Jan. 2015.
Looking to get your kids involved in something fun and active, then get them off the couch?
One option you might want to consider is the Santa Clarita’s Warriors Track and Field team.
Loyal Santa Clarita residents have done a great job of keeping the program alive just by word of mouth that the program has never had to advertise.
Since 1969 the program has been making a difference in kids lives, and showing them that running can be fun and entertaining.
When asked what is one of the most valuable things the children take away from this experience Director Greg Moser said ” They learn that hard work pays off, team work, and discipline.”
The Process of getting involved is easy, Go to Scwarriortrack.com and sign up!
Sign ups start in December and the season runs from February till May. Although the deadline has already passed, kids can always be put on the waiting list to make sure to lock in your spot for next season.
The program includes kids from ages 5-14.
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.
As battalion headquarters, Fire Station 150 will also be the command post during major incidents.
A total of 15 stations currently serve the Santa Clarita Valley.
The new 19,667 square foot facility adds to the count and will further decrease response time for the surrounding community.
Four waves of cyclists poured into and out of the Valencia Town Center on Saturday.
The Santa Clarita Century is an annual bicycle ride which benefits the Child and Family Center.
The annual event now in its fifth year is a fundraiser comprised of four rides throughout the Santa Clarita Valley.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
