Month In Review – A reflection on our communities past month’s achievements, community development and awesomeness! – February 2019

Rain, Rain Please Don’t Go Away!

The month of January has been very wet. Day after day, the Santa Clarita Valley was the dumping ground for the four Pacific Storms that battered California last month. But was this necessarily a bad thing? Californians are no stranger to droughts and it seems right when we are at the brink of despair, by some miracle, we get wet…really wet. According to the University of California statistics the Santa Clarita area received a total 3.98 inches of rain which is significantly higher than last years at 2.03 inches.

Armed with a Stick!

Last month College of the Canyons sent out an alert regarding some suspicious activity on the campus. The police received word that a person was seen pulling something that looked like a gun out of the bushes on campus. The events that transpired afterwards show the immediate response and highly effective emergency response system. The campus activated a widespread alert to all students informing them that campus was on lockdown. It did not go into details as to not incite panic. The incident was soon determined to be a person who was just collecting sticks for their child’s school project.

Santa Clarita is Film Strong

Santa Clarita had another strong year of location filming in 2018 with the Film Office recording 547 film permits and 1,376 location film days, which generated an estimated economic impact of $32.9 million to the local community. This is the fifth consecutive calendar year the Santa Clarita Film Office has recorded more than 500 permits, over 1,300 film days and $30 million or more in estimated economic impact generated from location filming alone. More than half of the filming days in 2018 were attributed to television production alone, many of which were from shows locally based in Santa Clarita including “Future Man,” “Good Trouble,” “Goliath,” “Mayans MC,” “NCIS,” “Santa Clarita Diet,” “Shooter,” “S.W.A.T.,” “Untitled Suits Spin-off” and “Westworld.”

COC Always on the Up & Up

College of the Canyon’s district received the best rating possible in an independent audit of its bond measure expenditures. The results showed that for the 12th year in a row, the district has properly accounted for all bond expenditures. Vavrinek, Trine, Day & Co. LLP conducted both the financial and performance audit, covering the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2018 and issued the District an unmodified opinion – the best rating possible – noting no adjustments, audit findings, questioned costs or instances of bond noncompliance. The firm presented its report to the district’s independent citizens’ bond oversight committee at a meeting in January.

Santa Clarita Public Library is High Speed

Customers visiting a Santa Clarita Public Library can now enjoy one of the fastest internet speeds available thanks to an upgrade to the internet connection made possible through a grant from the State of California and the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC). The upgrade is part of the CENIC High-speed Broadband in California Public Libraries Project. The Santa Clarita Public Library branches are now connected to California Research and Education Network (CalREN), a high-capacity 3,800-mile fiber optic network operated by CENIC. The high-speed broadband connection has increased the Santa Clarita Public Library’s internet speed tenfold, from 100 Mbps to 1,000 Mbps (1 Gigabit).

Permits Made Easy

Residents can receive permit assistance from the comfort of their home or office by using the Online Permit Center available at santa-clarita.com/PermitCenter.  The user-friendly website simplifies the permit process with a step-by-step Permit Guide, offering guidance throughout the approval and permit process. Over 1,000 permit guides have already been created using the Permit Guide software. Other features on the website include access to an eService where residents can apply for a new permit or view the status of a current one, and a schedule that outlines different times to visit the Permit Center at City Hall, depending on what service is needed.

It’s as Easy as Riding a Bike

The City of Santa Clarita hosted a ribbon cutting event last month to celebrate the newly launched Pace Bike Share Program. The program has created the Pace Bike Share Station at Iron Horse Trailhead. The initial Pace Pilot Program features 12 outdoor stations and 50 bikes located throughout the City. Users can locate and rent Pace bikes by using the Pace app, which is available as a free download for both iOS and Android devices. The program enables riders to view Santa Clarita from a new perspective, while utilizing green transportation alternatives.

Celebrating American History

Last month we celebrated a man who inspired a nation with his words. His nonviolent approach to the Civil Rights Movement won him the adoration and esteem of millions of people. For his efforts to unify our country and do away with racial divide has gained him a spot as one of the three figures we celebrate as a holiday. That man was Martin Luther King Jr. and on the third Monday of January we came together to remember all the great things he did for people of color.

Mental Health Division Underway

According to the press release, District Attorney Jackie Lacey has launched an expansion of her office with the new Mental Health Division. This is the first of its kind where it brings together deputy district attorneys whose cases consists of defendants that have been deemed unfit to stand trial or those that want alternative sentencing due to their mental illnesses. The division staff will seek opportunities to expand treatment and other community-based services for people whose untreated mental illness historically has resulted in longer periods of incarceration and mental deterioration.

Henry Mayo’s New Senior VP, Chief Medical and Care Innovation Officer

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital announced that Kingman Ho, MD has been promoted to Senior Vice President/Chief Medical & Care Innovation Officer. Dr. Ho’s leadership and innovation in medical care are perfectly suited for taking on the challenges in the American medical system. In his new role, he will continue to work to maximize value to patients in a way that engages clinicians and licensed practitioners while helping them enjoy their roles in improving and restoring health to the community.

Lowest Crime Rate on Record in Santa Clarita

Crime rates are the lowest on record in Santa Clarita history, thanks to the hard work of deputies from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. According to the numbers, part one crimes – which include homicide, rape, robbery, burglary and arson – have been reduced by 20 percent from 2017 to 2018. The figures indicate the lowest crime rate on record, surpassing numbers from 2014, which were the previous lowest crime stats on record in Santa Clarita.

Getting Your Dancing Shoes Ready

The City of Santa Clarita just announced they will be hosting free dance lessons in Canyon Country.   Salsa dance the night away at the City of Santa Clarita’s Valentine’s Salsa Dance Night to be held at the Canyon Country Community Center on Saturday, February 9, 2019, from 6:00 to 9:00. This is an adult only event (18 years of age and older) and is free to attend. No RSVP is required. The Canyon Country Community Center is located at 18792 Flying Tiger Drive in Canyon Country.