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

MakerSpace Festival Returns
College of the Canyons welcomed the community to the MakerSpace Festival, designed to inspire creativity and invention hosted at the Valencia Campus near the main entrance. This family friendly festival featured hands-on STEAM activities, free workshops and exhibitions of the latest cutting-edge technology, including 3-D printing, lasers and coding. Several keynote speakers presented and food trucks were parked onsite.

Canyon Country Community Center
Santa Clarita City Council, Elected Representatives, City Staff, Community Members came out to support the ground breaking of the Canyon Country Community Center. This multi-million-dollar project will replace the current facility in use on Flying Tiger Drive. When complete, the new community center will hold classes, activities, programs and more for youth and adults, as well as special community events and workshops.

Youth Arts Showcase
The Youth Arts Showcase is an opportunity to celebrate Youth Art Month and recognize young artists from Santa Clarita. This year marks the fourth event for the annual Youth Arts Showcase hosted at the Centre. The free event celebrated the creativity and talent of Santa Clarita’s youth. The Showcase featured visual and performing arts, art galleries, youth art contests (Technical Art, Art on Canvas and Pen and Paper), art vendors and food trucks.

10th Annual Hart Games
Over 300 special education students from the Hart School District attended the Hart Games. The Hart Games is a track and field meet that is a combination of achievement and inspiration.
The districtwide competition was sponsored by the Adapted Physical Education Department and the Special Olympics with a goal of stimulating an interest in physical activity among students receiving specialized instruction and rewarding those who achieve.

“King Arthur” Brings Family Fun to The Main
Hear ye, hear ye! The City of Santa Clarita summoned all lords and ladies for an audience with his Royal Highness, King Arthur at The MAIN. “King Arthur,” a hilarious musical comedy that puts a fun-filled and interactive new twist on a timeless classic. The show, presented by Olive Branch Theatricals, is playing on weekends at The MAIN from March 15 through 31. This family friendly adaptation features a tragic dragon, a magical wizard and a nanny who just won’t stop chit-chatting. The fun began on Friday, March 15 and ended March 31. The “King Arthur” crew held a special sensory sensitive performance on Saturday, March 16 that was brighter and quieter, to better accommodate families with special needs.

Every 15 Minutes at Hart High School
Hart High School students, teachers, administrators, CHP, LA County Sheriff’s Dept., LA County Fire Dept. participated in the “Every 15 Minutes” program.  From 8 a.m. until 10:45 a.m., students were pulled from class and considered one of the “walking dead.” The crash scene was placed in front of the school on Newhall Ave. with that part of the program commencing at approximately 11:15 am. Students will then head to the courtroom at approximately 12:45 p.m.

A Decision Has Been Made For CEMEX Corp.
The much-anticipated decision came out last month, in what has been a two decades long battle over mining rights in Soledad Canyon. In August 2015, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) canceled all CEMEX Corporation mining contracts for Soledad Canyon. Last Month, IBLA ruled that the BLM decision is “affirmed in part, reversed in part, set aside in part, and case remanded.”

COC Adds A New Certificate Program
As of March, College of the Canyons offers a new Spanish for Healthcare Workers certificate program to meet the growing need for Spanish-speaking healthcare professionals. The no cost, two-course certificate program will teach students how to communicate effectively with Spanish-speaking patients and families by developing basic Spanish listening, speaking, and oral skills on specific topics related to healthcare professions. Students will also gain intensive practice with Spanish vocabulary, interviewing skills, and learn specialized basic terminology used in the medical field.

NASA Recruits Hart High Science Teacher
Hart High School science teacher Kathryn Smith has been named by NASA and the SETI Institute as one of 28 teachers selected from across the country to fly on the seventh cycle of NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). Smith becomes the thirteenth Hart School District teacher to fly on the airborne observatory. Once her missions have been completed, Smith will return to the classroom with curriculum provided by NASA she will then share with her students. Look for the fool story in an upcoming élite Issue.

Newhall Ranch Road Widening Celebration
City officials held a public ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Newhall Ranch Road Widening Project. City officials, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, representatives from Caltrans and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works and local cyclists, were present to ceremonially cut the ribbon.

The Flemings Are Awarded Silver Spur
Don and Cheri Fleming were recognized as this year’s recipient for College of the Canyon’s Silver Spur Community Service Award. Since they came to the Santa Clarita valley the Flemings has played a large role in the charity and social scene, serving as leaders over several non-profit organization boards such as Henry Mayo Newhall Health Foundation, the SCV Child & Family Center, SCV Chamber of Commerce, American Cancer Society, and SCV Boys & Girls Club Foundation to name a few. For their dedication to serving the community they have received many awards like the title of 2004 Man and Woman of the Year. On behalf of Santa Clarita Magazine, we congratulate Don and Cheri Fleming.

2019 SCV Man and Woman
of the Year Nominees
The 2019 Santa Clarita Valley’s Man and Woman of the Year nominees were announced last month, with nine men and 13 women up for the prestigious award. These individuals are recognized for their extensive community involvement. We congratulate all of them on their nomination and look forward to seeing the finalist in May.