Gifts from the Heart

I have been in the award industry for over 20 years and during that time I have had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with successful people in all walks of life.  The people I make awards for are top industry leaders, the best athletes as well as ordinary people who have done something spectacular and are being recognized for that. 

Between mid-August and mid-September, DFYIT will stage kick-off events and sign-ups on each high school and junior high school campus in the Santa Clarita Valley. Heading into the new school year, Drug Free Youth in Town, commonly known as DFYIT, is looking to build on success experienced in the inaugural year. These successes were measurable, and parents may want to strongly consider talking to their kids about the merits of joining the club.

Selecting mats with the right texture and color are very important parts of frame design and presentation of art. Textured mats and rich colors offer an upscale look that can complement any home décor.
The first consideration when framing artwork is to surround it with the colors, textures, and dimensions that will show it off in style. Great design involves choosing mats and moulding that bring out the best in the art.

I don’t know why this incident is etched into my memory bank, but it probably is because it signifies an important example of my carefree spirit.
The occurrence goes like this.  It was the first grade, and all of us in my class were told by our teacher to draw a picture on a large sheet of newsprint paper that had lines for text at the bottom. 

We at Ma Maison are celebrating our tenth year in business this August and wanted to take a moment to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued support of our store.  Your patronage over the past 10 years has not only kept us SCV’s most unique home décor and gift store but has also inspired us to stay innovative in these ever changing economic times.

The AAUW Santa Clarita Valley Branch is proud to honor 14 young women who have been chosen from Santa Clarita area junior high schools to attend the 2013 Tech Trek Science Camp for Girls.  The honorees were nominated by their math and science teachers, wrote essays and participated in interviews conducted by the AAUW Tech Trek Committee to determine scholarship recipients.  Tech Trek Co-Chairs Robin Clough and Marian Smith-Subbarao succeeded in making this years program so successful.

Today the importance of our educational system is being recognized by everyone. The federal government is again making  major efforts to look at our public school education systems. The State of California is now in a position to provide more funding for the schools in California due to the efforts made by Governor Brown to get help from legislation reforms.

Two years ago I wrote an article about The Ever-Changing Wall – a wall that communicated the need for arts throughout the Santa Clarita Valley.  It defined who The ARTree was.  We partnered with a number of community organizations and we created something memorable.
The concept of The Wall was successfully implemented.

When we explain that we do all of the work here in the back room at FASTFRAME, we often get a surprised response such as “Oh, I thought you sent everything out and just took orders.”  We are proud to say that all of our framing projects from start to finish are done right here.  This is very important as it ensures the security and safety of each and every piece that we frame.  Since your art never leaves our store, there is no chance of it being lost or damaged in transit. 

For most Americans, opportunities for ongoing exposure to the arts and culture fall dramatically upon leaving the education system.  This is unfortunate because the arts, like education, is a life-long process and should be recognized as such.

Who doesn’t like to be recognized?  Whenever you see someone getting a high five, an Atta boy, or being praised, you can bet that there will be a smile from the person on the receiving end.  Whether it is closing that big deal, scoring a touchdown, achieving academic excellence, or for a job well done, being recognized is rewarding and can make you feel great.  Being recognized is important.  It sends a very powerful message that the recipient is important.  Additionally, recognition sends a message throughout the company that its leaders care about good performance, and they will notice your efforts.

On June 3, proud parents Sarah Viverito and Jeffrey Febrow welcomed a handsome baby boy into the world.  Austin Jay Febrow was born weighing eight pounds and eight ounces and was 22 inches long.  Please join The Magazine of Santa Clarita in welcoming Austin to the Santa Clarita Valley.

With summer upon us, it is time to take extra good care of our skin and Ma Maison has just the right addition to your daily routine: French Milled Shea Butter Bar Soaps and Lotions.  Bar soaps may seem old fashioned but they are truly making a big comeback because of the naturally rich oils and emollients that are being added to a classic well made bar of soap.

To a certain generation, that line gave answer to a fantastic comic book observation.  What was in the sky was neither a bird nor a plane, but Superman.  He was the man of steel, the one faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than… well, you know the rest.  The most important thing about looking to the sky was that you had to see and observe this sight for yourself so that you could believe the unbelievable.
Children are particularly good observers, acutely seeing what adults often take for granted. 

Recently I had a friend come up to me and say, “I read your article for this month.”  I asked, “What was my article about?”  The answer I received was “You were talking about the city needing an Art Center.”  “Yes”, I said, “I do that a lot.” Then the person said, “Well, I am glad you are talking about this, as someone needs to.”  Hearing these remarks I realize that my efforts in writing about how visual art plays an active role in our lives each day are very important and people agree. 

The weather warm up makes us all want to run outside and jump for joy!  Being able to light the barbeque and enjoy your backyard in this glorious weather is one of the reasons we all live in the Santa Clarita Valley. 
Now you do not have to hesitate about being sophisticated with outside dining. 

SLD Awards services schools and business across the United States.  Specializing in the customization of awards and memorable keepsakes, they have come a long way from their humble beginning.
Al Von Kessler used to be your ordinary guy with a commercial real estate background.  While doing that, he developed a product line of commemorative licenses for professionals licensed by the State.  The products were eventually made available for real estate and insurance specialists as well as licensed authorities in the securities industry.

Father’s Day is almost here and what will you get for Dad this year?  Instead of running out and buying yet another shirt or something else he really doesn’t need or want, think about what is near and dear to him.  What might he want to show off in his office or den?  Think about hobbies, collections, or his favorite sports team.  It might be fun to drag out his old football jersey from high school, or find his service medals and give them the recognition they deserve.  At FASTFRAME, we can help you create a shadowbox filled with some of his favorite things.