Gifts from the Heart

The summer has been tinged with sadness, as we at the Magazine of Santa Clarita lost three men very dear to us.  Since these men led spectacular lives and all were a tremendous part of our community in Santa Clarita, we would like to remember them during the prime of their lives, but also say farewell to Bob Mitchell (1912-2009), Sheldon Allen (1932-2009), and Joe Cipriano (1938-2009).  May your memory always be fresh in the minds of everyone who knew you.

On June 14, 2009 proud parents Sarah and Rob along with big sister Riley welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world. 

You would think that here in the Santa Clarita Valley, there would only be a couple of ways for people our age to meet someone new.  We know that there’s the Internet, and local meet-up organizations (described below).  But did you ever consider the freeway?

Second term President, Terri Cadiente, has chosen “Come Ride With Me” as this year’s theme for Soroptimist International of Santa Clarita Valley.  The club’s New Officer Installation took place on July 8 at the beautiful home of Bob and Soroptimist member Diane Benjamin in Sand Canyon.  More than 60 guests including club members, Soroptimist guests and local dignitaries witnessed the swearing in of the club’s new Board of Directors as they take over the reins for the upcoming year. 

Innovative, energy saving Sentina® ZenLight™ emits a soft tranquil light through a unique Japanese Shoji screen filter; Perfect for kitchens, hallways, bedrooms, and bathrooms.  Energy conscious, design oriented consumers looking for a household lighting solution that combines the very best of ancient Japanese lighting methods with the latest LED lighting technology now have an answer — thanks to the new Sentina® LED ZenLight™.

At 32 years old, I was ready to accept my body for what it is. Little did I know that my boudoir portrait experience was going to be one of celebration and self-realization.  Two major life events had just occurred: marriage and my first marathon.  It was the perfect time for boudoir photos. A wedding gift to my husband and a reward for me.  It was a time to call a truce with myself, accept my body, and give myself a pat on the back for my marathon accomplishment.

Summertime is officially coming to a close in a few weeks as kids head back to school and vacations wind down. Let’s get back to our normal routine, but this time, try it with a twist.  For instance, how about a night out with friends to shop and have fun, but add some spice? It’s time for you to indulge, stretch, grow and enjoy.

Conservation Framing, sometimes called Preservation Framing, refers to the materials and techniques used to frame valued art and objects to the highest standard. From matboards to glass to the paper cover on the back of the frame, today’s framers can provide a variety of specialized products and methods to display art and objects in the best possible environment. 

With our hot summer days in full force, a popular alternative to scented candles are the fast-growing reed diffuser category.
What is a reed diffuser? First and foremost, you don’t light it like a candle!  Reed diffusers are a method of distributing scented oil throughout an environment, either home, office or wherever fragrance is desired (which is almost everywhere).

What do Newhall and The Henry Mayo Medical Clinic have in common?  They are both named after Henry Mayo Newhall, the main founder and investor in the town aptly named Newhall.  The town of Newhall is currently a small hub for train traffic and small shops in the Santa Clarita Valley.  Many people are unaware that Newhall has such rich history.  Lucky for us, Santa Clarita has its very own Historical Society. 

 To modern Santa Claritans, parades on the Fourth of July represent a joyous tradition celebrating the birth of our nation, as well as time when our faithful citizens gather together to enjoy the floats created by various SCV organizations.

Single Mothers Outreach welcomes Jay Thomas and Marc Emmer
There are two new faces on the Board of the Single Mothers Outreach - prominent community members, Jay Thomas, President of Six Flags Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor and Marc Emmer, President of Optimize Inc, a management-consulting firm in Valencia. Both bring a wealth of knowledge and leadership skills to the organization.

Dr. Amy Wagner, Canyon Country pediatrician, took top honors at the Soroptimist International of Santa Clarita Valley’s first annual Fiesta Poker Texas Hold’em tournament Saturday night, June 6 at the Westridge Horizon Clubhouse.  Dr. Wagner’s husband, Paolo Hernandez, also landed a seat at the final table.

Ruby is the official birthstone for July.  Ruby jewelry is also a universal favorite.  This intense red gemstone comes from a variety of minerals called corundum.  The red color is caused mainly by the presence of chromium.  Corundum of any other color is called a sapphire.

As a personal trainer and nutritionist I strive to treat my body like the temple that it is, yet I too struggle with my body image.  I occasionally battle the body image demon, but for the most part what I used to view as flaws are now symbols of life events that made me who I am today.  The stretch marks, which after 26 years are now mostly faded, are a reminder of my pregnancies and my two beautiful daughters. 

A great follow up to spring cleaning is updating the look of your home.  Reframing existing artwork is one way to rejuvenate the look in any room.  The variety of framing materials available allows you to create any setting from ultra casual to highly elegant. 

- Haiku -
Tibetan prayer flags
Adorn the old-west wood porch.
Happiness inside.

Old Town Newhall is different from the rest of Santa Clarita.  The old-growth trees and roads that were once stage coach and pony express trails hold on to secrets.  Listen and old-timers will spin stories about the area’s colorful history.

This summer, there is a “small town” feeling all of us can relate to, even if we were brought up in the big city.  Think about carnivals coming through town, block parties, family reunions, patriotic themes of red, white and blue, 4th of July parades (like our very own parade held on the 4th of July every year in Newhall), summer food, drink and dessert favorites.