Gifts from the Heart

Art inspires. Art transforms. Art heals

Children and adults in the Santa Clarita Valley are invited to submit their creations to “The Art of Healing,” a program designed to enhance the talents of young artists while providing a healing environment to patients at Providence Holy Cross Health Center in Valencia.

To be called a medicine man or shaman meant that one had unexplainable powers.  These outstanding powers were beyond comprehension and Native people accepted these powers at their face value and as proof of a supernatural blessing.

As the fall season is upon us a familiar scent attaches to the breeze, there’s a chill in the air and before we know it Halloween is here.  A growing holiday who’s appeal is reaching more and more people each year. 

Time flies.  It’s an old saying, but in today’s fast-paced world, it’s never been so true.  Before we know it, our kids are all grown up, out on their own or off to college.  Most parents realize the rewards of close family ties.  Yet, the demands of jobs and day-to-day activities can be stressful and tiring.  So, it’s easy for quality time with our kids to get squeezed out.

June was a special month for us, many things happening on our Optimist Club plate as the saying goes.  There were family members graduating, participations in several events in the city, including the Chili Cook off at  the Pitchess Detention center.

A group of Santa Clarita residents have a deeper appreciation for their community after attending a 20th anniversary Santa Clarita bus tour.  The tour was free and open to the public, taking residents on a two-hour ride through and around the Santa Clarita Valley.

Think you’ve got an inspiring picture in your photo album or in jpg-format on your computer desktop?  Is it so amazingly cool that you’d like to see it published for all of the Santa Clarita Valley to admire and adore? 

Our photo contest winner came in right at the last minute this month and no one could deny that this was “The One.”  We received an email from Frank Fitch and Bonnie Claeys about their two loving children and here’s what they had to say:

The summer heat is here and we are looking for relief from it.  So why not visit an art gallery or museum in the Greater Los Angeles area?  This is a great way to spend your afternoon, cool off and enjoy some beautiful works of art.

Hope is one of the greatest tools in the battle against disease.
On August 1, you can witness the power of hope by supporting the American Cancer Society Santa Clarita Valley Unit’s second annual “Expressions of Hope” Art Show and Open House.

A great city must have great art but, where will we see the great art?

Everywhere we look lately we see new buildings, business spaces as well as homes, and that’s very good for out city.  We also have a few businesses that have been here for a considerable amount of time.  For example, did you know that Jewelry World has been in the same spot with the same owners for 22 years? 

Most school children in the U.S. learn that the first discovery of gold in California occurred at Sutter’s Mill on the south fork of the American River in 1848.  But the kids of the Santa Clarita Valley know better.  They know that the first documented gold discovery in California actually occurred six years earlier in 1842, right here near a famous oak tree in Placerita Canyon. 

Foreigner lead vocalist Lou Gramm to Rock Evening Under the Stars

One of the biggest names in rock and roll takes the stage at the Michael Hoefflin Foundation’s annual Evening Under the Stars Gala Dinner and Auction on September 15.

Think you’ve got an inspiring picture in your photo album or in jpg-format on your computer desktop?  Is it so amazingly cool that you’d like to see it published for all of the Santa Clarita Valley to admire and adore?  Is it award-winning?  Let the editors of The Magazine of Santa Clarita be the judge.  Each month we will accept entries.  All you need to do is send them by computer only to editorial@santaclaritamagazine.com with:

In 1970, a West Virginia housewife, Marian Lucille Herndon McQuade, initiated a campaign to set aside a special day just for grandparents.  Through concerted efforts on the part of civic, business, church and political leaders, this campaign expanded statewide.  Jennings Randolph (D-WV) was especially instrumental in the project.  Grandparents Day was proclaimed in 1973 in West Virginia by Governor Arch Moore.  Also in 1973, Senator Randolph introduced a Grandparents Day resolution in the United States Senate.  The resolution languished in committee.

Fashions in jewelry for the Bride and Groom are very much a matter of a personal preference now.  There are many different styles available and here are some ideas for you to consider.  Is your personal style very modern, traditional or somewhere in between?

There are settings available for all styles.  

New Board members who were officially sworn in to the Santa Clarita Valley Resource Center last month and plan to keep the needs of volunteers and non-profit organizations at the forefront of their focus.  That emphasis includes a user-friendly website where those organizations seeking volunteers can list job descriptions and hook up with volunteers who can also list their profiles.