Gifts from the Heart

Did you know…
When children encounter art, either by looking at art or by making art, they are intrigued and inspired.
Why?  Because art can be used to help children understand they are important.  Art helps children to have self-confidence for their own expression in art. A most vital area of growth that we should be concerned with is the area of creative growth.

Wow its 2007 and another year has come and gone.  A lot of people make resolutions to start something new in the New Year so why not take up a new hobby.  Scrapbooking and rubberstamping is very therapeutic and rewarding.  Every year families create memories with their loved ones and take lots of pictures to remember these memories.  Some of these pictures end up in the back of a drawer or on a desk, but what if you took those pictures and put them in a lovely mini-album or scrapbook where they would be preserved so future generations could share them?

The Santa Clarita Valley Youth Project (SCVYP) is a local non-profit agency that works with youth in our valley to help them handle issues that might be getting in the way of them living happier lives. For the last six years, SCVYP has been providing support services to the high schools and to teens that are in need of a place to feel safe enough to share their innermost feelings.

Provided by Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital

The Healthy Senior is a new column.  It is devoted to the health questions of “seniors,” all of us lovable and quirky seniors who are wondering what is going on with these bodies of ours.  It is written by me, Fred Cicetti, a first-class senior over the age of 60, who’s been writing about health issues for more years than I want to talk about.  The column is in a question-and-answer format. If you want to ask a question, just write me at fredcicetti@gmail.com.  Okay, here’s the first question:

The College of the Canyons Nursing Program has been reaccredited by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN).  The goal of accreditation is to insure that education provided by institutions of higher education meets acceptable levels of quality. The associate degree program in nursing at COC was found to be in compliance with the rules and regulations set forth by the BRN, which accredits the COC nursing program every eight years.

More traffic enforcement and safer streets are coming to Santa Clarita in the coming years.  New equipment purchases and increased special traffic enforcement measures are on tap as a result of a recent $393,936 grant awarded to the City of Santa Clarita and Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.  The City and Sheriff’s Department are dedicated to keeping our roadways safe through both enforcement and education.

Westfield Valencia Town Center hosted Radio Disney’s Jingle Jam on November 11 to kick off Westfield’s Week of Wonders 2006.  This holiday program provided shoppers with an opportunity to receive discounts at over 87 retailers within the center while benefiting local non-profits.  Jingle Jam marked the beginning of this week-long shopping event and featured performances by The Jonas Brothers, Nuttin’ But Stringz and the T-Squad.

It snowed at Carousel Ranch on December 10 for the Ranch’s annual Day with Santa!  The day was icy cold and though it rained, both the day before and immediately after, over 45 riders and their families (220 in all) joined in the fun. As always, Santa’s arrival was the highlight of the day, with each child having their chance to share their wishes for the holidays.  Each child received a special gift, donated by Our Lady of Perpetual Help, whose toy drive made this year’s giving all the more special.

Now in its fourth year, Placerita continues to lead the Santa Clarita Valley in incorporating robotics into the middle school program.  With twenty-four students divided among four competitive teams, co-coaches Paul Kass and Wendy Mathis and a group of high school mentors, work together on Out-Build, Out-Program and OUTBOT.  “The level of enthusiasm of the students is unparalleled to any other program I have been involved with,” says Kass.