Home & Garden

I would like to take a moment to say thank you to the Santa Clarita Valley, Stevenson Ranch and Castaic residents who have trusted Rayne Water for advice for their water treatment.  These past several months have been confusing for many.  I am truly honored to have been invited into your homes to address this sensitive issue and for the opportunity to earn your business.

Recently there has been a steady increase in the number of people who have home-based businesses or “side jobs” requiring office space. Thousands of couples find themselves sharing “the home office” out of necessity. This can lead to competition for desk and counter space, computer and telephone time and if they have different “organizing styles” (filing papers versus piling papers), it won’t take long for the battles to begin!  Consider these possibilities to make sharing your “home office” a rewarding experience. 

A question that is often asked by California homeowners is, “When is the best time of year to paint my home?”  The answer depends on several factors, the most important one being whether it is the inside or the outside of one’s home that needs painting.  If you happen to not be from California, have not lived here long, or just curious, we hope to shed a little light on this inquiry. We’ll also briefly explain a few benefits as to why you should paint your home. 

There are many questions being asked of Los Angeles County District regarding their intended increase in sewer assessment rates.  Wow, from $14.92 per month to $47 based on a 250 gallon per day average.
As reported in the Signal by Brian Charles, Signal Staff Writer, a meeting about the proposed rate increase erupted in complaints about the absence of the bureaucrats who set the waste-water standards that are responsible for the proposed rate increase. 

The time has come the Walrus said, “To speak of many things,” and now it is time again for me to talk about “What is Art?”  Art is a large part of our everyday lives so much so we hardly even stop to think about it.  Look at where you are sitting now or your shoes and the cup of coffee you are drinking out of.

Picture Perfect Window Coverings held their first annual Art Contest on May 12, 2009 Art students from Artworks Studio and Picasso’s Playmates participated in the contest for a nominal entry fee. Picture Perfect donated half of the proceeds to the Circle of Hope, a non-profit charity supporting women and men with breast cancer.

The votes are in and have been tabulated and in a monumental landslide victory, yes, it is the perfect time to build a pool!
As new homeowners are taking possession of their “deal of a lifetime” homes in Southern California, they are finding the space that at one time they did not have, in their pocketbooks to build a pool.

The City of Santa Clarita launched its newly redesigned transit website today with a fresh look and feel. The new City of Santa Clarita transit site, santaclaritatransit.com, allows for more user-friendly access to information on all things Transit-related.

A great scribe once wrote, “In the event of a nuclear holocaust, two species would certainly survive: cockroaches and Bermuda grass.”  If you have ever tried to eliminate either of these pests from your property, you would most likely agree.  While there are a great number of products that will combat the cockroach, the control of Bermuda grass has been a seemingly unsurmountable challenge.

The California Oil Museum is pleased to announce the exciting new exhibit, “Italian Motorcycles:  Incredible Classics to Modern Marvels” opening July 3 and running through September 27. An opening reception will be Friday, July 3 from 4 p.m. to 7p.m. at the California Oil Museum, 1001 E. Main St., Santa Paula.  Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, $1 for students ages 6 to 17 and 5 and under are free.  

Remodeling not only adds value to your home but also makes you more comfortable in it, despite home price drops, remodeling projects are holding their own as a way for owners to add value.  Although construction costs on the Pacific Coast are nearly 17 percent higher than national averages, the value of renovations at resale more than makes up for those higher prices. Remodeling a garage to a room is often a cost-effective way to add living space to your home.

The United States Small Business Administration-Los Angeles District Office has awarded the 2009 Service Excellence and Innovation Award to the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) hosted by College of the Canyons.
Presented annually at the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business Awards luncheon, the award honors an SBDC Service Center for excellence in providing value to small businesses and advancing program delivery and management through innovative means.

James Irvine Foundation to Expand Latino-Oriented Performances at Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center

The College of the Canyons Foundation has received a two-year $50,000 grant from The James Irvine Foundation to support an expansion in multicultural programming and outreach efforts to attract Latinos and Spanish-speaking populations in Santa Clarita by offering relevant, multicultural programming at the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center.

As the epitome of the summer months, July represents a special time for our country.  Not only are we the farthest from freezing during the winter, but as a nation, we also have a major accomplishment to celebrate.  We feature the 4th day in July as the day when our ancestors began signing the Declaration of Independence in the year 1776. 

“60 Minutes with an Artist” is a new program proudly presented by the Santa Clarita Artists’ Association.  The program was created to promote Extended Art Education Learning for the community and the public to learn how an artist creates a painting.  On Sunday, July 19 at the Valencia Library Community Room 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., the guest artist will be Bob Hernandez. 

... a room we want to feel relaxed in, comfortable and perhaps even inspired.  There are many of us who use our bedroom as a second office, with both coffee cup and laptop balancing on the sheets as we work... still in our pajamas.

“Less is more.” – Ludwig Miles van der Rohe
“Simplify, Simplify.” – Henry David Thoreau

Truck Increases Efficiency and is Environmentally Friendly

The City of Santa Clarita unveiled its new VACTOR maintenance truck on Thursday, June 18, 2009.  The new vehicle will be used to maintain the City’s extensive storm drain system, allowing staff to safely take on several more jobs to meet the growing needs of the City’s storm drain maintenance program.