Home & Garden

Exotic animals from around the world will visit with children and their families Tuesday, July 3, during an evening Family Fun for Nature Nuts program at Descanso Gardens.  Many captive-bred and rescued exotic animals will be introduced in a nurturing program by a team of biologists called The Animal Guys.

Art is essential. We cannot do without art.  Art is integral in our lives.  Art opens up new horizons for every human being.  Art is everywhere.  We just do not see the visual art that surrounds us.  Art exists in nature and designs created by people.  The sky, clouds, rain, storms, trees, landforms, ocean, seas, mountains, rivers, fish, animals and forests all are natural forms for images to be created into art designs.

They hike in it and they keep it clean.  They are the new Wilderness and Open Spaces Stewardship Committee; part of the Santa Clarita hiking club.  Their goals are trail maintenance, trash clean-up and beautification of all wild lands.  Most recently, they built up a sweat at Whitney Canyon during a needed two-day clean-up mission.
Previous tenants at the Canyon buried their trash in the riverbed for 30 years so, when it rains, massive amounts of trash surface.

Are you looking for that personalized touch with a classic feel?  Venetian plaster may be for you.  An age-old technique, Venetian plaster is one of many faux finishes that are available for todays homeowners.  It is a compound that is low in odor and thick in consistency and can be applied in a variety of ways.  .

How many times have you said, “If I only had a little more time?”  The “Catch 22” is that we make to-do lists to complete our tasks so we have time to rest and do the things we love but, all too often, we run out of time before our to-do list is done.  This, in turn, creates more stress.  Real time management holds the key to solving this dilemma.

Sunny days of summer inspire dreams of enjoying one’s garden and now is the perfect time to live those dreams.  Your perfect place needs to beckon your escape at the day’s end.  It should bring romance to your garden and accommodate family and friends in cool comfort.  A beautiful patio with the right choice in quality outdoor furniture will complete your garden and be your sanctuary.

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:

The right entry gate provides added value and style to your home, garden or driveway and enhances your property while increasing your privacy, security and curb appeal.

As boundaries between indoor and outdoor living areas continue to blur and the outdoor room concept grows, it’s no wonder the realm of fabric choices offered to consumers has become increasingly broad and sophisticated.

Abstractions:  the state in which somebody is deep in thought and not concentrating on his or her surroundings.  To get a real sense of what that sensation may feel like, Alexa Joy, a local artist and sponsor of the Santa Clarita Artist Association (SCAA) is exhibiting 20 pieces from her new collection of abstracts at the Canyon Theatre gallery. 

Is it the first time you’re remodeling your master bathroom?  Are you having concerns about selecting the right products?
Have you ever said, “I know what I want but how do I implement these ideas in my home?”

Piles of clutter in our homes and at the office are not just eyesores; they also increase stress and inhibit productivity.  It’s difficult, if not impossible to get tasks done on time, remember all the important events in life and be on time for appointments.  This, in turn, annoys our family, friends and co-workers and ultimately causes stress and strain on relationships which make it even more difficult to get organized.

Zonta awards $11,000 for continuing education scholarships to two young women and four Community Service Grants to local non-profit organizations.  The recipients all strive to improve the status of women, children and families through health, education, service and caring
The Jane M. Klausman Women in Business scholarship was awarded to Zahra S. Kassim.  

Everyone wants a good deal.  Homeowners, workers and contractors all want the maximum bang for the buck.  But shopping for the lowest price is a real tightrope to walk, especially when it comes to custom swimming pool construction.

She has seen attendees literally dancing in the aisles during a Paul Anka concert, crazy costumes worn by all ages during the Rocky Horror show, a spell-bound audience during Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway and the first-class persona of actor Hal Holbrook, all of which were staged at the College of the Canyons Performing Arts Center (PAC) in Santa Clarita.  

Earth Day was the perfect time to follow the MAC’s Project motto, Help a Child and Save the Planet.  MAC’s Project held their 1st annual Earth Fair recently at the Paseo Club in Valencia.   The carnival-type event brought people together for a day of fun, food, music and games.  MAC’s Project is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of families battling childhood cancer as well as making a difference in the community by recycling.   With this being the first year for Earth Fair, they were really excited about the amount of support that they received from the community.  

The residents of the Santa Clarita Valley who recently attended the Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway concert at the College of the Canyons’ Performing Arts Center are most likely still reeling from the exquisitely performed musical strains of show tunes performed by top Broadway performers, including Rita Harvey, the star of Phantom of the Opera.

The new rebate program is finally here.  It gives residents 100 percent of the reasonable value of their automatic water softener to be used towards a new alternative water conditioning system.  It also pays for removal and disposal of the old salt or potassium-based equipment.