On the Town

On Tuesday, May 12th the City of Santa Clarita organized a celebration of food and entertainment to kick-off the exhibit of SCCS’ student artwork at the Valencia Town Center Community Wall.

L’amoré Dance Performing Arts Studio (open for one year) was named Top Studio at the Regional Thunderstruck Dance Competition in Long Beach with 27 other studios participating. 

The Valencia High School Vocal Jazz Ensemble “Two N’ Four” won first place at the Reno Jazz Festival last month in Reno, Nevada. The group also won the Sweepstakes Award, scoring the highest in every category in the vocal division.
The Valencia vocal ensemble competed against 45 other groups from across the nation for this national championship. The group was then asked to perform an encore showcase in front of thousands in the Reno Performing Arts Center Arena.

Ritu Khadiya was recently awarded a trip to New York on Tax Day, April 15, 2015 for Closing Bell at the Nasdaq. She received this honor for being one of the best customer service tax offices for Liberty Tax Service. Ritu proudly put Santa Clarita on the big screens at Time Square!

Santa Clarita food establishments came together at the 27th Taste of the Town event on May 3 to raise money for the Child & Family Center.
The Child & Family Center helps children and families who need emotional health treatment at the center provided by a highly trained clinical staff.

On Monday, April 27 the launch of Over 40 Females was held at Salt Creek Grille in Valencia. The evening was hosted by Co-Directors, Kristan Cicero and Annie Jacoby who welcomed founder, Judy Goss, of New York who is a television host/radio personality, author and former editor of MORE Magazine.

On Friday, May 1 the Santa Clarita Artists’ Association (SCAA) presented Scholarship Awards at Barnes & Noble in Valencia.
“It was a wonderful evening of celebration, light refreshments, much support for the SCAA and our scholarship program,” said Pat Thayer, Chair of the Scholarship Committee.

It was a beautiful morning as nearly 425 walkers gathered to take steps for a cure in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Great Strides Walk.  Teams gathered on Saturday, May 9 at Westfield Valencia Town Center and enjoyed live music by 661 and a Star Spangled Banner a cappella performance by Stage Door Singers. 

At the 42nd Annual Henry Mayo “Drive Safe” Golf Classic held on May 9, participants golfed to raise money for Emergency and Trauma Services. The event consisted of golfing, contests, prizes, food, drinks, and both a silent and live auction. There was also a special event where participants were given the chance to win $50,000 in a helicopter golf ball drop.

On Friday, May 22, community members gathered at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station for the unveiling of the new Mobile Command Center.   Captain Roosevelt Johnson addressed the crowds, recognizing the important role that the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriffs Foundation board along with the City of Santa Clarita played in making the Mobile Command Center a reality. 

On April 28 at College of the Canyons football stadium, Nissan of Valencia, coordinated by the Executive Manager of Nissan of Valencia Dan Sterkel, hosted their fifth annual Nissan Car giveaway. Hart District students were put in a drawing to win two 2015 Nissan Versas, based off of their attendance and grade point average, and runner-ups received over 85 cash prizes and gift cards that were donated by local Santa Clarita businesses.

On Sunday, April 19, over 600 runners, walkers and four-footed friends crossed the start/finish line at Newhall Park for the 26th annual running of our Operation School Bell(R) 5K.

Pam Ingram, the current president of Soroptimist International of SCV, has received the Carmen Sarro Community Service Award from the Zonta Club of the Santa Clarita Valley. Ingram was selected from a slate of 13 local women nominated by the Santa Clarita Valley non-profit organizations for the honor at Zonta’s annual Women in Service brunch recently at Robinson Ranch.

Green Thumb Garden Center celebrated their 45th Anniversary Spring Opening on Saturday, March 28. It was a lovely spring day and guests were treated to demonstrations and seminars, you could bring your garden tools for tool sharpening to get ready for the season!

The Silver Spur Award for Community Service honors those who have support College of the Canyons and made contributions to Santa Clarita. Descendants of the founder of the city of Santa Clarita, Henry Mayo Newhall, received the Silver Spur Award for Community Service on April 11 at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles.

On March 12, community members gathered to enjoy an evening of charitable shopping hosted by Ro, Ma Jewelers and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to benefit LLS Man & Woman of the Year Campaign. Shoppers had the opportunity to participate in exclusive raffle prizes presented by Tag Heuer, Mont Blanc, and Raymond Weil.

Hundreds of guests came to the Valencia Hyatt Regency to indulge in a variety of chili all to support a great cause.  On March 20, 41 talented chili cookers competed for votes at the 3rd Annual SCV Real Estate Community Charity Chili Cook Off.  Proceeds from the event benefited Bridge to Home, LARC Ranch and Help the Children non-profit organizations.

Santa Clarita-based girl group, ID4GiRLS, made up of Kennedy Stephens, Shelbi and Sydney Schauble has taken off since their start in 2012. The three powerhouse singers promote “peace, love, and positive self-esteem” to their fans, even counting the fan as their fourth member “3 Girls + You = 4”.