With Your Family in Mind

There is a major difference between what we want and what we need.  The reality is, we may not have everything we want, but thank God we have everything that we need.  The key words in the model prayer are, “Give us this day our daily bread.”  Instead of stressing out over what you may or may not have tomorrow, thank God for what you do have today. 

For more than 15 years, we have been offering practical solutions to physical barriers that can limit mobility in the home or in places of business.
We often receive questions from individuals, caregivers, family members, business owners and Occupational Therapists about attractive building solutions that can meet unique needs.

For more than 25 years, the Domestic Violence Center of the Santa Clarita Valley (formerly Association to Aid Victims of Domestic Violence) has quietly gone about providing services and education to women and families, helping to not only end a family’s cycle of violence, but also to prevent future violence.  The Domestic Violence Center of Santa Clarita Valley is the only non-profit organization in the 200 square mile area that comprises the Santa Clarita Valley, providing services to women and children affected by domestic violence.

Are you tired of the character assassination that dominates today’s news?  When did it become fashionable to substitute name-calling for facts?  Well, before we criticize others, maybe we should take a look at ourselves.

Do you use derogatory words to describe colleagues, competitors, customers, or others?  Do you talk behind the backs of friends and family members to others?  Do you spread rumors or pass along emails about people or issues you know nothing about?

Healthy eating is an important issue throughout our lives, but good nutrition in our “golden years” is especially valuable.  Good nutrition can help lessen the effects of osteoporosis, high blood pressure, heart disease, gastrointestinal ailments and chronic malnutrition.  Studies have shown that healthy eating in later years helps in reducing the risk of these diseases as well as helping to manage the signs and symptoms.  This contributes to a higher quality of life with greater independence.  Poor nutrition can have the opposite effect and prolong recovery from an illness or injury and lead to a poor quality of life.

National Event Stresses Importance of Proper Detection

Individuals can take advantage of free, confidential memory screenings as part of National Memory Screening Day, an annual initiative of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) to promote proper detection of memory problems.  The screenings are taking place on Tuesday, November 17, 2009, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and are by appointment.  Visiting Angels is located at 24001 Newhall Ranch Road, Suite 270 in Valencia.

Sometimes overlooked by family law judges is the legislative policy that each party has attorney representation in family law proceedings. This often becomes an issue in low- and middle-income families and was recently addressed in a Court of Appeal Decision in a case entitled Alan S. versus the Superior Court. In Alan S, the Court noted that the purpose of §2030 was not the redistribution of wealth from the greater income party to the lesser income party, but rather to provide parity, a fair hearing with two sides equally represented.

When individuals are seeking therapy and support services, they are often emotionally distressed and anxious to quickly find the right match.  This is particularly true when a child has a problem.  The parent is often overwhelmed with worries about finding the right help, questions about whether the problem can be fixed, and how much it all will cost.  The choices are many and confusing. 

Last month a reader of The Magazine of Santa Clarita wrote in with this question about breaking into voiceover, and I promised to lay out over the next few months the skill-sets that most people in the areas of stage, film and television, singing, instructing, public speaking and on-air talent possess, and show how they do and don’t apply to voice acting.  Last month I talked about stage actors.  This month I’ll talk about television and film actors.

At times it can be hard to keep your head up and stay positive in the midst of an extremely stressful situation.  There are times that even though you know the right thing to do, you don’t feel like doing it.  You know you should pray, you know you should believe, you know you...

We have had over a decade of change in the Federal Estate Tax laws.  In 1987, the government increased the amount an individual could transfer before Estate Taxes were owed to $600,000.  This exemption is now at $3.5 million.  We are supposed to be looking at Estate Taxes being repealed for one year in 2010.  Thereafter, the estate tax rate in 2011 is slated to revert to the first $1 million with the highest estate tax rate being 55 percent.

Accidents in the workplace result in higher workers’ compensation and insurance costs, lost workdays, and lower employee morale.  Thus, it makes good sense for employers to provide safety education for their employees to reduce the likelihood of injuries.

All employers should develop a plan for medical emergencies.  They need to anticipate what could happen, have a plan for what to do if something does occur, and train their employees so they will respond appropriately during an emergency.

Colic is a condition in young infants characterized by an unusual amount of crying.  When they cry, they may draw their arms and legs toward their bodies as though they are in pain and may even turn bright red.  Colic usually appears between the third and sixth week after birth and is typically resolved by the time they are three months old.  Although no one is certain what causes colic, there are a number of things that likely contribute, such as an immature and irritated nervous system, food sensitivities and gastrointestinal upset.

The City of Santa Clarita invites local non-profit organizations to apply for the City’s Community Services Grant Program, designed to assist community-based, non-profit organizations with providing services to, or directly benefitting, Santa Clarita residents.

The Community Services Grant Program awards grants up to $7,500 per community organization to fund one-time projects and program enhancements, pilot programs, capital expenditures and special supplies. All community-based non-profit organizations providing services to Santa Clarita residents are eligible to apply for funds.

At Stork Vision, we are in the business of capturing your baby’s development in the most rapid growth period of their lives.  It sounds so cliché to say that babies and children grow so quickly.  The sad thing is…how true this is.  Stork Vision helps you capture your baby on DVD starting at 16 weeks.  At this point he or she may only weigh eight ounces.  By the time he or she is 32 weeks they may weigh three to four pounds.  At twelve months they will be ready to walk and talk.  That just reinforces how quickly they grow.

Have you thought about what you will be doing with your family to celebrate the Fall season?  Have you thought about doing something a little different for Halloween with your family this year?  Well, at First Presbyterian Church of Newhall we understand the importance of spending time with your family, as well as understand how hard it is do something safe and fun for Halloween. 

When filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy, a debtor may have several tough choices.  One of those choices is whether to “reaffirm” a car/truck loan, or surrender the vehicle.  If the debtor surrenders a vehicle, the entire loan is discharged (eliminated), even when the loan balance exceeds the value of the vehicle.  However, if the debtor wants to retain a vehicle that has a loan secured by that vehicle, he must reaffirm or redeem the loan in order to keep the vehicle. 

The College of the Canyons Social Science and Business Division will host its second annual Domestic Violence Awareness event on Wednesday, October 21 outdoors on the college’s Valencia campus. Proceeds from the event will benefit local domestic violence shelters.