Community

Eagle Scout Zachary Hoffman gives a speech at the Sierra Vista Junior High School branch of the Boys & Girls Club on Saturday, Feb. 17. Habeba Mostafa/ The Signal

Eagle Scout revitalizes Boys & Girls Club

February 21, 2024

Being raised in Santa Clarita with yearly traditions, such as the Festival of Trees, it was only natural for newly appointed Eagle Scout Zachary Hoffman to want to give back.

Fostering Youth Independence launches new programs

February 21, 2024

News release Local nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence has begun the new year with the introduction of three new programs designed to give local foster youth financial skills, a creative outlet

(From left to right) Project Linus members Jillian Andrade, Joshua Mok, Chelsey Suh, and Maryam Fareed work on their blanket after handing out scissors to volunteers during the Project Linus Make-A-Blanket Day at the College of the Canyons East Gym in Valencia, Calif., on Saturday, March 4, 2023.

Project Linus to hold ‘Make-A-Blanket Day’

February 21, 2024

The Santa Clarita Valley chapter of Project Linus is hosting its semi-annual Make-A-Blanket Day on Saturday, March 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the College of the Canyons

The Savvy Senior | Do I Need to File a Tax Return This Year?

February 21, 2024

Dear Savvy Senior, What are the IRS income tax filing requirements for retirees this tax season? I didn’t file a tax return the past two years because my income

Santa Clarita Valley International Charter School Photo by Greg Grudt Photography

iLEAD and SCVi receive K12 Strong Workforce Grant to grow aerospace pathways

February 20, 2024

News release The K12 Strong Workforce Program has issued an $899,000 grant to iLEAD California, which plans to use a portion of the grant as seed money to expand aerospace

Ask the Motor Cop | Confused about the crosswalk rules? You’re not alone

February 17, 2024

Question: Jerry, my name is Dylan and I am really confused on this one. I am never sure when I can make a right turn with a pedestrian in the

The Time Ranger | Gold, Guns, Gurus & the Sweet-Tooth Bandits

February 17, 2024

Hope you’re having a good 2024 weekend morning, dear saddlepals. Trust you’re well-rested ready for a little fresh air and adventure. What pleasant vistas and odd vignettes await. We’ll meet

Robert Lamoureux | Questions on ducts and chimneys

February 17, 2024

Question: Robert, I have two items of curiosity to ask you: 1. As an original homeowner in my 33-year-old home, is it necessary to clean the heating and A/C

The “Shine a Light” event in 2018 at the College of Canyons was held to spread awareness on suicide and dispel the stigmas associated with mental health. The school placed more than 1,100 lanterns in the Honor Grove to represent the 1,100 college students that lose their lives to suicide every year. SIGNAL FILE PHOTO

Community group shares numbers on suicide, prevention outreach

February 16, 2024

The latest figures shared with the Santa Clarita Valley Suicide Prevention, Postvention and Wellness Committee indicated there were 20 suicides last year compared to 33 in 2022, officials said. The

UCLA Health to hold Demystifying Cancer event

February 15, 2024

UCLA Health experts will be hosting a Demystifying Cancer event on Thursday, April 18, from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at College of

La Mesa Junior High School Principal Kullen Welch made pancakes for students who earned an “A” grade in the previous semester as a reward for their hard work on Thursday morning in the school’s quad. Katherine Quezada/The Signal

Syrup, smiles, and pancake piles: La Mesa celebrates ‘A’ students

February 15, 2024

Over 1,000 students at La Mesa Junior High School were invited to have pancakes for breakfast made by their very own teachers on Thursday morning as a reward for their

Among the Metrolink board meAmong the Metrolink board members who participated in rider appreciation day was Lauren Hughes-Leslie, a Lancaster City Council member who visited riders at the Newhall Station. Photo courtesy of Metrolink.mbers who participated in the station pop-up events was Lauren Hughes-Leslie, a Lancaster City Council member who visited riders at the Newhall Station.

Metrolink celebrates customer appreciation day with Eras-inspired theme

February 15, 2024

News release Metrolink, Southern California’s regional rail provider, celebrated its sixth annual Customer Appreciation Day through a series of pop-up events at select stations across its 545-mile system, including

The city libraries: a community hub, aiming to bridge learning gaps

February 15, 2024

Last year, the city of Santa Clarita’s three libraries circulated a total of 1,162,598 books — but talk to the library staff, and they’ll tell you the city libraries of

College Brief for Feb. 15

February 15, 2024

Walker receives degree from Georgia Tech Cory Walker, of Valencia, has earned a master of science in computer science from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Walker was among

Cameron Smyth | A Journey Through the Silver Screen

February 15, 2024

Dating back to the early 20th century, Santa Clarita has stood as a favored filming destination with silent movie productions seeking the region’s scenic backdrop for their films. The vast

Mary Luz and Aldrin Yangat toast during "The Big I Do" event held at the Canyon Country Community Center in Canyon Country on Wednesday, 021424. Dan Watson/The Signal

‘The Big I Do’ turns 2

February 14, 2024

What better way to celebrate love on Valentine’s Day, than to commemorate the start of a new union with a forever partner? The city of Santa Clarita helped seven couples

Human Trafficking Task Force visits hotels on V-Day By Perry Smith Senior Staff Writer The Santa Clarita Valley Human Trafficking Task Force sought to spread love and care on Valentine’s Day with a gift for local hotels and motels — information to protect against and raise awareness about victims the group is trying to help. The task force Wednesday was looking to support recent laws aimed at trafficking adults and children, including Assembly Bill 2034, which requires certain businesses to alert staff and any potential customers to indications of human trafficking, as well as undergo training to spot the warning signs. The group made a list of 20 SCV hotels and motels and set out to do just that, supplied with posters and tape, in case any managers were willing to let the group put up the legally required notice provided by a local chapter of ZOE International, an agency that fights child trafficking. The organizer, Pastor Dan Broyles of Valencia Hills Community Church, said the day chosen was incidental to the romantic holiday — he just wanted to organize a day when people could attend and when he thought managers might be in the office. All the establishments were given a heads up on the visits ahead of time, he said. The reception the group received Wednesday ranged from politely taking the posters on warning signs and saying another supervisor would have to sign off on it, to the Days Inn in Castaic, where the general manager spoke with the group, asked questions and then allowed them to post information in the lobby and restroom. State laws require businesses, including airports, transit centers, truck stops, bars, hotels and others to post information about human trafficking, as well as local resources. But the group just wanted to share a gentle reminder, and maybe follow up if there were any questions or concerns. “We’re not law enforcement, and we don’t threaten,” said Larry Schallert, who recently retired as assistant director of the student health and program at College of the Canyons, in explaining the instructions to the group before they headed out to talk to hotel managers. “We just want to help them out,” Broyles said. Community outreach efforts like this one are the main goal of the task force, said Broyles, who started the group in 2015 with Schallert. Something Broyles mentioned more than once in the pre-canvass discussion with volunteers is that one of the perceptions the group battles is the SCV is a nice, low-crime area, which is why that kind of crime doesn’t happen here. The exact opposite is true, group members said, with Broyles saying he hears about cases involving local trafficking victims monthly from his contacts in the county’s Department of Child and Family Services. “It’s almost like an undiscovered cancer,” Broyles said, talking about the danger of that misconception. “So, it can grow, if people aren’t looking for it or no one notices it.” The members were encouraged by the results, with one hotel employee, who mentioned she was planning to attend COC, saying she would have to ask permission before posting. She had already received the required training, but still took a minute to take some pictures of the poster. “If we didn’t do anything else, we informed management about trafficking and the law, so we brought awareness,” Schallert said, “and then when we were giving out the information on human trafficking, you could tell they wanted to read it and they were taking pictures. My sense is that it was very successful.” Pastor Dan Broyles of Valencia Hills Community Church speaks with Larry Schallert ahead of their outreach on Wednesday. Perry Smith/The Signal

SCV Human Trafficking Task Force visits hotels on V-Day

February 14, 2024

The Santa Clarita Valley Human Trafficking Task Force sought to spread love and care on Valentine’s Day with a gift for local hotels and motels — information to protect against

Charter College launches diagnostic sonography program

February 14, 2024

News release Charter College has announced the opening of its newest program, the associate of applied science in diagnostic medical sonography. This marks the third medical program to be launched

Petty Officer 3rd Class Taylor Todd. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy.

Santa Clarita native serves aboard USS Sterett

February 14, 2024

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Bryan Niegel Navy Office of Community Outreach MILLINGTON, Tenn. – Petty Officer 3rd Class Taylor Todd, a native of Santa Clarita who graduated from Hart

Derek Loughran as "Derek the Mime", left, plays an inflatable saxophone on a chair at the Head Table Sponsor - Home Instead during the Celebrity Waiter Dinner with the theme "Springtime in Paris" and held at the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center at Bella Vida on Saturday, 042923.

Senior Center’s Celebrity Waiter set for April 27

February 14, 2024

News release The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center’s Celebrity Waiter fundraiser is scheduled Saturday, April 27, celebrating the theme, “California Dreamin’.” Celebrity Waiter is the signature fundraising event for

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Community

Eagle Scout revitalizes Boys & Girls Club

Fostering Youth Independence launches new programs

Project Linus to hold ‘Make-A-Blanket Day’

The Savvy Senior | Do I Need to File a Tax Return This Year?

iLEAD and SCVi receive K12 Strong Workforce Grant to grow aerospace pathways

Ask the Motor Cop | Confused about the crosswalk rules? You’re not alone

The Time Ranger | Gold, Guns, Gurus & the Sweet-Tooth Bandits

Robert Lamoureux | Questions on ducts and chimneys

Community group shares numbers on suicide, prevention outreach

UCLA Health to hold Demystifying Cancer event

Syrup, smiles, and pancake piles: La Mesa celebrates ‘A’ students

Metrolink celebrates customer appreciation day with Eras-inspired theme

The city libraries: a community hub, aiming to bridge learning gaps

College Brief for Feb. 15

Cameron Smyth | A Journey Through the Silver Screen

‘The Big I Do’ turns 2

SCV Human Trafficking Task Force visits hotels on V-Day

Charter College launches diagnostic sonography program

Santa Clarita native serves aboard USS Sterett

Senior Center’s Celebrity Waiter set for April 27

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