Month in Review – A reflection on our communities past month’s achievements, community developments, and awesomeness – September 2018

Advanced Audiology is Heard!

The owner of Advanced Audiology, Nola Aronson, received the award for Small Business of the Month from Senator Scott Wilk. “She’s been helping people for over 30 years,” according to Senator Wilk. Aronson worked in the San Fernando Valley for 35 years and finally moved her family to the Santa Clarita Valley in the late 80s. Nola has always been involved in helping the community. She takes 10 percent of the income from the sale of hearing aids and donates it to another nonprofit organization. Advanced Audiology is made up of three specialty doctors of audiology along with a group of nurses and clerks. The Small Business of the Month award is quite an honor for it is given only monthly to exceptional lines of work.

Seniors Go Wild, Wild West

Seniors at the SCV Senior Center joined together on the first Sunday of August for fun dancing to country music with the Sierra Hillbillies. August’s theme was “Cowboy Picnic and Dance” and the choreography styles ranged from square dancing to line dancing. The attendees were able to dress with the theme in which they wore western-vibe fashion. The event held by the “Hillbillies” monthly is to not only encourage new friendships among seniors, but also to teach them a new skill. “We do this for fun and fitness,” said Philip Alfeld with the Sierra Hillbillies. “It’s both a mental and physical workout.” Jay Henderson gave the calls for music. This event was held in memory of a member Frank Kopecky, according to an event release.

Expanded Education

College of the Canyons have expanded their courses to nearly 2,000 course sections for the Fall 2018 to accommodate incoming and present students. With 35 new and improved programs along with 286 new and adjusted courses, “COC’s goal is to help students meet their educational goals, whether it be to transfer to a four-year school or gain new skills,” assistant superintendent and vice president of academic affairs at COC, Jerry Buckley states. Five new associate degree pathways for students who plan on attending a four-year university and many continuing education courses are also part of the addition to the school.

SCV National Night Out Celebration

Law enforcement of Santa Clarita Valley joined the community on the evening of August 4th for the 35th annual National Night Out at Central Park. Santa Clarita Valley sheriff’s deputies and the California Highway Patrol in Newhall provided informational handouts, advice, and stickers to residents. The celebration was happening alongside with Concerts in the Park simultaneously. National Night Out is a time to get with the community to take back the streets,” said deputy Joshua Stamsek. The goal of the National Night Out is an annual celebration to bring together local police departments with the community to build an even stronger bond.

Boston Scientific’s Love to
William S. Hart Union High School District

Boston Scientific employees showed their love to William S. Hart Union High School District by fundraising to provide heart defibrillators to every school. Heart defibrillators are life-saving devices that have the ability to detect irregularities and use electric currents to adjust the rhythm of the beats. “Boston Scientific has a huge focus on cardiology,” said Boston Scientific employee and current vice chair of the WiSH Foundation. A fundraiser for heart awareness month is done annually. The employee resource group raised over $1,000 in funds and donated it and completed paperwork to ask the company to match the funds. Most of the high schools have AEDs in the main office and gym, but two of the high schools had only one on campus, according to Secrest. They are important devices that can save lives.

Change the Story

Wade Bradford, a Canyon Country resident, teacher, and author had a book signing at the Open Book in Canyon Country. “Papa Bear’s Stage Fright” is based on the classic tale “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”, but this time, Papa Bear forgets his lines. “Papa Bear’s Stage Fright” is based on his experience from theater. It is quite interesting and different compared to other typical stories as Papa Bear becomes apprehensive as the narrator “leads” the characters to their roles, so he explores through other kid tales. “Before I knew what genre I wanted to write, I knew I wanted to be a writer,” said Bradford. “Almost all my stories were about kid characters.”

Trailblazer Scolnik

The deputy-in-charge of the District Attorney’s Santa Clarita Office, Alisanne Scolnik, addressed the issue of reckless driving with CHP Officials and created driver safety programs. Scolnik’s six office prosecutors were most concerned about reckless driving, speeding, and driving intoxicated in the Southern California community. “I felt this was a great way for the District Attorney’s Office to address street racing and provide for the safety of the community,” Scolnik said. Approximately 170 people in Southern California died in car accidents since 2000 where street racing was suspected. An undercover operation led by California Highway Patrol led to the arrest of over 100 people at a Castaic industrial park race event the year before, seven of them booked on felonies. Roughly 80 adults from 18 to 21 years old were charged on misdemeanors of being spectators. Scolnik and CHP made a driver safety program. Certain people who were cited and matched the criteria attended a session. “We charged the offenders in court who were actively involved in this illegal activity, and we educated those who were passively involved.”

Art With a Purpose

Los Angeles based artist, Devon Tsuno, raised environmental awareness as he introduced an art project to the walls of the College of the Canyons Art Gallery. “California Seedlings” will cover the facade with film wrap of 702 square feet. “I knew I wanted to do some public art and take the excitement from indoors to go on the broader campus,” said COC’s newest art director, Pamela Bailey Lewis. Lewis was informed that students had an interest in environmental issues and they needed an artist who can work between fine and commercial art. That is when they got in touch with Tsuno. They needed to transfer paint-based work into a digital one. When the original was painted on “washy” paper, according to Tsuno, Elon Schoenholz, a photographer specializing in architecture and interiors, took photos of the project in 10 sections. The files were lastly attached together. The painting represents native and non-native plants. “It represents the diversity of California and the changes for good and bad,” Tsuno explained.

Go No More Mile

Senator Scott Wilk’s Thursday Senate Bill 1199 is headed to Governor Jerry Brown for signature. “SB 1199 would require when reasonably possible a family or community connection before paroling a sex offender into a community”, according to SCV News press release. In other words, SB 1199 would prevent the “dumping” of sexual predators into random communities where family and children are present when possible including reentry services where they are placed. It applies except in cases where it would violate any other law or risk victims. Jessica’s Law forbids any released sex offenders on or after Nov 8, 2006 from occupying within 2,000 feet of any school, park, or where children are present. “SB 1199 will keep our communities safer and provide the newly paroled offender with the best possible chance of not re-offending,” said Wilk.

Art Brings People Together

The Newhall School District and California Institute of the Arts are establishing a new community arts partnership program. The new CAP program consists of CalArts alumni, faculty, and student instructors will hold free after-school, school-based, and art programs for children in the district and Newhall Elementary School, according to the district leaders. “We’ve been working with CalArts for a while and it seemed like a natural fit for the district,” said governing board President Philip Ellis. Arts that will be taught range from creative writing, music, theater, etc. Creativity and art will always be important as it allows people to express themselves.

Dress For Change

Operation School Bell, a program that helps families in need, was held by Assistance League Santa Clarita. Assistance league members’ goal was to help 2,200 children K-12 get a voucher to receive new clothing and shoes. Some children are freezing as they not have warm jackets to wear during the cold fall and winter seasons. Children at every public school in the Santa Clarita Valley get a chance to apply for the voucher, but the decision is ultimately up to the principals of the school sites. “We hear stories of kids coming to school in the same outfits everyday,” said public relations chair, Helen Barlow. The children can choose anything they desire as long as it meets the school’s dress code guidelines. If chosen, children could spend from $70 and $120 at Old Navy and Payless ShoeSource, according to Barlow. College of the Canyons students in the RISE program, Resources for Individual Success in Education were invited as well.

Encore, Encore!

Santa Clarita Encore Chorale is a nonprofit musical arts program for seniors ages 55 and older to have fun for the semester of Fall 2018.A lot of fun cheery holiday tunes such as “ugly Christmas Sweater Song” are sung. SCV’s Encore Cohrale debuted in Fall 2015. They are an affiliate of the national Encore Creativity for Older Adults. Following the 15-week program a free public concert on Nov. 30. Music is an excellent way to bring people of all ages together. Expect to hear some fun holiday tunes! For more information, please contact conductor Cheri Walters at 661-347-3221 or cheri.walters@gmail.com or Roberta Kessler at 818-468-2285 or rkessler1367@gmail.com.