Sesnon Fire - Porter Ranch, Chatsworth, Simi Valley

If you’ve been outside today you probably saw the smoke over the sky of the San Fernando Valley.  It’s here.  Fire season has landed and it’s coming out strong.  The fire burning over Porter Ranch is threatening homes and appears to be moving toward Chatsworth and Simi Valley.  There are parts of the 118 freeway that are closed and residents are being asked to evacuate the Porter Ranch area.  The wind is blowing toward the west, so communities such as Hidden Hills and Calabasas are also being warned to be prepared.

There has been one fatality today as a man that appeared to be living in his car and was trapped and burned.

It’s happening somewhere else today, but be prepared because we could be next.  Don’t forget how quickly it happened last year.

Eucalyptus Tree Falls onto McBean Pkwy

City Press Release Posted 

Today at approximately 2 p.m., a large eucalyptus tree, located on private property on Arroyo Parkway and McBean, fell and hit at least one car, sending one person to the hospital with minor injuries, according to personnel on site.

The large-sized tree was located on the Stone Creek Apartments property when heavy winds yanked the tree out of the ground, damaging a wrought iron fence, and lifting the tree out by the roots and onto traffic lanes on Arroyo Parkway.

The Los Angeles County Fire department got the call for the downed tree and immediately called the City’s Public Works department.  Within minutes, the City’s tree service contractors were on site with City crews, removing and mulching the tree.

The City’s Arbor team subsequently inspected other trees in the vicinity and found a second tree on the same property that appeared to be leaning from the winds.  Upon further investigation, the arborists determined that the second tree needed to be taken care of as well to prevent it from falling.

At about 3 p.m., a small tree (not a eucalyptus) on Wiley Canyon, located in the center median, split and landed on the street blocking a lane of traffic for about 30 minutes.  It too was removed by city crews and no one was hurt.

Election Day 4-8-08

Tomorrow is Election Day in Santa Clarita.  Tuesday 4-8-08!

It’s not a major election like the one this November, however the results will impact you.  Whether you know it or not.

If you think your vote doesn’t matter, you couldn’t be more wrong.  In a city council election the winner can be determined by a small amount of votes, so just do it.  Vote.  It’ll be quick and painless.  I’d be willing to bet that the majority of SCV residents don’t vote so chances are there will be no line at the polling place.

Not sure where to vote?  CLICK HERE!

Not sure who to vote for?  Well, here’s all I’m gonna say about that.

If you’re tired of the same people having all the control and you want some common sense added to our city council…two words…Laurie Ender!

As I think back at some of the stupid things that happened in our city over the past year like the back in parking in Newhall and the consideration of changing the name of Magic Mountain Parkway to Auto Center Drive, I just don’t think these things would’ve seen the light of day with Laurie Ender on the council.  She’s the candidate that I believe is most like me.  A mom in Santa Clarita that just wants the best for my kids and everyone else’s.

Still not convinced?  I’ll leave you with this letter to the editor that was in the Signal the other day.  In case you missed it. 

To The Editor:

It’s stunning that The Signal continues to miss the story behind Laurie Ender’s remarkable campaign to be elected to City Council on April 8. It’s being funded and fueled in part by a group of people who have never donated or voted as part of a city election.

Safe Routes to School Grant

The City of Santa Clarita was recently awarded a $435,000 grant from the State of California’s “State Safe Routes to School Grant.” The grant money is allocated to the City’s ongoing campaign to create a safer environment surrounding schools for children as well as to encourage them to walk and bike to school, which should help to decrease traffic. This is the second year that the City has received this grant.

The money awarded this year will go towards installing improvements in the areas surrounding Canyon Springs, Meadows and Emblem elementary schools. These improvements are scheduled to be installed in the Summer of 2009. The three schools chosen for last year’s grant, Santa Clarita, Newhall and Cedar Creek elementary, will have their improvements installed in the Summer of 2008.

“As a result of the City applying for and receiving this grant, the areas surrounding the elementary schools in Santa Clarita will be made safer so that children can walk and bike to school without incident,” said Mayor Pro-Tem Frank Ferry.

Originally the City visited all of the 26 local elementary schools and did an assessment, ranking them on a level of safety and the grant money that is received goes toward upgrading the areas surrounding them according to the need.

The “Safe Routes to School Grant” will be used to do numerous upgrades including redoing all cross-walks so they are more visible, updating all signs to the required neon yellow, installing countdown pedestrian displays for the street crossing
signals, installing driver feedback signs that monitor and relay the speed of those driving by and extending out the sidewalks at key intersections  to make the distance of crossing the street shorter and pedestrians that are standing on the sidewalks more visible.

For more information about the upgrades that will be used to increase safety for the City elementary schools, or more information about the “State Safe Routes to School Grant,” please contact Ian Pari, City Senior Traffic Engineer at (661) 284-1402.

Las Lomas - NOT!

I’ve been reading the news about the not-soon-to-be las lomas project that stood to bring more traffic and chaos to our lovely Santa Clarita hillside.  From the looks of things it’s looking good for us and bad for them.

Rather than re-writing all the information, I’ll send you to Darla Vanderlip’s site.  This Santa Clarita real estate agent did a nice wrap up of the recent voting.  Click here for her story.

Santa Clarita Wins Top Prize of Creating Community Award of Distinction

The City of Santa Clarita walked away a winner with the California Park and Recreation Society 2007-08 Creating Community Award of Distinction, which is given to only one city in California, on Friday, February 29, at the CPRSA Installation Banquet held in Long Beach. 

Santa Clarita was awarded the Creating Community Award of Distinction for strengthening the City’s safety, security and City’s image and for displaying commitment to strategic action and new direction.

The City’s Graffiti Task Force also won the Neighborhood and Community Life Award for attacking the problem of graffiti as a community, in addition to the coveted Creating Community Award of Distinction. The City’s Camp Clarita won the Agency Showcase Award for the originality and inventiveness of the camp’s website. Laura Hauser, City Recreation Administer, Commissioner Ed Redd, and Recreation Supervisor Jodi Jones accepted the three awards on behalf of the City.

The California Park and Recreation Society’s Awards Program recognizes excellence of the agencies and individuals that publicize, develop and manage programs, parks and facilities. They award those that embody and embrace the core values of the profession, respond to trends and market opportunities, move toward a stronger role in the community, promote participation and strengthen community image and sense of place.
 

City to Host Community Meeting for Main Street Improvements

The City of Santa Clarita and Newhall Redevelopment Agency are hosting a meeting on the next phase of changes to transform Old Town Newhall.  Community members are invited to attend and comment on streetscape and landscape plans for Main Street.  The Community Meeting will be Monday, March 10 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Hart Hall located at William S. Hart Park.
“The community meeting is an opportunity for business owners, property owners and residents of Old Town Newhall to get involved and have an input on the look and feel of Main Street,” commented Mayor Bob Kellar.

The community meeting will include a presentation and discussion of the conceptual designs for Main Street.  These designs include new seating areas, enhanced landscaping, and a new storm drain.  The plans for Main Street also include new mid-block crossings, antique street lights, and paved crosswalks.

For more information regarding the community meeting, or the improvements to Main Street, please contact Alex Hernandez or Chris Price at 661/255-4330.