Santa Clarita - Traffic Awareness Month

Santa Clarita is focusing on traffic awareness this month, so if you can take a minute to contribute to the cause, remind yourself of a few things while driving.

Please pull over to the side if you hear/see an ambulance or emergency vehicle.  If you’re driving around the hospital, you can almost expect to hear them, so use caution.

Teenagers can not have another person in the car (except parent or sibling) during the first year of their provisional license.  To report dangerous teen drivers you can call 877-310-STOP.

With all the construction going on in the west side of town, it’s good to know that tickets are usually doubled in construction zones, so keep it slow and be careful.

Stay safe, pay attention, stay off the phone while driving if you can.  This law will go into effect in July anyway, so may as well get used to it now. 

Santa Clarita - Elect Laurie Ender Rally

Come out and meet Laurie Ender at the Elect Ender Rally at Bridgeport Park.  Saturday March 1st from 10am-11am, Laurie will be available to meet and greet Santa Clarita residents.  This is a great opportunity to get to know Laurie before April 8th, election day. 

LA Fire Victims Eligible for Tax Relief

Wildfires Yield Retroactive Tax Relief and Extend Resident’s Filing Deadlines

Residents in over seven counties throughout California, including Los Angeles County, whose properties were damaged by the 2007 October and November wildfires may be eligible for disaster tax relief, and are given an extension for the deadline to file from the Internal Revenue Service, the California Franchise Tax Board and the California State Board of Equalization.

“I encourage all Santa Clarita residents who were victim to the fires last October, to explore their options and take advantage of the extension and the tax relief that is being offered,” explained Mayor Bob Kellar.
Most taxpayers in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Diego counties are being granted an extension for filing and paying their tax returns for the 2007 year. This includes individual tax returns as well as employment tax returns.

Additionally, the California Board of Equalization announced that a property tax relief may be available for those with taxable property that has been damaged or destroyed.

Some 2007 losses can even be claimed on amended 2006 tax returns as a result of a special provision of the tax codes thus allowing taxpayers the option to claim disaster related losses on either the 2006 or 2007, federal and state income tax returns. 

According to the Franchise Tax Board (FTB Pub. 1034A-11), claiming the loss on an original or amended return for last year will get the taxpayer an earlier refund, but waiting to claim the loss on this year’s return could result in a greater tax saving, depending on other income factors.

Applications for reduced assessment are available from and must be filed with the county assessor. For more information about the available tax relief for the California Franchise Tax Board, visit Disaster Loss (FTB Pub. 1034) at www.ftb.ca.gov or call 1-800-338-0505.

For information relating to the International Revenue Service relief, visit IRS 547, Casualties, Disasters, and Thefts at www.irs.gov or call 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676) and for information relating to the California State Board of Equalization, visit www.boe.ca.gov or call 1-800-400-7115.

Signal Has a New Website

Well, it’s finally here.  The Signal has finally stepped in to Web 2.0 with a new website.  The site has many new features that are sure to be a great resource to the community.  

I spent some time browsing the site this morning and I noticed they had staff blogs (love that).  It looks like they may even be offering community blogs.  (Fantastic)  I think you have to register to do that which I haven’t done yet.

Anyway, click here to check out the new site! 

Good-Bye San Fernando Road

Well, it’s official.  Soon you will see new street signs going up with the newly dubbed Railroad Ave. that will now extend from the Valencia/Soledad Cyn/Bouquet Cyn intersection all the way to the 14. 

Check out the map below.  The red is Railroad Ave. and the green is Main St.  I guess someone should tell Google maps they made the change.

Blue Barrel Waste Management

Something you need to know about Blue Barrel Disposal.

I recently heard through a mom on my daughter’s softball team that if I called Blue Barrel and asked for an extra recycle bin they would bring me one for free.

I thought that sounded too good to be true, but guess what.  It is true!

That’s right.  Blue Barrel will give you an extra recycle bin for free.  All you have to do is ask.  On top of that, did you know that you are give two (2) free bulk item pick ups a year?  Yep.  I found that out when I asked how much they charged to pick up this over sized beanbag that I want to get rid of.  The customer service rep said, "Oh there’s no charge! You get 2 free bulk item pick-ups a year."  Fantastic!

I love sharing good news especially when it’s good for the environment and can help keep our community clean.

Call Blue Barrel if you need more room to recycle!

661-259-2398 option 6. 

Las Lomas Project Controversy

The Signal has uncovered some information that is very relevant to the proposed Las Lomas Project(Development scheduled off the 5 by Calgrove). 

Apparently Palmer Investments (aka Las Lomas) doesn’t really own all the land yet.  According to the Signal’s latest reveal, it owns less than half of the 555 acres.  251 of those acres are owned by a 77 year old Van Nuys resident who has been kept out of the loop about the massive development planned for his property.  Yes it is true that he did sign an agreement with Palmer Investments pledging his commitment to the project and giving them an option to buy, but he is still the current owner and has not been kept in the loop of all the meetings and controversy regarding his portion of the land which is mainly the southern portion on the hill.

The Signal does a great job outlining their discovery so if you haven’t already seen the headline in todays paper, check it out here.