Price of Gas Dropping

I filled up my car today at my favorite gas station, the Exxon on San Fernando Rd / Magic Mountain Pkwy.  I was so happy to see the price is down to $2.71 per gallon for the regular unleaded.  I paid $65.49 for a full tank.  It has been a long time since I could fill up for under $75.00.

Update on the Day Fire

Well according to the State of California website the Day fire is 41% contained. The fire that started on September 4, 2006 has burned 134,000 acres in the Los Padres National Forest. Yesterday the DC-10 tanker was out there dropping about 48,000 gallons of fire retardant to help contain the fire that is now moving north away from Santa Paula and Ojai. Fire officials reported today that if the winds stay calm and the weather stays cool, they hope to have the fire contained by the end of the week.

I was at the Castaic Sports Complex yesterday which is about 10 miles southeast of the fire and I saw the prisoner bus pull in with about 100 prisoners that were all standing in line to use the bathroom. That was kind of weird and a bit scary. I hadn’t remembered the fact that they use prisoners to do a lot of the dirty work in fire fighting.

With the fire dieing down and moving north, the sky in Santa Clarita has been clear for the past few days. It appears as though the air quality is much better today than it was last week. I’m sure that’s not the case for the folks in Ventura County.

Sister City?

Here is a copy of a press release taken from City of Santa Clarita Site…This looks like a good cause, but who knew we had a sister city?

CITY TO HOST WORLD-RENOWNED DANCE PERFORMANCE TO BENEFIT SISTER CITY IN THE PHILIPPINES
All Ticket Sales Will Fund Medical Facility in Sariaya, Philippines

Prepare for the ultimate, cultural, dance performance as the Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company makes a stop in Santa Clarita during its USA tour, which happens only once, every five years. On Friday, September 29, at 8 p.m., the world class act will take the stage at the College of the Canyons Performing Arts Center, located at 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road in Santa Clarita. The performance is part of the City’s effort to raise funds for the Santa Clarita Valley Sister City Program’s mission to build a medical facility in Santa Clarita’s sister city, Sariaya – located in the Philippines.

“The closest medical facility is 12 miles away from Sariaya,” said Ken Pulskamp, City Manager. “The establishment of a medical facility will solidify the City’s relationship with its Sister City, Sariaya.”

In June, City Manager Ken Pulskamp paid a visit to Sariaya and assisted the SCVIP and Santa Clarita resident volunteers on a medical mission. During his trip, he celebrated the groundbreaking of the future medical facility at the empty site. The $50,000 clinic is projected to be complete in 2008.

Pulskamp added that attending the September 29 Bayanihan performance will better familiarize SCV residents with the Filipino culture and community, which is currently a growing two percent of the City’s population.

Newsweek hails Bayanihan (meaning “community” in Filipino), as “enchanting, engaging, and graceful.” It is considered a national treasure, using brightly colored traditional garb and dynamic dance steps, the troupe has thrilled audiences around the world for nearly a half century. A multi-award-winning company, nationally and internationally, Bayanihan has added a new dimension to the country’s dance traditions and built a rich reserve of international good will.

Tickets range from $30 to $60 and all proceeds go to the establishment of a medical facility in Santa Clarita’s sister City, Sariaya. To purchase tickets, contact the COC box office at (661)362-5304 or visit the web at www.canyonspac.com.

For further more information on the Bayanihan performance of the Sister City program, contact Elena Galvez, Management Analyst for the City at (661) 255-4317 or visit www.santa-clarita.com/cityhall/cmo/sistercities.

Magic Mountain Parkway I-5 Improvements

Got this email today from James Trong of the City of Santa Clarita:

The construction for the Magic Mountain Parkway/I-5 interchange improvements is underway!  The general contractor, Security Paving Construction, is currently constructing a rectangular shaped storm drain box, which is located west of The Old Road.  The completion of the entire storm drain box and the outlet structure should take about 12 months.

The improvements involve various construction activities in the City, Los Angeles County, and Caltrans’ jurisdictions.  Soon, we will be constructing retaining walls along the southbound I-5 on and off ramp at Magic Mountain Parkway, to be followed by widening of portions of the ramps.  The work should take about 12 months to complete.  In addition, we will be constructing retaining walls at the corner property of the northbound I-5 off ramp to Magic Mountain Parkway, which will take place in the summer of 2007.

There are a total of 11 phases for these improvements.  Currently, we are on Phase 2 of the construction and this phase alone will take approximately 12 to 15 months to complete.  During this phase, existing ramps, at least one lane, and local roadways (Magic Mountain Parkway and The Old Road) will be open for vehicular traffic.

Please check the City of Santa Clarita’s website  or call the project hotline (661) 290-2297, for any extended major lane closures, detours, or news associated with this project.

Another Fire in the SCV

Like we really needed this.  Another fire broke this morning off the 14 freeway.  It seems as thought the fire department contained it quickly because of the way the sky looks, but that isn’t saying much.  I mean when you look outside and you can see all the smoke above us …it is so depressing.  I am feeling the side effects from breathing all this stuff in for 2 weeks.  My throat is sore and I am coughing a lot.  I feel bad that I have to leave my dogs outside to breath it in all day long too. 

Back to School Night

Valencia High School had their back to school night last night.  It was pretty crowded and there were some exciting performances by the school cheerleaders and dance team.  You can tell it is fundraising time in Santa Clarita because a lot of the clubs had tables set up with things like raffle tickets or food.  Money which I’m sure will go towards purchasing new equipment or supplies of some kind.  I know I have to sell car wash tickets as a fundraiser for my daughter.  Only the beginning I’m sure.  I don have to say it’s easier than the old gift wrapping fundraiser we used to have to do in elementary school.  Time to support our local youth.  If your doorbell rings…answer it and buy something from these kids.  It takes a lot to get them out to raise money for a cause they believe in.

Tikka Grill

There’s fairly new restaurant on Copperhill and Newhall Ranch Rd called Tikka Grill. I think it has kind of a Greek/Indian flare to it. Their dishes include saffron rice with black beans, gyros, chicken, steak, etc. They have a pretty nice selection of plates to choose from. This isn’t a fancy go out to dinner on a Friday night type restaurant. It’s more of a pick it up to go, or eat there casually. There are no waiters, you order your food at the counter.

My favorite dish there is the Chicken Party Wrap. It is seasoned chicken with saffron rice, tomatoes and lettuce wrapped in a tortilla. Very fresh and healthy.

Tikka Grill is located right next to Starbucks, Juice Stop, and Panda Express.

Santa Clarita Restaurants