Dianne Feinstein

US Senator Dianne Feinstein will be visiting Santa Clarita on Tuesday, October 9 2007 to give a "Washington Report" at the Hyatt Valencia.

The luncheon, which will take place at 12 noon, is being hosted by the City of Santa Clarita, the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Valley Industrial Association of Santa Clarita.

Senator Feinstein will discuss both local and national issues during this, her first, visit to Santa Clarita.

Tickets to the luncheon cost $40 per person. For more information or to RSVP, please call the City of Santa Clarita at (661) 255-4900.

Hart Board Seats - The Race is On

According to the Signal, the election to decide who will take the two empty seats on the Hart district governing board is on and will take place on November 6th.

The three candidates are Gloria Mercado-Fortine, Steve Sturgeon and Joe Messina.

Gloria Mercado-Fortine is a Los Angeles Unified School District educational administrator who is seeking re-election after completing her second non-consecutive term.

Steve Sturgeon is a local business owner who is seeking his third term after serving on the board for eight years.

Joe Messina is also a local business owner who has previously served on several educational committees including the Measure V committee.

Both Sturgeon and Messina agree that building a high school in Castaic is a priority, while Mercado-Fortine is concerned about the district’s $43 million budget overrun.

All three candidates agree that an expansion on the district’s vocational training program would be highly beneficial to the community.

Polling places will be open from 7am to 8pm on November 06, while absentee voting will be available October 9 - 30. Please visit the website for voting information. 

Henry Mayo to Open Neonatal Unit

The Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Santa Clarita has been given the go-ahead to open a neonatal intensive care unit as part of the facility.

Permission was granted after the Board of Directors approved the plan on Monday, and the unit could be open by 2010.

According to the Signal, the neonatal ICU will be set up where the current ICU is in use, while the main ICU will move to a larger part of the hospital where six extra beds will be placed.

Up to eight high-risk infants per day will be able to be admitted to the neonatal ICU, eventually rising to 12 infants per day.

Approximately 67 babies were transferred from Henry Mayo hospital to hospitals with neonatal ICU’s last year.

Newhall Coffee Company

Another article that caught my eye in the paper today.  I am a huge Newhall Coffee fan. (I know I worked for Starbucks for 7 years) ;)  Newhall Coffee is what I drink at home.  Number one, it’s cheaper than Starbucks, number two, it tastes better. In my opinion of course.  I usually drink the Newhall Blend.  Haven’t tried any of the flavored ones.

Anyway, here’s a run down on what the Signal article said:

Santa Clarita’s own Newhall Coffee Roasting Co. is celebrating after being selected as the official coffee for Subway’s new breakfast menu.

Newhall coffee was chosen by Subway after representatives conducted a series of taste tests where the overwhelming response was that Newhall Coffee was the best choice. (Yep, I agree)

The menu, which will launch in October 2007, is already being advertised in local Subway stores. The Newhall Coffee logo will be featured on Subway coffee cups, the first time Subway will be sharing a logo with another company.
 
Newhall Coffee Co. owners Mitch and Kyle McMullen created the company back in 1994 as a single coffeehouse, before entering the mainstream market.

Newhall Coffee is also the official coffee of Santa Clarita, Mountain High Ski Resort, Mammoth Ski Resort and Big Bear Ski Resort. The coffee is also sold in a wide variety of markets and grocery stores.

For more information about Newhall Coffee Roasting Company go to their website or call (661) 295-1170. 

Teen Wants a Signal

VALENCIA TEEN REQUESTS TRAFFIC SIGNAL

This article caught my eye today in the paper.  Basically, a Valencia High school student is requesting the installation of a traffic signal on a street in her neighborhood after a six-year-old boy was hit by a car two weeks ago on a Saturday evening.

14-year-old Kelsey George went before the City Council on Tuesday night with a petition in support of her motion, urging councillors to install a traffic signal at either the intersection of McBean Parkway and Summerhill Lane, or McBean Parkway and Skycrest Circle Drive - two intersections that are notorious for collisions.

Tristin Bizarro was hit by an SUV on the evening of September 15th. From what I’ve heard, he is recovering in hospital.

According to City Manager Ken Striplin, the city’s traffic department has already received a great deal of feedback from residents worried about the lack of traffic signals north of Decoro Drive on McBean Parkway.

I agree 100%  I use the WAMU there a lot and leaving there to turn left onto McBean is scary.  Cars jam down the street.  I can’t even imagine what happened to that poor boy.  Geez, hope he’s ok.

Anybody have any updates on his condition?

Woman Golfers Alert-Debbie Steinbach-Keller in the SCV

For all you women golfers or golf fans in general Debbie Steinbach-Keller will be at Salt Creek Grille on Wednesday 10/10/2007 at 5:30.  This event is being hosted by Bellasport in the mall and there is a $30 cost if you buy your ticket in advance or $35 if you just show up.

Debbie Steinbach-Keller is dedicated to making gold fun for women (as stated on her website) and has written a few books and some instructional DVDs.

For more information you can contact Bellasport. (259-3114)

Season of Diversity

The City of Santa Clarita will be launching a "Season of Diversity" on September 29, a series of events and programs that will promote cultural understanding and the rich diversity in the city.

The Season of Diversity will run until February, 25, 2008, focusing on cultural art galleries, interfaith gatherings, international music and dance.  Children can enjoy multi-cultural story times and crafts.

Agencies involved in the Season of Diversity include the County of Los Angeles Public Libraries, College of the Canyons, and Santa Clarita’s Human Relations Forum, the Interfaith Council and the Gay and Lesbian Association of Santa Clarita.

The goal of the Santa Clarita Human Relations Forum is to encourage the Santa Clarita community to celebrate and appreciate differences while stamping out prejudice.

Please contact Community Services Administrator Janine Prado at (661) 286-4017 for more information, or visit the website.