2008 July 4th Parade

It’s almost that time again.  Before we know it we’ll be watching the fireworks in the sky.  The 4th of July is always a big to-do in the SCV.  Especially when it comes to the annual 4th of July parade in Newhall.  This year will bring the parade into it’s 77th year with an annual gathering of just around 25,000 people.

The parade starts at 9:45am at Main Street and goes through Lyons to Orchard Village.  The parade starts at 9:45, but street closures begin earlier that morning at around 8, so plan for that.

If you’d like to participate in the parade you can access the application at the parade website here.

Pet Idol

I have two dogs.  I adore my dogs.  However, I have to say that I think this Pet Idol thing is pretty lame.  There was a full page ad in the  Signal today so I’ll admit, I had to see what the heck it was all about.  There are actually submissions to this contest.  I can’t believe it, but people are actually uploading photos of their pets. Seriously you can look here.

This is not my cup of tea, but if it is yours here’s the scoop on the contest.

You can go to the Signal website and upload a cute photo of your pet by 5/25th.  Beginning on 5/26th the voting starts.

Transitional Care Unit in the Works

Just got word that plans are underway to build a 75 bed transitional care unit in the Centre Point Business Park.  Here is a letter from Laurene Weste (City Councilmember) (and TCU City Council Ad Hoc Committee) that describes the project and the progress.

For the last 18 months, Mayor Kellar and I have had the privilege of leading a small, dedicated group of local community members in a quest to bring a new transitional care facility to our community.  In 2006, when Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital announced the impending closure of their 27-bed transitional care unit, it set off a chain reaction of concern across our community, especially among our senior community.
 
Seniors, many of whom depend upon a transitional care unit for their care following an in-patient hospital stay, were very concerned about how they would receive the care they needed once discharged from the hospital.  Family members of seniors expressed concern regarding how they would be able to easily visit their loved ones if a transitional care unit were not available in the Santa Clarita Valley.

At this time, G & E is in the due diligence phase of escrow for the property they plan to convert into this new facility.  Their preliminary application is currently with our City planners for review and comment.
 
The process for building, the time-consuming State licensing process and opening this type of facility is expected to take up to three years to complete.  In the interim, we have reached out to our local Senior Center and have worked out a plan between the City and the Senior Center to provide regular, handicapped-accessible transportation for family members to visit their loved ones who utilize the G & E Sylmar nursing and rehabilitation center, called Astoria.  In this way, our community can still have access to a transitional care unit that is minutes away, and their families can visit them there.  The City’s Route 8 bus to the San Fernando Valley will be adjusted to provide regular bus transportation directly to Astoria a few times each day and, the SCV Senior Center has offered to provide transportation services to Astoria weekdays, staff permitting, and particularly in emergency situations.
I want to personally thank all of the members of our TCU committee and the Senior Center for their hard work and dedication in helping to develop these solutions to this important community issue. It is my honor to work with each of you who care so deeply for our community, our seniors and the future of our residents.  Please know that the City of Santa Clarita will do everything in its power to support this project. Thank you!
 

Free Children ID Kits

Free children ID kits will be given out at the Newhall Community Center from now through 5/31/2008.  These kits provide tools for parents to be prepared in the event the unthinkable happens and your child is missing. SCV’s Mothers Against Sexual Predators have put this together to focus on National Missing Children’s Day which is May 25th.

These kits usually include things like a place to keep a current photo, a fingerprinting kit, a place for you to document birth marks, etc.  If you are in a frantic state, you may not be able to remember all of this, so having it documented is a good idea.

If you can’t make it to the Newhall Community Center, you can also order these kits online for about $10 or so.

Population Forecast

I just read in the paper that the maximum capacity of Santa Clarita is 500k residents! OMG.  While planners work on preparing for this influx over the next decade, I can’t help but feel frustrated about it at the moment.  As I drive through my neighborhood I see at least one for sale sign on each block.  If Santa Clarita is going to double in size, I’d like to live by ’supply and demand’ rather than ‘if you build it they will come’.  I just want to scream STOP!  Am I the only one that feels like this?  I mean I know there has to be planning and preperation for this, but as a resident I am so sick of the traffic and sick of construction.  I just want the madness to stop.  I want our housing prices to go back up.  Quit building the cookie cutter homes and give our residents the power of the supply when the demand comes.  We have enough McMansions, perhaps building another hospital or maybe a high school or two would be a priority.

Sorry to sound so bitchy about this today, it’s just frustrating and while I am trying to look at the big picture, sometimes I just don’t want to. The article only discussed water supply and the "circulation element" (getting people from point A to point B).  When I read that line I couldn’t help but feel like a hamster in a habitrail.

Exchange Your Old Lamps for Green Ones

The city in conjunction with the Community Energy Partnership is hosting a ‘lamp exchange’ on Saturday 6/7/2008 from 8am-12pm at city hall in the parking lot.  This offer is only open to the first 400 SCV residents that pre-register.  Residents will be able to pick from black, white or satin nickel flourescent torchiere floor lamps.  By exchanging your old floor lamps for new efficient ones you can cut energy usage by about 70% and save about $270 a year.

You must pre-register for this event by emailing partnership@energycoalition.org or calling 800-968-5203.

Keeping Kids Safe in the Heat

Over the past few days the temperatures in the SCV have gone through the roof and quick. We didn’t really ramp up to it, it just got 20 degrees hotter from one day to the next. The news has brought tragic reports of children that have drowned and almost drowned over the weekend. With this in mind I hope we all take some time to prepare for the summer and plan ahead on safety and summer activities.

Sadly, every year over 250 children under 5 years old drown in swimming pools and another 2,600 children under age five are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year following submersion incidents. Some of these submersions result in permanent brain damage.

The reality is that kids like to swim and and is a fun and healthy activity.  In addition, teaching your kids to swim at a young age can benefit them as teens and adults.  Not to mention that when you live in what was once a desert, swimming is a way of life during the summer, so let’s take a few moments and remind ourselves and others of some safety tips that may save a child.

Swimming Pool Safety

Here are some suggestions I found that I hope will help increase awareness throughout the summer.

• If a child is missing, always look in the pool first!
• While at a pool have your child wear a safety device at all times.  You can find these at Target or Walmart (even some markets) and they are well worth it.
• Just because a child knows how to swim doesn’t mean they can’t drown in a pool. Always keep your eye on them while they are swimming.
• If your child has long hair, remember that a pool drain can entrap a child.  Long hair can easily be sucked into the drain and put a child in danger.  Consider a bun, pinning the hair back with a clip or a swimmer’s cap, most public pools require them anyway. This is the same for a limb if the drain cover is broken. If you are swimming at a public pool, know where the safety equipment is and have a cell phone with you.
• Do not use pools or spas with a missing or broken drain cover, the risk of entrapment increases with broken drains.
• Know where the circuit breaker breaker switch is for the pool/spa. The CPSC recommends that if your child is trapped by the suction cut off the power immediately instead of trying to pull your child from the suction, slip your hand in to break the seal. Tip: Find the circuit at your house and label it POOL/SPA so you or anyone else doesn’t have to waste time trying to find it. Consider installing a Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS) , a device that will automatically shut off a pump if a blockage is detected.
• Pool alarms can be used as an added precaution. Underwater pool alarms generally perform better and can be used in conjunction with pool covers.
• Empty homes in your neighborhood may have a pool that is a risk to your child.  Even an empty pool can be dangerous.  Not sure ifa house has a pool or not?  Use Google maps to check your neighborhood.  You can see everyone’s back yard. If there is a gate, ask the owner, real estate agent or bank if they could put a lock on the gate.  Especially if the gate opens into the backyard.  An unlatched gate can easily be pushed open by a toddler.  

Swimming pools aren’t the only danger factor facing the kids in the heat. So many kids will be playing sports this summer and as we all know, the games do go on even if it hits 110. There are obvious things that we all know and tell our kids, but there are some extra things that we can do to be more proactive.

Being Safe in the Heat

Here’s a few suggestions for keeping the kids cooler in the hot summer ahead:

• If you or your kids are playing sports this summer you will probably be packing plenty of ice water. Consider bringing a big ziplock bag and put a couple of small cloth towels with ice and some water. During breaks the kids can get these wet and put them on the back of their necks or on the top of their heads to cool down.
  Remember to hydrate the day before you plan on being active in the sun.  Drinking plenty of water the day before a planned outdoor event, games, tournaments, etc. can help keep you and your kids hydrated while out in the heat.
• Sunscreen. Sunscreen. Sunscreen. Remember that it must be applied at least a half an hour before you go outside and re-applied every 2-3 hours.Try using a spray on for areas that are hard to get to. We’ve all had that (oh I missed a spot) burn line on our shoulders or on your back. I’ve heard that anything over 15 spf is a marketing tactic and that all you really need is 15. I use the highest I can get anyway. Weather or not it works any more than the 15.
• Sunglasses. We use sunglasses, why not get some for your little ones? Eyes are in danger of getting sun damage as well as our skin. Kids as young as one can begin wearing sunglasses. If you get them into this habit at a young age, it’ll be easier to get them to wear them when they get older.
• Hats or Visors. If you are out in the heat of the summer all day, you will more than likely be looking for some shade in the form of a tree or even a hat. Bring along a hat for your little one to wear because more than likely, they will still want to be out playing in the sun. Try dipping the hat in some ice water then putting it on their head. It’s a great way to cool down quick and lots of kids really like it. Tip: Try finding a hat that has some material hanging down around the sided or back.
• Neck Coolers are fantastic and reusable.  You can usually get enough uses out of one to last a month or so depending on how well you take care of it.
• Umbrellas. You can pick up a big beach umbrella and pack it with you wherever you are going. If you get some small bungee cords, it’s easy to tie the umbrella to the back of your chair or cooler.

Additional Resources
Consumer Product Safety Alert
Consumer Product Safety Commission : Backyard Pool
Consumer Product Safety Commission: Pool Spa Entrapment Injuries
Baby and Toddler Swimming Safety Tips