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The City of Santa Clarita’s Inclusion Program was awarded a $9,500 grant and was selected as one of 66 nationwide recreational programs in 30 states to partner with the National Inclusion Project to implement, “Let’s ALL Play—Inclusion in Recreational Programs.” The City’s participation in this program will provide children with special needs an enjoyable summer camp experience in a friendly and inclusive setting.

For more information about the City’s Inclusion Program, or to request an accommodation, contact City Recreation Inclusion Coordinator Araz Valijan at (661) 250-3719.

The Jan Heidt Metrolink Station, located in Old Town Newhall, is one of three metrolink stations in the City of Santa Clarita. Besides Los Angeles, Santa Clarita is the only city in Los Angeles County to have three metrolink stations.

The Newhall Metrolink station is tied closely with the Santa Clarita Transit routes, allowing passengers to travel with ease to their destinations.

Tracy Lee Nelson is an enrolled tribal member and Chairperson from the La Jolla Indian Reservation. He comes from the San Diego County, California area with a groundbreaking new perspective of the blues; a Native American’s point of view. Tracy’s variety and playing styles range from the traditional Delta sounds of the Blues (“Mesa Grande”) to the basics of Rock and Roll (“Rez Rider”). His masterful guitar work, electric slide and traditional acoustic blues is something that all blues lovers will enjoy.

Carlos Reynosa (Cherokee and Yaqui) recorded his first record in 1996.  In 1999 he recorded the song, My Brother for the soundtrack to the award winning film, Naturally Native.   The album went on to win two Native American Music Awards [NAMMYs]. In 2000, Carlos’ song Passion was featured on Keith Secola’s sound track to the movie Homeland.  In 2003, his album, Baby Blue was nominated for Best Independent Recording of the Year by the NAMMYs.  In 2005, Carlos released For the People, which Wildhorse Singers and Dancers 10 of Billboard’s New Age charts and stayed there for over three months. 

John Reynolds, banjoist extraordinaire, is making his first appearance at the Cowboy Festival. Grandson of early film actress Zazu Pitts, he brings prodigious technique and a very dry wit to his performance.

Click image for Seasons online.

The latest edition of  the City of Santa Clarita’s  Seasons Magazine is now out and available online. In this spring edition of the magazine, residents will find a preview of the upcoming Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival, at Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio,presented by Lockheed Federal Credit Union, as  well as the new Green Guide and Aquatics schedule along with a listing of all city classes, excursions and City information.

Click image for Santa Clarita Library website.

The City of Santa Clarita is encouraging residents to drop off their old phonebooks at the Santa Clarita Public Library as part of a recycling fundraiser for new library materials, sponsored by YP Real Yellow Pages. 

Now through Tuesday, February 28, YP Real Yellow Pages will donate ten cents to the Friends of the Santa Clarita Public Library for every phonebook donated, which will be used to help expand book collections available at the Library. Specialty marked recycling bins are available at the Valencia, Newhall, and Canyon Country Library.

For more information on this fundraiser and other opportunities, contact Friends of the Santa Clarita Public Library Coordinator Robin Hoklotubbe at (661) 259-8944 or visit SantaClaritaLibrary.com.

The City of Santa Clarita along with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriffs Station have placed a MADD Trailer on Sand Canyon Road to help raise awareness and the consequences of reckless driving.

This awareness campaign is due to recent accidents resulting from reckless driving and speeding.

Law enforcement in the Canyon Country and Sand Canyon area will be increase to help deter drivers from making the wrong decisions on the road.

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The Santa Clarita Public Library is hosting a “Love Your Library” Open House at all three libraries on Monday, February 13, from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Santa Clarita City Councilmembers will host children’s story time at each of the libraries including Mayor Laurie Ender at the Valencia Library at 5 p.m., Councilmember Marsha McLean at the Newhall Library at 4 p.m., and Councilmember Bob Kellar at the Canyon Country Library at 4 p.m. Children who attend a reading with the Mayor or Council members will receive a free storybook.

The open house will also feature musical highlights including: the Valencia High School Singers, the Golden Valley High School Singers, local barbershop quartet Blue Plate Special, and Vibe Performing Arts student Gianna Juliet. Guests will also enjoy light refreshments, craft activities, and free give-a-ways!

For more information, contact the Santa Clarita Public Library at (661) 259-8944 or visit SantaClaritaLibary.com.

Click image to see Don Edward's website.

Don Edwards continues to build a legacy that enriches our vision of the American West. An historian, author, and musicologist, unusually well – versed in cowboy lore and musical traditions, Don brings a rare complement of knowing and loving his craft. Mostly though, there is the soul of a poet; a man who has never succumbed to the temptations of presenting a glamorized or romanticized version of the West. Edwards deals with bad weather, petty motivations, sadness, nostalgia and longing, as parts of the landscape like any other.

Photo via DonEdwardsMusic.com

Don Edwards has two albums, Guitars & Saddle Songs and Songs of the Cowboy, included in the Folklore Archives of the Library of Congress. He has received The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s prestigious “Wrangler Award” for Outstanding Traditional Western Music and multiple awards by the Western Music Association for Male Vocalist and Performer of the Year.” In addition to performing at our Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival, he is a regular at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada has now entertained throughout the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, Europe and the Far East.

The richness of Don’s voice coupled with an unforgettable stage presentation makes Don Edwards America’s number one Western singer and concert attraction.

Click here to listen to some song snippets from the famous Don Edwards or check out his website at DonEdwardsMusic.com.

The 2011 Graffiti Task Force Yearly Report shows graffiti statistics and results that happened in the past year. In the yearly report, the Graffiti Task Force:

• Removed 6,333 graffiti tags, 55% of the removals were proactive (found by staff while on patrol) and 45% were reported by residents.
• There was a 25% decrease in gang graffiti compared to 2010.  Over 400 tags were removed in the Old Orchard, Valencia Glen and Bridgeport paseos. 
• 169 graffiti vandals were arrested – 72% of the taggers were juveniles. Since the inception of the award winning e-graffiti database in 2007, over 1,000 graffiti vandals have been arrested and charged with felony vandalism.
•  The Graffiti Task Force also attended over 10 restitution hearings to confirm restitution on graffiti vandalism cases.  Over $240,000 dollarswas awarded to the City for damages cause by 22 vandals.  Staff is currently researching other cities to find additional ways to recover damages. To date over $30,000 dollars has been paid to the City.

The City of Santa Clarita’s Graffiti Task Force is a collaborative action group that meets quarterly to discuss and develop solutions to graffiti-related issues and remove graffiti on City Property within the City of Santa Clarita. Graffiti incidents outside of the City’s jurisdiction are forwarded to the appropriate agencies. To report graffiti within unincorporated Los Angeles County (Castaic, Stevenson Ranch, Val Verde, etc.) click here.

Click image to report graffiti within the City of Santa Clarita.

To report graffiti within the City limits, call (661)-25-CLEAN/ (661)-252-5326 or Report Graffiti Through eService.

Click image to see the Graffiti Task Force 2011 Yearly Report.

Click here to check out the 2011 Graffit Task Force 2011 Yearly Report.

This Week in Santa Clarita previews the upcoming 2012 Earth Arbor Day Festival, presented by the SCV Family of Water Suppliers, happening Saturday, April 14, at from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Central Park.