ENGLISH CLASSES/CLASES DE INGLES CITIZENSHIP/CIUDADANÍA
HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA/DIPLOMA DE SECUNDARIA
HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY(HISET)/EQUIVALENCIA DE SECUNDARIA(HISET)
MEDICAL CAREER TRAINING/ENTRENAMIENTO PARA
CARRERAS MEDICAS
TECHNOLOGY AND COMPUTERS/TECHNOLOGÍA Y COMPUTADORAS
COMMUNITY INTEREST/ INTERES DE LA COMUNIDAD
Once An Asthma Victim, Now a Marathon Runner
By Michael Piccarella Signal Staff Writer
When Jessper Maquindang was in the second grade, he was diagnosed with asthma. His parents kept him away from any and all physical activities, they shielded him from pets for fear that dog hair or cat fur might spur on an asthma attack, and for the most part, they kept him inside.
Of course Maquindang would want to run a marathon.
“Those limits — I just didn’t want that to be my story,” he told The Signal over the phone following the completion of his 15th marathon on June 22 in Anchorage, Alaska. “I was inspired by the major goals of marathon runners and what they did, and I told myself, ‘I’m going to do it.’ And then I added it to my bucket list. Over time, I trained day by day, worked my way up, and then eventually reached that finish line of a marathon.”
Maquindang is a Santa Clarita native. Upon developing asthma, he’d watch other kids playing outside and wish he could join them. He’d have to accept that such physical activity, especially outside, just wasn’t in the cards for him.
Maquindang, now 37 years old, can look back and see that his parents had his best interests in mind while he was growing up, but being stuck indoors and playing video games was not his idea of living his best life.
“That’s probably what inspired me to take an active lifestyle as I grew older,” he said, adding that as his body developed over the years, his asthma would improve and he’d also learn to manage it to a certain extent.
At 26 years old, Maquindang decided he’d run a marathon. But he’d have to slowly build up to it.
“I just trained my body,” he said. “I knew that running 26.2 miles — it’s not an overnight, magic formula. It takes time, and I knew that, so I really put in the weeks and the months.”
Maquindang started with a 5k run, and then as he felt more comfortable, he moved to a 10k. He’d go on to run a half marathon (13.1 miles), and eventually, over the course of about a year, he felt he could run a full marathon. The first one was the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon. Toward the end of the run, he saw the race ending before he finished it.
“When I reached the final miles, I could feel so much pain in my legs that I was getting really nervous,” he said. “So, when I finally reached the finish line, that’s where that sense of relief came from. And, of course, the joy.”
Kaylee Gabon, Maquindang’s cousin, said Maquindang was the reason she became interested in running, too.
“Observing his dedication to the sport for the past 11 years has been truly inspiring,” she wrote in an email to The Signal. “As someone who also has asthma, Jessper’s ability to overcome this barrier is a great reminder that running is a mental sport
Jessper Maquindang of Santa Clarita grew up with asthma, but he didn’t want that to stop him from living an active life. PHOTO COURTESY OF JESSPER MAQUINDANG
as much as it is a physical one. The willpower and determination that it takes to run 15 marathons is beyond impressive.”
Maquindang has participated in marathons around the country, including the Santa Clarita Marathon, the Los Angeles Marathon, the Honolulu Marathon in Honolulu, Hawaii, the Little Rock Marathon in Little Rock, Arkansas, and the Maine Marathon in Portland, Maine. It was a dream that coincided with another goal he set for himself back in 2012, when he was creating guidebooks for vacationers to use to explore America.
“My first job out of college was with a travel company,” he said. “And what that travel company did was they were a tour operator, where they gave clients opportunities to really take on the self-driving programs, where clients would rent a car and then drive across the United States.”
Maquindang and his department were responsible for providing the information for those travelers.
“Prior to 2012, I had only been to two states, and that was California, because I live here, and Nevada, for Las Vegas,” he said. “What I did in the beginning is I found a group tour that went across the southern states — so, from Louisiana and then Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and then all the way up to New York City.”
He took one of those trips himself and got caught in Hurricane Sandy. The natural disaster aside, traveling was more fun than he expected.
“That’s when,” he said, “I set the goal to check out all 50 states.”
None of that seemed to be on Maquindang’s radar when he graduated from Hart High School back in 2005. He’d go on to study political science at California State University, Northridge, earn his bachelor’s degree there in 2009, then, in 2017, pick up a master’s degree in executive leadership from the University of Southern California.
During the 2020 pandemic, Maquindang saw a change in workplace workflow that would prompt him to put his schooling to use.
“In the world of leadership, what the pandemic did is it really intensified and adjusted the way we work,” he said. “Finding that sense of being a part of something — belonging, teamwork, inclusion — it’s really given me that opportunity to step in.”
Going back to what he learned about political science, which, he said, is really a study of leadership in one form or another, he found that he had something he could offer company and team leaders looking to adjust in a post-pandemic world.
And so, Maquindang founded Own FamiLEAD Management Consulting, which, according to the firm’s website, has the mission of helping leaders and managers build stronger teams through team-building activities, leadership effectiveness assessments, and executive coaching.
Maquindang said he’s built many productive teams with his consulting group, adding that he’s also learned so much from the conversations he’s had with his clients.
“The pandemic really changed the way we work and the way we connect with one another,” he said. “You really learn a lot about what the workplace needs nowadays, especially when it comes to company culture and leadership.”
Maquindang said that what he also offers others are his own challenges and his own story where he chose a way, went that way, and is now trying to show the way.
“The general message is, if you really set your mind to a major goal,” he said, “you can really accomplish it when you stay focused and dedicated.”
That mindset to visit all 50 states in the U.S. proved to be successful at the end of June when Maquindang went to Alaska, the 50th state on his list, to run in the Anchorage Mayors Marathon. His final time in the 26.2-mile race was five hours and 10 minutes. Maquindang said he thought he could’ve done better, that his legs got really tired toward the end, but he’s ultimately satisfied that he finished.
Cabaret Generates a Win For Former Racehorses
By Katherine Quezada Signal Staff Writer
Jaine Garcia grew up loving horses and began riding at the early age of 4. After traveling the world and riding horses in places such as South Africa and Australia, she wanted to take a break from them and the sport.
Until one day a friend told her about Win Place Home.
“‘You have to come see this place. It’s completely different from any barn you’ve ever known,’” she recalled her friend telling her.
Once she set foot at Win Place Home and met dozens of retired race horses who needed guidance and some extra love, she never left.
Garcia, who is now an assistant trainer at the organization, works with several different thoroughbreds and helps them figure out what new careers they will go into following life after the racetrack.
“The transformation from a horse who was trained to run, come here
pretty hyped from the track and the energy,” she said. “They then come here and take a breath for a minute. We get a chance to listen to them and to hear what it is they want to do with
their lives.”
The large animals at Win Place Home are retrained in new disciplines such as jumping, or are taught to become trail horses and companions. Some are also adopted out and taken to their forever homes, she added.
In order to provide the appropriate care for the large animals Win Place Home must raise money to continue their efforts.
On Saturday evening on the outskirts of Canyon Country, Win Place Home’s private facility held its fourth annual “Cabaret” fundraiser with live entertainment, a lip sync battle, and food to further support the mission.
In attendance were approximately 240 people laughing and cheering during the performances and during intermission spent time interacting with dozens of horses in their stables. Many of them come annually to support the cause.
“It’s super heartwarming and it brings tears to my eyes,” said Win Place Home founder and lead trainer, CJ Wilson, about seeing familiar faces every year. “I’m just so grateful for their support and they come to enjoy the show but they’re here really to help the horses so it’s great.”
Many of the performers are close friends of Wilson and donated their time to make the annual cabaret successful.
The money raised will be utilized
for the care of the current horses they have at the ranch but also help bring in more of them once they’re off the track, Wilson added.
Since their seventh annual silent auction held in November, Win Place Home has successfully adopted out approximately 15 horses and recently received its 124th horse ready for care and to be trained in a new discipline, said Wilson.
As a trainer working with the large animals, it “is so unique [and] a beautiful conversation between human and horse rather than it is a dictatorship,” said Garcia.
“It’s important to spread the word about thoroughbred aftercare. I think it’s also really important to spread the word about mindful horsemanship,” she added. “So the more people that know about that, when you know better you do better.”
It was Julia Bianco’s first time at the “Cabaret” fundraiser with friends. She said she used to go and watch horse racing until she found out that the thoroughbreds are often mistreated when they are no longer making money in the industry.
Being surrounded by numerous horses who have found a safe place after their career was over is something she never expected.
“It’s been really cool to have the education side of it,” she said. “I don’t even think many of us know that places like this exist.”
Cabaret fundraiser attendees had the chance to interact with retired race horses. PHOTOS BY KATHERINE QUEZADA / THE SIGNAL
Left: Maidie Karling, in traditional Swedish attire, performs a Swedish Hambo dance with Zachary Holman. Above: Cameron Lopez, 4, makes a “midsommerkranz,” flowered crown. SIGNAL FILE PHOTOS
Self-Taught Cook Shines in National Cooking Contest
By Katherine Quezada Signal Staff Writer
Rlynn Smith-Thomas likes to spend time in the kitchen cooking meals that are rich in flavor, nutritious, and will put a smile on her friends’ and family’s faces.
The self-taught home cook creates a wide range of meals but her favorite dish to make is meatloaf with mashed or creamed potatoes and peas because it was her children’s favorite growing up.
Despite never having culinary training, Smith-Thomas takes her time perfecting dishes with flavor and presentation.
After every dish she’s proud of, the Santa Clarita Valley resident likes to snap a photo and send it to her oldest son, Joshua Thomas, who has encouraged her for years to develop recipes to share online or write a cookbook, she said.
Although the idea has never really interested her, she eventually came across an online competition open for professional and aspiring chefs.
She thought maybe it would be a good way to test out the opportunity and show her son that she’s aiming on doing something with her cooking, since he has always supported her passion for it.
The online nationwide competition allows the contestants to share their meals via photographs for a chance to win $25,000, be on the cover of Taste of
Home magazine, and an opportunity to cook with chef and television personality Carla Hall.
It’s a humbling and surreal experience participating in a competition with other chefs who own their own restaurants and are well-experienced, Smith-Thomas said. She never thought she would make it so far, she added.
The contest was presented by Hall in partnership with the James Beard Foundation, a nonprofit organization that aims to “celebrate, support, and elevate the people behind America’s food culture,” states the organization’s website.
“I enjoy cooking. I take pictures of my food when it looks good. I have been doing this for years, taking pictures and sending it to my son because it’s a way for us to share a mutual thing,” Smith-Thomas said.
“He would send me pictures of what he cooked and I will send them a picture of what I cook,” she added.
While Smith-Thomas didn’t win, she had planned to take the $25,000 to either pursue culinary classes to learn more of the technicalities of food making or update her kitchen to be chef-friendly and a welcoming space where her loved ones can gather to taste her creations, she said.
Inspection Warrant Served On Canyon Country Property
By Perry Smith Signal Senior Staff Writer
The city of Santa Clarita sought an L.A. County Superior Court order to search a Canyon Country home back in May because officials say it had so many code violations that it posed a health and safety risk, according to a warrant request filed Friday at the Valencia courthouse.
The city of Santa Clarita did not respond to a request for comment Monday in response to questions about the filing or the status of any code-enforcement actions.
Joe Montes, city attorney for Santa Clarita, announced in April after a closed-session discussion with City Council members that they had unanimously approved a nuisance abatement proceeding against the owner of the property at 27952 Oakgale Ave. in Canyon Country.
The city had previously been unable to arrange an inspection to determine whether the nature and extent of the violations “constitute an
immediate danger” and to determine if there are further violations,” according to the court request.
Residents reached out to The Signal regarding concerns about the potential Department of Public Health vi-
olations that may exist on the hillside property, which are visible from the street.
The court filings document the two-year effort by city officials to bring the property into compliance, which included 25 inspections.
The property enforcement efforts began in February 2022 when the city received a complaint concerning the property, according to city officials in court records. Based on that complaint an inspection was conducted Feb. 28, 2022, and inoperable vehicles were seen in the right of way.
In May that year, the same alleged violation was observed, according to the city.
Filings and declarations detail a litany of concerns in the following months.
“During the inspections, city code enforcement has witnessed an accumulation of items, a couch, and inoperable and/or unregistered vehicles in plain view to varying degrees,” according to a sworn statement from a city inspector in court filings.
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An inspection warrant request was filed at the Valencia courthouse on Friday, July 12, regarding a Canyon Country home that officials say poses a significant health and safety risk to the surrounding community. PHOTOS BY HABEBA MOSTAFA / THE SIGNAL See
Santa Clarita Elks Host Flag Day Ceremony
By Katherine Quezada Signal Staff Writer
The Santa Clarita Valley Elks Lodge No. 2379 held a special ceremony and presentation on Friday, June 14, evening for National Flag Day to educate the community and younger generations on the history and significance of the American flag.
Scout troops No. 313 and No. 583 along with the Santa Clarita Valley Young Marines were in attendance, participating during the presentation and lending a helping hand when it was needed.
Lodge members shared the history of each design and when it was introduced.
“I just respect our flags. A lot of our citizens died to make those flags for our country. It’s really important that we recognize that and these kids here recognize it,” said Schmidt.
Elks Lodge Chaplain Lia Piedra, a Marine veteran, delivered an emotional spoken-word presentation about what the American Flag represents.
“The stars and stripes, symbolizing the divine right of all to life, liberty, happiness, and peace under endowment by their creator ... this is the heritage of the people of the United States ... Such displays simulate our love for our nation and for what it stands for. They remind us of the sacrifices being made by the men and women of our armed forces around the world,” she said.
The ceremony is something close to Piedra’s heart because she has witnessed family members, including her son, and friends serve in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, and the effects of it.
“It just makes it really emotional because I’m from a generation where we all went to Iraq and Afghanistan, and some people who haven’t come back,” she said. “It’s our history, it’s our country, our nation. It’s very important for the next generations to pick up the flag and carry it forward.”
The Elks Lodge hosts the National Flag Day presentation every year as a requirement for the organization, but Elks member and ceremony chairperson Tom Schmidt aims at not just educating the attendees, but also bringing in new faces to learn about its importance.
After the presentation of the flags, the Young Marines and Scouts participated in retiring numerous American flags.
“The first time I came [to the Flag Day presentation] there was very few people,” he said.
He wanted more people to come and learn about the history because it’s too important for it to be ignored, he said.
For the presentation, eight flags of the United States dating back to the year 1777 were put on display by the Scouts and young Marines as Elks
A burn barrel was used to appropriately retire a worn-out flag if it’s made out of cotton, and put to burn, said Wayne Edwards, exalted ruler of the lodge. If the flag is made out of nylon, people must cut the flag in a specific way and dispose of it, he added.
The Scouts and Young Marines were eager to learn more about the unique procedure and once they correctly put the flag in the barrel, they would salute in silence, paying their respects.
Boy Scouts demonstrate how to appropriately dispose of old American flags made out of cotton to the younger Scouts and Santa Clarita Valley Young Marines in attendance during the National Flag Day ceremony hosted by Santa Clarita Valley Elks Lodge No. 2379 on June 14. PHOTO BY KATHERINE QUEZADA/THE SIGNAL
OAKGALE
Continued from page 9
The filing also noted city code enforcement officers would give the occupant, whom the city identifies as Sandra Portner, more time to address the violations when progress was made, as a show of good faith and cooperation by the city.
The city also mentioned a program in which something called a “40-yard bin,” a term for the dumpsters behind restaurants, can be delivered in situations where multiple complaints have been made. The option was not pursued, according to the city.
A message left at a number listed for Portner was not immediately returned Monday afternoon.
During an inspection April 11, a city official noted the front door was open and no one answered the doorbell, but “the partially visible room beyond (the entryway) was almost completely filled with items, showing evidence of a hoarding condition.”
Texts were exchanged back and forth, according to the city, but officials hadn’t heard from Portner in about a month prior to the filing, according to city records.
If the city deems such a move necessary, council members could authorize an attempt to take over the property, which the council authorized in June for a home at 27442 Plumwood Ave.
For that property, the City Council unanimously agreed to seek a court-approved receivership,
according to Community Preservation Manager Tracy Sullivan.
In that scenario, a property is put in the care and possession of an approved third party chosen by the city, with the court’s approval, which is then re-
sponsible for the cleanup of the property.
The cost of the cleanup is then billed to the property owner in the form of a lien, which must be paid before property ownership is returned.
The city of Santa Clarita approved a nuisance abatement proceeding against the owner of a controversial residence in Canyon Country in April following multiple complaints from community members.
Hart District Budget Given OK by Board
By Tyler Wainfeld Signal Staff Writer
School districts across the state are facing a year in which funding could be well below what they have been used to in the years since the COVID-19 pandemic.
With COVID relief funding no longer in place, along with a $28 billion shortfall for 2024-25 that was outlined in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s May Revise and a 1.07% cost-of-living adjustment that comes 7% short of what school districts got in 2023-24, many districts are expecting less revenue while needing to make many of the same expenditures.
According to Ralph Peschek, assistant superintendent of business services for the William S. Hart Union High School District, the state budget shortfall was initially projected to be $45 billion after 2022-23 tax collections came in $26 billion below what officials were forecasting. He added that the governor and the Legislature have identified approximately $17 billion in cuts elsewhere in the state budget to reduce that shortfall.
On Wednesday, the Hart district’s governing board approved a 2024-25 budget that calls for $308.5 million in revenues, nearly 4% less than last year, and $340.3 million in expenditures, a nearly 5% increase.
The district is projecting to be deficit spending over the next three years. District staff is estimating that the unrestricted ending fund balance after this year will be $82.9 million, followed by $61 million in 2024-25, $38.6 million in 2025-26 and $13 mil-
lion in 2026-27.
For the restricted ending fund, the same pattern can be seen. It is estimated to be at $29.2 million after this year before dropping to $9.7 million after 2026-27.
Peschek said the district had already adapted the reduced COLA into its multi-year projections in December, meaning there are few adjustments that will need to be made moving forward, unless “something catastrophic happens.”
“When it has happened in the past, practice is that we will come back to the board should we need to at any future date for any adjustments if it’s drastic enough that we cannot address it at first or second interim,” Peschek said.
Board member Joe Messina said the district will have to deal with the aftermath of any future cuts that the state deems necessary, with the state likely not being blamed for any problems at the local level. Instead, as was the case when teachers were demanding more pay earlier this year before settling on 2% salary increases and 2% one-time payments, he said the district would be blamed for either hiding money if there ends up being a surplus or mismanaging it if there is a larger deficit than projected.
“Budgeting in the state of California is an adventure every year because things are changing every quarter,” Peschek said. “At every critical reporting period, something is going to be a little different … The budget as presented today is correct based on all assumptions as presented to us. But in a week, it could be wrong.”
Santa Clarita Library Announces Summer Reading Program
The Santa Clarita Public Library has launched its Summer Reading Program, running through July 27.
The program offers residents of all ages a variety of family-friendly activities, reading challenges, crafts and more — all for free. With the theme “Read, Renew, Repeat,” the library invites residents to discover the joy and power of reading while fostering a sense of environmental consciousness.
The library will host special presentations and events across all three branches, covering topics such as water conservation and recycling services, providing insights into sustainability.
The program offers the community the opportunity to enjoy a variety of events, from scavenger hunts to tie-dye bandana workshops.
Teens will explore environmental themes through Enviroscape water tasting and hands-on terrarium making, blending science with creativity. Meanwhile, adults can enjoy mushroom terrarium activities and wine-tocup etching, igniting their inner artist.
In addition to these activities, the library announced the return of Lunch at the Library, providing nutritious meals for children and teens 18 years old and younger at the Old Town Newhall and Canyon Country Jo Anne Darcy branches, Monday through Friday, from noon to 1 p.m. and no identification is needed. This program aims to support families and provide a healthy meal option as part of the Summer Reading Program.
Also, the library presents the “Check it OUTside” program every Wednesday at various city parks, featuring outdoor activities led by library staff. Each week, the program will be hosted at a new park location and offer participants activities like yoga, dancing, storytime, arts and crafts, hula hooping and more.
Registration for the Summer Reading Program is now open. Participants can track their reading progress and engage in various challenges through July 27, with the opportunity to win prizes. For more information and to register, visit SantaClaritaReads.com.
RISE Foundation to Host Second Annual ‘Lemonade Brigade’
By Sara McCarthy Signal Staff Writer
During what tends to be the hottest month of summer, the RISE Foundation is scheduled July 27 to hold its second annual “Lemonade for Foster-Aid” to not only quench thirst on a hot summer day, but also to raise funds for youth in or at risk of foster care.
The local, nonprofit RISE Foundation supports children in foster care, foster parents and workers, and young adults who are in, or have aged out of, foster care, all with the aim of encouraging community participation to support those in the foster care system.
The RISE Foundation, run by four local moms, says it has met the needs of more than 450 children in its two and a half years as an organization.
Kari Phillips, RISE Foundation’s treasurer and co-founder, said the idea for the fundraiser first came to her when she was tagged in a similar event in North Carolina.
“Somebody tagged me, and I
Evelina, 7 (left), and Aurelia Phillipps, 9 (center), sell lemonade to Elissa Prehim in Canyon Country in July 2023 while participating in the RISE Foundation’s inaugural “Lemonade Brigade” fundraiser. The organization’s set to host their second “Lemonade Brigade” installment on July 27.
SIGNAL FILE PHOTO
thought, ‘That is so Santa Clarita; that is the perfect way for the community to get involved,’” said Phillips. “We
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have all these young families and kids that want to help out and make a difference in their community and what better way than a classic lemonade stand.”
After a very successful first year for the event that raised $7,134, the nonprofit is aiming for another great turnout, with nine locations across the Santa Clarita Valley currently set to host a stand for the event. To view the locations of the stands, visit www. risescv.org/events.
“We had 13 lemonade stands the first year, and I remember sitting there with my daughter at one of the locations and thinking, we’ll probably make $500 a stand, and I’m just watching as people keep pouring in with donations,” said Phillips.
The Rise Foundation is hoping to have 15-20 lemonade stands that will raise funds for the children the organization serves. Community members and SCV businesses are invited to sign up to host a stand. Signups end July 15.
Signups require a $20 fee, but will provide hosts with a lemonade kit, which will include:
• Individual donation links for your stand.
• Information on FosterCare and RISE Foundation for your stand.
• Link on the organization’s website to your location.
• Entry into stand competitions.
• Two pairs of custom sunglasses. Hosting one of the lemonade stands is a perfect opportunity for Santa Clarita families, Phillips said, especially in a town so community-oriented.
“I think it’s really a unique event for families and children,” said Phillips. “A lot of times it’s hard to find ways to help. You have the heart for something, but you don’t know what to do, and this fundraiser allows our community to truly show tangible support for those in foster care.”
For more information on the “Lemonade Brigade” and how to sign up or donate, visit www.risescv.org/home or email info@risescv.org.
MARATHONER
Continued from page 4
His cousin Gabon applauded him for the accomplishment: “He provides motivation to new runners to chase their goals, challenge their previous inhibitions, and thrive despite obstacles.”
Of the 50 states Maquindang has visited, he’s run marathons in Arkansas, California, Maine, Nevada and, of course, Alaska. Now, with those 50 states behind him, he said he has a new number to hit.
“The idea of seven continents has crossed my mind,” he told The Signal. “In the marathon world, though, I’m looking forward to exploring further the ultramarathon world.”
The ultramarathon covers longer distances than the 26.2-mile traditional marathons. These range from 31 miles up to the longest one, the Self-Transcendence 3,100-Mile Race in Queens, New York, of, you guessed it, 3,100 miles. Maquindang has already run two 31-mile ultramarathons. He said that 3,100-mile one
I want to share my experience with the Santa Clarita School of Performing Arts. My daughter, Michela, is 12 years old. She found an announcement for the Santa Clarita School of Performing Arts Fashion Show at Macy’s and begged me to apply. We live in Washington, DC, so I thought she was joking at first. Flying out to California for a fashion show? Then I got a call from the owner of SCSOPA, Mike. His enthusiasm and passion for his school was so evident that he inspired us to take the plunge and book a flight. Mike allowed Michela to take several free classes when we visited. From learning how to walk in a fashion show from a real pageant winner, to Improv and Acting classes, she threw herself in and everyone made her feel at home. It is clear that the Santa Clarita School of Performing Arts is a family with everyone rooting for each other. It is a true melting pot with actors of all shapes, sizes, ages, ethnicities, colors and creeds. We signed up for their unlimited package so she can take as many classes as she wants. Best of all, whenever she has an audition, we are able to work with the school and arrange for a fantastic acting coach to run lines with her and give her feedback. The very first audition we worked on, she booked! The staff is super responsive, professional and a joy to work with. Thank you, Mike and SCSOPA, for helping launch Michela’s career! – SCSOPA 23502 Lyons Ave Suite 105, Santa Clarita, CA 91321 (661) 222-7910
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Celebrate Japan Canyon Country Community Center
Friday, August 9 6-9 p.m.
Celebrate highlights different cultures, customs and culinary wonders featuring music, dance, food, art and educational experiences.
Every Wednesday, Year-round 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
S.C.O.R.E.
FREE MEALS TO STUDENTS AT CCCC
Scholarship Program
For youth who do not have the financial means to participate in fee-based recreational programs and activities. Call (661) 250-3700
Community Center After School Programs
• Canyon Country Community Center, 18410 Sierra Highway Santa Clarita.
Santa Clarita Valley School Food Services Agency announced that it is serving free meals to students under the Seamless Summer Option now through Aug. 2. All children 18 years of age and under are able to access lunch at no charge at the following locations:
• Canyon Country/Jo Anne Darcy Library, 18601 Soledad Cyn Road, Santa Clarita.
Bingo (55+)
An opportunity to socialize, play BINGO, and win prizes! Bring your friends! Last two Fridays of each month. 9:30-10:30 a.m. FREE.
Register for Afterschool Programs Online at SantaClarita.gov/Seasons Registration Begins August 8 and Programs begin August 20
Canyon Country Community Center Summer Gym Schedule
June 10 - August 2
Table Tennis
Wednesdays, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Pickleball Fridays, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Open Gym Basketball Returning in the Fall
Line Dancing (55+)
This choreographed line dancing class is a great way to meet new friends and get your groove on!
July 22
Beginning Salsa (14+)
July 22 - August 12. Mondays from 6:30-7:30 p.m. $45
July 23
Lunches are available from noon to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. For additional information, contact the SCV School Food Services Agency at 661-295-1574 or chefbrittany@schooldaycafe.org.
SUMMER PROGRAMS COMMUNITY CENTER
Thursdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m. No line dancing on Aug. 8. FREE
Mahjong (55+)
An opportunity to socialize, play Mahjong, and meet new friends! Please bring your own Mahjong cards. Mondays, 9 a.m. to noon. No Mahjong on Aug. 5. FREE
CONTRACT CLASS COMMUNITY CENTER
Intermediate Salsa (14+)
July 22 - August 12. Mondays from 7:45-8:45 p.m. $45
CANYON COUNTRY LIBRARY PROGRAMS
noon Lunch at the Library
1:30 p.m. Little Explorers for babies, toddlers, preschoolers
9:30 a.m. Storytime for babies, toddlers, preschoolers
noon Lunch at the Library
3:30 p.m. Afternoons at the Library for preschoolers, children, tweens and families. Crafts and summer reading
July 24
noon Lunch at the Library
5:30 p.m. Adults: Tin Can Art
July 25
9:30 a.m. Cuenta Cuentos
noon Lunch at the Library
:30 p.m. Teen Crafts and Stuff
July 26
noon Lunch at the Library
July 27
10 a.m. Sit and Stitch for adults and seniors
August 1
7:30 p.m. Club de Mujeres Latinas en Literatura
August 7
4:30 p.m. Canyon Country Teen Advisory Board
August 10
10 a.m. Sit and Stitch for adults and seniors
August 12
6 p.m. Worlds of Whimsy. Adult Book Club
August 24
10 a.m. Sit and Stitch for adults and seniors
September 1 CLOSED LABOR DAY
September 3 CLOSED STAFF DAY
Canyon Country Community Center 18410 Sierra Highway, Santa Clarita 91350 (661) 290-2266