EverythingSCV.com for November 10, 2013

Downtown Newhall is ablaze with holiday lights and the community Christmas tree this year. If you are looking to get into the holiday spirit, ditch the mall, head over to downtown Newhall!

Veteran’s Day in the SCV

Monday is Veteran’s Day. Don’t forget to take a few moments to remember and salute our veterans. A Veterans Day Ceremony will be held on Monday at 11a.m., at the Veterans Historical Plaza in downtown Newhall. The event is a partnership between the City of Santa Clarita and the Veterans’ Historical Committee, the SCV Chapter 91 Blue Star Moms, Blue Star Moms of the Canyons Chapter 82, Prayer Angels for the Military, and the Knights of Columbus. The Ceremony honors veterans and individuals serving in the military and their families.

Habitat for Humanity BBQ for the Troops

Habitat for Humanity held a groundbreaking and BBQ party on Saturday at the site for the new 87-home “SCV Habitat for Heroes” in Centre Pointe. Dignitaries hoisted ceremonial golden shovels for the groundbreaking event after the obligatory speechifying and such. However, it was truly moving to see the families introduced that will be living in these new homes. It was inspiring to meet some of these folks and hear their stories and to know that so many deserving people will finally have a home to call their own after serving their country so bravely. Among the highlights of the event was Lindsay Hough singing “God Bless America.” What a talent!

USO Stage Show and more

The BBQ for the Troops also featured a USO Stage Show, carnival games for kids, the Radio Disney Kids Zone and the Window Between Worlds Art Show hosted by the Santa Clarita Valley Child & Family Center. The weather was perfect and the Rattler’s BBQ was as tasty as ever!

Community tree lighting

The block party and Light Up Main Street event on Saturday night was great fun in downtown Newhall. The city of Santa Clarita has done a spectacular job of lighting up the night along Main Street and the new community tree in front of the Newhall Library is beautiful! Good job all! It was great fun to see the families that had come out for the festivities. Among the little ones in attendance was Cash Heter who will be celebrating his first Christmas with mom and dad Brendi and Noah Heter.

Marlee Lauffer is Awesome Elegance

No one defines the concept of “awesome elegance” more than Marlee Lauffer, senior vice president of Newhall Land. The Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley hosted a fundraising tribute dinner to honor Marlee on Friday evening at the Hyatt Regency Valencia. The sold out event was a true tribute to Marlee. Kudos to event chairwomen Cherise Moore, Judy Penman and Michelle Woodfork, producer Rosalind Wayman and artistic director Sarah Eaton. All the hardworking Zonta ladies on the Tribute committee, from decorations to sponsorships, need to be congratulated as well! Good job to all! I have heard from many around town how much they enjoyed the event.

Entertaining evening

The Zonta Tribute was truly an entertaining evening with Greg McWilliams, president of Newhall Land, stealing the show for his amusing comments and Marlee’s brother, Jim Means also sharing some hilarious stories. Dianne Curtis, Cheri Fleming, Elizabeth Hopp, Linda Hafizi and Rose Chegwin added heartfelt and moving moments to the evening as well.

Moving moment

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Marlee’s daughter, Katharine, sang “Mama, A Rainbow” to Marlee. It was so beautiful! 

Seen at the Zonta Tribute

It was a packed house in the Grand Ballroom at the Hyatt, but among those I spotted were: Oscar Dominguez, Don and Cheri Fleming, Barbara Myler, Gary Cusumano, Morris Thomas, Bob and Kathy Kellar, Laurene Weste and Jim McCarthy, Tom and Sandy Dierckman, Steve and Doris Marie Zimmer, Scott and Vanessa Wilk, Steve and Julie Sturgeon, Jim Ventress, Hunt and Pamela Braly, Suzie and John Reardon, Carol Rock, Eric Harnish, Mike Lebecki, Dianne and Wayne Crawford, Ingrid and TimBen Boydston, Dante Acosta, Debbie and John Heys, Darryl and Patti Paulk, Bob Hudson, Diana Vose, Bob and Diane Benjamin, Roger and Lina Seaver, Pauline and Duane Harte, Gloria Mercado and Bruce Fortine, Larry and Peggy Rasmussen, Gary and Robin Choppe, Marsha McLean and Tracy and Lloyd Hauser.

Michele E. Buttelman is the executive editor of EverythingSCV.com, an online publication debuting soon. She is also a correspondent for KHTS AM1220, www.hometownstation.com.

Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking Santa Clarita news alerts delivered right to your inbox.

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.

[node:title]

Article: [node:title]
Source: Santa Clarita News
Author: [node:author]