With December upon us, Santa Clarita Mayor Laurene Weste released a statement today looking back at the positive changes in Santa Clarita in 2010:  

“It has truly been an honor to serve as your Mayor for 2010. As you may know, City Councilmembers serve as Mayor for one year, with the rotation being made each December.  

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Looking back over this last year, we’ve really come a long way! In the spring, the City and its partners celebrated the completion of the Cross Valley Connector a multi-million dollar road project that provides the first new east/west roadway through our City. We also opened the new 25-acre Discovery Park in Canyon Country, introducing our community to its first-ever passive recreation park. This year we will complete the second phase of the Old Town Newhall Streetscape project, making the five blocks of Main Street a beautifully landscaped area of our community.  

Over in Saugus, the new 3.1 mile Cross Country track is complete and already, local schools are utilizing this track for competitions. Also at Central Park, we are beginning our first Community Garden project, providing residents with an opportunity to share in a gardening project and grow food together.  

If going green is your thing, you will be interested to know that the City and its partners Southern California Edison and the FTA, are building new solar canopies at our Transit Maintenance Facility that will ultimately supply 97% of the power needed to run that facility.  

One of the most exciting projects we are working on right now is our new 30,000-square foot library in Old Town Newhall. This amazing project will include a children’s library, teen area, fireplace and seating area, community room, dozens of new computers and so much more. For more information or to watch the progress of the construction, check out our “library webcam” at www.santaclaritalibrary.com.  

I am very proud of the hard work by my fellow City Councilmembers and City staff to ensure that our City comes through these tough times. The partnerships we enjoy with our residents, business community, college and school districts, have benefited this community in a big way. Thank you for your participation and support of our amazing City, it is a pleasure to serve you.”