Valencia High School Alumnus Brandon Berkowitz, petty officer 1st class in the United States Navy, was recently featured by the Naval Office of Community Outreach as a prime example of an “Information Warrior.” A 2011 graduate of Valencia High School, Berkowitz is an information systems technician operating from the Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) in San Diego. He has been ...

Santa Clarita City Councilmember Laurene West received an award in recognition of her efforts in preserving the city’s open space on Wednesday. Weste was honored by the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) for her vision and leadership in progressing the Rim of the Valley Campaign, according to officials. The recognition took place at a centennial celebration for NPCA at the ...

Senator Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, announced in an official statement Friday that two bills were approved by the State Assembly Appropriations Committee. The first bill, Senate Bill 153 (SB 153), would revise California’s methods for regulating and cultivating industrial hemp, insuring that the testing of hemp conforms to the state’s federal farm bill.  Meanwhile, the second bill, Senate BIll 202 ...

On Aug. 26, 2009, the wildfire which came to be known as the Station Fire was ignited, starting a blaze that would burn for three weeks and claim the lives of two firefighters in the process. Capt. Tedmund “Ted” Hall, 47, of San Bernardino, and Firefighter Specialist Arnaldo “Arnie” Quinones, 35, of Palmdale, were killed on Aug. 30, 2009 when ...

The CBS show “SWAT” is scheduled to film off of Main Street in Old Town Newhall this week, officials said Wednesday.  On Thursday, Aug. 29 from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., the cast and crew of the television drama series is set to film in Newhall, according to a filming notice released by the Santa Clarita Film Office.  The production ...

The Santa Clarita Elks Lodge #2379 provided food and donations for clients and families at the Child and Family Center’s “Family Fun Night” on Monday, July 29. For the third year in a row, the members grilled and served BBQ hamburgers and hot dogs for 450 children and their families. Earlier in the day, they had provided a BBQ lunch ...

The Wildlife Waystation, a nonprofit animal sanctuary in Sylmar, has closed its doors, and its exotic animals are in the process of being relocated, officials said Wednesday.  The organization’s board of directors voted Monday to close the facility down, and have “surrendered” their restricted species permit, said Jordan Traverso, a spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.   Department ...

Senator Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, announced that Senate Joint Resolution 3 (SJR 3) has passed through both houses of the Legislature in a statement Tuesday.  SJR 3 urges the federal government to repeal two federal retirement benefit laws that can reduce Social Security for teachers, along with some other groups of public employees and their spouses, Wilk said in the ...

Dink’s Deli in Valencia is closed due to an alleged vermin infestation that was discovered during a health inspection this week, officials said Friday. Los Angeles County Public Health Department officials conducted an inspection of Dink’s Deli on McBean Parkway Tuesday, which led to the revelation of the infestation, according to public filings by the department. Officials reported finding evidence ...

Several recent mass shootings have prompted the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to remind the public, including residents in Santa Clarita, how to stay safe during an active shooter situation. Sheriff’s Department officials discussed what steps can be put into action in regards to preparation and planning in a press conference Monday with Sheriff Alex Villanueva. “In these unpredictable situations, ...