On Aug. 21, 1961, Stephen Hillenburg, artist, animator, and creator of the cultural phenomenon “SpongeBob SquarePants,” was born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Raised in Anaheim, Hillenburg’s early love of the ocean led him to Humboldt State University, where he graduated in 1984 with a degree in natural-resource planning and interpretation, with an emphasis in marine biology. He went on to ...

Mike’s Diner in Castaic was featured in a recently aired live-action Spongebob Squarepants episode called “SpongeBob’s Big Birthday Blowout,” celebrating the show’s 20th anniversary.  During the three-day shoot in March, the family-owned business closed its doors to customers. However, Manager Sandra Hamad and her mother stayed to keep an eye on the business.  “We don’t like leaving the diner unattended,” ...

Stephen Hillenburg, creator of “SpongeBob SquarePants” and a CalArts alumni, succumbed to a year-long battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Monday. Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking KHTS Santa Clarita News Alerts delivered right to your inbox. Born in Lawton, Oklahoma on Aug. 21, 1961 and raised in Anaheim, California, Hillenburg began teaching marine biology at the Orange County Marine Institute in ...