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News
- Crikey, that’s a lot of rain: I’m going to go out on a limb and say that it hasn’t rained like this in Santa Clarita since the 2004-05 El Nino season, though technically, we’re still below average on the year. Nevertheless the rain is having major impacts in the region. KHTS reports today that Interstate 5 at the Grapevine is still shut down, and the Signal says that motorists trapped north of here were a boon to businesses in Castaic. At least 2 inches of rain fell on Newhall yesterday, while Santa Clarita Weather.com’s gauges say a quarter of an inch of rain have fallen in Saugus since midnight. Jerry Berrios at The Daily News says at least one family made amends while stranded at a Castaic truck stop. Oh and to top it all off, there was a tornado in Pt. Mugu yesterday that damaged a Navy hangar.
- Shenanigans at Animal rescue site in Lancaster: Two animal welfare groups, including Gentle Barn, got in a dispute over who would continue to perform the rescue of dogs at a Lancaster facility. The dispute ended with Gentle Barn’s manager being handcuffed and placed in a Sheriff Deputy’s car. He was released later. Carol Rock has the details.
- Fire hero Tindell out of hospital: Jim Tindell, the Canyon Country man who rescued his horses during the Buckweed fire in October and suffered second and third degree burns in the process, has been released from the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks after three months of treatment. He’ll move to a rehab facility in Pomona before heading home. Jerry Berrios at the Daily News has more.
- Art Funding: The last item on the City Council’s agenda Tuesday night was a program that would set aside money for public and private art projects in Santa Clarita. The item was brought to the council by Councilmember Boydston, who says the “difference between a truly civilized society and a mediocre one is art.” City staff are still working out the details, and Katie Geyer has more in today’s Signal.
- New Town Council member in Castaic: Scott Moon replaces Paul Fancett, who resigned last year. Moon says the big issues affecting Castaic include annexation of Hasley Hills and the lack of Castaic High. Parimal Rohit has a brief report in today’s Signal.
- Fire recovery, ecology and more: Signal Editor Lila Littlejohn has an excellent feature-length look at how our lcoal hillsides, vegetation and ecology are recovering from October’s big fires. She spoke with Placerita Canyon Nature Center Director Ian Swift about the matter. An excerpt: “Nourished by rain and by the ash of October, [hillsides] are transforming- black giving way to a pale carpet of green annuals that will turn to a riot of wildflowers in the spring if rainfall continues; shoots from the bases of blackened stumps that will grow back rapidly to replace the parent plant.” There’s much more in the article, including a historical view of wildfires, so don’t miss it.
- Shortage of poll workers in Castaic and Canyon Country: NBC 4 reports today that the County is having difficulty finding enough volunteer poll workers to man voting booths for the all-important February 5 primary. Castaic and Canyon Country are mentioned, so if you are a civic-minded person who wants to help out (and earn up to $105 for the day) check out this article and LAVote.net. Keep in mind, California REALLY matters this time around!
- So Long Rosies? Is that restaurant location just cursed? Word on the street is that Rosie’s BBQ Grill, the family-friendly BBQ joint that opened up on Town Center Drive across from Princess Cruises last year, is either closed or closing soon.
Blogs & Opinion
- I Heart posts poll results: Five people took the poll, and I Heart has the results.
- Hart District Board Meeting: Our local media does a great job of covering city council meetings, but where’s the straight dope from Wednesday night’s Hart Board meeting? Need I remind them that the board was set to debate mandatory and/or voluntary drug testing of students in the Hart District? Also we were supposed to hear about Hart’s 06-07 audit, the results of which got the last auditor fired. Did any parents show up to protest the lack of a high school in Castaic? Did anyone “thirded” a motion?
Anyway, have a nice weekend and look for at least two exclusive stories today or tomorrow! Stay dry!