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Today in S.C.V. History May 3
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Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
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Explore Vasquez Rocks during the magical twilight and early evening full moon hours. These fun, collaborative, interpretive hikes are led by trained staff and volunteers and will highlight the park's natural and human histories.
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Astrotourism is top of mind for travelers making special trips for experiences in the sky, and with the recent “take-your-breath-away” total solar eclipse, thousands of cruisers onboard Emerald Princess and Discovery Princess off the coast of Mexico caught a glimpse of the total darkness event.
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The Santa Clarita City Council will hold a study session on Tuesday, May 7 at 5 p.m. The council will meet at City Hall, Carl Boyer Room, 23920 Valencia Blvd., First Floor, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
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Garbage inspectors will soon be paying a visit to neighborshoods throughout the Santa Clarita Valley to inspect recycling bins to insure residents are following the recycling rules in the SCV.
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College of the Canyons competed at the 3C2A State Singles & Doubles Championships for a second straight year, with the doubles duo of Sydney Tamondong and Estrella Segura establishing program history by advancing to the round of 16 at the Ojai Athletic Club.
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College of the Canyons men's basketball head coach Howard Fisher's Cougar Basketball Camp returns in 2024 with three sessions open to boys and girls ages 8 to 14.
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The Friends of Santa Clarita Public Library is hosting a “Spring Bag Sale” event at the Valencia, Canyon Country and Newhall branches of the Santa Clarita Public Library, during normal operating hours from Saturday, May 4 to Sunday, May 12.
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A former public school teacher who launched a racist and anti-immigrant tirade against a Santa Clarita street vendor is being sued by a Latino civil rights group for civil assault and violating California civil rights laws.
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The Village of Pine Mountain Club has hosted wine festivals since 2003. You can taste exciting wines from the world’s top wine-growing regions, with dozens of premier wineries to choose from on Saturday, July 6, 1-4 p.m. at Wine in the Pines.
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The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Santa Clarita Valley will be held Saturday, May 4, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. at Central Park, with the theme “May The Cure Be With You,” a Disney/Star Wars celebration.
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Ten risk-taking, mid-career artists were announced Thursday as the recipients of the 2024 Herb Alpert Award in the Arts (HAAIA).
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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The Master's University men's volleyball team won their opening match of the 2024 NAIA National Championship with a 3-set win over the No. 9-seed Mount Mercy (IA) Mustangs.
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Andrew Skerratt did not anticipate graduating with an electrical engineering degree from The Master’s University.
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Nichole Muro was brilliant in the circle through seven shutout innings and Gigi Garcia broke the game open with a two-run double in the sixth inning as No. 15 College of the Canyons got past No. 18 Cuesta College 4-0 in its 3C2A Southern California Regional Playoffs play-in game at Whitten Field on Tuesday.
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As we kick off the new month, I am proud to reflect on the incredible growth and achievements we've witnessed over the past four months.
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College of the Canyons student-athletes Sydney Tamondong (women's tennis) and Nathaniel Wilkinson (men's track and field) have been named the COC Athletic Department's Women's and Men's Student-Athletes of the Week for the period running April 22-27.
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With spring in full effect, now is the best time to hit the trails and enjoy the natural scenery of Santa Clarita.
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The Biden administration announced Thursday that President Biden used his authority under the Antiquities Act to expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument near Los Angeles.
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The Tony Award nominations, which honor excellence in live Broadway theater, were announced on April 30 with lighting designer and California Institute of the Arts alum Brandon Stirling Baker (Theater BFA 10) among the nominees.
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The Master’s University will be well-represented during the International Christian Film Festival in Orlando, Florida, which is running now through May 4.
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1884 - McCoy & Everette Pyle discover important Tataviam Indian artifacts in Bowers Cave (Val Verde) [story]
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The Los Angeles County, Department of Public Social Services, and the Department of Public Health’s CalFresh Healthy Living Program have launched the annual CalFresh Awareness Month campaign to remove barriers associated with applying for food assistance.
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Ekklesia Meta Church, a non-denominational institution founded by Pastor Carthel Towns, is proud to announce the grand opening of its Community Closet in Santa Clarita.
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17 Comments
Steve Roter – In your comment, who is the “we” who “got ours”? Do you work for the landfill? If not, what is your interest? And is “Steve Roter” your real name? If not, what is it and where do you live?
Steve Roter, or whomever you are. You do not live in Val Verde, that is obvious. Your information seems to be from a source that does NOT represent the citizens of this little town, or could it be from someone who sides with the landfill and will be moving out of the Santa Clarita area soon?
The CATC did post their agenda, but changed it via email less than 24 hours before the meeting. It appeared to be a bait and switch on the citizens of Val Verde. Is that legal to change the agenda within that short of time and only notify a few?
To correct Steve Roter, the VVCA Landfill Committee held a meeting in which 112 residents voted against the expansion of the landfill and 0 voted for it.
The Draft EIR has too may flaws, not to mention things that the community of Val Verde does not want. They took time out of their busy schedule, gave testimony and voted.
And remember that many of these people receive the benefits which are paid for by the CBFC (organization which receives the landfill funds). They still voted against the expansion. That tells me a lot.
To correct Steve Roder again, when there is a vote of 112 to 0, that’s extremely significant. And for 112 resident to vote no in a community where there are 671 households … well, that’s impressive.
To put this in perspective, if there was a turnout with the same ratios as above in Los Angeles County, the turnout would be 577,893 – they wouldn’t fit in the supervisor’s hearing room. Or lets look at Castaic. The turnout would be 960 – they also wouldn’t fit in the meeting room at the School District office.
And if the Landfill Committee were able to cast their vote, I’m pretty sure it would’ve been 117-0.
At the CATC meeting, Marshall Lefcourt handed out the flier he received on his door – I heard it was passed out to all the residents of Val Verde. When he passed out the flier, he didn’t tell who made it. Member of the Board thought it came from the Val Verde Civic Association, since the name was boldly printed at the bottom. Wrong! Next, it was believed to have come from the Community Benefits Funding Committee (CBFC). Wrong again. When I told one board member that it came from the landfill, he looked at me as if I was speculating. When I told him that the landfill admitted it, the first words out of his mouth was “that’s fraudulent”.
It’s obvious why the landfill has stooped to levels this low – they’ll do anything to win. We know what they did a wonderful spin on the illegal “sludge” they took in. Or how about their denial of ever taking in nuclear waste? When times get tough, this is how they fight. Do we want someone like this to be our “neighbor” for the next 21-38 years?
Vanessa Brookman/Steve Roter – For your gross misconduct (repeatedly perpetrating a fraud by using a fake name to libel people, in violation of the published terms of service), you are banned from posting comments on this website under any name you have used in the past or which you may attempt to use in the future.
Susie… You are wrong. The CATC did not change their agenda 24 hours in advance. Chiquita requested weeks prior to their September meeting to have the agreement placed on the agenda for consideration. The agenda was posted 72 hours in advance with the item on the agenda. We all have the posted copies.
Greg… We put the flyer out. We have told many people that. I stood up at your meeting and openly stated we had it printed and distributed. The information in that flyer is accurate and we stand by it. It was the Val Verde Civic Association hosting the meeting at 6 p.m. and that was the information we put on the flyer. This small band of VV residents that want the landfill closed no longer talk about all the good that funding from the landfill has done for Val Verde. Scholarship programs, tutoring, sports programs, senior bus passes, etc. $340,000 this year in funding for free programs in Val Verde. You don’t like to mention that now that the DEIR is under public review. You don’t tell your residents the full story. So we did.
Wow! This needs to be sent to the district attorney. The president of the VVCAC, who is supposed to listen and help with our complaints does this. If Vanessa Brookman/Steve Roter did this, then I ask how much have the residents of Val Verde really been screwed over. I know the names we have been called, and that was from the neutral board.
Musella – everyone in VV is aware of the mitigation fees but nobody wants the landfill to stay open. It’s not a small group of people you’re talking about.
Can someone email her comments? I did not get to see them, and I think the District Attorney would like those comments. I love the video of me, that she put on line. A must see!
John,
Did Vanessa help in the production or distribution of that flyer?
Also, the contract was not presented at the agenda planning meeting. It was put on the agenda at the last minute and OUTSIDE of a public meeting, behind closed doors.
Since you know a lot about Val Verde, John, tell me who these people are who want the landfill to stay open in our town, because I have never met one.
To anyone reading this who wants to know what the residents on Jackson and Lincoln live with everyday, spend a couple hours there. You will get nauseated, dizzy, disoriented and come home with a headache. I live on the far side of town, but my heart goes out to our neighbors who LIVE WITH THIS EVERYDAY. They are sick and a few have hurt themselves falling from dizzy spells. If the landfill expands, so will its scope of fugitive gases.
The contract that was handed out to council members (and approved that night) was watermarked with “draft” and handed out only HOURS before the meeting. If I had reviewed the contract I would have pointed out in testimony that.
It appears to me that the way the CCCCBF contract is written so that any person, entity or business who resides in the Castaic Area is subject to the gag order. If a person takes part in the EIR/CEQA process, “joins or supports on any way in any appeal of Project approval…” The contract “shall be voidable and of no further force and effect in CCL’s sole discretion.”
Who wrote this? Was an attorney actually involved? It seems that anyone who resides in Castaic, private or public, can void the contract, just by participating in the EIR process. That seems to give a lot of power to the people to void this – that is if the landfill decides to void it at their discretion.
Condition 22 is disturbing because they state that the landfill is entitled to a financial award if they have to enforce it. Does this extend to private citizens?
Including condition 19, which puts a first amendment gag order not only on the Council, but council members who represent their constituents. Their constituents will not have a voice in any matter involved with the landfill; this is a massive violation of free speech. Even though the CATC President stated that the mitigation contract had nothing to do with Val Verde,our VV representatives will have to “support all permitting and approval applications for the project. Before local, state and federal agencies. Support of the project includes letters, appearances, testimony, telephone calls and meetings with local, state and federal permitting and consulting agency’s with respect to project entitlements.”
The council members who voted for the contract said that this had nothing to do with Val Verde. The Council members who voted for the contract to be approved as-is, claimed that the contract had nothing to do with Val Verde.
That is blatantly wrong statement because it imposes a gag order on our representatives, including those from Val Verde. How were they able to conflate these issues, they say this is a private contract that does not affect Val Verde — but it does? We have never imposed requirements from our CBFC onto the town Council. How is this new benefits funding committee allowed to impose restrictions on the Town Council?
One final comment to Mr. Musella: There are some things that money can’t buy.
I really do not believe Flo Lawrence would post something of that nature. Admin, would you please verify the identity of the poster?
Working on it right now
The comments from “Flo L.” are fraudulent. They are coming from “Echobutterfly1251@gmail.com” which is not an email address Flo Lawrence has used here previously. We are removing them.
Every CATC meeting starts with two things. One is the Pledge of Allegiance. “With Liberty and Justice for all.” Those are just words in the air, if people prosper at the cost of the health of others.
The other thing a CATC meeting starts with is prayer. The most important rule in the dominant religion her in the United States is, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” I would like to think if the shoe was on the other foot we, the residents of Val Verde would put the health of residents first, especially if I was suppose to represent them. Not fight for football or more baseball fields, but actually fight for the sick. Val Verde residents have gone to two boards and have begged, yelled and pleaded for a healthier existence. To be called liars, fear mongers, and selfish for actually wanting a healthy existence.
The one thing that can be proved on the spot from the majority of landfill internet searches is that asthma is increased in areas near landfills.
Fast Facts
Every day in America:
44,000 people have an asthma attack.
36,000 kids miss school due to asthma.
27,000 adults miss work due to asthma.
4,700 people visit the emergency room due to asthma.
1,200 people are admitted to the hospital due to asthma.
9 people die from asthma.
https://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?sub=42&id=8
I heard it said, if Val Verde rejects the proposal then they are hurting kids in Castaic.
Well if Castaic takes the deal kids in Val Verde are hurt, along with adults, and that is just asthma, we have not even discussed the sickness that we feel here daily.
I am not a religious man by any means, but I do treat others how I want to be treated. It would be nice if those who open meetings with prayers would live the most important rule, I think has ever been.
John,
Let’s get something crystal clear. The landfill put flyers up all around the community of VV with bullet points showing all of the “good” the money does. You have made that part clear.
What needs to be cleared up is that after these efforts by the landfill, not a single person voted in favor of it. 112 voted in opposition to the expansion, so it is not a “small band”. In fact, there is no band of people that actually want it to expand. If you claim we are only a small band that are opposed to the expansion, then please show me where this large band of VV residents are that are in favor of the expansion. They don’t exist.
Please represent your information accurately as we move forward. You are only doing a disservice to yourself and the organization you represent. It makes it seem like you and the CCL like to use assumptive sales as a means to get your agenda across. And by assumptive sales, I mean your “small band” comment. Very deceptive, inaccurate, and flat out poor ethics.
Here are the facts:
1. The landfill put flyers in the VV community prior to a vote asking residents if they were in favor of, or opposed to the expansion. The flyers put out by the landfill listed positive things the CBFC money, which is provided by the landfill, has done for our community.
2. The VVCA meeting that night, which was one of the highest attendances we’ve seen in years, a vote was held as described in #1 above.
3. Not a single person voted in favor of the expansion. Again, nobody voted in favor of the expansion. 112 residents voted against it.
4. The vast majority of VV does not want the expansion. It really is that simple.
If you do not agree with #4, then please show your evidence to suggest otherwise. Until then, as I mentioned earlier, please represent your information accurately.