header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
September 18
1962 - Articles of incorporation filed for Golden State Memorial Hospital on Lyons Avenue [story]
Golden State Hospital


Courtesy of The Signal, signalscv.com
| Friday, Oct 29, 2021
Librarian Sol Kling, left, leads The Skeleton Dance as the dozens of attendees join in during the City of Santa Clarita Dia de los Muertos Celebration held at the Newhall Community Center in Newhall on Wednesday, 102721. Dan Watson/The Signal
 

Children from across the Santa Clarita Valley received an after-school surprise when they entered the Newhall Community Center and saw a colorful constructed Día de los Muertos altar.

The city of Santa Clarita hosted a Día de los Muertos celebration Thursday as part of its after-school program, which is open to all students who are ages 5-12. The city’s program offers homework help, after-school programs and activities such as the Día de los Muertos celebration.

“It is Hispanic Heritage Month, and so we are trying to work with our kids to expose them to different traditions that happen within the Hispanic community,” said Cynthia Muir, the community services supervisor for the city.

In Mexico, Dia de los Muertos is usually celebrated Oct. 31 through Nov. 2. It’s a time for people to honor and remember their loved ones by building colorful and bright altars filled with photos, food and the favorite things of those who have died, according to Muir.

Librarians Sol Kling, left,reads as Alex Quay illustrates the book The Day of the Dead for the dozens of children attending the City of Santa Clarita Dia de los Muertos Celebration held at the Newhall Community Center in Newhall on Wednesday, 102721. Dan Watson/The Signal

City staff created a Disney’s “Coco”-themed altar, and they invited Old Town Newhall Library staff to read Día de los Muertos-themed books. City staff wrote up an explanation of Día de los Muertos that would be easier for the children to understand.

Raquel Barba, a fourth-grader at Peachland Avenue Elementary School, occasionally attends the city’s after-school program. She said she likes the staff and they help finish her homework.

“(The altar) I think it looks really cool because they based it off ‘Coco,’” Barba said.

Irma Salazar, a recreation leader who works the front desk, has worked for the city and its after-school program for about 10 years. She also did a large part of the work for constructing the “Coco” altar.

“More than anything I love working with kids,” Salazar said. “I come from a home where we put altars ourselves. It’s a way of knowing and remembering our past.”

By setting up an altar, and placing little things that loved ones enjoyed for that one night, when they come back, makes them feel welcomed and overjoyed to see they are not forgotten, Salazar added.

“Even though they are no longer here with us, they’re still present in our hearts and our minds,” Salazar said.

Librarian Alex Quay reads the book the Chupacabra Ate the Candelabra for the dozens of children attending the City of Santa Clarita Dia de los Muertos Celebration held at the Newhall Community Center in Newhall on Wednesday, 102721. Dan Watson/The Signal

Muir said a lot of people don’t know about this tradition, and it was important for them to highlight Día de los Muertos. She added the city offers other avenues to expose its residents to other cultures.

The city is preparing for its upcoming Halloween carnival on Friday, and an artist exhibit showcasing various cultures in December. Muir said they want the community to participate in any activities, programs or signature events the city or community leaders organize at the center.

“We just got our center back,” Muir said. “We want to bring the community back to its center.”

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


LATEST CITY HEADLINES
Wednesday, Sep 18, 2024
Did you know the SCVEDC has an interactive, online tool that provides themed virtual tours of the amazing features the community has to offer? 
Tuesday, Sep 17, 2024
Get ready to set sail at the Pirates SENSES Block Party, presented by the city of Santa Clarita, Thursday, Sept 19 from 7-10 p.m. on main street in Old Town Newhall.
Monday, Sep 16, 2024
The city of Santa Clarita is hosting Make A Difference Day on Saturday, Oct. 26 and is looking for enthusiastic residents to volunteer for various projects that benefit local nonprofits, as well as the city.
Monday, Sep 16, 2024
The city of Santa Clarita wants to remind residents that volunteer registration is open for the 29th Annual River Rally Cleanup and Environmental Expo scheduled for next Saturday, Sept. 21, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the William S. Hart Pony Baseball and Softball Complex, 23780 Auto Center Drive, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
Monday, Sep 16, 2024
As part of the Third Annual Business for Artists Conference on Saturday, Oct. 19, Judith Modrak will lead the Imaginary Fossils Sculpture Making Workshop.

Keep Up With Our Facebook
Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
Public, member-supported 88.5 FM The SoCal Sound, Southern California’s leading Triple-A (adult album alternative) format radio station has announced the lineup for its inaugural “Year-End Bash” taking place on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Dec. 7: CSUN Owned 88.5-FM The SoCal Sound Announces “Year End Bash” Lineup featuring Ben Gibbard
The Master's University cross-country teams continued their successful 2024 campaigns with strong finishes at the BIOLA Invitational on Friday, Sept. 13 at Craig Regional Park in Fullerton, Calif.
TMU Women Win, Men Place Second at XC Invitational
Sheriff’s Department Announces New Law Enforcement Gang Policy
Sheriff’s Department Announces New Law Enforcement Gang Policy
The biology department at California State University, Northridge has stayed committed to promoting STEM research carried out by K-12 students and teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
CSUN Student Research Journal Celebrates 28 Years of Inspiring Scientific Imagination
Did you know the SCVEDC has an interactive, online tool that provides themed virtual tours of the amazing features the community has to offer? 
Take a Virtual Tour of the Santa Clarita Valley
California Institute of the Arts alum and visionary filmmaker Tim Burton (Film/Video 1979) was honored with the 2,788th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
CalArts Alum Tim Burton Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
1962 - Articles of incorporation filed for Golden State Memorial Hospital on Lyons Avenue [story]
Golden State Hospital
The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center welcomes back Jim Curry for an evening concert celebrating the music of John Denver on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom at Bella Vida.
Oct. 5: SCV Senior Center Welcomes Jim Curry ‘Take Me Home’
As part of the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency's ongoing commitment to ensuring local groundwater quality and reliability, the SCV Water recently began construction on a new treatment facility to remove perchlorate and volatile organic compounds at Well 205 in Valencia.
SCV Water Begins New Water Treatment Project in Valencia
Get ready to set sail at the Pirates SENSES Block Party, presented by the city of Santa Clarita, Thursday, Sept 19 from 7-10 p.m. on main street in Old Town Newhall.
Sept. 19: SENSES Pirate Block Party
No. 21 College of the Canyons football team knocked off No. 5 Fullerton College 29-13 on Saturday night behind a stifling defensive effort and five field goals from Luis Rodriguez.
No. 21 Canyons Knocks Off No. 5 Fullerton 29-13
Six of the seven Foothill League Varsity football teams begin league play Friday night, Sept. 20.
Foothill League Football Begins for SCV Teams
The California Institute of the Arts will present the "NAACP Santa Clarita Masquerade Ball", Friday, Oct. 4, 7-11 p.m. at 24700 McBean Parkway, Valencia, CA 91355.
Oct. 4: NAACP Santa Clarita Masquerade Ball at Cal Arts
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is investigating two human cases of a rare parasitic infection, Baylisascaris procyonis, also known as raccoon roundworm.
Public Health Investigating Disease Spread from Animals to Humans
1879 - First official Newhall School building erected near Walnut & Ninth streets [story]
First Newhall School
The city of Santa Clarita is hosting Make A Difference Day on Saturday, Oct. 26 and is looking for enthusiastic residents to volunteer for various projects that benefit local nonprofits, as well as the city.
Oct. 26: Volunteers Needed for Make a Difference Day
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and PathPoint announced the graduation of Aiden Land and Andrew Mendence from the Project SEARCH internship program.
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, PathPoint Celebrate Grad Interns
The William S. Hart Union High School District has announced upcoming community information meetings about Learning Post Academy Independent Study School, Thursday, Sept. 18 and Friday, Sept. 19.
Sept. 18-19: Learning Post Academy Online Information Meetings
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting Wednesday, Sept. 18, 5 p.m. in open session to interview and appoint a new trustee for Area 5.
Sept. 18: COC Board to Interview, Appoint Area 5 Trustee
The city of Santa Clarita wants to remind residents that volunteer registration is open for the 29th Annual River Rally Cleanup and Environmental Expo scheduled for next Saturday, Sept. 21, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the William S. Hart Pony Baseball and Softball Complex, 23780 Auto Center Drive, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
Sept. 20: Last Chance to Register for the River Rally
The California Highway Patrol is dedicating Sept. 15-21 to promoting child passenger safety across California, focusing on the protection of the state’s youngest road users.
CHP Emphasizes Child Safety for National Child Passenger Safety Week
The regular meeting of the Saugus Union School District Governing Board will take place Tuesday, Sept. 17 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 17: SUSD Regular Board Meeting
West Ranch High School’s Studio A Jazz Band will be the opening act for the Huntertones, a Brooklyn-based sextet, who are coming to the Santa Clarita Valley for a one-night performance.
Sept 30: West Ranch Jazz Band to Open for Huntertones
An exclusive Ransomeware webinar "Ransomeware, Don't Be the Next Victim!" will be hosted Wednesday, Sept. 25, 11 a.m.- noon by Shield IT Networks, in partnership with Lucas Insurance Services. It will be free for VIA members.
Sept. 25: Free Ransomeware Webinar for VIA Members
SCVNews.com