SCVNews.com | Opinion/Commentary: City Manager’s Monthly Message – November 2021

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

Inside

Weather

Calendar

Today in
S.C.V. History

March 4

1940 - NYC premiere of "The Marines Fly High" starring Lucille Ball, filmed in Placerita Canyon [story]

City Manager’s Monthly Message – November 2021

By Ken Striplin | Tuesday, Nov 2, 2021

Click Here to Get Our 'SCV This Morning' Newsletter

Tweet This

Facebook

Digg This

Bookmark

Stumble

RSS

Santa Clarita City Manager Ken Striplin has been recognized with the 2021 Award for Career Excellence in Memory of Mark E. Keane, a prestigious award given to one honoree each year from nominations of city managers across the country and around the globe. Welcome to the New Canyon Country Community Center

Oct. 30 was the day we cut the ribbon and welcomed residents to the new Canyon Country Community Center. This project has been a labor of love for the City Council and staff who have seen it from concept to completion. You may remember that just a few short years ago, the intersection of Sierra Highway and Soledad Canyon Road was home to auto body shops, tattoo parlors and massive billboards.

Today, all of that has been replaced with parkland, public art and the new Community Center building. As you enter the site through the Gateway plaza, you will notice a beautiful trellis, landscaping and most notably, the 25-foot-tall Communitree. This unique art piece represents our City’s famed oak trees and the strength of the Santa Clarita community.

As you explore the site, you will walk along picturesque trails past more public art pieces. Guests will enjoy the playground, event stage, basketball court, Terrace and the Mercado. The event stage will be the home for a new cultural series which will be announced soon. Once you enter the new building, you will find the space set up for enrichment, learning, gathering and being active.

The new Center will offer the same popular classes that were hosted at the previous site on Flying Tiger, in addition to new offerings – such as cooking lessons in the demonstration kitchen, exercise classes, basketball leagues in the gym, events in the Grand Room and much more.

I encourage all of you to find time to explore the new Canyon Country Community Center. To find out what classes, activities and events are available at the Center, please check out the latest edition of Seasons Magazine or visit santa-clarita.com/CCCC.

City Manager Ken Striplin can be reached at kstriplin@santa-clarita.com.

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.

Click here to cancel reply.

Opinion Section Policy

All opinions and ideas are welcome. Factually inaccurate, libelous, defamatory, profane or hateful statements are not. Your words must be your own. All commentary is subject to editing for legibility. There is no length limit, but the shorter, the better the odds of people reading it. "Local" SCV-related topics are preferred. Send commentary to: LETTERS (at) SCVNEWS.COM. Author's full name, community name, phone number and e-mail address are required. Phone numbers and e-mail addresses are not published except at author's request. Acknowledgment of submission does not guarantee publication.

Ken Striplin | Two New Events Celebrating Spring

Tuesday, Mar 3, 2026

Innovation guides how Santa Clarita brings the community together through its events and programming. Each year, the city introduces new ways to engage residents and highlight what makes Santa Clarita unique.

Ken Striplin | One Story One City: An Invitation to Read, Listen, Connect

Monday, Mar 2, 2026

In Santa Clarita, building a strong sense of community is a priority we carry through everything we do, from shared experiences that bring residents together to programs and opportunities that encourage us to learn, participate and connect with one another.

Patsy Ayala | A Western Love Story at the Cowboy Festival

Thursday, Feb 26, 2026

Love has a way of transforming a moment into a memory that lasts a lifetime.

Ken Striplin | From Alpacas to Bison: Hart Park Takes Center Stage on ‘Santa Clarita Voices’

Monday, Feb 23, 2026

One of the most rewarding parts of my role as City Manager is connecting with our community and sharing the stories behind the people, projects and services that make Santa Clarita such a great place to live, work and play.

Laurene Weste | Celebrate 30 Years of Western Tradition at Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival

Thursday, Feb 19, 2026

As you step into William S. Hart Park, the sights and sounds of the Old West come alive. The rhythm of boots shuffling across the dance floor, the unmistakable aroma of Dutch oven peach cobbler drifting through the mesquite-scented air and the ringing of a blacksmith’s hammer all echo a time when Santa Clarita’s hills and valleys were shaped by cowboys living the frontier life.

Ken Striplin | Making Every Drop Count with the Rain Barrel Purchase Program

Monday, Feb 16, 2026

After years of watching the skies and tracking reservoir levels, Californians are finally seeing a welcome change: the state is no longer in a drought.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com

March 10: Registration Opens for City Spring Recreation Programs The city of Santa Clarita will open Spring Recreation Registration on Tuesday, March 10, at 10 a.m., offering a wide variety of seasonal classes and programs, including Camp Clarita, Summer Youth Basketball and Primetime Preschool enrollment.	Update: Barricaded Suspect Safely Taken Into Custody in Saugus The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Special Enforcement Bureau personnel are responding to assist the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station with a barricaded male, adult armed suspect.	Kaiser Permanente Awards $10,000 Grant to Boys & Girls Club of SCV Kaiser Permanente recently awarded a $10,000 grant to the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley with a check presentation at the organization’s Newhall clubhouse, highlighting a continued investment in youth education and enrichment in the SCV. highlighting a continued investment in youth education and enrichment in the SCV.	Today in SCV History (March 4) <strong>1940</strong> - NYC premiere of "The Marines Fly High" starring Lucille Ball, filmed in Placerita Canyon [<a href="https://scvhistory.com/scvhistory/lw2676.htm" target="_blank">story</a>] <a href="https://scvhistory.com/scvhistory/lw2676.htm" target="_blank"> <img src="https://scvhistory.com/gif/lw2676t.jpg" alt="Marines Fly High" style="margin-top:6px;width:110px;border:0;"> </a>	Volunteers Needed for Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival The 30th Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival is back in town and the city of Santa Clarita is seeking enthusiastic volunteers to help make it a success by assisting with different activities during the event.	March 5: Santa Clarita Parks Commission Meets for Overview of 2026 Events The Santa Clarita Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission will meet at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 5 to receive an overview on 2026 events planned by the city of Santa Clarita.
The Master’s Wins GSAC Basketball Championship The Master's University men's basketball team pulled off the most improbable win of the season, coming back from a 17-point deficit in the second half to win the GSAC Men's Basketball Championship 77-74 in The MacArthur Center on Monday, March 2.	Santa Clarita Ranks Sixth Nationally in Most Credit Cards Per Person WalletHub, a free personal finance app, reports the residents of Santa Clarita possess the sixth most credit cards per person in the United States.	Canyons Wins Women’s Meet, Sees High Marks from Men’s Squad at Cuyamaca Invite The College of the Canyons track and field teams combined for nearly 40 personal best times and marks during the annual Cuyamaca College Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 28 with the women's squad claiming its first team victory of the season.	March 28: Vine2Wine ‘A Mediterranean Toga Affair’ for Circle of Hope Circle of Hope’s most anticipated night of the year returns on Saturday, March 28, as Vine2Wine once again brings the community together for an evening of wine, cuisine and compassion.	Cougars’ Swim & Dive Teams Compete at Mt. SAC Invitational College of the Canyons swimming and diving competed at the two-day Mt. San Antonio College Invitational Feb. 27-28, with the Cougars turning in a number of strong individual performances.	Ken Striplin \| Two New Events Celebrating Spring Innovation guides how Santa Clarita brings the community together through its events and programming. Each year, the city introduces new ways to engage residents and highlight what makes Santa Clarita unique.
March 11: Free Business Webinar, ‘Tax Essentials for Entrepreneurs,’ Part 1 The Small Business Development Center hosted by College of the Canyons will offer a free webinar, "Tax Essentials for Entrepreneurs: A 2-Part Workshop Series." Part 1, "Business Structure – Choosing Smart from the Start," will be presented on Wednesday, March 11 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.	March 17: Family Promise of SCV Fundraising Dodgers Opening Weekend Raffle Family Promise of Santa Clarita Valley is holding a Dodgers Opening Weekend Raffle fundraiser with a live drawing scheduled for Tuesday, March 17.	CSUN Formally Opens Valera NEST, CSU Student Resource Center University and government officials formally cut the ribbon today for California State University, Northridge’s Valera NEST, a first-of-its-kind resource center in the CSU system that provides basic needs services such as food, clothing and wellness to students in a centralized location on campus.	California Credit Union Now Accepting Applications for 2026 Summer Internship Program California Credit Union is now accepting applications for its 2026 Summer Internship Program, offering paid professional experience for Santa Clarita Valley college students.	March 3: Summer Operating Hours for Placerita Canyon Natural Area, Nature Center Starting Tuesday, March 3, Placerita Canyon Natural Area and Nature Center will have updated summer operating hours.	March 19: VIA Cocktails & Conservation with Councilwoman Marsha McLean The Valley Industry Association will host "VIA Cocktails & Conversation: An Evening with Santa Clarita City Councilwoman Marsha McLean" on Thursday, March 19, 5:30-7 p.m.
SCV Water Board Approves Establishing Penalties for Water Theft From Fire Hydrants At its Feb. 17, regular meeting, the Santa Clarita Valley Water Board of Directors approved an ordinance establishing penalties relating to water theft from fire hydrants as well as corresponding revisions to its Customer Service Policy.	March 22: SCAA Call to Artists ‘Rustic Roots, The California West’ Deadline The Santa Clarita Artists Association is holding a call for artists for "Rustic Roots: The California West" art exhibit. Entry Deadline is Sunday, March 22.	Ken Striplin \| One Story One City: An Invitation to Read, Listen, Connect In Santa Clarita, building a strong sense of community is a priority we carry through everything we do, from shared experiences that bring residents together to programs and opportunities that encourage us to learn, participate and connect with one another.	March 2-8: Five Productions Filming in SCV The city of Santa Clarita Film Office has released the list of five productions filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, March 2 to Sunday, March 8.	Mustangs Fall in Series Finale to Hope International TMU baseball was swept by Hope International University on Saturday, Feb. 28 in a 14-9 loss in Fullerton.	The Master’s Stays Unbeaten with Blowout over Soka The Master's University men's volleyball team improved to 8-0 with a dominant win over Soka University in straight sets on Friday, Feb. 27 in The MacArthur Center.