Don’t you love three-day weekends? I’m not exactly sure where January went, but it seems that I’ve been a week behind since Feb. 1. I hope everyone enjoyed a relaxing President’s Weekend.

SCV Charity Chili Cook-off

The second annual Santa Clarita Valley Charity Chili Cook-off will be held 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5. Nicole Stinson, of Estate Realty Group, said this year’s event will be held at the Hyatt Regency Valencia. “We’ve almost outgrown the Hyatt and we’re not even there, yet,” said Stinson, one of the event’s founders. “Last year, we had 32 chili cookers, and, this year, we planned on 30, increased it to 44, and have a waitlist of six people because we can’t fit any more,” she said.

The event is hosted by SCV Realtors and real estate business associates. Proceeds will benefit Circle of Hope Inc., Habitat for Humanity, Help Philippine Kids, Hardship 2 Hope and the SCV Child & Family Center.

Chili cookers are competing for first-, second- and third-place trophies, prizes, and “bragging rights,” Stinson said.

Family-friendly entertainment will include a live band, DJ, photo booth with props, 30 auction prizes and a contest presented by Wolf Creek Brewing, Salt Creek Grille and Newhall Refinery that allows attendees to taste and nominate a name for each restaurant’s chili. The winning names selected by the restaurants will be featured as specials on their menus for one week.

Whitening Lightning, a home teeth-whitening product, is title sponsor of the event. The second annual SCV Charity Chili Cook will be held 5:30 p.m. Wednesday March 5 at the Hyatt Regency Valencia, 24500 Town Center Drive, Valencia. A minimum $5 donation per person is requested. For more information visit www.scvcharitychilicookoff.com.

Jordana Capra on “The Exes”

Jordana Capra

“The Exes” is a comedy on TV LAND (channel 40 on Time Warner Cable). SCV actress Jordana Capra will appear on an episode of “The Exes” 10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19. The episode is titled “My Fair Stuart.” Guest stars on the episode include Leah Remini, Tony Dovolani and Ivar Brogger. A few of Capra’s TV appearances have included recurring roles on “Sonny Spoon” with Mario Van Peebles, the original “Beverly Hills 90210” and “Night Stand” as the angry lesbian psychologist. She has guest starred on “ER.” “Strong Medicine,” “Saved By The Bell,” “Murder One,” “Desperate Housewives,” and “House, M.D.” Capra spent two years on “Bold and the Beautiful” as Dr. Kelly. She has also appeared in numerous commercials. Among her credits in the SCV is her memorable performance as Mrs. Robinson in “The Graduate” at the Repertory East Playhouse.

Xi Nu Zeta Lasagna Dinner

It’s time again for the wonderful Xi Nu Zeta Lasagna Dinner to be held 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish Hall. This event, which benefits the Santa Clarita Valley Scholarship Foundation is always a sellout… but there are a few tickets left I’m told. The dinner includes entertainment, raffles and the incomparable lasagna (which is really a work of art) handmade by the ladies of the Xi Nu Zeta sorority. In addition to lasagna the meal includes garlic bread, salad and dessert. Tickets are $30 each. Call 661-255-1761 for more information.

Valencia Family History Fair

Interested in genealogy? Are you seeking information on your roots? Want to know where you came from? Who your great-great-great-great grandfather was? SCV residents can start, or continue, an ancestry quest at the 10th annual Valencia Family History Fair to be held 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22. The free one-day event is designed to provide members of the community with timely and helpful information and instruction for tracing the genealogy of their own ancestors.

Attendees may choose from among 25 different instructional presentations on subjects ranging from beginning research to advanced topics.  Classes of interest for teenagers will also be offered. The fair is open to everyone free of charge and lunch at the fair may be purchased for $6.

The Family History Fair will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, at 24443 McBean Parkway in Valencia.

Housed at the same location, and also available to the public without charge, is the Valencia Family History Center. Established in 1978, it remains open during 45 hours of each week throughout the year.  Its all-volunteer staff of research experts assisted interested patrons who made more than 2,300 visits to the center during the past year.  In addition to providing personal assistance, the center’s equipment include computers with free access to premium websites, microfilm and microfiche readers, scanners, printers, and a book library. For more information or to register for the fair visit www.lds.org/familyhistoryfair. The Valencia Family History Center may be contacted at 661-259-1347.

Fashion, Follies and Fun

The fourth annual Soroptimist International of Greater Santa Clarita Valley fashion show will be held Sunday, March 23 at the Hyatt Regency Valencia. The event, chaired by Sandi Naba and co-chaired by Sue Tweddell, boasts the theme Fashion, Follies and Fun. The day begins with a boutique, open to the public at 10:30 a.m. with the luncheon and fashion show beginning at noon. The show will include elegant men, women and young ladies of the SCV on the runway modeling fine fashions from SCV clothiers. New this year, the male models will be competing to earn the title Favorite Male Model winning by accumulating the most votes based on donations. Tickets are $75 each and have been selling very fast. For more information visit www.sigscv.org or email sbnaba@gmail.com.

Where did the month go?

Seriously… where did the month go? The annual Celebrity Waiter Dinner will be held Saturday to benefit the home-delivered meals program of the SCV Senior Center and the Habitat for Humanity Builder’s Ball is Friday evening. Another date that looms large on SCV calendars is March 8. Three huge events on one day.

Zonta Women in Service Celebration

Carmen Sarro

Nomination forms have gone out by e-mail and regular mail to more than 40 SCV community organizations asking nonprofit groups to nominate their outstanding volunteers to be honored at the annual Women in Service brunch hosted by Zonta Club of the Santa Clarita Valley. Completed nominations are due by Feb. 24, and the winner of the Carmen Sarro Community Service Award will be presented at the annual Zonta Women in Service Celebration on March 8. From the nominations, one person will be selected for the Carmen Sarro Award.

The “Carmen Sarro Award for Improving the Status of Women Through Community Service” honors longtime Zonta member Carmen Sarro, who died in 2003. “This will be the 30th year that Zonta has given a community service award, and since 2004 it has been designated as the Carmen Sarro Award, to remember her for much more than her service to Zonta,” said Chris Miller, chairwoman of Zonta’s Women in Service Committee.

The celebration brunch will be held Saturday, March 8, at Robinson Ranch in Canyon Country. Nomination forms are available to community organizations online at www.scvzonta.org, or by calling the Zonta message line at 661-252-9351. Completed nominations must be returned by Feb. 24 and guest reservations also must be made by that date in order by qualify for the $40 per person early bird rate for those who wish to attend to support a nominee. After that date, tickets will be $45 each.

Zonta International is dedicated to improving the legal, political, educational, health and professional status of women worldwide.

Sweet Charity Cake Auction/Competition

The sixth annual Sweet Charity Cake Auction/Competition will be held 6 p.m. Saturday, March 8 at the Valencia Country Club. Tickets are $45 each for the reception. Here’s your opportunity for your business, school or organization to be featured at the coolest, most unique event in the Santa Clarita Valley. Design a cake that best reflects your mission, logo, or product to donate to the SCV Youth Project. Cakes will be auctioned to raise funds for the nonprofit which serves youth in the SCV who are dealing with such issues as depression, suicide, drug/alcohol abuse, pregnancy, bullying, peer pressure, domestic violence, sexual assault, neglect, divorce, blended families, motivation, goal setting, study skills, self-harm, healthy relationships, sexual identity, truancy, etc. Cakes will be awarded prizes based on their originality and creativity as well as the cake that raises the most money. Whitening Lightning and Clear Channel Outdoor are this year’s Fondant Sponsors. Youth Project board member Renee Kaehny will chair the event. Anyone submitting a cake to the competition must pay a $25 entry fee and must be registered with payment confirmed by Saturday, Feb. 15. All proceeds to benefit the Youth Project (HelpNotHassle.org). For more information visit www.helpnothassle.org/category/events/sweet-charity-cake-auction.

The 16th Annual Elks Roast

Santa Clarita City Councilman Bob Kellar has stepped up to be the roastee at the 16th Annual Elks Roast to benefit the Samuel  Dixon Family Health Centers on Saturday, March 8. The event will be held at the Santa Clarita Elks Lodge, 17766 Sierra Highway in Canyon Country. Cocktails will begin at 6 p.m. with dinner to follow at 7 p.m. The event program will begin at 8 p.m. Councilman Bob Kellar has graciously volunteered as the roastee. City Manager Ken Striplin will participate as the Master of Ceremonies and scheduled roasters will include Don Fleming, Steve Arklin, Fred Arnold and Ken Pulskamp. Samuel Dixon Family Health Centers operates three health centers in the Santa Clarita Valley: Canyon Country Health Center, Val Verde Health Center and Newhall Health Center, as well as outreach sites at College of the Canyons and California Institute of the Arts. SDFHC offers a full range of health care services-physicals, immunizations and vaccines, screenings and diagnostic tests, well baby care, and family planning. Patients pay based on their income. This past year, SDFHC provided service for 11,000 patient visits. For more information about tickets and sponsorship opportunities call 661-257-2339 ext. 302.

Michele E. Buttelman is the editor of EverythingSCV.com, an online publication with an extensive community calendar. Follow her on Facebook and on Twitter at SCV Scene and online at KHTS, www.hometownstation.com.