SCVNews.com | Opinion/Commentary: Katheryn Barger | Hope is Here

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

Inside

Weather

Calendar

Today in
S.C.V. History

December 12

1891 - Actor Buck Jones, a Placerita and Vasquez "regular," born in Indiana [story]

Katheryn Barger | Hope is Here

Supervisor Kathryn Barger | Friday, Jul 22, 2022

Click Here to Get Our 'SCV This Morning' Newsletter

Tweet This

Facebook

Digg This

Bookmark

Stumble

RSS

Help and hope are available anytime, anywhere. With the launch of the new nationwide Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, anyone can call or text 9-8-8 and get immediately connected to help 24 hours a day.

Callers and texters will speak with trained counselors who will find the least invasive, most relevant, and most effective care plan for their crisis.

I’m grateful that this line provides access to help for anyone who needs it and also opens the door for our communities to have more honest conversations about mental health.

If you have questions about the lifeline, visit 988 Lifeline today.

If you want to amplify 9-8-8 with your network, you can share my PSA on social media, too.

In addition to 9-8-8, to get connected to local mental health services in Los Angeles County, you can still continue to access resources from the Department of Mental Health at their website, by calling (800) 854-7771, or texting “LA” to 741741.

Remember, you’re not alone and there is help waiting for you or a loved one.

Kathryn Barger serves the residents of Los Angeles County’s 5th Supervisorial District, the county’s largest, spanning 2,785 square miles, which includes 20 cities and 83 unincorporated communities in the San Gabriel, San Fernando, Crescenta, Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys.

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.

Select Keeping Up with Kathryn Barger | Home For the Holidays

Wednesday, Dec 10, 2025

I'm overjoyed to share that as of this week, several Altadena residents have moved back into their newly-rebuilt homes in time for the holidays.

Brittany Barlrog | Wrapping up 2025 for JCI

Wednesday, Dec 3, 2025

As we wrap up this incredible year with JCI Santa Clarita, my heart is truly overflowing with gratitude. This chapter has shown up in such wonderful ways, and I’m so proud of everything we’ve created together.

Ken Striplin | Happy Birthday, Santa Clarita

Tuesday, Dec 2, 2025

It’s hard to believe that our city will turn 38-years-old as of Monday, Dec. 15.

Bill Miranda | Honored to Serve

Tuesday, Dec 2, 2025

As we wrap up another year, I find myself reflecting on how extraordinary and eventful 2025 has been for our city.

Kathryn Barger | Keeping Up with Kathryn

Wednesday, Nov 26, 2025

Today, my team and I set out to four different sites across the Fifth District for our 8th Annual Day of Giving.

Mitchell Coleman | Tejon Ranch Conservancy

Tuesday, Nov 25, 2025

One of the things I love most about the Tejon Ranch Conservancy is that there truly is something here for everyone to enjoy and appreciate.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com


Today in SCV History (Dec. 12) 1891 - Actor Buck Jones, a Placerita and Vasquez "regular," born in Indiana [story]	Dec. 14: Valencia FivePoint Farmers Market Holiday Market Valencia FivePoint Farmers Market will host a holiday market, 8:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14 at 27426 Navigation Avenue, Valencia, CA 91381.	Dec. 13: Real Way Foundation Hosts ‘Very Merry Jazzy Fiesta’ Real Way Foundation Inc. is teaming up with J.C.L. Productions’ L.A. Clave Latin Jazz Band for the Very Merry Jazzy Fiesta Holiday Fundraiser on Saturday, Dec. 13, beginning at 5 p.m.	Dec. 20: Winter Wonderland Holiday Market at Saugus High School Luna Events will host a Winter Wonderland Holiday Market, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20 at Saugus High School.	Dec. 13: Elks 2025 Holiday Boutique Fundraiser The Santa Clarita Elks Lodge 2379 will host its 2025 Holiday Boutique, a fundraiser to help children with disabilities on Saturday, Dec. 13, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.	CDPH Warns Consumers Not to Eat TRE House Brand Magic Mushroom Products The California Department of Public Health is warning consumers not to eat TRE House brand Magic Mushroom gummies, chocolate bars and syrup.
LASD Seeks Info on Recovered Ceremonial Brass Bell On Nov. 10, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department recovered an item which appears to be a large ceremonial brass bell.	Valencia High ‘Two N’ Four’ Choir Ensemble Earns National Spotlight Valencia High School’s internationally acclaimed vocal jazz ensemble, “Two N’ Four,” has been selected to perform at the 2026 Jazz Education Network International Conference in New Orleans.	Valladares Hosts High Desert Education Roundtable This week Senator Suzette Martinez Valladares (R-Santa Clarita) continued her “District Dialogues” series with an education roundtable, bringing together school superintendents from across the High Desert.	Whitesides Introduces Legislation to Crack Down on Fraud, Scams Rep. George Whitesides (D-CA-27) and Rep. Jefferson Shreve (R-IN-6) have introduced the National Scam Prevention Coordination Act, legislation that would establish an office in the White House to oversee and coordinate the implementation of a national strategy for fraud and scam prevention.	TMU’s Anderson Competes Against Elite Field in Boston TMU track star Jack Anderson, the recent winner of the NAIA Men's Cross Country Championship, competed in the Sharon Colyear Invitational Dec. 5-6 in Boston.	Today in SCV History (Dec. 11) 1922 - Piru bank robbed, banker and daughter kidnapped [story]
State Approves $1.1B in Zero-Emission Transit, Safer Roadways, Infrastructure Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the California Transportation Commission approved $1.1 billion to fund new zero-emission buses, charging stations, and related infrastructure	Indie Films R Us Partners With SCIFF to Advance Indie Distribution Indie Films R Us, the newest streaming platform to enter the market, has announced a strategic partnership with the Santa Clarita International Film Festival to expand meaningful distribution opportunities for independent filmmakers.	Coalition for Clean Air Warns of Potential Scammers in the L.A. Area Coalition for Clean Air is issuing this urgent warning regarding unauthorized individuals who are falsely claiming to represent the CCA while canvassing neighborhoods in Los Angeles.	‘Tis The Season in Santa Clarita with Holiday Events, Shows The city of Santa Clarita is highlighting Holiday events and shows that everyone in the community can enjoy.	Green Santa Clarita Tallies 2025 Accomplishments Together, as a community, Santa Clarita accomplished many great things in 2025.	LASD Attempting to Identify Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer Suspects On June 8th, 2025, the three individuals each threw large rocks from an elevated position at CHP officers attempting to defend themselves on the 101 freeway-southbound in the city of Los Angeles during widespread anti-immigration enforcement protests.
MacKenzie Scott Invests $63 Million in Cal State Northridge California State University, Northridge announced today that it has received a $63 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.	Select Keeping Up with Kathryn Barger \| Home For the Holidays I'm overjoyed to share that as of this week, several Altadena residents have moved back into their newly-rebuilt homes in time for the holidays.	CSUN Prof Part of Team Developing Safety Protocols Samples Collected on Mars It may still be a few years off, but California State University, Northridge biology professor Rachel Mackelprang is part of a team of scientists who are developing safety protocols for when samples collected from the martian surface by NASA’s Perseverance rover or other missions are brought to Earth.	“Travel and Adventure” in City Hall’s First Floor Gallery The city of Santa Clarita is pleased to present its latest art exhibition, “Travel and Adventure,” on view in the First Floor Gallery at City Hall (23920 Valencia Boulevard) now through March 4, 2026.	Today in SCV History (Dec. 10) 1941 - Three days after Pearl Harbor attack, 165th and 185th Infantry Regiments assigned to Saugus; Edison power substation guarded 24/7 [timeline]	City Council Elects Laurene Weste Mayor, Patsy Ayala Mayor Pro Tem The Santa Clarita City Council conducted its annual council reorganization meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 9 and, as expected, elevated Laurene Weste, current Mayor Pro Tem to the position of Mayor for the 2026 term.