SCVNews.com | Opinion/Commentary: Kathryn Barger | Focusing on Mental Health

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March 4

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

Kathryn Barger | Focusing on Mental Health

Supervisor Kathryn Barger | Monday, Apr 29, 2024

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Dear Friends,

At the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting this week, we reviewed the Chief Executive Officer’s proposed $45.4 billion budget for the next fiscal year. This budget gets a lot of things right. We’re dedicating more than $728 million to our fight against homelessness with a key focus on mental health solutions. Importantly, we’re hiring more than 450 new workers for the Department of Mental Health, including mental health clinicians, substance abuse counselors, outreach workers, and housing navigators.

These efforts will help our County provide boots on the ground services for people experiencing homelessness to connect them with supportive services that will keep them housed.

Our hiring efforts will also benefit our many city partners, who almost exclusively rely on our County to respond to crises occurring on their streets. The daily reports of violence, including the heart-wrenching news this week of an unprovoked fatal stabbing at a Metro station, reaffirm that this crisis is urgent. We must step up our efforts to meet these needs. It’s the only way to increase public safety and improve the quality of life in our County for everyone.

Best wishes,

Kathryn Barger
Supervisor, Fifth District, which includes the Santa Clarita Valley

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1 Comment

Yolanda says:

Tuesday, Apr 30, 2024 at

Focusing on health and helping family member. She got convicted of dui I believe her she said she was not drunk, police stereotype her. She did admit she did have a drink with dinner. She didn’t pay for lawyer. She has medical issues. Ok dmv pilot programi interlock ignition. She was happy to do this, 4 months and license. It was a disaster. DMV mandatory actions don’t call you back. Company system Flawed, goes off every 10 minutes, hard to breathe in it, specially if you have heart issues, my daughter health was going down, hospital, abnormal ekg, Finally we got this device removed. DMV no help, just was trying to get a restricted license, work and home. Others had problems with this I heard it’s a class action. Wow had to get this off my chest make me want to drink. But not drive. I now nobody care’s because this is a money maker a monopoly. But I want my Daughter to live so I will keep helping her.
Thanks

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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

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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

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.	Mustangs Win Semi to Host Championship The Master's University took advantage of 17 Hope International turnovers to defeat the Royals 78-73 in the GSAC Men's Basketball Tournament semifinals Friday, Feb. 27 in Fullerton.	COC Baseball Hangs on for 8-7 Win Over Oxnard College of the Canyons baseball was able to hold off a late-inning comeback bid from Oxnard College to get past the Condors 8-7 at Mike Gillespie Field on Tuesday, Feb. 24.	Today in SCV History (March 2) <strong>1938</strong> - Great Flood of 1938 causes massive destruction and death across the greater Los Angeles region [<a href="https://scvhistory.com/scvhistory/ap3314.htm" target="_blank">story</a>]<br> <a href="https://scvhistory.com/scvhistory/ap3314.htm" target="_blank"> <img src="https://scvhistory.com/gif/ap3101t.jpg" alt="flooding" style="margin-top:6px;width:110px;border:0;"> </a>