Ken Striplin

As we begin our first quarter of the year, I want to share some of the exciting events and happenings here at the City.

We have begun construction on a new Park and Ride facility at the McBean Transfer Station which will provide over 280 new parking spaces for commuters to access mass transportation options.  The new state-of-the-art facility is funded through Federal and local funding partners, including the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The Metro’s Call for Projects program also provided $2.97 million to help fund the new park-and-ride station.  We are anticipating that this project will be completed later this year.

Earlier this year, we celebrated the grand opening of the new Canyon Country Community Center.  This new Center offers a myriad of programs, education and services for children, teens and seniors.  The new Community Center is located at 18792 Flying Tiger Drive, off of Sierra Highway, and is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  If you are interested in learning about what is happening at the Center, please log on to www.santa-clarita.com/cccc for class and program information.

On March 9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial in partnership with the City of Santa Clarita, will conduct a free Community Health Fair at the Jo Anne Darcy Library in Canyon Country. Residents can receive free screenings and local non-profit agencies such as Samuel Dixon; Northeast Valley Health Corporation; Action Family Counseling; NAMI and Fair Housing Council will share information on services offered along with information on low or no cost health insurance for children. Children’s games, activities and face painting will be offered. The health fair is open to the community; admission and health screenings are free. Spanish speaking material and translators are available. For more information, please call (661) 200-1306.

I want to thank you for your interest and participation in our community.  If you would like to receive regular updates on topics of interest to you and your family, check out our website to sign up.  This service is available at www.santa-clarita.com/enotify.

Ken Striplin is city manager of the City of Santa Clarita.