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1971 - Fort Tejon added to National Register of Historic Places [story]

My Favorite Things

The Good Long Road | Commentary by Jennifer Fischer

Jennifer Fischer | Saturday, Sep 6, 2014

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Keeping it simple this week with a gratitude list. My 37th birthday is coming up, so I decided to focus on all things positive and make a list of 37 things I’m grateful for in or near the Santa Clarita Valley. Enjoy, and then share your favorite things, too.

1. So many wonderful parks for my kids to play at, specifically:

2. Hasley Park in Castaic

3. Valencia Heritage Park

4. West Creek Park

5. The new Castaic Aquatic Center

6. Great hiking spots and nature experiences, specifically:

7. Towsley Canyon

8. Placerita Canyon (and Nature Center)

9. Vasquez Rocks

10. Hart Park

11. Quality schools

12. Wonderful city events and an awesome Arts & Events staff

13. The SCV Food Pantry and Help the Children – two agencies that help feed the hungry in the Santa Clarita Valley

14. Castaic Lake

15. Wonderful libraries, especially the SCV Bookmobile and the Newhall Public Library

17. It’s A Grind in Castaic – my favorite coffee shop

18. Undergrounds Coffee – our runner-up favorite coffee shop – and the duck pond near it

19. The friendly employees at my local Ralphs in Castaic

22. The Egg Plantation

23. La Cocina

24. Grand Panda

25. That I was able to run the SCV Film Festival for seven years and received so much community support for the event.

26. The SCV Film Office, which was wonderful to work with when I ran the film festival and has been wonderful to work with as an independent filmmaker.

27. Leon Worden – I have never met someone more committed to his community in my life. I’m grateful for all he does for the Santa Clarita Valley.

28. My awesome neighbors in Val Verde.

29. The koi fish pond and Menchie’s at the mall – a simple outing my boys always enjoy.

30. Proximity to my favorite beaches – Mother’s Beach in Ventura and Carpinteria State Beach.

31. Proximity to the trains in Filmore, which my boys absolutely love.

32. Local organic honey just up the road in Piru.

33. Bike trails

34. Lombardi Ranch

35. Abundant Harvest Organics

36. Proximity to the Lancaster Jethawks

37. Our Friends.

Your turn. Spread some simple happiness by sharing what you are grateful for and thanking the people in your life that make your life better.

Jennifer Fischer is co-founder of the SCV Film Festival, a mom of two, an independent filmmaker and owner of Think Ten Media Group, whose Generation Arts division offers programs for SCV youth. She writes about her parenting journey on her blog, The Good Long Road. Her commentary is published Saturdays on SCVNews.com.

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