Activities abound for Fourth of July

Independence Day festivities have a rich history in the Santa Clarita Valley, dating to the first Fourth of July parade in 1932. Its theme? "Old Times."

Families walk to help kids find new homes

Not too long ago, Jim and Michelle Riley came across a billboard advertising Child SHARE, a faith-based organization that helps families provide foster and adoptive kids permanent homes.

State senate race is for a 'tsunami seat'

The race for the 19th State Senate district maybe the most competitive and hotly contested seat in November's General Election, according to several political pundits. At a recent political rally in Santa Clarita, Democractic candidate Hannah-Beth Jackson have summed it a bit more visually.

Valencia power outage planned Monday

About 1,000 Valencia residents will lose power Monday while Southern California Edison upgrades its equipment to improve reliability, an Edison official said Friday.

Parade a local Fourth of July tradition

Gather the family, pack some snacks and put on the sunscreen because the annual Fourth of July parade is ready to roll across the streets of Newhall.

Rotary Club to provide patriotic pancakes

Last year they brought back the ever-popular blueberry pancakes, but this year the Rotary Club plans to get really fancy, offering patriotic red, white and blue pancakes at the 43rd annual Santa Clarita Valley Rotary Club pancake breakfast.

Mr. SCV, John Boston, to be Grand Marshal of Fourth of July parade

Mr. SCV himself was chosen as this year's grand marshal. Signal Staff Writer Katherine Geyer had a few questions for the legendary John Boston, who answered as only John Boston would. Q: So Mr. SCV, how did you get the name Mr. SCV?

Two bond amounts used in survey

The survey commissioned by the Hart district to test the feasibility of placing a Proposition 39 facilities bond on the November ballot asked those surveyed about two different amounts for the potential bond. Of the 800 voters surveyed, half were asked if they would support a $300 million bond, and half were asked about a $240 million bond. Twice the usual number of voters were surveyed, doubling the sample, so that both numbers could be ...

Duck, duck goose: UPDATED with photos

Why did the geese cross the road? To get to a lake on the other side. A flock of Canadian geese, and a few ducks, waddle across the 10-lane Newhall Ranch Road at McBean Parkway a few times a day to get from one lake to another. Some drivers honk their car horns and swerve, while others screech to a halt to block traffic.

Hamburger named Saugus asst. principal

Diane Hamburger, who has been a science teacher at Saugus High School since 1989, has been named the school's new assistant principal. The William. S. Hart Union High School District Governing Board confirmed the appointment at Wednesday's meeting, and it will be effective July 1. Hamburger attended the meeting with her husband, Mark, their daughter, Nicole, and their twin sons, Jonathan and Jason.

Housing project would remove heritage oaks

When Wendy Langhans leads a small band of hikers back from a night hike through Towsley Canyon, she stops halfway down the trail and points across The Old Road to a place in the dark, under the stars.

SuperScoopers to return during 2008 fire season

The Los Angeles County Fire Department has renewed a contract with Canada for two firefighting SuperScooper airplanes during this year's fire season, an official announced today.

Home sales: Up, up & away

Sales of existing single-family homes in the Santa Clarita Valley continued their rebound in May with more than 200 homes closing escrow, according to a Thursday report from the Southland Regional Association of Realtors. Despite the improvement for single-family home sales, condominium sales remain slow while the inventory of homes for sale is dropping and inching closer towards a balanced market between buyers and sellers.

Survey: School bond would pass

A survey commissioned by the Hart district found that 65 percent of Santa Clarita Valley voters would be likely to vote for a bond measure that could potentially pay for new facilities, including a high school in Castaic, if the measure is placed on the November ballot. The survey has a 5 percent margin of error, but only 55 percent approval is required to pass the $300 million Proposition 39 facilities bond.

Up to 40,000 likely to attend

From carnival rides to on stage performances and even a series of live animal shows, the Valley Fair opened its gates to the Santa Clarita Valley on Thursday, giving local families an opportunity to relax and have fun. The fair, which continues through Sunday at the Saugus Speedway, is expected to draw between 30,000 and 40,000 visitors all weekend long and is sponsored by the State of California 51st District Agricultural Association.

Saugus: HOA structures vandalized with anti-Semitic symbols

Vandals defaced HOA complex structures with racist slogans and anti-Semitic symbols during the weekend in Saugus, prompting a probe by local sheriff's detectives, a manager for the property said Monday.

Santa Clarita road closures for the Amgen Tour of California

The following road closures are planned within the city of Santa Clarita Tuesday and Wednesday for the Amgen Tour of California.

Arrests: Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, May 13, 2013

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UPDATES: Biking activities take center stage in Santa Clarita Valley

You might call today the kick-off of Bicycle Week in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Insanity plea by Holmes holds risks for both sides

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) - One of James Holmes' lawyers asked a judge on Monday to change his plea to not guilty by reason of insanity in the Colorado theater shootings. Such a plea is seen as his best hope of avoiding the death penalty in the killings of 12 people at a packed midnight showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" in Aurora. Changing the plea still carries risks for Holmes but moving in that direction ...

Smoke from controlled burn alarms Castaic residents

Smoke from a controlled burn near Hasley Canyon alarmed some Castaic residents this morning, a Fire Department spokesman said.

City budget projected to be slightly smaller than last year

Even as state and national economic conditions continue to improve, Santa Clarita's proposed budget for next year will actually shrink a bit, City Manager Ken Striplin said at a recent budget study session.

Homeowners face challenges from high-speed rail project

While the planned California high-speed rail isn't expected to arrive in the Santa Clarita Valley for 20 to 30 years, homeowners are already being held hostage to what some call a boondoggle and others say is a step into the modern transportation era for the state, some local residents say.

Kids and youth compete in the Antelope Valley Youth Rodeo Association Junior Rodeo

About 90 contestants raced, roped and rode in the Antelope Valley Youth Rodeo Association Junoir Rodeo on Sunday at JPK Arena in Agua Dulce.

Babies and parents celebrate Henry Mayo NICU’s first birthday

Graduation season has begun in the Santa Clarita Valley, but one recent ceremony was unique: all the graduates arrived in diapers.

Road closures for Amgen

Family, friends gather to honor crash victim

Blast to the past at Placerita Canyon nature Center's Open House

Outdoor fire in Castaic spreads to house

An outdoor fire around supper time Saturday ended up spreading to a house, emergency response officials said.

Chloride options: Pay up or pay up

Nearly everyone who flushes a toilet or does a load of laundry in the Santa Clarita Valley faces a complicated and costly problem over the issue of chloride contamination ­- and, according to sanitation officials, it's a problem that's not going to go away.