The West Ranch Beacon – News & Commentary for the Santa Clarita Valley

Northridge Hospital Medical Center located at 18300 Roscoe Blvd Northridge will be dedicating the new Northridge Medical Center Pediatric Trauma Center today, Friday October 1, at 10:00 AM. This will be the closest Pediatric Trauma Center in the north County area All parents with young children in the Santa Clarita Valley should be aware of this facility and its location. (more…)

I absolutely admit it; I really love Washington D.C.! There is something about this town with all its grandeur of monuments and impressive buildings that makes me just exuberant. It is the one town that no matter what the time of year, or weather, it is just stunning to look around (more…)

The Natural History Museum’s Lost Lizard of Los Angeles (LLOLA) survey, one the Museum’s several community science projects, has made its first notable discovery: a population of non-native Mediterranean House Geckos (Hemidactylus turcicus) in the Chatsworth region. It and other LLOLA findings will be on view during the second annual Reptile and Amphibian Appreciation Day on Sunday, Oct. 3, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (more…)

The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC) is advising residents of increased coyote sightings in the Antelope Valley. DACC advises residents not to panic, but to be aware and take precautions especially for those who are hiking or in unfamiliar surroundings in and around the Antelope Valley, North Los Angeles County area. (more…)

(From the wsj.com) One of the big selling points of debit cards, highlighted in ad campaigns and on bank websites, is that you’ll have “zero liability” for losses if your card is lost or stolen—just like credit cards. Turns out that’s only sort of true. (more…)

(From Science Daily) A national epidemiologic study finds a strong, consistent correlation between adult diabetes and particulate air pollution that persists after adjustment for other risk factors like obesity and ethnicity, report researchers from Children’s Hospital Boston. The relationship was seen even at exposure levels below the current EPA safety limit. (more…)

The following is political activity for Thursday, September 30, 2010, going on in Washington and across the nation. It is courtesy of Scott Wilk, Community Organizer, and Anchor Consulting group. The Beacon will be posting these daily as they become available. (more…)

Happy almost first day of October. We’ve got a splendiferous trail ride ahead, amigos. There’s unwed mothers from whom to protect our youth and we’ll ride on the biggest manhunt in Antelope Valley history. (Photo: Before icon James Dean died in a car crash north of here, he had his last meal in the Santa Clarita.) There’s an oil spill on a golf course and, well. Geez. Slip that left foot in the stirrup, do a little bounce and swing yourself up and into the saddle. I’ll just show you… (more…)

U.S. Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-Calif.), the senior Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, today criticized House Democratic leaders for bringing legislation to the House floor that would weaken the chamber’s position on importing terrorist detainees held at Guantanamo Bay into the United States. (more…)

Another video from local SCV documentarian Nota FerryFan brings up some very interesting questions regarding the City Library takeover. The video description states; “The City of Santa Clarita’s City Council members once again ignore and demonize its citizens during SCV’s September 28, 2010 public hearing. Here are a few highlights. The primary question is: Did our council members violate the Brown Act and were they caught with their pants down? You be the judge.” You can view the entire video here: Circling the Wagons

(From the Signal) The Canyon Country library’s renovation has ceased since the city of Santa Clarita decided to take over operations of it and the two other libraries within city limits, Los Angeles County staff said Wednesday. (more…)

A man in his 30’s is the first to be confirmed with locally acquired flu this year in Los Angeles County. The strain has been identified as Influenza A H3N2, which is circulating throughout the nation according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (more…)

(From the latimes.com) Tony Curtis, whose good looks and acting abilities made him a Hollywood star in movies such as “The Sweet Smell of Success” and “Some Like It Hot,” died at his home in Nevada, ABC News reported Thursday. (more…)

The Music Center of Los Angeles County has extended its deadline for applications in the Performing Arts categories for the 23rd annual Music Center Spotlight Awards. Performing Arts applications must be received online or postmarked by no later than Friday, October 8, 2010. (more…)

Yep, flying off again! One of things that I find really annoying about flying especially on long haul flights to Europe or Asia is the recirculation of the air in the planes cabin. On a 12 hour flight it amounts to flying in a Petri dish and more often than not you wind up get sick. (more…)

Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) Dean Logan reminded Los Angeles County registered voters that they can request Vote by Mail ballots for the upcoming November 2, 2010 General Election beginning Monday, October 4 through Tuesday, October 26. (more…)

On October 2 and 3, 2010, the Santa Clarita Festival of the Arts, sponsored by Lockheed Federal Credit Union, will highlight a spectrum of artistic talent in Old Town Newhall. This exciting two-day festival will be located along Main Street between 9th Street and 5th Street from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The festival will highlight a spectrum of artistic talent in a variety of mediums, focusing on the process of art. (more…)

DiMaggio Washington, General Manager and Wine Educator at All Corked Up Santa Clarita, is offering the only WSET extensive sommelier training in the city and local environs to both beginners and wine aficionados. The world-renowned WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) classes were founded in 1969 to provide high quality education and training in wines and spirits. WSET classes are the foundation for anyone wishing to be a Sommelier. All students will receive a WSET Certification that is recognized worldwide. No wine training or prerequisite education is required before taking WSET. (more…)

(From Science Daily) Patients with triple-negative breast cancer, one of the hardest subtypes to treat, may have a unique biomarker that would enable them to receive more targeted therapy, according to data presented at the Fourth AACR International Conference on Molecular Diagnostics in Cancer Therapeutic Development. (more…)

The following is political activity for Wednesday, September 29, 2010, going on in Washington and across the nation. It is courtesy of Scott Wilk, Community Organizer, and Anchor Consulting group. The Beacon will be posting these daily as they become available. (more…)