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

(From Science Daily) Disasters such as floods, tsunamis, and earthquakes often result in the spread of diseases like gastroenteritis, giardiasis and even cholera because of an immediate shortage of clean drinking water. Now, chemistry researchers at McGill University have taken a key step towards making a cheap, portable, paper-based filter coated with silver nanoparticles to be used in these emergency settings. (more…)

The following is political activity for Friday, February 25, 2011, 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…)

While my kitchen is going on month two of its remodel, it reminded me of the last time my kitchen was in total disarray. It started with my first holiday meal for both sides of my family and 20 pounds of potato skins that for some reason my garbage disposal couldn’t handle. Remember, it was my first big meal. (more…)

Los Angeles County Mayor Michael D. Antonovich described a proposal by 10 city redevelopment agencies to give the state $1.7 billion in return for a 10-year extension of redevelopment projects – loan sharking.  The extension will result in a loss of nearly $30 billion in revenue to counties and school districts throughout the state. (more…)

(From the nytimes.com) For nearly two months, Gov. Jerry Brown has been immersed in a furious effort to win the support of the Legislature for his proposal to close a $26.6 billion budget gap with spending cuts and by asking voters to approve $12 billion in taxes in a special election this June. (more…)

(From the latimes.com) Try as it might, Toyota Motor Corp. can’t seem to put its safety woes behind it. Two weeks ago, the Japanese automaker trumpeted the results of a NASA study that cleared its vehicles of having electronic defects that could cause sudden acceleration. (more…)

The leaders of the House Armed Services Committee and the panel’s Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee today issued a joint statement in response to the Department of Defense’s announcement that it has selected a provider for the KC-X Aerial Refueling Tanker.  The statement, issued by Chairman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-Calif.), Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee Chairman Todd Akin (R-Mo.), and Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee Ranking Member Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.), follows: (more…)

Thanks to the West Ranch Beacon, an additional free property tax seminar has been added to the Santa Clarita Valley for February 25th. The County of Los Angeles is sponsoring seven free seminars during January-June to assist property owners who feel their taxes should be lowered due to a decline in the value of their property. (more…)

An impressive coalition of local elected officials, communities, statewide organizations including the League of California Cities, the California Taxpayers Association and the California Manufacturers & Technology Association and businesses from around the state have joined together to support California’s successful Enterprise Zone Tax Credit program. The Communities to Save Enterprise Zones and the Californians for Jobs and Safe Communities coalitions today released the entire coalition list of more than 300 supporters. (more…)

(From Science Daily) People who speak more than two languages may lower their risk of developing memory problems, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 63rd Annual Meeting in Honolulu April 9 to April 16, 2011. (more…)

The following is political activity for Thursday, February 24, 2011, 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…)

How quickly time goes, saddlepals. Here we are, under the warm glow of The West Ranch Beacon and we’ve plumb run out of Thursdays in February. There won’t be any more until next year. Might I suggest a horse ride back through time to ease the post-modern stress of suburban living? I’ll supply the ponies. You supply the company (although I wouldn’t say no to a good cup of coffee). (more…)

According to a local report; “L.A. County library officials said Wednesday that they plan to set up a temporary facility in Stevenson Ranch where library patrons can order and pick-up books after the city of Santa Clarita takes control of the Canyon Country, Newhall and Valencia libraries later this year.” (more…)

(From the sacbee.com) Freshman Assemblywoman Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, said today that lawmakers need to focus on private-sector job creation “instead of raping our taxpayers.” The comment came under fire from a group that works to prevent domestic and sexual violence. (more…)

In a report that surfaced on a Hollywood gossip site, Charlie Sheen went on a car buying spree spending $790,000 on automobiles in the last 4 weeks. According to the report, “the “Two and a Half Men” star bought a Bentley for an adult film star friend worth $320,000 – including taxes and title for the pricey auto. He also purchased a Porsche Turbo for a different adult film star, costing $150,000.” (more…)