One of the most renowned wine producers and winemakers from Bordeaux, Jean-Louis Trocard of Chateau Trocard, will be at the Valencia Wine Company on September 16 from 6 to 9 p.m. to do a very unique event. “We are inviting the community to taste at least 6 wines, and barrel samples from the latest 2009 vintage,” began Guy LeLarge, owner of Valencia Wine Company.  “This is a very promising vintage year!” (more…)

High temperatures are forecasted for Friday and Saturday for the Los Angeles Basin, Lancaster, and the Santa Clarita, San Fernando, and San Gabriel Valleys. The Los Angeles County Health Officer would like to remind everyone that precautions should be taken, especially by those people sensitive to the heat. (more…)

Top of this odd September morning, saddlepals. Sure has been an unusual summer- colder than Pluto, hotter than Mercury then a crisp end of August. Feeling more like end of October than the dog days of summer. We’ve got a most interesting trail ride through time ahead. There’s earthquakes and world-famous bird-watchers, grisly human finds and carhopping mountain lions. It was 48 years ago when Melody Ranch burned to the ground and this is the anniversary of when Bill Hart donated the American Theater. (Photo: My dear buddy, Fred Trueblood MVIX or whatever Roman numeral follows his name — his dad and newspaper editor Fred Trueblood MVVIII (estimated) shot this photo of the main street of Melody Ranch burning to the ground in 1962.) (more…)

(From The Signal) As state officials decide whether to expand Santa Clarita’s enterprise zone to cover businesses in unincorporated areas of the Santa Clarita Valley, county supervisors say California’s largest business-incentive program should be made even bigger. (more…)

Deputies responded to a burglary call at the Christ Lutheran Church. While they were responding to the call for service, they received an update that a witness was detaining a possible suspect. The deputies arrived to find the witness detaining the suspect on the ground. (more…)

(My nephew-like substance Coastal Eddie is now a grown man and college graduate. He wrote me the other week, stating he wanted to be a writer. Part of me would like to talk him out of it. Part of me wishes him many home runs and ten thousand rowdy cheers. I wrote this essay 11 years ago, when Eduardo was but 12 years ago and still possessed a fetching speech mannerism akin to Elmer Fudd’s insights while stalking wabbits. Eddie is in Colorado right now, selling cigarettes on Indian reservations. Well cripes. Someone has to smoke them.) (Photo: Last known photo of my nephew-like substance, Coastal Eddie?)
“The highlight of my childhood was making my brother laugh so hard, food came through his nose.”- Garrison Keillor (more…)

The City of Santa Clarita is sponsoring its third annual Food Drive, benefitting the SCV Food Pantry. During the entire month of September, Santa Clarita residents are invited to drop off non-perishable food items to designated locations across the City to be donated directly to the SCV Food Pantry. (more…)

Do you love Krispy Kreme Doughnuts?  Do you wish you didn’t have to drive so far to get them?  You can get them right here in Santa Clarita, Friday, September 10th! (more…)

August 31, 2010, marks nine years since Deputy Hagop “Jake” Kuredjian paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving and protecting the residents of the Santa Clarita Valley.  Jake was shot and killed in the line of duty while assisting the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms during the service of a search warrant on Friday, August 31, 2001, in Stevenson Ranch. He was 40 years old. (more…)

The Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station recently developed and implemented a new system for tracking crime tips.  Analysis of the first 30 days of the new crime tip tracking and investigation system has shown that the new program is working effectively and generating results. Since implementation of the new crime tip program, 46 tips have been received and seven arrests have been made. 24 tips have been reviewed and closed, and 16 tips are actively being worked. The process is automated, provides a follow-up and accountability system, assigns specific sheriff’s personnel to each crime tip, and requires that tips are resolved in a timely manner. (more…)

With little rainfall and hot and dry summer months, the valley must carefully manage limited water supplies. So throughout the year, Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA) is asking all customers to rethink water consumption and to reduce water usage by 10 percent. Here are the top 10 easy ways you can conserve: (more…)

Our community is made up of a very diverse group of residents whose opinions are just as diverse. It is imperative that those individuals that wish to air their opinions and view points be allowed to do so without censorship, restriction or constraint. If not then we all jeopardize our freedoms! Amendment 1 of the U.S. Constitution states; “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Recently The Signal refused to publish, without reason or explanation, a guest commentary by local community activist Roger Gitlin; thereby attempting to squash his freedom of speech. He then distributed his commentary via email to his network of friends and a copy of that email was forwarded on to The Beacon. We contacted Roger to discuss the situation and ultimately agreed that his guest commentary would be published here on The West Ranch Beacon. (more…)

For the last several months I have sat back and watched the proposed City of Santa Clarita takeover of the local County Libraries unfold. The outcome was predictable from the first whiff that the City was eyeing the libraries and even before then with the controversy over the design of the new library slated for Newhall. This was a done deal from the moment it was couched. (more…)

Here is a terrific video by Nota FerryFan that showcases the good local residents speaking out against the City takeover of the County libraries. Nota FerryFan describes the video with this caption; “During the public hearing of 8.24.10, Santa Clarita’s City Council members voted 4 to 1 to take control of the county’s 3 libraries in SCV. This video contains various highlights of that public hearing.” To view the entire video click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUAacVuDz9U

Brad Roen, owner of the first wine bar/restaurant in Santa Clarita, talks to Beaconeers. 1. Brad Roen, that’s a name some people in this valley should remember. How did you put SCV on the (wine) map? In the late 90′s I opened a restaurant in Valencia called “Valencia Grille”. At the time I was building the place I really was not that into wine. But when I applied for my first alcohol license, I found the price to be outrageous and ended up with the lesser “Beer & Wine” permit. That was the start of my affair with wine. Thanks to some wonderful wine rep’s, who really took time teaching me the ropes, I became a wine lover. (more…)

Saddlepals and saddlepal-ettes, we’ve got a marvelous ride through SCV history this West Ranch Beacon morning, chock full of atomic bullets being tested at old Bermite and something called, “Female Weakness.” We’ve got the Black Plague, the valley’s only known communist, mountain lions and the very first traffic accident on old Highway 99. This one’s a fun ride. Don’t forget to take off them rawhide gloves to wipe the smiles from your faces….. (more…)

The Santa Clarita Chapter of the California Republican Assembly is proud to announce for their Guest Speaker at the Thursday, August 26, 2010 meeting is Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich. The meeting is from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at the IHOP Restaurant located at 24737 Pico Canyon Rd in Stevenson Ranch. There is a no Host Dinner available at: $13.00 members and $15.00 for non-members. Those interested in attending this informative meeting should RSVP to: Michael Hildebrand at Phone: (661) 373-9387 or E-mail: CRAreservations@scvgop.org  Be sure to visit the SCV GOP website at www.scvgop.org for more information on current events.

The Hart Museum’s mansion will be closed during the month of September for renovations to the original historic home. Please visit the Hart Ranch House to view the Hart Collection on exhibit. The Ranch House will be open for the museum’s regular hours of operation. For current schedule and more information visit www.hartmuseum.org or call (661) 254-4584.