American Veterans Traveling Tribute by Frank Alli

Photo by: Frank Alli

        Names of those who have fallen in the Vietnam War, rang out from speakers, as the residents of Santa Clarita paid their respects during a viewing of The Traveling Vietnam Memorial War. The wall is a 3/5 scale of the Vietnam Memorial, which is located in Washington DC. It stands six feet tall at the center and extends almost 300 feet from end to end. 

Photo by: Frank Alli

        Veteran Russell Ferbrache remembers
 what the times were like for veterans returning from Viet Nam. "At the time they weren't given a lot of respect, there were alot of protests and things going on, and I think as the years have gone over, people have started to realize that these guys did offer a service for our country, one way or the other".

   

                

Photo by: Frank Alli

          A solemn Diane Mueller remembers her friend Bruce, who died in the war in 1969. Diane and Bruce had lived in Illinois, and had talked of getting married once Bruce returned home. Diane, who has never married moved to Santa Clarita, after she learned that Bruce had been killed.  "I always have memories of him. I want to do it, I want to sit here, like be with him. I brought him a rose and tomorrow I'm going to come back and I'm going to bring something else, I don't know what yet. It just brings back memories".

The wall will be on display until tomorrow at the Valencia Town Center Mall. 

GOOD SAMARITAN KILLED IN CANYON COUNTRY

Photo by: F. Alli -Canyon Connection

             A single bouquet of flowers marks the spot where an unidentified 30 year old good samaritan lost his life, following an attempted robbery on Monday. According to KABC-7 four teenagers ranging in age from 13 to 16, had arranged to meet a man who was looking to sell a  Nintendo DS game system. The good samaritan witnessed the incident, and when he tried to stop the robbery with a baseball bat, he was shot in the torso. He later died at a nearby hospital. The seller of the video game was also shot, but he is expected to recover from the shooting. 

Photo by: F. Alli -Canyon Connection

            Brenda Paloma who lives nearby at the Park Sierra Apartments, tells The Canyon Connection, "It's scary. When I heard the police cars I put my kids inside. It's not safe here." Paloma who has lived in Canyon Country for about a year, thought that this was a safe area. She has a teenage daughter who attends Golden Valley High School and now worries about living here with her daughter and other  young children. " I worry about my daughter and the other teenagers around her. We will now be moving."

Mining Dispute in Santa Clarita

          S.759 could be Santa Clarita's last chance to resolve a long standing mining dispute with Cemex. If this bill does not pass this fall, Cemex will be allowed to extract nearly 56 million tons of sand and gravel over the next 20 years from Soledad Canyon. Both sides are now working towards an amicable solution to this dispute. 

Santa Clarita Bounces Back

           PKF Hospitality research from January through August of 2011, shows the Santa Clarita Valley has scored a 9.1% increase in occupancy among Los Angeles markets. Santa Clarita also improved their occupancy rate to 82.24%, compared to 78.63% for the same time period last year. 

  A growing regional economy, and two new attractions at Six Flags Magic Mountain, where over 3 million people visit each year, have helped boost Santa Clarita's economic outlook.

 Local businesses benefited from a partnership with several team soccer and aquatic events, in addition to hosting the Amgen Tour of cycling race. Santa Clarita Mayor Marsha Mclean says, "The word is definitely spreading about Santa Clarita as an ideal sporting and lifestyle event destination."

A trip to the circus is an event that we never seem to out grow. It's an experience that we first share with our parents when we are young, and then our children and grandchildren when we are older. The one thing that doesn't seem to change is the magic and excitement that is experienced under the big top.  Hear from circus performers as they share their experiences on what makes the circus a truly timeless source of family entertainment.