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  • A new book highlights Santa Clarita’s first black trailblazers

    A new book highlights Santa Clarita’s first black trailblazers

    Every city is built by people who want to get involved. Telling their story, let alone preserving it. And that can be a lot of work.  

    Do you know the name of the first black man elected to public office, planning commissioner and one of Santa Clarita’s city founders?

    “We need a street sign for Louis E. Brathwaite. Yes, we do. Why don’t we have one?” said Gloria Locke.

    Activist, journalist and artist Gloria Locke was perhaps the right person tenacious enough to make it happen.  In 2025, the city of Santa Clarita honored the legacy of Mr. Brathwaite by dedicating a street in his name.

    Locke set out on a mission to discover and document many of the accomplished African Americans who were making a historic mark on their city.

    “In 2016, I had a list of people who were like trailblazers. I didn’t know it was trailblazing at the time, but I was like, wow, this is fascinating. and then all of a sudden, I found out that Louis Brathwaite was a founding father, mind-blowing,” said Locke.

    Trail Blazers like Jim Ventress, who worked closely with Brathwaite, mentored children for over 30 years as CEO of Santa Clarita’s Boys and Girls Club, have a building named in their honor. 

    “This building right here,” said Ventress, pointing to the Boys and Girls Club building behind him.

    First and Famous Black Trailblazers of Santa Clarita, a newly released book authored and illustrated by Locke, is a compilation of their historic contributions.

    “What it means in our country, especially now, this book is really critical. We need to make sure that we get this book and all of our libraries in the Hart district,” said Dr. Cherise Moore, a William S Hart District Board Member.

    Also recognized is Austin Dave College of the Canyons, Visual and Performing Arts staff, an award-winning journalist and a former video News Chief for the city’s largest newspaper.

    “What we have here is our walk of fame. It’s our book, and it’s our lineage,” said Selena Thomas, CEO of Six Degrees HR Consulting.

    Locke says she will continue her work as an advocate for history.

     “This is how we’re going to do it, by documenting things and not letting things just be erased or pretend they didn’t happen,” said Locke.

    “Oh no, there are a lot of people like me out there. They’re going to say this is what happened.”

    Because of Trailblazers like Louis E. Brathwaite, the author reminds us that recording historical contributions is not only a privilege but also a responsibility to inspire future generations. 

  • College of the Canyons works to connect Job Seekers with employers

    College of the Canyons works to connect Job Seekers with employers

    Many employers set up here at College of the Canyons, offering open positions in education, healthcare, business and more. 

    This is a valuable opportunity for many current college and postgraduate students to step into a competitive job market. 

    COC students are always encouraged to attend, but this is also a space for all of Santa Clarita who are looking for a job. 

    It’s not easy, especially for postgraduates who find it difficult to secure jobs in the fields they studied, but there is always a start.

    “I know it’s a little bit difficult, we encourage them to continue to seek any guidance or continue to submit their applications or resumes,” said Rubi Olmos, an office assistant for the Valencia Community Center.

    “Definitely getting the experience. I know that a lot of the jobs require that so if it’s volunteering or you know, job shadowing, or just making sure that they’re getting the right guidance to get their foot into the door.”

    According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2025, California had the second-highest unemployment rate in the country, reaching 5.5%, and by this year, of January, it had dropped to 5.4% 

    The City of Santa Clarita also made an appearance, looking for new hires, and many stopped by their table to talk with employers, ask questions and upload their resumes if interested. 

    Building up your experience is what most employers look for, but the City has a special program for new hires who don’t have much experience, so they can work their way up. 

    “We definitely do have job entry levels that also, and we do encourage them to apply for those,” said Olmos.

    “I started as a part-time staff, that eventually my staff and my supervisors kind of guide you into the right direction.”

    While the challenges of competing in the job market are ongoing, this job fair is a great step on the long journey toward the success individuals want for themselves. 

    “I just tell everyone, even when it comes to applying, just put out as much information as possible,” said Olmos.

    “Be very thorough with the information you are providing. That’s the first step that everyone looks at when they’re hiring and looking to bring someone on board.”

  • Santa Clarita volunteers collaborate for city cleanup

    Santa Clarita volunteers collaborate for city cleanup

    Santa Clarita’s Neighborhood Clean Up aimed to enhance environmental sustainability. Community members volunteered in order to help keep the city clean.

    “The overall goal is just to be aware of our surroundings and keep our community clean,” said Angelica Wasowicz, Project Technician for the City of Santa Clarita.

    “It’s also April, which is Earth Day month and Arbor Day month, so it’s a day to just really take a look at our environment and our earth to keep it clean.”

    Residents registered online to arrive at drop-off locations to receive items that encouraged them to pick up litter across the city, helping create a cleaner community. 

    “The neighborhood clean-up event is a project where community members can drive through and pick up clean-up supplies like bags, gloves and then information about Green Santa Clarita,” said Haley Lawton, Environmental Services Administrative Analyst for the City of Santa Clarita.

    “The goal is for community members to go out into their neighborhoods, into bike trails, wherever they want in the community, where they can pick up trash, and then they can clean up and help make a difference in the community.”

    Proper waste disposal makes a huge impact on our community. It not only beautifies our city but also reduces pollution. 

    “We recommend folks to…walk around through the paseos or through local parks, just pick up trash,” said Wasowicz.

    “I know it’s hard to pick up other people’s trash, but at the end of the day, this is all our community, so it helps everybody to keep our neighborhoods clean.”

    As a Clean California Community, the city of Santa Clarita works hard to actively prevent litter and to raise awareness about environmental harm. 

    “You’re helping our community stay clean, Santa Clarita stay clean, but you’re also helping the world stay clean, and everybody doing their part can make such a big difference,” said Lawton.

    Cleaning the earth doesn’t need to happen just one day; it can be done every single day to help create a cleaner SCV.

  • Wildlife officials warn of deadly rattlesnake encounters

    Wildlife officials warn of deadly rattlesnake encounters

    As temperatures climb across Santa Clarita, the likelihood of encountering a rattlesnake increases, especially along local trails and in residential areas. 

    “We got a lot hotter, quicker this year, so they came out earlier,” said Cary Quashan, professional snake handler.

    Experts say a warmer start to the year, combined with an increase in rodents, is bringing snakes out earlier and closer to people and other animals. 

    “If I showed any fear and actually acted crazy, these snakes might be a little bit more worried and bite me,” said Quashan.

    Knowing how to react in a moment like this, and whether the snake is safe or dangerous, can make the difference between a close call and a serious injury. 

    “I know these guys are not aggressive. He’s not going to attack me unless he absolutely has to,” said Quashan.

    Still, Quashan warns most bites happen when people get too close, often without realizing it.

     “A lot of reasons why people get bitten is with their gardening. They reach and grab one by accident or step on one. Then they feel afraid,” said Quashan.

    While snakes typically avoid humans, they will strike if they feel threatened. In Santa Clarita, however, the only snake that can poison or even kill you is the Southern Pacific rattlesnake. 

    “Keep your hand below your heart and call 911 immediately and get to the hospital ASAP,” said Quashan. 

    Officials say the best way to stay safe is to keep your distance and leave any snake encounter to professionals.

  • Puppy Bloom offered free adoptions to help animals find permanent homes

    Puppy Bloom offered free adoptions to help animals find permanent homes

    With dozens of dogs still up for adoption, the Santa Clarita Valley Animal Care Center hosted its “Puppy Bloom” event, where adoption fees are waived to encourage more people to take pets home.

    “With what you’re getting, you’re getting a spattered, neutered animal, micro chipped, vaccinated, licensed – all of that,” said Kelsey Tarleton, a Volunteer Coordinator.

    “But times are hard and if we can least help reduce that cost even more to help that incentive of getting people in adopt, so that they have more money to spend on the supplies that they’re going to need. Just any way we can try to help.”

    With shelters often facing overcrowding, events like this aim to remove financial barriers and increase the number of successful adoptions.

    “Adopting is the most important thing you can do. We constantly have something coming in; there’s something new every day,” said Tarleton.

    “Finding a shelter or a care center is the best option.”

    Organizers say that while free adoptions can attract more potential pet owners, the goal is to ensure every animal is placed in a safe, permanent home.

    “I mean, space in the home, maybe the behaviors of the animal. You need something that can fit with your lifestyle and your family,” said Tarleton.

    “You never know what you’re going to find here, and we can find something to fit that.”

    Organizers say that for those not ready to adopt, fostering or volunteering can also make a difference in helping shelter animals find a second chance.

  • Santa Clarita restaurant fights for survival amid fire and rising costs

    Santa Clarita restaurant fights for survival amid fire and rising costs

    Tucked into the corner of a small shopping center off Tournament Rd., Nealies Skillet has been serving a homestyle mix of Mexican and American comfort food to Santa Clarita residents for 10 years.

    But lately, the business says they’ve become almost invisible.

    Small businesses across Santa Clarita continue to rebuild and reconnect with customers. One local restaurant says many people don’t even realize they’re still open, all because of a nearby fire.

    Neal says the slowdown has been tough. Slow down from customers thinking the building was burned down, and the cost of food.

    But he is determined to keep going one plate at a time.

    And while the fire may have cast a shadow over this corner plaza, Nealies Skillet continues to serve the community providing that even small businesses can rise from big setbacks, especially with the support of the beloved community.

  • Erik Matheson takes the helm of the COC Swim and Dive Team

    Erik Matheson takes the helm of the COC Swim and Dive Team

    For the COC Swim and Dive team It has been more than just competing in another season. 

    It’s a shift in leadership, with a first-year head coach taking the reins. 

    Head coach Erik Matheson has stepped on deck to lead the Cougars this season, finding his rhythm with all seven of his competitors.

    “I think we’ve been doing great,” said Matheson.

    “Coming in, it’s kind of bringing the team back together again. It’s been a little bit all over the place the last couple of years. New coach coming in also throws a twist on it,” said Matheson.

    For the new voice, it’s a brand-new change of scenery at College of the Canyons. He served as the women’s swim and dive associate coach at Loyola Marymount University for three years.

    “There’s the experience of swimming, from the athletes themselves. You had swimmers who have been swimming for their whole lives, and their goal was to make it on the NCAA team,” said Matheson. 

    But the coach has never shied away from inspiring his squad, as he said the sport gave him a way to feel his best and his athletes a way to stay balanced. 

    “You know, there’s the healthy lifestyle, just physically, your physical health and all that, just exercising, how to go about exercising,” said Matheson.

    “That’s one thing I try to instill in them.”

    “To me, that’s a big thing nowadays, as far as how do you balance all these? I mean, the regimen of a student athlete is a lot.”

    For Coach Matheson’s roster of six swimmers and just one diver. They say the sense of unity runs deep beneath the surface. 

    “I feel very included with my team, we’re ride or die for each other,” said Nicole Lerma, the swim team’s only diver.

    “We’re here for each other when we’re having low days. And the excitement that we all bring is powerful.”

    “It’s not the same as when I went to high school and had like 50 kids on a team,” said Bretton Williams, COC Free and Dive swimmer.

    “I feel like it’s more fun because we’re there are so little of us that we’re just getting so close to each other.”

  • College of the Canyons helps meet demand for athletic trainers and boosts athlete health

    College of the Canyons helps meet demand for athletic trainers and boosts athlete health

    At College of the Canyons, sports medicine plays a critical role behind the scenes, supporting athletes through injury prevention, treatment, and recovery so they can safely compete.

    As awareness around athlete health continues to grow, so does the need for trained professionals, making sports medicine an increasingly important part of athletics at every level.

    “Our job is to keep them healthy and to work on those problems that they’ve never known they’ve had,” said Erick Buitrago, a COC Athletic Trainer.

    “We try to correct those issues that they have to make them better athletes so that you can keep them healthy longer.”

    “With us being a community college, we’re a stepping stone for them going to the four-year level,” said Buitrago.

    That focus on long-term health goes beyond treating injuries in the moment, addressing underlying issues that can impact an athlete’s performance over time.

    And as the field expands into more settings, from schools to professional sports and rehabilitation clinics, the role of athletic trainers continues to evolve.

    “I think because a lot of doors have opened in different settings, especially for athletic trainers, people are just more educated on what athletic trainers actually do, although it never ends, you know, we’re always telling people or teaching people what we educate people on what we do, but it’s definitely grown,” said Buitrago.

    At COC, three athletic trainers work directly with student-athletes while also helping bridge the gap between education and real-world experiences.

    The program also serves as a clinical site for CSUN’s Master of Athletic Training program, giving graduate students the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in a fast-paced, hands-on environment.

    “I’ve learned to become more confident, which is really nice. Erick, Patty, and I, who are the athletic trainers here, do a really good job of teaching me and letting me be on my own,” said Keili Butler, a COC Athletic Training Student.

    “But also being there in case I don’t know what I’m doing, ‘cause I’m still a student, so obviously I want to learn but in an environment that’s safe for me.”

    With growing demand and expanding opportunities, sports medicine is becoming essential to modern athletics and programs like this are helping ensure athletes stay healthy, competitive, and ready to perform.

  • COC track and field sets three records against four-year competition at Cal State Fullerton

    COC track and field sets three records against four-year competition at Cal State Fullerton

    College of the Canyons Track and Field competed against mostly four-year programs last month, setting three new school records at the meets hosted by Cal State Fullerton. 

    Despite being one of only a few community college programs in the field, the Cougars held their own, combining for 16 top-25 finishes across 12 events.

    Sprinters Thurlee Bowers, Antonio Moore, and Hazel Rhodes all played key roles in the record-breaking performances 

    Rhodes turned heads in the 400 meters, winning the event with a school-record time of 53.99 the fastest among community college runners this season. 

    Hazel says the moment didn’t fully hit her until the race

     “I realize how special this race was after because I remember crossing the finish line and I was like ‘WOW’,” said Rhodes.

    “That felt amazing, and then I turned to my coach, and my teammates are running to me, and they’re like ‘Oh My Gosh, Hazel,’ they’re telling me the time I ran.”

    “I was just shocked and just blown away and just beyond grateful for being to compete with the competitors that I had and the training that I’ve done to build up to that moment,” said Rhodes.

    Moore also made history, setting a school record in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.48, finishing fifth against four-year competition. 

    Bowers added to the success, finishing ninth overall in the 100 meters while ranking first among community college runners with a time of 10.65

    “My first race in the season I had went 10.9 and that was already a big PR from what I had ran last season,” said Bowers.

     “That just told me the workouts that the coaches were giving me, the diet change, and the stretching have really been paying off.”

    “Shout out to my coaches.”

    For Bowers, that improvement comes from trusting the process from training to recovery.

    With strong performances against four-year competition, the Cougars are proving they can compete at the next level.

  • College of the Canyons basketball coaches lead local youth programs to inspire the next generation

    College of the Canyons basketball coaches lead local youth programs to inspire the next generation

    Hard work, determination, and fun. These are just three of many words that portray youth athletics here in the Santa Clarita Valley. 

    Here at College of the Canyons, we have some of our very own making a contribution towards our future generations. 

    The COC’s men’s assistant basketball coaches, Alan Woskanian and Brian Kimble, have made an impact on youth basketball by running their own programs outside their college roles. 

    Coach Alan is beloved by all his players and has made a significant difference in his community. 

    Basketball has given these young ballers a way to grow and learn with some of their closest friends and teammates through the experiences and teachings from coach Alan

    “Coach really puts pressure on me, and he’s really wanting me to do well, so that really helps,” said Aaron Shaw, a youth basketball player.

    “These kids, it’s just all love, they love being in here,” said Woskanian, discussing important mentors who are for future hoopers.

    “I could literally start practice and not say a word, and they’ll just keep playing, and they don’t even care if practice starts, they just want to be in a gym and play.”

    Brian Kimble has made his mark throughout the Santa Clarita Valley, coaching basketball at COC and Hart High School, and running his own program, called the Playmakers. 

    Being from right here in the Santa Clarita Valley, Kimble understands how much it means to give back to the place where his career began.

    “Personally, it means a lot because I was in their shoes at one point and I needed a mentor or trainer or coach to teach me the way and show me the ropes, so it means a lot to be able to help them,” said Kimble.

    Youth basketball has brought kids from all over the Santa Carita Valley together for the last several decades, and these two men have done their part to make the sport a bright spot in these young athletes’ lives.