Good morning, Santa Clarita.

On Wednesday, Dec. 17, Vic Kouyoumjian donated three pallets of toys to the SCV Boys & Girls Club James T.

Ventress Clubhouse in Newhall to spark holiday cheer. The shipment includes play sets, Star Wars & Sonic figurines, and mini pinball machines.

Santa Clarita will host Mardi Gras Madness 1K/5K/10K on March 1, 2026—a celebration of health, community, and giving back.

The event now includes a Mini Madness 1K for children (with costumes, medals, and T-shirts) and will support youth programs and community projects.

On December 17, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital employees supported 42 local families by providing gifts and essentials through the annual Helping Families Program run in partnership with Hart school district social workers and Assistant Controller Nahla Hennawy.

Mayor Pro Tem Patsy Ayala announced an outreach on e-bike safety in Santa Clarita that explains legal rules on trails, roads & bike lanes.

Families are reminded that Class 1 and 2 bikes are limited to 20 mph and Class 3 bikes, for riders 16 and older, require helmets.

Valencia Town Center is inviting locals to donate new or gently worn coats at donation bins until Dec.

31 as part of the One Warm Coat campaign. The donated coats will help Bridge to Home support families in need.

Local events include Santa Clarita Ballet's The Nutcracker on Dec.

20 and 21 at the Performing Arts Center (College of the Canyons) and Canyon Theatre Guild's run of A Christmas Story from Dec. 17 to 23; other musical celebrations and opera shows are scheduled throughout the week.

On Tuesday, the Saugus Union School District board chose Matthew Watson as president for 2026 in a 4-1 vote and named Catherine Cooper as clerk.

Anna Griese dissented — she vowed to continue advocating for teachers and parents.

On Tuesday, Dec. 16, the Newhall School Board elected Rachelle Haddoak as 2026 board president.

The board also named Suzan T. Solomon as clerk and Isaiah Talley as clerk pro tem, with Donna Robert and Ernesto Smith joining as board members while setting its meeting schedule for the coming year.

Starting January 1, 2026, Santa Clarita Transit will launch fare capping so riders pay until a daily or weekly cap is met (using the TAP or Token Transit app to track Stored Value automatically).

Valencia leads the Foothill League with an 8-1 record and dominant wins over Castaic and Palm Desert; the Vikings will face Cerritos Friday at 1 p.m. at La Salle Winter Showcase (showing strong midseason form) while other local teams work to climb the standings.