Valencia Acura 255-3000

Valencia Acura offers Free Green Checkup to Santa Clarita Car Owners
In the latest J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Initial Quality Survey of all new vehicles, Acura ranks second - ahead of Mercedes, Lexus and BMW (Porsche was ranked first). To mark the achievement, Valencia Acura is now offering a free Green Checkup to every local Acura owner as well as to the owners of all other makes and models.

"We want to help raise public awareness of some simple ways to save money on gas and, at the same time, cut greenhouse gas emissions," said co-owner Cheri Fleming. The Green Checkup focuses on the specific things that have the most impact on fuel economy, including oil and air filters, engine performance, tire pressure and emission controls. Even the most fuel-efficient cars can get poor gas mileage if they're not properly driven or maintained. For example, tires that are not inflated properly can reduce fuel economy by 3 percent and a single misfiring spark plug can cut fuel economy by 4 percent.

"This free Green Checkup is the perfect chance to experience the best service department in town," added co-owner Don Fleming. "There are many reasons why we've been voted 'Best Car Dealer in Santa Clarita' for six years in a row, but our expert service technicians are right at the top of the list."; 255-3000

2010 Woman of Honor, Jacquie Petersen

Betty Ferguson Foundation Names Woman of Honor
Betty Ferguson Foundation has selected Jacquie Petersen as their Woman of Honor for 2010. The Woman of Honor dinner will be held at the Hyatt Regency Valencia on Saturday, September 11. The event will feature recognition of Petersen by friends and family, as well as a special tribute to 9/11, plus dinner and dancing. Betty Ferguson Foundation's motto is "Train, Develop, Empower." Sponsorship and donations are currently being solicited for the event; 702-8712
www.bettyferguson.org

Salon Glo Supports Locks of Love
Last month, over 200 SCV women experienced complimentary Rituals and blow dry services at Salon Glo's & Kerastase's "Our Treat" event. Kerastase, along with Salon Glo, supported Locks of Love at this year's event by accepting $10 suggested donations to the organization for the services offered that day. Salon Glo raised $1,725 for the organization. Locks of Love is a not-for-profit organization that provides the highest-quality hair prosthetics to financially-disadvantaged children with medical hair loss; 799-9300 www.got2glo.com

Preferred Glass owner Michelle Mittleman

Preferred Glass owner Michelle Mittelman is proud to announce that her company recently expanded their showroom and office space to better serve their customers. Successfully in business since 1968 and repeatedly voted Best Glass & Window Company in the SCV, they offer a low-price guarantee for all custom glass and mirror needs, as well as showers, windows and doors. Stop by today and check out the new showroom, located at 23032 Soledad Canyon Road (at Bouquet Canyon); 298-2165 www.preferredglassandwindows.com

Mike Quick of AmerisourceBergen and Good Neighbor Pharmacy

Mike Quick of AmerisourceBergen/ Good Neighbor Pharmacy, a member of Western University's Board of Trustees, again served as founder and chief organizer of the eighth-annual GNP/ICP Scholarship Golf Classic. The event, held on June 9 at Robinson Ranch, raises funds to directly support student scholarships (with an emphasis on assisting students who intend to become independent pharmacists) and drew 225 participants. This year, $55,000 was donated to Western University of Health Sciences' College of Pharmacy; $55,000 also went to USC School of Pharmacy. To date, more than $1 million has been given out in scholarships to students at Western University and USC.

Jesse Martinez, Western University's College of Pharmacy vice dean of academic diversity and development, explained how energies to support and encourage students who strive to be community pharmacists is well worth the effort. "Independent pharmacy owners will continue to be needed, as many owners are now reaching retirement age. Our graduates will be ready to not only be the pharmacist in charge, but will have the leadership and management skills to run a pharmacy."

Good Neighbor Pharmacy has three pharmacies in the Santa Clarita Valley: Valencia Pharmacy, Valencia Town Center Pharmacy and Saugus Drugs.

SCV Center for Photography owners Karen and Mel Carll

The SCV Center for Photography Celebrates One-year Anniversary
SCV Center for Photography owners Karen and Mel Carll, award-winning photographers and board members of the local SCV Photographers Association, are proud to announce the one-year anniversary of their business.

The SCV Center for Photography offers photography services like family photos and headshots; product, catalog and website photography; weddings and special events; and corporate services.

But the list of services doesn't stop there. The Center also provides valuable education to the public, as well as essential services to professional photographers. The SCV Center for Photography currently offers state-of-the-art studio space and lighting equipment for photographers, allowing them to shoot locally instead of driving into Hollywood for the same services. The Center offers a private office that is available for rent that allows photographers a quiet place to work, along with a place to meet clients.

Private and group workshops are always available for budding photographers (beginners to advanced) and working pros. Workshops include Beginning and Intermediate DSLR Camera; Beginning to Advanced Photoshop; Landscape Photography; Off-Camera Flash and more. Advanced workshops have included Porsche and Harley shoots; Food Photography; Hollywood-style Lighting; Portrait Lighting and Pin-up Photography; 904-2092 www.scvphotocenter.com

COC's Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) Program 362-3287

Have New Program, Need Students: College to Host MLT Information Meeting
This August, the College of the Canyons Allied Health Division will host an information meeting designed to introduce students and the public to the college's recently approved Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program and the various employment opportunities available in the high-demand medical and biotechnical lab industries. The MLT program will begin offering classes in the fall 2010 semester.

The last in a series of information sessions about the new program will be held at 12 p.m. Saturday, August 7, in Aliso Lab, Room 321, located on the college's Valencia campus. The session is expected to last approximately one hour.

MLT professionals play critical roles in collecting the data and information needed to provide care to patients and/or perform research used in the scientific exploration of many areas throughout the larger medical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

"Currently, as with all health care occupations, there is a shortage of personnel qualified to work in hospital and biotechnical labs," said Sue Albert, dean of Allied Health at the college.

The California Employment Development Department estimates the need for medical and clinical technicians in the healthcare industry will increase by more than 17 percent between 2006 and 2016.

Statistics provided by the United States Department of Labor show that an entry level certified MLT technician in the state of California typically earns a median income of more than $38,000 a year, higher in many locations.

Students who complete the two-year MLT program will receive an associate in science degree in MLT and be eligible to sit for the national certification exam needed in order to receive licensing; 362-3287 www.canyons.edu/departments/MLT