Q: The Fourth of July is always exciting in Santa Clarita, unfortunately things are a bit different this year. What message would you want to send to the community on this patriotic holiday?
Our City is known for its patriotism. You see it in the American flags that proudly line our streets and in the reverence, which is bestowed upon our brave veterans. This time of year, you also see it in the faces of our Hometown Heroes whose courageous faces are displayed on street pole banners throughout the City. These are the active serving military men and women who are currently protecting our nation and the way of life we all enjoy.

During the coronavirus pandemic we have also been honoring our essential workers as heroes. I encourage all of you to keep these heroes in mind as you plan your Fourth of July celebrations. The nurses, doctors, healthcare staff, firefighters and sheriff's deputies have been on the frontlines of the pandemic since March. Please don't add to the immense pressure they are already under by throwing illegal fireworks into the mix. Each year, in the days leading up to and after the Fourth of July, hundreds of people end up in the emergency room with firework related injuries. In addition, fireworks and our beautiful hillsides, which are currently covered with dry brush, are a dangerous and potentially devastating combination.

Q: As our local businesses are slowly reopening, why is it important for people to shop local?
Now, more than ever, it is essential to spend your hard-earned dollars in the community you live in. Our local businesses have been hit hard after months of forced closures. They need your support to stay open and continue to serve our community. There are many benefits to shopping local; it allows for a diverse and unique group of local businesses and bolsters the economic vitality of our City. Dollars spent in Santa Clarita are dollars that can support programs and services that help enrich the community. When we support our local businesses, they, in turn, are able to supply local jobs for Santa Clarita residents, and many times, continue a cycle of support by partnering with school programs and charitable organizations that help make a difference in our Valley.

Q: One thing that we keep hearing from residents, is how thankful they are that our trails and paseos remained open during the Safer at Home orders. Why did the City decide to keep trails open?
Being able to get out, walk and explore our trails offers many benefits to residents. Studies show that walking outside can lower stress, fight depression and anxiety, provide a dose of vitamin D from the sunshine and boosts overall health. With our City's thousands of acres of open space and hundreds of miles of off-street trails, our residents can enjoy these benefits while still being able to practice social distancing. I do want to remind all of our trail users to practice courtesy while hiking. Make sure you move to the right to let others pass, just as you would when driving and always be alert and watch out for other users that might be entering or exiting the trail. For more on our extensive trail system, please visit HikeSantaClarita.com.