Q: Old Town Newhall is shining bright this holiday season with a new festive look and plenty of Instagram-worthy photo ops. However, due to the COVID restrictions, the official Light Up Main STREET event is canceled. How can people still enjoy the bright holiday atmosphere?
Light Up Main Street is the premier holiday event of the season in Santa Clarita, and sadly, it too has to be skipped this year. However, the joy of thousands of twinkling lights, a giant tree and capturing that magical holiday family photo can still happen in 2020. There may not be an event, but we did go all out on the holiday magic. If you have strolled down Main Street this holiday season, you will notice that the lights are brighter, the tree is grander and the holiday sparkle is everywhere. You can enjoy the festive display on foot or by car. Just make sure to maintain the proper social distancing and when driving, keep an eye out for additional pedestrians. The magic starts after Thanksgiving at the Old Town Newhall Library, where a massive Christmas tree is adorned with more than 3,000 ornaments. The library building itself also shines bright with massive snowflakes illuminating the sides of the building. As you stroll down Main Street, festive lights sparkle from street poles, trees, shrubs and in the form of sparkling structures perfect for capturing that holiday magic moment. A giant lighted arch welcomes guests at Newhall Crossings at the top of Main Street and 8-foot-tall selfie frames will be the spot to snap social media photos at The Old Town Junction and Main and 9th Street. I urge all of you to make the trip to Old Town Newhall to experience Santa Clarita holiday spirit at its finest.

Q: December 15 is a big day for the City of Santa Clarita. What are your thoughts looking back at 33 years of Cityhood?
I know many of our long-time residents can vividly remember the battle to incorporate the City of Santa Clarita. The steps they took led to the largest-ever area in California to become Los Angeles County's 85th city. There is no doubt that Cityhood has transformed Santa Clarita. Locally-generated tax dollars are spent in our community and are used to build our new parks, trails, roads, bridges, sidewalks, transportation amenities and much more. Our focus on neighborhood safety, keeping our community clean, bringing in more jobs and improving local traffic are top priorities every day. With all the success our city has achieved over the past 33 years, there are even more milestones on the horizon. Next year we will officially cut the ribbon on the new Canyon Country Community Center, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station and welcome hockey and ice skaters back to the local ice rink. December 15 marks 33 years of cityhood and I am proud to say, on behalf of the city council and city staff, we are honored to continue the tradition as a responsive local government, working for the benefit of our residents and supporting our business community every day. Happy birthday, Santa Clarita!

Q: The City of Santa Clarita holds a very special honor within
the League of California Cities. Tell us about your award-winning legacy for the Helen Putnam Awards of Excellence?
I am proud to say that the City of Santa Clarita has won 19 Helen Putnam Awards - more than any other city in the state of California. Each year, 12 awards are given to recognize excellence in city programs across the state - which includes more than 480 cities. This year we took home not one but two of the prestigious awards for our College Internship Program and Sammy Clarita. The mission of the College Internship Program is, "To provide high-caliber undergraduate and graduate students with meaningful work-based learning opportunities that expand students' understanding of public service, integrate and diversify the organization and support succession planning efforts." Sammy Clarita took home the award for engaging youth in government as the unofficial city mascot who shares fun facts about Santa Clarita as part of a scavenger hunt. You can learn more about both of these programs at santa-clarita.com.