SCV "Book Flood" Benefits Five Louisiana Schools

Santa Clarita Valley Realtor Frank Ball is a long way from his hometown of Houma, La. But the 175 students at his alma mater, Dularge Elementary School, have been on his mind lately.

Hurricane Rita pounded the community of Houma, including Dularge Elementary and other local schools. Although students are back in class, they still lack a number of key learning resources. Chief among them: library books.

To restock the shelves, the Santa Clarita Valley Disaster Coalition will launch "The Book Flood," April 24 to 28, to collect 20,000 books for more than 1,300 students at five schools in Houma.

Donated books should be appropriate for Kindergarten through sixth grade readers, in good condition, and relatively up-to-date. The schools especially need fiction, recent non-fiction and classic children's books.

Joining the effort are Sulphur Springs Union School District, Newhall School District, Saugus Union School District and Castaic Union School District. Students in each of the local districts will bring books to their classrooms during the week of "The Book Flood." Books can also be dropped off at the College of the Canyons Library, KHTS AM-1220 Studios, Santa Clarita Senior Center, and the KHTS Booth at Westfield Valencia Town Center.

SCV Food Pantry Seeks Donations

All food and cash donations to the SCV Food Pantry during March and April will count toward a proportional grant from the Feinstein Foundation. Your donation will help with the commitment that no child in the Santa Clarita Valley should go to bed hungry.

The Giveaway divides one million dollars proportionately, up to a maximum of $50,000 per organization, among all agencies that participate in the program. The Food Pantry tracks the donations generated by the Feinstein Challenge.

For information about food donations or volunteering opportunities at the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry, call Belinda Crawford at 255-9078.

City of Santa Clarita Pride Week 2006

This weeklong series of clean ups begins on Friday, April 2 and continues throughout Saturday April 8. Throughout the week, citizens will volunteer to clean up and beautify the community. They simply select a project with the Pride Week volunteer coordinator and the city supplies t-shirts and trash bags - it couldn't be easier!

The week ends with a free household hazardous waste and e-waste collection event sponsored by L.A. County at College of the Canyons on April 8. To volunteer or to obtain further information on Pride Week, call 255-4965.

For more information on Community Clean-up Day or the Household Hazardous Waste Collection event, call 286-4098.

Emergency Preparedness Expo

Visit the Annual Santa Clarita Emergency Expo on Saturday April 22. The free expo, themed "Ease the Risk in 2006," will be held at the Saugus Speedway parking lot from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Guests will enjoy:

• Opportunities to win safety helmets
• Santa Clarita M.A.D.D. (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) crash car exhibit
• Backyard swim safety
• Free finger printing for kids
• National Weather Service Doppler radar demonstration
• First aid demos
• Search and rescue demos
• Visit with Smokey Bear
• "Jaws of Life" demonstrations by LA County Fire
• "Quake Walk"
• Bicycle Safety demonstrations
• Emergency supplies and services
• Campout cooking with the Girl Scouts
• Visit with therapy dogs

There will be an early access hour for special-needs families beginning at 9 a.m. Call the City of Santa Clarita at 255-4965 for more information.