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Drop-in Horseback Riding Lessons
No Appointment, Lots of Fun
When life feels overscheduled, it's good to get out into nature - on your own terms, in your own time. Bonding with a horse, in the fresh mountain air on San Franciscito Canyon Road right off Copperhill in Valencia, might be just the "medicine" your family needs. For only $140 a month, gift your children (Or yourself - there are no age limits!) with a weekly riding lesson at Don E Brook Farms. Lessons are available Monday through Friday at 4:15pm and Saturdays at 8:30am and 10am. You don't need a reservation - just show up to one lesson a week that works with your schedule.
Don E Brook Farms 296-9995



"My only question is: Why didn't we do this sooner? Our daughter Lexi has always loved performing and being in front of a crowd and we decided it was finally time to let her spread her wings and give acting a try. A good friend had referred us to Santa Clarita School of Performing Arts, so one day we picked up the phone and made the call. Mike, the owner, made it so easy. We attended an open house and quickly felt at home as we met other students and staff. When you think about the other options for theatrically-inclined children it wasn't a difficult decision to sign up for an unlimited package so Lexi could attend multiple classes each week.
We were expecting - and Lexi has received - top-notch training from industry professionals at the school in classes such as Commercials, Scene Study, Improv and even Voice Over. What we didn't realize at first was the caliber of agents and managers that visit the school every weekend looking for new talent. Lexi auditioned for three agents the first three weekends she was a student - and got called back by all three! She ultimately signed with a dynamic agent duo and has had great success with securing all types of auditions - commercial, theatrical (TV and film) and even voice over. She booked her first job this fall and we are excited to see what 2018 will bring. Through SCSOPA she also connected with a manager who recently signed her for representation. When we got started we didn't really know what to expect but now we are just so excited to see what the future holds for Lexi. If you are on the fence at all, or even just curious about what Santa Clarita School of Performing Arts has to offer for you or your child, just pick up the phone and give them a call. It might be the best gift you can give your child!" ~The Hoek Family

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Don't Miss "The Music Man"
at The Performing Arts Center
ESCAPE Theatre presents "The Music Man" - and you won't want to miss this high-energy production featuring 315 talented youth and teens, a full orchestra along with 76 Trombones, and fabulous dancing! Performances are held at the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at College of the Canyons. Shows run Friday, January 26 (7pm); Saturday, January 27 (2pm/7pm); Sunday, January 28 (2pm); Friday, February 2 (7pm) and Saturday, February 3 (2pm/7pm). "The Music Man" is a family-friendly show with beautiful music such as; Till There Was You, 76 Trombones, Shipoopi, Gary Indiana, and My White Knight. For more information and ticket sales, call the office to make your reservation, or log onto www.escapetix.info. Don't miss out on this show - or you will have "Trouble, right here in River City!"
ESCAPE Theatre 299-5264

"The Buddy Holly Story" & "The Snow Queen"
This January and February, "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story" comes to the Canyon Theatre Guild in Old Town Newhall! Travel back in time and witness Buddy Holly's iconic rise to stardom, from 1957 when, "That'll Be The Day" hit the airwaves up until his fateful death less than two years later on, "The Day The Music Died."
Featuring over 20 of Buddy Holly's greatest hits performed by a live rock-n-roll band, including "That'll Be The Day," "Peggy Sue," "Every Day" and "Rave On," this show is guaranteed to leave you singing and dancing along in your seats!
After traveling back in time, take a snowy trip to an enchanted land in Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen," also playing in January and February at CTG. This story tells the tale of Gerda, a young girl who goes on a quest to locate her companion, Kai, who is bewitched and enslaved by the Snow Queen.
On her pilgrimage, Gerda meets very interesting but good-hearted characters, people and animals alike, who end up assisting Gerda on her quest to rescue her friend. See the story that inspired Disney's smash hit "Frozen," as well as many other beloved fairytales like "The Chronicles of Narnia."
The Snow Queen is a great show for kids and grandkids, full of adventure and laughter for everyone.
For tickets, or for more information on either one of these shows, contact the box office. 799-2702

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Building Better Teeth Before Birth
Your baby's teeth will not be visible at birth - but they already exist beneath the gums. Children's primary teeth begin forming at about the sixth week of pregnancy and start mineralizing around the third or fourth month of pregnancy. Eating right will go a long way towards developing a healthy smile for your baby. Here's what to think about when it's time to meal prep.
Calcium, a mineral, is the main component of teeth. If there is not enough calcium coming from your diet to support fetal development, your body will actually take this mineral from your bones to meet your developing baby's needs. Phosphorous, another mineral, accounts for the hardness of teeth. It is found in every one of the body's cells, and also in many foods - especially high-protein sources such as meat and milk, but also cereals. Vitamin D helps the body absorb and retain calcium and phosphorous. Very few foods contain it naturally. Oily fish like salmon and tuna are exceptions - that's why it is often added to milk, beverages and food. It is also produced in the body naturally when skin is directly exposed to sunlight. Interestingly, it is the action of a single protein that causes calcium-phosphate crystals to form tooth enamel rather than bone. All proteins are made of amino acids, but some amino acids cannot be manufactured by the body and must come from foods.
If you feel your diet is inadequate in some nutrients during your pregnancy, it's best to seek professional medical advice on what supplements you may need. While it's unlikely you will ever receive too much of any given nutrient from your diet, you can overdo certain vitamins and minerals in pill form (Vitamin D and calcium are good examples.).
Valencia Children's Dental Group 294-1800

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Gymnastics Helps Develop your Child's Cognitive Abilities
Can tumbling, climbing, balancing and bouncing make your child's brain... better? The answer is yes, according to studies that show that learning even very-simple gymnastics routines improve the coordination between the left and right brains of children. Performing a routine necessitates the quick and highly-engaged cooperation of both sides of the brain, which must work in concert with each other for successful execution. This is helpful to your child now - and when their brains are required to "multi-task" in school and on the playground. The spatial and body awareness they develop simultaneously is also a big benefit, making gymnastics a particularly good exercise for your growing child.
Wallers' GymJam Academy 251-3390