Festival of Trees
Saturday, November 15
Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley Hosts Sixth-annual Festival of Trees
Santa will again visit the Hyatt Valencia, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., as guests browse through rows of elaborately-decorated holiday trees designed by the community's finest decorators. Make a stop at Santa's Station to have your picture taken with everyone's favorite elf. Bid on 3- to 4-feet-tall tabletop trees, ranging in theme from traditional to football (USC and UCLA trees are always popular picks!). Shop the Avenue of the Wreaths for exceptionally-unique wreaths, topiaries and centerpieces. Take the kids through Gingerbread Village for the sweetest view of miniature houses in town, and start your holiday shopping at the boutique. All funds raised benefit more than 3,500 local young people at the three Boys & Girls of Santa Clarita Valley Clubhouses. Entrance prices are family friendly: $5 for ages 15 and up; $3 for ages 4 to 13 and seniors; children under 4 are admitted free.

photography by Ted Dayton

Magic of the Lights Gala
Christmas will come early this year - 6 p.m. in the Hyatt Valencia's Grand Ballroom, to be precise. The Gala is the place to start the holiday season; enjoy a magical evening with dinner, dancing, live entertainment and live auction bidding on the perfect tree for your home or office. In the spirit of giving, consider purchasing a tree (including food and gifts) for a local family in need. The club will deliver the Santa-worthy arrival a few weeks before Christmas. Tabletop trees will be available for silent auction bidding, too, and you might also be tempted by something at the upscale boutique, the Avenue of the Wreaths or the Gingerbread Village. Tickets are $200 per person, and sponsorships and volunteer opportunities are available.
For more information on Festival of Trees, contact the Boys and Girls Club's foundation office at 254-3063.

Just for Mom...
Every Friday... Fresh hosts "Fresh" Fridays From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., enjoy free makeovers, wine and snacks. Save 40 percent to 75 percent off select merchandise; 259-4166

Monday, October 13 to Friday, October 31 McKenna & Greene Presents "Causes for Celebration" A three-week fundraiser for Circle of Hope, Carousel Ranch and Henry Mayo Hospital Guild. 15 percent of your purchase will be donated to the charity of your choice in honor of their second anniversary; 296-0935

Sunday, November 16 Chaminade College Preparatory Hosts Open House From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for their middle school; an open house for the high school is scheduled for November 23 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; www.chaminade.org

Friday, November 7 Frontline Community Church Hosts Thirty-One LIVE Starting at 7 p.m., guest speaker is Holly Wagner; 513-0240 frontlinescv.com

Friday, November 7 and Saturday, November 8 Macc Designs Hosts Layne's Legacy's Angel Boutique On Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Raffle Items include fully-decorated holiday trees; 295-7755 www.layneslegacy.org
Saturday, November 8 and Sunday, November 9 Beyond the Fringe Salon Hosts FREE Power Dose and Blow Dry Event See page 15 for details. Schedule your appointment today; 259-1982

Thursday, November 13 Beyond Harmony Starting at 6 p.m., former Estee Lauder makeup artist, Joseph Saenz will discuss custom-blended colors, selecting the best colors to enhance features and tips for holiday looks. Reservations recommended. Free; 298-8008

Family-friendly Fun
Sunday, October 19 The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society "Light the Night" Walk Held at Bridgeport in Valencia, the event is a no-fitness, family-friendly function with no minimum dollar amount to raise. Call 310-846-4723 to register. Candleman of Valencia is supporting the event. To join the Candleman walk team, call
257-9420.

Friday, October 31 Customer Appreciation Night at Mountasia Fun Center For $5 per person, enjoy five hours of five unlimited attractions, plus trick or treating, arts, crafts and a costume contest. Starts at 5 p.m.; 253-4386

Saturday, November 1 Youth of Valencia United Methodist Church Present "Karaoke Killer" Mystery Dinner Theatre Starting at 6 p.m., individuals ($15) and families ($40) will enjoy a great dinner and entertainment; 255-1301

Sunday, November 2 Saugus Swap Meet Hosts Antique Roadshow From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., appraisers will be on site to estimate the value of your "aged" item; 259-3886 www.saugusspeedway.com

Saturday, November 8 Green Thumb International Hosts Santa and Annual Christmas Open House All Christmas merchandise will be on display, including the Department 56 Village collection. Bring the kids for an appearance by Santa Claus from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy refreshments, drawings and special discounts; 259-1072

Babe's Dessert Bar Hosts Birthday Give-away Specials and raffle prizes all day long. Mention this birthday announcement for a delicious treat; 254-4770

Saturday, November 8 and Sunday, November 9 Circle of Hope, Inc. Hosts Holiday Boutique Help uninsured and under insured individuals pay for their breast cancer treatments. Held at His Way Community Church; 254-5218 www.circleofhopeinc.org

Saturday, November 15 Frontline Community Church Hosts VERTICAL Youth Concert Starting at 7 p.m., Divine Attraction performs live; 513-0240 www.frontlinescv.com

Saturday, November 22 COC Hosts Annual Holiday Craft Fair From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., experience an extensive collection of primarily handcrafted items; 362-3521

Help yourself and others...
Friday, November 7 Free Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinic Hosted by COC The City of Santa Clarita, the L.A. Department of Public Health and College of the Canyons, along with the L.A. County Sheriff and Fire Departments, will be conducting a drive-through flu shot clinic. The flu-shot production line will be conducted in the College of the Canyons parking lots adjacent to Valencia Boulevard, with shots being dispensed from 10 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., or as long as the serum lasts.

Thursday, November 20 HMNMH Hosts Holiday Blood Drive Help save a life by donating; it's easy and fast. All blood types are needed and will be used locally. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Henry Mayo/COC Clinical Education Center, 25727 McBean Parkway (hospital campus). Walk-ins welcome; 253-8060

Learn to "Love" Tennis
College of the Canyons Community Education now offers eight-week tennis classes for adults and teens. For $99, Santa Clarita residents can take Cardio Tennis, Basic Tennis (for ages 17 and older), Tennis for Teens (ages 12 to 16) and Youth Tennis (ages 7 to 11) at the college's six new tennis courts that are fully lit and equipped with windscreens; 362-3300 www.canyons.edu/communityed

Third-Annual A.Allbright Painting $7,500 Annual Charity Giveaway Now Underway
As always, the guidelines are simple: just submit stories of families in need who deserve the gift of home renovation. Include the contact information for the family you are nominating, as well as your own. If you have pictures of their home, send them along! The deadline for submission is November 20; www.aallbright.com

Saugus Teen takes the "Cup"-cake
Jayce Webb, 14, won Babe's Dessert Bar Cupcake Contest with her "Jay's Gone Bananas" entry, which featured chocolate-chocolate chip cake stuffed with banana cream, topped with cream cheese frosting and chocolate curls; 254-4770 www.babesdessertbar.com

Tips on Working with a Family Law Firm
by James P. Reape and David E. Rickett
If you listen to the advice of your attorneys and always respond in a timely manner, you may be able to lower your costs and attain better results. This means completing paperwork and providing requested documentation quickly, returning phone calls promptly, and always giving thorough, honest answers to all questions asked. Before you begin working with any law firm, get an agreement that they will: return your phone calls promptly; assign at least two attorneys to your case; provide you with itemized bills on a monthly basis that clearly show what you are paying for; move your case along at a steady pace; contact you in a timely manner whenever an issue comes up that you should know about; have the firm's attorneys collaborate on your case, if necessary.
James P. Reape and David E. Rickett are partners in the The Reape-Rickett Law Firm; 288-1000