MB2 Entertainment will host a fundraiser on Friday, Sept. 18 benefiting businesses affected by the fire that tore through Main Street in Old Town Newhall on Monday, Aug. 24.

The fundraiser will be held 6-11 p.m. at MB2 Entertainment, 21516 Golden Triangle Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.

Tickets will be $50 per person at the door, with all proceeds going to Source Inc., Care Tucker, Newhall Refinery and El Trocadero.

Admission includes live band Barnstorm performing, a pizza, salad station and appetizers, two hours of limited attractions and two hours of unlimited arcade. Food and drinks will also be included.

Six Flags Magic Mountain has announced that Thrill Glider, a first-of-its-kind roller coaster, will debut at the Valencia theme park in 2027.

Created exclusively for Magic Mountain, the attraction combines flying, motorbike and suspended coaster technologies to establish an entirely new roller coaster category: the Thrillglider.

It will combine the freedom of flight with the intensity of a multi-launch thrill coaster, delivering an experience unlike anything guests have ever ridden.

Developed by world-renowned coaster manufacturer Vekoma for Six Flags Magic Mountain, Thrill Glider riders will board hovercycles, flying-bike vehicles, and assume a prone, face-forward position suspended beneath the track. The custom-designed, terrain-following layout encompasses 20 unique track elements and packs an action-filled 80 seconds into a dynamic aerial adventure.

Guests will launch multiple times to speeds reaching 50 mph, encounter 12 airtime moments, soar through five unique inversions (wing-over, zero-g roll, overbanked stall turn, barrel roll and upward barrel roll) and race through a dramatic station fly-by as they traverse nearly 3.5 acres.

Enhanced by synchronized onboard audio and immersive lighting effects, every moment is designed to amplify the sensation of speed, flight and freedom.

Upon opening, Thrill Glider will set a collection of records, including:

World’s First Thrillglider

World’s First Multi-Launch Thrillglider

World’s Longest Thrillglider – 3,380 feet, which is more than half a mile

World’s Fastest Thrillglider – 50 mph

World’s Tallest Thrillglider – 107 feet

Most Inversions on a Thrillglider – 5

Thrill Glider will immerse visitors in the world of QuantumPulse Propulsion Systems, a visionary technology company led by inventor and entrepreneur Rebecca Silva.

The journey begins long before takeoff in “The Futurist Pavilion,” a sleek showcase facility filled with dynamic displays, holographic presentations and scientific exhibits detailing the company’s discovery of PSR B417, a powerful new energy source with the potential to transform tomorrow.

As riders make their way through the queue, they catch glimpses of towering hexagonal collectors embedded into the hillside, harvesting energy from distant pulsars in space.

Upon entering the load station, illuminated blue energy lines, aerodynamic architecture and pulsing atmospheric audio build anticipation as riders prepare to board QuantumPulse’s latest breakthrough.

Once launched, the power of PSR B417 will be felt firsthand as the vehicles soar above the landscape through sweeping maneuvers, sudden dives and weightless moments that simulate piloting a high-speed hovercycle powered by tomorrow’s technology.

lending engaging storytelling, futuristic design and advanced coaster technology, Thrill Glider delivers a one-of-a-kind adventure that transports guests into an optimistic vision of the future.

“Thrill Glider is more than a new attraction. It is the latest milestone in Six Flags Magic Mountain’s renaissance and a reflection of the park’s enduring role as an industry innovator,” said Brian Oerding, park president of Six Flags Magic Mountain. “With a decades-long reputation for introducing record-breaking attractions and genre-defining rides, Magic Mountain is uniquely positioned to pioneer an entirely new coaster category and bring Thrill Glider to life.”

At Magic Mountain, excitement isn’t defined by a single measurement. For some guests, that means chasing record-breaking speeds and inversions. For others, it’s the feeling of soaring through the air, experiencing weightlessness for the first time or sharing an unforgettable ride with family and friends.

As the park continues to evolve, it is introducing attractions that appeal to a wider range of guests while maintaining its reputation as the Thrill Capital of the World.

Thrill Glider represents that vision, delivering a new kind of excitement that makes the sensation of flight accessible to more riders than ever before.

With a minimum height requirement of just 48 inches, Thrill Glider will be open to a broad range of thrill seekers, from families and first-time coaster riders to dedicated enthusiasts.

Thrill Glider will be located on the former site of the Golden Bear Theatre between Full Throttle and LEX LUTHOR: Drop of Doom and adjacent to the recently reimagined Looney Tunes Land.

The ride is already under construction and is scheduled to open in 2027. Additional details and opening information will be announced at a later date.

Guests can lock in their seat to be one of the first to ride Thrill Glider with a 2027 Season Pass, available now. The lowest price of the season was recently extended and is available through Sept. 13, allowing unlimited flights in 2027, as well as park access for the remainder of 2026.

Guests can begin the countdown today and watch as Thrill Glider takes shape while also enjoying this year’s Fright Fest, Tricks and Treats and Holiday in the Park seasonal celebrations.

Passholders also receive regional access to multiple parks across the West Coast, including Knott’s Berry Farm featuring the newly opened MonteZOOMa: The Forbidden Fortress and the park’s Halloween celebrations, Knott’s Scary Farm.

For more information on 2027 Season Passes or to plan your visit to Magic Mountain, visit sixflags.com/magicmountain.

Six Flags Magic Mountain, known as the Thrill Capital of the World, is home to world-class roller coasters including icons such as Twisted Colossus, Tatsu, Goliath and Full Throttle. Thrill seekers of all ages can enjoy various events and entertainment plus over 100 games and attractions. 

For more information, visit sixflags.com/magicmountain or follow on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X, YouTube and LinkedIn. #ThrillCapitaloftheWorld.

                                                                   Contact: Ilyana Capellan

                                                                                                    (661) 741-3053

SHOW UP FOR OLD TOWN NEWHALL
Final SENSES Block Party of the Season to Honor Businesses Lost in Old Town Newhall Fire

The City of Santa Clarita invites residents to show up for Old Town Newhall and support ongoing fire recovery efforts at SENSES Block Party on Thursday, September 17, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. on Main Street. The event will bring the community together following the devastating fire that destroyed beloved Old Town Newhall businesses.

On the morning of Monday, August 24, a devastating fire engulfed several structures in Old Town Newhall, including Newhall Refinery, Care Tucker Style House and The MAIN. The loss extends far beyond the buildings themselves, deeply impacting the business owners, employees, artists and community members who brought these spaces to life. Now, the community is coming together to Show Up for Old Town Newhall.

Show Up for Old Town Newhall during this special SENSES Block Party and support the businesses, employees and artists affected by the recent fire. SENSES will extend further down Main Street to Hart & Main, creating additional opportunities for the community to come together. A Community Art Wall near the site of the fire will invite guests to color illustrations honoring the impacted businesses and leave messages of support. An outdoor silent auction will also be open to everyone attending SENSES, with donated baskets and artwork benefiting those affected by the fire. Guests can continue showing up for Old Town Newhall at Love on Main, a separate ticketed event taking place at Hart & Main during SENSES. The benefit will feature live music, food and drinks, with proceeds supporting members of the Old Town Newhall community impacted by the fire. Tickets are required for Love on Main and can be purchased through Eventbrite.

The evening will continue with SENSES Oktoberfest-themed entertainment and activities throughout Main Street. Dance to live music from Die Sauerkrauts, admire a lineup of classic Volkswagen cars or test your skills with barrel racing, barrel bowling, carnival games and a stein-holding competition. Guests can also create pretzel necklaces, enjoy savory bites from FryDay and grab a sweet treat from LA Donut. Old Town Junction will serve drinks at the on-street bar throughout the evening.

The City is also excited to expand its Open Rewards program to Old Town Newhall, giving residents another way to support local businesses beyond SENSES. Open Rewards is a free cashback program available at participating businesses, allowing customers to earn 5% cash back on eligible purchases. Getting started is simple – download the Open Rewards app, create a free account and securely link a credit or debit card to automatically earn cash back when shopping at participating businesses. Residents who prefer not to link a card can still participate by uploading eligible receipts through the app. For more information about the Open Rewards program, visit ThinkSantaClarita.com/Open-Rewards.

So, come out and Show Up for Old Town Newhall on Thursday, September 17, 2026. For more information, visit OldTownNewhall.com.

                                                                 Contact: Joe Redmond

                                                                                                           (661) 286-4063

GROW YOUR BUSINESS WITH GOOGLE AND AI
Free Workshop Helps Local Businesses Put AI-Powered Tools to Work

The City of Santa Clarita invites local business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals to discover practical ways to use artificial intelligence during the free Grow with Google: Make AI Work for Your Business workshop on Tuesday, September 22, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Canyon Country Community Center (18410 Sierra Highway) in the Grand Room.

Designed to help businesses make the most of today’s digital tools, the workshop will explore how AI-powered Google resources can help save time, connect with customers and support business growth. Participants will learn practical strategies they can begin applying to their businesses right away.

Whether you own an established local business, are building a new one or simply want to strengthen your digital skills, this free workshop provides an opportunity to learn how emerging technology can support your goals and help your business thrive.

To register, please visit City.SC/GrowWithGoogleSeminar. For more information, contact the Economic Development office at EconDevInfo@santaclarita.gov or by phone at (661) 255-4347.

When legal documents need to be served, choosing the right process server can make an important difference. Attorneys, law firms, businesses, landlords and individuals throughout Santa Clarita and Valencia rely on professional process servers to properly deliver legal documents and provide clear documentation of each service attempt.

The Process Server Agency, LLC is a locally based process serving company serving the Santa Clarita Valley and surrounding communities. We handle a wide variety of legal documents, including subpoenas, summons and complaints, small claims documents, family law documents, restraining orders, eviction notices and other civil process.

Serving legal documents involves more than simply going to an address and knocking on a door.

Accurate documentation can be especially important when questions arise about when or where an attempt occurred. At The Process Server Agency, our service attempts include GPS, date and time-stamped photographic documentation, providing clients with additional information regarding each attempt.

We also provide detailed status updates so clients know what is happening with their assignment rather than being left wondering whether an attempt has been made.

Local Knowledge Can Make a Difference

Working with a process server familiar with Santa Clarita, Valencia and the surrounding area can provide an advantage.

Knowledge of local neighborhoods, gated communities, apartment complexes, businesses and traffic patterns can help a process server plan attempts more efficiently and determine appropriate times to attempt service.

Our standard service generally includes up to three attempts, with attempts made at varying times when appropriate to increase the likelihood of reaching the individual being served.

Serving Time-Sensitive Legal Documents

Some documents require additional urgency.

Restraining orders, subpoenas, hearing notices and other time-sensitive documents may have approaching court dates or statutory deadlines. When selecting a process server, clients should clearly communicate upcoming deadlines so the server can determine whether routine, rush or same-day service may be appropriate.

Restraining-order assignments can also involve unique safety considerations. Our agency reviews these assignments carefully and may speak with the client before service to obtain information about the restrained individual and any known safety concerns.

Providing Information Helps Your Process Server

One of the simplest ways clients can improve the chances of successful service is by providing as much information as possible.

In addition to the service address, helpful information can include a physical description, photograph, vehicle description, employer information, known schedules or other locations where the individual may be found.

The more useful information available to the process server, the better prepared the server can be when making an attempt.

Choosing a Process Server in Santa Clarita

When hiring a process server, consider more than price alone. Ask how many attempts are included, how attempts are documented, how status updates are provided and what happens if the individual cannot be located or served.

Clear communication and thorough documentation are important parts of professional process serving.

The Process Server Agency, LLC is proud to be a member of the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce and to serve attorneys, businesses and residents throughout Santa Clarita, Valencia and the surrounding communities.

For additional information about our process serving services, pricing or submitting documents for service, visit OrderToAppear.com.

By City Manager Ken Striplin

Old Town Newhall has always been more than a destination. It is a place where neighbors gather, families make memories and local businesses pour their time, energy and dreams into creating something special for our community.

The fire that swept through Main Street early Monday, August 24, was devastating for the businesses that help make Old Town Newhall our premier Arts and Entertainment District. Business owners lost spaces they had invested years of hard work, passion and resources into building, while employees lost workplaces and customers lost businesses that had become part of their lives. In the weeks since the fire, our focus has been on supporting those affected, helping our businesses move toward recovery and making it clear that the City will remain a committed partner as they rebuild and move forward. For more information on how to support these businesses, please visit OldTownNewhall.com.

The loss of The MAIN has been especially difficult. More than a theater, The MAIN was a creative home where local artists performed, audiences connected and our community came together to experience live theater, music, comedy and the arts. It was also a place where City staff dedicated themselves to the arts, working behind the scenes to create opportunities for artists and memorable experiences for our residents.

We are working to ensure Old Town Newhall remains active and welcoming in the months ahead. On September 17, the SENSES Block Party will bring the community back to Main Street for an evening of music, entertainment and connection. This month, the City is partnering with the Old Town Newhall Association to expand SENSES an additional block to the south and incorporate activities supporting fire recovery efforts.

One of the most important things each of us can do right now is show up for one another. Visit Main Street, shop at a local business or grab a meal at one of its restaurants. Supporting the retailers, restaurants and entrepreneurs who give this historic district its unique character has never been more important. Every visit and every purchase are reminders that our community stands behind our neighbors who were affected by this fire.

There is a long road of healing and rebuilding ahead, but Santa Clarita has never been a community that faces challenges alone. Together, our community will support one another through the recovery and help ensure Old Town Newhall remains a vibrant destination for arts, entertainment, dining and community gatherings for years to come.

Ken Striplin is the City Manager for the City of Santa Clarita and can be reached at kstriplin@santaclarita.gov.

Why a thriving business and a clear personal financial plan are two different things.

By Tyler Tilton, CFP®, CRPS®, CEPA®, Partner at Vance Wealth

Last year we met a business owner who had built something remarkable.

Years of early mornings, late nights and decisions that put the company first had grown the business well past what they first imagined. Revenue was strong. The team was busy. The business had real value. And the life they had hoped the business would create still felt out of reach.

The home they wanted to buy raised new questions. Their compensation had not kept pace with the role they were actually playing. Family ownership structures that made sense years earlier had become complicated. Profits were sitting inside the corporation, creating tax concerns without moving the family any closer to their goals.

We see this pattern more often than people realize.

A business can be successful on paper while the owner's personal financial picture still feels unclear. Usually it isn't because the business plan or the personal plan is broken. It's because the two have drifted apart. That gap grows slowly, then gets felt all at once.

"Business owners are often so focused on growing the company that their personal financial life gets left behind. Our job is to close that gap, so the success they've created actually shows up in their life."

Where the gap usually shows up first

If you own a business, the drift rarely announces itself. It tends to surface in a handful of familiar places:

• Compensation. Your pay reflects an earlier version of the company, not the role you're playing today.
• Trapped profits. Cash builds inside the business, creating a tax question without a clear purpose behind it.
• Ownership structure. An arrangement built for a smaller, simpler company now complicates transitions, partners or family.
• Tax planning. The business and the household are planned separately, so decisions in one create surprises in the other.
• Protection. Personal assets and business risk have never been formally separated or reviewed.
• Personal goals. The house, the timeline, the time off. All of it keeps moving to next year.

What closing the gap actually looks like

The work isn't flashy, but it matters. For this owner, it meant coordinating with their attorney and accountant, revisiting compensation, reviewing ownership structures, evaluating asset protection strategies and making sure tax planning supported both the business and the family's long-term goals.

Working steadily according to that plan, they eventually bought the home and eased their tax burden. They found a personal and professional alignment they didn't have before. And they finally started to enjoy some of the success they had worked so hard to build.

Questions worth asking this quarter:

Even without a formal review, these four questions tend to reveal how far the two plans have drifted:

• If I sold the business tomorrow, would my personal plan already be ready for it?
• Is my compensation set intentionally, or is it a number I inherited from an earlier stage of the company?
• Do my attorney, my accountant and my financial advisor talk to one another, or only to me?
• What is the money inside the business actually waiting for?

A cohesive plan brings clarity to compensation, taxes, ownership, protection and long-term planning, so the success inside the business better supports the life outside of it.

After all, the business was never meant to become your whole life. It was meant to help build one.

Vance Wealth is a wealth management firm serving business owners and families, with offices in Santa Clarita and Costa Mesa. Learn more at VanceWealth.com.

The client situations referenced above have been anonymized to protect privacy.

The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice and should not be relied upon as such. It should not be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell a security. It does not take into account any investor's particular objectives, strategies, tax status or investment horizon. Consult your attorney or tax advisor regarding your individual situation.

This plan should not be considered tax advice. Clients should consult with a qualified tax consultant as to their particular situation and to discuss potential tax consequences.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the CFP Certification mark, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certification mark, and the CFP certification mark (with plaque design) logo in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.

Get certified, get connected, get contracted

September 24, 2026 - September 24, 2026

Outreach , Workshops in 3355 E Gage Ave., Huntington Park, CA 90255

Attend this workshop to understand government contracting process from the ground up. Learn practical guidance on certification requirements, financial readiness, and procurement opportunities.

Thursday, September 24
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
3355 E Gage Ave Huntington Park, CA 90255

Event takeaways:

• Understand small business certifications
• Get financially ready to bid on government contracts
• Explore state and federal procurement options
• Access free resources and technical assistance
• Connect with knowledgeable experts

Hosted by New Economics for Women Women's Business Center

Contact

Ruth Garcia-Corrales

rgarciacorrales@neworg.us

Register to attend

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense will hold a field hearing in the Performing Arts Center from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4. A public notice announcing the hearing was released this week by the committee and has more details. 

Entitled “Industrial Base and Workforce Development for Skilled Trades,” the hearing “will examine issues critical to our nation’s military, economy, and the future of warfare, including strengthening America’s defense industrial base, developing the skilled workforce needed to sustain it, and securing access to critical minerals and resources.”

Representatives from the Department of War, defense industry, and academia will provide testimony. It will be chaired by Rep. Ken Calvert, and attended by Republican and Democrat members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.  Congressman Whitesides is also expected to attend the hearing.

The hearing is open to the public, and anyone is welcome to attend, so please feel free to share the information with your members.  Although no public comment will be taken, it promises to be an engaging event that offers significant insight to the future of America’s industrial capacity and workforce development. 

Hearing Details

                                                                         Contact: Carrie Lujan

                                                                                                             (661) 255-4341

ROLL INTO THE FUTURE AT THE 2026 STATE OF THE CITY
Tickets on Sale Now

The City of Santa Clarita is Rolling into the Future at the 2026 State of the City! Join the Santa Clarita City Council on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., at the brand-new The Rink Sports Pavilion (George A. Carvalho Sports Complex at 20860 Centre Pointe Parkway) for an afternoon celebrating another year of progress, investment and exciting new amenities throughout our community.

This year’s theme, Santa Clarita State of the City – Rolling into the Future, highlights the many ways the City continues moving forward while enhancing the exceptional quality of life residents enjoy. Fittingly, this year’s event will take place at The Rink Sports Pavilion, the City’s newest recreation destination, offering roller skating and year-round opportunities for sports, recreation and community gatherings.

Guests will hear directly from the City Council through presentations and videos highlighting accomplishments from the past year and a look at what’s ahead. From the opening of The Rink Sports Pavilion and completion of the Haskell Canyon Bike Park, to the expansion of David March Park and the reopening of the William S. Hart Museum, the program will showcase the projects, programs and investments that are keeping Santa Clarita rolling forward.

State of the City will begin promptly at 3:00 p.m. Guests will have an opportunity to experience The Rink while enjoying presentations and videos from the City Council, followed by music, appetizers and refreshments.

Tickets are $45 per person and $450 per table of 10 and include appetizers, drinks and a commemorative gift. For more information, please call the City of Santa Clarita at (661) 255-4939 or visit SantaClarita.gov.

On behalf of Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang, we are pleased to invite you and your networks to our upcoming Homeowners’ Resource Fair in Van Nuys on Saturday, September 19, 2026. We are collaborating with Southland Regional Association of Realtors (SRAR) and the Office of Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel to provide a one-stop location to educate local residents on available property tax savings, family inheritance advice, and other resources from our office and participating partners.    

Event Details:  

• Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026

• Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm  

• Address: SRAR Offices, 7232 Balboa Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91406

• Parking: Free and onsite with additional street parking  

Attendees will hear from a variety of speakers who will address pressing issues impacting homeowners across the area:  

• Proposition 19 and its impact on property transfers in the State of California  

• Advice for dealing with the death of a property owner and planning for family inheritance  

• Insights into the property tax system and home buying advice for potential homeowners  

Following the presentations, attendees are encouraged to visit our readily available resource tables where staff from the Assessor’s Office will be present to answer any questions and address individual, complex cases. 

While registration is not required, attendees are encouraged to register in advance.

LA County Financial Clinic

No-Cost Education and Counseling to Help Small Businesses Strengthen Financial Management, Stabilize Debt, Access Capital Responsibly, and Build Long-Term Resilience

APPLY NOW

LA County Financial Clinic

With support from the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) and in partnership with Managed Career Solutions (MCS) and Money Management International (MMI), DEO is offering the LA County Financial Clinic—no-cost program designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners strengthen their financial health, access capital, improve financial management, reduce debt, and build long-term creditworthiness. 

The Financial Clinic addresses common financial barriers for small businesses through expert financial education and individualized business coaching, including profitability analysis, capital readiness services, debt counseling, and credit management. 

Program Services 

Business owners and entrepreneurs can either attend individual workshops and/or enroll in one-on-one financial counseling, including detailed debt and credit assistance.

Financial Counseling

• Financial assessment
• Financial/business planning
• Fiscal management
• Profitability and growth strategy

Debt & Credit Counseling

• Debt counseling with certified counselors
• Customized debt management plans
• Structured repayment services

Financial Workshops

In-person and virtual group sessions covering financial literacy, budgeting, money and debt management, and more!

Spanish translation available.

Access to Capital

• Loan readiness support
• Application preparation
• Financing options and referrals
• Documentation assistance

Program Highlights  

• Program Offerings: Workshops and one-on-one counseling (upcoming workshop dates and registration links listed below)
• Program Duration: Available through the end of September 2026
• Format: Virtual/In-person
• Language: English and Spanish

Successful Graduates 

By the end of the Financial Clinic, participating businesses will:  

• Improve Financial Literacy: Build a stronger understanding of business financial management
• Increase Financial Readiness: Establish sound and sustainable financial practices 
• Strengthen Capital Readiness: Prepare to pursue grants, loans, and other financing opportunities 
• Improve Credit Health: Enhance credit profiles and reduce debt
• Promote Long-Term Sustainability: Boost financial resilience and long-term business viability 
• Expand Access to County Resources: Connect with DEO’s Office of Small Business for ongoing support and technical assistance 

Application Assistance and Enrollment

For general application assistance or questions regarding financial consultations and workshops, contact MCS at info@mcscareergroup.com or (213) 355-5300.

For questions regarding debt & credit counseling, contact MMI by calling 1866-619-7435. Provide referral code: LA_COUNTY_DB

This program is funded through the CalOSBA’s Technical Assistance Program (TAP) .

A new round of funding is now available through California’s Paid Family Leave (PFL) Grant Program to help small businesses offset costs that can result from an employee taking paid family leave.

Eligible businesses may receive up to $2,000 per employee to help pay for things like cross-training current staff or bringing on new or temporary workers while an employee is out on paid family leave.

The California Paid Family Leave Program offers employees up to eight weeks of benefits that help replace part of their paycheck while they take time off for qualifying reasons, such as bonding with a new child or caring for a seriously ill family member.

California businesses with 1 to 100 employees are eligible to apply if at least one of their employees used paid family leave on or after June 30, 2026.

To qualify, businesses also must be registered to do business in the state, be in active status with the Secretary of State’s office, and have an active California employer account number.

Grants are available now through May 31, 2028, or until funding runs out. Small businesses interested in applying can learn more by visiting www.CaliforniaPFL.com.

For California employers, compliance is rarely a once-a-year task.

The IRS business mileage rate changed again on July 1, 2026, increasing to 76 cents per mile. For businesses that reimburse employees for work-related use of personal vehicles, the change is a timely reminder that policies and internal processes may need attention throughout the year.

What happens when a compliance benchmark changes in the middle of your business year?

The answer goes beyond updating a number.

Employers may also need to consider whether reimbursement policies, payroll or expense systems, documentation practices, and employee communications remain aligned with the way the business actually operates.

That is particularly important in California, where employers have obligations related to reimbursing employees for necessary business expenses. While the IRS mileage rate is commonly used as a reimbursement benchmark, businesses should understand how their own reimbursement practices fit within California requirements.

For Santa Clarita business owners, this is a practical example of why compliance works best as an ongoing process. Employees may drive between locations, meet with clients, run business errands, or use personal vehicles for other work-related purposes. As a business grows and operations evolve, reimbursement practices can evolve with them.

In our recent article, Koegle Law Group takes a closer look at:

• What changed with the mileage reimbursement rate in July 2026
• How mileage reimbursement relates to California employers
• Why written policies and actual reimbursement practices should remain aligned
• What businesses may want to review when rates change during the year

For employers, the bigger takeaway is simple: staying compliant often means having systems that can keep pace when the rules and benchmarks change.

Read the full article here: Mileage Reimbursement Rate for Business Use Increases in July 2026

At Koegle Law Group, we partner with California employers and business owners to provide practical guidance, clear communication, and proactive legal strategies designed to support informed decision-making over time.

This communication may be considered advertising material under the rules of professional conduct governing lawyers in California.

by Brian Schlick

Founder, Video & Content Strategist at SchlickArt

Over the last year, it feels like every business has been trying to figure out where AI belongs in their marketing.

I mean…AI is useful. It can help you brainstorm. It can organize your thoughts. It can summarize information, challenge an idea, clean up a messy outline, and it can help create an analytics report that used to take hours of research. I mean hell, it can build a full slide deck in 15 minutes that used to eat up half a day.

At SchlickArt we use it, literally every day.

But lately, I’ve been noticing something in the content I see from businesses in our community AND EVEN, at times, in our own marketing.

A lot of it is starting to sound the same. But the tricky part is, it’s not necessarily bad.

It sounds polished. Professional. Thoughtful, even. But sometimes it has that overly-marketed feeling. The kind of language that looks good on paper but doesn’t sound like something a real person would actually say to a client sitting across from them.

Words like “empower.”
“Unlock.”
“Elevate.”
“Move the needle.”

None of those words are wrong. We’ve used them. (Lindsay loves to "move the needle.") And plenty of good businesses have used them.

But when every business starts using the same phrases, the same rhythm and the same polished-but-vague ideas, the personality gets lost.

And when your personality gets lost, trust starts to fade.

I don’t think AI is the enemy of good marketing.

But I do think it has created a very easy trap.

AI can give you words. But it can’t tell when those words feel fake.

That's why one of the best things you can do right now is make sure your marketing has as much of YOU in it as possible. 

Your perspective. Your values. Your way of explaining things. Your way of talking to the people you actually care about helping.

That’s the part your audience needs from you. And that's also the part AI needs from you, too.

Because once you understand how your personality shows up in your marketing, you can give AI better direction and edit your voice back in.

You become the final word.

Not sure how to show your personality in marketing? It doesn’t mean you have to be funny, loud, overly personal or over-the-top. But it's not always as easy as it sounds either. In the full blog, we break down the difference between personality and performance in the age of AI marketing. 

Originally published by SchlickArt, a Santa Clarita-based marketing agency serving professional service organizations, growing businesses and personal brands.

Healing Palms Home Care is proud to join the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce and become part of the local business community. We provide compassionate, dependable, non-medical home care services designed to help seniors and individuals remain safe, comfortable, and independent in their own homes. Our services include personal care assistance, companionship, meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping, transportation assistance, respite care, and customized care plans based on each client's needs. At Healing Palms Home Care, our mission is to provide families with peace of mind while delivering high-quality, personalized care with dignity and respect. We look forward to connecting with fellow Chamber members, healthcare professionals, senior communities, and local organizations while continuing to serve families throughout the Santa Clarita Valley and surrounding areas.