Member News

SANTA CLARITA – Are you interested in learning the ins and outs of SCV Water? Apply to be considered for the SCV Water Academy, a free, curated learning opportunity for residents of the Santa Clarita Valley. Learn about SCV Water directly from the experts in an engaging, interactive, in-person format.

“We wanted to create an opportunity where customers and stakeholders of SCV Water could learn and interact directly with Agency staff and leadership,” said Communications Manager Kathie Martin. “We encourage anyone slightly curious about their water to apply.”  

During the academy, participants will get an insider’s perspective on:

• History and Organization
• Infrastructure and Facilities
• Water Supply and Quality
• Critical Water Issues

There will also be opportunities to ask questions and tour the water treatment plant.

Interested in attending? Must be 18 years or older, work or live in the SCV Water service area, and be able to commit to attending all four sessions. Space is limited. Sessions are scheduled weekly on Wednesday evenings on March 15, 22, and 29, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., including dinner. The academy concludes with a water facility tour on Saturday, April 1, 9 – 11 a.m.

For more information or to apply, visit https://bit.ly/SCVWaterAcademy. For specific questions about the Water Academy, email Public Affairs Specialist Laura Gallegos at lgallegos@scvwa.org.

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About SCV Water:  

The Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency (SCV Water) is a full-service regional water agency located in the Santa Clarita Valley. SCV Water provides water service to approximately 78,000 business and residential customers. It was formed on January 1, 2018, when local water suppliers combined into one integrated, regional water provider. More information can be found at www.yourSCVwater.com.  

For more information, please contact:  

Kathie Martin

Communications Manager

SCV Water  

kmartin@scvwa.org

Please register here! 

Register for our most highly attended webinar of the year; the Annual Market & Economic Update. On Tuesday, January 17th at 4:30PM, John Vance, President of Vance Wealth, will take you through a recap of what we saw in the markets in 2022 and what trends we are expecting to play out in 2023. We invite you to share this registration link with friends and family that may find it useful. This is open to the public and we are here to help. 

Paul Butler and Mark Griffiths of Newleaf Training and Development return for the 6th year to co-facilitate this free professional development webinar—State of Learning which has proven to be an invaluable resource for both, internal employees and external consultants. 

Princess Cruises, the world’s most iconic cruise line, continues to be recognized for excellence, earning top honors from prestigious travel organizations for its superior product offerings, exceptional service and outstanding relationships with travel advisors.

From being named Best Alaska Cruise Line and Top Travel Advisor Partner to travel advisor training programs and continued accolades for its revolutionary MedallionClass experience, Princess Cruises honors spanned a broad spectrum of categories.

Here’s a look at the most recent awards presented to the line:

Travel Weekly Readers’ Choice Awards

Princess sailed off with three Travel Weekly Readers’ Choice Awards last month. The award winners, one for each of 82 categories, represent the best of the best of the travel industry. The nominees and award recipients were chosen in two rounds of voting by Travel Weekly’s audience of travel professionals. These widely recognized, coveted awards are presented annually to the industry suppliers who led the way in product and service during the past year.

 – Best Cruise Line: Alaska – This year marks the 17^th annual win for Princess in this category. As the leading cruise line in Alaska, Princess delivers unforgettable vacations and is the most recommended line by travel advisors to their trusted clients.

 – Best Shipboard Tech – All Princess ships offer the Princess MedallionClass Experience, enabling everything from expedited contactless boarding to locating loved ones anywhere on the ship, as well as enhanced service like having whatever guests need, delivered directly to them, wherever they are on the ship.

 – Best Travel Advisor Educational Program – After launching in 2006, Princess Academy quickly became recognized as the richest and most valuable travel advisor training program in the cruise industry. Offered free of charge and accessed conveniently from home or office, Princess Academy enables advisors to increase their Princess expertise so they can knowledgably present the experience to their clients.

Travvy Awards

During the 8^th Annual Travvy Awards, Princess received six honors including two gold awards. The awards recognize the highest standards of excellence in the travel industry by honoring travel companies, travel products, travel agencies, and destinations for their outstanding achievements.

 – Best Cruise Line by Destination: Alaska – Gold Award

 – Best Cruise Line by Destination: Australia/New Zealand/South Pacific – Gold Award

 – Best Cruise Line by Destination: Asia – Silver Award

 – Best Cruise Line by Destination: Hawaii – Silver Award

 – Best Cruise Ship: Premium (Discovery Princess) – Silver Award

 – Best Cruise Ship: Mid-Size (Coral Princess) – Bronze Award

AAA/CAA

Princess earned top honors in three different categories from AAA/CAA, based on surveys of AAA/CAA members in which they were asked to rate cruise lines in a variety of categories with Princess earning more votes than any other cruise operator for its respective awards.

 – Best in Marketing – The honor recognizes Princess’ strategic initiatives designed to promote the brand to travel advisors through a variety of channels, including its popular webinars featuring Vice President of Sales Carmen Roig and its well-read digital newsletter that provides regular updates on the company and its operations to thousands of travel advisors each week.

 – Best in Travel Agent Services – This award recognized the valuable toold and resources Princess provides to travel advisors to hone their sales skills and ultimately grow their business.

 – Partner of the Year – Finally, Partner of the Year acknowledges the line’s intensive efforts at helping AAA/CAA advisors achieve both short- and long-term successes, while acknowledging the hard work put forth by the company to ensure working with Princess is seamless, easy and hassle-free.

“We’re extremely honored to be recognized by our travel advisor partners with these prestigious awards,” said Cal Almaguer, senior vice president of sales and service strategy operations. “While all distinctly unique, they represent highly regarded product offerings and we’re proud to be recognized by and partner with these three valuable players in the travel industry.”

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237) or by visiting the company’s website at www.princess.com.

Two big changes are coming up for residents of the City of Santa Clarita, with a new residential waste hauler and state-mandated organics recycling beginning July 1, 2023. With the City’s current agreements for residential and commercial waste hauling set to expire, the City awarded Burrtec Waste Industries (Burrtec) the new waste services franchise agreement for all residential and commercial waste services in the City with service beginning on July 1, 2023. Additionally, new statewide legislation will require all Santa Clarita residents to begin recycling organics at home and in their place of work, this change will also take place on July 1, 2023. Over the next few months, the City will be working closely with Burrtec to transition services in preparation for the official start date on July 1, 2023, at which time the monthly rate for residential services will adjust from the current rate of $26.31 to Burrtec’s new rate of $28.92.

June 30, 2023 will mark the expiration of the City of Santa Clarita’s existing agreements with Waste Management for residential waste services, and Burrtec for commercial waste services. In preparation, the City began conducting a thorough competitive bid process in early 2022. Because of their years of experience, high level of customer service combined with a competitive service rate, the City awarded Burrtec the new waste services franchise agreement for all residential and commercial waste services in the City. Service will begin on July 1, 2023 with a new monthly rate of $28.92 for the standard service of 96-gallon carts for all three waste services including garbage, recycling and organics.

Leading up to the new service date, all Santa Clarita single-family homes will automatically have their existing trash carts replaced with new Burrtec carts. New cart colors are required under state legislation and will provide consistency across the industry – these cart colors include black for garbage, blue for recycling, and green for organics. Discounts will be available for senior citizens and reduced size trash cart users upon request. More information regarding the cart transition will become available within the coming weeks.

“The City of Santa Clarita will work with residents to ensure they are informed and updated throughout the transition process” said Mayor Jason Gibbs. “We want to make sure they have the information and resources necessary to begin the required organics recycling.”

Included with the transition to Burrtec will be state mandated organics recycling. Residents will also receive new food waste pails and enhanced waste services including bulky cardboard collection, carpet recycling, document shredding events, a local customer service center and much more.

            “Santa Clarita is our home, and after servicing the City’s commercial customers and maintaining a local office for more than twenty years, we are looking forward to a smooth transition, servicing our friends and neighbors of Santa Clarita in addition to continuing commercial services for the business community,” added Dennis Verner, General Manager of Burrtec Waste, Santa Clarita Valley.

            Throughout the transition process, the City will keep residents informed of updates and next steps, while ensuring Burrtec continues to meet the City’s exceptionally high standard of service. Residents and businesses can look forward to viewing a series of informational videos called ‘Trash Talks,’ which will provide viewers timely information and resources leading up to the transition. Updates will also be sent by mail and through the City’s and Burrtec’s social media pages. Residents are encouraged to follow @GreenSantaClarita on Facebook and @BurrtecSCV on Facebook or Instagram to stay informed.

            For more information about the transition to the City’s new waste hauler and organics recycling program, residents and businesses are encouraged to visit GreenSantaClarita.com. Residents or businesses with questions or concerns may contact the City’s Solid Waste Administrator, Curtis Williams at cwilliams@santa-clarita.com or by calling (661) 255-4308.