Enhance Your Gardening Skills and Maintain a Healthy, Beautiful Landscape

Does your landscape need a refresh? Get inspired with SCV Water! Your landscape has been established for a while now, but you know that it needs some work to keep it looking good. Learn effective methods and techniques to manage and maintain your landscape healthily and more efficiently while improving aesthetics. Join SCV Water’s FREE virtual gardening class, Sprucing Up Your Landscape and Protecting It, on Saturday, July 8, at 9 a.m. 

Taking place virtually via Zoom, this comprehensive workshop is designed to cater to novice gardeners and seasoned green thumbs looking to refine their gardening skills and gain valuable insights from industry experts. Register to learn more from The Wheeler Company’s John Windsor, who is an expert teacher, a Certified Arborist and a California Certified Nurseryman.

“Now is the time to spruce up your yard with some light maintenance to help it through the summer heat,” said Tim Wheeler, owner and head instructor of The Wheeler Company. “It is also a great time to start planning for Fall turf removal and updating your sprinkler system.”

Attendees can expect the class to last about an hour, followed by a question-and-answer session. And don’t worry if you missed the live class – all presentations are recorded and available for viewing on SCV Water’s website one week after the course.

The gardening classes are free, but attendees must register before the event. To register for the Sprucing Up Your Landscape and Protecting It class, or to view our 2023 class schedule, please visit: yourscvwater.com/landscape-workshops.

Giveaways, Ribbon Cutting and More Festivities Planned at Star-Powered Brand’s River Oaks Shopping Center Location 

WHAT: Big Chicken, the wildly popular brand of beloved NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, is hosting a grand opening celebration at its River Oaks Shopping Center location in Valencia on Thursday, June 29 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The evening will kick off with raffles for attendees ages 13 and over. Those who enter will have the chance to win exclusive prizes including:

• The Lucky 10 Drawing: Attendees can enter to win FREE Big Chicken for a year (*one sandwich per week for a year). Ten winners will be selected.
• The Lucky 10 for Business: All local business owners can enter to win a FREE catering drop-off from Big Chicken for ten employees. Ten winners will be selected (entrants must drop off a business card or fill out a business raffle entry to be eligible).

Shaquille O’Neal Autographed Basketball: All who visit the location can enter to win a signed basketball that the brand’s founder has provided to honor the grand opening occasion.

• Raffles for FREE Salads & Sandwiches: In honor of the legendary founder’s jersey number, 34 winners will be selected to win a free salad and 34 winners will be selected to win a free sandwich.
• Big Chicken Swag Baskets: Attendees can enter to win a basket full of Big Chicken swag items including hats, water bottles and more. Three winners will be selected.

In addition to raffles, festivities will include a ribbon cutting in partnership with the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, live DJ performance and balloonist for kids to enjoy. A Shaquille O’Neal metal jersey and life-sized size 22 shoe will be on display for photo opportunities. 

“We’re fortunate to have been welcomed so warmly by the Valencia community, and we want to celebrate with our loyal guests,” said co-owner Andy Gitipityapon. “To show our appreciation, we’d love for you to join us on June 29 for BIG food and BIG fun at our official grand opening celebration!”

WHY: To thank the Valencia community and celebrate eight months of business, co-owners Andy Gitipityapon and David Allen are inviting local residents to come enjoy grand opening festivities and official ribbon cutting ceremony.

WHO: This is a Grand Opening event open to the public. Local Valencia Big Chicken franchisees Andy Gitipityapon and David Allen will be in attendance and available for interviews. 

WHERE: Big Chicken in Valencia, located at the River Oaks Shopping Center, 24341 Magic Mountain Parkway #5

WHEN: 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Raffles will begin at 4:30 p.m., with drawings to be held between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The ribbon cutting will begin at 5:45 p.m.

MEDIA CONTACT: Peyton Harvey; pharvey@allpointspr.com; 260-388-4479

About Big Chicken

Founded in 2018, Big Chicken is backed by a dream team of partners; JRS Hospitality, an accomplished Las Vegas-based ownership group; Authentic Brands Group, a multi-national, multi-billion-dollar brand development, marketing and entertainment company; and Hall of Fame basketball star Shaquille O’Neal. Big Chicken fuses O’Neal’s home-cooked childhood favorites with today’s trending flavors. From crispy chicken sandwiches and tenders to Cheez-It® crusted mac n’ cheese and hand-crafted ice cream shakes, each menu item tells a story all while offering guests an inside look into the life and personality of Shaquille O’Neal. With eight traditional locations currently open and several in the development pipeline, Big Chicken is prepped to begin U.S. and international expansion through franchising.

To learn more about Big Chicken, visit www.bigchicken.com.

About Shaquille O’Neal

Shaquille O’Neal is one of the world’s most successful athlete-turned-businessmen, whose accomplishments both on and off the court have translated into a highly sought-after consumer brand. As an entrepreneur, sports analyst, DJ, restaurateur, and brand ambassador, Shaquille O’Neal’s signature “Business of Fun” mantra resonates throughout each of his countless endeavors.

The 15-time NBA All-Star’s unprecedented athletic career spanned nearly two decades and earned him countless awards and honors, including NBA Most Valuable Player, NBA Rookie of the Year, four NBA Championships and a First Ballot NBA Hall of Famer.  Currently, O’Neal is an analyst on TNT’s Emmy Award-winning “Inside the NBA.”

O'Neal, who has a PhD in Leadership and Education, established The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation which provides resources for underserved youth. He also gives back through a number of annual philanthropic programs including Shaq to School, Shaqsgiving, and Shaq a Claus.

The launch of his Las Vegas eatery Big Chicken has further elevated Shaquille’s status as he has positioned himself as a successful restaurateur. The brand currently has sites open in Las Vegas, Glendale, CA, two Carnival Cruise Ships (Mardi Gras and Radiance), Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, UBS Arena in New York with many more locations under development.

Follow Shaquille O’Neal on TikTok, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Are you interested in starting a new business or expanding your existing company? The City of Santa Clarita is launching SizeUp Santa Clarita, a free online tool that will make powerful market research and business intelligence available to local businesses to help them succeed.

The City invites you to join a free live demonstration of this new online service on June 20 at 2 p.m. There will be demonstration of how you can use SizeUp Santa Clarita to better succeed and time for you to ask live questions about this new online service. Visit SizeUpSantaClarita.com to learn more!

REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR HERE: City.SC/SizeUpWebinar

The trend of workforce shortages and a tight labor market has continued to be at the forefront of issues facing businesses. The Santa Clarita Valley has not been immune to the effects of this. We are however very ideally positioned to tackle this issue, and the SCVEDC has been collaborating extensively with a number of different organizations to find viable solutions for our local employers. Workforce development and training is more crucial than ever for economic developers engaging in business assistance and retention. To that end, the EDC is excited to welcome Jey Wagner, Ed.D. as our Vice President of Workforce & Economic Development!

With a proven record spanning over three decades, Jey is a seasoned professional in delivering world-class business improvement results. His expertise extends to executive human resources and entrepreneurial leadership, where he has supported business strategy development and implementation across several continents and has successfully addressed company culture improvement initiatives. Jey's experience includes successful workforce development efforts, resulting in positive operational and financial outcomes. He has built and led teams, focusing on achievement of talent management and production goals. With his vast knowledge, Jey has coached senior leaders and managers in navigating complex issues while creating impactful learning and development programs that support retention, career advancement, and overall organizational growth.

As a trusted advisor and practitioner in strategic human resources management, adult learning-based solutions, and executive coaching, Jey excels in creating, developing, and implementing innovative skill and capability development programs in collaboration with senior decision-makers. Most recently, he served as the Senior Vice President of Employee Engagement at Leadership Enrichment Partners; a Global Professional Development Executive at Dale Carnegie Training and President and CEO of Dale Carnegie Training of Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County; Vice President of Human Resources at Electro Rent Corporation; and Vice President of Human Resources and Operational Committee Member at Answer Financial Inc. (an Allstate Company).

His dedication to continuous learning led him to earn a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership and Change from the University of Southern California (USC), a Master of Business Administration from Purdue University's Krannert School of Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from the University of La Verne. Furthermore, Jey's credentials also include Stakeholder Centered Coaching certification by Marshall Goldsmith and Master Trainer and Coach certification from Carnegie University.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Jey is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and California Air National Guard, where he served in both enlisted and commissioned capacities. He has been a resident of the Santa Clarita Valley for 33 years and lives in Newhall with his wife and children.

Welcome to the team Jey!

Contact Jey

Email: jeywagner@scvedc.org

Office: 661.288.4411

Create a stress-free SCV landscape year-round

SCV Water recently released its newest sustainable landscape resource – Garden Smarter. It
is the place to start learning about how to make the move to water-wise landscaping and 
sustainable gardening practices. Topics range from drought-tolerant planting and tree care to 
food gardening, fire-wise landscaping, and more! Not to mention expert tips and guidance, as 
well as rebates and resources.

“The future of water use is focused on sustainability,” said SCV Water Sustainability Manager 
Matt Dickens. “We want our customers to know that everyone can have a landscape that
uses water effectively and efficiently without waste, and Garden Smarter shows them how.” 

Something for Everyone

Garden Smarter boasts 12 different topics that appeal to a wide audience. Residents with 
landscaped areas can learn about soil, turf maintenance and alternatives, tree care and plant 
selection.

Landscape experts also give tips on the “dos and don’ts” for landscape renovation projects. 
Those interested in growing food can also enjoy the satisfaction of harvesting fresh produce,
and those with small spaces can still create a beautiful natural environment by container 
gardening in their home.

“Some people have lawns and landscapes, while others use container gardens in their 
apartments and townhomes,” said SCV Water Conservation Specialist Julia Grothe. “In 
Garden Smarter, you can learn how to implement efficient water use practices that most 
benefit you. In turn, it will benefit our environment and promote sustainable landscapes.”

Get a Copy

Garden Smarter is available in print and online, and in both English and Spanish. 
Copies can be found at a local library, local nursery, or local irrigation supply house, as well 
as any community events SCV Water attends. Garden Smarter is also available at SCV 
Water’s Customer Care office, located at 24631 Avenue Rockefeller, Santa Clarita, CA 
91355, during business hours. 

To access the web versions, please visit bit.ly/SCVWater-Garden.

For customers interested in the Lawn Replacement Program, visit 
conserve.yourSCVwater.com. 

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Join Kaiser Permanente Southern California for a series of job fairs throughout the month of June. They’re hiring housekeeping attendants, registered nurses (OR, L&D, ICU, DOU, MST, and ED), surgical technicians, radiology professionals (sonographer, mammography, and radiology technologists), and licensed vocational nurses.  Visit https://events.kaiserpermanentejobs.org/ for a list of locations and registration information. 

Serving 12.7 million members across the United States, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We are an award-winning employer of choice, having been recognized by Forbes, LinkedIn, DiversityInc, and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, among others. We also offer career development and growth opportunities and highly competitive compensation and benefit packages.

Job fair attendees can explore opportunities to proudly work for an organization that is maximizing the total health of our members, employees, and communities and helping to shape the future of care.

How:
Register for an interview block using the links below 10 days before each event. Be prepared to discuss your experience and meet Kaiser Permanente hiring team members. Job offers may be extended on the spot.

When and where:
Details for each job fair event are as follows. Please share the information below with friends and family members who may be interested in exploring rewarding career opportunities at Kaiser Permanente.

Tuesday, June 6 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
West LA Medical Center - main courtyard
6041 Cadillac Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90034
Hiring housekeeping attendants, registered nurses (OR, L&D, ICU, DOU, MST, and ED), surgical technicians, radiology professionals (sonographer, mammography and radiology technologists), and licensed vocational nurses.
Event information and registration link (link opens 10 days before the event).

Wednesday, June 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Los Angeles Medical Center - 2 north conference rooms
4867 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027
Hiring certified nursing assistants, registered nurses (MS, MST, ICU, CSU, L&D, NICU, PICU, Peds, IR, and ED), sterile processing technicians, surgical technicians, licensed vocational nurses, and respiratory care practitioners.
Event information and registration link (link opens 10 days before the event).

Thursday, June 15 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Woodland Hills Medical Center - auditorium
5601 DeSoto Avenue, Woodland Hills, CA 91367
Hiring housekeeping attendants, certified nursing assistants, registered nurses (DOU, ICU, L&D, MS, and MST), surgical technicians, and licensed vocational nurses.
Event information and registration link (link opens 10 days before the event).

Thursday, June 22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Downey Imperial Satellite
12200 Bellflower Blvd., Downey, CA 90242
Hiring housekeeping attendants, certified nursing assistants, and registered nurses (MS, MST, NICU, L&D, and Peds).
Event information and registration link (link opens 10 days before the event).

Additional events will be scheduled throughout Southern California in other service areas, so stay tuned for more! For our latest openings, you can also encourage your network to visit our LinkedIn or our career website.