Dates to Watch

Today
Festival of the Trees to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of the SCV will be held at 21119 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita, noon - 5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $3 and $5. For $1 off coupon visit www.scvfestivaloftrees.org.

Santa Clarita Artists Association presents contemporary sculptor Scott Bruckner for lecture and Q & A, 2 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 22, Valencia Library, 23743 W. Valencia Blvd., Valencia. Info: www.santaclaritaartists.org.

Boutique, dinner, and fashion show to benefit homeless pets at Rescues on the Runway. Sunday, Nov. 22, 3:30 p.m. boutique, 5:30 p.m. dinner and fashion show, Hyatt Valencia, Valencia Town Center. Info: (661) 252-3232.

Comedian Jim Breuer from "Saturday Night Live" headlines Humor Helps benefitting The Santa Clarita Shelter, 3 p.m. show, 2 p.m. silent auction, Christ Lutheran Church, 25815 Tournament Road, Valencia. $20 - material is suitable for the whole family. Info: (661) 607-5418 or www.santaclaritashelter.com.

Dec. 5
Annual fair for kids to make crafts with supplies provided, such as wreaths, yule logs, candles, and pine cone birdfeeders, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5, Placerita Canyon Nature Center, 19152 W. Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall. Info: (661) 259-7721.

Celebrate Bill Hart's 145th birthday at Cowboys and Carols to be held 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 at the William S. Hart Mansion and Museum. $20. Music from the Cross Town Cowboys, tour of the mansion and refreshments. Bring an unwrapped toy to benefit Native American children. Reservations required. (661) 254-4584.

A benefit concert by the Symphony of the Canyons will be held 3 p.m., Saturday, December 5, at the Santa Clarita United Methodist Church, 26640 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus. Admission is $7 and tickets can be purchased at the door. Proceeds raised will be used to buy instruments and music equipment for students in the Newhall School District. For info or to make a donation contact Shaira Bhanji at (661) 255-8676 or shairabhanji@yahoo.com.

Dec. 12
Historic homes will be decorated for the holiday season and open to the public for viewing, noon to 5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 12, Heritage Junction, William S. Hart Park, Newhall Avenue, Newhall. Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society open house. Info: (661) 254-1275.

Upcoming EventsAngelfood at Methodist Church
When your food dollars are shrinking, Angelfood at Valencia United Methodist Church is here to help. Contact us for information or ordering at www.angelfoodministries.org.

Cell phones for soldiers drive
Hart High School cheerleaders will collect old cell phones for soldiers, which are recycled with funds used to purchase prepaid calling cards for U.S. troops serving overseas, throughout the month of December. Phones can be dropped off at the Hart High administration office at 24825 N. Newhall Ave., Newhall, or at KHTS AM Radio Station at 27225 Camp Plenty Road, Canyon Country. Info: (661) 254-7231 or www.harths.org.

Assistance League holiday shopping
Take Two Resale Shop features hoilday items and decorations for sale, as well as high-quality resale merchandise. Proceeds benefit various philanthropic programs, including Operation School Bell. Info: www.assistanceleague-alsc.org or (661) 255-1991.

Operation Thank Our Troops
Community wide donation drive through Dec. 5 to collect items for holiday care packages and money for shipping to U.S. troops serving overseas. Donation barrels located at Albertsons, Vons, Ralphs, and Pavillions. Wish list items include personal toiletries, non-perishable snack foods, CDs, DVDs, and calling cards. Also needed are Beanie Babies for Afghan and Iraqi children and winter scarves for the troops. Help fill the packages from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5, Newhall Community Center, 22421 Market St., Newhall. Info: www.prayerangelsforthemilitary.com or (661) 799-8865.

Arts and crafts vendors needed
Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital's Home Tour League is looking for artists and crafters to participate in holiday boutique from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Newhall. Info: (661) 253-8051.

SMO ‘Adopt-a-Family' Program
Single Mother's Outreach seeks compassionate Santa Claritans to ‘adopt' and provide gifts for hard working families for this holiday season. Currently, there are 187 active families in the SMO program. Info: (661) 288-0117.

Big O Tires drive for SCV Pantry
Bring any canned good or personal care item to Big O Tires through today and receive a standard oil change for $12.95 or 10 percent off any regularly priced service of $50 or more. Donations benefit the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry. 23510 Valencia Blvd., Valencia. Info: (661) 259-7498.

WorkSource workshops
Monday, Nov. 23 - Resume Review and Interviewing Coaching, 9 - 11 a.m. (by appointment only)
Tuesday, Nov. 24 - Enterprise Zone Orientation, 10 a.m. - noon
All workshops held at Work Source California Career Resource Center, 20655 Soledad Canyon Road, Suite 25, Santa Clarita. Info: (661) 424-1062, ext. 10.

Blessed Kateri open house
Docent-led tours, Indian games and jewelry making, fun, food, and entertainment for the whole family, 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 22, Blessed Kateri Tekawitha Parish, 22508 Copper Hill Drive, Valencia. Free. Info: (661) 713-6716 or www.blessedkateriparish.org.

Unitarian Universalists book sale
Used books, CDs, DVDs, new books and CDs, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 22, SCV Senior Center, 22900 Market St., Newhall. Appearances by author Rev. Ricky Hoyt and songwriter Trish Lester from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Info: (661) 254-7866 or http://www.uuofscv.org/.

Mac computers user meeting
Question and answer session followed by a demonstration of Snow Leopard, 7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 24, Valencia Mac, 23333 Cinema Drive, Suite 100, Valencia. Free. Info: (661) 250-4249 or (661) 252-7280.

Free admission for a bag of groceries
Earn free admission to Six Flags Magic Mountain on Wednesday, Nov. 25 when you bring a full bag of non-perishable food items to the theme park. All donated food will be given to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

All About the Light art show
A light show in oils, watercolor, acrylic, sculpture, mixed media and photography dislayed in the former home of Western actor Harry Carey, noon to 5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 28, Tesoro Adobe Historic Park, 29350 Avenida Rancho Tesoro, Valencia. Info: (661) 259-5479.

Newcomers and friends to meet
Ladies, are you new to the SCV or in a new place in life? Meet for coffee and find out about upcoming luncheons, activities, and trips, 1 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 1, Starbucks, 24802 Orchard Village Road at Lyons Ave., Newhall. Info: (661) 299-1834 or www.ncandf.com.

Serendipity Auction for Guild
Annual event raises funds for Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital Guild, free event includes food and drink, plus opportunities to bid on auction items, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 6 p.m., Residence Inn Banquet Room, The Old Road, Valencia. Info: rebyphyllis@aol.com.

Spark of Love Holiday Toy Train
Metrolink Holiday Toy Express will visit the Newhall station 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4 and the Via Princessa station 8:15 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20. Bring a toy for the Spark of Love Toy Drive. Info: www.metrolinktrains.com.

Betty Ferguson holiday boutique
Betty Ferguson Foundation hosts its annual holiday fundraiser boutique in new location, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5, 25510 West Ave. Stanford, Suite 104, Valencia. Vendors needed. Info: (661) 702-8712.

Literacy and arts festival Hart Park
Free day of family fun and entertainment, including storytelling, music, dance, crafts, stage shows, ice sculpture, Build-A-Bot, book swap, and food, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5, William S. Hart Park, 24151 Newhall Ave., Newhall. Info: www.scveducationfoundation.org.

Holiday Home Tour and Boutique
The annual Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital Home Tour League Holiday Home Tour and Boutique
will be held 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. $25 per ticket. Boutique free to the public. Call (661) 253-8051 for information. Boutique held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 23233 Lyons Ave., Newhall.

Light Tour seeks street and homes
The annual Santa Clarita Valley Holiday Light Tour hosted by The Signal is now accepting entries. To enter submit entry form from Friday's Escape section found in The Signal. Theme is "Old Fashioned Holidays." Deadline is Dec. 2. Info: mbuttelman@the-signal.com.

Rock Club Holiday potluck
Sierra Pelona Rock Club hosts its annual Christmas potluck party and white elephant sale fundraiser, noon, Sunday, Dec. 6. Info: www.sierrapelona.com

Beast holiday run/walk for food
Third annual holiday scaling of The Beast to benefit the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry, 7:30 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 12, where Newhall Ave. dead ends, just east of Highway 14. Sponsored by Santa Clarita Runners and Superior Alarm Systems. $20 pledge earns T-shirt and bragging rights. Info: www.donsdiary.net


Jaycees Santa's Helpers event
The 11th annual event assists 200 local families by providing them with toys for the holiday season, 6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 19, Ice Station Valencia, 27745 N. Smyth Drive, Valencia. Toy donation boxes are located throughout town. Info: (661) 661-816-7688 or www.scvjaycees.com.

4H holiday fundraiser
Christmas in the Country features more than 20 craft, jewelry, candle, children's wear, and food vendors, plus kid-friendly crafts, dancing horse demos, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 22, Oak Creek Ranch, 27345 Sand Canyon Road, Canyon Country. $5 entrance fee, includes free drink ticket. Info: (661) 252-8522 or (661) 607-5971.

SCV Mother of Twins boutique
More than 20 vendors offering unique items, including baked goods, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5, St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 24901 Orchard Village Road, Newhall. Raffles, plus free cookies and coffee. Portion of proceeds will benefit Carousel Ranch. Info: rtilles@socal.rr.com.

Free admission to Magic Mountain
Earn free admission to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia Dec., 5-6 and Dec. 12-13 when you donate a $15 toy to the annual Toys for the Holidays toy drive. Price tag or reciept must accompany toy.

Children's Hunger Fund benefit
Pamper yourself before the holiday rush begins, take some time just for yourself while feeling good about helping less fortunate children, Sunday, Dec. 6. benefit for the Children's Hunger Fund. $75. Sue Saffir, (661) 254-9392.