The effects of state budget cuts to education hit home in December when the Saugus Union School District announced that it could be closing elementary schools as a way to deal with an $8 million budget cut for next year.

At the top of the list for potential closures are Bouquet Canyon Elementary School, which faces permanent closure, and Emblem Elementary School, which could be closed temporarily until the school's final modernization project is completed.

The district has cited low enrollment as the reason for closing the schools.

The decision, which is expected to be made Jan. 26, has left Saugus Union parents concerned and school leaders gearing up for a series of community meetings to reach out to Saugus Union families in January.

Homeless shelter opens doors
Dec. 1 - The Santa Clarita Valley Emergency Winter Shelter entered its 13th season in December when officials opened the doors to the seasonal shelter on Golden Valley Road.

The shelter, which is open through March 15 every year, provides beds, food, clothing and social services to local people in need.

Shortly into the season, shelter officials saw an increase in the number of male clients as the economic downturn took a hit on Santa Clarita Valley residents.

Christmas & Hanukkah
It might not have been a white Christmas, but the Santa Clarita Valley celebrated Christmas in a variety of ways well before the Dec. 25 holiday.

Metrolink's Holiday Toy Express, decked out in holiday lights, pulled into Santa Clarita Valley train stations, bringing music, festivities and a visit from Santa Claus.

A Castaic mother got a special Christmas present of her own when she gave birth to her daughter, Alexis Anne Williams, on Christmas Day.

The Stevenson Ranch community erected a menorah on the corner of Stevenson Ranch Parkway and Holmes Place to celebrate Hanukkah.

Man killed outside party
Dec. 22 - Nabil Tawab, 37, of Porter Ranch, died after he was shot just outside of a party at the Westridge Executive Plaza office complex at 26650 The Old Road, authorities said.

Tawab, who owned a credit repair company in the complex, left the party to get something from his car just before the shooting occurred at about 6:40 p.m.

Detectives are still investigating the shooting for a suspect and a motive.