Libraries in the Santa Clarita Valley have a lot to celebrate this National Library Week, as they are set to reopen their doors to the public Tuesday after more than a year’s closure due to the pandemic.
“We thought it was a good tie-in to welcome everybody back, and the theme for National Library Week, this year is ‘Welcome Back,’ so it’s kind of fitting,” said Shannon Vonnegut, a librarian at the Santa Clarita Public Library.
With Los Angeles County entering the orange tier of the state’s blueprint, libraries have been cleared to reopen at 75% capacity, while also maintaining 6-feet of physical distance for customers, among other safety protocols.
“Baldur” – student film
Filming in the County of Los Angeles and the State of California was put on hold in mid-March 2020 as health officials looked to slow the spread of COVID-19.
On June 12, L.A. County Public Health issued a revised Health Order, along with safety protocols, to allow for the re-opening of the entertainment industry, which includes film and television production.
Santa Clarita’s Fiscal Year ended on June 30, and despite the three-month stoppage, the final numbers were still very strong. In Fiscal Year 19/20, the Film Office issued 468 permits, which led to 1,249 film days and $30,771,500 in estimated economic impact. This last fiscal year marked the seventh in a row that the city’s film program generated more than $30 million in estimated economic impact.
Sunday marked the second Easter of the COVID-19 pandemic, and though many churches have resumed services, most of the typical weekend celebrations were canceled.
Even so, whether it be church services, egg hunts, or picnics, families across the Santa Clarita Valley still found ways to celebrate the holiday.
One Canyon Country neighborhood decided to create its own socially distanced egg hunt, counting the eggs rather than collecting them, with prizes for those who get the correct number.
“Instead of getting goodies out of the eggs, we gave each one an Easter basket,” organizer Marcia Phillips said. “It still allowed them to get outside and run around, but at a safe distance. The kids all loved it.”