‘Evening of Remembrance’ 2020 takes online format

New release

In light of ongoing developments with the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual Evening of Remembrance event will move to an online platform for the community to join on Wednesday, Sept. 16, city officials announced Thursday.

The event, set up online to avoid public gatherings in accordance with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health orders, remembers Santa Clarita Valley youth who have died in trafficrelated incidents.

This year’s virtual gathering will feature prerecorded remarks and performances from the Youth Grove at Central Park, a memorial that offers residents a place to reflect and reminds the community about safe and responsible driving.

The Youth Grove is home to 115 individual pillars that mimic cut tree stumps to symbolize lives cut short. Each pillar bears a plaque with the name of a young life lost in a traffic-related incident. The pillars surround a central monument urging the community to “know more” about safe driving habits and pledge that “no more” young lives will be lost behind the wheel.

The 2020 online event will include a performance of “Amazing Grace” by Chloe Villamayor and Peter Walsh of the SCV Youth Orchestra, as well as “Who You’d Be Today,” a song by Kenny Chesney, that will be signed in American Sign Language by Ashley Burkhart. Santa Clarita Mayor Cameron Smyth will give welcoming remarks, and the “Forever Young” slideshow presentation will honor each youth whose name is in the Youth Grove. Alice Renolds, whose two sons are represented at the Youth Grove, and Riley Blaugrund, a West Ranch student, will also deliver some remarks.

To view the event live or a recording, visit:

▪ The city’s Facebook or Youtube channel (YouTube.com/user/ CityofSantaClarita)

▪ SCVTV Channel 20 (Spectrum) or Channel 99 (AT&T)

▪ The Youth Grove website at santaclarita.com/YouthGrove

For more information contact Tess Simgen at 661-250-3726 or tsimgen@ santa-clarita.com, or visit santa-clarita. com/youthgrove.