In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we have devoted this edition of élite Magazine to all things love and romance. From husband and wife business partners, to high school sweethearts, romantic proposals and more, these love stories will captivate your heart. For the first time since publishing élite Magazine, we decided to be featured on the cover along with the Goldmans, who will be honored at this year’s Habitat for Heroes Builder’s Ball and the Gumps, this year’s College of the Canyons Silver Spur recipients.Unfortunately, due to illness, the Gumps were unable to make the photo shoot, however you can read their love story and commitment for the community in this issue. Moe and I are honored to be the 2013 Sweetheart Couple. It is a privilege for us to be a part of the Sweetheart Gala, an event that will help benefit the Cardiac Care Services at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, a cause near and dear to our hearts. Our love story began in England, in 1975, when Moe asked me to dance. The following year, we made it official and married at the Registrar Office in the Town Hall in Staffordshire, England. Who knew that 37 years later our journey would involve publishing magazines in the Santa Clarita Valley, some 6,000 miles away? Fate certainly had a lot to do with us being here. Prime Publications, Inc., was formed in England in 1978. With a staff of 40 people, we published newspapers and magazines for soccer clubs, radio and television stations throughout the UK. Back then, there were no iMacs, only conventional typesetting with paste boards. We had an art department that consisted of a staff of ten, and on a daily basis, we could be found up to our knees in wax and paper as we stripped and pasted copy into the newspaper columns. Thank goodness for the advancement of technology. In 1980, while still living in England, we published a local weekly newspaper. The publication proved to be a huge success, and in two years, we were bought out by a large newspaper house. It is with great pleasure to report that The Advertiser, is still going strong in the UK today. In 1983, Moe and I decided to take a year off to travel the world. Somehow we ended up in California, on a very sunny December day. There were so many wonderful things we loved about southern California, and relaxing in a Jacuzzi on Christmas Day was probably one of the determining factors for us moving here in 1984. In 1985 we purchased our first home in the United States and wouldn’t you know — it was located right here in the Santa Clarita Valley. Having a family was a priority, but we found out that it wouldn’t be easy for us. We relied on In Vitro Fertilization, which, at the time, had a low success rate. We were obviously one of the luckier couples because in 1988, after our first attempt with IVF, we were blessed with the birth of our son Alexander. Not only did we welcome our son, but we also formed Prime Publications, Inc., California style, and published the very first Magazine of Santa Clarita in 1990, and in 2003, we published the first élite Magazine of Santa Clarita. Throughout our marriage, Moe and I have worked in our own business together for 34 years. While it can be challenging at times, we continuously support each other, sharing ideas and encouraging one another, making our relationship and love for each other that much stronger. We love living in the Santa Clarita Valley, and have made great friends here. Our involvement with the many non-profit organizations have been rewarding, and we look forward to continuing to bring you stories and features that reflect the great spirit this community has. Happy Valentine’s Day! – Linda and Moe Hafizi |
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