Heart & Humor from the Desk of Associate Publisher Amanda Benson

 Gracing our cover this issue is the talented Tanya Tucker, performing at COC Performing Arts Center on June 4.  This is a concert you won’t want to miss!  Tanya is so full of life and has such a recognizable voice, singing the country classics most of us grew up with.  The emcee for the evening is comedian Tom Arnold.  This event will raise  funds for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Foundation, so go and have fun and support your local Sheriffs.
Speaking of calendars, our social calendar is full of fun things to do. Most events support our local non-profits and businesses, with Taste of the Town and Senses on Main in the lineup!  You’ll see me at both, as well as many others, supporting our community, so be sure to say Hi!
Who doesn’t love a story about how true dedication, integrity and heart lead a family business to lasting success?  Congratulations to Camelot Movers and Storage who deservedly reached their 30-year anniversary.  Turn to page 16 to meet one of Santa Clarita’s most beloved families – chances are, you may already know them.
Need some inspiration?  Read one of our nine Close Ups and six Spotlights, featuring young talent, philanthropists, advocates and real role models.  Need some motivation?  Rachel Cosgrove asks you to celebrate your “wins” each day in our Health and Wellness column.  What’s your win for the day?
Lately the word “influencer” gained attention on social media.  Learn more about what this word means on page 50, and we encourage you to join in the conversation.  We would love to hear more about local influencers you know or follow.  Or let’s talk about my role with élite Magazine and how our brand is becoming a buzzworthy platform for local businesses’ success.  Speaking of that, have you listened to my podcast on SCVLocal.com?  Thank you Tim Blankenship, I enjoyed our time together.
This month we asked Eve Bushman to share her perfect drinks for certain situations, like hanging by the pool after a long day.  You know what’s missing on that list?  First date drink!  What do you drink on a first date?  Connect with us on social media, and let us know what your first date drink is, so we can put a few of them to the test.  Obviously, not all on the same first date.
This was my first time personally handing out our Ultimate Business Professionals awards, and I have to say I was so lucky to spend some time with these wonderful individuals.  We live in such a great community, with everything from lawyers to home care services right at our fingertips.  When you are in need of a certain business, turn to our élite Magazine Ultimate Winners for reference.  Or just ask us.  We will be happy to refer you!
This time in our Perfect Bite, we took to Facebook and asked our readers to share their favorite dishes.  You responded, and we decided to share your top choices in a special Readers Choice edition.  Flip to page 80 – you might discover a new favorite!
Wrapping up this issue of élite, I feel a sense of pride.  Working alongside Kirsten Quinn, our editor, I realize how incredibly fortunate we are to have such a talented writer on our team, producing great stories for you all to read.  That pride extends to the relationships I am growing  with our advertisers and the trust we are building.  We look forward to our next issue, and the one after that and … you catching on yet?

Cheers,
Amanda Benson

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