👋 Welcome to Northridge Now - Issue #0041
Good afternoon, Northridge & Neighbors
Today’s issue covers everything from Memorial Day volunteer opportunities and Valley burglary crackdowns to CSUN commencement week officially kicking off across Northridge. Plus: a major LAFD funding proposal, FIFA World Cup hype building around L.A., and a national NBA story tied directly to Woodland Hills. Let’s get into it:
🇺🇸 Memorial Day flag placement volunteers needed across the Valley
🚨 LAPD says burglaries are down 30% after major crackdown
🏀 NBA player Brandon Clarke found dead in Woodland Hills
🚒 New LAFD tax proposal could impact Valley fire services
⚽ Limited-edition FIFA World Cup TAP cards now on sale
🎓 CSUN commencement ceremonies officially begin this week
⚾ Matador Rapid-Fire: baseball, volleyball & record-breaking performances
🥬 Farmers markets, trivia night & Grubfest happening around the SFV
🤝 Valley Referral Network continues growing in Porter Ranch
Hope you’re having a solid Wednesday afternoon — and thanks again for being part of the Northridge Now community.

🦅 Valley Residents Invited to Help Place Flags Ahead of Memorial Day
LANCSF (Los Angeles National Cemetery Foundation) is helping organize a special annual volunteer effort inviting Valley residents to come together and help place American flags in honor of the brave men and women who served our country ahead of Memorial Day weekend.
Community members of all ages are encouraged to participate in this annual tradition of remembrance by helping place flags at veterans’ gravesites ahead of upcoming Memorial Day ceremonies.
🔹 What to Expect:
🇺🇸 Thousands of American flags placed throughout the cemetery
🤝 Families, veterans, students, and local residents volunteering together
❤️ A meaningful opportunity to honor fallen service members
📍 Community participation leading into Memorial Day weekend
Organizers say the event is about more than just placing flags — it’s about making sure every veteran is remembered and recognized. Many volunteers return each year as part of a growing tradition centered around gratitude, service, and community connection.
📲 Residents interested in volunteering are encouraged to reserve a spot as soon as possible, as participation continues filling up quickly ahead of Memorial Day weekend.
🇺🇸 If you’ve been looking for a simple but meaningful way to give back locally, this is one of those opportunities that truly matters.
👉 Volunteer Link: bit.ly/MemorialDayWLACC
An aging breakthrough from Harvard & MIT scientists.
NAD+ is this year's most popular longevity ingredient. But there's a problem: most NAD+ treatments never reach your skin cells. Ours does. Aramore's proprietary topical system penetrates deeper and is specifically formulated for skin, clinically proven to reverse 12 signs of aging.
Use NEWSLETTER20 for 20% off your first order.
📰 Valley News

🚨 LAPD: Burglaries Down 30% After Major Crackdown Across L.A.
After months of burglary concerns across the San Fernando Valley, city officials say a major enforcement push is starting to show results.
Mayor Karen Bass and LAPD announced more than 100 burglary-related arrests were made over the last month as part of a coordinated crackdown targeting organized theft crews operating across Los Angeles — including several Valley neighborhoods.
📍 Areas impacted recently include:
Woodland Hills
Sherman Oaks
Studio City
Valley Village
North Hollywood
Officials say burglaries citywide are now down more than 30% compared to last year, with increased patrols, license plate readers, helicopters, and burglary task forces continuing throughout the Valley.
🏡 NNN Take:
Residents are still encouraged to stay alert, secure cameras and alarms, and report suspicious activity — but officials say the recent crackdown is beginning to make an impact.
👉 Full story: ABC7

🏀 NBA World Shocked After Brandon Clarke Found Dead in Woodland Hills at 29
A tragic story with local ties is making headlines across the country after Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke was reportedly found dead Monday at a home in Woodland Hills.
According to reports, emergency crews responded to the residence shortly after 5 p.m., where Clarke was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death has not yet been officially released and remains under investigation.
Clarke spent seven seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies after being selected in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft. Known for his athleticism, hustle, and positive locker-room presence, he quickly became a fan favorite around the league.
🏀 Career Highlights:
NBA First-Round Draft Pick (2019)
NBA All-Rookie Team selection
Former standout at Gonzaga University
Played 7 seasons with Memphis
📍 Why It Matters Locally:
The news hit especially close to home for Valley residents after reports confirmed the incident occurred in Woodland Hills — bringing a national NBA story directly into the San Fernando Valley community.
💬 NNN Take:
A heartbreaking loss for the basketball world and a reminder of how quickly life can change. Tributes from players, coaches, and fans across the NBA continue pouring in as the investigation continues.
👉 Full story: ESPN

🚒 New LAFD Tax Measure Headed to November Ballot — Valley Fire Services Could Be Impacted
Los Angeles firefighters officially delivered signatures this week for a proposed tax measure aimed at increasing funding for the LAFD.
Supporters say the measure would help improve:
🚒 Firefighter staffing
⏱ Emergency response times
🔥 Wildfire preparedness
🛠 Equipment and station upgrades
📍 Why It Matters Locally:
The proposal could directly impact San Fernando Valley communities like Chatsworth, Porter Ranch, Sylmar, and Woodland Hills — areas that regularly face wildfire risks and growing emergency call volumes.
💬 NNN Take:
With fire season approaching and emergency demands increasing across Los Angeles, Valley residents will likely be watching this proposal closely heading into November.
👉 Full story: LA Daily News

⚽ FIFA World Cup TAP Cards Now on Sale Ahead of 2026 Tournament
Metro has officially released limited-edition FIFA World Cup TAP cards as excitement builds for the 2026 World Cup coming to Los Angeles.
The collectible TAP cards can now be purchased online and at select Metro locations, featuring special World Cup-themed designs tied to the upcoming international tournament.
📍 Why It Matters Locally:
With Los Angeles set to host multiple World Cup matches next year, transportation and Metro access will become a major part of the fan experience — especially for San Fernando Valley residents traveling into the city for events and celebrations.
💬 NNN Take:
The World Cup hype is definitely starting to build around L.A. — and these TAP cards will likely become collector items long before kickoff even begins.
👉 Full story: LA Daily News

🏅 CSUN Events

🎓 CSUN Commencement Ceremonies
🎓 CSUN Commencement Ceremony #1: Sciences, Math & Engineering
When: Tonight, Friday, May 15 at 6:00 PM
Where: CSUN Library Lawn, 18111 Nordhoff St
Details: First of seven ceremonies. Free to attend; livestream available. Parking available on campus.
🎓 CSUN Commencement Ceremony #2: Business & Economics
When: Saturday, May 16 at 8:00 AM
Where: CSUN Library Lawn, 18111 Nordhoff St
Details: Early ceremony for David Nazarian College of Business graduates. Livestream link available on CSUN website.
🎓 CSUN Commencement Ceremony #3: Education & Health
When: Saturday, May 16 at 6:00 PM
Where: CSUN Library Lawn, 18111 Nordhoff St
Details: Michael D. Eisner College of Education and College of Health & Human Development graduates.
🏅 CSUN Athletics

⚾ Matador Rapid-Fire: Baseball Pressure, Volleyball Honors & Record Performances
CSUN athletics keeps stacking headlines as the spring season winds down — with postseason races, national volleyball recognition, and school records falling.
🔥 What’s happening:
• ⚾ Baseball — Big West Race Tightens: The Matadors continue battling for conference positioning as the regular season enters its final stretch with key home games remaining.
• 🏐 Men’s Volleyball — National Recognition Continues: Jalen Phillips earned another All-America honor after helping keep CSUN nationally ranked throughout the season and extending the program’s strong national presence.
• 🏆 Volleyball — Hall of Fame Celebration: Former Matador standout Bob Samuelson and longtime coach Jerritt Elliott were recently inducted into the Southern California Indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame.
• 🥏 Track & Field — School Records Fall: CSUN throwers Summer Mosley and Kyriaun Davis both broke school discus records during a huge weekend for the Matadors.
• ⛳ Men’s Golf — Big West Finish: Sophomore Tavin Boman led CSUN at the Big West Championships with one of the team’s top individual finishes of the tournament.
• 🎓 Campus Energy — Commencement Week Begins: Thousands of graduating CSUN students are preparing for commencement ceremonies as the semester officially winds down around Northridge.
👉 Full coverage: GoMatadors.com

📅 Events & Things To Do

🎓 Graduation Season Is Here Across the San Fernando Valley
Caps and gowns are about to take over the Valley as high schools, colleges, and universities across Los Angeles prepare for graduation ceremonies throughout the coming weeks.
The Daily News released its full 2026 graduation schedule, including dates and times for campuses across the San Fernando Valley and greater L.A. area — from local high schools to major universities like CSUN, UCLA, and USC.
Families are encouraged to plan ahead for parking, traffic, and large crowds around campuses during ceremony dates, especially during peak evening and weekend events.
For many Valley families, graduation season marks one of the biggest community milestones of the year — celebrating years of hard work, late nights, and proud moments finally paying off.
👉 LAUSD Schools: LA Daily News

🤝 Valley Referral Network - LeTip in Porter Ranch
Grow your business through real referrals - not just networking.
🤝 Weekly, structured meetings
🚫 One business per category
📈 Built to generate results
🗓 Thursdays · 7:00 AM
📍 The Vineyards, Porter Ranch
👉 Register to Visit or send this to someone who should: LeTip - Valley Referral Network

WEDNESDAY · MAY 13
🥬 Weekly Farmers Market at Northridge Fashion Center
⏰ 5 PM – 9 PM · 📍 Northridge Fashion Center
Fresh produce, artisan foods, flowers, desserts, and local vendors with relaxed midweek Valley vibes.
🔗 More info: Northridge Fashion Center Events
THURSDAY · MAY 14
🍻 Trivia Night at Paragon Bar and Grill
Paragon Bar and Grill, Northridge · Classic pub-style trivia. Bring your trivia buddies.
FRIDAY · MAY 15
🌮 Granada Hills Grubfest
5:00 – 10:00 PM · Chatsworth St between White Oak & Zelzah · 30+ rotating food trucks. Casual, dog-friendly. The standing Valley food event.
SUNDAY · MAY 17
🥬 Weekly Farmers Market at The Vineyards
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM · The Vineyards at Porter Ranch · Fresh produce, artisan foods, local vendors. Mother's-Day-meets-fresh-flowers energy — perfect plus-one for Mom.

💡 Know something we should feature?
💡 Got a tip? A neighborhood story? A weird thing you saw at Costco?
Hit reply - we read every email. Northridge Now is powered by tips from neighbors like you.
📬 Know someone who'd love NNN?
Forward this issue, or send them to northridgenow.com to subscribe.👋 Next issue drops Friday, May 15th.
If someone forwarded you this issue, you can subscribe free and get Northridge updates delivered straight to your inbox.


