👋 Welcome to Northridge Now - Issue #0027
Happy Friday, Northridge! 🎉
Big issue today — and we mean that. There's a Valley institution on the chopping block that has hundreds of kids and families fighting back. A safety alert parents near CSUN need to hear. Olympics tickets are live right now with a Valley-specific venue in the mix. And the Matadors baseball team just detonated a 7-run inning like it was nothing.
Also: a big rig turned the 118 into a parking lot Thursday morning, we've got CSUN Volleyball Senior Night happening tomorrow, and a full weekend events lineup packed with free things to do across the Valley. Let's get into it. 👇The victim of the Northridge Roscoe Blvd hit-and-run has been identified as Deondre Deloatch, 29. The driver remains at large. Tips: LAPD Valley Traffic at 818-644-8255 or Crime Stoppers 800-222-8477. Full ID report →
🔥 In Today's Issue:
⚠️ Just Miles Away: Fatal Sylmar Attack Serves as Wake-Up Call for the Valley
🏈 The Valley's beloved ice rink is being demolished — families are fighting back
🚨 Safety alert: kidnapping near CSUN — two girls escaped, LAPD needs your help
🚛 Big rig takes out the 118 Freeway at Granada Hills — what happened
🏟 LA28 Olympics ticket Drop 1 is LIVE — and the Valley has its own venue
🎭 CSUN's iconic Soraya gets a new leader with serious stage cred
⚾ Matadors baseball drops a 7-run inning on UC Riverside
🚨 Community Alerts & Safety
🚨 Fatal Stabbing in Sylmar Raises Safety Awareness Across the Valley
A deadly stabbing in nearby Sylmar is drawing attention across the San Fernando Valley, reminding residents—including those in Northridge—how quickly situations can escalate.
Authorities say an adult woman was fatally stabbed, and a suspect has since been taken into custody. While the incident occurred miles away, it highlights the importance of staying aware of your surroundings no matter where you are in the Valley.
🔥 What's happening:
📍 Incident occurred in Sylmar
👤 Adult female victim
🔪 Fatal stabbing reported
🚓 Suspect now in custody
At this time, investigators have not released full details about what led up to the attack or the relationship between those involved.
🧠 Why It Matters for Northridge
Even though this happened in Sylmar, incidents like this serve as a reminder that safety awareness isn’t limited to one neighborhood. Whether you're out running errands, walking at night, or at home, staying alert and reporting suspicious activity can make a difference.
👉 Full story: Los Angeles Daily News
🏈 They're Demolishing the Valley's Ice Rink on May 1 — And 5,600 Families Are Fighting to Stop It
For 30 years, the LA Kings Valley Ice Center in Panorama City has been the home of Valley youth hockey. Kids learned to skate here. Won championships here. Made lifelong friends here. Now the main rink is scheduled for demolition on May 1 — and the community is not going quietly.
🔥 What's happening:
📅 The Glacier main sheet at the Valley Ice Center is being demolished on May 1, 2026
🏥️ Replacing it: a senior medical facility — owner's decision, LA Kings had no say
🏈 The California Heat youth hockey program — based here since 1992 — has ~200 players across 12 teams, including a high school program
📝 A community petition asking officials and philanthropists to fund renovation or relocation has topped 5,600 signatures
😢 Families who were there 5-7 days a week say their kids cried when they found out. "This is our community," one parent said.
🏃 The smaller secondary rink remains but is non-regulation — not enough for the California Heat's full program
📍 Why it matters locally: This isn't just Panorama City. The Valley Ice Center draws kids from Northridge, Granada Hills, Van Nuys, and across the 818. When community sports infrastructure disappears, it rarely comes back. Youth hockey in the SFV could lose its entire home base.
NNN Take: Five thousand six hundred signatures is a lot of Valley families who care. If you haven't signed, it takes 60 seconds. Elected officials pay attention to numbers — let's give them numbers they can't ignore. 🏈
👉 Full story: CBS Los Angeles | SF Valley Sun | NBC Los Angeles
📰 Valley News & Updates
🚛 Big Rig Crashes Through the 118 Center Divider in Granada Hills — Commuter Chaos Thursday Morning
If your Thursday morning commute on the 118 was a disaster, here's why. Just after 5:30 AM, a big rig smashed through the center divider near the 405 interchange in Granada Hills, jackknifing across westbound lanes. Both directions were shut for hours.
🔥 What's happening:
⏰️ Crash: shortly after 5:30 AM, Thursday April 9
📍 Location: 118 Freeway near the 405 Freeway interchange, Granada Hills
🚛 The rig was heading eastbound, blew through the center divider, and jackknifed across westbound lanes
🚧 As of 10 AM, CHP said closures would last approximately 4 more hours for center divider repairs. Injuries were not immediately confirmed.
📍 Why it matters locally: The 118/405 interchange is the main artery for commuters out of Northridge, Granada Hills, Porter Ranch, and Chatsworth. When it goes down, the entire northwest Valley backs up.
NNN Take: Nothing unites the 818 quite like shared freeway rage. Hope you had a good playlist. 🎧
👉 Full story: ABC7 Los Angeles | CBS Los Angeles
🏟 LA28 Olympics Ticket Drop 1 Is LIVE — And the Valley Has Its Own Olympic Venue
The first public Olympic ticket sale launched April 9 and runs through April 19. The Valley angle: Sepulveda Basin is an official 2028 Olympic venue, hosting 3x3 basketball, BMX, and skateboarding. For the first time in Olympic history, the San Fernando Valley is on the map. 🍽️
🔥 What's happening:
🎫 Drop 1 public sale: April 9–19, 2026 (need a draw time slot to access)
💵 Prices: $28–$5,500 plus a 24% service fee. Most tickets are $100+. The $28 seats went fast.
🏐 Sepulveda Basin will host: 3x3 basketball, BMX freestyle, BMX racing, skateboarding park & street
📅 Games: July 14–30, 2028
🙋 60,000 volunteers still needed (250,000+ applications already submitted)
🔄 No time slot? More drops coming later in 2026 — register now at la28.org
📍 Why it matters locally: The SFV is hosting the Olympics for the first time ever. Sepulveda Basin is going from Sunday picnic spot to international Olympic arena. That's genuinely historic for this community.
NNN Take: Yes, the service fee stings. But watching Olympic-caliber BMX at a park you've walked your dog at? That's a story. Register for Drop 2. 🥇
👉 Full story: LAist | Buy tickets: tickets.la28.org
📰 CSUN Campus News
🎭 CSUN's Soraya Gets a New Director — Meet Chad Hilligus, West Side Story Veteran Turned Arts CEO
The Valley's most celebrated performing arts venue is entering a new chapter. CSUN announced April 8 that Chad Hilligus has been named the new Executive and Artistic Director of The Soraya. He starts June 15 — and his resume is something else.
🔥 What's happening:
🎤 Hilligus joins from the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto, where he was CEO
🌎 Toured internationally with The Ten Tenors (2011–2014); starred in the 50th anniversary world tour of West Side Story (2009–2011)
📅 Start date: June 15, 2026
🏗️ The Soraya: 1,700-seat nationally recognized venue, 40+ performances/year — orchestras, dance companies, major musical artists
📍 Why it matters locally: The Soraya is Northridge's cultural anchor. Under the right leadership, it's more than a concert hall — it's a Valley gathering place. Hilligus brings both the artistic cred and the executive experience to make that real.
NNN Take: A guy who performed West Side Story internationally is now running our local arts palace. That's a glow-up for The Soraya and for Northridge. 🎶
👉 Full story: CSUN Newsroom
📰 CSUN Matadors Sports
⚾ BOOM — Matadors Baseball Drops 7 Runs in One Inning, Beats UC Riverside 9-6
CSUN trailed UC Riverside 2-1 heading into the sixth Thursday afternoon. Then they just... erupted. Seven runs. One inning. Final: Matadors 9, Highlanders 6. Road win, Big West statement made.
🔥 What's happening:
📊 Final: CSUN 9, UC Riverside 6 — April 9 Big West series opener
💣 7-run 6th inning flipped a 2-1 deficit into an 8-2 lead in minutes
🌟 Andrew Becker, Trent Abel & Vaughn Coleman each drove in 2 runs; 5 players with multi-hit games
🔥 Colton Boardman: 17 consecutive games reaching base. Andrew Becker: 11-game hit streak
🎯 Gabriel Hernandez: 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 strikeouts for the W. Record: 19-13 overall, 9-7 Big West
NNN Take: Seven. Runs. One. Inning. Boardman's on-base streak is quietly one of the most impressive things in Valley sports right now. Keep rolling, Matadors. 🙌
👉 Full story: GoMatadors.com
📅 Events & Things To Do
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🍔 TONIGHT — FRIDAY, APRIL 10 Granada Hills Grubfest 🚚 ⏰ 5:00–10:00 PM | 📍 Chatsworth St between White Oak & Zelzah, Granada Hills 30+ rotating food trucks, dog-friendly, every Friday night. The Valley's best weekly tradition. Go hungry. 🌮 |
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🐕 SATURDAY, APRIL 11 Dog Adoption Event — Chatsworth 🐾 ⏰ 1:00–4:00 PM | 📍 Chatsworth, CA Meet adoptable pups and support local rescue. Even if you're not adopting, come pet some very good dogs. 🐶 |
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🌸 SATURDAY, APRIL 11 — FREE Blooms & Brews Festival 🍺 ⏰ 2:00–8:00 PM | 📍 San Fernando, CA | 💰 Free A free spring food and drink festival with local vendors, music, and good community energy all afternoon into the evening. |
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🌺 SATURDAY–SUNDAY, APRIL 11–12 Songkran Festival — Thai New Year at Wat Thai 🎊 📍 Wat Thai of Los Angeles, 8225 Coldwater Canyon Ave, North Hollywood Traditional Thai dance, live music, incredible food, and the beautiful water blessing ceremony. One of the most joyful and welcoming cultural celebrations in the Valley — open to all. |
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🏐 SATURDAY, APRIL 11 CSUN Men's Volleyball Senior Night vs. #6 UC Irvine 🎓 ⏰ 6:00 PM | 📍 Premier America Credit Union Arena, 18111 Nordhoff St, Northridge | 📺 ESPN+ Final home match. Four seniors honored. One last shot at a Top-10 opponent on home floor. Pack that arena. |
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🌿 SUNDAY, APRIL 12 Urban Foraging Walk — Granada Hills 🍃 ⏰ 9:00–11:00 AM | 📍 Granada Hills | 💰 From $20 Expert-guided walk to find and identify edible plants in Granada Hills' urban landscape. A genuinely fun Sunday morning for the nature-curious. |
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🥦 SUNDAY, APRIL 12 Weekly Farmers Market at The Vineyards — Porter Ranch 🌿 ⏰ 9:00 AM–2:00 PM | 📍 The Vineyards at Porter Ranch, 20017 Rinaldi St Fresh produce, artisan foods, local vendors — every Sunday. Coffee, flowers, and a relaxed morning. 🛒 |
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🧠 TUESDAY, APRIL 14 Tuesday Trivia Night at Dave & Buster's 🎮 ⏰ 7:30 PM | 📍 Dave & Buster's Northridge, 19505 Nordhoff St Hosted by Leaderboard Games. Live rankings, competitive format, bring your crew. Every Tuesday at 7:30 — no excuses. |
👀 What’s Coming Next
More local business spotlights
Short, relevant Northridge news
Events, deals, and community updates worth paying attention to
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