👋 Welcome to Northridge Now - Issue #0037
Monday Evening Release 🌙
Hitting your inbox later than usual — consider this your long weekend Valley catch-up.
🔥 In this issue:
🍸 Valley Referral Network Happy Hour Mixer this Thursday
🚗🔥 Auto Salvage Yard Fire sends smoke across the Valley
🚨 Truck Theft caught on camera in West Hills
🐻 Bear spotted roaming Pacoima neighborhoods
🚔 CSUN arrests spark campus police debate
🏅 CSUN sports: records, finales, and Big West honors
📅 Your Weekend Events - Food, Markets, Mother’s Day, Theatre & More
Let’s get into it 👇
📰 Valley Spotlight
🍸 Valley Referral Network — Happy Hour Mixer This Thursday
Looking for a more relaxed way to connect with local business owners?
Skip the early alarm — we’re bringing the network to happy hour.
🔥 What’s happening:
Casual business mixer (no pressure, no pitches)
Meet local professionals + business owners from around the Valley
Appetizers hosted by the group
Cash bar to keep things flowing
📍 Where: LA Popular
🗓 When: This Thursday: 5-7-26
⏰ Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
💡 First time guests are FREE
📩 RSVP: Email [email protected] to be added to the guest list
💬 NNN Take:
This is the easiest way to check out the Valley Referral Network — no 7AM commitment, just show up, grab a drink, and see if the vibe fits.
👉 Come by yourself — or bring someone who should be in the room.
Say user_id. Get user_id.
Wispr Flow recognizes variable names, file references, and framework syntax mid-dictation. Speak your prompt, get developer-ready text for GitHub, Jira, or your editor. No mangled syntax. Ever.
📰 Valley News
🚗 Auto Salvage Yard Fire Sends Thick Smoke Over the Valley
A large fire broke out at a San Fernando Valley auto salvage yard, sending heavy smoke into the sky and drawing a major emergency response.
🔥 What happened:
Fire crews responded to a blaze at a salvage yard packed with vehicles and flammable materials
Thick, dark smoke could be seen from miles away across the Valley
Firefighters worked aggressively to contain the flames and prevent spread to nearby structures
🚒 Why it’s serious:
Auto salvage yards are high-risk fire zones due to fuel residue, oil, tires, and compressed materials. Once ignited, fires can escalate quickly and burn intensely.
🌬️ Impact locally:
Air quality concerns for nearby neighborhoods
Temporary road closures and traffic disruption in the area
Residents advised to stay indoors if sensitive to smoke
💡 NNN Take:
These types of fires are tough to control and can linger. The bigger concern isn’t just the flames—it’s what’s in the air. If you’re nearby, keep windows closed and limit outdoor exposure until things clear.
👉 Full story: KTLA
🚨 Truck Theft Caught on Camera in West Hills — Suspects Still on the Run
A bold driveway theft in West Hills is raising concerns after suspects were caught on camera stealing a GMC Denali right out from a home.
🔥 What happened:
Surveillance footage shows multiple suspects pulling up to a West Hills home
Within minutes, they gain access to a parked GMC Denali and drive off
The entire theft was quick, coordinated, and caught clearly on camera
LAPD is actively searching for the suspects
🎥 What stands out:
This wasn’t random — it looked targeted and efficient. Crews are moving fast, often using tech or signal tricks to access newer vehicles without keys.
📍 Why it matters locally:
High-end trucks and SUVs like Denalis continue to be prime targets across the Valley. And this one hit right in a residential driveway — not a parking lot, not overnight on the street.
💡 NNN Take:
If it’s outside, it’s exposed.
Key fobs, signal boosters, and quick-entry tactics are making it easier than ever to take newer vehicles.
Simple layers still matter:
Park inside when possible
Use steering wheel locks
Consider signal-blocking (Faraday) pouches for keys
Cameras help — but prevention is better than footage after the fact
If something feels off — cars cruising slowly, people lingering — trust that instinct and report it.
👉 Full story: ABC7
🐻 Bear Spotted Roaming Pacoima — Yes, Really
Not something you expect in the Valley — but a large bear was spotted wandering through Pacoima, catching residents completely off guard.
🔥 What happened:
A full-grown bear was seen roaming residential streets in Pacoima
Sightings were captured on video as the animal moved through the neighborhood
Authorities were alerted and began monitoring the situation
No injuries reported, but the encounter raised immediate safety concerns
🌄 What’s going on:
Wildlife sightings like this are becoming more common as animals move further into urban areas — often in search of food or due to habitat pressure.
📍 Why it matters locally:
This isn’t deep forest — it’s the San Fernando Valley.
And it’s a reminder that even dense neighborhoods aren’t immune to wildlife crossing over, especially near foothill areas.
💡 NNN Take:
Respect the space — and don’t approach.
If you spot wildlife like this:
Keep your distance
Bring pets indoors immediately
Secure trash and food sources
Call authorities — don’t try to handle it yourself
It’s rare — but not impossible. And when it happens, it happens fast.
👉 Full story: ABC7
🏅 CSUN News
🚔 Student Arrests Spark Push to Eliminate Campus Police at CSUN
Tensions are rising at California State University, Northridge after recent student arrests have led to a growing movement calling for the removal of campus police.
🔥 What’s happening:
Several student arrests have triggered backlash across campus
A newly formed coalition is demanding the abolition of CSUN campus police
Organizers are calling for alternative safety systems and reallocation of resources
Protests and organizing efforts are gaining traction among student groups
📣 What the coalition is saying:
The group argues that traditional policing does not create a safe environment for all students and is pushing for community-based safety approaches instead.
⚖️ The other side:
Supporters of campus police say officers play a critical role in responding to emergencies, maintaining order, and protecting students and staff.
📍 Why it matters locally:
CSUN is a major hub in the Valley — what happens on campus often reflects broader conversations happening across Los Angeles around policing, safety, and community trust.
💡 NNN Take:
This is bigger than one incident.
It’s part of an ongoing shift in how safety is being defined — especially in younger communities.
Expect continued debate, more organized action, and likely a response from university leadership as pressure builds.
👉 Full story: CSUN Newsroom
🏅 CSUN Sports
📚 Records Broken, Seasons Closed, Hardware Earned — Your Weekend in CSUN Sports
Outside of the Oregon State weekend, Matador athletes had a wild three-day stretch of school records, season closers and Big West honors. Quick hits 👇
🔥 What's happening:
🥏 Discus, Part 1: Summer Mosley threw 57.76m on her sixth and final attempt at UC Irvine's Steve Scott Invitational — new CSUN women's program record.
🥏 Discus, Part 2: Kyriaun Davis threw 57.63m on his first attempt to break a 42-year-old men's mark held by Rick Weyers (1984). Matadors set roughly 20 personal bests across the meet.
🥎 Softball season finale: CSUN beat Long Beach 7-6 Friday (Madison Okano had two hits and an RBI) but lost a Saturday doubleheader 2-1 and 3-2 (walk-off). Final record: 14-32, 9-18 Big West. Senior Raegan Jackson doubled in her last collegiate at-bat.
🎾 Women's Tennis: Five Matadors named to All-Big West teams; team finished 16-8 with two postseason wins after a 4-3 semifinal loss to Cal Poly.
⛳ Women's Golf: Senior Kim Turgut tied for 4th individually at the Big West Championship at Ka'anapali; team finished 6th.
⚾ Baseball series finale: CSUN fell 5-2 to Oregon State on Sunday. Matadors host Cal Baptist Tuesday and UC Santa Barbara this weekend.
🗣️ NNN Take:
Two discus records inside one meet is bonkers. And shoutout to softball's seniors — finishing your career on the road, in walk-off heartbreak, isn't easy. They showed up.
👉 More: CSUN Athletics
📅 Events & Things To Do
TUESDAY · MAY 5
🎯 Tuesday Trivia at Dave & Buster's
7:30 PM · Dave & Buster's Northridge · Hosted by Leaderboard Games. Competitive format with rankings.
THURSDAY · MAY 7
🍻 Trivia Night at Paragon Bar and Grill
Paragon Bar and Grill, Northridge · Classic pub-style trivia. Bring your trivia buddies.
FRIDAY · MAY 8
🌮 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.
SATURDAY · MAY 9
🏃 PACE 5th Annual Autism Shero Run
8:00 AM start · Woodley Park (Section 1, 6350 Woodley Ave., Van Nuys) · Inclusive 5K, 10K & 1K Kids Fun Run supporting kids and adults on the autism spectrum. Live DJ, bounce house, food trucks, vendors. Registrants get custom finisher medals.
SUNDAY · MAY 10 · 💐 MOTHER'S DAY
🥬 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.
TUESDAY · MAY 5
⚾ CSUN Baseball vs. California Baptist
5:00 PM · Robert J. Hiegert Field, CSUN campus · CSUN's final midweek game of the season. Audio only on GoMatadors.com/Radio.
FRIDAY · MAY 8
⚾ CSUN Baseball vs. UC Santa Barbara (Game 1)
5:00 PM · Robert J. Hiegert Field, CSUN campus · The first game of CSUN's final regular-season home weekend. Last day of formal CSUN instruction.
SATURDAY · MAY 9
⚾ CSUN Baseball vs. UC Santa Barbara (Game 2)
2:00 PM · Robert J. Hiegert Field, CSUN campus · Saturday afternoon ball at the friendly confines.
SATURDAY · MAY 9
🎓 CSUN Honors Convocation
6:00 PM · University Library Lawn, CSUN campus · Open-air ceremony recognizing CSUN's top graduating students. Family- and community-friendly.
🔗 Details
SUNDAY · MAY 10
⚾ CSUN Baseball vs. UC Santa Barbara (Series Finale)
1:00 PM · Robert J. Hiegert Field · The last regular-season home game of 2026. Bring Mom and a glove.
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