Photos by Lindsay Schlick of SchlickArt for Soroptimist International of Greater SCV

[March 24] — With the right kind of spring weather, visitors to Old Town Newhall tasted wine and food samples all along Main Street during The Wine Affair, hosted by Soroptimist International of Greater Santa Clarita Valley on Sunday.

The event was one of the first signature events when the organization began a decade ago, said Dora Zavala, current treasurer-elect.

"We have had great success with (this) event, and this year we wanted to do something different only to resonate with the community and the vibrancy of what we're doing here locally within the community," she said. "So it was a natural thing to come down on Newhall, and there's so many new businesses, so many new restaurants, so many wonderful boutiques out here to take advantage of creating connection within the community and with what we do as Soroptimists."

Visitors received a ticket where could sample food and beverages from various venues and stores, such as Brewery Draconum, Closet On Main, Pulchella Winery and Newhall Press Room. Wine, food, beer and other items were donated from each restaurant and store to the event, Zavala said. Towards the intersection of Main Street and 9th Street, guests could sit and listen to a live band perform different classic rock hits.

All of the proceeds went to two of the organization's programs, Live Your Dream and Dream It, Be It. The programs aim to empower women and young girls, said Lissa Mahler, Live Your Dream award chair.

"They're going to carry this through their entire lives, no matter what happens," she said.

Joe Dopico walked through the tents on Main Street looking at items for sale with his girlfriend and daughter. He described his first Soroptimist-held event as "perfect, and it's for a good cause." He also acknowledged the openness to give local residents, like his family, to tour through parts of town.

"I'd like the fact that we can sample all the new restaurants," Dopico said. "I love what they've done with Old Town (Newhall), I think it's great. We need a lot more of this here. Our population is growing, so we need to have this. We still are kids, we need to play."

[2019] — Soroptimist International of Greater Santa Clarita Valley is part of the global volunteer organization Soroptimist International, working to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment.

We are committed to foster international goodwill and understanding, provide leadership development opportunities and fellowship. Serving as a global voice for women, we advance public awareness of women's issues and celebrate their contributions and achievements globally and locally.

We dedicate our time and resources to actively serve in our community and build roads of opportunities for local women and girls in crisis to help them reach their full potential.

Soroptimist International was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. Since then it has grown and we are now represented in more than 120 countries and territories worldwide with 95,000 members. The name Soroptimist means "best for women." The Greater Santa Clarita Valley Club was chartered in 2008 positively impacted the lives of women and girls through the Live Your Dream award, the Dream It Be It Program, Educating Women to Lead Scholarships through College of the Canyons and Go Girls Program at the Val Verde Community Center.