Sunday Signal January 16, 2022

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JANUARY 16, 2022

Vinyl Returns Page 5 Your News, Entertainment & Lifestyle Source

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PREPARING FOR THE BIG ONE

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EXPLORING DESERT ODDITIES

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GARDENING IN WINTER

PLUS : CITY NEWS | OPINION | SCHOOL | ENTERTAINMENT | CALENDAR | HEALTH & FITNESS

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J A N UA RY 16, 2022

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NEWS FEATURES 4 4 A Resurgence in Vinyl Records 6 Emergency Preparedness 28 Years from Northridge 7 Explore Desert Oddities FROM THE CITY MANAGER 8 8 Addressing Homelessness SENIOR LIVING 9 9 Creating Structure After Retirement ENTERTAINMENT 10 10 ‘Peacemaker’ — Wacky, Subversive Comedy/Action FOOD 11 11 Healthier Comfort Foods Tuna Pasta Casserole Ginger Pumpkin Soup GARDENING 13 13 Gates: Plenty of Garden Work to do this Winter HOME 14 14 Pros and Cons to Open-Concept Homes HEALTH 15 15 Simple Winter Allegies? Or Something Else?

KIDS & FAMILY 17 17 Donna’s Day: Easy Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Junior Whirl PUZZLES 18 OPINION 19 SPECIALIZING IN PRECISION ELECTRONIC TUNE-UPS, FUEL INJECTION, IGNITION, SMOG CHECK, GENERAL AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR

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Richard Budman Doña Uhrig Tim Whyte

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661-259-1234 The entire content of the Sunday Signal is copyrighted 2022 by Paladin Multi-Media Group, Inc. All submitted letters and columns are strictly the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the publisher. All rights are reserved and no part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. If you would not like this delivered to your home, please call (661) 259-1000.

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J A N UA RY 16, 2022

N E W S F E AT U R E

VINYL RECORD RESURGENCE

By Victor Corral Martinez Signal Staff Writer

In The Digital Age, Many Music Lovers are Turning To a Classic Analog Format

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THE MAKING OF A VINYL ~ Soundwaves grooves are cut into a lacquer disc and hold up to 2,600 feet of lines. ~ The first lacquer disc is the mother disc used to make the master stamp, with each master capable of stamping 100,000 records. ~ The master disc gets washed, sprayed with chloride and liquid silver. ~ Then the disc is placed in a nickel solution that hardens the silver and allows for the separation of the master from the mother disc. ~ Polyvinyl chloride pellets are melted down in the shape of a warped hockey puck. ~ A label is placed on top of the melted pellets and the master discs with 60,000 tons of pressure forming a vinyl record. ~ The vinyl is then trimmed of excess and tested by production quality control. ~ Once quality control signs off on the vinyl, mass production is then started.

— TSI Digital Media

ne recent morning at 10 a.m., Anthony Beeby flipped his open sign at Boho Records and Rags, unlocked his doors.

Minutes barely passed when a young couple in their 20s came inside with the intent to dig through the record crates to find those elusive records they’ve been searching for.

In the age of digital streaming, many have returned to vinyl records to experience a connection to the artist and the music — replacing the chinaware cabinet with their record player and vinyl collection.

This new demand for vinyl records has fueled the industry’s resurgence, providing a place for all age groups to connect, interact and socialize. However, the supply continues to lack the capability to meet the soaring demand.

The midyear report by MRC Data in collaboration with Billboard showed vinyl sales had seen continuous growth for 15 consecutive years. In 2021, vinyl records recorded more than 19.2 million sales, a significant uptick from the previous year’s 9.2 million sales.

Conversely, 2021 digital album sales saw a sharp decline with 12.9 million sales reported, a decline of about 5 million from the previous year.

Albums from Adele, ABBA and Taylor Swift helped fuel the demand for vinyl sales last year, surpassing cassette sales for the first time since 1991.

As such, the demand for analog album sales has fueled the manufacturing of albums.

TSI Digital Media has continued to manufacture cassettes since 1976, and has now expanded into compact discs, vinyl and VHS manufacturing.

TSI Digital Media President Steve Feldman said the influx of vinyl sales has many going into the analog media industry to capitalize on the growing demand.

“There’s a tremendous influx in having the music put on vinyl, and everybody’s challenge is that there’s a limited capacity of production,” said Feld-

man, whose company is based in the Valencia Industrial Center. “So the turnaround times to order the vinyl is six to nine months out.”

The demand is so high that some production chains have sourced vinyl production to Europe in order to help meet demand and shorten the delay times from digital album release and vinyl album release. There are only about 20 vinyl pressing plants in the U.S. with three in California.

“Vinyl manufacturing has always been very slow,” Feldman said. “It’s always been three to six months usual, and now takes six to nine months.”

Feldman credits the resurgence of vinyl to the warm sound heard on records, the collectability aspect and artists pushing for physical musical release. He also added that the production of record players helped push demand for vinyl; a similar trend may begin to form for cassette tapes.

Feldman said streaming services had hurt the sales for artists, and with COVID-19 shutting down many concert tours, Feldman hopes his clients get back to the income streams they deserve for their music.

Even with production stalling and artists unable to tour, vinyl sales show no signs of declining. Instead, Beeby at Boho Records sees the growth continue — even with a minimal online presence.

Beeby said the hope initially was to make enough sales to operate a retail location but quickly hit sales that saw immediate profits. Then, during the Christmas shopping season, Beeby noticed a 30% increase in sales at his Old Town Newhall store, and was shocked at the demand.

“We could see the boom of Christmas of 2020, where we saw a lot of new faces coming in who had bought turntables or had gotten turntables for Christmas,” Beeby said.

Beeby noticed even teenagers were coming into the store to find, for example, an Etta James record.

They may have heard it in a documentary or movie — music not from their time.

J A N UA RY 16, 2022

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 5

N E W S F E AT U R E

Top Selling Vinyl Albums 2021 1. Adele, 30

Listening to a vinyl album is “what heaven sounds like.”

— Anthony Beeby

318,000 2. Olivia Rodrigo, Sour

268,000 3. Taylor Swift, Red (Taylor’s Version)

260,000 4. Harry Styles, Fine Line

256,000 5. Billie Eilish, Happier Than Ever

252,000 6. Taylor Swift, Evermore

249,000 7. Prince, Purple Rain

207,000 8. The Beatles, Abbey Road

201,000 9. Taylor Swift, Folklore

195,000 10. Kendrick Lamar, good kid, m.A.A.d city

194,000 — 2021 MRC Midyear Report “So all these young kids were discovering these albums for the first time,” Beeby said.

The MTV generation is middle-aged now; they’re bringing their children and showing them what they would listen to, according to Beeby.

Beeby’ has seen rock band records that are 40 years old selling for $10,000 and have passed the values of cars. Additionally, the price of records is still going up, and the cost of a new record is remarkably higher.

Beeby suggests the music labels will push out remasters of old record releases that many can’t find on first-run pressings. This demand has caused production to move outside the United States to meet the demand.

“There’s a label owner in Pasadena and he’s got a record company, with eight releases,” Beeby said. “For the last year he’s been trying to get them pressed, and it’s taking eight months to get one record released.”

Vinyl is expected to continue to grow for the next few years, and the supply can’t be met because of the lack of new pressing plants. Beeby added that popular records like Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” had shown a lack of quality control because they’re made in places that care more about quantity.

“We get in stuff coming in from the Czech Republic, and I’m sorry, but the quality’s garbage,” Beeby said.

Boho Records co-owner Anthony Beeby saw a 30% increase in sales at his Old Town Newhall store.

PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

However, with the supply chain issues, Beeby would like to see independent pressing plants open up to manufacture vinyl records because the new machinery to make records has shown progress to meet the demand.

Now, Beeby’s biggest problem is finding records to sell from resellers or distributors. Many original release records are heavily played and worn out, which can’t be sold, and new releases are still experiencing quality issues.

Beeby advises changing the needle to a higher quality for all new vinyl collectors, and buying the brushing equipment online to guarantee your records are maintained and ensure that you have a better sound.

When asked why people like listening to vinyl records, Beeby said, “It’s what heaven sounds like.”

He said the warmth, crackling and depth of tone in vinyl has an element that can never be produced in a digital streaming format.

“There are certain records, and I don’t care who you are, or you may not like that genre of music, but you hear it and you go, ‘That’s a perfect record,’” Beeby said. “If you don’t like it, well, there’s something wrong with you.”

Boho Records and Rags is located at 24827 Railroad Ave., Newhall 91321, and can be reached at (661) 388-4066 or online at bohorecordsandrags. com. 

Beeby shows off one of his rare albums for sale — “A Night at the Opera” by Queen. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

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J A N UA RY 16, 2022

N E W F E AT U R E

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

THE BIG ONE As We Approach the 28th Anniversary of the Northridge Earthquake

By Doña Uhrig Sunday Signal Editor

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outhern California is due for the earthquake that experts and residents alike have dubbed “The Big One,” according to seismologists at the California Institute of Technology.

“The further in time we go away from a big event, the less likely something is going to happen,” said Jennifer Andrews, a Caltech seismologist. “But we are overdue for ‘The Big One.’” If you were to visit the U.S. Geological Survey website on any given day, you might be surprised at the number of earthquakes occurring in the southern California area.

On Jan. 11 within a 2-hour window, there was a 2.7 magnitude quake and a 2.8 magnitude in West Carson, a 1.5 in Fontana and a 1.6 in Carson.

But as we approach the anniversary of the Jan. 17, 1994 Northridge earthquake, we are reminded of being prepared for the next big one.

CalTech

Geologists have looked back at the San Andreas fault, and found out how often the fault line had caused a 7- or 8-point magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale, and they then determined a repeat rate.

The San Andreas, according to Andrews, is supposed to record one of that size at least once every 150-200 years, depending on which section of the fault you look at.

The southern portion of the San Andreas fault, which runs parallel to the Santa Clarita Valley, has not gone off at that magnitude in some 300 years, she said.

“That’s really quite a long time for us to not have had a San Andreas, big earthquake,” Andrews said. “But it’s not predictable … and it’s not like clockwork.”

Geographically, Santa Clarita not only sits near the San Andreas faultline, but also sits on the San Gabriel fault line, the Sierra Madre fault zones and the Northridge blindthrust fault.

A blind-thrust fault does not break through all the way to the surface. It is buried under the uppermost layers of rock, according to USGS. That is the type of quake that occurred in 1994.

“There are thrust faults running through Santa Clarita, and there are possibly some we don’t know are there,” said Andrews.

The Northridge earthquake was a 6.7 magnitude earthquake and the July 4, 2019 Ridgecrest was a 7.1, but the damage and effect an earthquake has on people is all about the location of the epicenter.

If the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake “had been in downtown Los Angeles, it would have been significantly damaging,” said Andrews. “Ridgecrest was in a relatively sparsely populated area, but if you had relocated it to one of our densely populated areas, you would have seen significant damage.”

Preparedness

The City of Santa Clarita’s emergency preparedness website has several pieces of information available — in English and Spanish — to prepare for emergencies ranging from earthquakes to fires to whatever nature decides to bring.

Beyond the essentials listed here, the city See PREPARE, page 16

ESSENTIALS Water: 1 gallon per person per day (a week’s supply of water is recommended) Water purification kit First aid kit, freshly stocked First aid book Food Adjustable wrench for turning off gas Can opener (non-electric) Blankets or sleeping bags Portable radio, flashlight, and spare batteries Sturdy shoes Heavy gloves to clear debris Duct tape, plastic sheeting Light sticks Whistle Essential medications Extra pair of eyeglasses Extra pair of house/car keys Fire extinguisher (ABC type) Food, water, and restraint (leash or carrier) for pets Cash and change Baby supplies: formula, bottle, pacifier, soap, baby powder, clothing, blankets, baby wipes, disposable diapers, canned food, juices — City of Santa Clarita

J A N UA RY 16, 2022

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N E W S F E AT U R E

Explore Desert Oddities

By Doña Uhrig Sunday Signal Editor

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hinking of warmer places to visit during the Southern California winters? Here are some out-of-the-ordinary desert places to put on your to-do list.

Borrego Springs Scuptures

Dinosaurs in the Desert

Ricardo Breceda calls himself an “accidental artist,” who is now well known as a sculptor and a designer. He started creating his metal sculptures when his daughter asked for a dinosaur for Christmas. That was only the beginning.

If you travel to Borrego Springs, you can see 130 metal sculptures of prehistoric animals that were commissioned by philanthropist Dennis Avery.

Avery wanted the sculptures to be based on the fossilized creatures that can be found in the Anza Borrego Desert.

“These fanciful creatures seem to march across the scruffy flats. It’s quite a remarkable menagerie, with everything from desert bighorn rams in battle to a gigantic, 350-foot-long sea serpent that appears to be slithering through the desert sands,” according to Visit California. “The effect can be truly dramatic on clear nights when the full moon or star-filled skies light up the sculptures.”

The Borrego Springs Sculptures are located at Galleta Meadows, 1700-1844 Borrego Springs Road, Borrego Springs 92004. It is about a 3 ½ hour drive from Santa Clarita. For more information, visit desertusa.com/borrego/bs-art.html.

California’s Grand Canyon

Two other interesting spots in the Anza Borrego area are the Borrego Badlands and Fonts Point, which is also known as California’s Grand Canyon.

The 20-miles wide by 15-miles long Badlands was formed by water from the Gulf of California and the Colorado River.

Fonts Point overlooks the badlands for a spectacular view. It is a four-mile drive south from the Borrego-Salton Seaway and requires four-wheel drive because of the sandy terrain.

For more information, visit visitcalifornia.com/ experience/borrego-badlands-fonts-point.

Pioneertown

Located about 160 miles east of Santa Clarita is the historic town of Pioneertown. While you may think it was built in the 1800s, it was actually built in 1946 as a film set and tourist attraction.

Outdoor Desert Art The original investors included Dick Curtis, Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Sons of the Pioneers, Russell Hayden, Frank McDonald, Tommy Carr, Terry Frost and Bud Abbott at a cost of $500 each.

Today, there are several retail stores and the western-town feel allows for great photos. Camp sites are available or you can stay at the Pioneertown Motel, which was built by Roy Rogers as lodging for the movie stars.

Pioneertown is located at 53626 Mane Street, Pioneertown 92268. For more information, visit visitpioneertown.com. For more information about the Pioneertown Motel, visit pioneertown-motel.com.

Good food and live music can be found at Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace. The eatery was featured in Condi Nast Traveller as a “Wild West-style saloon on an otherwise silent highway, where Paul McCartney played a surprise set to an intimate crowd who were near-dumb in disbelief.”

For more information about the palace, visit pappyandharriets.com.

Outdoor Desert Art Museum of Assemblage Art

Sculptor Noah Purifoy spent 15 years creating large-scale art on 10 acres of land near Joshua Tree National Park. The sculptures are created from found materials including discarded junk and desert driftwood.

The free museum is open daily to the public from sunrise until sunset.

The Integratron PHOTOS COURTESY VISIT CALIFORNIA

Probably one of Purifoy’s most well-known exhibition is the “66 Signs of Neon,” which was largely created from artifacts of the 1964 Watts riots. The exhibit globally travelled between 1966 and 1971.

The Outdoor Desert Art Museum is located at 62975 Blair Lane, Joshua Tree 92252. For more information, visit noahpurifoy.com/joshua-tree-outdoor-museum.

Integratron

The Integratron is a wood dome built on the intersection of geomagnetic forces and is designed to be an “electrostatic generator for the purpose of rejuvenation and time travel,” according to their website.

Its signature attraction is the Sound Bath, which is available by reservation. The 60-minute experience includes an introduction to the Integratron and its healing powers. There is a 35-minute portion where participants experience the live sounds of 20 quartz crystal singing bowls. The bowls are keyed to the chakras of the body. Private and public sound bath experiences are available.

Located 20 miles north of Joshua Tree National Park, Integratron was founded by George Van Tassel.

He said the structure was based on the “design of Moses’ Tabernacle, the writings of Nikola Tesla and telepathic directions from extraterrestrials.”

Currently closed for renovation until Feb. 2, The Integratron is located at 2477 Belfield Blvd, Landers 92285. For more information, visit www.integratron. com. 

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J A N UA RY 16, 2022

FROM THE CITY MANAGER

Commitment to Addressing Homelessness

By Ken Striplin Santa Clarita City Manager

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hen we reflect on the success and growth of Santa Clarita over the past year, we cannot forget the strides we have made in addressing homelessness within our community.

The City of Santa Clarita has shown a continued commitment to addressing this issue by way of the Community Task Force on Homelessness, the annual Homeless Count and supporting our local non-profit service providers. Regardless of socioeconomic status, individuals deserve to have access to necessities such as food, water and a roof over their heads. The City works hard to deliver these essentials by collaborating with local organizations and developing solutions to meet varying needs.

As mentioned, the Community Task Force on Homelessness continues to serve a crucial role in addressing the challenges of our unhoused population while also working to preserve the quality of life in our community. The Task Force is comprised of a diverse range of organizations ranging from government agencies to service providers, schools and faithbased institutions. They have played a role in the initiatives you see implemented throughout our community to prevent and combat homelessness. Some of these efforts include planning for both the new Bridge to Home and new Family Promise facilities, establishing Family Resource Centers at schools for at-risk families and increasing the local presence of the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Homeless Outreach Services Team. I am also proud to say that under the guidance of Santa Clarita City Council, City staff have completed approximately 400 homeless encampment

site inspections, cleared 23 encampment sites and helped clear more than 11,000 pounds of debris from encampment sites over the past year.

So, what are the City’s next steps for addressing homelessness in Santa Clarita? A significant step will be the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s annual Homeless Count, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 25, in the Santa Clarita Valley. After the cancellation of the 2021 Homeless Count due to the ongoing pandemic, we are fortunate to resume the annual count under improved conditions safely. The count will now consist of volunteers collecting data digitally, allowing for enhanced collection and quality assurance processes. This data will help guide the City’s strategies and funding for ending homelessness in our community. The LAHSA reports that more than 8,000 community members participate in the Homeless Count. For the count to be accurate and impactful, volunteers

are essential. I am grateful that we will have nearly 200 volunteers within the Santa Clarita community to aid us in a successful count. You can learn more about the Homeless Count and opportunities to get involved by visiting TheyCountWillYou.org.

The goal of the Homeless Count and Community Task Force on Homelessness will always be to end homelessness in our community. As our community grows, The City of Santa Clarita will remain focused on preventative measures, support tools and lasting solutions for addressing homelessness and maintaining our exceptional quality of life. Residents can stay up-to-date on the City’s progress to address homelessness by monitoring SantaClaritaHomelessAction.org.

Ken Striplin can be reached at kstriplin@santa-clarita.com. The views expressed in his column are those of the City and do not necessarily reflect those of The Signal. 

J A N UA RY 16, 2022

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 9

SENIORLIVING

Structure after Retirement

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rofessionals typically look forward to retirement and the freedom that comes with it. The notion that commuting and deadlines will one day be a distant memory is enough to make anyone excited for retirement. But when the day to leave the daily grind behind arrives, many retirees admit to feeling a little anxiety about how they’re going to find structure.

Retirement is a big transition, and Robert Delamontagne, PhD, author of the 2011 book “The Retiring Mind: How to Make the Psychological Transition to Retirement,” notes that some retirees experience anxiety, depression and even a sense of loss upon calling it a career.

Some of those feelings can undoubtedly be traced to the perceived lack of purpose some individuals feel after retiring. Without a job to do each day, people can begin to feel useless. Overcoming such feelings can be difficult, but finding ways to build daily structure can make the transition to retirement go smoothly.

• Find something to truly engage in.

Professionals who truly enjoy their work tend to be fully engaged, so it’s no surprise if such individuals have a hard time adjusting to retirement.

Some may suggest volunteering can help fill the void created by retirement, but researchers with the Sloan Center on Aging and Work at Boston College have found that only those individuals who are truly engaged in their post-retirement volunteering enjoy the psychological benefits of such pursuits.

So before retirees dive right in to volunteering as a means to creating structure, they should first exercise due diligence and find an opportunity they’ll find genuinely engaging.

• Embrace the idea of “bridge employment.”

“Bridge employment” is the name given to the trend that has seen retired individuals take on part-time or temporary employment after they have retired from full-time working.

COVID-19 has no doubt skewed post-retirement working statistics since the World Health Organization first declared a pandemic in March 2020, but a 2019 survey from the LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute

Our gift to you in 2022! found that 27% of pre-retirees with at least $100,000 in assets planned to work part-time in retirement. Even part-time work can provide enough daily structure to help retirees feel as though each day is not just a free-forall.

• Make a concerted effort to be more social.

Volunteering and working are not the only ways to create structure in retirement. A concerted effort to be more social can help retirees fill their days with interactions with like-minded individuals who may be experiencing the same feelings.

Join a book club, a local nature group that goes on daily or semi-daily morning hikes or another local community organization. These are great ways to build structure and meet new people.

Retirees can create social media accounts to find local community groups that cater to their interests.

Even if it seems hard to believe, plenty of retirees are seeking to create structure in retirement life, and social media can make it easier to find such individuals in your community.

Structure and retirement may seem like strange bedfellows. But many retirees seek structure after calling it a career, and there are many fun ways for seniors to create more organization in their lives. (MC) 

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J A N UA RY 16, 2022

E N T E R TA I N M E N T

‘Peacemaker’ is a ‘Wacky and Subversive Comedy/Action Romp’

for the primary running joke in this wacky and subversive comedy/action romp.

‘Peacemaker’ Consider the moment when Peace(out of four) maker is shown a photo of a senator, A series premiering with three ephis wife and their two children — and isodes Thursday, Jan. 13 on HBO told his assignment is to assassinate Max. New episodes premiere on subthe entire family, because they’re not sequent Thursdays through Feb. 17. actually human, they’re something … quite different and dangerous. But e already know from Peacemaker’s new supervisor says he last year’s “The Suidoesn’t trust Peacemaker enough to cide Squad” movreveal any further information, so ie that John Cena’s Peacemaker exclaims: “So what is it, Christopher Smith aka Peacemak‘Just trust us and shoot kids’? Come er is among the dumbest and most eatres • Santa Clarita Signal on man, look how adorable that one adsource@exhibitorads.com brutish entities in the superhero uni[kid] is. The other one, not so much. verse, given his slogan is: “I cherish p. 888.737.2812 f. 203.438.1206 He’s got a ‘Children of the Corn’ vibe peace with all of my heart. I don’t PHOTO COURTESY IMDB going on. Are you sure those two kids January 16-20, 2022 date: Sunday-Thursday, care how many men, women and came out of those parents? That’s an Squad” and “Guardians of children Tuesday, I kill to get it.” delivery date: January 11, 2022 at“Suicide 10:40:24 AM CASCS_LEM0116-0120.qxp attractive couple …” the Galaxy” writer-director James To quote the immortal Napoleon That’s some twisted and funny stuff Gunn, the HBO Max spinoff series Dynamite: Ugh! Idiot! right there. placing Peacemaker front and center Peacemaker is also a politically inOf course, it helps to have as your works, because the titular character’s correct, misogynistic, wildly inaplead the chiseled and amiable forboneheaded and often misguided but propriate, socially tone-deaf, ignomer pro wrestler Cena, who has an rant lunkhead — but in the care of sincerely felt words and deeds make admirable one-two punch of action skills and comedic timing — and is the perfect foil for meta humor, e.g., when Peacemaker opines that cliTM mate change isn’t real and a colleague retorts, “Why do all the people who think pro wrestling is real think climate change is a hoax?”

22500 Lyons Ave. info Line 310.478.3836 The deadpan lunacy tone of “Peacemaker” is set with the opening credits, where Cena and the ensemble cast, in character, perform a hilariously stiff choreographed dance number to the sounds of the bombastic Scream E The VeLVeT Queen glam-rock anthem “Do You Wanna 1:30 4:30 7:30 Taste It?” by Wig Wam. (Writer-di1:30 4:30 rector Gunn is a master at pop/rock The 355 C needle drops.)

SPider-man: no Way In the pilot episode, we pick up the Sun & Mon: 1:10 4:10 7:20; Tue: story just after the events of “The Suihome C 1:10 4:10; Wed & Thu: 1:10 4:10 cide Squad,” with Smith/Peacemaker miraculously recovering from his 7:20 1:00 4:00 7:00 injuries after having killed Rick Flag during the Task Force X’s mission Licorice Pizza E WeST Side STory C in Corto Maltese. Upon his release, 1:10 4:15 7:20 Peacemaker is offered another “Dirty 1:00 4:00 7:00 Dozen” type of deal: He can avoid The Tragedy of macbeTh E prison by joining a task force helmed La LiSTe - eVeryThing or 7:10 PM

by Clemson Murn (Chukwudi Iwuji), and you can be sure the ensuing misnoThing Sing 2 B sion will involve Peacemaker getting into all sorts of comedically violent 1:15 4:20 7:30 Tue: 7:30 PM scrapes and we’ll eventually see guts FOR 1/16/20221/20/2022 ONLY WWW.LAEMMLE.COM spilling and heads exploding.

By Richard Roeper Signal Contributing Writer



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L L A H W E N

The “New” Laemmle NEWHALL Bringing the Finest in Film to the SCV!

Peacemaker’s new colleagues include the obligatory snarky tech nerd John Economos (Steve Agee); the gorgeous, no-nonsense and quite lethal Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland), and the eager and inexperienced Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks). He also has to contend with the irritatingly chipper Vigilante aka Adrian Chase (Freddie Stroma), who is kind of like a Dimwit Deadpool and is dying to be Peacemaker’s BFF, and Peacemaker’s father, Auggie (the always formidable Robert Patrick), a white supremacist who is so hateful and has been so awful to Peacemaker, we begin to feel empathy for the big guy. It’s clear Peacemaker’s bravado stems from his deep-rooted insecurity and his aching need to be loved.

Brimming with references to D.C. characters such as Harley Quinn and Aquaman and brutally frank jokes about real-world figures such as Louis C.K., “Peacemaker” is a James Gunn creation through and through, with Gunn flexing his pop culture muscles and spilling blood, guts and irreverent humor all over the screen. There are times when the jokes seem stuck on repeat mode, but Cena and the terrific ensemble cast are real gamers who sink their teeth into the often absurd material, and we’re happy to ride along with them in their ridiculous undercover van that looks exactly like an undercover van.

Minireview ‘The 355’

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Universal Pictures presents a film directed by Simon Kinberg and written

by Kinberg and Theresa Rebeck. Rated PG-13. In theaters.

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essica Chastain, Lupita Nyong’o and Penelope Cruz are among the stars playing international agents teaming up to retrieve a powerful techno-device.

This slick clunker comes across as if the screenwriters had gathered the scripts for dozens of similar films, dropped them into a software blender and whipped up one big, bland smoothie of a story. 

Copyright 2022 Chicago Sun-Times

J A N UA RY 16, 2022

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 1

FOOD

Healthy Comfort Food with a Better-for-You Favorite

T

aking time to nurture your health and well-being starts with building healthier habits. As the seasons change, challenge yourself to make small yet consistent choices that help you and your family through transitions at school, the office or wherever your days take you.

To help you establish (or re-establish) healthy habits during mealtime and beyond, consider these tips.

Eat Meals Together

“Making time for meals together as a family provides a chance to connect and decompress,” said Bridget Wojciak, director of nutrition at Kroger Health, a national sponsor of the American Heart Association’s Healthy for Good initiative. “In fact, regular meals at home can help reduce stress, boost self-esteem and improve feelings of connection.”

Make Time for Yourself

Chronic stress can have a negative impact on mental and physical health, but turning lost moments — like a meal by yourself spent mindlessly scrolling through social media — into mindful moments can help. Try practicing gratitude at the table by thinking of three things you’re grateful for or putting your fork down between each bite to savor the flavor and consider the nourishment you’re receiving.

Visit heart.org/healthyforgood to download more heart-healthy recipes and find more tips for a healthier you in mind, body and heart. (Family Features)

Tuna Pasta Casserole Recipe courtesy of the American Heart Association’s Healthy for Good initiative Servings: 4 4 ounces dried whole-wheat rotini pasta (about 1 1/2 cups)

nonstick cooking spray

Ginger Pumpkin Soup Recipe courtesy of the American Heart Association’s Healthy for Good initiative

16 ounces frozen mixed vegetables, thawed 1 pouch (11 ounces) low-sodium chunk light tuna 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) low-fat, low-sodium condensed cream of chicken soup 1/2 cup chopped roasted red bell peppers 1/2 cup fat-free half-and-half 1 teaspoon all-purpose, salt-free seasoning blend 3/4 cup crushed low-sodium, whole-grain crackers 1/4 cup shredded or grated Parmesan cheese Prepare pasta according to package directions, omitting salt. Using colander, drain well. Transfer Servings: 4 1 1/2 teaspoons canola or corn oil 1 medium onion, finely minced 3/4 tablespoon minced peeled gingerroot or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 2 medium garlic cloves, minced, or 1 teaspoon bottled minced garlic 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1 3/4 cups fat-free, low-sodium vegetable broth 1 cup water 2 cans (15 ounces each) solid-pack pumpkin 1 cup fat-free milk 1/4 cup fat-free sour cream (optional) 2 tablespoons chopped chives (optional) In large heavy pot, heat oil over medium-high heat,

to large bowl.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly spray 2-quart glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Stir mixed vegetables, tuna, soup, roasted peppers, half-and-half and seasoning blend into pasta until combined. Transfer to baking dish.

Top with crackers and Parmesan cheese.

Bake, uncovered, 25-30 minutes, or until casserole is warmed through and topping is golden brown.  swirling to coat bottom. Cook onion 6-8 minutes, or until soft, stirring occasionally.

Stir in gingerroot, garlic, thyme, cinnamon, pepper and salt. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.

Stir in flour. Pour in broth and water. Using spatula, scrape bottom of pot to dislodge any browned bits. Stir in pumpkin. Bring mixture to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes.

Stir in milk. Remove from heat. Ladle soup into bowls.

Garnish with sour cream and chives, if desired.

Nutritional information per serving: 138 calories; 2.5 g total fat; 0 g saturated fat; 0 g trans fat; 0.5 g polyunsaturated fat; 1 g monounsaturated fat; 1 mg cholesterol; 199 mg sodium; 27 g carbohydrates; 10 g dietary fiber; 14 g sugars; 6 g protein.

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J A N UA RY 16, 2022

E N T E R TA I N M E N T

Does Anybody Remember Laughter?

C

raig Shoemaker is a modern-day renaissance man, with a show business career spanning more than three decades as a stand up comedian, actor, author, writer and producer.

He was named Comedian of the Year at The American Comedy Awards and garnered two NATAS Emmy awards. His stage, film and TV acting credits are extensive.

Recently, he co-stared as Bandit in the critical-

ly acclaimed movie “Middle Man.” He was the reoccuring character Wilson Gromling; the head of Pawnee’s Liberty or Die Party on “Parks & Recreation” and he had a five-episode run on “The Bold & The Beautiful.”

To continue making us laugh on screen and in print, Craig was called in to join the writing staff for season two of the iconic sitcom “Fuller House.”

And, his best selling book “LoveMaster’d — A

Digital Journey to Love & Happiness,” is critically acclaimed by the likes of Whoopi Goldberg and Dr. Drew Pinsky, inspiring readers worldwide in managing through personal difficulties.

You can see Craig Shoemaker live at The Canyon Santa Clarita on Feb. 25th.

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster. For more information, visit www.wheremusicmeets thesoul.com. 

J A N UA RY 16, 2022

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 3

GARDENING

There is Plenty of Garden Work to do this Winter

By Jane Gates

Signal Staff Writer

N

ow, here’s a gardening break from all the holiday activity!

Unlike much of the country where folks are shuttered indoors with frosty weather, we Santa Claritans can enjoy some of the best working weather for gardening.

We may not be building snowmen, but we can bask in sunny, crisp days outdoors and finally take those first steps to make our landscapes better than ever for the new year.

Now’s the time to order, tools, flower, vegetable and hard-to-find seeds, started plants and trees. Also look for items — or just ideas — for décor, outdoor furniture and practical structures like storage or potting sheds, trellises or shade covers.

Pruning and Shopping Time

It’s time to cut back woody plants and trees. Sap is slowing, and plants will bleed less from any major pruning that is necessary. It’s also the time to start planting large shrubs and trees.

Now that the Christmas trees have vanished from garden centers, look for the best selections (and the best prices) for fruit trees and decorative shrubs. They’ll likely be displayed for sale in January.

Early winter is Santa Clarita’s best time to clean, plan and start work on a new and improved landscape. PHOTO BY JANE GATES / THE SIGNAL

This will be the beginning bareroot season: a short period in winter when stores carry these woody plants un-potted. You won’t get better deals or wider choices any other time of year. What’s more, buying plants when they are dormant and their roots encased in bags, makes carting them from store to planting area delightfully easy on the back.

While you are picking through the bare-root plants, don’t forget to look for onion and garlic sets, strawberry, rhubarb and asparagus roots all becoming available. There should also be a nice selection of spring-bloom-

Big and Little Jobs

Keep blown leaves scooped out of ponds and water features. We are not done with windy weather. If you haven’t done it yet, consider turning off your pump for the winter and save on electricity. Do not feed fish.

They don’t digest food well in winter.

Instead, they’ll be hanging out at the bottom in a semi-dormant state waiting for their liquid homes to warm up in the spring.

Weather is now cool and comfortable for doing big jobs in the garden. The winter months are handy for building and remodeling your garden — whether it is just one area or the whole landscape. One caution: Avoid working soil right after rain as it will compress valuable air out of the wet soil. And who needs all that mud stuck to your shoes and tracked everywhere, anyway?

Gardens will appreciate a little extra help when frosty nights are in store.

Add compost and other top-dressings as mulch to retain soil moisture and keep roots warm. Drape material like burlap or shade cloth over any tender plants if a freeze is predicted.

Planning Saves Time, Money

Now is the perfect time to sketch out plans for re-designing your garden so you can get the most beautiful landscape possible to fit with your lifestyle and budget. Call in professional help if you want it done for you or just want some feedback on your own designs. I can’t emphasize enough how important planning is. It gives you an overall layout so you can work on your garden over time and it can save you from making very costly mistakes.

For more information about gardening in the Santa Clarita Valley, visit Jane Gates on YouTube at https://you tube.com/user/Janieg8s. 

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Bare-root season is upon us. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

ing flower bulbs available. Bulbs only bloom for a short time, but they make up for it with dazzling flower displays. And they will keep the garden colorful while the sleepier garden members are still waking up.

Set up rain barrels or other water collection tubs to reuse rainwater in the garden during dry periods. I just added two rain barrels to my landscape. The water will be used to top up my pond in dry periods. It will not only save me on water consumption, but it will circumvent the potentially deadly chloramine in our city water that can injure or kill fish. To make my barrels blend with the landscape, I’ve planted pots of dangling strawberry plants on the top. The barrels now create their own ornamental (and tasty, nutritious) container garden.

Continue to cut back on lawn watering. You can even let your lawn go dormant for the winter to save on maintenance and water use. Or, as I always recommend, replace some of your lawn with something more useful, like decorative, drought-resistant gardens, tasty fresh edibles, or a colorfully graveled, low-maintenance seating or play area.

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J A N UA RY 16, 2022

HOME

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pen-concept homes have become increasingly popular in recent years.

An open-concept home is one in which the rooms flow into one another with limited obstruction from walls or other barriers.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, 84% of new single-family homes have fully or partially open layouts.

While they may seem like a new trend, open floor plans are anything but. Early American homes featured open, often one- or two-room units built around the central kitchen/hearth. This maximized warmth and functionality. Homes evolved as incomes grew, and soon homes had several smaller rooms with specialized functions.

What’s old has become new again.

However, before diving head first into a new home purchase or a big renovation to realize an open-concept dream, consider the pros and cons of this type of setup to determine if it’s really right for you.

Advantages

Open floor plans facilitate the flow of natural light throughout a space and can promote air flow, helping to reduce warm or cool pockets of air in otherwise closed-off rooms.

Open homes make socializing easier, even when people are doing different things. While someone is cooking dinner in the kitchen, he or she can still interact with someone else playing video games in the family room or paying bills in the home office. Entertaining also is easier, as mingling with guests is much more convenient when walls are not getting in the way.

A smaller home can feel much larger if it employs an open concept. The

square footage is not divided into smaller quarters, which sometimes are rooms (such as formal dining rooms) that are only used a few times per year. This eliminates underused spaces and opens up sight lines in the layout.

The value of real estate has risen dramatically since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and prospective buyers may prefer an open-concept plan because it can help them minimize building costs.

Disadvantages

Open layouts are not for everyone.

The same sense of space that occurs when walls are taken down may make rooms feel cavernous and less cozy, particularly in homes with ample square footage. In addition, privacy can be hard to come by when all rooms feed into one another.

When the kitchen is not separate from the family room space, that makes it easy for noise to compromise the area’s comfort levels.

There is no hiding from noise in an open floor plan, as sounds from voices, television shows and appliances tend to echo and blend together.

And if the home is a single-story layout, those noises from the main living areas also may carry to adjacent bedrooms.

Smoke and smells are another thing to consider. When something on the stove spills over, a small range hood will not be practical for clearing smoke from a large space. Though the aroma of freshly cooked food is enticing, it can make it hard for cooks to keep guests out of the kitchen.

Open-concept homes are popular, but homeowners should weigh the pluses and minuses to see if this trend is truly right for them. (MC) 

J A N UA RY 16, 2022

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 5

H E A LT H

Simple Winter Allergies or has Something Else Developed?

W

inter is a great time to get cozy and enjoy indoor activities, but it can also cause winter allergies to flare up. According to Healthline, you’re more likely to spend more time indoors because of the colder weather, which increases your exposure to indoor allergens.

Allergies cause your body to release histamine, which creates an inflammatory response, such as nasal inflammation.

Some of the most common indoor allergens that can trigger your winter allergies include: • Airborne dust particles • Dust mites • Pet dander • Mold In addition to allergens, the winter season can also trigger sinus issues such as excessive mucus production due to dry air and heating. All these triggers combined can cause chronic nasal inflammation, a condition

called sinusitis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 28.9 million adults nationwide have been diagnosed with sinusitis.

If allergies and sinusitis cannot be adequately managed, they can lead to another condition, nasal polyps. Nasal polyps are inflammatory growths along the lining of nasal passages or sinuses. Nasal polyps can get irritated and swollen, partially blocking the nasal passages and sinuses.

Some of the symptoms of nasal polyps include • Nasal obstruction • Congestion • Loss of sense of smell About 1% to 4% of people develop nasal polyps. The incidence of nasal polyps increases with age and is likely the greatest between 40 and 60 years of age.

Tips to Keep in Mind

You can take several preventative measures to decrease your chances of winter and indoor allergies, which

can also lower your risk of developing sinusitis and nasal polyps.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, here are a few tips that can help you manage your winter and indoor allergies and may also help prevent nasal polyps: • Follow your doctor’s instructions on taking your allergy and asthma medications, and address any changes in breathing through your nose with your doctor.

• Avoid breathing airborne allergens or irritants that lead to inflammation of your nose and sinus cavities.

• Practice good hygiene. Certain types of bacteria or viruses cause nasal and sinus infections, so be sure to wash your hands regularly.

• Use a humidifier in your home to help moisten your breathing passages.

• Use a saline nasal rinse or spray to remove allergens or other irritants that may cause nasal polyps.

Treatment Options

If you do develop chronic sinusitis or nasal polyps, you have options.

Several treatments can help, which range from lifestyle changes and overthe-counter remedies to prescribed medications and surgery. These treatments aim to reduce sinus inflammation, allow air to circulate well in your nasal passages and enable mucus to drain.

To decrease the size of your polyps, your doctor may prescribe an over-the-counter oral or injectable treatment. Other treatments include intranasal steroid sprays, nasal saline irrigation, oral steroids, and sinus surgery. While these treatments may bring you some relief, they’re not foolproof. Studies show that if an intranasal spray is used alone, only a relatively small amount of the medication reaches the sinus cavity.

(BPT) 

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J A N UA RY 16, 2022

PREPARE

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Continued from page 6

Emergency

also recommends that emergency kits contain important documents, an ID such as a passport, emergency contact list, an inventory of valuable household items and personal photos. Digital copies can be kept online so it is one less thing to worry about finding in an evacuation.

Other useful supplies that should be kept readily available could include a crow bar, shovel, broom, tool kit, rope and a bicycle.

The city also recommends residents create a pet emergency kit. Suggested supplies include three days of food in an airtight container, three days worth of water, a backup leash and collar, a sturdy crate or pet carrier and the pet’s favorite toys, treats and bedding.

“Emergency Preparedness is planning how to respond when an emergency or disaster occurs and working to gather the resources to respond effectively. These activities help save lives and minimize damage by

911

Sheriff’s Department (661) 255-1121

CA Poison Control (800) 876-4766

Southern California Edison (800) 611-1911 PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

preparing people to respond appropriately when an emergency is imminent or hits,” the city says.

Santa Clarita residents can sign up for the eNotify alerts that provide up-to-date information on a variety of issues from events to emergency preparedness. On the city signup page simply select the topics of interest.

For more information on the city’s emergency preparedness recommendations, visit shorturl.at/cpAM6. 

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J A N UA RY 16, 2022

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 7

K I D S & FA M I LY

Donna’s Day: Creative Family Fun

Easy Grilled Cheese Sandwiches for a Crowd

By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer

I

s there such a thing as easy entertaining? When reviewing our busy December days, I admit that in spite of my intentions, parties became a bit of a production with my long to-do lists and shoutouts to kids to run last-minute trips to the store to pick up mushrooms for the gravy or to our Scandinavian market for lingonberries and herring.

By the time I lit ice candles on our porch to welcome guests, I had to ask myself, “Could I have simplified this?”

In this new year, I want to keep our welcome candles burning for all, but skip a bit of the fancy and go for the easy-prep practical. After all, it’s the get-together that matters, right?

Spending time around the table eating, laughing and connecting with family and friends matters most.

That’s where making and serving oven-baked grilled cheese sandwiches for a crowd, the easy way saves the day. Bake them in the oven all at once instead of the traditional way of grilling in batches on your stovetop in a frying pan.

They’ll be evenly browned and done at the same time, ready to be paired with a bowl of piping hot soup, such as fragrant basil tomato.

Slice the sandwiches in half diag-

Here is my basic oven-baked grilled cheese sandwich recipe. Feel free to embellish with spicy mustard or mayo sauce spread inside, and add additional varieties of cheese. Sometimes I include a pinch of kale or other fresh greens I have on hand.

4. Bake in the oven for 5-6 minutes until bread is toasted on exposed side.

Oven-Baked Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

6. Cool for two minutes. Slice in half diagonally and arrange on a platter. Serve with hot bowls of your favorite tomato soup. Makes 6 sandwiches.

12 slices white bread a half-inch thick, such as pre-sliced Texas toast Butter, softened for spreading 6 thick slices cheddar cheese 1. Preheat oven to 450 F. Set parchment paper on a large baking sheet.

onally and watch your guests enjoy dipping the pointed ends into the soup. Crispy, gooey and tasty, you’ll be creating fond food memories in 2022.

2. Ask your child to count and place six slices of bread on the parchment lined sheet. Butter each piece and flip over.

3. Lay a slice of cheese on the unbuttered side. Top with another slice of bread. Butter top side.

5. Flip with a spatula and bake an additional 5 minutes until golden brown and cheese is just melted.

Donna Erickson’s award-winning series “Donna’s Day” is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activities, visit www.donnasday.com and link to the Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.”  © 2021 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Synd.

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SOLUTIONS

PUZZLES

J A N UA RY 16, 2022

CROSSWORD TIME

J A N UA RY 16, 2022

Opinion

S U N D AY S I G N A L · 1 9

Unless otherwise stated, the views and opinions expressed are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily represent the views of The Signal.

READERLETTERS

Willie Brown on District Voting Regarding the issue of at-large voting versus district elections, as called for in the lawsuit by attorney Scott Rafferty: I think the words of Willie Brown, former San Francisco mayor, speak directly to this. The question, and his response, are from an interview with Thomas Fuller, San Francisco bureau chief for the New York Times, Jan. 3. In it, Mr. Brown is discussing the emergency declaration in the Tenderloin District, in the city of San Francisco, by Mayor London Breed.

Q: Will the state of emergency in the Tenderloin work?

A: Only if she can get the rest of the city to buy in.

The city unfortunately is not run by the mayor. We are now plagued with the politics of districts that have no interest in anything except their little turf.

If Scott Rafferty has his way, Santa Clarita could easily go the way of San Francisco, L.A. and other cities that have adopted districts. I have lived in L.A. and I am not interested in going back. I like knowing every member of our City Council is beholden to me.

Thomas Smith Valencia

2021 Views to Reassess Thinking: We can predict the way things will proceed. We are too focused on the present and believe the future will be like the past. Therefore, we engage in linear thinking as change from discontinuities is constantly occurring.

Problems: Once we solve this problem things will be fine. We only have a limited capacity to deal with problems. As we solve one or it solves itself, room becomes available for another one to deal with.

Communications: If only communications could be faster. During the millennia communications speeded up from speaking to ships, telegraph and wireless. Speed is no longer the criteria but the cost and amount of content.

Money: We need electronic money. Electronic money is already everywhere today, and money is not real or tangible anyway. It is only trust for value in the future because of an enforcement mechanism to protect this claim.

Solutions: This is the solution to our problem. For every problem there are proposed solutions, often incorrect, emotionally driven, too costly and judged without considering changing circumstances or the cost of being wrong.

GA Ben Binninger Valencia Submit a Letter to the Editor

Include name, address & phone; Anonymous letters aren’t printed; email: letters@signalscv.com.

E T H I C A L LY S P E A K I N G

The Erosion of Civil Critique

By David Hegg

A

s I have watched, listened, and grieved the erosion of civility in society among those who make and report the news, the course we’ve taken has finally become clear.

It used to be that criticism was confined to what a person did, what they said, or how they appeared.

When some local or national figure acted unseemly, or spouted pronouncements that didn’t make sense, or made promises they couldn’t keep, when some movie star walked the red carpet in some absurd getup, their actions were critiqued as unwise, foolish, careless, manipulative, shocking or any of a host of other adjectives that labeled their actions in a negative way. They were hounded for their words, their obvious lack of knowledge, their preposterous posture or some other obvious flaw.

What I’m getting at is this. It was understood that good people can make mistakes, can say and do things that are unacceptable to some, and generally get themselves in hot water especially when they live in the public eye where everything they do, say, or wear is recorded, reported and critiqued. But at one time, we as a nation critiqued their mistakes and left it at that.

Of course, over time when someone kept making mistakes, impossible promises, ridiculous assertions, and regularly acted in ways that were misleading, shocking and even immoral, critique moved from actions to character.

We see quite a bit of that today, and it is only natural. We all make mistakes from time to time.

We all misspeak, fudge the truth and act inappropriately. And, we should be called out for those transgressions simply because we don’t want to act that way, and those who love us don’t want that from us either.

But, when mistakes become the norm, when duplicitous or shocking or manipulative behavior become the contour of life, it is reasonable to suggest that these actions no longer register in the column of human error. They speak to a deeper problem. They evidence a flawed character where self-protection and self-promotion have overcome common decency.

We see this all too often today. We’ve largely gone from judging actions to castigating character. What used to be reported as a mistake is now declared to be a character flaw, and the language is getting dirtier and dirtier. For example, that person didn’t just spin the truth, he’s a liar. And that politician

didn’t just take undue advantage of her position, she’s an arrogant elitist. And they don’t really care about people, they’re just manipulative power-hungry tyrants pandering for votes.

What I’m trying to show is the evolution of our divisive rhetoric, and the corresponding erosion of civil critique We used to critique actions. But now we jump right to character. And that’s not the end of the road.

In the past few years we have moved from critiquing actions, to decrying character, and now finally, to impugning a person’s nature. I can say it simply: Those we don’t like are not just foolish or even flawed in their character. They are evil. They are by nature evil human beings and should never have a place in our world.

If you’ve been playing with open eyes and an open mind you’ve seen national figures say their opponents should be shot, run over and left for dead. We’ve heard that some hope their opponents die of COVID-19, or spend the rest of their lives behind bars because they are unredeemably evil while other criminals are released on insignificant bail.

Really? See what’s happened? Someone cuts us off on the freeway and we don’t see it as a mistake motivated by them being late, or unthinking. No, we shout, “You Idiot, you imbecile,” and secretly hope we see them wrapped around a light pole down the road or at least pulled over by the Highway Patrol.

Friends, this erosion has filtered down from the newsmakers to our own hearts. We’re losing the important sense of community, that we really are in this together, even though we know that love for neighbor is the foundation of any ordered, productive and satisfying society. All around us civility is gasping for air even as we everywhere hear the call for collaboration, cooperation and unity. Ha! It’s hard to have unity when, first thing in the morning we are sharpening our tongues.

So, in closing, go ahead and critique my writing, my opinion, even my moral philosophy and my theology. But for the love of reason and peace, don’t rush to brand me as evil and fill my mailbox with hateful, inflammatory rhetoric. Instead, help me see your side with reasoned, well-thought-out and well-written arguments. After all, haven’t we got enough evil already? What we need is a bit more knowledge applied to life as wisdom.

Local resident David Hegg is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church. “Ethically Speaking” appears Sundays. 