Sunday Signal August 4, 2019

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AU G U S T 4, 2019

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NEWS FEATURES 4 5 7 8

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3 Locally Owned and Operated

4

Kate, Kumite and championship karate It’s wine o’clock in the Santa Clarita Valley Pet owners share precaution about predators Ballerina ready for next ‘stepping stone’

LOCAL NEWS

9 Additions and welcomes for Hart school district 10 Local man accused of bilking VA out of $4M Former NYPD officer, 9/11 responder out of surgery 11 Cemex files new suit; feds respond City tackles suicide awareness with film 12 Grandparents as Parents hosts bowling day Detectives investigate mall fight

TECHNOLOGY

13 The Apple Credit Card, best free email and a private OS

FROM THE CITY MAYOR

14 Using storytimes to enhance early literacy skills

SPORTS

15 Castaic High readies itself for first season

THINGS TO DO

16 One last summer adventure before school

DINING GUIDE TRAVEL

21 Fun in the sun on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

ENTERTAINMENT

22 Reggae’s The Original Wailers to play at Canyon

FOOD

23 Michele makes muffins: blueberry, strawberry, chocolate …

KIDS & FAMILY

24 Ten tips for teaching your children about saving Prevent dehydration during the dog days of summer 25 Donna’s Day: Turn nature finds into artful sunprints Three tips to setting up a successful homework area

CALENDAR HOME IMPROVEMENT

27 Termites, vinyl windows, whole-house fans

HOME & DESIGN

28 Arrange furniture, design rooms more easily

SENIOR LIVING

29 Brain-healthy habits to reduce memory-loss risks

PROFILE

30 Striplin passionate about making the city the best

HEALTH & BEAUTY

33 Tips for summer hair that beats the heat

TIME RANGER GARDENING

35 How to garden in the heat of August

OPINION

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4 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

AU G U S T 4, 2019

N E W S F E AT U R E S

Kate, Kumite and championship karate

By Haley Sawyer Signal Sports Editor

K

arate is more than just breaking boards, as any student at Rising Sun Karate in Stevenson Ranch will tell you.

“I get that question every time,” said Kevin Stevens with a smile. “‘You do karate, right? Oh, so you break boards,’ and it’s like, ‘No.’” Four students at Rising Sun, in particular, have dedicated an enormous amount of time and dedication to studying the ancient art, and in the process, earning a spot on the USA National Team, a feat that involved much more than just breaking boards.

Students Kevin Stevens, 17; Kieran Tamondong, 16; Rachel Lam, 12; and Aiden Lewis, 12, each qualified for the national team and a trip to the Pan American Games next month in Ecuador, after competing at the USA Team Trials in Chicago July 9-14.

“It’s really exciting,” said Randy Word, owner of Rising Sun and head sensei. “All four of them work really hard, so to see them accomplish a goal they’ve been working on all year is very fulfilling.”

It’ll be Stevens’ sixth trip to the Pan Ams, and he’s returning as a more determined athlete than ever. Last year, he won silver after losing to a Venezuelan athlete in the finals. He’ll most likely face the same opponent, and Stevens wants to be ready.

Now that he’s older, karate has taken on a new meaning in his life that goes beyond redemption in compe-

Students Kevin Stevens, 17; Kieran Tamondong, 16; Rachel Lam, 12; and Aiden Lewis, 12, each qualified for the national team and a trip to the Pan American Games next month. PHOTOS BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

tition.

“It’s been more of a personal journey,” he said. “So I come here and I walk here, a lot, alone, at like 10 at night when no one is here, without my friends.”

Tamondong will be competing in the Pan Ams for the third time, and additionally qualified for the World Championships in Chile.

He has been studying karate for over 12 years and like Stevens, began to take the sport more seriously as he aged and matured.

“At a young age, I always wanted to

Rising Sun Karate Sensei Randy Word, right, and students from left, Kevin Stevens, 17, Kieran Tamondong, 17, Rachel Lam, 12, and Aiden Lewis, 12, at Rising Sun Karate in Stevenson Ranch.

aspire to be, like, a Power Ranger; but then it kind of morphed into wanting to better myself,” he said. “I also learned better life skills and all that.

And going up the ranks of like, from green to red to brown belt, I just got better at my craft and thought maybe I could compete with this.”

Lam and Lewis will each travel to the Pan Ams for the first time. At 12 years old, the pair qualified in their first year of eligibility.

Lam is also the first female from Rising Sun to qualify for the USA National Team, and she remembers the moment she made the cut. She won by one flag in the semifinal round of the Kata variation of Karate to join the team.

“In Kata, they have three judges in the front and two judges in the back,” she said. “They do red or blue flags and I won 3-2 by one flag and, immediately, I ran after we bowed off, I ran off the mat and I just hugged my sensei, my other coaches and then my teammates were running already to the gate.”

Lewis, who will attend Rio Norte Junior High with Lam in the upcoming school year, is equally excited that he qualified for the National Team.

He’s taking his training even more seriously in the weeks leading up to the Pan Ams. “I have to get a lot better because this like, it’s the best of the best from every country,” he said. “So just trying to improve everything. So that’s kind of the approach. Improve as much as I can in the time I’m given.”

There are two types of karate that the four students can compete in: Kata, pronounced KAH-tah, which is rooted in movement and patterns, and Kumite, pronounced KOO-mait, which involves sparring.

Tamondong qualified in both styles, while Stevens qualified in Kata, Lewis in Kumite and Rachel in Kata.

Although each student is different, and will compete in different styles, Word says that their sense of team and support for each other will be valuable in the Pan Ams, which are set to take place Aug. 26 to Sept. 2.

“They’re really close,” said Word, who is also a Team USA coach. “They train together, they’re in classes together, they’re there cheering each other on, so even though it is an individual sport, as much teamwork as they show is amazing.”

AU G U S T 4, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 5

N E W S F E AT U R E S

It’s wine o’clock in the Santa Clarita Valley

By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

E

njoying a glass of wine is much more than a companion for a good meal.

The tradition that stretches back thousands of years can now be celebrated at a number of wine-tasting spots in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Some of the local tasting rooms even offer the same wine-sampling experience as a winery — a chance to meet the vintner, learn about the wine and, of course, taste the goods — without ever having to leave the SCV.

Double Trouble Wine Room

Double Trouble Wine Room, which opened in May 2017, is unique in that it is a blend of two wineries, Hoi Polloi and Pagter Brothers Wines, coming together to join forces.

“We like to say the two wineries are trouble and more trouble, so that’s where Double Trouble comes from,” said co-owner and winemaker Scott Page-Pagter, chuckling.

He and co-owner Doug Minnick, winemaker for Hoi Polloi, first met at the Garagiste Wine Festival, which is a meeting place for the underground, small production winemaker of which Minnick is also co-founder.

“We make our wines independently of each other, but we collaborate on this space,” Minnick added.

Double Trouble is a twist on the traditional winery tasting room that’s more like a wine bar as it’s open at night with indoor and outdoor seating, and live music most weekends, including a band that Page-Pagter and his wife are both in.

Though the winery doesn’t have a kitchen, customers are welcome to bring food in and can get it from one of the many restaurants nearby, including Eighth & Rail, which has a partnership with Double Trouble so that Eighth & Rail customers can take their food and plates to the neighboring tasting room. There’s also food trucks on the weekends that frequently park right outside the wine room.

“The Santa Clarita Valley is full of chain (stores), so one of the great things about Main Street is it’s not

Sommelier Laura Raden pours a carafe of wine at Newhall Press Room. PHOTO BY EMILY ALVARENGA / THE SIGNAL

that — it’s all mom-and-pop stores,” Minnick said.

Minnick and Page-Pagter built the wine room from scratch and did all the work themselves to make it unique.

“We just want it to be a comfortable place where people can hang out,” Minnick added. “It’s a fun place to be whether you’re working or drinking.”

Both wineries produce their wines locally at Pulchella Winery’s production facility in Valencia.

“By not having our own vineyards, we are free to source from the best vineyards in the state,” Minnick added. “We spend a lot of energy and care getting the best fruit we can.”

Both wineries also source their grapes from the central coast regions of California; Pagter Brothers Wines started making wine in Valencia in 2007, and Hoi Polloi started in 2010.

Double Trouble is a great place for wine aficionados who want to learn more about wine, according to both Minnick and Page-Pagter. Both wineries have their own wine clubs — but they also offer a Double Trouble club.

“We’re trying to give people the experience of being in two clubs without having to pay for two full clubs, so people get to enjoy both clubs and don’t have to choose,” PagePagter said.

Double Trouble Wine Room is located at 24338 Main St., in Newhall. For more information, call (661) 476-5627 or visit doubletroublewineroom.com.

Newhall Press Room

Newhall Press Room, which has

been open since October 2017, is known for its extensive wine list, offering more than 100 wines on the menu with an inventory of more than 1,000 bottles.

“We’re not like a typical wine bar that’s just about tasting wine,” co-owner Charles Potter said. “From the start, we knew we wanted to have really good food to be paired with the wine. “Wine was originally meant to be enjoyed with food, hence why we wanted to have different food options.”

Newhall Press has a full kitchen, and serves not only cheese and charcuterie boards, but also pastas, salads and flatbreads, all of which are made from scratch.

In terms of wine, they focus on different varietals from different countries, and are constantly hand-picking new wines for the menu to keep it fresh.

“There are so many really good wines, so we are on the constant search for wines that are good examples of that particular region or varietal,” Potter said.

In addition to live music and special events, Newhall Press offers a wine education class twice a month taught by one of seven sommeliers on staff.

“The idea is to really expand people’s knowledge of wine, but also give them an opportunity to taste wine they haven’t before,” Potter said.

The class gives participants blind wine tastings from various regions and varietals, so they can learn how to pick out different flavor profiles and understand what makes each varietal or region unique.

They also recently received an Award of Excellence for featuring “a well-chosen assortment of quality producers along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style,” according to a news release by Wine Spectator.

“We are the first restaurant in Santa Clarita to be recognized by Wine Spectator for the work we’re doing with wine, which we’re really excited about,” Potter said.

See WINE, next page

The Double Trouble Wine Room created partnerships in Old Town Newhall that allow patrons to enjoy local restaurants on Main Street, with a glass of their favorite wine. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

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AU G U S T 4, 2019

N E W S F E AT U R E S

WINE

Continued from previous page

Newhall Press offers a loyalty program with an app and is getting ready to launch a wine club, as well.

Newhall Press Room is located at 24257 Main St., in Newhall. For more information, call (661) 753-3454 or visit newhallpressroom.com.

Pulchella Winery

Pulchella Winery was started in Paso Robles in 2006 by Newhall residents Steve Lemley and Nate Hasper.

The pair continued to source their grapes from Paso Robles, and it in 2010, they opened their tasting room in Newhall.

“We quickly realized to do our own thing we needed to move the facility down here, and it started off fairly small,” Lemley said.

When opening their location on Main Street in Newhall, Lemley said it was a “ghost town” on weekends, yet they knew the city’s plans to revive the area and decided to take a chance.

“Since then, there’s probably 10 to 12 more wine locations that have come to the area,” Lemley added.

In 2012, they then opened SCV’s first “crush facility” in Valencia, which allowed them to begin producing their wine locally.

“There’s a huge wine presence in Santa Clarita, they’re very passionate about it, and we just wanted to live our dream and start producing our wine here,” Lemley said.

Now, Pulchella is consulting with winemakers and producing wine for more than 20 wineries at the facility, while their winery is kept small as it’s “purely a passion thing,” Lemley added.

The recently remodeled tasting room has a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere with a heated patio, and customers are welcome to bring food in or order from nearby restaurants.

They’ve got a variety of hand-crafted wines from each vintage they’ve produced over the years, several of which have been awarded top scores from Wine Enthusiast.

Pulchella also offers various events throughout the year, including wine education classes, blind tastings, food and wine pairings and blending

The Newhall Press Room on Main Street is one of several newer locations in downtown Newhall where visitors can enjoy a glass of wine. PHOTO BY EMILY ALVARENGA / THE SIGNAL

parties.

Most of the wine produced goes to their wine club members, or the “Cult” as they like to call it, which gives members exclusive benefits including complimentary tastings, pick up parties and more.

Pulchella Winery is located at 24261 Main St., in Newhall. For more information, call (661) 799-9463 or visit pulchellawinery.com.

Wine 661

Tanya Green opened Wine 661 in August 2008 after deciding she wanted to transition away from the television business.

“Wine for me was a hobby — I was obsessed with wine, but didn’t know how to go about it,” she said. “But it was kismet; everything just fell into place very easily, which means that’s what you’re supposed to do, I think. It’s the hardest thing, but most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.”

Wine 661 offers more than 125 different bottled wines from different wineries across the world and about 25 wines by the glass, which rotate frequently.

“In this area, people primarily ask for California wines, so I’d say that I’m California wine-heavy because that’s what people want the most, but I try to cover all the countries,” Green said.

Most of the wines by the glass have at least two of each varietal to “satisfy everybody’s taste.”

“I also have some funny varietals that people aren’t necessarily aware

of, but I do that to educate people on something they have never heard of,” she added.

Most of the wines offered are 90 points or higher, which means that the majority have gotten an A rating.

“There’s also a cool happy hour menu, so people can get really nice wines for almost half sometimes,” Green said, adding that happy hour lasts all day on Sundays and until 6 p.m. on most other days.

In addition, Wine 661 offers a limited menu of primarily flatbreads and charcuterie boards, as well as a mini wine store to buy wine by the bottle.

“The music is probably the coolest thing people don’t know about Wine 661,” she added. “We have all these killer famous musicians play because they like to play here.”

Live music is played Friday and Saturdays starting at 8 p.m., including performances by the bassist from Neil Diamond every Friday night accompanied by a different celebrity musician friend each week.

Wine 661 is located at 24268 Valencia Blvd., in Valencia. For more information, call (661) 288-2980 or visit wine661.com.

Reyes Winery

Reyes Winery, the 16-acre vineyard in Agua Dulce, has broken ground on a new rooftop tasting room, expected to open by the summer of next year.

The three-story property is expected to be a mixed-use building, with the first floor becoming a restau-

rant and third becoming the tasting room, according to owner Robert Reyes.

“We will pretty much be offering the same wines that we have now on our menu and have produced over the years at the winery,” Reyes said. “In addition to that, we will be offering other products that are now in the research and development process.”

Though still in the very early planning stages, Reyes said the restaurant space is still up for grabs, and whatever that restaurant may be, will also be serving some food items, such as hors d’oeuvres and tapas, to the tasting room.

“A lot of people don’t know that some of us exist, so it’s exciting to be a part of the growing community that is Old Town Newhall,” Reyes added.

Reyes Winery’s new tasting room will be located at 24329 Main St., in Newhall. For more information, call (661) 268-1865 or visit reyeswinery. com.

Lee’s Wine Bistro

Lee’s Wine Bistro, which was opened in 2008, is a place where friends and wine come together, according to owner Yoon Lee. Lee’s Wine is a wine bar with a limited menu, including cheese plates and salads, on weekdays, with the addition of paninis, tacos, pasta and other hot dishes served on Fridays and Saturdays.

The bar has a constantly changing wine list from current wines to a 1911 vintage, ranging from $25 to $10,000 per bottle.

Lee, who has been in the wine business since 1994, said he picks the wine himself.

“We have about 30 to 50 wines by the glass and 5 to 10 cases,” he added.

“We try to have every kind of wine, so people can try different kinds of wine from different countries, and they can try wine before they buy a whole bottle.”

Lee’s Wine staff are well-versed in wine, so they can tell you all about the wine they offer and help you choose the best varietal for you.

Lee’s Wine Bistro is located at 24510 Town Center Drive, Suite 110, in Valencia. For more information, call (661) 259-7754 or visit facebook.com/ leeswine.

AU G U S T 4, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 7

N E W S F E AT U R E S

Pet owners share precaution about predators

By Brennon Dixson Signal Staff Writer

W

hile wildlife sightings traditionally occur most often at dusk or dawn, many Santa Clarita Valley residents are reporting run-ins with coyotes throughout the day, prompting some residents to fear for their pets, and even their children, this summer.

Coyotes are a few of the animals that can be spotted year-round in the SCV, and since their pups were recently born, many more will be spotted as they head out to forage for food and prey, according to Ranger Frank Hoffman.

Take an evening stroll near Iron Horse Trail and it’s likely you will spot the wild coyotes near the bike trail looking to feed on the rabbits, birds and other wildlife that call the nearby fields home.

The predators can also be seen in places where humans call home, according to local residents who live near Copper Hill.

One resident who has lived in the North Park neighborhood for more than two decades recently had a pet attacked and killed in his backyard during the morning.

“I have two remaining dogs, an old beagle and a larger springer spaniel,” said Gary Kipka. “I would think they would be safe, but I am still paranoid about leaving them out alone now.”

Other residents agree, citing times when they arrived home to see the wild animals waiting on backyard walls waiting for neighborhood dogs to leave the safety of their home through the doggy doors.

One local resident, Joanna Rem, had her dog snatched out of her backyard two weeks ago. A neighbor eventually found her beloved 6-yearold rescue dog Jack while walking on a path about a half-mile away.

“The white bridge up there — that’s their dining table,” Rem said.

“They take all the food there and they’re not eating rodents or rabbits — they’re going after our pets,” she said, mentioning three household pets who were killed in recent weeks. “The coyotes are all around us. Unfortunately, they’re

TOP: Santa Clarita resident Joanna Rem holds a photo of her dog next to makeshift shrine on the spot where her neighbor found her 6-year-old after coyotes had killed it. She’s one of several residents who’ve raised concerns in recent weeks to make pet owners aware of the inherent danger for pets in the SCV. RIGHT: Rem said her pup was found on a walking path about a half-mile from where she lived. PHOTOS BY BRENNON DIXSON / THE SIGNAL

being pushed out of their homes, and they’re supposed to be nocturnal, but they’re out in the daytime, researching prey.”

Rem added she wants people to be aware that their pets and children could be in danger.

“They’re brave. They come right to the front door,” Rem said. “It’s very scary. Even if they’re walking on a leash. There was a story about a local man was walking his dog on a 3-foot leash, and a coyote came and grabbed the dog.”

“What’s keeping them from going after children next?” Rem asked, stating: “If a coyote can stand on the wall and wait for a little dog to come out, then he can wait for a little child.

They have no prejudice when they’re

hungry. They go for the innocent and the weak.”

As a result, Rem added, “I feel that I’m afraid to go out in my own backyard because coyotes can jump as high as 25 feett so I don’t let my dog in the backyard alone. And that’s no way to live. My pets are now prisoners inside of our home.”

Coyotes also play an important role in the ecosystem by helping keep the rodent populations under control, according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife. They are smart, adaptable and have learned to live comfortably alongside people in residential neighborhoods, “(but) Wildlife experts agree that people have played a part in this phenomenon by being careless with food and garbage.”

Coyotes are by nature fearful of humans, according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife. However, if coyotes are given access to human food and garbage, their behavior changes.

“They lose caution and fear,” the department’s website states. “They may begin to harass domestic livestock and pets. They might threaten human safety.”

Allowing coyotes access to human food and garbage is reckless and deadly, according to fish and wildlife officials. “Coyotes primarily hunt rodents and rabbits for food, but will take advantage of whatever is available including garbage, pet food and domestic animals.”

8 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

AU G U S T 4, 2019

N E W S F E AT U R E S

Ballerina ready for next ‘stepping stone’

By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

T

hough most children prefer playful, kid’s music, as a child, Gianna Juliet loved classical music.

“That’s what I always wanted to dance to,” she said. “I would try to go on my toes like a ballerina would — I didn’t even know how to do that, but I was trying.”

The now 18-year-old’s mother quickly realized she should be in dance, so at 5, Juliet began taking ballet classes at Santa Clarita Ballet Academy.

She has been dancing since, and over the past 13 years, has been working hard to take ballet seriously, which has finally begun to pay off as she will be traveling to Toronto, Canada, in August for the Genée International Ballet Competition, an annual classical ballet competition organized by the Royal Academy of Dance, or RAD.

“This is equivalent to the Academy Awards in entertainment and the Olympics in athletics,” Juliet added.

Each year, RAD holds exams where certified examiners grade dancers on technique, musicality and performance at each level. They begin when dancers are young, and get increasingly difficult each year.

Only dancers who receive a “distinction” on their RAD “Advanced 2” exams, or in other words, the highest possible mark in the highest level, are chosen to compete.

“This is a very established and prestigious international competition that has been around for years,” said Corinne Glover, owner of the Santa Clarita Ballet Academy. “You’re talking the top of the heap. It’s a lovely experience.”

The road to the Genée wasn’t easy though, and Juliet spend years preparing herself to compete as such a prestigious level.

“Gianna has trained with us from the time she was a little girl,” Glover

SCV resident Gianna Juliet, 18, feels like she’s been preparing for her upcoming opportunity at the Genée International Ballet Competition most of her life. She’s been dancing for the last 13 years. PHOTO BY CORY RUBIN / THE SIGNAL

added. “She’s a very ambitious young lady who wants to make a career out of dance, and she definitely has the talent and drive to accomplish it.”

Though she has been dancing since the age of 5, it wasn’t until she got a little bit older that she really began putting in all her efforts.

“It was my first “Nutcracker” that I was doing with Santa Clarita Ballet (Academy),” she said. “I remember when I went on stage, just being in front of the audience, it clicked for me, and I knew that’s what I wanted to do. From then on, I started working harder and harder and taking it more seriously.”

She was about 11 at the time, and she slowly began making ballet more a part of her everyday life, taking the maximum amount of classes along with a few extras over the weekend.

“If we didn’t have a class that day, I would choreograph ballet pieces at home or I would stretch,” Juliet said.

“I was totally enveloped in trying to be the best that I could be.”

Her goal at that point was simply to get recognized as a good dancer by the academy, which is exactly what she did.

“My first memory of her when she was a little girl in the party during Nutcracker,” said Carol Guidry, director of the ballet company. “She has stood out since she was a little girl as not just being talented … but she

has always possessed a really great presence, your eyes just always went to her immediately. We saw a lot of promise in her. And after a couple of years, (we) decided that she even needed a little more challenge and was clearly ready to move to the next level.”

Even with the move up, Juliet managed to get a distinction in her intermediate exam and continued to remain at that level in every subsequent exam she took.

“I took my Advanced 1 a year early (at 14), and when I took my Advanced 2, I was also one of the youngest in my class (at 16),” Juliet said.

“It gets tougher when you’re a teenager, and the kids that do stick it out are all super motivated,” Guidry added. “She always showed a lot of talent and promise, and we’ve been trying to nurture that talent to see how far she goes.”

Every year, the academy does a “Nutcracker” performance, and since her role in the party scene, she has grown to play various other leading roles, including that of Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy.

All of which have helped to develop her as a dancer, but her favorite by far was the Sugar Plum Fairy as “it’s the epitome of what a ballet dancer wants to be,” she said.

“You have to embrace that role of See BALLERINA, page 32

AU G U S T 4, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 9

Additions and welcomes

Crews continue construction for Hart’s new classroom buildings

By Caleb Lunetta Signal Staff Writer

A

lthough it is the first school to have been built within the William S. Hart Union High School District, one-story classroom buildings and portables have been the tentpole infrastructure of the Hart High School campus.

That is until January 2020, when the newest addition at the school — twin two-story buildings that will house 22 classrooms — opens up at the school.

“One of the reasons for the construction project has been that the district has been looking at replacing or removing the portables at the district campuses and replacing them with permanent classroom space,” said Michael Otavka, director of facilities, planning and construction for the district. “A lot of portable classrooms are approaching 30 years old and the end of their usable life.”

According to Collyn Nielsen, the chief administrative officer for the district, the new buildings are being created out of 12- by 40-foot modular units, and were eight years in the making.

This particular project, which involves the usage of cranes to bring in the factory-built modular units, will be located at the back end of the school, close to the upper and softball fields. In addition to the buildings, two new tennis courts will be added and all will be repaved, Nielsen said.

“There are going to be two buildings with a center courtyard,” said Nielsen. “The building closest to the tennis courts, we’re calling that the north wing, and there’s a south wing.

Each of them are two stories with 11 classrooms.”

Including the stairs, elevators and equipment rooms in the new facilities, there will be 23,000 square feet of permanent classroom space, a maximum of 792 students will be able to fit into the classrooms, and will increase the number of classroom spaces on Hart’s campus by seven to nine classrooms, according to Otavka.

The entire project, which is sched-

uled to be opened for the second semester of the upcoming school year, cost $18.5 million, according to district officials. The project is being funded by Measure SA, a $300 million school facilities general obligation bond voters approved in November 2008 for the construction of new school facilities and the improvement of existing facilities.

In addition to the new classrooms, there is a scheduled $6.3 million in infrastructure improvements coming to Hart school grounds over the summer, which include water, electrical, gas and irrigation and an electronic marquee at the front of the school.

An overhead walkway was also removed between the small gym and a classroom building so firefighters and emergency crews can travel unimpeded from one side of the campus to the other.

“A few years back, we had a transformer catch fire ... and, now, we basically have all new electrical equipment that powers that campus,” Otavka said, adding that the improvements were needed for a campus that was built in the 1940s.

“The school has been powered back up, and we’re going full-bore again,” said Nielsen.

The new repairs are expected to last for the next 30 to 40 years, according to Otavka, and cost approximately $6.3 million in infrastructure, totaling $25 million in improvements to Hart High School since spring of this year.

“On the horizon, we have modernization projects coming up for Valencia High School, La Mesa Junior High School and Bowman High School that are going to be dependent upon state funds,” said Nielsen, adding that those plans are still being conceptualized and have not received a definitive timeline as of yet.

LOCALNEWS

Summer nearly over, schools prep for fall

By Caleb Lunetta Signal Staff Writer

A

s the end of the summer closes in on the students, teachers and administrators of the Santa Clarita Valley, Hart District high schools and junior highs are ramping up for welcoming the newest additions to their school sites.

Classes for all Hart District students start Aug. 13 and, according to local school officials, there are a number of things parents and students can do to prepare themselves for the upcoming school year.

“For parents, it’s just a big transition to leave behind their elementary school with one teacher for most of the day to where the student moves around with six teachers,” said Rancho Pico Principal Erum Velek, in response to a question about parents of incoming seventh-graders preparing for the major change in academic structure between elementary and junior high schools.

Velek said a way for parents to get used to the change is to learn about the “teams” of English, math, science and history teachers their students will be assigned to.

“It creates a school within the school, so it’s not getting so big,” said Velek.

Students may also share the fear of the unknown, much like their parents, with the larger campus and

number of teachers. But, Velek says, the best thing for them is to jump in early and emphatically.

“More than anything, come to school with an eagerness to learn and have a natural curiosity,” said Velek. “Take advantage of those first couple of weeks.”

For families transitioning from eighth grade to high school, West Ranch Principal Mark Crawford told students to find a way early on to tie yourself to the school, and for parents to foster those relationships.

“Get involved,” said Crawford.

“Make sure your student is involved with something they enjoy, and we have so many options from athletics to performing arts to clubs to student government. And, as a parent, enjoy that journey with them.”

Crawford said there is a need for parents in many areas on a high school campus, and the more involved students are, the better they perform in high school, in college and in life, he said.

It’s not too late to enroll your student in school for the fall 2019-20 school year, according to district officials.

“We’d rather have them come in now, so we can get them all signed up for classes rather than have them waiting for the first day,” said Crawford. “They can have it all done ahead of time.”

For more information on which school boundary your family resides in, or for general registration information, visit www.hartdistrict.org.

Above: Construction continues at Hart High School in Newhall. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL Left: Concept design of the finished classrooms.

COURTESY PHOTO

10 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

AU G U S T 4, 2019

LOCALNEWS

Local man accused of bilking VA out of $4M

By Jim Holt Signal Senior Staff Writer

A

Canyon Country man accused of bilking the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs of more than $4 million is scheduled to go to court in February.

Robert Waggoner, 56, was identified by federal prosecutors Monday as the co-defendant in a scheme to defraud the VA. Waggoner was identified by prosecutors as the director of a trucking school called the Alliance School of Trucking, based in Chatsworth, according to a news release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office Monday.

On Monday, the owner and president of the trucking school, Emmit Marshall, 52, of Woodland Hills, pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges for bilking the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs out of more than $4 million in tuition and other payments, after falsely certifying that

veterans had attended classes that they never took.

Marshall pleaded guilty to five felony counts of wire fraud.

U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson scheduled a Nov. 18 sentencing hearing, where Marshall will face a statutory maximum sentence of 100 years in federal prison.

Marshall admitted in his plea agreement that, from July 2011 until April 2015, he and Waggoner schemed to defraud the VA. Marshall and Waggoner recruited eligible veterans to take trucking classes paid under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

AST was certified to offer classes under the Post-9/11 GI Bill that included a 160-hour tractor trailer and safety class and a 600-hour select driver development program.

Pursuant to the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the VA paid tuition and fees directly to the school at which the veteran was enrolled.

The VA also paid a housing allowance to the veteran enrolled full-time

in an approved program, and, in some cases, the VA paid a books and supplies benefit directly to the veteran. Marshall admitted that Waggoner and another individual recruited eligible veterans to enroll at AST by telling the veterans they could collect housing and other fees from the VA without attending the programs, according to Monday’s news release.

Knowing that the vast majority of veterans enrolling at AST did not intend to attend any portion of those programs, Marshall and Waggoner created and submitted fraudulent enrollment certifications, according to Marshall’s plea agreement.

They also created student files that contained bogus documents, according to prosecutors.

When they became aware of the investigation into their conduct, Marshall, Waggoner and others at AST removed fraudulent documents from student files, and Marshall later ordered that these files be destroyed, the plea agreement states.

From the end of 2011 through April 2015, as a result of the fraudulent scheme, the VA paid AST about $2.3 million in tuition and fee payments for veterans who purportedly attended approved programs at AST, according to the plea agreement.

During that same period, the VA also paid approximately $1.9 million in education benefits directly to veterans who purportedly attended approved programs at AST, the plea agreement states. Investigators are continuing to finalize the exact loss figure, but the total loss to the VA is estimated to be approximately $4.2 million Waggoner is scheduled to go to trial in this case Feb. 25, 2020.

This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General; and the FBI. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly D. Jaimez of the Major Frauds Section.

Former NYPD officer, 9/11 responder out of surgery according to plan, said his wife, Terry.

When he emerged groggy from being sedated, she said Marco told her, “I felt like I was hit by a train.”

Manfro went under the knife Monday in a bid to fix a medical condition that stems from his time assigned to Ground Zero in New York.

He suffered an ailment many of his fellow former police officers and other first responders have come to know all too well — a respiratory condition

By Jim Holt Signal Senior Staff Writer

A

former NYPD officer, who moved to Castaic with celebrity status for the rough-and-tumble crime-fighting legacy he left behind, emerged Monday from surgery meant to correct the ill effects of exposure to 9/11’s aftermath.

Marc Manfro’s surgery at Providence Tarzana Medical Center went

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dubbed “World Trade Center Cough.”

The respiratory problems, however, led to a strain on his heart — so much so that the resulting cardiac condition caused him to collapse at least 10 times in the last couple of years.

For Terry, it was a gruelling ordeal, also.

“Those five hours were the longest of my life,” she said.

“When you are with someone for almost 37 years, and you realize it could all fall apart in an instant, it’s terrifying.

“So when I saw the doctor finally walk into the waiting room I started to cry,” she said. “I was so relieved when he reported to me that, ‘We got some good burns inside the heart, and in six weeks, we will be able to determine if it was a success.’”

The ordeal began at 5:30 a.m.

Monday, when Marc Manfro arrived

Marc Manfro at the hospital.

He was then wheeled into the pre-operation room at 7:15 a.m. and by 12:40 p.m. the surgery was underway.

At 3:30 p.m., she was allowed to see her husband.

“The lining of his heart hurts, along with lung discomfort and pain from the incisions,” she said.

Manfro spent Monday night at the hospital, allowing medical staff to monitor his heart.

AU G U S T 4, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 11

Cemex files new suit; feds respond

By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

W

ithin months after the city of Santa Clarita and mining opponents declared victory in the decades-long battle with Cemex due to a government ruling, international mining conglomerate Cemex has filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to overturn the decision.

In March, the Interior Board of Land Appeals ruled that one of Cemex’s two 10-year contracts was invalid and the second contract expires in July 2020. Due to the time necessary to secure the proper permits and infrastructure for the mine, city officials and other government leaders considered the decision a win, and the matter, for all intents and purposes, resolved.

“After being elected, I met with (city officials) and thought this is something we can help with,” said

Rep. Katie Hill, D-Agua Dulce, who sent a letter to the BLM days before the long-awaited decision was announced. “There’s no way that Cemex can continue to move forward in the next two years. This means that we’ve won.”

However, a lawsuit filed May 1 by Cemex is questioning the “win” on the grounds of the decision by the Interior Board of Land Appeals, which handles appeals for Department of Interior decisions. Cemex sued the U.S. Department of Interior, the IBLA, the Secretary of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management, asking to “vacate” the IBLA and BLM decisions, which the lawsuit describes as “unlawful.”

The federal government filed its response July 15, contending Cemex “failed to act in good faith,” “unilaterally modified the contracts,” “misrepresented to BLM that it continued to secure the permits needed to begin mining operations,” and that it

City tackles suicide awareness with film

By Brennon Dixson Signal Staff Writer

S

uicide and mental health can sometimes be hard topics to discuss with loved ones and friends, which is why the Santa Clarita Valley Suicide Prevention, Postvention and Wellness Committee created “Be the Difference,” a film that seeks to help residents start a conversation.

With assistance from the community, city officials and local philanthropic organizations, committee members crafted a 30-minute movie that they believe will serve as a guide to families across the community and country.

Be the Difference

The idea was to make a video featuring information on community resources and stories from those who have been affected, said Myles McNamara, who narrated, wrote and directed the film. “The genesis was we had our committee going for awhile — and I’ve participated be-

“misled BLM by failing to disclose its intent to enter the truce agreement with the city of Santa Clarita.”

Cemex, in the lawsuit, alleges its mining rights have been illegally deprived.

“Defendants have unlawfully deprived Cemex of its valuable rights to mine and produce minerals under two contracts with the United States,” reads a section of the complaint. “The BLM, after repeatedly making clear that the production periods under the contracts had not begun to run, abruptly reversed course in 2015 and asserted that the production periods had commenced in 2000 — despite the fact that Cemex could not have legally mined at that time because it lacked the necessary regulatory approvals.

“That decision, and the decision of the IBLA affirming it, were arbitrary and capricious, and violated the Administrative Procedure Act, Federal Land Policy and Manage-

LOCALNEWS

ment Act, agency regulations and the Constitution.”

The complaint also stated that the “(d)efendants unlawfully deprived Cemex of its rights to realize the benefits of its decades of investment in the permitting, litigation defense, and other costs for the project, which total more than ($28 million).”

For its part, the city of Santa Clarita does not have a response planned, according to Mike Murphy, the city of Santa Clarita’s intergovernmental relations manager and point person on the Cemex battle for the past two decades.

Murphy announced his retirement plans in June, and his retirement becomes effective Friday.

“There’s nothing new in this suit that we have not seen before in terms of the arguments that Cemex made,” Murphy said. “Our attorneys have looked at both the filing and response and they have advised us that this is a multi-year process.”

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cause I work with seniors, who used to be a leading demographic suffering from suicide — so we thought why not make a film that could be used by the young and the old.”

The goal of the movie is to shed light on the warning signs, risk factors and resources that are commonly associated with suicide prevention, McNamara said during the film’s opening, before local residents Ellie Schneir and MaKayla Cherish Gorski shared stories of times when their loved ones were suffering from suicidal thoughts.

“I get a little choked up every time I watch it,” said Larry Schallert, assistant director of COC’s Student Health & Wellness Center. “We hit the most important points like prevention, what one can do to help and what some of the roadblocks are, so it really touches on the important things that need to be said,t and it really does serve as an important tool.”

The stories are the hooks, “but the real impact is the mission to inform,” McNamara said, adding, “Dawnel See FILM, next page

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AU G U S T 4, 2019

LOCALNEWS

Grandparents as Parents hosts bowling day

By Gilbert Bernal Signal Staff Writer

F

amilies from the Grandparents as Parents program were invited to Santa Clarita Lanes to enjoy some quality time together as part of the new Bella Vida senior center program.

Bella Vida implemented the new support group last January, assisting grandparents who are primary caregivers for their grandchildren.

Dozens of children and grandparents gathered for a chance to have fun on the lanes and get to know each other.

Linda Davies, facilitator of the pro-

Families from the Grandparents as Parents program enjoy a day out at Santa Clarita Lanes. PHOTOS BY GILBERT BERNAL / THE SIGNAL

gram, has been working with families in the program since January, when the senior center was awarded a grant

Detectives investigate mall fight

By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

D

etectives are searching for a family of three after receiving reports of a fight that broke out at the Westfield Valencia Town Center food court late Wednesday afternoon.

The incident started around 5:30 p.m., when three people, which authorities identified as a mother, father and their son, who was approximately 20 years old, allegedly confronted another 20-year-old man at the food court, said Lt. James Royal with the

FILM

Continued from previous page

brings it home at the end when she says, ‘People don’t know what they don’t know.’

“This is why we give them the risk factors, which some (people) might not know,” McNamara said. “But if you do know, then it’s: ‘What do you do after I know somebody is at risk?’ That’s an aspect I hadn’t really thought of, and now, a friend or loved one knows they can call the hotline.”

Future Endeavors

“I saw that video and I was so impressed with it,” said City Councilman Bob Kellar, who viewed the film alongside fellow councilmem-

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station.

“There’s something between the two 20-year-olds, but we’re not yet sure what the issue was,” he said.

“The dad took a swing at the 20-yearold (who’s not his son) and hit him in the arm — no significant injury.”

The mother then allegedly produced “some sort of object” and swung at the young man and missed.

The parents’ son then produced a small-sized bat as the victim backed away from the family and ran off to call 911, according to Royal.

“We’re still looking for all three suspects and are reviewing mall video,” he added. ber Laurene Weste and city officials earlier this month. “I think we need to show it at a City Council meeting, (so) it is my intent to approach our city manager because I think we’d be doing a benefit to our community by having that video shown.”

Along with the prospective city awareness campaign, Schallert said, “We’ll also do a series of activities and events that draw attention to mental health awareness and suicide prevention” and the commmittee hopes to create a resource guide that would be easily accessible to the community.

There’s a Santa Clarita Valley version of the film, “but then we shot another version that has a different ending and lists the national resources, so hopefully this can reach far past Santa Clarita,” McNamara said. “We want to reach out

to support the outreach.

“The county awarded four senior centers, a grant we applied for,” said Davies, “this is a family caregiver support program for grandparents as parents because 1-in-20 kids are being raised by their grandparents.”

Every week, the support group meets at Bella Vida to focus on supporting the families through education, counseling and activities.

“These are all grandparents that have actually stepped up when their grandkids were going to go into the foster system because of something that happened where their bio parents couldn’t take care of them anymore,”so their grandparents stepped up and either got guardianship of them or adopted them or (are their caretakers),” said Davies.

Judy Petersen, a Santa Clarita resident joined the bowling event with her husband, Jeff, and grandson Jordan, and said she attends the meetings because the information is presented in a useful way, and it helps her and her husband to stay “current.” “(The Grandparents as Parents program is) very helpful, it keeps us as parents up-to-date about current

things that are going on with kids,” said Petersen. “They bring in speakers to educate us with more knowledge about what’s going on with technology. Linda is just so organized and very helpful bringing us up-todate with today’s world.”

Patsy Hazlett, a grandparent in the program, attends meetings in Lancaster but drove down Sunday with her grandson, Randy, to bowl and to meet others with a similar family structure.

“Linda comes all the way from Santa Clarita to Lancaster for our meetings,” said Hazlett, “When I first met her, I released everything to her, and I felt really good, she’s a good listener.

She’s a good heart to get this together for all the children and the grandparents — I think that’s pretty good.”

The Grandparents as Parents support group meets every week Thursdays 10-11:30 a.m., and then in the Antelope Valley on Tuesday nights from 6-8 pm.

to the school districts, senior center, veterans and to whoever possible — because again — it can be anybody who is dealing with suicide.”

The resource guide hasn’t been created, yet, “but we hope to eventually get that going because it can be helpful to everybody,” Schallert said. “With the help of the American Society for Suicide Prevention, we would also like to find ways to get the word out and target certain popula-

tions that would be willing to attend suicide awareness trainings.”

Suicide is a difficult issue, “but the reality is it does exist and it happens everyday,” Kellar added. “I dont think any of us have the answer to suicide but if there’s something we can do that will save a few lives, then I think we should go for it. And I think this is as good of an opportunity as any to put the information out there for families to see.”

Anyone looking for information about the Grandparents as Parents program, call Bella Vida, the SCV’s senior center, at 661-259-9444 ext. 113

AU G U S T 4, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 13

TECHNOLOGY

The Apple Credit Card, best free email and a private OS

By Kim Komando Signal Contributing Writer

Apple credit card ‘gotchas’ Q: I heard Apple is coming out with its credit card.

What are the gotchas? I love Apple, but not so trusting of big tech now in my wallet.

A: You are wise to be skeptical, and you should never dive into a new credit card without due diligence.

The Apple card will function very differently from a regular credit card; for example, the physical card will have no imprinted numbers. Not surprisingly, it will work best with Apple Pay, Apple Wallet and other Apple products.

You will be able to use this card broadly, but you may have to adjust to its quirks. The APR isn’t terrible, especially if you have strong credit, and there are some benefits you

Best free email program

A: From the moment the Firefox browser became available to the masses, Mozilla has been winning millions of fans. The “software community” takes pride in its opensource programs, and Firefox is versatile enough to work in almost any desktop environment.

So it should come as little surprise that Mozilla developers have invented an equally accessible email system: Mozilla Thunderbird. The software is free and easy to use, of course, but several innovations might strike your fancy, such as near-instantaneous saving of contact information. Linux fans will especially appreciate how universal Thunderbird can be – including aggregating your mail from other services.

Q: I would like an email program (preferably free) that collects my mail from work, Google, and other places. Right now, I have to check mail at all these different sites, and it’s driving me bonkers.

Q: You mentioned that there is an operating system more secure than Windows. Where can I get it? What does it work on? Help me, oh great, Kim Komando!

might not expect.

Just like the iPod, this kind of card may very well be the future of credit transactions, and Apple has been wise to team up with a financial leviathan, Goldman Sachs, to make the new technology possible.

But there are still some caveats: First off, Apple Card’s annual percentage rate (APR) ranges from 13.24% to 24.24%. The better your credit score, the lower your APR. Also, the Apple Card has no monthly fee or foreign transaction fee. Plus, instead of points, you get 1% back when you pay with your card, 2% if you use Apple Pay and 3% if it’s an Apple product purchase.

Alternative operating system

A: If you’re accustomed to Windows, you might consider Zorin OS. This new operating system has won a lot of positive attention for its security, ease-of-use, and similarity to Windows — which makes the transition smooth.

There are some drawbacks to Zorin: there is no “right-click” option, and the software may very well crash your computer if you’re not careful.

But Zorin so closely mimics the Windows layout and workflow that someone might not immediately recognize that it’s something else.

Your concern about security issues is a valid one, and Zorin is just one decent substitute that you might consider.

For information on Kim Komando on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks, visit her at Komando. com.

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AU G U S T 4, 2019

F R O M T H E C I T Y M AY O R

Using storytimes to enhance early literacy skills

By Mayor Marsha McLean

H

ow often do you read aloud to your children?

In this day and age, before reaching the 1-year mark, children are already glued to digital screens and fully proficient at swiping between their favorite streaming shows.

What we lose in these tablet interactions is the opportunity for parents and children to engage in back-and-forth conversations that naturally occur when reading printed books.

Any simple act of reading a story aloud to your children — whether digital or printed — comes with many benefits that are crucial in building a foundation for future success. Reading to children supports cognitive development, increases concentration and discipline, im-

proves language skills, prepares them for academic success and helps you build a special bond with your child.

Reading to your child at home is always a plus, but there are also multiple opportunities for your children to hear a story read aloud at your local Santa Clarita Public Library.

The library’s Storytime program is offered for free and is a great way for your child to enjoy a new story read by a library staff member, while also getting to interact with other children their age.

The storytimes are each an hourlong and take place at all library branches in Canyon Country, Newhall and Valencia. Storytimes geared for specific ages or milestones are offered in the following categories: Baby and Toddler, Just for 2s and 3s, School Readiness, Bilingual Storytime and Toddler Fridays.

Baby and Toddler storytimes are designed to build early language and literacy foundations for children

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ages 6 through 36 months. This program includes singing, bouncing, tickling, reading, rhyming and talking with your loved one.

Just for 2s and 3s storytimes are catered for children ages 2 and 3 and focus on parent interaction. Fun stories, songs and projects are selected with the developmental tasks of the toddler in mind.

School Readiness Storytime is a program for 3- to 5-year-olds and hones in on building early literacy, listening and group participation skills that are required for a successful transition into schooling. If you attend one of these storytimes, you can expect the best of children’s books, rhymes and singalongs, such as the toddler favorite “Baby Shark,” or “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” Bilingual Storytimes are offered in English and Spanish. During these storytimes, traditional rhymes, songs and stories are shared in both

English and Spanish.

Toddler Fridays are presented every Friday and feature a different toddler-friendly activity. Our library staff has some amazing activities lined up, including a dance party and crafts.

I encourage you to explore our storytimes and stop by the next one happening at your local branch. Storytimes are also a wonderful place for kids (and parents!) to connect and make new friends. Luckily, storytimes are offered weekly through the fall, so if you miss one, you don’t have to wait too long for another opportunity.

Mayor Marsha McLean is a member of the Santa Clarita City Council and can be reached at mmclean@ santa-clarita.com. The views expressed in her column are those of the city and do not necessarily reflect those of The Signal.

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SPORTS

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astaic High School, the newest addition to the Hart District, is set to open its doors for its first-ever class of students Aug. 13.

For sports, the athletics department will have 17 sports programs slated to start Foothill League competition, with teams consisting only of freshman boys and girls.

According to co-athletic director Mark Overdevest, who will work alongside co-athletic director Jibri Hodge, junior varsity and varsity teams will be introduced over the next few years as the student body size continues to rise.

“The small amount of time I’ve had with Jibri, I think that we’re both kind of on that page where it’s really up to where the talent is and whether the team is ready, and certain sports might be ready to go varsity before other sports,” Overdevest said back in February.

The Coyotes have been hosting athletic summer camps for 13 of their sports programs at the Castaic Sports Complex, where prospective student-athletes can learn more about the different teams and participate in tryouts.

The baseball team, helmed by Darrell Davis, and the boys basketball team, led by Levi Wenrich, began their summer camps on June 10 and both ended in the first week of July.

Jay Creps, who last coached the softball team at West Ranch in 2017, will manage Castaic’s softball team.

Softball summer camp began on June

24 and concludes on Friday.

Girls basketball also began its tryouts on June 24 and finished last week. Charise Hall, a Castaic native and Valencia grad, will lead the Coyotes girls basketball squad.

“I think it’s a coach’s dream to be able to start with freshmen and build the program from the ground up and just see the progression,” Hall said after being hired. “We just want to build that culture from the beginning, we want everybody to be on the same page. I want to create this culture that we’re all in this together, build that camaraderie.”

Cross-country, lacrosse, track and field, girls volleyball and football all began their summer camps on July 1. Lacrosse camp ends on Friday, track and field on Aug. 1 and the other three camps will wrap things up Aug. 9.

Tony Uebelhardt will coach the inaugural football and lacrosse team and Taylor Schubert, a former coach at West Ranch, is in charge of the girls volleyball team.

Adam Yassaman, the boys soccer coach, held summer camp from July 8-19. Jose Leon, the girls soccer coach, started summer camp on July 22 and it will finish on Aug. 1.

Both boys and girls golf will be coached by Austin Rocha, who began golf summer camp on June 24. Greg Morse will lead the swim program.

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16 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

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THINGSTODO

One last summer adventure before school

Enjoy the 50-year tradition of the Tchaikovsky Spectacular with fireworks concert at the Hollywood Bowl, Aug. 9-10.

PHOTOS COURTESY VISIT CALIFORNIA

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

S

o much to do, so little summer left! Southern California in the summer is a wonderland of epic entertainment with fun for everyone.

Fridays through Aug. 16 Summer Movies in the Park William S. Hart Park

24151 Newhall Avenue, Newhall Info friendsofhartpark.com/ Summer Sunset Concerts Valencia Marketplace The Old Road between Pico/Lyons and McBean Parkway Info www.valenciamarkplace.com

Aug. 9-10 Tchaikovsky Spectacular with Fireworks Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland

Ave., Los Angeles Info hollywoodbowl.com The Los Angeles Philharmonic performs beautiful classical music capped by the thrilling 1812 Overture with pyrotechnics. On Aug. 16, 1969, Zubin Mehta conducted the first Tchaikovsky Spectacular with Fireworks concert, thus beginning this 50-year tradition of fireworks at the Bowl. Pyro Spectaculars by Souza has been in charge of these pyrotechnic celebrations for decades, now under Technical Director and Lead Designer Paul Souza, fifth generation in the fireworks family.

Aug. 9-11 Long Beach Jazz Festival 400 E Shoreline Drive, Long Beach Info longbeachjazzfestival.com The setting of this weekend festival, in grassy Rainbow Lagoon Park, overlooking the water, may be as blissful as the jazz itself. The lineup includes Poncho Sanchez, The Rippingtons with Russ Freeman, Willie Bradley, Brian Culbertson, Arturo Sandoval, Terence Blanchard and more.

Aug. 10 The Great Train Show in Pomona features model trains layouts and hundreds of vendors. PHOTO COURTESY THE GREAT TRAIN SHOW

Natsumatsuri Family Festival Japanese American National Mu-

seum, 369 East First Street, Los Angeles, 90012 Info www.janm.org/events/2019/ natsumatsuri The Japanese American National Museum’s free annual all-day summer celebration features performances, crafts, and activities. Families can enjoy face painting, crafts including origami and Natsumatsuri paper hats, free samples of Okinawan deep-fried pastries, The Little Kokeshi Doll reading, demonstration, and interactive Kokeshi Fashion Show with author/illustrator Sunny Seki, basic taiko drumming and bon odori dance lessons, dance theater and folk music performances and more.

Aug. 10-11 The Great Train Show Fairplex, 1101 W McKinley Ave., Pomona Info trainshow.com/pomona Features model train layouts and hundreds of vendors, with bounce houses and a riding train for the kids. See the oldest and largest public G-scale Garden Railroad in the U.S., covering 30,000-square-feet of gardens, lakes and scenes with more than 10,000 feet of operating track. Trains run on four main lines,

AU G U S T 4, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 17

THINGSTODO

Kids — and adults — enjoy visiting with the farm animals at the Antelope Valley Fair to run Aug. 16-25.

TOP: The Beverly Hills Food and Wine Festival is a world-class celebration of food and spirits.

TOP: The L.A. Food and Wine Festival, Aug. 22-25, is a massive foodie event spread across several Los Angeles venues.

including a dedicated mountain line.

Children 11 and younger are free.

Aug. 11-17 Burbank Comedy Festival Flappers Comedy Club, 102 E. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank Info flapperscomedy.com/burbankcomedy-festival Top celebrity headlining comedians and more than 200 of the hottest new comedians from around the world will appear at more than 100 events that include standup, improv, sketch, industry panels and workshops.

Aug. 16-25

Antelope Valley Fair AV Fair and Event Center 2551 W Avenue H, Lancaster Info avfair.com There’s nothing as fun as a county fair. Eat funnel cakes, corn dogs and deep-fried candy bars. Climb aboard old-time carnival rides, win a stuffed animal on the midway and visit the farm animals. Attend a free concert or wander through the inspirational gardens of the Floriculture department. Make sure to check out all of the exhibits and displays throughout the fair. You might want to enter one of the cooking contests, as well.

Aug. 17-19 Beverly Hills Food & Wine Festival Century Park, 2000 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles Info beverlyhillsfoodandwine festival.com

A world class celebration that includes food, wine, spirits and beer with “the best chefs from NYC to LA” for ages 21-plus. Tickets start at $150.

Aug. 22-25 L.A. Food & Wine Festival Info https://lafw.com This massive foodie event is spread across several L.A. venues. Grand Avenue events take place on Grand Avenue between 1st Street and 3rd Street across from the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Grand Tasting events take place at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica and some events will also be held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Participating chefs include Curtis Stone, Aarón Sánchez, Chris Santos, Mary Sue Milliken, Brian Malarkey, Antonia Lofaso, Robert Irvine, Susan Feniger, Hugh Acheson and Michelle Bernstein.

Pasadena City Hall, La Cienega Park in Beverly Hills and more.

Info eatseehear.com See crowd-pleasing films (like “Home Alone,” “North by Northwest,”

“Fargo,” “The Shining” and “Mrs. Doubtfire,” with food trucks, local bands and high-definition audio visual projection. Bring a blanket or low chair.

SUMMER SALE Now! On

Aug. 24 Village Days at La Purisima Mission La Purisima Mission State Historic Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc Info explorelompoc.com/event/ village-days-at-la-purisima-mission Kids will love getting hands-on at this time capsule for the mission days of California history including acorn grinding, basket weaving, building a tule house, making Tule dolls and playing Chumash games.

Saturdays through Sept. 14

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18 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

AU G U S T 4, 2019

BBQ

Dickeys Barbecue Pit 18742 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (661) 251-0840

AMERICAN Backwoods Inn 17846 W. Sierra Highway, Canyon Country (661) 252-5522 The Backyard Grub n’ Brews 26509 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita (661) 286-1165 Bergie’s 16404 Delone Street, Canyon Country (661)251-3133 Black Angus 27007 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 288-2000 Black Bear Diner 23626 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 799-4820 The Cheesecake Factory 24250 Town Center Dr #110, Valencia, CA 91355 (661) 286-1232

Islands 24180 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 284-5903 Lazy Dog Cafe 24201 Valencia Blvd., Valencia (661) 253-9996 Mama’s Table 23340 Cinema Dr, Santa Clarita (661) 284-5988 Marston’s Restaurant 24011 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 253-9910 Nealie’s Skillet 25858 Tournament Road, Valencia (661) 678-0031 Newhall Refinery 24258 Main St, Newhall (661) 388-4477 Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing Co 18810 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 252-7883

Claim Jumper 25740 The Old Road, Valencia (661) 254-2628

Route 66 Classic Grill 18730 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 298-1494

Crazy Otto’s Diner 25373 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia (661) 291-1733

Saddle Ranch Chop House 24201 Valencia Blvd., Valencia (661) 383-0173

The Daily Harvest Cafe & Juicery 22722 Lyons Ave #6, Newhall (661) 383-9387

Salt Creek Grille 24415 Town Center Drive, Valencia (661) 222-9999

Iconic Eats 23460 Cinema Dr, Valencia (661) 481-9404

Stonefire Grill 23300 Cinema Drive, Valencia (661)799-8282 The Old Town Junction 24275 Main Street Newhall (661) 702-4888 The Social 23329 Lyons Ave, Ste A, Valencia (661) 799-9155 Thelma’s Cafe 22876 Copperhill Drive, Saugus (661) 263-8283 Wing Stop 18547 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 251-9700

661.257.6905

27963 Sloan Canyon Rd., Castaic, CA

Wood Ranch Bar-B-Que & Grill 25580 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 222-9494

BREWERIES BJ’s Restaurant 24320 Town Center Drive, Valencia (661) 288-1299

L&L Hawaiian BBQ 18727 Via Princessa, Canyon Country (661) 251-8333

Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing Co. 18810 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 252-7883

Lucille’s Bar-B-Que 24201 West Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 255-1227

Pocock Brewing Company 24907 Avenue Tibbits, Valencia (661) 775-4899

Q&Q Hawaiian BBQ 27530 Newhall Ranch Road #101, Santa Clarita (661) 383-9098

Wolf Creek Restaurant & Brewing Co. 27746 N. McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 263-9653

Rattler’s BBQ 26495 Golden Valley Road, Canyon Country (661) 251-4195 Smokehouse on Main 24255 Main St, Old Town Newhall (661) 888-4585 Wood Ranch Bar-B-Que & Grill 25580 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 222-9494

BREAKFAST & BRUNCH Casa Canela 27647 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (661) 523-7282 Crazy Otto’s Diner 25373 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia (661) 291-1733

BURGERS/SANDWICHES Bricks 23820 Lyons Ave, Newhall (661) 286-1091 Brother’s Burgers 20655 Soledad Canyon (661) 299-9278 Burgerim 23740 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 670-8939 Corner Bakery 24290 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 259-2813 Cousins Burgers 19318 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 298-4200

Egg Plantation 24415 Walnut Street, Newhall (661) 255-8222

Everest Burgers 18645 Soledad Canyon Road Santa Clarita, CA 91351 (661) 252-3412

Eggs N Things 27560 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 702-8664

Final Score 23754 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 254-6557

Halfway House 15564 W. Sierra Highway, Saugus (661) 251-0102

Firehouse Subs 23630 Valencia Blvd. Valencia (661) 255-3473

El Trocadero Mesquite Grill & Cantina 24274 Main Street, Newhall (661) 284-6615

Five Guys 24201 W, Valencia Blvd #3672, Valencia (661) 255-0981

Mama’s Table 23340 Cinema Dr, Santa Clarita (661) 284-5988

The Habit 25948 N. McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 291-1575

Marston’s Restaurant 24011 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 253-9910

Italia Panetteria & Deli 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 294-9069

Mimi’s Cafe 24201 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia (661) 255-5520

Jimmy Dean’s 22941 Lyons Ave, Newhall (661) 255-6315

The Old Town Junction 24257 Main Street, Newhall (661) 702-4888 Saugus Cafe 25861 Railroad Avenue, Saugus (661) 259-7886 Way Station Coffee Shop 24377 Main Street, Newhall (661) 255-0222

JJ’s Bar and Grill 25848 Tournament Road, Valencia (661) 799-7557 Panini Palace 23120 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 678-0552 Pita Pit 28253 Newhall Ranch Road (661) 702-9977 Route 66 Classic Grill 18730 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 298-1494

AU G U S T 4, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 19

DININGGUIDE

BURGERS/SANDWICHES Rustic Burger 24025 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 254-1300 Rustic Eatery 25343 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia (661) 254-8100 Submarina California Subs 26517 Carl Boyer Drive, Canyon Country (661) 259-4782 Tiny’s Submarine Sandwiches 27251 Camp Plenty Rd, Canyon Country (661) 251-5885

CHINESE China Express 19417 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 251-8783 Golden Wok Restaurant 16668 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 424-0888 Grand Panda 23802 Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 253-1898 27924 Seco Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 297-9868 Mandarin Wong Chinese Restaurant 23758 Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 259-5823

Moon Wok 23460 Cinema Drive Suite H, Valencia (661) 288-1898

Italia Panetteria & Deli 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 294-9069

Pick Up Stix 25960 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 288-2090

Maria’s Italian-American Deli 22620 W. Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 259-6261

WaBa Grill 19120 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 367-7297 31739 Castaic Road, Castaic (661) 295 9222

Mariciano’s Chicago Style Deli 18635 Soledad Canyon Road (661) 299-1100

Wok’s Cookin’ Chinese Restaurant 31565 Castaic Road, Castaic (661) 257-2890

CUBAN Hidden Havana Cuban Cafe 23548 Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 254-4460

DELICATESSEN Bob’s Country Meats 19012 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 251-5995 Cathy’s Delicatessen 23120 W. Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 288-2217

The Sandwich Shop 25530 W. Avenue Stanford, Valencia (661) 257-4811

FRENCH Le Chene French Cuisine 12625 Sierra Highway, Agua Dulce (661) 251-4315

GREEK Gyromania 20655 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 252-4976

INDIAN

Royal Tandoor 26532 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 263-7100

ITALIAN Bella Cucina Ristorante Italiano 27911 Seco Canyon Rd, Saugus (661) 263-1414 Buca di Beppo 26940 Theater Drive, Valencia (661) 253-1900 Italia Panetteria & Deli 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 294-9069 Maria’s Italian-American Deli 22620 Lyons Ave, Newhall (661) 259-6261 Numero Uno Pizza 26111 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 252-5011 Olive Garden 27003 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 799-8161

An Indian Affaire 23360 W. Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 288-1200

Piccola Trattoria 18302 Sierra Highway, Canyon Country (661) 299-6952

Karma Restaurant, Bar & Lounge 23460 Cinema Drive, Valencia (661) 288-0080

Presto Pasta 24375 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Valencia (661) 284-7737 See DINING GUIDE, next page

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20 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

AU G U S T 4, 2019

DININGGUIDE

DINING GUIDE

Continued from previous page

ITALIAN

Spumoni Restaurant 24917 W. Pico Canyon Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 799-0360

JAPANESE & SUSHI

Sushi Song Japanese Restaurant 22896 Copper Hill Dr, Santa Clarita (661) 297-5659

KOREAN & MONGOLIAN Charcoal Korean BBQ Restaurant 19158 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 251-9292 Genghis Khan 24506 W. Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 254-0351

Achita Sushi 22913 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 476-5522

Gogi House 26524 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 263-0048

Asako Sushi 27540 Sierra Hwy, Canyon Country (661) 251-6010

Kogiya 2 Korean BBQ 23410 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 678-0999

Hibiki Restaurant 27625 Shangri La Dr., Canyon Country (661) 298-0273

Lee’s Korean BBQ & Tofu House 23360 West Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 254-2307

I Love Sushi 26526 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita 661-673-5200

Shogun Sushi Japanese Restaurant 26807 Seco Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 513-0015

Sam’s Flaming Grill 24802 Orchard Village, Santa Clarita (661) 222-9060 19433 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 298-0115 25347 Wayne Mills Pl, Valencia (661) 254-2154 23874 Copper Hill Dr, Valencia (661) 294-1100

Sushi 661 26850 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita (661) 252-9831

ZingGa Grill 26910 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita (661) 250-7592

My Hot Pot 26238 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 288-1998

Voted “Best Of” Most Romantic Restaurant 6 years in a row

by Signal Readers

MEDITERRANEAN

Manoushee Mediterranean Restaurant 27131 Sierra Hwy, Canyon Country (661) 251-6666 Olive Terrace Cafe 28261 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 257-7860 Zankou Chicken 24463 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Valencia (661) 705-7265

MEXICAN

Azul Tequila 25387 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia (661) 254-5500 Casa Pasilla 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 295-1989 El Trocadero Mesquite Grill & Cantina 24274 Main Street, Newhall (661) 284-6615 Las Rocas Mexican Grill 27923 Sloan Canyon Road Castaic (661) 257-6905 Medrano’s Mexican Restaurant 19319 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 367-4945 Rosarito Grill 19425 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 251-2732

L CHÊNE E French Cuisine

PERSIAN

Persia Lounge & Restaurant 24328 Main Street, Newhall (661) 259-4100

PIZZA

Pizza Di Marco 27674 Newhall Ranch Rd, Valencia 661-295-8769 Tomato Joes Pizza & Taps 19167 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita (661) 250-7550 Tomato Joes Pizza Express 27732 McBean Pkwy. Valencia (661) 263-8646

POLISH Pierogi Spot 26511 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita (661) 254-4850

THAI Original Thai BBQ Restaurant 27530 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 257-6421

VIETNAMESE Pho Sure 23876 Copper Hill Drive, Valencia (661) 257-3888

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AU G U S T 4, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 21

T R AV E L

Fun in the sun on the

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

T

hroughout the years I’ve read dozens of accounts of summers spent cruising the boardwalks of the East Coast. From Coney Island to the Jersey Shore, Atlantic City and beyond, the tales of those boardwalks always captivated my young, West Coast imagination.

I never knew, until about a decade ago, that California had a boardwalk of equal stature, and perhaps the best boardwalk in the nation.

While on a camping trip to Big Sur we decided to take a day trip to Santa Cruz, about an hour and half away from our camp site. We made our way to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and enjoyed a day indulging in fun, food and sun.

History

The family-operated Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk celebrated its 100th birthday in 2007. One of the last of the classic seaside amusement parks in the United States, the boardwalk, now 112 years old, is considered by many to be the best seaside amusement park in the world.

The boardwalk’s roots go back to 1865, when John Leibrandt opened a public bathhouse near the mouth of the San Lorenzo River. Other bath-

houses followed, and scores of tourists began visiting Santa Cruz to enjoy the highly-touted natural medicine of bathing in salt water.

Two of the boardwalk’s rides are National Historic Landmarks. The 1924 Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster still thrills riders with its hair-raising dips and turns. It is one of the best-known wooden coasters in the world and one of the most visible landmarks in Santa Cruz.

The 1911 Looff Carousel’s unique ring toss provides a surprising challenge. It still contains its original 342-pipe organ built in 1894. The painted steeds sport real horse hair in their tails.

Both attractions were named National Historic themed autical- , pool, air n a is Landmarks in 1987. golf dom e’s King nter with mini .

Neptun e re The Boardwalk’s Cocoac o t and m inmen enterta ing pong, food nut Grove conference center ,p hockey includes banquet rooms and a performing arts venue. The name is an old spelling of popular Marx Brothers movie “The coconut, which was used in the Cocoanuts” released in 1929. The name was also used by a number of popular The Sea Swings allow you nightclubs of the era. to swing out over the beach In the 1930s and 1940s, the boardand Monterey Bay. PHOTOS walk’s Grove was a popular spot for COURTESY VISIT CALIFORNIA major big band acts, including Stan Kenton, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton and Tommy Dorsey.

Family fun

Admission to the 24-acre boardwalk park is free, and you can spend as much, or as little, as you want on food, games, amusement park rides and souvenirs.

The indoor arcades offer the largest selection of games in Northern California with the latest video games, pinball machines, a vintage game collection, two-story miniature golf courses, skee-ball and laser tag arena.

There’s also a family bowling center right across the street.

If you are an adrenaline lover who needs a little heart-in-your-throat

The r that e is som h hits appen ething m h resu ot oil, s when agica l and lt is pas t bey t ond he end ry deli ciou s.

action try the 125-foot-high Double Shot tower.

For a great view of the beach, rides and the Santa Cruz Mountains take a leisurely tour above it all in the overhead Sky Glider funicular.

In the summer enjoy free outdoor movies on the beach on Wednesdays and on Fridays take in the free concerts

Food

You can’t have an authentic boardwalk experience without sampling the food. Choices include corn dogs made from a secret family recipe, deep fried artichokes, chocolate-covered bacon and deep-fried Twinkies.

Salt water taffy was invented on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, but you can also get a taste of the real thing in Santa Cruz, as well. Four generations of Marini’s have been making candy in Santa Cruz since 1915. Marini’s world-famous salt water taffy is available at See BOARDWALK, page 32

22 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

AU G U S T 4, 2019

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

Reggae’s The Original Wailers to play at Canyon

By Perry Smith Sunday Signal Editor

N

ot many musical acts can claim to have a quarter-billion — that’s billion with a “B” — recordings sold, but Bob Marley & The Wailers have been introducing new generations to reggae for more than 30 years.

One of the seminal albums for the sound, the group’s 1977 album “Exodus” earned the honor “Best Album of the Century” by Time magazine in 1999, and “One Love,” perhaps its biggest hit, was named “Song of the Millenium” by BBC. And now Santa Clarita Valley music lovers can hear Al Anderson of The Wailers — who’s toured with Bob Marley since

1975 — when he comes to the Santa Clarita Valley on Aug. 14.

While the “Exodus” album was recently re-released and remastered for its 40th anniversary, now you can come listen to one of reggae music’s most influential bands play a live show in an intimate setting, where you can hear your favorites like “Jamming,” “One Love” and “Buffalo

Soldier” from the artists who helped make the songs famous.

Find the Canyon Santa Clarita on the ground floor of the Westfield Valencia Town Center. Get tickets at the box office 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Monday-Saturday, by phone at (888) 645-5006, or via TicketMaster.com.

For more info, visit Wheremusicmeets theSoul.com.

AU G U S T 4, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 23

FOOD

Michele makes muffins: blueberry, strawberry, chocolate …

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

M

uffins are a great graband-go breakfast or snack. They also freeze really well. I find my favorite muffins often change with the season. I’ll choose lighter and fruitier muffins in the summer and heavier, denser muffins full of cinnamon and spices in the winter.

These recipes all call for baking your muffins in a greased muffin pan, but feel free to use paper muffin liners if you wish.

Blueberry Muffins

This family recipe has survived the test of time, and a few modern tweaks! The crumb topping is my favorite. Turbinado sugar is a coarse sugar that works well for topping your muffins. You can substitute white sparkling sugar for the topping if you can’t find Turbinado sugar.

Muffin batter 1 1/2 3/4 1/2 2 1/3 1 1/3 1

cups flour cup sugar tsp. salt tsp. baking powder cup vegetable oil egg cup milk cup fresh blueberries

Preheat oven to 400 F. Combine flour, sugar, salt and baking powder. Add vegetable oil, egg and milk. Mix until just moist. Do not overmix. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups right to the top, and sprinkle with crumb topping mixture.

Crumb topping 1/2 1/3 1/4 1 1 1/3

cup Turbinado sugar cup flour cup cubed butter tsp. ground cinnamon tsp. allspice tsp. salt

Mix together sugar, flour, spices and butter. Mix with fork, blending the butter into the mixture evenly. Sprinkle on top of muffins before baking.

Divide batter into 12 greased muffin cups. Bake 24 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Strawberry Muffins

I once bought an entire case of strawberries from Costco. After I was done making all the freezer jam that would fit into the freezer, I made these muffins.

1/2 cup canola oil 1 cup milk 2 eggs 1 tsp. salt 4 tsp. baking powder 1 cup sugar 3 1/2 cups flour 2 cups fresh, diced strawberries Preheat oven to 375 F. Combine oil, milk and egg. Beat lightly. In a separate bowl mix flour, salt, baking powder and sugar. Add strawberries and stir to coat with flour. Pour in milk mixture and stir until just moist. Do not overmix.

Fill greased muffin tins 3/4 full.

Makes 16 muffins. Bake 25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean, unless you spear a strawberry piece, then, try again.

Chocolate-Chocolate Muffins

My friend Barbara recently shared her Chocolate-Chocolate Muffin recipe with me. These are dangerously good. Recipe courtesy of Barbara King.

1/2 cup vegetable oil 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup milk 2 eggs 1 tsp. vanilla 2/3 cup sour cream 2 cups flour 1/2 cup cocoa powder 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1 cup chocolate chunks 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Scoop chocolate muffin batter into greased muffin tins, fill 2/3 full.

Should make 18 muffins.

Sprinkle tops of muffins with semisweet chocolate chips.

Bake 18 minutes or until toothpick exits with just a few chocolate smeared crumbs.

Whole-Wheat Banana Nut Muffins

This is a healthier version of muffins that I make when I want to be “good.”

1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour 3/4 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. allspice 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 2 1/2 1/3 2 1/2

tsp. cloves eggs cup melted butter cup maple syrup large ripe bananas cup chopped walnuts

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, spices and baking powder.

Add eggs, butter and maple syrup.

Mix with a fork until just moist.

Mash bananas and fold into muffin batter. Mix in walnuts, saving a few finely chopped bits to sprinkle on top of batter.

Divide batter into 12 greased muffin cups. Bake until brown on top and a toothpick comes out clean.

Approx. 20 minutes or so.

Preheat oven to 375 F. In large bowl, whisk together oil, sugar, and milk. Stir in eggs and vanilla until well-combined.

Gently fold in sour cream until just-combined.

In separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.

Fold flour mixture gently into wet mixture, folding until just barely combined.

Stir in 1 1/2 cup chocolate chips.

Join Your neighbors and Friends for Valencia Marketplace's Summer Sunset Concerts 2019 ALL CONCERTS ARE FRIDAY EVENINGS 6:00-8:00 PM

AUGUST 2 - SGT. PEPPER - A Tribute to the Beatles AUGUST 9 - FORT WORTH WEST - Country Classics AUGUST 16 - RIDE THE TIDE - Pop and Rock Favorites WWW.VALENCIAMARKETPLACE.COM • LIKE US ON FACEBOOK ON THE OLD ROAD BETWEEN PICO/LYONS AND MCBEAN PARKWAY Valencia Marketplace invites you to visit their wide variety of shops and restaurants.

24 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

AU G U S T 4, 2019

K I D S & FA M I LY

Ten tips for teaching your children about saving

K

goals Are they eyeing a new toy or video game? Hoping to see a movie or ball game? Help children determine how much their “want” costs and make a plan for saving up.

ids often view money as having one function only: to buy stuff, right now.

Give a young child $5 and he’ll likely spend it all, often looking for things that cost $5.

Parents play critical roles in teaching children financial fundamentals, including the importance of saving.

Here are 10 ways to teach children to make smart money choices.

Bring out the piggy banks Have children divide their money into three banks or jars for spending, saving and giving. This helps them understand spending is not the only use for money. To make the rewards of saving more concrete, consider matching some of their saved funds.

Give your child opportunities to earn Consider paying your child an age-appropriate allowance. You may decide to tie it to chores, or simply provide a small stipend without conditions.

Open a savings account Many banks and credit unions offer savings

Make family events money management exercises Planning a vacation?

Give middle- or high-schoolers responsibility for planning and saving for one aspect of the vacation, such as a family meal or an evening’s entertainment.

Give young children firsthand money management experience. Doing so will make it more likely that they develop the framework necessary to manage personal finances as adults.

accounts for kids, with low-balance minimums and maintenance fees, goal-setting tools and even rewards for reaching goals. The benefit of saving regularly will become apparent as your child watches the account balance grow.

Help them identify personal saving

Introduce investing For older children, explain that money they save can be used to “own a piece” of a good business, either by buying the company’s stock or by finding a mutual fund that holds this kind of stock. Talk about businesses your child knows, such as Disney, Apple or Starbucks.

Model daily spending and saving decisions By discussing money-making decisions with your child as you shop, cook and pay bills, you provide concrete examples to model.

When deciding whether to prepare

dinner at home or go out, talk about the savings created by staying home and how those savings could be used.

Use your grocery store as a classroom Show your child how to comparison shop, checking unit prices of similar items and deciding which is better. Consider sharing a portion of the “savings” with them, to dedicate to something of their choice.

Involve children in household money management Enlist their help in opening bills, identifying what they’re for, and circling amounts payable and due dates. This gives them an appreciation of routine living expenses and the need to save to pay for services like electricity and water.

Engage your CFP professional Ask your Certified Financial Planner professional to speak to your child about smart money choices. This can be particularly valuable for kids leaving for college. (Statepoint) For more tips, visit letsmakeaplan. org.

Prevent dehydration during the dog days of summer

A

person’s desire to be outdoors can sometimes be at odds with the outdoors itself. The dead of winter tends to be a time of year when people know to stay indoors, but the dog days of summer can be dangerous as well.

Heat-related diseases like dehydration can put lives at risk. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, children and people over the age of 60 are particularly susceptible to dehydration.

Understanding dehydration and how to prevent it is essential for anyone who plans to spend time outside during the summer.

What are the signs of dehydration?

What is dehydration?

• confusion

The U.S. National Library of Medicine notes that a dehydrated body does not have enough fluid and electrolytes to work properly. On an average day, the human body needs about three quarts of water. But the USNLM notes that anyone planning to spend time outside in the hot sun needs significantly more water than that to avoid dehydration.

Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that people experience dehydration differently. However, there are some common symptoms that indicate someone is dehydrated.

These symptoms include: • thirst • less frequent urination • dry skin

Being sure to take in more fluid than you are losing is one way to prevent dehydration.

• fatigue

and skin that does not flatten when pinched and released.

• light-headedness

How to prevent dehydration

• dizziness • dry mouth and mucous membranes • increased heart rate and breathing Children who are dehydrated may exhibit additional symptoms, including dry mouth and tongue; no tears and crying; no wet diapers for several hours; sunken abdomen, eyes or cheeks; listlessness; irritability;

Drinking plenty of fluids when working or playing in the sun is one way to prevent dehydration. Being sure to take in more fluid than you are losing is another way to prevent dehydration. Anyone, and especially people who sweat a lot, should keep a close eye on fluid loss when spending time outdoors in the summer.

Sports drinks that help people maintain their electrolyte balance, such as Gatorade, can help prevent dehydration as well. Pedialyte is often

recommended for sick infants or children who have experienced vomiting, as it can help restore electrolyte balance that was adversely affected when kids became sick. The solution can be equally effective at restoring electrolyte balance that was thrown off during heat exposure.

Dehydration poses a significant health risk at any time of year, but people who spend time out in the summer heat may be especially vulnerable. Limiting time spent outdoors on hot days and keeping a close eye on your fluid intake and fluid levels can help prevent dehydration. (MC)

AU G U S T 4, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 25

K I D S & FA M I LY

Donna’s Day: Creative Family Fun

Turn nature finds into artful sunprints

By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer

Here’s what you need:

ou know, it makes a fellow think. The shape of you, the shape of me, the shape of everything I see ...” begins Dr. Seuss in one of his whimsical, poetic books, “The Shape of Me and Other Stuff.” As the images and rhyming continue, we are happily reminded that everything around us is unique.

The shape of things can become a focus for all ages when you do this stunning sunprint project. This isn’t a rainy day activity — save it for a bright sunny day!

First, enjoy searching for and collecting flat items in nature or familiar small objects around you. Arrange them on a readily available sunpaper product and place them under the power of the direct sun. Within minutes, interesting shapes will appear like magic. Art!

• Gathered flat nature finds such as leaves, ferns and feathers, or objects in your home like a key, toy or lace — anything you want to print in silhouette

“Y

• A sunny day

• Sunprint treated paper available at art stores and online • Cardboard and clips or a clipboard • Plastic wrap • Flat container such as a 12-inchby-12-inch baking pan, filled with water • Clothesline and clips (optional)

Here’s the fun: 1. Choose an item or items to fit the paper. You might want to play with an arrangement on a practice sheet of plain paper the size of your sunprint paper.

2. In the shade, clip the sunprint paper on a piece of cardboard or

a clipboard. Arrange items on the paper.

3. Set plastic wrap over the items and put in direct sunlight for about two minutes, until the paper turns light blue. Or, follow directions on your sunprint paper product.

4. Remove objects and soak paper in water for about a minute.

Dry flat or hang with clips from a clothesline. When dry, enjoy your masterpiece.

Processing tip I discovered that a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide in the rinsing water intensifies the blue of the paper.

For preschoolers Do a similar activity using basic colored construction paper. Arrange familiar small objects, such as a comb, button, paperclips, etc. on a dark sheet. Leave outdoors under direct sunlight for a few hours.

Remove objects. The fading of the paper will reveal the shapes of the objects.

Make the results a matching game.

Inga Wing, 11, hangs paper sunprints of nature finds on a line to dry.

Set the objects next to the paper and challenge your child to match the images.

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 NEW Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.” © 2019 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Synd.

Three tips to setting up a successful homework area

H

igh school students have a lot on their plates.

Today’s parents often lament that kids’ schedules are far more hectic than their own schedules were when they were teenagers. But for many high-school students, a familiar foe their parents have no doubt encountered is proving a considerable source of stress.

Homework has long been the bane of high schoolers’ existence. Studies regarding just how much homework is being assigned to teenagers are somewhat outdated, which makes it difficult to determine just how much work kids are being asked to do after school lets out.

A 2014 survey from the University of Phoenix found that high school teachers assign, on average, 3.5 hours of homework per week. Multiply that figure by five, which is the number of different teachers many high school students have in a typical school day, and the survey concluded that high

as homework-friendly as possible.

The following are three ways to do just that.

Create a communal homework table

An area without distractions, and a break between school and homework time are options for creating a successful homework area.

school students may be expected to complete as much as 17.5 hours of homework per week.

Though the study, which is the only one of its kind to be conducted in recent years, is older, there’s little reason to suspect today’s high school students are being asked to do any less than their predecessors were in 2014. While parents might not be able to do much to lessen their children’s homework workload, they can take steps to ensure their homes are

The Harvard Graduate School of Education notes that youngsters who seem reluctant to do their homework may benefit from doing their afterschool work at a communal table.

With parents nearby, such students may feel less lonely and may be less likely to procrastinate if they know mom or dad are nearby. Students who are not reluctant to do their homework may benefit from working quietly in their bedrooms.

Clear the area of distractions

Distractions like televisions, devices that are not necessary to complete assignments and even younger siblings can make it hard for teenagers to concentrate on their work. Designate a time each day for homework, ensuring that the television is off and that devices

have been placed on “Do Not Disturb.”

In addition, high school students with younger siblings can expect their brothers and sisters to be finished with their homework first. Make sure youngsters recognize the importance of staying quiet until everyone has finished their homework. Encourage younger siblings to leave the homework area and play quietly or read elsewhere in the home.

Break between school and homework

Much like parents may like a few minutes to unwind when getting home from work at night, kids likely won’t want to dive right into their homework after getting home from school. A break between the school day and homework time can help kids clear their heads so they’re more capable of concentrating when they sit down to do their work.

A good work environment at home can help kids live up to their academic potential. (MC)

26 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

AU G U S T 4, 2019

THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR

ONGOING Sundays, 8-10 p.m. Join Hollywood Curling for a fun shorts league on Sunday nights, and enjoy a curling tradition called “broomstacking” in the bar each night! Limited to 6 teams, we will take a waitlist once we are full, and if it’s possible to expand the league, we will do our best to get everyone in. This is an open league and anyone of any skill level may register.

Beginners and individual players are welcome and encouraged to sign up. Ice Station Info: hollywoodcurling.org/ event-3453090?fbclid=IwAR1jpIYrRoq3Z fyg2HKDbXMp43MFm4lcvF9f7nTdoUwaOX y34-0NjvajtZ8 Second Thursday of the month, 5:307:30 p.m. Calling all writers. Visiting from The Open Book’s sister store in Northridge, the $10 or Less Bookstore, we will be hosting a free two-hour creative writing class for beginners, experts, and everybody in between! Space is limited, sign up in store.

19188 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita.

Info: klw.katiewright@gmail.com Second Saturday of the Month, 5 p.m.

GlowHouse Gaming brings you a new monthly “Super Smash Bros.” tournament which will count towards the Santa Clarita Power Rankings and Southern California Ultimate League. Singles and doubles tournaments. Venue fee is $10, plus bracket fee. Entrants must bring own controllers.

25061 Avenue Stanford, Suite 40 Santa Clarita. Info: glowhousegaming.com Third Thursday of the month, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Worlds of Whimsy - A Science Fiction& Fantasy Book Club meets

!

N I W

= Family Friendly Event

the third Thursday of each month in the Valencia Library VA room. August’s book is “Good Omens” by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Copies of the book available to book club participants at the Valencia Library front desk. 23743 Valencia Blvd, Santa Clarita. Info: facebook.com/ events/482279932575132/ Third Friday of the month, 7-9 p.m. Calling all performers and artists! Now is your time to get yourself out there at The Open Book’s Open Mic and Art Bazaar. Sign up as a performer, sign up as an artist to display your work, or both. Performers may sign up for 15-minute time slots, and artists may sign up for display space. All works must be original and family-friendly. 19188 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. Info: facebook.com/ events/282386709378434/?event_time_ id=282386726045099 Mondays, 10 a.m. Toddler Storytime at the Children’s Stage, with various children’s books read to toddlers and parents. Barnes & Noble, 23630 Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita. Info: stores.barnesandnoble. com/store/2642 Wednesdays, 5 p.m Enjoy food from some of L.A.’s best food trucks at the Valencia Summit HOA Food Truck Fest. Tables and chairs will be available.

Valencia Summit Homeowners Association Clubhouse parking lot, 24600 West Del Monte Drive, Valencia. Info: facebook.com/ events/644082939374546 Thursdays, 6 p.m. Come to The Canyon for a night of line dancing lessons and county music presented by Borderline Bar & Grill. Guests 18 years old and older will be

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N I W

CONGRATULATIONS to Eleanor Moschetti for correctly identifying Randal Winter on page 15.

Identify this advertiser and the page number in this week’s issue, and you will be entered to win a $100 gift certificate for a local restaurant.

One game and one winner each week.

permitted, no parents or guardians needed to enter. Show a valid identification upon entry. The Canyon — Santa Clarita, 24201 Valencia Blvd., No. 1351, Santa Clarita. Info: wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com/canyonsanta-clarita

Pottery’s beginner techniques class.

Learn masking techniques, watercoloring with underglaze and lining techniques. We’ve created and cut custom stickers for this class! $15. 24201 Valencia Blvd #3412, Valencia, Santa Clarita. Info: facebook.com/events/2573217702728764/ EVENTS BY DATE Saturday, August 10, 6-10 p.m. Join the Sunday, August 4, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Artist Friends of Hart Park and Museum and enjoy a Naomi Young will be on hand to discuss silent William S. Hart movie “Under the “Portals,” her latest exhibition of original art Stars” outside at the actor’s property! There’ll in pastel, watercolor, acrylics and oil. Wine and be a silent auction, BBQ dinner with all refreshments will be served and there will be the fixin’s, music and fun! $50. 24151 a live musical performance by Maanak.

Newhall Ave, Santa Clarita. Info: friendsofhart Canyon Theatre Guild, 24242 Main St, Newhall. park.com Info: calendar.santa-clarita.com/event/artist_ Thursday, August 15, 7-10 p.m. An unmisreception_-_portals#.XTTXxy2ZM1I takably tropical vibe will come to Main Street Sunday, August 4, 7 p.m. Come as SENSES Block Party celebrates Havana enjoy a free production of Nights. Enjoy the sounds of latin jazz and Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” directed learn new dances, such as the tango

by Erin McBride Africa. It is one of several plays and salsa. Grab a friend and come enjoy some written by Shakespeare based on true events festive adult fun right here in Santa Clarita! from Roman history and is still one of the most Friday, August 16, 8-11 p.m. Join relevant and salient pieces of theatre the Friends of Hart Park and revealing the machinations of power Museum for free movies under the stars and public manipulation. Newhall Family Theater, 24607 Walnut Street, Santa Clarita. Info: featuring “Mary Poppins Returns.”

AvenuesSLS.org will be selling snow-cones, facebook.com/events/534576290374359/ popcorn, candy and drinks. Bring your Tuesday, August 6, 7-8 p.m. Parents of chairs, blankets, towels, etc. 24151 Newhall college bound students are invited to a free Ave, Santa Clarita. Info: facebook.com/ College Financial Planning Workshop. events/2363612833717992/ This will be a valuable class for all parents with Saurday, August 17, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. college bound students. The class will focus Join Barn and Charm for a Calligraphy 101 on high school sophomores and juniors, but workshop of creativity, relaxation, learnall grade levels are welcome. College of the Canyons, University Center, Room 206, 26455 ing a new skill and lots of fun with Kathy Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. Info: Tanabe as your teacher. Start a new spring https://www.kettermancollegefunding.com/ learning a new skill that you will find useful workshops.html throughout the year. In this workshop you will receive a booklet along with all the necWednesday, August 7, 8-10 a.m. The essary tools and goodies to take home Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station is to continue your new craft. Refreshments holding a “Coffee with a Cop” event. We will be served. $85.00. Call to reserve a spot. invite our community members to join us and 22700 Lyons Ave Ste A, Santa Clarita Info: (661) get to know some of the deputies who help 255-5466 keep our city safe! Starbucks, 23790 Newhall Avenue, Santa Clarita. Info: facebook.com/ Saturday, August 17, 2-4 p.m. In partnerevents/454655968451228/ ship with the Old Town Newhall Library, a unit Friday, August 9, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Enjoy of the Santa Clarita Library system, the Santa popular tunes thematically arranged around Clarita Historical Society presents a lecture “The Colors of Our Lives” performed by the by Jean-Guy Dube based on his new book Bella Vita SCV Senior Center Silvertone “Railroad Depots — A Southern Pacific Singers as well as an exhibit of art Collection.” Dube was awarded the national masterpieces by Bella Vida art students. Leicester B. Holland Prize for 2017 by Bella Vida Senior Center, 27180 Golden Valley the National Park Service and Library of Rd, Santa Clarita. Info: Robin Clough rclough@ Congress, professional draftsman and apprenscv-seniorcenter.org, (661) 259-9444 ticing architect Jean-Guy Dubé has researched Friday, August 9, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Be among and written about Southern Pacific depots since 1983. Old Town Newhall Library, 24500 Main St., the first to learn how creating a beautiful piece of art can be so easy with As You Wish Santa Clarita. Info: scvhs.org/wp/event/904/

!

N I W Thank You Again for

Voting us the #1 Picture Framing Store For Multiple Years in a Row.

Mail your entry to The Signal – Contest 26330 Diamond Place | Santa Clarita, CA 91350 Or email contest@signalscv.com Advertiser: _____________________________ Page # ______ Name: _____________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________ Phone: _____________________________________________

This week’s entries are due Wed. August 7 Winner to be announced in 2 weeks.

AU G U S T 4, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 27

HOMEIMPROVEMENT

Termites, vinyl windows, whole-house fans

By Robert Lamoureux Signal Contributing Writer

Termites Hi Robert, Hi, I read your column every week and have never seen this mentioned.

I just found some piles of dirt in my house and wondered if this might be a sign of termites.

Do you have any recommendations on who to contact and how to proceed?

Thank you very much, — Cathy B. Cathy, You are correct. They are subterranean termites. I have a pest control company that takes care of my properties. They can handle this for you.

Let me know if you want his referral. He will come in and core the slab and inject the ground to kill them off, then plug the holes.

This is a simple fix, and much less costly than tenting.

You can also have him inspect the remainder of the property to be sure that it is clear. Good luck with this — Robert Vinyl windows, caulking Hello Robert, We have been enjoying your column for many years. Thank you!

Due to cost considerations, we are having vinyl retrofit windows installed in our two-story Valencia home.

Our question has to do with the re-

cent hot temperatures we are experiencing. Our understanding is that the outside of the window and trim are more or less glued to the stucco. Does it matter how hot it is outside for this glue to effectively seal?

We asked the installation company and they said it wouldn’t matter, but we would like your opinion also. We have already postponed once because of this concern.

Thank you!

—J&B Bill, Thank you for being a loyal reader.

I would recommend that they use a single-stage urethane rather than the standard silicone caulking.

The urethane has more elasticity and will have a longer life span. Ask them to be liberal with the urethane.

Some of the big box stores carry it.

Sikaflex is one of them.

Best of luck, — Robert Whole-house fans Hello Robert, I live in Canyon Country and with the heat that we’ve been having, my electric bill has gone through the roof.

I have a neighbor that has installed a couple of these what looks like mini household fans, there is a motor with a fan and he stuck them up in his attic.

I don’t trust a lot of the stuff that this guy does so I’m looking to you for advice. What is your take on these whole house fans? Are they worth it?

— Mike

Robert Lamoureux recommends singlestage urethane to seal the outside of windows.

Mike, Absolutely these are worth it, if you have the attic space and adequate venting out of your attic.

It sounds like this guy is zoning off the areas of his home by putting in two, I understand that this is what is currently being recommended.

The most critical thing to consider when contemplating such an install, is first do you have attic space? Some of the newer homes are limited on the amount of space in the attic area, due to vaulted ceilings.

If you do have good attic space, then the next thing will be to check in to how much venting your attic has.

The manufacturer has specs that you can study. They’ll let you know what is needed with regard to attic space and venting.

Keep in mind that venting can be added for a cost, which over the years will absolutely be recouped in the savings from not using the air conditioner, and using the whole house fan system instead.

Once you’ve determined that your home will accommodate this, then you can hire a licensed contractor to install, unless you are qualified to do

it yourself.

These are wonderful products.

They take the place of running the air conditioner once the outside air temperature is comfortable for you.

Simply turn off the air conditioner and open windows so that the whole house fan can pull that cooler outside air into your house. It will pull from the open windows, and up into the attic, where it will then be vented back outside.

Good luck, go for it if you are able.

— Robert Robert Lamoureux has 38 years of experience as a general contractor, with licenses in electrical and plumbing contracting. He owns IMS Construction Inc. in Valencia. His opinions are his own, not necessarily those of The Signal.

Opinions expressed in this column are not meant to replace the recommendations of a qualified contractor after that contractor has made a thorough visual inspection. Email questions to robert@ imsconstruction.com.

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28 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

AU G U S T 4, 2019

HOME&DESIGN

Arrange furniture, design rooms more easily

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edesigning a room can involve several steps, from choosing a paint palette to taking down walls to buying new furniture. When it comes time to put the space back together, finding an appealing furniture arrangement or layout renovation that maximizes space efficiently can be challenging if it requires moving heavy pieces of furniture around.

To make such tasks easier, homeowners can rely on a bevy of room-designing apps that enable one to manipulate a room in the digital realm.

Some people have great spatial reasoning and can work out designs in their head or by plotting items on graph paper. But many homeowners may need a little extra help. By figuring out a floor plan, anyone can start laying out their furniture and other design elements.

Room planners come in various forms, from free downloads available through popular furniture companies to pay-for-use, third-party software.

The following are some the more popular room planners homeowners can use.

Amikasa This app enables users to create room layouts using furniture and more from real brands. It features a walk-through mode so you can take a virtual tour afterwards.

Autodesk Homestyler Brought to you by the company that produces professional design programs for architects and designers, such as AutoCAD, Autodesk and Revit, this user-friendly

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Some people have great spatial reasoning and can work out designs in their head but, many homeowners may need a little extra help.

technology allows you to create 3D renderings and move around furniture, decorative items, appliances and other elements right in the app.

Floor Plan Creator Start with the basics by plotting out precise and accurate floor plans. This app enables you to create multiple floor rooms in 3D and get automatic figures for perimeters, walls and more.

Ikea Home Planner Tools The free, easy-to-use home planner tool from the popular furniture giant enables you to see how items from the store can look in your space — before you bring it home. The Kitchen Planner from the company also makes it simple to enter Ikea components and see how much the proposed kitchen design may cost.

Magic Plan This is another popular feature-filled app for planning designs. The technology even allows you to take a picture of your existing room and create floor plans.

Planner 5D This is an extensive room-design tool that helps you design rooms down to the smallest architectural details. It also can be taken outdoors for landscaping and pools, utilizing 3D graphics.

Room Scan Pro This app draws floor plans simply by having you hold the phone up to a wall. The software will then scan the circumference and plot out the requisite measurements.

These are just a few of the room planners that can make it easier to see what a finished design product may one day look like. (MC)

AU G U S T 4, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 29

SENIORLIVING

Brain-healthy habits to reduce memory-loss risks

C

ognitive decline is a condition that is often associated with aging, but even middle-aged people can experience memory loss or cognition issues.

The Alzheimer’s Association says that more than five million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. By 2050, that number could rise to as high as 16 million people.

Although there is no definitive way to prevent dementia, living a long, vibrant life may be possible by encouraging some healthy habits for the brain. It is never too late or too early to begin health and lifestyle changes.

Exercise

Becoming more active can improve brain volume, reduce risk for dementia and improve thinking and memory skills. The journal Neurology found that older people who vigorously exercise performed better on cognitive tests than others of the same age, placing them at the equivalent of 10 years younger. Increased blood flow that occurs with physical activity may help generate new neurons in the hippocampus, an area of the brain involved with learning and memory.

The Harvard Medical School says aerobic exercise may help improve brain tissue by improving blood flow and reducing the chances of injury to the brain from cholesterol buildup in blood vessels.

Quit smoking

The Alzheimer’s Association indicates that evidence shows smoking increases the risk of cognitive decline.

Smoking can impair blood flow to the brain and cause small strokes that may damage blood vessels.

Eat healthy foods

Foods that are good for the heart and blood vessels also are good for the brain. These include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fishbased proteins, unsaturated fats and foods containing omega-3 fatty acids.

Neurologists state that, while research on diet and cognitive function is limited, diets, such as Mediterranean and Mediterranean-DASH (Dietary

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Healthy lifestyle habits, such as exercise and balanced eating, can reduce the risk of dementia and other neurological issues.

Approaches to Stop Hypertension), may contribute to a lower risk of cognitive issues.

Consume caffeine

Caffeine may help boost memory performance and brain health.

A Journal of Nutrition study found people ages 70 and older who consumed more caffeine scored better on tests of mental function than those who consumed less caffeine. Caffeine may help improve attention span, cognitive function and feelings of well-being. Information from Psychology Today also indicates caffeine may help in the storage of dopamine, which can reduce feelings of depression and anxiety. In addition, compounds in cocoa and coffee beans may improve vascular health and help repair cellular damage due to high antioxidant levels.

Work the brain

Engaging in mentally stimulating activities can create new brain connections and more backup circuits, states Dr. Joel Salinas, a neurologist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. Working the brain through puzzles, reading and participating in social situations can stimulate the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a molecule essential for repairing brain cells and creating connections between them.

A good way to combine these lifestyle factors is to take an exercise class with friends, mixing the social, stimulation and exercise recommendations together. Cognitive decline can come with aging, but through healthy habits, people can reduce their risk of memory loss and dementia. (MC)

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30 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

AU G U S T 4, 2019

PROFILE

Striplin passionate about making the city the best

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

W

hen Santa Clarita City Manager Ken Striplin drives around the Santa Clarita Valley, he is looking at the city in a way different from the average SCV resident.

“When I drive around Santa Clarita, I am always looking at the things the city is responsible for,” he said. “We are responsible for the roads, the traffic lights, street lights, the trails, the landscaping. Nearly everything along the route, the city will have some level of responsibility for in terms of creating, improving or maintaining. For me, I will evaluate how we are maintaining the right of ways, how the lights are functioning, how the landscaping is doing. I look to see if there are opportunities where the city can do better.”

What is a city manager

For those unfamiliar with the role of the city manager in Santa Clarita, the city manager is hired by the five-member City Council, which is elected by the voters. The city manager runs the day-to-day operations and administration of the city.

The role of mayor in Santa Clarita is rotated annually among the members of the City Council. The mayor presides over City Council meetings and performs ceremonial functions for the city.

Southern California native

Striplin was born in Panorama City, but grew up in the Antelope Valley.

The former Palmdale resident is the middle child with an older sister and a younger brother.

His father worked for Lockheed at the legendary “Skunk Works.” The Palmdale-based unit of Lockheed Martin focused on the most advanced and secretive projects, most notably was military aircraft.

A graduate of Palmdale High School, Striplin earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science, a master’s degree in public administration from California State University, Northridge, and a doctorate in organizational leadership from Pepperdine University.

City Manager Ken Striplin has been with the City of Santa Clarita for 25 years. He was appointed assistant city manager in 2004 and city manager in 2012. PHOTOS BY CORY RUBIN / THE SIGNAL

WHAT REALLY INSPIRED ME WAS THAT IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE CHANGE AND CREATE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE THAT IS VISIBLE EVERY DAY. Political science

When I first attended high school, I became interested in government, but more interested in elected politics,” Striplin said. “The courses I took in high school (about politics) connected with me.”

Striplin said he was intrigued at the thought of being part of the process.

“I liked the idea of giving back and having a part in creating communities,” he said.

In his senior year of college Striplin began two internship programs. One was with state Assemblywoman Paula Boland. Boland, a Republican, was elected to the Granada Hills-based 38th district in 1990, 1992 and 1994.

Striplin’s second internship was with the City of Santa Clarita. “It gave me the opportunity to see the different levels of government and how

they functioned,” he said. Six months into his internship, Striplin realized he preferred working in local government.

Hired by Santa Clarita

“I quickly realized that my future, my chosen path, would be in local government,” said Striplin. “After experiencing the environment here in Santa Clarita, that’s when I decided I wanted to be a city manager.”

As an intern, he was given the opportunity to create ordinances and resolutions for the city. “I was also doing some budget work and risk management work,” he said. “It gave me a good perspective of the reach and the impact of a city government.”

His experience as an intern left a profound impact on Striplin. “What really inspired me was that in local

government you have an opportunity to create change and create quality of life for people that is visible every day,” he said. “You can see it every day when you drive back and forth between work and home.”

Striplin was hired full time in February 1996 as an administrative analyst.

Becoming city manager

During his nearly 25-year tenure with the City of Santa Clarita, Striplin has served as city personnel officer and in a leadership capacity in every city department.

He was appointed assistant city manager in 2004 and to the position of city manager in 2012, after the retirement of Ken Pulskamp. Striplin is only the third permanent city manager Santa Clarita has known in its nearly 32-year history.

Striplin names previous Santa Clarita city managers George Caravalho and Ken Pulskamp as mentors.

“I was fortunate to work for two different city managers in my time in Santa Clarita,” he said. “I have had the opportunity to meet hundreds of city managers over my career and I can

AU G U S T 4, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 31

PROFILE tell you that Caravalho and Pulskamp were some of the best city managers I’ve ever met. I count them both as mentors who prepared me for this position.”

Father of four

Striplin, a resident of Valencia for nearly 25 years, is the father of four: Matthew, 18; Nathan, 9; Ethan, 8; and Viviana, 6.

As a former high school athlete who lettered in both football (playing tight end and outside linebacker) and track, Striplin has always been very involved in coaching his children’s youth sports teams, which have included baseball and football.

“Nathan and Ethan play football, and have for the past few years. Nathan is on his fourth year and Ethan on his third,” Striplin said. “Viviana is a cheerleader.” Striplin’s three younger children also run track and field with the Santa Clarita Storm. “We’ve always been very active in sports,” he said.

Accomplishments

Striplin is the recipient of the John H. Nail Award from the League of California Cities for his work as an outstanding assistant city manager.

He has also served on several local nonprofit boards, including the Michael Hoefflin Foundation for Children’s Cancer and the Santa Clarita Valley YMCA. He was recently named president for the California City Management Foundation.

As city manager, Striplin said one of his proudest accomplishments is the new Canyon Country Community Center, currently in its initial phases of construction. Also, of note, is the new, larger SCV Sheriff ’s Station, a project that’s taken more than a decade to begin construction.

“Those are all significant, but as city manager, for me it is important that people know I work with a tremendous group of people here at the city,” he said.

As founding members of the city’s staff are retiring, it is important to find the right people to lead the city for the next 20 to 30 years, he said.

“It is fundamental to have the right people in the right jobs. We aren’t making decisions necessarily on what is the most important thing today.

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Working together

Striplin said one of the unique aspects of Santa Clarita is its number of nonprofit organizations and the willingness of residents to give back to other people in Santa Clarita.

“People who live here, who are busy people, care enough about the community that they dedicate their time, their resources and their expertise to their neighbors,” he said. “It is part of the fabric of Santa Clarita that makes us unique and makes the community a better place to live. That’s one thing people can continue to do for the community.”

Striplin said the city also encourages constructive feedback to help the city maintain the city’s quality of life.

“We are a small town in a big city,” he said. “When I first came to Santa Clarita the population was around 140,000. Now it is 225,000. The challenge we have is how to maintain that small-town feel and that pride in where people live.

“One thing I tell staff is that we are fortunate to live in a community where people choose to live here.

They want to live here. As we grow, and challenges present themselves, we need to create new quality of life services and amenities and maintain the quality of life people are used to, and people expect.”

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32 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

AU G U S T 4, 2019

BOARDWALK

many nighttime scenes.

The beach

Continued from page 21

three locations on the boardwalk — Marini’s on the Beach near the Casino Arcade, Entrance 3 and Entrance 5.

They also have two stores in Santa Cruz.

Other decadent delights can be found at: Carousel Cones, Black & White Ice Cream Shop, Funnel Cakes, Deep-Fried Twinkies, Tater Twists, Beachside Snacks, Blenders at the Beach, Sweet Spot, Crazy Churro, Slush and Churros & Floats. Plus, the boardwalk offers a host of restaurants.

‘The Lost Boys’

If you are a fan of the popular 1987 vampire movie “The Lost Boys,” with Jason Patric and Corey Haim as a pair of brothers who encounter a gang of young vampires stalking the fictional California town of Santa Carla, you’ll be thrilled to know much of the film was shot on the boardwalk, or nearby.

The film, directed by Joel Schumacher, also starred Kiefer Sutherland, Jami Gertz, Corey Feldman, Dianne Wiest,

You can rock out to classic tunes while rolling side-to-side on the Rock & Roll ride.

Edward Herrmann, Alex Winter, Jamison Newlander and Barnard Hughes.

You can find all the film locations on this downloadable location map (https://dpp9x3rjj3x21.cloudfront.net/ wp-content/uploads/2018/12/lostboys-map.pdf) produced by the Santa Cruz County Film Commission. More information can be found at www.

santacruz.org/lostboys.

In addition to countless boardwalk scenes, the Looff Carousel is featured prominently in one of the film’s earliest scenes, when Sutherland’s character and his vampire gang are introduced, while the massive Giant Dipper roller coaster looms large in the background of

BALLERINA

Continued from page 8

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being a graceful, beautiful, elegant, royal ballerina,” she added. “And technically it’s very demanding, more demanding than any other part.”

In the story, Clara goes to the land of sweets that the Sugar Plum Fairy and her helpers have created.

“There’s something so magical about being the person that creates that role,” Juliet said. “Welcoming (Clara) to this world and welcoming the audience is such a cool role to play.”

Juliet is excited to head to the Genée as a lot of professional dancers have emerged from there.

“Obviously, it’s nerve-wracking because this is the biggest opportunity I’ve had, and it can literally change your career and launch it,” Juliet said.

“It’s a stepping stone into having a bigger professional dance career.”

Though she would like to win, just qualifying for and being able to attend the competition is an honor to her.

“I worked so hard for so many years to get distinction on my Advanced 2,” she added. “It makes me so proud of myself that I got this far. It’s

The boardwalk spans a wide sandy beach along Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary where it’s not unusual to see otters, dolphins, sea lions and whales swimming just offshore.

The surf culture of Santa Cruz has deep roots. Mainland U.S. surfing began here in 1885 with three Hawaiian princes vacationing in Santa Cruz. They had a local lumber mill craft surfboards from redwood logs.

The princes went out into Monterey Bay and taught the locals how to catch waves. In the 1950s, the sport got a boost when the late surf legend Jack O’Neill moved to Santa Cruz and introduced the wetsuit. More than a century later surfing is still celebrated in Santa Cruz.

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recognized worldwide as something I’ve accomplished just to go.”

Juliet’s ultimate goal is to dance in a professional ballet company.

“She’s an incredibly hard worker, really diligent and has the obsessive compulsiveness that it takes to be a ballet dancer,” Guidry added, chuckling. “She has the drive and attention to detail, so I have a lot of hopes for her. I can see she has the determination to make it and is on track.”

As for why dancing is so important to her, Juliet said it simply comes naturally to her.

“It wasn’t something that even I had to learn to do, it was just inside of me,” she said. “When I don’t dance, it feels like there’s something missing, and I look forward to dancing every day.”

Even though she wants to make a career out of this, she doesn’t think of it as work, and instead believes it’s an art form.

“One of my favorite things is to be on stage,” she added. “Being able to provide that for an audience, there’s nothing that compares to when you can feel the energy from an audience; that they are watching you, engaging with you and can feel what you’re feeling.”

AU G U S T 4, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 33

H E A LT H & B E A U T Y

Tips for summer hair that beats the heat

W

hether you’re vacationing at the beach, playing sports, dining al fresco or just enjoying time outside this summer, fun in the sun can put stress on your hair and damage those lovely tresses. So, if you’re struggling with dryness, brassy color or a case of the frizzies, it’s time to change up your beauty routine.

“Summer is a carefree time when we spend as much time as possible out in the sun. While time in nature is great for our mental and physical health, the sun can really do a number on our hair. It can alter the color, bleach out strands and cause hair to look (and feel) dry and damaged. It’s important to protect and nourish your hair, so it looks beachy but beautiful — not dry and damaged,” said Nadine Mullings, brand and product development director at Barely Xtensions.

Mullings offers the following tips to avoid looking like a hot mess this summer:

Get a trim

Protect your hair from the summer heat with these simple and easy tips.

Minimize damage

We all know that the sun’s rays can damage your skin, but did you know it can also damage your hair? Prolonged exposure to the sun’s UVA and UVB rays can significantly damage the hair strand. Signs that your hair is sun damaged include discoloration, dry and brittle strands, broken or split ends, thinning and fizziness. To minimize damage, avoid spending prolonged time in the sun. If you are in the sun, make sure you use hair products with UVA and UVB protection.

for products with nourishing ingredients, such as coconut, jojoba, and argan oil, as well as protective butters and extracts. These replenish and moisturize sun-damaged hair.

Hair grows 10 to 15% faster during the summer months. Getting a trim is an effective way to revive dry, sun-damaged hair and stimulate new growth. Regular trims minimize damage from split ends, a common issue in the summer. Being proactive and getting a trim at the first signs of split ends or dryness can prevent further damage.

Switch up your products

Bottom line — summer hair needs more attention and different products than you use during other seasons.

This is why you need to use hair care products designed to moisturize and reduce (or reverse) sun damage.

When out in the summer sun, we recommend that you use products (such as leave-in conditioners) that contain UV protection to help protect your hair and scalp.

Protect before a swim

Chlorinate can leave newly colored hair damaged, and blonde hair even worse with a greenish hue. Products like Swimmers Leave-in Conditioner from Sally Beauty Supply protects hair while conditioning it.

Eat healthy

The products you use on your hair are important, but what you eat, and drink also have a direct impact on hair health. Be sure to eat a healthy, nutritious diet full of dark leafy greens, juicy fruits, and lean proteins, and drink tons of water to stay hydrated and looking your best.

Hydrate and rehydrate

Sun-damaged hair needs hydration!

Moisturizing shampoos, conditioners and styling products keep your locks sleek and manageable. Hot oil treatments, nutrient-rich masks or balms are great for deep conditioning. Look

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34 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

AU G U S T 4, 2019

TIMERANGER

Horrendous Wrecks, Itches, Indians & Deer Hunts • We were Anti-Prohibition A Signal editorial by A.B. Thatcher condemned the “orgy of prohibition killings by officers.” Thatcher found it obscene that so many people had been shot down for sipping wine.

Been thinking about you saddlepals all week. Hope you’re well-rested from a Saturday night of hedonism.

C’mon. Grab your coffee mugs and lattes. We’ve some interesting time traveling ahead.

This fine Sunday morn, we’ll inspect life as it rolled much slower.

Levitate, be lowered by sheriff ’s helicopter or just simply use the stirrup and climb atop your saddled steed.

We’re off to mosey into the rich history of Santa Clarita yesteryear …

AUG. 4, 1939

WAY BACK WHEN & THEN SOME

• Hey! How do you get to Newhall?

Aug. 8, 1769, you might say the whole shooting match started. Don Gaspar de Portola led an expedition of soldiers and padres into the Santa Clarita Valley through the Newhall Pass, then camped in Castaic at a Tataviam Indian village. Two days later was a feast day for the Catholic saint, Santa Clara, after whom the valley, and the river that runs through it, was named.

The term, Santa Clarita, came after a confusion with the Santa Clara up north. Starting in the late 19th century, this area was occasionally referred to as “The Little Santa Clara River Valley.” Historian A.B. Perkins started calling it “Santa Clarita” in the 1930s.

• Wanna build a fort? August 10, 1854, Fort Tejon was established at the top of the Grapevine. About 50 years later, in a military textbook written by a Chinese general, the Grapevine and the Newhall area were named as one of the world’s top 10 significant strategic military targets.

AUG. 4, 1919

• Thanks, Mrs. G With a check for $50, Elizabeth Grinnel effectively started the first firefighting station here in the Santa Clarita Valley. Mrs. Grinnel’s Happy Valley home was nearly swallowed by fire but volunteers manned shovels and buckets of water to save her house. In gratitude, she gave a check for $50 to the local sheriff to buy four chemical extinguishers. Two canisters were kept at the Newhall Filling Station and two were kept at the White Star Garage.

The Mighty Signal urged everyone to pass the hat and buy a Ford Chemical Truck with a 75-gallon tank and a couple hundred feet of hose. No one kicked in much money, though.

• Big for the SCV. Not so big for Texas Just for the record, one of the biggest spreads in the valley was the old Temescal Ranch. It touched the town of Piru and went north for 15 miles at about 3.5 miles wide and covered 15,000 acres and was divided into five divisions: the Temescal Ranch; the Middle Ranch; the Calara Ranch; the Esperanza ranch; and, Cattle Camp. C.W. Winston was manager of the spread. They produced everything from horses to oil, apricots to cattle.

• Read fast. Say nothing. Talk about tight hours — Newhall’s library was only open from 4 to 6:30 p.m. and held just 500 books — about one for every person in the valley.

AUG. 4, 1929

• One of the worst accidents, ever A car carrying seven members of the Vargas family spun out of control about a mile south of the old National Forest Inn on the Ridge Route and went over a cliff. Six of the family, ranging from an 18-month-old toddler to a 60-year-old grandfather, died. The lone survivor was Simona — mother of four dead children and wife to the driver, Daniel. She spent a night of hellish torture, first crawling to the wreckage from which she was thrown to discover all her family dead. It was more than 24 hours later when she managed to climb up the cliffs for aid. What a horrible reality to crawl back to. Do drive careful, saddlepals.

• More highway death A few days later, in San Francisquito Canyon, two men went off the road to their death.

• Bye-Bye, Calabozo This was the last month they held prisoners in the old “Calabozo” as the old 19th century jailhouse was called. The original jail building still exists on Spruce Street, right across from the American Legion Hall. (They rent it out for parties, weddings and special occasions; give a jingle at 259-7507.)

Anyway. Up until 1939, even though we had a NEW sheriff ’s office at 6th and San Fernando, they still kept some prisoners in the OLD jailhouse.

A new county regulation made it illegal to house prisoners unless they were under 24-hour guard. We were so small then, a deputy would just mosey over every few hours or so to check on the inmates. A new 14by-30 addition was made to the 6th Street address for three new cells.

• Ms. Gold Mine Annie Briggs started bringing in a small fortune during the Depression from her rediscovered Lost Padre Mine. The motherlode was somewhere in the hills northeast of Castaic and south of Gorman. It’s a heck of a story with ghosts, gunfighters, Indians, murders and lost and refound fortunes.

• Fire and an up side A brush fire on San Fernando Road burned down an old house and three giant heritage oaks. At the time, they were valued at $300 each in firewood.

AUG. 4, 1949

• Venison stats Deer season had just opened and the Forest Service reported that 705 deer had already been taken. Someone figured out that worked out to approximately 125 pounds of dressed-out venison per buck, or 78,125 pounds of meat, or, 39 tons.

• A case against hoboing Transient Ray Shepherd nearly had his face and arms scaled completely off. While hitching a ride on a freight, the train went through a tunnel. Shepherd was on a car too close to the locomotive.

It let out a big hiss of steam, right into

Shepherd’s face.

• End of an airplane era The old Newhall International Airport (dubbed such because it made a weekly mail run into Mexico) was to be shut down by the Civil Aeronautics Board. CAB gave the facility less than a month’s notice in ending a 20-year-history of the colorful little airstrip. It also cost the valley about $50,000 a year in jobs and services and five men with families were unemployed. The airport was established on July 1, 1929, as an emergency landing field and played a prominent role during World War II. For a while, it was partly owned by Western comedy actor, Andy Devine.

AUG. 4, 1959

• Luckily, no Doty’s were inside The old Doty house on San Fernando Road by Clymore Ford was bulldozed on this date, along with an ancient and majestic shady Chinese elm.

AUG. 4, 1969

• They wouldn’t believe the legal epidemic today A story in The Signal noted a disturbing trend: more and more SCV kids were being arrested for taking drugs, some of them as young as 10.

AUG. 4, 1979

• And scratching makes it worse Castaic Lake’s swimming lagoon was closed again due to “swimmer’s itch.” Technically, SI is caused by penetrating young cercaris, which are parasites in the bodies of pond snails.

Ewe. Gross.

After witnessing Swimmer’s Itch, I certainly don’t want to stick around Previous Lives SCV. Well. At least at Castaic Lake in 1979. See you saddlepals in seven with another exciting Time Ranger adventure. Until then — vayan con Dios, amigos!

John Boston has been writing about SCV history for more than 40 years.

Read his historical tome, “Images of America: The Santa Clarita Valley” on Amazon.com. Check out his History of The Mighty Signal series on Saturdays on A1.

AU G U S T 4, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 35

How to garden in the heat of August

By Jane Gates Signal Staff Writer

S

ummer gardening in Santa Clarita can be a challenge.

We have an astonishingly wide range of microclimates here. But being mostly an inland chaparral, there are commonalities that make gardening in this part Southern California harder in the summertime than the rest of the year.

Still, if you love gardening, you don’t have to hide indoors all summer; just plan for summer conditions.

Keeping active in the garden will be good for you, your home, your garden and the environment.

It gets hot!

The sun is intense in the inland chaparral and we experience wide temperatures ranges that allow cooling at night. Too much sun has been proven dangerous to our skin, and overheating can cause sun stroke.

What you can do Take advantage of our nighttime temperature drops by working during the cooler hours of early morning and early evening.

Make working safer and more comfortable by wearing protection. Add a hat, gloves and loosely fitted longsleeved and leg-covering clothes.

These will not only help protect you from sun, but from scratches and insect bites. Drink plenty of water to keep hydrated.

We live in the land of wildfires!

We have had plenty of reminders of our vulnerability in the past few years — how quickly they spread, how greedily and cruelly they will consume anything they can, and how willingly they will invade even areas we might have thought safe.

What you can do Clear any brush surrounding your home. Keep gutters, eaves, areas around your house and garden clean. Design your landscape for beauty, efficiency, productivity and safety. Include fire breaks in your design, choose your materials

and their placement carefully, use low-profile plants, avoid highly flammable trees, and position irrigation and water sources wisely.

Wildlife invasions

Warming temperatures have increased insect infestations and other pest incursions. We are seeing mealy bugs, thrips, scale insects and more aphids than ever. Snails are invading northern and eastern Santa Clarita Valley. Exploding populations of coyotes, gophers, mice, rats, tree and ground squirrels, and rabbits are now feeding off of our lush gardens as their natural resources vanish under housing construction and drought.

What you can do Clean your garden and take away litter where pests multiply. Using chemicals can encourage pests to build up a natural resistance. Those same chemicals can filter into garden soil, affecting friendly wildlife like bees, birds and butterflies. Rather, use physical barriers to deter pests. Try sticky traps, sound and odor deterrents.

Fountains can add the sound of cooling water while creating a focal point in your garden. PHOTO BY JANE GATES / THE SIGNAL

Enjoy your garden

Despite summer challenges, the garden still has a lot to offer. Make time to use your garden. Grow edibles for fresher, tastier and healthier food.

Relax in the shade to reduce stress.

Psychologically cool yourself with the refreshing water from a strategically located fountain or waterfall. Entertain friends during balmy evenings.

There are plenty of jobs that can be done outdoors even during toasty August days.

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36 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

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AU G U S T 4, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 37

Just minutes from SCV. Enjoy all 4 seasons on this 20+ acre ranch Home is 6247 sq. ft. with incredible VIEWS

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Manufactured Home Affordable 3 bedroom 2 bath manufactured home in gate guarded Community. Open Floor plan, updated kitchen with large living area. Common Area amenities include pool, spa, tennis court, play area, clubhouse.

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This Newhall Friendly Valley 2 bd/2 bath +Den ~ Stand-alone home has approx. 1561 sq. ft. Incredible view, great floor plan, 2 golf courses, gated/guard community,many activities, pool, much more! Come Home Today $565,000

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38 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

AU G U S T 4, 2019

Happy Valley Single Story Home

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5+3 – 2,950 sq ft, single story, classic California ranch style pool home in Happy Valley. Lot is 11,822 sq ft and there is tons of RV/Boat/Toy parking. $850,000

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23322 Maple St., Newhall, 91321

Newer 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom home in gated community, Villa Metro. Beautiful wood laminate floors, high ceilings and recessed lighting. Large kitchen with granite counters, center island, stainless steel sink and appliances. Large master bedroom with walk in closet. Master bath with dual sinks & separate water closet. Stackable laundry upstairs. Nice size secondary bedrooms, one has a “Romeo and Juliet” balcony! Very sweet back yard/courtyard. Large 2 car attached garage. Community boasts resort style pool, clubhouse, playground, barbeque and garden to grow your own vegetables or flowers!! $489,000 21860 Moveo Dr , Saugus 91350

Judyleejensen@yahoo.com

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Mountains, trees and nature all around.

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Beautiful 3 bed- 2 bath well maintained 2002 manufactured home on permanent foundation. Back deck for outdoor dining & enjoying the view. Open updated kitchen w/custom cabinets, granite counters, newer flooring & morning room. Master suite has two walk in closets. Ensuite with soaking tub, separate shower, water closet and vanity dual sinks. Living room with wood burning fireplace, vinyl dual glaze windows & increased insulation in walls, ceiling & floor. Single extra length garage.

Amenities at Pine Mountain Club include pool, tennis, golf, Equestrian Center, hiking trails, lake, etc..................$275,000

Manya Prybyla CalBRE #01920105

661-904-3046

Sierra Bonita 80 acre ranch SierraBonitaRanch.com

Marilyn Garner

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5 houses built on a high plateau with 360 degree unobstructed views of the Sierra Pelona Mountains and beyond. Built in 2009 the single story main house is 3+3, and is 2,908 sf of understated elegance. The other 4, more rustic, houses range in size from 822 to 1,204 sf and are ideal for the ultimate family compound or corporate retreat. A huge resort style patio with pool & spa, Tennis Court, helicopter garage, airplane hangar, pond, mature trees and 3 wells are also included on the property.

Located in Agua Dulce - $13,500,000

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www.MarilynMerlotinscv.com

3 9 · S U N D AY S I G N A L

Opinion

AU G U S T 4, 2019

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

OURVIEWS

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

Just When You Thought On the Benefits of Cemex Was Finally Done... Engaging Life Actively

By David Hegg

By The Signal Editorial Board

N

ever count Cemex out.

Ever. That’s the lesson to be drawn from the news that Cemex, the multinational mining giant, has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Bureau of Land Management’s decision to cancel Cemex’s contracts to mine 56.1 million tons of sand and gravel in Soledad Canyon, right on Santa Clarita’s eastern doorstep.

In March, we reported that the Interior Board of Land Appeals had rejected Cemex’s challenge to the 2015 BLM decision. The IBLA is the first place Cemex could have turned to overturn the BLM decision, and that appeal process dragged out over the course of several years — a delay that, in some ways, was a blessing for local opponents of the mine, which include the city of Santa Clarita.

To oversimplify the complex 48page IBLA ruling, it essentially upheld one of Cemex’s contracts and left the other one intact — but that contract expires in July 2020. So, it left Cemex basically no time to finish the planning and entitlement process to begin any meaningful mining.

In March, mine opponents celebrated the death of the Cemex plan. But at the time, we posited the question, “Could Cemex still seek another form of legal recourse before its time runs out?”

That answer is yes.

In May, Cemex filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, naming the Department of the Interior, the IBLA, the Bureau of Land Management and Interior Secretary David Bernhardt as defendants.

The mining company alleges the BLM and IBLA rulings illegally denied Cemex its contractual rights.

“Defendants have unlawfully deprived Cemex of its valuable rights to mine and produce minerals under two contracts with the United States,”

the complaint alleges. “The BLM, after repeatedly making clear that the production periods under the contracts had not begun to run, abruptly reversed course in 2015 and asserted that the production periods had commenced in 2000 — despite the fact that Cemex could not have legally mined at that time because it lacked the necessary regulatory approvals.

“That decision, and the decision of the IBLA affirming it, were arbitrary and capricious, and violated the Administrative Procedure Act, Federal Land Policy and Management Act, agency regulations and the Constitution.”

The defendants, in their July 15 response, countered that Cemex “failed to act in good faith,” “unilaterally modified the contracts,” “misrepresented to BLM that it continued to secure the permits needed to begin mining operations,” and that it “misled BLM by failing to disclose its intent to enter the truce agreement with the city of Santa Clarita.”

It bears noting that Santa Clarita is not a defendant in this case, but it of course extends the city’s two-decade battle to protect the community from the mine’s negative impacts. Among them are the effects the mining would have on local air quality, water supply, traffic and the environment.

Will Cemex succeed in its pursuit of legal relief? Could Cemex’s success be measured in terms of actual mining in Soledad Canyon, or will it result in some other form of restitution for the mining giant?

Those things remain to be seen, and may take years to play out in federal court. But make no mistake: It’s not over.

A

t the end of a long day I’m usually mentally exhausted and can be found lounging on our family room couch with a television remote in my hand. They are wonderful things, these remotes.

How did we ever get along without them? Imagine having to actually get up and manually change a channel or turn up the volume. What an outrage!

But there might be a downside to all this convenience. Will our thumb muscles someday be bigger than our calves? It’s a funny picture, but I wonder if our increasing tendency to live life as passively as possible is actually detrimental. And I’m not just talking about remotes. To mangle some verbiage from Neil Postman, I wonder if we’re “conveniencing ourselves to death.”

In 1985 Postman wrote what turned out to be a groundbreaking book entitled “Amusing Ourselves to Death.”

His research demonstrated that our society’s infatuation with the silly and frivolous was sucking serious discourse and analysis down the cultural drain.

As I was flipping through channels in search of something – anything! – to lessen my brain numbness it occurred to me that my behavior was symbolic of everything I am against.

There I was, fundamentally passive, while hoping to become meaningfully engaged in something exciting.

By this time you’re wondering how weird this column is going to be. So here’s the deal: We are fast becoming a society of ease, of technological convenience, where accomplishment without effort is foundational to our sense of progress and well-being. From our smart phones and computers to our synced cars and programmable appliances, the world is now manageable with the tips of our fingers. And while this certainly makes life much easier I greatly fear this culture of convenience has had two distinctly adverse consequences.

First, convenience has radically raised our expectations of life. We truly believe everything ought to be easy. Information ought to be at our fingertips.

See HEGG, page 40

READERLETTERS

A Life Should Be Treated as Such This is in response to Lois Linnert’'s letter (July 23). I missed reading Hilmar Rosenast’s letter regarding babies and life. The Catholic Church’s view on abortion is irrelevant. The scientifically proven fact is that “a small bit of cells that rests initially in (a woman’s) uterus” is a life, and killing a life is murder and should be treated as such.

Mildred (Millie) Hubert, Santa Clarita Submit a Letter to the Editor

Include name, address & phone number; Anonymous letters are not printed; Email: letters@signalscv.com; Mail to: Letters to the Editor, The Signal, 26330 Diamond Place, Ste. 100, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.

AU G U S T 4, 2019

S U N D AY S I G N A L · 4 0

Opinion

Contact: Tim Whyte, Signal Editor Phone: 661-287-5591 | Email: letters@signalscv.com Mail: 26330 Diamond Place, Suite 100, Santa Clarita, CA 91350

BLACK&WHYTE

D R AW I N G C O N C L U S I O N S R . J . M AT S O N

Mr. Santa Clarita Valley Will Never Win This One

By Tim Whyte Signal Editor

M

y good buddy John Boston and I go way back. Decades back. We’re both award-winning columnists, although I haven’t entered a column writing contest in a dozen years and he started his career waaaay before me.

He likes to brag about how he’s won more awards than me. But come on.

He’s had the benefit of longevity. Extreme longevity. So, I got a kick out of it the other day when state Sen. Scott Wilk stopped by the office to present me with something.

I have to rewind a little bit.

Recently, I made a post on social media thanking Scott for sending Senate certificates congratulating my daughter, Brooke, and the rest of her history-making Saugus High School cheer squad from 2019.

I’ve written about it before — Saugus brought home second place in the first-ever CIF Southern California cheer championships, besting more than 70 SoCal schools in the process.

Then, they won their division in the USA Spirit national championships.

Yes. National champions.

Senator Scott took note, and had a Senate certificate made for each girl.

It was one of several such honors the girls received from elected officials, including county Supervisor Kathryn Barger and the Santa Clarita City Council.

I took a picture of Brooke’s certificate next to a Saugus Centurions “No. 1” foam finger and posted it on Facebook to thank Scott for recognizing the girls.

Then my ever-sarcastic former Signal colleague Josh Premako replied to the Facebook post, saying, “Man, he’s just givin’ those things out to anybody these days, eh?”

To which I replied, “Well, there isn’t one with MY name on it yet!!

What up, Scott???”

Scott jokingly replied that he’d left one with Maureen Daniels, a longtime signal ad rep.

Which, of course, he had not done. It was funny.

But then, a week or so later, the senator showed up at the front desk of The Signal.

God how I love a legislator with a sense of humor.

Scott was holding a Senate certificate for me. He told me he loves my column, and he thought I’d really been nailing it lately. I thought about saying, “Oh yeah? Wait until I light you up one day...” But it wouldn’t have felt right.

I opened the certificate and it says it’s in recognition of Tim Whyte as the best columnist not just in the Santa Clarita Valley, but in the ENTIRE 21st Senate District. Heh. I thanked Scott for the gesture and I was truly touched. Scott and I also go way back. He can’t know how much I appreciate it.

But more than that, I saw opportunity to have a little fun with John Boston: This is one award he will never win.

Boston isn’t shy about reminding me that he has won 2,174 (made-up number) major awards and I have won just 12 (also a made-up number).

But he can’t take this one away.

Now, and forevermore, I am the best columnist in the 21st Senate District, including the Santa Clarita Valley.

Senator Scott Wilk says so, and he can’t make those certificates if it’s not true.

John Boston, eat your heart out.

But it’s OK. I won’t start calling myself Mr. Santa Clarita Valley. That one’s all yours, bud.

Tim Whyte is editor of The Signal. His column appears Sundays. On Twitter: @TimWhyte.

HEGG

and parenting. Those addicted to convenience too often capitulate. All around me I see folks giving in, giving Continued from page 39 up, and running away. Our culture is littered with marriages and families Solutions ought to be found for every that have been thrown away because problem simply by googling it. Things they became inconvenient. We want ought to be done quickly, efficiently, what we want, but we don’t care to and effortlessly. After all, we landed work hard and persevere in doing a man on the moon, and now there’s the right things even though they are probably an app for that! difficult.

But the problem is life is messy.

My advice is to Things break. People remember that the hurt people. Liars greatest and most imlie, cheaters cheat, My advice is to portant things in life disappointment, can’t be managed reconfusion and heart- remember that the motely. We have to get break abound. And greatest and most in there, stay in there, the hardest thing and engage life with to understand in a important things in an active determinaworld where convelife can’t be managed tion to do what is right nience is king is that whatever the cost. most real problems remotely.

Unlike the television, take honest, persechange doesn’t come vering effort to solve. via your fingertips.

Life is an arduous adventure, and those who are unaccus- It takes a courageous heart that has tomed to sweat and toil will eventually learned through trial that while industry and integrity are difficult to build wind up despondent and without the and maintain, they are both essential spiritual stamina to journey on. to purposeful living.

And that’s the second consequence.

Now, pass me the remote so I can Convenience leads to a fundamental passivity, and where passivity is prized, program my DVR. perseverance is impossible. PerseverDavid Hegg is senior pastor of Grace ance means fighting through rather Baptist Church and a Santa Clarita than ranting and walking out. Perseverance is essential in every area of life resident.“Ethically Speaking” appears from education and career to marriage Sundays.

AU G U S T 4, 2019

Give your mind a workout with these brainy exercises!

BRAINGAMES

Relax

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 41

42 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

CROSSWORD TIME

AU G U S T 4, 2019

THE VILLAGE IDIOT

The work/life balance

By Jim Mullen Signal Contributing Writer

I

used to be useless around the house.

I couldn’t do the simplest chores. Painting, hammering, minor plumbing, installing cat doors, assembling IKEA furniture, hanging closet doors — I did none of it. Sue did it all. Not just because I’m a lazy bum, but because I wasn’t any good at it.

Sue enjoys being a handywoman, and I enjoy not doing that stuff.

But housework was a different matter. We have all learned that the division of labor in a modern marriage (or any kind of relationship) is a touchy issue. The work/life balance has to be worked out at home, too, not just at the office. And by your second or third marriage, you should be able to get it right.

Who’s going to do the laundry, who’s vacuuming, who’s making the bed, who’s cleaning the fridge … It’s a minefield, especially for people like me. People who don’t mind seeing piles of dishes in the sink, who think dust bunnies make good pets, who like the look and feel of National Park toilets. My philosophy is, “Why clean when you can just move to a new house?”

Why, oh why, do people with the same idea of domestic bliss never seem to marry each other? There is always an “Odd Couple” thing going on.

Most of us would agree that men and teenagers are the worst offenders when it comes to the unbalanced life.

They think dishes get done by the dish fairy, the laundry gets done by the laundry fairy and the toilet gets cleaned by the bathroom fairy. Yet if they start doing those tasks themselves — or paying someone to come in and do them — then suddenly the lightbulb goes on: Hey, this stuff IS work! It takes a long time and a lot of effort (or money), and no one likes doing it.

My dad had a simple definition: “If it was fun, they wouldn’t call it ‘work.’”

But what is life, if not change?

These days, I can microwave and Swiffer with the best of them. I hang up my clothes and no longer leave wet towels in a pile on the floor. Face it: I am a catch. And I pay people to do the things neither of us wants to do, so I have plenty of time to write non-life-changing twaddle like this.

I even try to stretch beyond my capabilities now and then. Years ago, I never would have attempted something as complicated as painting our front porch. But I watched a few YouTube videos on how to hold a paintbrush and use a roller, and voila!

A brand-new look for this old house.

Yet there’s just no making some people happy.

“When are you gonna finish painting the porch?” Sue asked. Again.

She’s been asking the same question for weeks. Nag, nag, nag.

“Me, finish it? I already did most of it!” I told her. “You keep saying I don’t help around the house, so now I’m helping, thank you very much.”

“Yes,” she said, “thank you very much for painting all the places that are easy to reach with a roller. All the spots that need to be painted while bending over, or on your knees, or up on a ladder, you left for me.”

“Well, yeah. I’m not stupid,” I did NOT say.

“And the next time you paint something, use a dropcloth.”

“A drop-what?”

This always happens. You try to do the right thing and it comes back to bite you in the butt.

“And if you’d cleaned the brushes after you painted, we could have used them again.”

Who knew? Where did she learn all this stuff? I said, “You’ve been watching way too many of those home improvement shows.”

“Oh, I don’t have to watch television to improve my home. All I’d have to do is kick you out.”

“Then who would you have to tell that they’re doing things wrong all the time?”

“I’d hire someone.”

Contact Jim Mullen at mullen.jim@ gmail.com.

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