Sunday Signal October 4, 2020 by Signal

OCTOBER 4, 2020

An inspiring road to recovery Page 7

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NATURAL WAYS TO BOOST YOUR IMMUNITIES

FAMILY FEASTS FOR FALL SEASON

PET CARE FOR WHEN YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE EXPECTING

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TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS FEATURES

FROM THE CITY MANAGER

4 5 6 7

Understanding food, fitness, our immune system An update on what’s coming to Santa Clarita How COVID-19 is impacting mental health A live-saving, 1-in-35 million opportunity

8 See Santa Clarita by bike this fall

ENTERTAINMENT 10 10 British farcical ‘Misbehaviour’ tells on the 1970 Miss World

FOOD 11 1 1 Rethink ingredients to refresh family meals this fall Plantain Crusted Salmon Fillets Slow Cooker Sweet Potato, Plantain and Lentil Caribbean Curry

HOME 12 12 Some eco-friendly home-cleaning hacks

GARDENING 13 13 Can you save your own vegetable seeds?

HEALTH 14 14 Foot, ankle symptoms you should never ignore

PETS 16 16 How to approach cat care while you’re pregnant

SENIOR LIVING

17 Why weighing Medicare Part D options is crucial this year

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18 How to effectively and safely sanitize your car 19 How to nab this season’s on-trend fashions

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PUZZLES 21 OPINION 22

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Publisher Sunday Signal Editor Signal Editor Advertising Sales Manager Production Manager

Richard Budman Perry Smith Tim Whyte Yolanda Hall Doña Uhrig

26330 Diamond Place, Suite 100 | Santa Clarita, CA 91350

661-259-1234

The entire content of the Sunday Signal is copyrighted 2019 by Paladin Multi-Media Group, Inc. All submitted letters and columns are strictly the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the publisher. All rights are reserved and no part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. If you would not like this delivered to your home, please call (661) 259-1000.

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Understanding food, fitness and our immune system “If you realistically can only devote 10 minutes a day to that, do it, but do it most days,” McIntosh added. “You might not feel like doing it initially, but afterward, you tend to feel better.”

By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

ith germs and viruses the center of attention in 2020, so should be your immune system, as this complicated network of immune cells stands between you and these deadly infections, helping to fight off those bacteria and viruses. In order for your immune system to work at its best, you need to be getting the right nutrients in your diet, so here are some tips from local nutritionists that can help you keep those immune cells happy.

Supplementing those good habits

‘Eat the rainbow’

“We are what we eat,” Michelle Schirra, a clinical nutritionist with about 20 years of experience said in a recent interview. “Food is a huge part of who we are. … I think it’s still very new for people to realize how important food is, (but) food can be like medicine and food can heal.” Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital’s Clinical Nutrition Manager Maria McIntosh agreed, adding, “The best thing that we can do from a lifestyle standpoint, as far as our immune system goes, is to eat healthy food.” Both Schirra and McIntosh agree that eating at least five fruits and vegetables a day in a variety of colors, from dark green to yellow to orange, gives your body the antioxidants it needs. “Eat the rainbow,” McIntosh added. “So get vegetables and fruits that are green, purple, orange, etc. Try to let those be more of the focus of your meal.” Some of the foods and spices that Schirra recommends include spinach, kale, broccoli, sprouts, cilantro, celery, all of the berries, papaya, beets, sweet potatoes, red leaf, romaine and butter lettuce, oregano, thyme, peppermint, apples, bananas, figs, dates, parsley, garlic and sage. McIntosh also suggests people use the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate tool, where they can go online or download the app to figure out which foods can help build healthy eating habits. “My biggest advice is to try to eat whole foods, and stay away from snacking on packaged products and

Incorporating more fruit and vegetables into the diet is one surefire way to boost the immune system, according to nutritionist Michelle Schirra. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

driving through and getting fast food,” Schirra added. On the other hand, the top things Schirra always suggests people avoid are the top five allergens that can compromise your immune system, which include dairy, gluten, corn and soy, along with eggs, though Schirra says eggs can be a great source of protein. “Eggs, especially the yolk, can cause inflammation, but on the flip side of that, it is a pure protein,” Schirra added, “so I don’t always have people avoid those unless they’ve got some kind of an autoimmune disease.” Both Schirra and McIntosh agree that while you may not make these healthy choices 100%, continue to push yourself. “We’re not going to be 100%, but it doesn’t have to be an all or nothing proposition,” McIntosh added. “Make the best choices as often as you can.”

Other lifestyle changes can help, too

Getting enough sleep can be crucial to your health, both McIntosh

and local nutritionist Natasha Diaz noted. “It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how little people focus on this factor, which plays a big role in how well your body works,” Diaz said. “Your body needs rest to function properly.” McIntosh agreed, adding, “Many Americans have a difficult time falling asleep or staying asleep at night.” There are a few things you could be doing before bed that can be hindering your sleeping, including drinking caffeine, getting too much screen time and drinking alcohol. “All the things that we say with young kids, like have a routine at night, do soothing things or read a story, it really applies to really all of us,” McIntosh added. Both Diaz and McIntosh also highlighted the importance of exercise, even if that just means taking the stairs instead of the elevator. With gyms closed, people have had to get creative to find a workout that fits their needs, but nowadays, there are plenty of online videos that can help you get a little more active.

While all three nutritionists agree that there’s a lot we can do to give our immune systems a helping hand, they all suggest speaking to your doctor before taking any supplements, as they can sometimes counteract prescription medications. That being said, essential vitamins can help you produce enough immune cells to keep your immune system running well, while other vitamins can also kill off harmful microbes, Diaz said. Some of the supplements Schirra recommends include vitamin D3, B12, flaxseed oil, omega-3, cod liver oil, magnesium, turmeric and curcumin, along with a multivitamin, which can help to give you a lot of the helpful vitamins you need in one dose. In addition, a good probiotic can help to replenish your digestive system with the good bacteria it needs to keep balanced. “In a nutshell, we have about 4 trillion microbiomes in our body, and about 800 billion of them live in our small intestines, and that’s what makes up our immune system,” Schirra said. “A lot of times when we’re not eating right, we’re drinking a lot of alcohol, it can produce a lot of bad bacteria.” Your body is always full of bacteria, both good and bad, and probiotics are often called “good” or “helpful” bacteria because they help keep your gut healthy. “People get all kinds of good bacteria from eating fruits and vegetables because fruits and vegetables break down and feed our good bacteria just like a probiotic would,” Schirra added. “That’s why sometimes if you have a really good whole food diet with a lot of plant-based veggies and fruits, you don’t necessarily need a probiotic.” 

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An update on what’s coming to Santa Clarita By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

he COVID-19 pandemic has halted multiple aspects of everyday life, but construction in Santa Clarita has slowly but surely continued, bringing various projects from the blueprint stages to vertical construction. New restaurants, entertainment and community destinations and housing are some of the many amenities that are part of the city’s current 2020 plan, which wraps up this year as officials prepare its next five-year plan, according to City Manager Ken Striplin. “Santa Clarita is known throughout California for being a city that offers its residents an exceptional quality of life,” he said in a statement. “Since incorporation of the areas of Canyon Country, Newhall, Saugus and Valencia, which formed the city of Santa Clarita in 1987, our City Council has laid the groundwork for the safe, vibrant and fiscally sound city we live in today.” Amid the coronavirus crisis, a handful of major developments are near completion or are complete and ready to welcome residents but are awaiting direction from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health for appropriate openings.

Laemmle Theatre Newhall

Among those waiting for a green light from the county is the two-story, seven-screen art house Laemmle Theatre on Lyons Avenue in Old Town Newhall. The 17,600-square-foot building, which broke ground in October 2018, will be able to seat 500 guests or 45 to 150 per screen and offer additional public art space. The site joins a family-owned chain with eight other locations across the region and is working on final steps toward “getting final sign off,” according to Greg Laemmle, president of the business. “Because of the public health mandates, we still would not be allowed to show movies,” he said. That’s due to L.A. County’s current stance in California’s four-tiered blueprint toward reopening, which

The new Laemmle Theatres 6 location in Newhall is ready to go as soon as L.A. County Public Health gives the greenlight for movie theaters to resume regular business. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

is currently on the most restrictive level. When the county moves into a less restrictive tier, based on improving case and positivity rates, Public Health officials will be allowed to determine if and when moviegoing can resume. As of the end of September, county officials had not indicated when indoor movie theaters could reopen but the Newhall location itself has come a long way despite the previous speculation that the company would be sold. “But even before (reopenings resume), once we have final sign off, we hope to open our doors for Popcorn Pop-Up takeout concession sales on occasion,” said Laemmle. “And we are also working with our neighbors at Newhall Crossings to see about scheduling outdoor screenings in the courtyard.

Newhall Crossings

Adjacent to the Laemmle Theatre is the newly completed Newhall Crossings, a mixed-use site with 20,000-square-feet of retail space and nearly 50 residential units and subterranean parking. The residential units are now 80% leased and approximately 70% of the commercial area is leased, with three retail suites currently available, ac-

cording to Jason Crawford, planning and economic development manager with the city. Confirmed tenants vary from food to health and fitness options, said Matthew Paul, a residential leasing agent and who is part of the ownership with Newhall Crossing. Some of the upcoming shops include The Loaf Japanese Bakery and Café, with handmade options that feature distinctly Japanese flavor; Pops Artisanal Creamery, a family-owned and all-natural ice cream shop; Rustic Burger House, the family-owned artisan burger business that will expand from its Valencia location; Maginn’s Irish Pub, with a smalltown pub feel and Glasshouse LA, a dance studio with various dance and fitness classes. Although expected to open this summer, Paul said the pandemic has slowed down plans but businesses are expected to open around the holiday season. Before then, however, residents will have a chance to enjoy outdoor movies via projected showings, from movies to sports, in the public plaza space shared with Laemmle Theatre.

The new Sheriff ’s Station

The buildout of the new 45,000-square-foot Santa Clarita Val-

ley Sheriff ’s Station has also come a long way and, with continued work throughout the pandemic, the project is now in the onsite construction stages. Located on a 7.6-acre city-owned property on Golden Valley Road between Centre Pointe and Robert C. Lee parkways, the site will offer a detention facility, a 4,165-square-foot vehicle maintenance building, communications tower and a helipad. Residents might have noticed that offsite improvements on Golden Valley Road, as well as utilities to the site, such as a new storm drain line, have been completed, according to city Communications Manager Carrie Lujan. “The current phase of development is onsite construction,” she said. “Roofing for the main station and vehicle maintenance building is now complete in addition to the communications tower and perimeter site walls. Ongoing construction activities will include work on building interiors, helipad, fueling area, and canopy structures.” The site is expected to be turned over to the L.A. County Sheriff ’s Department in the first half of 2021, Lujan added. 

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How COVID-19 is impacting mental health By Caleb Lunetta Signal Staff Writer

ne of the many detrimental aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic has not only been the significant loss of life around the country, but also the mental health toll it’s taking on millions of Americans everyday. “The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a new disease and what could happen can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children,” according to a July 1 statement from the Centers for Disease Control. “Public health actions, such as social distancing, can make people feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety.” “However,” it continued, “these actions are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19.” Cary Quashen, the founder of Action Drug Rehabs and a nationally recognized expert in the field of addiction and drug abuse, said Thursday the problem of substance reliance and depression has only been exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic. “It’s been off the hook, especially with anxiety right now,” said Quashen, when asked what he’s seen in his experiences trying to help people stay on the wagon in the last few months. “People don’t know what to do with themselves, anxiety levels are way up.”

Mental health

“We’ve seen increases in suicidal ideation, not necessarily to the point of developing plans but those feelings of, ‘I wish I just wasn’t here, I don’t want this to go on anymore,” said Monica Dedhia, a licensed clinical social worker at the Santa Clarita Valley Child & Family Center. “And we’re seeing that pervasively among our adolescence.” Dedhia said for many people, whether young or old there’s a high amount of anxiety about the world, whether it be due to COVID-19 or the current political climate. And especially for kids and parents, this feeling of uncertainty has only been exacerbated by the unpredictability of the school year. The stress is showing itself in the form of irritability, additional tearfulness, trouble sleeping, changes in appetite or noticeable decline in academic performance. “Whatever sports, activities, or clubs they had before to occupy their time, they’ve lost that, they’ve lost a lot of the outlets that would keep them busy,” said Eddie Garcia, a substance abuse counselor at Insight Treatment Programs here in Santa Clarita and around the southland. “Their coping skills are being taken away,” Garcia added, specifically in reference to those that have struggled with mental health and substance abuse. “Pre-existing conditions, whether it’s mental health or substance abuse, these pre-existing conditions

Action Drug Rehabs founder Cary Quashen works with people in recovery at his facility. SIGNAL PHOTO

are just exacerbated by being at home.” Insight Treatment Center is located at 26330 Diamond Place Suite 120/130, Santa Clarita. Call (661) 765-8445 for more information.

Alcohol abuse

A popular meme on the internet or joke between friends at the onset of the pandemic was people saying they could tell the time of day based on if it was “Wine O’Clock” or not. These types of jokes, while humorous to those online or among good company, showed Quashen that there was going to be a silent, yet exponentially growing problem, as it pertains to alcohol consumption during the pandemic. Since April, the number of domestic violence and family disturbance calls within the SCV has steadily increased. While a number of categories of crime declined due to the lack of people on the road or public places being open to cause trouble at, alcohol-related instances appear to be creating a steady number of drunken drivers and problems within the home, according to officials at the SCV Sheriff ’s Station.

Drugs

Just recently, the opioids have come back and they’re hitting us hard. We’ve lost a couple of people,” said Quashen. Quashen said since April he’s seen at least three people die from overdoses, one as young as 16 years old. Quashen said a main source of the problem is that fentanyl is now being used in more and more drugs bought off the street. Because fentanyl is cheaper and more potent, dealers and suppliers cut their drugs with it in order to boost profits and ensure return customers.

However, according to the CDC, fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, and even a relatively small amount present within an illegally purchased or acquired drug can be lethal. With dealers now pressing their own pills and cutting their own drugs to make it appear as though their drugs are higher quality or even medical-grade, Quashen says taking illicit substances on the street is the equivalent of playing “Russian roulette.” “When it comes to heroin, anything with opioids, any pills, any of that, it’s going to be Russian Roulette,” said Quashen. “And we haven’t even seen the beginning of this, it’s going to get worse.” Action Family Counseling is located at 22722 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. Call 800-3678336 for more information.

Solutions and recovery

Quashen said the hardest part is listening to your body and your mind and fighting the denial. Some of the clues that can help you figure out you’re in denial, whether it’s with drugs or alcohol, is to be honest about whether you’re experiencing depression, loneliness, drinking more than you should, have an altered sleeping pattern or eating habits, or are becoming increasingly prone to having a temper. “I think we look at getting help sometimes that we can’t manage on our own, and that it’s a weakness,” said Dedhia. “I would challenge individuals to reframe that to seeking help is actually a pretty vulnerable process, and takes a lot of strength.” The Santa Clarita Valley Child & Family Center is located at 21545 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita. Call (661) 259-9439 for more information. For a complete list of local resources for mental health, visit BeTheDifferenceSCV.org. 

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A life-saving, 1-in-35 million opportunity By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

alencia High School grad Anika Mathur was happy and healthy — until she wasn’t. Before she and her family knew it, the then junior’s tiredness became a diagnosis of aplastic anemia, a blood disease where the body fails to produce enough blood cells. “It attacks my bone marrow, and the bone marrow is what produces new blood — not just the red blood (cells), but everything in your blood,” Mathur said. While Mathur wasn’t very worried when she found out, thinking it was just like regular anemia, the same couldn’t be said for her parents. “As educated as you might be, you can never guess the depth of the problem,” her mother, Gayatri Mathur, said. “My first thought was, ‘What did I do wrong?’ Apparently, it’s an anomaly — it just happens.” Mathur’s diagnosis came in May 2019 and, by June, she was receiving her first immunosuppressive therapy treatment. “You’re given medicine to suppress your immune system in hopes that it can just calm down and stop attacking your bone marrow, and it will rebuild itself properly,” Mathur said. “It’s less invasive than a bone marrow transplant, but the side effects I got ended up being much worse.” When Mathur’s immunity was down, she ended up catching multiple infections, the worst being one in her lungs, which put her in the hospital in need of two surgeries, one on each lung. It was then that Mathur began to worry, realizing she wouldn’t be going back to school that year. “It was more surprising than anything to think that what I thought would be easy took so much time to fix,” she said. “I was most upset about just not being able to go to school and see my friends, but I kept in touch with them through the phone, and they visited like three or four times.” Mathur ended up staying in the hospital all summer, an “uncertain time” for her parents. “We were living from day to day, and we still are,” Gayatri said, “because you never know which way it’s going to go. We learned to cope with it, and Anika did better than us I think. She was living for the moment.” It was the support from family and friends that got the family through it, as all pitched in in different ways, whether it was delivering food and clean laundry to the hospital or taking Gayatri’s mom to the doctor and filling her prescriptions. “Anika’s dad didn’t go to work for two months when she was critical — we just didn’t want to leave her,” Gayatri added. “People were just amazing.” Mathur got out of the hospital in October, and by December, doctors were telling the family that the treatment wasn’t working as it should be and that

Valencia graduate Anika Mathur lives day to day after her aplastic anemia diagnosis her junior year. COURTESY PHOTO

she’d need a bone marrow transplant. “I was even more surprised to find out that I would have the transplant because I thought that my blood and bone marrow was starting to work a little bit, so I didn’t suspect that it would suddenly plateau,” Mathur added. Out of everyone on Be The Match’s global registry network of 35 million people, Mathur had just one match. “That person then had to go through a physical and make sure that they were healthy enough and met the requirements to do the donation,” added Christine Mantilla, who supervises member engagement, enrollment and experience at Be The Match, “so even when she had that one match, it wasn’t a sure thing.” Not everyone has an equal chance at finding a match, as the registry is overwhelmingly white, making ethnic heritage play a significant role. So with her options slim, in January of this year, the Mathurs began their own search in the hopes that they might be able to find another match should the one that Mathur had not work out. “Our wheels started turning,” Gayatri added. “Her match was a 9/10, not even a perfect match, and their blood type was different, so we being parents did research and spread our wings.” They set up community registry events in India and Canada, as well as in the U.S., with people everywhere stepping in to help, and though they didn’t find a new match for themselves, the Mathurses hoped their efforts would benefit someone else. “She was extremely fortunate that that one match that was viable for her was able to donate and chose

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to move forward when they were called upon,” Mantilla added, “and they saved her life.” In February, Mathur received chemotherapy and radiation in preparation for her transplant, again remaining in the hospital following treatment so doctors could monitor her recovery. “It was shooting an arrow in the dark basically,” Gayatri said. “Anika has been very strong. She went through a lot last year, and they’re not very happy memories so to speak, but Anika is being Anika. She’s had a very good attitude, and she’s happy and jumping around when she’s feeling good, just getting on with life.” Through her recovery, Mathur was able to remain on track with school, graduating on time in June, and has since begun online classes at College of the Canyons this fall. It’s now been seven months since the transplant, and Mathur is still on her way to a full recovery, remaining primarily at home since getting out of the hospital, as her immune system is still compromised, especially considering the current COVID-19 public health crisis. “With the bone marrow recovery, you really don’t want to get sick, and it’s like knowing that more people are getting sick … it’s kind of a scary thing,” Mathur said. “Even when we bring groceries home and my mom or dad go shopping, they have to totally clean before I can interact with them just in case.” Even so, Mathur said she’s also thankful that people are being more cautious and understand the precautions she needs to take. “To me, everybody could give me an infection, and now, everybody knows what that feels like,” she added. “It’s a little bit of a relief that whenever I have to go somewhere, everybody else is also being as careful.” For the Mathurses, the past year has been a life-changing experience for them. “People have better experiences, but you know what? This was meant for us,” Gayatri said. “What I learned from this is you have adversities and you face them, but you also meet so many kind people along the way.” Now, Gayatri hopes to do the same for someone else. “It’s my chance to give back.” Anika Mathur’s story is unique in many ways, as she went from diagnosis to treatment to transplant all within the span of about a year. “For a lot of patients that are ethnically diverse, they sometimes end up waiting years to find a match,” Mantilla said. “Most people spend at least three years on the registry until they’re called, if they’re ever called.” That’s why Be The Match strives to get as many people on the registry as possible, as finding a match for those in need is so challenging. To join the registry or for more information, visit join.bethematch.org/cure186. 

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FROM THE CITY MANAGER

See Santa Clarita by bike this fall By Ken Striplin City Manager

s temperatures start to drop and we see the telltale signs of fall in the forecast, we know there is no time like the present to be outside experiencing all Santa Clarita has to offer. Long recognized as one of the healthiest and most active areas in California, the City of Santa Clarita has thousands of acres of open space, miles of off-street trails and dozens of parks waiting to be explored. Cycling is one of the most popular ways to see Santa Clarita, and the cycling community in our City has grown by leaps and bounds over the years. In addition to road cycling, which many residents are familiar with thanks to global events such as the AMGEN Tour of California and the Tour de France, the sports of mountain biking and BMX have also seen ridership numbers increase. This fall, as you and your family look for safe, fun and healthy ways to stay active and entertained, I encourage you to see Santa Clarita from the seat of your bicycle. There are ample opportunities for riders of all ages and skill levels, no matter what

type of bike you are riding. It all starts with a leisurely ride through the neighborhood. Take your bikes to a City park for fun and relaxation or explore the paved off-street trails and paseo systems to visit stores and restaurants rather than driving. If you are interested in cycling for exercise, Santa Clarita’s streets and paved trails deliver plenty of straightaways, climbs and downhills to vary your workout routine. The City’s newest public amenity, the Santa Clarita Bike Park, is also a place where BMX riders and mountain bikers can go to develop their skills. Located within the Santa Clarita Sports Complex in the hills above the Aquatic Center, the Santa Clarita Bike Park sits on approximately seven acres with dedicated BMX and mountain biking features. These include several trails, ranging in intensity from easy to difficult, as well as a pump track with rollers, tabletops, combination jumps and more. There is also a beginners track area for the youngest riders and those just starting out, so they can get the hang of rolls and banked turns before working their way up to a more advanced course. Whether you like to take your cruiser to get your morning coffee or have a top-of-the-line mountain

PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

bike, plan time this fall to see Santa Clarita on two wheels. To get more information on all there is to do on your bike in the City, please visit BikeSantaClarita.com.

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

O C TO B E R 4, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 9

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O C TO B E R 4, 2020

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

British farcical ‘Misbehaviour’ tells on the 1970 Miss World There’s a prosthetic nose but no other discernible effort to achieve physical resemblance, and his vocal mannerisms fall somewhere between halfhearted imitation and incomplete characterization. The great Lesley Manville gets little screen time but still has a couple of choice moments as Hope’s weary wife, Delores, who never tires of reminding him of that time he brought a Miss World back to California with him like a trophy. The climactic events in “Misbehaviour,” with the protesters infiltrating the pageant (they bought tickets!), disrupting Hope during his sexist monologue by cranking football rattles, holding up signs saying, “WE’RE NOT BEAUTIFUL, WE’RE NOT UGLY, WE’RE ANGRY” and hurling packets of flour onto the stage, make for wonderful onscreen theatrics — and are faithful to real-life events. And when Keira Knightley’s Sally and Gugu MbathaRaw’s Jennifer find themselves together in a dramatically convenient moment, these two wonderful actresses hit it out of the park as they realize they’re basically fighting for the same thing in very different ways.

By Richard Roeper Signal Contributing Writer

‘Misbehaviour’

(out of four) 

Shout! Studios presents a film directed by Philippa Lowthorpe. Written by Rebecca Frayn and Gaby Chiappe. No MPAA rating. Running time: 106 minutes.

ust a couple of weeks after we saw Helen Reddy delivering an anthem for the equal rights movement in the early 1970s in “I Am Woman,” the cheeky British comedy/drama “Misbehaviour” tells the true story of how the creaky and sexist 1970 Miss World competition in London provided an unlikely platform for the nascent women’s liberation cause when a group of activists disrupted the live broadcast of the pageant. Following the playbook of “The Full Monty,” “Calendar Girls,” “Military Wives,” et al., “Misbehaviour” achieves just the right mix of farcical humor, dry wit and the obligatory dramatic moments when the light banter and sight gags give way to poignant confrontations reminding us there are serious undertones to this breezy romp. Director Philippa Lowthorpe (“Three Girls,” “The Crown”), working from a well-crafted screenplay by Gaby Chiappe and Rebecca Frayn, does a fine job of balancing the fact-based developments with imagined conversations and cinematic flourishes, all set against the background of hip and happening and restless 1970 London. You could publish an entire coffee-table book of Keira Knightley wearing period-piece costumes, from “Anna Karenina” to “The Aftermath,” from “King Arthur” to “A Dangerous Method,” from “Pride & Prejudice” to “Antonement” and I’ll just stop there. This time Knightley effortlessly slips into the role of Sally Alexander, a divorced mother and “mature” history student in London a half-century ago who joins a newly formed group of feminists, much to the consternation of her proper Brit mother, Evelyn (Phyllis Logan), who urges Sally to give up this foolishness, realize women can never have an equal place at the table and concentrate on finding a man who will provide for Sally and her daughter. (If you think we’re headed for a blowout scene where Sally lashes out at her “small-minded” mum and her mother gives her a few things to think about it: You’re not not right.) The ubiquitous — and deservedly so — Jessie Buckley (“Chernobyl,” “I’m Thinking of Ending Things,” Season 4 of “Fargo”) has the larger-thanlife, showcase role as the acerbic, troublemaking, working-class Jo Robinson, who’s had it with polite group meetings and talk of quiet change and is all

PHOTOS COURTESY IMDB

for causing a major disruption at the upcoming Miss World pageant at London’s Royal Albert Hall. What better vehicle for the movement to drive home its points about women being treated as cattle, as second-class citizens, as objects to be ogled and belittled? On a parallel timeline, we learn not even the Miss World Pageant is immune to change and controversy. Even as the comically out-of-touch pageant founders Eric and Julia Morley (Rhys Ifans and Keeley Hawes) run the “girls” through their paces and assign them chaperones and prattle on about how one contestant’s life will change forever when she is given the crown and the sash, there’s change within the pageant, as represented by Jennifer Hosten, aka Miss Grenada (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), and Pearl Jansen aka Miss Africa South (Loreece Harrison), two Black women who have differing views about what the pageant means to them and to women of color. As the pageant date nears and there’s talk of some kind of protest, who should arrive on the scene but the evening’s host: none other than the legendary entertainer Bob Hope, armed with a packet of corny, leering, cringe-worthy jokes — and zero tolerance for those women’s libbers. Greg Kinnear, who has played real-life figures from the inventor of the intermittent wiper (“Flash of Genius”) to Joe Biden to football coach Dick Vermeil to actor Bob Crane and played them well, stumbles a bit here as Hope.

DVD Alert

‘Waiting tor the Barbarians’ Drama, not rated, 112 m., 2020 When a bureaucrat (Mark Rylance) at an unnamed country’s colonial outpost is visited by a government colonel (Johnny Depp) charged with investigating rebellion rumors, heavy-handed metaphors follow. It’s a visually impressive film, but ultimately stilted and didactic, and more than a bit nasty. Rating: Two stars. ‘Retaliation’ Drama, R, 93 m., 2020 In a brilliant, brooding, captivating performance, Orlando Bloom plays a troubled soul who must decide whether to exact revenge on the priest who abused him as a boy. It’s the best work of his career. Rating: Three stars. ‘A Nice Girl Like You’ Romantic comedy, R, 94 m., 2020 Lucy Hale tries her gosh-darndest in this bland and outdated and curiously tame would-be sex rom-com, but one has to ask: What’s a nice girl like you doing in a film like this? Rating: Two stars.  Copyright 2020 Chicago Sun-Times

O C TO B E R 4, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 1

FOOD

Rethink ingredients to refresh family meals this fall

f you’re looking to spice up your mealtime routines, especially during those busy school nights, you may find your solution in versatile ingredients that work for a multitude of dishes. For example, you can turn to plantains as a replacement for often-used recipe staples like potatoes. Plantains are a fruit grown around the world that cooks and eats more like a vegetable. Members of the banana family, they’re starchier and lower in sugar, meaning they’re still green when ripe. While you’re most likely to find them baked, roasted or fried as a savory side dish at Latin, African or Caribbean restaurants, they’re growing in popularity in North America as stars of their own recipes or as nutritious, exotic swaps for starches. For example, these dishes from Dole for Plantain Crusted Salmon Fillets and Slow Cooker Sweet Potato, Plantain and Lentil Caribbean Curry offer quick ways to enjoy plantains while saving time in the kitchen. As an additional benefit, plantains can be used at every stage of ripeness. They can be boiled like a potato when green; prepared in sauces and soups, air-fried or roasted as snacks when yellow; or baked in desserts and sweet recipes when black or spotted. Find more ways to enjoy plantains and other fresh fruits and vegetables in family recipes at dole. com.

Plantain Crusted Salmon Fillets Prep time: 15 minutes Total time: 30 minutes Servings: 4 Nonstick cooking spray 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil 1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice 1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon cumin 4 salmon fillets (6 ounces each), skin on 1/4 teaspoon salt, plus additional, to taste, divided 1 DOLE® Plantain, green or half ripe 2 Dole Green Onions, thinly sliced 1/2 tablespoon grated lime peel Preheat oven to 425 F. Line baking sheet with foil; spray with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. Combine cilantro, olive oil, lime juice, garlic and cumin; set aside. Arrange salmon fillets on prepared baking sheet.

Slow Cooker Sweet Potato, Plantain and Lentil Caribbean Curry

Prep time: 20 minutes Servings: 6 1 tablespoon, plus 2 teaspoons, grapeseed oil, divided 1 large DOLE® White Onion, chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons curry powder 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger 1 can (15 ounces) reduced sodium chickpeas, drained and rinsed 2 large Dole Sweet Potatoes, chopped (about 4 cups) 2 medium Dole Plantains, chopped (about 3 cups) 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth 1/2 cup red lentils 3 cups packed, chopped collard greens

Season with salt, to taste. Spread about 1 tablespoon cilantro mixture on top of each salmon fillet to cover. Using box grater, peel and grate plantain. Place grated plantain in bowl with green onions, lime peel and 1/4 teaspoon salt; toss to combine. Sprinkle about 1/4 cup plantain mixture on top of each salmon fillet, gently pressing to adhere. Spray plantain crust with nonstick cooking spray. Bake 15 minutes, or until salmon is opaque and plantain crust is lightly browned. (Family Features)  1/4 cup roasted salted pepitas In large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 2 teaspoons oil; add onion and cook 3 minutes, or until softened, stirring occasionally. Add garlic, curry powder, cayenne pepper and ginger; cook 2 minutes, or until fragrant and starting to brown, stirring occasionally. Transfer onion mixture to 3-4-quart slow cooker; add chickpeas, potatoes, plantains, broth and lentils. Cover and cook on high 4 hours or low 8 hours, or until potatoes and lentils are tender. Stir in collard greens; cook 20 minutes, or until greens are tender. Serve garnished with pepitas. (Family Features) 

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O C TO B E R 4, 2020

HOME

Some eco-friendly home-cleaning hacks

ith families spending more time at home, messes are on repeat and cleanups are often an hourly routine. At the same time, many households are looking to reduce their environmental impact affordably. The good news is that saving money and the planet can go hand-in-hand at home. To green up your clean up and create healthier spaces, consider these tips:

steps toward a greener home,” says Erin Chase, founder of $5 Dinners and Art of Green “cleanfluencer.” “As a busy mom of four boys, it’s the first affordable green cleaning option I’ve tried that actually works.” To find Art of Green, visit artofgreen.com or purchase at Target. com. Follow the brand on Instagram and Facebook for their cleaning tips and tricks.

Reduce and reuse

Ditch paper towels for reusable cloths and sponges. Make sure to wash them regularly on the highest heat setting (dishwasher for sponges, washing machine for cloth) to avoid spreading messes around. Your old t-shirts and towels make fantastic reusable cleaning tools. Use old towels on your refillable sweeper mops, and cut t-shirts into large squares to be used as rags and dusting cloths.

Opt for green cleaners

More than 50% of people are look-

ing for cleaning products that reduce the number of harsh chemicals their families are exposed to, according to a Lightspeed/Mintel survey. If that describes you, consider solutions working for other consumers, such as Art of Green multipurpose cleaning sprays and wipes. Recently named number one in the Green Cleaning category by Product of the Year USA, the nation’s largest consumer-voted award for product innovation, these clean-

ing supplies are as tough on grease and grime as mainstream brands, but free of harsh chemicals and cost far less than most green cleaners. They are also safe for use around kids and pets, safe for sensitive skin and not tested on animals, making them a good choice at a time when families are looking to cut back expenses, and make the switch to more natural products. “This is the perfect time to take

Foster cleaner air

Skip store-bought air fresheners. Instead, simply boil lemon, cinnamon, cloves or any favorite plant for a natural, lasting aroma. You can further promote fresh air at home simply by opening windows whenever possible. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends doing so to reduce the spread of coronavirus. For a healthy home, prioritize cleaning habits that reduce your environmental impact and limit the harsh chemicals to which your family is exposed. (SPT) 

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O C TO B E R 4, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 13

GARDENING

Can you save your own vegetable seeds? By Jane Gates Signal Staff Writer

ot only can you save your own vegetable seeds to grow the next year’s crop, but sometimes you can even end up with a plant that surpasses your expectations. Of course, most often you’ll get something similar to the original plant. You can also end up with big disappointments. Using seeds from traditionally stable parent plants and taking care in how you produce your seeds will impact how much control you will have in the growth of the next generation seeds.

Above: Lettuce flowers will form seeds. If your lettuce starts to form a spike, let it bloom and then you can collect seed to replant.

Start planning ahead of time

Decide what vegetables you want to grow as ‘parent’ plants for your seed collecting. Annual vegetables (plants that grow, flower, seed and die all within one year) are the best choice. You can grow biennials (plants like carrots and cabbage), but you will have to wait for a second year before the plant will bloom to collect seeds. Some perennials (plants that grow year after year, like artichokes and asparagus), will bloom in their first year but may take longer to produce enough fruits to make seed collecting worthwhile. Then, you will have to wait again for the plant you grow from your collected seeds to mature.

Choose your parent plants carefully

Collect seeds from vegetables that are not hybrids. If you grow your vegetables from open-pollinated — sometimes called heirloom varieties — your seeds are more likely to grow true from seed without unpleasant surprises. Some seeds from hybrid plants can be sterile. And, as I said before, rarely, you might accidentally grow a gem!

Plant your vegetables in isolated groups if you want to control pollination. Otherwise wind, bees and other insects may cross pollinate your vegetables with varieties that may introduce unwanted characteristics

Since people have been tinkering with cross-breeding plants for centuries, even heirlooms have some variability. Most vegetables — unless you are seeking to recreate a special growth pattern or color — will produce predominantly good, tasty vegetables without too much fuss.

Collecting and preserving your seeds

Collect seed from your healthiest and most successful plants. This way you know at least one genetic contributor is exactly what you want to reproduce. Dry seeds indoors and keep them safe from humidity and pests. Over-winter your seeds in glass jars to keep them fresh. If you add a packet of silica gel it will keep the air in the jar dry, preventing rot, mold or early germination. You can also refrigerate seeds since most refrigerators stay at around 40 degrees F. Never freeze collected seed as most vegetables are not hardy in frost. Some vegetables I have found easy to grow from plants originally raised from packaged seed in my garden are lettuce and Swiss chard (both will self-seed) basil, fennel (even the fancy bronze variety although it throws a number of green plants), oregano and even peas. Tomatoes are almost always good,

although I grow an assortment of varieties so I never know what size, shape or color the resulting crossbreeds will be. So far, they’ve all tasted good! Note There are a number of ways to know if you are growing your original plants from hybrids. Sometimes it’s as simple as reading the label of the parent plants. It may state “Hybrid” or “Heirloom.” Or look for varieties listed in Latin. Most of these are likely to be free from hybridization. Plants or seeds labeled with letters F1, F2 or ‘cv’ are cultivated varieties and less likely to produce fertile, reliable seeds for you to collect to use for future planting. 

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to the genetics of your seed. You can also prevent adding those unwanted genetics by making sure any other potential cross-pollinators will bloom before or after your chosen plants are flowering. Keep self-pollinating plants growing in a group at least 10 feet from other potential pollinators. Self-pollinating plants are those that have both male and female flower parts on the same plant. Corn, onions, Swiss chard, lettuce, spinach, cauliflower, radishes, melons and squashes are just some examples. Isolate and hand pollinate your vegetable flowers under a tent of plastic or fine cloth if you want to be fully in control of the pollination process to be extra sure your plants will produce reliable or ‘true’ seeds. Or … If all this sounds a bit too demanding you can collect seed informally. Expect variable results if your plants are open to cross pollination or if you are mixing varieties. If you just want to grow your vegetables informally in a mixed vegetable garden, chances are your seeds will likely produce good enough seed to grow next years’ crop. You may also get a number of inferior plants, some sterile seed or even that occasional unexpected unknown hybrid of your own.

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O C TO B E R 4, 2020

H E A LT H

Foot and ankle symptoms you should never ignore

any people deal with foot and ankle concerns by simply ignoring them, hoping the problem goes away. However, certain symptoms could be a sign of a serious condition, warn experts. “A foot and ankle surgeon has the right education and training to provide preventive care and early intervention, which remain essential, even in the age of COVID-19 when you may be avoiding in-person visits,” says Jeffrey D. Loveland, DPM, FACFAS, foot and ankle surgeon and Fellow Member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. To help you determine when it’s time to consult a specialist, ACFAS is offering insights into symptoms that affect the foot or ankle and frequently are signs of serious medical conditions: • Deep Vein Thrombosis DVT is a condition in which a blood clot forms in a deep vein, most

commonly in calves or thighs. Potentially very dangerous, DVT can lead to a pulmonary embolism. See a doctor if you experience swelling in the leg, pain in the calf or thigh, or warmth and redness of the leg. • Peripheral Artery Disease Commonly referred to as poor circulation, PAD is the restriction of blood flow in the arteries of the leg and could be an indication of more widespread arterial disease that can cause stroke or heart attack. Common symptoms include leg cramping while walking or lying down, leg numbness or weakness, cold legs or feet, sores on the toes, feet or legs that won’t heal, a change in leg color, loss of hair on the feet and legs, and changes in toenail color and thickness. • Osteoporosis Osteoporosis, a one-thinning disease affecting more than 28 million Americans, accounts for 1.5 million bone fractures annually. One early symptom is increased pain with

walking, accompanied by redness and swelling on the top of the foot. A foot and ankle surgeon can diagnose osteoporosis through a bone densitometry test. • Foot bumps Common foot bumps include ganglionic cysts and plantar fibromas. While both benign, these bumps tend not to go away on their own and can cause discomfort and disruption of everyday activities. Foot bumps can also be cancerous, so it’s always best to have them examined. • Charcot foot Charcot foot, a severe diabetes complication, is a sudden softening of the foot’s bones caused by neuropathy. It can trigger an avalanche of problems, including joint loss, fractures, collapse of the arch, massive deformity, ulcers, amputation and even death. Charcot foot cannot be reversed, but its destructive effects can be stopped. Symptoms appear suddenly and can include warm and

red skin, swelling and pain. • Ulcers Not only is a foot ulcer a painful condition which can lead to amputation, it can be indicative of several underlying ailments, which are critical to diagnose and treat, including diabetes, circulatory problems and issues with the mechanics of the foot or leg. Telltale signs that an ulcer may be brewing are swelling, temperature changes in the feet, color changes and calluses. “Even foot and ankle symptoms that seem minor could be signs of a serious medical condition, like diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis or arthritis,” says Dr. Loveland. “Consulting a foot and ankle surgeon is the first step toward diagnosis and early intervention.” For more foot care information or to find a foot and ankle surgeon in your area, visit FootHealthFacts.org, the ACFAS patient education website. (SPT) 

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S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 5

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O C TO B E R 4, 2020

PETS

How to approach cat care while you’re pregnant

regnant women receive a lot of advice while they’re with child. Much of that guidance comes from their physicians and is offered in an effort to ensure expecting mothers have healthy pregnancies. Expecting mothers may be surprised by some of the precautionary measures their physicians recommend, while others measures, such as abstaining from alcohol, are more widely known. One recommendation that women may be surprised by is the need to be cautious around their pets. For example, the March of Dimes, an organization devoted to ensuring the health of expecting mothers and their babies, recommends that women be careful with pets during pregnancy. Pregnant women with cats at home must be mindful of toxoplasmosis, a disease that the Mayo Clinic reports results from infection with the toxoplasma gondii parasite. According to

the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cats get infected with the toxoplasma parasite by eating infected rodents, birds or other small animals. Cats also can get infected if they eat anything that is contaminated with the feces of another cat that is shedding the parasite through its fecal matter. The CDC notes that infected cats can shed the parasite for up to two weeks. Because of the way the disease is contracted, cats may only be vulnerable to toxoplasmosis if they go outside. While that may reassure pregnant women whose cats stay indoors at all times, expecting mothers should still be vigilant even if their cats are indoor cats. Cats that escape or go outdoors by accident, even if they’re quickly retrieved, can still be exposed to the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. The March of Dimes also notes that toxoplasmosis can be spread by cleaning kitty litter of infected cats or

• Wear disposable gloves and a face mask if you clean out the litter box. Wash your hands well with soap and water immediately after cleaning the litter box. • Keep your cat inside. In addition, make sure all guests do their part to keep the cat indoors when visiting.

by touching dirt, such as garden soil, where infected cats may have been. That means even women whose cats stay indoors can be infected if they aren’t careful.

Protection against toxoplasmosis

Thankfully, the March of Dimes notes that expecting mothers can take various steps to protect themselves from toxoplasmosis during their pregnancies. • Ask a family member who isn’t pregnant to clean out the litter box every day.

• Stay away from stray cats and new cats. • Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water after touching cat feces or after gardening. • Cover sandboxes to prevent cats from using them as a litter box. • Feed your cat dry or canned foods. Don’t feed cats undercooked meat, which can make them vulnerable to infection with the parasite. Pregnant women with cats at home must be especially careful when interacting with cats or when spending time outdoors where cats may have roamed. (MC) 

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O C TO B E R 4, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 7

SENIORLIVING

Why weighing Medicare Part D options is crucial this year

ou likely hear the same word of advice every fall: review your Medicare Part D plan. While you may be tempted to stick with what you have, it’s important to remember that plan specifics change annually, your health needs are always evolving, and as this year has shown, unexpected global events can impact your health and finances. For all these reasons, doing your homework is not only important, it has the power to substantially reduce your out-of-pocket costs. “Reviewing your Medicare Part D options is the best way to ensure your prescription needs are met affordably in the coming year,” says Kelle Turner, Express Scripts Medicare Part D expert. “COVID-19 has highlighted how having the right coverage is critical to helping you stay safe and healthy.” To help those turning 65 and older make sense of their options, Turner offers the following tips:

Don’t procrastinate

Part D enrollment is taking place from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 this year. If you’re like most people, you may be inclined to delay your decision. Indeed, nine out of 10 people wait until the last minute to select a plan, according to Express Scripts. However, the selection process can be complicated, so don’t deprive yourself of the time needed to thoughtfully comparison shop. Factor in how the COVID-19 landscape has potentially impacted your selection process. With many in-person resources (e.g., local Medicare workshops, working with a broker or agent, etc.) being conducted virtually or requiring advance scheduling this year, you can get ahead of the game by starting early. One good resource to check out is RoadmapForMedicare.com, a free access website now offering short educational videos, recorded webinars and articles with tips to select the plan that’s best for you. The site also features FAQs and expert advice so you can better assess your options.

iStock via Getty Images Plus

Look beyond premiums

While reviewing your options, look at the multiple factors which can affect your overall costs over the course of the year. While a lower premium might save you money upfront, these plans can have much higher copayments, which over time can add up.

Check coverage

Plans change annually, so don’t assume that because your medications were covered under a certain plan last year that they will be covered again this year. Before enrolling or re-enrolling, check that your current drugs will be covered. Likewise, check out each plan’s pharmacy network and what is covered to ensure that it meets your needs. For example, you may find that right now, your top priority is the safety and convenience of home delivery of prescriptions drugs in order to reduce your chances of exposure to coronavirus.

Get savvy

Free expert advice can help you navigate the selection process and make informed decisions about your healthcare. Be sure to look for trusted sources who can provide the information you need to pick the plan that will work best for you and your budget. Take a closer look at your Medicare Part D choices. In these uncertain times, it is particularly important to be prepared to weather whatever comes your way. (SPT) 

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AUTOMOTIVE

How to effectively and safely sanitize your car

he COVID-19 pandemic changed the way people live. One readily felt effect was spending more time at home. Vehicles sat idle in driveways and even some automotive insurance providers reduced rates because people were driving much less. Even with stay-at-home measures in place, people still need to leave their homes to stock up on essentials, such as food or medicine. In other cases, people may have been essential workers who drive for a living, including delivery drivers or health care personnel who were incapable of working from home. Any time a person goes out in public, he or she runs the risk of contracting viruses. Bacteria and germs may reside on various surfaces, including those inside vehicles. People want to protect themselves and now are more aware of the importance of frequently cleaning and sanitizing their cars. Keeping a vehi-

cle safe to drive without affecting its upholstery or electronic components is paramount. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention makes a distinction between cleaning and disinfecting. Cleaning refers to the removal of germs, dirt and impurities from surfaces. It does not kill germs, but can lower their numbers. Disinfecting refers to using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces. The following are some ways to deeply clean and sanitize a car. Wash hands First and foremost, it is crucial to wash your hands before and after using the car. This can reduce the likelihood of growing ill because of transferred viruses or bacteria. Use rubbing alcohol Solutions that contain 70 percent alcohol are effective against many viruses and bacteria, including coronaviruses, says the CDC. Furthermore, Jeff Stout, Executive Director of Global Innovation at Yanfeng Automotive

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Use soap and water Experts say that vigorous washing with a soap-and-water solution can be effective against many contaminants because it breaks down the protective envelope that surrounds coronaviruses and other germs to disarm them. Friction also can help to break down germ cells during cleaning. “You want to do the best with what you have, so even soap and water can chip away at the risk,” says Stephen Thomas, M.D., Chief of Infectious Diseases and Director of Global

Health at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY. Address frequently touched surfaces Pay attention to the steering wheel, door handles, buttons, touchscreen displays, shift lever, and more when sanitizing. Each of these items can harbor germs. Deep-cleaning a vehicle has become a necessity since COVID-19 emerged. Frequently cleaning and sanitizing can help make vehicles safer to operate. (MC) 

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O C TO B E R 4, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 9

How to nab this season’s on-trend fashions

ow you go about updating your fall wardrobe may look a little different this season but make no mistake: there’s plenty of style waiting for you to explore, whether on socially distanced racks or digital marketplaces. Start planning your fall look with these tips and trends:

grunge to schoolgirl inspired. Cozy capes add fashion-forward warmth for cooler days and fringe is showing up on everything from those comfy wraps to shirts and handbags.

Make comfort a priority

Build around timeless pieces

Some wardrobe staples never go out of style. Jeans and classic tees are always on point, but if yours are worn and pilled, it may be time to replace them. This fall’s styles take jeans from one extreme to the next; you can expect to see plenty of wide-leg and loose cut options but also tapered ankle styles. If you’re dreading parting with your favorite high-rise cuts and skinny jeans, rest easy knowing you can add to your collection and still be on track with this season’s trends.

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Add a few trendy touches

Investing in trend-forward attire may not be at the top of your spending list, but you can easily update last season’s style by mixing in a few

key pieces. Metallic tones, argyle and patchwork patterns are all on-trend this season and pair well with denim. Also look for varied takes on plaid in styles ranging from punk and

If ever there was a year for hoodies to be an actual fashion trend, 2020 is it. Believe it or not, hoodies were hot on runways even before the major lockdowns forced everyone into leggings and tees. A solid hoodie tucked into a sassy plaid skirt is a fun way to take your hoodie style up a notch. Layered looks with a stylish bomber or blazer are also on point, or pair it with some bold print statement pants. Keep your focus on familiar garments, add in some attention-grabbing accent attire and don’t be afraid to mix in your favorite new comfy wear to create a look that’s on-point. Find more style tips at eLivingto day.com. (eLivingtoday.com) 

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K I D S & FA M I LY

Donna’s Day: Creative Family Fun

It’s officially fall — family living from A to Z By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Editor

t’s officially fall. In some areas, kids might storm through the front door after school and toss their backpacks in the hallway. You may be home from work and there’s dinner to be made and maybe soccer practice to get to after the last bite. Sounds like a busy routine. How do you choose which extra family fun stuff to fit in on your calendar along with a few must-dos? I’ve discovered with my kids and friends in their bubble that the basic ABC’s can provide a simple, creative framework for visually highlighting the essentials: family outings, household repairs, discoveries and activities. This year, my list includes not only must-do chores, but also fall excursions, new foods to try, service opportunities and family adventures. The only caveat is that you need to find an open alphabet letter to describe the event. That helps keep all

No need to end a first round of A-Z activities when seasons change. Check off what has been accomplished and enjoyed, then erase or simply add a new event. Spelling out in detail from A-Z what has been done, and what is left to do, will continue to serve as a visual reminder to family of your active, giving and community-involved lifestyle. By the way, good luck finding ideas for the letters Q and U.

the ideas and inspiration under control.

Here’s how it works:

I listed all 26 alphabet letters on a medium-size white board hanging in our kitchen. Engage your child to make the A-Z list. Events and activities are described by their corresponding letter. Friends who drop by add ideas they would like to do with us, too. For example, our 8-year-old neighbor was eager for me to teach him how to make applesauce with the new crop of Honeycrisp apples that had arrived at our farmer’s market last weekend. I brought out our peeler gadget for him to crank out slices for the kid-friendly recipe. Check off “A.” The “B” is noted with “build a berm around our foundation,” to prevent a wet basement during the continuing rainy season. “C” reminds us to gather clothes to take to Goodwill, and “D” to deliver “Meals on Wheels.” Scanning down the alphabet to “M,” I’ve already released the monarch butterfly my 16-month-old grand-

“A” is for apple. An 8-year old peels, cores and slices Honeycrisp apples for making applesauce.

daughter and I observed pop out of its chrysalis. Soon, I’ll be shifting attention to “Z,” a reminder to compose a colorful zinnia bouquet from our garden before the snow falls.

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.”  © 2020 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Synd.

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SOLUTIONS

PUZZLES

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CROSSWORD TIME

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Opinion

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

READERLETTERS

Basic Lesson on the Senate Gary Horton’s Sept. 23 column “Undemocratic Senate Doesn’t Represent Us” was yet another example of his regurgitation of the Dem/socialist party’s talking points, in this case hysteria about Donald Trump nominating the successor on the Supreme Court to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He complains about small states like Mitch McConnell’s Kentucky having the same representation – two senators – as heavily populated states like California. So, let’s examine that. The size of each state’s House delegation is determined by its population, thereby representing the “popular vote.” That’s why the House is known as “the people’s chamber.” The purpose of the Senate was to represent the interests of each state as a body, and originally senators were appointed by each state’s legislature. The Constitution was amended so the electorate of a state determined its senators, but again, senators represent the interests of each state as a body, and so each state is treated equally with two senators. If each state’s Senate delegation varied by population instead of being limited to two... well, since that’s exactly what the House does, there wouldn’t even be a need for the Senate, would there? Horton predictably goes on to try to contrast the Senate’s refusal to consider Barack Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland to SCOTUS to Trump and McConnell’s intent to seat a replacement for Ginsburg in this election-year period. However, McConnell is simply following long-established precedent in both cases. When, in an election year, the Senate is held by one party and the presidency by another, the usual practice is to wait for the outcome of the election, which is exactly what happened with Garland. But if the Senate and presidency are held by the same party, standard practice is to move forward with confirmation, which is what’s happening now. Really, this is pretty basic stuff. Brian Baker Castle Rock, Colorado Submit a Letter to the Editor

O C TO B E R 4, 2020

Include name, address & phone; Anonymous letters are not printed; Email: letters@signalscv. com.

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

What Will You Do About It? By David Hegg

erhaps I am overstating the case, but it sure seems like we are in the throes of a once-in-our-lifetime convergence of disasters. First, I’ll give you my view of this convergence and the havoc it continues to bring down on us. Then, I’ll ask you this question: What are you going to do about it? First the pandemic hit. In a matter of weeks COVID-19 brought on a new level of fear and confusion even as it devastated us economically, frustrated and angered us emotionally, changed the very rhythms of our lives practically, and contributed to the deaths of more than 200,000 of our fellow citizens. Then the racial unrest happened, erupting in response to the deaths of Black Americans, out of which has come both meaningful, peaceful protests as well as unrestrained violence in our streets epitomized by the burning of buildings, the looting of businesses, and most tragically, an all-out assault on our law enforcement officers. Now, the news is filled with reports of extreme weather thrashing our southern coastal communities. For only the second time in history, the National Hurricane Center has run out of names for the storm systems and has started using the Greek alphabet to distinguish them. On the West Coast, this season's wildfires are unusually destructive. They are bigger, more dangerous and more frequent than in years past. For weeks we’ve been quite hesitant to go outside as the smoke obscured the sky and made the very air we breathe dangerous to our health. Add to that the constant and caustic drip, drip, drip of political speech as we run up to the November elections. We’ve been deluged with a flood of bold-faced deceit, intentional inaccuracies, slander, defamation, and downright mean-spirited name-calling, the likes of which this nation has never seen, much less allowed and applauded. And if that isn’t enough, the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg — an honorable justice on the Supreme Court regardless of how you assess her views — has opened a new front in the political war that rages in every corner of our nation. As children we pledged allegiance to the flag or the United States of America, and to the nation for which it stands. We were taught that we were one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Yet, today we are so divided. And we can hardly say that, as a people, we are “under God,” for that would be a lie. We have replaced God and his truth with the false wisdom of post-modernity, and the result has been a depth of fragmentation in our society never before seen or even imagined in America. And time fails me to

opine on the whole matter of liberty in this season of over-regulation, or the matter of equal justice under the law. All that to say, we’ve been run over by what some are calling the “horror movie that is 2020.” But the more important question is, “What are we going to do about it?” I think there are only three responses. First, you could give free rein to your anger, your cynicism, your frustration over rights being infringed, and decide everyone you meet is the enemy, responsible either for hurting or not helping the situation, and just generally become another source of frustration and despair to everyone around you. You could just become part of the problem. Or second, you could decide to resign from society, refuse to know what’s going on, eat too much, drink too much, binge-watch reruns, and dream about selling everything and moving to Idaho. Or third – and best – you can face the myriad challenges around us as a mature, knowledgeable, reasonable, self-restrained, compassionate, useful, helpful partner in our mutual adventure called American democracy and wear a smile as you go about your business. Gang, we don’t need any more well-meaning folks telling us what’s wrong. We get it. Decades of self-centered living have hatched chickens that have come home to roost and left their droppings everywhere. But the real question is whether you and I are going to roll up our sleeves and face each day with a positive determination not to be overwhelmed with the negative. Simply put, we need more good people to think maturely, be incredibly discerning and wise, and most of all, live useful lives while resisting the constant temptation to use current circumstances as an excuse for childish thinking and tantrums. Of course, those of you who read this little column regularly know I believe following the model of Jesus Christ is the best strategy for living, loving and leading your life well. That is, to live in a way that builds up rather than tears down, that cleans up more messes than you make, and overall faces each day with the steadfast knowledge that you are loved and can be a better kind of human as you admit your brokenness, forsake your selfishness, and entrust your life by faith to Jesus. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go wash my hands and launder my mask because there’s always a chance that COVID rascal has somehow found a home on my computer. BTW, any truth to the rumor the virus can be transmitted via the Internet? Local resident David Hegg is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church. “Ethically Speaking” appears Sundays. 

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