SCV Business Journal June 2021 by Signal

Contact: Perry Smith Business Editor Phone: 661-287-5599

S A N TA C L A R I TA VA L L E Y

BUSINESS JOURNAL BJ INSIDE SPOTLIGHTS B6 A Message from the SCV

Chamber

Email: psmith@signalscv.com Mail: 26330 Diamond Place Suite 100 Santa Clarita, CA 91350 SATURDAY, MAY 29, 2021 · WWW.SIGNALSCV.COM · B1

STAYING POSITIVE POSTPANDEMIC

B7 SCV Chamber Events/

Advocacy B8 SCV Econowatch B9 The Lists: The SCV’s Oldest

Businesses NEWS & FEATURES B1 How Women in Business

are Dealing with the Pandemic B2 Employment Numbers

Continue to Improve B8 Needham Ranch Hosts

Wall-Tilting Ceremony SCV BUSINESS VOICES B1 Henry Mayo Newhall

Hospital B3 SCV Economic

Development Corp. B4 M&M Fasteners

KaiaFIT owner Heather Flebbe leads a fitness class in Santa Clarita. She sought to create a space where she could reach women specifically with her gym. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

B10 Audiology Associates

FROM THE EXPERTS B2 Paul Raggio: On the Path

from Good to Great B4 Jeff Prang: A Look at The

Roll B7 Ken Keller: Are You a

‘Builder’ or a ‘Protector’? B10 Paul Butler: The Value of

Straight Talk

BY EMILY ALVARENGA Signal Staff Writer

hile the pandemic and the resulting business closures were difficult on business owners from all walks of life, women were hit especially hard, studies found. A new Union Bank survey found that the pandemic had a disproportionate impact on women-owned small businesses, with 64% of respondents saying they felt they had no control over the situation, versus 54% for men. They also reported higher median revenue losses: 50% revenue loss for womenowned businesses versus 35% for men. But despite this, women respondents

SCV BUSINESS VOICES

still said they remain optimistic and positive. Here in the Santa Clarita Valley, women business owners agreed that while the pandemic has been a difficult time, it’s being women that has allowed them to continue to persevere. KAIAFIT While Heather Flebbe has been in the fitness industry for nearly three decades, she always had a goal to open her own gym. “As an exercise physiologist, I always had a passion that I wanted to share my knowledge of fitness and really truly what the power of fitness does for your mind, your confidence and your energy for

life,” Flebbe said. In addition, Flebbe wants to create a space where she could reach women specifically, which is why when the time finally came to open her own gym, KaiaFIT was the perfect fit, as it specifically focuses on women’s fitness. “I really want to just leave a legacy of strong women, and women that are really changing the world,” Flebbe added. It was that drive that Flebbe believes allowed her to prosper, adding, “I think we have more empathy and are really concerned about the quality of life of people around us.” The gym recently celebrated its See WOMEN, page B5

CONTROL HYPERTENSION WITH THE DASH DIET PATRICK MOODY Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital

ating right is an important part of controlling your blood pressure. These tips can help you change your diet for the better. If your blood pressure has crept into a dangerous range, you’re going to need to make some changes to bring it under control. Specifically, your doctor may recommend that you try a special eating plan known as DASH, or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. In several studies, DASH has shown to be helpful in reducing blood pressure, especially when it’s combined with other lifestyle changes, such as cutting back on salt.

DASH BASICS Following the DASH diet means cutting back on saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol and choosing more fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy foods. The amount of food you eat in the DASH diet will depend on how many calories you need. For a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet, DASH calls for: • Six to eight servings of grains and grain products a day. Examples of a serving include one slice of bread or half a cup of cooked rice or pasta. • Four to five servings of vegetables a day. A serving equals one cup of raw, leafy vegetables, half a cup of cooked vegetables or half a cup of vegetable juice. • Four to five servings of fruits a day. A serving equals one medium fruit, a quarter cup of dried fruit, half a cup of fresh, frozen or canned fruit, or half a cup of fruit juice. • Two to three servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy foods a day. One serving could be a cup of milk, a cup of yogurt or 1.5 ounces of cheese. • Six or fewer 1-ounce servings of cooked lean meats, skinless poultry or fish a day. • Four to five small servings per week of nuts, seeds, dry beans or peas. A serving equals 1.5 ounces of nuts, 2 tablespoons of seeds or half a cup of cooked dry beans or peas. • Only 27% of calories should come from fat, including fat in or added to foods, such as margarine, vegetable oil or mayonnaise. • Sweets — no more than five servings per week — should also be low. in fat. Patrick Moody is the director of marketing and public relations at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. For more information about local community health programs, visit HenryMayo.com. 

B2 · SATURDAY, MAY 29, 2021 · THE SIGNAL

SANTA CLARITA’S EMPLOYMENT NUMBERS CONTINUE IMPROVEMENT BY PERRY SMITH Business Journal Editor

Unemployment

anta Clarita’s employment numbers continued to outpace the county in April, but fell slightly behind the state’s figure for April, which also continued to improve.

Statewide, California’s post-pandemic recovery is still heading in the right direction: Of the 2,714,800 total nonfarm jobs lost in March and April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the state has recovered nearly half (48% or 1,302,100 jobs) since last May. The city’s attributed its proactive efforts and business-friendly policies as a big part of why its unemployment rate stayed in the single digits at 9.6%, while Los Angeles County’s continued to hover around 11.7%, which is up 0.3% from last month’s seasonally adjusted rate of 11.4%. “Santa Clarita’s latest unemploy-

Area Name

Labor Force

Employment

Number

Rate

Los Angeles County

5,110,500

4,548,100

562,400

11%

Acton CDP

3,500

3,200

300

9.4

Burbank city

59,200

52,200

7,000

11.9

Glendale city

103,400

92,300

11,100

10.7

Lancaster city

66,600

56,600

10,000

Palmdale city

66,200

56,200

9,900

Santa Clarita city

114,200

103,200

11,000

9.6

Val Verde CDP

1,600

1,300

200

13.9

ment rate for April is 9.6% which shows steady improvement since the onset of the pandemic,” said Monica Fawcett, economic development associate for the city of Santa Clarita. “March’s unemployment rate was 9.8% and April 2020’s unemployment rate was staggering at 17.7%.” April’s numbers marked a steady improvement, she added, which

received a huge boost locally from the reopening of restaurants, as well as a return of quite a bit of filming activity. “While the pandemic has significantly increased unemployment rates overall when compared to pre-pandemic unemployment rates, recovery remains consistent with decreasing unemployment rates

month over month since the onset of the pandemic,” Fawcett added. “The reopening of businesses and the easing of operational restrictions have helped our local economy tremendously. We are eager for continued progress in recovery efforts for our businesses and community.” See JOBS, next page

ON THE PATH FROM GOOD TO GREAT BY PAUL RAGGIO Co-owner, One True North

here’s a great quote from Jim Collins in his book “Good to Great,” and the selection has everything to do with mindset. “Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great. We don’t have great schools, principally because we have good schools. We don’t have great government, principally because we have good government. Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is just so easy to settle for a good life.” We make a choice. We’re comfortable with our mindset. We often talk ourselves into pulling back, curtailing our effort and stopping by rationalizing, “I’m satisfied.” We tell others, no need to make an effort or investment. Let’s settle. For now, this is good enough! Well, good is not great, and there’s no easy way to be great without changing your mindset. Lisa and I spoke to May’s monthly Business Alliance hosted by Jeffery Forrest, vice president of economic and workforce development at the College of the Canyons. The topic was “Leading in a Post-COVID World.” Our response was you’ve got to change your mental framework. Recognize how we engage people, communicate, our work environment, our business model has changed. Even

LEADING MEANS INFLUENCING THE BEHAVIORS OF OTHERS. TO DO THAT, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH FOLLOWERS, WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN EMOTIONAL CONNECTION WITH THEM, AND THEM TO YOU. our systems, processes and procedures require tweaking and, in some cases, wholesale change. However, our values, leadership principles, management skills, the nature of business, strategic thinking and execution planning remain the same. Right now, we’re in another transition period. COVID hasn’t ended, yet we’re slowly opening businesses and contemplating how to return employees to work. We continue to deal with COVID, and its presence still impacts businesses. New normalcy will emerge when COVID is past tense and we’ve adapted to a novel way of operating. That’s several months, if not another year away. We often say, get comfortable being uncomfortable. Focus on your WHY, your purpose and map out a vision, mission and points of culture that will propel you from good to great. Vision is leadership-centric. Leading means influencing the behaviors of others. To do that, build relationships with followers, which means you have to have an emotional connection with them, and them to you. You provide that connection when you articulate your vision. And your vision

must be future-oriented, directional, inspirational, aspirational, affirmational and address your WHY and the purpose of your organization. If you do this, you’ll emotionally connect with your constituencies, drive growth and be on the path from good to great. The mission is management-centric and present-day oriented. The mission addresses how and what we do as an organization, and our managers balance people and processes to achieve the highest level of productivity. About 80% of all activities in your organization are transactional. They can easily be systemized from culling through your email inbox to how you recruit and onboard a new hire, schedule and run your monthly meetings and administer your accounts receivables and payables. Managers adjust workflow based on key performance indicators, resource consumption, risk mitigation and quality assurance standards. The mission is the organization’s focal point and must be understood internally and externally by its constituencies. Suppose you, as the leader, articulate this. In that case, your managers will effectively and efficiently

balance your people and processes and create systems that drive productivity. Your organization will be on the path from good to great. Points of culture are the rules your organization plays by. They address acceptable and unacceptable behaviors and represent your values and those of the team, customers, and stakeholders invested in your business. With them, harmony exists; without them, chaos ensues. Your continuous expression of values reinforces the emotional connection with your followers, promotes loyalty and engagement to the vision and organizational growth, rigor, and compliance to the mission, and optimizes productivity. Publish and adhere to them, and your organization will be on the path from good to great. Going from good to great requires you to change your mindset. Satisfaction with just achieving enough won’t get you there. Think bolder, bigger and better, and commit to stepping into the arena with both feet. Influence the behaviors of others by emotionally connecting with them. Articulate a directional, inspirational, aspirational, affirmational and future-oriented vision, and a focused and understood mission and the play-by rules of the organization. This is how you lead, think, plan and act and move your organization from good to great. It’s all about your mental framework! Now, let’s get after it. Paul A. Raggio is co-owner, with his sister Lisa, of One True North INC Leadership and Business Coaching Solutions. 

ARE YOU A ‘BUILDER’ OR A ‘PROTECTOR’? KEN KELLER

SCVBJ Contributing Writer

s the CEO, you are faced with making critical decisions every day. It doesn’t matter if you are a “solo-preneur” or if you have 550 employees. Those decisions can make you or they can break you. For instance, you know in your head that you should be watching your cash, tracking it weekly, knowing what your cash flow cycle looks like, being aware of when cash is leaving your company or entering your company. But when faced with the decision to pay more attention to that very critical challenge, you defer. You procrastinate. You hesitate. You do track it, roughly, in your head. That one decision, that single decision, to not fully engage in this critical financial indicator could mean your company may never have enough money to grow. Or, let’s say you know you need to be better at sales. But you hate selling! You love talking about your product or your service; you just can’t pull the trigger with prospects and ask for the order. After all, you know what it feels like to be “sold to” and you never want to come across that way to someone else. The decision to not improve your cash flow because you won’t make more sales could well lead to the demise of your company. In every company, there is a hidden agent called the Builder/Protector Ratio. Every company has “Builders” — people

IF WE CAN IDENTIFY A PROBLEM AND PUT A NAME TO THAT PROBLEM, WE CAN SOLVE IT. who love risk, who look for opportunities, aren’t afraid of change and love facing the challenges of growing a business. And there are “Protectors” — people who feel the need to slow things down, who are risk averse, aren’t happy with change and tend to spend most of their time worrying about what could happen. A “hidden agent” lies beneath the surface of a company and because these hidden agents are not visible, the impact is hard to diagnose, hard to recognize and, as CEO, we sometimes address the surface issue and not the root cause of an issue. The hidden agent we call the Builder-Protector Ratio, is also referred to as the Confidence-Caution ratio and here’s why it’s an important concept for you to address as the leader. If we can identify a problem and put a name to that problem, we can solve it. Think about when you are the Builder in your company. How does that look? What do you get done? How do you feel when you know you have aggressively taken steps to grow your business? On the flip side, when does your Protector show up? Is it when you are managing your cash? Determining when you can spend or when you should save your money? Bottom line, as CEO, you need

The decision to not improve your cash flow because you won’t make more sales could well lead to the demise of your company, Ken Keller writes.(MC) to be both a Builder and a Protector. The challenge is making sure the right one is showing up at the right time. Too much Protector when you are determining how to land that next client and you will find all kinds of excuses to not make that phone call or send that email. Too much Builder when you are looking at buying that next computer or that next online software program and you could outspend what you are earning. Be aware of your Builder-Protector

Ratio and know when each one is showing up and why. Ken Keller is an executive coach who works with small and midsize B2B company owners, CEOs and entrepreneurs. He facilitates formal top executive peer groups for business expansion, including revenue growth, improved internal efficiencies and greater profitability. Email:Ken. Keller@strategicadvisoryboards.com. Keller’s column reflects his own views and not necessarily those of the SCVBJ. 

THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, MAY 29, 2021 · B3

SCV BUSINESS VOICES

FACING THE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES OF COVID-19 HOLLY SCHROEDER President & CEO of SCVEDC

he COVID-19 pandemic public health orders designed to protect our physical health have also affected mental health. In fact, 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder, up from 1 in 10 adults from January to June 2019. To complicate matters, people are often reluctant to discuss mental illness — especially at work. That’s why it’s critical for employers to create a work environment that is supportive of mental health, with relevant resources and a culture that prioritizes psychological well-being. There are several ways you can support your employees’ mental well-being. 1. Speak candidly about mental health. Talking about it openly and without shame will help others realize they are not alone. 2. Keep the conversation going. Workplace culture must be nurtured. Create opportunities to incorporate the topic of mental health and provide a culture of open communication for your employees. 3. Include all levels of staff. Every manager and executive should align in demonstrating genuine care for their employees’ well-being and importance of mental health. 4. Encourage mental health days off. Part of preventative health involves allowing your staff time to take a break, which can help them stave off more serious health issues down the road. 5. Pay attention and be ready to help. If you notice an employee behaving differently (ex: irritably, anxiety), talk with them. Remind them you are there to help and that they have access to assistive resources. 6. Make sure the resources are relevant. Frequently audit your mental health resources making sure they are accurate and up to date. 7. Prioritize confidentiality and anonymity. Many are uncomfortable discussing their personal issues, particularly if they struggle with addiction, trauma, or suicidal thoughts. Reassure your staff that their privacy is your top concern and use of mental health resources will never be monitored or tracked. 8. Focus on the positive. Mental illness is a serious issue, but it can still be addressed in a way that makes people feel understood and hopeful. Always remember to leave your employees feeling like they have a clear plan of action ahead and that they or their loved ones can get well. Learning to cope with stress in a healthy way will make you and your employees become more resilient. For more information, contact the SCVEDC at SCVEDC. org or call (661) 288-4400. 

JOBS

Continued from previous page

While the city didn’t have the exact growth numbers available for some of the sectors that saw gains, the local improvement were silmilar to statewide gains. Seven industry sectors added jobs over the month, according to the data available from the state. Leisure and hospitality (up 19,900

jobs) posted the largest gain, with its third consecutive month-over increase, according to a statement from Olga Perez of the state’s EDD. Its increase accounted for 58% of total nonfarm employment growth. Growth was spread across both accommodation and food services (up 14,800) and arts, entertainment, and recreation (up 5,100). Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8.3% in

April 2021, 8.3% in March 2021, and 16% a year ago in April 2020, according to the statewide data released by the Employment Development Division. The comparable estimates for the nation were 6.1% in April 2021, 6% in March 2021 and 14.8% a year ago. Countywide, the government sector was down the most with yearover losses of 38,200. Reductions in local government (down 26,600) and state government (down 12,200) with an offset in federal government (up 600) accounted for the contrac-

tion in government. Santa Clarita has seen its unemployment rate nearly cut in half since its record-high, pandemicinduced numbers last April. Five other sectors added jobs over the year: educational and health services (up 50,100), professional and business services (up 34,300), construction (up 17,600), other services (up 11,200), manufacturing (up 10,500), information (up 8,200), and financial activities (up 1,400). Mining and logging remained unchanged. 

Let us transform your Risk and Benets programs today with a custom and proactive approach. Shed the old concept of insurance agent. Chefs Clayton Ryser, left, and Adam Lentz prepare for the day before an opening last May at Old Town Junction in Newhall. The return of the food service industry has given a big boost to local and state employment, among other areas that have seen strong growth recently. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL SPORTS

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B4 · SATURDAY, MAY 29, 2021 · THE SIGNAL

THE 2021 ASSESSMENT ROLL — ADAPTING TO COVID-19 BY JEFF PRANG Los Angeles County Assessor

o say this has been a difficult year for everyone is an understatement of obvious proportions. Tough, tough year, for sure. But there’s good news a plenty now with vaccinations in full swing and Los Angeles County leaving the most restrictive Purple Tier behind and welcoming the more open Orange Tier. Yes, we still need to mask up and practice social distancing but things are, indeed, looking up. And so I come before you today to let you know we are in the final stages of fulfilling the Constitutional mandate and the most significant item I do as your Assessor: The 2021 Assessment Roll. As I visited with you last year about this same time, some of you may be scratching your head and wondering: what is the Assessment Roll? Others are more than familiar with the comprehensive tally that values more than 2.5 million real estate parcels in Los Angeles County that results in the very tax dollars that goes to pay for vital public services, such as police, fire, schools, and even libraries, to name just a few. Last year’s Assessment Roll came in at nearly $1.8 trillion that put nearly $18 billion in the hands of the County to be used for those public services I just mentioned. This year the Roll has an added dynamic, the COVID-19 pandemic. When the pandemic hit and we were all put under quarantine as required by the Safer At Home protocols, my force of nearly 1,200 employees went into a massive teleworking mode of operations. We had at any given time about 85 to 95 percent of our workforce teleworking. The transition has proven to be challenging but our workforce has risen to the occasion. The Roll, as it is known, contains the assessed value of all real estate and business personal property in the County’s 88 cities along with the unincorporated areas. It also breaks down the number of single-family residential homes, apartments and commercial-industrial parcels. Last year, the Roll countywide consisted of 2,379,772 taxable real property parcels, 175,522 business property assessments, 28,581 boats and 3,052 aircraft. As an example, Santa Clarita had an assessed value of $37.2 billion for 2020 that included 62,603 single-family homes, 492 apartments and 4,657 commercial-industrial parcels. That’s 67,752 total parcels. That was a 5.8 percent increase over 2019, which came in at $35.1 billion, and put Santa Clarita as the fifth highest valued city in the County. The highest was Los Angeles at $695.947 billion. Again for the 2020 Assessment Roll, the hardworking and dedicated staff of the Assessor’s Office processed 314,000 deeds, assessed more than 125,000 transfers, enrolled more than 71,000 new construction, reviewed about 73,000 decline-in-value parcels, and prepared more than 20,000 Assessment Appeals Board cases. Moreover, in 2020, Assessor business personal

Local property taxes are generated based upon the Roll and are used to fund critical government services, including education, public safety, infrastructure improvements (filling potholes) and, now more than ever, public health services. COURTESY PHOTO

The Roll, as it is known, contains the assessed value of all real estate and business personal property in the County’s 88 cities along with the unincorporated areas. property staff canvassed more than 382,000 business locations and processed over 130,000 property statements. All this effort goes into the Assessment Roll that is

the foundation of Los Angeles County’s property tax system. Local property taxes are generated based upon the Roll and are used to fund critical local government services, as mentioned earlier but deserves repeating, include education, public safety, infrastructure improvements (filling potholes) and now more than ever, public health services. The 2021 Assessment Roll will be released shortly and, yes, you can expect it will be affected by the pandemic. We will know more as the details are finalized. For more information about the Assessor’s Office and the many tax savings programs we offer, please visit our website at assessor.lacounty.gov Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang has been in office since 2014. Upon taking office, Prang implemented sweeping reforms to ensure that the strictest ethical guidelines rooted in fairness, accuracy and integrity would be adhered to in his office, which is the largest office of its kind in the nation with 1,200 employees and provides the foundation for a property tax system that generates $17 billion annually. 

SCV BUSINESS VOICES

M & M FASTENERS SUPPLY OFFERS SUPPORT FOR RETURN OF FILMING, CONSTRUCTION GROWTH

or years, the Santa Clarita Valley has been a home to feature films, TV shows, commercials and now streaming productions, as the SCV sits in the northern half of the Thirty-Mile Zone, or TMZ, an area created to encourage filming through tax breaks. But what a lot of people might not realize is how many local companies, businesses like M & M Fasteners Supply Inc., play a vital role, so to speak, in making sure productions have the right parts. While M & M has been known as a reliable name in commercial, aerospace and construction for four decades, after relocating to the SCV in January 2019, M & M CEO Eunice Hajek quickly realized that while she might be moving away from Hollywood, she was moving her company to a place where its ability to provide quality, reliable tools and fasteners would be hugely important for the filming industry. Known as “Hollywood’s backlot” and “Hollywood North,” the SCV relies on countless local businesses like M & M to keep things running smoothly on the sound stages, on scene and anywhere else that complex, expensive film equipment or set building needs support tools and technology. Another growth area for M & M has been in the support of essential construction. This progression was also a natural growth area for a company that’s long prided itself on supplying parts to keep us safe in the sky for the aerospace industry. Moving to a hotbed of growth has allowed M & M to become an authorized distributor for other trusted names, such as DeWalt, Senco, Elco, and Grabber Construction Products for hardware, tools, adhesives and more . Whether the need is a concrete anchor, an eyebolt, tek screws or nails, M & M prides itself on the motto, “Where quality meets customer service.” “We have the tools and the hardware available not only to support the filming industry but also the construction industry,” Hajek said. “We’ve always provided quality customer care and the best parts available, but these recent economic conditions have really allowed us to demonstrate the ability and value of working with a local business as our economy begins to open up again.” M & M Fasteners Supply is a stocking supplier of quality fastener products and accessories specializing in OEM, MRO, electrical and aerospace markets. M & M can also supply parts from a blueprint or technical specification. For more information, visit mmfastsupply.com or call (818) 767-8833. 

THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, MAY 29, 2021 · B5

WOMEN

Continued from page B1 two-year anniversary in April, and while the last year of near-full closure was difficult, Flebbe remained driven to provide women with an outlet through a stressful pandemic. Within days, she’d created her virtual fitness class that she actually plans to continue as the gym returns to in-person classes. Being a woman in business has had its benefits for Flebbe, who has found tremendous support from other women business owners, and as a mother, business owner and exercise physiology teacher, Flebbe said her ability to multitask has also been useful, though it can be challenging to find a good work-life balance. “I think women lead in a different way where we lead by doing,” Flebbe added. “I'm really trying to cultivate the heart of my business by doing the work alongside my employees and my clients.” KaiaFIT Santa Clarita is located at 26635 Valley Center Drive, No. 106, Santa Clarita. CASTAIC CANINE CAMP While Linda Chisholm began her career as a professional beach volleyball player, playing for College of the Canyons in the 1970s before she went on to win a silver medal in the 1984 Olympics, it was animals that were always her passion. “I've always loved animals,” Chisholm said. “My mom would get mad at me for taking animals from the streets and bringing them in.” It was that passion that drove Chisholm to continue searching for a location where she could begin a kennel business, and in 2005, she found the perfect

property in Castaic. Castaic Canine Camp, a dog boarding and training facility, was finally born in 2007, as Chisholm worked to find her place in the industry. “It took some time for everybody to get familiar with us before business picked up,” Chisholm added. While chasing a dream often means making sacrifices, Chisholm was able to use her success in sports to continue pursuing her ultimate goals. And it’s that perseverance and dedication that allowed Chisholm to survive the pandemic, which was difficult, as boarding dogs is a travel business, and travel was near nonexistent. Castaic Canine Camp is located at 36975 Ridge Route Road, Castaic. THE SWEAT SHACK In 2015, Jenifer Felan, and her husband, Mark, created The Sweat Shack to share the health benefits of heat therapy. Like many working moms, Felan lived a high-stress lifestyle, juggling family, work and fitness, on top of struggling with numerous autoimmune disorders. Once she discovered the healing benefits of infrared heat, she began sharing her in-house sauna with friends, quickly realizing she needed to open a place. Now more than ever, as keeping your body healthy and strong becomes a focus amid the pandemic, Felan says the benefits of sweating are even more prevalent. The Felans opened the first location in Old Town Newhall, and recently opened a second location at Skyline Ranch, the franchise model flagship store, as they expand the brand nationwide. While there are challenges in business, Felan said she’s never looked at it as gender-specific, simply tackling whatever problems come her way. “It's just about just being consistent

and not giving up,” Felan said. “I look at it like I have choices, and I can get creative and buckle down and just do it, regardless of what was being thrown at me. … I've always been a firm believer, as well as my husband, that when you have a vision and a dream, you do what it takes.” She and her husband did just that, selling their Agua Dulce home after COVID-19 hit, then living in their fifth-wheel trailer, in order to help finance their second location. “We had already committed to build the location in Saugus, and we were going to keep our commitment, no matter what,” she added. “It's just about using what’s in your hand, never giving up, always pursuing and being consistent, because that's what pays off.” The Sweat Shack is located at 24363 Main St., Newhall. SANTA CLARITA CONCESSIONS Santa Clarita Concessions is a familyrun business owned by Lisa Burke, the second generation to operate it, which has been in the SCV since 1955. While she worked at the company on and off, she’d never planned on taking over, until it was time for her dad to retire, as it became an almost natural transition. Soon, she found she was challenging herself to become less emotional — a quality she feels women possess more often — and stronger, ensuring to her clients and employees she could successfully run the business, too. Since then, she’s worked to keep up with advancements in her industry, which has allowed the company to prosper. As a single mom, Burke found it challenging to manage both personal and work lives, yet Burke got creative. “When my daughter was little, what I

did so that she was not without her mom and I could be with her is I had somebody come to my office and watch her for me,” Burke said. “That was a luxury I guess I had for owning my own business that a lot of other moms didn’t have.” She, too, found her ability to multitask was beneficial, as she found ways of being a good mother and good business owner. “I feel like women somehow just make it work,” Burke added. Santa Clarita Concessions is located at 21554 Golden Triangle Road, Santa Clarita. FILLING A NEED After Dr. Harleen Grewal became one of the 1 million Los Angelenos to be diagnosed with COVID-19, she realized there’s a better way for people to find out whether they have the virus, or whether they need to isolate because they potentially could make someone else sick. But as a board-certified pediatric dentist who also has a husband who’s a board-certified neurologist, once she beat COVID-19, she also realized she was in a position to help others. That’s why Harleen Grewal and her husband, Yuvi, who works at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, decided to create SCVRapidTest.com. The pair also run a dental office, as well as a holistic health center known as Mind Body Infusion, which have opened recently. “If we don’t have a plan of action, we’re not going to be able to go do anything,” Harleen said, sharing the frustration she’s heard so many express over potential virus concerns, and her motivation for starting this effort. “If I can help someone, I really want to do it. This is the time.” Mind Body Infusion is located at 28532 La Madrid Drive, Suite C, Santa Clarita. 

2021 DIRECTORS

B6 · SATURDAY, MAY 29, 2021 · THE SIGNAL

RIDE ROLLER COASTERS WITH SUPERVISOR BARGER Our annual State of the County returns this July, in person with a virtual component, featuring LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger as she provides an update and rides roller coasters with attendees. The 13th annual State of the County will be held in-person at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Together with Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s office, we have been working to create a dynamic event to celebrate the reopening of our economy which will include remarks by the Supervisor and full access to rides at Six Flags Magic Mountain.

CHAIR OF THE BOARD JOHN VANCE

Vance Wealth

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE HUNT BRALY

Poole, Shaffery & Koegle, LLP

MARISOL ESPINOZA

Southern California Gas Company

KEVIN HOLMES

Martini Akpovi Partners, LLP

TROY HOOPER

Kiwi Hospitality Partners

DR. CHRIS RAIGOSA

Kaiser Permanente

CHRIS SCHRAGE

LBW Insurance Financial Services

NANCY STARCZYK

Realty Executives

BOARD OF DIRECTORS KAREN BRYDEN

SCV Locations

ANDREA CARPENTER

Logix

STEVE COLE

SCV Water Agency

JASON CRAWFORD

City of Santa Clarita

ANDREA DE LA CERDA

Scorpion

MATT DIERCKMAN

Colliers International

JEFFREY FORREST

College of the Canyons

ALEEN MANCHESTER

California Resources Corporation

MARAL MATOSSIAN

Westfield Valencia Town Center

PATRICK MOODY

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital

DR. IZU OKPARA

Omni Wound Physicians

This year’s format is a first of its kind. The SCV Chamber team, Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s office and Six Flags Magic Mountain have met over the past few months to ensure a safe, and fun event can be brought to the community. The event will begin at 4pm with live entertainment, followed by a brief update by the Supervisor and will conclude with a sponsor dinner reception and taking a ride on roller coasters with Supervisor Barger. General ticket holders will receive meal vouchers, with unlimited drinks, to use anywhere in the park. A virtual component will be announced leading up to the event for those unable to attend in person. The SCV Chamber welcomes back UCLA Health, who over the past five years, has been the Title Sponsor for this event. Other confirmed sponsors as of today include Six Flags Magic Mountain, City of Santa Clarita, Wells Fargo, FivePoint, Tejon Ranch, Williams Homes, Chiquita Canyon, Northlake, Trammel Crow Company, CalArts, Lief Labs, Kaiser Permanente, SchlickArt Photography and Video, Logix Federal Credit Union, SCV Water, Westfield Valencia Town Center, LBW Insurance & Financial Services and Advanced Audiology. Business who are interested in sponsoring can reach out to hello@scvchamber.com. There will be a limited amount of Gold Sponsorships, which will include a private VIP reception and appetizers with Supervisor Barger. All sponsorships will include parking, popcorn and reserved seating for the entertainment and the Supervisor’s address, a sponsor dinner reception, and entry to the park. Single ticket purchasers will include parking at the park, popcorn and open seating for the entertainment and the Supervisor’s address, a food voucher with unlimited drinks and entry to the park. More details and tickets can be found at www.scvchamber. com. Limited tickets are available.

DAN REVETTO AT&T BECKI ROBB Princess Cruises HENRY RODRIGUEZ

State Farm Insurance

SANDY SANCHEZ FivePoint LINDSAY SCHLICK

SchlickArt Photography & Video

LIZ SEELMAN

Southern California Edison

G. JESSE SMITH

California Institute of the Arts

DR. DIANNE VAN HOOK

College of the Canyons

DENNIS VERNER Burrtec KARINA WINKLER

Holiday Inn Express

BUSINESS COUNCILS Government Affairs

The Government Affairs council meets to discuss policy decisions on a local, county, state and federal level. As a member, you are encouraged to attend a meeting and have your voice heard throughout the SCV and take a stance on pertinent issues relative to the business community or your industry in particular.

Industry & Technology

The Industry and Technology council works to improve and enhance a strong business climate for Santa Clarita Valley based industry, manufacturing, processing and technology companies through pro-business advocacy to develop balanced laws, effective regulations and sound public policies to stimulate economic growth and create new jobs while safeguarding environmental resources.

FIRST RESPONDERS GRATITUDE CAMPAIGN Our First Responder Gratitude Campaign delivered gift cards to our local heros in May. Below are Kaiser Permanente and Fire department receiving their gift cards.

Small Business

Small Businesses are at the core of our Chamber’s membership and are the backbone of our economy. The Chamber offers a variety of educational and networking programming to help your small business thrive. The council focuses on three main objectives: Advises the SCV Chamber on small business related issues, programming and networking opportunities; Supports the chamber’s “Retail Walks” with elected officials; and helps promote the nationwide “Small Business Saturday” program which highlights small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Non-Profit

The SCV has a strong philanthropic community with more than 100 locally-based non-profit organizations that help our community thrive. Our non-profits are a key reason why Santa Clarita is a great community and always looking towards a better future. The council provides business resources for our local non-profit leaders to help them connect, grow and learn about valuable information so they can successfully meet their organizations mission and goals.

Latino Business Alliance

Our LBA council works to promote Latino-owned business as well as relevant issues facing our Latino business community. In addition the LBA helps to educate businesses on how to enhance a company’s business efforts with Latino customers and other Latino-owned businesses.

NextSCV

NextSCV is our next generation of leaders and the group aims to develop the next leaders of the Santa Clarita Valley through personal and professional development, civic engagement, and network building opportunities that ultimately stimulate local businesses and support the mission of the SCV Chamber.

To find out more about the Chamber, the benefits of membership, its business councils and all its resources please email hello@scvchamber.com or visit

SCVChamber.com

THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, MAY 29, 2021 · B7

ADVOCACY NEWS As the largest business membership organization in the santa clarita valley, the scv chamber of commerce is the voice of business. the chamber actively advocates on behalf of our business community on important local, regional and statewide issues that have direct impacts on our local businesses

LAWMAKERS GIVE CALIFORNIA BUSINESSES A TAX BREAK Your impact made a difference! Assembly Bill 80, co-authored by Assemblywoman Suzette Martinez Valladares and actively supported by the SCV Chamber, has been signed into law, which will allow businesses to exclude PPP loans from their taxes. The measure aims to help businesses that received loans through the Paycheck Protection Program, which the federal government established to help businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. Under the program, businesses can have their loans forgiven, meaning they don’t have to pay the money back, if they use the money on qualifying expenses like employee wages, rent and utilities. Many California businesses won’t have to pay state taxes on their federal pandemic loans. We thank the assemblywoman for her advocacy and each of you for joining our Impact SCV efforts to bring awareness to this important legislation.

SCV CHAMBER SUPPORTS AB 1251, MORE LOCALIZED PUBLIC ORDERS The SCV Chamber’s Board of Directors voted to support Assembly Bill 1251, which requires a public health order issued by the County of Los Angeles Local Health Officer, during the COVID-19 pandemic State of Emergency, to be based on data for each Service Planning Area, or SPA, rather than countywide data. To provide some background, Los Angeles County is divided into eight SPAs for health care planning purposes. Each SPA has an area health office that is responsible for planning public health and clinical services according to the health needs of local communities. These SPAs allow the LAC Department of Public Health to develop and provide more relevant public health and clinical services targeted to the specific health needs of the residents in these different areas. Many businesses located in SPAs with low infection rates have invested in protective equipment and sanitation to lessen the spread of COVID-19, according to the bill’s author. The author points out that these low-risk cities are sensitive to the alarming high infection rates seen in other cities and should not be lumped together in the county-wide data AB 1251 wants to make these provisions operative until the termination of the state of emergency proclaimed by the Governor on March 4, 2020, regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. The SCV Chamber Board of Directors took the action and supported the recommendation of the Government Affairs Council. The SCV Chamber successfully works on behalf of its members to maintain a healthy and vibrant business climate in what has been ranked one of the most business friendly cities in California. The Chamber takes an active role in shaping legislative policies in support of business. We represent our members before local, regional, state, and federal governmental entities and provides a forum for our members to develop policy positions that directly impact the Santa Clarita Valley business community. The SCV Chamber works with all elected officials, irrelevant of political party affiliations. The Government Affairs Council meets every second Tuesday of the month, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, and the meetings are open to all SCV Chamber members. If there is legislation on the local, state or federal level that you would like the SCV Chamber to take a position on, please email hello@scvchamber.com to request an Action Item Form.

OUR ADVOCACY HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT. JOIN THE CHAMBER TODAY TO STRENGTHEN THE VOICE OF BUSINESS IN THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE It is important to be in constant contact with your elected representative. Whether you are looking to find out more information, need assistance on any local, state or federal program, or are looking for legislative background, it is crucial for you to have contact information readily available for your elected representative. Our Advocacy page, has all the information you need on how to contact your elected official representative. Visit www.scvchamber.com and hover over the Advocacy tab. Click on The Voice of Business and you will see a drop-down selection for “Elected Representatives.”

MEMBER BENEFIT MEMBER 401(K) PLAN Our Member 401(k) Retirement Plan is designed to save local businesses time and money in the administration of a 401(k) program for their employees, while creating individual, customized plans. Partnering with Lincoln Financial Group to oversee the Multiple Employer Aggregation Program (MEAP) including the plan’s important administrative, recordkeeping and fiduciary services. Locally, LBW Insurance and Financial Services, will serve as the preferred local agent for the plan helping to get more businesses enrolled in the plan to help them reduce overhead expenses and meet new state requirements. Beginning June 30, 2021, California will require all businesses with over 50 employees to offer their employees a retirement savings program. Then, by June 30, 2022 companies with 5 or more employees will be required to provide a retirement plan. Businesses seeking more information on the new SCV Chamber Member 401(k) Retirement Plan can email us at hello@scvchamber.com.

Our upcoming meeting is on Tuesday, June 8 at 10:30 a.m., and will feature an update on redistricting from the county level. We will be joined by a representative from Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s office.

USE YOUR VOICE! TAKE ACTION! Given the COVID-19 crisis, our advocacy work has never been more important. We are pleased to offer our Impact SCV platform, a direct message advocacy program, to allow our members to make their voices heard. Through our Impact SCV program, we led the charge with numerous campaigns over the last year, sent thousands of emails to our elected officials, ranging from local to federal, and strengthened us as the leading advocate for our business community. If you have an issue that you would like the Chamber to advocate for, please email hello@scvchamber.com to request more information. When we all speak with one voice and take action, we amplify The Voice of Business!

If you have an issue that you would like the Chamber to advocate for, get details for your elected representatives or how to join our advocacy meetings please email hello@scvchamber.com to request more information.

B8 · SATURDAY, MAY 29, 2021 · THE SIGNAL

Economic Development Corporation 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road | UCEN 263 | Santa Clarita, CA 91355 | (661) 288-4400 | www.scvedc.org

Econo Watch Santa Clarita Valley

Q1 2021

Q4 2020 Q1 2020 Sq Ft

Commercial Vacancy Rates Office Space 14.46% 14.42%

2,798,593

Industrial Space

25,060,791

5.60%

Total Marked Sq. Ft. Vacancy Percentage: Office Space - as a % of Vacancy Industrial Space - as a % of Vacancy

Building Permits New Commercial/Industrial Building Permits Commercial Tenent Improvements/Alterations Local Company Stock Prices

6.10% 27,859,384

Unemployment Rates

Palmdale

15.6% 15.5% 0.65%

Lancaster

15.6% 15.7% -0.64%

Glendale

10.0% 10.4% -3.56%

Los Angeles County

10.9%

8.4% 8.4% 0.00%

N/A N/A

Apr ’21

Mar ’21

Apr ’20

State

6 27

3 28

0 24

Housing Stats

Apr ’21

Mar ’21

% Change

12.75 24.06 26.54 7.56 12.1 46.47 120.63

2.98% -1.50% 5.35% -5.03% 5.37% 1.10% 3.63%

SignalSCV.com

Apr ’21

9.6%

% Change

9.6%

10.11% 89.89%

13.13 23.7 27.96 7.18 12.75 46.98 125.01

Dec ’20

Santa Clarita

10.05% 89.95%

Bank of Santa Clarita (BSCA) California Resources Corp (CRC) Carnival Corp. (CCL) FivePoint (FPH) Mission Valley Bank (MVLY) Six Flags * (SIX) Woodward (WWD)

Jan ’21

10.9%

Mar ’21

0.00%

April ’20

SCV Average Home Price

845,900

816,300

674,800

SCV Average Condo Price

473,500

522,900

402,300

SCV Home Sales

893

620

166

SCV Condo Sales

350

254

SCV Avg. # of Days on Market (SF)

25 37 69

SCV Single Family Home Inventory

289

318

167

NEEDHAM RANCH HOLDS WALL-TILTING CEREMONY

Presents Podcasts

SCV Leadership and Business Solutions with Lisa and Paul Raggio Helpful advice on life and business Selina Thomas SCV’s HR Guru “She makes your business her business.”

Cary Quashen’s The Real Deal Substance abuse stories and advice

Signal News Podcast

With Aron Bender Discussions with newsmakers, journalists, analysts and others about what’s happening in the Santa Clarita Valley.

New podcasts will be added weekly

SignalSCV.com

A 200-ton crane tilts up a section of the wall of building 10 to start the Phase 2 of Needham Ranch in Santa Clarita on Tuesday. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL BY CALEB LUNETTA Signal Staff Writer

eedham Ranch planners and developers raised the first wall in the first building for Phase 2 of their industrial park, marking the occasion as a milestone for a project that’s more than 10 years in the making. The development, located off the 23000 block of Sierra Highway and overlooking Highway 14, is set to add six more buildings on their 250-acre property, which will result in the creation of hundreds of thousands of new square footage for office, warehouse and loading space for prospective businesses. The first building, dubbed Building 10, is set to be completed by August, and project managers said the 179,854-squarefoot building is expected to feature minimum clear heights of 36 feet, a minimum 140-foot truck court depth with secure yard areas, ESFR fire sprinklers and 30 dock-high loading positions with a crossdock configuration. “We’ve got several companies that are kind of fighting over it right now, and then we’ll build the rest of the buildings, down to Building 18, down through the rest of the project,” said Craig Peters, executive vice president for CBRE, in reference to the soon to be completed Building 10. The business park has already seen hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars move into the Santa Clarita Valley since Phase 1 was completed last spring, with businesses such as Illumination Dynamics and Amazon among the first to set up shop.

Through the use of a crane, pulleys and dozens of construction workers, officials watched as the concrete slab that would be the first vertical support for Building 10 was dropped into place, indicating to all those there, including for those who have been involved in the planning of Needham Ranch for over a decade, that the final phase of the project has begun. “The thing that was always apparent to us was that Santa Clarita was going to be a location within the greater Los Angeles County ... where there was going to be a lot of growth, because it is sort of like a last piece of land,” said John Balestra , principal with Trammell Crow Company’s SoCal — Los Angeles office, adding he began working on the project in 2008. “And so, it made sense today like it did back then: This community was going to need a place for business to create local employment opportunities for residents and play some role in the reduction of the horrible traffic we’ve got going on to the San Fernando Valley. ” Once fully completed, Needham Ranch is set to include approximately 1.9 million square feet of industrial space, with Phase 1 comprising 850,375 square feet and an additional 1 million square feet set to be delivered as part of Phase 2. The six more buildings will be gradually completed in the months following Building 10’s completion this summer and they are expected to range from approximately 72,636 square feet to up to 500,000 square feet. 

THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, MAY 29, 2021 · B9

The List: Oldest Businesses In The SCV NAME

TYPE

YEAR

# OF EMPLOYEES

NAME OF TOP EXECUTIVE

ADDRESS

PHONE #

Saugus Café

Restaurant

1888

Yecenia Mercado

25861 Railroad Avenue

(661) 259-7886

Halfway House Café

Restaurant

1906

Sally Moore

15564 Sierra Highway, Canyon

(661) 251-0102

The Signal

Newspaper

1919

Richard Budman

26330 Diamond Place #100, Santa Clarita

(661) 259-1234

Mikes Diner

Restaurant

1947

Mike Harutunian

31537 Castaic Road, Castaic

(661) 257-3233

Santa Clarita Concessions

Vending Machine Supplier

1955

Lisa Burke

21554 Golden Triangle Rd., Saugus

(661) 259-7310

Valencia Country Club

Golf Club

1965

100

Mike Nix

27330 Tourney Rd., Valencia

(661) 254-4401

B & B Manufacturing

Contract Manufacturing Services

1961

270

Fred Duncan, Jeff Lage

27940 Beale Ct., Valencia

(661) 257-2161

Newhall Escrow Inc.

Escrow

1963

Steve Corn

24010 Lyons Ave., Newhall

(661) 259-3450

Santa Clarita Swap Meet

Swap Meet

1963

Doug Bonelli

22500 Soledad Canyon Rd., Santa Clarita

(661) 259-3886

Best Western Valencia Inn

Hotel

1964

Neil Patel

27413 Wayne Mills Pl., Valencia

(661) 255-0555

Chi-Chi's Pizza

Restaurant

1967

Paul Miccolis

23043 West Soledad Canyon Rd., Saugus

(661) 259-4040

Backwoods Inn

Restaurant

1968

Carol Ohler

17846 Sierra Hwy, Canyon Country

(661) 252-5522

Gallions Corner Market

Market

1969

Sam Elhilu

31515 Parker Rd., Castaic

(661) 257-3523

Pleasantview Industries

Work Activity Program

1969

Gerry Howard

27921 Urvabdale Ave., Saugus

(661) 296-6700

Green Thumb Garden Center

Nursery

1970

Bud, Steve & Nancy Bergquist

23734 Newhall Ave., Newhall

(661) 259-1071

Stay Green

Landscape Services

1970

280

Rich Angelo

26415 Summit Circle, Santa Clarita

(661) 291-2800

Magic Mountain

Amusement Park

1971

3,000+

Tim Burkhardt

26101 Magic Mountain Parkway

(661) 255-4100

Way Station Coffee Shop

Restaurant

1971

Eric Leeser

24377 Main Street, Newhall

(661) 255-0222

AV Party Rentals

Event/Party Supplies

1973

Rusty Parr

23800 Newhall Avenue, Newhall

(661) 259-2151

Douglas Furniture

Furniture

1974

Doug Green

23661 Newhall Avenue, Newhall

(661) 255-8421

Maria's Deli

Italian Delicatessen

1973

Maria & Bruno

22620 Lyons Ave., Newhall

(661) 259-6261

Condie, Thomas & Harbo, CPAs

Certified Public Accountants

1975

Gary Condie

28490 Westinghouse Pl. #140, Valencia

(661) 257-2900

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital

Hospital/Trauma Center

1975

1,580+

Roger E. Seaver

23845 McBean Pkwy., Valencia

(661) 200-2000

The Werner Law Firm

Law Firm

1975

L. Rob Werner

27257 1/2 Camp Plenty Rd., Canyon Country

(661) 252-9022

Gymnastics Unlimited

Gymnasium

1977

courtney Starks

28373 Constallation Rd, Valencia

(661) 257-2GYM

Owen, Patterson & Owen

Law Firm

1977

Richard A. Patterson, Esq. Greg Owen, Esq./ Susan Owen, Esq.

23822 W. Valencia Blvd. #20, Valencia

(661) 799-3899

Stern, Kory, Sreden & Morgan

Certified Public Accountants

1977

Ronald D. Morgan, Gregory C. Kory, Robert J. Stern

24961 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch

(661) 286-1040

The Travel Bug

Travel Agency

1977

Geri Jacobs

24300 Town Center Dr. #101, Valencia

(661) 255-5030

Tiny's Submarine Sandwiches

Restaurant

1977

Teri King

27251 Camp Plenty Rd., Canyon Country

(661) 251-5885

Consumers Furniture Gallery

Furniture

1978

Mary Moser

21048 Golden Triangle Rd., Saugus

(661) 259-6909

Final Score

Restaurant

1979

Joe Comella

23754 Lyons Ave., Newhall

(661) 254-6557

Vincenzo's Pizza

Italian/Pizza Restaurant

1979

Steven Katz

24504 1/2 w. Lyons Ave., Newhall

(661) 259-6733

AV Equipment Rental, Inc.

Equipment Rentals

1979

Don Cruikshank

24933 Railroad Ave., Newhall

(661) 259-2155

Brent's Carpet One

Flooring

1979

Brent Griffiths

24220 Lyons Avenue, Newhall

(661) 255-3337

Charmaine's Bouquet Canyon Florist

Florist

1980

Charmaine Wojciechowski

26859 Bopuquet Canyon Rd., Saugus

(661) 297-3100

Country Antique Fair Mall

Antique Mall

1979

Mac McClure

21546 Golden Triangle Rd., Saugus

(661) 254-1474

Santa Clarita Lanes

Bowling Alley

1979

Tom Cristi

21615 Soledad Canyon Rd. Santa Clarita

(661) 254-0540

Tartan Realty

Real Estate Agency

1979

N /A

Kathy MacIntosh

16654 Soledad Cyn Rd., Canyon Country

(661) 259-7653

Le Chene Restaurant

French Cuisine

1980

Juan Alonso

12625 Sierra Hwy., Santa Clarita

(661) 251-4315

Progressive Physical Therapy, Inc.

Physical Therapy

1980

Shelly Cloughley

25949 The Old Rd., Valencia

(661) 254-0077

Samuel Dixon Family Health Centers

Medical

1980

Philip Solomon

25115 Avenue Stanford, Valencia

(661) 257-2339

Anitech Systems, Inc.

Hardware Design

1981

Steve McIntyre

25021 Anza Dr., Valencia

(661) 257-2184

A Chorus Line

Dancewear/Costume

1983

Jana Einaudi

23330 Cinema Drive #101, Valencia

(661) 253-0300

Andy Gump Temporary Site Services

Temporary site services

1984

200

Nancy Gump

26410 Summit Circle, Santa Clarita

(661) 251-7721

Intertex General Contractors, Inc.

Construction Company

1984

Dale R. Donohoe

28338 Constellation Rd., Valencia

(661) 702-2222

Evergreen Animal Care Center

Veterinary, Resort, Spa

1985

Nabih Mansour, DVM

23947 Newhall Ave, Newhall

(661) 255-9344

Mastey de Paris, Inc.

Hair Care Products

1985

Stephen Mastey

25413 Rye Canyon Rd., Valencia

(800) 662-7839

Mellady Direct Marketing

PR and Direct mailing services

1985

Jim & Jill Mellady

26470 Ruether Ave., #103, Santa Clarita

(661) 298-9190

Camelot Moving & Storage

Moving & Storage Company

1986

Billy & Carolyn Kornfeld

28040 Industry Dr., Valencia

(661) 255-3112

Signs by Tomorrow

Signs/Graphics

1986

Becky Hargrave

28302 Constellation Rd., Santa Clarita

(661) 295-3925

A-1 Party

Balloons

1987

Kim Kurowski

N/A

(661) 297-2275

Clarice's Cake and Candy Supply

Cake and Candy Supplier, classes

1987

Nanci Olmos

22936 Lyons Ave., Newhall

(661) 259-0352

Cobblestone Cottage

Gift Store

1987

Kathy Allie

24335 Magic Mountain Pkwy., Valencia

(661) 253-0209

Don Cuco

Mexican restaurant

1987

Jose Mendez

24130 Lyons Ave., Newhall

(661) 254-4874

Gothic Landscape

Commercial Landscaping and Maintenance

1987

125

Jon and Ron Georgio

27413 Tourney Road, Valencia

(661) 257-1266

G. W. Richardson, Inc.

Heating & Air Conditioning

1987

Gary Richardson

28231 Ave Crocker #100, Valencia

(661) 295-0115

Sage Staffing

Employment Agency

1987

Greg & Laura Kincaid

27441 Tourney Rd., Valencia

(661) 254-4026

Valencia Car Wash

Car Wash

1987

Jeffrey Paul

24233 Creekside Rd., Valencia

(661) 255-3448

B10 · SATURDAY, MAY 29, 2021 · THE SIGNAL

THE VALUE OF STRAIGHT TALK PAUL BUTLER Signal Contributing Writer

ver the years, many people have told me I’m good at managing time. The focus of this article is to share with you some best practices I use, which might be of help to you. One never should be the hero of their own story and so I’d also like to give you a glimpse into my past shortcomings, which my wife and (now adult) children would gladly reminisce for you. First and foremost, it’s the realization we actually cannot manage time — that’s a dichotomy. Time marches on and waits for noone. At best, we can manage our highest priorities. There are different strategies on when to hit hardest on those highest priorities within the work day. I’m an early morning person and my energy is at its highest first thing. So, if I have a task I really need to concentrate on, I carve out time in my schedule to do it early morning before the cares of the day carry me away. I prioritize my task list for the day and at the top is the word “commitments.” You see, if I’ve made a promise that something would be done for someone else on a certain day at a specific time, that must be at the top of my list. As a young employee, I was taught that my word was my bond and so if I made a promise, it’d better be done. I use alarms throughout the day to help ensure I’m ready to wrap up one task and move on, for example, to a scheduled video conference. The amount of times I’ve had clients tell me that one of the reasons we won their business was because we were where we needed to be, when we needed to be there and we always did what we said, by when we said we would. Woody Allen once said, “90% of success is showing up” and I’d add two words to Woody’s: “on time.”

Time marches on and waits for noone, Paul Butler write, which means the best we can do is manage our highest priorities (MC)

“

Taking time to listen is much more effective than trying to be efficient with loved ones on a tough issue.”

When I take a phone call, I stand up. I’ve found that it helps me stay focused and it expediates the call. When I sense we’re done, I’ll ask the other person(s), “Is there anything else we need to discuss?” That alone, has been a big timesaver. If I am dealing with wordy people, I’ll politely interrupt and summarize back what they’ve said. Most wordy people

are that way because they feel misunderstood. By summarizing back, they know you get what they’re saying and their verboseness reduces. I don’t live in my inbox. I manage email and don’t let it manage me. I will close email down when I am working on other tasks. I prefix the titles of my emails with “Info”, “Action” or very

rarely, “Urgent Action” with the red exclamation point. I choose not to have my email come to my phone. I have an empty inbox every day. If someone interrupts me in the office and says those universally inefficient words, “Do you have a minute?” I’ll ask how long they really need. If it is a quick one and I’m not in deep concentration on another task, I’ll roll with their request but hold them to the minute (or so). If it needs more time, we’ll schedule time to visit. My failings in the area of time management which became corrections I had to make can be best summarized in this quote from Mark Buchanan, a professor at Pepperdine University in Malibu: “Generous people have more time. Contrariwise, those who guard every minute, resent every interruption, ration every moment, never have enough. They’re always late, always behind, always scrambling, always driven. There is, of course, a place for wise management of our days and weeks and years. But management can quickly turn into rigidity. We hold time so tight we crush it, like a flower closed in the fist. We thought we were protecting it, but all we did was destroy it.” What I had to learn over time was when it comes to people, slow is fast and fast is slow—especially in marriage and the raising of children. Taking time to listen is much more effective than trying to be efficient with loved ones on a tough issue. I believe time management is vitally necessary during the working day, to ensure we have enough hours and energy, to do what we really want to do, with the people for whom we really work. Paul Butler is a Santa Clarita resident and a client partner with Newleaf Training and Development of Valencia (newleaftd.com). The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Signal newspaper. For questions or comments, email Butler at paul. butler@newleaftd.com. 

SCV BUSINESS VOICES

FIVE TIPS FOR BETTER HEARING 4. Ask to slow down the conversation. If people are talking too fast, it’s okay to ask them to slow down so you can better understand them.

TIPS FOR BETTER HEARING

DR. KEVIN BOLDER AuD, Audiology Associates

earing loss doesn’t only affect our ability to hear clearly, it also affects how we communicate with other people. Hearing loss makes it difficult to hear the conversation, especially if there is more than one speaker or there is background noise present. Check out these tips for better hearing and communication:

1. Talk to the host beforehand. Be sure to speak with them in advance so they have enough time to make an accommodation if needed.

5. Wear hearing aids. If you have hearing aids, be sure to wear them. Hearing aids will help you communicate better and will make it easier for you to understand the conversation.

2. Find a good seat. When sitting at the dinner table, choose a spot that gives you the best view of everyone’s face. The more people you can see while sitting at the dinner table the better you will do.

THE IMPORTANCE OF HEARING BETTER Your hearing is an important part of who you are. Hearing allows you to communicate with your friends and family and be a part of the conversation. Don’t let hearing loss keep you from hearing what matters to you.

3. Ask people to repeat themselves. If you can’t understand what someone said, ask them to repeat themselves. It’s better to have someone repeat themselves than to mishear information.

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Explosion sparks fire Blast at Valencia industrial park business sends three burn victims to hospital By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

An explosion at a Valencia industrial park sparked a brush fire and sent at least three people to the hospital Tuesday afternoon with critical burns and other injuries. Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel first responded to initial reports of a possible explosion on the 25100 block of Rye Canyon Loop just before 4:45 p.m., according to Supervisor Leslie Lua. Meanwhile, SCV Sheriff’s Station officials advised residents to stay clear of the area as fire crews and Hazmat units worked to conduct their investigation. Units arriving on the scene reported a quarteracre brush fire running uphill just before 5 p.m., Lua said. “Three burn victims are all being transported to a local trauma center with additional injuries,” added Supervisor Ed Pickett. “We don’t know what caused it, and we are doing an investigation right now.” Forward progress on the blaze, dubbed the #RyeFire, was halted around 5:20 p.m. at 1 acre, according to Supervising Fire Dispatcher Martin Rangel, adding that “initial reports are that it was an explosion at

Judge hears case of DDA union vs. Gascón

S A N TA C L A R I TA VA L L E Y

BUSINESS JOURNAL

The Official Publication of the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce

MARCH 2020 | VOL. 12 | NO. 3 | SCVBJ.COM

IT’S TAX TIME

Decision expected by end of the week

(Above) A firefighting helicopter drops water from above while personnel from multiple agencies battle the Rye Fire — which officials say was sparked by an explosion in a Valencia industrial park Tuesday. (Left) Los Angeles County Fire Department Public Information Officer Jonathan Matheny holds a news conference Tuesday evening about the investigation of the explosion. (Below left) The county Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad arrives on the scene to help with the investigation. (Below) First responders clear the roadway as three burn patients in critical condition are transported to a local trauma center Tuesday.

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge said Tuesday a decision in the case of the union for county prosecutors against District Attorney George Gascón could come by the end of the week, after hearing both sides of the argument. Judge James C. Chalfant held a preliminary injunction hearing at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in L.A., where attorneys for the union argued that such a hearing was appropriate to help prevent deputy district attorneys from “violating the law.” The lawsuit argues that it was illegal for Gascón to issue what they deemed as a blanket rule that prohibits prosecutors from seeking sentencing enhancements under the Three Strikes law. “I think preliminary injunction here is appropriate, your honor, in particular, because, as a result of the special directives, the deputy district attorneys in this county are put in the unfortunate position of having to violate the law in carrying out their duties in prosecuting these cases,” said David Carroll, attorney for the union. “By the special directives, telling the deputy district attorneys, ‘It doesn’t matter; you can’t plead See GASCÓN, A2

See EXPLOSION, A2

City: Business losses ‘significant’; help on the way Council begins discussion of pandemic’s economic turmoil, 2021-22 spending plan By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

Santa Clarita businesses suffered a total revenue loss of more than $300 million, while others permanently closed in 2020, painting a clear image of the economic turmoil brought

forth by the COVID-19 pandemic, but city officials announced Tuesday hope is on the horizon. At the start of the coronavirus crisis, sales tax revenue was projected to drop in the double digits, and it did at 13%, or $3.2 million last year.

“I want to emphasize the sales tax revenue collected by the city is only 1%,” City Manager Ken Striplin said in a budget meeting before the City Council and commission members. “As you look at what is the economic impact of that loss beyond our $3.2 million, you’re looking at a total loss of revenue to local businesses of $300 million. So, definitely a very significant number.”

Much of the loss in revenue comes after unwavering health orders that forced major industries, ranging from restaurants to retail, to shut down or implement a series of changes. Santa Clarita is also facing an unemployment rate of 9.3%, which falls just below L.A. County’s rate of 10.7%. At the peak of the pandemic over the summer, Santa Clarita had reached a rate of 20%,

according to the state’s Employment Development Department. There are now 109,400 jobs across the city, a number that dropped from 114,000 in 2019, according to Striplin. “The longer we remain in this crisis, the more prolonged the impacts will be felt and the longer the recovery will take,” said Striplin, adding that the See BUDGET, A2

Hart district to discuss return to school By Caleb Lunetta Signal Staff Writer

The William S. Hart Union High School District governing board is set to discuss school safety practices, a return to school campuses and the recognition of Black History Month. One of the first topics the board will cover is a school safety update from Collyn Nielsen, chief administrative officer for the district, according to the meeting agenda for tonight’s session. The presentation breaks down the 22 items involving safe school best practices in four different categories: mental health and wellness, site security, policy and training, and communication. Nielsen’s report will go through

the various items, and explain why each policy is a best practice before highlighting the district’s progress in that area, according to a publicly available PowerPoint presentation. The plan includes continuing the district’s partnership with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, including professional development opportunities for teachers, standardizing security cameras at each site and installing bulletproof glass. Kathy Hunter, assistant superintendent of educational services, will also provide the board with an update on the status of online learning in the district, and the continued planning for a return to campus when it is deemed safe to do so. The district has said it is targeting a Feb. 8 return date for small groups of cohort students to return to campus.

INDEX Lottery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A2 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A7 Weather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A2

The board also plans to join in with the rest of the nation during the month of February and recognize Black History Month. The resolution reads that the William S. Hart Union High School District “recognizes and celebrates the contributions of African American historical figures, leaders, teachers, parents, community activists and students” but also encourages each of the district’s school sites to “host discussions and presentations to enhance the education of each student.” The virtual Hart district governing board meeting is set to begin at 7 p.m. The meeting can be viewed on YouTube at https://youtu.be/ WQC9_nrWLm8. Public comments can be submitted by email to wshpubliccomments@hartdistrict. org no later than 4 p.m. today.

For more than100 years, The Signal has carried the banner of responsible community journalism in the Santa Clarita Valley. Proud to be this community’s only local newspaper.

By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

Caleb Lunetta/The Signal (above) Dan Watson/The Signal (left, below left, below)

CALL US TODAY. The best thing you can do to make sure you are maintaining your overall health and well-being is receive regular hearing screenings in addition to your other doctor visits. To schedule a hearing aid consultation today, please call Audiology Associates at (661) 2841900. Kevin Bolder, Au.D and John Davis, Au.D. are two of the best in Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valley. Visit our website at AudiologyAssociates.net or stop by our office located at 23838 Valencia Blvd, Suite 100, Valencia, CA 91355. We are hearing health care excellence! 

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PLANNING FOR YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE

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