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J U LY 25, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NEWS FEATURES

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FROM THE CITY MANAGER

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SENIOR LIVING

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4 5 6 7

The pros and cons of hotels, rentals apps Vacationing locally in the SCV Creating your own summer moments How staging can make buyers feel at home

8 The City’s annual budget process 9 Finding the right skilled nursing facility

ENTERTAINMENT 10 1 0 Cage delivers a ‘performance of simmering greatness’ in ‘Pig’ 12 ‘Black Widow’ bests in top ten movies

FOOD 11 1 1 A natural solution for summer hydration Broccoli Salad with Miso Orange Dressing Pineapple Orange Smoothie

HEALTH & FITNESS

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13 Have you ever wondered where lost weight goes?

GARDENING 14 14 Gardening in the chaparral

FINANCE 15 15 Tips for home buyers during a seller’s market

AUTOMOTIVE 16 16 A few easily forgotten road-trip safety tips

KIDS & FAMILY

1 7 Donna’s Day: Create memories of the beach with sand candles Junior Whirl • How they say that

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PUZZLES 18 OPINION 19 SPECIALIZING IN PRECISION ELECTRONIC TUNE-UPS, FUEL INJECTION, IGNITION, SMOG CHECK, GENERAL AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR

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661-259-1234 The entire content of the Sunday Signal is copyrighted 2021 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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Richard Budman Perry Smith Tim Whyte Doña Uhrig

4 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J U LY 25, 2021

N E W S F E AT U R E

The pros and cons of hotels and rentals apps

By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

A

s summer kicks into full swing and Santa Claritians hit the road, many are finding themselves left with the choice of staying in a hotel versus a home rental when taking that trip.

While it’s an ongoing debate among travelers, most tend to fall in one camp or the other regarding preference.

Those who choose hotels prefer the many amenities available to them through their stay, such as room service, housekeeping and fitness centers or spas, while those who choose home rentals, using websites such as Airbnb or Vrbo, prefer the privacy, competitive rates and additional space, especially when traveling with a group.

Regardless of preference, there are a number of pros and cons to either option, many of which were compiled below with the help of travel professionals, such as Ted Bradpiece, owner of Explorer Travel Services.

Costs

Historically, home rentals like Airbnb have been the more economical option, and while that is still the case in some areas, heightened demand and increasing fees have made it so that home rentals are no longer the guaranteed budget-friendly option.

If cost is a primary concern for you, it’s a good idea to check both types of rentals, because hotels can tend to fill

up faster when an event is in town, which would probably give the edge in affordability and availability to a home- or room-rental service

Sanitation

At a home rental, properties are typically cleaned before the stay, but not during, in comparison to the daily cleaning services offered at most hotels.

Some hotels, however, have moved away from the daily cleaning model during the pandemic due to staffing shortages, though thorough cleanings are still done between guests.

If this is important to you, you can always check with a front desk on hotel policy before your booking.

Reliability

When it comes to reliability, home rentals have always been the riskier of the two options, as anyone can offer up their home.

“I was traveling in Europe the first time I got scammed by an Airbnb listing,” Castaic resident Quinten Zarah said. “And, we got all the way to the address listed on our booking before we’d realized it was fake and were without a place to stay — in a foreign county nonetheless. That experience definitely taught me to be more careful when booking something that I realized later was too good to be true.”

If you’re booking a trip to an area you’ve never been to before, especially a foreign country, it’s definitely a good idea to seek out the services of a

How to pick the right home rental • Look for properties that are professionally managed, as those typically follow protocols, have more regular inspections of the property and have a manager to go to if there are issues during your stay.

• Make sure the property you’re booking has reviews. No reviews is a red flag and so is an account that was created within the last couple months.

• If there are no reviews, make sure to contact the property manager before booking.

• If there are reviews, read them!

• Read the fine print, including the house rules, as that’s where most of the important information about the home is.

• Get travel insurance, as they will help ensure you get your money back if issues arise.

The differences between a hotel stay or using an Airbnb-like rental service are significant, and sometimes checking with a travel adviser with recent experience can help decide what’s the right choice for the occasion. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

travel agent. Everything from changing regulations to fees can have a big impact on your trip.

Amenities

“There’s no better feeling than getting drinks delivered to you, poolside or on the beach,” Valencia resident Tina Butler said, adding that she prefers hotels for that reason alone.

On the other hand, others prefer the amenities available to home renters, such as kitchens, which allows Canyon Country resident Ivan Cerrero to cook his own meals.

“Not only do I prefer cooking my own food, but it saves me a whole bunch of money, especially on longer trips,” Cerrero said. “And, I get to cook and eat what I want.”

However, some hotels do have kitchens, including local hotels, such as the Residence Inn, which is geared more toward long-term stays, according to Lianne Riban, director of sales for the SpringHill Suites and Residence Inn. In fact, new hotels have hit the market in the SCV, with four newly constructed hotels on Wayne Mills Place near Magic Mountain, including SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Best Western.

Of their amenities are some new to

the SCV, such as SpringHill’s game room, as well as other services, like a laundromat, which connects to an app that will notify you when it’s done, according to Riban.

“It’s the level of service,” Riban said, referring to the benefit of hotel.

“You’ve got somebody here 24/7 to accommodate you with whatever you need.”

Socializing

At hotels, there are more opportunities to socialize, network and meet new people, whether it’s at the hotel’s bar, pool or outdoor areas.

However, a home rental allows you to travel with a group, allowing you and your companions the freedom to socialize in a private environment.

Location

Most hotels are centrally located, allowing travelers easy access to many of the local areas’ attractions.

However, home rentals allow you to immerse yourself in the area and truly live like a local and explore some of the less-touristy areas or feel like you’re living in the heart of the city, depending on the area you choose.

Regardless of the type of accommodation, travel professionals can help guide you to the best option to fit your wants and needs within your price point. 

J U LY 25, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 5

N E W S F E AT I R E

Vacationing locally in the Santa Clarita Valley

By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

W

hile many of us have spent the past year-and-a-half at home in the Santa Clarita Valley, many are opting to stay local for their long-awaited vacations this year.

“We’re so excited to get out of the house finally, but to be honest, we were a little nervous, so we decided to stay close to home,” said Valencia resident Katrina Thomas of her family’s first vacation in more than a year.

Close to home

The Thomas family packed up the car and traveled all of 12 miles in total over the weekend, choosing to stay at a local hotel, where they were able to enjoy the weekend, playing in the pool during the day, shopping at Westfield Valencia Town Center in the afternoons and exploring Old Town Newhall in the evenings.

“It was fun to feel like a tourist in our own city,” Thomas added. “I’ve lived locally for almost eight years now, but I felt like I was looking at Santa Clarita in a new light and finding all the little things I’d been overlooking.”

And, the Thomas family aren’t the only ones choosing to stay in the area. In fact, half of Californians plan on vacationing locally this summer, a OnePoll survey found.

For the first time since the pandemic began, 63% of the 2,000 surveyed will be leaving their homes for more than two days this summer, the survey reported, with the average respondent wanting to drive no more than 115 miles to get to their destinations.

“I definitely have a newfound appreciation for the SCV since our first trip,” Thomas said, adding that the pandemic helped her and her family to realize how much of their local environment they hadn’t explored. “We’re definitely going to continue exploring Santa Clarita this summer, especially some of the natural areas nearby.”

The trending staycation

This summer, the OnePoll survey found that many agree with the Thomases and want to explore the great outdoors, with most (51%) wanting to drive to their nearest lake or river, national monument (49%) or state park (47%), with camping, swimming and fishing among the top summer activities planned.

With 12,000 acres of open space, more than 100 miles of trails and paseos that traverse the SCV and even a lake and some nearby waterfalls, you don’t have to go far to explore nature.

The 932-acre Vasquez Rocks Natural Area in Agua Dulce, for example, offers hiking and camping among its unique rock formations, while the Nature Center showcases various exhibits and interactive displays with information on the movie

Santa Clarita residents Tim and Debbie Aiello pull into the loading zone at the Hyatt Regency Valencia. With competitive rates available and plenty to do locally, staycations are becoming more popular. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

filming done on site, reptile exhibits, geological information and more.

The park also offers star parties, organized by The Local Group, which gives visitors an opportunity to see the constellations, planets and distant galaxies.

On Saturday evenings once every few months, the local astronomy club will have telescopes set up in Vasquez Rocks Park free of charge, while the group can also help to get a personal telescope up and running. Their next star party is scheduled for Oct. 9.

Living in Southern California, especially the SCV, presents residents with a plethora of local vacation options, industry officials agreed.

“There’s a lot of fun opportunities to do a staycation in Santa Clarita,” said Jerry Certonio, Six Flags Magic Mountain manager of marketing and communications. “After everybody has been stuck at home during stay-at-home orders and trying to be safe, it’s a great opportunity to get out and enjoy where we live here in Southern California.”

The city of Santa Clarita’s Summer Trolley is once again running through the SCV, offering free rides to local tourism destinations, such as Westfield and Six Flags and Hurricane Harbor, through Sept. 12.

The SCV is also home to a number of hotels, including the Hyatt Regency in Valencia, Hotel Lexen in Newhall and Holiday Inn Express and Best Western near Magic Mountain, all of which make

the perfect staycation destination.

Additionally, there’s almost always an event going on in the SCV, from drive-in movie nights at Castaic Lake to the return of Concerts in the Park most weekends through the summer at Central Park and even the local Old Town Newhall Farmers Market every Saturday.

A magical history tour

If you do decide to take an SCV staycation, there are a number of themes you can do for activities, in addition to the theme park, the arts or the off-road options, there’s a whole lot of history in Santa Clarita, too.

From the legend of California’s first gold strike (The Oak of the Golden Dream to the California’s first oil boom town (Mentryville) to where one of California’s most infamous bandits — Tiburcio Vasquez — had his last stand (Vasquez Rocks).

Or if you prefer silver screens to greener pastures, there are countless sites to see where Hollywood history was made, from the early days of silent films that focused on cowboy Westerns to the latest Quentin Tarantino film. The Santa Clarita Film Office has a wealth of information that might be of interest if you’re looking to check out some of the more famous filming locations.

For more information on events going on in the Santa Clarita Valley, check out The Signal’s events calendar at signalscv.com/calendar. 

6 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J U LY 25, 2021

N E W S F E AT U R E

Creating your own summer moments

W

arm, sunny days are the perfect setting for making family memories, but they’re also ideal opportunities to encourage kids to get creative and let their imagi­nations soar.

These ideas for summertime activities encourage family interaction, and the more kids get to help plan and organize the details, the more engaged you can expect them to be.

Visit your local park

Pack all the kids’ favorite snacks and beverages to keep cool and hydrated. Choose your spot under a big shady tree and spread out for an impromptu picnic. Be sure to bring along outdoor toys for a game of catch or lighten the load and create a nature scavenger hunt with different types of leaves, rocks and flowers for kids to discover.

If they come across an unfamiliar plant or animal, snap a picture with your phone so you can do some research on it when you get home. Encourage the kids to draw or design a piece of art reflecting the things they saw.

Create watercolor paintings

Away from the school setting, kids sometimes have fewer oppor­tunities to practice expressing their ideas and getting creative. Fun tools can make an artistic session more exciting, so look for unique methods like blending Zebra Pen Mildliner Brush Pens with water and a paint brush to create fun, pastel watercolor paintings with minimal mess.

The pens are conveniently double-ended with a paint brush-like tip on one end and fine marker tip on the other so you can precisely draw a design

then create softer swirls of color using water and a brush.

Water sponge challenge

Cool off with a fun and refreshing water fight with a few creative twists. First grab sponges, or water sponge balls, and a full bucket of water. The sponges are reusable so you can use them all summer long. Make it extra fun by organizing teams with kids against adults or everyone fending for themselves. Encourage kids to devise their own blockades and targets or adapt a classic game like baseball or dodgeball using water sponges in place of the usual balls. You could also do a sponge scavenger hunt to load up everyone’s buckets before the dousing begins.

Find the animals

Visit your local Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited zoo or aquarium and have your kids find as many animals as they can from the AZA SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction species list. It’s a good opportunity to talk about the concept of extinction and why these animals are on the list. Follow up the visit with an activity that reinforces how everyone has a role in conservation and look for ways to help protect each family member’s favorite animal.

Recycled animal crafts

Combining a creative activity with an important message such as conservation can help kids grasp big concepts about keeping animals and the earth safe and happy. Use recycled materials such as cardstock and “junk” from the recycling bin as

Turn your family walks into hunts for animal tracks. Theodore Premako walks with his “hiking stick” along one of the paths at Placerita Canyon State Park. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSH PREMAKO

well as hot glue and colored pens or pencils to have your kids create an art project featuring a favorite animal or one they’ve seen at a park or zoo. Simply piece items together to look like the animal as well as its habitat like trees, grass or the dessert. Then hot glue the items to the cardboard base and use pens or pencils to add details.

Find more ideas for creative inspiration this summer at ZebraPen.com. (Family Features) 

J U LY 25, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 7

N E W S F E AT U R E

How staging can make buyers feel at home

By Raychel Stewart Signal Staff Writer

W

hen it comes to selling a house, simple steps such as adding decorations to a kitchen or repainting cabinets can make all the difference when prospective buyers are looking for their new home.

Staging a home isn’t restricted to only bringing furniture in and out during tours or open houses, it can also include simple remodeling projects or cleaning and decluttering, said Craig Martin, former house flipper and current Realtor for Realty One Group in Santa Clarita.

“Sometimes, when the market is really good, like it is right now for instance, staging a home might not even be necessary,” Martin said. “Homes are going so quick that there isn’t any time, and no reason to spend the extra time and money for staging — but when someone’s selling a house, Realtors can go in and figure out if some type of staging is needed.”

Typically, staging a home is thought of as bringing furniture and appliances into a vacant house to make it look as if it is being lived in, which is practiced sporadically by Realtors.

“Bringing furniture into houses can be a tricky thing,” said Erika Kauzlarich-Bird, real estate agent with Compass. “The furniture you bring in might not fit the same aesthetic as a homebuyer. People are also buying a house, not the furniture in the house. So, deciding to stage a house is a careful decision.”

However, there are other benefits in bringing furniture into a home, said Martin. If a room is built uniquely or isn’t the standard living room or dining room layout, staging those rooms with furniture and appliances gives buyers an idea of how a room can be set up. It also allows for buyers to picture their own properties in the space.

Only living rooms and kitchens are commonly staged, said Martin. “Bedrooms and bathrooms are all pretty standard,” he added. “People just look in and they know where the bed, dresser and other things are going to go.”

Staging can also make a room look bigger if properly sized furniture is placed in the space.

“People might be more apt to buy a house if it’s staged,” Martin said. “Putting nice furniture can make the place look more expensive and bigger, which is appealing to a lot of people.”

A common practice for Realtors is to stage a home for photographs, then either place the photographs on the walls of empty rooms while a tour or open house is happening, or only post the staged photos online.

“Everything is online these days,” said Tracy Hauser, a Realtor and broker-owner for Tracy Hauser and Associates for Compass. “People typically look at the photos online then come to take a

A family checks out a home that’s been staged for a viewing. InsetIf time allows, staging a home can help in a market as competitive as the current one for the Santa Clarita Valley, as it can really transform a home’s feel and potentially lead to better offers. PHOTOS BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

tour of an empty house.”

Staging a home can also include decluttering a space so potential buyers can easily picture themselves and their belongings in the home, if rooms are overcrowded with items.

Decluttering homes can easily transform a house into an area that’s “non-personable,” as Martin said.

“If you take the items that make a house someone’s home, other people can see themselves living there easier.”

“Realtors are able to go inside a house and know exactly what needs to be done to get that house sold,” Martin said. “So, if a house needs decluttering, it’s not about bringing stuff into the house to make it look good, it’s about taking stuff out.”

Going through each room and taking out things that make countertops or walls look crammed, such as family photos or countertop appliances, is an important step in decluttering a home, said Kauzlarich-Bird.

Simple cleanings can also transform a home.

Washing windows can allow more sunlight to come in darker spaces or cleaning the carpet can make houses look newer, she added.

“Something as simple as changing lightbulbs can really transform a place,” said Kauzlarich-Bird. “Whether the light comes from opening blinds or from bringing in extra lamps, it all

makes a difference.”

Staging homes can also include small home-improvement projects that will make a place look more contemporary, with the biggest example being oak wood cabinets, Hauser said.

“The trends are really different now,” she added.

“Now people prefer hard floors to carpet and white cabinets to wood, so redoing those areas in a house can make it sell a lot quicker.”

As some home improvement projects can become a big expense, Martin recommends giving things, such as dated cabinets, a makeover with a simple paint job.

“Doing those (do-it-yourself) projects can be the biggest way to stage your house,” Martin said. “It’s much less time, money and effort but still gives you the results you want and the results that are going to get your house sold.”

When purchasing a house, Martin said the first thing people think about is the location, then the floorplan, then the amenities included. Proper staging, whether it be bringing furniture in, decluttering rooms or renovating certain aspects, can make all the difference with prospective buyers.

“There’s a house for everyone,” he added. “It’s just a matter of finding it.” 

8 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J U LY 25, 2021

FROM THE CITY MANAGER

The City of Santa Clarita’s annual budget process Canyon Trail expansion to Central Park, trash filter Investments in Parks, Recreation, and Commuinstallations in storm drains, facility improvements nity Services remains a key focus. The Recreation at The Cube, traffic safety enhancements near and Community Services budget totals $16.5 milach year, staff spends six months preparschools and many more. As demand for additional lion, contributing funds to the facilities and proing the City of Santa Clarfields continues to be one of the community’s prigrams that will allow residents to happily recreate. ita’s annual budget. The orities, residents will surely enjoy the Central Park The City has also allocated $10.9 million toward process includes gathering buildout, adding four multipurpose fields, lightthe preservation of parks, providing exceptional input and guidance from the City ing, parking and many more enhancements. All of field conditions residents have come to expect and Council, evaluating budget requests, these improvements demonstrate the City’s focus appreciate. reviewing community survey reOther highlights of the new budget include fund- not only to building new amenities but also the sponses and ensuring all items are ing for the Arts Master Plan, with the development maintenance of public infrastructure. tied to the City’s five-year strategic plan, Santa Even with the many challenges faced in 2020, of a film festival and increased diversity and inClarita 2025. our City organization is in solid financial standing clusion programming. One-time funding has also As a whole, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22 budget and the elite AAA credit rating from Standard and been allocated to the operations at the brand-new totals $248.3 million, which represents a 13 percent Canyon Country Community Center, which will Poor’s (S & P) remains intact. This rating indiincrease over the previous year. Santa Clarita also Laemmle cates the City’s strong ability to meet current and open its doors this fall. • Santa Clarita Signal Theatres adsource@exhibitorads.com long-term financial commitments.

Thanks to your continues to maintain a healthy operating reserve In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City p.

888.737.2812 f. 203.438.1206 4.75” x 5.9” City Council’s leadership, the City is confident we representing 20% of General Fund operating excommitted funding to provide clean and disinfectwill continue providing exceptional service to the penditures, equaling $18.7 million. air at all Citydate: facilities. Sunday-Thursday, With ongoing funding to July 25-29, 2021 Ad edinsertion Our City prioritizes community well-being cover the costs of annual replacement of ultraviolet residents in the community. The City encourages creation/delivery July 20,everyone 2021 atto10:50:13 AM CASCS_LEM0725-0729.qxp visit our website at santa-clarita.com through investments in Public Safety. At a sum of Ad disinfecting lamps, the City date: will fulfillTuesday, its long-term to dive deeper into the numbers and explore other $29.7 million, the Public Safety budget makes up priority of keeping residents and employees safe at projects within this year’s budget. the largest portion of the budget. Which is one of public facilities. the reasons Santa Clarita continues to rank as one The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) conKen Striplin can be reached at kstriplin@sanof the safest cities in the nation. In fact, a recent tinues to be an integral part of the City’s overall ta-clarita.com. The views expressed in his column are study by AdvisorSmith ranked Santa Clarita the budget. With a total investment of $46.3 million, those of the City and do not necessarily reflect those of eighth safest city in the country.

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J U LY 25, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 9

SENIORLIVING

Finding the right skilled nursing facility

Untreated hearing loss is bad for your brain

H

umans’ desire to live independently begins in adolescence and continues into older adulthood.

Though many seniors can handle the tasks of daily life on their own, others may need varying degrees of assistance.

Seniors have various options at their disposal in regard to finding help to get through daily life. Those who need round-the-clock help typically look to skilled nursing facilities, or SNFs, which are staffed with licensed nurses and therapists who are capable of providing a more advanced level of medical care than home health aides or assisted living facilities can offer.

Seniors who want to plan ahead can shop around for SNFs and make their preferences known in their estate planning. When looking for an SNF, seniors and their loved ones can utilize these tips to find the right facility.

Speak with your health care team

Seniors’ health care teams, including their general practitioners as well as any doctors who may have treated them for specific diseases or conditions, can be great resources.

For example, an oncology team may recommend a local SNF that has a strong track record in working with cancer survivors. Many people who stay in SNFs do so as part of a rehabilitation program, and a health care team can provide valuable insight

Hearing is a brain activity Your ears receive sound, but it’s your brain that makes sense of it. into which facilities may match up well with individual patients’ needs.

Give location ample consideration

When looking for an SNF, location should not be overlooked. The quality of care a facility can provide should be the utmost priority, but the value of choosing a facility that’s close to loved ones cannot be understated, especially for seniors who will be moving in for a lengthy period of time.

Routine visits from loved ones can lift the spirits of SNF residents. In addition, AARP® notes that regular visitors can scrutinize care and serve as residents’ advocates if they feel their concerns are not being satisfactorily addressed by staff members.

Visit facilities in person

Online ratings can provide some insight into a facility, but nothing can replace the value of an in-person visit. The American Health Care Association urges families to observe a facility in person so they can gauge its overall environment and whether or not it seems like a peaceful or chaotic place. Pay close attention to residents and try to determine if they’re wellgroomed.

These are things that can only be noticed in person, which underscores the importance of in person visits.

Skilled nursing facilities are an option for seniors who require advanced medical care. Finding the right facility requires careful consideration of a host of factors. can offer. (MC) 

Hearing loss causes sensory deprivation The auditory part of your brain needs sound stimulation to stay sharp. Even mild hearing loss understimulates the brain.

Use it or lose it If hearing loss is left untreated, auditory pathways can stop working because they’re not being used

What can you do?

Hearing aids can help. But they will work better if you get your hearing loss treated sooner rather than later.

Schedule your FREE hearing screening today 661.200.0977

Nola Aronson’s Advanced Audiology is the largest diagnostic hearing center in Santa Clarita, and leader of advanced technology and invisible hearing solutions. We donate a portion of all our hearing aid proceeds to non-profits in our community.

Nola Aronson, M.A., CCC-A

scvadvancedaudiology.com 661.200.9470

23822 VALENCIA BLVD. | SUITE 103 | VALENCIA

1 0 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J U LY 25, 2021

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

Cage delivers a ‘performance of simmering greatness’ in ‘Pig’

By Richard Roeper Signal Contributing Writer

‘Pig’



(out of four) Neon presents a film written and directed by Michael Sarnoski. No MPAA rating. In theaters.

W

hen I first saw the poster for “Pig,” with a close-up of Nicolas Cage glaring right at us while sporting yet another longhaired/unruly beard combo platter, and I read the tagline, “We don’t get a lot of things to really care about,” and I heard this was the story of a reclusive truffle farmer who must return to the big city in search of his kidnapped pig, I thought: Uh-oh. Is this “John Wick,” but with a pig instead of a puppy?

It certainly sounded like the latest in a long line of quickly forgotten, over-the-top, paycheck-cashing Nicolas Cage vehicles, in the mostly dubious tradition of “Prisoners of the Ghostland” and “Jiu Jitsu” and “Willy’s Wonderland” and “Primal” and “Kill Chain” and “Running With the Devil” and “Color Out of Space” and “A Score to Settle,” and that’s just the last three years of Cage cranking out so many bat-bleep crazy movies it’s become a thing and a meme and a GIF, to the point where even Cage is in on the joke, at least to a point.

Well, here’s the beautiful news. Director/co-writer Michael Sarnoski’s “Pig” is a brutal, elegant, mournful, captivating and magnificently filmed story that somehow manages to mix in elements of wilderness films such as “Jeremiah Johnson” and “Into the Wild,” kitchen-centric cooking movies like “Burnt,” and even a scene straight out of “Fight Club” — not to mention more than one reference to Greek tragedies. Through it all, Nicolas Cage delivers a performance of simmering greatness, grabbing every inch of the screen without hamming it up, dominating scenes in which he has very little dialogue, and moving us deeply when he is asked why it means so much to him to get his pig back, when after all, there are other pigs out there.

“I love her,” comes the reply. And we believe him, and we want nothing

Nicolas Cage as Rob in”Pig.” PHOTOS COURTESY IMDB

more than for this man to be reunited with the one creature on this Earth he still cares about.

Sarnoski divides the story into chapters with absurdist titles such as “Rustic Mushroom Tart” and “Mom’s French Toast and Deconstructed Scallops” and continually navigates the line between the existential and the gritty/authentic, starting with the opening, dialogue-sparse sequences set deep in the Oregon wilderness where Cage’s Rob lives in a remote cabin with his beloved truffle pig, who is a master at sniffing out the rare fungi coveted by so many restaurateurs. Once a week, an ambitious young salesman named Amir (Alex Wolff) comes roaring up in his obnoxious yellow muscle car and traipses through the mud and muck in his dress shoes to buy the truffles from Rob, who barely acknowledges Amir’s presence and has no interest in idle conversation.

This is the routine, and it’s the routine Rob would like to follow for the rest of his days — but his world is shattered when two meth addicts break into his cabin in the middle of the night and take his pig, and the sounds of that terrified squealing animal will pierce your heart. Rob learns his pig is most likely in the hands of someone in Portland, so for the first time in 15 years, he’ll return to the city where he was once a legendary chef and is now something of a mythical figure. He wants his pig back.

He’ll do anything to get his pig back.

Once we’re in Portland, “Pig” is a

deep dive through the looking glass, as Rob endures a horrific beating before he has even cleaned up the wounds sustained at the hands of the kidnappers, and he spends the rest of the journey careening through town covered in blood and dirt, oblivious to the stares of the townsfolk. Alex Wolff and Cage have a terrific buddy-movie chemistry, as we learn the outwardly slick and smug Amir is at heart a decent fellow estranged from his monstrous father (Adam Arkin), who is the Pacific Northwest’s unquestioned king of rare foods and is in fact competition for Amir and might well have had something to do with the pig’s disappearance. In one of the many spectacularly staged setpiece scenes in the film, the search for the pig brings Rob and Amir to an achingly trendy restaurant called Eurydice (a character in Greek mythology, and that choice of name is no accident), where Rob meets with the celebrated Chef Finway (David Knell) and recalls in perfect detail how Finway briefly worked for him 15 years ago — and then proceeds to reduce the arrogant celebrity chef to a puddle by pinpointing him as a total sellout.

“Pig” is not a revenge film, nor is it the most compelling mystery in the world, though we care greatly about the fate of that poor creature, and we do eventually find out what happened to her. It’s a rustic, poetic, occasionally funny, sometimes heartbreaking and wonderfully strange and memorable character study of a man who is in such tremendous pain he had to

retreat from the world. Cage is magnificent as Rob, reminding us that when he’s at his best and he has the right vehicle, he’s one of the best actors in the world. This is one of the best movies of the year.

Mini Reviews ‘Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain 1/2 

Documentary, R, 119 minutes. In theaters.

I

n this insightful and sometimes deeply sad documentary, the gifted director Morgan Neville takes us on a journey through the last two decades of Anthony Bourdain’s life, from his star-making debut as an author, through his whirlwind years on TV, to his confounding suicide.

‘Fin’

1/2 

Documentary. Discovery+

H

orror specialist Eli Roth directs and stars in this sometimes difficult to watch but invaluable and insightful documentary about the brutal mass slaughter of sharks for the production of shark fin soup and other dubious “exotic” products. For all its sobering reporting and imagery, “Fin” also has moments of pure beauty. 

Copyright 2020 Chicago Sun-Times

J U LY 25, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 1

FOOD

A natural solution for summer hydration by the pool

F

un in the summer sun can mean anything from poolside play and outdoor exercise to simply relaxing in the shade. While these activities make the season special for people of all ages, the heat also leads to the inevitable: sweat.

Electrolytes, critical for the human body to function, are lost via sweat throughout the day. Drinking plenty of fluids, such as water, helps keep you hydrated. However, adding 100% orange juice to your diet can help replace those lost electrolytes in addition to aiding hydration.

According to a study published in the “Journal of Nutrition and Health Sciences,” drinking 100% orange juice following exercise contributes to hydration equally as well as water and sports drinks, making the beverage a viable alternative for recovery.

“Electrolytes include nutrients such as potassium, sodium, magnesium and calcium,” said Dr. Rosa Walsh, scientific research director at the Florida Department of Citrus. “In fluids, these nutrients carry an electric charge, which allows muscles to contract and nerves to transmit signals, and are critical for the human body to function.

“Plain water contains few if any electrolytes, so you must replace lost electrolytes by consuming foods or beverages that contain these nutrients.

Drinking fluids that contain both water and electrolytes, such as 100% orange juice, may help support hydration.”

In fact, 100% orange juice contains about 90% water and can contribute to overall water intake.

With no added sugar, it’s an ideal way to support hydration by drinking it on its own or by adding it to recipes like this Healthy Broccoli Salad with Miso Orange Dressing or Pineapple Orange Smoothie.

Consider these major electrolytes found in orange juice: Potassium The major electrolyte within all cells, it helps balance fluid in the body with a strong relationship to sodium, the major electrolyte in the blood and outside the cells. Potassium is especially important for regulating heart rhythm and function. An 8-ounce glass of 100% orange juice provides 10% of the recommended daily value for potassium.

Magnesium The fourth-most abundant mineral in the body and essential in the regulation of muscle contraction, cardiac excitability, blood pressure and other vital processes. An 8-ounce glass of 100% orange juice contains 6% of the recommended daily value for magnesium.

Calcium Found in fortified varieties of orange juice, calcium plays an important role in muscle contraction, nerve transmission and the contraction and relaxation of the cardiovascular system.

As an excellent source of calcium, an 8-ounce serving of fortified orange juice provides 30% of the

recommended daily value.

Visit floridajuice.com to find more recipes that aid in summer hydration.

Healthy Broccoli Salad with Miso Orange Dressing Servings: 1

Salad 2 heads broccoli, cut into small florets 2 cups purple cabbage, chopped 1/2 cup golden raisins 1/2 cup slivered almonds 1/2 cup chopped green onions

Miso Orange Dressing: 1 cup Florida Orange Juice 2 tablespoons canola oil 2 tablespoons miso 2 tablespoons almond butter 1 shallot To make salad In bowl, toss broccoli, cabbage, raisins, almonds and green onions.

To make miso orange dressing In food processor or blender, pulse orange juice, canola oil, miso, almond butter and shallot until smooth.

Pour dressing over salad, tossing to coat. Serve immediately or chill in refrigerator. (Family Features) 

Pineapple Orange Smoothie

Servings: 2 1 cup Florida Orange Juice 1/2 cup plain almond milk 1 frozen banana 1 cup frozen pineapple 1 teaspoon turmeric 1 scoop walnuts 1/8 teaspoon cayenne 2-3 ice cubes 1 scoop plain protein powder (optional) In large blender, blend orange juice, almond milk, frozen banana, frozen pineapple, turmeric, walnuts, cayenne, ice cubes and protein powder, if desired, until smooth.

Portion into two small glasses.(Family Features) 

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J U LY 25, 2021

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

‘Black Widow’ bests in top ten movies 1. Black Widow (PG-13) Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh

7. Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard (R) Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson

2. F9 (PG-13) Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez

8. Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (PG) Domhnall Gleeson, Rose Byrne

3. Boss Baby: The Family Business (PG) animated 4. The Forever Purge (R) Ana de la Reguera, Josh Lucas 5. A Quiet Place Part II (PG-13) Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds PHOTO COURTESY IMDB

6. Cruella (PG-13) Emma Stone, Emma Thompson

9. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (R) Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga 10. Zola (R) Taylour Page, Riley Keough Source: Box Office Mojo © 2021 King Features Synd., Inc. 

J U LY 25, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 3

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

Have you ever wondered where lost weight goes?

O

besity is a significant threat to public health. The World Health Organization says global obesity rates have nearly tripled since 1975. There are now more than one billion overweight adults across the globe, and at least 300 million people are classified as clinically obese.

Many people want to lose weight and unhealthy fat for personal reasons or at the suggestions of their doctors. Weight loss often involves a combination of increasing exercise and decreasing calorie consumption.

As excess weight starts being shed, it becomes evident that a biological process is taking place.

Many people refer to it as burning calories. But fat loss is a complicated process that’s spawned various misconceptions.

Breathing to lose weight?

Many people may not know that a lot of the fat lost during weight loss efforts occurs through simple breathing.

According to Live Science and a 2014 study from researchers at the University of New South Wales, the body stores excess protein or carbohydrates in a person’s diet in the form of fat, specifically triglycerides, which consist elementally of hydrogen,

Weight is commonly lost by expelling carbon dioxide through breathing. Moderate exercise facilitates such weight loss.

carbon and oxygen. When people lose weight, triglycerides are breaking up into these building block elements through oxidation.

The researchers found that, during oxidation, triglycerides are used up in a process that consumes many molecules of oxygen while producing carbon dioxide and water as waste products.

The study found that, during weight loss, 84% of the triglyceride fat that is lost turns into carbon dioxide and leaves the body through the lungs. The remaining water may be excreted as sweat, breath or tears, or come out in urine — water excretion is the lesser-known component of the biological process.

Researchers who authored the University of New South Wales study determined that, when 22 pounds of fat are oxidized, 18.5 pounds of it leaves the body as exhaled carbon. The amount of carbon that is lost can be increased through exercise, according to Medical News Today.

By substituting one hour of moderate exercise (like jogging) for one hour of rest, a person can increase his or her metabolic rate of triglyceride usage sevenfold.

Carbon excretion also occurs during sleep, while sitting and doing daily activities. However, the amount excreted during these activities is minimal and can be offset by eating too much food. Simply breathing more and faster during regular activities is not recommended, either, as doing so increases the risk for hyperventilation. (MC) 

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1 4 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J U LY 25, 2021

GARDENING

Things to know when gardening in a chaparral biome

By Jane Gates Signal Staff Writer

N

ow that we are officially heading into summer, chances are we will not be seeing a lot of cloud cover or many days under 90 degrees, if any, for at least the next couple of months. That means that working in the garden will be best done during the coolest hours of the day.

We do not live in the desert, but we are mostly in a biome called chaparral (made famous by the “High Chaparral” TV show from 1967-71).

The chaparral is actually a description of the tough, brittle, natural vegetation that grows here, adapted by hundreds of years in dry, hot summers with cooler, moister winters that, in higher elevations like ours, used to experience nighttime frosts.

What this all means to us in Santa Clarita, is simply that we can expect desert-like heat and dryness that is often attributed to the Mojave or Sahara. But our soil, flora and terrain is different.

So, how do we garden in the SCV chaparral summer?

Clean up and clean out

First, we make sure that brush on the hills and in open areas, dead stuff in the gardens and gutters are all cleared out. Wildfires took the winter off this year, but you don’t want any of these fire-fuel sources to invite disaster to your home now that dry, toasty summer has arrived.

Grass will need cutting and edging.

Since they are high-maintenance water-guzzlers, keep lawn areas to where

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A chaparral is a geographical area that is characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, cool winters. It is often called scrubland and is primarily found in California.

they will be most useful.

Keep pulling out weeds while they are small and before they get established in your garden or lawn areas.

Our local weeds quickly form tough, deep roots.

Mulch or use pebbles

Add a top layer of compost as mulch. It works as a barrier to keep out the heat of the beating sun while slowing evaporation and locking in precious water around plant roots. For California natives and drought-tolerant plants, mulch with small twigs and stones — the usual stuff that covers our non-cultivated land.

Irrigate early

Irrigate early in the morning — on or before sunrise is best. Check water systems during the day to make regular adjustments you might miss if you are still asleep when your irrigation goes on. If water pools or runs off anywhere, cut down the application time and turn it off for 15 minutes or more to soak into the soil. Then, set it to run again.

Also, check drip irrigation systems for breaks and leaks. Rabbits are notorious for chomping into plastic tubing.

Deadhead and prune

All plants will bloom longer if you keep them deadheaded. This means that you want to cut off wilting flowers before they set seed. Setting seed will drain the plant of energy.

Deadheading is particularly effective with annuals that typically want to keep blooming in order to set as much seed as they can before they die. These are short-lived plants that will only last a single season anyway, so they will keep blooming in the attempt to set more seed if you keep spent flowers removed.

Prune plants lightly for shape and to cut out dead or crossing branches. July is not a good time for heavy pruning.

New plantings

If you do any new planting, water the newcomers daily for at least a week, especially if they are in sun.

And if you can shade them for the first day or two in July heat, they will appreciate it. You can plant at this time of year, but even tough natives will have to be coddled.

Spend hot days designing ideas for new features in your garden. Autumn will be here sooner than you think and that will be a good time for outdoor projects.With the constant rise in the cost of — well, everything! — building materials and construction should probably be planned for sooner than later. So if you want to add a hot tub, a fire pit, an outdoor room, a water feature or a barbecue, these will all add value to your house in the future while you get to enjoy them as long as you live in your home.

July may be good for vacationing and hiding in the air conditioning.

But there are plenty of things to do in the garden, especially in the cooler hours of the day.

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

J U LY 25, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 5

Tips for home buyers during a seller’s market

A

combination of factors, including low interest rates and a pandemic-driven decision by many city dwellers to look for houses in the suburbs, has created a housing boom for much of 2020 and 2021.

That boom has created an undeniable seller’s market in real estate.

Just what is a seller’s market? The financial resource Investopedia defines it as a marketplace in which there are fewer goods for sale than there are interested buyers, giving sellers the ability to dictate prices.

Since mid-2020, there has been an extremely low inventory of homes for sale but a very high interest among purchasing parties.

Data from the National Association of Realtors indicated that, by the end of February 2021, housing inventory fell to a record low of 1.02 million units. These factors have led to a surge in competition from buyers, including bidding wars on homes and all-cash

Consider areas with slower overall price growth Experts say the southern and midwestern United States offer the best value for home shoppers because of their meager price growth.

ClearCapital, which tracks housing values, says San Antonio, St. Louis and the Dallas/Fort Worth areas experienced the least price appreciation from 2019 into 2020.

offers to entice sellers. In December 2020, the median listing prices for single-family homes shot up 13.4% from the same time the previous year, according to Realtor.com, and it hasn’t slowed down much since. Jeffrey Mezger, a 40-year veteran of the real estate industry and CEO of KB Home, says it’s the best seller’s housing market he’s seen in his career.

So where does this leave buyers interested in relocating? Here are some tips.

Get preapproval or have your funds ready Speed is the way to go if a buyer is interested in a property and wants to make an offer. Real estate professionals say buyers should be “offer ready,” which means having a mortgage preapproval letter or proof of funds for a down payment ready to go. Failure to have funds in check can slow down the process or compel sellers to reject an offer.

Work with a real estate agent These are complicated times and it pays for buyers to have a professional working in their corner. A real estate agent uses their knowledge to make

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a timely offer and negotiate on the buyer’s behalf. They also will provide insight into specific neighborhoods, amenities and school districts.

Eliminate certain contingencies from the equation Contingencies are factors that must be met before a sale can go through, according to the relocation site Moving.com. A common contingency is the need to sell one’s current home before closing on another. Asking for extended closing periods or certain home repairs are some additional contingencies that can make buyers less attractive to sellers.

Make it personal Buyers can offer a personalized note with the offer that may connect with the seller emotionally and set one them apart from others who have made similar offers.

Buying in a seller’s market can be challenging. But some strategies can set buyers apart from the pack.

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J U LY 25, 2021

AUTOMOTIVE

A few easily forgotten road-trip safety tips

G

look well in advance of a trip to ensure you have time to take the vehicle in for its update.

etaways come in many forms. A getaway can be restful and relaxing whether it involves a journey to a small island thousands of miles from home or a favorite campsite that’s just a few hours away by car.

As the world gradually emerges from a pandemic that put travel on the back burner for billions of people across the globe, people anxious to get away from home may finally feel comfortable seeking getaways that don’t involve air travel.

If the open road beckons you in the months ahead, the excitement ahead can make it easy to overlook certain safety measures. The following are some easily forgotten safety measures to keep in mind as you head off for parts unknown.

1. Have your vehicle serviced before hitting the

road. The pandemic significantly affected people’s driving habits. Millions of people spent the pandemic working remotely, and many have continued to do so even after being vaccinated.

Though driving may have increased as the pandemic wore on, it’s still a good idea for drivers to have their vehicles serviced before a road trip. Request a full tune-up that includes an oil change, a battery check and a tire rotation. These services

3. Get used to driving with accessories on the ve-

hicle. Summer road trips are typically taken with bicycle racks attached to rear windows or the top of the vehicle. Drivers unaccustomed to having bicycles or storage units attached to their vehicles should make a few trial runs so they can get acclimated.

Backing up with bike racks on the back of the car can be tricky for novices, so a little practice with the bikes on the back may be helpful. Drivers who intend to tow campers also may benefit from a little pre-trip practice. and other maintenance tasks such as fluid refills can reduce the likelihood of breakdowns and reveal any issues that might make driving less safe.

2. Determine if your vehicle is the subject of a recall.

Recalls are issued if a safety issue has been uncovered since a car hit the market. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a list of recalls available on its website at NHTSA.gov/Recalls.

Recalls are fixed free of charge, and it’s best to

4. Pack a map. Though maps have long since fall-

en out of favor due to the availability of GPS, people traveling to remote areas may find their smartphone signals fading in and out as they get closer to their destinations. A map can help road trippers overcome service interruptions and arrive at their destinations on time.

Road trips may be especially popular this summer. Some simple safety measures can ensure drivers and their passengers stay safe. (MC) 

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S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 7

K I D S & FA M I LY

Donna’s Day: Creative Family Fun

Create memories of the beach with sand candles es wide. Pat the sides and base of the depression to make a very firm mold for your candle. Press several trinkets into the mold, if you wish.

By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer

L

ike most people, I enjoy taking long walks on the beach. I love the feel of sand under my feet and the way it stretches for miles before me. And then I suddenly feel inspired, thinking of the ways sand can be used in decor and crafts. That’s when I know it’s time to go home and have some more fun.

Here’s a popular sand craft kids enjoy at day camp year after year. The adults melt the wax and the kids create the molds and add decorations for state-of-the-art sand candles. With a child’s touch, they’re whimsical, spontaneous and useful.

To make candles at home, you’ll need: Clean, damp sand in a bucket or sandbox 1 pound box of paraffin wax

2. Meanwhile, an adult should fill a saucepan with a few inches of water and set the tin can in the center. Put a chunk of paraffin in the can, and add candle stubs or coloring, if you wish.

As the water gets hot, the wax will melt. Stir occasionally, keeping a constant eye on it, since it is flammable.

(available in canning section at many markets) 1 saucepan 1 tin can, such as a large soup can with lid removed. (Pinch rim of the can with pliers to form a spout for easy pouring) Candle coloring or stubs from colored candles (optional)

Candle wicking (available at craft stores) Pencil or sticks Tiny trinkets, stones or shells (optional)

Here’s the fun: 1. Carve out a 2-3 inch depression in the damp sand, about 3-4 inch-

3. An adult should carefully pour the melted wax into the sand mold.

While the wax is still liquid, place a length of wicking down the center of the mold with at least one inch of wicking exposed at the top. Hold the wick in place until the wax begins to harden. Then, prop the wick with a stick until the wax is completely hard.

Or, tie the wick around the middle of a pencil and let it rest across the top of the mold with the wick in the wax.

4. When hard, gently lift the candle out of the sand mold. Brush off excess sand from the candle and embedded trinkets with an old toothbrush, leaving some sand on the surface for a natural look.

Note An adult should always be present when burning candles.Donna Erickson’s award-winning series “Donna’s Day” is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activities, visit www.donnasday.com and link to the Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.”  © 2020 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Synd.

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SOLUTIONS

PUZZLES

J U LY 25, 2021

CROSSWORD TIME

J U LY 25, 2021

Opinion

S U N D AY S I G N A L · 1 9

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

READERLETTERS

Misguided Rage Re: Gerrie Currie, “Garcia Questions Mount,” June 20.

Here are the members of the U.S. Congress voting against the bill to make “Juneteenth” a national holiday according to the New Times and numerous other news organizations: The 14 no votes were all from Republican members of Congress. They were: Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Alabama.

Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Arizona.

Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tennessee.

Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wisconsin.

Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-California.

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Alabama.

Rep. Ralph Norman, R-South Carolina.

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas.

Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Arizona.

Rep. Tom McClintock, R-California.

Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Montana.

Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky.

Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Georgia.

It would appear that all the “blind rage” against Congressman Garcia actually is “blind!” There is a “Mike” and also one whose last name begins with the letter “G” so I guess for some that’s close enough!

Rick Barker Valencia

You Are the Problem When it comes to the actions of some people in regard to this lethal virus, I want everyone to know…If you are not part of the solution, YOU ARE THE PROBLEM! I don’t care what your reasons are. If you were one of those who wouldn’t wear a mask, and still won’t, who resist getting vaccinated, then you are not my friend.

I see you as someone who is not willing to help protect me, not willing to help protect my family, not willing to help protect my neighbors, someone who is totally selfish and, because you won’t even protect yourself — incredibly stupid!

I do not personally know anyone like you and with any luck I never will — you will never be my friend!

Richard Myers Valencia Submit a Letter to the Editor

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

Mail to: Letters, The Signal, 26330 Diamond Place, Ste. 100, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.

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

Who’s Setting Society's Clock?

By David Hegg

S

everal events around the nation have led pundits and observers alike to label certain actions “unconscionable.” The word defines what is considered unreasonable, wrong, or unreasonably excessive. To engage in “unconscionable” activity is to go beyond the restraints of a reasonable person’s conscience. In today’s society it also is code for what someone considers reprehensible, dangerous and ultimately needing to be destroyed.

The assumption is that there is a “societal conscience” that sets the standard for what is reasonable behavior in our culture. To go against it is to act in a manner that is “unconscionable.” But this raises two essential questions: Who gets to define “conscience” and, more importantly, who gets to inform it?

Here’s my attempt to do so. First, the conscience is like an alarm clock. It acts on the information we put in. Like the clock, the human conscience simply acts according to the information it is given. You set the clock, you train the conscience, and both will act accordingly.

Second, given that a conscience needs to be “set,” what do we do when opposing world views attempt to “set" it, to input the necessary data? It is clear that a clash of world views is raging today between those who define “reasonable” as logical and aligned with propositional truth, and those who define it according to their desires.

We are watching our national conscience being hijacked and re-set by those so addicted to personal happiness and political power that they are brazenly replacing truth and integrity with spin and expediency. They are proclaiming politicized anti-science as actual science and declaring that those opposing their progressive ideology in many areas are on the wrong side of history.

But the truth is those who believe a mutilated biological male can become a female are on the wrong side of genetics. Those who insist one’s nature is determined by skin color are on the wrong side of both biology and psychology. Those who proclaim that the freedom of unrestrained sexual activity paves the road to happiness are on the wrong side of sociology, whose experts have proven that the erosion of the nuclear family is a primary cause of myriad personal and societal challenges. And those who have excised God from their world and are attempting to do so for the rest of us are not only ignorant of human religious history and the concept of religious pluralism.

More importantly, if they persist in their unbelief they will find themselves on the wrong side of God for all eternity.

Simply put, these progressive reformers are the weak minority masquerading as the powerful, intelligent forces to whom we must swear allegiance even as they work aggressively to “reset” our societal conscience, and cancel all who refuse to be reset. They champion their “woke” status but are actually hoping the rest of us stay asleep while they go about replacing reality with absurdity, our national honor with deep-seated self-condemnation, and our belief in God with the futility of believing we are only material beings, the product of chemical processes, devoid of an immaterial soul, and destined to live in a world where life sucks and then you die.

No thanks. I am on this Earth for something much better, much more useful and purposeful. I am here, and so are you, to build our beliefs on what is factual not fanciful, and to live out honorable values that benefit all rather than contribute to an ideology designed to radicalize and divide our citizenry.

Integrity dictates that those who recognize a problem should also present a possible solution.

Here’s mine. It will not be hard to reject and replace the aggressive and absurd ideology that human nature is determined by skin color — white, Black, or variations thereof — and that genetic sexuality can be authentically changed, that spending billions on a problem is actually a win even when the problem has increased exponentially, and that true freedom is found in replacing God with self. No, it will not be hard. We can do it if we will simply let our voices be heard en masse shouting, “The emperor has no clothes!”

For too long the reasonable masses have been afraid to say “he’s naked” for fear of being canceled.

But the truth is stark, and those who refuse to remain afraid and silent actually have the most power because truth is on our side. Truth will never be eclipsed, either by the opposition of its enemies, or the poor behavior of its friends. My prayer is that we — you and me — will never settle for a counterfeit narrative no matter how it is dressed up. And further, that we will not allow fear to overwhelm what our consciences know is good and right and essential to our well-being and that of our children and our children’s children.

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

Life will be different here There’s something special happening again in the Santa Clarita Valley. A new kind of community is taking shape. A place that believes in hopping on your bike and leaving the car in the garage. In taking care of nature and weaving its beauty into our everyday lives.

And in letting boundaries disappear, creating space for more moments of connection and joy.

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