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TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS FEATURES

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SENIOR LIVING

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FROM THE MAYOR

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4 Healthy foods right in front of us 5 Preparing your pet for a vacation 6 Artists look to keep the music alive

8 Keeping your mind sharp as you age 9 Temporary art with a lasting impression

ENTERTAINMENT 10 10 ‘Flag Day’ is raw, lovely and ‘heartbreakingly authentic’

FOOD 11 1 1 Get outside with these fresh grilled flavors Lamb meatball and veggie skewers Grilled lamb burgers

HEALTH AND BEAUTY

13 • Santa Clarita Signal Laemmle Theatres adsource@exhibitorads.com p. 888.737.2812 f. 203.438.1206 4.75” x 5.9” GARDENING 14 Ad insertion date: Sunday-Friday, August 29-September 3, 14 Vertical gardening to dress-up living spaces Ad creation/delivery date: Tuesday, August 24, 2021 at 10:23:56 AM CASCS_LEM0829-0903.qxp 13 Affordable skin care tips to battle outbreaks

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N E W S F E AT U R E

Healthy foods right in front of us all this time Fermented foods

By Kev Kurdoghlian Signal Staff Writer

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at healthy. It’s easier said than done.

A search for healthy food options online may lead to phrases like “superfoods,” “powerfoods” or something similarly

catchy.

Despite the label “superfood,” not all “superfoods” are super for you, said Natalie Dalessio-Gruneberg, a clinical registered dietitian at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. “’Superfoods’ is actually a marketing term. There is no science on the word ‘superfoods,’” said Dalessio-Gruneberg, who teaches nursing students about diet at College of the Canyons. “That being said, there are foods that are really good for you because of their components.”

Food like coconut oil, she said, end up on the “superfoods” list because of online influencers and misinformation on the internet.

“Coconut oil … is saturated fat and saturated fat we know … isn’t good for our arteries, especially if you’re talking to an older population, which is probably on statins and blood pressure medications and dealing with all kinds of other health issues,” said Natalie Dalessio-Gruneberg, a certified specialist in gerontological nutrition.

Dalessio-Gruneberg, a vegetarian for over three decades, recommends a plant forward diet.

“That doesn’t mean being vegetarian,” she explained. “It’s just adding more plants to your plate.

At least half of your plate should be plant-based.”

She said being plant forward has been shown to have a good impact on health, which is why it’s part of the top recommended diet by doctors, the Mediterranean diet.

“It doesn’t mean you eliminate your meats, you just eat less of them,” Dalessio-Gruneberg said, noting red meat has been implicated in the promotion of colon cancer. “And you eat more plants and bring in legumes and beans because they’re a good source of carbs and protein and also a really good source of fiber and minerals.”

Moderation is key, according to Dalessio-Gruneberg. She said no one should feel the need to give up any foods. Instead, each individual should identify the appropriate amount for them as it relates to their health conditions.

The following foods are super for your health:

Any of the colorful vegetables

“Any of the foods that are rich in color are really going to promote good health because they’re loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that help fight off disease,” Dalessio-Gruneberg said, recommending purple beet and cauliflower.

She said people are “bombarded with toxins throughout the day” from the air to the water.

“What happens is our body fights it off and free radicals are formed in the body, and they get out

Claudio Gill, owner Miramar Farms, displays organic broccolini and leafy green vegetables at the Old Town Farmers Market in Newhall in July. Experts agree that while you don’t need to eliminate greens, the more healthy plants are introduced into your diet, the better off you are. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

of control,” she explained. “That’s when cellular damage starts to happen. So that’s why it’s really important to include all these foods rich in antioxidant.”

Cacao

In other words, chocolate. But not any chocolate.

Anna Leszczynska, a registered dietician nutritionist at Kaiser Permanente, recommends chocolate that uses at least 65% cacao powder that’s good quality and high end.

“Cacao is a great source of antioxidants, mood enhancing and blood pressure lowering chemicals,” she said. “I encourage everyone to make yourself a cacao drink, which is just mixing cacao powder or cacao platelets with hot water.”

Unprocessed foods

Science is looking into the connection between inflammation and processed foods, according to Dalessio-Gruneberg.

When it comes to picked products, she said, it makes a difference where you buy them.

“You can get a box of berries that have been shipped say from Chile all the way here to LA, and they’ve lost all their nutrients along the way,” she said. “You get a box of berries from up the road on (Highway) 126 (or) at the farmers market on Sunday or Saturday, and you’re getting the biggest hit of nutrition that you can get from a picked product.”

Both Dalessio-Gruneberg and Leszczynska recommend blueberries.

“There (are) so many studies on blueberries,” said Leszczynska. “They (have) powerful benefits for cardiovascular health (and) for neuroprotection protection from dementia.”

Sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, miso, sourdough bread. There are a lot of good options here, but Leszczynska’s favorite is keifer, which she said is the most scientifically investigated of the fermented foods.

“It’s similar to yogurt, but it’s more powerful because it has more bacteria, beneficial yeast and other microorganisms,” she said, noting keifer — known as the “champagne of dairy” — help with constipation.

Larry McClements is vice president of operations at Achadinha Cheese Co., which makes keifer. He said it’s important to have the highest quality of the full fat dairy product.

“It’s just a lower quality dairy when your animals are kept in a feed lot or fed corn or soy,” he said.

“We’re a fourth-generation family dairy farm up in Petaluma. All of our animals are grass-fed. They’re pasture-raised. They live year-round there.”

McClements, who also runs the Old Town Newhall Farmers Market, said you can find keifer at the farmers market Saturday mornings. “(The owner of Achadinha) makes the product, a culture is added to the product, and then it’s allowed to ferment,” he said. “She strains it and after that it’s packaged up fresh every week and it’s to us in Santa Clarita. It’s literally hand-delivered by the owner of the dairy to me personally.”

Leafy greens and microgreens

“You can’t get enough of those,” Dalessio-Gruneberg said of leafy greens. “They’re great sources (Vitamin) A and C, calcium (and) fiber.”

She said that when lightly steamed, leafy greens like broccoli provide more nutrients than if they’re consumed raw.

“That light steam on foods that are rich in vitamin A — carrots, broccoli, spinach — that becomes more bioavailable to you,” she said.

Microgreens and sprouts contain higher concentrations of bioactive compounds compared to their mature counterparts, according to Leszczynska.

The edible seedlings of vegetables, microgreens are protective from cancer in addition to being anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory, she said.

What to do?

“Your state of health really dictates your nutrition,” said Dalessio-Gruneberg.

Nutrition is an evolving science, she said, but reducing animal-based products and increasing plant-forward products is a step in the right direction.

“Food should have pleasure. I mean it shouldn’t be so clinical that you have to evaluate every meal you eat,” she said. “But if you include all these kinds of wonderful foods, unprocessed, in your diet, you’re definitely on the right track.” 

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Tips for preparing to take your pet on a getaway

By Emily Alvarenga Signal Senior Staff Writer

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he weather is starting to cool down and places are opening up. What a great time to get away even if it is just an extended weekend trip.

Preparing for a trip can be stressful on its own, but for those with pets, it can seem like a daunting task.

When making travel decisions, be sure to first decide whether it’ll be best to bring your pet along for the journey. Unless you’ll be able to spend a lot of time with your dog, they’ll probably be more comfortable at home, and cats are almost always better off staying home.

If you’ve decided to bring your pet along, here are some tips to ensure a fun and safe trip.

Nancy Anderson, the founder of The Brittany Foundation, a nonprofit dog rescue, said traveling with pets is kind of like getting ready for an earthquake, meaning you need to ensure you’ve got all the essentials you need ready in case you can’t get back home.

Packing for your pet

The first step in creating your pet’s “emergency bag” is to be sure to have enough food and water available for them for the entire trip.

“Always make sure that they have the water that they are used to drink-

ing because water varies across states,” Anderson said.

Parasites in water could get your pet sick, so be sure to pack enough water, or plan to buy bottled water.

It’s also important to keep your pet’s food the same, as they might get an upset stomach from any changes, which would not be fun for them while on a trip, according to both Anderson and local vet Dr. Kathy Peters.

Peters and Anderson also both suggest taking some of the bedding your pet is used to, so they are comfortable.

“You certainly want to make the trip as familiar as possible, so they don’t get stressed out,” Anderson said.

“Don’t forget to pack your pet’s favorite toys as well — these will go a long way to making sure they’re staying happy,” Peters said.

Be sure to also verify that your pet not only has a collar and tag for identification with up-to-date information, but also that they are microchipped and that the chip is registered, Anderson and Peters said.

“Everybody carries their cell phone with them, so the best number (to go) on the tag would be a cell phone number,” Anderson added.

Don Belton, spokeswoman for Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control, also suggests making sure your pets are vaccinated, taking flea and tick preventive medication and have had a wellness exam

It is recommended that you bring an emergency bag of enough food and water to last for the entire trip. PHOTOS BY EMILY ALVARENGA / THE SIGNAL

within the past year.

If your pet takes any medications, don’t forget to pack those too, even if you don’t think they’ll need them during the trip.

“You also want to make sure you have some meds on hand in case they get sick,” Anderson said. “If they do get upset tummies or diarrhea, there are certain meds you can possibly get from the vet to take with you that takes care of bacteria or infection.”

Both Peters and Anderson agree that carrying some Benadryl can be useful in case your pet encounters a bee or simply to calm them down if they become stressed or anxious.

When packing, don’t forget to carry a working leash and walking vest so they will be comfortable when taking a walk in a new territory, according to Anderson. Belton agrees and added, “Make sure halters, collars and leashes are in good condition.”

Also, don’t forget to take into account the weather that you will be traveling to, Peters said. If your dog will be exposed to the elements, pack booties or paw wax if the temperatures

will be high, and a sweater if your pet is known to be cold, Peters added.

“When hiking or going out for walks, caution with the hot ground or pavement,” Belton said. “If it’s too hot for you to go barefoot, it’s too hot for them too.”

Choosing your method of transportation

When traveling with pets, it is always safer and most times cheaper to drive with them, according to Peters.

In cars, either travel with them in a crate or a restraint of sorts, Anderson, Peters and Belton agreed.

“Either put a crate in the car, so they are contained, or look for a little seat belt,” Anderson said. “And if you’re traveling alone with your dog, definitely strap them in.”

Cats should always travel in carriers as they aren’t typically comfortable in cars, Peters said.

“If they are going into a carrier, it’s important to restrain the carriers so that they can’t bounce around and hurt your animal,” Peters added.

See PETS, page 16

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AU G U S T 29, 2021

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Artists look to keep the music alive during quarantine

By Abbie DeMuth Signal Contributing Writer

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ryan Meyers settled into his worn drum stool as he prepared to record his solo music in his apartment bedroom. Mimicking a recording studio, his drum kit is decorated with recently purchased recording material, an investment he made during quarantine.

A countdown that will beep until it’s time to start recording chimes in the background, as Meyers prepares to play for a virtual audience he’ll never see. The music will be heard via an online platform, one of the few ways full-time musicians could share their music during the recent quarantine for COVID-19.

“As a musician, we essentially became jobless,” said Meyers, the drummer for Guilty Pleasure Makers.

By the second week of March 2020, live music was cancelled due public health protools from the Centers for Disease Control, aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19. Musicians were no longer able to perform for live audiences, causing significant financial strain on the music community.

While some attempted to host virtual concerts, others released original music online in attempts to make ends meet.

Here are some of the stories of how local musicians survived COVID-19: With an abundance of free time

Band members of Guilty Pleasure Makers, from left, Wes Styles, Bryan Meyers and Murv Douglas perform at Smokehouse on Main in Newhall. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

during the pandemic, Meyers released his original music on Bandcamp, an online music service that allows artists to sell and promote their music.

“As a musician, you are working hard to keep work in front of you and doing gigs. It becomes easy to put your own stuff on the back burner,” Meyers said. “It’s always a juggling act.”

Netflix binges. Recipe mastering.

Band member Bryan Meyers plays the drums for Guilty Pleasure Makers during a local show. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

Home improvement projects. Backgammon games against his wife.

These were the other activities that occupied Meyers during quarantine.

“Even though I was limited to what I could do during the shutdown, I wrote away. There’s no way I’m going to get up every morning and stare at my navel for half the day,” Meyers said. “If we are not going anywhere soon, what can I do?”

Eager to play live music during the shutdown, he organized neighborhood concerts for his apartment complex in Hollywood. For the first, which he called the Don’t Stand So Close to Me COVID Cookout, neighbors sat on patios and the courtyard grass to appreciate the live music, a rarity during the pandemic.

The Guilty Pleasure Makers consist of two other full-time musicians: bassist Murv Douglas and singer Wes Styles. Formed two years ago, the band performs classic rock, old school R&B, ’80s pop and ’90s music covers. The members met through the undeniable band chemistry after being hired together for different gigs.

As COVID-19 restrictions continue to loosen, Guilty Pleasure Makers

have begun playing live shows, including once a month at Smokehouse on Main in Newhall.

“We can tell people are appreciating seeing live music. When you don’t get to have something very often, you appreciate it,” Meyers said. “It’s been pretty cool to see people who engage with you more or make a point of going out to see you.”

The Band Lexington

Chris Baurer moved to California in 1989 to pursue music. After seeing the instability of the music business, he decided to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical business.

“It’s always been a distraction and a passion and the thing I would’ve most wanted to do with my life, but it didn’t make any sense to me from a business perspective,” Baurer said. “It was a high-risk, low-probability way of making a living.”

Baurer’s full-time job has allowed him to continue to play music with bands on evenings and weekends.

The 45-year-old musician is the vocalist and guitarist for The Band Lexington, a rock and country cover band.

During the last year, due to COVID-19, Baurer has seen first-

AU G U S T 29, 2021

hand how the instability severely impacted his fellow musicians who rely on their ability to perform.

“COVID might be an inconvenience because I don’t get to go out and play — and I just enjoy that as a musician,” Baurer said. “But we have seen some of our friends being negatively affected since they can’t make ends meet because that extra money is like having a second job.”

At the beginning of the pandemic, The Band Lexington had temporarily stopped practicing in-person due to the severity of COVID-19. The band members include singer and guitarist Rachel Botello, bassist Matt Manning and drummer Jim Sipotz.

Over the last 18 months, more individuals have learned to play instruments and formed bands, making live music extremely competitive, according to Baurer. With restrictions being lifted on restaurants, local bands are fighting to play at limited live venues in Santa Clarita. Baurer said they wanted the band to be as prepared as possible. In addition to music venues, Lexington has played venues like Wolf Creek Brewery in Saugus, and at community nonprofit events like the 2018 Walk for Life, which benefited the SCV Pregnancy Center.

Resuming band practices last summer, rehearsals would consist of physical distancing, constant disinfecting, and occasionally the singer would sing in a different room.

“Music is a distraction, if nothing else,” Baurer said. “It’s really important to not be glued to the news and do things that make us happy and keep us sane.”

Jeff Barber

Long-time musician Jeff Barber was eager to perform for a live audience again after trying his hand at virtual playing. Despite having virtual tip jars and advanced audio technology, Barber claimed that the connections formed during in-person playing cannot be replicated.

“It’s been so wonderful being able to play in front of people close to us and watch the joy in their faces while we are playing and dancing and singing along,” Barber said.

When he is not playing the drums, Barber is the Arts & Events Supervisor for the city and supervisor of The

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f you’re going out: The following guidelines were issued Thursday, Aug. 19, regarding attendance at an indoor event or restaurant dining: • requires all individuals aged 2 years and older, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a face mask in all indoor public settings and when attending outdoor “Mega Events” (outdoor events with more than 10,000 attendees).

While shows haven’t quite returned to the way they used to be, live music is back in the SCV, as evidenced by this recent performance by CJ Hockenbury and his band Ipsofakto at Impulse Music for the local store’s one-year anniversary. PHOTO BY BOBBY BLOCK / THE SIGNAL

MAIN, the city’s multi-use performing arts center. Santa Clarita followed state and LA County health orders and temporarily closed The MAIN last March. It was able to resume indoor performances and events starting June 15, 2021 according to Tori Rittenhouse, the city’s communication specialist.

Playing the drums for 46 years, Barber is currently a member of two bands: The Hell Toupees, an original punk project and Sick D, a Social Distortion tribute band.

“It was a weird scenario where we weren’t paying in front of people and now you have this opportunity to start doing it again. It’s new and fresh and musicians are excited to start playing in front of people again.”

The Snareheads

During the day, Mike Fitzgerald is a counselor at College of the Canyons.

At night, depending on the evening, he plays in one of several local bands.

“I’m lucky to have a day job,” Fitzgerald said. “A lot of musicians only depend on music and have been out of work for a year. Some of us with a day job were able to weather the

storm a little easier.”

A member of the band formerly known as The Snareheads, a popular, local cover band, Fitzgerald has continued to play music with other projects after The Snareheads weren’t able to weather the stress of the pandemic.

“It has been very hard to find even the motivation to practice,” Fitzgerald said. “The whole magical part of playing music is playing for other people and connecting with the people listening and the other people you are playing with.”

Fitzgerald is currently the drummer for The Off Knights, an R&B and soul band. He also plays in a reggae band, Splash Mob, and an acoustic duo, Billy and Mike.

“For those of us who absolutely love music, we can’t just sit around and do nothing. So, we will put together some new band and give it a silly name and try to get a gig,” Fitzgerald said. “Some of us get bit by the bug, and there’s no other fix than getting out and playing.” 

• Customers or guests who are actively eating or drinking indoors must be seated at a table or positioned at a stationary counter or place. “Actively eating or drinking” refers to the limited time when customers are permitted to briefly remove their mask to eat or drink, after which it must be immediately put back on. The customer must wear a mask whenever they are not actively eating or drinking, such as when they are waiting to be served, between courses or drinks, or while seated after finishing the food or drink.

• Updated to reflect the change to the State definition of “Indoor Mega Event” from 5,000 attendees or more to 1,000 attendees or more.

• Public Health recommends that for indoor dining, establishments require full vaccination of customers rather than a negative COVID-19 test result.

If you have any questions or concerns about the latest policies or protocols for events in L.A. County, visit: https://bit.ly/3kfKvmI.

A few venues with regular live music

(Check the venue’s website or social media for show times.)

Drifters Cocktails 18240 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country Smokehouse On Main 24255 Main St, Newhall Pocock Brewing Company 24907 Avenue Tibbitts, Suite B, Valencia The Canyon Santa Clarita 24201 Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita (part of Valencia Westfield Town) Wolf Creek Brewery 25108 Rye Canyon Loop, Santa Clarita 

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AU G U S T 29, 2021

SENIORLIVING

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eptember, which is World Alzheimer’s Month, is an excellent reminder to keep your mind and body healthy through the years. Experts say that doing so can reduce your risk for cognitive decline. Try taking on these new hobbies to keep your mind sharp as you age:

Cooking Not only can the development of a new complicated skill such as cooking improve cognitive functions like problem-solving and concentration, but having the ability to create your own nutritious meals at home has the added benefit of being good for brain health.

From TikTok tutorials to online classes taught by master chefs, today, there are more avenues for picking up culinary know-how than ever before.

Music Learning to play a musical instrument has countless benefits for brain health, helping improve memory, hand-eye coordination and more.

It’s also a mood booster, which is important, as depression is considered a risk factor for dementia.

Check out instruments designed to build skills quickly. Whether you’re a total novice or taking up the piano after a long hiatus, Casiotone Keyboards, for example, are portable, easy to use and connect to an app that features lessons and more.

Exercise The mind-body connection is strong. For ultimate brain health, stay physically active; and if you can do so outdoors, all the better.

Research suggests that connecting

with nature is good for one’s mental well-being, reducing stress, anxiety and depression.

Support your journey with tools that track your activity and inspire you to delve further into adventures, whether that be hiking, fishing or rock climbing.

The watches in the Pro Trek line feature Quad Sensor technology to provide you with temperature and barometric pressure so you can keep your eye on the weather conditions while out and about, as well as sunrise and sunset times, an app for anglers and much more.

Camaraderie Having an active social life can improve brain function. Unfortunately, if you aren’t proactive about it, there are not always that many opportunities to make new friends in adulthood.

Whether it’s a sewing circle or a bowling league, consider joining a club or team for camaraderie and fun.

Fast fingers Did you know that you can use your calculator to keep your mind engaged when there’s downtime or you’re on-the-go?

Calculator games can build math skills, improve memory and keep your mind nimble.

Just as it is important to maintain physical fitness as you age, it’s also critical to exercise your mind. Stay mentally active by trying new hobbies, building new skills and seeking out new experiences. (SPT) 

AU G U S T 29, 2021

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F R O M T H E M AY O R

Temporary art with a lasting impression

By Bill Miranda Santa Clarita City Mayor

A

rt of all forms exists in Santa Clarita. From the creation of blockbuster films to captivating art galleries, unique public art installations, original theater productions and more, our vibrant community is rich with opportunities to create and enjoy art. The art throughout the City tells you stories of Santa Clarita’s intriguing history and showcases the talents of artists both near and far. Whether you are traveling by foot, bike or vehicle, you are likely to encounter one or more of Santa Clarita’s beautiful public art pieces during your outing.

What local piece of art has made an impression on you? For me, it is the recently installed “Reaching Man” by Ron Whitacre at the Bouquet Creek Trailhead along Newhall Ranch Road. The expertly crafted, welded steel sculpture depicts a man with elongated, outstretched arms reaching towards the sky.

Whitacre drew inspiration for this particular piece from the grace and movement of dancers, acrobats, musicians and goddesses. Much

of his work evokes a similar feel of balance, power and grace as well. “Reaching Man” has already captured the attention of so many residents driving along Newhall Ranch Road and the attention of those enjoying a walk on the nearby trail.

This art installation is a part of the Temporary Trailhead Public Art Project — a mustsee in our community, and I urge each of you to make time to visit.

“Reaching Man” by Ron Whitacre is one of four original art pieces featured in the City’s Temporary Trailhead Public Art Project. The other artworks include “Steel Breeze” by Dev Harlan at Plum Canyon Park, “Growing Wings” by Hilde DeBruyne at the South Fork Trail and “Sunrise” by Patricia Vader on the San Francisquito Creek Trail.

The Arts Commission approved each unique sculptural piece to be installed and remain on display in Santa Clarita for the next three years.

I am thankful for our warmer weather, picturesque landscape and overall safe community that allows each of us to explore the outdoors for leisure and exercise. The plentiful

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and intriguing public art located throughout Santa Clarita’s parks, trails and open space only adds to the lure of getting outside.

Take an evening stroll past the temporary sculptures, stop by for pictures with friends or simply enjoy the pieces in solitude. Lack of time should not be an excuse because you have three years to visit each!

These temporary pieces join popular existing works such as our Art Bears, Sidewalk Poetry, the Inertia mural by Miguel A. Del Real at the Santa Clarita Skate Park and many more.

The list of public art opportunities in our City will only continue to grow with the upcoming opening of the new Canyon Country Community Center and the various new art pieces featured throughout the site.

Stay tuned and discover all the art opportunities in Santa Clarita by visiting SantaClarita Arts.com.

Mayor Bill Miranda is a member of the Santa Clarita City Council and can be reached at bmiranda@santa-clarita.com. The views expressed in his column are those of the City and do not necessarily reflect those of The Signal. 

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AU G U S T 29, 2021

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

‘Flag Day’ is raw, lovely and ‘heartbreakingly authentic’

By Richard Roeper Signal Contributing Writer

‘Flag Day’



(out of four) United Artists presents a film directed by Sean Penn and written by Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth, based on the book “Flim-Flam Man” by Jennifer Vogel. Rated R. In theaters.

E

arly on in the raw and lovely and sometimes heartbreakingly authentic “Flag Day,” a man is driving with his family down a winding country road in the middle of the night. While the man’s wife and son are sleeping, he perches his 11-year-old daughter on his lap and says it’s time for her to learn how to drive.

It looks like we’re going to have one of those sepia-toned, dripping-in-nostalgia, Americana moments — but then the man announces he’s going to take a nap, and he does just that, leaving his terrified daughter to take the wheel on her own.

This guy isn’t some colorful, larger than life, 20th-century dad. He might well think of himself that way, but he’s a stone-cold sociopath.

Every five years or so, Sean Penn directs a film, with the highlights including “The Crossing Guard” (1995), “The Pledge” (2001) and “Into the Wild” (2007).

His style favors Terrence Malick and his interests turn toward deliberately paced character studies about deeply flawed individuals caught up in troubling, sometimes deadly circumstances.

In “Flag Day,” Sean Penn directs himself for the first time and has cast Dylan Penn, his daughter with Robin Wright, as the lead — and the two are absolutely mesmerizing together, beautifully capturing the enormously complicated dynamic between a con man of a father who rolls out of bed with a fresh set of lies ready to go every morning, and an emotionally broken and bruised daughter who knows her dad is a walking bundle of disappointment but wants to believe that this time — this one time — he really has changed.

Set mostly in the 1970s and 1980s, and filmed in a style reminiscent

PHOTO COURTESY IMDB

of character-driven gems from that period, “Flag Day” is based on journalist Jennifer Vogel’s 2005 memoir “Flim-Flam Man: The True Story of My Father’s Counterfeit Life.”

In the mid-1970s, Sean Penn’s John Vogel and his wife, Patty (Katheryn Winnick, from “Vikings” and “Big Sky”), are living in Minnesota with their two young children, 6-yearold Jennifer (Addison Tymec) and 4-year-old Nick (Beckam Crawford) in a house John bought on credit — a house filled with the sounds of fighting and anger as John’s get-rich-quick schemes never pan out, while Patty crawls inside a bottle.

When John finally leaves for good, things get so bad with Patty and her drinking and depression that Jennifer and Nick eventually go to live with their father and his young girlfriend, Debbie (Bailey Noble).

For one fleeting summer, things are mostly good, as evidenced in a sweet scene where John, who loves classical music, is mortified but then tickled when Debbie puts on “Night Moves”

by Bob Seger and dances with the kids under the stars.

But then it’s time for the kids to go back home and for John to get mixed up in more trouble of his own making.

When we flash-forward to the early 1980s, Dylan Penn is now playing the teenage Jennifer, and her brother, Hopper, is playing Nick in a much smaller role. Jennifer is a goth teen who’s self-medicating with all manner

of drugs and is constantly at odds with her mother — and when Mom’s horror show of a live-in boyfriend sexually assaults Jennifer and her mother chooses denial, Jennifer sets off to live with her father.

They’ll fix each other. That’s Jennifer’s plan. She’ll get clean and take a job and maybe even go back to school, and he’ll find work in the straight world and stop with all the shady nonsense.

You can imagine how that pans out.

Real-life father and daughter are brilliant together even as they employ very different acting styles, with Dylan staying mostly in a lower key while Sean goes as big as he’s ever gone, and we know that’s some big-time raging. It makes sense, though, because the story is being told through Jennifer’s prism — she provides the voice-over narration, and this is really her story — and it would stand to reason she would view her father, fatal flaws and all, as this exaggerated, tragic character.

In the final passages that come full circle with the film’s prologue, Jennifer is in her 20s and working for the Minneapolis alternative paper City Pages, and John has done a long stretch in prison for robbing a bank.

One day Jennifer looks out the window of the newspaper’s offices and there’s her father, paroled and freshly groomed and hoping against hope she’ll talk to him for the first time in years, even though he doesn’t deserve that after a lifetime of letdowns.

Of course, we know Jennifer is going to come down the stairs and open the door one more time -- and the prologue already told us it’s not going to end well. All we can do is hope Jennifer has reached a place where the lies and the cons can’t hurt her anymore.

‘Reminiscence’



Warner Bros. presents a film written and directed by Lisa Joy. Rated PG-13 In theaters and on HBO Max.

I

t’s “The Maltese Falcon” meets “Inception” somewhere in the “Vanilla Sky” on the way to “Chinatown” in the inventive and ambitious but wildly convoluted and ultimately disappointing sci-fi

noir “Reminiscence,” which careens this way and that, and this way and THAT, before running off the rails.

The talented writer-director Lisa Joy is a prime creative force behind HBO’s “Westworld,” and she clearly knows this territory, and there are moments of breathtaking beauty and fascinating weirdness in Joy’s feature directorial debut, but the screenplay veers down so many different pathways and never quite comes together, all the way to a coda that should pack an emotional punch but feels tackedon and underwhelming.

Hugh Jackman’s Nick Bannister provides the gravel-voiced narration for a story set in near-future Miami (and later New Orleans,) some years after an unspecified global war left the citizenry literally knee-deep in water, as most of the streets are now canals, and it’s also so unbearably hot that virtually everyone sleeps all day and nothing ever happens until after sunset.

While serving in the military, Nick pioneered an interrogation technique by which he would attach a device to the subject’s cranium, immerse them in some sort of water-based solution and turn up the dials on a device that would allow Nick to access their memories. These days, Nick and his partner, Watts (Thandiwe Newton), a former sharpshooter who served with Nick and has a serious drinking problem, have turned the device into a thriving business for miserable Miamians who make regular visits so they can access their favorite memories, as the machine makes them feel as if they’re inside the moment for the very first time. Pretty neat trick.

One night after closing, a ravishing redhead named Mae (Rebecca Ferguson, who co-starred with Jackman in “The Greatest Showman”) comes knocking and says she lost her keys and is hoping for a quick session so she can figure out where she left them. “Call a locksmith,” says Watts, who sizes up this dame and sees her for the femme fatale she surely is — but from the moment Nick sets eyes on Mae, he’s a goner. Suddenly our gruff and damaged loner is making his own memories, falling in love with this mysterious nightclub croonSee Reminiscence, page 12

AU G U S T 29, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 1

Get outside with these fresh grilled flavors

W

hen bright, sunny days offer opportunities to take it outside for a celebration or casual weeknight dinner, take advantage with the fresh flavors of grilled fare. Good food and good company can combine for a meal to remember with loved ones while enjoying the outdoors.

Try taking your grilling game to the next level with Atkins Ranch grass fed ground lamb - available at Whole Foods Market - for lean, delicate flavor perfect for burgers, skewers, meatballs and sausages. Grass fed lamb is a versatile option that’s easy to cook, even on the grill - simply treat it the way you would beef.

If you’re new to cooking lamb, consider these Grilled Lamb Burgers that showcase 100% grass-fed lamb topped with a light herb salad, sliced tomato and yogurt sauce on a brioche bun. Or you can combine a robust herb dipping sauce with Lamb Meatball and Veggie Skewers for a customizable meal hot off the grates.

Visit Take-It-Outside.AtkinsRanch. com for more grilling inspiration.

(Family Features) 

Lamb Meatball and Veggie Skewers with Herb Sauce Total time: 1 hour, 30 minutes Yield: 6 skewers 6 wooden skewers 1 pound Atkins Ranch ground lamb 2 large eggs 2/3 cup Italian breadcrumbs 1 teaspoon olive oil 1/2 cup finely minced yellow onion 1 clove minced garlic 1/4 teaspoon coriander seeds, crushed 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper, to taste 1 medium red onion, cut into 1-inch stacks 1 medium green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch stacks 1 medium red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch stacks

Herb Sauce:

1/4 cup microgreens 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 teaspoon lemon zest 2 teaspoons olive oil 4 brioche buns 1 medium tomato, sliced into rounds Gently divide lamb into four parts, 6 ounces each, and shape into rounds slightly larger than buns. Place covered in refrigerator, 1 hour.

Grilled Lamb Burgers

Total time: 1 hour, 20 minutes Servings: 4 1 1/2 pounds Atkins Ranch ground lamb 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt Spread: 2/3 cup full-fat Greek yogurt 1 clove raw garlic, grated 1/3 cup mayonnaise 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Salad:

1 small English cucumber, thinly sliced 2 green onions, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill

FOOD

To make yogurt sauce: In small bowl, mix yogurt, garlic, mayonnaise and Dijon mustard; refrigerate until ready to assemble burgers.

To make salad: In medium bowl, mix cucumber, onions, parsley, mint leaves, dill, microgreens, lemon juice, lemon zest and olive oil; refrigerate until ready to assemble burgers.

Preheat grill to medium-high heat with direct and indirect zones. Salt patties then add to grill, cooking about 6 minutes on each side until internal temperature reaches 150 F. As patties near this temperature, or start to brown, move to indirect zone to regulate doneness. Transfer to plate and let rest about 5 minutes.

To build burgers, add dollop of yogurt spread to bottom buns. Top each with tomato slice, lamb burger, herb salad and top bun. 

1 cup flat leaf parsley 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary leaves, minced 2 tablespoons capers 1 lemon, juice only 2 cloves garlic 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

grilled Italian bread, for serving Soak skewers in water 10 minutes.

In large bowl, break apart ground lamb; add whisked eggs and breadcrumbs.

In small saute pan, add olive oil then saute yellow onion, garlic clove, coriander seeds, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper, to taste, about 5 minutes, until onion is translucent and spices are fragrant. Add to bowl with lamb. Mix until combined and form into roughly 1 1/2-ounce balls.

Add meatballs to skewers, alternating with onions and peppers. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour to ensure meatballs hold together during grilling.

To make herb sauce: In immersion blender, blend parsley, rosemary, capers, lemon juice, garlic and olive oil until smooth. Refrigerate until serving.

Preheat grill to medium-high heat.

Grill skewers about 3 minutes on each side, or until meatballs reach 150 F internal temperature. Rest 5 minutes. Serve with dipping sauce and grilled Italian bread. 

1 2 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

AU G U S T 29, 2021

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

REMINISCENCE

Continued from page 10

er who all too conveniently walked into his life, almost as if she had an agenda of her own.

The special effects in “Reminiscence” are pretty spectacular, whether we’re swooping over the waterlogged city or watching Nick’s clients enter their memories via a circular staging area. (Nick and Watts can actually see what their customers are experi-

encing.) Things remain interesting when Nick is summoned by the D.A. to use his machine to access the memories of possible suspects. But then the coincidences start piling up, and we’re plunged into convoluted subplots involving a land baron and his apparently insane wife and his sniveling son, AND the land baron’s mistress, with whom he also has a son, and there’s this crime kingpin who peddles a highly addictive new drug, and a nasty enforcer who was

nearly burned to death for skimming from his boss and is now on a mission to kill Nick, for reasons far too complicated to explain. Whew!

By this point, Mae has disappeared, and our poor sap Nick is obsessed with finding out what happened to her, even as Watts keeps telling him to let it go, because Mae was nothing but trouble and most likely a scam artist, and come on, Nick, can’t you see Watts is obviously in love with you?

She’s way cooler than that sketchy

Mae, anyway. Every time “Reminiscence” brings in a new character or introduces another wrinkle, the plot becomes that much more tangled, to the point where we’re ready for Nick to just shut down that damn machine and live in the moment. Even when it’s blazing hot and the taxis are now water taxis, there’s a lot going on in dystopian Miami. 

Copyright 2020 Chicago Sun-Times

AU G U S T 29, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 3

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

Affordable skin care tips to battle breakouts, acne

M

illions of Americans of all ages are affected by acne and it’s easier and more affordable to treat than you may think.

“An easy, affordable routine can be just as effective as prescription medications or pricey treatments,” says Erica Suppa, founder of Fresh Faced Skin Care.

As Suppa notes, breakouts can be caused by almost anything: excess sweat, makeup, supplements, hormones and “maskne” (acne caused by wearing a mask). Acne lives in your upper layers of skin for 90 days and you need to exfoliate those layers away gently and gradually.

To treat acne and help with aging, Suppa suggests this routine: Cleanse Cleanse skin gently to detoxify, fight bacteria, reduce breakouts and calm redness. To do so without depleting natural moisture, consider Fresh Faced Purifying Bar. Clay-based, it doesn’t strip oil and is

spots, use a moisturizer containing niacinamide or vitamin C, such as Fresh Faced Skin Care’s Enrich Moisturizer.

suitable for all skin types.

Exfoliate Skin cells fall off during the day and you need to prevent them from combining with oil in your pores and forming a plug.

Gently exfoliate your skin with products that include ingredients to dissolve dead skin. This also helps to firm skin and prevent breakouts.

Look for products that contain mandelic acid to dissolve dead skin cells and stimulate new cells, as well as lactic acid to stimulate collagen renewal and fade unwanted pigmentation.

Fresh Faced Skin Care’s Clarity Serum gently dissolves dead skin cells to firm and smooth skin, prevent breakouts and minimize pores for clearer and brighter skin.

Moisturize There’s no need to consider age or complexion when choosing the right moisturizer. You need only consider your skin type.

Moisturize twice daily to balance your skin’s oil and water content. For oily skin, select water-based products.

(Look for water in the top five ingredients.) One good choice is Balance Moisturizer from Fresh Faced Skin Care. If you have combination or dry skin without breakouts, select a moisturizer based on your main skin concern. For example, to lighten dark

Protect Beyond sun protection, sunscreen helps prevent acne scarring from remaining visible and slows signs of aging. Select a sunscreen that doesn’t contain chemical ingredients. Calming Protection SPF40 from Fresh Faced Skin Care is great for sensitive, red and irritated skin and rosacea. Tinted Facial Protection SPF40 on the other hand, is good for darker skin tones.

When it comes to your routine, Suppa says simplicity is the key. This is why she created the Fresh Faced Clear Skin Essentials kit. This easy, three-step skin care routine (cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize) addresses the root cause of all types of acne and breakouts. For more skin care tips, visit freshfacedskincare.com.

(BPT) 

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AU G U S T 29, 2021

GARDENING

Vertical gardening to dress-up living spaces

By Jane Gates Signal Staff Writer

A

useful concept in the world of gardening is to build up instead of out. You can create a garden that climbs up walls, sprays across a solid fence or creates a painting on vertical panels covered with decorative plants.

Living walls are also excellent ways to add layers of natural insulation and to add colorful growth in spaces ordinarily too small to sustain a typical flat garden. You can turn a dull wall into something eye-caching to absorb heat on a sunny vertical surface or to make a handy herb or vegetable garden right next to the kitchen.

Using planted panels is an adaptation of the more common ways of growing plants to cover vertical surfaces, like hedges, espaliers or tall,

narrow garden areas. Panel gardens are grown in grids of individual containers fabricated to be hung on a wall. They are irrigated from the back, allowing water to drain downward with gravity. As a result there is little water waste. And done right, these gardens offer a decorative statement that can be used both indoors and out.

Build your own vertical garden or have yours designed and/or constructed for you.

The watering system is made of tubing that waters each of the drainable, felt-like, natural-fiber pockets built to hold soil and plant roots. The whole thing can come as a big sheet of pockets or can be installed as separate sections.

Whatever design or material you use make sure you include an efficient waterproof lining between the planting framework and the supporting wall. You do not want water seeping into your house or any other dry structure.

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Walls can be planted with exotic plants in protected areas. Hang cascading flowering plants, lush green foliage, drought-tolerant plants or even raise edibles. Imagine picking a dangling strawberry, snapping off a few tasty beans or popping a cherry tomato into your mouth as you pass by your vertical garden!

In our hot sun, you can take advantage of this form of gardening to turn a hot, sunny wall into a decorative wall hanging of living, sun-tolerant plants using small-growing plants like colorful succulents.

The concept of vertical gardening is not new and has been used for centuries by simply growing vines over fencing or trellising climbers up walls. Steep hillsides have been held in place by cast cement blocks or natural stone with the gaps planted so roots keep soil from leaking out while adding a decorative effect. Technically, most plants grow vertically toward the sun, but these multi-container, living wall solutions were developed to hang an artistically plantable area directly on a flat, upright surface.

Vertical panel systems are modular and can be stacked or hung. This way many small plants can be planted close together, designs can be patterned into the flat surface, and even edibles like small-growing vegetables and fruits can be successfully grown on the upright surface.

You can even create a living wall on wheels that can be rolled into different locations to partition off separate spaces in an outdoor room or patio. Or, create a conversation piece by growing a panel on a well-lit wall indoors. Consider having a vertical

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herb garden in or near the kitchen to conveniently snip off fresh herbs. Or maybe you’d like to hang a real painting of plants on the wall over your sofa. Use your imagination to see where a vertical panel garden could enhance your living space.

If you construct your own living wall, you can place it to suit the plants you want to grow. Or do it in reverse, so the outdoor plants you grow can mediate temperatures that are impacting your home inside. This might be a decorative or practical solution for blocking sun from overheating a south or west facing wall. Just be sure you select the right kind of plants for the exposure or the right exposure for the plants you choose.

Most vertical gardens come with drainage systems already installed.

If you want to construct your own, think of building a frame that will include individual planting areas, drip lines into each soil pocket/pot and either a tray below or drainage tubing to conduct away excess water.

If you are interested in a gardening project that will be interesting and different, consider putting together your own lovely, ecological, living panel wall. Then use it for décor, natural insulation or to fill in a small or awkward place that will really benefit from a garden that grows up instead of out.

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

AU G U S T 29, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 5

HOME

Personalize any space with custom-designed wallpaper (StatePoint) In case you missed it, wallpaper has made a comeback in the interior design world.

This is for good reason. Today, there are literally millions of designs from which to choose. Not only that, new types of wallpaper can make application and removal easier than ever.

Need a little inspiration? The world’s largest custom, print-on-demand fabric, wallpaper and home decor digital marketplace, Spoonflower, recently challenged home decorating bloggers to “facelift” a small space using wallpaper. Having successfully completed their updates, these DIY-ers are sharing tips and insights for enhancing your own spaces: • Create a focal point. Bethany Sy, the blogger behind Reality Day Dream, who enhanced the wall behind her mantel with wallpaper says, “A little color and pattern can create the perfect focal point in any room.”

• Think beyond walls: With a little creativity, wallpaper doesn’t just have to be for walls, you can use it to update furniture too. Take a cue from Victoria Ford, the Prepford Wife blogger who recently refreshed an old dresser with the Bee Life Toile wallpaper designed by independent artist, Lucinda Wei. “This dresser has lived many lives in our homes and it was time for it to get a little update

with a design that was irresistible and perfectly on brand,” says Ford.

• Complement your current style: As Ashley Dusing of Our 1917 Farmhouse notes, wallpaper can be paired with any room’s current design elements to enhance its overall style. “We selected a wallpaper with a vintage style to complement our mid century bedroom decor and offer a bold pop of color. It was everything this bedroom (turned office space) needed.”

• Consider your needs: Before selecting wallpaper, think about your home decorating habits.

For example, Spoonflower offers three wallpaper

options: Prepasted Removable Smooth wallpaper, Peel and Stick Removable wallpaper and Non-Pasted Traditional Pebble wallpaper. If you love to mix things up every year or every season, Charlotte Smith of At Charlotte’s House says peel and stick is the way to go. She recently wallpapered the fireplace surround in her family room, but already has sights on the future. “I used removable peel and stick wallpaper so I can easily change things up in a year or two if I want a different vibe.”

When redesigning your space with wallpaper, consider shopping with a company that supports independent artists, such as Spoonflower, which connects artists and makers with consumers in the creative economy, and pays a commission to an independent artist with every purchase. With over one million unique designs available and the ability to upload your own design, you can easily use wallpaper to create your own signature style at home.

To learn more or to shop styles, visit spoonflower. com.

Whether you wallpaper an entire room, create an accent wall or revamp a piece of furniture, adding style and personality to your interior spaces can be easy with this impactful DIY project. (SPT) 

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1 6 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

AU G U S T 29, 2021

N E W S F E AT U R E

PETS

Continued from page 5

Even if you’re traveling alone, be sure to keep your pets in the back seats, both Anderson and Peters said.

“Just like for children, if an airbag deploys while your pet is in the passenger seat, even if they’re in a crate, it could injure them,” Peters said.

No matter which method you decide on, you still must be as prepared as possible, Anderson said.

That being said, you need to get your pet used to the car and desensitize them and used to crates as well.

If flying with your pet is the only or best option, first find out if they can travel in the cabin with you, Peters said.

“Most airlines will let you take a small cat or dog with you in the cabin for a fee, but it has to be planned well in advance because not all flights allow this,” Peters added.

Many airlines have specific regulations when it comes to allowing animals on the flights, so the first step is to call the airline you plan on flying with to find out what those are, she said.

If your pet is too big to fly in the cabin and must fly in the hold, your best bet is to ensure a direct flight when possible and to be sure to travel on the same flight as your pet, according to Peters.

“Don’t forget to take the temperature into account and work with the airline to pick flights in the early morning or late evening in the summer

RR

Praia is excited to start her new adventure. PHOTOS BY EMILY ALVARENGA / THE SIGNAL

months, even if they’re more expensive,” she said.

During the trip

When traveling, try to keep your pet’s routine as normal as possible, especially their eating habits, Anderson said.

You should also stop frequently to give your pet plenty of breaks to stretch their legs and go to the bathroom, Peters said.

When possible, it’s also a good idea to bring

along a buddy to help care for your pet, so you can get food or use the bathroom yourself while knowing someone is keeping an eye on them, Peters added.

Don’t forget, it’s too hot out to leave your pets in the car as they, too, suffer from heatstroke in as little as six minutes, Belton said. Anderson suggests leaving the air conditioning on if you absolutely must leave them in the car. 

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AU G U S T 29, 2021

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

Like blowing bubbles? Try a bubble card water, two to three tablespoons paint and one tablespoon detergent. Or, add paint to the bubble-blowing solution.

By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer

I

f your young kids and grandkids like blowing bubbles, they’ll love this activity. When the colored bubbles dry on construction paper, they will become the eye-catching background for one-of-a-kind artwork.

2. Place a straw in the mixture and blow into the straw to create colored bubbles billowing over the edge of the container. Remove the straw.

Here’s the stuff you’ll need: Pie pan or wide-mouth cup Liquid poster paint Liquid dishwashing detergent and water, or commercial bubble blowing solution Markers or crayons White or light-colored construction paper or cardstock Drinking straws Paper to cover worktable

Joshua Adam’s blows a mixture of bubble solution and poster paint to create a bubble-art greeting card.

PHOTO BY DONNA ERICKSON

Here’s the fun: 1. Cover your work surface with newspaper or butcher paper. In the pie pan or cup, stir together 1 cup

3. Fold a piece of construction paper in half to form a card, or use the front of the card on top of the bubbles and hold it in place until several colored bubbles have popped and transferred their shapes onto the paper. Continue the process with different colors, if you wish. Set aside to dry. (If the bubble prints are not as dark as you’d like, add more paint to the mixture and blow again.)

4. Use markers to add drawings to the dried bubble prints, such as a jet flying through the bubble “clouds” for a “Bon Voyage” card. Write a message inside the card and sign it. Tuck into

an envelope for a unique greeting or summer thank-you note to a friend or relative.

NOTE Remind children to be careful not to suck on the straw when blowing the bubble solution. If you clip two holes about halfway down the straw, children will be less able to suck in the bubbles.

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

AU G U S T 29, 2021

CROSSWORD TIME

AU G U S T 29, 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

'America Is Back,' Not so Much Joe Biden loudly proclaimed: “America is back” to other G-7 leaders during their meeting on Feb. 19. A mere six months later those same world leaders no longer trust us and our enemies mock us. Joe Biden’s gross incompetence in the slow moving tragedy that is unfolding in Afghanistan makes Jimmy Carter’s — another Democrat — bungling of the Iranian hostage crisis look like sheer genius.

Max Morgan Valencia

The Problem with Mascots For weeks now I have read of the impending demise (or “retirement”) of the Hart High School mascot, the Indian. I have read articles written by longtime local residents deriding the William S. Hart Union High School district and its board members for their cowardice in the face of (insert name of current political fad or social movement). The Indian has been Hart High School’s mascot since 1945. It symbolizes bravery in the face of overwhelming odds, but there are those who feel strongly against any further exploitation of this noble race. Even though I am not one to be swayed by public opinion or motivated by political correctness (i.e., I’m not an elected official and I don’t care if I hurt people’s feelings), even I can see a problematic aspect to this mascot thing... but on a much grander scale.

Using Native American monikers to symbolize or reflect the skills, abilities, qualities or values of a non-Native American team of players does seem a bit odd. For one thing, we’re not Indians.

Also, why would anyone want to be known for having the qualities and values of the race that their ancestors hated and butchered into near extinction? That’s just weird. But while we’re on the topic of mascots, names and symbols, I would pose the question from a significantly different perspective — why do you even need them?

Shouldn’t your reputation, and thus your identity, be reflected by your very behavior (i.e., they know who you are because they remember what you did to them the last time they played you), or is that just a bit too esoteric for the players and fans of something as primitive and physical as field sports? (I’m certain to get hate mail for that one.) Do you really need a mascot and a moniker to remind you of who and what you are? Are you that forgetful or doubtful of it? Isn’t the mere name of your school enough for you (i.e., Hart vs. Saugus, plain and simple)?

Let’s look on the bright side. Perhaps this is a good opportunity for us to evolve beyond our primitive past and stop hiding behind stuffed animals and totem poles. You don’t need a mascot, or even a name, to kick the opposing team’s ass on the field. All you need is the ability to do it as a team, and I am not aware of anything that demonstrates that better than the action itself — which, by the way, speaks far louder than words.

Arthur Saginian Santa Clarita Submit a Letter to the Editor

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

So What if it's Hard? Do it!

By David Hegg

B

y nature, we choose the easy way. This used to be described as the way of least resistance, but increasingly we could label it the way of greatest convenience. We are fast becoming a people whose first desire is personal comfort and convenience. We want to get what we want, and enjoy it, with the least amount of effort or resources expended.

More and more the benefit of intentionally choosing to do something hard is being lost. We want the most return for the least investment. We want to work less while making more, and dream about the days when we can do nothing while our previous investments produce a steady revenue stream.

Apparently, the American Dream has ceased to be about building a better society for those who come after us. Now it is all about getting all we can, as easily as we can, and as soon as we can, so we can spend the rest of our lives living for ourselves. But we are blind to the fact that character, and much we honor in terms of virtue, come only through the furnace of trial, and on the anvil of hard work.

Ironically, much of our leisure time is spent watching professional athletics.

The irony here is that the most successful athletes are the ones who have, for years, chosen to do the hard things. They are the ones who are in the weight room daily, who choose a greatly restricted diet, who stay longer in practice, fire up more practice shots, run longer, do more sit-ups, and have established a commitment to do the hard things so that they can best those who opted to do less.

Somehow that gets missed by the audience. We see them as doing very little in contrast to what they receive, but the reality is that they have long chosen to do hard things.

Back in 2008 two teenagers – Alex and Brett Harris – wrote a book focused on their fellow teens in America. They subtitled their book “A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations.” In it, they called on the youth of America to intentionally choose to

do hard things so as to build the character necessary to be well-rounded contributors to society.

I love the book but am saddened that such a call was necessary.

Apparently, as adults who crave convenience and live for leisure, we are passing along that worldview to our kids. We aren’t building them to persevere through trial, to choose the difficult road if it is the best option. Sadly, a couple teens needed to set us all straight. But now, 13 years later, the message just hasn’t caught on.

The simple truth is that, more often than we want to admit, the right thing is the hard thing. And more importantly, the strength of character that doing the hard, right thing will demand isn’t built in a moment.

It comes from choosing to do hard things every day in order to build up our strength of will and virtue.

We simply have to be the master of our own wills, emotions and dreams. And that will take a kind of personal discipline that is hard at first. When the body wants to sleep, the hard thing is to get up and get going.

When the mind wants to veg, the hard thing is to make a plan and get something accomplished. When the heart wants to hate, the hard thing is to restrain the anger in the name of love, and when the eyes want to turn away from those in need, the hard thing is to retrain them to see beyond the appearance to the fact that here is a fellow human being that we can help.

Doing the hard things doesn’t come naturally, or easily. Then again, character doesn’t either. Character and virtue grow as they are opposed by circumstances, but forced by our will to stand firm. Taking the easy way only sets us up to be run over when something really hard comes along.

Take the challenge: Do a few things every day that you know are good, but that you’d rather not do. Nourish your soul with hard things and we’ll all be better off for it in the long run.

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

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