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J U LY 14, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NEWS FEATURES

LOCAL NEWS

4 5 6 7

Newhall resident searching for kidney donor Castaic musician earns encore at Juilliard Santa Clarita Valley skate parks offer summer fun Glowhouse looks to grow gaming in SCV

9 Deputies arrest man after dog killed in Canyon Country Myles Garrett: Saugus athlete turned West Point cadet 10 Engineers offer closer look at road extension Detectives seek info in identifying massage parlor robbery suspect 11 A heart of bronze: local Junior Girl Scout wins highest honor 12 Crews respond to Castaic incident dubbed the Guard Rail Fire Supes approve motion to boost fire response

BUSINESS

FROM THE CITY MAYOR

FOOD

SPORTS

THINGS TO DO

DINING GUIDE ENTERTAINMENT

19 22

KIDS & FAMILY

13 Santa Clarita looks to expand high-speed internet options 14 Celebrating three decades of Concerts in the Park 15 Michele makes … summer salads 16 Pfeiffer earns First Team All-CIF nod 17 Rafting adventures on California’s rivers 22 Sounds of U2 coming to Canyon Santa Clarita 23 Movie Reviews: ‘Toy Story 4’ and ‘Yesterday’ 24 What every family should know about childhood development

How parents can build strong relationships with their children’s coaches

25 Donna’s Day: Friendship bracelets are a summer classic Make kids’ bedtime a breeze

CALENDAR HOME IMPROVEMENT

26 27

HEALTH

SENIOR LIVING

PROFILE

ART & DESIGN

TRAVEL

TIME RANGER GARDENING

34 35

OPINION

PUZZLES VILLAGE IDIOT

41 42

27 Electrical advice and below-ground leaks 28 Are antibiotics recommended before dental work? 29 How to travel even if you have limited mobility 30 Philanthropy earns Ingram ‘Woman of the Year’ 32 The art of buying art for your home How to create an eye-catching gallery wall 33 Picture perfect time in Page, Arizona 35 Fairy gardens add a touch of whimsy to your garden 39 Our View • David Hegg • Tim Whyte

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Richard Budman Perry Smith Tim Whyte Brad Lanfranco Doña Uhrig Karen Bennett • Abner Gutierrez

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4 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J U LY 14, 2019

N E W S F E AT U R E S

Newhall resident searching for kidney donor By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

car accident is almost never thought of as a “good thing,” and it wasn’t for Newhall resident Valerie Day, either — at first. In 2009, Day was in a very bad car accident. Her airbag didn’t deploy, so her head hit the dashboard, causing a traumatic brain injury, which essentially ended her career as a businesswoman. “I used to be in a whole different world in life,” she said. “I didn’t know my life was going to stop … It’s very humbling, but I’m very grateful for every single day.” In the years following the accident, Day said she had to have regular MRIs every couple years to ensure that everything was still functioning properly. Then on a Monday in November 2017, two days before her scheduled MRI, Day remembers going in for a blood test, which the doctors required her do before every scan with “contrast,” as the fluid flows through her other organs. “On Tuesday, my primary care physician and my neurologist called me — both of them,” Day said. “And nobody usually calls, I would’ve just gone and done the MRI because everything is usually normal.” The doctors told her to get to the hospital immediately. “I’m a very strong-willed person, and so I said, ‘There’s no need, I have an appointment and I’ll see you tomorrow,’” Day said. They then proceeded to explain to her that if she didn’t get to the hospital soon, she would “no longer be on the face of this Earth” — her creatinine level had come back abnormal and her kidneys were failing. “I felt fine,” she said. “I had no

signs, no symptoms — I was just living my life.” She rushed to the hospital where a team was waiting for her. “They took me immediately in, got me hooked up to everything, and started fluids and all of that to sustain life,” she said. Day was placed on a renal diet and spent just shy of two weeks in the hospital while the doctors performed numerous tests in order to figure out what caused her kidneys to begin failing. “They couldn’t understand it,” she said. After leaving the hospital, Day was sent for a kidney biopsy, which allowed doctors to determine that biotin, a hair growth vitamin that Day had been taking daily, was the believed cause of her kidney failure. Over the course of the next few months, Day was kept on a renal diet, which is low in sodium, phosphorus and protein, and said she was “manaical” when it came to following the rules. In April 2018, Day’s mother began noticing that something was wrong. Day had stopped getting out of bed, and though she believed she just wasn’t feeling well, her mother knew otherwise. “My mom came upstairs, and she can hardly get up stairs, got me out of bed and took me to the hospital,” she added. “If my mom hadn’t done that, I would not be here.” She arrived at the hospital with a dangerously low blood pressure, and doctors told her she had been within minutes of passing. Doctors realized the renal diet alone wouldn’t correct the problem, and Day went into surgery to have a catheter inserted so she could begin dialysis, the process of removing excess water, other fluids and toxins from the blood in people whose

“I USED TO BE IN A WHOLE DIFFERENT WORLD IN LIFE. I DIDN’T KNOW MY LIFE WAS GOING TO STOP … IT’S VERY HUMBLING, BUT I’M VERY GRATEFUL FOR EVERY SINGLE DAY.” — VALERIE DAY, NEWHALL RESIDENT WHO REGULARLY UNDERGOES DIALYSIS DUE TO KIDNEY FAILURE

Newhall resident Valerie Day is hopeful that she’ll receive a kidney once she qualifies for the donor list. However, she refuses to let her health challenges dampen her outlook on life. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

kidneys can no longer perform those functions naturally. Day then began going to dialysis three and sometimes four days a week. “I’m there for about four hours, but actually dialyzing for three and a half,” Day said. “Now we’re taking every bit of fluid out of me through dialysis because if fluid is collecting around your organs and around your heart, it can make you go into cardiac arrest or other organ failure.” Day has a good cleaning ratio and filtering rate, which means she has to go for less time than others, who may have to go five days a week for as long as five to six hours. The dialysis diet? Even stricter than the renal diet. “There are eight pages of things that we can’t have, the list of what we can have is smaller,” Day said. Originally, doctors believed she had a 90% chance of her kidneys recovering with dialysis, but those odds quickly went to zero over the course of the next few months.

“In the next four to five months, both kidneys completely died,” she said. But “life doesn’t stop because we’re in kidney failure, and it’s a totally different perspective now and that’s okay,” she said. Day has continued attending church, caring for her mother and even trying to date. “We didn’t have dialysis 70 years ago — I would’ve been dead,” she said. “It is amazing how it works, it really is — I’m fascinated by it. I’m so blessed and grateful for what we have now to keep people like me alive.” In August 2018, Day underwent another surgery where doctors severed an artery and a vein, then sewed them together, this time to have a fistula put in, to allow for extra blood to flow for easier access to blood vessels. “One (needle) takes the blood and fluid out and cleans it in the machine, then it comes back to the other one,” she said. “That is the life now.” Every day, Day said she tries to go into the dialysis center with a positive See KIDNEY, page 8

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Castaic musician earns encore at Juilliard

N E W S F E AT U R E S

By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

enneth Joshua “K.J.” McDonald is a proud recipient of a Kovner Fellowship at The Juilliard School — not once, but twice. At 6 years old, the Castaic resident began playing the violin. “I was too young to remember why, I just knew that I wanted to play violin,” he said. “I think I just liked the sound.” At 12, he decided he wanted to begin taking it seriously and joined an orchestra at the Colburn School in Downtown Los Angeles. Then at 14, he began studying with world-renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman, who is still a mentor to him today. “The rest is history I guess,” he said. At 17, he was awarded a Kovner Fellowship, a full-ride scholarship, to attend The Juilliard School. Not only is Juilliard known as one of the most competitive music schools in the world, but the Kovner Fellowship, which covers the total cost of attendance, including tuition as well as room and board, for the entire duration of the program with an additional stipend for living expenses, is only given to a handful of classical musical students at the school each year. “The funny thing about the scholarship is, we didn’t know it existed,” he said. “I didn’t expect it at all … I just kind of auditioned and it kind of just happened.” His first year at Juilliard was scary, as K.J. became a small fish in a big pond, as he describes it. “I don’t know if it was so much the school as it was the city that was scary for me,” he said. “Just the atmosphere of New York and musicians from everywhere in the world.” He quickly realized that there were so many subjects he had never thought about in music, a history and psychology behind it. “You find that all these great composers were big philosophers themselves,” he said. “I had never really thought of that before.” He spent most of his time studying, as he said he felt there was so much that he didn’t understand. “Just reading and reading and

Kenneth Joshua “K.J.” McDonald, a Castaic resident, earned two prestigious scholarships to The Juilliard School, where he’s currently working toward his master’s degree. SIGNAL PHOTO

reading,” he said. “Whenever I wasn’t reading, I would be practicing. Whenever I wasn’t practicing, I would have a lesson or a class, then I would read again.” Now, at 21, he has graduated with a bachelor’s of music and received a second Kovner full-ride scholarship to attend The Juilliard School Masters of Music program. “The second time around, it was a lot more stressful,” he said. While it is rare to receive a second Kovner scholarship, McDonald believed that if he auditioned again and didn’t get it, it would mean he wasn’t as good as he was four years ago. “I thought: ‘I’m doing this again, if I don’t get it, that’s just depressing — because then what have I been doing for the last four years?’ I’ve been practicing. I’ve been studying.” McDonald had his sights set on Juilliard since his days attending Trinity Classical Academy as a young violinist and he was asked where he’d like to attend college. “I would’ve been 12 or 13 at the time,” he said. “I didn’t really think about Juilliard as a goal, I just kept on practicing.” He continued at Trinity and Advan-

tage Preparatory Schools, while being homeschooled in order to focus on music, practicing violin for four to five hours daily. He also began playing with his church and performed at services with the Grace Baptist Church’s Praise Orchestra, noting that it was very influential to him to be able to “play for fun” alongside other local musicians. “It was really great; I kind of miss it once and awhile,” he said. “And I still play with them occasionally.” Now, his end goal is to become the best musician he possibly can. “Well, to better specify, to live up to the expectations I have of myself in my head,” he added. He doesn’t just love music, he’s obsessed with it: “I can’t stop thinking about it,” he said. McDonald hears music everywhere he goes, in random places, “like elevator dings and weird sounds on the street, everything just sounds like music after awhile.” “I just feel like I need to express it somehow,” he added. McDonald enjoys performing as a chamber musician has become a respected quartet leader in two string groups. This month, McDonald will

lead a Juilliard ensemble to Sao Paulo, Brazil, and then fly to England to perform at BBC Proms in London’s Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Academy. And though McDonald said he spends a significant amount of time practicing, he still believes it is important to pick up other hobbies in order to excel as a musician. “There is a tendency in the music world, especially for a lot of younger kids, to practice eight, nine hours a day, every day,” he said. Instead, McDonald suggests they branch out to other things and have some fun, as well. “I love to surf, I love to read a lot, I used to love to play ping pong — a lot of hobbies,” he said. “Those really benefit your art, they benefit the way you play.” David Finckel, former cellist of the Emerson String Quartet, told McDonald to feel more, talk more, laugh more, cry more — “Every emotion you could possibly think of more, do it more. That in the end will benefit you more than just practicing.”

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6 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J U LY 14, 2019

N E W S F E AT U R E S

Santa Clarita Valley skate parks offer summer fun By Brennon Dixson Signal Staff Writer

outhern California has long been considered a hot spot for skaters, bike riders and other action sports-enthusiasts, and while it may not be considered one of the premier skate spots in the area, local residents still believe the Santa Clarita Valley has some unique skate spots of its own. The Santa Clarita Valley Skatepark has been a refuge for teenagers on sunny summer days for years, and many residents around town can still recall the memories they had made there to this very day. And even though the Castaic Skate Park, which was approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors back in September 2016, opened only recently in February 2019, it’s been received warmly by the community.

Local History

Mike Riederer, also known as “Hydro Mike” in the SCV skate community, knows the curves and ramps of Santa Clarita Skate Park about as well as anyone. Riederer has been going to the Santa Clarita Skatepark four to five times a week nearly 20 years since its opening. In his many years at the park, Riederer has come to know many of the riders. In fact, he is now able to share stories of the adults to their children there. Known as “Hydro Mike” in the community, Riederer was a part of a group of residents who offered input on the design of the SCV Skatepark in use today, but he said Monday he

Shawn Rennie, 36, rides his skateboard at the Castaic Regional Sports Complex skate park. The park is one of two skate parks in the Santa Clarita Valley that are used regularly by skaters, cyclists and riders of all ages. PHOTOS BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

still remembers the skatepark located near the basketball gym that opened in 1999. “It was small in comparison to the current park but, at its time, it served many young and older skaters alike. I loved skating that park and was there almost every day. To this day, 10 years later, I still have dreams of different skate lines from that park,” Riederer said. But Riederer isn’t the only resident who’s worked on bringing skating options to the Santa Clarita Valley.

A father and son’s journey

It would take a dozen years of writing letters, lobbying officials and waiting before Lance Vaughn and his son Garrett were finally able to see the fruits of their labor during the re-

Brandon Caretto, 13, tries a trick on his skateboard at the county’s Castaic Regional Sports Complex skate park.

cent opening of the recreational skate park in the Castaic area. Vaughn previously said the process for building the new skating area began over a decade ago when his then9-year-old son asked why there was no place in his Castaic neighborhood for him and his friends to skate. After seeing a number of Santa Clarita families mimic their travels from Fillmore to Venice to Santa Monica in search of a skatepark, the Vaughn family decided to look into the possibility of getting a park built for the local Castaic community. “So I told him let’s get a flyer and let’s hang it up,” Vaughn said during the opening of the park. With the assistance of local skaters, a temporary facility would be built shortly after, but, according to Lance, it cost $15,000 and it didn’t satiate the dream he and his son shared for a quality skatepark that was suitable for skaters of a high caliber. “I remember when I was there (at the temporary skatepark) getting an accommodation, a kid that was about 11 years old rode up to me on his scooter and asked me if I was (responsible) for this and why I did it. And, I responded, ‘I did it for my son and for all of you,’” Vaughn said in February. After years of working with various county supervisors, design companies, Lance was able to see his 12

years of hard work pay off during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Castaic skate complex. The park is pretty amazing, Vaughn said, adding, he’s glad he was able to do something for the kids of the community. “It’s a dream come true,” he added. At its opening this past spring, professional skaters also shared their enthusiasm for the park. Manny Santiago was one of the professional skaters on-hand for the opening of the $1.3 million skatepark, “and I told them I love it,” he said at the opening, while providing the park’s designer with an “honest review” of the park. “I’ve been skating for 12 years, and this skate park is a great one,” added Angel Garcia, a skater from Venezuela who also attended the park’s opening. “It’s got great transitions, good rails — I mean it’s got a little bit of everything.” It’s not always common to see professional skaters at local parks, but the same can not be said when it comes to the kids of the community. It’s been five months since the opening of the park in Castaic, and skaters are out enjoying their first summer on the stairs, ledges and grind rails it has to offer. Of course, riders can also be spotted out on Centre Pointe Parkway where local residents are invited to enjoy the ramps from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. every day.

Getting involved

Like any activity, it’s not always easy to jump into the sport and be an expert from the beginning, but Riederer said interested community members should give it a try. “The best way to get started is to support one of the local skate shops in our valley and start off with the right equipment. The shops employees can assist in picking the right size board etc. They also carry a variety of safety equipment,” Riederer said, adding that he highly recommends helmets for new skaters. “It’s important to get one that fits well and is comfortable.” Hydro Mike also invited new skaters to seek out professional skateboard lessons with himself or other mentors.

J U LY 14, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 7

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Glowhouse looks to grow gaming in SCV

Left: Casey Frank, 10, seated, and Ethan Iyer, 12, play a battle royale game called “Fortnite” as they attend an esports summer training camp at GlowHouse Gaming in Valencia. The gaming industry is no longer just a billion-dollar market for consumers. Competitors now play each other for a chance at millions in sponsorships and prize money. Right: Instructor Michael Ruiz, center, sets up microphones for C.J. Rhoden, 13, left, and William Haase, 12, who are receiving instruction in the recording studio at an esports summer training camp. PHOTOS BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL By Matt Fernandez Signal Staff Writer

“Y

ou can’t make a living by playing video games.” While many grew up hearing this admonishment as a means to motivate to do chores, studying or some otherwise seemingly “productive” behavior — society now offers a number of ways one can earn a living with their gaming habits. In addition to media outlets that have sprung up, such as Twitch, a live-streaming video platform owned by Amazon, there are eSports teams being formed, much in the nascent way that professional sports teams did about 100 years ago. And now there’s even a camp to train Santa Claritans eager to get in the game, so to speak, to quote the mantra of video game industry leader EA Sports. In fact, the gaming world has come a long way from “The Wizard,” the 1989 Fred Savage-Christian Slater movie in which gamers from all over the country converged in Universal Studios Hollywood for Video Armageddon, a fictional annual, national video game tournament that awarded

$50,000 to the top prize. In the first week of July, for example, Glowhouse Gaming & Studios hosted the first session of a six-week esports summer training camp, which was also the first of its kind in the Santa Clarita Valley. Esports, or professional competitive video games, have recently taken the world by storm, and steadily becoming a mainstream part of popular culture. Usually organized around tournaments or leagues, gamers all around the world go head to head in games like “Overwatch,” “Fortnite,” “Call of Duty” and “Mortal Kombat” to prove their dominance and take home up to millions of dollars in prize money. In perhaps the latest sign of the time, in January, Wired. com reported that 200 colleges across the United States are offering $15 million annually in esports scholarships. Another popular new profession is that of the streamer. Host personalities will either live-stream or upload recorded footage of themselves playing a popular video game and add their own commentary, usually on internet platforms like Twitch or Youtube. The most popular streamers,

like 27-year-old Tyler “Ninja” Blevins, can make as much as $658,000 per month from streaming. Glowhouse Gaming owner Shandrell Lynch said that the idea for the camp came to her after her daughter, who is an avid gamer, introduced her to the concept of esports. “My daughter was always holed up in her room, and I would always tell her to come down and spend some family time, but she would always say, ‘Mom you can actually get college scholarships for video games and esports, you should look it up,”’ Lynch said. “I had never heard of competitive video gaming, but I researched it and thought it was pretty cool. So instead of being negative, I wanted to find a way to nurture that. For this generation, competitive video games are a normal thing and a viable option.” Glowhouse Gaming’s esports summer course, which is geared towards children age eight to 16, sought to teach its students the basics of how to establish themselves in the burgeoning esports industry. Each week focuses on a different video game including “Fortnite,” “FIFA,” “Mortal Kombat,” “Super Smash Bros.” and a

week dedicated to virtual reality gaming. Besides just playing the games, the children were taught skills like Photoshop, video and sound editing and how to give commentary. “The content was hard to put together because there’s so much out there, and the kids already know so much — so I tried to balance finding what material was worth listening to with the things videos they wanted to learn from,” said Michael Ruiz, youth program coordinator and teacher for the camp. “I know there’s a lot of toxicity surrounding the gaming community and bad things attached to it, but my hope for this class is to bring out a positive side. We’re all here because we love gaming and we want to be better.” Ruiz said that he was surprised by how enthusiastic the students were to learn about the more technical aspects of streaming, like how to edit music for a highlight reel. The camp’s participants sometimes would rather continue working and learning more advanced topics than play the games, he added. Lynch said the selection of games was based on popularity among the See E-GAMING, next page

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E-GAMING

Continued from previous page

target age range for players, plus the presence of an established competitive league or circuit around a game. Among the games, the Nintendo fighting game “Super Smash Bros.” is the most popular. Initially, Lynch said many parents thought that the camp was supposed to teach children how to design and code a video game, but it was encouraging to see that the parents were interested in supporting their children’s interests. Despite the backing of big name sponsors like Coca-Cola, HP and ESPN, as well as buy-in from traditional athletes and celebrities like Michael Jordan, Drake, Scooter Braun and Steph Curry, esports is still often looked down upon by some traditional sports fans. Ruiz noted that all of the world’s most popular sports, such as basketball, baseball and soccer — which have all since spawned hugely popular video game simulations — all

KIDNEY

Continued from page 4

attitude, “constantly willing and wanting to talk to people, especially new people who are scared and don’t know what to expect. “I want to encourage people not to lose hope.” Many tell her she doesn’t look sick, which is “really hard to hear because we’re not faking being sick, we’re faking being well,” she added. Now, Day is at end-stage kidney failure, which not only means that both of her kidneys are dead, but also that if she misses even one dialysis session, her life expectancy goes down by 51%. “If I don’t go to dialysis in one week, I’m dead,” she said. “I’ve never missed a dialysis.” Day went on to explain that people can stay on dialysis “as long as your body can tolerate it.” “Do they live the life that I would like to live or they would like to live? No. But I am refusing to let my attitude sink me — we’ve got to keep going.” The waiting time for a donor kidney in the Los Angeles area is five to 10

A group of campers interact as they compete in at “Mario Kart” during a recent summer training camp. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

necessarily like her sons staring at screens all day, she recognizes that it is a new frontier with potential to make money and develop skills. “I absolutely think esports counts as a sport, because just like any other sport it requires specific skills, and I personally would have zero of the abilities required to play any of these games,” Mandy said. As the first of its kind, the summer camp is Lynch’s proof of concept and based on how well it succeeds would like to try to establish spring and winter break camps, as well as an after-school program with an expanded curriculum. Looking even further ahead, Lynch envisioned the Santa Clarita Valley as an esports hub, with its own competitive league. “The fighting-game and sports-game communities are really strong here,” she said. “I think esports really has a strong future in Santa Clarita.”

started out as hobbies before the athletes started to garner widespread fame, appeal and professional status. “I don’t know much about esports outside of it being competitive gaming and that there are scholarships for it, but I’m happy to support my son’s interest in it,” said Suzanne Westbrook, who, after seeing how much

her son enjoyed the camp, signed him up for additional sessions. “My son plays games online with his friends, but I thought gaming in a new environment with other kids would be a good introduction to esports.” Mandy and Heath Hanchett signed up their sons Justin and Brody, and even though Mandy said she doesn’t

years, potentially longer depending on your blood type, and the national waiting list continues to grow every year, according to UCLA Health. Just to get on the list, Day has had to go through a multitude of tests. “Everything including your teeth have to be in good working order, meaning no other issues can compromise you getting a kidney, because it’s a big deal,” she said. Day has two more tests to go, and she is two appointments away from being officially on the list, which she said can open up a lot more possibilities. Still, nobody knows how long a donor kidney will last, as everyone’s bodies react completely differently. “I believe in my health and my personal desire and conviction to make it work that my chances are going to be 100%, however (to be) realistic, I’m probably looking at 80%,” she said. “And then it’s certainly not going to (last) forever, but it’s going to give me a significant rest of my life because I’m 58, and I don’t want to leave this Earth, yet. If I do, it’s OK because I’m OK with where I’m going, but I don’t want to — there’s just so many things in life still for me to experience, and I know that I still have much to give.”

Valerie Day undergoes life-saving dialysis treatments several times a day, and now uses her experience at the treatment center to comfort those who are new to dialysis. PHOTO COURTESY VALERIE DAY

Glowhouse Gaming & Studios is located at 25061 Avenue Stanford, no. 40, Santa Clarita. To learn more, visit glowhousegaming.com.

J U LY 14, 2019

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LOCALNEWS

Deputies arrest man after dog killed in Canyon Country By Perry Smith Sunday Signal Editor

man sought by deputies after a dog was shot to death at a Canyon Country home Tuesday night is no longer missing, Santa Clarita Valley Nard sheriff ’s officials said Thursday. The suspect, 57-year-old Christopher Nard, was found and arrested early Thursday morning on suspicion of animal cruelty and negligent discharge of a firearm, according to sheriff ’s spokeswoman Shirley Miller. “Deputies reported that the suspect made contact with his family members and deputies were then able to take him in,” she said. He was arrested around 3:30 a.m., according to the station’s booking records. Nard, described by law enforcement as a man who “is severely depressed,” was reported as a missing

person-critical since Wednesday. The incident stems from deputies responding to a report of a possible domestic violence incident Tuesday night that resulted in a lengthy standoff situation, which started after a shooting in a home on the 19100 block of Delight Street, near Whites Canyon Road. Deputies set up a containment for several hours in Canyon Country that lasted into the early morning hours. “The victim and the suspect are husband and wife,” Miller said. “The initial information that was received (Tuesday) night is that there was a domestic incident between a husband and wife over at Delight Street,” Miller said. “The containment was set up in hopes of getting the suspect to come out of the house. The victim was able to safely exit the home.” Deputies spent several hours outside of the home, calling over the loudspeaker to the suspect, who they believed was still inside, to come out. At one point, the suspect’s adult daughter also made a tearful plea over the loudspeaker for him to sur-

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies set up a containment on the 19100 block of Delight Street in Canyon Country after a gun call. PHOTO BY EMILY ALVERANGA / THE SIGNAL

render, and said, “Come out, Dad.” Deputies eventually learned Nard had fled the scene, and there was a deceased dog inside the home. The

dog had been shot. Anyone with information about the incident can call the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station at 661-255-1121.

Myles Garrett: Saugus athlete turned West Point cadet Editor’s note: This is the first in a continuing series looking at Santa Clarita Valley residents who earned acceptance into the various U.S. military academies. By Caleb Lunetta Signal Staff Writer

or years, Myles Garrett has been preparing for one goal. Whether he was on the football field, in the classroom or speaking with his high school counselor: Myles Garrett wanted to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He would achieve that goal. Garrett began attending West Point Academy in upstate New York, and he said he hoped his lifetime of preparation had adequately prepared him. “I’ve wanted to do it since I was in junior high school,” he said. “I always wanted to serve in our military, but I just wasn’t sure where I plugged in.”

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Garrett said that he and his father, from the beginning of his freshman year, had been working with a Saugus High School counselor on how he could make his dream a reality. Throughout his high school career, Garrett earned a 4.04 GPA while playing football and rugby, and running track and field. He’s hoping he’ll be able to continue

his passion for rugby once he reaches Ithaca, and play for the Army Black Knights. In terms of his goals for what he wants to do once he enters West Point, he says he’s not exactly sure, but he wants his future to be with one of the “three-letter agencies,” referring to the CIA or FBI. “I want to be in a position where

I can make a huge difference, not only in our nation, but in the world,” Garrett said. “And I’ve been taking Chinese for the last three years.” Garrett said two weeks ago, days before his induction ceremony at West Point, that he was excited for the opportunity, which he called “worthwhile for his life.” “I’m anxious to go there, and see how its going to be, and I won’t be able to see some of my friends,” he said. “But it’s more so that I want to put myself into the new environment … it’s going to be a big change. I’m excited.”

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J U LY 14, 2019

LOCALNEWS

Engineers offer closer look at road extension By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

fter a unanimous decision by the Santa Clarita City Council to award a design contract for the Dockweiler Drive extension Tuesday, city engineers offered a closer look at the project and what residents can expect as it progresses. The council members’ vote, which was 4-0 (Councilwoman Laurene Weste abstained due to her ownership of land adjacent to the city road), gave the green light to start a $3 million design process for the road extension, one of several steps to come in the city’s plan to connect Dockweiler Drive to Railroad Avenue at 13th Street in Newhall with an ultimate goal to improve traffic issues in the area. “The purpose of this project is to alleviate congestion on Newhall Avenue,” said city Senior Engineer Carla Callahan, who broke down details on the project and Tuesday’s decision with City Engineer Mike Hennawy.

Why extend the road?

The proposed project is a multiphased capital improvement project in coordination by the city and The Master’s University, located in Placerita Canyon, to improve circulation and access to the Placerita Canyon and Newhall communities, as stated in the project’s final environmental impact report. The connection and extension, as outlined in Santa Clarita’s general plan, was identified as one of the primary east-west arterials through the city that would offer a connection from Sierra Highway to Railroad Avenue. “The potential growth in this area could trigger the road to pass its capacity, so we had to look at alternative roadways to accommodate the cars that will be traveling through the area,” said Callahan. A traffic study completed in 2018 reported that, by the year 2035, if no extension is created, travel time for a single car going northbound on Newhall Avenue would be just more than 11 minutes, whereas that time was nearly cut in half with either an extension on 13th Street or Lyons

Avenue, which was an alternate road considered at the time, according to a presentation by Hennawy at the Feb. 27, 2018, City Council meeting. The final EIR identified that 13th Street would be the “environmentally superior option” for the connector versus Lyons Avenue or Market Street — options residents in the area suggested — due to having less of an impact financially, less of a challenge to build and having no impact on the creek. The Dockweiler Drive to Railroad Avenue at 13th Street connection was approved by the City Council on April 10, 2018. A separate 0.64-mile extension of Dockweiler Drive has already been approved as part of a project by The Master’s University to expand its campus and have its main entrance on Dockweiler Drive, said Callahan.

The design contract

Tuesday’s decision awarded a contract for design services to Thousand Oaks-based MNS Engineers Inc. for $3.04 million. More than $241,000 was also authorized to the Southern California Regional Rail Authority for services, such as permit processing and design for the signal communication and train control system for upgrades to the 13th Street rail crossing. Though the actual design of the project has not yet been developed, agencies such as the California Public Utilities Commission and the Southern California Regional Rail Authority have reached a consensus on needed improvements for the alignment of Dockweiler Drive to Railroad Avenue at 13th Street. Improvements would be needed for Arch and 13th streets, along with a fully upgraded railroad crossing at 13th Street and Railroad Avenue, which include widening the existing two-lane street to include three outgoing and two incoming lanes, a median and two sidewalks, installing pedestrian and vehicle gates, adding signal lights and removing a billboard at the intersection, according to Hennawy. The proposed roadway improvements would consist of a four-lane roadway with a 12-foot raised landscape median, a 13-foot-wide sidewalk and a 5-foot-wide bike lane on each side, according to the city agenda report.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA

Moving forward

The design stages would take approximately two years, said Callahan. While there will be no public hearings for this portion of the project, public meetings for residents to offer feedback will be held in the future. The extension project has garnered significant opposition from residents in the area over time, with some concerned about parking and the disrup-

tion of the rural and equestrian life of the Placerita Canyon community. Others have questioned Weste’s property role in the matter, to which Callahan said: “The city has the right of way through her property.” Supporters of the project, many of whom include students and faculty of The Master’s University, have said that the road would improve safety conditions and vehicle circulation.

Detectives seek info in identifying massage parlor robbery suspect By Caleb Lunetta Signal Staff Writer

etectives with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station are asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect who robbed a Newhall massage parlor last month. On June 27, deputies responded to reports of a robbery at the Red Lantern massage parlor on the 24000 block of Railroad Avenue about 1:40 p.m. A suspect had reportedly walked in, received a massage, and when it came time to make a payment, decided to use a credit card. But there was a problem with the card, according to law enforcement officials. “He was attempting to make payment but then lifted his shirt revealing the butt of a handgun, and robbed

the business,” said a news release distributed by sheriff ’s officials on Wednesday. According to officials, they are treating this incident as an armed robbery. The suspect has been described as a male, 5 feet, 11-inches tall, hispanic in his 20s with a thin build. Detectives are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Burrow at 661-2551121 ext. 5138. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website http://lacrime stoppers.org.

J U LY 14, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 1

LOCALNEWS

A heart of bronze: local Junior Girl Scout wins highest honor By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

hen 9-year-old Dakota Holguin, a Junior Girl Scout in Troop No. 1936, was deciding what kind of service project to do for her Bronze Award, it was an easy decision for her. “I chose Bridge to Home because I felt homeless people don’t get the respect they deserve, and I thought little goodie bags would help them,” she said. The Bronze Award, which is given to Scouts who do community service to give to something bigger than themselves, is also the highest honor a Junior Girl Scout can achieve. “She always likes to give back to people less fortunate than herself,” her mother and troop leader Alina Holguin said. When deciding exactly what to do, Dakota said she wanted to make something everyone needs and normally uses, which is why she decided to create hygiene kits for Bridge to Home, which provides support and shelter services to those in need. After calling Bridge to Home and finding out that approximately 60 to 100 people come through their facility each day, Alina asked Dakota how many kits she’d like to make. “She said, ‘Well, I want to do 100 then,’” Alina said. This year is the first time Bridge to Home has been able to stay open past March, extending the shelter until July 31, so shelter manager Nicole Feast-Williams said the donations are

Dakota Holguin, 9, a Junior Girl Scout in Troop No. 1936, donated 100 hygiene kits to Bridge to Home as a service project. COURTESY PHOTOS

coming at an opportune time. Alina had Dakota do the research herself to decide exactly what she wanted to put in the kits, and told her daughter to ask herself, “What would you really want if you were homeless?” They then set to work hunting for supplies to fill the goodie bags, creating flyers, posting on Facebook, going door to door and even selling candy to purchase supplies on Amazon. Each kit contains toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant, lotion, hand sanitizer or wipes, chapstick, combs, a protein bar and candy. With the help of her little sister Bridget Linkes, Dakota packed each

goodie bag, which Dakota said took a long time. In fact, between getting

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Left: The Bronze Award is given to Scouts who do community service, and is the highest honor a Junior Girl Scout can achieve. Above: Bridget Linkes, left, helps her sister Dakota Holguin donate 100 hygiene kits to Bridge to Home’s homeless shelter.

donations and packing each kit, Dakota invested more than 20 hours of work in accomplishing the project, according to Alina. Finally, it was time to deliver her kits to Bridge to Home. Afterward, they gave Dakota a tour of the facility and showed them some of the dorms where she met a woman who used to be a Girl Scout herself, she said. The woman even recited the Girl Scout Law for Dakota, which she thought was cool. “It was a special moment for (Dakota) and the client,” Feast-Williams said. “Many who donate don’t get to see what the shelter entails and what we do, so it was really nice to show her how her hygiene kits will be helpful to our clients. It was a good time. They were so sweet and I’m very proud of them.” Dakota is already thinking of her next project, and thinks for her Silver Award she “might clean up the community a little.”

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12 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J U LY 14, 2019

LOCALNEWS

Crews respond to Castaic incident dubbed the Guard Rail Fire By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

ire crews responded to reports of a small brush fire that broke out Wednesday afternoon near the northbound Interstate 5 freeway, north of Lake Hughes Road, in Castaic. The Guard Rail Fire was reported at 12:05 p.m. with Angeles National Forest officials on the scene initially reporting a half-acre fire a quarter-mile north of Templin Highway, according to Sky Cornell, spokesman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. “They’re getting water from Castaic Lake,” Cornell said. “As of 12:24 p.m., Engine 149 reports 1 mile north of Templin at quarter-acre, light to medium brush, creeping up with winds coming from the south. No structures threatened.” As of 12:39 p.m., fire officials released all air operations and bulldozers after they were able to get a hose line around the fire and forward progress was stopped, said Joey Napoli, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Members of the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Fly Crew 19 are seen loading into the helicopter to battle the Guard Rail Fire in Castaic. PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFF ZIMMERMAN

Supes approve motion to boost fire response By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

t-risk homeless encampments in riverbeds and wildland areas are not uncommon throughout the region, but some have caused fires, putting individuals experiencing homelessness and surrounding communities in danger. But efforts to help reduce these risks and protect lives are underway for the Santa Clarita Valley and other locations in Los Angeles County following unanimous approval by the Board of Supervisors to deploy a multi-agency task force to address the issue. On Tuesday, supervisors voted in favor of a motion by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Hilda Solis for enhanced proactive fire response in

high-risk areas by partnering with the county’s emergency services departments, sheriff ’s homeless outreach service teams, the L.A. Homeless Services Authority and other county-funded outreach programs. In the motion, the supervisors stated that “it is imperative that the county proactively provides enhanced outreach and cleanup in high-risk areas to protect the lives of — and provide services to — people experiencing homelessness, including exploring the capability of responding outside of regular business hours during emergencies and protect the lives of people and property of surrounding communities.” Efforts officially commenced last summer, when county departments identified and created a database of homeless encampments in fire hazard severity zones. Data has helped local

agencies offer assistance for relocation and removal of material that might be potentially hazardous in these zones, according to the motion. With approval Tuesday, efforts will be “ramped up as we approach fire season,” said Dana Vanderford, homeless services deputy for Barger, whose district includes the Santa Clarita Valley. “We want to work with the city (of Santa Clarita) in doubling up our efforts,” she said. “Before we go out there, we will need to look at additional funding, but we will work with fire departments for cleanup and with homeless services to connect individuals to housing.” Bridge to Home’s switch to yearround operations will play a vital role in offering more beds and services, as “last year we wouldn’t have had a place for them to stay,” she added.

Riverbeds and wildland areas may provide refuge for the unsheltered but it may also pose significant risks of flooding and, often, fires as a result of cooking fires, such as the 2017 Skirball blaze in a Bel Air neighborhood that destroyed six homes. The most recent incidents in the SCV included one in May when a small grass fire ignited in the wash behind the new Porsche dealership, near Auto Center Drive, in Valencia. Crews managed to stop the blaze at a homeless encampment with no injuries or structure damage reported. Related incidents are becoming more common, according to fire officials at Fire Station 73 on Railroad Avenue. With a growing homeless population, homeless encampments have also increased in numbers.

J U LY 14, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 3

BUSINESS

Santa Clarita looks to expand high-speed internet options By Perry Smith Sunday Signal Editor

anta Clarita City Council members helped the city take a huge step forward for internet service recently with the decision to invest approximately $217,000 for “dark fiber,” which has the potential to make download speeds exponentially faster. The contract awarded to Crown Castle Fiber LLC allows the city to lease two of these dark fiber strands that extend the city’s network to Downtown Los Angeles. There are a myriad of benefits to businesses, as well as the average Joe, according to Jason Crawford, planning, marketing and economic development manager with the city. “We’ve been aware for quite a while now that businesses here in Santa Clarita have issues with getting highspeed internet,” Crawford said, “either because it would cost too much or because the speeds that they wanted

were not available. “For the bigger picture,” he added, “we’ve been looking at how can we improve the infrastructure for how it can allow for higher speeds at a lower cost.” Dark fiber strands would definitely represent such an upgrade for a number of reasons. “We started the broadband feasibility plan a couple of years ago,” said Benny Ives, city technology services manager with Santa Clarita. “It’s something that really started out in the business community.” The city found one of the biggest challenges to a lack of high speed involved the lack of competition, by and

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large, outside of the two main providers. “Improving access to better and better broadband service is vital to our economic development, and has long been a priority for the EDC,” said Holly Schroeder, president and CEO of the SCV Economic Development Corporation. “We are pleased that the city is making it a priority to improve our infrastructure.” The dark fiber strands, which the city would control through its lease, potentially would allow the city to partner with an internet service provider, or ISP, to utilize the highest speeds available, Ives said. “For all intents and purposes, it’s limitless,” Ives said in describing the capabilities that the dark fiber strands could provide. “The speed will be governed by the equipment at either end,” he added referring to the user and the ISP. With this new access, the city would not only be able to partner with a provider to vastly improve the speed

of its services, but it would also lower the barriers for entry into the Santa Clarita Valley market for other ISPs. And the difference in speeds allowable would be significant and noticeable, according to city officials. For example, just in City Hall alone, the investment would move the current speeds from about 150 megabytes per second, which is achieved through two circuits, to a gigabyte per second, about 6.5 times faster, according to Ives. However, the market offers speeds of anywhere from 10 gigabytes per second to 100 and higher. The city’s intent is to create an infrastructure that will allow service to grow with the need for speed and market demands, Ives said, with the next step being the city putting out a “request for proposals” to interested potential partners. “We want to make sure it’s something that will scale,” said Ives. “The fiber itself will not be the limiting factor, it will be the equipment.”

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14 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J U LY 14, 2019

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

Thirty and thriving —

Celebrating three decades of Concerts in the Park By Mayor Marsha McLean

icture this: colorful lawn chairs and blankets strewn across the grass at Central Park, live music amplified over the crowd, while children frolic with friends under the park lights. What could make for a more perfect summer evening than spending time outdoors and listening to great music with your family and friends? The City’s residents look forward to Concerts in the Park each summer here in Santa Clarita. The familyfriendly environment, beautiful outdoor space and live music make the concert series a highlight each year. Residents and visitors alike can make their way to Central Park on Saturday evenings to experience

what has become a Santa Clarita staple. This year, I am proud to say the City is celebrating 30 years of this summertime tradition! Get ready for a diverse and talented lineup to mark the 30th anniversary of Concerts in the Park! Every Saturday night through Aug. 24, a different musical act will take to the stage at Central Park, located at 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road. Each concert in the series, this year presented by Logix Federal Credit Union, will begin at 7 p.m. and feature talented musicians playing the songs of some of the most popular groups of all time — plus some original local talent! This week’s show on July 20 will feature Prussia, a band based in nearby North Hollywood. This four-member group will wow the crowd with their original blues, funk

and soul-inspired music. As the sun goes down and the stage lights up, attendees will groove to the band’s self-described “West Coast Funk.” Next week, tribute band Queen Nation will rock your world with their electric performance that captures the image, sound and stage presence of vintage Queen. The rest of the series will include music by popular artists like Fleetwood Mac, The Grateful Dead, Prince and more. As you can see, this summer’s lineup will cater to a wide range of musical tastes. What concert experience would be complete without some tasty snacks? Attendees can picnic on the grass each week with delicious food and treats from a variety of vendors. It makes me happy to think that community members who started attending Concerts in the Park when it began 30 years ago are now enjoying

the experience with their children and even grandchildren. The City enjoys providing opportunities for our community to come together for free events. These concerts, and the sense of community they help create, are just one of the many things that truly make Santa Clarita a great place to live. I hope you will join us at Central Park this summer! For more details about Concerts in the Park, including the full lineup, please visit santa-clarita.com/ Concerts. Mayor Marsha McLean is a member of the Santa Clarita City Council and can be reached at mmclean@ santa-clarita.com. The views expressed in her column are those of the city and do not necessarily reflect those of The Signal.

J U LY 14, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 5

Michele makes … summer salads By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

1 1/2 1/2 1/3

ummer is the time of the year that people want — and crave — light, refreshing food. Summer salads are the perfect way to satisfy those cravings. These salads can serve as the main course, or as tasty sides to your outdoor barbecue. I love those “ready-to-toss” salad kits you find in the grocery stores. However, I like to make my salads with the freshest possible ingredients and “tweak” my ingredients and dressings to satisfy the picky eaters in my family. Which isn’t to say, I won’t use a commercially prepared salad dressing from time to time. Here’s our “go-to” summer salad favorites. Tip Substitute stevia for sugar in any of these dressings to make a low-cal alternative.

Recipes

Poppyseed Kale Salad 1 1/2 1/2 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4

Strawberry-Walnut-Orange Spinach Salad

3 oranges, peeled, sliced (tangerine slices work well, too) 1 cup sliced fresh strawberries 6 cups fresh baby spinach leaves 1/2 red onion sliced thin 1 cup toasted walnut pieces (toast walnuts in a 350F oven 10 minutes, mixing once or twice while they bake to prevent burning)

Use Poppyseed Dressing (above) or Raspberry-Walnut Blender Vinaigrette (below).

cup kale, chopped cup Brussel sprouts, chopped cup green cabbage, chopped in thin slices cup red cabbage, chopped cup broccoli florets, chopped cup cauliflower florets, chopped (optional) cup dried cranberries cup pepitas or toasted pumpkin seeds

Watermelon Salad

Sometimes, when I feel “fancy,” I’ll dig out my melon baller and make the salad look “special” by scooping out watermelon balls.

Poppyseed Dressing cup oil cup vinegar, you can use white, apple cider or raspberry cup sugar or stevia tsp. poppy seeds tsp. dried mustard tsp. salt

Combine ingredients in blender or bowl. Mix well.

Berry Spinach Salad

I love berries, well … not blueberries as much, but raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, huckleberries, marionberries, just about any kind of berry. This is a great salad (even with the blueberries) to enjoy berry season. Mix and match berries to your particular taste buds. 8 6 6 6 1

cups baby spinach leaves ounces blackberries ounces raspberries ounces blueberries cup sunflower seeds (you can also substitute sliced almonds if you prefer) Optional Add 1 cup sliced strawberries. I normally use the poppyseed dressing (see above) on this salad. However, I also like raspberry-walnut vinaigrette on occasion.

Raspberry-Walnut Blender Vinaigrette PHOTOS BY MICHELE E. BUTTELMAN / THE SIGNAL

tbsp. Dijon-style mustard tsp. salt tsp. ground black pepper cup olive oil

In a blender combine raspberries, walnuts, vinegar, honey, mustard, salt, and pepper. Cover and blend until nearly smooth. With blender running, drizzle in the oil until combined.

Mix together. 1 1/3 1/2 2 1 1

FOOD

1/2 1/3 1/4 2

cup fresh raspberries. cup toasted walnut pieces cup raspberry or red wine vinegar tbsp. honey, or stevia

1 (7-to 8-lb.) watermelon 3 tbsp. fresh lime juice 2 tbsp. olive oil Salt and pepper to taste 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves (you can chop the leaves if you like smaller pieces of mint) 2/3 cup crumbled or diced feta cheese (substitute mozzarella for those who don’t like feta) 1/2 red onion, sliced thin in thin strips Cut the watermelon into cubes or use a melon baller and scoop it into balls. Add it to a large bowl. Add the fresh mint leaves, feta cheese and sliced red onion. In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice and olive oil with a pinch of salt and pepper. Pour the dressing over the watermelon, add the chopped mint and feta cheese, and toss to combine. Optional dressing I like the simplicity of this salad and the fresh, natural flavors. However, I’ve also made this salad with a balsamic syrup, and it is equally as good, in a decadent kind of way. In a small saucepan, combine 2/3 cup balsamic vinegar and 1 tbsp. sugar over med-high heat. Bring to a boil and cook, scraping down the sides, until it has reduced to a syrup, about 5 minutes. (It will thicken as it cools, and only yield a few tablespoons.) Cool before you drizzle over your finished salad. See SALADS, page 28

16 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J U LY 14, 2019

SPORTS

Pfeiffer earns First Team All-CIF nod By Diego Marquez Signal Staff Writer

hen he started at Trinity Classical Academy, Andrew Pfeiffer had never really given pitching much thought. Thanks to his former head coach Tommy Kister, who saw the potential in him, Pfeiffer was able to find his niche on the baseball team as an effective dual threat. His versatility allowed Pfeiffer to become one of the most dominant arms and hitters in the Heritage League over the course of his fouryear high school career, culminating in a 2019 All CIF-Southern Section Division 6 First Team selection. “For one, Coach Kister way back in freshman year, started me out pitching, and I didn’t really pitch much before this,” Pfeiffer said. “Having coach move me around the batting order and experiment with me at third base, some shortstop, second base and first base, I mean, it was really the coaches that forced me to be a more well-rounded player because they knew that would be better for me in the long run.” On the mound, Pfeiffer was an elite talent in Division 6, finishing the 2018-19 season with the second-lowest earned run average in Division 6 (0.73). He went 6-2, throwing three complete games, 73 strikeouts in 57.2 innings of work, according to MaxPreps.com. Pfeiffer was top four on the team in almost every hitting category with a .406 batting average on 26 hits, 20 RBIs, two home runs and 18 runs scored in 64 at-bats this season. He even showed his speed, successfully stealing five bases on six tries. Even though he excels at both pitching and hitting, the former has the ability to really get him excited. “It probably feels better to be on fire when you’re on the mound, because you have that feeling of being untouchable and everything is working that day,” Pfeiffer said. “I would have to say pitching is more fun. It is high-pressure and I enjoy that, I always have.” The Knights began Pfeiffer’s senior season with a five-game winning streak, outscoring their opponents

Trinity senior Andrew Pfeiffer fires home in a playoff game against Gladstone High School. PHOTO BY CORY RUBIN / THE SIGNAL

55-5, defeating Milken and St. Monica Academy along the way. Over the course of four years at Trinity, Pfeiffer notched a .478 batting average, 99 hits and 79 RBIs in 207 atbats. On the mound, the right-handed pitcher finished winning 21 games, a 1.36 ERA and 229 strikeouts in 185 innings of work. “First and foremost, I would like to thank all the guys on the team … I mean baseball is a sport with nine guys, and whether it’s pitching or hitting, everybody is rooting for each other at the same time,” Pfeiffer said. “My success on the mound and at the plate has only been because of the guys pulling alongside me to work towards something higher. “I’m incredibly blessed and humbled to play alongside my brother, Luke, for the last two seasons. Some of the greatest memories of my life, that I know will continue to be the greatest memories of my life that I will cherish forever, have been playing ball with him. I’m truly grateful for that.”

J U LY 14, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 7

THINGSTODO

Rafting adventures on California’s rivers

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

ome of my favorite summer memories involve water. Floating on an inner tube in a lake, or a shallow river, is among life’s most blissful moments. I remember when our daughter was 8 or 9, we went to Yosemite National Park. What I remember of that trip was not the soaring trees or the magnificent vistas. My most cherished memory is of the lazy day we spent tubing down the Merced River. Your perfect river might be one where you float gently along on inner tubes, or maybe your style is to careen through raucous rapids in an eight-person inflatable raft. No problem. California has got it all when it comes to river rafting, from gentle half-day float trips for first-timers and mellow family adventures to adrenaline-pumping, white water, multi-day thrillers. Unlike some parts of the country where rafting seasons are fairly short, California has commercially run outfitters, plying rivers from March

into September. The same river can be endlessly interesting, depending on the season. When choosing a raft trip, class matters. Gentle Class I and II rivers are perfect for self-guided floats and families with youngsters. Class III rivers require some paddling skills and beginners should join a guided trip. Class IV (intermediate) and Class V (advanced) rivers generally require a guide and helmets. No little ones are allowed, and these courses shouldn’t be attempted by beginners. Many trips by outfitters include meals and camping experiences. Despite touting white water excursions, they also offer tranquil family-friendly rafting adventures. Many trips are surprisingly affordable.

lesson: The river runs right past the spot where the 1849 Gold Rush began at Sutter’s Mill in Coloma. A slew of companies guide halfand full-day trips on the South Fork.

Sacramento River

The Upper Sacramento River is an excellent Northern California whitewater rafting trip, providing pure fun on 50-plus rapids in its nearly continuous 30 miles of white water. However, for more family-friendly adventures head to Redding. Rafting

is a great way for river novices to get comfortable with the current, and depending on the stretch of water, anyone over age 4 can join in. With the Sacramento River running right through town, it’s easy to plan for an afternoon of rafting, and the most common trip — from Redding to Anderson — will take you under six bridges (including Sundial Bridge) and through some of Northern California’s most beautiful stretches. See RAFTING, next page

South Fork American River

Rafting this waterway is perfect for anyone age seven to 77 (or more) and ideal for first-timers. This Class II-III paddle provides a thrill or two — look for the infamous Troublemaker rapid, but there’s little chance of bouncing out of your raft. This river experience even includes a Golden State history

When it comes to river rafting, California has it all. From gentle rivers to raucous rapids, there’s a river for one or the family. PHOTOS COURTESY VISIT CALIFORNIA

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THINGSTODO swimming hole. Bald eagles and ospreys soar above the alder- and fir-lined canyon, and beavers and river otters glide through the water. Trips start in Happy Camp, an hour and a half drive west of Yreka, so it’s easy to combine this watery adventure with a visit to Redwood National and State Parks.

The North Yuba River provides a unique experience. It leads you past the mining town of Downieville, where one can lodge and camp.

Merced River

RAFTING

Continued from previous page

North Fork of the Yuba River

The free-flowing North Yuba River is a unique rafting experience for the adventurous first timer or return rafter. The nearby mining towns of Downieville and Sierra City offer restaurants, lodging and camping options, saloons and historic landmarks.

Upper Cache Creek

This is a great place for do-it-your-

self river rafting on a friendly waterway. If you just want to get your feet wet, but don’t want a white-knuckle adventure, sign up for a do-it-yourself float on Upper Cache Creek, about two hours northeast of San Francisco. Paddle your own rubber raft through the foamy-but-friendly rapids of Cache Canyon. These are tame Class II rapids with a couple of keep-you-on-your-toes Class IIIs that offer brief thrills. One- and two-day DIY trips start

Class IV (intermediate) and Class V (advanced) rivers are usually rougher and reserved for those with experience.

near the Central Valley town of Rumsey along State Highway 16. While you can just go cool-off for a day, the twoday trip runs the full 20 miles of Cache Creek’s sheer volcanic canyon … a wonderfully scenic mini-adventure.

Lower Klamath River

The perfect kid-friendly river with swimming holes, wildlife and waterfalls. Hook up with one of several outfitters that offer fun, family adventures on this beautiful river. Turn your landlocked toddler into a happy river rat with a three-day, two-night camping and rafting trip on the warm waters of the Lower Klamath. The mellow Class II rapids are just splashy enough to be exciting for kids, yet not too nerve-wracking for mom and dad. Parents can kick back while river guides do all the work: set up camp, fix meals, explain the region’s fascinating mining history and teach the kids how to look for Bigfoot. Children as young as 4 are welcome, and they don’t need to know how to swim; personal floatation devices keep everyone safe. The whimsical name of the trip’s toughest rapid … Dragon’s Tooth, says it all. Enjoy the Klamath’s sandy beaches and take a hike through the rainforest of Ukonom Creek, where two sideby-side waterfalls cascade into a deep

The Merced River offers two completely different experiences. If you’re searching for shoot-the-rapids thrills and chills on a family-friendly river rafting trip and an incredibly scenic float, you want to head down a designated Wild and Scenic River stretch of the Merced. The 16 miles of river below El Portal include several rollercoaster-like Class III-IV rapids. You can float the Merced inside Yosemite, too, but you’ll be drifting along at an ultra-mellow pace. In June and July, rafting is one of the best ways to sightsee in busy Yosemite Valley. Rent an inflatable four-person raft at Half Dome Village Recreation Center and float three miles downriver, passing many of Yosemite’s most famous landmarks, including El Capitan and Yosemite Falls.

Tuolumne River

The Tuolumne River is the crown jewel of California whitewater rafting trips. It’s a true “escape from civilization” on this wet-and-wild river. You’ll see a rugged land of deep gorges and forests as wild as you can get in California. Known simply as “the T,” this designated “Wild and Scenic” section of river often gets the nod as having some of the best whitewater in California. Class IV rapids are the rule, not the exception. Clavey Falls, a series of three staircases, creates the biggest drama. Graduates of “the T” might want to try a float on the Upper T, better known as Cherry Creek … an even more thrilling whitewater stretch.

Info

O.A.R.S. www.oars.com All-Outdoors www.aorafting.com Tributary Whitewater Tours https://whitewatertours.com American Whitewater Expeditions www.americanwhitewater.com American River Raft Rentals https://raftrentals.com

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S U N D AYS I G N A L · 19

Home Made Flavor, Home Made Desserts

AMERICAN Backwoods Inn 17846 W. Sierra Highway, Canyon Country (661) 252-5522 The Backyard Grub n’ Brews 26509 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita (661) 286-1165 Bergie’s 16404 Delone Street, Canyon Country (661)251-3133 Black Angus 27007 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 288-2000 Black Bear Diner 23626 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 799-4820 The Cheesecake Factory 24250 Town Center Dr #110, Valencia, CA 91355 (661) 286-1232 Claim Jumper 25740 The Old Road, Valencia (661) 254-2628 Crazy Otto’s Diner 25373 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia (661) 291-1733 The Daily Harvest Cafe & Juicery 22722 Lyons Ave #6, Newhall (661) 383-9387 Iconic Eats 23460 Cinema Dr, Valencia (661) 481-9404 Islands 24180 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 284-5903 Lazy Dog Cafe 24201 Valencia Blvd., Valencia (661) 253-9996 Mama’s Table 23340 Cinema Dr, Santa Clarita (661) 284-5988 Marston’s Restaurant 24011 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 253-9910 Nealie’s Skillet 25858 Tournament Road, Valencia (661) 678-0031 Newhall Refinery 24258 Main St, Newhall (661) 388-4477

Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing Co 18810 Soledad Canyon Rd, Canyon Country (661) 252-7883 Red Robin 27063 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 260-2411 Route 66 Classic Grill 18730 Soledad Canyon Rd, Canyon Country (661) 298-1494

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Saddle Ranch Chop House 24201 Valencia Blvd., Valencia (661) 383-0173 Salt Creek Grille 24415 Town Center Drive, Valencia (661) 222-9999 Souplantation 24303 Town Center Drive, Valencia (661) 286-1260

Homemade Cooking!

Stonefire Grill 23300 Cinema Drive, Valencia (661)799-8282 The Old Town Junction 24275 Main Street Newhall (661) 702-4888 The Social 23329 Lyons Ave, Ste A, Valencia (661) 799-9155 Thelma’s Cafe 22876 Copperhill Drive, Saugus (661) 263-8283 Wing Stop 18547 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 251-9700 Wood Ranch Bar-B-Que & Grill 25580 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 222-9494

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BBQ Black Bear Diner 23626 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 799-4820 Dickeys Barbecue Pit 18742 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (661) 251-0840 L&L Hawaiian BBQ 18727 Via Princessa, Canyon Country (661) 251-8333 See DINING GUIDE, next page

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DINING GUIDE

Continued from previous page

BBQ Lucille’s Bar-B-Que 24201 West Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 255-1227 Q&Q Hawaiian BBQ 27530 Newhall Ranch Road #101, Santa Clarita (661) 383-9098 Rattler’s BBQ 26495 Golden Valley Road, Canyon Country (661) 251-4195

J U LY 14, 2019 Pocock Brewing Company 24907 Avenue Tibbits, Valencia (661) 775-4899 Wolf Creek Restaurant & Brewing Co. 27746 N. McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 263-9653

BURGERS/SANDWICHES Bricks 23820 Lyons Ave, Newhall (661) 286-1091 Brother’s Burgers 20655 Soledad Canyon (661) 299-9278 Burgerim 23740 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 670-8939

Smokehouse on Main 24255 Main St, Old Town Newhall (661) 888-4585

Corner Bakery 24290 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 259-2813

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

Cousins Burgers 19318 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 298-4200

BREAKFAST & BRUNCH Casa Canela 27647 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (661) 523-7282 Crazy Otto’s Diner 25373 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia (661) 291-1733 Egg Plantation 24415 Walnut Street, Newhall (661) 255-8222 Eggs N Things 27560 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 702-8664 Halfway House 15564 W. Sierra Highway, Saugus (661) 251-0102 Mama’s Table 23340 Cinema Dr, Santa Clarita (661) 284-5988 Marston’s Restaurant 24011 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 253-9910 Mimi’s Cafe 24201 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia (661) 255-5520 The Old Town Junction 24257 Main Street, Newhall (661) 702-4888 Saugus Cafe 25861 Railroad Avenue, Saugus (661) 259-7886 Way Station Coffee Shop 24377 Main Street, Newhall (661) 255-0222

BREWERIES BJ’s Restaurant 24320 Town Center Drive, Valencia (661) 288-1299 Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing Co. 18810 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 252-7883

Everest Burgers 18645 Soledad Canyon Road Santa Clarita, CA 91351 (661) 252-3412 Final Score 23754 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 254-6557 Firehouse Subs 23630 Valencia Blvd. Valencia (661) 255-3473 Five Guys 24201 W, Valencia Blvd #3672, Valencia (661) 255-0981 The Habit 25948 N. McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 291-1575 Italia Panetteria & Deli 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 294-9069 Jimmy Dean’s 22941 Lyons Ave, Newhall (661) 255-6315 JJ’s Bar and Grill 25848 Tournament Road, Valencia (661) 799-7557 Panini Palace 23120 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 678-0552 Pita Pit 28253 Newhall Ranch Road (661) 702-9977 Route 66 Classic Grill 18730 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 298-1494 Rustic Burger 24025 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 254-1300 Rustic Eatery 25343 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia (661) 254-8100 Submarina California Subs 26517 Carl Boyer Drive, Canyon Country (661) 259-4782

Tiny’s Submarine Sandwiches 27251 Camp Plenty Road, Canyon Country (661) 251-5885

CHINESE China Express 19417 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 251-8783 Golden Wok Restaurant 16668 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 424-0888 Grand Panda 23802 Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 253-1898 27924 Seco Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 297-9868 Mandarin Wong Chinese Restaurant 23758 Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 259-5823 Moon Wok 23460 Cinema Drive Suite H, Valencia (661) 288-1898 Pick Up Stix 25960 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 288-2090 WaBa Grill 19120 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 367-7297 31739 Castaic Road, Castaic (661) 295 9222 Wok’s Cookin’ Chinese Restaurant 31565 Castaic Road, Castaic (661) 257-2890

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

DELICATESSEN Bob’s Country Meats 19012 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 251-5995 Cathy’s Delicatessen 23120 W. Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 288-2217 Italia Panetteria & Deli 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 294-9069 Maria’s Italian-American Deli 22620 W. Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 259-6261 Mariciano’s Chicago Style Deli 18635 Soledad Canyon Road (661) 299-1100 The Sandwich Shop 25530 W. Avenue Stanford, Valencia (661) 257-4811

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

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

INDIAN An Indian Affaire 23360 W. Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 288-1200 Karma Restaurant, Bar & Lounge 23460 Cinema Drive, Valencia (661) 288-0080 Royal Tandoor 26532 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (661) 263-7100

ITALIAN Bella Cucina Ristorante Italiano 27911 Seco Canyon Rd, Saugus (661) 263-1414 Buca di Beppo 26940 Theater Drive, Valencia (661) 253-1900 Italia Panetteria & Deli 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 294-9069 Maria’s Italian-American Deli 22620 Lyons Ave, Newhall (661) 259-6261 Numero Uno Pizza 26111 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (661) 252-5011 Olive Garden 27003 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 799-8161 Piccola Trattoria 18302 Sierra Highway, Canyon Country (661) 299-6952 Presto Pasta 24375 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Valencia (661) 284-7737 Spumoni Restaurant 24917 W. Pico Canyon Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 799-0360

JAPANESE & SUSHI Achita Sushi 22913 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (661) 476-5522 Asako Sushi 27540 Sierra Hwy, Canyon Country (661) 251-6010 Bonsai Garden 19358 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 251-9008 Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ Dining 27025 McBean Pkwy, Valencia (661) 254-2355 Hibiki Restaurant 27625 Shangri La Dr., Canyon Country (661) 298-0273

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

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

Olive Terrace Cafe 28261 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 257-7860

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

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

Zankou Chicken 24463 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Valencia (661) 705-7265

Shogun Sushi Japanese Restaurant 26807 Seco Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 513-0015 Sushi 661 26850 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita (661) 252-9831 Sushi Song Japanese Restaurant 22896 Copper Hill Dr, Santa Clarita (661) 297-5659

KOREAN & MONGOLIAN

Charcoal Korean BBQ Restaurant 19158 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 251-9292 Genghis Khan 24506 W. Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 254-0351 Gogi House 26524 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 263-0048 Kogiya 2 Korean BBQ 23410 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 678-0999

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

MEDITERRANEAN Cafe O 20655 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 424-0401 Flame & Skewers 25870 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 799-7538 Grill Kabob 27653 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 263-7445 Kebab House 24201 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 799-5844 Manoushee Mediterranean Restaurant 27131 Sierra Hwy, Canyon Country (661) 251-6666

MEXICAN

Azul Tequila 25387 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia (661) 254-5500 Casa Pasilla 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 295-1989 El Trocadero Mesquite Grill & Cantina 24274 Main Street, Newhall (661) 284-6615 La Cocina Bar & Grill 28022 Seco Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 297-4546 La Charrita Restaurant 24225 Main St, Newhall (661) 288-1204

Rosarito Grill 19425 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 251-2732

PERSIAN

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

PIZZA

Pizza Di Marco 27674 Newhall Ranch Rd, Valencia 661-295-8769 Tomato Joes Pizza & Taps 19167 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita (661) 250-7550 Tomato Joes Pizza Express 27732 McBean Pkwy. Valencia (661) 263-8646 Toppers Pizza 23710 Valencia Blvd, Santa Clarita (805) 385-4444

POLISH

Las Rocas Mexican Grill 27923 Sloan Canyon Road Castaic, CA 91384 (661) 257-6905

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

Medrano’s Mexican Restaurant 19319 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (661) 367-4945

THAI Mom Can Cook Thai Kitchen 18358 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 251-8103

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J U LY 14, 2019

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

Sounds of U2 coming to Canyon Santa Clarita By Perry Smith Sunday Signal Editor

f you’re a fan of Bono, The Edge and the rest of the foursome from Ireland known around the world as U2, then there’s an upcoming show at Canyon Santa Clarita you won’t want to miss. Hollywood U2, which is touted as “the most authentic tribute to U2,” according to a post from the upcoming

show’s host, is scheduled to come to the Santa Clarita Valley on Friday, July 19. The band has no doubt spurred countless tribute acts and performers who wish to sound like the world-famous rock stars, who hold the record for the highest-grossing concert tour of all-time, the praise for Hollywood U2 comes from the original band itself, which might be the highest form possible.

“He was the split of me … he sang beautifully,” according to the rock star himself, Bono, who praised Joe Hier, the lead singer of Hollywood U2, after the two performed a duet of “The Sweetest Thing” together. It was not only the thrill of a lifetime for Hier, who was invited on stage in front of tens of thousands of fans for the moment, but the Wall Street Journal actually labeled the

pairing one of the “10 Must-Watch Performances From U2’s ‘Innocence + Experience’ Tour.” Find the Canyon Santa Clarita on the ground floor of the Westfield Valencia Town Center. Get tickets at the box office 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. MondaySaturday, by phone at (888) 645-5006, or via TicketMaster.com. For more info, visit WheremusicmeetstheSoul. com.

J U LY 14, 2019

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

Movie Reviews: ‘Toy Story 4’ and ‘Yesterday’ By Dianne White Crawford Signal Contributing Writer

“Toy Story 4”

General Release Yes, it’s another instant classic from Pixar. No, we shouldn’t be surprised. Their track record is beyond compare. But I can’t help it. How the heck do they do it time after time, movie after movie? We have known (most of) the characters for 25 years now, and this fourth entry seems every bit as fresh and creative as the first one. We like these characters, and it doesn’t matter that they are animated. We laugh and cry and worry about them as if they are our friends. Tom Hanks returns as our favorite cowboy Woody (yes, he still has a snake in his boot), and Tim Allen is back as Buzz Lightyear (still unable to grasp that he’s not a real space ranger). Also returning is Annie Potts as Bo Peep, now a strong, independent “lost” toy with excellent survival and scavenging skills. Some new toys and voices inject real pizazz to the adventures. Christina Hendricks charms as Gabby Gabby, a doll quite desperate for her own kid; Keanu Reeves shines as Duke Caboom, a showboating motorcycle stunt rider who may not be as daring as his big talk; and Tony Hale turns Forky into a lovable, little cockeyed spork-toy. Also bringing fun and a new comedic element are the hilarious team of Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key as Bunny and Ducky, respectively. The opening sequence takes place nine years ago, and we see how Bo Peep became separated from the others, and how the toys transitioned to Bonnie (Madeleine McGraw), how Bonnie transitioned to kindergarten and how Forky transitioned from trash to toy. And fear not, the old favorite toys are all here: Wallace Shawn as Rex; Joan Cusack as Jessie (I expected a bigger role for her); Timothy Dalton as Mr. Pricklepants; Pixar stalwart John Ratzenberger as Hamm; Blake Clark as Slinky Dog; and courtesy of archival recordings, two posthumous appearances by Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head, and Bud Luckey as Chuckles the Clown.

Woody and Buzz Lightyear are brought back to life in Pixar’s newest “Toy Story 4.” PHOTO COURTESY IMDB

With his first feature film as director, Josh Cooley follows up his screenplay for the brilliant “Inside Out” with a touching and superbly funny film. The screenplay comes from Andrew Stanton (two-time Oscar winner: “Finding Nemo” and “Wall-E”) and Stephany Folsom, while the original story credits are many, including John Lasseter in his last project with Pixar. Even though the film is Rated G, it should be noted that it’s a pretty complex story for youngsters, and the Charlie McCarthy dolls are kind of terrifying — at least to me and Forky. “Toy Story” (1995), “Toy Story 2” (1998) and “Toy Story 3” (2010) get the send-off they deserve, so go see it! Randy Newman is back with a new song, as well as the familiar melody and lyrics from his Oscar-nominated “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” … a friend indeed.

“Yesterday”

General Release “Rocketman” recently did a great job of reminding us just how good Elton John songs are, making us want to dust off our vinyl/plastic/streaming service collection and reacquaint ourselves with his back catalogue all over again. Last year, the “Bohemian Rhapsody” movie did a similar thing for the music of Queen and now it’s the turn of The Beatles with “Yesterday.” Written by Richard Curtis (who wrote “Love Actually”), and directed by Danny Boyle, this film doesn’t go down the musical/biopic route, instead taking classic Beatles songs and weaving them into a high-concept

romantic comedy. The movie follows struggling musician Jack (Himesh Patel) and long-term best friend/manager Ellie (Lily James). Gigging in pubs is getting Jack nowhere, and he’s resigned himself to the fact that he might have to give it all up and return to a life of teaching. He lands a spot on the Suffolk stage at the annual Latitude Festival, expecting it to be his big break, but only his friends and a handful of bored kids show up to watch him play. But then, while riding home on his bike that night, something mysterious happens. An unexplained 12-second power cut hits the entire globe and in the resulting chaos, Jack is struck by a bus and flung from his bike. When he awakes in a hospital, bruised and missing a couple of front teeth, he plays a Beatles song to Ellie and his friends, who all think it’s amazing. They think it’s a new song, written by Jack, and claim to have never heard of The Beatles before. After a bit of Googling, it becomes clear that The Beatles never actually existed, and only Jack is able to remember them or any of their songs. There are a few other things which crop up as we go along, that also turn out never to have existed, in what is a bit of a nice running gag throughout the movie. Jack immediately realizes his chance of success at last, and sets about trying to remember as many of The Beatles songs and music as he can. His friends love the new material, and there’s also a hilarious scene where he tries to introduce his parents to a Beatles song (The Kumars,

Sanjeev Bhaskar and Meera Syal both on top form here), but it’s still not really working out for him at the pub gigs and weddings where he performs them. It’s only when he gets the chance to professionally “lay down” his tracks, and starts handing out free CDs to customers at the store where he works, that’s when things really take off, drawing the attention of one Ed Sheeran. Sheeran clearly has fun playing himself, and actually features quite heavily in the movie, particularly in these early stages — turning up at Jack’s house, asking him to come and support him on tour, and arranging a 10-minute songwriting challenge between himself and Jack. I’m not really a fan of Ed Sheeran, but he actually turns out to be responsible for a lot of the movies humor, eventually conceding that Jack is a better songwriter than him. As Jack starts to hit the big time, traveling to L.A. and being guided through the music business by his new manager, Debra (Kate McKinnon), we hit a bit of a mid-movie slump. Luckily though, Himesh Patel portrays Jack with such a relatable and likeable charm — his bewilderment and frustrations at the ridiculousness of the music industry, not to mention the building pressures of living the lie that his success has come from using someone else’s work — that he guides us nicely through these slower moments. The romance part of the story continues to play out too, with Jack and Ellie both clearly having loved each other for 20 years now, but with neither of them committing to taking it any further. Lily James is once again wonderful, despite being very much underused in this role, and it’s the love story element of the movie which isn’t quite as strong as the rest of it. The movie does manage to pull things together nicely for the final act, resolving the unease and tension that underlies much of the movie. It could have done with a bit more romance and a bit more comedy, but still manages to be an enjoyable movie and a perfect reminder of just how great The Beatles still are. I just returned from Liverpool so I have their songs stuck in my head.

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J U LY 14, 2019

K I D S & FA M I LY

What every family should know about childhood development

s a parent, you are probably tracking every move your young child makes, paying special attention to developmental milestones such as sitting, standing and talking. “While the pace of development does vary from child to child, parents should pay attention when things seem amiss. Sometimes the cause of a delay is a medical problem, and in many cases, early intervention is important,” says Dr. Garey H. Noritz, a pediatrician who cares for children with disabilities, and who authored an American Academy of Pediatrics clinical report on motor delays. “You are the best expert on your child, so if you have any concerns, you should address them with your pediatrician.” For parents of young children who have concerns about their child’s intellectual or physical development, Dr. Noritz offers the following advice: Make an appointment Don’t wait until your next scheduled appointment to speak with your pediatrician about your concerns. Make an appointment as soon as possible. Use free resources Online resources can help parents prepare for their pediatrician visit. One such tool, “Physical Developmental Delays: What to Look For,” an AAP online checklist available at healthychildren.org/mo-

tordelay, is a good resource for parents and caregivers of children under five. Available in English and Spanish, the interactive tool is designed to improve the early identification and care of motor developmental delay. Through on-screen guidance, parents can identify topics to discuss with their child’s pediatrician. Request genetic testing Once a developmental problem is confirmed, request genetic testing. When it comes to intellectual delays and disabilities, having a correct diagnosis by a medical professional helps families get the support and information they need to manage their child’s health care and help them reach their full potential. Pediatricians can play a critical role in working with parents to identify intellectual delays. One of the more common inherited causes of intellectual disability, Fragile X syndrome (FXS), can only be confirmed with the FMR1 DNA Test for Fragile X. “All children with developmental delays, intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder should be considered for a genetic evaluation,” says Dr. Robert A. Saul, a pediatrician and medical geneticist who is a member of the AAP. “While therapeutic interventions are vitally important, a diagnostic genetic

evaluation is equally so. Although there is no cure for FXS, with a diagnosis, we can offer important supportive treatments and take educational and therapeutic approaches,” he said. “Having a reason for a child’s intellectual disabilities and behavior problems can be reassuring for families, and a diagnosis enables families to receive counseling for family planning, participate in clinical research if desired, and connect with support groups.” More tips, tools, reliable resources and information about child devel-

opment and other pediatric issues for families can be found at healthychildren.org. Information for physicians and other health care providers regarding FXS is available at www. aap.org/fxs. Remember, there are many ways you can be proactive about your child’s early motor and intellectual development. If you have any concerns, seek out tools, resources and the advice of your pediatrician as early as possible. — Statepoint

How parents can build strong relationships with their children’s coaches

ach year, millions of student-athletes across the globe participate in organized sports. Parents want these experiences to be as positive as possible for their children. One way to accomplish that goal is for moms and dads to build strong, supportive relationships with their children’s coaches. Strong parent-coach relationships can lay the foundation for an enjoyable experience for student-athletes, allowing them to reap the many rewards of being involved in organized sports. • Recognize the commitment that coaches make to help youngsters. Many scholastic coaches are unpaid volunteers, and those who are paid typically are not coaching for the

money but rather to help youngsters. Parents can periodically acknowledge that commitment and express their gratitude to coaches, even when discussing coaches’ decisions they may not agree with. • Speak with the coach at the beginning of the season. Coaches are busy at the beginning of the season, but parents can still spend a few minutes introducing themselves to coaches and offering any assistance they can provide. Express your gratitude to coaches at this time as well. Even simple gestures to help coaches, which may lessen their workload, can reassure them that their efforts are appreciated.

• Keep communication open throughout the season. After initial

introductions, coaches may only hear from parents when moms and dads disagree with a decision a coach has made. But lines of communication should be kept open throughout the season, and many coaches appreciate it when parents speak with them when things are going well and not just when they want to voice a complaint. Parents who want to voice a complaint may benefit by waiting to bring an issue up the next day. Cooler heads prevail, and coaches will appreciate the chance to have calm discussions with parents, which might not always occur if issues are brought up during the heat of competition.

Parents want the best for their children, and many may feel compelled to instruct young athletes during games. But such instructions can distract youngsters from what their coaches are telling them. Parents are urged to support kids during competitions but to allow the coaches to do the coaching. Coaches will recognize and respect parents who respect their authority and allow them the opportunity to coach their teams without interference during competitions. A strong parent-coach relationship can help kids get the most out of their participation in organized sports.

• Let coaches coach during the game.

— Metro Connection

J U LY 14, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 5

K I D S & FA M I LY

Donna’s Day: Creative Family Fun

Friendship bracelets are a summer classic

and giving it to your bunkmate at summer camp with the promise that you’d be friends forever. Cousins Amy Weiss and Maddie Reeder got into making bracelets when they met up at their grandmother’s mountain cabin in California. As they chose colors, braided and chatted, Amy said: “If you wear a lot of them, kids wonder where you got them. I like to share the story behind each bracelet when they ask. One time, someone wanted to know how my favorite was made, so I showed her and then we became friends. It just continues.”

By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer

s I latched a favorite bracelet made of reindeer leather and spun silver/ pewter designed by the Sami artisans in the north of Sweden around my wrist, I couldn’t help but think that sometimes “things” really do matter. I wear it paired with a silver bangle when I dress up, or as is when I come and go. A Swedish cousin gave it to me after her extended stay with our family in Minnesota when she was a teen. It was a “thank you,” and a token of our friendship. When I wear it, I think of Annika. Bracelets can be stylish reminders of friendships in our lives, past and present, but they don’t need to be made out of reindeer leather to accomplish that purpose. It’s no wonder colorful strings of embroidery floss

A basic friendship bracelet can be easy to make. Amy Weiss creates a summer friendship bracelet with embroidery floss for her cousin Maddie Reeder.

woven in patterns and stacked up on wrists and ankles of kids have been so popular.

Make that, still popular.

Maybe you remember creating the classic “friendship bracelet” as a child

Make kids’ bedtime a breeze

ew parents face many obstacles once they leave the hospital and take their children home. Parents often find that sleep schedules are a significant challenge, and one that won’t necessarily vanish as children grow older and become more independent. Adequate sleep is important for any age group, but especially so for developing children. When kids do not get enough sleep, they have a harder time controlling their emotions and they may have difficulty paying attention and learning. Despite that need for sleep, bedtime seems to be the one time during the day when youngsters seem especially needy and resistant to settling down. Patricia Cancellier, a former education director at the Parent Encouragement Program in Kensington, Maryland, says it’s typical for behavior issues to be more prevalent when separation from parents is imminent, like it is at bedtime. Parents who emphasize consistency with their children’s sleep routine may find that their infants, toddlers

and school-aged children don’t put up too much of a fuss at bedtime. Establish a bedtime that works Figure out how much sleep your child needs and make sure they get to bed early enough to reach that goal each night. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers aged-based sleep guidelines that can be accessed at www.aap. org. Parents magazine says children’s internal clocks eventually will adjust to the routine if the routine follows a natural and consistent pattern. Start winding down About an hour before bedtime, begin to scale back activities and anything that can rev up energy levels. Signal that bedtime is close Give children a verbal warning or follow a similar routine each day. For young children, signals such as a relaxing bath, songs, hugs or other physical cues can indicate that bedtime is coming. Reinforce structure Consistency is essential. Talk about routines at other times of the day, and then implement other structured events. This teaches

Parents using consistency with their children’s sleep routine may find their children don’t put up so much of a fuss at bedtime.

kids to recognize routines throughout their day, making kids more likely to embrace them at bedtime. Offer a snack Some children need more than three meals a day. A light snack before bed can help them stay sated through the night. Good ideas include whole-grain cereal with milk, graham crackers and milk, or a similar carb/protein combination. Repetition and patience are often necessary as parents try to initiate bedtime routines for their children. — Metro Connection

Start by measuring three lengths of embroidery floss from the tips of your child’s outstretched fingers to his shoulder. Cut, and tie the three lengths from one end to a doorknob, or even his toe! Tie a firm knot 2 inches from the tied ends and start braiding like you would braid hair. Continue, then check the size by wrapping around a friend’s wrist. When it fits as a single or double bracelet, make a knot and cut off any extra thread. Kids may wish to add extras, like stringing on colorful beads or charms from craft stores. A high school graduate made bracelets for her friends using school colors and alphabet letter charms representing the colleges her friends will attend this fall. Get started now. Pick up some embroidery floss to braid bracelets with your kids, and have fun making one for each other and more to send to new summer friends. As interest grows, check out more advanced designs online at www.wikihow.com/ Make-a-Friendship-Bracelet. Donna Erickson’s award-winning series “Donna’s Day” is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activities, visit www.donnasday.com and link to the NEW Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.” ©2019 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Synd.

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J U LY 14, 2019

THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR

ONGOING Thursdays, 6 p.m. Come to The Canyon for a night of line dancing lessons and county music presented by Borderline Bar & Grill. Guests 18 years old and older will be permitted, no parents or guardians needed to enter. Show a valid identification upon entry. The Canyon – Santa Clarita, 24201 Valencia Blvd, No. 1351, Santa Clarita. Info: wheremusic meetsthesoul.com/canyon-santa-clarita Fridays, 7:30-9:30 p.m. The Valencia Jazz & Blues Concert Series returns for its 20th year, featuring regional, national and international entertainers in a family-friendly, street party setting offering activities for adults and children. The scheduled series will bring a variety of activities for the entire family, as well as a variety of food and beverages. No pets or outside food or beverages are allowed. Admission is free. Downtown Valencia on Town Center Drive, outside the Westfield Valencia Town Center. Info: For the lineup of performers, visit valenciajazzandblues.com/ line-up/ Third Thursday of the month, 7-10 p.m. The SENSES Block Party, brings live music, food trucks, themed activities and adult beverages to Main Street until October. Ride a wave on the mechanical surfboard or check out a classic Volkswagen and listen to the tunes of Jimmy Buffet at this Margaritaville-themed party. Main St, Newhall. Info: thursdaysatnewhall.com/senses/ Fourth Thursday of the month, 7-9 p.m. Audiences to the music showcase Note by Note will be presented with a free evening of fun and a wide range of music styles including rock, folk, Celtic, Americana,

! WIN

= Family Friendly Event

blues, jazz, country, experimental, western and more. The MAIN, 24266 Main St, Newhall. Info: thursdaysatnewhall.com/ notebynote/ Third Friday of the month, 7-9 p.m. Calling all performers and artists. Now is your time to get yourself out there! Sign up as a performer, sign up as an artist to display your work or both. Coffee and snacks will be provided. Original, family friendly material only please. The Open Book Canyon Country, 19188 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita. Info: (661) 255-1400, valenciabookstore@ gmail.com Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. William S. Hart Regional Park’s hilltop mansion, offers free guided tours and craftin’ fun. Set up right outside the mansion’s back door, on the covered back patio, is the new weekly Crafterday Saturday craft table, The little ones can try their hands at simple crafts like making their own totem poles, designing their own rope art, making their own dreamcatchers and much more. The event is free. William S. Hart Regional Park, 24151 Newhall Ave., Newhall. Info: (661) 254-4584, hartmuseum.org

EVENTS BY DATE Sunday, July 14, noon to 4 p.m. Le Chène French Cuisine invites you to celebrate this year’s Bastille Day and Argentine Independence Day in Le Chene’s beautiful gardens. Guests will soak in the warm weather (shade will be provided), sip on some wine, socialize with fellow foodies and enjoy an afternoon filled with the aromas and full-flavors of a true Argentinian feast. 12625 Sierra Highway, Santa Clarita.Info: lechene.com/

WIN

! WIN

CONGRATULATIONS to Kelly Kacmar for correctly identifying SCV Glassworks on page 3. Identify this advertiser and the page number in this week’s issue, and you will be entered to win a $100 gift certificate for a local restaurant. One game and one winner each week.

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

This week’s entries are due Wed. July 24 Winner to be announced in 2 weeks.

event/bastille-day-argentinianindependence-day-at-le-chene-2019 Sunday, July 14, 6:30 p.m. Leading NeoTech Products since 1991, president Craig McCrary will share his story about providing supplies for NICUs, PICUs, pediatric oncology and home health markets around the world, making a difference with groundbreaking products that benefit patience and clinicians. $20 for an early bird ticket, $100 to be a beverage sponsor, $300 to be a food sponsor, $30 for last minute guests. 28410 Ave Stanford, Santa Clarita. Info: startupgrind.com Monday, July 15, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Safety Town is a one-week safety education summer program that introduces safety to young children (ages 4½ to 6 years) in an age appropriate, fun and secure environment. Safety Town is a childsize city that will be assembled in the school’s multipurpose room, with traffic lights, street and stop signs, striped walkways, crosswalks and streets. 23890 Copper Hill Dr, Ste 249 Valencia. Info: santaclaritaoptimistfoundation. org/safetytown Monday, July 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Curtain Call Performing Arts will be holding its three-day workshop for visitors to learn guitar performances, 50s dance numbers and scenes from the hit movie “Back to the Future.” You will develop new skills, learn from working artists and build lasting friendships in a cooperative environment that puts FUN first! Curtain Call Performing Arts, 20655 Soledad Canyon Rd, Unit 31, Saugus. Info: curtaincallpa.com/summer Friday, July 19 to Saturday, July 20, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hosted by the Fernandeno Tataviam Band of Mission Indians and Pukuu Cultural Community Services, aspiring artists can learn how to budget their business, create a portfolio, reach their audience, market and price art and more. California Institute of the Arts, 24700 McBean Pkwy, Valencia. Info: forms.gle/3UN8P2B9aPWy2nSP7 Saturday, July 20, 9 a.m. to noon Come to this SCV Water Gardening Class and learn about the basic elements included in sustainable landscaping, including ways to preserve natural resources, be water-wise, and still have a landscape that meets your needs. SCV Water, 27234 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita. Info: yourscvwater.com/event/gardening-class-the-basics-of-sustainablelandscaping/ Saturday, July 20, 4-9 p.m. The Crawl is coming! This pub crawl will feature three rounds of trivia with 75 questions in total. Dress up as your favorite “Game of Thrones”

character, order themed drinks and win prizes. $15 for early bird tickets, $18 for general admission and $25 for last minute guests. Alchemy, 24501 Town Center Dr, Ste 101, Valencia. Info: facebook.com/events/308978060054045/ Saturday, July 20, 5-10 p.m. Activism and the arts collide for an evening of art, film, and fun at the Canyon Theatre Guild. The Democratic Alliance for Action of Santa Clarita will host a film screening and art auction fundraiser beginning with a special happy hour and to mingle with artists who have generously donated their art. A special guest speaker will introduce the Oscar award-winning film “BlackkKlansman.” 24242 Main St, Newhall. Info: facebook.com/events/671024900010121/ Saturday, July 20, 7 p.m. Concerts in the Park will feature Prussia to Santa Clarita! Prussia is a 4-piece funk powerhouse based out of north Hollywood, Calif. Fronted by a dynamic female vocalist and grooving rhythm section, they are known for their electric live performances and unique blend of blues, funk, and soul. Central Park, 27150 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita. Info: calendar.santa-clarita.com/ concerts_in_the_park Sunday, July 21, 2-3 p.m. It’s time to relive another “cool” travel adventure with Placerita Canyon Nature Center docent Nikki Dail. She’ll talk about Belize and take you to the Cayes, fly over the Blue Hole, tour the Belize Zoo, explore Mayan ruins, and get rescued after being trapped inside a flooded cave, while learning about the flora and fauna along the way. Placerita Canyon Nature Center, 19152 Placerita Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita. Info: facebook.com/events/2283160858470626/ Monday, July 22, 6-8 p.m. Join state Sen. Scott Wilk, Supervisor Kathryn Barger and Assemblyman Tom Lackey at the Wildfire Town Hall to hear from the experts and learn practices for keeping your home safe in a wildfire, what are preventative measures taken by utility companies, state and county preparedness plans and the City of Santa Clarita’s response/action plan. The Centre, 20880 Centre Pointe Pkwy, Santa Clarita. Info: (661) 286-1471, tinyurl.com/y58dkq5c Tuesday, July 23, 6:30-9 p.m. The SCV Education Foundation will host a cornhole tournament fundraiser. Registration starts will be within the first half hour, while the tournament begins at 7 p.m. The first place winner will receive $50, and the second and third place winners will receive $25. $30 entry fee per two-person team. Wolf Creek Brewery, 25108 Rye Canyon Loop, Santa Clarita Info: www.scveducationfoundation.org

J U LY 14, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 7

HOMEIMPROVEMENT

Electrical advice and below-ground leaks By Robert Lamoureux Signal Contributing Writer

Electrical advice Hi Robert, My name is John. I and some of my friends are avid readers of your article, and we often discuss some of your topics. We all really appreciate the advice that you share, it has helped all of us at one time or another, so thank you for what you do. We notice that you are an electrical contractor also, but you rarely touch on electrical issues. We’re wondering why, just out of curiosity, that is. — John M. John, The problem with electrical is that it is unforgiving, so I have to be very selective about what I guide people to do or even suggest that they do. I do receive questions about different repairs or installations but I am cautious about guidance. I could give perfect instruction to someone, but if they don’t have a good understanding of the dangers or the need to follow the steps exactly, there could be dangerous situations that happen, and I certainly don’t want to induce harm to anyone. Electrical, as I said, is unforgiving — so one small error or misstep could cause severe situations of many different kinds. The minute a flash panel (this is the interior second panel that you see, when you open the electrical panel to your home) is opened, the exposure to high voltage is present and if you are not educated on how to handle this or even how to properly protect yourself, you could be in grave danger. I generally refer folks to a licensed and insured electrician when the situation calls for it, it is always the safer bet for everyone involved. I hope this helps explain. Good luck, — Robert

Robert Lamoureux recommends an epoxy injection system to help mitigate leaking in a below-ground garage.

Below-ground leaks Hi Robert, We have a below-ground garage that is leaking on the interior two walls. On the exterior, there are planters with dirt below. We have had three contractors out here and all three have different opinions. Given the pics I sent you of the interior and the exterior, what is your opinion of what we should do? We are not a wealthy HOA and must fix this, but can’t be broke either. — Mary R. Mary, Based on the finances and the enormity of the problem, I would recommend using an epoxy injection system to the affected areas and attempt to resolve the problem that

way. The crew will come in and core (approximately) half-inch holes into the wall and inject and epoxy that will travel behind the wall attempting to seal the water behind the dirt, not allowing it to enter the garage. This is not a 100 percent fool-proof repair, but a good attempt at stopping the water. If you use a reputable company, they are pretty good at stopping the majority of the leaks. Sometimes negative waterproofing is an option but if you were to try a negative waterproofing here, this would encapsulate the water which would allow the rebar to sit in water 24/7, exacerbating the rusting of the steel. If the steel is allowed to sit in the water like that, then you will get a condition called spalling, where the steel rusts and expands and then blows the

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inner face of the block wall off. This is then structural damage and over time can become extremely hazardous and very costly. Give the epoxy a try here, it may buy you some time to allow the HOA to gather funds in order to do a more permanent repair at a future date. Good luck, — Robert Robert Lamoureux has 38 years of experience as a general contractor, with licenses in electrical and plumbing contracting. He owns IMS Construction Inc. in Valencia. His opinions are his own, not necessarily those of The Signal. Opinions expressed in this column are not meant to replace the recommendations of a qualified contractor after that contractor has made a thorough visual inspection. Email questions to robert@imsconstruction.com.

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J U LY 14, 2019

H E A LT H

To Your Good Health

Are antibiotics recommended before dental work? By Keith Roach, M.D. Signal Contributing Writer

I have a stent, but also a knee replacement, for which I take four 500-mg capsules of amoxicillin each time I go to the dentist, including just for cleaning. This is per my surgeon’s orders. Do you have any information that would question the necessity of this? — M.W.

ANSWER: Bacteria can get into the bloodstream occasionally in healthy people. They often enter through the mouth, especially in people with poor oral hygiene or with inflammatory oral conditions, such as gingivitis (gums) or periodontitis (tooth lining). The reason to take antibiotics is to prevent the bacteria in the blood from getting into someplace they are likely to cause harm, such as prosthetic heart valves, joints or stents. For years, expert groups recommended taking antibiotics around the time of dental procedures.

The problem is that it’s not clear whether antibiotics help prevent infection, however, it is clear that antibiotics have the potential to cause harm, although the risk of serious problems with a single dose of amoxicillin is pretty small. No study has ever shown a reduction in the rate of serious infections from

using antibiotics before a dental procedure. Further, bacteria are just about as likely to get into the bloodstream after brushing (or even after a bowel movement). For this reason, antibiotics to be taken before dental procedures are reserved for people at the highest risk, those in whom an infection would be extremely dangerous. This includes people with artificial materials in the bloodstream, such as prosthetic

heart valves, or with repaired congenital heart disease. People with any history of infection of the heart valves are at high risk and should receive antibiotics. For people like you, with orthopedic hardware, infection after a dental procedure is rare. A joint statement by the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons instructed: “In general, for patients with prosthetic joint implants, prophylactic antibiotics are not recommended prior to dental procedures to prevent prosthetic joint infection.” However, any given person may have underlying surgical or medical issues that may supersede these general recommendations. What remains important is maintaining good oral hygiene and promptly treating any dental infections. Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med. cornell.edu. ©2019 North America Synd., Inc.

SALADS

Continued from page 15

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

This recipe uses commercially prepared salad dressings for a quick and easy lunch or dinner. 2 1 1 2-3 1/2 2 6 1/2 1/3

tbsp. melted butter tsp. garlic powder tsp. Morton Natures Seasoning slices day-old bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes cup commercial Italian salad dressing boneless skinless chicken breast halves cups romaine lettuce, torn into salad-size pieces cup shredded Parmesan cheese cup commercial Caesar salad dressing

Combine butter, garlic powder and Morton’s; add bread cubes and toss to coat. Place on a baking sheet; bake at 350F for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown.

Pour Italian dressing into a large resealable plastic bag; add chicken. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Grill chicken, uncovered, over medium heat or broil 4-6 inches from the heat for 6-7 minutes on each side until done. Cut into strips or cubes; refrigerate until chilled. When ready to serve, combine the romaine, cheese, croutons and mix with Caesar dressing. Lay grilled chicken atop the salad.

J U LY 14, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 9

SENIORLIVING

How to travel even if you have limited mobility

any people dream of traveling the world in retirement. Such dreams come true every day. But many more retirees or people nearing retirement fear that their dreams of seeing the world won’t be possible due to mobility issues beyond their control. Thankfully, such fears are largely unwarranted. Various conditions can affect men and women’s mobility. Many such issues tend to arise after age 50, prompting many people to believe their post-retirement travel plans will never come to fruition. Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD; and heart disease may make it hard for people to travel. But that difficulty doesn’t mean aging men and women should resign themselves to a sedentary lifestyle. Though they might require a little extra effort before boarding a plane for parts unknown, the following are a handful of ways that aging men and women with limited mobility can reap the rewards of traveling.

• Contact airlines or other transportation companies if you require special accommodations. The U.S. Department of Transportation notes that passengers are generally not required to provide advanced notice for disability-related accommodations. However, it makes sense to provide such notice anyway. By doing so, men and women with limited mobility can ensure they will have adequate assistance during their trips. When

made aware of passengers’ mobility issues, airlines or other travel companies may arrange for wheelchairs to be available at the gates or train platforms so passengers can easily make connecting flights and trains. In addition, advance notice gives companies a chance to provide seating accommodations that can make for a more enjoyable trip. • Contact security agencies. Security is part of modern travel, so travelers, especially those traveling by air, should expect to go through security checkpoints during their trips. Travelers with limited mobility should contact the security agencies in their home country as well as those in any country they plan to visit to get an idea of what they can expect. Knowing these guidelines in advance can help people with limited mobility determine if they should arrive extra early so they can make it through security checkpoints in time to make their flights or trains. • Contact hotels directly. Each country has its own laws regarding how to accommodate people with physical disabilities or mobility issues, so don’t leave things to chance. Before booking a hotel room abroad, travelers with limited mobility should contact the hotel directly to confirm that it can accommodate their needs. Men and women with limited mobility can still enjoy the wonders of travel, even if it requires some extra effort before embarking on their trips. — Metro Connection

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30 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J U LY 14, 2019

PROFILE

Philanthropy earns Ingram ‘Woman of the Year’ By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

am Ingram, 2019 Santa Clarita Valley Woman of the Year, is a familiar face around the Santa Clarita Valley. In real estate for 25 years, she is one of the top Realtors working at RE/MAX of Santa Clarita, is a member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame and has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Her nonprofit volunteer work not only earned her the SCV Woman of the Year award, but the 2015 Carmen Sarro Award bestowed by Zonta International of SCV. REMAX of Santa Clarita also named Ingram winner of its Philanthropic Award.

Chicago born

Ingram was almost born in a taxi cab on the way to Edgewater Hospital in Chicago. “My dad was in vaudeville at the time I was born,” she said. “He sang and danced. He was on the road, and my mother was to call George Gobel (the famous comedian and variety show host), to take her to the hospital.” However, Gobel’s line was busy so Ingram’s mother called a taxi. “The cab got lost on the way to the hospital,” Ingram said. “I was semi-

Pam Ingram stands in front of some of the many commendations she’s received throughout the years. SIGNAL PHOTOS

born in the back of the taxi cab; they did get to the hospital, but just barely.” Despite missing Ingram’s birth, Gobel was named her godfather.

Moving to Southern California

The family, tired of the harsh Chicago winters, moved to Southern California when Ingram was 3. They moved to Seal Beach and then Long Beach before they settled into the Canoga Park/Woodland Hills area of the San Fernando Valley. “That’s where I grew up,” she said. “Looking back, I remember the valley was very clean and safe. Topanga Plaza was just being built. That’s where we hung out.” Ingram, a graduate of Canoga High School, attended Pierce College in Woodland Hills with plans to finish college in Santa Barbara. “My dad was working in the auto industry at the time, and I was offered a job at the new Courtesy Chevrolet in Thousand Oaks,” she said. Ingram quit college to work at the auto dealership. She met her husband, Steve Ingram, and the couple were wed in 1972. “We just celebrated our 47th wedding anniversary,” she said. The Ingrams have one son, Chris-

topher, and four grandchildren, one boy and three girls; Taylor, 13; Zach, 11; Ella, 9; and Abbey, 7. “We spend a lot of time at dance recitals,” she said.

Living in the SCV

The Ingrams first moved to the Santa Clarita Valley in 1974. Ingram remembers the SCV before Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital was open and when Magic Mountain was new. “They were promising us a mall in those days,” she said. Ingram said highlights of the SCV were Tip’s Restaurant, Lumber City and the 76 gas station. “The Backwoods Inn was the place to eat,” she said. As luck would have it, as soon as the couple moved to the SCV, her husband was hired to work in Ojai. “Every day he was commuting on that dangerous two-lane back road,” she said. After their son was born in 1976, the family moved back to Thousand Oaks the following year. In 1995 the family returned to the SCV, moving to Valencia.

J U LY 14, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3 1

PROFILE Working in real estate

high school once contacted her, and she was surprised to hear from him. “He was driving through Santa Clarita and he called me and I asked, ‘How did you find me?’ He said, ‘Your truck, it’s sitting out on the road.’” The moving van, after many years of service to the community, is now retired. Ingram was president of the Betty Ferguson Foundation, on the Winter Task Force Shelter Committee and chairman of the SCV Chamber of Commerce. “I believe if you live in this community, you have to give back to this community,” Ingram said. “It’s what makes the SCV so special, giving back to our community.”

Ingram found her real estate career when a girlfriend asked Ingram to cover for her while she recovered from surgery. She began working in real estate in 1994, and after working in Westlake Village, Ingram interviewed with RE/ MAX of Santa Clarita and was hired. “I like working with people and every day is new and exciting,” she said. “I might be sitting at a desk, but every escrow is different, and every family you work with is different.” Ingram said she enjoys helping families find their dream home as much as she enjoys helping people sell an existing home. “It’s very satisfying,” she said.

Giving back

“I have my hand in a lot,” Ingram said. “Probably more than I should.” Her dedication to nonprofit work first started in high school. “I was in a club that decided to sponsor a little girl in Africa,” she said. Ingram started volunteering in earnest in the early 1990s when her son attended Chaminade College Preparatory. She was on the fundraising committee for five years, and served as PTA president. Shortly after moving to the SCV, Ingram’s best friend died. “She was very active in Thousand Oaks and always told me, ‘You have to do this,’” Ingram said. “Cheri Fleming (co-owner of Valencia Acura and past president of Soroptimist International of the Americas) immediately got me involved in Soroptimist.” Ingram was just installed for her third term as president of Soroptimist International of Greater SCV. She also was chair of the group’s Wine Affair fundraiser and co-chair of the annual

Sebastian Velona Foundation

Pam Ingram proudly shows off her 2019 Woman of the Year license frame.

fashion show. Ingram has served on the advisory board of the Santa Clarita Valley Child & Family Center and supported a wide variety of nonprofits, including Walk to End Alzheimer’s, Light the Night, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Boys & Girls Club of SCV, Carousel Ranch, Special Olympics and the SCV Senior Center. “For many years, we had a moving van and our moving van was used

by every nonprofit in town for every event,” she said. The van, which had Ingram’s name prominently displayed on the side, was purchased to advertise her business. “The Boys & Girls Club of SCV used it to deliver Christmas trees, schools used it and sometimes it was available for my clients,” Ingram said. “That van was out at a lot of events, which got me involved in attending events with different nonprofits.” Ingram said an old boyfriend from

For Ingram, her support of the Sebastian Velona Foundation is personal. “I have known Sebastian’s mother for 12 years,” she said. As a child, Sebastian was misdiagnosed many times before it was discovered he suffers from a rare genetic disease, Batten disease, or Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis. “There are various forms of Batten,” said Ingram. “We have been working with a team of scientists and medical professionals worldwide.” Ingram said that most children, who suffer from Batten disease do not live past age 21. Sebastian, now 16, is almost completely blind, and has difficulty walking. Ingram said a pharmaceutical company is now working on a drug that might reverse some of the effects of the disease. For more information visit www. curebattencln8.org.

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32 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J U LY 14, 2019

ART&DESIGN

The art of buying art for your home

esigning a home’s interior can be fun. Whether furnishing a first apartment or a newly purchased family home, many people feel that the art they put on the walls of their homes is an expression of their individuality, and that a home isn’t truly a home until its interior reflects their personalities. Furnishing a home with art can be intimidating, especially for people doing so for the first time. But a few tricks of the trade can help men and women turn the interiors of their homes into spaces that reflect who they are.

Embrace your personal taste

Don’t hesitate to decorate your walls with art you like. When buying furniture for a home, it can make sense to follow certain rules. For example, parents of young children might want to purchase dark-colored furnishings that can

Shop around

The art people hang in their homes is a personal choice, and the process of finding that art can be fun and eyeopening.

hide stains. But no such rules should govern your choices of artwork. Art reflects the person who made it, but it also reflects the person who buys it, so buyers should embrace their personal taste when furnishing their homes with art.

Thanks to the internet, billions of pieces of art, from tapestries to photographs to paintings, are at your fingertips. Comparison shopping can be fun and help novices discover their personal tastes. It also can be a great way to support artists. For example, 90 percent of all image royalties on art purchased from YourArtGallery.com goes directly to the artist, ensuring much of buyers’ money is going toward supporting the people responsible for the art they plan to hang in their homes. That can give people a greater sense of pride in their home’s decor.

Seek inspiration

If you’re unfamiliar with art, don’t hesitate to seek inspiration. Art is everywhere, from the hotels you stay in while traveling to the billboards you pass while driving to work to the local art museum near your home.

If you’re uncertain of what you like, make a concerted effort to recognize the art you see but may not stop to notice each day. As you expose yourself to more and more art, you will gain a greater knowledge of what you like and dislike. Use that knowledge to inform your decisions when buying art for your home.

Switch things up

Your entire home does not need to follow a theme. If your taste in art is eclectic, embrace that and have different rooms throughout your home reflect your different tastes. This can give each room its own unique feel and make for a colorful home. The art people hang in their homes is a personal choice, and the process of finding that art can be fun and eye-opening. — Metro Connection

How to create an eye-catching gallery wall

allery walls, also called moment walls, are one of today’s hottest home decor trends. Gallery walls enable homeowners to create visually appealing groupings of photos, frames, wall art and much more to dress up any room in the house. Gallery walls can make a statement in the living room, add finesse to an entryway or showcase special items along a staircase. One need only do a quick internet search or browse through lifestyle magazines to see examples of gallery walls for inspiration. Anyone with a little determination can design a gallery wall.

Find your muse

The first step to creating a gallery wall is to choose a theme. If floral prints are your thing or you love abstract art, build your gallery around these elements. You can even use color or frame style as the coordinating factor.

Take your time

Some people rush into creating gallery walls, and that can be a mistake. Spend time picking out pieces and trying different combinations before

you take out the hammer and hardware. The mix should be captivating and look like it was a curated collection. Some pieces can be high-end, while others may be picked up at flea markets or even be your own artwork or photography.

Experiment with dimensions and levels

Gallery walls need not be restricted to flat photos on a wall. Texture and depth can be used in wall designs. Intersperse shelving, sconces, wooden letters, clocks and more to make the gallery even more eclectic. Feel free to build the gallery around items that are in the house, such as windows or televisions. This can help electronics blend into the design.

Establish your focal point

Pottery Barn suggests making the center of the display at eye level, roughly 66 inches off the ground. Then build the gallery out from around that focal point. There are many patterns that can be built into the gallery, from “spiral” to “centered” to “reflection” designs.

Create a template

Lay the gallery design on the floor and cut newspapers or other paper

Gallery walls allow homeowners to create visually appealing groupings of photos, frames, wall art and more.

to the size of each piece. Use masking tape to position these guides on the wall, trying a few arrangements until you are happy with the finished product. Then replace the paper with the artwork.

Hang items with precision

Don’t skimp on technique. Use a

ruler, level and the right tools. This ensures pieces are straight and in line with others. Gone are the days when large pieces of artwork fill empty walls. Gallery designs add statements and can balance rooms in creative ways. — Metro Connection

J U LY 14, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3 3

T R AV E L

Picture perfect time in Page, Arizona By Michelle Sathe Signal Staff Writer

urning 50 is kind of a big deal, so I wanted to celebrate with something special this May. That meant a road trip, this time with my boyfriend David, to take in the majestic sights of Horseshoe Bend and Lower Antelope Canyon in Page, Arizona. We set up camp, so to speak, in Kanab, Utah, at a lovely, dog-friendly AirBNB home with an incredibly comfy king bed, a luxurious shower that could have fit six people and a gorgeous view of a red rock canyon right in the backyard. While that peace and beauty was hard to leave, adventure awaited, so we left the dogs with a sitter and made the 75-mile drive to Page, after grabbing a delicious bacon, Swiss cheese and egg croissant sandwich at the French-inspired Kanab Creek Bakery in town. First on the agenda, Lower Antelope Canyon, part of the Navajo Nation Tribal Park, which requires all visitors be accompanied by a tour guide. Ken’s Tours offers tours seven days a week, morning to early evening, for $50 per person (which you can purchase in advance online or on-site at the box office). Talk about a hidden treasure. You literally cannot see Lower Antelope Canyon from ground level, but once you descend about six flights of stairs, there is a mind-blowing underworld of slot canyons and wavy rock formations begging to be photographed. Our knowledgeable, young guide first helped by showing me how to set my camera in the “pro” position, allowing for the maximum capture of light, color and shapes, of which there are many to marvel at. The hour-long tour was very crowded with fellow tourists all striving for the perfect shot, so it takes a while to navigate each section, but you won’t mind the delay. With each twist and turn, there’s a different surface to touch, a new image to decipher and an awe-inspiring array of red, gold and orange to take in. Every now and then, the light shone through the narrow passages and luminated the

Above: The majesty of Horseshoe Bend needs to be experienced in person. Right: Lower Antelope Canyon is part of Navajo National Tribal lands, and an example of a slot canyon with wavy rock formations. PHOTOS BY MICHELLE SATHE / THE SIGNAL

hues into something otherworldly, making us gasp. (It’s no wonder that the world’s most expensive photograph, “Phantom” by Peter Lik, was shot here, and sold for $6.5 million). The guide took endless photos of everyone in the group, posing us in just the right light (a real bonus when you’ve just turned 50), and pointing out a wealth of shapes that we might otherwise have never noticed, including an Indian chief, an eagle, a dinosaur and the face of a woman with windswept hair. We emerged from the canyon in awe, energized and ready for our next stop: Horseshoe Bend, about 10 miles away. You’ll pay $10 to park in a lot that can be overrun with buses, other cars and motorcycles, so get there as early as you can, especially in high season (May to October). Then, it’s about a half-mile, winding-paved walk until the star of the show comes into full view. (Bring water, wear comfortable shoes and consider a stop at the convenient, clean restrooms before starting on the path). You’ll know you’re getting close when you see people standing on the

ope Antel

n Canyo

edge, armed with tripods, high-end cameras, cell phones and selfie sticks, all angling for the flawless Instagram image. One look and you’ll see what the fuss is about. You may have seen it on a screensaver, but Horseshoe Bend, like most national treasures, is something that really needs to be experienced in person for full effect. The round, red rock sphere emerges dramatically from a rim of bright blue and green iridescent water, ringed by a seemingly endless multi-colored layers of earth. It’s like discovering an exquisitely beautiful, surreal new planet right here on earth. While I’m not terrified of heights, I was not comfortable anywhere near the edge of those grand cliffs. I definitely felt my mortality more than the myriad of youngsters who posed gleefully at the brink, some of them striking poses that made my heart sink. I didn’t want to be a witness to a death by selfie. David played it pretty safe, too, though he did climb to the top of one of the small cliffs and posed with his arms outstretched in victory. Of course, I snapped a shot and posted

Ant

elo pe C anyo n

it on our Facebook pages. When in Rome, right? It was now nearing 1 p.m. Hungry after the walk back to the car, we headed into the small town of Page and stumbled onto Big John’s Texas BBQ, which boasted a huge smoker in the front and a folksy restaurant with peanuts on the table and patriotic accents of red, white and blue that seemed to delight the guests who piled in from bus tours. We split a sampler plate, heaping with tender, melt-in-your-mouth ribs; succulent sausage; tender, fatty brisket; and a stellar potato salad. And when the waitress asked about dessert, we opted for a warm brownie sundae with vanilla ice cream melting under a layer of thick, hot fudge. What can I say? It was my birthday. For more information about Lower Antelope Canyon or Horseshoe Bend, visit www.horseshoebend.com or www. lowerantelope.com. Big John’s Texas BBQ is located at 153 South Lake Powell Blvd., Page, Arizona. For more info, visit www.bigjohnstexasbbq. com.

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J U LY 14, 2019

TIMERANGER

Hellish Fires, Mega Bears & Dead Bigamists A warm and Western howdy to you, Time Ranger saddlepals. C’mon. Grab your tin cups of coffee, being careful not to spill. And no lattes or fruit smoothies while we ride. It’s affected. We’ve a most interesting trail ride through one of the most historically significant and downright gee-whiz interesting corners of planet Earth — your Santa Clarita Valley. Shall we mosey into the mystic?

which should have been entitled, “Riders of Placerita Crick.” A few other films were being shot at Vasquez Rocks and up Sierra Highway. JULY 14, 1949

WAY BACK WHEN & THEN SOME

• And it’s still used today On July 14, 1876, Chinese laborers completed work on one of the world’s largest train tunnels, linking the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys via a 6,940-foot tube. • Cockle-doodle-do July 15, 1901, Rudolph Nickel publishes the first edition of The Acton Rooster. For many recent years, the Rooster was touted as the SCV’s first newspaper. Actually, Newhall had one in the 1870s. It published twice a month. No one can remember the name of it, though. • Happy Birthday, Sinny The SCV’s last known speaker of the extinct Tataviam language, Sinforosa, was born on July 17, 1834. She died in 1915 and only a handful of words of the ancient tongue still exist. • Shaking all over A rather severe earthquake rattled much of Los Angeles County, including Newhall, on July 11, 1855. • Atsa big bear Soledad pioneer John Lang kills what may have been the world’s largest grizzly bear on July 15, 1875. Author/historian Charles Outland reported witnesses quoting the beast tipping the cattle scales at 2,400 pounds with a 19-inch-diameter paw. There’s even a photo. JULY 14, 1919

• Our first bank Henry Clay Needham, local mucky muck and Newhall’s only serious presidential candidate, got the ball rolling on this date to start the first-ever Santa Clarita bank. Needham and those first trustees wanted to open their doors with just $25,000 capital. Eventually, they would become trustees in the local branch of the Bank of Italy, which would later become Bank of America. One near-trustee, Ed Brown (he would die a few months later) said he was tired

of carting his savings over the hill into “the coffers of the bloated plutocrats.” Not to be confused with Minniecrats or Goofycrats. • Chilling Signal prophecy A frontpage Signal editorial condemned the growth of all factions of government, noting: “Twenty-five years ago, government was comparatively simple. We do know we are paying a lot more for needless office holders, and that despite the increase in wealth and population, taxes per capita are multiplied with every prospect of being multiplied more in the future.” JULY 14, 1929

• Cool name The thing that sticks out in this car theft tidbit is the perpetrator’s name. Gollos Shocker swiped a Ford in Modesto and got arrested in Newhall for his illegal touring. Gollos Shocker — sounds like a 400-pound rassler. • Life before air conditioning We suffered through another SCV heat wave. Back then, folks would beat the heat by jumping into watering holes or sitting on porches, fanning themselves. Mabel Boston noted it was 96 degrees inside the shade of her living room. JULY 14, 1939

• Happy Birthday, Liz Elizabeth Schlotman turned 100 sixty years ago today. She recalled one of the most difficult periods of her life — the Civil War. She was a bride in her mid-20s during that strife. • Newhallywood The movie companies practically took over the valley eight decades back. Hopalong Cassidy was filming “Medicine Show” in Placerita Canyon and just up Placerita Canyon, Tex Ritter was finishing up his oater, “Riders of the Rio Grande,”

• Hobo? Or 4 little boys? On this date, every able-bodied volunteer and paid fireman rushed out to stop a grass fire between Bermite and Bonelli Stadium. Four boys playing in the area said they saw a hobo running away from his campfire as it started to spread. Of course, it was 112 that day and one wonders what anyone was doing cooking anything outdoors in midday. • Bob got off easy Bob Cesena went on the warpath a half-century back at Cowboy Park. When a sheriff ’s deputy suggested Bob go home and sleep off an evil drunk, Mr. Cesena laid into the officer, then got into a melee with three other gendarmes. When the smoke cleared, Cesena had beaten up three other cops and ripped their uniforms. He also nearly bit off one of the officer’s fingers. Price of his binge? Six months in jail, and the promise never to drink or fight again. • Ain’t no more room Johnny Morales was one of the most popular folks in the valley, even more so when he announced he was going out of business. Johnny ran the township’s only trash dump and did a fine job of it, too. When his little barancha finally filled up with more refuse than it could hold, Johnny closed his business. • Future 2001 Space Odyssey guy John Yurosek held a potluck dinner at his home for parents of his Boy Scout troop. John’s son, Gary, was in attendance. You might know Gary by his screen name. He’s the actor, Gary Lockwood. JULY 14, 1959

• Pay attention on this one Summer T. Packard, local mucky muck, was shot to death by irate husband Elmer Engle. Focus here, saddlepals. Mr. Packard was apparently living a secret life. Packard had attempted to have his original wife committed to an insane asylum so he could take up permanently with his other wife, the former wife of Elmer Engle. Elmer got wind of the polygamy, blew Mr.

Packard to doggie heaven then turned his pistola on himself. The first Mrs. Packard, who, by the way, was Miss Alabama 1929 and a Miss America finalist, was found completely sane. Excuse me. I must doff my hat and rub my head in that it hurts from explaining so much. JULY 14, 1969

• We ain’t lion On this date, the world-famous Clarence died. Star of the movie, “Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion” and several TV shows, the 600-pound male African lion used to live in Acton at the Africa USA compound. He was moved to Illinois after the epic floods of 1969 destroyed his home. He died at the age of 7. • End of a journalist The decomposed body of a young, dapper hotel clerk was found in San Francisquito Canyon 30 years ago. Jack Fairbrother, 22, former editor of the Valley College student newspaper and night clerk at the posh Beverly Hills Hotel, had been kidnapped after his post was robbed of $10,000. JULY 14, 1979

• Hell on Earth Statistically, it was just another big brush fire, 4,500 acres burned in Castaic and parts of Rye Canyon, buildings lost, hundreds of firefighters battling flames in 105-degree heat. But the actual scene was surrealistic. There were the tens of thousands of grasshoppers madly popping in the flames. There was the bobcat who leapt out of the smoke, ran up a tree, collapsed and fell to the ground, dead. There were the birds, tired from the flight and heat who landed on people’s arms and heads for rest. The fire was started by an inmate at Wayside Honor Rancho. While we’ve been gone 100 years and more, it sure seems like a few minutes. Thanks for the company, dear Santa Clarita saddlepals. See you in seven with another exciting Time Ranger adventure. Until then — vayan con Dios, amigos! John Boston has been writing about SCV history for more than 40 years. Read his historical tome, “Images of America: The Santa Clarita Valley” on Amazon.com. Check out his History of The Mighty Signal series on Saturdays on A1.

J U LY 14, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3 5

GARDENING

Fairy gardens add a touch of whimsy to your garden

ardening can be an enjoyable activity for adults and children alike. It encourages creative thinking and can make for an eco-friendly activity as well. Adding a touch of whimsy to gardening can make it that much more attractive to children. Perhaps that is why fairy gardens have become so popular among youngsters. Fairy gardens can be designed in outdoor gardens or in containers that children can nurse and enjoy indoors. Here are six steps to get your fairy garden up and running.

! Choose your container or location. Decide where to place the fairy garden. Hollowed-out tree stumps are both contained and outdoors, and kids may feel like the fairies inhabited this neglected area of the yard and made it their own.

! Choose a theme. Fairy houses can take on any theme their creators prefer. Themes help children decide

tions and require roughly the same amount of watering. Herbs are a smart choice because they stay small and are easily maintained.

Old wooden birdhouses can be used for fairy houses in your garden.

! Don’t forget a fairy dwelling. You will need to add a house for the fairies to inhabit. Small bird houses can work, but you also can consider old teapots, bird-nesting boxes or even homemade houses assembled out of bark and twigs. Use your imagination and the garden will take on a life of its own.

what to include in their gardens. For example, a seaside retreat may work well with little reclining chairs, sea grasses and succulents. You can then complete the theme by adding some seashells and colored stones.

! Invite the fairies. Children can invite fairies to take up residence (fairies often show up at night and tend to remain unseen), or children can create their own fairies using craft materials.

Draw up your design. Sketch out a garden design before securing anything in the container or digging into your garden bed. This gives you an idea of how the finished product

will look. Even before planting, gently place plants and other components in their spots and move them around accordingly until you find the desired look.

! Include similar-needs plants. Mixing plants that have different requirements can make it challenging to care for the fairy garden, so select plants that require similar levels of sunlight, prefer similar soil condi-

Fairy gardens are a fun way to introduce children to gardening. Once families get started, they may want to create entire fairy villages. — Metro Connection

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36 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J U LY 14, 2019

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J U LY 14, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3 7

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38 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J U LY 14, 2019

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39 · S U N D AY S I G N A L

Opinion

J U LY 14, 2019

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

OURVIEWS

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

New City Zone Will Boost Jobs/Housing Balance

Sovereignty of Science: Providence, Anyone?

By The Signal Editorial Board

By David Hegg

here’s no denying the Santa Clarita Valley has grown by leaps and bounds over the past several decades. Some see that as a good thing, while others believe their home should be the last one built here. Regardless, the growth will continue. With that growth, there’s an opportunity to create a more self-sustaining community, a place where people’s homes and jobs can be in close proximity, eliminating the hassle and expense of commuting south. The Santa Clarita City Council on Tuesday took an important step toward accomplishing that. The council voted 4-1 to create the Jobs Creation Overlay Zone, a modification to the city’s commercial and industrial zoning rules to make it easier for property owners to create new office and industrial spaces in eight key areas, with an eye toward attracting industries like aerospace, biomedical, technology and entertainment. Don’t let the dissenting vote fool you: Councilman Bill Miranda, who voted no, only did so because he was hoping the JCOZ would go a little further than it did. The council is united on the general principles. In short, the

JCOZ will streamline permitting and create design incentives to maximize additional square footage, building height and job creation. One key provision is it will allow such projects to be built up to five stories tall without the time-consuming and expensive conditional use permit process. Miranda, in dissenting, wanted the council to accept the suggestions of business leaders, including the SCV Economic Development Corp., to allow for six stories instead of five. The goal is to create two new jobs for each housing unit built, which would dramatically improve the jobs-housing balance and enable many residents to drastically shorten their commutes. It amounts to a recognition that this is no longer a sleepy suburb. That may not suit everyone’s tastes, but it will create a more balanced community and greater quality of life. Yes, it means some taller office and industrial buildings. But it also means more jobs and shorter commutes. We’ll gladly take that trade.

hen 56 men gathered to affirm the Declaration of Independence with their signatures, they held certain truths to be self-evident. They affirmed that all are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” And, before adding their signatures, they stated they did so “with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence.” By invoking “divine providence” they were demonstrating a belief in the doctrine of providence, which has been affirmed by God-fearing people throughout history. Providence can be simply defined as the truth that all things are superintended by God so that history has a goal, life has a purpose, and all creatures are accountable to the God of life and history. When, in 1859, Charles Darwin published “Origin of the Species,” science began its assault against divine providence. Whether he intended it or not, his theory of evolution provided the world with an explanation of reality without any need for God. No

longer was God needed as the source and superintendent of all things. Now, science could answer all the questions. Science could reign supreme. God, and more importantly, mankind’s accountability to a supreme being, would no longer provide any barriers to living any way we pleased. Today we see the legacy of the sovereignty of science. For example, if someone opposes evolution they are deemed to be “anti-science.” The same goes for those who are not buying the whole loaf of global warming. Of course, they are also “anti-science.” But the sovereignty of science also seems, at times, to be driven more by preference than principle. This allows some who have pledged their souls to science to escape its clutches if and when going against its findings proves to be more convenient and allows them to live any way they choose. Take, for example, the hottest issue today: the right of a woman to end the life of the living child in her womb. If evolutionary science is true, then how See HEGG, page 40

READERLETTERS

Intentionality vs. Determination Re: David Hegg, July 7: He begins with a promising contemplation of what qualities mark those who contributed most to history. But it stumbles when he transitions to the statement that “behind intentionality lies the conviction that our lives are heading somewhere.” Intentionality does not depend on having a sense of higher purpose. Intentionality is a refined form of the instinct for survival we share with all creatures. Our more evolved cognitive faculties allow us to think beyond survival and the ability to choose a course of action

that suits our aptitudes and desires. Our “purpose” becomes the achievement of those aspirations, and some are better at it than others. The purpose he describes takes us on the path to predestination or to the conceit that these qualities “separate us from the rest of creation” and that humans are on some kind of divine mission at the behest of a deity. The indifference of the universe to the human condition is inexplicable or even dispiriting only if we cling to the medieval view of an earth-centric universe and that the stars, moon and sun are there for the benefit humankind. What he disparagingly refers to as “scientism” is the evolved view that

recognizes the immensity of the universe and the fact that humans and life on Earth are incidental products of cosmic evolution. We can despair and create imagined providential guidance and protection to comfort us, or we can stand on the moon of a distant planet and contemplate what humankind can achieve from its wonder and determination. Lou Viada, Valencia Submit a Letter to the Editor

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

J U LY 14, 2019

S U N D AY S I G N A L · 40

Opinion

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

BLACK&WHYTE

D R AW I N G C O N C L U S I O N S M I LT P R I G G E E

Icy Goodness Without Tossing Straws and Cups By Tim Whyte Signal Editor

onfession time. A few months back, I wrote a column lamenting the fact that my daily (unsweetened) iced tea from the Circle K near my house was no longer coming with a straw unless I requested one at the cash register. I was objecting to the legislative climate that has California politicians running to deprive us of every possible piece of plastic. And, they’ve got their eye on our beverages, too, with legislation being contemplated that would deny us the ability to choose for ourselves whether we want a 16-ounce beverage or a 32-ounce one. The nanny state is running amok. I got mixed feedback on the column. Some agreed with me that California’s seemingly never-ending efforts to regulate our daily lives have overstepped the realm of reason. Others thought I was an environmental charlatan. A few weeks later, an unexpected package arrived at the office. It was from Circle K’s headquarters. Inside was a note that said how much they liked my column, and they thought I might enjoy some Circle K “swag.” Included were hard plastic reusable Circle K Polar Pop cups in three sizes: 32-ounce, 44-ounce and, the Mother of All Polar Pops, the 100-ounce behemoth. Also included were two reusable plastic straws. It posed an immediate ethical dilemma. No, not about whether to use single-use straws or reusable ones. This particular dilemma was of the journalistic variety. See, in this business, we really aren’t supposed to accept gifts from news sources or subjects. I briefly contemplated whether to return the Polar Pop swag along with a note to the kind folks in the Circle K

marketing department, explaining that I couldn’t accept the gifts. But then I started thinking about the cost and hassle of shipping them back to Circle K headquarters, versus their actual value. So I kept them. Yes, I am weak. And cheap. Then a funny thing happened. I gave the reusable Polar Pops a whirl. I dipped my toes in the water with the 32-ounce model, and it did the job just fine. The tea stayed cold all day and the ice took a good amount of time to melt. The reusable plastic straw was easy enough to clean. Or so my wife tells me. I then added the 44-ouncer to the repertoire, and in the heat of the summer, I’ve even taken to toting the 100-ouncer and using it to refill the smaller ones. No, I don’t really consume 100 ounces of iced tea every day. But it gives me comfort knowing that, if I want it, it’s there. Next thing you know, several months have gone by and I have not used any single-use plastic straws. And, I haven’t been throwing away the disposable single-use cups. Gotta be honest. Despite my earlier rant, I feel better about myself for not throwing away all those straws and cups. And, I still get my daily dose of unsweetened, non-carbonated icy tea goodness. The key, though, is that I’ve done it voluntarily. I still believe such things should be our choice, not the government’s. And believe it or not, sometimes, properly armed with the right information — and maybe some unsolicited swag — people will make good choices for Mother Earth. Tim Whyte is editor of The Signal. His column appears Sundays. On Twitter: @TimWhyte.

HEGG

Continued from page 39

can ending the life of a viable child be ethically allowable? Can anyone really argue such an action is “natural selection?” What could be more unnatural than an invasive procedure in which a beating heart is stopped as a living baby is sucked out through a vacuum tube? Evolutionary theory would demand that a tribe flourishes as the fittest among them are allowed to grow and procreate. How can it be good science, or good social policy, to systematically kill millions of those on whom their tribal future depends, never knowing if they are eliminating the strongest, best, and brightest? Or take the current controversy over gender. How absurd is it that we now are asked to believe there can be more than 75 different genders? Is that good science? Regardless of how loud a lie is shouted, those who deal with facts must not be deceived. There is no argument that a person’s gender is determined by their DNA. Of course, you can surgically manipulate the outside, and even some of the inside, of a human male or female, and use powerful chemical processes to rearrange hormones, and other bodily functions. But, in the end, the DNA remains the same, and all you have is the surgically manipulated, and chemically altered male or

female you started with. My plea is simple. Don’t count on the sovereignty of science. Even the most ardent evolutionary theorists admit they have no explanation for how something came from nothing. If every effect had a cause, then we would do well to listen to Aristotle, who wisely demanded that, at the beginning of all things, there must be an unmoved mover, an uncaused cause. Further, we would do well to consider that the world we live in, with its complexity, diversity, beauty, and natural order, certainly argues strongly that the uncaused cause be an intelligent one. Lastly, given that purely chemical process cannot account for the immaterial part of the human animal — such as consciousness and the joy of acceptance — it is at least viable to consider that the intelligent, uncaused cause is a spiritual, relational being. For my money, I nominate the God of the Bible. But, if you must salute science as king, at least be ethically consistent. Follow the evidence where it actually leads, and don’t be surprised if what you find looks a lot like biblical morality. David Hegg is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church and a Santa Clarita resident.“Ethically Speaking” appears Sundays.

J U LY 14, 2019

Give your mind a workout with these brainy exercises!

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42 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

CROSSWORD TIME

J U LY 14, 2019

THE VILLAGE IDIOT

Don’t spill my medical secrets — That’s my job By Jim Mullen Signal Contributing Writer

“D

o you have black lung disease?” Every time I have an appointment at the hospital clinic, they ask me that. At first, I thought I must look a lot sicker than I feel. They never ask me if I have diabetes or lupus or tennis elbow, just black lung disease. I asked the nurse if anyone had ever answered “yes” to the black lung question. She said “no.” Since my hospital is several states away from the nearest coal mine, I can’t say I was very surprised. At my age, a week without having to get a checkup or exam with a doctor, dentist or ophthalmologist is like a spa holiday — and I’m in good health. I can’t imagine what a time-sucker it must be to be sick. But checking in is always a soul-killing experience. The receptionist sits in front of a computer with all my records on it, and yet, for the 500th time, she asks me for my Social Security number and my birthday as if I’ve never been here before. I want to pull out my Social Security card and show her where it says that the number is NOT to be used for identification purposes, but I know it’s pointless. Every one of my health care providers asks for it. Guess they’ve never heard of computer hackers. Gee, if I’m lucky, I can get my teeth cleaned and my identity stolen all on the same day. Thanks, doc! Once again, I have to sign a HIPAA form that gives my doctor permission to request all my very private medical records from my other doctors, as if my health were some huge military secret. Here I am, at a big building with a sign outside that says EYE AND LASER CENTER in giant letters. Anyone can read it from half a mile away. Why do you think I’m here? To have a colonoscopy? Boy howdy, that’d be embarrassing if someone knew

about that. Why on Earth would I mind if my other doctors sent this doctor my records? I would mind it if they gave them to a newspaper or to my barber — but what doctor would do that? I’m sure some other law would apply in that case. How many trees do we cut down every year for HIPAA forms? It should be a standard health care policy that medical professionals can, and should, share information. Not a form that every single individual has to sign over and over and over again. In a world where people post videos of themselves doing the most ridiculous things, I don’t think it’s a big secret that you have diabetes or got a new hip. Whoa! What if the neighbors find out? Half the people I see in the grocery store have some kind of obvious medical condition. Are we not supposed to notice that your arm’s in a sling? Is that big black orthopedic boot on your foot a fashion statement? I’m guessing a big part of Amazon’s business is selling stuff that people are too embarrassed to buy at the local pharmacy. The funny thing is that my friends spend hours entertaining us with their tales of multiple bypasses, how long it took to remove their gall bladder, comparing what prescriptions they’re taking for blood pressure and cholesterol. At a funeral, we all know what carried off the dearly departed. Some of the discussions are quite detailed: what the doctors did, what happened in the ICU, how the patient looked the last time you visited, how much the hospital stay cost. I’m thinking that doctors shouldn’t be the ones asking us to sign HIPAA forms. We should require them at funerals, golf courses and potluck dinners. That’s where you hear all the good medical gossip. Why should health care providers have to safeguard the same information that we won’t shut up about? It must be really boring to have dinner at a doctor’s house. You won’t get any good gossip. Contact Jim Mullen at mullen.jim@ gmail.com.

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FOURTH S PARADE OF JULY ROUTE JULY 3, 201

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Signal Senior

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When firefi steep emba ghters rappelled David A8 was foun La Vau who in had gone nkment to rescu down the side of d vine six daysin a 200-foot-deep2011 SUBSCRIBE TODAY last week over a precipice one a driver whose a car , they learn Sand Cany raoff of Lake after crashing cupants had, JULY 3, 2018 TUESDAY, ed that his car75¢ Tuesday - Friday one of the on Road people just Hughes Road show named Bella until now, elude car’s ochow happ d them — ed be alive The dog . $1 Weekender y he a pup Satur up for a copy day as peoplewas to of the Angewas plucked from lined of the book ordeal. ple trained les National Fore the wild environs about his st in helping His daug Heather animals. by the very peoGrah Today’s Forecast am, an wrote a bookhter, Lisa A. Way Stati empl called, “But Kerr, day: The which windon on Little Tuju oyee of Wildlife 661-259-1234 com Not story nga s Toof David Canyon chronicling arating the its way through La the moun Road, experienc her father’s near Vau,” spotted the Santa Clarita Valle tains sepDULCE e, AGUA DULCE | death AGUA | VERDE VAL pupp | the VERDE VALly’s y from CASTAIC|fami | CASTAIC RANCH y by itself ate|searc STEVENSONRANCH This after VALENCIA || STEVENSON SAUGUS || VALENCIA NEWHALL || SAUGUS COUNTRY || NEWHALL h to find desp CANYON COUNTRY in the roug Sunland, CANYON him and the erroad to recov the 3-mo a frantic weekend-l h nth-o long ong effor terrain. On Satur ery. “Heather ld dog. t to find held a bookday, she and her Sand Cany was on her way Book store -signing at The father Deanna Armon Road, when to work, driving on Open she foun Road at Whit on Soledad Cany Station, said bruster, spokeswo d (Bell man for the a),” “My dad es Canyon Road on “She follo Monday. Way said Mon is very humble,” . found a safe wed the dog and day. Kerr to see peop “He was so road,” she place to pull over waited until she excit le ran off a said. “She jump to the side of “People at the book signi ed the bit. But, ed out and ‘Can I get just kept askin ng. she was able la) down the dog And, he my picture with g him brought herand put her in the to calm her (Belcar. And, same ‘Thasigned each bookyou?’ By Jim Holt The dog, here.” then she Kerr said. nks for the supp the Signal Senior Staff Writer was descr found within 24 ort,’” was brou ibed as dehydrate hours of the crash She said d and hung ght David La Vau who in 2011 “I was very of the book-sign ry when it, Rescuers to safety. excit at was found in a 200-foot-deep rathe Way ed that there ing: traffic comi owner on Stati vine six days after crashing his car there was) ng in and out and was pick up thesocial media and on found the dog’ arranged dog. off of Lake Hughes Road showed This book a buzz about our (that for them s book to has touch people just how happy he was to lives. ed a lot . By Jim Holt be alive Saturday as people lined of “My main Signal Senior Staff Writer up for a copy of the book about his purpose ways been A tow truck has to alordeal. operator share with See FOUN When firefighters to forgive the side of a down ter beingrappelled watc D, A6 peop hes ascara His daughter, Lisa A. Kerr, and, most and also be forgi le, a driver Toyota rescueabou to lifted Castaic on steep embankment t 200whose wrote a book called, “But Not TofeetRoad Septon. 30, by a crane Corolla reaches theSignal file photo yourself.” of all, learn to forgiven Canyon Sand2011 had gone over a precipice on ve day: The story of David La Vau,” surfa . DavidocLa Vau survito Lake Hughes Road ce aflast week, they learned that one of the car’s chronicling her father’s near death ved the crash north of cupants had, until now, eluded them — a pup experience, the family’s desper. named Bella. ate search to find him and the long By Crystal The dog was plucked from the wild environs See LA VAU, road to recovery. Duan Signal Staff A6 of the Angeles National Forest by the very peoWriter On Saturday, she and her father Santa Clari in helping animals. ple held a book-signing at The Open ta’strained the state rate eclip employee of Wildlife Graham, A natio averageHeather ses an Book store on Soledad Canyon twoof 2.1 perce as well as Way Canyon Road, week indicnal study released Tujunga bedroom onnt,Little the natioStation Road at Whites Canyon Road. in Santasepis $2,56the mountains nal growth rateates Santa Clarita’s this of 1.4 percent, which way through itsge Clarita winds avera 4, and “My dad is very humble,” Kerr but has decre a one-b is $1,99 Sunland, from now at 4.1 from year to yearrent compared to arating Valley edroom 0.2 percent, down the Santa 5. This ased Clarita said Monday. “He was so excited markterrain. by 0.04 percreas month, rough s a $4 in- cent, according in the from last percent, a slight declinis renting platf last itself e for by puppy theonlin spotted twomonth’s 4.9 orm e see people at the book signing. to to Salviati, bedrooms the site. Aparafter Only 21 of to find effort increase tmenat List weekend-long frantic $3 percent. e revealed Monday. an Apar and This “People just kept asking him housing econ tment List from June for a one-bedroo a ies in Ame the 100 largest The July the 3-month-old dog. citrica . m fall medi ‘Can I get my picture with you?’ Much of omist. an Santa over the have seen rents work, driving on rate forwas on her way to “Heather Clari the SCV past year, a mont And, he signed each book the ta’s (Bella),” ’s rent month-to- an additional h rentshe though growth can be attrib when Sand Canyon Road, chanfound 24 ‘Thanks for the support,’” same gene ge forthe gains saw uted to JulyWay Deanna Armbruster, spokeswoman for is at such of less than 1.0 modest in theral growth in popu a Kerr said. as Santa Los Ange percent, lation Station, said Monday. Clari les She said of the book-signing: ta, said Chris metro area. “She followed the dog and waited until she “I was very excited that there was found a safe place to pull over to the side of the traffic coming in and out and (that See RENT , A6 road,” she said. “She jumped out and the dog there was) a buzz about our book. ran off a bit. But, she was able to calm her (Belbook has touched a lot of This la) down and put her in the car. And, then she lives. brought her here.” “My main purpose has alThe dog, found within 24 hours of the crash, ways been to share with people, was described as dehydrated and hungry when it to forgive and also be forgiven was brought to safety. and, most of all, learn to forgive By Brennon Rescuers at the Way Station found the dog’s yourself.” Dixson Signal Staff owner on social media and arranged for them to Signal file photo Writer pick up the dog. afA tow truck operator watches as a Toyota Corolla reaches the surface After heari ng abou lifted about 200 feet by a crane on to Lake Hughes Road north of ter being See LA VAU, A6 his fight By Danie with Sanfi t Carter Sarkar, lle Korzh 2011. David La Vau survived the crash. See FOUND, A6 30,enya Sept. and the recen Castaic lippo For Theon k Signal t million-do syndrome ment to llar fund Hyatt Rege his clinical moveThe crow trial, the ncy Vale nounced d-pleasing ncia retur has anthat it will ns to Conc dollar from donate starting thisSanta Clarita for erts in the Park series a music-fill viewing evenits upcoming firewevery weekend Conc at Cent ed summ t to the youn orks erts Castaic. er, on by the in the Park are ral Park. g boy from Apartment List “Our entire publicClarita Santa Clari free from July city of Santa events 0.2 percent, down by 0.04 per- Salviati, an eclipses 7 untiltwo-bedroom tainevery staff was moved by Santa Clarita’s rate housing economist. By Crystal Duan Saturday put Getpercent, cent, according to the site. 25. The a one-bedroom and show ready to isAug. $2,564, 2.1 Austi night paper regarthe article in Saturdeeply In this May the state average ofkets, break Much of the SCV’s rent largest cits start Staff Writer Signal out your The a $4at ingrab marks Thislawn 2017 phot n Dave/ is $1,995. 7 p.m. Only 21 of the 100 average some tasty the fight to ding Carter Sarka day’s on Pond to a as well as the national o, Jennifer Signal (See additional chair site and a ies in America have seen rents growth can be attributed for stwo-bedrooms creasesnack listen to some photo Sarkar carri has decreased from local s and blansyndrome save him from Sanfir and a clinic erosa Street in of 1.4 percent, butband s at signa this study Castaic.A national es released vendors on-fall over the past year, though general growth in population lscv.com) s comi of yourfor a one-bedroom al trial that her son rent online ng $3 increase to last month, sales coord,” said Natasha Zamb lippo favor Carter compared SarkarSanta in the Los Angeles metro area. indicates might helpweekThe Here’s a Listto the Saug to a home familClarita’s rano, June. us park. ite genre tribute an additional 24 saw modest from y raise Apartment breakdown Carter’srate platform Conc Valencia. inator at Hyatt renting is year deve to d year from percent, $978 1.0 growth than less fight lop of Rege gains “We at Hyat month-toof each ,467 Clarita’s musc against Sanf ncy seizu to getMonday. erts in the Park:Santa to contribute revealed band perfo is at such as Santa Clarita, said Chris See RENT, A6 decline ilippo synd res and le pains, expe now at 4.1 percent, a slight July to this fightt would like rming at month rent change for our parki The romeJuly their mid- then, ultimately rienc 4.9 percent. . median rate for a month’s by fromelastwoul ng d fund to late-t , die July 7 a nity to watc structure to the offering Sarka r, Carter’s eens, said Jenni in give Carter a clinical trial that ing Fourth h fireworks this commucould fer chance at moth Wan As er. ted, “Ove a upcomof resul life. r the lineup of a Bon Jovi tribu Children July.” draiser in t, the family held been a gathe years the struc te band, is the past a funture has geles, the Concerts in the Park Sanfilippo who are diagnosed ring place first up in goal to dona month with unobstruc band . syndrome to have with The rock is made up of Based out of Los the an will likely the 501(c)(3) te a million dolla the (and firewted view of the festiv playing to ’n’ roll group professional musi Anities Cure Sanfi nonprofit organ rs to Zambrano orks) from Six cians. izatio lippo Foun Flags,” said. views. 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A tale of two rescues

7 years later, crash survivor glad to be alive at daughter’s book-signing

Missing puppy found after having run away from scene of crash; animal was hungry, dehydrated when saved

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Today’s Fore cast

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wth rate Faith above st ate avera ge Coupons Home Improvement Hya tt joins Carter’s Hotel pla Business News ns event pro to donate fight SCV’s ceeds tr It’s the Law Column Sanchild’sfilippobattlesynagadrotoinsmet to the g ibute reats Concerts set to ret in the Park ser Right Here Right Now urn to Ce ies ntral Par k Color Comics

City’s rent growth rate above state average

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tribute Hyatt joins Carter’s fight SCV’s to the greats

Opinion

Hotel plans to donate event proceeds to child’s battle against Sanfilippo syndrome

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Concerts in the Park series set to return to Central Park

cal news lo T S E B e Th source in the n io t a m r fo and in Valley! Santa Clarita Good mo

rning to Signal subscri By Brennon Dixson Louis Gara ber si Signal Staff Writer of Canyon Country After hearing about Carter Sarkar, his fight with Sanfilippo syndrome and the recent million-dollar movement to fund his clinical trial, the Hyatt Regency Valencia has announced that it will donate every dollar from its upcoming fireworks viewing event to the young boy from Castaic. “Our entire staff was deeply moved by the article in Saturday’s paper regarding Carter Sarkar and the fight to save him from Sanfilippo syndrome,” said Natasha Zambrano, sales coordinator at Hyatt Regency Valencia. “We at Hyatt would like to contribute to this fight by offering our parking structure to the community to watch fireworks this upcoming Fourth of July.” Children who are diagnosed with Sanfilippo syndrome will likely

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By Danielle Korzhenyak For The Signal

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Austin Dave/The Signal (See additional photos at signalscv.com)

home In this May 2017 photo, Jennifer Sarkar carries her son Carter to a to get on Ponderosa Street in Castaic. The Sarkar family raised $978,467 a clinical trial that might help Carter’s fight against Sanfilippo syndrome. develop muscle pains, experience seizures and then, ultimately, die in their mid-to late-teens, said Jennifer Sarkar, Carter’s mother. As a result, the family held a fundraiser in the past month with the goal to donate a million dollars to the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Cure Sanfilippo Foundation, which

would fund a clinical trial that could give Carter a chance at life. “Over the years the structure has been a gathering place to have an unobstructed view of the festivities (and fireworks) from Six Flags,” Zambrano said.

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July 7

Wanted, a Bon Jovi tribute band, is first up in the lineup of Concerts in the Park. Based out of Los Angeles, the band is made up of professional musicians. The rock ’n’ roll group had immense success, playing to sold out venues and garnering rave reviews. Wanted was finally created after numerous requests from agents and promoters who worked with the band on other projects. See CONCERTS, A8

See CARTER, A6

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The crowd-pleasing Concerts in the Park series returns to Santa Clarita for a music-filled summer, starting this weekend at Central Park. Concerts in the Park are free public events put on by the city of Santa Clarita every Saturday night from July 7 until Aug. 25. The shows start at 7 p.m. Get ready to break out your lawn chairs and blankets, grab some tasty snacks from local vendors onsite and listen to some of your favorite genre tribute bands coming to the Saugus park. Here’s a breakdown of each band performing at Concerts in the Park:

Good morning to Signal subscriber Louis Garasi of Canyon Country

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Summer Scorchers

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let this summerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offers slip away. Check out the Mercedes-Benz Summer Event, going on now.