Canyon Country Magazine March 2023

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Need to find that perfect gift? A “thank you” bottle? A red for this weekend’s BBQ that will knock your friends’ socks off? We’re happy to share our passion with you plus we’ve got good wine stories and facts you can share.

Richard Budman rbudman@signalscv.com (661) 287-5501 CANYON

Doña Uhrig

Maureen Daniels

Jennifer Ramos

Barbara Ward

FROM WINTER SHOWERS TO SUSTAINABLE SPRING LANDSCAPES AND FLOWERS

California is still in a drought despite early 2023 downpours. Early spring is the perfect time to gear up for an outdoor sustainable landscape makeover.

Simple outdoor landscape swaps make it easy to get a beautiful, sustainable landscape in no time. Here are some tips to get you started:

Start now: Cooler temperatures and shorter days mean less water is needed as your new landscape takes root.

Replace lawns with sustainable landscapes instead of synthetic turf to reduce impacts on the environment.

Learn more about SCV Water’s Lawn Replacement Program at DroughtReadySCV.com

Little League Celebrates 60 Years of Success

By Jim Walker Signal Staff Writer

First chartered in 1963, the Canyon Country Little League turns 60 this year.

Along with other celebrations, this fact was acknowledged on March 18 during the league’s 2023 spring season opening ceremonies (which were rain-delayed from March 11). During those 60 years, the CCLL has moved a couple times, but has never wavered from the goal to positively serve local youth.

Current CCLL President Scot Mahotz said, “We are a family-first, kidfirst organization, one that believes our success is based on the success of the players. If one player starts hating baseball or quits, we’ve lost. Every kid wins.” He also notes that the Can-

yon Country Little League is the only Little League in the SCV. (Hart youth baseball is affiliated with other organizations).

“There was, formerly, a Little League in Castaic,” Mahotz said. And he expanded to describe his personal quest to enlarge his league’s confusing and limited boundaries after it became the only local Little League. “Our boundaries now (since 2021) extend all the way to one-half mile east of Lake Piru, and to just west of Acton.”

“Canyon Country Little League is 100% volunteer based,” Mahotz said. That includes everything, from field maintenance to coaches and umpires, snack bar and more. Noting that the volunteers’ time is extremely valuable, but the rewards are so worth giving it, he commended them, including the

current 18 members of the board.

“What kids want is your time,” he emphasized. “We try to encourage parents to give just a little bit of time. Every hour they give multiplies to the benefits the kids get.”

Fundraising is also extremely important to CCLL, and so are sponsors. “Sponsors are definitely a big part of our continued expansion, field maintenance and improvements,” he said. “We try to keep the registration fees as low as possible.”

Though CCLL has offered both softball and baseball in the past, Mahotz said that, currently, there are not enough softball players to make up enough teams, so there are “20 to 25 girls in our fast pitch baseball leagues. And many girls have been extremely successful up to age 14 in our Junior Division.”

CCLL offers two baseball seasons, spring and fall. Spring registration begins in October of each year. “Tryouts and assessments are in January, and opening day is the second weekend in March,” Mahotz said. The regular spring season ends the weekend before Memorial Day, and post season (All-Stars) might run through July. The spring season is currently full, but fall registration opens in June. The fall season begins the weekend after Labor Day and runs for 10 weeks, with no post season play.

The CCLL Division breakdown is T-Ball ages four to five

Rookie ages six to 7

Farm ages seven to eight (kids pitch)

Minors ages nine to 10

Majors ages 11 to 12

Intermediate age 13

Juniors ages 13 to 15, and

Seniors ages 14 to 16.

The Seniors’ season is after the high school CIF competition. “Registration for Minors and above is around $250 for the spring season and $150 for the fall,” Mahotz said. And younger divisions are about $10 less in the spring.

Canyon Country Little League maintains six baseball fields, which are used for both practice and games. And Mahotz notes these are kept in top green condition, as the league has its own well.

Mahotz said that about 280 to 320 players are served each spring season and about 180 in the fall season. For the last 60 years, the Canyon Country Little League has served many thousands of local players and families. And many of these players have reached high levels of performance at the high school level, including Mahotz’ son.

Regarding his years of service with CCLL and the time spent with is son during that service, Mahotz said, “I’m giving back for what Canyon Country Little League did for myself and my son over the last 12 years. I was able to work with such amazing volunteers, building relationships. Everybody worked toward one goal, the development of these kids, using the arena of baseball to teach life lessons and build stronger individuals through teamwork.”

The Canyon Country Little League is located at 16054 Sierra Highway, Santa Clarita 91390. For more information, visit www.ccll.org. 

PHOTOS COURTESY CANYON COUNTRY LITTLE LEAGUE

Shaner Aims To Inspire Youth After Hitting 7-10 Split

By Justin Vigil-Zuniga Signal Sports Writer

One of the most unlikely feats in sports is converting the 7-10 split in bowling.

Golden Valley senior Emma Shaner was unsure of her odds on Feb. 18 at Santa Clarita Lanes during a Juniors game, when she drew the infamous split. Shaner released a throw aiming for the 10 pin and turned around to ignore her would-be nine points only to see cheers all around.

“I just threw it at my 10 pin and assumed I had no chance,” Shaner said. “I was thinking, OK, whatever, I got the 10, but when I turned around to bowl my next frame, I heard everyone cheering. It was just really shocking. I was really proud of myself; a lot of people can’t say they’ve done that.”

Most bowlers will opt for power and send a ball about 20 mph for the shot with a 0.7% success rate. The Junior bowler hit the 7-10 split with about half as much force. Shaner believes she’s attempted to convert nearly three hundred 7-10 splits but hit her first when it mattered most.

It was quite the day for Shaner, as the conversion helped her team win the game and only made her birthday celebration better.

The Junior bowler was recognized on Saturday, March 11, for the accomplishment, when she received a county award, patch and, most importantly for her, bragging rights.

Shaner is committed to bowl collegiately at Columbia College in Missouri. She has been playing the sport competitively for about eight years, earning her spot on the Cougar bowling team, as well as some scholarship money along the way.

Sulphur Springs District Recognizes Its Poets

By Jose Herrera Signal Staff Writer

The Sulphur Springs Union School District celebrated six winners for taking the top spot in their respective grade levels across the district in the Sulphur Springs District Teacher Association Poetry Writing Contest earlier in February.

First grader Oliver Laurino, second grader Felicity Raine Mojica, third grader Lainey Walter, fourth grader Naomi Foster, fifth grader Deegan Dunn and sixth grader Erin Galang each received a certificate and a $50 gift card to Barnes and Noble.

“We had retired teachers use a rubric to go through and decide which ones were the best,” said Amanda Parsons, a teacher at Sulphur Springs Community School, who led the ceremony.

“I have to tell you, our retired teachers were getting goose bumps. They were brought to tears by these poems, they were laughing, and they had such a great time.”

“The great poet Robert Frost said, ‘Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words,’” Parsons continued. “And let me tell you, these students have definitely put their emotions to work.”

The Sulphur Springs Union School District governing board recognized its six poetry contest winners at Sulphur Springs Community School.PHOTO COURTESY SULPHUR SPRINGS

SCHOOL DISTRICT

Residents Weigh In on Map of Council Districts

By Jose Herrera Signal Staff Writer

Santa Clarita residents expressed a mix of support and frustration during the first of two special public hearings hosted by the Santa Clarita City Council Wednesday evening — as the city and plaintiffs of a California Voting Rights Act lawsuit are slated to adopt the final map in May.

The CVRA complaint alleged the city’s at-large elections disenfranchise a protected class, Latino voters. The city’s settlement offer doesn’t admit a violation, but city officials announced their decision to settle in April 2022 because no CVRA lawsuit had ever been successfully defended.

Douglas Johnson, the city’s demographer with the National Demographics Corp., gave a summary of the joint map agreed upon by the City Council and the plaintiffs. He also explained the legal requirements for council districts, and he showed how members of the public can propose their own district maps for consideration.

As part of the remedy for the alleged violation, the map creates a district with a Latino plurality, or one in which Latinos make up the largest demographic. That district, labeled as No. 1 on the joint map, is scheduled to be on the ballot in November 2024.

That district is largely Newhall, with a portion of the west side of Canyon Country, and includes a population that is nearly 60% Latino, according to data obtained by The Signal.

After Johnson’s presentation, attendees addressed the City Council and provided public comments.

Santa Clarita resident Alan Ferd-

man was one of about 30 people who attended the public hearing at the Newhall Community Center. He voiced his frustration with the chosen location for the meeting because the acoustics made it difficult to hear the speakers — and other attendees expressed that same frustration.

He’s hoping the next public hearing will be held at City Hall.

But his main concern was that he wanted to understand why the proposed joint map depicted a larger District 1 from the original proposed map, which was published in The Signal in early January.

“I just talked to the demographer, and he told me that it was to offset the Tesoro annexation,” Ferdman

said. “All the districts had to grow some. That was a reasonable explanation, and that’s why I was here to understand why (attorney Scott) Rafferty’s map had to be modified.”

Some attendees voiced their concern with the whole process and expressed their frustration at the city having to change from at-large voting to district voting.

“I’m a proud Hispanic Republican in Canyon Country,” said Tony Maldonado. “The CVRA is unconstitutional. Hispanics and other Santa Clarita residents with common political, economic and other interests who reside in different parts of the city will be divided into separate districts.”

Others said they support the joint map as presented as they felt it would empower Latino voters and allow for better presentation on the City Council across Santa Clarita.

Cheryl Corriveau Cox, a resident of Santa Clarita, said she supported the proposed joint map.

“I think the map that the city and the [plaintiffs] created is inclusive and fair,” she said. “I think that’s the route that we should move forward with so that we can finally have these fair and equitable district-based elections.”

She also commended the opportunity for the public to draw and submit their own proposed maps,

but she worried whether members of the public with “no intimate knowledge or experience in global politics” would create maps that would work.

“In this world, we all come from different opinions and experiences, which is why we need district-based elections to incorporate all of our views, cultures and our ideas into a really great inclusive Santa Clarita,” Cox said.

She would be looking forward to district-based elections as she felt the City Council has not been “very representative” of the current population.

Scott Rafferty, the counsel for plaintiffs in the complaint, Michael Cruz and Sebastain Cazares, a College of the Canyons board of trustee member, said the change from atlarge elections to district elections is about making the system more representative of the voters of all races.

“We’re talking about elections, and making them more competitive,” Rafferty said during public comment.

He added district elections would cost less for candidates as they would just focus campaigning on their respective district rather than the whole city. He also said council members will be held more accountable to their respective community and district they represent.

“They’ll go the same grocery store, see the people and focus more on the specific needs of their community,” he said.

While City Council members have expressed opposition to the changing from at-large elections to district elections, they’ve also mentioned a commitment to transparency regarding the transition and urged the public to participate in the process.

The City of Santa Clarita created a web page dedicated to informing the public about the process of changing to a district-based election: santaclarita.com/DistrictElections. The information can be found in English and Spanish.

The second public hearing is scheduled for April 13 at the Newhall Community Center, 22421 Market Street, Newhall 91321.

This is the draft map that was discussed at the public hearing held March 1. An interactive map can be found at www.santa-clarita.com/city-hall/district-elections. MAP COURTESY CITY OF SANTA CLARITA

Bronze, Silver and Gold

By Jose Herrera Signal Staff Writer

Golden Valley, Saugus and West Ranch’s academic decathlon teams earned multiple awards at the regional award ceremony at Quiet Cannon Country Club after competition in the regional event in February.

Students had several months to learn about this year’s theme, the American Revolution and the founding of a nation, and compete in multiple categories including speech, essay, interview, literature, economics, and more.

Saugus placed 12th out of the 37 teams, West Ranch placed 25th and Golden Valley placed 30th. In addition, by division, Saugus placed 11th and West Ranch placed 14th in Division I while Golden Valley placed 11th in Division II.

“I am really proud of them,” said Jodi Maghakian Guerrero, academic decathlon advisor from Saugus. “The top 10 are the ones that actually physically go to state competition, but we have an opportunity to compete virtually in the competition.”

The Golden Valley High School Academic Decathlon Team placed 30th overall at the county event and 11th in Division

POETS

Continued from page 6

During the district’s governing board meeting on Feb. 8, these students were introduced to the board and their teachers shared some words about what makes them special.

The students were applauded and rewarded for their creative submissions.

According to Parsons, the teachers’ association typically organizes the poetry event every year, but this was the first one in a few years due to the coronavirus pandemic. Students are encouraged to submit different projects — some wrote, some drew and included words, and there was even a video poem that a student submitted.

Jada Dunn, mother of fifth grader Deegan Dunn, was very proud of her son for his poetry submission. His piece “Basketball” was a video submission with a message about perseverance.

According to Dunn, her son struggles with “learning differences” and it also affects athletics as well. But her son found a new drive after meeting coach Taylor Statham.

“It gives the opportunity to use their voice a little more than in the classroom,” Dunn said, referring to the poetry contest. “These kinds of contests, these types of arts are important because these kiddos get an opportunity to break out their box and

SSDTA Poetry Writing Contest District Winners

2022-23

First Grade

“Monster Truck Awesome” by Oliver Laurino

Second Grade

“I am But a Tree” by Felicity Raine Mojica

Third Grade

“The Forest Life” by Lainey Walter

Fourth Grade

“My Sweet Little Angel” by Naomi Foster

Fifth Grade

“Basketball” by Deegan Dunn

Sixth Grade

“Acts of Kindness” by Erin Galang

Big Shop Capabilities With Small Shop

These Canyon Country Residents Who Made Honor Roll in College

Biola University Dean’s List

Summer Bhola majoring in Comm Sciences Disorders

Tessa Bhola majoring in Undecided

Benjamin Bruyninckx majoring in English

Karilynn Cole majoring in English

Keller Manthei majoring in Pub Relations & Strategic Comm

Seanna Sadie Sta Ana majoring in Undecided

Kevin Stone of majoring in Business Administration

Sierra Tatone majoring in Music Education

University of Maryland Global Campus

Dean’s List

Sarah Berghuis

Jessica Carino

Middle Tennessee State University

Jake Hixon majoring in Audio Production

express what makes them special, what hurts them and what inspires them.”

LA County Academic Decathlon Awards

Golden Valley

Golden Valley placed 30th

Golden Valley placed 11th in Division II

Clara Jin Gold in Essay

Andrew Whitmar Silver in science

West Ranch

West Ranch placed 25th overall

West Ranch placed 14th in Division 1

Ayla Press Gold in Essay and Interview

Victoria Vo Bronze in Speech

Ritta Hajjar Silver in Speech and Essay

Swarada Kulkarni Gold in Speech

Ritta Hajjar Gold in Interview

Kulkami Swarada Silver in Interview

DECATHLON

Continued from page 9

According to Guerrero, her students buckled down and they are reviewing the material for the competition on March 11. She added that often the juniors and seniors on the team lead lesson plans or study sessions to prepare the younger members.

Students might see material being repeated in the different categories they compete in, she added. Around March, the new theme is released and teams across the county begin to study and learn in preparation for the competitions that year.

Next year’s theme is technology and humanity, Guerrero said. The theme can be anything such as a country or a specific time period.

She said the Saugus, West Ranch and Golden Valley teams are somewhat rivals. The teams compete in scrimmages and sometimes they study together.

The team at Saugus is a class and it counts toward requirements to get into college. The team at West Ranch is a club and the coach at Golden Valley is trying to make academic decathlon a club.

Academic decathlon is more than a competition, it’s a community and it provides students a haven, she said. She described her team as a loving group.

“It’s an eclectic group,” Guerrero said. “They learn because they’re teaching others. I’ve seen them really mature and grow.”

“They’re able to communicate with

others. They’re lesson planning, and they’re much more confident getting up in front of a group,” she continued.

West Ranch junior Ayla Press was the top scorer for her academic decathlon team, and she also received gold in the interview and essay categories.

“This year was really great because it’s the first year I’ve competed since COVID,” Press said. “I really enjoyed competing in person and it makes it a really fun, lively experience, especially for the interview process.”

Press described the competition as a team sport though members participate in individual events.

“We help lift each other up and study together,” Press said. “It’s just accomplishing for everybody when someone wins an award.”

According to Press, she’s looking forward to next year’s competition, but she shared her team’s personal goal is to defeat Saugus because they are so close to them. They have a friendly rivalry.

Saugus senior Camille Wiener was the top scorer for her team, too, and she received silver in the speech category. She shared Press’ feelings that academic decathlon is a team effort.

Academic decathlon sparked her passion for teaching and math. When she graduates from Saugus and attends her chosen four-year university, she’ll study applied mathematics.

“I’m not going to lie, if you told like the freshman version of myself that I would be leading this team, I probably wouldn’t believe you,” Wiener said. “I’m thankful for this experience. I know that I’ve learned a lot

Victoria Vo Silver in Interview

Saugus

Saugus placed 12th overall

Saugus placed 11th in Division 1

Senior Camille Wiener Silver in Speech

Madeleine Hollingshead Gold in Essay, Silver in Interview

Colin Garcia Gold in Essay, Silver in Interview, Bronze in Literature, Economics and Math

Zoe Tejada Bronze in Essay

Jennifer Wang Silver in Essay, Bronze in Interview

Valeria Funez Gold in Speech and Interview, Bronze in Essay

Madeleine Hollingshead Gold in essay, Silver in Interview from it.”

She encourages other students across the William S. Hart Union High School District to join academic decathlon, and if they don’t have

teams at their respective schools, then start one.

“It’s a really good way to get something more of your high school experience,” she said. 

West Ranch Academic Decathlon Team

Saugus Academic Decathlon Team

Development Deal for Whittaker-Bermite Site

By Trevor Morgan Signal Staff Writer

ASanta Monica-based company, New Urban West Inc., has reached a development deal with a company claiming ownership over the former Whittaker-Bermite site — a nearly 1,000 acre tract of land that required a decades-long cleanup of contaminated soil.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to work with the local community and the city of Santa Clarita to design a dynamic project that will transform the center of the city and better connect communities within the city,” wrote Adam Browning, president of New Urban West, in a press release. “We have an opportunity to be bold, think big and create an exceptional mixed-use community that will be a point of pride.”

The facility, located in the center of the city of Santa Clarita, served as the production, storage and testing site of dynamite, fireworks and oil field explosives from 1934 to 1987, leaving behind chemicals and waste by-products in the soil and groundwater after operations

fully ceased.

In July of last year, the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency announced a court had awarded the agency nearly $66 million for cleanup of still-contaminated local groundwater — a project the city estimated would take 20 years.

Since 2007, when the previous multi-million-dollar settlement was agreed to, more wells became impacted by perchlorate and groundwater contaminants. As a result, the impacted wells needed to be removed from service until they could be treated.

After 19 years of removing all that was left behind, a soil cleanup of the site was declared completed by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control.

In February 2021, the state released its hold for the land. Santa Clarita LLC, owned by Remedial Financial Inc., had a deal with Prologis Inc., a real estate firm based in San Francisco, to pay all creditors, but filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2021.

According to Adam Browning, president of New Urban West, a deal was struck with Blue Ox Holdings LLC,

which acquired the land once its original owners went bankrupt.

“Blue Ox Holdings had been the lender to the property since 2016 and now holds fee title, which it obtained after the foreclosure and bankruptcy,” Browning told The Signal. “The property has no outstanding debt or liabilities.”

Land restrictions, or covenants, were put in place by the state in accordance with the original development plan, known as the Porta Bella specific plan, which the Santa Clarita City Council approved in 1995. Browning said the land is now ready to be developed.

Land use covenants are a method the state’s toxic control department uses to protect the public from unsafe exposures to leftover contamination that has been deemed safe to leave at a property “as long as defined restrictions are adhered to,” according to its website.

“The state of California has determined the property can safely be developed after an approximately $175 million, decades-long cleanup effort,” wrote Browning.

However, from the city’s perspective,

things have changed.

“It’s the last large parcel of undeveloped land within the city that the council will have a say over, so we want to make sure it’s done right and it’s up to our city standards,” said Councilman Cameron Smyth, regarding the council’s interest in the land, during an interview with The Signal in 2021.

The city said it could not comment on any pending litigation. However, Carrie Lujan, spokeswoman for the city, and Community Development Director Jason Crawford, did say any new developments of the land would need to go through the city first.

“They would need to propose a project, it would need to go through environmental review. There would need to be a lot of technical analysis done, there would be public meetings, before a decision was made on a project,” said Crawford. “So it would still need to go through full, due process before a decision was made or something was approved, modified or denied.”

Lujan and Crawford said nothing has been submitted to the city, at the time of this publication. 

SCV Residents Paint and Play for Family Promise

Some $10,000 raised for homeless resources and interim housing.

By Jose Herrera Signal Staff Writer

Family Promise of Santa Clarita Valley raised approximately $10,000 from its second annual poker tournament and paint and sip event, all for the purpose of providing resources and interim housing for homeless families.

More than 600 people came to the event, “All in for Family Promise,” at the Canyon Country Community Center. According to Kelly O’Keefe, events coordinator, the poker night was two events, one night and one purpose.

“The event was super successful,” O’Keefe said. “We had a room full of people doing like a ‘Pinot’ paint experience with Out of the Box. Then on the other side, in the community center, we had poker taking place with fun features like a photo booth, we had beer and wine served that was donated and mocktails from our local Sober Cheetah girls.”

According to O’Keefe, Family Promise had many sponsorships for the event, a lot of people who just walked in, and many poker players who registered to play that same day.

“So many businesses around the SCV donated prizes for poker, so everyone on the final table got prizes,” she added.

But the event of the night was pinot and painting, she said. It was such a huge success they were over capacity and staff had to open new tables around the venue.

“Yeah, people loved it. The session was like your standard pinot-paint night. The artist was free-spirited, so if something else was speaking to you, you could paint that as well,” O’Keefe said.

According to O’Keefe, the money Family Promise raised will help in various ways such as paying for hotel or motel fees for families needing immediate assistance getting off the street, purchasing food and day-to-day items like blankets, period pads, toilet paper, and more.

That same night, Family Promise helped a family

secure a hotel room, so they wouldn’t sleep on the streets, O’Keefe said.

“We have successful cases where people just need interim housing, or resources, so they can get a job and get back on their feet. It’s better than having yourself and kids sleep in the car in Santa Clarita, especially when it’s been snowing, raining and with these cold nights,” O’Keefe said.

The Rev. Roché Vermaak, executive director of development for Family Promise, said the first poker event they held happened in May 2019. Due to the coronavirus, the organization had to postpone until now.

But this gave staff the opportunity to diversify their audience and attract more women, and O’Keefe came up with the idea to host a pinot-paint night, too. In the end, Family Promise had twice as many painters as poker players.

He confirmed they were able to raise $10,000, but after expenses, the profit for the event is expected to be about $6,600. The money will be used for families in need, he said.

In a year, Family Promise spends between $20,000 to $30,000 just in motel and hotel space to get families off the street. By doing that, families can provide their kids with a safe place to sleep, eat a warm meal, take a shower and stay clean.

He noted Family Promise offers interim housing in Castaic for families that qualify for the program, and they offer rental assistance and more services. Vermaak said there are number of reasons why people fall into homelessness, but COVID-19 exacerbated situations across the board that would lead families to become homeless.

He said they are expecting data indicating more homelessness in the Santa Clarita Valley. A large population that Family Promise serves, he said, are single mothers.

“Family Promise deals with the unseen homelessness in Santa Clarita,” Vermaak said. “Our families, you will not see them on the street corners. Our families are not sleeping in the park. Our families do not present to us that way because there’s one

fear that single mothers have – that their children will be taken away from them.”

Family homelessness in Santa Clarita is financial, he said. The No. 1 reason is that people don’t earn enough income, the hourly wage is too low, and rent is high, he added.

People can help Family Promise by donating to the organization with money, food, clothing, or their time. But another important way to help is to open your home to families in need, he said.

“How can people help Family Promise? Open the bedroom and rent out a bedroom to a family that we have prescreened that we’ve done a background check on, that we will drop this for you and rent out to a family and make the difference,” Vermaak said. 

PHOTOS COURTESY FAMILY PROMISE

SHANER

Continued from page 5

“People find it kind of weird when I say I bowl, they don’t think it’s a sport,” Shaner said. “I started doing it for fun, then I found friends doing it. Time went on and I realized I can be good at this. It’s a really good opportunity for kids that no one really knows about. You can win a lot of scholarship money.”

Shaner has accrued almost $10,000 in scholarship money through SMART, a Pell Grant match program.

Junior bowlers are ineligible to receive funds of any sort, but through SMART, bowlers like Shaner can receive scholarship funds that become usable when the junior reaches college.

“Winning all these tournaments and placing, [I] wanted to help the younger bowlers and show them the opportunities they have,” Shaner said. “I’m trying to show them that opportunity and that they can do it. Everyone can do it, you can be anyone and bowl and be good at the sport. I want to inspire kids and for them to know they can do it.”

Shaner will begin collegiate bowling next year, a fact that seemed unlikely when she first started bowling competitively. When she was 10 years old, Shaner didn’t like the league she played in, leading her to quit and go play basketball.

“After basketball, I thought I didn’t give bowling enough of a chance,” Shaner said. “I joined a different league and once I realized I joined the right league, I realized it’s a team sport, everyone helps each other out. It was more people talking to you and I ended up making a family. They explain things to you and help you. You’re all on one team.”

The pandemic also hindered Shaner’s bowling future. Bowling alleys weren’t open consistently, leading her to throw bowling balls in her backyard.

“I would throw my bowling balls in the backyard. I went to Vegas for one, week-long tournament. There wasn’t too much bowling but I took every chance I could get.”

Whenever she did find a competition or tournament, the junior bowler shined. Shaner has placed in five categories in each of the five years she has competed in the city tournament. She is a lady’s

bowling tournament champion, has accolades in the Junior Bowling League, all on top of now converting the 7-10 split.

Coach Rick Landers has coached Shaner over the years and helped elevate her game to a soon-to-be collegiate bowler level.

“Coach Landers really started teaching me things and I got better,” Shaner said. “Once I got to a certain point, I started entering tournaments. In my first tournament ever, there were four categories and I placed first in three. I then thought I could actually be good at this. I knew I wanted to do this because it was fun and competitive. It made me want to try harder and play more.”

Shaner also was quick to thank her mom Renee Shaner and Santa Clarita Lanes.

“My parents were supportive as they saw me progress,” Shaner said. “They wanted to come and watch me, and wanted to hear about everything I

was doing. They’ve been really supportive about it.” She also wanted to thank “Santa Clarita Lanes for helping me with everything they’ve helped me with. They’ve always been supportive and helped me a bunch. I’ve gained a lot of great friends from there.”

Shaner has plenty of bowling left in Santa Clarita but will ship off to Missouri in the summer. She has big aspirations for her college bowling career and what may come after.

“For now, I’m just getting ready for college,” Shaner said. “I’ll be bowling in the offseason. Then depending on how college goes, I might try to go pro. That’s the dream for bowling. Essentially, my plan was to get into college through bowling, see how it goes and after I’m done, decide if I want to go for this. I think there’s a pretty big possibility I’ll go for it just to see what happens.” 

Golden Valley Senior Emma Shaner and her California State Youth Scholarship for outstanding academic achievement and bowling performance.

“I might try to go pro. That’s the dream for bowling … My plan was to get into college through bowling, see how it goes and after I’m done, decide if I want to go for this. I think there’s a pretty big possibility I’ll go for it just to see what happens.”

CALENDAR

Canyon Country Community Center

18410 Sierra Highway, Santa Clarita 91350

Celebrate “Egypt”

Canyon Country Community Center

Friday, April 14 • 6-9 p.m.

The first Celebrate series of the year!

“Celebrate” brings the history and traditions of people and places from around the world to the Canyon Country Community Center every second Friday from April to September.

OPEN GYM AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER

Open gym activities are available to people of all skill levels.

CANYON COUNTRY LIBRARY PROGRAMS

March 20

1 p.m. Little Explorers

5:30 p.m. Yoga for Adults and Seniors

March 21

9:30 a.m. Storytime

3:30 p.m. STEM Balloon Car

March 22

9:30 a.m. Bilingual Storytime

1 p.m. Home at the Library: Learning Showcase. Homeschool Project-Based Learning

March 23

9:30 a.m. Storytime

CCCC GYM HOURS

Tuesday and Thursday Basketball

9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring your own ball or check one out with a student or government-issued ID

3:30 p.m. Teen Crafts and Stuff

4 p.m. Read to Dogs

5 p.m. OSOC Water Safety with Aquatics. Learning the basics.

March 25

10 a.m. Sit and Stitch

March 27

1 p.m. Little Explorers

March 28

All Day Bound to be Good Subscription Box

9:30 a.m. Storytime

3:30 p.m. Write Whatever Workshop

March 29

9:30 a.m. Bilingual Storytime

March 30

9:30 a.m. Storytime

noon Homeschool Room Resource Support

3:30 p.m. Teen Crafts and Stuff

April 3

1 p.m. Little Explorers

April 4

9:30 a.m. Storytime

3:30 p.m. LEGO Block Party

April 5

9:30 a.m. Bilingual Storytime

April 6

9:30 a.m. Storytime

6 p.m. Club de Mujeres Latinas en Literatura. Adult book club.

April 7

10:15 a.m. Yoga Together (Family)

April 8

10 a.m. Sit and Stitch

April 10

1 p.m. Little Explorers

5:30 p.m. DIY Book Wreaths

April 11

9:30 a.m. Storytime

3:30 p.m. Crafternoon

April 12

9:30 a.m. Binlingual Storytime

1 p.m. Lifeskills: Kanopy, an on-demand streaming platform

3:30 p.m. Teen Library Eats

5:30 p.m. Worlds of Whimsy Adult Book Club

April 13

9:30 Storytime

Noon Homeschool Resource Support

3:30 Teen Craft and Stuff

April 14

4:30 Teen Advisory Board

April 17 1 p.m. Little Explorers

5:30 p.m. Green Cleaner. Adults and Seniors make your own cleaner