Canyon Country Magazine September 2022

Exploring the Game of

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Santa Clarita Elks Lodge Hosts Car and Motorcycle Show

By Rylee Holwager Signal Staff Writer

The Santa Clarita Elks Lodge hosted its eighth annual car and motorcycle show to raise money for a variety of local charities and disabled children. The event also featured a chili cook-off, boutique, raf fle, live band CATCH 22 and a variety of food and drinks.

Shelly Tomson, committee chairperson for the show, said the show grew out of a much more mod est effort.

“We actually had one and it turned out really lit tle and this girl who had left had it,” said Tomson. “I said, ‘You know what, I’m gonna make this big,’ and I got a lot of people involved and I made it big.”

Tomson accomplished what she set out to do. The show now attracts a wider range of people, in cluding those seeking to be involved in the show as a means of community outreach.

Santa Clarita Young Marines Commanding Of ficer Tim Stratton brought the Young Marines out as a way to connect to their community through community service. The Young Marines worked

as volunteers throughout the event helping set up booths, serve chili, selling tickets and helping take down booths at the event’s conclusion.

The glamor and main attraction of the event came from the cars and motorcycles.

Cars throughout the decades were featured at the show including a 1956 Ford F-100, 1969 Chevy Corvette, 2008 Lotus Exige 5240 and a 1963 Peter bilt.

The owner of the Peterbilt semi was Jerry Salinas, a Santa Clarita resident of 71 years.

Salians has owned the Peterbilt for the last 20 years, and he used its restoration as a way of keep ing him entertained in retirement.

“I always wanted something to do when I re tired,” said Salinas. So he has dedicated two years of his time to restoring the Peterbilt.

“I’m not married. I’m married to this thing,” said Salinas.

Toward the end of the show, chili cook-off win ners were announced and awarded in the catego ries of “Hottest Chili” and “Best Chili.” The crowd also voted for their favorite to be awarded with the “People’s Choice” trophy.

Mayor Laurene Weste presented trophies to the car show winners, who were chosen by the lodge’s judges. The categories were best car in show, may or’s choice, best lowrider, best classic, hottest car, best paint and most likely to be pulled over.

Motorcyclists were awarded with trophies for best paint, most fun between your legs and best motorcycle in show.

Mike Fisher, exalted ruler of Santa Clarita Elks, said that the majority of the funds raised from this event will be going toward their partnership with the California Hawaii Elks Association to provide therapists to disabled children in Northern Califor nia.

Last year, the SCV Elks partnership with CHEA resulted in a total of $4.5 million being raised.

In addition to CHEA, funds raised will also be distributed among local charities to provide aid to the community.

“We’re basically dedicated to charity,” said Fisher. “Our motto is ‘Charity, justice, brotherly love and fidelity.”

PHOTOS BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

Sulphur Springs Debuts New Playground, Classrooms

By Trevor Morgan Signal Staff Writer

Sulphur Springs Elementary School ushered in a new classroom building and a new playground in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Sept. 9.

The project has been in the works for nearly a decade with construction starting about two years ago. The new playground was designed to accom modate students of all ages and needs. Sulphur Springs Principal Eric Guerrero said this aspect was integral to its design.

“It was always about the kids and it had to make sure every kid, no matter what, could come and play, and it didn’t matter the ability of the student,” said Guerrero. “To see when this thing finally came to be — all the kids, inclusive playing and it’s new… their smiles just don’t even come off their faces.”

Sulphur Springs School District Superintendent Catherine Kawaguchi echoed Guerrero sentiments by saying that inclusion was a must when design ing the new playground.

“We want to make sure every child has access,” said Kawaguchi. “We have a program for children with autism and we even made sure that the play apparatus was placed strategically to support the children with special needs.”

Following opening assembly, which includ ed awards and songs sung by the kids in Sulphur Springs’ music program, the ribbon was cut in front of the new classroom building by board of trustees member Shelley Weinstein and Denis De Figueiredo, president of the board.

Weinstein said she was initially apprehensive about the new classroom when it was proposed by

Kawaguchi, but that now it was standing before her, she couldn’t argue with the results.

“I didn’t like where it was, it was right in the mid dle of the playground that my kids loved so much, by the outdoor stage that my kids love so much. And then I started working with the school staff or architect or advisors and we got this beautiful building,” said Weinstein. “It’s amazing to me, it looks like it’s been here forever. The playground is amazing and it will give years and years and years of fun to our children.”

While the outside might look like it’s always been at the school, its interior is ultra-modern and geared toward maximizing post-pandemic student interactions and learning environments. It features one long hall, flanked by classrooms with dou ble-glass sliding doors. All furniture, both in the common area and in the classroom, is movable to accommodate different teaching strategies.

“This has always been part of our vision for this campus to have modern education-friendly and oriented classrooms as well as added security,” said DeFigueiredo. “And a wonderful collabora tion area, to capitalize on everything that we know about education and students’ interactions and things like that.”

Parents seemed equally thrilled that modern ed ucation theories were being practiced and imple mented at their children’s elementary school.

“Well, it’s just a special to see because we’ve been here since TK,” said Scarlet Montoya, a parent of a third-grader at Sulphur Springs. “It meant a lot and the kids really enjoy it. I mean that when they got back, they were so excited to be in the new build ing. So it’s exciting and we’re happy to be part of this community.”

PHOTOS BY TREVOR MORGAN / THE SIGNAL

Sulphur Springs Principal Eric Guerrero welcomes the crowd in advance of the ribbon cutting for the new playground.

Inside the new classroom.

By Rylee Holwager Signal Staff Writer

Generation Z gained essential financial knowledge on working with a monthly budget through Junior Chamber Inter national of Santa Clarita’s event “Get Real: Adulting 101.”

JCI Santa Clarita is an organization focused on building community partners and young commu nity leaders to create positive change within the community.

High school students were invited to the Santa Clarita Sports Complex to learn more about the fi nancial demands that life has.

“The main takeaway is for them to do two things,” said event coordinator Kari McCoy. “One is to have kind of an awakening about what it costs for a monthly budget, once they become adults and are more financially independent. The second is to think more critically than they are about finances, and about choices that they make.”

Every participant essentially played a real-life version of The Game of Life.

After being asked if they would like to do the col lege route or no college route, each participant was handed a clipboard with a role assigned to them. This role included their job, set income, their mar ital status and the number of children they have.

Participants had to work with what they had to set up an ideal budget and end with money in the bank.

Many learned very quickly the financial demands of just what their role entailed.

“It is pretty hard maintaining your budget and

once you have kids and you’re mar ried. I’s just doubled,” said participant Julio Orellana.

At the event, local businesses set up booths to represent the indus try for which financial category they were representing. These categories included necessities such as housing, entertainment, child care, health and wellness, food and school.

However, just to replicate exactly what life entails, each booth provided much temptation for the participants to make some financially bad deci sions. This was done to show the par ticipants just how easy it can be to fall into financial traps.

“I didn’t realize how aggressive marketing schemes were,” said partic ipant Ashbi Riverra.

Volunteers also walked around handing out random “reality checks” to participants that entailed more financial burdens, or possibly bless ings.

“These are random situations like, ‘You have a gas-powered vehicle and

By Jose Herrera Signal Staff Writer

In the wake of the Uvalde, Tex as, school shooting and recent incidents involving students in the WIlliam S. Hart Union High School District, school officials have made it a priority to review and engage with their community about ongoing safety protocols and discuss safety goals.

The Hart district hosted a Safe Schools Discussion recently at the city of Santa Clarita’s Activities Cen ter. More than 100 people attended the discussion, which also included some words from Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station Capt. Justin Diez.

“Public safety is the name of the game,” Diez said. “Although crime has gone up in the last couple of years, we’re still [better] relative to the rest of the county. That’s why people bring their kids to go to school, why business came here, and you know, that’s why we’ve been here.”

“I think we are in good shape,” he added.

According to Hart district Superin tendent Mike Kuhlman, the purpose of the discussion was to share prog ress on implementing “best practices” from the Prince/Kallin report, in ad dition to discussing areas of strength

and considering new, existing areas of safety to enhance.

During the presentation, district officials used two recent incidents — one in which deputies arrested a 15-year-old Canyon High School student on suspicion of stealing his mother’s car, and another in which deputies arrested a 50-year-old man on suspicion of physically assaulting a student from Rio Norte Junior High School — as examples or focal points to describe how safety tools and mea sures were used.

“The Hart district has been work ing diligently to enhance both safety and wellness supports since the Sau gus tragedy, which occurred in No vember 2019,” read Kuhlman’s wel come letter to attendees. “Our efforts

have been guided by a report pre pared by several experts in the field.”

Kathy Hunter, assistant superin tendent of student services, safety and wellness, and Collyn Nielsen, as sistant superintendent of human re sources, led the discussion on men tal health and wellness, site security, communication, policy and training.

“As our community has to evolve, we have seen an increase in students identified as economically disadvan taged, and we know from Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, that students cannot learn if their basic needs for food, shelter and safety are not met,” Hunter said.

To meet those needs, the district created a partnership with Care Source, which is a web-based pro gram that can help con nect people with others or organizations for those specific needs — for example, a food bank.

“As we move forward, the school sites are offer ing more courses on so cial-emotional learning and we are continuing to provide learning oppor tunities in areas such as conflict resolution.”

Nielsen mentioned the role SROs, school resource officers, play in ensuring safety at all their school sites, and

Attendees broke into discussion groups at the William S. Hart Union School District Safe School Discussion event. PHOTOS BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

SAFETY

said the district is looking into increasing the num ber of SROs in the future.

“All of our safety protocols have been developed in collaboration with the SCV Sheriff’s Station, and our current SRO program has an expenditure of about $4.5 million,” Nielsen said.

The Hart district heard some members of the com munity that they’d like to see additional SROs, and if that is the wish of the community, the Hart district says it will cost $2.9 million the first year, he added.

District officials would do further research and examine ways of funding more SROs on campus, he said.

In addition, Nielsen said the district undertook a project to standardize the number of cameras installed on campuses, and in the summer of 2021 the district installed an additional 196 cameras.

There are approximately 36 cameras at each high school campus, and 24 at each junior high school, he added. The district also applied shattering-re sistant film to approximately 27,000 square feet of glass across the district to prevent any injuries in case of an emergency.

District officials discussed ongoing practices in depth and reassured community members they are implementing safety protocols and measures to en sure the safety of their students and staff.

GET REAL

Continued from page 9 your smog check is due,’” said McCoy. “Or we have a, ‘You have a family member that passed away and you had to take a week off of work, you lose $400,’ or we have, ‘You get a COVID stimulus package and you got $600.’”

McCoy said that observing the event was really interesting in the sense that participants’ emotions were constantly shifting between empowerment and anger.

When participants made mistakes, they asked McCoy if they could alter their budget.

“You have the choice to make other choices be cause in real life, you’re not stuck with that,” said McCoy. “You can make better financial decisions and continue to improve.”

JCI Santa Clarita’s goal resonated with many of the participants and left them with something to remember.

“How to manage money,” said participant Evan Betty in relation to what he had learned from the event.

At the end, all participants were entered into a drawing for the grand prize, a $500 grant.

For more information about the Junior Chamber International Santa Clarita, visit jcisantaclarita. com. 

After being asked if they would like to do the college route or no college route, participants were handed clipboards with a role assigned to them.

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Canyon Rolls Hueneme 28-7, Great Start for the Season

By Justin Vigil-Zuniga Signal Sports Writer

In the Canyon football (2-0) non-league home opener against the Hueneme Vikings (0-2), the Cowboys defense swarmed nearly every Hueneme play throughout the night. The defense finished the first half alone with two fumble recoveries and an interception.

Canyon got on the board first after a long drive with all running plays. Running back Ganisten “GT” Turner picked up one big run after another. Turner led Canyon with 25 carries for 144 yards and a touchdown.

Sophomore Evan Watts punched in the first score from less than a yard out.

On the next play, Watts recovered a Hueneme fumble to gift the Cowboys another chance to score in great field position.

“I feel great,” said Watts. “This experience was awesome but there’s always room for improvement. I didn’t play my best but it was all teamwork at the end of the day.”

Canyon ran the jet sweep but a mistimed handoff to Jeremiah Taylor saw the ball hit the ground on the play. Taylor was able to recover the ball quickly and somehow find a seam to score a 41-yard rush.

Canyon’s Evan Watts (30) celebrates with his teammate Eyezik Ruppert (4) after Watts scored the Cowboys first touchdown of the game.

Canyon’s Evan Watts (30) runs through defenders to score the Cowboys first touchdown of the game in the first quarter.

The Canyon Cowboys varsity football team runs out of the tunnel prior to the game against the Hueneme Vikings at the Canyon High School football field. PHOTOS BY CHRIS TORRES / THE SIGNAL

The Cowboys converted a two-point conversion, making it 14-0 before Canyon even attempted a pass.

Quarterback and defensive end Diego Ulijich was solid again under center. The junior manned the run-heavy offense and was only asked to throw the ball a handful of times. That time on offense didn’t stop him from leading the Canyon defense’s pressure in the slightest bit.

The Vikings finally got some momentum thanks to the power run game giving the Cowboys a little taste of their own medicine.

The first Hueneme score would come on a huge 57-yard bomb from quarterback Josiah Sanchez to Brian Pintor. The wide receiver was able to reel in a ball over multiple Cowboys defenders and break free for the score.

Canyon wanted another score before the halftime break but a sack from Vikings defenders Matthew Perez and Josiah Gipson would sway the Cowboys to take a knee and go into the half up seven. It was the only sack of the game for both teams.

Both teams struggled to move the ball com ing out of the half but on his second drive, Turner started rolling. Turner was driving the ball down Hueneme’s throat and registered back-to-back rushes over 17 yards.

Canyon’s Jeremiah Taylor (8) breaks past multiple tackles on

Cowboys second touchdown of the game.See COWBOYS, on next page

COWBOYS

Watts would finish off the drive on a 16-yard rushing score on a fourth and one.

Turner would finally find the end zone late in the game on another long run-heavy drive.

Canyon kept up the pressure on de fense and kept forcing three and outs.

“Our defense is flying around the ball,” said Canyon coach Ken Holsen beck. “Eleven hats on the ball is what it’s all about and our defense is doing a good job of that.”

The Cowboys are rolling and have already equaled their total wins in the last two seasons. Players have bought into all the new things their first-year head coach has brought in and the team is putting in the work of a 2-0 team.

“The biggest part of our success is us being disciplined,” said lineback er Maximiliano Sanchez. “Coach Holsenbeck has pushed us to be the greatest we can be and we stand by that.”

Holsenbeck saw a lot of great things from his guys but still knows there’s a long season ahead of him. Either way, Canyon’s feeling good.

“We feel good,” said Watts. “2-0 feels great but we want to win it all.”

Canyon will be back on the road next Friday for a non-league matchup with Harvard-Westlake.

“Now we’re on to Harvard-West lake,” said Holsenbeck. “We want to improve and get better at everything we do. If we can do that, we’ll feel pretty good about where we are.”

Canyon High School Varsity Football Schedule Fridays at 7 p.m.

Sept 16 West Ranch (COC)

Sept 23 Bye

Sept 30 Castaic

Oct. 7 Golden Valley (CHS)

Oct. 14 Hart

Oct. 21 Saugus

Oct. 28 Valencia

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Continued from previous page

HART

Continued from page

At the end of the discussion, attend ees were able to have roundtable dis cussions with members of their table, which included a deputy and district staff member. Attendees asked ques tions and provided feedback regarding areas of improvement they believed the district should consider.

“The feedback we receive from this

discussion will help identify evolving security needs and allocate resources to enhance safety and security,” Kuhl man wrote in his letter to attendees. “We are all safer as we work together on these important objectives.”

For parents or community members who could not attend the discussion, the Hart district included the report “Enhancing Plans and Procedures for the Prevention of Targeted Violence,” on the Safety Page of the Hart district’s website — hartdistrict.org.

Acton-Agua Dulce School District

The Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District is located between the Santa Clarita Valley and the Antelope Valley. Established in 1881, our district has the distinc tion of being one of the oldest dis tricts in the state of California. We proudly serve students over a 200 square mile radius.

The district continues to provide innovative programs in support of student achievement with the intro duction of new partnerships which include the following new signature programs:

• Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID): Dis trict-Wide

• Antelope Valley College (AVC) and Dual Enrollment: Vasquez High School

• Paxton/Patterson- College and Career Ready Lab: High Desert Middle School

• Makerspace: Innovative Lab:

Meadow lark Ele mentary School

• Los Angeles Arts Educa tion Col lective: Dis trict-Wide

• Parent Am bassadors: District-Wide

• Paper Online Tutoring: Grades 6th-12th

• Career Connections: Vasquez High School

AADUSD continues to reach new levels of success for our students. We take great pride in nurturing and supporting our future leaders. For more information call or contact Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District at 661-269-0750 or visit online at www.aadusd.k12. ca.us.

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Canyon High School Assistant Principal Wendy Aird described the effectivness of the Crisis Go program used during a recent incident at Canyon High School.

CALENDAR

Canyon Country Community Center

Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Canyon Country Community Center

18410 Sierra Highway, Santa Clarita 91350 (661) 290-2266 | santa-clarita.com/CCCC

After-School Activities

Canyon Country Community Center

AGES - 5 - 12

Monday - Friday

2:30 - 6:00 p.m.

Homework assistance, enrichment activities, arts and crafts, games, and more!

TEEN PROGRAM 2022 - 23 Ages 13 - 17

Monday - Friday 3 - 6 p.m.

CANYON COUNTRY LIBRARY PROGRAMS

September 18

1 p.m. Gaming Meetup (Adults)

September 19

1 p.m. Little Explorers (Baby, Toddlers)

September 20

9:30 a.m. Storytime (Baby/Toddler, Family, Preschool)

3:30 p.m. Crafternoon (Family, School Age, Tween)

September 21

9:30 a.m. Bilingual Storytime/Cuenta Cuentose (Children 5 and under

3 p.m. Wild Things (Family, School age, Tween)

September 22

9:30 a.m. Storytime (Baby/Toddler, Family, Preschool)

3:30 p.m. Teen Crafts & Stuff

September 24

10 a.m. Sit and Stitch (Adults/Seniors)

September 26

1 p.m. Little Explorers (Baby, Toddlers)

CANYON COUNTRY LIBRARY PROGRAMS

September 27

9:30 a.m. Storytime (Baby/Toddler, Family, Preschool)

3:30 p.m. Science Explorers (Family, School Age, Tween)

September 28

9:30 a.m. Bilingual Storytime/Cuenta Cuentose (Children 5 and under

1 p.m. Home at the Library: Cool Technology (School Age, Tweens)

4:30 p.m. Let’s Learn JobNow: Computers (Adults, Seniors)

September 29

9:30 a.m. Storytime (Baby/Toddler, Family, Preschool)

3:30 p.m. Teen Crafts & Stuff

4 p.m. Read to a Dog (Grades K-6

October 3

1 p.m. Little Explorers (Baby, Toddlers)

October 4 Library Closed

October 5

9:30 a.m. Bilingual Storytime/Cuenta Cuentose (Children 5 and under

3:30 p.m. Teen Library Eats. learn cooking basics, tips and tricks.

October 6

9:30 a.m. Storytime (Baby/Toddler, Family, Preschool)

3:30 p.m. Teen Crafts & Stuff

October 8 10 a.m. Sit and Stitch (Adults/Seniors)

October 9 Library Closed

October 10 Library Closed

October 11

9:30 a.m. Storytime (Baby/Toddler, Family, Preschool)

3:30 p.m. LEGO® Block Party (Family, School Age, Tween)

October 12

9:30 a.m. Bilingual Storytime/Cuenta Cuentose (Children 5 and under

4:30 p.m. Let’s Learn Hoopla (Adults/Seniors)

October 13

9:30 a.m. Storytime (Baby/Toddler, Family, Preschool)

3:30 p.m. Teen Crafts & Stuff

October 16

1 p.m. Gaming Meetup (Adults)

October 17

1 p.m. Little Explorers (Baby, Toddlers)

October 18

9:30 a.m. Storytime (Baby/Toddler, Family, Preschool)

3:30 p.m. Crafternoon (Family, School Age, Tween)

October 19

9:30 a.m. Bilingual Storytime/Cuenta Cuentose (Children 5 and under

4:00 p.m. Wild Things (School Age, Tween)

October 20

9:30 a.m. Storytime (Baby/Toddler, Family, Preschool)

3:30 p.m. Teen Crafts & Stuff

October 22

10 a.m. Sit and Stitch (Adults/Seniors)

EVERYDAY:

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THURSDAYS:

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Smith enters racefor

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Warrant detailssexual allegationsassault in

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SCV’s tribute to the greats

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