Sunday Signal 022623

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.

Five Natural Herbs that will Help you Sleep

By Ryan Nicklin Special to The Signal

Sleep is your body’s natural way of healing itself. Good quality sleep prepares you for a productive day ahead. You need 7 to 9 hours of sleep to feel relaxed and rejuvenated, but sometimes getting quality sleep can be difficult.

Sleep experts at Eachnight.com have revealed how natural herbs can help those who may struggle to drift off at night. This research has been medically reviewed by Dr. Nayantara Santhi.

How can herbs promote sleep?

Natural herbs contain powerful sleep-enhancing properties for a night of restful sleep. They can calm your nerves and soothe your senses, providing adequate sleep.

Sleep deprivation is often due to a hectic lifestyle, anxiety, and stress. Stress affects the production of the neurotransmitter serotonin, but taking some herbal supplements can compensate for this loss.

Some natural herbs are high in tryptophan, an amino acid improving the synthesis of serotonin. Increasing serotonin levels offsets the chemical imbalance causing the most common sleep disorder, insomnia.

The Five Best Herbs to Try Lavender

The anti-depressive, sedative and calming properties of lavender help you sleep better. Studies show lavender herbs can relax your nerves, reduce anxiety levels, and stabilize mood disorders. Reduced stress, anxiety, and a positive mood promote daytime wakefulness and more sustained sleep at night. Typically, lavender is used via sprays or inhaled.

Chamomile

Chamomile is an ancient medicinal herb known for its relaxing effects. Modern-day scientific studies prove the efficacy of chamomile. It reduces anxiety, soothes your nerves, and eases insomnia. One study, for example, found that women who had given birth and struggled to sleep experienced less sleep inefficiency and depression when drinking chamomile tea at night for two weeks. The presence of nerve-relaxing flavonoids in chamomile tea makes it a popular tranquillizing drink. You can feel chamomile’s soothing effect even by inhaling its aroma.

Valerian

The roots of the valerian herb are often used to treat insomnia, restlessness, and anxiety in patients. Valerianic acid in the valerian roots inhibits the breakdown of the neurotransmitter GABA.

This induces better quality sleep. Valerian works on the principles of anti-anxiety medicines, promoting deep sleep. Valerian is available in many stores and usually comes in the form of tablets.

Passionflower

Passionflower contains nerve-relaxing flavonoids, which help you to de-stress and sleep better. This tropical flower tastes good and is commonly used in many herbal, over-the-counter sedatives.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is a medicinal herb commonly used to combat insomnia, as studies have shown it’s effective at improving sleep onset latency and quality of rest. The real sleep-promoting compounds of Ashwagandha are found in the leaves of this plant—Tri ethylene glycol works to eliminate feelings of stress or anxiety, induce calmness, and help you fall asleep easily. Ashwagandha ultimately acts like a sedative, so it’s a great alternative to anxiety medications or OTC sleep aids since it works with your body to naturally bolster sleeping habits. Ashwagandha can be bought as capsules that are ingested.

How to Use Herbs for Sleep

Herbal tea

Make some herbal tea by adding 1 tsp of herbs to a cup of boiling water. Let it steep for 20 minutes, then strain and drink it. You can drink two to three cups of herbal tea in a day.

Essential oils

Add herb-flavored essential oils to your warm water bath at bedtime to feel a calming effect, in-

ducing sleep.

Massage herb-infused oil mixed with olive, grapeseed, or coconut oil on certain parts of your body such as your forehead, neck, chest, wrist, chest, hands, or feet. Your skin may be sensitive to an undiluted essential oil, so diluting it reduces the chances of a reaction.

Aromatherapy

Inhale the fragrance of natural herbs through aromatherapy candles.

Supplements

Consume herbal extract supplements, available over the counter in pharmacy stores. Read the dosage instructions on the label to know how much to take per day.

A spokesperson from Eachnight.com commented: “Sleep disturbances occur when the normal processes of waking and/or initiating sleep do not happen. This can occur because of a combination of genetic, environmental, sleep habits, and other psychobiological factors.

If the pattern of sleep disturbances continues over time, these factors can create a vicious cycle of ongoing sleep problems with consequences in our waking lives. As they say, sleep health is as important as diet and exercise for our well-being.

Most of the natural herbs have a long history of use for the treatment of insomnia. These herbal medicines were being prescribed by physicians since ancient times as natural sleep aids. Modern-day studies and research have supported the efficacy of taking these herbs for a great night’s sleep, so any of these options can be a good fit. Although many herbs are harmless and have no side effects it is worth talking to your doctor before making any drastic changes to your herb use. 

Soak In and Heal With These Natural Hot Springs

The thought of soaking in a natural hot spring may sound relaxing and pure fun. However, there are also health benefits, according to a group that advocates for the benefits of natural mineral waters.

“Natural mineral waters are different from other types of waters” as they supply many of the minerals that the human body needs, says the Balneology Association of North America. These minerals commonly found in natural springs include calcium, magnesium iron and potassium.

So if you’re looking for a healthy and relaxing natural spring soak, check out the following.

Beverly Hot Springs

308 N. Oxford Avenue, Los Angeles 90004

Info https: beverlyhotsprings.com

Located in Koreatown, the Beverly Hot Springs calls itself “Los Angeles’ only 100% Natural Hot Springs Spa.” The 96- to 105-degree water that feeds the spa comes from an artesian well that was found in 1910 by Richard S. Grant. A chemical analysis in 1933 found that the water contains “silica, iron and aluminum oxides, magnesium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium sulfate and sodium chloride.”

The spa is open every day except Tuesday, which is reserved for private bookings. Access to the hot springs pool, cold plunge, steam room and dry sauna is $50 with a two-hour limit.

Deep Creek Hot Springs

Pacific Crest Trail, Apple Valley 92308

Info bit.ly/3KxIxwO

There are usually 6-7 geothermal pools at Deep Creek. The primary pools range in temperature from 100 to 105 degrees, according to CaliHotSprings.com. Most will only handle 1-2 people, but the most popular one at the top has enough room for about a dozen potters, or those that enjoy the hot springs.

The U.S. Forest warns not to drink the hot springs water as it contains a fatal disease called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. So don’t submerse your head.

Secret Los Angeles says that “the dappling thermal waters of this outdoor oasis absolutely need to be on your list.”

Gaviota Hot Springs

Gaviota State Park 1595 US-101, Goleta 93117

Info www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=606

This state park is located in southern Santa Barbara County and should be included to your next trip to the area, say all. The spa is accessible by a quick one-mile hike from the parking area and is surrounded by rich greenery. Parking is $2.

Include the Gaviota Hot Springs in your next trip to Santa Barbara. It’s about 30 minutes west. Check the website before going there. It has been temporarily closed since early January due to severe flood damage and debris cleanup. However, hikers have reported making it to the hot spring.

According to CaliHotSprings.com, the best time to hike to Gaviota Hot Springs is in late spring to be able to also take in the wildflowers.

Little Caliente Hot Springs

(temporarily closed until March 14)

3505 Paradise Rd. Santa Barbara 93105

Info www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf

Heads up, this area is temporarily closed until March 14, due to extreme winter weather earlier. In addition, the 10-mile strenuous hike to the springs is downhill meaning, the return is uphill all the way. If you enjoy the backcountry, this spring is nestled in the Los Padres National Forest and is a secluded, clothing-optional spring location.

Be also warned that there are reports of quicksand in the area. The springs can be accessed 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Bring lots of water and a map.

Montecito Hot Springs

1217 E Mountain Dr, Montecito 93108

Info bit.ly/3SlMQgy

Montecito Hot Springs is a deserted hot springs resort from the 1800s, according to Secret Los Angeles. The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County manages the property in the coastal San Padres mountains. The only remnants of the resort are stone ruins.

The hot springs is a cascade of seven rock-lined pools of various temperatures ranging from 60 to 112 degrees. The pool at the top is the hottest. CaliHotSprings.com says the best time to visit is April, May, October and November. “These months have the clearest days with the most comfortable temperatures. They are also months with fewer tourists.”

If you want to hike, soak in the hot springs and then take a dip in the Pacific Ocean, CaliHotSprings.com recommends you go in October.

Sespe & Willett Hot Springs

Piedra Blanca Trailhead, Rose Valley Rd, Ojai, 93023

Info bit.ly/3ZiP7vr

Calling all backpackers interested in a truly gratifying trek to Ojai’s off-the-beaten-path hot springs. The trail, located at the end of Sespe River Road, guides you down just over a 20 mile path (roundtrip).

The light at the end of the tunnel comes in the form of two hot springs: Willett and Sespe (the latter of which is furthest and thus more secluded), according to TimeOut.com. They recommend you take you time and make it a weekend getaway by staying at on of the various campsites along the way.

Go at your own pace and turn the hike into a weekend getaway with nights at various campsites along the way.

For more information, visit secretlosangeles. com/best-hot-springs-socal, www.tophotsprings. com, timeout.com or Finding Hot Springs at bit. ly/3SCWxYl. 

BEVERLY SPA. PHOTO COURTESY BEVERLY SPA

GAVIOTA SPRINGS. PHOTO COURTESY HIDDEN CALIFORNIA

LITTLE CALIENTE SPRINGS. PHOTO COURTESY SECRET LA

MONTECITO HOT SPRINGS. PHOTO COURTESY MONTECITO

HOME DECOR Trends

Home Décor 2023 What’s Hot, What’s Not

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

After spending the last three years cooped up at home, everyone is pretty sick of seeing the same four walls, day after day, after day. Spring is on the horizon, so not only is it time for a deep spring cleaning, but your home could also use a spring 2023 refresh as well.

What’s Hot

The most popular interior design trends for 2023 include the return of bold color, natural stone surfaces, closed floor plans, mixed metal finishes, luxe living, statement lighting and retro influences from the 1960s and 1970s, with some exceptions. Harvest gold and avocado appliances, shag rugs and tiled countertops are still design no-nos. Think “groovy” 60s and 70s.

Welcome to the Magentaverse

The 2023 Pantone Color of the Year is Viva Magenta, a shade, according to the Pantone Color Institute, “rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength. Viva Magenta is brave and fearless and a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative.”

Viva Magenta is a bold, warm color, but clever homeowners can use the color throughout your home in a myriad of ways.

It is the perfect color for a dramatic statement wall, or as the centerpiece sofa in your living area.

If you are unsure you want to make

an intense commitment to Viva Magenta, you can use the shade to add a pop of color in curtains, rugs, pillows, or flowers.

Home Libraries

Despite our love for the digital, streaming modern world many designers are now embracing a return to the classic home library to add drama and interest to your living spaces. Your library doesn’t have to be just a shelf of dusty books, you can liven up the space with beautiful pottery and art. A library wall is the perfect place to keep family heirlooms, recipe books and photo albums.

Modern Farmhouse Style

Modern farmhouse design is sleeker and cleaner than the traditional Farmhouse style of the past few years. While it retains the comfortable, relaxed farmhouse style you love it adds modern touches such as smooth lines, glossy accents and neutral color schemes. Think of it as less rustic and more sophisticated. Use contemporary design elements like stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and sleek lighting.

Curvy Furniture

Because of lingering supply chain issues furniture styles for 2023 will tend to reflect the trends from last couple of years. That means seeing plenty of curvy shapes and nubby fabrics, as well as rattan and cane, boucle’ and sherpa, light wood and burl wood finishes.

Update your furniture choices by forgetting the boucle’ and sherpa and choose cottons or other sleek fabrics for 2023.

Luxe Living

After the restrictions of the COVID era luxurious living is in for 2023. It doesn’t have to be expensive or “fancy,” instead think “elevated.” Create spaces that feel timeless, sumptuous and sophisticated, in your own individual style.

What’s Not

Avoid these design faux pas in 2023.

Whites and Grays

The 1stDibs trend report notes that white kitchens are on their way out, in favor of bold, bright colorful kitchens. The latest 1stDibs trend report found that when asked about the most on-trend hues for 2023, white received the most dramatic decline in popularity and light gray received the fewest votes overall.

Animal Prints

Along with whites and grays you can toss out the animal prints. If you have a zebra pattern rug, or anything in a leopard print, hide it in the closet. However, instead of donating it to the thrift store it might be smart to hang on to the prints, because it seems that every five years or so, animal prints become all the rage again.

Tile Countertops

While the retro look of the 1970’s is making a big comeback in 2023, it does not apply to tile countertops in the bathroom or kitchen, Stick with granite, marble or quartz.

Millennial Pink

My daughter will be heartbroken, but it’s time to embrace the long goodbye to the fact that millennial pink is no longer on-trend. In 2023 consider hues like yellows or muted

green tones, think natural colors, but not pastels.

Nautical Motifs

Unless you’re actually living in a cabin on the beach it’s time to retire nautical motifs. This cheesy trend has seen its day and now is the time to set sail from using anchors, sailor’s rope and seashells. Use nature as your inspiration and use coral and driftwood accents instead.

Edison Bulbs

The harsh lighting of the vintage look Edison light bulbs is being replaced by more modern takes on statement lighting. Chandeliers are predicted to make a big comeback in 2023. It is also now on trend to mix and match lamps with pendants to design a space with a variety of styles and heights of light sources, but without the Edison bulbs.

Mason Jar Mania

Yes, the “farmhouse” trend had us all in love with mason jars. They were great vases, candleholders, soap dispensers, repositories of colored glass and great pen/pencil holders. But the time has come to let this trend go. In 2023 there is a new appreciation for artisan goods like hand-crafted vases and other home goods.

Word Art, Monograms and Initials

Hanging a giant initial on your bedroom wall is okay, if you are eight. But word art, like a huge carved LOVE sign on your kitchen wall and other decorative signs with cute phrases, like “Guests and fish stink after three days,” are really, really passe. 

Wild about Wildflowers

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

Wildflower season in Southern California is here. It normally starts mid-February and lasts through April. Because of the recent heavy rains everyone is hoping for a colorful spring.

The Santa Clarita Valley is lush with a velvet carpet of green and wildflowers, especially poppies, have been spotted peeking through the grass.

Will there be a “superbloom” this year?

Experts say “time will tell.”

DesertUSA.com is predicting an excellent wildflower season with substantial rainfall across the best wildflower viewing areas.

Dianne Hellrigel, president of the Santa Clarita Community Hiking Club, said she has spotted a few poppies on local hillsides and along Soledad Canyon Road.

“We have received a ton of rain, so I expect we will have a great wildflower season,” she said.

Hellrigel also reports that Ceanothus is “blooming everywhere, there’s a great display on the Elder trail. White Thorn Ceanothus and Blue Dicks are blooming on the Taylor Trail.”

Those trails can be found in Towsley Canyon. Taylor Trail Hiking Trail bit.ly/3lXjrNG

Elder Loop Hiking Trail bit.ly/3YRFLa2

SCV Wildflowers

One of the best places to view wildflowers in the SCV is the Placerita Canyon Natural Area and Placerita Canyon State Park. Other SCV locations include Pico Canyon Park and Towsley Canyon.

Placerita Nature Center

19152 Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall 91321 Info placerita.org; (661) 259-7721

The Placerita Nature Center Loop is a an easy 1.4-mile stroll with wildflowers and historic sites, such as the old Walker cabin and the Oak of the Golden Dream, where California’s first gold rush started in 1842.

There are a variety of trails that start at the Nature Center. Visit placerita.org /maps-brochure/ for downloadable trail maps of the area and informational brochures.

The Nature Center recently debuted a trio of educational films for visitors, including one on wildflowers. Nature Center hours are Tuesday-Sunday 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

During wildflower season be sure to take advan-

tage of the “Blooms of the Season” program with RuthAnne Murthy. Learn about the native plants of the SCV. Meet in the patio at 9.30 a.m. for a onehour stroll on the fourth Saturday of every month. Bring your camera and questions.

Pico Canyon Park

25600 Pico Canyon Rd, Stevenson Ranch 91381 Info parks.lacounty.gov/pico-canyon-park

The Pico Canyon stairs is of the attractions of Pico Canyon Park, which is run by the County of Los Angeles, Department of Parks & Recreation

The park features 163 paved stairs and another 340 steps carved in the dirt of different heights with short hikes in between.

You will also find an array of wildflowers and plants. A recent visitor to the park found numerous poppies on the high ridges along the road to the park as well as poppies, lavender, larkspur and maidenhair ferns during her hike in the park.

The 21-acre park is also home to the magnificent transplanted oak tree popularly known as “Old Glory.”

Ed Davis Park in Towsley Canyon

24335 The Old Road, Newhall 91321 Info bit.ly/3xGqm0g

Miles of trails, beautiful views and abundant wildflowers can be found at this park run by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. There is a $7 parking fee at the trailhead.

Other Wildflower Locations

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve

15101 Lancaster Road, Lancaster 93536 Info www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=627

Poppy Cam www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=31189

The wildflower bloom generally occurs from mid-March through April, but varies widely each year. The peak viewing period is usually late March or early April.

The reserve features eight miles of trails through the gentle rolling hills. The reserve is also home to a variety of wildflowers, not just poppies. During the spring bloom you can experience a daily change in the palette as different wildflowers show their colors.

The Jane S. Pinheiro Interpretive Center is open March 1 through Mother’s Day, with wildflower and wildlife exhibits, an orientation video and a gift shop. Parking is $10 per car.

Visitors must stay on the trails; dogs are not permitted and wildflower gathering is not permitted.

An interesting fact about poppies is that the flowers will close at night and on overcast and windy days.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

200 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego Springs 92004 Info www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=638

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park has had two superblooms in the last decade. They occurred in 2017 and 2019. Having two superblooms so close together is a rare occurrence. Exceptional displays of wildflowers typically occur on an average of every 10 to 15 years. However, DesertUSA.com expects the wildflower bloom to be “phenomenal” this year.

Keep Out

The bad news for lovers of the California Poppy is that city of Lake Elsinore will enforce a “keep out” ban of visitors to Walker Canyon.

The canyon is known for its rich poppy fields will be closed to the public in 2023 to prevent a repeat of the chaotic scenario that played out during the last “superbloom” in 2019.

Lake Elsinore Mayor Natasha Johnson and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco recently announced that Lake Elsinore’s Walker Canyon trailhead and the adjacent wildflower fields will be closed to all visitors this spring.

The city will implement a zero tolerance, “keep out” policy. 

Chocolate Lily

Hyacinth

Indian Bottlebrush

Johnny Jump Ups (wild pansies)

FROM THE CITY MANAGER

Community Talent on Display at the Youth Arts Showcase

By Ken Striplin Santa Clarita City Manager

The City of Santa Clarita is widely known for its high-quality of life, including opportunities for fitness and healthy living, a wide range of entertainment options and a diverse restaurant scene. Our City is also proud to be home to an award-winning public education system that develops our children into leaders in everything from business and law to the arts and sciences — and everything in-between. Each year, the City is proud to recognize the blossoming artistic talents of our Santa Clarita Valley youth at the Youth Arts Showcase, which returns for its seventh year on Saturday, March 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Newhall Community Center.

The Youth Arts Showcase is one of the City’s signature events and takes place as part of Youth Art Month, which is celebrated every year during the month of March. The showcase celebrates the importance of the visual and performing arts for children of all ages and is a chance for the public to learn about the arts, view musical, dance and theatre performances and participate with various hands-on craft stations.

The Youth Arts Showcase is free to attend and open to all.

This event is also an opportunity for our young aspiring artists, photographers and writers to explore their creativity and have their original works shared with the community through the Painters, Pictures & Prose Contest.

The contest is an annual visual and literary arts competition for all Santa Clarita youth in grades K-12. Students are encouraged to submit their work in disciplines that include photography, poetry, personal essays, paintings, drawings and more.

Entries will be reviewed and scored by a panel of City staff and there will be prizes for the top three Visual Arts and Literary Arts entries in each grade division. Up to 20 submissions from each division, in each category, will be on public display at the Youth Arts Showcase and will also be shared on the Community Art Wall at the Westfield Valencia Town Center.

In addition, all submissions from those ages 1318 will automatically qualify for the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Young Artists & Authors Showcase, which in the past has resulted in national recognition for students in Santa Clarita.

The deadline to upload a submission for the Youth Arts Showcase is March 13 at 5 p.m. I encourage every student in Santa Clarita to submit an entry because it is a wonderful opportunity to see your work on display and share your love of the arts with friends and family. To learn more about all the Youth Arts Showcase has to offer — and to see how to submit an entry for the Painters, Pictures & Prose Contest — please visit SantaClarita Arts.com/Youth-Arts-Showcase.

Ken Striplin can be reached at kstriplin@santaclarita.com. The views expressed in his column are those of the City and do not necessarily reflect those of The Signal. 

EAT THE RAINBOW

Focusing your menus on health-conscious recipes that look as good as they make you feel is key to making positive lifestyle changes. Adding big flavors that satisfy cravings to easy, go-to recipes can be a big step toward reaching health goals throughout the year.

“Eating the rainbow” refers to adding fruits and veggies of varying colors to your diet, such as red tomatoes and beets, green cucumbers and avocados, orange carrots and pumpkins and beyond.

Complementing fresh produce with the nutritional benefits of tuna and salmon — like heart-healthy omega3 fatty acids, protein, vitamin D and potassium — can take your meal planning one step further.

Whether you’re commemorating a special occasion, hosting a gathering of friends and family or simply enjoying a night in, good food shouldn’t mean ditching good eating habits.

With new packaging but a continued focus on flavor, wild-caught Low-Sodium Pink Salmon from Chicken of the Sea is a perfect complement to vibrant, rainbow-inspired recipes.

Try these Salmon Chili Bites for a quick and delicious snack option. They can easily be doubled, tripled or more for a party appetizer. Feature the recipe with a “rainbow” of veg-

Pair Seafood and Seasonal Produce for Colorful, Healthy Recipes

gies, crackers, meats and cheeses on a charcuterie board for a crowd favorite that can satisfy guests with big, bold flavor.

Ditch boring salads and find joy in food while maintaining healthy eating goals by upping your salad game. Say goodbye to bland, boring greens and enjoy salads with your favorite toppings, like a colorful combination of protein-packed tuna and fiber-rich veggies in this Mediterranean Tuna Salad, which is completed with a bright dressing and topped with feta cheese and parsley.

For more than 100 years, Chicken of the Sea has provided fresh, tasty seafood straight from the ocean, so whether you’re reaching for wildcaught tuna for this homemade salad or another option like salmon or sardines, you can enjoy a high-quality product that’s delicious on its own or used to elevate favorite recipes.

To find more health-focused snacks, appetizers, meals and more, visit chickenofthesea.com. (Family Features)

Mediterranean Tuna Salad

Prep time 20 minutes

Servings 1-2

Dressing

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

Salad

1 can (5 ounces) Chicken of the Sea Chunk Light Tuna, drained

1 cup halved cherry tomatoes

1/3 cup sliced Kalamata olives

1 cup chopped English cucumber (about 1/2 cucumber)

1/4 cup feta

1 tablespoon minced parsley pita chips (optional) crackers (optional)

Salmon Chili Bites

Prep time 15 minutes

Servings 2

2 pouches (2.5 ounces each) Chicken of the Sea Low Sodium Wild-Caught Alaska Pink Salmon

1 tablespoon chili crisp

2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

2 bell peppers, cored and cut into 2-inch squares

1 green onion, thinly sliced minced cilantro

To make dressing In large bowl, whisk lemon juice, olive oil and oregano.

To make salad In dressing bowl, add tuna, tomatoes, olives and cucumber. Gently toss to cover salad with dressing then top with feta and parsley. Serve with pita chips or crackers, if desired.

Source: Chicken of the Sea 

black sesame seeds

In bowl, combine salmon, chili crisp, vinegar and sesame oil.

To serve, top each bell pepper square with some salmon, green onion, cilantro and sesame seeds. If leftover pieces of bell pepper remain, chop and add as additional garnish.

Note: If serving with cheese plate, place salmon mixture in small bowl and garnish with green onion and sesame seeds. 

ENTERTAINMENT

Monopoly’s History — What We Thought Isn’t True

By Richard Roeper Signal Contributing Writer

‘Ruthless: Monopoly’s Secret History’

 (out of four)

A documentary airing on PBS and PBS.org.

If you’ve ever played Monopoly — and who hasn’t — you might recall reading the instruction booklet, which led off with, “In 1934, Charles B. Darrow of Germantown, Pennsylvania, presented a game called MONOPOLY to the executives of Parker Brothers. Mr. Darrow, like many other Americans, was unemployed at the time. … Since 1935, when Parker Brothers acquired the rights to the game, it has become the leading proprietary game not only in the United States but throughout the Western World …”

This was followed by that long list of instructions that none of us ever read all the way through. Still, many a Monopoly fan knows the story of

Charles Darrow and the inception of Monopoly. But as writer Mary Pilon says in “Ruthless: Monopoly’s Secret History,” a fascinating “American Experience” documentary on PBS, “There’s just one problem with that story. It’s not true.”

After an opening montage of home-movie footage of folks playing Monopoly, including Muhammad Ali with his kids and Hugh Hefner not with his kids, “Ruthless” takes a trip to the 1970s, when Ralph Anspach, an economics professor at San Francisco State University, invented Anti-Monopoly, a counter-cultural game designed to “make it clear that the monopolists are the bad guys,” as Anspach explained in a 2005 interview.

When Parker Brothers sent Anspach a cease-and-desist letter, he responded with a lawsuit and started digging into the Parker Brothers’ 1935 trademark on Monopoly — and that’s when he learned about one Elizabeth “Lizzie” Magie, who was born in Macomb, Illinois, in 1866 and became

a prominent feminist, economic activist, performance artist, writer and designer. Magie was living in Chicago in 1906 when she began selling her self-published “The Landlord’s Game,” with a square board containing landing spots such as railroads, trolleys, “Fifth Avenue,” “Madison Square,” “Boomtown,” “Rubeville” and “Lord Blueblood’s Estate, No Trespassing, GO TO JAIL.” Hmmmm.

has nothing to lose

1:30 4:30 7:30

This wi d thril er finds an oddball group of cops, crimina s tourists and teens converging n a Georgia forest where a 500-pound apex predator has ingested a stagger ng amount of cocaine and gone on a coke -fueled rampage for more blow and blood a n t - M a n a n d t h e Wa s p: Q ua n t u M a n I a C 1:10 4:10 7:10

Super-Hero par tners Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne return to continue their adventures as Ant-Man and the Wasp Together, with Hope’s parents Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne the family finds themselves exp or ng the Quantum Realm

e M I ly E

1:00 4:00 7:00

The rea and magined ife of Wuther ng Heights author Em ly Brontë inter twine as we see the wor d through her eyes for the ver y first time

M a r loW e E 4:20 PM

MARLOWE, a gripping noir crime thri ler set in late 1930 s Los Angeles centers around a street-w se, down on his uck detec tive; Phi ip Mar owe who is hired to find the ex- over of a glamorous he ress daughter of a we l-known movie star

M ag I C M I k e’s l a s t da n C e E 1:20 4:20 7:20

“Mag c ” M ke Lane takes to the stage aga n after a lengthy hiatus, fol ow ng a business dea that went bust, eav ng him broke and tak ng bar tender gigs n Florida For what he hopes wi l be one last hurrah Mike heads to London with a wealthy soc a ite who lures him w th an offer he can t refuseand an agenda a l her own

80 f o r B r a dy C 1:30 7:10

80 FOR BRADY is nsp red by the true stor y of four best friends l ving ife to the fu lest when they take a wild trip to the 2017 Super Bowl L to see their hero Tom Brady p ay

t h e M a n I n t h e B a s e M e n t 1:20 7:30

After a Jew sh couple sel s their basement to a former histor y teacher, they d scover his secret l fe as an anti-Semitic conspirac y theorist As the couple struggles to resc nd the sale, the buyer befriends their naive teenage daughter a M a n C a l l e d ot to C 1:00 4:00 7:00

Otto is a grumpy iso ated w dower w th staunch princ ples stric t rout nes and a shor t fuse who gives ever yone

“Ruthless” has a bit of a meandering style — at one point, we get a history of board games, complete with old-timey drawings and photographs — and sometimes risks losing its audience, but the central story of Monopoly’s murky origins remains intriguing. We learn there were a number of other board games sprouting up in the early 20th century, including one played by Quakers who were living in Atlantic City in the 1920s and put local properties such as Baltic, Marvin Gardens and Boardwalk onto the game board. We also learn Charles Darrow played a version of The Landlord’s Game at a neighbor’s house in the early 1930s, asked the neighbor to write down the rules for the game — and essentially hijacked the entire concept and took it to Parker Brothers, who bought the copyrights from Darrow in 1935. An iconic American game was born and was credited with saving Parker Brothers from possible bankruptcy.

“Ruthless: Monopoly’s Secret History” is a reminder that Darrow was simply the man who refined an idea and sold it and perpetuated the myth he had come up with it out of thin air. Parker Brothers had paid Magie a total of $500 (no royalties) for the patents to The Landlord’s Game and two other game ideas, none of which took off. Monopoly had a monopoly on Monopoly — until Ralph Anspach’s case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of Anspach, who received a sizable settlement and was allowed to continue to speak freely about the true origins of the game. One is left with the distinct feeling Lizzie Magie would have loved this victory for the little guy.

The Importance of Physical Activity

It’s been well-established that physical activity like walking, yoga and going to a fitness center has many health benefits for older adults. These include better sleep, less anxiety and reduced risk of heart disease, along with many other benefits that may improve overall health.

But what if physical activity could help older adults feel less alone, even if they were exercising alone?

Researchers from AARP Services Inc., UnitedHealthcare and OptumLabs set out to investigate this question, focusing on two areas:

„ Could physical activity help to reduce social isolation and/or loneliness?

„ Could physical activity promote higher levels of resilience, purpose or positive perception of aging?

There’s a continued emphasis on supporting older adults as they work to find meaning, purpose and resilience as they age. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it may have been harder to find opportunities to exercise, which contributed to greater feelings of social isolation and loneliness.

The results of the study point to strong evidence that physical activity can help older adults feel less alone and socially isolated, as well as positively increase their feelings of resil-

ience and purpose.

Researchers found that:

„ Moderate and high physical activity were associated with significantly reduced rates (15%-30% lower) of severe loneliness and social isolation

„ The same level of physical activity was also associated with improved feelings (27%-150% higher) of resilience, purpose and a positive perception of aging

The level of physical activity came from the number of days a week someone would exercise (even walking or gardening), not the intensity of the exercise itself. Moderate to high levels ranged between three to four days a week or five-plus days a week, respectively.

“Continuing to be physically active over time may be one of the best things older adults can do for themselves to promote healthy agingmental, physical and emotional,” said Shirley Musich, senior research director at OptumInsight and one of the co-authors of the study.

Talk with your doctor about healthy ways to incorporate fitness into your routine. For individuals recovering from an injury, consider seeking advice from a physical therapist who may identify areas requiring special focus. (BPT) 

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Integrating Nature Into Your Interior Design

This spring home improvement season, get inspired by the outdoors with biophilic design.

“Biophilic design — the concept of integrating nature into interior design — is not only gorgeous, it fosters a healthy living environment, promotes happiness and comfort, and reduces stress,” says Jennifer Kline, multimedia graphic artist at ProVia. “There are many ways to reap these wellness benefits while adding vitality to your living spaces.”

To connect to the natural world within your home, consider these ideas:

Foster Tranquility

Taking a stroll through the forest can summon feelings of tranquility. Capture this inner peace at home from the moment you step inside with a fiberglass woodgrain entry door. Those from ProVia provide authentic-looking woodgrain textures, such as oak, cherry, mahogany, knotty alder and fir, and can accommodate various door glass enhancements.

Engineered for energy efficiency, they’re also a sustainable choice, helping you protect the natural world as you embrace its splendor.

Let Light In

“If you’re lacking natural light, it’s time to open those blinds and drapes and let the sunlight stream through your windows. It may also be time to consider a few enhancements that will help you enjoy more sunshine and observe your natural surroundings, even when you can’t be outdoors,” says Kline.

For kitchens and breakfast nooks, bathrooms and dens, consider vinyl garden windows, which invite more light into your space and include shelves ideal for housing indoor plants, such as fragrant herbs.

Their three-dimensional design helps give rooms an airy, spacious feel. Family rooms and bedrooms are great locations for vinyl picture windows, which let in large amounts of light while providing unobstructed views of outdoor scenery. Need inspiration? Visit ProVia’s Window Photo Gallery at www.provia.com/windows.

To brighten your foyer, add an entry door with glass. Energy efficient sliding glass patio doors also let in sunlight, and give you the option to invite fresh air into your home or enjoy the melodies of singing birds on nice days.

Let it Grow

To give your home a welcoming, fresh feel, add various houseplants and indulge in fresh-cut flowers. A windowsill with small plants of varying shades of green can add texture, while larger potted plants near doorways help guests feel welcome. Use earthen or wood-carved vases for additional warmth.

Create Drama

From the warm brown tones of a picturesque southwestern mesa to the cool, earthy feel of quarried rock, manufactured stone veneer adds rugged texture, intriguing patterns and shapes, and a variety of hues straight from Earth’s natural color palette.

Whether you’re creating a focal point in a bedroom with an accent wall, adding character to your kitchen with a stone veneer backsplash, surrounding a tub with stone veneer for a spa-like bathroom, or highlighting your fireplace, different stone profiles and grout colors can help you customize the look.

“Incorporating biophilic elements into your interior design can transform your home into a warm respite from your busy life,” says Kline. (SPT) 

National Garden Bureau’s 2023 Green Thumb Award Winners

Do the cold winter months have you dreaming of flowers blooming and digging in warm soil? Get ready for spring with National Garden Bureau’s (NGB) newest Green Thumb Award Winners for your garden. NGB, the 102-year-old nonprofit organization that promotes and inspires gardeners, recognizes the most innovative plants and helpful gardening products to assist and encourage gardeners everywhere.

Here are this year’s Green Thumb Award winners in six different categories.

Unfortunately, not all are suitable for Santa Clarita, which is located in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 and 10.

Flowering shrub

Rose Eau De Parfum Bubbly

This rose delivers big fragrant blooms with a high petal count, offering the classic rose look with disease resistance provided by modern breeding. Bubbly features champagne-colored blooms that form lovely buds which slowly unfurl to their full glory.

Their lush foliage makes these excellent shrubs to grace any garden with blooms from early spring until the first frost. This rose is hardy to USDA Zone 5 and grows 3-4 feet tall.

Perennial

Astilbe Dark Side of the Moon

A new instant classic for any landscape, Dark Side of the Moon is the only dark-leafed astilbe with purple flowers available for your garden. Its rich, deep chocolate burgundy leaves form an incredibly attractive 18- to 24-inch mound of foliage.

Emerging leaves are yellow, with a dark margin and glossy sheen that becomes completely dark as they age. Dark stems hold raspberry buds that burst forth with rosy, purple flowers. The pollinator-friendly astilbe can be grown in beds or containers, and is hardy in USDA Zones 4-9.

Annual (a tie resulted in two winners for this category)

Colocasia esculenta Royal Hawaiian Waikiki

Veteran plant pros and new gardeners alike are talking about the exciting new colors on this colocasia. Royal Hawaiian Waikiki offers glossy green foliage with flamboyant white and flamingo pink veining, and is bred to be happy in full sun.

Disease resistant and compact, its clumping habit — 3 feet tall and wide — is ideal for patio containers, poolside plantings and color-packed garden beds. Waikiki is also a 2023 All-America Selections National Winner, making it a dual award winner!

Starflower Paper Moon

The novelty of this annual is what makes it a 2023 Green Thumb Award winner. Small, pale blue blossoms on wiry stems transform into highly decorative, bronze-colored geometric and globe-shaped seed heads. These plants are grown primarily for their papery seed pods, which are useful for both fresh and dried bouquets. These plants grow 2-3 feet tall and attract many beneficial insects.

Edible

Tomato Sun Dipper Sun Dipper’s unique elongated fruit

can easily be held between your fingers for easy use with dips and sauces. No more accidental finger-dips in the ranch sauce! Its orange fleshed fruit looks great on a vegetable platter and tastes even better.

They grow well in a sunny area with the support of a trellis or cage, and have great resistance to inground diseases, so you’ll harvest trusses of 2-3” long Sun Dipper tomatoes until the first frost.

Houseplant

Tradescantia Pistachio White

A breeding breakthrough allows this all-new Tradescantia to maintain heavy white variegation while still supporting vigorous growth. An excellent selection for small pots as well as hanging baskets, Pistachio White also makes an eye-popping item for combination plantings.

You can bring them indoors for fantastic performance as a houseplant in winter months, and it grows to only 12” tall, but can get up to 18-24” wide. For warmer climates, this plant is hardy to Zone 8a when left outdoors. Garden products (a tie resulted in two winners)

TruDrop Flex

This self-watering planter from Crescent Garden provides phenomenal results, helping make successful gardening accessible to everyone. The innovative insert has a 10-year warranty and can be easily removed so you can change the design, change out plants and/or easily maintain your plants. The outer shell serves as a great water reservoir that allows it to go weeks without watering, delivering phenomenal results by water-

ing through the roots, while at the same time saving water and fertilizer usage for a truly sustainable container garden. TruDrop Flex can be used indoors or out.

Dibby XL Dual-Purpose

Tool

Gardening

No more sowing seeds with pencils, sticks, spoons or chopsticks! The Dibby XL from Spoken Garden helps all gardeners, of any skill level, consistently plant vegetable and flower seeds at the correct depth for germination. This means more plants with less time and less effort. It also makes thinning and transplanting seedlings easier. While other tools are hard to maneuver around tender seedlings, this new tool helps easily transplant and thin seedlings, giving them more room to develop. Made in the USA.

Excited to explore some of these award-winners? Ask about all of these plants and products at your favorite garden retailer or on the NGB website. (BPT) 

Astilbe Dark Side of the Moon TruDrop Flex

Colocasia esculenta Royal Hawaiian Waikiki

Dibby XL Dual-Purpose Gardening Tool

AV Medical Hospital Increasing Services, Teams

Antelope Valley Medical Center is experiencing an exciting and significant time in its history.

Entering the next chapter of our 67-year history, we’re motivated for what the future holds. We’re building a solid foundation to expand our impact, increase medical services, and grow our team.

Over the past two years, our staff endured a challenging period of their

careers, and we’re impressed by their perseverance and determination. The hospital quickly adapted, pivoted, and stepped up when our community needed us most.

Even at the height of the pandemic, AVMC never lost sight of the community needs, especially those battling heart conditions, cancer, and other ailments. To support these patients, AVMC introduced two new heart procedures offering innovative options to

improve quality of life, began a bariatric program, improved outpatient imaging services, and became a thrombectomy-capable center for stroke patients.

There’s still more to come! We’re looking to complete an Emergency Room expansion, finalizing a home infusion clinic and an outpatient pharmacy, and continuing the behavioral health and rehabilitation hospital project.

The hospital wouldn’t have accomplished all we have, without contributions made by AVMC staff. If you’re open to exploring opportunities, being part of this extraordinary team, visit www.avmc.org/careers.

As one of the largest employers in the Antelope Valley, we pride ourselves on the impact we’re making in our community. By supporting our employees with comprehensive benefits, competitive pay and growth opportunities, we’re growing our team to support the medical services we offer.

If you have a passion for helping

others, we encourage you to join #TeamAVMC.

Antelope Valley Medical Center is in the northern region of Los Angeles County providing access to all amenities Southern California has to offer. As one of the Top 100 Best Places to Live, Lancaster California is an affordable, diverse, environmentally conscious community. With a strong economy, the top industries are retail and trade, education, and healthcare. The Antelope Valley has a breathtaking desert scenery of Joshua Trees and fields of Poppies, in addition to numerous parks and recreational facilities enhancing its family-oriented community focus. A vibrant spirit and a richly diverse population make this growing region a destination of choice for many healthcare professionals.

You belong here. Find your next career at www.avmc.org/careers. Clinical and non-clinical positions available. Contact Human Resources at recruitment@avmc.org for more information.

A Few Common Causes of Brain Injuries

Brain injuries are nothing to take lightly. According to the spinal cord and brain health services provider Newsome Melton, 1.4 million people experience traumatic brain injuries in the United States each year. The Northern Brain Injury Association reports 452 people suffer serious brain injuries every day in Canada, where brain injuries occur at a rate of 500 out of every 100,000 individuals.

Brain injuries, which can be traumatic brain injuries or acquired brain injuries, can result from a variety of activities, accidents and other risk factors. A greater understanding of potential red flags for brain injuries can help people protect themselves against these potentially debilitating and even deadly outcomes.

What’s the difference between TBI and ABI?

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is generally caused by a blow or some other trauma to the head. The injury does not always include an open head wound or skull fracture, nor does loss of consciousness have to occur for an injury to be considered a TBI.

An acquired brain injury (ABI), also called a non-traumatic brain injury, generally results from an illness or condition within the body.

Top Causes of ABIs

These are the most common causes of an ABI:

„ Stroke This is caused by poor blood flow to the brain from a blockage or bleeding.

„ Hypoxia Hypoxia is a lack of oxygen, which can happen when drowning, among other causes.

„ Tumors

„ Cancer

„ Infections that can lead to inflammation

Top Causes of TBIs

Here are the leading causes of traumatic brain injuries based on data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

„ Falls Slipping and falling and hitting the head account for 28% of TBIs. Children between the ages of zero and four and adults ages 75

and older are most at risk.

„ Motor vehicle accidents A car or motorcycle crash produces the highest number of TBIs that require hospitalization. In this category, teens between the ages of 15 and 19 account for the most incidents.

„ Sports Roughly 19% of traumatic brain injuries occur when the head is struck forcefully by another object or against one. Sometimes called mild traumatic brain injuries, some are treated without hospitalization. Recreation- and sports-related injuries tend to fall in this category.

„ Assaults Victims of assault, when one is hit in the head by fists, another object or even kicked, can cause a TBI. Some TBIs also are caused by firearms.

„ Military activity People in the military can suffer brain injuries from flying debris and large blasts.

„ Shaken baby syndrome This condition occurs when babies are shaken with such force that their brains move violently in the undeveloped skull, causing trauma and damage to brain tissue.

Symptoms of Brain Injury

The Shepherd Center, which specializes in medical treatment for brain and spinal cord injuries, indicates symptoms of a brain injury can include any of the following:

„ Confusion

„ Trouble communicating/speaking

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month

„ Memory impairments

„ Difficulty with focus and logic

„ Headache

„ Balance issues

„ Vision problems

„ Seizures

„ Trouble swallowing

„ Personality changes

Brain injuries can sometimes be prevented with care. A doctor should be contacted immediately when anyone experiences a brain trauma. (MC) 

What Certain Noises May Indicate About Your Car

Automobiles have come a long way since their introduction more than 100 years ago. Today’s automobiles are technological marvels, which has made both driving and maintaining a vehicle much simpler. In regard to maintenance, built-in diagnostic systems can now alert drivers when something is wrong with their vehicles. Though that feature is undeniably useful, drivers can still benefit from learning to recognize issues by ear.

Many issues that can affect a car or truck produce unusual sounds, and learning what certain noises may indicate can help drivers detect problems as soon as possible.

Rattling Sound in a Wheel Well

Most people have mistakenly placed clothing in a dryer without realizing they had spare change in their pockets. That mistake is immediately apparent once the dryer starts thanks to the unpleasant noise of coins bouncing off the interior of the machine. Drivers may hear a similar sound when behind the wheel and wonder what’s behind it. Such a sound is often indicative that there’s a loose lug nut inside the hubcap. This issue can arise when drivers don’t tighten the wheel properly after changing their own tire, or if mechanics make the same

mistake when rotating or replacing tires during a routine maintenance session.

Squeaking Sound

The auto insurance experts at Geico note that rear-wheel or four-wheel drive vehicles may produce a rhythmic squeaking sound when an issue arises with the universal joint. JD Power notes that the universal joint, often referred to as a U-joint, is part of the system that enables the rotating crankshaft in the engine of a vehicle to transfer that rotating motion to the rear wheels.

U-joints get a workout whenever vehicles are driven, so they require maintenance, and a squeaking sound is one indicator that the U-joint needs to be addressed immediately.

Squealing Sound

A high-pitched squealing sound is typically indicative of worn out brake pads. However, Cars. com notes that if such a sound is only present when a car is first driven in the morning, it could just be surface rust being scraped off the rotors. After a few initial applications of the brakes, that sound might disappear. If it doesn’t, the vehicle will likely need new brake pads.

Scraping on the Windshield

The scraping sound on a windshield when the wipers are in use should not be taken lightly or be interpreted as a sign that the rain is only falling slightly. In fact, that sound indicates the wipers are worn out, which means they’re not effectively clearing the windshield.

In addition, the wipers could be scratching the windshield each time they produce this sound, ultimately necessitating a costly windshield replacement. Wiper blades can be replaced in a matter of minutes, so address this issue promptly.

Learning to recognize the culprits behind various vehicle noises can help drivers nip problems in the bud before they compromise the automobile and the safety of the people inside it. (MC) 

QIs Tina Fey working on any new shows? Did the one about the mayor get canceled? I really loved “30 Rock,” and I’m hoping she’ll do a reboot of it someday.

—

S.L.

AIt was recently announced that Fey and her former “Saturday Night Live” Weekend Update co-anchor, Amy Poehler, will be going on a comedy tour together. Since they are very busy women, they only have time for four cities, at least for now. According to Deadline.com, they’ll kick it off with their first performance on April 29 in Washington, D.C., then on to the improv capital of the world, Chicago, on May 29. From there, Fey and Poehler will appear at Boston’s MGM Music Hall at Fenway

on June 9 and will cap off their tour in Atlantic City’s Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena on June 10.

The Tina Fey & Amy Poehler: Restless Leg Tour is calling itself a celebration of “thirty years of friendship with an evening of jokes, iconic stories and conversational entertainment.”

Another pair of comedy legends, Steve Martin and Martin Short (who star in Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building”), did a similar stage tour last year. Incidentally, Fey had a re-

curring role on their series as well. There aren’t any plans for a “30 Rock” reunion, which would prove especially difficult given star Alec Baldwin’s recent legal troubles. Her most recent creation, “Mr. Mayor,” starring Ted Danson, was canceled after two seasons. Despite recently striking out, I’m sure it won’t be long before Fey hits another creative home run.

QWhen does the new season of “The Masked Singer” begin? I usually catch it midway through, and I want to watch it from the beginning this time.

— L.A.

ASeason nine of the hit singing competition show began on Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Fox. Hopefully, you caught the commercials during the Super Bowl and don’t miss any episodes, but if you do, you can catch encore episodes via OnDemand, FOX NOW, Hulu and Tubi.

According to “Entertainment Weekly,” this season’s theme nights include Abba Night, DC Superhe-

Le CHÊNE French Cuisine

ro Night and ‘80s Night. Returning panelists include Ken Jeong, Nicole Scherzinger, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg and Robin Thicke. Also, expect some star cameos.

QI read a rumor that Sheryl Lee Ralph didn’t really sing at the Super Bowl — that she lip-synced instead. Doesn’t she have a fantastic voice?

— U.J.

AYes, long before she won an Emmy for her comedy chops in the sitcom “Abbott Elementary,” Sheryl Lee Ralph was nominated for a Tony Award for her powerful vocals in Broadway’s “Dreamgirls.” After she wowed ticketholders at the Super Bowl with her rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” viewers at home wondered if she lip-synced the lyrics instead of singing live. The following day, Ralph neither confirmed nor denied, telling “The Hollywood Reporter,” “Does it matter? … No. Thank you.”

©2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

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SOLUTIONS

Seeking the Truth

Re: Diane Zimmerman, letters, Feb. 17.

Diane Zimmerman, since I first tangled with her last year, has been asking the same question: “Why don’t people like me, watch or read, conservative venues?” Ostensibly so that I can come to the same conclusion she and the rest of the (Donald Trump supporters) have. The answer is, Diane Zimmerman!

When she went on and on about the 2020 election being stolen, I asked her for some evidence. We are seeking the truth. One of the inconveniences of truth is that it requires facts to substantiate it. Sixty court cases were filed and later dismissed, due to lack of evidence. In short, the courts said the claims were a lie. Currently, the main repository of those lies, FOX News, is being sued for $1.6 billion for knowingly spreading those lies. People have died because of those lies. This country is being torn apart because of those lies!

It is not enough to say that there are “thousands of people who have seen the evidence”! So, once again Diane, show us the evidence.

Donald Trump was claiming that the election was stolen before the first vote was cast. It’s been three years and as recently as today, he is still telling the same story. Apparently, the way he can tell that the election was stolen was that HE DID NOT WIN!

Donald Trump would not recognize the truth if he stepped in it.

Gary Morrison Valencia

ETHICALLY SPEAKING

Pursuing Prudence as a Virtue

By David Hegg

For most of us, prudence is an old-fashioned name for a woman but seldom considered a virtue. Yet, it is listed first among the four cardinal virtues of Greek philosophy.

Prudence is understood as the ability to discern the best and most appropriate action to take in any given situation, at any particular time. Consequently, prudence can never be reduced to a list of protocols or “best practices” simply because situations will differ in both circumstance, potential consequence, timing and other variables.

Prudence, therefore, is a virtue, not a formula. Prudence demands an honorable ethical system made up of an educated conscience, an archive of experience, a well-defined and proven moral grid, and most of all, an expertise in situational analysis able to foresee the consequences of one’s actions in varying circumstances.

To make our understanding of prudence easier we would just as well refer to this virtue as wisdom. Sadly, in our day it is common to see wisdom and knowledge as synonymous, even interchangeable. But words matter, and the distinction between them is both significant and important to our understanding of virtue.

Knowledge is the accumulation of truth, of facts that are the building blocks of ideas, standards, ethics and almost everything else in our world. Wisdom is the ability to apply those facts, those ideas, standards and ethical convictions to the ever-changing situations of the real world. Simply put, wisdom is the virtue of applying truth to life in the most appropriate, honorable and useful way.

For example, when I was in junior high, we had a class called metal shop. Back in those days, students could enroll in wood shop, or metal shop, or mechanical drawing, all of which were used to educate us in how to design things, make things and repair things.

One day in metal shop, I went to the tool steward and said, “I need an 8-inch crescent wrench please.”

The kid dispensing the tools that day said, “All I have is a 12-inch.”

I replied, “That’s OK. I’m gonna use it for a hammer anyway!”

OK, that’s a joke, but it could have happened! My point is this. You can use a large wrench to pound on something, but it won’t be prudent. It won’t be a display of wisdom. And actually, it will be really, really wrong despite the fact that it just might do the job.

As a cardinal Greek virtue, prudence was prized, not because imprudence was incapable of accomplishing some things, but because it was widely understood that a society that prizes and works to develop prudence among its citizens, especially its youths, will be much more elegant, much more honorable, and in the long run, much more

efficient, just and successful in making life better for all. Today, prudence has given way to the pursuit of short-term success, personal convenience and immediate gratification. We really don’t care if the wrench isn’t supposed to be a hammer.

Prudence, which takes time and effort to develop, has been swapped out for the non-virtues of plausible deniability, shameless actions, blame-shifting, outright deceit, and the belief that the ends justify the means even if both are harmful to society.

Throughout human history, virtue has been highly prized, painstakingly defined and taught, and resolutely pursued from an early age by those who sought to be honorable men and women determined to make meaningful, noble contributions to their society.

And that’s the problem. All virtue has, as its purpose, the betterment of the community. History has long shouted “virtuous people create great societies!” But today, us-ism is being replaced by me-ism.

Today, the rise of the sovereign self, the ideological demands of identity politics, and the “woke” reimagining of truth and reality, have intentionally assassinated the idea of community. Too many of our people are preoccupied with individual rights and deserved rewards rather than the overall good of the nation.

This drastic turn from community to self has turned us into a society of competing individuals aligned in combative identity groups motivated only by the selfish desire to gain power and its perks. And sadly, the pursuit of virtue is no longer seen as necessary to the accomplishment of their goals since they are actively working to tear down community rather than strengthen the interdependence and mutual respect and care that have always described healthy societies.

It is this healthy interdependence and mutual respect and care that have always been the foundation of thriving communities, and virtue was the cement that held the foundation stones together.

But, it is not too late! Here’s the plan. First, pursue virtue, in this case the application of knowledge to the ever-changing situations of your life. Educate your conscience to recognize right from wrong, and prefer right. And pass that along to your kids, and everyone else in whose life you have influence. Start conversations about what is good and what is evil, and how to tell the difference. Set your heart to spread the influence of your virtue, your fortitude, your self-control, your kindness, and myriad other virtues to the world around you. Who knows?

Maybe together we can make a difference, and if so, we sure should try.

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

It’s a good time to be part of the Antelope Valley Medical Center (AVMC) team! Based in L.A. County, AVMC is looking at a bright future with plans of expansion. As we grow, we’re looking for candidates to join our exceptional team.

We support and build up our sta to be the best they can be, by providing competitive pay, rewarding benefits, and so much more. Clinical and non-clinical positions available.

We look forward to having you join Team AVMC!