Sunday Signal 092622

SCV’S TOP TIPS: CARING FOR TREES

Are you worried about how cutting back on water use will affect your trees? Here are our top tips for keeping your plants and trees happy and healthy during the drought.

NEWLY PLANTED & YOUNG TREES

• Water regularly with a slow trickle up to 2 hours every 7 to 10 days (June-October). Hand water or use drip irrigation to effectively water trees without causing runoff.

• Place a garden or soaker hose in the watering well and set it at a slow flow.

ESTABLISHED TREES

• Water deeply 2-3 times per month for about 20 minutes each time.

• Place drip irrigation in a ring around the tree.

• Water beyond the tree’s dripline, which is the area directly under the outer circumference of the tree branches.

OTHER TIPS

• Remember to set your irrigation timer for early morning or late evening to ensure you are following water restrictions while keeping your trees hydrated.

• Limit pruning, as it may increase stress.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The entire content of the Sunday Signal is copyrighted 2022 by Paladin Multi-Media Group, Inc. All submitted letters and columns are strictly the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the publisher. All rights are reserved and no part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. If you would not like this delivered to your home, please call (661) 259-1000.

In Search of Old California

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

When using the term “old Califor nia” many people think of a spe cific era in California history, the “rancho period.”

The “rancho period” is considered to be between the 1830s and the 1850s. This is the time in which the Mexican government distributed lands through land grants that had been under the control of the missions to private individuals.

Over a period of about 60 years, the Spanish and Mexican governments made about 500 land grants for ranchos in California. Of these, only about 30 originated during the Spanish period (1769-1822), while most came about during the Mexican era (1822-1848).

Rancheros were people who had been loyal to Spain or Mexico, and had shown that they were ca pable of farming the land in a productive way. The first rancheros were soldiers who had come to the region as early as 1769. Most, though, were settlers whose families had come to Alta California in the 1770s. After Mexican independence, they called themselves Californios, because they felt closely connected to the land of California.

Ranchos made way for suburban homes and shopping centers, but vestiges of the ranchos and their adobes remain.

Rancho Camulos

5164 E Telegraph Road (Hwy 126), Piru 93040 Info www.ranchocamulos.org

Rancho Camulos is a 40-acre National Histor ic Landmark, one of only 146 such designations in California, situated within an 1,800-acre working ranch.

It is the best remaining example of a SpanishMexican rancho in its original rural environment and is noted for its literary significance as the set ting for Helen Hunt Jackson’s novel “Ramona.”

“Ramona,” was first published in 1884 and is

Rancho Camulos in Fillmore is a 40-acre National Historic Landmark, one of the best remaining examples of a Spanish-Mexican rancho in its original rural environment. PHOTO COURTESY SCVHISTORY.COM

still in print. It is the romantic tale of a young girl raised by a Spanish Californio family who falls in love with a Native American ranch hand.

Camulos Ranch, established by Ygnacio del Valle in 1853, was carved out of the 48,612-acre Rancho San Francisco. It was granted in 1839 to Ygnacio’s father Antonio del Valle, majordomo and adminis trator of Mission San Fernando.

In 1925 the ranch was sold to the Rubel family.

The Rubel family’s heirs formed a non-profit mu seum that now oversees the restoration and inter pretation of the historic buildings. The museum is governed by a board of directors that includes del Valle and Rubel descendants.

It became a National Historic Landmark in Feb ruary, 2000.

Currently, docent-led tours are offered on Sun days from 1 – 4 p.m. Cost: $5 per person. You will see the interior of the main adobe built in 1853, the chapel, the winery, the schoolhouse, the Tataviam Native American village and the beautiful rose gar den and grounds.

Rancho Camulos is one of the only Mexican land grant ranchos in California that is open to the pub lic and still preserved in its original rural environ ment.

Los Encinos State Historic Park 16756 Moorpark St., Encino 91436 Info www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=619; (818)7844849

Los Encinos State Historic Park includes the last parcel of land of what used to be an Indian Village of the Tongva and Tataviam Indians known in this area as Fernandeno and the 1849 rancho buildings from the de La Ossa Rancho which occupied this area after the San Fernando Mission was built.

The De la Ossa Adobe is open for self-guided tours upon request.

This California rancho includes the original eight-room de la Ossa Adobe, the two-story lime stone Garnier building, a blacksmith shop, a natu ral spring and a pond.

Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum 18127 S. Alameda St., Rancho Dominguez 90220 Info www.dominguezrancho.com; (310) 603-0088

The Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum at Ran cho San Pedro is the site of a Spanish land grant

of 75,000 acres from King Carlos III to Juan Jose Dominguez in 1784. Dominguez was a retired Spanish soldier who came to California with the Portola expedition and later with Father Junipero Serra. The Rancho included the entire Los Angeles harbor.

During the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) the Battle of Dominguez Rancho was fought in 1846 on the property.

The Museum offers free tours of the Adobe res idence on every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday and also on the first Thursday and Friday of the month at 1p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tours conducted by reservation only.

Rancho Los Cerritos 4600 Virginia Road, Long Beach 90807 Info www.rancholoscerritos.org; (562) 570-1755

In 1784 a Spanish soldier, Manuel Nieto, received a land grant of 300,000 acres as a reward for his military service and to encourage settlement in California. Nieto’s acreage was reduced in 1790 be cause of a dispute with the Mission San Gabriel, but he still laid claim to 167,000 acres stretching from the hills north of Whittier to the sea, and from to day’s Los Angeles River to the Santa Ana River.

The original ranch house, constructed in 1844, was later remodeled by the Bixby family in 1930 and is now a free museum owned by the city of Long Beach.

The museum is open Wednesday to Friday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sun day 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Camarillo Ranch House, Camarillo 201 Camarillo Ranch Road, Camarillo 93012 Info www.camarilloranch.org; (805) 389-8182

The Camarillo Ranch was a land grant to Gabriel Ruiz in 1766 purchased by Juan Camarillo in 1875. The current three-story 14-room Victorian Queen Anne ranch house was built in 1892 to replace the original adobe that was destroyed in a fire. Docent led house tours are on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., last tour starts at 1:30 p.m.

House tour fees are $5 per person (cash only). Children 12 and under are free. Rubber soled shoes are recommended.

Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum

Hand Pies

Delicious, whatever you call them …

By Jim Walker Signal Staff Writer

On the “latest craze” radar for about 10 years, still cresting the popularity wave, and perfect for fall munching, hand pies have actually always been in food fashion. You just knew them as something else.

It is said that hand pies, known as pasties, were favored by Cornish min ers long ago. They could heat them in their lunch bucket over a candle, hold them by the pinched crust, eat the rest and toss the pinched part because it might have become contaminated by their dirty fingers.

Whether that is fully true or not, what is true is that nearly every coun try has its own version of a hand pie — because they are convenient, deli cious and satisfying.

Though some hardcore purists have very strict definitions of what a hand pie is — “made with two, small, circular pieces of dough that are crimped closed to hold the fill ing” or a “semi-lunar pastry with ei ther a sweet or savory filling, formed by placing a dollop of filling onto a circular piece of biscuit-style dough and then folding it over and crimp ing it shut” — there really are no rules.

For example, Martha Stewart makes some hand pies that look like little flat triangles, and others in a variety of puffy shapes. She even sells frozen kits for the latter. Hand pie shapes, fillings and types of crust are only limited by imagination and pref erence.

Empanadas are actually small hand pies, as are pocket pies and, really, turnovers. So are Hostess fruit pies, McDonalds fruit pies and even PopTarts. Our definition here will specify

four characteristics:

• It can be eaten while held in one hand,

• Some sort of crust in some sort of shape,

• Some sort of filling, sweet or savory — and, most importantly,

• It must be delicious.

You may already have a favorite hand pie shop in town, but, for the rest of us not so plugged in, know that if you search for “hand pies Santa Clarita,” you’ll get a list of pie shops and bakeries. However, further search might reveal that some of these busi nesses don’t normally offer pies that fit in your hand. Here is a case where old-school calling for information is better than the internet.

For example, Daniella Bravo, man ager at Jazmin’s Bakery in Newhall, revealed that they offer fruit tarts (which don’t quite qualify) and “em panadas that are sweet” (which do qualify). That isn’t obvious from their photo gallery.

And while you can always get your mass-produced pastries at the gro

cery store or seek them out at your favorite bakery or snack shop, why not get creative and make your own? Go savory, go sweet, fit a small hand or a big one. Make a flat or fluffy crust, bake, fry or air-fry. You might even invite your friends to a hand pie-making party. You can find reci pes for anything you can imagine in the hand pie arena, but let’s start out with a basic, yet tasty one.

EASY, Sweet, Air-Fried Apple Hand Pie

The idea here is to gain confidence by making things as simple as possi ble. So, for your first time out, use re frigerated pie crust and canned apple filling. Cooking time will vary with the size and type of air fryer. (You can also bake these in a standard oven on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake in a preheated, 400°F oven for 20 minutes.) This recipe makes six small hand pies.

Ingredients

14-15 ounce refrigerated packaged pie crust (2 crusts)

1/2 can (21 ounce can) apple pie filling

1 large egg water

3 teaspoons coarse sugar Instructions

Remove pie crusts from packaging and allow them to come to room temperature.

Roll out as necessary so you can cut the pie crusts into six, five-inch diam eter circles.

Place two slices of apples (or two to three tablespoons worth) from the apple pie filling onto each of the pie crusts. With a little water, moisten the outside edges of the pie crust. Fold crust over the filling to form a half-moon, and then pinch the edges of the crust together, then crimp the edges with a fork to seal them.

In a small bowl, whisk together the egg with a splash of water. Brush the pies with the egg wash all over the tops.

Sprinkle one-half teaspoon of the coarse sugar over each pie.

Make three slits in the crust on the top of each pie.

Preheat the air fryer at 350°F for five minutes. Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray.

Place two pies in the basket at a time and air fry for about 10 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Carefully remove and transfer to a wire rack to cool. Repeat with remaining pies. (If your air fryer basket is large, you can cook more than two at a time, as long as they are not touching.)

You can dip these hand pies in your favorite sweet topping (caramel works), and you can substitute other types of canned fruit for the apple.

Enjoy!

Is it Time for Artificial Grass?

Increasing Drought and Advancing Technology are ‘Growing’ Its Popularity

By Jim Walker Signal Staff Writer

Severe drought and the accompanying re strictions on outdoor irrigation may have you seriously considering removing your browning lawn. And, while you can art fully transform that suddenly-uncovered space into a pretty cactus garden or other xeriscape, that doesn’t leave much space for the kids to play soc cer, or the dog to cavort and do business.

Of course, you can probably get by with xeri scape for all or most of the front yard, but leaving the backyard “active zone” in lawn only solves part of your water-use problem. And, most likely, be tween the drought, pounding cleats and the dog, your heavily-used backyard flat space probably doesn’t satisfy the definition of “lawn” anymore, anyway. It might look more like no-man’s land be tween the 1917 trenches.

Your solution just might be artificial grass, AKA artificial turf. Now, before you knee-jerk-imagine your grandad’s “turf,” you should know that more and more of your neighbors are happily making use of it, as well as local sports fields and other out door spaces.

The advances in technology and technique have made artificial grass a very viable option for ground covering, whether in hard-use areas or or namental. The advantages are, of course, significant reduction in water use and associated cost, but also a huge reduction in maintenance and the expens es that go with it. And it will stand up to hard use much better than lawn.

Of course, there are some things to consider, and the end result might be that artificial grass isn’t for you. But, with increasing drought, it is time to take a serious look at it. With the help of Steve Rice, president of Lawn Kings, we will try to address those significant issues.

He has been in the landscape business since 1999, and owner of Lawn Kings since 2009, and the installation of artificial grass is a specialty now. In fact, the varieties of artificial grass his company and many others use were developed with guiding input from Rice, and are sold under the compa

Water Savings

Estimates are that every square foot of grass that is replaced with artificial turf saves approximate ly 55 gallons of water per year. So, replacing 1,000 square feet of lawn with turf would save 55,000 gal lons of water in a year! While that might only save you a couple hundred dollars in a year at current water rates, it would go a long way toward reducing the strain on our water systems — especially if ev eryone conserved like that.

“I absolutely love that, helping save our water,” Rice said. And he noted that new SCV communities are being built with reduced water use in mind, and his company is a large part of that. “We are helping the community grow through this opportunity.”

It is estimated that every square foot of grass that is replaced with artificial turf saves approximately 55 gallons of water per year.

Other Savings

Rice noted that, when you replace a lawn with artificial grass, there are significant reductions in costs beyond water. “Primarily, there is less main tenance involved,” he said. There is no mowing or fertilizing, and weeds are almost non-existent. The turf has a barrier that prevents most weeds from coming up. And, for the few types of weeds that might, his company does a thorough inspection and pre-installation eradication.

Additionally, you should check with your local water agency on the possibility of there being an active rebate for removing lawn and installing arti ficial grass.

Rice said, “For 600 to 1,000 square feet of cover age, the average cost of installing artificial grass is $7 to $9 per square foot, and usually closer to $7.” And he has the statistics, and a table, that shows that your investment in artificial turf will be re couped in about three years. “Ours comes with a 15-year warranty, and should last 20 years,” he add ed.

Heat

When people discuss artificial turf, they com monly imagine it as being too hot to use on a summer day. While this may have been true in the past, modern artificial grass incorporates advances (many of which Rice is responsible for) that greatly alleviate the problem.

ny name of Titan Turf Supply. “Artificial turf is my passion,” he says.

It isn’t your grandad’s “turf.” Today’s artificial grass is cooler in the heat and has great textures. PHOTOS COURTESY LAWN KINGS

“We have focused on how to get the temperature down, through the structure, texture, color and spacing of the blades,” he said. This includes “Heat Reflective Technology,” which limited space here prevents going into detail about.

Aesthetics

Another common knock against ar tificial grass is that it doesn’t offer the same pleasing aesthetics as real grass. This is really no longer true. For ex ample, Lawn Kings offers nine types of turf that should please the eye of even the most discerning viewer. These vary the “yarns,” blade lengths, thatch, spacing and colors to create living-grass-like looks. “We implant our special ‘brown blades’ so that the grass looks lifelike and not too green,” Rice said.

Environment

Beyond the savings of water, there are other environmental issues peo ple might be concerned with. For one thing, since there is no need to fertilize artificial turf, there are no toxins from fertilizer entering the soil or running off in the watershed. However, artificial grass is polypro pylene and manufactured, with the associated considerations. But Lawn Kings turf is US tested to ensure there are no unacceptable levels of lead or other contaminants. And, Rice noted, approximately 90% of the turf that is eventually removed is reused by other installers, so doesn’t go to a landfill.

Modern artificial grass is actually quite permeable to water, as are the layers of substrate it is put down over. “Our grass drains at 30 gallons per

square yard an hour,” Rice said. And he explained that, with Lawn Kings, “this includes turf, on top, anti-mi crobial (green color) infill between the grass blades, Zeolite infill also between the grass blades but under the first infill, then there is the double layer backing for the turf, with weed barrier underneath, then another lay er of Zeolite and then three inches of crushed rock that is compacted down to hold the nails that are installed approximately every six inches apart, and staples for the seams. Then the native soil below.

The crushed rock helps hold the nails but more importantly provides a stable surface that prevents expansion and contraction from different weath er and temperature with the turf, to not stretch the turf and provide better drainage than the native soil, as it acts like a French drain, since it’s mixed with gravel.”

HOAs

If you have a homeowner’s associa tion, you will need to get approval for any significant change in your yard

Santa Clarita Valley Eye Center Update

Dear Patients and Friends,

After nearly five decades of serving the Santa Clarita Valley, Dr. Arnold Barton, M.D. has had to cease practicing due to a sudden change in his health and the Santa Clarita Valley Eye Center has closed its doors as of September 13, 2022.

Medical records will be under the care of Desert River Solutions. Starting October 3, 2022, you may begin requesting copies of your records from Desert River Solutions by visiting www.DesertRiverSolutions.com/requests to sign and return the medical release form. You may also contact them via email at requests@DesertRiverSolutions.com or by phone at (480) 577-3150.

On behalf of Dr. Barton, we thank you for the opportunity to serve you. Your confidence in allowing us to care for your medical and surgical ophthalmic needs over the years has meant a great deal to Dr. Barton and his staff.

that is visible to your neighbors. This will probably include the removal of your lawn, as well as the installa tion of artificial grass. This used to be more difficult, but consciousness of drought considerations, state govern ment controls on HOAs and chang ing mindset are all in play now. Still, be sure to get permission before you

make significant changes. And Rice said he can provide everything the as sociation needs to make an informed choice. Usually, they have some re quirements that will be fully satisfied.

“I’ve never had an area simply say, ‘No,’ he said.

For more information visit www. lawnkingsinc.com.

Arnold L. Barton M.D.

Best wishes, and again, thank you.

Sincerely, The Santa Clarita Valley Eye Center

FROM THE CITY MANAGER

Participate in Rideshare Week, California Clean Air Day

By Ken Striplin Santa Clarita City Manager

Did you know that more than 75% of commuters choose to drive alone to their destination? This staggering statistic contributes to our local road congestion, air pollution and a depletion of natu ral resources.

October is here, and that means Rideshare Week is quickly approaching. From Monday, October 3, through Friday, October 7, residents have the op portunity to rethink their commute and participate in this program for the chance to win prizes.

During Rideshare Week, local alternative modes of transportation including walking, biking, car pooling, riding Metrolink or utilizing Santa Clarita Transit are highly encouraged to replace single-oc cupant vehicle commutes.

Luckily, our City makes it easy to commute safely by way of our off-street, multi-use trail network. The City’s 100-plus miles of trails offer scenic vistas that allow users to enjoy a picturesque ride to their destination.

In our organization, the City of Santa Clarita promotes ridesharing through our ongoing Em ployee Rideshare Program, which offers incen

tives to all regular employees who choose to utilize alternative modes of transportation. Additionally, some of these methods can also help contribute to a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle by reduc ing the risk of disease, supporting cardiovascular health and reducing stress levels.

Throughout the week, all Santa Clarita residents are encouraged to participate and share their Ride share Week activities on social media using the hashtag #RideShareSC. Each use of the hashtag will count toward a raffle entry with the chance to win one of several amazing prizes, including gift cards to local restaurants, bike gear and movie tickets. Winners will be contacted through social media shortly after the conclusion of the week.

In addition to Rideshare Week, the City will join

the state in participating in this year’s California Clean Air Day on Wednesday, October 6. Clean Air Day was built on the idea that every individual has a role in creating new habits to mitigate air pollu tion, which includes rideshare activities and driv ing an electric vehicle (EV).

I am happy to report that within the first six months of 2022, City-owned EV charging stations conducted more than 7,000 charging sessions, compared to just over 3,000 in the same period of 2021, which is a usage increase of more than 135 percent! To celebrate California Clean Air Day, all City-owned EV charging stations will be free of charge on October 6, so you can contribute to this important environmental initiative.

In the meantime, I encourage you to visit Green SantaClarita.com to view a full list of local charging stations near you. Residents can also visit Santa ClaritaTransit.com to view a full list of routes that connect to their commute destinations. I hope you will choose to participate in the 2022 Rideshare Week and California Clean Air Day!

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.

Health care is essential for everyone throughout their life. To further equi ty, improve outcomes and increase ac cess, it is important people are able to get the care they need when and where they need it. However, the American health care system can be complex.

Medicaid is a government-sponsored program to help provide low and often no-cost health coverage to those who qualify, but a recent study found there is confusion around what Medicaid is and who it supports.

When many people think of Medicaid, they think of low-income pregnant women and babies. What you may not know is Medicaid covers 1 in 5 Americans — everyone from children, those living with a disability and low-income elderly. Here are some additional misunderstandings about Medic aid from the experts at UnitedHealthcare:

Myth People stay on Medicaid for life

Fact Most people are on Medicaid for less than three years. It can provide the security you need when you need it most.

Myth Medicaid is for pregnant women

Fact Yes, Medicaid supports pregnant women, covering 43% of all U.S. births, but it continues

to provide health coverage to support post-par tum needs and children. Medicaid provides health coverage to 37 million children, and nearly 67% of children under the age of five that are covered get a yearly well-child appointment.

Myth Only people in poverty are on Medicaid

Fact Medicaid helps people with limited financ es, but more people may qualify than they think.

In fact, three-quarters of Medicaid members have a household income of $50,000 or more, plus, 38 states have adopted Medicaid Expansion, which covers childless adults with incomes up to 138%

Medicaid

above Federal Poverty Level.

Myth To qualify for Medicaid you have to be un employed

Fact A recent survey by UnitedHealthcare showed that more than half of those polled believe Med icaid recipients are unemployed, but 62% of able-bodied Medicaid members are working or in school and 12% are looking for work.

Myth Young adults coming off their parents’ in surance can’t use Medicaid

Fact Due to Medicaid Expansion in some states, more people may be eligible for Medicaid coverage now who were not in the past. About 3 in 4 peo ple covered through Expansion are childless adults — a population historically unable to qualify for Medicaid.

There is a lack of understanding around what Medicaid is and who it supports, and many people may not realize they could qualify for Medicaid, even while working, in school or turning 26 and coming off your parents’ insurance. Learn more at MedicaidHelper.com. If you don’t qualify for Med icaid where you live, you may be able to get health care coverage another way, like through your em ployer or your state’s Health Insurance Market place. (BPT)

The Expendables: A Rare Live Acoustic Performance

The Expendables started out as a spirited party band in high school covering Surf-rock nuggets such as Dick Dale’s “Miserlou” and “Wipe Out” for birthdays and family gath erings, but in their nearly 25-year career, elementary school buddies Raul Bianchi, Adam Peterson and Geoff Weers, along with bassist Ryan

Demars, who joined in 2000, have forged a unique original sound born in the laid-back beach life of their Santa Cruz, CA hometown.

The Expendables’ infectious hybrid of ska, surf-rock, punk, reggae and metal is one of a kind.

Still wanting to improve after all these years, The Expendables ap proach their 25th anniversary with

out looking over their shoulders, knowing there’s always room to fo cus and grow as musicians. In other words, The Expendables haven’t yet hit their ceiling.

You can see The Expendables live at The Canyon Santa Clarita on No vember 19. Tickets are available on line through AXS, over the phone at (888) 645-5006, and in person at the

Canyon Santa Clarita box office. For more information, visit www.where musicmeetsthesoul.com.

Solidly Constructed Entertainment from a Talented Cast

By Richard Roeper Signal Contributing Writer

‘See How They Run’  (out of four)

Searchlight Pictures presents a film directed by Tom George and written by Mark Chappell. Rated PG-13. In theaters.

It’s funny how we often see mini-similarities in two movies that just happen to be opening at the same time, as is the case with “Confess, Fletch” and “See How They Run.” The former is a light and breezy murder mystery featuring a world-weary veteran detective (Roy Wood Jr.) who is forever rolling his eyes at his naive, eager and green trainee partner (Ayden Mayeri), but don’t count out that rookie’s poten tial. And the latter is also a light and breezy murder-mystery featuring a world-weary veteran detective (Sam Rockwell) who is forever rolling his eyes at his naive, eager and green

PHOTO COURTESY IMDB

trainee partner (Saoirse Ronan) — but don’t count out that rookie’s po tential!

The difference is that while Wood and Mayeri have supporting roles in “Fletch,” Rockwell and Ronan are

the leads in “See How They Run,” director Tom George’s movie-with in-a-play homage to the works of Agatha Christie. This is yet another meta story with the characters com menting on the story as it goes along, and while that gimmick is becoming tiresome, this is a solidly construct ed piece of lightweight entertainment with terrific period-piece costumes and sets, and suitably theatrical per formances from a talented cast that is clearly enjoying itself while delivering a quality spoof.

“See How They Run” is set in 1953 London, where Agatha Christie’s rel atively new play “The Mousetrap” is celebrating its 100th run. (Other than a stoppage for COVID, “The Mouse trap” has played nonstop for seven decades and is still running.) Adrien Brody is a hoot as the tawdry Holly wood director Leo Kopernick, who has been brought in to adapt the stage work for the silver screen, and has alienated everyone with his boorish manner and his desire to add all sorts of gunplay and ridiculous twists to the film version. Leo finds himself murdered in the opening act — not that this stops him from becoming our narrator. “I should have seen this coming,” says Leo, acknowledging he’s the most unlikable character in the story.

Enter the Scotland Yard team of Rockwell’s Inspector Stoppard (how’s that for a stage name, so to speak)

and Ronan’s Constable Stalker, who literally writes everything in her notebook and is always jumping to conclusions, while Stoppard looks for an excuse to slip away to a nearby pub. The suspects include the preen ing and self-important screenwrit er Mervyn Cocker-Norris (David Oyelowo), the compromised produc er John Woolf (Reece Shearsmith), the impresario Petula Spencer (Ruth Wilson) and various cast members, including Dickie Attenborough (Har ris Dickinson) and his wife and colead, Sheila Sim (Pearl Chanda). The film veers neatly between fast word play and well-choreographed physi cal gags, and let’s just say ol’ Leo isn’t the only one who won’t get out of this story alive.

Screenwriter Mark Chappell clev erly combines pure fiction with some real-life touches, e.g., Attenborough and Sim really were in the original West End production of “The Mouse trap,” there are references to films such as “The African Queen,” etc., and the cast is wonderful. Sam Rock well doesn’t put all that much effort into his British accent — it’s as if he’s still at the table read — but it kinda works with his character, and he’s the perfect straight man for Ronan’s en dearingly clumsy machinations and self-deprecating dialogue. It all adds up to a smashingly good time.

Copyright 2022 Chicago Sun-Times

Synd.

Autumn Beats Spring for the Top Gardening Season

By Jane Gates Signal Staff Writer

As of Sept. 22, autumn officially has ar rived. That means out door gardening condi tions will become more comfortable as the weather offers us cooler nights and more relief from heat.

Autumn has always been the planting season for native flowers, trees and woody shrubs. But with summer’s burning, triple-digit heat shortening what used to be the ideal planting season of springtime, the fall is now becoming the best sea son for all our gardening projects.

Cooler temperatures allow plants to establish root systems over the winter months and whatever rain we have will be oxygenated and will help new plant ings thrive better than artificial irrigation.

Sooooo … the autumn planting spree begins now! And here are just a handful of suggestions to help this best season for gardening get off to a good start.

Seed Wildflowers on Bare Soil and Hillsides

If you have hillsides that need a quick fix or some filling-in while drought-tolerant perennials es tablish themselves, consider seeding with easy-togrow wildflowers.

Try California Poppies, yellow and white “Tidy Tips,” the brilliant blue Phacelia, Godetia in crisp pinks and whites for full sun, or “Baby Blue Eyes” for partial or full shade.

If we get rain this winter, these seeds will cov er your open areas with cheerful flowers come the early spring and they’ll help stave off erosion on hillsides while slower-growing perennials become established.

Sprinkle seeds just before rain is predicted and

hope raindrops plant them before the hungry wild life gobbles them up. Seeding is inexpensive, easy and can fill empty spaces with a riot of color from winter’s end until the heat of summer comes.

Showy Flowers Hide in the Plain Packages

Gardens large and small can benefit from plant ing bulbs, rhizomes and corms. They are simple to plant and ready to go.

Keep an eye out for them as they trickle into the shops. Or order your bulbs now from catalogs on line. Although most bulbs have a relatively short flowering life, they are incredibly showy when in bloom.

In the right conditions, they’ll multiply under ground to give you bigger flower clumps each year.

Always plant bulbs in groups so they will form a natural-looking cluster. When clusters become too big, divide them up into other areas or give away extras to friends and neighbors. (If you already have overcrowded conditions, this is a good time to start divisions.) Iris clumps can also be divided now. (They are not actually bulbs, but rhizomes.)

Edible bulbs like onions and garlic should be dug when the foliage starts to die back, and the bulbs should be allowed to dry off for a few days before storing in a cool, dry area.

Now is also a good time to plant garlic and onion starter bulbs called ‘sets’. Search out flowering bulbs like Chasmanthe, Dichelostemma and Brodiaea

that grow well in Santa Clarita with little added wa ter. These are less toothsome to the gophers than other bulbs and corms. Gladioli, Watsonias and Freesias produce great flowers for cutting, but re quire more water. Lilies (technically corms) do best with a little shade. (These latter flowers are best planted in sunken wire baskets to discourage hun gry gophers.)

It’s amazing what colorful plants come from dreary looking bulbs, corms and rhizomes. Use them to fill the garden with explosions of color starting in the late winter.

Go Native … or at Least Drought-Tolerant

Now is the best time to fill your landscape with drought-tolerant plants and California natives — from now through April.

There are some splendidly showy flowers in the Buckwheat, Acacia and Salvia families that survive with very little extra water once they have lived through a well-watered summer or two. Hopseed Bush (Dodonaea) is a large shrub or small tree with good drought tolerance and comes with green or deep red-purple foliage. Coreopsis daisies display bright yellow flowers. The Desert Fairy Duster (Calliandra eriophylla) has fluffy pink blooms. And Dymondia will turn a full sun area into a solid mat of green, punctuated with occasional yellow daisy flowers while growing less than an inch high.

All these garden plants have minimal water needs.

For more information about gardening in the San ta Clarita Valley, visit Jane Gates on YouTube at https://youtube.com/user/Janieg8s.

This Conejo buckwheat is a relative of the ones that grow wild on our hills. PHOTOS BY JANE GATES / THE SIGNAL

SENIOR LIVING

Inflation is putting the squeeze on all Americans, but no one is feeling the pinch more than those on Social Security and Medicare who are on a fixed income.

More than 64 million Americans are enrolled in Medicare. Once a year, between October 15 and December 7, Medicare offers all beneficiaries the opportunity to change their cover age during the Annual Enrollment Period. This is the time of year when health insurance TV ads play con stantly and your mailbox gets flooded with unwanted solicitations.

More than 300 insurance compa nies offer a total of over 24,000 Medi care insurance plans nationwide: this maze of options and benefits, dressed in the confusing language of govern ment bureaucrats and the insurance industry itself, results in many benefi ciaries purchasing an imperfect plan for their needs.

Personal Loss

The Medicare sign-up process can be so intimidating that some choose not to buy health insurance at all. That’s what Jonathan Parker decid ed to do. Having moved to Israel after raising a family in the suburbs of Chicago, he chose not to enroll in Medicare for his frequent trips back to the U.S.

On one of those trips, during the 2020 holiday season, he fell ill. Park er refused to see a doctor in the U.S., hoping to receive more affordable treatment once he traveled back to Israel. He died in-flight, 90 minutes from landing in Israel.

This loss motivated his son, Ari, a Stanford-trained lawyer and Lead Medicare Advisor at Chapter, to write It’s Not That Complicated: The Three Medicare Decisions to Protect Your Health & Money available at askchap ter.org/ari.

The goal of the book is to help all Americans make the right Medi care choices to access the affordable, high-quality health care they deserve. The book introduces the “Three Ps method” to shop for the right Medi care plan and avoid costly mistakes, which stands for a person’s providers, prescriptions and priorities.

P for Providers

Noting the doctors, pharmacies and hospitals you plan to access in 2023 is the first step toward finding the most comprehensive coverage. Many Medi care Advantage plans have limited networks that restrict your choice of doctors, pharmacies and hospitals. If you choose this type of plan, it is cru cial to make sure all your providers are in network; otherwise you might receive a large, unexpected bill in the mail.

P for Prescriptions

Prescription drugs are often a con siderable household expense. You may be able to save upwards of $1,100 by matching your prescription needs to the right plan and nearby drug store. The best Medicare advisors should help you with this decision. Sadly, most advisors only compare plans from a handful of insurance companies, and they may not com pare all the options available to you.

P for Priorities

Your health care priorities are prob ably different than your neighbor’s. An Advantage plan wouldn’t work so well if you see multiple specialists because it has network restrictions. Instead you would want to consid er a Medigap (aka Medicare Supple ment) plan if you can afford the high er monthly cost of insurance. There are compelling reasons for choosing a Medigap or Advantage plan, but it depends on the factors that are im portant to you. Namely cost, choice of doctor and quality of care. (BPT) 

having a phone conversation, laughing at a joke during dinner, or listening to your grandchildren – can be within your reach again with

of daily life

Audiology

Advanced Audiology, we are devoted to caring for patients’ overall hearing health, including preventing and treating hearing loss. We listen to your concerns, diagnose problems, and work to create customized solutions that fit your lifestyle.

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What Pros Do to Have Their Tools Last Longer

From a simple hammer to the most complex power tools in your garage, it’s vital to prac tice constant maintenance if you want to use them as long as pos sible. The good news? It’s not as hard as you think. Following expert ad vice for storing, cleaning and main taining your tools will help you use everything safely, for years to come.

Keep Tools in Top Shape

Many tools may look indestructi ble, but they’re not. Exposure to dirt, grease and moisture can lead to rust and corrosion, making them less ef fective down the road and even lead ing to damage. Tools with moving parts that collect dust and debris may not only become less effective but could also be a serious safety hazard.

But with a few simple steps imple mented into your regular routine, you can add significant time onto the lifespan of your tools.

“Taking proper care of your tools makes a great difference in their over all usefulness,” said Allen Gerling, a service technician at Northern Tool + Equipment. “Clean and well-main tained tools typically last longer as functional tools and are safer to use.”

Follow these tips to keep your tools in great working order.

A place for everything, and everything in its place

Proper tool storage is not just about being able to find things when you need them (which is a definite plus) — it also helps your tools stay in good working order.

Tossing tools haphazardly on a workbench or inside a toolbox can damage them, as well as leaving them exposed to dust, dirt and the ele ments, which may lead to clogging, corrosion and rust. For power tools, wind up cords and air lines carefully, checking belts and cords for fraying or breaks.

• Keep tools clean, dry and protected from the elements, especially mois ture, extreme heat and extreme cold.

• Make sure toolboxes, carts, shelv ing or wall racks are neat and clean to keep your tools free of dust, dirt and grease.

• Organize tools to make them eas

ier to maintain, plus easy to see - so you’ll spot when anything needs re pair.

Create a Clean Routine

Make a habit of cleaning tools im mediately after each use before stor ing them. This prevents dirt, grime or debris from hardening on your tools, potentially damaging or clogging them over time. Keep rags and oth er cleaning materials near your tool storage to make clean-up easier.

In addition to your regular clean ing routing, doing a deeper clean on a seasonal basis can make a huge difference, especially for tools with moving parts. Beyond wiping tools clean with a cloth, tackle tough-toclean areas using oiled cotton swabs or soft brushes. You can also use a can of compressed air to remove dirt from areas inside tools that are hard to reach. Especially for power tools, make sure to follow your manufac turer’s instructions for cleaning and maintenance.

Maintain and Watch For Signs of Disrepair

Many tools require regular oiling and/or sharpening of parts to keep them in top shape. Gather useful cleaning and oiling equipment in cluding rags, all-purpose oil, rust remover and linseed oil (for wood), plus files and sharpening stones. Use safety gear like heavy gloves and safe ty goggles as you work, and make sure you have sufficient space and a sturdy table to complete your mainte nance. Try designating a seasonal or semi-annual weekend for tool main tenance.

As you clean and maintain tools, look for signs of damage or wear that could require repair — or any signs that your tool needs to be replaced.

“Good quality tools are an import ant investment,” added Gerling. “So you should care for your tools just like your car or your home.”

Find tools you need and more at NorthernTool.com. (BPT)

What is business innovation and why is it important?

By Noushka Green Special to Sunday Signal

Although the term is often used to de scribe the latest technology, the true definition of business innovation refers to driving revenue.

Most companies know they must innovate to keep up with the market’s pace of change. With technological advances disrupting all indus tries, companies must innovate in order to stay relevant and not be left behind.

In fact, innovative companies are reward ed not only for being ready for the future, but also with top talentt and increased consumer demand.

But what does “business innovation” mean, exactly? And what are some examples of it in practice?

What is business innovation?

Business innovation is when companies imple ment new processes, ideas, services or products with the goal of boosting the bottom line. It could mean launching new and improved products or services (which can lead to higher revenue), mak ing an existing process more efficient or solving a current business problem (both of which cut down on costs and save time). A business focused on brainstorming, design thinking or the establish ment of an innovation labg can drive business in novations. The key element of innovation is that it drives revenue for the company.

What business innovation is not.

Innovation has become such a hot topic that its true meaning is often lost in the noise. While some use it as a catchall buzzword for simply us ing the latest technology or making change for change’s sake, the definition of “innovation” is limited to changes to the core business of an orga

nization that leads to growth.

Why is business innovation important?

Innovation offers companies four main benefits:

1. Getting Ahead of Potential Disruption

When done right, business innovation takes stock of where the market is going due to poten tial disruptors or changing consumer demands Businesses use that information to make strategic changes and to entice internal employees to be en trepreneurial. Those changes can include building a product or service similar to what new startups are making, buying it from others in the industry, or partnering with the upstarts (known as the “buy, build, partner” model).

2. Increased Efficiency

A lot of business innovation happens by mak ing existing business processes less costly, less time-consuming to complete and more sustainable. Those changes save time and make it easier for an organization to adapt to industry shifts with agility, which cushions against volatility and risk.

3. Talent Attraction and Retention

More than ever, employees — particularly millennials and Gen Z — want to work for mis sion-driven, fast-moving companies that they be lieve have a bright future.

4. Brand Perception

Consumers are more willing to buy from companies they perceive to be innovative and socially conscious.

Examples of Business Innovation Across Industries

Legal

The traditional way of doing legal work involves manually sifting through thousands of documents. Now digital tools, such as software from the startup Legal, help lawyers do that more efficiently, so they

can focus on higher-value tasks.

Transportation

This industry impacts almost everyone and con tributes as much as 29% to greenhouse-gas emis sions in the U.S. The seriousness of the problem has led to innovative solutions such as electric carss and micromobility solutions such as electric-scoot er rental service Bird.

Finance

Fintech, has transformed the way people handle money. Rather than standing in line to make de posits, open a bank account or invest, people can now do that securely wherever they are, directly from their smartphones.

Education

Online classes and educational software compa nies mean students — whether they be teenagers or mid-career employees looking to transition — can access educational opportunities. A host of start ups, including Flatiron School, offer those services.

Insurance

Digital tools have changed how customers inter act with their insurance companies, making it eas ier to find what they need and file claims. Healthcare innovator Oscar Health, for example, has an app with personalized concierge teams to help members find a doctor, navigate costs and access free 24/7 telemedicine services.

Consumer

Supply chains have evolved due to a trend to manufacture more sustainably. In addition, com panies now offer more sustainable products in response to consumer trends. Spare Food Co., for example, transforms food waste into new products, and Loomia embeds technology into wearable tex tiles.

INNOVATE,

previous

Types of Business Innovation

Business innovation can, but doesn’t have to, involve the creation of a new product or service. There are many examples of innovation in busi ness, including:

Product Innovation

Creating a completely new product that’s adja cent to a business’s core offering. Think of Dyson extending into hand dryers or Apple launching the smartphone.

Process Innovation

Designing a new way to be more efficient in the core business. Examples of this include Amazon using robots in the warehouse, or Chase Bank im plementing mobile check deposit.

Business Model Innovation

Introducing a new way of making or saving mon ey, such as Zipcar launching car-sharing subscrip tions, or Rent the Runway offering a subscription service for clothing rental.

Delivery Innovation

Implementing a new way of interacting with cus tomers. This happens when a company like Zappos

puts customer service first, or Tesla makes it possi ble to buy cars online.

These types of business innovation enable com panies to become more efficient, forward-thinking, and hopefully more profitable. The good news for companies is that there are practical steps to jumpstart innovation.

That could involve aspects like updating their office space, or creating forward-thinking and col laborative innovation labs. Or it could be imple menting internal innovation programs to tap into the creative energy of their employees, and surface and execute the best ideas. Learn more about how to drive innovation in the workplace.

Furniture Design Center — 20 Years Experience

Furniture Design Center, with over 20 years’ ex perience as a locally owned and operated business has now taken to Santa Clarita, specifically in Ste venson Ranch at the old Steinmart building!

Their highly trained design team members are experts in the field. Furniture Design Center con tinually updates their stock and training to provide customers with the most up to date furniture and knowledgeable employees. Shoppers are treated to a variety of well-known brands, such as La-Z-Boy, England, Omnia, Tempurpedic, Stearns & Foster, and Sealy, all made in the USA.

The friendly staff at Furniture Design Center are happy to offer expertise and trust customers to know what’s best in deciding a perfect look that works for each individual family. Their under

standing and dedicated design experts are there to listen to your furniture needs and help clients find exactly what they want at the best possible price!

Furniture Design Center works with customers to make their home vision a reality.

Try out some of their favorite furniture pieces in their comfortable showroom atmosphere. They aim to make customers “feel at home” in the store and to help them make their home exactly as they want it. Their floor is stocked with variety anyone would need to make the most informed decision.

If you are looking for people who know furni ture, then look no further than Furniture Design Center at 24955 Pico Canyon Rd Stevenson Ranch 91381 (In the old Steinmart Building), visit online at www.FurnitureDesign.net, or call (661) 2597072.

Cinema Park is Home to Several Businesses

By Reena Newhall

Cinema Park in Valencia is home to sev eral popular and unique businesses. For the last 20+ years the center has opted to seek out those businesses who offer something better or different than the usual “runof-the-mill” enterprises.

The newest addition to our Cinema Park family is Sofa Interiors. Serving the residential, and commercial, design industry and the Santa Clarita Valley since 1992, Sofa Interiors offers a unique blend of custom-designed upholstered and wooden furniture to suit their customer’s individual needs and desires.

Scott Hazarian, the owner of Sofa Interiors, says that if you bring in a drawing or a pho to of an item that you would like to create, he can make it for you! You will be able to choose from hundreds of fabrics and trims, and you can even select your personal comfort level by sitting on cushion samples in his showroom. “Nothing is impossible,” he says.

Because of the pandemic, a number of Cin ema Park businesses were either forced to shut down or to alter their method of opera tion. Candle Corner now allows customers to come in with family and friends and celebrate a birthday party, graduation or other special event and create their own candle masterpiec

es. While waiting for the candle to form, they are able to enjoy a great meal on the outdoor patio at StoneFire Grill, which is serving as strong as ever. Candle Corner is again fully op erational, as are all other Cinema Park busi nesses.

Cinema Park prides itself on having a unique variety of noteworthy tenants who are consid ered leaders in their field, namely StoneFire Grill, Tranquility Salon & Spa, 20/20 Optomet ric Eyecare, Drawn2Art, bZen Organics CBD,

Dr. Alexander Villar DDS, Perfect Tux, Jewelry World and A Chorus Line Dancewear & Cos tumes.

Needless to say, Cinema Park tenants are thrilled to be back, even after a trying last two years. Here’s to a bright future ahead for all in Santa Clarita. You will find Cinema Park in Valencia conveniently located at 23300 Cinema Dr. at the corner of Bouquet Canyon Road and Cinema Drive.

VATE

Mind Body Infusion Med Spa in Santa Clarita

The entire team at Mind Body Infusion Med Spa is focused on providing you the highest quality of care in Santa Clarita and the surrounding areas. Our goal is to embrace your vitality and improve your health and wellness for an overall better quality of life.

From chemical peels, laser hair removal, and injectables to medical-grade facials and micro nee dling, we have the solution to create your aesthetic goals.

Our office setting is designed for comfort and in

tended to provide a peaceful, welcoming environ ment. We try to make everyone as comfortable as possible during their time at Mind Body Infusion, especially in light of the stress and uncertainties of modern life.

If you have any additional questions about our medspa or the services we offer, a member on our staff will be happy to assist you.

We are dedicated to customer service and client experience. You can enjoy our freshly renovated space and infusion lounge. Relax with our aroma

therapy infused room

We will provide you with a holistic wellness ap proach with personalized and focused one-on-one experience.

Please schedule an appointment TODAY!

Mind Body Infusion is located at 28532 La Ma drid Drive, Suite C, Santa Clarita 91350. They can be reached at (661) 544-4036 or visit their website at www.mindbodyinfusion.com.

Five Tips to Support Healthy Teeth & Gums

By Dr. Harleen Grewal Skyline Smiles

From helping you eat to expressing emo tion to talking, your teeth play an import ant role in your everyday life, making it essential that you look after them. With proper care and maintenance, you can keep your teeth happy and healthy for a lifetime.

1. Use Fluoride Toothpaste

Fluoride helps to rebuild the weakened enamel at the surface of your teeth and can even help reverse the early stages of tooth decay. Not only does this make your teeth stronger overall, it also helps to prevent cavities and other dental health issues.

2. Floss Regularly

Along with removing leftover plaque from be tween your teeth, flossing also helps to prevent cav ities, gum disease — and even bad breath! Wheth er you prefer traditional floss, water flossers, or interdental brushes, remember to floss before you brush.

3. Use an Antiseptic Mouthwash

Along with giving you fresh breath, using an an tiseptic mouthwash as a part of your dental care routine can also help to support your oral hygiene. Using an antiseptic mouthwash can help to loos en plaque and food particles that may have been missed by brushing and flossing your teeth. It also helps to ward off any harmful bacteria that lead to infection.

4. Brush your Tongue

Just like your teeth and gums, the surface of your

tongue can harbor harmful bacteria without proper maintenance. Brush your tongue back and forth, use a tongue scraper and rinse after cleaning your tongue.

5. See your Dentist Twice a Year

Be sure to get a routine  Skyline Smiles is located at 28532 La Madrid Drive, Ste B, Santa Clarita 91350. They can be reached at (661) 244-4036 or hello@skylinesmile. com. The website is www.skylinesmile.com.

Song Cho of Sushi 661 would like to thank Santa Clarita for voting Sushi 661 the Best Su shi Restaurant in Santa Clari ta again in 2022.

Sushi 661 is Santa Clarita’s premier sushi bar and restaurant experience. It’s as fresh as it gets and as imagi native as you want. This is the place where experimentation mixes with celebration, where casual dining ser

vice and knowledge fuses with beam ing personality and style.

Besides having the best sakes and more than 30 gourmet specialty rolls named and created by loyalists, we also have bento and ramen to com fort your heart.

Music for your mouth, sushi for your soul.

We are proud to offer our Southern California-based, award-winning sus tainable sushi cuisine since 2014.

During the pandemic we donat ed sushi boxes to many healthcare workers and also to Henry Mayo and Kaiser.

Sushi 611 has also employed the latest technologies to keep customers safe during the pandemic.

Donna’s Day: Creative Family Fun

Create a Nature Discovery Nook to Showcase ‘Finds’

By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer

Set aside a space on your kitch en counter or a table in your family room to showcase your kids’ summer nature collect ibles. Their own museum of natural wonders can be enjoyed by friends and family who come to your home. And when they do, the kids can tell them where they found the treasure, what it’s called and something inter esting that captured their imagina tion. Best of all, this collection zone will be a constant reminder of the time you spent together discover ing the mysteries and beauty of the world we live in.

Add collected finds this fall and, for fun, classify and label them with small strips of index cards (date the excursion and describe the item), just like in museums.

For example: “This nest fell off the

oak tree in the backyard on a windy day. I found it behind the garbage can. I discovered yarn in the nest. I think the yarn came from the bird feeder that was hanging from our swing set last year.”

For such an item, encourage your child to find a book about nests or

research them online. Find out what kind of bird made the nest and learn the likely color of the eggs that were in the nest at one time.

If your family traveled to new plac es this past summer, or if you plan to take weekend trips this fall, the items can also be displayed in attractive

ways on the table. If you have col lected sand from different beaches, for example, layer it in a clean, clear recycled jar. It’s fun to see the range of colors and types of sand from beach to beach. And, it’s a unique way to re call a trip to Clearwater Beach, Flori da, in 2021 or Santa Monica, Califor nia, in 2022.

For indoor rainy-day fun, use some of the sticks and stones for crafting. Here are two ideas:

• Flat rocks aren’t just for skipping across the surface of a lake. Make a turtle! Choose a flat oval stone for the body, and glue small ones un derneath, stretching out to the sides to make four feet and a tail, with a larger stone for a head. Add two pebbles for eyes.

• Make a twig vase with a recycled tin can. Use shears to cut simi lar-width branches, an inch or so longer than the height of the can. Place two large rubber bands around the outside of the can, one near the top and one near the bot tom. Insert branches side by side, as if building a twig fence around the can. Wind twine or raffia over the rubber bands to cover them, and then knot.

Donna Erickson’s award-winning se ries “Donna’s Day” is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activi ties, visit www.donnasday.com and link to the Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.”

© 2022 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Synd.

By using flat rocks and pebbles, anyone can craftily make a turtle.

PUZZLES

CROSSWORD

Opinion

READER LETTERS

What Constitutes Success?

Homeless outreach just got a boost from Supervisor Kathryn Barger when she allocated $2.3 million from her discretionary funds. These funds will be going to the L.A. Sheriffs Homeless Outreach Services Team and the Los An geles Homeless Services Authority Homeless Engagement Team. Spokeswoman Helen Chavez claims these teams are a “best practice” partnership and a successful model.

So let’s take a look at the recent success. In 2018 the 5th District had 4,662 homeless. In 2020 there were 5,984, an increase of 1,322, or 28.4%. In 2022 there are 7,413, an increase of 1,429, or 23.9%. If you’re like me, after looking at these numbers you’ll begin questioning the supervisor’s definition of success. Also: the $2.3 million from Barger’s discretionary fund is your money, not hers! The $532.6 million in the county budget and the $7.2 billion in the state budget for homelessness are also your money! If the objective of existing programs is to increase the homeless population, then county and city officials can claim success. If the objective is to reduce homelessness, we see a four-year record of failure and it’s time to replace failed leaders.

Any claim of success is putting lipstick on a pig!

Thomas L. Cadman Canyon Country

Sex Education Nothing New

Ms. Diane Zimmerman (letters, Aug. 3) took a shot at our government-run school system and the stuff they’re pumping into our children’s heads, which, according to Ms. Zimmerman, amounts to pornography. I’m not quoting you, Ms. Zimmerman. It’s my interpretation of your written words. That’s how I read you. Fair enough?

I was educated in parochial schools in the 1960s and 1970s and even THEY taught us sex education way back THEN. Far from being traumatized, most of us were nodding off in boredom because we had already seen so much more of the stuff from friends and family. Yeah, dad’s Playboy and Penthouse magazines in the bathroom. Yes, we were quite “advanced,” enough to remember people like you pointing at us with grimaces, calling us “dirty little boys.” We laughed them off as we consumed the flesh.

Contrary to Ms. Zimmerman’s ominous warnings of it taking years to unravel the psychological damage done by “audio/video sexual abuse,” it took years for us to unravel the sweet mysteries of human sexuality to which we were introduced in grade school. Your writings, Ms. Zimmer man, remind me of the stiff, stern, crusty, judgmental nuns we had to endure in our youth, who, by the way, left us more traumatized than images of two people “getting it on.”

Arthur Saginian Santa Clarita

ETHICALLY SPEAKING

Dignity, Decency and Integrity

Asit turned out, I was in Jerusalem when Queen Elizabeth died. Fortunately, the television in my hotel carried the BBC station and, as you might expect, the coverage was 24/7. My schedule was quite full but I did manage to see a few of the many tributes to the queen’s 70 years as the United Kingdom’s monarch.

Of great interest to me were the many speeches given in Parliament recognizing and extolling the queen’s remarkable demeanor, personality and integrity. I found myself feeling quite jealous of a nation that was able to recount the wonderful character, courage and humility of their longest-serving leader.

Two things etched themselves on my mind. First, I marveled at the commitment thousands of Englishmen and Englishwomen made to visit their queen as her coffin lay in state. The various commentators reported that the line was over 2 miles long, and many waited 30 hours just to bid farewell to Elizabeth.

It made me wonder who today among our national leadership would be so beloved as to marshal that kind of commitment. Ask yourself. Who would be such a giant of respectability, no bility, courage and public service that you would stand in line for 14 hours just to pass by his or her coffin in a display of honor?

The second thing that really hit me was the way a female MP who was a former prime min ister ended her beautifully written tribute. While the whole speech was quite laudable, it was the ending that actually brought a tear to my eye. She closed her reflection by saying Queen Eliza beth always was focused on “serving her people with dignity, decency and integrity.”

These simple words also sent my mind racing as again I was a bit jealous that a political leader could recognize and applaud dignity, decency and integrity without there being any snickers among the audience. It made me sad to wonder if any of our highest leaders could truthfully be characterized as “serving his or her people with dignity, decency and integrity.”

political arena the path to vic tory is paved with two kinds of stones. The first are the stones of outrageous assertions designed to scare voters into believing that if the opposition prevails the apoc alypse will follow soon after. The second are the stones of unproven assertions and innuendo about their opponent’s personal and financial practices, and their views on social justice issues. Sadly, these stones are never meant to tell you what you need to know about the issues before you vote. Rather, they are meant to tell you why your world will end if you vote for the other candidate.

Of particular interest to me are those who trot out the same proclamation every election year. It goes like this. “This election is the most im portant one in the history of our country simply because it is all about the soul of our nation.”

Forgetting for the moment that nations don’t actually have souls, it is important to under stand what this slogan really means. While nations themselves don’t have souls, the people who make up the nations do. And I expect that most who fling out this mantra are unaware that every person’s ethical belief system is grounded in, and rises out of, their soul. It is in our souls that we configure our world view, determine our standards for right and wrong, and establish what we see as good behavior

So, to suggest that each election is really a battle for the soul of America is to admit that there is, in all of us, a spiritual center that will determine not only what kind of a person you and I will be, but also what kind of nation we will become.

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I hope so, I really do. And I do know some local civic leaders who do live up to those three wonderful words. But I also cringe at the way slanderous name-calling, prejudicial labeling, and plain old mean-spirited accusations and attributions have become common fare in our political discourse today.

And why is that? Sadly, it is because in the

Here’s my question. If our leaders are to be the ones that shepherd and guard our nation, shouldn’t they model the kind of soul we need to have? Shouldn’t they, like Queen Elizabeth, be known for serving others rather than selves? Shouldn’t they display the highest standard of honesty, humility and civility? And shouldn’t both their personal and private lives be worthy to be remembered upon their death as epito mized by dignity, decency and integrity? I think so, especially if we’re at all concerned about the soul of our country.

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

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