› Led the fight to protect Elsmere, Placerita and Whitney Canyons
› Preserved forever 13,000 acres of open space and 1,420 acres of the Santa Clara River, one of the last natural rivers in California
› Helped secure funds for the new SCV Senior Center; the Santa Clarita Aquatics/Activities Center; The Cube; Community Centers in Newhall and Canyon Country; Veterans Historical Plaza; and expanded sports areas in Central Park
› Marsha McLean is working with her colleagues to hire more Sheriff’s Deputies
› Her leadership helped bring about the new sheriff’s station and expanded patrols in our neighborhoods
She has zero tolerance for drugs, graffiti and gangs
Her efforts are helping to keep homeless encampments out of our neighborhoods while also providing services and resources to those in need
ReelectMarshaMcLean.com
Contact Marsha! (661) 255-1259
By Jean Deware Contributing writer
With the winter months upon us, it can often be difficult to leave the house and brave the cold to head to the gym — not to mention, a membership can sometimes feel like a big com mitment. However, there’s still opportunity to work out from the comfort of your own home.
Fitness experts at Breaking Muscle have high lighted five of the best exercises you can do from the comfort of your own home, with a step-by-step guide of how to complete them.
A highly effective beginner exercise is air squats, targeting your thighs, hamstrings, quadriceps, and also your glutes.
Position your feet so that they are slightly wider than the width of your shoulders, and then drop into a squat position with your thighs parallel to the floor. Keep your hands near your chest while you maintain a vertical stance around your upper body, and then return to the starting position.
Jump squats are particularly excellent for devel oping your strength, while simultaneously target ing the glutes, quads, hips, and hamstrings.
For this exercise, you’ll need to position your feet so that they are slightly wider than shoulder width and squat down partially with your thighs above a parallel level. Drop your hands down to your side, then bring your arms up near chest height while you quickly stand and jump into the air. Land soft ly in a squat position and transition to the next rep.
While the squat hold can be quite a challenge, it will develop both lower body strength and core control, as well as improving your balance.
Start by bringing your hands to chest-height and lower your body into a deep squat position. Your thighs should be parallel to the ground, but try to aim for a deeper position if possible. Push your feet into the floor and engage your glutes and core to remain stationary. Ensure that your torso is up right and don’t lean forward as you hold the stance for 20 seconds. The burning sensation throughout your body means that you’re doing it correctly!
While push-ups will target your chest, arms, and shoulders, they’re also useful for protecting your lower back and shoulders from injuries and im proving flexibility.
Wall push-ups are a great exercise for beginners – you’ll need to position yourself around an arm’s length away from a wall with your feet match ing the width of your hips. Your palms need to be placed on the wall at the height and width of your shoulders — and make sure to have your fingers
pointed upwards. The next step is to bend your el bows slowly and lean yourself towards the wall up until your nose nearly touches it — but it’s essential that your back remains straight while your elbows are bent at around 45 degrees.
If you’re up for taking it to the next level, you can try floor push-ups: to perform these, you must get on the floor and support your body on your toes and hands while your hands are set slightly outside shoulder-width. As you maintain a straight line from your neck to your ankles, bend your elbows to lower your whole body and press to full lockout.
If you experience shoulder strain, opt for aim ing your elbows towards your feet instead of your shoulders. Start with 10 reps, and lower the amount for each set all the way down to one rep.
Bird dog holds will strengthen your back muscles and can relieve lower back pain. Plus, they target both upper and lower body by boosting your core and your glutes.
To start with, position yourself into all floors on the ground, placing your knees below your hips and positioning your hands below your shoul ders. As you engage your core and keep your back straight, lift your left arm and stop when it is in front of you at the same level as your shoulders, and push your right leg out until it is completely straight.
Hold for a minimum of five seconds before swapping to your right arm and your left leg. If you struggle to lift both of your leg and arm at the same time, you can always select the easier option by lift ing only one of them at once.
Start with push-ups and begin with 10 reps. Low er the number of reps to eventually reach one rep upon completion, making it 10 sets overall.
Bird dog holds are the next exercise to tick off in your routine, and you should aim for three sets of 8–12 reps.
Next, start the lower body exercises with air squats, performing three sets of 12-15 reps. For op timal results, avoid a rest before your next exercise.
After air squats, move on to hold squats. Attempt three sets of 12-15 reps, with each rep lasting 20 seconds. Regular exercisers should complete two consecutive sets before resting, but if you’re more advanced, try to complete three sets before taking a rest.
Finish off your workout with jump squats. Try to complete three sets of 10-15 reps — but if you can handle it, attempt a fourth set.
Breaking Muscle has said “It’s a common mis conception that the gym is the only way to com plete a successful workout and reach your fitness goals. Our workout suggestions reveal that it is in fact possible to target multiple areas in your body with a workout that you can simply do at home. It’s much more flexible for those who find a member ship too much of a commitment, as well as those who struggle to find the time in their day to make a trip to the gym. Movement is extremely import ant for not just our physical health, but our mental health too – so we encourage everyone to imple ment exercise into their everyday routine, especial ly now with the opportunity to do it from home.
For more information go to www.breakingmuscle.
By Jim Walker Signal Staff Writer
As we enter the last days before Hal loween, you might wonder if there is some spooky fun still to be had around town. And you’re probably looking for things that require a little less com mitment and expense than the big theme park haunts. Herein, we have compiled a small but tasty bag-o-treats for you.
Jack Bones Equestrian Center, 26983 Tapia Canyon Road, Castaic 91384 bonesgulch.com
Scott Sivley’s home haunts are legendary in the SCV, and have grown and transformed into something truly special this year. Bones Gulch is a combination of three ma jor haunts. “By combining the three haunts – Beware the Dark Realm, Restless Souls Manor, and the Farm Haunt – we can take our individual specialties and mold them into a group effort,” Sivley said. At night, Bones Gulch turns into a haunted attraction with a heart-pounding scare zone, plus en tertainment and a haunt maze. Tickets for the remaining nights are $20.
“We are a nonprofit event to raise funds for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Depart ment Museum, and it is held at the Jack Bones Equestrian Center in Castaic. Not only are we still open from 6- 10 p.m. on Oc tober 29 and 30, but on October 30 we also have a free, daytime, kid-friendly trick or treat day with a magician, makeup show, car show, and a lights-on walk-through of our haunt maze. This is for non-scare trick or treating from the scare zone buildings and more.”
You are surely aware that many folks in the SCV like to deck out their homes in full haunt décor. And if you’ve been out at night lately, you know where they are. But here we include a few homes where the owners hope you will come out and see their handiwork.
Sugar Pine Way 28621 Sugar Pine Way, Saugus 91390
You might think Scott Sivley has enough on his hands with Bones Gulch, but he is, additionally, still haunting-up his own home on Sugar Pine Way.
“I’m doing my home haunt for Halloween and the local community,” he said. “We have
a small walk-through.”
Acklins Avenue
33218 Acklins Avenue, Acton 93510
“Welcome to our Spookytown. We have gone above and beyond to decorate our front yard for Halloween,” said Carrie Mathis. “We have had hundreds of people that have come near and far to share in the experience. My fiancé and I have posted it on all of the local sites.
“There are many things to look at, includ ing a lighted cemetery, creepy clowns and a ‘bartender,’ who is serving the last drink you will ever need. Watch out for the 12foot witch flying through the trees, or the 15-foot-tall mummy.
“There are also a few things that might jump at you. Please join us after dark until October 31. Drive by or walk up to the fence and check it out.” Sequoia Glen Cemetery 27747 Sequoia Glen Dr., Valencia 91354
“During the pandemic, my husband Dan ny and I felt bad that the neighborhood kids were all on lockdown and would miss out on the traditional Halloween haunted houses and other fun,” said Robert Cowan.
“We decided to kick up our display so they would at least have something to see … So it kinda snowballed from there. Last year we had horse and pony rides and a couple lost souls wandering around the haunt.
“This year we really kicked it up and turned it into a little family friendly walkthrough haunt. We added a bunch of new an imatronics, including a witches’ coven with a flying witch, a 10-foot-tall howling werewolf, a grim reaper, the dark angel, a 12-foot-tall skeleton and more!
“We have it lit and foggy all night from sundown until 10 p.m. and our walk-through will be open the next two weekends, Friday through Sunday, and Halloween from sun down until 10 p.m.
Rio Bosque Drive 27117 Rio Bosque Drive, Valencia 91354
The entire front of the house is covered with Halloween decorations, including light ing effects, sound effects, fog machines,
inflatables, animatronics and lots and lots of other decora tions. Overall, hundreds of items to look at and enjoy.
“My son is 7 years old and this started as a project with daddy,” Scott Smith said. “He loves Hal loween and usually for the whole month of October we spend at
least an hour or two adding to the display and just having fun when people drive by. It’s usual ly on from dusk until 10:00 p.m. weekdays. Halloween weekend it will be on until midnight. Hallow een night it will be on as long as there are treaters.”
T runk or Treats are becoming more popular every year. And though some have already been held this season, here are a couple you can still attend.
Santa Clarita United Methodist Church 26640 Bouquet Canyon Road Santa Clarita 91350
After a two-year break, the annual Trunk or Treat is return ing to the Santa Clarita United Methodist Church. This is a free event designed to be a safe, fun activity for families. Children of all ages can trick-or-treat from car trunk to car trunk in a lineup of cars in the parking lot — and maybe grab a hot dog af ter. Free-will donations are appreciated. The parking lot will be closed to traffic to ensure safety, so please look for parking in the surrounding area.
The event will be held on Sunday, October 23, from 5 - 6:30 p.m. Visit www.scumc.org/new-events.
BethlehemSCV 27265 Luther Drive Canyon Country 91351
A Trunk or Treat will also be held at BethlehemSCV on October 28 from 6 - 8 p.m. It will be a fun evening for the whole family, with and games for the kids, plus local food trucks and boutique vendors.
The event is free, but please consider bringing a donation of non-perishable food for Santa Clarita Grocery. Visit www.bethlehemscv.com/trunk-or-treat.
Boo! It’s time for Halloween fun. Put up the spooky spi der decorations and cov er everything with cob webs. Then head out and enjoy some thrills and chills at theme parks and other SoCal venues.
The Santa Paula Theater Center’s 28th Annual Ghostwalk: Dark Tales To Tell at Isbell Middle-Ghoul will be held Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Oct. 15-30.
This annual three weekends of “theater in the streets” fall event, will be held at Isbell Middle School locat ed at 221 S. 4th St., Santa Paula, CA 93060.
The performances will run from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. and take the form of walking tours that are an hour long and begin every 15 min utes. This year’s tours are not wheel chair accessible.
Ghostwalk 2022 follows its 27-year tradition with historically based sto ries, real or imagined, told by ghost citizens that lived, or might have lived, in the Santa Clara River Valley. Guests will be led by a ghostly com panion for the one-hour tour through this year’s chosen magical and mys terious environment, Isbell Middle School at night.
Guests are encouraged to dress warmly, wear comfortable shoes and bring a flashlight. Tours depart promptly and reservations are strong ly recommended. Guests should check in 15 minutes prior to tour res ervation. Reservations may be made at www.ghostwalk.com or on the “haunt line” (805) 525-3073.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Special discounted tickets are $10 for all on the first weekend only.
Parking is available on site.
Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort Halloween Time, now through Oct. 31, casts a spell throughout Disney land Resort with family-friendly ex periences, including Haunted Man
sion Holiday, Mickey Mouse pumpkin photos, favorite Cars Land characters dressed up in festive “car-stumes” and much more
Plaza de la Familia at Disney California Adventure Park cel ebrates the everlasting bonds of family with festive décor and entertainment inspired by Disney and Pixar’s ‘Coco’ and the traditions of Día de los Muertos, from now through Nov. 2
Featuring festive seasonal décor including the Mickey Mouse pumpkin and the Headless Horseman statue, Halloween-themed attractions like Haunted Mansion Holiday and Guardians of the Gal axy — Monsters After Dark, photo opportunities with favorite Disney characters and villains and specialty treats, there is something for every one during this spirited celebration.
The Halloween spirit also extends to Downtown Disney District with colorful autumn décor, seasonal merchandise and specialty dining. From now through Oct. 31, guests can enjoy the return of Pluto’s Pump kin Pursuit in Downtown Disney District, a delightful family-friend ly pumpkin hunt. Guests can also encounter Halloween-themed treats, décor and entertainment in the hotels of the Disneyland Resort.
The Haunted Mansion attraction in Disneyland’s New Orleans Square un dergoes its annual seasonal transfor mation. The mysterious manor con jures up the collision of two holidays to become Haunted Mansion Holiday, as Jack Skellington and his friends wreck the halls with frightfully festive decor inspired by “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
Also, every night through Oct. 31, guests can enjoy the return of the supernatural showcase “Halloween Screams,” a vibrant projection and light show. On select nights, “Hal loween Screams” will take to the skies with fireworks that are sure to waken the Halloween spirits.
Oogie Boogie, from “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas,” looms over guests at the entrance to
Disney California Adventure, chan neling his magic to create a forev er Halloween for everyone to enjoy, transforming favorite attractions with eerie and ethereal details.
Guests will roll on down to Cars Land as Radiator Springs becomes Radiator Screams.
As night falls at Avengers Campus, Guardians of the Galaxy transforms into Guardians of the Galaxy – Mon sters After Dark, an exciting adven ture filled with creepy creatures and thrilling drops.
Six Flags Magic Mountain’s 29th season of Fright Fest is back with 23 terrifying nights of monsters, ghouls, and creepy characters ready to strike fear in any one who crosses their path. The bone-chilling lineup of attractions features a daunting new haunted house, two new spine-tin gling scare zones, an ominous new show, and a new haunted happy hour. Six Flags Magic Mountain leaves no tombstone unturned to deliver what guests want most, an all-out terri fying experience, on select nights through Oct. 31.
“We couldn’t be more excited to bring this legacy Halloween event back to the park. Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Fright Fest is upping the scare factor with an all-new haunted
house, two new scare zones, an eerie new show, plus a new haunted happy hour and buffet,” said Park President Don McCoy. “Spooky season is back in Los Angeles, and Fright Fest is the scariest event in town.”
For more information, visit www. sixflags.com/magicmountain.
This year’s Universal Studios Hol lywood Horror Nights iconic “Terror Tram” expands to include a cinemat ic twist on Jordan Peele’s blockbuster films in a crossover experience that reimagines “Us,” featuring The Teth ered, a revolutionary army of venge ful doppelgangers, whose uprising invades the all-new Jupiter’s Claim set from the filmmaker’s latest pop night mare, “Nope.”
The “Terror Tram” is unique to Universal Studios Hollywood, invit ing guests to explore by foot parts of the famous movie studio backlot, home to some of the most notorious movie sets. Once guests disembark the Tram, the terror is unleashed.
For the first time ever “The Wiz arding World of Harry Potter” will feature Death Eaters, a group of Voldemort’s most devoted followers, who will roam Hogsmeade village, looking to find others willing to show loyalty to the Dark Lord’s cause.
For more information visit www. HalloweenHorrorNights.com.
Each fall, we gather as a community to cel ebrate all the accomplish ments of the past year at the annual State of the City event. It is an opportunity for the City Council to share with residents all the City has achieved on their behalf. This year’s event will be held on Thursday, October 27, at the Canyon Country Community Center beginning at 3 p.m. Residents will hear directly from the City Council, see video highlights, enjoy light snacks from the Farmers Market, get a commemorative gift and then enjoy happy hour on the Terrace.
Guests to the State of the City will learn about the progress made on our strategic plan — Santa Clarita 2025 (SC 2025). Some highlights include funding operations and maintenance at the new Canyon Country Community Center, a Mobile Command Unit for emergencies, the design of new parks and continued construction of the Sand Can yon Trail.
I know our community is looking forward to the completion of the Central Park buildout, which
will bring an additional four fields, the new inclu sive play area at West Creek Park, a second bike park and even a roller rink. In addition, we are working toward enhancements at David March Park, expanding Canyon Country Park, a new park at Via Princessa and we continue to coordinate with Los Angeles County to get ownership of the beautiful and historic William S. Hart Park in Old Town Newhall.
In addition to these current projects, we will also celebrate the history of Santa Clarita. The theme for this year’s State of the City is “Celebrating 35 Years of Cityhood.” It is incredible to think how much we have accomplished, thanks to the leader ship of the City Council, over the last three and a half decades.
Santa Clarita went from just 7 parks at the time of incorporation — and with this year’s addition of Vista Canyon Park — we now boast 36 incredible parks. Cityhood has allowed Santa Clarita to cre ate 100 miles of off-street trails, more than 13,000 acres of preserved open space, three Metrolink Stations, three libraries, two community centers, anti-drug programs for youth, hundreds of sports and recreation programs, the Aquatic Center, Santa Clarita Sports Complex, Skatepark, The Cube, Trek Bike Park of Santa Clarita, traffic and road im
provements — just to name a few achievements. You can purchase tickets to attend the 2022 State of the City event at santa-clarita.com. Tickets are $35 for individual seats and $400 for a table of 10. If you are unable to attend in person, do not wor ry. The entire State of the City presentation will be streamed live on the City of Santa Clarita’s Face book page and broadcast on SCVTV channel 20.
This event is a great opportunity to find out what is going on in your City and celebrate the achieve ments of the last 35 years. I look forward to seeing you at State of the City!
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.
By Richard Roeper Signal Contributing Writer
Focus Features presents a film written and directed by Todd Field. Rated R. In theaters.
CateBlanchett is such a blazing and commanding force in “Tar,” we almost instantly believe she’s been the title character her entire life: one Lydia Tar, a globally renowned clas sical conductor who is a generational genius, a fiercely protective mother, a passionate lover, an influential men tor, a generous benefactor, a mon strous manipulator, an ethically ques tionable educator, a hot-tempered narcissist, a master at transactional relationships, a coldly efficient execu tive and an alleged sexual predator. She is brilliant. She is toxic. She is legendary. She is the real thing. She is a fraud. Even though Lydia is a wholly
fictional character, she’s so complex and fascinating and unforgettable, I would totally read the autobiography she’s about to publish in the movie, if they released it in real life. Blanchett’s performance is so ferociously engross ing, she becomes the clear front-run
ner for the Academy Award; at the very least, there are now just four best actress nomination slots available.
After a couple of brief, social mediatinged moments of foreshadowing doled out like cryptic plot bread crumbs, “Tar” announces its gravi tas with a captivating 15-minute sequence that feels like an excerpt from a PBS special, as the New York er journalist Adam Gopnik (played quite well by Adam Gopnik) inter views Lydia onstage in front of a packed auditorium in New York City. Gopnik’s long introduction notes that Lydia is a member of the exclu sive EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) club, and when his listing of other EGOT winners ends with him naming “Mel Brooks” and the crowd laughs, it’s a perfect insight into the smug elitism of just about everyone in Lydia’s world, including her fans.
That opening sequence is just one of many memorable, perfectly construct ed, simple yet dazzling and elegant set pieces in the film; another takes place when Lydia is teaching at Juilliard and has an intensely passive-aggressive-pas sive-REALLY AGGRESSIVE exchange with a student who says they identify as “a BIPOC pangender person,” and as such has no interest in studying, playing or conducting the music of the Dead White German composer Bach, who fathered some 20 children. Each of these scenes, and many more, build like, well, a symphony — a symphony of Lydia’s life and times.
Oh, and Lydia often gobbles pills to help her cope with sleeplessness and other issues, which includes her susceptibility to being disturbed by all manner of repetitive sounds, wheth er it’s a metronome that inexplica bly starts ticking in the middle of the night, a knock on her apartment door at dawn, a sound coming from the refrigerator/freezer or a woman’s screams deep in the forest. Lydia is a commanding presence even in her most human and vulnerable mo ments, but it becomes clear she’s only in control, only truly comfortable, only fully alive, when she’s conduct ing. (Like so many great stage actors, musicians, athletes and even stand-up comedians, the problem isn’t the time spent performing; it’s how to come down from that exalted high and fig ure out what to do with the other 21 or 22 hours of the day.)
Working from his own original screenplay, director Todd Field (“In the Bedroom,” “Little Children”) plunges into the rarefied air of Lydia’s world at a particularly exciting and chaotic time, even for Lydia. She’s in rehearsals with the Berlin Philhar monic for a live recording of Mahler’s Symphony No. 5; she’s about to re lease that keenly anticipated autobi ography, with the predictably pre tentious title of “Tar on Tar”; she’s involved in a long-term but increas ingly fragile marriage with the or chestra’s first violinist, Sharon (Nina Hoss), with whom she has an adopted daughter (Mila Bogojevic), who is be ing bullied at school, and she’s dealing with a number of acolytes, associates and mentors, many of whom worship her to an almost unhealthy degree.
As Lydia takes an interest in a free-spirit Russian cellist named Olga (real-life musician Sophie Kauer) that extends beyond appreciation for Ol ga’s formidable potential, we can see the hurt in Sharon’s eyes; yes, Sharon has looked the other way on a num ber of occasions, but this might be the moment when the levee breaks. At the same time, Lydia’s pattern of allegedly exploiting her mentor-pu pil position to prey on young women has reached the point where at least one life has been destroyed, and the media has picked up the story. Even as “Tar” delivers as an intellectually soaring, elaborately constructed and passionate tribute to the technical AND emotional joys of playing, con ducting and appreciating beautiful music, it also becomes a knowing and timely #MeToo fable.
The expansive supporting ensem ble includes Mark Strong as a kind of Salieri to Lydia’s Mozart; Noemie Merlant as Lydia’s long-suffering as sistant, who has sublimated her own ambitions in order to serve Lydia’s every demand; and Allan Corduner as the assistant conductor who is one of many to experience Lydia’s casually cruel treatment. They’re all great but there’s never any doubt Blanchett is the one holding the baton and every one else is facing her, awaiting their cues.
Copyright 2022 Chicago Sun-Timesfall months call for comforting, hearty meals that taste just as delicious as they look. Filling recipes like chili and pasta make the season a special time for spending quality moments with those you love.
This fall, turn to a time-saving ingredient like Newman’s Own Sockarooni Pasta Sauce with its blend of tomatoes, mushrooms and bell peppers plus a few signature spices. This versatile sauce made with high-quality ingredients is ready to be a new favorite at your home in recipes like Chili Con Carne, a satisfying dish that can simmer on the stove while you help little ones with homework.
If your family and friends love sharing pasta on those cool, crisp evenings, Lasagna a la Sockarooni can help you impress guests as a quick, easy recipe elevated by creamy and buttery bechamel sauce.
Along with comforting foods, fall is also a time for giving. You can put tasty food on your own table while helping nour ish and transform the lives of children who face adversity with Newman’s Own’s radically good commitment to “giving it all away.” As with all of its products, 100% of profits from Socka rooni Pasta Sauce is donated to organizations that help kids.
Learn more about supporting that commitment and find ad ditional autumn recipes by visiting NewmansOwn.com. (Family Features)
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 2 hours
Servings: 8
2 cups diced onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 green pepper, seeded and chopped
2 tablespoons cooking oil
2 pounds coarsely ground lean beef
2 cups kidney beans, soaked overnight
1 jar Newman’s Own Sockarooni or Marinara Pasta Sauce
2-3 cups water
2-3 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin salt, to taste pepper, to taste
1 cup chopped celery
1 can (8 ounces) corn sour cream, for garnish lime wedges, for garnish Saute onion, garlic and green pepper in oil until soft. Add beef and brown. Add kidney beans, pasta sauce, water, chili powder, cumin and salt and pepper, to taste. Simmer, uncovered, 1 hour, stirring frequently.
Add celery and corn; simmer 1 hour. Garnish with sour cream and lime wedges.
Substitution Use 3 cups cooked rice for meat to make vegetarian chili.
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Servings: 9 Salted water
1 package lasagna noodles
1 jar Newman’s Own Sockarooni Pasta Sauce
2 cups Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, grated
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole milk
Over high heat, boil large pot of heavily salted water. Once boiling, add lasagna noodles and cook until al dente then drain and set aside.
To make bechamel sauce: In saucepan over medium-low heat, melt but ter. Add flour and stir with wooden spoon until paste forms. Add small amount of milk and stir until mixture loosens. Gradually add remaining milk and continue stirring with whisk. Cook sauce over low heat until thickened, about 10 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375 F.
In large, deep, oven-proof casserole dish, ladle small amount of pasta sauce followed by small amount of bechamel sauce. Sprinkle some Par migiano Reggiano cheese over sauces and layer with three lasagna noodles. Continue pattern until dish is com plete. Top final layer of noodles with remaining bechamel sauce and grated Parmigiano Reggiano.
Bake 25-30 minutes until golden brown and bubbling. Cool prior to serving. (Family Features)
The Expendables started out as a spirited party band in high school covering Surfrock nuggets such as Dick Dale’s “Mi serlou” and “Wipe Out” for birthdays and family gatherings, but in their nearly 25-year career, elementary school buddies Raul Bianchi, Adam Peterson and Geoff Weers, along with bass ist 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 approach their 25th anniversary with out looking over their shoulders, knowing there’s always room to focus 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 November 19. Tickets are available online through AXS, over the phone at (888) 6455006, and in person at the Canyon Santa Clarita box office. For more information, visit www.wheremusic meetsthesoul.com.
It is common knowledge that as we age, we face health challenges and need increas ingly more sup port. Whether it’s life-threatening diseases like can cer, respiratory and heart disease, or chronic issues such as arthritis, hearing and vision problems, peo ple facing these and other health issues require additional care and support.
Caretakers are the lifeline for all of us as we age. Not having a reliable social network can negatively impact health and quality of life.
We expect to need more help as we age, but it is a jarring revelation when life-threatening disease strikes a young person who suddenly needs daily social support.
My daughter, a young mother with an infant and a toddler, is under going cycles of chemotherapy for a cancer diagnosis she received two months ago. Thank goodness for a network of family and friends help ing her navigate through this fright ening time.
They have undertaken the tasks of picking up her son from pre-school, taking her to chemo, watching the baby and providing meals. Their countless messages of encouragement and support are emotionally reassur ing and comforting.
Having loved ones surround us at times of uncertainty and apprehen sion provides the emotional support we need to face each day with hope and positivity.
Support networks, however, pro vide more than comfort and reassur ance.
Recent research indicates that so cial support is an important deter minant of health outcomes. It’s not just that a network of caregivers helps patients feel emotionally calmer and more stable. Studies show that inte
grating social support into treatment plans actually helps people to survive at higher rates and live longer.
Timothy Smith, PhD,and Julianne Holt-Lunstad, PhD, both Brigham Young University professors, pub lished their research on the effects of social intervention in the journal PLOS Medicine.
They found that integrating social support into treatment plans helped people survive at higher rates and live longer. They recommend that social needs be addressed in medical set tings.
“It turns out that your overall so cial networks predict your longevity just as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day,” says Smith. He adds that in terms of predicting how long you’ll live, social support is a greater factor than alcoholism, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol — “more than any typical metric you might think of.”
A new study from researchers at Kaiser Permanente sheds light on the importance of social support for women diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
Kaiser research scientist Candyce Kroenke finds that post-menopausal women with colorectal cancer were more likely to die from their disease or from any cause if they had low so cial support before diagnosis. They found higher rates of mortality when women lacked emotional support, informational support, tangible help with tasks and chores and positive so cial interaction.
Numerous studies affirm that positive health outcomes do not de pend solely on medical treatment.
Regardless of age, social support plays a significant role in patients’ well-being, quality of life and health outcomes.
It has become cliché to say it takes a village. But that’s exactly what is required to care for loved ones as we age or go through health challenges.
Mary Petersen is a retired COC English instructor, a 30-year SCV res ident and two-time breast cancer sur vivor.
Whether it’s breast cancer research or helping patients get to treatment, our fundraising makes a real difference in the fight against breast cancer and in our community.
If you or a loved one needs help with their hearing, October is the best time visit Advanced Audiology. At the same time you’re helping yourself you’re also donating and helping your community.
Advanced Audiology is donating a portion of all its hearing aid proceeds to breast cancer research, and Circle of Hope. Raising awareness among patients, and local communities about breast cancer which affects 1 in 8 women in the U.S. Nola Aronson is a 20 year breast cancer survivor herself, so this cause is personal and close to her heart.
The number of households with a single person liv ing alone has increased considerably over the last half-century-plus. According to a recent report from the U.S. Cen sus Bureau, there were 37 million one-person households in 2021, representing 28% of all households across the country. This compares to 13% in 1960. Over the past decade, the number of single Americans in creased by 4 million.
Various factors have contributed to the rise in the number of single people living alone. For example, delaying marriage is a growing trend. Today, the median age to get married for men is 30.4 years and 28.6 for women.
In addition, more seniors are living longer, and may be outliving spous es. Some people are simply opting not to get married, as neither men nor women are expected nor required to have a partner according to current societal norms.
With so many people living alone, a refresher course in solo safety could be in order. Here are some tips for single living.
Adopt a dog A dog is not only a companion but a safety precaution. Dogs are in tune to sounds and dis turbances, which can alert owners if and when things are awry at home. Dogs, particularly those who bark when someone is at the door, are built-in alarm systems. Criminals may be less likely to target a home where a dog is present, even if the dog isn’t perceived to be aggressive. Get to know your neighbors Sin gletons should make it a point to be come familiar with their neighbors. This way they can learn schedules
and alert one another if something seems out of sorts. A good neighbor will check in on another person if he or she hasn’t seen that person around in some time, which could help in the event of an injury or illness.
Invest in smart technology Smart home technology can run the gam ut from motion-activated cameras to remote-operated lights and thermo stats. This enables the home to be safe and secure, and even appear occupied when a person isn’t home.
Don’t advertise that you’re single Those who live alone should not make a point of advertising it. For example, list “Smith Residence” on a lobby mailbox in an apartment com plex rather than a single name. Avoid telling too many people you’re single, as word can get around and it is im possible to know who will find out. That includes spreading word online through social media.
Upgrade locks and doors Invest in more complex locks and deadbolts as well as security doors to add an ex tra layer of security to a home. Such locks are only effective when inhabi tants remember to lock their doors at night and when leaving their home.
Develop an emergency exit plan No one is coming to a person’s aid when he or she lives alone. That means a singleton must develop and rehearse emergency exit protocols that involve getting out of the home safely. In ad dition, one should pack emergency supplies and a go-bag in case a fast exit is necessary.
Living alone requires careful at tention to security and taking add ed measures to be safe at all times.
Seniors typically have more time to travel than other groups. That freedom entices many to travel overseas, often for extended periods of time.
The cost comparison site CostAide indicates that the average two-week vacation for two to Amsterdam can run around $5,000 to $6,000. Length en that trip to a month, and a vaca tion of one’s dreams can set a couple back $12,000. Change the destination and costs could get even higher.
The last thing any traveler wants is to run out of money during a dream vacation. This makes figuring out costs and budgeting for such trips essential. Seniors planning the trip of a lifetime can consider these tips to budget effectively and maximize their vacation dollars.
Transportation abroad undoubt ably will be one of the largest expens es travelers incur. Check prices from multiple airports in your area for the best rates, even if it means having to drive a bit further. If you have only one local airport, book a separate flight to a travel hub, such as Atlanta or New York, so you can comparison shop more affordable flights to your final destination.
Plan a year or two out for the trip and shop around for travel rewards
credit cards that provide reward earn ings in the way of airline miles; start accumulating them with everyday purchases. If you use airline rewards wisely, you won’t need to budget for the flight and may enjoy extra perks like priority boarding or free baggage check.
Start shopping destinations to see which locales align with your budget. Compare and contrast estimates as to how much each destination may cost on a daily basis. Prices can vary widely depending on the destination, and this is a great way to some pre-trip notion of what your dream trip will cost.
There is a lot of wiggle room when it comes to lodging and price points. You can stay in five-star hotels and pay a premium or consider hostels if bells and whistles aren’t your prior ity. Keep in mind that a longer stay could come with a discount. Airbnb, for example, lets hosts list weekly or monthly prices, with monthly dis counts running 40 to 60 percent less than daily rates.
Food is a priority when traveling. If you can stay in accommodations with a kitchenette, you can reduce dining costs and make meals as desired.
Men and women may have more free time after 50 than they had in previous decades. As children grow more inde pendent and even leave the house, parents look to various activities, including travel, to fill their free time. Travel is often seen as a luxury, but heading off for parts unknown can produce some serious health benefits.
A joint study from the Global Coalition on Aging and the Transameri ca Center for Retirement Studies found that women who vacation at least twice a year have a lower risk for heart attack than those who travel once every six years.
The study also found that men who do not take annual vacations are at a significantly higher risk of death (20%) and heart disease (30%) than those who make who take time to get away each year. Vacations don’t even need to be long to produce significant, positive results. A 2018 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that a four-day long weekend vacation positively affected well-be ing, recovery, strain, and perceived stress for as long as 45 days. (MC)
Food plans are another consider ation. Book destinations that offer an all-inclusive or a meal plan option. It may not be the cheapest alternative, but you’ll have peace of mind know
ing food costs already are covered.
Budgeting for a long trip means un derstanding average costs, deciding on priorities and utilizing discounts at one’s disposal. (MC)
Not only can you save your own vegetable seeds to grow the next year’s crop, but sometimes you can even end up with a plant that sur passes your expectations. Of course, most often you’ll get something sim ilar to the original plant.
You can also end up with big dis appointments. Using seeds from traditionally stable parent plants and taking care in how you produce your seeds will impact how much control you will have in the growth of the next generation seeds.
Decide what vegetables you want to grow as “parent” plants for your seed collecting. Annual vegetables are the best choice. You can grow biennials,
but you will have to wait for a sec ond year before the plant will bloom to collect seeds. Some perennials, will bloom in their first year but may take longer to produce enough fruits to make seed collecting worthwhile. Then, you will have to wait again for the plant you grow from your collect ed seeds to mature.
Collect seeds from vegetables that
are not hybrids. If you grow your vegetables from open-pollinated — sometimes called heirloom varieties — your seeds are more likely to grow true from seed without unpleasant surprises. Some seeds from hybrid plants can be sterile.
Plant your vegetables in isolated groups if you want to control pollina tion. Otherwise wind, bees and other insects may cross pollinate your veg etables with varieties that may intro duce unwanted characteristics to the genetics of your seed. You can also prevent adding those unwanted genet ics by making sure any other potential cross-pollinators will bloom before or after your chosen plants are flowering.
Keep self-pollinating plants grow ing in a group at least 10 feet from other potential pollinators.
Isolate and hand pollinate your veg etable flowers under a tent of plastic or fine cloth if you want to be fully in control of the pollination process to be extra sure your plants will produce reliable or “true” seeds. Or … If all this sounds a bit too demanding you can collect seed informally.
Expect variable results if your plants are open to cross pollination or if you are mixing varieties. If you just want to grow your vegetables informally in a mixed vegetable garden, chances are your seeds will likely produce good enough seed to grow next years’ crop.
You may also get a number of infe rior plants, some sterile seed or even that occasional unexpected unknown hybrid of your own.
Since people have been tinkering with cross-breeding plants for cen turies, even heirlooms have some
Fennel is easy to grow from collected seed and loves our heat and sunshine.
variability. Most vegetables — unless you are seeking to recreate a special growth pattern or color — will pro duce predominantly good, tasty vege tables without too much fuss.
Collect seed from your healthiest and most successful plants. This way you know at least one genetic con tributor is exactly what you want to reproduce. Dry seeds indoors and keep them safe from humidity and pests. Over-winter your seeds in glass jars to keep them fresh. If you add a packet of silica gel it will keep the air in the jar dry, preventing rot, mold or early germination.
You can also refrigerate seeds since most refrigerators stay at around 40 degrees F. Never freeze collected seeds.
Some vegetables I have found easy to grow from plants originally raised from packaged seed in my garden are lettuce and Swiss chard and fennel (even the fancy bronze variety al though it throws a number of green plants), oregano and even peas.
Tomatoes are almost always good, although I grow an assortment of varieties so I never know what size, shape or color the resulting cross breeds will be. So far, they’ve all tast ed good!
Note There are a number of ways to know if you are growing your orig inal plants from hybrids. Sometimes it’s as simple as reading the label of the parent plants. It may state “Hy brid” or “Heirloom.” Or look for vari eties listed in Latin. Most of these are likely to be free from hybridization.
Plants or seeds labeled with letters F1, F2 or “cv” are cultivated varieties and less likely to produce fertile, reli able seeds for you to collect to use for future planting.
When most people hear about vac cines these days, the first thing that comes to mind is COVID-19. However, vaccines also help pre vent other serious illnesses like the flu, especially for those at higher risk.
According to the American Heart Association, people with underlying risk factors like heart dis ease, obesity and diabetes are at high risk of serious flu complications. During the 2018-19 flu season, more than 93% of adults hospitalized for the flu re ported at least one underlying medical condition.
Even so, a survey on behalf of the American Heart Association found 3 in 5 U.S. adults may de lay or skip the flu shot this year, despite warnings that this season coulde be flu severe.
“Unfortunately, the flu is back,” said Donald Lloyd-Jones, M.D., Sc.M., FAHA, volunteer pres ident of the American Heart Association. “We’re seeing cases in communities across the country. If you’ve delayed your flu shot, it’s not too late to get one for the current flu season, which usually lasts until late spring. Getting it as soon as possible offers the most protection for you and your loved ones.”
A lack of information may contribute to deci
sions to skip or delay the flu shot. The survey iden tified a significant knowledge gap, with an over whelming majority (94%) of adults in the United States incorrectly answering at least one of eight questions about the shot. Younger generations were less informed than their older counterparts, but across all age groups, more than half of U.S. adults answered at least two questions incorrectly.
There is a strong correlation between the flu and cardiovascular diseases like heart disease and stroke. Among adults hospitalized with flu during recent flu seasons, heart disease was one of the most common chronic conditions. According to
the CDC, about half of adults hospitalized with flu have heart disease.
Take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu this season with these tips from the American Heart Association:
Get your flu shot Most experts recommend get ting your shot early in the season, but it’s not too late to benefit from the protection. The flu shot is avail able to anyone at least 6 months old. While getting the shot isn’t a guarantee you won’t get the flu, it re duces the chances of contracting a severe case.
Wash germs away Washing hands frequently and thoroughly helps reduce the spread of germs, includ ing those that cause viruses like the flu. Also make a point to avoid touching your face, since your nose and mouth are natural entry points for germs.
Seek medical attention If you get sick, seeing a doctor can bring relief and help shorten your ill ness. If the flu is detected early enough, you may be able to take an oral antiviral treatment that reduces the length and severity of your symptoms.
Learn more about protecting your heart health and preventing the flu at heart.org/flu. (Family Fea tures)
The research conducted by fashion ex perts Boohoo analyzed Google Trends data to establish the most Googled Hal loween costumes in each state over the past month. The study examined both the most popular pop culture-inspired costumes and classic costumes that are seen every year without fail.
The analysis revealed that Harley Quinn is the most popular character to dress as this Halloween. The character is the most searched-for costume in 13 states, including Texas, Indiana and Alaska. Harley Quinn has been a significantly popular Hal loween costume for years, ever since Margot Rob bie took on the role in the 2016 film Suicide Squad.
Alternatively, dressing as a witch is the most popular traditional costume this Halloween, with a whopping 20 states searching for witch costume the most. The classic Halloween film Hocus Pocus has definitely inspired costumes for almost three decades, and the more recent release of Hocus Po cus 2 will continue to do so this year.
The horror film villain Chucky is the second most popular costume this Halloween. Nine states search for Chucky costume more than any other pop culture costume or character, including New
York, California and New Jersey. In contrast, for those not big fans of scary movies, the second most popular classic costume to dress as is a fairy, with seven states searching for fairy costume the most.
Top Gun costume is the third most Googled pop culture costume across America, with six states searching for it the most, including Nevada, Ten nessee and Massachusetts. With the long-awaited release of Top Gun: Maverick, it is no surprise that costumes inspired by the film will be in demand this Halloween season. Additionally, pirate costume is the third most searched for traditional costume this year, which is Googled the most in six states.
Two costumes came in fourth place for both pop culture and traditional costumes. Stranger Things costume is the most searched for in five states, in cluding Georgia and Virginia, while Minion cos tumes also receives the highest number of searches in five states, including Hawaii and Montana. As for traditional costumes, five states each want to dress as devils and ghosts.
The study revealed that dressing up as Poison Ivy and characters from Hocus Pocus are the joint fifth most popular this Halloween. Four states search for Poison Ivy costume more than any other costume,
including Arizona and Iowa, and four states also search for Hocus Pocus costume the most, includ ing Florida and Washington. Alternatively, dressing as a traditional black cat is the fifth most popu lar classic costume, receiving the highest number of searches in four states, including Delaware and New Mexico.
Before Christmas character Jack Skellington more than any other costume, and Arkansas and Ken tucky have been searching for horror icon Michael Myers costumes the most. Lastly, dinosaur costume is the sixth most searched for traditional costume in three states.
A spokesperson for Boohoo.com commented on the findings, These findings provide an interesting insight into the biggest costume trends of the year, predicting that we can expect to see several witches and Harley Quinn’s this Halloween.
Dressing as Harley Quinn is a Halloween staple every year. There is no doubt this popularity will only increase with the release of the highly antici pated Joker: Folie à Deux in 2024, with Lady Gaga taking over the iconic role.
Horror Film Villian Chucky was the Most Sought-After Costume in California
People will do anything for their dogs. But, they may not always know how to best care for them. When it comes to furry family members, nothing is higher on the priority list than building a happy and healthy lifestyle. From finding ways to bond, to ensuring your dogs have proper grooming, exercise and social rou tines, pet parents have the important responsibility of helping Fido thrive. Here are five ways to help your dog live a happier, healthier life.
1. Teach your dog new tricks. Dogs thrive on structure. Ensuring your dog understands basic com mands is necessary to keep you, your dog and other dogs and people safe. Beyond that, new tricks are a great way to continue to teach your pup en gagement and challenge them to keep their minds active.
Once you’ve mastered “sit” and “stay,” try weaving in tougher tricks like fetching, exercise courses and the ever-challenging “stop, drop and roll.”
However, three-fourths of pet own ers believe they wouldn’t have been able to teach their dog any com mands without using treats, accord ing to a recent survey conducted by CLIF PET™. Reward your dog along the way with easy to tear treats like plant based jerky to reinforce positive behavior. Always remember, treats should only make up about 10% of your dog’s daily caloric intake.
2. Keep up with your dog’s grooming and maintenance routine.
Whether your dog has a long shiny coat, cute curls, short hair or no fur at all, grooming your dog keeps them
healthy — and can feel like a day at the spa. Regular brushing, nail trim ming and proper grooming should be implemented, especially as the seasons change and your dog’s needs change, too.
Not only is grooming and mainte nance an important part of your dog’s overall beauty routine, but it is also a great way to bond with your pet as you continue to build a loving and trusting relationship.
3. Take your pup with you on your next adventure.
Dogs need a vacation too! Instead of boarding or leaving your dog with a sitter, keep your whole family to gether and take Fido along for the ride. Whether you’re testing out van life in the great outdoors or opting for the pet-friendly options for your next bucket list destination, your pet will love the uninterrupted quality time that they get to spend with you as you explore the world together.
4. Help your dog meet new friends. While you may be your dog’s best
friend, it’s important that they are exposed to new people, places, dogs and experiences on an ongoing basis to ensure they are properly social ized. To encourage your dog to be more social, head to your local dog park and meet new dogs for your pet to play with, or bring them along to a pet-friendly patio for happy hour with human friends.
As always, remember to exercise
caution and proper leashing proto cols, and follow your pup’s cues when it comes to new situations. And, to make sure your pup is the most pop ular at the park, stock up on treats to share and to give your dog when they make a positive interaction.
5. Head outside and spend time exer cising with your furry friend. Whether it’s a nice stroll around the neighborhood or a hike through your local mountains, getting exer cise is important for your health and your pup’s health, too. A daily ex ercise routine is necessary for your dog’s overall health and wellness, as well as maintaining a healthy weight, and provides a great way to bond and incorporate your dog into your daily life. For life’s most exciting outdoor adventures, give your pup treats made with simple, wholesome ingredients like CLIF PET Plant Based Jerky, available at Petco, to keep them fueled while exploring the great outdoors. (BPT)
Conservation is a collec tive responsibility shared by individuals across the globe. Protecting the plan et and ensuring its future has never been more important, as various organizations and environmental ists warn that, without immediate action, many of the more harmful effects of climate change could prove irreversible.
The Organisation for Econom ic Co-operation and Development reports that, without new policies, global greenhouse gas emissions are projected to increase by 50% by 2050. That includes a 70% spike in ener gy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
The potentially dire consequenc es of climate change underscore the importance of educating youngsters about the need to protect the plan et. Today’s children will be forced to confront climate change in the de cades to come, so learning about con
servation now can help them as they grow up and reach adulthood.
Teaching kids about conservation can be fun, and the following are three activities that will prove both engaging and educational.
Clean up a favorite hiking trail.
Hiking is a great family-friendly pastime that promotes physical activ ity and appreciation for nature. That makes hiking an ideal way to teach
Engaging kids in activities such as Santa Clarita’s cleanup of the Santa Clara River, helps them understand how they can be environmentally conscious. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL
kids about conservation. Parents can plan a hiking trip that focuses on cleaning up trails.
Kids who have a favorite hiking trail may be especially enthusiastic about cleaning up a place they already feel attached to, and parents can let them know they’re doing their part to protect the planet with each piece of litter they collect and ultimately re move from the park.
Teach kids to compost.
Parents do not need to leave their homes to teach kids about conserva tion. According to the National Re sources Defense Council, composting benefits the planet in numerous ways. In addition to reducing the waste stream, composting cuts methane emissions from landfills, which the NRDC reports are the largest source of human-generated methane emis sions in the United States.
Composting also helps to conserve water by adding organic matter to soil, which research has shown im proves the soil’s capacity to retain water. Families can build a compost bin together and parents can teach kids about which types of waste can be composted and how that compost is benefitting the plants and trees in their own yard as well as the planet as a whole.
Craft with recycled materials.
Crafting fosters the growth of a range of developmental skills in chil dren. In addition to encouraging kids to explore their creative side, craft ing also helps youngsters develop fine motor skills and provides a fun way for them to learn counting and pat tern recognition, which the academ ics-based publisher Scholastic notes are the very skills kids will later use to learn algebra. Crafting also provides a great way to teach kids to reuse and recycle, which are two of the core te nets of conservation.
Conservation efforts will be vital to helping the planet overcome climate change. Children can learn the im portance of conservation by engaging in various activities that make pro tecting the planet fun. (MC)
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Jerry Gladbach, longtime member of the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency (and its predecessor, the Castaic Lake Water Agency) board of directors, passed away a few months ago. He had been an ardent advocate for the valley’s water security for 37 years. Jerry’s passing left a huge void on the board of directors at a point in time when he was preparing to run for re-election in November. Having known him for almost my entire water industry career and having worked for him as CLWA general manager for 13 years, I know he will be hard to replace.
Dirk Marks is the candidate that would best fill Jerry’s shoes on the board. Late last year, Dirk retired as an employee of the agency, having served as CLWA water resources manager and SCV Water Agency di rector of water resources for a combined service of nearly 14 years. His education and work background is similar to Jerry’s, each with a degree in civil engineering and work experience with a major water supplier before coming to CLWA, Jerry as a director and Dirk as an employee.
Dirk’s entire work career has been in the water industry. He was first employed by a major water engineering firm before going to work for Metropolitan Water District for 21 years. He was MWD’s imported supply unit manager when CLWA hired him in 2008. During his time with MWD, his in-depth understanding of the State Water Project was recognized and respected throughout the state’s water community.
Dirk’s knowledge of the SWP water supply and financial manage ment is extremely important to us as SCV Water customers since it constitutes about half the valley’s water supply. Also significant is the expertise he developed at MWD establishing and implementing innovative water banking and exchange programs. Under his direc tion, CLWA and SCV Water have instituted similar programs that have stored excess water during wet years to supplement shortfalls in dry years.
During his time on the agency’s senior management team, Dirk oversaw preparation of two extremely important documents – the SCV Urban Water Management Plan and the SCV Groundwater Sustain ability Plan. The UWMP projects water supply adequacy for existing and future SCV water needs and the GSP ensures our local aquifers will continue to provide a reliable groundwater supply.
Having worked for public water agencies for most of his career, Dirk is very familiar with board functions and processes, and would hit the ground running as a new director. Also, recognizing that climate change and the unprecedented drought we are experiencing are two of the most significant challenges facing the agency, he is uniquely qualified to provide constructive policy guidance and expert technical input that will be vital in preserving the SCV’s quality of life and envi ronmental health.
Water security is more important now than ever before. Dirk is the only SCV Water Division 2 candidate who has been there and done that when it comes to achieving it. Your vote for Dirk is a vote for water security.
Dan MasnadaCastaic Lake Water Agency General Manager, 2002-2015
Include name, address & phone; Anonymous letters aren’t printed; email: letters@signalscv.com. Mail to: Letters to the Editor, The Signal, 25060 Avenue Stanford, Suite 141, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
We’re all familiar with the mar keting icon Nike rolled out in the 1980s that put the sports clothing giant on the world map: Just Do It! And while I don’t know what they thought its effect would be on the national psyche, the reality was that people responded with both their acceptance and dollars.
I remember when “working out” became all the rage. You’d see people running up and down the streets at all hours and they seemed to enjoy it. But for regular folks like me, every time we tried, it really hurt, or after a few weeks other things barged into the schedule and soon we discovered it had been weeks since we broke a sweat. We became much more proficient at making excuses than making progress on our fitness commitments.
And then Nike hit us with a simple slogan: Just Do It! Their meaning wasn’t so hidden: Stop making excuses! Stop thinking you don’t have time, or ability, or the right equipment or cute enough sportswear. Just get off your duff and do it!
So, at the risk of co-opting an old slogan, here I go: Vote! Enough excuses, enough declarations that one vote doesn’t matter, and enough pontifications about the system being broken, and not enough good choices, and yada, yada, yada! Just Do It! Open your little package, take out the ballot and vote!
And let me add one little word to the slogan: Just Do It … Well! Yep, do some research. Find out who’s going to decide on the issues of our city. Think about who will protect our interests against those who are trying to upend our traditional values. Consider who is going to be de ciding what your kids will be taught, how your tax money will be spent, and how our brave law enforcement officers will be allowed to do their jobs.
Think about who shares your values on the Californian stage up in Sacramento. Who wants to save the unborn instead of treating them like unwanted, dispos able trash? Think about whose financial beliefs mirror yours. Who will spend more than they should on programs and
bills designed to enrich their supporters and friends?
Here’s the deal: I was told that last election less than 40% of our area’s registered voters actually voted. Folks, neighbors, friends … that’s just simply embarrassing! Get off the couch, go to your computer, research the candidates, and then take out your pen and mark your ballot. Then, mail it in and stand in front of the mirror and say “Way to go, you patriot!”
And then, if you’ve a mind and heart relationship with God to do so, start pray ing that, despite all our division, all our deception, and all our selfish, power-driv en, politically feeble leaders, God will have mercy on us, forgive our sinful pride and hatred, and restore some measure of love of truth, love of purity, and love of neigh bor in our city, our state, and our nation.
Lastly, I’ve decided not to endorse any candidates in my column this year. If you’ve read my columns for any length of time you know my values and you know how I’m voting. I’m doing this, not because I don’t have well-researched opinions on who you ought to vote for. No, my decision is simply based on the fact that you, my reader, my friend, my neighbor, need to do the work. You need to mark your ballot having determined who deserves your vote.
Yes, I know there are offices on the ballot that no one really knows anything about. I’m not talking about those. I’m challenging you to just do it … but do it well when it comes to those offices on our city level, on the Assembly and congres sional races, on the local school boards, the water board, and any other offices that have major bearing on your daily life. Think about it. You have power! Use it where it can best help determine who is going to have power and authority in your life and the lives of your kids.
Just vote. Just do it … and do it well! And from me and the rest of Santa Clarita … thank you!
Local resident David Hegg is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church. “Ethically Speak ing” appears Sundays.
Voted to Fund a Strong Sheriff Presence in the SCV, Leading the Fight Against D.A. Gascon’s Failure to Prosecute Criminals
Voted for Numerous Job Creation Programs, Voted to Support Local Business, especially during Covid
Fiscal Responsibility Control city spending & maintain our 20% emergency fund
Voted for new parks, roads, hiking trails, the Canyon Country Community Center, and much more to Keep Santa Clarita a Great Place to Live, Work, Play & Raise a Family
