Sunday Signal Jan 27, 2019 by Signal

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SEPTEM DAT B E RE 00, 30, 2018

JANUARY 27, 2019

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J A N UA RY 27, 2019

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NEWS FEATURES 5 6 7 28

KonMari the new cleaning craze Rival Restaurants offer gamers ‘gastronomical glory’ Ads, films, TV shows that call SCV home Five ways to raise a confident, adventurous child

PROFILE 8 8 Gary Null: A life behind the lens

LOCAL NEWS

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9 10 11 12

Fire station 132 captain identified as man killed in collision Air rescue saves 2 people snowed in for two weeks Victim says family pit bull lunged after her 10-month-old daughter Holocaust memorial sculpture unveiled City Survey: Anti-crime efforts, housing, jobs among top needs Trial date set for Canyon View Estates

SPORTS

13 Hoop dreams, the Manzano family business

BUSINESS 14 14 An ‘Off Kilter’ kind of company

CITY MANAGER

15 Northridge Earthquake serves as somber reminder

REAL ESTATE

16 The basics for a 1031 tax-deferred exchange

TIME RANGER OPINION

16 17 18

18 Our View • David Hegg • Tim Whyte • Sen. Scott Wilk

CALENDAR 21 22

HOME IMPROVEMENT 22 Hot water heaters and water pumps

FOOD 23 23 Presenting the SCV’s Panini Palace

SCHOOLS 24 24 How to hone your time-management skills

KIDS & FAMILY

25 Donna’s Day: Super Bowl fun and food

ENTERTAINMENT 26 6 Which One’s Pink? Pink Floyd tribute band to play on Feb. 2 2 27 ‘Beautiful Boy,’ ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘Green Book’

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9 Festival fun for February 2 30 February Family Fun

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S U N D AYS I G N A L · 5

N E W S F E AT U R E

KonMari in the SCV, the new cleaning craze By Crystal Duan Signal Staff Writer

onMari, the methodology seen on the popular new Netflix show “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo,” is fast becoming a household name. Kondo, a 34-year-old Japanese cleaning guru, goes to homes and helps the owners tidy up and make their lives more organized and efficient. But the key to Kondo’s success isn’t through a focus on discarding. It is on giving focus and gratitude to the things one already has and making sure they all “spark joy,” as one local expert puts it. Jessica Louie is a certified Marie Kondo cleaning consultant who services the Santa Clarita area. That means she works with clients in helping them enact lasting changes in cleanliness, making sure all of their items speak to their hearts. “It is based on some organizing and tidying and decluttering methods,” she said. “But it’s an overall lifestyle change. So you only go through the KonMari method once in your life. You don’t hire a professional organizer multiple times. You hire them once, and your life should be forever changed.” The lasting change Louie advocates comes from category by category, instead of going around a house and scanning location by location to pick away at clutter. Starting with easier categories, like clothes, and going on to more challenging categories, like sentimental items, can build

Marie Kondo has taught millions around the world how to declutter their homes and keep the objects that truly mean the most to them. PHOTO COURTESY KONMARI MEDIA, INC.

confidence in decision-making skills throughout the process. Once you go through all those categories, the focus is on keeping items that spark joy and thanking them, as the KonMari Japanese method suggests. “It’s transitioning from a negative mindset of, ‘How much could I get rid of?’ to a more positive one of valuing what you have,” Louie said. “It’s quite different for everyone, and you can keep as much as you want. You can keep everything if you love everything you own.” Any interested clients can get a free phone consultation with Louie to work on goals, a timeline and more. The only caveat is that clients can only hire Louie for themselves, not on behalf of family members. After the phone consultation, Louie

Marie Kondo teaches clients ways of organizing that also incorporate efficiency and tidiness.

Jessica Louie is a local cleaning consultant certified in teaching the KonMari method and is available to help clients in the Santa Clarita valley. COURTESY PHOTO

goes to the home and asks that clients do not tidy up or purchase anything before she arrives. “You have to take a look at what your natural habitat is,” she said. “But part of this is we as cleaning consultants always have a nonjudgmental pact.” The show typically shows clients getting the clean treatment from Kondo, but some details are left out. Other resources like joy journals, burnout prevention and life coaching are all needed to clarify a client’s vision for the lifestyle they want. “If you don’t have an end goal, it’s hard to work through feelings,” Louie said. “We go through planning and make sure we’re intentional.”

Consultants and clients work four to six hours a day together and make sure to finish and put away whatever was started for that day. One client will typically take five to six sessions to go through the method, but some suburban homes will usually take 12 sessions, and there might be “homework” in between sessions “I’m there for accountability and to provide emotional and physical support, while facilitating the discussion,” Louie said. “I never make any final decisions, I ask that it’s the client that has to decide, ‘Does this spark joy in my life, and do I want to keep it?’” Other methods Louie employs from the show are grouping things together and giving them all a designated location, as she said clutter accumulates because things don’t have a sense of place or belonging. She also suggests people not buy new containers to hold things because many are usually found throughout the process and can be repurposed. Otherwise, new purchased containers should also spark joy. Louie has been practicing this method for over two and a half years in her own life, and it eventually complemented her background as a critical care ICU pharmacist. She became officially certified in 2018 to teach the KonMari method. She lives by advising clients to “clarify, simplify and align.” She is one of 120 consultants in the U.S. and 215 worldwide, with the most concentrated in California. “I think a lot of people are very overwhelmed, very stressed and they’ve heard of the method and the books, but weren’t able to start and finish because it can get very overwhelming,” she said. Louie’s belief is people must schedule their own appointments with themselves, because the regular populace doesn’t break appointments with doctors or hairstylists, but does with themselves all the time. That’s where coaching can be good. “I’d say a lot of people are moving toward that we don’t have to own a lot of stuff to be happy,” she said. Louie can be found at clarifysimplify align.com or email jessica@clarifysimplifyalign.com. 

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N E W S F E AT U R E

Rival Restaurants to offer gamers ‘gastronomical glory’ By Taylor Villanueva Signal Staff Writer

ob Chew was studying at the seminary when he decided to create something to help break the ice and make new friends. Despite a background in sports, he wasn’t a big fan of sitting around and watching games on TV, like many of his friends. “When I was in college at UCLA, I wanted to hang out with friends, and a common thing was for people to watch sports,” said Chew. “I was a tennis coach, so watching sports was like going back to work for me.” He sought a more social activity. His solution? Creating his own board game. “I would cook for them, and we would play board games,” he said. “People were a lot more willing to engage with you when there was an activity like that.”

The beginning

Knowing how many board games existed already, Chew wanted to create one with the purpose of bringing people together and closing the gap between different personalities, which is why he named his game company Gap Closer Games. The restaurant theme came from Chew’s love for cooking. Since he cooked for his friends when they would come to visit and play board games, he figured that the two activ-

Creator Rob Chew holds international recipe card from the board game “Rival Restaurants,” which includes ingredients that players need to collect during playing the game. PHOTOS BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

ities would be a good combination as a way to interact with new people. Rival Restaurants is “a board game about competitive restaurant owning. Use your chef ’s power, cook recipes, and lead your restaurant to gastronomical glory,” according to the game’s Kickstarter page. In Rival Restaurants, players must cook as many dishes as they can to earn a five-star rating for their restaurant. What makes the game unique is that players don’t have to wait for their turn. All players go at the same time, setting the tone for a fast-

Rob Chew one of the creators of the board game “Rival Restaurants.”

paced interaction that will get people talking and bargaining. Because of the variety of chefs with unique skills, the number of different restaurants and the various recipes, Chew says there is no one way to win the game. Each time people play, the results will be different, and everyone has a chance for a comeback. Chew says that the game was just an idea that brought his friends together, but eventually turned into an actually board game. Game pieces represent rival chefs from around the world.

Coming together

Once Rival Restaurants began to

come together, Chew and his partners took the game to conventions. They had people play test their board game to get honest reviews on how to improve it. After finalizing Rival Restaurants, Chew and his team created a Kickstarter page to raise money to get the game up and running. The goal was to raise $30,000 in 40 days. They reached their goal in only 36 hours. And he also had a lot of help from his friends. “Audrey Jung, my friend from church, asked to draw the characters,” he said. He agreed to let her draw them, and he wasn’t disappointed. The characters have a Pixar-esque look inspired by Chew’s love for animated movies, he said. A lot of the game actions are based on puns, which Chew says gives a more lighthearted feel to a competitive game. Some of the chef characters players can choose from are Lovehandles McFatterson the plussize chef; Gardena Eden, the Vengeful Vegan; and Mortimer Sleazburger. During the early stages, Chew and his friends played the game with pennies and nickels as currency. Now they’ve helped him bring it all together. Chew’s title is creative engineer; Jon Kang is the game developer; Jung, the illustrator; Gary Alaka, project manager; and Jeff Yong is the legal counsel. “I kept the game in my old shoe box,” he says. His friends thought the game had promise, and now people online have been validating that with their donations, which continue to roll in, ahead of the deadline next month. “There were a lot of things I felt were missing in the games I knew about,” Chew said, explaining the idea behind Rival Restaurants. “I built a board game out of all the things I wish board games had. It was all the things crammed into one.” The last day to donate to the Rival Restaurants Kickstarter is Feb. 18. Find information and rules for Rival Restaurants at rivalrestaurants.com. Find the game’s Kickstarter page by going to kickstarter.com and searching “Rival Restaurants.” 

J A N UA RY 27, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 7

Ads, films, TV shows that call SCV home By Crystal Duan Signal Staff Writer

f you’ve lived in Santa Clarita long enough, you’ll know that multiple films and television shows come out to the valley to shoot. On any given week, you can drive past downtown Newhall and see an episode of “SWAT” being filmed, or see movies on location at Blue Cloud Movie Ranch. A list of films and shows in progress can typically be found on the city of Santa Clarita’s film office website. The movies “Vice” and “A Star is Born,” which both shot scenes on location in Santa Clarita, each received multiple Oscars nominations including “Best Picture” and more. In addition, three of the five films nominated for “Best Animated Feature” — Incredibles 2, Ralph Breaks the Internet and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse — were made by Santa Clarita alumni of the California

The Golden Oak Ranch in Santa Clarita has been the site of multiple film and television productions over the years. PHOTO COURTESY DISNEY STUDIO SERVICES

Institute of the Arts. In the past month, there have been commercials for Jeep, Samsung, Wells Fargo United Healthcare and other companies. The TV shows, “Goliath,” “Murder Loves Company,” “S.W.A.T,” a spin off of “Suits,” and “WYE” have also been produced around the area. “Germany’s Next Top Model,” a reality show was also set here. The locations aren’t publicly disclosed in the interest of giving stars privacy, said Evan Thomason, Santa Clarita Film Office economic development associate.

Santa Clarita was recently ranked among the world’s top 100 mostfilmed cities and one of the top most-filmed in California, according to a financial services comparison website. GoCompare compiled data from IMDb’s “filming locations” section, which placed Santa Clarita as the 26th most-filmed city in the world and the fourth in California. There may be even more locations not submitted to the movie and television database, as Santa Clarita has seen a continual increase in on-location filming for years, Thomason said.

N E W S F E AT U R E

In the past, film permits such as “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” “Book Club” and “The 15:17 to Paris,” and T.V. shows such as “Westworld,” “The Santa Clarita Diet” and “Future Man” have been issued. Much of Santa Clarita’s historic appeal to filmmaking can be credited to the different “looks” the city can take on, going back to the silent era with William S. Hart and Charlie Chaplin. The city also has over ten movie ranches, an outdoor space where filming activity takes place. Other prime locations in Santa Clarita for filming include Town Center Drive, the Hyatt hotel and College of the Canyons. In the last fiscal year, the city saw a 2.8 percent increase in permits, an 8.9 percent increase in film days and a 9.8 percent increase to the estimated economic impact, according to a city news release. For more information about filming in Santa Clarita, please visit FilmSantaClarita.com. 

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J A N UA RY 27, 2019

PERSONALITYPROFILE

Gary Null: A Life Behind the Lens By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

f you had a favorite television show on NBC during the decades of the 60s-90s, professional still photographer Gary Null probably captured images of the cast, the set and the action. Among his photo credits are the famous 1968 “Elvis Comeback Special,” as well as two trips to Vietnam with Bob Hope and images from the sets of “Star Trek,” “Bonanza” and “Days of Your Lives.”

Born in L.A.

Null, 81, a life-long Angeleno, was born in 1937 in Los Angeles. His parents were from Iowa. His father served in the Navy and was stationed in Long Beach when he discovered the wonders of the Golden State. “My dad called my mom and said if you want to get married you need to come out here because I’m not going back to Iowa,” Null. Null grew up in a neighborhood adjacent to Watts, at 93rd and San Pedro. A graduate of Fremont High School, Null found his life’s work at a young age. “It was a vocational high school,” he said. “It offered photography, auto mechanics, sewing, drafting; and I decided to take photography because someone said it was really easy.” Null said the program was as advertised. “We had four classes a day and we could go out on location. We could go

out whenever we felt like it,” he said. “It was great. High school was easy for me.” Null said his high school photography instructor Clarence Bach trained many Hollywood photographers, and at one time, at least six Life Magazine photographers from Fremont High School were on staff at the same time.

Semper Fi

A week after Null graduated high school, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. He was told because of his photography training, he would become a Corps photographer. That turned out not to be in the cards. “I was a machine gunner for a year, then I was transferred to Point Mugu (in Ventura County) as an M.P. (military police),” Null said. With two years left in his four-year enlistment, Null submitted a request to go to a military photography school. “I got in and went to Army photography school in New Jersey,” he said. “There were only six Marines in the school.” Null was surprised to learn on his first day of photo school that his enlistment should have been extended six years. “One of my classmates said, ‘Well only five years, 11 months and 29 days to go.’ I said, ‘What?’ He said, ‘You had to re-enlist for six years to get this school,’ I told them I didn’t reenlist for six years and they told me I was wrong,” Null said. After calling to check on his separa-

tion date from the military, Null was relieved to find that he had somehow dodged the required re-enlistment and would only serve until June 1959, his original separation date. During the nine-month school, Null strived to be at the top of his class so he could get first choice of duty station. “I was not at the top of my class, but I wanted to come back to the West Coast, so I requested (Marine Corps Air Station) El Toro,” he said. Null again found luck was on his side and he served as base photographer at El Toro for six months until his enlistment was up.

Hired by NBC

Null began his job search for a civilian job shortly before leaving the Marines. However, in spring of 1959, he found jobs were scare. “I decided to visit my high school photography instructor who lived in Westchester,” Null said. “He was working in his yard and I said, ‘Mr. Bach, I am getting out of the Marines and I need a job.’ He told that that NBC had just called him the day before and they were hiring.” Null followed up on the job lead and soon found himself hired at NBC as a still photographer. “I told them I had a month left to serve and they told me they would wait for me,” he said. “I was in seventh heaven.” Null was surprised to discover NBC paid new hires less than what he was making in the Marines. “I had a wife and children to support,” he said. “It was tough for a while, but it all worked out.”

40 Years at NBC

Veteran NBC still photographer Gary Null reviews images on a proof sheet of Elvis Presley that Null shot for NBC of Presley’s 1968 comeback TV special. PHOTOS BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

During his 40 years at NBC, Null served as staff photographer, portrait photographer and was promoted to chief photographer in 1996, two years before he retired. Null accompanied Bob Hope on two trips to entertain troops in Vietnam. In 1965, he went on a 14-day trip at Christmas, and again in 1971. He also went with Hope to Beirut for two weeks in 1984 for “Bob Hope’s USO Christmas in Beirut” special. Another of Null’s adventures was 1981’s “All American Ultra Quiz.” He traveled around the world for the

Retired veteran NBC still photographer Gary Null at his home in Valencia.

show that starred comedians Rowan & Martin, know most famously for “Laugh-In.” “It was a silly show,” said Null. The show started with 932 contestants on the field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Contestants were eliminated until the survivors met at Los Angeles International Airport to decide the finalists who boarded a chartered TWA 707 and flew to six cities to compete (Little Rock, Arkansas; Washington, D.C.; London, England; Paris, France; Rome, Italy; and Athens, Greece). “No one watched it,” said Null. “They never did it again, but it was a nice trip around the world.”

Meeting Elvis

When Null first worked with Elvis Presley during the special (“Singer Presents... Elvis”) aired by NBC on Dec. 3, 1968. Null saw it just as “another weekend I have to work.” The show is now known as the “Elvis Comeback Special.” “I never knew at the time that the pictures would become as iconic as they are,” said Null. “I still see them published everywhere.” He met Presley’s manager, Colonel Parker, and Parker later hired Null to shoot Presley in Las Vegas, where he performed at the International Hotel. “I also shot Elvis at The Forum and the Hawaii satellite special,” said Null. The 1973 special “Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite” was the first live satellite concert with a single performer and aired across the globe. “I was the only photographer See Null, page 31

J A N UA RY 27, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 9

LOCALNEWS

Fire station 132 captain identified as man killed in Highway 14 collision By Jim Holt Signal Senior Staff Writer

n off-duty L.A.County firefighter was identified as the man killed in a freeway collision near Sand Canyon Road, after his Jeep crashed into a Caltrans vehicle. Killed in the crash was Michael Shepard, according to a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Shepard was a captain at Fire Station 132. “He was off duty at the time of the crash,” Capt. Brian Jordan said. “Firefighters arrived on the scene to find their brother firefighter trapped in his vehicle, pulseless and nonbreathing. “Extrication was difficult and extensive,” he said. “Reluctantly, firefighters had to pronounce Capt. Shepard (dead) at the scene.” Shepard’s family members have been notified, and the Fire Department’s Memorial Management Team and Peer Counselors have been activated, Jordan said. The cause of the collision is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol, and questions regarding the collision are being referred to the local CHP office. There were no other fatalities. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Capt. Shepard’s family and fellow firefighters,” Jordan said. The driver, later identified as Shepard, was declared dead at the scene, said Fire Department Inspector Joey Marron. Within a couple of hours of news

Left: Traffic was bumper to bumper for hours after a jeep collided with a Caltrans dump truck, on the northbound 14.

Right: A California Highway Patrol officer walks near the rear of a jeep, left, that collided with a Caltrans dump truck, on the northbound 14 Antelope Valley Freeway, south the Sand Canyon Road in Canyon Country. PHOTOS BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL.

circulating that one of their own had died in the crash, several firefighters joined a procession that escorted delivery of the body to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. “There was a procession going along Golden Valley Road at one point to the Coroner’s Office,” said Fire Department Inspector Scott Elliott. “A lot of people (were) showing their respect,” he said, noting several of the participants in the procession work for fire stations in Battalion 6, one of two battalions serving the Santa Clarita Valley. The crash happened at 11:17 a.m.,

involving a Jeep and a Caltrans GMC 3500 with a dump truck bed, on the northbound lanes of Highway 14, south of Sand Canyon Road, said California Highway Patrol Officer Josh Greengard. The Caltrans vehicle was part of a sweeper detail, which was driving within the northbound center median, he said. The driver of the Jeep suffered fatal injuries, Greengard said. The driver of the Caltrans vehicle sustained moderate injuries and was transported to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. “Initial information indicates the Jeep struck the rear of the Caltrans vehicle in the vicinity of the center

median/HOV lane,” Greengard said. The northbound HOV, or carpool lane, and the lane next to it remained closed at 1:40 p.m. Shortly after 11:15 a.m., firefighters with the Los Angeles County Fire Department were dispatched to the crash. When they arrived before noon, they immediately began efforts to free the driver trapped in the vehicle, but he was declared dead at the scene. Traffic was stopped on the highway as rescue crews arrived and it remained closed for most of the afternoon. 

Air rescue saves 2 people snowed in for two weeks By Jim Holt Signal Senior Staff Writer

man, a woman and their two dogs were plucked Wednesday from the snowbound terrain they found themselves trapped in for two weeks. Members of the Los Angeles

County Sheriff Department’s Special Enforcement Bureau and Air Rescue 5 helicopter team responded to the call for help near Templin Highway and Interstate 5. “It was a great hoist rescue,” LASD spokeswoman Nicole Nishida said. “They got snowed in two weeks ago and ran out of food and water.”

The snowbound troupe, however, hiked to a spot where they could get cellphone reception and placed a call for help. “A couple of people got snowed in and found themselves out of food,” said Lt. Leo Bauer of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station. “They just got cell service and

called,” Bauer said. “We handed it off to Air 5.” The rescue was carried out in the rugged hilly terrain of the Angeles National Forest. For two weeks, the couple with their dogs were at the mercy of the See RESCUE, page 11

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J A N UA RY 27, 2019

LOCALNEWS

By Jim Holt Signal Senior Staff Writer

family dog quarantined after mauling a toddler and her mother in Castaic will likely be put down, the mother said, the day after she and her daughter were released from the hospital. “We could never live with ourselves if he was with another family,” the attacked mother said. The attack happened shortly before 10:10 a.m. on the 31000 block of Nichols Lane, where the family dog, described as an 80-pound pit bull mix, attacked the pair. In the four years that “Opi” has been a member of the family, the dog has remained caring, playful and protective, the mother said. However, the dog just snapped. It lunged, unprovoked, and grabbed the 10-month-old girl by her head in its mouth. Then, when her mother

scooped up the toddler, and pried the jaws apart, the dog continued to go after the little girl, mauling the mother who shielded the toddler. After reading what she described as cruel online posts about the attack, the injured woman asked that she share her story on condition she not be identified. The mother was treated with more than 100 stitches to close the wounds on her face, and her daughter received even more than that. “The surgeons said there would be no permanent damage,” she said, noting, however, that memory of the attack will last.

Part of the family

Opi was 4 to 6 months old when he was adopted four years ago. The family was told it was a pit bull mixed breed with parts Labrador retriever and at least one other breed, but they’re not sure. “He was a part of our family,” the

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COURTESY PHOTO

Victim says family pit bull lunged after her 10 month old daughter

A mother and her daughter were attacked by their family dog. The mother said that the dog had remained caring, playful and protective throughout the four years they had him.

mother said. “He sat in my lap, slept in our bed. He’s in our engagement photos and involved in every aspect of family life.” The family has a smaller, older dog, named Missy, which was in the house during the attack but not attacked. “Opi was very protective of me and, when I was pregnant, protective of my belly,” she said. When the baby was born, she never left her alone with the dogs. “Even when I went to the bathroom, I took her with me,” she said.

The attack

On the day of the attack, the mother, still in pajamas, put a bottle in the bottle warmer. “We were sitting on the couch, watching Mickey Mouse. The little dog was on the right. Opi was by the sliding door, sitting in his doggy bed, sunbathing.” The daughter was eating dehydrated apple slices when the mother glanced at the TV. “There was no growling, no warning,” she said. “I was standing there and I felt him push past me, and as I looked at the TV for a second, I looked down and see her head in his mouth. “I shoved the coffee table. I pushed him off. I pulled his jaws apart. I covered her with my body but he kept coming back. “Because he couldn’t get to her, he bit my face,” she said. “And, he’s never even growled at me.” There was no taunting, no feeding.

The dogs are fed regularly, she added. “We’re training them that they cannot eat her leftovers. “I thought he was going to kill her. I was screaming, ‘Opi, don’t kill my baby. Opi, don’t kill my baby.’ “I hit him really hard,” she said. “Then I grabbed her (daughter) and sprinted to the door. I ran in my socks. I went out the front door and made sure he didn’t follow us.” The mother, clutching her child, said she ran next door but no one answered. She ran to a house where the garage was open. Residents there called 911 and applied towels to the wounds of both mother and child.

Airlift

The mother and child were airlifted to Northridge Hospital Medical Center. Doctors applied numerous “dissolvable stitches” to the baby and regular stitches to the mother, keeping a close eye on both patients over the weekend. A plastic surgeon was called in. “When they did the CT scan, they found a piece of his (dog’s) tooth near my eye,” the mother said. “He (dog) ripped open my cheek so it looked like a fish gill, from my eyebrow to my jaw,” she said. The daughter underwent surgery. “I was worried she would have to have a blood transfusion because she lost so much blood. The floor was covered. It was like a horror movie.” See PITBULL, next page

J A N UA RY 27, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 11

LOCALNEWS

Holocaust memorial sculpture unveiled By Ryan Mancini Signal Staff Writer

rnie Sisk watched as the latest additions to Congregation Beth Shalom, a Holocaust memorial sculpture and a surrounding plaza, were dedicated. Sisk Plaza, as it’s called, memorialized Sisk’s late wife, Candi. “(This) gave me an opportunity to share with them my great joy of having this memorial for Candi,” he said. “She was quite a lady.” Speakers at the dedication included Rabbi Ron Hauss, Men’s Club president David Simon and CBS president Rob Cohen, among others, as well as local politicians and law enforcement officials Each year, CBS’s Men’s Club works to educate the community about the Holocaust. Last year, it was decided that a permanent installation would continue to remind people of what happened, said Hauss. Within a short time period, CBS received so many donations to cover the installation that the remaining funds went into

PITBULL

the synagogue’s Holocaust education program, Hauss said. When deciding on a date for a dedication, Hauss said International Holocaust Remembrance Day coincided well with Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. “We decided the lesson of the Holocaust is not a lesson just for the Jewish people, it’s a lesson for the world,” Hauss said. “That while there were 6 million Jews who became victims of the Nazis, there were 6 million people that were not Jews who in various ways were looked upon as not being worthy to exist by the Nazi regime.” Abstract sculptor Granville Beals was commissioned to create a sculpture, which incorporated chains, railroad tracks and numerological references reflected in Judaism. Beals surrounded the base with plaques featuring quotes from Simon Wiesenthal, George Santayana, Yehuda Bauer and Elie Wiesel. “But to intend a meaning as the one to be conveyed in a Holocaust memorial sculpture is unlike anything, believe me, anything that I have ever done,” Beals said. “For it required that

RESCUE

Continued from previous page

Continued from page 9

Odd behavior

elements. “The campers (were) just rescued after being snowed in their vehicle for 14 days near Alamo Mountain, northwest of Castaic,” Nishida said. Members of Air Rescue 5, with SEB tactical medics, rescued the campers. “The LASD Air 5 crew hoisted a

Before she got on the helicopter bound for the hospital, the mother said she urgently needed to phone her husband. When she entered her home quickly to get her cell phone, she found Opi. “He wanted to play. He didn’t know he did anything wrong,” she said. Opi remains in the custody of the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control. “We have 10 days to decide what we’re going to do. But we know what we have to do,” the mother said. She’s been having nightmares since the attack. She says that, by all indications — looking at a happy playful little girl — her daughter doesn’t seem to recall the attack. “When we came home, she went to his toy. She wanted to play with him. I told her, ‘Opi gone bye bye.’” 

Arnie Sisk, second from the left, stands with leaders from Congregation Beth Shalom, local politicians and law enforcement officials at the dedication of the Holocaust Memorial and Sisk Plaza. PHOTO BY RYAN MANCINI / THE SIGNAL.

I stare into the face of a very disturbing side of inhumanity in order to fully understand what I needed to do.” Sisk wanted to make a significant contribution to the fundraising efforts in memory of Candi. The Men’s Club asked if he would dedicate the plaza, which featured a commemorative plaque to Candi attached with the quote, “A life that touches others goes on forever.” “It gives me hope that everybody

isn’t a jerk,” Sisk said. “There’s people that kind of get it, and that’s what it means to me. Because I want people to get it, I want people to understand that we’re not alike, we’re hugely different, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t get along. And this I think just brought that together and focused on it.” CBS is located at 21430 Centre Pointe Pkwy. 

man, a woman and their two dogs into the aircraft and flew them to safety,” Nishida said. Snow has been building up in the Grapevine these past couple of weeks with back-to-back storms moving through the area. The Los Angeles County Health Officer issued a news release early last week to extend a cold-weather alert due to the National Weather Service’s forecast for low temperatures.

Wind chill temperatures were expected to be below 32 degrees with affected areas, including the Grapevine. A spokesman for the Angeles National Forest was not available, noting the office was “on furlough without access to email due to the lapse in federal government funding.” 

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12 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J A N UA RY 27, 2019

LOCALNEWS

City survey: Anti-crime efforts, housing, jobs among top needs By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

anta Clarita residents have highlighted anti-crime programs, affordable housing and job creation among the most vital needs citywide, data recently released by the city revealed. Of the more than 120 people who took a survey, nearly half said the city should prioritize its focus on each of these top areas. The results stem from the annual community needs assessment survey conducted by the city, in which the public has the opportunity to identify high- and low-priority issues in Santa Clarita. The ultimate goal is to help guide city leaders to best use federal funds. The survey asked participants to rank a series of topics listed under seven categories, marking each in order of importance. Federal Community Development Block Grant funding, which can be used to address certain topics raised by residents, come every year from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to aid lower-income communities in areas such as

public services, housing and infrastructure. In order to qualify for funding, the city must submit a series of requirements including its five-year strategic consolidated plan, annual action plan and the needs assessment process. On Tuesday, the City Council held a public hearing and heard results from a presentation by Erin Lay, Housing Program administrator for the city. She told council members that “these results will be used to help develop the 2019-23 Consolidated Plan and the 2019-20 Annual Action Plan.” Santa Clarita has steadily received an estimated $1.1 million in CDBG funds every year. Once HUD dictates the total amount of dollars granted, the city can identify who is eligible to receive funding. Earlier in 2018, the city highlighted 77 local nonprofits as qualifiers, including about $54,000 for the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center and nearly $54,000 for Bridge to Home. Capital projects, such as the Canyon Country Inclusion Playground and the Senior Center’s Handyworker Program, benefitted

from a total of $789,772. According to Lay, factors such as the age of homes in a particular area and city demographics help determine the amount of allocations each city receives. Tuesday’s public hearing was the first of two required for the 2019-20 CDBG program year. No action was required by the City Council and no members of the community commented during the public hearing. The matter is set to return before council members in the spring, Lay said.

Breakdown

Here is a breakdown of each section with the top three topics listed in order of importance by surveyors:

Community facilities

• Public infrastructure • A tie between street and alley improvements and small scale neighborhood beautification projects • Sidewalk improvements • Accessibility improvements

Special needs services • Services for homeless • Services for domestic violence • Services for disabled

Housing • Affordable rental housing • Code enforcement • Homebuyer financial assistance

Special needs housing • Housing for seniors

• Outdoor park and recreation facilities

• Housing for disabled

• Libraries

Business and jobs

• Indoor community centers • Public services • Anti-crime programs • Graffiti removal • Youth services

• Emergency shelter for homeless • Create jobs • Programs to attract new businesses or retain businesses in Santa Clarita • Business assistance programs for entrepreneurs. 

Trial date set for Canyon View Estates By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

nonjury trial has been set to begin later this year for the owners of Canyon View Estates mobile home park accused of refusing to remove solar panels in the area. The defendants, including Kerry Seidenglanz, managing partner of Canyon View Estates, are expected to appear at the Chatsworth Courthouse on Oct. 21, according to case information from the Superior Court of California. In a nonjury trial, also known as a bench trial, the judge is both the fact-finder and decides the outcome of the trial. This kind of trial is often chosen for a speedy resolution to a legal matter. In September, the city of Santa

Clarita filed a formal complaint against the property owners, asking the court for “preliminary and permanent injunction” and to “abate a public nuisance.” The litigation stems from Canyon View installing what the city alleges to be about 6,000 solar panels without city permits in 2017, violating Santa Clarita’s municipal code. The city seeks to clear more than 2 acres of land occupied by the solar panels located in and outside of park premises deemed “exceptionally large.” Initial efforts to have the solar panels removed started in July. Owners of the property have not publicly commented on the matter since the installation nearly two years ago. Seidenglanz did provide a detailed, public explanation that was only to address a multiple-day power outage that left about 200 residents of the mobile

Non-jury trial set for owners of Canyon View Estates mobile home parks over solar panels in October. PHOTO BY CORY RUBIN / THE SIGNAL

home park in the dark. In his statement, he said the solar panels were operating properly but a “fault in the line underground has kept that power from getting to some of the homes.” To temporarily remedy the problem, he brought in generators, while property managers worked to fix a breach in the locale’s electrical system. Alan Ferdman, Canyon Country Advisory Committee chair, asked city

staff Tuesday during a City Council meeting to provide litigation updates because, “We’re now a year and a half since those solar panels were first installed and the only thing we’ve seen come out of that is more panels.” City Attorney Joe Montes addressed the question briefly, answering that, “That litigation is proceeding. Currently, there is a trial date set for October of this year.” 

J A N UA RY 27, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 13

SPORTS

Hoop dreams, the Manzano family business By Dan Lovi Signal Staff Writer

housands upon thousands of students, parents and faculty have called Saugus High School home since it was established in 1975. In the 40-plus years since the school opened, perhaps no family has represented Saugus with more pride than the Manzano family. Alfredo Manzano, the current boys varsity basketball head coach, moved to the area in the seventh grade and attended Arroyo Seco Junior High, where he met his future wife, Rosie Manzano. Both Alfredo and Rosie went on to play basketball at Saugus, with the former urging his then-girlfriend to try out for a sport. “He made me start. I never played sports ever in my life,” Rosie said. “My plan was to follow Alfredo everywhere because he was my boyfriend.

The Manzano family. COURTESY PHOTO

He said, ‘You have to tryout for something.’ I said, ‘I never played ball in my life.’ But I tried out, made it and played all four years” Fast-forward to the present, the Manzano family has come full circle back to where it all started. Their two kids, Mia and Cristian, have continued their basketball legacy. Alfredo is the head coach at Saugus and his brother Artie Manzano coaches

junior varsity. Mia is a senior starting point guard at Bishop Alemany, and Cristian is a starting freshman on the JV team. Alfredo first started coaching Mia when she was 5, and continued to coach her through her junior high days. “When my daughter turned 5 and said she wanted to play basketball it took it to a whole other level,” said Alfredo, who was coaching a Santa Clarita Valley club travel team at the time. “She got into the club circuit around 7, 8 years old, and I coached her all throughout the years. And then my son came along, and that’s when it went to yet another level.” Now, Mia is flourishing as the starting point guard for the Warriors, and has garnered interest from colleges. Like his sister, Cristian also had the opportunity to go play at a private school. However, Alfredo had already made an immediate impact since joining the Saugus program, and his

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son wanted to continue in his footsteps. In only his second year as the varsity coach, Alfredo has turned around a program that had struggled in years prior. Now the Centurions are contenders for a Foothill League title. Rosie couldn’t be happier for her husband and has nothing but respect for the work he’s putting in day and night to bring Saugus basketball back to prominence. And now to see her kids continue that basketball legacy fills her with pride. “Alfredo puts his heart and soul into it. He loves what he does,” she said. “When I talk about it with them I get teary-eyed. I’m always going to support my daughter, but I bleed blue from beginning to end.” For Alfredo, it’s also clearly about much more than a job. “It’s about coming together and to show people you truly care,” he said. “First and foremost, you are here for them.” 

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14 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J A N UA RY 27, 2019

BUSINESS

An ‘Off Kilter’ kind of company By Matt Fernandez SIgnal Staff Writer

. T. Centonze only wears pants for three hours each year, when he needs to protect his legs while working with fireworks on Independence Day. For the other 364 days and 21 hours, he’s rocking a kilt. Centonze is “somewhere between the CEO and president” of Off Kilter Kilts, a specialty kilt store that moved from Pasadena to Santa Clarita around the end of 2018, to both save on rent and be more central to his customer base. Kilts are defined as belted, pleated skirts, and though kilts are occasionally called skirts as a form of mockery, Centonze uses the term as a way to combat the idea that men cannot wear skirts. “It was a cool thing to do and as a big guy, pants were just leg prisons to me,” he said.

Though not of Scottish descent, Centonze began wearing kilts in college over 20 years ago as a more comfortable and fun alternative to “bifurcated pants,” and he now owns over 20 kilts. His goal is to make kilts more visible to the public and to make them a more mainstreamed clothing option. Off Kilter Kilts began in 2015, after Centonze left his job working in the college textbook industry. After struggling to find work due to the poor economy, Centonze put his master’s degree in business to use and decided to create his own niche. “If you wanted a kilt you could go to an event and try on maybe one or two brands of kilts, but I wanted to a store where you could go and try on multiple brands and styles,” Centonze said. “I decided that if I was going to open a business, I was going to do something I wanted and at the time no one was doing this.” There are approximately 80 kilt

brands on the market that manufacture in the United States, Pakistan, Canada and Scotland, according to Centonze. The modern kilt is made of cotton, poly-acrylic or a poly-cotton blend, while traditional kilts are made of wool. The majority of Off Kilter’s customers and sales come from the 30 to 40 renaissance fairs, pop culture conventions and other shows. The customers Centonze meets at these events range everywhere from avid kilt wearers to people who only know about kilts J.T. Centonze wears and displays his own tartan “Clan from seeing them Off Kilter” as he stands wtih mannequin Murphy and 20-month-old mascott, Shoggoth at Off Kilter showroom on television and in Valencia. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL movies. Despite being the initial vision “It’s rare to see someone wearing a for his business, Centonze said he kilt in Santa Clarita besides, but if you still considers the brick-and-mortar go to L.A. in the springtime, you’re store something of an experiment. A bound to see at least one person in a majority of the customers he sees in kilt,” he said. “The kilt is a little more the store are those who are actively cosmopolitan of a garment than Sanseeking out kilts, rather than curious ta Clarita is ready for but we’re slowly people off the street, which causes but sure trying to change that.”  him to refer to Off Kilter Kilts as a For more information about Off Kil“destination business.” ter Kilts visit https://www.offkilterkilts. “We don’t get a lot of walk-by traffic, but anyone who wants a kilt in com. Actual store hours may vary due the greater Los Angeles area comes to to trade show dates so call (626) 817us,” he said. 9999 to schedule an appointment.

J A N UA RY 27, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 15

FROM THE CITY MANAGER

Northridge Earthquake serves as somber reminder

NOW ARRIVING

By Ken Striplin City Manager

little over a week ago, we marked the 25th anniversary of the Northridge Earthquake. Early in the morning on Jan. 17, 1994, a 6.7 magnitude earthquake, centered in Northridge, jolted the city of Santa Clarita. Although centered a few miles south, the quake was strong enough to cause substantial damage in our city — the Newhall Pass interchange of Interstate 5 and State Route 14 collapsed, leaving Sierra Highway as the only open road in and out of the Santa Clarita Valley. Numerous services were disrupted in many parts of the city. Repairs were coordinated with other emergency services representatives to restore them — including electricity, gas, water and shelters. Many buildings were damaged and unsafe to re-enter, including City Hall. Santa Clarita City officials and volunteers had no choice but to set up shop in the City Hall parking lot. That’s where the emergency operations center had to be located and where local earthquake recovery efforts were accomplished – on folding tables and without the conveniences of computers and technology easily available today, such as the internet and smartphones. From this makeshift emergency operations center, City staff manned emergency hotlines 10 hours a day, receiving a high of 500 calls per hour. In total, 5,000 block walls and 2,000 chimneys fell; 1,700 mobile homes fell off their foundations and all of our bridges were damaged. With all of the debris from the ruins, recycling was very important to the City. A five-element debris removal plan was developed to handle the 240,000 tons of debris, 98 percent of which was recycled. It was estimated that there was over $400 million in damage to local businesses, and $29 million to City infrastructure. Occurrences like these are one of the major reasons the city makes emergency preparedness a priority. The following are some earthquake

NEW BURBANK AIRPORT - NORTH STATION (AV LINE) Metrolink is Now Arriving Daily tips I’d encourage you to follow to ensure your family and friends stay safe in the event of an earthquake. One way to prepare yourself, and your loved ones, is by having a plan for how you will escape your home, and practice that plan before an earthquake occurs. It is also equally important to know multiple ways to get in and out of the Santa Clarita Valley. Do you have an out-of-state “checkin” contact? This person is someone you and your family can call to let them know you are safe. Have an emergency kit ready to go in your home and in your vehicle. Make sure to note items that are specific to your needs such as medication, eye glasses, necessary devices and power sources. Make copies of important and/or irreplaceable items and store them online or on an external drive. These items may include important documents and family photos. Have a five to seven day supply of food items that are non-perishable and do not require cooking or refrigeration. Some ideas include ready-toeat canned items, protein bars, dry cereal, dried fruit, peanut butter and canned juices. When disaster strikes, there could be limited access to clean water. Make sure to store at least one gallon of water per person. Remember to store a supply for pets, as well. For more information, please visit santa-clarita.com or call the City of Santa Clarita at 661-255-4939. 

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16 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J A N UA RY 27, 2019

R E A L E S TAT E

The basics for a 1031 tax-deferred exchange

’ve been getting a lot of inquiries on tax-deferred exchanges lately, as real estate investors hear more about possible changes in how California treats property owners. Proper disclosure by real estate agents must always be made that we are not tax accountants or attorneys, however 1031 TDX is a subset of real estate practice that I have training and experience in. In addition to real estate services, experienced and qualified escrow and professional services are absolutely necessary to complete an IRS Code 1031 transaction. The use of a skilled and knowledgeable accommodator is needed, and the requirements are strict. This is not an area of real estate practice for the inexperienced newbie or most part-timers. The following are some of the basics to keep in mind as a real estate investor considering a tax deferred exchange, as outlined by the Ken Harris at First American Exchange Company. Harris is the best of the best and a valued member of the SCV Home Team. Learn more at firstexchange.com/ node/65. Knowing some basic rules behind Internal Revenue Code 1031 can help investors defer paying capital gain tax on property dispositions, resulting in more money to invest in new property acquisition. Generally, any real property can be exchanged, provided it is held “for productive use in a trade or business” or for “investment,” and is exchanged for property of “like-kind” that will also be held for one of these same purposes.

There are many facets to successful 1031 tax-deferred exchanges, including:

• always consider a 1031 exchange when selling non-owner occupied property; • house flipping and 1031 exchanges don’t always mix; • just the basics: tax-deferred exchanges under i.r.c. § 1031; • nine steps to 1031 success; • protecting your money: How to avoid risk in your 1031 exchange; • the advantages of a 1031 tax-deferred exchange; • top-10 1031 exchange misconceptions; • key considerations in 1031 exchanges with a qualified intermediary; • the top-10 1031 exchange terms you need to know; • when can i get my money back? • 1031 exchange benefits all investors’ • don’t jeopardize your 1031 exchange; • how to calculate your capital gain; • and one exchange or many? As you can see, there are a lot of very specific compliance issues to consider when embarking on a 1031 tax-deferred exchange, especially when you sell here in California and purchase out-of-state. (For more about these factors, you can contact a member of the SCV Home Team using the information below.)  Ray “the Realtor” Kutylo is the team leader of the SCV Home Team at Keller Williams VIP Properties. The Team brings experienced and professional service, commitment and value to every transaction, whether you are a home buyer or seller. Ray can be reached at (661) 3129461 or by email at rkutylo@gmail.com. The views expressed are his own and not necessarily those of The Signal. CA DRE 00918855

SANTA CLARITA VALLEY CLOSED SALES 1/11/19 TO 1/18/19 AREA/St#

St Name

Sold Price

SqFt/Source

CANYON COUNTRY 27909 26867 27616 18005 27656 18002 27401 17959 28291 19137 18921 17215 19508 27659

Vista View DR #452 Claudette ST #119 Nugget DR #1 River CIR #4 Ironstone DR #6 Flynn DR #6208 Evron AVE Lost Canyon RD #47 Bockdale AVE Stillmore ST Ermine ST Sierra Sunrise LN Chadway ST Sienna Ridge Row

$165,000 $275,000 $339,000 $360,000 $360,000 $409,000 $410,000 $413,000 $425,000 $455,000 $520,000 $546,000 $556,500 $570,000

1482/P 910/A 1268/A 1268/A 1262/A 1445/A 1595/A 1280/A 1125/A 1080/A 2330/A 3274/A 1809/A 2353/A

Barcelona RD Fox Run CIR Desert PL Elk Ridge RD Redwood WAY Stowe LN Hawkset ST

$469,000 $475,000 $545,000 $550,000 $555,000 $570,000 $950,000

2062/A 1204/A 1571/A 2190/A 2170/OT 2002/A 2901/S

Oak Crossing RD #A Oak Branch CIR Rainbow Glen DR #61 Vista Del Canon #H

$260,000 $350,000 $351,000 $360,000

864/A 1135/A 990/AP 1024/A

Susan Beth WAY #I Startree LN Wilson LN #337 Onlee AVE Kingscrest DR Karie LN

$280,000 $460,000 $469,000 $525,000 $550,000 $960,000

870/A 1116/ 1850/A 1260/A 1418/A 2632/A

$641,805 $862,000

2433/A 2932/A

$360,000 $445,000 $457,500 $572,990 $579,850 $587,000 $655,000 $690,000 $750,000 $805,000 $880,000 $1,600,000

910/A 1429/A 1349/A 1596/A 2167/A 1765/A 3010/S 2939/A 3120/A 2870/A 2680/A 4603/A

CASTAIC 30454 28015 27745 27636 27664 27729 30114

NEWHALL 26747 26860 26168 18728

SAUGUS 27616 28871 19307 27394 20845 25152

STEVENSON RANCH 25841 Wordsworth LN 26035 Bates PL

VALENCIA & WESTRIDGE 23903 23925 24157 25408 26830 24042 23782 23536 24458 23630 26932 26547

Del Monte DR #50 Calle Del Sol DR Arrowhead CT Via Pacifica Bayport LN Via Sereno Via Jacara Summerglen PL Mira Vista ST Sunderland CT Peppertree DR Oak Terrace PL

J A N UA RY 27, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 17

TIMERANGER

Swindlers, Snakes & Death by Drinking Cold H2O

hy heavens to Betsy, dear saddlepals. It’s you, all sleepy in the predawn Santa Clarita morn. I see most of you are ready to hit the trail, all Western-attired. Some of you (the ones in the flapdown nightgowns and Pajama Boy jammies) are going to have to run-hurry right quick back to your townhomes and condos for more appropriate attire. Jeans. Boots. Spurs. Clint Eastwood sarape. Up in the saddles. We’ve a most compelling adventure ahead, filled with mirth, snakes, accidents, tax reform and, of course, apes. Got to have the apes. Shall we mosey into the historical mystic?

WAY BACK WHEN & THEN SOME

• What a way to go All the way back on Jan. 28, 1850, Forty-niner Bill Robinson died under the most unusual circumstances way up the Soledad. William drank too much cold water too fast. Like chocolate milk, you gotta pace yourselves … JAN. 27, 1919

• Say hey to doug for us The immortal actor Douglas Fairbanks was in town, filming a silent movie. New Signal editor Ed Brown didn’t know the working title, but thought “Douglas At The County Fair” would be catchy. A-hem. A movie troupe of about 200 took over Downtown Newhall, transforming the dusty berg into a rather festive community. They redecorated so nicely, Brown noted that the movie company ought to leave the furnishings and permanently brighten up the place. Trivia? Newhall was temporarily transformed into the town of Fair Point. JAN. 27, 1929

• Exiting this life Isadora Duncan style Leta Bowman fell 2,500 feet to her death near Weldon Canyon. She was filming a movie with film star, Hoot Gibson. Hoot would later own the Saugus Rodeo Grounds, later known as the Saugus Speedway on Soledad. Mrs. Bowman was supposed to jump out of a plane and pull the ring to her chute. Unfortunately, Leta was wearing a large scarf that got tangled in the ring and lead lines to her

at Bermite during World War II, local administrators felt the population center would first be out in Honby, by the munitions factory. THE VERY DAY the war ended, Bermite president Pat Lizza cut 90 percent of the work force and folks just moved out of the area.

HOW’S THIS FOR EASY PAYMENTS? — Back in 1929, they were selling cars both old and new at Jesse Doty’s Garage and Ford dealership. Jess, grandfather of my personal friends Genene and her brother John, was selling a 1923 Ford Roadster, in perfect condition. Just $35. Or $10 down, $3 a month. Now that’s a car payment. Must throw in the duplicitous with the good. Doty used to have a salesman who would take prospective buyers for a test drive up to Beale’s Cut. He’d take along a picnic lunch and binoculars for the view. Halfway up the hill, he’d have them stop for a snack and enjoy the view. He wasn’t being altruistic. It was just a chance to stop the car before it overheated.

chute. Her horrified husband was on the ground, watching. • We ain’t lion You “A” students will remember A.B. Freeman from last week when he killed 11 pumas for the state bounty. Bad karma for Freeman. The backwoodsman cornered a big cat in the hills just east of Newhall. The cougar mauled every single one of his hunting dogs, killing two. • The back nine Some duffers hungry for a local golf course took the law into their own hands. They constructed a makeshift one-hole course in downtown Newhall, across the street from the Doty garage. Signal editor Dad Thatcher noted the course was a tough one, with “ ... many traps otherwise known as windows.” JAN. 27, 1939

• No canyon high for another 30 years The Sulphur Springs School District voted unanimously on this date to build a high school. The small interruption of something called World War II postponed the act until 1945. Interesting trivia. Hart High was originally planned for Canyon Country. Because of all the workers

• And no 9-1-1 The Radamacher ranch house up Lyons Canyon burned to the ground on this date. A faulty flue caught the kitchen on fire and Mrs. Radamacher had to run nearly 2 miles to the Vanasen Garage to call the fire department. No cell phones back then. No phone, either, come to think about it • Newhall is going to the dogs Literally. Retired silent screen star, William S. Hart, hosted the Pacific Coast Trail Hound Dog Championships. The hills were reverberating with baying, howls and yelps for days, much to the chagrin of Bill’s neighbors. JAN. 27, 1949

• Blowin’ in the wind We had about 100,000 years’ worth of weather in the one month of January 1949. First there was the record snowfall, which blanketed the valley for weeks. Then there was the big freeze afterward. Then, we had winds. Winds blew at 60 mph clips, with gusts up to 80 mph here. Trees and telephone poles toppled and rocks were thrown against buildings and through windows. One airplane, despite being tied down, flipped at Newhall Airport. • Bert, but no Ernie Bert Tysell had quite a tumble. He fell 20 feet down an abandoned mine shaft. The lucky postal worker broke no bones, but had to walk with a pair of canes for a few weeks. • Finally, we’re batting a thousand! There were 240 telephones added to this sleepy village in 1948, making the grand total 1,086. The first phone, by the by, was installed at Campton’s General Store in 1900. The second? It was added in 1913. • Thanks for the melodies Before it was Melody Ranch, Ernie Hickson owned the famed Placerita Canyon movie town for 13 years. Up until 1949, Ernie’s property was the site of 325 pictures — that’s about 25 a year, or, two a month.

JAN. 27, 1959

• Watch for snakes on the second floor of your condos We were so at the mercy of the weather, Signal columnist Cliffie Stone noted. “If it doesn’t rain the roads are dusty and we have a high fire hazard. If it does rain the roads are muddy and we have flood hazard.” Many old-timers noted we were in for a wet winter and spring. They noticed that snakes were headed for high ground. • Oh, shoot … Eight of the top10-rated TV shows were Westerns. That caused a national phenomenon of quick-draw competitions. Yahoos from all over would visit the SCV because of all our lonesome canyons. They made great backdrops for fast draw practice. For nearly two years, the No. 1 injury locally was the self-inflicted gunshot wound. Add two more to the list. A couple of Los Angeles men, in separate instances, got the order wrong by pulling the trigger of their revolvers before they cleared the holster. Both men shot themselves in the leg.Well. How about that. • We’re back home in the here & now of Santa Clarita and lived to tell about it. Appreciate your company, saddlepals. See you next week in the Sunday Signal with another exciting Time Ranger SCV history adventure. Until then — conviértete en ti mismo y vayan con Dios! (Become yourself and ride with God!)  John Boston, aka, Mr. Santa Clarita Valley, has been writing about and teaching the history of the SCV for more than 40 years. Read his historical tome, “Images of America: The Santa Clarita Valley.” It’s available on Amazon.com. Don’t forget to check out his weekly series on the History of The Mighty Signal on the front page of every Saturday’s paper…

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

OURVIEW

E T H I C A L LY S P E A K I N G

ICYMI: Democrats Refuse to Pay Federal Workers

Facing Our Fears, Knowing the Value They Bring Us

By The Signal Editorial Board

By David Hegg

ho “owns” the record-setting federal government shutdown? That’s a fair question and it’s entirely debatable. It seems the blame could be apportioned in some varying percentages to President Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and the remainder of the Republicans and Democrats in Congress. But who “owns” the missed paychecks for 800,000 federal employees? That’s on the House Democrats. One hundred percent. You’d never know it from the mainstream national media, but the House has now voted twice on bills that would have paid federal employees during the shutdown. “It is disingenuous to express outrage over the approximately 800,000 workers missing paychecks, but then continue to vote in favor of withholding their pay. That is precisely what the majority of Democrats are doing,” Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, told The Daily Signal, an online publication supported by The Heritage Foundation.

Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, tweeted after both votes and wondered out loud why there hasn’t been much media attention on them: Monday: “Big deal that never got reported: Last week, House GOP voted to pay federal employees their 1st paycheck of 2019, despite shutdown. Only 6 Dems voted with us. It failed...” Wednesday: “Update: House GOP voted again to pay federal employees. This time just ten Democrats joined us... Actions speak louder than words.” Both times, every House Republican voted in favor of it. And both times, it was defeated by House Democrats. Our own Rep. Katie Hill, D-Agua Dulce, voted “no.” It makes her lamentations about the plight of federal employees in the 25th Congressional District ring kind of hollow. These votes show that the rhetoric from Hill and other Democrats about the hardships being endured by federal employees is just that. Empty words, designed to evoke sympathy for federSee OUR VIEW, page 20

here is much confusion about this thing we know as fear. In the run-up to the 9/11 remembrance we heard many declare that we should not live with fear. But if you think about it, that is not only foolish, but also impossible. Fear is everywhere, and that isn’t always a bad thing. Fear as a concept comes in two basic flavors. First, fear operates in the arena of assessment. By that I mean that fear can be defined as rightly determining the nature of something and responding properly to it. Solomon, the wise King of ancient Israel, declared that the “fear of the Lord” is the starting place of all wisdom. By that he meant that God is to be recognized as He truly is, and revered and respected in such a way that our behavior is affected in a positive way. To “fear” God is to properly assess Him, and recognize that obedience to Him is always the best option. In the same way, we say that every good sailor fears the sea. He recognizes its power, its volatility, and its unconquerable nature and sails on it

with the proper respect. But usually we think of fear in a different way. In our lives fear primarily relates to the arena of challenges. Every day we face opposition. Some have become commonplace and ordinary while others lurk behind the curtain of uncertainty. We know they could emerge at any minute and it is this that heightens our sense of dread. Will the biopsy come back positive? Will an earthquake hit with great power in our neighborhood? Will our children be safe traveling across the state? Will the airplane engines keep working all the way to our destination? These and hundreds of other concerns lie in wait in the back of our minds and keep the possibility of fear on the desktop. And when the reality of cancer, or terrible car accidents, or violent crime invades our personal lives, fear becomes a very present challenge. But the presence of fear is really not what we should be discussing. It is a moot point. We all live in some sort of fear. In this broken world where disease, accidents, crime, greed and See HEGG, page 20

READERLETTERS

Santa Claritans, Please Use Pace Responsibly My wife and I both enjoy riding our bicycles along Santa Clarita’s expansive paseo system and are very pleased to see that the city has welcomed the Pace bike rentals as a pilot program. Having temporary use of the Pace bikes is a great alternative for those who cannot (or would rather not) get around by automobile. Recently however, we have been disappointed to see Pace bikes apparently abandoned and unlocked in locations other than the docking stations or public bike racks where they are supposed to be returned. Just today, I found two Pace bikes on the South Fork Trail only about 100 feet from the Pace rack near Magic Mountain Parkway. A few days earlier, I saw one

leaning on a fence, which was nowhere near a bike rack. As per the Dec. 12 article in The Signal, the locks and racks are intended to avoid clutter so riders can be responsible with the Pace bikes. Please, fellow Santa Claritans, let’s not allow this to become a Lime/Bird scooter situation such as the one that burdens West Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Chris Blankenhorn, Valencia Submit a Letter to the Editor

Include name, address & phone number; Anonymous letters are not printed; Email: letters@signalscv.com; Mail to: Letters to the Editor, The Signal, 26330 Diamond Place, Ste. 100, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.

J A N UA RY 27, 2019

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Opinion

Contact: Tim Whyte, Signal Editor Phone: 661-287-5591 | Email: letters@signalscv.com Mail: 26330 Diamond Place, Suite 100, Santa Clarita, CA 91350

BLACK&WHYTE

L E G I S L AT I V E V O I C E S

The First Amendment: Yes, It's for Everyone

Cause for Optimism in Gov. Newsom’s Budget

By Tim Whyte Signal Editor

ack in the 1990s and into the early 2000s, there was a movement, particularly among conservatives, to enact legislation — even a constitutional amendment — to prohibit the desecration of the U.S. flag. You know, things like burning the flag, or dropping it on the ground and stomping on it, as a form of protest. It’s easy to understand why that kind of thing would make you mad, especially if you love this country and all that the flag is supposed to stand for, and if you respect the sacrifices so many thousands have made fighting with that flag on their sleeves. But the conservatives were wrong. And, we said so. As The Signal editorialized at the time, our right to free speech also contains the inherent requirement that we tolerate the free speech of others — even that speech we find abhorrent. This newspaper was, then, and remains now, a proud practitioner of the rights bestowed on us by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. And now, as I was then, I am amazed at how many people really don’t understand what that freedom means. Today, it seems like many people have added meanings to the First Amendment, like: I have the right not to be offended. I have the right to dictate to others what speech is acceptable. If you use words that trigger my emotions you must stop. If you disagree with me, you’re a racist. None of these, of course, are contained in the Constitution. The First Amendment guarantees five freedoms and they apply to all of us equally: Freedom of speech.

Freedom of the press. The right to assemble peacefully. Freedom of religion. The right to petition the government if you have a grievance. That’s it. There’s no right to not be offended. There’s no constitutional ban on hate speech. There is, last I checked, no addendum that says “unless you’re in the presence of people who disagree with you. Then, you have to shut the hell up.” There are no exceptions, at least not in the amendment itself. But there are some practical ones, established by legal precedents, because it’s inevitable that sometimes one person’s rights will come into conflict with another’s. Courts have held, for example, that the right to free speech isn’t absolute if it endangers others. Are you inciting violence? That can be a tough balls-and-strikes kind of call, but your speech rights are not absolute if you are encouraging violence. Then there’s the old “shouting fire in a crowded theater” example. If you shout “fire!” there better damn well be a fire, because otherwise you are needlessly endangering the lives of others. Regardless, the First Amendment applies equally to all of us. You and I don’t have any greater First Amendment rights than a member of the KKK does. Do I find racist speech abhorrent? Of course. Is it unconstitutional? No. But an increasing number of people seem to be losing sight of the fact that the First Amendment applies to everyone else. There’s an evolving societal ethos that dictates one’s right to free speech should be subject to whether someone else takes offense to it. Case in point: the national kerfuffle this past week over the Kentucky CovSee WHYTE, page 20

By Scott Wilk State Senator

here is a lot to applaud in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget. On its face, it seems to be a cut-andspend framework focused on paying down debt and expanding our cash reserves. Yet it still increases government spending by $8 billion over the previous year. I agree with Gov. Newsom’s proposal to pay down $8.2 billion in state debt, including paying down state and teacher pension obligations. His budget expands the state’s savings account by $3.2 billion, which would bring our total reserves to $18.5 billion. There is also significant investment in emergency preparedness, including forest management, expanding firefighting surge capabilities, replacing helicopters, and providing CalFire additional aircraft. The draft budget also would update our state’s 9-1-1 system from analog to digital, which will allow dispatchers to reroute incoming calls to the proper first responder location much faster. Over $550 million is proposed to go to school districts serving low-income students, money that will supplement funds for students with disabilities and special needs. Also, community college students will see another tuition-free year and the California State University and University of California systems will receive funding increases. Gov. Newsom seeks to invest $2.2 billion in one-time funding to increase housing construction for all income levels and reduce homelessness across the state. I share his vision to increase housing availability, but we need to acknowledge that a real issue holding back increased development is that everything in California – land, labor, construction materials, insurance,

California Environmental Quality Act fights, etc. – just plain costs too much. When it comes to our housing crisis, the Legislature should give it the same priority as it gives the construction of new professional sports arenas by cutting red tape and waiving burdensome and duplicative environmental regulations. This principle of “addition by subtraction” translates to getting rid of programs and regulations we don’t need and streamlining others so government is actually helping people and laws are serving their intended purpose. In fact, we should duplicate this approach across all areas of government services, including health care, education, road building, and expand job opportunities and the economy. As my legislative colleagues and I work with Gov. Newsom on making California more affordable, we also must keep in mind that our economy may be entering a slowdown period. We should recall the parable of the man who built his house on sand, instead of on a foundation of solid rock: “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27) Both Govs. Brown and Newsom have referenced that parable in recent speeches. While our reserves and economy look strong now, I agree with former Gov. Jerry Brown (and the laws of gravity) that “what goes up must come down.” I remain an optimist on the overall budget, but also recognize that this is merely step one of a work in progress, one that will go through many, many changes over the next six months. Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, represents the 21st Senate District, which includes most of the Santa Clarita Valley. 

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Opinion

HEGG

Continued from page 18

tyranny seem always on the increase, fear surrounds us like the air we breathe. Consequently, it is not fear, but our response to it, that makes all the difference. When challenges come up, fear will either make us shrink back, or step up. It’s that simple. The fact of fear is not as important as our response to it. When tragedy strikes, when devastation is on the horizon bringing with it the threat of despair, the big question is this: How will we respond? Will we wilt? Or will we be prepared to step up to the challenge, face fear with a radical determination to overcome, and move forward? Why do some people panic while others act in courage? I suspect the answer lies in what we call perspective. Those who think first of what could happen to them as individuals will probably give in to their fear and retreat in panic. Self-centeredness has never produced monumental courage. History has proven that bravery in the face of overwhelming odds stems from the individual’s realization that the matter is much big-

OUR VIEW

Continued from page 18

al workers while painting Trump as the bad guy. As we’ve said previously, this dispute isn’t about what’s right for America, or even taking care of federal employees now facing a second missed paycheck. It’s about political victory. You see, the Democrats can’t use the federal workers’ hardship as a public relations hammer against Trump if those workers are actually getting paid. The employees are now Pelosi’s pawns. Even as the Democrats were rejecting Trump’s offer for a compromise before they even knew what was in it — and even if you think that offer didn’t go far enough — the fact remains that all the powers in Washington, D.C., could continue paying federal employees, if they wanted to.

ger than them. They are engaged in something much larger, much more important, and certainly much more valuable than their personal well-being and comfort. It is this perspective that propels ordinary people to do extraordinary things in the face of seemingly unbeatable odds. It is this perspective that sends first responders into burning buildings. And it is this perspective that enables us to see trial as an opportunity to rise above the normal level of human endeavor to accomplish truly great things. Our goal cannot be to live without fear. Nor should we try to get our kids to believe they’ll inherit a world without it. I wish we could guarantee that, but we know we can’t. Fear is here and always will be part of the human experience. What we can do is prepare to face it, pushing it aside in times that matter most in order to attempt the hard things for the right reasons. In times of tragedy we’ll face the decision either to act in courage or cowardice. And if we can escape the bonds of self-centeredness, we’ll make the right choice. David Hegg is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church and a Santa Clarita resident.“Ethically Speaking” appears Sundays.  The Democrats don’t want to, because winning, to them, is more important. Trump, for his part, has backed off from his original demand for a concrete border wall, reduced the length of the wall(s) to be built, offered a three-year extension of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, offered to allocate $800 million in humanitarian aid and $805 million for drug detection technology — all in an attempt to reach a compromise agreement. But Pelosi and company won’t budge. It’s time for our newly elected congresswoman to separate herself from Pelosi and the Democratic bosses and represent the 25th district and its federal employees with more than just words of support. And, it’s time for the Democrats to negotiate in good faith, pay the workers, take real steps to find a middle ground and reopen the government. 

WHYTE

Continued from page 19

ington Catholic High School students who got themselves caught up in a vortex of protests at the Lincoln Memorial. In case you’ve been hiding under a rock, here’s the gist of the story: The students had been in Washington, D.C., to participate in the March for Life, an anti-abortion rally. Some wore hats with Trump’s slogan, “Make America Great Again.” Because you can’t swing a dead cat in D.C. these days without hitting some kind of protest or rally, at the time there were several other groups in the area. (The government may be shut down, but Washington is still very busy.) One of the groups, the extremist Black Hebrew Israelites, started heckling the boys with homophobic and racist slurs. The boys, in response, got permission from an adult chaperone to start yelling school spirit cheers, so they wouldn’t have to hear the Black Hebrew Israelites’ slurs while waiting for their bus. Then, Nathan Phillips, a 64-year-old U.S. Marine veteran and Native American activist, emerged from another nearby group. He was in town for the Indigenous People’s March. Phillips approached the boys, chanting and banging a drum. He turned his focus to one boy in particular, 16-year-old Nick Sandmann. As Phillips banged his drum, some of the other boys clapped along and mimicked his chants, and a few started doing the tomahawk chop — which is inappropriate and disrespectful, a fact that may or may not have escaped the boys. Right or wrong, you see it every weekend on one football broadcast or another, and these are 16-year-old kids. I don’t know about you, but I was an idiot when I was 16. Sandmann and Phillips stood face to face. Sandmann later said he was smiling, to de-escalate the situation, but in the screenshot that made the rounds on your Facebook news feed, he sure looked like he was smirking. A brief video clip of the moment went viral, and was initially portrayed by the media as a group of privileged white racist boys taunting a venerable Native American veteran. Such things are catnip for national media. Except that’s not what really happened. Admittedly, some of those Catholic kids were no angels. But when additional

videos emerged showing the boys had been taunted, and most of them were better behaved than most of the adults, much of the media was left moonwalking their way back out of the story. Still. I have many Facebook friends who wear those “I hate Trump” blinders and they apply that filter to EVERYTHING. They still say the kids were the ones who were the most out of line, and should have shut the hell up. The kids. I’ve heard no one question the Black Hebrew Nationalists’ right to be there or to say those abhorrent things to the kids. That’s because it is their constitutional right. I’ve heard no one question Phillips’ right to be there, or to bang on his drum as he stared down a 16-year-old kid. That’s because it’s his constitutional right. However, I’ve heard many question the rights of those boys. It’s the kids, not the adults, who are subjected to relentless scrutiny, their MAGA hats cited as evidence that they were in the wrong. For wearing a hat? In a public place? “It’s racist,” goes the new battle cry of the left. Game, set, match. Except that it’s not. While Trump clearly appeals to an awful, racist segment of society — just as the left appeals to some other awful, racist segments of society — Trump and his policies also appeal to a great many people who are not one bit racist. But what a convenient label it makes for anyone, of any age, wearing a red MAGA hat. Are some of those kids racists? Maybe. I don’t know them. A MAGA hat doesn’t prove whether they are, or not. Further, there has been no small amount of speculation over whether the boys chanted “build that wall!” — as if that, too, is some acid test to determine whether they were right or wrong. And what if they had? Isn’t that their First Amendment right, too? It was an incident that nearly escalated beyond speech, so it was right up against the limits of the First Amendment. But thankfully, it didn’t go there. We had three groups. Each exercising their First Amendment rights, assembling in a public space and expressing themselves. They were all entitled to do so. Even the kids in the MAGA hats. Tim Whyte is editor of The Signal. His column appears Sundays. 

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= Family Friendly Event

THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR

ONGOING Mondays, 10 a.m. Join Barnes & Noble every Monday morning at 10 a.m. for a special Toddler Storytime at the Children’s Stage. Barnes & Noble, 23630 Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita. Info: stores.barnesandnoble. com/store/2642 Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. California farmers and specialty food purveyors come together each Saturday, rain or shine, to bring you a farmers’ market with the finest in fresh and seasonal fruits and vegetables, including organic, baked goods, flowers, herbs, cheeses, and prepared foods. The market offers patrons a chance to come face to face with their food source. Old Town Newhall, 24500 Main Street. Info: oldtownnewhall. com/old-town-newhall-farmers-market/ Saturdays and Sundays, 9:30 a.m. to noon. The Gibbon Center is open to the public and a tour is given at roughly 10 a.m., no reservations are required. $15 Adults, $12 teens and students, $10 Seniors, $5 Children 6-12, Children under 5 are free. 19100 Esguerra Road, Santa Clarita. Info: gibboncenter.org Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Grab the young’uns and mosey on up the hill in William S. Hart Park to the glorious hilltop Mansion, where you can not only take a free guided tour, but your young ones can have some free craftin’ fun. Set up right outside the Mansion’s back door, on the covered back patio, is the new weekly Crafterday craft table. The young ones can try their hands at simple crafts like making their own totem poles, designing their own rope art, making their own dreamcatchers, and so much more. It’s free and all are welcome. Activities geared towards younger participants, but anyone who enjoys crafts will have a grand ol’ time. 24151 Newhall Ave., Newhall. Info: (661) 254-4584, hartmuseum.org Saturdays, 5-8 p.m. Every Saturday night, we find a great group of Gourmet Food Trucks to get together and create community fun in the Santa Clarita Valley. The food trucks rotate so that each week, there are different options of food to try. Tables and chairs are provided and it’s handicap-accessible. There is a grassy knoll to picnic on, fly kites or Frisbee. 26573 Carl Boyer Drive, Santa Clarita. Info: facebook.com/foodtrucksaturday Sundays, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shop and save every Sunday at the Santa Clarita Swap Meet. Hundreds of vendors selling new merchandise, collectibles, plants, home decor,

clothing, tools and so much more. Live entertainment, food trucks and good cheer every week! $2 admission. 22500 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita. Info: saugusspeedway.com/ content/Meet-our-Swap-Meets.aspx Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come hug the cows, give the pig’s tummy rubs, cuddle the turkeys and enjoy a beautiful day at the Gentle Barn Donation: Adults $22, Kids $12. Tickets are nonrefundable but rain checks are available upon request. The Gentle Barn, 15825 Sierra Highway, Santa Clarita. Info: gentlebarn.org/california First Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m. The Stage Door at the Keyboard Galleria hosts a free monthly open mic for all musicians, lyricists, comics and entertainers. KGMC always provides a great back line, so don’t worry about bringing your gear. Of course, if you’re attached to your favorite guitar, you can bring it. The stage is complete with amps, drums, digital piano and a Bose PA system. It’s a great room to play and a great way to meet other like-minded musicians in the community. If you’re not a performer or not ready to step on the stage, come check out some of the great talent here in Santa Clarita. 21515 Soledad Canyon Road, Ste. 120, Santa Clarita. Info: keyboardgalleria.com First Saturday of the month, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Flutterby is a no-charge open art studio held on the first Saturday of each month for kids and their parents to come in and make art! All art materials are provided, no prior registration necessary. Just drop in! 22508 6th Street, Newhall. Info: (661) 673-7500, theartree. org/events First Saturday of the month, noon Tutu-Time is a special dancing story time for children who love to dance. Grab your tutu or borrow ours and come play with us! Your little ballerina can enjoy a free snack with new friends, ballerina arts and crafts and a brief ballet lesson in our beautiful ballet studio. Hear a fairytale or dance focused story, have your photo taken with a ballerina. Your child will fly with fireflies and dance with sugarplums while she whirls and twirls to strains of Tchaikovsky. It’s a truly magical experience for kids. Please call in advance to ensure the studio is not closed for the day. Tutu Ballet Academy, 18788 Flying Tiger Drive, Santa Clarita. Info: (661) 299-5519, tutuballetacademy.com/programs

EVENTS BY DATE Sunday, Jan. 27, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Join Villa Vibes Yoga on the beautiful outdoor patio of Brewery Draconum for an all-levels yoga class, followed by delicious locally-brewed beer and grub $14. Price includes yoga class, one house draft beer or non-alcoholic beverage, and 20 percent off an appetizer. Buy your ticket now to reserve your spot. Please bring a yoga mat and towel. We have a limited amount of yoga mats for use. All alcohol consumption will take place after class. Brewery Draconum, 24407 Main St., Santa Clarita. Info: facebook.com/ events/219612845642396 Sunday, Jan. 27, 2-4 p.m. Join Agua Dulce Winery for an afternoon of enjoying the all-time classic group game, Bingo. Wine and Pizza and Prizes. $25/person. 9640 Sierra Highway, Agua Dulce. Reservations Required. Info: (661) 268-7402 aguadulcewinery.com/ wp/event/bingo-pizza-wine-2 Sunday Jan, 27, and Saturday, Feb. 2, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Friday, Feb. 1, 7 p.m. Escape Theater presents a production of “The Wizard

of Oz.” This production will be enjoyed by your little munchkin and the entire family. Some of the memorable songs include “Over the Rainbow,”“Ding Dong the Witch is Dead,”“We’re Off to See the Wizard” and “The Jitterbug.” The production features more than 300 youth and teens from the SCV who are sure to entertain you with fabulous singing, dancing, beautiful costumes and amazing FLYING. Don’t miss “The Wizard of Oz.” Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at College of the Canyons, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. Info: (661) 299-5264 or visit escapetheatre.org Sunday, Jan. 27 and Feb. 3, 2 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 2 and Feb. 8, 8 p.m. Follow the Pevensie children into the wardrobe straight to Narnia. “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” is an exciting adventure based on C.S. Lewis’ beloved fantasy tale about love, faith, courage, giving, and the triumph of good over evil. Tickets $10-$17. Canyon Theatre Guild, 24242 Main St, Newhall. Info: (661) 799-2702 or visit canyontheatre.org/shows

N!IN! IN! WIW W CONGRATULATIONS to Matthew Temple of Saugus — the winner of $100 for correctly identifying the artwork as being from Douglas Furniture advertisement on page 3 of our Jan. 13 issue. Identify this piece of artwork and the page number that it is on in one of the advertisements in this week’s issue, and you will be entered to win $100. One game and one winner each week.

Mail your entry to: The Signal – Contest Home Made 26330 Diamond Place | Santa Clarita, CAFlavor, 91350 Home Made Desserts Or email to: contest@signalscv.com

661.284.5988

Advertiser: Page # 23340 Cinema Dr Valencia CA 91355 Name: Address:

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www.himamastable.com order online

FREE Homemade Jelly Bar! This week’s entries are due Wed. Feb 6. Winner to be announced in 2 weeks.

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J A N UA RY 27, 2019

HOMEIMPROVEMENT

Hot water heaters and water pumps Water Heater Hey Robert, I live in Canyon Country and I’m in the process of buying a newer home. The inspection shows that the hot water heater is about seven years old, and I’d like to know if this is something that I should have factored into the purchase agreement, so that a new one is put in prior to my purchasing the home. I was watching a home-improvement show over the weekend where this subject came up, and they mentioned that between 5-12 years of age, hot water heaters usually fail and need replacing. What is your opinion on this? Every penny counts and I’m not sure if this is something I should deal with during a purchase. I’d appreciate your opinion on this, please. —Gina R. Gina, Absolutely, I’d add this in to the agreement. At seven years old, this unit is not even as energy efficient as what is now made, plus it is well into its life expectancy. When the new install happens, be sure that they also install new shut-off ball valves so that in the event that there is an issue, you can shut the water off to the tank but not the whole house. They should put all new flex lines and new earthquake strapping, also. I personally wouldn’t have it be a deal

breaker for the purchase, but at the very least I’d be sure that the seller includes a home warranty in the purchase. If you at least had a home warranty, then if and when it does fail, you’ll have very little cost to incur, as long as nothing else goes wrong at the same time. Remember though, a home warranty is only good for a year, you’ll have the opportunity to renew annually, and I’d recommend that if this is an older home where major covered items haven’t been updated. Definitely check into this option either way — there are other things a home warranty covers aside from the hot water heater. With funds being tight, these home warranties can really help when things go wrong. —Robert Water pump Hi Robert, I live in Canyon Country, where we have a pump inside of a big pit in our underground parking garage. About a year ago, we had our association’s handyman replace the pump, but with these rains I’m not sure what is happening, it’s not keeping the water out of the garage. We get about four inches of water around it, though it eventually drains down. I’m not sure if something is wrong with the pump or if there is another reason, we just can’t figure it out. We opened the lid to the pump pit and the pit is full of water, then we went out to the street where it drains to and there’s not much water coming out.

Does that mean that the pump is bad? What should we do? We’re not heavily funded, but we have to get this under control for safety reasons — we don’t want anyone slipping and falling with all of this water. —Mike R. Mike, It could be one or more of several things. If the rating (calculations) weren’t done properly when choosing this pump, that could be a factor. The rating has to do with rise and run. Rise, meaning how high the water has to be pumped up, and the run is how long the horizontal run is, out to the street or culvert. Those calculations need to be done before choosing a pump, because they come in different sizes and GPM (gallon per minute that the pump will push, with the rise and run taken into consideration). If the previous pump worked and this new pump was chosen “like for like”, then there is a possibility that the pump has failed though this is unlikely after only a year. Definitely a possibility, though. Your discharge line could have roots or debris in it, this needs to be checked. I’ll send separately to you, a recommendation for a plumber who can check the rating, run a camera and ensure that all possibilities are looked at for you. If there is debris in the line, they can clear it for you and get you up and running again. You’re correct in wanting to get this tended to due to liability, I would prioritize this before the next rains come, so you are prepared and protected. 

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By Robert Lamoureux Signal Staff Writer

When getting a new water heater installed, Robert Lamoureux suggests that residents be sure that they also install new shut off ball valves so that in the event there is an issue, homeowners can shut the water off to the tank but not the whole house.

Robert Lamoureux has 38 years of experience as a general contractor, with separate licenses in electrical and plumbing contracting. He owns IMS Construction Inc. in Valencia. His opinions are his own, not necessarily those of The Signal. Opinions expressed in this column are not meant to replace the recommendations of a qualified contractor after that contractor has made a thorough visual inspection. Email questions to Robert at robert@imsconstruction.com.

J A N UA RY 27, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 23

FOOD

Presenting the SCV’s Panini Palace By Michelle Sathe Signal Staff Writer

he humble sandwich isn’t always cause for excitement. Unless you’re talking about a hot, toasty, melty bundle of goodness, like those found at Newhall’s Panini Palace. Take their popular chicken pesto panini ($8.95). Think large, succulent chunks of white meat chicken, luscious avocado, juicy tomatoes and savory provolone layered between two pieces of fresh, crusty, buttery bread and pressed into delicious submission. The result is a tangle of flavors and textures that’ll leave your mouth happy. “I love to make things that make people say, ‘Wow,’” said Guillermo Sanchez, who cooks and operates the restaurant along with his wife, Issis. By using the freshest ingredients and preparing just about everything from scratch, including Panini Pal-

The Chicken Pesto ($8.95) is one of the most popular paninis on the menu. PHOTOS BY MICHELLE SATHE / THE SIGNAL

ace’s many salad dressings and sauces (like the tasty pesto and hummus), Sanchez does just that. Whether you’re a carnivore, vegetarian or vegan, Panini Palace has you covered with such sandwich delights as the Spicy Bacon Bliss (smoked turkey with bacon, tomato, avocado, jalapenos, provolone cheese and chipotle aioli), the Caprese (mozzarella cheese, tomato, fresh basil, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar) and the

Veggie No. 2 (hummus, mushroom, avocado, arugula, roasted red peppers and tomato). “Paninis are a little more fancy than a sub, and each one has its own vibe, but with each bite, you get all the good stuff,” Sanchez said. Sanchez first started cooking when he was 10 years old after watching his mom in the kitchen. Soon thereafter, he would start dicing and experimenting, coming up with meals while his mom worked late. Ten years ago, Sanchez and his brother opened Sylmar’s Fix, which featured an original menu of paninis, salads and smoothies. It became the inspiration for Panini Palace, according to Issis Sanchez. “Since we live here, we thought the Santa Clarita Valley could using something fresh and family-owned,” she said. Panini Palace opened in July 2015 and quickly garnered a steady following of locals and tourists that have

The Avocado Lover’s Salad ($11) is refreshing and satisfying.

granted the restaurant a 4.5 star Yelp review. Issis Sanchez chalks their success largely up to her husband’s passion and skill. “Guillermo puts so much detail into his food and loves what he does. You can taste it in his food,” she said. Whether you get a sandwich or salad, pairing it with a smoothie ($5 for 16 oz. or $6.50 for 24 oz.) is a good See Panini Palace, page 33

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24 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J A N UA RY 27, 2019

SCHOOLS

How to hone your time-management skills

urs is a busy society where everyone is moving from place to place quite rapidly, whether at school, home or work. As a result, many people may feel that there simply are not enough hours in the day to get it all done. Quite often people delay certain tasks until the late hours of the night as a way to catch up. But that can be detrimental to health. The National Institute of Health warns that lack of adequate sleep can affect mood, adversely affect relationships, increase anxiety, and possibly contribute to depression. Inadequate sleep is also associated with increased risk of high blood pressure, obesity and heart disease.

Rather than tapping into precious hours of shut-eye, men and women can learn how to manage their time better so they complete more tasks during the day, leaving more time to relax and sleep at night. Effective time management begins with these strategies.

• Set priorities. Begin by setting priorities. This involves making a list of all the tasks that need to be completed, and then putting them in order of most essential to least essential. Once you understand where to first devote your attention, address items on the list in order of their priority. • Develop goals. Goals do not have to be far-off ideas for the future. They can be easily reached today. Simple goals such as, “I want to

remove all nonessential paperwork from my desk” can be tackled quickly and without much effort. Goals give a person something to work toward and are important ways to steer you in the right direction. Without goals, you may wander aimlessly. Accomplishing goals of all shapes and sizes gives a feeling of accomplishment.

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• Stop multitasking. Unfortunately, multitasking is not the key to getting more things done. In fact, it could actually be hurting performance. Research conducted at Stanford University discovered that multitasking is less productive than doing a single thing at a time. You simply cannot put full effort into multiple things at once — and something will be short-changed if you try. • Write things down. Keeping information floating around your mind is ineffective and can lead to stress. Put things down on paper or make digital notes to keep track of what needs to get done. Set your targets and break each task down to manageable pieces. Physically cross items off your list as they are completed. Time management is a skill that can be learned with practice and focusing on elements of success.  —Metro Connection

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• Avoid distractions. Distractions can pull attention away from important tasks at hand. Distractions can be phone calls, text alerts, personal issues, people in the room, and many other things. Figure out how you work best and minimize distractions so that you can fully focus on your priorities.

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J A N UA RY 27, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 25

Donna’s Day: Creative Family Fun

Super Bowl fun and food The new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta isn’t the only place where cheers, chants and songs of loyal fans will be raising the roof for Super Bowl 53, also known as Super Bowl LIII, on Sunday, Feb. 3. For most fans without Super Bowl tickets, the enthusiasm will be running equally high in living rooms and family rooms all over the country. With a little planning, you and your kids can bring home the stadium with these fun family activities and eats to root on your favorite team to victory:

Make your own Super Bowl tickets

Gather construction paper, scissors and markers, and cut out shapes to resemble tickets. Write the seating for your imaginary home stadium on each ticket: “Blue chair — 20 yard line,” “Sofa — 50 yard line,” etc. Your kids can distribute the tickets when spectators enter the room to watch the game. No matter where you sit, it will be a bargain compared to the many thousands of dollars you would spend for a seat in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Vote on ads to add to the fun

Sometimes, Super Bowl commercials can be more entertaining than the game. Vote on your favorites on ballots that kids distribute. Tally them up at the end of the game. Enjoy traditional football stadium fare Prepare hot dogs and brats, and wrap them in parchment or butcher paper, serve beverages in decorated “sports” cups, and scoop bowls of popcorn and peanuts in small paper bags.

K I D S & FA M I LY

Homemade mac and cheese tailor-made for the big game Crusty Mac and Cheese Serves 4 to 6

1 pound elbow macaroni 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper 1/2 cup chicken stock 3/4 cup heavy cream 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1/2 tablespoon hot sauce 1/2 tablespoon Creole mustard 1-1/4 cup Cheese Wiz 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish. with your hand until it’s in the shape of a football. Place cookies on cookie sheets and bake according to the package or recipe instructions. When the cookies are baked and cool, make stitching marks and laces with white frosting in squeeze tubes. Or make or use a can of white frosting and spoon it into a plastic sandwich bag. Cut a small hole in one bottom corner and squeeze the frosting through the hole. Write the name of the team you’re rooting for on large cookies. Arrange on a platter. Or, bake a batch of thin brownies on a rimmed cookie sheet and cut out football shapes with the football-shaped “can” cutter when slightly cooled. Decorate with white frosting stitching designs.  Donna Erickson’s award-winning series “Donna’s Day” is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activities, visit www.donnasday.com and link to the NEW Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.”

2. Boil the macaroni in a 2-quart saucepan filled with water, until it is al dente, or still has some snap when you bite it. Strain the pasta and rinse thoroughly with cold water. Set aside. 3. Combine the remaining ingredients, except for the shredded cheese, in a medium saucepan over medium heat. The mixture

should be barely simmering. Whisk periodically. Cook for 7 to 10 minutes. 4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cheese sauce with the pasta and about one-third of the shredded cheese. Transfer to the baking dish, covering with the remaining shredded cheese, and bake covered for 10 minutes. 5. Uncover and bake for 15 minutes more, or until the top is golden brown.

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For a special sweet treat, make football-shaped cookies. Roll out chocolate cookie dough on a breadboard and cut out football shapes with a simple homemade cookie cutter. For the cutter, just bend the rim of a small or medium-size empty soup can (without sharp edges)

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26 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

J A N UA RY 27, 2019

E N T E R TA I N M E N T

Which One’s Pink? Pink Floyd tribute band to play on Feb. 2 By Crystal Duan Signal Staff Writer

hich One’s Pink? a tribute band to Pink Floyd is coming to Canyon Santa Clarita for the third time at the start of next month. The group of Los Angeles-based musicians joined together in 1998 by

musician-turned-lawyer Larry Isenberg, but it wasn’t always the plan to turn this into a homage to the iconic rock group. Which One’s Pink? derives its name from the classic line, “the band is just fantastic, that is really what I think, oh by the way, which one’s pink?” from Pink Floyd’s song “Have A Cigar.” Lead singer and guitarist Paul Samarin eerily reproduces the vocals of

both Roger Waters and David Gilmour, guitarist Allen Moreno captures the guitar, with Scott Richards (bass) and Marty Brumer (drums) completing the rock steady rhythm section. Larry Isenberg and Nick Feduska use multiple keyboards to paint the vast auditory canvas from which virtually all of the Floyd’s catalogue gets its sound. “We’ve had personnel turnover over

the years and we are getting bigger and better crowds than ever before,” Isenberg said.  Find the Canyon Santa Clarita on the ground floor of the Westfield Valencia Town Center. Get tickets at the box office 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, by phone at (888) 645-5006, or via TicketMaster.com. For more info, visit Wheremusicmeets theSoul.com.

J A N UA RY 27, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 27

E N T E R TA I N M E N T

‘Beautiful Boy,’ ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘Green Book’ By Dianne White Crawford Signal Contributing Writer

head of this evening’s SAG Awards, which will be broadcast on TNT and TBS starting at 5 p.m., we’re continuing in out recap of some of our favorites that we’ve reviewed throughout the year. “Beautiful Boy” is a powerful look at addiction, “Bohemian Rhapsody” shares the story of the rock band Queen and “Green Book” is a look at America’s South during the Jim Crow era. “Beautiful Boy” (screening on Prime Video & in a few theaters) (SAG nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role, Timothee Chalamet) There is absolutely nothing that compares to being a parent. Nothing compares to the weight of never-a-break responsibility felt in keeping a helpless newborn alive and properly nourished. And later, teaching the right life lessons so that it’s not your kid who bullies others in school, or steals, or damages the property of others. Someone’s kid is going to do those things, and most of us try our darndest to prevent it from being our kid. The reality is, that even the most attentive and best-intentioned parents can sometimes fall victim to a force beyond their control. Such is the situation in writer-director Felix Van Groeningen’s film based on the two memoirs penned by father and son David and Nic Sheff. What follows is the harsh reality of drug addiction: rehab, relapse, repeat. Much of the story is dedicated to David’s struggle and devotion to helping his son Nic in any way possible. He’s a helpless father who refuses to give up on his son, despite the constant desperation and frustration. Every glimmer of hope is soon crushed by yet another lie and more drugs. The film is such a downer that it makes “Leaving Las Vegas” look like an old Disney classic. Supporting work comes courtesy of four talented actresses: Amy Ryan (as Nic’s mother and David’s ex-wife), Maura Tierney (as David’s current wife), Kaitlyn Dever (Nic’s girlfriend),

Timothée Chalamet (left) as Nic Sheff and Steve Carell as David Scheff star in “Beautiful Boy.”

and LisaGay Hamilton (involved in rehab). The reason this film works is the devastating work of two fine actors, Steve Carell and Timothee Chalamet. We never doubt dad’s commitment, just as we never doubt son’s helplessness in getting clean. The soundtrack acts as a boost to the dialogue with such songs (perhaps a bit too convenient and obvious) as John Lennon’s “Beautiful Boy,” Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold,” and Perry Como’s “Sunrise, Sunset.” The downward spiral of drug addiction feeds on the misery, and we certainly get that. The inherent lesson here is that we can’t always save people from themselves. Knowing what to do isn’t always possible, and sometimes there is simply no right answer — even with “everything.” “Bohemian Rhapsody” (Released) (SAG Nominations for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role, Rami Malek; Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture) Cinema has many bio pics about people from all walks of life; famous, infamous and some even legendary. Their subjects pull us into the theater to learn more about them and

we hope that their story will be as entertaining as it is enlightening. This biography is about the band Queen and their lead singer Freddie Mercury, as legendary as they come in rock music. The film shows us the band’s early years when guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor lost their lead singer/bassist and was approached by a young singer named Farrokh Bulsara. He took the nickname Freddie and would change his last name to Mercury. After recruiting bassist John Deacon, the foursome would call their group Queen and become one of the most innovative and creative in rock. For fans of the band, this is a mustsee, you’ll probably recognize that the film does take some liberties with Mercury and Queen’s story but it is able to keep the story moving and entertaining in a cohesive order. At the forefront is Rami Malek’s performance which is impressive. He delivers Mercury’s presence in the film’s many stage performances as well as his personal mannerisms we have seen in interviews. What the film does deliver, and deliver well was the reception they got from the Live Aid crowd. It’s truly one of the most emotional moments of the film and easy to see why it is called one of the most important moments in music history. The film is not perfect and it’s not the best of the year but thanks to Malek’s strong performance and its interesting story about how true genius works, this is a film well worth seeing. It’s a celebration of a great band and if you’re not a big fan of theirs you might come out of the theater as one thanks to the music and the great ending.

Joseph Mazzello, Rami Malek, Gwilym Lee, and Ben Hardy in Bohemian Rhapsody (2018). PHOTO IMDB

“Green Book” (Released) (SAG Nominations for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role, Viggo Mortensen; Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role, Mahershala Ali) “Green Book” (not

the official book title) was a travel guide highlighting safe places for African Americans to stay, eat and visit from the 1930s through the mid1960s. Yes, it was a real publication and yes, there was a real need for it during the Jim Crow era. The book makes for a nice movie title, but this dramedy from director Peter Farrelly focuses more on the budding friendship of two men from vastly different worlds separated by a few city blocks. Farrelly is one-half of the infamous Farrelly Brothers who have directed some raunchy comedy hits as “There’s Something About Mary” (1998) and “Dumb and Dumber” (1994). This is quite the change of pace for him, as it is for co-stars Mahershala Ali (Oscar winner last year for “Moonlight”) and heavy drama actor Viggo Mortensen. We see a crisp blend of the era’s harsh racism and the inherent comedy of a buddy road trip featuring a working class NYC Italian-American and an upper crust, well-educated, world class African-American pianist. Inspired by the true story of this trip and the lifelong friendship that ensued, we get to know both men as they get to know each other. Tony Lip is a streetwise man who is comfortable with his lot in life, while Dr. Shirley plays his role in society while quietly stewing internally. He flashes his toothy grin to disarm the adoring white audiences, but then sucks down his Cutty Sark in the evening, as he is good enough to perform for them, but not good enough to dine with them (or even use their restroom). There are times the racism gets violent and that’s where Tony Lip comes in. The film is a showcase for two terrific actors, and for those that don’t know, the real Tony Lip appeared in a few projects such as “The Sopranos” and “Donnie Brasco.” I expect to see these two actors get some love at Oscar time, and this is one of the few films that can be recommended to just about every movie lover. 

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J A N UA RY 27, 2019

N E W S F E AT U R E

Five ways to raise a confident, adventurous child By Caleb Lunetta Signal Staff Writer

ids need to be adventurous. It’s not so much that they need to be left to their own devices everyday or taken on an expensive trip or family experience every other weekend. But they do need to be given an opportunity to explore — an important part of any baby or young child’s development. It’s an exciting time for parents with toddlers, but there also comes the anxiety and hesitation as new parents find themselves having to so “no” when their baby is attempting to find discover a new place a experience a new sensation. Dr. Danielle Flowers, a pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente, said the ways in which a parent can raise and support a confident child can often stems from the environment the parents provide for their child. “We should be taking take cues from the child, but it’s important to provide an environment that supports their sense of discovery,” Flowers said. “They find discovery anywhere they go, whether its at a park or children’s museum — basically, anywhere they can see things and touch things. And we should allow them to be more curious.”

Aid in discovery

Encouraging and applauding a baby’s taking measured risks, such as mastering a challenging obstacle — such as stair climbing or going to the bathroom on their own, or pushing through moments of frustration and failure — is healthy for the child. “The way that we learn how to problem-solve is different if you’re dealing with consequences in the real world,” said Flowers. “For instance, if your child is playing with a sandcastle outside, it will fall over. Hands-on learning allows them to build up their problem-solving skills and have the confidence they’ll need. Another possible opportunity where parents can further support their child’s discovery involves creating teachable moments during everyday life in order to introduce a child to necessary boundaries. For instance, if you have a hot

mug of tea or coffee but your toddler would like to touch the mug, let them touch the warm area of the cup. By gently allowing them to reach out with their fingertip, and repeat to them that the “mug is hot” in order to help encourage their sense of exploration, reflexes and cognitive skills. “We shouldn’t let them pull down a pot of hot water or be put in a dangerous situation,” said Flowers. “But, in a safe environment, it’s OK to stumble or make mistakes in a safe way.”

Let babies be free

Some parents might want to believe that gadgets and electronics may be necessary during their child’s playtime, Flowers said. However, she would suggest re-examining those types of toys and possibly walking away from purchasing that many toys who stimulate through lights and sounds. “When you have something like a stick, the child is forced to create everything for what that toys does. It gives them an opportunity to have imaginative play,” said Flowers. “Electronics and tablets are everywhere now, and we want to make sure our kids getting the other experiences.” Allowing a toddler to explore their natural environment can often lead to a mess, or making your child become wet or dirty. But according to Flowers, these types of free-form playtime adventures can lead to your child developing upon their imagination and independence. “They should have the ability to play with where they get wet or dirty,” said Flowers. “Let them play in the water in the summer and build things with their hands.”

Engage the senses

Another critical aspect to your babies development into becoming an adventurous toddler involves being exposed to new flavors and smells early on. “I suggest Interacting with your child about experiences such as something like going to a park or a museum,” said Flowers. “Ask them, ‘How does the grass feel?’ or ‘What colors are you seeing?’” One such example is to allow your baby, typically between 4-7 months, to experience new foods and textures, which can provide a feeling of accom-

Santa Clarita Adventure Play founder Jeremiah Dockray, left, supervises as Clementine Wish, 5, and Dylan Vail, 8, right, cut with saws as they work on a playhouse at the Eureka Villa Adventure Playground in Val Verde. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

plishment while also exposing him or her to different textures and flavors and then discussing with them what they’re experiencing. “You just can’t put them in front of a television; you have to interact with them,” said Flowers. The pediatrician went onto say that not only can you take your child to the park or to museums, but you can do things with them from inside your very own home. “You can interact with your child through things like books as well, especially touch and feel books,” said Flowers. “You want to have a conversation with them, plus it helps with vocabulary development.”

Provide early exposure to new places

Along with allowing your child to decide on whether to explore within their immediate environment, such as their house or bedroom, but also bringing them to restaurants and other public spaces allows for positive exposure to new places people and sounds. These things can, in turn, help build your child’s immune system, encourage social interaction and support development. “Taking them out can show them how fast the world functions,” said Flowers. “Also, toddlers by nature are curious and will touch things, so it’s important to expose them to the public ... because it also helps their immune system.”

Public places such as airports, bus stops and train stations can cause parents to feel anxious, but these are opportunities, according to Flowers, to teach children important habits that will help them on down the road. “I really stress hand washing before meals, and if you’re out and about you can have hand sanitizer,” said Flowers. “This will help stop spread of the influenza, because we want them to learn (about germs) very early.”

Wait a moment

It’s not uncommon for parents to step in the moment they see their child start heading for the stairs, scrape their knees or start moving for the steps of the stairs. Instead of rushing to your child immediately, however, experts have suggested that parents should try pausing, allowing the child to naturally discover his or her limits while, at the same time, managing their own fears and worries. “I think a lot of this is that it’s so important to be present and not be distracted by our phones, said Flowers. “We need to be present with them so that can can be confident and grow in all their sensory and cognitive interactions through engaging with them.” This tactic can allow a young toddler who has shown an propensity to explore an opportunity for social-emotional development with the parent acting as a safety net nearby. 

J A N UA RY 27, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 29

THINGSTODO

Festival fun for February By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

here may be a chill in the air, but with Valentine’s Day and a three-day President’s Day weekend on the calendar, February is anything but boring. Here are a few fun options for festive fun in February.

Lake Sonoma Steelhead Festival

Feb. 9, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Location Milt Brandt Visitors Center, 3333 Skaggs Springs Road, Geyserville. Info: lakesonoma.org/ support-lake-sonoma/lake-sonoma-steelhead-festival. Celebrate the return of the Steelhead Trout at Lake Sonoma at the family-friendly Steelhead Festival. Fun activities include food, beer, wine, archery, fishing, tours, demonstrations and live music from The Blue Rock Band.

San Francisco Tulipmania Tulip Festival

Feb. 9-18 Location Pier 39, Beach Street & The Embarcadero, San Francisco. Info: pier39.com. Tulipmania is a free event showcasing the vibrant color of tulips filling planters throughout the area. Apricot Beauties, Texas Flames, Purple Princes, Flaming Parrots, Swan Wings and Burgundy Lace are types of tulips you’ll want to photograph during this colorful event. Free guided tours begin at 10 a.m. daily.

Kernville Whiskey Flat Days Festival Feb. 15-18 Noon-5 p.m.

Location “Whiskey Flat Encampment” located on Scodie Avenue across from the Rodeo Grounds (11447 Kernville Road, Kernville). Info: gotokernville.com The 62nd annual Whiskey Flat Days “Boots, Chaps and Cowboy Hats” is only a two-and-a-half-hour drive from the Santa Clarita Valley, (50 miles east of Bakersfield on Hwy 178). The event features a parade, live music, carnival rides, games, Wild West Daze Rodeo, gun fights, frog jumping contest, melodrama, line dancing, pet parade, food and craft booths, Old West Encampment and Kawaiisu Indian Village. Most events are free. The parade will be held at 10 a.m., Feb. 16 in downtown Kernville and includes mules, gunfighter entries and all things containing the Old West theme. The Kawaiisu Indian Village is a living history event with authentic crafts, Native American hand games, Native American food, demonstration on basket making, beading, regalia making and other items. Activities include archery, flutes, painting, drumming, singing and dancing. In addition, experience early California history at the Mountain Man Camp, Cowboy and Mining Town and Civil War Camp. Authentic demonstrations of life in the Old West include: gunfights and history, Wells Fargo Station and Eatery, “cowboy cook’n,” horse trader and livery, “horse shoe’n” and “horse doctor’n,” Whiskey Flats Saloon, justice of the peace, saddle maker and leather craft, bath house, beautifier and hygienist and story tellers of the Wild West.

National Date Festival and Riverside County Fair

Feb. 15-24 Location Riverside County Fairgrounds, 82-503 Hwy 111, Indio. Info: (800) 811-FAIR, datefest.org. The Indio Date Festival and Riverside County Fair “dates” back to 1921. The event celebrates the desert’s favorite crop, dates. Other attractions: Llamas, dairy goats, poultry; camel and ostrich races; WGAS Motorsports Monster Trucks, concerts, contests, games, food and a carnival with midway action. A President’s Day Parade will be held 9 a.m., Feb. 18.

Grand Parade of Clans and Bands is among the daily festivities at the Scots Festival. COURTESY PHOTO

Opening Ceremony and Blessing of the Dates at 9:30 a.m., Feb. 15. Daily attractions: Hedrick’s Camel and Ostrich Races, Salute to America 6 p.m., Arabian Nights Pageant 6:30 p.m., Amateur Date Recipe Contest 2 p.m., Cooking with Dates, Humpz & Hornz Bull Riding 5 p.m.

perts and craft beer samplings, Queen Mary’s coronation, knighting ceremonies and Wee Highland games. Complete your Scottish experience with the Robert Burns Supper (Scotland’s best-loved bard) with a traditional Burns Supper, including haggis, whisky, traditional Scottish music and dancing in the Queen’s Salon aboard the Queen Mary.

Long Beach Queen Mary Scots Festival and International Palm Desert Greek Festival Highland Games XXVI Feb. 16-17, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Location 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach For information, call the Queen Mary at (562) 499-1771 or visit queenmary.com. Tickets are available online and by phone ($25). The majestic Queen Mary was “born” on the banks of the River Clyde in Clydebank, Scotland and launched on Sept. 26, 1934. She was the flagship of the Cunard and White Star Lines, built by John Brown & Company. She sailed on her maiden voyage to New York on May, 27, 1936. In recognition of her Scottish heritage, the family-friendly Queen Mary Scottish Festival was established in 1993. Daily festivities include Grand Parade of Clans and Bands with an Address to the Haggis, Border Collie sheep-herding, cannon and musket firing demonstrations, performances by the Scots Greys Calvary, Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, Celtic Harp & Wren Iniquity Ensemble, historic re-enactments, professional and amateur competitions in piping, drumming, massed bands, darts, Highland dancing and Highland athletics. Internationally acclaimed athletes compete for titles in stones, hammer throw, weights for distance, weight over bar, sheaf and the famed caber toss. The event also features whisky tasting sessions with aged malt ex-

Feb. 16-17, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Location St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 74-109 Larrea, Palm Desert. Info: Church office: (760) 568-9901 or pdgreekfest.org. Directions: Just off El Paseo, behind the Wells Fargo Bank, where Lantana meets Larrea. Look for the Santorini island style, domed, white church, sky high balloons and Greek flags. Cost: $3 per adult and free to children 12 and younger. The festival includes live Greek music, traditional folk dancers, authentic homemade foods, pastries, Greek beer and wine, vendors, church tours, Byzantine Iconography and a Kids Zone. Set up in in themed areas, the village center Plaka, the lawn Taverna courtyard and other areas offer opportunity to dine, shop, stroll and dance to the music. Food includes: Paidakia, country-style lamb chops, (St. George Signature Dish), Taverna-style Mezedes appetizers, Greek Salads, Greek Fries with hot Greek seasonings, Feta cheese and olives, Spanakopita (fillo layered with rich cheeses and fresh spinach), Spanokopita Pastitsio (baked macaroni w/ beef filling and Romano cheese, topped with béchamel), Tyropita (triangular shaped cheese filled pastry puff), gyros, See Festivals, page 31

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THINGSTODO

February Family Fun By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

hen February rolls around I always think, “February? Already?” February is more than Valentine’s Day and the three-day Presidents Day weekend. February is Black History Month, American Heart Month and (my favorite) Great American Pie Month. In addition, we can celebrate (among others) Groundhog’s Day, Feb. 2; Superbowl Sunday, Feb. 3; National Pizza D,ay, Feb. 9; Susan B. Anthony Day, Feb. 15; National Margarita Day, Feb. 22; the Oscars, Feb. 24; and National Tooth Fairy Day, Feb. 28. February is also a great time to get out and have some fun as a family. Some destinations are in the SCV’s backyard, some require more planning and some travel. In 2019, it’s time to do things you’ve never done and see things you’ve never seen.

The Fresno Blossom Trail

Have you ever traveled the Fresno Blossom Trail? California is the country’s top producer of peaches, plums and related fruits, along with almonds and citrus. In the spring the fruit trees begin their work of producing fruit for market by putting a spectacular show of blossoming trees. The hardest thing about enjoying the Fresno Blossom Trail is knowing when to go. Some years are better than others, and the bloom dates vary depending on temperature and rainfall. The recent rains make this season along the trail look very promising. Traditionally, the trail comes into full bloom mid-late February through March. The Blossom Trail offers vast expanses of same-colored blossoms. The sheer volume of trees in bloom, with blossoms so dense you can hardly see the tree limbs, is a breathtaking sight. Forget what you think you remember of California’s Central Valley. Along the Blossom Trail you’ll find a landscape transformed by color with yellow mustard flowers and pink and white blooming fruit trees… and in

the distance, the foothills of the Sierras. Acres of peach and nectarine trees show off their perfectly pink blooms. Plum, apple and almond trees offer limbs festooned in billows of white blooms. Orange groves are also in bloom at this time, the tiny orange blossoms might not be as showy, but their perfume is worth a stop to smell the orange trees Plan to quick detour to the Visitor’s Center in downtown Fresno (1180 E. Shaw Ave., No. 201) to pick up a paper map of the trail. You can find information on the current conditions and best times to see the blooms, as well as an online map at gofresnocounty.com/BlossomTrail/ BlossomIndex.asp.

L.A. Zoo Family Nature Club

Get wild with your family at the Los Angeles Zoo’s Family Nature Club. Explore nature up-close through discovery and play with unique learning experiences. Activities include exploring nature, fort building and water play. Activities might include story time, finding and sorting natural objects and art. The class is held once a month. The February class will be held Saturday, Feb. 9, 9-10:30 a.m. All ages welcome. Price: $5 per person (ages 2+). Under age 2 is free and does not count towards program capacity. Family Nature Club does not include zoo admission: Adults $21, Child, (2-12) $16. L.A. Zoo, 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, 90027. Preregistration required for Family Nature Club. Info: lazoo.org/education/family/#club

Placerita Nature Center

Every Saturday the Placerita Nature Center offers a free Family Nature Walk at 11 a.m. and a Native Live Animal Presentation at 1 p.m. Every fourth Saturday of the month there is a “Blooms of the Season” wildflower walk from 9:30-10:30 a.m. The recent rains should produce a bountiful crop of wildflowers this year. The programs are appropriate for the entire family. Placerita Canyon Nature Center, 19152 Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall. Info: placerita.org.

View Monarch Butterflies

The orange-and-black monarch butterflies west of the Rocky Moun-

Fresno Blossom Trail. COURTESY PHOTO

tains spend their winters along the central California coast. February is your last chance to see these beautiful butterflies before they migrate north to Canada or to various Western destinations. Monarchs begin to cluster on the Central Coast sites beginning in November, and stay through February. Monarch mating season is in February around Valentine’s day. The monarchs leave the Central Coast around late February to the beginning of March. The best Monarch viewings areas include: Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, 165 Forest Avenue, Pacific Grove Info: www.pgmuseum.org. The Museum’s monarch gallery is open year-round. Highlights of this exhibition include real specimens, amazing videos, vintage artifacts, a “cabinet of curiosities” and multiple hands-on opportunities. Pacific Grove Museum docents are present every day (noon to 3 p.m.) November through February in Pacific Grove’s Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary (250 Ridge Road, Pacific Grove, (just off of Lighthouse Avenue in downtown Pacific Grove and 10 blocks from the museum. Parking on Ridge Road is free). Docents significantly enhance your viewing experience with viewing scopes and ability to answer questions. Guests can view both clustering behavior and monarchs flying around. Info: pgmuseum.org/monarch-viewing. Natural Bridges State Park, 2531 W. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz. (Take Swift Street south from Highway 1, or follow West Cliff Drive west along the in-town bluffs until it ends at Natural Bridges). Call the park at (831)

423-4609 for best viewing times. The Santa Cruz monarch population can congregate at Lighthouse Field State Park, and the park rangers will be able to give you the most accurate and timely viewing information. The butterflies cluster in a grove of eucalyptus trees which provide shelter and food for the Monarch. The park charges a $10 vehicle day-use fee. Info: parks.ca.gov/?page_id=541 The Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove, 400 S. Dolliver St., Pismo Beach. Exit Northbound 101 at Price Street. The offramp takes you under the freeway onto northbound Price Street. Turn left on Pomery, the first street after the signal on Hinds. Turn left at left on Dolliver. Proceed south on Dolliver (Highway 1) about a half-mile. The grove will be on your right just past the North Beach State Campground. The Grove is the largest public viewing of monarchs in San Luis Obispo County and is also one of the largest monarch overwintering sites in America. The butterflies cluster in the limbs of Eucalyptus trees in the Grove. A docent trailer on site is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with docent talks held every day at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Western Monarch Day will be held Feb. 2. The Butterfly Grove will close on Feb. 28 for the season. Info: monarchbutterfly.org.

Pasadena Kidspace Children’s Museum

Kids can play in the garden, play in the water, learn a little science in the physics forest, or stretch their creativity in the Imagination Workshop. Kidspace Children’s Museum is designed for children ages 1-10 and offers See Family Fun, page 31

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NULL

Among his favorite actors was Angie Dickenson of “Police Woman.” “She only wanted me and one other photographer to shoot her. She was really nice,” he said.

continued from page 8 allowed to photograph the concert,” Null said. “I’ve never seen any still photos of the concert that weren’t mine. Any shot you see of Elvis wearing a lei (and the famous white “American Eagle” jumpsuit) is my shot. All the stuff in black leathers was also mine.” The only time he met Elvis was in Las Vegas, where Parker grabbed Null and took him up to Elvis’ suite. “You’re going to take a picture of Elvis, Colonel Parker told me. ‘Don’t talk to him,’ he said. When we got up to the suite Elvis had a big white cape on,” said Null. “He turned to me and said, ‘Hey, man, how are you doing?’ I said, ‘Great, Elvis, how are you?’ Colonel Parker said, ‘I told you not to talk to him.’ I said ‘He talked to me first.’” Despite the thousands of images he shot for NBC, Null has only a few prints of the work he shot, and no negatives. “NBC owned all of my work,” he said.

Living in the SCV

Gary Null displays his vintage camera collection. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

On set at NBC

The first series Null worked at NBC was “Bonanza.” Null was there for nearly the entire run of the show, a Western drama that starred Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts. It ran from 1959-73.

“All the shows for NBC were shot on the West Coast and I worked nearly all of them,” he said. Among Null’s favorite shows was “I Dream of Jeannie.” “Barbara Eden was very nice,” he said. “I took photos of her son after he was born.”

FESTIVALS

Null moved to Saugus in 1964. His first wife, Linda, died in 1994. They had three children, two daughters and a son. His son died in an auto accident in 1984. Null’s hobbies include working around the house, surf fishing, traveling and his two collectible cars. “I have a 1964 Porsche I bought 46 years ago,” he said. “I also have a 1953 MG Roadster that I’ve had about four years.” Null said he isn’t into showing his cars, but does belong to a MG car club in Ventura. “I like old cars,” he said. “I just enjoy owning them, tinkering with them and driving them.” He is now married to wife, Diane, and lives in the Valencia Summit. He also has three grandchildren. “I love the Santa Clarita Valley,” he said. “I know traffic is bad, but I still love it here.” 

FAMILY FUN

continued from page 29

continued from page 30

flaming Saganaki Cheese (flamed with brandy and quenched with fresh, tart lemon juice) and Loukoumades (puffs of hot pastry drenched in cinnamon and sugar).

children the chance to test their agility with fun climbing structures and many hands on and physical activities. The Arroyo Adventure includes the “Hawk’s Nest,” a rope bridge and the Strata Rock Climb. The Arroyo also includes hidden forts, opportunities to make art, gardens, mud and clay and a flood and erosion plain. Indoor activities include the Early Childhood Learning Center where adults and children participate in various learning activities. Water, mud, and sand are elements of Kidspace. Bring footwear appropriate for getting messy, a towel and a change of clothes for children who may want to enjoy the water, mud or sand exhibits. Visitors are welcome to bring in food and beverages for lunch and picnics. Admission is $14 for adults and children; children under age 1 are free. Kidspace, (480 N. Arroyo Blvd.) Pasadena, is at the west end of Brookside Park, near the Rose Bowl stadium. Parking is located in Lot I of the Rose Bowl. Info: kidspacemuseum.org. 

Ripon Almond Blossom Festival

Feb. 22-24 Location Mistlin Sports Park, 1201 River Road, Ripon (Stockton-adjacent). Info: www.riponchamber.org. The 57th annual Almond Blossom Festival is a quaint hometown celebration of all things almond. The almond, which is the crop by which the Ripon region is identified today, were introduced near Ripon on a trial basis about 1900 by J. P. Watkins. The Ripon Almond Blossom Festival includes a parade which circles historic Ripon (Main Street-4th Street) and a festival which includes food, crafts booths and a carnival. The city of Ripon in the middle of California’s central San Joaquin Valley claimed a population of just over

The Scots Festival COURTESY PHOTO

14,000 in the 2010 census. It calls itself “The Jewel of The Valley.”

Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Cook-Off

Feb. 23-24 1 p.m. public tastings begin on both days. Location Santa Cruz Boardwalk, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz. Info: beachboardwalk.com/Clam-ChowderCook-Off The festival features amateur and professional chefs preparing their finest clam chowder recipes along the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Teams

compete in the friendly competition, hoping to win prizes and bragging rights for “Best Clam Chowder” in the country’s largest and longest-running clam chowder competition. Amateur chefs will compete on Saturday, followed by professional chefs on Sunday. The Boardwalk is admission free. Clam chowder tasting kits can be purchased for $10 each. Each Tasting Kit includes six taste tickets, spoon, cup and a People’s Choice ballot. All tasting kit sales benefit Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation. 

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SENIORS

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By Diana Sevanian Signal Staff Writer

f you’re like most seniors, you once owned a gold mine: your very own record collection. As years passed, however, those harmonious hordes became endangered species. Compact discs made their preview in the 80s, with millions of audiophiles preferring their pet sounds come from the convenience of CDs. Eventually many folks decided to scale down their emptying nests (and sell off the contents of their parents’ abodes, too), resulting in mammoth numbers of moving and estate sales. These disposal bonanzas offered dirt cheap record players and records, everything from Beethoven to Gershwin, Sinatra to Joni Mitchell, Beatles to Steely Dan, “Fantasia” to “Star Wars.” Unlike many boomers, I never let go of my records. Sentimental gal that I am, it’s been impossible to even consider parting with the memories attached to my LPs and 45s, even with their occasional pops, skips and hisses. Unlike any drug or alcoholic beverage available, the music of my life is a neurochemical catalyst for many of the sweetest and most unforgettable moments I’ve ever known. In short, they’re a trip. To my ear and synaptic brain network, each plastic fantastic relic delivers me to the wellspring of my youth — when life, love and possibilities were endless. Just the other day, I was on a show tunes kick and spent several hours cleaning my home while listening to tunes from “Flower Drum Song,” “West Side Story” and “Funny Girl.” The mandatory drudgery associated with toilet disinfection and laundry became indiscernible toil, because I was too busy singing along to these stellar soundtracks. (It’s amazing how I often forget why I entered a room, yet song lyrics and melodies are downloaded for keeps.) When listening to Creedence •Credit card deposit required Clearwater’s “Proud Mary” while battling a kitchen full of company dinner dishes, I am predictably stripped of my rubber gloves and apron, then

propelled back into a foxy white halter dress while stomping on a smoky nightclub dancefloor. My prized Jefferson Airplane album, which included their big hit “Miracles,” was a mid-1970’s love song to the man who became the father of my children. The Four Tops’ “(Reach Out) I’ll be There,” is a Motown masterpiece that has long held poignant significance for my firstborn son and I. Billy Joel’s “The Longest Time” whisks me back to 1983, being pregnant with my second son, and singing the touching lyrics as I readied his nursery. My old Bakelite 33 1/3 record, “The Anniversary Waltz,” was originally my parents’ devotional song. Who could ever release these cherished memories? Maybe it’s my collecting nature, a part of me that never wants to let go of that which I’ve loved, but I’m truly glad that these gems stayed with me. The good news is, it’s not too late to start redecorating your space with a record player and records. Start going to thrift shops, garage sales, local record stores, and you’re sure to find the same albums and 45s that once sent you to your very own magic town. Once you hold those monaural and stereophonic artifacts, studying each cover for its unique and unforgettable graphic art, then take the record carefully in your hands and place it on the turntable (also readily available and affordable today), and voila. You may be 70, but once “Surfer Girl” or “Johnny Angel” begins playing, you’ll find an age-defying summer place, the most precious memories of your life. Diana Sevanian is a Valencia resident and longtime Signal features writer and columnist. 

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FOOD

PANINI PALACE

Continued from page 23

idea. All are made from 100 percent juice and fresh fruit plus orange sherbet or yogurt. The Berry Blend is tart, tangy, and chock full of raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries. And if you have room for dessert, don’t miss the Nutella Croissant ($6.95). Between the crunch of the warm, flaky, panini-pressed pastry, the decadent, smooth chocolate filling and the fresh strawberry, I literally exclaimed, “Oh my God,” as I ate it. Since Panini Palace’s food is served fresh and hot, ideally you’d be able to eat your meal in the large, clean and comfortable dining room for maximum flavor. Do so and you’ll also get service with a smile from Issis. “My wife is so friendly and cordial. She’ll make you feel right at home,” Sanchez said. Panini Palace, 23120 Lyons Ave., Suite 6, Newhall. Open Monday to

For dessert, don’t miss the decadent Nutella and Strawberry Croissant ($6.95). Guillermo and Issis Sanchez offer fresh sandwiches, salads, and smoothies served with a smile at their family-run Panini Palace. PHOTOS BY MICHELLE SATHE / THE SIGNAL

Friday, 10 am to 5 pm and Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm. Closed Sunday. Family meals, kids meals, and catering available. For more information, call (661) 678-0552 or follow on Yelp. 

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he government shutdown has lasted for almost a month as I write this. My first question would be: How can you tell? Of course, if you’re one of the 800,000 government employees who are no longer getting paychecks, you can tell. But in a country of 320 million people, that leaves a lot of people who wouldn’t know there was a shutdown unless someone told them about it. It’s not even the lead story on TV most nights. Besides, your mail still gets delivered, the traffic lights still work, the grocery stores are still full of food, there are still trucks on the road, your GPS still works, you still get text and email messages. What has changed? Is it all bad news? Oh, dear, the IRS is shut down. Rats! I was so looking forward to paying my taxes. Oh my, there are long lines at the airport security! As if there were no lines or flight delays before the shutdown. The Securities and Exchange Commission is running with a limited staff, which means some billionaires will have to wait a few weeks to make even more billions because private companies that they invested in have had to delay going public by a month or two. Oh, the humanity! Stop! Please, you’re breaking my heart. Before you email me and tell me how cold and unfeeling I am, please email anyone you know who has ever said, “The government never created a job” first. Compared to them, I’m the voice of reason. We’ve got 800,000 people not getting paid and that’s just a “partial” government shutdown. A total shutdown would be over 3 million jobs. When you count federal, state and local government jobs — teachers, cops, firefighters, contractors, social workers, infrastructure, maintenance, planning, etc. — the government is the biggest employer in this country — by far. Not to mention private jobs creat-

ed by government. Where does the money come from to build aircraft carriers, fighter jets, Humvees, cruise missiles and all the rest? If there are highway construction delays on your way to work, blame it on the government. But don’t forget to blame the government for the construction workers’ salaries, too. And all those government workers spend their money at auto dealers, restaurants, gas stations and boutiques just like everyone else with a job, and when they don’t get paid, those businesses feel it. Sure, the government doesn’t spend all that money wisely. But businesses aren’t perfect either. Email your friends who wonder “Why can’t they run government like a business?” and ask them “Which business?” Enron? Toys ‘R’ Us? Sears? The airline that just canceled a thousand flights? The food company that just “recalled” 100 tons of tainted hamburger or chicken or lettuce? The car company that just issued a recall of four million cars? The credit reporting bureau that got hacked and gave away all the account information for nearly 150 million people? The tech giant that knows more about you than your mother? Would it surprise you if there is a story in today’s paper about a corporation that has been caught doing something immoral or illegal? So, actually, we are running the government like a business. And it pays. Just over half of the 538 members of Congress are millionaires. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. After all, it doesn’t take any talent to be poor; almost anyone can do it. But you do have to wonder why so many people want one of those government jobs. Yes, real people are being hurt by the shutdown, but since when did television care about real people? Now, if it were the Kardashians who weren’t getting paid or a movie star or a famous musician who wasn’t getting paid, I could understand all the outrage about the shutdown because that would be very wrong. But average, hard-working people being hurt? What’s new about that? Contact Jim Mullen at mullen.jim@ gmail.com.

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Valentine’s Day gift suggestions for her By Michele Lutes Signal Staff Writer

rom red roses to love letters or jewelry and lingerie, there are many traditional gifts you can give the special woman in your life this Valentine’s Day. “It’s all about celebrating your love and commitment to each other,” said Tammi Pickle, vice president of Elite Connections, who also carries the title international matchmaking expert for her company. Elite connections is the largest matchmaking agency in Southern California, and has been finding people love for more than 25 years. “We help people find love everyday,” Pickle said. “Everyone has their different ways they want to feel loved.” On Valentine’s Day, it’s important to share your love with your significant other whether it be through gifts or spending time together.

PHOTO BY MICHELE LUTES / THE SIGNAL

Finding the right gift for her

Flowers Roses are red, violets are blue, and flowers for Valentine’s Day are the perfect way to say, “I love you,” the experts say. “Ordering early is key,” said Claire Middleton, owner of Claire’s Flowers in Santa Clarita. “Get in your order early, so we can offer you the best product.” Prices for flowers hike during Val-

entine’s Day, and there’s a reason. “We only use the best florist quality roses from Ecuador, which are professionally designed and handdelivered,” Middleton said. You can go traditional or nontraditonal. It’s all about finding the flowers that your significant other would love. “You don’t have to just be red, mix in her favorite color,” Middleton suggests. “And you can always deliver

Valentine’s Day gift suggestions for him By Michele Lutes Signal Staff Writer

how some love and give your man a thoughtful gift this Valentine’s Day. Whether it be a date night to the movies, a night in with a home-cooked meal or a new wallet, getting him something a little different can create memories and a surprise that’s highly appreciated. “Get him something thoughtful and out of the ordinary,” said Tammi Pickle, vice president of Elite Connections. Gift your man something more or less traditional this Valentine’s Day, which requires knowing your partner as an individual, and his unique tastes. “Know your man,” Pickle said. “Get them something they are into.” Looking Good Is your man in need of some new clothes? Go simple and get him new clothes. Find his favorite styles and shop his favorite stores, and a fun gift could be some festive holiday boxers from Walmart or Target. Also popular among some men is

“the gift of grooming,” such as a kit for his beard you may or may not love. One local woodworker, MW Designs, has a variety of products for men at its Etsy page, which can be found at etsy.me/2Tj2zOz. There are items available there such as a handmade valet desk stand or a handmade wooden comb. For the sporty or adventurous man Bring on the sports. Does your man love to play sports? Get him some new equipment. Maybe it’s new workout clothes, his favorite pre-workout, or a new baseball bat. There are a variety of local sporting good stores to find the perfect fit for them. Another suggestion is to give something you can do together, like tickets to a special event, movie or comedy club. “Something they’ve talked about wanting to do,” Pickle said. “It doesn’t necessarily need to be on the day.” Plan something for the weekend following Valentine’s Day, or maybe even the next month. Is his favorite artist playing a con-

cert near you? Does he like to go beer or wine tasting? Make it simple and go for a hike and enjoy the outdoors, or take a trip to a nearby location he loves. “An adventure, something you don’t get to do everyday,” Pickle said. “It could be in the future or before Valentine’s Day.” Find meaning in simple gifts Want to do something simple? Spend time together, whether it be at home, a night out or a getaway. And of course, some of these ideas work for either sex, like spending the night in watching a movie and cooking a meal together, or the aforementioned letter, Pickle said. “Tell them how important they are to you. Say what you don’t get to say everyday.” The most important thing to remember is what the day is all about, she added — love and spending time with one another. “Show your love in different ways,” Pickle said. For more information about Elite Connections Matchmaking, go to Eliteconnections.com. 

earlier in the week to surprise her.” Make the card say, “I just couldn’t wait,” she suggested. “Everyone in the office sees them.” Claire’s Flowers specializes in custom deliveries. “Make a statement,” Middleton said. “Right now, (the romantics) are saying, ‘Be a hero and gift your Valentine a year of flowers,” she said, referring to a monthly flower delivery option. Claire’s Flowers is located at 27019 Santa Clarita Road, and can be reached at (661)297-4023. Something Sweet Another suggestion from the pros: Let her enjoy a treat, and buy her something sweet. A box of chocolate hearts, or a bouquet of fruit from Edible Arrangements is a great treat that can be added to any gift. A teddy bear or, if you can spend a little more, jewelry for a traditional touch. Pamper Her Does your girl like to get her nails or hair done? Make her feel like a princess and send her to the salon before taking her to dinner. “Get something they may enjoy,” Pickle said. “Put in some effort and think about it.” While Valentine’s Day falls on a Thursday, which is a workday for many, a gift certificate to the salon or a massage is a great idea that can be scheduled for a later date. Make her feel beautiful and feel confident, and if you know her size, lingerie can be a romantic option. “They get a better feeling about themselves,” said Lisa Szeto, owner of Pinned Up, a lingerie pop-up shop in Santa Clarita. “The focus is on helping women get that personalized attention for the fit for them.” Pinned Up is completely mobile and carries sizes from 28 to 46 bra band and up to a K cup. “It takes the frustration of finding your size,” Szeto said. Not every store carries every size, and if you don’t know her size, a gift certificate can be a less stressful option. ”It’s a gift certificate with a service,” Szeto said. “Now through Valentine’s Day, (the certificate) includes a free fitting.” Information about Pinned Up can be found at pinnedupbras.com, or by contacting Szeto at Info@PinnedUpBras.com or 661-390-3677. 

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Last-minute getaways to celebrate Valentine’s Day from one of the five authentic bakeries, shop through 150 boutiques and sample some wine and beer in one of the 20 downtown tasting rooms. Visit historic churches, get outside and take a tour, ride a horse or play a round of golf at a nearby golf course. Dine at international and winecountry cuisine restaurants and spend a night or two at a local hotel. For more information about visiting Solvang go to www.solvangusa.com.

By Michele Lutes Signal Staff Writer

alentine’s Day falls on Thursday this year, right before a holiday weekend, making it perfect for a last-minute getaway, whether it is a day trip or a weekend trip. Here are a few nearby places where you and your sweetheart can spend celebrating this year.

Mountain Getaway

Big Bear (About a 2 hours, 30 minutes drive from Santa Clarita, off of Highway 18) If you’re looking for snow, or maybe looking to learn to ski, this resort is a great romantic getaway for two. Bear Mountain and Snow Summit, renowned for their mountain biking, hiking and golf in the summer, turns into a winter wonderland for skiing and snowboarding when the weather cools. “We’re known as SoCal’s snow capital,” said Justin Kanton, marketing manager for Big Bear Mountain Resort. With two slopes, the resort caters to all skill levels. “We’re calling it the season to learn,” he said. Snow Summit is more family-centric, and Bear Mountain has more terrain for more advanced skiers and snowboarders, Kanton said. The resort offers lessons for skiers and snowboarders age 4 and up, Kanton said. “We pride ourselves on our teaching staff.” There are events offered through presidents day weekend, including night sessions and Movies in the Meadow. Multiple lodging options are available on and off the mountain. For more information on events, ticket pricing and lodging options, go to www.bigbearmountainresort.com. Snow Summit is located at 880 Summit Blvd., Big Bear Lake.

Beach Getaways

From the snow to the sand, whether you head north or south, there are many places to get your toes in the water. Long Beach (About 1 hour, 30 minute drive from Santa Clarita, off of 405 South) Start your weekend early and head

Desert Getaways down to Long Beach for a four-course meal and room package offered by Hotel Maya. “Be Maya Valentine” Room is based on availability from Feb. 13-17. The package starts at $289 plus tax, per night, and is valid for two guests in a room, according to the hotel. “Valentine’s Day guests can enjoy the live romantic sounds of Fuego’s solo guitarist, affectionately drink champagne on Fuego’s seaside patio or relax at the many cozy waterside fire-pits located throughout the property,” said Greg Guthrie, general manager at Hotel Maya. “And Hotel Maya’s ‘Be Maya Valentine’ offers guests the chance to stay the night or the weekend while celebrating this special day of love.” The four-course meal will be served at Fuego’s, prepared by Executive Chef Victor Juarez. Hotel Maya is located at 700 Queensway Drive, Long Beach. For additional information or to make room reservations, please call 562-435-7676; for dinner reservations, call (562) 481-3910. San Diego (About a 3-hour drive from Santa Clarita, off of 5 South) You can find another beach getaway by heading south to San Diego. Check out Balboa Park, a multiattraction, 1,200-acre lot with 17 museums, a garden and the San Diego Zoo. You can also head into SeaWorld, where you can see marine life shows and get up-close with some of the animals. As the night falls, stroll through the Gaslamp Quarter before heading back to your hotel. For more information about things to do and places to stay, visit sandiego. org.

Wine tasting getaways

Joshua Tree (About a 2 hour, 30 minutes drive from Santa Clarita, off the 10 East) Are you a couple that likes the outdoors? Take a hike in Joshua Tree National Park. Explore Jumbo Rocks Campground, the Barker Dam or Coachella Valley Preserve. “During the shutdown of the federal government due to a lapse of appropriations, some areas of Joshua Tree National Park will remain accessible, but all park events are cancelled,” according to the park’s website. For more information on things to do in Joshua Tree go to www.nps.gov/ jotr.

Solvang (About a 2 hour drive from Santa Clarita, off of State Route 154) Stroll through Solvang, catching all the must see and do spots. Try some tasty Danish pastries

Las Vegas (About a 4 hour, 30 minute drive from Santa Clarita, off of 15 North) They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Enjoy an overnight or two stay on the vegas strip, gamble and shop. Go out dancing or see a show. Also go off the strip for some adventure. Go up in the air in a hot air balloon or play some Top Golf. For more information about visiting Las Vegas, go to www.visitlasvegas. com. 

Catalina Island

Drive to one of the four ports: San Pedro, Long Beach, Newport Beach or Dana Point. Then jump on a boat for an hour to get to the island, or take a 15-minute helicopter ride. Helicopter services are available from Long Beach, San Pedro, Burbank Airport and John Wayne Airport. Zip line on the island as you take in ocean views or go on an underwater expedition. Take a fun adventure and watch for dolphins on the High Seas or enjoy the Descanso Beach Club. For more information about Catalina Island, go to visitcatalinaisland. com. Temecula (About a 2 hour, 10 minute drive from Santa Clarita, off the 15 South) Something for him and for her? Take an off road journey to multiple wineries with Temecula Valley Jeep and Wine Tours. “Our Signature Tour includes a gourmet lunch and evening tours include complimentary appetizers,” according to the companies webpage. “All tours include tastings at 3 awardwinning wineries, crush pad and barrel room tours and safe off-road run.” Group tours are offered on weekdays and weekends, as well as private tours for just you and your sweetheart. For more information or to book your tour, visit www.temeculajeeptours.com.

Palm Springs (About a 2 hour, 15 minute drive from Santa Clarita, off the 10 East) Relax at a desert resort or hike and horseback ride in the indian canyons. You can Airbnb or book a hotel room while you enjoy the desert weather. Shop boutiques or eat a locally owned restaurants. For more information about visiting palm springs go to www.visitpalmsprings.com.

J A N UA RY 27, 2019

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