Sunday Signal February 7, 2021

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Celebrating Love in the SCV Pages 5 & 7

FEBRUARY 7, 2021

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MEAL-PREP KITS MAKE THINGS EASY

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F E B R UA RY 7, 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NEWS FEATURES

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5 Finding that perfect Valentine’s Day date 6 Meal prep kits make cooking simpler and fun 7 ‘Tis the season for love, happiness and togetherness

HEALTH 8 8 Is micellar water worth the health, beauty hype?

FROM THE CITY MANAGER

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9 Maintaining our safe Santa Clarita community

TECHNOLOGY/PUZZLE

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1 0 Why getting tech savvy doesn’t have to be hard Crossword Puzzle

FOOD 11 1 1 Decadence for your special Valentine’s Day Red Velvet Mug Cake Ganache is the perfect drizzle

ENTERTAINMENT 12 12 Two Netflix offers: ‘The Dig’ and ‘Penguin Bloom’

SENIOR LIVING

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REAL ESTATE

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13 Staying connected after an assisted living move 14 How you can afford a retirement community

HOME 15 15 How to tackle deep-cleaning tasks around the house

GARDENING 16 16 Drainage is important

KIDS & FAMILY

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1 7 Donna’s Day: Brighten your home Junior Whirl Get the Picture Animal Fact

OPINION 19

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Enjoy year-round living with central air and heating. A workshop shed is out back for storage, home projects or hobby enthusiasts.

Not included in the square footage is a detached bonus room measuring approximately 19’ x 10’ with 2 entries, upgraded electrical and equipped with cable and gas, and is perfect for guests, kids and pets. This turn-key home offers a quiet lifestyle, yet is centrally located Northeast of Santa Clarita with easy access to the 405, 5, 210 and 14 freeways. Priced to sell! Hurry this home won’t last!

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SignalSCV. com

Publisher Sunday Signal Editor Signal Editor Production Manager

Richard Budman Perry Smith Tim Whyte Doña Uhrig

26330 Diamond Place, Suite 100 | Santa Clarita, CA 91350

661-259-1234 The entire content of the Sunday Signal is copyrighted 2021 by Paladin Multi-Media Group, Inc. All submitted letters and columns are strictly the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the publisher. All rights are reserved and no part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. If you would not like this delivered to your home, please call (661) 259-1000.

F E B R UA RY 7, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 5

Finding that perfect Valentine’s Day date

By Perry Smith Sunday Signal Editor

Town Center Drive. It can be reached at (661) 222-9999.

ometimes the nicest Valentine’s Day dates can be the simplest: you and your loved one, a nice meal, perhaps a favorite bottle of wine and, maybe, if you’re lucky, a nice view, too, or a table at your favorite restaurant.

If you’re someone who appreciates the great outdoors, there’s lots of romantic spots in the SCV where you can host a picnic.

But now with the return of outdoor dining, there are a number of options where you can take that special someone for a candlelight dinner, whether it’s under a tent, on a patio or you decide to take it to go.

The good news is, Friday night, the forecast calls for temperatures that could reach the low 70s and dip into the 50 degrees range at night, with clear skies. Unfortunately, there is a decent chance (40%) of rain Saturday night, which increases Sunday evening (66%), according to the forecast. But the silver lining to the clouds and COVID-19 is that due to the large-scale shutdown and then reopening, and the space limitations put on restaurants, more and more places are planning on first-come, first-served seating — so you have a better-than-usual chance of getting a table this close to the holiday.

The Old Town Junction

S

Salt Creek Grille

“We’ll have plenty of room,” said Salt Creek Grille owner Greg Amsler, whose restaurant is one of several always mentioned as top date spots in the Santa Clarita Valley.

The mall-adjacent spot has an intimate outdoor patio area with heating lamps perfect for a cozy, intimate dinner, and a killer menu planned for Cupid’s big day.

“We’re doing our regular menu, which you can find online, and also we have a takeout special which are dinners for two,” he added, mentioning a filet mignon that comes with a shrimp and scallop skewer as a “surf and turf ” combo, as well as a lobster ravioli special.

The specials come with sides, a house salad and, of course, a red velvet lava cake for the holiday.

Salt Creek Grille is located at 24415

N E W S F E AT U R E

The Old Town Junction also earns a spot at the top of date restaurants due to its upscale feeling and very walkable surroundings on Main Street in Newhall — as long as the weather abides.

Chef Daniel Otto remained tightlipped about the special price fixe menu being planned for Valentine’s Day weekend, which is set to be available Friday, Saturday and Sunday, in case you want to celebrate all weekend — or would prefer to get in on Friday before the weather gets a little wetter.

The restaurant usually advertises its special deals on the restaurant’s Instagram account. You can follow them at @OldTownJunction.

The Old Town Junction is located at 24275 Main St. It can be reached at (661) 702-4888.

Piccola Trattoria

Piccola Trattoria is taking reservations, and as one of Canyon Country’s more romantic spots for dinner — and always a top contender for Best Italian Dinner in the SCV — there’s a decent chance they might be filled.

But the restaurant has a great selection of wines, an outdoor setup perfect for a date and a great selection of very authentic Italian cuisine.

The restaurant is planning to offer its regular, excellent a la carte menu, which is also available online.

Piccola Trattoria is located at 18302 Sierra Highway. It can be reached at (661) 299-6952,

Bella Vida SCV Senior Center fun

If you’re looking for a place where you can still cut a rug and dance the night away, the Senior Center has a daytime Valentine’s Day event planned just for you and your significant other.

The Valentine’s car concert being hosted by the Senior Center is an inyour-car dance party with Doc RockIt to celebrate Valentine’s eve.

Doc Rock-It is a cover band that plays songs everyone loves from the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s.

The event is free to attend, but those wishing to do so must register

Mandy Meeks, general manager at The Old Town Junction, lays out a setting for Valentine’s Day outdoor dining, complete with floral arrangement by White Fig Designs, a florist located right behind the restaurant on Walnut Street — should you find yourself in need of flowers for the occasion. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

online or by calling the Senior Center.

The concert is scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb 13.

The SCV Senior Center is located at 27180 Golden Valley Road. It can be reached at (661) 259-9444.

Something different?

If you decide to forgo the restaurant route, there are Valentine’s Day options that won’t break the bank:

A hike and a picnic

While this might be a better option for Saturday, due to the weather. But Santa Clarita has countless places where you can take someone you care about for an intimate dinner.

The Hike Santa Clarita app can tell you how to get to a number of secluded spots, including a waterfall at Whitney Canyon, which is a reward for the 2.9-mile hike. If you’re looking for something closer, there’s also a few parks that overlook the SCV.

Get creative

Pinot’s Palette in Granary Square offers a place where couples can sit

down and enjoy a couple hours together, as well as a nice glass of wine, too.

Pinot’s Palette is located at 25850 McBean Parkway. The phone number is (661) 260.0846 Board & Brush and Painting with a Twist offer a similarly fun and tactile experience that can be a fun way to share your love.

Board & Brush is located at 24417 Main St. The phone number is (661) 202-3044. Painting with a Twist is located at 24201 West Valencia Blvd Space No. 3422. The phone number is (661) 414-6454.

Virtual show/movie night

With theaters, live shows and movies not necessarily an option at the moment, you might be able to find fun virtual events.

However, you may just consider take-out from any of the restaurants mentioned here and a relaxing evening at home. But, don’t forget to add in your favorite cocktails. 

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F E B R UA RY 7, 2021

N E W S F E AT U R E

Meal prep kits make cooking simpler and fun

By Taylor Villanueva Signal Staff Writer

T

he stress of cooking can be overwhelming —traveling to the grocery store, searching the aisles for the correct ingredients, time spent cooking and then there’s the cleanup.

Sometimes, there are other challenges like wasted ingredients or hard to follow recipes. These are just a few of the reasons why meal-kit services that get delivered right to your door make the whole process easier and more fun.

Sun Basket, Home Chef and Plated are a few of the many meal kit services people are using today. Not only are there many companies to choose from based on individual taste and dietary restrictions, but each company offers different delivery plans.

“Adults between ages 25 and 44 are twice as likely to use fresh meal-subscription services,” according to market research group packagedfacts. com.

A Harris Poll showed that 1-in-4 adults purchased some type of meal kit delivery service in 2016. A third market research group, Statista, reports that revenue for the industry is “expected to grow to over $10 billion in 2020 from one billion in 2015.”

There’s a number of factors that make the services popular among professionals and young families, and there are also some things you should know if you’re thinking about a mealprep option.

“The meals are delicious,” said Ann Sayegh, who’s been using Blue Apron on and off for a few years. “With the exception of a few … they were all delicious.”

Sayegh explains that her choice to use Blue Apron’s services came when she realized the grocery store’s portions were too big for her.

“It’s much easier than going to the store and less wasteful,” she says. “For a single-person home, it makes sense because you don’t have to buy regular portions and then end up tossing the stuff that goes bad if you don’t use it.”

The meals come with all the ingredients to make the food and cooking instructions.

Sayegh says that there are other perks to using the meal subscription.

“They have promos all the time,” she said. “For me, it’s affordable, but I also don’t order it every week.’

The pricing for Blue Apron meals starts at $9.99 per serving with a minimum of two servings per meal.

Sarah Witten has been a fan of the meal kit service HelloFresh since she started using it recently.

“I liked it because it was so simple,” Witten said. “Everything was already included and I didn’t have to think

every night about what I should eat for dinner.”

She explains how, for her, HelloFresh was easier than going to the store.

“Especially if it is on auto-ship because it just shows up at your door,” she said.

Some of the meals she received were for Southwestern stuffed peppers; chicken with roasted rosemary potatoes, onions and broccolini; and

a pork luau burger with a side salad.

“The food was absolutely delicious, too,” she added.

One of her favorite meals was the chicken with roasted rosemary potatoes because she says she has “never had crispier chicken skin” in her life.

Despite loving the ease of the service, Witten made the choice to cancel her subscription.

“I ended up canceling my subscription because I’m just one person and it was too much food,” she says.

“I think for a family that gets the family box or a couple, it is definitely affordable.”

Witten says another drawback to the service is that some of the cooking times were not accurate.

“They always advertise that it’s dinner in 30 minutes or less, and it never took me 30 minutes,” Witten said. “It always took me 45 minutes to an hour.”

She speculates that the cooking might have taken the predicted amount of time if there had been a second person helping her chop and prepare the ingredients.

“Just me alone, it took longer,” she said.

HelloFresh is similar to Blue Apron in that customers must order a minimum of two recipes per week. Each recipe serves either two or four people.

Meal kit services provide fresh ingredients and cooking instructions delivered to your door.

HelloFresh provides vegetarian options along with regular protein options. Services start at $8.99 per serving for two people before shipping costs. Family plans start at $7.49 per serving before shipping.

Sun Basket promises organic and sustainable produce. Meal plans for the family menu start at $10.99 per serving, while meals from the classic menu start at $11.99 per serving.

Home Chef provides a personalized food survey to assess which types of meals the customer would enjoy.

Home Chef offers meals for $9.95 per serving before shipping. 

F E B R UA RY 7, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 7

N E W S F E AT U R E

‘Tis the season for love, happiness and togetherness

By Perry Smith Sunday Signal Editor

E

ven under normal conditions, finding love can be a daunting task.

You have to find someone whom you have an attraction to, whom you trust, who trusts you, who gets your sense of humor, someone you share values with, etc., etc.

And as anyone who’s ever watched “The Bachelor,” “The Bachelorette,” “90-Day Fiance” and “Married at First Sight” can attest, even if you find someone, it doesn’t mean you’ll be able to build that special connection.

And even moreso than usual, any chance encounter with a stranger — no matter how seemingly welcome — poses a bit more risk these days than it might have in the past, due to COVID-19.

Despite the proliferation of dating apps, everything from the well-known and widely used Bumble and Tinder, to the lesser known and more niche apps like CoffeeMeetsBagel and Tastebuds — which allows you to match with people based on musical tastes and shared music — many find dating and finding a match has actually become more difficult in the last 10 years.

So if this is you, ironically, you’re not alone.

In fact, almost half of American adults — and most women surveyed — say dating has become

What is a healthy relationship?

W

hile everyone has their own reasons and special relationship with their loved one, it’s important that your a healthy relationship have the following hallmarks, according to HelpGuide.org.

In a strong, healthy relationship you should: ❦❦ maintain a meaningful emotional connection with each other. Do you emotionally fulfill each other and make your partner feel loved?. ❦❦ are able respectfully disagree. You and your significant other should be able to have a healthy disagreement on a topic, without a fight, insult or retaliation resulting from the disagreement. ❦❦ keep outside relationships and interests alive.

While a couple should have shared interests and friends, it’s important each person maintain their own identity with friends and family, as well as his or her interests. ❦❦ communicate openly and honestly. This means both people are open and honest about what they’re looking for from the relationship, as well as being comfortable talking about needs and wants. 

Cody Pascual and Brittany Sanders enjoy a couples picnic at Hart Park in Newhall. The two met on Valentine’s Day last year, their love developed during the quarantine and the two recently announced their engagement.

PHOTOS BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

harder in the last 10 years, according to Pew Research Center data from August.

Fortunately right now, it’s prime “dating season,” according to cyber-dating expert Julie Spira, and there are virtually, as they say, countless ways to connect, as well as lessons to be learned from experts and others who’ve found love.

Dating season

Even as we appear to round the corner with COVID-19 thanks to help from vaccines and precautions, who knows what the “new normal” will be — especially on the dating scene.

But the time is right to find that special someone, according to the experts, who noted that we’re in the middle of prime time for Cupid to work his magic.

“Starting the beginning of January through Valentine’s Day is still considered peak season in the dating business,” according to Spira, who also cyber datingexpert.com. “The countdown to Valentine’s Day is a very real thing — we put a lot of pressure on ourselves.”

Real connections

While virtual connections are on the rise, the “real” reality is, there’s no substitute for intimacy and human connections, and that’s what many people are looking for, Spira said — whether they’re searching online, at a bar or at the library.

On Spira’s site, DatingintheageofCovid19.com, she cites the results of a poll she has up: More than 83% of site people want a long-term relationship, while about 13% have put love on hold and only a

small fraction: “can’t wait to get back to hooking up like I did before,” per the survey.

“Everybody wants to be safe on a date, women especially, but now it’s taken it to a higher level,” said Spira, referencing how people are not only worried about being vulnerable emotionally, but also, the pandemic.

“It’s an enormous change to the way that, not just the way that people are dating, but they’re taking their own personal inventory as far as what they’re looking for,” Spira said. “People are more than ever looking for a meaningful relationship.”

Which means that if you’re honest about what you’re looking for, a good person and ready to woo and be wooed, you might be in luck.

“The courting process has really come back in a great way,” Spira said, noting that among her clients and what she sees, people are OK with taking things a little slower and more cautiously for a number of reasons, and that can really help a relationship build.

‘Dating with intent’

Spira thinks a video date chat is a great way to get to know someone and become comfortable in a lower-pressure setting, which can really help with the anxiety many feel around dating or putting themselves out there.

“I think it’s really an important element that makes people feel safe and helps people stay connected,” Spira said of video dating, “and I truly See DATING, page 18

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F E B R UA RY 7, 2021

H E A LT H

Is micellar water worth the health and beauty hype?

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icellar water is a popular beauty trend that many are touting as a potential replacement for cleaning and moisturizing supplies. Those who are unfamiliar with micellar water may wonder how it can revamp their wellness routines.

Chemistry at the root of micelles

The story behind micellar water begins with a cursory lesson in chemistry. Micelles are chemical structures that contain both hydrophilic and hydrophobic structures. Hydrophilic parts will mix in with water and hydrophobic repel water and are also lipophilic, meaning they like to absorb oils.

Micelles form when there is an ideal temperature in the medium. In the case of micellar water, this is the water itself and a certain concentration of electrolytes, referred to as the Critical Micelle Concentration.

According to the beauty science resource Lab Muffin, a micelle is essentially a ball-shaped cluster of a bunch of surfactant molecules. Surfactants are the important ingredients in soaps, detergents, and shampoos. They help make oils and makeups soluble in water.

What do micelles do?

Micellar water has the viscosity of water and it

looks like water. But when feeling micellar water, people can tell that it feels softer and has a different texture than water. The idea is that water-loving “head” of the micelle will adhere to the water and cleansing cotton, while the oil-absorbing “tail” of the micelles are attracted to dirt and oil and can draw out impurities in the skin.

But micellar water is gentler than many surfactants used in cleansers, so it will work without irritation or drying out the skin. That is why it is often marketed as a facial wash, moisturizer and makeup

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Micellar water is not new. In fact, it has been around and used for more than 100 years, first gaining momentum in France, where it was designed to help Parisians deal with the harsh water in France.

When new soaps and lotions were developed through the years, micellar water fell out of favor in different areas of the world. However, it recently has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity and is attracting many new fans.

According to dermatologist and Simple® brand skincare expert Dr. Debra Luftman, micellar water is safe for all skin types and is designed to be used without having to wash off the product afterward.

It may not work well on waterproof mascara or other stubborn eye makeup, and people with oily skin may find it isn’t thorough at removing all oil.

Micelle tails can only hold on to so much grime; therefore, it may take a few fresh passes to get skin extra clean.

Earlier incarnations of micellar water were only available in France, but manufacturers elsewhere have jumped on the craze. Micellar water can now be found in many retail shops as well as online.

(MC) 

F E B R UA RY 7, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 9

FROM THE CITY MANAGER

Maintaining our safe Santa Clarita community

By Ken Striplin City Manager

N

ational organizations release rankings of Top Cities each year based on various metrics.

Without fail, the City of Santa Clarita consistently ranks near the top of many lists.

While Santa Clarita is known throughout California and beyond as one of the healthiest, happiest and best places to raise a family, one designation that is of utmost importance to the City Council is when our community is recognized as being among the safest in the nation.

In fact, at the start of January, Santa Clarita was ranked as the 13th Safest City in America based on factors that include our local crime rate, the number of violent crimes experienced and the economic impact of those crimes on our community as a whole.

Earning this recognition does not come by happenstance. The City of Santa Clarita has a strong partnership with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station, and we continue to work with them to drive down crime. In fact, the crime rate in the City

hit record lows in 2018, 2019 and 2020 thanks to deputies’ hard work and the vigilance of our community.

One of the tactics our Sheriff ’s Department has taken to accomplish this is through conducting special enforcement operations that target specific problem areas. During these enforcements, deputies make many arrests on quality of life violations.

These violations include offenses such as drug offenses, public intoxication, battery and resisting arrest.

In December 2020, a new Los Angeles County District Attorney was sworn in. He issued nine new directives, which brought sweeping changes to

the criminal justice system and will greatly affect the quality of life in Santa Clarita. Offenses such as the aforementioned quality of life violations, will be rejected by the DA. This means the perpetrators will be arrested and then released shortly thereafter with no further action taken, and no consequences for the crimes committed.

When you add in the policy of not pursuing sentence enhancements for felonies and outright declining to prosecute a number of misdemeanor offenses entirely, these directives are sure to have a strong, negative impact on Santa Clarita’s public safety and overall quality of life.

These new policies threaten to erase the very quality of life that residents greatly value. I implore you to be informed on these issues – particularly how it affects our community – and make your voice heard, so Santa Clarita remains one of the safest cities in the nation. If you would like to share your concerns, you can reach out to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office at info@ da.lacounty.gov.

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

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1 0 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

CROSSWORD TIME

F E B R UA RY 7, 2021

TECHNOLOGY

Why getting tech savvy doesn’t have to be hard

M

ore than 12 million people are currently employed in tech-related occupations in the U.S., either as information technology (IT) professionals or employees of technology companies. Yet employer demand for tech workers is still strong in many markets and industries, including technology, financial services, manufacturing, retail, healthcare, government and education.

Unfortunately, misperceptions about tech occupations persist. People assume that in such jobs, you’re relegated to working alone writing software code or that you need to be a math genius or have an advanced academic degree to even get your foot in the door. These misperceptions can discourage qualified candidates from exploring career options in the IT field.

“Today’s IT professional plays a leading role in virtually every business and industry, identifying innovation and technologies that can determine the future of an organization,” says John McGlinchey, executive vice president for global certification with CompTIA, a nonprofit association for the IT industry.

“Companies are eager to hire people who communicate effectively, are comfortable working as part of a team and are creative in identifying how to use technology to make a business more efficient and profitable.”

In fact, 62% of executives surveyed for CompTIA’s “Workforce and Learning Trends 2020” report ranked soft skills such as relationship building, persuasion, integrity and confidence with equal importance to hard technical skills when it came to hiring for their tech workforce.

For anyone thinking about a career in tech, the best first step is to learn more about the technologies of today and tomorrow, and the occupations associated with these innovations.

Many free resources are available.

Here are three examples: The Future of Tech (www.futureof tech.org) is a growing library of resources on what’s new and what’s next in the world of technology.

Topics such as artificial intelligence,

augmented and virtual reality, big data and the internet of things are highlighted on the site, which is designed for anyone interested in learning more about technologies that are shaping the way we live and work.

The IT Career Roadmap (comptia. org/content/it-careers-path-roadmap) offers insights into a variety of career paths, including tech support, networking, cybersecurity, data and software and web development.

The IT Salary Calculator (www. comptia.org/content/it-salarycalculator) allows you to explore salary estimates for different tech occupations at different levels of expertise.

The calculator includes salary data from 400 different metropolitan areas covering 85% of the U.S. population, from an IT support specialist in Portland, Maine ($52,750) to a cybersecurity analyst in Portland, Ore. ($101,530).

“If you don’t believe technology is a viable career choice, consider all of the things you’ve done today that are made possible by technology — from the car you drive and the streaming entertainment channels you enjoy to a telehealth visit with your doctor and the ease and efficiency of online banking,” says McGlinchey.

The IT field is no longer a world of pocket protectors and motherboards.

With more people using more devices than ever before to stay connected to one another, industry experts say that today’s IT workforce is open for business for anyone with great curiosity, creativity, personality and versatility.

(SPT) 

F E B R UA RY 7, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 1

Decadence for your special Valentine’s Day

O

n the sweetest day of the year, a day full of flowers, love and sweets, Valentine’s Day is the ultimate opportunity to try a different dessert meant for two.

It’s hard to resist a perfectly blended, rose-red, luscious Red Velvet Mug Cake.

It’s the perfect size, with just a handful of instructions, and it’s easily cooked before your eyes in the microwave. That’s right, the microwave.

This mug cake is a simple way to make something delicious and keep the portions small.

Whether you have a small party, just you and your loved one or just simply want something easy and small, this quick treat is designed just for you.

Start by mixing all the dry ingredients into a large mug, including flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.

Then add milk, melted butter, vanilla and red food coloring. Use a spoon and stir the ingredients together until blended.

Mix powdered sugar and cream cheese then drop the mixture into the cake batter and mix once more. Microwave the mug for up to 3 minutes until your cake is baked.

Valentine’s Day means sharing with someone how much you care, and it’s difficult to find a better way than to share something sweet.

This dessert has Valentine’s Day written all over

FOOD

it, however, it can be enjoyed anytime throughout the year and is perfect for a late-night snack if you’re craving something sugary-sweet.

Find more recipes and dessert ideas for every celebration at Culinary.net.

Red Velvet Mug Cake

Servings: 1 6 tablespoons flour 2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon cocoa powder 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup milk 2 tablespoons butter, melted 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 30 drops red food coloring 3 tablespoons powdered sugar 1 tablespoon cream cheese, softened In 12-ounce mug, whisk flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Add milk, butter, vanilla and food coloring; mix until blended.

In small bowl, mix powdered sugar and cream cheese until smooth.

Drop cream cheese mixture into cake batter. Press into batter until covered.

Culinary.net

Microwave up to 3 minutes until cake is done. 

Ganache is the perfect drizzle for cake, ice cream

C

hocolate lovers rejoice come Valentine’s Day. Come February, it seems everywhere you look there are rich, chocolately treats just waiting to be devoured.

Individuals who fancy themselves adventurous in the kitchen may want to consider homemade chocolate recipes to entice their romantic partners.

Ganache, an indulgent chocolate creation, may seem like it requires a master class in chocolate making to create. However, ganache is simpler to create than chocolate lovers may think.

According to the chocolate experts at Coeur de Xocolat, there are various origin stories for ganache. In one such story, French chef Georges Auguste Escoffier, who would become the creator of choc-

1 cup heavy cream 1/8 teaspoon coarse salt Coarsely chop the chocolate and place in a heat-proof bowl.

Bring cream just to a boil over medium-high heat. Pour over the chocolate, and add salt. Let stand for 10 minutes (don’t stir — doing so will cool the ganache too quickly, making it grainy).

olate truffles, had his apprentice making pastry cream. That apprentice accidentally spilled hot cream into a bowl of expensive chopped chocolate. Escoffier yelled “ganache,” a derogatory term meaning “fool,” at the apprentice. But when Escoffier grabbed the bowl and began to stir it, he noticed an emulsion started to form and the cream and chocolate created a silky sauce that could be used for coating or glazing. When the mixture cooled and hardened, it

had a paste-like texture that could form balls. Escoffier coated the balls in cocoa powder and noticed they resembled mushroom truffles. Hence, chocolate truffles were born, as was delicious ganache.

Ganache is relatively easy to make.

Enjoy this version, courtesy of Martha Stewart kitchens.

Ganache Makes 1 1/2 cups 8 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate

Stir with a whisk until smooth and shiny to break up any pieces and emulsify the cream and chocolate.

Chocolate will often settle on the bottom or sides of the bowl. Scrape the dish with a rubber spatula to incorporate all of it.

To make a whipped filling or frosting with the ganache, let it cool to room temperature, stirring often, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Beat the ganache with a mixer on medium-high speed until paler and fluffy, 2 to 4 minutes.

This will yield about 2 cups. Use it as a filling or spread it over cakes. 

1 2 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

F E B R UA RY 7, 2021

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

Two Netflix offers: ‘The Dig’ and ‘Penguin Bloom’

By Richard Roeper Signal Contributing Writer

‘Penguin Bloom

‘The Dig’

Netflix presents a film directed

by Glendyn Ivin. Written by Shaun Grant and Harry Cripps, based on the book by Cameron Bloom and Bradley Trevor Greive. No MPAA rating.



 (out of four)

Netflix presents a film directed by Simon Stone. Written by Moira Buffini, based on the novel by John Preston.

Rated PG-13

“M

I

f Carey Mulligan’s showstopping performance in the provocative and very much of our times psychological thriller “Promising Young Woman” is the cinematic equivalent of a brilliant electric guitar solo, her work in the low-key, periodpiece Netflix drama “The Dig” is like an unplugged performance — on the opposite end of the spectrum, but still damn good and nearly as resonant.

What a gift we have with this opportunity to appreciate Mulligan’s range in these two films arriving within weeks of each other.

Based on a 2007 novel by John Preston that was inspired by the incredible true story of one of the most significant British archaeological finds ever, “The Dig” maintains a dignified and restrained approach, even when the material gets a little salacious in the form of not one but two “forbidden” romances.

Melodramatic relationship developments aside, this is primarily about the well-off widow Edith Pretty (Mulligan) and the skilled but relatively unschooled excavator and amateur archaeologist Basil Brown (Ralph Fiennes), who in 1939 is hired by Edith to poke around the mounds of earth on the property of her house at Sutton Hoo. With some of the location filming taking place in Suffolk, not far from the actual dig site, director Simon Stone provides splendid visuals — the rolling hills are beautiful, even though it always seems to be raining or about to rain — while the stoic Basil goes about his business, often accompanied by Edith’s precocious young son, Robert (Archie Barnes), who shares Basil’s fascination with astronomy and sees an obvious father figure in this good, solid, upstanding man. For a time, “The Dig” is a quiet little gem of a drama with only a few characters, but after Basil uncovers what appears to be an intact, seventh-

PHOTO COURTESY IMDB

century Anglo-Saxon ship with farranging historical and cultural implications, Sutton Hoo gets quite crowded with new characters and a myriad of subplots, most examining the classism and sexism of the era.

Basil’s former Ipswich Museum employers (Peter McDonald and Paul Ready) try to muscle him aside and claim the discovery, but THEY’RE soon big-footed by the insufferably condescending Charles Phillips (Ken Stott) from the British Museum, who declares the site under the control of Her Majesty’s whatever in the interest of the national cultural whatever, but thanks for your time, Basil!

Meanwhile, Edith’s charismatic and dashing cousin Rory (Johnny Flynn) shows up as if dropped in from a World War II movie; he’s enlisted in the Royal Air Force and can’t wait to be called to duty. And let’s not forget Lily James bringing her sunny presence to the countryside as Peggy, who is married to the young archaeologist Stuart (Ben Chaplin), who seems a lot more interested in hanging with the chaps in the pub after hours than with devoting any marital affection to Lily.

And we’re just now getting around to Edith’s persistent chest pains and failing health, uh-oh.

That’s a lot — maybe too much — to be wedged into a story about two fine people in Edith and Basil, who come to form an ironclad friendship after they make an amazing discovery.

Of course, they want to share it with the world, and they will share it with the world, but in some ways, it’ll always be their thing and theirs alone.

agpie Trainer: PAUL MANDER” — Prominent listing in the closing credits for “Penguin Bloom.”

Can’t remember the last time I saw a credit for a “Magpie Trainer” in a movie, but rest assured, Paul Mander deserves star billing for his behindthe-scenes work in the Netflix original movie “Penguin Bloom,” a three-tissue weeper based on the true story of a family fractured by a horrific accident — and the black-and-white Australian passerine who helped them heal.

In fact, this is one of those “inspired by real life events” movies that would have seemed completely far-fetched (or perhaps based on an illustrated children’s book) were it not for the fact the story is adapted from the best-selling non-fiction book “Penguin Bloom: The Odd Little Bird That Saved a Family,” by Bradley Trevor Greive and Cameron Bloom, the latter of whom wanted to share with the world the initially heartbreaking but ultimately soaring tale of what happened to his family after his wife, Sam, was left paralyzed from the chest down after falling from a hotel balcony in Thailand in 2013.

The invaluable Naomi Watts plays Sam Bloom. When we meet the Blooms, they’re enjoying an idyllic life in a beachside suburb of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. Sam and her husband, Cameron (Andrew Lincoln from “The Walking Dead”), and their young sons, Noah (Griffin Murray-Johnston), Reuben (Felix Cameron) and Oli (Abe Clifford-Barr) are a close-knit family, but when Sam leans against a railing with rotted wood on that aforementioned hotel roof and falls two stories to the unforgiving ground, she’s left paralyzed and deeply depressed, prone to fits of rage, lashing out at her supportive husband and retreating into herself just when the boys need her the most.

Enter one Penguin Bloom. Of course, the little magpie doesn’t have a name when the eldest son, Noah (who also serves as the narrator for the story), finds him alone on the beach and takes him home. The boys name the magpie “Penguin” because of his black-and-white plumage, but Sam cautions them not to get attached to this bird because he needs to be outside in the world, not confined to home and unable to fly. Hmmmm, can you spot the 800-pound metaphor in the room?

I’ve seen movie pups that don’t have as much personality as Penguin, who is portrayed by eight different magpies (guided by Paul Mander, Magpie Trainer) as he grows up and literally learns to spread his wings and fly. (A little bit of CGI magic is seamlessly sprinkled in here and there.) Director Glendyn Ivin shamelessly but effectively embraces virtually every possible comedic and dramatic possibility, whether Penguin is hopping about the house and knocking things over, getting trapped in a bin of honey (the Blooms are beekeepers, and why not), delighting the boys with his antics or pestering Sam, who at first wants nothing to do with this silly creature but inevitably comes to bond with Penguin in remarkable ways.

“Penguin Bloom” follows the ups and downs of many a movie about a tragedy that nearly destroys someone before resilience and love win the day.

Jacki Weaver pops in as the obligatory hovering mother, who nearly smothers Sam with all her fussing and concern but is at heart just a mom who wants her daughter not to give up on life, while Lincoln does steady work in the supportive spouse role, which always comes with that one scene where the partner who wasn’t injured blows up and says this has deeply affected HIM too.

Watts is such a chameleon of an actress, such a pro at slipping into a vast array of roles without drawing attention to the mechanics of her work, that we almost take for granted how damn good she is -- and she delivers beautiful and resonant work as Sam. It’s probably not easy to have a magpie as your co-star, even a magpie as amazing as Penguin Bloom. 

Copyright 2020 Chicago Sun-Times

F E B R UA RY 7, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 3

SENIORLIVING

Staying connected after an assisted living move

D

ecisions surrounding assisted living facilities are not always easy. Men and women may be reluctant to leave their homes while family members may be worried about how their aging loved ones will adjust to life in an assisted living facility.

Though modern assisted living facilities cater to residents with an array of needs and interests, the hesitation about whether or not to move into such a facility is understandable.

One of the concerns seniors and their families may have about assisted living facilities is how to remain in touch with loved ones. Thankfully, staying connected is easier than ever before.

That ease of connection has been on full display throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, during which aging men and women have been urged to limit contact with people outside their households in an effort to reduce their risk of contracting the virus. When the pandemic is in the rearview mirror, seniors can continue to employ various strategies to stay connected with their families after moving into an assisted living facility.

Embrace technology

It’s understandable that seniors are sometimes hesitant to utilize technology. Having spent much of their lives without smartphones and Zoom calls, it may seem like adjusting to a world where such things are now widely utilized will be incredibly difficult.

However, modern technology is user-friendly, meaning seniors won’t need much, if any, technical expertise or experience to utilize an assortment of devices that can help them stay in touch.

Ask a relative to show you the ropes of a new device or request that staff at the facility teach residents the basics of using devices to stay connected with family. Staff may help set up Zoom calls or help residents learn the ropes of texting.

Make a weekly communication commitment Work with family members to set up a time each week when you can communicate directly with them. If

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Many seniors have relied on technology like Zoom to stay connected with loved ones during the pandemic. Residents of assisted living facilities can continue to use such technology to maintain connections with their families.

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family lives nearby, this might take the form of a weekly family meal at a loved one’s home. If family lives too far away for routine in-person meals, set up a time each week for a family Zoom call.

Engage your interests

Continue to engage with your interests and fellow hobbyists. If you were an avid reader who loved to discuss and recommend books to your loved ones, then continue to do so after moving into an assisted living facility.

Sports fans who bonded with their loved ones over a shared passion for a favorite team can keep following their team and discussing the latest big game with their friends and family via email, texts or video calls.

Various studies have discovered the positive effects that hobbies can have on long-term physical and mental health. Staying engaged with your passions can keep lines of communication open with friends and family and benefit your overall health.

Keeping the lines of communication with loved ones open can help aging men and women as they transition to life in assisted living facilities.

(MC) 

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1 4 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

F E B R UA RY 7, 2021

R E A L E S TAT E

How you can afford a retirement community

A

re you retired or approaching retirement age? You may be thinking about the best options for where to live moving forward.

You may be surprised to learn that there can be financial advantages to moving to a retirement community.

Here’s what you need to know: Your care needs may change Choosing a “continuing care retirement community” means that you will have options within a continuum of care, so you’ll be taken care of no matter what your needs are, and how they may change over time. This can make it much easier — and much less costly — to transfer from an independent living situation all the way to receiving any level of care that you may need in the future.

It may be more affordable than you expect While many CCRCs require a significant entrance fee, most of the time that fee is almost fully refundable at

the end of the contract, meaning that you get money back if you decide to move somewhere else or your family inherits money when you pass.

It’s important to review the different types of contracts that are available to you within the CCRC model.

The sale of your home can help pay the entrance fee for this model, and if you add up all the costs of living in your home now, you may find that a retirement community is actually much more affordable than you thought — especially if you need or may soon need in-home care as well.

Your current expenses probably include items such as: • Homeowners insurance • Property taxes • Utilities • Lawn service • Home maintenance and repairs • Mortgage and/or association fees • Cable, internet and phone • Recycling and sanitation Once you total up these costs, re-

member that at a retirement community you won’t have any of these expenses or worries.

Tax benefits may apply Everyone’s situation is unique, so you should always consult your personal tax advisor for specific advice before making a move. However, there are potential tax benefits you should be aware of when making your decision.

For example, residents of entry-fee retirement communities may be eligible to deduct a portion of the entry fee and possibly monthly fees as well, depending on the type of contract offered by that community.

Some CCRCs offer assistance Many CCRCs can help you find bridge financing to help bridge the time between the sale of your current home and moving in to the community, among other possible financial resources.

“Check with the community you’re interested in to find out about finan-

cial options they may have that may not be advertised,” advises Jill Trapp, marketing director for The Spires.

“For example, we work with potential residents on finding creative solutions to help with their financial needs.”

Moving in sooner may save you Over the long term, the sooner you make your move to a CCRC, the less expensive it will be. Many communities offer an easy-to-use online calculation tool that can help you determine if moving there would be a good financial fit for you. To evaluate your situation, try out the Affordability Calculator offered by The Spires at Retireatberry.com/pricing/afforda bility-calculator.

Making any move can be challenging, but continuing care retirement communities are focused on helping you relax and enjoy this time of your life to the fullest. To learn more about some of your options, visit Retireat Berry.com. (BPT) 

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S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 5

HOME

How to tackle deep-cleaning tasks around the house

Y

ou know it must be done, but you just don’t want to. It’s been on the to-do list for far too long. You may try to ignore it, dodge it or even cover it up. It’s your mess nemesis - your least-favorite cleaning task and you dread having to tackle it.

Not all cleaning is equal

While some people enjoy cleaning more than others, everyone can agree that not all cleaning tasks are created equal. In fact, 88% of American adults have a least-favorite cleaning task, according to a new survey from the makers of home cleaning brand CLR (pronounced “clear”). When asked to liken their least-favorite cleaning task to a person, 33% of Americans said it’s like a scam caller. When asked to choose between activities, almost half (43%) would rather go to the dentist than handle their least-favorite cleaning task.

Cleaning during quarantine

Considering the extra time people are spending at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, messes are more frequent and can quickly become bothersome. The frequency of cleaning has increased for most Americans over the past several months, but Americans are, understandably, split on their level of cleaning productivity during this time: 53% have

tackled a cleaning task they’ve been avoiding for years during the pandemic and 42% have avoided at least one cleaning task during the pandemic.

Tips for conquering a mess nemesis

Whether it’s soap scum, mildew, rust, stinks, stains or spills, it’s time to show your mess nemesis you mean business. Follow these tips to get the job done right: Set a date It’s easy to keep avoiding tasks you loathe, so set a time for when you plan to focus on cleaning and be specific. For example, at 10 a.m. Saturday you’re finally giving the boot to that lime and calcium buildup on the shower door. Put on some cleaning clothes, play some motivational music and focus

on getting the job done once and for all.

Stock ample supplies Stock necessities, such as sponges, scrubbers and rags, before diving into any cleaning mission. Having the right supplies for the specific job makes tasks simpler. Use proper cleaning formulations for your task, such as the CLR line that has products designed to get rid of the grime in areas of the home, from the kitchen and bathroom to the patio, garage and beyond.

Follow directions and use safer products Always follow the directions on any product to ensure you get the results you want without making the mess worse or damaging the items. Use products that clean effectively without unnecessary use of harsh chemicals. Look for products approved by the EPA Safer Choice Program, meaning they’re recognized as a safer alternative to traditional cleaning options that rely on the use of harsh chemicals to be effective, such as bleach.

Rally the troops Whether it’s a big mess that requires multiple sets of hands or a tough mess that requires a few people strategizing, help can make a big difference. Even if you need to focus on the mess nemesis while other people handle regular household chores, this can keep things moving forward thanks to teamwork. Get your partner, spouse, kids or roommates in on the action.

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1 6 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

F E B R UA RY 7, 2021

GARDENING

Drainage may not sound exciting but it’s important

By Jane Gates Signal Staff Writer

A

good way for you and your landscape to start off 2021 might be expanding your living space outdoors. It can be exciting to start a new project — so exciting it’s easy to rush into the fun, skipping the forethought and preparation.

But, like everything else in life, doing a job right the first time will make the experience great (and in this case, a chance to save money and frustration by avoiding future disasters).

Start out with good drainage This is the foundation for your new outdoor world.

You can call in a landscaping company to handle the job or you can do it yourself. Here is a little guidance for those of you who are up for a little money-saving exercise.

Ideal digging conditions with hard or clay soils are several days after rain when soil is soft, but not wet. If there is no rain, slowly water the areas you will be digging so the water can seep down and moisten areas below.

Place drainage at the lowest point(s) of your backyard All general land surfaces should have a slope of at least 2% toward your drainage area.

Look for a swale A swale is simply a mild depression in the land that will conduct water away from the house.

Most properties built in the last few decades, were constructed with one.

If you have no swale, look for the lowest point in the lay of your backyard ground surface. This is where water will normally pool making it the best place for placing drains.

Dig a trench that follows the existing swale or create your own using the low areas of your yard. This will be the collection area for the water to flow.

Make sure the channel you create is at least six feet away from the walls

This is an example of two pipes draining out to a street.

of your house. The drainage needs to cross your backyard and angle down the side of your house to open onto a street or other drainage area.

Ideally, you should run exiting drainage down both sides of a backyard to make a “U” shape leading past either side of the house and down to the street.

Putting together the drainage is the easier part of the job. Lay 3-inch corrugated, perforated or unperforated pipe made specifically for this purpose into your trench at a depth of six inches or more. You can use

prefabricated connectors to extend pipes or to turn corners.

Slot tee joints along the drainage pipe at least every ten feet, especially where the pipe lines at their deepest levels. Either end of the tee will join the two parts of the main line pipe together.

Point the stem of the tee upward toward the sky. The open end of the tee should rise up level to the bottom of the swale. Then slot a preformed drainage grid over the open part of the pipe. The grid will keep leaves, stones and other materials from pouring into the pipe.

There are plenty of how-to diagrams available online or in printed materials. Depending on your soil, rocks and tree roots, the digging can be the greatest challenge.

For more information about gardening in the Santa Clarita Valley, visit Jane Gates on YouTube at https://you tube.com/user/Janieg8s. 

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F E B R UA RY 7, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 7

K I D S & FA M I LY

Donna’s Day: Creative Family Fun

Brighten your home, sweep away the winter blahs

By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer

E

xcept for stray pine needles hiding between sofa cushions and underneath area rugs, our holiday decor with all its warm scents, glitter and glow is out of mind, now stored away for 11 months in our chilly attic.

I miss the sparkle of it all, especially during these long, dark, winter days when I need an extra push to get outside for a charge of energy. While it will take many weeks to pick up more hours of daylight, I’m all for tricking my mind into thinking it’s spring, even when it’s not.

If you are on the same mission, think “perky” with these easy tips and tricks to brighten your home and sweep away the “blahs.”

er or table. First, pick up a bouquet of the springiest of flowers, tulips! Let the kids trim the stems and arrange them in a bright container. How about a teapot? It doesn’t have to sit on a stove all the time, after all. Think toys, too. A bright-yellow truck can haul a fresh new mini pot of growing ivy into the arrangement. Set a few packets of 2021 veggie seeds in the cab as a reminder of outdoor gardening fun on the horizon.

Find new uses for everyday items You and your kids can create a bright arrangement on your kitchen count-

Clear the clutter and move things around Get rid of stuff that’s no longer used or useful. Give away and

recycle books, old and broken toys and furniture. While you are at it, rearrange beds, desks and bookcases together in your kids’ rooms. What child doesn’t love the feeling of waking up the next morning to a new look?

It’s also refreshing on the eyes to move living-room and family-room furniture. Do it while the kids are at school, and watch their eyes pop when they walk in the door.

Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.”  © 2020 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Synd.

Wash windows This one sounds like work, but it’s worth it. Grab squeegees, newspaper and rags to scrub and wipe away the grime. It’s amazing how looking through a clean window will brighten everyone’s day!

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 Donna’s Day Facebook fan page.

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F E B R UA RY 7, 2021

N E W S F E AT U R E

DATING

Continued from page 7

believe that once our pandemic issues are behind us, people are going to continue to video date.”

But really, whether you’re video dating, ready to take the risk in person or working with a dating expert like Spira, the most important thing you can do is be honest with yourself first about what you’re looking for in a relationship, she added.

“I call it ‘dating with intention,’” Spira said, adding that people should not only document what they’re looking for, but also their “deal-breakers.”

“You need to be realistic,” she cautioned. “If you have 50 things on your deal-breaker list — you’re probably going to be a difficult date and you might need to be single.”

The experts also encourage people to have fun with the process, and not to be afraid to date outside of your existing social circle or brave the dating world beyond the Newhall Pass.

What it takes

“There are tons of dating and relationship apps that can put you in the marketplace, but they can’t tell you what the healthy ingredients are, they can’t tell you which things are going to be best for you in the long run,” said Collette Gee, who works with those dating, as well as those in relationships with her site findinghappily.com.

“People have become so dependent on social media, on online publications, apps and (the online and virtual space) that we sort of have to associate ourselves from the real reality and connections that it actually takes for us to cultivate a happy, healthy, meaningful relationship,” Gee said, noting that she works with many of her clients, men and women, on their interpersonal communication skills, and making in-person encounters feel less awkward.

“So, how do you create a connection, find love in the time of Corona(virus)?” she asked rhetorically.

“You’ve got to think outside the box.”

Gee noted that if someone is very comfortable using social media, then are there ways you can engage on social media that can lead to an offline, in-person encounter?

Likening a virtual social event to a new type of hangout, where you can

invite someone, and then develop a familiarity and comfort level with them through conversation. If you like cooking, try meeting someone in an online cooking class; if you like volunteering, maybe there’s a virtual nonprofit event you can volunteer to support.

Another very important principal, Gee notes, is to be ready for opportunity when it strikes, because you never know when or how you might meet that special someone.

Opportunity knocks

Brittany Sanders laughs now about how love was the last thing on her mind when she met her future husband at The Shot Exchange on Valentine’s Day last year.

Actually, they both mentioned the glare she gave him when he walked by her the first couple times.

“I had just gotten off work and I wanted to have a drink and not be in a restaurant watching people celebrate love when I was by myself,” Sanders said, adding she was thinking, “‘Please, for the love of God: Don’t talk to me. It’s Valentine’s Day and I don’t need to be hit on,’” she recalled.

Cody Pascual was at the bar that Feb. 14 to celebrate Valentine’s Day with his mom, who, as it turns out, knew Sanders through their volunteer work.

And Sanders remembers very clearly what April said to her: “‘Are you looking for a husband?

You should meet my son,’” Sanders recalls, and then the two shared a

laugh and a hug.

Pascual and Sanders, who both grew up in Santa Clarita and were at Saugus High around the same time, quickly struck up a conversation, and Cody ultimately promised to show Sanders a waterfall she’d never even known existed in the SCV — which is exactly what he did on their first date, at Whitney Canyon.

Sanders acknowledged the timing was especially fortunate because less than a month later, everything changed due to quarantine.

However, as time has shown again and again, love often finds a way, no matter the circumstance.

Quarantine wedding

It hasn’t quite been a year since Richard Herron and Loreen Bakoo Herron tied the knot in front of hundreds of their friends and family from around the country — virtually, via Zoom, during the quarantine.

Both grew up out here, and were preparing for a traditional wedding in front of their family and friends when the stay-at-home orders changed everyone’s plans, and cancelled all large in-person gatherings.

The two decided to get married anyway, and neither have a single bit of regret about the decision — although both are still planning to have

the big get-together in person as soon as it’s allowable.

“It definitely has been an interesting year — that’s for sure,” Loreen said.

While dealing with tragedy from COVID-19, the two, who also have a son, have worked hard to prioritize time for themselves amid the quarantine conditions.

“It’s been difficult with getting us time, with everything shut down, there’s no ‘date night,’ so we’ve had to get really creative,” Loreen said. “We’ll put our son to sleep and we’ll play a game of Dominoes or we have movie night.”

The virtual event they held for their Zoom wedding had a nice side effect, Richard said: Family and friends who’d never met were able to create virtual connections that have evolved into friendships that continue today.

They also believe the health crisis has brought them closer as a couple.

“It forces you to really look at your relationship and look at each other,” Richard said, referring to the way the stay-home orders kept people largely away from their friends and many family members, so they really had to lean on each other. “And realizing we can do that,” he added, “and we’re stronger together.” 

F E B R UA RY 7, 2021

Opinion

S U N D AY S I G N A L · 1 9

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

READERLETTERS

Thank You, Mike Garcia The Nov. 3 election gave us many examples of potential election irregularities (at best) and outright fraud (at worst) in at least six states. Despite the attempts of the left-wing media and oligarchs of social media to shut down discussion of such problems, labeling anyone who dares to raise questions as treasonous or inciting riot, the problems remain. Notwithstanding leftist claims to the contrary, the problems have not been adjudicated since no actual evidence of irregularities or fraud has been heard by the courts or any investigative body. Until the problems receive fair and transparent adjudication, at least 50 million voters will never accept that the election was legitimate.

Representatives and senators who sought to effect a closer look at problems in the suspect states by questioning electors were roundly excoriated by the media and by prominent Democrats, variously being called traitors, insurrectionist, violators of the Constitution, and worse. This is remarkably hypocritical in light of the fact that some of those same prominent Democrats, including Nancy Pelosi, raised exactly the same types of questions, spurred on by their media cohorts, in 2000, 2004, and 2016 but with far less evidence of wrongdoing.

Our own Rep. Mike Garcia raised objection to electors from two states. Those who have actually read and understand the Constitution will know that this was an entirely legal and constitutional action, even a compelled one for any representative who suspects problems based on clear evidence. The only objection that Garcia might hear from this quarter is to ask why he did not see clear evidence in more than two states. His political opponents and the media, however, have lost no time in commencing the caterwauling about criminal and unconstitutional behavior and demanding resignation or removal from office. Local Christy Smith supporters have been happy to join the chorus by flooding our local media with similar nonsense.

Those of us who believe in law and order, however, especially when it comes to the integrity of elections, owe Garcia a debt of gratitude for standing up and taking the heat by doing what the Constitution demands. So, thank you, Mike!

John Weaver Valencia

The Rot That’s Wrought in America What’s the real problem in our nation? Is it a petty man... or a petty culture? Americans have moved from loving freedom to loving safety. From rugged individualism to political correctness. From an independent to a dependent spirit. Presidents come and go, but the rot that’s wrought by leftism will be here for our entire lives, and our children’s, and grandchildren’s.

Rob Kerchner Santa Clarita Submit a Letter to the Editor

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

Time and Time Again

By David Hegg

T

here is no debate that time marches on. The sun rises, shines, and sets, and then does it all over again, day after day. And each day we encounter the unknown components of a whole new 24-hour set of life experience.

From the time we are born until the day they lay us in the ground we are chained firmly to the relentless treadmill of time. We have to keep going, sometimes walking, often running, always being propelled into the next minute, hour, day and year. Life is undeniably a progression.

We often say, “Let’s do it since we have time.”

But do we? This is Super Bowl weekend, and Sunday will find millions around the world watching a game that, ultimately, will be all about time. The two teams will square off, but there is a third participant in the game that is actually in control … the clock. In football, time is sovereign. To win will demand not only scoring more points than their opponents, but also doing so before the clock declares its judgment that the game is over.

The fact that time has us is actually more important than the idea that we have time. We think, erroneously, that we control time when ultimately it controls us and acts on us. We are all aging, involuntarily moving from who we once were to the final stages of who we will end up being. And that brings up some of the most essential questions of life.

At some point we all come to wonder the same things even if we express them differently. “Who am I and why am I here?” These questions of existence and purpose never leave us even after we believe we’ve found answers.

These two fundamental questions are actually at the ground level of the human quest for meaning in life.

As we go about trying to figure out these questions it will also occur to us that the answers must go beyond the mere physical components of life. “Who am I?” Certainly, we must all admit that we are more than a neatly packaged set of molecules. The fact that we have desires, ideas, and most basic of all, consciousness of our desires and ideas can never be accounted for through cell division or other physical processes. It is both common sense

and good science to recognize the dualistic nature of humanity. We are both material and non-material, physical and spiritual, body and mind.

Does this help us in answering the second question? I believe it does. “Why am I here?” If we were merely material, it could easily be said that we exist simply to carry out physical processes and then die, leaving the stage to others to carry out the same physical processes. A merely physical existence seems to have no more purpose ultimately than that of a tree or river. But, the presence of the non-material, spiritual part of humanity argues for something greater.

It is in this spiritual or non-material sphere of our existence that we come to understand the purpose of life. To this realm we would consign the creativity and inventiveness that have marked human progress. As well, it is this part of us that loves, and feels loved, that organizes right and wrong, and believes certain truths with the conviction necessary to hold the brokenness of this world at bay, at least in part.

It is also the non-material part of us that longs to connect with whatever it is that keeps time moving. The very fact that history is progressing argues that there is a point to it all, that humanity is going somewhere, moving toward some conclusion. And if this is so, then it is reasonable to consider that the power that started it all, and is holding it all together, has a rational reason for our existence, and a purpose for our lives.

Albert Camus, a French writer and philosopher and Nobel laureate, was known as the father of Absurdism, and was by no means a theist. If fact, many consider him to have been a most honest agnostic. Yet, when looking at these basic questions, he stated his answer. “I would rather live my life as though God existed, and dying, find that he did not, than to live as though he did not exist and after dying, find that he did.”

Life is short. Time marches on. The questions don’t change, and the answers you believe make all the difference in how you will live.

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

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