Craft Beer Spots from San Diego to Anaheim
Visit California
Taste your way from the pine-scented mountains outside San Diego, along the Hops Highway, all the way to the ocean breezes of Orange County.
While this is not a drink and drive situation, you can take a couple of days off to explore some of these craft beer stops. Or, bring a long your favorite designated driver.This road trip involves several possible spots over 95 miles.
Alpine Beer Company
1347 Tavern Rd, Alpine
Plan your visit alpinebeerco.com
Head to the “Home of Pure Hoppiness” in the quaint mountain town of Alpine in east San Diego County to sample some tasty craft brews. While the hops-forward beers have made the Alpine Beer Company famous, its beermakers also produce small-batch brews you’ll only find at the tasting room.
Sit out on the patio and soak up the sun as you sip the much-celebrated Keene Idea double IPA or the popular Hoppy Birthday session IPA. Then walk down to the street to the Alpine Beer Company Pub for a wood-smoked barbeque lunch, washed down with your new favorite ale.
Karl Strauss Brewing Company
1157 Columbia St, San Diego
Plan your visit www.karlstrauss.com/
Named after a pioneering master brewer, Karl
Strauss Brewing Company is credited with kickstarting San Diego’s now-flourishing independent brewing scene. It was the city’s first brewery since Prohibition when it opened in 1989, an idea hatched by two college buddies at a lifeguard tower in Mission Beach.
There are now seven Karl Strauss locations around San Diego County, ranging from lively restaurants to a tasting room and beer garden. Raise a pint and toast to where San Diego’s craft beer boom began with a Tower 10 IPA or try the gold-medal-winning Red Trolley Ale.
Stone Brewing
1999 Citracado Parkway, Escondido
Plan your visit www.stonebrewing.com
One of San Diego’s oldest craft breweries remains one of its brightest stars, with die-hard fans the world over. Stone Brewing’s massive brewing complex in Escondido is also home to Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens, named by RateBeer Best in 2017 as “The Best Place for Beer in the United States.”
See how the magic is made on a brewery tour then explore the lush gardens, which include waterfalls and plenty of space for the kids to roam. Grab a table on the large outdoor patio and order the Stone Steak Tacos, which pair to perfection with Stone’s Arrogant Bastard Ale.
Bagby Beer Company Oceanside
601 S Coast Hwy, Oceanside
Plan your visit www.bagbybeer.com
This cheery, locals’ favorite brewery just blocks from the Pacific in Oceanside boasts an impressively long and varied beer list. In addition to the nearly 20 Bagby beers, which range in style from American to Belgian, the guest draft list includes more than 40 options. Beeline to the rooftop deck picnic tables and order the house favorite Bagby Worker Bee, an American Golden Ale with a trace flavor of local honey, and the beer-battered fish tacos featuring the local catch. The prismatic sunset views are just a bonus.
Craft Brew Tours Anaheim
200 S Anaheim Blvd, Anaheim
Plan your visit www.craftbrewtours.com
Explore North Orange County’s buzzing micro-brewing scene during a 4.5-hour tour. Your group will be shuttled in a limo bus to three different breweries around the Orange, Anaheim, and Fullerton areas, where you’ll spend 45 minutes getting a behind-the-scenes tour and sampling smallbatch suds.
Craft Brew Tours Anaheim beer-savvy guides handle all the logistics, like keeping you hydrated between tastings and arranging for lunch at the end. If you want to explore even more of Anaheim’s craft beer offerings, start at Golden Road, known for their hop-forward beers and lively patio scene.
©ADOBE STOCK
Your California Explorations by Train or Bike
By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer
Who doesn’t love the classic California road trip? It is part of our DNA as Californians. However, in this new age of eco-consciousness there are many transportation alternatives that can add a new dimension of adventure to your explorations of the Golden State.
Napa Valley Wine Train
1275 McKinstry St., Napa 94559
Info www.winetrain.com
Experience the Napa Valley Wine Train from downtown Napa, close to several nearby hotels. The Napa Valley Wine Train is a collection of 14 different curated experiences activated in one of two different trains, year-round.
Enjoy scenic 360-views while indulging in dining options like the Vista Dome Lunch, afternoon tea with champagne and mini desserts, a Gourmet Express Dinner or a Murder Mystery dinner.
The Dome Lunch offers a seasonal menu with elevated views and cuisine. Your four-course wine country-inspired meal is served during your journey as you gaze out onto rolling hills, rows of vines, and other iconic sights.
Among the most popular options is the six-hour scenic day trip in Napa Valley with three seated wine tastings and four gourmet courses followed by dancing in the Open-Air Car on the Legacy Experience.
Other experiences include:
Three-Hour Lunch Train and Grape Stomp at Grgich Hills. This unique adventure is only available in September.
Tasting on the Rails Three-Hour Lunch Train. Includes seven Napa wines paired with a seven-course gourmet meal.
Afternoon Tea x Chandon Collab Three-Hour Lunch Train. Four-course WT Tea menu, fine steeped teas, X Chandon collaborated floral car design.
There are also special holiday train experiences for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Morgan Hill Wine Trolley Adventure
Info mhwinetrolley.com
What better way to trek around wine country than by an open-air cable car replica? The yearround Morgan Hill Wine Trolley lets visitors explore vintners in Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy while a professional driver takes the wheel, accompanied by a local tour guide.
Tours run every Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine, from downtown Morgan Hill.
Tickets include a champagne welcome reception, light appetizers, water and snacks. Lunch is provided at the second stop of the tour.
Ride the Rails in Sonoma County
Info sonomamarintrain.org
The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) connects Sonoma and Marin counties, offering an eco-friendly travel alternative.
In Petaluma, explore the historic downtown with its boutiques and cafes, scenic views along the Petaluma River or nearby wineries for tastings. Downtown Santa Rosa features the Historic Railroad Square for shopping and dining, along with the Luther Burbank Home & Gardens.
You can pick up the rail line at the Sonoma County Airport and travel through Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Novato, Marin Civic Center, San Rafael and end at Larkspur.
SMART is also your ticket to celebrating FeBREWary, a month-long craft brewery event featuring beer tastings, tours, tap takeovers, and special limited-edition releases of craft beers. A variety of beer shuttles connect to the rail stations. Visit www. sonomamarintrain.org/TracksToTaps.
Railtown 1897 State Historic Park 10501 Reservoir Road, Jamestown 95327 Info www.railtown1897.org/visit/excursion-train-rides
Visit the 26-acre Railtown 1897 State Historic Park for seasonal train rides through California’s Gold Country on historic locomotives.
Railtown and its trains have been featured in hundreds of movies and TV shows. The six-mile round-trip Excursion Train Rides takes passengers past the water tower from “Petticoat Junction” and transports them from Jamestown to the rugged hillsides of California’s Mother Lode country.
In November and December, the train becomes “The Polar Express” on an hour-long train ride to the North.
Railtown also offers the opportunity to ride in an authentic caboose. Back in the day, cabooses could be found at the end of nearly every American freight train, serving as a rolling office for the conductor and lookout post for the rear brakeman,
who would sit in the cupola to keep an eye on the train for any problems. Cabooses often carried stoves on which the train crew cooked meals.
Caboose No. 7 came to the Sierra Railway in the mid-1950s from the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern, which operated in Illinois and Indiana. In addition to freight duties, this caboose has been seen in a number of movies and TV shows filmed on the Sierra Railway, including “Little House on the Prairie,” “Back to the Future III,” “The Long Riders” and an Aflac commercial.
The Sierra Railway runs April through October on Saturdays and Sundays.
Redding’s e-Bike Adventure
Info visitredding.com/get-outside/trails/biking/ebiking-cycling
Discover Northern California’s beauty on a nearly 40-mile e-bike ride from Redding’s Sundial Bridge to Shasta Dam.
Journey through the historic Diestelhorst and Stress Ribbon bridges.
Admire Keswick Dam and ride through a railroad tunnel from the 1800s on the award-winning Sacramento River Rail Trail.
This trail, part of a 200-mile network, offers both paved and dirt surfaces suitable for all levels.
This epic ride culminates at Shasta Dam, showcasing the three Shastas with views of Mt. Shasta and Shasta Lake, California’s largest reservoir.
For a guided E-bike tour or to rent your e-bike visit reddingadventurehub.com/bike-redding-northern-california.
Epic Cycling in Siskiyou
Info cyclesiskiyou.com
Explore Siskiyou’s diverse cycling routes with the new Cycle Siskiyou website, highlighting opportunities for all skill levels.
From mountain paths to lakeside trails, this resource makes it easy to enjoy the region’s stunning landscapes and adventurous spirit.
Create your new California adventure by traveling on train through wine country or by bike on mountain trails.
PHOTO COURTESY VISIT REDDING
Luxury Design Features to Watch for in Custom Homes
Looking ahead to 2025, luxury custom homes are pushing the boundaries of design, offering innovative elements that blend functionality with high-end aesthetics. From cutting-edge technology to timeless materials, these features are setting the standard for what’s next in luxury living.
Here’s what to expect as you explore the homes of tomorrow.
Smart Glass The Future of Privacy and Elegance
Imagine having complete control over your privacy with just the touch of a button. Smart glass, also known as switchable or privacy glass, transitions from clear to opaque instantly, eliminating the need for traditional window treatments.
Benefits you’ll love:
• Instant privacy control via smartphone integration that’s ideal for bathrooms, room dividers and other areas
• Flexibility between views and privacy in areas such as the primary suite
• UV protection while allowing in natural light
• Solar heat control for energy efficiency
• A sleek, minimalist aesthetic with no curtains or blinds
Revolutionary Virtual Linear Fireplaces Where Art Meets Warmth
The fireplace is no longer just for warmth — it’s a centerpiece. Virtual built-in linear electric fireplaces with LED technology are redefining how these features function. They combine custom design with energy efficiency, creating stunning focal points such as:
• Customizable flame colors and patterns
• No maintenance or ventilation needed
• Energy-efficient heating when desired
• Safe-to-touch technology
• Practicability for all climates, with a no-heat option
Architectural Water Features A Bold Focal Point for Your Home’s Entrance
Water features are a striking hallmark of luxury design, transforming an entrance into a sensory experience. Imagine a dramatic two- or three-story water wall, where the soothing sound of cascading water sets the tone for the entire home and:
• Creates a stunning first impression
• Adds tranquility and elegance with flowing water
• Enhances beauty with LED lighting
• Functions as a living work of art
• Increases home value with a sense of exclusivity
Hurricane-Rated Pocket Doors Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Living
For truly seamless living, hurricane-rated sliding pocket doors are a must. These engineering marvels connect your indoor and outdoor spaces, offering:
• Expansive openings for entertaining
• Hurricane protection without compromising design
• Smooth, quiet operation
• Added real estate value
• Energy efficiency
These doors transform how you experience indoor-outdoor living, and are a must-have in areas prone to wicked weather.
Statement Skylights Bringing the Sky Indoors
Natural light and large statement skylights are the perfect way to bring the sky inside, providing:
• Energy-saving natural light
• Unique architectural interest
• Opportunities for star-gazing
• Increased perceived space
Gilded Perfection Gold and Brass Accents
The kitchen is often considered the heart of the home, and adding gold and brass accents can add:
• Timeless elegance
• Warm metallic reflections
• Custom personality
“While touring luxury custom home projects of our partners set for completion in 2025, I had the opportunity to meet with industry leaders redefining the standard of living—like HLevel Architecture, Wright Jenkins Home Design, and interior design firms such as Design and Company and Leili Design Studio. Working alongside them, we’ve seen firsthand how their innovative designs are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible,” says Jennifer Kis, regional and brand marketing manager at Alair Homes.
For more 2025 luxury custom home trends, visit www.alairflorida.com.
From smart glass to interior waterfalls, these features are leading the way in luxury custom homes and setting the stage for the next era of sophisticated living. (SPT)
Luxury homes of the future are exanding into smart glass that will automatically adjust to the sun and indoor water features. ©ADOBE STOCK
Top Scams to Watch Out for This Tax Season
The days of filing paper tax returns are gone, and criminals are taking advantage. With taxpayers managing their sensitive information online, thieves are finding new ways to scam victims. In 2023 alone, the IRS reported $5.5 billion lost to tax fraud schemes. And the increased prevalence of artificial intelligence means tax scams this year will likely be more sophisticated than ever.
Scammers have an arsenal of weapons, but no matter their tactics, the goal is the same – to have you give them money or access to it. Here are scams to look out for this tax season:
Tax Avoidance Scams
These scams often promise rewards too good to be true. Scammers claim to have specialized knowledge on exploiting loopholes to avoid taxes or maximize returns. High-income filers are heavily targeted through offers of seemingly legitimate annuities or tax shelters.
Refund Scams
In this scam, a criminal will claim to be someone official notifying of an unclaimed or incorrectly calculated refund, prompting the victim to share information — and possibly bank account numbers — to claim it.
Violation Scams
This is a fear-based scam, where the criminal poses as an IRS official threatening some punitive action, claiming the victim committed a violation and needs to contact them to resolve the situation.
Filing Support Scams
Similar to tech support scams, criminals offer to help create IRS accounts to assist with the online filing process. Frequently posing as tax preparers, scammers will go through the motions of gathering the victim’s personal information for tax forms they
never intend to file.
Social Media Scams
Social media serves as a great place for criminals to find potential victims and carry out tax scams, fraudulently claiming to offer different types of services or possessing unique knowledge or access.
Recovery Scams
Once a victim is scammed, criminals will try to strike again – believing the victim is gullible. Exploiting a time of vulnerability, they’ll contact the victim with promises of helping them recover their losses and will leverage this as an opening to commit additional crimes.
While it is not always easy to pick out a scam, here are indicators to watch for:
• Promise of a big pay-out. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Request for your account information
The IRS will never ask for your credit or debit account information over the phone.
• Random contact. The IRS contacts taxpayers by mail first and will never contact via random phone calls or digital means. The IRS will not leave prerecorded, urgent, or threatening voicemails.
• Demands or threats. The IRS can’t revoke your driver’s license, business licenses or immigration status and cannot threaten to immediately bring in local law
enforcement. Taxpayers are allowed an appeals process, so any message of “now or else” won’t come from an official channel.
• Request for you to click a weblink. Odd or misspelled web links can take you to harmful sites instead of IRS.gov.
The IRS recommends these best practices to protect against tax fraud:
• Get an early start. File early so criminals have less time to impersonate you.
• Set up a verified account. Set up your own IRS account before someone else can and use an Identity Protection PIN – a six-digit number known only to you and the IRS.
• Wait for written notice. Do not respond to any supposed communications from the IRS if you haven’t first received official notification through U.S. mail. If you get a call from someone claiming to be the IRS, hang up and call the official number on the website before engaging. Further, never click a link sent digitally as initial contact.
Apply Good Cyber Hygiene
Do not use public Wi-Fi when filing your tax returns. Do use strong passwords, secured network connections and multi-factor authentication. Run all software updates and keep systems current. If you fall victim to a tax scam, report it to the IRS. For more scam protection tips, visit PNC’s Security & Privacy Center at pnc.com.
One wrong click can cause tremendous damage that ends up earning bad guys a windfall. However, a little caution can go a long way in helping you avoid a costly tax scam. (SPT)
PHOTOS ©ADOBE STOCK
SAMMY clarita is back! SAMMY clarita is back!
FROM THE CITY MANAGER
Santa Clarita Voices Is On Air!
By City Manager Ken Striplin Santa Clarita City Manager
In today’s fastpaced world, finding the time to stay informed and learn about new subjects can be a challenge; which is why I have always been a huge fan of the ease and flexibility of podcasts whether I’m using my AirPods to listen while exercising, playing through the car while driving or tuning in when relaxing at home. Podcasts provide a unique opportunity to learn about important topics, hear directly from experts and stay engaged with your community, whenever and wherever it fits into your schedule. With so many new projects, programs and initiatives happening in the City of Santa Clarita, I am proud to be the host of Santa Clarita Voices, the official podcast of our incredible City.
Director of Bridge to Home, joined me for our second episode, released in January. We shared an engaging conversation that revolved around the current state of homelessness in Santa Clarita, and I was able to learn more about the roles they play in addressing these sensitive topics in our City.
Available now with video on Spotify and the City’s YouTube Channel, as well as audio on Apple Podcasts, Santa Clarita Voices features different, unique guests on each episode, and we really dive deep into topics while discussing information you’re not going to find anywhere else.
With two episodes released and our third coming out on Tuesday, February 11, we’ve covered a lot of ground already. Our first episode, released in December of 2024, featured Cameron Smyth as he was finishing his term as Mayor of the City of Santa Clarita. Even though I have been working alongside Cameron for decades, I was not only learning more about his time in the State Assembly and Santa Clarita City Council, but sitting down and talking with him about how far we’ve come as a City.
Captain Justin Diez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Chris Najarro, the Executive
For a sneak peek, our third episode will resonate with anyone who utilizes Santa Clarita’s parks and open spaces. I had the opportunity to have an in-depth conversation with the Director of Neighborhood Services, Jerrid McKenna, from upcoming upgrades at our park sites, to taking on an unprecedented new challenge with the transfer of William S. Hart Park. You’ll hear how the City is preparing to take on historic structures, a barnyard full of animals, a museum and even a herd of bison.
To learn more about Santa Clarita Voices, search for it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and the City’s YouTube Channel, and don’t forget to like and subscribe to stay informed when a new episode is released. I look forward to welcoming you to the conversation.
Ken Striplin is the City Manager for the City of Santa Clarita and can be reached at kstriplin@santaclarita. gov.
Quick Lunch Ideas to Turn Your Work Day Around
By Mackenzie Filson and Camille Lowder Delish.com
Lunch is a time to decompress, take a walk outside, laugh with your coworkers … and wait in a loooong takeout line? We don’t think so. But let’s not beat around the bush here; packed lunches, though we love them, really gotta be just as or more exciting than your local delivery spot or cafeteria, or else your eyes will surely stray. So if you think the only alternative is packing leftovers or a sad sandwich, think again. We’re here to tell you that you CAN pack a lunch for work without killing yourself to cook it the night before (or even in the morning).
Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese
Yields 2
Prep Time 10 mins
Total Time 10 mins
Ingredients
2 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded
1 block cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup buffalo sauce
1/2 cup shredded sharp white cheddar (or Monterey Jack)
2 Tbsp. butter
4 slices bread
Directions
In a large mixing bowl, combine chicken, cream cheese, buffalo sauce, and white cheddar. Slather on bread and form sandwiches, then set aside.
In a sauté pan over medium heat, melt butter. Add sandwiches and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Flip and grill the other side, 1 to 2 minutes.
French Dip Stuffed Biscuits
Yields 8
Prep Time 10 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Ingredients
Horseradish Mayo
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
1 to 2 tsp. prepared horseradish
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Biscuit Sandwiches
1 (16.3-oz.) can biscuits (or 8 unbaked homemade biscuits)
14 oz. thinly sliced deli roast beef
8 slices provolone, cut into quarters
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted, divided
1 (1-oz.) packet au jus gravy mix
Sliced chives, for serving (optional)
Flaky sea salt
Horseradish Mayo
In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, lemon juice, horseradish, and mustard; season with salt and pepper.
Make Ahead Horseradish mayo can be made 1 week
ahead. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate. Biscuit Sandwiches
Arrange rack in center of oven; preheat to 400°. Line a large baking sheet with foil or parchment. Using your fingers, split biscuits in half so you have 16 thin rounds. Gently stretch each biscuit so they’re about 4” in diameter.
Place 8 biscuits on prepared sheet. Spread 1 to 2 tsp. horseradish mayo on each. Top each biscuit with roast beef, followed by 4 pieces of provolone, slightly overlapping the cheese so it fits on top of beef. Spread 1 to 2 tsp. horseradish mayo on remaining 8 biscuits, then place on top of cheese (mayo side down) to form sandwiches. Pinch top and bottom biscuits together at several points around sandwich to seal. Brush tops with 1 Tbsp. butter.
Bake sandwiches until biscuits are golden and cheese is melted, 15 to 18 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare au jus according to package directions.
Transfer sandwiches to a platter. Brush with remaining 1 Tbsp. butter. Top with chives (if using), gently pressing to adhere if needed, and sea salt. Serve with au jus alongside.
ENTERTAINMENT
‘Green and Gold’ is a Well-Told, Lovely Story
By Richard Roeper Signal Contributing Writer
‘Green and Gold’
1/2 (out of four)
Fathom Events presents a film directed by Anders Lindwall and written by Lindwall, Steven Shafer, Michael Graf and Missy Mareau Garcia. No MPAA rating. In theaters.
When I first heard about “Green and Gold,” which is inspired by true events and tells the story of a Wisconsin dairy farmer who risks everything by placing a bet on the Green Bay Packers winning the Super Bowl, I figured it was going to be another cheesy (pardon the pun) football-based tale along the lines of “80 for Brady” (2023), and those twin holiday TV movies from last year, the Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce rip-off romance “Christmas in the Spotlight” and the saccharine “Holiday
Sunday-Thursday, Februar y
Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” I was wrong. In all the right ways. In fact, the football element is arguably the least interesting element in “Green and Gold.” Direct-
ed with grace and grounded style and a keen eye for outdoor visuals by Anders Lindwall, and filmed in beautiful Door County, Wisconsin, this is a warm and authentic slice of farm life, with magnificent work by the 80-year-old Craig T. Nelson, who looks every inch the world-weary Wisconsin farmer.
Add to that a solid and richly layered script, a star-making performance by Madison Lawlor and the blessed appearance of the late great M. Emmet Walsh in the last of his more than 200 film and television roles, and we have a lovely story welltold. (We even get a cameo from the Wisconsin-centric YouTube star and comedian/author Charlie Berens as a local radio host.)
The year is 1993. Nelson is perfectly cast as the craggy-faced and obstinate Buck, who rises before dawn every morning and works the family dairy farm with the considerable help of his feisty wife, Margaret (a wonderful Annabel Armour), and his granddaughter Jenny (Madison Lawlor), who is torn between family loyalties and her dreams of becoming a singer-songwriter. (Even though it’s the 1990s, Buck sounds like he’s stuck in the 1950s when he exclaims to Jenny, “You want to be a music gypsy and you want to have a child out of wedlock, you go right ahead!” A MUSIC GYPSY?)
immediately, or you sign everything over to me.”
Yikes. Buck eventually takes the bet, and it’s no spoiler alert to reveal that while the Packers made the playoffs that season, which was also the first year of the Lambeau Leap, they didn’t win the championship. I’ll leave it up to the film to explain the fate of Buck’s farm.
What’s more resonant in “Green and Gold” are the relationships, old and new. Brandon Sklenar from “1923” and “It Ends With Us” has a nice turn as a poser-cowboy country singer who comes to Wisconsin to soak up “real life” and agrees to hear Jenny’s demo tape. M. Emmett Walsh casually pockets every moment he’s onscreen as Scotty, an old friend of Buck’s.
Front and center, though, is Lawlor, in a natural and empathetic performance as Jenny, who is strong-willed and talented and yearns for something more, but truly loves and appreciates her grandfather as well. Ms. Lawlor has big-time, movie-star talent. (The singer Natalie Nicoles gives beautiful voice to the performances of Jenny’s songs.)
László Toth
in America to rebuild his ife, h s work and his marriage to h s wife Erzsébet
S E P T E M B E R 5 E 4:20 PM
Base on the American Sports broadcast ng team that quick y adapts to l ve coverage during the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics
S U J O Sun: 10:00 AM The shadow o v olence surrounds Su o during each stage of h s l fe As he grows into a man, Sujo finds that u fi ling his father s destiny may be nescapable T H E S
Buck is a big-time Green Bay Packers fan who never misses a game on TV, is almost never not wearing his Packers baseball cap and even named his cattle after players from the Pack’s 1967 Super Bowl championship squad, and we occasionally hear radio calls or catch archival footage of the 1993 team, but it’s not as if “Green and Gold” is primarily about fandom rituals. It comes across as something of a gimmick when the obligatory semi-heartless local banker, Jerry (Tim Frank), comes sniffing around because Buck is behind on his finances and says, “When you don’t pay your loan, it becomes MY land. … Farming doesn’t look like it does in children’s books. … [But] I will make a little wager with you. ... If the Pack go all the way, I’ll give you another year interest-free to get caught up; if they lose, you either pay in full
While I wouldn’t categorize “Green and Gold” as a “faith-based” film, there are church scenes, and at one point we hear a reverend recite verses culled from Isaiah 40:28-29 (“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord … gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”) as part of a montage set to the Reuben and the Dark-penned “Hold Me Like a Fire” that is powerful and moving and caught me right in the heart.
Late in the film, Jenny says, “My grandpa, though he knows nothing about music, taught me harmony [and] balance … from owls and cows and mice and swallows in the rafters, even the Packers and the Bears, how it all works together.”
Even those of us who bleed Navy blue and burnt orange can embrace the messaging and the spirit of “Green and Gold.”
What is a quiet room? And, why create one at home?
Home for most people is a sanctuary that offers comfort, familiarity and a place to gather with family and friends. Although home can be a welcoming place, with so many people in the average household humming along from day to day, it may not always be the most serene setting.
From teenagers playing video games to video meetings in a home office to dogs barking at the postal worker doing daily rounds, there are plenty of potentially distracting sounds in and around a home. Lawn care workers with their mowers and blowers also may contribute to ambient noise. A dedicated quiet room can be beneficial for anyone, and most especially for people who experience sensory issues.
What is a quiet room?
A quiet room is a space where a person can enjoy peace and quiet in a distraction-free environment. Ac-
cording to designer Rachel Cannon, “a quiet room is a sanctuary from the stimulation and overwhelm that we encounter every day.” A quiet room may go by various names, including a mindfulness room or cozy cove, but the common goal is to remove as many sensory distractions as possible so that an individual can disconnect from the outside world and reap some calming benefits.
According to School Specialty, LLC, an education resource provider, schools are now providing quiet rooms for over-stimulated students, and homeowners can take similar cues to create these relaxing retreats at home.
How to create a quiet room
The first step in establishing a quiet room is to identify a location that is far away from the main action of the household. A bedroom, basement, nook in the garage, or even an attic can be a good spot for a quiet room. Soundproofing the space can make
it even more inviting. Sounds will bounce off of walls and floors, but acoustic panels can help muffle noises.
If acoustic panels are not in the design plan, thicker draperies, wallpaper, carpeting, and wall art can help counteract echoes and noise infiltration. Soft furniture also can absorb sound.
Small rooms work better as quiet spaces, as such areas can feel more cozy. Less is needed to decorate the space if it is on the smaller side. Bring in warm, soft lighting and soft decor.
A sound machine playing favorite ocean or natural sounds also can mask outside noises even more. Establish rules that govern how the quiet space is to be used. When someone is inside the area, they should not be disturbed. If possible, use the quiet room during naturally quiet times of the day. Keep the room stocked with books, journals, crafting items, or whatever it is you need to unwind and relax.
Quiet rooms can be special retreats homeowners use to escape the hustle and bustle of a household. (MC)
The word ‘cozy’ is appearing more and more in real estate listings.
Wood could be having a moment among modern home buyers. According to the real estate experts at Zillow, the term “cozy” appeared in 35% more real estate listings in 2024 than in 2023. Though various components can help to create a cozy vibe inside a home, wood has long been a go-to material when interior designers attempt to add warmth to a property.
The home renovation experts at Houzz also cite wood-infused architectural warmth among its 10 most popular home trends in the coming year. Homeowners who want to capitalize on this trend before putting their homes on the market or those who simply love the idea of adding more wood-based warmth in their homes can consider installing ceiling beams, wood wall paneling or even wood trim throughout their homes. (MC)
A quiet room is a sanctuary from sensory distractions. ©ADOBE STOCK
Winter Time is the Time for Garden Planning
If you were super organized, you would have taken notes at the end of the garden season, and your seeds would be stored in optimal conditions. What to do when would be obvious. But if, like most of us, you only start thinking of the current year’s garden when the new catalogs start to arrive, an organization plan can help!
Gardening, Month by Month
January and February
Sort through your stock of seeds from previous years. In most cases, you’ll want to discard any that are more than two years old, or at least do a germination test to make sure the seeds are still viable. Some seeds, notably onions and parsley, should be bought fresh each year.
Wrap seeds in moist paper towels. Check them after the number of days specified on the seed packet. If germination is less than 50%, buy new seed
Draw a rough garden plan, a visual that will help you see which vegetable and flower varieties you will have space to plant. Be sure to include flowers and annual herbs in your vegetable plot to attract beneficial insects.
Plan for succession For example, tomatoes can follow a radish planting. A fall kale planting can use the same space as a row of spring lettuce.
Order seeds That’s the fun part! Don’t forget cover crops Even in small gardens, buckwheat, oats, and rye act as soil builders when used to cover what would otherwise be bare
soil during summer or winter dormant periods.
March
In many regions, spinach seeds can be planted in fall too, and mulched over the winter. They’ll start to regrow in spring, when the days lengthen.
Your planting zone will determine the best time to start seeds indoors.
Santa Clarita is in the USDA hardiness zones of 9b and 10a. Whatever your location, gather your seed starting supplies — a quality soil mix, grow lights, pots, liquid fertilizer, a spray bottle — so you’ll be ready. A heat mat is helpful also.
Do a soil squeeze test: squeeze a handful of soil into a ball and drop it. If it breaks apart, the soil is dry
enough for planting.
April
Move cool season transplants out to a cold frame, if you have one. If not, you can “harden them off” by bringing them outdoors in above-freezing weather.
Many plants can be transplanted or sown in the garden even before the last frost. These include lettuce, broccoli, kale, and arugula.
Keep on top of cool season weeds. They’re notorious self-sowers!
If you planted a winter cover crop, cut it back before it develops seed heads, then turn it under. Wait 2 weeks before direct sowing in beds that have been planted in a cover crop.
May
Plant warm season crops such as tomatoes, peppers, basil, and squash outdoors when nights are consistently above 50°F (10°C).
Plant lots of flowers.
Mulch between rows, using straw, wood chips, pine needles, or whatever you have access to. Permanent planting rows or beds are best, as the soil will remain uncompacted.
Gather stakes, cages, and trellises. The best time to support tall plants is before they need it.
June, July, August, September
Weed, harvest, plant. Plant a crop
of fall greens in late August. Enjoy the insect activity on your flowers. Keep an eye out for beneficial predators, such as syrphid flies, lady beetles, and lacewings. Note which flowers attract the most pollinators. Keep notes on your garden. Which varieties did well? Which disappointed?
October, November, December
1. Pull out diseased plants.
2. Plant garlic.
3. Plant a winter cover crop in empty garden beds.
4. Draw next year’s garden plan, while this year’s successes and failures are fresh in your mind. Rotate your crops from year to year. Keep a file of your garden plans.
(Home Garden Seed Association)
Plant zinnias to attract butterflies to your garden.
HEALTH
How to Get Free Vaccines for Flu, COVID-19 and RSV
Respiratory viruses are common in the fall and winter months. Flu, COVID-19 and RSV can surge during the cooler weather and keep people from gathering with family and friends. They cause many people to get very sick or even to be hospitalized.
“We know that getting vaccinated is the best defense against severe illness and death caused by flu, COVID-19 and RSV,” said Nirav D. Shah, MD, JD, principal deputy director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Respiratory virus season is here and now is the time to get your updated vaccines so you can focus on what matters most: spending quality time with friends and family.”
Vaccines help reduce the risk of more serious illnesses, so they can do more of what they enjoy. Everyone 6 months old and older should get this season’s flu and COVID-19 vaccines.
Adults ages 75 and older should get an RSV vaccine if they have never been vaccinated against RSV. In addition, adults 60-74 years old who have certain health conditions and adults age 60 and older who live in nursing homes should get vaccinated.
Pregnant women should also get an RSV vaccine to protect their babies from severe RSV disease in their first six months.
Getting vaccinated can be easy, and in many cases, it’s free. Here’s what you need to know.
Where Can You Get Vaccinated?
There are many places to get vaccines against flu and COVID-19, as well as RSV if you’re eligible. It’s OK to get all of these vaccines in one visit.
You can get vaccinated at some doctor’s offices, local health centers or most pharmacies. To find pharmacies near you, visit vaccines.gov. Your state or local health department may also be able to tell you where you can get vaccinated in your area.
Are the Vaccines Free?
If you have insurance: If you’re covered by Medicaid, or if you qualify for it, you can get the vaccines at no cost. People with Medicare (Parts B and D) or Medicare Advantage can also get the vaccines for free.
CDC reports recent studies show flu shots reduce of flu illnness by 60%.
Annual flu shots may not be a tradition many people look forward to, but such vaccinations are highly effective at reducing the risk of influenza-related illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that recent studies have indicated flu shots reduce the risk of flu-related illness by as much as 60%. In fact, the CDC estimates that flu vaccinations during the 2019-20 flu season prevented roughly 7.5 million flu illnesses and more than 100,000 influenza-associated hospitalizations. (MC)
If you have private insurance through your job or your state’s marketplace, most plans fully cover the flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines through in-network doctors.
If you are uninsured: If you don’t have health coverage, your state or local health department or a local community health center may offer the flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines at no cost. Companies that make these vaccines may also offer them for free or at a lower cost through their patient assistance programs. Look for information on their websites.
To explore insurance options and affordable health plans, visit HealthCare.gov or see if you can get covered through Medicare or your state’s Medicaid program.
Get Vaccinated Now
Vaccines give you the best protection against getting very sick from flu, COVID-19 and RSV. Getting vaccinated soon means you’ll be ready for upcoming winter gatherings.
Visit cdc.gov/RiskLessDoMore to learn more about the flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines. Also, you can order free COVID-19 test kits (four per household) at COVIDTests.gov. Talk to your doctor about which vaccines are right for you or visit vaccines.gov to get started today. (Family Features)
©ADOBE STOCK
The Importance of Wellness Exams After 50
Seniors are a growing and increasingly prosperous demographic. As the senior population increases, a greater emphasis must be placed on keeping aging individuals healthy. Wellness checks are important at any age, but they bear even more significance as individuals grow older.
Age brings with it many things, including experience and wisdom. But age also brings an increased risk for health problems.
Aging men and women are vulnerable to chronic conditions like heart disease, COPD, cancer and arthritis. It’s noteworthy that many chronic health conditions fail to produce any symptoms until they have progressed to a point where treatment is difficult. Annual wellness exams can help older adults take charge of their health and stay as healthy as possible. It’s possible for a person to preserve his or her health (and possibly life) through check-ups and easy tests. Here are some common screenings and health recommendations that come up in the prime of one’s life.
Colorectal cancer screening A colon cancer screening is recommended for everyone at age 45. Colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, and risk increases at age 45.
Although people seldom look forward to a colonoscopy and the required prep, putting off this test due to a little discomfort may result in missing colon cancer at its earliest
stage when it is most treatable.
Cholesterol screening This simple blood test can help evaluate the risk for heart disease. High cholesterol can contribute to the buildup of plaque in the arteries, making them narrower and less flexible, according to Sharecare, Inc.
Mammogram Most health organizations recommend annual mammogram screenings from age 40 until menopause. Then it may be possible to have a mammogram every other year for those who are at average risk. It is important for women to discuss mammogram frequency with their doctors, particularly if there is a family history of breast cancer.
Diabetes ChenMed says diabetes may be more common in older adults, so regular screenings for this illness can enable early diagnosis and management.
Testicular cancer screening This test generally is not recommended without symptoms. Some organizations suggest men with a family history or other risk factors consider performing self-examinations.
Vaccination needs Doctors can alert patients to recommended vaccinations during wellness exams. Seniors should receive an annual flu shot and updated COVID-19 vaccination as available. Pneumococcal vaccine can protect against pneumococcal disease that can lead to pneumonia, meningitis and bloodstream infections. Adults over 50 also should receive a vaccination for shingles, which can occur in older age in those who have previously experienced chickenpox.
There are additional advantages to routine health checkups. Doctors can inquire about fitness routines, stress, sleep, and diet to see if patients are within the guidelines for healthy living. Older age may make a person wiser, but the risk for various health issues and certain diseases increases with age. Routine health check-ups can keep doctors and patients on the same page. (MC)
Dodging Fraudsters When You’re in Financial Distress
Although fraudsters will prey on anyone, many tactics specifically target those facing financial hardship in the wake of a natural disaster. To help you avoid becoming a victim when you’re most vulnerable, Freddie Mac is providing these tips and insights:
Common Disaster-Related Scams
As the intensity of severe weather events increases, understanding common disaster-related scams can help you avoid them. These include: High-Interest Loans for Repairs In this scam, someone may offer to loan you money for home repairs, often at a high interest rate, while you wait for your insurance money. In return, they ask for a post-dated check, your auto title or your tax refund.
Although this may provide shortterm relief, it’s an example of predatory lending because the high interest rates could end up costing you more
in the long term.
Repair Contractor Prepayment In this scam, your home repair contractor may ask you to sign a “direction to pay form” that allows your insurance company to pay the contractor directly, even before the repair work is completed. This can leave you vulnerable to incomplete or poor quality work.
Read your contract carefully and do not authorize the full payment amount until you are satisfied.
Requests for Financial Information In this scam, a person claiming to be a government employee or disaster relief professional may request financial information, saying they need it to help you recover from a crisis.
Protect yourself by never giving anyone your personally identifiable information by phone, email, text or in person without confirming their identity. .
Mortgage Scams
If you’re struggling to pay your mortgage after a natural disaster or
due to other circumstances and you are facing foreclosure, be on the lookout for two common types of fraud.
Foreclosure Rescue Fraud In such a scheme, someone may falsely promise to be able to save your home from foreclosure. The fraudster will commonly:
• Require you to sign the title to your home over to them.
• Ask you to sign unfamiliar documents.
• Ask you to share personal information.
• Charge you rent to stay in your home.
• Offer to pay your delinquent mortgage by purchasing your home.
• Promise that you can repurchase your home when your financial situation improves.
Fraudsters orchestrating these schemes pose as professionals and promise to stop foreclosure, often at a high price. However, they don’t deliver on their promises. As a result, you
could lose the title to your home and be at risk of foreclosure.
Loan Modification Scams Loan modification scams may operate similarly to foreclosure rescue fraud. In these scams, fraudsters collect an upfront fee and promise to work with your loan servicer on your behalf. They claim that they can obtain a loan modification that reduces your payments.
If you are struggling with your mortgage payment, contact your lender, a certified HUD housing counselor or a housing finance agency. These trustworthy resources can present you with real options to help avoid foreclosure.
Learn more fraud prevention tips by visiting myhome.freddiemac.com. Unfortunately, fraudsters have made it their business to prey on pain. With the right knowledge, you can help ensure that no one takes advantage of you when you’re down on your luck. (SPT)
QWho is Selena Gomez’s fiance? Is he an actor? I hope she’s finally found happiness. I’ve always liked her.
— K.I.
ASelena Gomez (“Only Murders in the Building”) announced her engagement to music producer/ songwriter Benny Blanco in December of last year, shortly before they attended the Golden Globes together where Gomez was nominated. Blanco has worked with two of Gomez’s famous exes, Justin Bieber and The Weeknd, and even co-wrote and produced two of his future fiancée’s songs on her 2015 album “Revival.”
The two first met when Gomez recorded songs for Disney while starring in her hit show “The Wizards of Waverly Place.” Blanco was already a successful producer, working with
BOOK REVIEW
Actress/singer Selena Gomez. PHOTO CREDIT DEPOSITPHOTOS
pop superstars like Katy Perry and Britney Spears. However, they were just friends and professional collaborators and didn’t start dating until mid-2023.
The two also share a love of cooking. Gomez hosts “Selena + Chef” on Max, and Blanco published his cookbook “Open Wide: A Cookbook for Friends,” which became a New York Times bestseller. He even cooked Thanksgiving dinner for Gomez and a group of 50 people. Most of all, he makes her happy, and friends agree that no one else has treated her as
BookTrib’s Bites
‘Here There is No Why ‘
By Philip Graubart
Did Chaim Lerner, acclaimed Israeli author and Holocaust survivor, kill himself in 1983, 38 years after surviving Auschwitz? If so, was it traumatic memories finally catching up to him? Or despair over Holocaust denialism? Or ordinary, difficult health issues? Or simply a deadly episode of depression? Or was it murder?
In 2005, Judah Loeb, Lerner’s former student and now a struggling American journalist and single father, travels to Jerusalem to investigate Lerner’s death. He drags along his 15-year-old daughter, Hannah, and they team up with Charlie, Judah’s former Hebrew University roommate, now a Jerusalem homicide detective. Their investigation takes them through the darker corners of the Israeli psyche, where they uncover secrets that threaten to destroy Lerner’s reputation and alter Jewish
well as him.
QIs it true that Billy Corgan and Bill Burr are brothers? Did they take a DNA test, or have they known all this time and just never went public with it?
— D.E.
ADespite having essentially the same first name, singer Billy Corgan and stand-up comedian Bill Burr might be half brothers. No 23andMe-like DNA test has been performed, but they both were recently bombarded into revealing their story on, of all places, a Howie Mandel podcast. Mandel invited both on his show without them knowing that it would be an unexpected family reunion.
A few months ago, Smashing Pumpkins lead vocalist Corgan was a guest on the podcast and revealed that his stepmother once told him that Burr “might be one of the children that [his] father sired in his days being a traveling musician.” While Burr knew about the theory, he wasn’t prepared to talk about it on the podcast and scolded Mandel for forcing the public reunion. According to Entertainment Weekly, by the end of the
history. While probing the mysteries of Israel’s past, they encounter personal betrayal, heartbreak, and the fragile possibilities of forgiveness and redemption.
‘Deena Undone’
By Debra Every
A terrifying nightmare sets off a series of attacks on Deena Bartlett’s five senses, and her eighty-year-old Aunt Agatha is responsible. But the old woman is not alone. She’s made a monstrous bargain with the Sensu, a malevolent entity whose stock in trade is attacking a person’s five senses, one by one. It has promised Agatha health in return for the killing
episode, Burr was convinced that he and Corgan are indeed half-brothers.
QWho is the Asian actress who played the doctor who wanted a baby in “No Good Deed” on Netflix? Was she in “Hacks,” too?
— N.N.
AActress Poppy Liu plays Dr. Sarah Weber on the new Netflix series “No Good Deed.” She is also part of the supporting cast of the Emmy-winning Max series “Hacks,” who earned a SAG Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2022.
Her breakout role was on the shortlived NBC sitcom “Sunnyside,” which eventually led to a recurring role for her on the “iCarly” reboot and the critically acclaimed series “Better Call Saul.” Next up for the very busy Liu is the comedy film “I Love Boosters” with recent Oscar nominee Demi Moore, as well as the upcoming Netflix series “His & Hers” with Tessa Thompson.
“Hacks” is expected to return for its fourth season this coming May. ©2023 King Features Synd., Inc.
of her niece.
Deena has remained loyal to her bitter aunt for years. But Agatha is dying and her insults will soon end… until a string of inexplicable incidents. A sound so piercing Deena’s nose bleeds. A smell so vile her breathing suffocates. And after each attack her aunt’s health improves. With mounting dread, Deena discovers her aunt’s bargain, and when the Sensu thrusts her into its terrifying realm, she must battle not only the power of her aunt’s long-held secrets but her own guilt.
The Burning Years: Until This Last Quartet: Book 1
By Felicity Harley
In this first book in a series, it’s the year 2060. Sophie, a top female scientist, dismantles the government weather modification program and steals the male and female trans-humans who hold the promise of extended life.
While the remaining inhabitants of Earth are forced to design new underground habitats in order to survive a harsh, overheated world, Captain Rachel Chen takes the worldship Persephone to Proxima Centauri, hoping that this new star system will provide a refuge for the survivors of the human race.
One Amazon reviewer calls the book “captivating and fast-paced, covering important issues facing our planet through a very engaging story. The author provides a wealth of scientific information very creatively, easily weaving it in as part of the suspense and plot of this story.” BookBites is presented by BookTrib. com.
SOLUTIONS
Opinion
Unless otherwise stated, the views and opinions expressed are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily represent the views of The Signal.
READER LETTERS
A Failed Experiment on Orchard Village Road
I agree with the letters regarding the bike lane barriers placed along Orchard Village Road. They really detract from the charm of that stretch of road. I travel that route almost daily and I have yet to see a single bicycle rider. In my opinion this is a failed experiment that could be easily corrected.
Was there any kind of study conducted before the installation?
Dan Bradley Newhall
Traffic Engineers, Here’s Another One for You
As I talk to my neighbors at least once a week, there is something that we all agree on. Right outside of our neighborhood, there’s a four-way stop. The only thing managing that traffic is stop signs. However, the issue isn’t that it’s busy or fast drivers (fun fact: there are always speeders). It’s the fact that on the main road, there are three lanes going both ways. On each street, there is only one stop sign, on the turning lanes. Then, on the other two lanes in the middle, the STOP sign is on the road floor.
The issue is that in that intersection, drivers on those two lanes, most of the time, do not see it. They’re so busy speeding that they think they only have to stop if on the turning lane. This has caused many car accidents. This has been going on for the almost three years that I’ve lived here.
Just last year, there was a motorist who got hit and was in critical condition because the driver in the car did not see the stop sign on the road floor. I’ve personally almost gotten T-boned a handful of times.
Now I have to be cautious with my children in the car, because I stay at the STOP sign until I see the car visibly stop. Often, they do not stop and my jaw drops every time how careless drivers are in a neighborhood.
I believe that if the city added traffic lights that this could easily solve the problem. They don’t even have to be the normal red, green and yellow. They could be flashing reds/yellows.
Even a yield sign would be sufficient to bring more awareness on being a safer driver.
Krissie Douangmala Canyon Country
We Succumbed to Media-Driven Hate and Fear
Five years ago, a germ — funded in communist China by our own federal government — killed millions of people, as that same government denied responsibility and took a hacksaw to American liberties in the name of “keeping us safe.”
None of their efforts worked. They cost us trillions of dollars and saddled us with unconscionable debt. Countless businesses never recovered. They harmed the health and education of hundreds of millions of people. And the excess deaths continue to this day.
COVID-19 was truly the biggest scandal of our entire lifetimes, and yet almost everyone today just wants to forget about it, likely because they themselves shamefully succumbed to the media-driven hate and fear.
Rob Kerchner Valencia
ETHICALLY SPEAKING
Mistakes: Best Teacher
By David Hegg
When I was young, my father was brilliant. But as I entered junior high, he seemed to lose most of his brilliance. In fact, by my first years of high school, it was apparent that he was entirely out of touch with reality, especially concerning what it took to be successful (read “cool”). I finished high school and then college, and as I spent more time with Dad, now as an aspiring adult, I was shocked at how much he had learned about life, love, and almost every other subject. I have now completed the same learning journey in my children’s eyes. One of life’s greatest joys is having my adult children come to me and value and put my advice into practice. This has brought me back to those days when I listened to my father as he dispensed equal parts wisdom and love. My Dad taught me, and I’m sure you’ve heard it, too: “Learn from your mistakes.” Mistakes are the most incredible learning tool ever invented. If you’ve bought into the idea that success demands that we be lifelong learners, you’re lucky because your life and mine will never be short on mistakes. I am; therefore, I err.
you and I failed, and now the question is: What will we learn?
Nothing is more complicated or healthy in the face of failure than humility. Imagine the worker whose shoddy performance has brought about the termination of employment. She faces her boss and hears the words that will end her time at the company. She has failed. But at this point, as hard as it is, humility is her best option. Suppose she responds in anger, determined to blame the company. In that case, she will walk out of the door and into her following interview carrying the same workplace deficiencies that led to her demise. But suppose she is truly humbled by the fact that she didn’t do well. In that case, she can gain profitable insights from others, correct or eliminate harmful attitudes and actions, and become a better candidate for long-term employment.
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But what can we learn in the aftermath of our mistakes and failures? What should we know? The most significant value in failure is that it forces us to recognize and own our deficiencies. We move through life pursuing success and building the facade of ability, and most of the time, we can fool ourselves and those around us. The longer this occurs, the greater the buildup of pride and over-confidence. But, unless we are divine, the pressure of life eventually pushes us beyond our capabilities, the facade bursts, and our failure descends for all to see.
Maybe it was just a lost football game or a failed presentation. Or perhaps it was an emotional outburst against a family member or colleague. Worse yet, maybe it was an ethical lapse or even a series of business mistakes that have now jeopardized your employment. Whatever the situation, large or small,
The same thing is true in other areas. Sports teams achieve greatness because they watch the previous game’s film and learn from their mistakes. Military commanders in the field learn quickly from today’s mistakes to save their troops’ lives tomorrow. Individuals who honestly admit their culpability have the most significant opportunity to grow stronger and be better positioned for success. Trial and error is a great learning strategy, but only if the error is admitted, owned, studied and corrected. Those who continually refuse to wrap their arms around their mistakes, preferring to blame everyone else for their failure, can expect the opportunity to do it all over again very soon.
The simple truth most dads know and are eager to pass along is this: If you don’t learn from your mistakes, you’ll most certainly grow in your ability to make them. That’s what my Dad taught me, and eventually, I got to the place where he was smart enough to make me believe it.
Local resident David Hegg is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church. “Ethically Speaking” appears Sundays.
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