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NEWS FEATURES 5 Near misses while being pulled over 6 Where to find hot ramen during a cold spell 7 A seat with the stars for the awards show 8 When our connection to tech is a 2-way street LOCAL NEWS 9 Family shares their road-improvement win 10 Highway 14 collision causes traffic delays City Council to discuss park proposal next steps 11 Community makes valentines for SCV’s ‘Hometown Heroes’ 12 Supes OK funds for those affected by shut-offs Single-vehicle crash closes all lanes of The Old Road TECHNOLOGY 13 Tech toys in the attic can be worth big bucks SPORTS 14 Foothill League winter sports winding down TRAVEL 15 Top ten travel destinations to start the new decade CITY MAYOR 16 City of Santa Clarita’s arts community update DINING GUIDE ENTERTAINMENT 20 Absorb the sounds of Sponge in Santa Clarita FOOD 21 All-day nutrition CALENDAR THINGS TO DO 23 Presidents Day fun at the libraries and at home KIDS & FAMILY 24 How family game night can boost skills for kids 25 Donna’s Day: Monarch butterflies set to spring into flight School menu PROFILE 26 Simon Mee has the recipe for success in Newhall SENIOR LIVING 27 How to reduce your risk for another heart attack INTERIOR DESIGN 28 Home improvement trends for 2020 HOME IMPROVEMENT 29 Cracked fiberglass tub, French door mystery leak GARDENING 30 Garden and fruit tree care for February PETS 31 What to expect when adopting a shelter dog How pet sitters can benefit companion animals TIME RANGER HEALTH 33 Five tips to help men take charge of their health REAL ESTATE 34 Factors to consider when picking a mortgage lender OPINION

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F E B R UA RY 16, 2020

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Near misses while being pulled over Ed. note: The names of some of the innocent (and a few guilty) parties have been changed to protect their identity.

Whether you have a good story, bad story or no excuse, it really all depends on whether you’re feeling lucky. SIGNAL FILE PHOTO

By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

our heart starts to race as you see those red-and-blue lights flashing behind you, and you begin panicking (possibly, perhaps, even muttering a few choice words) as you pull over to the side of the road. We’ve all been there. It’s almost inevitable that you’ll be pulled over at some point in your life. Sometimes, you feel like you have a case to make — and other times, there’s not much left to say. Though it may not seem funny at the time, here’s a few memorable stories from some who have made it through their ordeals with law enforcement unscathed — or not.

‘I’m late’

It was after midnight when Greg and his buddies were headed home one night. Though the light was red as he came up to a deserted intersection, he looked around to make sure no one was there and kept going. “As we crossed the intersection, I saw a truck, and I knew immediately that it was a cop,” he said. Sure enough, the truck turned the corner and lights were flashing behind him. In his panic, Greg made up a story about having to catch a flight to Guatemala, which his friends went along with. After taking their IDs, the officer comes back with a smile. “He said, ‘Boys, it’s your lucky day. I’m going to let you go because I know my wife would kill me if I missed a flight,’” Greg added, chuckling.

‘I forgot something’

“I was driving on Whites Canyon, and I’ll admit I was speeding,” Sue said. She had been one her way home from Ralphs and she realized she had left the bag of dog food she had just purchased at the bottom of her cart, so she was headed back rather quickly to get it. When she was pulled over, she told

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the officer her story. “He gave me a look like, ‘Yeah, right,’ but then said, ‘I’ll tell you what, I’m going to follow you back to Ralphs, and if that dog food is there on a cart, I won’t give you a ticket,’” Sue said. “Lucky for me, the dog food was there. The policeman got out of his car, put the dog food in my trunk, said, ‘Have a nice day,’ and left.”

Clueless

When being pulled over for “allegedly speeding,” Ryan was asked if he knew how fast he was going. “I said, ‘Honestly, I have no idea.’” Ryan said. “He just gave me a blank stare and told me to slow down. I’m not sure he knew, either.”

Heart attack

As he drove to Lake Tahoe for the weekend with some friends, Caleb had his cruise control set to just over the speed limit. Along the drive, he and another car had been keeping speed with each other, but before he knew it, he realized the other car had slowed significantly. Looking back, Caleb saw why as lights began flashing behind him. He immediately started cursing his luck and hitting his steering wheel, fuming as he pulled over to the side of the road. The cop, evidently messing with

him, continued past him before making a U-turn at a nearby break in the highway. “It’s still a running joke with me and my friends to this day,” he said, shaking his head.

Not distracted enough

There’s a residential neighborhood near John Burroughs High School in Burbank where a number of stop signs sit barely 100 yards apart. While running late to work one day, Jade sees the motorcycle officer who is usually sitting there waiting to catch people is pre-occupied with giving someone else a ticket, so, naturally, she thinks she’s safe. After flying through her third stop sign, she sees the motorcycle cop behind her, lights flashing. “‘I know you saw me after the first stop sign, and I was going to let it go, but you kept running them, right in front of me, while I was giving a ticket,’” he said to her as he proceeded to write her up.

Repeat offender

Raychel was 16 or 17 and she had just gotten her driver’s permit, so when her mom asked her to drive her to Target, a 5-minute drive away, she was very excited. “While driving, a cop pulled up behind me and flashed his lights, so I proceeded to panic, of course,” she

said. The officer told Raychel he thought the vehicle was stolen as the car’s license plates didn’t match the car — a problem her mom was very aware of. “So, I give the officer my freshlyprinted permit and told him it was my mom’s car, who was sitting right next to me,” she said. “Once the officer sees my mom, he said, ‘Haven’t I pulled you over for this before?’ To which my mom sits in shock, and I’m holding back a mixture of laughter and tears.” Rather than give Raychel a ticket, he instead decided to give her mother an incentive to fix the issue, taking out a screwdriver and unscrewing the plates before letting them leave. “My mom has since gotten new plates,” she said, laughing.

Dumb and dumber

Though no particular story came to mind, one law enforcement officer shared a story of something he said happens all too often. When a suspect is arrested for being under the influence they are often released and in need of someone to pick them up. Many times, that person who comes to get them is also inebriated.

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Where to find hot ramen during a cold spell By Raychel Stewart Signal Staff Writer

f you’re trying to stay warm during the winter months, ramen can be a great way to enjoy a nice meal and beat the cold. Ramen is a traditional Japanese meal that consists of Chinese wheat or egg noodles in a pork or fish-based broth, and can be topped with different types of meat, scallions, nori and vegetables. Over the last few years, the ramen dish has gained popularity in Southern California, resulting in ramen restaurants opening, or existing restaurants adding ramen to their menu. The Santa Clarita Valley is no stranger to places where you can get a nice bowl of warm ramen.

Sushi 661

Although known for a wide range of sushi rolls and sashimi since 2015, 661 Sushi has added a signature ramen bowl to their Santa Clarita location which adds a Korean twist on the Japanese dish. “I’ve been a sushi chef for 20 years,” said Song Cho, owner of 661 Sushi. “One day, I thought, ‘What if I tried making ramen and it comes out really good?’” Cho decided to give it a try. He explained how growing up as a Korean-American, beef broth was used in many dishes he ate, so he added that recipe to his ramen. Since the beef-bone broth gives ra-

men a “nice” taste, Cho said, there’s no need to add many spices and flavorings to the dish. “I’ve gone to a lot of ramen places in Los Angeles and Torrance, and they all use pork, fish and chicken broth,” Cho said. “Pork broth can be really heavy because of the pork fat and butter that’s mixed in. I decided to use beef-bone broth which is more light and milky.” When asked how many bowls of ramen are ordered every week, Cho couldn’t even give an estimate, but about 30% of the restaurant’s sales are of their ramen bowl. Cho decided to become a sushi chef after his family expressed worry when he was interested in serving in the military. “My grandma was worried about me joining the military, so I didn’t know what to do. I knew I loved sushi though.” said Cho. “Now I love what I do. People can come in on a bad day and enjoy the food I give them, and it could possibly make their day a little better.” Sushi 661 is located at 26850 Sierra Highway, Santa Clarita. (661) 252-9831. Sushi661.com.

Bistro DK (Aomori)

When looking at a place to find ramen late at night, Bistro DK will be opened. Typical business hours for this restaurant are 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. on weekdays, 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. on weekends. Opened in 2016, owner D.K. Kim said he opened his ramen restaurant because he wanted “more midnight food,” since the only options during that time are In-N-Out and McDonalds. “I see more people coming in the evening time, so I want to feed the people who are hungry at midnight,” said Kim. The popular dish on the menu is the spicy dumplings ramen, which is made with pork dumplings and incorporates kimchi, a fermented vegetable, and korean barbecue sauce that Kim said gives the ramen a “spicy, smokey” taste. Kim has gone from making traditional Japanese food to traditional Korean food to becoming a sushi chef — and recently added ramen to his list. “My restaurant is called a Bistro because I want to serve different things depending on what people want,” said Kim. “I want to make them all sorts of food.” Along with spicy dumplings ramen, Bistro DK also has a variety of ramen dishes and sushi rolls. Bistro DK is located at 18242 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. (661) 251-5733.

Love Ramen With the growing popularity of the dish, there’s a growing number of places in the Santa Clarita Valley where you can enjoy a hot bowl of ramen on a cold day, or just the next time you’re hungry. BOBBY BLOCK / THE SIGNAL

Love Ramen has four locations throughout Southern California, including one in Canyon Country, which opened in July 2019 with a wide selection of ramen that includes different types of meat, broth, vegetarian options and other traditional dishes. Of the 13 ramen options on the menu, Chunyu

Song Cho, owner and chef at Sushi 661, prepares a bowl of ramen in his restaurant’s kitchen. BOBBY BLOCK / THE SIGNAL

Cham, owner of Love Ramen, said there are three most popular dishes: Both tonkotsu black and tonkotsu miso are pork-based ramen, the black being a little spicier, and are the top-two popular dishes; the third-best seller is the wonton chicken ramen, which is made with a chicken-based broth. “(Santa Clarita) is a good city and people here like what we sell,” said Cham, regarding what drew him to the SCV. Love Ramen is located at 18635 Soledad Canyon Road, no. 104. (661) 367-6899. loveramenca.com.

Masa Ramen

At Masa Ramen in Valencia, tonkotsu ramen is the most popular dish on the menu, said owner Max Otagriri. Tonkotsu ramen is in a pork-based broth, which is prepared by boiling pork bones in water for up to eight hours. “We make everything from scratch,” said Otagriri. “The broth and vegetables, everything is fresh and prepared in our kitchen here.” Otagriri said four years ago he and his father noticed there were very few places to get ramen in the Santa Clarita Valley, so his father opened the restaurant as a hobby. A few years after that Otagriri took over the restaurant which now offers seven different types of ramen, cold noodles and rice bowls. Masa Ramen is located at 27051 McBean Parkway, No. 101. (661) 254-4229; masaramenrestaurant.com.

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A seat with the stars for the awards show

industry guest. She walked the red carpet, having supplied makeup for last year’s ceremony. For Darougar, the Grammys were as much about business as they were about enjoyment, and the ceremony was an important networking opportunity. “I knew more people there this year so it was more enjoyable for me, and I also had the opportunity to speak to other brand owners and celebrities,” Darougar said. “I’m originally from Israel, and the Grammys, along with all Hollywood (stars), are huge there. I always dreamed about being on the red carpet. Walking the red carpet is always exciting because you get the perfect dress and perfect hair and everyone is looking at you.” Darougar has also been a guest at the Emmys, and said that while the events are similar in celebrating entertainment, the energies of both the ceremonies and after-parties are like night and day. The Emmys are much more formal events, according to Darougar, while the Grammys are much more energetic and youthful affairs.

By Matt Fernandez Signal Staff Writer

hile Grammy night may seem full to the brim with stars and industry figures, not everyone in the crowd is famous. There are also more than a few seat-fillers. The way awards shows are presented on television and how they operate live are night and day, according to attendees. While viewers at home see a polished presentation peppered with artist performances, the live experience is much more chaotic, with attendees scrambling to use the restroom, get a drink or prepare to take the stage roughly every three minutes when the show cuts to commercial. It is during these moments of chaos when seatfillers come into play, flooding in from the sidelines to fill the vacant spots of celebrities until they return or until the next commercial break so as to leave no empty spots when the cameras roll.

At the Grammys

Britney Pollock was a seat-filler for this year’s Grammys after she applied through a website and selected through a lottery system. Seat-fillers are required to arrive at the venue by 1 p.m., given a pin to distinguish them from industry figures and guests and then wait for three hours before they ushered into the venue, according to Pollock. Seat-fillers are directed not to take photographs during the event or speak to celebrities unless they initiate the conversation and fill whatever empty seat they see as quickly and quietly

Britney Pollock attended the 2020 Grammys as a seat filler and was able to interact with stars like Lizzo and Ariana Grande. PHOTO COURTESY BRITNEY POLLOCK

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Ravit Darougar attended her second Grammys as an industry guest and said that as an Israeli immigrant, walking the red carpet was.a dream come true. PHOTO COURTESY RAVIT DAROUGAR

as possible. Pollock sat in the 12th row from the stage, and luckily for her, the intended guest never arrived, so she never had to change seats. She was able to chat with Lizzo, Ariana Grande, Diplo, Lana Del Rey and Tove Lo. “Everyone was chit-chatting the entire time, and didn’t really pay attention to the presentation on stage unless they were nominated for a category,” Pollock said. “The highlights were the performances, which was like getting a free concert, and the fact that I didn’t have to move and not have to play the game of musical chairs.” Pegah Hunt was one of the seat-fillers who had to play that game, though she eventually ended up in the fourth row, where she was able to keep her seat. “You don’t really have time to think because it all happens so fast and you have to keep following where they tell you to sit,” she said. “And while sitting in the back is still cool, the main floor is a whole different experience. “I really appreciated seeing the chaos that goes on behind the scenes, especially the guys working the sound and social media on their computers. On one hand, it was humbling to be there, but it also seeing the (humanization of) all the celebrities because it helped me realize they’re just people like me.”

Industry guests

Ravit Darougar, owner of 4Ever Magic Cosmetics, wasn’t a seat-filler or a nominee but rather an

Audience experience

This year’s Grammys coincided with the death of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and was held at the Staples Center, where Bryant played. Tributes to the sports star occurred throughout the night, which according to Pollock, Hunt and Darougar, colored the evening with a somber tone. Pollock has also filled in as an audience member for game shows like “Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader,” and for the sitcom “Will and Grace.” She said that she prefers being in a sitcom audience more because the audiences are smaller and there’s more interaction with the stars. “When I was at ‘Fifth Grader’ with my daughter, there was very little audience interaction and they did fifty takes of John Cena breaking through a wall so it can get boring and he was really annoyed by the end,” she said. “At ‘Will and Grace,’ the cast members will come talk to you, give you their scripts and have contests. It’s a very different experience.” As college students, Joshua Honikel and Evaristo Capalla used to attend audience tapings of shows like “Beat Shazam” and “Little BIg Shots” to raise funds for an organization they were part of, earning $50 per person that attended. Honikel said it takes some of the magic out of television, but he enjoyed his experience and learned a lot. “It was an easy way to earn funds for our organization, so we’d make a day of it and hang out together,” Honikel said. “Everyone watches TV, so it’s really cool to see what goes into it.”

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When our connection to tech is a 2-way street By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

rom making dance videos for your friends to see on TikTok to retweeting funny memes to posting pictures of your dog on Instagram and watching food videos on Facebook, for most, social media is a part of most of our daily lives. While there are a plethora of uses for social media, like it or not, there are a million ways they can track you. Did you know that Facebook can track your every move, even if you aren’t using the app? Though there are some perks, like Burger King’s “Whopper Detour” back in December 2018 — customers who used their Burger King app to order food while at a McDonald’s could get a Whopper for a penny — some are not as appealing. TikTok was recently hit with a class-action lawsuit that claims the app transferred “vast quantities” of user data to China, despite the Chinese app’s assurances that no personal data is stored there. This may sound extremely troubling, seeing that not only is it currently one of the most popular apps in the world, but also has approximately 1 billion monthly active users, according to the app’s statistics. Even Google has been known to keep tabs on you, making note of your location when it sends you a daily weather update or when you merely open the maps app, according to a study conducted by the Associated Press. “It’s scary to think about,” Saugus resident Valerie Thompson said. “I’m not one to use much social media, but my teenagers do, and they are too young to know any better, which is the scariest part.” While Thompson regularly monitors her children’s social media use, she said it’s hard to keep up with the ever-changing popularity of each app. “Every time they download a new app, they have to sign up with me, so that I know exactly what information they’re giving out,” she added. “But, that doesn’t mean they can’t go and change that later.” In fact, a study conducted by Pew Research Center found that 91% of adults either “agree” or “strongly agree” that consumers have lost control over how personal information is collected and used by companies, while 80% of social media users said they’re concerned about third parties, like advertisers or businesses, accessing the data they share on these sites. These worries don’t even begin to cover the record number of data breaches that have been occurring, such as the 2019 Facebook breach where 540 million user records were exposed on Amazon cloud servers. Another Pew study showed that a majority of Americans (64%) have personally experienced

While our app technology can be helpful in finding things and keeping up with people, privacy concerns have led to legislation meant to help protect users’ privacy.

a major data breach, while nearly half (49%) of Americans believe that their personal information is less secure than it was just five years ago. A new Califonia privacy law, which took effect at the beginning of the year, was designed to address these issues. The California Consumer Privacy Act gives consumers more control over the use of some of their personal information. “This is something that even as an attorney we’re always scared about,” Andrew M. Sevanian, an associate attorney at Poole Shaffery & Koegle, LLP, said referring to the use of consumer personal information through social media. “When it comes to consumer protection, California is at the forefront, and that’s the apparent goal of this new law. However, it does appear the law CCPA is somewhat limited in scope, particularly in terms of the types of businesses that are currently covered by this new law,” added Sevanian, who recently wrote an article about the CCPA. The CCPA applies to any for-profit business that does business in California and collects personal information, but has to meet one or more of the following criteria: • Has an annual gross revenue in excess of $25 million • Buys, receives, sells or shares for commercial purposes the personal information of 50,000 or more consumers, households or devices annually • Receives 50% or more of its annual revenues

from selling consumers’ personal information Once the CCPA begins enforcement on July 1, it’ll be up to the courts to decide how the law is interpreted and enforced. “When in doubt, look at the privacy policy on social media sites,” added Sevanian. The previous version, the California Online Privacy Protection Act, which took effect in July 2004, required any website or app that collects personal information to have a clearly visible privacy policy accessible to users. That privacy policy should explain what kinds of personal information is gathered from users, how the site or app uses that information and how they then keep it safe. Santa Clarita resident Robert Pullmer is well aware of the importance of reading a site’s privacy policy, but said he often struggles to understand them. “Most policies are like reading a novel,” the 32-year-old said. “I get lost in their legal jargon and tend to give up after getting through a paragraph.” Even so, Pullmer said he frequently checks his privacy settings, ensuring that he’s keeping up with any changes that may occur. “The worst part is you can’t just say ‘no’ to it, you either have to agree with it or not use the website, which is infuriating,” he added. “So instead, I’ve learned to search for terms, like ‘personal information,’ and focus on those bits.”

F E B R UA RY 16, 2020

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Family shares their road-improvement win By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

n 2017, Jeffrey and Wendy Keely lost their son Conor after he crashed while on Highway 138. Today, the parents hope their successful efforts to improve a portion of the road will help prevent future tragedies. Conor, a Hart High School graduate and whose name is on the Santa Clarita Youth Grove, was on his way home from hunting while traveling eastbound on Highway 138, just west of 300th Street in unincorporated Los Angeles County. The 20-year-old passed a semitruck on the narrow, two-lane highway and crashed into a power pole after an oncoming vehicle caused him to swerve off the road and fall into an embankment. He succumbed to his injuries a few hours after being airlifted to the hospital on Nov. 20. “Conor was such a great person,” Wendy, who is also the mother of a younger Hart High School student, said on Monday. “Why would this happen to us? I thought my mission would be to do something so that it wouldn’t happen to someone else.” After their son’s death, the couple visited the crash site and noticed that the road did not have proper signage to notify motorists not to pass other vehicles in that area of the narrow, twisting Highway 138 — something the Keelys believe was a major factor in the crash. “It was clear to us that there was something wrong with the road. We decided to go after the state and get the road fixed,” said Wendy. In 2018, the Keelys brought a

The

wrongful death complaint against multiple agencies, including the state of California and Los Angeles County, stating that the defendants were “negligently, recklessly, vicariously, tortuously and unlawfully responsible in some manner” for the Nov. 20 incident, according to court documents. The case was dismissed in late 2019, leaving the Keelys uncertain if anything would be done on Highway 138. After a recent visit, they soon found out. “We went out and saw that there was a ‘Do Not Pass’ sign and paint on the road, just west of 300th Street,” said Wendy. “I want to say thank you for doing what we asked for. I’m thankful that they listened to us.” Caltrans District 7, which oversees Highway 138, had installed the “Do Not Pass” sign and road markings on Nov. 21, 2019, as part of ongoing efforts to improve the roads, said Jim Medina, the agency’s public information officer, adding that other roads, including Highway 14, would receive “Pass with Care” warning signs by fall 2020. Wendy believes the family’s “efforts pushed the envelope to get the job done sooner.” Highway 138 earned the nickname by motorists “Blood Alley” in the 1990s, when it averaged about 10 fatalities per year before a 2006 widening project, according to the Law Offices of Larry H. Parker, an automobile accident law firm in Southern California. The additional signage on Highway 138 gave the Keely family “a little peace of mind for such a horrific tragedy,” Wendy said.

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Highway 14 collision causes traffic delays By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

multivehicle traffic collision resulted in delays on both directions of Highway 14 Tuesday

afternoon. Los Angeles County Fire Department officials responded to reports of a traffic collision on Highway 14 north of Soledad Canyon Road and Shadow Pines just before 3:45 p.m., according to spokesman Austin Bennett. California Highway Patrol officers also responded to the scene after a passing motorist called in the crash, CHP Officer Stephen Brandt added. Though the original call came in as two to three vehicles, the first units that arrived on the scene reported a total of four vehicles — three on the southbound side and one on the northbound, Bennett added. “(There’s a) total of three patients, all with minor injuries,” he said. “They requested three ambulances but canceled two. The (remaining) ambulance is most likely for basic life support.” At least one patient was being transported to a local hospital. Though traffic was backed up, it had begun moving in both directions as of 4:20 p.m. Signal Photographer Dan Watson contributed to the report.

Above: The traffic collision involving multiple vehicles backed up traffic for several miles Tuesday afternoon on southbound Highway 14. Below left: A Toyota sedan and a pickup collided on the southbound Highway 14. PHOTOS BY BOBBY BLOCK / THE SIGNAL

Right: The driver of the sedan is transported at the scene of a collision on the southbound lanes of Highway 14 near Soledad Canyon Road. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

City Council to discuss park proposal next steps By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

he Santa Clarita City Council is set today to discuss the next steps in bringing the community a park with multi-use fields just north of the Via Princessa Metrolink Station. At their regular meeting, council The Signal mistakenly ran a photo of Will and Linda Cierzan with the “Deputies search home of Saugus gunman” story, in the Feb. 2, edition of the Sunday Signal.

members are expected to vote on whether to award a conceptual design contract of nearly $180,000 to Southern California Regional Rail Authority for a project report for the undercrossing at the Metrolink Station, located at 19201 Via Princessa. The park would be located on at least a portion of a 26-acre property located immediately north of the Metrolink Station, a piece of land that the city of Santa Clarita purchased from Los Angeles County in April 2017 with the intent to use it as an active park. Parking for the future park would

include the existing parking lot on the south side of the tracks but access to the north side of the tracks “will require a grade-separated crossing of the tracks in order to access the park,” according to the city staff report. “Providing access to the future park is the initial focus of the overall project,” read the report, adding that the future park site has limited access points due to its proximity to the Santa Clara River, a private mobile home park, road abutment and railroad tracks. “The most probable approach is to create a grade-separated crossing

from the city-owned parking lot south of the tracks to the city-owned future park site north of the tracks.” The grade-separated crossing would be designed and constructed to meet the region’s grade separation guidelines and provide proper access for pedestrians and potentially vehicles for the purposes of maintenance, security or emergencies, the report said. An official timeline for the future park’s completion has not yet become available, said Carrie Lujan, communications manager for the city.

F E B R UA RY 16, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 1

LOCALNEWS

Hearts for Heroes —

Community makes valentines for SCV’s ‘Hometown Heroes’ By Vivianna Shields Signal Staff Writer

o appreciate the “Hometown Heroes” in Santa Clarita, Prayer Angels for the Military hosted their 16th annual Hearts for Heroes program Saturday afternoon, where children and their families made valentines for deployed troops and first responders to thank them for their service. “It is for all the heroes,” said Suzon Gerstel, president of Prayer Angels for the Military. “We have a lot of heroes around Santa Clarita.” Local firefighters, paramedics, veterans and sheriff ’s deputies will also be given valentines for their past and current service in the Santa Clarita Valley. “We ship every month, but on the holidays we try to make a special effort to decorate the boxes,” said Gerstel. “It is more fun to have a package that somebody clearly took the time to make.” At the program, children had a wide variety of stickers and art supplies to choose from when designing their valentine. Children were seen making multiple valentines, as they tested out different supplies and stickers. “This is a good opportunity because (my children’s) father did a couple of tours,” said Rosa Mora, a mother who attended the event. “We are here to support my daughter.” Mora’s daughter, Alicia Ybarra, initially attended the event to receive honor society hours at her chapter at Placerita Junior High. Having a father who served, Ybarra felt the need to make as many valentines as she could, wishing them a safe trip home. “I think this is a good opportunity for me to give back,” said Ybarra. Along with those who have family members who served in the past, other families who attended had family members who were currently serving overseas. The crafts table became home to conversations as families shared stories of their loved ones. Prayer Angels for the Military is a nonprofit military support group that reaches out to as many deployed ser-

Above: Valencia Elementary School third-grader Julian Ybarra, left, and Patty Ryan, a volunteer with Prayer Angels for the Military, create Valentine’s Day cards for active-duty soldiers during a “Hearts for Heroes” event, held Saturday morning at American Legion Post 504. Right: Robyn Sheets, a volunteer with Prayer Angels for the Military, packs care packages for active-duty soldiers during Saturday’s “Hearts for Heroes” event at American Legion Post 504. PHOTOS BY BOBBY BLOCK / THE SIGNAL

vice members as they can to ensure that no one is forgotten at mail call, according to the Prayer Angels for the Military website. “Children do the most,” said Gerstel. “They have the biggest hearts.”

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F E B R UA RY 16, 2020

LOCALNEWS

Supes OK funds for those affected by shut-offs By Vivianna Shields Signal Staff Writer

o provide assistance to residents who were affected by power shut-offs, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a grant Tuesday that would allow the county to prepare, respond and potentially mitigate future power shut-offs. “This funding is critically important to support our residents who are directly impacted by power safety shut-offs,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents the 5th District, which includes the Santa Clarita Valley, said in a news release. In an attempt to lower the risk of wildfires, utility facilities have begun exercising Public Safety Power Shut-offs during extreme weather conditions like high winds, extreme heat and low humidity, to lower the

fire risk. Prior to the weeklong Tick Fire, which burned more than 4,500 acres, destroyed 23 homes and damaged 40 others, a red flag warning went into effect that initiated power shut-offs in the Canyon Country area. Soon after, the fire broke out near Tick Canyon Road. Left without power, homeowners in the rural areas of the Santa Clarita Valley were unable to protect their homes from flames because they could not access their water wells. These wells use a powered pump to pressurize the system, so with no power the wells were unable to be used. Residents Amy and David Lamon were left without power and their home was ultimately destroyed in the fire. “We had very little access to information because we had no internet, so we didn’t know that there was a fire until we saw the smoke,” David

said in a previous interview. “That’s my point. In natural disasters, you want to provide electricity for as long as possible, not preemptively shut it off.” The Lamons continue to share their story to raise awareness for this problem. In response to the thousands of homes left without power, Gov. Gavin Newson initiated help from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. “On Oct. 25, 2019, the Cal OES allocated $2,995,139 to Los Angeles County for resilience activities related to PSPS events,” the county agenda report said. Now that the funding was available, the board was left with the task of allocating the funds to different departments. “This allocation of state funds to county departments will ensure that essential emergency and life-saving

services for both people and their animals can continue uninterrupted even when SoCal Edison determines that the company must shut off a community’s power supply,” Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, who represents the 3rd District, said in a news release. According to the report, the board distributed the grant to the Department of Animal Care and Control, the Fire Department, Internal Services Department, Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, Department of Public Health, Department of Public Works and Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services. “With our residents’ safety at the forefront of our minds, we are committed to allocating timely resources for our communities,” said Barger. Signal Staff Writer Emily Alvarenga contributed to this report.

Single-vehicle crash closes all lanes of The Old Road By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

ne person was transported to the hospital after a single-vehicle collision in which a car fell into a ravine in Valencia Monday afternoon, causing a “hard closure” on The Old Road, meaning only emergency vehicles were able to pass. The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to reports of an expanded traffic collision on The Old Road and Magic Mountain Parkway just before 2:20 p.m., according to fire spokeswoman Leslie Lua. “One person was extricated and one person was transported (to a hospital),” she said. The vehicle, which left the road near a bridge, was described as a small, black car, according to the California Highway Patrol. The crash caused all lanes of The Old Road, between Magic Mountain Parkway and Rye Canyon Road, to shut down in both directions until 2:57 p.m., according to the CHP. The CHP assisted with the hard closure, setting up cones to divert

CHP officers respond to a vehicle that went over a bridge on The Old Road near Valencia Boulevard on Monday. One person was transported to a local hospital for treatment. PHOTO BY GILBERT BERNAL / THE SIGNAL

traffic in the area. The age, gender and condition of the person transported to the hospital was not known.

F E B R UA RY 16, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 3

TECHNOLOGY

Tech toys in the attic can be worth big bucks By Kim Komando Signal Contributing Writer

ore through your home, and you may be grateful you never unloaded certain game consoles. That old computer may have stored only 100 kilobytes of data, but it may fetch an astonishing price. For vintage technologies from a bygone age, they sure are hot commodities. See how much the best-sellers are going for.

1. Factory-sealed gaming cartridges Because they were mass-produced back in the 1980s, most people didn’t know Nintendo cartridges would be worth much in the future. Recently, a collector sold a copy of the original Nintendo Mega Man video game for $75,000. A rare Super Mario Bros. game was also

purchased for more than $100,000. If you have a Nintendo game sitting in your attic that’s never been opened or another gaming console, you may be in luck. 2. Atari games The Atari 2600 video game system launched in 1977 and was a huge hit. It sold millions of units over the years, and you probably had one if you were growing up at the time. The game console isn’t a rare item that fetches tons of money — unless of course, it’s still factory-sealed. And certain copies of games can bring in thousands of dollars. The rarest game is Red Sea Crossing, and it was recently valued at more than $10,000. Most people didn’t even know it existed until it turned up at a garage sale in 2007. You can check more than garage sales and Craigslist for collectables. 3. PlayStation 2 The Snow White PlayStation 2

looked a lot like the standard white classic edition, but this version has a glossy, pure white finish. There were less than 700 consoles made to be sold in each region. If you’re lucky enough to have one on hand, now might be the time to sell. They’re going for around $1,000 on popular auction sites. 4. Apple Mac Apple released the first Macintosh computer back in 1984. It happened to be the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a graphical user interface. If you have one that still works, you may be able to sell it for $2,000. 5. Apple iPhone Most people froth over the latest iPhone, but collectors are already pursuing older models: a used 4GB iPhone with the original box recently sold on eBay for more than $1,000. Even better, an unopened

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8GB iPhone 2G with a 2007 launch day bag sold for over $4,500. 6. iPod Classic Apple introduced the first-generation iPod back in 2001 and it changed the way we listen to music. Who could forget that slick click wheel making it easy to navigate? You can find iPod classics for sale online for a few hundred bucks these days. But those are just the regular, used versions. If you happen to have a special edition model in your collection, it could be worth thousands. For example, a U2 edition 30GB iPod sold for nearly $90,000 not long ago. For information on Kim Komando on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks, visit her at Komando.com.

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F E B R UA RY 16, 2020

SPORTS

Foothill League winter sports winding down By Diego Marquez Signal Staff Writer

hree Santa Clarita Valley winter sports teams have repeated as Foothill League champs, while one other has won the league title for the first time in many years. Hart girls soccer was the first to secure a Foothill League title, beating Canyon on Jan. 30 to lock up the crown. The Indians finished undefeated in Foothill League play for the seventh consecutive season when they shut out Saugus on Feb. 6. “It means a lot,” said senior Alyssa Irwin after beating Saugus. “Especially the undefeated part. It shows how much we can fight because in soccer games you never know what’s gonna happen. You can be the better team and you can lose, so it really shows how much we fight and how much we really wanted it.” Hart finished 9-0-1 in Foothill League play and only allowed five

Saugus’ Riley Phipps (22) drives past Valencia defender Mailey Ballard (2). The Saugus girls hoops team finished a historic run this year, with its undefeated regular season. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

goals. Overall, the Indians won 20of-24 games, dropping one game to Division-1 foe Long Beach Poly. They tied the other four. Hart had strength in its boys program this year, as well, with the Indians repeated as the Foothill League

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champions for the third straight time. The team won the title outright in their last game of the season by beating Saugus, 2-1. With under a minute left in the regulation, the Indians’ Ryan Lopez scored a goal to beat the Centurions. “The ball came to me and I said to myself, ‘Shoot it. What can I lose?’” Lopez said. “It’s the last seconds of the game and I have to take my chances.” Hart finished 15-2-3 overall and went 6-1-3 in Foothill League action, winning seven of their final league games. The third SCV team to repeat as a league champion is Valencia boys basketball. The Vikings only lost one game en route to the league crown and were able to clinch the title by beating Golden Valley on Feb. 4. “(It) feels amazing,” said Valencia senior Noah Veluzat. “We put in so much work and we stuck with it all year. To say that we clinched the Foothill League championship is

pretty cool.” Unlike Hart girls and boys soccer and Valencia boys basketball, Saugus girls basketball waited eight years in between Foothill League titles. The Centurions beat Canyon to win the title, then beat Hart in the same week to become the first Saugus basketball team — girls or boys — to complete an undefeated Foothill League season. “There’s so many emotions going through my mind right now,” said Saugus senior Monique Febles after going undefeated. “Four years ago, I would’ve never thought we’re going to be where we are right now, but I’m so happy. We all worked hard for it and it’s just crazy. I’m so excited.” Hart soccer and Valencia boys basketball have already established themselves as arguable powerhouses in the league. But with Saugus girls basketball breaking through for a league title, they, too, could repeatedly be finding themselves among the elite in the future.

F E B R UA RY 16, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 5

T R AV E L

Top ten travel destinations to start the new decade

or many, traveling offers an opportunity to disconnect from the everyday and experience new places and cultures. With the beginning of a new decade, it is the perfect time to start deciding your next travel adventures. When booking your future destinations, consider these spots and tips recommended by travel expert and Bank of America ambassador, Lee Abbamonte, the youngest American to visit every country plus the North and South Poles.

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

England, Germany, Scotland, Azerbaijan and more

While technically more than one place, these locations have one thing in common: Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Euro 2020. The international soccer event marks the first time the games will be held across the continent in 12 host cities. “The year is a big one for sports,” Abbamonte said. “From sporting events in Europe to Japan, it is a fun year for travel and to enjoy once-in-a-lifetime experiences.”

Australia

From its deserts to tropical beaches, Australia is a beautiful country to explore. While many people might be familiar with the Sydney Opera House and the unique wildlife, there are many hidden gems in Australia. “I’ve been to Australia 10 times and I still can’t get enough,” Abbamonte said. “One of my favorite cities is Melbourne. While it’s one of the largest cities in Australia, the heart of the city is hidden and secretive. It comes to life when you visit the alleys, laneways and arcades. The vibrant city has so much to offer: cafes, a unique street culture and street art.”

Falls located on the border of Brazil and Argentina. While Iguazu Falls might be well known, the falls themselves are truly unique. The waterfall system consists of 275 falls that stretch over approximately 1.68 miles. The Devil’s Throat is the tallest fall with a drop of more than 262 feet. While traveling internationally can be fun and exhilarating, there are also places throughout the United States that offer memorable activities:

New Zealand

Scottsdale, Arizona

If you are going to New Zealand for the first time, Abbamonte recommends boogie boarding down the sand dunes, hiking up a volcano and visiting the Moeraki Boulders. However, if you are really interested in getting the blood pumping, take a leap from Nevis Bungy near Queenstown. It is among the highest bungy jumping experiences in the world, measuring 440 feet.

Mexico

“Mexico City has two of my favorite things – great food and sports,” Abbamonte said. “The street tacos are to die for, and I love going to soccer games at Estadio Azteca.” In 2020, there will be many festivals to explore. The city is a cultural hub with music, theater, dance and food events throughout the year. While experiencing the festivities, it is also an opportune time to take a step back and enjoy Chapultepec Park.

Brazil

One of Abbamonte’s favorite waterfalls is Iguazu

If you enjoy being outdoors, Scottsdale is an ideal place to visit. There are many trails to explore in Camelback Mountain, Papago Park and Hole in the Rock. After hiking, follow Abbamonte’s example and golf at The Short Course at Mountain Shadows. “Scottsdale has some of the most beautiful sunsets in the States, and from The Short Course at Mountain Shadows, I get to enjoy the view while practicing my swing,” he said.

Boston, Massachusetts

“I love sports, so I visit Boston regularly for the professional games,” Abbamonte said. “I’m also fortunate that Boston is a beautiful city I can enjoy along the way.” Boston is one of the oldest cities in the country. Founded in 1630, Boston is filled with history, museums and universities. If you are interested in a more unique attraction, check out the Warren Anatomical Museum, which is one of the last of its kind in the United States.

Portland, Oregon

What makes Portland unique are the bizarre and wonderful things you can do when you visit. For example, you can try bone marrow ice cream, stop by Mill Ends Park (the world’s smallest park) or attach your wish to The Wishing Tree. “Portland is absolutely beautiful,” Abbamonte said. “It has a bit of everything – restaurants, bars, parks – and I enjoy the people watching. Portland has some of the nicest people while maintaining an edgy vibe.”

Tampa, Florida

Tampa might be known for its spring break party scene, but it has so much more to offer. For example, the city’s zoos and aquariums provide opportunities to interact directly with animals. Then you can take a break at Clearwater Beach, which is known for its soft, white sand and calm waters.

Santa Barbara, California

“I go to Santa Barbara when I want to recharge,” Abbamonte said. “I enjoy the food, walking around, talking to the locals and even watching a football game or two.” There are wine tours, zoos, beaches, museums and restaurants. While taking in the city, also make time to visit the hidden gems such as Knapp’s Castle ruins. Find more solutions to make your travel goals attainable at bankofamerica.com/Premium. (Family Features)

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F E B R UA RY 16, 2020

F R O M T H E M AY O R

City of Santa Clarita’s arts community update

By Mayor Cameron Smyth

anta Clarita’s art community continues to produce meaningful pieces that unite and speak to individuals of all ages, cultures and backgrounds. Our City is fortunate to house a wide variety of creative outlets that span from art galleries to public art pieces, live music, plays and historical tours. This month brings us new displays of artistic expression that everyone should take advantage of viewing before the exhibit’s end! One of our current must-visit exhibitions is the 2019 Young Artists and Authors Showcase at Old Town Newhall Library. The City of Santa Clarita and the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Program are pleased to have the opportunity to show the 2019 YAAS winners and finalists until Feb. 27. Amongst the creative works featured is a piece by Katherine Denzin, who is a member of our Santa Clarita community and Saugus High student. Her essay submission, titled

“Similarities and Differences,” calls for us to move towards unity globally through embracing the details that make us both alike and diverse. The 2019 YAAS theme was “Global Citizens: Resilient Communities,” which highlights the importance of citizen diplomacy and ways that we as individuals, and as a community, can achieve peace through our interpersonal interactions. Another inspiring exhibit that all should be a part of is pArts by Susie Kades at Town Center Art Space. On display until April 6, pArts demonstrates her passion for the environment, blended with her artistic abilities to create something new out of something used. Her unique exhibit consists of small figures and scenes created out of unconventional materials. As a long-time SCV resident, Kades hopes to inspire the same interest in recycling and upcycling amongst all ages in our City and beyond. Moving from the ground to the air, I also encourage you to visit our “Flight” exhibit at the First Floor Gallery at City Hall. Available for viewing through March 7, “Flight” showcases works by

a group of selected artists in various mediums ranging from painting to drawings, photography and more. Each piece illustrates the artists’ varying interpretations of flight. The community is invited to celebrate and welcome this new exhibit at a free art reception on Wednesday, Feb. 19, from 6-8 p.m. at City Hall. Attendees will enjoy free food, drinks and music while observing the art. Last, what does home mean to you? “Home is Where the Art Is,” is the latest exhibit on display at The MAIN in Old Town Newhall, featuring gifted artists from The Brush and Pallet Guild. Participating artists include Judy Heimlich, Patty O’Hearn, Angela T. Phillips, Evelina Winchester and Inga Windsor. Their artwork showcases concepts of “home” and the different feelings that “being at home” may evoke. The exhibit will be available to view from Feb. 7 to March 16, with a free public reception on Feb. 20, from 7-10 p.m. The MAIN also features regular monthly events such as 10 by 10, Scenes and You’re the Best. Located on Main Street

in Old Town Newhall, The MAIN is a multi-use arts venue and home to music events, comedy shows, plays, films, classes and workshops. For more information on the MAIN’s upcoming events and to purchase tickets, please visit The MAIN’s website at the AtTheMain.org. I hope you will take the time to immerse yourself in the inspiring arts and entertainment options available in SCV. Take a friend, family members, loved ones or venture out solo to enjoy each memorable show. Whichever your preference, there are truly countless chances for us to show our support to the talented artists in our community! For more details on the exhibitions mentioned, as well as upcoming exhibitions and opportunities, please visit the Santa Clarita Arts website at SantaClaritaArts.com. Mayor Cameron Smyth is a member of the Santa Clarita City Council and can be reached at csmyth@santa-clarita.com. The views expressed in her column are those of the city and do not necessarily reflect those of The Signal.

F E B R UA RY 16, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 17

Eat Real Cafe 23414 Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 254-2237 27530 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 254-2237 Grilled Cheese Factory 24201 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 888-1508 Iconic Eats 23460 Cinema Dr, Valencia (661) 481-9404

AMERICAN

Backwoods Inn 17846 W. Sierra Highway, Canyon Country (661) 252-5522 The Backyard Grub n’ Brews 26509 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita (661) 286-1165 Bergie’s 16404 Delone Street, Canyon Country (661)251-3133 Black Angus 27007 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 288-2000 Black Bear Diner 23626 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 799-4820

Islands 24180 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 284-5903 Brooklyn Bar & Grill 25860 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 284-6057

Lazy Dog Cafe 24201 Valencia Blvd., Valencia (661) 253-9996

The Cheesecake Factory 24250 Town Center Dr #110, Valencia (661) 286-1232

The Local Pub & Grill 26876 The Old Road Stevenson Ranch Ca 91381 661.495.9192

Claim Jumper 25740 The Old Road, Valencia (661) 254-2628

Mama’s Table 23340 Cinema Dr, Santa Clarita (661) 284-5988

Crazy Otto’s Diner 25373 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia (661) 291-1733 The Daily Harvest Cafe & Juicery 22722 Lyons Ave #6, Newhall (661) 383-9387

Marston’s Restaurant 24011 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 253-9910 Nealie’s Skillet 25858 Tournament Road, Valencia (661) 678-0031

Newhall Refinery 24258 Main St, Newhall (661) 388-4477 Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing Co 18810 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 252-7883 Route 66 Classic Grill 18730 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 298-1494 Saddle Ranch Chop House 24201 Valencia Blvd., Valencia (661) 383-0173 Salt Creek Grille 24415 Town Center Drive, Valencia (661) 222-9999 Souplantation 24303 Town Center Drive, Valencia (661) 286-1260 Stonefire Grill 23300 Cinema Drive, Valencia (661)799-8282 The Old Town Junction 24275 Main Street, Newhall (661) 702-4888 The Social 23329 Lyons Ave, Ste A, Valencia (661) 799-9155

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F E B R UA RY 16, 2020

BBQ

AMERICAN Thelma’s Cafe 22876 Copperhill Drive, Saugus (661) 263-8283

Wing Stop 18547 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 251-9700

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Dickeys Barbecue Pit 18742 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (661) 251-0840

Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing Co. 18810 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 252-7883

L&L Hawaiian BBQ 18727 Via Princessa, Canyon Country (661) 251-8333

Pocock Brewing Company 24907 Avenue Tibbits, Valencia (661) 775-4899

Lucille’s Bar-B-Que 24201 West Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 255-1227

Wolf Creek Restaurant & Brewing Co. 27746 N. McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 263-9653

Q&Q Hawaiian BBQ 27530 Newhall Ranch Road #101, Santa Clarita (661) 383-9098

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Crazy Otto’s Diner 25373 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia (661) 291-1733 Egg Plantation 24415 Walnut Street, Newhall (661) 255-8222 Eggs N Things 27560 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 702-8664 Halfway House 15564 W. Sierra Highway, Saugus (661) 251-0102 Mama’s Table 23340 Cinema Dr, Santa Clarita (661) 284-5988

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BREWERIES BJ’s Restaurant 24320 Town Center Drive, Valencia (661) 288-1299

BURGERS/SANDWICHES Bricks 23820 Lyons Ave, Newhall (661) 286-1091 Corner Bakery 24290 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 259-2813 Cousins Burgers 19318 Soledad Cyn Rd, Canyon Country (661) 298-4200 Everest Burgers 18645 Soledad Canyon Road Santa Clarita, CA 91351 (661) 252-3412 Final Score 23754 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 254-6557 Italia Panetteria & Deli 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 294-9069 Jimmy Dean’s 22941 Lyons Ave, Newhall (661) 255-6315 JJ’s Bar and Grill 25848 Tournament Road, Valencia (661) 799-7557 Panini Palace 23120 Lyons Ave., Santa Clarita (661) 678-0552 Pita Pit 28253 Newhall Ranch Road (661) 702-9977 Red Robin 27063 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 260-2411 Route 66 Classic Grill 18730 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 298-1494 Rustic Burger 24025 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 254-1300 Rustic Eatery 25343 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia (661) 254-8100 Submarina California Subs 26517 Carl Boyer Drive, Canyon Country (661) 259-4782 The Habit 25948 N. McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 291-1575 23120 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 678-0552

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Tiny’s Submarine Sandwiches 27251 Camp Plenty Rd, Canyon Country (661) 251-5885

CHINESE

China Express 19417 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 251-8783 Genghis Khan 24506 W. Lyons Avenue, Newhall 661-254-0351 Golden Wok Restaurant 16668 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 424-0888 Grand Panda 23802 Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 253-1898 27924 Seco Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 297-9868 Mandarin Wong Chinese Restaurant 23758 Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 259-5823 Moon Wok 23460 Cinema Drive Suite H, Valencia (661) 288-1898 New Moon 28281 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 257-4321 Pei Wei Asian Diner 24250 Valencia Boulevard, Valencia 661-600-0132 Pick Up Stix 25960 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 288-2090 WaBa Grill 19120 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 367-7297 31739 Castaic Road, Castaic (661) 295 9222 Wok’s Cookin’ Chinese Restaurant 31565 Castaic Road, Castaic (661) 257-2890

CUBAN Hidden Havana Cuban Cafe 23548 Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 254-4460

DELICATESSEN Bob’s Country Meats 19012 Soledad Cyn Rd, Canyon Country (661) 251-5995 Cathy’s Delicatessen 23120 W. Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 288-2217 Italia Panetteria & Deli 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 294-9069 Maria’s Italian-American Deli 22620 W. Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 259-6261 The Sandwich Shop 25530 W. Avenue Stanford, Valencia (661) 257-4811

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FRENCH Le Chene French Cuisine 12625 Sierra Highway, Agua Dulce (661) 251-4315

GREEK

Gyromania 20655 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 252-4976

INDIAN An Indian Affaire 23360 W. Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 288-1200 Karma Restaurant, Bar & Lounge 23460 Cinema Drive, Valencia (661) 288-0080 Royal Tandoor 26532 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 263-7100

ITALIAN

KOREAN & MONGOLIAN Charcoal Korean BBQ Restaurant 19158 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 251-9292 Genghis Khan 24506 W. Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 254-0351 Gogi House 26524 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 263-0048

Guido’s Pizza & Pasta 26322 N. Friendly Valley Parkway, Newhall (661)252-4111

Lee’s Korean BBQ & Tofu House 23360 West Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 254-2307

Italia Panetteria & Deli 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 294-9069

ZingGa Grill 26910 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita (661) 250-7592

Mama Mia Pizza 25708 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 286-9183

MEDITERRANEAN Cafe O 20655 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 424-0401

Buca di Beppo 26940 Theater Drive, Valencia (661) 253-1900

Flame & Skewers 25870 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 799-7538

Italia Panetteria & Deli 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 294-9069

Grill Kabob 27653 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 263-7445

Maria’s Italian-American Deli 22620 Lyons Ave, Newhall (661) 259-6261

Kebab House 24201 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 799-5844

Numero Uno Pizza 26111 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 259-3895

Manoushee Mediterranean Restaurant 27131 Sierra Hwy, Canyon Country (661) 251-6666

Olive Garden 27003 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 799-8161

Zankou Chicken 24463 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Valencia (661) 705-7265

Presto Pasta 24375 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Valencia (661) 284-7737

JAPANESE & SUSHI Achita Sushi 22913 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 476-5522 I Love Sushi 26526 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita 661-673-5200 Kabuki 24045 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 799-8655 Kisho Japanese Teppan Grill & Revolving Sushi Bar 23430 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 284-3856 Masa Ramen 27051 McBean Pkwy, #101, Valencia (661) 254-4229 Sushi Song Japanese Restaurant 22896 Copper Hill Dr, Santa Clarita (661) 297-5659

Chi Chi’s Pizza 27117 Sierra Highway, Canyon Country (661) 252-4405 23043 Soledad Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 259-4040

Kogiya 2 Korean BBQ 23410 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 678-0999

Bella Cucina Ristorante Italiano 27911 Seco Canyon Rd, Saugus (661) 263-1414

Piccola Trattoria 18302 Sierra Highway, Canyon Country (661) 299-6952

PIZZA Ameci Pizza & Pasta 28013 Seco Canyon, Santa Clarita (661) 296-6131

MEXICAN

Azul Tequila 25387 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia (661) 254-5500 Betito’s Mexican 18902 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661)251-0557 Cabo Cabana Restaurant 25710 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 222-7022 Casa Pasilla 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 295-1989 Dario’s Mexican Restaurant 24523 Newhall Avenue, Newhall (661) 255-6868 El Trocadero Mesquite Grill & Cantina 24274 Main Street, Newhall (661) 284-6615 Las Rocas Mexican Grill 27923 Sloan Canyon Road Castaic (661) 257-6905 Medrano’s Mexican Restaurant 19319 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 367-4945

Numero Uno Pizza 26111 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 259-3895 Pieology Pizzeria 28295 Newhall Ranch Rd, Valencia (661)678-0234 Pizza Rev 24341 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia (661) 260-1257 Pizza Di Marco 27674 Newhall Ranch Rd, Valencia 661-295-8769 Toppers Pizza 23710 Valencia Blvd, Santa Clarita (805) 385-4444

POLISH Pierogi Spot 26511 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita (661) 254-4850

THAI

Original Thai BBQ Restaurant 27530 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 257-6421

VIETNAMESE

Pho Sure 23876 Copper Hill Drive, Valencia (661) 257-3888

FAST DELIVERY At Our Valencia LOCATION ONLY pizzadimarco.com

Family Owned Since 1985

Pizza • Pasta • Sandwiches • Salads Dine In - TakeOut - Delivery

661.295.8769 27674 Newhall Ranch Road Valencia, CA 91355

Fax: (661) 295-9533 Min. Order $12.00

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F E B R UA RY 16, 2020

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

Absorb the sounds of Sponge in Santa Clarita By Perry Smith Sunday Signal Editor

eatured in Kevin Smith movies “Chasing Amy” and “Mallrats,” as well as “Guitar Hero,” the sounds of Detroit-based Sponge have been entertaining rock music fans for at least a couple of generations. “Sponge has proven to be one of the Motor City’s heaviest hitters after gain-

ing international notoriety with their debut album ‘Rotting Piñata,’” according to the band’s website: spongetheband.com. “Emerging from Detroit with hits like ‘Plowed’ and ‘Molly (16 Candles),’ Sponge received massive airplay on radio stations from coast to coast and were in heavy rotation on MTV. Both ‘Plowed’ and ‘Molly’ hit no. 5 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Charts, catapulting ‘Rotting Piñata’ to

gold and, ultimately, platinum status. “‘Plowed’ continues to be the band’s signature rock track, having been spotlighted on ‘Guitar Hero’s Warriors of Rock – 90’s Rock Track Pack’ — and on the ‘Paper Jamz Guitar Series 2,’ in addition to the soundtrack for the Gerard Butler surf movie ‘Chasing Mavericks,’” according to the band’s bio. If you’re a fan, you definitely won’t

wanna miss the band’s March 6 show at Canyon Santa Clarita (ticket information below). Find the Canyon Santa Clarita on the ground floor of the Westfield Valencia Town Center. Get tickets at the box office 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, by phone at (888) 645-5006, or via TicketMaster.com. For more info, visit WheremusicmeetstheSoul.com.

F E B R UA RY 16, 2020

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FOOD

rom cereal and milk to yogurt and fruit to broccoli and cheese, combining dairy with plant-based foods creates a superfood power couple that can help ensure you and your family are getting the nutrients you need any time of day. With the rise in popularity of plantbased diets, dairy can help optimize nutrient absorption from plant foods and provide additional nutrients like high-quality protein, calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B12. You can create delicious meals with the nutrition you need while enjoying the best of plants and dairy. Combining dairy and plantbased foods can be easier with these

dairy-powered recipes from Milk Means More. They are ideal for creating a nutritious and delicious plan for every meal throughout the day. Start with a Blueberry Apple Crisp Smoothie Bowl in the morning then build out your lunch or dinner plans around an appetizer like this traditional Middle Eastern Labneh Spread with grilled pita bread and assorted veggies. For the main course, try Lentil Tacos with Tangy Guacamole and a classic Moroccan staple, Creamy Couscous with Broccoli, Tomatoes and Cheese, on the side. Find more recipes that combine the goodness of dairy and plant-based foods at milkmeansmore.org. (Family Features)

Lentil Tacos with Tangy Guacamole

Blueberry Apple Crisp Smoothie Bowl

Recipe courtesy of culinary dietitian Marcia Stanley, MS, RDN Prep time: 40 minutes Servings: 6

Recipe courtesy of Rachel Gurk of Rachel Cooks Prep time: 5 minutes Servings: 1 1 cup frozen blueberries 2 cups apples, roughly chopped, reserving 2 tablespoons for topping 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 cup plain, non-fat Greek yogurt 1 cup spinach pure maple syrup, to taste ice cubes (optional)

Tangy Guacamole: 1 medium ripe avocado, pitted, peeled and chopped 1 tablespoon orange, lime or lemon juice 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 cup plain, fat-free Greek yogurt

Lentil Tacos:

Toppings: 2 1 1 2

tablespoons oats teaspoon pure maple syrup tablespoon pecans, chopped tablespoons reserved chopped apple fresh blueberries

In blender, blend blueberries, apples, cinnamon, yogurt and spinach until smooth. Taste and add

Labneh Spread

Recipe courtesy of Jenn Fillenworth, MS, RDN of Jenny with the Good Eats Prep time: 5 minutes Servings: 6 12 ounces whole milk Greek yogurt 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 pinch sea salt, for garnish fresh herbs, for garnish pita bread, grilled assorted seasonal vegetables

maple syrup, to taste. If thicker mixture is desired, add ice cubes. Pour into bowl. Mix oats with maple syrup. Top smoothie mixture with oats, pecans, apples and blueberries. Wrap mixture in cheesecloth and strain over bowl in refrigerator 24-48 hours. Strain longer to make thicker.

In bowl, mix Greek yogurt, salt and lemon juice.

Once thickened as desired, remove from cheesecloth and top spread with olive oil, sea salt and fresh herbs.

Transfer mixture to fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth.

Serve with grilled pita bread and assorted seasonal vegetables.

2 1/3 1 1/2 2 2 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/4 12

cups water cup dry brown lentils, rinsed and drained cup finely chopped onion teaspoons chili powder cloves garlic, minced teaspoon salt cups seeded and chopped tomatoes, divided cups (5 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese, divided yellow corn taco shells

To make Tangy Guacamole In small bowl, mash avocado, juice, hot pepper sauce and garlic. Stir in yogurt. Cover and refrigerate until serving time. To make Lentil Tacos Heat oven to 400 F. In medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine water, lentils, onion, chili powder, garlic and salt. Bring to boil. Reduce heat. Cover and gently boil 12-15 minutes, or until lentils are just tender. Uncover and boil 5-15 minutes, or until most liquid evaporates. Remove lentils from heat. Stir in 1 cup tomatoes and 3/4 cup cheese. Spoon into taco shells. Stand filled tacos in 13-by-9-by-2-inch baking dish. Sprinkle tacos with remaining tomatoes and cheese. Loosely cover dish with foil. Bake 3-5 minutes, or until cheese melts. Stir guacamole. Serve with warm tacos.

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THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR

ONGOING Saturdays, 10:30-11:45 a.m. Come and enjoy group drumming with your family at our Kids Rhythm Club. Our 45-minute drumming session helps build self-confidence, self-esteem, expands the musical imagination and nurtures creative thinking. All ages and levels of ability are welcome. Drums and percussion instruments provided at no extra cost and reservations are not required. Adults $5, kids 12 and under free. Remo Music Center, 28101 Industry Drive, Valencia. Info: remo.com/ experience/post/kids-rhythm-club-remomusic-center-2 Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. California farmers and specialty food purveyors come together rain or shine, to bring you a farmers’ market with the finest in fresh and seasonal fruits and vegetables, including organic, baked goods, flowers, herbs, cheeses and prepared foods. Old Town Newhall, 24500 Main St., Newhall. Info: oldtownnewhall. com/old-town-newhall-farmers-market Sundays, 8:30 a.m. to noon The Santa Clarita Certified Farmers’ Market offers locals a breakfast prepared onsite from one of the market’s several food vendors, or you can try some of our wonderful artisan bakery products. Open year-round, rain or shine. College of the Canyons, Parking Lot 5, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. Info: vccfarmersmarkets.com/santa-clarita Wednesdays, 8-10 p.m. Citadel Krav Maga is helping women in the Santa Clarita Valley empower and protect themselves by

! WIN

= Family Friendly Event

offering a evening course called “Women’s Wednesday.”“Women’s Wednesday” is a drop-ins service offered to all women, and does not require a monthly membership to the school to attend. $10. 17749 Sierra Hwy, Canyon Country. Info: citadelkravmaga.com Thursdays, 4-9 p.m. The Vegan Exchange SCV at Wolf Creek Brewery is a 100% vegan market featuring local food, beverage, apparel, cosmetics and lifestyle vendors. Pocock Brewing Company, 24907 Ave. Tibbitts, Suite B, Santa Clarita. Info: veganexchangeevents.com/vxscv Thursdays, 5:54-7 p.m. Join Runners Lane Santa Clarita for a free 5K fun run/ walk. You can go the entire distance or if you’re just starting out you can go by time. Our goal is to get the community out and moving whether your fast or slow or just in the middle. We encourage all levels to join us. Walkers too! 22959 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita. Info: facebook.com/ events/956668621334188/?event_time_ id=956673478000369

EVENTS BY DATE Sunday, Feb. 16, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Brittany Foundation will host their Wagging Tails on the Trails volunteer opportunity at Central Park. Please help volunteer to take adorable adoptables out on a hike. It’s a fun day away from the rescue for the pups and gives them a chance to experience new places and people. 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. Info: facebook. com/events/2311375948962937/ Sunday, Feb. 16, 11 a.m. As part of the

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THIS IS

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Newhallywood Silent Film Festival the Hart Museum will be viewable in an open-house format with activities celebrating the art of silent film. Practice making sound effects how the professionals do, learn how to perform as a silent actor, and get a “behindthe-scenes” look at Hart’s projection booth and 35mm Simplex projector. 24151 Newhall Ave, Santa Clarita. Info: hartmuseum.org/newhallywood-silentfilm-festival?

Saturday, Feb. 22, 5 a.m. Mark your calendars for the third annual Grit Obstacle Course Race at East Walker Ranch in Santa Clarita, California. Claw race on Saturday with an 8-mile course and 23 obstacles. Fang race on Sunday with a 5-mile course and 19 obstacles. Join us to experience amazing trails, punishing obstacles, killer hills, and epic panoramic views. $111-141. 16723 Placerita Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita. Info: gritocr.com

Sunday, Feb. 16, noon to 2 p.m. Love is in the air in February. Join the CBS Film Series for a screening of “Marianne & Leonard Words of Love.” Marianne Ihlen and Leonard Cohen met on the Greek island of Hydra and spent much of the 1960s intertwined in a love affair. With their affair as a backdrop, the film tells the story of Cohen’s career and the unlikely rise of a poet who became a successful musician but it doesn’t shy away from his depression, drug abuse, or his reputation as a notorious ladies man. $5 per ticket including lunch and popcorn. 21430 Centre Pointe Pkwy, Santa Clarita. Info: facebook.com/ events/153574806067827/ Wednesday, Feb. 19, 4-6 p.m. Join the Canyon Country Library in the African American History Month Film Series. This screening will showcase Zora Neale Hurston’s fieldwork. The compilation register activities in American black communities from the rural South and possesses a highly anthropological value. Shot in 1928-29, the collection includes children’s games, capers and dance, a baseball crowd, a baptism and portraits of a beautiful black young woman and a tall man with an axe.18601 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. Info: santaclaritalibrary.evanced.info/ signup/calendar

Saturday, Feb. 22, 1-3 p.m. This is your opportunity to play winemaker at Agua Dulce Winery. Learn about blends from all around the world. Create your own individual blend. Cork your bottle, label the bottle and take it home to enjoy. Add some incredible cheeses and chocolates and spend the afternoon with your valentine. $65, limited seating, reservations required. Info: aguadulcewinery.com/wp/event/ valentines-blending-experience-date/; (661) 268-7402

OTING

Friday, Feb. 21, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Join Oak Creek Corral for a rad time with some neon madness and some totally 1980’s fun at Friday Fun Night. There Identify this advertiser and the page number in this week’s Convenient • Accessible will be a game of neon volleyball, and a issue, and you will be entered to win aEasy $100 gift•certificate for a local restaurant. One game and one winner each week. whole lot of 1980 neon fun! Bring the family or drop-off the kids. Refreshments Mail your entry to The Signal – Contest will be served. $10 per person. 27345 Sand 26330 Diamond Place | Santa Clarita, CA 91350 Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. Info: facebook. Or email contest@signalscv.com com/events/1348435668698398/ CONGRATULATIONS to ARLENE GERSHMAN for correctly identifying REYES WINERY on page 30

February 22-March 3

Advertiser: _____________________________ Page # ______ Name: _____________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________ Phone: _____________________________________________ This week’s entries are due Wed. February 26 Winner to be announced in 2 weeks.

Friday, Feb. 21, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Gather your trivia geek posse, and join Wolf Creek Brewery for a trivia night all about The Office! It is free to sign up and teams can have up to 6 members. Themed dress will be awarded. 25108 Rye Canyon Loop Santa Clarita. Info: triviainthetent.com

Sunday, Feb. 23, 8-11 a.m. Come to the the 10th annual Mardi Gras Madness 5K/10K! This race will benefit SOAR of Santa Clarita. Mardi Gras Madness is a fun, themed USATF certified 5K / 10K walk/run for the whole family! K-9s and strollers welcome, too! Westfield Town Center, 24201 West Valencia Blvd, Santa Clarita. Info: facebook.com/ events/2385626178375322/ Friday, Feb 28. 7:30-9:30 p.m. The Master’s Chorale, conducted by Dr. Paul T. Plew, will perform their annual on-campus concert, featuring various choral works of numerous styles. Tickets available at the door. $8 general, $5 alumni, free with valid TMU student/faculty ID or for children under 12. The Master’s University, 21726 Placerita Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. Info: masters. edu/performingarts/music Saturday, Feb. 29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Welsh Baker Team proudly welcomes you to come visit the largest Welsh Cake manufacturing facility in America! Only a few times each year do we open our beautiful, shiny commercial kitchen to the general public for tours and free sampling. See how we make our yummies, meet the makers, sample our goodies and take some home with you too. Free but reservation required. 27820 Fremont Court, no. 4, Valencia. Info: welshbaker.ticketleap. com/leapdayopenhouse

F E B R UA RY 16, 2020

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Presidents Day fun at the libraries and at home

THINGSTODO

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

ust in time to break up the doldrums of winter, the threeday Presidents Day Weekend is the perfect time to enjoy some family fun. Presidential library day activities Both presidential libraries in Southern California will offer special activities on Presidents Day. Feb. 17, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Richard Nixon Library and Museum, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd. Yorba Linda Info www.nixonfoundation.org/ events/category/special-events/ Meet the presidents of Mount Rushmore and get free cherry pie. Half-priced admission to the Nixon Library and Museum all day. The first 1,000 visitors will receive a free slice of cherry pie compliments of Polly’s Pies. Meet and take photos with Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. A special “Meet the Presidents” program will begin at 1 p.m. in the historic White House East Room. Admission tickets must be purchased at the door on the day of the event. Feb. 17, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley Info https://www.reaganfoundation. org/programs-events/eventscalendar/annual-presidents-daycelebration-2020/ Mingle with the Founding Fathers during the 27th annual Presidents’ Day celebration. Family fun includes crafts, musical entertainment, storytelling and presidential and first lady look-alikes. The free-to-the-public event also

The first 1,000 visitors to the Nixon library will receive a slice of cherry pie.

Meet the presidents of Mount Rushmore and get free cherry pie at the Richard Nixon Library Presidents Day celebration. Monday, Feb. 17 features half-priced admission to the Richard Nixon Library and Museum.

includes a musical performance by the Doo Wah Riders in the main courtyard, spinning wheel demonstrations by Abigail Adams, a musical performance by the Los Angeles Police Concert Band in the main courtyard and historical actor performances featuring Abigail Adams, Ulysses S. Grant, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and Mary Todd Lincoln. Other activities include souvenir photos with president and first lady lookalikes, picnic games such as a four-man sack race, shoe-kicking contest, a bucket brigade, water balloon toss and much more. Regular admission rates apply to view the Ronald Reagan Presidential Museum, the Air Force One Pavilion and Egypt’s Lost Cities.

Eat Like George Washington

A fun activity is to make a recipe with your kids that was served at Mount Vernon, the home of George and Martha Washington. The couple welcomed thousands of guests to Mount Vernon, and were well known for their hospitality, frequent and memorable parties and for the wide variety of culinary treats served. It is said that during the 20 years after Washington left the presidency George and Martha dined alone only twice. What might a guest have found on the table at Mount Vernon? Washing-

ton reportedly loved Hoe Cakes and reportedly ate them every morning at breakfast. He ate them with butter and honey.

MOUNT VERNON. PHOTO COURTESY MOUNT VERNON

Washington’s Hoe Cakes Recipe Courtesy Mount Vernon 1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast 2-1/2 cups white cornmeal, divided 3 to 4 cups lukewarm water 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 large egg, lightly beaten Melted butter for drizzling and serving Honey or maple syrup for serving Mix the yeast and 1 1/4 cups of the cornmeal in a large bowl. Add 1 cup of the lukewarm water, stirring to combine. Mix in 1/2 cup more water, if needed, to give the mixture the consistency of pancake batter. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 8 hours, or overnight. Preheat the oven to 200 F. After resting, add 1/2 to 1 cup of water to the batter. Stir in salt and egg, blend thoroughly.

Gradually add remaining 1 1/4 cups of cornmeal, alternating with enough additional lukewarm water to make a mixture that is the consistency of waffle batter. Cover with a towel, and set aside at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes. Heat a griddle on medium-high heat, and lightly grease it with lard or vegetable shortening. Prepare 1 hoecake at a time, drop 1/4 cup of batter onto the griddle and cook on one side for about 5 minutes, or until lightly browned. With a spatula, turn the hoe cakes over and continue cooking another 4 to 5 minutes, until browned. Drizzle with melted butter. Serve with melted butter and honey, or maple syrup. Washington would wash his Hoe Cakes down with a cup of tea. Premieres Feb. 16, 8 p.m. ‘Washington’ Info www.history.com/shows/ washington This three-night miniseries event premieres Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. on the History Channel. “Washington” tells the story of how a fatherless young soldier full of personal ambition becomes a leader of men willing to sacrifice all for the common cause. How a once-loyal British subject rises to battle an empire in a liberty-or-death campaign to forge a new nation.

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K I D S & FA M I LY

How family game night can boost skills for kids

eeling disconnected from members of your own family lately? You’re not alone — a 2018 study by 72 Point for Visit Anaheim found that 60% of parents with kids between 4 and 18 described their daily lives as “hectic.” The survey also found that today’s families only spend about 37 minutes of quality time together per weekday. Between digital distractions and our often over-scheduled lives, even sitting down for dinner together can feel like a miracle to pull off, especially as children head toward the tween and teen years. What’s a solution? Gather around the table together for a good old-fashioned family game night. Even if you start out monthly, chances are it will soon be popular enough to enjoy more often. Putting your family’s game night on the calendar will ensure everyone keeps their schedules clear for a night of fun — and connection — together. Today’s games provide a range of choices to suit any age, interests or gaming styles, so there’s something for every family to explore and enjoy together. Kids can learn important lessons about sportsmanship and fair play, develop communication and collaboration skills, increase their fine motor, logic and strategic thinking abilities — and have a blast doing it. Here are some examples of how games can boost specific skills, while also providing plenty of giggles and excitement.

Test your knowledge, quick thinking and creativity

A game that’s always up-to-date, kNOW! uses the latest technology to help test the brain power of three to six players, ages 10 and up. Games go beyond trivia — there are also puzzles such as identifying a sound provided by Google Assistant, or creating a question to ask Google Assistant to prompt it to say a provided word or phrase. This fast-moving game provides constantly changing questions depending on where and when you play.

Enjoy the wicked side of strategy

For a fun twist on everyone’s favorite movies, Disney Villainous:

Evil Comes Prepared allows two to six players age 12 and up to choose a sinister character to play: Scar from “The Lion King,” Ratigan from “The Great Mouse Detective,” or Yzma from “The Emperor’s New Groove.” Players put strategy and logic to the test to achieve their own diabolical goals - and stop other villains from completing their own dastardly objectives. Games like Disney Villainous can be expanded and played with other characters in the series. Players can choose from a treasure trove of villains including Maleficent, the Queen of Hearts, Ursula and more.

Create suspense while working cooperatively

JAWS brings the classic movie and infamous shark to life in your very own living room. In this asymmetric, two-act board game, one player takes the role of the shark while others take on the parts of Chief Brody, Quint and Hooper and work together to defeat their toothy foe. For two to four players ages 12 and up, JAWS recreates the excitement and tension of the blockbuster film.

Boost problem-solving and small motor skills

A brain-bending game for all generations, Invasion of the Cow Snatchers is an introduction to playing games at different levels of skill while challenging players as they learn how to follow directions and maneuver their flying saucer around obstacles. Though designed to be a one-player game, others can join in on the fun

too by collaborating to solve puzzles and taking turns being the magnetic “UFO.” Schedule a family game night and turn that 37 minutes into an entire hour or more! Enjoy hanging out together, and reconnecting as a family. For more games and puzzles to enjoy, visit Ravensburger.com. (BPT)

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K I D S & FA M I LY

Donna’s Day: Creative Family Fun

Monarch butterflies set to spring into flight overwinter, kids in wool hats and scarves colored paper butterflies and “tagged” and clipped them to firtree sculptures as they learned about pollinators and the migration of these wondrous creatures. In Santa Clarita, you can attract and see monarch butterflies in your own backyard. Here are three ideas to begin your own monarch adventure:

By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer

tching to travel for spring break this year? It’s not just you. Consider the monarch butterfly: It’s common for these beauties to spring into flight through different migration corridors of the country and head north this time of year. To get inspired by the life cycles and travel itineraries of monarchs, kids in Minnesota’s Twin Cities landed at a family event on stark and frozen Lake Harriet to learn and interact at the Monarch Butterfly Migration Shanty (think ice-fishing house). Wearing decorated helmets, they rode “monarch-winged” bicycles on the ice. Painted to represent butterflies, thick canvas wings were at-

Attract monarchs to your yard As you plan your summer tached to bicycle handles and available to all. “I’m flying like a monarch,” exclaimed 11-year-old Brendan Frost, as he imagined his flight from Mexico to Canada. Inside the shanty, heated by a wood-burning stove and decorated to represent where monarchs

garden, add milkweed to attract monarchs. Poke a sign in the ground saying, “This is a butterfly-friendly yard” to encourage other neighbors to do the same.

Raise monarch butterflies Observe firsthand the wonder of how a caterpillar emerges from a chrysalis

CLIP N SAVE Elementary School Menus Menus courtesy of Santa Clarita Valley School Food Services which serves these school districts: Castaic USD • Newhall USD • Saugus USD • Sulphur Springs USD

(choice of one entree, seasonal fruit and milk)

BREAKFAST

Monday, Feb. 17 Tuesday, Feb. 18 Wednesday, Feb. 19 Thursday, Feb. 20 Friday, Feb. 21

LUNCH NO SCHOOL

Yogurt & Crackers Breakfast Bun Cereal Chilled Fruit Fresh Fruit Breakfast Quesadilla Breakfast Bun Cereal Chilled Fruit Fresh Fruit Fruit Juice Pancake Sausage Stick Breakfast Bun Cereal Chilled Fruit Fresh Fruit Strawberry Splash Mini Pancakes Breakfast Bun Cereal Chilled Fruit Fruit Juice

Cheesy Bean Burrito Mini Corn Dogs-chicken Dippin’ Chicken Smart Choice Pizza Seasonal Salad Bar Brownie Cup Brunch for Lunch: Maple Burst’n Mini Pancakes & Sausage Patties Chicken Nuggets Smart Choice Pizza Seasonal Salad Bar Chocolate Chip Cookie Teriyaki Chicken/Rice Dippin’ Chicken Deli Sandwich-turkey Smart Choice Pizza Seasonal Salad Bar Frozen Peach Cup Toasty Grilled Cheese Sandwich Chicken Nuggets PBJ Sandwich & String Cheese Smart Choice Pizza Manager’s Choice Seasonal Salad Bar

as a brilliant orange, black and white butterfly. Insectlore.com is a resource many teachers use for ordering caterpillars and supplies. Or, check out books from your library or online about how to find caterpillars and eggs in your own garden habitat this spring.

Send a butterfly greeting Take a photo of that monarch that landed in your garden and print it. Or, find images of monarchs and draw your own. Attach the photo or cutout drawing to the front side of a folded sheet of cardstock or heavy construction paper. Inside, write a message to a special friend or relative. Maybe it will be a story dictated by your child about the transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly in school or in your home, or this lovely poem, attributed to Nathaniel Hawthorne: “Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you. Donna Erickson’s award-winning series “Donna’s Day” is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activities, visit www.donnasday.com and link to the NEW Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.” © 2020 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Synd.

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26 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

F E B R UA RY 16, 2020

PROFILE

Simon Mee has the recipe for success in Newhall By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

ew restaurants seem to come and go at the speed of light in the Santa Clarita Valley. However, with two popular restaurants in Old Town Newhall — Egg Plantation and Newhall Refinery — and more than two decades of hospitality experience, Simon Mee seems to have discovered the recipe for success. “Quality, consistency, good service and owner involvement are important,” he said. “Having your niche is also key.”

Finding a career

Mee was born in Nottinghamshire, England and grew up in the small village of Gunthorpe, two and a half hours north of London. At age 15, Mee went to work at Tom Brown’s Brasserie, a French bistro along the River Trent, owned by Stuart Perkins, the father of a good friend. “I started there washing dishes,” Mee said. One night the restaurant was short of servers and asked Mee to fill in. It turned out Mee had a natural talent for “front of house.” Perkins offered to pay for Mee’s college education, if he wanted a position in restaurant management. Mee took him up on the offer and earned a National Diploma in Hotel Management and Catering.

Finding the SCV

In the late 1980s Mee traveled to the Santa Clarita Valley on a threeweek trip with his family to visit his uncle, Chris Mee. “Like everyone who visits California, I loved the weather, the lifestyle, everything,” he said. Despite his job as manager at Tom Brown’s, Mee decided to move to the SCV. “I just felt there was more opportunity here than in England,” he said. “After I told the owner I was going to give it a shot in the United States, he gave me his blessing.” Mee was 21 when he moved to the SCV in 1994.

From server to manager

Mee became the first male server at

the Beverly Hills Four Seasons Hotel lounge. Despite the good tips, the long commute took its toll, and Mee decided to work closer to home. “I started to manage the Starbucks at Granary Square and another on The Old Road,” he said. Starbucks took note of Mee’s talent and promoted him to a higher profile job managing locations in the San Fernando Valley. “My next step was going to be as a Starbucks district manager,” he said.

Meeting Shannon

Mee met his wife, Shannon, when he was managing Starbucks stores in Granada Hills (Chatsworth/Lindley) and Northridge (Devonshire/Reseda). Shannon, a college student, would study at the Starbucks, patronizing both locations. “We started as friends, playing pool, chatting,” said Mee. “Then we started a relationship.” The couple married May, 15, 2001. They have three children, Riley, 11, Liam, 13, and Ella, 14.

Egg Plantation

“When I first visited Santa Clarita, my uncle took us to eat at the original Egg Plantation,” Mee said. “It just blew my mind. Breakfast isn’t a big thing in England. The idea of 101 omelets, are you kidding me? How amazing. And it was packed, it was so busy.” In 1995, shortly after Mee moved to the SCV, the Egg Plantation closed. An Irish steakhouse, Gallagher’s, moved into the space. In 2000 Gallagher’s closed. It was Mee’s chance to bring Egg Plantation back to life. He contacted the Egg Plantation’s previous owners, Bettie Travis and Margerie Riberdy, who took over the restaurant in 1985. Originally opened by Maureen Anderson in the mid-70s as the “Egg Plant” with Anderson’s original 101-omelet menu, it was renamed Egg Plantation. “I wanted to get permission from Bettie and Margerie, out of respect of the years they put into the original Egg Plantation,” Mee said. “I was able to get their blessing to put it back on the map.” Through a “friend of a friend” Mee contacted a former longtime Egg

Egg Plantation and Newhall Refinery owner Simon Mee displays some of the rotating craft beers at his Newhall Refinery. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

Plantation server who provided him with an original menu and contact information of two former chefs. In October 2000, Shannon and Simon Mee re-opened the landmark restaurant. “I didn’t tell anyone we were opening. I had my truck parked on Lyons Avenue with a sandwich board in the back,” he said. “We opened on a Wednesday and served about 20 people. We were still trying to get the system down and get people trained. Word traveled like wildfire the Egg Plantation was back, and we served hundreds of people that weekend.” Mee is still incredulous at how quickly the community responded to the Egg Plantation’s return. “I knew it was popular, but this was absolutely mental,” he said. The restaurant will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. Mee said the restaurant’s best-selling omelet is #74, the Avocado, Bacon, Tomatoes, Green Onions and Jack Cheese. “It always has been the bestseller according to a server who worked here in the 1980s,” he said.

Newhall Refinery

The Mees often spend “date night” in the San Fernando Valley. When they saw the new trend of gastropubs gaining popularity Mee thought it might be time to bring the trend to the SCV. “Always in the back of my mind I wanted to own a pub. At first, I thought I wanted a traditional British

pub, but then I saw this gastropub movement,” he said. Mee saw a location available on Main Street in Old Town Newhall and opened Newhall Refinery. “It was a gamble. It was something that no one else in the SCV was doing,” he said. “Luckily, it was well received by the community.” In May Newhall Refinery will celebrate its seven-year anniversary. Mee said Executive Chef Dustin Boole is responsible for crafting “an amazing menu.” “It’s a lot of hard work, especially the prep work and labor,” he said. “Newhall Refinery has many more moving parts than Egg Plantation.” Mee credits Boole with being “ahead of the game culinarily.” The gastropub celebrates seasonality with rotating menus, daily fresh fish deliveries and offering guests a different experience every day, such as Taco Tuesday, featured burger Thursdays and chef tasting menus on Fridays and Saturdays.

SCV life

The Mees live in the Happy Valley neighborhood of Newhall. “It is a great neighborhood, it is the SCV’s hidden secret,” Mee said. “It’s perfect, it is right by the restaurants and we have three kids going to the local schools.” Mee said work-life balance is important. “My wife and I are running two restaurants and we have three kids,” he said. “It can be kind of overwhelming at times.” Mee usually can be found at Newhall Refinery, while Shannon oversees Egg Plantation. “At the end of the day, it’s important to have that time with your family,” he said. The couple makes it a point to be home for dinner. “It’s nice to sit down to a homecooked dinner, phones off the table, talking to our children how the day went at school.” The couple have long made it a point to assist schools and nonprofits. “In the last 20 years we’ve tried to give a lot back to the community,” he said. “It’s full circle, we support the community that has supported us.”

F E B R UA RY 16, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 7

SENIORLIVING

How to reduce your risk for another heart attack

fter a heart attack, as many as 1 in 4 survivors will have another one. Lifestyle changes and working closely with your doctor to manage your health can help minimize the risk of a repeat event. “A heart attack is a life-changing event,” said Nieca Goldberg, MD, American Heart Association volunteer and medical director of NYU Women’s Heart Program. “What many people don’t realize is the hidden risks that led to your first heart attack can be managed and, by doing this, you may reduce your risk of having another one.” Because up to 80% of heart attacks are preventable, it’s important to follow your doctor’s recommendations for reducing your risk. Talk to your doctor about a secondary prevention plan, and consider other steps like these from the American Heart Association’s secondary prevention program, nationally sponsored by Bayer: Take your medications as prescribed Certain medicines can lower your risk of another cardiac event. That’s why it’s important to understand your medications and take them correctly. Taking aspirin as recommended by a doctor is one way to help prevent another attack. However, no one should start, stop or modify an aspirin regimen without speaking with their doctor. Manage your risk factors After a heart attack, it’s important to manage risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes by taking medications as prescribed, quitting smoking, eating healthier and getting active. Attend follow-up appointments Attending your follow-up appointments helps your doctors keep track of your condition and recovery. You can make the most of your time with your doctor by preparing a list of questions and concerns along with a list of all medications, vitamins and supplements. Bringing a trusted friend or family member may help as well. Participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program Cardiac rehabilitation is a medical-

ly supervised program designed to help you recover after a heart attack. You should have received a referral to cardiac rehab when you were discharged from the hospital; if you didn’t, ask your doctor if this program is right for you. Get support It’s normal to feel scared, overwhelmed or confused after a heart attack. Connect with other heart attack survivors and caregivers through local support groups or the American Heart Association’s free online Support Network. Learn more about ways you can thrive after a heart attack at heart.org/oneisenough. Take charge of your heart health Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States, but your lifestyle can be your best defense. Stop smoking. If you smoke, quit. Choose good nutrition A healthy diet is one of the best weapons for fighting cardiovascular disease. Research shows eating 4-5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day may lower blood pressure over time. Lower cholesterol Fat lodged in your arteries can trigger a heart attack or stroke. Reduce your intake of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol, and get moving. If diet and physical activity alone don’t get those numbers down, then medication may be the key. Lower blood pressure Shake that salt habit, take your medications as recommended by your doctor and get moving. An optimal blood pressure reading is less than 120/80 mmHg. Reduce stress Some studies have noted a relationship between coronary heart disease risk and stress. This may affect the risk factors for heart disease and stroke. For example, people under stress may overeat, start smoking or smoke more than they otherwise would. Content courtesy of the American Heart Association’s secondary prevention initiative. (Family Features)

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28 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

F E B R UA RY 16, 2020

INTERIOR DESIGN

Home improvement trends for 2020 By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

s one of your New Year’s Resolutions a home improvement project? For 2020 the emphasis, like replacing plastic straws with paper and disposable water bottles with portable multi-use bottles, is a return to holistic, renewable and natural materials. Here is a list of the most popular home projects for 2020.

Pantone color of the year

Pantone announced in early December its 2020 Color of the Year is Classic Blue, a shade reminiscent of the sky at dusk. “It’s a color that anticipates what’s going to happen next,” said Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, which selects the Color of the Year. “Instilling calm, confidence, and connection, this enduring blue hue highlights our desire for a dependable and stable founda-

tion on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era.” The official name of the color is Pantone 19-4052 Classic Blue. The Color of the Year is often incorporated in everything from makeup, fashion, home furnishings and industrial design to product packaging and graphic design.

New front door

Remodeling Magazine says a new front door, especially in the Craftsman style, is one of the hottest new looks for your home. It is also one of the best returns for your dollar. Craftsman doors typically have glass panes in the upper third of the door separated from the lower flat wood panels by a thick piece of trim or molding. However, Craftsman doors can also be fashioned with a large single pane of glass surrounded by solid side and top panels of dark wood. The most typical configurations of Craftsman-style doors include one

Stone veneer can be applied to plain, cinderblock walls to increase the value of your home. Real stone is more expensive than manufactured stone veneer, but will last nearly a century. (MC)

or two rows of glass with three panes each. The glass may be clear, leaded or stained glass. Craftsman doors frequently have sidelights and may also include transom windows above the doors. Authentic Craftsman doors are crafted from any hardwood, but mahogany, cherry and oak are popular choices. The doors may be stained to allow the grain of the wood to show through, or painted to complement the colors of the home.

Stone veneer

Think about updating the front of your house, and increase its curb appeal with a stone veneer. Real stone offers a better quality and longer lasting look, then a manufactured stone veneer. Not only does stone give your home a sophisticated look, it also adds value to your home. According to one report, you can recoup up to 93 percent of the value of natural stone veneer over the long run. The one caveat for using real stone in the short run is the cost. If you are looking for a quick return on investment, manufactured veneer will return a higher investment on your home improvement dollar. Natural stone veneer can last for a century or more, especially with occasional maintenance and repair.

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Because it is “real” stone, no two homes will look alike because of the natural differences occurring in real stone. Real stone gives your home a “custom” appearance and will make it a “one-of-a-kind” home. Natural stone siding options including, slate, limestone, marble, travertine, and quartzite. Depending on your budget you can cover a lot, or a little, of your home with stone veneer. Many homeowners mix stone veneer with wood or adobe to control costs. Part of the home may be stone veneer along the bottom with upper portions of the home sporting wood siding or adobe.

Wood deck

After years of replacing wooden decks with fiberboard and synthetic materials like polyethylene-based composite, polypropylene-based composites, wood free plastics and fly-ash based products, real wood is gaining favor with designers because of the warmth and natural elegance it offers to homeowners. Wood is naturally a versatile material, it offers a variety of grain patterns and colors, but can also be stained, allowing the retention of the texture of the wood grain while achieving a hue to complement your home. Wood is often a more affordable option compared with other materials, such as composites. Wood is easier to manipulate, cut, saw, and screw, saving homeowners in labor costs. A wood deck can be built twice the size of a composite deck at the same cost. The downside to wood is the maintenance. Homeowners need to remember to treat a wood deck every two years with water repellent and decking oils to keep it looking beautiful.

F E B R UA RY 16, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 9

HOMEIMPROVEMENT

Cracked fiberglass tub, French door mystery leak By Robert Lamoureux Signal Contributing Writer

Cracked fiberglass tub Hi Robert, My name is Mary J. and I live in Canyon Country. I’m a 91 year old who has a little bit of computer knowledge, but I needed help to send you pictures, so my granddaughter helped me with that and typing this. I have a bathtub that my granddaughter tells me is fiberglass. It’s cracked and is leaking downstairs. I called a plumber from town and they’re telling me that the whole tub needs to be replaced because it’s leaking from where the faucet is, also. They say it can’t be fixed but I’m on a very limited income and want to know if they are right or if there is something else that I can do. Can you see my pictures and help me to know what to do, please? — Mary J. Mary, Your granddaughter did a great job sending the pictures and email, thank you for writing in. It looks to me like it can be fixed. There are companies out there that specialize in these types of repairs and can take a tub like this back to near original condition with their special chemicals and techniques, and it is much less expensive than replacing the entire tub and surrounding tile that usually will get damaged. This fix usually runs approximately $550.00 - $600.00 and is much less expensive than a whole tub replacement. As far as the plumbing fixtures, they can try to access the area perhaps from behind. Sometimes the plumbing runs into a closet area or an adjacent wall that is accessible. I would definitely have the diverter replaced, which is the shutoff at the handle area and even the supply line. I will send you a local plumber’s name, and please let him know that I recommended him. He does residential and does great work. I will also send you a couple of referrals to companies that do the tub resurfacing and repairs, and you and your granddaughter can give them a call and get quotes. Good luck to you, Mary.

French door mystery leak Hi Robert, During the rains we have had, I had two French doors leak and ended up with probably a couple of gallons of water that entered (the house). I’ve gotten the entire area completely dried out so I’m not worried about mold. I’ve included some photos, showing the doors that are east facing. During the heavy rains the water was literally pouring against the door and there was no way to keep it out especially due to the high winds and the location of my property. What can I do in this situation, where there are no visible signs where the water enters? — Kevin S. Kevin, You’re describing my home. I’ve had this issue once before, but ultimately decided it was an anomaly because I never found the source of the leaking, despite my extensive knowledge and experience. I scratch my head still, wondering how the water got in. Any door especially that is exposed to weather in that way, can be victim to this. I recommend that you perform a water test, by starting at the bottom of your door and forcing water at it. You’ll need help. Have someone on the inside that you can work with to force water at the door. At any point that water enters, you’ll need to examine that area closely. It could be the smallest of areas where caulking has failed, a bad door seal, or many other things. Start at the bottom and work your way up. If like in my case, you cannot get it to fail, then you’re in the same situation I was at my home. During these last rains I had nothing happen, it was only the one time. Do know though, that when there is no overhang and the door is not protected then leaking can also happen. Good luck. Robert Lamoureux has 38 years of experience as a general contractor, with separate licenses in electrical and plumbing contracting. He owns IMS Construction Inc. in Valencia. His opinions are his own, not necessarily those of The Signal. Opinions

expressed in this column are not meant to replace the recommendations of a qualified contractor after that con-

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30 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

F E B R UA RY 16, 2020

GARDENING

Garden and fruit tree care for February By Jane Gates Signal Staff Writer

lthough we are prone to occasional frosty nights in the winter months, this time of the year can offer some of the most productive and comfortable conditions to work outdoors. There are few insects to bother you and the sun is milder, so you are less likely to have skin damage or overheat while doing strenuous work.

General tips for February

Do keep in mind that the soil structure is also impacted by rain. Avoid working wet soil since it will compact and the helpful air pockets between particles will be compressed. Gooey mud-prints tracked indoors are not much appreciated, either. The clay soil that is dominant in most of Santa Clarita is particularly sticky.

Here’s a healthy peach tree growing in Santa Clarita. PHOTO BY JANE GATES

Use the cool weather to clear, clean and prune. Chop trimmings small for composting. But expect the speed of composting to slow down or even stop when the thermometer falls under 55 degrees F. Wear layers so you can stay comfortable as your body heats up or cools down depending on how much effort you are expending. In our area air temperatures can heat up and cool down in minutes when the sun shines or ducks under a cloud. It is easier to have your clothes in layers than to

keep stopping your work to go change. Wear gloves. Hands become chapped and damaged even easier in cool temperatures. Factor in the abrasion of work and occasional garden cuts and scratches and you’ll save a lot of discomfort with little effort by wearing gardening gloves. Use cold, windy or rainy days to garden inside. Look through books for garden ideas. Surf paper and internet catalogs for the most recently introduced items or to find old favorites.

Focus on fruit trees

We’re coming to the last chance for major pruning of woody shrubs and trees. By the end of February, most of these plants will already be sprouting into active growth — meaning they can be more easily damaged with active sap flowing. If you are planting new trees, do it soon before they start to bud out. Fruit and nut tree varieties should be selected for your micro-climate. They all have different needs. Equally, fungal infections and insect pests have favorite areas and favorite host trees. For example, in warmer coastal parts of Los Angeles, citrus trees fall easy prey to scale, whitefly and mealybug. In others areas, black rot can eat into the limbs of stone fruit trees (plum, apricot, nectarine, etc.). Fire blight can turn branches of fruiting and ornamental pears black just about everywhere. And leaf-rollers and aphids can attack a whole assortment of fruit trees in warm winter climates where they are not killed off by frosts. Our area is now vulnerable to all of these since the climate has changed and our temperatures in winter are mostly 5 to 8 degrees warmer at night than they used to be a little over a decade ago. The warming has allowed many

of these pests to overwinter and start infesting more and more fruit trees. Just as you have a lot of choices with tree cultivars, you also have a wide range of tree protecting winter sprays. There are plenty of commercial products for sale, but I prefer to use the organic or old fashioned remedies that are less toxic and work as well – if not better. The best sprays to use in the winter are the dormant oil sprays, usually lime-sulfur or copper-sulfate. These sprays will help suffocate over-wintering insects and discourage fungal infections. Try to spray trees as soon as you can after leaf drop and, ideally, spray every three to four weeks until the flower buds swell. Sprays can harm pollinating insects, so avoid any treatments while trees are in bloom. Do not use lime in any form on apricot trees — especially after they bud up — since they are lime sensitive. For more sensitive and evergreen fruit trees growing in the milder regions, try using a lighter fine oil spray made for leaf contact. Most of these treatments are all-natural and organically acceptable. It is best to spray when winds are not blowing. Coat the whole tree from branch tips to base. Some fruit or nut trees can also be sprayed after bud drop. Do a little research into the needs of your specific kind of fruit tree(s). Always read all spray labels and follow directions carefully. Weather and timing are critical for fruit spraying to be most effective. Proper winter spraying of fruit trees can make the difference between beautiful, fruitful trees and struggling, nonproductive trees. Sometimes these treatments can even save a tree’s life. So, February is a good month to work in the garden. And, it’s an important month to tend to fruit and nut trees. Many of these trees are highly decorative in spring when blooming and in autumn when leaves can color up. They come in a convenient range of sizes from small shade trees to little miniatures, — some can even be clipped to cover walls as an espalier. Not only are they colorful, versatile and adaptable to our weather conditions, but they offer fresh, healthy edibles.

F E B R UA RY 16, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3 1

What to expect when adopting a shelter dog

illions of dogs reside in shelters or in foster homes just waiting for someone to make them permanent members of their family. The ASPCA says there are nearly four million dogs in shelters across America. Bringing home a puppy or an older dog can be an exciting, selfless endeavor. Shelter dogs have the capacity to be loving, devoted pets. Unfortunately, many such dogs have been dealt difficult hands, ending up in shelters through no fault of their own. Prospective pup parents should be aware that there can be a transitional period as dogs acclimate to their new homes. Understanding what to expect the first few weeks and months can be helpful. Creatures of habit Dogs are creatures of habit and feel most comfortable when they know what to expect.

PETS

Moving from a shelter into a home can be a big change. Shelter dogs will need time to understand the workings of a household. By remaining consistent and patient, dog owners can help their pooches acclimate to their new surroundings. Feed the dog at the same time and place each day. Take the dog for a walk the same time each day with the same route. Knowing what to expect can be calming for the dog.

Safe space The experts at Hill’s Pets advise employing a crate that can serve as a den for the dog. It not only is an area that can keep the dog out of trouble as he or she learns the rules of the house, but it also can serve as a safe haven that is familiar and comforting.

Housetraining regression New puppies likely do not fully know the rules of housetraining, but even older dogs who may have been housetrained can regress in a new environment. Pet parents may have to go back to basics and reinforce housetraining lessons.

Vet care Make an appointment to have the shelter dog checked over by a vet as soon as possible. This helps everyone get on a vaccination schedule and can pinpoint illnesses or behavior problems. Many shelter dogs have common communicable illnesses like kennel cough or worms that require prompt treatment. Shelter dogs can become warm and loving pets with the right care and a little patience. (MC)

Shyness and anxiety It’s impossible to know what dogs went through before landing in a shelter. Shelter workers may have conducted cer-

Training classes Enroll in training classes so that the pup begins to learn commands. Obedience training also helps keep the animal safe.

tain tests, such as food aggression or resource guarding, but that only paints part of the picture. It will take time for the dog to trust and understand, and dogs may be timid and experience anxiety for a brief period. Some may even act out by exhibiting damaging behavior.

How pet sitters can benefit companion animals

ets are special members of many households. Companion animals serve important functions, such as watching homes or acting as service animals to individuals who may need a helping hand, and the love pets offer is unconditional. Many pet owners will go to great lengths to ensure their pets’ comfort and well-being. According to a survey by the American Pet Products Association, pet owners in the United States spent around $69.51 billion on their pets in 2017, while estimates suggest that pet owners spent close to $75 billion in 2019. Though the bulk of pet spending involves food and veterinary care, pet owners also spend significant amounts of money to pamper their pets. One such investment in quality of life includes providing care using pet sitters for animals when owners are away from home. Pet sitters are valuable for many reasons. Explore these benefits for both the pet and the family. Less strain and stress on the pet Pet sitters come to the home and care for the pet in surroundings the animal is familiar with and comfortable

fessionals with experience identifying animal behaviors and tendencies. Such experience can be invaluable and help pets adjust quickly.

Exercise opportunities While pet boarding facilities can provide quality care, a pet sitter can customize walks and exercise sessions according to what will most benefit the pet. If the animal is social and likes spending time with other pets, that can be arranged. Or a solitary walk can fit the bill if the pet is less social.

in. The smells, sounds and routine are what the pet knows, and the animal won’t have to acclimated itself to a new place, which can induce anxiety. No imposition on family members or friends Many times pet owners turn to family members or friends to come provide care for their pets while they’re out of town. This may require friends and relatives to rearrange their schedules. Hiring a pet sitter means not having to feel bad about asking someone to fit pet care into his or her day. Training Many pet sitters are pro-

Additional services Pet sitters may perform a variety of tasks that

go above or beyond simply sitting with the animal. These can include administering medicines, cleaning litter boxes and pet messes, making trips to the vet, or arranging play dates with other animals. Pet sitters also may stay in a home and provide round-the-clock care while owners are away. Other tasks requested by the pet owner also can be discussed. Pet owners looking to provide quality care for their animals often seek out the assistance of pet sitters who can accommodate all involved. (MC) SPECIALIZING IN PRECISION ELECTRONIC TUNE-UPS, FUEL INJECTION, IGNITION, SMOG CHECK, GENERAL AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR

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32 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

F E B R UA RY 9, 2020

TIMERANGER

Tom Lee & the Mysterious Death of Victor Gruen Absolute Christmas treat to see you amigos, amigas, saddlepals, saddlepal-ettes and, my personal favorite SCV demographic: You People. Hope early February 2020 has been kind to you and you’re feeling chipper enough for a dazzling and splendiferous trail ride into the back trails of Santa Clarita yesteryear. Foof that last sentence was a mouthful. C’mon. I’ve lined up several thousand horses, each with a special disposition to match your psyche. And no worries. You’ll get the horse that loves you, not the one you deserve… WAY BACK WHEN & THEN SOME

• Moving day It’s rare when an entire town up and moves but that’s what happened on Feb. 15, 1878. The entire town of Newhall moved from around Bouquet/Soledad junction over to around where 6th and Main Street is today. They probably had a couple of boxes still left. FEB. 16, 1920

• Paper sells paper The Mighty Signal was always eager to make a buck. We advertised: “WANTED — 10,000 people to buy the 2-for-5-cents scratch pads at The Newhall Signal office.” I think we still have some left ... • The great train robbery Twenty armed men hijacked a Southern Pacific train and commandeered it to, of all places, Saugus. After a confrontation with a local posse of lawmen in which guns were measured, the cops arrested seven of the train kidnappers. The other 13 fled to parts unknown. Not kidding — the robbers were socialists. • Back in the days of the giant oaks Hard to believe that the SCV went from a forested area in the 18th century to treeless farmland within a few decades. Several truckloads of boards, milled from local forests, were delivered to various oil well sites in the SCV. Interestingly, we’ve come full circle. The SCV today is rich with trees again. FEB. 16, 1930

• As my nephew-like substance used to say: ‘Why it’s almost like they’re addictive …’ A carton of cigarettes at Macmarr’s Store in Newhall cost $1.19. Today, they go for about $70$90 a carton. Twenty years ago, the price was about $28-$32 a carton, or

trash dumps out of the valley. But 60 years ago, we were desperately trying to build one. Littering was a major problem, with folks dumping garbage in empty lots in the middle of town and filling up the scenic canyons. FEB. 16, 1950

almost $6 a pack. I’m told you can get them mail order from an Indian reservation, where my Coastal used to sell them. For about $16. Sorry. Won’t give you the address… FEB. 21, 1936

• Adios, dear Henry On this date, Henry Clay Needham, this valley’s only serious presidential candidate, died. Hank was a Prohibitionist and ran three times in the 1920s. Needham had a lifetime of illnesses and accidents. In the 1920 election, Hank got sick the morning of the Prohibitionist Party’s nominating convention. He was too ill to take the floor and the Prohibs picked Aaron Watkins over our Newhall boy. Watkins came in 5th with just 189,000 votes (0.07%) in the Prohibitionists’ poorest showing since 1884. The 18th Amendment had just passed the year before, making Needham and his teetotalers less relevant. Needham earlier had started the St. Johns Development, a 10,000-acre planned Prohibitionist community in the SCV. Never really took off … FEB. 16, 1940

• ‘Addison?’ Really? Heavy rain doused the shooting of a Jack Randall western filmed in Placerita Canyon. “Jack’s” real name was Addison Byron Owen Randall and he was a “B” RKO western star, filming many flicks here in Santa Clarita in the 1930s and 1940s. As his star began to fade, he changed his name to Allen Byron, then to Byron Vance. Didn’t help. The actor died terribly young (39). He had a freak horse riding accident in Canoga Park. Some say he hit a tree. Some say he had a heart attack. He was born a few miles from here in San Fernando. • Not dumping the dump Here we are in the year 2000, fighting to keep

• But not the COC kind A big cougar was spotted prowling around the Golden Rod Cafe up Mint Canyon. Of course, word got out and you had a few dozen Elmer Fudds out there with rifles, making the absolute boonies safe for democracy. FEB. 16, 1960

• We’re going to Disneyland!! The Hart High band was the guest of honor at Disneyland. The marching musicians got to parade down Main Street in full band regalia. • No pouring gas into your canteens to bring back, either The gas war was over one minute past midnight 40 years back. Prices shot back up to the staggeringly high price of 29 cents for regular and 35 cents for high test, aka, ethyl. FEB. 16, 1970

• But not that G.V. Developers went before the Regional Planning Commission to sell them on a 2,500-unit housing project called Golden Valley. Oddly enough, RPC pooh-poohed the idea because Golden Valley would straddle the San Andreas Fault. That Golden Valley, by the by, was up in Gorman. You know. Where the big Fort Tejon 8.3 earthquake was nearly 200 years back? • Shhhhhh!!! Hmmm. Wondered how this would have affected the city of Santa Clarita’s Concerts in the Park series? On this date, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to cut down on outdoor music festivals in unincorporated areas — like here. • And, if you’re rural conservative, it had a really happy ending A new, experimental film with racy themes was playing at the old Mustang Drivein Theater on Soledad. Name of the motorcycle/hippie pix? “Easy Rider.” FEB. 16, 1980

• And, he still can’t go to his right Basketball legend Lee “The Silver Cougar” Smelser over at College of the Canyons mercifully closed his first year of coaching, finishing 3-11 (BEHIND BARSTOW!!! — cue

the Wah-Wah-Wah trombone sound effects) in the old Desert Conference. COC placed two lovable ball hogs, Gary Ray and Kurt Stenerup, on the all-league squad. Twenty years ago, in 2000, Smelser finished up 31 years of teaching on the hardwood. (Unfounded rumor was the Silver Coug could never figure out the simple triangle offense and quit in frustration.) In those early years, the COC squad had to use the Hart High gym for 5 a.m. practices. Lee-Lee is simply one of the best men ever to walk through this valley. Among so many others, I count myself lucky having him for a friend. • Moist, ain’t it? A punishing deluge hit the SCV, dumping nearly 11 inches of rain in two days. After a brief clearing, another 3 inches fell within six days. Roads were under water, bridges were wiped out, homes and business flooded. Helicopters airlifted food and supplies to stranded residents in Sand Canyon and the Santa Clara River looked more like the Mighty Mississippi. (Going over the old, yellowed copies of The Signal, I’ve noticed that for the last 70 years, the local press photographers always go over to my old address on Meadview Street in Placerita Canyon to take the worst-case-scenario flood pictures. Crazy thing: I’m standing next to my old car in a front-page picture.) • Still would like to hear Tom Lee’s alibi Was it just a coincidence? Victor Gruen, famous international architect and designer of Valencia, died in his native city of Vienna at the age of 76. The same day, Tom Lee was appointed executive vice president and general manager of Valencia Co. Tom “The Dudeman” Lee would later become High Holy Mucky Muck, Grand Exalted Poobah, Prez of the Rez and CEO of The Newhall Land & Farming Co. Currently? He is out and about … Thanks mucho for the company, dear friends and neighbors. See you all next week with another exciting Time Ranger history adventure. Until then —¡Vayan con Dios, amigos! John Boston has been writing about SCV history for more than 40 years. You can buy his books and novels on Amazon.com. Best you turn this into action and do so right jolly now…

F E B R UA RY 16, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3 3

H E A LT H

Five tips to help men take charge of their health

hile family history and age cannot be changed, there are everyday steps men can follow to take charge of their health, including prostate health, and maybe even prevent problems down the road. Consider these tips to help lead a healthier lifestyle. Get checked out regularly. Just because you’re healthy doesn’t mean you should eschew routine checkups, and that includes self-examinations. While regular visits to your health care provider can keep you up-todate on preventative screenings and immunizations, getting to know your own body can have similar benefits. Care for your prostate. If you’re experiencing frequent urination, a weak or slow urine stream, incomplete bladder emptying, difficulty or delay in starting urination or a urine stream that stops and starts, these may be signs you may be suffering from Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, otherwise known as enlarged prostate. An enlarged prostate, which is non-cancerous and affects more than 40 million American men, can also cause loss of productivity and sleep, according to research published in the Journal of Urology. Medication is often the first line of treatment, but some patients may suffer uncomfortable side effects including dizziness, headaches and sexual dysfunction, which can prompt them to quit using their medications. “Many men living with BPH symptoms take prescription medications

after they have been diagnosed, but relief can be inadequate and temporary,” said Dr. Peter Walter, M.D., urologist and paid consultant for Teleflex Incorporated, the manufacturer of the UroLift® System. As one alternative to medication, an option like the UroLift System treatment is a minimally invasive procedure that doesn’t require any cutting, heating or removal of prostate tissue. A urologist places small implants to lift and move enlarged prostate tissue so it no longer blocks the urethra and can allow for normal urine flow. Most common side effects are mild to moderate, and patients generally can return to their normal routines with minimal downtime. For more information about treatment options, or to find a urologist near you who treats BPH, visit UroLift.com. Focus on a more nutritious diet. Aim for a pattern of healthier eating that includes more fruits, vegetables and leafy greens such as lettuce, spinach, kale and broccoli, which can help keep you — and your prostate — healthy. Know your numbers. Be sure to discuss your family history and lifestyle with your doctor as he or she may recommend screenings for diseases and common ailments. Be sure to keep up with these screenings and check in with your doctor to make sure you’re accounting for milestone ages and common ailments associated with aging. Make exercise a priority. Exercise is a key to maintaining quality of life. (Family Features)

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34 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

F E B R UA RY 16, 2020

R E A L E S TAT E

Factors to consider when picking a mortgage lender

home is the most significant purchase many people will ever make. Perhaps because of that, many buyers, particularly those purchasing a home for the first time, are understandably nervous about the home-buying process. The decision regarding which home to buy warrants ample consideration, but so, too, does the buyers' choice of lender. Mortgage lenders can be found

all over the internet, and the sheer volume of lender options can make it hard for home buyers to find the right fit for them. Couple that with lending-related terminology that many first-time buyers may be unfamiliar with, and it's easy to see why prospective homeowners can feel overwhelmed about the process of borrowing money to buy their homes. When looking for a mortgage

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BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN HOME!!!

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Are you looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the crowded city life, whether its just for the weekend, or PERMANENTLY? Come and look at this home in Pine Mountain Club, Santa Clarita's best kept secret! This 2,304 sq ft Log Cabin home has rural charm mixed with practical layout and a LOT of STORAGE!!. Large Covered Front Porch! 3 Bedrooms plus a Bonus Room. 1 Full bath and 2 half baths. Master bedroom on the top floor as well as a recently converted Master Bedroom on the bottom floor. The property is just over a Quarter Acre of USABLE land! Also, close to the heart of Pine Mountain Club where you will enjoy restaurants, the local festivals, golf course, hiking trails, and much more! FANTASTIC VACATION HOME, OR PERMANENT RESIDENCE!!! Come see for yourself!!!!

Let’s Make A Deal

lender, prospective homeowners should never forget that the choice of lender is, in most cases, entirely theirs to make. When making that decision, a host of variables should be considered. The following are three such factors that, upon ample consideration, may help buyers rest easy knowing they did their due diligence when looking for lenders.

1. Reputation/recommendation Just like other businesses, lenders have reputations, and oftentimes those reputations can be determined via some simple online research. Peruse online reviews to determine what past buyers felt about a given lender. If possible, ask friends, family or colleagues who they worked with to secure a mortgage. 2. Fees Fees vary from lender to lender. Fees should not be mistaken for interest rates, which change daily and are typically dictated by the financial industry and prospective buyers' credit history and financial standing. When

Country Estate on easily one of the most beautiful pieces of property in all of Agua Dulce! Single story, Hacienda style ranch house, 4,080 sf, 5 Bedrooms/4 bathrooms. Spacious kitchen with Center Island. Formal Dining room. Family-room with raised hearth fireplace and wet bar. The Master suite has a fireplace & giant walk-in closet. Absolutely stunning park like 7.2 flat and usable acres is completely fenced and private. 3 car garage. Incredible views from everywhere on the property. This property will not disappoint.

Marilyn Garner State Lic: 01484482

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Gorgeous Executive Home 4+5 – 2942 sq ft, Gorgeous executive home behind the gates in West Hills. Loft room with private bath could be 5th bedroom. Downstairs bed and bath with private entrance. $759,000

Suzie Wing Wood

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20501 Blairmoore St., Chatsworth, CA 91311

3. Personal interaction Buyers, especially those who have never before purchased a home, will likely have lots of questions. This is where personal interaction with a prospective lender should be noted. Securing financing for a home purchase can sometimes seem like an impersonal process, but it doesn't have to be, and many lenders are happy to answer buyers' questions. Lenders who answer questions quickly and clearly can make buyers more comfortable about the home buying process. Buyers may want to avoid lenders who seem evasive or unwilling to answer questions in writing. (MC)

Beautiful Property ~ Beautiful Home

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speaking with potential lenders, ask for a rundown of their fees, and the services those fees include, and closing cost estimates in writing, then compare and contrast fees and costs of various lenders before making a final decision. Some lenders may charge considerably more in fees than others, so buyers should put in the effort necessary to comparison shop.

28657 Farrier Dr. Valencia, 91354

661-644-6120

F E B R UA RY 16, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3 5 Beautiful Updated Estrella Vista home with solar! 4 bedrooms,3 bathrooms and a separate air conditioned Casita! Many upgrades. Entry with Custom Tile. Wrought iron staircase leads you upstairs to a huge loft. Formal living room and dining room. Kitchen updated with granite and stainless steel appliances. Downstairs bedroom and full bathroom. Beautiful views of the mountains. Wonderful back yard with a spa included.

This charming unit features upgraded kitchen and baths. There is Pergo style flooring thru-out and plantation shutters as well as dual paned windows. The delightful entertainers patio is accessed by dual opening sliders and the setting for summer parties is exceptional. Lush landscaping gives added ambiance. This Senior guard gated community is patrolled 24/7 and has all the usual country club amenities including two golf courses. There are clubs galore and a little theater group, a City of Hope chapter is a great way to get involved in the community as is the community church. Senior lunch program at the church is an added plus. Come join the fun! You can be as active as you wish or just enjoy the quiet life style....$475,000

GOLF COURSE VIEW HOME!

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5 BD | 3 BA | 1 HB | 4,475 SF Come live on the best street in San Gabriel! This large, beautifully restored and updated Craftsman home has (5) bedrooms, (3) of which are suites overlooking the San Gabriel Country Club golf course. The family room has a fireplace and view of the large deck, refurbished pool, and a park like yard with fruit trees. The master bedroom has a dressing room and beautiful bathroom with a soaker tub, and great stall shower. (4) other large bedrooms are upstairs. (2) new HVAC systems, updated electrical, finished basement, over-sized garage, raised boxed organic garden area and Koi pond make this home a must see!

Sierra Bonita 80 acre ranch Located just 40 miles north of Los Angeles. 5 houses built on a high plateau with 360 degree unobstructed views of the Sierra Pelona Mountains and beyond. Built in 2009 the single story main house is 3+3, and is 2,908 sf of understated elegance. The other 4, more rustic, houses range in size from 822 to 1,204 sf and are ideal for the ultimate family compound or corporate retreat. A huge resort style patio with pool & spa, Tennis Court, helicopter garage, airplane hangar, pond, mature trees and 3 wells are also included on the property.

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Lake View Home in Valencia Bridgeport! Annette Davis

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MOUNTAIN AND VINEYARD VIEWS surround this beautiful home located in Agua Dulce, Spanish for “Sweet Water”. This A-Frame home features a remodeled kitchen with high end finishes, stainless steel appliances, and gorgeous granite counters with large center island. Other features include updated bathrooms, warm wood and vinyl plank floors, and sand-blasted oak wood beams, to give the home a cozy cabin feel. Gaze at the majestic views from the private deck off of the second-level master bedroom. 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! Call for Open House dates, easy to show.

Realty Executives Homes

24106 Lyons Ave, Newhall CA

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3 6 · S U N D AY S I G N A L

Opinion

F E B R UA RY 16, 2020

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

OUR VIEW

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

Primary Endorsements: Choices for Both Parties

Representation that Represents Our Values

By The Signal Editorial Board

By David Hegg

s you head to the polls for the March 3 primary — in which you actually have 11 days to vote, starting Feb. 22 — you face a plethora of choices on local and national legislative races, and ballot initiatives, too. We will not be endorsing candidates in every race, but we are offering endorsements in selected campaigns, and in some cases — as seen below and in the info box on page 38 — we are recommending a candidate from each of the two major political parties in the primary. Up first: The 25th Congressional District, in which Republican Mike Garcia is our top choice in both the special election to fill the remainder of former Rep. Katie Hill’s term and the primary election leading to the November general election. Garcia is a highly decorated former Navy fighter pilot who flew more than 30 combat missions over Iraq while serving his country. He’s a respected businessman and a Saugus High School graduate. He supports a strong military, supports President Trump’s econom-

ic policies and wants to make the Trump tax cuts permanent. A first-generation American whose father immigrated legally in 1959, Garcia understands the importance of respecting the rule of law when it comes to immigration. He supports Trump’s efforts to stop illegal immigration and take firm control of our borders, including construction of a border wall. He also recognizes the importance of the freedoms and opportunities that America offers to immigrants and naturally born citizens alike — and in that vein, he stands against socialism and will fight to prevent it from further encroaching into government. And Garcia is not someone who envisions spending the rest of his life in Congress: He advocates term limits to rid Washington of career politicians who are “more concerned with their next election than making tough decisions.” See OUR VIEW, page 38

y this time next week the vote centers in our valley will be open for business. From Feb. 22 to March 3 you and I will be encouraged to mark our ballots in favor of those who believe will do the best job representing us. Voting is an essential activity of a free society, and I strongly urge you to do so. If we look at “representation” through the ethical lens we encounter what is termed “fiduciary responsibility.” This means a representative is entrusted with the power to act in a way that faithfully represents the desires of those being represented who have themselves expressed a level of confidence in the representative to do just that. Such confidence does not come except through real knowledge of the prospective representative’s character, integrity, wisdom and experience. And since past performance is the best predictor of future success, those entrusted with

the power to represent must have demonstrated their character, integrity and wisdom sufficiently to inspire great confidence. So, where am I going? Here’s where. Two years ago we, the citizens of the 25th District sent a representative to Congress thinking she had integrity, character, wisdom and sufficient experience in demonstrating those qualities to be trusted to represent our values and interests well. We were wrong. Now we have another chance to send someone to Washington, D.C., who will act in a manner worthy of our valley, uphold the values and interests of its citizens, and do so with both great character and intelligence. Several months ago, before we lost our representation in Congress, I reached out and made a lunch appointment with Mike Garcia. I didn’t know him, but some friends I greatly respected suggested we meet. For almost two hours we sat in Thelma’s restaurant, just See HEGG, page 37

READERLETTERS

Who Can We Trust? We received congressional candidate Steve Knight’s latest mailer and it could not be more deceitful or misleading. First, Knight has not been strong on illegal immigration as he now indicates. However, more egregious is the rest of the mailer. The declaration that Knight “voted with President Trump’s policies 99% of the time” is a new and convenient stance for him, as he has been quite open about not supporting this president. There’s plenty of evidence to prove that. Knight’s votes may have been

in line with Trump’s policies at times, but it’s disingenuous to link such voting as standing for and with President Trump. Knight alleges fellow candidate Mike Garcia did not vote for Trump in 2016. Garcia voted for Trump in the 2016 primary and has been open about why he was unable to cast a vote — for anyone — in the 2016 general election. He has explained it repeatedly, but obviously, this fact needs to be restated. In 2016, Mike Garcia was an executive with a global company and he was called out of state to negotiate a multi-billion-dollar contract. The process

took longer than expected, thus he was absent on voting day. Such monumental business procedures do not culminate casually or at the whim of one party to the contract. Further, Garcia had not requested a mail-in ballot because an absence was not anticipated. It’s quite conspicuous that in prior campaigns Knight did not attack any opponents, including the Democrats, but now chooses to malign a fellow Republican. See LETTERS, page 37

F E B R UA RY 16, 2020

S U N D AY S I G N A L · 3 7

Opinion

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

BLACK&WHYTE

D R AW I N G C O N C LU S I O N S J E F F S TA H L E R

The 25th District Needs a Rep Who Really ’Gets’ Us By Tim Whyte Signal Editor

s we approach the March 3 primary — really, the Feb. 22 through March 3 primary — it’s been a relatively calm campaign in the 25th Congressional District, with most of the fireworks happening between candidates of the same party, or between local candidates and the carpetbaggers. And there are fireworks on Facebook, I guess. There are always fireworks on Facebook and wouldn’t it be nice if we could tune out that particular forum for bickering? I have two hopes: One, I know the fireworks will pick up once we get into the campaigns for the 25th District runoff in the spring, and the general election in the fall. But I’m hoping the candidates keep it clean. Too much to ask? I hope not. Two, I hope none of the carpetbaggers make it past March 3. We have two, in particular, on the ballot for the 25th District. It’s a seat with a high national profile, first because it flipped from Republican to Democrat in 2018 when Katie Hill

unseated Steve Knight. And second because Hill, as a high-profile member of the Democratic freshman class, resigned last fall amid a House Ethics Committee investigation over allegations that she had engaged in inappropriate relationships with subordinates. Once she resigned, the opportunists pounced — including Republican George Papadopoulos, a former advisor to President Trump, and Democrat Cenk Uygur, creator of the TV show, “The Young Turks.” Uygur and Papadopoulos are among 13 names on the ballot for the 25th, in which voters will choose someone to not only complete the remainder of Hill’s term but also to secure the seat for two years in the November general election. Those names include six Republicans, six Democrats and one candidate with no stated party preference. The 25th has been described in recent years as a “purple” district, one in which either a Republican or a Democrat could succeed. However, if you look at the latest voter registration

HEGG

Continued from page 36

the two of us. I listened to his story, heard about his wife and children, his career in the Navy, and his heart for our valley and our nation. Then I started asking questions. I take my politics seriously so I didn’t hold back. I asked him the hard questions about ethical issues, about political positions, and about his worldview. Here’s what I found. His honesty and humility were outstanding. He didn’t “campaign” me, and didn’t give soft, generalized answers. He admitted what he didn’t

See WHYTE, page 38

LETTERS

Continued from page 36

Lastly, referencing something then-presidential candidate Trump said, Knight stated (Oct. 8, 2016), “And after serious consideration, I have decided that I cannot support either candidate for president.” There is the admission in black and white that Knight intentionally did not vote for Trump in the 2016 general election. Knight’s mailer says, “We can’t trust Mike Garcia to stand with President Trump.” Seeing the dishonesty of the

know, and clearly expressed what he did. But even more I realized I was listening to a man who was driven, not by the desire for fame or power, but by a passion to engage in the mission to keep our valley, indeed our nation, on the right track. I walked away from our lunch having met a man I believe can represent me, and all of us, with integrity, character, wisdom and a topof-the-class intellect. I have never before in my professional life endorsed a political candidate. That ends here. Whether you vote by mail or in person, I urge you to vote for Mike Garcia, and as you will see on your ballot, you’ll need to vote for him twice. That’s right. Twice. There will be two separate

mailer, clearly it’s Knight we cannot trust. Donna Jean Lee, Debbie & John Heys, Meg & Bill Reynolds, Sandra Guluzza, Lynne & Carl Raggio, Betty & Frank Arenson, Mary Ree, Jim Lentini, Dan Werner, Jim Fox, Gwendolyn Sims, Bernie Ellrodt, Jim Farley, Dianne Curtis, Paige & John Weaver, Sherry & Richard Green, Morris Thomas, Nils Grevillius, Kim Gillette, Natalie Doane, John W. Smith, David Lusian 25th District constituents Submit a Letter to the Editor

Include name, address & phone; Anonymous letters are not printed; Email: letters@signalscv.com.

ballot sections for the 25th District, so don’t get confused. Just do this. Every time you see Mike Garcia’s name, mark the ballot for him, and you’ll be doing our entire district a great service. Lord Shaftesbury is credited with saying, “What is morally wrong can never be politically right.” That simply means ethics matter. As you approach your time in the voting booth, be informed, recognize you’re entrusting someone with your future, and support those who have demonstrated they are worthy of your trust. Local resident David Hegg is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church. “Ethically Speaking” appears Sundays.

3 8 · S U N D AY S I G N A L

F E B R UA RY 16, 2020

Opinion

OUR VIEW

Continued from page 36

It also bears mentioning that a former 25th District representative, Republican Steve Knight, has been less than truthful in his campaign materials attacking Garcia. We endorsed Knight when he was up for re-election in 2018, but we do not endorse him this time around. He joined the race late, only after Hill resigned last fall, and has come out firing against Garcia, alleging that Garcia doesn’t support Trump’s policies. The opposite is true, and it’s especially ironic because in 2016 and 2018 it was Knight who tried to distance himself from Trump. In fact, in 2016 he said he did not support Trump for president, and when he was in Congress was often a vocal critic of Trump. It stands to reason that the primary and the special election on the March 3 ballot will lead to one Republican and one Democrat vying for the 25th District seat in a spring runoff and the November general election. That Republican should be Mike Garcia. It’s Garcia’s time. He had the courage to stand up and run against our former congresswoman, at a time when she appeared to be headed for a second term in Congress. We fully endorse Mike Garcia as our valley’s next representative in Congress. If you are voting Democratic in the race for the 25th Congressional District, Christy Smith would be our choice in the primary. In both a spring

runoff and the fall general election, we believe the race that would serve the district best would be a matchup between two solid candidates with Santa Clarita Valley roots, Smith and Garcia. Smith grew up in the SCV and is a graduate of both Hart High School and College of the Canyons. She cares deeply about her hometown. She served the community well on the Newhall School District board of trustees and has brought home some bacon as the representative of the 38th Assembly District, including her work to secure $500,000 in state funding for the new Bella Vida senior center. While our political views on many national issues may differ from Smith’s, we respect her and believe she is an intelligent, well-intentioned candidate with integrity, who would look out for the 25th District and in particular the SCV if she were elected. Scott Wilk is our choice for the 21st Senate District. Wilk is an effective, smart legislator who, as one of the few Republicans in the state capitol, has adeptly worked across the aisle with his Democratic colleagues to get things done. We could use more legislators like him, who are willing to work in a bipartisan manner to accomplish good works on behalf of all Californians. It was Wilk who carried important legislation to create the SCV Water agency, effectively merging the Newhall County Water District and Castaic Lake Water Agency. He advocates for affordable health care and gender equality, and has been an outspoken advocate for the victims of

WHYTE

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numbers, I’d say it’s shifted blue. Democrats now hold a 38-32% edge over Republicans districtwide, a gap that has widened in the past couple of years. The “no party preference” crowd, which in fact is likely to decide this year’s elections in the 25th, accounts for 24% of the district’s voters. The gap is a little tighter within Santa Clarita city limits, but the Democrats enjoy an edge here, too. You never would have said that in the 1990s. Northern L.A. County has changed. As someone who tends to lean more toward Repub-

OUR ENDORSEMENTS The following are The Signal Editorial Board's recommendations on the March 3 Primary Election ballot. We are recommending both Republican and Democratic candidates in some partisan races.

Republicans • U.S. Representative, 25th District (Primary and Unexpired Term): Mike Garcia • State Senate, 21st District: Scott Wilk • State Assembly, 36th District: Tom Lackey • State Assembly, 38th District: Suzette Martinez Valladares

Democrats • U.S. Representative, 25th District (Primary and Unexpired Term): Christy Smith • State Senate, 27th District: Henry Stern • State Assembly, 38th District: Annie E. Cho

Non-Partisan Races • Los Angeles County Supervisor, 5th District: Kathryn Barger • Los Angeles County District Attorney: Jackie Lacey • Judge of the Superior Court No. 76: Emily Cole • Judge of the Superior Court No. 162: Scott Andrew Yang

Ballot Measures • California Proposition 13, School and College Facilities Bond: No Southern California Edison’s ill-advised public safety power shut-offs that led to disastrous results for some local homeowners in last fall’s Tick Fire. Wilk has worked hard to bring jobs to our district, to protect our children and keep our neighborhoods safe. He is one of the most effective representatives the SCV has had in the state Legislature, and we whole-heartedly endorse him for re-election.

lican philosophies than Democratic philosophies — although not exclusively — that leaves me more likely than before to be on the losing side. But I recognize that our district could be ably served by someone from either party, if we find the right person. From this year’s crowded field of carpetbaggers, likely also-rans and legitimate contenders, I concur with today’s Signal endorsement editorial: I hope Republican Mike Garcia and Democrat Christy Smith emerge as the candidates for the runoff to complete Hill’s term and the November general election, too. On the carpetbaggers: Many have said they doubt whether either Papadopoulos or Uygur could find the 25th District on a map, much less Santa Clarita. It may be an exaggeration, but not by much. Neither

In the nonpartisan race for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, we previously endorsed 5th District Supervisor Kathryn Barger for re-election. Our endorsement editorial appeared in the Feb. 9 edition and can be found online at: https://bit.ly/3bA418r. For additional endorsements, please see the info box above.

has ever lived in the district, and they’re each, in their own ways, more clearly seeking to elevate their national profile, or sell books or promote a TV show. We need a representative who knows this district and this valley, and truly cares. Whether you prefer a Democrat or a Republican, it’s clear that we need a representative who understands the communities of the 25th and has our best interests at heart. We need someone who “gets” us. We’d get that with Garcia or Smith — and not with the carpetbaggers. Tim Whyte is editor of The Signal. His column appears Sundays.

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