Sunday Signal Feb 24, 2019

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SEPTEM DAT B E RE 00, 30, 2018

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FEBRUARY 24, 2019

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SO YOU’RE READY TO TIE THE KNOT

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SCV’S GREATEST TRAGEDY

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THE MAN BEHIND THE WHISTLE

PLUS : CITY NEWS | OPINION | SCHOOL | ENTERTAINMENT | CALENDAR | HEALTH & FITNESS

Introducing the brand new A-Class by Mercedes-Benz

Imagine your world completely under your control. Mercedes-Benz already has. They call it the 2019 A-Class.

A Mercedes-Benz that listens to you, anticipates your needs and can fulfill your requests with natural voice recognition.

F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3

College of the Canyons Foundation

silver spur CELEBRATION HONORING

DON & CHERI

Fleming

Recipients of the 2019 Silver Spur Award for Community Service

March 16, 2019

the Petersen Automotive Museum

tickets on sale now! • visit COCFoundation.com

4 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS FEATURES

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LOCAL NEWS

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5 Bringing home the Oscars 6 So you’re getting married 8 Yoga, yogis and SCV studios 9

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11 12

“The Kellar-Davis Real Estate Family is looking for Full Time and Part Time Agents to join a company dedicated to clients coming first and implementing only the highest standards of integrity and ethics.”

Feel free to stop by our Canyon County Office at 16670 Soledad Canyon or call us at 661-510-0987 or 661-212-3771

The story of a skate park Partners for CARE SCV Family organizes blood drive Deputies arrest car-theft suspect Hart student sues district COC hosts event about eating disorders Payless to close up shop

SPORTS

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CITY MANAGER

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13 The story of a Starr at SCCS 14 Spring time for Seasons

HISTORY 15 15 The SCV’s greatest tragedy

REAL ESTATE

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TIME RANGER OPINION

17 18

16 What buyers and sellers should know 18 Our View • David Hegg • Tim Whyte • Sen. Scott Wilk

CALENDAR 21 HOME IMPROVEMENT 22 22 Your Home Improvement

TRAVEL 23 23 Fun, quirky getaways for two

SCHOOL 24 24 3 Tips to manage a kids’ party guest lists

FOOD 25 25 Enjoying Jasmine Thai in Valencia

ENTERTAINMENT 26 6 Andrew Hagar’s fourth wave of rock 2 27 Film Crazy with Dianne Crawford

SENIORS 29 29 The icing on life’s cake

PROFILE 30 30 The man behind the whistle

HEALTH 32 32 Henry Mayo’s fight against diabetes

Kellar Davis has over 18 years of experience and specializes in the Santa Clarita market.

With 35 professional agents, we know how to make selling or buying your home a dream come true.

GARDENING 34 34 Tips for bare root gardening

CANYON COUNTRY OFFICE

16670 Soledad Canyon Rd. Santa Clarita, CA

661.299.5570

PETS 36 36 Homemade foods for Fido

BRAIN GAMES

37

VILLAGE IDIOT

38

37 Games • Crossword 38 Signs of the times 100 YEARS

SignalSCV. com

FRIENDLY VALLEY OFFICE

19310 Ave Of The Oaks Ste #C, Newhall, CA

661.252.9000

Bob Kellar 661.510.0987

kellar@earthlink.net CalBRE#01290507

Richard Budman Perry Smith Tim Whyte Brad Lanfranco Doña Uhrig Karen Bennett • Abner Gutierrez

Publisher Sunday Signal Editor Signal Editor Advertising Director Production Manager Graphic Designers

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

661-259-1234

NEWHALL OFFICE

26364 Sierra Hwy Ste. #C, Newhall, CA

661.252.3942

The entire contents of the Sunday Signal is copyrighted 2019 by Paladin Multi-Media Group, Inc. All submitted letters and columns are strictly the opinions of the authors and not necesarily those of the publisher. All rights are reserved and no part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.

F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 5

N E W S F E AT U R E

Bringing home the Oscars

By Patti Rasmussen Signal Staff Writer

M

aybe you recognized the background when you saw it on the silver screen.

The famous ridgeline. The bustle on Main Street.

Sometimes it’s just a quick scene, but others have big parts in movies.

Santa Clarita has a long history with the movies, and as you watch this year’s Oscar nominees receive their due this evening, you’ll notice this year is no exception.

“A Star is Born” is up for several Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Bradley Cooper) and Actress (Lady Gaga), Supporting Actor (Sam Elliott), Writing, Music (Original Song) and Cinematography.

Maybe you recognized Bradley Cooper’s rehabilitation facility? You might have if you’ve been to the Friendly Valley clubhouse.

“Vice” filmed many of its scenes at Blue Cloud Movie Ranch, where the location doubled as Iraq. “Vice” was also filmed at property on Pico Canyon and a warehouse in the Industrial Center.

The story about Vice President Dick Cheney, is a contender for Best Picture, Best Actor (Christian Bale), Supporting Actor (Sam Rockwell, Supporting Actress (Amy Adams), Directing, Writing, Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling.

“A Quiet Place” is a dramatic thrill-

PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB

Left: Stages 4, 5 and 6 at Santa Clarita Studios, are home to several productions including the CBS show S.W.A.T.

Right: An old backlot set is being transitioned to a new set for an unnamed production at Santa Clarita Studios. PHOTOS BY CORY RUBIN / THE SIGNAL

er about a family who must remain in absolute silence to avoid mysterious creatures, is up for an Academy Award in Sound Editing. “A Quiet Place” was filmed at a property in Pico Canyon.

The Santa Clarita Valley is a great place for filming for a number of reasons, according to Evan Thomason, economic development associate for the city of Santa Clarita, “Part of the reason Santa Clarita has been so successful in attracting filming is we have a lot of sound stages and movie ranches,” Thomason said. “We also have varied looks that can double for anything from a jungle to the desert, to small town suburbia to the west side.”

The city’s Economic Development Office has three full-time staff members who keep track of permits, as well as manage the needs of the studios and property owners, road closures and sheriff deputies.

“We balance the needs of the production company while respecting the privacy and safety of our citizens,” he added. “Overall, the town is very welcoming for production.”

With more than 500 permits issued last year and more than $30 million

in economic benefits, Thomason said production companies know there are welcome in Santa Clarita. Previous Oscar contenders in the valley include “Titanic,” “American Sniper,” “La La Land,” and “Django Unchained.”

And the local ties extend to the animated universe, as well.

The world of animation

California Institute of the Arts alumni are no strangers to Oscar nominations.

Since the category of Best Animated Feature was introduced in 2001, 11 of the winning films were directed by alumni of CalArts’ renowned animation programs.

It’s no surprise at all.

Founded by Walt Disney, CalArts is ranked No. 1 of the Top 50 Animation programs in the United States by Animation Career Review.

And this year, three alumni-directed films have been nominated for Academy Awards: “Incredibles 2” from Pixar Animation Studios directed by two-time Oscar winner Brad Bird, of “Ratatouille” fame.

“Ralph Breaks the Internet” from Walt Disney Animation Studios was co-directed by alum Rich Moore, who worked on “Zootopia,” and seeking

his second Oscar win.

“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” from Sony Pictures Animation was co-directed by CalArts alum and firsttime director Bob Persichetti.

Pundits have this year’s award for animated film as a race between Pixar’s “Incredibles 2,” which puts the focus on Helen/Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) and Sony’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” introducing Miles Morales as the first Spider of color, according to IndieWire. “Ralph Breaks the Internet” is predicted to come in third.

Past winners from CalArts include: last year’s “Coco,” co-directed by firsttime feature director Adrian Molina with Lee Unkrich; “The Incredibles” (2004) and Ratatouille (2007) directed by Brad Bird; “Finding Nemo” (2003) and “Wall-E” (2008), directed

by Andrew Stanton; “Brave” (2012) by alumni duo Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman; “Up” (2009) by Pete Docter; “Frozen” by alumnus Chris Buck with Jennifer Lee and Peter Del Vecho; “Inside Out” (2015)

by Pete Docter with Jonas Rivers, and “Zootopia” (2016), by alumnus Rich More with Byron Howard and Clark Spencer. 

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F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

N E W S F E AT U R E

First steps to planning your wedding

By Michele Lutes Signal Staff Writer

Y

our engagement should leave you feeling happy, loved and optimistic but eventually, when the reality of wedding planning sets in, it can leave you feeling overwhelmed, too.

Planning a wedding can be stressful, so it’s important to focus on one task at a time, according to the experts “Try to enjoy the process,” said Graham Silver, owner of Silvertunes Entertainment. “As you get closer, when you do hire the professionals, they are gonna be there to guide you.“ Whether you have a year to plan or a few months to plan and whether you’re having a huge party, eloping, or having a destination wedding, follow these first steps to start planning your wedding.

Set a Budget

“Some of the first steps people think about right away is their budget and guest list,” said Cassandra Copeland, owner of Cassandra Lee & Co. Events.

The average cost of a wedding in the United States in 2018 was $33,391, according to businessinsider. com.

The budget will help plan everything else, telling you what you can spend on each vendor or item for your wedding.

The average cost per person last year in the United States was $167, Copland said. “That will tell you what you can afford.”

Your budget should match your guest list, so you can have all the most important people there to share your special day.

“If your budget does not match what your guest list is, you need to lower your guest count or raise your budget,” Copeland said.

Pick a Date and Venue

You can get married anywhere, but the perfect venue should fit in your budget and speak to you as a couple.

“Without a venue, you don’t have a date,” Silver said.

Some people choose their date first, and others choose their venue first.

“Unless you have a date that is

Left: Jorge and Tatiana smile after they become Mr. and Mrs. Flowers.

Right: Ryan and Kimberly smile after saying I do at Robinson Ranch during sunset. PHOTOS COURTESY RAELYN ELIZABETH PHOTOGRAPHY

extremely important to you, be flexible,” Copeland said. “Venue is a very important thing, because it will create the entire atmosphere.”

Price points may change for during different days of the week, depending on the venue.

Highest costing monts are going to be May, June, September, October and sometimes December, Copeland said.

Pick your bridal party

Who will stand next to you on your wedding day? Hold your dress up, cheers champagne or beer and hold your bouquet while you say, “I do.”

“As soon as you set your venue and as soon as you set your date, then ask your bridal party,” Copeland said.

“Ask them anywhere from a year out.”

You can have as many as you’d like or just one. Your bridesmaids and groomsmen are there to support you during your special and stand beside you as you say I do.

Hire a Planner

Planning a wedding can be stressful and time consuming. Hiring a wedding planner can help make your day the way you two envisioned.

“The average couple spends over 400 hours just in research,” Copeland

said. “Biggest thing is the time and resources it takes to plan a wedding. If you don’t have the time or the resources, good option to get a planner.”

Planners have connections and can give you referrals.

There is a huge influx of people who are beginning their business in the industry of wedding planning, Copeland said. “The biggest thing to avoid is, ‘I started my business after i planned my own wedding.’”

Some questions to ask your planner include: • How many weddings they have planned?

• Have they planned for their own company?

• How long have they been in the business?

• How did you get into the business?

• What is your role and what is their role?

There are different levels of planning for a wedding, from full planning to day of coordinator and sometimes on site planners.

“An in-house coordinator will never do what an outside coordinator will do,” Copeland said. “They’re there to

make sure the venue looks good.”

This isn’t the same if a venue is recommending or referring you to an outside company.

In-house coordinators and outside companies can work together, Copeland said. “I work alongside a lot of in-house coordinators. They really know the venue, great people to work with, but I don’t think people should rely on them solely if they need a coordinator.”

“If you have a DIY facility, it is an advantage,” Silver said. “The good ones will make sure the champagne is being poured between the toast and more.”

Months go into planning the big day when you get to say, “I do” to the love of your life.

“Almost no wedding planner believes in day-of coordinator,” she said.

“You haven’t spent the last year getting to know them and their vendors.”

Copeland offers many different planning services, walking bride and grooms through a realistic timeline to plan their wedding. Making sure her work is the best quality and making sure her couples are comfortable.

“Once they book I am with them the whole time,” Copeland said about offering wedding management. She

F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 7

N E W S F E AT U R E

Planning a wedding? Here is a checklist to help you make sure you remember all the important things for your special day. In no specific order, here are some must-haves and suggestions for your wedding day.

PHOTOS COURTESY RAELYN ELIZABETH PHOTOGRAPHY

Right: Mr. and Mrs. Kidd share a kiss on their wedding day. PHOTO COURTESY BROOKE RITTER PHOTOGRAPHY

follows up monthly, has the bride and groom fill out forms to know exactly who their vendors are, builds the entire timeline and so much more.

Her company also offers design for your wedding.

“Every bride and groom are different,” Copeland said.

Some couples decide to elope or have a destination wedding.

“When you’re looking for destination, absolutely have a planner,” Copeland said. “You want someone who is gonna have first hand knowledge.”

Copeland has planned destination weddings with clients, using connections to make sure their day is just as they imagined.

Copeland offers all different types of planning, go to cassandraleeco. com or email events@cassandraleeco. com, for more information.

Entertainment

If you do not choose to hire a planner, “a strong emcee can come into play, to help with the flow of the wedding,” Silver said. “If there is someone you like or have seen, it is important to book them as soon as possible.”

Your entertainment creates an atmosphere for your guests, they create the life of the reception.

“You can teach someone how to DJ, but you can’t teach personality,” Silver said. “We are gonna be the direct representation of you. We are in a sense of a host for the day.”

It’s important to have a connection and not to base planners or DJ’s on price alone.

Without good entertainment, your guests could leave early, Silver said.

“We are the ones who make or break the event.”

Silvertunes Entertainment offers three different packages to make sure you and your guest enjoy every minute of your special day.

For more information go to www. silvertunes.com or call Graham Silver at (818) 533-8863.

One step at a time

You shouldn’t have to worry about if your vendors are gonna show up to your wedding, Silver said.

Your vendors should help walk you through their area of expertise.

These are just the beginning steps to planning a wedding, follow these to get started and enjoy every minute of planning your big day.

“Sit back and relax and enjoy this moment,” Silver said. “There is so much effort into this one day.” 

____ Create a realistic budget ____ Draft out a guest list ____ Hire a wedding planner ____ Decide on a theme if you choose to have one ____ Pick a venue ____ Pick a date ____ Pick a color scheme and design ____ Hire a caterer ____ Hire a photographer ____ Hire a videographer ____ Hire a DJ, MC or band ____ Order the dress ____ Block out hotels for out of town guests ____ Create a wedding website ____ Take engagement photos ____ Create and send Save the Dates ____ Create and send Invitations ____ Create a registry ____ Order bridesmaid dresses ____ Hire a florist ____ Plan the rehearsal dinner ____ Book Rentals ____ Find the Officiant ____ Plan the Honeymoon ____ Rent or buy groom’s attire ____ Rent or buy groomsmen attire ____ Premarital counseling ____ Order the wedding cake ____ Find the perfect wedding bands ____ Book hair and make up for the day of ____ Order or handmake wedding favors ____ Get your marriage license ____ Select songs for the reception ____ Create seating chart ____ Create place cards ____ Enjoy your day: A wedding is one day,

marriage is a lifetime

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F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

N E W S F E AT U R E

How to select the right yoga studio

By Caleb Lunetta Signal Staff Writer

N

early 10 percent of American adults used yoga, according to the National Institutes of Health, which describe the practice as “a meditative movement practice with historical origins in ancient Indian philosophy.”

In fact, many consider yoga not only a healthy substitute for the alternative styles of working out, and that within yoga, there are a variety of styles geared toward anyone willing to try.

From everything from goat yoga to brew yoga, private to group sessions, there’s a type of yoga out there for everyone, according to SCV experts in the field. And there are a number of studios that cater to each preference and/or choice of yoga workout.

The reason for the range in preferences is because, unlike a number of

other workout styles, when practiced correctly, as Hot for Yoga instructor J.C. Gray would say, there is “no such thing as ‘bad’ forms of yoga.”

“I’ve been practicing (yoga) for 16 years and taught everyone from those the blind, deaf, semi-paralyzed, elderly people, young kids and professional athletes,” said Gray. “It doesn’t matter, (because) virtually everyone — literally every body — can benefit from yoga.”

So, if you’re in Santa Clarita and looking for the best yoga style or group perfect for you, the local experts say the following factors are what you should keep in mind for when finding the right place for you: Who is yoga right for?

“Everyone,” according to Gray.

“Everyone from 7-years-old to 77-years-old should be doing yoga.

It’s a therapeutic practice that benefits everyone in terms of how the practice can work to decompress the body.”

While some exercise routines,

The lobby of Hot For Yoga in Newhall. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

such as extensive running and lifting weights can be harmful to young children and senior adults, yoga is a malleable practice, according to Gray, and is something that can be picked up at any point in an individual’s life.

“It doesn’t matter how old you are, but the younger you start yoga, the more supple a person is and the more able they are to maintain to maintain the operating systems of their body.”

Doing yoga at a young age, a number of ailments people are dealing with as adults would not exist in terms of their health.

“Yoga isn’t just about being flexible and isn’t just about stretching.

Yoga can translate into strengthening everything from your muscles, to tendons to cartilage of the body. And See YOGA, page 35

Pre s e n ted by Va le n cia B M W

F R (EN OET I CCK EOT S NN E ECD E ED ) R T

Please join us for what is expected to be a wonderful afternoon of classical and popular music by Santa Clarita’s only professional level orchestra.

Featuring:

The winner of the 5th annual Student Concerto Competition Ke i g o Ta m a k i

Also on the program: Beethoven’s Egmont Overture Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 “Overture to Brian’s House” from a film score by concertmaster Kirk Hunter Theme from “Cinema Paradiso” Selections from “Hamilton” Suite from “Dances with Wolves”

WWW.SCPHILHARMONIC.ORG

F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 9

Skater’s dad shares history of new park Looking at possibilities

By Caleb Lunetta Signal Staff Writer

A

After seeing the number of Santa Clarita families that were doing the fter 12 years of writing same thing as the Vaughns, traveling letters, lobbying offias far as Venice to ride with quality cials and waiting, Lance skaters on quality freestyle runs, Lance Vaughn and his son Garrett will finally be able to see the and his son decided to look into the possibility of getting something for his grand opening of a new skate park sport built in their local community. for the Castaic area.

“So I told him let’s get a flyer and According to the elder Vaughn, the let’s hang it up,” said Lance, who said process for building the new skating the flyer asked all the skaters in the area, located on the Castaic Sports community interested in having a Complex facilities, began over a decade ago when his then-9-year-old skate park to attend a meeting at the recreation center. “About 70 kids son asked why there was no place in show up ... and, his Castaic neigheventually, they borhood for him It’s pretty amazing after this built a temporary and his friends to skatepark a few really long process. I grew up skate. years later.” skating, and now there’s a spot Garrett began According to skating at a young in my hometown. ... It’s a dream Lance, the tempocome true.” age, roughly at rary facility was the same age his Garrett Vaughn, 22, great for the time father had started who asked about a local skate being, but it cost skating back in park as a 9-year-old $15,000 and didn’t the 1970s in the satiate the dream Santa Monica area. he and his son shared for a quality “In the ’70s, it was a mode of transskatepark that was suitable for skaters portation … and then, when vert of a high caliber. skating came out, I was always look‘I did it for my son and for all ing for empty swimming pools that I could skate and try to (ride) over the of you’ light in it,” Lance Vaughn said. “But “I remember when I was there (at we would have to drive all over” from the temporary skatepark) getting an Fillmore to Venice to Santa Monica to accommodation, a kid that was about go to a skatepark.

11 years old rode up to me on his

“

Henry Mayo and COC to host third CARE SCV

By Nathanael Rodriguez Special to The Signal

W

ith every passing day, researchers make more discoveries about cancer and its treatment. On Saturday, March 2, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital will partner with College of the Canyons and the American Cancer Society to host their third annual CARE SCV event and share these discoveries with the residents of the Santa Clarita Valley.

“This year, our event is completely dedicated to cancer prevention,”

said Mara Shay, Henry Mayo cancer program nurse navigator. “More and more data shows that nutrition and weight have a great influence on cancer.”

The event is set to take place in the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center at COC. Admission is free and will include a free continental breakfast. Registration should be done in advance through henrymayo.com/ CARESCV. A Q&A panel is set to feature doctors including Dr. May Lin Tao and See CARE SCV, page 11

scooter and asked me if I was (responsible) for this and why I did it.

And, I responded, ‘I did it for my son and for all of you,” Vaughn said, adding that he wouldn’t stop until there was something in the Santa Clarita area on par with his and his son’s vision of a skatepark. “They thought that would satisfy me, but they clearly didn’t know me.”

And now, after another handful of years of working with two different county supervisors, meeting a number of design companies, and over 12 years after his son first asked him why he didn’t have a skatepark in his area, the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new skatepark facility is scheduled for Feb. 27.

“It’s pretty amazing after this really long process,” Garrett said over a phone call Wednesday. “I grew up skating, and now there’s a spot in my hometown … it’s a dream come true.”

“I’m glad that I was able to do something not only for my son but all the kids,” Lance said. 

LOCALNEWS

Lance Vaughn holds an archival copy of an April 2009 Signal opinion page featuring his now-22-year-old son.

PHOTO BY AUSTIN DAVE / THE SIGNAL

2019

PRESIDENT’S DAY SALE EXTENDED! SALE

SPECIAL EDITION! Plush Super Pillow Top Queen Mattress

Twin $139

King $299 Twin $179

King $399

SANTA CLARITA 91350

26537 Bouquet Cyn Rd. #G (Next to Trader Joe’s and Best Buy)

(661) 430-8660

10 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

LOCALNEWS

Local family to put on sixth annual blood drive

By Crystal Duan Signal Staff Writer

E

very Friday for years, the needles took up most of the Smiths’ day.

Out the door they’d go by 6:30 a.m. each morning, driving south to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Then, Violet, 10, and Ian, 8, would sit in a hospital room with a daunting IV before them, ready to help them, even if it’d bore them. They’d decide that day where in their bodies the needles would go.

They were retractable and could be inserted in the smallest of veins in their little bodies. Violet always went with the back of the hand, where there were the most veins, while Ian might pick his elbow.

“I don’t like it in my ticklish spots,” Violet said. She’s particular about it, and experienced, because each week at CHLA, she and her brother are getting intravenous treatments of blood plasma and medication to receive antibodies they lack.

The Smith children have a primary immunodeficiency disease, a genetic condition that does not allow their bodies’ immune systems to function properly and fight off bacteria. PI makes the children especially susceptible to infection and recurrent health problems.

Although there is no cure for the disease, regular blood infusions allow the children to live normal lives, thanks to plenty of those helpful antibodies.

Recently, they were able to begin doing so from the comfort of their own homes.

These days, Violet and Ian walk the house on Friday afternoons with a portable pump that keeps smaller needles providing the infusions.

They used to sit in the hospital rooms for five to seven hours, trying to entertain themselves with puzzles, books, television, Xbox or coloring books while waiting to regain the energy they’d been seeking all week.

“It takes half as long now,” Violet said. “And if you’re used to it, you

could even go shopping with it, walking with it.”

The injections always hurt for two minutes in the spot they’re placed.

Violet said the pain then turns into an itch.

“But Ian,” she said, pointing at her brother, “Ian is a lot braver than me.”

Ian shrugged.

He’s used to it, as he and Violet have both been in and out of hospitals for various infections since they were each a month old.

“It’s been so long, we don’t know anything different than this,” said their mother, Barbara Smith.

“As a mom, you want to fix things if your kids are in pain,” she said.

“We’ve felt helpless for so long in finding a cure and seeking treatment.”

The Smith kids’ blood transfusions are imprinted in their routine, just as much as going to school and playing with their pet guinea pig Haimish.

But Haimish is happier now that the children are home every Friday, Violet said. There’s hope on the horizon.

And for the sixth year in a row, Barbara is putting on a blood drive in support of kids with the same PI disease.

“You always wonder, ‘How can I help my kids?’” she said. “And I think teaching them that this isn’t just an obstacle, there’s ways to make it better, is important, and hosting a blood drive is an important way to do that.”

Partnering with CHLA, the drive will take place on March 2 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Grace Baptist Church Conference Center, located at 22833 Copper Hill Drive.

To schedule an appointment for the blood drive, visit CHLADonate Blood.org and enter Sponsor Code: GRACEBAP or contact Barbara Smith at (661) 373-8458. 

Ian Smith and sister Violet hold the flier for the annual Community Blood Drive in association with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles on March 2. The American Red Cross Banner was signed by the dozens of attendees at last year’s event. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

Sheriff’s deputies spot stolen car, arrest man

By Jim Holt Signal Senior Staff Writer

L

ocal deputies arrested a man Monday on suspicion of grand theft when he was stopped while driving a car reported stolen last month in Riverside County.

The arrest happened shortly after 1:15 p.m. when deputies with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station

ran the license plate of a suspected stolen car, a white 2011 Mercedes-Benz 300 sedan.

“Our deputy ran the plate and it came back stolen from Riverside County on Jan. 24, 2019,” said Sgt. Eric Metten.

Other deputies were called in as the deputy approached the suspect.

“One man was taken into custody,” Metten said. 

Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies search a car in connection with a stolen car investigation at the Santa Clarita Metrolink station on Commuter Way in Saugus Monday afternoon. PHOTO BY CORY RUBIN / THE SIGNAL

F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 11

LOCALNEWS

Former student sues Hart District

By Jim Holt Signal Senior Staff Writer

A

former Canyon High School student — who alleges he was sexually abused by a basketball coach now facing more than a dozen criminal sexual-assault charges — is suing the coach and the William S. Hart Union High School District.

Lawyers with the Los Angeles-based firm Taylor & Ring filed a lawsuit on behalf of the former student, now age 24, naming the district as defendant.

“We do not comment on litigation matters,” Hart District spokesman Dave Caldwell replied in an email Friday when reached for comment on the lawsuit and its claims.

Attorneys Dave Ring and Louanne Masry filed the lawsuit on behalf of the student — identified only as John Doe — against his school basketball coach Jeremy Haggerty, who they say sexually abused him over the course of four years.

The lawsuit also names the William S. Hart Union High School District, alleging it failed to intervene or report the abuse, despite having received numerous complaints that Haggerty engaged in repeated misconduct toward male, minor students.

“The school district and high school coaching staff were aware of Haggerty’s inappropriate behavior with John Doe, yet they allowed multiple years of abuse to continue,” Ring, lead counsel in the case, was quoted as saying in a news release.

Emotional effects

“Sadly, our client will suffer emotional and physical effects for the rest of his life, and we intend to hold the school accountable for this,” he said.

Haggerty, according to the suit, quickly started grooming Doe by discussing adult topics under the guise of “sex education.”

The lawsuit also alleges Haggerty used an injury the boy had as an opportunity to take advantage of the plaintiff.

The lawsuit also claims the coaching staff was made aware of Haggerty’s behavior, but nothing was done to address it.

In addition to coaching the freshman basketball team, Haggerty was assistant coach for the varsity team, which, the lawsuit alleges, was also an opportunity for the abuse to continue.

Sexual contact

During this time, the same lawsuit alleged, the abuse escalated to massages and, eventually, sexual contact.

During the plaintiff ’s senior year in 2013, a new varsity basketball coach was hired and, according to the student’s lawyers, Haggerty was finally dismissed from the boys’ basketball program.

In September 2018, Haggerty was criminally charged with committing sexual crimes on multiple boys, including John Doe, according to the former student’s lawyers.

Following the day-long preliminary hearing last week, Jeremy Andre Haggerty, now 34, who has worked at several SCV schools, was held to

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answer to 15 criminal charges filed against him.

He’s scheduled to be arraigned in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday, Feb. 22, on charges of committing 15 sex crimes, including six counts of committing a lewd act upon a child, after he was held to answer for the charges filed against him.

Criminal charges He faces eight counts of sexual battery, six counts of lewd act upon a child and one count of possession of child pornography, according to the amended complaint.

CARE SCV

Continued from page 9

Dr. Kim Brown. Topics of discussion will range from cancer myths and misconceptions to nutrition and lifestyle tips for cancer treatment and prevention. Questions for the Q&A panel can be submitted via email at cancerprogram@henrymayo.com.

Attendees will also receive information about resources and support services that are available in Santa Clarita. Organizations such as City of Hope, American Cancer Society and UCLA are set to be available on site to give information and support.

Anyone looking for information on cancer and its treatment and prevention is welcome to attend.

“It’s important that everybody understands that this event is open to

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At the time of his arrest, Haggerty was living in Orange County and working at a school there.

He is accused of sexually assaulting nine victims over the course of nearly a decade, who ranged in age between 14 and 17 years old.

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F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

LOCALNEWS

COC hosting event on eating disorders

By Brennon Dixson Signal Staff Writer

T

o inform students about the dangers of anorexia, bulimia and other common eating disorders, College of the Canyons is hosting an Eating Disorders Awareness Day, which will be held at the Valencia campus from noon to 2 p.m. today.

The event was prompted by the National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, which is an initiative that’s sponsored by the National Eating Disorder Association lasting from Feb. 25 to March 3.

The event is strictly about giving students facts on nutrition, healthy eating and what that entails, said Larry Schallert, assistant director of COC’s Student Health & Wellness Center. “It’s one of the things we do to let people know these things happen, there’s help and you can recover.”

As a result, Associate Social Worker Michael Graves, who serves as an

College of the Canyons is scheduled to host an Eating Disorders Awareness Day event today from noon to 2 p.m. The event is about giving students facts on nutrition and healthy eating, according to Larry Schallert, assistant director of COC’s Student Health & Wellness Center. SIGNAL FILE PHOTO

intern at COC, will be on campus Tuesday to hand out informational fliers and answer any questions that students may have on the subject, Schallert said. The sole purpose is to

draw attention to the eating disorders that affect those who reside in the Santa Clarita Valley and beyond.

“We did something similar last year at the college,” he said. “It was big

success and we were impressed by the number of students who were interested in learning more.”

Eating disorders are something that a lot of people contend with, Schallert added, “and we want to let people know there’s help. If you want to reach out, (then) we will get you the answers.”

“We know that eating disorders are out there. We see it in the health center,” Schallert said, adding that the college works closely with medical doctors when they find somebody who is struggling with eating disorders.

“Students will study hard, but they forget good nutrition is important to taking care of yourself,” he said.

“Sometimes it gets to a point where binge eating or purging is a problem, but we want students to know that we aren’t judging. We try to make sure we discuss it from a point that it’s a barrier to success in college as well as general wellness.” 

Payless to close down stores across the SCV

By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

P

ayless ShoeSource joins the line of retail chains soon to close down in the United States.

The Kansas-based company has announced it will close its 2,100 stores across the nation and Puerto Rico, including both Santa Clarita Valley stores, located in Canyon Country and Stevenson Ranch.

The company said in an email statement, “We expect all stores to remain open until at least the end of March and the majority will remain open until May. This process does not affect the company’s franchise operations or its Latin American stores, which remain open for business as usual.”

An employee at the Stevenson Ranch location said the SCV stores would close by the end of March, with liquidation sales already happening.

Payless.com appeared to no longer accept online orders by Monday, but

other features such as the store locator still worked.

The discount shoe store may file for bankruptcy later this month, according to initial reports by Reuters. Payless first filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April 2017 and closed an estimated 400 stores as a way to reorganize and save money on accumulated debt.

Payless is the latest in retail companies to go out of business, following recent announcements by Charlotte Russe and Gymboree, which also have locations in the SCV. Coresight Research described this activity as “no light at the end of the tunnel,” in its recent “U.S. Store Closures 2019 Outlook” report. Data released Wednesday showed that the number of store closure announcements so far this year was up 23 percent when compared to this time in 2018. This figure could go up as several other companies are currently in the bankruptcy process and “more on the horizon.” 

Payless ShoeSource officials have announced that they will be closing various stores, which includes the two locations in the Santa Clarita Valley. PHOTO BY CORY RUBIN / THE SIGNAL

F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 13

Starr story at Santa Clarita Christian

By Haley Sawyer Signal Sports Editor

A

fter prep boys basketball games, it’s common to see toddlers hobbling around, doing their best to dribble a basketball. A practice that usually involved holding the ball with two hands, then thrusting it towards the floor, not always catching it afterwards.

Caden Starr remembers being one of those kids.

“My dad was a coach, so growing up I was always in the gym, watching him coach, going to camps, always shooting after his games,” Starr said.

Now, Starr dribbles the ball masterfully and although his basketball abilities have changed, this love for the sport hasn’t. As a junior on the Santa Clarita Christian School basketball team, his passion has helped him carve out a key spot on the Cardinals’ roster.

“I just try to do whatever I can to help the team win,” he said. “Some-

SCCS’ 6-foot-7-inch junior Caden Starr followed his brother at SCCS, where both made a big impact on the hardwood. PHOTO BY HALEY SAWYER / THE SIGNAL

times, I pass too much I think, just trying to make everyone else better whenever I’m on the court.”

SCCS coach James Mosley doesn’t see his love of passing as a fault, necessarily.

“Sometimes, we tell him, you’re at the rim, go ahead and finish,” Mosley said. “He does a lot for our team because we just need a couple guys who are unselfish and it’s infectious.”

STRESS

NUTRITION

The forward has had plenty of tutelage from his dad, Kelvin, the current coach for The Master’s University, and his older brother Jordan, who currently is in his freshman year on the Mustangs basketball team.

Jordan, who is averaging 8.7 points per game for TMU, played a crucial role in getting SCCS to a CIF-Southern Section Division 5 title last season, as well as a CIF Division 5 state title.

EXERCISE

SPORTS

“Being a good leader,” Starr said of what he learned from his older brother. “Last year, he was a good leader for us and I’m just taking what he did and applying it to my own game in every way I can, especially in leading the other players.”

Starr is vocal on the court, but he’s also easy to spot due to his 6-foot-7 frame. His length makes rebounding a breeze, and he’s also capable of pulling up for the occasional two-handed dunk.

Cardinals coach James Mosley also noticed Starr and his brother’s knowledge of the game early on. He credits that ability to the days when Starr was an aspiring basketball player, attempting shots as a kid after watching his dad coach a game.

“They have kind of have that gift of they can see a play before it happens and I think just being around the game, having an understanding of it, their personalities are very humble and they enjoy getting their teammates involved.” 

LIFESTYLE

14 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

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F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

FROM THE CITY MANAGER

Get ready for spring with Seasons

By Ken Striplin City Manager

T

he recent rains may have left our roads slick and our trails muddy — but they also left a beautiful green blanket covering our hills and dipping into our canyons.

The winter rains will surely supply us with a spectacular spring. To make the most of this new season, I encourage you to explore the city of Santa Clarita’s spring edition of Seasons magazine.

Seasons celebrates all the city has to offer in spring 2019, including the city’s expanding public transportation options — plus your favorite events and programs that speak to a wide range of interests.

By now you should have received your spring Seasons — if not, you can pick up a copy at a nearby city facility or check it our online at santa-clarita. com/Seasons.

On the cover you will notice the many transportation opportunities available to you in Santa Clarita.

Readers will learn that 83 percent of the city’s transit fleet operates on clean Compressed Natural Gas, and that over 2.3 million people rode our local buses last year. With a new Transportation Development Plan in progress, the city hopes to continue to mold the local transit system to meet residents’ needs.

Looking to try something new this season? Want to find a hobby, discover a hidden talent or just get active?

The newest edition of the Seasons magazine features a variety of classes that will make participants relish springtime even more.

On top of spring-inspired courses, residents will also find different upcoming events. The fourth annual Youth Arts Showcase is returning this year on Saturday, March 23. Attendees will enjoy visual and performing arts, art vendors, food trucks and

more. The event will take place at The Centre from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit santa-clarita. com/YouthArtsShowcase.

The annual Cowboy Festival is also riding back into town April 13-14, and will be held at historic William S. Hart Park. This year’s festival has new events in store, including the Cowboy Cook-off, where attendees can showcase their finest barbecue skills.

The spring season also means the start of baseball season. Residents can find information about the annual city of Santa Clarita Dodger Day coming up May 11. Proceeds will go toward the city’s local schools and nonprofit groups.

For the avid readers out there, or anyone who would like to expand their literary horizons, the spring edition of Seasons includes information about Santa Clarita Public Library’s annual “One Story, One City” campaign. This year’s featured book is “The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane”

by Lisa See, which will be available at all Santa Clarita Public Library branches. This moving novel explores tradition, tea farming, and the bonds between mothers and daughters. For more, visit SantaClaritaLibrary.com/ OneStoryOneCity.

The city takes pride in providing community members with opportunities to participate in fun and engaging programs. Within the carefully curated pages of the spring 2019 Seasons, there is sure to be something for everyone to enjoy. With events, programs and resources that speak to a wide range of interests — the city is committed to creating community for all our residents.  Ken Striplin is the Santa Clarita City Manager and can be reached at kstriplin@santa-clarita.com. The views expressed in his column are his own and not necessarily those of The Signal.

SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER TODAY

DELIVERY CALL (661)259-1000

F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 15

HISTORY

Great St. Francis Dam Crumbles reat F G y b d e i r r a C tion c u r t s e D d n a Death Fillmore Funeral Chapel Stacked With Bodies

Headlines tell story of St. Francis Dam failure

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

T

he bold, black headlines echo down through the years, staring up from the fading, crumbling newspapers that carried the tale of death and destruction to their readers.

The second worst disaster in California history began on March 12, 1928, near midnight, in the remote San Francisquito Canyon area of Saugus.

The St. Francis Dam failed at 11:57:30, a time pegged to the loss of electricity from the Southern California Edison transmission lines to Lancaster. The lines were located 90 feet above the dam’s eastern abutment.

The dam’s reservoir of 12.5 billion gallons of water poured down the narrow canyon, initially in a 140-foot-high wall of water, and swept nearly 500 men, women and children to their deaths. In California history, only the 1906 San Francisco earthquake killed more people.

As the flood carved out a path to the sea, it lay waste to Castaic Junction, Piru, Fillmore, Santa Paula and Saticoy before emptying into the Pacific Ocean, more than 50 miles away, near Ventura.

“Death and Destruction Carried by Great Flood Wave When Big Dam Breaks” “Many Bodies Remain Buried in Debris as Death Toll in Catastrophe Still Mounts” “Fillmore Funeral Chapel Stacked With Bodies of Victims of the Flood” After the catastrophic failure of the dam, the newspapers, including The Signal, dispatched reporters and photographers to the scene of the tragedy.

They filled their pages with photographs, interviews with survivors and lists of the dead.

Remarkable tales of survival and tragic tales of loss were reported in the Fillmore American of March 15, 1928. “Shot his Way Out Thru Roof of House Saved by Sycamores” was one such headline.

“Frank Maier and his wife and three children, residing on (a) ranch below the Bardsdale bridge, had a remarkable escape. As the waters swirled in around them, they made their way to the attic. Here Frank shot a hole through the roof, through which he passed his wife and two of the children to the roof. As he was about to follow them with his son, the house began to move, it was caught in a little circle of sycamore trees, where it rocked from side to side, without turning over or being carried away.

The house floated, like a leaky boat, the mark showing that there had never been more than eighteen inches of water in it, when it dropped back to the ground.”

Another story in the same paper reported, “How Old Man Koffer Swept to Safety on Mattress of his Bed.” Demonstrating how writing style and political correctness have advanced through the years, the story read: “Old Man Koffer was saved. And the term old is not used lightly or slurringly, for he is 74. He and his wife, also aged, lived on the Carter ranch above Fillmore. The waters caught them as they slept. And that is about all that Old Man Koffer remembers. For when he realized where he was, he was on his knees, clinging to the mattress, his old wife gone. A few awful moments and the mattress and its aged occupant swirled out to one side and landed in a lemon orchard, where help came to him.”

In another tragic report, a man was able to save his baby, but his wife and See DAM, page 25

16 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

R E A L E S TAT E

The Dos and Don’ts of Showing Homes: Etiquette & Best Practices

By Ray Kutylo Signal Contributing Writer

H

ere are a few things sellers, buyers and Realtors should know: Dirty and stinky homes won’t get the highest price. In fact it’s almost an invitation for low-ball offers, or the buyers will immediately leave, telling their Realtor, “Next!” If you have pets have them secured away, and as needed, post warning signs if you have pets.

Availability to show can be an important aspect Sellers and buyers have schedules. Homes that are easy to show get a higher price than homes that have a lot of showing restrictions, in general.

Laying out some small water bottles is a nice touch, especially in hot and dry weather. It’s best if the sellers aren’t there when the Realtor is showing the home to buyers. If the seller is there, the buyer will feel like an intruder and want to leave as quickly as possible.

You want the buyer to feel that they’re welcome and comfortable in the home. Hide, secure, or pre-pack valuables, collections, and medications. Finally, ensure nearby parking for easy showing and move your car if necessary.

Buyers should always be pre-approved Looking at homes outside of the pre-approved range wastes everyone’s time. Many sellers have restrictions on showing, such as “Shown By Appointment Only,” or one, two or 12 or more hours advance notice needed.

Try to give enough time to your Realtor to set up an appointment. Once you have set an appointment, be there on time. If there are multiple homes being shown, it’s sometimes difficult to stay on the scheduled appointment times, but both the buyers and the Realtor® should do their best. The seller may request that you remove shoes before seeing the home and may not have booties available.

Buyers should refrain from bringing a big entourage to see homes.

It’s best to not bring the children while seeing homes, that’s not always possible. If there are

children, it is the parents’ duty to instruct them that they are visitors to the home, and that the family group needs to stay together. Children shouldn’t wander off unsupervised.

Finally, while opening closets and cabinets are things buyers can legitimately do, touching or handling personal items belonging to the seller are not acceptable. Ignore the sellers’‘stuff’, however cute (or ugly) it may be. They will be taking all that with them when they move out.

A couple of other things … Ask permission before taking photos or video, since there may be privacy or personal issues. Finally, don’t linger too long. Remember, the seller may have left out of consideration for you … please show the same consideration for them. Your behavior can sway sellers to bestow their precious =home on you—or pass you up for someone nicer or way less annoying.

Realtors have their own set of obligations when showing homes.

Appointments are often required to show occupied homes, and there may be special instructions made by the listing agent or the seller.

If appointments need to be cancelled, or there is a significant delay or change, notice is always appreciated. In addition, just because a home has a lockbox, it is not an open invitation to just show up and go into the home.

Realtors unlock doors and turn on lights for buyers, but just as important is making sure all doors are locked and lights are off when you leave. If you open blinds to let in more light, leave them as you found them. In addition, due to changes in technology, caution your buyers that the homes may have cameras and/or microphones anywhere on the property, and it is a good idea to be on good behavior, keep children under control and hold any negative comments or redecorating ideas for later.  Ray “the Realtor” Kutylo is the team leader of the SCV Home Team at Keller Williams VIP Properties. The Team brings experienced and professional service, commitment and value to every transaction, whether you are a home buyer or seller. Ray can be reached at (661) 312-9461 or by email at rkutylo@gmail.com. The views expressed are his own and not necessarily those of The Signal. CA DRE 00918855

SANTA CLARITA VALLEY CLOSED SALES 2/1/19 TO 2/8/19

AREA/St#

St Name

Sold Price

SqFt/Source

CANYON COUNTRY 20219 20322 26770 26806 26810 26822 26850 26863 17928 28977

Edgewater Rue Crevier #629 Claudette ST #407 Claudette ST #323 Claudette ST #301 Claudette ST #257 Claudette ST #157 Claudette ST #126 River CIR #4 Sam PL

$149,950 $270,000 $284,500 $300,000 $304,900 $320,000 $325,000 $345,000 $350,000 $550,000

1086/E 910/A 907/A 910/ 964/A 1001/A 964/A 1003/A 1225/A 2336/A

26726 29026 27209 17229

Madigan DR Gladiolus DR Scotch Pine PL Crest Heights DR

$555,000 $600,000 $610,000 $725,000

1962/A 2176/A 2478/A 3274/A

Vista Del Canon #B Circle Of The Oaks Fairway CIR #21 Apple ST Logdell AVE Darbun DR Hacienda LN

$321,500 $325,000 $450,000 $542,000 $649,850 $770,000 $955,000

1132/A 1254/A 1839/A 1877/P 1864/AP 3100/S 3590/A

Haskell Canyon RD #H Casselman LN #386 Seco Canyon RD #368 Candela DR Seco Canyon RD #172 La Rochelle DR Linda LN Los Tigres DR Oaklar DR Argenti CT Lamplight PL Dragonfly CT Carranza LN Evening Star CT

$310,000 $390,000 $425,000 $435,000 $443,000 $485,000 $540,000 $555,000 $625,000 $675,000 $680,000 $729,999 $817,044 $865,000

870/A 1404/A 1040/A 1167/A 1146/A 1280/A 3579/A 1646/A 2900/S 2388/A 2806/A 3102/A 2766/B 3720/A

$625,000 $846,500

1994/A 3395/O

$370,000 $410,000 $410,000 $468,500 $490,000 $523,000 $530,000 $539,000 $540,000 $560,000 $625,000 $775,000 $789,900 $950,000

982/A 1112/A 1154/A 1934/A 2021/A 2129/A 1694/A 1419/P 1850/A 1624/A 1548/A 2330/A 1950/O 3178/A

NEWHALL 18716 26832 26499 24846 24269 23900 24953

SAUGUS 27664 28358 28325 21698 28423 22440 28003 22313 28119 28568 22592 22633 19164 22238

STEVENSON RANCH 25532 Burns PL 25611 Hood WAY

VALENCIA & WESTRIDGE 23617 24143 26111 29248 28928 29003 24603 28330 24600 22918 23462 27323 26029 23808

Big Sky #121 Del Monte DR #284 Mcbean #71 Dakota DR Mirada Circulo Mirada Circulo #4 Montevista CIR Medlar DR #73 Brighton DR #C Magnolia Glen DR Riversbridge WAY Linden LN Tourelle PL Spinnaker CT

F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 17

TIMERANGER

Taxes, Cannibals, Wet T-Shirts & Dead Cougs Make sure you folks take your slickers. (And no; sweaters don’t count.)

We’ve some wild and wet weather, and that includes the Valencia suburban pastime of Wet T-Shirt Contests.

I don’t approve.

I just report.

I don’t stare.

I just glance.

C’mon. Let’s hit the trail, saddlepals, There’s murderers, mayhem, mirth and money waiting ahead …

Hill Ranch in the late 1930s and was supposed to be the site for a major Southern California amusement park.

Plans called for a modernistic dance pavilion to be built there with a solid glass floor. A giant desert oasis swimming pool the size of a football field on the old polo grounds was scheduled. The place was also going to be a dude ranch and race track. Alas, the upcoming World War II dashed the dream of the ritzy resort builders.

WAY BACK WHEN & THEN SOME

• Or, tumbling off like a prom dress? Building Sierra Highway was not easy. Chief engineer David Seitz complained of working with constant landslides. Nicknamed “Shoveler,” Seitz noted: “The geology down there is looser than a Puritan in Paris.”

• Went to bed hunter-gatherer, work up Catholic Back on this date in 1803, local Tataviam Indians were forcibly removed from their village at “Caamulus” (Camulos) in Piru and transferred to San Fernando Mission to work and be baptized. Their Tataviam names were not on their birth certificates, but they were given Spanish names like Ruffina and Pedro Jose.

One Native American, Guida, 15, was married AND baptized the same day on Feb. 19. Ruffina was 90 when she was baptized at the Catholic mission.

• Winning the hearts & minds One method the Spaniards used in the late 18th and early 19th centuries to gather Indian conscripts was to send soldiers into a village and take all the children.

The women, wailing and crying, would follow the armed soldiers to the mission, then, the men, alone, would surrender and join their families.

• That’s how government works It took nearly 30 years and 10 TIMES the original estimate to build the first Newhall Jail. Finally, Feb. 20, 1906, L.A. County accepted H.C. Register’s bid of $2,237 to construct the poky.

H.C. used the wrong mixture of adobe and convicts discovered they could literally moisten their index finger and dig a hole through the wall to escape.

FEB. 24, 1919

• What about those unwilling to work? A century ago, this letter to the editor was printed in The Signal for our 500 locals. It read: “This tax is a war burden; it is a part of the price of victory, the greatest victory the world has ever known. I believe the people of this District will meet it fully, and I am offering every facility of my office to aid them to determine their individual liability.”

It was signed, “L.H. Peters, Internal Revenue Agent.” The newly formed IRS pointed out that “ ... any person earning an average of $19.25 a week for the year” had to file a return. On the first $4,000 of income, folks had to pay a flat tax of 6 percent. And then it jumped. Anyone making over $4,000 a year paid 12 percent. And no deductions back then, either.

• We could run it verbatim in 2019 Publisher Ed Brown’s Mighty Signal editorial said it all in the first sentence: “We have so much law that it is pretty much impossible to know what it all means.”

FEB. 24, 1929

Yeah. Any excuse to get off work Several Mint and Bouquet Canyon families were quarantined to their homes. The poor folks were victims of scarlet fever. Along with diarrhea, it was the leading cause of death in America in the early 20th century.

FEB. 24, 1939

• Our own Josh Gibson Val Verde was nearly all African-American and excited stories circulated about an unnamed youth at the baseball field there. Witnesses measured a home run he hit that sailed 450 feet. And that was with a softball …

• Our own homeless program Leo Paul left town for an extended business trip. When he returned, local cops had given his home on 8th Street a new name — “Hotel de Bum.” Seems hobos broke into his house and lived there for a few months.

• Another great project never built Saugus Speedway has had many names over the years: the Bonelli Ranch; Baker Stadium; Hoot Gibson Stadium. It was also called The

• Not that Dick Poor Dick Lindsey. The Newhall man kept getting needled for having the same name of a prominent L.A. stick-up artist.

FEB. 24, 1949

The never ending tragedy World War II was four years over, but bodies kept returning. The remains of three local soldiers — Al Moore, Gene Darr and John Cordova — were returned to the SCV for proper burial. Young John was part of the historic Cordova family that homesteaded Castaic in the mid 19th century. Wonder if they’re mentioned at our Veterans Park today?

• A decade in court Certainly the most dramatic of all the SCV court cases was the series of trials for the estate of silent film star William S. Hart’s multi-million-dollar estate. His son, Bill Jr., tried unsuccessfully to get his father’s ranch, castle and fortune.

He changed lawyers on this date, hiring the prominent Eugene D. Williams. Gene had been chief counsel on the Japanese war crimes trial.

FEB. 24, 1959

• On to greener pastures Last week, we visited one of the greatest high school football teams in valley history.

Hart finished 12-1, losing only to a much-bigger San Marino in the CIF semis. Up until that loss, they were undefeated and had only given up 12 points to Nordhoff and outscored their foes 202-12. Yee and ouch. The young head coach, Hal Mitchell, asked to be let out of his contract with the Indians.

He was offered the head coaching job at Brigham Young University.

FEB. 10, 1969

• Climate change? Or just real rainy? The Rifleman himself, noted TV and movie star Chuck Connors, donated $2,500 to a family that had just lost their Saugus home in a mudslide. By summer, 120 homes would be lost — hundreds more seriously damaged. The 1968-’69 season would be the mother of all rainfalls in this century — dumping 51 inches here — more in some of the canyons. The month of February 1969 was the wettest on record — 30 inches! That’s two average years of rainfall in one month.

FEB. 24, 1979

• The days of death Three murder suspects — one, a cannibal — were arraigned on this date. Ronald Doyle Wilburn, the infamous Vampire Van killer, had to be stored in a glass holding cage, Hannibal Lecter style.

Mark Rapko was facing life in prison for shooting a Canyon Country drug dealer to death and Cliff Smock pleaded guilty to manslaughter after stabbing and shooting his robbery victim at a Canyon Country restaurant.

• They named it after — TONY … Local Norm Levine got a local distillery to make a private label bourbon. He named it: Old Newhall.

I see from the familiar spinning vortex ahead, we’re back in the here&-now of the SCV. Thanks for the company, dear ones. See you next week with another exciting Time Ranger adventure. Until then — Encuentra la manera de escapar del esplendor aprisionado y vayan con Dios! (Find a way for the imprisoned splendor to escape and ride with God!) 

John Boston, aka, Mr. Santa Clarita Valley, has been writing about and teaching the history of the SCV for more than 40 years.

Read his historical tome, “Images of America: The Santa Clarita Valley.” It’s available on Amazon.com.

Don’t forget to check out his weekly series on the History of The Mighty Signal on the front page of every Saturday’s paper…

1 8 · S U N D AY S I G N A L

Opinion

F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

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

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

OURVIEW

Apologies and Digging Up Leadership and Virtue: Dirt: A New Day for SUSD? Have We Lost One or Both?

By The Signal Editorial Board

T

he Saugus Union School District board of trustees has been making news lately, but not for the kinds of reasons that school boards typically like to make news.

For a supposedly non-partisan elementary school district board, the SUSD seems to have gotten especially “political” over the past half-year or so, and it seems to be more than a coincidence that some of the folks involved in running the district seem more “politically inclined” than most of those who have held those seats over the past several decades.

The latest came Tuesday night, when board member Chris Trunkey apologized for his actions during the November election campaign.

It was one of those apologies that go something like this, laying some blame on the person receiving the apology: I’m sorry you were offended when you misinterpreted my words and actions.

Trunkey was apologizing as a result of what he described as “research” he conducted during the campaign regarding the track record of th president of the Saugus Teachers Association, which had declined to endorse Trunkey for re-election in his campaign against Sharlene Duzick for Trustee Area No. 5.

Trunkey’s research about STA President Debbie Rocha prompted a “cease and desist” letter from the teachers’ association’s legal counsel, alleging that Trunkey, who at the time was president of the SUSD board, was seeking to dig up “dirt” on Rocha to discredit her and the STA. The letter accuses Trunkey of violating the Educational Employment Relations Act as well as the SUSD board’s own standards and code of conduct.

The Oct. 26 letter read, in part, “Following STA’s endorsement of Sharlene Duzick, Ms. Rocha learned that President Trunkey began making inquiries

By David Hegg

of community members looking for ‘dirt’ on Ms. Rocha as a way of discrediting STA in retaliation for its endorsement of Ms. Duzick. Ms. Rocha also learned that President Trunkey has contacted agents of Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District (“AADUSD”), where Ms. Rocha served as president of the AADUSD board of education eight years ago, to ask about Ms. Rocha’s involvement in a decision involving the controversial Albert Einstein Charter School.”

When The Signal requested a copy of the letter on Nov. 1, the response from the district was that it couldn’t be released until Nov. 9 — conveniently, three days after the sitting board president was up for re-election. They actually ended up releasing the letter on Nov. 7, the day after the election.

The three-page letter is, undeniably, a public record. The district is allowed 10 days by law to respond to a public records request, so no law was broken there. However, a more timely release of the letter was not an outrageous thing to request.

District officials cited their “process” in dotting all the I’s and crossing all the T’s when receiving a public records request. As we editorialized previously, that does not pass the smell test. If the district’s intent was to avoid “playing politics” with the letter, its actions had the opposite effect.

After the election, the district board appointed a two-member subcommittee to look into the STA complaint.

Fast forward to Tuesday, and Trunkey issued a public apology, saying: “While a candidate for re-election this past election cycle, I conducted See OUR VIEW, page 20

I

t is popular today to suggest our country is experiencing a lack of leadership. In the current political discussions I hear it all the time. “We are waiting for someone to show real leadership!”

But my question is exactly what are we waiting for? What is real leadership, and why do we need it?

My reading of leadership books over the past several decades leads me to believe that there are as many definitions of leadership as there are authors hoping to sell books. Most of them have the basics in common. Leadership is a forceful influence that causes a group of people to work together to accomplish a stated purpose. Leadership can also be defined in terms of follower-ship. If you want to find out if you’re a leader, turn around and see if anyone is following.

But just how is leadership influence empowered? Today we primarily think leaders lead through the formulation of ideas and mission, which they then communicate in such a way as to gain emotional ownership of those ideas and mission on the part of a larger

group. This group then focuses its combined energy on putting the ideas to work and accomplishing the mission. In other words, we as a society are in danger of simplifying leadership down to this: If you’ve got a good idea that sounds good to us, then you’re a leader we will support. But there is something missing in all this.

At some point in the past it became a social sin to suggest that a leader’s virtue was also essential to the leadership process. As a result, we are more and more willing to support an idea even if we are completely ignorant of the ideology behind it. And if someone does raise a question as to a leader’s ideology, or worldview, or belief system, they are almost universally branded as intolerant, a bigot or worse. Here’s my question: Why in the world would we even begin to evaluate an idea without first understanding the core values and virtues of the one who formulated it?

Are we really so blind to reality that we believe what a person thinks has no relationship to who that person is?

See HEGG, page 20

READERLETTERS

A New Color Palette?

I have been watching the building of the new industrial complex, Needham Ranch. I agree completely that it is a needed complex for the future of Santa Clarita Valley, bringing job growth to a close proximity to the residents. What I would love to see is, rather than painting the buildings the popular colors of white and gray, they paint them in a more natural environment color. A great sand color or green would blend

those massive buildings in with the beautiful natural setting they are in.

Right now, the first painted building stands out like a beast among the beauty. Food for thought, Planning Commission and designers.

Donna Schmidt, Canyon Country Submit a Letter to the Editor

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

F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

S U N D AY S I G N A L · 1 9

Opinion

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

BLACK&WHYTE

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

When Intimidation Runs 21st Century School Against Free Speech Facilities: A Better Path

By Tim Whyte Signal Editor

A

part of me was disappointed when David Barlavi didn’t raise a clenched fist during the flag salute at Tuesday’s Saugus Union School District board meeting.

Not that I liked the clenched-fist salute in the first place. I just didn’t like seeing intimidation prevail over free speech.

The controversy started a couple of weeks back, after a photo circulated online showing Barlavi participating in the flag salute at a Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency board meeting.

In the photo, he has one hand over his heart, and the other hand, fist clenched, raised above his head.

The temperature on the situation was dialed up after a video was posted online showing Barlavi, a newly elected SUSD board member, displaying the raised, clenched fist during the flag salute at a school board meeting.

A group of protesters turned out to the Feb. 5 board meeting, calling for Barlavi to resign or be recalled. They found the gesture to be offensive, unpatriotic and disrespectful to the flag.

After the meeting, the rhetoric took a threatening turn — to the point where Barlavi filed a police report saying he had received multiple death threats.

Among the comments posted in response to the online video were statements like this one: “This guy needs a lead injection.”

Yeah. Someone really said that.

Barlavi says he has used the raised, clenched fist gesture as a show of support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Fair enough, I guess. The original message of Black Lives Matter is a noble one — that young black men seem to be disproportionately likely to

be on the receiving end of institutionalized, excessive force from police, and that, of course, is wrong and must change.

However, sometimes it seems that the original noble message of Black Lives Matter has gotten muddied by a general contempt for the many thousands of good cops out there — and that the movement has even fomented violence against police.

So, it’s complicated. And clenching a fist in support of Black Lives Matter is inherently going to stoke passionate reactions, if nothing else from those who have friends and loved ones in law enforcement who risk their lives every day to protect others.

There’s also the fact, too, that a raised, clenched fist can mean different things to different people. For example, it was used as a salute by the Black Panther Party in the 1960s — but it was also later appropriated by white supremacists as a symbol of “white power.” In any case, there’s a militancy about it that isn’t a good mix with an elementary school district board meeting, and I don’t know about you but I’d generally prefer to avoid gestures whose meaning may be confused, especially on such hot-button matters.

Regardless, as of this past Tuesday, it seems Barlavi is no longer raising a clenched fist.

Why? Barlavi has declined comment, and I don’t especially blame him.

Exercising one’s First Amendment rights in this day and age has gotten awful damn messy.

I’ve always been a firm believer that having the right to free speech means we also have to tolerate the speech of others. As the cliche goes, I may not like what you have to say, but I will defend your right to say it.

See WHYTE, page 20

By Scott Wilk State Senator

R

ows of desks, lined up in utilitarian classrooms, may have been the norm in schools built during the Industrial Revolution – but today we know more about how children learn.

Studies have found that lousy test results are associated with classrooms that are noisy, poorly lit, hot and full of artificial light.

Schools are not factories and should not look like one. The school environment has a powerful impact on how students perform. That is one of the reasons California voters approved Proposition 51 in 2016, a $9 billion bond to build and modernize K-12 schools and community colleges. However, until now less than 10 percent of that money has been allocated despite a massive $3.2 billion backlog of “shovel-ready” projects.

Prop. 51 is about more than just repairing and replacing dilapidated school facilities. It can also be used to build laboratories and specialized facilities for career technical education. Such facilities would help expand science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs to help more students obtain high-paying jobs.

Gov. Gavin Newsom appears to see things differently than his predecessor. He is recommending $1.5 billion in Prop. 51 bond funds be sold in his 2019-20 budget. This is nearly double the amount allocated in the prior two budget years and will go a long way toward assisting local school districts in modernizing their aging campuses and constructing the new classrooms they urgently need.

As a newly appointed member of the State Allocation Board, the board responsible for distributing these funds, I welcome this change. Schools up and

down the state are desperate for not only upgrades and expansions but also safety and infrastructure changes. We have requested the governor’s administration to begin immediately processing all of the new construction and modernization funding applications.

California voters spoke clearly in November 2016 when they passed Prop. 51. Delaying the sale of school facility bonds not only undermines the will of the voters, but also deprives students of safe and modern classrooms while increasing taxpayer costs and reducing buying power.

Since the introduction of the 201819 budget proposal, the backlog of completed applications ready for processing and funding has increased from $3.2 billion to $4.75 billion. The State Allocation Board already has received new construction applications exceeding the funds authorized by Prop. 51, and it is similarly expected to receive enough applications to exhaust voter-authorized modernization funding by summer.

The previous administration included only $653 million in school bond sales in the 2018-19 budget. This condemns California students to wait five to 10 years after a complete funding application is submitted before they can attend the new school or learn in the renovated classrooms.

New facilities are desperately needed in districts with population growth.

Aging school facilities require updates and repairs to meet the needs of special education students, career technical education, and to ensure the health and safety of our students. 21st Century instruction and curriculum requires facilities that provide students with pathways to future careers.

See WILK, page 20

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F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

Opinion

HEGG

Continued from page 18

It wasn’t always this way. It used to be that a person’s character and worldview were understood as being vital to their place in this world. Pick up any biography of a famous leader and you’ll find the first several chapters exploring family heritage, the early years, and the educational path taken.

All of these will be punctuated with stories meant to describe the subject’s growth in terms of certain character traits, life values, and the core virtues that would be foundational to their success in life.

Who they were was understood to be an essential component of what they would later accomplish.

But it seems that has changed. We’ve become so pragmatic that we can’t see beyond our own self-interest to recognize that often we’re being played as patsies by those whose only virtue is a lust for power. They promote ideas without details, plans without measurements, and prom-

OUR VIEW

Continued from page 18

research regarding charter schools in the Santa Clarita Valley, which is a topic I believed would be and was an issue during the campaign.”

He added: “I accept full responsibility and apologize. It was never my intention to gather information about (Rocha) specifically, or to use the results of my research for any purpose other than to answer questions about charter schools ... Ms. Rocha, I regret that my actions led you to believe some other intentions.”

Yes, that’s one of THOSE apologies: I’m apologizing because I kind of have to, but it’s at least partly your fault because you misunderstood me.

Rocha, to her credit, accepted the apology: “It

WILK

Continued from page 19

Delaying state funding and bond sales increases taxpayer costs and reduces buying power. The federal government is looking to increase interest rates, and the bond market is already reflecting higher interest costs to sell bonds. In the next 18 months, California could see a significant increase from rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.

Further, statewide average construction costs are escalating by 6 to 8 percent per year, with much higher rates in multiple regions. According to a conservative estimate by the State Architect, California taxpayers are losing $245 million per month in local and state buying power to cost

ises without accountability. They create sound bytes and photo opps through which to promote themselves and their ideas, hoping to grab our emotions and garner our support.

But what I’m hoping for is real leadership. I want to hear good ideas that flow out of a consistent, informed and authentic understanding of the problems and the hard work it will take to solve them. Anyone who believes the dire situation in our society and our homes can be remedied by some plan built on catch phrases and machine-gunned statistics has bought into the idea that winning an election just means fooling enough people. That’s not a virtue I will support.

What we need are leaders willing to tell the truth even when it is hard because their character and core beliefs won’t let them operate any other way. I believe the best ideas come from the best people, and right now we could use some of both.

David Hegg is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church and a Santa Clarita resident.“Ethically Speaking” appears Sundays.  is clear there has been follow-up and you have to follow the rules. We’re supposed to be about the students and not about political parties or what he said or she said. Let’s get back to working on how to use the funding we have to provide the best education for our students.”

So that’s it, we suppose. We can’t escape the feeling that Trunkey and the district are getting a pass on some things that, perhaps, they should not be receiving. It seems lately there has been far too much news emanating from the SUSD about politics, partisan gamesmanship and questionable decision-making on the release of public records.

We hope this is indeed the end of it, and the SUSD board will leave behind the politics. We look forward to getting back to writing headlines about all the great educational happenings that benefit the children of the Saugus district.  escalation from delayed school facilities projects.

The voters have clearly stated their desire for the state to invest in the construction, renovation and repair of our children’s school facilities and it is past time we make that happen. Every child in California deserves the best chance possible to be educated in a safe environment that is conducive to quality learning. As a member of the State Allocation Board and as vice chair of the Senate Education Committee, I look forward to helping our school districts get the funding they need to make this happen.

Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, represents the 21st Senate District, which encompasses the Antelope, Santa Clarita and Victor valleys. 

WHYTE

Continued from page 19

Call it corny but I really believe in that stuff.

In the past six months, I have lamented tactics by the left that are designed to squash the speech with which they disagree. Just a couple of weeks ago I wrote about the MAGA-hat-wearing kids from Covington Catholic High School who were slandered and libeled in various media outlets, and unfairly labeled as racists.

I’ve seen it closer to home, too. There are those, right here in our community, who will seek to destroy your career if you’re not marching in lock-step with their political views. That leaves a mark on the psyche.

So, I can only imagine the psychological marks left by actual death threats. And with that in mind, today I am not just lamenting, but condemning, those on the right who sought to squelch David Barlavi through threats of violence. They won. And I hate that. As we editorialized last week, whether you like the gesture or not, Barlavi should be able to raise his clenched fist without fearing for his safety.

Some of the protesters (who, I must acknowledge, were not necessarily the same people who allegedly threatened Barlavi) showed up again this past Tuesday, signs and placards in hand, to see what he would do, and to protest.

That, of course, is their right.

Ironically, during the flag salute — which they had criticized Barlavi for disrespecting — most of the protesters were not focused on the salute itself, but on shooting video of Barlavi, just in case he should raise a clenched fist.

There’s an irony and a hypocrisy about that.

Barlavi, without comment, refrained from raising the clenched fist. His critics applauded him. Some shook his hand after the salute. Then they proceeded to call for his ouster during the public comment portion of the meeting.

I don’t know exactly why Barlavi stopped raising his clenched fist. He’s not saying, and that, too, is his right.

Defusing the situation probably seems like the safest thing to do, and I don’t mean that lightly, and that’s a shame.

There comes a point where you have to think about things like safety, and family, and is it worth it?

But there’s a part of me that wishes he had stood his ground — even though I wasn’t fond of the clenchedfist salute in the first place, and I’m not trying to make him out to be some kind of hero or martyr. However, in refraining from the gesture, intentionally or not, he’s reinforced the bad behavior of those who were so intolerant of the way that he chose to exercise his First Amendment rights, that they physically threatened him for doing so.

Unfortunately, there were powerful motivating factors in play. That’s not the way this whole “free speech” thing is supposed to work, and it’s a sad commentary on how our society has devolved, on both the left and the right.

We can’t even have a civil conversation anymore.

Tim Whyte is editor of The Signal. His column appears Sundays. On twitter: @TimWhyte. 

F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 1

= Family Friendly Event

THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR

ONGOING Mondays, 10 a.m. Join Barnes & Noble every Monday morning at 10 a.m. for a special Toddler Storytime at the Children’s Stage. Barnes & Noble, 23630 Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita. Info: stores. barnesandnoble.com/store/2642 Wednesdays, 8 a.m. Developed by Kaufman Foundation and based on the notion that entrepreneurs discover solutions and engage with their communities over a million cups of coffee, this free weekly event is designed to educate, engage, and inspire entrepreneurs around the country. American Family Funding, 28368 Constellation Road No. 398. Info: 1millioncups.com/santaclarita Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Drop in to Pocock Brewery weekly trivia night with Trivia with Budds. Trivia night.The weekly night also includes a rotating selection of food trucks. Pocock Brewing Company, 24907 Ave Tibbitts, Ste B, Santa Clarita. Info: triviawithbudds.com/trivia-locations Thursdays, 6 p.m. Come to the Canyon Club every Thursday for an 18+ night of line dancing lessons and county music presented

by Borderline Bar & Grill. Canyon Club, 24201 Valencia Blvd., No. 1351, Santa Clarita. Info: wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com/canyon-santaclarita Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. California farmers and specialty food purveyors come together each Saturday, rain or shine, to bring you a farmers’ market with the finest in fresh and seasonal fruits and vegetables, including organic, baked goods, flowers, herbs, cheeses, and prepared foods. The market offers patrons a chance to come face to face with their food source. Old Town Newhall, 24500 Main St., Newhall. Info: oldtownnewhall.com/ old-town-newhall-farmers-market/ Saturdays and Sundays, 9:30 a.m. to noon. Each weekend, the Gibbon Center is open to the public and a tour is given at roughly 10:00am, no reservations are required. $15 Adults, $12 Teens & Students, $10 Seniors, $5 Children 6-12, Children under 5 are free.

19100 Esguerra Road, Santa Clarita. Info: gibboncenter.org Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Grab the young’uns and mosey on up the hill in William S. Hart Park to the glorious hilltop Mansion, where you can not only take a free guided tour, but your young ones can have some free craftin’ fun! Set up right outside the Mansion’s back door, on the covered back patio, is the

new weekly Crafterday Saturday craft table!

The young ones can try their hands at simple crafts like making their own totem poles, designing their own rope art, making their own dreamcatchers, and so much more. It’s free and all are welcome 24151 Newhall Ave., Newhall.

Info: (661) 254-4584, hartmuseum.org Sundays, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shop and save every Sunday at the Santa Clarita Swap Meet!

Hundreds of vendors selling new merchandise, collectibles, plants, home decor, clothing, tools and so much more! Live entertainment, food trucks and good cheer every week! $2 admission. 22500 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita. Info: saugusspeedway.com/ content/Meet-our-Swap-Meets.aspx

EVENTS BY DATE Sunday, Feb. 24, 7:45-9:45 p.m. Try the sport of curling.

You’ve seen the sport in the Olympics, you’ve heard about it from someone you know, and you’ve thought, “Hey, I wonder if I can do that?” Come find out for yourself! Our instructors will give you an overall understanding of what you need to play the game.

You’ll learn the basics of throwing, sweeping, and some basic game flow and strategy. By the end of just one session, you can be ready to join our leagues and master the game! No experience necessary. $20-$25. Ice Station Valencia, 27745 Smyth Drive, Santa Clarita.

Info: (661) 775-8686, eventbrite.com/e/ learn-to-curl-in-valencia-registration -53397393040?aff=ebdssbdestsearch Wednesday, Feb. 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Join Heroes of Color for a multicultural cartoon exhibition artist reception. “United By Art” is a celebration of the music, dance, and cultures from around the world. The art prints are pages from the upcoming book which will feature over 100 nations from around the globe.

Newhall Community Center, 22421 Market Street, Newhall. Info: santaclaritaarts. com/2019/02/06/united-by-art/ Thursday, Feb. 28, 5:30-7 p.m. Come meet the Sheriff Civilian Oversight commissioners and leadership from your Sheriff’s station. Tell us how you feel about public safety in your community and your experience with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. Everyone is welcome. This town hall provides a public forum where local residents are encouraged to address commission members and leaders of their local law enforcement. Bring your thoughts, suggestions or concerns.William S. Hart Park, 24151 Newhall Avenue, Newhall. Info: Civilian

Oversight Commission (213) 253-5678, cocnotify@coc.lacounty.gov, coc.lacounty. gov.

Thursday, Feb. 28, 7-9 p.m. Note by Note is a music showcase presenting audiences with a variety of genres at this free evening of fun. Each month, bands, duos, and soloists will play their own blends of music for your listening pleasure. Come enjoy a wide range of music styles including rock, folk, Celtic, Americana, Blues, Jazz, Country, experimental, Western, and more! The MAIN 24266 Main Street., Newhall. Info: thursdaysat newhall.com/notebynote/ Saturday, March 2, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Learn how to stitch together paper and attach the cover with an exposed spine that will show off your handiwork with one of the fundamental stitches in bookbinding: The Kettle Stitch! No sewing experience required. You will get to choose from an assortment of decorative papers for the cover as well as the end papers inside the book! Ages 12 and up. Sign up in-store and pay in advance for your space. $20 materials fee. The Open Book Canyon Country, 19188 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. Info: facebook. com/events/588385911615013/?event_ time_id=604788123308125

Saturday, March 2, 8:30-noon. Help Villa Vibes Yoga fill an entire football field with yoga, love, and giving back! Our vision is to fill a football field with as many participants as possible to share a yoga experience, enjoy a day of health and giving back, connect with community, and raise funds to help our neighbors move from homelessness to housing. All proceeds will benefit Bridge to Home Santa Clarita Valley and their efforts to provide life-changing services to homeless individuals and families. All experience levels are welcome and encouraged to join us for yoga on the field. $30. Cougar Stadium, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita.

Info: Amanda Kimble (661) 388-3500, villavibesyoga@gmail.com Sunday, March 2, 10:30 a.m.-noon The Santa Clarita Public Library is hosting a special visit by Lisa See, the author of The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, the 2019 title for One Story One City! Ms. See will share with us her research process, highlights from her book, and answer some of our questions!

Newhall Family Theater for the Performing Arts, 24607 Walnut Street, Newhall. Info: onestoryonecity.santaclaritalibrary.com/ events/

! N! !

N I W WI WIN CONGRATULATIONS to BEVERLY PATTON of CANYON COUNTRY — the winner of $100 for correctly identifying the artwork as being from ALDO BARBER SHOP advertisement on page 11 of our Feb. 10 issue.

Identify this piece of artwork and the page number that it is on in one of the advertisements in this week’s issue, and you will be entered to win $100. One game and one winner each week.

Mail your entry to: The Signal – Contest 26330 Diamond Place | Santa Clarita, CA 91350 STRESS NUTRITION Or email to: contest@signalscv.com Advertiser: Page # Name: Address:

Phone:

This week’s entries are due Wed. March 6.

Winner to be announced in 2 weeks.

EXERCISE

LIFESTYLE

22 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

HOMEIMPROVEMENT

Winter’s heavy rains bring water woes

By Robert Lamoureux Signal Contributing Writer

Excess water overflow Robert, I live in an older section of Canyon Country, and the way my backyard is designed, it would flood during heavy rains, at times almost getting to the house itself. I had a handyman drill holes through the block wall years ago, to allow the excess water to flow out of the yard.

In between the last set of rains, I had a city inspector come to my door and tell me that I had to plug up the holes because we cannot have water flowing over the city sidewalk like it does. I have a lot of landscaping in the yard that will get damaged (if I do so) and am limited financially on what I can do.

Can you tell me what my options are?

— Liz M. Liz, You have a couple of options here; however, I think both are expensive.

Without photos of your entire property, it is difficult for me to concretely say, but I think you can do a couple of different things here.

Option No. 1 is to hire pros that will install a sump pump that will discharge either into an existing functioning area drain or out into the street.

Option No. 2 would be (if possible) to raise that landscaping and slope it

Heavy rains this winter have caused problems beyond traffic woes; homeowners are dealing with water running through their property and threatening damage to their homes.

IF YOU DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE AREA DRAINS INSTALLED, THIS IS YET ANOTHER THING THAT COULD BE DONE BUT ONCE AGAIN IS EXPENSIVE, ESPECIALLY IF CONCRETE IS INVOLVED. so that it naturally drains to the front of the property.

Both options need a pro to determine their feasibility, and again, you’re looking at some expense for either.

If you do not currently have area drains installed, this is yet another thing that could be done but once again is expensive, especially if concrete is involved.

Unfortunately, your hands are tied and you must comply with the city, and redirect the water in another way.

Best of luck to you, — Robert

Garage floor water Robert, Thank you for the back-and-forth email responses trying to figure out the water coming up in the middle of my garage floor. Everything that you said seems to make sense, after seeing the water seemingly coming from nowhere.

— Porter Porter, As stated in communications, the fact that you have no plumbing below your garage slab was the first piece of evidence, and then knowing your home backs a hill helped, also.

What happens occasionally is that the water coming down the hill enters the soil and eventually the water table, but when we have excessive rains, as we’ve had this year, there are times that the water just has nowhere to go at such a fast rate. The pressure leads it to a place where there is least resistance, and in your case, it happens to be at your garage slab.

Undoubtedly, the visqueen water barrier under your slab may have been torn during the concrete pour, and it finds its way to this area with the excess static pressure and presents on the garage floor.

It is highly likely that this will occur only during years such as this with heavy rains, so if this were me, I’d personally not spend the extraordinary amount of money it would take to resolve this, you can simply use caution when the floor is wet, and use any method to help dry it when this happens.

Good luck to you, — Robert Robert Lamoureux has 38 years of experience as a general contractor, with separate licenses in electrical and plumbing contracting. He owns IMS Construction Inc. in Valencia.

His opinions are his own, not necessarily those of The Signal. Opinions expressed in this column are not meant to replace the recommendations of a qualified contractor after that contractor has made a thorough visual inspection. Email questions to Robert at robert@imsconstruction.com. 

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F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 23

T R AV E L

Finding love in the strangest places

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

O

k, so Valentine’s Day didn’t exactly go as planned.

Maybe it’s a good idea to mix it up in your relationship and escape for a romantic getaway to some of California’s most unique and unusual destinations.

We’re not talking about the quaint beachside bed and breakfast where you celebrated your honeymoon, but accommodations both quirky and one-of-a-kind.

Because of the unique nature of these accommodations you might have to truly celebrate Valentine’s Day in July, as many locations are fully booked months in advance.

Mendocino Water Towers

Have you ever slept in an historic water tower? In the small, artsy town of Mendocino, guests can lay their heads down in a new kind of penthouse suite.

Used to supply water to homes in the late 19th century, some owners have transformed the towers to create unique lodging options for a romantic weekend getaway.

Sweetwater Inn & Spa offers the three-story Redwood Tower with commanding views of Mendocino Bay and the Pacific. The inn also offers the Sweetwater and Sear’s Towers.

Info: sweetwaterspa.com.

Situated opposite the Mendocino Art Center, the Bever-Roberts Tower is the perfect spot for romance and the opportunity to take long walks in Mendocino Headlines State Park.

Info: mendocinotower.com.

The Grand Lady of the village, the MacCallum House, offers guests

The Queen Mary in Long Beach offers beautiful views of the ocean, and ghostly legends in its nearly 350 rooms.

Mendocino’s water towers offer a unique getaway in fun, quirky little town. COURTESY PHOTOS

Room 13 Watertower Suite, a jaunty tower suite with three floors of luxury accommodations and expansive top-floor views. The room comes equipped with a sauna and jetted spa tub for two, plus ocean views and a fireplace. Info: maccallumhouse.com.

Big Sur Tree Houses

Ever spent the night in a twig hut?

How about a “person-nest?”

Treebones Resort offers both. These accommodations are designed to connect you to nature, not nurture, so be sure to bring a tent in case of inclement weather.

The Human Nest, a private hand-woven nest that comes with a full-sized futon pad inside, is accessible by ladder and offers great views of the Pacific Ocean. A picnic table and outdoor cook station, along with restrooms and water access are only a short stroll away. The new Twig Hut features a hand-woven, two-story structure with northern ocean views and a full-sized futon pad inside, as well as access to a “writer’s nook” below with an outdoor love seat. Info: treebonesresort.com.

The Post Ranch Inn offers a more luxurious form of “roughing it.” Guests can stay in free-standing tree houses, built on Big Sur’s yurts are a great way to get closer to nature, and your loved one.

stilts nine-feet off the forest floor and designed around living trees.

The Ocean Houses feature curved, beamed “living roofs” covered with a soft carpet of grass and wildflowers.

The Cliff Houses, suspended over the western edge of the ridge, offer ocean views from the outdoor spa tub and terrace, the indoor bath and the secluded glass-walled bedroom. Info: postranchinn.com.

Dunsmuir Antique Railroad Cars

Just a few miles off the I-5 freeway and not very far from Mt. Shasta, guests can awaken in another era aboard a historic caboose at the Railroad Park Resort.

Reminiscent of the days when adventure-seekers hopped on cross-country trains, but offering all the modern conveniences, these converted antique cabooses feature surprises ranging from climb-up cupolas to clawfoot tubs. Guests can continue the experience by dining in the resort’s antique Dining Car Restaurant. The resort is surrounded by 50 rivers, 270 lakes and 40 hiking and biking trails and is also home to a 1927 steam-driven locomotive. Info: https://rrpark.com.

Santa Rosa Safari Tents

Go glamping (glamorous camping) to the sounds of African wildlife at Safari West in Santa Rosa. Spend the night in a luxury tent overlooking the “Sonoma Serengeti.”

Safari West features authentic safari tents sourced from Lobatswe, Botswana, upgraded with electricity, polished hardwood floors, a private viewing deck, a heated bed, ceiling fans and fully plumbed bathrooms.

Each tent neighborhood offers something different, with Antelope/Giraffe Alley providing the closest views to the animal enclosures. Guests can take an educational safari of the 400-

acre research- and conservation-driven preserve, filled with 900 animals including herds of wildebeest, rhinos and zebras. After the tour, guests can spend the evening enjoying dinner, sipping local wines and roasting marshmallows. Info: safariwest.com.

Ghost Ships

If you don’t mind sharing your accommodations with a few ghosts, make your way to Long Beach or Sacramento.

The famously haunted Queen Mary in Long Beach is a floating hotel boasting 346 guest rooms and a variety of restaurants, along with exhibits and tours. The Haunted Encounters Tour explores the infamous stories of the paranormal residents that now occupy the legendary ship, which once hosted luminaries such as Audrey Hepburn, Winston Churchill and Dwight Eisenhower. Easy to reach from the SCV it might be the perfect “unusual” Valentine’s Day getaway. Info: queenmary.com.

The historic Delta King riverboat in Sacramento offers guests the chance to revisit the past when the 285-foot boat did daily trips to San Francisco, serving booze during Prohibition and offering jazz, gambling and fine dining. The hotel features 44 rooms, two restaurants and a theater believed to be haunted by the original captain.

Info: deltaking.com.

Beverly Hills Urban Terrace Glamping

Only in L.A. would people pay to spend a night in Beverly Hills sleeping in a tent. Known as the iconic setting for the movie “Pretty Woman,” the Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel has launched Los Angeles’ first urban glamping experience.

Guests can “rough it” on the legendary Veranda Suite Terrace in See STRANGE, page 33

24 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

SCHOOL

3 tips to manage a kids’ party guest lists

D

the party can help you decide on the guest list. Children’s party centers may charge anywhere from $10 to $25 per head. BabyCenter.com found that roughly one-quarter of parents surveyed spend more than $500 for a child’s first birthday, and the U.K. firm Vouchercloud found the average kid’s party runs $400 before presents.

Much like with weddings, one of the easiest ways to cut birthday party costs is to trim the guest list.

rafting guest lists for children’s parties is no small task. Parents may hope to include all the kids in their child’s class, only to be met with some difficult decisions due to budgets and space. Parents planning their kids’ birthday parties can keep these three tips in mind as they work toward finalizing a guest list.

Pick the venue first. The size and scope of the party venue can help parents determine just how many children they can invite to the party.

An intimate party at home may mean fewer children, while a big party center can comfortably and safely accommodate lots of kids.

Parents planning their kids’ birthday parties can keep these three tips in mind as they work toward finalizing a guest list.

Consider the budget. Determining how much you want to spend on

Focus on the child. Rather than the party being a who’s who of guests, let the guest of honor create the guest list. This way the guest lists reflects the child’s preferences. If you’re concerned kids might add too many names to the guest list, explain in ad-

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

Wednesday, Feb. 27

Banana Muffin & String Cheese Breakfast Bun Cereal Chilled Fruit Fruit Juice Cinnamon Toast Breakfast Bun Cereal Chilled Fruit Fresh Fruit Breakfast Bagel Breakfast Bun Cereal Chilled Fruit Fresh Fruit

Thursday, Feb. 28

Strawberry Splash Mini Pancakes Breakfast Bun Cereal Chilled Fruit Fresh Fruit

Friday, March 1

Skillet Omelet & Tortilla Breakfast Bun Cereal Chilled Fruit Fruit Juice

Monday, Feb. 25 Tuesday, Feb. 26

LUNCH Chicken Enchilada Popcorn Chicken Hot Dog on a Bun Smart Choice Pizza* Seasonal Salad Bar Pork Carnitas Taco* Dippin’ Chicken & Sauce Smart Choice Pizza* Seasonal Salad Bar Toasty Grilled Cheese Sandwich Spicy Chicken Sandwich Chicken Sandwich Smart Choice Pizza* Seasonal Salad Bar Celebration Cookie Rodeo Roundup Burger & Spicy Curly Fries Cheeseburger Dippin’ Chicken & Sauce PBJ Sandwich & String Cheese Smart Choice Pizza* Seasonal Salad Bar Carnitas Fiesta Bowl* Corn Dog Chicken Sandwich Smart Choice Pizza*^ Manager’s Choice* Seasonal Salad Bar

vance that you do not have a limitless budget, so some names may need to be trimmed to accommodate the money available for the party.

The guest list for kids’ parties can sometimes be tricky to negotiate. But three simple strategies can make the task that much simpler.  —Metro Connection

Party with less waste With a little ingenuity, it is possible to cut down on party waste and still have a good time: • Clearly distinguish recycling pails from trash pails so that items that can be recycled will be collected and handled appropriately.

• Choose disposable products wisely, opting for items that have been made from recycled materials. Have guests mark their names on cups and plates so they can be reused throughout the day instead of discarded after each helping.

• Keep track of how much food and drink guests consume so that you can accurately plan for the right amount to satisfy the crowd at future parties.

• Choose in-season foods from local vendors to reduce your carbon footprint.

• Offer keepsakes or edible treats instead of goodie bags. At kids’ parties, a decorate-your-own cookie or cupcake is popular and less wasteful than a plastic bag full of trinkets.

• Serve beverages from larger containers rather than single-serve cans or bottles. Keep a pitcher of filtered water on tables instead of bottled water.

• Promptly wrap up leftovers so they can be turned into a meal for another day without the risk of spoilage.

• Serve desserts that can be held in one’s hand, such as cupcakes in an ice cream cone. This way no cake plates will be necessary.

F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

DAM

Continued from page 15

four other children “swept by, crying for help that could not come.”

“Wastes Scarred by Fearful Hand of Death Stretch Under Leaden Skies in Land of Misery” “Corpses Flung in Muddy Chaos by Tide of Doom” “Desolation Stalks Where Fertile Fields Once Held Happy Homes, Now Hurled Into Oblivion” “St. Francis Dam Disaster Most Appalling” The St. Francis Dam was the brainchild of William Mulholland, the manager and chief engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Mulholland had designed the aqueduct from the Owens Valley that brought a reliable and steady supply of water to Los Angeles.

The Signal, a weekly paper in 1928, first reported the tragedy on Thursday, March 15.

“One of the worst calamities that ever happened in Southern California took place Tuesday morning at about 12:30 a.m. when the great San Francisquito Canyon dam broke and sent a wall of water crashing down

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 25

the canyon, sweeping everything in its path to destruction. ... The loss of life was appalling, coming as it did, in the dead of night, without any chance of escape...”

In a Los Angeles area paper, the tragedy is reported in the dramatic style of the day: “Death and devastation continued last night to stare back from the sodden wastes of Santa Clara valley upon a horror-stricken world, mute with the knowledge of appalling loss of life and property in the greatest disaster in the history of Southern California.”

“Total Loss in Lives and Property Is Still Very Incomplete” “Responsibility for Disaster Undoubtedly Up to Los Angeles” “Flood Indictments Hinted” “Dynamite Theory Now Advanced as Cause of Break” “Blame Mulholland for Dam Structure” As the weeks passed and the list of missing dwindled, the ranks of the dead increased and the tally of property losses swelled, the search for the cause of the disaster — and the assigning of blame — played out in the area newspapers.

Eventually, blame for the dam’s fail-

ure was laid at the feet of the dam’s builder, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s Mulholland.

He was reportedly devastated by the disaster, and photos of him at the scene of the calamity on the morning of the tragedy show a shocked Mulholland as he surveyed the damage.

Years after Mulholland’s death, geologists discovered that the dam had been built in the area of an ancient landslide, something unknown to Mulholland and the geologists and engineers of the time. However, that may or may not have Newspaper accounts tell the tales of the horrors contributed to the witnessed by the survivors of the tragedy, like the Rivera dam’s failure.  clan, pictured, which was devastated by the disaster.

Local tours offer insight Two St. Francis Dam anniversary tours will be held this year by the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society beginning at Heritage Junction, 24101 Newhall Ave., Newhall. Funds raised

will benefit programs of the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society.

Annual St. Francis Dam Disaster Lecture and Bus Tour

March 9, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

11 a.m. to noon PowerPoint Presentation by Dr. Alan Pollack and Dianne Erskine-Hellrigel.

Noon Q&A session.

12:30-3:30 p.m. Bus tour to the dam site. Visit Powerhouse 2 (exterior only), Dam site ruins. Return to Heritage Junction by 4 p.m. Cost: $40 per person, pre-paid. Price includes a snack and bottled water.

St. Francis Dam Disaster 91st Anniversary 52-Mile Flood Plain Tour

As the weeks passed, the ranks of the dead increased and the tally of property losses swelled, while the search for the cause of the disaster played out in area newspapers, according to reports in The Signal, and the now-defunct Los Angeles Examiner, The Record and the Santa Paula chronicle.

March 31, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tour of affected properties in flood plain from Santa Clarita to Santa Paula Bring lunch. Cost: $55 per person prepaid only.

To reserve your space for either or both programs you must call (661) 254-1275. 

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F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

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

Hagar bringing fourth wave to Canyon Santa Clarita

By Matt Fernandez Signal Staff Writer

R

ock music isn’t dead, according to musician Andrew Hagar. It’s just revamping its image.

“If anything, some of the rock ’n’ roll music we hear now is better than it’s ever been, and we’re experiencing almost a fourth wave of garage rock that’s way more psychedelic,” Hagar said.

Hagar, who performs with “Shredderman” Scott as S.o.S., is the son of musicians Sammy and Betsy Bell Hagar, and plans to perform at The Canyon Santa Clarita on March 1.

Hagar describes his music as a blend of folk Americana, psychedelic rock, garage rock and grunge. The name S.o.S. comes from the traditional distress call and is influenced by his desire to call attention to modern social issues like mental health, disin-

formation and gun violence.

In January, S.o.S. released the single “Triggerman” and will release an EP titled “From the Other Side” in April.

“I love Santa Clarita and have been through the area several times, and shoutout to the highway patrol that have occasionally given me tickets,” Hagar said with a chuckle. “This show will bring a lot of variety and a platform to a different variety of music than is normally found in Santa Clari-

ta. Hopefully, we can introduce people to the community mentality of folk music, and if they like it, then they might come see our other shows.” 

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 TicketMas ter.com. For more info, visit where musicmeetstheSoul.com.

F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 27

Our last look before the Oscars

By Dianne White Crawford Signal Contributing Writer

A

head of the biggest awards night of the year, we reviewed “If Beale Street Could Talk,” which earned several Oscar nominations, and several documentaries: “Hale County This Morning, This Evening” and “Minding the Gap,” as well as a documentary-on-DVD recommendation, “Of Fathers and Sons.”

“Never Look Away,” which we also discuss, portrays a three-hour look at an artist’s struggle in Nazi Germany.

For those who enjoy animated films, we also looked at “Mirai,” which also earned an Oscar nod for its warm-hearted take on parenting.

“If Beale Street Could Talk” (Released)

(Oscar Nominations for Best Supporting Actress, Regina King; Best Adapted Screenplay; Best Original Score) Two years after sending shockwaves through the film world with “Moonlight,” which went on to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards, Barry Jenkins is back with “If Beale Street Could Talk.”

Needless to say, the film is excellent and is everything one could hope a follow-up to “Moonlight” would be. The film follows a young African-American couple in Harlem before and during when the man is wrongfully accused of sexual assault.

While such difficult subject matter could feel slightly tone-deaf to some in the era of #MeToo, viewers should rest assured that Jenkins handles the material with a delicate and incredibly thoughtful sense of sensitivity.

Like “Moonlight,” the film’s aesthetic qualities feel almost lyrical in tone, which is a beautiful sight to behold.

The score is also superb, as well, managing to be both quietly rousing and emotionally stirring.

The acting is strong and quietly powerful from beginning to end, and the amount of thoughtful character development that Jenkins deploys throughout the story’s narrative is commendable. The same can be said to the film’s frequent use of narration. In many other films, this could have come off as annoying, but the film uses this tactic to great ends here by primarily using it to enhance the audience’s emotional connection to the characters. Such a connection further builds up the powerful nature of the film’s narrative, which makes a powerful and deeply tragic statement on the nature of racism without ever resorting to feeling heavy-handed.

“Hale County This Morning, This Evening” (Limited Release)

(Oscar Nomination for Best Documentary Feature) First-time filmmaker RaMell Ross was working as a youth coach in rural Alabama when he starting shooting a film emphasizing realism, the lives of two young men there, Daniel Collins and Quincy Bryant, whom he followed through five years of triumph and tragedy, of hoping for better lives and working toward them in a place that offers little opportunity. The result is a little bit slice of life, a little bit stream of consciousness. The film isn’t like any documentary you’ve seen before… certainly not one about what it’s like to be poor and black in America.

Ross approaches his subjects, their friends and family, and the world around them — both natural and manmade — more in the spirit of poetry and impressionism than journalism or sociology (though Ross in fact studied the latter): this is a film that flows over you, if you let it,

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

From left, Zack Mulligan and Keire Johnson are passionate skaters trying to get by in their hometown of Rockford, Ill., in “Minding the Gap.” COURTESY PHOTOS IMDB

engaging our empathy with a deceptively simple humanity that is unencumbered by the terrible stereotypes that often accompany depictions of African-American men, though Ross occasionally reminds us just how insidious those stereotypes have been, with an effectiveness that is startling and shocking.

“Minding the Gap” (Limited Release)

(Oscar Nomination for Best Documentary Feature) Bing Lu’s film is more than a sleek skateboarding documentary that dives into an alternative culture; in fact, it might not even be that at all.

What probably began as an exercise in Lu turning the camera on himself and his friends blossomed into a portrait of middle-American working-class life, specifically three young men who process hardship and deep emotional wounds best while on a skateboard.

Lu, his friend Zack and their younger friend Kiere are the main subjects of the story, each passionate skaters trying to get by in their hometown of Rockford, Ill. Piecing together that skating is symptomatic of something deeper between them, Lu decides to probe Zack and Kiere, gently pushing them toward emotional honesty. What he uncovers is a troubling and all-too-true reality that each of them is enduring, a revelation that transforms the entire viewing experience.

The film is full of these subtle, unexpected surprises. This film takes place over the course of many years and even includes footage from several years earlier, but that’s not immediately apparent. Our percep-

tion of the story, along with its scope and impact, changes the longer the movie’s timeline gets. Essentially, Lu’s patience with his story pays off tremendously; letting these characters’ lives play out deepens and enriches everything.

Yet this film is far from self-centered and self-serving. Rather, it is indicative of how some stories can only be collected and recorded by the people who live them. We’ll need more brave filmmakers like Lu in order to discover these stories and let their truth find the eyes, ears and hearts of those who identify with and need them most.

“Mirai”

(Limited Release) (Oscar Nomination for Best Animated Feature) This film is a delightfully nostalgic, warm-hearted and wonderfully evocative tale of childhood and parenting that explores coming-of-age elements through the eyes of a little kid who finds a portal that enables him to travel through time into his family’s past and future.

The story follows a young boy who struggles to cope with the arrival of his newborn sister into the household and creates a ruckus to get his parents’ attention.

Written and directed by Mamoru Hosoda, the film is precise in portraying the neglect, jealousy and frustration felt by older siblings when they aren’t their parents’ center of attention anymore, plus Hosoda’s decision to allow these little, simple and whimsical moments to play out entirely gives his story an added emotional weight.

Its simplistic animation, lightheartSee OSCARS, next page

28 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

OSCARS

Continued from previous page

ed approach and witty treatment are in tune with Hosoda’s narrative style. Crafted with affection, told with sincerity and exhibiting a childlike simplicity in its presentation, Mamoru Hosoda’s latest is another fascinating addition to his other films and is well-deserving of a broader viewership.

“Never Look Away” (Limited Release)

(Oscar Nominations for Best Foreign Language Film, Germany; Best Cinematography) As much as we pride ourselves on “artistic freedom,” the reality is that politics have long played a vital role – either as inadvertent inspiration for the work, or as organized suppressor or moderator. Rarely in history has the latter been more in effect than during the Nazi regime. This film begins at an art gallery in 1937 Dresden, as a loving aunt takes her young nephew to an installation of “degenerate artists.”

F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

“Never Look Away” is loosely based on the artist Gerhard Richter, who’s still alive today and still creating.

COURTESY PHOTO IMDB

Writer-Director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck was behind the extraordinary Best Foreign Language Oscar winner “The Lives of Others” (2006), as well as the all-but unwatchable “The Tourist” (2010).

Fortunately, this latest is much closer to the level of the first one, and it has been rewarded by also being Oscar nominated.

The film is loosely based on German artist Gerhard Richter, though mostly in the form of his earliest artwork. Richter is still alive today and still creating. Cinematographer Caleb Deschanel (father to Emily and Zooey) has produced a beautifully

shot film, and the result is his sixth Oscar nomination. Brace yourself for a three-hour-plus run time, and the frustrations of how an artist can discover their voice despite an organized singular ideology that one is pressured to accept.

“Of Fathers and Sons” (2018)

(Also available to buy or rent on Prime Video) (Oscar Nomination for Best Documentary Feature) There are times when the moral quandary involved in making art is just as fascinating as the work itself.

This film finds Berlin-based Syrian director Talal Derki returning to his war-torn homeland and posing as a

jihad-sympathizing war photographer. In Syria, Derki infiltrates and observes a jihadist family fighting as part of the Al-Nusra.

What he captures is a haunting, raw and melancholic look at just how deep extremist ideologies have penetrated the hearts of generations of men and boys.

Abu Osama is a bomb specialist who wanted to be part of the movement ever since the Taliban defeated Russia when he was a teenager. He loves his children deeply and longs for the day when his kids, especially sons Osama and Ayman, will be able to join the fight.

What makes this film so disturbing is the fact that Derki juxtaposes these scenes with tender intimate moments between Abu and his children. These genuine moments of humanity are bittersweet as the horrors of war always looms over them. The film is a heartbreaking tour through a nightmare with no clear end in sight.

The subject matter is tough and the subtitles are hard to read, so this is not for everyone. 

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F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

GETTIN’ UP THERE

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 29

SENIORLIVING

Savoring the icing on the cake

By Diana Sevanian Signal Staff Writer

T

here’s a hilarious incongruity to someone telling you to act better in a restaurant and then goes back to sucking her thumb. If you were in Lazy Dog Restaurant last Friday, you might have witnessed that scene. My almost five-year old granddaughter, Alexa, was informing me that I should use my “smaller voice” as I explained the difference between there, their, and they’re.

OK, maybe that discussion was premature. After all, only last year toilet training was entirely achieved. But I don’t know about this girl. Something — many things — tell me that she gets it, the good, the bad, the shades of gray, the nuances, the agony and ecstasy of being part of this generally magnificent and ofttimes heart wrenching world. She’s a hugger, a belly-laugher, an inquisitive observer, and a fan of the arts (from Debussy to ballet to vintage musicals). She says “please,” “thank you,” and “I love you” with ease. She usually gravitates to smaller tots at the park, and like a big sister, offers to share her snacks and help them if they’ve fallen. She also a thinker, and sometimes, like me, a sensitive overthinker. She has a passion for dogs and my randomly concocted (happy/funny ending) spooky naptime stories. With an occasionally slightly fiery and dramatic streak, she will get huffy when I’ve asked her to pick up her toys, again. Predictably, a minute or two passes and she will begin her plaything retrieval, and says, “Sorry I got mad, Grandma.”

Like a candle in the sun, I melt.

A U.S. News & World Report article on the benefits of grandparenting notes: “Bonding with grandchildren brings satisfaction, a sense of purpose, and unconditional love for both the young and the old. For children, grandparents offer stability, safety, wisdom and fun. For grandparents, being close with grandkids can help stave off depression, increase social connections, and help keep seniors mentally sharper and even healthier.”

I wholly agree and add that grandparenthood allows us to be our most genuinely loving, life-learned and nurturing selves. We are ripe and ready for these attachments.

My heart holds immense gratitude for her parents in gifting our families with this girl, and I could go on endlessly about the joy she brings to my senior years. Nothing makes my bones want to get out of bed in the morning more than her knock at my door and sweet voice calling out, “Grandma, it’s me!”

Part of the meteoric pleasure of being a grandparent is seeing my friends gain membership to this tenderly transformative club. I know what they’re in for.

Admittedly, my slightly blue-note default mode of thinking intermittently reminds me that I’m almost 67 — older than my mother was when she said goodbye to four grandchildren, and the same age her father was when he left behind seven. Back then I thought they were old. But oh, how the concept of age has changed since I reached my now.

I so want to be here for her graduations and celebrations. I want to see her ride a bike and make (at least) a few true friends. I want to remind her at 16 to wear her seatbelt, drive defensively, and never go with anyone under the influence of anything other than her delightful personality. I want to be here to applaud her adventures and read her postcards from Timbuktu. I want to see her discover the real-deal keeper kind of love and have babies. I want to make chicken soup whenever she’s sick, smell her honeyed scent and hear her laughter until my senses fail me.

Sometimes when we’re about to sleep, Alexa will hold my arm and whisper, “Grandma, I want you to stay with me forever.”

I tell her that I plan to do that, and no matter what, I will be with her even if I had to go away. That’s enough of a quasi-explanation for now to make her happy.

And understandably, it’s at that moment that I want to suck my thumb right along with her. 

Diana Sevanian is a longtime Signal columnist and features writer.

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F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

PROFILE

The man behind the whistle or six teachers on our block that were teachers either at Burbank High or John Burroughs High School.”

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

M

ike Nugent, a fixture at Bowman High School for 22 years, retired from teaching four years ago — and is now busier than ever.

After 39 years as a prep basketball referee, he still blows the whistle on the court, but he’s replaced teaching with administrative duties in several youth sports leagues and a consulting business to train young officials.

He serves as treasurer and league coordinator for the Santa Clarita Athletic Independent League, which includes Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Delphi Academy of Los Angeles, Trinity Classical Academy, Santa Clarita Valley International School, Santa Clarita Christian and Concordia.

Nugent has also worked as a basketball official for nearly 20 years for Santa Clarita’s Parks and Recreation Department.

The last five years, he’s worked for Santa Clarita as a consultant training the new generation of officials who start their careers officiating games for younger children. He recently added training officials for the Castaic area to his list of clients.

He also performs administrative duties for the U.S.U. Basketball league which offers three sessions a year to first- through eighth-grade students.

Travel-ball club programs are increasingly popular in youth sports, Nugent said.

“Travel programs have exploded in the last decade for volleyball, soccer and basketball,” he said.

Nugent works with the California Storm youth basketball program and assigns the officials for all the tournaments.

“There are sometimes 80 teams participating, as many as 220 games from Thursday to Sunday, that’s 440 official spots I have to fill,” he said.

He also has administrative duties to perform for the program.

New Jersey native

Nugent was born in Patterson, N.J., but moved to Burbank in 1955 (at age 9), with his parents and younger

An Educator and Coach

Mike Nugent displays his plaque for 22 years of service at Bowman High School, left, and his award for officiating at the highest level of Women’s Jr. College Basketball from the State of California. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

brother and sister.

He is a graduate of Burbank High School and a 1969 graduate of the University of Redlands. He holds a degree in geology with teaching minors in math, science and physical education classes. He played varsity basketball and baseball in high school and in college.

His father worked in sales and his mother was a stay-at-home mom until Nugent entered high school.

“She got a job and worked at a popular store by Burbank City Hall,” he said. “She knew everybody who worked at city hall and they all knew Helen Nugent.”

Teachers, teachers everywhere

Nugent said he always wanted to be a teacher and had a lifelong appreciation for learning and education.

“I always loved school and I loved my teachers,” he said.

He also credits his paternal grandmother with giving him a head start in education.

“My grandmother was a first- and second-grade teacher, and when my folks would go out on a Friday night,

she was my babysitter,” he said. “My grandmother taught me to read and write. I could read and write before I went to school.”

When the family moved to Burbank, he found himself surrounded by teachers.

“The street we moved to in Burbank was literally littered with teachers,” he said. “My next-door neighbor was the football coach at Burbank High and he was my speech teacher my senior year. Across the street was a counselor, down the street was a history teacher, there were about five

I’VE ALSO TAUGHT AND MENTORED PROBABLY 50-60 HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL OFFICIALS DURING MY 39 YEARS,” HE SAID. “IT’S SOMETHING I ENJOY, TRAINING YOUNG OFFICIALS.

“Teaching came easy and natural to me,” said Nugent.

He found his first job after graduation in 1969 at Rosemont Junior High School in La Crescenta, part of the Glendale Unified School District.

“It was the first year that the school district offered earth science for all seventh-graders, so being a geology major, I got hired,” Nugent said.

He taught at Rosemont for one year before leaving to pursue high school teaching opportunities.

Because of his athletic background he also had an interest in coaching.

“The experience of playing the game and having good coaches was important in my development and helped me want to be a coach,” Nugent said. “I always wanted to be a teacher, but it made me realize that I wanted to be a coach, too.”

He applied for a job at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks that had an opening for a boys basketball coach and a math teacher, and he was hired.

Nugent also spent five years teaching math and coaching basketball at John Burroughs High School in Burbank.

Officiating

Baseball was Nugent’s favorite sport, and he started his officiating career by being an umpire for Burbank Parks and Recreation Department.

“However, once I started teaching, I realized that to officiate a baseball game you had to get off work early, because high school baseball games are played in the early afternoon; and when you’re teaching until 3 p.m., you can’t do that,” he said.

Nugent joined the CIF basketball unit in 1980.

“I’ve been a CIF official for 39 years,” he said.

He has officiated 25 consecutive years in the high school playoffs and from 1993-2013 Nugent was a women’s college basketball official.

The highlight of his officiating career occurred in 2006, when he was one of only six Southern California

F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 31

PROFILE

officials chosen to work the Women’s Junior College State Championships held in Fresno.

“I’ve also taught and mentored probably 50-60 high school basketball officials during my 39 years,” he said. “It’s something I enjoy, training young officials.”

Moving to the SCV

Nugent’s short first marriage produced two daughters. After his second daughter was born, he decided he needed a job that made more money. He took a sabbatical from teaching and took a job as an administrative assistant working with engineers.

He met his second wife, Judi, during that time, and the couple were married in 1978. They then moved to Valencia, where they still live.

“I was the first president of the Valencia Lakeshore Condos homeowners association,” he said.

The couple have three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

In 1990, he returned to teaching with a one-year stint at Canyon High.

He was hired as the girls basketball coach and worked as a substitute at Canyon.

After landing a full-time teaching job at Bowman High School, he remained the Canyon High Girls Basketball coach for three years.

Nugent wore many hats at Bowman, which is the William S. Hart Union High School District’s continuation high school. He taught math, science, health and PE, life-management class (five years) and served as the school’s ASB director (nine years)



and work experience coordinator (17 years).

In 2003, he was named the Hart District Teacher of the Year.

Bowman booster

Nugent speaks fondly of his years at Bowman and is the school’s biggest booster. He can recount success story after success story of Bowman students.

“I love Bowman, I love Bowman, I love Bowman,” he said. “It is special to teach at Bowman. I still have many students who contact me, or see me, and they give me a hug and thank me.”

Nugent points to the successful

Bowman High is holding a Golden Anniversary Celebration (1969-2019). The anniversary party will be held March 19, 6:30 p.m. at the school, 21508 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita.

food drive held at Bowman each year as a point of Bowman pride.

“We brought in more food per student than any other school in the district,” he said.

Nugent’s efforts at Bowman include instituting Career Day and as ASB director, a blood drive.

He also helped organize the first Bowman High reunion, “held about 15 years ago.”

Nugent said Bowman has a unique culture and atmosphere.

“The connection between students and teachers is unusual and positive,” he said.

As the work experience coordinator, Nugent arranged for the military ASVAB test that measures a young adult’s strengths, weaknesses and potential for future success to be held at Bowman.

“Many of the students were interested in the military but had no way to get downtown to take the test,” he said. “Some of the highest scores in the district came from Bowman students.”

Nugent said one student became an Air Force pilot and recently was promoted to a training pilot.

“I have many stories that make us proud at Bowman of how we opened up possibilities for these students,” he said.

On Oct. 13, 2017, Nugent returned

I LOVE BOWMAN, I LOVE BOWMAN, I LOVE BOWMAN. IT IS SPECIAL TO TEACH AT BOWMAN. I STILL HAVE MANY STUDENTS WHO CONTACT ME, OR SEE ME, AND THEY GIVE ME A HUG AND THANK ME.” to Bowman to serve as Principal for a Day, the 25th anniversary of the Principal for a Day fundraiser held by the SCV Education Foundation.

Cheering on youth sports

Nugent is an ardent believer in the value of youth sports.

“Youth sports are so important.

Kids need to have as many positive experiences as possible,” he said. “I learned teamwork, discipline, professionalism, dedication, good sportsmanship and wanting to do my best.”

Nugent said sports teaches life lessons that students can carry with them for a lifetime.

“Sports teaches you how to accept failure. The most successful people in the world have failed,” he said. “You have to learn to accept failure and then learn from it and make yourself better.” 

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F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

H E A LT H

Henry Mayo’s help in fight against diabetes

By Brennon Dixson Signal Staff Writer

I

n 2015, almost 10 percent of the population was diagnosed with a form of diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association, but the staff at the Henry Mayo Fitness Center say that number could soon grow exponentially.

“Right now, a third of our nation is prediabetic, and 90 percent of those people do not know they have it,” said Kim Brown, who oversees the Diabetes Prevention Program launched last year.

Statistics indicate as many as onethird of Americans will be diabetic by 2050, said Brown, a registered dietician and certified diabetes educator. “So those that are pre-(diabetic) are projected to become diabetic by 2050,” she said, “making it an epidemic and a big problem.”

Brown said there’s multiple lifestyle factors that can contribute to diabetes

and she has interacted with people who’ve been diagnosed for a myriad of reasons, including pregnancy, eating habits and an inactive lifestyle.

“Some of it has to do with your genetic background or other diseases such as high blood pressure and heart disease,” Brown said, “so there’s some things you have control over, and some things you don’t. In the diabetes prevention program, we deal with what you have control over.”

The diabetes prevention program in place at Henry Mayo Fitness Center is a national program that uses curriculum approved by the CDC, Brown said. After some research, the CDC found that by doing two things one can greatly reduce their risk of becoming diabetic.

“There’s two things,” Brown said, “but a lot of lifestyle changes go into them.”

One of the CDC’s recommendations is to lose 5 percent to 7 percent of your body weight — “Assuming

Participants of the Diabetes Prevention Program will work with trainers and perform various exercises to lose 5 to 7 percent of their body weight. COURTESY PHOTO

the person is overweight,” Brown said, mentioning that not all diabetics are overweight, “but 90 percent of the people who have applied for our program do need to lose weight.” Weight loss is one of the bigger emphases of the program, Brown said, but a person doesn’t have to be overweight.

“The second key aspect of the program is to exercise 150 minutes per week,” which is only a little more than two hours a week, Brown said.

“Weight loss and physical activity go a long way, whether you have (diabetes) or whether you’re trying to prevent it.

It’s all about behaviour change, Brown said, “because that seems to be the one thing that’s elusive. It’s not just about getting the weight off, but you have to keep the weight off.”

This is why the program is two years in length, according to Brown.

The group meets three times a month with trained lifestyle coaches and other trainers for the first six months, then twice a month for the second six months, Brown said. “And for the following year, we don’t cut them loose. We let them continue to come back for what we call the ‘maintenance phase,’” which is when participants return once a month to ensure their newfound habits and behaviors aren’t slipping away.

So far, the program has hosted two groups feature ten people, Brown said, adding that both have seen a significant amount of success during their time in the program.

“The first group started in Novem-

ber 2017 and, as a group, these individuals lost more than 144 pounds,” Brown said, “and by one year, they were averaging more than 2,000 minutes of activity.”

Brown said it was quite common to see people exceeding the goals that are laid forth in the CDC’s curriculum and class participants as the program continues throughout the year.

“When you get diabetes, it is controllable,” Brown said. “Once you have the diagnosis, you’ll always have diabetes. But some people do so well with the lifestyle changes and their blood sugar control that their lab markers will go down to normal ranges.”

“With a third of everybody you talk to projected to become diabetic by 2050,” Brown said programs like the one at the Henry Mayo Fitness Center are critical.

“This program works,” she said.

The program costs $75 but it also accepts insurance and is free to residents with a fitness center membership. The next session on Feb. 26 is currently filled to capacity, but the fitness center hopes to host another one around September.

To apply, community members are urged to visit HenryMayo.com and fill out the diabetes prevention program’s online application. Those without a computer can visit the fitness center in-person and speak with a representative. 

F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 33

GETAWAYS

Continued from page 23

an expansive tent equipped with a queen-size bed, crystal chandelier, marble lamps, fur rugs and antique nightstands. Guests will also have the opportunity to indulge in special campfire s’mores made with 24-carat gold leaf, Tahitian vanilla bean marshmallow and a smoked 55 percent Valrhona chocolate bar crafted from the imagination of Chef Chris Ford.

If you have to ask how much this will cost, you can’t afford it. Info: fourseasons.com/beverlywilshire/services_ and_amenities/extraordinary_exper iences/a-night-with-the-stars.

Big Sur Glamping

Ventana in Big Sur offers a breathtaking coast-meets-mountain setting.

Glamping accommodations include 15 safari tents set into a 20-acre wooded canyon and outfitted with plush beds, lighting, and fire pits (and include daily housekeeping and nightly turn-down service).

For perfect pampering, visit Spa Alila for relaxation and rejuvenation

If you’re not into roughing it, lots of places can accommodate your “glamping” plans.

through massage, energy work, bodywork, skin care and astrology readings. Soak in the Japanese hot baths, swim in two heated outdoor pools and dine at the Sur House restaurant, ingredients from the nearby farms and sea are the stars along with dramatic views. Info: ventanabigsur.com.

Vintage Trailer Camps

For those who dream of staying in an Airstream or vintage trailer (and, seriously, who hasn’t?) AutoCamp offers glamping in custom-designed Airstream suites at locations in Santa Barbara, Russian River (Guerneville)

and Yosemite National Park. Info: https://autocamp.com.

Santa Cruz KOA features six Airstreams outfitted with everything for a luxurious glamping trip including a kitchen, bathroom, AC and heating while the sites play up the fun with retro theme with pink flamingos and colorful vintage patio furniture. Info: https://koa.com/campgrounds/ santa-cruz.

At Alta Colina Vineyard in Paso Robles, guests can camp among the vines at the Trailer Pond. With five brightly colored, refurbished retro

trailers to choose from, guests can camp in style while enjoying stunning views of the famed Adelaida wine district. Info: altacolinawine.com/visit.

Flying Flags RV Resort & Campground in Buellton offers the ultimate glamping experience with retro-fitted “canned ham” vintage trailers. Close to many wineries, the resort offers many on-site amenities including a swimming pool, boccie ball, horseshoes, a sports field, fire pits and Santa Maria-style barbecue dinners on Friday nights, as well as a variety of accommodations. Info: highwaywest vacations.com/properties/flyingflags.

Big Sur Yurts

Before glamping was a phenomenon Treebones Resort in Big Sur offered yurts set on redwood platforms with views of the Pacific Ocean.

But the swanky yurts at Treebones aren’t the only reason you should stop here. The Sushi Bar at Treebones Resort is the local go-to spot for sushi.

The restaurant is open from March through November. Reservations are hard to come by, but overnight guests receive first priority when booking a yurt. Info: treebonesresort.com. 

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34 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

GARDENING

Bare root planting season in Santa Clarita

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

T

he recent rains have made the soil in the Santa Clarita Valley soft and easy to dig.

Now is the time to get to the nursery for your bare root roses, trees and vines.

The term “bare root” means plants that are dormant (without leaves) and not planted in soil, or a pot.

Bare root SCV

Mike Wronkowski, nursery manager of Green Thumb Nursery, said bare root planting season lasts until early March.

In the SCV, Wronkowski said fruit trees, roses, grapes, rhubarb, strawberries and asparagus all do well.

Fruit trees and roses are among the most popular bare root plants in the SCV. “I try to corner the fruit tree market,” said Wronkowski. “You can find just about any kind of fruit tree you

Green Thumb Nursery Manager Mike Wronkowski selects one of the 100 varieties of bare root roses at Green Thumb Nursery in Newhall. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

want in stock now.”

Wronkowski said peaches, nectarines and plums, as well as persimmons, are very popular in the SCV. Also popular is what Wronkowski called the “fruit salad” fruit tree.

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“It has peaches, plums, apricots and nectarines all growing on one tree,” he said.

Buying bare root

When buying bare root plants make sure to examine the plants carefully before purchase.

There should not be any mold or mildew on the plants or on their packaging.

You should not smell any rotten or “funny” odors. If it smells like dirt, or earth, that is okay.

Make sure the plant is not damaged, a few broken twigs on a bare root fruit tree are okay, but the main branches should be unbroken.

Experts suggest avoiding purchasing a bare root plant that already has new growth.

Roots, rhizomes and other parts should feel “heavy.” If the bare root plant feels unusually light, it most likely has dried out and the roots are dead.

Do not buy more bare root plants at one time than you can plant in 24 hours. After you get your bare root plants home, don’t let the roots dry out.

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Before planting make sure to carefully unpack the roots and spread them out. Remove all the packing material from the roots.

Never cut the roots to fit the hole, dig the hole wider or deeper to accommodate the roots.

Place the root portion of the plant

in a bucket of water and let it soak before you plant. For trees soak three to six hours. Do not soak the roots for more than 24 hours. For perennials, asparagus, strawberries, 30 minutes to one hour will do the job.

Dig a hole that is wide enough and deep enough to put the plant in without bending or crowding the roots.

Rule of thumb is to dig a hole at least twice as wide and deep as you think you will need. The wider the hole the easier it will be for the roots to grow strong in the “worked” soil.

As you plant, spread the roots out evenly over a dirt cone in the bottom of the hole.

Wronkowski said the No. 1 mistake people make when planting bare root is planting too deeply. The plant should be placed in the hole at the same level it was grown by the nursery. Look to see where the roots start and the top shoots begin (the crown).

Don’t plant the plant deeper than this line. Ask someone at the nursery where you are purchasing your plants to show you if you are unsure before you take the plant home.

As you fill the hole, gently work the soil in and around the roots. Tamp down gently, do not pack the soil down firmly.

When the hole is half full, soak the area with water.

Continue to fill the hole and construct a water-holding basin around the plant.

Soil amendments

The soil is the SCV is known to be very heavy with clay said Wronkowski.

“Because of the clay in the soil we have to use soil amendments in the SCV,” he said. “For roses, I like to use a product called Rose Grow. I mix about 50 percent of Rose Grow and 50 percent native soil.”

Wronkowski recommends using a premium planting mix for fruit trees.

If the soil is sandy, he recommends using a 50-50 mix, but if you have the typical SCV clay soil you should increase it to 70 percent planting mix and 30 percent soil.  For more information about classes, Green Thumb is located at 23734 Newhall Ave., Newhall. The phone number is (661) 259-1071.

F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 35

N E W S F E AT U R E

YOGA

Continued from page 8

as you age, you’ll be able to maintain that same vitality and energy.”

Gray, who says he has taught yoga across the world over close to the last two decades, says that the type of yoga someone does should align not with their preconceptions, but what “resonates” with them when they sit down and speak with an instructor for the first time.

“As long as (the style of yoga) a person choses is done in the proper way, proper form and does not go beyond their means.”

For more information about J.C. Gray’s studio, Hot for Yoga, visit hotforyogascv.com.

What type of yoga is right for you?

Finding out where you are at as a practitioner of yoga is something that everyone has anxiety about, according to Danica Lynch owner of Yoga Yoga studio in Newhall. But, that shouldn’t discourage people from going in and speaking with an instructor.

“Normally, I like to have a conversation with someone when they first come in,” said Lynch. “And something I’m always aware of — I’ve even had friends come in who tell me this — that there is an anxiety about being in a group setting. Or when it comes to your skill level in terms of yoga.”

However, yoga instructors will generally always ask someone one basic question.

“I always ask the question, ‘Have you ever done yoga before?’” Lynch said.

Based on your answer to this question, you can be put into a number of classes, Lynch said, and each one is sensitive to your skill level and what you’re looking for out of yoga.

“For instance, here at Yoga Yoga, we have a 16 different instructors on staff, and they’re all teaching a variety of classes and styles of yoga,” said Lynch. “Basically, you’re placed in a class where it’s geared toward what the student is looking for.”

From the most beginner level of “Gentle” to a more advanced “Deep Stretch” and “Vinyasa Flow” places such as Yoga Yoga offer a variety of classes that are available for every-

one seeking different skill levels in their classes.

“When you’re looking for the right class for you, wherever you go, you need to know that yoga is not about hitting the pose or about forcing yourself,” said Lynch. “It’s about finding a class that helps you calm your mind and connect with your body and breathing.”

For more information about Danica Lynch’s studio, Yoga Yoga, visit their website at www.yogayogaonline. com Where do you find the right yoga class?

As Amanda Kimble, the owner of VIlla Vibes Yoga, will tell you, there are a multitude of opportunities for people to join a group yoga class or participate in a private yoga session of any variety here in Santa Clarita.

“The private yoga sessions can help address the specific needs of an individual as well as accommodate for their physical ability better,” said Kimble. “And the group or ‘pop-up’ sessions allow for you to make a connection with people and get different experiences.”

For instance, while the private yoga sessions may be more specialized, group sessions can offer you the opportunity to perform yoga at a brewery, or with a band or DJ, or even in a garden or relaxing public space.

“Whatever yoga is to you... It’s really about feeling better mentally, melding the mental and physical strength, and going beyond the workout,” Kimble said.

The most important thing, for wherever or how you do your yoga, according to Kimble, is to remember a central tenant taught in yoga studios across Santa Clarita.

“Yoga isn’t perfection,” said Kimble.

“It’s a practice.”

For more information about Villa Vibes Yoga’s various pop-ups, private sessions and community events, visit their website at http://www. villavibesyoga.com 

Common yoga poses to know The popularity of yoga has grown considerably in recent years.

For those who want to give yoga a try, it helps to be familiar with some of the basic poses one can expect to encounter at the gym or yoga studio. While few can master the following poses on their first day, beginners should know that if they commit to regularly practicing yoga, these poses will get easier over time.

• Chair pose: This is a bended position pose in which the knees are bent over the ankles. Arms are up, and the torso forms a right angle over the thighs. Beginners can experiment with moving the feet closer together for a more advanced pose. Do not extend the knees over the toes, and rest on the heels.

• Child’s pose: This is a pose for rest and stretching. Get in a kneeling position with toes touching and hips and knees spread apart. Extend the arms overhead on the floor and lower the forehead to the ground.

• Downward-facing dog: This is an inversion that opens up the entire body and can stretch the spine and the back of the legs.

The back should be straight and the tailbone should be pulled away so your body forms a “V” shape.

• Forward fold: When performing a forward fold, you are bending over from the waist. Having a straight spine is more important than having straight legs.

• Mountain pose: Mountain pose is perhaps the most basic of all the poses and also one that is quite important, as it aligns the spine with the rest of the body and grounds you. Lift your thighs and lengthen through the waist, drawing in the navel. This serves as the basis for other poses.

• Tree pose: Tree pose is an introduction to balance poses. You stand on one foot as the other lays nestled against the thigh on the standing leg.

• Warrior one: This pose places a leg forward into a right angle in which the knee is over the arch of the foot. The back leg is extended into a 45-degree angle behind the body. Arms are raised above the head. Both hips should be facing forward.

• Warrior two: Warrior two is similar to warrior one, but the arms are stretched in opposite directions parallel to the floor. Turn the head and look out over your arm in the direction you are facing.

Various poses may be covered in beginner yoga classes, and beginners unfamiliar with certain poses can simply pause and observe their fellow classmates if they are unsure of certain poses. Always begin slowly and breathe when working through these poses; consult with a yoga instructor to help develop proper form.

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F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

PETS

Cooking for your furry friends

By Michelle Sathe Signal Staff Writer

W

hen I adopted my dog Melvin in 2014, he was 9 years old and appeared to be in great health, except for some dental issues common to smaller breeds.

A month after bringing Melvin home, however, he began exhibiting signs of gastrointestinal distress, occasionally vomiting after eating his kibble. Eventually, Melvin had some pretty serious diarrhea that wasn’t going away.

I asked the veterinary manager at the center where I work at, and adopted Melvin from, if she had any ideas.

Change his diet, she said, suggesting a mixture of cottage cheese, white rice and boiled white meat chicken.

Not only did Melvin love his new food, which I dubbed “Melvin Mash,” it settled his stomach, virtually eliminating the vomiting and diarrhea. His

Even with healthy, all-natural ingredients, there are things you should know if you’re going to make food for Fido. COURTESY PHOTO

food, which I make every five days or so, has morphed into a blend of steamed white rice, boiled lean ground turkey and cooked vegetables, such as carrots and peas, plus a scoop of a pet vitamin/mineral mixture each morning.

Apparently, I’m not unique in preparing my dog’s food. About 25 percent of Dr. Evelyn Vega’s clients at

UNLESS THERE ARE FOOD ALLERGIES OR SPECIFIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS, VEGA DOESN’T GENERALLY PRESCIBE A HOMEMADE DIET. INSTEAD, SHE ADVOCATES FOR COMMERCIALLY PREPARED FOOD APPROVED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN FEED CONTROL OFFICIALS.

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Happy Pets Veterinary Center feed their dogs a homemade diet and for a variety of reasons, she said.

“I attribute it to a few different things, such as pet-food recalls, fear of ingredients sourced in China, the idea that grain-free diets are better, the costs of high-quality commercial dog/cat foods and the shift from pets being just pets to now being a family

gredients, organic ingredients, with minimal additives or preservatives, with different levels of protein, fats or carbs, there are even vegetarian dog diets available,” she said. “Studies have shown that home prepared diets are not complete and balanced and many times were found to have inadequate protein, amino acid, vitamin or mineral levels. This is especially important for puppies and kittens which require specific amounts of nutrients for normal, healthy growth.”

For dog owners, like myself, who choose to feed a homemade diet, Vega insists on adding a petformulated supplement such as BalanceIt. The amount depends on the diet’s ingredients.

“Each recipe requires a different amount and type of supplement.

There are also good videos there discussing diet for specific medical conditions,” Vega explained.

Vega doesn’t recommend raw food diets, as studies have shown there

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member,” Vega said.

The most common scenario Vega sees is severe food allergies.

“When the commercially available allergy diets or novel protein diets have not helped or are too expensive, then we try homemade diets where owners have more control of the ingredients,” she said. “Then there are dogs with specific medical conditions that are very finicky and will not eat any of the available prescription diets.”

Unless dogs fall in one of those categories, Vega generally doesn’t prescribe a homemade diet. Instead, she advocates for commercially prepared food that is Association of American Feed Control Officials (AFFCO) approved.

“There are so many diets out there for owners to choose from that are made of natural human grade in-

are no health or nutritional advantages. “Potential human pathogens have been found in both commercial and home prepared raw diets,” she explained.

For those who choose to feed homemade food to their dog, Vega advises to have blood work and urine tests every six months for dogs to detect any deficiencies.

“I know this is confusing for some owners,” she said, “so we do offer nutritional exams where we help owners determine what is the best diet for their pets.” 

Happy Pets Veterinary Center is located at 27550 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia. For more information, visit www.happypetsvet.com or call (661) 295-9972

F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

Give your mind a workout with these brainy exercises!

BRAINGAMES

Relax

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 37

38 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

CROSSWORD TIME

THE VILLAGE IDIOT

F E B R UA RY 24, 2019

The Contest

By Jim Mullen Signal Contributing Writer

E

very June, my brother-inlaw Dave, who lives near the river, is in a fishing contest sponsored by a local bar. Dave and his partner, Tim, compete against other teams to see who can catch the most flathead catfish in 15 days.

This, I quickly learned, is the WWE of fishing. No mercy is shown. The rules seem pretty simple: If there’s a fish on the line, they pack it in ice, take it to the bar, have it weighed, then rush the still-living fish (one hopes, at least) back to release it.

By the end, the team that’s recorded the most pounds of fish caught wins a trophy that proves that they are people of superior talent and grit who are willing to abandon family and friends to spend two weeks matching wits with large, dumb, slow-moving catfish.

The parking lot of the bar in the tiny town where all this takes place looks like a truck dealership. If you spot a sedan on Wing Night, you know someone’s relatives from the big city are visiting. In a small town, everyone knows who’s having lunch or sitting at the bar just by looking at what’s in the parking lot. If you buy a new truck, it will take a few days for everyone to realize that no strangers have moved to town, that someone hasn’t gotten a divorce, that there is no need to worry about creeping gentrification — Old Nellie has simply been traded for New Nellie. Still, people will talk.

Dave and Tim scout the riverbank each year trying to find the perfect spot to land the big ones. Once they’ve found a spot, they’ve got to bushwhack a trail to it so they can truck their catch in and out. What no one wants is a repeat of last year, when the granddaddy of all flatheads, the one that would have put them over the top into first place by

30 pounds, broke the test line and escaped, never to be seen again.

There is much good-natured teasing at the bar about who is ahead, who will win, who won last year and how much they cheated to win. But some chatter is not so good-natured. There’s always a suspicion that some team will just buy a fish and put it on the scale on the very last day and walk away with all the glory. It sticks in Dave’s craw every time he walks into Pam’s Place and sees the first-place trophy with Red and Junior’s name on it.

Dave has vowed never to let that happen again; it’s just too hard to swallow.

Not this year! Not this day!

The month of the contest, vacations are put on hold, family reunions are skipped, weddings are missed. Discussions begin and end with water temperature, river depth, current, flathead behavior, cloudiness of the water, recent rains, past experience, probable ages of the biggest fish, rivalry, trickery and the general no-goodness of the other contestants who will stop at nothing to have their names engraved on a first-place trophy.

Alas, there was no joy in Mudville for Dave and Tim last year. They came in second. On the day of the award ceremony, the winners gathered to collect their prizes and bask in the warmth of knowing that a beautiful statuette would sit in the rafters above the dining room of Pam’s Place for all to see and admire on Taco Tuesday and Roast Beef Friday.

Even though Dave and Tim had to settle for second place, it was fun to see the smirks drop from Red and Junior’s faces when the second-place trophy presented to Dave and Tim was four times bigger than the first-place trophy and three times as spectacular.

The words “Second Place” were so small you’d need a magnifying glass to see them, but Dave and Tim’s names can be seen from 30 feet away.

It will probably be the last time they put Dave in charge of the trophy committee. 

Contact Jim Mullen at mullen. jim@gmail.com.

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By Crystal The dog was plucked from the wild environs See LA VAU road to recovery.

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By Brenno Rescuers yourself.” n Dixson Signal Staff owner on social media and arranged for them to Signal file photo Writer pick up the dog. afA tow truck operator watches as a Toyota Corolla reaches the surface After hea lifted about 200 feet by a crane on to Lake Hughes Road north of ter being See LA VAU, A6 his fight ring about Carter

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Apartmenta List brea from Car ter’srate at Hyatt platform Valencia. e is 8,4renting ed $97 Con growth elop fighfrom Reg certs in the kdown of Clarita’s month-to- gains of less than 1.0 percent, t agayear to 67 to getMonday. to contrib “We at Hyatt wou ency seizures muscle pains, revealed See RENT, A6 Sandecline Park:Santa each band perform is at such as Santa Clarita, said Chris slight at 4.1 percent, ainst filippo synd ute to this exp now ld like and then, ing at ncelastwou our parking The rome.July median rate for a month rent change for July fight by offe their mid ultimatel erie percent.

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“Over the chance at life. could upcomof July.” lineup of , a Bon Jovi tribute Childre draiser in lt, the family held been a gath years the structur the past a fungeles, the Concerts in the Park band, is first up Sanfilippon who are diagnos ering plac e has month with uno ban ed with goal to donate in . syndrome the (andbstructed view of e to have an a mill The rock d is made up of Based out of Los the the will like the festiviti ly Cur 501(c)(3) nonprof ion dollars to Zam fireworks) from playing to ’n’ roll group professional mus Anes it organiza e Sanfilip icians. bran Six Flag o said. po Founda tion views. Wa sold out venues had immense succ s,” tion, whi requests nted was finally and garnering rave ess, ch from age with the nts and created after num reWeather ban See prom . . . . . . . erou INDEX d on othe CARTER, . . . . . . . r projects oters who wor s A6 Lottery . . . . . . . . ked . . . . . . . . .

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A tale of two rescues

7 years later, crash survivor glad to be alive at daughter’s book-signing

Missing puppy found after having run away from scene of crash; animal was hungry, dehydrated when saved

City’s re nt gro

wth rate Faith above sta te avera ge Coupons Home Improvement Hya tt joins Carter’s Hotel pla Business News ns event proc to donate fight SCV’s ee child’s ba ds to tr ttle again It’s the Law Column Sanfilippo syndromest to the g ibute reats Concer ts set to retuin the Pa rk serie Right Here Right Now rn to Ce s nt ral Pa rk Color Comics

City’s rent growth rate above state average

9 1 9 1 d e h s i l b a Est

tribute Hyatt joins Carter’s fight SCV’s to the greats

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Hotel plans to donate event proceeds to child’s battle against Sanfilippo syndrome

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By Brennon Dixson Louis Ga Signal Staff Writer of Canyo rasi n Count ry After hearing about Carter Sarkar, his fight with Sanfilippo syndrome and the recent million-dollar movement to fund his clinical trial, the Hyatt Regency Valencia has announced that it will donate every dollar from its upcoming fireworks viewing event to the young boy from Castaic.

“Our entire staff was deeply moved by the article in Saturday’s paper regarding Carter Sarkar and the fight to save him from Sanfilippo syndrome,” said Natasha Zambrano, sales coordinator at Hyatt Regency Valencia. “We at Hyatt would like to contribute to this fight by offering our parking structure to the community to watch fireworks this upcoming Fourth of July.”

Children who are diagnosed with Sanfilippo syndrome will likely

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By Danielle Korzhenyak For The Signal

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Austin Dave/The Signal (See additional photos at signalscv.com)

home In this May 2017 photo, Jennifer Sarkar carries her son Carter to a to get on Ponderosa Street in Castaic. The Sarkar family raised $978,467 a clinical trial that might help Carter’s fight against Sanfilippo syndrome. develop muscle pains, experience seizures and then, ultimately, die in their mid-to late-teens, said Jennifer Sarkar, Carter’s mother.

As a result, the family held a fundraiser in the past month with the goal to donate a million dollars to the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Cure Sanfilippo Foundation, which

would fund a clinical trial that could give Carter a chance at life.

“Over the years the structure has been a gathering place to have an unobstructed view of the festivities (and fireworks) from Six Flags,” Zambrano said.

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July 7

Wanted, a Bon Jovi tribute band, is first up in the lineup of Concerts in the Park. Based out of Los Angeles, the band is made up of professional musicians.

The rock ’n’ roll group had immense success, playing to sold out venues and garnering rave reviews. Wanted was finally created after numerous requests from agents and promoters who worked with the band on other projects.

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0 2 1 $ . . . . .

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The crowd-pleasing Concerts in the Park series returns to Santa Clarita for a music-filled summer, starting this weekend at Central Park.

Concerts in the Park are free public events put on by the city of Santa Clarita every Saturday night from July 7 until Aug. 25. The shows start at 7 p.m.

Get ready to break out your lawn chairs and blankets, grab some tasty snacks from local vendors onsite and listen to some of your favorite genre tribute bands coming to the Saugus park.

Here’s a breakdown of each band performing at Concerts in the Park:

Good morning to Signal subscriber Louis Garasi of Canyon Country

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