Five Easy Steps to Create Your Homebuying Budget
One of the most important steps to take while house hunting is to create an intentional budget that accounts for both upfront costs and recurring expenses. Doing so will help you find a home that meets both your lifestyle needs and financial situation. Here’s how:
Assess What You Can Afford
A common way to generally estimate the price range of a home you can afford is to multiply your annual gross income (what you earn before taxes) by three to five, according to Fidelity. Understand that mortgage rates will have a big impact too. Lower rates can substantially increase your purchasing power. Lenders set an interest rate for each person based on several factors, such as credit score. A higher credit score could mean a lower interest rate or better loan term.
Account for Upfront Costs
When budgeting, account for these one-time upfront costs you’ll pay after your offer is accepted: The down payment This is typically between 5% and 20% of the home’s purchase price. However, qualified borrowers can put down as little as 3% with options such as Freddie Mac’s Home Possible or HomeOne mortgages. Both require private mortgage insurance, which is an additional ex-
Do buyers pay realtor fees?
Realtors and real estate agents provide their clients with an invaluable service. Having an experienced real estate professional in their corner can be especially valuable to first-time home buyers, who may have many questions about the process of buying a home. One such question may concern the cost to hire a real estate agent.
According to the listing service Realtor. com, it’s standard practice for the sellers to pay commissions to both the listing agent and the buyer’s agent after a home transaction. Buyers do not typically pay realtor fees, which is one more reason why it behooves buyers, particularly individuals who have never before purchased a home, to work with an experienced realtor or real estate agent throughout the home-buying process. (MC)
As you hunt for the home of your dreams, stay prepared and informed. One essential aspect of doing so is to set a realistic budget that accounts for the true costs of homeownership. ©ADOBESTOCK
pense to consider.
Earnest money deposit Earnest money, also known as a good faith deposit, amounts to approximately 1%-2% of the purchase price of the home and is a sum you submit with your offer to show the seller you’re serious. During closing, the amount you pay in earnest money can be applied toward your down payment or closing costs.
Home inspection The home inspection, which will be your responsibility, typically costs between $300 and $450, according to recent estimates from Rocket Mortgage, and will tell you about the home and its potential issues. Your realtor should be able to recommend several well-qualified inspectors.
Closing costs Closing costs are what you will pay to the people representing your purchase, such as your lender and real estate agent. Also known as settlement fees, closing costs typically amount to 2% to 5% of the purchase price, and you may be able to roll them into your loan. Work with your lender to find the approach that best fits your financial situation.
Moving expenses Whether you hire professional movers or DIY your move, online resources such as Realtor.com’s moving cost calculator can help you estimate potential costs. When hiring movers, get quotes to ensure you are getting a fair price and to avoid moving fraud.
Plan for Ongoing Expenses
Once you’re in the home, you’ll be responsible
for making monthly payments. These may include your mortgage principal, interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance, private mortgage insurance, escrow payments and homeowners association fees. Most lenders agree that you should spend no more than 30% of your gross monthly income on these expenses, though this number will depend on your financial situation. You’ll also need to save for regular maintenance expenses, such as appliance upkeep.
Leave Room for Flexibility
Be sure to factor in savings for repairs or replacements of big-ticket items, such as your roof or HVAC system. Such flexibility in your budget can also help you weather financial emergencies, such as job loss, illness and other unexpected circumstances.
Use Tools to Guide Your Decision
To help you answer the critical question of how much home you can afford, use Freddie Mac’s home affordability calculator found at myhome. freddiemac.com. This free online resource also offers a wealth of essential information to guide you at every stage of your home journey.
As you hunt for the home of your dreams, stay prepared and informed. One essential aspect of doing so is to set a realistic budget that accounts for the true costs of homeownership. (SPT)
By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer
here’s something about mermaids that enchant not only children, but also adults of all ages.
On The Alley is located by the scenic Ventura Harbor has a casual vibe that includes fish tacos, burgers, salads, New England clam chowder and fish and chips.
Folklore, literature and film are awash with stories of mermaids, the sirens of the sea.
Ventura will celebrate its 10th annual Mermaid Month, March 1-31, at Ventura Harbor Village with two days of seaside adventure on March 8 and
Make waves with ocean-inspired festivities, special events and themed treats throughout the
Ventura Harbor Village
1583 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura www.venturaharborvillage.com
The Greek Mediterranean Steak and Seafood a family-owned restaurant established in 1994. In spired by the picturesque island of Santorini, this restaurant combines traditional Greek flavors, fresh seafood with views of Ventura Harbor.
The Loose Cannon is Ventura Harbor Village’s newest waterfront bar, arcade and restaurant for all ages. Offers over 20 classic and modern arcade games, beer and a menu of burgers, giant fresh pretzels, pizzas and sausages.
Coastal Cone Ice Cream offers more than 40 fla vors of ice cream.
Sparkly Mermaid Shell Photos
Indulge your inner mermaid with a variety of activities throughout Mermaid March including:
This special photo opportunity is available all month. Costumes are encouraged. Come dressed as a mermaid, pirate, or a sea creature, to fully immerse yourself in the magic.
Mermaid Scavenger Hunt
Info tinaobrienfineart.com
Join this whimsical hunt for hidden mermaids during business hours and bring back your completed sheet for a free prize.
While searching for the hidden mermaids, consider wandering the Mermaid Gallery to view ocean art from painter, Tina O’Brien.
Ocean-Inspired Eats and Drinks
Enjoy themed treats at waterfront restaurants including:
Andria’s Seafood Restaurant and Fish Market has been a Ventura Harbor Village favorite since 1982. Epic fish and chips and more.
Baja Bay Surf N’ Taco offers handmade Mexican dishes that include carne asada and fish tacos with authentic flavors and coastal vibes.
The Boatyard Pub offers steak and lobster, poke bowls and traditional pub fare. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner,
Brophy Bros. Clam Bar and Restaurant is considered a local legend, serving up fresh seafood with harbor views.
Le Petit Café & Bakery is a blend of Country French and California-inspired cuisine, served in a waterfront setting. Founded in 1997, it relocated to Ventura Harbor Village in 2000.
Margarita Villa Mexican Restaurant offers Mexican cuisine and perfect margaritas with views of the ocean and Ventura Marina.
Deep Sea Wine Tasting Room has a cool mari time vibe and waterfront views, it features hand crafted Deep Sea and Conway wines, available by the glass, bottle, or a curated Signature or Reserve Tasting Flight.
Mermaid-Themed Shopping Specials Find ocean-inspired treasures in seaside shops on March 8 and March 22.
Most activities are free, a few have a small fee. Enjoy these special afternoons (1-4 p.m.) devoted to all things mermaid including:
Mermaid Meet and Greets Snap a selfie with the mermaids during this event. Ask questions about life as a mermaid.
Mermaid Dance Party Groove to under-the-sea beats with DJ Darla as she puts her spin on Mermaid Month with a lively dance party.
Bubble Shows The SB Bubble Guy, (a father and son team) will create mesmerizing giant iridescent bubbles. Bubbles are a fun way to bring joy to people of all ages.
Live Music Enjoy the island and hula vibes of Anacapa Ukulele and sway to the tropical steel drum melodies performed by Sunrise Music.
Mermaid Poster Coloring Unleash your creativity with Lee’s Activity Workshop with this fun poster coloring experience.
Mermaid Slime Station Create gooey, ocean-inspired fun with Rok N Slime. Make and customize the perfect slime with scents, colors, a variety of slime charms and more with premium glues and clays, skin safe fragrances and watercolor dyes. Recommended for ages 6 and up.
Junior Explorers Sensory Bin Hands-on, touchand-feel play for children with a sea-themed exploration.
On March 8 the following special activities will also be available.
Crafts by Las Posas Children’s Center Children can get creative with a variety of free ocean-themed crafts.
Surfrider Foundation Booth
The Surfrider Foundation is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches, for all people. Visit this nonprofit’s booth to learn more about ocean conservation.
On March 22 the following special activities will also be available.
Craft a Mermaid Bracelet Choose custom charms and bracelets at this do-it-yourself bracelet-making station.
Crafts by Lakeshore Learning Fun, free handson activities for children courtesy of the Lakeshore Learning Center.
Live Ice Sculpting Watch an ocean ice sculpture take shape along the promenade as a professional ice sculptor creates a showpiece.
Surfer’s Knoll Beach
1583 Spinnaker Drive
If you arrive early for Mermaid Month at Ventura Harbor Village, spend a few moments at Surfer’s Knoll Beah directly across the street.
With its views of the coastline and the Channel Islands, relax, indulge, play, refresh and explore. The beach offers a small parking lot and public restroom. It features a surf break at the mouth of the Santa Clara River. For evening strolls on the beach enjoy the sunset views over the Pacific Ocean.
Ventura offers a variety of free beaches to enjoy during Mermaid Month, including Harbor Cove Beach and South Beach.
Uncover CenturiesOld Traditions Of
By Signal Staff
The celebration of Mardi Gras has been a part of cultures for centuries. French for Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras falls on the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent a 40-day period of prayer and fasting observed by many Christians.
Mardi Gras is full of parades, parties and basically gastronomic indulgence before entering a period of abstinence and reflection.
The origin of Mardi Gras lies in ancient pagan celebrations of spring and infertility. It can be traced all the way back to medieval Europe. Although the festival season is celebrated in many cities, New Orleans, is one of the most well known.
The very first Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans was held in 1837. However, the first American celebration of Mardi Gras happened in 1699 near where New Orleans is now.
Mardi Gras is known for celebrating life. The most popular colors associated with Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold. These colors all have meaning as purple represents justice, green represents faith and gold represents power. Many people participate by wearing elaborate costumes and masks emulating these colors.
The traditional dessert associated with Mardi Gras is the King Cake. The cakes are fried, doughy, frosted and glazed in the traditional Mardi Gras colors. The dessert is braided and circular to resemble a crown. Many of these cakes have a small baby figurine inside and whoever gets the piece of cake with the baby must host next year’s party.
The parades and parties are primarily hosted by social groups that are known as Krewes; each has its own history and traditions. There are more than 60 Krewes.
The royalty Krewes are Krewe of Zulu, which is named after the fiercest of the African tribes, and Krewe of Rex, which was responsible for the idea of the day parades, the official Mardi Gras flag and colors, and for the most popular throws, the doubloon.
The all-male Rex Krewe has ruled as King of Carnival since 1872. The Super-Krewes include Endymion, Bacchus and Orpheus.
Another tradition affiliated with Mardi Gras is the throwing of the beads. People on the floats or in the parades will throw beads, doubloons and other trinkets to the crowd. Spectators yell “Hey Mister, throw me some beads!” This is a tradition that goes back to the 1800s.
Why is Mardi Gras celebrated?
The history of Mardi Gras actually goes back centuries to pagan celebrations of spring and fertility, according to History.com. When Christianity arrived in Rome, religious leaders incorporated those popular traditions into the new faith. The Carnival season and Mardi Gras became a time for people to party and feast before the 40 days (not including Sundays) of inner reflection and repentance of Lent, which begins with Ash Wednesday and ends Easter Sunday.
Is Mardi Gras only celebrated in New Orleans?
Mardi Gras is a legal holiday in Louisiana and many Americans are most familiar with this city’s celebrations. However it is also celebrated around the world. For example, both Brazil’s Carnival and Mardi Gras celebrate the days before Lent. In Brazil, it is filled with dancing, music in the streets, colorful costumes and parades. The two largest celebrations there are held in Rio de Janeiro and Salvador de Bahia. Celebrations are also held in several European countries.
What is the King Cake?
One of the iconic parts of Mardi Gras in New Orleans is the sweet, buttery pastry known as King Cake. The seasonal treat typically shows up in bakeries around January 6 for Three Kings Day and sticks around until Fat Tuesday. The cakes have a tiny plastic baby baked inside and whoever gets the slice of cake with the plastic baby will host next year’s Mardi Gras party and make the King Cake for that party.
Why are masks worn during Mardi Gras?
During the early Mardi Gras celebrations, revelers wore masks and elaborate costumes to remain anonymous while mingling with different social classes and participating in activities they wouldn’t normally do, such as drinking, dancing and gambling. Today, Mardi Gras-goers around the world still enjoy the tradition of donning masks as they shed their inhibitions and take part in the spirit of the party — because nobody knows who you are when your face is covered by a masquerade mask! Plus, the decorative and colorful facial coverings add to the magical spectacle that is Mardi Gras.
March is
By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer
Remember when COVID-19 was raging all around us and we all took up sourdough bread baking and making vision boards from old magazines?
As life returned to the “new normal” many folks abandoned those newfound passions and returned to work, school and everyday drudgery.
Get ready to pick up where you left off.
March is National Craft Month. It’s time to celebrate those crafty little hobbies that keep you occupied when you just want to “get away from it all.”
There is no time like the present to dig out those half-finished projects or learn a new craft.
My friend, Sarah Montgomery, took up crochet many years ago and has donated her hand-crocheted blankets to hospital maternity wards.
“It is one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done,” she said. “I get wonderful thank you letters, but I don’t do it for applause. I love to crochet and think it is nice to give something handmade to a new baby.”
The Santa Clarita Valley offers many opportunities to craft yourself silly.
In addition, online classes are also available for nearly every craft you can envision.
Santa Clarita Artists Association Info www.santaclaritaartists.org
The Santa Clarita Artists Association, a non-profit 501(c)(3), was founded in 1989 by a group of local artists who had a desire to share their expertise, knowledge and enthusiasm for art.
SCAA has a broad range of talent from professional to novice. Members provide the ability to encourage, assist, develop and exchange ideas and information in building on artistic skills.
Free and open to the public meetings are held on the third Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 23630 Valencia Blvd., 91355. Come early to meet and mingle. Meetings usually include an art demonstration. All kinds of visual artists are welcome, painters, sculptors, paper, photography, mixed media and more.
Santa Clarita Valley Quilt Guild
Info scvquiltguild.org
The SCV Quilt Guild is seeking new members. The group holds regular meetings for members which often include speakers on a variety quilting topics. The SCV Quilt Guild is also dedicated to community involvement, philanthropy and service projects. Where better to learn the art of quilting than from accomplished quilters? Visit the group’s website for more information.
Seasons
Info santaclarita.gov/seasons/
The city of Santa Clarita’s Seasons magazine is a great place to explore crafts you might be interested in learning. Sign up for an account then browse the catalog. All classes require preregistration. Upcoming classes for adults include:
Jewelry Making April 1-May 13 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Canyon Country Community Center. Learn to make one-of-a-kind beaded jewelry pieces including earrings, bracelets and necklaces. Registration opens March 4.
Hand Knitting with Chunky Yarn April 18 5:308:30 p.m. Canyon Country Community Center. Use soft, chunky yard to craft a blanket. No knitting experience is required. Registration opens March 4.
Santa Clarita Public Library
Info santaclarita.librarycalendar.com
The Santa Clarita Library system offers a variety of craft classes for kids and adults. Check the monthly calendars for classes at the three Santa Clarita libraries, Old Town Newhall, Canyon Country and Valencia. Among the upcoming classes: Tree of Life Pendant
Learn to craft your own copper/rock pendant. March 4, 6-7 p.m. at Valencia Library or March 6, 6-7 p.m. at Old Town Newhall Library.
One Story, One City Constellation Coaster Reflect on the beauty of the stars while you create an out-of-this-world tile coaster using scrapbook
paper and paint to embellish the tiles which will be given a heat-resistant finish for durability.
The free program is for adults (55+) and runs from 6-7 p.m. at various locations. March 11 at Valencia Library, March 12 at Canyon Country Library and March 13 at Old Town Newhall Library
One Story, One City Shadow Box
Participants will be creating their own Ceiba (Tree of Life) Shadow box craft design, a keepsake worthy of display. All craft materials will be provided, while supplies last.
For adults and seniors, this even runs from 6-7 p.m. at various locations. March 18 at Valencia Library, March 19 at Canyon Country Library and March 20 at Old Town Newhall Library.
Ceramic Artists Studio, Inc.
22504 6th St., Old Town Newhall Info www.casiceramics.com
CASI is an artist studio that offers Beginner Potter’s Wheel classes and is focused on ceramic arts. It is a membership-based studio.
Beginner I Potter’s Wheel and Beginner II Continuing Potter’s Wheel classes each month are offered to those new to creating with clay.
Visit the website to sign up for the CASI newsletter that will provide links to the classes.
Sit and Stitch
Canyon Country Jo Anne Darcy Library
18601 Soledad Canyon Road
Second and fourth Saturdays of each month from 10 a.m. - noon.
Work on any portable project while un-winding with other crafters; bring your own supplies and enjoy a morning of stitching. Sit and Stitch is held the second and fourth Saturdays at each month.
Learn with Michaels
25686 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch 91381 Info www.michaels.com/classes
Michaels Arts and Crafts offers a variety of online and in store craft instruction classes. New crafts are offered each month.
©ADOBE
FROM THE CITY MANAGER
Embrace Your Roots with One Story One City Events
By Ken Striplin Santa Clarita City Manager
Imagine a month-long event that brings the community together in an immersive literary experience — merging one novel with themed arts, crafts and experiences. This is possible with the return of the community-favorite One Story One City program. Kicking off this month, the Santa Clarita Public Library is excited to announce The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova, as this year’s reading choice.
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina follows the Montoya family, as they journey through the hidden truths of their past following the death of the family matriarch, Orquídea Divina. Each page of this gripping adventure will have you hooked, blending together elements of magical realism and fantasy to fully immerse you in the story. As you read the novel, you will have the opportunity to network and delve deeper into the world created by Córdova, as you take part in the variety of activities
We kick-off the event lineup with a special meet and greet with the author, Zoraida Córdova. Join us tonight, Saturday, March 1, from 7:00-8:30 p.m., at the historic Mitchell River House (16950 Lost Canyon Road), where you’ll have the opportunity to ask her questions and learn about the inspiration behind The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina.
For anyone interested in crafting, check out some of the unique opportunities throughout the month. Start your experience creating your own Tree of Life pendant or copper wire tree during this handson workshop. Explore the stars as you make your very own Constellation Coasters from tile, scrapbook paper and paint. Construct an intricate display with a Ceiba Shadow Box, or make the perfect Trinket Dish out of a large scallop shell, paint and paper napkins.
Join our Spanish Book Discussion at the Old Town Newhall Branch on Monday, March 17, from 5:00-6:00 p.m., to delve into the pages of the book, all in Spanish. Books and Brews is another prime opportunity to get together and touch on the important themes stretched throughout the novel, happening at Lucky Luke Brewing on Wednesday,
talist Franklin Saint, an America’s Got Talent contestant, at the Valencia Branch on Friday, March 7 from 5:00-6:00 p.m. On Saturday, March 15 from 3:30-5:00 p.m., at the Old Town Newhall Branch, Matt Bruce, an expert in Tarot, medium work and magic, will introduce you to Rose Reading, the practice of blending intuition and plant symbolism. Catch Christie Everitt at the Canyon Country Jo Anne Darcy Branch on Saturday, March 22 from 4:00-5:00 pm., to learn the basics of how to build family trees based on genealogy. Lastly, learn some new moves with a Cumbia and Salsa Dance introduction at the Old Town Newhall Branch on Sunday, March 23 from 1:30-3:00 p.m.
So, grab a copy of The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina from any of the three City Library Branches and join the month of community, literacy and immersive storytelling. For more information about One Story One City and the lineup of events, please visit OneStoryOneCity.SantaClarita.gov.
Ken Striplin is the City Manager for the City of Santa Clarita and can be reached at kstriplin@
Convenient Breakfasts to Kickstart the Morning
Starting the morning on the right foot can set the tone for a productive day. Even when crunched for time before work or school, eating a filling breakfast before heading out the door is an important part of setting yourself up for success.
Between work, kids and making it to that early morning workout session, finding time to prepare a quick and tasty meal can be a real challenge. For a flavorful and easy breakfast that can be on the table in just 8 minutes when you’re in a rush, try this Quick Breakfast Skillet. With crispy bacon, scrambled eggs and rich cheddar cheese, it’s a perfect way to fuel your morning.
The secret, convenient ingredient: fluffy Minute Butter & Sea Salt Jasmine Rice Cups. Ready in just 60 seconds to fit into the day with no hassle, this versatile and flavorful ingredient is perfectly portioned in a BPA-free cup and features a delicious blend of familiar flavors to liven up breakfast. Or try something new and delicious with this One-Pot Rice Shakshuka. A dish with origins in the Middle East and Northern Africa, shakshuka is traditionally made with a base of tomatoes, vegetables and seasonings, such as cumin and paprika. Then eggs are cracked on top and cooked in the sauce.
This version takes it a step further with the addition of Minute Instant White Rice, which provides a heartier texture to keep you feeling satisfied longer. Simply precooked and dried — nothing added but convenience — you can enjoy its light, fluffy texture after just 5 minutes in the microwave or on the stove. Plus, it works for those with dietary
Quick Breakfast Skillet
restrictions, including gluten-free, vegan or vegetarian.
Find more breakfast inspiration to keep you energized and ready to conquer the day at minuterice. com.
Quick Breakfast Skillet
Prep time 2 minutes
Cook time 6 minutes
Servings 1
1 Minute Butter & Sea Salt Jasmine Rice Cup
1 slice bacon, chopped
1 egg
1/4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded cracked black pepper
Heat rice according to package directions.
Heat medium frying pan over medium heat and add bacon. Cook about 4 minutes, or to desired doneness.
Scramble egg and add to frying pan. Cook 1 minute, or to desired doneness.
In bowl, mix rice, egg and bacon mixture and cheese. Top with cracked black pepper.
Tips Breakfast sausage or breakfast potatoes can be substituted for bacon. Add favorite hot sauce for a little heat.
One-Pot Rice Shakshuka
Prep time 10 minutes
Cook time 25 minutes
Servings 6
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes with garlic and herbs
2 cups water
1 1/2 cups Minute Instant White Rice
6 eggs
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
Heat oven to 400 F.
In high-sided, ovenproof skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion, bell pepper, cumin and smoked paprika; saute 8-10 minutes until vegetables are tender.
Add tomatoes and water to skillet. Bring to boil. Stir in rice and reduce heat to low. Cover and cook 3-5 minutes, or until most water is absorbed.
Using spoon, create six small wells in rice mixture. Crack one egg into each well. Transfer skillet to oven; cook 12-15 minutes, or until rice is tender, egg whites are set and yolks are runny, or until cooked as desired.
Garnish shakshuka with parsley before serving. Tip: For spicy eggs, stir 1 tablespoon harissa paste into rice mixture before adding eggs. Or serve shakshuka with hot sauce. (Family Features)
One-Pot Rice Shakshuka
ENTERTAINMENT
DeNiro Shines in This Slice of Alternate Political Reality
By Richard Roeper Signal Contributing Writer
‘Zero Day’
(out of four)
A six-episode series streaming on Netflix.
The parallels between our present-day reality and the Netflix political thriller series “Zero Day” are major and many.
In this dense and talky but dramatically satisfying six-parter from creators Eric Newman (“Griselda,” “Narcos”) and Noah Oppenheim (the former president of NBC News), tensions run high between the United States and Russia after a devastating cyberattack on America. An eccentric and controversial tech billionaire is becoming more and more politically active, conservatives and liberals have never been further apart, and a charismatic and bombastic conspiracy theorist is
March 2-
fueling the fires of divisiveness on his wildly popular TV show. Oh, and the government has given itself unprecedented powers to cast your liberties aside in the name of pursu-
NEWHALL
ing justice.
It’s all fictional, but much of it feels chillingly possible.
One of the great pluses in “Zero Day” is the presence of the great Robert De Niro, who still has a mesmerizing and singularly powerful capacity to carry a project from kickoff to conclusion. This is the first starring TV series role for the 81-year-old De Niro — he was brilliant as Bernie Madoff in the 2017 HBO movie “The Wizard of Lies,” but he’s never done a multi-episode TV arc before — and it’s Emmy-level work.
De Niro plays the well-respected former President George Mullen, who spends his days going for morning runs on his property (he’s a little obsessed with a bird feeder that always needs refilling), reading the papers over breakfast and doing everything he can to avoid completing his memoir, though his shelves are stacked with handwritten notebooks.
There’s a little bit of a Clinton dynamic to George’s relationship with his wife, Sheila (Joan Allen, who was so memorable as a vice-presidential appointee in “The Contender” back in 2000), who had her own career in law before setting it aside to raise a family, but is now a nominee to the federal bench.
You get the sense that while George and Sheila have a warm and strong union, they’ve been through some things, and there’s just a little veneer of frost that surfaces once in a while.
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2025 o S c A r n o M i n At e D S h o r t F i l M S - l i v e Ac t i o n Sun: 10:20 AM
B e co M i n g l e D Z e p p e l i n C Sun: 1:10 7:10; Mon: 1:10 PM; Tue to Thu: 1:10 7:10
Becoming Led Zeppelin explores the origins of th s iconic group and the r meteoric rise n ust one year aga nst all the odds
c A p tA i n A M e r i c A: B r Av e n e w wo r l D C 1:20 4:10 7:10
Anthony Mackie returns as the high-fly ng hero Sam W lson, who s official y taken up the mantle of Capta n Amer ca
i’M S t i l l h e r e C 4:00 PM
Eunice Paiva, a mother of five chi dren s forced to re nvent herself after her family suffers a violent and arbitrar y ac t by the government
pA r t h e n o p e E Sun: 10:00 AM
Par thenope searches for happiness over the long summers of her youth
D o g M A n B 1:00 3:10 5:15 7:30
When a dog and a po ice officer are injured together on the job, a l fe -saving surger y changes the course of h stor y when Dog Man is born
n o ot h e r l A n D Sun: 10:20 AM For half a decade, Base Adra, a Pa estinian ac tiv st, fi ms his community of Masafer Yatta be ng destroyed by Israel s occupation as he bui ds an unl kely al iance w th an Israeli journalist who wants to o n h s fight
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An enigmatic 19-year- old from Minnesota arrives w th his gu tar and revolut onar y talent destined to change the course of Amer can music
A M A l (2017) Sun: 10:00 AM
F lo r e n c e A n D t h e u F F i Z i g A l l e ry Sun: 10:00 AM; Mon: 7:00 PM
A journey into the Italian Renaissance through the most beautiful, representat ve works of ar t of the period M ot h e r l A n D (2018) Wed: 7:00 PM
After a nationwide cyberattack results in thousands of casualties and infrastructural damage — a cataclysmic event dubbed “Zero Day” — Angela Bassett’s President Evelyn Mitchell, a savvy tactician, calls on George to head the Zero Day Commission, which will be tasked with investigating the attack and sussing out how to keep it from happening again. A number of key players are introduced to the mix, and it’ll be a challenge for any series this year to come up with a more impressive cast.
Jesse Plemons plays Roger Carlson, a cunning fixer who was one of the few staffers to remain fierce-
ly devoted to Roger after Roger declined to run for reelection due to personal concerns, while Plemons’ former “Friday Night Lights” castmate Connie Britton is Valerie Whitesell, who was Mullen’s chief of staff and has returned to his side at the urging of Sheila, who is worried about George’s state of mind after a couple of alarming incidents, including George having conversations with a house manager who isn’t there and hasn’t been on the job since retiring five years earlier.
Lizzy Caplan plays Alexandra Mullen, a rising young congresswoman from New York who hasn’t been close with her father in years and has a very different political outlook, while Matthew Modine is the publicity-hungry speaker of the House, and Bill Camp pops in to casually swipe every scene he’s in as the CIA Director Jeremy Lasch, who always seems to be lurking in the shadows and warns George that the future of the country is hanging in the balance.
Add to that Dan Stevens as the incendiary TV host Evan Green, Gaby Hoffman as a Silicon Valley billionaire and Clark Gregg as a serpentine corporate raider, and you’ve got a series brimming with intriguing and complex characters. (The twists and reveals in “Zero Day” are many, and while some are melodramatic and soapy and rather predictable, there’s never a dull moment.)
There’s also a “Manchurian Candidate” element to the proceedings, with “Who Killed Bambi?” by the Sex Pistols becoming a hair-raising needle drop, and we’ll say no more about that.
It almost feels as if we’re racing to the finish line in the finale, with certain plot points and characters getting tied up in too-convenient fashion, and some questions still hovering over the proceedings as we fade to black. Still, “Zero Day” is a timely and thought-provoking slice of alternate political reality, with the great De Niro in commanding form.
PHOTO ©IMDB
A How-To Guide for Participating in Clinical Trials
Clinical trials help researchers studying chronic conditions answer important questions about the diseases and their treatment options. However, uncertainty about what to expect and a lack of knowledge about how to get started can prevent patients from joining a clinical trial.
Choosing to take part in a clinical trial means helping a study team figure out if a new method of diagnosis, treatment or prevention is effective. If you live with a chronic condition, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, and want to help find answers for others who share your experience, a clinical trial is an option to consider.
Once you identify a study that interests you, you’ll want to talk with the professionals involved in your ongoing treatment, a clinical research coordinator and your family to gather information necessary to determine whether the clinical trial is a good fit.
To find additional information about clinical trials and begin explor-
ing trials in your area, visit crohnscolitisfoundation.org, and consider these steps for participating in a trial.
Talking with Your Doctor
Your gastroenterologist and other care providers can help determine whether a clinical trial is right for you and may be able to help point you toward recommended trials. It’s important to ask if or how your doctor will continue to be involved in your
care if you participate in a trial.
Finding a Study
If you need help beyond your care team in identifying clinical trial opportunities in your area, organizations dedicated to your condition can be a good resource. For example, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation offers an online Clinical Trial Finder for individuals with inflammatory bowel disease.
Talking with the Research Coordinator
A clinical trial research coordinator can provide details specific to your circumstances and needs. You can discuss potential benefits and risks, why the trial is being conducted and who is involved in the health care team. You can talk about past treatments and how this study may differ from your previous experiences. Other questions you might ask include what your options are if the trial doesn’t work, any costs you might expect and what your personal commitment will be.
Evaluating the Fit for You
Once you have the necessary information, you’ll be able to consider whether you’re ready to move forward with registering for the trial. You’ll want to weigh factors like your time commitment, travel distance and whether the trial will affect your personal or professional obligations. (Family Features)
HOME
Wood Flooring Can Improve Your Home’s Value
Whether you’re thinking about selling your home or just making some updates, it’s always smart to consider renovations that will enhance the enjoyment of your home and increase your property’s long-term value. One key improvement many homeowners consider is updating their home’s flooring to solid or engineered hardwood, an investment that can maximize a home’s style and value.
Hardwood flooring instantly transforms a space, and you can choose from many types and hues of wood to suit the design style that’s just right for you. You can also stay on-trend by using hardwood flooring throughout your home to achieve a seamless, cohesive look.
“Hardwood flooring is always a standout feature that brings timeless, stylish appeal to any home,” says Jennifer Meska, head of merchandising at LL Flooring. “Solid or engineered hardwood flooring provides a natu-
ral look that can vary across colors, finishes and styles, instantly adding updated style and sophistication to any home.”
The National Association of Realtors® Remodeling Impact Report found that homeowners who install new hardwood flooring get an average return on investment (ROI) of up to 118%.
On top of that, the National Wood Flooring Association has found that 99% of real estate agents believe homes with quality hardwood floors are easier to sell, and 90% believe they sell for a higher price. All of this means that hardwood floors can essentially pay for themselves in resale value.
Timeless Appeal
Hardwood floors have been around for a long time, and for good reason. They can create the perfect complement to a wide range of home design styles, offering natural tone, beauty and sophistication that’s hard to duplicate with any other material.
On top of that, hardwood floors are known for their timeless quality — hardwood has been a trusted flooring material for hundreds of years, and it’s near-assured that they will stay in style for generations to come.
Another advantage is that you can choose from a wide variety of styles and species of wood to achieve different looks, and you can consider either solid or engineered hardwood for even more options depending on the needs of your home.
Here are just a couple of examples of selections available from LL Flooring’s Bellawood premium line of solid and engineered hardwood, which offers a 100-year residential warranty.
Classic, Enduring Style
Hickory is the hardest of all North American woods, making it perfect for those who want beauty and long-lasting quality, especially for high-traffic areas. The 5-inch-wide planks in LL Flooring’s Natural Hickory Solid Hardwood Flooring are
factory finished with premium aluminum oxide for a fortified finish, offering excellent resistance to stains, scuffs and scratches.
This natural option in hickory flooring stands out for its high-contrast color variations and unique grain patterns, with colors running from light tans to deep browns and reddish tones laced throughout. Hickory floors are equally attractive in a more classic or traditional style home, for a sophisticated and modern city loft or a rustic country cabin.
Modern Engineered Elegance
LL Flooring’s Claire Gardens Oak Engineered Hardwood Flooring gives you the option for on-trend, wider planks (8.5 inches wide). The buttery cream coloring of this classic white oak flooring gives these blonde planks an inviting lightness and beauty that complements a variety of today’s preferred styles, ranging from modern farmhouse, minimalist and Scandinavian to biophilic, eclectic and bohemian designs.
Engineered hardwood is an enhanced wood product that offers improved performance, and lighter tones can help to reflect the light in any room of your home for a more open, bright and airy ambience.
Whichever hardwood flooring option you choose, you can relax and enjoy its beauty now and for years to come — or prepare your home to sell — knowing that you’ve made a sound investment in the future of your home.
Explore all of the possibilities for hardwood flooring in your home at LLFlooring.com. (BPT)
Creating Beautifully Inviting Outdoor Spaces
With all the beauty Mother Nature has to offer, a few pops of color or other simple embellishments can help make your yard look superb from the curb.
Whether you’re looking to enhance your front yard, backyard, porch or patio space, consider these easy and affordable ways to spruce up your outdoor oasis:
Add Mirrors
Just as they do indoors, mirrors can open up small patio spaces and make areas feel larger. Use mirrors made with resin or other waterproof materials so they won’t be compromised when exposed to the elements.
Make Bold Statements
Plant your favorite flowers in a giant, bright red or yellow pot or hang a bright colored swing from a tree. Just a little dab of color can make a statement and brighten the whole space.
Hang It Up
Place hanging baskets around the porch to bring punches of color to your outdoor sanctuary. With the freedom to pick and choose your favorite plants and flowers, these baskets have the added benefit of easy maintenance.
Consider Time When Planting
If you wish to add color to your landscape, consider the time of day you normally spend in your outdoor space. Early risers may appreciate vibrantly colored foliage that perks with the morning sun. Those who spend time outdoors in the evening hours can incorporate white or lightly colored plants that take on a silvery sheen in the moonlight.
Tie Up a Hammock
Make a relaxing retreat in the comfort of your
own yard by hanging a hammock from trees or between posts on your deck.
Add a Birdbath
These garden favorites come in a variety of styles and colors to fit your unique tastes and budget. Birds of all kinds can find an oasis in their new bath and provide you with a beautiful view.
Throw Some Pillows
Outdoor pillows are often available in the same fun designs of their indoor counterparts. Add some throw pillows to your outdoor furniture
for a chic yet comfortable update. These subtle changes can help beautify your outdoor spaces and cause onlookers to do a double-take — for the right reasons. Find more ideas at eLivingtoday.com. (Family Features)
PHOTOS ©ADOBE STOCK
How to Jump Start Your Car
With a little luck and following general car maintenance tips, you can go years without jump-starting your vehicle. Still, the unexpected can happen, leaving you on the side of the road or in a parking lot with a dead battery. If you don’t know how to jumpstart a car or just need a refresher, this step-by-step guide can help you safely get back on the road.
The Right Tools
Keep the following equipment in your vehicle at all times to ensure you can jump-start your car whenever needed:
Jumper cables If possible, buy the longest jumper cables available to ensure the other car can reach your’s.
Mechanical gloves For the most protection,get heavy-duty mechanical gloves.
Flashlight You never know if your battery will die at night, so keep a flashlight in your car to prepare you for those situations.
Owner’s manual Your owner’s manual should be located in your glove compartment.
You’ll also need to find someone with a functioning vehicle to help jump-start your car. If you’re uncom-
fortable asking a stranger for help, consider getting a portable jump starter — a battery pack designed to boost a dead car battery without the assistance of another vehicle.
Before Jump-Starting
Keep the following tips in mind when jump-starting your car, so you can stay as safe as possible:
Read your owner’s manual Your car’s manufacturer may recommend not jump-starting your car due to sensitive electronic circuitry.
Never jump-start a frozen, cracked, corroded, or leaking battery Such a battery can cause serious damage to your vehicle. Call a tow truck instead.
Don’t let the hook-up clamps touch each other when in use This could result in an electrical shock.
Step-by-Step Instructions
2. Prepare Each Vehicle
Before hooking the jumper cables up to each battery, you and the other driver need to do a few things. First, put the car in park and engage the parking brake for each vehicle. Next, ensure that every electrical device in each car is turned off or unplugged. This means the headlights, radio, fan, overhead lights and chargers plugged into the electrical outlet. The good battery needs to send all the electricity it can to the dead battery without interference. Take the keys out of the ignition.
3. Locate the Battery Terminals
tery’s positive terminal.
Next, clamp the black cable onto the good battery’s negative terminal. Do not attach the other end of the black cable to the dead battery’s negative terminal because it can cause electrical sparks.
Instead, find a grounding piece of unpainted metal — e.g., a bare bolt — and attach the black cable to that. Some vehicles provide a builtin grounding spot under the hood. Check your owner’s manual. Ensure the cables are firmly connected to the terminals.
5. Jump-Start the Car
Once the cables are connected, have the driver with the good battery put their keys in the ignition, start it up, and let the car run for at least a few minutes. During this process, the good battery sends electricity to the dead battery.
After a few minutes have passed, put your keys in the ignition and start it. Leave both cars running.
6. Remove the Jumper Cables
Start with the car that has the dead battery first. Remove the black clamp from the grounding spot, then detach the red clamp from the positive terminal. Set the clamps on the ground and make sure they don’t touch each other. Move on to the car with the good battery. Remove the black clamp from the negative terminal, then remove the red clamp from the positive terminal.
1. Find Another Vehicle to JumpStart Your Car
Open the front hoods for both vehicles. Find both batteries and locate the terminals for each one. The positive terminal will be marked with a plus sign (+), while the negative terminal will have a minus sign (-). There may be coated covers over the terminals. If so, remove them before hooking up the jumper cables.
4. Hook Up the Jumper Cables
Once you remove all the clamps, you can roll up the jumper cables and stow them away.
Locate your jumper cables and stretch them out.
First, ask someone with a functioning vehicle for assistance. Once you get help, have the other driver park their vehicle in front of your car, so both front bumpers face each other. If this position is not feasible, park the other vehicle alongside your car.
Don’t let the vehicles touch, but ensure they’re close enough to each other that the jumper cables can reach each battery.
Jumper cables are almost always color-coded. The red cable is for the positive terminal, while the black cable is for the negative terminal. First, clamp the red cable onto the dead battery’s positive terminal. Then, take the other end of the red cable and attach it to the good bat-
Every driver should know how to jump-start a car. It’s also important to always prioritize safety, so refer to this guide whenever you’re in this situation. However, if you purchase car insurance from Mercury, you can take advantage of roadside service and have a professional help you get back on the road. (Mercury Insurance Team.)
An Annual Exam Can Help Older Adults Stay Healthy
One of the best ways to prioritize your vitality is with an annual health exam. That’s especially true for older adults, who tend to have more health issues to manage, according to Dr. Grant Tarbox, national medical executive with Cigna Healthcare’s Medicare business.
Annual exams can vary and go by different names, depending on your coverage. Generally, they are offered at no cost to you through Medicare or Medicare Advantage and there are a host of reasons to get one, Tarbox said, including the following:
Having a health care team leader. It’s important to have a trusted advisor leading your health care team. That is the purpose of a primary care physician.
A PCP knows your family and treatment histories and concerns. They play an important role keeping a broad view of all your care needs and can help you navigate them. By visiting your PCP at least annually, you maintain a critical relationship that will serve you well when you need it.
Putting a Plan Together
Your annual exam is the time to discuss which health screenings and immunizations could be important for you based on your age, gender, and medical and family history. These include such things as a flu shot, a mammogram, or a colorectal screening.
Talk to your doctor about what preventive care activities are right for you and put together a plan to get them. Most are covered at no extra cost through Medicare or MA.
Addressing Conditions Early
Aging increases the risk of certain chronic illnesses such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and arthritis. Ignoring these conditions won’t make them go away. Always tell your health care provider about any recent changes you are experiencing. Working with your provider to proactively manage a chronic condition before it worsens helps you to maintain your independence and vitality.
Reviewing Medications
If you take one or more medications, an annual exam is a good time to review them with your PCP. You may even want to take your prescriptions to your appointment. Are these medications effective? Are you taking them as prescribed? Are there any undesirable side effects? Are there potential harmful interactions, including with over-the-counter drugs? You also can secure your refills and maybe even shift to home delivery for
convenience or to save money.
Making Adjustments
Even small changes can help you live longer and better. Talk honestly with your health care provider about your lifestyle. They may recommend changes, such as exercising, stopping smoking, or eating healthy.
Mental Health
Your emotional health impacts your physical health. Depression doesn’t have to be a part of aging. Let your health care provider know if you are feeling sad, anxious or hopeless. They may recommend increasing your social interaction. Additionally, treatments, such as talk therapy, medication or both, may be covered by Medicare or MA.
If those aren’t compelling enough reasons to get an annual health exam, then consider the fact that some Medicare Advantage plans will even pay you an incentive to ensure that you get one, said Tarbox. He added that you may also want to see your dentist and eye doctor annually to ensure whole body health. Those visits are among the extra benefits often covered by an MA plan, he said.
For more tips on how to make the most of your annual exam, visit www.cigna.com/medicare/memberresources/#media-resources (SPT)
© JACOB WACKERHAUSEN / ISTOCK VIA GETTY IMAGES PLUS
PETS
Dog Breeds Indicate Their Trainability
Every dog lover has a different set of criteria for what they look for in a dog. Some make size a priority, preferring a pooch who is small enough to be a constant companion. Others seek a dog that has shorter fur for less grooming upkeep. Still, some people prefer a breed that is known for flashy looks that will turn heads on neighborhood walks.
Trainability is another consideration when researching potential pet companions. Many veterinarians attest that positive reinforcement training is one of the tools to keep a dog happy, healthy and well-behaved. Training also can offset behavioral issues that may make spending time in and out of a home with a dog less enjoyable, thus reducing the chances the pet may be surrendered to a shelter.
The American Kennel Club says that each dog breed has a distinct personality, instinctive drive and genetic heritage. These factors can affect trainability.
Highly Trainable Breeds
According to renowned dog researcher Dr. Stanley Coren, certain breeds are more trainable than others.
German shepherd There is a good reason this breed is regularly used for police and military work. The German shepherd is a workhorse and wants to please.
Border collie This breed can learn very fast and will be eager to learn more.
Poodle Although that curly coat may lead a person to believe this breed is more fluff than brains, quite the opposite is true. Poodles are keen to work and willing to please. Collie Collies are known for their unwavering devotion and loyalty, not to mention trainability.
Golden and Labrador retrievers Some of the most popular family dogs around, these retrievers tend to be gentle, friendly, trainable and eager to please.
Rottweiler This imposing pup is a natural protector that wants a job to do. That makes the Rottie highly trainable.
Some dogs, such as hounds, beagles, huskies and Akitas, are among the most challenging to train, according to experts. Such dogs’ focus may be on sensing prey or doing other things they find fun, and not on a handler. But people should not grow discouraged if they have their hearts set on less-receptive-to-training breeds.
Mixed Breeds
What can you expect if you have an Akita mixed with a golden retriever? Perhaps aloofness will mix with friendly exuberance and result in a mild-mannered pup.
It often is challenging to determine the heritage of a mixed-breed dog with the hopes of gauging its willingness to be trained. “Mutts” tend to have more muted traits. However, if two highly trainable, active breeds
comprise the DNA of a mixed-breed dog, that intense desire to work may be a negative in the home environment. Much like other factors regarding mixed-breed dogs, an owner won’t know what he or she is getting until spending time with the dog over time.
Trainability is a factor people consider when picking a dog. Certain breeds may adapt to training more readily than others, but most dogs will learn the skills necessary to live peacefully with their human companions. (MC)
QWhat ever happened to the character of Daphne who was so central to the first season of “Bridgerton”? Is she ever coming back?
— A.W.
APhoebe Dynevor, who starred in the first season of “Bridgerton” as Daphne and continued into season two, chose not to sign a new contract once her obligation was fulfilled. Her character was glaringly absent in the third season at the wedding ceremonies of her siblings, but the show chose not to explain the whereabouts of her character.
Season four of the series will focus on Benedict Bridgerton’s (Luke Thompson) pursuit of Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha) with a storyline that is “a bit of a twist on ‘Cinderella,’” according to Netflix’s companion website Tudum. The story is from “An Offer from a Gentleman,” which is the third
BOOK REVIEW
BookTrib’s
Don’t Judge a Book By Its Cover
By Sierra D. Luchien
novel of author Julia Quinn’s “Bridgerton” series.
Filming isn’t expected to wrap until April 2025. Netflix did release a sneak peek of the upcoming season, but a release date hasn’t been announced.
QI’m excited that Heidi Klum is returning to “Project Runway,” but what about Tim Gunn? I want to see them both together onscreen again.
— Y.B.
Bites
A scared woman is afraid to live for herself because she’s caught up in the street life and issues with gangs, men, money and abuse. Little did she know she would change her life.
A social worker comes into the picture. She takes Sierra’s siblings out of school, and says she is going to help the family turn things around. But was it a deal with the devil?
That day caused a domino effect, leading to overall depression with underlining pain that was covered with material things and a false pretense. Nothing would stop Sierra not getting raped, stabbed, shot. But she was a runner that ultimately ran right into God as her savior.
Building Wealth Through Rental Properties
By Dr. Amit Sachdeo
AThe fashion design competitive reality series “Project Runway” is returning, but it’ll be on a different network — Freeform. When it premiered on Bravo in 2004, Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum hosted the show together. The two left the series in 2017 to start another show on Amazon Prime Video called “Making the Cut.” They said the bigger budget allowed them to have more creative freedom, but it lasted for just three seasons.
This past January, it was announced that Klum was returning to “Project Runway” at its new network home, Freeform. Shockingly, Gunn wasn’t asked back. He told People magazine that Klum reached out to him to ask if he was interested in returning. He said, “Of course,” but was never given an offer from Freeform. His agent contacted the producers, who said, “We don’t want him.” Gunn, understandably, is hurt, and his fans are outraged. He doesn’t blame Klum, though, saying, “I have her back, and I’m with her in spirit always.”
The new “Project Runway” will debut later this year, but the judges and premiere date have yet to be announced.
In the ever-evolving landscape of investment opportunities, real estate stands out as a powerful wealth-building tool that has stood the test of time. If you are completely new to rental property investing, this book serves as a comprehensive roadmap to mastering the exciting world of real estate investing.
Packed with practical advice and actionable strategies, this handbook covers everything novice investors need to build a successful rental property portfolio from the ground up. Each chapter is crafted to em-
QIs there really going to be a “Legally Blonde” series? Will Reese Witherspoon star in it?
— K.S.
AYes, there is a “Legally Blonde” project in the development stages at Amazon MGM Studios. Reese Witherspoon’s production company Hello Sunshine is behind the project, but it’s not known what kind of on-screen presence, if any, she’ll have since originating the role of Elle Woods in 2001. The series is actually a prequel, and another actress will play young Elle. Lexi Minetree (“The Murdaugh Murders”) recently secured the role.
There were plans for a “Legally Blonde 3” starring Witherspoon, but it’s been delayed since 2022. No word on whether it will see the light of day or if they’ll just focus on the prequel series.
Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.
©2023 King Features Synd., Inc.
power readers with the knowledge, strategies, and confidence needed to unlock the wealth-building potential of real estate. Inside, readers will find the motivation to transform aspirations of wealth and prosperity into an abundant reality of financial freedom. Key steps include: how to identify lucrative rental properties, optimal financing methods for investing in rental properties, tips for effective property management, real-life case studies, and more. .
Again and Again Back to You
By Andrea Ezerins
If you had the chance to revisit your past to change your present, what moment would you choose? In this enchanting novel, an encounter with a mystical channeler allows two soulmates to experience the road not taken and explores the profound impact first love can have on one’s life.
Marta and Kevin discover each other while coming of age in the ’70s only to be separated when they are about to realize the power of their young love. As Marta moves on to college and career, she remains haunted by what might have been if she had been brave enough to seize it.
A chance encounter with a channeler who can transport people back to a juncture in their lives to reveal their road not taken has Marta jumping at the opportunity. But will she be brave enough to channel back to Kevin?
BookBites is presented by BookTrib. com.
Phoebe Dyvenor as Daphne in the Netflix series “Bridgerton” Courtesy of Netflix.
SOLUTIONS
Opinion
COMMENTARY
Where to Put All the Water?
By Dan Walters
President Donald Trump is obsessed with how California manages its water supply, demanding changes as one price of giving the state billions of dollars in aid to cope with Southern California’s deadly and destructive wildfires.
However, Trump’s specific complaints are not grounded in hydrologic or managerial reality — such as his insistence that a lack of water from Northern California was a factor in either the fires’ eruption or the firefighting efforts. Hydrants dried up largely because systems were designed to deal with individual structure fires, not widespread wildfires involving thousands of buildings.
That said, there’s much to criticize in how California, once a global leader in large-scale water management, has faltered. Population growth and evolving agricultural practices have increased demand, while state environmental laws, judicial decisions, political foot-dragging and climate change have restricted supply.
One major failing has been a slow response to an obvious need for more water storage — in reservoirs or underground aquifers — to capture rains and snowmelts as a buffer for dry years.
Scientists believe that even if California’s overall water supply from rain and snow doesn’t decline, wet and dry cycles have become more intense, and more precipitation is coming as rain instead of snow. Thus the natural reservoirs of snowpacks in the Sierra and other mountain ranges are becoming less dependable.
A new report from the Public Policy Institute of California points out that the atmospheric rivers that dropped immense quantities of rain and snow on the state this month, following a dry January, did not result in substantial new storage in reservoirs.
“Rather than storing all the water they can, during the winter reservoir operators are required to maintain enough space in their reservoirs to capture high inflows and reduce the risk of flooding downstream,” researchers Jeffrey Mount and Greg Gartrell wrote.
“When the February storms arrived, the surge of water into the state’s two largest reservoirs — Shasta and Oroville — quickly filled the flood reserve space. Because the winter flood season is far from over, dam operators had no choice but to let the water go to make space for possible future floods. And they let go a lot of water. Between Feb. 1 and 18, those two reservoirs alone released more than 2 million acre-feet of water into the Sacramento and Feather Rivers to maintain space for future stormwater.”
Overall, they calculated, 5.1 million acre-feet of water flowed into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta during that period in February. Just 4% of it could be diverted into storage.
Even a relatively tiny increase in storage capacity could pay huge dividends when wet winters such as this evolve into periods of drought. Had the long-proposed Sites Reservoir on the west side of the Sacramento Valley existed, it could have banked as much as 1.5 million acre-feet of that excess flow.
California’s water managers acknowledge the need for more storage to take advantage of high-precipitation winters, but clearing the legal and financial hurdles and building it takes decades.
The hydrological reality of California’s water supply is changing faster than our willingness to deal with it. The outcome of that disparity is perilous.
Dan Walters’ commentary is distributed by CalMatters, a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters.
ETHICALLY
Let Pigeons Have Their Holes
By David Hegg
Ihave several quirks that too often show up in conversations. One of them is that I am intrigued by the weird phrases and terms we throw around, which communicate something quite different from the actual words. Recently, I heard someone express chagrin for having been “pigeonholed.”
That struck me funny as I envisioned an adult human male being stuffed into a pigeon nesting box through a hole in the front. I went on to say so, and the weird looks of my conversation partners told me once again my sense of humor was unappreciated. But let’s consider what this phrase from the pigeon world means.
To be “pigeonholed” is to be assigned to a particular class or category without accurately assessing one’s qualities or characteristics. Simply put, it is to be given a label that communicates the group, worldview, or lane to which you belong based on incomplete knowledge of who you are and what you believe.
It means to be stuffed into a hole that doesn’t fit! Yes, “pigeonholing” is an accepted form of that pernicious toxin called prejudice.
Sadly, we’ve become a nation of pigeonholers. Maybe it is the fault of our infatuation with social media, which allows us to issue biting conclusions in a sentence or two. With a few keystrokes, we can critique, eviscerate, mock, and, most importantly, pigeonhole anyone and anything.
Or maybe it is the fault of our information-glutted age, where we are bombarded with so much information daily that our brains insist on compartmentalizing people quickly and easily using convenient labels. We read about someone, and we immediately pigeonhole them as conservative or liberal, honest or deceitful, moral or immoral, good or bad.
Perhaps nowhere is this more common or dangerous than in politics, where party labels no longer describe an individual’s true beliefs and character but rather identify the power club to which they are forced to offer blind allegiance.
What is even worse than being pigeonholed is allowing yourself to be pigeonholed and not fight back. I suspect each of you reading this is guilty of pigeonholing others and complaining when someone tries to
stuff you into that little hole. Funny, isn’t it? We often do it to others but hate it when someone does it to us.
As a Christ-follower and a pastor whose life revolves around teaching and living out the biblical worldview, I get pigeonholed all the time.
Almost everyone in my world has an expectation, indeed a settled belief, about what I think, believe, and should be doing. And truthfully, I consider it part of the cost of the path God has called me to walk. We’re all going to get pigeonholed from time to time. That’s just how life works.
But acceptance doesn’t mean non-resistance. Pigeonholing is just plain wrong. It is prejudice and the sworn enemy of the open-mindedness we need to exist as a healthy society.
If you want to know what I believe about something, ask me. If you want to know what a particular candidate believes, read his material, attend her “meet and greets,” and ask. If you’re going to label someone, start by getting firsthand information from them, and maybe even ask them to define themselves before shoving them into one of your pre-packaged moral, political, or religious boxes.
In other words, people should be seen as people first rather than as members of some group or ideological faction.
Remember, no label can tell you everything you need to know about someone. As much as we may find it convenient to pigeonhole people, the consequences of acting on labels rather than knowledge have proven disastrous.
As we look at the year ahead, let’s invest in the hard work of truth-finding rather than the convenient habit of pigeonholing. Our decisions have long-lasting consequences, and we owe it to ourselves and our neighbors to make them based on what is accurate rather than what’s on the label.
Let the pigeons have their holes while we maintain our integrity, repudiating prejudice in favor of seeing, asking, and listening to discover who others are and what they believe.
Local resident David Hegg is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church. “Ethically Speaking” appears Sundays.
