Sunday Signal March 21, 2021 by Signal

On Course for Augusta MARCH 21, 2021

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M A R C H 21, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NEWS FEATURES

FROM THE CITY MANAGER

4 5 6 7

Catching bass, finding opportunities at Castaic Lake Plum Canyon resident on leading the first helicopter to Mars Headlines tell story of St. Francis Dam failure Campos readies for competition at Augusta

8 Anticipation builds for new Canyon Country Community Center

It’s Back

HEALTH 9 9 New blood test poised to help change how cancer is found

FOOD 10 1 0 Pro Tips for Perfecting Pasta Pappardelle with Graden Vegetables Homemade Potato Gnocchi

ENTERTAINMENT 11 11 Surprises and snubs with Oscar nominations

HOLIDAY 12 12 Passover is a Jewish celebration of freedom

TECHNOLOGY 12 12 Simple tech solutions that can make daily life easier

SENIOR LIVING

13 A Second Wind: He’s not Prince Charming, I’m not Sleeping Beauty

HOME 14 14 Bedrooms: Three ways to cozy up your space

WORSHIP 15 15 The significance of Holy Week

GARDENING 16 16 Homeowners insurance tips before planting

KIDS & FAMILY

1 7 Donna’s Day: Craving a sweet? Fruit-juice jello Junior Whirl • Science Fact

PUZZLES 18 OPINION 19

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M A R C H 21, 2021

N E W S F E AT U R E

Catching bass, finding opportunities at Castaic Lake By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

egend has it, in the depths of Castaic Lake lies a world-record bass, and while record-breaking catches might be few and far between, the lake remains a hidden gem for anglers of all ages. While fishing is a hobby for some, for others, like 17-year-old Hunter Cannon, it’s a pastime he’d love to be able to turn into a career. “Every single day is different — some days you come out here and you don’t catch any, and then some days you come out and you smack them and catch like 30,” the West Ranch High School senior said, as he cast his line from the shores of Castaic’s lower lake. “You always learn new things from different people, you can share techniques, different stories. I love it all. I think it’s amazing.” The tradition continues locally with anglers like fisherman Bill Siemantel willing to share his knowledge and experience with fishers like Cannon, who represent the next generation.

Increasing access for anglers

After being the youngest to be inducted in the Fishing Hall of Fame and delving into the fishing industry in every which way, whether it was by designing lures or writing books, Siemantel wanted to find a way to give youth the opportunity to find their passion in the sport. “There’s a lot of kids out there that

love bass fishing, but they never have the opportunity because their parents financially can’t afford a boat,” Siemantel said. “They can’t fish competitively … because they just unfortunately don’t have the means.” That’s why Siemantel created the Big Bass Zone Junior Championship fishing tournament in 2019, which lets teens fish whenever — and wherever, including from the lakeshore. The online tournament allows ages 13-19 to join from any state, with teens able to fish from Jan. 1 to Aug. 15, submitting a length and girth photo when they catch a fish. “For largemouth bass, it gives it a guesstimate,” Siemantel said. “It’s not exact for weight, but what it does is it keeps a level playing field for all contestants because the length and girth is not going to change.” Teens can enter in as many catches as they want, with their five largest counting toward the leaderboard. After Aug. 15, the winning anglers in each state is invited to the championship. When it comes time for the tournament, teens are provided with boats, only having to show up with their equipment to catch the largest fish.

Persistence starts to pay off

For Cannon, who began fishing off the back of his family’s boat when he was 5, it didn’t take long for him to realize he wanted to pursue the sport. “He would sit up there and fish all day long – he loved it,” Cannon’s father, Korry, said. “And then when he got a little bit older, we’d take him down to the dock and just drop him off and he’d hang out there all day.” At 14, Cannon insisted he was ready to join the Castaic Bass Club, writing the club’s president a letter and calling him each week until he agreed, and after entering his first tournament, Cannon recalled thinking he’d go pro immediately. “I think I came last place in that

Hunter Cannon, left, and Bill Siemantel discuss different kinds of bass lures used at the Castaic Lagoon at Castaic Lake. PHOTOS BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

tournament, and the first season I fished I did very bad, but the second season, I was the youngest person in there … I got first place for Angler of the Year,” Cannon said. “And I got first through third every single tournament I fished that season, so it was awesome.” Now, Cannon has found a way to combine his two passions — fishing and video production — filming and editing his own fishing videos, as well as making videos for sponsors and tournaments. “Watching that exciting moment over when I hooked that fish — it’s crazy and I love doing that,” Cannon added. “I just love filming and editing, and if I can incorporate both those into my fishing, for my sponsors, new baits and all that, I will.”

Making it a family affair

While Korry didn’t know much about fishing before, his son’s passion has become a family activity. The father-son duo have taken fishing road trips together and even fixed up a 1979 bass boat together. “It’s really cool just to see any kid have a passion to do something, especially outdoors,” Korry said. “A lot of kids go through their teens, they don’t have any passion, they don’t know what they want to do, where he’s always known he’s wanted to do this, which is really cool.” With his tournament, Siemantel isn’t hoping to just excite the kids, but the whole family, giving them the

motivation to explore the outdoors together, with a chance to win. Many families have done just that, traveling to different states to compete in the tournament. “All I’m trying to do is get that excitement for the families to get out and fish,” Siemantel said. “I figured it’s a good thing to give back, and this is not just impacting the youth, but it’s the whole family.”

Castaic Lake’s fishing appeal

In addition to the seasonal stock of trout from autumn to spring, both small and largemouth bass, as well as striped bass, call Castaic Lake home, according to Dan Trippeda, vice president of the Friends of Castaic Lake. Whether from the shore or a boat, or from the upper or lower lake, Castaic gives anglers the opportunity to fish locally. “Castaic Lake is very well known, and a great fishery from March all the way to November, and all you have to do is learn the little techniques to catch them, and boy, can you load up the boat with them,” Trippeda said. “It really is a hidden gem, but the secret’s out.” This year’s Fishin’ & Fun for Kids Day is scheduled for May 1. For more information, visit facebook.com/ FriendsofCastaicLake. The recreation area can be reached by exiting Interstate 5 at Hughes Lake Road. For more information, visit www.castaiclake.com. 

M A R C H 21, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 5

N E W S F E AT U R E

A first of firsts —

Plum Canyon resident on leading the first helicopter to Mars By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

t was a defining moment for Plum Canyon resident Timothy Canham as he stood before a large crowd, pre-COVID-19, attempting to demonstrate that the prototype vehicle he and his team built could fly. It wasn’t just any kind of vehicle, however. It was a paradigm for what would later become the traveling companion of NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, the Ingenuity helicopter, which ended up working after the rover landed on the Red Planet on Feb. 18. “We had to successfully fly it or we wouldn’t have gotten on the rover. We had to demonstrate that we could fly freely and, so, we had just one vehicle that we had built to prove it,” said Canham, a senior software engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Mars Helicopter operations lead. Described by NASA and aerospace engineers from the project as the “most sophisticated rover” ever sent by the federal government to Mars, the agency confirmed Perseverance had successfully touched down at 12:55 p.m. It marked the nation’s sixth successful rover landing on Mars. “If we had flown it and something had gone wrong and the project would have crashed, it would’ve probably been over because we wouldn’t have had time to rebuild and retest another one,” he added. The COVID-19 pandemic would shift the way JPL teams would operate, shifting from in-person lab operations filled with “spontaneous” moments, as Canham described it, to hours upon hours on virtual meetups. “It’s been, usually, beginning the day and ending the day with WebEx meetings. We’ve had to make it work, we had to learn new patterns of interacting remotely,” he said. “It’s been a challenge because the JPL culture is, we’re very social people. A lot happens when you just walk over to somebody’s office spontaneously or you meet them in the hallway or at the cafeteria, and you just say, ‘Oh yeah, I was thinking through something.’ You have these spontaneous conversations and you have these impromptu collaborations just because you run into somebody.” Thankfully, Canham and his team managed to complete the Ingenuity helicopter and deliver it in January 2020 — just in time before the statewide lockdown took place two months thereafter — to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida where the launch took place on July 30 last year. “It’s been more of a challenge because after we delivered the helicopter we entered the space where we had to arrange a bunch of software and develop a lot of plans for operating the helicopter,” said Canham. “We’ve done all of that remotely. I haven’t seen some of my teammates for a year.”

Plum Canyon resident Timothy Canham works on Ingenuity helicopter with his team at NASA. PHOTOS COURTESY NASA

Ingenuity Mars Helicopter

Canham started on the project in the summer of 2015, building only a prototype “just to test the basics,” he said. The core team would consist of up to 20 people, with a smaller group he led with about four people. “A year or two before I came on, there was testing going on with a miniature helicopter that could probably sit on the palm of your hands to try some basic experiments with it,” he said. “That’s when the project was conceived and then it entered its more formal testing phase in 2015 and 2016, and then we were finally selected onto the rover, for flight in 2017.” Today, the helicopter doesn’t necessarily fit in your hand but it is still quite small. Canham describes it as a small box with two blades on it that spin in opposite directions. “It stands about as high as your knee and it only weighs about 4lbs, 1.7 grams because it’s very light carbon fiber,” he said. The helicopter, which hitched a ride to Mars via the belly of the Perseverance rover, is a technology demonstration to test the first powered flight on Red Planet, according to NASA. “Once the team finds a suitable ‘helipad’ location, the rover will release Ingenuity to perform a series of test flights over a 30-Martian-day experimental window beginning sometime in the spring,” read NASA’s website on the helicopter. Since the landing of the rover last month, Canham and his team have focused on keeping Ingenuity well-maintained “because while it’s strapped to the bottom of the rover, we still have to keep the battery charged up to keep the batteries healthy, and also doing a lot of work planning the activities and writing software for processing the data on the ground.”

The first flight, which Canham said could be within the next three to four weeks, is expected to consist of the helicopter taking off a few feet from the ground and hovering for up to a half-minute before landing. “That will be a major milestone: the very first powered flight in the extremely thin atmosphere of Mars,” said Nasa, adding that the additional flights with farther and higher distances so that Perseverance can continue its scientific mission. The rover’s mission for the immediate future, according to NASA, is to collect rock and sediment samples, search for ancient microbial life and learn more about the geology and climate of Mars.

The landing

This rover landing in February was unlike any other in many aspects, according to Canham. For one, the celebratory party was a little different. “Since everybody is remote, we had a virtual landing party. We just got on with the virtual conferencing tool and we really had a big WebEx party with 50 or 60 people who’ve been involved in the project over the years, and we watched the lived feed like everybody else and cheered and it was very exciting because, obviously, getting to the surface is quite important,” he said. It’s been a long time coming, but worth it, Canham added. “Obviously, we’re very nervous because it’s never been done, but you don’t learn things unless you step out and try them,” he said. “It’s very exciting to be part of the first-time effort like this, doing something that nobody has ever done before and trying to develop new methods of flying and miniaturizing the technology.” 

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M A R C H 21, 2021

N E W S F E AT U R E

Headlines tell story of St. Francis Dam failure By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

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”

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.

“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 Newspaper accounts tell the tales of the horrors witnessed by the survivors of the tragedy, like the Rivera clan, pictured, which was devastated by the disaster.

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 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” See St. Francis Dam, page 15

M A R C H 21, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 7

N E W S F E AT U R E

Campos readies for competition at Augusta By Caleb Lunetta Signal Staff Writer

oe Campos modestly describes her golf game as “boring.” While she comes off as quiet, even reticent, there are plenty of others from the Santa Clarita Valley who’ve seen her play over the years and are willing to sing her praises. And when she steps up to the tee at a driving range, or lines up an iron shot from the fairway, the crack of her club speaks volumes. “When she was 12 and we were playing against 18-year-olds, she was already driving it past them,” said Jeff Holen, who coached Campos briefly at West Ranch High School. “And so that part was real fun.” Now at 18 years old, Zoe Campos already has signed a letter of intent in November to play for UCLA, and is in the final stages of preparation for her second National Women’s Amateur tournament, which is being held March 31-April 3 at the famous Agusta National Golf Course in Georgia.

From a young age

Zoe Campos’ rising star status is actually something that’s been in the works for about 10 years. While Holen could recall Campos out-driving teens as a 12-year-old, her lessons began years prior. Before she jumped onto the world rankings stage, she was an 8-year-old golfer working with her coach Ken Lewis. Also a Tae Kwon Do instructor, Lewis’ style as a golf coach is in some ways influenced by some of the principles from his martial arts teachings, including a tiered belt system for students, with red being the highest rank because of Tiger Woods. It didn’t take long to spot Campos’ potential. “She made three swings and I looked at her dad and said, ‘I’ll take her,’” Lewis recalled. “She just had his natural instinct for movement for golf, so right away I expected this.”

Great expectations

Having received coaching since age 8, Campos arrived on West Ranch’s campus with buzz around her abili-

ties — and she quickly proved herself worthy. At age 14, she earned a CIF State Title as a freshman, beating the next competitor by four strokes. She completed her school work through an at-home program, which didn’t impact her ability to be recruited by some of the biggest names. “Zoe has been one of the very best players in her class for many years,” said UCLA head women’s golf coach Carrie Forsyth, in a statement announcing Campos’ signing on UCLABruins.com. “She has had an exceptional junior golf career … We are thrilled to have her join our roster and know that she will make an immediate impact.” What stood out to Holen during their time together, he said, was her poise, which no doubt came from her dedication and practice, and her long drive. “For her, there really is no ceiling,” Holen said. “That girl can play the game.” As her former coach, Hollen said he’s stayed in contact with her through the years, not at all surprised as she continues to improve with a maturity beyond her years and a long drive to match. “As long as she stays true to herself, and by that I mean don’t get caught up in the hype and glam of everything — just play the game for the love of it,” said Holen. “I see her definitely having a very lucrative career in the future.”

Gaining experience

Campos’ training regimen changes from day to day depending on what she’s working on. “Usually, the least amount of hours I practice (a day) is three and then the most I’ll do is six,” said Campos. “I know I can hit it far, but I’m pretty much a fairway hitter … I guess you would say ‘boring.’” Whether it’s a predilection for shyness or just a humble nature, Campos’ opponents are unlikely to share that description for a game that’s been as successful as hers. Campos was named to the Rolex Junior All-America First Team, and she had earned the ranking of sixth nationally in the Amateur Junior Golf Association rankings when the team

Zoe Campos, a UCLA-bound golfer, is looking forward to competing in her second National Women’s Amateur tournament, which begins later this month in Augusta, Georgia. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

was announced in October. She also earned second at the Under Armour®/Alison Lee Championship, which happens to be named after another young, talented golfer who starred at the Valencia Country Club before going on to success at UCLA.

Coming back to win

In her first appearance at the national amateur tournament two years ago, she entered the competition ranked No. 102 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. She would go on to win fifth place at the tournament and, at one point, she was atop the leaderboard. The future Bruin is currently ranked 175 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (out of 3,350 women currently ranked by WAGR from around the world), has had 11 top-

10 finishes. At her highest worldwide ranking, she reached No. 53, but after taking home first place at last January’s Major Champions Invitational in Phoenix — which split 72 junior golfers into teams of four, matching them up with one of 18 past Majors champions — Campos received the kind of boost in confidence needed to compete with some of the world’s best. “Obviously, two years ago, I wasn’t expecting much (for the National Women’s Amateur tournament), I didn’t even think about winning,” said Campos, while working on her swing in an hourslong workout at Valencia Country Club. “But obviously this year, the expectations are higher, and I think I learned that I am one of the best.” 

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M A R C H 21, 2021

FROM THE CITY MANAGER

Anticipation builds for new Canyon Country Community Center By Ken Striplin City Manager

s City Manager, it is an honor to not only serve the residents of our great City, but also work to complete projects and implement programs that enhance the high quality of life residents enjoy in Santa Clarita. Over the past few months, I have provided updates on a landmark project in our City — the future Canyon Country Community Center. I am proud to share that construction remains on pace and it is anticipated that the facility will be open for programming later this fall. This project will deliver much more than a new City facility for residents to enjoy. People of all ages will have the opportunity to take classes, attend events, participate in recreational programs and more, once this

state-of-the-art community center opens. For the youngest residents of Santa Clarita, time spent at the future Canyon Country Community Center will have a lasting impact during their most formative years as they develop new skills and make lifelong friends. Excitement is building for the Canyon Country Community Center to open its doors and begin offering programs. But first, crews are constructing on-site amenities, and improvements to the area surrounding the community center continue to be made. Residents who have driven past the site, which is located at the intersection of Sierra Highway and Soledad Canyon Road, will notice that work has been done to the roads themselves to better accommodate traffic. Inside the facility, residents will have the chance to take a range of classes, including in fitness, technology, English as a Second Language

(ESL) and more. The demonstration teaching kitchen connected to the community center’s multipurpose room will enable small and large groups of all ages and skill levels to sharpen techniques and elevate their cooking. Residents will also see much more on-site construction taking place as various amenities are built out. Crews are focusing on completing the roofs and windows of the main facility, while also weather proofing the outside of the structure. In addition to parking lots, work is also being done to install sidewalks, lighting, landscaping and irrigation measures throughout the site. The Mercado Parking Lot, which is situated on the west side of the site and is adjacent to Sierra Highway, offers more than just a place to park vehicles. It can be blocked off at both ends and serve as a venue for farmers markets, food truck festivals and other outdoor events, while also ensur-

ing the safety of attendees. An outdoor event stage is also in construction and will allow for a greater variety of programming, such as concerts and festivals. The stage is elevated, meaning that residents can enjoy performances from the adjacent turf area without missing any of the action. The Canyon Country Community Center Gateway Plaza is also under construction and will feature the Communitree public art piece, as well as a trellis, seat walls and more. We look forward to welcoming you to the future Canyon Country Community Center later this year. Stay up to date on the progress being made by visiting santa-clarita.com/ FutureCCCC.

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

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M A R C H 21, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 9

H E A LT H

New blood test poised to change how cancer is found

are is the person who hasn’t been impacted by cancer in some way. Maybe it’s your parent fighting for their life. Perhaps it’s a friend going through a difficult treatment. It could be a neighbor or colleague who was recently diagnosed and who now faces complex decisions. It also might be you. One in three Americans will receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. Whether it impacts you directly or indirectly, cancer is a difficult journey. Despite the significant advances made in cancer care, the deadly disease is soon expected to become the No. 1 killer worldwide.

Cancer kills nearly 1,700 a day

In January 1971, then-President Nixon declared war on cancer in his State of the Union address and signed the National Cancer Act into law later that year. Fifty years later, the nation annually observes World Cancer Day.

Of course this growing health problem deserves attention year-round. In 2020 alone, Americans lost some of the most talented and iconic figures in the 20th century from cancer, from civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis to gender equality champion Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Just a few additional celebrities who died included game show host Alex Trebek and actor Chadwick Boseman. “Each day in the U.S., nearly 1,700 people will die from cancer and three times that number will learn they have it. Additionally, an estimated $201 billion was spent on cancer care last year,” says Josh Ofman, M.D., MSHS, and chief medical officer and head of external affairs at GRAIL, a healthcare company whose mission is to detect cancer early, when it can be cured. “Currently in the U.S. there are recommended screening tests for only five types of cancers out of the more than 100 known to exist. Fortunate-

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ly, new technologies are expected to expand screening options in 2021 and beyond.”

New advances in early detection Experts agree that the most crucial factor of cancer survival lies in early detection. The sooner you learn you have cancer the sooner it can be treated, ideally before it spreads and advances into later stages. Early detection can help cancer treatments to be more effective and can increase survival rates. “Unfortunately, many cancers are currently diagnosed after the cancer has already spread,” says Andrew Hudnut, M.D., at Sutter Medical Foundation, Family Medicine. “Only 20% of people with latestage diagnosis will survive five years. While cancer screenings exist for some cancers, for others the cancer diagnoses simply arrive too late.” Thanks to emerging technology that is capable of identifying cancer signals in the blood, early detection

is a possibility now more than ever. In clinical studies, Galleri, GRAIL’s investigational multi-cancer early detection blood test, demonstrated the ability to detect more than 50 types of cancers and identified where in the body the cancer was located with high accuracy, all with a low false-positive rate of less than 1%. “This new cancer screening option has the potential to be an important addition to our current screening paradigms, such as for breast and colon,” says Charles McDonnell, M.D., FACR, a radiologist at Sutter Health. “With early detection being so critical, a simple screening such as Galleri could save or extend many lives.” The Galleri test will be available in the second quarter of 2021, initially through large employers, health systems and specialty physician practices. Learn more at grail.com/galleri. (BPT) 

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M A R C H 21, 2021

FOOD

ext time hunger calls in your home, turn to a filling family favorite: pasta. With a nearly endless variety of pasta types, sauce pairings and recipe ideas, the options are aplenty, and cooking is often a breeze. Consider these pasta cooking tips from Rouxbe, an online culinary school training people of all abilities to become better, more confident cooks. • Use a large, straight-sided pot with 6 quarts of water for every 1 pound of pasta. Bring to a boil, add 1 teaspoon of salt for each quart of water and stir to dissolve. • Wait for rapidly boiling water before adding pre-made pasta then cook according to package instructions for al dente, which means the pasta offers a slight resistance. For stuffed or fresh pasta, aim for a gentle boil and cook 1-5 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water for use in sauces then drain (never rinse) your pasta. • Add pasta to your sauce; never the other way around. Pair thin pastas like angel hair with lighter sauces, seafoods, basil and light oils. Fettucine, penne and rigatoni complement spicy sausage,

Pappardelle with Garden Vegetables heavy creams and chunky ragu. When in doubt, spaghetti offers a versatile option. Pasta is a natural fit for fresh veggies, and you can put your skills to the test with Pappardelle with

Garden Vegetables or create Homemade Potato Gnocchi to freeze and enjoy later. For more information, visit rouxbe.com. (Family Features) 

Pappardelle with Garden Vegetables Servings: 3-4 Salted water 3 tablespoons olive oil 3 tablespoons shallots or white onion, minced 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes 1 cup white wine 2 cups pappardelle noodles 3/4 cup vegetable stock 3 tablespoons capers (optional) 2 vine-ripened tomatoes, sliced in wedges 1 handful baby kale 1 fresh lemon, juice only 2 tablespoons butter (optional) sea salt, to taste freshly ground black pepper, to taste 1 handful fresh basil, torn Bring large pot of salted water to boil. In fry pan on medium-high heat, add olive oil and onions; saute 2 minutes. Lower heat slightly and add garlic and chile flakes. Saute on medium heat 2-3 minutes. Add white wine and deglaze pan. Cook 3 minutes. Remove from heat and keep warm until ready to add freshly cooked pasta. In pot of boiling water, add pappardelle. Cook according to package instructions then drain. Place fry pan back on medium heat. Add drained pasta; vegetable stock; capers, if desired; tomatoes; baby kale; and lemon juice. Add butter, if desired, and toss well. Cook 2-3 minutes, tossing occasionally, and season with salt and pepper, to taste, and fresh basil. 

Homemade Potato Gnocchi

Servings: 2-4 2 medium Yukon Gold or russet potatoes 3/4 teaspoon sea salt, divided 2 teaspoons water 1 cup all-purpose flour, divided, plus additional, for surface 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 1/8 teaspoon white pepper 2 large egg yolks Preheat oven to 400 F. Place potatoes on sheet of foil, add 1/2 teaspoon salt and water; wrap. Bake 40 minutes, or until cooked through. Peel potatoes while hot. Cut and rice potatoes. Let potatoes cool completely. To make dough, sprinkle potatoes with flour. Aerate with bench scraper then add remaining salt, nutmeg and white pepper. Break up egg yolks and pour over potatoes. Cover

surface with flour. Continue cutting and gently lifting dough. Test dough by squeezing gently; it shouldn’t stick. Add flour, if needed. Shape dough into rectangle and fold several times, using fingertips to bring together. Flatten dough out until it reaches finger thickness. Sprinkle with flour and let rest 5-10 minutes. Cut finger-width strips of dough and sprinkle strips with flour. Roll out each strip and cut ropes into 3/4-inch pieces. Separate slightly and flour well. Fresh gnocchi can sit at room temperature 30 minutes before cooking. To freeze Place gnocchi on tray, making sure they aren’t touching. Once frozen, transfer to plastic freezer bag and freeze up to 2 months. Cook gnocchi from frozen and serve with desired sauce. 

M A R C H 21, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 1

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

Surprises and snubs with the Oscar nominations By Richard Roeper Signal Contributing Writer

ote to the Academy: Pretty, pretty, pretty good. We’re always going to find room to air gripes about gaffes when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announces the Oscar nominations in the perennially underwhelming predawn (Pacific time) ceremony, and this year was no exception. But overall, it’s a strong and diversified list, bursting with talented artists and films you shouldn’t miss. (And you’ll have time to catch up between now and the Oscars airing on April 25, with the vast majority of these films available for home viewing.) With the Oscar eligibility window extended to 14 months, films and performances that came out way back in the summer of 2020 might have been unfairly forgotten. June of 2020 seems like June of 2010 for many of us. Maybe that explains how Delroy Lindo wasn’t nominated for his career-crowning work in “Da 5 Bloods.” On the plus side: For the first time in the 93-year history of the Academy Awards, two women — Chloe Zhao for “Nomadland” and Emerald Fennell for “Promising Young Woman” — were nominated in the directing category. For only the second time ever, three Black men (Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield for “Judas and the Black Messiah” and Leslie Odom Jr. for “One Night in Miami”) were tabbed for a best supporting actor nomination. That Stanfield was the undisputed LEAD in “Judas and the Black Messiah” and the Academy inexplicably voted for him as a supporting player — raising the question of who exactly Kaluuya and Stanfield were supporting — shouldn’t take away from the brilliance of all three of these nominated performances. In another breakthrough nomination, Steven Yeun, who delivered such a grounded and quietly powerful performance in “Minari,” is the first Asian American nominated in the best actor category. Yeun was born in Seoul and grew up in Michigan, but Chicago claims

Roeper’s surprise nods included nominations for “Another Round,” “Judas and the Black Messiah,” and “Sound of Metal.” PHOTO COURTESY IMDB

him as well, given his time with Second City and the Stir Friday Night improv group just before he was cast in “The Walking Dead.” Also on the #ChicagoStrong front, it was a wonderful and welcome surprise to hear 72-year-old Paul Raci’s name called in the best supporting actor category for his transcendent work in “Sound of Metal.”Raci grew up in Humboldt Park and has worked in relative obscurity for decades before he was catapulted into the spotlight, and deservedly so, for his work as the owner of a substance abuse treatment facility for the deaf. “The Trial of the Chicago 7” picked up nominations for best picture, Sacha Baron Cohen for best supporting actor, Aaron Sorkin for best original screenplay, as well as cinematography and editing. (“Judas and the Black Messiah” is set in Chicago but was

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filmed in Cleveland. It’s a quality film and the visuals are solid, but there are times when it looks like a Chicago film that was made in Cleveland.) Also: The Higher Ground Productions documentary “Crip Camp” was nominated. The founders of Higher Ground are Barack and Michelle Obama, and I’m pretty sure they have some Chicago roots as well. It wouldn’t be an Oscar nominations reaction piece without the obligatory look at Snubs and Surprises, so let’s get to it.

Surprises • Thomas Vinterberg, director of “Another Round” • Lakeith Stanfield for “Judas and the Black Messiah” • Best picture, best actor, best supporting actor and best original screenplay for “Sound of Metal”

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Snubs • “One Night in Miami,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “News of the World” and “Da 5 Bloods” for best picture • “I’m Your Woman” and “Palm Springs” for screenplay • Aaron Sorkin, Regina King and Spike Lee for best director • Tom Hanks, “News of the World” • Ellen Burstyn, “Pieces of a Woman” And here’s a line that would have been unfathomable a mere decade ago: Netflix leads the pack with a total of 35 nominations — a reminder that any talk about whether the streaming giant is a major player in the prestige Hollywood market should be a thing of the past. They’re not arriving on the scene; they’re setting it. 

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M A R C H 21, 2021

H O L I D AY

Passover is a Jewish celebration of freedom

assover is a Jewish celebration that begins this year at sundown on March 27 and ends on April 4. Passover typically occurs around the same time as Christian Easter. In 2021, the holidays overlap and share April 4 as the culmination of prayer for Jews and Christians. According to the religious resource My Jewish Learning, Passover is a festival of freedom that marks the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and their freedom from slavery. The term “passover,” which is also known as “pesach,” coordinates to a key moment in religious history. According to texts, the Egyptian Pharaoh refused to liberate the children of Israel, despite requests from Moses and his brother, Aaron. The pharaoh was warned that his people and he would be punished if the pharaoh did not comply. Persistent and obstinate in his refusal, Pharaoh was subjected to 10 plagues, each of which was more devastating than the previous one.

These plagues included blood, frogs, bugs, flies, pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and finally the demise of all firstborn males. To be spared the penultimate devastation, Israelites were instructed to sacrifice a lamb for a meal and to mark their doors with its blood. The Lord would see the blood and pass over that

household, sparing the occupants’ sons. Because Passover is so symbolic, Passover seders, which take place either on the first Friday or both the first and second Friday of Passover, feature many traditions. Some traditions may need to be modified to maintain health and safe-

ty during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is customary to read the Haggadah at the seder table, but celebrants who cannot come together may share these important stories, blessings and songs via an online video chat. In addition, if Passover celebrants cannot make it to the store or find all of the ingredients for their seder plates, substitutions may need to be made. Traditionally, an egg, bitter herbs, a shank bone, parsley, haroset (chopped mixed nuts, fruits and cinnamon), and lettuce are included. Celebrants can even experiment with making unleavened bread at home if necessary. If horseradish for a bitter herb is unavailable, any item that can cause tears, such as ginger or raw lemon, may be substituted. Passover is an important part of Jewish history and a holiday that is celebrated each year with vigor. (MC) 

TECHNOLOGY

Simple tech solutions that can make daily life easier

juice while users are out and about. Modern smartphones do more than ever, and users rely on them to message friends and family, respond to work emails, stream their favorite songs and movies, and perform a host of other functions, all in a given day. Portable chargers are compact and lightweight, and solar-powered varieties can be especially useful when spending a full day in the great outdoors.

echnology has become such a part of the fabric of daily life that it’s easy for anyone to take their favorite gadgets and gizmos for granted. It’s only when power outages strike or batteries run out of power that people stop and realize just how vital a role technology plays in their daily lives. Technology is always evolving. Whether it’s system updates on a smartphone or the latest incarnation of a popular tablet, technology does not sit still. That ever-evolving nature means there’s likely a simple tech solution out there to help anyone make daily life a little easier.

WiFi extender The pandemic forced many people to spend more time at home than ever before. While keeping their social distance, homeowners may have noticed a few spots in their home where it’s hard to get a strong and/or consistent WiFi signal. A WiFi extender is a simple, easily installed and inexpensive way to remedy spotty WiFi signals around the home. Auto shut-off wall outlet Parents who spent much of 2020 working from home as their kids were engaged in remote learning recognize that distractions ruled the day during the pandemic. Auto shut-off wall outlets can act as something of a

There are several simple technology pieces, from WiFi extenders to auto shut-off wall outlets, that can help make daily life a little easier and safer.

safety net, turning off devices like curling irons and panini grills that distracted parents mistakenly left plugged in. Portable phone charger Portable phone chargers can ensure that smartphones don’t run out of

USB port hub A USB port hub can help professionals who suddenly found themselves working full-time from home using a laptop. Laptops may or may not come with enough USB ports, but a port hub can help professionals adapt to working from home without having to change their computers. A port hub, which may include as many as 10 ports, can ensure wireless accessories like a mouse or keyboard remain charged even when using laptops with insufficient ports. Technology has affected every aspect of daily life. When confronted with problems in a typical day, consumers can rest easy knowing there’s likely a simple and even affordable tech-based solution to that problem. (MC) 

M A R C H 21, 2021

A SECOND WIND

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 3

SENIORLIVING

He’s not Prince Charming, I’m no Sleeping Beauty

WHAT’S YOUR STORY?

By Mary Petersen Signal Staff Writer

y husband and I are celebrating our 38th wedding anniversary this month. It’s been 40 years since our first date when I returned home and told my roommate, “This will never work.” In fact we still wonder how it has worked. We’ve had our share of disagreements, yelling matches (mostly me yelling), and therapy sessions. A few years back I asked him why he thinks our marriage has lasted this long. “I don’t know,” he smirked. “I guess we just lowered our standards.” Nowadays standards are high. Couples therapist Esther Perel explains why marriage can seem so hard. “The modern idea is that we are entitled to a sense of fulfillment and personal growth through the marriage. We are expecting a best friend and trusted confidante who helps us grow into a more authentic version of ourselves.” We expect our partner to make us happy. When that ideal is not met, dissatisfaction results. This occurs even in marriages of 30 years or more. In a study at Bowling Green State University, researchers found that since 1990, divorce rates have doubled for Americans over 50 and more than tripled for Americans over 65. Calling it “gray divorce,” Susan L. Brown, one of the lead researchers for the study, says that the reason for these divorces wasn’t “severe discord,” but rather “the couples had simply grown apart.” There are so many variables and moving parts to maintaining a marriage. Two people decide to share a home, a relationship, financial commitments, extended families. Throw kids and personal needs into the mix and it’s a miracle anybody stays together. It’s like two people simultaneously dancing a duet and two solos on the same stage. The difficult nature of marriage is illustrated in its arduous metaphors. Marriage is compared to a rigorous mountain climb, a car needing constant maintenance, a garden to culti-

Are you tired of constantly asking what someone said?

vate, a ship upon a stormy sea, a roller coaster and Pat Benatar’s famous take—“Love is a battlefield.” Marriage is a precarious contract. Beloved American humorist Erma Bombeck once joked, “Marriage has no guarantees. If that’s what you’re looking for, go live with the car battery.” This week I again asked my husband what keeps us together. He proclaimed lofty platitudes: flexibility, compromise, patience and a sense of humor. I squinted skeptically at him. Then we had a good laugh, imagining each of us embodying all those noble qualities. But no matter how noble, well-intentioned or diligent someone might be, it’s nearly impossible for one person to meet all the needs of a marital partner. I don’t view my husband as Prince Charming able to make all my dreams come true. He doesn’t see me as his Sleeping Beauty. He thinks what has kept us together is having independence in the relationship and supporting one another’s interests, goals, and friends. His bike and running buddies provide him joy in ways that I can’t. My girlfriends and I share conversations he is relieved to avoid. Paradoxically, our time apart may be what keeps us together. That and not taking the relationship too seriously. To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, marriage is too important to be taken seriously. Mary Petersen is a retired COC English instructor, a 30-year SCV resident and two-time breast cancer survivor. 

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M A R C H 21, 2021

HOME

Bedrooms: Three ways to cozy up your space

ou put a lot of care into curating your bedroom, but these days, it may look more like a gym or an office than your sleep sanctuary. In fact, Stanford News points to several nationwide surveys, which found that more than half of Americans now working from home are doing so from their bedrooms. To help reclaim your bedroom as a place designed for sleep, Joy Cho and Corey Damen Jenkins, interior design experts who work with Stearns & Foster have identified the following design tips and trends to inspire your bedroom design and help you get the sleep sanctuary of your dreams.

Relax with color

For a fun and easy weekend project, Cho — founder and creative director of the lifestyle brand and design studio, Oh Joy! — recommends adding a fresh coat of paint to give new life to your bedroom space. Consider painting an accent wall behind your bed,

choosing a color that ties into other areas of the room using accessories, throw pillows or art. Don’t assume that you have to start from scratch. Instead, Cho encourages thinking about color like layers — adding pops of a varying shade in small areas or using easily changeable items. Start with a limited color palette and utilize patterns to add depth to your space. “The proper color palette is essential for creating the best sleeping sanctuary,” states Corey Damen Jenkins, the nationally acclaimed interior designer behind Corey Damen Jenkins & Associates. “Certain color combinations may seem amazing in theory, but in application, disrupt sleeping patterns. Everyone is different, so it’s important to know what works for you.”

Make it personal

Decorate using objects with stories to tell, such as heirlooms passed down between generations and items picked

Cozy up in bed

up from travel or found at a vintage market. “Pieces that are collected and well-worn add meaning and therefore end up looking much more intentional and thoughtful,” affirms Cho. “Nightstands will always be both in vogue and in need for the bedroom,” says Damen Jenkins. There are countless options to match your personal style and he encourages people to “think beyond the box,” especially in smaller spaces, as unusual alternatives such as a martini table can sometimes fit a space better than a traditional nightstand.

While the right decor is important for creating a cozy and inviting space while you are awake, both Damen Jenkins and Cho encourage their clients to invest in top-quality bedding and mattresses to make the biggest difference to your sleep and comfort. Both recommend high end, handcrafted mattresses for an upgraded sleep experience. The certified Master Craftsmen at Stearns & Foster design and handcraft every mattress using plush memory foam and patented, supportive coils — all wrapped in a navy blue velvet border to provide the most luxurious night’s sleep for years to come. Cho also recommends soft textures for every layer — from your mattress to your duvet cover, comforter and sheets. Cozy bedding looks and feels luxurious, and when paired with a high-quality mattress, is both classic and made to stand the test of time. (BPT) 

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M A R C H 21, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 5

WORSHIP

ST. FRANCIS DAM

Continued from page 6

The significance of Holy Week

E 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 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 failure 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 contributed to the dam’s failure. 

aster is a significant holiday for Christians across the globe. Though Easter Sunday is when faithful Christians gather to celebrate their faith, the week preceding Easter Sunday is full of significant events as well. Known as Holy Week, the week preceding Easter begins with Palm Sunday and ends with Holy Saturday, the day preceding Easter Sunday. Holy Week commemorates different events that unfolded over the final days of Jesus Christ’s life.

Palm Sunday

According to Catholic Online, Palm Sunday celebrates the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. On the day of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, residents laid palms before him, which is why palms are distributed to the Christian faithful each year during Palm Sunday Mass. Palms are blessed at Mass, and many Christians turn their palms into crosses upon arriving home. The palms are eventually returned to the church, where they are burned, and the ashes of the palms are then used during the following year’s Ash Wednesday services.

Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, when Jesus celebrated the Passover feast with his disciples. In the story of Jesus Christ, the night of the Last Supper was the same night

that Jesus was betrayed by his disciple, Judas.

Good Friday

Good Friday commemorates the trial, punishment and crucifixion of Christ. Though the trial of Jesus, Pontius Pilate, found no evidence of Jesus’s guilt in relation to the charges filed against him, he ultimately agreed to Christ’s crucifixion anyway in an effort to appease the crowd and avoid a riot. As a result, Christ was stripped, flogged and crowned with thorns before being made to carry his cross through the streets to the place where he was ultimately crucified. On Good Friday, the tabernacle inside Catholic churches is left empty to symbolize that Christ is departed.

Holy Saturday

The final day of Holy Week, Holy Saturday is a day to remember that Christ descended into hell, where he preached the gospel and opened the way to heaven for all those who were worthy. (MC) 

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M A R C H 21, 2021

GARDENING

Homeowners insurance tips to know before planting

ays are getting longer and warmer, inspiring many to want to spend more time outside. Lots of people enjoy gardening this time of year — it’s an outdoor activity families can do together, especially if parents are looking for ways to keep their children occupied. It’s also a great way to get some fresh air, light exercise, relieve stress and add to your home’s curb appeal. “Sprucing up your landscaping with some new flower beds and shrubs can give your home a refreshed look,” said Christopher O’Rourke, vice president of property claims at Mercury Insurance. “A well-maintained yard can also help protect against common homeowners insurance claims like water and fire damage. For example, keeping gutters cleared of leaves and debris can help prevent blockages that might direct water into the home. Regularly mowing the lawn, pruning bushes and keeping the yard

free of grass clippings and twigs is aesthetically pleasing and can help mitigate against wildfire risk if homeowners live in an area where these are common.” Here are three additional tips.

1. Well-planned landscaping can help mitigate wildfire risk. Homeowners who live in areas with dry climates that are susceptible to wildfires should evaluate their landscaping — if laid out in a certain way, it might increase your home’s insurability. “The plants surrounding a house have one of the greatest influences on its chances of survival,” said Douglas Kent, wildfire expert and professor of land management at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Plants within the five feet closest to your home should be fleshy and moist, as they are reluctant to produce a flame. Instead, they’ll sizzle and wilt when exposed to flames and heat. If properly maintained, these plants can catch and extinguish a firebrand. 2. Before hiring expert help, inquire about coverage.

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Some gardening jobs may take an expert to complete. However, this brings added exposure to a homeowner if they don’t check on coverage from the contractor. With shovels, rakes and power tools being used, an accident could happen at any moment. “Before signing a contract with a landscaper or gardener, ask them for their proof of insurance,” said O’Rourke. “If they don’t have coverage, you probably want to find one who does. In most cases, the contractor’s coverage will act as the primary insurance should one of their employees get injured while on the job.” O’Rourke also recommends homeowners read their insurance policies in full, so they know what is and what isn’t covered in the event of a loss. “Knowledge is power, so understanding your policy is of utmost importance,” he adds. “Talk to your agent if you have questions. They’re also the best resource to help you determine if you have the right amount of coverage.” 3. Consult with your insurance agent after hardscaping. Most gardens feature a combination of plants and decorative, non-living features or structures, like pathways, fencing or even fountains to help better define and add character to the space. Many homeowners also like to indulge in the warm weather by expanding their outside living space, which can include anything from remodeling a patio to building a garden oasis for relaxing and entertaining. Regardless of how you may want to enhance your landscape to better showcase — and enjoy — your gardening prowess, it’s a good idea to speak with your insurance agent after making any significant changes to your property. “Our homes are typically where we spend the majority of our time, so it’s natural to want to customize them to our specific needs and wants. However, renovations — including those done outdoors — can increase a home’s replacement cost if it’s damaged or destroyed,” said O’Rourke. “Talking to your agent about enhancements you’ve made will help ensure you’re properly insured so you can enjoy the fruits of your labor for many years to come.” (BPT) 

M A R C H 21, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 7

K I D S & FA M I LY

Donna’s Day: Creative Family Fun

Craving a sweet? Fruit-juice gelatin is simple to make By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer

hen a snack attack hits, or you crave a sweet dessert after a meal, what do you reach for? Crunchy cookies, creamy pudding, silky chocolate pie? I’ve been thinking how these tempting treats come in all shapes, sizes and wonderful tastes, but it’s also their texture that’s part of the draw. How about something that’s smooth and also wobbly, jiggly, shimmery and just plain fun to eat? That’s where this recipe for cooking up healthy fruit-juicebased gelatin comes in. Cooking a batch of fruit juice gelatin is as super simple to make as the Jell-O brand product you may have eaten as a kid, but in this version, you’ll be heading to the juice aisle of your grocery store. Look for clear juices (without added sugar), and while you’re at it, you might pick a flavor that’s new to your kids. My latest bottled juice picks were peach mango and cranberry pomegranate, along with all-time favorites pure grape and white grape. This recipe is ideal for cutting the chilled gelatin into bite-size square blocks. Serve them in small dessert dishes or parfait glasses. Top with a dollop of whipped cream for a special occasion treat.

Or, you might like to create whimsical shapes with cookie cutters. How about shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day, or alphabet letters that spell your toddler’s name? Set out the healthy snacktime treats on a platter for the taking.

mixture is completely dissolved. 3. Pour into a bread loaf pan if cutting into square blocks. Or, pour into an 8 x 8-inch baking dish for making shapes with cookie cutters. 4. Chill until firm, about 3 hours.

Simple-to-make fruit-juice gelatin

5. Dip the base of the pan or baking dish into warm water for a few seconds to loosen gelatin. Cut into square blocks or cookie cutter shapes. I use a small offset frosting spatula for lifting the shapes out of the pan.

1. In a medium-sized saucepan, heat 1 1/2 cups of juice until it just reaches a boil. Remove from heat.

NOTE For a lighter, less-dense gelatin, use one envelope (1/4 ounce) unflavored gelatin rather than two. Pour finished mixture directly into a serving bowl or dessert dishes to chill.

2 cups 100% fruit juice (avoid pineapple juice) 2 (1/4 ounce size) envelopes unflavored gelatin, such as Knox brand

2. Meanwhile, pour the 1/2 cup remaining juice in a medium-sized bowl (preferably one with a spout). Sprinkle two envelopes of the unflavored gelatin on top, and let stand at least one minute. Add the hot fruit juice and stir until

Donna Erickson’s award-winning series “Donna’s Day” is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activi-

ties, visit www.donnasday.com and link to the Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.”  © 2020 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Synd.

CROSSWORD TIME

M A R C H 21, 2021

PUZZLES

SOLUTIONS

18 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

MA R C H 21, 2021

Opinion

S U N D AY S I G N A L · 1 9

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

READERLETTERS

Garcia: The Balance to Our Nation At one of the most crucial times in our modern history, with an unforeseen pandemic lockdown and a highly contentious election, the fallout from both leaves an uncertainty in our nation. A year later, with a new administration in the White House, policy chaos ensues from a politicized recovery bill with massive debt. With the polarizing issues also of immigration, energy, future taxes, loss of business and jobs, rollouts of multiple vaccines and the question of when schools will reopen, one has to ask, how do we move forward? Where is true leadership? How is the balance restored in our lives? The answer has some hope in a silver lining coming out of our very own 25th District 25 Rep. Mike Garcia. Volunteering over the year and meeting people canvassing, there was a feeling of frustration that Washington isn’t listening to the people by whom it was elected, nor does it care in the duties it’s sworn to uphold. The usual politics and promises unkept was the message. Taking that all in as we now face unprecedented times, the balance of a common-sense true American thinker is going to work. Far-distant Washington doesn’t seem so far away with Mike Garcia by our side. The major news may not be tuning in to the work Garcia is doing, but our representative is not wasting time to bring that balance in our favor, working for the citizens, making the nation a priority. One major priority for Garcia is getting our schools to reopen safely, cosponsoring the Reopen Schools Act, H.R. 682. This resolution puts our kids first to reopen the schools by listening to actual science. Our kids are the special interest of our country! Garcia also supports a bipartisan relief amendment to remove the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap so Californians can have the support needed to rebuild again that the relief bill did not provide. Also in the process of rebuilding, we must take control of the chaos of the state distribution of the vaccines. Garcia is making vaccine distribution an imperative so vaccines get to the people in need so we can safely open up. Besides help from the lockdowns, a crucial bill our representative is prioritizing is to ensure Californians have access to the water storage needed, especially in drought, as the state is experiencing below-average precipitation. The bill would ensure a seven-year extension for water supply infrastructure. All of the focus given to these pressing issues encompasses a leader who represents all of us. Republican, Democrat, independent, where should We the People be on the scale? The weight seems to lean heavily on the people in power. Who is leaning the scale in our favor, the People’s favor? Mike Garcia brings us the balance we need that the political elites in Washington have forgotten. Kimberly Conary Russo Canyon Country

Trump Was Regulated Into Defeat For eight years, from 2008 to 2016, regulation saddled America's economy, ironically priming Donald Trump's history-making recovery. So how was he defeated? The same way... with regulation (alongside “emergency” election law rewrites). These saddled 2020’s economy with lockdowns in blue states like California, powered by incessant media hype over a rather benign (99.74% recovery rate/80-year average fatality age) flu. Now get ready for the regulation circus to return... Rob Kerchner Santa Clarita Submit a Letter to the Editor

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

What’s Love Got to Do With It? By David Hegg

t some point it was inevitable that I would opine about love. I must confess that the urge had come up quite often but I’ve always been able to stifle it. The problem is that love isn’t what it used to be. Sure, we still sing that it makes the world go ’round, and will keep us together, and even that it is a many splendored thing. But the truth is love has fallen on tough times. I suppose we could blame the decay of love on the generality of our English language. While it is common parlance to say I love the Dodgers, bowtie pasta, deep sunsets, my wife and my grandchildren, each of them holds a different amount of my heart. Unfortunately, the word “love” has become such a broad modifier that it is in danger of losing real meaning. Our society’s erosion of the commitments included in love isn’t helping the situation. With apologies to the Captain and Tennille, love just doesn’t seem to be keeping us together much anymore. Divorce continues to decimate marriages and families. And those who decide to live together without marrying fare much worse according to every study out these days. Love also seems to be fraying in the political realm, where acrimony and insult are common these days, while loving our neighbors seems like something reserved for times of community tragedy. Apparently, we’re pretty good when things are really bad, but the common courtesies and friendliness that once were woven through our society are unraveling. Sad to say, I find myself pleasantly surprised to receive a “please,” “thank you,” or “excuse me” these days. Love, even at the everyday level, is on the wane. But, when you find love, it still knocks your socks off. If you are blessed enough to be truly loved, you know what I’m talking about. Those of us who daily find a vacation spot in the heart of someone else, be it spouse, child, or friend, have found that which makes life spectacular. Those who are loved — really and deeply loved unconditionally — understand that the one who has love and everything else really doesn’t have more than the one who has love. This column will end up shorter than usual, and that is by design. It isn’t because I’ve run out of things to say, but rather to challenge you to do something radical. Find someone you love and let them know just how much they add to your life every day. Find them, hug them, kiss them if appropriate, and ask God to rejuvenate in your heart that wonderful, necessary and powerful sense of unconditional love. That’s it. The column is over, so put the paper down, and get to it. Only love that is tended, nourished, exercised and expressed will really keep us together. Local resident David Hegg is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church. “Ethically Speaking” appears Sundays. 

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