Sunday Signal March 22, 2020 by Signal

MARCH 22, 2020

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FINDING THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOUR FEET

ENJOYING FARM-TO-TABLE MEAL OPTIONS

ART PROJECTS AND KEEPING BABIES SAFE

SEE WHAT’S IN STORE FOR CANYON COUNTRY. DUNN-EDWARDS NOW OPEN IN CANYON COUNTRY. ®

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FREE Color Sample! Bring this coupon to the Dunn-Edwards Canyon Country store, and when you buy one 8 oz. Perfect Palette® Sampler, you’ll get the second one FREE!* *Limit one free Perfect Palette® Sampler per person. Offer valid through 09/20/2020 at the Dunn-Edwards Canyon Country store only and may not be combined with any other offers or discounts. ©2020 Dunn-Edwards Corporation. All rights reserved.

M A R C H 22, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3

Taking necessary precautions to safely serve you!

Dear Valued Customers, at Soapy Suds Carwash we understand how serious the COVID-19 virus is and are taking all precautions while moving forward. We opened our facility bright and early today and every day to disinfect our waiting areas inside and out. Our customer’s safety is our priority so we have provided our employees with over 5,000 pairs of gloves, and have hand sanitizer on site for our customers and employees. Our employees will be wearing CDC approved N95 masks. We will be offering a FREE interior disinfectant wipe down with full service washes as well. We also added a drive thru car wash service for our customers who want to remain in the vehicle during their wash. There will be minimal interaction with any of our staff. Our staff has been notified NOT to come into work if they are feeling any symptoms of illness or fever. We have provided each one of them with a non-intrusive thermometer for them and their family to make sure they are safe to come into work. We hope many of you understand the importance of also keeping your cars clean. Continue to wash your hands and please be safe. We look forward to seeing you at Soapy Suds Carwash. Thank you and God bless.

Please take advantage of our FREE disinfectant wipe down with your full service car wash.

100% HAND CAR WASH 28038 The Old Road. • 661-294-3036 (at the corner of Rye Canyon next to Jimmy Dean’s) Check us out on Social Media

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M A R C H 22, 2020

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NEWS FEATURES 5 Activities to help you enjoy your family time 6 Crafting, calligraphy and succulents in 2020 7 Where the tech is trending in 2020 8 How shoes play an important role in our health LOCAL NEWS 9 SCV hunkers down: Restocking shelfs Westfield Valencia Town Center to shutter doors 10 Council announces district-based discussion SCV Water suspends late fees, service shut-offs 11 50 additional cases of COVID-19 recorded in L.A. County 14 Three arrested in suspected gambling operation With new restrictions, what is social distancing? FROM THE CITY MANAGER 12 Access city services online TECHNOLOGY 13 Kim’s Q&A: ringtones, conversions and security BUSINESS 14 Simple ways for business to earn customer loyalty FOOD 15 Seasonal brunch ideas with a farm-to-table ingredient SPORTS 16 Foothill baseball hits pause HEALTH 17 How COVID-19 is transmitted How to clean with a shortage of supplies THINGS TO DO 18 Celebrate Agriculture Week March 22-28 KIDS & FAMILY 20 Sleep and autism: How to help kids get a better night sleep Facts about teen drivers every parent should know 21 Donna’s Day: Sandpaper crayon art for your children to try Protecting babies from infection during pregnancy GARDENING 22 Get those spring gardens growing SENIOR LIVING 23 ‘Memento Mori’ TIME RANGER REAL ESTATE 25 The difference between a short sale, foreclosure OPINION PUZZLES

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M A R C H 22, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 5

N E W S F E AT U R E

Activities to help you enjoy your family time By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

Meadows Elementary Students Avalon Tarlow, right, and Jacob Patton exercise their creativity at a “pop-up playground event” on their campus. One of the ways families can stay entertained is to create their own “forts” or play spaces with household items. PHOTO BY BOBBY BLOCK / THE SIGNAL

t’s been a week since schools in the Santa Clarita Valley closed, meaning kids, as well as parents, have been stuck primarily indoors due to the coronavirus and dreary weather. That also means some are starting to get a bit stir-crazy during the isolation. But no fear, there are lots of activities you can do with your kids to avoid cabin fever and the coronavirus:

Try a new recipe

Cookies, brownies, muffins or anything really. Baking is a great way to spend some time doing something fun that actually has a lesson behind it. Have them measure ingredients with the reward of getting something yummy to eat at the end. Raddish Kids is also offering free recipes, activities and cook-alongs at raddishkids.com/pages/suddenlyhomeschooling.

Make a cardboard fort

Put all those empty delivery boxes you’ve gotten recently from purchasing all those “essential” supplies to good use by letting the kiddos create a super, awesome fort. If you don’t have enough, that’s OK. Make a mini-fort for their toys instead.

Have a picnic

Make some sandwiches and have a picnic indoors. Maybe in that newly built cardboard fort? If the weather’s better, there’s no harm in taking it outdoors, as well.

Set up a treasure hunt

Though this may sound like a lot of work, a treasure hunt is actually pretty easy to set up and could even last all day if you hide enough stuff around the house. The only catch, you’ve got to make all the clues rhyme.

Go for a walk

While the weather hasn’t been great for outdoor activities over the past week, be sure to get outside whenever the opportunity presents. Both you and your kids could probably use a healthy dose of fresh air.

Call your elderly relatives

You may not be able to go visit grandma and grandpa, but they probably are feeling quite lonely right about now. Have your kids think of some things they want to talk about, then put them on the phone. You’ll be amazed at how much both parties get from the exchange.

Do some doodling for a good cause

Again, though you may not be able to visit, you can certainly send some love to those who cannot have visitors by having your kids write notes and draw pictures to mail to local nursing homes,

veterans or elderly relatives.

Take a virtual field trip

Whether it’s the Louvre in Paris, Yellowstone National Park or the British Museum in London, many field trip destinations, both near and far, have virtual tours, videos and activities for kids on their website.

Learn about a new place

The same goes for international travel destinations, such as the Great Wall of China, Pompei or even Mars. It’s easier than you think to travel the world these days.

Say hi to some animals

Aquariums and zoos across the country also offer live streams that let you visit some of the animals virtually, seeing in real-time what they’re up to. This includes the Monterey Bay Aquarium, San Diego Zoo, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and much more with the help of Explore.org, the world’s leading philanthropic live nature cam network and documentary film channel.

Volunteer — at a safe distance

paste, a marble roller coaster or paper airplane launcher, there are also a number of organizations with step-by-step science experiment instructions, like Scientific American or Mystery Science. You can even do an experiment or two alongside good ol’ Bill Nye The Science Guy.

Listen to Josh Gad read

The voice of Olaf the snowman and fellow parent Josh Gad lends his iconic voice to a number of kids’ stories on Twitter via live stream.

Listen to an astronaut read

Or, you can listen to a NASA astronaut read while they float around in space during Story Time From Space.

Put a puzzle together

Get those brain muscles going by breaking out a jigsaw puzzle, as puzzles are known to enhance memory and problem-solving skills, among others.

Train the dog

While your dog may know how to sit, does he know how to high five? It’s time to spend some quality time teaching your pup some new tricks. Not only will it build your relationship with them, but it will also give you both some much needed mental stimulus.

While many volunteering activities have been canceled, there are still ways to get your kids involved in some community service, like making blankets for Project Linus, a nonprofit whose mission is to provide comfort for critically ill and traumatized children through the distribution of handmade blankets.

Set up your own Gymboree class

Take a class

Listen to a podcast

Though it may not be your kid’s first choice, a number of organizations have launched free, online learning tools, including Scholastic, PBS and Have Fun Teaching, among others. Each includes dayto-day activities with downloadable worksheets, songs, videos and projects in all subjects to keep kids thinking.

Try a science experiment

Whether you want to make some elephant tooth-

Grab anything you can find — without sharp corners of course — and build yourself your very own obstacle course. There are a plethora of kid-friendly podcasts to listen to, so go hunting for one that your kids will enjoy.

Start a garden

Whether indoor or out, you can teach your kids the benefits of getting their hands a little dirty with a garden. Pick some fruits and vegetables to plant out back if you’ve got the room, or start an indoor herb garden or terrarium.

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M A R C H 22, 2020

N E W S F E AT U R E S

Crafting, calligraphy and succulents in 2020 By Vivianna Shields Signal Staff Writer

s the years pass, craft trends also come and go. Crafting is a great way to help pass time, while also providing a sense of satisfaction, stress relief and an outlet to express. It’s almost like meditation, since it’s a time where the crafter is completely absorbed into an activity, according to a 2004 TED talk by psychologist Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Local craft store owner Carol Ressha described her enjoyment: “It is just a great time to get out of your own mind and relax and forget everything,” said Reesha, owner of Barn & Charm. “You can walk away with something that you are proud of.” With the resurgence of older crafts and the introduction of new ones, here are some crafts to try out that are enjoying popularity in 2020.

Quilting

Quilting is traditionally three layers of fabric sewn to one another to create a multi-layered textile. It’s not a craft designated for a specific demographic — quilters come in all ages, according to Maria Garcia, manager of JOANN Fabrics and Crafts. “The age gap is pretty wide,” said Garcia. “They quilt for their grandkids, and for their special someone.” Quilts are both functional and decorative, which is one of the many aspects that keeps this craft in mainstream crafting trends. These crafts can be decorated with ribbons and other decorative additions, Garcia said. “They come into (JOANN Fabrics and Crafts) to purchase fabric, accessories, tape, ribbon and whatever they need to finish their quilt,” said Garcia.

Cricut Joy machine

In the last few months, Garcia has seen a growth in the interest of Cricut Joy machines. Cricut Joy machines are a cutting and writing machine that are not only easy to use, but make it so virtually anything can be personalized, from vinyl decals, labels, custom birthday cards or birthday banners, according to Cricut website. “You upload an image to your computer and the Cricut would cut it out, and you can iron or print on the accessories that you like,” said Garcia. The machine can grow with the crafter with each craft, according to the Cricut website. There are a variety of add-ons that could be purchased to open the world of crafting opportunities. “Cricut Joy makes it possible to make something unique for you — or anyone — at a moment’s notice,” the website added.

Calligraphy

The trend of “bouncy writing” or officially known as “calligraphy” has resurfaced in the crafting world as a meditative and satisfying art form. It’s a visual writing art form that gives a creative flair to all handwritten projects. Each letter is designed to gracefully blend into the next. Hundreds of Instagram accounts are dedicated to this art form, where they post videos of their writings, which garner millions of views. Popular calligraphy art accounts include @thecalligraphyhub, @calligkatrina and @calligraphyhand. At Barn & Charm, there are both calligraphy and hand lettering workshops to teach the community this art form. “Calligraphy is taught with a letting nib pen and hand lettering you learn with a paint pen,” said Carol Reesha, owner of Barn & Charm. “They both teach the same ‘bouncy font’ that is so popular.” One of Reesha’s instructors teaches calligraphy as a meditative form. “She’ll have you breathe into the letter as you learn the different strokes,” Reesha added. “Another instructor teaches the community how to make cute signs (with the lettering) that are appealing to everyone.”

Succulents

Adding a bit of greenery to your surroundings can be accomplished with a succulent. Succulents are easier to keep alive, due to their ability to retain water for long periods of time, and offer a fresh look to any landscape. Crafters have begun decorating the outside pot of the plant with glitter, paint and other art tools. A popular trend in succulent decorating is put-

ting the plant in a glass jar and hanging them from a ceiling or board post. Not only do succulents offer a modern flair to any room, but they are a craft that you can watch grow over time.

Paint and color by numbers

The paint and color-by-number canvases promote the feeling of relaxation and initiate nostalgia in others. “(Parents) can reminisce and tell their children that they used to do these crafts in the past,” according to the experts from Santa Clarita’s Hobby Lobby location. “These are moments that (parents) get to spend with their kids, and (parents) rarely have time to do crafts that bring them back to their childhood.” With this art form, everything you need to paint is already decided for you, which is great for a child or inexperienced painter. All the painter needs to concentrate on is painting the right parts, the correct color. In the process of completing these paintings, it enhances the painter’s painting skills since they are completely focused on remaining inside the designated sections, no matter how small the area may be, according to the official All Paint By Numbers website. These crafts usually come with all the supplies needed to complete the painting including tiny paint brushes, acrylic paint and an artist palette. This craft is fairly inexpensive and prices range between $10 to $35.

M A R C H 22, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 7

Where the tech is trending in 2020 By Raychel Stewart Signal Staff Writer

rom cell phones to televisions, websites to cameras, almost every aspect of life is ingrained with technology. We talked to a few local experts to see where tech and design are trending to in 2020:

The benefits of a smart home • Time: A recent joint survey from CNET and Coldwell Banker found that 57% say that smart home technology saves them an average of 30 minutes per day. • Money: A CNET/Coldwell Banker survey found 45% say smart home products help an average of $98.30 each month. • Investment: The same survey also found 81% of buyers would be more likely to buy a home if smart home products were already installed.

Automation

Automation is the most up-andcoming trend Robert Marshall, CEO of Santa Clarita Valley Audio Video, is seeing in homes. With the rise of lightbulbs and televisions being connected to phone apps, people can now make it seem like their home when they aren’t. “It will turn your lights on and off every day,” Marshall said. “The system will keep track of your habits then follow them when you’re not home.” As long as household items are connected to the same system, Marshall said televisions can turn on and off at certain times, along with lights around the house which gives the illusion the house is occupied. “It’s a safety precaution for a lot of people,” said Marshall. “People want to go on vacations and other things but don’t want their house to look empty so this makes it seem like you’re home when you’re not.”

One of the things that homes are seeing more and more of in terms of technology advances in 2020 is automation, said Robert Marshall, CEO of SCV Audio Video. That includes remote and push-button controls for everything from home security to home entertainment. PHOTOS BY BOBBY BLOCK / THE SIGNAL

Marshall. “In my opinion, wired will always be better than wireless.” Wireless cameras allow for easy accessibility and can be moved with ease, but require an internet connection to record. Wired cameras have a better image quality and are able to still record without an internet connection, Marshall said. He added that wired cameras can be integrated with televisions, “so you can see who’s at your front door while you’re laying in bed.”

Audio and Video

Web Design

Websites are continuously changing in order to appeal to visitors. Whether it’s a large company website or a small personal blog, the way a website looks can greatly affect whether a person stays or leaves. Because of this, websites are beginning to follow trends which keeps visitors from exiting. Many businesses offer website templates which can bring a minimal style to websites. Growing trends include heavy use of white space and ridding of any unnecessary information. “People don’t want to spend 20 minutes reading things that don’t matter much,” said Joshua Maddux, CEO of 95Visual, a web design and development firm in Los Angeles. “They want short texts and information that gets to the point.” Another growing trend in websites

N E W S F E AT U R E

and cell phone apps is the use of a “dark” mode, which uses black or grey backgrounds instead of white. This feature became popular after Apple implemented dark mode in one of its phone updates, according to Maddux. With the evolution of technology comes the feature of accessibility in websites. “People who are visually impared or blind, color blind or can’t read certain font sizes — companies are complying with the web content-accessibility guidelines to enhance their website’s accessibility,” Maddux said. The passing of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) now requires companies to be transparent with how consumer data is collected

and if it’s being sold for marketing purposes. California residents are now able to access this information as companies are required to have it on their websites.

Surveillance

Home surveillance equipment is something commonly seen online. People may post a video which was taken with their doorbell, garage camera or baby monitor. As an extra safety measure, more and more people are installing surveillance equipment on the inside and outside of their homes. “There are two schools of thought: wired cameras and wireless cameras and both have pros and cons,” said

A new trend referred to as “matrixing” has become prevalent in residential homes with more than one television, which Marshall doesn’t think will be going away anytime soon. As growing homes put televisions in multiple rooms, the ability to connect all televisions to one cable or streaming box is the new normal. “It’s becoming so popular because all the T.V.’s will be serviced by one outlet,” Marshall said. “Three T.V.’s can be serviced by one cable box which means they’ll all be perfectly synced and won’t have a delay.” This means people will be able to watch a program from one room, and turn it on in the other with ease. Now that all televisions can be serviced at once, Marshall added that people are now taking measures to hide cable and streaming boxes to keep a minimal look whether the televisions are mounted onto a wall or on a stand. “Since most people are using streaming services now, that means they can hide their boxes in closets or wherever,” Marshall said. “You don’t have to have this box under your T.V. anymore and it allows for a nice, clean look.”

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M A R C H 22, 2020

N E W S F E AT U R E S

How shoes play an important role in our health By Matt Fernandez Signal Staff Writer

neakers. Stilettos. Flip flops. Work boots. There are a few common expressions tied to footwear: There’s the age-old proverb about not judging someone until walking a mile in their shoes, and “if the shoe fits, wear it.” That’s because our shoes aren’t just part of our “look.” With so many options out there, a choice represents someone’s priorities and, to some degree, their personality. But what’s important to remember is that our shoes play an important role in our health, too. Based on the responses of 2,789 parents, a survey from BlitzResults found 67% of children wear shoes that are too small — and of these, 48% are one size too small; and 19% are two sizes too small. Only 33% are wearing the correct size, and only 10% of those have room to grow. The study even found that 52% of surveyed parents had never had their children’s feet measured, and instead relied solely on feeling and visual cues. “Parents come in and don’t know what size shoe their kid wears,” said Dr. Tony Avakian, a podiatrist and owner of Valencia Foot and Ankle Center. “I run into this with adults too who just aren’t wearing the right size shoe. Wearing the proper size could be the simple fix for many chronic foot problems. A lot of the problem is because shoe stores don’t measure people anymore and just ask what size you want.”

They used to fit

While adults often go by the size they wore in younger years, many do not realize foot size changes over time, even throughout adulthood. Avakian explained as our bodies get older, the ligaments in our feet lose elasticity then flatten and spread out, causing them to increase in size. Due to their more rapid growth, children should be measured every six months while adults should have their feet measured once a year. The most common conditions he has seen related improper shoes are fasciitis, tendonitis, neuritis and

Children take off from the starting line of last year’s Kids Dash at the Arts Run Santa Clarita held at Valencia Heritage Park. Wearing the right shoes, whether for exercising or just walking around, can make a big difference in your comfort and health. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

injuries to the toe nails. On top of that, Avakian said that people also tend to have one foot bigger than the other, and that it is better to base shoe size on the bigger foot to prevent it from being crowded in a smaller shoe. It’s also important to note that there is no “standard” size. “I’ve had people who come in thinking they’re a size 8, but when I measure them they’re a size nine and a half,” he said. “When someone is measuring your foot, make sure to stand up, rather than sit down, so that your foot can properly spread and to check the width of your foot to see if you need a wide or double-wide shoe. A good rule of thumb is to also leave about a finger width of space between your toes and the end of the shoe so you’re not getting hammer toes.”

Boots made for walking?

On top of getting the proper size of shoe, it’s important to also buy the proper type of shoe as playing a game of basketball will put a different type of stress on a person’s foot than running a marathon. The type of intended activity should be a major consideration when people are buying a pair of shoes because manufacturers take

that into account when selecting different materials and incorporating different structures into their products. “A full marathon is 26.2 miles, you take an average of 1,200 steps each mile and each time you land on one foot running you’re putting nine times your body weight it, so running shoe manufacturers add special shock absorbers to take some of the impact away from your bones and joints,” said Flo Mina, owner of the Runners Lane shoe store. “Basketball shoes are built lower to the ground, made so you can make fast cuts side to side, and are heavier with less cushion so you wouldn’t use that to run. “The bottoms of skater shoes are thicker so they can withstand the sandpaper grip tape, but if you tried to skate with running shoes, the softer rubber on the soles would get torn up pretty quickly.”

Health and comfort

Both Mina and Avakian emphasized the impact socks can also have on foot health. While bulk department store socks are fine for everyday use and walking, athletic socks can provide some benefits. Mina said

while nonathletic socks are made of cotton, athletic socks are made of different materials that wick moisture away from feet and prevent them from being damp inside shoes, which could lead to issues like athlete’s foot. Athletic socks also offer the benefit of compression according to Avakian. “Research shows that compression reduces stress on the tendons and muscles in your feet,” he said. “Compressive socks can act like a supportive insole, especially for people with plantar fasciitis, but be careful not to have a sock that’s too tight and makes your feet numb. ... Cotton socks can also break down more easily than synthetic materials which can lead to blisters.” Kevin Burns, head track coach for Saugus High School, also emphasized the importance of comfort. “Having proper shoes is the most important aspect in running,” Burns said. “The right pair of shoes can make all the difference with your running efficiency and prevent a lifetime of chronic injuries. The No. 1 factor in choosing a shoe should be comfort and that my feet don’t hurt when I use them.”

M A R C H 22, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 9

SCV hunkers down

Restocking shelves amid the novel coronavirus By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

n an effort to replenish empty shelves amid the coronavirus outbreak, Santa Clarita Valley stores have implemented changes they believe will help keep the products in the hands of customers but it will take cooperation from the shoppers. Consumers have scrambled at both the staple and mom-and-pop grocers in search of toilet paper, bottled water, cleaning products, medicine, and perishable and dry goods, as fear of COVID-19 continues to affect everyday life. Rest assured, however, that stores, from Costco Canyon Country to Ralphs in Valencia, are restocking every day and that there is no supply shortage, many said Tuesday. At Trader Joe’s on Bouquet Canyon Road, for example, refilling shelves is a daily occurrence, but “we don’t have a say of is what’s coming in,” said a store employee who did not wish to provide a name. “For instance, we might have a little less on eggs on a day than the day before by a couple of cases, but every day, we do get a shipment, seven days a week.” Similarly, local destinations such as Stater Bros., Vons, Target, Costco and smaller shops, such as Friendly Market on Sierra Highway, said they refilled every day, but what was restocked varied based on what is currently available from suppliers. Who and how distant their suppliers are can affect how swiftly stores restock, said Lisa Anderson, a Claremont-based manufacturing and supply-chain expert and president of LMA Consulting Group Inc. “It really very much depends on your particular supply chain,” she said Tuesday. “Certainly, overall, there’s going to be some impact. However, right now it’s more of a bullwhip effect,” meaning consumer demands can cause companies in a supply chain to order more goods to meet the new demand.

LOCALNEWS

Suppliers in China

Several retailers depend on China, where COVID-19 originated, for supplies, but major, direct disruption might be too soon to tell, said Holly Schroeder, president and CEO of the SCV Economic Development Corp. “I think people are really dealing with the immediate matter at hand,” she said. “Some companies, since the China trade war, have begun moving or diversifying their supply chain but as the virus affects different countries, you don’t quite know how everything will play out, which creates a lot of uncertainty.” In the face of uncertainty, retailers are working to control what they can, such as reducing store hours to allow for more restocking time and placing a limit on the number of items customers can purchase in one trip, in an effort to deter shoppers from hoarding. While they restock, however, customers are asked to do their part, at least one company said Tuesday. “Now the company is asking for help from its local communities,”

A poster bearing COVID-19 preventative measures greets shoppers as they enter the Ralphs supermarket in Castaic on Monday morning. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

Stater Bros. said in a statement. “Please refrain from purchasing items you won’t need for the coming week. Be assured we are working closely with our manufacturers and suppliers to replenish our store shelves daily.” These efforts can help across the nation, but in the SCV with a huge

community-feel presence, now’s the time to “pull together and share some resources that might go a long way,” said Anderson. “It doesn’t mean that we should be going around standing next to everybody, but find a creative way to help someone out.”

Westfield Valencia Town Center to shutter doors amid coronavirus concerns By Caleb Lunetta Signal Staff Writer

he Westfield Valencia Town Center is set to close its doors Thursday in response to the coronavirus

outbreak. The decision comes after Westfield’s national headquarters made a decision Wednesday to close all of its U.S. shopping centers for all but “essential” retail outlets, according to officials. “Westfield Valencia Town Center is one of the U.S. shopping centers affected by today’s announcement,” said John Musella, spokesman for the Westfield Valencia Town Center. “The Center has postponed all events until we are beyond this crisis.” Restaurants within the Westfield Valencia Town Center are allowed to remain open for takeout. Patrons can contact individual restaurants for

additional information. “Conscious of both the directives, and uniform feedback from government, and in the interest in protecting the welfare of our employees, retail partners and the communities we serve, we are making this decision to temporarily close our shopping centers,” said Jean-Marie Tritant, U.S. president of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. “We have not made this decision lightly, and believe this is in the best interest of protecting our various stakeholders. “We look forward to reopening these centers in the very near future. In the meantime, we are doing everything possible to make sure that ‘essential’ retail outlets remain accessible,” Tritant added. Calls placed to a handful of restaurants in the malls area revealed they were open for delivery and takeout between their newly abbreviated hours.

Robert Monheim, a manager at Wokcano, said that their restaurant is generally open until 2 a.m., but since the pandemic first broke out, they’ve had to roll their hours back to 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and only for takeout and delivery. “We’re dead,” said Monheim on Wednesday night. “We had to lay people off, but we didn’t want to. I have two cooks and a host and myself taking care of all the ‘to-go’s.’” Monheim said that Wokcano, like possibly other other restaurants on the outside of the mall, will remain open throughout the Westfield closure. Individual store hours had varied, but the mall hours had remained consistent until Wednesday. The centers will be closed March 19-29 (or until otherwise instructed by local authorities), officials said.

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M A R C H 22, 2020

LOCALNEWS

Council announces district-based discussion By Perry Smith Signal Managing Editor

anta Clarita released a statement Wednesday about a special meeting planned for Thursday, when officials will discuss a move to district-based elections. “Santa Clarita City Council will consider a resolution declaring its intention to transition from at-large to district-based elections at a special meeting on Thursday, March 19, at 4 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall,” the statement read. Santa Clarita Mayor Cameron Smyth emphasized late Wednesday the letter promising litigation if the city did not act was what spurred the special meeting, while the city, county and nation are all adjusting norms and procedures amid the coronavirus, or COVID-19, outbreak. “The only reason we are taking this item up tomorrow is because of the threat of litigation,” Smyth said. “The city is primarily focused on the response to (coronavirus) and ensuring that all of our vital city services are still operating. It’s unfortunate that the threat of a lawsuit from a Bay Area attorney is taking away any of our time from our current efforts — but it’s something we have to do under threat of litigation.” Some residents reacted online with questions about the timing of the meeting in the midst of the COVID-19 coronavirus situation. Scott Rafferty, the attorney who represents Neighborhood Elections Now, a group he said that includes “Santa Clarita voters of a variety of races and ethnicities,” said Wednesday, “I think they’re acting in good faith, having extensive discussions with the city attorney. I think everything is going according to plan and the law and I’m confident.” Smyth said the discussion was likely to touch on the selection of a demographer to help with the drawing of districts. One possibility for Santa Clarita’s governance is a model similar to that of L.A. County, which has five geographic districts, and the mayor or chair who rotates among the five board members. One of the issues mentioned in the letter sent by Rafferty, which is initially what restarted the California

Voting Rights Act in California, is that three of the council members live in the same ZIP code, which Smyth called “a fact of circumstance.” “Regardless of serving at-large or in a district, it’s my intent to represent the entire city of Santa Clarita and continue to do what I think is best for the city as a whole,” Smyth said, “whether I represent one district or continue to serve in an at-large capacity.”

Deadline set

City officials cited a March 23 deadline based on a threat of litigation “that could expose the city to litigation and potentially millions of dollars of exposure,” according to a letter the city sent out Wednesday. The letter also noted that the city’s regularly scheduled council meeting in March would also be canceled due to coronavirus precautions. “As described more fully below, taking action (Thursday) would protect

the city from litigation for at least 90 days,” the letter stated: “The city recognizes that this process is further complicated by the recent novel coronavirus pandemic or COVID-19 and the federal and state executive orders limiting public gatherings and requiring social distancing. However, the language of the California Voting Rights Act does not accommodate pandemics, and Mr. Rafferty has been consistent in his commitment to have Santa Clarita switch to districts in 2020. The proposed schedule of hearings has been pushed back as far as possible to limit public meetings for as long as possible, while still fitting in all of the required hearings to switch to districts within the 90-day time limit. However, the city will first and foremost act to protect the health and safety of its residents, and the schedule may need to be modified notwithstanding the 90-day time limit, depending upon evolving federal, state and county

restrictions and guidelines. “If the City Council adopts the attached resolution of intention, the scheduled public hearings will be live-streamed and recorded. Anyone who does not wish to attend the hearings in public should consider submitting comments in writing. Additionally, the demographer proposed to be hired by the city will provide both a website and a web tool so that members of the public can submit their proposed district map ideas to the city for consideration. While this is not an ideal public process, if the city completes the districting process for 2020, state and federal law mandate a ‘redistricting’ occur prior to the 2022 election, based upon federal census data results in 2021. State law mandates additional public participation and hearing for that redistricting process, and hopefully, the current limitations on social interactions and gatherings will no longer be in place.”

SCV Water suspends late fees, service shut-offs PEOPLE HAVE By Caleb Lunetta Signal Staff Writer

CV Water officials have said water services will continue, but will also suspend all late fees and service shut-offs through June 30. In a statement released Wednesday, officials laid out a number of new policies they would be enacting in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to suspending all late fees and service shutoffs, citing the need to protect residents who are struggling financially, officials said they are closing SCV Water’s customer care lobbies through April 3. “People have other things to worry about right now,” said Kathie Martin, public information officer for SCV Water. “We know that people are under economic or financial stress because they might not get a steady paycheck themselves because their businesses have been closed down.”

Customers were encouraged to use online and telephone payment options to pay your water bill and external drop-boxes available at each customer care location, available 24/7, officials said. SCV Water plans to hold their board and committee meetings, meetings that are open to the public, through teleconference. Instructions on how the public can join these meetings are at the top of each board agenda, officials said. All upcoming SCV Water events, including the March and April gardening classes and annual open house in May, have been canceled and will not be rescheduled. SCV Water also told residents that COVID-19 has no impact on the quality or supply of tap water. “The virus has not been detected in drinking water supplies, but also the regulations we operate under require treatment that removes bacteria and viruses from water,” Martin said. Water service is expected to con-

“

OTHER THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT RIGHT NOW. WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE UNDER ECONOMIC OR FINANCIAL STRESS BECAUSE THEY MIGHT NOT GET A STEADY PAYCHECK THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEIR BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN CLOSED DOWN.” Kathie Martin,

public information officer for SCV Water

tinue and meet all state and federal drinking water standards, officials said. For more information about SCV Water’s response to COVID-19, visit https://yourscvwater.com/ covid-19-coronavirus/.

M A R C H 22, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 1

LOCALNEWS

50 additional cases of COVID-19 recorded in L.A. County By Vivianna Shields Signal Staff Writer

os Angeles County officials confirmed an additional 46 cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County Wednesday afternoon, bringing the countywide total to 190. “Today, we’re reporting 46 new cases,” Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a news conference Wednesday afternoon. “That brings the total number of cases in L.A. County to 190 cases, (which) means we had 96 new cases over the last 48 hours.” On the Public Health website, the department is listing the locations of cases throughout Los Angeles County; however, if your city is not listed “don’t take that as a sign that there’s no need for you to worry,” said Ferrer. “We have cases everywhere in L.A. County,” said Ferrer. “What we’re showing you are those people who have been tested, but you can assume that for every case where we’re testing

people, there are maybe five to 10 cases in our communities.” In the coming weeks, Ferrer said it’s likely to see an increase in positive cases due to the increased capacity of lab testing. “That doesn’t mean that all of our actions to really dampen the number of new cases are not working,” said Ferrer. “We cannot stop the spread of COVID-19 — all our strategies are aimed at slowing the spread.” Ferrer recommends to continue social distancing practices and to adhere to any orders of isolation to help slow the spread of COVID-19. In Los Angeles County, there have been 190 confirmed COVID-19 cases, three in the Santa Clarita Valley, and one death in L.A. County. Patrick Moody, spokesman for Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, said Wednesday evening at approximately 7:30 p.m. that the hospital’s total number of cases remains at three. For more information, visit publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/ Coronavirus/.

Looking for something to eat?

Here’s a map showing many the Santa Clarita Valley restaurants and food establishments that are open and serving. Find the interactive map online at bit.ly/SignalSCVfoodmap or on the SignalSCV app. If you’d like to be added, please let us know by contacting citydesk@signalscv.com.

12 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M A R C H 22, 2020

FROM THE CITY MANAGER

Access your City of Santa Clarita services online By City Manager Ken Striplin

n this time of concern about the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), federal, state and county health officials continue to make sweeping recommendations to ensure social distancing whenever possible. Last week we took the dramatic step to suspend all non-essential City services and close all City facilities to the public. The essential services that are STILL in operation include City Management, Santa Clarita Transit, City Communications, Streets Maintenance, Graffiti Removal, Trash Service (not provided by the City), Parks Maintenance, Urban Forestry, Traffic/Transportation, Building and Safety (on a limited basis), Parking Enforcement, Permit Center (by ap-

pointment only) and the Film Office (by appointment only). As many of you are spending the day at home, I want to remind you that the City of Santa Clarita offers residents a number of its services online. Typically, one of the busiest areas of City Hall is the public counter inside the Building and Safety division’s permit center on the first floor. However, a great deal of the process of applying for and obtaining a construction permit can be completed online. The City’s Online Permit Center allows residents and contractors to apply for permits related to residential construction projects. Those just getting started with a project can also find information on how to obtain a permit, see building codes and design criteria for Santa Clarita and access a variety of forms and applications. Visitors to the Online Permit

Center can also access the City’s Permit Guide, which has a wealth of information on both residential and commercial construction. You can access the website at santaclarita.com/permitcenter. Another important amenity in our City is the Santa Clarita Public Library, with branches in Valencia, Old Town Newhall and Canyon Country. Did you know that the library offers its patrons access to an extensive list of resources and materials online? By visiting SantaClaritaLibrary. com and clicking on the “eLibrary” tab, you can browse downloadable audiobooks and eBooks and access articles, databases, magazines and more. The City’s Resident Service Center is also a valuable resource for residents who are looking for information or need to request service from one of the City’s departments. By visiting santa-clarita.com/RSC, you can report graffiti for quick

cleanup, submit a support ticket for road issues and fallen trees and much more. The Resident Service Center is available online or through the official City of Santa Clarita app, which can be downloaded for free in your smartphone’s app store. The City of Santa Clarita is committed to doing everything in its power to slow the spread of COVID-19. We are in regular communication with our local organizations and community partners. For the latest updates, press releases and important resources, please visit our emergency website at SantaClarita Emergency.com. 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 22, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 3

TECHNOLOGY

Kim’s tech Q & A: ringtones, conversions and security By Kim Komando Signal Contributing Writer

Ringtone switch

wife and I have the same Q: My ringtone. It’s so annoying be-

VHS conversion

cause I never know if it’s my phone or her iPhone. Can I download a new ringtone? A: As more people turn off all sounds on their phones, the ringtone has started to vanish, replaced by the hum and buzz of devices vibrating in pockets. It does partially explain why users don’t download ringtones onto their mobile phones as easily as they might download podcasts and videos. There are several sites that are both trustworthy and ample suppliers of ringtones; however, you should know that iPhones require a little extra legwork because of Apple’s diehard security concerns. But you will find the unique tone you like. Visit the following for the best ringtone sites: https://bit.ly/2TUW5Ia.

: I have a bunch of VHS tapes of my kids. I want the easiest way to get them online. Help me before I have grandkids. A: In the past, I have directed folks to box stores like Walmart and Costco, which usually have a special desk for media conversion. You can drop off your old tapes and have them converted and put on a DVD or USB drive, much the way we used to develop film into pictures. There is a new far more convenient service that I’ve used myself to preserve old home movies. The company is called iMemories. You send in your old tapes and photos, iMemories digitizes them and puts them in the cloud. This extra step makes it easy to watch and share. To find the best way to do that, visit https://bit.ly/2w85mTS.

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Smart speaker security

ID blocked calls

got a blocked call and an unQ: Iknown call today. Can I find out

A: A smart speaker is always listening for its “wake phrase,” which means you can’t use voice activation if the speaker isn’t listening. That may be a cold hard truth, but there are several ways to limit what your virtual assistant hears and retains. For example, you can use the “mute” feature very easily. After recordings are made and logged, you can dig into the system and delete them. Most developers will argue these recordings are benign, and they are required to help your smart speaker better understand your requests. But more and more users are erasing their recordings and I think it’s a smart practice.

A: Just because our phones don’t register the number doesn’t mean you can’t find out who called. In some cases, it’s as easy as dialing *69. For sneakier numbers, I recommend TrapCall, an app specifically designed to help you identify unknown numbers and block them for good. Remember: The vast majority of unlisted numbers are robocalls and solicitors, and many of those are actually scammers. If you find a way to learn that number and block it, you aren’t just saving yourself future headaches, you’re disrupting a corrupt system and possibly helping others, as well. For information on Kim Komando on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks, visit her at Komando. com.

: I’m freaked out about my smart speaker listening all the time. I do like what it does, though. How can I make it only listen when I want it to?

who really called me? It’s annoying.

14 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M A R C H 22, 2020

LOCALNEWS

Three arrested in suspected gambling operation By Caleb Lunetta Signal Staff Writer

heriff ’s deputies arrested three after a recent special operation in Castaic targeted an “Internet Cafe” officials suspect was being used as an illegal gambling operation. The nondescript location at the Castaic strip mall with Internet Cafe stenciled on the entrance, and surveillance cameras positioned over the back door, had two dozen computers that serviced 10-15 clients who played the casino-style slot machines daily, according to Sgt. Brian Shreves of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station’s Career Offenders, Robbery, Burglary Assault, or COBRA, team. “It had stickers like Instagram and Facebook stickers on the front window, as if it was advertising that you could come in and get access to free WiFi,” Shreves said. “But the front door was a glass door painted solid black and you couldn’t see through it, and the front windows had heavy black drapes so you couldn’t see into it.”

Snacks, drinks and a cashier

The suspected illegal casino had snacks and drinks available, and a cashier ready to cash people out based on their credits, Shreves added. “And the front door always re-

mained locked,” he said. “We received some tips and then we did those kind of detective things that we can’t talk about in the paper.” Deputies with the COBRA and Crime Impact Team, or CIT, raided the storefront on the 31000 block of Castaic Road Saturday evening, ultimately arresting three individuals: Oksana Pierce, 45, who was suspected of operating an illegal gambling facility; Oscar Infante, 36, on suspicion of illegal gambling; and Marvin Kagaoan, 35, for outstanding warrants. “They had two dozen computers ready,” Shreves said, describing the setup, “with rules on the wall and snacks and stuff. They probably had a pretty steady flow of clientele.”

‘The fish game’

In one corner of the room was what Shreves referred to as “the fish game,” in which players use a combination of joysticks and a “fire” button to shoot fish on an arcade screen. The credits inside the exploded video game fish then go into the players’ account which he or she can then take back to the cashier for real-life money. “If they loaded this particular game into a Chuck E’ Cheese and it gave out tickets to trade in for toys it wouldn’t be illegal,” said Shreves. “When they outfit them with a money machine and it pays out in cash,

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station COBRA team members target a suspected illegal gambling operation Saturday in Castaic. Three people were arrested in the raid, according to a Sheriff’s Station official. COURTESY PHOTO

then it makes it illegal gambling.” “There wasn’t anyone playing at the fish game, but there were two people playing the online slot machine-type game,” said Shreves on Wednesday, adding that there were no traditional blackjack or poker tables.

Word of mouth

Shreves said that the spot was known particularly among truckers, who spread the news about its secret location through word of mouth. “I heard of this one a couple months ago, but the investigation came to kind of a dead end. And then I heard about it again and we started

going on this one again,” said Shreves. “A lot of times they’re called tap tap casinos, or pop-up casinos.” Shreves said these types of establishments are more common in the Antelope Valley and San Fernando Valley, and this was the first he had seen in the Santa Clarita Valley since he joined the station in 2014. “We have information that they had money picked up on a regular basis that is running these things as an organized crime ring,” said Shreves. “There wasn’t a substantial amount of money when we got there, but it was their opening.”

With new restrictions, what is social distancing? By Vivianna Shields Signal Staff Writer

n an attempt to flatten the curve of COVID-19, Los Angeles County officials are urging the public to continue social distancing by remaining educated on what it is — and isn’t. Social distancing is the practice of reducing close contact between people to slow the spread of infections or diseases, according to a county Public Health social media post. As of Tuesday afternoon, Los Angeles County reported a total of 144 cases of COVID-19, three in the Santa Clarita Valley, and one death. “This does not mean our efforts at social distancing are not working,” Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer

said in a news conference Tuesday. “If you look across the world, it generally takes between three and four weeks for us to see the fruits of our labor, so we all need to continue to do all of the social distancing measures that we’ve implemented.” Ferrer urges the public to follow these guidelines until the county has seen a peak in cases, and the cases begin to decrease; however, Ferrer said it “will take a while” to get there. “The efforts we do today didn’t protect some of the exposures that happened yesterday, but those exposures may not result in positive cases for up to two weeks from the date of exposure,” said Ferrer. “I ask everyone to continue to help us… (and) keep our distance (from one another).” Gatherings of 50 people or more

are prohibited until April 1, and bars, nightclubs, gyms, movie and performance theaters, bowling alleys, and more have been closed to help promote social distancing. In gatherings with less than 50 people, health officials say people should be sure to practice the 6-foot rule, by standing at least 6 feet from one another throughout the duration of the event. “Flattening the curve requires conscientious social distancing efforts by all our L.A. County residents during this time of crisis,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger said in a news conference Monday. “Our collective efforts during this pandemic can literally save the lives of our loved ones and most vulnerable residents.” In a Facebook post, the Los Angeles

County Department of Public Health has identified activities to avoid and use caution while practicing social distancing: Avoid: • Group gatherings. • Sleepovers. • Playdates. • Concerts. • Theater outings. • Athletic events. • Crowded stores. • Non-essential travel. Use Caution: • Visiting a grocery store. • Picking up medications. • Playing tennis in the park. • Essential travel. • Pickup and delivery of food. • Visitors in your home. • Mass transit.

M A R C H 22, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 5

FOOD

Seasonal Brunch Ideas with an Original

runch with family and friends can be a treat any time of the year, but spring’s fresh, seasonal ingredients and warmer days practically beg loved ones to gather for the morning meal. These cute, kid-friendly Bunny Oatmeal and Easy Egg Casserole recipes are simple and made with real foods like milk, bringing richness and flavor, and ingredients you can feel good serving to kids. Whether it’s skim milk for lighter lattes with friends, 2% milk to wash down birthday cake or strawberry milk for a sweet celebration surrounding the game-winning goal, milk’s already a part of the foods — and meaningful moments — that matter. (Family Features) For more kid-friendly, seasonal recipe ideas, visit milklife.com

Easy Egg Casserole Recipe courtesy of Milk Life Servings: 1 Nonstick cooking spray 1 cup lean ham, cubed 1 cup frozen seasoned potatoes with fresh onions and peppers 3/4 cup fresh spinach, chopped 1/2 cup low-fat cheddar or Swiss cheese, shredded 6 eggs 3/4 cup fat-free milk 1 glass milk (8 ounces) Heat oven to 375 F. Lightly coat 8-by-

Ingredient Bunny Oatmeal Recipe courtesy of Tiffany Edwards of Creme de la Crumb on behalf of Milk Life Servings: 1 1/3 cup instant oats 3/4 cup fat-free milk 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon brown sugar 2/3 small banana 2 fresh blueberries 1/2 small strawberry chocolate syrup (optional) 1 glass milk (8 ounces) In microwave-safe bowl, stir oats, milk, cinnamon, vanilla and brown sugar. Microwave on high 30-60 seconds and stir. Cut banana in half crosswise. Cut 1 1/8-inch thick coin slice from flat ends of each banana half. Place two banana slices in upper third of oatmeal bowl, side by side, to make eyes. Top each banana slice with one blueberry.

Place strawberry in middle of bowl to make nose then drizzle chocolate, if desired, to make mouth and whiskers.

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8-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. In bottom of casserole dish, arrange ham, potatoes, spinach and cheese.

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In large bowl, beat eggs and milk. Pour mixture over ingredients in casserole dish. Bake 25-30 minutes, or until lightly browned and puffed.

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M A R C H 22, 2020

SPORTS

Foothill baseball hits pause amid precautions By Ryan Stuart Signal Staff Writer

rep basketball has officially ended in Santa Clarita, and a new season is underway. Although spring prep sports have been postponed until April 30, baseball presented quite a few memorable moments. At the end of every sixth inning, the Centurions meet at the first base line and the visitor meets at the third base line to lead the fans in a moment of silence for Gracie Muehlberger and Dominic Blackwell, two victims of the Saugus High School shooting. “Ever since the tragedy, every home game that we’ve had before every seventh inning, we give a moment of silence,” said Saugus’ Ryan Egan. “It’s something that we can’t forget. It’s going to be a tradition from now on.” In Egan’s eyes, it gives more of a meaning to the game and brings a community closer together. “First off, as a team, we’re playing for more than just winning (the Foothill) League,” he said. “We’re playing for Gracie and Dom.” One of the largest arguments for not being interested in baseball is that the sport is too slow and there isn’t enough scoring. Hart and Valencia have found ways to counter that argument.

West Ranch outfielder Brandon Wyre (3) makes the catch for the first out of the fourth inning against Saugus at West Ranch. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

To kick off league play, the Indians scored 25 runs against Golden Valley. They scored so much in three innings that they went through the entire batting order within three outs. “We just came off of a couple losses and came out swinging,” said Hart’s Matt Quintanar after the scoring parade. “We worked on hitting fastballs and capitalized on that.” On the other side of town, the Vikings amped up the excitement with a show of their own. They stormed out to a 15-1 win, but that wasn’t even the most exciting part of the game. In the first inning, Valencia’s Steven Gonzalez rocked a grand slam. “Oh my gosh. It got the whole lineup going,” said Vikings’ Tyler Robitaille. “It was awesome with all of our hitters getting hot. It’s a good start to league.” The Foothill League has been more than just the bats. It’s a pitcher’s league, too. Hart’s Ben Niednagel was just a few batters shy of a no-hitter in a game in which he struck out six batters. “The last inning, I was sitting in the corner, staring at the fence just trying to stay focused,” he said after the game on his superstitions in the dugout. Egan eventually ended the no-hit bid. Niednagel isn’t the only pitcher to have an incredible game since league play began. West Ranch’s Scott Bauman put in work in his first varsity start in a Foothill League game. He struck out a whopping nine batters, including the leadoff hitter, and only allowed two hits. “After that first batter, it really helped everything because I was wondering how I’m going to do, how my pitches are going to work,” he said of his first Foothill League start. “I threw three different pitches to that one batter and just to have them all execute was really just a nerve-calmer.”

M A R C H 22, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 7

How the novel coronavirus is transmitted

OVID-19, the novel coronavirus that was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in mid-March, has claimed thousands of lives across the globe. Though the WHO insists that the virus could be suppressed and controlled, Director-General of the WHO Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described what he felt were “alarming levels of inaction” in regard to preventing the spread of COVID-19. Understanding COVID-19, including the threat it poses and how it’s transmitted, is of the utmost importance. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is still much to learn about COVID-19, including how it spreads. However, the CDC notes the follow-

ing are some ways that researchers, as of March, feel that the virus is transmitted.

Person-to-person

Researchers who have studied the virus feel that it is spread mainly from person-to-person. People who are within six feet of one another may spread the virus through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of those who are nearby or potentially be inhaled into the lungs. The CDC notes that the virus is contagious, and that people might be most contagious when they are at their sickest. Symptoms of COVID-19 include difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new

How to clean with a shortage of supplies

n light of concerns about COVID-19, various health organizations have issued specific instructions on how to maintain personal safety and cleanliness. These recommendations involve using common household products to sanitize homes, offices and public spaces. As people take such precautions, many are stocking up on extra essentials — resulting in shortages. Everything from hand sanitizers to paper towels may be hard to find on grocery store shelves, leaving some to wonder what they can do to remain safe without sanitizers? The Environmental Protection Agency states that coronaviruses are some of the easiest types of viruses to kill because they have an envelope around them that enables them to merge with other cells and infect them. If that protective coating can be disrupted, the virus can’t do its job. For those having trouble finding well-known cleaning agents, these alternatives may suffice.

Hot water and soap

The reason hand-washing is

at the top of the list of sanitizing methods is because it is so effective at washing away viruses and bacteria. Friction from scrubbing with soap and water can help break the protective envelope, states the EPA. Soap and water can clean all surfaces in a home, especially when applying a little extra elbow grease.

Hydrogen peroxide

As people clear isopropyl (rubbing alcohol) off the shelves, do not discount hydrogen peroxide. The CDC says household hydrogen peroxide at 3% concentration can deactivate rhinovirus, the virus that causes the common cold, within six to eight minutes of contact. Coronavirus is easier to destroy than rhinovirus, so hydrogen peroxide may be effective at combating that virus as well. Natural items can be used for general cleaning, but have not been endorsed for use on COVID-19 disinfection. In lieu of shortages, white vinegar, baking soda pastes and citrus oils and juices could fill the void of chemically based cleansers for other home tasks. (MC)

confusion or inability to arouse and bluish lips or face. Researchers also suspect that the virus may be spreading through people who are asymptomatic. So even people who do not feel sick or exhibit signs of sickness may unknowingly have the virus, potentially making them capable of spreading it.

Contact with surfaces

The CDC notes that researchers do not suspect that contact with contaminated surfaces or objects is the main way the COVID-19 virus is spreading. However, the CDC also notes that it may be possible for people to get the virus by touching surfaces of objects that have the virus on them and then touching their own mouths, noses or possibly their eyes. The relative infancy of COVID-19 means researchers have yet to fully understand how the virus is transmitted. Understanding COVID-19 also involves staying up-to-date on local announcements about the virus and

H E A LT H

adhering to any restrictions government officials put in place. People living in or near areas where others have been diagnosed should follow all protocols put in place by the government to reduce their own and their neighbors’ risk of exposure to the virus. More information about COVID-19 is available at www.cdc.gov. (MC)

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18 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M A R C H 22, 2020

THINGSTODO

Celebrate Agriculture Week March 22-28

rom the food on your table to the clothes on your back, agriculture provides a variety of things you eat, wear and use daily. Those items don’t magically arrive at the store or appear in your home. Each American farmer feeds about 165 people, according to the Agriculture Council of America, an organization comprised of leaders in the agriculture, food and fiber communities dedicated to increasing public awareness of agriculture’s role in modern society. Learning more about the industry can allow individuals to make more informed choices about everything from their diets to legislation. In honor of the 47th annual National Ag Day with the theme “Food Brings Everyone to the Table,” consider these activities that can help you learn more about how the agriculture industry impacts daily life.

Make a farm-to-table meal

Making a meal together is an easy activity for spending quality time with your entire family, but you can turn it into a learning experience and an opportunity to talk about where food comes from by combining seasonal produce like asparagus, peas, broccoli, oranges and lemons with ingredients your state is known for such as pork, apples, almonds, beef or corn, for example. See our farm-to-table meal on page 15.

Research agricultural issues

From climate change and protecting air, soil and water to feeding a growing global population and using technology to improve food production, there are a variety of issues facing the agriculture industry. To be more aware of what the future may hold, consider making yourself more familiar with some of the challenges farmers face.

Consider agricultural careers

For students and young adults considering their futures, joining the 22 million people who work in agriculture-re-

Make a farm-to-table meal with the whole family. Talk about where the food comes from that you are cooking. PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES

lated fields can be a rewarding pursuit. While the most obvious careers in agriculture are directly related to the farm or ranch, today’s agriculture offers more than 200 careers from research and engineering to food science, landscape architecture, urban planning and more.

Tour a local farm or dairy

While something that can’t be done right away, consider taking a tour of a farm or dairy (or both) in the future. This can help provide a better understanding of how food and fiber products are produced and the role agriculture plays in producing them. Make it a group outing with friends or family to help more people see the process food goes through from production to sitting on store shelves. Find more ways to celebrate agriculture at agday.org. (Family Features)

M A R C H 22, 2020

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M A R C H 22, 2020

K I D S & FA M I LY

Sleep and Autism —

How to help kids get a better night’s rest

or some children and teens with autism spectrum disorder, sleep can sometimes be a struggle. But good sleep is essential to good health and a good quality of life. “While up to 40% of all children and teens will have sleep problems at some point during childhood, such problems usually lessen with age,” says lead guideline author Dr. Ashura Williams Buckley of the National Institute of Mental Health and a member of American Academy of Neurology. “However, for children and teens with autism, sleep problems are more common and more likely to persist.” To help families, neurologists and other healthcare providers make treatment decisions, the AAN has issued a new guideline based on careful review of available scientific studies to address four types of sleep problems: refusing to go to bed, stalling or needing a parent or caregiver present until falling asleep; trouble falling asleep and staying asleep; sleeping for only short periods of time or not getting enough total sleep each night; as well as associated daytime behavior problems. Published recently in Neurology, the medical journal of the AAN, the guideline is endorsed by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Autism Speaks, the Child Neurology Society and the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. The American Epilepsy Society has affirmed its value to epileptologists. Recommendations and insights from the new guideline include: • There are many factors that may contribute to sleep challenges, including medicines, other health conditions, emotional disorders, and family and social factors. A knowledgeable clinician should do a thorough evaluation and address problems caused by medications or other medical conditions first. • After other potential treatable causes of the sleep problems have been ruled out, children with autism spectrum disorder may benefit from behavioral treatments, such as setting up a consistent sleep routine with

©PROSTOCK-STUDIO / ISTOCK VIA GETTY IMAGES PLUS

regular bedtimes and wake times, choosing a bedtime close to when the child usually gets sleepy and prohibiting use of electronic devices close to bedtime. “Behavior-modification strategies are a good place to start because they don’t cost anything, there are no side effects and they’ve been shown to work for some people,” says Buckley. • If behavioral strategies alone don’t work, healthcare providers should

consider prescribing melatonin, a hormone that tells the brain when and how long to sleep. Look for “pharmaceutical grade,” and discuss with your practitioner, as some overthe-counter products may not be reliable in terms of how much melatonin they actually contain. Studies suggest that the artificial form of melatonin is safe and effective for children and teens with autism for a period of up to three months.

However, more research is needed to determine safety over longer periods. Possible side effects include headache, dizziness, diarrhea and rash. Melatonin alone may be just as helpful in some patients as when combined with behavioral strategies. The guideline says that current studies that looked at behavior treatments combined with melatonin were not found to change daytime behavior problems or symptoms of autism. • No evidence was found that routine use of weighted blankets or specialized mattress technologies improve sleep. Learn more about autism at Brain andLife.org, home of the AAN’s free patient and caregiver magazine focused on the intersection of neurologic disease and brain health and follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Finding ways to improve sleep is essential. While sleep problems can intensify behavioral issues in children and teens with autism, good quality sleep can improve overall health and quality of life. (Statepoint)

Facts about teen drivers every parent should know

ew moments in lives of teenagers are as exciting as the moment they earn their driver’s licenses. As exciting as it can be for teens, it’s often a source of concern for their parents. Young drivers do not have much experience behind the wheel. When coupled with teenagers’ propensity for engaging in risky behaviors, that inexperience can be a cause for anxiety for their parents. And parents aren’t overreacting, as these statistics indicate how precarious a combination teens and driving can be. • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States. In 2017, 2,364 teens between the ages of 16 and 19 were killed in motor vehicle accidents, and about

300,000 were treated at an emergency room for crash-related injuries. • The U.S. Department of Transportation notes that 229 teens were killed in distraction-affected crashes in 2017. Inadequate instruction may contribute to the alarming accident statistics involving teen drivers. According to Carcontrol.com, the average 16-year-old soccer player gets 1,500 hours of coached practice. Conversely, only 50 hours of driving experience is required in Ohio for a driver’s license. The following strategies can help keep teen drivers and the roads they traverse safe. • Enforce seat belt use, as teens and young adults tend to have the lowest seat belt use rates, per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. • Encourage teens to slow down

while driving. Insufficient distance between vehicles and driving over the speed limit increases the risk of being involved in an accident. • Even though alcohol consumption is illegal for people under the age of 21 in the United States, many teens have admitted to drinking or riding with others under the influence. Initiate a parent-teen pact to always ask for a ride and avoid drunk driving. • Rally for stricter graduated driver licensing requirements. Many states have a GDL program with certain restrictions, but perhaps even more stringent restrictions can keep teens safer, longer. With support from parents, lawmakers, law enforcement, and teens themselves, teen driving accidents and injuries can be reduced. (MC)

M A R C H 22, 2020

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K I D S & FA M I LY

Donna’s Day: Creative Family Fun

Sandpaper crayon art for your children to try By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer

have a variety of bright, chubby crayons my toddler-age granddaughter loves to grab tightly in her fist and press on paper, or to be honest, anything in reach. I’ve also observed older school-age kids who enjoy pressing crayons firmly on paper to express themselves with designs and images. This activity using sandpaper for the “paper” is an interesting twist for engaging those impulses to create with verve, while enhancing a child’s natural creativity and love of art. It’s an easy technique to offer a new expression using everyday crayons in bright colors and sandpaper out of the toolbox. The texture of sandpaper will create a beautiful picture composed of tiny

dots that might resemble pointillism, a painting technique used by postimpressionist painter Georges Seurat. He used thousands of dots of color that you can see up close but that blend into an image when you step back, away from the painting. Try these steps to create a clever piece of pointillist-like art in seconds. What is the magic ingredient? A dot, your kids might say. Uh-uh. It’s an iron!

Here’s the stuff and the fun: 1. Pick out an array of bright crayons. Vibrant blues, greens, purples and reds are ideal. 2. Create a drawing on a sheet of medium-grain sandpaper, pressing very hard as you color. Designs that use blocks of color rather than thick lines work best here.

3. When the drawing is done, turn the sandpaper over on top of a plain, white piece of drawing or construction paper. An adult should heat an iron on a low temp, and iron the backside of the sandpaper as if ironing a hanky. Pass it over the back evenly and slowly, counting to 20 seconds with your kids before picking up the sandpaper to reveal the picture on the paper in dot form.

4. There it is. Sandpaper pointillism. Never mind French postimpressionists for the moment. You’ll have your own very “impressive” artist in residence. Encourage your child to look closely to see the dots, then step away and discover how they blend together. Note how crayon melted on the sandpaper, too, providing a “two for one” art project. Donna Erickson’s award-winning series “Donna’s Day” is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activities, visit www.donnasday.com and link to the NEW Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.” © 2020 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Synd.

Protecting babies from infection during pregnancy

regnancy is a happy time for women and their partners. While the physical challenges of pregnancy can be difficult, many women overcome such challenges by working with their physicians and reminding themselves that they will soon have a newborn baby to hold and love. No woman wants to imagine complications during a pregnancy. However, preparing in advance for certain issues, including prenatal infections, can make them easier to confront should they arise. Group B Strep International, a nonprofit organization that promotes awareness and prevention of Group B Strep disease in babies from before birth through early infancy, notes that adhering to the acronym HYGIENE can be an effective way to prevent infections during pregnancy.

H Handwashing helps

Routine handwashing is a simple and effective way to reduce the risk of prenatal infection. Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after gardening or coming into contact with soil or sand. Once a child is born, wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after changing a

diaper, feeding a child and/or wiping a young child’s nose or drool.

with raw meat, poultry, seafood, and unwashed fruits and vegetables.

Y Yes to prenatal care

I Immunizations

Prioritizing prenatal care is another effective way to prevent prenatal infection. Women should request that their urine be cultured for bacteria at their first prenatal visit and should see their physicians immediately if any symptoms of vaginitis appear. Physicians will discuss and may recommend various tests during a pregnancy, and women should not hesitate to ask any questions they have regarding these tests.

G Good food prepared safely

The right foods can nourish growing babies and reduce the risk for prenatal infections. Heed physicians’ recommendations on foods to avoid during a pregnancy, which will likely include, but is not limited to, unpasteurized milk and cheese made from unpasteurized milk. Make sure all meat and poultry is thoroughly cooked. When handling food, make sure to peel or wash fruits and vegetables and store raw meat separately from other foods. Thoroughly wash all surfaces, including countertops and cutting boards, after contact

Women also can reduce prenatal infection risk by making sure they are current with their immunizations. Ask your physician if you are immune to rubella and chickenpox, each of which can cause stillbirth or serious birth defects. The vaccinations for these conditions cannot be administered during pregnancy, so if you are not immune, avoid contact with anyone infected with either virus.

E Evade others’ bodily fluids

Steer clear of others’ bodily fluids, including saliva, urine, blood, and semen, which may contain germs that can compromise the health of your baby. Avoid sharing drinks, utensils and toothbrushes with young children, as women are most commonly exposed to certain prenatal infections through the saliva and urine of young children.

N No to unnecessary invasive

procedures Some germs can cross intact membranes, so avoid unnecessary, frequent or forceful internal exams that can push germs closer to the fetus.

Women are advised to discuss stripping membranes with their physicians early in pregnancy so they can make the most informed decisions possible.

E Environmental precautions

Certain environmental precautions, such as walking in the center of trails to avoid ticks and wearing gloves while gardening, can reduce the risk of prenatal infections. Women also should avoid changing cat litter and make sure there are no areas of standing water, which attracts mosquitoes, around their homes. (MC)

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22 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M A R C H 22, 2020

GARDENING

Now is the time to get those spring gardens growing By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

t’s time to plant your spring garden. In these uncertain times, gardening is not only one way to be productive with your free time, but it’s a great family activity that can add beauty (and vegetables) to your home. There is nothing more rewarding than planting a successful vegetable garden and enjoying the abundance of a fresh harvest. The feeling of accomplishment, even if you only have a single potted cherry tomato plant on the patio, makes it worth the effort. Studies have shown that gardening acts as a natural anti-depressant. And, teaching children how to garden improves self-esteem and self-reliance.

SCV gardens

Gardening in the Santa Clarita Valley can be challenging because of the weather, the soil and the availability of water.

However, for every challenge there is also a solution. Remember, all gardens are trial and error. You won’t know what you can grow until you try.

Water

You can grow healthy and delicious vegetables, even during times of water restrictions, if you plan wisely. Try to plant some crops that will mature quickly. Not only will you have a sense of “immediate gratification,” you can avoid growing those crops during the hottest part of the summer. It is important in the Santa Clarita Valley to add compost to soil to help it retain moisture. Then after your seedlings sprout, add organic mulch, such as bark mulch, coir or straw, around the plants to conserve water.

Soil

Perhaps the best way to deal with the SCV’s unforgiving heavy-clay soil is to practice container gardening. You can grow just about any vegeta-

ble in a container on your patio. Lettuce, beets, beans, cabbage, tomatoes, peppers and squash will flourish. Make sure you place your containers where there is plenty of sunlight — at least six hours of full sun every day. Do not use metal containers, darkcolored plastics or ceramics because they can become very hot and kill your plants. Use natural wood containers, or light color plastics. Use organic soil, easily available from nurseries and garden centers to grow your veggies. It is important that your containers have adequate drainage to keep plants from drowning. Drill extra holes in the bottom of your container if needed.

Crops

What grows well in the SCV? Just about everything, given enough sunlight and enough water. Radishes are a great crop to grow for children because they grow quickly. You can have an edible radish in as

little as 25 days from seed to table. Beans, both bush beans and pole beans, can be grown in a container. The taste of fresh green beans is a revelation to many first-time gardeners. The taste is far superior to even fresh green beans bought in the produce section of the market. Herbs can be grown inside in a window box. Basil, thyme, oregano, cilantro and chives are wonderful when they plucked fresh from your garden and used to season the evening meal. Tomatoes are usually among the easiest plants to grow here. “Starter” tomatoes are now available at all garden centers. If you don’t know what to plant, choose a couple different varieties so you can learn what will grow best for you. Successfully growing your own tomatoes is usually the “gateway” to take the leap from beginning horticulturist to digging up the lawn and planting everything from corn to watermelons.

M A R C H 22, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 3

SENIORLIVING

‘Memento Mori’ By Mary Petersen Signal Staff Writer

students to be mindful of life’s impermanence to help them realize its preciousness. y daughter’s friend Citizens of the tiny country of recently lost his Bhutan, touted as the happiest peomother to cancer ple on earth, adhere to the printhree weeks after her ciple that to live a happy life, one diagnosis. She was only 68. must meditate on one’s own death It was painful to witness the grief five times a day. that her friend faced in losing his Crazy as it sounds, there is mother so unexpectedly. Although actually an app for that. You can it’s unimaginable for a parent to now download We Croak, an app lose a child, it’s also heart-rending that notifies you five times a day at for a child, even an adult child, to unpredictable times that you could lose a parent. die at any moment. Its goal is not As my daughter considered that to evoke apprehension but apprecihis mother was only ation for the fleettwo years older WHAT IF REFLECTING ing, bittersweet gift than I, she was ON THE TRANSIENCE of life. overwhelmed by It’s a MemenOF LIFE AND THE the thought of what to Mori on your INEVITABILITY OF this would have mobile. Memento meant for her. DEATH WERE THE Mori is a Latin So much cut phrase that means SECRET TO LIVING short—years, mem“remember death.” FULLY? WHAT IF ories, experiences. This ancient pracTHINKING ABOUT She felt the urgency tice of reflection DEATH MADE US to hurry up, get on mortality goes HAPPIER AND MORE back to the time married and have children so they CONTENTED? of Socrates. Greek would know their Stoic philosophers grandparents before said that death is what gives life we die. meaning. A Memento Mori is an I reassured my daughter that object that reminds us to live in there is no need to rush life and gratitude. scramble to get it all in before we I’ve always said that I want kick the bucket. We can’t forecast to give my children roots and life or outrun death. wings—a rooted, stable foundation and wings to soar courageously It occurred to me that an important but often neglected part of into life. That includes preparing parenting is preparing our children them for the inevitable loss and reminding them that they will be to live without us. And preparing fine. them also means preparing ourIt’s not a bad idea to walk with selves. There is no good time to die, but mortality as a daily companion. the fear of dying before we accom- Not a morbid grim reaper but a gentle presence that reminds us to plish what we want to or see our prioritize values and put life into children grow up can be troubling for them and us. Although it’s futile perspective, that inspires us to to worry about how much time we cherish our relationships, savor the here and now, stop grasping and have left, it’s difficult to embrace clinging to what we can’t control, the transitory nature of life. and be truly in awe of the miracle What if reflecting on the transience of life and the inevitability of of life. death were the secret to living fully? Mary Petersen is a retired COC What if thinking about death made English instructor, 30-year SCV us happier and more contented? resident, and two-time breast cancer Buddhist teachers advise their survivor.

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M A R C H 22, 2020

TIMERANGER

Tom Frew Starts 5th Grade. Yet Again Hasn’t this just been so glorious — this March miracle of rain? The hills are going to be just riotous in the following weeks. We’ve got everything from earthquakes to making fun of my dear friend and saddlepal, Tom Frew. We just turned into spring and wanted to remind Tom to set his clock forward another hour. Again. C’mon. We are going to mosey back into the mystic of yesteryear and have ourselves a perfect time. Perfect trek to get away from the humdrummia (a word my dopey sister-like substance Leslie invented) of all this quarantine, isn’t it? WAY BACK WHEN & THEN SOME

• Grab those clay pots! The last of the aftershocks of the Santa Barbara 1812 earthquake were felt in the SCV in late March 1813, with only local Tataviam and a few Spanish here to feel them. Going back, they estimated the 1812 tumbler registered 7.1 on the Richter Scale, about the same size as the San Fernando Quake of 1971. • The mighty Hercules With blasts of Hercules Dynamite, on March 22, 1875, work began on one of the longest train tunnels in the world. Engineers starting simultaneously from the Newhall and the San Fernando Valley side started digging toward one another to create the Newhall Train Tunnel. It was 6,940 feet long when completed in 1876. When Chinese laborers broke through to greet one another, the tunnel was off a mere couple inches. • Happy Birthday! The Castaic School District was founded on March 25, 1889. I’d like to point out that Tom Frew was starting his third year of fifth grade, but that would be cruel … MARCH 22, 1920

• Could fit in your wallet Times were a bit tough for The Mighty Signal. Having just lost Editor Ed Brown a year into creating this newspaper, TMS was just four pages long for a few weeks. His widow, Blanche Brown, took over running the periodical, along with the SCV’s first cowboy poet, Thornton Doelle. • Our most boring story? Besides being tiny, The Signal sure was boring. The front-page lead story was

Deltricks took him to the sheriff ’s office on 6th Street and the local gendarmes fed him and gave him fresh warm clothes. His parents were more than a little happy to hear he was OK. MARCH 22, 1940

a reprint of a long Christmas letter from a woman who used to live in Newhall. She waxed poetic for several hundred words about how raisins were 27 cents a pound. • In the days of anti-political correctness Check out this front-page story, in its entirety: “Gypsies in and around the town of Saugus the past few weeks have caused considerable worry to all those having poultry, it being a known fact that all gypsies are fond of poultry.” MARCH 22, 1930

• ‘Weird ol’ weather’ that was the headline of TMS 90 years back. In the course of a day, we had everything from sunshine to snow to hail to rain followed by flash floods. • Ouch! One of A.C. Donahue’s hens was walking funny. She laid an egg 7.5 by 10 inches. It weighed nearly 7 ounces. Signal Editor Dad Thatcher noted there weren’t any ostriches on the Saugus farm. • Remembering the damn, remember the dead It was the second anniversary of the bursting of the great St. Francis Dam where some 500 souls lost their lives. The Saugus Community Club hosted a large luncheon, with several hundred in attendance. Seven chunks of the dam were used in the Saugus garden as memorial statues of the seven club members who had died in one of America’s greatest disasters. • That’s a pretty decent hike in the rain The Deltrick family came home from a party to find something asleep in the front seat of their car. It was Howard Johnson. Nope. Not the restaurant owner. The 11-yearold runaway. Howie hiked all the way from Long Beach to reach Ventura. He got a little tired. And wet. The

• Our Cool Hand Lukes Prison labor was used to create a brand new road, linking Placerita Canyon to a future Sierra Highway. The original road had an underpass to allow cattle to go under the highway. • One boffo show And one of America’s biggest rodeos, amen boy howdy. The 15th Annual Newhall-Saugus Rodeo was one of the biggest in America. A veritable who’s who of stars were announced and included Jack Benny, Gary Cooper, Errol Flynn, our own Bill Hart, Clark Gable, Wallace Berry and nearly 100 Hollywood and Western celebs. • Geez. I’d like to somehow sneak this back in my saddlebags to the future A Signal classified ad noted: “Choice lot for sale on Arcadia Street. Telephone 130-R.” Total price for the lot? $750 … MARCH 22, 1950

• Ain’t lion Hard to believe, but we had three full-time mountain lion hunters here in the SCV. Hermann Keene shot a 130-pound puma near where the Magic Mountain employee entrance is today. He took home $50 for the bounty, then went back and shot the mate. • Hart’s OK Actor “Wild” Bill Elliot testified at the estate trial of silent superstar William S. Hart. Elliot noted that the deceased actor was of sound mind. That one tenet was the crucial point of a series of trials that lasted a decade. Hart’s son and ex-wife were contesting his will in which he left mega millions to L.A. County instead of to them. Famed gossip columnist and Hart pal since 1915, Hedda Hopper, also testified at the little Newhall Courthouse. • Now that’s religion! One aspect that’s been a constant over the decades is how the local faiths help one another. On March 19, 1950, the Latter Day Saints held their very first official meeting. It was at the 7th Day Adventists Church. MARCH 22, 1960

• Flying rats Hart High was infested

with hundreds of pigeons. The birds took over every nook and cranny, from vents, pipes, ledges and rain gutters. A compendium of ordinances forbade shooting or trapping them. Eventually, they flew away. • Ssssssscuuuzzzz me!!! Mint Canyon farmer Harry Humphrey had more than a little surprise when he walked into his henhouse one fine Sunday morn. Except for a lot of feathers and chicken byproducts, all his hens were gone. Harry didn’t find a fox in the henhouse. He found a full-grown mountain lion. The puma vamoosed post haste. MARCH 22, 1970

• That’s one way to seriously lowe ryour car payment A San Clemente man drove his car all the way to Castaic, attempted to drive it off a 200-foot cliff, bailed out but not before setting the car on fire. The car’s chassis got stuck on the edge of the pavement. Turns out the gentleman over-insured the vehicle for fire as a way to get out of payments. • Benjamin Franklin would have been proud The Signal sponsored its first — and last — kite flying contest. TMS noted that kite flying was America’s favorite sport. We offered prizes in such categories as: Biggest, Smallest, Highest, Lowest and Best Decorated. MARCH 22, 1980

• Vampire gets life Ronald Doyle Wilburn, the infamous Vampire Van cannibal, drew a life in prison without parole sentence on this date. Wilburn had picked up a hitchhiking girl, murdered her, then ate part of her. His public defender was outraged over the verdict. You folks be well and I mean that sincerely. Use this down time to get to know yourselves. I’m betting you’ll find a friend and interesting person there. See you next week with another exciting Time Ranger history adventure. Until then —¡Vayan con Dios, amigos! John Boston has been writing about SCV history for more than 40 years. You can buy his books and novels on Amazon.com. Best you turn this into action and do so right jolly now …

M A R C H 22, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 5

R E A L E S TAT E

The difference between a short sale and foreclosure

hopping for real estate may require prospective buyers to learn a whole new language. Buyers may come across certain terms they don't understand. Among the more common terms that first-time buyers may not fully understand are "short sale" and "foreclosure." According to Realtor.com, short sales and foreclosure auctions are situations that occur when homeown-

ers fall behind on payments and can no longer afford to live in a home.

on paying the lender back.

Short sale

A foreclosure is a legal process that occurs when a borrower cannot make mortgage loan payments for a significant period of time. If the debt is not recouped, lenders will step in and take ownership of the property, putting it up for sale in a foreclosure auction. While these situations can be troublesome for the homeowner facing

A short sale happens when a homeowner owes more on the mortgage balance than the market value of the property when the owner needs to sell. The homeowner can ask the mortgage lender to accept a lesser amount than the total mortgage owed — making the homeowner/seller "short"

Foreclosure

financial peril, distressed properties can be advantageous for buyers who oftentimes can buy homes at steep discounts. However, short sales and foreclosures are not without challenges and should be carefully considered. Short sales and foreclosure properties are options for buyers who want to get the best price possible on a home and are willing to take some risks in their pursuits. (MC)

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M A R C H 22, 2020

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MOUNTAIN AND VINEYARD VIEWS surround this beautiful home located in Agua Dulce, Spanish for “Sweet Water”. This A-Frame home features a remodeled kitchen with high end finishes, stainless steel appliances, and gorgeous granite counters with large center island. Other features include updated bathrooms, warm wood and vinyl plank floors, and sand-blasted oak wood beams, to give the home a cozy cabin feel. Gaze at the majestic views from the private deck off of the second-level master bedroom. Enjoy year-round living with central air and heating. A workshop shed is out back for storage, home projects or hobby enthusiasts. Not included in the square footage is a detached bonus room measuring approximately 19’ x 10’ with 2 entries, upgraded electrical and equipped with cable and gas, and is perfect for guests, kids and pets. This turn-key home offers a quiet lifestyle, yet is centrally located Northeast of Santa Clarita with easy access to the 405, 5, 210 and 14 freeways. Priced to sell! Hurry this home won’t last! Call for Open House dates, easy to show.

HOME SELLING TEAM

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DRE 01819459

GOLF COURSE VIEW HOME!

26477 Fairway Circle, Newhall, CA 91321

ELLIE LACY - (661) 341-6226 CalBRE # 0040871 - EllieCLacy@yahoo.com

$550,000 34718 Agua Dulce Canyon Rd., Agua Dulce 91390

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

$285,000

PREMIER SENIOR COMMUNITY

19217 Avenue of the Oaks #A, Newhall 91321

Manya Prybyla DRE #01920105

REALTOR®

661-904-3046 - ManyaSCV@aol.com

Friendly Valley is an age restricted 55+ retirement community with something for everyone. This unit is fresh as a daisy and move in ready. Fresh paint, updated kitchen and bath. Walk in shower with tiled seat. Updated vanity, and solar tube. If the sun is up there is light in the master bath and kitchen. Newer wood cabinets with newer range and dishwasher. Dual pane windows with beautiful view of the greenbelt. Covered patio with newer vinyl fence and room for table and chairs for your morning coffee or afternoon beverage with view of greenbelt and beautiful oak tree...take in the sights and listen to the birds! Fabulous split floor plan with kitchen, dining room and living room in the center and bedrooms on each side. Second bedroom has half bath attached and can be a guest room, office, den, craft room....whatever you like! Friendly Valley is loaded with so many amenities...golf, pool, spa, exercise room, ceramics, card room, wood working room, half court basketball, shuffle board, horseshoes, BBQ area, lawn bowling, poker clubs, card clubs, exercise groups, travel club, vets club....and more, more, more. Come take a tour and see the joy of downsizing!

SPRING SELLING SALE! LIST YOUR HOME FOR 1.5%

CALL FOR DETAILS

I WILL CONVERT YOUR HOME FROM LIVING CONDITION TO SHOWING CONDITION I provide the following service at my expense: HOME / CARPET / WINDOW CLEANING DECLUTTER / STAGING GARDENER FOR CURB APPEAL Also includes a FREE $6,000 marketing plan with professional pictures & virtual tour!

#1 In Sales

2018 & 2019 REALTY ONE GROUP

Top 1% Realtors in Santa Clarita Valley

CRAIG MARTIN 661-361-6843

www.CraigMartinHomes.com

REALTOR®

DRE #01939259

M A R C H 22, 2020

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Opinion

MA R C H 22, 2020

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

OUR VIEW

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

SCV Trademark: Pulling Together, Staying Calm

In a Time of Crisis, It's the Response that Matters

By The Signal Editorial Board

By David Hegg

The following editorial first appeared in Friday’s edition: he Santa Clarita Valley has an excellent track record of coming together during crises. Earthquakes. The 9/11 terrorist attacks. And, the Nov. 14 shooting at Saugus High. Through all of them, the SCV closed ranks as a community, and we’ve looked out for each other. The COVID-19 coronavirus situation shall be no different. As we’ve said previously, we advocate a properly measured reaction to this crisis. Follow the advice of health professionals, practice social distancing, avoid crowds, adhere to the hygiene instructions, and don’t panic. Look out for each other. Do you have an elderly neighbor short on supplies? Do you have things you can share, or can you make a grocery run? We are a strong community and we will pull together and help each other. Help is on the way in multiple forms. The government is helping workers and small businesses, which are especially challenged by the sudden loss of foot traffic. Individuals can get expedited unemployment assistance. The Small Business Administration is

providing small business loans. The government, at multiple levels, is moving quickly to try to mitigate the situation for those most impacted. But make no mistake, this crisis will have devastating impacts on the economy, locally and nationally. Together, we will rebuild it, when the time comes, hopefully sooner than later. For our part, The Signal continues to operate in support of the community. The majority of our staff is working from home, and our news team is diligently delivering the information you need: news stories, COVID-19 maps, and an interactive map of restaurants providing take-out service. For Spanish-speaking residents, we have started regular updates en español. You can view all of the coronavirus coverage at signalscv.com/2020/03/ covid-19-coverage-summary. We have faith in this community. These are difficult times, but together, we can emerge from this crisis as strong as ever. The SCV’s track record proves it. We are #SCVProud.

t one point in my life I was an athlete. I was never the star of the team, but I played, added to the team effort, and learned the many lessons athletics teach. I remember the first time I engaged in some extracurricular shoving and pushing on the basketball court in elementary school. My coach, Mr. Jones, who would go on to coach me in baseball for several summers, took me out of the game, sat me down next to him, and gave me a lecture I’ve never forgotten. The result of my anger on the court was free throws for the other team, free throws that were successful and ended up being their margin of victory. My anger cost us the game. Mr. Jones did what good coaches do. He explained that my actions were not only poor sportsmanship, but also meant defeat for my team. I remember pleading my case. “But the other guy started it when he gave me an elbow the referee never saw! What was I supposed to do? Let him get away with it?” It was then that I learned a lesson

so valuable it has stuck with me for 50 years. Mr. Jones replied, “It’s almost never the case that the first action matters as much as your reaction to it. You can’t control what happens to you, but you must control how you respond.” Over the years I’ve seen that simple admonition play itself out in many different situations. No matter what happens to us, it’s our response that matters most. Take, for example, this COVID-19 pandemic that has taken over our lives. Everywhere we turn we’re hit with both the reality and the mystery of a little bug that is changing the way we live. We didn’t create the situation, we didn’t plan for it, and we certainly don’t deserve it. Like my elementary basketball situation, we didn’t start it, but we’re all responding to it. And we’re learning it’s our response that matters most. Here’s what I’m seeing. There are some people, and we all know who they are, who live for chaos. They’re the ones who always know the latest news about tragedies, lives that are leaking, See HEGG, page 29

READERLETTERS

Animal Shelters Need Help Animal shelters across the country need our held during the COVID-19 crisis. Staffing shortages, an increase in surrendered animals, a slowdown in adoptions and potential government shutdowns are all taking their toll, and the animals are suffering. If your employer has asked you to work from home, now is a perfect time to foster a shelter animal. You’ll dramatically improve their lives, they’ll delight you, and you’ll open space at the shelter. The Centers for Disease Control has confirmed that companion animals cannot spread the virus,

so it’s perfectly safe to cuddle your pets and fosters. Kittens provide entertainment and fun for children and their interaction with humans makes them more likely to be adopted when they return to the shelter. Dogs love to get out on walks a couple times a day, which will ensure fresh air and exercise for you; a win/win. Please open your heart and your home to just one pet for the next week or month. Who knows, you may just meet your next best friend. At the very least, you’ll ensure that a shelter animal will experience ongoing human attention and compassion.

Full information on fostering and available pets is at https://la.bestfriends.org/foster. You can always volunteer to visit pets there if you can’t foster. But what a great time for you and your housebound family to love and play with someone in need! Nancy Oliver Valencia Submit a Letter to the Editor

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

MA R C H 22, 2020

S U N D AY S I G N A L · 2 9

Opinion

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

BLACK&WHYTE

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

3 Boxes of Kleenex Later, I’m Branded a Hoarder By Tim Whyte Signal Editor

o, I was late to the coronavirus party. Through the early stages of the Great Toilet Paper Panic of 2020, I hadn’t worried all that much about stocking up. We keep a pretty good level of earthquake readiness in the Whyte House — including our RV, which at any given time has 50 gallons of fresh water in its tank. So, I figured we’d be good for a couple weeks at home if the need arose. It was last weekend when I first really experienced what was going on in the stores. I went out in pursuit of a few key things, and mostly struck out. Hand sanitizer, for the car and office? Nope. Of course not. We were good on toilet paper, but we were a little low on facial tissue, napkins and paper towels for the kitchen. Strike, strike and strike. I went down swinging, through visits to five, count ’em, five different stores. I noticed what everyone has: empty shelves, in multiple categories. Somewhere in Santa Clarita, there are people who’ve bought more than they need. In other words, they’ve shown total disregard for their fellow humans. Do you really NEED 50 boxes of macaroni? Of course not. It’s interesting, though: I hear everyone talking about how awful the hoarding is. Ask anyone you see, and they’ll say the hoarders are selfish, loathsome beasts who don’t give a damn about anyone else. Yet, they are among us. I got creative. I’d read you could make hand sanitizer with aloe gel and 99% rubbing alcohol. The rubbing alcohol in our medicine cabinet is 70%, so I set out for the high-octane stuff. No luck. Shelves stripped bare, everywhere. But I did score three bottles of aloe gel at Walmart, so now I’m half-

way there. I’ll gladly swap one of them for a bottle of 99% rubbing alcohol, so if you’re interested in doing a little horsetrading, call me. I’m either going to succeed in making hand sanitizer or I’ll be SUPER well stocked to treat sunburns this summer. On my final store visit last weekend, I found facial tissue and napkins at CVS. The signs by the facial tissue said “limit one per household.” I saw there were several different kinds of facial tissue, so I picked up one of each, figuring that was “one” of each item. And the napkins I found were in a box on the floor. There were two packages left, and I kind of assumed the “one per” rule would apply, but I thought, what the heck, I picked up both and figured I would ask at the checkout counter to confirm whether “one per” applied to those as well. I didn’t even get to spit out the question. As soon as I walked up, the clerk told me, “You can’t have all that.” She took one of the two packs of napkins away, and told me I had to pick one box of tissue — by “one per,” they didn’t mean one of any product. They meant one of a product category. Fair enough. I wasn’t trying to hoard, with my three boxes of facial tissue and two packages of napkins. But I immediately felt a bit scorned. Three boxes of Kleenex, after all the hoarding that’s gone on, and all of a sudden I’m the A-hole. I was grateful to walk away with the box of tissue and package of napkins. But man, this is insane. Hopefully everyone settles down, and remembers that, just like there’s no “I” in “TEAM,” there’s no “Panic” in “PANDEMIC.” Oh. Wait a minute... Tim Whyte is editor of The Signal. His column appears Sundays.

HEGG

Continued from page 28

and injustices. Their favorite pastime is cluck clucking about the latest scandal, the latest mess, and the latest, greatest humiliation in the news. Sadly, if the day doesn’t present some chaos, they all too often create some because their lives are meaningless without something being wrong. These folks are having a field day with COVID-19. They range from hyping all the bad news to mocking those who are taking the whole thing too seriously. Either way, you don’t want them near you since the contagion they’re spreading, while not physically debilitating, will simply ruin your emotional equilibrium. On the other hand are those who are just sure the whole thing is some conspiracy and will turn out to be about as much of a problem as Y2K. Remember the last few months of 1999? Life as we know it was going to come to an end as the computers failed to adjust to a new date. And, the government was going to take advantage of the chaos to steal our land, our money, and our very lives. Oy vey! So, what’s my point? Just this. Neither panic nor denial will work. What we need are two simple things. First, our response to the reality of COVID-19 should be informed, thoughtful, measured and consistent. Second, we need to love our neighbors and look out for each other. Yes, this

pandemic will take time to run its course, and yes, many of us will get sick, and yes, we will exist as a people after COVID-19 has gone the way of the swine flu. But what will matter when we are privileged to have hindsight is how we responded to the virus, and to one another. So, how about we get our heads on straight, understand that we all have to withstand some inconvenience, perhaps endure some physical suffering, and certainly need to look out for those we know who are in the highrisk groups. But ultimately, we just need to make sure that our response to the problem is helpful, not only for ourselves, but for one another. Adversity comes into every life, and every society. What matters most is the way we respond to it for our response will mean our challenges either divide or unite us. I vote for coming together and vowing this bug will never cause us to be less caring, less united and less prudent. Let’s do what is best for our families, our community, and our nation, and shove any selfishness to the margins of our lives. If we do that, we’ll look back and see how circumstances that could have defeated us actually made us stronger. And now if you’ll excuse me, I’m almost to the front of the line and it looks like I’ll score some toilet paper! Local resident David Hegg is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church. “Ethically Speaking” appears Sundays.

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M A R C H 22, 2020

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