Helm Vision Group is pleased to introduce laser cataract surgery to the Santa Clarita Valley and surrounding communities.
A blade-free procedure, laser cataract surgery is precise and predictable, resulting in an all new level of customized patient care. Our Swiss-engineered Ziemer FEMTO LDV ZS laser applies less energy, decreasing inflammation and enabling a faster healing time, which results in a more gentle experience. The finest care available for your eyes is here at Helm Vision Group. Schedule an appointment with us today to find out more about blade-free cataract surgery and the FEMTO LDV ZS laser system.
National Library Week April 6-12
By Michele E. Buttleman Signal Staff Writer
National Library Week is an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries, librarians and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening communities.
The week includes several “celebration days” recognizing library workers and a call to action to support your local library.
Monday, April 7 Right to Read Day, a day for readers, advocates and library lovers to take action to protect, defend and celebrate the right to read. See the list of Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2023 at www.ala.org.
Thursday, April 10 Take Action for Libraries Day, a day to rally advocates to support libraries.
Santa Clarita Library
Info www.santaclaritalibrary.com
On July 1, 2011, the city of Santa Clarita officially opened its doors to the Santa Clarita Public Library.
The Santa Clarita Library is comprised of three branches:
Canyon Country Jo Anne Darcy Library
18601 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita 91351 (661) 259-0750
Old Town Newhall Library
24500 Main St., Newhall 91321 (661) 259-0750
Valencia Library
23743 W. Valencia Blvd., Valencia 91355 (661) 259-0750
Library hours are:
Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
City Librarian Gina Roberson, said libraries everywhere are an amazing resource for all communities.
“It is a privilege to work in a community that values libraries like the city of Santa Clarita does,” she said.
The Santa Clarita Public Library served over 400,000 patron visits during the 2023-2024 fiscal year, marking a seven percent increase in visits
while also doubling program attendance. Across the three branches, the Santa Clarita Library expanded program offerings by 47 percent.
More Than Just Books
Roberson said libraries are more than books and free events.
“We also have a ton of digital resources that are available through our E-Library,” she said.
The E-Library offers books, audiobooks, online magazines, newspapers, online digital research databases and Help Now. Help Now allows all library card holders to access tutoring session with live tutors.
“You can log into it with your library card and get help with reading, math, writing, career preparedness and resume feedback and it is all free and you can interact with a real person,” Roberson said.
The Santa Clarita Library offered 1,883 programs in the 2023-24 fiscal year which includes programs for early learning, children, young adults, adults and general interest.
More than 900,000 physical items (books, DVDs, etc.) were circulated with an additional 287,000 items circulated online including e-books, audiobooks, music, videos and more.
Library Programs
Santa Clarita Library offers a host of programs for all ages.
“We strive to do programs that create community,” Roberson said. “Especially teen programs that bridge areas of the city and unite teens with similar interests.”
The school readiness storytime always draws a crowd at the Old Town Newhall Library. PHOTO COURTESY CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
Santa Clarita libraries offer more than books. They offer adventures.
Roberson said adult programs are also designed to help people find community. Programs like “Sit and Stitch,” where people can gather to learn how to crochet or knit, or bring their own projects to work on, to “Books and Brews,” where a book discussion is held at a local brewery, have become popular gathering places.
“People are finding their community within Santa Clarita and that is one of our missions, to connect people back to the community they live in,” she said. Roberson said many upcoming programs will center around music.
“We have a Rhythm and Rhyme program and a drop-in drum program. Those programs are designed to tie in to social and emotional learning which is something we have focused on since the ease of COVID restrictions,” she said. “Much of the programming coming up will be tied to using music to express feelings in a meaningful way. We are excited about these programs because of the access and accessibility of those programs which is always a goal.”
Visit www.santaclaritalibrary.com to view a monthly calendar of programs.
Library Express
The city’s new mobile Library Express will debut Saturday, April 26 at the Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros event at the Canyon Country Jo Anne Darcy Library.
“It’s a way to bring the library and all its services out into communities,” Roberson said. “Our goal is to make sure that every member of our community has equitable access to our services.”
Library Express will be able to visit parks, preschools, fairs and events.
It will offer book checkouts, computer classes, robotics and arts and crafts programs.
“Our goal is to make more members of the community routine library users,” she said.
How to Get a Library Card
Stop by any branch of the Santa Clarita Library to apply for a library card. Adults, age 18 or older, must present a valid government ID or current school issued photo ID and verification of mailing address for a new library card.
For juveniles to obtain a library card, a parent or responsible guardian must present a valid govern-
ment ID or current school issued photo ID and verification of mailing address.
Any resident of California is eligible to receive a Santa Clarita Library card said Roberson.
Volunteers
The Friends of the Santa Clarita Library work to support the library with quarterly “bag” of books sales and maintain the Friends of the Library Bookstore. For information visit https://santaclaritafol. com.
Volunteers from the Santa Clarita Volunteers hub have also played an integral part in making the Summer Reading Program a success for over 2,000 program participants.
Volunteers helped with events like Dia de los Niños/Día de los Libros, Teen Fan Fest and Family Literacy Festival, among others.
Volunteers also ensure public spaces and hightouch surfaces were sanitary for library patrons through the Tween Clean-Up projects for students aged 11-14.
To volunteer visit https://santaclaritavolunteers. com.
From left: Liam Fernandez, 10, Lia Maldonado, and Luana Fernandez, 7, spend time with nine-year-old Hazel, a golden doodle at the Jo Anne Darcy Library’s recent Read to a Dog event. PHOTO BY KATHERINE QUEZADA / THE SIGNAL
Cathy Dougan holds up her trinket dish she decorated as part of the city’s One Story One City 2025 book selection.The activity is based on “The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina,” by Zoraida Cordova. PHOTOS BY HABEBA MOSTAFA / THE SIGNAL
To Start or End the Day
Doña Uhrig Sunday Signal Editor
If you love the beaches of southern California, you probably have caught some amazing sunrises or sunsets. Here are a few places you may want to check out.
Avila Beach
The small coastal beach town of Avila Beach is considered to be located in the most northern part of southern California. It is part of San Luis Obispo County.
It is nestled in a beautiful valley with the ocean on one side and rolling hills on the other.
Zuma Beach
This 18-mile-long beach is considered by LA County as the “ultimate” California beach. There are eight parking lots and food stands are each end of the beach. There are also restaurants, showers, volleyball nets and a bus stop. Zuma is located at 300000 Pacific Coast Highway.
The Right Camera Settings
“Shooting great sunset photos is all about your camera settings,” says Adobe. And, once you know the basics, its easy. Here are some of Adobe’s tips.
Set your ISO to low since the sun is bright. This will prevent grainy photos. Increase the ISO as the sun moves closer to the horizon.
Use a quick shutter speed to minimize the exposure time. This should help prevent teh sun from burning out your photo.
Shoot with a wide aperature in order to get a maximum depth of field. Set the aperature to a very narrow setting such as f/11 or higher.
Focus manually to keep the photos from coming our blurry. Cameras struggle to focus on a sunset.
Experiment with white balance to see which setting gives you the best photo. The setting depends n the particular sunset. (Adobe)
Santa Monica Pier
With it’s 3.5 miles of beachline, Santa Monica beach is considered one of the best places to watch the sunset year-round. The pier is lighted after hours and it features Pacific Park, which is the west coast’s only amusement park on a pier.
Laguna Beach
The sea sculpted a natural arch that is the shape of a ghost. The sunset through this archway makes for an interesting touch to capture the sun setting. It is located on the south end of Treasure Island and can be reached by hiking down a steep patch from Pearl Street.
Community Inspired: Woman Goes From Cardiac Arrest to Heartfelt Home in Valencia
By Michael Picarella Signal Staff Writer
Strangers followed her home three times. She said that North Hollywood, where she saw more of that kind of danger the longer that she lived there, was not where she wanted to build a home and family.
In 2023, Ilisa Juried and her husband, Raji, moved to a townhouse in Valencia by FivePoint because the area is safe, has good schools and open space, and offers a healthy lifestyle. The couple wanted a place they could call home. They found it.
“We’re so close with all the neighbors here,” Juried said during a recent telephone interview. “We’ve really made sure that we have groups that look out for each other, and we do things together. We’ve built that community, which is so important for me having a child — to have that around her. We want to stay here long term, build our future here. Living here, you have the opportunity to see that you’re investing in something that’s going to continue to grow.”
Juried was born in Queens, New York, and she was raised in Parkland, Florida. At age 18, she was performing — dancing — for a group of 500 elementary school students near her home in Florida when a strange feeling came over her. She told herself at the time to just keep going.
All she remembered after that was being on the ground and looking up at a crowd of people hovering over her.
“I didn’t know what was going on,” Juried said. “I was rushed to the hospital, and they kind of just dismissed it. They didn’t think there was anything heart-related with an 18-year-old. I was super skin-
“One of the things that I talk about when I’m speaking in public is how important it is to be an advocate of your health.”
ILISA JURIED
ny at the time — I was doing modeling and dancing on tour. And so, they just kind of thought, ‘Maybe she’s just anemic or needs to eat more.’”
And with that, the hospital released her.
Six weeks later, Juried was with her mother in New York City to sign a potential record deal. While in a subway station, waiting for a train, she spotted a crew of dancers performing for the public.
“I told my mom, ‘I want to go in. I want to jump in and start dancing,’” she said. “And so, I did. And about 15 seconds in, I started feeling that exact same feeling again that I had six weeks prior.”
Juried’s mom was video recording the dancing, not seeing what her daughter was feeling. Juried then grabbed her mother’s arm and collapsed. She’d later learn that she had gone into cardiac arrest.
Once her mom saw there was a problem, she screamed out, asking if anyone in the station
knew CPR.
“Three random strangers came out of nowhere and started giving me CPR,” Juried said. “And they didn’t stop until the paramedics got there 30 minutes later. It just so happened that two of those women were nurses. That was a major saving grace. And then the third person — nobody knows who he was. He was a German gentleman who was counting in German while they were doing CPR.”
Juried said that once paramedics showed up, the German man disappeared. Nobody, she said, knew what happened to him. Many have told her that they believe he was an angel.
Juried was then rushed to the hospital. Some thought she wasn’t going to make it.
“I ended up being there for over a month and a half,” Juried said. “It was pretty crazy.”
See INSPIRED, page 14
Ilisa Juried, right, with husband, Raji, and daughter, Yarah, at Sea Life Park in Waikīkī, Hawaii. PHOTO COURTESY
Holding the Line in Uncertain Times
By Ken Striplin Santa Clarita City Manager
As we move through the budget process for Fiscal Year 2025/26, our focus remains clear — fiscal responsibility, long-term stability and protecting the quality of life our residents have come to expect. While we remain committed to excellence in service delivery and forward-looking planning, the economic landscape we face is increasingly unpredictable. Inflationary pressures, shifting consumer trends and global financial instability are all top of mind as we evaluate new spending commitments.
In response, our approach this fiscal year is guided by the same conservative budget principles that have defined Santa Clarita’s financial strategy since
our incorporation in 1987. That philosophy — one rooted in prudent forecasting, disciplined spending and a refusal to overextend —has helped us weather economic downturns in the past, and it will continue to serve us well in the face of today’s challenges.
While we are proud of the robust services and infrastructure investments we’ve been able to provide year after year, we are mindful that sustainability is key. This conservative approach has allowed us to consistently deliver on-time, balanced budgets for nearly four decades. It’s also why we continue to maintain healthy emergency reserves and hold the highest AAA credit rating from S&P Global Ratings — a mark of trust that reflects our unwavering commitment to sound fiscal management.
As we develop the FY 2025/26 budget, we are carefully evaluating every program and project, ensuring we protect core services like public safety, maintain our parks, roads and infrastructure, and deliver on the promises laid out in our Santa Clarita
2025 Strategic Plan. At the same time, we are ensuring that we don’t compromise our financial health for short-term gains.
We’re excited about the multiple projects currently underway that will enhance the quality of life for residents across our Valley. Among these are the much-anticipated Rink Sports Pavilion at the George A. Caravalho Sports Complex and the transfer of William S. Hart Park from Los Angeles County to the City — a move that will ensure localized care of this historic space. We’re also completing key upgrades at David March Park and Old Orchard Park, as well as bringing the new River of Lights experience to Central Park.
See CITY, page 14
Sweet, delicious treats make Easter celebrations magical, putting the final touch on brunch, lunch or dinner gatherings. Whether your crowd enjoys the sweet-tart combination of fruit-infused cakes, mini bundts with personalized decorations or rich, creamy cheesecake, the dessert table is sure to be popular.
Blueberry Lemon Bundt Cake and Carrot Cheesecake from “Cookin’ Savvy” are perfect desserts for sharing with loved ones, made with little effort and a lot of love. You can even let little ones help in the kitchen with Fun Mini Easter Bundts by allowing their creativity to run wild – just hand over the icing and chocolate toppers then watch the artistry unfold.
To ensure your feast goes off without a hitch, create these tempting cakes the day before for a no-hassle Easter.
Find more ways to elevate Easter celebrations with food by visiting Culinary.net.
Fun Mini Easter Bundts
Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Yield 24 mini bundts
1 box confetti cake mix
1 stick butter, melted
Chocolate Toppers:
1 cup each color melting chips of desired colors silicone Easter candy molds of desired shapes
1 pouch ready-made green icing
Heat oven to 350 F.
Mix cake mix, butter, eggs and milk. Pour into greased mini bundt pan and bake 20-25 minutes. Let cool and remove from pan. To make chocolate toppers In bowl for each color, melt melting chips in 1-minute intervals in microwave until thoroughly melted. Pour into baggies and snip corner. Pipe melted chips into molds and freeze 15-20 minutes. Pipe green icing onto mini bundt cakes for “grass” then place chocolate mold pieces on top.
Substitution Save time on toppers by replacing with store-bought chocolate bunnies, eggs, crosses
or marshmallow bunnies.
Blueberry Lemon Bundt Cake
Yield 1 cake
1 pint fresh blueberries, rinsed
1 box lemon cake mix
1 stick butter, melted
4 eggs
1 cup milk
Glaze
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoons milk
Heat oven to 350 F.
Grease bundt pan and place rinsed blueberries in bottom. Mix cake mix, butter, eggs and milk; pour on top of blueberries. Bake 35 minutes. Let cool and remove from pan.
To make glaze: Mix butter, sugar and milk then pour over cake.
The Study of a Bodybuilders Journey to Become the Best
By Richard Roeper Signal Contributing Writer
‘Magazine Dreams’
(out of four)
Briarcliff Entertainment presents a film written and directed by Elijah Bynum. Rated R. In theaters.
ASunday-Thursday, April 6-10, 2025
s much as we lean toward separating the artist from the art, there are times when it’s impossible to ignore the parallels between the star and the work, and “Magazine Dreams” is a prime example.
Jonathan Majors gives the performance of his career as a tightly wound and violently temperamental bodybuilder in this intense character study from writer-director Elijah
Bynum, and there might have been a time when Majors would have been in the conversation for best actor awards — but the release of the film was pushed back when Searchlight Pictures dropped it after Majors was found guilty of harassing and assaulting an ex-girlfriend. (Marvel Studios also parted ways with Majors, who had played Kang the Conqueror in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” and a number of other projects attached to his name were canceled.)
Now, some two years later, “Magazine Dreams” is seeing the light of day, and while there’s no denying the strength and depth of Majors’ performance, one can’t help but think that there’s only one person responsible for the relatively muted circumstances of
this release and the fact that Majors’ career has hit a major road bump — and that person is Jonathan Majors. On to the film. With clear and obvious influences from films such as “Joker,” “The King of Comedy,” “Whiplash” and, most prominently, “Taxi Driver,” writer-director Bynum and Majors team up for a disturbing and blistering case study of a man who feels utterly unseen and is obsessed with making a name for himself.
Majors’ Killian Maddox has a very specific and niche dream of becoming a world-class bodybuilder who will one day be on the cover of magazines.
To that end, Killian partakes in grueling workouts, consumes an unreal 6,000 calories a day, shoots steroids that are making him sick, plasters his bedroom wall with photos of famous bodybuilders and writes letter after letter to his idol, the champion bodybuilder Brad Vanderhorn, played by Michael O’Hearn. (Majors mirrored his character’s workout and diet regimen in real life, which is not necessarily a smart life choice but resulted in him looking like a perfectly sculpted Greek statue come to life.)
son Hill contributing to our feelings of anxiety and unease, we see Killian unraveling time after time. He tries his best to control his temper, but it’s a battle he cannot win, whether he’s taking revenge on a small business that did a slipshod job of painting his grandfather’s place, confronting a man who did him wrong or terrorizing a bodybuilding competition judge who gave him mediocre scores. Call the police? Go ahead. Killian doesn’t care. It won’t be the first time.
Killian (what a name) becomes increasingly unhinged, fixating on how to become memorable in life and/ or death, acquiring a firearm and berating himself for his perceived shortcomings as a bodybuilder. Even though Killian has the physique of a comic book movie character (irony noted), he knows he is falling apart, physically and emotionally.
OF A UNICORN E Sun: 1:00 4:00 7:20; Mon: 1:00 4:00 Tue: 1:00 4:00 7 20; Wed: 1:00 4 00; Thu: 1 00 4:00 7:20
A ather and daughter acc denta ly h t and kil a un corn whi e en route to a weekend retreat MY LOVE WILL MAKE YOU DISAPPEAR 4:20 PM
To protect herse f rom hear tbreak Sar has sworn off romance - unt l she meets Jolo THE PENGUIN LESSONS C Sun: 10:10 AM
Tom rescues a penguin from an o l-sl cked beach and his li e s turned upside - down
BOB TRE VINO LIKES IT C Sun: 10:20 1 20; Mon to Thu: 1 20 PM
A people -p easing
There’s something terribly sad yet sweet about Killian, especially when he’s looking after his ailing grandfather (Harrison Page) or speaking in halting tones to his grocery store co-worker Jessie (Haley Bennett), finally mustering the courage to ask her on a date. Alas, that date goes sideways due to Killian’s utter lack of social skills and inability to pick up cues (shades of “Taxi Driver” and Robert De Niro and Cybill Shepherd).
With the claustrophobically focused and sometimes borderline hallucinogenic-styled cinematography by Adam Arkapaw and the fierce music by Ja-
Thanks in large part to Majors’ brilliant and nuanced performance, we do have empathy for Killian, at least to a point. We see how the world has treated him and we understand how he has come to be filled with rage and why he has a disturbing fixation on making his mark on this world — but we also want him to get the help he needs and not just go through the motions of addressing his problems, and we fear for his future. “Magazine Dreams” is a portrait of a man who is running out of time to get it together lest he fall utterly and tragically apart.
Copyright 2025 Chicago Sun-Times
Tips to Help You Renovate on a Budget
Renovations around the house require an investment of time and often considerable amounts of money. Findings from the 2024 U.S. Houzz & Home Study show that home renovations are becoming more expensive. The median renovation spending for homeowners has gone up 60% since 2020. Angi, a home services website, reports the average renovation cost for homes between 1,250 and 1,600 square feet is $51,772, but the final cost of home renovations depends on the scope of the project.
Homeowners who are conserving funds can rest assured that it is possible to make meaningful changes both inside and outside a home without breaking the bank. Here are some ways to renovate a home on a budget.
Create a Budget and Don’t Waver Figure out exactly what you can afford for a renovation and then make that your maximum dollars spent. Research comparable projects in your area and be honest about whether you can afford the renovation as-is or if you must adapt ideas to fit your price. Make sure to build in a cushion of around 15 to 20% for any unforeseen expenses that may arise once a renovation is underway.
Maximize an Existing Floor Plan
This Old House suggests looking for ways to maximize your current layout before you invest in major renovations like an expansion. Bring in a designer with an eye for utilizing space. For example, see how you might be able to replace shelves with pull-out drawers in the kitchen. Moving furniture around or rethinking floor plans also can help to lower costs.
Balance
DIY With Hiring Contractors You can save money by tackling some projects yourself, but only if you are confident in your renovation skills. Rather than risk making costly mistakes and having to redo things, hire well-vetted professionals but ask if there’s any DIY work you can do to cut costs.
Check Clearance and Resale
Stores Shop discount stores for building materials to save money. For example, if a builder ordered too many cabinets they may offer them to Habitat for Humanity ReStores, which are nonprofit home improvement stores
and donation centers. Checking the clearance and markdown sections of other stores may yield considerable savings on items needed for a renovation. Warehouse retailers like Costco or Sam’s Club also can be great places to find certain home improvement materials and furnishings.
Take Advantage of Free Services
Certain stores may offer things like free consultations with designers who can show you what a renovation can look like. This is advantageous to the stores because once you see the potential you’re more likely to buy the products, even if it’s
not mandatory.
Resurface Instead of Redo Certain items can be made to look new with minimal effort. Paint is a relatively inexpensive tool that can transform walls and more. A good hardwood flooring company can buff out a floor and put a new coating instead of an entirely new floor. Kitchen cabinets can be resurfaced instead of replaced as well.
Finding ways to perform home renovations on a budget may require some creative thinking, but it’s possible to get results at the right price point. (MC)
Presents Podcasts and Editorial series
COMMUNITY INSPIRED
Exploring where and how we live and celebrating the people and fabric of the Santa Clarita Valley.
HEALTH Understanding Breast Cancer Risk Factors
This year, more than 310,000 women and 2,800 men are estimated to be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, according to the National Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation. However, advances in early detection and treatment in recent years have increased survival rates to the point where there are currently more than 4 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.
Building A Healthy Community
With:
Don Kimball Executive Vice
President
of Valencia By FivePoint
Kevin Klockenga CEO, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital
Sean Franklin
Former LA Galaxy, DC United Soccer Player Valencia Resident
When caught early, the 5-year survival rate is extremely high, which makes preventative measures like screenings and staying informed about risk factors - particularly those that impact you personally - critical elements in prevention and detection. Keep these risk factors in mind to make informed decisions about your health.
Genetic Factors and Family History
Mutations in specific genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, greatly increase the likelihood of the disease. These mutations can be inherited, which means a family history of breast cancer can be a strong indicator of your own risk. If you have a family history of breast cancer, undergo genetic testing and counseling to better understand your risk and take appropriate preventive measures.
Lifestyle Choices
Factors such as diet, physical activity, alcohol consumption and smoking have all been linked to breast cancer risk. Maintaining a healthy weight, engaging in regular physical activity and limiting alcohol intake can help reduce that risk. Additionally, avoid-
ing smoking and following a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables are key preventive measures.
Environmental Exposures
Prolonged exposure to certain chemicals and pollutants including endocrine-disrupting chemicals, such as those found in some plastics and pesticides, have been studied for their potential link to increased risk of developing breast cancer. Being aware of - and minimizing - exposure to harmful environmental agents can be an essential step in reducing the risk. This includes using safer household products and advocating for cleaner environments.
Age, Gender and Ethnicity
The risk for breast cancer increases with age, and women are at a significantly higher risk than men. However, men can also develop breast cancer, though it’s much rarer. Ethnicity also plays a role. For example, white women are more likely to develop breast cancer compared to women of other ethnicities, but African American women are more likely to die from the disease.
Learn more about risk factors and preventative measures you can take at eLivingtoday.com.
GARDENING
Crop Rotation: The Simple Secret to a Healthier Garden
By Sandy Lindsey
Have you ever wondered why those tomatoes that did fabulously the first ye ar were less productive in the second year and are downright struggling in the third season?
Planting the same plant in the same location for multiple seasons depletes the soil of the particular nutrients the plant in question needs to thrive. It also allows for a buildup of plant-specific insect pests and soil-borne pathogens that will increase each year.
Yes, all this can be somewhat mitigated with diligent use of fertilizers and pesticides, but why go to all that expense and effort when there’s a simpler solution that has worked for centuries? The concept of crop rotation is simple: Each season, change the location of common vegetables in your garden. This is ideally done on a three-year (good) or four-year (ideal) cycle, but if that’s not possible, just doing the best one can is still helpful.
Family Matters
Not planting tomatoes in the same location year after year may not be enough. It’s important to understand that plants are not individuals, but part of an herbaceous family.
For example, tomatoes are part of the Solanaceae (nightshade) family, which means that they cannot be followed by any of their relatives — sweet and hot peppers, eggplants, tomatillos, ground cherry, husk cherry, and potatoes — as they deplete the soil of the same nutrients and are susceptible to the same pests and diseases.
Here are a few other common backyard garden families:
Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family all beans and peas.
Brassicaceae (mustard) family broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, bok choy, collards, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, radish, rutabaga, and turnip.
Apiaceae/Umbelliferae (carrot) family carrots, celery, parsnips, and parsley.
Alliaceae (onion) family all onions, garlic, chives,
leeks, shallots, and scallions.
Amaranthaceae (amaranth) family spinach, beets, and chard.
Asteraceae (sunflower or daisy) family sunflower, endive, lettuce, and salsify.
Rotate Right
The ideal backyard crop rotation system has a minimum of four raised garden beds (or a multiple of four). These can be easily rotated each year to keep the soil from being depleted.
A sample spring plan would be to plant early season potatoes in bed one, legumes in bed two, brassica in bed three and root vegetables in bed four. The following year, everything would shift over one zone: Potatoes should now be planted in bed two, legumes in bed three, brassica in bed four, and root vegetables in bed one. In year three, you would shift the planting over one more bed, and again in year four. In year five, the plant types should be back in the original beds.
These early-season crops could be followed by nightshades in bed one, legumes in bed two, cucurbits in bed three, and leaves or okra plants of your choice in bed four. Rotate yearly as above.
3-Year Plans
Four-year plans allow pests and pathogens more time to dissipate from the soil, but three-year plans are also an option.
Typical three-bed rotations may include Solanaceae/Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae/Alliaceae, and Brassicaceae, for example. Other gardeners opt for alternating root vegetables, leafy crops, and fruits such as tomatoes, squash, corn, or beans. The process can be refined over time.
One way to replenish soil nutrients quite efficiently is to rotate high feeders (tomato, corn, squash) with low feeders (carrots, spinach, beets) and givers (legumes, which add nitrogen and other good things to the soil).
It all comes down to what one has in the garden and following the golden rule of not planting the same plant in the same space in succeeding years. Green Manure and More
More sophisticated crop rotation plans can include using cover crops (green manure) or even
leaving the ground fallow.
Cover crops offer many advantages, from adding nutrients to the soil to simply keeping soil from drying out and being blown away in the offseason. They can simply be tilled under when you’re ready to plant crops again.
But be careful, as they may be in the same family as the plants being rotated. If they are, remember the rotation rule: No plant family should be planted more than once every three to four years.
Leaving an area fallow allows it to rest, but fallow ground is prone to erosion and weeds. Instead, consider covering the garden with a thick layer of mulch, landscape fabric or even cardboard when not in use.
Speaking of Weeds
Seasoned gardeners know that diligent weeding is important, as weeds steal valuable moisture and nutrients from vegetable crops. Those green annoyances can also belong to some of the same plant families as the vegetable crops, acting as hosts for pests and helping harbor soil-borne disease while undoing the hard work of proper crop rotation. Get pulling!
Easy Errors
The most common mistake made in crop rotation is under-rotation—replanting a plant or plant family too soon. Keep diligent records; a garden journal or seasonal photos will give you something to refer back to.
Don’t Forget Nitrogen
Through a symbiotic relationship with bacteria in their root nodules, legumes begin adding valuable nitrogen into the soil as soon as they are planted. Even if beans aren’t high on the dinner menu, the plants that follow them will enjoy the “meal.” Plus, most dry easily for prepper storage.
Keep Things Friendly
Allelopathic plants produce chemicals that can suppress the growth of other plants in their vicinity. The next crop may be affected if it is planted before the chemicals dissipate. The exact effects depend on the species; for example, sunflowers inhibit the germination and growth of lettuce, while turnips can stunt seed germination for any succeeding plants. Do some research.
FEATURE
INSPIRED
Continued from page 7
Ultimately, Juried would get an implanted defibrillator to keep her from going into cardiac arrest again. She still has one in her chest to this day. It’s not the same device. She’s had it replaced a few times over the years. But it’s become a part of her life.
Juried works as a singer, songwriter and motivational speaker, performing all over the world. She speaks at American Heart Association events and at churches, sharing with others her story and how she was saved. It was her work in the entertainment business that brought her out to Southern California in 2008.
She’s lived in Studio City, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles and North Hollywood. At a certain point, though, as she and the man who would become her husband in 2023 were thinking about starting a family, Juried took stock in where they could do that.
“I just couldn’t be in ‘LA’ anymore,” she said. “I hated how congested it was, how unsafe it was … We were looking for something different and looking for a place that we could call home for a very, very long time.”
During the pandemic, Juried had been going on open house tours throughout Los Angeles. Nothing looked good, she said. She had ventured north when she came upon Valencia.
“I knew it was a little bit further out, but I just wanted an area that was clean and felt family oriented,” she said. “I kind of just convinced my husband — I was like, ‘This is where I want to be.’ It took him a couple years, but after heavily, heavily, heavily looking — and he wasn’t liking anything either — he finally decided to come out here. And we were sold from that point.”
In May 2023, Juried and her husband welcomed their daughter, Yarah, into the world. A month and
CITY
Continued from page 8
Looking ahead, the next few years will bring even more enhancements to our community. This includes the construction of new roads, the addi-
Ilisa Juried is with daughter, Yarah, and husband, Raji, in December of 2024 at the Iron Horse Trailhead Bridge in Santa Clarita. PHOTO COURTESY JENNIFER ROPE :
a half later, they moved into their townhouse in Valencia by FivePoint. Juried and her husband eventually want to expand their family, and they feel comfortable knowing that their kids, should they have more, will all be able to walk to school safely.
The family enjoys time at the parks, and they take multiple walks a day and spend a good amount of time at the Valencia Town Center mall. They also spend a considerable amount of time at Target, Juried said with a giggle.
“And, oh my gosh, parking is great,” she added. “One: You don’t have to pay for parking out here. Yeah, it’s completely different out here. I mean, there’s no comparison.”
Juried still works in the entertainment industry. Her husband also works in entertainment and in ministry. In the next year, the couple will be looking to go from their townhome to a house in Valencia, though they hope to keep the townhome as a rental.
In the meantime, Juried is becoming more on
tion of several new parks — such as a state-of-the-art bike park in Haskell Canyon — and the launch of City programs designed to meet the evolving needs of our residents. Through it all, our organization remains committed to delivering exceptional service.
the move. She said that after doctors discovered her heart condition, she’d stopped so many of her physical activities, including dancing professionally. Since moving to Valencia, however, she’s again become engaged in a more physical lifestyle, enjoying outdoor activities — especially sunrises and sunsets — thanks to the area’s open space and fresh air. The change has reignited her motivation to stay active.
“One of the things that I talk about when I’m speaking in public,” she said, “is how important it is to be an advocate of your health.”
Overall, Juried said, that’s exactly what she and her family are doing in Valencia.
“Community Inspired” is a new editorial series focusing on people who are strengthening our community and essential to the future of the Santa Clarita Valley. The monthly series — and accompanying podcast — is presented by Valencia by FivePoint.
We’re proud to be moving these initiatives forward while maintaining a balanced budget and a healthy 20-percent reserve fund. This continued progress is only possible because of our conservative and responsible approach to managing public funds.
For more information on the City’s budget process and the next budget presentation, visit SantaClarita.gov.
Ken Striplin is the City Manager for the City of Santa Clarita and can be reached at kstriplin@santaclarita. gov.
Ilisa Juried, Yarah and Raji at the Santa Barbara Courthouse in Santa Barbara. PHOTO COURTESY OF AMBER JENKS
UNIQUE YARD ART VINTAGE TREASURES
Welcome to Rooster’s Relics, Santa Clarita’s most unique yard art and antique store. Growing up in Santa Clarita I have always had a knack for collecting unique items. Fortunately for me, when I had the opportunity to pursue my interest in acquiring vintage treasures, I couldn’t have been more thrilled. At the age of 24, I became the new owner of a one of a kind store. With my two and a half years of owning Rooster’s Relics I have learned a lot about the antique and vintage community. Whether you’re interested in vintage cameras, glassware, toys, sports memorabilia, vintage clothing, military, handcrafted yard art, and much more; Rooster’s Relics is the place for you! I try my hardest to make sure there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Stop on by to support and shop local at Rooster’s Relics Thursday through Sunday 10:00am to 5:00pm or by appointment. For any questions please call Evan at 661-877-8241.
I look forward to seeing you real soon!
Three Tips to Stretch Your Retirement Savings
Cost-of-living has garnered significant attention in recent years and was one of the key issues surrounding the 2024 presidential election.
Rising consumer prices have been a cause for concern among people from all walks of life, but retirees might be among the most vulnerable to such increases. Lacking a desire to return to the workforce or opportunities lucrative enough to make such a transition worthwhile, retirees may be looking for ways to stretch their retirement savings. The following three strategies may help seniors do just that.
Seek the help of a financial planner Some seniors may see working with a financial planner as another expense at a time when they’re trying to cut costs, but such professionals can provide a notable return on investment. Financial planners can help seniors currently navigating complex financial waters direct their resources toward low-risk vehicles that can grow wealth with the goal of ensuring a rising cost-of-living does not drain existing savings. Even
incremental growth can help combat inflation, and financial planners can identify options that promote growth while limiting risk.
Take up gardening People from all walks of life have lamented rising grocery bills in recent years, but seniors are not helpless against rising food prices. U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates food prices will increase by 2.2% in 2025. Retirees are uniquely positioned to combat those increases, as many have the time and space to grow their own foods at a fraction of the cost of buying the same items at the store.
A 2021 report on the website Greenhouse Today estimated that a single tomato plant, which in 2025 typically can be purchased for less than $10, can yield 20 to 30 lbs. of tomatoes, producing somewhere between 20 and 90 tomatoes.
Request generic medications
The cost of medication is not fixed and is often vulnerable to changes in governmental policies. However, it’s fair to note that many seniors spend thousands of dollars per year on medication. Seniors can request generic alternatives to brand-name medications. The health care experts at Humana estimate generic drugs cost 80 to 85% less on average than brand-name drugs. That’s a considerable cost savings, and that advantage could prove even more significant if policy changes increase out-of-pocket medical costs for seniors in the coming years.
These three strategies can help seniors manage their money and protect their retirement savings in an era marked by a rising cost-of-living and an unpredictable economy. (MC)
*See disclaimer on the checkout page of our website at
QI know that Donnie Wahlberg is an actor on a successful TV series, but whatever happened to his fellow boy band member Joey McIntyre? Is he still acting?
— K.W.
AYes, Donnie Wahlberg and Joey McIntyre have both made a successful transition into acting since their days of singing and dancing with New Kids on the Block, a wildly successful boy band from the ‘90s. Wahlberg made the leap to film and TV with small roles in “The Sixth Sense” and “The Practice” before landing his big break, the critically acclaimed HBO miniseries “Band of Brothers.” He later appeared in the horror movie “Saw II” and two of its sequels before being cast in the hit CBS police drama “Blue Bloods,” which ended last year after 14 seasons. The network has a lot of faith in him and his character, Danny Reagan, because they’re building a spinoff series around his character. “Boston Blue” will launch during the 2025 fall TV season.
As for McIntyre, he starred in the short-lived CBS sitcom “The McCarthys” a decade ago and has worked steadily ever since, mostly in TV movies like “V.C. Andrews’ Dawn” and the recent Roku Christmas movie “Jingle Bell Love.”
Don’t write off New Kids on the Block, however. Four of the five orig-
inal band members, including McIntyre, will be performing in their very own Las Vegas residency called “The Right Stuff” beginning this June. Visit NKOTB.com for more info.
QIs it true that Meryl Streep is dating Martin Short? I thought they were just friends, but apparently they’re in love?
— S.J.
AYes, the two stars became an item after their on-screen love on the Hulu series “Only Murders in the Building” turned into an offscreen courtship. Short was left heartbroken after losing his wife Nancy to ovarian cancer in 2010, while Streep has been separated from her husband, Don, since 2017. Since their “OMITB” characters, Loretta and Oliver, tied the knot last season, Streep will likely be featured in the upcoming fifth season of the hit whodunit series. Streep joined the show in season 3 as a recurring character. The new season, which is currently in production, will feature guest stars Téa Leoni (“Madame Secretary,” Keegan-Michael Key (“Wonka”) and two-time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz.
Q I read that Gwyneth Paltrow is going to be in something with Timothée Chalamet. I thought she retired from acting to focus on her lifestyle website. What happened?
— J.A.
A In 2017, Gwyneth Paltrow announced that she was taking a break from acting to focus on her business, Goop, but she didn’t close the door completely. Her last major role was in the Netflix series “The Politician,” which starred Ben
Actress Meryl Streep is dating onscreen love interest. Featureflash / Depositphotos
Don’t Spoil Our Soil,
Recycle Your Oil!
Care for your community like you care for your car and keep the Santa Clara River pollution-free with these tips:
• store used motor oil and lters in separate, sealed and leak-proof containers; • do not mix with other liquids or debris; and
• take both to one of over 20 certi ed collection centers for proper disposal
PUZZLES
SOLUTIONS
Calling it Out
Thank you, editorial board of The Signal (editorial, March 29, “The Problem with Weste’s Newhall Deal? It’s Shady”).
How grateful I am to see The Signal come out and speak honestly to the dishonesty going on with the City Council, or at least one member of the council.
The questionable and self-serving activities of Laurene Weste so clearly need to be brought to light for all to see concerning the proposed complex of apartments and retail space in downtown Newhall.
The Signal did a fine job in its editorial, even if I did have to read through 12 paragraphs before the name (may I repeat it for emphasis?) Laurene Weste came to light. Maybe if they had not gotten greedy and bumped the project up to five stories and left the old courthouse out of it, they would have gotten away with it.
I can’t help but wonder if Ms. Weste went to the same school as a past College of the Canyons chancellor that taught how to use the public pocketbook for self-serving purposes.
Holly Ware Valencia
Submit a Letter to the Editor Include name, address & phone. E-mail: letters@signalscv.com. Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Signal, 25060 Avenue Stanford, Suite 141, Santa Clarita, CA 91355. Anonymous letters are not published.
ETHICALLY SPEAKING
Common Sense? If Only ...
By David Hegg
Throughout history, it is clear that phrases we employ constantly continue to be used even after their true meaning has changed or disappeared. Take the phrase “common sense,” for example. While most educated people might be able to give you a dictionary meaning, the fact is prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts is hardly common anymore.
So what is it? What is common sense? If we take the phrase apart word by word, this is what we find. Common sense is the perception, recognition, understanding of, and response to specific situations in life that all reasonable, rational people have in common. When the light turns red, and we have enough room to stop safely, common sense kicks in, and we stop before entering the intersection. At least we used to! Anyone with me in wondering how Santa Clarita has become Boston, where they proudly declare “red lights are for tourists”?
This points out the danger that always accompanies the loss of common sense. Common sense is the foundational protective element that comes pre-installed on the human hard drive. It erects barricades to protect us from going over the cliffs of life. It draws lines of demarcation, marking out danger zones, and generally sets off alarms when stupid tries to crash the party.
But today, the terrible trio of stupid, idiotic and absurd are having a field day. Why? Because common sense has been labeled restrictive, prejudicial, uninformed, archaic and downright dangerous. What once was common is now condemned in too many cases.
On the national scene, with the new administration’s crusade on waste and fraud, we see how one absurd ideological tenet has thrown common sense out the window. Somewhere along the line, a stupid group of progressive politicians came up with the ridiculous notion that Americans must cast off the idea of our citizenship in this great nation and see ourselves as citizens of the world. This led to the necessity for America to be everywhere, ensuring its abilities and resources were benefiting every corner of the globe.
At first, this idea may have had some merit. If we can help others, why not do so? But, friends, look around, and you’ll see
that a lack of foresight, a casting off of common sense, kept this movement from building necessary barriers to protect our country. That is why we now hear of American tax dollars being sent worldwide to pay for events and programs that have nothing to do with America’s strength, prosperity, or national interests. Common sense went out the window along with billions of our hard-earned cash.
Of course, the dismantling of common sense began long ago. And, as you might expect, I propose it started with a downgrading of our common ethical standards. When we decided a human embryo was nothing more than a non-viable tissue mass, common sense and natural law became expendable, along with that pre-born family member. When we decided marriage – originally designed by God himself as one man, one woman, for one lifetime – could be deconstructed into a same-sex pseudo-union, common sense, and natural law were once again sent packing.
And when we decided to print more and more money and, in so doing, devalue every dollar while borrowing more and more to fund absurd social programs while suggesting our national debt poses no risk, common sense caught the last train to the coast.
Finally, when we decided that “in God we trust” and biblical morality were dangerously restrictive to the expanding selfishness of progressive secular humanism, we bulldozed the barriers, fences and common-sense beliefs that had so long kept America and its families strong, prosperous and moral.
Today, it is apparent that too many want to tear down the common-sense structures that have kept America aligned with its best self. They wish to jettison ethical standards to favor a free-for-all way of life that champions personal desires over corporate well-being. In essence, they want to eliminate the red lights at the intersections of life.
How about we all initiate the Common Sense Party, sign up as charter members, and determine to put our common-sense platform to work in our hearts, our families, and our business and community lives? We can also make hats that say, “Make America Smart Again.” You heard it here first!
Local resident David Hegg is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church. “Ethically Speaking” appears Sundays.
