Sunday Signal 081124 by Signal

How to Implement in Your Home

Design is a major component for any home renovation. Introducing mixed metals into the kitchen and bath is one of the latest design trends that should be considered when thinking through that next project. The eclectic aesthetic behind the mixed metal trend is popular across the design world and it only takes a few different types of materials, finishes and personality to get the job done. See below for ideas and easy ways to bring it all together, all while keeping budget in mind.

Looking For Inspiration

No matter the interior style you’re trying to go for, getting inspired by the world around you or getting acquainted with what’s trending in the interior decor space (via home/lifestyle magazines or vlogs) are good places to start.

Maris Park Borris, Color Material & Finish (CMF) designer at Delta Faucet Company, says inspiration can strike from a variety of ways and reminds homeowners “regardless of style or design intent, I think we can all find inspiration from different times or places in our lives.

“From your past, present or future, to online or even nature sources. People pick up on things that are meaningful to them!” Park Borris says. By reading up and taking inspiration from others and trends happening within the design space, you’ll start to notice general themes that are frequently incorporated, including the mixed metal trend.

A little dedication and creativity are all that’s needed. To start, pick two or three contrasting metals with different tones to implement character and depth into the space, while selecting one of those as the cohesive thread across all. This will not only

keep guests’ eyes entertained, but it’ll also give you the opportunity to introduce different textures and finishes for an elevated look.

That’s

So Metal

Mixing metals is a simple way to give spaces a unique touch. Metals like steel and copper offer a shinier, flashy aesthetic in the home while chromes and nickels give off a more polished, sophisticated look. Once the most prominent metal is identified for the space, complement it with either warmer metals like brass, gold and nickel or cooler ones like chrome and silver.

Keep in mind that metal choices and combinations are all just a matter of the homeowner’s taste and preference in the end.

Pro tip avoid using metals that look too much like one another so that the result doesn’t look like a mistaken matching effort. Spaces and journeys within the home are also important to consider. Keep an eye on how one finish can mix and translate to the next room. This will create new experiences and an enjoyable walkthrough for your guests.

Complement Metals Through Beautiful, Affordable Fixtures

When renovating kitchen and bath spaces with the mixed metal look in mind, selecting beautifully designed fixtures is a simple start to get the trend in motion. This year, Peerless® Faucet launched its all-new Ezra™ Kitchen and Bath Collections — all with an array of unique finish options to choose from.

Designed with sharp lines, soft curves and functional features, these collections deliver long-lasting performance while uplifting any space.

In the kitchen, the Ezra Collection is available in Chrome, Stainless Steel and Matte Black finishes — all can be easily paired with everyday decorative pieces one may already have on-hand. For example, try accessorizing around the faucet with soap dispensers, cabinetry handles, lifestyle pieces or even other appliances — pairing the finish with a contrasting metal.

“You don’t have to spend a lot of money to achieve the mixed metal look,” said Borris. “Identify where metal is already being used in your home. It’s shocking to find that many decor pieces in one’s home already come with a metallic finish that can be accessorized. There are endless inexpensive ways to bring some different hued metals into the home!”

Apply It To Your Space

Mixing metals into a home renovation project is sure to turn heads. Think through design plans, brainstorm metal selections and put it all togetherit’s as simple as that! With endless finishes, accessories and combinations, one’s imagination is the limit when it comes to beautifying a space. Remember, there are only a few key notes to keep top of mind when implementing this trend:

Remember to pick two or more metals that are distinct from one another — perhaps picking one with a cooler tone and one that is warmer.

Designate one metal for more prominent use and use the others as accents.

Leverage fixtures and products that automatically provide a specific tonal look to complement the space. (BPT) 

By Michele E. Buttelman

Signal Staff Writer

With the latest Extreme Heat Warning issued by the county public health department in the books, summer in the SCV is living up to its reputation as being, well, summer in the SCV. Hot, hot and hot.

While not in the realm of Death Valley temperatures, which broke its own heat record on July 5 hitting 127 degrees, the SCV still has temps that are uncomfortable without the A/C running at full blast. Summer in the SCV can last until Halloween. So where can you go to escape this scorching oven? Try the beach.

It sounds idyllic, pitching a tent on the sand or sleeping on the beach under the stars. However, camping in the sand is rarely permitted in California, so most designated beach campsites are set on bluff tops, with just a short walk to the waterfront and ocean views.

While it’s true that most beach camping spots are reserved well in advance at this time of year, there are always cancellations and you might drop in at exactly the right time to find an unclaimed spot. In addition, some areas offer first come, first serve camping sites.

Dockweiler RV Park

12001 Vista del Mar, Playa del Rey 90293 Info beaches.lacounty.gov/dockweiler-rv-park

The County of Los Angeles runs the only recreational vehicle campground on the beach in L.A. County.

Here you can enjoy ocean breezes and a scenic panorama from Malibu to Catalina Island. This popular, year-round beach campsite offers complete hook-ups, hot showers and a laundromat. Each campsite has its own picnic table and barbecue. The ocean only a few steps from your RV door. Play volleyball at nearby courts, take a walk on the sand, or even have a romantic fire on the beach. There is a great beach for swimming and surf fish-

Beat the Heat with Beach Camping

ing. No tent or car camping.

San Onofre State Beach

5200 S. Pacific Coast Hwy, San Clemente 92672 Info www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=647

San Onofre is one of California’s most popular beaches for surfers, swimmers, sunbathers, campers, kayakers, birders, fishermen and bicyclists.

Two campgrounds at San Mateo and San Onofre Bluffs have a total of 333 tent or RV campsites. A 1.5-mile nature trail connects the campground to Trestles Beach, the world-class surfing site.

All campsites include a fire pit and picnic table. RV hookup sites are available with electricity and water. Other amenities include a dump station, indoor hot showers and flush toilets.

Faria Beach County Park

4350 Pacific Coast Hwy, Ventura 93001

This small campground is open to RV and tent campers and only available on a first come, first serve basis. Amenities include restrooms, showers, camp store and café.

Enjoy surfing, camping, fishing, stand-up paddleboarding and walking on the beach.

Hobson Beach

5700 Pacific Coast Hwy, Ventura 93001

Hobson Beach County Park is located south of the private gated Seacliff Beach Colony in Ventura County. At high tide there will be little if no dry sand at Hobson Beach. This is a popular surfing spot in Ventura County.

Open to tents and RV’s, they don’t take reservations in the summer so it’s first come, first served. Restrooms, showers, picnic tables, BBQs, camp store, café.

Rincon Parkway Beach

5000 Pacific Coast Hwy, Ventura 93001

Rincon Parkway County Park is a linear campground spans most of the Ventura shoreline between Faria Beach County Park and Hobson Beach County Park. The parkway is only open to RV camping on the asphalt shoulder of Pacific Coast Highway.

This stretch of highway has a direct view out toward the Channel Islands. The beach is narrow and wet at high tide, but at lower tides the gradually sloping sand is excellent for walking in the shallow surf.

At the north end of parkway camp spaces there is a slight bend in the highway where you will find the widest part of the beach.

Activities include surfing and walking on the beach. Best for self-contained RVs.

Jalama Beach County Park

9999 Jalama Rd., Lompoc 93436

Info reservations.sbparks.org

Jalama Beach in Santa Barbara County is a respite from typically bustling seaside parks, yet offers many conveniences including hot showers. Groceries, personal care sundries, firewood, fishing bait and tackle, ice, beer and wine may be purchased at the Jalama Store. The store and its popular grill are open daily.

Land near Jalama Creek was once a Chumash Indian settlement named Halama.

Activities include surfing, whale-watching, birdwatching, nature photography and fishing. Many protected California native plants like sand verbena, saltbush and sea rocket, grow within park boundaries. 

Reservations

For information, visit the following. Beach camping www.californiabeaches. com.

California State Parks reserve california.com/Web.

Private Los Angeles County beach campsites hipcamp.com/en-US/d/ united-states/california/los-angeles/ camping/beach

NEWS FEATURE

How you start your morning can impact the rest of your day. If you’re looking to incor porate healthier choices into your morning routine, try a concept known as “habit stacking.” Building tiny, healthier habits into routines you already have, like enjoying a morning beverage or breakfast before you check your email instead of jumping right into the day’s tasks, can make it easier to stick to a new habit when it’s built into an existing routine. If you already enjoy the routine of breakfast to start the day, consider swapping sugary drinks for beverages without added sugars like unsweetened green or black tea. When incorporated as part of an overall healthy diet, unsweetened tea can help support heart health.

If you need help getting started, Lipton, a proud national sponsor of the American Heart Association’s Life is Why campaign, created these easy-tomake, better-for-you tea recipes.

A small handful of ingredients makes a big splash in Green Tea Berry Banana Smoothies, ideal for an on-the-go breakfast. For a little refreshment any time of day, simple Sparkling Green Tea Cranberry Spritzers offer a solution with 0 grams of added sugars while non-alcoholic Green Tea Mojito Mocktails provide natural sweetness with 100% fruit juice.

Choosing beverages with no added sugars can contribute to a healthy heart, according to the American Heart Association, making these recipes perfect for daily habit stacking. Water is needed to keep your body running at its best, and because unsweetened tea is 99.5% water, it provides a delicious way to help hydrate.

Discover more ways to improve daily routines at Heart.org/eatsmart.

Sparkling Green Tea Cranberry Spritzers

Servings 4 (1 1/2 cups per serving)

4 cups water

4 single-serving green tea bags

1 cup 100% cranberry juice or 100% cranberry-pomegranate juice

2 cups ice cubes

1/2 cup seltzer (flavored or plain) or low-sodium club soda, chilled

4 orange slices or lime wedges (optional)

In small saucepan over high heat, bring water to boil. Remove pan from heat. Submerge tea bags. Steep 4 minutes. Discard tea bags. Let tea mixture cool 30 minutes. Pour into pitcher. Stir in cranberry juice. Refrigerate 2 hours, or until chilled. At serving time, put ice cubes in four glasses. Pour tea mixture into glasses. Top each serving with seltzer. Garnish with orange slices.

Tip To create cranberry-flavored ice cubes, fill ice

cube tray with 100% cranberry juice and freeze.

Nutritional information per serving 32 calories:

0 g total fat (0 g saturated fat, trans fat, polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat); 0 mg cholesterol; 4 mg sodium; 8 mg carbohydrates; 0 g fiber; 8 g total sugars (0 g added sugars); 1 g protein.

Green Tea Mojito Mocktails

Servings 4 (1 1/2 cups per serving)

4 cups water

4 single-serving green tea bags

32-40 sprigs fresh mint, plus additional for garnish, divided

2 cups ice cubes

1 cup 100% white grape juice

1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 4 medium limes)

1 medium lime, cut into four wedges or lime zest twists (optional)

In small saucepan over high heat, bring water to boil. Remove pan from heat. Submerge tea bags. Steep 4 minutes. Discard tea bags. Let tea mixture cool 30 minutes. Pour into pitcher. Refrigerate 2

hours, or until chilled.

At serving time, add mint leaves to four glasses. Using muddler or wooden spoon, mash mint leaves several times to release juices. Don’t mash into pulp. Add ice.

Stir white grape juice and lime juice into tea mixture. Pour into glasses. Garnish each with lime wedge and mint leaf.

Tip To get more juice from citrus, before slicing, microwave fruit on high 30 seconds, or until warm. When cool enough to handle, use citrus reamer or handheld juice press to juice citrus.

Nutritional information per serving 45 calories; 0 g total fat (0 g saturated fat, trans fat, polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat); 0 mg cholesterol; 7 mg sodium; 13 g carbohydrates; 0 g fiber; 10 g total sugars (0 g added sugars); 1 g protein. (Family Features) 

Sparkling Green Tea Cranberry Spritzers

Green Tea Mojito Mocktails

Wild About Animals

Mootnick a story in the New York Times at the time of his death.

By Michele E. Buttelman

Signal Staff Writer

Animals are all around us in the Santa Clarita Valley, from the coyotes in the surrounding hills to the birds in our backyards. Racoons, bobcats, opossums pay us visits that are often unseen. There are also rare reports of sightings of deer and bears.

To experience exotic or large animals, summer is a great time to visit one of the many animal sanctuaries in and around the Santa Clarita Valley.

All of these nonprofit organizations welcome donations and volunteers.

Hart Barnyard

William S. Hart Regional Park 24151 Newhall Ave., Newhall 91321

Info friendsofhartpark.com/Zoo/animals.html

The Hart Barnyard at William S. Hart Park features a variety of critters from ducks and geese to pigs and alpacas.

It is not a petting zoo, but you are able to feed some of the animals. Sign up for a free barnyard tour by visiting the website.

Also, don’t forget to visit the bison herd, which are located in the 22+ acre enclosure to the west of the Barnyard, just off La Loma Road.

The original herd of eight bison was donated by Walt Disney to Hart Park in 1962. The last remaining bison from Disney’s gift died in 1994, however a small herd of bison still remains at the park.

The bison are routinely traded for others from ranches and preserves to prevent inbreeding.

Gibbon Conservation Center

19100 Esguerra Rd., Santa Clarita, CA 91390

Info www.gibboncenter.org; reservations required

The nonprofit Gibbon Conservation Center in Saugus needs community support to promote the conservation, study and care of gibbons through public education and habitat preservation.

Gibbons are endangered small apes that live in subtropical and tropical forests from eastern Bangladesh to Northeast India to southern China and Indonesia.

The Gibbon Center was established in 1976 by Alan Richard Mootnick who died in 2011. His contributions to the scientific study of gibbons earned

The center currently houses the rarest group of apes in the Western Hemisphere and is the only institution in the world to house and breed all four genera of gibbon. It assists with gibbon rescue programs in Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Gibbons are susceptible to human diseases to ensure the safety of the gibbons all visitors must be in good health and wear an approved mask covering both mouth and nose at all times once they exit their vehicles.

Gentle Barn

15825 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita, CA. 91390

Info www.gentlebarn.org; reservations required

The Gentle Barn is an animal sanctuary that rescues farmed animals from abuse or neglect, many of whom have disabilities. Once the animals realize they’re home and safe, they in turn help children and adults connect with nature.

Come hug the cows, give the pigs a tummy rub, cuddle the turkeys and

Guests should wear long pants, closed-toe shoes, a hat and sunscreen. Be sure to bring your own water. A water filling station is available.

Shambala Preserve

6867 Soledad Canyon Rd., Acton 93510

Info www.shambala.org; reservations required

Founded in 1972 by actress Tippi Hedren (“The Birds” 1963) Shambala offers a Safari Tour through the world of the big cats, all of whom are endangered or threatened species. Meet African lions, Bengal and Siberian tigers and black and spotted leopards, servals and mountain lions. All of these exotic cats have been born in the U.S. to be sold as pets.

The Safari consists of a 2½-hour (maximum) planned program, including a one hour guided, walk-through.

Shambala is accredited by the American Sanctuary Association and run by the nonprofit Roar Foundation.

Wildlife Learning and Conservation Center

16027 Yarnell St., Sylmar 91342

Info wildlifelearningcenter.org; advance tickets

Wildlife Learning and Conservation Center is nestled in a leafy old olive grove which adds to the

wildlife viewing experience. See lemurs, monkeys, porcupines, marmosets, sugar gliders, birds, reptiles and more.

Founded in 2007 to give a home and care to animals in need and to provide public education in the life sciences, conservation and the environment it is dedicated to giving over 100 displaced, rescued and zoo-born wild animals a home.

WLCC also participates in species conservation efforts called Species Survival Plans which are managed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Animal Tracks

10234 Escondido Canyon Rd., Agua Dulce 91390

Info www.animaltracksinc.org; advance tickets

Founded by Stacy Gunderson, a veteran Hollywood animal trainer, the nonprofit Animal Tracks cares for injured or rejected exotic animals, including some retired Hollywood animal stars.

The 75-minute tour is educational and allows animal interaction. Visit monkeys, donkeys, birds, wolf-hybrids, kangaroos and more.

The goal of Animal Tracks is to rescue animals in need, to educate about wildlife and to discourage people from keeping exotic animals as pets. 

©ADOBE STOCK

The Barnyard at Hart Park has a variety of critters from ducks and geese to pigs and alpacas. SIGNAL FILE PHOTO

FROM THE CITY MANAGER

Navigating School Traffic Safely

By Ken Striplin

Santa Clarita City Manager

As the new school year approaches, the streets around our schools will once again be bustling with activity. With over 50 elementary, junior high and high schools in our community, tens of thousands of students are dropped off and picked up in the surrounding neighborhoods every day. Ensuring the safety of these students is a shared responsibility among parents, guardians and drivers. As a father of four who has spent countless hours taking my children to and from school and practices, I urge our Santa Clarita residents to drive safely to keep our children out of harm’s way.

forced to protect our children, so always slow down and stay alert.

Whether you are a resident driving past a school, or a parent or guardian dropping off your child, it is essential to always follow school rules and traffic laws. Obeying speed limits in school zones is critical, especially during school hours when children are most likely to be present. In California, drivers cannot exceed 25 mph when driving within 500 to 1,000 feet of a school while children are outside or crossing the street. These limits are strictly en-

Double parking is also a common issue that not only obstructs traffic but also creates dangerous situations for students who may need to cross between cars. Always find a legal parking spot and avoid double parking at all costs. Additionally, please respect our neighbors who live around schools. When parking, avoid blocking driveways and access to their homes. Yielding to pedestrians is another fundamental rule. Our team of crossing guards that are stationed throughout the City play a vital role in helping children cross the streets safely. It is always important to respect their signals and instructions at all times.

When it comes to drop-off and pick-up practices, using designated areas is key. Each of our schools have specific zones for dropping off and picking up students, which help manage traffic flow and ensure that students are entering and exiting cars

BEST IN CLASS SPECIALTY CARE

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and Keck Medicine of USC are partnering to bring advanced services — cancer care, breast health, colorectal surgery, and specialty urology — to our community in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Keck Medicine’s USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center brings the latest innovations in cancer detection, prevention, and treatment to help you get the care you need close to home.

in safe locations. Be sure to know your schools designated areas at the beginning of the school year, and share that information with other parents and guardians. By staying in your car while in the dropoff or pick-up lane, you can help keep the line moving efficiently and prevent unnecessary congestion and confusion. Remember to communicate with your child at the beginning of the year to make sure they know where to meet you and understand the importance of staying on the sidewalk and away from traffic while waiting.

The City of Santa Clarita is proud to partner with our local Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station to provide an extra level of protection to our students. During drop-off and pickup times, dedicated deputies work with our crossing guards, parking enforcement officers and school administrators to create safe pathways for students to get to their parents’ cars, buses or to walk or ride their bikes.

By following these guidelines and working together, we can ensure a safe and smooth start to the school year for everyone. Let’s all do our part to keep our children safe as they embark on another exciting year of learning and growth.

Ken Striplin is the City Manager for the City of Santa Clarita and can be reached at kstriplin@ santaclarita.gov. 

Simple Recipes that Make School Days a Cinch

Resisting the weeknight urge to call for takeout or order delivery starts with an approachable at-home menu with recipes you can prep in an instant. Especially during back-to-school season when schedules are jam-packed with activities, easy meals and desserts you can rely on allow you and your loved ones to ease tension in the kitchen.

Simplicity is the key to putting dinner on the table in 30 minutes or less, and this Taco Salad and add in a special sweet treat — No Bake Dragon Fruit Cheesecake Bars.

Find more recipe ideas to simplify hectic backto-school schedules at Culinary.net.

Make Dinner Happen in 30 Minutes

If you’re looking for a go-to meal for your hungry family, search no more. This Taco Salad calls only for pantry staples so you can spice up busy evenings in just half an hour.

Taco Salad

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”

Total time 30 minutes

Servings 6

1 pound ground beef

1 can (15 ounces) black beans

1 can (15 ounces) corn

2 cans (14 ounces each) diced tomatoes with chilies

1/2 cup half-and-half or milk

2 tablespoons onion powder

2 tablespoons garlic powder

2 tablespoons mesquite seasoning

1 tablespoon black pepper salt, to taste

1 lime, juice only

1 cup chopped cilantro romaine lettuce

2-3 cups shredded cheese

1 tub (16 ounces) sour cream crushed tortilla chips

In pan over medium heat, brown beef until cooked through; drain. Add black beans and corn. Stir in

tomatoes with juices and half-and-half. Add onion powder, garlic powder, mesquite seasoning and pepper. Season with salt, to taste. Bring to simmer. Add lime juice; stir. Sprinkle with cilantro. Wash and chop lettuce. Place cheese and sour cream in bowls for toppings.

On plates, top crushed tortilla chips with meat sauce, lettuce, cheese and sour cream, as desired.

A Sweet Treat to Make School Days Special

Sometimes a long day in the classroom and tough homework assignments call for a cool treat. Rewarding all that studying can be a cinch with a no bake cheesecake bar that lasts throughout the week. These No Bake Dragon Fruit Cheesecake Bars allow you to keep things cool in the kitchen without cranking up the oven. Plus, they’re made with C&H Sugars that are perfect for adding a little something special to school days.

Find more back-to-school desserts at chsugar.com.

No Bake Dragon Fruit Cheesecake Bars

Prep time: 35 minutes

Rest time 6 hours

Yield 16 bars

Crust

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

2 tablespoons C&H Light Brown Sugar

1 pinch salt

Bars

1 small fresh dragon fruit, peeled and cubed small

1/4 cup C&H Granulated Sugar

12 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

1 1/2 cups C&H Powdered Sugar

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 cup plain Greek yogurt, full fat, at room temperature 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, cold

To make crust Line 8-by-8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Leave 2-inch overhang of paper on both sides. In medium bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs, butter, brown sugar and salt until well combined. Pour mixture into prepared pan and press into even layer. Place in freezer.

To make bars In small saucepan over medium heat, cook dragon fruit and granulated sugar until sugar is completely dissolved, dragon fruit is soft and mixture reduces in size, 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and cool completely.

In large bowl, beat cream cheese until soft. Add powdered sugar and mix until fluffy. Scrape sides of bowl. Add vanilla and yogurt. Beat until combined.

In separate bowl, beat heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Fold cream into cream cheese mixture. Pour half of mixture into prepared crust. Add 5 tablespoons dragon fruit mixture to remaining cream cheese batter. Mix until well combined. Pour over plain cream cheese mixture. Place in refrigerator to set at least 6 hours, or overnight.

Cut into 16 bars. (Family Features) 

Taco Salad

ENTERTAINMENT

An Illuminating Glimpse Into Taylor’s Relatively Unfiltered Mindset

By Richard Roeper Signal Contributing Writer

‘Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes’   (out of four)

HBO Documentary Films presents a documentary directed by Nanette Burstein. Streaming on Max.

For some 70 years, Elizabeth Taylor had a level of celebrity few people in the history of this planet have matched, and Taylor was at the height of her fame in 1964 when she sat down for a series of interviews with Richard Meryman. The pioneering celebrity journalist culled material from those tapes for the ghostwritten 1965 autobiography “Elizabeth Taylor by Elizabeth Taylor.”

Sunday-Thursday, August 11-15, 2024

The 40 hours of audio from those sessions have been cleared for release by the Taylor and Meryman estates and serve as the foundation for the HBO documentary “Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes,” providing an il-

luminating glimpse into Taylor’s relatively unfiltered mindset at the time while also reminding us of the insane level of fascination the press and the public held for the two-time Academy Award winner and tabloid sensa-

tion. (And by her own admission in the interviews, Taylor gave the world something to talk about, again and again and again.)

Nanette Burstein (co-director of “On the Ropes” and “The Kid Stays in the Picture” and director of “Hillary”) provides steady, no-frills direction that includes snippets of Taylor’s movies, a myriad of behindthe-scenes photos and newsreel footage; there’s a nearly endless supply of material, given Taylor starred in some 80 films and offscreen was one of the most photographed and filmed people ever.

At times, when an audio clip is particularly poignant, we see simple but effective visuals, e.g., a reel-toreel tape recording, a hand holding a lit cigarette, champagne bubbling in a glass, giving us the feeling we’re in the room with Meryman and Taylor as he gently prods her and she occasionally gets exasperated, at one point chiding Meryman for “putting so much bloody emphasis” on her status as what we used to call a sex symbol.

ing through Michael Wilding, the producer Mike Todd (who died in a plane crash), Eddie Fisher (“It was an awful mistake. I knew it before we were married and didn’t know how to get out of it”) and Richard Burton. At times we hear recordings of Elizabeth’s closest friends, including Roddy McDowall and George Hamilton, the latter saying of the tabloids’ omnipresent and suffocating press coverage of Taylor and Burton, “They were not going for glamour anymore. They were going for the destruction of glamour.”

While filming “Cleopatra,” at the time the most expensive movie ever made, Taylor found herself condemned by the Vatican newspaper for her love life, and she fell seriously ill on set, which caused a long delay in production. At one point, Taylor underwent a tracheotomy to help her breathe; of her Oscar for “Butterfield 8,” a film she loathed, Taylor says, “I won because I had a tracheotomy.”

Lyons

B O R D E R L A N D S C Sun: 10:20 1:20 4:20 7:20; Mon to Thu: 1:20 4:20 7:20 Lilith reluc tantly returns to her home planet of Pandora to ﬁnd the missing daughter of Atlas.

C U C KO O E 1:30 4:30 7:30

Gretchen leaves her American home to live with her father in the German Alps But something doesn’t seem right

I T E N D S W I T H U S C Sun: 10:00 1:00 4:05 7:10; Mon to Thu: 1:00 4:05 7:10 Lily Bloom overcomes a traumatic childhood to embark on a new life in Boston and chase a lifelong dream of opening her own business

H A RO L D A N D T H E P U R P L E C R AYO N B 12:55 3:05 5:15 7:30

Inside of his book, adventurous Harold can make anything come to life simply by drawing it

K N E E C A P E Sun: 10:30 AM

When fate brings Belfast schoolteacher JJ into the orbit of self- confessed “low life scum” Naoise and Liam Og, the needle drops on a hip hop ac t like no other

T R A P C 1:20 4:20 7:10

A father and teen daughter attend a pop concer t, where they realize they ’re at the center of a dark and sinister event

D E A D P O O L & WO LV E R I N E E Sun: 10:00 1:00 4:00 7:00; Mon to Thu: 1:00 4:00 7:00

Wolverine is recovering from his injuries when he crosses paths with the loudmouth, Deadpool

T H E FA B U LO U S F O U R E Sun: 10:20 AM

Three life -long friends travel to Key West to be bridesmaids in a surprise wedding of their college girlfriend Marilyn

T W I S T E R S C Sun: 10:10 1:10 4:00 7:00; Mon to Thu: 1:10 4:00 7:00

A former storm chaser haunted by a devastating encounter with a tornado is lured back to the open plains to test a groundbreaking new tracking system

F LY M E TO T H E M O O N C Sun: 10:00 AM

Brought in to fix NASA’s public image, sparks fly in all direc tions as marketing maven Kelly Jones wreaks havoc on launch direc tor Cole Davis’s already difficult task

L AW R E N C E O F A R A B I A B Mon: 7:00 PM

We move rather quickly through the early stages of Taylor’s career, as she recalls juggling on-set schoolwork with acting in films such as “Lassie Come Home” and “National Velvet,” as well as her friendship with James Dean and his shocking death (“I’d just been with him that day, driving around the studio in his Porsche ...”) and the challenges of being an untrained actor working with Method devotees such as Dean and Montgomery Clift.

We’re also reminded of the disturbing sexualization of Taylor when she was just a teenager, as when the male narrator of a promotional film says, “Have you ever seen a dream walking? Well, I have. A dream with peaches-and-cream complexion, flowing raven locks and big blue eyes. ... She’s 5-foot-5 and 110 pounds of glorious 16-year-old cover girl beauty. You’ll see her soon in … ‘A Date With Judy.’”

Good Lord.

Taylor speaks with candor about her numerous marriages, starting with an ill-fated union with Conrad “Nicky” Hilton Jr. and continu-

Even all these decades later, it’s startling to witness the crush of humanity and the swarms of paparazzi that surrounded Taylor everywhere, especially during her roller-coaster romance with Burton, which included two marriages. Taylor was just 32 when these recordings were made, but rather than end there, the film continues through a rather rapid summation of her life and times in the decades to follow, concluding with a few audio excerpts from an interview with Dominick Dunne in 1985. We’re reminded of how Taylor used her great fame for good, most notably in her very public and devoted activism for AIDS research at a time when most celebrities were reluctant to step forward.

At the outset of the film, Taylor is heard on the tape asking Meryman, “Do you have your friggin’ machine on?” It’s to the benefit of the viewer, and to the historical record of cinema, that Meryman kept that friggin’ machine running for so many hours so we could hear from one of the most memorable icons Hollywood has ever known, in her own voice. 

2024 Chicago Sun-Times

PHOTO CREDIT IMDB

Risk Factors For AFib SENIOR LIVING

Ahealthy heart is vital to a long life. Aging individuals recognize that link, and many take steps to protect their heart health, which may include changing their diets or exercising with greater frequency.

Recognizing certain threats to heart health is another important step individuals of all ages can take as they seek to live long, healthy lives. One such threat is atrial fibrillation, which is often referred to as “AFib.” Johns Hopkins medicine notes AFib is a type of abnormal heartbeat caused by extremely fast and irregular beats from the upper chambers of the heart. Johns Hopkins notes a person with AFib may have a heart that beats more than 400 times per minute, which is caused by faulty electrical signals that make the atria (the two upper chambers of the heart) contract much faster than normal.

The American Heart Association reports that AFib increases the risk of heart-related death and stroke. But individuals may be curious about their risk for AFib. Though some of the risks for AFib, such as family history, may be beyond an individual’s control, others can be managed with the goal of reducing the likelihood of developing the condition. The AHA notes that people who have one or more of the following conditions are typically at higher risk for AFib.

Age Age is a significant risk factor for AFib. Johns Hopkins notes that adults older than 50 are at elevated risk for AFib. In addition, the AHA reports that medical researchers suspect the number of AFib cases will rise considerably in the coming years as people are living longer. Recognition of age as a significant risk factor for AFib might compel more individuals to take additional risk factors for the condition more seriously.

High blood pressure The AHA reports that longstanding, uncontrolled high blood pressure can increase a person’s risk for AFib. This link between AFib and high blood pressure underscores the need for annual health examinations, which often uncover the condition known as “the silent killer” due to the fact that it does not necessarily produce noticeable symptoms.

Existing heart conditions Heart valve problems; hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is marked by a thickening of the walls of the heart chamber; acute coronary syndrome, an umbrella term used to refer to conditions in which blood supplies to the heart are suddenly blocked; and a history of heart attack are just some of the heart conditions that increase a person’s risk for AFib. Anyone with a personal or family history of these and other heart conditions is urged to discuss AFib with their physicians.

Alcohol consumption Binge drinking increases risk for AFib, according to the AHA. The organization defines binge drinking as five drinks in two hours for men and four drinks in two hours for women. If individuals want to consume alcohol, Johns Hopkins emphasizes the need for moderate consumption, which is defined as one drink or less per day for women or two drinks or fewer per day for men.

Activity levels Though physical activity is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle, the AHA notes that AFib is common in athletes. The condition can be triggered by a rapid heart rate known as a supraventricular tachycardia, which can be a byproduct of exercise.

AFib can pose a serious threat to individuals from all walks of life. Recognition of that threat and how to reduce AFib risk can be part of anyone’s long-term health regimen. (MC) 

•

©ADOBE STOCK

HOME

Formal Dining Room Conversion Ideas

Many homeowners can undoubtedly take a stroll through their homes and find at least one space that could be repurposed to provide more functionality. Real estate professionals know that such sentiments are not uncommon, and many point to formal dining rooms as spaces that have fallen out of favor in recent years.

Formal dining rooms were once common in newly built homes, but the pivot toward open concept floor plans left it up to homeowners to decide if such spaces were for them. In a 2017 book published by the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press, authors used cameras to monitor life in many people’s homes, including how they used each room. The authors concluded that formal dining rooms were rarely used for eating. If that sounds a lot like home to many current homeowners, then it might be time to consider some ideas to convert formal dining rooms to make these spaces more functional. Home office Though the percentage of professionals working remotely has dipped considerably since the end of the pandemic, hybrid working is perhaps among the more lasting work-related byproducts of COVID-19. In its Global State of Remote and Hybrid study published in early 2024, the

career networking resource LinkedIn noted that 13 percent of jobs posted to the platform were for hybrid positions. That means millions of workers can still utilize an accommodating home office space. A formal dining room can be converted to provide such a space, and the good news is that such a conversion need not require extensive renovations. A fresh coat of paint, an additional outlet or two and perhaps a new overhead lighting fixture can instantly transform the space at minimal cost.

Reading room/library Homeowners who dream of having a designated space for quiet reading can convert a little-used formal dining room into a space to curl up with a good book. Some comfortable armchairs, built-in bookshelves and perhaps an expanded floor-to-ceiling window overlooking a side or backyard can help homeowners create a home li-

brary that will be the envy of any avid reader.

Studio space If there’s a resident yogi and/or artist living under the roof, then converting a dining room into a yoga or art studio, or perhaps even a hybrid space for those who enjoy both activities, is a no-brainer. A yoga studio conversion may not require as much investment as a kitchen overhaul or bathroom renovation, but an ideal home yoga space requires more than a mat and room to stretch. The Yogapreneur Collective notes that flooring in a yoga studio should be non-slip, easily cleaned, durable, sound-absorbing, and low maintenance. The Yogapreneur Collective asserts that different flooring materials may be ideal for certain types of yoga, noting that cork flooring is a go-to choice for professional studios that offer hot yoga. Similarly, the right flooring for an art studio may depend on the artist’s preferred medium, whether it’s oil painting, arts and crafts or another artistic pursuit. But any artist knows that a floor that’s easy to clean is perhaps best for a home art studio.

If a formal dining room is only used occasionally, homeowners may want to consider the many ways to convert such spaces into areas that are more usable every day. (MC) 

Use Companion Plant Strategies for Your Garden

By Pam Malinoski Farmers’ Almanac

Companion planting is a great way to maximize the efficiency of your garden. For almost every vegetable you grow, there is likely to be a beneficial companion plant that will help increase soil nutrients, chase away pests and help you get the most out of your garden. For a complete list of the 17 most popular vegetables to grow along with their friends (and enemies), visit www. farmersalmanac.com/companionplanting-guide. Here are a few from that list.

Tomato Companion Plants

The tomato, as we know it today, has come a long way from the time it grew wild in South America. Indigenous people cultivated them and slowly brought them north, experimenting with hybrids along the way. As a result, we have more than 10,000 kinds of tomatoes to enjoy today.

Friends The best companion plants for tomatoes are also ones that complement them in recipes. Basil and tomatoes were made to go together, not only in sauces but in the garden, too. This herb helps tomatoes produce greater yields and it repels both flies and mosquitoes. Marigolds are another good companion, repelling nematodes and other garden pests.

Foes Poor tomato companion plants include cabbage, beets, peas, fennel, dill and rosemary. Corn and tomatoes both suffer from the corn earworm, and tomatoes and potatoes are affected by the same blight, so keep these plants separate.

Companions for Peppers

Although peppers were originally native to tropical areas, home gardeners can enjoy growing this vegetable throughout most of North America by purchasing transplants that have been started in greenhouses.

Friends Basil helps repel aphids, spider mites, mosquitoes and flies and even potentially improves the pepper’s flavor. Other good companions include onions, spinach and tomatoes.

Foes Poor companions include pole beans as vines can get tangled among

the pepper plants. Broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage are not good because they take similar nutrients from the soil and tend to attract pests.

Green Bean Companions

Did you know the original green bean had primarily ornamental value? That’s because it took years to breed the natural stringy-ness out of green beans to make them more palatable for human consumption. Today, we enjoy hundreds of varieties of green beans — albeit, some of them are purple and red on the outside.

Friends One of the best companion plants is corn because they make natural trellises, allowing beans to literally grow up with the corn. Beans also fix nitrogen in the soil, which is good for the corn. Marigolds, nasturtiums, rosemary and summer savory repel bean beetles, and summer savory improves its growth rate and flavor.

Foes Beets or anything from the onion family make poor green bean companions. Onions, in particular, impede the growth of bean plants.

Cucumber Companions

Cucumbers originated in India where a great deal of genetic diversity exists. Over thousands of years, the cucumber has been cultivated throughout the world.

Friends Excellent companions include marigolds and nasturtiums, which repel aphids and beetles. Beans, celery, corn, lettuce, dill, peas, and radishes are also good cucumber companion plants.

Foes Aromatic herbs such as sage and rosemary make poor compan-

ions as they tend to stunt the growth of cucumbers. Broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower can compete for similar soil nutrients.

Companions for Onions

While many believe onions originated in central Asia, some research shows that onions may have been started in Iran and West Pakistan. Wild onions were likely used around the world for years before onions were formally planted and cultivated.

Friends Carrots make good onion companions because onions will repel the carrot fly and chase away the aphids. Other good friends include beets, cabbage, carrots, lettuce, parsnips, tomatoes and spices like marjoram, savory and rosemary.

Foes Asparagus, beans, sage and peas make poor companion plants for onions. Onions may stunt their growth and negatively affect their flavor.

Lettuce Companion Plants

Interestingly, lettuce may have been cultivated by ancient Egyptians. However, it’s not clear that they ate the leaves as we do today, but instead may have used lettuce for oil production.

Friends One of the best companion plants for lettuce is mint, which keeps away the slugs that feed on lettuce leaves. Chives and garlic help repel aphids and marigolds attract aphid-eating ladybugs. Beets, broccoli, carrots, corn, peas and radishes also work as good lettuce companion plants. And, finally, you may also want to plant a trellis of pole beans nearby as a wall of beans can provide shade as the weather grows warm-

er. Keeping lettuce plants cooler and well-watered can keep them from going to seed and becoming bitter.

Foes Parsley, which tends to be bushy, can crowd your lettuce plants. Brassicas can compete with lettuces for the same nutrients.

Summer Squash or Zucchini Companion Plants

Zucchini may be known as one of the most prolific garden vegetables in our country. Some evidence exists that the first zucchini plants may have been grown 10,000 years ago as archeologists have discovered seeds in Mexican caves.

Friends The best companion plants for zucchini are beans, peas, radishes, peppermint, dill, parsley, oregano and marigolds. Ideally, they should be grown with other plants that require regular watering but don’t require a great deal of space.

Foes Potatoes make a poor zucchini companion plant, as both are prone to blight. Cucumbers and pumpkins should also be planted further away as they attract the same diseases and pests as zucchini.

Companions for Carrots

Carrots are a staple vegetable for many gardeners, and the fact that they can be left in the ground during the winter makes them extra convenient.

Friends Since carrots are heat sensitive, tomato plants that can provide them a bit of shade are excellent companions. Tomatoes are also known to produce solanine, which is a natural insecticide that targets pests affecting carrot plants. Since tomatoes benefit as well, they make perfect companion plants for carrots. Carrots aerate the soil around the roots of the tomato plants, allowing more air and water to reach the roots. Leeks and carrots are also good companion plants since leeks repel carrot flies and carrots repel leek moths and onion flies. Rosemary, sage and chive also help repel carrot flies.

Foes Both coriander and dill produce compounds that can harm carrot plants, and parsnips suffer from the same diseases and pests as carrots, so keep them apart to minimize a potential infestation. 

Tomatoes and Marigolds make good companion plants. ©ADOBE STOCK

CELEBRITY NEWS

QI just saw the movie “Twisters” and was happy to see one of my favorite actresses, Maura Tierney, again. The last thing I saw her in was “The Good Wife,” but it was only a few episodes. What else has she done?

— W.T.

AMaura Tierney has been acting mainly on television for over three decades, but is probably best known for her roles on the sitcom “NewsRadio” and another show you might have heard of — “ER.” She went on to act in some independent films and TV shows before landing another starring role in Showtime’s “The Affair” with Dominic West (“The Crown”).

She followed that with a short stint on another Showtimes series “Your Honor,” starring Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”), before landing an-

other role on Showtime in “American Rust,” opposite Jeff Daniels (“A Man in Full”). But it only lasted two seasons.

Tierney can be seen in the current summer blockbuster movie “Twisters,” but she’ll be returning to our television screens in a big way this fall as a detective on “Law & Order.” This marks her return to NBC on Thursday nights since playing Dr. Abby

Lockhart on “ER.”

The original “Law & Order” returned to NBC after an 11-year hiatus in 2022. There have already been cast changes in just two seasons, with the departures of Sam Waterston, Camryn Manheim and Jeffrey Donovan. The length of Tierney’s contract is unknown, but she’ll bring a loyal fanbase with her regardless.

QDid Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie ever officially divorce? If not, how long has it been going on?

— E.S.

AEven though the A-list couple split in 2016, they’re still battling it out in court over their businesses. However, a judge did declare them legally single, but the business and custody issues are still being fought out in court. Pitt is suing Jolie for $67 million after she sold her shares of their French winery. Jolie also protested a judge’s decision to grant Pitt 50/50 custody.

Pitt’s relationship with his children might be beyond repair. Daughter Shiloh filed a petition to legally drop her father’s surname when she turned 18, and two other daughters, Zahara

and Vivienne, both dropped his name informally.

QDid they use any CGI for the cat in the new “A Quiet Place” prequel? It looked real, but I’d be amazed if they didn’t use any special effects. —

AFor the motion picture “A Quiet Place: Day One,” director Michael Sarnoski wanted the emotional support cat Frodo to “feel like a real character.” Instead of generating one with CGI special effects, the movie cast two real felines to play the role of Lupita Nyong’o’s service animal. The cats’ real names are Nico and Schnitzel and reportedly got along well offset (no cat fights!). They received about 12 weeks of training in various wet and dry situations before filming. Nico and Schnitzel did such a great job, but it’s too bad there’s not a special category at the Oscars for four-legged actors.

Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. 

The War You’ve Always Wanted

By Mike McLaughlin

Pat Dolan’s father has a box. In it are treasures from Jimmy Dolan’s service in World War II — his photos, his medals, his memories. But 10-year-old Pat can’t understand why his father refuses to look in the box. After all, the war was a grand adventure, wasn’t it?

Determined to serve in the Army like his father, Pat enlists nine years later — but it’s 1972 and the American military is withdrawing from Vietnam after seven years of futile combat. As an Army combat correspondent surrounded by people growing more desperate by the day, young Dolan quickly learns how bleak the South’s prospects are. He is forced to witness the slow, steady death of a nation.

When Pat is wounded in action, he wonders if he will live long enough BookTrib’s

to fill a box of his own. Are there any treasures to be found in a country as fragile as this?

BEING: A Brief History of the Universe

By Masoud Mostafavi

This manuscript is a beginner/intermediate-level science book discussing a brief history of the universe and how we came to exist. The most recent scientific theories in cosmology and related physics and life sciences concepts are aimed to inform and educate the science-leaning public, especially college students. Subject matters include various origin and creation stories, the nature of reality,

and ancient ideas in astronomy and modern cosmological theories, including the Big Bang.

The book contains chapters discussing historical milestones and topics of physics to help readers better comprehend modern complex cosmological concepts. The birth and death of stars, the Solar System, and the formation and development of the Earth during eons are covered in modest detail. Theories related to the emergence of life on Earth and the evolution of living organisms are described.

The Last Harmonic: A Tale of Bella & Oscar

By Dustin Cook

In the heart of an ancient castle, a curious cat named Bella stumbles upon a hidden world of mystical mice. Granted the gift of speech and bipedal movement, Bella joins forces with the brave mouse Oscar and a wise mouse wizard. Together, they embark on a perilous journey to confront a dark sorcerer threatening their kingdom. Along the way, they navigate treacherous traps, decipher ancient prophecies, and forge unbreakable bonds of friendship. With courage and determination, they face their ultimate challenge in the sorcerer’s lair, fighting to restore magic and harmony to their land.

The Last Harmonic: A Tale of Bella & Oscar is a story of bravery, teamwork, and the power of light over darkness, captivating young readers with its enchanting adventure and timeless lessons and also appealing to adult readers. 

BookBites is presented by BookTrib. com.

Maura Tierney in “Twisters” (2024) PHOTO COURTESY UNIVERSAL PICTURES

Student Athletes: Understanding Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

You may find it difficult to wrap your mind around the idea of an energetic student-athlete with a cardiac diagnosis. Heart conditions may be more often associated with older individuals, but you might be surprised to learn hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common condition responsible for sudden cardiac death in young athletes.

One in every 500 adults has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, according to the American Heart Association, but a significant percentage are undiagnosed. More than 80% of individuals who experience this condition show no signs or symptoms before sudden cardiac death. While sudden cardiac death is rare, it can occur during exercise or in its aftermath. That’s why it’s important for student-athletes and their loved ones to learn more about this condition and talk to a doctor about the risk.

With proper knowledge and the support of a skilled care team, it’s possible to manage hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with heart-healthy actions to prevent complications or worsening cardiovascular conditions like atrial fibrillation (a quivering or irregular heartbeat), stroke or heart failure. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy awareness and education for athletes by the American Heart Association is made possible in part by a grant from the Bristol

Myers Squibb Foundation.

What is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common form of inherited heart disease and can affect people of any age. It’s defined by thickening and stiffening of the walls of the heart. The heart’s chambers cannot fill up or pump blood out adequately, so the heart is unable to function normally.

There are different types of this condition. Most people have a form of the disease in which the wall that separates the two bottom chambers of the heart (the septum) becomes enlarged and restricts blood flow out of the heart (obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy).

However, sometimes hypertrophic cardiomyopathy occurs without significant blocking of blood flow (nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). The heart’s main pumping chamber is still thickened and may become increasingly stiff, reducing the amount of blood taken in then pumped out to the body with each heartbeat.

Symptoms can include shortness of breath, chest pain, heart palpitations and fatigue.

The severity of symptoms can vary, but if you experience them or if you have a family history of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or sudden cardiac

death, it may be a good idea to speak to your doctor about whether you have this condition.

For some, symptoms can get worse and new symptoms can appear, resulting in people dealing with harsher effects and a diminished ability to do the activities they love. This decrease in functions can be one of the most challenging aspects of the disease. Keeping your health care team aware of any new or changing symptoms allows them to work with you to develop a plan to manage these symptoms and reduce their impact.

How is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy diagnosed?

Medical history, family history, a physical exam and diagnostic test results all factor into a diagnosis. A common diagnostic test is an echocardiogram that assesses the thickness of the heart muscle and observes blood flow from the heart.

If anyone in your family has been diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, other heart diseases or has been told they had thick heart walls, you should share that information with your doctor because this condition is hereditary, first-degree relatives, which include siblings and parents, should be checked.

Learn more at heart.org/HCMStudentAthlete. (Family Features) 

Common Conditions That Can Affect Dogs

Taking care of man’s best friend is a priority for all dog owners. That’s evident in the amount people invest in their dogs over the course of their furry friends’ lifetimes.

A 2023 study from MarketWatch Guides found that the lifetime cost to own a labrador retriever in the United States is $28,801, which shows the lengths dog owners will go to in an effort to ensure their pets’ health and happiness.

Preventive care is one way dog owners can protect their pets’ longterm health. Ensuring dogs stay up with their vaccinations and scheduling routine well visits are part of preventive care.

Recognition of common conditions that affect dogs is another component of preventive care. Such knowledge increases the chances dog owners can spot issues before they escalate into something that can pose a threat to dogs’ long-term health.

With that in mind, the ASPCA

notes the following are common illnesses that affect dogs.

Diabetes

The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that diabetes occurs in female dogs twice as often as male dogs. In addition, the AVMA

notes that certain breeds may be predisposed to the condition. Dog owners can speak to their veterinarian to see if their dog is predisposed. The ASPCA notes signs of diabetes in dogs include changes in appetite, excessive thirst/increase in water consumption, weight loss, lethargy, and cataract formation or blindness.

Cancer

The AVMA estimates that nearly half of all dogs over the age of 10 will develop cancer. The ASPCA notes that hereditary and environmental factors can contribute to the development of cancer in dogs, so it’s important for dog owners to keep an eye out for symptoms of the disease. Such signs may include lumps, swelling, persistent sores, abnormal discharge from any part of the body, bad breath, and rapid, often unexplained weight loss.

Sudden lameness, lethargy, stools that are black and tarry, loss of appetite, and difficulty breathing, urinating or defecating are some additional symptoms of cancer in dogs.

Canine Parovirus

The College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University notes that canine parovirus (CPV) is a highly contagious viral disease. Unlike other conditions affecting dogs that tend to strike when dogs are older, CPV typically affects dogs between six and 20 weeks old, though it can affect mature dogs as well.

Symptoms of CPV include lethargy, depression and loss or lack of appetite. The CVM notes that sudden onset of high fever, vomiting and diarrhea also are indicative of CPV infection. The ASPCA notes that CPV can be transmitted to people, animals or objects that come in contact with an infected dog’s feces.

Ringworm

Ringworm is caused by a fungus that can infect the skin, hair and nails of a dog. The ASPCA indicates ringworm is highly contagious and can be passed from dogs to humans.

Skin lesions on the head, ears, paws, and forelimbs are some signs of ringworm in dogs. Patchy, crusted, circular bald spots that appear red in the center is another sign of ringworm, which will not necessarily produce any symptoms in dogs.

Preventive care for dogs includes studying up on common medical issues that can affect man’s best friend. More information about these and other conditions is available at aspca. org. (MC) 

©ADOBE STOCK

Signs a Computer May Be Getting Old

Working professionals know that few things can be as frustrating as a malfunctioning computer. A computer that’s not working properly can interrupt work flow, lead to lost personnel hours and make it hard to get much done.

Whether it’s a spinning color wheel or some other familiar indicator that a computer is not working at peak capacity, there are some telltale signs that a device needs some extra attention.

Frequent (often Frustrating) Glitches

Glitches are a common indicator that something is wrong with a computer. Glitches may make a computer freeze or crash. The latter occurs when the computer screen suddenly goes blank and the device reboots without prompting. In such instances, work may be lost and it may take a manual restart after the reboot to successfully open and use programs again.

Error messages Frequent error messages are another indicator that a computer requires some extra attention. These messages may appear suddenly, even when using applications that have been running for some time.

Noise When working smoothly, computers do not make much noise. However, when parts in the device have begun to malfunction, users may hear noises. One of the more common noises is a loud system fan. When this occurs, users can hear the fan produce a noise that makes it sound as though

it’s overexerting itself.

Sluggishness Much like their human users, computers can exhibit signs of sluggishness when they feel a little overwhelmed. If a computer is sluggish, chances are its hard drive is overwhelmed and running out of room. Moving large files and folders to an external hard drive and then deleting them from the computer’s hard drive can help a computer perform without the sluggishness.

Some of these problems can be addressed with-

out replacing the computer. For example, a noisy fan may just need to be replaced. And installing some extra memory can improve performance when a computer is working slowly.

However, persistent glitches and frequent error messages may indicate it’s time to replace a computer. Professionals are urged to speak with their counterparts in IT to remedy any computer issues that are interrupting workflow and making it hard to get work done on time. (MC) 

How to Safely Wipe Clean an Old Computer

The idea of losing all personal data on a computer, phone or tablet may send a person into a panic. How many times has a drive failed or a computer crashed and a person has worried that all of their essential files were lost forever?

But there are times when it could be essential to clear data from a hard drive. That includes before selling the device, discarding it or giving it away. NordVPN® says someone can access sensitive information many think is gone forever after deletion, but actually could still be stored in the hard drive. Short of removing the hard drive, which would necessitate a new owner putting in a new hard drive, devices will have to be wiped clean to ensure sensitive information is not vulnerable.

Devices can be wiped completely when they are changing hands. Consumer Reports says this is done

by performing a “factory reset.” This technically wipes the drive clean of personal data.

Before initiating a factory reset, it’s important to back up any important data onto the cloud or an external hard drive. Depending on the operating system, hard drive type and device, the instructions for wiping a

hard drive will vary. It’s best to do a search online or ask a technology expert about the most expeditious way to restore factory settings. Even still, there are some issues when wiping a drive that may prove problematic.

If a person recently purchased a computer, it likely has a solid-state drive. SSDs are faster and more stable

than older, mechanical hard drives and use flash memory. That means securely deleting files is very hard. This is why Wirecutter suggests encrypting the drive, which uses a mathematical process to mix up the data using a key that only the device owner has. Without the key, files on the drive will look like gibberish if someone successfully recovers them.

Encrypting an SSD computer is recommended even if one has no intention of selling or trading it later.

Chromebooks usually use SSD but Google enables encryption by default. Chromebook users can skip this step when resetting.

Again, encryption varies based on the OS, so it’s best to study the right way to do so.

Files do not automatically erase just because they are thrown in the trash. Before selling or donating a device, a hard drive wipe or encryption is recommended. (MC) 

SOLUTIONS

Opinion

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

READER LETTERS

Hope for Those Who Give Up Their Car Keys

When you are older, you are a threat to other drivers. Reflexes are dampened, muscle responses are sluggish, cataracts obscure vision, and inflexible eye lenses slow focus.

Cars are made to drive fast, and many whippersnappers navigate the streets like they are at the Indianapolis 500. How many times do you get tailgated and honked at from behind when you are traveling at the posted speed limit?

And should there be an accident, because of your age, you will be blamed.

Yet, it’s unfair to place blame solely on age. We all strive to maintain our independence as we age and want to continue living life as we did when we were young. This desire for independence is something we can all empathize with and understand.

Too often, one of the great difficulties in life is taking the car keys away from your parents or grandparents. Solution: Have the government do it! Why not utilize modern technology to help us out? Airplane pilots are continually tested for their abilities using “flight simulators.” Let’s make a “driver simulator” to test those who are older or might be at risk.

As a driver with a handicap permit issued by the DMV, I often wonder how they can be certain that I am still capable of driving a vehicle safely. The truth is, no one tests me for that. We need a fair and unbiased testing system that can provide reassurance and confidence to all drivers, regardless of age or ability.

Once Grandpa reaches a certain age, or if someone like a doctor recognizes frailty that might result in an accident, the DMV can test a driver in a simulator for their driving ability.

Do they have these simulators now? Not that I am aware of. But if we had one, it would measure braking time, visual ability and other variables needed to drive safely, and put them on a point scale. Not enough points means you are not safe to drive, and the government would ask for the car keys and take the family off the hook!

Plus, this is a reality check for Grandpa, and since the government is telling him this, he might be more willing to give up the car keys. OK, you fastlane-technology-whippersnappers, let’s develop a driver simulator!

But what does Grandpa do now other than sit at home and become depressed? Technology to the rescue again, with the autonomous self-driving car.

Yep, we see them all over California now, especially in Silicon Valley and Los Angeles. But the cost for one is over $70,000. Not too many seniors can afford that.

Can we be creative enough to develop a community autonomous car coop that might allow, let’s say, 20 seniors to share the cost of a car?

Once again, we need to develop a program where a group of seniors can share gas, insurance, maintenance and parking so we can sustain our independence.

Help!

If I had an autonomous self-driving car, the first thing I would do is get a young whippersnapper to program it to drive over the speed limit, tailgate, and honk at the driver in front of me. That would definitely keep me from being depressed!

Dr. Gene Dorio Saugus

ETHICALLY SPEAKING

A Winning Life Takes Grit

By David Hegg

With the Major League Baseball season heating up and the political season in full swing, our nation is again all about winning and losing. We are, after all, a country of competitors, and it has been ingrained in us from birth that winning is everything and failing can’t be tolerated. Just ask the scores of coaches who get fired at the end of every season. In America, it is “win or go home.”

But today, too many are failure-adverse. If they can’t win, they won’t try. If there is pain involved, they won’t get involved. The prevalent attitude of entitlement is making it the norm to expect success without sweat, victory without pain, and happiness without the hard work of perseverance.

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.

As a child, I remember learning to play checkers with my grandfather. He was a real competitor and never let anyone win. One day, after he had beaten me several games straight, I made what I thought was a straightforward, sensible request. “Grandpa,” I said in childish grammar, “teach me how to win you.” What I learned the hard way was that winning doesn’t just happen. You have to work hard to gain the skills and intelligence to win more often than you lose. And you’ll most likely have to endure a load of failure on the way to victory. Simply put, you have to lose to win to learn what not to do to be good at what must be done.

Years ago, I had a friend who played for the Los Angeles Lakers for several seasons. After retiring from the game, he made a career of training other basketball players in the finer points of shooting a basketball. He told me he made all his students force some bad shots during their practice games so they would learn what it felt like to make bad choices. By insisting they attempt ill-conceived shots, they discovered what a good shot was and what it takes to be in good shooting position. In other words, he needed them to experience failure to know what it took to succeed.

But today, many refuse to acknowledge that risking failure is necessary to achieve future success. We must be willing to try and fail, try harder and fail again, and keep trying until success is gained. In other words, we have to be willing to go “all in” and lose if we ever expect to master life with all of its variables, complexities and challenges.

I once had a professor who told us, "Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly.” He meant that we often have to endure a sharp learning curve along the path to accomplishment. Great things are usually hard things. Hard things take time and courage to master. And too many who learn this hard truth stop trying.

But those who start and steadfastly refuse to quit will often find their tenacity rewarded with progress and, eventually, success. They refused to allow some poor performances to thwart their dream of winning. That’s what historians usually refer to as an iron will that separates the winners from those who rarely had what it took to win. Today, I call it grit. It is the grinding determination to press on when every thought in your mind and bone in your body screams quit! Grit is the X factor. If you’ve got it, you consider perseverance a daily practice. If not, you’ve probably already settled for something that fits your nature. But it’s not too late to conquer your belief that winning is out of reach.

No fear is more destructive than the fear of failure. It keeps so many of us from trying something that, while offering benefits, is too hard at first. But the more brutal truth is that life doesn’t wait for the timid. The days we spend refusing to attempt the spectacular can never be reclaimed. Today is the only day we have, and it can best be spent pursuing something that matters, regardless of its challenges and obstacles. Don’t be afraid to lose. You’ll find that perseverance – grit! – can make losing the onramp to success.

Local resident David Hegg is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church. “Ethically Speaking” appears Sundays. 