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TABLE OF CONTENTS Locally Owned and Operated

NEWS FEATURES

5 Living with 9/11: NYC cop haunted by Ground Zero memories 6 Patriot Day brings the community together 7 Free and fun: SCV History 101

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9 Continuing collaboration: Barger talks homelessness Kidnapper in RV pursuit gets 88 years 10 The ultimate sacrifice: Law enforcement officials remember Deputy 11 16 of 19 weekend DUI arrests had priors City, sheriff operation takes aim at illegal street vendors Driver hurt after car goes down embankment Man suspected of punching new truck over high price

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12 How to talk to your kids about the dangers of drugs

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21 Three ideas to freshen up your favorite treats 21 7 easy travel snack ideas for diabetics

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22 Gary Puckett and the Union Gap 23 Fall TV Preview: Time to set the recorder

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24 Questions your teen’s pediatrician may ask How being bilingual benefits kids 25 Cooperative activities for kids and families

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661-259-1234 The entire contents of the Sunday Signal is copyrighted 2019 by Paladin Multi-Media Group, Inc. All submitted letters and columns are strictly the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the publisher. All rights are reserved and no part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. If you would not like this delivered to your home, please call (661) 259-1000. COVER PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

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N E W S F E AT U R E S

Living with 9/11: NYC cop haunted by Ground Zero memories By Jim Holt Signal Senior Staff Writer

astaic homeowner and former NYPD officer Marc Manfro has lived with 9/11 every single day since terrorists toppled the Twin Towers, with every labored breath he takes, every time he gets up in the morning and every time he goes to sleep. Less than two months ago, he emerged from the Providence Tarzana Medical Center, where he underwent surgery to correct the ill effects of exposure to 9/11’s aftermath. Manfro, one of thousands of New York police officers assigned to Ground Zero after the terrorist attacks in New York City, suffers from an ailment many of his fellow former officers and other first responders have come to know all too well — a respiratory condition dubbed “World Trade Center Cough.” He moved to Southern California in a bid to breathe a little easier. For Manfro, the respiratory problems led to a strain on his heart — so much so that the resulting cardiac condition caused him to collapse at least 10 times in the past couple of years. Although the surgery in July was a success, concerns about the rhythm of his heart prompted a return to the hospital a couple of weeks after being released. He was prescribed rest and told to take it easy — easier said than done when it comes to dealing with the deadliest terrorist attack on Americans in the history of the country. “When I look back on 9/11, there are two points of concern,” Manfro said this past week. “The initial biggest thing for me is for those hero policemen and hero firemen who lost their lives,” he said, and of course all of the nearly 3,000 who died in four coordinated attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. “The other concern is for those who survived,” he said this past week, “exposure of all those policemen and firefighters to the fallout, who had all the quality of life taken from them.”

WTC Cough

The World Trade Center Cough was formally recognized by physicians studying the effects of pollut-

Retired New York Police Department Officer Marc Manfro shares some of the stories behind his time as an officer who patrolled “Ground Zero” in the days and weeks after the deadly 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Manfro continues to battle health issues he incurred from his time there, but he said the heroes of that day are people like fellow NYPD Offier John Perry, who died helping people in the aftermath. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

ants released in the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings and explained in the medical journal, The Lancet. In a special supplement titled: “World Trade Center Cough” published in The Lancet on Dec. 1, 2002, physicians concluded: “We felt it was critically important to characterize the particle exposure environment with respect to the chemical nature and health impact of particles that existed immediately after the collapse, and to examine the continuing air quality concerns around the World Trade Center.” Manfro was officially diagnosed with reactive airways dysfunction syndrome, which is defined as the sudden onset of asthma following a high level exposure to a corrosive gas, vapor, or fume. In the same Lancet supplement, it was reported that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency collected samples of particulate matter around Ground Zero, including many measurements of ambient asbestos. The day before the terrorist attacks, Manfro had just finished a grueling shift as a New York City transit officer patrolling the subway in Queens,

as he’d done for 15 years. Not scheduled to go back into work until late afternoon Sept. 11, 2001, Manfro was asleep inside his Long Island home when his wife, Terry, woke him up with the news that would change his life, his family, his fellow police officers, the city and the country. In an interview with The Signal on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, he said: “From my family’s point of view, they were all happy that I wasn’t working because, obviously, you could get pulled into this vortex and get killed or hurt.” But, Manfro did get pulled into that “vortex,” and he was hurt.

Ground Zero

In the days and weeks to follow Sept. 11, he, like thousands of New York City police officers, logged countless double shifts, working around the clock, helping to protect against a feared followup terrorist attack. And, like thousands assigned to Ground Zero, he was one of those sidelined by a pronounced respiratory illness not yet identified, which was linked to the dust and debris experienced at Ground Zero.

Within a year, Manfro was hospitalized for respiratory problems so severe they affected his heart. Now, 18 years later, after moving to Castaic from New York City for clean, dry air, those impacts from 9/11 are still in his heart and lungs. “I got a headache at the end of every shift,” he said, recalling the experience before he went into surgery. “Then I started getting shortness of breath.” “At Ground Zero, you would be walking through 6 inches of ash — of wood, plastic, all kinds of chemicals,” he said in July. Whenever he completed his shift at Ground Zero, he said, he would put all his clothes in a garbage bag to disinfect the clothing. “I didn’t want them (family members) contaminated,” he said. So, when Wednesday rolls around, and he wakes up to another day with 9/11 ever present in his heart, his lungs, his soul, Manfro will be with his family — his wife, Terry, and two sons Steven and Marc — remembering friends both lost and alive. Reflecting on his fellow 9/11 survivors, Manfro said: “Even though they lost a quality of life, they still have to be thankful that they have a life.”

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N E W S F E AT U R E S

Patriot Day brings the community together 9/11 Never Forget Project

By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

his year marks 18 years since the devastating Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people and injured another 6,000. Various local organizations are holding events to remember and honor the lives lost or changed forever by the events of that day. If you’re looking for a way to honor those who lost their lives, or just recognize the sacrifices that first responders make every day, there’s a wealth of events in and around the Santa Clarita Valley.

9/11 Memorial Prayer Service and Flag Retirement

The Knights of Columbus No. 12489 and the Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Church are hosting their annual 9/11 Memorial Prayer Service and Flag Retirement. The service is expected to include patriotic music, words of remembrance for those who lost their lives, a prayer service led by Deacon Terry Irwin, a retirement of the flag that has flown over the 9/11 Memorial on campus and a proper ceremonial flag disposal lead by the local Scouts BSA and Girl Scouts chapters. Those who attend are welcome to bring their worn American flags for proper disposal during the event. The service is scheduled 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Parish, located at 22508 Copper Hill Drive. For more information, visit saintkateri parish.org or call (661) 296-3180.

Jonah Feder, Daniel Scott, Maria Garcia, Mason Ganshirt and Ark Bunyan pant new bleachers at the William S. Hart Pony Baseball and Softball field for the 9/11 Day of Remembrance. SIGNAL PHOTOS

Vist with a Vet

The Santa Clarita Veteran Services Collaborative is hosting a Visit with a Vet event. The event was created after Executive Director Jeff Stabile was approached by Christian Kelsey, the manager of a Starbucks location, who wanted to do an event similar to Coffee with a Cop, but for veterans. “I’d always see Coffee with a Cop events, but I had never seen anything done with the veterans themselves,” Kelsey said. “We also have several regulars who are veterans, so we wanted to bond together and give back to the veteran community however we can.” Visit with a Vet, which is free to attend, is set to allow veterans, active duty military and their families to learn more about veteran benefits, presented by a Los Angeles County veteran service officer. “There are a lot of veterans that

don’t know all of the benefits they are entitled to, so this event is to let them know they can take advantage of these benefits,” Stabile said. “It’s also to get veterans to come out to meet with each other and their families and bring the veteran community in our valley together.” Guests can also enjoy a free Starbucks coffee and a guest performance by singer Lindsay Hough, according to Stabile. In addition, guests can visit with organizations who provide support to veterans, or the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station and Los Angeles County Fire Department officials and their vehicles who are planned to be in attendance. Visit with a Vet is scheduled 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at Starbucks, located at 27748 McBean Parkway, in Valencia. To RSVP, email David Jackson at davemjackson1@gmail.com.

Students of Trinity Classical Academy have placed flags on the lawn of its campus to recognize those who lost their lives in the 9/11 terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Trinity Classical Academy staff and students are hosting their seventh annual 9/11 Never Forget Project event to honor the victims of the attacks. Nearly 3,000 flags will be placed on the campus lawn on Wednesday, representing each of the 2,977 loved ones, first responders and volunteers who lost their lives that day. Trinity’s chapter of Young Americans for Freedom are expected to lead the tribute to honor the victims. The event is also expected to include an honor and remembrance prayer as well as an explanation given by students on the importance of the event. Trinity has also invited local first responders and politicians to attend the event. This will be the seventh year Trinity has participated in the 9/11 Never Forget Project, which is hosted by hundreds of Young Americans for Freedom chapters around the country. The event is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at Trinity Classical Academy, located at 28310 Kelly Johnson Parkway in Valencia.

Local schools

Various local schools will also be holding events in remembrance of the sacrifices made on Sept. 11. Castaic Elementary School is expected to host a cub rally at 8 a.m. for students, with patriotic singing. All students are also asked to wear red, white and blue that day. Wiley Canyon Elementary School is also holding an assembly at 8:30 a.m. for parents and students where they are inviting first responders as well as veterans to be honored during the assembly, according to school officials. Pico Canyon Elementary School is expected to hold a flagpole gathering ceremony at 8:15 a.m. in their courtyard as tribute to the lives lost for students and parents. Students are expected to participate in reciting the pledge and a moment of silence. In addition, there will also be an acknowledgement of Scouts, first graders will do a rendition of “Proud to be an American,” and a student will read a remembrance of 9/11 about what happened that day, according to principal Tammi Rainville.

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Free and fun: SCV History 101

Hart Park, and the mansion that sits on it, were donated by silent film star William S. Hart, whose name can be found all over the Santa Clarita Valley. Tours are available year-round. PHOTO BY CALEB LUNETTA / THE SIGNAL By Caleb Lunetta Signal Staff Writer

anta Clarita is unique not only because of its history, but also for its preservation of that history. While some cities around the country have bulldozed or replaced a number of their monuments or historical landmarks, Santa Clarita has made an effort to save them for posterity, going so far as to create organizations around their historical significance. From being the site to one of the worst American civil engineering disasters in history to the place where gold reportedly was first discovered in California, there appears to be a bounty of educational opportunities for families to learn about on their weekends. “I like to call the Santa Clarita Valley the birthplace of California history. Everything happened here,” said Leon Worden of the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society. “We had the state’s first documented gold discovery, the nation’s first productive oil production west of Pennsylvania, some of the

earliest Hollywood filming, America’s deadliest civil engineering failure of the 20th Century … and when Los Angeles joined the rest of the nation by rail, the tracks came together in Canyon Country.” And the biggest kicker: Many of these sites are free to visit.

Oak of the Golden Dream

Although many in historical circles give credit to James W. Marshall kicking off the state’s famed California Gold Rush in January 1848, the state of California officially recognizes The Oak of the Golden Dream in Placerita Canyon as the official place where gold was first discovered in the state. The story goes that Francisco Lopez, a caballero and cattle rancher in his day, took a nap underneath “The Oak of the Golden Dream” on March 9, 1842. “Upon awakening, he recalled a promise to his wife that he would gather some wild onions,” according to SCV History. “Walking to the nearby bank, he pulled one and curiously gazed at some yellow particles clinging to the roots. Hopefully and

hastily he dug into the soil and found it thickly filled with gold.” Now, every weekend, families are out by the staff and volunteers at the Placerita Canyon Nature Center to not only get a glimpse of what natural history they have for kids and families to gaze upon, but the human history they care for as well, including the Oak of the Golden Dream. “It’s the history of the first discovery of gold in California,” said Ranger Frank Hoffman, the recreation services supervisor at Placerita Canyon Nature Center. “Certainly for many, many years, people have understood that John Marshall at Sutter’s Home might have been first, but that’s not true.” “Bear in mind we were Mexican territory at that time, and it was recognized as a discovery, but everyone else and their history books thought of it the other way around,” Hoffman added. Hoffman suggested that families looking to see the Oak of the Golden Dream can take the free nature walk from 11 a.m. to noon every Saturday

at the center. According to officials, it’s described as a “short, easy nature walk for the whole family,” the path is stroller-friendly and led by staff or volunteers. “(Placerita Canyon is) significant in that the state recognizes our discovery here first, and recognized it with historical marker No. 168.,” Hoffman said. “Certainly, I would recommend people come out and visit and if you came out to visit you could see our signage and learn what we’re trying to teach people.”

Mentryville

Tucked away in the hills of Pico Canyon sits the remnants of California’s first and longest running financially viable oil well, Mentryville. After first being opened in 1876 by Charles Alexander Mentry, the well remained open until 1990. During that time, a town grew up, and then shrank down around it, with its largest population reaching as many as 100 families, according to SCV Historical Society. However, it now sits as a ghost See HISTORY, next page

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N E W S F E AT U R E S

A Metrolink train passes by the historical marker for Lang Southern Pacific Station on Lang Station Raod near Soledad Canyon Road in Canyon Country. The site marks the place where a gold spike was driven in 1876, marking Southern Pacific’s completion of the San Joaquin Valley line, the first joining the Los Angeles and San Francisco transcontinental lines. PHOTOS BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

HISTORY

Continued from previous page

town, with buildings and architecture of the former community now a California State Historical Landmark. Located at the end of Pico Canyon Road off Interstate 5 at the Lyons Avenue exit, Mentryville is now an 851-acre state park. The park has been managed since 1995 by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, according to officials. Free to all who visit, with a $5 fee for parking, people can still view a number of the structures in the park that remain from the old town, including Charles Mentry’s 13-room mansion, a one-room schoolhouse and a period barn.

Hart Park

Still in the shape that it once had when a legend walked its halls, the home of William S. Hart remains a free and open park for families to visit. Hart was the first cowboy movie star during the silent film era, and he made almost 70 movies from 1914-25, according to Al Ewing, a recreation services leader with Hart Park. As a thanks to the people who catapulted him to stardom, he donated his 265-acre ranch for the public to enjoy.

“William S. Hart had in his will that all of his property for the reason that he wanted to preserve not just his legacy for all time … but that there was a need for kids to come to the sanctuary of a park and see animals,” Ewing said. Hart’s home, christened by Hart himself as “La Loma de Los Vientos,” or “Hill of the Winds” is now a museum filled with his personal effects and movie props, along with other artifacts and paintings of the time. It also features a variety of animals for guests to view, including a small herd of American Bison that were gifted to Hart Park from Walt Disney in 1962. Free guided tours are offered yearround, and the museum, animals and entering the park are no cost and are family friendly, according to officials. For more information about Hart Park events, visit hartmuseum.org.

St. Francis Dam

The site of one of the largest American engineering failures in the 20th century, the St. Francis Dam, located in San Francis Dam is now a pile of ruin, but still has tours and plaques erected that acknowledge those who lost their lives three minutes before midnight on March 12, 1928. According to officials with the San-

Not much remains from the San Francisquito Canyon Dam disaster, the deadliest engineering failure in Santa Clarita Valley. However a bill to create a memorial on the site was recently approved, and there are occasional guided tours available.

ta Clarita Valley Historical Society, a wall of water initially 18 feet high raced through San Francisquito Canyon, and then down onto the town of Piru Fillmore and Santa Paula before eventually reaching the Pacific Ocean between Oxnard and Ventura. “The flood caused immense property damage and left at least 450 and possibly up to 600 people dead,” according to an editorial published by the Historical Society. In order to view site, one can find the St. Francis Dam located approximately 7.2 miles north of today’s intersection of Copper Hill Road and San Francisquito Canyon Road in Saugus. Yearly tours are also offered and guided by the Santa Valley Historical Society. Information about an upcoming tour, visit scvhs.org.

Vasquez Rocks

Vasquez Rocks is home to a rich tapestry of both natural and human history. So much so that Hollywood has never truly been able to resist the urge to showcase it in a variety of movies. Featured in HBO’s “Westworld,” “Star Trek: Voyager” and “Gunsmoke,” along with a number of other famous titles, the large rock formation Vasquez Rocks has been known

for was formed Millions of years before Vasquez, the rocks were thrust up from the ocean floor by earthquakes and volcanic forces, according to SCV History. Used by travelers alike for decades as a famous landmark for northsouth and east-west trading routes, a young cattle rustler by the name of Tiburcio Vasquez started using the rocks as a hideout sometime in 1871. By the age of 20 years old, Vasquez was rustling cattle and robbing freight wagons,” according to an SCV History article. “It is reported that Vasquez would occasionally ride into Newhall and steal horses while holed up at Vasquez Rocks.” Now a county park known as the Vasquez Rock Natural Area and Nature Center, located at 10700 W. Escondido Canyon Road, the park is open from sunrise to sunset. The park hosts a number of popular hiking, picnicking, equestrian and historical guided touring opportunities. The number programs vary on cost, with some being free. For more information about the various programs at Vasquez Rocks, visit its website at https://parks.lacounty. gov.

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LOCALNEWS

Continuing collaboration: Barger talks homelessness By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

he Santa Clarita City Council met with Los Angeles County 5th District Supervisor Kathryn Barger on Wednesday to review ways they can continue working together on issues such as homelessness and transportation needs. “It is an honor to represent this part of the district,” said Barger. “I hope that not only statewide, but nationally, we can serve as an example of how you can work together to achieve what people who put us in office expect, and that is the services and collaboration and public safety.” Homelessness, for example, has been an expensive and challenging problem for the city and the county in recent years, with one of Wednesday’s biggest discussions revolving around how the two entities can work together on Santa Clarita’s allotment of Measure H funding.

Homelessness

The city and Los Angeles County officials talked about the potential for streamlining the process on how local jurisdictions access funding from Measure H, the 2017 ballot measure that authorized a 0.25% county sales tax for 10 years to fund hundreds of millions of dollars in services for the homeless, Barger said. “I’ll put out a motion, hopefully next week, with Supervisor (Hilda) Solis, because I’ve been hearing from my communities that they’re very frustrated at how slow it is to get the Measure H dollars,” Barger said. The supervisor plans to provide her direction to councils of governments, which represent member local governments, and provide assistance on issues like homelessness, so that they may allocate funding based on the homeless plans that have been put forward by cities. Though not yet set in stone, Barger said she feels confident in the success of the motion, and believes it will help relieve the logjam jurisdictions face, as well as offer more flexibility in addressing homelessness, which differs from city to city. She added her proposal would look to make the Los Angeles Homeless Services

Los Angeles County 5th District Supervisor Kathryn Barger, left, and Santa Clarita Mayor Marsha McLean discuss Metro transit topics at the City Council special meeting. PHOTO BY GILBERT BERNAL / THE SIGNAL

Authority feel less L.A.-“centric.” “It’s important for us to know, and I say ‘us’ because I’m a taxpayer, to know that my Measure H dollars are going countywide, and not just staying in the city of L.A. Stay tuned,” said Barger. “Santa Clarita feels like we’re ahead of other cities in being proactive, and so the ability to access some of those additional funds can help us put some

of those plans in motion,” said Mayor Pro Tem Cameron Smyth. “That’s going to be great.” In January, the city was awarded $375,000 in Measure H funding for homeless housing and a homeless coordinator, who joined the city team this summer. Other topics discussed during the public meeting held at City Hall

included open space, arts, public safety and the Metro Antelope Valley Line study to improve train ridership. Barger indicated funding has been provided for double-tracking near Bouquet Canyon Road and just south of the Newhall tunnel and exploring the possibility of extending night hour operations on weekdays.

Kidnapper in RV pursuit gets 88 years By Jim Holt Signal Senior Staff Writer

man who kidnapped his two young children and fled from law enforcement in a motor home last year was sentenced Wednesday to more than 80 years Houk in prison, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced. Stephen Merle Houk, 48, was sentenced to 88 years and four months in prison. Last month, jurors found Houk guilty of two counts each of kidnap-

ping, child abuse, injuring a spouse and child detention, and one count each of assault with a firearm, criminal threats, fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s motor vehicle and possession of a firearm by a felon. Houk pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of failing to register as a sex offender prior to trial, according to a news release issued Wednesday by District Attorney spokesman Greg Risling. Deputy District Attorney Tal Kahana of the Child Abduction Section prosecuted the case. On May 1, 2018, Houk attacked the mother of his children in the family’s RV parked in Malibu, then pointed a loaded firearm at her and threatened to kill her.

The two children, a 10-monthold and a 3-year-old, were awakened by the attack on their mother, Kahana was quoted as saying in the news release. Houk drove away and stopped at a gas station before going to a Santa Clarita coffee house where he forced his wife to panhandle. The victim eventually asked for help from a passerby who called law enforcement. Houk fled when Los Angeles County sheriff ’s deputies responded and a pursuit ensued. The defendant eventually fled from the RV after stopping near Bakersfield, the prosecutor said. He was later found in Barstow and arrested.

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LOCALNEWS

The ultimate sacrifice: Law enforcement officials remember Deputy By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

or 24 hours on Saturday, Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Department officials stood watch in remembrance of Deputy Hagop “Jake” Kuredjian, who was shot and killed in the line of duty in 2001. Saturday marked 18 years since Kuredjian made the ultimate sacrifice while serving and protecting the residents of the Santa Clarita Valley. Sheriff ’s officials took turns standing at attention at the monument dedicated to Kuredjian, in honor of that sacrifice. “Every 15 minutes, at least two deputies, sometimes four, (rotate),” said Deputy Mike Miller. “He came before us — it’s just our way to honor him and keep his legacy alive.” Following a moment of silence, Capt. Robert Lewis of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station spoke to deputies at the memorial, calling the commemoration a reminder of the important work they do. In addition to the numerous officers who came to pay their respects, Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Department’s Mounted Enforcement Detail also took a turn standing watch. All on-duty deputies assigned to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station also wore long-sleeve class “A”

Deputies Sigi Sandoval, left, and Steven Jagiello salute during the deputy shift change at the memorial for slain Deputy Hagop “Jake” Kuredjian, which was held in Stevenson Ranch. PHOTOS BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

uniforms with a tie Saturday as a tribute to their fallen comrade, according to a Nixle statement from Sheriff ’s Department officials. “The public has been awesome,” Miller added. “People are dropping off flowers, food and water.” Many officers participated in the memorial service, including a few who knew Kuredjian personally. “I worked with him for the federal task force wire room because we both (spoke) Armenian,” said Gary Kasbarian, an officer and reserve deputy

with L.A. County. “He was a very fun guy to work with — charming. He always brightened the room when he came in. We always had a good time.” The engraved monument, located at the corner of Stevenson Ranch Parkway and Poe Parkway, serves not only as a reminder to the community of Kuredjian’s sacrifice, but also as a way to keep his memory alive. The monument, which was unveiled on Nov. 1, 2001, is not the only location in Stevenson Ranch dedicated to Kuredjian. On Oct. 6, 2004,

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station officials observe a moment of silence for Kuredjian, who died in 2001. Deputies wore longsleeve class “A” uniforms with a tie and a black ribbon over their badges as a tribute to the fallen deputy.

a ceremony took place to dedicate Jake Kuredjian Park to further honor his memory, along with Deputy Jake Drive off of Valle Del Oro in Newhall. The 40-year-old Kuredjian was a 17-year veteran of the Sheriff ’s Department and had been assigned to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station since 1995. On the morning of his death, he responded to his last call: reports of “shots fired” in Stevenson Ranch, where agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were serving a search warrant to a man wanted on suspicion of impersonating a police officer and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Department officials. When he arrived, Kuredjian found a suspect barricaded in his home, keeping “law enforcement officers at bay with a bevy of shots,” according to previous reports. After several hours and hundreds of shots fired by the suspect, officers attempted to gain entry through a window. The man opened fire with an automatic rifle and Kuredjian was struck in the head. More than 5,000 attended Kuredjian’s funeral services, including then-Gov. Gray Davis and then-Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca. “He was a great guy, and had lots of friends,” Lt. Ignacio Somoano of the SCV Sheriff Station’s Detective Unit said in a previous Signal interview. “Away from work, I would see him at the gym, and he’s someone who was always physically fit — just a good partner and friend.” In 1989, Kuredjian was awarded the Sheriff ’s Department’s Gold Meritorious Conduct Medal by former Sheriff Sherman Block for saving the life of a woman clinging to a small tree branch atop a cliff in Malibu. “His courage and sacrifice will be forever remembered,” read a post on the SCV Sheriff ’s Station’s Facebook page Friday. “Please say a prayer tonight for our deputies, and all of law enforcement, as they go to work each day saying goodbye to their families, not knowing if it will be their last. As always, thank you for the strong support that you give us — it really means a lot.”

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LOCALNEWS

16 of 19 weekend DUI arrests had priors By Jim Holt Signal Senior Staff Writer

ll but three of the 19 DUI arrests made over the long weekend in the Santa Clarita Valley involved motorists who were previously convicted of driving while intoxicated. From Friday to Monday, officers with the Newhall-area Office of the California Highway Patrol and deputies with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station made a combined total of 59 arrests, with about a third of those being arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Sixteen of 19 drivers arrested on

suspicion of DUI were drivers with prior convictions of the same offense. All but one of them was male. In California, DUI offenses are priorable, meaning the jail sentences increase with each DUI conviction. Prior convictions include: driving under the influence; driving with a blood/alcohol level that exceeds .08 percent and DUI with injury. The high percentage of chronic DUI drivers seen this past Labor Day weekend stands in stark contrast with recent DUI checkpoints. On Aug. 16, a Friday night, the CHP carried out a DUI checkpoint and stopped 400 drivers. Not a single motorist was arrested for impaired driving.

Those arrested on suspicion of DUI with priors included: •

A 46-year-old man in marketing from Palmdale.

•

A “checker,” 28, from Canyon Country.

•

A 23-year-old plumber from Stevenson Ranch.

•

A 22-year-old Rosamond resident who works coating vehicles.

•

A 23-year-old unemployed man from Canyon Country.

•

A 41-year-old manager from Canyon Country.

•

A 48-year-old local man with

no occupation. •

A 30-year-old valet who lives in Los Angeles.

•

A local man who works as a security guard, 29.

•

A self-employed man from Canyon Country, 38.

•

A Stevenson Ranch resident with no occupation, 18.

•

A Canyon Country chef, 23.

•

A number machine operator from Palmdale, 23.

•

Three construction workers from Pacoima, 25, Los Angeles, 36, and Reseda, 44, respectively.

City, sheriff operation takes aim at illegal street vendors By Caleb Lunetta Signal Staff Writer

eputies with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station’s Crime Prevention Unit assisted with an operation that targeted “illegal food vendors” Thursday night. City of Santa Clarita code enforcement officials asked sheriff ’s deputies to conduct an operation after numerous residents relayed complaints about health concerns, according to a social media post from the SCV Sheriff ’s Station. “A vendor operating illegally was found near Pine and Newhall Ave-

nue,” according to Sheriff ’s Station officials in the post. “The couple from Los Angeles running it were preparing and selling food without a health department permit and without a city issued vending permit.” They were then given a citation, and asked to leave the area. “Approximately 45 minutes later, deputies checked back and the couple had brazenly set up shop in the very same place,” officials said. “This time, administrative citations were issued with a higher fine and citations for their vehicles which were parked in designated ‘no parking’ zones.”

Driver hurt after car goes down embankment By Jim Holt Signal Senior Staff Writer

ne person was hurt and taken to the hospital mid-afternoon Tuesday, after a car went down an embankment near Lombardi Ranch in Saugus. Shortly before 2:45 p.m., paramedics with the Los Angeles

County Fire Department responded to reports of a single-vehicle traffic collision on the 29500 block of Bouquet Canyon Road. “A car went off an embankment,” Fire Department Supervisor Melinda Choi said, noting no one was reported trapped in the incident. One person was taken to the hospital, she said.

Sheriff ’s Station said in the post that some people may question citing or drawing issue with these kind of food establishments, but officials highlighted that it’s important to not “compromise when it comes to food safety, because your health is at stake.” In addition to there being no electricity, no dish or hand washing stations, there are also no thermometers, vermin and insects, no method of tracing food back to its original

source, and no food safety training for employees, the post said. “There is an elevated risk for illness to be transmitted through food sold in this manner,” the post noted. “We care about keeping you safe from crime, and we care about your health too. We will run more operations in the near future to scout out food vendors operating illegally, compromising our community’s well being.”

Man suspected of punching new truck over high price By Jim Holt Signal Senior Staff Writer

man looking to buy a truck in Newhall got so angry over the price that he allegedly punched the rear panel of the vehicle, which led to his arrest on suspicion of felony vandalism. On Tuesday, around 6:30 p.m., deputies with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station responded to a business on the 24100 block of Newhall Avenue regarding a vandalism incident, said Shirley Miller, spokeswoman for the station.

“The suspect was attempting to negotiate a price on a vehicle when he became upset with the employee because of the employee not lowering the price,” Miller said. “The suspect began arguing with the employee, getting to the point of agitation, where he then punched the rear panel of the truck he was attempting to purchase — leaving a large dent.” A 31-year-old man from Lake View Terrace, described by deputies as a musician, was arrested by deputies on felony vandalism charges.

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S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

FROM THE CITY MANAGER

How to talk to your kids about the dangers of drugs By Ken Striplin City Manager

he National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that by the time teenagers graduate high school, 45% will have tried marijuana at least once. While this rate has remained relatively steady for the past two decades, changing laws and an increased availability has made it more important than ever to have conversations with our children about the risks and dangers of drug use. While discussions at home can bring the topic out into the open, continued education and messaging is needed to reinforce positive decision-making skills as our youth grow. The City of Santa Clarita has taken the initiative in

this regard with the award-winning Drug Free Youth in Santa Clarita Valley (DFY in SCV) program, which delivers curriculum support and both educational and social opportunities for Santa Clarita students in elementary, middle and high schools. In early August, City staff, who manage the DFY in SCV program, participated in seventh-grade registration on campuses throughout the City and met with approximately 3,500 students. Staff passed out information about the program and registered students for their campus’ DFY in SCV club, which connects students with like-minded peers, and requires members to complete 10 hours of community service during the school year. In addition to serving as a positive anti-drug social group, DFY in SCV clubs on school campuses also show members the importance of giving back to their community.

In fact, not only do these community service projects benefit Santa Clarita, but they also help support students, families and organizations around the world. DFY in SCV clubs will once again raise money to benefit the Thirst Project this school year. The Thirst Project is a non-profit organization committed to bringing safe drinking water to communities around the world and is focusing on building water wells in Africa. While programs like DFY in SCV exist to help kids make positive choices and commit to a drug-free life, it is incumbent upon us as parents, neighbors and role models to continue the conversation and be aware of emerging trends so we can keep our children safe. This is why I want to personally invite you to City Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 6 p.m. for the next Parent Resource Symposium. The theme for this fall’s sympo-

sium is “Head in the Clouds: The Truth about Vaping.” The event will begin with a resource fair where you can connect with local organizations and get information that will be useful to you and your child. Following the resource fair, a panel of experts will share experiences and information on the latest drug trends, and answer questions from the audience. Please use this time to have an open and honest conversation with your child about drug use and encourage them to join the DFY in SCV club on their campus. You can learn more about DFY in SCV and the upcoming Parent Resource Symposium by visiting dfyinscv. com. Ken Striplin can be reached at kstriplin@santa-clarita.com. The views expressed in his column are those of the City and do not necessarily reflect those of The Signal.

F R O M T H E C I T Y M AY O R

Having a gran’ old time at the annual Gran Fondo cycling event By Mayor Marsha McLean

ou’ve probably heard these words before: “Bike Santa Clarita.” When it comes to cycling in our community, we take great pride in providing the amenities necessary for residents to take advantage of the most environmentally friendly form of transportation — a bike. As we enjoy the last few weeks of summer, I invite all bicyclists to take advantage of the miles upon miles of trails that run along the Santa Clara River and through our rolling hills. I can think of no better way to enjoy the fall season than by rediscovering the joy one feels when on a bike. Thanks to some recent projects, cycling through our City is now much easier. As part of the Newhall Ranch Road Bridge Widening Project, the San Francisquito Trail Undercrossing was opened. This recent improvement gives cyclists an uninterrupted ride directly underneath the new and improved Newhall Ranch Road Bridge.

Cyclists also benefit from the newly-opened Sierra Highway Pedestrian Bridge, which provides safe transportation and a beautiful panoramic view of the northeast side of the valley. Another way visitors can utilize our miles of trails is by taking advantage of our Pace Bike Share pilot program, which has seen impressive numbers as riders bike to and from Santa Clarita’s most popular destinations. In 2019 alone, we have encouraged active lifestyles and environmentally friendly transportation alternatives with events like Bike to Work Day, Hit the Trail Bike Ride and Earth Arbor Day. Santa Clarita is also home to one of the biggest events in biking — the Amgen Tour of California, which made its grand return earlier this year. The City’s amazing facilities, a growing number of bicycle-friendly businesses and ever-expanding

safety programs and amenities, have earned us the coveted designation of Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. No need to fret if you haven’t been able to make these events, there are still plenty of opportunities to cycle with your community. The fourth annual Santa Clarita Gran Fondo bike event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Santa Clarita Sports Complex — and whether you are the next Peter Sagan or just starting out, this is an event that you won’t want to miss! This one-day, chip-timed event will bring together cyclists from all over California who are looking to ride on Santa Clarita’s smooth roads, passing through lush hills and picturesque mountains. Three courses are available for riders including a 20-mile “Family,” 60-mile “Medio” and 100-mile “Gran,” which makes this event perfect for riders at any skill level. Attendees and cyclists can look forward to a post-race celebration,

including a delicious lunch. The event will include a rider expo with vendors on hand selling a variety of products. Even if you’re just spectating, attendees can enter for a chance to win awesome biking gear and products by entering the raffle drawing. Riders can register and find a full event breakdown at GranFondo SantaClarita.com. I encourage you to get involved in our cycling community by visiting BikeSantaClarita.com. There you will find everything from information on upcoming events — to bike safety tips and don’t forget to use the hashtag #BikeSantaClarita when sharing your rides on social media. Mayor Marsha McLean is a member of the Santa Clarita City Council and can be reached at mmclean@ santa-clarita.com. The views expressed in her column are those of the city and do not necessarily reflect those of The Signal.

S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 3

TECHNOLOGY

How to speed up your smartphone By Kim Komando Signal Contributing Writer

Smartphone Speed-Up

afford a new smartphone. Q: IIscan’t there anything I can do to make this one last longer? It’s so slow.

A: If your phone is acting sluggish, one of the first things to do is delete unused apps. You’d be surprised how many apps you’ve downloaded over the years that you’ve never used or haven’t used in forever. This applies to iPhones and Androids. Depending on the make and model of your phone, there are two surefire ways to delete apps. For Androids, we’ll be focusing on Samsung phones since they make up 70% of all Androids made.

To delete apps from Androids

On the display screen, lightly touch but do not press down on the icon for the app you want to remove; a small menu display will appear; click “Uninstall.” If you don’t have a light touch you can instead go to Settings, scroll down and click Apps. A list of all the apps on your phone will appear. Select the app you want to delete and click Uninstall. Make sure to go back to your display window to delete the widget. Depending on your Android model, the above steps may not be exactly the same. However, Settings is the place to start when looking to delete apps.

To delete from iPhones

On iPhones with 3D Touch, you can also uninstall an app by lightly touching, but not pressing down, on the app’s icon. After a second you’ll see the Delete button. If your iPhone doesn’t have 3D Touch, such as the iPhone XR, you can lightly press the icon and hold for a second or two until the “Jiggly” mode appears. Just press the X button to delete the app. If you don’t have a light touch,

launch the Settings app, tap General, tap [iPhone] Storage, scroll down and select the app you want to delete. Tap Delete App, and tap Delete again to confirm that you want to delete the app. In the ongoing consumer battle over which phone is better, iPhone has a significant advantage over Android in the bloatware department. In Androids, several come pre-installed from your carrier, Google and Samsung. Unless you’re willing to risk rooting your phone, you’re stuck with them. By contrast, iPhones come with no preloaded carrier software. It does contain some Apple bloatware, but not anywhere near what you find on an Android. If you’ve gone about cleaning out your apps, you may have caught some battery eaters. When you download a new app, keep an eye on your battery’s lifespan. If you usually end the workday with 50% power but now find yourself at 15%, it’s very likely the new app is draining your battery. These aren’t necessarily malicious apps (more on them later), but they are power hogs. Among the biggest power-eating apps are Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, Tinder and most news apps. Other battery hogs are weather apps like the Weather Channel or Accuweather. If your phone comes with an installed weather app use that instead. If it doesn’t, just Google the temperature. Ironically, some of the biggest memory hogs are apps that monitor your battery life. Go figure? Finally, while it may sound counterintuitive, letting apps run in the background is not a bad thing for Androids. In fact, Android warns that if you are constantly opening and closing apps you can actually hurt your phone’s performance and battery life For information on Kim Komando on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks, visit her at Komando. com.

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S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

SPORTS

Cross country runners ready for season

Kyle Stevens (left) and Angelee Berganio (right) are two Canyon High runners looking to make their mark this year during cross country season. PHOTOS COURTESY JACOB VELARDE By Diego Marquez Signal Staff Writer

ith cross-country season around the corner, Foothill League teams like Canyon are hitting the ground running, literally, proving why they are considered one of the fastest high school teams around at the Hoka One One Postal Nationals at Buena High School on Saturday. Eight teams participated in the meet with schools like Westlake, Oaks Christian and Foothill Tech sending some of their fastest runners, but at the end, both Canyon boys and girls teams took home first place. “We wanted this race to be more for the development of our kids,” said Canyon cross country head coach George Velarde. “We have been training hard all summer and wanted to get a two-mile time to see where everyone was at and the kids didn’t foil, they gave us a pretty darn good performance.” The girls team made it a point to run as a pack throughout the race, something that the Cowboys will be focusing on this season, as six of their runners finished with the top 15 girls runners. Canyon junior Chandler Bietsch had the best finish among the Cowboys girls runners, finishing in fourth place with a time of 12 minutes, 6.03 seconds; and Kayla Young followed in fifth place in 12:07.05. Leading throughout the whole race was Angelee Berganio, who had just

dealt with the flu, and she slotted in seventh place (12:09.62) and Milca Osorio in eighth place (12:10.23). “(Berganio) unfortunately, has been sick for the last two weeks, so didn’t have the best performance, and we knew that going into the race,” Velarde said. “We didn’t know what she was going to give us, but she took it upon herself of leading the entire race of the girls pack. It wasn’t until he last 50-meters that the girls passed her up.” Boys runner senior Freddy DeAnda looks ready to lead the Cowboys boys team after a first-place finish in 9:46.41 and with lessons learned from his former teammate Ethan Danforth. “Freddy unfortunately has been in the shadow of Ethan, in a good way, but we’re hoping that everything that Ethan has gone through over the past few years has rubbed off on Freddy,” Velarde said. “This is his year, he is a senior, he has been pretty injury free this summer and we are hoping he will take that next step.” Kyle Stevens came in third place (9:50.46) and Frank Lofton came in sixth place (10:00.37) and will be the top boys runners entering the season. “Last year, everyone forgot that Kyle was only a sophomore and now that he’s a junior, he’s developing into his own,” Velarde said. “With Frank Lofton, we have three front-runners, but then after that we have another pack. I’m very pleased with what’s happening right now. Obviously, we have a long way to go, but it’s just a nice, good start to the season.”

S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 5

THINGSTODO

San Diego: trendy restaurants and neighborhoods By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

an Diego may be the perfect family getaway, but it also offers great restaurants and neighborhoods for grown-up fun. Next time you’re looking for a quick getaway, consider these San Diego destinations.

Ocean Beach

Info www.oceanbeachsandiego.com. Ocean Beach is a funky seaside community in San Diego. From surfing to shopping, this neighborhood is a favorite among visitors. Ocean Beach has no high-rises, no glitz, no Gap or Starbucks and few luxury sedans. You are more likely to see an ancient VW van than a luxury Lexus. It blossomed in the 1960s and 1970s as a bastion of the counterculture — San Diego’s “hippie” center. Many people claim Ocean Beach exists in a 1960’s time warp. There

is no dispute that Ocean Beach is a tight-knit community that exudes Southern California beach-village funkiness. To get to there, take I-8 west almost to the ocean, then go left and follow the palm trees on the right. Ocean Beach is a square mile or so of tidepools, tennis courts, surfing, cliffside trails, scenic bike paths and an impressive fishing pier. Must visit Breakfast Republic 4839 Newport Ave., San Diego Info www.breakfastrepublic.com. An inventive breakfast restaurant serving everything from Breakfast Shrimp and Grits to Crab and Crawfish Bake Benedict. Try the Oreo Cookie Pancakes, too.

North Park

Info www.explorenorthpark.com. Forbes magazine named North Park as one of America’s best hipster neighborhoods, noting that “culturally diverse North Park is home to

Ocean Beach is a funky seaside community … no high-rises, no glitz and few luxury sedans. PHOTOS COURTESY VISIT CALIFORNIA

Craftsman cottages, cafes and diners, coffee shops, several microbreweries, boutiques and the North Park Farmers Market. The North Park Theater and the Ray Street Arts District are

also bastions of creativity in the area.” North Park seems to have it all, art galleries, boutiques, trendy bars with handcrafted cocktails and local brews See SAN DIEGO, next page

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S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

THINGSTODO

SAN DIEGO

Continued from previous page

Left: Love books? Check out Warwick’s, the nation’s oldest continuously familyowned and -operated bookstore in La Jolla.

as well as eclectic, “must try” restaurants. The Ray Street Arts District is home to “Ray at Night,” a gallery walk held the second Saturday of every month. It is the largest and longest running art walk in San Diego’s history. To find North Park, head east on I-8, take I-805 South and exit at University Avenue. After you merge onto Boundary Street, turn left onto University Avenue. Head west to the heart of North Park. Must visit Polite Provisions 4696 30th St., San Diego Info www.politeprovisions.com. Manufacturers of local tonics, elixirs and cures. This bar offers a selection of unique cocktails, spirits, beer, and wine that rotates daily.

Gaslamp Quarter

Info www.gaslamp.org San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter is the historic heart of San Diego. Guests can immerse themselves in rich Victorian architecture and history, dine with world-renowned chefs and dance the night away at nationally recognized nightlife venues. The Gaslamp area is accessible via the freeway and several trolley and bus lines. Must visit Pushkin Russian Restaurant 750 Sixth Ave., San Diego Info www.pushkinrestaurantsd.com One of San Diego’s only destinations for Russian food, Pushkin serves up quality borscht, pelmeni, Armenian dishes like grilled salad and a hearty selection of specialty vodkas.

Must-try restaurants

A quartet of “must try” restaurants in San Diego: Café Coyote 2461 San Diego Ave., San Diego Info www.cafecoyoteoldtown.com Select from more than 100 tequilas for your fresh, frosty margaritas, then watch Mexican Tortilla Ladies make fresh tortillas — the traditional way “a mano” (by hand) — to accompany your meal. Listen as strolling mariachis fill the flower-scented air with festive music in the colorful outdoor court-

Below: Pick up gifts, such as handembroidered pillows and table runners, hand-painted wooden stools, glassware and rainbow huaraches at Artelexia on Ray Street.

yards. Splashing fountains add to the atmosphere in the Esplanade framed by Spanish architecture with colorful Mexican murals and decor. Voted Best Mexican Restaurant in Old Town San Diego 15 years straight, Café Coyote serves traditional authentic Mexican food. The Smoking Goat 3408 30th St., San Diego Info www.thesmokinggoat restaurant.com The Smoking Goat is credited with pioneering a culinary renaissance in a once-sleepy corner of North Park. Regulars come here for the reliably exquisite staples: French onion soup with what’s essentially an open-face grilled cheese sandwich in rich veal broth, duck fat truffle fries with pecorino romano and mustard aioli and other creations that blend traditional French tastes with sustainable, organic San Diego-sourced ingredients. Juniper & Ivy 2228 Kettner Blvd., San Diego Info www.juniperandivy.com For a place that’s best known for its buttermilk biscuits, Juniper & Ivy touts its “Left Coast Cookery.” Trendsetting chef Richard Blais of “Top Chef All-Stars” fame, is known for starting with American classics and elevating them. Try the semi-secret menu item: In-N-Haute burger, made from a blend of short rib, brisket, chuck and dry-aged beef, wrapped and seared in

cheese atop an egg bun. Reservations a must. Ironside Fish & Oyster 1654 India St., San Diego Info www.ironsidefishandoyster.com The “holy grail” of raw bars, where the large platters come in Big, Bigger, Biggest and Even Bigger. This last assortment could include 24 oysters, 14 shrimp, 14 mussels, two pounds of lobster, two ounces of sustainable royal white sturgeon caviar, a portion of rockfish ceviche and some kanpachi crudo (the mix changes daily according to what’s fresh). There’s also an impressive bar, where 11 categories of whiskey are represented.

Now for something different

Artelexia 3803 Ray St., San Diego Info www.artelexia.com At this colorful corner store in North Park, Mexican handicrafts reign supreme. Pick up such gifts as hand-embroidered pillows and table runners, hand-painted wooden stools, glassware and rainbow huaraches. This store is the brainchild of Elexia

de la Parra, who grew up in Tijuana, studied culinary arts in San Diego and then globetrotted before starting her business. It celebrates Mexico’s vibrant artisanal culture and supports its makers, a percentage of each sale is donated to an organization that provides no-interest loans to female entrepreneurs in Oaxaca. Before you visit, check Artelexia’s events calendar for evening crafting workshops. Warwick’s 7812 Girard Ave, La Jolla Info www.warwicks.com The nation’s oldest continuously family-owned and -operated bookstore is Warwick’s in La Jolla. William T. Warwick entered the book business in 1896 in Iowa. He came to this dreamy stretch of the Pacific Coast, where he bought an existing bookstore, then married the widowed former owner, Genevieve Redding. The business is now run by their great-granddaughters. Check Warwick’s events listings when you’re in town, because chances are, so is an actor, politician, or celebrity chef who’ll be reading from a newly released book.

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S U N D AYS I G N A L · 17

Home Made Flavor, Home Made Desserts

AMERICAN Backwoods Inn 17846 W. Sierra Highway, Canyon Country (661) 252-5522 The Backyard Grub n’ Brews 26509 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita (661) 286-1165 Bergie’s 16404 Delone Street, Canyon Country (661)251-3133 Black Angus 27007 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 288-2000 Black Bear Diner 23626 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 799-4820 Brooklyn Bar & Grill 25860 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 284-6057 The Cheesecake Factory 24250 Town Center Dr #110, Valencia, CA 91355 (661) 286-1232 Claim Jumper 25740 The Old Road, Valencia (661) 254-2628 Crazy Otto’s Diner 25373 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia (661) 291-1733 The Daily Harvest Cafe & Juicery 22722 Lyons Ave #6, Newhall (661) 383-9387 Eat Real Cafe 23414 Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 254-2237 27530 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 254-2237 Iconic Eats 23460 Cinema Dr, Valencia (661) 481-9404 Grilled Cheese Factory 24201 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 888-1508 Islands 24180 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 284-5903 Lazy Dog Cafe 24201 Valencia Blvd., Valencia (661) 253-9996

Mama’s Table 23340 Cinema Dr, Santa Clarita (661) 284-5988 Marston’s Restaurant 24011 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 253-9910 Nealie’s Skillet 25858 Tournament Road, Valencia (661) 678-0031 Newhall Refinery 24258 Main St, Newhall (661) 388-4477

Weekend Breakfast Special Fri, Sat + Sun

8 oz. New York Steak and Eggs $14.99 8 oz. Rib Eye Steak and Eggs $17.99

Homemade Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Made with Mama’s Love!

Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing Co 18810 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 252-7883 Route 66 Classic Grill 18730 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 298-1494 Saddle Ranch Chop House 24201 Valencia Blvd., Valencia (661) 383-0173

Homemade Cooking!

Salt Creek Grille 24415 Town Center Drive, Valencia (661) 222-9999 Souplantation 24303 Town Center Drive, Valencia (661) 286-1260 Stonefire Grill 23300 Cinema Drive, Valencia (661)799-8282 The Old Town Junction 24275 Main Street Newhall (661) 702-4888 The Social 23329 Lyons Ave, Ste A, Valencia (661) 799-9155 Thelma’s Cafe 22876 Copperhill Drive, Saugus (661) 263-8283 Wing Stop 18547 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 251-9700

BBQ Dickeys Barbecue Pit 18742 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (661) 251-0840

4 Homemade Soups Served Daily Sweet Apple & Carrot, Corned Beef & Cabbage, Clam Chowder, Taco Tortilla

nior Spec Homemade 15e% ial O FF Jelly Bar! S

Mond W/Cou ay- F pon M rida ust Beve y, 7am- be over rages 9 5 not inpm exp 5 clude 9/20 /1 d

Strawberry, Blueberry, Orange Marmalade, Green Tomato

661.284.5988

23340 Cinema Dr Valencia CA 91355 www.himamastable.com

online order by Postmates • DoorDash • Uber Eats See DINING GUIDE, next page

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S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

DININGGUIDE

DINING GUIDE

Continued from previous page

BBQ L&L Hawaiian BBQ 18727 Via Princessa, Canyon Country (661) 251-8333 Lucille’s Bar-B-Que 24201 West Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 255-1227 Q&Q Hawaiian BBQ 27530 Newhall Ranch Road #101, Santa Clarita (661) 383-9098 Rattler’s BBQ 26495 Golden Valley Road, Canyon Country (661) 251-4195 Smokehouse on Main 24255 Main St, Old Town Newhall (661) 888-4585 Wood Ranch Bar-B-Que & Grill 25580 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 222-9494

BREAKFAST & BRUNCH Casa Canela 27647 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (661) 523-7282 Crazy Otto’s Diner 25373 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia (661) 291-1733 Egg Plantation 24415 Walnut Street, Newhall (661) 255-8222 Eggs N Things 27560 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 702-8664 Halfway House 15564 W. Sierra Highway, Saugus (661) 251-0102 Mama’s Table 23340 Cinema Dr, Santa Clarita (661) 284-5988 Marston’s Restaurant 24011 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 253-9910 Mimi’s Cafe 24201 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia (661) 255-5520 The Old Town Junction 24257 Main Street, Newhall (661) 702-4888 Saugus Cafe 25861 Railroad Avenue, Saugus (661) 259-7886 Way Station Coffee Shop 24377 Main Street, Newhall (661) 255-0222

BREWERIES

Red Robin 27063 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 260-2411

DELICATESSEN

Route 66 Classic Grill 18730 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 298-1494

Bob’s Country Meats 19012 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 251-5995

Rustic Burger 24025 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 254-1300

Cathy’s Delicatessen 23120 W. Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 288-2217

Pocock Brewing Company 24907 Avenue Tibbits, Valencia (661) 775-4899

Rustic Eatery 25343 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia (661) 254-8100

Italia Panetteria & Deli 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 294-9069

Wolf Creek Restaurant & Brewing Co. 27746 N. McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 263-9653

Submarina California Subs 26517 Carl Boyer Drive, Canyon Country (661) 259-4782

Maria’s Italian-American Deli 22620 W. Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 259-6261

Tiny’s Submarine Sandwiches 27251 Camp Plenty Rd, Canyon Country (661) 251-5885

Mariciano’s Chicago Style Deli 18635 Soledad Canyon Road (661) 299-1100

BJ’s Restaurant 24320 Town Center Drive, Valencia (661) 288-1299 Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing Co. 18810 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 252-7883

BURGERS/SANDWICHES Bricks 23820 Lyons Ave, Newhall (661) 286-1091 Brother’s Burgers 20655 Soledad Canyon (661) 299-9278 Burgerim 23740 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 670-8939 Corner Bakery 24290 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 259-2813 Cousins Burgers 19318 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 298-4200 Everest Burgers 18645 Soledad Canyon Road Santa Clarita, CA 91351 (661) 252-3412 Final Score 23754 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 254-6557 Firehouse Subs 23630 Valencia Blvd. Valencia (661) 255-3473 Five Guys 24201 W, Valencia Blvd #3672, Valencia (661) 255-0981 The Habit 25948 N. McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 291-1575 Italia Panetteria & Deli 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 294-9069

CHINESE China Express 19417 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 251-8783 Genghis Khan 24506 W. Lyons Avenue, Newhall 661-254-0351 Golden Wok Restaurant 16668 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 424-0888 Grand Panda 23802 Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 253-1898 27924 Seco Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 297-9868 Mandarin Wong Chinese Restaurant 23758 Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 259-5823 Moon Wok 23460 Cinema Drive Suite H, Valencia (661) 288-1898 New Moon 28281 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 257-4321 Pei Wei Asian Diner 24250 Valencia Boulevard, Valencia 661-600-0132 Pick Up Stix 25960 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 288-2090

Jimmy Dean’s 22941 Lyons Ave, Newhall (661) 255-6315

WaBa Grill 19120 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 367-7297 31739 Castaic Road, Castaic (661) 295 9222

JJ’s Bar and Grill 25848 Tournament Road, Valencia (661) 799-7557

Wok’s Cookin’ Chinese Restaurant 31565 Castaic Road, Castaic (661) 257-2890

Panini Palace 23120 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 678-0552 Pita Pit 28253 Newhall Ranch Road (661) 702-9977

CUBAN Hidden Havana Cuban Cafe 23548 Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 254-4460

The Sandwich Shop 25530 W. Avenue Stanford, Valencia (661) 257-4811

FRENCH Le Chene French Cuisine 12625 Sierra Highway, Agua Dulce (661) 251-4315

GREEK Gyromania 20655 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 252-4976

INDIAN An Indian Affaire 23360 W. Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 288-1200 Karma Restaurant, Bar & Lounge 23460 Cinema Drive, Valencia (661) 288-0080 Royal Tandoor 26532 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 263-7100

ITALIAN Bella Cucina Ristorante Italiano 27911 Seco Canyon Rd, Saugus (661) 263-1414 Buca di Beppo 26940 Theater Drive, Valencia (661) 253-1900 Italia Panetteria & Deli 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 294-9069 Maria’s Italian-American Deli 22620 Lyons Ave, Newhall (661) 259-6261 Olive Garden 27003 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 799-8161 Piccola Trattoria 18302 Sierra Highway, Canyon Country (661) 299-6952 Presto Pasta 24375 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Valencia (661) 284-7737

S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 19

DININGGUIDE

JAPANESE & SUSHI Achita Sushi 22913 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 476-5522 Asako Sushi 27540 Sierra Hwy, Canyon Country (661) 251-6010 Bonsai Garden 19358 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 251-9008 Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ Dining 27025 McBean Pkwy, Valencia (661) 254-2355 Hibiki Restaurant 27625 Shangri La Dr., Canyon Country (661) 298-0273

Lee’s Korean BBQ & Tofu House 23360 West Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 254-2307

Rosarito Grill 19425 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 251-2732

Sam’s Flaming Grill 24802 Orchard Village, Santa Clarita (661) 222-9060 19433 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 298-0115 25347 Wayne Mills Pl, Valencia (661) 254-2154 23874 Copper Hill Dr, Valencia (661) 294-1100

Solita Tacos & Margaritas 24201 Valencia Blvd., Suite 3470, Santa Clarita (661) 291-1399

ZingGa Grill 26910 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita (661) 250-7592

MEDITERRANEAN

I Love Sushi 26526 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita 661-673-5200

Cafe O 20655 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 424-0401

Kabuki 24045 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 799-8655

Flame & Skewers 25870 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 799-7538

Kisho Japanese Teppan Grill & Revolving Sushi Bar 23430 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 284-3856 Masa Ramen 27051 McBean Pkwy, #101, Valencia (661) 254-4229 My Hot Pot 26238 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 288-1998 Shogun Sushi Japanese Restaurant 26807 Seco Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 513-0015 Sushi 661 26850 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita (661) 252-9831 Sushi Song Japanese Restaurant 22896 Copper Hill Dr, Santa Clarita (661) 297-5659 Xevichez Sushi Bar 24250 Town Center Dr #180, Santa Clarita (661) 288-1477 Yamato Restaurant 24947 Pico Canyon Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 799-0707

KOREAN & MONGOLIAN Charcoal Korean BBQ Restaurant 19158 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 251-9292 Genghis Khan 24506 W. Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 254-0351 Gogi House 26524 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 263-0048 Kogiya 2 Korean BBQ 23410 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 678-0999

Grill Kabob 27653 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 263-7445 Kebab House 24201 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 799-5844 Manoushee Mediterranean Restaurant 27131 Sierra Hwy, Canyon Country (661) 251-6666

Pizza Rev 24341 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia (661) 260-1257 Tomato Joes Pizza & Taps 19167 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita (661) 250-7550 Tomato Joes Pizza Express 27732 McBean Pkwy. Valencia (661) 263-8646

PERSIAN Persia Lounge & Restaurant 24328 Main Street, Newhall (661) 259-4100

Toppers Pizza 23710 Valencia Blvd, Santa Clarita (805) 385-4444

PIZZA Ameci Pizza & Pasta 28013 Seco Canyon, Santa Clarita (661) 296-6131 Chi Chi’s Pizza 27117 Sierra Highway, Canyon Country (661) 252-4405 23043 Soledad Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 259-4040 Magic Pizza SCV 26870 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 291-1921 Mama Mia Pizza 25708 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 286-9183 Pizza Di Marco 27674 Newhall Ranch Rd, Valencia 661-295-8769

POLISH Pierogi Spot 26511 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita (661) 254-4850

THAI Original Thai BBQ Restaurant 27530 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 257-6421 Sister House Thai Fusion 26879 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita 661-263-9911

VIETNAMESE Pho Sure 23876 Copper Hill Drive, Valencia (661) 257-3888

Olive Terrace Cafe 28261 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 257-7860 Zankou Chicken 24463 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Valencia (661) 705-7265

MEXICAN Azul Tequila 25387 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia (661) 254-5500 Betito’s Mexican 18902 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661)251-0557 Casa Pasilla 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 295-1989 Dario’s Mexican Restaurant 24523 Newhall Avenue, Newhall (661) 255-6868

Mexican Grill & Bar Explore Our

Delicious @Menu

Get Happy

Happy Hour

azultequilagrill.com

3-7pm Tue-Fri Mon All Day Sat & Sun 10am-4pm (Cantina only)

and place your order for pickup…ONLINE

El Trocadero Mesquite Grill & Cantina 24274 Main Street, Newhall (661) 284-6615 La Cocina Bar & Grill 28022 Seco Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 297-4546 Las Rocas Mexican Grill 27923 Sloan Canyon Road Castaic (661) 257-6905 Medrano’s Mexican Restaurant 19319 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 367-4945

Also inquire about special events, banquets and fund raisers.

25387 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia, CA 91355 (Cross streets – Tourney Rd. & Magic Mountain Pkwy.)

661-254-5500

Serving Lunch & Dinner, Monday - Sunday

Hours: Mon - Thurs 10:30am - 10pm, Fri 10:30am - 11pm, Sat 10:00am-11:00pm, Sun 10:00am - 10:00pm

Free Wi-Fi

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S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR

= Family Friendly Event

ONGOING

EVENTS BY DATE

Sundays, 8:30 a.m. to noon The Santa Clarita Certified Farmers’ Market offers locals a Sunday breakfast prepared onsite from one of the market’s several food vendors or try some of our wonderful artisan bakery products. Open year round, rain or shine. College of the Canyons, Parking Lot 5, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. Info: vccfarmersmarkets.com/ santa-clarita Mondays, 6 p.m. Come learn to dance in a fun and welcoming environment. You’ll have the chance to meet new people and enjoy Latin music and dancing. Doors open at 6 p.m., salsa lessons at 8 p.m. and social dancing at 9 p.m. Tickets are available at the door, $10, $5 before 10 p.m. The Canyon – Santa Clarita, 24201 Valencia Blvd., Ste. 1351 Santa Clarita. Info: wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com Wednesdays, 6-10 p.m. Come to bike night at Route 66 Classic Grill. Attendees can enjoy live music, raffle prizes, barbecue and drink specials. Route 66 Classic Grill 18730 Soledad Canyon Road., Canyon Country. Info: route66classicgrill.com/bikenight-route-66.php Thursdays, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Stroll, shop and enjoy the sounds of Northpark Village Square on Thursday evenings from Sept. 12 through Nov. 21 for the Autumn Nights Music Series. Great shops, restaurants and free concerts full of family friendly music to ease into those relaxing autumn evenings. 27756 McBean Parkway, Valencia, Santa Clarita. Info: facebook.com/ events/2415899645364304/?event_time_ id=2415899655364303

Sunday, Sept. 8, noon to 2 p.m. Congregation Beth Shalom invites the community to its Film Series presents “Latter Day Jew.” Comedian H. Alan Scott, Director Aliza Rosen and Producer Todd Shotz will be at the screening for a Q&A following the film. The cost is $5. Contact (661) 254-2411 to RSVP. The screening will take place at 21430 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita. Sunday, Sept. 8, 2-5 p.m., The Sierra Hillbillies are hosting a 52nd anniversary dance: Casual attire is always welcome! Door prizes, good food, raffles and surprises. Valencia United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 25718 McBean Parkway, Santa Clarita. Wednesday, Sept. 11, 6-7:30 p.m. Have you and your child discussed vaping and other pressures they face each day? To help educate the community on teen issues, the City of Santa Clarita will hold its annual Parent Resource Symposium. Get facts from experts about the consequences of vaping and meet representatives from resources around the City that can keep your student involved in the community and away from illegal substances. City Hall, 23920 Valencia Blvd #120, Valencia. Info: dfyinscv.com/prs Wednesday, Sept. 11, 6:30-7:15 p.m. Join the Knights and the greater SKT and SCV community for our annual 9/11 Memorial Prayer Service and Flag Retirement. The annual service includes words of remembrance of those who lost and those who gave their lives in the attacks on our nation on Sept. 11, 2001, a prayer service led by Deacon Terry Irwin, a retirement of the flag that has flown on the 9/11 Memorial on campus and a proper ceremonial flag

! WIN

CONGRATULATIONS to Laurie Morse for correctly identifying Brent’s Carpet on page 5. Identify this advertiser and the page number in this week’s issue, and you will be entered to win a $100 gift certificate for a local restaurant. One game and one winner each week.

Mail your entry to The Signal – Contest 26330 Diamond Place | Santa Clarita, CA 91350 Or email contest@signalscv.com Advertiser: _____________________________ Page # ______ Name: _____________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________ Phone: _____________________________________________

This week’s entries are due Wed. September 18 Winner to be announced in 2 weeks.

disposal lead by local Boy & Girl Scouts. Friday, Sept. 13, 8 a.m. to noon. SCV Sheriff’s Station will be hosting a Drug Take Back Day. Turn in your unused, unwanted or expired medications, no questions asked. Deputies will be outside our station to take your medication for safe disposal. You can turn in the medications in their original containers or in sealed clear ziplock bags. Pet medications also accepted. No liquids or sharps. 23740 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Santa Clarita. Info: facebook. com/events/2393969914258095/ Friday Sept. 13, 5:45-8:45 p.m. Lunafest is made by, for and about women. Since 2000, Lunafest has showcased the work of talented women directors from all over the world. Discover the ground-breaking women from prior seasons, along with the ones who are changing the industry with this year’s lineup. Films featured are not rated but we suggest age 13 and up for this season’s lineup. Total program running time is 85 minutes. $30. Canyon Theater Guild, 24242 Main Street, Parkway Newhall. Info: scvzonta.org/lunafest Friday, Sept. 13, 6-10:30 p.m. Have you always wanted to experience drag queen bingo, and didn’t get a chance last time they were here? Drag Queen Bingo is coming again to American Legion Post 507. Join us for a fabulous evening of fun and laughter, prizes, and more that will help us raise money to help support our great veterans and active duty personnel! American Legion Post 507, 24527 Spruce Street, Santa Clarita. Info: facebook.com/ events/195562184694740/ Friday, Sept. 13, 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Join The OUTreach Center at OUT on the Mountain, the private, LGBT+ party at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Seasons passes don’t work for this special event, but you can get discount tickets through our link. By getting your ticket through us, you save $18 and get free parking, plus The OUTreach Center gets a donation from OUT on the Mountain. 26101 Magic Mountain Pkwy., Valencia, Santa Clarita. Info: outonthe mountain.com Friday, Sept 13, 9 p.m. to midnight Join Glowhouse Gaming for a loaded evening of dancing in a neon and glowpaint clubhouse as our live DJ takes you on a curated tour of various music genres. Each hour of the event will feature a different genre of music. We will feature a gaming floor with various systems. Must be 18 and older with valid ID. $10. 25061 Avenue Stanford no. 40, Santa Clarita. Info: glowhousegaming.com Saturday, Sept. 14, noon to 2 p.m. Come to a book signing with local author Greg Hayes. He will sign his books “The Kennedys

of Hoboken” and “Camps with Coach Wooden.” The Open Book, 19188 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. Info: facebook.com/ events/373915819936428/ Saturday, Sept. 14, 3-5 p.m. Students in middle school and high school are invited to join Explorers at Gilchrist Farm for a career exploring open house. Exploring provides exciting exciting hands-on activities and one-on-one mentorship opportunities to help you discover what career path you would like to pursue post high school. Gilchrist Farm, 30116 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. Info: facebook.com/ events/351183828929596/ Saturday Sept. 14, 5-10 p.m. Let’s come together to enjoy an evening of art, film, and fun at the Canyon Theatre Guild. Join us on the patio for a special happy hour and to mingle with artists who have generously donated their art so that money raised at our auction will go to support our organization. Then join the action as we auction off their professional pieces of art. We will have a special guest speaker to introduce the Oscar award-winning film “BlacKkKlansman.” $20. Canyon Theater Guild, 24242 Main Street, Parkway Newhall. Info: secure.actblue. com/donate/daapresents Monday, Sept. 16, 6:30 p.m. Freelance illustrator Kevin Davidson will demonstrate watercolor on Yupo at the meeting of the Santa Clarita Artists Association (SCAA). This event is free and open to the public. Come early, standing room only by 6:30 pm. Barnes and Noble, 23630 Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita. Info: santaclaritaartists.org/events.html Thursday, Sept. 19, 7-10 p.m. Ahoy matey! It’s time to celebrate Davy Jones style on National Speak Like a Pirate Day. Walk the plank at the Pirates of Santa Clarita SENSES block party. Leave your flask at home because we will have an on-street bar hosted by Eighth & Rail. Market Street and Main Street, Santa Clarita. Info: /thursdaysatnewhall. com/senses/ Friday, Sept. 20, 6:30 p.m. Come to the second annual feedSCV Chef Auction where you will have the opportunity to bid on one of a kind experiences with your favorite local chefs, restaurateurs, and sommeliers! Sponsorships are available and silent auction items are being accepted. Valencia Country Club, 27330 Tourney Rd, Valencia. Info: shauna@feedscv.org, scvchefauction.org

S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 1

Three ideas to freshen up your favorite treats

his time of year brings lots of picnics and barbecues, along with tasty treats everyone loves to share. Want to make yummy desserts your friends will rave about, but with your own unique twist?

Add exotic new fruit.

Whether you’re making a fruit salad, a pie or another tasty fruit-forward delight, consider making a colorful statement with exotic fruits. Why settle for the usual grapes, oranges or bananas? There’s a world of amazing fruit out there! Adventurous fruits to try include the bright pink dragon fruit, juicy passion fruit, orange and spiky horned melon, yellow Buddha’s hand or large green jackfruit. You can find these types of fruits more easily than you might think, but if they’re not at your usual grocery store, check your local specialty grocery stores and farmers markets or order them online.

Simple ingredient swaps can be your best-kept secret.

Consider creating a better-for-you version of your summer favorites with a few ingredient swaps. These tried-and-true simple substitutions will boost nutrition and even enhance the flavors of your favorite recipes. For sugar (or artificial sweetener), use natural options like honey, agave, maple syrup or applesauce instead. You can substitute unsweetened (about 100 calories) applesauce for sugar (about 770 calories) in a 1:1 ratio, but for every cup of applesauce you use, reduce the amount of liquid in the recipe by 1/4 cup. Boost nutrition and texture of home-baked bread or muffins by swapping out some flour with oat bran. Rich in fiber and protein, oat bran will help keep you full, and the fiber can also help lower cholesterol; your guests will have no idea, because oat bran holds moisture well so your baked goods won’t be dry.

Top it to the next level.

Elevate your dessert with a dollop of deliciousness. To make your creation even better, use a topping that’s so good, everyone will think it’s homemade. To upgrade a classic dessert, try a whipped topping like

truwhip original, truwhip skinny or truwhip vegan. Use it to top your fresh fruit salad, dip your favorite cookies or swap it for old-fashioned whipped cream. For a fresh summer recipe using truwhip, try this Blueberry Ginger Vegan Cheesecake.

Blueberry Ginger Vegan Cheesecake Serves 6-8 Crust 1/2 cup coconut butter (NOT coconut oil) 3 ounces (approximately 1 cup) fresh blueberries Filling 2 cups cashews, soaked in water for a few hours Zest and juice of 1 lemon 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger 1/4 cup maple syrup 1/2 cup full fat coconut milk 3 ounces (approximately 1 cup) blueberries 1 tablespoon vanilla 1/4 teaspoon salt Topping 1 container truwhip vegan Blueberries for garnish Directions 1. Spray cake pan with cooking spray. Completely line the bottom and sides with plastic wrap, letting excess plastic wrap hang over the sides of the pan. Spray a little more cooking spray on bottom and sides and line with parchment paper. 2. Make crust. In a food processor, process coconut butter and blueberries until they form a paste. The mixture doesn’t need to be perfectly smooth; a little texture is good. 3. Press crust into bottom of cake pan and up sides. Make sure to create a smooth and even bottom. Set in freezer while you make the filling. 4. Using a blender, add filling ingredients. Puree mixture for a few minutes to be as smooth as possible. 5. Pour filling into the cake pan on top of crust. Set cheesecake in freezer for three hours, or until completely hard.

FOOD

6. Once the cheesecake is frozen, pull it out using the plastic wrap overhang. The cheesecake should come out easily. 7. Place on cake plate or stand. Top with vegan truwhip and blueberries. Enjoy! To find truwhip products in a store near you, use the store locator at truwhip.com. (BPT)

BLUEBERRY GINGER VEGAN CHEESECAKE

7 easy travel snack ideas for diabetics

o you have diabetes and stress about finding healthy and convenient snack options while you’re traveling? Here are some smart snacking tips to consider. Choose healthy and satisfying snacks between meals Snacking done right can keep your blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible and can help prevent low blood sugar. Try almonds Almonds fall low on your carb count chart at 6 grams per serving, they’re easy to stash in your carry-on bag and can be found in practically every convenience store and airport. Balance is everything Combine a high-fiber carb with a protein-rich food to build your smart snack! Maintain a calorie cap Keep snacks to less than 200 calories so your snack doesn’t end up being an extra meal. Portability is key Always carry a snack with you so you’re prepared for blood sugar slumps. Snack mindfully Think before you eat. Are you hungry or are you bored? Munching mindlessly out of boredom is a sure way to gain unnecessary pounds and interrupt your diabetes management goals. Check your blood sugar before and after you exercise to monitor if you require a snack. Exercise tends to lower blood sugar levels, so you may need sustenance before or after. “The health benefits of almonds are wonderful for people with

diabetes,” says registered dietitian, nutritionist and diabetes expert Toby Smithson. “Almonds contain good fats, are a good source of fiber (4 grams), and when consumed in moderation, can help you feel full and maintain your weight.”

Fruit Salad with Almonds Serves 1 20 grams of carbohydrate Ingredients 1/2 cup fresh raspberries 1/4 cup red grapes 1/2 teaspoon orange blossom water (found in the ethnic foods aisle) 2 tablespoons sliced almonds Serve on top of 1/3 cup low-fat cottage cheese Preparation Mix the fruit, orange blossom water and the almonds in a small bowl. Serve with cottage cheese if desired.

Hummus Almond Wrap Serves 1 27 grams of carbohydrate Ingredients 2 tablespoons hummus 1 8-inch whole grain tortilla 6 whole snap peas 3 large fresh basil leaves 1 tablespoon sliced almonds Preparation Spread hummus over the tortilla. In the middle of the tortilla, place the snap peas, basil and almonds. Fold ends of tortilla over to wrap and eat. For more snacking tips and recipes, visit almonds.com. (BPT)

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S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

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

Gary Puckett and the Union Gap By Perry Smith Sunday Signal Editor

oming from an era when crooning began to mix with rock ’n’ roll, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap personified the sounds of the 60s to many, with a sound that helped define the era for many. Puckett’s band performed on more

than 30 network TV shows during a time when that was essentially the only mainstream media, along with radio play, which his band also received in fairly large amounts. While the group somewhat unofficially disbanded in the 70s, but not before the group reached the type of success that most only imagine. In fact, In 1968 Gary Puckett and The Union Gap had six consecutive

gold records and sold more records than any other recording act around to that point, including a legendary band known as The Beatles, according to Puckett’s website. Fans of the era will definitely remember a few of Puckett’s classics, including “Woman Woman,” “Young Girl,” “Lady Willpower” and “Over You.” Puckett’s touring keeps the sound alive, which you can listen to

when Gary Puckett and the Union Gap come to Canyon Santa Clarita on Sept. 13. Find the Canyon Santa Clarita on the ground floor of the Westfield Valencia Town Center. Get tickets at the box office 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. MondaySaturday, by phone at (888) 645-5006, or via TicketMaster.com. For more info, visit WheremusicmeetstheSoul.com.

S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 3

Fall TV Preview: Time to set the recorder

E N T E R TA I N M E N T “Carol’s Second Act” (CBS), 9:30 p.m.

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

f summer television has made you question the future of television, have faith. It’s true, that as much as I love Rob Riggle, ABC’s summer show “Holey Moley” was unwatchable, as was much of this summer’s programing. We can put that all behind us now, because the new fall television season is almost here. Not only will there be a 39th season of “Survivor,” there is a diverse array of new shows to sample. Several new programs look promising, if they can live up to their potential. I look forward to the new Billy Gardell comedy from the King of Comedy Chuck Lorre (“Mike and Molly,” “Big Bang Theory,” “Mom” and “Two and a Half Men”). Fox will premiere a slate of new dramas and comedies midseason. It will offer up four new shows this fall. I’m not sure that I call “WWE’s Smackdown Live” a “new” show, but Fox is touting it as such. CBS offers five new shows this fall, NBC is premiering three shows and ABC is giving us four. The CW will debut three new shows.

Highlights

Jimmy Smits is back on NBC in “Bluff City Law,” and ABC will capitalize on the success of “Blackish” with a new comedy, “Mixed-ish.” Patricia Heaton (“The Middle” and “Everybody Loves Raymond”) is also back with a new sitcom on CBS, “Carol’s Second Act.” Here are the premiere dates for fall’s new network shows.

Sept. 13 “Red Bull Peaking” (The CW), 9 p.m. An extreme sports docu-series.

Sept. 23

“Bob Hearts Abishola” (CBS), 8:30 p.m. Sitcom. Middle-aged compression-sock businessman from Detroit unexpectedly falls for his cardiac nurse, a Nigerian immigrant, while recovering from a heart attack. PHOTO COURTESY CBS

“All Rise” (CBS), 9 p.m.

CBS PR describes the show as, “A courthouse drama that follows the chaotic, hopeful and sometimes absurd lives of its judges, prosPHOTO COURTESY CBS ecutors and public defenders, as they work with bailiffs, clerks and cops to get justice for the people of Los Angeles amidst a flawed legal process.”

“Prodigal Son” (Fox), 9 p.m.

You think your family is fouled up? This show is about a criminal profiler, whose father is an infamous serial killer known as “The Surgeon.”

Sept. 24

PHOTO COURTESY CBS

Patricia Heaton stars in new a comedy about a woman who reinvents herself after raising her children and getting divorced: pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor.

“Evil” (CBS), 10 p.m.

Psychological mystery that examines the origins of evil. The series focuses on a skeptical female psychologist who joins a priest-in-training and a carpenter as they investigate the church’s backlog of unexplained mysteries, including miracles, demonic possessions and hauntings.

Sept. 29

“Bless the Harts” (Fox), 8:30 p.m.

A new offering for “Animation Domination.”

Oct. 2

“Mixed-ish” (ABC), 9 p.m.

Sitcom. “Black-ish” spinoff. Rainbow Johnson (Arica Himmel) recounts her experience growing up in a mixed-race family in the ‘80s.

“Almost Family” (Fox), 9 p.m.

Drama based on the Australian television series, “Sisters,” about a woman who grew up as an only child who discovers her dad fathered many other children as a sperm donor.

Oct. 4

“WWE’s Smackdown” Live (Fox) 8 p.m.

PHOTO COURTESY IMDB

“Emergence” (ABC), 10 p.m.

Thriller. A police chief takes in a young child she finds near the site of a mysterious accident. Strange things happen. Followed by appearances by “The Men in Black.”

Sept. 25

“Stumptown” (ABC), 10 p.m.

An entire night devoted to … this.

Oct. 6

“Batwoman” (The CW), 8 p.m.

Set in a timeline where Batman has abandoned Gotham City, this is another show set in the “Arrowverse” universe.

“Kids Say the Darndest Things” (ABC), 8 p.m.

Based on the Stumptown graphic novel series. Dex Parios (Cobie Smulders), is a strong, assertive and sharp-witted army veteran in Portland, Oregon, who becomes a PI.

Hosted by Tiffany Haddish who gets kids to say “the darndest things.”

Sept. 26

“Perfect Harmony” (NBC), 8:30 p.m.

Updated for the 2000s, this isn’t your mother’s “Nancy Drew.”

“The Unicorn” (CBS), 8:30 p.m.

Sept. 22 The “71st Primetime Emmy Awards” will air on Fox.

Bradley Whitford stars in this comedy about finding inspiration in the most unlikely places. Walton Goggins stars as “The Unicorn,” the perfect single guy, employed, attractive and with a proven track record of commitment.

“Sunnyside” (NBC), 9:30 p.m.

“Bluff City Law” (NBC), 10 p.m.

Courtroom drama. Starring Jimmy Smits and Caitlin McGee as a father and daughter who reunite to change the world. PHOTO COURTESY NBC

Kal Penn stars as a failed New York City Councilman hired by a diverse group of idealists who dream of becoming American citizens and believe he can help.

Oct. 9

“Nancy Drew” (The CW), 9 p.m.

Dates to remember Sept. 25 “Survivor” (CBS), 8 p.m. The Emmy Award-winning series returns for its 39th season, themed “Island of the Idols.” This edition features two legendary winners, Boston Rob Mariano and Sandra Diaz-Twine, who return to the game to serve as mentors to a group of 18 new players. During the 39 days, these new players will visit the Island of the Idols and learn skills and strategy from these “idols.” Sept. 26 “Thursday Night Football” will kick-off on Fox.

24 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

K I D S & FA M I LY

Questions your teen’s pediatrician may ask

outine check-ups are essential for adolescents and young adults. As health risks and concerns are rapidly changing during the teen years, these preventive services can help keep your teens healthy and safe. Experts say that conversations between doctors, patients and their families during these visits are very important. “Habits formed in adolescence often continue into adulthood, making this a key period for encouraging behaviors that promote health and reduce risk,” says Dr. Elizabeth Alderman, chair of American Academy of Pediatrics’ Committee on Adolescence. “Routine check-ups are a great time to encourage adolescents to actively participate in their own health, and for parents play an important role in this process.” To help families prepare for their teen’s next appointment, here are some questions doctors may ask and some tips for making the most of

When teenagers and parents know what to expect in advance, they can get a lot more out of doctor’s visits. Remember, confidential care is good for their health.

these visits. These tips were developed by the Adolescent Health Consortium, a collaboration among the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine, and the Amer-

ican Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. • Your teen’s doctor may ask them questions like “What are your responsibilities at home?” and “What are you good at?” in an effort to gauge their emotional development, their

How being bilingual benefits kids

eing bilingual is a necessity for millions of people across the globe. While many United States citizens may never need to speak any language other than English, that’s not the case for people who reside in other parts of the world. Even some citizens of America’s neighbor to the north, Canada, may need to learn both French and English depending on where they live. Fluency in more than one language can produce some surprising benefits. For example, a 2017 study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America found that lifelong bilingualism may help to delay the onset of dementia by as much as five years. In addition, numerous studies, including one conducted by an economist at MIT, found that people fluent in more than one language can earn tens of thousands of

dollars more than their monolingual peers over the course of their careers. Perhaps in recognition of the benefits of bilingualism in an increasingly global world, foreign language programs are now part of the curriculum at many daycare facilities and preschools. That might come as a surprise to parents who did not begin studying foreign languages until junior high or even high school. But the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services notes that the following are some of the ways that being bilingual can benefit kids.

Cognitive development

The DHHS notes that a nearly 20-year-old study from the National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education found that bilingual students had an easier time understanding math concepts and solving word problems than their peers who were not bilingual. The DHHS also notes that researchers have uncovered numerous additional cognitive benefits to being bilingual as opposed to monolingual.

These benefits include a greater ability to use logic, focus, remember, and make decisions.

Social-emotional development

Researchers with the National Academy of Science found that children who grow up in bilingual households exhibit better self-control than those who grow up in monolingual households. That’s an important benefit, as the DHHS notes that self-control is a key indicator of academic success. The DHHS adds that bilingual children benefit socially from being bilingual because they are capable of making new friends and building strong relationships using their second language as well as their first. The ability to speak more than one language fluently can produce some surprising benefits that children can use to their advantage in school and throughout adulthood. (MC)

ability to cope with stress, and assess their risk for depression, anxiety, or other concerns. • You may be asked general questions about your home, neighborhood, and your teen’s school environments in order to help the doctor determine whether your child is eating enough, feels safe, and is getting enough sleep. This can offer an overall picture of your teen’s well-being. • Your teen’s doctor will likely ask your teen about their sexual activity, contraceptive methods, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and pregnancy prevention, as well as about their use of tobacco, e-cigarettes, alcohol, and prescription and street drugs. You may be asked about the kind of conversations you’re having at home about avoiding risky behaviors. • Routine check-ups are also a good time to see whether a patient is at risk of developing eating disorders, so the doctor may ask your teen about their diet, exercise routine, and feelings about their body with questions like, “how do you feel about the way you look?” and “do you ever skip meals?” • Your teen’s doctor may start discussions on topics like puberty, sexual development, gender identity, sexual attraction and sexuality. Teens should feel safe discussing these topics with their doctor and with you. “There is a gap between what adolescents and young adults want to discuss and what they actually talk about during doctor’s visits,” says Dr. Alderman, who points out that doctors are more likely to gather accurate information about a teen’s health when parents are supportive of confidential, one-on-one time between teens and their doctors. “Confidentiality is essential to adolescent health care, empowering teens to get the information they need to stay healthy. Teens and parents, separately, should make a list of questions and discussion topics to address with the teen’s doctor.” (Statepoint) For more resources, visit Healthy Children.org.

S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 5

Donna’s Day: Creative Family Fun

Cooperative activities for kids and families By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer

K I D S & FA M I LY

Looking for more cooperative fun? Make dinnertime pizza prep a game.

was in charge of taking meal tickets and handing out plates for an outdoor burger buffet lunch after a Family Fun Run event. Greeting all ages coming through the line, I was caught off guard when two girls looked like “one,” from the waist up anyway. Full of kidlike chatter and smiles, the cousins said they were so cold after running, they grabbed an adultsize long-sleeve T-shirt from one of the moms, stretched it over their heads and shimmied into it. Jane’s right hand came through the right sleeve, while Elouise’s left hand came through the other. Snug, warm and famished, they held a plate on each outstretched hand and tried to focus on serving each other burgers, buns, pickles, beans and fries. As they headed for a picnic table, they were giggling so hard, they soon became a crowd attraction trying to focus on walking in sync while balancing their heaping plates of food. Cooperation was the key. Engaging in simple family play, just for the fun of it, can happen anytime and almost anywhere. You might want to try the girls’ cozy and challenging T-shirt idea in your home by slipping one over two young kids and encouraging them to walk around from room to room. For older kids, go outside and challenge them to do an activity together, like bouncing a ball or raking leaves. 100 YEARS

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1. Set bowls of pizza toppings side by side on your counter. The fun begins when the person responsible for assembling the pizza covers his eyes completely with a scarf or headband. The other child gives directions. 2. Instruct the pizza maker to roll out the dough, then hand him the ingredients, beginning with the tomato sauce.

Sharing one T-shirt, 8-year-old cousins Jane Humphreys and Elouise Clark serve up lunch cooperatively. Find ways you can teach cooperation.

3. Ask him to brush on the sauce, then continue by arranging and sprinkling toppings one by one. Since this is a cooperative effort, the person giving the instructions should guide the pizza maker verbally as he works. Don’t get the anchovies mixed

up with the cheese! 4. Remove the eye covering before placing the pizza in the oven to see the creation. Enjoy doing this at a party, and let teams of chefs enjoy creating pizzas cooperatively. Remember, it’s all about having fun and being silly. Donna Erickson’s award-winning series “Donna’s Day” is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activities, visit www.donnasday.com and link to the NEW Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.” ©2019 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Synd.

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Breakfast Pizza Breakfast Bun Cereal Chilled Fruit Fresh Fruit

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26 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

HOMEIMPROVEMENT

Water-leak detection, concrete rust solutions By Robert Lamoureux Signal Contributing Writer The real source of a leak could be hidden behind the walls. A good leak-detection company may need to open walls to find the exact origin of the leak.

just hoping that this won’t be opening a can of worms. Thank you in advance, for your help! — Robert C. Roger, Unfortunately, if you don’t let the leak detection contractor open walls, you could have a can of worms and more, eventually. Since we can’t see through walls, there is no way to see something such as a pinhole leak in a pipe. That’s just

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Leak detection Hi Robert, I need your help quickly, please. I have called off the service that was scheduled for doing a water test to my home, because they showed up and said they were going to start cutting holes into my walls. No one told me that this would happen, and I’m uncertain if this is necessary. I obviously need to get the issue figured out, to know where the leak is coming from and how to fix it, but is it necessary to cut holes into the walls? Is there any other way to find out where the issue is coming from? I know you have many years’ experience so I’ll trust what you tell me,

one example of what could be an issue, there can be many other things found behind drywall that could be the source. Note that a good leak-detection company will be conservative in the amount of holes they open, how large the holes are and the cutting of those holes. They should be neat and clean cuts so when it comes time for drywall repair, the drywall tech doesn’t have to do additional work to clean up a disaster. With experience, we can often “guess” where a leak might be within a few feet, once we start the troubleshooting process. That’s not a guarantee, but if you’re choosing someone with a lot of experience they usually can be more conservative with opening holes. Definitely get this taken care of sooner rather than later because with the perfect conditions, mold can grow quickly. Good luck to you, — Robert

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Rust issues I have several concrete areas at my house that show rust and it keeps returning no matter what I do to the surface. I’ve attached photos so you can see the issue, and hopefully guide me on how to get rid of this and why it is even happening. Any ideas, please? — Artin Artin, You’ll need to clean the area thoroughly with a product from a place such as Sherwin Williams. I don’t usually toss out company names, however they have a fantastic rust cleaner. Get that and also a penetrating steel sealer that actually goes through the concrete to seal the rebar and disallow the rebar to continue rusting and bleeding through to the surface. You’ll start by pressure washing the driveway extremely well, and follow that up with cleaning the surface. Discuss this with the folks at the time of purchase, and follow their and their manufacturer’s instructions to the “T.” Be sure to not skip steps including drying times in between if required, the steps matter for the products to work as designed. Then apply, per manufacturer specs, the penetrating sealer and be sure that on the sloped part of your driveway you are controlling the liquid so that it is not running into the street and into the drainage system. Be very careful of this. Essentially this sealer wraps itself around the rebar so that it discontinues rusting and bleeding through. This should take care of the issue for you. Good luck, — Robert Robert Lamoureux has 38 years of experience as a general contractor, with separate licenses in electrical and plumbing contracting. He owns IMS Construction Inc. in Valencia. His opinions are his own, not necessarily those of The Signal. Opinions expressed in this column are not meant to replace the recommendations of a qualified contractor after that contractor has made a thorough visual inspection. Email questions to Robert at robert@imsconstruction.com.

S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 7

INTERIORDESIGN

Five ways to elevate your home decor through minimalism

Simplify your design strategy

When revamping your room to create a more minimalist effect, choose a limited color palette, meaning one to three colors at most. Select mostly muted or neutral colors, though you can use one vivid color in a piece of furniture or art to grab the spotlight. Let the textures of the materials that you use for the floors, walls, ceilings and furnishings — whether they are natural wood, stone, ceramics, glass, tile, fabrics or canvas — create the room’s visual interest instead of yesterday’s too-busy colors and patterns. Choose a couple of contrasting textures, like glass and reclaimed lumber, or woven fabric and stone, to highlight in the room for the best effect.

Declutter your spaces

Decide what items you really want and need to be in each room and get rid of the rest — or find a way to store it neatly, preferably out of sight. One of the greatest visual clutter culprits today comes from technology. It’s hard to know what to do with the mass and tangle of cords from all the latest gadgets, power strips and chargers everyone uses in their homes. To streamline the technology you use for viewing TV, movies and more, a product from LG Electronics USA can solve your cord-clutter problem and turn your living room into an amazing home viewing theater. The LG CineBeam AI ThinQ 4K Laser Projector (HU85LA) creates an impressive 90- to 120-inch cinematic screen by placing it just

2.2 to 7.2 inches away from the wall, needing no complicated installation. With its streamlined and compact design, the state-of-the-art projector incorporates LG’s ThinQ AI and has the Google Assistant built-in so you can control your compatible smart home devices with just your voice.

Choose furnishings with clean lines

When you’re selecting new furniture for your minimalist rooms, look for high-quality, standout pieces designed with clean lines, with no fussy design details or busy patterns. Don’t acquire more furniture than the room really needs. Chances are you can do without all those end tables and extra chairs. Make one exceptional, stylish piece of furniture be the focal point for each room, and don’t over-furnish or over-decorate the space around it. Then avoid the urge to smother the couch or sectional with tons of blankets and throw pillows. Let the furniture speak for itself.

Instead of filling every wall with pictures, choose just one accent wall, eliminating excessive decor elements around it. Let one work of art dominate that space, reducing any competition for attention.

Streamline artistic expression

METRO CONNECTION

he latest trends in home decor reveal a desire for a feeling of tranquility and calmness, perhaps as a response to today’s overly busy and distracted lifestyles. From Marie Kondo’s decluttering craze to a return to natural materials in home design, everyone is looking for a way to create a peaceful, less hectic inner space. When it comes to home decor, less is definitely more. How can you tap into this yen for a little more Zen?

Leave plenty of open space

Resist the urge to fill every corner and surface of the room with ornaments and knickknacks. It’s the open space, unencumbered by any visual clutter, that creates the feeling of calm and tranquility you’re craving. And if you’re lucky enough to have a great view out the window, install only simple, streamlined window treatments — or no window treatments at all — to highlight that view. Minimalist decor is all about making careful choices and choosing the best quality furnishings and decor over quantity of items. You can turn any room into a beautiful showcase that you’d be happy to entertain and live in, with some thoughtful decision-making. (BPT)

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28 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

TIMERANGER

Mixing Water, Fire, Oil & Accidents Hey. Is that all y’all moping sheepishly about, pre-coffee Sunday morn? C’mon. Hop up in those saddles. You sage riders who know their way around a horse can just wiggle a boot into the stirrup and swing a leg over the saddle without spilling a drop of latte. For you SCV greenhorns, just place your paper coffee cups on the railing, remember which one’s your’n and, somehow, some way, climb aboard. THEN ride by and pluck your offending beverage. We’ve a most interesting trail ride ahead, filled with gee-whiz local history, trivia, man’s inhumanity to man and a question of the ages: Follow me. We’re headed into the mystic … WAY BACK WHEN & THEN SOME

• ‘Water, water, everywhere’ Thanks to historian A.B. Perkins, we have a few records of the rainiest seasons in SCV history. In 1884-85, we had 38.18 inches of rain, followed by these totals: 1889-90 — 34.84; 1892-93 — 26.28; 1913-14 — 23.65; 1931-32 — 25.99; 1937-38 — 25.21. Of course, the mother of all seasons was 1968-69 — 51 official inches and 30 inches in February of 1969 alone. • Water, water, not everywhere One of our driest years was 1898-99 — about five and a half inches fell for the whole year — and much of that in one storm. Touchy when you consider we were primarily agricultural and lived by every raindrop. Lots of livestock perished and many trees just dried up.

for 10 minutes. A passing train crew saved him. • Electricity. Wow. The Antelope Valley Fair was going strong, even a century back. The big to-do was that in the 1919 fair, they’d have electric lights. Fascinating that was just 100 years ago … SEPT. 8, 1929

• Two suspicious items Our local Dr. Thomas complained that his watermelon patch had been burglarized so many times, he was out of watermelons. Same weekend, the Saugus Home Club announced they would be holding a huge Watermelon Feast at their annual fundraiser. • Yup. TMS had an oil columnist A note in the weekly oil column in this paper noted that “ol’ No. 57” was still pumping out about five barrels a day, after 60 years of production. Pico No. 4 would pump oil continuously for 114 years.

SEPT. 8, 1919

SEPT. 8, 1939

• An almost early visit to the pearly gates Presbyterian pastor W.H. Evans had a close call with death, 80 years back. He was driving back from Ravenna (the town that used to sit between Acton and Agua Dulce) when the steering wheel came off his car. Evans plunged over a cliff, the car rolled over and over and the local holy man was pinned upside down

• Our world famous rodeo grounds Big Bill Bonelli bought the old 355-acre Ray Baker Ranch on this date. Ray had bought out his partner, movie star Cowboy Bob Anderson. The ranch had previously been owned by another screen legend, Hoot Gibson. Hoot lived on the place for a year with his new bride, Sally

• Guess we were supposed to be on the honor system The still-new IRS was passing out fliers in the SCV, warning car owners that they could give rides to friends or hitchhikers, but that if they charged money for a ride, they’d have to pay 8 percent of the sum to Uncle Sam.

• As Jimi Hendrix might have sung: “Hey, Joe. Where you goin’ with that asparagus in your hand” The Union Ranch, between Newhall and Saugus, was pretty busy with asparagus harvests. Joe Jo, 84, leased the ranch and was the reputed world’s largest grower of asparagus. He had come to America at the age of 14 from China.

Eiler. Hoot held onto the place for five years before it fell to bankruptcy. The grounds were ravaged a year earlier in the 1938 big flood and a fire destroyed the rodeo stands in 1935. You might know the place as the Saugus Speedway.

and her infant burned to death in a wreck. A third died when his motorcycle clipped a truck he was trying to pass. Then, Saugus Speedway photographer Andy DeMarzo died when a race car jumped the wall, flipped and landed on top of him.

• Deer, deer me Hunting season ended with 12,935 registered hunters killing 282 deer. Of that total, 273 were shot in the first five days. That would be deer. Not hunters.

SEPT. 8, 1979

SEPT. 8, 1949

• Half the valley could have told them it was a swamp The Wm S. Hart Union High District coughed up over $100,000 to drain Canyon High’s football field. The district’s engineers sort of built the place in a bog and during moderate rains, the place would become a lake.

• The ride of his life Trucker Ollie Bliss’ double rig filled with 20 tons of lumber lost its brakes at the top of the 5-Mile Grade and went on a 100-mph race with death. Ollie won. Bliss kept dragging his truck alongside of cliffs and railings in an attempt to slow it down. Finally, he was able to pull his truck over on the incline of Newhall Pass. CHP officers said Bliss suffered a nervous breakdown after the ride, that he was babbling and had to be pried from his cabin. The CHP called him a hero. SEPT. 8, 1959

• One lad & 200 firemen A 10-yearold boy playing with matches caused 200 men to fight a 26-acre brush fire in Saugus. The U.S. Forest Service sent 10 planes carrying thousands of gallons of flame retardant to help. How many times do you think the kid had to write, “I will not play with matches?” • Atsa one tough cook(ie) One of the aggravating repeatings of history is how local sheriffs not only get socked in the noggin’, but also, how they end up paying out of their pockets for damaged personal goods. On this date, sheriff ’s deputies Acosta and Hageman both took shots to the chin trying to apprehend a cook from the Castaic Cafe who had started a fistfight right in front of their 6th Street headquarters. Adding insult to injury, the cook also broke the glasses of the desk officer, Sgt. Pipkin. SEPT. 8, 1969

• The last picture It wasn’t a statistic that made the SCV proud. While this valley made up just 0.003% of California’s population, we accounted for 1% of the state’s traffic deaths — 47 for just the first eight months of 1969. Two more were added when a mother

• And then there was one The Canyon Country and NewhallSaugus-Valencia chambers of commerce agreed to merge.

• I’d still vote for Tim Whyte Journalists at College of the Canyons grappled with the student senate over the First Amendment. The senate, because they footed the bills to put out the Canyon Call, wanted to act as publisher of the paper. That meant the senate would choose the paper’s editor or, COC would have a special election where the students voted on the school paper’s editor. The other touchy point was that a third party would be appointed to edit the paper for “libelous material.” Both measures were eventually struck down. SEPT. 8, 1988

• Newhall era ends at The Signal The Newhall family ran The Signal during the SCV’s wild and formative years, from 1963 to 1978. After a dramatic midday walkout, Scott and Ruth Newhall, but not with their son, Tony, who couldn’t be seen around the office, the Newhalls started The Citizen, a biweekly. Oddly enough, the first edition was printed on 9/11. It lasted not quite a year and lost about $1 million. See you in seven with another exciting Time Ranger adventure. Until then — vayan con Dios, amigos! John Boston has been writing about SCV history for more than 40 years. Read his historical tome, “Images of America: The Santa Clarita Valley” on Amazon.com. Check out his History of The Mighty Signal series on Saturdays on A1.

S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 9

T R AV E L

Historic restaurants in the San Fernando Valley By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

t’s always fun to try a new restaurant, to be one of the first to “discover” the latest trendy spot. However, there is something to be said for history, too. Restaurants that have stood the test of time are rare in an industry that sees a 60% failure rate in the first year. Southern California has dozens of restaurants that have existed for more than 50 years. Some may surprise you for their longevity. Others, you may not have heard of … yet. I was surprised at how many historic restaurants in the San Fernando Valley I’ve actually eaten a meal. Here’s a list of some of my favorites.

Established 1926

The Original Martino’s Bakery 335 N. Victory Blvd., Burbank Info martinosbakery.com I first heard about Martino’s from my friend, Elizabeth. Elizabeth is a Southern California refugee living on Whidbey Island, Wash. She told me about this wonderful bakery where her late mother would purchase the “most divine” teacakes for special occasions. The world-famous teacakes are still baked using the original recipe. A few years ago, I purchased some teacakes and packed them in my luggage to bring a box to Elizabeth. She cried when she saw the box. It brought back many happy memories of her youth and of special times with her mother.

Established 1947

Valley Inn Restaurant and Bar 4557 Sherman Oaks Ave., Sherman Oaks Info valleyinnrestaurantandbar.com This restaurant is a landmark in the Valley. Check out the custom-crafted bar made in the 1800s. Sophia and Boris Brodetsky have owned the restaurant since 1998 and have kept some of the classic menu items from 1947 including: • Beefeater Sandwich, sliced prime rib in a grilled sourdough bread with Jack cheese, and • Original Monte Cristo Sandwich, layers of ham, turkey, Swiss cheese, white bread and batter dipped and deep fried. Served with sour cream and fruit preserves. The Valley Inn’s famous Garlic Cheese Bread brings me back again and again, when the craving hits. Try the bread with the Classic French Onion Soup topped with baked Provolone cheese. A signature entrée from 1947 is The Best Country Fried Chicken— half a chicken dipped in special spices and baked. It is served with homemade country gravy mashed potatoes and the chef ’s selection of seasonal vegetables. Allow 35-40 minutes for preparation. The Oven Roasted Chicken is also from an original 1947 recipe.

Photos by Michele E. Buttelman / THE SIGNAL

Established 1947

Bob’s Big Boy 4211 W. Riverside Drive, Burbank, 91505 Info bobs.net This Bob’s Big Boy restaurant is the oldest remaining Bob’s Big Boy in America. Bob Hope, Mickey Rooney, Debbie Reynolds, Jonathan Winters, Dana Andrews and Martha Raye once were regulars. Located not far from Warner Bros. Studios, it still attracts stagehands and other industry professionals. The Beatles dined at the Burbank Bob’s Big Boy location during their 1965 U.S. summer tour. Fans and tourists from around the world now come to this restaurant just to dine in “The Beatles Booth.” The table is the last booth on the right as you enter, where the windows face out towards Riverside Drive. Customers have been known to wait for hours just for a chance to order a Bob’s Original Big Boy Combo (double-deck burger with cheese, mayo, lettuce and special “red relish”) from the same booth where The Beatles dined. The building’s most striking feature is the 70foot tall freestanding Bob’s sign. The sign, with its attractive pink and white neon lettering, is visible at night from far down Riverside Drive.

Established 1947

The Bear Pit Bar-B-Que 10825 Sepulveda Blvd., Mission Hills, 91345 Info bearpitbbq.com This is one of my favorite BBQ restaurants anywhere in Southern California. The restaurant’s history actually began in the late 1940s, when original owner Ben Baier moved from Missouri and started a small barbecue shack in Newhall. After several years, the popularity of his food spread, so he decided to move to the northern San Fernando Valley town of Dennis Park (later Mission Hills) and start a small take-out restaurant. Country singer Tennessee Ernie Ford touted the restaurant in its early days. The restaurant still uses the same low-and-slow pit BBQ cooking method and recipes. Over the years, new owners took on the restaurant but all maintained the integrity of the food, while adding new menu items.

Established 1947

Beeps Diner 16063 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, CA 91406 Info beepsdiner.com Famous for its soda fountain, Beeps is just a fun place to visit. You can’t miss the place — it’s painted bright pink. Fountain treats include milkshakes and malts, freezes and floats, smoothies, ice frappes and more. Have a scoop of ice cream, a sundae or a banana split. Breakfast foods include waffles and omelets, while the classic diner fare includes burgers, hot dogs, sub sandwiches and a hot pastrami dip to die for. You can also find tacos, tostadas and burritos on the menu.

Established 1947

The Munch Box 21532 Devonshire St., Chatsworth, 91311 Info www.facebook.com/pages/TheMunchbox/111410628899826 My husband, who attended nearby Chatsworth High School, took me to The Munch Box shortly after we first moved to SoCal in 1976. He wanted to show off his high school “hang out.” The modest little burger joint which serves up tasty burgers just inches from the side of busy Devonshire Street is now a Los Angeles Historical Cultural landmark. It was dedicated as such in 2003. We recently had the opportunity to pay a visit and have a couple of cheeseburgers. My husband said it is just as he remembers it from the early 1970s.

Established 1947

Patys Restaurant 10001 Riverside Drive, Toluca Lake, 91602 Info patysrestaurant.com/ This remodeled retro diner, just a few miles from Warner Bros. Studios (and a few blocks from the historic Bob’s Big Boy) was often patronized by celebrities, including Bob Hope, James Garner, John Wayne, Johnny Carson, Debbie Reynolds and Jonathan Winters, just to name a few. Current celebs who work or live nearby, like Zack Efron, Vannesa Hudgens, George Lopez, Steve Carell and others, continue to make it a trendy-yet-classic landmark eatery.

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S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

BEAUTY

3 signs of sun-damaged skin

he summer sun beckons many people outdoors. Soaking up some rays on a warm summer day can be a great way to unwind and get a little color. It’s not always easy to recognize signs of sun damage when spending time outdoors in the summer, especially for people who lay out in the sun hoping to get a tan. Such damage may be overlooked or more evident in the fall, when people begin spending more time indoors. But sun-damaged skin should not be taken lightly. In fact, the Skin Cancer Foundation notes that the vast majority of melanomas, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, are caused by the sun. The SCF even notes that one study from researchers in the United Kingdom found that 86% of melanomas can be attributed to exposure to the ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Sun-damaged skin will not necessarily lead to skin cancer. However, the American Academy of Dermatol-

ogy notes that sun damage can lead to skin cancer. Going outdoors without adequate protection makes skin vulnerable to sun-related damage. Learning to recognize three of the more common types of sun damage may compel people visit their physicians and take potentially life-saving steps to prevent future damage.

Wrinkles

Wrinkles aren’t always a byproduct of aging. While the Mayo Clinic notes that skin becomes less elastic and more fragile as it ages, increasing the likelihood that wrinkles will develop, wrinkles also can indicate sun-damaged skin.

Age spots

According to the AAD, age spots, which are flat brown, gray or black spots on the skin, appear on areas of the body that are most often exposed to the sun, including the face and hands. The AAD notes that what looks like an age spot could actually be skin cancer. If any such spots are detected, men and women should see

Learning to recognize three of the more common types of sun damage may compel people visit their physicians and take potentially life-saving steps to prevent future damage.

a board-certified dermatologist for a through skin exam.

Loose skin

Loose skin is sometimes a byproduct of aging, but it also can be indicative of sun damage. Various products claim to treat loose skin, but the AAD notes that facelift-like results likely won’t come from any product sold in a jar. For example, the AAD says results from skin-firming creams will be

subtle at best. Products that contain a retinoid-like retinol, which can help the body make more collagen, might produce minor results. Sun-related skin damage can affect peoples’ appearance and even suggest the presence of something more serious, such as skin cancer. Learn more by visiting the American Academy of Dermatology at www.aad.org. (MC)

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S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

GETTIN’ UP THERE

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3 1

SENIORLIVING

Marty Ross: A funny thing happened to me on the way to the rocking chair Grim Reaper. Ross also writes, acts and was recently on a zany YouTube show nock ‘em dead.” It’s produced by AARP called “Date My a phrase often said Grandpa,” which included his 19-year to comedians before old grandson offering him insider they go on stage. To advice on the three senior women senior stand-up comic, Marty Ross, vying for gramps’ selection. He also it’s an expression has a comedy CD — its laugh-worthy he avoids. After all, title: “Wrinkled Rebel: Going Down the 79-year old’s Fighting, But First, a Nap.” audiences are often In June, he performed at a major senior citizens themfundraiser held at S. Mark Taper selves. Ross, aka the Foundation Amphitheater. It ben“Wrinkled Rebel,” efited Tree People, an L.A.-based has been professionally performing non-profit that inspires residents to stand-up since he retired 15 years plant/care for trees and create more ago after 47 years in the clothing beautiful, water-secure communities. industry. A former Manhattanite, he “I’m all for ‘green,’ including pot,” hung up the schmata gig and headed Ross said grinning. “It helps with straight to comedy. the aches and pains of being old. Of “At 65 I didn’t want to die, so it course, I also liked it 60 years ago. But made sense to do something I always now I think it’s keeping the glaucoma enjoyed, making away.” people laugh,” he His ever-in“DON’T LET PAIN OR creasing cadre of said. “Even in clothing sales, humor THE PAST HOLD YOU comic pals includes was a big part of my veteran KNBC DOWN, DON’T LET relationships with weatherman and STAGNATION SET IN clients.” longtime comedi… YOU NEED TO KEEP an Fritz Coleman, Since 2004, the Santa Clarita resiHelen Hong (whom MOVING FORWARD dent’s popularity and DOING THINGS YOU Ross first met while stand-up dates have performing at CaroLOVE AND LOVING gone from a second line’s in New York), wind to a hurricane THE PEOPLE WHO Armando Anto, — taking him to Pauline Yasuda, LOVE YOU BACK.” some of the region’s Gali Kroup, Wendy most popular clubs, Liebman and Cathy including the Comedy Store, Improv, Ladman. Many have had HBO and Ice House and Flappers. You’ll often Showtime specials, performed on the find him at J.R.’s Comedy Club in Tonight Show and creatively conValencia (the site of his first perfortributed to major television comedy mance following comedy workshops shows and movies. in his mid-60s), at the Ventura With appeal that reaches across Harbor Comedy Club (both clubs generations, Ross is a master on the owned by comic Randy Lubas and miseries of aging. wife, actress Diana Angelina), in New On seniors and sexuality, he says, York, Las Vegas and at senior centers “We all used to do it with the lights and retirement complexes. on. But not now. No one wants to see “I knew I had a good set if the the other person.” paramedics didn’t show up,” teased Having been married three times, Ross, whose sassy-droll humor is the seasoned comic acknowledges infused with delicious hints of Lenny Bruce, Rodney Dangerfield and the See SENIORS, next page.

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S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

SENIORLIVING

SENIORS

Continued from previous page.

that accepting your past is vital for growth at any age. “Everything in each relationship was once wonderful, but like chewing gum, when the flavor’s gone, it’s over,” he said, soberly adding, “Each one taught me a lot about myself, and many times I caused my own problems.” Older and wiser, Ross admits that some of those problems were rooted in childhood. “I grew up with a very hot-tempered father, no male role model at all. Humor became a coping mechanism for me, as it is for many people. But I could also be moody. In getting older, I came to understand what I let happen as an adult,” he stated. Humor also helped him cope with being the third shortest person in high school. At 5-feet, 5-inches tall, making others laugh made him feel accepted. “Being short was a problem, plus I

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Marty Ross have always loved beautiful women, a lot of them were out of my league but somehow I married a couple of them,” he said. A sense of humor also kept him (relatively) safe in school. “Laughter kept me from being bullied and beaten up as mine was a very tough gang-riddled school with weapons like zip guns made from car antennas, switchblades Gorgeous 2+2 unit in secluded setting. No expense spared when doing the many upgrades…scraped and textured ceilings, crown and shoe moldings, laminate wood flooring, ceiling fans with lighting, new bath fixtures, Anderson entry door with storm door, tile flooring, quartz counter tops, new kitchen sink and fixtures, 2 carports with ample storage, lovely outdoor living room, washer & dryer, electric fireplace & more! Friendly Valley is a SENIOR community/ guard gated and patrolled 24/7. Country club amenities including two golf courses. $369,500

Self-Realization Fellowship Shrine in and gravity knives, brass knuckles Pacific Palisades. and 45-caliber handguns,” Ross “I feel peaceful recalled. when I go there, With two daugh“EVERYTHING IN and I always find ters, Stacey and EACH RELATIONSHIP something I need to Lore, grandsons know in life,” he said WAS ONCE Matt and Jaden, and of the contemplative granddaughter, MiWONDERFUL, BUT garden. chelle, Ross is proud LIKE CHEWING GUM, Excitedly facing 80 of his loving brood, WHEN THE FLAVOR’S candles on his next one that his mother, birthday cake, Ross who died just before GONE, IT’S OVER” plans to keep inspirher 101st birthday, ing seniors through helped foster. “She taught me about uncondition- stand-up, laughter and self-accepal love and kindness,” he said. “Every- tance. He urges everyone to embrace age one loved her. She was the first Jewish with a positive attitude while staying saint — always accepting of others in the now. and non-judgmental. She also loved “Don’t let pain or the past hold you my wives.” down, don’t let stagnation set in,” he Buying SCV horse property said. “Life is not over, and you need brought equestrian Ross and his kin to keep moving forward doing things to this community in 1988. Sauyou love and loving the people who gus is where the single senior lives love you back.” today. Away from the lights, audiences and everyday stresses of life, Ross nurtures his spiritual side with meditation and frequent visits to the

Diana Sevanian is a retired registered nurse and longtime Signal features writer and columnist.

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34 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

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S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

Opinion

S U N D AY S I G N A L · 3 5

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

BLACK&WHYTE

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

How I Almost Hitched a Ride on a Freight Train

In Praise of Fire, Heat and Facing Our Adversity

By Tim Whyte Signal Editor

limbing between two cars of a parked freight train in Norman, Oklahoma, I had two thoughts: One: “This has not been a typical weekend.” And, Two: “If this goes wrong, I guess the up side is I’ve always wanted to visit Tulsa.” Thankfully, the train remained parked, and my 23-year-old son and I made it safely across as we traveled on foot to Campus Corner, the hub of postgame activity at the University of Oklahoma. Luc and I had gone to the OU football game versus Houston, featuring the debut of transfer quarterback Jalen Hurts, who torched Houston for a combined 508 yards passing and rushing en route to a 49-31 win before a packed house of Sooner faithful. It wasn’t my first time in Norman, but it was my first time seeing a football game there. On all my previous trips, I’d gone either to drop Luc off at school or I’d gone with my dad to watch Luc play for OU’s hockey team. It’s Luc’s senior year, and I’d never

seen an OU home game. He acquired a couple tickets to the Sooners’ opener against Houston. More than that, I think the boy wanted me to experience the tailgate scene at OU just once before he graduates. Oh. I experienced it alright. I also experienced many reminders of my advancing age. I saw things. I heard things. Can’t repeat them all here. I was tired for three days after I got back home. What happens in Norman stays in Norman, right? That is, except for the bug bites — apparently I received multiple visits from the unofficial Oklahoma state bird, the mosquito — and a mysterious bruise of unknown origin on my right shoulder. The G-rated version of the OU tailgate scene starts something like this: The game was to be played on Sunday — a rarity for a college game — so I mistakenly assumed Saturday would be kind of a chill day. I even thought we might squeeze in an NFL fantasy draft with Luc and his buddies. We didn’t. Luc awoke on Saturday before 7 See WHYTE, page 36

By David Hegg

e’re all familiar with the old saying, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” It is often used to remind us that most really important things in life come with adversity built in. Personal trainers shout “no pain, no gain” while coaches insist that “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.” All these clichés serve to remind us that we live in a world where excellence and character come with a price. Our problem today is that many are unwilling to pay the price, to accept the idea that adversity is part of living in our world. And maybe it really isn’t their fault. They’ve been raised to think that happiness is our right, that life is meant to be convenient and satisfying in all respects, and that any pain is to be avoided or at least immediately anesthetized. But I believe adversity is both unavoidable and — shockingly — absolutely necessary and even profitable. As I have aged, I come to realize that many of the best things come at the

expense of comfort. More to the point, times of suffering and disappointment, toil and opposition, the grueling necessity of painful perseverance, and even confession of our sinful behavior collectively shape our character, build our ability to delay gratification in order to accomplish great things, and generally wipe away that insidious sense of entitlement that apparently now comes pre-installed on the human hard drive. Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to converse with an entrepreneur who has opened a new business in the past two years. He characterized his company as “grinding it out, day after day, trying to grow the business.” When I asked what his greatest obstacle was, he quickly said, “Finding people who want to work.” Turns out there are millions who want jobs but fewer and fewer who are willing to pay the sweat tax, give their best efforts, learn the ropes, and recognize that advancement comes on the other side of accomplishment. Adversity also has the ability to bring See HEGG, page 36

READERLETTERS

In Praise of Labor Unions I’m writing this letter to the editor the day after Labor Day, being so busy with Labor Day activities that I didn’t want to miss honoring this most important day in American history. A happy Labor Day to one and all on this being Labor Day’s 125th birthday. On this day we celebrate the movement of the labor activist, labor unions and all involved in the labor program. Their efforts, fortitude and determination

has brought us to abolishing child labor, enhanced the “world’s largest economy” and helped to keep the American dream alive. The labor movement has had its ups and downs, but the progress it has made to protect the workers and enrich the middle class is beyond incredible. (Nearly) two out of three Americans approve of unions at this time (Gallup polls). The labor unions have been very progressive in promoting the workers’ hours to a reasonable time frame, implemented the wages,

and created time off to benefit the workers’ well-being and their families. Liking the labor unions or not, they have given the workers dignity. Again, in praise of the labor unions and all that they stand for. Lois Eisenberg, Valencia Submit a Letter to the Editor

Include name, address & phone number; Anonymous letters are not printed; Email: letters@signalscv.com; Mail to: Letters to the Editor, The Signal, 26330 Diamond Place, Ste. 100, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.

3 6 · S U N D AY S I G N A L

S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

Opinion

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

WHYTE

D R AW I N G CO N C LU S I O N S R I C K M C K E E

Continued from page 35

a.m. Why? Because, in order to secure a good spot for the tailgate, he and his friends had to get there by about 8 a.m. In other words, nearly 36 hours before game time. You may think we like our football here in California. In Oklahoma, it’s religion. So off they went, with a table and an EZ-Up, to hold their spot. And then they did something I wouldn’t imagine doing here: They left their stuff at the spot, confident in the knowledge that it would still be there when they returned the next day. And it was, except the frat next to them had “borrowed” the table on Saturday night. No harm, no foul. After that drop-off, they went shopping. Burgers, dogs, etc. Bottled water. You know. There were multiple errands to run, grills to pack, ice to buy, a hockey team-building meeting to which I was not invited (I stayed back and watched Luc’s dog, Lily) and even game equipment to assemble, including a yard game I’d never seen before: My son, using power tools, created two 2-by-2inch-wide stakes, about 4 feet tall, each with a hockey puck nailed to the top, serving as a platform. At the tailgate, the stakes were to be placed about 20 feet apart, each with a beverage cup or bottle sitting on top of the puck. As far as I can tell, the object was to throw a Frisbee and knock the cup off the puck. Points were accumulated until there was a winner, or so I assume. When we arrived at the tailgate around midday Sunday, the crowd was just starting to build. Soon there were dozens of people at our spot, and my son manned the grill. He served up 48 cheeseburgers and 48 hot dogs, and the crowd seemed to agree he’s pretty good on the grill. I take credit for that. Once the tailgate scene wound down, we cleaned up and made our way into the game. Had a blast there — electric atmosphere — and after the game we had to make our way back to Luc’s house to let the dog out for a while: Lily, a border collie, had gone to the first couple hours of tailgate with us,

Lily the border collie holds down the fort at the tailgate in support of the Sooners. Tim Whyte/The Signal

sporting an Oklahoma doggie T-shirt, but then Luc had Uber-ed back and forth to his place to drop her off so we could go to the game. Once we’d given Lily a postgame play break, we called another Uber to bring us back to Campus Corner to meet up with his friends for postgame debriefing. That’s when we came upon the train. Traffic was at a standstill. It was going to be a while. By this point, it was more than an hour past the end of the game and there were a lot of Oklahomans waiting to go home, irritated by the train standing in their way. The train was parked at a street crossing, the crossing bells ringing and ringing, and, somewhere, there was an engineer in no special hurry. We had places to go. People to see. It was getting late. So we hopped out of the Uber and, like many others doing the same thing, we clambered up and down the short ladders mounted on each side of the freight cars, and crossed over to the other side. It was unnerving — but, thankfully, I never made it to Tulsa. Tim Whyte is editor of The Signal. His column appears Sundays. On Twitter: @TimWhyte.

HEGG

Continued from page 35

out who we really are. When the heat is on, our true character comes out. Years ago, I was sitting in an airport where an airline strike had greatly inconvenienced more than 8,000 people. I was amazed and saddened by how many people vented their frustrations at those poor airline employees who simply showed up for work at the ticket counters. Over the course of a few hours I watched adults become like third graders, complete with tears, tantrums and buckets of faulty logic. It was entertaining at some level but mostly I was embarrassed for those whose character was so shallow that a delay of a few hours completely incapacitated their civility and ability to persevere through even minor inconveniences. In college I remember hearing a lecture by a guy who had built several companies into a successful financial services empire. I’m sure he said loads of important things about mission and values and creativity in the marketplace, but I don’t remember any of them. What I do remember is his insistence that our future success would depend on our present ability to build

Maybe it’s time to rephrase the cliché to say, “If you want to be a great chef, learn to love the fire.” a high degree of personal discipline. He put it this way. “Every day do something you really don’t want to do in order to train your will to be your slave and not your master.” I’ve never forgotten that and have followed his advice for many years. So, my advice is to understand the power of the fire in your kitchen. The heat it produces might make you uncomfortable, but it also provides what is necessary to cook the food. Maybe it’s time to rephrase the cliché to say, “If you want to be a great chef, learn to love the fire.” The best things in life are really never free nor easy, and maybe that’s what makes them the best. David Hegg is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church and a Santa Clarita resident.“Ethically Speaking” appears Sundays.

S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

Give your mind a workout with these brainy exercises!

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S E P T E M B E R 8, 2019

THE VILLAGE IDIOT

Which ones are really the ‘Bad’ neighborhoods? By Jim Mullen Signal Contributing Writer

visited Malta last year. You may have heard of their falcon. Malta is a country on three small islands between Sicily and Africa, almost dead-center in the Mediterranean. It’s about the size of Staten Island, but it’s an independent country and a member of the European Union. It is a very, very old country. In many towns, you could film “The Life of Christ” without changing a thing. It even has a life-sized reproduction of Bethlehem with live chickens running around. It is a $79, one-hour Ryan Air flight from most of southern Europe, and gets millions of tourists each year. The natives speak Maltese and English (it was a British colony until becoming independent), and a few other languages besides. There is corruption — where isn’t there? — but as in all small places, people generally know who the corrupt ones are. We all know which lawyers can get you out of a DUI for a price. We know if the mayor is cheating on his or her spouse. Without saying Malta is more or less corrupt than anywhere else, an anti-corruption journalist died in a car bomb explosion shortly before I visited. Fun fact about Malta: It’s becoming the crypto-currency capital of the world. It is home to many online gambling sites. Flights arrive at its tiny airport just minutes apart. You can almost smell the money pouring in. The skyline is full of giant, self-rising cranes. Across the street from the airport is a giant Microsoft office tower. In all of Europe, they picked Malta? I’m just sayin’. So why am I telling you all this? Because if you’d like to become a citizen of Malta, it’s really easy. All you have to do is give them a million dollars. And as a free bonus, you’ll receive a Maltese passport that will let you travel visa-free to 182 different countries. Sweet deal, huh? It’s a country of about 400,000 people, so even if they add 1,000 new citizens this way, what difference is that going to make? And the country pockets a billion dollars.

Well, maybe not the country, but somebody pockets that money. Maybe that’s something we should think about doing here. But then, on second thought, who do you think is buying all those million-dollar passports? Law-abiding, upstanding citizens? Or could it be well-funded terrorists, rich drug kingpins, arms dealers, scam artists and bribe-taking politicians? One would think that most millionaires already have passports from the country in which they made all their money. Yes, lots of people have dual citizenship, but they usually don’t have to pay a million dollars for it. It’s hard to think of a legitimate reason why anyone would want to buy a Maltese passport. And that got me thinking about people who have a lot of money. We tend to equate poor people and poor neighborhoods with high crime. When you hear about a convenience store that gets robbed of $75, or when there’s a car-jacking or a drug bust, it’s not usually done by the folks who live in the fanciest neighborhood in town. But you know who does live in the fanciest neighborhoods in town? The “good” neighborhoods? The Bernie Madoffs, the Jeffrey Epsteins, the celebrity sex abusers, the guys that ran Enron, the doctors who overprescribed Oxycontin, the lawyers who file frivolous lawsuits, the tech wizards who sell your info to the highest bidders over and over again, the altcoin scam masters, the college admissions cheaters, the penny-pinching slumlords, the tax evaders, the money launderers, the unhappy trust-fund babies, the sleazy plastic surgeons who specialize in butt implants for teenagers, the Russian Mafiosi and the toxic TV execs. Just to name a few off the top of my head. Without condoning it, I can understand why desperately poor people might make some poor life choices. What I can’t understand is why wealthy people make them. What is their excuse? While it might sound like a good idea for us to offer citizenship for a million dollars a pop, I’m afraid it would attract the wrong sort of people. The ultra-wealthy. Contact Jim Mullen at mullen.jim@ gmail.com.

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FOURTH S PARADE OF JULY ROUTE

JULY 3, 201

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two resc ues FOURTH OF JULY

Missing pup having run py found after 7 years late of crash; away from scene r, crash sur ani vivor glad dehydrate mal was hungry NEWS to be aliv d when sav , e at daught ed er’s book-s By Jim Holt igning By Signal Senior Staff

Writer

Jim Holt

PARADE ROUTE

Signal Senior

Staff Writer

When firefi steep emba ghters rappelled David was foun La Vau who in had gone nkment to rescu down the side of d A8 e a driver a vine six daysin a 200-foot-deep2011 last week over a precipice whose car on Sand , they learn raoff of Lake after crashing cupants had, ed that one Canyon Road SUBSCRIBE TODAY his car of the car’s people just Hughes Road show named Bella until now, elude JULY 3, 2018 ocTUESDAY, how happ d them ed Tuesday - Friday be alive The dog . — a pup y he 75¢ Satur up for a copy day as peoplewas to of the Angewas plucked from lined $1 Weekender of the book ordeal. ple trained les National Fore the wild environs about his st by the in helping His daug Heather very peoanimals. wrote a bookhter, Lisa A. Way Stati Graham, an empl Kerr on oyee called, “But , day: The which wind on Little Tuju Wildlife Forecast Today’s of Not Tostory of Davi chronicling arating the s its way through nga Canyon Road d La the moun , father’s near Vau,” 661-259-1234 experienc hercom spotted the Santa Clarita Valle tains y from Sunl sepate search e, the family’s death This after puppy by itself and, desp in to a findVAL the rough frantic week DULCE himVERDE AGUADULCE |erthe 3-mo AGUA VERDE and the |long CASTAIC | CASTAIC to recov| | VAL terrain. RANCH |road end-long STEVENSONRANCH nth-o VALENCIA || STEVENSON SAUGUS || VALENCIA NEWHALL || SAUGUS COUNTRY || NEWHALL effort toCANYON COUNTRY CANYON On Satur ery. “Heather ld dog. find held a bookday, she and her Sand Cany was on her way Book store -signing at The father Deanna Armon Road, when to work, driving on Open she foun Road at Whit on Soledad Cany Station, said bruster, spokeswo d (Bell man for the a),” “My dad es Canyon Road on “She follo Monday. Way said Mon is very humble,” . found a safe wed the dog and to see peopday. “He was so Kerr road,” she place to pull over waited until she excit le ran off a said. “She jump to the side of “People at the book signi ed the bit. But, ed out and ‘Can I get just kept askin ng. she was able la) down the dog And, he my picture with g him brought herand put her in the to calm her (Belcar. And, same ‘Thasigned each bookyou?’ The dog, here.” then she Kerr said. nks for the supp the was descr found within 24 ort,’”By Jim Holt Writer was brou ibed as dehydrate hours of the crash She said Signal Senior Staff d and hung ght “I was very of the book-sign ry when it, Rescuers to safety. traffic comi excited that there ing: David La Vau who in 2011 owner on at the Way Stati socia l media and on found the there was) ng in and out and was was found in a 200-foot-deep rapick up the dog’ arranged dog. This book a buzz about our (that vine six days after crashing his car for them s book to has touch lives. ed a lot . off of Lake Hughes Road showed of people just how happy he was to “My main By Jim Holt purpose ways been A tow truck has al- be alive Saturday as people lined Signal Senior Staff Writer See FOUN to forgive to share with up for a copy of the book about his ter being operator watches D, A6 peop lifted abou as and, most and also be forgi le, ordeal. Castaic t 200 of a a Toyota Corolla sidefeet the rappelled When firefighters on Septdown reaches theSignal file photo yourself.” of all, learn to forgiven His daughter, Lisa A. Kerr, . 30, 2011 carby a crane on to whose ve surface steep embankment to rescue a driver . Davi Lake wrote a book called, “But Not Tod La Vau survived the Hughes Road north afhad gone over a precipice on Sand Canyon Road day: The story of David La Vau,” of crash. last week, they learned that one of the car’s occhronicling her father’s near death cupants had, until now, eluded them — a pup experience, the family’s desperBy Crystal See LA VAU, Duan named Bella. ate search to find him and the long Signal Staff A6 Writer The dog was plucked from the wild environs to recovery. Santa Clari road peoAngeles National Forest by the very the state of theta’s On Saturday, she and her father A natio eclipsesanimals. average ofrate in helping two-bedro as well asple trained 2.1 held a book-signing at The Open week indicnal study released percent,an employee of Wildlife the Graham, in Santa Heather national is $2,564, om growth rateates Santa Clarita’s this of 1.4 percent, Book store on Soledad Canyon Clari avera and a Road, ge Tujunga on Little Station but is $1,995.Canyon one-bedroo ta 0.2 percent, has decre now at 4.1 from year to yearrent compared Way Road at Whites Canyon Road. sepasedthrough This mark mountains down by m to last winds way creasethe mont itsonlin 0.04 pers a $4 in- cent, according “My dad is very humble,” Kerr from last percent, a slight declinis renting platfwhich forfrom Sunland, two-bedro month’s 4.9 orm the h, e $3Valley Santa Clarita Salviati, arating Only 21 of to the site. oms increthe Monday. “He was so excited said tment Listby itself percent. e revealed Monday.Apar an and ase rough for terrain. from in one-bedroo a ies in Ame the 100 largest cit- housing econ Apartment List The July spotted the puppy to see people at the book signing. June. efforta to rica find m fall mediafter a frantic weekend-long This Much of omist. an rate Santa Clari over the have seen rents “People just kept asking him for dog. the SCV past year, a mont grow the 3-month-old an mont ‘Can I get my picture with you?’ h rent chanta’s on h-to- gainsadditional 24 saw though gene th can be attrib ’s rent driving “Heather was on her way to work, ge for July uted ral grow of less than mode And, he signed each book the th in popu to a Sand Canyon Road, when she found (Bella),” is at such as Santa 1.0 perce st in the Los Ange lation same ‘Thanks for the support,’” nt, Clarita, said les metro Deanna Armbruster, spokeswoman for the Way Kerr said. area. Chris Station, said Monday. She said of the book-signing: See RENT “She followed the dog and waited until she “I was very excited that there was , A6 found a safe place to pull over to the side of the traffic coming in and out and (that road,” she said. “She jumped out and the dog there was) a buzz about our book. ran off a bit. But, she was able to calm her (BelThis book has touched a lot of la) down and put her in the car. And, then she lives. brought her here.” “My main purpose has alThe dog, found within 24 hours of the crash, been to share with people, ways was described as dehydrated and hungry when it to forgive and also be forgiven By Brennon was brought to safety. Dixson and, most of all, learn to forgive Signal Staff Rescuers at the Way Station found the dog’s Writer yourself.” owner on social media and arranged for them to Signal file photo After heari pick up the dog. ng about his fight operator watches as a Toyota Corolla reaches the surface afA tow truck Carter Sarka By Danie with of north lle Sanfi Road r, Hughes Lake to Korz200 on and the recen lippo about henyfeet For lifted ter being See LA VAU, A6 The Signal ak by a crane t million-do syndrome ment to See FOUND, A6 llar Castaic on Sept. 30, 2011. David La Vau survived the crash. fund Hyatt Rege his clinical moveThe crow trial, the ncy Vale nounced returns to d-pleasing Conc that it will ncia has andollar from donate starting thisSanta Clarita for erts in the Park serie a viewing evenits upcoming firewevery Concerts weekend at Cent music-filled summ s t to the youn orks Castaic. er, on by the in the Park are ral Park. g boy from “Our entire from July city of Santa Clari free public even ts 7 ta staff moved by put was Get ready until Aug. 25. The every Saturday night List Austin Dave/ 0.2 percent, down by 0.04 per- Salviati, an Apartment paper regarthe article in Saturdeeply In this May to break showsClarita in Santa two-bedroom eclipses start at 7 Santa Clarita’s ratekets, out your TheDuan grab some housing economist. 2017 phot By Signal (See Crystal p.m. according to the site. the fight to ding Carter Sarka day’s on Pond one-bedroom and a lawn tasty snack o, Jenni percent, chairs and cent, additional average of 2.1site and listenis $2,564, Much of the SCV’s rent ferWriter photo the state s from Sark Only 21 of the 100 largest citsyndrome save him from Sanfir and a clinic erosa Street in Signal Staff a $4 in- blanmarkslocal some ofThis average signalscv.c band national as the Castaic. The ar carries her son sasat well vendors on-in America have seen rents growth can be attributed to a s comingisto$1,995. al trial that your favor and om) sales coord,” said Natasha Zamb lippo to the Saug for two-bedrooms Sarkar released this Carte ite genrea ies might help Here’s a crease r topercent, of 1.4 growth in population rano, a homebut has decreased us A national y raised $978 fall Carter’s study famil Valencia. inator at Hyatt a one-bedroomtribu te over the past year, though general forpark. increase $3 down online break Concerts last month, Regency develop musc “We at Hyat rent compared of ,467 to to Clarita’s Santaagain week indicatesfight in thefrom an additional 24 saw modest in the Los Angeles metro area. to contribute st Sanf get Apartment Park:June. each band perfo seizures and le pains, expe List t would platform renting year to year isilippo to this rmin at like syndrome growth riencrate of less than 1.0 percent, then, our parki e from Santa Clarita’s month-to- g gains . wouldafund Monday. ng structurefight by offering their mid-to late-t ultimately revealed A6 RENT, See decline slight Chris percent, , 4.1 said at now die Clarita, Santa July a clinical nity to watc in give eens, said to the Sarkar, Carte rate7 for a month rent change for July is at such as trialThe Carte 4.9 percent. Jennilast that July median Wan from ra ing Fourth h fireworks this commufer month’s As a resul r’s mother. ted, “Over the chance at life. could upcomof lineup of a Bon Jovi tribu Children July.” draiser in t, the family held been a gathe years the struc te band, is the past a funture has geles, the Concerts in the Park Sanfilippo who are diagnosed ring place first up in goal to dona month with unobstruc band . syndrome to have with The rock is made up of Based out of Los the an will likely the 501(c)(3) te a million dolla the (and firewted view of the festiv playing to ’n’ roll group professional musi Anities Cure Sanfi nonprofit organ rs to Zambrano orks) from Six cians had sold ization lippo Foun . imm out venu Flags,” said. views. Wan es and garneense success, dation, whic ted was requests h from agen finally created ring rave rewith the after nume Weather ts and prom band on other See CART ....... rous INDEX ER, A6 ....... projects. oters who worked Lottery . ....... ...... ...

SignalSCV.

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A tale of two rescues

Missing puppy found after having run away from scene of crash; animal was hungry, dehydrated when saved

7 years later, crash survivor glad to be alive at daughter’s book-signing

Faith City’s re nt growth Coupons rate abo ve state average Home Improvement Business News Hy joins Ca It’s the Law Column Hotel plaanstt rter’s fi event pro to donate ght SCV’s tr cee child’s bat ds to Right Here Right Now tle Sanfilippo against to the g ibute syndrome reats Concerts Color Comics set to ret in the Park ser urn ies to Centr

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1919 d e h s i l b a t s E ews

City’s rent growth rate above state average

al njoins Carter’s fight cHyatt The BEST lo urce in the tion so and informa rita Valley! Santa Cla Opinion

Hotel plans to donate event proceeds to child’s battle against Sanfilippo syndrome

....... A4 USA ....... TODAY. ....... . . . . A6 ....... ....... ....... Sports . ....... ...... ....... . . . A7 A9 ....... Classifieds ....... ....... . . . B1 ....... ....... . B3

By Brennon Dixson Signal Staff Writer

After hearing about Carter Sarkar, his fight with Sanfilippo syndrome and the recent million-dollar movement to fund his clinical trial, the Hyatt Regency Valencia has announced that it will donate every dollar from its upcoming fireworks viewing event to the young boy from Castaic. “Our entire staff was deeply moved by the article in Saturday’s paper regarding Carter Sarkar and the fight to save him from Sanfilippo syndrome,” said Natasha Zambrano, sales coordinator at Hyatt Regency Valencia. “We at Hyatt would like to contribute to this fight by offering our parking structure to the community to watch fireworks this upcoming Fourth of July.” Children who are diagnosed with Sanfilippo syndrome will likely

See CONC

Good mo rning

ERTS, A8

to Signal subscri Louis Gara ber si of Canyon Country

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home In this May 2017 photo, Jennifer Sarkar carries her son Carter to a to get on Ponderosa Street in Castaic. The Sarkar family raised $978,467 a clinical trial that might help Carter’s fight against Sanfilippo syndrome. that could develop muscle pains, experience would fund a clinical trial seizures and then, ultimately, die in give Carter a chance at life. “Over the years the structure has their mid-to late-teens, said Jennifer been a gathering place to have an Sarkar, Carter’s mother. festivities As a result, the family held a fun- unobstructed view of the Six Flags,” draiser in the past month with the (and fireworks) from goal to donate a million dollars to Zambrano said. the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization See CARTER, A6 Cure Sanfilippo Foundation, which

INDEX

Weather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 Lottery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A7

USA TODAY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A9 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B3

SCV’s tribute to the greats

Concerts in the Park series set to return to Central Park By Danielle Korzhenyak For The Signal

The crowd-pleasing Concerts in the Park series returns to Santa Clarita for a music-filled summer, starting this weekend at Central Park. Concerts in the Park are free public events put on by the city of Santa Clarita every Saturday night from July 7 until Aug. 25. The shows start at 7 p.m. Get ready to break out your lawn chairs and blankets, grab some tasty snacks from local vendors onsite and listen to some of your favorite genre tribute bands coming to the Saugus park. Here’s a breakdown of each band performing at Concerts in the Park:

July 7

Wanted, a Bon Jovi tribute band, is first up in the lineup of Concerts in the Park. Based out of Los Angeles, the band is made up of professional musicians. The rock ’n’ roll group had immense success, playing to sold out venues and garnering rave reviews. Wanted was finally created after numerous requests from agents and promoters who worked with the band on other projects. See CONCERTS, A8

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2019 River Cleanup and Environmental Expo Saturday, September 21, 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ 8:00 - 11:00 a.m. Newhall Community Center - 22421 Market Street

There has never been a better time to go green in Santa Clarita! By participating in the 25th Annual River Rally, you can take part in preserving one of the last natural rivers in Southern California. We will provide the gloves and trash bags, but we need your help!

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River Rally is an excellent volunteer opportunity for clubs, students, scout troops, non-profit organizations and people of all ages. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to ride your bike to River Rally. There will be free bike valet service courtesy of the City of Santa Clarita and Incycle. Also, bring a reusable water bottle to help us reduce waste. Be sure to visit the Environmental Expo and learn about recycling, air quality, wildlife conservation, pollution prevention and more!

For more information or to register visit GreenSantaClarita.com or call the River Rally hotline at (661) 284-1415. Please remember, NO PETS ALLOWED and participants must wear CLOSED-TOED SHOES. Pre-registration is required for all volunteers.