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S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

SCV sees rise in nontraditional pastimes Jacket inspires unique artwork, documentary J-Team enters 2nd decade of battling addiction, saving kids An evening with the stars in the SCV

9 Slow down, SCV — Hundreds attend event honoring youths lost 10 Supervisors vote to join bid to overturn court case 11 Voices of Recovery Team Depot volunteers support for veterans 10 Lunafest celebrates women filmmakers 33 Saugus student diagnosed with whooping cough PAWS Center visit inspiring for Wilk 13 Five tips for keeping phones and tablets tidy 14 Santa Clarita has a variety of volunteer opportunities 14 Santa Clarita — Southern California’s innovation destination 15 Rosh Hashanah: An accounting of the soul Balsamic Salmon over Pomegranate 16 Get your kicks on Route 66 18 Foothill football readies for league season

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24 Where is the safest place for kids in the car?

Adulting: Financial tips for Gen Z 25 Donna’s Day: Creating papier-mâché pigs is gooey fun School Menu 26 Oktoberfest What distinguishes ales from lagers?

Some home brewing mistakes to avoid 27 Four tips to dress for success at work 28 Merry Graham, SCV’s winning chef 30 Tips for keeping unused medicine away from children 31 Three stylish ways to personalize your kitchen 32 Condo damage responsibility, tips on sistering a new rafter 35 Metaphorically speaking about cancer 36 How to help flowers withstand heat waves 39 Our View • David Hegg • Tim Whyte

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S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 5

N E W S F E AT U R E S

SCV sees rise in nontraditional pastimes

By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

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ith 11,000 acres of preserved open space and more than 30 parks across the Santa Clarita Valley, it’s no rarity to find cyclists down bikeways or little leagues running bases at Central Park.

Squeaky sneakers making layups at the Sports Complex gym and butterfly strokes from swim meets at the Aquatics Center are common, too.

But beyond the popular in practice are several less traditional sports Santa Claritans engage in daily.

Whether you’re looking to try something out of your comfort zone or find a new sport to play socially with friends and family, these three non-traditional sports are happening around the SCV and are constantly seeking new players to join.

Disc golf

There are more than 8,000 disc golf courses worldwide, and among them is the 18-hole course at Central Park, located at 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road.

The sport, designed for people of all ages, is played much like golf but rather than using a ball and clubs, players use a flying disc with the objective to complete each hole in the fewest throws.

Disc golf is considered one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, according to the Professional Disc Golf Association, which has 40,000 recreational and professional members. With a multitude of sports and variations of traditional sports offered by the city of Santa Clarita, disc golf is no exception.

“We started with a nine-hole course about 10 years ago and from community requests, we added another nine holes,” said Lance O’Keefe, recreation and community services manager with the city of Santa Clarita. “It’s hard to put a true number (on how many people play) because you just go up and play, but our tournaments are growing each time they’re hosted.”

The Santa Clarita Disc Golf Club’s Facebook page alone has more than 300 followers who share all-things disc golf news and coordinate events, including Canyon Country resident

Mike Bigelow of Castaic tosses his disc around a tree towards the sixth hole basket while playing 18 holes of disc golf at Central Park in Saugus. Disc golf is one of several growing nontraditional pastimes in the Santa Clarita Valley.

PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

Dan Camarada, who founded the social media page, and has played the sport for the past 10 years. “(Disc golf) lets you get outside for an inexpensive activity,” he said.

“Heck, going to the beach these days can cost you $50 just to park your car.

Disc golf is like going for a short hike with something to do along the way.”

Many local residents and players from surrounding areas play weekly and monthly at Central Park, said Camarada.

Pickleball

This uniquely-named sport will make you break a sweat but you won’t necessarily need to dive and flail around a racket such as in tennis.

Pickleball is known for being social and particularly popular among older adults, as it is often played as doubles and does not require players to run around a tennis court.

All you need is a paddle and a plastic ball with holes and is played both indoors and outdoors on a badminton-sized court and a slightly modified tennis net.

“Pickleball has grown tremendously in this valley,” said O’Keefe. “It started out at our gymnasium, and we have about 20 to 50 people a day that play. It’s a great way to be active but not it’s not high impact It builds a sense of community and a sense of comradery for seniors.”

Resident and competitive player Ted Norris has been playing at Bouquet Canyon Park in Saugus for more than two years and is the only Pickleball instructor for the city. He said, “Pickleball is very huge around the U.S. and it’s growing out here now.

It’s a great game that has a couple of quirky rules, which make it very easy to make it competitive.”

The Gymnasium started with two courts and has now increased by four, as well as additional outdoor courts at Bouquet Canyon Park. Players can also find courts The Paseo Club in Valencia and temporary courts at the Newhall Community Center.

has grown over the years worldwide since its development in the late 60s, according to USA Ultimate, and is recognized as a sport by the International Olympic Committee, but not as an Olympic sport.

In Santa Clarita, a group of about 16-plus residents meets weekly to play at Central Park, including Lance Iliev, who is known among avid players for coordinating local events.

“We currently have (three) official games during the week: Saturday morning (at) 7 a.m., Sunday afternoon, start time is season pending, and our largest game is on Wednesday nights,” he said. “Currently our Wednesday night game meets at 8 p.m. at Central Park and it’s a game that we are working with the city to have guaranteed field space and lights for a small fee per player.”

The city’s Youth Sports Department, which has a drop-in ultimate program, has teams that play across Southern California and may soon have an official league if attendance continues to increase, said O’Keefe.

Other less traditional sports growing in popularity in the SCV include archery, underwater hockey, synchronized swimming and mountain biking. Residents have the chance to offer feedback on all things parks and recreation, including sports offered by the city, via a survey featured on the city’s website (santa-clarita.com), said O’Keefe.

Ultimate

Ultimate, once called Ultimate Frisbee, is a non-contact team sport played with a flying disc that has also “taken off in Santa Clarita,” said O’Keefe.

Similar to football, as he described, the sport’s objective is to have a player catch the flying disc in the opposing team’s end zone. Ultimate

Valencia residents Bruce Rubin and Ted Norris earned gold medals earlier this year in Northern California Pickleball competition.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TED NORRIS

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S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

N E W S F E AT U R E S

Jacket inspires unique artwork, documentary

By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

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s Valencia artist Suzanne DeCuir sat with her husband in a stuffy, little hotel room in the Hunan province of China, they began removing layer upon layer of clothing from their newly adopted, 14-month-old daughter Anna.

“They have a concern about babies being warm enough … not every place has adequate heating,” DeCuir said.

So, as soon as the adoption workers left, they thought, “She must be roasting,” and started to take off some layers.

“We got down to the last layer and it was this incredibly beautiful, little jacket … that just struck me as so beautiful in its simplicity and humbleness,” she said. “It was fraying and had three totally different buttons … someone had obviously worked on it more than once.”

It was clear to her that somebody had worked really hard on this article of clothing, and that it had probably been worn by a number of kids, as Anna was only four months old when she came to the orphanage, so she wouldn’t have been big enough for it.

Fast forward more than 20 years, and DeCuir was going through her closets. There she discovered the small, white jacket.

“It made me think of all the kids who were adopted and went off to different lives,” she said. “Who knows what their situations were, but it also made me think about the kids who didn’t get adopted and what their fate would be.”

This moment inspired her to create “Life Jackets,” a tribute to girls around the world who might not have had the opportunity to realize their potential and the mystery around their fates.

She began making miniature jackets, all unadorned and a bit shabby, but each unique, just as the original had been, ending up with more than 100.

“I just started, and I kept going and going and going,” she said, adding that she would use odds and ends materials to “evoke that sense of an individual since they’re not matching.”

The jacket on Anna, a 14-month-old baby adopted from China by Suzanne DeCuir and her husband, Patrick Moody, inspired Suzanne to create an art project as a tribute to girls around the world who might not have had the opportunity to realize their potential and the mystery around their fates. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

Some were made out of bits of fabric while others incorporated various materials from DeCuir’s personal experiences with her children, including Cheerios, ramen noodles and ACE bandages.

“When I see our girls going off into careers in music, athletics or research, I can’t help but think of those kids that are equally talented who may or may not have been able to use those talents,” DeCuir said.

When local filmmaker Pamela Beere Briggs heard of her artist friend’s latest project, she knew she had to showcase it.

“When (DeCuir) holds up Anna’s little jacket and you see the different

buttons and holes, you can tell that somebody made this jacket out of love,” Beere Briggs said. “This jacket tells a story that is a part of all of us, and we all acknowledge that in everyone’s story there’s a piece of us.”

With the help of her husband and fellow filmmaker, William McDonald, Beere Briggs immediately got to work making DeCuir and her project the subject of her new documentary, “Life Jackets.”

“I always say that directing a documentary is really about being a good listener and knowing loosely that there’s a story I want to tell,” Beere Briggs said, adding that though they had limited time, it worked out well

because DeCuir was already comfortable with them.

“That’s the secret of making this film — we were able to film everything in one hour,” she added. “This isn’t a long piece, it’s a short piece, a poignant piece about these lives and little jackets.”

Though it’s the shortest documentary film that they’ve ever made, totalling only eight minutes, it’s a story that Beere Briggs believes the world needs right now.

“We need as many stories about people doing things out of love and looking at what connects us all as a community,” she said. “And what I can do as filmmaker and storyteller is to share stories about people who are actually doing things out of thoughtful kindness.”

Beere Briggs has also been inspired by the jacket and DeCuir’s story, so much so that she is launching a website in late October so that she can continue to share similar stories of others acting out of kindness.

“We hope it’s a place where visitors can come for a minute or five to just feel like they aren’t all alone,” Beere Briggs said. “Similarly to Life Jackets, there will be different elements … little things we can do to create kindness, hopefulness, justice … as well as other inspiring morsels.”

The “Life Jackets” documentary will be available on the website, free of charge, in addition to other contributions by DeCuir, where she will discuss her artwork and “both the frustrations that come with trying to get an idea out through art and also the moments where something really works,” Beere Briggs said.

DeCuir also hopes to exhibit “Life Jackets” somewhere “to raise the question of what are we going to never know about all these individuals,” she said, while Beere Briggs hopes the project allows people of all ages to think of their own life jackets.

“The sound of a sewing machine is never going to be the same for me again, because when I hear it, I think of the little girls and all those stories,” Beere Briggs said.

For more information on the project, visit twointheworld.com. To view the documentary, visit vimeo. com/355217330.

S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 7

N E W S F E AT U R E S

J-Team enters 2nd decade of battling addiction, saving kids

By Jim Holt Signal Senior Staff Writer

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anta Clarita Valley’s top cop keeps on the wall by his desk a laminated poster the size of a dinner placemat that bears the face of every person who has died of a drug overdose in the SCV. “It’s to remind me of the battle we’re in,” Capt. Robert Lewis of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station said this past week.

The battle is over drugs, to stop their proliferation, steer kids clear of them and to stop them from claiming any more lives in the SCV, particularly young ones. The faces of 70 OD victims fill the chart.

Enter the J-Team, which sounds a lot like the A-Team, and if the popular TV show and movie is about a handpicked team of individuals with specific skill sets mandated to complete a Herculean task, then the J-Team and the A Team have a lot in common.

The J-Team — short for Juvenile Intervention Team — was created about 10 years ago when a mother walked into the Sheriff ’s Station and asked, according to Lewis: “What are you doing, as a station, to combat drugs since my son passed away from a drug overdose?”

Putting together the J-Team was the answer to her question.

“If the law enforcement here and the city does not put in the effort to change lives, we’ll never change any

of them,” Lewis said.

The J-Team’s mandate, he said, is to “deal with narcotics and intervention when it comes to juveniles and adults.”

Skill set

As the team heads into its second decade of battling drugs and saving kids, the J-Team, like the A Team, is on a mission. It’s being bolstered, tweaked and, as of last week, assigned a new sergeant.

This past week, members of the specialty team came in from the street to answer questions.

At the helm of the J-Team is Sgt. Mike Pokorny. Seasoned J-Team Detective Bill Velek is the veteran, being the only one who’s been with the team since it was formed in 2010.

Casually dressed and out of uniform is Travis Sabadin — the team member assigned to deal with juvenile intervention.

And, rounding out the team is Detective Gregg Yokoyama, who has seven years with the LASD, and is now assigned to deal with adults and adult intervention.

A fifth member — called an intervention specialist — is scheduled to join the J-Team in two months, Lewis said.

The recruit is to work with Yokoyama, dealing specifically with adults.

Drug trends

As the team assembled on the day

The J-Team from left, Det. Bill Velek, Intervention Specialist Travis Sabadin, Det. Gregg Yokoyama and Sgt. Mike Pokorny discuss strategies for combating addiction in the Santa Clarita Valley. The specialized team was formed in response to a mom’s despair and concern over her son’s overdose death, according to Sheriff’s Station Capt. Robert Lewis. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

of the interview, about to share details on one of the latest drug trends deputies are tracking, hanging just overhead was a framed, wall-mounted, black-and-white photograph taken about 100 years ago of cops on a rugged stretch of the SCV dismantling an illegal still.

Velek, the veteran, glances at the photo and points out that, from the beginning of civilization, there have always been mind-altering drugs.

A century ago, it was moonshine.

Now the trend is meth.

“For a while there, heroin was becoming a large concern,” Velek said.

“For a short phase, we had a lot of psychedelics come in. Right now, it’s counterfeit drugs.”

Velek calls them “pressed” drugs — opioids “made in somebody’s garage” to resemble trade names such as Oxycontin.

“People want name brand pills,” he said, reflecting on the fear shared by addicts of using unknown drugs.

“One of the deaths we had, (person who overdosed) thought it was one thing, but ended up being (the highly addictive opioid) Fentanyl,” Velek said.

Juvenile intervention Intervention Specialist Travis Sabadin, left, displays vaping and drug paraphernalia during the City of Santa Clarita’s vaping symposium last week.. PHOTO BY BOBBY BLOCK / THE SIGNAL

Juvenile intervention specialist Travis Sarabin took center stage last week at a standing-room-only symposium about vaping held at City Hall when

he told parents to hug their kids when asked: “How do I know my kid is vaping?”

“They’ll smell different, so hug them,” he said.

His casual, easy-going style resonated with parents and teens alike.

“I had a parent tell me, ‘I hug my kid all the time now,’” Sarabin said.

The fact that local parents have listened to the J-Team for 10 years now suggests to the team that they’re on the right track.

DFY in SC

One of the mainstay tools in the J-Team’s toolbox that now carries with it a successful track record is the Drug Free Youth in Santa Clarita program. Its mission is to: “Educate and empower students to make good choices, leading towards positive and healthy behaviors.”

“What I end up seeing with parents is that they realize it takes a community to raise them,” Sarabin said.

And on the question of turning adult addicts around, Yokoyama admits adult intervention is a tough challenge, but necessary.

“After you’ve been arrested enough times, there may be a time you turn for help,” he said.

“They have to want to get clean,” Velek said about the adults. “But, we’re there when they’re ready.”

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S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

N E W S F E AT U R E S

An evening with the stars in the SCV

By Brennon Dixson Signal Staff Writer

Robi Mukherjee, a member of The Local Group Astronomy Club in Santa Clarita, calibrates his telescope for the quarterly Star Party at Vasquez Rocks in 2017. While equipment like this helps, it’s certainly not necessary to enjoy a night under the stars in the SCV — if you know where to look, according to the experts. SIGNAL PHOTO

planets and the moon,” Flynn said, “so pretty much everything you would see at a really dark sky sight, you can see at Vasquez Rocks.”

Whether it’s star parties hosted by College of the Canyons or the local group, telescopes are provided at all of the regularly occurring viewing events, according to Flynn. “There’s one coming up on Oct. 25 at COC, and Oct. 26 is the next Vasquez Rocks Star Party.”

The COC one is great, Flynn said, “because they have a lot of activities and a speaker. But if you want to go to a darker place, come on up to Vasquez. What I always tell people is bring a picnic dinner, enjoy the park and come down to where the telescopes are when it gets dark and look at some cool stuff. It makes for a wonderful evening.”

One of the important things to know before going is that humans have to allow their eyes to adapt to the dark to see better.

“It takes as much as 20 minutes for this to happen, but it takes less than a second to destroy somebody’s night vision, so star party etiquette is very important to follow,” Flynn said, instructing prospective visitors to: try to get there

before the event at sundown; park with your headlights facing away from the viewing area so you don’t blind attendees; and avoid using flashlights with the exception of low-power red flashlights.

“This will allow everybody to continue looking up at the stars and have a good time,” Flynn said, adding, “It can be a really magical experience for all.”

Those who are unable to attend the upcoming star parties are invited to join The Local Group’s meetings at the Valencia Library on the second Thursday of every month.

“The best thing to do is check out the website and calendar at LGSCV. org,” Flynn said.

“Usually, events are open to the public, and going out with your eyeballs is great, but if you have a pair

METRO CONNECTION

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t may seem like the millions of stars and constellations that light up the night sky are undetectable without the proper equipment, but local astronomy experts say the colorful nebulas and glowing galaxies that span hundreds of miles are detectable with nothing but your eyes and a dark night.

JPL Engineer Dave Doody said residents can look up at the night sky and see Jupiter and its bright moons from anywhere in the next few weeks.

“You can’t miss it these nights,” Doody said, explaining it’ll appear as a bright light in the south. Look a little over to the west and you’ll also likely see Saturn, which is another stellar sight.

As the Santa Clarita Valley has grown more populous, light pollution has hampered amateur astronomers’ ability to spot the stars, but Dave Flynn, president of the Local Group Astronomy Club of the SCV, said it’s still possible to spot them if you’re lucky, and you know where and when to look.

“There’s plenty of stuff to look for with nothing but your eyes when you’re out stargazing — satellites, shooting stars, nebulas,” Flynn said.

“You can also look for constellations if you pick up a book or Sky and Telescope magazine, which always has a great ‘What’s Up This Month’ article available online, and talks about the constellations that are visible.”

Sometimes the local astronomy group will do sidewalk astronomy around town, which is when participants set up telescopes in the area, Flynn said, adding, “A perk of living in the Santa Clarita Valley is you don’t have to travel too far out of town to get to a really nice place.”

The darker the sky, the better, Flynn added, mentioning the local astronomy club has an agreement with Vasquez Rocks so it can host up to four star parties four times a year.

“It’s far enough out of town that it’s dark enough for us to see really interesting things like nebulas, galaxies, star clusters and, of course,

of binoculars that will add to the experience because you’ll be able to see a little bit more,” according to Flynn.

“Most astronomers will let you look through their telescope even if it’s not a star party because we want to share our hobby with everybody. We love doing this. We want to share it.

“The thing that makes our night is having somebody who’s never seen a planet or galaxy before have that first look,” Flynn said, “and see the ‘oh my gosh. I had no idea’ expression that hangs on their face.”

“Star party etiquette” • Try to get there before the event at sundown; • Park with your headlights facing away from the viewing area so you don’t blind attendees.

• Avoid using flashlights with the exception of low-power red flashlights.

S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 9

LOCALNEWS

Slow down, SCV — Hundreds attend event honoring youths lost

By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

S

anta Clarita drivers: Slow down.

That’s the message resident Alice Renolds, a mother who lost her two teenagers nearly 20 years ago in a high-speed car crash, told about 200 people Tuesday during the 14th annual Evening of Remembrance event in Central Park.

The event, hosted by the city of Santa Clarita, is held to remember local youth who have died in traffic -related incidents and serve as a reminder to drive safely. Attendees gathered at the half-acre Youth Grove, which is made up of mimic tree stumps that contain the names of those who have died to symbolize lives cut short. With the addition of seven names added this year, the total count adds to 114.

“I know I couldn’t do it again if I were to lose her. Please, Santa Clarita teens and adults, slow down. I could not bear the thought of burying a grandchild,” said Renolds, who was accompanied by her granddaughter, Lexi, and husband, Tom. Though the parents, who helped establish the Youth Grove and Evening of Remembrance, have attended the annual event since its start, this year was a little different, as 14-year-old Lexi will soon learn to drive.

“My 15th birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks, and with that comes learning how to drive and being on the road with other teen drivers,” Lexi said. “I’ll also be the age that Dany (her uncle) was when he died, and that scares me.”

She pledged to be careful when behind the wheel or with others while in a car.

Mayor Marsha McLean encouraged the rest of the community to do the same.

“I urge every person … to pledge to be more cautious and aware, whether driving a car or on a bicycle or crossing the street,” she said. “We have to make sure that no more are added to this grove, and we must all pledge to be safe, sober and focused when driving.”

Mayor Pro Tem Cameron Smyth

Above: A man holds up a candle the night of the Youth Grove in Central Park during the 14th annual Evening of Remembrance event, honoring the youth lost in traffic-related incidents.

Below/Right: Hundreds of community members participate and hold a vigil in the Walk of Remembrance at Central Park.

PHOTOS BY CORY RUBIN / THE SIGNAL

mirrored the Renolds’ sentiments, sharing that this year, too, was different from the rest as his son will soon start to drive.

Though distracted driving and driving under the influence are among the top causes for traffic-related collisions, Don Gore said speeding is perhaps the biggest local issue, in

addition to being the cause of his son Collin’s death, he said.

Collin, a high school graduate who had been accepted to San Diego State University, was driving home one night in 2017 when a drunk driver crashed his vehicle into the 18-yearold’s car, after driving at speeds higher than 90 mph down McBean

Parkway, killing both drivers.

“Watch your speed when you’re on the road any time of day because it’s the speed that killed both of them,” said Don. “Be aware of everyone on the road even though you’re doing everything right. It’s other people on the road that you have to be concerned about, too.”

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S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

LOCALNEWS

Supervisors vote to join bid to overturn court case

By Jim Holt Signal Senior Staff Writer

A

fter three hours of heated debate, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 supporting a motion by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Janice Hahn to add the county to the legal action seeking a Supreme Court review of Martin v. City of Boise, which recently restricted a municipality’s ability to create its own policies to address homelessness.

In the end, after several speakers urged Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas to quash the motion — instead, he voted in favor. Supervisors Hilda Solis and Sheila Kuehl opposed the motion.

The Martin decision forbids municipalities from enforcing “common sense ordinances” that prohibit public camping unless those local governments can offer acceptable shelter to every unhoused person in the jurisdiction, Barger and Hahn said jointly in their motion.

In other words, the county could be powerless to address camping in public places by anyone until it provides shelter for everyone.

The motion calls for the board to instruct county lawyers to file an amicus brief and join any legal action seeking to overturn Martin v. City of Boise.

“Los Angeles County and municipalities across the nation are facing a deepening homelessness crisis that demands we have more tools — not more roadblocks — necessary to address the issue in an effective, compassionate manner,” Barger said after the vote.

“One of the most difficult challenges we face in combating homelessness is assisting those on our streets, living with a serious mental illness,” she said. “The Martin decision ties the hands of municipalities from enforcing common sense public camping ordinances that would allow us to provide life-saving treatment to this vulnerable population.”

SCV sweeps

In the Santa Clarita Valley, every three months, deputies with the SCV Sheriff ’s Station work with staffers at

the city of Santa Clarita, carrying out sweeps of homeless camps set up primarily in the Santa Clara River wash.

The sweeps are carried out with the city’s Community Preservation Team with the goal of reducing illegal encampments.

Under Martin, such sweeps would not be allowed.

The latest SCV sweep of homeless camps was carried out early last week.

“This is about our ability to help people,” Barger told the board, amid jeers and outbursts from people opposed to the motion.

“People want us to act, and act now,” she said.

Numerous speakers who opposed the motion accused Barger and Hahn of criminalizing the homeless.

Criminalized

Barger, however, trying to show how the homeless are criminalized without her motion, shared a personal story as an example.

“I spoke recently with a dear friend whose brother suffers from a serious mental illness and cycles in and out of homelessness,” Barger said. “She explained to me that the local municipalities whose hands are tied by Martin (court ruling) are often unable to help her brother. He cannot be moved to a safer location and, as a result, he never stabilizes.

“He is, endlessly, ticketed for low-level crimes, which creates a barrier for him, weakening him for jobs and housing in the future. He remains stuck in this crisis and ends up being criminalized as a result.”

Heated opposition

Those opposed to the motion used words like “fascist,” “racist,” “ridiculous,” “misguided,” dehumanizing and disheartening, among other terms.

Speaker Francesca de la Rosa told the supervisors: “We cannot arrest our way out of homelessness.”

One man at the podium told the board: “What (the unhoused) need least in their lives is a police baton.”

Speaker John Kerin said: “It is immoral and unacceptable to criminalize people trying to survive.”

At the close of the public comment portion of the meeting, Kuehl summed up the mood of those who spoke out against the motion and

Every three months, deputies with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station conduct a sweep of homeless camps in the Santa Clara River wash. Under the ruling for Martin v. City of Boise, such sweeps would not be allowed. SIGNAL PHOTO

why she voted against it.

Civil rights issue

“I feel very strongly about this and am deeply disappointed in the action of the board today. This is a civil rights, practical and human issue,” Kuehl said in a prepared statement after the vote.

“Where do we expect people to go if we have no housing to offer them but criminalize homelessness by simply removing them from the streets?

Our homeless and housing crisis has been decades in the making, and today my colleagues, frustrated with our progress and alarmed by the scale of the problem, took an action that would simply give law enforcement expanded ability to cite or arrest homeless people with no other place to go,” she said.

Defending her motion, Barger said two dozen other agencies, including the cities of Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Jose, are also seeking to overturn Martin.

Barger shared statistics to support her argument and to illustrate the “severity of the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles County.”

A record-high 58,936 county residents are experiencing homelessness — an increase of more than 12% from 2018 — with increases among children and youth, 8,500 of whom are experiencing homelessness, up 24% from 2018, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.

44,000 homeless

LAHSA also reports that approximately 44,214 individuals experiencing homelessness are unsheltered.

Some estimates indicate that for every 133 people leaving homelessness in the county, another 150 per day become homeless.

The average life expectancy for individuals experiencing homelessness in the county is 48 for women and 51 for men, compared with California’s average life expectancy of 83 years for women and 79 years for men. Last year, 918 individuals experiencing homelessness died across the county.

This year, nearly three homeless persons die each day. As of early September, 698 homeless people have died, Barger and Hahn said in their motion.

The Martin ruling, according to Barger and Hahn, places an enormous burden on the county. Local governments, they argued, need to have the ability to regulate public camping to protect everyone, especially the most vulnerable and in need.

Unregulated encampments can create a public health crisis to those inside and outside those encampments, county officials say. Los Angeles County has already reported the spread of communicable diseases in public areas, with recent outbreaks of medieval-era illnesses such as typhus and tuberculosis.

S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 1

LOCALNEWS

Voices of Recovery

By Brennon Dixson Signal Staff Writer

C

ollege of the Canyons kicked off Suicide Prevention Month on Wednesday with two discussion panels touching on the topics of sexual trauma and substance abuse.

The panels were held in an attempt to inform the community and campus about the resources that are available at COC and the surrounding area, school leaders said.

Prior to Wednesday evening’s dinner and panel discussion, which featured experts from the Child and Family Center, the Sheriff ’s Department J-Team and representatives from Real Life Church, Jessica Romo and Jaclyn Roher from Strength United stopped

by Bonelli Hall to help an audience of staff and students understand the impact of sexual trauma, its challenges and the process of recovery.

“Everybody’s response is going to look different,” Roher said Wednesday,

“so while we can’t control what that will look like, you can control how you react when somebody wants to disclose something to you. And that’s to take a deep breath, be calm and be as open-minded as you can as possible.”

Roher is a sexual assault counselor at Strength United’s Santa Clarita location, so she said she was on hand to share the myriad different responses that somebody who’s experienced sexual asault or trauma of any kind could face in their lifetime.

“We felt it was important to be here as a resource because it’s really a tough subject to talk about, so we wanted to inform as many people as possible and let them know that we’re a resource here in Santa Clarita,” she said.

“A lot of times, people don’t know where to go, or something has occurred and they don’t know who they can talk to or who to trust,” Romo said, mentioning sometimes victims will seek out the assistance of a peer or professor they trust. “So we wanted to

Team Depot volunteers support for veterans

By Raychel Stewart For The Signal

T

he Home Depot Foundation and Team Depot associates gathered to support the finishing touches for a new Homes4Families veteran community in Santa Clarita on Tuesday morning.

Approximately 120 volunteers worked to add landscapes and a community garden to the area, which consists of 78 homes reserved for veterans.

“This will give kids and families a place to come together,” said Ryan Braddy, foundation field manager of the western division at Home Depot.

“Fruits and vegetables can be planted and picked — it’s a great addition to the community.”

Among the volunteers was Juan Bran, a 16-year Army veteran who will be residing in the Veteran Enriched Neighborhood community with his wife and children on Centre Pointe Parkway, in Canyon Country.

“This organization has allowed me

to have a place to call home,” Bran said, after explaining he’s had to move frequently. “There’s not much help for people who come back to civilization, which is why I’ve had to move so much.

Now, I can plant roots here. This is a dream come true for my family.”

Homes4Families began the veteran-community project in Santa Clarita in 2014, according to Kim Cherney, Team Depot captain. The foundation has invested $250 million in veteran causes and helped to improve more than 41,000 veteran homes that span more than 4,000 cities across the country. The Home Depot Foundation met its quarter-billion-dollar fundraising goal two years earlier, according to Braddy.

“It means a lot for the associated (veterans) to know their work is going to be appreciated,” Braddy said. “Veterans will be able to live comfortably after the volunteers are done here.”

Anyone seeking more information about the program can visit homes4families.org.

Claira Brown, 16, left, tells her story of addiction during the Voices of Recovery panel discussion, held at the Dianne G. Van Hook University Center in Valencia. The discussion was one of two that were part of College of the Canyons’ kickoff to its series of events related to Suicide Prevention Month. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

let this specific audience (of students and staff) know that, if someone does come and disclose something to you, here’s what you can do and here are some good tips and resources that could help you respond.”

Romo said those who were unable to attend Wednesday’s discussion can find information on the resources available to them at places like the

college’s Title IX office and its Student Health and Wellness Center.

“We also have a local 661 hotline number available,” Romo said. The number is (661) 253-0258 and is available to provide 24-hour support.

The college’s observance of Suicide Prevention Month is scheduled to continue next week with three more events.

12 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

LOCALNEWS

Lunafest celebrates women filmmakers

By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

T

here are 2.13 male shortfilm directors for every one female director, according to industry officials, which is exactly why the Lunafest traveling film festival has chosen to feature only short films by, for and about women year after year.

“Women are often overlooked in the film industry,” said Jenna Phillips, a College of the Canyons student who hopes to one day become a filmmaker herself. “But events like these make me hopeful for the future. I can only hope that women’s rights continue to be heard, so that I and others like myself can continue to follow our passions.”

Nearly 200 women, and some men, gathered to watch eight thought-provoking short films on Friday at Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley’s ninth annual Lunafest held at the Canyon Theatre Guild.

While each of the films shown promote advocacy and awareness for women’s rights, they also connect women, their stories and causes through film by showcasing issues being faced by women in today’s society.

Before the screenings, guests had the opportunity to hear from Stephanie Seldin Howard, executive producer, director and writer.

Howard discussed the trials she

faced through the production of her film, “The Weight of Honor,” which chronicles the lives of caregivers and families of veterans who have been wounded, both physically and mentally, in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

“More than once, everyone, including myself and my camera crew full of big strong guys, were crying,” she said.

Howard went on to say that she firmly believes she was only able to produce her film successfully because she’s a woman.

“I was able to understand issues through a woman’s lens,” she added.

“Things like what it was like to see the best of the best go off to war and then have to cope with that warrior who came back broken or how to balance being a parent and taking care of a spouse who was physically and often emotionally mangled.”

It took Howard five years to finish her documentary as she needed to see how each family’s story would play out.

“That’s the thing about making a documentary — you don’t do it for the film festivals or the awards, and you certainly don’t do it for the money — you make a documentary because you are passionate about the topic, excited to share with the world what you’ve learned,” she said.

In between films, guests also heard from Marguerite Happy, a Newhall resident and stunt woman in films

such as “Little House on the Prairie,” “Men in Black II” and “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle,” who shared her experiences in the film industry with stunt performance, and discussed how stunts become part of a film’s story.

A portion of the proceeds from the event will be given to Chicken & Egg Pictures, a nonprofit that supports women nonfiction filmmakers whose storytelling effects social change, and

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Speaker Stephanie Seldin Howard — an executive producer, director and writer — tells her story of creating a documentary during the ninth annual Lunafest, held Friday at the Canyon Theatre Guild in Newhall. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

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S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 3

Five tips for keeping phones and tablets tidy

By Kim Komando Signal Contributing Writer

1. Get cleaning supplies You have a few options of ways to clean your phone: You can buy products specifically made for that purpose, or you can make your own.

Screen wipes make for a great way to rub down your smartphone screen, which is the part of your phone you touch the most. These wipes remove germs thanks to the solution they contain, and also smudges, keeping your phone look better as well as making it cleaner. You can use screen wipes on the body of your phone, too, and use them on tablets and computers just as easily. …

You can also make your own cleaning solution, using what you have around the house or what you can get locally, to clean your phone. For a

home cleaner, you just need distilled water, isopropyl alcohol 70%, a spray bottle, cotton swabs and a microfiber or lens cleaning cloth.

2. Remove your phone’s case and accessories To really clean your phone, you don’t want to just wipe down what’s visible. You want to be able to reach the nooks and crannies, and clean out areas that have started to build up dirt out of sight. Remove your case to see what we mean. There, you’ll find all sorts of dust and gunk have started to settle in areas, and you’ll want that off just as much as you want your phone screen to be less smudged. So remove your phone’s case, and unplug any cords and headphones.

3. Prepare your cleaner, and start cleaning your phone — and its case and accessories too For most of your purchasable phone cleaners, at this point you can start using them on your naked

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phone. Use new screen wipes to also clean your empty case so your phone has a clean place to go back to, as well as your headphones and cords. Put your empty case and phone accessories that fit in your UV sanitizer, too, for similar reasons.

To make your home cleaner, mix one part distilled water with one part isopropyl alcohol in your spray bottle.

You can mix things in a bowl, too, but a spray bottle will help you get the right amount of liquid and you can store it for later use.

Spray your mixture on your microfiber cloth—NOT on your phone.

You never want rogue drops to sneak into open phone ports, so liquid goes on cloth and cotton swabs ONLY! Wipe your phone down with your now damp microfiber cloth, respraying your cloth as needed. Make sure you spray anew and wipe down your empty phone case and accessories as well. Your phone case can be submerged in water and you can use

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soap on it, depending on its material, but your electronic accessories shouldn’t be.

4. Don’t forget the small spaces!

Headphones and earbuds often have little holes that can get filthy, and phones can build up crud around ports and speakers. Make sure you clean these, in addition to wiping down the big, obvious spots.

5. Once it’s clean, keep it clean You can’t keep your phone clean forever, but you can reduce the need to clean it all the time by being more careful where you take it with you.

Start leaving it outside the bathroom when you’re home, and keep it in a bag or pocket when you’re out and about.

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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14 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

FROM THE CITY MANAGER

Santa Clarita has a variety of volunteer opportunities

By Ken Striplin City Manager

E

ach year, the City of Santa Clarita hosts a wide variety of popular events, ranging from our long-running Santa Clarita Marathon to the upcoming River Rally. Behind each of these events, and the City’s many programs and projects is the work of our passionate and committed volunteers. With the help of these dedicated community members, we can offer fun and successful events for the community to enjoy.

On Sept. 21, we will host our 25th annual River Rally, where our residents come together to pick up litter and debris in a section of the Santa

Clara River. Through this community event, we preserve the river’s natural beauty and protect the many wildlife species who make their home in the riverbed.

This event is made possible with the help of hundreds of volunteers who come and dedicate their time to improve our community and contribute to preserving the environment.

Last year, 1,260 volunteers, ranging in age from three to 85, dedicated one morning to volunteer at the River Rally. Altogether, they worked a total of 3,752 hours, valued at over $100,000.

To date, volunteers have collected more than 445,000 pounds of trash and debris from the Santa Clara River and its tributaries.

River Rally is an excellent volunteer opportunity for families, scout

troops, church and youth groups, school clubs and businesses.

Overall in 2018, the City had over 5,000 total volunteers who helped with City events, programs and projects. They contributed more than 51,000 hours, with a value of $1.5 million. The time they so generously give provides a significant benefit to our community — but what do the volunteers get out of the experience?

Our Santa Clarita residents choose to volunteer for a variety of reasons. Many want to gain experience, acquire new skills, meet new people or even expand their network of contacts and community base. Others simply want to give back to their community or spend some time with a friend while doing a worthwhile activity.

Students can earn school credit for community service and studies have

shown that volunteering is good for one’s health. Overall, people volunteer because it makes them feel good.

The City is always looking for people to help out and offers a variety of volunteer opportunities. To learn more about ways to volunteer at events in Santa Clarita, please visit SantaClaritaVolunteers.com or “like” Santa Clarita Volunteers on Facebook.

From events to programs, volunteers work together to help sustain the quality of life in Santa Clarita that we all enjoy. Thank you to everyone who volunteers in our City.

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

Santa Clarita — Southern California’s innovation destination

By Mayor Marsha McLean

T

he City of Santa Clarita has long been a place where innovative ideas are encouraged, and the future is developed. National and global corporations have set up offices and headquarters in the Santa Clarita Valley because our residents are highly skilled and help these organizations reach their full potential.

At the same time, residents in Santa Clarita are known for entrepreneurship and creating new products and technologies that better connect society.

This entrepreneurial spirit, which is leading to increased efficiency for businesses, reduced waste and a smaller environmental impact, should be celebrated. The City does this through the award-winning Santa Clarita Business Incubator program, which supports creative and technology-focused companies by providing resources, specialized training and guidance, as they navigate the start-up stage and grow into a thriving business.

Each November, the City of Santa Clarita’s Business Incubator hosts a series of events in partnership with the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation (SCVEDC), the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and College of the Canyons.

These events, which include workshops for entrepreneurs, networking opportunities and presentations from various business leaders, are what make up Innovate SCV. Innovate SCV, which will take place from Nov. 1-14, is the perfect opportunity for those who own a startup or have an idea that they want to turn into a business.

Some Innovate SCV events and workshops held last year included sessions on how to pitch an idea to potential investors, how to develop a business model and explore the resources available from partner organizations to help your company

get off the ground.

As events are confirmed for this year, they will be posted online at InnovateSantaClarita.com.

There are wonderful success stories in Santa Clarita of tech startups leveraging emerging technologies to make names for themselves on the world stage. This includes Nuhubit Software Studios LLC, a Business Incubator graduate that developed “Bubbly Primes,” an entertaining game that teaches children critical math skills.

It also includes AdVRtas, a Business Incubator tenant company maximizing the use of virtual reality to help companies deliver immersive experiences for consumers.

Since the Santa Clarita Business Incubator opened its doors five years ago, 24 new jobs have been created with the potential for many more.

Three companies have graduated from the Business Incubator program, which includes a three-year residency in the Business Incubator.

These companies have transitioned their operations into nearby locations, keeping these new high-quali-

ty jobs in Santa Clarita.

The Santa Clarita Business Incubator serves as a vital resource for entrepreneurs and startups in our valley. Partnerships with Poole and Shaffery LLP and Hedman Partners enables tenant companies to access free and discounted legal and financial services so they can focus on what’s most important: developing ideas and growing their business.

If you’ve ever wanted to start a new business or create the “next big thing” that could change the world, I encourage you to attend Innovate SCV events and explore all that the Santa Clarita Business Incubator has to offer.

Please visit InnovateSantaClarita. com to learn more.

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 22, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 5

ROSHHASHANAH

Rosh Hashanah: An accounting of the soul

By Rabbi Mark Blazer Special to The Signal

A

battleship assigned to a training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on the bridge keeping an eye on all activities. Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing of the bridge reported, “Light, bearing on the starboard bow.”

“Is it steady or moving astern?” the captain called out.

Lookout replied, “Steady, captain,” which meant they were on a dangerous collision course with that ship.

The captain then called to the signalman, “Signal that ship: We are on a collision course, advise you change

course 20 degrees.”

Back came a signal, “Advisable for you to change course 20 degrees.”

The captain said, “Send, I’m a captain, change course 20 degrees.”

“I’m a seaman second class,” came the reply. “You had better change course 20 degrees.”

By that time, the captain was furious. He spat out, “Send, I’m a battleship. Change course 20 degrees.”

Back came the flashing light, “I’m a lighthouse.”

The battleship changed course.

At Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, we perform an accounting of the soul. We assess our personal direction to see if we are off course and begin to make the necessary changes to avert disaster.

We ask ourselves such questions as:

Balsamic Salmon over Pomegranate and Golden Kiwi Arugula Salad

By Chaia Frishman

L

et me tell you a little bit about my favorite fruit.

The golden kiwi has all the amazing things a standard deep green kiwi has, but doesn’t have the same high-acid content and is sweet beyond compare. I added it with some tart pomegranate seeds to the sharp greens.

Top this off with the salmon in this complexly delicious glaze, and dinner (or lunch) is served.

Cooking and preparation: 30 minutes Glicks Cooking Spray 4 (1/2-pound) salmon fillets, skin on (you can always remove it later, but keep it on for cooking to keep salmon moist) 1 teaspoon salt Freshly ground Gefen Black Pepper 4 tablespoons Tuscanini Balsamic Glaze 4 teaspoons Gefen Olive Oil 3 tablespoons orange juice Salad 4 cups arugula or mesculun mix 2 golden kiwi, peeled and thickly sliced

1 cup pomegranate arils Prepare the salmon.

Spray a pan with cooking spray and lay salmon fillets on pan skin side down.

Turn up flame to medium and cook salmon for eight minutes.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper and flip salmon.

Add glaze and olive oil and swirl it around the pan, to get the juices under the salmon. Cook for two more minutes.

Baste salmon, skin side down with glaze/oil mixture. Drain mixture into a bowl and add orange juice and salt. Set salmon on the side to rest.

Prepare the Salad Divide greens and kiwi on four plates and top each plate with salmon and pomegranate seeds.

Drizzle dressing on top.

— Kosher.com

What am I doing with my life? What have I accomplished in the past year?

What did I set out to do that I failed to accomplish? What are the ramifications of my successes and failures, for me and for others, in my overall plans? What do I need to change to reach my goals, my potential? How do I interact with the people around me — family members, friends, co-workers, strangers? What negative aspects of my personality do I need to deal with? How can I change them?

What am I doing wrong? What can I do better? How can I be closer to the Divine ideals of how I should behave in relation to God and others?

Such soul-searching can be a difficult and painful process, particularly for anyone who determines that major changes are warranted. Just remember, everything doesn’t have to happen at once. These holidays present us with the opportunity to begin to renew ourselves in positive ways, to bring us one step closer toward our individual potentials.

In addition to being held accountable for our actions, we also realize that each individual is also responsible for the situation of the community and of the entire world. Each one of us contributes to the state of the world, in however large or small a way. Our words and actions have ramifications that go beyond us as individuals. They affect our families, our neighborhoods, our communities, our country, our globe.

The Talmud instructs us that when several people are sailing in a boat, no one has a right to bore a hole under his or her own seat. Human purpose in the world involves everyone in trying to keep the vessel buoyant and sailing smoothly. And, hopefully, we will all be sailing in the right direction.

Temple Beth Ami is located at 23023 Hilse Lane, Santa Clarita. For more information, visit www.templebeth ami.org or call (661) 255-6410.

16 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

T R AV E L

Get your kicks on

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

U

.S. Route 66, celebrated in song and in travel mythology, is an iconic highway stretching from Chicago to Los Angeles.

Constructed in 1926, it is now known as the National Trails Highway, but historically has been called “the Mother Road,” “Will Rogers Highway” and “the Main Street of America.”

As the lyrics implore, “If you ever plan to motor west, take the highway that’s the best, get your kicks on Route 66.”

Written by songwriter Bobby Troup, the popular rhythm and blues standard became an instant hit in 1946, when it was recorded by Nat King Cole.

Some of the original Route 66 roadway has been lost or rerouted, however, you can still find plenty of opportunities to piece together a trip to experience blast-from-the-past diners, retro filling stations and classic motor-lodges. There are also a few kitschy museums that are must-sees along the way.

To travel the entire Route 66, you would drive 2,451 miles, but this shorter road trip, from the Santa Monica Pier to Needles, Calif. covers some 300 miles. Of course, you’ll want to stop along the way to explore the many remaining Route 66 motels, restaurants and museums.

Traditionally, travel along Route 66 is east to west. This road trip takes you from “The End of the

The Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino is among the most iconic of Route 66 vintage motels that is still in business. PHOTOS COURTESY VISIT CALIFORNIA

Road” along Route 66 in California to Needles, a city that embraces its Route 66 history.

Santa Monica Pier

200 Santa Monica Pier Santa Monica 90401 Find the “Route 66 End of the Road” sign as your starting point. It is located at the end of the pier.

From the pier, travel along the original Route 66 along Santa Monica Boulevard east through Beverly Hills, Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles.

Broadway and 7th Street was the original terminus of the roadway, which was extended to Santa Monica in 1935.

In downtown, hop onto the I-110 (Harbor Freeway) which becomes Arroyo Seco Parkway and the Pasadena Freeway, the first urban highway in the western U.S. It also doubles as part of Route 66.

built in 1927 on the newly created Route 66 in a spot favored by many local automobile dealers. It was built in a heavily ornate style known as “Churrigueresque.”

Travel through Pasadena along Colorado Boulevard. The street is littered with classic motels, many dating from the 1960s. Continue along Colorado Place until it joins with Huntington Drive to continue your Route 66 adventure.

You will transition to Foothill Boulevard,

Pasadena Fair Oaks Pharmacy and Soda Fountain 1526 Mission St. South Pasadena, 91030 Info www.fairoakspharmacy.net Stop at Fair Oaks Pharmacy and Soda Fountain where Route 66 travelers have stopped for chocolate malts since the 1920s. A South Pasadena landmark, built in 1915, the original soda fountain is still in operation.

Howard Motor Company Building 1285 East Colorado Blvd.

Pasadena 91107 The Howard Motor Company Building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It was The Route 66 “Mother Road” Museum in Barstow includes a collection of historic photographs and artifacts commemorating the famous highway.

Roy’s Motel and Café has become an icon for a lonely desert gas stop due to its multiple appearances in movies.

S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 7

T R AV E L Another stop in Barstow should be Tom’s Certified Welding and Machine Shop, where you will discover vintage gas station signs and other Route 66 relics.

Route Motel 66 195 West Main St., Barstow, 92311 Info www.route66motelbarstow.com The Route 66 Motel is a 1922 retro motel with classic neon sign and mural. The simple rooms with bright accent walls also feature some round beds. The motel displays antique cars and other Route 66 memorabilia.

The Route 66 Motel and Torches Motel in Barstow are classic examples of the retro motels with neon signs found along Route 66.

until you reach Mountain Avenue. Head south to pick up Huntington Drive and historic Route 66 through Duarte and Azusa. In Glendora you’ll pick up Route 66 on Foothill Boulevard through Upland to San Bernardino.

San Bernardino Wigwam Motel 2728 West Foothill Blvd.

San Bernardino 92376 Info www.wigwammotel.com The Wigwam Motel is among the most iconic of Route 66 vintage motels still in business. In 1933, Frank Redford started developing the Wigwam “Villages” by designing teepee shaped motel units.

This motel, opened in 1949, was the last of seven Wigwam Motels built across the country. Today only three Wigwam motels survive.

Mitla Café 602 N. Mount Vernon Ave. San Bernardino 92411 Info www.mitlacafesb.com Another classic location is The Mitla Café which opened in 1937. It still serves such classics as home-style menudo, a traditional Mexican soup.

In San Bernardino hop on the 215 freeway to the 15 to Victorville.

Emma Jean’s Holland Burger Café 17143 North D St. Victorville, 92394 Info www.hollandburger.com Stop at Emma Jean’s Holland Burger Cafe, home to a famous patty melt, has been an iconic Route 66 stop since 1947.

Barstow Route 66 “Mother Road” Museum 681 N. First St. Barstow, 92311 Info www.route66museum.org For those interested in the history of the old road visit the Route 66 “Mother Road” Museum, which offers free admission is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. It has a nifty gift shop and numerous exhibits of classic Route 66 road signs and mid-century memorabilia.

Tom’s Certified Welding and Machine Shop 28664 US Highway 58 Barstow, 92311 Info www.facebook.com/pages/Toms-CertifiedWelding-Machine-Shop/989373307774433

Torches Motel 201 Main St. Barstow 92311 The Torches Motel was built in 1942 and last updated in 2007.

After leaving Barstow you can exit I-40 at Daggett to pick up Route 66 as it makes its way through Bagdad, Amboy and Essex before reaching Needles, your final destination.

Bagdad Café 46548 National Trails Highway Newberry Springs 92365 Info www.route66guide.com/ bagdad-cafe.html Just past Newberry Springs on Route 66 is the famous Bagdad Café. The 1987 movie “Bagdad Café” was shot on location here. Then known as the “Sidewinder,” the eatery changed its name to capitalize on its film stardom. You’ll be driving by, why not stop?

Amboy

Roy’s Motel and Café 87520 National Trails Hwy Amboy, 92304 Info www.rt66roys.com Roy’s is located on Route 66 in Amboy, in the Mojave Desert. The site of Roy’s has become an icon for a lonely desert gas stop due to the multiple appearances of Roy’s in movies. Roy’s was a motel, café, gas station and auto repair shop, defunct for many years but now being largely restored. There is a gift shop where you can buy soda and snacks. The historic site is an excellent example of roadside mid-century Modern Googie architecture.

Victorville

Needles

California Route 66 Museum 16825 South D St. Victorville, 92395 Info www.califrt66museum.org Stop at the California Route 66 Museum for some serious history, as well as some light-hearted interactive fun. With more than 4,500 square feet of floor space, the museum offers photo opportunities for visitors in settings like a 1950’s diner and a VW Love Bus complete with hippy wigs and sunglasses.

For a complete list visit www.the route-66.com/needles.html.

Needles, on the California/Arizona border, was a major stop on the historic U.S. Route 66 highway from the 1920s through 1960s. For immigrants from the Midwest Dust Bowl in the 1930s, it was the first town marking their arrival in California.

The city is filed with numerous murals, motels and other shops from that era.

There are dozens of “must-see” attractions in Needles.

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S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

SPORTS

Foothill football readies for league season

By Haley Sawyer Signal Sports Editor

T

he preleague season is coming to a close for Santa Clarita Valley football teams, and several teams are entering Foothill League play with momentum on their side.

West Ranch won its first four games of the season, a streak that included the program’s first-ever win over Antelope Valley, which came by a score of 42-22.

Junior quarterback Walker Eget has commanded the offense, throwing 66-of-97 for 1,083 yards and 12 touchdowns with five interceptions.

Senior Reiger Burgin is the team’s leading rusher with 511 yards and nine touchdowns on 75 carries.

After a 44-21 win over Royal on Sept. 13, the Wildcats were hopeful they would finish out the preleague season undefeated.

“Hopefully,” Burgin said. “That’s the plan. That’s what we’re going to do.”

Golden Valley won its first three preleague games, beating Burbank, Quartz Hill and Rio Mesa. The Grizzlies are attempting to bounce back from their 2018 season in which they went 2-8

Reiger Burgin (34) of West Ranch takes the ball to the 1-yard-line after a handoff from quarterback Walker Eget (2) against Nordoff at Valencia High School. West Ranch is one of several Foothill League teams looking to start league play in October with momentum on its side. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

overall and won just one league game.

Although they’re on the right track, Golden Valley coach Dan Kelley is heightening his expectations for his team.

“We need to close the gaps with the mistakes we’re making. We need to close that gap and try to play a perfect football game, we haven’t played a perfect game yet this year,” Kelley said after beating Rio Mesa on Sept. 13. “We played a great second half tonight, but we need to play four quarters all the way through.”

Johnathan Kaelin has been the Grizzlies’ main playmaker this season.

He’s the team’s leading rusher with 326 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries and has five tackles on defense as a valuable member of the secondary.

Valencia football won its first two games of the season before falling to Sierra Canyon 28-10 on Sept. 13. The Vikings’ run game has been a major asset this season, with Jake Santos and Nick Pham combining for 252 yards and five touchdowns.

Santos, especially, is capable out of the backfield with 46 yards and two touchdowns on two receptions.

Hart won its first preleague game on Sept. 13 against Burbank, 31-13.

Zach Johnson, the Indians’ quarterback, is 36-for-68 with 388 yards and two touchdowns throughout a tough preleague schedule that also included Carlsbad and Muir.

Saugus football won its first two games, lost to Redondo Union, then bounced back the following week, beating Thousand Oaks 50-10. Cole Gallagher has been a contributor as a two-way player, with 10 receptions for 228 yards and four touchdowns on offense and 22 tackles on defense.

Quarterback Colton FitzGerald is 58of-101 so far this season with 796 yards, 10 touchdowns and two interceptions.

Canyon picked up its first win of the season on Sept. 13 with a 28-15 win over Palmdale. Quarterback Aydyn Litz was 14-of-24 for four touchdowns and 215 yards in the game.

Reno Sifuentes was the leading receiver in the game with two touchdowns and 99 yards on six catches.

The Foothill League football season opens up on Oct. 4.

S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 19

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

The Local Pub & Grill 26876 The Old Road Stevenson Ranch Ca 91381 661.495.9192 Mama’s Table 23340 Cinema Dr, Santa Clarita (661) 284-5988 Marston’s Restaurant 24011 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 253-9910

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!

Nealie’s Skillet 25858 Tournament Road, Valencia (661) 678-0031 Newhall Refinery 24258 Main St, Newhall (661) 388-4477 Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing Co 18810 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 252-7883

Homemade Cooking!

Route 66 Classic Grill 18730 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 298-1494 Saddle Ranch Chop House 24201 Valencia Blvd., Valencia (661) 383-0173 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

Iconic Eats 23460 Cinema Dr, Valencia (661) 481-9404

The Social 23329 Lyons Ave, Ste A, Valencia (661) 799-9155

Grilled Cheese Factory 24201 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 888-1508

Thelma’s Cafe 22876 Copperhill Drive, Saugus (661) 263-8283

Islands 24180 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 284-5903

Wing Stop 18547 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 251-9700

Lazy Dog Cafe 24201 Valencia Blvd., Valencia (661) 253-9996

4 Homemade Soups Served Daily Chicken w/brown rice, Navy bean, Clam Chowder, Taco Tortilla

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

Mond W/Co ay - F upon rida Must Beve y, 7am-9 be over rages 5 p not in m exp 1 5 clude 0/04 d /1

9

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

20 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

DININGGUIDE

DINING GUIDE

Continued from previous page

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

BREWERIES 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 Pocock Brewing Company 24907 Avenue Tibbits, Valencia (661) 775-4899 Wolf Creek Restaurant & Brewing Co. 27746 N. McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 263-9653

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

Crazy Otto’s Diner 25373 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia (661) 291-1733

Everest Burgers 18645 Soledad Canyon Road Santa Clarita, CA 91351 (661) 252-3412

Egg Plantation 24415 Walnut Street, Newhall (661) 255-8222

Final Score 23754 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 254-6557

Eggs N Things 27560 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 702-8664

Firehouse Subs 23630 Valencia Blvd. Valencia (661) 255-3473

Halfway House 15564 W. Sierra Highway, Saugus (661) 251-0102

Five Guys 24201 W, Valencia Blvd #3672, Valencia (661) 255-0981

Mama’s Table 23340 Cinema Dr, Santa Clarita (661) 284-5988

The Habit 25948 N. McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 291-1575

Marston’s Restaurant 24011 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 253-9910

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

Mimi’s Cafe 24201 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia (661) 255-5520

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

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

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

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

Red Robin 27063 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 260-2411 Route 66 Classic Grill 18730 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 298-1494 Rustic Burger 24025 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 254-1300 Rustic Eatery 25343 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia (661) 254-8100 Submarina California Subs 26517 Carl Boyer Drive, Canyon Country (661) 259-4782 Tiny’s Submarine Sandwiches 27251 Camp Plenty Rd, Canyon Country (661) 251-5885

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 WaBa Grill 19120 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 367-7297 31739 Castaic Road, Castaic (661) 295 9222 Wok’s Cookin’ Chinese Restaurant 31565 Castaic Road, Castaic (661) 257-2890

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

DELICATESSEN Bob’s Country Meats 19012 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 251-5995 Cathy’s Delicatessen 23120 W. Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 288-2217 Italia Panetteria & Deli 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 294-9069 Maria’s Italian-American Deli 22620 W. Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 259-6261 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 22, 2019

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 I Love Sushi 26526 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita 661-673-5200 Kabuki 24045 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 799-8655 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

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 21

DININGGUIDE Sam’s Flaming Grill 24802 Orchard Village, Santa Clarita (661) 222-9060

Medrano’s Mexican Restaurant 19319 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 367-4945

Pizza Di Marco 27674 Newhall Ranch Rd, Valencia 661-295-8769

19433 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 298-0115

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

Pizza Rev 24341 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia (661) 260-1257

25347 Wayne Mills Pl, Valencia (661) 254-2154 23874 Copper Hill Dr, Valencia (661) 294-1100 ZingGa Grill 26910 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita (661) 250-7592

MEDITERRANEAN Cafe O 20655 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 424-0401 Flame & Skewers 25870 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 799-7538 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 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 Cabo Cabana Restaurant 25710 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 222-7022 Casa Pasilla 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 295-1989

Charcoal Korean BBQ Restaurant 19158 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 251-9292

Dario’s Mexican Restaurant 24523 Newhall Avenue, Newhall (661) 255-6868

Genghis Khan 24506 W. Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 254-0351

El Trocadero Mesquite Grill & Cantina 24274 Main Street, Newhall (661) 284-6615

Gogi House 26524 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 263-0048

La Charrita Restaurant 24225 Main St, Newhall (661) 288-1204

Kogiya 2 Korean BBQ 23410 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 678-0999

La Cocina Bar & Grill 28022 Seco Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 297-4546

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

Las Rocas Mexican Grill 27923 Sloan Canyon Road Castaic (661) 257-6905

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

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

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

Tomato Joes Pizza & Taps 19167 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita (661) 250-7550 Tomato Joes Pizza Express 27732 McBean Pkwy. Valencia (661) 263-8646 Toppers Pizza 23710 Valencia Blvd, Santa Clarita (805) 385-4444

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

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

22 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

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

Operation: Mindcrime coming to Canyon Santa Clarita

By PerrySmith Sunday Signal Editor

H

ailed as the original creative and driving force behind Queensryche, a progressive metal band that’s sold more than 20 million albums, Geoff Tate now tours with his own lineup, performing hits that millions of fans know and love.

“Operation: Mindcrime,” the band’s

most commercially successful effort — which is also considered “one of the best-selling rock concept albums ever” — is the focal point of Tate’s current tour.

Tate, whom been acclaimed for his vocals while the band gained fame in over 50 countries from 1982-2012, eventually split with Queensryche in 2012, which has not affected his touring schedule much of late.

This former front man for the “thinking man’s rock band” brings his famed vocal stylings and the sounds familiar to millions of fans to Canyon Santa Clarita on Friday, Sept. 27. “‘Geoff and his electric band will perform the album in its entirety, featuring the hits ‘Revolution Calling,’ ‘I Don’t Believe In Love’ and ‘Eyes Of A Stranger,’ along with a greatest hits set, featuring ‘Jet City Woman’ ‘Empire’

and the forever signature ‘Silent Lucidity,’” according to the Canyon Santa Clarita website. Mark Daly is slated to be the opening act.

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 22, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 3

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 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/bike-night-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 Fridays and Sturdays, 8-11 p.m. Come on in to Tomato Joe’s Pizza and Taps and be a star on our karaoke nights! We’ve got a library of over 200,000 great tunes and a killer sound system. 19167 Golden Valley Rd., Santa Clarita. Info: facebook.com/ events/724517964649049/?event_time_ id=724517984649047 Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

California farmers and specialty food purveyors come together each Saturday, rain or shine, to bring you a farmers’ market with the finest in fresh and seasonal fruits and vegetables, including organic, baked goods, flowers, herbs, cheeses, and prepared foods.

The market offers patrons a chance to come face to face with their food source. Old Town Newhall, 24500 Main St., Newhall. Info: oldtownnewhall. com/old-town-newhall-farmers-market Fourth Thursday of the Month, 7-9 p.m.

Part of the Thursdays@Newhall event series, Note by Note is a music night presenting audiences with a variety of genres at this free evening of fun. Music from bands, duos and soloists’ will play their blend of music for your listening pleasure. Come enjoy a wide range of music styles, including rock, folk, Celtic, Americana, blues, jazz, country, experimental, western and more! The MAIN, 24266 Main St., Santa Clarita. Info: thursdays atnewhall.com/notebynote/

Tuesday, Sept. 24, 6 p.m. Citizens Climate Lobby is hosting a special screening at the Old Town Newhall Library of the climate documentary “The Human Element” in which environmental photographer James Balog captures the lives of everyday Americans on the front lines of climate change. 24500 Main Street, Santa Clarita. Info: Morgan Lazo, mlazo@ santa-clarita.com.

Wednesday, Sept. 25, 6-9 p.m. Enjoy a film screening and panel discussion of “The Advocates” at the Centre in Santa Clarita. The event is free and open to the community. Learn about the crisis of homelessness in LA and how you can help through an intimate lens into the tireless work of homeless advocates. 20880 Centre Pointe Pkwy., Santa Clarita. Info: everyoneinla. org/event/the-advocates-documentaryscreening-panel-santa-clarita/ Friday, Sept. 27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Come help Family Promise celebrate our 10th year with our inaugural Golf Tournament fundraiser. Foursomes are $500. Sponsorships start from $250. Sand Canyon Country Club, 27734 Sand Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita. Info: Kelly O’Keefe, (661) 433-8425, familypromisescv events@gmail.com Friday, Sept. 27, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Come to the sixth Fil-Am Association of Scv, Inc. Bingo Night! $12 ticket includes admission, a Bingo packet good for all 10 games and an entry for raffle prizes. Come win over $300 in prizes!

Vincenzo’s Pizza, 24504 Lyons Ave., Newhall.

Info: http://bit.ly/FilAmBingo2019a, Saturday, Sept. 28, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Gear up for the “Rhythm of the Road” Poker Run! Meet up with us at Harley-Davidson of SCV to register and grab your poker run cards, then hit the road to reveal your hand. All vehicles welcome and fun for the whole family!

Proceeds will benefit the SCV Education Foundation and aid in continuing and expanding programs such as Teacher Innovation Grants, Student Scholarships, and the Bag of Books Program. 21130 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita. Info: scveducationfoundation.org Saturday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m.

Come to the 6th Annual SCV Pacific Islander Festival. There will be live dancing and music, ono grinds and merchandise vendors. Groups from Santa Clarita Valley and San Fernando Valley will entertain our guests with dances and music from the Pacific Islands. Admission is free to the public but there is a small parking fee if parking inside the Castaic Lake Area. Castaic Lake, 32132 Castaic Lake Dr., Castaic. Info: kalakekepidc.com/scvpif/

Saturday, Sept. 28, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mod Hatter’s will hold a Charity Mac n’ Cheese Cookoff at Vincent Hill Station Restaurant in Acton. There is a $25 entry fee and $10 taste fee. All proceeds will be given to The Children’s Hospital. Prize plaques will be given to 1st, 2nd and third-place winners directly after tasting. First place will also receive both a $50 Visa gift card and $50 gift certificate to Vincent Hill Restaurant. 553 Sierra Highway, Acton Info: 661-233-7774 Saturday, Sept. 28, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. North Park Village Square will host a free Harvest Festival for the entire family. Enjoy apple cider, games, face painting, prizes, candy for kids in costume and free pumpkins. Weather permitting and event subject to change without notice. 27756 McBean Parkway, Valencia. Info: drbgroupllc@ drbgroupllc.com, subject line “Northpark Village Square Harvest Festival” Saturday, Sept. 28, noon to 4 p.m.

Enjoy an end of summer festival with Wolf Creek brewery. Come for a day of family fun that will include a cornhole tournament, activities for kids, food, dessert, music and raffles. Funds raised from the event will go towards building a home for a family living in poverty in Cancun, Mexico. 25108 Rye Canyon Loop, Valencia. Info: facebook.com/events/2344380945809695/ Saturday, Sept. 28, 2-5 p.m. Join Agua Dulce Winery in celebrating our inaugural Western Day! We will host competitions in calf roping and cow milking, barbecue hot dogs, music on the gazebo, dancing in the vineyard and of course flowing wine!

No Cost. No Reservations needed. 9640 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita. Info: aguadulcewinery.

!

WIN

com/wp/event/2pm-western-day-2019/ Saturday, Sept. 28, 5:50-9:30 p.m. Chef Juan Alonso Presents “Ooh La La: It’s A Wedding!” A Sharpo! Interacting Comedy Dinner Show! You are invited to participate in this special event, the joining of these two wonderful families: Mademoiselle Antoinette du cu Leger and Monsieur Jacques Le Grand. Come for a ceremony, dinner, dancing and lots of comedic fun! $95. Le Chene French Restaurant, 12625 Sierra Highway, Santa Clarita. Info: lechene.com/event/wedding-dinner-theater/ Saturday, Sept. 28, 8-9:30 p.m. Join The Dudes Brewing Co and co-host of “The Adam Carolla Show” Bryan Bishop on his Tune-up tour for a night of stand up comedy as he prepares for his ‘Laughs WITH Bald Bryan’ event. $20. 24250 Town Center Drive, Ste 190, Valencia.

Info: facebook.com/events/506395240161854/ Sunday, Sept. 29, 2:20-3:30 p.m. Come to the Open Book’s optical illusion storytime, where we’re going to be exploring different kinds of illusions that can trick our eyes and brains! This event is free! Snacks and crafts are provided. Please arrive before 2:30. 19188 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. Info: facebook.com/ events/483797732169080/ Saturday, Oct. 25, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Come experience a significant slice of Native American culture at the 26th annual Hart of the West Powwow. We hope you will come and enjoy the dancers, drummers and the numerous displays of arts and crafts. 24151 Newhall Ave., Newhall Info: friendsofhartpark.com/Event_Pages/powwow. html

!

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CONGRATULATIONS to Beth Culhane for correctly identifying LARC Ranch on page 14.

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. October 2 Winner to be announced in 2 weeks.

24 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

K I D S & FA M I LY

Where is the safest place for kids in the car?

R

iding in a vehicle can be an exciting prospect for children. Such rides provide a chance to see the world outside of the house, and the speed with which scenery is flying by can be exhilarating for young minds.

Children are first introduced to riding in cars as babies, when child safety seats keep them secure. Although laws vary depending on where people are driving, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises that children remain in a rear-facing car seat until age 2 or older.

As they get older and gain weight, children who have outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for their seats should use a forward-facing seat with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by their car seat manufacturer, says the AAP. When children are old enough to graduate from car seat to booster seat to sitting in the car with only a

Studies have shown that the rear-middle seat is the safest in the vehicle if a threepoint seat belt is available.

seat belt, parents may wonder about where their youngsters should sit when riding in a vehicle. One area of the car tends to be safer than others for children.

Researchers from the University of Buffalo, who studied crash-related fatalities in relation to seat location, discovered that the backseat is 59 to

86% safer than the front seat. What’s more, the middle seat in the back of the car is 25% safer than the window seats.

The science behind the study is that the middle seat offers the most distance from impact during a collision, or what the industry calls “the crumple zone.” The outer seats will be

more affected, while the middle seat remains more insulated.

However, the middle seat is only the safest when used with a full seat belt, rather than just a lap harness; otherwise, children should sit in the back where a full three-point seat belt is available, advises the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In addition, it can be tempting to cave under pressure and allow tweens to ride in the front of the car when they ask to do so or say that it is embarrassing to ride in back — since all of their friends are riding up front.

The organization Safe Ride 4 Kids says studies show the safest place in the car for tweens is the back, until they are at least 13 years of age.

Riding in the middle seat in the back of the car is the safest place for passengers, including children.

Parents and caregivers should keep safety in mind when kids are in the car. (MC)

Adulting: Financial tips for Generation Z

Learn credit card basics

Before leveraging the benefits of a credit card, understand the terms and conditions and the potential impact it can have on your credit score. Read the paperwork thoroughly and ask a parent or friend to help you with anything you don’t understand. Only use credit for an amount you can pay off entirely each statement. Interest

Budget

rates are high, so you don’t want to be paying more for what you purchase.

Learning to budget is essential, teaching you to set goals, live within your means and manage your money responsibly. Create a spreadsheet and review it on an ongoing basis.

Study student loan requirements

Study the different types of student loans available, and then run the numbers. Before borrowing a dime, figure out what your payments are actually likely to be, and make sure you can truly afford to borrow without putting other financial necessities at risk.

Open a checking account

You can open a checking account by filling out an application online or in person, usually in just a few minutes, as long as you have the necessary documentation banks require.

The bank will issue you a debit card, allowing you to pay for items using funds from your account. Monitor the flow of funds by checking your account online frequently.

Monitor credit scores

There are three national credit bureaus that may have a credit report file for you once you start using credit. What’s in your file is what is used

METRO CONNECTION

A

s more states nationwide adopt laws requiring high schools to offer personal finance classes, a new survey suggests that Generation Z, often the generation born 1996-2010, is on board with the trend.

Seventy-six percent of recent high school graduates agree personal finance education should be required, according to a national survey by Experian. The survey, among 18- and 19-year-olds, revealed that 46% say they have a lot of unanswered questions about money and finances, and feel “uncertain” and “nervous,” when it comes to managing finances.

To launch a successful financial future, consider the following tips:

Generation Zers have revealed that they are “uncertain” and “nervous” when it comes to managing finances.

to calculate a credit score that lenders look at to determine if you’re a good candidate for credit. You can obtain a free credit report annually at annual creditreport.com.

If you’re responsible for your cell phone bill and utility bills, consider using Experian Boost – a free online tool — to add these accounts to your Experian credit file and potentially increase your credit score instantly. A consistent history of on-time payments may increase your credit score.

Use tech tools

Unfortunately, the topic of money management doesn’t always appeal to young people. Only 38% of those surveyed find personal finance topics interesting. Luckily, tech-driven tools like apps and YouTube tutorials are making financial education more interesting and accessible to Generation Z. “Understanding money basics means not having to learn financial lessons the hard way,” says Rod Griffin, director of public education for Experian. “It’s important that we reach students early, before they start making decisions about student loans, credit cards, buying a car and renting an apartment.”

More tips for getting financially savvy, can be found at experian.com/ education. (Statepoint)

S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 5

K I D S & FA M I LY

Donna’s Day: Creative Family Fun

Creating papier-mâché pigs is gooey fun

By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer

bottle in front of you horizontally and note how the spout can be the snout.

7. Let dry. Make a second layer, if you wish.

reativity is at your elbow, always available. I try to remember that. If you are a parent who, like many people, considers him- or herself “noncreative,” just think of creativity as a water faucet. Turn the stream on, and it can be a steady flow into your everyday life.

One thing that works for me is to let myself get sidetracked from the original plan. That’s when I discover that having fun with kids is what’s most important, not the end result.

It can happen naturally when you stir up a gloppy, messy batch of papier-mache, a craft you probably remember from your own primary-school days. Grab stuff from the recycle bin and magically turn newspaper, plastic water bottles, golf tees and paper-towel tubes into creatures like these whimsical pigs.

This activity has all the basics for family fun: tradition, creativity and a gooey mess!

4. For the pig’s legs, tape four trimmed bathroom tissue tubes to the bottom of the body of the bottle. For piglet legs, poke the pointed end of four golf tees into the bottom of the body of a small bottle.

8. Paint the pig with poster or acrylic paints. The brighter, the better!

C

Here’s how 1. To make the basic papier-mache goop for any form, stir together equal parts of all-purpose flour and water in a large bowl. (Two cups of each is good to start.)

2. Tear newspaper into strips about 1-inch wide.

3. To create a form for a pig and piglets, start with a small-size plastic water bottle for a piglet and a plastic liter-size bottle for a pig. Place a

5. Make ears by cutting cardboard into two triangles. Tape in place just beyond the neck of the bottle.

6. Dip the newspaper strips one at a time into the mixture, remove excess goop with your fingers, and then drape strips over the form. Lay the coated strips any which way, covering the entire surface. Smooth out the wrinkles as you go, making the surface as smooth as possible.

Monday Oct. 21 6:30pm

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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.

CLIP N SAVE Elementary School Menus Menus courtesy of Santa Clarita Valley School Food Services which serves these school districts: Castaic USD • Newhall USD • Saugus USD • Sulphur Springs USD

(choice of one entree, seasonal fruit and milk)

Monday, Sep. 23 Tuesday, Sep. 24 Wednesday, Sep. 25 Thursday, Sep. 26

Thursday Oct. 3 8:30am

9. Poke a spring into what was the base of the bottle for a curly tail. For a piggy bank, cut a slit through the top to insert coins. Cut out a flap underneath the pig when you wish to retrieve the money.

Friday, Sep. 27

BREAKFAST Triple Berry Blast Mini French Toast Breakfast Bun Cereal Chilled Fruit Fruit Juice Breakfast Quesadilla Breakfast Bun Cereal Chilled Fruit Fresh Fruit

LUNCH Kickin’ Chicken Drumstick & Mashed Potatoes Cheeseburger Smart Choice Pizza Seasonal Salad Bar Bean & Cheese Burrito Chicken Nuggets Deli Sandwich Smart Choice Pizza Seasonal Salad Bar

Breakfast Pizza Breakfast Bun Cereal Chilled Fruit Fresh Fruit Fruit Juice

Brunch for Lunch: Maple Burst’n Mini Pancakes & Sausage Patties Dippin’ Chicken & Sauce Smart Choice Pizza Seasonal Salad Bar Celebration Cookie

Scrambled Slider Breakfast Bun Cereal Chilled Fruit Fresh Fruit

Corn Dog Popcorn Chicken Smart Choice Pizza Seasonal Salad Bar

Buttermilk Bar Breakfast Bun Cereal Chilled Fruit Fruit Juice

Meatloaf & Mashed Potatoes Chicken Nuggets PBJ Sandwich & String Cheese Smart Choice Pizza Manager’s Choice Seasonal Salad Bar Brownie Cup

26 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

FOOD

B

eer lovers, who also like to travel, no doubt include attending Oktoberfest in Munich on their bucket lists. The annual festival in Munich begins in late September and lasts for 16 days, during which people from across the globe gather to celebrate Bavarian culture.

A wildly popular folk festival, Oktoberfest is a joyous celebration that includes food, dancing,

music, parades, and, of course, beer. Some observers may note that the Oktoberfest celebration, minus the parades, closely resembles a modern day wedding reception.

And such an observation provides a clue as to the origins of Oktoberfest.

Oktoberfest includes so much tradition that some revelers may feel as though it must trace its origins back many centuries. However, according to History.com, the original Oktoberfest took place in 1810. That festival was actually a celebration of the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to

Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen.

To commemorate the couple’s marriage, the Bavarian royalty invited the citizens of Munich to celebrate with them during a nearly weeklong feast that included plenty of music, food and dancing.

While both Prince Ludwig and his bride have long since passed away, each would no doubt take comfort knowing that their nuptials are still being celebrated today, more than 200 years after they tied the knot.

This year, Oktoberfest celebrations in Munich begin on Saturday, September 21, and continue until Sunday, October 6. (MC)

What distinguishes ales from lagers?

B

eer is a subject many people would happily expound on if given a chance. Some beer drinkers may be quick to name a specific beer if asked to pick a favorite, while others may say they simply prefer an ale or a lager without naming a particular beer. But what distinguishes ales from lagers?

Flavor is one thing that distinguishes ales from lagers. Lagers are often described as “crisp.” When attaching that descriptor to lagers, people typically mean the lager goes down smooth without too complicated a flavor profile.

Ales tend to produce a fruity, aromatic and more complex flavor than lagers. Some, but not all, ales are characterized by a bitter flavor, while

E

lagers are generally not. It’s important to note that these flavor profiles are not set in stone. As a result, it might be possible to find ales and lagers with flavor profiles that are wholly unique to the style.

This might be even more possible now thanks to the craft beer movement, which has inspired many talented brewers to experiment with ingredients in an effort to expand the flavor possibilities of their beers, regardless of which style of beer they’re brewing.

Popular Science notes that the most fundamental difference between ales and lagers is the type of yeast used to create the beers. The yeast used affects the flavor of the beers, so it’s no wonder that ales and lagers tend to taste so different from one another.

The yeast used to create lagers

and ales is different, but Popular Science notes that the lager yeast genome shares many similarities to the ale yeast genome. So while the yeast is different, ultimately the difference in flavors between the two has as much to do with the fermentation process as it does with the yeast.

How the two yeasts behave is a big reason behind the differences in flavor. Lager yeast works best in cold temperatures. If employed in those same temperatures, ale yeast would go dormant. Ales are, according to “Beer for Dummies,” traditionally fermented at temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees F, while lagers are fermented at considerably colder temperatures (38 to 50 degrees F). It’s that cold environment during

the fermentation process of lagers that prohibits the production of fruity aromas, producing a lager’s clean, more mellow taste.

Beer afficionados tend to be partial to ales or lagers. And while ales and lagers differ greatly in terms of taste, the two are not necessarily as different as some may think. (MC)

Some home brewing mistakes to avoid

very batch of homemade beer does not turn out perfect, particularly for novices.

There may be some blips along the way, but important lessons can be learned through trial and error.

The following are some mistakes to avoid.

Not pitching enough yeast

Yeast feeds on the sugars in the grain and fires up the fermenting process. Home Brew Supply says that failing to pitch enough yeast can stress the yeast, result in longer lag times, create more esters, and even stall fermentation. Pitch rate calculators can help brewers figure out how much yeast to use.

Failure to sanitize properly

Experienced brewers understand that outside

contaminants (like wild yeast) can greatly affect a batch. Sterilization is essential for anything that comes in contact with the wort and beer.

Old ingredients

Low-quality water

Temperature

Water sets the stage for the flavor of the beer.

Using water straight from the tap may be adequate, but if the water has a lot of minerals or an off-taste, it can adversely affect the finished product. Using filtered water may be a better bet.

Improper measuring

All dry ingredients need to be measured by weight and not volume, says the brewing resource Brew Cabin. Just like baking, brewing beer requires careful attention to how much of each ingredient is added to a recipe.

Beer requires fresh ingredients, including hops and yeast.

Excessive temperature can increase alcohol content and over-sweeten brews. Using thermometers and monitoring temperature throughout the process are good habits.

Going big too soon

It can be exciting to brew beer and set high expectations. However, beginners should choose an easy recipe and start with a small batch.

Learning to brew beer may involve some hiccups, but home brewers can take away a thing or two from those who have mastered the craft. (MC)

S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 7

FA S H I O N

Four tips to dress for success at work

I

n today’s workplace, many employers have abandoned strict dress code policies, providing employees with more flexibility to dress casually.

In fact, 59% of American workers described their current employer’s policy as “business casual” or “casual,” according to a recent study from Randstad US. Although a more relaxed dress code gives you the creative freedom to express yourself, not everything may be appropriate for a work setting.

Here is the fashion 411 on workplace attire today.

Know the company’s dress policy

If you’re unclear of your employer’s dress code policy, just ask your manager or HR. Thirty-eight percent of 25- to 35-year-olds say they’ve been asked to dress more professionally by their manager or HR, and 45% say they know someone who has been sent home from work for breaking dress code policies.

Unclear policies may be the culprit, and no outfit is worth the risk — or

embarrassment — of being sent home.

Another tip is to simply take note of what people around you are wearing, especially those in senior-level positions.

Comfort and performance

Don’t be afraid to embrace your personal style, as long as it stays within your company’s guidelines. Sixty-three percent of younger workers (aged 18 to 35) say they actually prefer dressing up for work, as it boosts their confidence and performance.

The definition of “dressing up” can vary from person to person, ranging from casual to conservative, depending on one’s taste.

Don’t break the bank

Fifty-five percent of managers agree they care more about performance than what their employees wear, so don’t feel pressured to break the bank in order to keep up with the workplace Joneses.

Your expertise is more valuable than any sparkly set of cufflinks or a

Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.

pair of heels will ever be. However, you can look great for less with a few smart strategies. Visit the Randstad US career resources portal for workplace fashion tips to “casually” rip the (office) runway at randstadusa.com/jobs/ career-resources/personal-brand.

Keep the weekend wardrobe at home According to many U.S. employ-

ees, some things are still considered a bit too casual for the office. In fact, the survey found that the majority of Americans think ripped jeans and leggings are not appropriate, even in a casual office environment. Therefore, if you show up to work in ripped jeans, there’s a good chance (statistically speaking) that you won’t be making a great impression. The same goes for leggings — sorry athleisure lovers!

For more tips on how you can make a good impression at work, visit www. randstadusa.com.

“It’s great to show your personality and wear what you feel most confident in, though it’s always a best practice to be mindful of today’s cultural norms and what most people — according to our survey — feel is appropriate for the workplace,” says Traci Fiatte, CEO of non-technical staffing, Randstad US. “You want to be evaluated on your performance and what value you bring to your company, not just on your clothes.”

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28 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

PROFILE

Merry Graham, SCV’s winning chef

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

A

fter years of competitive cooking, Merry Graham of Newhall may just be ready to hang up her

apron.

“I’m thinking of retiring from competitive cooking,” she said. “I am content with what I’ve accomplished in the cooking world and have other projects I am interested in pursuing.”

The Santa Clarita Valley’s most accomplished amateur chef estimates she has won more than $150,000 in cash and prizes during the past decade.

First prize

Graham started her competitive cooking career with an essay, not a recipe.

“I was looking through a magazine and I saw an opportunity to win a trip

to the Aspen Food & Wine Festival,” she said. The contest was sponsored

by Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate.

“I had to write a paragraph about how you live ‘green’ without spending too much money,” Graham said. As the child of a tile contractor, Graham’s family made extensive use of broken and leftover tile. “I wrote a paragraph on all the things my family did with the tile, and I won, she said.

Graham said the great experiences she had at the June 2009 Aspen Food & Wine Festival made her hungry for more culinary adventures. Graham said the “minute” she returned home she turned on her computer to research how to win other contests.

“I think it was before I even unpacked my suitcase. I did a Google search; food and wine festival, and up popped the world of competitive cooking, www.contestcook.com,” she said.

Numerous Awards In the past decade of competitive cooking, Graham has crafted a diverse collection of winning recipes. Among her top awards: • Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill’s Chile Fest Dessert Winner Chocolate Chile Lime Shooter (2009) • Ocean Spray’s Ultimate Cranberry Recipe Contest $10,000 Grand Prize • Caramelized CranberryMushroom Galette (2010) • Aetna Healthy Food Fight $10,000 Grand Prize Black Bean and Sweet Potato Porridge with Jicama Pico de Gallo (2011) • Bob’s Red Mill Spar for the Spurtle Winner Black Bean Porridge Patties with Black Bean Pico de Gallo (2011). She won a trip to Scotland to represent Bob’s Red Mill in the 18th Annual Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship.

• Foster Farms Fresh Chicken Contest $10,000 Grand Prize • Lemon-Hoisin Chicken on Roasted Asparagus and Cherry Sesame Rice (2012)

• Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker Chocolate Adventure Contest $25,000 Grand Prize Margarita Moon Pies (2012) • The 47th Annual Pillsbury BakeOff $5,000 Gluten Free Winner Herbs and Seeds Parmesan Crackers (2014) • “Rachael Ray Great American Cookbook Competition” Third Place (2014) • Food Network “Clash of the Grandmas” Third Place (2015) • Maple Leaf Farms Strut Your Duck Grand Prize $5,000 Shakshuka with Duck Sausage and Duck Fat Toast (2016) • The 41st Annual Great Garlic Cook-Off Gilroy Garlic Festival Runner Up $1,500 Garlic Crown Garlicky BBQ Pork Fluffy Japanese Pancake with Garlic Strawberry Sriracha Syrup (2019) Graham has won, or been a finalist, in dozens of other contests.

For a list of her winning recipes and other awards visit her blog at www.amerryrecipe.com.

Merry Graham displays the crown she won at the 2019 Great Garlic Cookoff at the Gilroy Garlic Festival. PHOTOS BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

Recipe contests

The first recipe contest Graham entered was the Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill’s Chile Fest Dessert contest, less than six months after returning from the 2009 Aspen Food & Wine Festival.

“It wasn’t a big prize, but it was huge for me,” Graham said. “I discovered how much fun it was to get into those hot kitchens and rub elbows with other competitive cooks. Then to be named the winner was really fun.”

In 2010, Graham continued her winning streak when she entered the Ocean Spray Ultimate Cranberry Recipe contest, and won $10,000.

“I was definitely hooked then,” she said.

Redding roots

Graham was born in San Jose to Patricia and Carl Ryser. Shortly after she was born, the family moved to Redding. Her father was a tile contractor with his own company, and her mother had a bachelor’s in art and a master’s in psychology. Graham was the fourth of five children, with one sister and three brothers.

A graduate of Shasta High School, she attended Shasta Community College; California State University, Chico; and California Polytechnic State University, Cal Poly with a bachelor’s degree in foods and nutrition.

Graham headed to college with the intention of becoming a nurse. “Then

I discovered I didn’t really like chemistry all that much, and you had to take a lot of science classes,” she said.

Then, she discovered her passion for cooking in an international food cooking class. “We made a bread filled with Munster cheese,” she said.

“It was one of the first times I ever kneaded dough. We stuffed the bread with this beautiful cheese and put it in the oven. When we took it out and broke it open, all this oozing cheese came out. I instantly became bonded with the joy and love of cooking. It really snagged me.”

Married life

At the end of her senior year of college, in 1976, Merry married Richard Graham. The couple recently celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary.

They moved to Santa Clara for a year where her husband, an electronics engineer, found work. A move to the Los Angeles area followed in 1977.

Graham has four children: David, Shiloh and twins Tiffany and Timothy.

“I stayed home with the babies, did a lot of volunteer work, and then started cooking,” she said.

Graham also home schooled all four of her children through high school. “I loved every moment of it,” she said. “Looking back, instead of studying foods and nutrition, I should have become a teacher.”

In 1985, the family moved to a 5-acre spread in Acton. A move to Atascadero lasted a year before a

S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 9

PROFILE

Left: Merry Graham adds the final touches of fruit to her lemon cake in the kitchen of her Newhall home Right: Two-year-old Kismet gives a kiss to Merry Graham as she reads from her collection of cook books at her Newhall home.

move to the Happy Valley area of Newhall in 1997.

A love of food

Graham learned her love of food from her father.

“I never cooked at home because Dad did most of the cooking. My mother made a great tamale pie and cooked spaghetti about once a week,” she said. “Dad loved to garden, so I grew up with a lot of fresh vegetables.

I grew up around really good food.”

Graham was a proponent of eating fresh, local food long before “farmto-table” became a trend. “I was always very health conscious; I don’t think my oldest child had white sugar until he was 6,” she said.

World of food

“I keep in touch with many of the great women I’ve met through the years. We back each other. We are sincerely happy when one of us wins,” she said.

Graham has met many “food celebrities,” including Bobby Flay, Carla Hall, Martha Stewart and Nancy Fuller.

“Most celebrities I’ve met have been really nice,” she said. “Rachel Ray is as beautiful off-camera as she is on-camera. She was so supportive of me and said such nice things to me off camera.”

Graham has competed on the Food Network and has published recipes in Taste of Home and Betty Crocker Magazine. Graham, whose Christian faith is an important part of her life, is also the author of two Bible reference books, “Scriptures at Your Fingertips,” published by Simon & Schuster and “Scriptures at Your Fingertips for Teens.”

Among Graham’s favorite memories is the 2011 trip to Scotland to compete in the World Porridge

Making Championship. “There are a lot of priceless moments and adventures in the cooking world,” she said, “like walking down the cobblestone roads in Scotland with bagpipes playing, leading the way in front of me. I thought, ‘This is an experience I could never pay for.’”

Despite her love of cooking competitions Graham admits, “I’ve slowed down in the past few years.” She now finds her true passion is recipe development and food photography.

Gilroy

Graham was one of eight amateur chefs to compete on Saturday, July 27 in the 41st annual Great Garlic Cookoff at the Gilroy Garlic Festival. On July 28 a shooting occurred just as the festival was about to close, which killed three and injured more than a dozen.

“The whole Gilroy shooting shook me,” said Graham. She had left Gilroy and returned home to Newhall on Sunday morning, before the shooting.

“What really affected me was that 24 hours before the shooting, I stood right where the shooter was, watching a concert on Saturday night,” she said.

“I met so many wonderful people and volunteers at the event.”

Graham had competed in the contest in 2015, but did not win. “I felt in 2015 I had a few mistakes in execution and I didn’t feel proud of myself.

I thought I needed a redo,” she said.

Graham said she had also entered the contest “because I love the challenge of developing a recipe.”

For Gilroy, she developed a complex recipe that required her to complete six different “mini-recipes” within the 2-hour cook time. “I set myself up for my hardest cook-off

challenge in 10 years,” she said.

While the $3,000 top prize eluded Graham, she was named runner up, winning $1,500 and a garlic crown.

Celebrity chef Tom Colicchio, the head judge on the Bravo reality TV show “Top Chef,” tasted all the food.

“It was such an honor to meet him, he was so genuine. He also had a very calming effect on everyone,” she

said. “He had very good things to say about my food. He is a very kind critic. It was a tremendous experience.”

Graham said if Gilroy was her last competitive cook-off, she said. “It was a good way leave the “sport.

“I have this gorgeous crown of garlic, was judged highly and given accolades by the judge from ‘Top Chef,’ that’s the way the go out,” she said.

30 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

H E A LT H

Tips for keeping unused medicine away from children

S

ome things in your medicine cabinet are more dangerous than others. When it comes to prescription drugs, opioid pain medicines can be addictive and even deadly. Do you have unused prescription opioids in your home?

Keeping unused prescription opioids is risky and can result in overdose and death in children, teens, and even pets.

The Remove the Risk campaign from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration provides easy-to-follow steps that any adult can take to immediately remove unused prescription opioids from their homes and help save lives.

What is a prescription opioid?

Prescription opioids are powerful pain-reducing medicines; they include oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine and others. Doctors prescribe opioids after surgeries and for injuries; however, these medicines can have serious risks if they are accidentally or intentionally misused.

Why is disposal important?

Many people who misuse prescription opioids say that they got them from a friend or relative. Your friends or casual visitors may seek opioids and find your unused medicines in your cabinets or drawers. Curious kids and teens may explore medicines in your home and accidentally or intentionally take them. Research shows that even child-resistant containers cannot prevent a child from taking medicines not meant for them.

What can you do right now?

You can protect your family and be part of the solution to the opioid

crisis. Go through your medicine cabinets and drawers — anywhere you keep unused opioid pills, patches, or syrups. Dispose of them safely by visiting www.FDA.gov/DrugDisposal to find answers to these questions: Is a medicine take-back option readily available? Medicine takeback options are the preferred way to dispose of most types of unneeded medicines safely, including opioids.

Authorized locations may be in retail pharmacies, hospital or clinic pharmacies, and law enforcement facilities. Some authorized collection sites may also offer mail-back programs or “drop-boxes” to help people safely dispose of their unused medicines.

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital has a prescription drug collection receptacle located in its main lobby.

Unused prescription medicines can be deposited there seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Is it on the FDA ‘flush list?’

The FDA flush list tells you which medicines you should flush when

they are no longer needed. Medicines on this flush list may be especially harmful and, in some cases, fatal with just one dose if they are used by someone other than the person for whom they were prescribed.

Can you just throw it away?

If no medicine take-back option is available, and the medication is not on the FDA flush list, you can: • Mix medicines with an unappealing substance such as dirt, cat litter, or used coffee grounds • Place the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag • Throw away the container in your trash at home • Remove all personal information on the prescription label of empty medicine bottles or medicine packaging, then trash or recycle the empty bottle or packaging.

To find out more about these disposal methods and which one is right for you, visit www.FDA.gov/DrugDisposal.

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S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3 1

INTERIORDESIGN

Three stylish ways to personalize your kitchen

F

rom cooking to conversing to entertaining, the kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s also a space that homeowners often dream of renovating. A growing trend in kitchen design is personalization, where thoughtful updates go beyond stainless-steel appliances and standard cabinetry to incorporate a host of interesting design elements.

By adding splashes of personality to your kitchen, you make the space one of a kind, and you’ll enjoy it more because it reflects your preferences and style. Consider these key ways to breathe new life into any kitchen.

Switch up your cabinets

Want to give your cabinets a fresh look and add pizzazz without refacing or installing new ones? Try replacing existing hardware. Just as jewelry completes an outfit, hardware adds a finished look to cabinets. The variety of styles and materials for drawer and cabinet pulls — metals, ceramics, crystal, glass, stone — makes it easy to update your cabinets with little cost and effort. Don’t be afraid to mix and match hardware styles or experiment with shapes to add character.

Another idea is to update a few key cabinets. For instance, you can paint the cabinets above or directly beside the stove in black chalk paint, allowing you to add fun words and phrases — or even a favorite recipe — with chalk markers. You could also remove the face of several cabinets from the frame and add a clear or opaque glass insert for added visual interest and an unexpected touch of beauty.

Don’t forget about the often-over-

looked toe-kick space — the recessed area just below the cabinets — which can be enhanced with subtle styling.

Consider painting this area a statement color or adding tiles for a clever update you won’t see elsewhere.

Add vintage-style appliances

While stainless-steel appliances are popular in modern kitchens, distinctive appliances are a great way to add personality. Elmira Stove Works offers several vintage-inspired appliance lines in a variety of designs and colors. Whether you opt to update all your appliances or choose a single statement piece, your kitchen will feel inspired.

For those who lean toward a retro or midcentury modern look, the Northstar line delivers conversation-worthy style to any kitchen. Add a fun pop of color with classic hues like tropical blue, mint green and candy red, or choose from a broad selection of custom colors. Learn more at www.elmirastoveworks.com.

The Antique line features intricately detailed appliances with historic styling. These appliances are available in a range of traditional and custom colors, and can complement any vintage home design, including a rustic cabin, country cottage or lake house.

For a turn-of-the-century feel, the Fireview stove has a visible wood-burning component that can also be used to heat rooms.

personality to the kitchen. By blending practical task lighting with decorative ambient lighting, you can inject the right balance of function and fashion.

Overhead and under-cabinet lighting make it easy to chop, cut, cook and more.

Add a bit of flair with a layered approach — for example, strategically mix pendant and wall lights with recessed lighting. The globes that surround light fixtures are another great place to sprinkle in some character. From glass designs in vivid hues to textured metal looks, these surrounds come in myriad shapes and sizes.

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When you add personal touches, you’ll enjoy an updated, customized space that will have you cooking and entertaining in style. (BPT)

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S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

HOMEIMPROVEMENT

Condo damage responsibility, tips on sistering a new rafter

By Robert Lamoureux Signal Contributing Writer

Condo Responsibility Robert, I live in a multi-story condo and in the middle of the night there was a backup in my kitchen. The people upstairs were using their water and I came home to a flooded kitchen. I called my HOA and they were telling me it was my problem and not theirs. This doesn’t make any sense! If I wasn’t even home, how could the backup be something that is my responsibility? I don’t understand how this plumbing stuff works but there is one unit below me and five units above. How do they know if it was me that was the problem? I don’t want to be responsible for damage to anyone else’s unit, so I’m hoping you can shed some light on how all of this stuff works.

My kitchen and living room were both flooded and that is enough for me to deal with.

— Beth B. Beth, Without being on your property and knowing the configuration of the plumbing to your building, I can only surmise. It does sound like a blocked vertical line to me, though, not something that was created due to your unit, since you weren’t home. The vertical line runs from top to bottom in the building and each fixture at each level drains into verticals. That ultimately ends up into the horizontal lines either in a garage or below

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ground. Since you say that the floor below you was unaffected, it tells me that the vertical is likely backed up between your floor and the one below you and since water will take the path of least resistance, it came up through your kitchen sink and its into your unit. I would have strong words with my HOA explaining this as well as the fact that you weren’t even home to cause any backups. Also, once you let the upstairs neighbors know to shut down and then it stopped, is indicative that the vertical is the source of the issue. They need to get this vertical line cleared and know that if I was brought in as an expert witness on this, I would prevail by explaining the way that this all works. There’s really no doubt in my mind what the issue is here. Good luck, document all communications, and keep it to email so you have a paper trail. Keep the same email string running so that the timeline all stays clear. If you call, follow the call up with an email.

— Robert Sistering a new rafter I live in Canyon Country and unfortunately I’m in a position where I have to sell my home, and funds are

very tight. They did a home inspection and one of the boards that holds the roof up is cracked almost all the way across, like it’s going to break apart.

The handyman is telling me that this board needs to come out and be replaced completely with a new one and is saying it will cost over $2,000.

I can only sell the house when repairs are complete so this has to be done, but can you tell me if there is another way to do this that would cost less and still be the proper repair that will be accepted? I just can’t see spending that much money right now and am hoping that you have another way.

— Grace V. Grace, Yes there is another way and it will be much less expensive for you, and will pass inspection. I would not use this handyman, as he seems to not be knowledgeable enough, especially to help you in your current situation.

Hire a licensed contractor (make sure they’re insured), and let him know that what you need is to sister a new rafter to this one. He’ll know exactly what you’re saying and I believe this to be a 2-inch by 6-inch, you can let them know. They may even be able to

provide a cost ahead, with the photos that you have. I see a knot on this piece, which is probably why the load caused it to crack, but the good news is that I don’t see that it has sunk or buckled, it has just simply cracked.

The contractor will put a new rafter right next to this one and extend it on either side by at least 4 to 5 feet past the crack, and will use 16D nails to attach it approximately every 12 inches in a zig-zag pattern, not straight, all the way across. That will transfer the load from the roof to this new rafter and will solve this issue. You are looking at a cost that is much less than what your handyman is telling you, so hopefully this will be doable for you. Best of luck to you.

— 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.

Clean indoor air can help reduce asthma

D

id you know that, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 25 million Americans, including roughly seven million children, have asthma?

Asthma is more than occasional wheezing or feeling out of breath during physical activity. It is chronic and can lead to coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, fast breathing and chest tightness, states the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. People spend significant time indoors, and these environments could be asthma triggers. Improving indoor air quality can help people breathe clearly. The AAFA notes that the following agents can adversely affect indoor air quality,.

Allergens

Allergens, such as mold, dust mites, pet dander and fur and waste

from insects or rodents, thrive in many homes. Ensuring indoor air quality is good can cut back on the amount of allergens in the air. People with asthma can invest in an air purifier and vacuum regularly, being sure to use a HEPA-equipped appliance.

Routinely replacing HVAC system filters can help prevent allergens from blowing around the house.

Also, frequent maintenance of HVAC systems will ensure they are operating safely and not contributing to poor air quality.

Mold can be mitigated by reducing moisture in a home. Moist environments in the kitchen and bathroom may promote mold growth. Ventilation is key to keep mold at bay.

Tobacco smoke

A 2011 report published in Environmental Health Perspectives says thirdhand smoke is an invisible combination of gases and particles

that can cling to clothing, cushions and carpeting long after secondhand smoke has cleared. Studies have indicated that residual nicotine levels can be found in house dust where people smoke or once smoked.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are gases released from commonly used products. These can include paints and varnishes, cleaning supplies, air fresheners, new furniture and new carpet. People with asthma may find that VOCs can trigger attacks. Making cleaning products from baking soda, vinegar and liquid oil soap can keep indoor air quality high.

Homeowners who plan to renovate their homes can consider using appropriate HVAC systems to promote good indoor air, as well as address any other potential problems that may be compromising indoor air quality. (MC)

S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3 3

LOCALNEWS

Saugus student diagnosed with whooping cough

By Caleb Lunetta Signal Staff Writer

A

Saugus High School student has been diagnosed with whooping cough, according to a letter distributed by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

In a letter sent Tuesday, health officials informed parents that at least one person had pertussis, or whooping cough, and that because children were in “close contact with this person” they had to release the information.

Whooping cough, according to officials, can spread from a cough or sneeze, and can start by looking like

a cold that continually gets worse, eventually becoming coughing attacks that last several seconds.

“As the person catches his or her breath at the end of each coughing attack, they may make a ‘whoop’ sound, vomit or choke,” the news release from health officials read. “It can cause serious illness, leading to hospital stays and even death, especially in infants less than 6 months old.”

Whooping cough can be treated and prevented from spreading with antibiotics, according to officials.

If children begin exhibiting the signs of whooping cough, parents are advised to take them to their doctor immediately, and not attend school

until they see a medical professional.

Anyone looking for more information can contact Diane Hamburger, Saugus High’s assistant principal at (661) 297-3900.

Flu season

In addition to discussing whooping cough, Santa Clarita health experts are sending out information about flu season being right around the corner, according to officials.

The standard vaccine is for adults aged 18 years and over, and for children aged 9-17 years with parent/ guardian present for consent.

Free flu shots are being offered at the following locations: • Canterbury Village Senior Living,

9-11 a.m. Friday, Oct.18.

• Henry Mayo Fitness and Health (Town Center Drive), 9-11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22.

• Bella Vida senior center, , 9-11 a.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 23.

• Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church (Newhall), 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3.

• Canyon Country Community Center (Flying Tiger Drive), 7-11 a.m.

Friday, Nov. 15.

• Kaiser Permante members in the Santa Clarita Valley can receive free flu shots on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Santa Clarita Medical Offices 2 — 26877 Tourney Road, Santa Clarita.

PAWS Center visit inspiring for Wilk

By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

A

visit to Golden Valley High School’s PAWS Center on Wednesday brought state Sen. Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, memories of how a childhood trip to the state Capitol paved the way to his career, inspiring him to possibly take local students for a Sacramento tour.

“I made all-stars for baseball, and it was the same time for family vacation (in Oregon and Sacramento),” said Wilk. “I remember a tour of the Capitol, and we’re sitting in the balcony of the Senate, and I’m going, ‘That’s what I wanna do,’ at 13.”

The senator, in the past, has teamed up young girls with women in Sacramento but showed interested in doing the same with young men “to provide them exposure to the greater world” by inviting some to Sacramento, he said.

Wilk toured the various departments that make up the school’s PAWS Center, which helps campus students, parents and staff by encouraging student success, family health and wellness and parenting support resources.

The center opened about seven years ago but really kicked off, as Principal Sal Frias envisioned, three years ago. Today, school staff serves

State Sen. Scott Wilk listens during his visit to Golden Valley High School’s PAWS Center, where he met with the PAWS Center team, including resource coordinator April Rego, left, and school social worker Cindy Takamoto. PHOTO BY GILBERT BERNAL / THE SIGNAL

about 75 to 100 students daily, with more than 4,800 visits from kids and their families since its start, according to resource coordinator April Rego.

The PAWS Annex room offers students a variety of basic items they may need, ranging from school supplies to clothes and toiletries. The center also offers workshops for students and families in substance abuse, healthy relationships and improving one’s health.

“You can’t come to school and learn unless you’re in a good place,” said

Frias. “This place is about offering that and building good community members, growing good human beings.”

Frias shared with Wilk that the PAWS Center might relocate to a larger building as the visits from students in need of services offered is increasing.

“I think there’s a big misconception about Santa Clarita, even among people in Santa Clarita, that we’re a middle-class, upper-middle-class community, and the fact of the matter

is, that’s not true,” Wilk said. “We have the same challenges the rest of society does. If we don’t work together, we’re going to leave a generation behind because they don’t have the proper mentoring. This (PAWS Center) is really encouraging that this is happening, and I hope that it does spread districtwide.”

Other Santa Clarita Valley high schools have opened similar centers or are considering opening their own versions, according to staff member Cindy Takamoto.

34 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

TIMERANGER

Happy Birthday, Sulphur Springs School!

Offering a beautiful post-full moon howdy to you, saddlepals. And happy autumn while we’re at it. Took its darn time getting here. Before you know it, it’ll be sweater weather, although, come to think of it, I’ve never seen anyone in the saddle on a trail ride wearing a sweater. Hope I don’t, either.

That Personal Life Viewpoint aside, we’ve some interesting vistas to peruse. There’s the beer-swilling board director and his mental hospital pal up to some fine government shenanigans. I even have an SCV trivia question for you: “What was the very first movie shown on local cable?”

And no. It wasn’t Tom Frew in “The Great Train Robbery.”

Saddle up. We’ll put down a few miles and get some hot coffee on the other side of the time continuum …

WAY BACK WHEN & THEN SOME

• For whom the road tolls Back on Sept. 19, 1863, Gen. Edward Fitzgerald Beale made a $2,000 loan to A.A. Hudson and Oliver Robbins to erect a toll house and gate in the Newhall Pass. That’d be real close to Sierra Highway, on the San Fernando Valley side. For years, nearly every living thing from humans to sheep had to pay a toll to pass and Beale collected a percentage.

SEPT. 22, 1919

• Gladys Laney told me this one, way back when Charles Conrad’s dance hall burned to the ground on this date. The fire started about 3 in the morning and there are those old-timers around town today who blame a certain despondent non-dancing boyfriend who had a girlfriend who loved to dance. Tale is, the beau may have been responsible for as many as five pool and dance hall arsons in the late teens and 1920s.

Don’t pass this on to anyone because it’s just a century-year-old rumor from my pal and fellow Time Ranger posse member in memoriam, Gladys …

• One Valley. One phone. We were such a small town back in 1919, the phone company was located in the tailor’s office of Mr. R. Henry.

SEPT. 22, 1929

• The way it should be all summer It was foggy and cold on this date, with a third-of-an-inch of rain.

ton, famed youth film star, celebrated his 14th birthday. Buzz was known around town as Bill Lamoreaux.

Besides just graduating from the 8th grade at Newhall Elementary, Buzz/ Bill also finished his 13th film. The teen was the most famous child movie star on the planet and he lived here in the SCV. SEPT. 22, 1949

• Whoops. There goes the engine.

A Continental Air Express plane crash-landed at the Newhall Emergency Airport as it was called in 1929.

Eight people were seriously injured.

Imagine the terror. As they were flying over the local mountains, the middle engine gave out, followed shortly thereafter by the right wing engine.

• One Sunday Signal. Two deer stories. Our first tale involves a hunter wounding a deer up in Castaic.

When he ran up to the fallen creature, according to the hunter, the deer “ ... rolled up its large brown eyes pitifully, as if asking for mercy.” The hunter put the deer out of its misery, then vowed never to hunt again. In the other anecdote, a Los Angeles policeman came up to Saugus and illegally shot a spike buck. He paid a $500 fine. To put that into perspective, $500 would buy you a brand-new house in Saugus in 1929.

SEPT. 22, 1939

• Blame the weather We had nearly 4 inches of rain in two days — a very wet September weekend indeed.

Adding insult to the ag crop, the mercury soared over the 100 mark, both burning and drowning many onions and tomatoes.

• Almost a talkie Silent screen superstar Wm. S. Hart motored into Hollywood on this date, to a special showing of his “Tumbleweeds” epic Western, set to sound at the Marcal Theater.

• Bad accident weekend Just in numbers, it was a pretty rough weekend for people in cars. In nine separate SCV accidents from Friday midnight to Sunday midnight, 24 people were injured and one killed.

• Happy Birthday, Buzz Buzz Bar-

• Happy Birthday, You Sulphur-Agettes This week marks the 147th anniversary of Sulphur Springs School. Of course, it was the 77th anniversary in 1949 and to celebrate, Col. Frank Mitchell, son of the famed pioneer Tom Mitchell who founded the second oldest school district in Los Angeles County, rang the original school bell. It still worked, too.

Frank was in his 80s in 1949 and was one of the school’s original students.

While he was in that first-ever class, some family members were relative newcomers to the school. Jimmy and John Mitchell were 9 and 11, respectively, and the 5th generation of Mitchells to attend the campus.

SEPT. 22, 1959

• Dealer in death dies Ed Hilburn died on this date of a heart attack and death was his business. Ed built the big red brick Newhall Mortuary on 8th Street at Walnut and, for years, he was given the unasked-for nickname of “Digger.” Short, of course, for grave digger.

• Crowded campus Hart High had its first week of school for the 1959 year. Total enrollment was 1,146 and boys outnumbered girls 634 to 512.

That was when Hart was not only the valley’s only high school, but junior high as well. We number the kids in the tens of thousands now.

SEPT. 22, 1969

• Used to be Randall Ranch on Pine Street isn’t the world’s largest supplier of livestock to the movie business, but it sure was in 1959. Corky’s 50-acre place had 350 horses, six longhorn cattle, bison, dogs, 400 saddles, wagons and two camels that were featured in the film, “The Greatest Story Ever Told.” The Randalls’ livestock have appeared in thousands of flicks, TV shows and commercials, from “Ben Hur” to “Herb Albert.”

• Dumbing down of SClarita The

written word wasn’t very important to the citizens of Santa Clarita. It wasn’t like everyone was signing their name with an “X.” But on the other hand, no one was buying books. With the overall valley population at around 60,000, there wasn’t a single bookstore in the SCV. The largest suppliers of books were the grocery stores and the few big outlets only had two racks each for paperbacks. Always leading the community, The Mighty Signal followed up with an editorial urging someone build a bookstore in town.

• Back in the good old days when you could get shot for smoking weed Undercover narcotics officers reported that the local drought in marijuana was over. A new supply came in, dropping prices from $17 an ounce to $10.

SEPT. 22, 1979

• What a concept. Electing crazy people to public office. The little agency with the big name was at it again. The directors of the West Los Angeles County Resource Conversation District got into a heated fight at a meeting. Director Jack Hutchinson showed up at the meeting with an open can of Colt .45 malt liquor sticking out of his back pocket. His first act was to move that district President Glenn Bailey be removed. Bailey, 24, objected, stating: “I don’t like being tried, convicted and hanged by a kangaroo court by one director under the influence of alcohol and another on leave from a mental institution.” Director Marcus Frishman was currently self-committed to the acute psychiatric wing of the Woodview-Calabasas Hospital. Not sure things change much …

Well. Thanks for the company.

As you can see by yonder spinning vortex, we’re back in the good ol’ SCV. See you in seven with another exciting Time Ranger adventure.

Until then — Vayan con Dios, amigos de la silla de montar! (Ride with God, saddlepals …)

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 22, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3 5

SENIORLIVING A SECOND WIND

Metaphorically speaking about cancer

By Mary Petersen Signal Staff Writer

O

ur dear family friend was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer in November. She completed her surgery and rounds of chemo, and for a few months all was well. But recent blood work revealed that the cancer was not in remission, and now she needs to make decisions about her next course of treatment. This includes considering various clinical trials.

As we age, it is more likely that we will have friends or family members who are experiencing life-threatening disease. If we become caretakers, we feel even more urgency to provide our loved ones with the emotional support that meets their needs.

Oftentimes people use combat metaphors to motivate loved ones to persevere. We want them to be warriors with a fighting spirit, doing battle with cancer. We encourage them to beat this thing, as they say. For some patients, the fighting metaphor is encouraging. The call to “win the battle” inspires them to deal with cancer and propels them forward.

For others, it may not resonate.

Instead of helping them to feel resilience and determination, the idea of fighting an overpowering “enemy” leads to anxiety. Some patients may feel that they must fight or they will let their family down. “Fighting” could actually cause distress if they feel they are responsible to work hard to beat their cancer.

For those whose cancer is not effectively treatable, “fighting” and “winning” may be inappropriate metaphors. Sunita Pur, a palliative-care physician, says, “I know some patients find it empowering

to describe their approach to illness as a battle.” But if patients choose not to fight, they may be viewed as giving up.

“The language of either ‘fighting’ a disease or ‘giving up’ is a toxic binary. If getting better is winning, then not winning the battle feels like a failure. It divides the sick into winners and losers — those who beat cancer and those whom cancer beats.” Rejecting this binary acknowledges that there are as many responses to cancer as there are patients.

Although we want our loved ones to have the strength of spirit to meet the challenges of disease, we also want to free them from the pressure of arming themselves with fighting rhetoric. Their perspective on disease and the metaphor they use to describe it shapes their experience.

Validating this perspective respects their autonomy as they make life decisions. Determining a stance toward the journey through cancer may help to provide ease and peace of mind.

Mindfully living life with its unpredictable joys and heartaches is a courageous act. Accompanying loved ones facing illness is a journey through uncharted territory.

It’s possible that recognizing our vulnerability and acknowledging our bodies’ limitations liberates us from trying to fight circumstances beyond our control. Embracing the metaphor of letting go can increase our capacity to live fully in the moment.

Sunita Pur suggests that “Maybe a patient living with cancer isn’t a warrior, but simply a human being struggling to live well and survive while contending with her mortality. Our bodies and lives are infinitely more than battlegrounds.”

Mary Petersen is a retired COC English instructor, 30-year SCV resident and two-time breast cancer survivor.

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S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

How to help flowers withstand heat waves

H

eat waves are an inevitable part of summer in many places across the globe. While humans can escape indoors to air conditioned rooms when heat waves hit full swing, flowers planted around a property have no such luxury, putting their survival in jeopardy whenever the mercury rises to especially steamy heights.

Wilted flowers that have succumbed to the summer sun are a sight many gardening enthusiasts can recognize. But there are ways to keep flowers safe and vibrant during periods of extreme heat.

Water at the appropriate times of day. The National Gardening Association notes that it’s best to water in the early morning and evening because less water will be lost to evaporation during these times of day than during the afternoon, when temperatures tend to be at their hottest.

Choose the right watering method.

It’s not just when but also how you

While humans can escape indoors to air conditioned rooms when heat waves hit full swing, flowers planted around a property have no such luxury, putting their survival in jeopardy whenever the mercury rises to especially steamy heights.

water that can affect flowers during summer heat waves. Above-ground sprinklers might be great for lawns, but the NGA notes that such sprinklers can encourage the spread of disease on certain plants, including roses. Many gardening professionals recommend soaker hoses when watering flowers because they promote deep watering that can help the plants withstand the summer heat. If you must use an overheard watering

system, set the timer so plants are watered in early in the morning or evening.

Routinely check the soil moisture.

Soil moisture can help gardeners determine if their flowers have enough water to withstand the heat.

The NGA advises gardeners to dig a 12-inch deep wedge of soil from their gardens to determine its moisture levels. If the top 6 inches of the soil is dry, then water. If that area is still

GARDENING

wet or moist, the plants have enough moisture to withstand the heat.

Check these moisture levels more frequently during heat waves than other times of year.

Avoid overwatering. Novice gardeners may be tempted to water more frequently when they see wilted leaves on their flowers. But wilted leaves are not necessarily indicative of suffering plants. Plants release moisture to protect themselves from excessive heat, and that release of moisture can cause leaves to wilt as the plants try to protect themselves by providing less surface area that can be exposed to the sun. So long as soil moisture levels are healthy, the flowers should be fine, even if their leaves have wilted.

No gardener wants to see their flowers succumb to the summer heat.

Fortunately, there are many ways to help flowers survive heat waves.

(MC)

S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3 7

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38 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

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S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

Opinion

S U N D AY S I G N A L · 3 9

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

OURVIEWS

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

Ruling Would Leave Cities The Important Priority of Hamstrung on Homeless an Informed Conscience

By David Hegg

By The Signal Editorial Board

H

omelessness is an increasing problem in Southern California, and the Santa Clarita Valley is no exception. It seems like everyone who enters the conversation agrees on those basic facts.

But when the conversation turns to causes and solutions, all hell breaks loose.

Case in point: the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors’ discussion Tuesday as the supervisors contemplated whether to join in the appeal of Martin vs. City of Boise.

The recent court decision, if it stands, would forbid municipalities from enforcing ordinances that prohibit camping out in public places — unless the municipality in question can provide housing for each homeless person who is asked not to camp on a sidewalk, in a park, on the front porch of the local library, or any other public space.

It would render Santa Clarita’s own ordinance null, unless the city could provide housing for the homeless who camp on sidewalks, under bridges, on bike paths or even in the bed of the Santa Clara River, which is home to several endangered

species and is the last unchannelized river in Los Angeles County.

When the hearing began Tuesday, two of the five county supervisors favored joining the appeal in the Martin case: 4th District Supervisor Janice Hahn and 5th District Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents the Santa Clarita Valley.

Two others — Hilda Solis and Sheila Kuehl — opposed it.

Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas was the swing vote, and ultimately he sided with Barger and Hahn, meaning the county will seek to overturn the Martin ruling.

It was the right decision — and contrary to opponents’ objections, it does not reflect a disregard for the plight of the homeless, and it does not “criminalize” homelessness.

The supervisors’ decision was preceded by predictable and at times distasteful rancor, in which public speakers who seek to preserve the Martin ruling characterized Barger See OUR VIEW, page 41

W

hen we ask the question of what distinguishes mankind from the rest of creation, the possible answers usually include the presence and activity of the conscience. This “inner referee,” as it has been called, acts to pull us toward the good and away from the bad.

The conscience acts as our internal alarm clock. It goes off to alert us that it is time to change direction, to wake up. And just like an alarm clock, sometimes it goes off when we’d rather it didn’t. On these occasions we often engage in a struggle with the conscience, using rationalization or other means to hit the equivalent of the ethical “snooze button.” We silence our conscience in order to pursue our own desires. Done over time, the conscience becomes re-programmed to follow our desires rather than our previous convictions.

And therein lies the weakness of the apparatus we know as the conscience.

It can’t fight back largely because it is not an independent entity. Like the

alarm clock, it only acts as it has been programmed to act.

In reality, we “set” our conscience to go off at particular times to warn us of certain missteps, and we do this setting through our personal sense of ethics. The worldview we adopt informs our conscience, and to the extent that our worldview is cohesive and consistent, the conscience is enabled to render a powerful and beneficial service. It helps us remain true to what we have determined to be right and best.

But the conscience is only as strong as the convictions that inform it. This is where the question of a “cultural conscience” comes into play. It would be wonderful if we all shared a common view of what was essentially right and wrong. But whose worldview gets to form the basis of a mutually agreed-upon definition of how the conscience should act?

Many have informed their conscience that the best course of action is whatever brings about the greatSee HEGG, page 40

READERLETTERS

When Will We Learn?

The heart-wrenching “Evening of Remembrance” event at the Youth Grove in Central Park (Sept. 17) closed with a plea to all of the Santa Clarita Valley to “slow down.”

My friend and I were returning to our parked car and needed to cross the very long and slow-moving lane of exiting vehicles, which kindly stopped briefly for us to cross.

But we hesitated to first check the incoming lane and, wouldn't you know it, there came

a hell-bent car whose driver must have had something Really Important to get to.

He sped by us and I yelled, “Slow down,” but I doubt that he even heard me or saw us.

Oh, SCV, when will we ever learn?

Glenda Johnson, Santa Clarita

Sand Canyon’s American Dream Re: “American Dream,” Sand Canyon Country Club.

The CEO of Sand Canyon Country Club has

authored a book entitled “American Dream.” A copy of this book was deposited into my mailbox last week. It is a fabulous read.

This same person has a vision for a resort and spa development at the Sand Canyon Country Club. I personally applaud his perseverance of attempting to make this a reality for this end of Santa Clarita.

On Sept. 12, the CEO, Mr. Steve Kim, hosted a meeting at the country club, graciously inviting the general public to attend and to view See LETTERS, page 41

4 0 · S U N D AY S I G N A L

S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

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

Opinion

BLACK&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

‘Progress’ and What it Means to Different People from that dark, secret, unrepresented place that should be called “the ometimes, the left is middle.” a lot smarter than the For example, I do right. Take, for exambelieve in some kind ple, the current broadly of social safety net — accepted meaning of the within reason. I believe word, “Progressive.” we should strive to help It’s a powerful word and the homeless and those it’s been applied ingeless fortunate, not with niously. endless handouts but with a helping My hat’s off to the left. They’ve man- hand so they can pull themselves up. I aged to stake out territory that equates oppose racism and bigotry of all forms. all of their positions with “progress,” I believe we should take a balanced and anything else, by obvious inferapproach to caring for our environence, is “not progress.” It’s a brilliant ment (the Green New Deal ain’t it) and piece of ideological marketing.

I believe in equal rights for LGBTQ Those on the right people, including have no equivalent. marriage.

“Conservative,” And, like Kevin My hat’s off to the even if you are one, Costner’s character doesn’t stoke the same left. They’ve managed in “Bull Durham,” I kind of passion that also believe in things to stake out territory like good scotch, “progressive” does.

Yikes. “Conserva“a Constitutional that equates all of tive” just sounds... amendment outlawold. Lackluster. ing Astroturf and the their positions with Unwilling to bring designated hitter,” about change — even “progress,” and and “long, slow, if that’s not how you deep, soft, wet kisses really are. anything else, by that last three days.”

So, for example, if I digress. obvious inference, is you think “progress” I also vehemently would mean lower disagree with much “not progress.” taxes, an increased of what the modemphasis on perern left stands for, sonal responsibility, including things like protecting the nation’s borders and providing free health care at taxpayer preventing people from coming here expense to those who immigrated illegally, putting citizens’ rights and illegally, providing college financial needs first, and laws that protect the aid to those same immigrants when so unborn, you are not in favor of “progmany citizens can’t afford higher edress” — at least, not by the current, ucation, free housing for anyone who now broadly accepted definition of just doesn’t want to work, excessive “progressive.” environmental regulations that don’t Mind you, I’m not condemning measurably help the environment, and all “progressive” thought. I actualtaxing us to death to pay for an endless ly consider myself something of an wish list of things that are designed ideological grazer. I take some from

By Tim Whyte Signal Editor

S

the left, some from the right and some

See WHYTE, page 41

HEGG

Continued from page 39

est personal happiness. We see this everywhere gaining the majority. The highly individualized society in which we live has become intoxicated with personal well-being, ostensibly as the offshoot of our national conviction on personal liberty. Increasingly, personal liberty is redefined as personal license, and freedom from all restraint. “If it feels good, do it” is the simple, yet dangerous banner for this understanding of how the conscience should operate.

Others would suggest that the best course of action is that which brings about the best results for the society at large. And certainly this is a step in the right direction. But right away we can see a problem. Who gets to decide what is “best” for society? It is apparent from even a casual examination of our political parties that wherever two politicians are together we can find at least three different views on what is “best.”

Perhaps the answer lies down the path of a redefining of the role of the conscience in the first place. Instead of training the conscience to allow us to do what we think is best, we ought

to heed the advice of the brilliant 19th-century English intellectual John Henry Newman, who said “conscience is a stern monitor.”

By this Newman meant that the conscience should not be our slave but our master.

As Robert P George has written, “It is one’s last best judgment – an unsentimentally self-critical judgment – informed by critical reason and reflective faith of one’s strict duties, one's feelings or desires to the contrary notwithstanding. Authentic conscience governs – passes judgment on – feelings and desires; it is not reducible to them and it is not in the business of licensing us to act on them.”

Our consciences must be informed and strengthened, not by our desires, but by the laws of God, the great Law Giver. Only an ethical system that comes from outside of our own souls, grounded in the word of our Creator, can allow for a collective conscience that promotes the good, binds the bad, and enlarges the heart to both compassion and courage.

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 22, 2019

S U N D AY S I G N A L · 4 1

Opinion

OUR VIEW

Continued from page 39

and Hahn as racists and fascists.

That’s how low public discourse has sunk. There are too many of those who characterize anyone who honestly disagrees with them on an issue as a racist or fascist. But we digress.

Here’s why Barger, Hahn and Ridley-Thomas — even if the latter was reluctant — made the right call: It’s clear that the county and many of its municipalities, including Santa Clarita, are working diligently to address the homelessness issue. Significant progress is being made right here in Santa Clarita to convert the seasonal homeless shelter to a yearround operation, and that’s a cooperative effort of the city, the county and the nonprofit that operates the shelter and its related services that are designed to help people lift themselves up out of homelessness.

Real progress is being made, by people in the community and in local government who really care.

However, the Martin ruling would tie cities’ hands to balance the needs and rights of the homeless versus the needs and rights of ... pretty much

As Barger correctly pointed out during the supervisors’ discussion, government enforcement of commonsense camping ordinances also serves as a tool to deliver help to the homeless who really need it. Leaving them to languish on the streets, or in the riverbed, is not the answer. everyone else.

Own a small business? Public sidewalk in front of it? Would a homeless encampment destroy your foot traffic? Under the Martin ruling, you’d be out of luck, unless housing could be provided in lieu of the campsite outside your front door.

And then there are the many causes of homelessness. Many homeless people are truly down on their luck, with no place to go. They need help finding jobs and getting back on their feet. Many suffer from mental health or substance abuse issues. They need help addressing those issues, or they need long-term treatment.

And, some percentage would just prefer to live free of the hassles of a job and paying rent. The great outdoors calls.

LETTERS

Continued from page 39

his proposed plans for the development. He also hosted a one-hour “open bar” as well as providing a gourmet spread of luscious food prepared by the staff of professional chefs.

The “open bar” was closed down around 7 p.m. as the meeting was to begin. I arrived just in time for the question-and-answer period. I was appalled by the outrageous rude behavior of a room full of older adults who apparently

WHYTE

Continued from page 40

more to bloat bureaucracies and get votes for the next election, rather than their stated purpose of providing not just equal opportunity, but actual equality — without accountability or responsibility.

There’s a difference, you know.

But back to the ideological marketing. That “progressive” piece — just one word, really — has been a

Further, as Barger correctly pointed out during the supervisors’ discussion, government enforcement of common-sense camping ordinances also serves as a tool to deliver help to the homeless who really need it.

Leaving them to languish on the streets, or in the riverbed, is not the answer.

“This is about our ability to help people,” Barger told the board, drawing jeers and outbursts from the unruly crowd opposing the motion.

The supervisor told a personal story to reinforce the point: “I spoke recently with a dear friend whose brother suffers from a serious mental illness and cycles in and out of homelessness,” Barger said. “She explained to me that the local municipalities whose hands are tied by Mar-

left all their manners at home. I witnessed an oral/verbal attack on a most gracious host and a very generous philanthropist for Santa Clarita organizations such as Bridge to Home, The Salvation Army and the new Bella Vida senior center.

It was apparent that most of the folks in attendance were opposed to the proposed project. There were a few of us who support the plan. When asked who was in favor of the project, several of us did raise our hands. I opted to stand up. I failed to voice my support as I was concerned about my safety. I have never boon for the left, and it’s a genius piece of sloganeering. Somewhere, someone first thought of applying it to modern politics, and it’s brilliant.

The Republicans have been asleep at the switch, really. President Trump’s “MAGA” has backfired to the point where the left now considers it a slur, and largely has been able to make that characterization stick, at least in the big cities on the coasts.

Is there no one in the GOP marketing department?

Can’t they do a better job of telling their story? To quote an old Eddie Murphy comedy routine, “We

tin (court ruling) are often unable to help her brother. He cannot be moved to a safer location and, as a result, he never stabilizes.”

Local governments need to be able to protect all of their constituents.

That includes the homeless who really need — and are wiling to accept — help to get back on their feet, find jobs and restore their productivity and self-esteem.

And it also includes the business owner whose livelihood could be in real jeopardy, the employees and customers of that business, the family who wants to feel safe taking their kids to a public park without worrying about public defecation and drug needles, and the student who wants to feel comfortable walking into a public library.

The Martin ruling not only fails to protect the current homeless and the public at large, but it also amounts to an open invitation. Set up camp where you want, and if we make you move, you’ll get rent-free housing courtesy of your local taxpayers, no strings attached.

Does anyone really think we will have fewer homeless people then?

been in a room with so many angry, disgruntled, unhappy folks who opted to attack an innocent individual.

A little bit of kindness goes a long way. Mr. Kim is an example of this kindness and generosity. I applaud his efforts. And so it is.

Mary R. Martin, Canyon Country 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.

need a hook for this.”

The conservatives need an “eye-catcher” as a new descriptor to replace the C-word (uh, conservative.)

And they can’t stake out “progressive” because the left has beaten them to it — even though the right could correctly define some of their goals as “progress.”

Because, of course, progress really is in the eye of the beholder.

Tim Whyte is editor of The Signal. His column appears Sundays. On Twitter: @TimWhyte.

42 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

CROSSWORD TIME

S E P T E M B E R 22, 2019

THE VILLAGE IDIOT

The Influencers

By Jim Mullen Signal Contributing Writer

S

he’s 18 and has half a zillion followers on Instagram. Her posts are full of great pearls of wisdom like, “Somedays I feel pretty and somedays I don’t.” That bit of knowledge should be good for a few million likes and a couple of thousand comments. No wonder advertisers pay her to mention them in her posts.

In her pictures, she looks like a model; in real life, she looks like a pretty teenager. If only you could walk around the mall with backlighting and a fan blowing your hair just so, the way you can in your bedroom. To be Instafamous means you can walk down the street unnoticed, but online, you’re a superstar.

As if anyone walks down the street anymore. Why are we wasting all that money on sidewalks?

Wait! I could have just posted that sentence on Instagram with a doctored picture of myself looking like a cross between Ryan Gosling and Chris Hemsworth, instead of what I really look like — the long-lost love child of Lotte Lenya and Ed Sullivan. But even if I did that, I have no Instagram followers to see it. I could invite both of my friends to follow me on Instagram, but I have a strong feeling that if I did that, they would no longer be my friends.

Why is it that 18-year-olds don’t think that asking people to follow them is creepy, but people my age do? My friends would think, “Now what’s he trying to sell me?” Teenagers think, “Oh, wow, someone wants to be my friend! Finally!”

Is “influencers” the right word for people who are trying to sell you things, but pretend they are doing you a favor? The correct word for that is not “influencer” but “shill.” I get about six snail-mail letters a day that say things like “Very Important Message!” or “Time-sensitive!” on the envelope. They go right into the shredder, unopened and unread.

If a letter says it’s very important, you know it isn’t important at all.

It’s just some insurance company pretending they have lower rates, or someone telling you they can lower your electric bill, or some credit card telling you that it will save you more money than the 10 credit cards you already have. Something tells me they are the ones who will benefit if you respond to that piece of Time-sensitive Material, not you.

Silly as it sounds, you really do want to become an Instagram or YouTube star. Influencers with 50,000 followers can make several thousand dollars on ONE post that pitches a product that they have a deal with. If you have 1 million followers, you can make that $10,000 a post. Over a million followers, it could mean hundreds of thousands of dollars for a single testimonial blurb about the right product. And you get to work at home in your spare time.

So why am I wasting my time writing this, when I should be out on the street, begging people to follow me on Instagram? I could be influencing people my age on which brand of adult diapers to buy, what kind of fiber they should take every day (Metamucil Sugar-Free — kaching!), who has the best senior discounts in town — did I say town? I mean the entire world.

Why should I let 18-year-olds who still have plenty of hair make all the money? By the way, the hair product I use is Just For Men. Trust me, no one will notice that one day you had salt-and-saltier hair, and now it’s luxuriant shoe-polish black.

I hear it’s the same stuff Clark Kent uses, and look what it’s done for him. Not only will you look younger, you’ll feel younger, too.

I’m definitely seeing a promotion in your future.

Did I say promotion? That probably means a trip to Men’s Wearhouse for a few new suits. As my tens of followers tell me, that’s the place to go for price and fit. Tell ‘em I sent you.

Contact Jim Mullen at mullen.jim@ gmail.com.

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TUESDAY,

FOURTH S PARADE OF JULY ROUTE

JULY 3, 201

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A tale of

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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.

84°/59°

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

al Park

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

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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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Austin Dave/The Signal (See additional photos at signalscv.com)

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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