Sunday Signal Magazine Oct. 7, 2018 by Signal

OCTOBER 7, 2018

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Are you ready for Halloween? Where to go for frights and fun Page 6

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ROUTE 91: A SURVIVOR’S STORY

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TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS FEATURES

NEWS OF THE WEEK

Route 91 survivor finishes set • What’s trending for Halloween costumes • Keep your home safe while you’re out • Oktoberfest is upon us • Kid Expo: Find out what’s new for SCV families A birthday and boos • Cabinet member ushers in I-5 grant • Ground set to be broken for theater • Scammers fail to defraud food pantry • Council hopefuls discuss housing

CITY MANAGER

River Rally showed what makes Santa Clarita great

SPORTS 15 A look at SCV alum in college

REAL ESTATE

The problem with online appraisals

OPINION

Our View, David Hegg, Tim Whyte

SCV CALENDAR TIME RANGER KIDS & FAMILY

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23 24 25

Keeping the calm when family comes over • How’d you like them apples?

ENTERTAINMENT 27 Take the Halloween theme park tour • Leaving the SCV for Halloween • Founding Beach Boy coming to the SCV

TRAVEL 29 Kanab • Downtown L.A. trip

SCHOOLS

School menu • Save those snacks

FOOD

A bobalicious view of SCV • A favorite recipe • Bricks

PETS 37 Watching over

GARDENING

Fall lawn care tips for leaves

SENIORS

Everyday ways you can help • Estate planning

PEOPLE

Paul Marks, an award-winning author in Acton

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661-259-1234 On the cover: PHOTO BY CORY RUBIN

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S C V F E AT U R E

I’M GONNA

LIVE

Lauren Dyer recounts how she survived the Route 91 shooting in Las Vegas

Lauren Dyer holds one of the boots she was wearing during the fateful Jason Aldean concert last October. After the shooting began, she ran for what felt like miles to safety. PHOTO BY CORY RUBIN / THE SIGNAL By Jennifer O’Shea Signal Staff Writer

“H

e was right.” That was her first thought when she hit the dirt. As she ran through crowds of screaming people, she knew he was right. Not knowing if she was running away from or toward the bullets, she thought, “My dad was right.” Lauren Dyer’s dad has always been protective of his only child, his only daughter. Even though he raised her dirt-biking in the dunes, her dad has never really approved of her going on any other types of adventures alone. When she was in high school, he reluctantly let her go snowboarding with her friends. It was not easy for him to let her go off to Arizona for college. A couple of years later, when she wanted to go to Las Vegas for the Route 91 Harvest music festival, he

told her it was a bad idea. And this time, he was right. On Oct. 1, 2017, gunfire poured out of a window of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino while country star Jason Aldean was performing at the music festival. “Out of all my friends, I got down first. And my friends were just thinking I was crazy,” Lauren said. “But it’s because my dad has always thought that way.” Don’t go there at night. Watch out for this type of guy. Don’t go there alone. Hold your keys in your hand when you walk to your car. Remember the sound of a gunshot. “Run!” All seven of her friends grabbed hands and tried to run. But it’s difficult to move through thousands of frantic people linked together. So Lauren ended up running with one friend. They ran, for what felt like miles, not knowing where the shots were

coming from. Once they made it to a tall brick wall, Lauren and her friend hurdled the wall and stopped. She needed to call her dad. “We’re in a mass shooting, a terrorist attack probably; we’re in a mass shooting.” “What? I can’t hear you, slow down.” “I’m running for my life.” “Who are you with? Where are you running? Why are you running?” Nothing made sense, but her father knew he had been right. Lauren turned on her Find My Friends app and her dad was able to see where she was in real time. He watched her run: through hotels, across streets and in and out of restaurants. She finally made it to her hotel. He was finally able to turn on the news and his worst fears were confirmed. His daughter was in the middle of what ended up being the deadliest mass shooting in the United

States to date. He shared the details with Lauren: Mandalay Bay; only one shooter was identified. “Once I heard that,” she said, “I felt better.” She reached out to all the people she had just been dancing and singing with only a few hours before. A group was stuck waiting in a bathroom. Some were in another hotel. One friend is an EMT. He stayed to put bodies in trucks headed to the hospital. Fifty-eight lives were taken that night. The drive back home to her dad felt like the longest in her life. His hugs revealed he felt the same way. “He doesn’t hug people,” Lauren said. “He hugged us — me and Jaeger — and her parents. He was angry, but he said, ‘I love you.’” One year later, Lauren’s day-to-day life hasn’t changed since the shooting, but her heart has been affected. She See SHOOTING, page 8

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S C V F E AT U R E

Super heroes remain a popular pick for Halloween costumes. COURTESY PHOTOS

T R A P E H T R O F D E S S E DR

stores find new From ‘Fortnite’ to flappers, costume llowe en trends and perennial favorites for Ha By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

Americans spend an estimated $10 billion annually on Halloween, making it the country’s second largest commercial holiday. The Halloween tradition can be traced back 2,000 years to the Celts and the area that is now Ireland, Scotland, Wales and northern France. The Celts celebrated their new year on Nov. 1 and they believed on the night before the new year, Oct. 31, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became merged and the ghosts of the dead re-

turned to earth. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes of animal heads and skins and attempted to tell each other’s fortunes. In the 7th century, Pope Boniface IV designated Nov. 1 as All Saints Day to honor the saints and martyrs, in an attempt to replace the pagan Celtic festival of the dead. The celebration was called All-Hallows mass, and the night before it began to be called All-Hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. By the 1920s and 30s, Halloween became a community-centered holiday with parties, focused on

games, food and festive costumes. Halloween is a great holiday for the entire family to find an “alter-ego” and play dress up. Last year, it was all about the girls. Wonder Woman was the costume of choice across the board for girls and women, from tots to teens and beyond. This year, the boys are storming the Halloween costume stores in search of “Fortnite” costumes. If you’re unfamiliar with “Fortnite,” you probably don’t know a preteen or teenage boy. In less than a year, the “Fortnite” video game has attracted more than 125 million players. Girls

Girl costumes don’t have to be cute. Many prefer scary ones, store owners say.

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S C V F E AT U R E play “Fortnite,” too, but with so many costumes choices for girls and women, the “Fortnite” factor is less noticeable. “There are hundreds of ‘Fortnite’ characters and lots of options for costumes you can create yourself,” said Jana Einaudi, manager of A Chorus Line in Valencia. Despite the “Fortnite” craze Einaudi said the most popular costume requests for boys and girls continue to be super heroes. “Superheroes have been popular for several years and they are still popular,” she said. “Wonder Woman was huge last year, but this year, there is no real standout character.” Scary costumes are also making a comeback for both boys and girls, said Einaudi. Killer clowns, zombies and other denizens of the macabre are leading the army of frightful Halloween ghouls. “Little girls want to be scary,” Einaudi said. “They aren’t looking to be cutesy or princesses.” Animal and character “onesie”

costumes are also big this year, said Einaudi. “Unicorns and other mythical creatures are very popular this year,” she said. Adults are currently seeking Oktoberfest costumes, said Einaudi. “It’s that time of year for lederhosen, knee high socks and dirndl skirts. Many people then use the Oktoberfest costumes for Halloween, too.” Einaudi said do-it-yourself costume creations are on the rise and the store now carries a lot of individual costume items that people can combine for a unique, one-of-akind look. “We have tons of accessories so people can create their own look and that’s been very popular,” she said. According to the National Costumers Association, the following are on the top of the 2018 Halloween costume trends: “The Incredibles,” “Black Panther,” scary clowns, Harry Potter,” “The Greatest Showman,” “Captain America,” “Fortnite,” Michael Myers, “Game of Thrones,” “The Avengers,” Day of the Dead, “Westworld,” “Minecraft,” “Deadpool,” “Jurassic World,”

plus assorted superheroes and super villains. Always “in” year after year are Disco ’70s, the Fabulous ’50s, Wizard of Oz, Elvis, rock stars, Roaring ’20s, “Great Gatsby,” Disney princesses, pirates and wenches, Oktoberfest, SWAT, grim reapers, ghouls and goblins. Many costumes can be given your own unique spin with a little creativity and glue and glitter. Want a unicorn costume without spending a fortune? Buy a white dress, make your own horn from foam or other materials and cover it with fabric and buy a multi-colored wig. Many of the “Fortnite” costumes can also be assembled from odds and ends found at costume, craft and fabric stores around the Santa Clarita Valley. Finding the perfect Halloween costume is one of the great joys of childhood (and for some adults, too). The best advice is to get to the costume store early, before all the best costumes are gone. 

Roaring ’20s costumes remain a perenial favorite for Halloween. COURTESY PHOTO

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S C V F E AT U R E

SHOOTING

Continued from page 5

has been learning to talk through her experience, and turn the pain into strength. “Now my friends and I are working through anxiety. My mind is fine, but I feel this anxiety,” Lauren said. “On the (Facebook) survivor pages, I see that a lot of people are so angry. And it’s hard to read the comments because I’m not.” Santa Clarita Valley friends and neighbors immediately stepped up to help Route 91 survivors. Local psychotherapist Shauna Hoffman organized a support group, and so many people responded, they needed to add more meetings and move it to the Valencia Hyatt’s Grand Ballroom. Lauren’s small-group counselor asked them each to share their version of what happened at the festival. The first person to share had been shot in the head. Lauren said the bullet is still in his head.

Lauren Dyer, second from right, attended the Route 91 Harvest music festival in 2017 in Las Vegas with her friends. COURTESY PHOTO

“He told us we can’t let that guy (the shooter) ruin our life,” Lauren said. “So right away, I was like, ‘Yup, OK I’m not going to let this ruin my life.’” During the last year of her counseling sessions through the Spiritual Care program at Grace Baptist, Lauren says she has been encouraged to

live for the people who lost their lives in the shooting. “I’ve been following (Aldean) and his life,” Lauren said. “I see that they’re still doing their life: still going on tour, having kids. He’s not stopping.” She continues to help people as a fitness coach. She spends her weekdays as a nanny to twin babies and a 6-year-old. In July, Lauren and her boyfriend went to the sold-out Luke Bryan and Sam Hunt concert at Dodger Stadium. “It was good,” she said, “just a little too crowded.” She’s trying to tackle the pain and move forward at the same time. Monday was the one-year anniversary of the tragedy that altered the course of thousands of people’s lives. “That’s still what I think about every day,” Lauren said, “Every day I’m like, ‘This might be my last day so I’m gonna live.’ Really, truly, you literally have no clue when it’s your time.” When Lauren has an argument with her dad or her boyfriend, she worries that she may not see them again. She makes it a point to talk it out and make sure they’re on good terms. It’s important for her to think about every decision now. She actually wants to talk about what happened a year ago. But not every person in her life remembers what she experienced. “No one asks about it. It’s in the past,” she said. “The only people that talk about it are the people that were there. No one asks, ‘How are you?’” “It bothers me that people don’t ask.”

A memorial marks the life of John Phippen. Phippen was a father of six from Santa Clarita who died in the Route 91 Harvest music festival in 2017. PHOTO BY JAYNE KAMIN-ONCEA.

Lauren went to the Jason Aldean concert on Saturday with the same group that celebrated and mourned together at the Route 91 festival. She says they feel like they need to finish what they started. “We became so close from that,” she said. “When I see people with a hat or a sticker about Route 91, I feel connected. I think, ‘You know exactly how I feel.’” Soon after the tragedy, Lauren noticed that a fellow survivor shared a tattoo on a Facebook page. A feather with a Bible scripture reference from Psalm 91: “He will cover you with his feathers; He will shelter you with his wings. The Lord says, I will be with them in trouble; I will rescue and honor them.” Lauren isn’t naive. She knows good and bad exist in the world, but she says that seeing the tattoo’s connection between Route 91 and Psalm 91 reminded her of the good. “If something happens again, I’m not going to be shocked,” she said. “When bad things happen, there’s always this outpour and that’s Jesus’ biggest thing: just love people.” Her dad’s voice is always in the front of her mind. It could seem like a bad thing, but Lauren takes what she learns from her dad, friends and counselors and makes them a part of her journey. She is taking refuge in all of those things. 

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LOCALNEWS

A birthday and boos By Crystal Duan Signal Staff Writer

he SCV animal sanctuary Gentle Barn Halloween is hosting its annual Gentle Halloween party every Sunday in October. SCV residents can come out for costume contests, pumpkin feeding, and more activities on Oct. 7, 14, 21 and 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The occasion is for families searching for a daytime event to celebrate the holiday in a safe and appropriate environment for children of all ages, said Gentle Barn spokesman Kevin Oaks. There will be extra activities planned that include a special birthday for Truffles the Pig, who is turning 18 this year. Tickets can be reserved ahead of time through the website: www. gentlebarn.org.

Selwyn McAleer, greets a goat at The Gentle Barn in Canyon Country in 2017. SIGNAL FILE PHOTO

“This Halloween is very special because Truffles is turning 18,” said organization founder Ellie Laks. “Truffles was scared of us at first,

RE-ELECT

but after a few days of good food, soft straw bedding, other animals for company, and lots of tummy rubs, she made herself right at home.”

Oaks said Truffles has been popular with children who come to the barn, and has lived an unusually long life for a pig. The Gentle Barn is home to more than 100 animals including horses, cows, pigs, goats, donkeys, turkeys, chickens, a peacock, a llama and an emu. Interactive tours are available to visitors of all ages, as well as animal-based therapy programs. It hosts school field trips that connect children to animals, and teaches them about their body language, Laks said. The barn also connects its stories of survival and healing to the experiences of inner city, at-risk and special needs children who have suffered physical, mental or emotional trauma. It is located at 15825 Sierra Highway in Canyon Country. 

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LOCALNEWS

Cabinet member ushers in I-5 grant By Crystal Duan Signal Staff Writer

.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao came to the Santa Clarita Valley on Monday to formalize the presentation of a $47 million grant to Metro to build truck lanes and extend high-occupancy vehicle, or carpool, lanes running through the SCV. Chao was joined by Rep. Steve Knight, R-Palmdale, Los Angeles County 5th District Supervisor Kathryn Barger and Santa Clarita Mayor Laurene Weste to talk about the I-5 Golden State Chokepoint Relief Program the grant is planned for. With the goal of reducing congestion along the I-5, the program would yield a new southbound 4.7-mile truck lane between Pico Canyon and State Route 14, while a 3.4-mile northbound truck lane would run between Highway 14 and Calgrove Boulevard. The funds also would extend HOV lanes 13.4 miles from the Highway 14 and Interstate 5 interchange in Santa Clarita to Parker Road in Castaic. “I-5 is the backbone of the West Coast trade corridor,” Weste said. “On average, 205,000 vehicles travel through this chokepoint every day.” The $47 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding America grant was awarded through the efforts of

Knight and Barger, Chao said. “You’re going to get a lot of money to fix the problem behind us,” she said at the event held at the Taylor Trailhead at Rivendale Park and Open Space, gesturing behind her at the I-5 stretch. Chao said Knight’s efforts to communicate with the Department of Transportation contributed to the grant award, one of two transportation grants awarded statewide. Metro is contributing over $250 million in local sales tax dollars for the project, according to Barger’s office. Metro’s funding will also be matched with more than $200 million in Senate Bill 1 gas tax funds approved by California voters in 2017. State Sen. Henry Stern, D-Canoga Park, was also in attendance, along with Santa Clarita City Councilman Bill Miranda, Santa Clarita Mayor Pro Tem Marsha McLean, and former L.A. County 5th District Supervisor Michael Antonovich. Stern said while he approved of relieving congestion along the I-5, he thought efforts of Republican state legislators to repeal the gas tax through Proposition 6 were hypocritical in light of the infrastructure needing more state funding. The current 12-cent-per-gallon tax through Senate Bill 1 was a major part of state funding, Stern said, and state funding supplemented federal

Several elected officials gather with U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, second from left, as they welcome a $47 million federal grant to upgrade the I-5. PHOTO BY EDDY MARTINEZ / THE SIGNAL

funding. He thought the a sixth of the funds the federal grant contributed would be miniscule in helping the relief program, if the remaining $247 million allocated through state funds went away with Proposition 6’s passing. “We are paying the lion’s share here,” he said. “I struggle with seeing the logic of state Republicans killing off state transportation funding, because then we won’t be able to finish this project if we jeopardize Senate Bill 1.”

Knight said it was up to the state to prioritize infrastructure funding without raising taxes for Californians. “When we’re talking about infrastructure, we’re talking about priorities for the state government” he said. “If Proposition 6 repeals the gas tax, the state government will have to prioritize infrastructure. People are upset at Sacramento, with two-thirds majority Democrats, who passed the gas tax and increased their taxes. (Taxes) are a huge issue for regular people raising their kids.” 

Ground set to be broken for theater By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

ity officials have scheduled a groundbreaking for Laemmle Theatres, marking the next phase in the Redevelopment Block for Old Town Newhall. The event, scheduled 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17, is set to take place at the corner of Main Street and Lyons Avenue. Laemmle Theatres is a family-run movie theater chain established in 1938, showing independent, foreign, art and documentary films in the Los Angeles area. Among a list of nine other loca-

tions, Laemmle Newhall would sit on the corner of Railroad Avenue and Lyons Avenue, northeast of the block project. The new theater building is projected to include seven screens and about 500 seats, according to the city’s website. Greg Laemmle, the president of Laemmle Theatres, said during the Newhall parking structure groundbreaking last year that he has heard Santa Clarita residents sometimes travel more than 30 miles to Hollywood to see a film not shown locally. “This is an advantage for those that would drive to the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles,” he

said Wednesday. “We think this will be an economic driver for the Santa Clarita area.” He said besides screening films that are not typically offered locally, the theaters will also show “upscale, good-quality films.” The theaters are part of two other projects, which includes the Old Town Newhall parking structure and Newhall Crossings. Construction of the parking structure took about 12 months and opened to the public in May, offering 372 parking stalls and an event area on the rooftop deck. Newhall Crossings is a mixed-use location planned to house 20,000

square feet of retail and restaurant space and more than 40 residential units with subterranean parking. The project broke ground a year ago and is expected to be complete in the summer of 2019. Laemmle Newhall is scheduled to open by the end of 2019, according to the city’s website. City Council members and representatives from Laemmle Theatres and Serrano Development Group are expected to talk about the cultural impact the theaters are expected to offer to residents during the Oct. 17 ceremony.  To find out more about the Redevelopment Block, visit the “Mixed Use Project” tab at oldtownnewhall.com.

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Scammers fail to defraud Food Pantry By Jim Holt Signal Senior Staff Writer

n a new take on an old scam, residents and business owners are getting phone calls from people posing as Southern California Edison, threatening to shut off the power unless an immediate payment is made. Law enforcement officials say check your sources before you send any money. The scammers would have stolen the money from the local food bank if it wasn’t for the alert actions of the women in charge of it. Susan Caputo, executive director of the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry, checked her sources before paying Tuesday, but was almost taken in by the sophisticated scam. “They were pretty convincing,” Caputo said, reflecting on the phone call. When Caputo answered the phone Tuesday, she was told it was SoCal Edison calling. Just three days earlier, Caputo had

called the utility to say her monthly bill payment was on the way. “(The caller) said, ‘We have a disconnection notice for your business,” she said. “Unless you pay your bill immediately, your power will be shut off.” When the phone call was “transferred” to a “technician,” Caputo said it seemed official. The “technician” said credit card payment wouldn’t work and that sending a check took too long to process. “He said ‘Go to Rite Aid, or Vons, or CVS Pharmacy, and get some instant credit cards.’ He kept asking me if I had done instant credit before,” Caputo said.Instead of answering him, Caputo asked to be transferred to a supervisor. The scammer transferred the call to “supervisor Mike Richardson,” she said. “He kept telling he was the supervisor and it wasn’t making sense to me,” she said. “Exasperated, he hung up.”It wasn’t until she called the

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station that she learned it was a scam. “They told me, ‘Oh no, it’s a total scam,’” she said.Deputy Josh Stamsek said Caputo’s story was not the first Edison scam he’s heard of. “Contact (Edison) directly,” he said, “before following through with instructions.” SoCal Edison would never call its customers demanding money, threatening to cut power, said Susan Cox, spokeswoman for the utility, on Wednesday. “We never call customers to collect payment,” she said. “If anybody calls and says ‘We’re going to turn your electricity off,’ that’s a red flag.” The scam, according to Cox and other representatives, is commonplace and international in scope. The FBI, which investigates such scams, warns people to ignore demands for immediate payment. “This is ... a recent variation on a very common scheme,” Laura Eimiller, spokeswoman for the FBI Field Office in Los Angeles, said Wednesday.

LOCALNEWS “The variations are endless but the bottom line is this: The FBI advises individuals to ignore requests to wire money anywhere and always check directly with the company in question if unclear about whether your account is in good status. “Scams should be reported to the FBI at www.ic3.gov — that’s the Internet Crime Complaint Center. Additional tips can be found at fbi. gov. “ The Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry, on Railroad Avenue, was set up in 1986 after responding to a need to address hunger in the SCV. Over the course of the decade that followed, the need remained, motivating Pantry staff to continue their efforts to confront the issue of local hunger head on. In 2010, the SCV Food Pantry distributed more than $1.3 million worth of food — about 2,000 pounds each day of operation — to those less fortunate in our community. 

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LOCALNEWS

Council hopefuls discuss housing By Perry Smith Signal Managing Editor

hirteen Santa Clarita City Council candidates discussed their views for city’s future, touching on topics from transportation funding to safety to priorities for residents. Monday evening’s forum at The Centre, jointly hosted by KHTS AM-1220/98.1 FM, SCVTV and The Signal, touched on a number of issues, but housing and affordability seemed to be a primary concern for the candidates. The question posed to the hopefuls essentially asked them for strategies on how they could make Santa Clarita more affordable, so the generation of residents who are joining the workforce would be able to continue living and working in Santa Clarita. Councilman Bill Miranda noted that he was “determined to change that,” acknowledging, as all the candidates did, that the city was part of a countywide housing crisis. “You talk about affordable housing. I’m talking about workforce housing,” Miranda said, noting the city need to make sure approved developments were creating infrastructure and supporting job growth. “There’s absolutely nothing worse than a senior who’s outpriced from their apartment,” Councilwoman Marsha McLean said. “The way to alleviate that problem is supply and demand.” The fact that Santa Clarita should build more to create affordable spaces was shared by most of the candidates; however, most had a slightly different take on how to accomplish that.

Santa Clarita City Council candidates participate in a forum Monday evening at The Centre. PHOTO BY EDDY MARTINEZ / THE SIGNAL

“We need to look at a variety of solutions,” said Diane Trautman, one of the challengers. “We need to talk to our developers about starter homes,” she said, as well as shared housing for seniors. “Just building is not going to be enough.” Sankalp Varma noted that there’s a younger generation, “and they need to figure out their hustle, and what their hustle is.” The help there has to come from city leadership, he said, noting leaders need to make it so the younger generation “can get better paying jobs here in Santa Clarita, so they can start with a condo and work their way up.” TimBen Boydston, a challenger who’s previously served on City Council, answered with three words: “More affordable housing.” However, he also followed that up with that it

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has to be done “very carefully, so you don’t overburden the infrastructure.” Candidate Jason Gibbs noted “The supply is coming,” referring to a slate of recently approved housing projects for the area, but that’s not enough, he said. “We need to see the business infrastructure that’s going to be able to provide for that,” he said, noting job development, as opposed to building, would be the crucial factor. Candidate Matthew Hargett feared there wasn’t a short-term solution, but he did note that there’s been promise in what the city has been able to do with its improvements to the Newhall area, and that “it’s going to take a combination of better, higher paying jobs” in addition to more affordable housing. Another candidate, Brett Haddock noted the housing gap for California grows by about 500,000 homes each year, which is why more building was needed. “We need starter homes. We need mixed use and new developments,” Haddock said. Affordable-housing programs, in addition to rent control, were the solutions suggested when candidate Ken Dean was asked for his solutions, which he hoped would work to eliminate homelessness. He also noted the cost of monthly rents in Santa Clarita, referring to the $1,600-plus monthly rent for a single-bedroom apartment as ludicrous.

Sean Weber sought for economic solutions, but sarcastically reiterated “building more housing” as the solution, noting how many houses have been approved, and pointing to the fact that affordable housing is still unavailable. “What you build matters,” noted Logan Smith, another City Council hopeful. “We need to build multi-family home dwellings and we need to build responsibly,” Smith said. “And we also need to work on cost controls.” Santa Clarita Mayor Laurene Weste called for a “balanced approach,” to housing, she said, “so that we’re not just created a massive area of housing near a quality community, and we do need to build transit centers.” Candidate Sandra Nichols looked toward alternative solutions, noting how Seattle was looking to solve its housing shortage by building large complexes with shared resources like community kitchens. “We’re losing any kind of community,” Nichols had, lamenting how technology has become a social divide. “Everybody is just on their phones and playing games all the time.” The election takes place Tuesday, Nov. 6.  For footage of the forum, check out SignalSCV.com.

O C TO B E R 7, 2018

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 13

‘#9PMRoutine’ suggested for home security “Be sure to always double check your residence and vehicles prior to going to bed or before leaving. Being aware of these small things coupled with an alarm system are all preventive measures for the safety of your home and yourself,” he said. This month, local law enforcement unveiled a program to help people remember. It’s called the 9 p.m. Routine.

By Jim Holt Signal Senior Staff Writer

s surveillance technology enables more and more Santa Clarita Valley homeowners to better secure their homes, there are still ways of attaining effective home security without spending a dime. The phrase “neighborhood watch” has taken on a whole new meaning as SCV homeowners secure their homes with doorstep surveillance systems such as Ring and then share that data with equally equipped neighbors. For those with non-digital doorsteps, there is plenty they can do to secure their homes, according to officials with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station. “The best practice for home security starts with locking doors and windows. Motion lights are very effective, and clearing any hiding places like bushes or debris,” Sgt. Dan Dantice said. “Obviously, any additional security measures help, like monitored alarms and surveillance cameras, but they would require additional costs,” he said. Before spending any money, officials say homeowners should consider a few things.

Simple security “The homeowner should be aware their home

9 p.m. routine

COURTESY PHOTOS

is never ‘suddenly protected’ by an alarm system,” Deputy Josh Stamsek said. “The system is merely a tool to enhance the security of your residence, and some (systems) alert law enforcement to check on the residence if it happens to be activated. “But, the best way to protect your residence is by locking your vehicles, outside doors, garage door and windows,” Stamsek said.

To join the 9 p.m. Routine program and help spread the word to your community, show your 9 p.m. Routine with the hashtag #9PMRoutine and follow the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station and the city of Santa Clarita social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. “We want to remind residents of the ‘9 p.m. Routine’ and to be sure to try and follow a routine every night to secure your property, residence and vehicles,” Stamsek said. The 9 p.m. routine works like this: 1. Remove valuables (electronic devices, wallets, etc.) from your vehicle. 2. Ensure vehicle doors and trunks are locked. 3. Check to be sure all house and property exterior doors and garages are locked. 4. Turn on exterior lights. See SECURITY, page 43

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O C TO B E R 7, 2018

FROM THE CITY MANAGER

Thank you Santa Claritans, for all your help By Ken Striplin City Manager

On Sept. 22, hundreds of volunteers descended into the Santa Clara riverbed in search of trash and debris as part of our Annual River Rally. Over the years these volunteers have removed more than 436,000 pounds of trash. This work is important for many reasons, one being the river carries nearly half of the Santa Clarita Valley’s water supply. Not to mention the Santa Clara River is also home to a number of threatened and endangered species and their habitats, like the California condor and the California red legged frog. I want to give a heartfelt thank you to these volunteers for the work they have done on behalf our city. The

generosity of time and dedication to the community by these volunteers make an immense impact in our city. Last year alone, the economic impact of volunteer hours totaled a whopping $1.65 million. Some 5,124 volunteers worked 56,886 hours last year, equaling the amount of work of 27 full-time employees. The top hour earners were those who volunteered to coach youth sports, help out at our libraries or assist in our popular events like the Cowboy Festival and Santa Clarita Marathon. The city is always looking for volunteers and offers a variety of opportunities to choose from. To learn more about ways to help at events and programs in Santa Clarita, please visit SantaClaritaVolunteers.com or “like” “Santa Clarita Volunteers” on Facebook. On the city website, you can find out about upcoming volunteer opportunities and also view the volunteer orientation video. You can even see

Over the years, hundreds of volunteers have descended into the Santa Clara riverbed and removed more than 436,000 pounds of trash. COURTESY PHOTO.

volunteers in action in photos from a variety of events over past years. From events to programs, volunteers work together to help sustain

the quality of life in Santa Clarita that we all enjoy. Thank you for your time, which has enriched our community. 

TOP WAYS TO HELP EVENTS 9,000 hours

LIBRARIES 11,500 hours

SPORTS

27,000 hours

TOTAL 5,124 volunteers, 56,886 hours

Photos Courtesy of Santa Clarita, Signal file photos

O C TO B E R 7, 2018

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 15

A few of the SCV’s stars playing Saturday By Haley Sawyer Signal Sports Editor

s prep football season gets underway in the Santa Clarita Valley, alumni from the Foothill League, as well as Santa Clarita Christian School and Trinity Classical Academy are competing at the next level in college football. Here’s a look at a few SCV products who have seen playing time with their college team this season. Check next Sunday’s edition of The Signal for more college football standouts. Rhett Almond, BYU, Hart Almond has appeared in five games, punting 21 times for a total of 905 yards. Four of those punts have been over 50 yards, with the longest reaching 52 yards. Thomas Bambrick, Simon Fraser University, Hart In three games with Simon Fraser, an NCAA football team located in Burnaby, British Columbia, Bambrick has logged two tackles. Amir Bishop, University of La Verne, Saugus The former Centurion has three receptions for 135 yards in four games. He’s scored one touchdown in his sophomore campaign: a 53yard reception from Josh Evans in a game against Claremont on Sept. 29. Tyler Bjorklund, Colorado State University, Valencia/COC The 6-foot-4, 300-pound offensive lineman has started for the Rams against Hawaii, Colorado, Arkansas and Florida. In the game against Arkansas, a 34-27 win, Bjorklund helped his team to its first win over an SEC team in Fort Collins. Gary Bojorquez, University of La Verne, Saugus As a sophomore with the Leopards, Bojorquez has three total tackles this season: one solo and one assist.

Alec Chadwick, Houston Baptist, Valencia/COC Chadwick has made 2-of-2 field goals, with a long of 35 yards in four games in his senior year with Houston Baptist. Additionally, he’s punted five times for 217 yards and a long of 59 yards and on six kickoffs, he’s totaled 1,372 yards. Chadwick also has made 15 of 17 PATs. Jacob Chobanian, Chapman University, Hart Chobanian, a senior, has three receptions for 57 yards this season with one touchdown, which came via a 19-yard catch from Ian Fieber. Egidio DellaRipa, Vanderbilt, West Ranch/COC The former Wildcat has made an appearance in every game this season for a Commodores on the offensive line that has helped the team to an average of 27.60 points per game and 414.2 yards per game.

Texas A&M on Saturday, Sept. 29. Desean Holmes, FAU, COC Holmes, a junior, has hauled in four receptions in four games for a total of 45 yards. Thirty-eight of those yards came against Air Force on Sept. 8. Trent Irwin, Stanford, Hart Irwin has had at least two receptions in each of his five games this season with the Cardinal. In total, he has 20 catches for 184 yards. He’s also returned four punts for 49 yards in his senior year. Andrew Karatepeyan, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, COC The COC product ranks fourth on the team in terms of total tackles with 29, six of which are the solo variety. Karatepeyan, who plays defensive end, has appeared in five games and also has three tackles for a loss. 

Trent Irwin catches a pass for Stanford. COURTESY PHOTO

Ryan DeMarois, Minot State, Trinity At linebacker, DeMarois has 21 total tackles in five games in his freshman year, four of which were tackles for a loss. He also has one interception and one pass breakup on the season. Wes Fitzpatrick, College of Idaho, Hart/COC Following up a season in which he ranked third on the team in terms of receptions, Fitzpatrick has has caught three passes in three games for 36 yards in his senior year. Linwood Foy, Louisville, COC Foy is listed as an offensive lineman on the official Louisville roster, but has played in five games on defense. He’s logged two total tackles as a redshirt-senior. Dorian Gerald, Arkansas, COC In his first season with the Razorbacks after two years at College of the Canyons, Gerald has played in one game, against Eastern Illinois, and had two tackles. After that game, he dealt with an ankle injury and returned for a game against

SPORTS

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16 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

O C TO B E R 7, 2018

Right pricing, part 2: Zestimate or Realtor.com? By Ray Kutylo Signal Contributing Writer

receive questions from people about real estate all the time. Here’s an interesting one that got my propeller hat spinning. Q: “Hey, happy Saturday morning! When you’re up and around, I have a question (which you will probably hate, but: Is Realtor.com or Zillow more accurate when it comes to comp value for my house? I am asking because there is a big difference.” A: Both have been wildly inaccurate in my expe-

rience. They are data points, and I will reference them, but neither have eyes on the property nor do they weigh condition, upgrades, neighborhood or location pluses or minuses very well. These online algorithms go crazy in this low inventory housing environment, trying to make an evaluation incorporating outliers as closed sales either high or low. I have found these estimates in the Santa Clarita Valley to be plus or minus up to 18 percent compared to a professional’s evaluation. Right now, after a test of a number of homes that I know by having been in the property, the difference between the Zillow and Realtor.com estimates comes to around 5 percent for homes under $550,000, and a difference of up to 10

percent for homes over $650,000. Neighborhoods such as condo developments, with many homes that have recently closed escrows, are closer in price between the two. Also, I found in my sample, that the Realtor.com estimate was often the higher of the two, but neither can be relied on to be accurate. Zillow and Realtor.com are data points. Sometimes they are right, but too often they are wrong, and sometimes wildly wrong — algorithms — love ‘em for the smiles they bring to me. But as a prospective seller, depending on either for home valuations may cost you a pile of cash if it’s low, or influence you to list your home unrealistically high. For buyers trying to make a decision on whether

to go forward on a purchase, skewed online estimates can affect your decision. Seriously, they are no substitute for the professional Realtor’s eyes on the property. If you know a Realtor who you trust personally and is a real expert in the profession, listen to them. As professionals, we do have your best interests at heart when it comes to one of the largest financial transactions you will ever make. Thinking of selling your home now or within the next year? Please give Ray the Realtor and the SCV Home Team a call now at (661) 312-9461 and let’s get started. Whether I’m representing either Buyer or Seller (or Both!), you can count on Service, Commitment, and Value for you! CA DRE# 00918855 

SANTA CLARITA VALLEY CLOSED SALES 9/21/18 to 9/28/18 AREA/St#

St Name

ACTON/AGUA DULCE 7535 Carmack CT 5124 Escondido Canyon RD 32705 Dorama AVE 32230 Windrush RD

Sold Price

Br/Ba

Sqft/Source

Price/SqFt

$460,000 $548,999 $753,750 $500,000

3/2, 3/1,1,1, 4/3, 3/2,

1761/A 1318/A 2776/A 1750/A

$261.22 $416.54 $271.52 $285.71

$286,950 $287,000 $315,000 $329,000 $352,000 $355,000 $435,000 $459,900 $470,000 $480,000 $490,000 $534,900 $540,000 $587,000 $614,500 $619,000 $739,000

2/1,1, 2/2, 2/2, 2/3, 2/2, 3/2, 3/1,0,1, 3/2, 3/1,1,1, 3/2, 3/2, 4/2,0,1, 4/2,0,1, 4/3, 4/3, 4/2,0,1, 5/3,

844/A 848/A 1085/A 1127/A 1119/A 1003/P 1080/A 1572/A 1276/A 1470/S 1340/A 1700/A 2461/A 2136/A 1828/A 2136/A 3219/A

$339.99 $338.44 $290.32 $291.93 $314.57 $353.94 $402.78 $292.56 $368.34 $326.53 $365.67 $314.65 $219.42 $274.81 $336.16 $289.79 $229.57

$322,000 $375,500 $471,500 $480,000 $519,000 $530,000 $560,000 $700,000 $700,000

2/2, 3/2, 3/3, 3/2, 3/2, 3/2, 3/2,0,1, 4/2,0,1, 5/4,

1020/A 1109/A 1933/ 1204/A 1416/P 1416/A 1512/A 1785/A 3368/A

$315.69 $338.59 $243.92 $398.67 $366.53 $374.29 $370.37 $392.16 $207.84

$369,900 $381,000 $395,000 $415,000 $852,000

2/2, 2/2, 3/3, 3/2,0,1, 4/5,

1141/A 1077/A 1278/A 1406/A 3653/A

$324.19 $353.76 $309.08 $295.16 $233.23

$385,000 $392,500 $504,000 $550,000 $550,000

2/2, 2/2, 4/2, 3/2, 3/2,0,1,

1404/A 1040/A 1700/A 1335/A 1572/A

$274.22 $377.40 $296.47 $411.99 $349.87

CANYON COUNTRY 18197 18164 18106 27631 18147 26846 19403 29184 26510 27553 27629 19648 26828 28041 14513 28024 27243

Sundowner WAY #805 Sundowner WAY #1006 Erik CT #574 Nugget DR #2 Erik CT #214 Claudette ST #211 Fairweather ST Flowerpark DR Snowbird PL Esterbrook AVE Ennismore AVE Bruces PL Madigan DR Eagle Peak AVE Stone Ridge CT Valcour DR Golden Willow WAY

CASTAIC / VAL VERDE 32037 29639 31413 28045 28554 28321 27616 30445 29002

Emerald LN Cromwell AVE Arena DR Gold Hill DR Gibraltar LN Gibraltar LN Apache CT Byfield RD Capri CT

NEWHALL 18905 Circle Of The Oaks 26832 Oak Branch CIR 25229 Avenida Dorena 25238 Avenida Dorena 24222 Cary CT SAUGUS 28379 28126 22110 27166 28264

Mirabelle LN Seco Canyon RD #144 Empino LN Seco Canyon RD Guilford

AREA/St#

21836 22147 21702 27743 22425 22009 22241 28407 28142 28951 28868 29032 29127

St Name

Scallion DR Barrington WAY Shallot CT Caraway LN Claremont DR Windham WAY Canones CIR Fig CT Caraway LN High Sierra TRL Klamath CT Raintree LN Harmony WAY

STEVENSON RANCH 25781 Perlman PL #B 25709 Wilde AVE VALENCIA Del Monte DR #285 23629 23735 Del Monte DR #163 23926 Arroyo Park DR #119 23919 Calle Del Sol DR 23897 Toscana DR 25736 Yucca Valley RD 26832 Marina Point LN #50 27030 Pebble Beach DR 27049 Riversbridge WAY 23754 Mahogany CT 24043 Via Sereno 24522 Cantada ST 27894 Mariposa ST 23511 Windrose PL

Sold Price

Br/Ba

Sqft/Source

Price/SqFt

$552,500 $555,000 $565,000 $569,900 $581,000 $610,000 $620,000 $690,000 $695,000 $695,000 $753,900 $795,000 $815,000

4/3, 4/4, 4/3, 4/2,0,1, 3/2, 4/3, 4/2, 4/3, 4/3, 4/3, 3/4, 4/3, 4/3,

1890/A 2530/A 1890/A 1890/A 1608/P 2351/A 2044/A 2650/O 2098/A 2553/A 2705/A 2399/A 3585/A

$292.33 $219.37 $298.94 $301.53 $361.32 $259.46 $303.33 $260.38 $331.27 $272.23 $278.71 $331.39 $227.34

$430,000 $850,107

3/3, 5/2,1,

1232/A 2970/A

$349.03 $286.23

$385,750 $395,000 $450,000 $477,500 $480,000 $515,000 $520,000 $559,000 $585,000 $685,000 $695,000 $699,000 $725,000 $750,000

2/2, 2/2, 2/2, 3/3, 3/3, 3/2, 3/3, 3/2,0,1, 3/3, 2/2,0,1, 4/2,0,1, 4/3, 4/2,0,1, 4/4,

940/A 1030/A 1488/A 1532/A 1660/A 1540/A 2116/A 1697/ 1548/A 2392/A 2388/A 2308/A 2621/A 2620/A

$410.37 $383.50 $302.42 $311.68 $289.16 $334.42 $245.75 $329.40 $377.91 $286.37 $291.04 $302.86 $276.61 $286.26

Based on information from the Southland Regional Association of REALTORS®/Multiple Listing Service for the week ending on 9/21/18. All data, including all measurements and calculations of area, is obtained from various sources and has not been, and will not be, verified by broker or MLS. All information should be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. Properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting the information.

O C TO B E R 7, 2018

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 17

Oktoberfest, coming to an area near you By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

t’s time to celebrate brews and Braunschweiger, ales and Alpine games, as well as lederhosen and dirndls and all things German. Now remembered mostly as an annual Bavarian harvest festival, the first Oktoberfest was held in on Oct.

17, 1810, in Munich, to celebrate the marriage of Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The newlyweds enjoyed the festivities so much, they suggested making it an annual event. There are many Oktoberfest events around Southern California. Some celebrations have already started and are held weekends through the end of October and others are one day

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only events. You can choose between family-friendly and adults only. However you enjoy your beer and bratwurst, it’s time to get your Oktoberfest “on.”

Santa Clarita

Address: Wolf Creek Brewery, Spiegeltent 25108 Rye Canyon Loop, Santa Clarita, 91355 Hours: Friday, 7-11 p.m.; Saturday,

6-10 p.m. Oct. 19-20 Santa Clarita Oktoberfest, everyone’s favorite Munich-in-the-Santa Clarita Valley beer experience is celebrating its fifth anniversary. A variety of German and German-style beers will be poured in and around the Crystal Palace Flemish Spiegeltent, adding to the authentic ambiance. German foods, music and games. See OKTOBERFEST, next page

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18 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

O C TO B E R 7, 2018

OKTOBERFEST

Continued from previous page

Admission: General Admission tickets $27.50 in advance ($45 at the gate) include entry into the festival event, a free promotional German beer glass and one beer. All entertainment and games are included. Additional drink tickets are $8 each. Complimentary water will be available throughout the festival grounds. VIP tickets $75 include admission into the festival event, a free promotional glass beer stein, and two VIP beer/wine tokens. VIPs also enjoy a separate registration line, access to the VIP seating area with dedicated bar and complimentary German beer food. Info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ santa-clarita-oktoberfest-tickets49458784556

Los Angeles

Address: Pershing Square 532 S. Olive St., Downtown L.A. 90013 Hours: Saturday, Sunday Oct. 20-21 2-10 p.m. The third annual Oktoberfest will be held in Pershing Square in Downtown L.A. Spend the weekend living it up with during this fun, cultural event. Local breweries and California beers and authentic German Beer from Paulaner, the No. 1 Oktoberfest beer in the world. Food includes traditional bratwursts and pretzels to Thai-Mexican fusion. Live music includes local bands (The Tom Nolan Band), rockabilly groups, beat boxers and Hazelnuss closing both nights. Admission: General Admission $5. Purchase of a tasting package ($20$70) will cover admission. Info: https://oktoberfestdtla.com

Huntington Beach

Address: Old World German Village, 7561 Center Ave., Huntington Beach, 92647 Hours: Now thru Oct. 28 Wednesdays and Thursdays (6:3010:30 p.m.) are free admission family nights. Fridays and Saturdays (6:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m.) are adult nights 21 and older only and Sundays (2-7:30 p.m.) is Kinderfest with Dachshund Races at 3 p.m. Held since 1977, this Oktoberfest offers authentic German food (voted

“Best Bratwurst” in California), imported German Beers, German bands straight from Germany, other festivities, competitions and games. Info: oldword.ws

Big Bear Lake

Address: Big Bear Lake Convention Center, 42900 Big Bear Blvd., Big Bear Lake. Hours: Saturdays (noon-midnight) and Sundays (noon-5:30 p.m.) now through Nov. 3. Three expanded “bier gartens,” live music, vendor booths and kids’ games. Contests include beer stein-carrying contest, stein holding, beer drinking contest and log sawing competition. Food and beer are purchased with Burgermeister Bucks. Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest delivers a genuine Bavarian-style celebration

COURTESY PHOTO

with alpine scenery and heritage that reflects the spirit of the original Oktoberfest. It is highly recommended to pre-purchase tickets for all Saturdays in October. Admission: Saturdays $22.99 for adults, $17.49 for seniors (62+) and $10 for children 12 and under; Sunday admission prices are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and children 12 and under are free. Saturday, Nov. 3 is a special encore celebration with general admission tickets at $15.99 for adults, $11.99 for seniors (62+), and $9 for children 12 and under. Info: Tickets, Burgermeister Party Packs, visit BigBearEvents.com, Facebook or call (909) 585-3000.

Lake Arrowhead

Address: Lake Arrowhead Village,

COURTESY PHOTO

28200 State Hwy. 189, Lake Arrowhead, 92352 Hours: Now through Oct 28. Saturdays noon-8 p.m. and Sundays noon-6 p.m. Celebrate Oktoberfest on weekends in this genuine Alpine village with authentic food and free entertainment. Games include stein holding, sausage toss, beer chug and more. Imported German and European beers on tap. German sausage, pretzels and other German delicacies. Join in the “Chicken Dance.” Info: www.lakearrowheadoktoberfest. com

crobrew tasting benefits the Warrior Foundation Freedom Station. Tasting tickets are $30, and will be sold online at www.OBOktoberfest.com prior to the event and at the gate until sold out. The free, beachside, all-ages stage offers the OB Oktoberfest band and food and craft vendor area on the Veterans Plaza lawn. Beer garden entertainment with live music, the annual Sausage Toss Competition with $1,000 cash prize and bratwurst-eating, stein-holding and other competitions. Info: www.oboktoberfest.com

Ocean Beach Oktoberfest

Torrance

Address: Newport Avenue and Abbott Street in Ocean Beach, San Diego, 92107 Hours: Friday, 3-11 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Oct 12-13 This eclectic, beachside festival includes a variety of activities, contests and entertainment with proceeds benefiting local nonprofit organizations. The event begins 3:30 p.m. Friday with live music in the 21 and older beer garden. Saturday morning festivities start with a drill instructor workout on the beach, followed at 9 a.m. with the fifth annual OB Brat Trot, a fundraiser sponsored by the Ocean Beach Community Foundation. Admission: All ages; registration is $25 per family for the 2K Family Fun Run at 9 a.m. and $30 per person for the 5K Beach Run at 10 a.m. Registration for the 5K Beach Run includes free entrance into the beer garden and two complimentary beers for runners 21 and older. A German mi-

Address: Alpine Village Oktoberfest 50th Anniversary, 833 W Torrance Blvd., Torrance, 90502; Hours: Fridays-Sundays thru Oct. 27. This is the oldest Oktoberfest celebration in Southern California. Beer (Paulaner from Germany, as well as local craft beers), food includes pork schnitzel sandwiches, a market selling German sausages and baked goods and entertainment includes Bavarian singing and dancing. Sundays are family days and celebrate special various groups or activities, including German-American heritage. USA Today named this event one of the best Oktoberfests in the world. Held in a 32,000-square-foot tent, tables are on a first-come, first-served basis, no reservations. The event is 21 and older on Friday and Saturday; all ages welcome on Sunday. Admission: $20-$75. Info: www.alpinevillagecenter.com/ oktoberfest 

O C TO B E R 7, 2018

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 19

Child & Family Center readies for Kid Expo By Michele Lutes Signal Staff Writer

ducation and fun all in one, the Santa Clarita Valley Child & Family Center is scheduled to host its 15th annual Kid Expo on Saturday, Oct. 21. The expo provides the community with entertainment and information while giving parents and children the opportunity to spend quality time together. The event will take place at Golden Valley High School from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. “The idea behind the expo was to give companies who offer products and services to children the opportunity to share what they could provide for families,” said Cheryl Jones, vice president of marketing and community outreach for the Center. More than 100 exhibits and attractions of local businesses offering products or services for chil-

dren will be on display. Some exhibitor categories include sports, karate, dance and art, children’s health, medical, dental, gymnastics, books, tutors, college services and more. “The idea is to get your child involved in something positive,” Jones said. “Research has proven that involving children in activities expands their horizons and increases self-esteem,” according to the center’s Aug. 15 news release. Fun games, arts and crafts, reading, storytelling, music, sports, entertainment and special appearances by cartoon characters will create a fun day for the entire family. “Parents really like the event,” Jones said. “It gives them the opportunity to spend quality time with their children and have fun.” Parents will discover the variety of resources available for their children throughout the Santa Clarita Valley. The event is free to the community,

but all proceeds raised at and from the event go to the Child & Family Center. “Every dollar raised goes directly to Child & Family Center, which provides mental health and behavioral services to over 700 local children each week,” according to the news release. The center is located on Centre Pointe Parkway, and its mission is to change lives and heal relationships by helping people thrive through education, treatment, prevention and advocacy, according the its website. The center’s staff of professionals includes psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists and social workers, as well as individuals who work on and volunteer for the center’s outreach programs. This year’s exhibitors plan to showcase “What’s Cool for Kids in the SCV” by participating in the community event, according to the center’s website. The 2017 expo attracted more than 1,500 people and 60 local vendors.

Riya Mistry of Chatsworth gets her face painted at a past Kid Expo. Last year’s event drew an estimated 7,000 people. PHOTO BY JOHN LAZAR.

To sign up your company or nonprofit as a sponsor or exhibitor, go to kidexposcv.com/exhibitors.cfm. For more information on the event, visit kidexposcv.com. 

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Opinion

O C TO B E R 7, 2018

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

OURVIEW

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

15 Candidates, 3 Seats, and Tough Decisions

It’s a Choice: You Can Still Change Your Future

By The Signal Editorial Board

By David Hegg

uick. Name as many candidates as you can for Santa Clarita City Council. You’ve got 30 seconds, and no fair peeking at the internet. Put your phone down. Ready, go. How many did you get? There are 15 in total, and unless you are the gadfly-est of gadflies, we submit that you’d be hard-pressed to name four or five. And you’re voting in the Nov. 6 election, we assume. This little experiment illustrates the fact that there is a flaw in the way our Santa Clarita City Council elections are structured. Of the 15 names on the ballot, competing for three seats, about half are unfamiliar to most Santa Clarita voters — even those who regularly read the news and try to follow candidate forums and become informed voters. We witnessed it on Monday, as we hosted a City Council candidates forum, along with our co-sponsors SCVTV and KHTS. We recorded it on video and it will be made available on signalscv.com so all voters will have a chance to see it. Of the 15 candidates, we had 13 in

attendance. In a 90-minute forum, there was time for: • Three rounds of questions that all candidates answered. • Two rounds of questions in which each candidate answered a question drawn at random. • A 2-minute closing statement from each candidate. That’s just five questions and a closing from each candidate. Is that enough for anyone to really get to know them, including the relative newcomers who don’t have the advantage of being long-term incumbents, or having the benefit of massive financial support to help them get their word out? Really, no. Admittedly, this was not the only council candidates forum. By Nov. 6, the group — plus or minus a participant or two — will have gathered at least three or four times. So, this wasn’t your only opportunity to get to know them. See OUR VIEW, page 22

et’s be honest. At some point, we’re all victims. Life is rough, disappointment is common, tragedy is inescapable and injustices, both large and small, envelope every life. The question isn’t “when will I be victimized by people, processes, and circumstance” but “when, and how many times will I be offended, hurt, abused, and unjustly treated?” As a pastor, I’ve sat across the room or coffee shop table and cried with those who have been brutalized, oppressed, raped, fired, demeaned, unjustly accused, or damaged in any number of ways we humans have designed to hurt one another. And here’s what I’ve learned. You cannot change the past, but you can change the future your past is heading for. But, to do so, you have to answer two essential questions. Question No. 1 asks whether you will allow what you have endured to be determinative. That is, will you embrace your victimization and allow it to identify who you are, and become the lens through which you now view all

of life? If so, you will dedicate yourself to increasing levels of victimhood, and demand that what you have suffered be the focus of your life, and the lives of those around you. This first question can be answered differently, but to do so requires that you understand a very important point. Choosing to escape victimhood status as a life identifier does not mean you have not suffered greatly. It does not mean those who have perpetrated evil should get away with it. It only means that you refuse to allow what has happened in the past to continue renting space in your heart and head. It means you intend to change the future the past was heading for by recognizing that what happened to you does not define you. Question No. 2 asks the simple question: How will I go forward, living my life in ways that are righteous, helpful and effective? Once you decide being a life-long victim will not facilitate human flourishing, you must demand of yourself ways of thinking and living that will. You must continually affirm See HEGG, page 22

READERLETTERS

Former Superintendent Favors Smith for State Assembly I worked closely with two-term governing board member Christy Smith when I was superintendent of the Newhall School District. Now she’s running for state Assembly on Nov. 6 and she deserves your vote. The future depends on today’s children receiving a high-quality education as they do in Newhall. Unfortunately, California has consistently been ranked in the bottom 10 nationally for per-pupil

spending. This is unacceptable. Current Assemblyman Dante Acosta has continually voted against our state’s education budget and outcomes, wrongly claiming that California is among the highest in per-pupil spending. Widely accepted data demonstrate otherwise. During the Great Recession I witnessed Christy take difficult votes to protect our students, staff and programs while making necessary budget cuts so we could remain solvent. She was caring yet realistic and determined. She probed administration on their recommendations, she understood budgets and the consequences of cuts, and she stood firm

when necessary. Christy deeply understands education and knows what’s needed to continue our successes and improve even further. Once elected, Christy will work to develop sustainable funding for K-12 education and make higher education accessible for all Californians. Christy promotes increasing investments in classrooms and teachers. She supports reduced class sizes, prioritizing after-school programs that spark student interest in a variety of career paths, and increasing funding for science, technology, See LETTERS, page 21

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Opinion

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

BLACK&WHYTE

D R AW I N G CO N C LU S I O N S D R E W L I T TO N

We Missed the Burning Question at the Forum By Tim Whyte Signal Editor

’ll admit, I was a little nervous. It had been a little while since I’d hosted one of these things. Over a dozen years, if memory serves. It was Monday night, and I was getting ready to moderate the 2018 City Council candidates forum, hosted by The Signal along with our cosponsors, KHTS and SCVTV. I had visions of a total meltdown on my part. You know, like slipping up and forgetting where I was and bursting out, “Live, from New York, it’s Saturday night!” Or, “Toga! Toga!” You know. As if it was a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing. I digress. We had 13 out of the 15 City Council candidates in attendance, and rather than making it a public event, which could lead to a “stacked” crowd and angry mobs being turned away at the door if the room got full, we decided to let each candidate invite 10 guests, which would have pretty much filled the room at The Centre. But, some of the candidates didn’t take advantage of that opportunity. We had an OK crowd, but there were quite a few seats that could have been filled. I filed that away as something to try differently next time. Thankfully, I didn’t completely melt down, as I had feared. My biggest gaffe was the time I almost skipped Mayor Pro Tem Marsha McLean in the question-and-answer rotation. Thanks, Marsha, for having a sense of humor about that. All in all it went pretty well. For the most part, it seems like we have a number of candidates, both challengers and incumbents alike, who care

deeply about our city and would work hard to keep building on Santa Clarita’s record and reputation as a great place to live and raise a family. And, the candidates for the most part behaved themselves and followed our rules, staying on topic and avoiding personal

attacks. There was one exception, and that was Sean Weber, who attempted to use his closing statement as a platform to launch into a diatribe about a long-running dispute between him and his fellow challenger Brett Haddock. It got really dark. And really awkward. Suddenly. Until that point the entire forum had been quite civil. I didn’t know either of them before Monday night but I understand they have history between them. If you Google it, you can find some of it. I don’t care to wade into the details of it here, frankly. In any case, Weber’s behavior was inappropriate and out of line with the rules of the forum. I admit, I was a little slow on the uptake. Just as the hamster in my brain was getting up to speed, running on his little wheel fast enough that I could figure out something was wrong, candidate Logan Smith looked up at me with an expression on his face that said, “Uh, you gonna DO something about this?” So, about two or three seconds later than I wish I had, I interrupted Weber, and said something to the effect of, that sounds like it’s getting personal, which is against the rules of the forum. I haven’t gone back to rewatch it on video, so I don’t have his exact quote, but at that point Weber said something along the lines of asking whether he

See WHYTE, page 22

LETTERS

Continued from page 20

engineering, and math programs that will equip students for jobs in today’s economy and beyond. Christy understands the unique needs of English language learners. She has always supported Newhall’s outstanding arts program. Christy Smith’s education expertise and track record for improving public schools make her the best choice for the Assembly, where critical public school funding decisions and standards are set. Let’s send a seasoned expert to do the job. Vote for Christy Smith on Nov. 6. Marc Winger, Newhall

A Red Wave, Not Blue Currently there is a tide of politicians promising everything to get elected. They promise social services to people who are here in this country illegally but registered to vote. At the same time these new illegal voters are given sanctuary by the Democrats, hoping they will be swept to power in the elections to be held this November. Anyone who knowingly allows an illegal alien to vote in an election commits a crime.

People who are dead will be voting in the November election. This is because voter registration is a joke! The bottom line to giving away social services and welfare to illegal immigrants is fiscal suicide for the entire country. The taxpayers in California are already the most heavily taxed in the country. Continuing to give social services and welfare to illegal residents will bankrupt the state of California and the United States of America. The Democrats in California are hell-bent on giving away everything to illegal immigrants. Gavin Newsom is just wrong for California. Democrats in Washington, D.C., wish to put Hillary Clinton in power. Ex-President Barack Obama openly campaigns against a duly elected president. The Democrats think they are creating a blue wave in November. They are wrong. They are creating a red Republican wave the likes of which have never been seen before! Dana Stern Sr., 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.

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Opinion

WHYTE

Continued from page 21

should continue reading his prepared material. It was essentially an attack on Haddock tied into their running dispute, which, as far as I can tell, dates back at least a year. At that point, someone in the audience said no, he should not continue. He stopped. I moved on to the next candidate to speak. He got up and, while the forum was still going on, he walked out. I wouldn't say he “stormed” out, which would make it really dramatic. But it was at least “semi-stormed out.” The camera crew — a joint effort of SCVTV, KHTS and The Signal — caught the drama as Weber left the room. (Kudos, by the way, to all of the digital journalists who worked together to make the forum possible and make it accessible to all residents, via all three media outlets. It was cool to see the sharing of resources and manpower in the interest of providing important information to voters.) Thankfully, the Weber thing was the only incident that you’d call “fireworks.”

OUR VIEW

Continued from page 20

But, in all seriousness, how well will you know them by the time you vote? It's fair to say the field can be broken down into several groups: 1) The incumbents, who essentially start the race with a rather significant head start. 2) The serious challengers, who may have done some fundraising and have some other key ingredients, like name recognition from previous public service or support from local political activist organizations. 3) Those who, try as they might, are destined to be also-rans because they lack the backing and/or the ability to capture the imagination of the voting public. With a crowded field such as this, it’s challenging for the average voter to become informed well enough about the positions, skills and experiences of each candidate to make a well-reasoned, well-thought-out choice. We hope voters are paying attention, and we are going to continue providing information and profiles of the candidates between now and the election.

After hearing the candidates speak, I feel a little closer to knowing which of them I’ll seriously consider voting for, but frankly the size of the field does make it difficult to weigh challengers vs. incumbents. (Hint: I scratched Weber off my list.) I was impressed by a couple of the newcomers, including one that I expected to like, and one that I hadn’t expected to like. At the end of it all, a small part of me does wish the candidates would have thrown us a little more topical humor to lighten the mood. Maybe this is a little juvenile on my part, but I think it would have been a hoot if, instead of answering the question we asked, at least one candidate would have provided the answer to the real burning question this election season: Question: What should the City Council do differently to manage growth and reduce traffic congestion in our city? Answer: I like beer! It might have been political suicide, but it would have been the funniest City Council candidate forum moment. Ever. Tim Whyte is editor of The Signal. His column appears Sundays. Email: twhyte@signalscv.com. Twitter: @TimWhyte. 

We’ve come to conclude that change may be in order when it comes to the way our City Council representatives are selected. However, we’ve come to conclude that change may be in order when it comes to the way our City Council representatives are selected. What might that change be? There are several options that may be worth considering, but we wouldn’t advocate committing to one willy-nilly. Instead, we suggest that whoever is elected to the City Council on Nov. 6 introduce a motion directing city staff to study and report back on possible ways to better connect voters and those who seek to represent them. We assume the possibilities would include items like term limits, which would reduce the ability of incumbents to become too entrenched, thus ensuring “new blood” on a regular basis and opening doors for new people and ideas. Or, perhaps primary elections could work, thinning the field of council hopefuls before a general election so the voters will face a less daunting task in getting familiar with the serious contenders.

And, of course, there’s the possibility of switching from at-large seats to electing council members by district, which is already part of the discussion around town. If nothing else, instead of considering, for example, 15 candidates for three seats, voters might be able to evaluate five candidates for one seat. There are positives and negatives to each of these options. Some of them come with cost. Some of them could be abused, particularly if we are talking about the drawing of district boundaries. Any of them would be a major change, and we would only advocate that such a change be made after much careful thought and study of the positive and negative aspects of each. We trust that voters will meet the challenge of sifting through the field of 15 and elect capable leaders who, once this election is over, will cast a contemplative eye toward the elections of the future — with the interests of voters in mind. 

HEGG

Continued from page 20

that, while the hurts of the past are real, they will not be allowed to define your attitudes and behavior going forward. Rather, you determine to focus on ways of thinking and acting that contribute positively to the world around you. Essentially, those who embrace victimization as a lifestyle are asking the rest of us to order our lives around them, carefully walking on eggs in order not to bruise their selfishly fragile souls. Rather than work to move on from the pain of their past, they expect us all to rehearse it with them, over and over again, demanding that what they have endured releases them from being responsible for their own lives. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Many who have been brutalized by the evils of this broken world have overcome their past to live productive, satisfying and honor-filled lives. We call them heroes, and their stories inspire us to jump over our own life hurdles, and run the race set before us, fixing our eyes on the goal of living lives that are worthy of the One who gave us life in the first place. The Bible’s King David knew a little about life’s disappointments. At the beginning of his reign he was chased around the Judean wilderness by Saul, who wanted only to end his life. And near the end of his reign, his son Absalom rebelled against him and attempted a massive coup. But David refused to allow these circumstances to define him because he knew he wasn’t fighting life’s battles alone. He’d already written a psalm about the Good Shepherd who stayed with him through the valley of the shadow of death, and instead of leaving him to his own designs, always led him in the ways of righteousness. Times have changed but the realities of pain and injustice are as present today as ever. Yes, life will disappoint you, even hurt you deeply. But, no matter what you have endured, it cannot determine your future unless you let it. Vengeance and anger won’t change what has happened, and even justice and restitution can’t erase pain suffered. You can’t change the past, but you can refuse to live as a victim, and instead, chart your own future in ways that are productive, healthy and satisfying. And if you get discouraged along the way, just turn around. We’re all cheering for you, and are here to help! David Hegg is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church and a Santa Clarita resident.“Ethically Speaking” appears Sundays. 

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THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR

ONGOING Santa Clarita City Council Meetings second and fourth Tuesday of every month 6 p.m. Council meetings are also broadcast live on SCV TV channel 20 and on the city’s website. Santa Clarita City Hall, City Council Chambers, 23920 Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita. Info: City Clerk’s office Clerk’s office: (661) 255-4391. Baby and Toddler Storytime is designed to build early language and literacy foundations for children six months to three years old. Sing and bounce, read and rhyme. Sept. 10 to Nov. 15 • Canyon Country Library: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30 a.m. • Newhall Library: Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10 a.m. • Valencia Library: Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m. and Tuesdays 11 a.m. Twos and Threes Storytime • Canyon Country Library: Mondays and Tuesdays 11 a.m., Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. • Newhall Library: Mondays and Thursdays 10 a.m. Wednesdays 11 a.m. • Valencia Library: Tuesdays at 10 a.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m. School Readiness Storytime, 3- to 5-year olds. • Canyon Country Library: Wednesdays at 11 a.m. • Newhall Library: Tuesdays at 11 a.m. • Valencia Library: Mondays at 11 a.m. Valencia Library, 23743 Valencia Blvd. Canyon Country Jo Anne Darcy Library, 18601 Soledad Canyon Road. Old Town Newhall Library, 24500 Main St. Info: SantaClaritaLibrary.com or (661) 259-0750. Sundays, 7:30 a.m. Dragon Boat Paddling. Experience a long Dragon boat with the Castaic Lake Dragon Boat team and a two-hour physical workout. Free, no experience necessary. Paddle and PFD personal flotation device provided. Info: https://teamdragoneyes.my-free.website (213) 447-5707. Saturdays and Sundays, 1-4 p.m. The Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society invites guests to visit Heritage Junction Historic Park inside William S. Hart Park in Newhall. Tours are held every Saturday and Sunday, 1-4 p.m. 24101 Newhall Ave, Newhall. Info: https://scvhs.org. Tuesdays 7:30-8:30 p.m. Remo Community Drumming Experience is an hour of fun entry-level experiential

music making with drums and percussion that is accessible to everyone. Family-friendly environment with facilitator. All ages and levels of ability are welcome and no prior musical experience is necessary. Drums and percussion instruments provided at no cost. Free. Info: santaclaritaarts. com. Saturdays thru Dec. 8, 8 a.m. to noon. Trails & Open Space Beautification Projects. Join a group of dedicated volunteers and help clean up and maintain city trails. Interested volunteers must pre-register at SantaClaritaVolunteers.com. Saturdays, 11 a.m. Family Nature Walk and a Native Live Animal Presentation at 1 p.m. Free. Placerita Nature Center, 19152 Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall. Info: www.placerita.org. Second Saturday of the month, 8 a.m. A docent-led bird walk for beginning to advanced birders. Bring binoculars, a field guide, and water. 19152 Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall. Info: www.placerita.org. First, second and third Thursdays of each month 6-9 p.m. ARTree Figure Drawing. Visit ARTree Community Arts Center for a chance to really explore your creative potential using a live model. Just drop in and bring a pencil and paper. $10 donation. ARTree Community Arts Center, 22508 6th St., Newhall. Info: http://theartree. org. Saturdays and Sundays (except rainy days and holidays) 9:30 a.m. to noon. The Gibbon Conservation Center is open to the public. A tour is given at 10 a.m. and self-guided tours are available at all times. Admission: $15 (adults); $12 (teens and students); $10 (seniors); $5 (children 6-12); $0 (Children under 5). Gibbon Conservation Center, 19100 Esguerra Road Saugus. Info: http://www. gibboncenter.org

= Family Friendly Event Tuesday, Oct. 9, 5-6 p.m. Keeping Your Brain Healthy. Did you know that your brain is an organ too? Learn about things you can do to help your memory and brain stay strong as you age. Henry Mayo Fitness and Health, Room 1 24525 Town Center Drive, Valencia, 91355. Register/ info: Adrianna Guadarrama, (818) 830-4738, aguadarrama@alzgla.org. Thursday, Oct. 11, 6:30 p.m. The Local Group Astronomy Club meets at Valencia branch of the Santa Clarita Public Library, 23743 Valencia Blvd., Valencia, 91355. Open to the public. Info: www. lgscv.org/ Thursday, Oct. 11, 7-9 p.m. Variety Night: Movies on Main “The Book of Life.”This all-ages, friendly evening features classic films, movie-inspired activities and food trucks. Don’t forget your favorite blanket or chair to complete your moviewatching experience. Main Street and Market Street, Newhall. Info: http://thursdaysatnewhall. com/varietynight. Thursday, Oct. 11, 7-9 p.m. Note by Note Showcase. Free evening of music of all genres at Note by Note, a musical showcase. Bands, duos and soloists play a wide range of music styles,

Friday, Oct. 12, 7 p.m. “Goin’ Country at Hart,” is the latest “Recreation After Dark” event series at Hart Hall and Patio. Mary White and “Magnolia Drawl” will perform. “Goin’ Country at Hart” events will feature two dance floors, line dance instruction, arts & crafts and food trucks. William S. Hart Regional Park, 24151 Newhall Ave., Newhall, 91321. A $10 donation at the door will benefit the Friends of Hart Park. Info: https:// friendsofhartpark.com Saturday, Oct. 13, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Touch A Truck fundraiser. Come see construction rigs, fire engines, sheriff’s cars, military vehicles, film industry vehicles and more. Admission is $5 a person. Proceeds support the Santa Clarita Senior Center. Fun for children (and grown-ups) of all ages. Games and prizes, visits from costumed characters and other activities. Central Park, 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. Info: http://myscvcoa.org/ touch-a-truck

N!IN! IN! WIW W CONGRATULATIONS to Cesar Roberto Lainez of Saugus — the winner of $100 for correctly identifying the artwork as being from Advanced Audiology advertisement on page 41 of our Sept. 23 issue. Identify this piece of artwork and the page number that it is on in one of the advertisements in this week’s issue, and you will be entered to win $100. One game and one winner each week.

Mail your entry to: The Signal – Contest 26330 Diamond Place | Santa Clarita, CA 91350 Or email to: contest@signalscv.com

EVENTS BY DATE Sunday, Oct. 7, 11 a.m. Hart of the West Pow Wow & Native American Craft Fair. Experience a slice of Native American culture at the 25th annual Hart of the West Pow Wow at Hart Park. The gathering showcases traditional singing, dancing, drumming and arts and crafts. Free. William S. Hart Park, 24151 Newhall Ave., Newhall 91321. Info: https://friendsofhartpark.com/Event_Pages/ powwow.html

including rock, folk, Celtic, Americana, Blues, Jazz, Country, experimental, Western. The MAIN, 24266 Main St., Newhall. Interested in performing at a future Note by Note? Application info: http://thursdaysatnewhall.com/notebynote/.

Advertiser: Page # Name: Address:

Phone:

This week’s entries are due Wed. Oct. 17. Winner to be announced in 2 weeks.

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Indian graves, gold, and anti-rodeos

ood morning there, you SClarita bunk huggers and bunk huggerettes. Sun will be up in a few hours. I know. You just went to bed a half-hour ago after a riotous and sinful Saturday night of high-pitched giggling and Demon Rum. Got just the cure for that. Time traveling through history. Yup. Let us go back into the back canyons of yesteryear where such things as insincere promises and hangovers just don’t exist. Shall we mosey into the mystic?

WAY BACK WHEN & THEN SOME

• For centuries, the present-day Highway 126 running from Castaic to Fillmore and beyond was a skinny Indian trail leading 50 miles to the Pacific Ocean. In 1839, it appeared on a Mexican land grant map. That same game trail was paved around 1928 and for years, was one of California’s most dangerous highways. Part of the problem was based in good intentions. The state planted 500 eucalyptus trees to honor the approximate same number of souls who lost their lives in the 1928 St. Francis Dam Disaster. Seems folks kept drifting off the road and smashing into the trees. Most of those giants were cut down to make way for a widening and modernization of 126. • The Oct. 1, 1842 edition of the New York Observer newspaper carried a story about the big gold strike here in Placerita Canyon. • One of the West’s most confusing historical tidbits involves an event that occurred here in the SCV in October of 1858. The Butterfield Overland Mail Stage arrived in the SCV and was greeted by a 100-gun salute. The event was toned down a century later. In 1958, a brightly painted red, white and blue bus (followed by a mechanic’s/blacksmith’s vehicle and, try doing this today — a mobile chapel) tugged a trailer with an old Butterfield stage coach. The caravan pulled up to Hart High to celebrate that day in 1858 when the Butterfield rolled through a sparsely populated SCV. It had driven all the way from Missouri, retracing that original postal route. Local 1958 U.S. Post Office workers handed over a bag with about 1,000 local letters to be mailed. A band and cheering crowd at the high school

1890 and bulldozed in 1938. Resent the stage to its next stop in Castaic. I hardly even want to get into placing it came a new, Spanish-style the confusion because there were two, adobe. It was built by the ambitious federal completely job-making unrelated at a cost of men named $45,000. Butterfield. One ButOCT. 6 1948 A weekly trailride through terfield ran • Before Santa Clarita Valley History Interstate a stage line 5, the main that became by John Boston highway linkdefunct in ing Southern the middle of and Central the country California soon after was Highway 99. Before 99, there was starting. The other Butterfield line the Ridge Route. Highway 99 zigcarried the mail through California. zagged in and out of one of America’s Let the record hopefully reflect that most dangerous roads. The state and the Butterfield Overland Stage was feds spent $1.5 million to widen and the one that rolled through here and out through San Francisquito Canyon improve the old road. • Long before Hart was a high on Oct. 8th, 1858. I’m almost sorry to school football powerhouse, they bring it up… were a meek little gridiron brother. The Indians were a brand new squad and had no seniors. On this date, they fell to the Black Foxe Hills Military Academy, 32-0. The K-12 school used to sit next to the Wilshire Country Club and catered to the sons of Hollywood’s show biz rich and famous. Actors Larry Hagman, Robert Wagner, Charles Chaplin Jr. and Gene Wilder attended there. The school was closed in 1968 when it couldn’t pay the mortgage.

The Time Ranger

OCT. 6 1958 OCT. 6 1928

• The Mighty Signal penned an editorial predicting that professional boxing would be outlawed within a year. Wonder what Signal editor A.B. “Dad” Thatcher would think of today’s bloodsport of cage-fighting? OCT. 6 1938

• While our neighboring Antelope Valley was named after the abundance of antelopes, most of them were killed off by the late 19th century. The last antelope was reported seen in the early 1920s. Or so folks thought. Forest ranger Spencer Turner discovered a rare treasure indeed on this date when he stumbled upon a real, live antelope and her fawn up in the southern foothills by Acton. • For nearly a half-century, the Acton School served the sleepy community northeast of us. It was built in

• Leland Dennis was a fireman, World War II vet and full-blooded Hopi Indian. Along with another county fireman, Dennis was cremated alive, fighting a 1,000-acre blaze near Beale’s Cut. A blast of wind acted like a flamethrower, roasting two fire fighters to death. The men were found in the usual “Boxer” position in which many flame victims are discovered. The knees are bent and the elbows flexed like a fighter in a crouch, waiting for an opening. The reason, of course, is that the intense heat causes the muscles and tendons to shrink and draw up. Some despicable and unknown soul flicking a cigarette out a car window was blamed.

OCT. 6 1968

• The earth split three football fields wide in the Pinetree tract in Canyon Country. Inspectors blamed builders Kaufman & Broad. Seems

they kept watering the hillside so much (an inch a day for two months) the ground became saturated and just slipped away. • Hard to believe, in our modern climes of cell phones, paved roads, roofs and cars, primitive peoples lived here for centuries. A local construction worker at the new Hydraulics Research site in Castaic unearthed an Indian burial ground. At first, forensics experts thought the bones were just a century or two old and belonged to local mission Indians. Further tests indicated that they were over 600 years old. Much of the Valencia Industrial Center was the site of various Indian villages. In fact, Gaspar de Portola, the first European mucky muck to visit the SCV (August of 1769) stayed at the future VIC site. Heck. You might be parking your Prius where Gaspy slept… OCT. 6 1978

• In modern history lore, it’s close to being a famous photo. On this date, a teamster either didn’t believe the height warning on the Sand Canyon/Highway 14 overpass or maybe thought it didn’t apply to his rig. He hit the brakes too late and his giant tanker — a wee bit more than 14-feetplus tall — got wedged under the concrete bridge. Stuck there for half a day, too. I do believe they ended up letting the air out of all the tires… I surely appreciate you riding along with me on these Sunday morning treks into our Santa Clarita yesteryears. You folks are good medicine. Look forward to seeing you in seven with another exciting Time Ranger adventure. Until then — ¿Insignias?¡No tengo que mostrarte ninguna insignia apestosa y vayan con Dios, amigos! John Boston, aka, Mr. Santa Clarita Valley, has been writing about and teaching the history of the SCV for more than 40 years. Recipient of The Will Rogers Lifetime Achievement Award and 119 major journalism honors, he is also author of the historical tome, “Images of America: The Santa Clarita Valley”and other books. Go to Amazon.com. Look up John Boston and go buy some. 

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Health for the holidays By Brennon Dixson Signal Staff Writer

ost Americans consider the holidays to be a time of comfort and joy, as families come together to celebrate traditions and bond with those they haven’t seen in some time. However for some, the holidays can be seen as a frightful time — and not just because of Halloween. There are lots of reasons why people are stressed on holidays, said Larry Schallert, assistant director of the Student Health and Wellness Center at College of the Canyons. Trying to put on a happy face and handle the unrealistic expectations that are placed on one’s self, family or holiday can be a nerve-wracking challenge. “People expect everybody to be happy and enjoy each other during the holidays, but lots of times there’s family tension or another factor that

people on the outside don’t consider,” Schallert said. “Everybody is trying to put on a happy face but — on the other hand — they might have bad memories associated with the day because of a death or prior trauma during the period.” Not everybody has the same family, Schallert said. “Some are broken or dysfunctional,” and hanging around people who aren’t positive or understanding of your situation can have a negative effect on one’s mindset. Often it seems impossible to let family members know how or why you feel a certain way because opening up can cause even more tension, which is something that people with depression and anxiety often want to avoid, he added. “There’s a lot of stuff we have to do during the holidays that aren’t exactly stress-free, but you don’t necessarily have more time to do the extra stuff,” Schallert said. Couple the time crunch with the financial issues that

can arise during the holidays and it’s easy to see why people get the “holiday blues.” “Alcohol is often mixed in to the situation, so people don’t watch what they say or they don’t pay as close attention to each other,” he said. “Even those who don’t struggle with alcohol might drink more than usual,” so watch your alcohol intake because trauma, stress and alcohol don’t mix. “There’s a myth that suicide goes up during holidays, but the research and data don’t support that. This doesn’t mean people aren’t emotional,” Schallert said. A lot of suicides show up in the months after the holidays, when family members are gone and one is alone again. It’s important for families to be mindful that the holidays can be the anniversary of a very traumatic time for a person. On the other hand, it’s also important for the one who’s stressed to be mindful of their trig-

COURTESY PHOTO

gers and anxiety throughout the visit, Schallert said. On some occasions, ignoring the feelings might be the best course of action, but other times it’s best to give a little extra attention and ask, “What’s wrong?” Schallert said, “because sometimes they want to talk and sometimes they want to let it pass.” At the very least, the gesture shows that you’re aware and not just ignoring it, Schallert said. “Hopefully, there’s a relationship there so they can open up.” 

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K I D S & FA M I LY

Donna’s Day: Creative Family Fun

How Do You Like Them Apples? BY Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer

innesotans think of themselves as not being particularly boastful. But fall is in the air, and one exception is when it comes to the humorous question, “How do you like them apples?” We love them, and we take pride in the fact that the popular Honeycrisp was developed in our state years ago. Now, the latest addition to this romance with new apple varieties is First Kiss. A child of the Honeycrisp family, and developed by the University of Minnesota, it was promoted as the “first kiss of autumn” at the Minnesota State Fair this summer. Eager to grab a taste, I stood in a long line at the apple booth to buy one. It was worth the wait. I took a bite and thought, “Whoa ... this IS an exceptional apple!” Would friends and family agree? A First Kiss taste test with other favorite varieties would answer that question. So I put together this entertaining apple-tasting game.

First, I purchased six varieties of apples, both to compare with First Kiss and to match apple names with tastes. Cut into bite-size chunks, I set the apples on separate plates numbered 1-7. (I kept track on my hidden “answer key.”) For reference, I listed the names of the seven apples in alphabetical order on a sheet for all to see. To play, the “testers” wrote numbers 1-7 on an index card. They tasted samples on each plate and wrote what they thought was its correct name next to the corresponding number on the card. For extra fun, I asked them to star their favorite. This was a tough assignment! Even though the participants have been chomping on apples for years, comparing apples to apples revealed subtle differences — a challenge indeed! Not surprisingly, First Kiss was a hit. You might want to do a similar “apple taste test” game using your family favorites and regional varieties to discover the apple of your eye. Then, get inspired and cut up additional apples for this refreshing Waldorf salad, a tasty side to a fall meal. Mix

WALD ORF SALAD

2 cups crisp apples in chunks , unpeeled 1 cup diced celery 1/2 cup halved red grapes 1/2 cup toasted walnut pieces 1/4 cup raisins

Dressing:

1 tablespoon honey 2 teaspoons lemon juice 3 tablespoons mayonnaise 1. Lightly toss apples, celery, grapes, walnuts and raisin s in a bowl. 2. Whisk together dressi ng ingredients until smooth. Toss with salad ingredients. Serve chilled. Serves 4-6.

crisp apple chunks with crunchy, healthy ingredients, and toss with a homemade dressing featuring a sweet hint of honey. 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.”  © 2018 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Synd.

Plan a day to shop local fairs, shops and stands

utumn is tailor-made for getting out of the house to enjoy the great outdoors. With crisp temperatures perfect for strolls or sightseeing and breathtaking scenery awash in bright autumnal hues, autumn landscapes make for the ideal backdrop for weekend plans, including shopping excursions. Fall is a great season to enjoy festivals, farmer’s markets and craft fairs, as merchants look to liquidate inventory before they prepare for the rush of the upcoming holiday season. Cities, towns, hamlets and everything in between will host their share of open markets and more with great deals to be had, and fall is an ideal time to visit local shops and stands.

Fresh produce

Farms big and small are bursting with produce come the fall. You can find the last vestiges of summer crops mingling with the first fruits of autumn. Grab the last of tomatoes and start thinking ahead to apples, squashes, lettuces, and grapes. You can even get an early start on pumpkin season — both for cooking and carving. Stock the car with reusable tote bags and scour the farmer’s markets for seasonal finds. Chances are you also might pick up some extra treats.

Food finds As plants are harvested, many items are turned into delicious treats. No autumn shopping excursion is com-

plete until you smell a fresh-baked apple pie or some apple cider doughnuts. These items make welcome additions to your own pantry, or bring a freshly made treat to a friend or family member’s home when paying a visit.

Local farmers’ markets There are two farmers’ markets in the Santa Clarita area. Santa Clarita Certified Farmers’ Market 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road Open Sundays 8:30 a.m. to noon. Saugus Farmers Market 27000 Bouquet Canyon Road Open Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  — Metro Connection

Visit a local market this fall and you will likely go home with plenty of fresh foods and unique items. SIGNAL FILE PHOTO.

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Halloween haunts at SoCal theme parks

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

Haunted Maze Pass is $18 and offers unlimited trips through all haunted mazes on a single visit to the park. The Express Haunted Maze Pass at $33 will offer a reduced wait and unlimited trips through Haunted Mazes on a single visit. Daily admission plus maze pass start at $82.99. Buy tickets and maze passes together online at least one day before your trip and save. For information on Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Fright Fest visit www. sixflags.com/magicmountain

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

t’s the season of things that go “bump in the night,” and this year’s offerings of Halloween “thrills and chills” far exceeds anything seen in the dead of the Southern California night to date. The theme parks have upped the ante, and are offering new and original thrills to park guests who visit this October.

Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia, 91355. Friday, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 28 Six Flags Magic Mountain has unleashed the “no safe zone” Fright Fest for 2018. The 26th annual Fright Fest will offer new haunted attractions including two new scare zones, three new mazes and a truly terrifying recreation of scenes from the upcoming horror movie release “Hell Fest.” A total of 13 mazes and dare-to-enter scare zones with monster coasters experienced “in the dark,” as well as the usual cast of zombies, ghouls and demons should find guests almost literally “jumping out of their skins.” “Six Flags Magic Mountain is the top-rated theme park Halloween event in the entire country, and this is our biggest and scariest Fright Fest ever. We’ve added new mazes, more iconic characters and unmatched attention to every scary detail,” said Park President Neal Thurman. The new “Hell Fest” maze will depict scenes from the movie including: • “The Mausoleum,” an increasingly narrow corridor that forces guests to feel the touch of death; • “The Mask Room,” a haunting room filled with floating white faces that could spring to life when visitors least expect it; • “The Doll Room,” filled with dolls straight out of the worst nightmares; and • “The Torture Chamber,” where the bodies of the disassembled, dissected and disemboweled wish to share their horrific ending. Room by room, guests must find their way out, or risk being trapped

At Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, guests will feast their eyes on a pumpkin patch sits 15 feet tall and 12 feet wide inside the lobby of the hotel, and the Oogie Boogie pumpkin is over 4 feet tall. Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort runs through Oct. 31. COURTESY OF DISNEYLAND RESORT

by “The Other,” the movie’s deranged antagonist. New this year four haunted attractions incorporate state-of-the-art makeup, props, and special effects: “Condemned — Forever Damned,” is a new maze full of horrific haunts of a dilapidated home where the walls are alive and the spirits of those who once lived there unleash their fury on anyone who dares enter; A new maze, “Sewer of Souls,” takes guests into an underground world of lost souls and terrifying tunnels where evil oozes. “The Shadows” is a new scare zone offering eerie whispers, long windy howls and mysterious gory creatures who lurk in total darkness. The new scare zone, “Witches Lair,” transforms the City of Metropolis into a haven for wicked spells and black magic. The region’s largest outdoor maze ever built, “Aftermath 2: Chaos Rising” covers more than 40,000 square feet is a post-apocalyptic city inhabited by nomad warriors who rule with bone-crushing iron fists and where the dead stalk the living. Larger-thanlife props, fire, fog and other special effects make this a truly terrifying maze. Other mazes include: • “Red’s Revenge” where in this fairytale guests and the wolf are hunted by Red and her demonic minions. • “Willoughby’s Resurrected,” a reincarnation of the Willoughby fam-

ily’s haunted mansion including long harrowing hallways where evil lurks. Four additional scare zones around the park include: “Demon’s Door” inhabited by evil spirits; steam-spewing mechanical beasts relentlessly hunt down their victims in “TERRORtory Twisted; Nightmares — A Twisted Fantasy” will make your childhood favorite bedtime stories into nightmares and “Freak out on Exile Hill” where sinister souls appear without warning. Spooktacular shows include the hypnotists and the popular VooDoo Nights. Guests can face their fears in the dark when the lights go out on several coasters, including “Twisted Colossus,” “Full Throttle,” “Tatsu,” “Viper,” “X2,” “Scream,” “Goliath” and “The New Revolution,” among others. For the little monsters, a Trick or Treat Trail and Halloween Crafts are offered during daylight hours. Be aware, after 7 p.m. there are no more “safe zones” in the park this year. Bugs Bunny World will go dark. Fright Fest is now open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 28. Fridays and Saturdays the park is open 10:30 a.m to 1 a.m. and Sundays the park will be open 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets for Fright Fest start at $53.99. One-day admission for all day and Fright Fest at night. Some haunted attractions require the purchase of a separate Maze Pass.

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, 91608 “Halloween Horror Nights,” Oct. 4-7, 11-14, 18-21, 25-28, 31 and Nov. 1-3. Universal Studios Hollywood, the movie studio that invented the horror genre, invites guests to discover the dark secrets lurking in the Upside Down of Netflix’s “Stranger Things” as well as other spine-chilling mazes: • “Stranger Things” — Netflix’s critically-acclaimed series comes to life for the first time in an all-new maze, featuring the Upside Down and the predatory Demogorgon. • “Poltergeist” — Inspired by MGM’s iconic supernatural horror film characterized as one of the scariest movies of all time. • “Universal Monsters” — A contemporary twist on Universal’s original cinematic Monsters featuring

See PARKS, page 41

Enrolling Students Now! www.curtaincallpa.com

661-360-8167

20655 Soledad Canyon Road Unit 31 Santa Clarita, CA 91351

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

Halloween fun in Southern California By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

Halloween in Southern California is a great time to enjoy a variety of new experiences at some of your favorite “haunts.” From studio tours to tourist attractions, Halloween brings out the “ghoul” in everyone. Among the top picks for this year’s ghastly good times:

Boo at the Zoo L.A. Zoo, 5333 Zoo Drive, L.A. 90027 Through Oct. 31 It might be spooky, but it’s completely safe and family friendly at the Boo at the L.A. Zoo, held at the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens. Daily Halloween adventures and special entertainment on weekends, including roaming costumed characters, pumpkin carving, a musical puppet show, crafts and more. Costumes are encouraged. Daily Adventures include the Spooky Stroll, Animals & You The L.A.I.R., and Boo Bird Show. Weekend Adventures (Saturday and Sunday) include Fearsome Feedings & Creature Treats, Swazzle’s Monster Menagerie Puppet Show, “Spooktacular Science” Show, and Masterpiece Pumpkins. Trick-or-treating Oct. 2021 and 28-29, featuring treat stations throughout the zoo. Cost: Zoo tickets are $21 for adults, $16 for children and $18 for seniors. Info: www.lazoo.org

Warner Bros. Studio Tour 3400 Riverside Drive, Burbank, 91522 Oct. 12-14, 18-21, 25-28 One of the newest entries for Halloween fun in So. Cal is the Horror Made Here Warner Bros. Studio Tour. In place since 2016, the tour is bigger and better for 2018. Enter the iconic backlot of Warner Bros. home to some of the most famous movies ever made (“LaLa Land,” “Blazing Saddles,” “Camelot,” “My Fair Lady” and “Casablanca”) and join an incredible Halloween party where a creepy circus, killer clowns, demon nuns, super villains, possessed dolls

Aquarium of the Pacific hosts Scarium of the Pacific on Oct. 27-28 in Long Beach. SIGNAL FILE PHOTO

and the devil come to life. Cost: Tickets start at $59 per person. For a premium experience, join “The Losers’ Club” for the night to enjoy one-time front-of-line access to each maze with dedicated VIP security and entry lanes, two complimentary beverages, one free IT photo-op, and free priority parking. Info: www.wbstudiotour.com

Haunted Hayride 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, L.A. 90027 (The Old Zoo Area is located just beyond the Park Ranger Headquarters and Shane’s Inspiration, Below Harding Golf Course. Follow Signs to Merry Go Round.) Through Oct. 31 The area surrounding the “Old Zoo” and “B Rock” in Griffith Park has been called one of the most paranormally active sites in California. It is a fitting location for the annual Los Angeles Haunted Hayride. Don’t be surprised to find clowns and other sketchy characters waiting in the haunted woods as the hayride winds its way through life-sized sets until you reach the Corn Maze. Also experience the House of Shadows dark maze, “Trick or Treat” interactive neighborhood and an OldWorld haunted village, Purgatory.

Ages 8 and older. Cost: Ticket options Hayride Only $39.99; General Admission, access to all attractions $49.99; VIP Admission, limited wait/all attractions $64.99 and Platinum Experience, skip the line/all attractions, premium parking and unlimited access $109.99. Info: https://losangeleshaunted hayride.com

Dark Harbor at the Queen Mary 1126 Queen’s Highway, Long Beach, 90802 Thursdays-Sundays through Nov. 2 Dark Harbor at the Queen Mary in Long Beach has doubled to four the number of cocktail bars hidden inside haunted mazes. Visitors to the mazes must find secret passageways to uncover the bars, where costumed bartenders serve Halloween-themed drinks. Food choices have also been upgraded with high-end dishes such as lobster fries and tri-tip sliders. Dark Harbor features 200 monsters, six mazes, new paths, rides, secret rooms and nightly live entertainment. To enhance your Dark Harbor experience, let the monsters lurking under your bed keep you company

during your stay. The Queen Mary has been dubbed one of the “Top 10 most haunted places on Earth” by Time Magazine. This is the perfect opportunity for thrill seekers and scare enthusiasts to spend the night aboard the Queen Mary. Cost: Use promo code NIGHT for rates starting at $85/night. Tickets to Dark Harbor start at $20 with various upgrades available. Info: www.queenmary.com/calen dar-of-events/dark-harbor/home/

Scarium of the Pacific 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, 90802 Saturday, Sunday Oct. 27-28 9 a.m.5 p.m. The annual Scarium of the Pacific is a family-friendly educational Halloween event held at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. Special Halloween programs include the annual children’s costume contest, creepy coloring contest, magic shows, underwater pumpkin carving, spooky storytelling, crafts, and the eerie animals of the Great Hall. Cost: The ticket price for adults (Ages 12 and up) $29.95; Child (Ages 3-11) $17.95; Senior (Age 62+) $26.95. Info: aquariumofpacific.org/events/ info/scarium_of_the_pacific 

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Kanab, a gorgeous corner of Southern Utah

T R AV E L

By Michelle Sathe Signal Staff Writer

f you’re a fan of old-fashioned Westerns, it’s a good chance you’ve seen Kanab, Utah. It’s served as the backdrop for such classics for everything from TV’s “Gunsmoke” to John Wayne’s “El Dorado” and Clint Eastwood’s “The Outlaw Josey Wales.” As beautiful as it looks on screen, nothing beats seeing Kanab in person. The red rock mountains seem to arise out of nowhere, ringing in the small town with a uniquely rustic beauty. Though I’ve been to Kanab about a dozen times, it never gets old. Sure, the drive from Santa Clarita is largely unremarkable desert until you hit St. George, when the landscape morphs to Southwestern vistas of red, orange, green and gold, with flat-topped mountains dotted with random rock formations that look as if they were whittled by the gods. It takes about eight hours to get there from the SCV, at least with my canine passengers, Louie and Melvin, who require frequent stops to sniff and take care of business. I take them along because Kanab is one of the most dog-friendly towns in America. Most of the local lodging (which range from old school, independent motels like The Quail Park Lodge to newer chains like La Quinta and Best Western) accept dogs along with their owners. And as you drive down the long main street, you’ll see plenty of people walking dogs, often stopping to enjoy a meal alfresco on pet-friendly restaurant patios. In addition to hotel options, there are lots of homes available to rent on websites like AirBnB and HomeAway. Luckily for me, I have friends with a beautiful cabin who allowed us to stay for a long weekend this September along with my parents and their dog Annie. The fall is a nice time to visit, allowing you to avoid the 100-plus weather of summer or the snow and frigid chill of winter. Nights and mornings are cool enough for a sweatshirt, while a T-shirt will do for the daytime. On Friday, my mom and I decid-

ed to take a quick sightseeing trip through Zion National Park, which is 32 miles out of town, while dad stayed home to hang with the dogs. Armed with her senior pass that allowed us to get in for free (it’s usually a $35 fee per car), our excitement started to diminish after being stuck in long lines among the two-lane highway. It did give us some extra time to gorge on the park’s incredible sights, like layers of sculpted rocks, some with green trees poking out, others that looked as they had been spread like frosting before cooling into otherworldly orbs. Deep canyons that went on forever surrounded by majestic mountains that appeared to poke a perfectly cloudless deep blue sky. The following morning, mom and I woke up early to volunteer at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the nation’s largest no-kill rescue and home to 1,700 dogs, cats, goats, pigs, horses, bunnies, parrots and various wildlife. Mom has been volunteering there for decades, and took me along for the first time about 15 years ago. The seed she sprouted that trip has grown into my current job as the public relations specialist for Best Friends Animal Society in Los Angeles, which allows me to be a voice for the homeless pets at our two adoption centers and advocate for our national

As beautiful as it looks on screen, nothing beats seeing Kanab in person. The red rock mountains seem to arise out of nowhere, ringing in the small town with a uniquely rustic beauty. RIGHT: “Mom” and Michelle Sathe volunteered at the Best Friends Animal Santuary. They were able to spend some time with this senior chocolate brown resident, walking along the flat, landscaped trails in the Dogtown section of the santuary. PHOTOS BY MICHELLE SATHE / The Signal.

goal to end the killing of dogs in cats in America’s shelters by 2025. So, while I’m fortunate enough to go to the sanctuary every year for work, it was extra special to spend a morning with my mom in the Dogtown portion of the sanctuary. There, we walked along flat, landscaped trails with ambling seniors like Yoyo, a sweet, peppy chocolate brown girl with perky ears, and spent quality time with Kit and Caboodle, 2-year-old siblings with neurological issues. Toward the end of our shift, we helped put Kit in a wheelchair and Caboodle in a harness so they could meet guests coming through on a tour. They charmed everyone, including two young sisters who gently pet the dogs. On Sunday, our last full day, mom

and I took our dogs for a hike in town at the Squaw Trail, which is located just off the main strip. They loved exploring the short bushes and rocky sections along the Roadrunner path, which had a moderate gain that allowed us a vast view of the entire trail and the ability to touch the roughly textured red rocks as we walked along. At noon, I headed to meet my friend Christelle at Peekaboo Canyon, a vegan and vegetarian restaurant located in the middle of Flagstone Studios hotel. We both ordered the stellar huevos rancheros — Christelle had the vegan version with tofu, while mine came with two perfectly cooked eggs layered over flavorful See Kanab, next page

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KANAB

Continued from previous page

black beans, melted cheese, creamy guacamole and fresh salsa. It’s a hefty portion, especially with the crispy potatoes served with the dish, and very satisfying. Determined to work off some calories, I wandered the streets, which are lined with photos and plaques of “Little Hollywood Walk of Fame” stars such as Ronald Reagan, Tom Mix and Dale Evans, before popping into the “Little Hollywood” museum. One can meander through the

O C TO B E R 7, 2018 gift shop with locally made art and jewelry and kitschy Western themed knick knacks before heading to the back, where the museum is located — it’s actually an outdoor area with structures and props from movie sets, including a huge horse figurine pulling a wagon where you can perch for fun photo ops. To celebrate our last night together, my parents and I went to Vermillion 45, a brand-new French bistro with a gorgeous open-air kitchen where chefs busily prepare decadent dishes. Dad and I split a superb French onion soup, complete with crispy crouton

and melted cheese before diving our entrees: a decadent duck confit with creamy potatoes au gratin, a perfectly cooked pork chop topped with garlic mashed potatoes, and fragrant roast chicken with herbs served with roasted veggies. Full and happy, we headed back to the cabin and sat in the yard, watching our dogs frolic as the sun set and cast a golden glow on the red rocks of Kanab one last time. Until next time, at least — because Kanab is always worth the return trip.  For more information on Kanab, visit www.visitsouthernutah.com.

Peekaboo Huevos.

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SCVSCHOOLS

CLIP N SAVE (choice of one entree, seasonal fruit and milk)

Elementary School Menus

BREAKFAST

Monday, Oct. 8

Yogurt & Crackers Breakfast Bun Cereal Chilled Fruit Fruit Juice

Tuesday, Oct. 9

Breakfast Bagel Breakfast Bun Cereal Chilled Fruit Fresh Fruit Maple Burst’n Mini Pancakes Breakfast Bun Cereal Chilled Fruit Fresh Fruit

Wednesday, Oct. 10

LUNCH ‘Lil Kahuna Double Dog Chicken Sandwich Spicy Chicken Sandwich Cheesy Stix & Marinara Smart Choice Pizza Seasonal Salad Bar Meatloaf & Mashed Potatoes Chicken Nuggets PBJ Sandwich & String Cheese Smart Choice Pizza Seasonal Salad Bar Corn Dog Dippin’ Chicken & Sauce Cheeseburger Smart Choice Pizza Seasonal Salad Bar Chocolate Chip Cookie

Thursday, Oct. 11

Apple Cinnamon Muffin Breakfast Bun Cereal Chilled Fruit Fresh Fruit

Macaroni & Cheese Dippin’ Chicken & Sauce Smart Choice Pizza Seasonal Salad Bar

Friday, Oct. 12

Breakfast Pizza Breakfast Bun Cereal Chilled Fruit Fruit Juice

Carnitas Quesadilla Cheesy Quesadilla Chicken Sandwich Spicy Chicken Sandwich Smart Choice Pizza Manager's Choice Seasonal Salad Bar

SCV school districts Menus courtesy of Santa Clarita Valley School Food Services which serves: • Castaic USD • Newhall USD

• Saugus USD • Sulphur Springs USD

Hang on to those snacks!

o you freeze foods well before the expiration date? Throw out items the moment they pass over the stamped deadline? If so, you may be doing so unnecessarily and even contributing to the vast food waste problem across the world. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations says approximately one-third of the food produced in the world for human consumption every year, which amounts to 1.3 billion tons, gets lost or wasted. The organization says consumers in rich countries waste almost as much food as the entire net food production of sub-Saharan Africa. It is important to note that the dates on various food and beverage items may mean different things, and not all of them are strict “expiration dates” requiring foods to be discarded. The

U.S. Department of Agriculture states that food expiration dates are protecting food quality, not food safety. In fact, U.S. regulations do not require that expiration dates be put on meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, cans and boxed foods. Baby formula is the only product that requires an expiration date on its packaging. Rather, dates featured on foods are typically “sell-by” and “use-by” dates. The sell-by date refers to how long the store has to display the product. It’s important to note that this date is essentially a guide for the retailer, so the store knows when to pull the item off the shelf. The use-by date or best-by date is an arbitrary date by which the manufacturer thinks the product will start to fall below its peak quality, states Business Insider. Prior to the use-by date, items will have the most

flavor and texture or quality. The “pack” or “born on” date refers to when the product was packaged. It may be used for beer, which can go bad from sunlight after just a few months, or other perishable foods. A report from the Natural Resource Defense Council and Harvard Law School’s Food Law and Policy Clinic says more than 90 percent of Americans throw out food prematurely, and 40 percent of the U.S. food supply goes uneaten every year because of food dating. So how does one avoid getting sick but conserve food resources? By following these guidelines. • Eggs can be consumed three to five weeks after purchase. • Many nonperishable boxed or canned foods can still be enjoyed well beyond the stamped date with no noticeable changes in quality.

• Soft cheeses and dairy products generally can last one week past the sell-by date and still be palatable. • Poultry or seafood should be frozen or cooked within a day or two of its sell-by stamp. • Ground meats should be used within two days of purchase because bacteria on the surface of the meat can be mixed throughout the meat during grinding. • Highly acidic canned foods will last a little more than a year, while low-acid foods are usually good for up to five years, say the nutrition experts at Texas A&M University. Any foods that smell bad, have visible mold growth or seem to have a strange texture should be avoided, even if the date suggests they are fine. Use common sense when determining which foods are safe to eat.  — Metro Connection

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FOOD

Taking an SCV BOBA tour By Marina Anderson Signal Staff Writer

o just what the heck is boba, anyway? It’s actually one of the fastest growing drink “condiments” in the food industry. Boba are thick, round, chewygummy, brown tapioca starch balls that can be added to drinks or other foods as a dessert topping. I got a laugh when I looked up the meaning for it on the internet. Thinking it was Asian word for “bubble,” I learned that originally years ago, even though in Chinese it means “big pearls.” Boba was first in Portugal as a dessert in itself. Somehow, someone in Taiwan took this somewhat sticky, satisfying gelatinous dessert, added it to tea, and a whole new beverage was invented. Once used only in Asian communities, boba, also known as bubble tea, has gained worldwide popularity. It’s also one of the fast-food coffee alternatives, especially for those with a sweet tooth. This sweet-based culinary drink sensation uses a special fat straw to suck up the boba into your mouth, so you can chew the tapioca balls as you’re savoring the liquid beverage at the same time. There are so many tea-based drink choices boba can be added to — regular tea, milk teas, smoothies, blended ... even on top of yogurt or crepes. In my adventure around town in search of the perfect boba, I found there’s more to it than plop some in your drink, slurp, chew and run. For those who are as hooked on this delicious creation and newbies beginning your boba adventure, there are trade secret preparations that separate the average quality and experience with boba with one that pleases the palate of the finicky connoisseur. Yes, it’s really an experience to relished when you get flawless boba. Here’s some info to help you make your boba choices. Since the boba has to be cooked first, it can make quite a difference if it’s boiled with no sugar, white sugar,

brown sugar, honey, maple syrup or other ingredients. How long it’s cooked matters, too. Boba can be too hard or soft or depending on where the shop gets its boba from, how long they cook it or store it. The size, type and ingredients for the boba itself can vary, too — even how it’s stored. There’s also rainbow-colored boba, crystal boba (also called white pearls or agar boba, which has more of a gelatin texture) and golden boba (yellow-gold colored, also a chewy gelatin texture similar to original boba). There’s also the popular “popping pearls,” which are clear capsules that, when bitten, release an oh-so-yummy, fruit-flavored liquid. Some boba shops can adjust the amount of sugar in your drink to your preference, which is great for

people who count their calories or carbs or simply want a drink that tastes less sugary. Other boba artisans get creative with layering different contents, so you have colorful, drinkable “artwork.” Since there are so many different types of boba, when comparing different kinds, try to keep in mind consistency and content, as well as flavor, to see if you detect the differences. There are many delectable boba shops all-around Santa Clarita to discover. One fun option for exploring is to gather a group and go on a “boba taste test tour” around town. A few of the fun options in Santa Clarita include Ding Tea in Stevenson Ranch, where you can Engage in a game of Jenga, while treating your taste buds at first of the franchise in our area, which offers the unique

Top: Boba-like chandelier at Ding Tea in Stevenson Ranch. Inset: Ding Tea owners, Kelly Phan and Phuong Tran. Below: Ron Marek and Kathryn Hein play Jenga at Ding Tea. PHOTOS BY MARINA ANDERSON / The Signal.

crystal and golden variety boba, instead of the standard dark brown version. At Tutti Frutti in Canyon Country, you can enjoy a yogurt smorgasbord with your boba. At OH Bella Gelato & Crepe Cafe, which is also in Canyon Country, offers panini sandwiches, a variety of crepes and, of course, your boba cocktail. Then there’s Cozy Tea in Valencia, which offers special fruit “snow ice” dessert, grass or lychee jelly and egg pudding with their boba. 

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FOOD

A restaurant-caliber meal in your kitchen

magine treating yourself and your dinner guests to a delicious, restaurant-caliber meal without leaving your dining room or hiring a personal chef. Small plates, also known as tapas, are lighter, bite-sized indulgences that you can prepare and style seamlessly. By putting your own artful, unique spin on small plates, you can indulge in a meal that appeals to the senses and conveys sophistication. It can be easy to create delicious small plates: All you need are wholesome, seasonal ingredients to pair with an artisan-crafted, quality olive oil such as Carapelli. The line, with three varieties to explore, brings a renaissance to the modern kitchen and is ideal for endeavoring chefs looking to try new flavors and experiment with tastes or recipes. It embodies a true passion for the art of creating extra-virgin olive oils and is designed to lift cooks out of the everyday cooking experience.

Keep in mind that when it comes to small plates, what’s important isn’t just the recipe, but the plate — and plating — of the cuisine itself. Foods that appeal to the eye are likely to tempt the taste buds, as well. Invest in appropriate-sized dishware for small plates that allows the food to take center-stage. For a true multi-sensory indulgence, also take time to garnish your dishes, big and small, with edible enhancements that lend a subtle complement to the main attraction. A selection of fresh greens, sprinkling of herbs and even a light drizzle of olive oil can do the trick.

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Champagne-Dijon Vinaigrette Ingredients:

2 tablespoons champagne vinegar 1 t easpoon Dijon Mustard 1 t ablespoon clover honey 1/2 cup Carapelli Organic Olive Oil 1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 t easpoon fresh parsley, finely chopped 1 t easpoon basil, finely chopped 1 p ound carrots, peeled and finely shredded 2 t ablespoons Italian parsley, chopped 2 t ablespoons chives, thinly sliced, plus more cut into 3/4-inch pieces, for garnish 1/3 cup Champagne Vinaigrette fine sea salt, to taste freshly ground black pepper, to taste chive sticks, for garnish

Directions: In medium mixing bowl, combine champagne vinegar, Dijon and honey. Whisk constantly until well combined. While whisking, slowly drizzle in olive oil to emulsify. Add garlic,

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salt, pepper, parsley and basil: whisk to combine. In mixing bowl, toss carrots, parsley and chives. Add dressing. Season, to taste, with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Garnish with chive sticks. Notes: Vinaigrette can be stored in refrigerator up to five days. For a zestier salad, add additional 2 tablespoons vinaigrette to carrots; serve with crusty bread.  —Family Features

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* Or call toll free at: 1-888-979-2247 (TTY: 711) 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, 7 days a week (except Thanksgiving and Christmas) from October 1 through March 31, and Monday to Friday (except holidays) from April 1 through September 30. *Calling this number will direct you to a licensed insurance agent/broker. Alignment Health Plan is an HMO and HMO SNP plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Alignment Health Plan depends on contract renewal. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, premium and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium. A sales person will be present with information and applications. For accommodation of persons with special needs at sales meetings, call 1-866-634-2247 (TTY: 711) 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, seven days a week. Alignment Health Plan complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. ATTENTION: If you speak a language other than English, assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Cal1 1-866-634-2247 (TTY 711): ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-877-399-2247 (TTY 711). 注意：如果您使用繁體中文，您可以免費獲得語言援助服務。請致電 1-866-634-2247 (TTY 711). Quality Care. Anywhere. Anytime. Our Promise to You We promise to make health care as convenient and hassle-free as possible by offering 24/7 access to concierge care. We value your health and your time. It’s your health. It’s Personal. Call us today to learn about the variety of health plans and more benefits, designed specifically to meet your healthcare needs. H3815_19030EN_M

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Bricks: Classic fare with original flavorful flair By Michelle Sathe Signal Staff Writer

ricks is a bit of mystery from the outside. You may have driven by the Newhall restaurant 100 times and either missed the modest, rust-colored building or didn’t know what was going on inside. Yummy culinary magic — that’s what’s happening at Bricks, which takes (mostly) American classics and gives them an extra flavorful flair. Take the Shrimp Po’ Boy ($12), a New Orleans favorite, with tempura shrimp layered on a golden focaccia roll with tangy coleslaw and spicy mayo. There’s a bit of crunch, succulence, spice and tang in every bite, a great option when you want a light but satisfying sandwich. The Bricks Burger ($12), on the other hand, is a towering concoction of hot grilled beef, crispy bacon, molten Swiss cheese, caramelized onions and grilled jalapeno. Oh, this burger … it’s decadent, delicious, and has just the right spicy kick. Just try not to grin like a fool when you eat it (I failed). Bricks’ secret weapon is chef Abad Ruiz, who hails from Oaxaca and makes just about everything inhouse, including all the dressings and sauces. “Abad has a really good sense of taste and how things go together, plus he always adds that little bit of spice that makes each dish special,” said owner Mike Maynard, who took over Bricks in June 2018 with his wife, Dee; his daughter Ally; and son-inlaw Jordan Galloway. The Maynards became regular customers after being turned on to Bricks’ burgers by son Michael a few years ago. “We love a good burger Palm & Arugula salad

and supporting independent restaurants that aren’t run of the mill,” Maynard said. They never really thought about owning a restaurant of their own until Maynard recently retired from a 30-year career as head coach for UCLA’s track and field team. “I got bored and wanted to do something my family could get into,” he said. “I’m a people person, so hospitality is perfect for me. It’s all about building teams, which I’ve done throughout my career.” Bricks’ current winning team include Abad in the kitchen, with Ally and Justin handling the front and back of the house respectively. Maynard’s goal is to make sure everything is as fresh and locally sourced as possible. That includes the beer options, which features California microbrews on tap. (Try the flight of four 4 oz. glasses for $7.) Newer appetizers include the Mexican-American mashup called Carnitas Tots ($8), golden brown potato puffs topped with a generous mound of tender, seasoned, shredded pork, sour cream, and a fresh pico de gallo. The Newhall Nachos ($8) invoke more of a Southern flair–think pulled pork bathed in a smoky, slightly sweet barbecue sauce atop seasoned, golden curly fries and melted cheddar cheese. Both are like adolescent food fantasies brought to life, albeit with a sophisticated gourmet touch, in portions generous enough to share with everyone at the table. Looking for something a little more on the healthy side? Bricks has 10 salads to choose from. The fabulous Palm & Arugula salad ($11) pairs peppery arugula with sweet tangerine segments, tender sliced hearts of palm, creamy avocado, and a zesty orange vinaigrette (get it topped with plump, seasoned shrimp for $3 more). The salmon salad ($13) is another standout, especially when you cut up the perfectly grilled fish and toss with the vibrant mixed greens, juicy tomatoes, red onion, and a soy and citrus-infused ponzu dressing served on the side. Bricks’ menu is so extensive you could eat here daily for a month straight and not repeat a meal and that’s not even counting brunch on

FOOD

The Maynards purchased Bricks in June. From left are Ally Maynard, Mike Maynard, Chef Abad Ruiz and Dee Maynard. PHOTOS BY MICHELE SATHE / The Signal.

Saturdays and Sundays, with such delights as chicken and waffles, as well as salmon chorizo hash. With fall in the air, it’s an especially good time to take advantage of Bricks’ two patios. The smaller, more intimate front patio has high-backed booths with leather seats, while the larger back patio has heavy wood tables and a more festive vibe.

And just like the menu, you can’t go wrong with whichever one you choose. Bricks, 23820 Lyons Avenue, Newhall. Open Monday to Friday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, call (661) 286-1091 or visit www.bricksnewhall. com. 

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THINGS TO DO

DOWNTOWN ADVENTURES with AUNT GIGI By Michelle Sathe Signal Staff Writer

y Aunt Gisela, aka “Gigi,” always took me to the coolest places when I was a kid. During my obsession with old movies around age 11, we hopped on her Vespa scooter and headed to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery to check out the graves of Rudolph Valentino, Errol Flynn and Judy Garland. Then there was the Hare Krishna Festival in Venice when I was 12. Between the bright colors, the chanting and several bejeweled elephants parading in the sand, my mind was blown. Watching the little kids dance around with shaved heads, I was convinced they would try to kidnap me. This revelation made Gigi laugh hysterically, before she realized how freaked out I was and went into reassurance mode. So when I finally decided to check out the Central Market in Downtown L.A. this summer, I knew who to call. It took us about 15 minutes from Gigi’s home in Highland Park and she knew exactly where she was headed. After all, Gigi’s been going there since the early 1960s after immigrating to America from Canada in 1959. (She and my mother, her oldest sister, originally hail from Germany if the name Gisela didn’t give that away). “Your Aunt Helga and I went to see an Elvis movie near here,” Gigi recalled. “We didn’t have enough money to take bus home, so we took Broadway and walked back to Lincoln Heights. We were 12 and 14.”

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Now 71, Gigi still walks the streets of Downtown L.A. with confidence, leading us quickly to the Bradbury Building. The architectural landmark, built in 1893, is famous for its ornate ironwork and five stories of walkways, stairs and elevators, all bathed in natural light from an atrium. It’s the city of Los Angeles’ oldest landmarked building and still a wonder to behold. Though new to me, the Bradbury Building still felt strangely familiar, most likely because it has been featured in TV shows and

It was lunchtime and massive lines were in place for popular stops like the breakfast-themed Eggslut and cleverly named Ramen Hood. PHOTOS BY MICHELLE SATHE

movies since the 1940s, maybe most notably in 1982’s “Blade Runner.” Like just about everyone in the place, we stopped and took a selfie. Across the street, the Victor ClothOR

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ing Co. mural known as “The Pope of Broadway” stopped me in my tracks. It’s a 70-foot-high painting of actor Anthony Quinn, looking dashing as he dances on a stage. Artist Elloy Torez, who felt Quinn represented the diversity of Los Angeles, created the original mural in 1985 and restored it in 2017. It’s a beautiful, compelling work of art. Just a block away was Grand Central Market. Outside are tables and chairs for people to enjoy the many culinary options contained within the bustling market, which is more like a food court teeming with restaurants. It was lunchtime and massive lines were in place for popular stops like the breakfast-themed Eggslut and cleverly named Ramen Hood. In between the restaurants, there are specialty shops such as DTLA Cheese & Kitchen or Valerie Confections Bakery & Café. My foodie head was spinning. So. Many. Choices. Gigi suggested The Horse Thief BBQ, a super cool outdoor restaurant with communal seating. The menu featured old-school smoked meats with classic sides. Throwing any concern for calories away, we opted for the smoky, fork tender brisket shot through with decadent ribbons of fat, along with macaroni and cheese and potato salad. As we ate, she looked around at the young men in their skinny jeans and girls in their sundresses with boots and smiled. “This place has really changed over the years,” Gigi said. “It wasn’t a hipster spot when your grandma and I came here, back in the 60s.” In those days, she continued, the market leaned more European. Every Saturday, Gigi and Grandma would come to an Italian deli where they sold German bread and sausages, and they stocked up for the week. “The fruit vendors would have all the nice stuff up front, but you couldn’t pick your own,” she said. “They would give you all the crap.” I laughed. Gigi’s bluntness was part of her charm. Stuffed full of barbecue, we moved slowly in the heat towards the Angel’s Flight Railway. The poppy-orange tram, featured in the popular 2016

Michelle Sathe and Aunt Gisela.

musical “La La Land” transports passengers a few vertical blocks from Grand Avenue to the California Plaza Building, where Gigi used to work a decade before.

Across the street, the Victor Clothing Co. mural known as “The Pope of Broadway” stopped me in my tracks.

Our last stop was the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, which opened in 1923 and was one of the first venues to host the Academy Awards. Opulent touches abound inside the historic hotel: huge carved marble fountains and columns, gleaming wood-beamed ceilings, bronze stairwells, massive sparkling chandeliers and jewel-toned, heavy velvet draperies. We stopped and looked at all the old Hollywood photos that lined the hallways. As I lingered, Gigi wandered of down a long hallway, stopping to look up at the ornate travertine ceilings before turning her gaze ahead, ever ready for her next adventure. 

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S U N D AYS I G N A L · 37

PETS

Trust your pets with a professional By Michelle Sathe Signal Staff Writer

hen her cat Charlie became asthmatic and needed inhaled medicine several times a day, Beth Martin knew she needed a professional pet sitter. “My other cats were much younger, and didn’t have the same issues, but Charlie was my boy and I couldn’t just leave him with anyone. If his medicine got screwed up, it could’ve been disastrous,” Martin said. So she went online and did a bit of research, ultimately logging onto www.petsit.com, the website for Pet Sitters International, which bills itself as the world’s leading educational association for professional pet sitters. “I was looking for someone bonded and insured. After all, you’re opening your house to someone when you’re gone,” Martin said. “Security for me and my pets is very important.” She entered her Canyon Country ZIP code, found Kyle’s Custom Critter Care, and scheduled a consultation with owner Kyle Harris. A former substitute teacher, Harris had always loved animals and was a regular volunteer at Castaic Animal

Care Center. She launched Kyle’s Customer Critter Care more than 10 years ago. In addition to being licensed, bonded and insured, Harris is also pet CPR- and first aid-certified, which requires regular renewal. “I’ve had to use first aid for minor things, but haven’t had to resuscitate a pet yet,” Harris said. “But I specialize in geriatric pets, so I need to know what I’m doing.” Harris’ credentials and thoroughness during their initial meeting impressed Martin, as did her skill level. “Most pet sitters would freak out about doing an inhaler on a cat, but Kyle did it no problem,” she said. “Charlie liked her immediately, too.” During her visits, Harris would text Martin photos and updates of Charlie. “I was a really worried mom. The photos really helped. I could see how comfortable he was,” Martin said. While Charlie died last year, Martin has continued using Harris’ services for her remaining cats, Bandit and Sooty, whenever she travels. “I leave a long list of stuff every time, little fussy things. Kyle looks after the fish, the plants, and picks up the mail. She’s super great about all my Type A personality stuff,” Martin said. Over the last decade, Harris has watched pets ranging from cats and dogs to lizards, bird, fish, horses and pigs. She can handle dogs of any

breed and size, as long as they are leash trained and not aggressive to humans.

Harris, shown here with two of her charges, is licensed, bonded and insured. PHOTOS BY MICHELLE SATHE / The Signal

See PET SITTING, next page

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PETS

PET SITTING

Continued from previous page

Her only limit? “No exotics,” Harris said. During the introductory in-home consultation, Harris will ask potential clients about their pet’s behavior, medical history, feeding schedule, veterinary contact information, as well as any household items that need to be handled during her visits. Currently, Harris is only accepting clients in three zip codes — 91351, 91355 and 91387 — in order to provide focused care close to her Canyon Country home. That’s been very convenient for Kelly Ford, also in Canyon Country, who’s been a client for 10 years. Harris cares for her rescued Schnauzers, Milton and Amy, sometimes on a moment’s notice.

“Since she’s local, it’s not a burden,” Ford said. Milton, 13, is blind in one eye and very easygoing. Amy, on the other hand, can be a bit of a handful, but Harris is able to manage her easily. “Kyle makes them sit for their treats. When we get home, my dogs are better behaved than we left,” Ford said with a laugh. Before hiring Harris, Ford would ask neighborhood teens to help with her dogs. The results were not what she hoped for. “We were always worried a little bit,” Ford said. “We’d get home and our dogs’ water dishes would be empty. We wanted them to walk the dogs, but our neighbors would tell us, ‘I never saw your dogs leave the driveway.’’’ That’s why she’s happy to pay Harris $25 a visit or $80 for an overnight stay. “How often do you get to have a woman with a master’s degree in education to babysit your dog?” Ford said. “It’s a legitimate business for Kyle, not just some kid throwing food at your dogs. She’s a rock-solid professional and we trust her implicitly.” 

PHOTOS BY MICHELLE SATHE/The Signal

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Harris also is pet CPR- and first aidcertified, which requires regular renewal.

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o, you’re ready to hire a pet sitter…but do you know what to ask? Here are some questions to help guide during

your first in-home consultation, at which time the sitter should also meet your pet(s). n Are you insured and bonded? n Do you have a business license? n Can you provide me with client references? n Can we review your service agreement or contract? n Are you trained in pet first aid? If

Jackie O’s Professional Pet Care (661) 644-2339 so, what kind? n What are your established fees for visits? n Are you able to handle my pets’ special needs (if applicable)? n What other services do you provide during a visit? (Watering plants, mail pick up, etc.) n How available are you in an emergency? 

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O C TO B E R 7, 2018

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 39

GARDENING

Love it or leaf it this fall

f you’re not tired of picking up leaves by the time fall comes, but rather want to see how they reflect the changing seasons in our nation, here’s a few tips for autumn travelers. Some advance planning can help make fall foliage trips that much more enjoyable and awe-inspiring.

Peak viewing times

Areas of the northern-most latitude will start to show color earlier than more southern areas. Generally speaking, the leaf-viewing season begins in late September and runs through early November for much of North America. Peak times for viewing depend on areas of travel and time of year. For large swaths of Canada and the United States, plan trips up until late-October, depending on where you are. The Weather Channel offers maps and charts at www.weather. com/maps/fall-foliage for the peak times for many areas of the U.S.

Pick your destination

Anywhere with deciduous trees provides the opportunity to witness blazing autumn color. During

leaf-peeping season, travelers can go coast to coast and see awesome vistas. Some regions are particularly known for their leaf displays. New York’s Catskill and Adirondack regions are prime spots for visitors in the autumn. Those who live further north will find that leaves in Vermont are such an attraction that routes are published indicating where to enjoy the best views. Further south, Central and Eastern Virginia peak in late October. And don’t forget the shores of the Great Lakes, which are awash in reds, oranges and yellows by mid-September. The travel resource Frommer’s offers more leaf-peeping locales to visit.

Pack the right gear

While most people are not without a smartphone that can capture amazing high-resolution imagery, serious leaf photographers may want to take out their prized camera equipment for leaf-peeping excursions. Also bring along a map or a GPS-enabled device so you can explore back roads and areas off the beaten path more readily. There are plenty of apps that can

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help with foliage-finding adventures, so a phone is a handy tool. When packing, also bring along hiking boots, comfortable layered clothing and any equipment you’d normally take for an afternoon in the great outdoors. Another idea is to hit the ATM machine prior to the visit. Many smaller towns and their local shops may not take credit cards, so it’s best to have cash on hand for food and souvenirs

Extend the day

Make leaf-peeping part of a larger series of events for the day. Scope out vineyards where you can sample local wines or plan trips around orchards, where you can come home with beautiful photos as well as fresh-picked apples and pumpkins. You may find a county fair or street festival while exploring.  -Metro Connection

6 Uses for fallen leaves 1. Spread leaves as a protective mulch to cover tender perennials or root crops/bulbs in the ground. The leaves will form a natural insulating cover that keeps the soil and the plants within a bit warmer over winter. 2. Create a pile of leaves that will break down and form a crumbly, compost-like material called leaf mold. Even though leaf mold may sound like a blight, it’s actually a good amendment to garden soil, improving its structure and ability to hold water. Leaf mold also attracts beneficial organisms that are vital in healthy soil. 3. Brown leaves can be added to green materials in compost piles to improve the health of the compost being formed. According to the healthy living resource Care2, the ideal ratio is 75 percent brown to 25 percent green materials in compost. Turn compost piles regularly to aerate them.

4. Store dried, mulched leaves in a dry spot so they can be used in the spring as a weed barrier for spring plantings. They will keep weeds at bay and help retain soil moisture to ensure small sprouts have the resources to grow. 5. Use shredded leaves as a lawn supplement. Pass a lawn mower over leaves left on the lawn to break them down into pieces too small to rake. This will help keep the lawn healthy throughout the winter without blocking out needed sunlight. 6. Bag dried leaves and pack them tightly together in cold areas of the home, such as basements or garages. They can act as added insulation. Bags of leaves also can be placed around planting containers to protect them from frost. Fallen leaves can be used in many different ways throughout the year.  —Metro Connection

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