Sunday Signal May 2, 2021

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MAY 2, 2021

Unique Ideas for Mother’s Day Page 6 Your News, Entertainment & Lifestyle Source

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WHEN ONLINE SPENDING CAN BE A PROBLEM

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TIPS TO HELP IMPROVE YOUR MEMORY

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REMEMBERING HOW WE GOT TO SESAME STREET

PLUS : CITY NEWS | OPINION | SCHOOL | ENTERTAINMENT | CALENDAR | HEALTH & FITNESS

M AY 2, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3

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4 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M AY 2, 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS FEATURES

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MOTHERS DAY

6

FROM THE CITY MANAGER

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5 Fitness centers delivering safety and sweat 8 How COVID-19 can impact our clicking, spending 6 Celebrate Mom with an Afternoon Tea 7 Thinking about Mom for Mother’s Day 9 Planning the future for Santa Clarita

HEALTH & BEAUTY

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SENIOR LIVING

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10 Essential skin care tips for the upcoming summer 11 Simple ways to maintain memory as you age

ENTERTAINMENT 12 12 This is how we got to Sesame Street

FOOD 13 1 3 Delicious desserts for Mom Margarita Cupcakes Very Berry Ice Cream

GARDENING

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1 4 Plants that can keep the bugs away Spring time is cicada time

PETS 15 1 5 Some feline facts you can purr over Did You Know? Euthanizing has declined

HOME 16 16 Make safety an important part of home cleaning

KIDS & FAMILY

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1 7 Donna’s Day: Serve breakfast in bed for Mother’s Day Junior Whirl • Did You Know?

PUZZLES 18 OPINION 19

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The entire content of the Sunday Signal is copyrighted 2021 by Paladin Multi-Media Group, Inc. All submitted letters and columns are strictly the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the publisher. All rights are reserved and no part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. If you would not like this delivered to your home, please call (661) 259-1000.

PHOTO BY BOBBY BLOCK / THE SIGNAL

M AY 2, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 5

N E W S F E AT U R E

Fitness centers delivering safety and sweat

By Kev Kurdoghlian Signal Staff Writer

G

yms and fitness centers are reopening more of their operations with each new public health order.

At the beginning of April, the Los Angeles County Public Health Department issued revised safety guidelines for gyms and fitness centers, including yoga and dance studios, climbing wall and 1:1 fitness training.

The revised guidelines reflect the county’s move to the less restrictive “orange” tier — one away from the least restrictive “yellow” tier in California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

County COVID-19 data has positioned Los Angeles to move into the “yellow” tier very soon. With that move will come more updated guidelines for gyms and fitness centers.

For now, indoor operations at gyms and fitness centers are limited to 25% occupancy. And gyms can continue to operate outdoors, with the county recommending gyms place an emphasis on outdoor activities.

Santa Clarita Valley’s gyms and fitness centers have adapted to the changes. At Gervais Dance Studio in Valencia, a small class size — no more than 12 dancers — are able to spread out in a large room with high ceilings and great airflow and ventilation.

Joanne Ainsworth, the studio’s owners, said the studio is cleaned daily and dancers are provided a comfortable amount of space in-between classes to relax.

“I think our customers know that they are safe because we are so small and such a tight-knit dance family,” Ainsworth told The Signal. “We all know each other, and when someone gets vaccinated, everyone knows.

There is a level of friendship at our studio that is very unique.”

Ainsworth requires dancers and community members entering the studio to wear and mask and bring their own water bottle. Gervais Dance Studio also takes entrant’s temperature and asks them to answer safety questions upon entering.

Climbing walls also benefit from being large indoor spaces

“Indoor climbing facilities have in-

herently less exposure than other fitness facilities as there is no sustained heavy breathing,” said Howard Konishi, owner and general manager of Santa Clarita’s Top Out Climbing.

Konishi shared a recent peer-reviewed study published in “Letters in Applied Microbiology” that found coronavirus “is unlikely to persist for extended periods of time within climbing chalk powders, and therefore the risk of fomite transmission is limited.”

“Due to the dangers of being too close to other climbers on the climbing walls, social distancing was enforced prior to the pandemic and is ingrained into the safety of climbing facilities,” he said.

Top Out Climbing also requires facemasks inside their facilities, where high ceilings of the minimize concentration of aerosols and fresh outside air is continuously being circulated throughout the facility using a combination of access doors, large industrial fans and ceiling skylights.

Currently, only members and prepaid punch pass holders are allowed into Top Out, though climbers joining this climbing wall can gain access by choosing a one-month introductory membership.

Yoga studios are also implementing safety protocols Yoga Yoga in Newhall installed Hepa filters, humidifiers and hand sanitizing and disinfection stations in their studio, or Shala, to ensure a healthy environment for their staff, teachers and students.

Danica Lynch, of Yoga Yoga, told The Signal she’s staying current with guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Her team creates social distancing spaces, as well as outside air flow by opening doors. Lynch also sanitizes the studio after every class.

“Students attending yoga classes should bring their own yoga props, such as a yoga mat, blocks, bolster, yoga strap or any props they feel will provide the best support and comfort for their personal practice,” Lynch said.

Rachel Cosgrove owns Results Fitness in Newhall. Social distancing is an important part of her COVID safety set up.

The ceiling skylights are open for extra ventilation as Raven Anker of Valencia climbs the bouldering wall at Top Out Climbing in Santa Clarita. While many are eager to return to their previous gym routines, it’s important to remember to ease back into exercise. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

“We’ve gone an extra step to set up social distanced spaces, or pods, where each client basically has their own gym while still enjoying the camaraderie of training in the same room with other people in a gym environment,” she said, noting that Results Fitness uses hospital grade air-filtration systems in each room and conducts temperature checks as gym patrons enter the facility.

More information about Gervais Dance Studio is located at 26017 Hun-

tington Lane, Unit D, Valencia and (661) 295-5794.

Top Out Climbing is located at 26332 Ferry Court, Santa Clarita.

They can be reached by phone at (661) 288.1813.

For more information about Yoga Yoga, it can be found at 24421 Walnut St., Santa Clarita or call them at (661) 222-7777.

Results Fitness is located at 24420 Walnut St, Newhall, and can be reached at (661) 306-3131. 

6 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M AY 2, 2021

M O T H E R ’ S D AY

WITH AN AFTERNOON TEA

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

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reat your mother to an exceptional Mother’s Day, by hand crafting a special occasion afternoon tea in her honor.

Avoid the temptation to buy ready-made items for the dessert tray. Mini cupcakes made from a box mix are far superior to anything you can find in the grocery store bakery. Same for scones and truffles.

You can buy premade strawberry jam and lemon curd at most food stores. Devonshire cream (Devon cream) can be tricky to find. But, check online or at high-end specialty stores.

Good quality bread, purchased from a real bakery, is always best.

A tip for keeping your sandwiches fresh: Cover with a barely damp paper towel until you serve. It keeps the bread from drying out on your sandwiches. Also, use a variety of different breads, it makes for a more interesting tasting experience and a more visual pleasing display.

Cut your sandwiches into different shapes, squares and rectangles. You can also use circle or star cookie cutters to vary your presentation.

Cucumber-Dill Tea Sandwiches 4 oz softened cream cheese 2 tbsp. dill weed (or chopped fresh dill)

Zest and juice of 1 lemon

Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients together and then spread onto slices of white bread. Top with 1/4-inch (or thinner) slices of cucumbers. Trim crusts and cut into pieces.

Egg Salad Tea Sandwiches Spread wheat bread with your favorite egg salad recipe. I make mine with six chopped up hardboiled eggs, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1 tsp. Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp. dill week, chives and capers to taste.

Trim crusts and cut into four pieces. Trim crusts.

Decorate with a slice of green olive with pimento on top.

Caprese Tea Sandwiches Layer sliced fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and basil on a split focaccia loaf. Add salt, pepper and chopped, jarred artichoke hearts; drizzle with olive oil. Slice into tea sandwich-size portions.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches Spread softened cream cheese on slices of date-nut bread and sandwich with sliced strawberries. Cut sandwiches in half.

Turkey Brie Tea Sandwiches Spread garlic aioli or mayonnaise on each side of Jewish Rye bread. Place slices of deli turkey and thinly sliced brie on sandwich. Trim crust.

Scones

3 cups flour 1/3 cup sugar 1 tsp. salt 1 tbsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. baking soda 3/4 cup butter, cold and cubed 1 cup milk 2 large eggs 1 tsp. vanilla 1 tsp. water

Sugar for dusting Adjust the oven rack to the center position and preheat to 400F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda.

Add the butter and cut with a pastry cutter or a fork until the butter is the size of large peas.

In a separate bowl whisk together the milk, 1 egg and vanilla.

Add the liquid mixture. Mix until just combined.

Don’t over mix.

After mixing, place dough on floured surface and divide into two equal parts. Lightly knead into 3/4-inch-thick, 6-inch diameter rounds. Cut each round into 8 wedges and place on baking sheets.

Space 2 inches apart.

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

After you remove scones from the oven make a glaze. Combine 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar in a small bowl with 2 tbsp. water and 1/2 tsp. vanilla. Add 1 tsp. lemon for a lemon glaze. Pour over scones. Scones are best served warm.

Lemon Bars

1 cup softened butter 1/2 cup powdered sugar 2 cups flour 1/2 tsp. salt 4 eggs 6 tbsp. lemon juice 1 3/4 cup sugar 1/3 cup flour

Powdered sugar for dusting Mix butter, powdered sugar, flour and salt together with a pastry cutter. Pat mixture into a greased 9x13 pan.

Bake for 20 minutes at 375F.

Do not let pastry get brown.

Blend eggs, lemon juice, sugar and flour until frothy, about 30 seconds. Pour over cooled crust.

Bake for 20 minutes at 350F. Remove from oven and dust with powdered sugar.

Dark Chocolate Truffles

1/3 cup heavy whipping cream 3 tbsp. butter 1 2/3 cups (10-oz. pkg.) dark chocolate chips 1 tsp. vanilla 2-3 tablespoons liqueur, optional Line baking sheet with parchment or wax paper.

Heat cream and butter to a gentle boil in medium, heavy-duty saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chocolate. Stir until mixture is smooth and chocolate is melted. Add vanilla. If desired, add liqueur to taste (Kahlua, Crème de Menthe, Grand Mariner or other). Refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes or until slightly thickened.

Drop chocolate mixture by rounded teaspoon onto prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate for 20 minutes. Shape or roll into balls.

Roll your finished truffles in finely chopped toasted nuts, colorful sprinkles, toffee bits, toasted flaked coconut, powdered sugar and/or baking cocoa until fully coated. Store in airtight container in refrigerator. 

M AY 2, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 7

Thinking about Mom for Mother’s Day

By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

A

fter a pandemic-induced, stress-filled year, mom deserves something special, and Mother’s Day is fast-approaching.

There are a number of local businesses here in the Santa Clarita Valley that can provide unique gifts for mom’s special day.

Creating a blowout gift

Jenni and Paul Soltero opened Candle Corner with the goal of allowing customers to personalize their own candles, fitting with their theme of “blend, pour, create.”

Since the shop opened in late October, they’ve allowed customers to create their own scents for their customized candles.

“It’s a fun experience,” Jenni Soltero said. “The whole process itself is coming in and smelling a bunch of single scented candles … without knowing the names of them, which makes it really unique … and being able to blend up to three scents together to create your unique scent.”

They also hold candle making parties for groups of up to 25, which can be done before or after store hours.

On Mother’s Day, the shop is giving out a gift candle, while supplies last.

Candle Corner, located at 23300 Cinema Drive, Unit 105, is open 1-7 p.m. daily. For more information, call (661) 425-7600 or visit candlecorner.org.

Groups of four or more are asked to call ahead and make appointments so the shop is staffed properly.

It’s wine o’clock somewhere

Over at Agua Dulce Winery, general manager Steve Whizan is looking forward to inviting families back to the 400-acre vineyard for the winery’s annual Mother’s Day picnic.

Enjoy a vineyard picnic with wine, meats and cheeses spreads, olives, nuts, fruit, dessert, etc. as well as live music.

“We’ve been doing it for years,” Whizan said. “It’s always been a real special event, and people keep coming back (for it).”

In addition, the winery is offering limited indoor tastings, on a first come first serve basis, along with plenty of outdoor seating. Food trucks are on site on weekends, though customers are welcome to bring their own food.

The Mother’s Day picnic is scheduled 1-4 p.m.

Sunday, with reservations required. Tickets are $60 per person and $10 per child, with 10 people max per family.

Agua Dulce Winery, located at 9640 Sierra Highway, is open 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. For more information, call (661) 268-7402 or visit aguadulcewinery.com.

Finding a handcrafted creation

Artistic Exchange Market is a shop where you

can find all kinds of handmade, repurposed and vintage items provided locally by Santa Clarita vendors, many of whom are mothers themselves.

The idea for the shop came to owner Ariane Aligo, who not only works full time as a teacher but is also a full-time student, when she realized there weren’t many places for artists such as herself to showcase their products.

“It’s like building your brand on your own time,” Aligo said, adding that sellers can drop off their products and don’t have to think about them again until they’ve sold.

Aligo wants the shop to allow these vendors to showcase their craft, whatever it may be, on their own time, which vendor Karen Ortiz, who refinishes furniture, said is exactly what drew her in.

“It’s the perfect way to display my pieces,” she said. “I was excited because it’s kind of a set it, forget it and come and restock when I need to (thing).”

For Ortiz, refinishing furniture not only allows her to give each piece new life, but it’s a therapeutic hobby.

“I just found something that actually works for me,” she added. “It relaxes me … and allows me to find my creativity.”

Santa Clarita resident Terra Dispirito, another vendor at the shop, combined her two passions — her career as a hairdresser and hobby as a volunteer at the Castaic Animal Care Center — to create Fig and Star beauty products, which she named after her own adopted shelter pups.

“We donate most of our profit back to the shelter animals,” Dispirito said. “Mine and my husband’s goal is to open an animal rescue with this.”

It’s exactly vendors like this Aligo is looking forward to assisting by giving them a place to display their products without hesitation in an effort to support and highlight local small businesses.

“When I first started doing it, I was scared I wasn’t good enough, so I think taking away the application process was a good idea and just calling it ‘registering,’” she said. “If we have room, you can get in. … If you have a craft, go ahead and sell it.”

The shop just opened April 27, and plans to move to a bigger location in the SCV at the end of May. In honor of Mother’s Day, the shop is featuring a lot of different types of florists and has various flowers and floral bouquets for sale.

Artistic Exchange Market, located at 24313 Magic Mountain Parkway in Valencia, is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. For more information, call (818) 3079641 or visit facebook.com/artisticexchangemarket.

Time for a massage?

While fully booked for Mother’s Day weekend, The Ivy Day Spa is still offering discounted gift cards for the occasion, which can be used for a future spa day for you and your mom.

The spa offers massages, facials and nail services, as well as other spa packages and waxing services,

N E W S F E AT U R E

Debbie Grill, right, serves wine to Lori Martindale, in the tasting room available for Mother’s Day at Agua Dulce Winery in Agua Dulce. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

Vendor Terra Dispirito of Fig and Star stocks shelves at her retail space at Artistic Exchange Market. PHOTO BY BOBBY BLOCK / THE SIGNAL

Candle Corner co-owner Paul Soltero pours wax as he makes a custom, scented candle for Mother’s Day. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

according to manager Lina Alarcon.

Gift cards are being offered for $15 off every $100 and are available for purchase both online or in-store.

The Ivy Day Spa, located at 24320 Town Center Drive, Unit 100, is open daily. For more information, call (661) 260-1244 or visit theivydayspa.com. 

8 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M AY 2, 2021

N E W S F E AT U R E

How COVID-19 can impact our clicking, spending

By Kev Kurdoghlian Signal Staff Writer

D

id you experience emotional spending during the pandemic? A little over half of Californians did, according a March 2021 poll published by the American Addiction Centers.

Emotional spending is also known as compulsive buying disorder, according to Ijendu Korie. M.D., a psychiatrist at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Santa Clarita.

During the pandemic, she’s seen an increase in emotional spending, an activity that she said is characterized by “excessive shopping and buying behavior that leads to distress or impairment.”

The outcome is important, Dr. Korie said. Before labeling something a disorder, it needs to lead to distress or impairment, she explained.

“I’ve seen it more in patients that have anxiety or anxiety-related disorders, addictive behavior and obsessive-compulsive disorder,” she said, estimating a 25% increase in emotional spending among her patients.

Both in the U.S. and globally, emotional spending has a 5.8% lifetime prevalence, Dr. Korie said. A lifetime prevalence is “the proportion of a population who, at some point in life has ever had the characteristic,” according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Habits to help break your emotional spending 1. Before going shopping, make a list of items you’d like to purchase and don’t deflect from it!

2. Keep track of your purchases and spending.

3. Set goals. Saving money for a purpose is an excellent way to stop emotional spending.

4. Analyze your spending triggers — ask why.

5. Learn how to budget and save money – here’s a cool guide if you don’t have one yet.

Source: consumercredit.com

And emotional spending, the way it presents itself and is described by patients, has its complex ways, according to Dr. Korie. So, she thinks about it in two different ways.

One way is as an unspecific obsessive compulsive and related disorder.

The other way is on the addiction or obsession spectrum.

“We are evolutionary beings according to science,” Dr. Korie said.

“The base of that simple principle is the fact that we are survival beings.

We like to overcome stress.”

In other words, humans have a built-in defense mechanism to get away from discomfort and things that would cause us to be extinct. That innate human instinct has been the source of invention and innovation, but it’s also led to negative consequences, according to Dr. Korie.

“And this obsession is so interesting and it’s disturbing the function of this individual and it’s so much that all they can do or think they can do is to respond to it,” Dr. Korie noted. “And the idea is if I respond to it, it’s going to stop bothering me.”

In a pandemic setting in which people are couped up in their homes and listening to frightening news reports, this obsession can translate into emotional spending.

“That’s the apparent response to get away from the discomfort,” Dr. Korie said. “So, you go and you begin to see the world you would like to see online and then you shop and shop and shop until the money in the bank is gone.”

This behavior can bring a lot of stress to marriages and families, which could lead to greater anxiety, and even self-harm, said Dr. Korie.

Compared to what she had seen before the pandemic, Dr. Korie said she has observed an increase in emotional spending among young people.

“I think the increase might be related to school (and) going from being in the classroom to being at home,” Dr. Korie said, noting that medical literature has not yet addressed the topic. “I think the humungous increase in the number of hours that’s spent on the screen fuels that tendency to search online and shop.”

But that behavior may not necessarily be a person’s fault. After all, the brain is an organ with both genetic

A recent national survey indicated that “emotional spending” is on the rise, particularly online, which is likely influenced by the large increase most have spent online in the last year, in conjunction with the comfort many feel in shopping, according to medical experts. (MC)

and environmental forces acting on it, Dr. Korie explained.

“The neurotransmitters that are implicated are so intertwined. You have the serotonin and the dopamine and adrenalin (and) the way they communicate is what determines what response that patient is going to have,” she said.

There are three actions people struggling with emotional buying can take.

First, Dr. Korie recommended seeking help.

“When you’re overwhelmed by something that you probably don’t understand exactly why it’s happening and is disturbing your overall optimal function, it’s time to seek help from a professional,” she said.

Next, fight the stigma of self-blame and be kind to your brain.

“Understand that every psychiatric disorder has an environmental and genetic component to it, so, honestly, clinically, it’s not your fault,” said Dr. Korie.

Last, take the medications prescribed to you.

“These medications are not quick fix pills,” Dr. Korie said, noting that neurogenic medications are healthy for the brain. “They help put your neurons in a healthy environment because when you have a mood disorder and it’s not treated, the neurons suffer and over time you can actually lose neurons and that’s not good.”

Consumers can also implement

credit card best practices when shopping online, according to Nathan Grant, a senior credit analyst at Credit Card Insider, a consumer education company.

“A good rule of thumb in general, especially so given the current state of things, is to avoid spending money on credit cards for things that you wouldn’t be able to afford to pay in cash,” Grant said.

Budgeting is another helpful way of getting ahead of credit card debt.

And avoiding a balance on your credit card has several benefits, including taking greater advantage of rewards, avoiding paying interest, and enjoying using a card with a higher annual percentage rate, Grant said.

“By making regular, on-time payments and lowering the amount of your available credit that is being used, you can help build your credit scores in the process,” he said. “Even a single late payment can remain on your credit reports for up to seven years, impacting your credit scores negatively.”

Dr. Ijendu Korie will discuss a variety of mental health topics at a virtual class on May 20. To register, visit Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital’s events calendar at henrymayo.com/ classes-events.

To learn more about credit card use best practices, visit creditcardinsider. com/learn/using-credit-cardsresponsibly. 

M AY 2, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 9

FROM THE CITY MANAGER

Planning the future for Santa Clarita

T

he City of Santa Clarita has built a reputation for being a forward-thinking organization that sets a vision and explores creative solutions that meet the community’s current and future needs. Now that we have wrapped up our previous five-year strategic plan, Santa Clarita 2020, we are looking ahead to the future with Santa Clarita 2025.

The City’s next strategic plan maintains our commitment to providing the high-quality services and facilities that residents deserve and expect.

Developing Santa Clarita 2025 was an inclusive process guided by the feedback received from the community. This information was gathered at public meetings as well as from our biannual Public Opinion Poll, the Community Development Block Grant community needs assessment survey, the Parks and Recreation Workplan, the Arts Master Plan and the City’s General Plan.

Some of the priorities in Santa Clarita 2025 include guiding the community through pandemic recovery, enhancing park facilities, opening and programing the new Canyon Country Community Center, completing the Sheriff ’s Station, maintain-

ing the beauty and sustainability of our City and preserving Santa Clarita’s reputation as a safe City – just to name a few.

Under the Building and Creating Community theme, the priority will be building vital infrastructure and providing services and programs that enrich a growing and diverse community.

After what was an incredibly rough year for our local businesses, Enhancing Economic Vitality will be more important in the next five years than ever before. By collaborating with the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation and the Chamber of Commerce, we will work to attract more businesses and jobs to our City.

Under the theme of Community Beautification and Sustainability, City staff will continue the median beautification program. With Community Engagement, the goal is to ensure that the community is involved in, and aware of, all the City organization is doing on their behalf.

With a renewed call for social justice and equality throughout the last year, the revamping of the Human Relations Roundtable was a crucial element in helping the community eliminate all forms of racism and discrimination. Along these lines, we will also research and consider a feasible location

for a Santa Clarita Cultural Center.

The Organizational Excellence theme will focus on Human Resources initiatives, technological efficiencies and addressing our legislative priorities.

The Public Safety theme focuses on keeping Santa Clarita a safe community by providing high-quality public safety services and facilities while preserving the integrity of our neighborhoods.

Maintaining the safety and quality of our streets falls under the Sustaining Public Infrastructure theme, which includes the annual Overlay and Slurry Seal program.

This is just a small sample of the nearly 100 action items the City will take on over the next five years. While this is a very ambitious undertaking, with the leadership of our City Council and the hard work from City staff, Santa Clarita will continue to be the thriving and desirable City we are all proud to call home.

Ken Striplin can be reached at kstriplin@santaclarita.com. The views expressed in his column are those of the City and do not necessarily reflect those of The Signal. 

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M AY 2, 2021

H E A LT H & B E A U T Y

Essential skin care tips for the upcoming summer

P

rotecting and caring for skin should be part of people’s year-round health care regimens. Such an approach can help people look their best and also uncover any minor issues before they escalate into something more significant.

National Geographic says adults can carry eight pounds and 22-square-feet of skin on their bodies. Skin guards a person from harmful chemicals, protects the body against extremes in temperature and prevents internal organs and other components from evaporating. It also guards against harmful sunlight.

The American Academy of Dermatology says one in five Americans will develop some form of skin cancer in their lifetimes. In the summer, ultraviolet radiation levels are elevated and people often wear less clothing that exposes more of their skin.

According to Dr. Ron Shelton, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor of dermatology at

Utilize vitamin C serums

Hyperpigmentation can occur in summer. According to Omer Ibrahim, a board-certified dermatologist and codirector of clinical research at Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology, vitamin C serum can improve the appearance of fine lines and help with collagen production.

Drink more water

Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, the bulk of sun damage to the skin happens in the summer.

These skin wellness tips can help protect the skin and keep it looking its best when the mercury rises.

Lighten up

Choose lightweight products for summer usage. This includes cleansers, makeup and oil cleansers. For instance, rather than an oil cleanser, choose a gentle, foaming option.

Thicker products mixed with increased perspiration and humidity may lead to clogged pores and inflammation.

Lather on sunscreen

Sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more is recommended to protect the skin from UV damage. But it’s easy to forget to apply sunscreen. However, using a lightweight moisturizer with SPF built in reduces product usage and time spent caring for skin.

Higher temperatures and increased perspiration can lead to dehydration.

That may cause headaches, dry skin and even lightheadedness. Drink at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water every day.

Stay in the shade

In addition to using sunscreen daily, try to stay out of the sun as much as possible when UV rays are at their strongest, which is between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. In addition, wear clothing that offers sunscreen protection.

It’s important to care for the skin daily, but especially so during the summer. (MC) 

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M AY 2, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 1

SENIORLIVING

Simple ways to maintain memory as you age

HOW’S YOUR HEARING AT 6 FEET?

A

dults confront various age-related side effects as they transition from middle age to their golden years. Skin may begin to wrinkle and hair may turn gray, but those are just the visible side effects of aging.

Many additional effects are unseen, but those changes can have a profound effect on adults’ quality of life.

According to the Mayo Clinic, various parts of the body are affected by aging. For example, the cardiovascular system changes as people grow older. Blood vessels and arteries stiffen as adults age, forcing the heart to work harder to pump blood through them.

Though many changes are linked to aging, other changes commonly associated with aging, such as a decline in memory, reasoning and other thinking skills, are not natural.

The Alzheimer’s Association® notes that dementia is not a normal part of aging. There are many different types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, and these are the result of damage to brain cells that affect a person’s ability to communicate. That damage is not inevitable, even if it’s commonly associated with aging.

The Harvard Medical School notes that fleeting memory problems experienced with aging often reflect normal changes in the structure and function of the brain. But it’s important that those changes not be mistaken for dementia, and it’s equally important that adults recognize there are many ways they can protect and sharpen their minds as they age.

Continue learning HMS notes that a higher level of education is associated with improved mental func-

tioning in old age. The reasons for that are unknown, but experts theorize that advanced education compels people to remain mentally active, which in turn helps them maintain a strong memory.

Even aging men and women who are still working in challenging fields can benefit from pursuing a new hobby or learning a new skill.

Use the tools at your disposal It may seem counterintuitive to suggest that organizational tools like planners, maps and lists can help people maintain their memories. However, HMS notes that expending mental energy on finding car keys or trying to remember what to buy at the store makes it harder to learn new and important things.

Let all your senses play a role HMS reports that the more senses a person uses to learn something, the more his or her brain is involved in retaining a memory. HMS cites one study in which adults were shown a series of emotionally neutral images that were each presented along with a smell.

Participants were not asked to recall what they saw, but were later shown a set of images and asked to indicate which they had previously seen. The participants had excellent recall for the odor-paired images, and researchers believe that’s because additional parts of the brain were activated when participants were asked to use more than one sense.

Memory loss is not an inevitable side effect of aging, especially for adults who take steps to maintain their memories as they age.

(MC) 

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1 2 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M AY 2, 2021

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

Remembering how we got to Sesame Street on the “Sesame Street” timeline with the death of Jim Henson in 1990, at the age of 53. Mr. Henson left behind a body of work that continues to endure today, but a great deal of his legacy remains on Sesame Street, and this film tells us exactly how he and everyone else got there.

By Richard Roeper Signal Contributing Writer

‘Street Gang: How We Got To Sesame Street’ 1/2 (out of four) 

Screen Media presents a documentary directed by Marilyn Agrelo. Rated PG (for some thematic elements, language and smoking). Running time: 107 minutes. Available May 7 on demand.

“S

unny day, sweepin’ the clouds away “On my way to where the air is sweet “Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street …”

Sorry, but if I have to hear the “Sesame Street” theme in my head as I write this review, it’s only fair you join me — and don’t even pretend you’re not hearing it at this very moment.

That’s the thing about “Sesame Street.” It’s in our heads and in our hearts and in our memories forever, and we’re all the better for it. So yes, the documentary “Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street” is an unabashed love letter to the first 20 years of the most influential, most beloved and most enduring children’s program in television history, and why not?

Told in sober, straightforward, nofrills fashion, “Street Gang” takes us back to the late 1960s, when Children’s Television Workshop co-founder Joan Ganz Cooney and the late writer-producer-director Jon Stone co-created a revolutionary children’s show aimed at educating and entertaining kids, particularly minorities in the inner cities. We see fascinating archival footage and still photos of pitch meetings and test videos and the building of the remarkable set, which looked like a real street in a real city.

As for the Muppets: Jim Henson’s fantastically funny puppets were already popular on late-night talk shows and variety programs, but they achieved true icon status when the idea was hatched to have Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch et al., interacting with the humans right there on the block, no explanations provided or questions asked. That’s just the way it was on Sesame Street. You were accepted whether you were white

‘Mare Of Easttown’



Sundays on HBO and streaming on HBO Max.

PHOTO COURTESY IMDB

or Black or Latino or a giant yellow talking bird. Genius!

“Sesame Street” was an instant sensation, though there was some resistance from television programming to its integrated setting, as we see in news footage in which a Mississippi public television station representative tries to justify not airing the program.

We learn of the evolution of Caroll Spinney’s Big Bird, as the decision was made to basically make him a 4-year-old, so he’d reflect the mindset of the young “Sesame Street” viewer.

(This was never more evident than in the 1982 episode that addressed the death of actor Will Lee by having Big Bird process -- with the help of his human friends -- the death of Lee’s character, the shopkeeper Mr. Hooper.) And we’re reminded of Sesame Street’s long and admirable history of addressing social issues when we see a clip of Jesse Jackson on the show in 1972, leading a group of children in a chant of “I Am Somebody.”

Director Marilyn Agrelo does a remarkable job of following multiple storylines; it really did take a village to build “Sesame Street.” We follow the journeys of Ganz and her Children’s Television Workshop partner Lloyd Morrisett; legendary music composer Joe Raposo (who spoke to the outcast in all of us when he wrote “Being Green”); actors such as Sonia “Maria” Manzano and Emilio “Luis” Delgado, and, of course, Jim Henson. In cases where the subjects are no longer with us, we often hear fond memories from their grown children.

“Street Gang” draws the curtain

F

or all the murder and mayhem and madness happening in the HBO limited series “Mare of Easttown,” there’s something grounded and real and authentic about nearly every scene and every character. When old friends meet for coffee on a park bench on a chilly morning, when a new arrival in town navigates his way to buying a drink for a local he finds attractive, when a mother and her teenage daughter tangle as mothers and teenage daughters do, it feels real. It feels as if we know these people, even as they’re going through one soap opera-level crisis after another.

Set in a small, middle-class town, “Mare of Easttown” could have been titled “Big Little Working-Class Lies.”

The contrast in locales between Monterey, California, and Easttown Township, Pennsylvania, couldn’t be sharper, but when it comes to scandal and romance and affairs and violence and cover-ups and crime investigations, those elite West Coasters got nothin’ on what’s happening here.

Kate Winslet adds to a long list of magnificent, disappear-into-the-character performances as Mare Sheehan, a world-weary police detective more celebrated around town for starring on a championship basketball team a quarter-century ago than for her police work or, for that matter, her personality, which leaves a lot to be desired on even her best days. If you told Mare to smile, she’d tell you to f--- off, and she DOES have her reasons. She’s still in mourning for her teenage son, who took his own life; her ex-husband, Frank (David Denman), lives so close she can literally see across the yard into his happy home, complete with new fiancee,

and she’s under fire because it’s been a year since a local teenage girl — the daughter of one of Mare’s high school basketball teammates — has gone missing and the police still have no solid leads, no suspects, nothing.

The town is further roiled when a teenage single mom named Erin (Cailee Spaeny) is murdered. When a THIRD young woman goes missing, it appears there’s a serial kidnapper/ killer on the loose, as the community loses all faith in Mare, and hotshot young county detective Colin Zabel (Evan Peters) is brought in to partner with Mare on the case, and you can imagine how thrilled Mare is about that. The investigation introduces us to a number of potential suspects, including Erin’s ex-boyfriend, Dylan (Jack Mulhern), who has a nasty streak, a priest (Neal Huff) with a troubled past and even Mare’s ex, Frank, a high school teacher who claimed he barely knew Erin but in fact had been close with her.

Amidst all the chaos, Mare enters into a relationship with a college professor (Guy Pearce) who has just moved to Easttown and has to contend with her meddling mother (Jean Smart) and her rebellious teenage daughter (Angourie Rice).

At times the criminal procedural seems almost secondary to the tangled web of stories about custody battles and extramarital affairs and troubled children and delinquent teenagers, and it’s a bit of a task to keep up with every character and how this one is related by blood to that one, and this one had an affair with that one, and those two have a problem with each other because of that thing. But we always find our footing when Winslet is onscreen and Mare is in charge, or at least thinks she’s in charge. Mare is smart and has a dark sense of humor and is capable of empathy, but she’s complicated, troubled and self-destructive, she makes some really bad decisions and almost dares people to dislike her as much as she dislikes herself. 

Copyright 2020 Chicago Sun-Times

M AY 2, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 3

Surprise Mom with these delicious desserts

M

other’s Day is around the corner and this is a good time to start thinking about a special dessert to end her special day. There’s Margarita Cupcakes and a Very Berry Creamy Coconut Ice Cream. Spoil her to your heart’s content!

FOOD

Margarita Cupcakes

Margarita Cupcakes Yields:18

Ingredients

For the cupcakes 1 c. (2 sticks) butter, softened 1 1/2 c. sugar 3 large eggs

Juice of 3 limes, plus zest of 1 lime 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract 2 c. all-purpose flour 3 tbsp. cornstarch 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. kosher salt 1/2 c. milk (preferably whole or 2%) For the frosting 1 c. (2 sticks) butter, softened 5 c. powdered sugar 1/4 c. fresh lime juice 1/4 c. tequila

Coarse salt, for garnish

Lime zest, for garnish

Small lime wedges, for garnish

Directions

Make cupcakes 1. Preheat oven to 350° and line two muffin tins with 18 cupcake liners. In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add lime juice and zest and vanilla and mix until combined.

2. In another large bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Add half the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, beating until just combined. Pour in milk and mix until fully incorporated. Add remaining dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full with batter.

3. Bake until slightly golden and a toothpick inserted into center of each cupcake comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Let cupcakes cool in pans 5 to 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Make frosting 1. In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat butter, half of powdered sugar, lime juice, and tequila until light and fluffy. Add remaining powdered sugar and beat until smooth.

2. Pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes. Garnish with coarse salt, lime zest, and lime wedges and a cut decorative straw before serving. (Delish) 

Very Berry Ice Cream

F

Ice cream made with love for Mom

ew relationships are as special as a bond between a mother and her child. There is often so much laughter, so much love and so many good times spent around food and family over the years.

From trying new foods together and cooking lessons at a young age to time-honored family recipes, there are few things better than mom’s cooking.

This delicious Very Berry and Creamy Coconut Ice Cream was created with mothers in mind.

It’s melt-in-your-mouth delicious, especially when it’s made with fresh ingredients right at home for a perfect addition to Mother’s Day festivities.

This ice cream features the rich tartness of frozen fruit and a sweet creaminess from the coconut milk. The two flavors of ice cream create a unique combination that’s out-of-this-world delicious.

To make the Berry Ice Cream, blend 2 pounds of frozen berries, sweetened condensed milk, honey and salt until smooth then freeze for four hours.

To make the Coconut Ice Cream, beat 2 cups of whipping cream in a mixer until stiff peaks form.

In a bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk, coconut milk, salt and 1 cup of the whipped cream.

Whisk then add remaining whipped cream and whisk until combined. Place in a dish and freeze for four hours.

Once properly chilled, both ice creams are ready to scoop and serve. Garnish with mint leaves for an extra pop of color, if desired.

Enjoy a delightful treat with your mom as you make memories year after year. This time it may be mom’s turn to ask for the recipe.

Find more sweet treats for Mother’s Day at Culinary.net.

Very Berry and Creamy Coconut Ice Cream Berry Ice Cream

2 pounds frozen berries (such as raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and blackberries) 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk 1 tablespoon honey 1/2 teaspoon salt

Coconut Ice Cream 2 cups heavy whipping cream 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk 1/2 cup coconut milk 1/2 teaspoon salt

mint leaves, for garnish (optional) To make berry ice cream In blender, pulse frozen berries, sweetened condensed milk, honey and salt until smooth, scraping down sides.

Pour mixture into 5-by-9-inch loaf pan. Freeze uncovered 4 hours, or until set.

To make coconut ice cream In large mixing bowl, beat whipping cream until stiff peaks form.

In medium bowl, whisk sweetened condensed milk, coconut milk, salt and 1 cup whipped cream until combined. Add remaining whipped cream and whisk until combined.

Pour into 5-by-9-inch loaf pan. Freeze uncovered 4 hours, or until set.

Scoop desired amount of each ice cream into bowls to serve. Garnish with mint leaves, if desired. (Family Features) 

1 4 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M AY 2, 2021

GARDENING

Plants that can keep bugs away from outdoor living spaces

O

utdoor living spaces have become increasingly popular among homeowners in recent years, and that popularity grew even more over the last year. As social distancing guidelines issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic encouraged people to stay home as much as possible, a desire for accessible, enjoyable outdoor spaces grew.

A 2020 study of Google trends data from the home decor retailer Living Spaces found that searches for items such as patio daybeds and small-space outdoor furniture grew by more than 200% between the early part of 2020 and the middle of the year.

If outdoor living spaces are in demand, so, too, are ways to make those spaces as comfortable as possible.

There’s much homeowners can do to make the most of their outdoor spaces, but they might feel helpless against some unwanted, often relentless guests: insects.

Insects can turn relaxing days on the patio into wars of attrition with hungry bugs like mosquitoes. Thankfully, there are ways to fight back against insects while simultaneously adding a little aesthetic appeal to the backyard.

The Farmer’s Almanac notes that planting these insect-repelling plants around the patio or backyard can help homeowners successfully repel unwanted insects, including mosquitoes.

Lavender

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and make a concerted effort to prevent overgrowth. Also great in the kitchen, mint has long been considered an effective mosquito repellent.

Alliums

Like lavender, alliums can add a burst of purple to your patio. And though they aren’t believed to repel mosquitoes, alliums have been found to be helpful against cabbage worms, aphids, carrot flies and slugs.

Chrysanthemums

If ants are drawing homeowners’ ire, chrysanthemums may do the trick. These eye-catching flowers also are believed to repel fleas and roaches, among other insects.

known to repel mosquitoes, fleas, flies, and moths.

Basil

Basil can provide the best of both worlds, as it’s been found to repel flies and moths and also makes for a tasty addition to pasta sauces and other dishes.

Thyme

Also a valuable ingredient to keep in the kitchen, thyme can help keep hungry mosquitoes at bay.

Mint

The Farmer’s Almanac warns that it’s easy to overplant mint, so homeowners should only plant with care

Marigolds

The scent of this awe-inspiring plant is known to repel mosquitoes and other pests. Marigolds also attract insects like ladybugs that are known to consume aphids, which are minute bugs that reproduce rapidly and feed by sucking sap from plants.

(MC) 

Spring is time for the cicadas to appear

J

ust when people thought it may be safe to take a collective breath after the roller coaster year that was 2020, something big is on the way — and they’re planning on arriving in the billions.

Brood X, also known as the Great Eastern Brood, will be emerging from the soil after many years developing underground. Brood X is a generation of cicadas (magicicada cassinii) that only appears once every 17 years.

Scientists group cicadas based on the year they see the light of day after growing in subterranean bunkers.

Some emerge annually, some after 13 years and others after 17 years.

Scientists speculate that the unusual, prime-numbered life cycles prevent generations of cicadas from having run-ins with the life cycles of wasps that prey on them.

Another theory says the timing reduces the likelihood that 17-year cicadas will mate and hybridize with cicadas of different species or generations.

Brood X is one of the most wide-

spread and prolific cicada generations. While California is not likely to see this species in the billions, Southern California will likely experience the annual emergence of the cicada.

Cicadas are unique insects. Despite their large size and bulbous eyes, cicadas aren’t harmful to humans.

Nymphs live in the soil and feed on roots. Mature adults come out in the spring to breed and lay eggs after being triggered by warmer soil temperatures.

The University of Florida’s Book of Insect Records says the noises cicadas

“sing” are how they communicate, reproduce and even scare predators away. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services states that cicada songs can reach 90 decibels, which is the equivalent of the noise made by a lawn mower or dirt bike.

It is easy to distinguish cicadas from other insects. Cicadas quite large, measuring at .75 to 2.25 inches in length. They have stout bodies, broad heads and clear-membraned wings, according to National Geographic. Cicadas do not eat vegetation, but drink the sap from tree roots, twigs and branches. They also don’t decimate crops like locusts can, though large swarms may overwhelm and damage young trees.

Adults will die four to six weeks after emerging, so there’s limited time to get to know this insect before it’s gone for another 17 years. Apart from hearing their calls, people know cicadas have arrived when they find discarded cicada shells on their properties, which are left behind after the insects molt. (MC) 

M AY 2, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 5

Some feline facts you can purr over

S

helters often are the first stop for people who want to become pet parents. The ASPCA says around 6.5 million companion animals enter shelters each year, and 3.2 million of them are cats.

Although shelters do their best to get these animals into new, loving homes, the Humane Society of the United States says roughly three million cats and dogs are euthanized in shelters each year. Sadly, 80% of those animals are healthy, treatable and adoptable.

Learning what makes cats tick and their particular needs can help prospective pet parents decide if cats are right for them. It also helps to identify feline behaviors that can be problematic or may require correction when cats come into a home.

The following are some facts about cats, courtesy of MSN, Fact Retriever and Purina food company.

• Food-motivated cats likely will not be tempted by sweet treats. Stick to savory options. Unlike dogs, cats do not have taste receptors for sweet flavors.

• Lions may be kings of the jungle, but domesticated cats are kings

A

ccording to the ASPCA, the number of dogs and cats euthanized in United States animal shelters has declined significantly since 2011.

The ASPCA reports that approxi-

among pets. They often beat out dogs as the most popular pet in North America.

• Cats are very good at hearing sounds and their eyesight is exceptional as well. Cats have 32 ear muscles that allow for “directional hearing.” Comparatively, humans only have six ear muscles. Cats also can rotate their ears 180 degrees.

• Developmentally speaking, the first year of a cat’s life is equal to the first 15 years of a human’s. After its second year, a cat is the equivalent of 25 in human years.

• Domesticated cats can spend about 70% of the day sleeping. Another 15% is spent grooming.

• Cats do not have nine lives. However, they have something called a “righting reflex.” The eyes and balance organs in the inner ear tell cats where they are in space so they can land on their feet. This is what helps them survive falls Ñ some from more than 32 stories high.

• Spayed and neutered cats live longer than non-fixed cats, likely because they do not get lost or injured trying to mate.

• Declawing cats is illegal in at least 22 countries, but not the United States. Cats scratch at items, so they’ll need scratching posts and other outlets for this behavior.

• Cats will rub against people not only to be affectionate but also to mark out territory with scent glands around their faces.

• Cat litters can be between one and nine kittens, so it is important to neuter them to prevent overpopulation.

• Cats can often jump up to five times as high as their own heights.

• Even though cats have been depicted as drinking milk, dairy can give them an upset stomach and gas.

Provide water instead.

• Research shows that cats know and

• The meow sound is not something cats innately produce to interact with other cats. Rather, cats began to meow to communicate with humans.

20 0 2

mately 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized each year. That number is high, but it marks an improvement over 2011, when roughly 2.6 million dogs and cats were euthanized.

The ASPCA credits part of this decline in euthanizations to an increase in animal adoptions and greater success at returning stray animals to their owners.

Recent data indicates that roughly 3.2 million shelter animals are adopted each year, with a 50/50 split between dogs and cats.

A greater emphasis on adoption can help reduce euthanization statistics even further.

(MC) 

PETS

recognize their names, but often they do not come when called. This is a dismissive move and not because cats do not recognize when they’re being called.

Cats make for fascinating pets and are loved by people for myriad reasons. (MC) 

1 6 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M AY 2, 2021

HOME

Make safety an important part of home cleaning

S

afety may not be on the minds of people when they gather equipment and cleaning supplies to clean their homes, but even seemingly innocuous items can be dangerous.

The National Safety Council warns that accidents and deaths often occur when least expected — including when doing chores around the house.

The online safety advocate SafeWise says that more than 160,000 Americans die as a result of an accident every year, and household injuries account for 75% of those deaths.

It’s important to be careful when cleaning around the house, and part of that caution includes recognizing where hazards may be lurking. Here are ways to prevent cleaning and organizing accidents.

Never mix cleansers

Cleaning chemicals are often effective because they employ bases or acids to produce cleaning actions.

By themselves, many of these prod-

Wear masks and safety gear

ucts are generally safe to use provided users adhere to the usage instructions and precautions. However, when mixed together, certain cleaning products can be extremely hazardous.

According to Velocity EHS, an environmental, health, safety, and sustainability advisement company, users should never mix products containing acids and bases. Common cleaning products containing acids include tub and tile cleaners, vinegar and mold removers.

Products containing bases include, bleaches, glass cleaners, and drain cleaners. Mixing these products can produce toxic gases, intense heat or even explosions.

items to reach high spots like top shelves, as this can create a precarious situation.

Avoid falls

Lift with care

Falls are a major contributor to home injuries. Be especially careful when climbing ladders, and do not lean too far to either side. If possible, have someone hold the ladder steady.

Wear nonskid shoes and go slowly. Do not climb on furniture or stack

Whether dusting off the ceiling fan, cleaning out the crawlspace or removing debris from gutters and downspouts, protect the eyes, hands and lungs by wearing the right gear.

Safety goggles, durable gloves and a dust mask are must-have cleaning supplies.

Remove supplies promptly

Moving furniture or rearranging storage boxes can strain the back and other muscles. Use proper lifting techniques, which include lifting with the legs while keeping the back straight. If the item is too heavy, wait and ask for help.

The NSC says about 10 people die from drowning every day in the United States. Children between the ages of one and four are at greatest risk.

Do not leave cleaning buckets filled with water unattended, and make sure to clean up any supplies used right after cleaning to prevent injuries.

Cleaning and maintenance keep homes looking great. Homeowners should always keep safety in mind when cleaning around the house.

(MC) 

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M AY 2, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 7

K I D S & FA M I LY

Donna’s Day: Creative Family Fun

Serve breakfast in bed for Mother’s Day

By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer

P

ssst. Mother’s Day is coming on May 9. With busy spring schedules on family calendars, it’s not too early to begin preparations to pamper Mom. Why not start her day by serving her a memorable breakfast in bed?

Find a large tray to hold her breakfast and other thoughtful items. (If you don’t have a tray, a large and sturdy rimmed cookie sheet also works.)

Think of the tray as an empty canvas that your kids will fill with tasty food, special mementos and mom’s favorite things.

Like tablescaping a dining-room table with pretty objects and floral bouquets for a fancy meal, start collecting special objects now to decorate the tray. Call it trayscaping — anything and everything that’s small and special to Mom, goes.

Here are some simple ideas to help you prepare for a bright start to her day: ❦A ❦ mini bouquet of spring blooms arranged in her favorite teacup will look fresh and spring-y. Just what she needs to “stop and smell the flowers.” Or, tuck a small herb plant in a painted flowerpot for a gift that keeps on growing and giving. ❦A ❦ variety of special nature finds from neighborhood walks and hikes in the woods or along the seashore adds an artistic flare. If your child has a “nature nook” in her bedroom displaying her collections, she can put them “on

loan” from her museum to decorate the tray. Twist a piece of soft birch bark to create a napkin ring. Set a pinecone, feathers and a small stack of flat stones here and there. Weave a mini paper banner with “Mom” printed or stamped in the center onto a stick or pussy-willow branch. Anchor it in a jar of sand or pebbles. ❦For ❦ eats, pick up a fresh, flaky croissant or pastry from her favorite bakery. Spoon marmalade or jam into a tiny dish and set it to the side. Or, use a real clam seashell collected at the beach as an eye-catching container. ❦Serve ❦ Mom’s favorite juice in one of the kids’ baby cups, all shined and polished.

On Mother’s Day morning, present the tray and play her favorite music, or make her a mix with a personalized play list printed out.

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 Donna’s Day Facebook fan page.

Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.”  © 2020 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Synd.

18 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

SOLUTIONS

PUZZLES

M AY 2, 2021

CROSSWORD TIME

MAY 2, 2021

Opinion

S U N D AY S I G N A L · 1 9

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

READERLETTERS

Do Something Constructive So the beat goes on regarding Hart High School’s mascot. If only those purists would find a drum worth beating. Can’t they put their energy and time toward something worthwhile in our community? Their are plenty of families who are struggling daily through this pandemic who could use that energy and time to make it through their present-day difficulties.

My husband was the grandson of immigrant Norwegians (1800s and 1900s). Do you think he gave a fig that rough, tough Vikings are today the mascots of professional and community teams in our nation? No way. He took it as a compliment and incidental point of pride.

Today it is acknowledged that Vikings were not the most admirable historical figures. But did he take those mascots personally?

Again, no way.

Who are these people today who are dedicated to stirring up controversy that becomes a detriment to our wonderful Santa Clarita community? To them I say, “Grow up and do something constructive” to educate our present-day citizens with the pride of native-American history and modern-day achievement.

Glenda Johnson Newhall

She Should Practice What She Preaches Being compassionate, tolerant and having empathy should be the new norm replacing hate, according to a letter published yesterday (Lois Eisenberg, letters to the editor, April 23). I would “love” not reading about the “hate” expressed over and over by Lois Eisenberg dealing with the Donald Trump administration.

Dennis D’amour Newhall

An Expert on Hate Yes, Lois Eisenberg, you should be an expert on hate (letters to the editor, April 23). You have been spouting it for the last four years.

Glenn Moore Canyon Country

Look How Florida Has Done it Even with a denser AND older population, Florida suffered no worse than California per capita from COVID-19 deaths, yet WITHOUT all the incredibly destructive and intrusive Democrat “social distancing/mask/lockdown” mandates. Will liberals ever admit it?

Rob Kerchner Valencia Submit a Letter to the Editor

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

Competition, Compromise

By David Hegg

T

here seems to be too much “either-or” thinking today. It happens in marriages, in friendships and in politics.

“Either-or thinking” is what I call it when two people or groups have opposing ideas and are on the road to an all-out fight over which idea will prevail. The byproduct of such sentiment is competition that usually devolves into hyperbole, cynicism, personal attacks and fractured relationship.

In my world I see it in marriages where husband and wife end up being husband versus wife. In most cases the stronger spouse wins, but after losing a few times the weaker spouse often decides to dig in the heels and win at all costs. Where this kind of competition is ongoing, they start keeping score and this contributes to a downward spiral in their marriage.

Competition has replaced partnership at the most basic level.

It also happens in politics. In fact, we all have a front-row seat on this very thing as we watch our elected officials compete against the gang across the aisle.

Throughout the recent campaign season we saw good people become ugly, and profitable discussion become cheap rhetoric and mudslinging. But now that the elections are over, we need to see if those we’ve elected can turn from competition to collaboration.

Competition is when it is me against you, us against them. The problem with this is that it changes the focus of the discussion from solving the problem to winning the argument. In marriage, it is destructive when we work from the page of husband against wife and winning becomes the goal. In a healthy situation it must become husband and wife versus the problem, and solutions are the goal.

This is what we call collaboration. In a collaborative relationship the problem is the enemy, not the person.

In competitive environments the result is often compromise. And while we hear a lot about the value of compromise, it

really shouldn’t be our goal.

Compromise is where no one wins. Compromise means both sides settle for less than they think is best.

Compromise is just failure dressed in nice clothes.

In collaborative environments, when all sides start from scratch, listening to their opponents with a view to solving the problem rather than winning the argument, the result can be a double win. Solving the problem, coupled with a new sense of partnership, will make for better relationship.

Agreement rather than compromise is the foundation of short-term success and long-term progress. When we stop trying to prove ourselves and instead determine to partner in solving the problem, we all end up on the winning team.

But, of course, it isn’t as easy as it sounds for one simple reason. Collaboration demands that we trust and respect those with whom we are partnering. This is the core issue in any human relationship but it is even more crucial where problems need to be solved. Unfortunately, we are increasingly a nation short on both trust and respect. Winning has become the chief value, making personal attacks and the corresponding vindictiveness the order of the day.

It all boils down to our personal ethic.

The Apostle Paul wrote some classic lines to the church at Philippi. He said, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility of mind count others as more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

What he was encouraging was collaboration, built on the foundation of humility.

It very well may be that we think much too highly of ourselves to listen to those on the other side. If so, one side is going to win even as they and everyone else ends up losing in the end.

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

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