Veterans Day Tribute 2023 by Signal

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WWII U.S. Navy Veteran Dick Ramsey, left, and U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam Veteran Robert Scobie salute as they say the Pledge of Allegiance during the City of Santa Clarita 2022 Veterans Day Ceremony held at Veterans Historical Plaza in Newhall.

ach November, millions of people recognize the service and sacrifice of military veterans on Veterans Day. Initially commemorated as Armistice Day but renamed Veterans Day in 1954, the holiday is a federal holiday. The first Armistice Day was observed in 1919.

When is Veterans Day observed?

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs notes that Veterans Day is always observed officially on Nov. 11, regardless of which day of the week that happens to be. Because Veterans Day falls on a Saturday this year, the federal observation date was Friday, Nov. 10.

Why is Nov. 11 so significant?

Nov. 11 is a significant day in world history because it marks the signing of the armistice between the Allies of World War I and Germany at 5:45 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918. Though the formal peace treaty, the Treaty of Versailles, was not signed until 1919 and hostilities between the sides continued for hours after the armistice was signed, the day is still viewed as the end of World War I.

What distinguishes Veterans Day from Memorial Day?

The VA notes that Veterans Day honors all those individuals who served honorably in the miliary during both wartime and peacetime. Memorial Day is a day to honor and remember military personnel who died in the service of their country, particularly those who lost their lives in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle.

What is the significance of red poppies?

Red poppies are ubiquitous on Memorial Day, but they’re also visible on Veterans Day. Though it’s not taboo to wear red poppies on Veterans Day, it’s a tradition that aligns more with Memorial Day. That’s because the poppies are typically worn to honor fallen military personnel. A 1915 poem written by a Canadian Lieutenant Colonel named John McCrae referred to the fields of poppies growing around the graves of World War I soldiers in Flanders. Veterans Day is a day to honor and commemorate the brave men and women who have honorably served in the U.S. military during wartime and peacetime.

INDEX List of Veterans ..................................................... A6

Dan Watson/The Signal

Vietnam veteran Dan Bradey at the City of Santa Clarita’s 2021 Veterans Day Ceremony.

A2 · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2023 · THE SIGNAL

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A4 · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2023 · THE SIGNAL

Veterans

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Joseph F. Fender

U.S. Navy Veteran – Santa Clarita resident Signal Staff Writer hen Joseph F. Fender was in the Navy, he was assigned to the USS Pearl Harbor while it was being built at the shipyards in Avondale, Louisiana, and was tasked with helping to outfit the ship. “I thought I was just going to show up and do the job, but I found myself assisting in purchasing the equipment,” he said. “The lines, the ropes, the communication equipment — all the things that I thought I was going to learn how to use, not only did I have to use them, but I had to figure out how to purchase them.” Fender describes it as having to build a house before ever living in one. “Not only do you not know how to live in it, you don’t know how to build it.” “So, we had to build the ship, just so I could figure out how to use the stuff,” he added, chuckling. Though challenging, these tasks gave him a good perspective on working backward, which is now helping him in his new tasks as a lieutenant at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. “It’s unique because now that we’re building the new sheriff’s station, one of the collateral duties that I just took over is being the liaison for the new station, and I’ve never done that before,” Fender said. Now, he’ll be instrumental in figuring out what equipment and certifications they’ll need before they even move into the building, which is set to open next year. “That Navy experience gave me a little bit of perspective that, hopefully, I’ll be able to use when I take on that new job,” he said.

Early life

Fender was born on June 5, 1975, in Forestville, Maryland. “My dad was in the Marine Corps and he was stationed at 8th & I in Washington, D.C.” Fender, the oldest of three, was only there for about a year until his family moved back out to California, which is where both of his parents are from. First, they moved to Sylmar as his father started work with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, then to Palmdale, where he attended elementary school, and finally to Lancaster, where he spent the remainder of his childhood. “I was one of those kids that went to school every single day,” he said. “From kindergarten to high school, I think I missed three days of school, but when it got towards the end of high school, I really didn’t have an idea what I wanted to do.” Fender decided to attend Antelope Valley College, which he thought would help him figure it out, but after two semesters he still hadn’t chosen a path. “My dad was in the Marine Corps, both my grandfathers served in the Korean War, all the way back to the Spanis- American War with my great grandfathers, so I knew I wanted to

Signal File Photo

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Joseph Fender sits at his desk with a shadow box of his U.S. Navy service medals when he served at the SCV Sheriff’s Station in Valencia. do something with service, and I knew I didn’t want to stay at home, so I picked the United States Navy.”

Military life

In September 1994, Fender was sent to Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois, for boot camp. “I initially went in to be a sonar tech on submarines, but I changed my mind in boot camp,” he said, adding that after he was exposed to some of his shipmates’ choices, he better understood his options. “I chose the rate of boatswain’s mate, which is the oldest rate in the Navy.” He spent his first three years stationed in Groton, Connecticut, working on 688 class fast attack submarines at the Naval Submarine Base New London, which is known as the “Home of the Submarine Force.” Fender worked on the dry dock of a shipping port, where they were charged with the preservation and maintenance of the submarines while they were out of the water, which would last anywhere between two to eight months. “I joined the Navy to see the world, but I spent the first three years on shore duty,” he said. “I wanted to be on a ship, so I could go see something.” He left Connecticut headed for Louisiana where the USS Pearl Harbor was being built. “Eventually, when the ship was done, we sailed it back to San Diego where it was homeported. After I had spent three years in the Navy, it was the first time I got to be on a ship.” While on its way to San Diego, the USS Pearl Harbor made a stop in Hawaii. “We did the actual commissioning ceremony where they slam the champagne bottle into the ship and a parade, all in Pearl Harbor, which was nice because I had never been there before.” Fender spent the next three years at 32nd Street Naval

Station with the USS Pearl Harbor, a landing ship dock, or LSD, used to transport Marines and equipment from place to place. “The back of the ship will fill up with water and the ship will actually sink in the water, so we can take on hovercrafts or some of the other amphibious crafts,” he said. Much of that time was spent preparing the ship, going on shakedown cruises where the ship’s performance would be tested to make sure it got all of its certifications. “It was lots of training, lots of drills.” By the time the ship was situated and ready to deploy, Fender’s enlistment was nearing its end, and he was honorably discharged in February 2000.

Post-military life

Again following in his family’s footsteps, Fender decided he wanted to work in law enforcement and tested for five different departments in the local area. “My dad, my grandfather and my great-grandfather all worked for this department,” he said regarding the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department. “And they were the first ones that called me.” He knew it’d be similar to what he was accustomed to in the military as law enforcement is portrayed as a paramilitary organization. “And it was. I absolutely believe my military service helped me get hired at the department.” Many of his classmates while in the Sheriff’s Academy were veterans, and leadership tasked them with being platoon sergeants because of their military experience. “I like doing that stuff. I don’t mind being in charge and taking the handle.” After graduating, he spent two years working in maximum security at Pitchess Detention Center. “My dad worked court services up in the Antelope

Courtesy Photos

Then-23-year-old Third Class Petty Officer Joseph Fender, left, enjoys a respite with his shipmates aboard the USS Pearl Harbor while the ship was stationed in San Diego.

Valley for 20 years, so I had seen the inside of jails and lockups before, but to be working inside a jail was a different experience — I enjoyed it.” Fender worked in the dormitories as a dorm officer, escorting inmates back and forth, as well as in the gang unit for awhile. “I think there’s a lot of benefits to working the jails before you go out to patrol, because you’re literally meeting and speaking with the people you are going to contact out in town.” He knew from the first few months working with the gang unit that he enjoyed it. “I just found myself drawn to that. I was very interested in learning about the gang members and the culture inside the jail.” He then transferred to the Mira Loma Detention Center in Lancaster, which was closer to home for him, and spent another two years there doing the same job until he was ready to go out on patrol. “Then I transferred to Palmdale, which is where I started my patrol time,” Fender said. “It was nice because I got to patrol the area I was familiar with because I grew up out there, and it was still fairly close to where I was living, so I loved it — I loved everything about patrol.” He spent just over four years patrolling, working as a field training officer, then as part of the gang enforcement team, before he being promoted to a gang detective. Around the same time, Fender decided to join the Navy’s active reserves, serving as a military police officer at China Lake. “There’s not a drop of water out there. You’re out in the middle of the desert, testing military aircraft and weapon systems, so for my boatswain’s mate rate, that I was in, it didn’t really translate.” After about two years, he was promoted to sergeant in the

Sheriff’s Department, and decided to retire from the Navy once again to focus on the department. Fender spent the next few years working in various departments, including gang crimes, narcotics and operations. “I’ve kind of been all over the place … but I liked them all,” he said, adding that each position had something different to offer. “All the different places give you a different tool set to use in the department, because as you move through the department and you promote, you want to have as many tools — it makes you more well rounded — and is probably helping me be a better lieutenant.” His family had moved to Santa Clarita by then, but once he was promoted to lieutenant, he was assigned to Lancaster station, where he spent the next four years. “I loved Lancaster … it’s a growing community, so it is by far the busiest station in the department from my perspective in terms of call for service.” Though he was the operations lieutenant, second in command at the station, the commute was taking time away from his family, so he transferred to the SCV Sheriff’s Station just a few months ago, where he is now working as a watch commander. As operations lieutenant, Fender didn’t have as much contact with his deputies, so he welcomed the new assignment. “It’s nice to be able to talk to them on a one-on-one basis and give them advice, not just career advice, but life advice — that’s really rewarding,” he said. “I want them to make smart choices … I want them to have a long, lengthy, happy career so they can go off and enjoy retirement.” Fender is looking forward to being more involved in the Santa Clarita community. “I’m trying to give back to every community that I’m a part of.”

Family life

Fender met his wife while in the Navy as she, too, was assigned to the USS Pearl Harbor, and now is a nurse. Together, they’ve got three sons, who they’ve also raised to know the value of public service. His two older boys were both Eagle Scouts. “(They’re) very service-oriented, always giving back to the community.” His oldest son is in the Coast Guard. “I didn’t know anything about the Coast Guard. It was always looked at like the Navy’s little brother, but the more I learned, the more impressed with the service I was.” “He’s a boatswain’s mate just like his dad,” he added with a big smile. His middle son is also very patriotic. “I’m excited to see which branch he goes into.” And his youngest is only 10, excited to join Scouts next year. “He’s just happy being 10 — he’s got lots of time.”

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A6 · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2023 · THE SIGNAL

A salute to our veterans

The Santa Clarita Valley Signal publishes the following list of names (in alphabetical order), of all known veterans from the Santa Clarita Valley, who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. We publish this list to thank those for their sacrifice. Anyone wishing to add a name to the list, may contact The Signal via email at Letters@SignalSCV.com. Happy Veterans Day! —The Signal

Aboulafia, Joe Acuna, Daniel Acuna, Robert Adams, James Adams, Willie Adams, Winston Adkins, Dennis Adkins, Glen Age, Pacola Agnes, Gregory Aguilar Sr., George C. Aguilar, Gabriel Aguilar, George Aguirre, Jay Ahn, Thomas Alba, Anthony Albert, Tom Aleman, Angelo Alexander, Dean Aliano, George Allen, Fred C Allsman, Jonathan Allsman, Manning “Mike” Alphie, Shane Alva, Steven Alvarado, Jose Alvarez, Oscar Jose Alvidrez, Frank Amdahl, Lowell Amstutz, Marvin Anaya, Wayne Anderson, Edward Anderson, Jerry Anderson, Ron Andrews Sr., James Andrews, Don Andrews, Dan Angulo, Michael J. Aposhian, Ed Aquilani, Mario Arguello, R. Anthony Argueta, Issac Argueta, Jose Arispe, Tito Ariss, Rushdi Arnett, Lawrence Arnold, Fred Arnold, Robert Arnot, Jack Asam, Ken Ashcraft, John Austin, Edmond Avalos, Juan Azevedo, T.J. Baby, John Backman, Terry Baerenz, Peter Bailey, Duane Bain, Kimberlin Baird, Richard Bajgrowicz, Dennis Baker, Brian Bakunas, Vic Baldwin, Dan Ball, Chris Ballam, Maria Ballhorn, Sean Balsz, Henry Bamber, Norman Banda, Ramon Baptist, Victor Barber, Robin Barclay, Florence Barker, Rick Barlow, Gabriel John Barlow, Lucas Gardner Barlow, Perry Barnes, Melvin

Barnes, Michael Barnett, J. Barnett, Trevor Barr, Michael Barragan, David Barreras, Aurelio Barrows, Jim Bartash, Dennis C. Barth, James Barthe, Fred Bauerle, Bernie Beall, John Beam, Roy Beck, Tom Beckett, Barry G. Bedford, Gregory Beener, Ortha “Alice” Behrens, J. B. Belding, Ned Belisario, Alvin Bench, Evan Benitez, Anthony Benham, Robert Bennett, Harry Bennett, York Bernal, Clayton Bernards, Doug Bernards, Jeff Bernier, Bertrand Bernson, William Bertoldo, Geoffrey Besel, Randolph “Julian” Beverly, Nathan Bice-Bey, Charles Billy, Steve Binkley, Kenneth Black, John Blackson, Ralph Blake, Fred Blancher, Jr., Edwin G. Bland, Jon Blankenship, Owen Blayhut, Don Bledsoe, Jack Bleiler, Les Blumenfeld, Steven Bodeau, Paul Boggio, David Boller, George Bomben, Raymond Boon, Donald Boone, Al Boone, James Borcher, Steven Borella, Bob Borella, Bruce Borgen, Edward Bost, Jack Bostwick, Harry Boswell, Todd Bouchard, Dennis Boudoin, Charles Boyd, Doug Boyd, William Boydston, David Boydston, Dean Boydston, Doris Boydston, Kenneth Boydston, Norene Boydston, Ronald Boydston, TimBen Boydston, Wayne Boyer III, Samuel H. Boyle, Frank Bradley, Daniel Bradshaw, Robert Bragdon, Randall Brandriff, Stephen

Brannon, George Bressell, Edgar D. Brockway, Don Brodt, George Broline, Robert Brown, Bruce Brown, Bruce P. Brown, George Brown, Kaitlan Brown, Roger E. Brown, William Brownell, Orville Bruce, Robert Bruns, Tim Buchan, Jonathan Burnell, Robert Burnett, David Burns, Wayne Buscarina, Ken Buxkemper, David Byers, Charles L. Cahill, Hugh Callas, Nick Campbell, Robert J. Campbell, Thomas Canaday, Harold Canevari, Ronald Canzoneri, Corey J. Caprioli, Michael Cardenas, Christopher Carl, Roger Carlson, Eric Carlson, Peter Carroll, John Carroll, Patrick Carson, Don Carter, Frederick Carter, Fredrick Carter Jr., John Carter, Paul Carter, Robert L. Casas, Christina Case, Thomas Casebolt, Mike Cassidy, Pete Casson, Jim Castillo, Richard Catlett, James Catron, Lee Celauis, Dalton Cenci, Daniel Cesaroni, Richard Chaffin, Edward H. Chaffin, Howard L. Chambers, Andrew Chapman, Dan Chase, Kristine Chiarello, Joseph Child, Jerry Christensen, Harry Cisneros, Alexander Clark, Ronald Clarke, Ralston A. Cleary, John T. Clifton, William Cobb, Gary Cochran, Russel Cockerell, Stanley Coffey, Jason Coffman, Ed Cohen, David Coleman, John Colley, Edward Collier, Terry M. Collins, Charles F. Collins, Greg Collins, Robert Collins, Wayne

Colonello, Dan Comer, Kevin Comer, Robert Comerford, Daniel Comerford, William Compton, Robert Conant, Andrew W. Conant, Timothy J. Cone, Richard Contant, Ron Contreras, Ramon Cook, Henry Cook, Michael Cook, Richard Cook, Stephen Cooke, Jeffrey Cooper, Bill Cooper, Dwayne Coppinger, Thomas Cornick, Kimberly Corso, John Cortes, Steve Cortez, John Costanzo, Frank Couch, Jesse Coward Sr., Melvin V. Cox, Daniel Cox, Kent Coyle, John Craig, Danny Craig, Keith Crathorne, Wayne Crawford, Jack M. Cross, Jack Cross, Lon Crossley, Bryan Cruikshank, R. Cruz, Herald Cuevas, Xavier Cummings, Larry Curameng, Samuel Curry, Keith Cusick, Mike Cusumano, Gary D’Amico, Michael Dalby, Michael Dalton, Rick Dammeier, Patrick Damour, Dennis Danihel, Leo Danis, Robert Dapp, Michael Darnell, Carl Dauer, Emily Daugherty, Gary Davidson, Clifford Davis, Robert Davis, Weldon Degnan, James Dekay, Ron Deldotto, Jay Delgado, Hernan Dell, Wayne Dellamalva, Gary Dennington, Michael Dennis, David DeRosa, Cody Destackelberg, John Dettman, Robert Deutsch, John Dewhurst, Gail DeWit, Ben Diekman, Carl Diem, Robert Dierckman, Tom Dieters, Louis J. DiGiovanni III, Frank Dinsenbacher, William

Disilverio, Robert Dobrow, Dave Dobrow, Pete Dolan, Steve Dolson, David H. Domino, Gary Donahue, J. Donnelly, Jerry Dortch, John L. Doty, Eugene Doty, Jim Drexel, James Drexel, Jim Drexl, Jim Dritz, Steven Duben, Steven DuBois, John Dunay, Ed Duncan, Clarence Duncan, Leonard Dunn, Russell Duquette, William Duxbury, Kevin Dyer, Clint Easter, Paul J. Eastwood, Richard Eaton, Richard Edwards, Barry Edwards, David Edwards, Jeffrey Edwards, John Effertz, Don Eigel, Dennis Lee Eisler, Fred Eisler, Lloyd Ekeberg, Eric Ekstrom, Richard Eldart, Donald Elliott, John “Jack” Ellis, Joseph M Ellis, Robert Ellis, Sean Ellrodt, Bernie Elson, James Elwood, Loretto Emard, Ambrose Enamorado, Daniel Endo, Joe Endress, Robert Eng, Kevin Enright, Scott Erickson, Calvin Erickson, Steven Ernst, Donald Escobar, Juan Estes, Dan Estey, Michael R. Estrella, Romel Evans, John Eveland, Wilbur Fahlstrom, Mats Farmer, Chris Farr, Donald Farragher, Dennis Farrell, Robert Fatta, Angela Fechser, Mark Feigerle, John Feldman, Paul Feldmann, Ernst Fender, Joseph Ferdman, Benjamin Fernandez, Ted Fessler, Fred Festa, Eddie J. Festa, Edward B. Festa, Rick T. Fielder, Jo Ann R.

THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2023 · A7

Filing, Paul Fimbres, Michael Fiscus, Troy Fisher, James Fisher, Jeannette Fisher, Roy Fitzgerald, Tommy Flatt, Dale Lee Don Fleming Flittner, Gary Flores, Ricardo Floyd, Gary Fontana, Carl Foote, Jim Forte, Ernest Fortine, Bruce Foster, Michael Fowler, Joseph Fowler, Michael Fox, James Franco, Jesse Franklin, Richard Franklin, Scott Franz, Mike Fredrickson, Richard Fretheim, Gene Frothinger, Fred Fuka, Ronald Fullerton, Gary Furutani, Ken Futrell, Johnny Ray Futrell, Marvin Gadbois, Christian Galarneau, Dean Galarneau, Robert Gallagher, Billie Gallimore, Terry Gamboa, Ernest Gandy, Albert Garcia, Charlie M. Garcia, James Garcia, John Garcia, Mike Gardner, Jason Garrecht, John Garth, Winston Gartland, David Gasior, Robert Gaudio, Ralph Gauthier, Richard Gaxiola, Luis Geiger, Harold Gerbing, John W. Gerdwagen, Martin Gerken, Mark Gerst, Douglas Dale Gesin, Fred Gibbs, Randall Gilbert, David Gilbert, Robert Gill, Bob Gillum, David Gilman, Dave Ginger, Allen Giordano, Robert J. Girton, Patrick Glass, Bernie Gleim, Paul M. Glenn, Keith Godfrey, Richard Goldsberry, Charles Goldstein, Jess Gomez, Joe Gontarz, Ted Gonzalez, Ed Gonzalez, Ernest Good, Robert Goodlin, Victoria Gordon, Dustin Gorham, David Gormley, Bob Gormley, Robert Goslin, Gordon Graber, David B. Graham, Don Graham, George Graham, Ronald Granger, Richard Grant, Irvin Grant, Thomas Graves, Joseph Gray, Jay Greaves, Andre Green, Carol Green, Jean Greenberg, Joshua

Greenquist, Robert Greenwood, Donald Grevilius, Nil Gribble, Rex L Griggs, Robert Grossi, Robert Grossman, Karl Gruber, Fred Guerrero, Martin Gunnarson, Rudolph Gutierrez, Eric Haaff, Leon da Hackett, Jim Haddix, Carl Hager, Steven Hagstrom, Wallace Hahnlein, Gunter Halbfinger, Melvyn Hall, Cody Hall, John D. Haller, Austin “Buzz” Haller, Howard Halloran, Michael Hammock, Cecil Hansen, Clayton Hanson, Robert Haralson, Jimmie L. Harder, Edmund Hardie, Richard Harms, Kenneth Harper, Robert Harrell, Joe Harris, Bob Harrison, Charles Hartfield, Denita Hasler, Kenneth Hassen, Kenneth Hatami, Jon Hatter, Thomas Hawkins, Dwight Hawkins, Robert F. Hazard, Robert Heagey, Robert Heberer, Donald Hebert, Jared Hedges, John Heinisch, Matthew Heinisch, Robert Heintzman, Jim Helm, Craig Hemphill, Thomas Henderson, Daniel Henke, Floyd ‘Skip’ Henneberque, Ed Henry, Chris Henson, Jerry Hermann, Roy R. Hernandez, David D. Hernandez, John R. Herr, Chad Herrera, Alfonso Hershey, George Hickey, Bill Higgins, Stephen Hildreth, Gale Hinze, Jeffrey Hocutt, George Hodge, Carl Hoff, Jerry Hoffman, Edward Hoffman, Richard Hogan, Ed Hogan, James Holguin, Ralph Holland, Heber Hood, Kimberly C. Hopp, Steve Hotton, Robert Houlett, Kenneth M. Houston, Bob Houston, Ivan Hruby, John Huenemeier, Steven Humelbaugh, Frank Humphrey, Edward Humphries, Joe Hunt, Dale Hurt, George Hurtado, Jose Hutchings, Richard Ickes, Roger Ihms, John Irace, William Irwin, Jason Isaacs, Roy Isgrigg, Thomas

Ito, Harold Jackson, David James, Henry Jargmillo, Alex Jarnagin, James Jauregui, Michael Jeffrey, Dick Jenkins, Mark Jensen, Gerald Jensen, Paul Johns, Dennis Johnson, Breon Johnson, Philip Johnston, Paul Jones, Alexa L. Jones, Andrew Jones, James Jones, Malcom Jones, Orpheus Jones, Richard Jones, Samuel Jones, Steven Jones, Thomas Junker, Dennis Kahovec, Curtis Kalhusdal, Peter Kalin, Ben Kaplan, Robert Karpinski, Walter Karppinen, Robert Karr, John Katan, Robert Katz, Bernard Kazmer, David Keene, George Kellar, Bob Kelley, Joseph Kelly, ‘Rj’ Kennedy, Charles Kennedy, Steve Kerner, Ken Kerner, Stanley Kessinger, James Kidd, Ronald Kim, Danny Kircher, Theodore Kirshner, Sidney Klehn, Hank Klem, Erik Knapp, Ronald Knight, Steve Knoles, Bradley Kofnovec, Robert Kopecky, Frank Kornbau, Joe Kort, Barney Koscheski, Ted Kovacs, Martin Kramer, Ned Krego, Walt Kremkow, Alan Kremkow, Raelynn Kricher, Ted Krider, Glenn Krudis, Todd Krumrei, William H. Krygoski, Jacob Kryszan, Dan Kuemmel, Edward Kulzer, Pete Kurt, Peter Kurtz, Lynn L’Heureux, David La Motte, Richard Lafferty, Quinton Lagrasta, Richard Lamplugh, John Landrum, Peggy Lane, Aldabert Lanfranco, Brad Lang, Charles “Woody” Lang, Robert Lankes, Paul Larbarbera, Gerard Largrotta, Ned Larsen, Alvin D. LaRue, Brock Lathrop, Bruce Lay, George Laymon, Robert K. Lebouvier, William Ledbetter, Ronald E. Ledbetter, Shaun Lee, James C. Lee, Tom Leggio, Robert

Lemieux, Jerry Lemmons, Eric Lemmons, Wyatt Lemos, John Lems, Paul Lenon, Parrish Lentini, James Lentini, Jim Leon, Steven Leonard, Scott Levario, Jaime Levine, Richard M. Lewandowski, Victor Lincoln, John Lindgreen, Erik Lineberry, Gary Lionetti, Fred Listing, Hal Litton, Mary Lofdahl, James Lombardi, Pat Londono, Julio Loney, James Long, Breezy Long, Eddie Lopez, August Lopez, Jennifer Lopez, Martin Lopez, Moises Lopez, Victor Lowrance, Michael A. Lucero, Maneul G. Lucid, William Ludwig, Scott E. Lugo, Charles Lukas, John Lukes, John Luna, Kenny Luna, Rodney Luna, William Lund, Lawrence Lusian, Dave Macaya, Dominic MacCulloch, David MacEwan, Robert Mack, John MacKenzie, Gordon MacLachlan, John MacMurdo, Jeffrey Mahon, Judith M. Maier, Wayne Maitland, Scott Mallary, Aaron Malone, Regis Mangers, James Manzer, Darryl Marachino, Lou Marania, Timoteo Marazzito, Joseph Marazzito, Joseph Dale Marcial, Frank Marder, Jerome Marks, Kenneth Marquart, Allen Marquez, Aurora Marquez, Benjamin Marshall, Bruce E. Marshall, Jennifer Marsolek, Norbert Martin, George Martin, James Martin, John R. Martin, Tommy Martinez, Enrique Martinez, Oscar Martuscello, David Martuscello, Bryan Masumoto, Alan Maxwell, Mike Maycott, George Mayer, John Mayo, Daniel Mc Kenzie, Darryl McAdams, Gary McBride, William McCalla, Zachary McCallon, Gregory McCarthy, James McChesney, Gordon McClure, Richard McDonald, Hugh McElhone, Rodney McGrady, Mike McGuire, Jim McJunkin, Pete McKeeth, Karl

McKenzie, Darryl McLean, Dale McMeekin, Bob McMullen, Jay McMullen, Thomas McNab, Michael Meagher, Michael Medrano, Ricardo H. Mehmen, Rodger Meisenheimer, Thomas Mekelburg, Scott Melin, Roy Mendoza, David Merwin, Tim Messerschmidt, Alvin Metcalf, Marvin Michaud, Harold R. Miglin, J. Miguel, Anthony Milek, John Miles, Richard Miller, Danny Miller, Gerald J. Miller, Henry Miller, Jake Miller, Kenneth Miller, Leonard Miller, Robert Millhench, Bruce Milligan, Gary Mills, Jeffrey Miranda, Bill Miranda, Robert Mitchell, Charles Mitchell, Clement Mock, Eugene Moffat, John Moir, Robert Mollet, Jean Monnier, Jason Monroe, Victor B. Moomjean, Paul Mooney, Robert F. Moore, Earle Mora, Alex Morales, Leonard Morgan, Marcus Morgan, Max Morris, Chuck Morris, David Morrison, Jean Morrison, Michael Morrow, David Moylan, Charles Mull, Douglas Mullinix, Rodger Mullins, John Murillo, Lorenzo Murphy, Gil Murray, Gary Myers, Richard Nakama, Paul Narvell, David Neill, David Nelson, Danny Nelson, Jeff Neri, Salvatore Newland, Jakob Nickel, Thomas Nobile, Dennis Noriega, Humbert Norman, Dave Norton, Frank Null, David Null, Gary A Nungesser, Abe Nutter, Gregory O’Connell, Charles J. O’Connell, Larry O’Hagan, Patrick O’Leary, Charles O’Rourke, Lionel Obarski, Russell E. Odekerken, Alexander Odell, Jack Oerum, Joseph M. Olivero, Phil Olsen, Ted Orefice, Attilio Orman, Arthur Orser, Denis Orteg, Leonard Osugi, Roy Otero, Rudy Continued on next page.

A8 · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2023 · THE SIGNAL

Pacleb, Andrew Pajarillo, Xanthe Palmieri, George Palomino, Joe Parrott, Dennis Partridge, Margaret Pastora, Carmon Path, Robert B. Patik, Joseph Patton, George B. Pavini, Rudolph Payne, Isaac Paz, Eloisa Pearson, Jeremy Pearson, Nicholas E. Pease, Ronald Penoyer, Robert Perez, Ronald Peters, John Petersen, Bruce Petersen, Karl Petersen, Kenneth Peterson, Jerry Peterson, Roger Petkunas, Dan Petzold, Douglas Peyton, Joseph Michael Pfeil, Thomas Pfister, Ben Phares, Ross Phillips, Randal M. Phillips, William Kc Philpott, Gary Pichardo, William Piedra, Fabian Piedra, Raymond Pilarski, James Place, Daniel Plascencia, Jose Plizga, Albert Poldson, Dan Polinsky, Edwin Pollard, William Pope, Thomas C. Popejoy, Gary Popejoy, James Gary Porlier, Clay S. Potts, John Poulin, Ed Powanda, Michael S. Powery, Chalmer Precht, Aaron J. Precht, Peter J. Priestley, William Pryor, Ed Pulley, Robert Pulliam, Timothy Purdy, William Putnam, Lance Putnam, Ramses Putt, Kenneth Putz, Lawrence Quaintance, Lee Qualls, Robert Quezada, Dorian Quinn, James D. Quintero, Sergio Quiroz, Danny Raggio, Paul Raiche, Donald Ramirez, Christopher Ramirez, Maria Ramirez, Richard

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THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2023 · A9

E R T A E N V S Y D P AY P A

Thank you to our veterans for your service and sacrifice for your country, county, and community. For resources, visit kathrynbarger.lacounty.gov/veterans

@SupervisorBarger @KathrynBarger @SupervisorKathrynBarger KathrynBarger.LACounty.gov

Vietnam War 50th Anniversary 1973 – 2023 Vietnam Veterans THANK YOU WELCOME HOME

Councilwoman Laurene Weste and Jim McCarthy

A10 · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2023 · THE SIGNAL

Veterans

SCV

Ashley Bozeman U.S. Navy Veteran – Saugus resident

Signal Staff Writer

shley Bozeman is happier when she’s doing things she can truly believe in, whether that means she’s training dogs at Ray’s Hope: Rescue to Rescue, working with the horses at Blue Star Ranch or singing for veterans at the Veterans Administration (VA) hospital in Long Beach. That mentality is exactly what led her to join the U.S. Navy, because at 16, she believed in the importance of serving her country.

Early life

Bozeman was born on July 8, 1989, in Covina, California. Her parents split when she was 2 — her mom stayed in California and her dad moved to Kauai to be near his family. Throughout her childhood, she and her siblings spent the school year with her mom and visited her dad in the summer. She has always loved horses, and in Kauai, remembers riding Rocky, an old show horse who she considered her own, and Beau. Bozeman said she had a great childhood, and she’s very blessed to have her family. “We’re spread apart, but I’m really lucky in a lot of ways to have them,” she added. She was very close to her grandparents and would walk to their house after school — they played a big part in raising her. At 16, Bozeman already knew she wanted to serve her country, so with the help of her father, who signed the papers, she joined the Navy in the Delayed Entry Program.

Military life

By the time Bozeman turned 18 and was ready to begin active duty in 2007, she had recruited three others to also join (all of whom are doing well and stayed in the service), and as a result, entered as an E-3 seaman. She began as a machinist mate on the USS Ronald Reagan, working on the hydraulics on the aircraft

elevators, steering units and arresting gear. “I miss the smell of wire rope grease so much,” she said, laughing. “That was my first job, then I switched to outside repair, which was working on the fire pumps and the vertical package conveyors.” On her first deployment, Bozeman was in honor guard, a group that typically does a ceremonial drill and presentation of the colors, and remembers performing for another country at port as they played the “Top Gun Anthem.” “I’ll never forget that,” she said, smiling. The USS Ronald Reagan’s motto was “Peace through Strength,” so they were always volunteering for deployments and different trips. As a result, Bozeman ended up going to various places, such as Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, Dubai and Bahrain, but one deployment still sticks out. In the last year of her enlistment, Bozeman transferred to security on temporary-assigned duty, and it was around the same time that her ship was sent on a deployment to Korea. On March 11, 2011, Japan was devastated by the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, which resulted in the Fukushima nuclear reactor disaster — the most significant nuclear incident since Chernobyl. Following the accident, the USS Ronald Reagan moved to the east coast of Honshu. They ended up being in the first response to Operation Tomodachi, the U.S. Armed Forces assistance operation to support Japan in disaster relief. The ship served as a refueling platform for Japan’s helicopters that were transporting their troops to disaster areas. They also served their own helicopters that helped to ferry over tons of food, water, blankets, clothing and medical supplies for distribution in Japan. It was snowing at that time, and Bozeman remembers how cold it was as they were anchored near the coast.

“We were helo-ing over supplies, and we looked out at the water, it looked like you could walk to the land — anything and everything you could think of was floating out there,” she said. The sailors were also sending their own supplies, and Bozeman said she brought out a bunch of socks, thinking of the movie “Forrest Gump” and how Lt. Dan stressed the importance of keeping the soldier’s socks clean. “I’m still really proud of this deployment, even though it changed everything,” she said. The ship remained in the area for about a month before they were relieved and the Reagan continued on its original course. When it reached Guam, Bozeman was flown back as her enlistment was near its end. She was honorably discharged on Sept. 11, 2011.

Post-military life

Bozeman had a rough time readjusting when she first returned home, and it

took her a few years to find her way. Eventually, she moved back home to Covina to help her family and her grandmother, who was ill. She then began taking classes at Citrus College, working toward her associate’s degree in math, biology and physical science. It was when she was working at the Veterans Success Center at Citrus College as a veteran mentor when everything began to fall into place, because that was where she met U.S. Air Force veteran Julie Hollowell, who led her to Ray’s Hope: Rescue to Rescue, a nonprofit that provides veterans in need with critical resources to help them get back on their feet. Last year, Bozeman moved to Santa Clarita to be a part of Ray’s Hope — which pairs veterans with rescue dogs — as she knew she could really help out, and she said it’s been rewarding working with the dogs. “It’s really awesome to see that change and see that spark (in them),” she said. Ray’s Hope sent her to Blue Star Ranch, which provides equine therapy for veterans. “I tried to go through therapy at the VA, and nothing would ever work,” Bozeman said. “But, honestly, having both of those, it really hit home for me and helped me in so many different ways.”

Present day

Now, Bozeman volunteers at the ranch, and said founder Nancy Zhe is teaching her a lot. Together they’re trying to get equine therapy approved by the VA, and Bozeman has spoken to Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-El Monte, about this while on a panel of female veterans. She is still working with Ray’s Hope and hopes to one

day open her own branch of the organization. “I felt so lucky to have come here, and I love this town,” she said. She said she especially loves the local expressions of patriotism, how the flags that run along various roads and bridges are lit up at night, adding, “It gives you chills.” Bozeman wears many different hats, and is constantly running around to the various organizations she’s become a part of, but she said that’s what makes her happy. She believes Ray’s Hope and Blue Star Ranch are a “winning combination, and they’re just getting started.” She has also begun singing with Welcome Home, a band that typically plays at the VA in Long Beach, after meeting band member and a Vietnam veteran named Hector. “I was this big chicken about singing — I wouldn’t even really sing in front of my family,” she said. “Going in there and playing with them, to see the smiles on (the veterans’) faces and just changing people’s days for the better — that’s what helps me, too.” Just two weeks ago, Bozeman finished school, graduating with her associate’s degree. And though her grandmother has emphysema with only 20% function of one lung, she still made it out to Bozeman’s graduation. Bozeman still has a lot of dreams to help her fellow veterans, including helping to bring more VA services to Hawaii, furthering equine therapy as an option for veterans at the VA and opening a Ray’s Hope training facility for veterans. She also plans to continue in school and, hopefully, move out to Kauai to be with her dad. “I just want to spend some time with him.”

THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2023 · A11

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A12 · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2023 · THE SIGNAL

Veterans

SCV

Bill Vidito

U.S. Army Veteran – Stevenson Ranch resident Signal Staff Writer

but this time to New Jersey to be a debriefer. “Whenever anyone (in the armed services) would travel, I would debrief them,” he said. When, for instance, the Army Corps of Engineers visited a country like Thailand or the Phillipines to build a bridge or dig a clean water well, between their trips they’d meet with a debriefer like Vidito, who would gather information from them. And, say, if the engineers went to a country like Laos, which Vidito described as “not an enemy, but definitely not a friend,” he would collect information from the engineers traveling to and from as well. “I got to travel all the world … I loved the travel.”

t’s always the people you least expect. As you sit in front of Bill Vidito, you notice a handful of things: a collared shirt, unwrinkled, but with Hawaiian patterns and flip flops; not a hair is out of place on his head; and his gold wedding band shines brilliantly on his finger. He’s kind: You can tell by the way he alters his voice when talking about sensitive subjects from his time in the military, or when he apologizes profusely if he thinks he’s wronged you. He has soft eyes, hidden behind introspective glasses, and his smile creases on one side while pushing the other up. However, underneath this demeanor is a man who has learned various languages in order to help American soldiers in combat. There’s a man who could, at one time, be the stereotypical Army sergeant recruiting a wide-eyed high school graduate into joining the Army. There’s a man who learned, as a U.S. Army interrogator, how to be surgically precise in dissecting a person’s wants and desires and promise those to them in exchange for beneficial information. But before you ask him about any of those things, Bill Vidito will tell you he’s a “quiet, nerdy” type of guy.

Early life

Vidito was born May 4, 1967, in Sandusky, Ohio, to Donald and Betty Vidito, a former member of the military and a hotel manager, respectively. While his mother worked in a hotel, Vidito’s father did a little bit of everything, he said. Working previously as a dental hygienist in the military, Donald Vidito had been spared the frequent fate of soldiers in Vietnam. “God spared him of going,” said Vidito, adding that his father did “whatever he could” after leaving the military to put food on the table for his three children. One of those three children was Bill, the middle child with two sisters. “I had all the chores as the only boy,” Vidito said, then jokingly mimicked his parents who would say, “Girls are so dainty.” When he wasn’t mowing the lawn or chopping wood in either northern Ohio or Indiana — where his family lived for a short period — Vidito could be found playing outside, generally with friends who enjoyed bike riding. “The Facebook for us, where we would check in with friends to see what they were doing, was to find out where all the bikes where at.” He speaks fondly of Indiana, calling it the “Heartbeat of America.” He says this stems from Ohio, especially Sandusky, being an industrial town where being a part of a union

After the service

Signal File Photo

Veteran Bill Vidito, pictured at the Veterans Services Collaborative in Newhall, explains his role in the Army Intelligence Corps. Vidito held the rank of E-5 sergeant when he was honorably discharged in 1997. was everything. Donald Vidito was not a part of a union. “We’d come out of church, and all four of our (car’s) tires would be slashed,” he said. “So, I liked Indiana. It was the perfect cross-section of America.” By the time he had gotten to Fremont Ross High School, where the mascot was a purple and white “Little Giant,” Vidito developed a love for a new and pioneering technology: personal computers. “I was quite a nerdy kid,” he said. “I was always at the computer lab.” Vidito said he also played football and ran track, “because it’s Ohio,” but his true passion was always in the lab, after school, on his Commodore 64, playing some of the very first video games ever created. “It kept me out of trouble,” he said. “I was always the kind of quiet, nerdy guy.”

Service

Between his junior and senior years, like his father and his grandfather before him, Vidito walked into an Army recruiter’s office. And, a little over three weeks after walking in his cap and gown at his high school graduation on June 2, 1985, Vidito was officially in the Army. “Boom, 23 days out of high school, ready to start my life.” When asked about his time in basic, Vidito said, “We got a lot to eat, which is good,” but that’s where “the good” basically ends for the greenhorns. “Everyone hates basic when you’re there.” Vidito, if you ask him about his first introduction to the

armed forces, after having spent his teenage years being the geeky kid weighing 127 pounds on the football field, the thing that sticks out in his mind is Sgt. Bevil, a lisped shouter of a drill sergeant. “He used to say, ‘My name is Bevil and that rhymes with devil.’” After completing basic, Vidito was sent off to learn his military occupational specialty, or MOS, as a 98 Golf, or voice interceptor. He was sent to Monterey in order to learn Vietnamese. However, after failing to meet the requirements to be considered for a final position as a voice translator, despite passing all of the tests but not being able to stand out as a member of the Army on an Air Force-run test, Vidito was then sent to become an Army interrogator. The job was simple: learn how to make people tell you the exact thing they’ve been trained never to tell anyone.

important word in his interrogation room lexicon. “You want to call your family? I can help you with that,” he said, adding other examples that pitted him as the good guy in the room, even though the suspect was in his custody. “I’m going to want to step in between you and the fear.” According to Vidito, there were more than a dozen different strategies to use within three different categories of triggers, examples being “hate of your own kind” or “love of country,” that he would use in order to get information out of a hostile agent. However, these skills would not be put to use in the “real world,” as he puts it, as Vidito was soon, once again, sent off,

After leaving the Intelligence Collection Branch in 1995, Vidito became a recruiter for the Army, a job that he did for two years before eventually deciding to call it quits in 1997. He said he didn’t really appreciate the life and technique of a recruiter. “For as bad as the last two years were, I’d do the first 10 over and over again,” he said. On Aug. 1 1997, after 12 years in the Army, Vidito was honorably discharged as an E-5 sergeant. In the early 2000s he met his wife, Maureen, and together they would go on to adopt two children. Vidito created his own business in Ohio, before eventually deciding to move out to California with his family. He has worked in a variety of jobs and, now, instead of traversing the globe, goes home to spend time with his family after a long day’s work. When asked if he regretted any of his choices, or would he still join the Army if he knew that he would be trained in two MOSs but would never practice them against an enemy, he says there’s no question in his mind. “It was worth it.”

Debriefer

Vidito said that the testing, as a member of the Army Intelligence Corps, was an arduous process. Classroom sessions, memorization, tests and the constant scope of scrutiny from his superior officers. “There’s 10 days of testing before you can become an official interrogator,” Vidito said, adding that he had been told days one through seven were going to be relatively easy compared to the last three. For the first week, he applied all those things he had learned from his classroom sessions. He basically explained that “can” became his most favorite and

Photo courtesy of the Naitonal Archives

Fort Huachuca, Arizona, is headquarters of the U.S. Army Information Systems Command, , where Bidito trained to be an interrogator.

Photos courtesy of Bill Vidito

(Left) Vidito, 5, and his sister Dianna, 3, appear in a picture together, circa 1972, while growing up in Sandusky, Ohio. (Right) Vidito and his wife, Maureen, adopted their two children, Nathan, 13, and Michaela, 11.

THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2023 · A13

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Thank you to all the Veterans and Active Military for your service and dedication to keeping us safe!

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A14 · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2023 · THE SIGNAL

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The 10th Annual Thank A Veteran golf tournament was held September 11, 2023 to honor and salute our veterans for their courage, dedication, and sacrifice in service to our country. The non-profit Thank a Veteran Golf Tournament was a tremendous event. Over 120 veterans and friends enjoyed a complimentary, day of camaraderie, and golfing. As the veterans gathered for the evening banquet, they shared many moving stories. To all our sponsors, and volunteers who made this day so wonderful, we send our great appreciation and heartfelt thanks! Grand Tournament Sponsor 4 Star Flag Team

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to make The arrest By Jim Holt initial appear his affidav recounts Staff Writer Signal it Senior ance with defens e tion conduan investigay David Vauattorne in 2011 whofollow LVMPD cted by anDavid LaChesn off, Bjorkm 200-foot-deep ing rawas found in aan’s follow updetective “to brief his car tion crashingdetenin after days Florid of druggi on reportvine a after s six March 9 showed Road his facilitated ng and drug-off of Lake Hughes arrest. happy he was to just how people “Mr. sexual Bjorkm saults” involv as- untaril lined an volas people Saturday ing Mikebe alive y appear Bjorkman, ed inabout a copy of the book up for Vegas Las his and erita Canyo48, of Plac- ordeal. denies the vehemently n, and use of gamm Lisa A. Kerr, the His allega and daughter, tions a hydrox wrote lookscalled, butyrate, “But Not Toforwar y- his a book or GHB daystory in court,” of Davidd LatoVau,” central nervou — a day: noffThesaidher Chesnear death s system chronicling father’s depressant Wedn esday,desperwhen reache the family’s known as colloquially experience, d himcomment, a “date and the long to find for ate search “and drug,” accord rape folks we remind recovery. road tonot DEA’s websit ing to the to she rushandtoher father judgm Saturday, On ent.” e. Bjorkm at The Open held The a book-signing 27-pag charges an faces two one Soledad Book store ment docu- Canyon was sault as of sexual ascompiCanyon at Whites led af- Road. a ter Road a“My month Kerr allegations.result of the very humble,” dad isslong vestig in- so excited “He was rate counts The sepaMonday. saidation by LVMP Detect D signing. ivepeople the book to see Bjorkman allege that JasonatLafreniere, a“People digitally kept asking him 19-yeajust etrated penr picture and then n with you?’ ‘Can I get myvetera had And, he signed each book the See BJORK ‘Thanks same MAN,forA2the support,’”

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. . . . . . . By Kev Kurdog Sand Canyon Opinion . . . . . . . . . . Way for the . . . . . . . hlian Deanna Armbruster, spokeswoman . . . . . . . Signal Staff . . . . . . . Kerr said. Classified . A2 Writer (ofStation, to Signa . . . . . . . voting)said . . . . . . She said of the book-signing: l subscribe as Monday. . . . . . . . it curren . . . . . . . until .she waited exists,“She Weath the dog . A4 tly and . . . . . . . er . . . of butfollowed rs “I was very excited that there was Democrat to empow Earl Butle . . . . . . . side . . the . . . . . . . to pull found . . . A6 er over to the . . . . . . . , toa safe place r traffic coming in and out and (that announced Christy Smith people . . . . . . . said. “She jumped out and the dog road,” shemake Donna Ploch . . . . . . A5 there was) a buzz about our book. to a bit. But,voting she has entere Wednesday easier, was able to calm her (Belran off make it she more This book has touched a lot of Robert Samw unseat Rep. d the race to accessla)ible andandstill put her in the car. And, then she down and secure lives. Mike Garcia ay safe R-Santa andhere.” 6 , free,” brought her 38188 “My main purpose has alfraudSmith in the 2022Clarita, within 24 hours of the crash, 0000 found The dog, said, 3 to 3share with people, been ways calling as dehydrated and hungry when it Novem term electio middescribed was Private to forgive and also be forgiven ber’s party vehicl ns. race to safety. was forbrought The news the 25th es only and, most of all, learn to forgive please ConWay Station found the dog’s at the Rescuers of gressio her yourself.” candid media and arranged for them to socialDisonnal owner Signal file photo trict “a was annou acy textbo dog. ok pick up the afexamp early Wedne nced A tow truck operator watches as a Toyota Corolla reaches the surface le sday north of happens of what morning ter being lifted about 200 feet by a crane on to Lake Hughes Road See LA VAU, A6 when the on social system media. Smith, See FOUND, A6 Castaic on Sept. 30, 2011. David La Vau survived the crash. is a tioning well.”funclongtime Santa Clarita “To make resident, ing) more (votalso release accesSmith sible to video titled d a voters is incredibly Get This “Let’s tant, and impornounce her Done” to anno greate there is List candidacy. 0.2 percent, down by 0.04 per- Salviati, an Apartment r proof Garcia defeat Santa Clarita’s rate eclipses two-bedroom in Santa Clarita of that housing economist. Duan cent, according to the site. ed Smith than races likeBy Crystal by 333 votes the state average of 2.1 percent, is $2,564, and a one-bedroom mine were so incred Signal Much of the SCV’s rent largest citStaff Writer 100Boats, of the 21Cars, that last Novem OnlyFor RV’s, ber — a average is $1,995. This marks a $4 innational the as well as attributed to a ibly be can Motorcy growth rents point she have seen close,” added. cles acknowledged that Smith decreased crease for two-bedrooms and a ies in America growth in population A national study released this of 1.4 percent, but has Smith also for a one-bedroom fall over the past year, though general with opening rent compared to last month, online $3 increase denou week indicates an additional 24 saw modest in the Los Angeles metro area. line in her her “intentional nced Santa Clarita’s List from June. nouncement an- tion,” growth rate from year to year is renting platform Apartment disinfo Santa Clarita’s month-to- gains of less than 1.0 percent, video. referring now atrmaSee RENT, A6 In an 4.1 percent, a slight decline revealed Monday. at such as Santa Clarita, said Chris to the tacThe July median rate for a month rent change for July is The Signalinterview with tic as a form offrom last month’s 4.9 percent. suppre “voter , Smith ssion.” November’s said “Most people vote proved don’t see that everymargin it that way, matters. vote tually but that’s whatcontex“We have thing that to do every- pens,” Smith said, hapNo strang ers only protecwe can to not CalMatters investiciting a No comm at your home • gation t the franch 24 hour ission ise All DMV s or Consignme security See SMITHHotel plans to donate Paperwork nt Fees Every weeke , A2 provid Concerts in the Park series nd, includ event proceeds to ing Friday ed return to Central Park set to Dropoff child’s battle against

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By Brennon Dixson Signal Staff Writer

to the greats

661-25

Sanfilippo syndrome

Danielle Korzhenyak AutoFairO 5-2622By nline.com For The Signal

ita Po City of Santa Clar

After hearing about Carter Sarkar, his fight with Sanfilippo syndrome and the recent million-dollar movement to fund his clinical trial, the Hyatt Regency Valencia has announced that it will donate every dollar from its upcoming fireworks viewing event to the young boy from Austin Dave/The Signal (See additional photos at signalscv.com) Castaic. 2017 photo, Jennifer Sarkar carries her son Carter to a home “Our entire staff was deeply In this May The Sarkar family raised $978,467 to get moved by the article in Saturday’s on Ponderosa Street in Castaic. Sanfilippo syndrome. paper regarding Carter Sarkar and a clinical trial that might help Carter’s fight against the fight to save him from Sanfilippo would fund a clinical trial that could syndrome,” said Natasha Zambrano, develop muscle pains, experience give Carter a chance at life. in sales coordinator at Hyatt Regency seizures and then, ultimately, die “Over the years the structure has Valencia. “We at Hyatt would like their mid-to late-teens, said Jennifer been a gathering place to have an to contribute to this fight by offering Sarkar, Carter’s mother. family held a fun- unobstructed view of the festivities the result, a As commuthe to structure parking our the (and fireworks) from Six Flags,” nity to watch fireworks this upcom- draiser in the past month with goal to donate a million dollars to Zambrano said. ing Fourth of July.” organization nonprofit 501(c)(3) with the diagnosed are who Children See CARTER, A6 Sanfilippo syndrome will likely Cure Sanfilippo Foundation, which

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

50 SUNDAY … $ 0 & Y A D R U T A S EEK … $16 SIX DAYS A WN … $50 E-EDITIO 23 INDEX

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July 7

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

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for the Hardco By Caleb Lunetta which it was re Gangs unit, Signal Staff Writer the office proximately announced that in crimes — will be “reima ap- and 50 lawyer Wednesday.told The Signal each Half of on other unit would be transfes from said. “renamed,” the gined” violen the Los The source County Distric ce, the source District source branch rred Angel The t Attorney’s es main unnam , who asked to said. In additio es, the source said.to Gascón’s staffAttorney Georg fice Hardc ree media D.A.’s Office did n to losing ed out of Of- profes also said DDAs who Narcotics ore Gang and Major tely not imsional reprisa fear of their deputy distric half remain withthose to comm respond to reques units have the Hardc l, said two t attorn of new unit ficially cut,” been “of- meetings occurr the During ent on Wedne ts ed a source one its approx ore Gang Unit eys, set up commwill be asked a March sday. within coticsat 3 p.m. for the Wednesday, which and imately 700 to unity Major cases — tionships to work liaison rela- ference, Gascón 17 news conunit and anothe includ Narneither conr at 4 p.m. that involve e complex cases evant law enforc with the rel- firmed nor denied cies ement agen- dissolve the er high-p murder and a plan to two rofile gang-r oth- and to target specif A1 MAIN ic gangs staff, when askedunits, and his specif elated clarification, effort to ic gangsters in for reduce comm an referred further back to unity See CUTS, A2

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