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S E P T E M B E R 19, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NEWS FEATURES

THINGS TO DO

FROM THE CITY MANAGER

SENIOR LIVING

4 The SCV’s long history of dealing with disasters 5 Up close and personal with wildlife in the SCV 6 Holistic health: understanding healing with energy 7 Viewing the Hollywood Sign 8 Social media and our youth

9 Life lessons from Aunt Elaine

ENTERTAINMENT 10 10 ‘The Card Counter’ and ‘Kate’

FOOD 11 1 1 A breakfast worth waking up for Overnight Apple Cinnamon French Toast Casserole Easy Brunch Quiche

HEALTH 13 13 Understanding Afib

HOME 15 15 Design your dream closet

GARDENING 16 16 Edible gardens — anytime, anyplace

KIDS & FAMILY

1 7 Donna’s Day: Chocolate Zucchini Cake Junior Whirl

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4 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

S E P T E M B E R 19, 2021

N E W S F E AT U R E

The SCV’s long history of dealing with disasters By Caleb Lunetta Signal Senior Staff Writer

hen you think of disasters in the Santa Clarita Valley, is the first thing that comes to mind thje massive flood in ‘28? Maybe you think of the Northridge Earthquake in ‘94? Or perhaps it conjures up the last time you saw evacuations being posted about a wildfire. Whether it be flooding, fires or earthquakes, the SCV has seen its fair share of cataclysmic events that shook the community to its core and then prompted its citizens to rebuild. A few of these events certainly come to top of mind, and prove excellent examples of the SCV’s resiliency: The St. Francis Dam collapse of 1928; the 1994 Northridge earthquake; and the 2019 Tick Fire.

St. Francis Dam

Three minutes before midnight on March 12, 1928, the St. Francis Dam, located in San Francisquito Canyon, catastrophically failed, sending a 180-foot wall of water — consisting of 12.4 billion gallons of water and tens of thousands of pounds of concrete — down the Canyon at a speed of 12 mph. Shortly before the dam’s collapse, Ace Hopewell, a carpenter, was riding his motorcycle along the width of the St. Francis Dam. A few seconds after 11:57 p.m., he heard a “landslide-like crashing sound from back in the dam area,” according to an SCVHistory. com article on the disaster. “It turns out, Hopewell was the last living person to see the St. Francis Dam before it ruptured, creating the second largest disaster in California history as an epic flood of water and debris traveled 55 miles through San Francisquito Canyon and the Santa Clara River Valley, devastating the towns of Piru, Fillmore, and Santa Paula, and killing between 450 and 600 people before emptying into the Pacific Ocean at Montalvo between Oxnard and Ventura,” Alan Pollack wrote in the March-April 2008 issue of Heritage Junction Dispatch. The Signal, in their first issue since the collapse — The Signal was still a weekly newspaper at the time —

St. Francis Dam

Northridge Earthquake

Tick Fire

PHOTO COURTESY SCV HISTORICAL SOCIETY

SIGNAL PHOTO

PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

the paper published a list of names known to have been killed in the flooding, as well as the names of those that were still missing. Ultimately, when the dust had settled and the community had regathered itself, nearly 500 men, women and children were reported dead. Incredible stories of survival emerged under The Signal’s frontpage banner head over the next few weeks, such as the Maier family, who had clambered through their attic roof only to watch as their house was lifted by the water and drifted down stream until it could be dropped back down again.

The “urban earthquake,” as it would later be dubbed by a number of agencies and media outlets, resulted in the deaths of 57 deaths and $20 billion in damages. Specifically in the city of Santa Clarita and it’s 150,000 residents at the time, City Hall was deemed uninhabitable, and a small tent city for the emergency response effort would be set up in the Valencia Boulevard parking lot. While the epicenter was recorded in Reseda, the SCV experienced major damage, which left residents cut off from the rest of Los Angeles County as its main artery to the area, Interstate 5, collapsed. The city formed six years prior would need to figure out a way to coordinate their emergency response largely cut off or isolated from the surrounding world.

blaze had done before in recent memory. While having a considerably smaller acreage than others before it, with the 2019 blaze being held to 4,615 acres, it did result in the mass evacuation of roughly 40,000 people for the Santa Clarita Valley. Starting Oct. 24, 2019, the inferno resulted in school closures, people calling out of work and makeshift tent/car cities in Canyon Country grocery store parking lots. First breaking out at 1:40 p.m. due to a man lighting a barbeque in his backyard that eventually fell over in the high winds, the fire spread from Tick Canyon Road to the various surrounding Canyon Country neighborhoods. A total of 22 buildings, including a number of homes, would be destroyed, 27 others would be damaged, and residents who lost their homes would be required to rebuild over the next two years. A state of emergency was called for by Governor Gavin Newsom on Oct. 24, and the L.A. County Board of Supervisors issued an emergency declaration of their own. Questions continue to linger regarding the lack of power during the Tick Fire — the power had been shut off by Southern California Edison during a public safety power shutoff, a program designed to prevent wildfires — and how that had played into residents’ difficulty with evacuation orders. 

Northridge Earthquake

At roughly 4:30 a.m. on Jan. 17, 1994, residents throughout northern L.A. County felt a shake they would remember the feeling of for the rest of their lives. Just one mile south-southwest of Northridge, a blind thrust fault jolted to life at a depth of 18.4 kilometers underground, creating a 6.7 magnitude earthquake. “Damage was wide-spread, sections of major freeways collapsed, parking structures and office buildings collapsed, and numerous apartment buildings suffered irreparable damage,” reads an SCV History story entry about the event. “Damage to wood-frame apartment houses was very widespread in the San Fernando Valley and Santa Monica areas, especially to structures with ‘soft’ first floor or lower-level parking garages.”

Tick Fire

When thinking about the largest fires to affect the SCV, depending on your age you may say names such as the Ranch Fire — which burned 972,147 acres from Santa Barbara County to the U.S. border in 2007 — or the Buckweed Fire — which burned 38,356 acres in 2007 and the evacuations of 15,000 people — or the Sand Fire— which burned 41,432 acres in 2016 and resulted in the evacuations of roughly 10,000 homes. However, arguably one of the most disruptive fires in the Santa Clarita Valley history, the Tick Fire in 2019 most directly affected the Santa Clarita Valley in a way that no vegetation

S E P T E M B E R 19, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 5

N E W S F E AT U R E

Up close and personal with wildlife in the SCV

a local nonprofit wolf sanctuary and animal rescue, according to Gunderson, who added that the animals are set to relocate to the nonprofit’s property located just a few miles north in Acton. “We are starting to build momentum towards the move … (and) we’re hoping that in the next year, we would be open to the public again,” Gunderson said. While the sanctuary is not currently open to the public, it’s continuing to rely on donations and grants to care for its animals until it’s able to reopen, and are raising funds to do so, Gunderson added. “It’s been crazy hard. We have lost our entire staff because we haven’t been able to pay them … and we’re completely volunteer at this point,” Gunderson said. “Hopefully, we make it long enough to make this move happen.” For more information, visit animaltracksinc.org or email info@animaltracksinc.org.

By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

he Santa Clarita Valley is surrounded by open space, meaning its residents are often catching glimpses of some of the natural wildlife that calls its hills and valleys home. However, SCV residents also have the chance to get up close and personal with wildlife through a number of animal centers and preserves in the local area.

Gibbon Conservation Center

The Gibbon Conservation Center’s three dozen gibbons have called Saugus home for more than 40 years. Though they look like monkeys, gibbons are actually small apes, and spend most of their time in the treetops of the rainforest in southeast Asia. Almost every one of the 20 species of gibbons is threatened by extinction, which is why the center has been working to preserve the rest of that population since its founding in 1976 by primatologist Alan Richard Mootnick, and today, the center is home to five different species of gibbons. Gibbons are known as the most acrobatic apes, swinging from tree to tree at speeds of up to 35 mph (the same speed as a galloping racehorse) and bridging gaps as wide as 50 feet with a single leap, according to Gabi Skollar, the center’s director. They’re also often referred to as the “songbirds of the primate family,” according to the center, as every morning at sunrise, you’ll hear them singing to mark their territory, Skollar said. The center was set to move to a 26acre property in Santa Margarita in San Luis Obispo County, hoping to expand enclosures for the three dozen gibbons and head to a more temperate climate, but their purchase fell through, according to Skollar. Now, the center is working toward purchasing its current 5-acre site in Saugus, as the lease ended in July, buying the organization more time to look for a permanent home and larger facility that would allow it to grow, with at least 20 useable acres, as well as a facility in a better climate, as the

A gibbon at the Gibbon Conservation Center rests in its enclosure Sunday morning. The center recently announced that after a brief look for other locations, it would be staying in the SCV for the foreseeable future, to the delight of local nature lovers. PHOTO BY BOBBY BLOCK / THE SIGNAL

SCV is too hot and dry for the gibbons’ typical climate, Skollar added. However, the center is here to stay for the next couple of years, Skollar said, adding that in the meantime, residents can swing into the now reopened Saugus center. Reservations are required to visit the Gibbon Conservation Center, located at 19100 Esguerra Road in Saugus, which is open to the public each Saturday and Sunday for a fee of $15 per adult, $10 seniors, $12 students and teens, $5 kids ages 5-12, with a max of 25 people per group. Children under 4 are not allowed currently and masks are required. Private tours are also available both weekdays and weekends. For more information, visit gibboncenter.org or call the center at (661) 296-2737.

Animal Tracks

Animal Tracks Inc. began as a place where exotic animals that were in need of a home could go, blossoming

into an Agua Dulce animal sanctuary visited by people from all over the world, except Antarctica and the Arctic Circle. Now, exotic animals, such as monkeys, kangaroos, wolves and more — many of whom were illegally kept as pets by people who didn’t understand how to care for them — are helping to educate visitors by allowing them to witness their natural behaviors up close and personal. “The animal knows that nobody’s here to make them do something they don’t want to do, and that’s the secret,” Stacy Gunderson, director of Animal Tracks, said in a previous Signal interview. Animal Tracks has called its Agua Dulce ranch home for more than a decade and now is in the process of moving, as it was recently discovered the property’s zoning changed and they are no longer legally able to operate out of their current location. Now, the sanctuary is in the process of merging with Jaws and Paws,

Shadowland Foundation

Over in Lake Hughes lies the Shadowland Foundation, a wolf sanctuary that is home to a pack of nine wolves. The foundation’s goal is to educate people on these wild animals, working toward halting movements of eradicating wolves, as most wolves had been eradicated from the U.S. by the early 1930s. With the hopes of changing people’s hearts and minds about wolves, they created educational programs that are open to the public where visitors not only get a chance to get up close and personal with the wolves, but can truly interact with them. Visitors can learn about the history of the sanctuary, as well as some of the science and history of wild wolves, before getting a chance to play with the pack. While the foundation’s Saturday educational program is suspended, though private visits are still available for fully vaccinated individuals by appointment. Shadowland Foundation is located at 18832 Pine Canyon Road in Lake Hughes. For more information, visit shadowlandfoundation.org or call (661) 724-0291. 

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S E P T E M B E R 19, 2021

N E W S F E AT U R E

Holistic health: understanding healing with energy By Kev Kurdoghlian Signal Staff Writer

he COVID-19 pandemic has made personal and public health a daily topic of conversation and consideration. And maybe holistic health popped up on the Google search results page. But what does that phrase mean exactly? “Holistic care is about more than integrating Eastern and Western medicine,” according to Dignity Health, which operates hospitals in California, Nevada and Arizona. “It’s a more comprehensive and personalized way of thinking about wellness.” The American Holistic Health Association defined holistic health as “an approach to life.” “Rather than focusing on illness or specific parts of the body, this ancient approach to health considers the whole person and how he or she interacts with his or her environment,” wrote Suzan Walter, a founder of the association, in 1999. Reiki is one form of holistic health. The energy-healing practice “promotes relaxation, reduces stress and anxiety through gentle touch,” according to Clevland Clinic, a “nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education.” In Santa Clarita, Toi Bartone is a reiki master teacher. She’s been teaching reiki since 2008 and practices reiki at her Valencia business, Nature’s Way Holistic Health Centre. In addition to her training in reiki, Bartone said she is naturally sensitive to energy. “We have energy flowing through our bodies at all times,” she said. “Say if some of our energy channels are blocked, say they’re sluggish, that can cause stress that can cause illness. So, what reiki does is it goes in there and it sets the energy.” Her role, Bartone said, is to open up the energy blockages. “It’s not my energy. I’m just a channel, and what it does is it helps the client’s body help itself by opening up these energy centers,” she said. Clevland Clinic explains that reiki practitioners act as a conduit between

Certified Reiki Master Cecilia Wong treats patient Bonnie Reichers in her home healing space in Valencia. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

their client and the source of the universal life force energy. Bartone’s treatments take approximately an hour. She said she enters a meditative state then uses different hand positions to help her clients enter into a deep state of relaxation. “The client is fully clothed and they lie on a massage table,” she said, noting reiki involves a light touch on or just above the body. “I would say like 95% of my clients fall asleep, which is great because your body needs that deep state of relaxation to heal.” During a reiki treatment, Bartone said she’s had clients release and burst into tears as they’ve felt several emotions all at one time. “Once your energy is flowing correctly, then healing can begin,” she said. Bartone, who said she holds a master’s degree in holistic health, said reiki “works on the mental, physical and emotional levels” to reduce anxiety and depression and address other health challenges. “It does help with side effects of drugs. It helps after surgeries. It helps speed recovery. It helps with pain management,” she said. “It definitely helps with mental and emotional after surgery, but as a complimentary form.”

She said she would never recommend reiki in the place of medicine. “Reiki is always a complimentary form to medicine, to allopathic treatment,” she said, noting that several hospitals have incorporated reiki as part of their treatment for patients. Reiki may help people with cancer, Parkinson’s disease, chronic pain, infertility, digestive problems, psychological distress or stress-related illnesses, according to Clevland Clinic. Bartone volunteers at Hope’s Haven Cancer Wellness Center in Newhall. The center is facilitated by Circle of Hope, which “provides financial assistance, educational resources, and supportive services to those in cancer treatment and recovery in the Santa Clarita Valley,” according to its Facebook page. “I treat cancer patients and cancer survivors and a lot of them have never had it,” she said, noting she then uses tuning forks for “sound and vibrational healing.” “It just sets the energy centers and makes sure they’re all running smoothly.” Cecilia Wong said reiki means spiritual energy. The reiki master and teacher said the practice can bring out a person’s true nature, their essence or their inner light. “A lot of people they come in and

they say, ‘Something is off,’” she said. “Like they don’t know what’s going on.” She said the emotions connected to life events cover up a person’s true self over time. The state of complete relaxation brought on by reiki forces people to look within, according to Wong. “So, a lot of those emotions would come up,” she said. “They’re kind of forced to kind of look into it and go like, ‘why are all of these things coming up, you know, it’s like 30 years ago.’” That’s when a person has to decide to let go of the thing that’s bothering them or address it in some way. Wong, who has a master’s degree in psychology, agreed that the reiki and modern medicine should work together. “Our medical science is definitely improving in the last so many years, and but then they’re also something that has been practiced for many, many years as well, such as reiki or you know Tai Chi, which is more like a personal energy practice,” she said, noting it’s common in Asia to take medication prescribed by a medical doctor and visiting an acupuncturist. To skeptics, Wong said she would first try to explain energy in the simplest terms. “We all have some kind of energy we can’t see, that we can’t really scientifically measured but we have it,” she said. “Energy is not anything foreign, it’s kind of like wind, you can’t see it but you feel it.” As for reiki, she has another anecdote. “Let’s say you’re sitting across from somebody who is very angry, just very mad (and) without exchanging words you can feel it,” Wong said. “Somebody who is very joyful (and) positive, without saying anything you can feel it, too.” So, what does that mean? “There’s already an exchange of energy without us knowing. It happens all the time,” she said. “Every second, we’re exchanging energy. So, the reiki healing, it’s a more intensified process.” 

S E P T E M B E R 19, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 7

THINGSTODO

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

t’s such an iconic sight as well as a thrill for first-time tourists and visitors to Los Angeles: The Hollywood Sign. As “locals” we barely notice the famous Hollywood Sign as we rush past on the Hollywood Freeway. If you want to impress your out-of-town friends and family take them along for a spectacular view of the Hollywood Sign located on Mt. Lee in the Hollywood Hills. Clear winter days are the best, with no wildfire smoke or haze. The sign, dedicated in 1923, was originally built as “Hollywoodland” to promote a nearby real estate development. In 1949 the sign was rebuilt as “Hollywood.” By the 1970s the sign was in serious danger of collapse from neglect and vandalism. In 1978 Hugh Hefner hosted a fundraiser at the Playboy Mansion to save the Hollywood Sign. Individual letters were auctioned off to the famous guests. Rock star Alice Cooper sponsored an “O” (in honor of Groucho Marx), the “singing cowboy” Gene Autry sponsored an “L,” and Andy Williams the “W.” The 45-foot-tall, 350-foot-long sign is now protected with ongoing preservation efforts provided by the Hollywood Sign Trust. Many are surprised to learn that it’s illegal to get close to the sign, which is set behind restricting gates and protected by security cameras and park rangers. A Los Angeles Police Department officer is also stationed at the Sign 24/7. It is not surprising that the sign is now so well-protected. It’s includes several suicides and efforts of sign-changing pranksters. Artists have altered the Hollywood Sign on a number of occasions, changing it to Holywood for Easter 1976; to Ollywood to protest Marine Lt Col Oliver North amid the Iran-Contra hearings in 1987 and to Oil War during the Persian Gulf War in 1990. Perhaps the most famous alteration of the sign occurred on Jan. 1, 1976, when it was changed to read Hollyweed. The sign was draped in material by California State University, Northridge student Danny Finegood to mark the day relaxed marijuana laws came into effect in California. Finegood was encouraged by his parents, who were “very proud” of their son’s idea. The stunt earned him an A grade in his class assignment. The best views of the Hollywood Sign are not

A view of the sign

The Griffith Observatory is normally open Friday through Sunday and closed Monday through Thursday. Admission to the Observatory building, the grounds and the public telescopes is always free. However, there are fees for parking and ticket costs for the Samuel Oschin Planetarium. PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES

always the closest. Also, the sign can be safely approached from behind by several nearby accessible trails.

The best views

Get good views of the sign along Mulholland Highway as it snakes through the Hollywood Hills, as well as from the Griffith Observatory and Lake Hollywood Park. The mall at Hollywood and Highland offers several great viewpoints and for a secret “insider” view of the sign visit the Deronda gate. Try these options for spectacular sign viewing: • Tick off multiple tourist “must sees” by visiting the Hollywood & Highland mall and Hollywood Boulevard at the same time. If you are looking for a “locals” experience, this is not it, this is full blown “Hollywood Tourist Trap.” There’s Spiderman, Batman and Superman waiting to take photos with you (for a tip) outside the front of the mall and inside there are restaurants and dozens of shops. In addition, according to the Hollywood Sign

Trust, the nonprofit that preserves and protects the sign, this is the best place to view the sign. Take selfies on the fourth-floor viewing deck at the Hollywood & Highland mall. The view is unobstructed, if somewhat distant. You can drive to Hollywood (exit Highland Avenue off ramp) and park at Hollywood & Highland, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, 90028 or drive to the North Hollywood Metro Red Line Station and take the train to the Hollywood/Highland stop, just steps away from the mall. If the fourth-floor deck is too crowded try the third-floor deck. On level two is a patio with a bench where you can sit and have the Hollywood Sign in the background. As a bonus you can visit the Dolby Theatre next door, the El Capitan Theatre across the street and Grauman’s Chinese Theater down the block. • Get good views of the sign along Mulholland Drive as it snakes through the Hollywood Hills. See THE SIGN, page 14

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S E P T E M B E R 19, 2021

FROM THE CITY MANAGER

Social media and our Santa Clarita youth ception of oneself in comparison to others — reAs a result of the challenges and restrictions sulting in depression, anxiety and overall poor brought forth by the pandemic last year, most of mental health. Santa Clarita’s youth were confined to their home. “Distracted from distraction by None of these physical and mental implications More time at home, coupled with distanced learning and an inability to meet with friends in person, are worth the temporary joy or rush youth experidistraction” ence from getting likes, follows, engagement or oth– T.S. Eliot led to more time on the internet. From TikTok to er online attention, and a false sense of acceptance. Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube If monitored effectively by adults, social media and more, kids and teens are quickly becoming inistraction, by definition, means somecan be positive for children and teens. Spending undated with new ways to connect with individuals thing that distracts or directs one’s attime online can improve their technology skills, oftention away from someand “fit in.” fer educational opportunities and provide another thing else. Parents or During the upcoming Parent Resource Sympoway to connect with classmates and friends. The guardians with children, especially sium, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station Capimportance of being technologically savvy continthose in their preteen or teen years, tain Justin Diez, will lead a conversation with local may have some familiarity with this experts to provide the necessary resources and tips ues to grow as society advances, but we must do all that we can from allowing it to become a negative term. Distractions may exist in the for keeping our youth on a healthy and safe path. Laemmle Theatres • Santa Clarita Signal distraction for our youth.adsource@exhibitorads.com I encourage every adult, form of video games, social gatherHearing from these experts, along with real-world parent and guardian with children and teensf.in203.438.1206 ings, television or social media. Social media, in 4.75” experiences p. 888.737.2812 x 5.9” from our youth panelists, I hope that their lives to join this year’s Parent Resource Symparticular, is one type of distraction where youth parents and guardians are more confident in their Sunday-Thursday, September 19-23, 2021 Ad insertion date: posium. should proceed with caution. approach and monitoring of social media for their Learn this year’sAM Symposium and ReThe City of Santa Clarita, alongside local part- Ad creation/delivery children. date: Tuesday, September 14,more 2021about at 10:56:30 CASCS_LEM0919source Fair by visiting DFYinSCV.com/Parentners, plans to better equip parents and guardians in What are some of the dangers for youth on soEngagement. navigating the dangers of social media at this year’s cial media today? Children and teens often face Parent Resource Symposium, titled “Social Media: peer pressure on social media to take part in drugs, Ken Striplin can be reached at kstriplin@santaThe New Gateway Drug,” on Wednesday, Sept. 22, alcohol, crime and other activities that may have clarita.com. The views expressed in his column are at 6 p.m. The event will take place at Santa Clarita dangerous consequences. Spending too much time those of the City and do not necessarily reflect those of City Hall, located at 23920 Valencia Boulevard. The Signal.  on social media can also lead to an unhealthy per-

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S U N D AYS I G N A L · 9

SENIORLIVING A SECOND WIND

Life Lessons from Aunt Elaine By Mary Petersen Signal Staff Writer

y husband’s Aunt Elaine is turning 95 this month. Forty-nine years ago when he moved to California, he stayed with Aunt Elaine’s family and she is like a second mother to him. In fact, she’s like a second mother to everyone who knows her. She’s a grandmother of 11 and a great-grandmother of 21. Every Christmas she remembers each family by baking cookies and breads for all of us. (That’s a lot of baking!) At parties, Aunt Elaine is dressed in matching pastels with color-coordinated shoes and accessories. She still lives alone, but lately she and her family are considering whether it’s time for her to have more assistance. Throughout her life, Aunt Elaine has enjoyed, perhaps insisted on, independence. Her soft-spoken demeanor (I have never heard her raise her voice) belies her inner tenacity and quiet strength. When Elaine and her family moved to California and her husband didn’t have work, she took a part-time office job. Then she attended community college, earned an AA degree in business, and in her forties, became the office manager of a company overseeing mostly male employees. Having lived alone since her husband passed away over 30 years ago, Aunt Elaine has created a fulfilling lifestyle centered on her family. She delights in new experiences and is fortunate to have traveled extensively, eagerly learning about other cultures and creating scrapbooks of her life-changing excursions. It isn’t that Aunt Elaine has never faced depression. She has encountered hardships and tragedies, most recently, the death of her youngest daughter. Yet despite misfortune, she faces each day with resilience and strength. Accepting the bittersweet ebb and flow of life helps her to carry on. “When I feel down,” she says, “I try to think positively, recall good memories, keep busy and read inspirational stories.”

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Dementia. Photo courtesy Elaine Kissel.

Perhaps Aunt Elaine’s greatest asset is her flexibility. Years ago when she needed to relocate out of state, she looked at it as an adventure, an opportunity to explore new sights and relationships. When the time came to renew her driver’s license at 90 years old, Aunt Elaine made the decision not to renew. “I think it’s time,” she said. “When I get in the car, I feel anxious, and that’s not a smart way to be behind the wheel. I’m hanging up my keys.” Such wisdom, flexibility, and dare I say maturity? Now she has the same perspective. When given the choice to stay with her daughter, have caretakers live in her home, or live in her own apartment in an assisted living facility, she determined that the latter was the best choice for her. “I’m ready to go on. I have been depending on others more and more,” she says. “This will be a whole new adventure. And I think I noticed a few men there on our last visit.” I’m making a mental note to evoke Aunt Elaine as I move through each stage in my life. Not resentful or resistant, she embraces each transition with flexibility and an open heart. She teaches me to accept life as it unfolds, to bend without breaking as I adjust to ever-changing circumstances. Mary Petersen is a retired COC English instructor, 30 year SCV resident, and two-time breast cancer survivor. 

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S E P T E M B E R 19, 2021

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

‘The Card Counter’ and ‘Kate’ get top ratings from Roeper By Richard Roeper Signal Contributing Writer

‘The Card Counter’



(out of four) Focus Features presents a film written and directed by Paul Schrader. Rated R. In theaters.

hether it’s Fast Eddie Felson in “The Hustler,” Eric “The Kid” Stoner in “The Cincinnati Kid,” Bill and Charlie in “California Split,” Axel Freed in “The Gambler” or Mike McDermott and Lester “Worm” Murphy in “Rounders,” the best antiheroes in the best movies about gambling almost always have one thing in common: They’re their own worst enemies. More often than not, they don’t know when to stop, and that’s when the stuff hits the fan. In writer-director Paul Schrader’s brilliant, searing and stunning American noir “The Card Counter,” Oscar Isaac’s William is the antithesis of those antiheroes. William makes his living playing blackjack and poker, but he wouldn’t even call himself a gambler. He doesn’t have the self-destructive impulses of an Axel Freed or a Lester Murphy, or the ego of a Fast Eddie or the Cincinnati Kid; in fact, William prefers to stay off the grid and play for relatively low stakes. At the poker table, he relies on his methodical approach and his uncanny ability to read his opponents. As for blackjack, William’s skills at card counting — keeping track of the number of face cards and low cards in the deck, with points assigned to various cards — actually give him a mathematical edge against the house. Isaac delivers a simmering, intense, tightly controlled performance as William Tell (a pseudonym playing off both the folk legend and the “tells” given off by weaker poker players), who provides brooding narration reminiscent of Travis Bickle in the Schrader-penned “Taxi Driver.” We learn William was in Leavenworth for 8 1/2 years, where he grew accustomed to the routine, educated himself by reading and learned how to master the art of counting cards. These days, William drives from town to town, playing poker and

PHOTO COURTESY IMDB

blackjack in midsized casinos in the Midwest and the South and along the East Coast, always wearing his hair slicked back, always clad in a neat gray-and-black ensemble — and always staying in cheap motel rooms, where he meticulously covers the furniture, the lamps, everything, in white cloth. He’s a minimalist loner who engages in these routines in a not-alwayssuccessful effort to drown out the demons haunting his dreams and his flashbacks to the hellish time he spent as one of the soldiers who engaged in the brutal and sadistic torture of prisoners at Abu Ghraib. (Schrader films these scenes with a fish-eye tactic and unblinking visuals that chillingly capture the horror of it all.) These are the crimes that resulted in William’s long stint in prison. There’s always a convention at a casino/hotel, and that’s how William comes to drop in on a security seminar hosted by one Major John Gordo (Willem Dafoe), a former military man turned civilian contractor who was in charge of the torture interrogation techniques in Abu Ghraib but escaped prosecution. William ducks out before Gordo spots him, but not before he’s accosted by a young man named Cirk (Tye Sheridan), whose father was in the same unit as William and was so damaged by his experiences that he killed himself. Tye has a half-baked plan to kidnap Gordo and torture and kill him; wouldn’t William like a piece of that?

William has another idea. He’ll take Cirk on the road with him and try to win enough money to pay off Cirk’s college debts and convince this damaged kid to abandon his plan and make something of himself. (As we’ve seen in so many films written and/or directed by Schrader, including “First Reformed,” themes of redemption and forgiveness run deep here.) This means William will have to step up his game and play for higher stakes, so he teams up with Tiffany Haddish’s La Linda, who specializes in connecting anonymous, wealthy backers with talented poker players. William, La Linda and Cirk become an ad hoc family of sorts, with William trying to teach Cirk life lessons while William and La Linda tentatively explore a possible romance. (In one of the most beautiful scenes in any film this year, La Linda takes William to the illuminated Missouri Botanical Garden and, for a fleeting moment, he sees there’s more to life than the interiors of casinos and motel rooms.) With spectacularly haunting original songs by Robert Levon Been of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club accompanying the journey, Schrader expertly captures the equal parts exciting and depressing worlds of casinos, where the slots are always jangling and the bar is always open — and when the World Series of Poker comes to town, an entire ballroom is filled with tables where players vie for winnings that go deep into six figures. Yet this is a poker movie where we really don’t see the details of hands as they’re played out, a la “Rounders.” William has a disdain for “celebrity poker,” as he calls it; he sees the game as a means to save Cirk and maybe find some inner peace for himself. This leads to a final act both shocking and perhaps inevitable, in one of the best films of the year.

‘Kate’



Netflix presents a film directed by Cedric Nicolas-Troyan and written by Umair Aleem. No MPAA rating.

inally, a stylish and ultra-violent and wildly over-the-top action thriller about a female assassin who was trained to be a killing machine since she was a

child and has an older male fatherfigure mentor played by a great veteran actor and wouldn’t you know it, she’s worn out her welcome and now the target is on HER back! Why, we haven’t seen such a setup since Karen Gillan and Paul Giamatti starred in “Gunpowder Milkshake” way back in July of, well, this year, followed by “The Protege” with Maggie Q and Samuel L. Jackson in August — so it’s been nearly a month! This time around, the always compelling Mary Elizabeth Winstead is the titular character and Woody Harrelson is her wise and cunning counsel, Varrick, who has schooled Kate in the science and art of mercenary killings and can be totally trusted no matter what, right? Right? (Sidebar: Winstead also played the trained killer Helena/Huntress in “Birds of Prey,” but come on, that was back in February.) So, yes: “Kate” is “John Wick” meets “Die Hard” meets “Collateral” meets “Kill Bill All the Volumes,” and we’ve seen it all before and you’re not going to get much in the way of original plot, but what you WILL get is a grindhouse of a good time with some bleak and wickedly sharp humor, screen-popping visuals and some pretty great fight choreography. Set in a hyper-realistic, saturatedneon Tokyo, “Kate” stars Winstead as a cold-blooded sniper who has crossed the wrong people and has been injected with a deadly serum that will wreak grotesque havoc on her body over the course of about 15 hours before she dies, and there’s nothing that can be done about it. (Hey, in “Gunpowder Milkshake,” Gillan was jabbed with a serum, but it only paralyzed her.) As Kate weaves her way through Tokyo’s underworld with revenge on her mind, she finds an unlikely sidekick in Ani (Miku Martineau), who thinks Kate is a real life-Terminator and a true badass and just cooler than cool and doesn’t know Kate is the one who made her an orphan. (Hey, we had also had that plot development in “Gunpowder Milkshake”!) Truth be told, Winstead as Kate does look cooler than cool, with her blood-spattered smiley face T-shirt See KATE, page 12

S E P T E M B E R 19, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 1

FOOD

A wonderful breakfast worth waking up for

aking up, no matter how late, can be such a drag. You’re moving slow and cuddled up warm under the blankets. However, your stomach is growling which means eventually you are going to have to arise. When you do stumble out of bed, it’s time to get the day started with a delicious casserole on your plate. It’s a warm, freshly baked Overnight Apple Cinnamon Fresh Toast Casserole. Prepared the day before and chilled overnight, this casserole is ready to throw in the oven once you’re up. It’s gooey on the inside and baked to a perfect crisp on the outside, plus it’s filled with mouthwatering apples and ground cinnamon, not to mention the sweet glaze drizzled on top at the end. It’s perfect for any breakfast or brunch occasion and the little ones will enjoy the sweet crunch, as well. To start, add cubed French bread to a glass baking dish. Add apple pie filling on top of the bread and smooth it out over the entire dish. Then add more cubed French bread on top. In a mixing bowl, whisk nine eggs, half-and-half and cinnamon. Pour the egg mixture over the ingredients in the baking dish. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and chill overnight. Remove the foil and bake for about an hour. Let cool. In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and milk to form a sweet glaze. Drizzle the glaze over your warm casserole and enjoy. Whether you are waking up on an early Monday morning or lounging around in your pajamas for an hour (or two) over the weekend, this breakfast casserole is worth the wait. Find more breakfast and brunch recipes at Culi nary.net. 

Overnight Apple Cinnamon French Toast Casserole Servings: 12 Nonstick cooking spray 1 package (20 ounces) French bread, cubed, divided 1 can (20 ounces) apple pie filling 9 eggs 1 cup half-and-half 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 cup powdered sugar, plus additional (optional) 2 tablespoons milk, plus additional (optional) Spray 8-by-8-inch glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Easy Brunch Quiche Serves: 12 1 package (10 ounces) frozen broccoli with cheese 12 slices bacon, chopped 1/2 cup green onions, sliced 1 cup mushrooms, sliced 4 eggs 1 cup milk 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese, divided 2 frozen deep dish pie shells (9 inches each) Heat oven to 350 F. In medium bowl, add broccoli and

In baking dish, add 10 ounces cubed French bread in bottom of dish. Pour apple filling over bread. Top with remaining cubed French bread. Set aside. In medium bowl, whisk eggs, half-and-half and cinnamon. Pour evenly over bread. Cover with aluminum foil and chill overnight. Heat oven to 325 F. Remove foil and bake 50-60 minutes. Let cool 10-15 minutes. In small bowl, whisk powdered sugar and milk. Add additional, if needed, until pourable glaze is reached. Drizzle over casserole before serving. 

cheese contents from package. Microwave 5 minutes, or until cheese is saucy. Set aside. In skillet, cook chopped bacon 4 minutes. Add green onions; cook 2 minutes. Add mushrooms; cook 4 minutes, or until bacon is completely cooked and mushrooms are tender. Drain onto paper towel over plate. Set aside. In medium bowl, whisk eggs and milk until combined. Add broccoli and cheese mixture. Add 1 cup cheese. Stir to combine. Set aside.

In pie shells, divide drained bacon mixture evenly. Divide broccoli mixture evenly and pour over bacon mixture. Sprinkle remaining cheese over both pies. Bake 40 minutes. Allow to cool at least 12 minutes before serving. Note To keep edges of crust from burning, place aluminum foil over pies for first 20 minutes of cook time. Remove after 20 minutes and allow to cook uncovered until completed. 

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S E P T E M B E R 19, 2021

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

KATE

Continued from page 10

and her oversized plastic sunglasses and a way of walking that makes her look like she’s in slow motion even when she’s not in slow motion. And when Kate isn’t slicing and shooting up dozens of interchangeable Yakuza hit men all over Tokyo or racing through the streets in a muscle car that’s so tricked out the “Fast and Furious” crew would suggest it be toned

down a notch, she’s doing everything she can to protect Ani and to make her understand that just because Ani comes from gangster lineage, she doesn’t have to be part of that life. How sweet! Harrelson can do this kind of world-weary, duplicitous character in his sleep, and he’s as good as you’d expect him to be, while the Japanese rock star/actor known as Miyavi is

fantastic as a superstar hit man with a real sense of style. Martineau is terrific as Ani, who tells a roomful of hit men they’re all about to die at the hands of Kate, and when informed there are 20 of them, cracks, “Then you’re OUTNUMBERED.” Mostly, though, this is Winstead’s film to carry, and while we know there are stunt people and makeup artists and special effects and a whole lot more

helping along the way, Winstead is mightily impressive in the action moments when we can see it’s really her, alternately funny and self-deprecating and desperate and determined as the clock ticks toward her inevitable death, and just plain badass throughout. 

S E P T E M B E R 19, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 3

H E A LT H

Understanding the symptoms of atrial fibrillation

he human heart beats 60 to 100 times per minute on average, which equates to between 86,400 and 144,000 beats per day. Over the course of a lifetime, an individual’s heart may beat more than two billion times. A fully functional heart is like a well-oiled machine. However, various conditions can affect the heart and its ability to function at peak capacity. Individuals with an irregular heartbeat, also known as arrhythmia, may experience a common condition known as atrial fibrillation. To understand what atrial fibrillation entails, it helps to learn how a healthy heart works. The Cleveland Clinic says when the heart is working properly it pumps blood to the body with a normal heart rhythm. The two upper chambers of the heart (atria) contract, followed by the two lower chambers (ventricles). When timed perfectly, the beats allow for efficient pumping

of blood. The electrical impulse that guides the heart’s pumping action is located in the sinoatrial (SA) node in the right atrium. That impulse causes the left and right atria to contract and force blood into the ventricles. Afterward, the electrical impulse travels into the atrioventricular node (AN) located near the middle of the heart. During Afib, the SA node doesn’t direct the electrical rhythm and many other impulses may fire at once. The American Heart Association says this causes the atria to beat irregularly and quiver. The atria then beat chaotically and not in coordination with the ventricles. While not typically life-threatening, Afib can cause shortness of breath, light-headedness and may increase the risk of heart-related complications, according to the Mayo Clinic. The American Heart Association says Afib may lead to blood clots from blood not pumping efficiently. Should a clot break off and enter

• Extreme fatigue • Irregular heartbeat • Chest pain • Light-headedness • Rapid, fluttering or pounding heart palpitations • Shortness of breath

the bloodstream, it could lodge in an artery leading to the brain, resulting in stroke. Roughly 15 to 20 percent of people who have strokes have Afib, and this is why many people with this type of arrythmia are placed on blood thinners. Awareness of Afib symptoms is imperative since it is such a serious condition. People should visit their doctors if they experience any of the following:

Individuals who are at higher risk for Afib include seniors and people who have been diagnosed with obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and/ or hyperthyroidism. Smoking and moderate to heavy alcohol use also increase the risk for Afib. A doctor can assess risk factors for Afib and educate patients about reducing their risk. Atrial fibrillation is a common health concern that affects the beating of the heart and efficient pumping of blood throughout the body. People who suspect they have Afib are urged to contact their physicians immediately. (MC) 

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S E P T E M B E R 19, 2021

THINGSTODO

THE SIGN

Continued from page 7

Mulholland Drive has a viewpoint named the Jerome C. Daniel Overlook above the Hollywood Bowl, 7036 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles, (or simply the Hollywood Bowl Overlook) that offers a perfect view of the Hollywood Sign complete with a historical placard. The overlook offers a great view of the Hollywood Bowl Amphitheater, downtown Los Angeles and, on a clear day, the ocean and Catalina Island. To the east, the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Park Observatory are clearly visible, and to the north is the San Fernando Valley. From Santa Clarita head over to the Hollywood Freeway, take the Lankershim exit and turn left. Travel Cahuenga Boulevard and make a right onto Mulholland Drive. As a bonus you’ll find that driving Mulholland Drive is a Los Angeles experience in itself.

• Lake Hollywood Park, 3200 Canyon Lake Drive, Los Angeles, 90068. It is most important to get there early in the day and to try and avoid weekends. By noon all the parking is gone. Parking is free, but limited, unless you want to walk. The parking is on the street next to the park. To get a closer look at the Hollywood Sign follow the trails up the hill. • Another “two-fer” for your tourists is a visit to Griffith Observatory (2800 East Observatory Road, Los Angeles, 90027) and a view of the Hollywood Sign at the same time. This is the city’s “preferred” viewing area, a grassy lawn outside Griffith Observatory. The easiest way to get there is to take the DASH bus that runs to the Observatory from the Vermont/Sunset Metro Red Line station every 20 minutes, from noon to 10 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. (Park at the North Hollywood

Metro Station). You can drive and pay to park at the Observatory, but public parking is very limited. There is a pay lot near the Observatory and free parking at the Greek Theatre (with a one mile hike up to the Observatory). • Show your guests you are a true Hollywood Sign insider by taking them to the Deronda Gate viewpoint. This is a “drive and hike” option for sign viewing. This is an easy hike that takes you close to the sign. Make sure you park legally and don’t block a driveway. Choose 3390 Deronda Drive, Los Angeles as your destination. Follow N. Beachwood Drive uphill past the Beachwood Market. Ignore signs that say there’s no Hollywood Sign access. Also, ignore signs saying the road is closed (it IS a dead end). Turn left onto Ledgewood Drive. When you reach a T-junction at Rodgerton Drive, turn right. Almost

immediately, turn left onto Deronda Drive. When Deronda reaches a dead end, you’ll see a metal gate on the right. Look for an arched opening in the wall near the gate and go through the opening. Walk a short distance uphill to two very nice spots for viewing the sign. Tips Don’t plan to park here on the weekends. Parking is permit-restricted on Saturday, Sunday and holidays. When you get to the Deronda gate, don’t be deterred by the signs saying there’s no access. There’s a keypad on the door, but it has a timed lock that automatically opens from sunrise to sunset. Take photos just inside the park by the Tyrolian Tank, a water tank that offers excellent views, or keep hiking to the top of Mt. Lee. For more information about the Hollywood Sign, visit hollywoodsign.org/ best-viewpoints. 

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S E P T E M B E R 19, 2021

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 5

Five steps to design a your own dream closet

Maid Revolution Storage Ottoman, a convenient, easy-to-assemble, multi-use piece designed for closets or any area of your home. Able to hold up to 12 pairs of shoes, its rotating design maximizes storage for functional appeal.

hether you’re a stylist with an eye for fashion who chooses each garment carefully or the laid-back type who can rock the first outfit you find each morning, the closet provides a location for inspiration. Turning bland closet space into a truly eye-catching room calls for a little planning and DIY creativity.

Remain detail-oriented

It’s not just the structure that can bring your dream closet to life; little touches can add up in a big way. Upgrade your light fixture, for example, and look for other ways to personalize the space for a look that’s all yours, such as shelving to display treasured photos or keepsakes, or a spot on the wall for a vision board to draw inspiration from as you begin each day.

Plan it out

Creating the perfect closet space begins with your ideas. Think about the details such as how you want the space to look and the amount and type of storage you need. Envision everything from colors and finishes to the physical shape.

Focus on practicality

Once you’ve dreamed up your ideal closet, compare your ideas with the space you have available and adjust your plans to fit your footprint and budget. This step allows you to get creative with ways to maximize your space and use every available inch to create a closet that gives you the function and aesthetic you desire.

Keep it organized

A beautiful closet likely won’t mean as much for you if it isn’t functional, and organization is a key

HOME

Change up the color

Introduce light and personality into your closet with rich color and style. Add accent color on the walls behind your clothes or incorporate color with the structural elements. On-trend finishes can help make the space pop by complementing the colors of your wardrobe.

to true functionality. Keep your space organized in a stylish manner with an option like the Closet-

Visit closetmaid.com to find more DIY closet inspiration. (Family Features) 

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S E P T E M B E R 19, 2021

GARDENING

Creating an edible garden — anytime, anywhere

eople have become more health-conscious in the last year, seeking relaxing activities and projects that give them a sense of accomplishment. According to the National Gardening Association, 67% of Americans are growing or planning to grow their own fruits, herbs and vegetables in 2021, and there are more than 18.3 million new gardeners trying their hand at growing their own flowers or produce. While growing your own edible garden can be exciting, there are a few things to consider before you start. It can all feel a bit overwhelming, but with tips from Garrett Magee, the design mastermind behind the landscape design firm Manscapers, you can create the ultimate edible garden — no matter the time of year or where you live. Here are a few suggestions to help your garden sprout.

Think about what you eat

Before you start digging, plan your

edible garden by looking inside your fridge to see what kinds of produce you buy from the grocery store for inspiration. By growing fruits and veggies you like, you don’t have to worry about them going to waste. If you have kids, grow the fruits and veggies they enjoy too.

RETHINKING RESILIENCE TO WILDFIRE Learn how garden design and maintenance can help protect homes in high-risk fire areas.

Start small

When building your edible garden, start small by growing plants out of a window box or small garden bed. As you get more comfortable, slowly expand and scale up the following year. Fruit and vegetable gardens are typically low maintenance, but they’re never no maintenance, so be patient and stay on a regular schedule - you’ll develop your green thumb in no time.

Grow a vertical garden if your space is limited

If you live in a more urban environment or don’t have a traditional back yard, every square inch of space is precious. However, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to garden. Focus on growing your produce up rather than out with tools like a garden trellis, which works well for supporting high-climbing plants like cucumbers.

4) Go green

For the quickest turnaround on your homegrown crops, focus on leafy greens like lettuce, kale, spinach

and herbs. These vegetables are easy to grow, whether in a window box or a big backyard garden. Plus, you can continuously harvest them throughout the season. Important tip When harvesting leafy greens, use scissors to cut off the outer leaves at the base of the stem. That way, they can grow new leaves in the center.

Incorporate fruits and veggies into your life Growing an edible garden can help you to eat more of the fresh produce you love. However, you can also incorporate fruits and veggies into your daily routine with a Naked Juice smoothie. Naked Rainbow Machine is a sippable rainbow made from the juices of apples, mangoes, bananas, kiwis, blueberries, blackberries and red beets. For more ways to enjoy your favorite fruits and veggies in innovative forms, check out nakedjuice.com. (BPT) 

Air currents can carry pesticides

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ccording to the Environmental Protection Agency, air currents can carry pesticides that were applied to nearby properties. That means even people who do not apply pesticides in their lawns and gardens can still be at risk of exposure to these potentially harmful chemicals. People concerned by the prospect of being exposed to the pesticides being applied by their neighbors can stay indoors with their children and pets while the substances are being applied. The EPA notes that planting thick-branched trees or shrubs can serve as buffers against airborne pesticides, essentially acting as walls around a property that prevent gusty winds from blowing pesticides into yards and gardens. (MC) 

S E P T E M B E R 19, 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

Bake a kid-friendly Chocolate Zucchini Cake By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer

“Y

ou can have your cake and eat zucchini, too,” said 24-year-old Josh Plank when I wandered over to a landscaping project he was digging in in my neighbor’s yard. I knew he had a garden of his own, so I eagerly asked what I should do with three humongous 18-inch-long zucchini that dominated my veggie garden while I was on vacation. Without skipping a beat, he said, “Bake a chocolate zucchini cake.” What? “Yep, a cake,” he said. “It’s the ultimate dessert my mom made when I was a kid. An Austrian neighbor gave it to her and said to pass it on. And that’s what she did. Now I make it and share it with friends.” He emailed me a simple list of ingredients. When asked for directions, he said stir the ingredients in order, one by one with a wooden spoon in a

big bowl. No mixer, no fuss! Stir together family fun with this kid-friendly recipe and serve with cold glasses of milk and colorful napkins and straws for a special after-school snack.

CHOCOLATE ZUCCHINI CAKE

1/2 cup soft butter 1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar 2 eggs at room temperature 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/2 cup sour milk (stir together 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 tablespoon white vinegar. Let it sit 15 minutes.) 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 4 heaping tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cups grated zucchini (if using an extra-large, firm zucchini, remove seeds)

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Topping 1/2 cup chopped nuts 1/2 cup chocolate chips 1. Grease and flour a 9- by-13-inch pan. Preheat oven to 350 F after sour milk is prepared. 2. In a large bowl, stir together but-

ter, oil and sugar for a few minutes, until light. Add the eggs one at a time until well-blended. Stir in vanilla and the sour milk. 3. Meanwhile, another child may measure and sift the flour, cocoa, baking soda, cloves, cinnamon and salt. Add to the large bowl and stir gently until mixed. Add zucchini and chocolate chips, and stir until just combined. 4. An adult should spoon the batter in the pan, sprinkle with the topping and bake for 40-50 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. 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.

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SOLUTIONS

PUZZLES

S E P T E M B E R 19, 2021

CROSSWORD TIME

S E P T E M B E R 19, 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

Save America’s Horses We need to save America’s wild equines, and to do this Congress needs to pass H.R 3355. This bill is called the SAFE ACT, Save America’s Forgotten Equines. This bill is to prevent the shipment of wild horses to foreign countries for slaughter and to prevent these horses to be shipped in inhumane conditions such as no food and water for days being crammed in a shipping trailer. The methods for forcing these animals into these shipping trailers are beating these horses with chains, whips and shocking them with tasers. When these horses arrive to be inhumanly slaughtered, they are in a single-file line being whipped and beaten to be forced into the slaughterhouse. Once they arrive inside these slaughterhouses, these horses are then shot with a stun gun to the brain or hung, choking and struggling for their lives until they are unconscious. As an equestrian and a owner of a rescued quarter horse, this is a disgusting practice and we should never be doing this to America’s own horses. These horses are used for therapy and 85% of Americans oppose the cruelty these horses endure. I’ve talked to many of my friends about how we need Congress to act on this issue , including my friend and our very own congressman, Mike Garcia. I’ve told him about this bill and what he says is that this is a disgusting act upon America’s own equines and is against the inhumane practice. I am so proud of how our congressman is doing everything he can to protect and serve all of us here in the 25th Congressional District, and as all of my friends and I are also volunteers of his, I’m hoping he signs his name on cosponsoring this bill. As a bipartisan bill we have so far 83 cosponsors, both Democrats and Republicans. I am happy we have bipartisan support on this bill. As President Ronald Reagan once quoted, “There is nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse.” Alyssa Theodore Agua Dulce Submit a Letter to the Editor

Include name, address & phone; Anonymous letters aren’t printed; email: letters@signalscv.com. Mail to: Letters to the Editor, The Signal, 25060 Avenue Stanford, Suite 141, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.

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

How to Make Every Day a Gift By David Hegg

f you’re like me, you sometimes lie in bed after the alarm has sounded, theoretically debating the benefit of leaving the warm comfort of the bed to get up and take on the day. That 30 seconds turns out to be a microcosm of the way we look at life. I suppose many folks get up because of obligations. They simply have to get up because their commitments obligate them to do so, whether they like it or not. On the other hand, some of us get up because we can hardly wait to get a jump on the opportunities each day brings. In fact, it isn’t uncommon for folks like me to get up before the alarm sounds because our minds are already running at full speed planning the day. How you feel during the last 30 seconds in bed will depend on whether you view life as an obligation or a privilege. Here’s why I get out of bed every morning excited to begin the day: 1. I know each day is unique. I came to realize years ago that each day is a unique gift, wrapped up in a 24-hour package. There has never been one like it, and once it is gone, there will never, ever be another one that matches it. Someone has said, “Yesterday is a canceled check; tomorrow is a promissory note; today is cash, so spend it wisely.” I get up every morning with great anticipation to see what the day will hold, what opportunities it will present, and what can be learned through all it brings. 2. I don’t know how many more days I’ll have. This is a new feeling for me now that I’m easing out of middle age and sliding down the hill into pre-senility. When you realize how short life really is, each day takes on new significance. Each day presents one more chance to leave a useful and significant mark on the world. It is one more opportunity to do something good, help someone grow, and end the day with a sense of accomplishment. I’ve watched as ALS and Alzheimer’s have taken the bodies and brains of loved ones well before their time. So I look at every day this side of the grass when my mind and body are still functioning as time to be used well, with an eagerness borne of wisdom. 3. I love what I get to do each day. I am so grateful that my days are filled with people, places, and tasks that make good deposits in my soul. When my son was in his formative years, he said to my wife, “When I grow up I want to be like Dad and have a job I love, that I look forward to every day.” Yes, I do consider myself one of the truly blessed in our society. I truly love what I get to do. But in

reality, we all have the opportunity to love our days, if we see our jobs and our relationships and our abilities as gifts from God through which we can bring about a positive result in our society. There are two kinds of people: those who get up looking to get something from the day, and those who get up looking to offer something to others through their lives. Selfish people are never satisfied, while selfless people most often enjoy the wealth of friendship, and real satisfaction in life regardless of their circumstances. 4. There is nothing more satisfying than playing a significant part in making the lives of those around you a little better. When you view each day as a unique opportunity to offer something good to your world, you’ll find a satisfaction that can’t be bought at any price. Ask the nurse who helps someone take their first step in rehab, or the coach who watches a little girl score her first goal. Ask the teacher who receives a letter from a student of 10 years ago telling him how those years in his class made all the difference. Sooner or later we learn that the best things in life aren’t things. The best things in life are people, and the lives we impact for good turn out to be our very best accomplishments. 5. There is nothing more eternally beneficial than living each day for the glory of God. We all live with some sense of purpose. At times we all live for ourselves since selfishness comes pre-installed on the human hard drive. Sadly, we never fully erase it. Yet, over time we either come to live for ourselves to a greater extent, or learn the greater value of living beyond ourselves in pursuit of something far greater than ourselves. For me it is to understand, recognize and champion all that God is and offers to those who would follow his word and obey his will. So, when the alarm goes off tomorrow, see it as a gift and leap into it with all you’ve got. And instead of wishing someone to “have a great day” encourage them to join you in “making it a great day.” After all, you’re already out of bed, so you may as well make the most of it. Local resident David Hegg is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church. “Ethically Speaking” appears Sundays. 

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