CANYON TRACK TEAMS 3-PEAT FOOTHILL TITLES
Dog Fan Goes from Borrowed Walks to Therapy Talks
Art by ARTrepreneurs
Former Longtime Fireworks Operator Returns for the Fourth of July
One of Santa Clarita City’s Founders Honored with a Street Named for Him.
‘Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros’ Celebrated
Canyon Track Teams Take Third Straight Foothill Titles
By Michael Picarella Signal Staff Writer
When he was a boy, Ralph Steger would walk a number of dogs in his neighborhood for free. Neighbors would ask how much money he charged, but he’d just say he loved dogs and wanted to spend time with them any way he could.
Sometimes his neighbors would give him fruit from their trees or vegetables from their gardens as payment, but, regardless, Steger always felt like the winner.
“I come from a poor family, and we couldn’t afford dogs or any kind of animals,” Steger said in a recent interview. “I’d see the neighbors walking
their dogs, and I’d go up to them, pet their dogs, talk to them. I’d say, ‘Hey, if you ever need any help walking the dogs, I can help.’”
Of course, when he became an adult and got paying jobs, he became a dog owner for life.
Steger, a longtime Canyon Country resident, has had his current dog, Ras, since she was a year old. She’ll be 11 years old in June. Before that, he had another dog named Summer for about 15 years. Both dogs were therapy animals. Summer was Steger’s first. Summer was a smart dog right out of the gate, Steger said, but he still wanted to give her some training. He and Summer did a few lessons, and at a certain point, Steger felt she was good to go.
See THERAPY, page 8
Canyon Country resident Ralph Steger and his dog Ras, have made more than 1,000 visits to hospitals, hospice care facilities and other venues to provide pet therapy to others. PHOTOS BY KATHERINE QUEZADA /THE SIGNAL
Expires June 30, 2025 *See
district artists draw in more than a hundred supporters.
By Maya Morales Signal Staff Writer
The Centre was filled with praise and admiration from more than a hundred William S. Hart Union High School District students, family members and administrators Wednesday evening who came to support their junior high and high schoolers at the student art exhibition.
Shanna and Leanne Kim, sophomores at Canyon High School, said they had been preparing their art pieces for sale since the fall semester. They were originally set to showcase them in January, but the event was postponed due to the Hughes Fire.
Having finished the Junior ARTrepreneurs program months ago, Leanne and Shanna Kim said they felt more confident in their art now and found a community that supported them.
“Before I started this class, I felt not very confident in my art. I felt like my art was inferior to other people’s. Being in this art program I had to learn how to look at other people’s art and be like their art is awesome and so is mine,” said Shanna Kim.
Both of the girls featured drawings of scenes, quotes in Korean that resonated with them and characters that they had made up. Groups of people walked by and purchased some pieces, complimenting the girls on how accomplished their pieces were. In a partnership with Heroes of Color and the Hart district’s Career and College Readiness program, school site administrators selected students they knew had a passion for art and offered them a placement in the Junior ARTrepreneurs program to explore their talent and teach them skills they would need to make it into a career.
“During the course of the last two years, principals and counselors and teachers have worked with students to help identify other students that they knew had a passion for art and also a passion for going into this career possibly in the future,” said Carolyn Hoffman, director of the CCR program. “They can learn that they can really have that gig economy, and they can have their own business, which is what’s so exciting for our students to have built those skills.”
Hoffman said the student art exhibition was put together to show off the skills that the students learned in both their talent and how to sell their work. She added that culinary art students were walking around the event giving away treats they had learned to make, and several high schools had bands performing throughout the evening.
Any purchases that were made at the booths went directly back to the students, added Hoffman. Some booths even had tip jars to help students pay for art supplies if attendees wanted to help out but couldn’t buy.
“Tonight is truly extraordinary. I’ve already spent many dollars of my own,” said Hoffman. “They’re all here and anything that you buy, all of that goes to the students. So, it’s really teaching them again, their arts, their career and also the opportunity to sell. Many of them have information sheets where people can also purchase in the future, if maybe something that they see has already sold out.”
Hoffman added that the impact of the evening would not be possible if it wasn’t for David Heredia, founder and CEO of Heroes of Color, and Ira Rounsaville, a Hart district social worker.
Heredia said that he was grateful for the partnership with the district and being given the opportunity to show what the students take away from the program.
Parents were going up to Heredia to talk to him about the impact his program has had on their students and inquiring how they can get other friends involved.
“Even though this is really focusing on entrepreneurship and the arts, students are finding their voice,” said Heredia. “They’re finding a way to tap into things that they really like and are advocating for themselves, you know, which it was an unintended part. That wasn’t my original pitch to them, but to see that happening is just so remarkable. So, I am truly, truly grateful for the Hart district in allowing me and my instructors to bring this to them.”
Sierra Vista Junior High School eighth grader Emma Carlos was patiently sitting at her booth talking to potential customers about her painted skateboards, pins and stickers.
Carlos said she was pulled out of one of her classes one day and taken to the office to be told about the art program. She said that people had told the school site administrators she enjoyed art and that her art was cool, so she decided to join it.
Working toward the art exhibit, she said she would go to the classes and create stuff from the materials they provided the students, and she was excited to show them off on Wednesday.
“This was definitely like a huge step forward (for me), I believe. And it means a lot to me to have an event like this,” said Carlos. “The program definitely taught me that your art doesn’t have to be what you see online every day. It doesn’t have to be realistic; it can just be you. And it just also helped me socialize more with other people in my grade, and I thought that was really cool. It helped me step out of my comfort zone.”
She added that the community she found through the program was unexpected at first, but it was nice to have people with the same interests and who she could collaborate with.
Like Carlos, many of the students said the art pieces they were selling were based on their personal inspirations.
Miko Castro, a sophomore at Valencia High School, said that his work was strongly based off his culture.
“A lot of my art is inspired by my culture. I am Mexican, my grandparents immigrated here years and years ago and I take a lot of pride in that. I take pride in who I am and what I represent. I do things that let people know what I am and I’m not afraid to show that,” said Castro.
Castro said it was his mom who pushed him to join the program, and he became more and more interested in it. He said the program taught him that “art is what you make it out to be.”
He added that in the beginning of the program, when all the schools were brought together, a few artists looked like they were nervous and had trouble sharing the art they made. The more they went through it together, however, the more they opened up to one another and helped them show off their talents.
Legend Goff, a junior at Bowman High School, said the program helped him grow closer to his friends and find more connections with other students.
Goff said he used his art as a channel to help his mental health and learn how he could potentially make a career with selling his art.
“I would definitely say that a lot more people should be focused on more stuff like this than just being on their phone and being sad. If you’re sad, I encourage people to go do something with it; use it as motivation,” said Goff.
Canyon High School student Shanna Kim shows off her art during the Hart district’s student art exhibition. PHOTO BY KATHERINE QUEZADA / THE SIGNAL
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“I told the trainer, I says, ‘She’s gone as far as I want to go,’” Steger said. “And she (the trainer) says, ‘I’ll make you a deal. I’ll give you free classes. I want you to come at least twice a week, and they’re totally free.’ So, I looked at her, and I says, ‘OK, what’s in it for you?’ She says, ‘Well, if you ever noticed, every class that you were in was always full.’”
The trainer told Steger that the classes filled up when Summer was there because people noticed their dogs would learn more when there was a dog they could follow. That dog they followed was Summer. Steger compared the phenomenon to how kids learn from other kids. He said the trainer got more clients because of Summer being there, so, it was in her best interest to keep Summer around.
After Steger and Summer spent some time doing that, the trainer asked Steger if he’d ever thought about taking his dog for pet therapy training. Steger hadn’t. But the trainer talked him into bringing his dog in for an evaluation, to see if she and the trainer’s dog would qualify.
“The lady runs us through the bases,” Steger said, “and when she gets done, she sits down, she’s writing a bunch of stuff. The trainer asks her, ‘Well, how’d we do?’ She says, ‘Well, I’ve got good news and bad news.’”
Steger and his trainer asked for the bad news first. The bad news: the trainer’s dog didn’t make it. The good news: Summer did.
And that’s how Steger got into pet therapy. Over the years, he and his animals have gone into hospitals and hospice care facilities to work with patients; they’ve helped children practice their reading skills at libraries, residents at retirement centers, and they’ve gone to College of the Canyons to help students de-stress during mid-
terms and finals.
He said he had many stories about how pet therapy has assisted others and changed their lives, stories that have kept him doing the work for a quarter of a century. He spoke about one particular child he helped some years back. This girl had struggled with reading. But when this girl was with Summer, who was Steger’s dog at the time, she could focus.
Steger had given the girl a card that had Summer’s picture on it. The girl took that card home and, according to the girl’s mother, stood it up on her nightstand in her room, and she read to the dog on the card regularly until her reading improved.
“Then, I was in Walmart one day,” Steger said, “and there’s a lady who says, ‘Excuse me.’ I turned around, and there was a couple there, and I looked at her. I don’t forget a face. She says, ‘Do you remember my daughter?’ And she mentioned the name. And I said, ‘Oh, you’re the one who had the girl that had a hard time.’ ‘Yeah.’ I supposed that she finished college. I says, ‘How’s she doing?’ ‘Well, you’ll never guess where she’s working.’ I says, ‘Where’s that?’ ‘JPL.’”
Steger said he couldn’t believe that this girl, who had such trouble reading, would go on to work at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Steger shared other stories about hospital patients who wouldn’t move or speak until he came in with one of his therapy dogs.
“Everybody that’s been in it will have one of those moments,” he said. “Sometimes it takes a year or two. Sometimes it happens right away. But it hooks them, and then they’re stuck in it forever.”
Having worked a career in aerospace, Steger retired a little over 20 years ago. He’s done pet therapy consistently. He said that he and his cur-
rent dog, Ras, recently hit 1,000 visits, and that’s with a couple years of inactivity due to the pandemic.
Steger is married and has four kids. He spoke about the second date he had with the woman who would become his wife. They were walking along Ventura Harbor when they spotted a feral cat up ahead of them.
“He’s walking along, and every time somebody’s on the left-hand side, he’d go to the right side,” Steger said. “On the right side, he’d go to the left. And we’re watching, and he got close to me, and I squatted down. She (his then-future wife) says, ‘That cat’s not going to come to you.’ I stayed there like that, and I called him over, and my legs were spread open, and it kept doing the circle in my legs.”
Steger laughed, adding, “Me and animals just get along.”
Others seem to agree with him about that.
Santa Clarita resident Sharon Rendall, who also does pet therapy work, said she’s known Steger for about 20 years. She said Steger has a great rap-
port with animals.
Rendall also spoke about the importance of pet therapy and the commitment pet therapy handlers have to the work. Steger was no exception.
“He’s a gentleman that has a huge heart,” she said. “He’ll be at most anything he can possibly be at. And if we have something special come up, he always will be there. He’s just a guy who’s always willing to help.”
Valencia resident Sandy Dubin also does pet therapy. Over the years, she’s used guinea pigs and about eight different dogs. She said she’s known Steger for years. She, like Rendall, said Steger has a big, big heart.
According to Steger, it’s hard not to have a big heart when doing pet therapy.
“I really didn’t think I was going to get hooked into this,” he said. “But I can’t stop.”
Know any unsung heroes or people in the SCV with an interesting life story to tell? Email share@signalscv. com.
By Michael Picarella Signal Staff Writer
After a more-than-20-year absence, Gene Taylor is coming back to run the community’s Fourth of July fireworks show this year — but only to help facilitate the passing of the torch from one generation to the next.
David Palmer, the operator in charge of the city of Santa Clarita’s Fourth of July fireworks shows for the past 25-plus years, died in November of a heart attack, said his wife, April Palmer.
Former Santa Clarita resident Gene Taylor, who’d previously shot the shows 20-plus years before Palmer, said he plans to return this year to do the show in Palmer’s place, but only this one time: Taylor is returning to train the oldest of Palmer’s three children, Nathan, 25, who, Taylor said, is interested in picking up where his dad left off.
“I will do everything I can in my power to help him become an operator,” Taylor said in a recent telephone interview. “And if he plays his cards right, does the right job, then he can have the show in his father’s name.”
The operator in charge of fireworks shows is responsible for the operation and safety of a fireworks display. Taylor operated the Santa Clarita Valley Fourth of July fireworks show from the 1970s to the late 1990s. He didn’t remember the exact years. He only gave up the gig because he moved to Phoenix, where he currently resides.
Taylor got into the fireworks business young.
“I got into it because, in school, I had an affinity toward chemistry,” he said. “I had a lab in my garage that my parents allowed me to build.”
When he was in his early 20s, Taylor and his family went to a Los Angeles Dodgers game. He was blown away by the fireworks show. The next day, he wrote a letter to the stadium and asked for more information about who did the shows, how they did the shows and, taking a chance, asked if he could go behind the scenes to watch how they did their next show.
“They wrote me back,” Taylor said, “and they said, ‘You’re invited for the July 4th show,’ and, ‘You’ll be part of the crew,’ and, ‘Come on down.’”
That was the beginning of Taylor’s career. It took
Gene Taylor prepares for a fireworks show in the San Diego area, July 3, 2025. PHOTO COURTESY OF GENE
some time, but he got his license to shoot fireworks two years later. The first show he did was at a high school in Irvine. And he kept working after that. It wasn’t a full-time job, he said. He got into sales to make a living.
Taylor moved to the Santa Clarita Valley from the San Fernando Valley in the early 1970s. He and his wife raised their kids in the SCV. Soon after the move, Taylor began his long tour of shooting fireworks for the community’s Fourth of July shows.
When he and his wife moved to Arizona, Palmer took over the show, which he would continue to do through last year. But Palmer had a brain bleed, his wife said, and that led to a heart attack, which led to his death on Nov. 14.
Taylor received a call in January with news about Palmer, he said, and a request for him to do the Santa Clarita show again.
“I didn’t really want to do it,” Taylor said. “I’ve got a very large show that I’m doing in San Diego, and my crew is going to be pushed. Most of my crew is not going to want to do another show the very next day.”
But Taylor couldn’t say no when he learned that Palmer’s son, Nathan, was interested in following in his dad’s footsteps.
Palmer’s wife said she’s happy that Nathan wants to carry on with his dad’s legacy. She’d really like this year’s show to be in honor of her late husband, who put his heart and soul into the Santa Clarita fireworks shows for so many years.
“The Santa Clarita show is a warm place in our hearts,” she said. “All three kids were born and raised in it. It’s a big family thing. When my husband goes out to shows, we all go out also, and we’re all setting up, and we get our hands dirty. He (Nathan) has been doing shows with his dad since he was 18, and he’s been going to shows since he was born.”
Palmer and his family lived in the Santa Clarita Valley for many years. They came to the SCV from Sylmar in 2008 after losing their home in the Sayre Fire. They moved to Texas after losing their business during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, they drove out to Santa Clarita just to do the Fourth of July show.
Taylor is looking forward to returning to the SCV to do what he loves. And he does still love it. He said there’s just something about fireworks — the smell of the smoke, the explosions and the blast wave felt from being up close.
“But besides all that,” he said, “one of the things that always attracted me when I was a young kid was that you go to this event, you sit at the park and you have your nice hot dog or your picnic lunch, and then the time comes, and way off in the distance you see these people moving around. They’re very small because they’re so far away. Then the sky gets dark, and you can’t see them at all. And the magic happens for about a half hour.”
By Michael Picarella Signal Staff Writer
His granddaughter said she wanted the street dedication to be received with the words of her late grandfather. She read aloud from his autobiography.
The Louis E. Brathwaite street dedication ceremony on Friday morning in the new Sand Canyon Plaza recognized one of Santa Clarita’s founders on what would’ve been the man’s 92nd birthday. According to Akira Brathwaite, her grandfather’s book, “Black Man’s Job, White Man’s World,” was completed just a week before he died on Nov. 13, 2001.
“He was a man who had a complicated relationship, I think, with race,” she said in her opening remarks at the street dedication. “He really wanted to be seen for being a wonderful leader, more than necessarily a Black leader.”
Before a crowd of almost 100 people, Akira Brathwaite read about the time her grandparents had first come out to the Santa Clarita Valley. A co-worker invited the couple to his Canyon Country home, and Brathwaite’s wife, Mary, was somewhat reluctant, saying there were no Sears stores or other department stores nearby.
The young couple would buy their home in Canyon Country in 1970. Over the years, much would change in the valley. Brathwaite would play a big part in that change.
The city of Santa Clarita hosted the street dedication ceremony on Friday to recognize the impact Brathwaite had on Santa Clarita. Area dignitaries in attendance included Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, D-Chatsworth, and representatives from the offices of Sen. Suzette Martinez Valladares, R-Acton; Rep. George Whitesides, D-Agua Dulce; and Los Angeles County 5th District Supervisor Kathryn Barger, all of whom spoke about Brathwaite, offering the family dedication certificates.
Members of Brathwaite’s family, including his widow, were present to celebrate what is now Louis E. Brathwaite Drive, which is the entrance street to an upcoming Greystar development in Canyon Country.
Brathwaite was appointed to the city Planning Commission in 1988, on which he served until 1998. He also served as a board member of the William S. Hart Union High School District, the SCV Boys and Girls Club and the SCV Committee on Aging.
Schiavo spoke about his earlier service in the United States Air Force and the Naval Air Force Reserve, and how his desire to serve continued when he got home.
“We know that his impact really still echoes through these streets and schools in the hearts of Santa Clarita, that he was a trailblazer, and in doing so, he not only broke barriers, but really built bridges,” she said. “His leadership didn’t just make history. It made a difference. He inspired generations by showing us what courage and dignity and service really, truly looked like.”
Shannon Hurst, field representative for Whitesides, spoke about Brathwaite’s unwavering commitment to the community.
“The naming of this street serves as a lasting tribute to his impact and stands as a reminder of the importance of civic engagement and the difference one individual can make in shaping community,” she said. “So, on behalf of Congressman George Whitesides, it is with deepest appreciation and respect for Mr. Brathwaite, his incredible family and the city of Santa Clarita that we present this certifi-
cate commemorating today’s event and join in celebration of this street in his honor.”
Kris Hough, field representative for Valladares, spoke about how Brathwaite inspired others.
“Because of that inspiration,” she said, “years and years of folks in Santa Clarita have caught on to that inspiration, and that’s what makes this community so great, is people passionate about service and digging in and helping the community.”
The Santa Clarita City Council approved the naming of the street in July 2022. Mayor Bill Miranda concluded Friday’s event with the moment so many had been waiting for ever since.
“We will now dedicate this street in his honor,” Miranda said, “as we will unveil the official sign for the Louis E. Brathwaite Drive as a lasting tribute to his invaluable contributions to our city.”
A black cloth covering was pulled, and the sign was revealed to applause and plenty of pictures.
Brathwaite’s widow didn’t speak at the event on Friday. As certificates came in, she collected them on her lap from her seat. Then she posed for photos next to the sign.
In an interview afterward, she said she only wished her husband were there to receive the honor, adding that it was, indeed, an honor for the whole family.
“I’m so glad to have it,” she said. “It’ll be nice to see his name driving by.”
By Katherine Quezada Signal Staff Writer
As rain poured down on Saturday morning, children and families dashed for cover, many of them heading toward the Jo Anne Darcy Library.
After drying themselves off, many guests walked into the main entrance of the Canyon Country library branch and were met with large block letters that said, “LEER,” which means “Read” in Spanish.
From afar, one could hear children laughing, music playing, and a bit of chaos from different areas within the vicinity as there were arts and crafts stations, live reptiles to meet, performances, and games for people of all ages.
A large crowd gathered, clapping and cheering for an ensemble of folklorico performers made up of children, dancing to traditional Spanish-language music in the children’s library section.
More than 550 people were in attendance for the “Dia de los Niños/Dia de los Libros” event, an annual tradition at the local library meant to celebrate children, shed light to Hispanic culture, and promote reading.
“Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros,” or “Day of the Children/Day of the Books” in English, is celebrated nationwide across library branches, according to librarian Alyssa Holzschuh, and is inspired by Mexico’s Children’s Day, introduced in 1925.
The library hosts the celebration every year for its large Spanish-speaking demographic in the Canyon Country area, and to promote inclusivity.
“We really want to make the library a welcoming space for everybody, to celebrate the culture of our community, give space for the expression of culture, and history,” said Kendra Fitzpat-
rick, a senior librarian.
As families wandered off in search of their next activity after the dance performance, 7-year-old Ari Lee chose the puzzle-making station.
There, she was given a fully assembled blank puzzle along with art materials, and she let her imagination run wild, doodling characters and bringing them to life with colors of the rainbow.
Lee, who is Korean, was brought by her mother, Soojin, who said she wanted Ari to experience the diversity that exists in the world.
Soojin has been introduced to different foods and cultures by her best friend, who is Mexican and German, which has helped expand her understanding of different countries and their traditions.
So for her, it’s important to also start showing her daughter the many unique traditions each culture has so “she can appreciate and see how much effort each of us put into keeping the heritage alive,” she said, because, “it’s important, and it’s very important that we keep it growing” and showing other people “to appreciate.”
In the multipurpose room of the library, Gloria Arjona was preparing her materials that consisted of her guitar, a microphone, and “Loteria,” which is the Spanish-language version of Bingo and deeply rooted in tradition and played across all Hispanic countries, she said.
Arjona, who is an author and performer, has focused her research on the famous board game to learn its history, gain a better understanding in its traditional significance within the Hispanic community, and to help the new generation of children find alternative ways of fun away from a screen that will nurture community, she said.
“It creates community, and to be
By Tyler Wainfeld Signal Staff Writer
Canyon High School track and field coach George Velarde said Thursday’s Foothill League team championship held at College of the Canyons was about meeting expectations.
Both the boys and the girls took the Foothill League titles for the third consecutive season, a testament to their hard work, Velarde said.
“We’re so proud of them, very proud of our coaching staff to bring all the kids together. I mean, look at this,” Velarde said while pointing to a group of Canyon athletes taking a picture to commemorate the moment. “It’s just awesome, you know, and very rewarding seeing the kids continuing to improve. That’s the key.”
The Canyon girls collected 170 points, nearly 60 more than second-place Golden Valley. They won eight of the 16 events and had two girls, Lanai Gant and Alessandra Pratti, win two events individually.
Gant won the 100-meter and 200-meter races, while Pratti won in the 100-meter hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles.
Also picking up individual wins were Emoni Wright in the 100 and Elena Cox in the pole vault.
Left: Canyon students Alaya Graves-Hogains (center left) and Lanai Gant (center right) take the lead in the girls’ varsity 400-meter race. Right: Golden Valley’s Alexzandria Leverette runs to the finish line during the varsity girls’ 4x400 meter relay. PHOTOS BY KATHERINE QUEZADA LEFT) AND HABEBA MOSTAFA / THE SIGNAL
Gant was also victorious as part of the 4x100 relay team that also included Wright, Lyric Scott and Alaya Graves-Hogains. Gant, Graves-Hogains and Scott finished first through third, respectively, in the 200, while Wright took fifth.
The 4x400 relay team from Canyon was also victorious.
On the boys’ side, Canyon picked up 139 points to take the team title, 51 more than second-place Castaic.
Jordehn Gammage, last year’s state champion in the 300-meter hurdles, was dominant in that race en route to a win. He also took first in the
110-meter hurdles.
Myles McCrory won the 400, and Owen Souther won in the 3200 and took second in the 1600.
Souther was just behind Hart’s Alejandro Cueto until the final stretch, eventually beating Cueto by a little more than two seconds.
Nathan Hernandez took first place in the pole vault. His mark of 15 feet was 3 feet higher than Golden Valley’s Keagan Lee and Castaic’s Ramon Espinoza in second place.
The 4x400 relay team also took first place.
“Good, old-fashioned hard work,”
Velarde said. “There is no other secret.”
Thursday marked the first time that the Foothill League has had a one-day meet to determine the league champions. Previously, champions were determined based on scores collected from dual meets throughout the season.
“It was good competition from all the teams,” Velarde said. “Do we need to make some improvements and make some changes? Sure. I’m sure after the season’s over, we as coaches, we’ll come together and see how we can make this better.”
Athletes from across the Foothill League are set to meet at COC again on Friday for individual preliminaries. League finals are set for Thursday, May 31, at COC.
A few other standouts from the other Foothill League teams showed that they will be names to watch for in the coming weeks.
The Golden Valley Grizzlies saw senior Kiera Donovan, the two-time reigning CIF champion in girls’ discus, take first in that event. She was also first in the shot put after taking fourth at CIF in that event last year.
Golden Valley’s Nyah Fields was first in the girls’ long jump and triple jump while taking second in the 100, while Addae Ma’at won both the boys’ long jump and the triple jump. Team-
By Tyler Wainfeld Signal Staff Writer
Before he gets ready to defend his state title in the 300-meter hurdles, Canyon High School senior Jordehn Gammage pledged himself to his country — and more success at the collegiate level.
One of six Canyon student-athletes to sign their national letters of intent on Wednesday inside the campus gym, Gammage is headed to the Air Force Academy. He said his hope is to keep setting high expectations while representing both himself and his country.
“Of course, it’ll be the best decision for me for the future, and I hold myself to a certain standard, and I feel like the academy is definitely the place for me,” Gammage said. “My thought process was, what will be best for my future. You know, there were many big options, big-name options there, and this option I feel would best propel me forward in the future that I want to have and my end goal in life.”
Also signing were the following five Cowboys:
James Audette UC Santa Cruz, boys’ volleyball.
Benny Santos Willamette University, baseball.
Jocelyn Cruz University of La Verne, cross country and track.
Jassmine Enamorado Westmont College, cross country and track.
Jeremiah Torres Cal State Monterey Bay, cross country and track.
Audette helped the Cowboys to a second-place finish in the Foothill League this season, only behind the undefeated West Ranch Wildcats. Boys’ volleyball head coach Jeff Cody said seeing Audette, who he believes is the first of his players to sign col-
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with family, to socialize,” she said.
“It’s a way to connect with our traditions, our roots, and with our family. It’s a very inclusive game because everybody can play.”
As families settled down to par-
legiately since 2016, officially make his decision official is “what makes doing job so much fun and just so rewarding.”
“This year we’ve been really successful, and Jimmy’s a big part of that success,” Cody said. “But also, just seeing the guys, the rest of the team, come out and support him — you know, at the end of the day, it’s a team effort. And even though Jimmy’s playing at the next level, and we’re really excited for him and the talent that he’s brought to this program, him being here has lifted everybody else up.”
Track and field head coach George Velarde talked about how his four track athletes — three of whom he also coaches in cross country — have become almost like a family with how much time they spend together.
“We have such a great relationship, you know, athlete-coach relationship, that now goes far beyond
ticipate in the board game activity, 5-year-old Gianna Martinez came in with her mom, Giovanna Martinez, and shared a “Loteria” game card with another young child and adult.
Giovanna, who comes from a Guatemalan background, was looking for a fun activity to participate in with her daughter, which led her to the chil-
dren’s celebration.
just school,” Velarde said. “We’re family.”
All four of the track athletes recently helped both the boys’ and girls’ teams to their third straight Foothill League titles, and are now preparing for the individual postseason.
Gammage may be hoping for more titles for himself, while Velarde is looking for all of his athletes to potentially help their teams repeat the team success.
The boys took second at the CIF Southern Section finals last season while the girls took third.
And after that, Velarde knows Gammage is off to make himself a better athlete and person with the Air Force.
“Obviously, with Jordan, you know, that that’s a whole new level,” Velarde said. “He’s now representing our country. And the service that he’ll be doing, besides the track and field, is to be celebrated.”
“I never experienced Dia de los Niños,” Giovanna said, “so I’m very excited to now start a new tradition with my daughter. It’s pretty cool to celebrate kids, and how everyone is coming together to celebrate.”
For the mother and daughter duo, it was the first time they spent a Satur-
day together due to Giovanna’s work schedule, she said, and “we’re excited to spend more quality time.”
As Gianna participated in numerous activities throughout the day, her mother only hopes she continues to learn about her culture, embrace who she is and, as Giovanna said, to “just be herself.”
By Michael Picarella Signal Staff Writer
Santa Clarita Mayor Bill Miranda praised former WBO middleweight champion Fernando Guerrero and his gym on Sunday for the work they’re doing in the community, teaching area youth boxing skills and life skills — skills of focus, determination, competitiveness, endurance and self-defense.
For his support, Guerrero offered Miranda the Mayor’s Cup.
The Mayor’s Cup boxing event took place over the weekend at Guerrero Boxing Gym off Avenue Stanford in the Valencia Industrial Center. On Sunday before matches began, Miranda spoke to the crowd about his excitement for the matches to come.
“Thank you everybody for coming here to watch some fantastic boxing by some fantastic competitors,” Miranda told a crowd of people waiting to see the fights. “It’s an honor for me to be part of this, and I can’t wait to watch the boxers do their thing. So, let’s get ready to rumble.”
The three-day boxing event took place last weekend and will conclude this Sunday.
According to Yuri Shirinyan, director of operations at the gym, local fighters from the Guerrero Boxing Gym and others from all over the state, and even outside of the state, competed Saturday and Sunday.
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mates Josh Farley and Riley Bellamy were third and fourth in the triple jump, respectively, while Farley was fourth in the long jump and RJ Yoakum and Kamal Molake were tied for fifth in that event.
The Saugus Centurions were victo-
Canyon Country resident Brian Ligama speaks with Jahdisyn Love about his boxing
victory. PHOTO BY MICHAEL
PICARELLA
Shirinyan said fighter ages ranged from 9 to 40 years old. Most participants were in their teens.
The event drew approximately 700 boxers and spectators, he said.
Shirinyan added that the Guerrero Boxing Gym is a little over a year old, and while it’s still a bit unknown in the community, it’s growing.
“This will be called the mecca of boxing here,” he said early in the day of the event. “We’re growing rapidly.”
According to Guerrero, who came to live in Canyon Country about four years ago because the small town reminded him of his hometown in the Dominican Republic, the weekend’s event offered what he called “some bangers.”
rious in a number of distance events. Henry Saywell was first in the 800, as was Adrian Cantu in the 1600.
In the girls’ 3200, Saugus had the first four finishers in Lucia Pearson, Mikaila Whitman, Sydney Kasahara and Amanda Yanez.
Valencia had its boys’ 4x100 team place first. Caysen Badawi claimed the
He said there were some good fights and some really strong fighters. The community has shown him that it wants boxing.
“There’s a need here,” Guerrero said. “Boxing is a big sport. Not everyone can be a football player or basketball player.”
Boxing coach Robby Robinson, who’s also a Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station juvenile intervention specialist, said Guerrero is all about helping the kids, the families and the community. He spoke about how Guerrero is bringing the community together with the creation of his boxing gym and his boxing school.
“When I met him, before all of this (the boxing ring) was up, he talked about it,” Robinson said during the Mayor’s Cup event on Saturday. “So, he’s a man of his word. If he says he’s going to do something, he does it.”
Robinson added that Guerrero will also help out people who can’t afford lessons. And he spends one-on-one time with his fighters, teaching them boxing skills and life skills.
As Robinson was talking about Guerrero, a fighter approached the former middleweight champ for just that, and Guerrero offered tips and words of encouragement.
Over in the dressing room, several fighters were getting wrapped up and warmed up for their fights. Brian Ligama, 17, of Canyon Country was
boys’ 200 and was second in the 100, while Elise Henderson was first in the girls’ high jump.
West Ranch saw Jayden Brown take first in the boys’ high jump and Aidan Lynch was third in both the boys’ 110-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles.
Annabelle Amneus was second in
throwing punches at his coach, Anthony Messina of Sun Valley.
Messima had been coaching at the Guerrero Boxing Gym for about a year. Prior to that, he hadn’t coached much, but he fought quite a bit.
“This is good for the kids — a good experience,” he said. “They need to understand what it’s like to lose and what it’s like to win. That feeling goes both ways, and whether you’re going to win after a loss or if you’re going to give up.”
Messima added that Ligama had shown potential. The two were going to find out what he had in the coming moments. Ligama was up next to fight, and it was, he said, his first amateur fight. He was going up against Alodiel Reynoso, 15, of Los Banos.
In the ring, Ligama put on a show and hit with power. Between rounds, Guerrero went to Ligamo’s corner to keep the young fighter focused.
Ligamo would win his fight and take home a trophy. But other fights continued throughout the weekend, each day’s bouts between 1 and 7 p.m.
According to Shirinyan, Guerrero is hoping to do more boxing events — monthly events.
Miranda said he’s excited about what’s to come. While boxing offers entertainment for the community, he said he’s most proud to have such a skill-building school for residents who participate.
the girls’ discus and third in the shot put for West Ranch.
Castaic’s Nikita Berezkin was first in the boys’ discus, beating out Canyon’s Norayr Mihranyan by just 8 inches. Elijah Reid claimed the boys’ 100 and was third in the 200.
Hart’s Graysen Rivera was first in the boys’ shot put.
Friday, June 13
6-9 p.m.
Celebrate highlights cultures, customs and culinary wonders featuring music, dance, food, art and more.
Canyon Country Community Center
Open Gym Schedule
Open gym activities are available to people of all skill levels.
Gym Fees
Day Use
Juniors (12-17) Free
Adult $3 | Senior $2
15 Visit Pass
Adult $34 | Senior $12
Basketball
Tuesday/Thursday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Bring your own ball or check one out with a student I.D./Government issued I.D.
Pickleball
Friday, 9:45 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Bring your own paddles
Table Tennis
Monday and Wednesday, 9:45 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Bring your own paddles
May 19
Visit the Library website for additional information on the library activities. bit.ly/4heLsY0
5:30 p.m. Monday Night Magic: The Gathering
May 24
10 a.m. Sit and Stitch
May 26 Closed Memorial Day
May 31
1 p.m. Community Puzzle Group
June 4
4:30 p.m. Canyon Country Teen Advisory Board
6 p.m. Thrilled to Read Book Club
June 5
6:30 p.m. Club de Mujeres Latinas en Literatura
June 9
noon Lunch at the Library 1:30 p.m. Little Explorers
June 10
noon Lunch at the Library
3:30 p.m. Crafternoon: Create Your Own Roblox Plush
June 11
9:30 a.m. Storytime
noon Lunch at the Library
June 12
9:30 a.m. Cuenta Cuentos
noon Lunch at the Library
4 p.m. Teen Library Eats: Fortnite Slurp Juice
June 13
noon Lunch at the Library
June 14
10 a.m. Sit and Stitch
June 16
noon Lunch at the Library
1:30 a.m. Little Explorers
5:30 p.m. Monday Night Magic: The Gathering
June 17
noon Lunch at the Library
3:30 p.m. Crafternoon: Paper Bag Puppets
June 18
9:30 a.m. Storytime
noon Lunch at the Library
4 p.m. Teen Crafts and Stuff: Minecraft Origami
June 19 Closed Juneteenth
June 20
noon Lunch at the Library
June 23
noon Lunch at the Library
1:30 p.m. Little Explorers
June 24
noon Lunch at the Library
3:30 p.m. Afternoon at the Library: Life-Size Games
