Sunday Signal March 8, 2020

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Get ready for St. Paddy’s Day

MARCH 8, 2020

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LOVE & DEVOTION TO DOODLE BREEDS

15

MORE WAYS TO GO GREEN IN MARCH

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M A R C H 8, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NEWS FEATURES 4 4 It’s that time for us to go green just for the fun of it 5 A growing devotion to the doodle mix 6 When a chase has the highest stakes possible 7 Former Britons in the SCV discuss royal family LOCAL NEWS 8 8 After the (election) dust settles: 38th District Assembly and 25th Congressional District 9 Decision 2020 10 County declares coronavirus state of emergency Feds OK $2.7M to battle outbreak 11 Bella Vida celebrates ‘A Knight of Royals’ Cemex appeals BLM decision ordering company to pay $25M SPORTS 12 12 Hart boys soccer ends season in playoffs TECHNOLOGY 13 13 Kim’s Q&A: speed up windows, surveillance, phone security CITY MANAGER 14 14 Santa Clarita’s Youth Arts Showcase to be held March 21 LIFESTYLE 15 15 Sustainable living DINING GUIDE 16 FOOD 19 19 Host like the Irish ST. PATRICK’S DAY 21 21 St. Patrick’s Day party!

ENTERTAINMENT 22 22 Buckcherry returns to Canyon Santa Clarita TRAVEL 23 23 Enjoy Las Vegas, the NFL draft experience KIDS & FAMILY 24 24 Tips for getting through the midyear slump Making the most of children’s playtime 25 Donna’s Day: Learn cooking basics by baking School menu PETS 26 26 Getting to the heart of pet-parasite prevention SENIOR LIVING 27 27 Risk of MRSA contraction is high among seniors HOME IMPROVEMENT 28 28 Roof leak, basement leak, neighbor’s rainwater THINGS TO DO 29 29 Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day GARDENING 30 30 Adding native plants into your more traditional gardens HEALTH 31 31 Tips to help family caregivers avoid burnout TIME RANGER 32 BUSINESS 33 33 Five tips to help for a more efficient workday OPINION 35 PUZZLES 39 100 YEARS

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4 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M A R C H 8, 2020

N E W S F E AT U R E S

It’s that time for us to go green just for the fun of it

By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

I

t’s almost time to don your green or get pinched as St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner.

Though we’re a few thousand miles away from Ireland, that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate with them.

Castaic resident Wendy Ruiz and her family are avid supporters of what they consider “Leprechaun Day,” a tradition they began when her oldest was in preschool.

“My son found out about St. Patrick’s Day when he was in his first year of school, and since then, the leprechauns have come to terrorize our house every year,” Ruiz said, chuckling. “They leave glitter everywhere they go and often leave clues towards their pot of gold.”

Now, all three of her children are eager for March 17, when they can hunt for the gold, which are really chocolate coins.

Here in the Santa Clarita Valley, many are also celebrating in a more traditional American fashion.

It’s My St. Patrick’s Day Party at Pocock Brewing Company

Join Pocock in welcoming in two new St. Patrick’s Day-themed beers, as well as an expanded outdoor beer garden with a second bar on Saturday, March 14.

“We’ll have three live (Irish) bands during the course of the day and food trucks doing an Irish fare,” said Todd Tisdell, a partner of Pocock. “It always gets a great turnout, and it’s a good time.”

In addition to the return of the Mahna Mahna Imperial Red beer, which is an Irish red, Pocock will be releasing what they call an Irish coffee beer, which is an Imperial coffee stout aged in Jameson barrels, Tisdell added.

The event is open to all ages and free of charge.

The event is scheduled from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, at Pocock, located at 24907

Attendees from left, Tess Carlos, Terrie Castillo and Phyllis Fitzsimonsuse Irish props as they pose for photos at the St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the senior center last year. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

Ave. Tibbitts, Suite B, in Valencia. For more information, visit bit.ly/32OeCbH or call (661) 7754899.

American Legion Post 507’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Dance

The American Legion Auxiliary is hosting its annual St. Patrick’s Day, complete with dinner and dancing.

Attendees can enjoy live music by Travelin’ Band featuring John Davis, a John Fogerty tribute band, while eating a traditional corn beef and cabbage dinner, according to Michelle Henry, a member of the Auxiliary.

Tickets are $25 and include dinner, while proceeds will benefit the Girls State, which is the Auxiliary’s experiential learning program that is committed to developing young women as future leaders, and help fund their annual camp, where they learn about patriotism, Henry added.

The event is scheduled from 5-11 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, at The American Legion Post 507, located at 24527 Spruce St., No. 1703, in Newhall.

For more information, visit bit.ly/2Tymj1H or call (661) 259-7507.

St. Patrick’s Day Pre-Party at Brewery Draconum Daryl Goldes of the Scoil Rince Daryl Rose school of dance introduces her Irish dancing students, from left to right: Shannon Botkin, 11; Kayley Gunning, 8; and Hannah Botkin, 11, at the 41st annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Dance at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church.

SIGNAL PHOTO

While St. Patrick’s Day may fall on Tuesday, Brewery Draconum is celebrating early with a pre-party.

“We aren’t doing as much as we have in the past, as it is a ‘pre’-party the actual holiday falls on a Tuesday and for us, that’s unfortunate, as we are always closed Tuesdays,” owner Ben Law said. “That

being said, that Saturday before, we will have food specials, a beer release and have a live Irish band.”

In addition to the brewery’s traditional holiday specials, such as the Baltic Porter Creme Brûlée and the Draconum Reuben, that are expected to return, as well as some new treats, expect the release of Reddy or Knot, a dry Irish red ale, Law added.

Food specials include a corned beef reuben sandwich with house-made thousand islands, housemade corned beef, Swiss cheese and sauerkraut on fresh, marble-rye bread, as well as a twice-baked, loaded potato with broccoli, sautéed onions and garlic corned beef topped with Irish cheddar with a side salad.

Those who stick around until 7 p.m. can also enjoy some traditional Irish music by Oxalis.

The event is scheduled from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, at Brewery Draconum, located at 24407 Main St. in Newhall. For more information, visit bit.ly/3awtxKx or call (661) 568-9160.

Peacock and the Feathers at Chuys’ Stevenson Ranch

As one of the few locations hosting an event on the actual holiday, this celebration is a must-attend.

Join Chuys’ for live music by Peacock and the Feathers on the patio at 7 p.m., as well as drink and food specials going on all day long.

The event is open to all ages and free of charge.

The event is scheduled from 7-11 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, at Chuy’s Mesquite Broiler, located at 25289 The Old Road in Stevenson Ranch. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TCyTwN or call (661) 288-1022.

M A R C H 8, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 5

N E W S F E AT U R E S

A growing devotion to the doodle mix

By Vivianna Shields Signal Staff Writer

B

ecause of its fluffy coat, affectionate personality and intelligence, doodle mixes have become the latest crossbreed craze.

Doodle mixes are a cross between the traditional poodle and another breed, such as golden retriever, bernese mountain dog or cocker spaniel. Dog owners are known for a special bond with their pets, and the SCV’s doodle owners are obviously no exception.

This shared passion has even led to a Facebook group for networking opportunities, with a name nearly as adorable as these furry friends: SCV Oodles of Doodles.

Maintenance

For doodle breeds, regular grooming is essential for maintaining their coats. Longer coats are harder to manage compared to shorter coats, but both should exercise regular grooming and brushing.

Doodle’s coats come in three forms: fur, fleece and hair. Curls are fur, which is the toughest coat to manage, according to Bri Ludden, a local doodle owner.

“Hair and fleece are easier, but hair will shed, and fleece will not,” said Ludden. “Fleece is insanely soft and it feels like petting a silky cloud.”

Dog groomer Colie Spagolie, suggests that doodles be groomed at least once a month to avoid matting.

Grooming pricing generally starts in the neighborhood of $90. In addition to grooming, owners should also brush their dogs daily from head to tail.

When brushing, it’s important to brush down to the skin to ensure that all knots are cleared.

According to Carrie Brewster, a dog groomer, poodles grow thick hair inside their ears that lock in moisture.

If water enters the ear, the water is unlikely to exit, which could lead to an ear infection.

“It’s important to pluck the hair out on a regular basis to prevent infection,” said Brewster.

Pricey

Most doodle mixes are bought through breeders opposed to being

Above: Baylee, the Goldendoodle, is a pet therapy dog at UCLA Health, Northridge Hospital and LAX airport. COURTESY PHOTO Right: Luna is a 4-month-old labradoodle owned by Dionne Watt, of Canyon Country.

PHOTO BY BOBBY BLOCK / THE SIGNAL

adopted through rescues. They usually range between $2,500 and $4,000 depending on the breed its crossed with, and its size, Ludden said.

“If you find a breeder with a significantly lower price, ask questions,” said the Trending Breeds website.

“The goal is happy and healthy puppies. Be careful of breeders who might be cutting corners.”

In numerous interviews, Wally Conron, who is credited for creating the Labradoodle, has expressed his regret over his role in creating this marketplace, because of how its spawned “backyard breeders.”

“They’re not going into the backgrounds of the parents of the dogs,” said Conron, in an interview with Psychology Today. “There are so many poodle crosses having problems.”

Conron admits there are ethical breeders, but not as many as there should be.

“High-quality breeders will routinely test their dogs for hereditary conditions in order to produce the healthiest puppies possible,” according to Trending Breeds. “The costs of these tests quickly add up and is reflected in the puppies’ price.”

Pet therapy

Doodle-mixes are generally known

for their sweet demeanor and never ending desire to be pet.

For the past decade, Ginny Mills and her goldendoodle Baylee have traveled to different high schools and hospitals in southern California, providing pet therapy. The duo also splits their time at the LAX airport.

“Baylee is calm and loves everyone,” said Mills. “She will actually go up to people so they will pet her.”

When Baylee was a puppy, Mills enrolled her in dog training, which Mills believes is what made Baylee such an obedient pet therapy dog.

Baylle follows commands on first listen, according to Mills.

Doodles are intuitive and are known to recognize if something is off about an individual early on. If they detect stress, they stick to the patient like glue, according to Mills.

Following the Saugus High School shooting, Baylee visited Saugus to provide relief to the students. The duo also visit other schools in the area to provide stress relieving services.

Doodle mixes are curious, attentive dogs that observe the environment around them, a crucial skill in a therapy dog, according to dog experts.

“Goldendoodles are clown-like and are so funny,” said Mills. “Baylee loves what she does for others.”

Engaging personality

Keeping doodle mixes constantly engaged is a must when it comes to owning one. These fluffy mixes love to be engaged whether that means with company or physical activity.

For Holly Thompson, who owns Moxie the bernedoodle, she’s learned first hand how demanding the breed could be; however, their sweet and funny personality makes it worth it to her. A bernedoodle is a cross between a Bernese mountain dog and a poodle.

“If we leave her alone, she goes berserk,” said Thompson. “Potential owners need to take into consideration that they need a lot of company.” When she is gone for long periods of time, she hires a babysitter.

Because of Moxie’s size and energy level, Thompson takes her on at least one walk a day. Since Moxie is so big, she exhibits a lot of strength.Understanding the breed’s strength is something all potential owners should know, according to Thompson.

“The strength thing could be an issue,” said Thompson. “She’s a big leash-puller and I don’t know how I would take her on a walk if I wasn’t as strong as I am now.”

6 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M A R C H 8, 2020

N E W S F E AT U R E S

When a chase has the highest stakes possible

By Caleb Lunetta Signal Staff Writer

W

hile the helicopters, TV cameras and live streams might make things seem dangerous and exciting, there’s probably not too many things more dangerous and threatening to the lives of law enforcement officers and the public than a high-speed chase.

And it’s a potential concern California Highway Patrol and other law enforcement officers face on a daily basis.

“You don’t have time to just sit back and drive and have fun,” said Sgt. Scott Shoemaker of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Traffic Unit, in response to the reality of being involved in a pursuit. “You’re constantly working, mentally and physically, during (a pursuit).”

In California for 2018, the year the data is most recently available, according to the California Highway Patrol Office of Community Outreach and Media Relations, there were not hundreds, but thousands of pursuits every single year.

There were more than 9,100 pursuits by law enforcement agencies throughout the state of California for the year of data most recently available. Of those, less than 25% involved a collision, which is attributable to the great lengths law enforcement take to end the pursuits safely. Approximately 16% of all pursuits involved no injuries; 8% involved collisions with injuries; and 0.3% ended in a worstcase scenario: fatal injuries.

In a typical year, CHP officers throughout the state will make more than 3 million enforcement stops, and a vast majority the driver pulls over. However, the majority of those that initiate a pursuit are wanted for vehicle theft, driving on a suspended license, having no license or for resisting arrest.

Most pursuits, according to the most recent CHP statewide report, end within the first mile and the first minute.

“Pursuits are a tool used by the CHP to apprehend a motorist who attempts to flee from our officers,” said Officer Josh Greengard of the CHP Newhall Office. “Pursuits are initiated

California Highway Patrol officers take a suspect into custody last month after a chase in which speeds reached triple digits.

CHP officers and Sheriff’s Department deputies have the same goal when a police pursuit is initiated: take the suspect into custody without anyone being hurt. PHOTO BY BOBBY BLOCK / THE SIGNAL

by a violator who fails to yield to the lawful commands of a law enforcement officer to pull over and stop.”

When drivers don’t pull over to the side of the road when they’re asked to, LASD deputies and CHP officers are forced to instantly start analyzing the situation and establishing their priorities.

“During a chase, our main goal is to keep the public safe, while also apprehending the suspect,” said Greengard.

The officials at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station said they have the same idea in mind when it comes to a pursuit.

“Safety is our goal, and bringing the pursuit to an end safely,” said Sgt. Scott Shoemaker of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station. “The safety of the public, safety of the officer and safety of the suspect is our goal.”

Shoemaker said an important aspect that all deputies need to keep in mind while they’re engaging in a pursuit is to not fall victim to “tunnel vision.”

“When you’re in a pursuit, it’s easy to get into what you’re doing,” said Shoemaker. “Every department has different criteria on what they can

chase, how they can chase it and so forth.”

Shoemaker said deputies are constantly working while involved in a chase. They are constantly relaying breaking information back to their dispatcher and colleagues, informing them of road conditions, weather conditions and their speed of travel.

But most importantly, they’re looking around them, making sure the pursuit isn’t going to end with someone in the public being hurt, whether that’s from the suspect smashing into a car or running into them if they step off a curb.

Shoemaker said deputies have an annual test they must complete that involves the various aspects of a car chase through the state. Deputies also receive regular briefings at their local station on what to do based on station policy should they find themselves in a situation chasing down a suspect.

While all chases might look similar in the media, each one has unique challenges, according to officers and deputies.

“Every pursuit is different,” said Shoemaker. “I mean, you watch them

on TV, and they kind of go through the exact same thing. But you have to be prepared for the unexpected. You never know what’s going to happen.”

Greengard said one of things that officers are always constantly made aware of is new products introduced to officers, from new tracking systems to state of the art disabling systems.

“The CHP does not endorse specific products, but is interested in the technology being developed nationwide that might bring a pursuit to a safe conclusion,” said Greengard.

“When available, aircraft/ helicopters are often used to help track the pursuit, which serves to enhance public safety.”

Both CHP and SCV Sheriff ’s Station officials, however, emphasized that their mind is constantly on, regardless of the situation, the safety of the public, the violator and the officer involved.

“The ideal way for a pursuit to end is for the violator to pull over and stop,” said Greengard, “as required by law.”

M A R C H 8, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 7

N E W S F E AT U R E S

Former Britons in the SCV discuss royal family “It was very much a party when there was a royal wedding or other celebrations. …We were raised to appreciate the royals as people who are kings and queens, because that’s what they are.”

— Rafe Dimmock, a Castaic resident originally from England

By Raychel Stewart Signal Staff Writer

M

embers of the British royal family have long been household names in America, despite the family primarily living in Buckingham Palace in

England.

While lots of Americans follow gossip about the family, their formal roles for the nation are less understood and talked about.

While many Americans might not fully understand the purpose of having a royal family, those more familiar with the culture say the role of the family goes deeper than just making appearances, waving and taking over the throne when the time is right.

“When I moved here to America, my wife and I noticed people who read about the royal family want to know why they have so much money, and it seems like there’s some type of resentment,” said Rafe Dimmock, Castaic resident who moved from Northern England four years ago. “The simple answer is: (Americans) don’t know why they’re there because the actual jobs aren’t reported.”

Dimmock said the biggest contrast between British and American coverage is the lack of reporting on the royal family’s actual duties.

The British monarchy dates back more than a thousand years, and the family line has continued to serve England. Today, Queen Elizabeth II holds the throne, and is expected to be succeeded by her son Prince Charles upon her death.

The royal family upholds certain specifications for the country. For example, younger members of the family are expected to serve in the British Armed Forces, and the Queen is required to partake in public services, such as taking diplomatic trips and opening sessions of parliament.

Although England has a parliament and a prime minister that uphold the country’s government, Queen Elizabeth II has a politically neutral role while carrying out parliament duties. She also has formal roles in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland’s government.

“The queen doesn’t make decisions within gov-

Santa Clarita’s Rose & Crown bar and restaurant has a booth decorated with photos of the British royal family and a menu designed to satisfy any craving for British cuisine. PHOTO BY BOBBY BLOCK / THE SIGNAL

ernment,” said Mark Cooper, Saugus resident who moved from Britain in 2000. “She’s powerful, but there’s checks and balances in Britain. But if big decisions are made, the prime minister will discuss it with her.”

According to the royal family’s engagement website page, Queen Elizabeth travels throughout Europe and to countries overseas to carry out hundreds of engagements each year. Cooper, who has experience in the British military, added the engagements are important because it brings money into Britain.

Dimmock said although British media focuses on royal duties, certain occasions in the family are celebrated throughout the country.

“It was very much a party when there was a royal wedding or other celebrations,” said Dimmock.

“There would be parties that took up the whole street. We were raised to appreciate the royals as people who are kings and queens, because that’s what they are.”

However, Dimmock said it seems as though American media is overwhelmed with reports when a royal member gets married, has a child or in a recent case, renounces royal titles.

The latest craze of the British royal family which has been in the media is the renouncement of royal titles by Harry David and his wife, Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

The attention of the royal family focused on David and Markle when they announced earlier this year they would both be stepping away from

the royal family, the family’s funds and living in another country.

“Harry is far removed from the throne,” said Dimmock. “In Britain, he’s just a side character, but in America, his footsteps are heavily monitored.

My wife and I find that’s another big difference.”

Barbara Cochrane, a Newhall resident since 1968, previously lived in England, where her father worked as a personal valet for royal officials. She said although David and Markle have left the royal family: “Once a royal, always a royal.”

“America doesn’t understand royalty, the world doesn’t understand royalty and the general public doesn’t understand royalty,” she said. “One tiny thing is said and it’s blown out of proportion.”

Cochrane moved to America when she was 10 years old, and said the royal family is a powerful entity. She doesn’t recall a drastic difference between British and American reporting, since she was a young girl while living in England, but said, “Sometimes, it’s reported all right; but sometimes, it’s reported all wrong.”

Both Dimmock and Cochrane compared the media coverage of the royal family to reality tv. What happens within the family becomes the “next big scandal,” said Cochrane.

“Everyone is so engrossed with reality tv — the real job of the family is a lot less interesting,” said Dimmock. “It’s kind of a culture shock when moving here. (The royal family) is the figurehead of the country — but somewhere along the way, a level of respect was lost.”

8 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M A R C H 8, 2020

LOCALNEWS

After the (election) dust settles

Left: Mike Garcia speaks with residents attending his election party at Route 66 Grill Tuesday evening. PHOTO BY BOBBY BLOCK / THE SIGNAL Right: Christy Smith speaks at an event on election night on Tuesday as preliminary vote tallies came in, showing that she was in the lead in the 25th Congressional District race. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

38th District Assembly race frontrunners celebrate win 25th Congressional District: Garcia, Smith to runoff

By Caleb Lunetta Signal Staff Writer

F

or the first time in 30 years, the 38th Assembly District general election will feature two women going head-tohead to represent a community that includes most of the Santa Clarita Valley, as well as portions of the San Fernando and Simi valleys.

Two Republicans, Suzette Martinez Valladares and Lucie Lapointe Volotzky, both earned enough votes to make it to November on Tuesday, beating out five other candidates for the top two spots.

Valladares received the most support, with 23,454 votes (33%). Volotzky came in second with 13,698 votes (19.3%).

The next two closest vote-getters were Democratic candidates Kelvin Driscoll and Annie Cho, who received 8,124 (11.4%) and 8,119 (11.4%), respectively.

Valladares thanked her supporters in a statement issued on Wednesday, also thanking community leaders who had helped her along the way, including Santa Clarita Mayor Cameron Smyth and Simi Valley Mayor Keith Mashburn; state Sen. Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita; and Assemblyman Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale.

“The voters in our community and across the state have issued a referendum,” Valladares said. “We are tired of the Sacramento leadership that has been in power for decades — California’s skyrocketing cost of living, along with the housing and homeless crisis, are evidence that current leadership has failed miserably and my candidacy represents a clear fresh opportunity for change.”

After learning she’d be moving onto the general election, Volotzky said she spent time with her family, including her grandchildren. She ignored the traditional trappings of a political campaign, she said, instead deciding to keep her support team tight and her campaign grassroots.

“To build a team takes time, so I decided to strategize myself on how I can succeed, to become the front-runner, and I guess the way I strategized worked in my favor,” said Volotzky. “I was very, very pleased because whether we talked to Democrats or Republicans, we were shaking hands with everyone.”

Both candidates expressed confidence that they would be the newest Assembly member come November.

“Voters would like to see balance in Sacramento and a voice that represents See 38TH, next page

By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

S

urrounded by family, friends and supporters, Christy Smith and Mike Garcia celebrated their victories Tuesday night, now set to face off in May and November to fill the vacant 25th Congressional District seat.

After former Democratic Rep. Katie Hill stepped down from Congress amid accusations that led to an ethics investigation in November, the pool of candidates vying for a seat in the district — an area covering the Antelope, Santa Clarita and Simi valleys and Porter Ranch — grew to 12.

That number was dropped to two, with Smith and Garcia advancing to the congressional special election runoff in May and the general election in November.

With 100% of precincts reporting, Smith, D-Santa Clarita, who represents the 38th Assembly District, led the race throughout the night and reached 29.8% of the vote, or 26,305.

Garcia, a Republican executive at Raytheon and former Navy pilot, earned 22,542 votes (25.5%) by Wednesday morning, according to state preliminary results.

Tallies under the special election race indicated that Smith collected

31,422 votes or 34.3% of the vote. Garcia received 27% of the vote, or 24,708.

Smith, who celebrated on Tuesday in Stevenson Ranch alongside Los Angeles City Mayor Eric Garcetti and U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, said Wednesday she was “incredibly proud of my team and all of our amazing volunteers,” adding that, for her, “it’s always been about serving the community and simply getting the work done.”

“And I think that resonates with people right now,” said Smith. “I think a lot of voters are just kind of over the hyperpartisan and back-and-forth and they just want somebody who they have access to who’s going to do the job for them.”

While the victory was declared, the assemblywoman said. “We’re going to continue to talk about the issues that impact people like expanding access to affordable health care, dealing with our environmental concerns globally, (such as) wildfires impacting our district...and continue to see good job growth with nice, middle-class wage-paying jobs.”

The work continues for Garcia, too, according to a statement released on Wednesday.

“Our victory tonight is the result of hard work by a lot of people in our See 25TH, page11

M A R C H 8, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 9

LOCALNEWS

U.S.Representative, 25th District (expired term)

U.S.Representative, 25th District (full term)

L.A. County Supervisor, 5th District

A sign proclaims election day as early returns for the Democratic presidential primary appear on a TV Tuesday night in Stevenson Ranch. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

Smith

Garcia

State Senate, 27th District

State Senate, 21st District

Wilk

Garcia

Smith

Mueller

Assembly, 38th District

Stern

Barger

Assembly, 36th District

Salem

L.A. County District Attorney

Lackey

Fox

For L.A. County offices, e.g. supervisor and district attorney, a result of 50% plus 1 vote negated a November run-off election.

The results released for the statewide office include 100% of the returns reported.

The returns for L.A. County include all of the votes cast prior to Election Day, registered vote-by-mail ballots and anyone who voted Tuesday.

Valladares

Volotzky

Lacey

The county is planning to count all conditional voter registration ballots, provisional ballots and vote by mail ballots received on Election Day during the next month.

Proposition 13 Yes No

Measure FD Yes No

Measure R No Yes

Measure US Yes No

44.6% 55.4%

52.5% 47.5%

71.2% 28.8%

41.9% 58.1%

Full election results at signalscv.com/decision-2020

38TH

Continued from previous page

their values,” said Valladares. “That voice is mine.”

“I feel very confident that I’ll end well in November,” said Volotzky. “Now we are going to a different strategy on growing our team. I’m already starting to think about that today, because it’s a long process with more than seven months.”

The general election is set to take place on Nov. 3.

In 1990, the last time two women faced off in the general election, Democrat Irene Allert faced off against Republican Paula Bolland. Bolland represented the 38th Assembly District from 1990-96.

Additional races State Senate District 21 Incumbent Scott Wilk, a Republican legislator who also served in the Assembly, received a majority vote (55.5%, 59, 255 votes) as the only GOP candidate among four other Democratic hopefuls.

He will face off in November against Kipp Mueller, who earned 17.2% of the vote (18,354 votes).

State Senate District 27 Also an incumbent, Democratic Henry Stern faced his only opponent, Republican Houman Salem. Stern earned 82, 239 votes at 59.8% of the vote and Salem received 40.2% at 55,180 votes.

State Assembly District 36 Assemblyman Tom Lackey claimed a reelection victory after totals showed that he earned 56.6% of the vote or 26,334 votes in a pool of six other candidates who are all Democratic. He will head to the general election in November with challenger Steve Fox, who earned 15.9% of the vote (7,413).

— Staff writer Tammy Murga contributed to this report.

10 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M A R C H 8, 2020

LOCALNEWS

County declares coronavirus state of emergency

By Vivianna Shields Signal Staff Writer

F

ollowing L.A. County’s announcement to proclaim a countywide state of emergency Wednesday morning, county and health officials offered tips on how the community can prepare for, and slow the spread of, the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

However, county Public Health officials reassured the community that there is no immediate threat to the general public.

“We know of an assumed known exposure source for all six of our new cases that we are announcing today,” said Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer. “That means as of today, we still don’t have known cases of community transmission.”

At this time, there are no confirmed cases of the virus in Santa Clarita, but there has been a total of seven in L.A. County, which were all

There are six new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Los Angeles County. PHOTO COURTESY CDC

linked to travel.

“The city of Santa Clarita is working closely with our local partners to ensure preparedness, if and when cases of coronavirus are reported in our city,” Mayor Cameron Smyth said in a news release.

During a county news conference on Wednesday, Ferrer suggested community members stay home if they feel sick, no matter how mild

it may feel, and to remain stocked on handwashing and other essential supplies.

“These measures would include having an ample supply of essentials at home, no different than the preparedness activities we ask people to do for natural disasters like earthquakes, fires and floods,” said Ferrer.

Individuals should be prepared for emergencies regardless, according to Michelle Vega, spokeswoman for Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents the 5th District, which includes the Santa Clarita Valley.

“Government is advocating for being prepared for any emergency,” said Vega. “In the same vein, individuals should be prepared, and in no way is it in relation to an outbreak or epidemic.”

“Supplies will be available. We don’t think they will become unavailable,” Vega added. “Everyone should already have an emergency plan for

emergencies.”

Starting Thursday, Public Health will begin hosting radio briefings to provide the public with the latest information on the virus. It will be led

by Ferrer and a health officer. Telebriefing will also be hosted weekly.

At this time, Public Health officials are increasing their capacity for testing of individuals who may have the virus at their local labs. Public Health is among 10 California labs that have received Centers for Disease Control and Prevention test kits, according to Ferrer.

Additionally, Public Health will be posting new guidelines that child care facilities, schools, colleges, employers and other establishments should follow to prepare and slow the spread of the coronavirus, Ferrer added.

For more information on the coronavirus, visit publichealth.lacounty. gov/.

Feds OK $2.75M to battle coronavirus outbreak

By Vivianna Shields Signal Staff Writer

F

ederal officials approved $2.75 million to help L.A. County efforts to fight the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), after

25TH

Continued from page 8

community who are tired of radical career politicians ruining our state and causing Washington to be dysfunctional,” Garcia said in the statement. “Our fight continues to protect the freedoms I served to defend and to keep radical socialists from taking over Congress and our country.”

Garcia attributed part of his success as a frontrunner to building a grassroots operation of about 300 volunteers and receiving more than 10,000 donors, as well as securing key endorsements from former Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon and former Gov. Pete Wilson.

“I think this district is more conservative than I think people are

Supervisor Kathryn Barger declared a countywide state of emergency with the announcement of six new cases.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, giving it credit for,” he said Tuesday night in Canyon Country. “Families are starting to pay attention and the people that didn’t normally get engaged and have been in politics are now very activated. This is why we’re going to win. The district’s getting awakened and voters are paying attention.”

Former Rep. Steve Knight, who was seeking re-election after a 2018 defeat by Hill, ran third throughout the night, earning 20.1% of the vote, or 17,776 votes as of Wednesday morning.

Knight and his campaign did not return requests for comments after multiple attempts to reach him.

Far behind Knight was Cenk Uygur, host of the progressive talk show “The Young Turks,” with 5.2%, and former Donald Trump aide George Papadopoulos at 1.9%.

provided the funding to support the county’s efforts to address the virus.

“I have signed a proclamation declaring the existence of a local emergency. I want to reiterate this is not a response rooted in panic,” said Barger, who represents the 5th District, which includes the Santa Clarita Valley.

“We’ve been preparing with our local, state and federal partners for the likelihood of this scenario.”

County officials proclaimed the health emergency a news conference Wednesday morning. Federal officials announced the release of the money shortly afterward.

“Our partners are on the front lines of this response and we support their efforts to increase needed public health capacity to confront the challenges this virus presents,” said CDC Director Robert R. Redfield, in a news release. “‘Proclaiming a state of emergency enhances our preparedness and response capabilities, while also providing opportunities to seek assistance from state and federal partners,” said Barger. “We must all remain vigilant.”

Public Health confirmed that six new cases have been found in Los Angeles County.

“We know of an assumed known exposure source for all six of our new cases that we are announcing today,” said Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer. “That means as of today, we still don’t have known cases of community transmission.”

The public needs to prepare for the possibility of business disruptions, school closures and modifications or cancellations of select public events, according to Ferrer.

“We ask everyone to start practicing sort of what we call simple social distancing practices,” said Ferrer. “Use verbal salutations in place of handshakes and hugs … and whenever possible, try to keep 6 feet between you and other people that you don’t know at large events.”

Three of the cases were travelers who traveled in Italy, two cases were family members of someone who tested positive for the virus and one case had a job that exposed them to travelers from other countries who may have been infectious, according to Ferrer.

The locations of the new cases are not available at this time.

M A R C H 8, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 1

LOCALNEWS

Bella Vida celebrates ‘A Knight of Royals’

By Raychel Stewart Signal Staff Writer

T

he ballroom of the Bella Vida senior center transformed into a royal palace during the annual Celebrity Waiter Dinner fundraiser Saturday.

Senior center staff, guests and volunteers gathered in their own unique royalty costumes to celebrate “A Knight of Royals,” the center’s biggest fundraiser of the year, which was able to be held at the center’s new facility for the first time since its opening last year.

“Up until this year, all of the events were held somewhere else in the valley,” said Julie Sturgeon, co-chair of the fundraiser. “Now we can finally have our event in our own facility, so that’s what’s so exciting — it’s our inaugural event.”

Sturgeon added the celebrity waiter dinner — which features a different theme each year — is the center’s

Costumes and cocktails

Guests dressed up in their own royal costumes, which ranged from Disney princess costumes, to “Game of Thrones” characters to traditional European royalty. Each table was elaborately decorated according to the guests’ royal themes.

Other guests dressed up as vikings, jesters or wore Los Angeles Kings and Kansas Brian Koegle served as the master of ceremo- City Royals jerseys.

The event featured celebrity nies for the senior center’s biggest fundraising event. PHOTO BY BOBBY BLOCK / THE SIGNAL waiters, who walk around trying to collect “scripts,” or prelargest annual fundraiser, which helps tend tips, from patrons. Waiters were able to collect tips by telling a joke, fund services and activities that are refilling water cups and tending to offered at the center.

“This event took 10 months to plan,” guest needs. The waiter who collected the most scripts was awarded the roysaid Amanda Benson-Tilch, co-chair of the fundraiser. “It took many people al championship belt.

“It’s a very unique event,” said Jason to put this together, and we couldn’t Gibbs, wearing a Batman costume. have done it without the volunteers.”

“Supporting the senior center is a wonderful thing and it doesn’t get any better seeing everyone here with their costumes.” This was Gibbs’ first time as a waiter and he decided to dress as “The Royal Dark Knight.”

Along with dinner, guests were also able to enjoy royal-themed cocktails and participate in a live auction for the chance to win prizes, such as the ability to use the Bella Vida center as a venue for their own special occasion.

“This is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” said Peggy Rasmussen, immediate past president of the SCV Committee on Aging, which oversees the center. “It’s such a lovely time and I can feel everyone’s excitement when I walk in the ballroom.”

Sturgeon said she already looks forward to next year’s fundraiser, which will begin to be planned in the very near future.

Cemex appeals BLM decision ordering company to pay $25M

By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

T

he decades-long battle over a proposed Cemex mega-mine on Santa Clarita’s eastern border in Soledad Canyon appears headed for the courts, as the international mining company recently filed a petition in an effort to have its contractual mining challenge settled with litigation.

The mining company received a partial win in a decision levied last month by the Interior Bureau of Land Appeals in response to the mega-mine’s Jan. 10 request that the appeals board overturn about $25 million in fees the company was previously assessed.

The mining company’s argument appears to seek court arbitration, challenging the Bureau of Land Management’s decision and ability to assess the mining conglomerate what’s called “payment-in-lieu” fees, or money Cemex should have been paying, once the contracts were valid. The BLM ordered Cemex to pay the money in missed annual payments in 2015.

In December 2019, the Bureau of Land Management issued decisions

to Cemex giving it 30 days to choose one of three options: pay the $25 million bill for non-production on their two mineral material contracts; ask for more time to pay; or demonstrate why the federal government shouldn’t cancel the contracts.

Cemex went with none of the three.

Instead, the multinational company, which proposed the construction of a 56-million-net-ton sand and gravel mine in Soledad Canyon, near the junction of Agua Dulce Canyon Road and Soledad Canyon Road, appealed BLM’s decision to the IBLA, a route Cemex also chose in September 2015 following BLM’s decision to cancel the mining contracts that both parties signed nearly 30 years ago on March 9, 1990.

Cemex’s petition for stay — or, if granted, a temporary stop on a judicial proceeding or order — was partially granted and partially denied, according to IBLA’s order, which was issued Feb. 19.

The order, which was signed by Amy Sosin, acting deputy chief administrative judge with the IBLA, reads that the Interior Board found that Cemex showed “sufficient justification to stay BLM’s decision de-

manding past in-lieu-of-production payments” but that the company “has not satisfied its burden to stay BLM’s decision demanding the full contract value.”

IBLA said it partially granted Cemex’s stay because it sufficiently justified that the company “is likely to succeed on the merits of its claim” that BLM lacked authority to demand nearly $19 million in missed annual payments and that “even if it pays BLM and ultimately prevails, either here or in federal court, the impact to the company’s business operations ‘while BLM holds those funds for an indeterminate time’ constitutes irreparable harm,” the order reads.

The partial denial stems from IBLA’s conclusion that Cemex did not show that BLM’s decisions lack a rational basis, as well as rejecting Cemex’s claim that it is not required to make payments in lieu of production “when it is not authorized to produce, and never produced, mineral materials under the contracts.”

While IBLA granted Cemex’s petition to stay the decision requiring payment of nearly $19 million, it denied its petition against BLM’s decision demanding payment of $7 mil-

lion under one contract and forfeiture of Cemex’s $1.4 million performance bond.

“The parties will be briefing the merits of the case over the next few months,” IBLA spokeswoman Martha Maciel said on Wednesday.

A recent estimate on the average price of aggregate put the value at approximately $9.25 per ton, according to Statista.com, meaning the contract’s potential value is in the half-billion-dollar range. The value of aggregate varies depending on the type of aggregate, as well as the supply and demand.

For the city of Santa Clarita, which has been fighting to halt the mega-mine, it’s currently a waiting game until a decision is reached.

“It’s not a surprise that an appeal would be filed and I think while we continue to get closer to a final resolution this appeal reaffirms that the issue is not completely over and we have to remain vigilant until we have the final word,” said Mayor Cameron Smyth. “The city will monitor and stay on top of any legislation and policy and change that could open the door for this project to get revived.”

12 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M A R C H 8, 2020

SPORTS

Hart boys soccer ends season in playoffs

By Diego Marquez Signal Staff Writer

A

third straight Foothill League title, two comefrom-behind victories in penalty kicks and the last standing Foothill League or SCV boys soccer team, Hart High had another special season that ended in the semifinals of the CIf playoffs.

The Hart boys soccer team not only finished the season atop the league standings winning the title outright with a 6-1-3 record, the Indians have won at least a share of the title for the past three years, but were one of six CIF-SS Division 3 teams to win 18 or more games. The Indians finished CIF-SS play 18-3-3 overall, as the No. 5-ranked team in Division 3.

“Not every coach has the privilege to say that they won 18 games,” said Hart head coach Adonay Jovel. “It’s not just this time, but there have been multiple times that they have won anywhere from 18 to 23 games.

It’s a culture we build here, it’s something that we built. … They followed instructions, worked hard and the progress has been there. They have done well.”

But things didn’t start off so peachy as senior midfielder Joseph Ochoa explained, because of the lack of seriousness and dedication that some of the incoming and younger players were lacking at the beginning of the season.

“I thought that’s how it was going to be the whole season, so I started to get frustrated with the others because they didn’t want to work and I did because it was my last year, and I wanted to win something,” Ochoa said.

The Indians got their attack together and began the season with seven straight wins, giving up just one goal in their opening game of the season in a 3-1 win against Quartz Hill on the road. The Indians scored 15 goals during the stretch.

The following match against Dos Pueblos, a rematch of last season’s first-round playoff exit, a 4-2 loss, Hart suffered its first of only three

Hart defender Christian Aguilar makes play on the ball in a recent playoff game. Hart boys soccer made a run to the semifinals after their third straight Foothill League title. PHOTO BY BOBBY BLOCK / THE SIGNAL

losses during CIF-SS play in a 3-2 defeat.

“I didn’t even think of that, to be honest,” Jovel said of the rematch. “I think this group responded very well.

After we lost to them, I don’t think we should have lost that game, but they played well the following game.

Yes, they have the thought that they lost, but it encouraged them more than it actually hurt them.”

The Indians breezed through the rest of non-league play and most of the Foothill slate, with the exceptions of both games against Canyon and Valencia.

Hart lost its only league game of the season in the first match against Canyon 1-0, tied its second game against the Cowboys and tied both games against Valencia.

“Both teams are great teams,” said Hart senior Nicholas Woll. “Valencia came in a close second this season and gave us a run for our money.

They are both well-coached and overall good competition to play against.”

In the playoffs, Hart defeated Royal 7-2, drew with Montebello and Norwalk in regulation and overtime, 1-1 and 2-2, respectively, defeating them both on PKs before exiting in the semifinals against North Torrance in overtime 4-3.

M A R C H 8, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 3

TECHNOLOGY

Kim’s Q&A: speed up Windows, surveillance and phone security

By Kim Komando Signal Contributing Writer

E

ach week, I receive tons of questions from my listeners about tech concerns, new products, and all things

digital.

Sometimes, choosing the most interesting questions to highlight is the best part of my job. This week, I received questions about clean installs, search histories, commandeered security cameras and more.

Fight phone stalking

ex works as a computer Q: My tech. How can I check my phone for a keylogger? He seems to know a lot about my life, and it’s creepy.

A: I hope you are keeping your distance from this guy in every other aspect of your life. If you believe your ex is capable of spying on your phone, take immediate action. Sadly, keyloggers and other spyware systems are often difficult to detect because they are designed to hide.

A quick way to find out whether you’ve been hacked is to look for the telltale evidence, which has more to do with your phone’s behavior. Maybe your phone is frequently warm to the touch even when you haven’t used it. There could be messages on your phone that you have not sent.

Search history transgressions

up a few old flames Q: Ionlooked Facebook. How did my wife know that I was doing this? It was only out of curiosity, I swear!

A: I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. We wonder about old classmates, past coworkers, and former sweethearts who used to mean so much to us. Even if we have no intention of rekindling old relationships, the lure of social media and all its photos and information can prove irresistible.

In your case, I think you may have a trust issue you need to work out with your spouse. But if you need to delete your search history on both your browser and on social media,

there are simple ways to do this.

Facebook really likes to keep tabs on you, including your search history, to show you targeted ads. To keep some semblance of privacy on the site and app, follow the steps below to clear your Facebook search history: 1. In a web browser, log in to Facebook and go to your profile page.

Click on the View Activity Log button.

2. Click on More in the left sidebar, under the Comments filter.

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have a security camera at my Q: Ihouse.

What steps do I need to take to be sure hackers can’t see in?

I’m freaked out about that.

A: As the saying goes, you can look two ways through a window. In this case, the “window” is a video surveillance system designed to protect your house. Criminals don’t even have to be on the same side of the planet to break into your system and commandeer that equipment.

Click here for more information on camera security: https://bit. ly/2PA2Qwg For information on Kim Komando on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks, visit her at Komando. com.

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3. Click or tap on Search History.

You’ll now see a list of every search you’ve made on Facebook up until this point. To delete this history, choose Clear Searches in the top left part of the page.

• If you’d like to delete single search history items instead of your entire history at once, click on the circle with a line through it to the right of each search in the history list. That will remove just that one search.

Stop surveillance hackers

Wellness

Rena Callahan, MD

14 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M A R C H 8, 2020

FROM THE CITY MANAGER

Santa Clarita’s Youth Arts Showcase to be held March 21

By City Manager Ken Striplin

L

ast year, we welcomed an abundance of inspiring public art pieces throughout Santa Clarita. We unveiled the unique ‘Imag_ne’ sculpture by artist Emma Anna in front of the Valencia Library. We saw artist Miguel A. Del Real create an amazing mural for the Santa Clarita Skate Park. Additionally, we revitalized six sidewalks with poems from multiple talented poets.

This year, the City of Santa Clarita continues our celebration of public art, as we put the spotlight on our community’s young emerging artists in our 5th year of the Youth Arts Showcase on Saturday, March 21, from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Centre.

This is a special moment for the students in our community to put their outstanding artistic abilities on display for all to see. The free event

will highlight each of our school districts’ visual and performing artists, feature classes from local dance studios, present street painting masterpieces and include other exciting demonstrations.

When attending this year’s Youth Arts Showcase, you will notice that the event is divided into five different areas, all of which I recommend that you explore. As you come in, you will notice the Street Painting and Outdoor Interactive Area, providing you with the opportunity to watch youth street painting teams use pastels to paint sidewalk masterpieces. After observing the impressive street art, turn your attention to the Outdoor Performing Arts Stage, where you’ll enjoy great performances by youth choruses, bands and dance teams.

The fun continues at the Youth Art Gallery, where you’ll view the canvas, technical art and photography of student contest winners and finalists.

Gallery attendees will also have the

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opportunity to vote on their favorite featured artwork for the “People’s Choice” award. Next, take a stroll with family and friends through the Interactive Youth Art Area to test your painting abilities, build amazing masterpieces, get a caricature of yourself and receive a guided art drawing lesson. The Indoor Performing Stage will also feature great performances from local schools, ensembles and choirs. Finally, take a break from walking and browsing to relax in the Audio-Visual Room and view creative films from local youth talent.

With so many fantastic art pieces to engage and interact with, make sure you stay hydrated and nourished by visiting one of the food trucks that will be on-site during the entire event.

Art vendors will be present as well for you to take some of the fun home with you. For more information on all featured art, activities, vendors and more, I encourage you to visit the Youth Arts Showcase website at

SantaClaritaArts.com/Youth-ArtsShowcase. You may also contact our Art and Events Supervisor, Yolanda Calderon, with any questions you may have at ycalderon@santa-clarita. com.

The City of Santa Clarita is grateful for all the hard work and dedication of our community’s young artists. I hope that you all will take the time to support and celebrate them at the 5th Annual Youth Arts Showcase on Saturday, March 21. This is a great opportunity to witness the positive impact of art education in our City, while also supporting the emerging talent of our young residents.

The Centre is located at 20880 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita.

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

M A R C H 8, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 5

LIFESTYLE

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

“

Sustainability” is the newest “buzzword” for 2020. Everyone is pitching the concept of “sustainability” in everything from food to fashion. How can you join the “sustainability” movement?

What is ‘Sustainability?’

Sustainability is a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual’s use of the Earth’s natural resources. Reducing your carbon footprint by changing transportation, energy consumption and diet are the hallmarks of sustainable lifestyle.

Ten Tips In the Santa Clarita Valley, with an average of 280 days of sunshine per year, use the sun to your advantage. Sunlight is free. Install skylights to bring natural light into dark spaces. Using sunlight, instead of artificial light, during the day helps to reduce dependence on fossil fuels to produce electricity.

1

Visit www.catalogchoice.org, a free service, to opt out of catalogs, coupons, credit card offers, phone books, circulars and more. Putting a stop to unwanted, or unneeded mail conserves resources and eliminates unnecessary trash. Be sure to switch to paperless billing for monthly utility, bank and other statements.

2

It may surprise you to learn that science has discovered that we wash everything too much. This practice has reduced our natural immune resistance to diseases. Practice taking shorter showers, wash dishes in a sink of water instead of the dishwasher and cut down on how many loads of laundry you do each week. Combine loads to be sure you are doing a full load of laundry. Dry your clothes on a line outside, instead of using a dryer.

3

Unplug most electrical devices when not in use. Most of the electronic devices in your home, especially televisions, continue to draw on electricity even when turned off. Install a surge protector with an easy to reach on/off switch to easily turn on and off your energy vampires.

4

Getting on a natural sleep schedule means becoming more attuned to the natural light in the day. There are demonstrated health benefits to a natural sleep schedule, rising when the sun comes up and sleeping when the sun goes down. You will use less electricity, too.

5

Try reading more and playing more card and board games. Reduce your addiction to electronic entertainment.

Put down the game controller and go outside for a walk. Buy a croquet or badminton set. Reducing your need for electronic stimulation by just one hour every day can help your sustainability profile.

6

Combine weekend errands into one trip, instead of several. You don’t have to buy a hybrid vehicle to reduce your reliance on fossil fuels. Smart planning can achieve a remarkable decrease in fuel consumption.

7

Instead of waiting in a long line of idling cars, polluting the air and consuming excess amounts of fossil fuels, drop your child off near school and have them walk to their class. After school have your child walk to a convenient and safe meeting place.

8

Reduce food waste. It is estimated that roughly 40% of the food produced in the United States never gets eaten.

Make a pledge to consume all the food you purchase. Eat leftovers and add more local produce to your diet, reducing the use of fossil fuels to transport out of season fruits and veggies to market. Reduce your use of red meat. Try a “Meatless Monday” diet. Giving up meat just one day a week will decrease your meat consumption by nearly 15%, effectively decreasing the problems (fossil fuel use, methane production and environmental destruction) associated with meat production.

9

Grow some of your own food. In the SCV you can grow food in your garden all year. Every so often an unusually cold winter will kill your winter garden, but that’s the exception, not the rule. Well-tended container patio gardens will thrive in winter and water-wise summer gardens, using drip irrigation, can provide a bounty of fresh, and tasty produce.

If you don’t have space for your own garden, join a community garden. Visit www.communitygardensofsantaclarita.org.

10

16 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M A R C H 8, 2020

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Eat Real Cafe 23414 Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 254-2237 27530 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 254-2237

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Grilled Cheese Factory 24201 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 888-1508

Bergie’s 16404 Delone Street, Canyon Country (661)251-3133

Iconic Eats 23460 Cinema Dr, Valencia (661) 481-9404

Black Angus 27007 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 288-2000

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Mama’s Table 23340 Cinema Dr, Santa Clarita (661) 284-5988

Claim Jumper 25740 The Old Road, Valencia (661) 254-2628

Marston’s Restaurant 24011 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 253-9910

Crazy Otto’s Diner 25373 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia (661) 291-1733

Nealie’s Skillet 25858 Tournament Road, Valencia (661) 678-0031

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Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing Co 18810 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 252-7883

Egg Plantation 24415 Walnut Street, Newhall (661) 255-8222

Route 66 Classic Grill 18730 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 298-1494

Eggs N Things 27560 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 702-8664

Saddle Ranch Chop House 24201 Valencia Blvd., Valencia (661) 383-0173

Halfway House 15564 W. Sierra Highway, Saugus (661) 251-0102

Salt Creek Grille 24415 Town Center Drive, Valencia (661) 222-9999

Mama’s Table 23340 Cinema Dr, Santa Clarita (661) 284-5988

Souplantation 24303 Town Center Drive, Valencia (661) 286-1260

Marston’s Restaurant 24011 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 253-9910

Stonefire Grill 23300 Cinema Drive, Valencia (661)799-8282

Mimi’s Cafe 24201 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia (661) 255-5520

The Old Town Junction 24275 Main Street, Newhall (661) 702-4888 The Social 23329 Lyons Ave, Ste A, Valencia (661) 799-9155 Thelma’s Cafe 22876 Copperhill Drive, Saugus (661) 263-8283 Wing Stop 18547 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 251-9700

BBQ Dickeys Barbecue Pit 18742 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (661) 251-0840 L&L Hawaiian BBQ 18727 Via Princessa, Canyon Country (661) 251-8333 Lucille’s Bar-B-Que 24201 West Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 255-1227 Q&Q Hawaiian BBQ 27530 Newhall Ranch Road #101, Santa Clarita (661) 383-9098 Rattler’s BBQ 26495 Golden Valley Road, Canyon Country (661) 251-4195 Smokehouse on Main 24255 Main St, Old Town Newhall (661) 888-4585 Wood Ranch Bar-B-Que & Grill 25580 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 222-9494

BREAKFAST & BRUNCH Casa Canela 27647 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (661) 523-7282 Crazy Otto’s Diner 25373 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia (661) 291-1733

The Old Town Junction 24257 Main Street, Newhall (661) 702-4888 Saugus Cafe 25861 Railroad Avenue, Saugus (661) 259-7886 Way Station Coffee Shop 24377 Main Street, Newhall (661) 255-0222

BREWERIES BJ’s Restaurant 24320 Town Center Drive, Valencia (661) 288-1299 Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing Co. 18810 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 252-7883 Pocock Brewing Company 24907 Avenue Tibbits, Valencia (661) 775-4899 Wolf Creek Restaurant & Brewing Co. 27746 N. McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 263-9653

BURGERS/SANDWICHES Bricks 23820 Lyons Ave, Newhall (661) 286-1091 Brother’s Burgers 20655 Soledad Canyon (661) 299-9278 Burgerim 23740 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 670-8939 Corner Bakery 24290 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 259-2813 Cousins Burgers 19318 Soledad Cyn Rd, Canyon Country (661) 298-4200 Everest Burgers 18645 Soledad Canyon Road Santa Clarita, CA 91351 (661) 252-3412

M A R C H 8, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 17

DININGGUIDE Final Score 23754 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 254-6557

Route 66 Classic Grill 18730 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 298-1494

Golden Wok Restaurant 16668 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 424-0888

Wok’s Cookin’ Chinese Restaurant 31565 Castaic Road, Castaic (661) 257-2890

Firehouse Subs 23630 Valencia Blvd. Valencia (661) 255-3473

Rustic Burger 24025 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 254-1300

Grand Panda 23802 Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 253-1898 27924 Seco Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 297-9868

Hidden Havana Cuban Cafe 23548 Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 254-4460

Five Guys 24201 W, Valencia Blvd #3672, Valencia (661) 255-0981 Italia Panetteria & Deli 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 294-9069 Jimmy Dean’s 22941 Lyons Ave, Newhall (661) 255-6315 JJ’s Bar and Grill 25848 Tournament Road, Valencia (661) 799-7557 Panini Palace 23120 Lyons Ave., Santa Clarita (661) 678-0552 Pita Pit 28253 Newhall Ranch Road (661) 702-9977 Red Robin 27063 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 260-2411

Rustic Eatery 25343 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia (661) 254-8100 Submarina California Subs 26517 Carl Boyer Drive, Canyon Country (661) 259-4782 The Habit 25948 N. McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 291-1575 23120 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 678-0552 Tiny’s Submarine Sandwiches 27251 Camp Plenty Rd, Canyon Country (661) 251-5885

CHINESE China Express 19417 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 251-8783 Genghis Khan 24506 W. Lyons Avenue, Newhall 661-254-0351

Mandarin Wong Chinese Restaurant 23758 Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 259-5823 Moon Wok 23460 Cinema Drive Suite H, Valencia (661) 288-1898 New Moon 28281 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 257-4321 Pei Wei Asian Diner 24250 Valencia Boulevard, Valencia 661-600-0132 Pick Up Stix 25960 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 288-2090 WaBa Grill 19120 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661) 367-7297 31739 Castaic Road, Castaic (661) 295 9222

CUBAN DELICATESSEN Bob’s Country Meats 19012 Soledad Cyn Rd, Canyon Country (661) 251-5995 Cathy’s Delicatessen 23120 W. Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 288-2217 Italia Panetteria & Deli 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 294-9069 Maria’s Italian-American Deli 22620 W. Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 259-6261 The Sandwich Shop 25530 W. Avenue Stanford, Valencia (661) 257-4811 Continued next page

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18 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M A R C H 8, 2020

DININGGUIDE Continued from previous page

FRENCH

Le Chene French Cuisine 12625 Sierra Highway, Agua Dulce (661) 251-4315

GREEK Gyromania 20655 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 252-4976

INDIAN An Indian Affaire 23360 W. Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 288-1200 Karma Restaurant, Bar & Lounge 23460 Cinema Drive, Valencia (661) 288-0080 Royal Tandoor 26532 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 263-7100

ITALIAN Bella Cucina Ristorante Italiano 27911 Seco Canyon Rd, Saugus (661) 263-1414 Buca di Beppo 26940 Theater Drive, Valencia (661) 253-1900 Italia Panetteria & Deli 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 294-9069 Maria’s Italian-American Deli 22620 Lyons Ave, Newhall (661) 259-6261 Numero Uno Pizza 26111 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 259-3895 Olive Garden 27003 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 799-8161 Piccola Trattoria 18302 Sierra Highway, Canyon Country (661) 299-6952 Presto Pasta 24375 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Valencia (661) 284-7737

JAPANESE & SUSHI Achita Sushi 22913 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 476-5522 Bonsai Garden 19358 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 251-9008 Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ Dining 27025 McBean Pkwy, Valencia (661) 254-2355 Hibiki Restaurant 27625 Shangri La Dr., Canyon Country (661) 298-0273 I Love Sushi 26526 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita 661-673-5200

My Hot Pot 26238 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 288-1998 Shogun Sushi Japanese Restaurant 26807 Seco Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 513-0015 Sushi 661 26850 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita (661) 252-983 Kabuki 24045 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 799-8655 Kisho Japanese Teppan Grill 23430 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 284-3856 Masa Ramen 27051 McBean Pkwy, #101, Valencia (661) 254-4229 Sushi Song Japanese Restaurant 22896 Copper Hill Dr, Santa Clarita (661) 297-5659

KOREAN & MONGOLIAN Charcoal Korean BBQ Restaurant 19158 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 251-9292 Genghis Khan 24506 W. Lyons Avenue, Newhall (661) 254-0351 Gogi House 26524 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 263-0048 Kogiya 2 Korean BBQ 23410 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (661) 678-0999 Lee’s Korean BBQ & Tofu House 23360 West Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 254-2307 ZingGa Grill 26910 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita (661) 250-7592

MEDITERRANEAN Cafe O 20655 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 424-0401 Flame & Skewers 25870 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661) 799-7538 Grill Kabob 27653 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 263-7445 Kebab House 24201 Valencia Blvd, Valencia (661) 799-5844 Manoushee Mediterranean Restaurant 27131 Sierra Hwy, Canyon Country (661) 251-6666 Olive Terrace Cafe 28261 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 257-7860 Sam’s Flaming Grill 24802 Orchard Village, Santa Clarita (661) 222-9060

Sam’s Flaming Grill 19433 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 298-0115

Chi Chi’s Pizza 23043 Soledad Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 259-4040

25347 Wayne Mills Pl, Valencia (661) 254-2154 23874 Copper Hill Dr, Valencia (661) 294-1100

Guido’s Pizza & Pasta 26322 N. Friendly Valley Parkway, Newhall (661)252-4111

Zankou Chicken 24463 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Valencia (661) 705-7265

Italia Panetteria & Deli 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 294-9069

MEXICAN Azul Tequila 25387 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia (661) 254-5500 Betito’s Mexican 18902 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (661)251-0557 Cabo Cabana Restaurant 25710 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 222-7022 Casa Pasilla 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 295-1989

Magic Pizza SCV 26870 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 291-1921 Mama Mia Pizza 25708 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch (661) 286-9183 Numero Uno Pizza 26111 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 259-3895 Pieology Pizzeria 28295 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661)678-0234

Dario’s Mexican Restaurant 24523 Newhall Avenue, Newhall (661) 255-6868

Pizza Di Marco 27674 Newhall Ranch Rd, Valencia 661-295-8769

El Trocadero Mesquite Grill & Cantina 24274 Main Street, Newhall (661) 284-6615

Pizza Rev 24341 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia (661) 260-1257

La Charrita Restaurant 24225 Main St, Newhall (661) 288-1204 La Cocina Bar & Grill 28022 Seco Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 297-4546 19915 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita (661) 250-7141 28076 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (661) 513-0142

Tomato Joes Pizza & Taps 19167 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita (661) 250-7550 Tomato Joes Pizza Express 27732 McBean Pkwy. Valencia (661) 263-8646 Toppers Pizza 23710 Valencia Blvd, Santa Clarita (805) 385-4444

Las Rocas Mexican Grill 27923 Sloan Canyon Road Castaic (661) 257-6905

Vincenzo’s 20701 Plum Canyon Road, Saugus (661) 296-9119

Medrano’s Mexican Restaurant 19319 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (661) 367-4945

24504 1/2 Lyons Ave., Newhall (661) 259-6733

Rosarito Grill 19425 Soledad Canyon Rd, Cyn Country (661) 251-2732 Solita Tacos & Margaritas 24201 Valencia Blvd., Suite 3470, Santa Clarita (661) 291-1399

PIZZA

Ameci Pizza & Pasta 28013 Seco Canyon, Santa Clarita (661) 296-6131 Chi Chi’s Pizza 27117 Sierra Highway, Canyon Country (661) 252-4405

POLISH Pierogi Spot 26511 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita (661) 254-4850

THAI

Original Thai BBQ Restaurant 27530 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia (661) 257-6421

VIETNAMESE Pho Sure 23876 Copper Hill Drive, Valencia (661) 257-3888

M A R C H 8, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 1 9

FOOD

C

orned beef and cabbage might not be a part of many people’s diet regimens throughout the year. But come March 17, it’s not uncommon to find people from all walks of life indulging in this beloved meal.

March 17 marks the celebration of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Over the years, the day has also become a celebration of the Emerald Isle.

Such celebrations tend to feature corned beef and cabbage, even though the dish may have little to do with Ireland (and even less to do with St. Patrick).

The precise origins of the link between corned beef and St. Patrick’s Day remain a topic of debate, but some historians say the corned beef enjoyed today can be traced to New York City’s Irish immigrant population in the 19th and 20th centuries, who popularized a salted meat made from brisket that was then sold by Jewish butchers.

Regardless of the authenticity of its link to Ireland, corned beef is delicious and many modern Paddy’s Day celebrants wouldn’t think of going without it on March 17. Those who want to cook up their own can try this recipe for “Corned Beef and Cabbage” from Arthur Schwartz’s “New York City Food” (Stewart, Tabori & Chang).

Corned Beef and Cabbage Serves 6 to 8 Cook a whole brisket with both sections together with all its fat. (You can trim off the fat after the

meat is cooked.) Whole brisket and second-cut corned beef brisket are hard to find, but your supermarket should have first-cut corned beef vacuum-packed in plastic. Choose the fattiest piece in the case and treat it gently.

You can cook the cabbage and potatoes in the same water as the corned beef. Because the other vegetables need to be cooked in water that simmers more than the meat, scoop out water from the corned

Humble and traditional culinary creation

O

ne of the cherished traditions of St. Patrick’s Day, and even everyday Irish cuisine, is whipping up a family recipe for Irish soda bread.

True Irish soda bread continues today to be an international favorite. While it is enjoyed across Ireland, it’s also widely enjoyed wherever Irish immigrants have established roots and elsewhere. Most of the ingredients can already be found in many Irish homes.

Irish soda bread gets its name not from a sweetened carbonated drink, but by the leavening agent that is used in place of yeast. Baking soda is a common component of quick-bread cooking.

When the baking soda is mixed with the flour and a soured milk, its chemical qualities produce carbon dioxide gas bubbles that help give soda bread it’s risen, airy texture. In some recipes, live yogurt,

or even stout, are used as the liquid to activate the baking soda.

While the Irish adapted the science behind baking soda and have come to be associated with soda bread’s origins, the earliest reference to soda ash being used in baking bread is actually credited to the American Indians. Baking soda was neither brought to nor discovered in Ireland until the mid9th century. However, it is the Irish who have made soda bread much their own.

In honor of St. Patrick and other Christian celebrations, soda bread is traditionally made with a cross shape cut into the top of the dough. Legend has it that people did it to “let the devil out” while it’s baking for good luck, and others say that this last step made it easy to divide the bread into pieces.

Soda bread has become synonymous with Irish culture. Enjoyed plain or with some Irish butter, it’s a common component of meals throughout the year, and most especially on St. Patrick’s Day. (MC)

beef pot and cook the vegetables in a separate pot or pots.

1 4- to 5-pound corned beef brisket 1 teaspoon pickling spices 1 head cabbage 2 pounds boiling potatoes 6 to 8 small carrots (optional) Parsnips (optional) Turnips (optional) Place the corned beef in a pot that holds at least 5 quarts of water. Cover completely with cold water.

Place over high heat and bring to a simmer.

As soon as bubbles start to break on the surface of the water, adjust the heat so the water simmers very, very gently. With a slotted spoon, skim off the residue that accumulates on the surface. When the residue stops coming to the surface, add the pickling spices.

Continue to cook, with bubbles just gently breaking on the surface, for 3 to 4 hours, until fork tender.

The meat can be safely held in its water for about 2 hours; reheat gently.

Cook the vegetables until fork tender in separate pots of boiling fresh water or, especially for the cabbage, use some of the water in which the corned beef was cooked.

Slice the corned beef and serve with mustard and/ or horseradish on a platter, surrounded with some of the vegetables or with vegetables in a separate bowl. (MC)

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M A R C H 8, 2020

THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR

= Family Friendly Event

ONGOING Saturdays, 10:30-11:45 a.m.

Come and enjoy group drumming with your family at our Kids Rhythm Club.

Our 45-minute drumming session helps build self-confidence, self-esteem, expands the musical imagination and nurtures creative thinking. All ages and levels of ability are welcome. Drums and percussion instruments provided at no extra cost and reservations are not required. Adults $5, kids 12 and under free. Remo Music Center, 28101 Industry Drive, Valencia. Info: remo.com/ experience/post/kids-rhythm-clubremo-music-center-2 Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. California farmers and specialty food purveyors come together rain or shine, to bring you a farmers’ market with the finest in fresh and seasonal fruits and vegetables, including organic, baked goods, flowers, herbs, cheeses and prepared foods. Old Town Newhall, 24500 Main St., Newhall. Info: oldtownnewhall. com/old-town-newhall-farmers-market Sundays, 8:30 a.m. to noon The Santa Clarita Certified Farmers’ Market offers locals a breakfast prepared onsite from one of the market’s several food vendors, or you can try some of our wonderful artisan bakery products. Open yearround, rain or shine. College of the Canyons, Parking Lot 5, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. Info: vccfarmersmarkets.com/ santa-clarita Tuesdays, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Alchemy presents Salsa Night. Get your dance on. 24501 Town Center Drive, Suite 101, Santa Clarita.

Info: facebook.com/events/572176730203799.

Wednesdays, 8-10 p.m. Citadel Krav Maga is helping women in the Santa Clarita Valley empower and protect themselves by offering a evening course called “Women’s Wednesday.”“Women’s Wednesday” is a drop-ins service offered to all women, and does not require a monthly membership to the school to attend. $10. 17749 Sierra Hwy, Canyon Country. Info: citadelkravmaga.com Thursdays, 4-9 p.m. The Vegan Exchange SCV at Wolf Creek Brewery is a 100% vegan market featuring local food, beverage, apparel, cosmetics and lifestyle vendors. Pocock Brewing Company, 24907 Ave. Tibbitts, Suite B, Santa Clarita. Info: veganexchangeevents.com/vxscv

Third Thursday of the month, 7-10 p.m.

The wildly popular SENSES Block Party, brings live music, food trucks, themed activities, and adult beverages to Main Street every 3rd Thursday from March to October. March’s theme is “the luck of the Irish.” While you are there, be sure to grab your favorite drink from the on street bar hosted by The Junction.

Main Street, Newhall. Info: facebook.com/ events/290288638347355/

EVENTS BY DATE

Sunday, March 8, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Santa Clarita Comic and Toy Expo is a one day family-friendly event. A variety of exhibitors will be on hand selling comics, toys, and everything else that a true or even budding comic and toy fan will ever need. $5 admission presale, $10 at the Thursdays, 5:54-7 p.m. Join Runners door. College of the Canyons, 26455 Rockwell Lane Santa Clarita for a free 5K fun run/ Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita. Info: comictoyexpo. walk. You can go the entire distance or if com you’re just starting out you can go by time.

Sunday, March 8, 11 a.m. to 6 Our goal is to get the community out p.m. Come out to the SoCal Etsy and moving whether your fast or slow Guild Market at the Westfield Valencia Town or just in the middle. We encourage all Center for an amazing day of handmade fun levels to join us. Walkers too! 22959 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita. Info: facebook.com/ with local designers, live art, handmade vendors, and more! All vendors will be located events/956668621334188/?event_time_ on the first floor in front of the Macys. 24201 id=956673478000369 West Valencia Blvd, Valencia. Info: facebook.

Second Tuesday of the month, com/events/773315169846826/ 3:30-5 p.m. Kids from kinderMonday, March 9, 6-7 p.m. Come to garten to 6th grade are welcome to join the Old Town Newhall library for a Mayan the Canyon Country Library on the second mug painting! Artistic skills of all levels are Tuesday of every month for some fun and welcome to create a masterpiece on a mug. amazing crafts! 18601 Soledad Canyon Rd, One free mug per adult while supplies Santa Clarita. Info: santaclaritalibrary.evanced. last. 24500 Main Street, Santa Clarita. Info: info/signup/Calendar santaclaritalibrary.evanced.info/signup/ Calendar Tuesday, March 10, 7-9 p.m. West Ranch High School is proud to present the world famous Glenn Miller Orchestra. The most CONGRATULATIONS to SHIRLEY MARSOLEK for sought-after band in the world will take the correctly identifying DR. POLUCKI on page 27 stage with Bandleader Nick Hilscher at the Identify this advertiser and the page number in this week’s helm, performing beloved hits from their issue, and you will be entered to win a $100 gift certificate for extensive library, which includes “In the a local restaurant. One game and one winner each week.

Mood,” “Moonlight Serenade” and “PennMail your entry to The Signal – Contest sylvania 6-5000.“ $30 general admision.

26330 Diamond Place | Santa Clarita, CA 91350 26255 Valencia Blvd. Stevenson Ranch. Info: Or email contest@signalscv.com westranchmusic.com Advertiser: _____________________________ Page # ______ Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, March 11, 4-5 p.m. Join the March 9 April 20th, Santa Clarita public library and see how you Name: _____________________________________________ 6:30pm 6:30pm can screen print an image, inspired by the Address: ___________________________________________ 28310 Kelly Johnson Pkwy, Valencia, CA 91355 One City One Story book “Gods of Jade and TrinityClassicalAcademy.com | (661)296-2601 Phone: _____________________________________________ Shadow,” using a Cricuit and other supplies. You can also personalize it with fabric This week’s entries are due Wed. March 18 markers and stencils. All materials will be Winner to be announced in 2 weeks.

!

WIN

!

WIN

!

WIN

provided, while supplies last. Canyon Country Library, 18601 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita Info: santaclaritalibrary.evanced.info/ signup/Calendar Thursday, March 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Santa Clarita Hiring Spree & Community Resource Fair is free to the public and will offer employment opportunities and community resources. Co-hosted by the City of Santa Clarita. The Centre, 20880 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita. Info: hiringspreela.org/events/2020/santa-claritahiring-spree Saturday, March 14, 9 a.m to 1 p.m. Join Sanctuary Animal Assisted Therapy for our monthly volunteer day! In addition to our normal activities we will also be working on shade sails as the weather is getting really hot already! As always vegan breakfast and lunch will be available. 27662 Rolling Hills Road, Canyon Country Info: sanctuary aat.org Saturday, March 14, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society will commemorate the 92nd anniversary of the second worst disaster in California history with its annual St. Francis Dam Disaster Lecture and bus tour with speakers Dianne Erskine-Hellrigel and Dr. Alan Pollack to the dam site in San Francisquito Canyon.

Participants will have the opportunity to be among the first to visit the newly designated St. Francis Dam Disaster National Memorial and National Monument. $45 presale only. Heritage Junction, 24101 Newhall Avenue, Newhall Info: facebook.com/ events/524242694861458 , (661) 254-1275 Friday, March 13, 8-10 p.m. Come out to the premiere of “Nancy Who? The Girl Detective Without a Clue”. She is an amazing crime solving sleuth with advanced skills in deduction and a keen eye for observation, and when a woman’s jewels are stolen on top of mysterious occurrences at her house, Nancy is on the case! $12-15. The MAIN, 24266 Main Street., Newhall. Info: atthemain.org Tuesday, March 17, 6-10 p.m. Come celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at the 8th annual SCV Charity Chili Cook-Off and taste 40 amazing chilis while enjoying a full bar, live DJ, raffles, auctions and a casino room!

Proceeds will benefit feedSCV and the WiSH Education Foundation. $30, $65 VIP. Hyatt Regency Valencia, 24500 Town Center Dr, Valencia. Info: scvcharitychilicookoff.com

M A R C H 8, 2020

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

S

t. Patrick’s Day, March 17, falls on a Tuesday this year. This allows for St. Paddy’s Day celebrations to span the week. Here’s a calendar of events for those wishing to celebrate “the luck o’ the Irish!”

Shamrock ‘n’ Roll

March 14, 7 p.m.

The Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Highway Long Beach Info www.queenmary.com/events/upcomingevents/ The Queen Mary presents a party that would make St. Paddy proud. Celebrate the revelry, tradition and spirit of Ireland with a rocking event unlike any other. Shamrock ‘N’ Roll features a lineup of live entertainment sure to make you dance a jig all night long with music perfect for fans of the 70s and 80s, Ska, punk, folk, soul and of course, Irish rock. Four diverse bands will perform throughout the evening: Yachtley Crew, Hoist the Colors, The Untouchables and Dirty Old Town.

It’s My St. Patrick’s Day Event

March 14, noon-10 p.m.

Pocock Brewery, 24907 Ave Tibbitts Suite B, Santa Clarita Info www.pocockbrewing.com The brewery will be featuring Mad Scientist BBQ and Swami’s sandwiches.

Get Lucky Festival LA

March 14, 4 p.m.

Pershing Square, 532 South Olive St., L.A. Info luckyfestla.com This event is for age 21 and older only. There will be 25 pubs built from the ground up for one day only. There will be beer, food, games, prizes and live 80s

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 1

bands. You’ll have the chance to play the human foosball, karaoke, play King’s Cup and Irish cornhole. Watch out because you can also get arrested at the Paddy Wagon Pub. The more games you play the more memorable your time will be at Lucky Fest. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $60 for VIP/express pass. There is a parking garage under Pershing Square.

St. Patrick’s Day at Le Chene 2020

March 17, 5:30-9 p.m.

12625 Sierra Highway, Santa Clarita Info lechene.com/event/st-patricks-day-at-lechene-2020 Proving that everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, Le Chene French Cuisine, a restaurant known throughout Southern California for serving some of the best French cuisine in the region, will offer several St. Patrick’s Day specials. Corned Beef and Cabbage, $30 in the dining room (with soup or salad) and $25 in the bar (does not include soup or salad). Lamb Stew with soup or salad $30 in the dining room. Entertainment begins at 6 p.m. with a genuine Irish bagpiper. The bar will offer green beer for all SCV leprechauns.

vorite. This indoor-outdoor venue offers a full bar, raffles, live band and DJ, auctions, VIP area, green beer and more.

St. Patrick’s Day at the Tam

March 17, 11 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.

Tam O’Shanter, 2980 Los Feliz Blvd., L.A. Info www.lawrysonline.com/tam-o-shanter/ happenings What could be a better way to spend St. Patrick’s Day then enjoying lunch or dinner at Los Angeles’ most famous Irish restaurant, Tam O’Shanter?

The annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration offers live music, Guinness kegs, green brews, raffles and more. Lunch and dinner reservations are available 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Music schedule includes Ken O’Malley and Friends from 12:30-3:30 p.m., Plough Boys from 4-7:30 p.m. and Whiskey Sunday from 8 p.m.- close. There is a $5 cover for the music tent.

SENSES Luck of the Irish Block Party

St. Patty’s Day Switcholio

March 19, 7-10 pm.

Main Street and Market Street, Newhall Info oldtownnewhall.com/senses-block-party The popular SENSES Block Party brings live music, food trucks, themed activities and adult beverages to Main Street every third Thursday from March to October. Grab a drink from the on-street bar, dance the night away to high energy performers and order a bite from the food trucks or local restaurants. Don’t miss this fun and festive adult setting with a St. Patrick’s Day theme.

SCV Charity Chili Cook-Off

A variety of pub crawls will be held throughout Southern California. For more information, see: St. Patrick’s Day Block Party and Pub Crawl, Downtown L.A., Hollywood and Long Beach.

March 14 - 17 Info www.hollywoodclubcrawl.com/st-patricksday/

March 17, 6:30-10 p.m.

Wolf Creek Brewery, 25108 Rye Canyon Loop, Valencia Info www.facebook.com/events/2633967160169917/ Longshot Cornhole and Wolf Creek Brewery celebrate St. Patty’s Day with a cornhole tournament, beer and food specials. The tournament will include a $10 Switcholio with 80% payout and Airmail Competition with 80% payout. Plus, there will be a best-dressed contest.

March 17, 5-10 p.m.

Hyatt Regency Valencia 24500 Town Center Drive, Valencia Info www.scvcharitychilicookoff.com This annual event benefits charities in the Santa Clarita Valley. Taste 40 hand-crafted chilis from SCV’s talented chili cooks. There will be celebrity chili judges, and you can vote for your personal fa-

Luck of the Irish St. Paddy’s Pub Crawl, Santa Monica March 14 Info pubcrawls.com/events/saint-paddys/santamonica/luck-of-the-irish-pub-crawl/

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M A R C H 8, 2020

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

Buckcherry returns to Canyon Santa Clarita

By Sunday Signal staff

F

ounded by the SoCal native in 1995, Buckcherry scored gold for their eponymous debut in 1999, sparked by the hit single “Lit.” They followed with the albums “Time Bomb” (2001), “15” (2006), “Black Butterfly” (2008), “All Night Long” (2010), “Confessions” (2013) and “Rock ’n’ Roll” (2015), with 2014’s

“F**k” EP sandwiched between the last two.

The band’s most recent release, “Warpaint,” adds to an impressive legacy, capturing the energy of an incendiary Live show and the personal, anythinggoes lyricism of lead singer Josh Todd.

For the “Warpaint” sessions produced by Mike Plotnikoff (“Halestorm,” “All That Remains”), Todd’s bandmates included Stevie D. (guitar, backing

vocals, joined in 2005); Kelly LeMieux (bass, backing vocals, 2013); Kevin Roentgen (lead guitar, backing vocals, 2017); and Sean Winchester (drums, 2005). Francis Ruiz replaced Winchester for the “Warpaint” tour.

“You’ll hear all the usual suspects, all the hits of course,” Todd said in a previous interview. “And we’re going to do ‘Head like a Hole,’ a track we dropped online from ‘Warpaint.’ We’ll probably

do one or two more from ‘Warpaint’ because no one really knows them.”

Find the Canyon Santa Clarita on the ground floor of the Westfield Valencia Town Center. Get tickets at the box office 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. MondaySaturday, by phone at (888) 645-5006, or via TicketMaster.com. For more info, visit WheremusicmeetstheSoul. com.

M A R C H 8, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 3

T R AV E L

Enjoy Las Vegas, the NFL draft experience

The 2020 NFL draft will kick-off with a red carpet event beginning Thursday, April 23 at 2:30 p.m. PHOTOS COURTESY NFL

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

I

t’s time to make plans to attend the NFL Draft Experience to be held April 23-25 in Las Vegas.

This massive, free football festival celebrating all National Football League teams allows fans of all ages, and of all teams, to test their football skills, enjoy interactive exhibits, autograph sessions and take pictures with the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

In the last few years, the NFL Draft Experience has exploded in popularity as an entertainment event. It has become a must-attend gathering spot for football fans to celebrate their teams and the sport.

Coming West

The last time the NFL draft was held this far West was in 1956 at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.

This will be the first time the draft will be held in Las Vegas. For the last two decades, the draft has resided mostly in New York. Chicago; Philadelphia;

Dallas; and Nashville, Tenn., have hosted the NFL Draft Experience in recent years.

Cleveland has been selected to host the 2021 NFL draft and Kansas City, Kan., will host the 2023 NFL draft. Experts predict the 2022 NFL draft will most likely be held in Los Angeles. The new SoFi Stadium in Inglewood is expected to be completed by July, and would have the facilities in place to host the NFL Draft Experience in two years.

Las Vegas 2020

The 85th NFL draft will be held on, and around, the iconic Las Vegas Strip. The Las Vegas Raiders’ new stadium, Allegiant Stadium, is under construction and is expected to open in time for the former Oakland Raiders first home game in early September.

“The Raiders are very excited for Las Vegas and are proud to help host the 2020 NFL Draft,” said Raiders owner Mark Davis.

The citywide celebration will kickoff on the Las Vegas Strip with immersive activities, live entertainment and performances at the NFL Draft Red Carpet, NFL Draft Main Stage and NFL Draft Experience.

NFL draft

Taking advantage of an iconic Las Vegas Strip location, the NFL Draft Main Stage will be constructed next to the Caesars Forum. The Draft Main Stage location is free and open to the public, and fans are encouraged to gather at the Draft Main Stage viewing zone to watch the draft selections.

First-round selections of the 2020 NFL Draft will open on Thursday, April 23 with the official NFL Draft Red Carpet, which will be constructed on the famed Fountains of Bellagio. Starting

at 2:30 p.m., attending prospects will make their debut on the carpet. New this year, the red carpet will feature the Draft Red Carpet Stage.

The first 31 players will be selected by their teams, and, if in attendance, will be greeted on the draft stage with a jersey and hat of their new NFL team by Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell.

Rounds two and three of the draft will be held Friday, April 24 with the final rounds, four to seven, held on Saturday, April 25.

The main stage will also host daily performances by headlining acts throughout the draft.

All three days of the draft will be broadcast on NFL Network, ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ABC, including two nights of primetime coverage on Thursday and Friday.

The experience

Located adjacent to the NFL Draft Main Stage, the NFL Draft Experience will be a free, three-day football festival highlighted by interactive games, the Vince Lombardi Trophy, autograph sessions with NFL players and legends, brand activations, giveaways and the NFL shop.

At the center of the action will be the NFL Draft Experience Stage, which will feature special performances by Las Vegas talent as well as interactive NFL-themed experiences.

Operating hours of the NFL Draft Experience: Thursday, April 23 Noon to 9 p.m., or the end of round one.

Friday, April 24 Noon to 9 p.m., or the end of round three Saturday, April 25 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., or the end of round seven For information on special VIP NFL Draft packages, visit nflonlocation.com/nfldraft. For NFL Draft Experience information, visit www.visitlasvegas. com/nfl-draft-2020.

24 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M A R C H 8, 2020

K I D S & FA M I LY

Tips for getting through the midyear slump

T

here comes a certain point during every school year when students and educators alike are at risk of suffering from a midyear slump. One solution to staying motivated? Adding some color and vibrancy to everyday tools used in the classroom.

Here are five ideas for doing so: • A change of scenery has the power to inspire. Students can revamp their lockers and desks at home with new decorations, artwork and organizational tools, like a color-coded bulletin board. Teachers can make the same updates to classrooms to give students and themselves a fresh perspective.

• Add a fun splash of color to music-making. With Casiotone CT-S200 keyboards, you can select from vibrant red or white, in addition to the standard black. The ability to hook up to any portable music player so that the user can play any music down-

loaded to the device offers versatility in lesson planning, practice and performance.

• Any calculator can be easily customized with skins, but if you want to keep it simple, some models are stylish and colorful right out of the box.

One such example is the fx-9750GII. Available in black, blue or pink, this can be a great way to give young mathematicians a fun and useful tool to see them through finals, college entrance exams and more.

• If you didn’t purchase new accessories like backpacks, gym bags or laptop cases at the beginning of the school year, maybe it’s time for a refresh. Slick new carrying essentials can give a student greater confidence while traveling from home to the classroom, and help brighten the school day.

• From quotes and messages greeting students each morning to building out lessons with pictures

© DIEGO_CERVO / ISTOCK VIA GETTY IMAGES PLUS

from around the globe, a projector designed to work well in the classroom, such as the Casio Ultra Short Throw projector XJ-U351, can be a versatile tool for teachers looking to liven things up or engage students in

a lively conversation.

By embracing colorful tools, students and teachers can work their way out of the midyear slump for a strong finish to the school year.

(StatePoint)

Making the most of children’s playtime

W

ith the right games, toys and activities on-hand, playtime can pull double duty, being an opportunity both to have fun and help kids reach important milestones.

To build the following skills, consider incorporating the following ideas into your child’s playtime:

are many ways to express feelings.

Speech and Language Skills Make down-time more fun and more productive with games that promote speech and language skills. Whether you’re in the waiting room of the pediatrician’s office or on a long car ride, conversation games like “20 Questions” and “I Spy” teach important lessons like taking turns, while helping kids expand their vocabularies and capacity for creativity.

Cognitive Skills Long before kids set foot in a classroom, they can start to develop the cognitive skills they’ll need to succeed in school and life by playing board games and card games. From building one’s memory to learning how to count, perform basic arithmetic, strategize and follow rules, there are many types of cognitive skills needed to play and master most games, and kids won’t even realize how much they’re learning as they go.

Emotional Skills Innovative tech toys are helping kids learn to express their emotions in healthy ways. For example, the new Mix & Match-aSaurus from VTech comes with three emotion tiles (happy, angry, sleepy), three music tiles (hip-hop, march-

METRO CREATIVE

ing, ballet) and three character tiles (dinosaur, robot, monster). Children can create 27 different combinations, such as happy hip-hop dino or angry marching monster. Experimenting

with the emotion tiles helps kids build social and emotional skills.

For example, angry dino may stomp around or say, “Let’s practice calming down,” helping kids learn that there

Motor Skills Toys that require both fine and gross motor skills to operate can offer multifaceted benefits to kids at a critical time in their development. For example, with a new nautical-themed playset called the Treasure Seekers Pirate Ship, kids can turn the sails, spin the steering wheel or load the cannon to strengthen fine-motor skills, and roll the ship along using the pull cord to build gross motor skills. When set to explore mode, kids can also discover colors and numbers.

Make the most of playtime. Seek out games and activities designed to help children build and hone important skills. (Statepoint)

M A R C H 8, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 5

K I D S & FA M I LY

Donna’s Day: Creative Family Fun

Learn cooking basics by baking something special

By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer

“

Rules for Little Cooks Wash your hands.

Put on your apron.

Read your recipe carefully.

Place everything you need on the kitchen table.

Have Mother teach you how to heat the oven.

Measure everything very carefully.

Wash your baking dishes.

Sweep the kitchen and leave it in order.”

So begins the inside cover page of “KITCHEN FUN: A Cook Book for Children” (copyright 1932), a 28-page collection my mom used as

a child. From Bran Muffins to Fairy Gingerbread and Cinderella Cake, the baking section caught my eye.

Both the “rules” and recipes haven’t changed significantly over the past 88 years and are easy to replicate in any kitchen.

The book got me thinking about how baking something delicious is a wonderful way to entice kids to learn cooking basics as they assist and learn from you. The benefits go beyond the mixing bowl. The memories of being shoulder to shoulder, talking, laughing and preparing something amazing out of basic and sometimes exotic ingredients is what it’s really all about.

I recall the magic of dough rising

in a large bowl in front of my eyes in my grandma Ruth’s kitchen as she intuitively made traditional Swedish cardamom bread. The connection between just the two of us lives on in my memory, and the effort we put into the making was justly rewarded when we opened the oven and took it out.

Baking with kids this month is a great way to spend time together when blustery weather keeps you indoors. Thumb through family recipe cards and cookbooks. Or go online for a how-to video that captures your and your child’s imagination, then bake it your own way. Here are more ideas:

CLIP N SAVE Elementary School Menus Menus courtesy of Santa Clarita Valley School Food Services which serves these school districts: Castaic USD • Newhall USD • Saugus USD • Sulphur Springs USD

(choice of one entree, seasonal fruit and milk)

Monday, March 9 Tuesday, March 10 Wednesday, March 11 Thursday, March 12 Friday, March 13

BREAKFAST

LUNCH

Triple Berry Blast Mini French Toast Breakfast Bun Cereal Chilled Fruit Fruit Juice

Kickin’ Chicken Drumstick & Mashed Potatoes Cheeseburger Cheesy Stix & Marinara Smart Choice Pizza Seasonal Salad Bar

Hard-boiled Egg Breakfast Bun Cereal Tater Tots Fresh Fruit

Chicken Taco Bonanza Bean Bowl Deli Sandwich-turkey Smart Choice Pizza Seasonal Salad Bar

Breakfast Pizza Breakfast Bun Cereal Chilled Fruit Fresh Fruit Fruit Juice

Brunch for Lunch: Maple Burst’n Mini Pancakes & Sausage Patties Dippin’ Chicken Yogurt & Granola Smart Choice Pizza Seasonal Salad Bar Chocolate Chip Cookie

Scrambled Slider Breakfast Bun Cereal Potato Emojis Fresh Fruit

Sweet n’ Sour Chicken over Rice Chicken Nuggets PBJ Sandwich & String Cheese Smart Choice Pizza Seasonal Salad Bar

Buttermilk Bar Breakfast Bun Cereal Chilled Fruit Fruit Juice

Carnitas Quesadilla Cheesy Quesadilla Popcorn Chicken Smart Choice Pizza Manager’s Choice Seasonal Salad Bar Brownie Cup

Cookies

Make sugar cookies in holiday shapes: shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day or hearts and flowers for Mother’s Day. Purchasing cookie cutters can be the start of a collection of holiday designs you pull from throughout the year.

If you have preschoolers, make a “Jam Thumbprint” recipe, another ideal “first.” Toddlers can stick their thumbs in the dough balls, then fill the indentation with a bit of jam.

Quick breads

Baking powder and baking soda don’t require kneading or the time to let dough rise. Let seasons of the year inspire you and the recipes you choose. Start with lemon bread with poppy seeds this spring, and by fall you’ll be a pro at making pumpkin and cranberry breads.

Yeast breads

Watch it rise, punch it down and enjoy the bonus of the taste of aromatic homemade breads. Once your kids get their hands on the “living” dough, they’ll be motivated to bake again and again.

Donna Erickson’s award-winning series “Donna’s Day” is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activities, visit www.donnasday.com and link to the NEW Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.” © 2020 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Synd.

Sunday, March 9 6:30pm

Monday, April 20th, 6:30pm

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26 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M A R C H 8, 2020

PETS

Getting to the heart of pet-parasite prevention

P

ets rely on their owners to look out for their physical well-being. Many serious health issues that can afflict pets, and parasites are a common cause of illness and discomfort.

Of all the parasitic worms dogs, cats and other companion animals may acquire, heartworms may be the most concerning.

Heartworm disease can result in lung and heart failure, other organ damage, and potentially death.

Heartworm disease is caused by a blood-borne parasite known as Dirofilariaimmitis, according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. It is spread through the bite of a mosquito.

Dogs are often the host of choice.

The parasites infect the dog, mature into adults, mate and produce offspring all while living inside the animal. Cats are atypical hosts for heartworms, and most worms in cats do not survive the adult stage.

While heartworm infection has been reported in all 50 states, it is most common along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Heartworms also can occur in the warmer regions of Canada where summer temperatures are high enough for the worm larvae to survive inside carrier mosquitoes.

While California was once thought exempt from heartworms, that is no longer the case. According to the County of Los Angeles Veterinary Public Health, between 2009-2018, veterinarians reported 521 cases — 30 in cats and 490 in dogs.

Once inside a new host, it takes approximately six months for the larvae to develop into sexually mature adult heartworms, advises The American Heartworm Society. Once mature, heartworms can survive five to seven years in dogs and up to two to three years in cats. Each mosquito season can increase the number of worms in infected pets.

Prevention is key to ensuring the

Many serious health issues can afflict pets, and parasites are a common cause of illness and discomfort.

health of a pet. Adult heartworms can infect the heart, pulmonary artery and adjacent large blood vessels. A

blood test can reveal whether a pet is affected by heartworms, as early infection may not yield noticeable symptoms.

Apart from keeping pets away from mosquito-heavy areas, pet owners will find that annual heartworm testing as well as monthly prevention medications can provide the protection needed to keep animals safe.

Heartworm preventives must be purchased from a veterinarian or with a prescription through a pet pharmacy in the United States. Check requirements for those living in Canada.

The FDA warns that the treatment for heartworm disease is not easy on the dog and it is costly. Treatment can be potentially toxic to the dog’s body and can cause serious complications, such as the development of life-threatening blood clots in the dog’s lungs. Preventive medicines can reduce pets’ risk of developing heartworm. (MC)

M A R C H 8, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 7

SENIORLIVING

Risk of MRSA contraction is high among seniors

B

acteria are present all around us, and people and these microorganisms often live together without incident. In fact, there are many bacteria that are helpful to the body. However, there are times when bacteria can be problematic and pose serious health risks.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, widely referred to as “MRSA,” is a Gram-positive coccal bacterium.

Seniors are among the most susceptible to MRSA infection because their immune systems are not strong enough to fight off the illness.

MRSA is very common. According to the National Health Service, a United Kingdom-based healthcare system, as many as one in 30 people in the general population are carriers of the bacteria. MRSA is much more common in hospitals and nursing homes.

A study published in the Journal of Infection showed that more than 40% of all cases of MRSA were in patients aged over 75. It is essential for any senior or family member caring for an older relative to familiarize himself with MRSA.

How is MRSA contracted?

MRSA often lives harmlessly on the skin, colonized in areas such as the nose, groin, buttocks, or armpits. MRSA can be passed to another person simply by touching someone who has it, sharing linens or towels or touching surfaces with MRSA on them.

How does infection take root?

Oftentimes MRSA will not make a person ill because it is only on the skin and can be washed off with proper hygiene, or the immune system is strong enough to fight infection. It is when MRSA enters the body that it can pose a problem. People staying in a hospital or a nursing home are at greater risk of MRSA infection because they often have a way for the bacteria to go deeper into the body. Sources include wounds, feeding tubes, urinary catheters, or intravenous drips. Likewise, being in close proximity with other people with a high risk for MRSA also increases contraction exponentially.

WHAT’S YOUR STORY? Are you tired of constantly asking what someone said?

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of MRSA infections can include: • chronic wound • rash • headache • general malaise • chest pain • cough • shortness of breath • fatigue • chills or fever In some instances, MRSA can produce a secondary illness of pneumonia.

How is MRSA treated?

Affected individuals will be placed in isolation and treated by a course of antibiotics. Sometimes it can take several rounds of antibiotics before treatment is effective.

According to experts at Queen Anne Healthcare, a Seattle-based longterm care facility, in serious cases it can take six weeks of antibiotics to produce negative MRSA cultures.

Unfortunately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that, in many health care facilities, a rise of drug-resistant infections is occurring, and more potent, less common antibiotics are needed. According to the CDC, today about 63% of bacteria don’t respond to traditional antibiotics and MRSA in the elderly is becoming a growing problem. A combination of frequent use of antibiotics, a weakened immune system and living in a healthcare setting make seniors susceptible.

It is important to get the facts about MRSA so seniors can avoid infection and continue to be in good health.

(MC)

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28 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M A R C H 8, 2020

HOMEIMPROVEMENT

Roof leak, basement leak, neighbor’s rainwater recommendation.

This is the proper and most efficient way to make this repair, one that will last and is a guaranteed fix.

Of course, the proper way is usually more costly as is this, but over the course of years it is well worth it.

By Robert Lamoureux Signal Contributing Writer

Roof tiles and paper Robert, Thank you for taking my question.

I had gutter repairs done on my home and during the last rains we had roof leaks. I crossed the street to see if I could see anything out of sorts on my roof and sure enough, the wavy tiles we have are broken, probably about 30 or more of them in a section. My husband went to the supply house that you suggested, and they don’t make our particular roofing tiles any longer. The paper on the roof is also likely more than 20 years old, what do you recommend?

— Sara W. Sara, What I’d do in this situation —where you need to repaper your roof—is I’d purchase new tiles in the closest match you can get, and begin the shuffling game up there. While you are repapering the roof you can take the old tiles from the back of your home where the “curb appeal” is less likely to be an issue, and bring them forward to the front for a perfect match. Put the new non-weathered tiles in the back and you’ll have less of an issue. The other thing that you can do—but it is less desirable—is to work on only the front and intermix the new and old tiles.

This tends to look more like a patch job and since you need to replace paper anyways, I’d go with bring the old tiles forward. Good luck.

If you have damaged tiles on your roof and cannot find replacements, Robert Lamoureux recommends buying the closest match and switching tiles from the back of the roof to the front. Putting the older tiles in the front can give you a perfect match, and the newer tiles won’t be as noticeable.

Basement leak Robert, I live in Sand Canyon in a home that has a basement, we’ve been here more than 20 years. This home was built with a basement and we turned it into a rec room many years ago.

During the last rains, we noticed that some of the drywall down there was chipping and there was movement.

My husband is pretty handy, so he was comfortable opening it up and checking to see what the issue was.

He found that the blocks that make up the walls behind the drywall are leaking. It’s not a lot of leaking but it’s obviously causing damage and will get worse, how do we correct this before the next rains?

— Jean T. Jean, I’ll do my best to guide you without

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seeing photos. You can do what is called positive waterproofing, which calls for excavating the exterior to approximately 7 feet deep to expose the whole exterior of the wall.

Note that if you do this, you’ll need to properly shore up the area for safety. This is a sizable project and will likely require a professional due to equipment needed.

Should you choose this, please be sure to hire a licensed and insured contractor that is well versed in waterproofing, this is a costly repair and you want to be well protected.

Typically they will diamond grind all of the old waterproofing in order to “clean” the surface and prep it for new waterproofing. Should you take this on yourself and get to this point let me know, there are several manufacturers, and I can make a

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Neighbor’s rainwater Robert, I’m in Canyon Country, part of an HOA. We have a neighbor that is dumping some rainwater onto my property which is causing flooding. Do they have the right to direct water onto our property and make my pump work that much harder, disbursing the water to the street?

— Mark R. Mark, Absolutely not. Your neighbor is not allowed to discharge their water onto a neighboring property, and they are also not allowed to direct this water to a city sidewalk.

The city sidewalks are protected from this due to slip-and-fall hazards, where the standing water can create an unsafe walking surface, causing slip and falls.

All of the excess water flow is to be directed to the storm drains/gutter system. The city allows curb cores, but they must be approved for safety reasons.

Too many cores to an area can cause weakened curbs, so the city monitors this and only allows a certain amount per each area.

I’d let your neighbor know that they are responsible to discharge their own rainwater, and perhaps suggest a small pump to aid with this. Beyond that, you’d have to ask the city to get involved, but, usually, these things can be solved amongst neighbors.

Robert Lamoureux has 38 years of experience as a general contractor, with separate licenses in electrical and plumbing contracting. He owns IMS Construction Inc. in Valencia.

His opinions are his own, not necessarily those of The Signal. Opinions expressed in this column are not meant to replace the recommendations of a qualified contractor after that contractor has made a thorough visual inspection. Email questions to Robert at robert@imsconstruction.com.

M A R C H 8, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 29

THINGSTODO

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

W

ho doesn’t love a parade? In addition to parades, pack up the family and enjoy these St. Patrick’s Day events (a few days early) in Southern California. The majority of these events are happening on Saturday, March 14 since St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Tuesday.

San Fernando Valley’s St. Patrick’s Day Community March and Celebration

March 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Madrid Theatre, 21622 Sherman Way Canoga Park Info http://canogaparkcal.com For some outdoor, family-friendly fun in the San Fernando Valley head to Canoga Park for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Community March and Celebration. Join others who love to celebrate the “luck o’ the Irish.” Meet in front of the Madrid Theatre to join the free parade, along with bagpipers and mariachis, stilt walkers and storytellers. There will also be a free raffle and live music.

South Bay St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival

March 14, Parade starts at 11 a.m.

Info www.hbchamber.net/st-patricks-day-parade The 26th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Hermosa Beach starts at the intersection of Pier and Valley Drive, heads west to Hermosa Avenue and then South on Hermosa to 9th Street. The festival is held at Pier Plaza. There is metered street parking.

More than 100 local businesses, civic organizations and school marching bands will take part in the seven-block parade. The Irish theme of St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated by the many participants in the festivities, including bagpipers from the Emerald Society, floats, horses and four-legged friends

from the Irish Setters Club of Southern California.

Ventura’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade

March 14, Parade starts at 10 a.m.

Info: venturastpatricksdayparade.com The Ventura St. Patrick’s Day Parade starts on East Main Street in front of the San Buenaventura Mission and makes its way up East Main Street.

The reviewing stage is located at N. Chestnut Street and East Main Street. The parade continues up Main Street and ends at the corner of North Ann Street and East Main Street. This year’s theme is “Music Makes the World Go ‘Round.”

Stevenson Ranch’s St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run March 14, registration is at 8 a.m.

The run starts at 9 a.m.

Mentryville, 27201 Pico Canyon Road Info laraces.com/race/102085 The Knights of Columbus will sponsor the 40th St. Patrick’s Day 5K race at the historic oil drilling town of Mentryville, near Stevenson Ranch.

The race is an “out-and-back” course that starts at Mentryville Park and takes runners in front of Charles Mentry’s grand 13-room mansion, a oneroom school house and a period barn. The course is mostly on newly paved asphalt and the elevation climb is about 330 feet. Due to this elevation gain, the course is considered moderate to difficult. The Knights of Columbus Council #6016 of Newhall is a local nonprofit charitable organization and the race is a community and family event.

Registration Adults/$35, 17 and under/$25.

Awards and raffle prizes presented after 10 a.m.

The Egg Plantation’s Irish Dreams St. Paddy’s Eve Party

March 17, 5-9 p.m. Doors open at 4 p.m.

Egg Plantation 24415 Walnut St., Newhall Info www.facebook.com/events/ 170428244410781/ Irish Dreams’ annual performance at The Egg Plantation. There will be three sets of live traditional Irish music, Irish dancers, food and drinks.

The group includes: Julissa Bozman on fiddle and

vocals; Brad Dutz on percussion; Alyse Korn on keys and vocals; and special guest Glen Berger on whistles and flute. No cover. No reservations. Families welcome. Arrive early to get a seat. Green beer, corned beef and cabbage, Guinness on tap.

Los Angeles Farmers Market St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

March 17, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Original Farmers Market, 6333 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles Info www.farmersmarketla.com/blog/blogDetail/ st-patricks-day-at-farmers-market/86 Celebrate St. Paddy’s Day with authentic Irish food, green beer and live music. Magee’s Kitchen, the Market’s first eatery, will be serving their world-famous corned beef, cabbage and potato plate all day. This perennial favorite has been featured on their daily menu since the 1940s, and customers travel long distances to enjoy this flavorful dish.

Visit the market at lunch time and catch the sounds of Glen the Bagpiper as he strolls through the market from noon-3 p.m.

Green beer and imported Irish beers will be on tap from E.B’s and Bar 326.

At 6 p.m. it’s time to dance an Irish jig with The Regulars, presented by E.B.’s Beer & Wine, on the West Patio.

Make Shamrock Shakes

If you’d rather stay home, make Shamrock Shakes with the kids.

Blend vanilla ice cream, milk, green food coloring and a teaspoon of peppermint extract. Top with whipped cream, green sprinkles and a maraschino cherry.

30 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M A R C H 8, 2020

GARDENING

Adding native plants into your more traditional gardens

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

F

or home gardeners, the new decade brings a quickly emerging new garden trend — adding native plants into traditional gardens or transitioning gardens into a landscape of native plants.

Why natives?

Longtime Newhall resident Dianne Hellrigel, who earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Southern California, has spent a lifetime studying the native plants of Southern California and the Santa Clarita Valley.

Hellrigel said a native garden requires less water and is a more sustainable garden in the SCV than a garden planted with non-natives.

“The plants are suited for your environment because they are native to the area, and will grow better than non-natives,” she said.

From left: A beautiful Mariposa Lily. Lindley’s Blazing Star grows 1-2 feet tall with large, bright 5-petal flowers that open in the afternoon. The Desert Sand Verbena have flower stalks that can grow up to 10 inches long, with stems trailing up to 3 feet.

PHOTOS COURTESY DIANNE HELLRIGEL

A bonus? Bees and butterflies love natives. In addition, many native plants have other uses, such as edibles and medicinals.

Surprisingly, a native garden can be just as beautiful as a traditional garden, if you know what to plant.

How to start a native garden The SCV’s heavy clay soil always

can use the addition of soil amendments. However, it depends on your plants. Hellrigel said many natives are not accustomed to rich soils.

“Some native plants do better with very little in the way of amendments,” she said. “Take a walk on one of your local trails to see what is growing along the trail. Look at the soil. You’ll see that none of the soil has been enriched, except by years of natural leaf mulch in the fall.”

Expert help

There are hundreds of books about native plants and wildflowers. However, the best help is usually from garden experts in local nurseries or other professionals.

SCV Water offers a series of free monthly classes to help SCV residents grow healthy, sustainable, water-wise gardens.

In addition to books and SCV Water classes, Hellrigel recommends taking a hike with someone who knows about plants.

“Often, hiking clubs will offer photography and plant ID hikes in the spring,” she said. “Go to the native nurseries and ask questions. The nurseries will often host classes in native plants.”

For information on the SCV Community Hiking Club, visit community hikingclub.org.

Where to buy natives

You cannot walk into any open space area and just dig up a native plant and replant it in your garden, said Hellrigel.

“That is highly illegal. If you try, and you’re lucky enough not to get caught and fined, the plants won’t grow anyway,” she said.

“Almost all plants that are stolen from open spaces will die when transplanted into a home garden,” she said.

“They don’t like their roots to be disturbed. Native plants from a nursery in pots will have enough soil around the roots to protect the plant from dying when you transplant.”

Native plants can be found at the following: Green Thumb Nursery 23734 Newhall Ave, Santa Clarita Matilija Nursery 8225 Waters Road, Moorpark Theodore Payne Nursery and Foundation 10459 Tuxford St., Sun Valley Hellrigel said native seeds can also be purchased, and an experienced garden expert can help guide you in how to plant for success.

Upcoming SCV Water classes March 19, 6:30 p.m. Gardening Class: Top 30 Plants for the SCV April 9, 6:30 p.m. Gardening Class: Irrigating a Sustainable Landscape May 21, 6:30 p.m. Gardening Class: Caring for the Top 30 Plants for the SCV June 13 9 a.m. Gardening Class: Shrubs and Native Plants For a full list of classes and to register, visit yourscvwater.com/gardeningclasses.

M A R C H 8, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3 1

Tips to help family caregivers avoid burnout

F

amily caregivers lead busy and at times, stressful lives, often balancing work, their own kids and spouses, hobbies and more, all while ensuring their loved ones are happy and healthy.

In celebration of family caregivers and all that they do, Interim HealthCare Inc. shares tips to help them avoid burnout and provide better care:

Know you’re not alone

As of 2015, an estimated 43.5 million adults in the U.S. have provided unpaid care to an adult age 50 or older, according to AARP. Of these individuals, around 28% have a child or grandchild under the age of 18 living in their household, and six in 10 caregivers report being employed at some point in the past year while caregiving.

Online and in-person support groups can be a great way to connect with others who may be in similar situations. These groups can be found

Don’t be surprised by negative feelings

through hospitals, Facebook, Meetup. com or organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association or the American Heart Association.

Make life easier

You can simplify daily tasks for your senior with a few considerations. For example, if utensils are difficult to use, look for opportunities to provide healthy finger foods that help your senior feel more independent. Think sliced frittata, which can be eaten like pizza, versus scrambled eggs.

When it comes to getting dressed, opt for Velcro if zippers and buttons have become difficult. Another good trick? Tie loops of string around the ends of zippers so they’re easier to grab.

Caring for someone can be an emotional rollercoaster. Even the calmest person can experience a range of negative emotions. The best way to handle them is to acknowledge that they are a natural reaction to stress.

If these feelings persist, reach out to local caregiving support groups, a family physician or therapist for help.

Consider home care as a partner

Professional home care services can complement the care you provide, helping ease its emotional and physical toll while offering you peace of mind.

While selecting senior home care services is something to be proud of, family members often feel guilt over the decision. Conflicted emotions are normal. However, knowing that the decision will make you better equipped to care for everyone can help you move past feelings of guilt.

H E A LT H

Home healthcare has emerged as a powerful option for families seeking a better way to care for their senior loved ones. Not only does it provide medical and personal care for seniors, it can nurture their independence by allowing them to remain at home, all while providing respite care for family members from the daily routine of caregiving.

Be sure to look for care that offers a whole-person approach, such as Interim HealthCare’s HomeLife Enrichment standard of care, where caregivers look beyond a diagnosis so that every patient is treated as an individual with unique needs and desires. To learn more, visit interim healthcare.com.

More caregiving tips can be found at interimhealthcare.com/blog.

Serving as a family caregiver is challenging. But there are ways to make life easier and more fulfilling for both you and your loved one.

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32 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M A R C H 8, 2020

TIMERANGER

Happy Anniversary to our Greatest Tragedy I’ve some exciting news, saddlepals.

I did a little digging and found out that the guy who invented Daylight Saving Time lives in Stevenson Ranch. All 20,000-something of us are going to ride over to his condo, knock on the door, punch him in the nose and then politely ask our ponies if they need to use the restroom before we travel through time.

Sounds like fun, don’t it?

Not to worry. Sure. We lost an hour of sleep this morning. But when we go travel back into the SCV History Time Continuum this morning, we’ll take a leisurely nap.

Separately, of course.

We’re cowpeople.

Not Vikings.

WAY BACK WHEN & THEN SOME

• The fatal horsefall March 13, 1882, millionaire Henry Mayo Newhall and founder of the town of the same name took a tumble from his horse and later died. Some folks are under the misinformation that Hank founded The Newhall Land and Farming Co. He didn’t. His widow and five sons formed it a year-ish after he died.

• Heck of a present On his March 9 birthday in 1842 (he was born in 1802), Francisco Lopez discovered gold in Placerita Canyon. While it wasn’t the first big gold discovery in California (records indicate miners were taking AU out of San Francisquito Canyon in the early 1820s), it was a big one and helped set up the big gold rush of 1849 further up north.

Santa Clarita further pushed the gold discovery back with the fabulously wealthy Lost Padre Mine in Castaic in the late 1790s. Interestingly, Francisco was looking for onions for his birthday salad when he spotted the 79th element.

MARCH 8, 1920

• The days of dirt roads Before there was a reservoir, and before there was a paved road through Bouquet Canyon, the creek could prove to be a problem during the rainy season. Eighty years back, a wet winter caused the stream to overflow and no cars or wagons could get through for supplies to the residents there.

MARCH 12, 1928

• The SCV’s most tragic day In a

few days, some will remember the anniversary of one of the greatest manmade disasters in American history and, after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906, the second-biggest in California history. The St. Francis Dam up San Francisquito Canyon burst shortly after midnight, sending a nearly 200-foot wall of water down the canyon. While the height of the water dwindled, by the time the wave hit the Pacific, it was about 2 miles wide. Estimates vary, but about 500 lost their lives in the disaster. Bodies were found washed up as far away as Mexico.

• Not great advice A little tidbit I don’t think has been mentioned before about the dam disaster involved a man who may have loved comfort more than adventure. Louis Rivera, one of the seven Rivera children who lived with their parents on the banks of the Santa Clara River, was awakened by a distant roar. He didn’t know it at the time, but it was the sound of a 75-foot wave speeding down San Francisquito Canyon, tearing up trees by the roots and bringing a devil’s soup of houses, livestock and megaton boulders. The entire family rushed into their parents’ room. Peter Rivera, the father, told his family that it was just a wind storm. As the noise grew louder, Louis grabbed two of his sisters, Isabelle and Frances, and led them from the house. They were followed by their mother and the baby.

Their father’s body was found a few days later, in Santa Paula. The mother and infant were never found.

MARCH 8, 1930

• Sing it with us: “Don’t call to me, Argentina …” On this date, Pacific Telephone installed some new equipment at the local office, enabling

locals for the first time to call South America and Canada from their homes. Don’t complain about today’s rates. It cost $48 for the first three minutes to talk to Buenos Aires.

• Bob & Bob Cowboy Bob Anderson and Bob Baker stayed on long enough to start their fourth annual local rodeo at the Baker Arena. The pair sold the ranch on this date to cowboy “B” movie star, Hoot Gibson, on April 15, 1930. The old spread used to cover 8,800 acres and, in the 1920s and ’30s, hosted one of the country’s biggest rodeos, attracting tens of thousands of visitors. Today, that ranch is called the Saugus Speedway.

• Need a truck diet Road crews working on the Weldon Canyon cut (today, The Old Road connecting the Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys) were causing havoc. Seems the huge gravel trucks driving through Pico Canyon (today, Lyons Avenue) were ruining the oiled dirt road, cracking the surface and causing gaping potholes.

• Make it easy for you: Tweren’t many of us R.L. Carson was snooping around town, counting folks. Carson was the census taker for Newhall and Chatsworth.

MARCH 8, 1940

• Speed kills. Again Leon Lacewell, 14, died after a high-speed pursuit on old Highway 99, near Lyons. The boy in the stolen coupe was doing over 100 mph when he couldn’t make a curve, went airborne and flipped several times in the air before hitting a tree. Amazingly, CHP officers didn’t know Lacewell had a partner. Robert Kurtze, an escaped teen inmate from Calabasas, was thrown so far from the wreckage no one knew he had been in the car. He lay unconscious for over a day in some brush, got up and started walking. Stumbling down the highway, he was spotted by sheriff ’s deputies and rescued.

MARCH 8, 1950

• Before it was the Master’s College Mrs. W.C. Gaffers switched her business on this date. She changed her Placerita Canyon thoroughbred farm from a racing stable to a breeding farm. One of her boarders, by the way, was movie mogul Louie B. Mayer.

MARCH 8, 1960

• Fiends Folks up in Mint Canyon formed a lower-case vigilante committee. Seems someone was shooting and poisoning dogs up there.

MARCH 8, 1970

• A little aircraft trivia Our local Congressman, Barry Goldwater Jr., was temporarily grounded by the FAA. BGJ’s small craft ran out of gas and had to crash into a driveway in Van Nuys. Wonder what Barry Sr. said. His dad was a bomber pilot during World War II and later would run for president. Here’s some major cool trivia: Barry Goldwater Sr.’s co-pilot in World War II was another local — Gene Autry.

• Useful as an udder on a bull On this date, our first local chapter of the ACLU was formed. Michael Ball was the first chairman. Best as I am informed, the ACLU didn’t last very long here. It needed 15 local members, but couldn’t raise a quorum.

MARCH 8, 1980

• There’s an insufferable lemonade one-liner hiding here All that was needed was another two trucks, one filled with ice and the other with sugar. Bob Gruver’s double-rig semi was rear-ended by another big rig on this date. Gruver’s cargo of several tons of lemons spilled onto the rain-soaked Interstate 5 at Lyons.

• We could use it on water skiing antifa members? The Fire Department was testing their new water cannon out at Castaic Lake. You didn’t want to be doing the dog paddle next to the intake jets. The cannon sucked out 3,000 gallons of water per second and could spray it nearly 100 yards.

Hmmm. Seem to recall we don’t get a great amount of fires out on Castaic Lake …

Hope you all do something useful with this extra hour of daylight.

Like take a second nap. See you next week with another exciting Time Ranger history adventure. Until then —¡Vayan con Dios, amigos!

John Boston has been writing about SCV history for more than 40 years. You can buy his books and novels on Amazon.com. Best you turn this into action and do so right jolly now …

M A R C H 8, 2020

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3 3

Five tips to help for a more efficient workday

B

eing more productive at work means working smarter, not harder (or longer) and getting the most out of the hours you spend in the office.

Sometimes, however, people find their workdays spiral out of control even when they start each morning with a set plan and to-do list.

Carol Lavin Bernick, former chairman of beauty conglomerate Alberto Culver, published “Gather As You Go: Lessons Learned Along the Way,” a book sharing insights she’s learned through her many roles as a corporate leader, working mother, philanthropist and founder of the nonprofit organization Enchanted Backpack.

Bernick offers these tips and tricks to help maximize the minutes of your workday for optimal productivity and efficiency.

Identify important versus critical

Days fly by and your to-do list can feel like it is getting longer. It is

common to do what is immediately important or necessary, not what is critical. Whether it be setting up your will, scheduling doctor’s appointments or making sure your kids are up-to-date on their shots and vaccines, building time into your life to ensure critical items are done is imperative. Schedule a couple of times each year — the same times every year — to focus on completing critical tasks.

Be resourceful

If you are unsure how to do something at work, reach out to your colleagues for help. Make friends with another person on your team at a similar level who has been around a while.

Take ideas from anywhere you can get them. Even the best CEOs ask for help. Consultants are often hired by leaders to provide their specialized expertise, unique skills and objective viewpoints to businesses.

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Divide and conquer

There are times life can be simply overwhelming and it seems impossible to get everything done. When this happens, take the problem and break it down to its elements then assess what you need to do and what can be completed by others.

Create a system for tracking the project, such as using a word processor document or another tool to mark when each item is complete. This is an easy way to see what tasks you still need to get done, help others grow as they help you and find motivation in seeing what you have already accomplished.

Give your boss everything needed

Work more efficiently by giving your boss everything needed when asked to prepare information. Ensure you have a clear understanding of the end-goal. Repeat back what is needed and why to ensure you are both on

BUSINESS

the same page. A simple template works in many cases.

For example, if you’re asked to research new office furniture, you’ll need to provide more than just costs.

Be prepared to answer questions such as: • When would it be completed or delivered?

• Is a deposit needed, and if so, how much?

• What is the cancellation date? What other options are offered (colors, sizes, styles, etc.)?

• Is there a warranty or guarantee?

Are there photos or samples available to share?

• Will it meet the needs of the office?

• Are there any negatives?

Comprehensive work can make the most of everyone’s time and increase the likelihood of impressing your boss.

Find more tips and inspiration to increase workplace productivity at gatherasyougo.com. (Family Features)

34 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M A R C H 8, 2020

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3 6 · S U N D AY S I G N A L

Opinion

MA R C H 8, 2020

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

OUR VIEW

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

On Voting, Change and Human Procrastination

Convenience vs. Value: It’s Hard, but Do It Anyway

By The Signal Editorial Board

By David Hegg

P

eople don’t like change. They don’t like waiting in line, either.

It’s no surprise, then, that there were some unhappy folks in L.A. County on Election Day. We had a new system of voting, using touchscreen machines to fill out ballots instead of the old card system.

We had fewer polling places, with new voting centers throughout the county.

The idea was, get more people to vote by expanding the window of opportunity and adding new, easyto-use technology. To an extent that backfired, because in increasing the voting period to 11 days but at the same time decreasing the number of polling places, the county left many voters frustrated and confused. You couldn’t walk to your neighborhood polling place anymore, because the vote centers were more spread out.

On Tuesday night, we had long lines as people queued up, some waiting two hours or more to exercise their right to participate in America’s representative democracy.

And they were ticked off.

Voters were asked to accept change.

Then they ended up waiting in line as they participated in that change. It was

a double whammy.

There’s already been some fallout.

Much of it, frankly, has been a little too knee-jerk for our taste.

Before the dust settled from Super Tuesday, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla issued a statement criticizing L.A. County’s election process.

“For the vast majority of California voters, the voting experience was positive,” the statement said. “But in Los Angeles County, too many voters faced unacceptably long wait times. Voters who waited patiently for hours deserve our praise for their commitment to democracy. Voters deserve better.”

Then, Padilla put the baby in the bath water and tossed them both out the window: “I am calling on Los Angeles County to mail every registered voter a ballot for the Nov. 3, 2020, general election in addition to improving the performance of vote centers.”

L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/ County Clerk Dean Logan fired back, issuing a statement of his own: “SecSee OUR VIEW, page 38

B

y nature we choose the easy way. This used to be described as the way of least resistance, but increasingly we could label it the way of greatest convenience. We are fast becoming a people whose first desire is personal comfort and convenience. We want to get what we want, and enjoy it, with the least amount of effort or resources expended.

More and more the benefit of intentionally choosing to do something hard is being lost. We want the most return for the least investment. We want to work less while making more, and dream about the days when we can do nothing while our previous investments produce a steady revenue stream.

Apparently the American Dream has ceased to be about building a better society for those who come after us. Now it is all about getting all we can, as easily as we can, and as soon as we can, so we can spend the rest of our lives living for ourselves.

But we are blind to the fact that

character, and much we honor in terms of virtue, come only through the furnace of trial, and on the anvil of hard work.

Ironically, much of our leisure time is spent watching professional athletics. The irony here is that the most successful athletes are the ones who have, for years, chosen to do the hard things. They are the ones who are in the weight room daily, who choose a greatly restricted diet, who stay longer in practice, fire up more practice shots, run longer, do more sit-ups, and have established a commitment to do the hard things so that they can best those who opted to do less.

Somehow that gets missed by the audience. We see them as doing very little in contrast to what they receive, but the reality is that they have long chosen to do hard things.

A decade ago two teenagers – Alex and Brett Harris – wrote a book aimed at their fellow teens in America. They subtitled their book “A Teenage Rebellion Against Low See HEGG, page 37

READERLETTERS

Too Many Distracted Drivers Many drivers use a cellphone now. Eyes to road then phone, phone to road, road to phone. Voila: The Human Bobblehead!

A cell phone is one of many driving distractions. Drivers know it is wrong to handle a phone when driving, but they get away with it. One day they will not. As a teenager in the early 1990s, warnings about drunken driving were given. Unfortunately, a drunken driver hit me when I was 16. My gait, hearing and speech are damaged.

Cellphones were far from reality then. Now,

drivers use cellphones to communicate, text, and/ or play games. This is a common practice today.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports texting while driving is six times more dangerous than drunken driving. Warnings about cell phones are needed now. Prom and spring/summer festivities are coming. Cellphone usage while driving or driving drunk can ruin these days.

While driving, your phone rings. Your friend texted, “Are you on I-5?” Is a ticket, crash, or even death coming because of your pointless desire to answer your friend while driving?

Keep in mind, teenagers are not the only ones distracted by the phone: Adults are, too.

Never do anything you wouldn’t want to explain to the first responders. Driving requires you to use your eyes and hands. So does texting. Use the phone when parked. Let my words impact you before a screech and a thud does.

Lori Martin Tracy Submit a Letter to the Editor

Include name, address & phone; Anonymous letters are not printed; Email: letters@signalscv.com.

MA R C H 8, 2020

S U N D AY S I G N A L · 3 7

Opinion

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

BLACK&WHYTE

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

Dear Hockey: A Love Letter from a Former 6-Year-Old

By Tim Whyte Signal Editor Dear Hockey,

F

rom the moment I started stick-handling in my back yard, imitating my father, shooting pucks past an imaginary goalie, I knew I was in love with you.

My parents made a target for me in the garage — a giant piece of remnant carpet, with an empty plastic milk jug hanging from a string. I destroyed quite a few milk jugs, but I also left a lot of puck marks on the side of the refrigerator in the garage.

I imagined myself, breaking down the wing at the Forum or Maple Leaf Gardens, with the Stanley Cup on the line, roofing a wrist shot that was in the net before the goalie saw it... and the crowd goes wild.

But not every 6-year-old’s dream comes true.

After my years of youth hockey, and a decade off the ice for a detour through high school football and getting a college education, I was back on the ice, headed for the adult recreational leagues. The beer leagues, where a championship means a week’s worth of bragging rights and not much more. But I continued to play for the love of the game.

A hat trick in the beer league felt just as sweet as if it was in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Adulthood beckoned. A career, one that had nothing to do with skates and sticks and pucks.

Parenthood.

And then, my son developed that same love. He started out like I did.

By age 4, he had taken his first skating lessons, then begged us to let him join a team with older kids. His mom balked at first, then said OK, and she stressed out every time he stepped

on the ice with those bigger boys. Soon he was a 6-year-old, perfecting his craft, stickhandling and shooting in the back yard, often firing errant pucks into the neighbor’s yard.

The neighbors were troupers. They’d just toss those pucks back over

the wall.

Fortunately, no one ever got hurt.

My son lived and breathed the sport that had been handed down through three generations, from my dad, to me, to him.

And he was better than I ever was.

Much better.

Eleven years of youth travel hockey, experiences that took us throughout North America in search of that next championship banner to hang from the rafters of our home rink. His teams won more than their fair share of them, and quite a few times he got to be the hero, the kid who had the puck on his stick in those final closing moments, with a championship on the line.

And he delivered.

Then after high school, three years of junior hockey, at a highly competitive level. It was physical hockey, with grueling 50-game schedules in a 30-team, 20-and-under league that spanned from the Midwest to the Rockies to the Southwest and the Pacific Northwest, featuring players from around the world pursuing their own hockey dreams. His last year of juniors, he was captain of a team that won the regular-season league championship for that entire 30-team league.

Then four years of college hockey, again at a highly competitive level, at a university known much more for its football team than its hockey team.

It all took a physical toll on my boy.

See WHYTE, page 38

HEGG

Continued from page 36

Expectations.” In it, they call on the youth of America to intentionally choose to do hard things so as to build the character necessary to be well-rounded contributors to society.

I love the book, but am saddened that such a call was necessary.

Apparently, as adults who crave convenience and live for leisure, we are passing along that worldview to our kids. We aren’t building them to persevere through trial, to choose the difficult road if it is the best option.

Sadly, a couple teens needed to set us all straight.

The simple truth is that, more often than we want to admit, the right thing is the hard thing. And more importantly, the strength of character that doing the hard, right thing will demand isn’t built in a moment.

It comes from choosing to do hard things every day in order to build up our strength of will and virtue. We simply have to be the master of our own wills, emotions, and dreams.

And that will take a kind of personal discipline that is hard at first.

When the body wants to sleep, the hard thing is to get up and get going.

When the mind wants to veg, the hard thing is to make a plan and get something accomplished. When the

Doing the hard things doesn’t come naturally, or easily. Then again, character doesn’t, either. heart wants to hate, the hard thing is to restrain the anger in the name of love, and when the eyes want to turn away from those in need, the hard thing is to re-train them to see beyond the appearance to the fact that here is a fellow human being that we can help.

Doing the hard things doesn’t come naturally, or easily. Then again, character doesn’t, either. Character and virtue grow as they are opposed by circumstances, but forced by our will to stand firm. Taking the easy way only sets us up to be run over when something really hard comes along.

Take the challenge: do a few things every day that you know are good, but that you’d rather not do. Nourish your soul with hard things and we’ll all be better off for it in the long run.

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

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MA R C H 8, 2020

Opinion

Above and below: Luc Whyte, now 24, in his senior season with the University of Oklahoma Sooners. Photos by Candace Kutheis Riley/OU Hockey Two 8-year-old hockey players: Tim Whyte on the left, circa 1974, and Luc Whyte on the right, circa 2003.

WHYTE

Continued from page 37

Hip surgery. Shoulder surgery. Broken collarbone, which never actually completely healed. Bloody faces. Stitches.

And, in addition to the various nagging injuries of a full-contact sport — the bumps, bruises, sprains and pulled muscles that don’t even warrant a mention — there were the concussions. Oh, the concussions. Scary stuff.

Probably more than a responsible parent should have allowed.

But the boy loved the game. Still does.

After all these years — 20 of them — two weeks ago I watched my son

play competitive hockey in person, for the last time. It was a road game in an electric environment against a hated crosstown college rival, in an arena packed with screaming, hostile fans.

Luc thrives on that.

His team came up just a little short.

But my boy acquitted himself well, valiantly logging extra minutes on the ice and playing multiple positions because his team was depleted by injuries.

He left everything he had on that sheet of ice in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Of course I was proud.

I never made it to the NHL. Neither did my son, who is immensely more talented at the game than I ever was.

And this year, as he graduates from the University of Oklahoma, at age 24, he’s

OUR VIEW

Continued from page 36

retary of State Alex Padilla issued a statement today criticizing election administration in Los Angeles County and calling on the county to send a vote-bymail ballot to every voter for the November election...

“In our ongoing commitment to improving the elections process and addressing deficiencies, I will include in my report on the election to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors analysis specifically addressing the recommendation to mail a vote-bymail ballot to every voter in November. In doing so, it is important to note that a broader evaluation and assessment of resources and capacity specific to Los Angeles County is needed.”

Logan is right. What L.A. County needs now is a careful analysis of what worked, and what didn’t —

finally hitting the end of the competitive line.

Calling it a career. Hanging it up.

He will continue playing, but like me, the stakes will now be bragging rights among friends at the bar after a rec league game.

It’s bittersweet. How could it not be?

But like me all those years ago, he has other dreams to pursue now. Adulthood beckons. Exciting career opportunities await, off the ice. It doesn’t mean he loves the game any less.

Hockey, we owe you a lot, my boy and me.

We will both, whatever we do in life, always be that 6-year-old kid... puck on the stick... overtime in game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals, clock about to expire...

Five. Four. Three. Two. One... Top

not a snap decision that will incur massive, unnecessary additional costs to mail a bunch of ballots to people who won’t use them.

At first blush, here’s what worked: The new voting machines got generally good reviews. Even many of those who were initially skeptical about the technology described it as easy to use.

For some, the new vote centers improved convenience, since one no longer must go to a specific polling place. It makes it easier to vote, for example, if you’re at work, in a location not close to home.

And, for many, the new 11-day voting window enabled them to vote at their convenience, without waiting in line if they chose to vote early.

That gets us to the real crux of the problem: A big factor that led to the long lines wasn’t so much the system, but human behavior. You don’t have to vote in the final two hours, but a lot of people do.

People procrastinate. It’s human nature. And, some

shelf, the goalie’s water bottle exploding as the puck rips into the net... he shoots...

He scores.

Tim Whyte is editor of The Signal. His column appears Sundays. On Twitter: @TimWhyte.

people like that physical experience of going to the polls and casting a ballot in person, rather than by mail. Hence, the Tuesday night logjam.

On Tuesday night, some vote centers were virtually deserted. Others had lines stretching around the block. Clearly there are refinements to be made. On a gut level, it seems the county ought to add more voting machines and vote centers. The 11-day window seems like overkill, though. Perhaps a three- or fiveday window could accomplish the same purpose.

There’s a balance to be struck: Voting should be accessible and convenient, and the county shouldn’t stop trying to make the system better, but voter expectations should be realistic, too. If you don’t want to wait in line, choose the right place and time to vote.

And, if you still have to wait in line because you chose to show up at a crowded vote center an hour before the polls close, that’s on you.

M A R C H 8, 2020

SOLUTIONS

PUZZLES

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 3 9

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