Sunday Signal March 31, 2019 by Signal

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M A R C H 31, 2019

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4 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M A R C H 31, 2019

TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS FEATURES 5 6 7 8

Borderline survivor honors victims in LA marathon Paleo: A primitive approach to modern dieting TLC’s ‘Trading Spaces’ returns and heads to Valencia ‘Set Masters’ builds for some ‘super fans’

0 1 11 12 13

Teen detained on suspicion of making 911 threat Deputies cite 34 in operation stressing pedestrian safety Supes approve plan to build housing project Child airlifted after drowning scare ‘Huffing’ blamed for woman’s unresponsiveness Detectives seize weapons, narcotics Hill, Smith address Women’s Conference Colton Herta makes IndyCar history

LOCAL NEWS

CITY MANAGER

14 Heads up, Santa Clarita

PROFILE 15 5 Deputy DA Hatami is a voice for the innocents 1 36 The rise and fall of William Mulholland

SPORTS 16 16 FFSC wins 2019 Cal South Governors State Cup

TIME RANGER 17 OPINION 18 18 Our View • David Hegg • Tim Whyte

CALENDAR 21 HOME IMPROVEMENT 22 22 Replacing thermostats, water woes

KIDS & FAMILY

3 Outdoor roller rink coming to Santa Clarita this summer 2 24 April Festival Fun for the entire family 25 Six ways to raise autism awareness

ENTERTAINMENT 26 6 CTA in transit to The Canyon — Santa Clarita 2 27 ‘Gloria Bell,’ ‘Hummingbird’ and ‘The Mustang’

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DINING GUIDE 28 FOOD 30 30 Noche Azul is a mix of food and art with a purpose

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The entire contents of the Sunday Signal is copyrighted 2019 by Paladin Multi-Media Group, Inc. All submitted letters and columns are strictly the opinions of the authors and not necesarily those of the publisher. All rights are reserved and no part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

M A R C H 31, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 5

N E W S F E AT U R E

Borderline survivor honors victims in LA marathon By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

“I

t didn’t register at first, but then I saw him pointing the gun, and it immediately clicked in my head that this is really happening,” said SCV resident Katelyn Dolder. Dolder, 20, is a survivor of the mass shooting that killed 12 people at Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks last November. Dolder, 20, frequently drove up to the bar with her friends to go line dancing, and says she never skipped a Wednesday night, no matter how busy she was. “It’s just a place where we all felt safe and all the stress and the worries went away,” Dolder said. “Everyone always had a smile on their face, and we would always have a good time.” Dolder was separated from her friends when the shooter entered the bar that night and had to jump out of a window to safety. She and the friends she went with survived, but she says the shooting still hit her really hard emotionally. “For the first four days I didn’t sleep, I didn’t really eat,” Dolder said. “Once I started to process it all, I just sat there and I cried and cried. It was hard to process because you don’t really understand why this had to happen at a place that you love.” After the initial shock wore off, Dolder made sure to keep busy and never be alone. It didn’t take her long to return to line dancing, but it was

Katelyn Dolder and her father. PHOTO COURTESY KATELYN DOLDER

Katelyn Dolder dedicated two miles of the LA Marathon to each of the victims and survivors of the Borderline shooting. PHOTOS COURTESY KATELYN DOLDER

Resources Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Resources Borderline shooting survivor, Katelyn Dolder with the shoes she wore while running the LA Marathon. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

running that really helped Dolder cope. “It’s always a relaxer for me and a time where I get to be by myself and enjoy time outside,” she said. Running had always been a second hobby of Dolder’s, but after the shooting, she says she just wasn’t motivated. Dolder had already signed up to run the LA Marathon prior to the shooting, but almost dropped out after being so behind in training. “I really kicked my butt December through February to get myself back up in the mileage,” Dolder said. “At that point, you’re supposed to be running a lot — and I just wasn’t.” And as she began training again, she quickly realized that running was going to help her recover. It was then that she got the inspiration to dedicate the marathon not only to the victims of the shooting, but also the survivors, she said. “I want to show people that even through that hard time, I got myself up again,” Dolder said. “I turned See SURVIVOR, page 35

When communities experience episodes of violence or natural disasters, the incidents can be difficult for children and adults to understand. We can’t always prevent the difficulty associated with such tragedy, but the following organizations can offer help in processing these traumatic experiences in the healthiest way possible.

The SCV Child & Family Center

This local resource center for children and adults offers an extensive network of resources for those seeking help with mental health and services, which is centrally located in the Santa Clarita Valley. Address 21545 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita. (661) 2599439 Site childfamilycenter.org

COC Student Health Center

Another local resource that offers mental health counseling, as well as eight free sessions to students who are currently enrolled in the college

the prevention, treatment, and cure of anxiety and mood disorders, and PTSD, and to improving the lives of all people who suffer from them through education, practice, and research. Site adaa.org/understandinganxiety/posttraumatic-stressdisorder-ptsd

The National Center for PTSD

This center is a government organization dedicated to research and education on trauma and PTSD. One of its goals is to assure that the latest research findings help those exposed to trauma. Site ptsd.va.gov

International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies

This organization is run by a group of elected and unelected volunteers from the various trauma-related disciplines around the world. They help to inform policy and engage in advocacy to ensure that the voices of those affected by trauma are heard by policymakers at the local, national and international levels. Site istss.org 

The Anxiety and Depression The above information was shared from the National AlliAssociation of America The ADAA is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to

ance on Mental Illness website www.nami.org

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M A R C H 31, 2019

N E W S F E AT U R E

Paleo: A primitive approach to modern dieting By Michelle Sathe Signal Staff Writer

or years, Ashley Howard, of Valencia, suffered from food allergies that would cause bloat and discomfort. While undergoing blood work to determine the cause of her allergies, Howard discovered the “paleo diet.” Short for “Paleolithic,” the era considered to date back 10,000 to 2.5 million years ago, the paleo diet has gained popularity over the last decade. Also known as the caveman diet, as it’s based on the types of foods presumed to have been eaten by early humans, the paleo diet focuses on meat, fish, vegetables, healthy oils, and certain kinds of fruit. It also bans grain products, dairy, and processed foods. Howard gave it a try and the results were positive. She quickly lost 8 pounds in bloat and water retention and felt better, too. “Since paleo is higher in protein

and fat, it keeps you full longer and gives you more energy,” Howard said. “I also like that I don’t have to count calories.” At first, following the dietary guidelines could be a bit daunting, especially when dining out. “There isn’t an ingredients list that you can look at, so when I sit down, I politely explain intolerances to the server,” Howard said. “I modify dishes, such as removing sauces, and ask servers to check labels for dressings. It’s not as big a deal now that I know what to do and what not to do.” The biggest misconception about paleo, Howard noted, was that people often confuse it with the Atkins diet. “They think it’s all about eating bacon and steak and a ton of fat and not really being thoughtful of where food is coming from,” she said. “I do believe in getting enough protein to support muscles and give me energy, because the more protein I eat, the less carbs I crave. But I also love a

ton of salads, veggies and fruits, like berries.” Without the ability to rely on packaged foods, following a paleo diet can require a lot more time prepping and cooking. To make it easier, Howard purchases premade meals from Plate Therapy, a Valencia-based paleo food service. Plate Therapy offers delivery of nutritionist-designed, organic, farm-

to-table meals, as well as “grab-andgo” stations at their location, New hall’s Results Fitness and Valencia’s Afterburn Fitness. Offerings include breakfast, lunch, and dinner options range in price from $11 to $16. Owner Danielle McPartlin launched Plate Therapy in 2015, and business has increased steadily every See PALEO, page 35

M A R C H 31, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 7

N E W S F E AT U R E

TLC’s ‘Trading Spaces’ returns and heads to Valencia By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

fter a 10-year hiatus, TLC’s hit home-makeover series, “Trading Spaces,” returned for its 10th season this month. “Trading Spaces” was around long before hits like “Fixer Upper” and “Property Brothers,” and features a set of neighbors who swap homes and redo a room in each other’s house on a $2,000 budget. “The ad said something like, ‘Do you love your neighbors?’ And I just thought that this is totally me and Dan,” said Nikki Oerum, a homeowner who lives in Valencia. It was a Saturday night, and Dan March was over at his neighbor’s, Nikki and Joey Oerum, watching a football game when Nikki suggested that they apply for the show. “Dan and I went to high school together, and now Dan works for the city with Joey,” Nikki said. “And we closed escrow on our houses in the same month.” Valencia homeowners Nikki and Joey Oerum and their neighbors Dan and Ashley March applied to be on the show that night, and by the next day, they were doing a 3-hour Skype interview with the casting director. Less than two weeks later, the two couples were surrounded by cameras as they got to work redoing each other’s master bedrooms in a style they hoped their neighbors would love. “It was a lot of fun because we really didn’t know what we were getting into,” Nikki said. With the help of a designer and car-

Nikki and Joey Oerum on “Trading Spaces.” PHOTO COURTESY TLC

Dan and Ashley March, (left) traded places with their neighbors, Nikki and Joey Oerum (right) as part of the recent reboot of the television series “Trading Spaces.” PHOTOS BY AUSTIN DAVE / THE SIGNAL

penter, both couples were pressed for time as they only had two days to complete the renovation. “It was fast,” Ashley said. “I don’t think I ever really had time to think about what we were doing, but it was a lot of fun.” Designer Frank Bielec helped the Marchs create a space that Nikki would love, and Ashley says Bielec was able to really hone in on Nikki’s style. “He brought a book with him,” Dan said. “He had everything hand-drawn and already envisioned in his head.” “Everything Frank picked was perfect for her,” Ashley said. “I knew that this is Nikki, she’s going to love it.” The Marchs quickly got to work and turned the Oerum’s room, which Nikki herself described as “plain as hell,” into a special place. “I literally had a bucket of socks in my room — it was so embarrassing,” Nikki said. The Marchs not only got them a new box for all their socks, but also turned a baby’s changing table that was being used as a dresser into a shelving unit, built a headboard and side tables, hung window treatments, made pillows and painted custom art pieces. While right across the street, the Oerums worked with designer Doug Wilson to do the same for Ashley, who was five months pregnant with her second child.

“I wanted a headboard, that’s what I told Nikki,” Ashley said. And according to Ashley, they went above and beyond. The Oerums created a floor to ceiling headboard with a hanging centerpiece, hung window treatments to replace the chip clips that used to hold a brown sheet over the window, added silver-leafed the trim around the room, hung sconces and a chandelier and reupholstered a chair. “I’ve never done anything like that, so to be able to do all of that and create something for them, it was so rewarding,” Nikki said. “That’s the best part, challenging yourself to do something you’ve never done.” The two couples weren’t allowed to see each other and slept at each other’s houses over the course of the

two-day renovation. “They would film from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. then everyone would take off and it’d be our turn to finish projects and tape ourselves,” Dan said. “It’s crazy how comfortable you got so quickly. By the end, you didn’t even realize the cameras were there.” Although Dan says he would never do it again, he loved how close of friends the two couples became. “The experience with them was the best part, the rooms were secondary,” Joey said.  Tune into new episodes of “Trading Spaces” on Saturdays at 8 p.m. on TLC. To watch Dan and Ashley March and their neighbors Nikki and Joey Oerum tackle the renovation of each other’s homes, visit www.tlc.com/tvshows/trading-spaces/.

Valencia homeowner Nikki Oerum (left) knocks spray cans with “Trading Spaces” host Paige Davis. PHOTO COURTESY TLC

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M A R C H 31, 2019

N E W S F E AT U R E

‘Set Masters’ builds for some ‘super fans’ By Brennon Dixson Signal Staff Writer

anta Clarita is no stranger to Netflix, but a new show is offering viewers the opportunity to see a new side of the Santa Clarita Valley — one that involves machines, industry and one-of-a-kind projects. Set Masters, a local business who has been in the set fabrication industry for more than 20 years, recently had the opportunity to display its talents on the Netflix show “Super Fan Builds.” The series debuted with 11 episodes containing two projects in each episode, as the show takes viewers behind the scenes to present how some of the amazing builds were brought to life. Set Masters Owner and CEO Shane Hammond said he wasn’t supposed to be a prominent speaker on the show, but his comedic personality and care-free sarcastic remarks made him a good fit for interaction with the “super fans,” and to be the person

explain the builds to viewers. Projects featured on the show were created for “super fans” who are extremely passionate about the respective subjects. For the show, Hammond and his team were tasked with crafting unique creations for fans of WWE wrestling, “Back To The Future” and “Sharknado.” In one featured episode, the group at Set Masters could be seen constructing frames for towers that would hold a model Titan Tron, and in another they used pieces of an official ring mat from a WWE event. The episode’s build also featured a display case, where the team assembled a treasure trove of WWE-inspired goodies, including a box of Booty O’s, a championship belt, Bret Hart glasses and an autographed Mr. Socko, which prompted an ecstatic reaction from the fan. Hammond had no idea he and the show were on Netflix until he walked into his living room one day and his wife broke the news.

“As seen on TV”

(and movies and streaming services) The Santa Clarita Valley is wellknown as a home for Hollywood productions, even garnering the nickname “Hollywood North.” Every week, the city of Santa Clarita announces some of the projects that have been permitted in the SCV, which includes everything from commercials to feature-length films. In addition to shows like “Santa Clarita Diet,” which had its third season debut March 29 on Netflix, here are some of the projects that have filmed in Santa Clarita just in the last 30 days:

• “Crosby Street” — Television Show • “SWAT — Television Show • “WYE” — Television Show • “Euphoria” — Television Show • “Murder For Hire” — Television Show (Reality) • “Light as a Feather” — Television Show • “Buried in The Backyard” — Television Show (Reality)

Movies • “Accident, Suicide, or Murder” — Documentary

• “Goliath” — Television Show

• “87 Minutes” — Feature Film

• “NCIS” — Television Show

• “Ad Astra” — Feature Film

• “NCIS LA” — Television Show

• “Kill Your Daughter” — Feature Film

• “Bless This Mess.” — Television Show • “Good Trouble” — Television Show

• “The Lesson” — Feature Film • “Off The Deep End” — Feature Film

Shane Hammond, owner and CEO of Set Masters, most recently had the chance to display his talents on the Netflix show “Super Fan Builds.” PHOTO BY CORY RUBIN / THE SIGNAL

Since the show’s closing episode, Hammond has returned to his studio in Saugus to continue working on the far-fetched projects that are supported by well-known companies and local residents. Annette Mendez, who works as an administrative assistant, said she is always amazed to see pieces of plastic and blocks of wood enter the building and leave as a stunning creations that could possibly grace the next Emmy’s After Party, which is one of a few event sets crafted by Hammond and his team. The design and fabrication company specializes in producing custom sets, props, models and any other builds you need, Hammond said. Whether it be small props, like crucifixes for local churches, or entire sets for music videos, the team more than likely can create your dream project. “Perfection is our goal,” Hammond said as he explained how his team members must work efficiently to craft the extraordinary pieces. Some projects require basic materials like wood, fiberglass or even styrofoam, but others need heavy machinery that one wouldn’t simply find at your local Home Depot. However, that didn’t stop Hammond from advising kids who want to get into fabrication to go out and purchase a tool set. “Any tool set — make sure it has a hammer and screwdriver,” Hammond said, “and make sure you never get rid of it. Don’t give it away. Don’t

replace it with a fancy one. Just keep building your tool set.” Hammond believes a tool set is vital for aspiring builders because experience is what will create job opportunities for those beginning in the industry. “You don’t need a job to get experience in fabrication,” Hammond said, speaking from past experiences. As a young lad, Hammond faced tough circumstances, but these helped shape him into who he is today. Hammond can recall offering to do chores at different auto and fabrication shops as a young lad in exchange for a couple hours of a fabricator’s time. The Set Masters CEO said he would tinker on bikes, before progressing to cars and other projects. “You learn by doing. And you learn how to do from those who know how,” Hammond said. This is why he eagerly visited shops where he could gain hands-on experience with equipment he’d one day use to construct his masterpieces. Today, Hammond encourages local youth to do the same. Fabrication is a growing field, Hammond said, but you won’t get anywhere unless you put yourself out there and learn how to do it.” This isn’t your typical field where a degree will get you somewhere, Hammond said. “I’ve found that the people who often excel the most are those who are eager to gain that experience in any way possible.” 

M A R C H 31, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 9

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M A R C H 31, 2019

LOCALNEWS

Teen detained on suspicion of making 911 threat By Jim Holt Signal Senior Staff Writer

15-year-old boy suspected of using a fellow student’s cellphone to make a threatening 911 call prompting the lockdown of Canyon High School was detained within about an hour of the call on suspicion of making criminal threats causing fear. Shortly before 11:40 a.m., an ambiguous, anonymous 911 phone call mentioning Canyon High School was received by a 911 dispatcher. Although no specific threat was made and no students were hurt or threatened, deputies with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station treated the call seriously and placed the school in lockdown. “The threat came via 911 on a cellphone,” Lt. Leo Bauer said. “We tracked that (phone) number and found a group of students. We started asking questions, but we

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department vehicles and personnel fill the parking lot outside Canyon High School following a vague 911 call Wednesday morning. PHOTO BY CORY RUBIN / THE SIGNAL

learned the phone had been absconded by friends, who began playing with this individual’s phone. “We were able to narrow our focus on one individual, who confided in us that he was the one who made the call,” Bauer said. The suspect was expected to be taken to the Sylmar Juvenile Detention Center.

Prosecutors with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office were expected to treat the incident seriously, Bauer said. “This was a malicious threat,” Bauer said. “The seriousness of these (threat) calls is the mass fear aspects of them.” Wednesday’s lockdown at Canyon High School was lifted in just over an hour after the call was received and

lockdown initiated. During the lockdown, students were in their classrooms while deputies checked out the campus. No specific threat was made and no students hurt or threatened, said Shirley Miller, spokeswoman for the SCV Sheriff ’s Station.“There’s no threat to the students,” she said at the time. “This is just a precaution.” 

Deputies cite 34 in operation stressing pedestrian safety By Jim Holt Signal Senior Staff Writer

lose to three dozen motorists were issued citations this week during a crackdown by local sheriff ’s deputies designed to promote pedestrian and cyclist safety. Out of 34 motorists cited, seven of those involved allegations the motorist failed to yield to a pedestrian, Shirley Miller, spokeswoman for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station, said Tuesday. “The deputies also reported two near misses,” she said, referring to two instances in which a motorist narrowly missed hitting a pedestrian. The operation aimed at improving the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians was carried out in response to a recent rash of traffic collisions in which cyclists and pedestrians were hit, drawing the attention of civic leaders. Santa Clarita City Manager Ken Striplin addressed the issue in a column published in the Sunday

Signal: “Be a ‘Heads Up’ pedestrian.” The Heads Up program, which the city began in partnership with the SCV Sheriff ’s Station in 2017, calls on pedestrians to stay alert when they’re on the street. “Road safety is a responsibility that all who use our city streets share,” Striplin said Wednesday.

Distractions

“With the multitude of distractions drivers and pedestrians face thanks to technology — it is more important than ever to be focused to protect yourself and others,” Striplin said. “If I could send one message to the community, it would be: Put the phone down whenever you are driving or crossing the street. No text or phone call is as important as someone’s life.” Striplin urged people to read about the Heads Up program by visiting santa-clarita.com/headsup for more traffic-safety tips. The award-winning program is now entering its third year. On Monday, between 5 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the city of Santa Clarita, deputies looked for violations made

by bicyclists, drivers and pedestrians that put roadway users at risk. The violations they watched for included: drivers speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, failing to stop for signs and signals or any other dangerous violation. Deputies also looked for pedestrians who crossed the street illegally or failed to yield to drivers who have the right of way. In the end, however, no citations were handed out to either a pedestrian or a cyclist, Miller said Tuesday. The crackdown was launched in response to a spike in the number of recent traffic collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists.

Two fatalities

Statistics gathered for the Heads Up campaign revealed that seven pedestrians were killed on SCV streets between 2013 and 2015. The numbers showed an increase over the three-year period with two pedestrians killed in 2013, one in 2014, and four in 2015. The city launched the Heads Up campaign in 2017, according to city

spokeswoman Carrie Lujan, who also said there were no similar incidents involving pedestrian fatalities in 2017 or 2018 in city limits. A look at the recent spike in pedestrian/cyclist collisions reveals that pedestrians were involved in at least four collisions over the span of one week, including two who died as a result of their injuries. The two fatalities happened in the space of 48 hours, claiming the lives of a 61-year-old male pedestrian and a 62-year-old female cyclist.

2017 operation

Deputies carried out a similar pedestrian safety enforcement operation in September 2017. They issued 48 citations for a number of violations, including: unsafe speed, excessively loud music, two for red light violations and more than a dozen citations for drivers failing to yield to a pedestrian. The lion’s share of alleged offenses in 2017, which netted 31 people who were handed a citation, were cell phone violations. 

M A R C H 31, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 11

Supes approve plan to build housing project By Jim Holt Signal Senior Staff Writer

15-year-old plan to build close to 500 homes between Shadow Pines and Agua Dulce was approved unanimously by county supervisors Tuesday provided the developer includes 14 green conditions that promise to transform the plan into a state-of-the-art project in terms of sustainability. The revamped Spring Canyon housing project, which calls for 495 homes now, includes solar panels for those homes, charging stations for electric vehicles, gray water recycling for lawns and solar heating for a community pool if such a pool is ever built. “No project is static,” county Supervisor Kathryn Barger said before reading a long list of environment-friendly conditions. “But (in the past 15 years), a lot has changed,” she said at the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, reflecting back to when the

housing project was first approved in 2004. Barger thanked Spring Canyon applicant Patrick Parker of Raintree Investment for having worked with SCV environmentalists and having arrived at “increased environmental protections.” She also thanked Lynne Plambeck, president of Santa Clarita Organization for Planning and the Environment, or SCOPE, which filed a formal appeal of the decision made by regional planners to approve the Spring Canyon project. “It’s admirable that both sides worked through the issues,” Barger said. “Thank you, Lynne Plambeck, for making this project better.”

‘Fabulously amended’

Barger then listed the climate-change amendments, prompting Supervisor Janice Hahn to call it “fabulously amended.” Conditions include:

• Each home is to be built with a solar panel system that would generate

the equivalent of 3 kilowatt-hours of electricity. • Creating 25 public-use charging stations for electric vehicles. • The garage of each home is to have a built-in, 220-volt outlet for future electric vehicle chargers. • If a community pool is ever built in Spring Canyon, it is to be heated by solar panels. • Each home is to have a tankless on-demand water heater.

landscaping. Gray water is wastewater generated by washing people and their clothes. It comes from washing machines, sinks, shower stalls and baths. It does not come from toilets. Toilet wastewater is dubbed “black water,” and must be disposed of in sewer systems or septic tanks. • Each home is to come with a rainwater collection system to reduce landscape water use.

• Each home is to comply with current ordinances and state laws, including low impact and water conservation laws.

• The landscaping of parks, common space areas and the front yards of each home is to comply with ordinances and state laws that call for drip irrigation of drought-tolerant landscaping.

• Pervious pavement, which allows rainwater to recharge the groundwater, is to be used in the parking lots of the park. Impervious pavement is to be eliminated where possible.

• At the request of the county biologist, the applicant for Spring Canyon is to plant locally native vegetation in the open space and on slopes as long as it is 50 feet from structures.

• Each home is to come with plumbing that would accommodate an optional gray water system to recycle washing machine or kitchen sink water waste for use in backyard

• All new home sales offices for the Spring Canyon project are to be stocked with brochures highlighting the benefits of the green initiatives featured in Spring Canyon and with brochures from National Wildlife that inform homebuyers about the Backyard Habitat program. The Backyard Habitat program preserves pockets of land in its natural state, allowing native vegetation to thrive and wildlife to move about freely.

Child airlifted after drowning scare By Jim Holt Signal Senior Staff Writer

child who nearly drowned at a pool in Valencia was airlifted to a hospital Tuesday, after being rescued and then resuscitated by one of the child’s parents. The incident happened shortly after 6 p.m. Emergency response crews were dispatched to a home on Calle Terraza in Tesoro del Valle, according to officials. “We had a report of a child drowning,” Supervisor Melanie Flores of the Los Angeles County Fire Department said late Tuesday afternoon. “The child was taken out of the water, and was awake and breathing after a parent performed CPR,” she said. Paramedics took the child and a man who appeared to be the child’s father to the soccer field at Rio Norte Junior High School. Once at the school, the child was transferred to a rescue helicopter and taken to the hospital. 

LOCALNEWS

• At the request of the county biologist and SCOPE, the applicant agrees to plant eight holly leaf cherry trees for every one removed. The new holly leaf cherries are to be planted in the open space of the project. • Also at the request of the county biologist, the applicant is to come up with a map of all existing holly leaf cherry trees on the property and indicate which ones will be impacted by the housing project. A map is also to be prepared showing where and how many impacts are to be made and the location of new plants in open space.

American Medical Response EMTs and Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics load a child onto Copter 17 after a near drowning near Rio Norte Junior High School. PHOTO BY AUSTIN DAVE / THE SIGNAL

Plambeck thanked Parker and Chris Perry, the planning deputy for Los Angeles County’s 5th District, because “they worked very well with us,” she said. See HOMES, next page

12 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M A R C H 31, 2019

LOCALNEWS

‘Huffing’ blamed for woman’s unresponsiveness By Jim Holt Signal Senior Staff Writer

25-year-old woman found face down, bleeding on a roadway inside a mobile home park, received medical treatment from paramedics and was later taken to a rehab center for treatment of a “huffing” addiction of inhaling aerosol chemicals. Shortly before 10:30 a.m. Monday, a maintenance man who works for the mobile home community on Soledad Canyon Road at Rainbow Glen Drive phoned 911 to report finding an unresponsive woman. Paramedics with the Los Angeles County Fire Department were dispatched to Soledad Canyon Road for reports of a medical call, Fire Department Supervisor Ed Pickett said. Deputies with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station also responded to the call for a woman bleeding with facial injuries, found draped over a speed bump. Faced, however, with the option of taking her to jail or placing her in rehab after she had received medical attention, the deputy opted for rehab. “We went over to see what was going on,” said Cary Quashen, founder of Action Family Counseling, on Soledad Canyon Road. “We found a girl sitting (in) the back of a squad car. “The girl’s mom said a maintenance man driving through the community on a golf cart found her and called 911,” Quashen said.

Collapsed

Paramedics who attended to the woman concluded she collapsed due to inhaling dangerous aerosol chemicals in the compressed air canisters of Ultra Duster, a pressurized spray intended to remove dust from machines and computer components. “She was clean for eight months,” Quashen said. At one point, when Quashen was talking to the woman in the backseat of the deputy’s patrol car, she explained her addiction. “She told me, ‘I’m destroying my brain cells, but I can’t stop,’” he said, noting the woman claimed to empty 10 cans in a day by inhaling the harmful chemicals. In opting for rehab as opposed to

jail, the responding deputy reportedly explained his decision to Quashen. “He said, ‘My whole purpose is to make sure she is safe and alive.’ He said he would rather see her in rehab instead of jail,” Quashen said. The woman was admitted to the Piru Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center run by Action Family Counseling, where she was expected to receive treatment and, after 30 days, be transferred to a sober-living facility.

Rehab

In the process of taking the woman to rehab, and stopping to collect personal items from the mobile home she shares with her mother, Quashen said he had to take away two additional Ultra Dusher spray cans the woman collected from her bedroom. People addicted to “huffing” aerosol chemicals do it for the mind-altering effects it has on the user. The Ultra Duster can comes with a warning on its label that reads: “Misuse by deliberately concentrating and inhaling contents may be harmful or fatal.” The can also warns it contains “a bitterant to help discourage inhalant abuse.”

SCV cases

Huffing is drug abuse local sheriff ’s detectives don’t see too much of, but they are very aware of its dangers. “As far as its commonality in SCV, I have not come across a ‘huffing’ case in the last nine months,” said Deputy Travis Sabadin, of the SCV Sheriff ’s Station J-Team, or Juvenile Team. According to Sabadin: The inhaling of chemicals found in household items such as aerosol sprays, cleaning fluids, glue, paint or paint thinner is called “huffing.” “When substances or fumes are inhaled through the nose or mouth, they can cause permanent physical and mental damage,” he said Tuesday. “Persistent use can lead to reduced muscle mass, tone and strength. Inhalants can make people unable to walk, talk and think normally. Damage is caused to the brain tissue when the toxic fumes are sniffed straight into the sinus,” he said.

Household items

Most “huffers” abuse substances that are commonly found in the home, including spray paint, glue, nail polish remover, aerosol deodorant, markers, whipped cream canisters and cooking spray.

Detectives seize weapons, narcotics By Caleb Lunetta Signal Staff Writer

n the early morning hours on Tuesday, a trove of COBRA, Special Enforcement Bureau, Animal Control and Department of Child Services personnel were en route to a Canyon Country home to execute a warrant that resulted in seizures of weapons and narcotics. As rush hour traffic began, the COBRA detectives from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’s Station were beginning to execute a warrant near the 17000 block of River Circle when they decided to ask for support from the SEB teams, according to Shirley Miller, spokeswoman for the SCV Sheriff ’s Station. “(They) contacted SEB to make sure everything was safe,” said Miller,

explaining why the local Los Angeles County gang and juvenile crime team called in the county SEB units. After they arrived at the Canyon Country home, deputies were able to seize “a number of weapons and narcotics,” according to Miller. Officials from Animal Control Services as well as the Los Angeles County Department of Child Services were dispatched to the scene as well. However, after the SEB’s official Twitter account sent out a statement at 6:34 a.m. declaring their operation had concluded and River Circle Drive was reopened, no new information was available as of 9 a.m. Tuesday morning. “It’s still an active investigation, and that’s about all the details I have right now,” said Miller at approximately 8:30 a.m. 

Inhalants are defined as: gases or fumes from everyday products that are inhaled or sniffed to cause an immediate high, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Inhalants cut off oxygen to the brain and can damage your ability to think clearly, cause you to become clumsy and harm your eyesight. Some of this damage can be permanent. Inhalants, according to SAMHSA, starve the body of oxygen and force the heart to beat rapidly and irregularly. Your heart may even stop pumping blood. People who use inhalants, the group says, often experience nausea and vomiting. Continued use of inhalants can lead to loss of hearing; damage to the sense of smell, loss of muscle control; and increased risk of cancer, as well as liver, lung and kidney problems 

HOMES

Continued from previous page

SCOPE

“It took us all the way to appealing to the Board of Supervisors, but we are pleased to say that although there was no climate chapter in this because the (environmental impact report) was so old, there are accommodations now that match other (sustainable) projects in areas like Northlake and Newhall Ranch.” Likewise, Parker thanked Barger’s staff, and his SCOPE critics, saying: “We’ve worked with SCOPE to talk about Spring Canyon. “This is an amendment to a project that was previously approved and we’re excited to move forward. There are many public benefits and we also think the project is better now,” he said. The planned Spring Canyon housing development is north of Highway 14 and Soledad Canyon Road, between Shadow Pines Boulevard and Agua Dulce Canyon Road. It calls for one Los Angeles County Fire Department station and one Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Department substation to be built, two parking lots and three open space lots, all on nearly 550 acres. 

M A R C H 31, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 13

Hill, Smith address Women’s Conference By Caleb Lunetta Signal Staff Writer

his year’s Women’s Conference seemed to have “a different energy from previous years,” according to attendees at the Saturday event on College of the Canyons’ Valencia campus. With the theme of “Purpose, Potential, Passion and Peace,” the sold-out 2019 Women’s Conference was held in the college’s University Center and featured a series of professionals — both men and women — from across various industries who spoke on a variety of issues and/or developments within their fields that are important to women as a whole, according to Diane Fierro, chair of the Women’s Conference organizing committee. “We really love to reach out to our community and invite them in to discuss the different topics women are interested in,” said Fiero. “We have career track workshops, motivational/ inspirational workshops as well as a little vendor fair.” From 8 a.m. to approximately 1 p.m., attendees heard about topics

From left, Assemblywoman Christy Smith, Chancellor Dianne G. Van Hook and Congresswoman Katie Hill chat before they speak Saturday at the 2019 College of the Canyons Women’s Conference held at the Dianne G. Van Hook University Center at College of the Canyons in Valencia. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

such as women’s health, financial freedom, striking a balance between home and work life, and much more. “It’s just been all so incredible,” said Keoma Bailey, a conference attendee and criminal justice student at COC. “To see all the things they’re involved in and know about it… I’m trying to go into a career in probation/parole, so in-

teracting will all these different (speakers) is something that is so needed.” While this year’s speakers list was designed to create appeal across a large spectrum, the biggest draws for

LOCALNEWS

the event were the two keynote speakers: Rep. Katie Hill, D-Agua Dulce, and Assemblywoman Christy Smith, D-Santa Clarita, according to Fiero. “We were asked to talk about how our life experiences tied in with our political journey,” said Smith. “And (my speech) kind of goes with today’s event… empowering women through exploring different careers, self-discovery and education options.” Both Smith and Hill are College of the Canyons alumnae, and said they made a point to speak at this year’s Women’s Conference. “(The Women’s Conference) is about empowering the next generation of women and women all over the place,” Hill said on Saturday. “Until we get to equal representation, we’re never going to have real equality.” “So much of my campaign ended up showing a lot of women what’s possible, young women and girls especially,” said Hill. “And that’s why a conference like today is so critical.” 

Colton Herta makes IndyCar history By Dan Lovi Signal Staff Writer

istory was made over the weekend as Santa Clarita Valley native Colton Herta became the youngest driver to win an IndyCar event at the age of 18 years and 359 days old. Herta led the final 15 laps at the Circuit of The Americas and won by 2.7812 seconds to beat Josef Newgarden. The previous age record was held by Graham Rahal, who won at St. Petersburg in 2008 at the age of 19 years and 93 days. The race on Sunday was only Herta’s third in the NTT IndyCar Series. It was also the inaugural race at the track in Austin, Texas, a new addition to the 2019 IndyCar Series.

Herta drove the No. 88 Harding Steinbrenner Racing Honda, and despite trailing for the first three-quarters of the race, was able to overtake pole sitter Will Power, second-place Alexander Rossi and third-place Scott Dixon. Herta held off Newgarden in the Lap 50 restart to secure the victory, a first for the team which is co-owned by Mike Harding and George Michael Steinbrenner IV. Steinbrenner fielded a car for Herta in Indy Lights in 2017 and 2018, and partnered with Harding to move Herta up to the NTT IndyCar Series. Herta will have a chance for a repeat performance at the next NTT IndyCar Series race, which is on Sunday, April 7 at the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park. 

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14 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M A R C H 31, 2019

FROM THE CITY MANAGER

Family fun all weekend at the SCV Cowboy Festival By Ken Striplin City Manager

or the past quarter-century in April, the city of Santa Clarita has attracted visitors from around the country to experience a slice of our rich western heritage. This year, the 26th Annual Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival, presented by California Resources Corporation, will once again serve as a destination for those wanting to experience life in the wild, Wild West. On April 13-14, I invite you to bring your family down to William S. Hart Park in Old Town Newhall for a weekend full of fun. Admission to the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival is free all weekend, meaning you have full access to a wide variety of family friendly activities, music, history and much more.

As you walk through the main entrance into William S. Hart Park, you will immediately see one of five music and performance stages. These stages will play host to a roster of stellar shows. Throughout the park, a full schedule of musicians and entertainers will treat audiences to the best in bluegrass, country and Americana music, as well as magic, trick-roping and multicultural entertainment. While you and your family make your way through the park from stage to stage, you will also come across great opportunities to learn more about life in the west generations ago. Visit living history exhibits and hear stories from Native American experts, cowboys, gunslingers and

blacksmiths as they set up camp, tend to their horses, fashion tools and prepare for their next adventure. For those who want a more hands-on experience, there are a number of activities that allow you to test your grit and see if you have what it takes to be a true cowboy or cowgirl. From riding a mechanical bull to learning how to throw knives and successfully loose an arrow to hit the bullseye, you will love the friendly competition you and your family members can have all weekend. Before you head home for the day, you want to be sure to unwind with a stroll through Old Town Newhall. As you make your way along Main Street, look down and admire the more than 80 legends immortalized

in the bronze and terrazzo of the Walk of Western Stars. Take a picture with your favorite star and see the three new inductees — James Drury, Robert Fuller and Dan White. While you are there, stop into any of the stores to find unique gifts and items for your home. You can also visit the restaurants in Old Town Newhall if you are looking for lunch, dinner or a snack to get you through the afternoon. Don’t forget — you’ll also find a wide variety of food options, including Cowboy Peach Cobbler, barbecue, corn on the cob and more just inside the main entrance of the Cowboy Festival. You can learn more about all the Cowboy Festival has to offer by visiting our website at cowboyfestival.org.  Ken Striplin is the Santa Clarita City Manager, and can be reached at kstriplin@santa-clarita.com. The views expressed in his column are his own and not necessarily those of The Signal.

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M A R C H 31, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 15

PROFILE

Deputy DA Hatami is a voice for the innocents By Perry Smith Sunday Signal Editor

dvocate. Father. Husband. Veteran. Survivor. A number of titles apply to Deputy District Attorney Jon Hatami, who lives in Santa Clarita with his wife and two kids, but his work with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office also can be all-consuming at times. Hatami is one of three attorneys working as part of an elite team known as the Complex Child Abuse Unit. It makes sense for Hatami now, but he readily admits that he never thought that the life he lives — happily married to lieutenant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Department, fighting for children professionally — would be the life for which he was destined.

Rough beginning

Born in New York, Jon came from an abusive home, describing his childhood as “difficult,” with his family moving to Florida before coming to the Santa Clarita Valley when he was about 7 years old. “I had a really tough childhood — I’m a little broken,” he said. The trauma from his childhood left him questioning himself for a long time, he added. “I think I was really scared to be a dad and I was scared to be married,” Hatami said. “It’s a work in progress — life was difficult.” However, Hatami said he considers his faith an important aspect of his life, and believes there is a reason for the role he has. “I am religious,” he said, “I believe God wants me to do what I’m doing.” He went on to attend Sierra Vista and Canyon High before deciding to join the Army.

In the Army now

After graduation, Hatami saw the Army as a good option for him, as it helped it work through some of the issues he was still carrying from his childhood, he said. “I think part of me was mad, that, I didn’t have a dad for some parts of my life, which was difficult; I was also mad for the abuse I was dealing with (from childhood) and I was also mad

Above: Jon Hatami, prosecutor for the Complex Victims Unit works at home on his dining room table as his children color at the table with him. PHOTOS BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

and I had anger-management issues,” he said. However, his service provided him with an outlet for the feelings he was working through. “You can work out some of your aggressions toward a positive goal,” he said. “The military made me feel better about myself.” He became a member of the military police, and one of the things that truly stands out from his service being stationed, of all places, in his hometown. Hatami recalls seeing gunfights in the streets when he and his fellow service members came to town during the Los Angeles riots in 1992. “It was scary at first, but also it was wild because this was my home,” he said of Los Angeles. Ultimately, the residents came to appreciate the safety and calm the additional police presence brought, he said, recalling the positive reactions he saw toward the end of their weekslong stay in L.A.

Back home

When he finished his service, honorably discharged as a staff sergeant, he was a much more confident man, but still not completely clear on what his next mission would be. Following in the footsteps of many other 20-somethings in the SCV, he took classes at College of the Canyons, ultimately finding a calling in criminal justice. “I don’t know if I had the ability at a young age to think that I was going

to be anything,” Hatami said, relating back to his troubled childhood. “When I went to COC at first, I wanted to go to college, I wanted to have that college experience,” he said. He ultimately found his path at College of the Canyons, deciding to pursue a criminal justice degree. He worked construction jobs to support himself, as money from his G.I. Bill helped with tuition, and he transferred to California State University, Northridge.

Joining the DA’s office

Hatami had the opportunity to study law at the University of Nebraska, where a scholarship helped him earn his degree. He took a job in New York, and then returned to California, where he worked as a civil attorney for at time, handling bankruptcies and personal injury cases. His heart was not in his work, however, and he felt there was a bigger purpose he should be working toward — which led him to apply for and garner a coveted spot with the LADA, where he now works. Ultimately, his work with the DA’s office helped him continue his progress toward achieving goals he never thought possible for himself, he said. He started working in the Antelope Valley office, and during that time, he met his wife, after a friend mentioned to Hatami, who was single at the time, that there was a “cute” deputy working as a bailiff in courtroom A-11 at the Antelope Valley courthouse. “Me being single, I went over to

A-11 and (Jon’s wife) Roxanne was the bailiff there, and we started talking,” he said. “We both lived in Santa Clarita, and me being a DA and her being a deputy, we already had a lot in common.” Hatami ultimately ended up proposing to her inside the same courtroom the two met, when Jon surprised her by pretending that he needed to stop by the courthouse to grab a file on their way out of town during a Thanksgiving weekend in 2010. The two married the following March. “I got lucky, ya know?” he said, “she’s my soulmate.” The two now are now happily married with two children, and work together to manage the hectic schedules that come with the success both have had in their respective careers. (Roxanne currently serves as a lieutenant at the SCV Sheriff ’s Station, which has made their schedules somewhat easier as far as the commute and logistics go.) In addition to fighting for victims in the courtroom, Hatami also has worked in Sacramento on legislation for these victims, such as Senate Bill 756, which was signed into law and increased the availability of restitution for those who have survived child abuse. “My job is just to put (the truth) out there and present the entire case so the jury gets to see everything,” he said, “and they get to see the truth.” 

16 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M A R C H 31, 2019

SPORTS

FFSC wins 2019 Cal South Governors State Cup By Dan Lovi Signal Staff Writer

ust a year ago, there was a strong possibility that the Futbol Foundation of Santa Clarita’s girls GO7 under 12 team would no longer exist, as the former head coach and several players left unexpectedly. However, Adam Waddell stepped in to take over head coaching duties, and the remaining players stuck it out and continued to train together. Less than a year later, the team defeated the Apple Valley Storm 3-2 to capture the Cal South Governors State Cup in thrilling fashion March 3. FFSC was able to navigate through the month-long tournament featuring 70 teams, going 8-0-0 and outscoring its opponents 31-5 to secure the championship, the first ever in FFSC history. “We were up 2-0 that whole match and the other team tied it with about a minute left in regulation. They had momentum going, but we battled and left

FFSC GO7 Girls U12 State Cup Roster: Isabella Bruno, Sierra Cordola, Bella Costello, Gianna Costello, Brooklyn Fuller, Aneres Harvey, Maile Hernandez, Kaya Lugo, Ava Maganga, Cara McKell, Kylie O’Donnell, Adrielle Salvador, Lucy Santiago, Mackenzie Wiese and Julia Willis. COURTESY PHOTO

it all on the field,” Waddell said. “They played with their hearts. They really worked hard and achieved their goal.” FFSC scored with less than a minute left, as Gianna Costello executed a precise corner kick, finding the foot of Isabella Bruno, who found the back of the net. With all the adversity the team faced, including playing in difficult

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weather, adjusting to different fields and facing disbandment nearly a year ago, it was a remarkable finish that no one could have predicted. “I think it’s pretty much a storybook ending. You can’t write it like that, for it to come true at the end of the game,” Waddell said. “There were a lot of things that were thrown in front of them that you would think would give them a disadvantage, but they showed poise and composure.” Before the title game, FFSC faced another challenge in the semifinals, with that match also going to double overtime. They were able to score with just minutes remaining to secure the victory in the semifinals. FFSC has played close to 100 games this season including a 33-game win-

ning streak, capturing the Silver North Division in the Coast Soccer League. The Cal South Cup is only the beginning, as the team will continue to play in several more tournaments this year. The success this year also led to promotion, as they will move the Silver Elite Division starting in the fall. “The have about 11 more tournaments until August, and so far, we’ve played close to 100 games this season. It’s a very competitive team,” Waddell said. “They train three times a week, they play games on the weekends. I coach one more team and I’ve had some really high level teams, but this team I think has to be one of the best teams I’ve ever had.” The squad will also play in the Cal South National Cup in 2020, which highlights the best teams in the region. Waddell believes that his players are just scratching the surface of their abilities and the future is bright for the young squad. He thinks many of his players will continue on to play at a high level. Whatever the future may hold for the girls, the remarkable run to the 2019 Cal South State Cup will be something they never forget. “It was nice to see all the kids the smiles and see their dreams come true. All their hard work paid off, “Waddell said. “It made memories for a lifetime for those girls.” 

The growth of soccer

tatistics from U.S. Youth Soccer indicate that millions of children across the country are taking to the sport that was once primarily associated with Europe and other parts of the world. More than 3 million youth players were registered to play soccer in 2014, according to U.S. Youth Soccer. That marks an amazing increase from just 40 years earlier, when barely more than 100,000 youths registered to play soccer. While the reasons behind the growing popularity of soccer within the United States are not officially known, one might reasonably trace American youthsÕ embrace of the sport to the U.S. Men’s National Team’s appearance in the 1990 World Cup. Though the team was defeated in each of its three matches in the

1990 World Cup, the appearance marked the United States’ first since 1950. In fact, participation in youth soccer in the United States in 2014 marked an 89-percent increase since 1990. In addition, the United States hosted the 1994 World Cup, likely generating even more interest in soccer, which many American youths now consider their favorite sport. Statistics from U.S. Youth Soccer indicate that millions of children across the country are taking to the sport that was once primarily associated with Europe and other parts of the world beyond the United States. More than 3 million youth players were registered to play soccer in 2014, according to U.S. Youth Soccer. 

—Metro Connection

M A R C H 31, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 17

TIMERANGER

How Can You NOT Read a Story on ‘Sex Morons’? Well amen boy howdy, have we an interesting trek into the backtrails of Santa Clarita history. We’re one of the most eclectic and historically significant communities in the West. C’mon. I’ve tens of thousands of freshly saddled and deodorized trail ponies waiting, each with a dandelion and brass nameplate on the saddle for you. We’ll inspect land barons, witches, “sex morons,” swindlers and politicians, which, far too often, end up being the same person. C’mon. Shall we mosey into the mystic? WAY BACK WHEN & THEN SOME

• Howdy, Ranger In spring 1853, Ignacio del Valle was the Santa Clarita Valley’s biggest landowner. That’s not hard when you own most of the entire SCV. He was also mayor of Los Angeles. In order to build a prosperous and safe business environment, del Valle formed the California Rangers. Whenever you want a job done right, you hire an SCV guy. This law enforcement gang pretty much abolished most crime from El Pueblo in about 18 months and worked themselves out of a job by shooting, stabbing, hanging, beating up or driving out every bad guy in Los Angeles. The Rangers were made up of Major Horace Bell, Bill Jenkins, Bill Reader and Cyrus Lyon. Except for Reader, all were locals. • Good-bye, Iggy On May 30, 1880, one of the most important and influential players in Southern California, Ignacio del Valle, died. He was 72. Del Valle had not only been one of the best L.A. mayors in all of history, he served on just about every city board, from Vaccination Committee to Police Board. At 44, he married Ysabel Varela. She was 15. He also owned Rancho Tejon, but had to sell to pay off debts. Selling off most of the SCV and keeping 1,500 acres around Rancho Camulos, he turned his fortunes around. He also had the first commercial orange groves in Ventura County. At 28, he was the youngest president of California’s state Senate and was responsible for putting in bells at Mission San Fernando, which are still there today. • Good-bye, Ysabel Mrs. Ysabel Varela del Valle died on March 28, 1905,

MARCH 31, 1939

• Sex Morons. Didn’t they open for Marilyn Manson? Ah, the grand days of journalism. This paragraph about a traffic stop in Castaic pretty much sells itself: “Deputies believe they have one of Los Angeles’ famous sex morons in the person of William Joe Smith, who was arrested for erratic driving on Highway 99.” Sex morons. Good. Band. Name. in Los Angeles but was buried next to her husband at Camulos. The graves were later moved to Los Angeles. She was the model for the matriarch in Helen Hunt Jackson’s classic novel, “Ramona.” Remember. She was 15 when wed to Ignacio. They had 12 kids, only five of whom survived to adulthood. Ysabel also brought eight orphans from Los Angeles to live on Rancho San Francisco here. She built the SCV’s first Catholic church. MARCH 31, 1919

• He was a “swall” banker A.C. Swall was still emotionally recovering from having his local hotel and office building burn down to the ground a month earlier. Swall reported he learned from his lesson. His new Newhall hotel would be built of cement. So would a brand new type of business for the SCV — the valley’s first bank. Swall was selling stock in that first bank at $100 per share. Swall also made sure The Signal’s first building wouldn’t get toasted. That, too, was made of mortar. MARCH 31, 1929

• Is Saugus where Chicken McNuggets come from? Mrs. S.G. Johnson decided to prepare a chicken dinner for the fam. While cleaning the two fat hens, she found several “goodsized” gold nuggets in the gizzards. Mrs. J set the hens aside to go shoveling in the chicken pens for the next big SCV gold strike and reportedly found more gold. • Invaded by Indians Motorcycles, that is. Literally thousands of cycle enthusiasts roared through Newhall en route to the Antelope Valley for the big annual race at Dry Lake. Three bikers and their passengers got skinned up pretty good in separate accidents and didn’t make the race.

• What almost dead calf? Of all the cattle thieves and rustlers to grace this valley, this chap certainly had the best name — Gobino Gobena. GoGo, his sidekick Eugene Campos and Campos’ family were credited with a series of steer thefts in the area. Go-Go sowed the seeds to his own demise when he kidnapped a 6-weekold bull calf, slit the creature’s throat, then threw it — still alive — into the trunk of his 1929 sedan. Gobino Gobena drove the getaway car over Market Street a little too fast, hit a light pole and just about sliced his car in half. The two rustlers weren’t hurt, but Campos’ family suffered major injuries. Gobeno had a hard time explaining the half-dead bleeding calf thrown from the wreckage, blood in his trunk and blood and calf hairs on the knife found in his pocket. MARCH 31, 1949

• Mitchum. The actor. Not the deodorant. Here’s some movie trivia for you. March 30, actor Robert Mitchum was released from the Wayside Honor Rancho after serving 50 days of a 60-day sentence (time off for good behavior). Bob was incarcerated for marijuana possession. While he worked the farm, Bob lost a little weight, put on some muscle and tan, and grew a mustache. Now here’s a party stopper: when Mitchum played on the prison softball team (2nd base) he had a lifetime batting average of .800. • Try that in your condo Newhall’s J.T. Stellars grew a cauliflower 19 inches in diameter in his Val Verde garden 70 years ago. • How to speak CHP. Fluently. The buzz word around CHP HQ here for an overloaded semi was a, “Kloppenberg.” The name was derived from the teamster Lowell W. Kloppenberg who used to pass through the

SCV pulling epic and illegal loads. Once, Kloppenberg was pulled over for having a rig 6 feet too tall, 6 feet too wide, and weighing a staggering 107,000 pounds. Another time, the local CHiPs made Kloppenberg unload 25,000 pounds of eggs and butter from his heavy-breathing diesel. (Enough for two breakfasts at the Way Station …) • Should bring it back for the Cowboy Fest Tex Terry filed a legal application to hold “Wrestling Contests at Cowboy Park” in Saugus. We used to have all three kinds of sports here in the SCV: ’Rasslin’, Boxin’, and Shootin’. MARCH 31, 1959

• One of the worst ever Six people were killed in one head-on collision near Beale’s Cut. MARCH 31, 1969

• Your house is not waterproof Brand new houses continued to slip from their foundations after one of the worst rainy seasons in modern history. One sign on a condemned Princess Park Estate home read: “God Help Us. No One Else Will.” MARCH 31, 1979

• Those lousy Wieners Kathy Wiener was promoted to office manager at SCV Escrow. A few years down the line, Kathy, and her husband Harold, would be arrested, convicted and jailed for the largest escrow fraud in the history of California when they swindled millions from Country Oaks Escrow. Well. Second, of course, next to taking the land from the Indians … Happy spring, dear saddlepals. Most grateful for your companionship on these trail rides through Santa Clarita history. You folks have a good darn week. See you in seven with another exciting Time Ranger adventure. Until then, No tomes niquelas de madera y vayan con Dios! (Don’t take any wooden nickels and ride with God!).  John Boston has been covering SCV history for more than 40 years. Read his historical tome, “Images of America: The Santa Clarita Valley” on Amazon.com. Check out his History of The Mighty Signal series on Saturdays on A1.

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Opinion

MA R C H 31, 2019

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

OURVIEW

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

It's Time to Move On from the Russia Collusion Case

Ancient Wisdom for Today, and for Our Communities

By The Signal Editorial Board

By David Hegg

t’s a classic case of denial. Like a jilted lover who won’t accept the finality of a breakup, or the employee who shows up to work the day after being fired, there are many across the country who simply are unable or unwilling to accept the outcome of the two-year investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller. They are, in effect, saying, “This isn’t over until I say it’s over!” Yet, it’s over. Mueller, appointed in 2017 to investigate allegations that President Trump and members of his team colluded with Russian operatives who sought to swing the 2016 election in Trump’s favor, at last completed his probe this month and submitted his report to Attorney General William Barr. Along the way, the Mueller probe resulted in indictments of over a dozen Russian nationals and several Russian companies on conspiracy charges. One thing that has emerged is, yes, there were Russian interests attempting to meddle in the election. The Mueller probe also netted a handful of criminal charges and convictions of former Trump associates on other charges — things like tax

fraud, providing false statements, etc. Not to make light of those crimes — and figures like former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen and former campaign chairman Paul Manafort are rightly facing consequences for their actions — but none of those charges established collusion with the Russians, and the “big fish” in this expedition was the president. Did he or his team illegally conspire with Russia to alter the outcome of the 2016 election? The answer, it turns out, is no — despite the fact that not only Trump’s political opponents but also much of the national media long ago tossed out that corny old constitutional notion of presuming one’s innocence until proven guilty. These days, all you need to convict someone in the court of public opinion is a microphone, a camera, and a little rumor and innuendo — and it doesn’t hurt if you have accusations See OUR VIEW, page 19

n our society the words “knowledge” and “wisdom” often are taken as synonyms. But it wasn’t always so. In the ancient world “wisdom” was much more than knowing; it also included doing, and doing right. Wisdom was understood as a skill, an applied action and not merely a set of archived facts and experiences. To the ancients, wisdom was the skill of righteous living. This righteous living was critiqued according to two questions: Was a particular action in keeping with God’s commands, and was it beneficial for the community? In this way “wisdom” was seen as having both a vertical component (relating to God) and a horizontal component (relating to society.) An example for today’s world might be something as simple as putting your grocery cart away after you unload your purchases into your car. The wise thing to do is take the time to push the cart into the cart storage space, instead of just leaving it in your parking spot. It may be less convenient, but it is better for the community. Of course,

there will always be the pull on our hearts to do the easy thing, to take the “shortcut.” But the study of wisdom is clear: When what we do is driven by our own desires, we take shortcuts, which are often neither righteous before God, nor good for our neighbors. In ancient wisdom literature, emphasis is placed on three areas of life: wealth, sexuality and power. In each case, these essential life components can be used wisely, or can be pursued via shortcuts that end up bringing ruin to both individual and society. According to the ancients, wealth was to be pursued and gained through the vehicle of work. Work was seen as a gift of God to humanity for the purpose of imaging Him who was the first workman. You can read all about it in Genesis 1 and 2. The shortcut to wealth was crime. As you can see, when people work it is good for society, while crime is certainly harmful. So too sexuality was understood as God’s gift but was to be pursued and enjoyed only within the bond of marSee HEGG, page 20

READERLETTERS

The Equality of Socialism: All Equally Miserable I read with interest Terri Lovell’s column in the March 20 paper. I have been following Agenda 21 for a number of years and Terri’s letter was spot-on. Glenn Beck published a book, “Agenda 21” in 2012, which I have. Agenda 21 is all about turning over our sovereignty to the U.N. and giving up our freedoms for the sake of the environment. In the late 1990s, the Sierra Club had as their goal to take us out of our automobiles by 2025 because fossil fuels were causing global warming. In the San Francisco Bay Area they had what was called One Bay Area. Its purpose was to take us all out of our autos, put everyone in stack-and-pack housing next to public transportation and bring low-income people into wealthy suburban areas to be fair.

Oh, and those communities could be given the privilege of deciding where the low-income housing could be. So nice of these unelected bureaucrats, after all, we have to be fair. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal is right out of Agenda 21 and would bankrupt this country and turn it into a socialist utopia — everyone equally miserable. Americans must be very leery of the unobtainable promises of socialism and educate themselves about Agenda 21. Phyllis A. McKenna, Valencia Submit a Letter to the Editor

Include name, address & phone number; Anonymous letters are not printed; Email: letters@signalscv.com; Mail to: Letters to the Editor, The Signal, 26330 Diamond Place, Ste. 100, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.

MA R C H 31, 2019

S U N D AY S I G N A L · 1 9

Opinion

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

D R AW I N G CO N C LU S I O N S R I C K M C K E E

BLACK&WHYTE

The Speedways and a Changing Landscape By Tim Whyte Signal Editor

he first time my parents took me to Saugus Speedway in 1975, I was hooked. It amazed me how fast and loud the cars were, and how man and machine tested each other’s limits. I was 9 years old. It struck me, that very first night of racing, that every time No. 6, Mike Fortier, dove into turn 3 of the onethird-mile flat oval, his left front tire lifted clear off the ground. That’s how hard he was pushing those corners. It was bad-ass. We became regulars in the white wooden Saugus Speedway grandstands, and our favorite place to sit was the top row of turn 4. There were lots of wrecks in turn 4 and it was a good vantage point to see the whole track. Ten-year-old me had a favorite driver, Jim Robinson, and after he won the track championship I was thrilled to go to the pits post-race and get him to autograph a picture of his No. 78 Camaro taking the checkered flag. On the summer nights when we didn’t go to the track, I could hear the cars’ roar from our home several miles away, and I’d wish I was there. Turns out, Saugus Speedway was the gateway drug. I became a fan of racing in general and stock car racing — the NASCAR variety — in particular. My folks indulged it, and soon my dad and I were taking day trips to the big tracks in Ontario and Riverside whenever NASCAR or the Indy cars came to Southern California. There, we’d see some of the SoCal stars we’d seen at Saugus Speedway — names like Jimmy Insolo and Herschel Walker — testing their racing chops against the national superstars like Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip and A.J. Foyt. But Southern California changed in

the 1980s. Soon, property values soared, and pressure for new residential and commercial growth sent the Ontario and Riverside tracks to the big junkyard in the sky. But for a while, we still had those smalltown Saturday nights at Saugus — until our hometown track bit the dust, too. Just two months before my wife and I welcomed our first-born child into the world, Saugus Speedway abruptly closed down in July 1995, in the middle of a summer racing season. I felt like a part of our community died. I was resigned to getting my racing fix by watching on TV or visiting Mesa Marin, a terrific half-mile oval in Bakersfield that would meet its own demise a decade later. Not long after Saugus closed, I saw a media report that the legendary Roger Penske was building California Speedway, a new 2-mile superspeedway on the grounds of the former Kaiser steel mill in Fontana, just a few miles away from the defunct Ontario Motor Speedway I had visited as a kid. I cajoled my dad into getting us tickets. We drove down for the very first race in 1997 at what’s now called Auto Club Speedway, and saw the likes of Dale Earnhardt and Mark Martin racing at 200 mph. I was hooked again. We decided the experience was worth more than a day trip, so the next year we got hotel rooms and made a weekend of it. Around year two or three at Fontana, we noticed how much fun people seemed to be having in the infield. We like to camp, we thought. We should try camping in the infield. So we got sites in the infield. At first it was my dad in his RV, and me, my wife and our toddler son in our travel See WHYTE, page 20

OUR VIEW

Continued from page 18

coming from a former lover with an ax to grind. All the better if the former lover is a stripper, porn star or prostitute. In this case, the only thing missing was evidence of an actual crime being committed by the president. Details, details. According to Barr, the Mueller investigation found no evidence that Trump conspired with Russians who sought to influence the 2016 election, and while stopping short of “exonerating” the president on any possible charges of obstructing justice in the case, the two-year investigation also failed to turn up enough evidence of obstruction to mount a case against the president. If you can’t make your case in two years, with the vast resources available to Mueller, you can’t make your case. At some point, enough is enough. Mueller and his army of 19 (mostly Democrat-leaning) lawyers, 40 FBI agents, forensic accountants, and assorted analysts and staff have spent at least $25 million and, more likely, over $30 million by the time all the tallying is done, according to politifact. com. If all of those resources, time and money have been unable to unearth any substantive evidence of a crime committed by the president, it’s time to move on. The reaction of many Trump critics,

If all of those resources, time and money have been unable to unearth any substantive evidence of a crime committed by the president, it’s time to move on. who seem unable and/or unwilling to accept the reality of the Mueller investigation, basically amounts to something like this: “But we just HATE him so much, he’s got to be guilty of SOMETHING…” Personal dislike does not equate to evidence of wrongdoing. At this point, two years, 2,800 subpoenas, nearly 500 search warrants, hundreds of interviews and at least $25 million later, there’s no evidence of collusion, and insufficient evidence of obstruction of justice to provide the basis for a case against the president. It may be hard for some to accept, because this two-year journey didn’t turn out the way they so badly wanted it to, but it’s time to get past the “nothing burger” that was the Russian collusion case, to move past the turmoil it has caused, and move on to the business of running the country and attempting to bridge the gaps between our political differences. It’s time to let it go. 

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Opinion

WHYTE

Continued from page 19

trailer. I'm fuzzy on the exact timeline, but a year or two later my sister and my brother-in-law joined us with a third site, creating a family “compound” with my dad, my sister and me bringing our RVs, spouses and kids and “circling the wagons” for a NASCARstyle camping party on every race weekend. Somewhere along the way, my dad and our infield next-door neighbor got to chatting. He was a good dude, a Navy veteran named Mark who was fiercely loyal to drivers who competed in Fords. I lean toward Chevy, but I liked Mark anyway. Next thing you know, we were inviting Mark and his buddies — usually including his brother Jason, an Albuquerque native who would fly in to the Ontario airport for race weekends — to join us for barbecue and campfire. It got to the point where we were spending so much of the race weekend together that we invited Mark into “the compound.” We wouldn’t have even known him if it weren’t for the NASCAR infield. Soon, we were “circling the wagons” with four RV sites, creating a center common area for campfires and barbecues. In those early days, shenanigans in the infield were plentiful. On a warm weekend a NASCAR infield can have a Mardi Gras vibe to it. Some fans bring in DJs or even live bands to entertain their camping neighbors. Young ladies strut around in cutoffs and cowboy boots, with beads around their necks, leaving one to imagine how those beads were earned. Some affectionately say Fontana turns into “Fontucky” for the weekend. It can be rowdy. It was our infield friend Mark who, one year, asked my not-yet-21-year-old son how old he’d been when he had his first beer. Luc grinned but didn’t answer, and I was stunned because I had naively assumed Luc was waiting to have his first beer with me. #SadDad.

HEGG

Continued from page 18

riage. To do so was to live righteously before God, and to create the stability in marriages and families that was essential to the health of the community. A casual look at our society will show that when this way of wisdom is undermined through the shortcut of extramarital sexuality, individuals, families, children and the neighborhood as a whole suffer dramatically. The last area — power — was recognized as a necessary component for society even as its abuse was chronicled as one of the more potent vehicles for evil. The key was to see power as always

The girls leave their marks near the start-finish line at Auto Club Speedway.

I embraced the rowdy for the first 15 years or so of the NASCAR adventure but I confess that, now, I’m content to enjoy the campfire with my family and my “infield family” that includes Mark, the Navy vet. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m somewhat awful at keeping in touch with friends — so Mark and I have kind of a “same time next year” bromance. We pretty much only see each other on racing weekends, so there’s a lot of catching up to do, often until the wee hours of the morning, around the campfire, in hushed tones after the rest of our crew has called it a night. Just as it did when Ontario, Riverside, Saugus and Mesa Marin each closed down, time continues to march on. As far as I know, Auto Club Speedway isn’t meeting the fate of those tracks just yet, although I’m sure all of motorsports will be in jeopardy once the Democrats outlaw the internal combustion engine. Anyway. The adventure is changing. Those kids who were preschoolers when we started

used in a way that was righteous before God, and good for the welfare of others. Bribes, greed, tyranny and a host of other “shortcuts” in the use of power were declared not only to be abuses of God’s gift, but also responsible for the breakdown of most of the natural relational components necessary for a healthy, self-sustaining society. Power used well created equality while abusive power created multiple divisions, usually along economic lines, in the community. It doesn’t take a trained sociological eye to recognize we are largely reaping the ugly harvest of shortcut seeds sown in our neighborhoods. Millions of children are at risk because the American family is being consistently fractured,

camping in the infield are now in college. Their younger siblings are graduating from high school this spring and they’ll soon be off to college, too. My dad has retired from the infield, as he’s had his fill of the “git ’er done” version of Mardi Gras. Two weeks ago we were out at the NASCAR races and, as has happened over the past few years, the makeup of the group evolved depending on who’s available. It was the first time my dad skipped the infield. My son and his oldest cousin were both away, tied up with college obligations. The younger cousins were there, and my sister brought in some friends to use my dad’s site and circle the wagons with us. Our 17-year-old daughter brought two pals, and the trio looked like absolute trouble every time they ventured out of the compound to explore the infield. Where are those potato sacks when you need them? Before the big race on Sunday, we got pit passes and took the girls to the start-finish line, Sharpies in hand, so they could sign a piece of the track. One wrote that Jimmie Johnson (No. 48) was her first crush, and another wrote of her affection for Joey Logano (No. 22). A few hours later, when veteran driver Kyle Busch celebrated his historic 200th NASCAR touring series win, he dipped his left rear tire right onto the part of the track my daughter and friends had signed, and commenced his burnout, spinning his tires and sending a cloud of tire smoke and Sharpie ink into the Fontucky air. When we started going to Auto Club Speedway, Kyle Busch was 12 years old. A lot has changed since I marveled at Mike Fortier lifting his left front tire off the asphalt at Saugus in 1975. But racing has given me so many fond memories of family, friends and new friends, even with the inevitable changes that the passage of time brings. I’m grateful for it all. Tim Whyte is editor of The Signal. His column appears Sundays. On Twitter: @TimWhyte. 

even as marriage is being abused and abandoned in the self-centered pursuit of sexual satisfaction. We are passionately pursuing self-gratification even as the pursuit is killing the very happiness and stability we crave, our children need, and our society requires. If wisdom is judged by its relation to God and to the benefit of society, then what do we call lives lived primarily to satisfy selfish desires? When we learn that living by pulling our own strings, and looking out for No. 1 is toxic to ourselves and those who rely on us, what kind of life is that? We have pushed hard to assign God to the extreme margins of our lives and replaced Him with our own dreams, dreams that all too often are actually death to us,

and certainly leave little room for what is best for others. Maybe it is time we stopped thinking about how smart we are, how knowledgeable we are, how entitled we are, how independent we are, and figured out that the ancients knew much better than we about living well-managed lives. Maybe it’s time to find some ancient wisdom, and I can recommend the Bible if you’re serious about rediscovering the truth that God is good, and whatever He asks of us is always our very best option. David Hegg is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church and a Santa Clarita resident.“Ethically Speaking” appears Sundays. 

M A R C H 31, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 2 1

= Family Friendly Event

THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR

ONGOING Mondays, 10 a.m. Join Barnes & Noble every Monday morning at 10 a.m. for a special Toddler Storytime at the Children’s Stage. Barnes & Noble, 23630 Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita. Info: stores. barnesandnoble.com/store/2642 Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Drop in to Pocock Brewery weekly trivia night with Trivia with Budds. Trivia night.The weekly night also includes a rotating selection of food trucks. Pocock Brewing Company, 24907 Ave. Tibbitts, Ste B, Santa Clarita, Info: triviawith budds.com/trivia-locations Thursdays, 6 p.m. Come to the Canyon Club every Thursday for an 18+ night of line dancing lessons and county music presented by Borderline Bar & Grill. Canyon Club, 24201 Valencia Blvd., #No. 1351, Santa Clarita. Info: wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com/canyonsanta-clarita/# Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. California farmers and specialty food purveyors come together each Saturday, rain or shine, to bring you a farmers’ market with the finest in fresh and seasonal fruits and vegetables, baked goods, flowers, herbs, cheeses, and prepared foods. Old Town Newhall, 24500 Main St., Newhall. Info: oldtownnewhall. com/old-town-newhall-farmers-market Saturdays and Sundays, 9:30 a.m. to noon. Each weekend, the Gibbon Center is open to the public and a tour is given at roughly 10 a.m., no reservations are required. $15 Adults, $12 Teens & Students, $10 Seniors, $5 Children 6-12, Children under 5 are free. 19100 Esguerra Road, Santa Clarita. Info: gibboncenter.org Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Grab the young’uns and mosey on up the hill in William S. Hart Park to the glorious hilltop Mansion, where you can not only take a free guided tour, but your young ones can have some free craftin’ fun! Set up right outside the Mansion’s back door, on the covered back patio, is the new weekly Crafterday Saturday craft table. 24151 Newhall Ave., Newhall. Info: (661) 254-4584, hartmuseum.org Saturdays, 5-8 p.m. Every Saturday night, we find a great group of gourmet food trucks to get together and create community fun. The food trucks rotate so that each week, there are different options of food to try. Tables & chairs provided & it is handicap accessible. 26573 Carl Boyer Dr, Santa Clarita. Info: facebook.com/foodtrucksaturday/

Sundays, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shop and save every Sunday at the Santa Clarita Swap Meet! Hundreds of vendors selling new merchandise, collectibles, plants, home decor, clothing, tools and so much more! Live entertainment, food trucks and good cheer every week! $2 admission. 22500 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita. Info: saugusspeedway.com/content/Meet-ourSwap-Meets.aspx Sunday, 7:30-9:30 a.m. Come out and try one of the fastest growing sports in Santa Clarita. Dragon boating has over 2000 years of history behind it but here in Santa Clarita it is still relatively new at about 4 years old. The community is invited to Castaic’s lower lake to give dragon boating a try. All equipment and parking will be provided free. All ages are welcome from 9 years old and up. Castaic Lake Recreation, 32132 Castaic Lake Dr., Castaic, California. For more information please call 213-447-5707 or visit teamdragoneyes.my-free.website/ Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come hug the cows, give the pig’s tummy rubs, cuddle the turkeys and enjoy a beautiful day at the Gentle Barn! Donation: Adults $22, Kids $12. Tickets are nonrefundable but rain checks are available upon request. The Gentle Barn, 15825 Sierra Highway, Santa Clarita. Info: gentlebarn.org/california/ First Saturday of the month, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Flutterby is a no-charge open art studio held on the first Saturday of each month for kids and their parents to come in and make art! All art materials are provided, no prior registration necessary. 22508 6th St., Newhall. Info: (661) 673-7500, http://theartree.org/events/ FIrst Saturday of the month, at 12 p.m. Tutu-Time is a special dancing story time for children who love to dance. Grab your tutu or borrow ours and come play with us! Your little ballerina can enjoy a free snack with new friends, ballerina arts and crafts and a brief ballet lesson in our beautiful ballet studio. Hear a fairytale or dance focused story, have your photo taken with a ballerina. Your child will fly with fireflies and dance with sugarplums while she whirls and twirls to strains of Tchaikovsky. It’s a truly magical experience for kids.Please call in advance to ensure the studio is not closed for the day. Tutu Ballet Academy, 18788 Flying Tiger Drive, Santa Clarita, CA. Info: (661) 299-5519, tutuballetacademy.com/programs/

EVENTS BY DATE Friday, April 5, 8-10 p.m. Comedy Mashup returns to The MAIN for another great evening of comedy and improv. Julian Fernandez has been on ESPN, First Impressions with Dana Carvey, Kevin and Beans April Foolishness and just had his first half hour special at the Ice House! Suggested audience is 18 years and older. Tickets are $10 online through April 4, and $15 online and at the door on April 5. Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime. Seating is first come first serve beer, wine and concession available for purchase. No refunds. The MAIN, 24266 Main Street., Newhall. Info: atthemain.org. Saturday, April 6, 9 a.m. to noon For many, landscape irrigation can seem a bit tricky, but it doesn’t have to be. This class focuses on drip irrigation, its uses, components and how to install a drip system in your landscape. Other types of high-efficiency irrigation options will also be discussed. SCV Water 27234 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. Info: yourscvwater.com/event/gardening-classes-drip-irrigation-basics/. Saturday, April 6, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Enjoy fresh fruits, veggies,

hummus, honey and more at the Westfield Mall Farmers Market. The market will be located on Town Center Drive in between The Cheesecake Factory and The Dudes’ Brewing Company. 24201 West Valencia Blvd, Valencia, Santa Clarita. Info: westfield.com/ valencia Saturday, April 6, noon to 4 p.m. The 7th Annual Sierra Pelona Valley Wine Festival will be held at Reyes Winery vineyard. VIP entrance at 11 a.m. The wine festival features numerous wineries and local wine makers offering tastings of their best wines. There will also be gourmet food and specialty items sampling, handmade crafts from local artisans, live music, live auction and more. Reyes Winery 10262 Sierra Highway, Santa Clarita. Info: winefestival@reyeswinery.com, or call (661) 268-1865. Saturday, April 6, 7-9 p.m. Kick up your heels at the Canyon Country Community Center’s Free Line Dance Night on April 6 from 7-9 p.m. Learn how to do the Cowboy Charleston, Tush Push and more. Canyon Country Community Center, 18792 Flying Tiger Drive, Canyon Country. Info: (661) 290-2266

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M A R C H 31, 2019

HOMEIMPROVEMENT

Replacing thermostats, water woes By Robert Lamoureux Signal Contributing Writer

Replacing thermostats Hi Robert I always enjoy your article in The Signal. We have a Valencia home built in 1966 and are interested in installing a remote thermostat that we can control via our Google Home as well as our smartphones but it sounds like most thermostats can’t be installed in older homes. Can you recommend one that we can install without hiring an electrician? We are also interested in changing some of our light switches to be remote, as well. Some are dimmer, some two-way, some control ceiling fans and some are just single switches. Are there types that I can order and install myself? Thanks so much for any info. — Bob Bob, Thank you for being a reader of The Signal. I would start by contacting Honeywell, they were the originator of the Wi-Fi stats and they can better guide you as to what will and will not work, rather than trying to do that hit and miss at the store level. I have a lot of experience with Honeywell they’re great about getting right back to you. Regarding your lights, if you’re handy — and it sounds like you are — then hit any of the big box stores, and they can guide you as to which

SCV LOCK & KEY

Use caution when deciding to install smart home devices. If you are going to do it yourself, shut down the breakers you will be working on.

switches would best fit your application. I’m sorry that I’m being so general, I don’t want to misguide you given I don’t know the configuration of your home. If you elect to do your own electrical, please be sure to shut down the breakers that you will be working on. Never work on this stuff live, even though it’s only 120V. Best of luck, Bob. — Robert Water Woes Hi Robert, My name is Trevor J., and I’m a relatively new homeowner here in Canyon Country. We have a planter that is against the stucco wall of our home and during the rains it filled with water. We ended up with water in the house. I drilled a hole to relive the water, but it still kept

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Don’t place planter boxes up against a stucco wall that has not been waterproofed.

entering the bedroom. I reached under the stucco, where I could see a metal thing with holes where some of the holes were filled with concrete and some not. I proceeded to fill the rest of the holes with concrete but in the next heavy rain I ended up with a worse mess. What is going on here? Were those holes NOT supposed to be filled with concrete? — Trevor Trevor, First of all, there should have never been a planter box put up against a stucco wall that hasn’t been waterproofed, for this very reason. They’ve just used the stucco as a fourth wall to this planter and obviously not done their due diligence with the stucco work, and plugged up the holes that are there to release water.

The metal piece that you are talking about is called a weep screed. It is designed to take water that has penetrated the stucco, which is porous, let it run down the waterproofing paper, and redirect it away from the house. The holes are there for the water to drip out of. So, with them all being plugged up now, this is inviting the water to enter. I strongly urge you to hire a licensed stucco company to redo this lower elevation in its entirety, including installation of a new weep screed and a proper tie-in to the existing paper, if it is good. Know that once they open the stucco, if they find that the paper behind the stucco is not good, they will need to continue to open additional stucco until they do find good paper. There is no way to close this unless you have quality paper meeting quality paper. Any failure of waterproofing paper is another source for water to enter. You’ll often see more paper deterioration on a sunny side of the home over a period of years, the weather ultimately speeds up the deterioration process. If you’re going to keep this planter box, you’ll want to have it waterproofed while they are at it. They’ll excavate as necessary and prep the surface to receive a quality waterproofing product. Once dry, they’ll install a special foam board, which will be there to protect the waterproofing membrane from damage. Any time you or a landscaper are working within this planter, you’ll need to use caution to not damage the waterproofing or you could end up with similar leaking issues. Good luck to you. — Robert 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. 

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Outdoor roller rink coming to Santa Clarita this summer By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

op Sk8 is bringing a pop-up roller skating rink to the Westfield Valencia Town Center in May. This themed roller rink will be more than just skating — it will be an immersive experience featuring performances and a mix of current music with classic songs and movie scores that coincide with each night’s different theme, according to creator Ann Potenza. “We’re trying to bring the spirit of fun and community to the neighborhood,” Potenza said. “And we want to make it a place where you can create some special memories.” Potenza and her husband have been performers and co-producers of live theatre, films and music videos for more than 20 years, and they are excited to create their own interactive performance on wheels. Each day of the week will feature a different decade of music.

• On “Swing SK8” Mondays, “pop-

sk8ers” will hear classic tunes from the ‘40s and ‘50s mixed with some new swing music. • “Groovy Tuesday” will feature ‘60s music. • “Dyn-O-Mite” Wednesdays will include disco, pop and classic rock music from the ‘70s. • Thursdays will be perfect if “I Want My ‘80s.” • For a “DJ Megamix,” visit the rink on Fridays and Saturdays where you’ll hear hits from the ‘90s, Y2K (the ‘00s) and today.

You can purchase an all-day wristband for $15, which allows you to come and go as you please. Quad skate rental is included in the price of admission, but Potenza says people are welcome to bring their own. There will also be cabanas for rent, if you’d like to host a PHOTOS COURTESY POPSK8. party or group event. • If you love Broadway and movie Pop Sk8 will make its debut on May musicals, visit the rink on Sundays 4 with a special Star Wars-themed for “LA LA SK8 Land.” day of skating, Potenza said. “Chris Cox, our music director, Pop Sk8 will be located at the is channeling every day to be a mix Westfield Valencia parking lot from of songs from each era that people May 4-27 and will continue to other love and remember, along with a lot Los Angeles locations throughout the of throwbacks, all mixed together summer. The rink will be open from with some new and current tunes,” Potenza said. 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 12 Throughout the day, surprise p.m. to 12 a.m. on weekends.  pop-up performances will immerse For more information about Popskaters in the day’s theme and feature Sk8 or to buy tickets, visit https:// contests, games and group “sk8-alongs,” according to Potenza. popsk8.live/home.

Donna’s Day: Creative Family Fun

Burger and fries are an April Fools’ surprise By Donna Erickson Signal Contrbuting Writer

his April Fools’ Day “Burger and Fries” is such a surprise that no one will believe their eyes. Make this whimsical treat that looks like hamburgers and French fries but is actually a yummy dessert. Prepare this “Burger and Fries” recipe for an April 1st caper or for a birthday party any time of year. Kids and adults will love the treat.

Ingredients

For 10 servings, you’ll need: 10 clean, small tuna or pineapple cans, greased and with labels removed. (Be sure there are no sharp edges on the cans.) 1 box standard yellow-cake mix 1 standard brownie mix baked to 1-inch thickness on a rimmed cookie sheet 2 tablespoons corn syrup red and yellow frosting

sesame seeds 2 kiwis, peeled and sliced sugar-cookie dough (homemade or prepared mix from the refrigerated section of your grocery store)

Burgers

Prepare and spoon cake batter into cans, filling each can half-full. Bake according to cupcake directions on the box, adding a few minutes to baking time. (Use any extra batter to make cupcakes.) When slightly cool, ease cake out of cans and cool completely. Slice open each “bun”; brush the tops of the “buns” with corn syrup, then sprinkle with sesame seeds. Use one of the cans as a cookie cutter to cut round “burgers” out of the baked brownies. Set each cutout on the bottom half of the “buns.” Drizzle some red and yellow frosting on the brownie to look like ketchup and mustard. Place sliced kiwi alongside to resemble pickles.

French fries

Make 1-inch accordion folds on a sheet of heavy aluminum foil and set on a cookie sheet with folds slightly spread apart. Slice and mold cookie dough into 2-inch strips to resemble French fries. Set each strip in a groove on the foil. Bake according to recipe directions until golden. Cool slightly on cooling rack, then remove from foil while still warm for best results. Serve with red frosting “ketchup” on a platter with the “burgers.”  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.” © 2019 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Synd.

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April festival fun for the entire family Santa Clarita Valley transition out of homelessness.

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

t’s the month to go time traveling. Take a trip to the “merry ole England,” and the small port city of Deptford during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, or pull on your boots, strap on your spurs, saddle up your mount and mosey on over to the Cowboy Festival. It’s also the month to celebrate the California poppy, Scandinavia and jousting.

Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival

April 11-14. Free, with some ticketed events. Address William S. Hart Park, 24151 Newhall Ave., Newhall Info cowboyfestival.org The family-friendly main festival will be held Saturday, April 13, 10 a.m. and Sunday, April 14, 10 a.m to 6 p.m. Listen to performers, eat chuck wagon barbecue and shop at vendors with one-of-a-kind gear and goods. The 2019 Walk of Western Stars Unveiling Thursday, April 11, 5 p.m. Free Location Main Street in downtown Newhall The Walk of Western Stars Induction Ceremony Thursday, April 11 6 p.m. $60 Location William S. Hart Park Hart Hall Western Stars inductees include James Drury, Robert Fuller and Dan White. James Drury is best known for playing the title role of the 90-minute weekly Western television series “The Virginian.” Robert Fuller guest-starred in dozens of Western television programs including “Buckskin,” “The Big Valley,” “The Californians,” “The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin” and “The Monroes.” In 1959, he was cast as Jess Harper on the Western series “Laramie,” then he joined another popular Western series, “Wagon Train” as Cooper Smith. The other inductee is Dan White, who lived in Hollywood and Newhall for most of his acting career, appearing in 345 films and television shows — 264 of which were of the Western genre.

The Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire

A blacksmith takes a moment to smile while heating up a horshoe at the 25th Annual Cowboy Festival.

Californio Fiesta de Rancho Camulos with New West followed by a Tribute to Don Edwards Friday, April 12, 11 a.m., $50 Address Rancho Camulos Museum, 5164 E. Telegraph Road (Hwy. 126), Piru. This event includes the concert, lunch, a documentary highlighting the life of cowboy singer Don Edwards and costumed docent-led tours of the museum. Cowboy Dance with Cow Bop Friday, April 12, 6:30 p.m. $20 Location William S. Hart Park Hart Hall This event includes dance lessons and dancing. A Night with National Cash: A Tribute to Johnny Cash Saturday, April 13, 8 p.m. $15 Location William S. Hart Park Historical Bus Tour of Santa Clarita Valley Sunday, April 14, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., $50 includes lunch (vegetarian and

Enjoy 13 stages of entertainment featuring more than 40 performers at the Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire. PHOTO COURTESY THE RENAISSANCE FAIRE

vegan selections will be available). No children under 6 years of age. Address Heritage Junction, 24101 Newhall Ave, Newhall There will be walking for short distances over uneven terrain. The tour includes Heritage Junction, an 1898 trestle bridge replacement for the one swept away by the St. Francis Dam disaster, Mentryville, Oak of the Golden Dream and the site of the driving of the stake commemorating the joining of San Francisco with Los Angeles by rail. Cowboy Chili Cook-Off Sunday, April 14, 1-4 p.m., $10 tasking for five 2-oz. samples Location William S. Hart Park The proceeds of this event go towards Bridge to Home’s mission of providing support services – including an emergency shelter, case management, housing navigation, and referrals for health, mental health, and substance use treatment – to help individuals and families in the

Saturdays and Sundays April 6 to May 19, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Address Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, 15501 E. Arrow Highway, Irwindale, 91706. Adults, $29.95; Children (5-12) $15; Children 4 and under, free. Discount tickets available online. Info renfair.com/socal Thousands of performers roam the 23-acre lakeside shire, including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, as well as a bevy of knights, ladies, peasants and other colorful characters. Guests can enjoy 13 stages of entertainment featuring more than 40 performance groups, such as magicians, dancers, jousters, witty comedians, musicians, storytellers, jugglers and improvisation troupes. The royal shipyard city of Deptford, transported to the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, also offers a marketplace with more than 125 artisans with demonstrations of glass blowing or forging iron. Unique food and drink are also available for purchase. Costumes are welcome, wear sunscreen and comfortable shoes. Dozens of activities available for children. The event features theme weekends, including “Opening Weekend,” “Time Traveler Weekend” and more.

California Poppy Festival

Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Address Lancaster City Park, 43011 N. 10th Street West, Laancaster $5-15 Info Poppy Reserve Wildflower Hotline (661) 724-1180, Theodore Payne Foundation Wildflower Hotline (818) 768-3533. poppyfestival.com The California Poppy Festival is an annual spring celebration of the California State Flower. The festival’s highlights include musical entertainment, food and crafts vendors, games, demos, art show and carnival. On Sunday, there is a car show. If you don’t want to wait for the poppy festival, this year’s massive fields of orange poppies are blooming in the nearby Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, 15101 Lancaster Road, Lancaster.

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44th Scandinavian Festival

Saturday, April 6 and Sunday April 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Address California Lutheran University, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks, 91360. Adults $10; Teens $5; Kids, 12 and under are free. Free parking. Info facebook.com/scandinavianfestival, (805) 241-0391 or scandinavianfest.org. The largest Nordic festival in Southern California, produced by the

Scandinavian American Cultural and Historical Foundation, will celebrate the cultures of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the Sami people from the Arctic regions of Scandinavia. The family-friendly festival offers music, dancing, food, crafts, activities, demonstrations, vendors and lectures. Festival-goers can also wander through an authentic Viking village, as well as a “Saami sliddastallan,” or community gathering. They can ask

a rune reader for advice, visit Norwegian elkhounds and take Scandinavian dance lessons. Families can also try their hand at Dala horse croquet and play an ancient Viking game called kubb. Cooks will demonstrate how to make aebleskivers, lefse and Street artists Lysa Ashley (left) and Lorelle Miller (right) pose with two dancers from CenterStage Dance krumkake. Family acAcademy at the 2018 Santa Clarita Chalk Festival. SIGNAL tivities include making FILE PHOTO a head wreath with real dors in Heritage Plaza (at the corner flowers and ribbon and raising the Maypole and dancing around it while of San Bernardino Road and Citrus Avenue) in Covina. singing traditional songs.

Chalk Festival

Saturday, April 13, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free Address Heritage Plaza Park, 400 North Citrus Ave., Covina Info covinaca.gov/parksrec/page/ chalk-art-festival Watch artists transform concrete into colorful, temporary art at the Chalk Festival, with music and ven-

Seventh Annual Riverside Tamale Festival

Saturday, April 13, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Address White Park, 3885 Market St., Riverside, 92501. Info: rivtamalefest.com The Riverside Tamale Festival offers food, beer and margarita garden, live music, folklorico dancing and children’s area. 

Six ways to raise autism awareness

utism has become a household word because of the vast number of lives impacted by this highly scrutinized and often confusing series of conditions. In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined that 1 in 59 children currently has autism spectrum disorder in the United States. ASD can affect the entire body, but it is typically marked by repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities. Difficulties with communication, intellectual disabilities and impaired social interactions also are noted. The autism awareness organization Autism Speaks estimates that onethird of people with ASD are nonverbal as well. Research implicates genetics as the cause of ASD in the vast majority of cases. Generally speaking, children born to older parents are at a higher risk for having autism than those born to younger parents. Despite controversy, there is no definitive link

between ASD and immunizations. Each April is Autism Awareness Month. April also hosts World Autism Day (April 2). The Autism Society, one of the leading autism organizations, established the observance month to “promote autism awareness, inclusion and self-determination for all, and to assure that each person with ASD is provided the opportunity to achieve the highest possible quality of life.” There are many steps people can take to help the group achieve that goal, both in April and throughout the year.

Wear blue One of the significant markers of autism support and awareness is the displaying of the color blue. Many organizations sell blue t-shirts and other promotional items that help raise awareness and money for the cause. Attend an event There are many marches or fundraisers for ASD in April. Participating in such events shows those with ASD that people care about them. Go to a sensory friendly event Venues like movie theaters and amusement parks offer “sensory-friendly” days for

individuals with ASD and their families. Embrace the ribbon The puzzle piece ribbon represents the complexity and diversity of those with ASD. Pin a ribbon to clothing or attach ribbon magnets to cars. Learn more Dr. Temple Grandin is an autism expert who is on the spectrum herself. Through her own words, Grandin shares unprecedented insights into what the autistic brain experiences. This education can be used in one’s own life or in the classroom. There are other educators with ASD who also offer their expertise online. Donate when possible Although there is no cure for autism, researchers continue to work to learn more about it and any potential treatments that can improve the lives of those with ASD.  Learn more about ASD at www. autism-society.org. — Metro Connection

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CTA in transit to The Canyon — Santa Clarita By Perry Smith Sunday Signal Editor

he name might not be “Chicago,” but you’ll recognize the sound. Legendary drummer Danny Seraphine, from the band that created “25 or 6 to 4,” “Lowdown” and “Take me Back to Chicago,” is bringing CTA back to The Canyon next month, just in case you missed the March 30 show.

The “Take me Back to Chicago” tour returns April 20, with Seraphine, who was ranked among the “100 Greatest Drummers of All Time” list by Rolling Stone. “It’s a very enjoyable show because the Chicago songbook is so beloved,” Seraphine said in a recent interview. As one of the founding members of the band, Seraphine also wrote several of the band’s songs, and there’s no

better chance to hear them than when CTA comes back to town. When asked about the band’s early years, Seraphine still has fond memories of playing the Sunset Strip after the band moved from Chicago to L.A. to “get discovered,” which ultimately happened when another legend, Jimi Hendrix, saw the band play, he said. “There was so many great bands making it and successful … so many

great bands,” Seraphine said. “Nobody ever realized that our music would still be around today.”  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. Monday-Saturday, by phone at (888) 645-5006, or via TicketMaster.com. For more info, visit Wheremusicmeets theSoul.com.

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‘Gloria Bell,’ ‘Hummingbird’ and ‘The Mustang’ By Dianne White Crawford Signal Contributing Writer

‘Gloria Bell’ (General Release)

Oscar winner and four-time nominee Julianne Moore has been one of our more interesting actors since she jumped off the screen (in a supporting role) in “The Hand That Rocks The Cradle” (1992). She’s now approaching 60 years of age, and a true master at capturing the essence of a character. She brings Gloria Bell to life in the most believable and grounded manner possible. Much of the film focuses on the odd developing relationship Gloria has with Arnold (John Turturro). As with many folks, Arnold’s baggage is more burden than history. He seems to be in an unhealthy marriage with ultra-dependent grown daughters and a wife who can’t get through a day without his help. Supporting work is provided by Sean Astin (a Las Vegas mistake), Brad Garrett (Gloria’s ex), Jeanne Tripplehorn (Garrett’s new wife), and Holland Taylor (Gloria’s mom). Each of these characters get a brief sub-story, as do Gloria’s grown kids, played by Michael Cera and Caren Pistorius. With the son’s marriage in shambles, and the daughter heading to Sweden to live with a man, Gloria experiences the trials and tribulations of life while still looking for meaning and companionship. Alice Johnson Boher adapted the screenplay for this version from the original by director Sebastian Lelio and Gonzalo Maza. She refrains from the usual American melodrama or corniness, and instead delivers something to which the actors and viewers can easily relate. The fine line between independence and loneliness is in a delicate balance, and one that’s deftly handled here. And of course, there are scenes that are elevated thanks to the brilliance of Julianne Moore’s performance. All in all, fans of “Gloria” will not be disappointed.

Julianne Moore and John Turturro in “Gloria Bell” (2018). PHOTO COURTESY IMDB

roughly one flap of a hummingbird wing (hence the film’s title). We also learn that one millisecond can translate into hundreds of millions in profits, which is why cousins Vincent and Anton walk away from their jobs at the Eva Torres brokerage firm to pursue their dream of shaving that single millisecond. Vincent (Jesse Eisenberg) is the fast-talking visionary and deal-maker, while Anton (Alexander Skarsgard) is the computer programming whiz. If any of the above (other than Anton’s dance) seems the least bit exciting or enticing, you should know that the bulk of the film deals with the digging and drilling (there’s even a montage) required to lay the fiber optic cable that will allow this extra-quick data delivery. Their plan is to tunnel from Kansas City to New Jersey in a perfectly straight line. Most of the screen time is devoted to either underground drilling, com-

The Hummingbird Project (Limited Release)

More. Better. Faster. Most industries have those goals, and this story from French-Canadian writer-director Kim Nguyen focuses on high-frequency stock traders. We learn that one millisecond is

Alexander Skarsgård (RIGHT) and Jesse Eisenberg in “The Hummingbird Project” (2018). ©SÉBASTIEN RAYMOND @Earhlings Productions/Belga Productions2017

puter programming, or intellectual property. And while I’m sure each of these categories have their fans, most will agree the transfer to cinema does not come off especially entertaining. It should be noted that since his Oscar nomination for “The Social Network,” Eisenberg has displayed a remarkable lack of variation in the roles he’s chosen and characters he’s played. At this point, we mostly just find him annoying, rather than brilliant or even mildly interesting. Salma Hayek plays Eva Torres, former boss of the cousins, and now laser-focused in not letting the boys win. Hayek is given relatively little screen time, and is portrayed as the villain… although her goals are no different than Vincent’s and Anton’s. Ayisha Issa brings a momentary jolt to the proceedings as a mountain driller, but the film simply drags when neither Skarsgard nor Hayek are on screen.

‘The Mustang’ (Limited Release)

A herd of wild horses frolic and gallop and relax in the prairies that separate majestic peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Suddenly, the peace being enjoyed by the horses is interrupted by the deafening noise of a helicopter above. The helicopter pushes the herd toward the corral. An opening title card informs us that more than 100,000 wild horses roam the U.S. countryside and the government is only able to manage a small percentage. Part of that process involves therapy for prisoners… an obvious analogy being the two “wild” beings try to tame each other Writer-director Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre co-wrote the story with Mona Fastvold and Brock Norman Brock. It’s the director’s first feature film and she shows a real knack for pacing… letting the uncomfortable scenes between man and horse breathe and play out. Matthias Schoenaerts stars as Roman, and it’s yet another stellar performance from the actor who exploded onto the movie screen with “Bullhead” (2011) and “Rust And Bone” (2012). Since then, it’s been one terrific turn after another. His physical presence and soulful eyes convey so much. He has mastered the strong, silent type, but here he expertly uses body language to communicate with both the horse and the audience. The drug-dealing sub-plot appears to have been included to remind us just how dangerous a prison yard can be, but we never lose sight of the pain involved with second chances and learning to be a better person. There are some similarities to two excellent 2018 movies, “Lean On Pete” and “The Rider,” but this first-time filmmaker wisely lets her talented cast do their thing, as she complements their work through cinematographer Ruben Impens’ (“Beautiful Boy”) fabulous work up close and with expansive vistas. Robert Redford was an executive producer on the film, so the beauty of the area is not surprising. The film allows emotions to play out right through the final shot. 

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BBQ Black Bear Diner 23626 Valencia Blvd, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-799-4820 Dickeys Barbecue Pit 18742 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita 661-251-0840

AMERICAN All Star Sports Grill 28200 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus 661-296-8000 Backwoods Inn 17846 W. Sierra Highway, Santa Clarita (Canyon Country) 661-252-5522 The Backyard Grub n’ Brews 26509 Golden Valley Rd, Santa Clarita 661-286-1165 Bergie’s 16404 Delone Street, Santa Clarita (Canyon Country) 661-251-3133 Big Wangs 26876 The Old Road, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-255-2449 Black Angus 27007 McBean Parkway, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-288-2000 Boardwalk Grille 21516 Golden Triangle Road, Santa Clarita 661-253-4386 The Cheesecake Factory 24250 Town Center Dr #110, Valencia, CA 91355 661-286-1232 Claim Jumper 25740 The Old Road, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-254-2628 Courtyard Bistro 28523 Westinghouse Place, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-257-3220 The Daily Harvest Cafe & Juicery 22722 Lyons Ave #6, Newhall 661-383-9387 Eat Real Cafe 23414 Lyons Avenue, Newhall 661-254-2237 27530 Newhall Ranch Rd, Valencia 661-254-2237 Freshworks California Grill 23340 Cinema Drive, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-291-1600

Islands 24180 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-284-5903

L&L Hawaiian BBQ 18727 Via Princessa, Santa Clarita (Canyon Country) 661-251-8333

Lazy Dog Cafe 24201 Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-253-9996

Lucille’s Bar-B-Que 24201 West Valencia Blvd, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-255-1227

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

Rattler’s BBQ 26495 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita (Canyon Country) 661-251-4195

Mike’s Original Diner 31537 Castaic Rd, Castaic 661-257-3233 Nealie’s Skillet 25858 Tournament Rd, Valencia 661-678-0031 Newhall Refinery 24258 Main St, Newhall 661-388-4477 Outback Steakhouse 25261 The Old Road, Santa Clarita (Stevenson Ranch) 661-287-9630 Saddle Ranch Chop House 24201 Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-383-0173 Salt Creek Grille 24415 Town Center Drive, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-222-9999 Sizzler 19013 Golden Valley Rd, Santa Clarita 661-250-7300 Souplantation 24303 Town Center Drive, Valencia 661-286-1260 Stonefire Grill 23300 Cinema Drive, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-799-8282 Thelma’s & Luis Gourmet Restaurant/Thelma’s Morning Cafe 22876 Copperhill Drive, Santa Clarita (Saugus) 661-263-8283 Vine’s Restaurant & Bar 24500 Town Center Dr., Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-678-4044 Wing Stop 18547 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (Canyon Country) 661-251-9700

Smokehouse on Main 24255 Main St, Santa Clarita (Old Town Newhall) 661-888-4585 Wood Ranch Bar-B-Que & Grill 25580 The Old Road, Santa Clarita (Stevenson Ranch) 661-222-9494

BREAKFAST & BRUNCH

Casa Canela 27647 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita 661-523-7282

Crazy Otto’s Diner 19132 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (Canyon Country) 661-299-6886 Egg Plantation 24415 Walnut Street, Newhall 661-255-8222 Eggs N Things 27560 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia 661-702-8664 Halfway House 15564 W. Sierra Highway, Saugus 661-251-0102 Marston’s Restaurant 24011 Newhall Ranch Road, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-253-9910 Mimi’s Cafe 24201 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia 661-255-5520 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 on Lyons 23820 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita (Newhall) 661-286-1091 Corner Bakery 24290 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-259-2813 Cousins Burgers 19318 Soledad Canyon Rd, Canyon Country 661-298-4200 Five Guys 24201 W, Valencia Blvd #3672, Valencia 661-255-0981 Grilled Cheese Factory 24201 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-888-1508 The Habit 25948 N. McBean Parkway, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-291-1575 JJ’s Bar and Grill 25848 Tournament Road, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-799-7557 Noah’s 25910 The Old Road, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-254-9474 Panera Bread 24133 Baywood Lane, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-287-3900 Panini Palace 23120 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita 661-678-0552 Route 66 Classic Grill 18730 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (Canyon Country) 661-298-1494 Rustic Burger 24025 Newhall Ranch Rd, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-254-1300

Rustic Eatery 25343 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia 661-254-8100 Submarina California Subs 26517 Carl Boyer Drive, Santa Clarita (Canyon Country) 661-259-4782 Telly’s Diner 27125 Sierra Highway, Santa Clarita (Canyon Country) 661-250-0048 Tiny’s Submarine Sandwiches 27251 Camp Plenty Road, Santa Clarita (Canyon Country) 661-251-5885

CHINESE A&B Chinese Express 27051 McBean Parkway, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-288-2683 China Express 19417 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (Canyon Country) 661-251-8783 Genghis Khan 24506 W. Lyons Avenue, Newhall 661-254-0351 Golden Wok Restaurant 16668 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (Canyon Country) 661-424-0888 Grand Panda 23802 Lyons Avenue, Santa Clarita (Newhall) 661-253-1898 27924 Seco Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (Saugus) 661-297-9868 Mandarin Wong Chinese Restaurant 23758 Lyons Avenue, Santa Clarita (Newhall) 661-259-5823 Moon Wok 23460 Cinema Drive Suite H, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-288-1898 New Moon 28281 Newhall Ranch Road, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-257-4321 Pei Wei Asian Diner 24250 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-600-0132 Pick Up Stix 25960 The Old Road, Santa Clarita (Stevenson Ranch) 661-288-2090 WaBa Grill 19120 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (Canyon Country) 661-367-7297 31739 Castaic Road, Castaic 661-295 9222

M A R C H 31, 2019

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

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

DELICATESSEN Bob’s Country Meats 19012 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (Canyon Country) 661-251-5995 Cathy’s Delicatessen 23120 W. Lyons Avenue, Santa Clarita (Newhall) 661-288-2217

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 29

INDIAN An Indian Affaire 23360 W. Valencia Boulevard, Valencia 661-288-1200

Achita Sushi 22913 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita 661-476-5522

Karma Restaurant, Bar & Lounge 23460 Cinema Drive, Valencia 661-288-0080

Akasaka Sushi 28050 Hasley Canyon Road, Castaic 661-257-6661

Parashar’s Indian Kitchen 28112 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (Saugus) 661-263-2300

Aomori 18242 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country 661-251-5733

Royal Tandoor 26532 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita 661-263-7100

ITALIAN

Dave’s Full Service Meats 25675 Bellerive Drive, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-259-3597

Bella Cucina Ristorante Italiano 27911 Seco Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (Saugus) 661-263-1414

Dink’s Deli & Bagel Bakery 25860 McBean Parkway, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-284-6057

Bella Cucina Ristorante Italiano 27911 Seco Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (Saugus) 661-263-1414

Maria’s Italian-American Deli 22620 W. Lyons Avenue, Santa Clarita (Newhall) 661-259-6261 Mariciano’s Chicago Style Deli 18635 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (Canyon Country) 661-299-1100 Piccola Trattoria Italian Deli 18302 W. Sierra Hwy Cyn, Santa Clarita (Canyon Country) 661-299-6952 Sandwich Shop 25530 W. Avenue Stanford, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-257-4811

Buca di Beppo 26940 Theater Drive, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-253-1900

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

GREEK Athena’s 18853 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country 661-251-8442 Gyromania 20655 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita 661-252-4976

JAPANESE & SUSHI

Italia Panetteria & Deli 27674 Newhall Ranch Rd, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-294-9069 Maria’s Italian-American Deli 22620 Lyons Avenue, Santa Clarita (Newhall) 661-259-6261 Numero Uno Pizza 26111 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita 661-252-5011 Olive Garden 27003 McBean Parkway, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-799-8161 Piccola Trattoria 18302 Sierra Highway, Santa Clarita (Canyon Country) 661-299-6952

Asako Sushi 27540 Sierra Hwy, Canyon Country 661-251-6010 Azabu Sabo 24201 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Santa Clarita 661-288-2688 Bonsai Garden 19358 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country 661-251-9008 Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ Dining 27025 McBean Pkwy, Valencia 661-254-2355 Kabuki 24045 Newhall Ranch Rd, Valencia 661-799-8655 Kisho Japanese Teppan Grill & Revolving Sushi Bar 23430 Valencia Boulevard, Valencia 661-284-3856 My Hot Pot 26238 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita 661-288-1998 Sushi Song Japanese Restaurant 22896 Copper Hill Dr, Santa Clarita 661-297-5659 Yamato Restaurant 24947 Pico Canyon Road, Stevenson Ranch 661-799-0707

KOREAN & MONGOLIAN

Presto Pasta 24375 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Valencia 661-284-7737

Charcoal Korean BBQ Restaurant 19158 Soledad Canyon Rd, Canyon Country 661-251-9292

Sisley Italian Kitchen 24201 W. Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-287-4444

Flame Broiler 18519 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita 661-252-5918

Spumoni Restaurant 24917 W. Pico Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (Stevenson Ranch) 661-799-0360

Gogi House 26524 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (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 Boulevard, Valencia 661-254-2307

MEDITERRANEAN Cafe O 20655 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (Canyon Country) 661-424-0401 Flame & Skewers 25870 McBean Parkway, Valencia 661- 661-799-7538 Grill Kabob 27653 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita (Saugus) 661-263-7445 The Grill 16522 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (Canyon Country) 661-673-5999 Kebab House 24201 Valencia Blvd, Valencia 661-799-5844 Manoushee Mediterranean Restaurant 27131 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita (Canyon Country) 661-251-6666 Olive Terrace Cafe 28261 Newhall Ranch Road, Santa Clarita (Valencia) 661-257-7860 Zankou Chicken 24463 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Valencia 661-705-7265

MEXICAN Betito’s Mexican 18902 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country 661-251-0557 Burrito Factory 23029 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country 661-288-0222 Cabo Cabana Restaurant 25710 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch 661-222-7022 Dario’s Mexican Restaurant 24523 Newhall Avenue, Newhall 661-255-6868 La Charrita Restaurant 24225 Main St, Newhall, CA 91321 661-288-1204 La Cocina Bar & Grill 28022 Seco Canyon Road, Saugus 661-297-4546

Rosarito Fresh Mexican Grill 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia 661-295-1989 Rosarito Grill 19425 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country 661-251-2732

PERSIAN Persia Lounge & Restaurant 24328 Main Street, Newhall 661-259-4100

PIZZA

Chi Chi’s Pizza 27117 Sierra Highway, Canyon Country 661-252-4405 23043 Soledad Canyon Road, Saugus 661-259-4040 Guido’s Pizza & Pasta 26322 N. Friendly Valley Parkway, Newhall 661-252-4111 Magic Pizza SCV 26870 The Old Rd, Stevenson Ranch 661-291-1921 Mama Mia Pizza 25708 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch 661-286-9183 Mr. Hand Tossed Pizza & Pasta 18921 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita (Canyon Country) 661-299-4833 Nick-N-Willy’s 26870 The Old Road, Valencia 661-291-1921 Numero Uno Pizza 26111 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus 661-259-3895 Pizza Di Marco 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia 661-295-8769 Tomato Joes 19167 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita 661-250-7550

THAI Mom Can Cook Thai Kitchen 18358 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country 661-251-8103 Original Thai BBQ Restaurant 27530 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia 661-257-6421

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

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M A R C H 31, 2019

FOOD

Noche Azul is a mix of food and art with a purpose By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

rt isn’t just prominent in the name — it’s in the food, across the walls and in their story. Coming to the Santa Clarita Valley by way of Simi Valley, the Servantes family took a chance in starting a new chapter, to bring the SCV a Mexican restaurant that promises to offer a unique cultural experience. Noche Azul, located at 23115 Lyons Ave. in Newhall, might be easy enough to miss when driving down the road, but unforgettable the moment you step inside. The restaurant mixes Spanish, Moroccan, Aztec and Mayan features through a decor that includes arched entryways, Spanish-style columns, ironwork and an Aztec calendar currently being painted onto the ceiling. “If I’m going to do something, it has to be something different and not your typical Mexican restaurant,” owner William Servantes said. “There’s nothing wrong with being typical, but we wanted to bring a new vibe.” Servantes pauses and holds his wife, Elizabeth, and daughter Danielle, who help him run the business, adding he “has a purpose. I have a purpose for this place to also be an art gallery.” Ever since he was in grade school, Servantes was known as an artist. Art is his passion, particularly painting landscapes. He knew he had to incorporate his work somehow within the restaurant. And he did. Spread across one of the restaurant’s walls is a massive landscape of a paradise-like destination with rich waterfalls and foliage. Other walls are adorned by large portraits of music legends such as Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie and Prince, not in flesh but in skull candy versions of the artists. These and other works also are available for sale at Noche Azul, where a portion of proceeds go directly to organizations such as City of Hope, Los Angeles Children’s Hospital and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for cancer research. “I’m a believer in supporting that

Top Left: Noche Azul owners William, Elizabeth (center) and daughter Danielle Servantes mix food and art at their new Mexican restaurant in Newhall. PHOTOS BY TAMMY MURGA / THE SIGNAL Above and Left: William Servantes is not only the owner of restaurant Noche Azul, he’s an artist who sells his work in the locale. A portion of proceeds goes toward cancer research.

kind of cause because I was threatened with AML (acute myeloid leukemia),” said Servantes. “I was given three or six months to live when I was diagnosed 17 years ago. I thought I was pretty much done, but I had faith that this thing wasn’t going to beat me.” Doctors told him that after seven years of no re-occurrence, he would most likely be free of cancer. Today, Servantes feels stronger and excited about a new outlook in life alongside his business partners: his family and friends. “We’re really proud of my husband. He’s come a long way,” said Elizabeth as she holds her husband’s hand.

“(The restaurant is a) celebration to help us grow closer as a family,” Danielle said, “and create a chain-like reaction in the food industry and to local businesses around about giving back.” Aside from art on the walls, customers receive masterpieces on their plates, too. Noche Azul chef Juan Perez worked with the family to bring a unique Mexican menu to Santa Claritans focus on flavor and delivery using fresh and natural ingredients. Customers can expect to receive plates full of color, much like Servantes’ artwork. The Chicharrones A La Azul dish is a perfect example. The fried pork skins stand

out, alongside a mixed selection of pickled nopales and red onions, smoked tomatillo sauce, guacamole and guava preserve. Or the Pato con Mole Rojo, which is duck leg confit with spicy red mole, cipollini onions and roasted cauliflower. “We wanted flavor, texture, color on our food,” said Servantes. “When you see a plate, you will eat that plate with your eyes first.” Since opening on Jan. 24, Noche Azul has left multiple customers impressed, said Elizabeth. There’s still a lot the business will incorporate, such as a paint-and-drink event on April 1, but they’re happy with their start, the family said.  Noche Azul is located at 23115 Lyons Ave, Newhall, and its website is nochezsulrestaurant.com.

M A R C H 31, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 31

H E A LT H & F I T N E S S

Energy can be gained through food, exercise By Brennon Dixson Signal Staff Writer

ith winter in the rearview mirror and spring time upon us, many Santa Clarita Valley residents are feeling affected by a tiresome routine of work, school and responsibilities. As a result, some will turn to energy drinks, coffee or other caffeinated beverages in an effort to make it through the day. Energy drink companies often promote their product by promising hours of energy, increased focus and other benefits that make them a popular draw to teens, adults and even seniors. However, doctors and fitness experts agree that the same potent ingredients that promise to boost one’s vitality can also lessen their energy level and sometimes worse. Energy is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity, and results when the body ingests carbohydrates and other nutrients. “The energy produced by our bodies is used to break down food for digestion and other actions that we naturally do without a thought, including breathing and managing our heart beat,” said Maria McIntosh, a clinical nutrition manager at the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. “One of the things that I find very interesting is, quite often, if we’re sitting at our desk and we’re hitting a wall, a lot of times it’s not because we’re tired or hungry,” McIntosh said. “Sometimes it’s something as simple needing a drink because you’re dehydrated, and other times it can be solved by taking a 5-minute walk around the block or getting out of the office.”

Energy through nutrition

“Obviously, some foods give you more energy than others,” McIntosh said in an interview Monday. “But you want to look at your choices as being good from all aspects. It’s good to think: ‘In the long run, what’s a healthier option?’” Foods rich in carbohydrates will provide the most energy, she said, mentioning there are healthier carb

Energy through nutrition and exercise.

options and less healthy carb options. “But we need a balance of other things, too — like protein.” A balanced meal includes servings of fruits, vegetables, proteins and grains, according to choosemyplate.gov, because your body needs nutrients like vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates to power itself throughout the day. McIntosh said foods that are digested slowly tend to be better absorbed and processed by the body, meaning more energy is provided. Drinking water and eating foods that contain fluids in them are also a sound idea. They possess a high percentage of water compared to processed foods like chips and crackers, “so include them as snacks throughout the day,” McIntosh said. “Oatmeal, potatoes (and) brown rice are other examples that would certainly be better than drinking soda — for the reason that they are slowly absorbed and have vitamins and minerals as well,” the clinical nutrition manager said. “It’s also good to eat every three to four hours because you never want your body to be on empty. Think of it like filling a gas tank for your car: When you’re driving without enough gas, it’s going to ruin the engine.”

Energy from activity

“It’s easy to say, ‘I’m going to get a Red Bull,’” McIntosh said, “but if you really want to sustain your energy levels, then there are a number of better options you can choose. ’’ Again, there are a lot of other reasons why one may be feeling tired, McIntosh said. “It’s not always because we’re lacking food energy, and

PHOTO CREDIT DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

that’s another reason why just relying on soda, caffeine or energy drinks in general isn’t always the best choice.” They seem like a better idea in the short term, according to McIntosh, “but they tend to mess with your sleep pattern and can cause heart palpitations, anxiety or make you jittery.” Speaking from personal experiences, McIntosh said, “Adolescents really want to watch those energy drinks

because they’re more likely to have negative impacts from the caffeine. Especially when they are trying to get through the cramming sessions.” Instead, people — both young and old — should avoid skipping meals, leaving the house without breakfast and going all day without eating. “These are all things we know are good for us, but we might not always follow through on them.”McIntosh said. “Being more active almost always helps you sleep better and more efficiently,” according to McIntosh, but everybody is different, so caffeinated energy drinks may not always the same effect on every individual, “You’re body is going to want the recovery time so you’re going to sleep better since it needs the rest,” she said. “It’s quality over quantity.” And that goes for both food and rest. 

Facts about energy drinks Consuming energy drinks raises important safety concerns:

• A single 16-oz. container of an energy drink may contain 54 to 62 grams of added sugar; this exceeds the maximum amount of added sugars recommended for an entire day. • Between 2007 and 2011, the number of energy drink-related visits to emergency departments doubled. In 2011, 1 in 10 of these visits resulted in hospitalization. • About 25 percent of college students consume alcohol with energy drinks, and they binge-drink significantly more often than students who don’t mix them. • The CDC reports that drinkers aged 15 to 23 who mix alcohol with energy drinks are four times more likely to binge drink at high intensity (i.e., consume six or more drinks per binge episode) than drinkers who do not mix alcohol with energy drinks. • Drinkers who mix alcohol with energy drinks are more likely than drinkers who do not mix alcohol with energy drinks to report unwanted or unprotected sex, driving drunk or riding with a driver who was intoxicated, or sustaining alcohol-related injuries. • In 2011, 42 percent of all energy drink-related emergency department visits involved combining these beverages with alcohol or drugs (such as marijuana or over-the-counter or prescription medicines. — National Institutes of Health.nih.gov.

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M A R C H 31, 2019

H E A LT H & F I T N E S S

Seniors keep moving with Sit N Be Fit classes By Michelle Sathe Signal Staff Writer

t’s 9:30 a.m. and the auditorium at the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center is swinging to the sounds of Elvis Presley. “I’m in love, I’m all shook up,” Linda Bennett sings along from the stage, demonstrating arm movements that correspond with each word. Even though the students in her Sit N Be Fit class are in chairs, there’s lots of moving and grooving going on. Maureen Griffin, 87, of Friendly Valley, has been coming for five months. She used to walk for exercise until a hip injury stopped her. “This really makes a difference,” Griffin said. “I’m gaining strength and feel terrific.” Keeping seniors healthy, engaged and mobile is the goal of Sit N Be Fit, which is taught Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the center. The class costs $2 each or $15 for a month.

Health and fitness instructor Linda Bennett leads the Sit N Be Fit class at the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center. PHOTOS BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

said. “It felt so good.” During her 30-minute classes, Bennett packs in as many real-world movements as possible with a series of exercises like “pick up suitcases” and “chopping wood.” She also adds in modified dance routines for students to memorize during the class. “Cross patterning helps to work both sides of the brain,” Bennett said. “There are just so many benefits to chair exercise.” According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the benefits of exercises for older adults include:

• Helps maintain the ability to live independently and reduces the risk of falling and fracturing bones. Olympio Mirandilla, 89, works out to the Elvis Presley music.

Bennett, an American Council on Exercise certified specialist, is the instructor, and has been teaching Sit N Be Fit for several decades after seeing a need for seniors in the community. “There were very few classes like it at the time,” she said. “This works for people with wheelchairs, who walk with a cane or walker, or have just had surgery or are going through physical therapy.” Sure enough, when Bennett was recovering from foot surgery several years, she attended a Sit N Be Fit class taught by a substitute instructor in order to stay in shape. “‘All I could do was a half hour,” she

• Reduces the risk of dying from coronary heart disease and of developing high blood pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes. • Can help reduce blood pressure in some people with hypertension. • Helps people with chronic, disabling conditions improve their stamina and muscle strength. • Reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression and fosters improvements in mood and feelings of well-being. • Helps maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints. • Helps control joint swelling and pain associated with arthritis. Unfortunately, the CDC also noted

that inactivity increases with age, with one in three men and one in two women over the age of 75 reportedly engaging in no physical activity at all. Caregiver Norma Tejada does everything in her power to make sure her 82-year old client, Maria Ortega of Valencia, does not fall into that category. She brings Ortega to class three times a week, occasionally helping her client sit up straight in her wheelchair to follow along to the routine. “Maria tries to use her walker but doesn’t really have balance. That’s why I bring her,” Tejada said. “This class is motivating. She woke up and was excited to come here.” Students can modify the exercises and amount of weights they choose to

lift, if any, to fit their physical ability. Fernando Sanchez, 82, of Canyon Country is one of the few men in attendance. He usually comes with his wife, Sylvia, who prefers the class to walking on cold days. “It keeps me moving. Otherwise, I’d just be sitting at home and watching TV,” he said. “It’s easier for me than walking.” The class raises their arms and stamps their feet as hard as they can to a rousing routine of “It’s Now or Never” as Bennett cheers them on. “Oh, you all look so good,” Bennett says. “Just remember, it’s now or never to get into shape.”  Sit N Be Fit is held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 am at the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center, 22900 Market Street, Newhall. For more information, call (661) 259-9444 or visit www.myscvcoa.org.

The benefits of ‘prebiotics’

hose poised to begin a health regimen that includes probiotics would be wise to also educate themselves about the closely named, yet vastly different, “prebiotics” that are also beneficial to health. Prebiotics are to probiotics what fertilizer is to a vegetable garden. Prebiotics are essentially a special type of soluble fiber that is used by the beneficial bacteria as fuel, advises the prebiotic supplement company Prebiotin. Examples of good sources of prebiotics include bananas, onions, garlic,

Jerusalem artichokes, apple skins, beans, and chicory root. The prebiotic fiber moves through the small intestine undigested and fermented until it reaches the large intestine. Once there, beneficial bacteria break it down and use it as food. Thusly, the prebiotics can then multiply readily and improve the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut. Eating prebiotic foods can fuel the process, but many probiotic supplements now have a combination formula that includes prebiotics in the recipe. 

M A R C H 31, 2019

A SECOND WIND

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 33

SENIORLIVING

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes By Mary Petersen Signal Staff Writer

was changing my grandson’s diaper last week. The little guy is 8 months old and is, as his onesie says, bald, unemployed and still living with his parents. So changing him is something we do a lot. And changing is something he does a lot. One day he loves butternut squash, the next day no. For a few months he sleeps great, then he’s up every hour. Sometimes if I don’t see him for several days, his features have changed so that I hardly recognize his sweet little face. I tell my daughter, if there is one thing that’s predictable, it’s that nothing is predictable. And it’s not just baby care-taking. Life is unpredictable on a daily basis. As much as we humans crave predictability, we can’t control the events in our lives. What’s more, life tends toward disorder. Not that I know anything about the laws of thermodynamics, but in a closed system, things tend toward randomness and chaos. It’s called entropy, and it means that left to its own devices, my garden will fall into a weedy, overgrown tangle of decay over time. Things naturally fall apart, so we have to keep putting energy into keeping them together. All this has the potential to make us anxious. Our brain doesn’t like uncertainty and we are hard-wired to resist it. Research shows that facing an uncertain outcome is more stressful than facing a predictable negative outcome. So as kooky as it sounds, wondering whether I’m going to get fired is more stressful than knowing I will be fired. We lean in toward certainty, even uncomfortable certainty, because the status quo is less threatening than the unfamiliarity of the unknown. Change involves letting go. Letting go evokes fear. Whereas certainty feels satisfying, change feels like pain to be avoided. It’s easier to stay with what we’re accustomed to rather than leap into the unknown and face risk,

even though these risks may provide opportunities. This is not to say that certainty or predictability is unwarranted. It’s essential for society to function properly. We need to be able to depend on certain things occurring routinely like drivers stopping at red lights, trash being collected weekly, and water coming out of the tap each day. Routine and consistency provide us a familiar kind of security so we can move through our days with some ease. Dogs generally behave like pets and not predators, and the sun comes up every day. We are comforted when McDonalds French fries taste exactly the same each time we visit. We like getting back on a schedule after the holidays or a long trip. Predictability is the balm that lubricates each day’s journey. So here’s our conundrum. We crave predictability, yet we must live in an unpredictable world where change is thrust upon us. David Bowie tells us in his song “Changes” to turn and face the strange. That’s about as instructive a guide as any to embrace the capricious nature of life with its perplexing, unexpected and sometimes extraordinary events. Turn and face. That’s what my little guy does, turn and face his ever-changing world. He tackles each day with wide-eyed curiosity, delighting in every strange experience. He eagerly scrutinizes each new object and investigates its taste and texture with a wide open and slobbery mouth. Life is a fascinating experiment for him. He’s my real life tutorial on embracing unpredictability. Things are destined to change and fall apart. It’s inevitable, but we can approach it with humor and curiosity. Our minds are flexible and can be trained to thrive in change. Realizing that it is an inherent part of life helps us maintain equilibrium in the dance between predictability and unpredictability. So with an open mind (and an open mouth) launch fearlessly into the challenges of the day.  Mary Petersen is a retired COC English instructor, a 30-year SCV resident and a senior citizen newbie.

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34 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M A R C H 31, 2019

ARTS

Rio Norte students create mural for Westfield wall By Patti Rasmussen Signal Staff Writer

t’s a project unlike any other they’ve ever done before. Consisting of 20 separate panels, seventh- and eighth-graders at Rio Norte Junior High have been asked to create a 6-foot-by-20-foot mural for a community wall at the Westfield Valencia Town Center. The artwork is still in the works at the entrance to the main mall building near The Shops at The Patios portion of the Town Center. Teacher Daryl Bibicoff brought this art project to his students as a way to teach collaboration, communication and expression. He gave the students some basic guidelines: The project must flow and the subject matter should be acceptable for a public display. Other than that, Bibicoff said, the students were on their own. Working in groups, students spread out on floors and table tops throughout the classroom. Several worked on colorful and whimsical designs while others sketched faces and landscapes. Not being able to put the pieces together while working was a challenge, they said, but it created exactly what their teacher had hoped for — students working together. Seventh-graders Audrey Kim and Amanda Lee, both 13, were painting what appeared to be the hairline of their subject. Kim said she always enjoyed her art classes, and this project in particular, because of the group effort.

Rio Norte Junior High School visual arts teacher, Daryl Bibicoff, center, watches seventh and eight-grade students as they work on their sections of a 20- x 6-foot mural to be displayed on the Westfield Valencia Town Center community art wall. PHOTOS BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

“We are only doing one piece and this will be so big,” Kim said. Bibicoff has been teaching art at Rio Norte for the past 27 years, and acknowledges a soft spot for the junior high school age. “You are getting them at an early stage of their creative life,” Bibicoff said. “They tend to be much more open-minded. They come (to Rio Norte) and it’s really the first opportunity to give them a chance to be creative.” Bibicoff was fairly young himself when he started drawing. Growing up in the San Fernando Valley, he enjoyed sketching as a child and took some private art classes.

Above: Rio Norte Junior High School seventh grader Sebastian Ramirez, 12, works on his panel while a group of eighth graders (Right) collaborate on their panels. Rio Norte Junior High School eighth-graders (from left) Fernanda Reyes, Skylar Yearicks and Dianna Muralet.

In his senior year at Polytechnic High school, Bibicoff would jump on a bus and travel across town to attend a 3-hour graphic design program at West Valley Occupational Center. In the afternoon, he would hop back on the bus and finish his high school classes. He attended California State University, Northridge and earned a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and a master’s degree in art. Bibicoff loves to share his passion for art with his students and tries to take them on field trips throughout the year. His class recently walked the downtown Los Angeles area, visiting museums and studios. He wanted to expose the students to a variety of cultural experiences including the downtown architecture.

Field trips can cost up to $2,400 to reserve buses and hire docents, so Bibicoff tries to find places that are much closer to home. Recently, the class visited the art department at College of the Canyons. He believes this generation of art students will make a change in the community and encourage others to appreciate all that art can bring to their lives. Art, he said, can tend to be somewhat scary to some, but it’s just a matter of being open-minded, much like his students today. “We are beginning to build a tremendous art culture (in Santa Clarita) and there is nothing to fear,” Bibicoff said. “This is a tremendous investment for our community.” He applauds the city for their commitment to art, pointing out several areas that art can be found, including the mall and the libraries. He thinks the Laemmle theater is a great asset for downtown Newhall. Once he retires from teaching, Bibicoff hopes to be more involved in the community art movement. He likes to tell his students that an appreciation of art will enhance their lives. “You can do art or you can have friends that do art,” Bibicoff said. “Either way, you can appreciate art and what it brings to your life.” The students will be completing their art project in the months of March and April, and hope to have it up at the Town Center by May. A reception is being planned and more information will be forthcoming, Bibicoff said. 

M A R C H 31, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 35

PALEO

Continued from page 6

year since. “It’s grown organically, mostly by word-of-mouth and social media,” she said. Like her clients, McPartlin also follows the paleo diet, which she started after years of dealing with autoimmune diseases. “It’s the approach that food is medicine,” she said. “Our food is all organic, made with nothing but good clean ingredients. It’s easily digestible and doesn’t inflame your system.” While McPartlin tries to eat 100-percent paleo, she tells her clients that moderation is key. “If you go 80 percent, you’ll still see the results,” she said. “It’s not hard, especially when you have food in the fridge. We fill the gap for people who are busy.” Greg Shamus, of Valencia, fits that description. He’s a single father and business owner who was starting to gain weight and lose sleep after entering his 50s. “I don’t cook at home, so I was looking for something that was easy and healthy,” Shamus said. Enter the paleo diet. When he first started, Shamus eating primarily paleo and purchased Plate Therapy on a consistent basis. He dropped 18 pounds and felt better. Now, Shamus estimates he eats about 60 percent paleo, which has

SURVIVOR

Continued from page 5

running into a therapy of determination and motivation to keep going and not look back at it.” Dolder says she had a tough time deciding how to show her dedication, but in the end, decided to write each victim’s name on a popsicle stick with “Borderline Strong” on the back. Every two miles, Dolder stopped and took a photo with the popsicle stick and the mile marker in the background. “I want to show dedication to the ones who didn’t make it,” Dolder said. “But the last mile is going to be dedicated to the survivors, because as survivors, we had to live through

allowed him to maintain an approximate 13-pound weight loss. “It became too much, so I had to do something different,” he said. “I still like to go out, plus I have a lot of lunch meetings, but when I’m not doing that, I have my fridge stocked at my store and house with healthy paleo food. I use it as a balance.” Not everyone is a fan of paleo. Jodi Dalyai, dietitian and community educator at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, said it has its deficiencies. “Probably the No. 1 concern is: We know that a high-meat, high-fat diet isn’t supportive of long-term health,” she said. “I would say that most people we personally counsel don’t show improvement in lipids. Their cholesterol is usually higher.” Another concern Dalyai stated is that by cutting out grains, many paleo followers aren’t getting enough of the fiber and nutrients in general. “People should have less processed foods and people that follow paleo

it and are going to have to live with it forever, so I thought they should be included, too.” Dolder believes she will always remember that night at Borderline, and says there are still times where she tenses up and thinks, “Am I safe tonight?” But she hopes that she can inspire others to also move on and keep going with life. “Those who are still struggling should keep reaching out to people and keep having a positive mindset,” Dolder said. “It’s hard when you continue to lock yourself up and let it get to your head more and more. Find something that you love and that will distract you and help you cope.” 

Chef Ubaldo Navarro mixes and steams vegetables at Plate Therapy in Santa Clarita. PHOTO BY AUSTIN DAVE / THE SIGNAL

often do that, but not at the detriment of cutting out beans and lentils or eating a lot of meat or fat every day,” she said. And for those with heart issues, paleo is definitely not a fit. “For heart health, it is recommended to decrease animal food intake and paleo is reliant on eating animal food daily, so it’s not recommended for someone who’s had a heart attack or

is at risk. A plant-based diet is much more beneficial,” Dalyai said. “For healthy eating in general, you have to have a balance.” Howard, however, feels following paleo is the healthiest option for her. “I believe food is medicine and fuel or it breaks down and causes disease,” she said. “Paleo is clean eating and allows me to feel good, not bloated and tired.” 

36 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

M A R C H 31, 2019

PROFILE

The rise and fall of William Mulholland By Signal Staff

xcept for the contributions of one man — William Mulholland — Los Angeles would be nothing more than an arid coastal basin surrounded by desert. Indeed, Santa Clarita would still be part of that desert. It was Mulholland, a self-taught, inventive engineer, who would devise a means of bringing water to southern California — a project that ranks in magnitude and daring with the Panama Canal. The Los Angeles Owens River Aqueduct is a man-made river that changed the face of southern California and much of the West. But even while Mulholland is responsible for Santa Clarita’s very existence, it would be the unforgiving geography of this valley that would eventually take the lives of over 500 people and destroy William Mulholland’s shining reputation and career. An Irish immigrant, William Mulholland rode into Los Angeles in

1877 on horseback from San Francisco. He wrote, “The Los Angeles River was a beautiful, limpid little stream, with willows on its banks … It was so attractive to me that it at once became something about which my whole scheme of life was woven, I loved it so much.” It was in Los Angeles where he would become the most significant

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Valley toward the Pacific Ocean, 54 miles away. Sixty-five miles of valley was devastated before it finally made its way to the ocean between Oxnard and Ventura. At its peak, the wall of water was said to be 78-feet high; influential figure to the by the time it hit Santa Paula, it was crucial development of estimated to be 25-feet deep. Almost the city. Eager for work, he was a hard worker who everything in its path was destroyed. moved up quickly from By the time it was over, parts of Venhis humble beginnings tura County lay under 70 feet of mud as a ditch tender. After and debris. a day’s work, he would More than 500 people were killed, study mathematics, hyand damage estimates topped, $20 draulics, geology and oth- million. The St. Francis Dam disaser subjects he would later ter became the largest catastrophic put to practical use. In 1902 when the event in the history of Santa Clarita, private water company Mulholland and the second largest disaster in the worked for formed the city-owned history of California behind the San Bureau of Francisco Water Works & earthquake. BUT IN THE END IT WAS Supply, he was It was the DETERMINED THAT THE named chief ruination DAM’S FAILURE WAS DUE TO A of William engineer. By 1904, the PALEOLITHIC LANDSLIDE, AND Mulholland. city’s water On the HIS DESIGN WAS VINDICATED needs were morning of IN 1992. becoming more the tragedy, apparent. To Mulholland help meet that need, Mulholland beand his deputy had noticed leaks in came the first American engineer to the dam, but declared it safe, stating use hydraulic sluicing to build a dam, that leaks are not unusual. The first of a new construction idea that attracted many investigators blamed Mulholnationwide attention. land, attributing the dam’s failure to Under his leadership, 5,000 men his error in judgment and trying to labored for five years to complete his hold him criminally responsible. But crowning achievement — the 238in the end it was determined that the mile aqueduct that stretches from the cause of failure was due to a PaleoOwens River to Los Angeles, providing water from springs and lakes fed by the lithic landslide that couldn’t have been detected with the technology Eastern Sierra Mountains. On Nov. 5, available in the 1920’s, and his design 1913, the Los Angeles aqueduct was was vindicated in 1992. In 1928, completed and opened; releasing its Mulholland then 73, retired and went first rush of water. With characteristic into isolation. He developed Parkinbrevity and lack of ostentation, Mulson’s disease and depression in those holland said, “There it is, take it.” following years and died in 1935. The response from the public was Despite the tragic incident of the overwhelming. Streets and buildings St. Francis Dam, William Mulholwere named after him and several land is still considered a brilliant public officials urged him to run for mayor. But little did he know that his man. No other man in the history of California did more to remedy the career would soon fall into devastawater needs of Los Angeles than this tion. The St. Francis Darn, built by Mul- devoted public serviceman. Without the additional water supply he delivholland in 1926, was 180-feet high and 600-feet long. It was located near ered, Los Angeles would have never become the shining metropolis it is Saugus in San Francisquito Canyon. today. William Mulholland is a man On March 12, 1928, three minutes of powerful vision who will always be before midnight, the dam failed. remembered.  Water swept through the Santa Clara Mulholland (left) with his chief engineer, Harvey Van Norman, just hours after the dam collapsed.

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S U N D AYS I G N A L · 37

DESIGN

Bathrooms are more than a room of necessity By Ken Dean Signal Contributing Writer

he bathroom has become a most vital and exciting facet of many remodeling and design schemes. It is no longer a room of relative unimportance. The bathroom is not simply a functional room. It is not simply a room off a bedroom, it is a room unto itself. The bathroom has become a dressing room, a fitness room and a retreat. For that matter bathrooms in hot tub, ceramic tile, stone, bamboo, many situations no longer look like plants, natural rock, mirrors, skybathrooms, they look like a grand lights. room. It is a spa-inspired luxurious In remodeling your bathroom, escape and retreat. what type would you like — a hisToday the and-hers bath, bathroom can be a private bath, a elegant, romantic THE BATHROOM IS AN semi-private bath and even senESSENTIAL PART OF or a family bath? suous. Lighting Give thought to and mirrors can TODAY’S HOME AND the following new play an essential SHOULD CATER TO items you would role in creating YOUR PERSONALITY, like: Type of the right mood. bathtub, soakYOUR COMFORT AND Luxurious mateing tub, vanity rials like marble ENJOYMENT. cabinets, faucets, and granite can toilet, washbasin bring beauty and (sink), mirrors, medicine cabinets, durability together. Rich textures and soothing mellow colors like light bidet, shower, shower doors, whirlpool tub, personal shower handle. green teal can bring about a relaxing Also, what type of floor would you retreat. The master bathroom is rich prefer; ceramic tile, marble, granite or in opportunities for the imaginative hardwood. designer and homeowner. Also, in the beginning planning the The bathroom is an essential part basics is essential. Doors: which way of today’s home and should cater they open, windows, heating outlets, to your personality, your comfort all the plumbing, tub, toilet, sinks, and enjoyment. In dealing with the cabinetry, shower doors and type elements of custom bath design give of glass, shower shelves and shower thought to the type of bathroom you head. would like. The following may help. Give thought also to the many First, there is “The Country Bath” options: Pull-out drawers in the base with rich wood, earth tones, ceramcabinet, lighting from multiple sourcic tile, arches, plain or fancy glass es, countertops at different heights, shower doors, oak cabinets, warm and darker colors. “The Garden Bath” comfort-height toilet, grab bars in the tub and shower areas, a walk-in showwith a gazebo/lanai effect, mirrors, er with little or no threshold, adjustpastel blue and green tones, bringing able-height hand held shower hose. the outdoors inside, stained or bevGoing back to the 1930’s 1940’s etc. eled glass, lattice, an enclosed outfreestanding bathtubs are once again door garden, skylights. “The Leisure popular with their hydrotherapy opBath” with a Japanese style bath tub, tions, and because of the introduction whirlpools, dry sauna, steam bath,

Today’s bathrooms are more than a room off the bedroom. They are a dressing room, a fitness room and a retreat.

of new devices that keep the water temperature so you can stay in the tub longer without having the water turn cold is a major feature, and with their many designs they are becoming the centerpiece and focal point of many master bathrooms. Because of the need to relax and recharge yourself these tubs are great for self care and your wellness. Also, soaking tubs are a new trend for your health and add style to the bathroom and can be placed basically anywhere in the bathroom from up against the wall to the middle of the room. In a master bathroom renovation, the master bathroom should have a grand entrance with all its luxuries. You will find that some luxuries will truly becomes necessities once you experience them. The more you encompass this newly created room the more you will embrace freedom from stress! So, create your perfect ambience. Heating coils under tile, marble, granite, etc. will give you a wonderful radiant floor. Make a shower also a steam room thereby having a steam-shower. And don’t forget having a seat or two. A towel warmer/ dryer or a heated towel rail is something you will love. Keeping with the

luxuries a personal sauna provides relaxation, relief for sore muscles and healthier skin in a limited space. Does your bathroom currently work well? Can you go into another area to enhance it, perhaps by eliminating a not needed second closet? Designing your bathroom without addressing cannot work for the overall look. Do you want neutral colors or tones of gray, or perhaps bold tones like the jewel tones. Since most bathroom floor areas are smaller than a kitchen floor area take into consideration the size of the tile you may want to use. Tiles sizes of 12” by 24” or 24” by 24” may work if the area allows for it. The thing to remember is will it fit without a lot of cuts which can throw the pattern and design of. As stated above, create your perfect ambience.  Ken Dean has been an award-winning professional interior designer, interior design teacher and writer for 40 years. His website is www. deaninteriordesign.com. He can be reached at (661) 251-0170

38 · S U N D AYS I G N A L

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Writer When fire steep emb fighters rappelle David A8 down the was foun La Vau who in had gone ankment to rescue dA5 side of d TODAY vine six dayin a 200-foot-de 2011SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBETODAY last week,over a precipice on a driver whose a car Sand Can off of Lak s after crashing ep ra2018 cupants hadthey learned that JULY TUESDAY, yon3, 2018 XXX, XXXDAY, Roa Friday his car e Tuesday -- Friday one d 75¢ Tuesday Hug , 75¢ unti of peo the l named Bel now, elud ple just how hes Road showed la. ed them car’s ochappy he be alive Weekender The dog $1 Weekender — a pup $1 Satu up for a cop rday as peoplewas to of the Ang was plucked from line eles y the of d Nat the wild ordeal. ple trained iona book abo ut his in helping l Forest by the environs His Heather very anim dau peoals. Today’s Forecast Forecast wrote a booghter, Lisa A. Way Stat Graham, an empToday’s Kerr, ed, day: The k callcom which winion on Little Tuj loyee of Wildlif 661-259-1234 661-259-1234 story of Dav“But Not Tochronicling arating theds its way throughunga Canyon Roa e id La d, experience her father’s nea Vau,” spotted the Santa Clarita Val the mountains sepDULCE r death AGUADULCE , the |fam | | AGUA VERDE VAL | VAL CASTAIC | CASTAIC RANCH ate|sear STEVENSONRANCH This afte puppy by itself ley from Sunland VALENCIA || STEVENSON ily’VERDE SAUGUS || VALENCIA NEWHALL || SAUGUS s desp ch COUNTRY || NEWHALL COUNTRY r CANYON CANYON , road to recoto find him and the erthe 3-montha frantic weeken in the rough terrain. d-long effo long very. On Saturday “Heather -old dog. rt to find was , she and her on held a boo Sand Can father yon Roa her way to work, k-signing Boo Deanna Arm d, when driv at k The ing stor Road at Whe on Soledad CanOpen Station, said bruster, spokeswshe found (Bella),on ” oman for “My dad ites Canyon Roa yon “She foll Monday. the Way said Monda is very humble, d. found a safeowed the dog and to see peo y. “He was so ” Kerr road,” she place to pull ove waited until she exc ple ran off a said. “She jum r to the side of “People at the book sign ited ped the bit. But, ‘Can I get just kept asking ing. she was able out and the dog la) down And, he my picture with him brought herand put her in the to calm her (Be lcar. And same ‘Th signed each boo you?’ By Jim Holt , then she The dog here.” Kerr said anks for the sup k the Signal Senior Staff Writer was desc , found within 24 . ribed as deh port,’” hou was brou She said ydrated and rs of the crash, ght David La Vau who in 2011 hungry whe “I was very of the book-si Rescue to safety. n it was found in a 200-foot-deep ratraffic com excited that thergning: owner on rs at the Way Stat vine six days after crashing his car there was ing in and out ande was pick up thesocial media and ion found the dog arranged ’s dog. off of Lake Hughes Road showed This boo ) a buzz about our (that for them k has touc book. to just how happy he was to people live hed a lot s. By Jim Holt be alive Saturday as people lined of “My mai Signal Senior Staff Writer up for a copy of the book about his ways bee n purpose has A tow truc k operato alordeal. See FOUND, When firefighters to forgiven to share with side of a theche down ter beingrappelled r wat peo A6 His daughter, Lisa A. Kerr, s ascara Toyo and, mos and also be forg ple, d abo a driver rescue to lifte ut 200whose Castaic on steep embankment ta t wrote a book called, “But Not TofeetRoad Sepon by a crane Corolla reaches theSignal file photo yourself.” of all, learn to forgiven Canyon Sand201 t. 30, had gone over a precipice on ive day: The story of David La Vau,” surf 1. DavidocLa Vau surv to Lake Hughes Roa ace aflast week, they learned that one of the car’s chronicling her father’s near death d nor th of ived the cras cupants had, until now, eluded them — a pup h. experience, the family’s despernamed Bella. ate search to find him and the long By Crystal The dog was plucked from the wild environs See LA VAU road to recovery. Duan peovery the by Forest Signal Staff , National A6 of the Angeles Writer On Saturday, she and her father Santa Cla ple trained in helping animals. rita’ held a book-signing at The Open s rate ecli the state employee of Wildlife Graham, A nationa ave Heather pses an Book store on Soledad Canyon two of as well as rage Road, Canyon 2.1 -bed week indi l study released Tujunga Little Station percon room in ent, is theWay cate Road at Whites Canyon Road. nationa Santasep$2,564, mountains theand growth rate s Santa Clarita’s this of 1.4 percent, which way through l its Cla winds ave rita rage “My dad is very humble,” Kerr but has dec Santa Clarita a one-bed 0.2 is $1,995. from now at 4.1 from year to yearrent compared to arating room cen percent, down This marSunland, ed crea Valley Monday. “He was so excited said last mon thereas by t, ks terrain. 0.04 rough the acco in se from last percent, a slight decl is renting platform a $4 inpuppy theonli spottedth, per- Salv rding to the ne by itselffor two-bed month’s 4.9 to see people at the book signing. ine reve Apaafter Onl room iati, an to find site effort increase rtmenta List weekend-long aled Mo This frantic $3 percent. Apa for a one s and a ies in y 21 of the 100 larg . “People just kept asking him y. from Jun The July ndathe -bedroom America est cit- housing economist. rtment List dog. e. I get my picture with you?’ median3-month-old hav ‘Can fall Mu e on seen San ch ove driving to rate forwas on her way r the past of rent “Heather Clawork, rita’s (Bella),” a monthta she And, he signed each book the year, thou s growth can the SCV’s rent month-to- an additional when rent chafound Sand Canyon Road, gh be attribute 24 saw nge forthe same ‘Thanks for the support,’” general gain JulyWay Deanna Armbruster, spokeswoman for is at such s of less than 1.0 modest in the growth in pop d to a Kerr said. as Santa Los Ang ulat percent, Station, said Monday. Clarita, said eles metro ion She said of the book-signing: area. Chris “She followed the dog and waited until she “I was very excited that there was found a safe place to pull over to the side of the traffic coming in and out and (that See RENT, A6 road,” she said. “She jumped out and the dog there was) a buzz about our book. ran off a bit. But, she was able to calm her (BelThis book has touched a lot of la) down and put her in the car. And, then she lives. brought her here.” “My main purpose has alThe dog, found within 24 hours of the crash, ways been to share with people, was described as dehydrated and hungry when it to forgive and also be forgiven was brought to safety. and, most of all, learn to forgive dog’s the found Station Way the at By Brenno Rescuers yourself.” n Dixson Signal Staff owner on social media and arranged for them to Signal file photo Writer pick up the dog. afA tow truck operator watches as a Toyota Corolla reaches the surface After hea lifted about 200 feet by a crane on to Lake Hughes Road north of ter being See LA VAU, A6 his fight ring about Carter By Danielle with San David La Vau survived the crash. See FOUND, A6 Sept. Kor30, and the rece filippo synSarkar, Castaic zhe2011. For Theon nyak drome Signal nt mill ment to fund his ion-dollar moveHyatt Reg clinical trial The crow , the nounced ency Valencia returns to d-pleasing Con has that anit cert will don dollar from s in the starting thisSanta Clarita for ate Park seri a viewing eve its upcoming fire every Concert weekend at Cen music-filled sum es works nt to the you mer, Castaic. ng boy from on by the s in the Park are tral Park. List “Our enti publicClarita Santa Cla free from July city of 0.2 percent, down by 0.04 per- Salviati, an Apartment eve ritaineveSanta eclipses 7 untitwo-bedroom moved by re staff was Santa Clarita’s rate l Aug. 25. and housing economist. ry Saturdaynts put By Crystal Duan Getpercent, according to the site. a one-bedroom ready to is The sho 2.1 Austin Dave nighcent, paper rega the article in Satudeeply In this May the state average ofkets t brea$2,564, Much of the SCV’s rent ws star largest citStaff Writer Signal k /The out , $4 a rdin grab t rday marks This 201 you $1,995. Sign is g Carter 7 p.m. Only 21 of the 100 average ’s on Pon 7 photo, Jenn some tast r lawn cha at inal (See addi the fight to to a as well as the national site and Sark y snac irs and blan tional phot a ies in America have seen rents growth can be attributed ifer Sarkar forkstwo-bedrooms crease listen to som decreased has but from percent, syndrome,”save him from San ar and a clin derosa Street in 1.4 os of -fall over the past year, though general growth in population this at released loca study signalsc national carr l ven CastaicA. The e of yourfor a one-bedroom ies her son ds com ical trial that v.com)to last ban $3 increase online month, ing to the sales coo said Natasha Zamfilippo favorite gen dors on- an additional 24 saw modest in the Los Angeles metro area. Car ter compared SarkarSanta Clarita’s rent indicates mig week Her Sau rdinator to ht fam bran e’s gus re help a June. ily raisyear hom tribute o, dev park. Apartmenta List brea from Car ter’srate at Hyatt platform Valencia. e is 8,4renting ed $97 Con growth elop fighfrom Reg certs in the kdown of Clarita’s month-to- gains of less than 1.0 percent, t agayear to 67 to getMonday. to contrib “We at Hyatt wou ency seizures muscle pains, revealed See RENT, A6 Sandecline Park:Santa each band perform is at such as Santa Clarita, said Chris slight at 4.1 percent, ainst filippo synd ute to this exp now ld like and then, ing at ncelastwou our parking The rome.July median rate for a month rent change for July fight by offe their mid ultimatel erie percent. 4.9 month’s from ld stru -to fund y, die ring Sark cture to the late July 7 nity to wat ar, Carter’ -teens, said Jenn in give Carter a clinical trial that a ifer ing Fourth ch fireworks this commuWanted As a resu s mother. “Over the chance at life. could upcomof July.” lineup of , a Bon Jovi tribute Childre draiser in lt, the family held been a gath years the structur the past a fungeles, the Concerts in the Park band, is first up Sanfilippon who are diagnos ering plac e has month with uno ban ed with goal to donate in . syndrome the (andbstructed view of e to have an a mill The rock d is made up of Based out of Los the the will like the festiviti ly Cur 501(c)(3) nonprof ion dollars to Zam fireworks) from playing to ’n’ roll group professional mus Anes it organiza e Sanfilip icians. bran Six Flag o said. po Founda tion views. Wa sold out venues had immense succ s,” tion, whi requests nted was finally and garnering rave ess, ch from age with the nts and created after num reWeather ban See prom . . . . . . . erou INDEX d on othe CARTER, . . . . . . . r projects oters who wor s A6 Lottery . . . . . . . . ked . . . . . . . . .

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A tale of two rescues

7 years later, crash survivor glad to be alive at daughter’s book-signing

Missing puppy found after having run away from scene of crash; animal was hungry, dehydrated when saved

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wth rate Faith above sta te avera ge Coupons Home Improvement Hya tt joins Carter’s Hotel pla Business News ns event proc to donate fight SCV’s ee child’s ba ds to tr ttle again It’s the Law Column Sanfilippo syndromest to the g ibute reats Concer ts set to retuin the Pa rk serie Right Here Right Now rn to Ce s nt ral Pa rk Color Comics

City’s rent growth rate above state average

9 1 9 1 d e h s i l b a Est

tribute Hyatt joins Carter’s fight SCV’s to the greats

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Hotel plans to donate event proceeds to child’s battle against Sanfilippo syndrome

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Concerts in the Park series set to return to Central Park

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to Signal orning subscribe r By Brennon Dixson Louis Ga Signal Staff Writer of Canyo rasi n Count ry After hearing about Carter Sarkar, his fight with Sanfilippo syndrome and the recent million-dollar movement to fund his clinical trial, the Hyatt Regency Valencia has announced that it will donate every dollar from its upcoming fireworks viewing event to the young boy from Castaic. “Our entire staff was deeply moved by the article in Saturday’s paper regarding Carter Sarkar and the fight to save him from Sanfilippo syndrome,” said Natasha Zambrano, sales coordinator at Hyatt Regency Valencia. “We at Hyatt would like to contribute to this fight by offering our parking structure to the community to watch fireworks this upcoming Fourth of July.” Children who are diagnosed with Sanfilippo syndrome will likely

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By Danielle Korzhenyak For The Signal

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Austin Dave/The Signal (See additional photos at signalscv.com)

home In this May 2017 photo, Jennifer Sarkar carries her son Carter to a to get on Ponderosa Street in Castaic. The Sarkar family raised $978,467 a clinical trial that might help Carter’s fight against Sanfilippo syndrome. develop muscle pains, experience seizures and then, ultimately, die in their mid-to late-teens, said Jennifer Sarkar, Carter’s mother. As a result, the family held a fundraiser in the past month with the goal to donate a million dollars to the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Cure Sanfilippo Foundation, which

would fund a clinical trial that could give Carter a chance at life. “Over the years the structure has been a gathering place to have an unobstructed view of the festivities (and fireworks) from Six Flags,” Zambrano said.

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July 7

Wanted, a Bon Jovi tribute band, is first up in the lineup of Concerts in the Park. Based out of Los Angeles, the band is made up of professional musicians. The rock ’n’ roll group had immense success, playing to sold out venues and garnering rave reviews. Wanted was finally created after numerous requests from agents and promoters who worked with the band on other projects. See CONCERTS, A8

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

Good morning to Signal subscriber Louis Garasi of Canyon Country

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M A R C H 31, 2019

S U N D AYS I G N A L · 39

GARDENING

Sharing the garden with your pets By Jane Gates Signal Staff Writer

ll too often, pet owners will allow their property to fall into disarray because it just seems impossible to grow a great garden with beloved, but oh-so-destructive pet cats or dogs pawing through the same space. With our mild climate, both humans and pets appreciate being able to spend a lot of time outdoors. There is no reason you can’t allow your pets to enjoy your yard and still have a beautiful garden. Yes, you do need to make a little extra effort to accommodate the needs of your animals when you design and construct your landscape. And you need to make provisions for not only an attractive appearance, but also for the safety of your pets. With a little extra planning you can have a beautiful, and pet-friendly, garden.

Dogs

Dogs need to run. They need to get exercise. And they need to have space to play. So design a garden with pathways that move through heavily planted areas. Carve out a passage that will follow along fences where dogs are likely to patrol. Clearly, the larger and more numerous your pets are, the more space they will want to trample. If you have larger dogs and sufficient property, design your pathways to expand into open areas. These areas can be covered with gravel,

lawn, pavers or cement and can provide double-duty as informal seating, reading, play or meditation patios when the dogs are not romping through them. Although your dogs will occasionally trespass on your gardens, more often than not, they will follow the route of least resistance — your paths and open areas. Filling the planted areas with dense, tough plant material will allow the gardens to tolerate a bit of abuse despite an occasional incursion. Look for plants that grow with woody stems and opt for drought-tolerant varieties. These kinds of eco-friendly plants grow the strongest in our chaparral climate and will better withstand pet damage. (Hint: Rosemary and lavenders not only are resilient, but pets return indoors smelling delightful after an encounter.) Urine can be a problem in the pet garden. Female dogs can create brown spots in lawns whereas male dogs naturally like to urinate up against anything that rises vertically. Offer your boys posts painted in decorative colors — away from your favorite plants and furniture. And teach your dogs to eliminate in areas of washable, gravel, cement, synthetic grass or decomposed granite. Spaces covered with permeable materials will also create excellent drainage in both our wet winters and irrigated summers.

Cats

Cater to the needs of your feline friends in the garden by building areas that will be easy for cats to dig. Our feline friends will use loose soil or sand for elimination. By building an attractive cat box section in your garden, you will entice cats away from spaces where you don’t want them going as well as making clean-up easier for yourself. (If you want to build a sandbox for your children, either fence it off from your cat, or use recycled shredded tires for fill instead of sand.) Flat areas where you don’t want your cat digging can be protected with a surface layer of hardware cloth or chicken wire. Wire protection will also help avoid damage done You can buy seeds and grow your own catnip by digging tree squirrels. or cat grass to keep your feline happy indoors or out. Offer your cats branches for

Both dogs and people love pools. But keep pets safe with barriers, gates or covers whenever no one is around to watch

sharpening claws and build high fences to encourage them to stay on your property. Plant catnip or catmint (both Nepeta species) to help them enjoy your garden. Nepeta plants grow exceptionally well in full sun and high temperatures. They are quite drought-tolerant, smell like mint and even bloom with decorative purple flower spikes.

All pets

Consider building a raised garden for delicate plants and vegetables. Design your planters to be decorative in form, materials and color. You might even add a water fountain placed as a central focal point encircled by edible raised garden plantings. Pets and wildlife will all appreciate the bubbling water on hot days. Provide outdoor pet beds in comfortable areas to dissuade them from using your favorite furniture. And do some research to avoid using poisonous plants or mulches like cocoa mulch that is toxic if eaten by dogs. Design your garden so it offers

shade and water in the summer heat and cozy protection for cool or wet winter weather. Make sure you do not leave pet food outdoors where it will attract raccoons, vermin and ants. And factor in all the attractive areas you want for yourself in your landscape. If necessary, use decorative fencing for areas you want to keep free of pets. Unless your property is fully protected, it is advisable to make sure any outdoor cats are safe inside before dusk. Even if you have good fencing to protect them from coyotes, bobcats and mountain lions, some of our larger owls can still carry off a good-sized cat. Small dogs are equally vulnerable. It is your job to keep your pets safe in your home environment, indoors or out. So long as you plan out your landscape carefully, you can make your pets happy and safe in your garden while creating a lovely space for you, your family and your friends to enjoy. 

INFORMATION MEETING

Monday April 8th 6:30pm

Thursday April 25th 8:30am

28310 Kelly Johnson Pkwy, Valencia, CA 91355 TrinityClassicalAcademy.com | (661)296-2601

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M A R C H 31, 2019

R E A L E S TAT E

Understanding Mello-Roos By Ray Kutylo Signal Contributing Writer

hen purchasing your new home, your future monthly payments will be made up of principle, interest, real property taxes and insurance, but you may also be obligated to pay a tax for the Community Facilities District, otherwise known as a Mello-Roos District. This is an area where a special tax is imposed on those real property owners, where the district has chosen to seek public financing through the sale of bonds for the purpose of financing certain public improvements and services, which may include streets, water, sewage and drainage, electricity, infrastructure, schools, parks, and police and fire protection for newly developing areas. The tax you pay is used by the district to make the payments of principal and interest on the bonds. Mello-Roos is not included within the Proposition 13 tax limits. In 1982, legislation was passed that enabled local government with this additional financing tool for both services and facilities in areas experiencing new growth. The list of possible services and facilities is extensive, but in our area, it’s generally for infrastructure. Mello-Roos taxes are typically collected with your general property tax bill, and are subject to the same penalties that apply to regular property taxes. Most special taxes levied on properties with these districts have been structured on the basis of density of development, square footage

of construction, or flat acreage charges. The legislation allows for considerable flexibility in the method of apportionment of taxes by local agencies however. The amount of tax may vary from year-to-year, but may not exceed the maximum amount specified when the district was created. The special tax is a lien on the property, and is assessed against the land, but is not based on the value of the property, therefore, the possible increased value of the property over time does not affect the amount of the tax when the property is sold. When shopping for a home, many potential buyers are ‘Mello-Roos sensitive,’ because let’s face it, nobody wants to pay more. However, roads, sewers, street lighting, utility services, among other things have to be paid for somehow, especially in areas such as ours where suburban crawl and expansion is a real thing. There are areas of newer development in our area that have Mello Roos assessments, and many areas that do not. If you are unsure as to whether a property you are considering has Mello Roos or not, ask your Realtor® for a current copy of the property’s tax bill, since assessments, if any, may vary.  Ray “the Realtor” Kutylo is the team leader of the SCV Home Team at Keller Williams VIP Properties. The Team brings experienced and professional service, commitment and value to every transaction, whether you are a home buyer or seller. Ray can be reached at (661) 312-9461 or by email at rkutylo@gmail.com. The views expressed are his own and not necessarily those of The Signal. CA DRE 00918855

SANTA CLARITA VALLEY CLOSED SALES 3/16/19 TO 3/22/19 AREA/St#

St Name

Sold Price

SqFt/Source

CANYON COUNTRY 20049 18802 18756 27659 26964 20362 26921 27657 18120 18106 18818 29253 18617 29651 30034 19603 26866 18906 29935

Canyon View DR Mandan ST #909 Mandan ST #1514 Ironstone DR #2 Flo LN #322 Rue Crevier #607 Flo LN #202 Ironstone DR #6 Flynn DR #61509 Flynn DR #4408 Aphrodite LN Snapdragon PL Fairweather ST Abelia RD Caryford RD Steinway ST Albion WAY Nadal ST Violet Hills DR

$179,500 $270,000 $280,000 $305,000 $315,000 $326,000 $352,000 $370,000 $380,000 $392,250 $403,333 $415,000 $460,000 $475,000 $500,000 $505,000 $512,000 $513,000 $550,000

1825/S 866/A 850/A 1127/A 1064/A 1003/A 1107/A 1268/A 1225/A 1419/A 1759/A 1572/A 1120/A 1362/A 1563/A 1440/A 1817/A 1628/A 1322/A

AREA/St#

15642 19007 15675 26852

St Name

Sold Price

SqFt/Source

Poppyseed LN Saddleback Ridge RD Poppyseed LN Canyon End RD

$585,000 $615,000 $620,000 $970,000

2176/A 1971/O 2376/O 4021/A

Flowers CT Atwood BLVD Crystal Springs CT Via Ott San Marino CT Oakhurst DR Lloyd Houghton PL Newhall AVE

$291,000 $475,000 $475,000 $570,000 $591,000 $637,500 $640,000 $665,000

1118/AP 1182/A 1296/A 2125/A 2291/A 2467/A 1690/A 1574/A

Mirabelle Propello DR Alamogordo RD Los Rogues DR Boxwood LN Fenwall DR Julia LN Starwood PL Bension DR Bouquet Canyon RD

$377,777 $495,000 $515,000 $535,000 $547,500 $572,000 $640,000 $775,000 $808,990 $840,000

1121/ 1719/A 1376/A 1303/A 1450/A 1463/A 2879/A 3864/A 4517/B 2416/A

$389,000 $550,000 $608,000 $747,000 $755,000 $815,000 $1,015,000 $1,030,000

964/A 1841/A 1803/A 2135/A 2486/A 2531/A 4219/A 4219/A

$342,500 $345,000 $375,000 $380,000 $460,000 $473,188 $475,000 $475,000 $480,000 $561,000 $570,000 $575,000 $633,000 $679,900 $720,000 $740,000 $765,000

1041/A 925/A 1000/A 863/A 1660/A 1434/B 2137/A 1080/ 1556/A 1651/A 1452/A 2034/A 1900/A 2877/A 2784/A 2796/A 2400/E

NEWHALL 19342 25107 19628 19865 19431 23714 23540 23645 1/2

SAUGUS 28446 22107 22139 22416 22812 22603 20337 29154 19183 28809

STEVENSON RANCH 25114 25803 25740 25512 26053 25513 25426 25623

Steinbeck AVE #G Dickens CT #2 Wordsworth LN Clemens CT Salinger LN Longfellow PL Autumn PL Morning Mist DR

VALENCIA & WESTRIDGE 25718 24141 24129 26963 23818 28664 29269 23054 24128 22958 22946 24660 23850 28384 23226 29085 25906

Hogan DR #C3 Del Monte DR #239 Del Monte DR #157 Hillsborough #68 Toscana DR Jardineras DR Rio Lobo WAY La Granja DR Victoria LN #40 Vista Delgado DR Las Mananitas DR Brighton DR #C Robindale PL Vista Del Rio DR Cicely CT Sterling LN Bellis DR

M A R C H 31, 2019

Give your mind a workout with these brainy exercises!

BRAINGAMES

Relax

S U N D AYS I G N A L Î&#x2021; 41

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CROSSWORD TIME

M A R C H 31, 2019

THE VILLAGE IDIOT

Putting it all together By Jim Mullen Signal Contributing Writer

y new wardrobe arrived in 12 different boxes — boxes for the sides, boxes for the drawers and boxes for the shelves. This thing was going to be huge when it was finally put together, but at last, I’d be organized. No more digging around in different dressers and bureaus for socks and underwear. For what seems like years, my clothes dryer has been one of my storage places. Is that any way for a grown-up to live? No. The time has come to clean up my act. Finally, everything will be put in its proper place. T-shirts, underwear, socks and jeans in one place, everything else to the Salvation Army Store. What they don’t tell you when you buy furniture online is that you will need tools to put it together. Me, I’m not really a tool guy. It took me two hours to find a screwdriver. It was in the dryer. Go figure. Why is the stuff you need always in the last place you look? The instructions were 12 pages long. Actually, they were one page long — one page each in 12 different languages. Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Hebrew, Arabic and English. But the English instructions were written by someone who wasn’t a native speaker. Someone from a foreign country — England maybe. I knew all the words, but they didn’t seem to go together in the right order. Good news! There are pictures of what to do! Who needs written instructions; it’s all very simple. There are pictures of which screw to use where. Except that the picture of this screw looks exactly like the picture of the three other types of screws. No, not exactly alike. Some of the screws have tight threads, and some have loose threads. Some use a regular screwdriver; the others use a Phillips head. This is way more complicated than leaving my clothes in the dryer. I’d send the whole thing back, but

I’ll never figure out how to put all these pieces back in the boxes. Maybe I should have opened them as if they were Christmas presents, gently and slowly, instead of tearing them apart at the seams. I can’t even put my clothes in the empty boxes now. Screaming in frustration will surely help. And it did. My neighbor Charlie showed up wearing a tool belt. He came over wondering if I had accidentally cut off a finger or just tripped over a cat. Sometimes it sounds the same. “Oh, that looks like fun,” he said, looking at the pile of lumber and parts on the floor as if I had just purchased a giant toy we were now going to play with. Within minutes he had the sides and back together without even looking at the instructions. I never asked, but maybe he’s from England or Sweden or Arabia — someplace where all this makes perfect sense. “I didn’t know you owned enough clothes to need one of these things,” he said as he was snapping together the last of the drawers. “I thought you’d just buy another dryer if you ever bought anything new.” “What are you talking about? I buy new things.” Well, not recently but ... “Sure you do,” said Charlie. “So what if all those bands on your T-shirts split up years before I was born.” “I don’t just have old concert T-shirts. I have some from radio stations and bars.” “None of which still exist,” Charlie said. “You could donate them to the Smithsonian. They love that oldtimey stuff.” “There’s a tie in there somewhere. I think.” Within minutes the wardrobe was finished. I helped Charlie stand it up and move it against the wall. “Do you want me to show you how to fold your T-shirts, or can you do that by yourself?” he asked. “I think I can figure it out,” I said. “Or you could put them on coat hangers.” “What are coat hangers?”  Contact Jim Mullen at mullen.jim@ gmail.com.

The Gnomes are coming April 13th! Castaic Lake Dam Run and Gnome Festival

Schedule of Events: Marathon 7am- Half around Castaic Lake & Dam 7:30am- 5k around Castaic Lake 8am- Lyons Pancake Breakfast Garden & Vendor 8am- Beer Booths Opening 9am- Runner Awardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Presentation 10:30am- Kids & Family Gnome Parade 10:45am- Gnome Costume Contest 11am- Live Music Begins

7:15pm- Family movie night

Brought to you by Castaic Town Council and

Sherlock Gnome

SignalSCV. com

Introducing the brand new A-Class by Mercedes-Benz

Imagine your world completely under your control. Mercedes-Benz already has. They call it the 2019 A-Class. A Mercedes-Benz that listens to you, anticipates your needs and can fulfill your requests with natural voice recognition.