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DECEMBER 21, 2025

Your News, Entertainment & Lifestyle Source

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LET IT SNOW!

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WHAT ARE THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

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DOCTOR RECOMMENDED HEALTH RESOLUTIONS

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DECEMBER 21, 2025

TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS FEATURES

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FROM THE CITY MANAGER

8

FOOD

9

ENTERTAINMENT SENIOR LIVING

10 11

HOME

12

HEALTH

13

GARDENING

14

GIVING GUIDE RESOLUTIONS

15 20

PETS

21

PUZZLES OPINION

22 23

4 Let it Snow!

6 What is the 12 Days of Christmas?

7 The 12 Days of Christmas Price Index 19 Christmas Movies That Are Streaming Now 8 Happy Holidays, Santa Clarita

9 Grazing and Gifting Scallops with Florida Grapefruit Butter Florida Citrus Vinaigrette

11 Finding Quality Surgical Care is Easier Than Ever Before 12 Disaster Preparedness 13 The Heart-Body Connection 14 Gen Z Turns Houseplant Craze into a Lifestyle Trend

20 Doctor Recommended Health Resolutions for 2026 21 Update Your Pet’s Health and Wellness Routine

23 David Hegg SINCE 1919

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Richard Budman Doña Uhrig Tim Whyte

Publisher Sunday Signal Editor Signal Editor

Sales Representatives Maureen Daniels • Walter Portillo

25060 Avenue Stanford, Suite 141

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Valencia, CA 91355

The entire content of the Sunday Signal is copyrighted 2025 by Paladin Multi-Media Group, Inc. All submitted letters and columns are strictly the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the publisher. All rights are reserved and no part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. If you would not like this delivered to your home, please call (661) 259-1000.

D E C E M B E R 21, 2025

S U N D AY S I G N A L · 3

F E AT U R E

Hoping for a California Winter Wonderland

Let It Snow!

By Michele E. Buttelman Signal Staff Writer

W

hile it is still early in the ski season, the forecast for 2025-26 is predicting warmer than average temperatures and a higher-than-normal chance of below normal snowfall, especially in the prime ski areas of the Sierra Nevada. The cul-

prit, as usual, is that pesky La Nina, which brings warmer rain to the area.

Currently, some California ski resorts are open, although many have only a few slopes in operation and limited ski lifts running. Some resorts have pushed their expected opening dates to the end of December and beyond.

Last winter, California’s ski resorts enjoyed a season that lasted 140 days (4.6 months) on average.

That’s 24 percent more ski days than the average at U.S. resorts.

In 2025 off-season investment upgrades surged.

This winter, skiers will find revamped restaurants, improved snowmaking capacity, more efficient shuttle services and parking systems and an increased number of special events throughout California ski resorts.

Here’s a look at what’s new.

Bear Valley Mountain Resort

2280 CA-207, Bear Valley 95223 Info www.bearvalley.com This season offers a more efficient shuttle service to speed up the commute from the parking lot to the slopes, new terrain park features, electronic day-use lockers and additional cafeteria seating. Bear Valley Lodge has revamped two dining venues: Grizzly Lounge now serves Cajun-inspired fare and creative cocktails; Creekside Bistro delivers a modern steakhouse menu.

Big Bear Mountain Resort The gondola rides at Mammoth. ©SHUTTERSTOCK

4 · SUNDAYSIGNAL

880 Summit Blvd., Big Bear Lake 92315 Info www.bigbearmountainresort.com Each of Big Bear’s three mountains, Snow Valley, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain, has benefited from major capital improvements in the past few DECEMBER 21, 2025

F E AT U R E years, including Bear Mountain’s Midway highspeed six-passenger chairlift. This year, both Snow Valley and Snow Summit will offer night skiing under the lights on select dates.

China Peak Mountain Resort

59265 CA-168, Lakeshore 93634 Info www.skichinapeak.com Seventy miles northeast of Fresno, China Peak has invested in new parking lot shuttles, a dedicated learning area and an affordable, all-inclusive “First Turn” program for beginners. It also is offering two new food venues: a coffee bar at Sully’s Pub and snack shack at Basecamp. The day lodge will feature live music every Saturday and Sunday.

Heavenly Mountain Resort

Main Base 3860 Saddle Rd., South Lake Tahoe 96150 Info www.skiheavenly.com Celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, Heavenly will host dozens of events, including the Toyota Air & Après competition Feb. 27-March 1. The Lake Tahoe Celebrity Banked Slalom returns in April.

Homewood Mountain Resort

5145 West Lake Blvd., Homewood 96141 Info skihomewood.com Tahoe’s favorite West Shore resort did not open last winter due to lack of snow. This year, Homewood has new snowmaking equipment. A new Dopplemayr gondola is planned for 2026-27. This winter, the slopes will be in better shape after extensive upgrades to grooming equipment.

Kirkwood Ski Resort

1501 Kirkwood Meadows Dr., Kirkwood 95646 Info www.kirkwood.com Famous for prolific, powdery snow, Kirkwood will offer first-time skiers a make-over at Timber Creek Lodge, home of the resort’s Ski and Ride School, rental shop and bar and grill. Skiers will also enjoy a smoother traffic flow as they head to the hill. The resort’s events calendar includes the New Year’s Eve Torchlight Parade, Proud to Be Me Week and numerous freeride competitions.

Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort

10001 Minaret Rd., Mammoth Lakes 93546 Info www.mammothmountain.com Mammoth has invested nearly $9 million this year to improve the resort’s snowmaking capabilD E C E M B E R 21, 2025

ities. The mountain’s ski school will offer Ripping Over 50 camps for older skiers who want to level-up skills. Woolly’s Adventure Summit offers a dual zip line where you soar side-by-side with your friends over the snow, then grab hot drinks at Soaring Pines Mountain Café.

Mountain High Ski Resort

24510 Highway 2, Wrightwood 92397 Info www.mthigh.com Mountain High has made more than $500,000 in improvements this year, including upgrading snowmaking and grooming equipment and refurbishing the Discovery Chairlift at the top of the East Resort.

Northstar California

100 Northstar Dr., Truckee 96161 Info www.northstarcalifornia.com One of Northstar’s best-loved traditions returns, every afternoon, skiers can glide down East Ridge to sip a glass of bubbly or apple cider at slopeside with its ski-up bar.

Palisades Tahoe

1960 Olympic Valley Rd., Olympic Valley 96146 Info www.palisadestahoe.com Find improved snowmaking, new lift access gates and an expansion of Mountaineer, a free, app-based, on-demand shuttle in Olympic Valley and Alpine Meadow. The members-only lounge Apex Club will open this winter, featuring concierge service. Palisades’ parking program is adding an incentive, driv-

ers of vehicles with four or more passengers receive a $20 resort voucher.

Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort

1111 Sierra at Tahoe Rd., Twin Bridges 95735 Info sierraattahoe.com Summer staff constructed two new trails, Pika and Skipper, that improve access to West Bowl and bring Sierra-at-Tahoe’s trail count to 50. They also widened the groomed terrain in learning zones and terrain parks and planted 16,000 new trees to provide protection from winds and enhance glade skiing.

Sugar Bowl Resort

629 Sugar Bowl Rd., Norden 95724 Info www.sugarbowl.com Sugar Bowl has entered the second phase of its $100-million development plan. Guests will enjoy an upgraded dining experience at the historic 1939 Village Lodge Hotel, which now has a two-tiered dining terrace and an elevated menu from executive chef Jason Landas. The resort also has an upgraded locker facility, expanded terrain parks and four new snowcats for grooming.

Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Resort

11603 Snowpeak Way, Truckee 96161 Info www.tahoedonner.com Tahoe Donner’s newly constructed ski lodge debuts this winter, featuring easier lift access, an enlarged sun deck, a spacious cafeteria and bar and a dedicated ski school area.  S U N D AY S I G N A L · 5

F E AT U R E

What Are the 12 Days of Christmas?

Learn all about Boxing Day and its meaning.

By Catherine Boeckmann Old Farmers Almanac

I

The Third Day of Christmas

s “The Twelve Days of Christmas!” just a song? Nope! Learn what this festive celebration is all about—and when the 12 days start (and end). It’s a fascinating look at our fun Christmas traditions. Plus, find out how much those 12 gifts would cost today!

What Are the 12 Days of Christmas?

For many Western Christian denominations, the Twelve Days of Christmas, or Christmastide, are a 12-day festive religious season that celebrates the Nativity of Jesus. The 12 days represent the time that it took for the three wise men or kings to travel to Bethlehem to visit baby Jesus and offer him gifts. In certain Eastern Orthodox denominations, it is instead a celebration of the time from Christ’s birth to his baptism.

This festival season is basically a series of religious feast days—as well as a constant stream of entertaining and merrymaking!

The festival season begins on Christmas Day and ends on the evening of January 5 (called Twelfth Night). This marks the end of Christmas festivities and, in ancient Celtic tradition, the end of the 12day winter solstice celebration.

How the 12 Days Were Celebrated

In medieval and Tudor times, people fasted in the 4 weeks leading up to Christmas Day. So, it’s no surprise that there was so much feasting as soon as Christmas Day arrived!

The 12 days were all about hospitality and merriment after a long year of hard work and harvesting. Most people didn’t work throughout the Twelve Days of Christmas festivities. They wouldn’t even use their spinning wheels.

Remember that this was a dormant time for an agricultural society. They didn’t have office jobs. Might as well make the most of the darkest days of winter and keep each other company!

Here are some of the highlights:

The First Day of Christmas

The 12 days begin on Christmas Day because this is the day that celebrates Jesus’ birth. In ancient times, the day began with Midnight Mass. The

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The Epiphany Tart was traditionally eaten after the Epiphany meal. PHOTO COURTESY CATHOLIC CUISINE

church bells rang, candles were lit, and the celebrations kicked off.

Everyone enjoyed a huge feast together on this “first day” of Christmas. The feast traditionally included roasted meats (poultry, venison, boar) and stuffing, followed by mince pies, puddings, and gingerbread.

On a related note, people did not decorate their homes until Christmas Eve. The holly, ivy, mistletoe, tree, and wreath are evergreens, symbolizing the eternal life that Jesus brought with his birth. It was considered bad luck to put them up early.

The greens stayed up for the 12 days from Christmas through Twelfth Night. Then, the decorations would be taken down on Epiphany morning (January 6).

The Second Day of Christmas

Do you know of the Christmas song, “Good King Wenceslas”? It’s about the Feast of St. Stephen, which falls on the 26th of December.

Good King Wenceslas looked out On the Feast of Stephen When the snow lay round about Deep and crisp and even.

St. Stephen was known for helping the poor. In England, alms (charity) church boxes were opened to share with the needy.

This feast day is still a day for charity in some countries. It’s called Boxing Day in England and Canada.

The 27th of December is the feast of St. John. This feast day involves a lot of wine. Why? According to legend, St. John drinks a glass of poisoned wine, yet he survives because he blesses the wine before he puts it to his lips.

On this day, the wealthy folks drank their finest wines. And everyone, rich and poor, would toast during the assembled company from the wassail bowl. In Old English, wassail means “Be in good health,” but the term was also applied to the drink — a hot ale with spices, sugar, and apples.

People would pass a large wooden bowl of wassail around. The first person starting the bowl would shout “Wassail!” and drink; the next person would shout, “Drinkhail!” and drink, and so on.

Even today, Catholic churches will have a special blessing of wine after mass, and parishioners will bring a couple of bottles to be blessed. Learn more about the Blessing of Wine.

The Seventh and Eighth Days of Christmas

In medieval days and Tudor times, New Year’s Eve was an occasion for playing sports and games, including fun winter festivals on ice.

New Year’s Day was the more traditional day to give gifts, not Christmas. Often, the gifts were money or fine trinkets. It was common for gifts to be presented to monarchs and for monarchies to give gifts to their subjects.

The Twelfth Day of Christmas: Twelfth Night!

Twelfth Night marked the end of merrymaking before the feast of Epiphany (January 6), when the wise men arrived at the Nativity to pay homage to Jesus.

You may know the term “Twelfth Night” because it’s the title of one of Shakespeare’s plays. Also, many folks may be familiar with the “King Cake,” which was the traditional Twelfth Night cake because it’s a common cake served in New Orleans during Mardi Gras season.

The King Cake traditionally has a coin or dried See 12 DAYS, page 18

DECEMBER 21, 2025

The 12 Days of Christmas Price Index

F E AT U R E

For the last 42 years, PNC has calculated the price of the 12 Days of Christmas.

This year, the cost would be $51,476.12, a 4.5% increase from last.

$420.18 +13.5% On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

$750 +0% On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me Two Turtle Doves.

$346.50 +0% On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me Three French Hens.

$750 +0% On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me Four Calling Birds.

$1,649.90 +32.5% On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me Five Gold Rings.

$930 +3.3% On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me Six Geese-A-Laying

$13,125 +0% On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me Seven Swans-A-Swimming.

$58 +0% On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me Eight Maids-A-Miling.

$8,856.88 +3.5% On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me Nine Ladies Dancing

$1,6836.14 +8.1% On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me Ten Lords-A-Leaping

$3,797.48 +2.5% On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me Eleven Pipers Piping

$4,106.08 +2.2% On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me Twelve Drummers Drumming.

D E C E M B E R 21, 2025

S U N D AY S I G N A L · 7

Green Thumb Garden Center Christmas Clearance

Sunday, December 21

Tuesday, December 23

10% off

30% off

Monday, December 22

Wednesday, December 24

20% off

40% off

Friday, December 26

50% off All Sales Final. Sale excludes previous purchases. No returns.

Sales limited to Christmas stock on hand.

Sale does not include: * Dept. 56 Villages Hours: Open Daily 9-5:30 Open Christmas Eve 9-3 ~ Closed Christmas Day

23734 Newhall Ave. (Old Town Newhall) Open Daily 9 - 5:30 (661) 259-1071 8 · SUNDAYSIGNAL

FROM THE CITY MANAGER

Happy Holidays, Santa Clarita

By Ken Striplin Santa Clarita City Manager

T

he holiday season is in full swing once again, with festive lights, favorite traditions and the joy of gathering with loved ones. As I look back on 2025, I am filled with pride for all we accomplished as a community.

This year, our City Council adopted an on-time and balanced budget once again. Our conservative fiscal policies secured a prestigious AAA issuer credit rating from Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings.

We also celebrated major milestones across our award-winning park system. In June, Pioneer Oil Refinery Park — the City’s 39th park — opened to the public, transforming California’s oldest surviving oil refinery into a one-of-a-kind destination that blends historic preservation with open space access and educational opportunities.

Just weeks later, the City completed the transfer of William S. Hart Park and Museum from Los Angeles County, officially welcoming this beloved landmark as our 40th park. With its historic structures, barnyard, trails and festivals, Hart Park will remain a community treasure for generations to come. In July, construction began on the Haskell Canyon Bike Park, a 720acre biking destination that will feature more than 15 miles of trails, a dirt jump course and pump tracks. The City also completed major upgrades at Old Orchard Park — one of our oldest and most beloved parks — adding new playground equipment, shade structures, a multi-purpose court, expanded picnic areas and renovated facilities designed to serve residents well into the future.

Our commitment to innovation

and public safety continued to transform the community. In April, the City launched the Library Express, the City’s first mobile library. This “library without walls” brings books, technology and learning opportunities directly to neighborhoods across the community, ensuring every resident has access to resources that spark curiosity and creativity. We also strengthened emergency response capabilities with the acquisition of our new Emergency Mobile Command Unit, which serves as a mobile Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during large-scale incidents. By bringing the EOC into the field, we enhance coordination between agencies and improve response times during emergencies.

Lastly, Santa Clarita would not be the remarkable place it is without the involvement and community pride of our residents. In September, nearly 1,000 volunteers participated in the 30th annual River Rally, removing close to 11,000 pounds of trash and debris from the Santa Clara riverbed.

In October, Make a Difference Day mobilized more than 300 volunteers for service projects across the valley.

In November, 43 participants supported Graffiti Removal Day, using more than 40 gallons of paint to refresh nearly 25,000 square feet of surfaces. Thanks to our volunteers, our City remains clean, beautiful and full of spirit.

I wish everyone a joyful, peaceful and memorable holiday season. It is an honor to celebrate another remarkable year with you.

Ken Striplin is the City Manager for the City of Santa Clarita and can be reached at kstriplin@santaclarita. gov.  DECEMBER 21, 2025

Grazing and Gifting

I

f you feel yourself slipping into the last-minute rush of the holiday season, still searching for dazzling recipes and abundant gifts, rest assured — you’re not alone. Light, refreshing ingredients for spectacular meals are just a click away, and they can make for the perfect presents, too.

Abundantly sweet and simple, Florida Citrus Gifts are a simple way to share holiday cheer with family, friends and loved ones. They’re easy to send and even easier to enjoy, providing a one-of-a-kind (and healthy) way to share holiday cheer in memorable meals like Scallops with Florida Grapefruit Butter and the light and refreshing Florida Citrus Salad with Burrata featuring fresh grapefruit and oranges mingling with peppery arugula and creamy burrata to bring a bit of balance to holiday dining.

For more information, visit PickFLA.com.

Scallops with Florida Grapefruit Butter Prep time 30 minutes Cook time 3 minutes

Servings 4 2 Florida Grapefruit 1 fennel bulb 3 tablespoons olive oil, plus additional for searing, divided 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar 1/8 teaspoon, plus 1 pinch, salt, divided, to taste 1/8 teaspoon, plus 1 pinch, pepper, divided, to taste 1 small bunch fresh cilantro 12 scallops with empty shells 1 tablespoon butter

Peel and cut one Florida Grapefruit into segments. Squeeze remaining D E C E M B E R 21, 2025

grapefruit and reserve juice.

Wash and finely chop fennel. In bowl, mix fennel with olive oil, sherry vinegar and 1 pinch salt and pepper.

Mix and add fresh cilantro. Keep a few leaves for garnish.

In hot frying pan, drizzle with olive oil then sear scallops 1 minute on each side.

Remove scallops from pan then deglaze with reserved Florida Grapefruit juice. Let it simmer slightly and add butter to make sauce. Add 1/8 teaspoon salt and pepper.

Place 1 tablespoon fennel salad in washed shell, top with three scallops and coat with grapefruit butter.

Finish with reserved cilantro leaves and fresh grapefruit segments.

Florida Citrus Salad with Burrata Recipe courtesy of the Florida Department of Citrus

Florida Citrus Vinaigrette 1/3 cup Florida Grapefruit Juice 1/3 cup Florida Orange Juice 2 teaspoons orange zest 2 tablespoons cider vinegar 2 teaspoons honey 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

FOOD

Sweet Solutions for the Holiday Rush

1/3 cup olive oil 2 tablespoons shallots

sea salt, to taste

fresh pepper, to taste Pickled Onion: 1 red onion, thinly sliced 1/2 cup white vinegar or cider vinegar 1/2 cup water 1 tablespoon sugar 1 teaspoon salt Burrata Salad: 4 Florida Grapefruit, peeled and cut into segments 3 oranges, peeled and cut into segments 1 bunch radishes, sliced thin and cut into sticks 1/3 cup pistachios, grilled and coarsely chopped 1 cup arugula 2 tablespoons dill, chopped

sea salt, to taste

pepper, to taste 8 ounces burrata

To make vinaigrette In small bowl, mix Florida Grapefruit Juice, Florida Orange Juice, orange zest, cider vinegar, honey, Dijon, olive oil and shallots until dressing is

emulsified. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside. Vinaigrette will keep 7 days in refrigerator.

To make pickled onion Place sliced onion in airtight canning jar.

In small saucepan, combine vinegar, water, sugar and salt. Bring to boil and pour over sliced onion in jar. Add small amount of water to completely cover onion.

Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving. Pickled onions will keep 15 days in refrigerator.

To make burrata salad: In bowl, combine Florida Grapefruit and Orange segments; add radish sticks, toasted pistachios, arugula and dill. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Place salad on large plate, top with coarsely chopped burrata and drizzle generously with citrus vinaigrette and pickled onion. (Family Features)  S U N D AY S I G N A L · 9

ENTERTAINMENT

The Latest News on What’s Happening In Hollywood

ed up grossing $2.2 billion. films and the massive press tour), “Avatar: 4” is due in December 2029, he’s at a crossroads. The next role he onathan Bailey debuted his and “Avatar: 5” will arrive in Decemchooses could make or break his cacareer at age 6 as Tiny Tim reer. You might say he has to make the ber 2031. All five “Avatar” films were in 1995, in a Royal Shakefilmed simultaneously to allow time most “Wicked” decision of his career! speare Theater production of for postproduction and to use the “Avatar: Fire and Ash” opened on “A Christmas Carol.” He acted in “Les Dec. 19 and has a lot to live up to. The same cast.

Miserables” on stage and in the film Another film getting a sequel is first “Avatar” (2009) grossed almost “Girl with a Pearl Earring” (2008).

“Jumanji” (the fifth and final install$3 billion (making it the top-grossHe starred in a fewSignal British films but res • Santa Clarita adsource@exhibitorads.com ment). Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, ing film of all time).

“Avatar: The Way was then cast as Fiyero in “Wicked” p.

888.737.2812 f.

203.438.1206 ” Jack Black and Karen Gillian are reof Water” (2022) grossed $2.4 billion (which grossed $760 million). (ranking third2025 behind “Avengers: End- turning, along with Brittany O’Grady Bailey followed this up with a December 21-25, te: Sunday-Thursday, (of the series “Star” and season one of game” at $2.8 billion). role in “Jurassic World Rebirth” ivery lead date: 12/16/2025 “The White Lotus”) and Burn GorThe fourth top-grossing film of all (which grossed $868 million) and retime is “Titanic” (1997) at $2.3 billion, man (“Game of Thrones,” “The Dark ceived the title as People magazine’s Knight Rises,” and “Pacific Rim”). It “Sexiest Man Alive.” Now he currently and the fifth top-grossing film of all opens in December 2026. time is the Chinese animated fantasy has “Wicked: For Good” out, which is Jim Henson’s Muppet collection “Ne Zha 2” (2019). What? (That’s what headed for at least $500 million. from “Fraggle Rock,” “Labyrinth,” I said.)

It was released in IMAX and But after three years of “Wicked” 3D in Beijing, then in America; it end- and “The Dark Crystal” brought in a (including the shooting of the two

By Tony Rizzo

J

L L A H W E N TM

22500 Lyons Ave.

Bringing the Finest in Film to the SCV!

info Line 310.478.3836

Sheepdog E Sun: 10:10 1:10 4:00 7:00; Mon & Tue: 1:10 4:00 7:00

SHEEPDOG is the first film that truly explores the physical and psychological repercussions of trauma, with a focus on Post Traumatic Growth.

AnAcondA C Thu: 1:00 3:15 5:30 7:40

Doug and Griff have been best friends since they were kids, and have always dreamed of remaking their all-time favorite movie: the cinematic “classic” Anaconda.

MArty SupreMe E Wed & Thu: 12:45 4:10 7:30

Marty Mauser, a young man with a dream no one respects, goes to hell and back in pursuit of greatness.

Song Sung Blue C Thu: 12:50 4:00 7:50

Based on a true story, two down-on-their-luck musicians (Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson) form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band.

AvAtAr: Fire And ASh C Sun: 9:55 12:30 2:30 4:40 7:00; Mon: 12:30 4:40 7:00; Tue: 12:30 4:20 7:00; Wed & Thu: 12:30 4:10 7:00

James Cameron takes audiences back to Pandora in an immersive new adventure with Marine turned Na’vi leader Jake Sully , Na’vi warrior Neytiri, and the Sully family.

dAvid B Sun: 9:50 AM; Mon to Wed: 1:50 4:25

When the giant Goliath rises to terrorize a nation, a young shepherd armed with only a sling, a few stones, and unshakable faith steps forward.

the houSeMAid E 1:10 4:10 7:10

From director Paul Feig, the film plunges audiences into a twisted world where perfection is an illusion, and nothing is as it seems.

the SpongeBoB Movie: SeArch For SquArepAntS B Sun: 10:30 12:50 3:00 5:15 7:30;

Mon to Thu: 12:50 3:00 5:15 7:30

Desperate to be a big guy, SpongeBob sets out to prove his bravery to Mr. Krabs by following The Flying Dutchman on a seafaring comedy-adventure.

ellA MccAy C Sun to Wed: 4:00 PM

An idealistic young woman juggles her family and work life in a comedy about the people you love and how to survive them.

hAMnet C Sun to Wed: 1:00 7:00

HAMNET tells the powerful love story that inspired the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.

ZootopiA 2 B Sun: 10:15 1:20 4:10 7:10; Mon: 1:20 4:10; Tue: 1:20 4:10 7:10; Wed: 1:20 4:10 7:50 deAF SAntA clAuS Sun: 10:00 AM; Mon: 7:00 PM

With an uncanny resemblance to the icon himself, Charles Graves chases his dream of becoming a professional Deaf Santa Claus.

Sing-A-long Fiddler on the rooF A Wed: 7:00 PM

Norman Jewison’s adaptation of the long-running Broadway musical is set in a Russian village at the beginning of the twentieth century.

tiMeStAMp Sun: 10:00 AM

Without interviews, narration and reenactments, TIMESTAMP provides an insight into how the war is affecting the daily lives of students and teachers in Ukraine.

10 · SUNDAYSIGNAL

Dec. 15, 2025

1. Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (PG-13) Josh Hutcherson, Piper Rubio 2. Zootopia 2 (PG) Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman

3. Wicked: For Good (PG) Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande 4. Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution (R) Jun’ya Enoki, Yuma Uchida 5. Now You See Me: Now You Don’t (PG-13) Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson 6. Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair (NR) Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu 7. Eternity (PG-13) Miles Teller, Elizabeth Olsen

Judy and Nick must go undercover to unexpected new parts of town, where their growing partnership is tested like never before.

WWW.LAEMMLE.COM

Top Movies

FOR 12/21/202512/25/2025 ONLY

8. Hamnet (PG-13) Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal  © 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.

Jonathan Bailey (“Wicked: For Good”) Courtesy of Universal Pictures

whopping $2.6 million at an auction held this past Nov. 25.

Oh, that Glen Powell! He has his hands in everything and isn’t just relying on acting (although “The Running Man” was a disappointment in theaters). His Hulu series “Chad Powers” had good ratings, and Hulu just greenlit season two.

Also, his thriller “How to Make a Killing,” with Margaret Qualley, Topher Grace and Ed Harris, wrapped and is due in theaters in February of next year. In addition, he’ll star in the film “Ghostwriter” (from director J.J. Abrams), along with Jenna Ortega and Samuel L. Jackson.

Now Powell’s getting bolder as a producer; his production company’s next release is “The F**kboat” for Paramount. It’s a high-concept film like “Risky Business,” and choosing this title could be riskier than flying an F/A18 Super Hornet as he did in “Top Gun: Maverick”!  © 2025 King Features Synd., Inc. DECEMBER 21, 2025

SENIORLIVING

Finding Quality Surgical Care is Easier Than Ever

By Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS, Executive Director & CEO, American College of Surgeons

Y

our doctor has informed you that you need surgery — like 15 million other patients in the United States every year. Naturally, you and your family may want to research your hospital options to have confidence that you are getting the best care.

The American College of Surgeons has created a new Find a Hospital search tool to help you find hospitals that meet the rigorous quality standards we set for surgical care.

The ACS has been defining quality care in surgery since our founding more than 112 years ago, and now we make it easier than ever for patients and their families to find ACS Surgical Quality Partner hospitals in their local communities and to access information to prepare for surgery.

What is Find a Hospital?

Find a Hospital is a convenient, user-friendly search tool that helps you locate hospitals that have undergone rigorous accreditation and verification from the ACS to demonstrate their capability to deliver the highest quality surgical care.

Based on your individual needs, you can find care that excels in areas across surgical specialties including cancer, geriatric surgery, emergency general surgery, children’s surgery, vascular surgery, trauma care and more.

Receiving accreditation or verification from the ACS involves a rigorous process, including a detailed site visit.

These steps ensure that facilities meet and uphold the highest standards of surgical care and ethics. Importantly, ACS accreditation and verificaD E C E M B E R 21, 2025

tion is not something that can just be purchased by a hospital, it must be earned.

Find a Hospital features map-based results for a quick and easy visual location of hospitals and a map function to easily navigate to the hospital.

You also can learn more about the list of ACS Quality Programs in which a hospital participates.

ACS Quality Programs are grounded in rigorous standards and evidence that define what optimal surgical care should include. These standards provide the roadmap for hospitals to develop their processes and capabilities to deliver high-quality care.

consistent with the high standards of the ACS. The ACS also offers a range of resources to help you prepare for surgery, including questions to ask your surgeon, nutrition guides and a spe-

cialized checklist for older adult surgical patients.

For more common procedures, our guides walk patients through the day of surgery and optimizing recovery.

The ACS is your trusted source when you have questions about surgery. Our patient education resources and our Find a Hospital search tool are designed to help you prepare for an operation and to find the best care possible.

The next time you or a loved one need surgical care, make sure to visit www.facs.org.

Patricia L. Turner is the Executive Director & CEO of the American College of Surgeons, the largest professional association of surgeons in the world, founded in 1913. (BPT) 

How can I prepare for surgery?

Whether you need a routinely encountered procedure or have a complex, high-risk case, the Find a Hospital tool can help you find the right hospital. Additionally, the ACS Find a Surgeon search tool can help you find surgeons who are Fellows of the ACS (FACS).

Fellows are board-certified surgeons whose education, training, professional qualifications, surgical competence and ethical conduct are reviewed and S U N D AY S I G N A L · 1 1

HOME

Disaster Preparedness

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s many know from experience, disasters can happen to anyone, anywhere.

While warnings can vary from a few minutes to a few days, taking action to prepare for the unexpected can help people become more resilient.

Resilience is the way communities anticipate, adapt, act, recover and grow in the face of hardship and crisis.

With its hyper-local community focus and representation in nearly every community in the U.S., United Way partners with donors, volunteers and community leaders to repair homes, restore services, rebuild businesses and reignite hope.

Earlier this year, United Way Worldwide and Verizon launched United We Prepare in 14 regions across the U.S. The pilot aims to create resilient communities that are ready for disasters and boost awareness of preparedness best practices through workshops and local education campaigns.

"We help our neighbors prepare for disasters before they strike, offering practical tools, clear plans and the confidence that comes from being ready for the unexpected," said Marcus Coleman, vice president of community resiliency strategy at United Way Worldwide.

"We are here for the long haul," Coleman said. "After disasters and public emergencies fade from the headlines, we help communities recover and rebuild. United Way is creating stronger, more resilient communities where neighbors face challenges together, lift one another up and thrive."

As part of this work, United Way developed a Disaster Preparedness Guide — a curated list of preparedness tips and best practices from leading experts.

Identify your support network and emergency contacts Add the phone numbers of family members, friends and neighbors to your mobile device - categorized as emergency contacts and make sure they have yours. Also add 211 - the three-digit phone line that connects people to locally available resources - to your contacts. The line also provides emergency and resource information during times of disaster.

Get connected Make sure your phone is enabled to get local alerts and warnings. When emergencies happen, public safety officials use wireless emergency alerts to "ping" enabled mobile devices in those communities.

Assess needs Build an emergency kit for home and a "go bag" for the car.

Keep a charged power bank in each.

Add medical information. Ask yourself and others in your household questions about medical needs, animal care, shelter, food, water, clothing and more.

Safeguard key records Use your phone to take photos of key documents and valuables. Keep electronic copies of these important documents in a password-protected format on a removable flash or external hard drive in a fireproof and waterproof box or safe, or a secure cloud-based service.

Engage your support network Now that you've taken these steps, make sure your family has done the same.

Check in with your closest friends and extended family to share these tips.

Discuss who may need extra help and designate someone to get to them in an emergency.

To read the full version of these preparedness tips and for more disaster preparation information, visit UnitedWay.org. (Family Features)  DECEMBER 21, 2025

H E A LT H

The Heart-Body Connection

H

eart health is about more than just the heart itself.

It’s a two-way street between the heart and the rest of the body. However, many aren’t aware of the connection between organs.

According to a survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Heart Association, 42% of adults do not understand how the heart can be impacted by other organ systems.

Health issues in other organ systems, like the kidneys or metabolic system — which includes how the body manages weight and blood glucose — can lead to heart trouble.

The close relationship between heart health, kidney health and metabolic health is known as cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic health, or CKM health, and it is the focus of an American Heart Association initiative to raise awareness of how the systems function together. When one system is affected, it can make the others worse — creating a condition called CKM syndrome.

Close to 9 in 10 adults have at least one component of CKM syndrome, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Components include high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol or other lipids, high blood glucose (sugar), excess weight and reduced kidney function. The interplay of these risk factors increases the risk for heart attack, stroke and heart failure more than any one of them alone.

The survey also found that while only 12% of adults have heard of CKM, 72% said they’re interested in learning more and 79% agreed that it is important that they understand more about CKM health.

“What we want people to know is it’s really common to have heart disD E C E M B E R 21, 2025

– MAKES A –

WHEN YOU WANT

ease, diabetes or metabolic disease and reduced kidney function at the same time,” said Eduardo Sanchez, M.D., FAHA, the American Heart Association’s chief medical officer for prevention.

“It’s reassuring to hear that once the CKM connection was defined around three-quarters of respondents understood that it was important and wanted to learn more.”

Highlighting the two-way street of the heart-body connection, the “2 Truths and No Lie” video offers a simplified visual: 1. The heart pumps blood to the body.

2. The metabolic system turns glucose (sugar) in the blood into energy.

3. The process of metabolism dumps waste back into the blood.

4. The kidneys filter waste from the blood and balance fluids, which helps with blood pressure.

5. Blood pressure affects how the heart pumps blood to the body.

While providing resources to help people understand how heart, kidney and metabolic health are connected, the American Heart Association’s CKM Health Initiative is also working with health care teams across the country to improve collaboration among health care professionals who care for patients living with multiple health conditions. Better awareness and improved screening can help people take action early to prevent a heart attack, heart failure or stroke.

The initiative is made possible by founding sponsors Novo Nordisk and Boehringer Ingelheim, supporting sponsors Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Bayer, and champion sponsor DaVita.

Learn more about CKM health by visiting heart.org/myCKMhealth.

(Family Features) 

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S U N D AY S I G N A L · 1 3

GARDENING

Gen Z Turns the Houseplant Craze into a Lifestyle Trend

W

hen Jessica Janik-De Gennaro started seeing her $20 succulents pop up between electronics and yoga pants on a mobile marketplace, she knew she’d found something unexpected.

The entrepreneur had been shipping plants nationwide since 2012, but joining Temu in 2024 opened an entirely new customer base.

“We saw growth right away,” said De Gennaro, the 43-year-old founder of Shop Succulents who sold 3,500 items on the platform in just four months.

Her success reflects a broader trend: While many pandemic habits faded, America’s houseplant obsession only grew stronger. Spending on gardening-related items jumped 18.7% in 2020 — an $8.5 billion increase from the year before, and that momentum hasn’t stopped. The indoor plants market was valued at $20.68 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $30.25

14 · SUNDAYSIGNAL

billion by 2032, according to industry research.

“The potential for scaling is enormous,” De Gennaro said. “Seeing our

$20 succulents next to Temu’s bargain electronics was surreal, but that’s the magic — the algorithm doesn’t discriminate. Our plants became ‘items to explore’ for people who never knew they wanted a spiky plant until it popped up between yoga pants and kitchenware.”

Following a similar strategy, House Plant Shop’s inventory spans more than 500 species, from air plants and succulents to pet-friendly potted plants and rare tropicals.

After joining Temu in December 2024, sales on the platform rocketed.

By May, it had become the company’s largest online channel, surpassing all other marketplaces.

“Temu quickly became bigger for us than any other marketplace,” said Andy Burde, 33, founder of House Plant Shop.

The platform’s young customer base has proven ideal for plant sellers. A survey by CraftJack found that 6 in 10 young Americans say “pets are the

new kids, and plants are the new pets.”

The smaller plants, sold in 2-3-inch pots and priced around $10 by House Plant Shop, have performed especially well.

“They’re affordable, easy to ship and our customers love watching them grow,” Burde said.

The shift to mobile commerce has been crucial to both companies’ success. With 76% of U.S. adults using smartphones to shop online, platforms like Temu have become discovery engines for impulse purchases, including houseplants.

Now, House Plant Shop ranks among the top three live plant sellers on the mobile marketplace.

“Our goal is to become the No. 1 live plant seller on the platform,” Burde said. “We’ve found our second growth wave, and we’re excited to keep growing while staying true to our roots.”

Join the plant parent trend by visiting Temu.com or downloading the app. (Family Features)  DECEMBER 21, 2025

D

Setting the Mood with Christmas Eve Stories

ecember is filled with opportunities to make magical memories, particularly for families with young children. Christmas commands a lot of thought and attention, and parents know such efforts are worth it to see smiles on children’s faces.

Stories help set the holiday scene and enable children to hold tight to all of the magic. Whether they are read together as a family or children read them on their own, these literary works can enhance special holiday moments.

“The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry: This story tells the tale of a young married couple who have to sacrifice in order to buy Christmas presents for one another.

“A Christmas Carol,” by Charles Dickens: No Christmas season would be complete without reading (or watching) “A Christmas Carol.” When three ghosts visit Ebenezer Scrooge, he learns an important lesson about charity, friends and family.

“The Berenstain Bears Meet Santa Bear: A Christmas Book for Kids” by Stan and Jan Berenstain:

Kids of all generations have grown up reading Berenstain Bears books. This volume has Mama and Papa showing Sister and Brother that the true meaning of the holiday is about giving.

“Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree” by Robert Barry: When Mr. Willowby’s tree arrives for Christmas, it is too tall for his parlor. He must cut off the top so it will fit, and that top is passed along again and again to spread holiday cheer.

“The Greatest Gift” by Philip Van Doren Stern: Written in 1943, this story is about a man named George who is contemplating his life while standing on a bridge on Christmas Eve. This tale became the basis for the classic film, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Dr. Seuss: Famed children’s writer Dr. Seuss was a master of imbuing life lessons in his stories and this book is no different. Isolated and angry, the Grinch learns to appreciate his neighbors in Whoville and comes to realize that Christmas is about being with loved ones and not material gifts. (MC) 

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12 DAYS Continued from page 6

bean hidden in the cake. This was also a tradition in the ancient times of the Roman Saturnalia. The “king of the feast” was elected by beans. Whoever was given the slice with the prize became the queen and king for the night, and much parading and partying followed.

Twelfth Night was also celebrated with entertainment, games, and a final banquet-style feast. There was often a “masque,” which is a type of play.

The British “panto” or pantomime is echoed in modern-day Christmas festivities; in this silly Christmastime performance, the female lead is played by a man, and a woman plays the male lead.

January 6: Epiphany

Epiphany is also known as Three Kings Day. According to the Gospels of the New Testament, the Magi, the three wise men (or kings), brought gifts to the infant Jesus on this date.

The word epiphany is not specific to Christianity, as Zeus’ alias, Epiphanes, can attest. It comes from the Greek epiphaneia, meaning “manifestation.”

After church, people would enjoy a meal with lamb and serve an Epiphany tart for dessert, a kind of giant jam tart made in the shape of a star. Make yourself a delicious Epiphany Tart!

Epiphany Tart

Courtesy Catholic Cuisine 1 1/2 C. flour 1/2 C. powdered sugar 1/4 tsp. salt 9 Tbl. cold stick butter, cut into pieces 1 egg yolk

an assortment of jams In a food processor, pulse dry ingredients to combine. Add butter and pulse until coarsely cut. Break up the yolk and add in parts, pulsing for 10 seconds after each addition. When the dough clumps, turn dough out onto a work surface. Knead lightly to mix in any unincorporated ingredients. Press into bottom and partially up the sides of a buttered tart pan. Shape the wise men’s star with extra dough by pinching and pressing together. Place in freezer for 30 minutes.

The King Cake was the traditional Twelfth Night cake. ©ADOBESTOCK

Preheat oven to 375. Bake tart for 25 minutes.

Remove and fill sections with jam. Bake another 10 minutes until jam is set and tart is lightly browned.

Cool on rack until ready to serve.

The Christmas decorations were traditionally taken down by Epiphany morning, and the remainder of the edibles were consumed. Christmastime was over until next year! 

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F E AT U R E

By Doña Uhrig Sunday Magazine Editor

L

ooking for the classic Christmas movies? Here is a list of several and where you can stream them.

So, grab your favorite pajamas, a cup of hot cocoa and a good blanket.

Cuddle on the couch and turn on the movies that have become the spirit of the Christmas season.

Amazon Prime Video

It’s a Wonderful Life The Frank Capra classic story about a guardian angel named Clarence is sent to help desperate businessman George Bailey understand the value of his life.

Miracle on 34th Street (1947) The holiday classic where Macy’s Santa is out to prove he is the real Santa Claus.

AMC+

White Christmas

Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen try to save a failing Vermont Inn owned by Crosby and Kaye’s former commanding general.

Apple TV

A Charlie Brown Christmas Charlie Brown tries to find a deeper meaning to Christmas.

Disney+

Home Alone Franchise Starring Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, follow the adventures of the 8-year-old troublemaker who has habit of getting lost or left behind as his family enjoys Christmas.

The Nightmare Before Christmas Tim Burton’s classic story of Halloween Town King Jack Skellington, who discovers Christmas Town. Follow the antics as he tries to bring Christmas home.

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Christmas Movies That Are Streaming Now The Polar Express A young boy learns about the spirit of Christmas as he embarks on a special train to the North Pole.

Hallmark

Can’t forget Hallmark and their nonstop Christmas movies from new original holiday movies to their lovable series.

HBO Max

A Christmas Story Set in the 1940s, young Ralphie Parker tries to convince everyone (including Santa) the bring him a Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun.

Hulu

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Follow the Griswold’s as they plan for a big family Christmas that predictably turns into a big disaster.

Paramount+

Miracle on 34th Street (1994) This is the 1994 version with Mara Wilson who tries to determine if Macy’s Santa is the real Santa Claus.

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S U N D AY S I G N A L · 1 9

RESOLUTIONS

Doctor-Recommended Health Resolutions for 2026

W

ith a new year ahead, the American Medical Association (AMA) is offering Americans 10 evidence-based tips for staying healthy in 2026 and beyond:

Get Health Screenings

Schedule preventive visits, tests and screenings so your physician can catch conditions before they become more serious.

Manage Stress

Mental health is part of overall health. Techniques such as meditation, deep breathing and yoga can help reduce stress. Ask for help from a mental health professional when you need it.

Be Physically Active

Start the year off by prioritizing physical activity.

Strive for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity each week. If you have a sedentary lifestyle or primarily sit for long stretches at work, build in frequent breaks to stretch and move throughout your day.

Follow a Healthy Diet

Drink water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages and eat nutritious, whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, low-fat dairy products and lean proteins. Avoid unhealthy ultra-processed foods, especially those with high levels of added sodium, saturated fats and sugar.

Drinking sugary beverages, even 100% fruit juice, is associated with a higher mortality risk, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open.

Stay Hydrated

Drink plenty of water or other beverages composed mostly of water, such as milk or herbal tea, to avoid dehydration and to keep your body functioning properly. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired. Adult men should get about 15.5 cups of fluids a day and women should get 11.5 cups, according to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Get Plenty of Good Sleep

To maintain your health and emotional well-being, most adults need 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep.

Rest helps boost immunity and improve mental clarity.

20 · SUNDAYSIGNAL

Here are 10 evidence-based tips for staying healthy in 2026 and beyond. ©Koto / iStock via Getty Images Plus

Update Vaccinations

Vaccinations remain the best defense against flu and other serious respiratory viruses. Since significant flu activity can stretch into May, it’s not too late to get a flu shot. The AMA recommends vaccination as long as the threat of flu remains.

Talk with your physician or other health care professional to determine which vaccines are right for you. To cut through vaccine confusion and have open, honest conversations with your physician, first go to the AMA website for evidence-based information. For help finding a flu vaccine in your area, visit GetMyFluShot.org.

Drink in Moderation

If consuming alcohol, do so in moderation as defined by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines: up to one drink per day for women and two drinks for men, and only for adults of legal drinking age.

Quit Tobacco, Nicotine and E-Cigarettes

Ask your doctor or health care professional for resources and guidance to help quit smoking, vaping or using other nicotine products. Make your home and car smoke-free to eliminate secondhand smoke exposure.

Follow medication directions: When taking prescriptions, store them safely to prevent diversion or misuse, and properly dispose of any leftover medication. If you’re prescribed antibiotics, complete the full course to prevent antibiotic resistance.

“With the holiday cookies eaten and those missed workouts officially last year’s worry, the new year is a great chance to refocus on the healthy choices you want to make in 2026,” said AMA president Dr. Bobby Mukkamala. “Even tiny changes now can snowball into major gains for your long-term health.”

For more health tips and resources visit ama-assn. org. (StatePoint)  DECEMBER 21, 2025

Update Your Pet’s Health and Wellness Routine

P

ets are more than companions — they’re family — and keeping them healthy can be simple, enjoyable and rewarding. Today’s pet parents may be busier than ever, yet they’re also more committed to wellness than previous generations. That means approaching their furry friends’ unique needs with the same balance, care and attention to overall well-being as they do their own.

Pet health isn’t just about food, however. A holistic approach to wellness combines daily supplements, dental care, exercise, mental enrichment and proactive health, with many owners looking for ways to simplify routines to support their pets every day.

These practical ideas can help support a pet’s overall wellness routine.

Tailor Flexible Nutrition Plans to Pets’ Needs

Support Healthy Skin and Coat

A pet’s coat often reflects its overall health. Along with a balanced diet and plenty of water, adding a daily supplement can help support a natural shine.

While professional grooming keeps dogs and cats looking their best, incorporating regular at-home brushing and bathing with a gentle shampoo D E C E M B E R 21, 2025

Enhance Pet Wellness with Functional Support

Even with a balanced diet, many pets may benefit from extra support to maintain their overall well-being.

Functional supplements can help target specific needs, including joint mobility, immunity and stress relief. For example, NaturVet’s easy-to-use Lickable supplements — available in Hip & Joint, Calming and Multi-Vitamin formulas for dogs and cats — offer a simple way to make wellness an effortless part of everyday life.

Promote Exercise and Mental Enrichment

Movement is essential to any wellness routine. Regular walks, agility activities and games help keep pets fit and happy. Physical exercise is only part of the puzzle, though. Interactive toys, puzzle feeders, scent games and agility training help dogs and cats stay mentally sharp, even on days when outdoor activity is limited.

Create a Calming Home Environment

Dogs and cats can experience stress when routines aren’t followed, just

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like people. Maintaining a consistent daily schedule and providing a quiet, comfortable space — such as a bed in a low-traffic area — can help promote calm, comfort and security.

By taking a few simple, consistent steps each day, pet parents can create a balanced, enjoyable wellness routine that keeps their furry family members healthy, happy and thriving. From functional supplements and daily care habits to exercise, mental enrichment and a calming environment, small efforts can make a big difference, turning everyday care into a rewarding part of life with your pet.

To find more practical health and wellness solutions for your pet, visit naturvet.com. (Family Features) 

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22 · SUNDAYSIGNAL

DECEMBER 21, 2025

Opinion

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

READERLETTERS

Unsung Heroes As we approach Christmas I would like to share a story about one man in our community who spent his whole working life and retirement as an unsung hero.

For 34 years he was first a teacher at Placerita Junior High School, then at Hart High. Those of you who had him as a teacher would remember him as Mr. Williams. As my lifelong friend, he is Val. As young boys we spent almost all off our waking hours together, riding bikes, climbing trees and generally doing all those things that growing up brings. He was best man at my wedding. He served in the National Guard and was deployed to the Watts Riots. We lost contact for years, only reconnecting when we moved to Santa Clarita and ran into each other at a Hart football game.

Val continued to do youth work after retirement, spending seven years volunteering with me in the YMCA Youth and Government Program, at the same time demonstrating his abilities helping me in my business.

Now remembering all those wonderful years is gone, as he fights that terrible disease call Alzheimer’s. But he remains a hero!

And why should you care about this story? Because you too probably have an unsung hero. And wouldn’t it be a wonderful gift if you let them know this Christmas season? Merry Christmas, Val. Ron Perry Canyon Country Submit a Letter to the Editor

Include name, address & phone.

E-mail: letters@signalscv.com.

D E C E M B E R 21, 2025

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

The Blessing of Forgiveness

By David Hegg

W

e’ve all heard that “to err is human, to forgive divine.” If you’re wondering what it comes down to, it’s this: We all mess up. No matter how good we think we are, there will always be times when our goodness gives way to sarcasm, insults, and hurtful words and actions. As the song goes, we too often hurt the ones we love. Yet, we also know a forgiving heart, while requiring humility and love, can be the first step to saving or restoring a relationship.

The problem isn’t that we hurt others, but that in so doing, we create walls and distance between ourselves and those with whom we were meant to share life. Conflict creates separation, and if not dealt with, that separation can become a canyon that grows deeper and wider over time.

As a pastor, I’ve had far too much experience trying to undo the havoc people waged on relationships with family, friends and neighbors through extended emotional warfare.

Minor disagreements and disappointments can grow into monstrous mountains of seething resentment that keep the parties involved from enjoying that precious human experience: friendship, camaraderie, and most importantly, family.

At Christmas, these fractures take on an oversized life of their own. Just as many cheerfully get together for the joy and pageantry of the season, too many are stubbornly determined to remain distant from those who have wronged them. Sadly, they often consider their refusal to meet and make merry a suitable punishment for the pain they have suffered.

Who is really being punished? If your relationships have been fractured, and you have no intention of finding a remedy, aren’t you at least partially to blame for the pain you feel?

I know, I know. You’ve been hurt so severely, you deserve to make the perpetrators suffer, right? You’re not going to soften or make nice, right? You have the right to hold grudges, demean those who hurt you, and even do what you can to recruit others to see it your way and join your pity party, right?

Wrong. Here’s the deal. You’re bitter, and you think storing up bitterness is your right. But let me bring some good old common sense to the problem.

Bitterness is the residue of wrongs suffered that we collect and hold onto so we can feel good about acting badly. Bitterness grows resentment, and resentment produces the fruit

of anger, spite, malice and all manner of unrighteous thoughts and actions. But we rationalize our behavior because of our pain! We feel good about acting badly. We believe it is our right.

Yet, it is killing us inside. Bitterness is an acid that eats its container. It seduces us into thinking we’re the righteous ones, the victims, when it has victimized us as it eats away at our souls.

So, what are we going to do about it? I can offer advice from a guy named Paul, who wrote a good portion of the New Testament. In his friendly letter to the church folk in Ephesus, he advised them to “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Let’s walk through this together. Paul was really good with words, and here he intentionally puts them together in ascending order. Notice he starts deep in the heart and mind with bitterness, that rotting, pulsating reminder of wrongs suffered. Then, he moves to the poison we know as wrath and anger that rises from the bitter swamp. These two words speak to the two kinds of anger. First, there is the seething wrath that is just waiting for a chance to flare up, and when it does, it’s called anger. Next comes clamor. You know, the incessant whining and pontificating about the past, which always leads to slandering those responsible for their pain.

Paul shows that these are the roadblocks to forgiveness.

They squash even minor consideration of seeing the offenders through the lens of forgiveness. But, they don’t have to!

We can take the reins of our hearts and determine instead to be kind. Yes, be kind. Take the high road, and learn to forgive.

Obviously, you and I can only work on our own hearts and our own perspectives. But who knows? If we mop up the bitterness, dial down the wrath and anger, and shut off the clamor and slander, we might find it in our hearts to see those who hurt us in a different, better light. And, if not, at least the past won’t keep us from enjoying what Christmas is all about.

And that’s the birth of the One who has come to forgive us all.

From me to you, with all my heart ... May your Christmas be joyous and merry!

Local resident David Hegg is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church. “Ethically Speaking” appears Sundays.  S U N D AY S I G N A L · 2 3

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24 · SUNDAYSIGNAL

DECEMBER 21, 2025