Westside Reader August 2015

e’ve all heard the phrase “buyer beware.” But it is just as 

important to embrace the notion of “giver beware,” as 

well. 

If you haven’t been approached in front of a store, or 

in a parking lot, or on the phone to “donate” to what 

sounds like a legitimate nonprofit, then you must not 

be living in the Santa Clarita Valley. 

Residents of the SCV are known to be generous, 

good-hearted souls who will almost give the “shirt-offtheir-backs” 

to assist those in need. 

However, such kindness can allow out-of-town solicitors 

to take advantage of well-meaning residents and 

deprive SCV nonprofits of much needed funds to help 

individuals living in the SCV. See The Ugly, page 8 

Getting Ready 

for the New 

School Year 

14 

Fall TV 

Preview 

28 26 

10 Labor Day 

Getaways

August 2015 Westside Reader • 5 

CastaiC town CounCil 

Voice of the community 

by Jim Walker 

Staff Writer 

Whether the issues are managed 

growth, possible incorporation/ 

annexation, landfill expansion, 

traffic, dust or anything else of concern, the 

members of the Castaic Area Town Council 

(aka Castaic Town Council) will consider 

them, with your best interests at heart. The 

council is an advisory board, presenting community 

points of view with the Los Angeles 

County Board of Supervisors and various 

county departments, such as Public Safety, 

Regional Planning, and Parks and Recreation. 

The Castaic Area Town Council is comprised 

of ten elected representatives from five regions 

within unincorporated Castaic. Here we 

help you get to know your representatives. 

Region 1: Live Oak, North 

Bluffs, Hillcrest Park, Hasley 

Hills and the Valencia Commerce 

Center 

John Kunak (council president) 

Elected November 2012, term expires 

December 2016 

“I moved to Castaic in 1997,” John Kunak 

said. “It was in 

1998 that I became 

aware that there 

was a Castaic Area 

Town Council. It 

was after the election 

and I wanted 

to be very involved 

in my community 

and decided that in 

the next election 

year, which was 2000, I would run for a seat.” 

Kunak is a practicing attorney, living with 

his wife of 30 years, Mary Kunak, and his 

daughter, Kelley Kunak, 20 years old and a 

junior at the University of Southern California 

(his alma mater). “My wife and I are extremely 

proud of our daughter, who is in her 

second year as a USC Song Girl (‘cheerleader’—the 

girls who dance to the songs of 

the band).” 

Kunak has served as a community volunteer 

for the past 15 years. “In addition to 

being elected to my first term on the Castaic 

Area Town Council in 2000, I also served on 

the Castaic Union School District Board of 

Trustees from 2001 through 2009. I was 

termed-out as a member of the Castaic Area 

Town Council in 2008, as we were only allowed 

to serve two consecutive terms at that 

time. In 2012, I did run again and have been 

a member of the council since then. I am currently 

president of the CATC and also served 

as president on numerous occasions during 

my prior service on the council.” 

Kunak said he has also served multiple 

terms as president of the Castaic Union 

School District Board, along with being president 

of the Castaic Education Foundation 

and Castaic Lions Club. “I also serve as a volunteer 

judge on the Santa Clarita Valley Community 

Court, which is a program to educate 

and help our youth, who are first-time offenders 

and need some direction,” he said. 

“I have learned, through my time in many 

of the elected and service positions, that there 

should be no particular personal agenda that 

one brings forward (at the council), Kunak 

noted. “I have always felt, and continue to feel, 

that being a voice of my community and representing 

the majority view of the community 

is my mandate. Obviously, one’s personal 

views cannot help but come into play, but I 

have made a conscious choice to not come to 

any decisions until I have heard all points of 

view and refuse to make any decision, or vote 

on any particular matter, until a motion is actually 

made before the Castaic Area Town 

Council and I have heard our entire community’s 

views on the matter.” 

Jessica Roussel Chambers (secretary 

and website editor) 


December 2018 

With a family of three, Jessica Roussel 

Chambers said she 

has lived in the 

Castaic area for 28 

years and works in 

“aerospace-quality.” 

She first came 

to the council in 

January of 2015. 

When asked what 

she hopes to accomplish 

via the 

council, she said, “I hope to represent the new 

families that have and are moving to our area, 

keeping in mind it is these growing families 

that are developing in this area — as well as 

listening to those who have made Castaic 

their permanent home in the past. I wish to 

bring Castaic back to its glory years, when I 

was younger and there were things to do and 

people were proud to call Castaic their home.” 

Region 2: Val Verde area 

Greg Kimura 


December 2016 

Greg Kimura is an auto-broker and property 

manager, who has lived in the Castaic 

area for more than 

four years. “There 

are two of us in our 

house, and my sister 

lives here in Castaic, 

as do our two 

daughters and three 

grandkids,” he said. 

“I came to the council 

when we had a 

cell tower issue with 

a company called Core. About a year later, I 

ran in the 2012 CATC election,” he added. 

“Currently, our community has a few major 

issues, which we would like to have our voice 

heard on,” Kimura said. “These issues are the 

expansion of the Chiquita Canyon Landfill, 

resolution of the flooding problem at the intersection 

of Del Valle and Hasley Canyon, 

and the substantial growth that is planned in 

the Castaic area. We may not be able to get 

everything that we want, but it would be 

great if we could be included in the meetings 

and our concerns will be considered when 

the decisions are made.” 

Bonnie Blackwell-Nikolai (co-chair, 

Land Use Committee) 


December 2018 

Bonnie Blackwell-Nikolai said she has lived 

in the Castaic area for seven and a half years. 

See Town Council, page 16 

CastaiC town CounCil Meeting 

Letter to Chiquita Canyon Landfill nixed 

by Jim Walker 

Staff Writer 

This month’s meeting of the Castaic 

Town Council was a mostly placid affair, 

featuring various good-news reports 

from the field that held little drama and 

stirred up no controversy. It was just the type 

of event one might imagine for a “town council” 

gathering. However, those in the audience 

who exited the meeting early missed a few 

sparks. 

Stepping to the podium 

Before the scheduled presenters took to 

the podium, the council and audience were 

addressed by Linda Storli, who is running for 

the William S. Hart Union High School District 

Board. Storli filled everyone in on her 

background, including her 30 years teaching 

at Canyon High School, and on her goals, if 

elected, which include operating from “a 

teacher’s perspective.” 

Next at the lectern was Los Angeles 

County Sheriff’s Lt. Byron Wainie, presenting 

a crime report. With an uptick in commercial 

burglaries, “window smashes,” as he described 

them, he also reminded those present 

not leave valuables on car seats. 

Officer Robert Byrod from the California 

Highway Patrol was next, reporting on traffic 

collisions, citations and arrests in the area — 

including, surprisingly, only one injury collision 

for the entire month of July in the Castaic 

area. He added that the Highway Patrol 

would have a “maximum enforcement period” 

from Sept. 4 through Sept. 7, during the 

Labor Day weekend. 

Among other reports given, Jesse Hendrick, 

a director of youth sports at the Castaic Regional 

Sports Complex, discussed various activities 

there, including little league baseball 

and mountain biking. At the end of this, councilman 

Flo Lawrence reminded all that Sept. 

12 will be Grandparents Day at the complex. 

“We feed the heck out of the seniors on that 

day,” he said, and added there will be a soccer 

celebration and 9/11 event on that day as 

well. 

Hazardous materials 

After other presentations and business, 

and just when it seemed the meeting would 

slip quietly into the night, the issue of the 

council possibly sending a letter to the county 

supervisors was raised. If sent, the letter 

would include a list of hazardous materials 

that, in the letter, the Castaic Town Council 

would recommend not be allowed into the 

Chiquita Canyon Sanitary Landfill. And that’s 

when the sparks flew — though all within 

proper meeting decorum, of course. 

The divisive issue of possibly sending the 

letter was brought to the council by member 

Bonnie Nikolai, of the council’s Region II, 

which includes the Val Verde area. “A constituent 

asked me to do it,” she later said. “He 

said it would be good to ask the supervisors 

if we could be involved with the conditional 

See Castaic Town Council, page 12

6 • Westside Reader 

C a l l i n g a l l s w e e t to ot h s 

August 2015 

31 

If this photo caught your attention, then we know you have a sweet tooth. These 

yummies can be found at Milkshake Mania, one of the shops we feature on page 31. 

Publisher 

Richard Budman 

Features & Entertainment Editor 

Michele E. Buttelman 

Staff Writers 

Brandon Lowrey, Robb Fulcher, Patti Rasmussen, Lauren Budman 

Beau Harper, Jim Walker, Jane Gates, Mike Mabund, Josh Premako, John Boston 

Contributing Writers 

Steve Knight, Cameron Smyth, Dave Bossert 

Michelle Sathe, Ray Kutylo, Beth Heiserman, Dave Guenther, Scott Wilk 

Advertising Account Executives 

Michelle Earnhart, Chuck Christensen 

Production & Prepress Manager 

Chris Budman 

Digital & Social Media 

Lauren Budman 

Production 

David Perez, Carol Roper 

The entire contents of the Westside Reader is copyrighted 2015 by BGL Multimedia, Inc. 

All submitted letters and columns are strictly the opinions of the authors, and not necessarily 

those of the publishers. All rights are reserved and no part of this publication may be reproduced 

without the written permission of the publishers. 

For information, call 661-505-7180 e-mail: info @WestsideReader.com 

Mail correspondence to: 25876 The Old Rd., Suite # 66, Stevenson Ranch, CA 91381 

Table of Contents 

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: Giver Beware Cover 

Castaic Town Council profile: Voice of the community 5 

Castaic Town Council: Chiquita Canyon Landfill letter nixed 5 

West Ranch Town Council: Proposed landscape tax 7 

Deputies save two dogs left in van 7 

Man’s body found near I-5 onramp 7 

SCV Charities: The Good: A review of tax filings 8 

Newhall Ranch moves closer to reality 11 

US Rep. Steve Knight: A Day in the Life 12 

Warriors on the Water 13 

The Wounded Warrior Project: Where does your donation go? 13 

Westside Schools: Fourth-grade teacher preps for new year 14 

Westside slates set for November elections 14 

Westside Hart Distict enrollment 14 

Newhall District Common Core training to include “coaches” in 

Math, Science push 15 

West Ranch High School to get shade 15 

Crime Blotter 16 

Santa Clarita Sheriff’s deputy saves toddler from drowning 16 

Help from firefighting airplanes coming soon 17 

Westside Real Estate: Ray the Realtor 20 

Recent Westside home sales 20 

Gaze before you give: Tips for donors 21 

Westside Opinion: Cameron Smyth 22 

Westside Opinion: Dave Bossert 22 

Westside Opinion: Assemblyman Scott Wilk 23 

Westside Calendar 24 

Restaurant Review: The Oaks Grille at TPC Valencia 25 

10 quick getaways to celebrate the end of Summer 26 

The Fall television season preview 28 

Santa Clarita’s best ice cream, frozen yogurt and gelato 31 

Westside People Profile: Sara and Todd Tisdell 33 

Out & About in the SCV 34 

Garden Gates 35 

What a Pair! 26


Deputies save two dogs 

left in van during 100 

degree temperatures 

Two women were shopping at the Starbucks 

near the 25800 block of The Old Road 

in Stevenson Ranch when they heard dogs 

barking from a vehicle. Two Chihuahuas were 

locked in a van. The women immediately 

called 911 and Deputy Mark Barretto from 

the Santa Clarita Sheriff’s station responded 

to the scene. 

Barretto rescued the dogs by slipping his 

arm through a small opening of a window, 

and was able to get the door open. 

The dogs’ owner was located and given a 

written warning from the Los Angeles County 

Department of Animal Care and Control. WR 

Man’s body found near 

I-5 at Valencia Blvd., 

suicide suspected 

The body of a man, possibly in his 60s, was 

discovered earlier in the month near I-5 

North and is being investigated as a possible 

suicide. 

A passer-by spotted the body just off the 

Valencia Boulevard onramp to the northbound 

freeway, said Sgt. Brian Allen of the 

Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station. 

“It (the death) is consistent with a suicide, 

but homicide detectives and the coroner’s office 

will have to determine that,” Allen said. 

The sheriff’s sergeant would not comment on 

why he believed the death was a suicide. WR 

west RanCh town CounCil Meeting 

Proposed landscape tax assessments 

prove contentious issue at meeting 

Homestead South 

approved, possible 

annexation talks 

also discussed 

By Jim Walker 

Staff Writer 

Using large maps, Corey Harpole, vice president of forward planning for Newhall Land, explains what the 

Newhall Ranch Homestead South development is, where it will be located, and the proposed timetable for its 

construction. Photo by Jim Walker 

The Aug. 5 meeting of the West Ranch 

Town Council revealed that Westside 

residents definitely have a few “developments” 

headed their way — and some of 

these may not go down easy. Among other 

concerns raised at the meeting were the possibilities 

of increasing traffic, increasing tax 

assessments and increasing hourly wages. 

Homestead South 

One of the meeting’s featured guest speakers 

was Corey Harpole, vice president of forward 

planning for Newhall Land. With large 

maps to illustrate, he explained to those present 

what the Newhall Ranch Homestead 

South development was, where it would be 

located, and the proposed timetable for its 

construction. Planned for 3,617 units, including 

699 detached, fee-simple lots and 

about 2,900 multi-family units, he described 

it as “more of a residential-oriented community, 

with a focus on educational and openspace 

amenities.” Situated west of Interstate Harpole’s presentation, the primary concern 

During the questions session following 

5 and south of Highway 126, it will include was traffic — added to Highway 126 and Interstate 

5 by the project, and possibly added 

sites for neighborhood retail, plus open 

space, parks, and elementary school, junior to nearby communities by those looking for 

high school and high school sites. With much shortcuts from the project. It was noted there 

still ahead of the project, Harpole said that, 

“If all goes right, there will be groundbreaking 

in 2017 or 2018.” See West Ranch Town Council, page 17



sCV ChaRities: the good 

A review of tax filings finds local non-profits 

making efficient use of their donors’ money 

by Robb Fulcher 

Staff Writer 

Donors can rest assured that local charities 

serving the Santa Clarita Valley 

are operating with an efficiency well 

above the informal benchmarks set by charity 

watchdogs. 

Large proportions of the organizations’ expenses 

are used to operate their programs, 

rather than going into their overhead, a Westside 

Reader review of tax filings found. 

The review showed varied financial profiles 

for the charities and other similar nonprofits, 

depending on the nature of their 

missions: 

The Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry, 

which uses a volunteer-heavy staff to secure 

food donations and distribute the food, is 

easy to spot as a model organization, with 96 

percent of its total expenses going to its programs, 

and only .05 percent going to salaries. 

However, other organizations with larger 

salary costs also performed well above 

watchdogs’ benchmarks: 

Salaries accounted for about 43 percent of 

the total expenses of the Michael Hoefflin 

Foundation for pediatric cancer, but more 

than 60 percent of that payroll went to employees 

who work directly with patients and 

their families. That meant the foundation 

used 74 percent of its total expenses on its 

programs. 

And the tax filings of Gentle Barn, an 

abused animal sanctuary where kids can 

work with the animals, showed 57 percent of 

its total expenses going to its programs, a figure 

lower than most other area non-profits. 

But, the Barn counted maintenance of facilities 

and equipment as overhead costs, even 

though the maintenance is necessary to run 

the programs. So that 57 percent figure can 

be misleadingly low. 

The watchdogs at Charity Navigator said 

that smaller organizations should probably 

be able to use at least 50 percent of their total 

expenses on their programs. 

Charity Navigator examines about 8,000 of 

the nation’s largest charities. 

“For the larger ones, the vast majority 

spend 75 percent on their programs, and the 

rest on administration and fundraising…The 

smaller, newer ones probably don’t meet that 

level of efficiency, but that doesn’t mean 

that’s a bad place to invest in,” said spokeswoman 

Sandra Miniutti. 

“The benefit of giving to a smaller local 

charity is that you can get involved in the organization,” 

she said. “You can volunteer, 

maybe sit on the board, you can assess the 

real-world impact the nonprofit is having. 

You can assess the leadership of the organization, 

see whether the CEO is a talented, 

qualified leader.” 

The organizations we reviewed range 

from large national entities such as Make-A- 

Wish Foundation and Special Olympics, 

which serve the Santa Clarita Valley, to homegrown 

valley mainstays. The reviews are 

based on the most recent available tax filings, 

and non-profits frequently apply for filing extensions. 

Senior Center of Santa Clarita Valley 

spent 90 percent of its total expenses on its 

programs in 2012, according to its tax filings. 

The Senior Center served more than 

10,000 people with group and home-delivered 

meals, intergenerational recreation and 

lifelong learning, adult day care, housing rehabilitation 

and home modifications, transportation, 

care management, mental health 

and counseling services, care-giving services, 

visually impaired assisted services, consumer 

education, advocacy and benefits counseling, 

and affordable housing. 

The center also maintains community collaborations 

to make available programs such 

as legal assistance, senior training employment, 

and health and wellness programs. 

The Senior Center listed: 

Revenue – $2,827,530 

Salaries – $1,386,500 

Total expenses – $2,607,374 

Program expenses – $2,335,549 

Management expenses – $1,167,241 

Fundraising expenses – $1,104,184 

Net assets – $1,276,785 

Highest compensated employee Director 

Rachelle Dardeau was paid $100,000. 

v v v 

Carousel Ranch used 88 percent of its 

total expenses on its programs, according to 

2014 tax filings. 

Carousel Ranch uses horseback riding in 

offering developmental, therapeutic and 

See SCV Charities, page 12 

The Ugly 

continued from page 1 

Many who donate to nonprofits believe 

that if an organization has achieved nonprofit 

status, as deemed by the Internal Revenue 

Service, that the organization must be a legitimate 

charity. 

Unfortunately, it is not that clear-cut. Unless 

an organization is transparent, which includes 

filing 990s with the state of California 

and reporting to the public where its money 

is spent, it is impossible to know how much of 

the money donated is actually going to a 

cause or actually goes to the nonprofit and 

not to fundraising or the solicitor. 

Is the nonprofit truly providing housing to 

the homeless, or drug and alcohol counseling 

to addicts? Or is it flying its leaders and staff 

around on private jets to conferences in the 

Bahamas? 

Unless a nonprofit provides verifiable information 

to the public, it is wise to save your 

donations for organizations you know and 

recognize as legitimate. 

The Internal Revenue Service requires: 

Every organization exempt from federal income 

tax under Internal Revenue Code section 

501(a) must file an annual information 

return. The list of those exempt is long. Number 

one is: A church 

There are currently several organizations 

from outside the SCV collecting funds from 

unwary SCV residents. 

Missionary Church of the Disciples 

of Jesus Christ 

The Missionary Church of the Disciples of 

Jesus Christ is headquartered in Covina. Yet, 

their white-suited emissaries are seen 

throughout the SCV soliciting donations in 

front of the Saugus Swap Meet on Sundays 

and in front of area grocery stores. 

They are easy to recognize as they wear 

white suits bearing patches that read “Missionary 

Church of the Disciples of Jesus 

Christ” and they have small badges affixed to 

their lapels that identify them as affiliated 

with a registered religious organization that 

qualifies as a nonprofit organization. They 

also carry large “coffee-can” type containers 

wrapped in white with the church’s logo on 

the front. 

Some reports indicate that most of the 

money collected by these white-suited solicitors 

is kept by the individuals with only 15 to 

25 percent of donations being turned over to 

the “church.” 

Wal-Mart sued the Missionary Church in 

See The Ugly, page 10 

The Missionary Church of the Disciples of Jesus Christ 

is headquartered in Covina. Numerous investigations 

of the organization have reported that this 

church fails to meet the “transparency test” for nonprofits.

August 2015 Westside Reader • 9


The Ugly 


the superior courts of several California counties 

in 2001. The corporation alleged the 

group was seeking donations in front of its 

stores without getting permission. 

In a ruling dated April 25, 2012 by the California 

Court of Appeal, Second District, Divi- 

This donation can claims to raise money for the 

“Food for Life Ministry Program.” 

sion 4, the court found in favor of Ralphs Grocery 

Company in a suit alleging trespass by 

the Missionary Church of the Disciples of 

Jesus Christ at a grocery store in El Segundo, 

Calif. 

What is most troubling about the Missionary 

Church of the Disciples of Jesus Christ is 

that they are not a transparent organization, 

like the Salvation Army and other legitimate 

religious-based nonprofits, and have had 

problems in other states. 

In Colorado the organization’s incorporation 

has been revoked several times since 

1990 by the secretary of state’s office and nationally 

the church is on the “watch list” of 

Christian oversight groups. 

The church has also been sued several 

times, by Wal-Mart and others, for aggressive 

panhandling. 

In Washington state an investigation conducted 

by the Pasco, Wash. Tri-City Herald 

newspaper showed that many of the claims 

made by local church officials on the kind of 

“services” they were providing to the community 

proved to be false. “Pasco church says 

it aids community services, but nonprofits 

say no money received” read the headline 

from the 2010 story. 

A review of the Missionary Church headquarters 

website has no details about how 

much money the church brings in, or how it is 

used. In addition, there are no precise details 



A representative of the The Missionary Church of the Disciples of Jesus Christ waits outside the Saugus Swap 

Meet to collect donations. 

21515 Soledad Canyon Rd. • Suite. 123 

Santa Clarita, CA 91350 

661.284.1200 

www.boylesflooringinc.com


Newhall Ranch moves closer to reality 

Valencia-sized community 

will add roughly 50,000 

residents at buildout 

by Josh Premako 

Staff Writer 

Home to more than a quarter-million 

people, it might seem the Santa 

Clarita Valley is swelling but the truth 

is that there’s still room for more, and they 

may start moving in by 2018. 

Steadily moving from plan to reality west 

of the junction of Highway 126 and Interstate 

5, the Newhall Ranch community will be the 

last major development project of Newhall 

Land and add approximately 20,885 homes 

and roughly 50,000 people on 12,000 acres 

to the valley. 

Set to be developed on former pasture 

land a stone’s throw from Six Flags Magic 

Mountain, Newhall Ranch is planned as a collection 

of so-called pedestrian-oriented “villages”: 

Mission Village, Landmark Village, 

Homestead Village and Potrero Village, the 

latter two of which are still in the planning 

stages. 

Newhall Land spokeswoman Marlee Lauffer 

said development will begin with Mission 

Village — envisioned as Newhall Ranch’s 

“urban center” — which will be the easiest to 

which infrastructure can be extended, with 

the village developed primarily southwest of 

the intersection of Commerce Center Drive 

and Highway 126. 

“We hope to have move-ins by late 

2018/early 2019,” Lauffer wrote in a recent 

email. 

Mission Village is planned to include approximately 

350 houses, about 3,700 multifamily 

units and about 1.5 million square-feet 

of mixed-use and commercial space. Additionally, 

the community will include an elementary 

school, library, community center, 

fire station and several-hundred acres of 

open space and park land. Lauffer said the 

developer expects the complete buildout of 

Newhall Ranch to take about 20 years. 

The development of the community is certainly 

music to the ears of those in the SCV 

business community. 

“Newhall Ranch will bring significant new 

employment to the region — an estimated 

80,000 permanent jobs after buildout and 

about 130,000 construction/temporary related 

jobs along the way,” said Holly 

Schroeder, president and CEO of the SCV Economic 

Development Corp. The organization 

works with industry and government officials 

to attract and retain businesses in the valley. 

“The business parks range from mixed-use 

centers to corporate campuses, to traditional 

office/industrial development.” 

Schroeder said the community being designed 

with a variety of different home styles 

is important to creating a balanced community 

through the project’s development. 

“It’s a sign that the SCV is vibrant and 

growing, and promotion of Newhall Ranch 

will help us promote the SCV as a business location,” 

she said. 

History of the Ranch 

Before the developing boom of the past 25 

years that changed the face of the SCV community, 

before a shopping mall and a multiplex 

replaced sprawling fields longtime local 

residents speak of wistfully, the land that will 

cradle Newhall Ranch was known as Rancho 

Looking west at the end of Pico Canyon, the Newhall Ranch high country spreads out to the west of Santa 

Clarita. As part of the development of Newhall Ranch, more than 5,000 acres of the high country will be set 

aside as open space. Photo by Josh Premako 

San Francisco. 

The nearly 50,000-acre land grant was 

given to Mexican army officer Antonio del 

Valle in 1839 in recognition of service to Alta 

California. 

By the 1860s, the del Valle family was 

forced to sell off most of the land to oil speculators. 

Rancho San Francisco would eventually 

fall into the hands of a man whose name 

is familiar to scores of SCV residents: Henry 

Mayo Newhall. 

After Newhall’s death in 1882, his heirs 

formed the Newhall Land and Farming Company, 

today known simply as Newhall Land, 

which in 2004 became a subsidiary of homebuilder 

Lennar Corp. 

Facing challenges 

The Newhall Ranch Specific Plan was approved 

by the Los Angeles County Regional 

Planning Commission in 2003, and in the ensuing 

years has faced repeated legal challenges 

by environmental groups, particularly 

over the project’s water supply and the endangered 

vegetation found on the project 

site. As part of the development, Newhall 

Land is incorporating a spineflower preserve 

for the rare flower. 

Newhall Ranch will reportedly also include 

more than 5,000 acres set aside as open 

space, in addition to more than 900 acres of 

the Santa Clara River being protected. 

Environmental groups have also raised 

concerns about the water supply for the project, 

of note as California remains in the grip of 

drought conditions. Lauffer said Newhall 

Land is confident there will be sufficient 

water supplies over the life of the project. 

“As part of Newhall Ranch, we are building 

a state-of-the-art water treatment plant that 

will provide over 50 percent of the water 

usage for common areas, medians, etc.,” she 

said. “There will be drought-tolerant landscaping 

and smart irrigation, and there are 

great advances in water-saving measures in 

the homes.” 

In April, a three-judge panel of the state 

Second Appellate District unanimously 

backed a 2013 Los Angeles Superior Court 

ruling in favor of the Landmark Village’s environmental 

impact report and land use permits 

that were approved in 2011. The court 

was acting on a suit that had been brought 

against Los Angeles County by the Sierra 

Club, the Center for Biological Diversity, 

Santa Clarita Organization for Planning and 

the Environment and other environmental 

groups. 

While appeals have been filed with the 

state Supreme Court, the court has yet to 

state if it will hear the appeals. Meanwhile, in 

late June, a Los Angeles federal court judge 

upheld the validity of dredging permits that 

were issued under the Clean Water Act nearly 

a decade ago. The state supreme court is currently 

hearing appeals of the project’s state 

environmental permits. 

Longtime SCV Realtor Neal Weichel of 

RE/MAX sees the eventual development of 

Newhall Ranch as a positive. 

“I think it’s going to be a terrific development. 

Buyers love new construction. There is 

no new construction hardly to speak of anywhere 

in north L.A. County that isn’t Antelope 

Valley,” he said. “They’ve been through a lot 

of struggles trying to overcome all the different 

issues you deal with in the state of California 

to develop property. They keep 

jumping over every hurdle.” WR


a day i n t h e l i f e 

it’s refreshing to talk 

to real people 

by U.S. Rep. Steve Knight 

Contributing Writer 

When my alarm starts beeping at 6 

a.m., I spring out of bed. I have a lot 

to do today and my schedule is not 

very forgiving. 

I shower, get dressed and eat pretty 

quickly. My goal is to be on the road by 6:45. 

I’m in my car with five minutes to spare. By 

the time I get onto Highway 14 the sun is 

shining and the sky is bright blue. I’m driving 

south toward Northridge and making great 

time. 

I arrive a few minutes early at my destination: 

the Porter Ranch Country Club. I park 

my car and check some emails on my phone. 

After a few peaceful moments to myself, I get 

out. 

My first event of the day is speaking at a 

breakfast meeting for Realtors from the Santa 

Clarita and Simi Valley areas. I enter the 

venue and spot LA City Councilman Mitch 

Englander sitting at a table across the room. 

I pull up a chair next to him and we catch up. 

We both have pretty busy schedules and 

haven’t had a chance to talk in months. 

Our table fills up and soon there about ten 

of us talking about a huge spread of topics. 

Some folks want to talk about politics, but 

others are more interested in sports and the 

weather. I don’t mind at all — after months of 

talking with members of the DC community, 

it is just refreshing to talk to real people. 

Soon, Councilman Englander takes the 

stage. He speaks briefly, and then introduces 

me. The audience is made up of many familiar 

faces and I can’t help but smile as I take 

the podium. 

I have a lot to say. Quite a bit has happened 

since I was sworn into office in January, and I 

want to make sure I touch on everything. I 

talk about the various bills I have been working 

on, ranging from the National Defense Authorization 

Act to regulatory reforms for 

small businesses. I then move onto local topics, 

like the progress we are making with the 

CEMEX issue and creating a national memorial 

for victims of the Saint Francis Dam Disaster. 

Finally, I open it up to questions. This is 

a particularly engaged crowd, and there is no 

shortage of intelligent inquiries. 

Castaic Town Council Meeting 


use permit.” 

As the council members present took turns 

addressing the issue of the letter, several concerns 

were raised. Among these concerns 

were the large number of materials on the 

list, the fact some on the council did not know 

what many of the materials were, whether 

the council should be regulating private business, 

and the possibility that by sending the 

letter, the council might be running afoul of 

the previous council’s vote to approve the 

When there are no more hands in the air, 

it is nearly 10:30 a.m. I thank everyone for 

having me and head for the door. I stayed 

longer than expected, which just means I’ll 

have to have a sense of urgency in getting to 

my next activity. 

This is where my day gets hectic. My plan is 

to visit four health centers in the Santa Clarita 

Valley to learn about the challenges they face 

and how the federal government could help 

improve their practices. 

For the next six hours, that is exactly what 

I do. First, I receive a guided tour of the Henry 

Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Newhall. 

Next, I check out the sophisticated equipment 

used to fight cancer at Vantage Oncology. 

After that, I race over to North East Valley 

Health Corporation Health Center on Soledad 

Canyon Road for a look around. To finish up 

the outing, I stop by the Women, Infant, and 

Children (WIC) Center next door. 

All along the way, I speak with nurses, 

doctors, staff and patients. What I see and 

hear ranges from interesting and inspiring 

to humbling and heartbreaking. My wife is a 

NICU nurse and I’ve heard my share of stories 

about the medical community, but I am 

still moved whenever I hear about men and 

women dedicating their lives to improving 

the health of others. I learn a great deal from 

the tours and I’m excited to apply the new 

information when I return to Washington, 

DC. 

But my day is not quite done yet. 

I hop in my car and drive north toward 

Palmdale. Tonight is the birthday barbecue 

for my longtime friend and mentor, Supervisor 

Michael Antonovich. When I arrive at Hacienda 

Lane Ranch, the party is in full swing. 

I speak with old friends and make new ones 

over some delicious barbecue food. 

The festivities wrap up around 7 p.m., and 

I head home to unwind. It was a good day, 

and tomorrow is sure to be just as busy. WR 

Steve Knight is the U.S. Representative of 

California's 25th District which covers the 

Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys as well as 

portions of Simi Valley. 

landfill’s conditional use permit — which included 

the expansion of the landfill and the 

resulting $360,000 donated to Val Verde (approximately 

two-thirds) and Castaic (approximately 

one-third). 

In the end, the council voted down the proposal 

to send the letter 8 to 1, with Lloyd 

Carder absent and Nikolai the only “yes” vote. 

After the meeting, Nikolai said she would 

still send the letter, but “as a private citizen.” 

WR 

SCV Charities 


recreational experiences for disabled and disadvantaged 

children and adults, benefiting 

people with cerebral palsy, mental retardation, 

autism, brain stroke, learning disorders 

and emotional problems. 

Carousel Ranch listed: 

Revenue – $592,472 

Salaries – $269,623 

Total expenses – $471,632 

Program expenses – $414,423 

Management expenses – $057,209 

Fundraising expenses – $060,549 

Net assets – $924,168 

Highest compensated employees: 

Executive Director Denise Redmond and 

Program Director Becky Graham were each 

paid $51,600. Land, buildings and equipment 

were valued at $1.3 million. 

v v v 

Gentle Barn spent 57 percent of its total 

expenses on its programs to rescue, rehabilitate 

and give sanctuary to abused animals, 

and expose children to the rewards of working 

closely with animals, according to 2013 

tax filings. 

However, large amounts of Gentle Barn’s 

overhead went to maintain its facilities and 

animals in Santa Clarita and Knoxville, Tennessee, 

and was not listed as program expenses, 

according to the organization. 

Gentle Barn listed: 

Revenue – $1,742,382 

Salaries – $0,615,375 

Total expenses $1,780,065 


Management expenses –$0,555,243 


Net assets – $1,463,785 


Director and Board Chair Yael Laks was 

paid $74,400, Director Jay Weiner was paid 

$37,200 and Director Joe Seoane was paid 

$12,500. 

v v v 

Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry spent 

96 percent of its total expenses on its programs, 

according to 2013 tax filings. 

The Pantry utilizes numerous volunteers 

to seek out food donations and distribute the 

food to more than 6,500 people, about half of 

them children, on a short-term basis. The organization 

also received a grant to increase 

services to seniors, according to the filings. 

The Food Pantry listed: 

Total revenue – $1,929,532 

Salaries – $1,097,118 





Net assets – $1,971,788 

Highest compensated employee Executive 

Director Belinda Crawford was paid $64,200. 

v v v 


The Santa Clarita Valley Boys and Girls 

Club used 75 percent of its total expenses on 

its programs, according to 2014 tax filings. 

The organization promotes the health, social, 

educational, vocational and character 

development of boys and girls through programs 

including social recreation, co-ed 

sports, arts and crafts. 

The organization listed: 


Salaries – $1,712,000 




Fundraising expenses – 0 

Net assets – $1,459,359 


Interim CEO Bryan Lake was paid $66,400. 

Jim Ventriss, now-retired chief professional 

officer, was paid $59,500. 

A separate Boys and Girls Club of Santa 

Clarita Valley Foundation raised $591,500 

for the Club, according to 2013 tax filings. 

The foundation listed $308,405 in costs for 

special fundraising events, and $220,328 in 

net proceeds from the events. The foundation 

also receives money in grants and donations. 

(This year the Foundation’s largest event, 

an annual auction, netted $240,000 by itself, 

after Foundation leaders cut expenses by 

moving it from a warehouse to the Hyatt Regency 

Valencia hotel.) 

The foundation listed $84,499 in salaries. 

v v v 

LARC Ranch used 86 percent of its total 

expenses on its programs, according to 2012 

tax filings. 

LARC Ranch provided residential care with 

24-hour food, housing and recreational services 

for a maximum of 159 disabled adults. It 

served about 60 people with a 57-day Training 

Activity Center with computer training, 

teaching appropriate workplace behavior, 

and teaching skills for commuting to work. It 

served about 35 people with an Adult Development 

Center to maintain and improve fine 

motor and communication skills. 

The program listed: 

Revenue – $04,803,175 

Salaries – $02,848,820 




Fundraising expenses –$01,050,385 

Net assets – $16,965,896 


Executive Director Kathleen Sturkey was 

paid $87,300, Executive Officer Christine 

Bratzel was paid $64,600 and CFO Larry 

Swallows was paid $71,200. 

v v v 

The Samuel Dixon Foundation, which 

provides free or reduced-cost community 

clinic services to uninsured and underinsured 

individuals and families, used 74 percent 

of its total expenses on its programs, 


The foundation listed: 


Salaries – $1,165,609 


See SCV Charities, page 18


the good 

Warriors on the Water 

by Rodney Scott USAF (Ret) 

Special to Westside Reader 

Seems all of us could use an outlet from 

time to time; a way to take a little break 

from the day-to-day events. For me, it’s 

the outdoors and for many of our military 

men and women returning from active duty, 

outdoor activities can be great therapy. 

I found this to be especially true when 

serving in Iraq. During downtime, I shared 

my passion for fishing with other soldiers. 

We started off as a small group walking 

around some of the ponds on the compound, 

catching fish, but mostly talking about home 

and family. After a few weeks I decided to 

contact a few companies in the fishing industry, 

to get a few items to hold a fishing 

tournament. The response was overwhelming. 

First a tube of fishing rods came. This 

was fantastic; as there was nowhere to buy 

fishing gear at that time (it changed in 2008). 

With that much needed support, we held two 

fishing tournaments, where everyone was 

able to get a break from what was going on 

around them. Thoughts turned back to home. 

Fast forward to July 2015. I was talking to 

some friends, and heard about a fishing event 

at Castaic Lake called “Warriors on the 

Water.” It was put on by the Fregoso Outdoor 

Foundation and Top Stick Tours, and treated 

our veterans to a day of tournament-style 

bass fishing. This combined two of my passions 

— military and fishing — all in one 

place. The event offered a great time for all. 

Many of the local anglers volunteered their 

time and equipment to the veterans who enjoyed 

a day on the water fishing, with a little 

team competition thrown in. Some of the 

other events for veterans focus on those with 

visible injuries, which is great, but what about 

the injuries you don’t see, or the veterans 

lucky enough to not get injured. Should we 

forget them? This event didn’t forget about 

any veteran. 

The day on the water started with everyone 

meeting at Castaic Lake, and paired expert 

fisherman with veterans for the day’s 

competition. The Fregoso Foundation and 

volunteers provided everything — including 

a fishing license for each veteran. Then everyone 

headed out to the lake for a six-hour tournament, 

ending up with a weigh-in of their 

five biggest fish, just like on T.V. After weighin, 

the veterans and anglers were escorted to 

the picnic area for a barbecue lunch, put on 

by the Friends of Castaic Lake. During the 

barbecue there was a raffle loaded with 

prizes for every veteran. The day ended with 

Two participants show off the bounty they will bring to the Warriors on the Water tournament weigh-in. 

awarding plaques and prizes to the top three 

teams for their catches. 

The part I found most rewarding was not 

the fishing, food or prizes, but the time with 

fellow veterans from all branches and service 

periods. It did not matter whether from 

Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, 

Afghanistan, or any service. The time outdoors, 

talking about our experiences both in 

the military and after returning home, 

seemed to me, to be a form of therapy that 

money could not buy. I hope the other veterans 

also found some peace, even if just for a 

short time that day. 

All those who made this event happen deserve 

a great thank you, for caring for those 

so many have forgotten or just don’t care 

about. I have asked the people at Fregoso 

Outdoor to let me help in the future, to show 

even as a veteran of over 25 years, I appreciate 

what they did for all of us. 

To learn more about the Fregoso Foundation 

or to donate, go to their website Fregoso 

Foundation.org, or you can e-mail Ed@ 

Fregoso Foundation.org WR 

The Fregoso Foundation is a 501(C)(3) organization 

that focuses on thanking our 

Armed Forces and their families, especially the 

combat wounded, for their service and sacrifice. 

Among the services is providing first-class 

outdoor sporting and recreation activities. 

the Bad 

The Wounded Warrior Project: 

Where does your donation go? 

by Tony Oliva 

Special to the Westside Reader 

Iwrote an article at the end of 2014 “Stop 

Donating To The Wounded Warrior Project 

— They’re a Fraud” discussing how little 

of the donations that the Wounded 

Warrior Project gets actually goes to helping 

veterans in need. 

From the hundreds of comments that article 

received, a vase majority of people echoed 

their own personal frustration in dealing 

with the Wounded Warrior Project and how 

they were made to feel more like stage props 

for fundraising campaigns than actual human 

beings in need. 

Of course, there were a few vehement, 

“head in the sand” supporters of the WWP 

Even when I engaged these blind followers 

and told them about how the breakdown of 

money is spent they turned a deaf ear or even 

worse, claimed that only spending 47-52% of 

donations to ACTUALLY use for the purported 

cause was GOOD, because other charities 

were worse. 

Unsurprising they became obstinate when 

I rattle off a number of veteran charities that 

spend over 90% of donations directly helping 

vets. Places like the Phoenix Patriot Foundation 

or Fisher House. 

Organizations, by the way, that I have no 

connection with whatsoever, save for my admiration 

on how much they are TRULY dedicated 

to helping vets. 

But I digress. As they say, seeing is believing 

so I went to the Wounded Warrior Project 

website and took their tax return from 2013. 

First, how much money comes in to the 

Wounded Warrior Project: 

Total revenue, the money that the 

Wounded Warrior Project brings in is 

$234,682,943. Over 200 MILLION dollars in 

a year. 

Now, how was that money spent? Let’s first 

look at what goes toward helping vets: 

Taking a look at their 990 form you will see 

what the Wounded Warrior Project does for 

vets. 

Alumni: $31,466,113 

Combat Stress Recovery: $16,127,622 

Soldier Ride: $ 8,824,978 

Other Program Services: $60,780,024 

Remember, the Wounded Warrior Project 

pulled in $234,682,943 in donations. 

That means only 49.93% of money that the 

WWP raised actually went to helping 

wounded vets. 

And the Alumni group is more for fundraising 

then helping.. but 

Where, pray tell, did the rest of the money 

go? 

Let’s look at the form 990 expense report: 

See Wounded Warrior Project, page 20


Westside Schools 


oak hills eleMentaRy 

Fourth-grade teacher preps for the new year 

by Patti Rasmussen 

Staff Writer 

Fourth-grade teacher Lori Adair has been teaching at Oak Hills since it opened ten years ago. Photo by Patti 

Rasmussen 

Lori Adair surveyed the classroom and 

meticulously prepared for the upcoming 

school year. Adair, a fourth-gradeteacher 

at Oak Hills Elementary School in 

Valencia, has been doing this every summer 

for the past 16 years. 

While her students names wouldn’t be 

available until the day before school started, 

Adair prepared for her 32 students well before 

the first day. 

Adair is one of 350 Newhall School District 

teachers who spent the first week of August 

organizing their classrooms for their new 

crop of students. 

Maps of California, classroom rules and 

brand new notebooks are just a few of the 

items that needed to be organized and placed 

in Adair’s classroom. Most of the items were 

put away and stored at the end of the last 

school year, but the notebooks, pencils, 

crayons and glue were new and were purchased 

by Adair out of pocket. 

She said she gets help with school supplies 

from the Parent Teacher Association and she 

adds an additional $200 to cover the cost. 

But it’s the technology that is Adair’s passion. 

Like all classrooms in the Newhall District, 

Adair’s room is equipped with tablets 

for the students on a 4 to 1 basis. That number 

will increase to 2 to 1 as the Newhall District 

supplies each of it’s school sites with 

additional tablets. Adair sits on the district 

technology committee. 

See Adair, page 15 

eleCtions CanCelled 

Westside slates set 

for Nov. 3 elections 

Alack of challengers for the Nov. 3 school 

board elections for the Castaic Union 

High School District and the Newhall 

School District caused the elections to be cancelled, 

according to the Los Angeles County 

Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office. 

In the Financially troubled Castaic Union 

High School District Board elections both incumbents 

Steve Teeman and David Huffaker 

whose terms are up, failed to file for reelection. 

Stacy Dobbs and Michael Owen Lambarth 

are the only two candidates that filed election 

papers for the two open seats, causing the 

election to be cancelled, and both will be appointed 

to the school board. 

In The Newhall School District Board Elections 

no one signed up to run against incumbants 

Mike Shapiro and Sue Solomon, which 

means the upcoming elections will also be canceled 

and those candidates will be appointed, 

according to the Registrar-Recorder/County 

Clerk’s office. 

There are two contested elections. 

In the William S. Hart Union High School 

District Board Election, incumbent Gloria Mercado-Fortine 

and challenger Linda Storli, a Realtor 

and retired Canyon High School teacher, 

are running in the district’s Trustee Area 1, 

election, which covers Castaic and Val Verde. 

Steve Sturgeon, the other incumbent is challenged 

by Andrew Taban, a 19 year old, in 

Trustee Area 4, which covers Canyon Country. 

This is the first year that the William S. Hart 

Union High School District will be holding separate 

elections in geographical voting areas. 

In the Newhall County Water District board, 

incumbents Lynne Plambeck and Daniel R. 

Mortensen are challenged by Jeff Ford, who 

works for the Castaic Lake Water Agency, and 

Don Cruikshank, who owns AV Equipment 

Rentals. WR 

Westside Hart enrollment 

More than 22,000 junior high and high 

school students headed back to school on 

Aug. 13. Over 1,000 teachers, counselors and 

librarians joined them. 

While the dog days of summer are still 

around, it’s back to the books for many in our 

community. 

Here are some of the numbers for the 

William S. Hart Union High School District for 

students attending just on the west side of the 

valley. 

Rancho Pico Junior High – 936 students 

West Ranch High School – 2,502 students 

Academy of the Cyns – 395 (some Westside 

students) 

Hart@Home (home schooling) – 93 (some 

Westside students) 

Of the 902 teachers district-wide, 71 one 

of them are new hires. Over 820 classified 

employees also returned. 

"Every teacher, administrator and staff 

member is excited to be back in school with 

the students,” said Dave Caldwell, public relations 

officer for the Hart district. “The first 

day of classes went smoothly and, for the 

most part, the kids seem to be excited for another 

school year to begin." WR


CoMMon CoRe tRaining 

Newhall District also to provide 

‘coaches’ in math, science push 

by Patti Rasmussen 

Staff Writer 

Adistrict training session was held for 

all teachers in August that centered 

around the new Common Core Math 

Standards. This new standard has changed 

the most for students in terms of depth of understanding 

required instead of memorizing 

formulas. 

Ronna Wolcott, assistant superintendent of 

business, said the district is making a big 

push in both math and science this year by 

providing coaches to help teachers create 

more effective and engaging lessons. The goal 

is to incorporate all the new classroom technology 

into the teaching practices. In addition, 

teachers will be learning a new online 

student resource for math called DreamBox. 

“It is structured something like an online 

gaming experience,” Wolcott said. “When it 

was piloted at some of the schools this past 

spring, students, parents and teachers loved 

it.” 

Adair 


“I like technology,” she said. “It’s not a matter 

of just the ability to teach in an exciting 

way but making sure the students understand 

it.” 

Smart Boards are employed for just about 

every subject and Adair uses a wireless microphone 

during lessons. “The students listen 

better when you’re amplified,” she said 

with a smile. 

The students still use paper and pencil but 

most of the tests are online. And while technology 

is a big part of the school day, Adair 

still uses good, old-fashioned cursive in 

monthly poetry lessons and weekly spelling 

tests. 

On the first day of school, Adair would 

meet her students on the grounds. Parents 

would be more than welcome to come into 

the classroom and have a look at where their 

children will spend the next nine months. 

Adair said all the teachers are just as excited 

about the first day of school as the students 

are. 

Once inside the classroom, students would 

learn about the school and classroom rules 

and dig right into an assignment. Fourth 

graders study the history of California including 

the mission system. Adair’s students 

will be visiting a mission, which she believes 

is like going to a museum. And while the students 

are not required to make individual 

missions anymore, Adair’s cabinets are 

stocked with all sorts of crafting material and 

group missions will be made in the classroom. 

Adair, who grew up in Southern California, 

started her teaching career at Newhall Elementary 

School, and when Oak Hills opened 

in 10 years ago, Adair transferred to the new 

site. She and her husband Eric, an attorney, 

raised their three children in Santa Clarita: 

Alyssa, a teacher in Utah, Elliot who is completing 

his bachelor’s degree in statistics, and 

Keith, a computer programmer in Sacramento. 

And while she is excited about returning 

DreamBox adjusts to the level of the student 

based upon their ability to accurately 

solve math problems aligned to the Common 

Core standards. DreamBox provides challenges 

and rewards within the software for 

mastering math concepts. Students and parents 

will be able to access the program at 

home and during the summer for free. 

The district has hired four math Teachers 

on Special Assignment (TOSA) to support 

math instruction and technology integration. 

The TOSAs will meet with grade level teachers 

at each site approximately every six 

weeks. Teachers have already commented on 

how much they appreciate the support they 

are receiving from the TOSAs in gathering resources 

and materials to get the year off to a 

successful start. 

“It is innovation and training like this that 

keeps Newhall as the top performing district 

for elementary schools in this valley,” Wolcott 

said. “This is something that I have been very 

proud to be a part of.” WR 

the classroom, her summer was filled with 

trips to the beach, camping and visits to her 

parents’ home in Michigan. 

"I love teaching. It’s a rewarding, challenging 

and a daily adventure,” Adair said. WR 

The Classroom Sign Language Signals posted on this 

board help keep the noise level down in Adair’s classroom. 

Photo by Patti Rasmussen 

West Ranch High School to get shade 

West Ranch High School will be getting some much-needed shade. The William S. Hart Union High School 

Board has approved the construction of more than a dozen shade structures. Photo by Lauren Budman 

The William S. Hart Union High School 

District Board has approved the construction 

of shade structures at West 

Ranch High School for an estimated cost of 

$273,777. 

The Division of the State Architect approved 

the plans for the structures in August 

of 2014. 

District staff have completed planning for 

West Ranch High School shade structures 

and are now prepared to go to formal design, 

Division of the Architect (DSA) submittal, fabrication, 

and construction. 

The work will include: 

• One 60’ by 60’ structure for the quad with 

four 14’ x 14’ single-post structures located 

outside the cafeteria building at the lower 

quad. 

•Ten 14’ x 14’ single-post structures in various 

locations at the upper quad. 

•One 14’×14’ single-post structure at main 

entrance of the school. WR


Santa Clarita Sheriff's deputy saves toddler from drowning 

Santa Clarita Valley Station Deputy Christine 

Shaffer is being credited for helping 

save a two-year–old girl’s life after responding 

to an emergency near-drowning 

call. On Saturday, Aug. 1, 2015 at approximately 

8 p.m., the Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station 

received a chilling 9-1-1 call. A woman 

caller was on the other line screaming that “a 

little girl drowned in a pool.” 

Saturday had started out as a celebratory 

day for the Cruz family of Palmdale, but almost 

ended with tragedy if it were not for the 

quick thinking actions of Deputy Christine 

Shaffer. The young couple and their two children, 

ages two and four, were attending a 

joint birthday party for two of their relatives. 

The festivity was being held at Stonegate 

Community Pool located at 31830 Diamond 

Lane, Castaic. 

As day turned to dusk, the party goers exited 

the gated, locked community swimming 

pool and turned to other activities. Evidently 

while music played, children jumped in a 

bounce house, and adults talked with each 

other, a little two-year-old girl quietly slipped 

away without anyone’s notice. 

Castaic Town Council 


Her family includes her husband James Nikolai, 

daughters Annaliese Nikolai (7), Alexandra 

Nikolai (4) and 

Aubrielle Nikolai 

(2). She said her 

occupation is 

Origami Owl independent 

designer 

and event planner. 

“I was elected 

(to the council) in 

November 2014,” 

she said. “My main goal was to tell others 

about how great my town is and relay my 

constituents’ preferences in all matters. I 

want to be a different kind of elected official 

— one that puts her own interests aside in 

favor of her constituents. I think many of our 

elected officials have forgotten the true reason 

for being elected.” 

Region 3: Hasley, Sloan and 

Romero Canyons 

Sandia Ennis (vice president) 


December 2016 

Sandia Ennis said she has lived in the Castaic 

area for more than 15 years. Her family 

includes her husband, 

Glen, and 

daughter Ashlyn. A 

website designer, 

Ennis said she 

joined the council 

in 2013 “because I 

wanted to be more 

involved with Castaic 

and support 

our community.” 

And she added, “I hope to make a difference 

by helping Castaic residents have a voice and 

by highlighting organizations (and events) 

that make a difference, such as the annual 

Splash Run that benefits our local schools.” 

Her father had 

stepped inside the 

building for just a 

few minutes to 

get her older 

brother some food 

to eat. Not long 

after, he said he 

heard people frantically 

yelling that 

“there was a kid in 

the pool.” He ran 

outside and to his 

horror he recognized the lifeless form, it 

was his daughter. 

The father, Freddy Cruz, raced to get in the 

gated pool but the door was locked and he 

had no key. With not a moment to spare, he 

rapidly scaled the 10-foot black iron fence 

that secured the pool and retrieved his 

daughter from the water. 

When Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station 

Deputies Jason Goedecke and Christine Shaffer 

arrived at the scene, the distraught parents 

had their small daughter lying on the 

cement sidewalk. Deputy Shaffer immedi- 

Lloyd Carder II (treasurer) 


December 2018 

Lloyd Carder II said he has lived in the 

Santa Clarita Valley since 1984 and “moved 

to Hasley in 1991.” His family includes his 

wife, Nancy, and 

d a u g h t e r s 

Amanda, now living 

in “Live Oak 

Reg 1,” and Amelia, 

now in law school 

at Tulane. He owns 

a welding engineering 

company. 

“I was president 

of the CATC in 

2005-2006, but did not run for reelection to 

be with my daughter as a West Ranch (High 

School) Band parent,” Carder said. “I was reelected 

in 2014 for Region 3 (by a 3:1 margin 

over an incumbent) to fight the landfill expansion 

and the environmental attack on our 

region by the Hart School District and developers,” 

he said. “I am also a strong supporter 

of the Castaic Equestrian Trail System and am 

concerned, along with the residents of 

Hasley/Sloan Canyon, that the high school 

will cut our access to the northern forest area, 

as it already has done.” 

Carder said he wants to stop or limit the 

Chiquita Landfill expansion, and he wants to 

protect the “only District 36 water well and 

its aquifer.” He said he also wants “a true 

equestrian trail reestablished by the Hart 

School District.” He added that, “Having been 

one who worked hard on the Castaic CSDs 

(Community Standards Districts), I want to 

make sure they are followed and enforced.” 

Region 4: Meadowood, Bravo, 

Encore, Castaic east of I5 and 

south of Lake Hughes Road 

Flo Lawrence 

Reelected November 2012, term 

expires December 2016 

Jim Idleman (co-chair, Land Use 

Committee) 


December 2018 (no photo) 

ately sprang into action and began actively 

rendering emergency aid to the child while 

Deputy Goedecke flagged down the fire department 

and controlled radio traffic. Shortly 

after, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Park 

Bureau Deputies Charles Weathers and 

Matthew Burnett arrived along with the Los 

Angeles County Fire Department. The Park 

Bureau deputies assisted in giving the little 

girl rescue breaths until she was conscious 

and breathing. She was then airlifted to a 

local hospital. 

Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Long 

said if Deputy Shaffer “had not gotten to the 

scene as quick as she did and began treatment, 

we would probably be looking at a different 

outcome.” 

The two-year-old girl has since been released 

from the hospital and has made an 

amazingly full recovery. She suffered no brain 

damage as a result of the near drowning. 

Training Officer Deputy Jeffrey Brito at the 

Santa Clarita Valley Station commended the 

deputy that saved the little girl’s life and said 

“That child couldn’t have been in better 

hands.” WR 

Region 5: Double C Ranch, 

Hidden Lake, Stonegate, 

Northlake, Castaic east of I5 

and north of Lake Hughes 

Road 

Dawn Faulconer (newsletter editor) 


December 2018 

Dawn Faulconer is a Realtor, and has lived 

in the Castaic area 

for 13 years. Her 

family numbers 

six. She said she 

came to the council 

in 2013 “when 

there was a vacant 

seat for my region.” 

And she added, “I 

want to see Castaic 

become a thriving 

community where 

people want to live, work and shop.” 

Kelly Quick 


December 2016 

A regulatory control manager, Kelly Quick 

said he has lived in 

the Castaic area for 

12 years and his 

family includes his 

wife and three children. 

He said his 

term began in January 

of 2013 and 

he wants to “ensure 

that the needs 

and concerns of 

our community are 

heard and addressed by our county representatives.” 

The Castaic Area Town Council meets the 

third Wednesday of every month. They hold 

meetings in the boardroom of the Castaic 

Union School District (CUSD), located at 28131 

Livingston Avenue, in the Valencia Commerce 

Center. Meetings start promptly at 6:30 p.m. 

and usually run until 10 p.m. Community attendance 

is encouraged. For more information 

visit www.castaicareatowncouncil.org. WR 


Crime Blotter 

(last 30 days) 

Castaic/Val Verde 

• An arson was reported from the 

31000 block of Castaic Road. A late 

model Ford caught fire while parked at 

the location. The Fire Department extinguished 

the fire and noticed evidence of 

possible arson. Responding deputies notified 

the Arson/Explosive unit for further 

investigation. 

• A petty theft was reported from the 

31000 block of Castaic Road. The victim 

reported his red “Spitfire” medical 

scooter was stolen from the parking lot 

of his workplace. 

• An aggravated assault occurred near 

the 31500 block of Castaic Road. An employee 

was assaulted with a brick by the 

suspect while he was working as a parking 

lot security guard. The suspect fled 

prior to deputies’ arrival. 

• A commercial burglary occurred 

near the 28000 block of Hasley Canyon 

Road. Person(s) unknown shattered the 

front window to the location and made 

entry. While inside, the suspect did not 

take any property. 

• A petty theft occurred near the 

36200 block of Paradise Ranch Road. 

Person(s) unknown stole the victim’s 

purse that she left unattended outside of 

her residence. 

• An attempt petty theft occurred near 

the 28900 block of Avenue Paine. Two 

suspects were seen by an employee near 

the above location attempting to siphon 

gasoline from a vehicle. When the employee 

walked toward the suspects to 

confront them, the suspects got into a 

nearby vehicle and drove off. No gasoline 

was actually taken. WR 

Stevenson Ranch 

• A grand theft occurred on the 25300 

block of Silver Aspen Wy. Person(s) unknown 

went into the victim’s vehicle and 

stole her portable GPS, cell phone, three 

social security cards belonging to the victim’s 

family, and numerous other 

items.The victim was not sure if she 

locked her vehicle. 

• A grand theft occurred on the 23300 

block of Clifton Pl. Person(s) unknown 

stole the catalytic converter from the victim’s 

Toyota Sequoia. 

• A grand theft auto occurred on the 

24900 block of Pico Cyn Rd. Person(s) 

unknown stole the informant’s U-Haul 

rental, a Ford E450 box truck. 

• A burglary occurred on the 25400 

block of The Old Rd. A white male adult 

exited the store with numerous items he 

did not pay for. The suspect admitted to 

entering the store with the intent to steal 

items. He was arrested for burglary 

(shoplifting). 


block of Valencia Blvd. Person(s) unknown 

pried open the door of the location 

and stole a lap-top computer. 

• A shoplifting occurred on the 25400 

block of The Old Rd. A white male adult 

and a white female adult took items from 

the store and left the location without 

paying for the items.They were contacted 

by the store’s loss prevention officer 

and were told to return the items, to 

which they complied. The suspects were 

then allowed to leave. 

• A shoplifting occurred on the 25400


block of The Old Rd. A Hispanic male 

adult exited the location with several 

items that he did not pay for. He was arrested 

for petty theft. 


25400 block of The Old Rd. Person(s) 

unknown stole the victim’s vehicle 

which was parked and secured at the 

above location. 



unknown stole the victim’s U-Haul 

rental and a U-Haul rental auto trailer 

which was towing the victim’s vehicle. 

• A petty theft (shoplifting) occurred 

on the 25400 block of The Old Rd. A female 

adult attempted to leave the location 

with items she did not pay for. She 

was arrested for petty theft. 


block of The Old Rd. Person(s) unknown 

pried the rear door open of his R/V 

trailer and stole a “Bose” speaker, a 

“Jensen” 40 in. television, and various 

other items. 

• A theft by credit card / vandalism / 

mail theft occurred on the 25900 block 

of Verandah Ct. Person(s) unknown 

pried open the rear door of the victim’s 

mailbox and stole his mail. The victim 

stated he later learned that $1,220 was 

charged on his credit card which was 

also stolen from his mailbox. 

• A mail theft occurred on the corner 

of Kavenaugh Ln / Singer Pl. Person(s) 

unknown stole incoming and outgoing 

mail from 4 mailboxes in the area. 

• A petty theft occurred on the 25300 


went into the victim’s unlocked vehicle 

and stole her iPod, insurance card, and 

vehicle registration card. 



stole approximately 20 gallons of fuel 

from the victim’s gas tank. 


block of The Old Rd. A male adult took 

an item and exited the store without 

paying for it. The suspect admitted to 

entering the store with the intent to steal 

the item. He was arrested for commercial 

burglary. 



pried open the rear tailgate window of 

his vehicle and stole tools from his vehicle. 



pried open the rear tailgate window of 

his vehicle and stole the rear seats and a 

television from his vehicle. 


block of The Old Rd. A male adult 

smashed the window of the location and 

stole $400.00 in U.S. currency from the 

cash register. 


block of Wyatt Ln. Person(s) unknown 

broke into the victim’s garage and stole 

two high quality mountain bikes valued 

at $20,000.00. 



unknown stole the victim’s Kawasaki 

‘Mule Trans’ off-road utility vehicle 

which was parked and unattended at the 

location. 


block of Wordsworth Ln. Person(s) unknown 

stole the victim’s lock and chain 

used to secure the gate of the property. 

Help from firefighting 

airplanes coming soon 

North county Supervisor Michael D. 

Antonovich has announced that two CL-415 

“SuperScooper” firefighting airplanes will arrive 

Sept. 1, on lease from the Quebec government. 

The planes carry up to 1,620 gallons of 

water and take only 12 seconds to scoop 

water from a lake and inject it with fire-resistant 

foam, making a concoction three 

times more effective than water alone. The 

planes can fly for three hours before refueling. 

Two CL-415 “SuperScooper” firefighting airplanes 

will arrive from Quebec on Sept. 1. 

West Ranch Town Council Meeting 


An Erickson Air Crane Type I Helitanker has been leased for the 2015 fire season. 

In addition, an Erickson Air Crane Type I 

Helitanker, leased for the 2015 fire season, 

has been in service since Aug. 1. The craft is 

capable of delivering 2,200 gallons per 

drop. 

“To combat wildfire and protect life and 

property, these vital aircraft will supplement 

our county fire department’s water-dropping 

would be no expansion of lanes on the 126 

west of Chiquito Canyon Road, and there are 

currently no plans for adding lanes to Interstate 

5. While WRTC President Dave Bossert 

noted there were changes coming that would 

create “pinch points” to prevent shortcuts in 

other Westside communities, he noted that 

more would be revealed at the September 

council meeting. 

When all was said and done, the West 

Ranch Town Council, which has been reviewing 

the Newhall Ranch project for, as 

Bossert said, “better than a decade,” and 

working closely with Newhall Land on it, 

unanimously approved Homestead South. 

Assessing the situation 

The most contentious issue brought up at 

the council meeting was the possible increase 

in property tax assessments on the 

Westside to maintain a proposed landscaping 

project on Interstate 5 at the Lyons Avenue 

interchange. The issue was brought to 

the meeting via a presentation by Julian Garcia, 

a civil engineer with the County of Los 

Angeles Department of Public Works, Traffic 

and Lighting Division. In short, the beautification 

was projected to cost approximately 

$250,000 per year to maintain. And while the 

project will be funded by the county, the cost 

of continuing maintenance of it was estimated 

to raise (among other properties) single-family 

home tax burdens by about $48 

per year in a proposed Landscape Maintenance 

District in the Stevenson Ranch area. 

Through Proposition 218, the procedure for 

creating this increased tax burden will include 

public meetings and a vote. But there 

was stern opposition to it among WRTC 

members and in the audience, for reasons 

ranging from the high cost of upkeep to the 

increased tax burden for Westside property 

helicopters, its arsenal of ground equipment, 

and the nation’s finest firefighting force,” 

Antonovich said. 

The Los Angeles County Fire Department 

will monitor fire activity, wildland fuel conditions 

and weather forecasts to determine 

whether the aircraft will be needed past their 

initial lease periods. WR 

owners — and just who should bear it. Also 

of concern was the planned use of living 

plants for the landscaping — this in times of 

extreme drought. 

The outcome of the discussion was that 

the WRTC would need more “conversations” 

on the issue before taking any action. 

Wages and annexation 

With the recent adoption of an increase in 

the minimum wage in Los Angeles County, 

set to go up incrementally to $15 per hour by 

2020, concerns were brought up for increased 

costs to businesses in the unincorporated 

Westside, as opposed to businesses 

nearby in the city of Santa Clarita, which are 

under no obligation to raise their wages. 

This, naturally, led to a resurfacing discussion 

of possible annexation of the Westside by the 

city of Santa Clarita. The council proposed to 

discuss the issue further at its September 

meeting. WR



SCV Charities 





Net assets – $1,821,477 

Highest compensated employee Nurse 

Practitioner Fariba Mason was paid 

$109,000. 

v v v 

Domestic Violence Center of the Santa 

Clarita Valley used 77 percent of its total expenses 

on its programs, according to 2013 

tax filings. 

The program provides a hotline, food and 

shelter for battered women and their children, 

and works to intervene in the cycle of 

abuse with education, safety planning, and 

building self-esteem. 

The center listed: 

Total revenue – $840,860 








Director Linda Davies was paid $71,300. 

v v v 

Circle of Hope, Newhall used 63 percent 

of its total expenses on its programs for uninsured 

and underinsured people with breast 

cancer and their families, according to 2013 

tax filings. 

Circle of Hope provides financial aid, liaisons 

at doctor appointments and a medical 

second opinion assistance program through 

UCLA Cancer Center of Santa Clara Valley, 

plus assistance for food, health insurance and 

medical needs. 

Circle of Hope listed: 

Total revenue – $62,442 

Salaries & other comp. –$11,726 






v v v 

The Child and Family Center used 87 

percent of its total expenses on its programs, 


The organization offers educational, behavioral 

and psychotherapeutic services to 

children and their parents, most of them 

within the Santa Clarita Valley. 

The Center listed: 

Revenue – $12,785,304 

Salaries – $10,568,812 



Management exp. –$11,706,917 


Net assets – $14,284,317 


President and CEO Darrell Paulk was paid 

$161,000, and Senior Vice President for Programs 

Dr. An Levy was paid $128,000 

A separate Child and Family Center 

Foundation raised $538,726 for the Center, 


The foundation listed $943,000 in expenses 

and $184,784 in salaries. 

v v v 

MOMS Club used 100 percent of its total 

expenses on its programs offering educational 

and charitable support for at-home 

mothers, including grants to mothers with 

transportation or family illness emergencies, 


MOMS Club listed: 

Revenue – $313,310 

Salaries – 0 



Management expenses – 0 


Net assets were listed at nearly $1.6 million. 

MOMS Secretary Robert James said 

those are the assets held by MOMS nationwide, 

which helps mothers in large natural 

disasters such as Hurricane Katrina. James’ 

wife, Mary James, has headed the local chapter 

for 30 years at no salary. 

v v v 

The Michael Hoefflin Foundation for pediatric 

cancer used 74 percent of its total expenses 


tax filings. 

The foundation provided child, patient and 

family support groups, home and hospital 

visits, counseling, food and financial assistance 

for about 500 families; grants for pediatric 

cancer research; and publications and 

activities promoting awareness of pediatric 

cancers, treatments and support in the Santa 

Clarita Valley and San Fernando valleys. 

The foundation listed: 

Revenue – $522,302 








Director Gillian Stone was paid $60,000. 

v v v 

The Assistance League of Santa Clarita 


programs, providing new school clothing 

and shoes for thousands of area schoolchildren, 

and managing a teen auxiliary that 

helped with the shopping, according to 

2013 tax filings. 

The Assistance League also ran a program 

using board games to strengthen grade 

school literacy skills. 

The organization listed: 

Revenue – $447,443 

Salaries – 0 






See SCV Charities, page 21


The Ugly 


The donation box of the First Step Transitional Living 

Foundation clearly uses the Tax ID number of the 

First Step Sober Living Foundation, a nonprofit who 

had its 501(c) 3 status revoked by the IRS on June 9, 

2011. 

A solicitor waits for customers in front of Wal-Mart 

in Santa Clarita. He claimed donations benefit “the 

local homeless shelter.” However, officials from 

Bridge to Home, the only agency working with the 

homeless in the Santa Clarita Valley said they have 

never heard of this group and have never received 

any money from the First Step Transitional Living 

Foundation. 

on the success, or locations, of its claimed 

drug rehabilitation programs or any other 

services. 

While on paper this group looks like a religion 

and has the paperwork of a religion, numerous 

investigative reports over the years 

indicate that it does not operate at all like a 

religion once it has collected donations. 

In 2011 Mendocino County District Attorney 

David Eyster issued a consumer alert regarding 

the ongoing panhandling by the 

Missionary Church of the Disciples of Jesus 

Christ in front of local supermarkets and 

other retail stores in Ukiah (Northern California). 

Also suspicious is that a corporate filings 

analysis reveals that one person, Caesar 

Rivera, is the church’s chairman, director, 

president, secretary and treasurer. 

is no longer active.” 

However, collection boxes with the name 

and tax ID number of First Step Transitional 

Living Foundation have been seen for 

months in front of the Wal-Mart on Golden 

Valley Road in Santa Clarita. 

On Oct. 1, 2007 the Internal Revenue Bulletin: 

2007-40 issued by the IRS listed the 

First Step Transitional Living Foundation as 

having “failed to establish or has been unable 

to maintain its status as a public charity or as 

an operating foundation.” 

First Step Transitional Living Foundation 

was converted to a “private foundation.” 

While the California State Attorney General’s 

office says private foundations can receive 

donations, the IRS states “A private 

foundation does not solicit funds from the 

public.” 

In addition, First Step Transitional Living 

Foundation fails to meet the transparency 


First Step Sober Living Foundation 

The First Step Sober Living Foundation, 

which also goes by the name First Step Transitional 

Living Foundation, can usually be 

found on many weekends inhabiting the area 

outside of Wal-Mart off Golden Valley Road. 

This group of ever-changing solicitors asks 

customers to help support “the local homeless 

shelter.” 

However, this group is not affiliated with 

the Santa Clarita-based nonprofit, Bridge to 

Home, which works with the homeless in the 

SCV. 

When pressed, the solicitors will change 

their story and claim to represent a shelter in 

Palmdale, the SFV or elsewhere. Each solicitor 

has a different story. 

According to information obtained from 

the Charity Research Tool on the website of 

the California Attorney General the nonprofit 

was founded in 2002 by Cecil Stell, of Beverly 

Hills. 

Further research lists the charity currently 

as “not registered” and “First Step Transitional 

Living Foundation filed as an Articles 

of Incorporation in the State of California and


R ay t h e R e a lto R® 

Back-to-school and 

Real estate 

by Ray the Realtor® Kutylo 


Welcome Stevenson Ranch/Westridge 

and Castaic/ Val Verde Readers! 

It’s Back-to-School season in 

the Santa Clarita Valley, marking the End of 

Summer for many families and their kids. Yes, 

I know… the thermometer says summer is 

still here, but that’s another story for another 

time. In the local real estate business we can 

see the backside of the wave of buyers who 

wanted to close escrow before the school semester 

started, and who hope for a smooth 

transition for their children into their new 

schools. If this is you, I hope you made your 

timelines, survived the move, and your kids 

are making new friends! Welcome to the SCV! 

One of the primary reasons that buyers 

move here is our schools are terrific! Realtors 

who work with buyers with children let them 

know we have highly-rated schools, and we 

accept education refugees from our southern 

neighbors (lookin’ at you LAUSD!). From the 

Wm. S. Hart District’s junior and senior high 

schools down to the local elementary school 

districts and the individual schools, we really 

are a cut above the rest in public education. 

Take a look for yourself and see how we stack 

up in comparison with these school rating 

sites at http://www.greatschools.org/california/ 

and http://school-ratings.com/ 

Local Charter schools and the private 

schools are also flourishing, as is the homeschool 

community. One size does not fit all, 

and the diversity of our American society is 

certainly reflected in the education environment 

in our local area. We are proud of our 

local schools and their generally high standards 

and achievements. 

The other part of Back-to-School season is 

saying goodbye to our college-bound students. 

If they are getting a start at College of 

the Canyons or some of the other great local 

colleges and universities, maybe you are saying 

goodbye in the morning and find them 

back at home at night. But when they go further 

out into the world, parents often get that 

‘Empty Nest’ feeling. For some, a conversion 

of that spare bedroom happens right away 

while others leave it for the kids to return to 

if needed, and for holidays. Still others take 

the opportunity to downsize and sell the big 

empty home and get one sized-right for them 

and the occasional guests. Just as the children 

grow up and move on, the family’s transition 

can be an opportunity to move forward for 

the parents as well. 

If you love your home, neighborhood, and 

community, by all means stay put! Pay down 

the mortgage and build equity! If it’s working 

for you, there’s no reason to change. But then 

for others… maybe it is a good time to move. 

Home prices have gone up and homeowner 

equity is higher. Maybe the time is right to ask 

the question: Is the grass greener somewhere 

else? WR 

Ray the Realtor® Kutylo grew up in Santa 

Clarita, and is associated with the SCV Home 

Team at Keller Williams VIP Properties in Valencia. 

First licensed for real estate practice in 

1986, Ray has seen a lot of different housing 

markets and has worked with hundreds of 

clients and has seen and evaluated thousands 

of homes. Ray can be reached at 661-312-9461 

or at Ray@SCVhometeam.com, or with the Mobile 

app at www.mobile.SCVhometeam.com 

CalBRE license number 00918855 

Recent Westside Home Sales 

91384 CASTAIC & VAL VERDE 

Address Bed/Bath SqFt/Source Sold Price 

29648 Silver ST 3/2,0,1 1224/A $354,360 

27728 Morning Glory PL 3/3,0,0 1386/A $399,999 

30262 Cedar Oak LN 4/3,0,0 1994/A $410,000 

27964 Beacon ST 3/2,0,0 1480/S $417,000 

27877 Wakefield RD 3/2,0,1 1638/A $435,000 

27713 Wakefield RD 3/2,0,0 1274/AP $435,000 

28015 Sturbridge DR 4/1,1,0 1480/A $440,000 

28710 Meadowgrass DR 3/2,0,0 1682/A $445,000 

28482 Avion CR 3/3,0,0 1467/A $450,000 

28510 Applewood LN 3/2,0,1 1562/A $465,000 

28671 Meadowgrass DR 3/2,0,1 1836/A $490,000 

27728 Wilderness PL 4/3,0,0 2358/A $500,000 

30543 Yucca PL 3/3,0,0 1864/A $510,000 

27716 Wilderness PL 4/3,0,0 2461/A $519,850 

30461 Servilla PL 4/3,0,0 2256/A $525,000 

30426 Sequoia CT 5/3,0,0 2046/A $525,000 

32121 Big Oak LN 4/3,0,0 2590/A $535,000 

30402 Clover CT 4/3,0,0 2611/A $565,000 

32848 Ridge Top LN 6/3,1,0 3482/A $580,000 

28655 Oak Hill CT 5/3,0,0 3552/P $583,000 

29724 Castlebury PL 5/3,0,0 3020/A $605,000 

29942 Bancroft PL 5/4,0,0 3882/A $675,000 

30488 Capallero DR 4/4,0,0 4111/A $965,000 

30515 Terraza CT 5/5,0,0 4075/A $1,045,500 

91381 STEVENSON RANCH & WESTRIDGE 

Address Bed/Bath SqFt/Source Sold Price 

26049 Salinger LN 4/3,0,0 2477/A $649,000 

25750 Lewis WY 4/3,0,0 2168/A $651,500 

25607 Wolfe CR 4/3,0,0 2363/A $665,000 

25109 W Huston ST 4/3,0,0 2776/A $676,000 

26061 OHara LN 5/3,0,0 2611/A $680,000 

25330 Chase AV 5/3,0,0 3006/A $727,000 

25935 Royal Oaks RD 5/4,0,0 3193/A $859,000 

25720 Wallace PL 5/4,0,0 3660/A $870,000 

25093 River Walk LN 3/3,0,0 3193/A $875,000 

26867 Wyatt LN 5/4,0,0 3607/A $875,000 

25521 Durant PL 5/4,0,0 3408/A $885,000 

25981 Clifton PL 4/3,0,0 2932/A $896,000 

25048 Shady Glen CT 5/2,1,0 3958/P $920,000 

24980 Greensbrier DR 5/4,0,0 3738/A $940,000 

26756 Kendall LN 4/4,0,0 3901/A $980,000 

25517 Magnolia LN 4/3,0,1 4453/A $1,150,000 

25138 Glasgow DR 3/3,0,0 1560/A $413,000 

26988 Pebble Beach DR 2/2,0,0 1645/A $423,000 

27032 Fairway LN #97 2/2,0,0 1574/A $428,500 

27029 Fairway LN #70 3/2,0,0 1682/A $450,000 

26628 Via Bellazza 3/3,0,0 1717/A $554,000 

26760 Via La Paz 3/3,0,0 1717/A $555,000 

27018 Maple Tree CT 4/4,0,0 2725/A $775,000 

26810 Greenleaf CT 5/3,0,0 2514/A $850,000 

25709 Hidden Oak CT 5/5,0,0 4823/A $2,105,000 

Based on information from the CRIS-Net® Regional MLS as of August 17, 2015. Display of MLS 

data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS. The Broker/Agent providing 

the information contained herein may or may not have been the Listing and/or Selling Agent. 

The Ugly 


test. 

There are no 990s on file for the First Step 

Sober Living Foundation and it is listed as a 

“private non-operating foundation.” 

The First Step Sober Living Foundation is 

listed by the IRS as having its 501 (c) (3) revoked 

on June 9, 2011. 

However, the collection boxes in front of 

Wal-Mart list the tax ID number, 91-2168009, 

as representing the First Step Transitional 

Living Foundation, which has no 990s on file 

and is listed by the Attorney General’s Charity 

Research Tool as “not registered.” 

Extensive research has not been able to locate 

the physical location of any homeless 

shelters associated with this organization, 

with the exception of one address on Western 

Avenue in Los Angeles, which appears to 

be a small, gated office building. 

National Paradigm Foundation 

A few weeks ago a table with American 

flags and a banner representing the National 

Paradigm Foundation was spotted outside 

Sam’s Club in Santa Clarita. Two young men, 

dressed in military fashion, asked customers 

to donate to the organization that purportedly 

helps veterans. 

However, this nonprofit, from Vallejo, Calif. 

is another nonprofit that has filed no 990s 

and is listed as by the state as “suspended.” 

After three years of warning letters that 

appropriate tax forms had not been filed, National 

Paradigm Foundation’s registration 

status is delinquent. 

A report that aired in February on the CBS 

affiliate KPIX Channel 5 in San Francisco exposed 

the questionable practices of the foundation 

(to read a transcript of the report visit 

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2015/02/ 

04/is-money-raised-by-bay-area-charity- 

really-going-to-help-homeless-veterans- 

Wounded Warrior Project 


Compensation and benefits for WWP employees 

and directors: $26,182,966. 

Employees and directors get MORE money 

than all of the services provided except for 

the alumni association. The program that 

people complain about is all about making 

money…ironic. 

$15, 218,191 for office space? 

Nearly $2 MILLION for I.T? 

Just under $5 MILLION for occupancy 

costs? 

$6,377,443 in way of travel expenses? And 

those travel expenses are NOT for sending 

wounded vets around the country because 

that expense would be listed in the program 

expenses. No, these travel expenses are 

WWP employees jet setting around the country. 

But now we get to the most egregious of 

the costs. 

Consulting costs: $33,081,349 

They spend more on consulting than they 

do on any one program service for vets. 

Not to mention their meeting and events in 

which they blow through nearly $17 MIL- 

LION of your donated money to throw themselves 

parties. 

You can read the rest for yourself, but all in 

all the total expenses for “running” the 


Two solicitors outside Sam’s Club in Santa Clarita 

represent the National Paradigm Foundation, an organization 

whose nonprofit status is listed as “suspended” 

with the California Attorney General’s 

Charity research website. 

swords-plowshares/). 

In addition, the National Paradigm Foundation, 

was recently successfully sued by Target 

for trespassing in Sacramento. 

To make smart decisions about charitable 

giving visit the online Charity Research Tool 

from the office of the California State Attorney 

General and this IRS webpage http:// 

apps.irs.gov/app/eos/. 

Know who you are giving your money to 

and for what purpose. Don’t assume because 

an individual has set up shop in front of an established 

business that they represent legitimate 

nonprofits, not even if they give you the 

tax ID number, and check if the charity is 

trustworthy by contacting the Better Business 

Bureau’s (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance, 

Charity Navigator, Charity Watch or 

GuideStar. WR 

Wounded Warrior Project total 

$158,073,943. 

As you may recall, the WWP, by their own 

admission, spend less than $118,000,000 on 

the actual programs and services for vets that 

people donate money towards. 

The following document gives a nice sum 

Here are the numbers that I broke down after 

going through the 79 pages of tax forms in a 

nice concise snippet. 

The thing that gets me most about this 

page is the mission statement. 

The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project 

is to Honor and Empower Wounded Warriors. 

Is it now? Because according to the numbers, 

the mission of the Wounded Warrior 

Project would seem to be to use vets as props 

in order to continue taking money from patriotic 

Americans and spending the MAJOR- 

ITY to keep your organization in the money 

making business. 

The WWP seems less interested in helping 

vets than it is in helping their own bottom 

line. 

Vets, especially wounded ones who gave so 

much for this country deserve better than to 

be a pawn in an organization that seeks to financially 

capitalize on their sacrifice. WR


SCV Charities 


v v v 

Habitat for Humanity San Fernando/ 

Santa Clarita Valleys used 98 percent of its 

expenses on its programs to provide ownership 

for very low- and low-income families 

living in substandard housing, according 

to 2013 tax filings. 

Habitat for Humanity listed: 

Revenues – $2,157,000 

Salaries – $0,561,654 



Management expenses – 

$0,018,712 


Net assets – $3,117,000 

Highest compensated employee CEO 

Donna Deutchman was paid $153,200. 

v v v 

SCV Pregnancy Center used 62 percent 

of its total expenses on its programs, according 

to 2013 tax filings. 

The Pregnancy Center provides free medical 

clinical services to women in crisis pregnancies, 

with pregnancy testing and 

education programs. 

The center listed: 

Revenue – $430,000 







Highest compensated employee CEO Angela 

Bennett was paid $77,800. 

v v v 

Janyce Hirakami was paid $109,600 and Vice 

President of Development Kelly Pond was 

paid $103,000. 

v v v 

Santa Clarita Valley Youth Project used 

59 percent of its total expenses on its programs, 

according to 2013 EZ-form tax filings. 

The Youth Project provides individual 

counseling, facilitates support groups, offers 

crisis intervention, outreach and community 

education to valley teens on six high school 

and four junior high school campuses. The 

organization helps thousands of students 

each year deal with depression, anger, drugs 

and alcohol, pregnancy, relationships and 

family issues. 

The Youth Project listed: 

Revenue – $128,143 






Director Kimberly Goldman was paid 

$76,154. 

v v v 

Family Promise of Santa Clarita Valley 


programs, according to 2013 EZ-form tax filings. 

Family promise provides grants for 

overnight stays, job search, credit and life 

skills counseling for homeless families, 

working with community faith groups. 

Family Promise listed: 

Revenue – $175,124 





v v v 

by Robb Fulcher 

Staff Writer 

Gaze before you give: 

tips for donors 

Donors have several ways to check 

out the financial profiles and 

transparency of non-profit charities 

they might choose to help. 

A lot can be determined from a charity 

organization’s tax form 990, according 

to Charity Navigator, which analyzes 

the finances of the largest 8,000 charities 

in the country. 

Donors can find detailed analyses of 

those large organizations on the website 

CharityNavigator.org. In the case of small 

and mid-size organizations, donors can 

use some of Charity Navigator’s techniques 

to perform their own analyses of 

the 990 forms. 

Nonprofit charities are required to file 

the 990 forms yearly with the IRS, and 

they are also required to give copies of 

the three most recent 990 filings to any 

member of the public who asks. The 

completed 990 forms are also available 

online through IRS.gov, CharityNavigator.org 

and a web page of the California 

attorney general, oag.ca.gov/charities. 

An organization’s 990 form contains a 

“List of Functional Expenses” on about 

page 10. The proportion of expenses that 

go to the charity’s programs can be determined 

by dividing the total at the bottom 

of column B (program services) by 

the total at the bottom of column A (total 

expenses), and then multiplying by 100. 

On about page 2, the charity lists its 

“Statement of Program Accomplishments,” 

providing more details about 

how the money was spent. 

The tax forms also ask the charities to 

list their highest paid employees, on 

about page 7. Charity Navigator officials 

say CEO salaries of midsize to large charities 

average about $130,000 a year. They 

caution that donors should consider factors 

such as the organization’s size and 

the type of work performed, when 

salaries are being evaluated. 

Sandra Miniutti, vice president and 

CFO of Charity Navigator, suggested 

gauging an organization’s growth and 

stability by comparing a charity’s most 

recent expense figures with those of previous 

years. 

“You can look for patterns. Are they 

growing, are they shrinking? Are they 

sort of all over the place?” she said. 

For transparency and accountability, 

Charity Navigator suggests that donors 

look over an organization’s website to 

see if its staff and directors are listed, and 

whether the most recent 990 or other financial 

documents are published. 

For more on how to analyze non-profit 

organizations, see CharityNavigator.org 

and click on “Tips for Donors.” WR 

Special Olympics of Southern California 

spent 80 percent of its total expenses on 

its programs, according to 2013 tax filings. 

The vast bulk of the program expenses 

went to year-round training and competition 

for children and adults with intellectual 

disabilities, including more than 100 competitions 

in 12 Olympic-style sports. The 

rest went to Special Olympics’ school partnership 

programs. 

Special Olympics listed: 

Revenue – $9,524,000 

Salaries – $4,481,000 




$0,415,934 


Net assets – $5,815,021 


CEO William Shumard was paid 

$195,400, CFO and Chief Information Officer 

Margaret Cate was paid $134,800, Raffle 

Administrator Neal Martin Zeavy was paid 

$547,200, Vice President of Field Operations 

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater 

Los Angeles used 69 percent of its total expenses 


tax filings. 

The program granted 337 wishes to children 

as young as 2 and-a-half who have been 

diagnosed with life-threatening medical 

conditions. 

Make-A-Wish listed: 


Salaries – $1,792,231 




$0,442,154 


Net assets – $1,124,715 


President and CEO Breena Gold was paid 

$200,000, CEO Ramin Baschshi, a physician, 

was paid $170,000 and Senior Director of 

Major Gifts Michelle Becker was paid 

$108,000. 

v v v


Westside Opinion 


C a M e R o n s M y t h 

the summer hillary 

would like to forget 

daV e B o s s e R t 

is it time to start talking 

annexation again? 

by Cameron Smyth 


by Dave Bossert 


While much of the political world 

is focused on the Trump phenomenon 

and the outcome of the 

most recent Republican debate, Hillary 

Clinton is having a summer even the most 

ardent Clinton opponents could have 

never imagined. 

A campaign, which as recently as May 

was expected to be a smooth coronation to 

the nomination while Republicans battled 

it out to the convention, has quickly become 

a question as to whether Hillary will 

even last through 2015. 

I tend to fall on the side of those who feel 

the election is still a long way out and there 

is plenty of time for another Clinton recovery, 

but as each day passes and a seemingly 

new scandal emerges each week, the potential 

for another mainstream Democrat 

to join the race grows. 

But don’t take my word for it . . . let’s look 

at the numbers: Poll after poll, conducted 

both nationally as well as within key states 

shows a disturbing trend, and sadly for 

Mrs. Clinton, I believe she has yet to bottom 

out. You see, many of the most recent 

polls occurred in late July/early August — 

well before her campaign conceded that 

classified documents were stored on her 

personal, non-protected computer, leading 

to multiple investigations and forcing her 

“shadow” Huma Abedin to retain her own 

legal counsel. 

Quinnipiac University polls (which can 

hardly be seen as “partisan Republican”) in 

three swing states, show Clinton trailing 

Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and Scott Walker. 

In Colorado, Clinton trails Rubio 38%- 

46%, Bush 36%-41% and Walker 38%- 

47%. In Iowa, she trails Rubio 36%-44%, 

Bush 36%-42% and Walker 37%-45%. 

And in Virginia, she closes the gap but still 

trails Rubio 41%-43%, Bush 39%-42% 

and Walker 40%-43%. 

Nationally the slide follows what is being 

seen in individual states: In May she led 

both Bush and Walker by 10 and 8 points 

respectively. Now, she trails Bush 42-41 

and only leads Walker 44-43. Ironically, 

she does her best against Republican front 

runner Donald Trump, leading by double 

digits. 

Clinton also recorded her worst national 

favorability score ever in the Quinnipiac 

survey. Nationwide just 40% of 

voters view her favorably, compared with 

51% who do not. By a 20 point margin 

(57-37) responders said Clinton is not 

honest and trustworthy and 52% said she 

didn't care about their needs or problems. 

These have to be the most disturbing . . . a 

majority of Americans just don’t trust her 

and view her lacking when it comes to her 

character. 

Mainstream Democrats worst fear is 

now coming true with the momentum 

generated by Bernie Sanders, which 

shows no sign of slowing down. Sanders 

recent stop in Los Angeles, where over 

27,000 supporters packed the Sports 

Arena, dwarfed the largest crowd to see 

Clinton this season — a paltry 5,000 for 

her kickoff event. And if that wasn’t bad 

enough, the most recent released poll 

(mid-August) now has Clinton trailing 

Sanders 44-37 in New Hampshire. And although 

an Iowa poll released Aug. 16 

shows Clinton leading Sanders by double 

digits in the Hawkeye state, 54% remained 

undecided and she actually trails Sanders 

by 7% when it comes to the “honest and 

trustworthy” question. Her campaign continues 

to tout national polls where she 

maintains a large lead over Sanders, although 

none have been taken since her 

most recent scandal made the front pages. 

All of these factors certainly demonstrate 

a vulnerability to the Clinton campaign, 

however she still retains a huge financial 

and organizational advantage over any potential 

democrat. That being said, it is clear 

that Vice President Biden is now slowly 

testing the waters and will wait until at least 

September when more national polling is 

released to make a decision. Biden’s supporters 

are encouraged by his performance 

in the same Quinnipiac poll that shows Clinton 

struggling — Biden received his highest 

favorability rating (49%) in seven years, 

with 58 percent saying he was honest and 

trustworthy and 57 percent saying he cared 

about them. 

With less than six months to Iowa, Biden 

(and all potential candidates) need to decide 

if they want to jump in. However all is 

not dependent on what happens in the 

first caucus. Biden recently met with advisors 

in South Carolina and he may 

choose to forgo Iowa and New Hampshire 

completely and focus on primaries occurring 

a bit later in the cycle. 

Whatever transpires, we can expect 

2016 to be a long, brutal, and entertaining 

election year for both parties and we could 

not have said that when the summer 

started. . . . WR 

Cameron Smyth is a lifelong resident of the 

Santa Clarita Valley who served six years on the 

Santa Clarita City Council before being elected 

to represent the Valley in the State Legislature. 

After leaving the Assembly in 2012, Cameron returned 

to the private sector and continues to reside 

in Newhall with his wife and three children. 

At the August West Ranch Town 

Council meeting there was a brief 

discussion as to whether or not it 

was time to start talking about the topic of 

annexation again. This subject has percolated 

up over the last fifteen-plus years and 

it seems to be bubbling once more. By all 

rights the Westside communities should, 

and probably could have, been annexed 

into the city of Santa Clarita a decade and 

half ago. 

The breakdown in discussion over the 

years has generally centered on a few 

members of the city leadership and their 

calcified views. Their script was that all 

the previous annexations to the city were 

a net loss. Meaning that it cost more in city 

services than the tax revenue those areas 

generated, which meant that the city grew 

in area but not in income. That scenario 

dictated that the city would not engage in 

any negotiation and hence any past dialogue 

with the West Ranch leadership 

ground to a halt. 

The main reason why the West Ranch 

communities should negotiate annexation 

is because there is a large tax revenue generating 

base along The Old Road. The Valencia 

Marketplace, Hamburger Hill, and 

Magic Mountain among others place The 

Old Road corridor into the top tier of tax 

generating areas in Los Angeles County. It 

makes the West Ranch area ultimately a 

net positive for the City of Santa Clarita in 

that there would be a lot more revenue for 

the City than the cost of additional city 

services to that area. 

Also, let’s not forget that there is a relatively 

new infrastructure in place on the 

west side. Streets, sewer systems, underground 

utilities, and traffic lights are less 

than twenty-five years old and have been 

well maintained. That means that there is 

less investment needed aside from some 

minimal signage being changed out. In fact, 

it would be a seamless blending of the 

communities into the city should an annexation 

take place. 

The difference this time around regarding 

annexation is that the city leadership 

dynamic has changed. Some have retired 

and others have decided to exit city politics 

altogether. Add to that, Supervisor Michael 

D. Antonovich is termed out of the L.A. 

County Board of Supervisors as of November, 

2016, and who will fill that seat is anyone’s 

guess right now. The supervisor has 

done an immeasurable amount of good for 

our Westside community which is greatly 

appreciated, but there is no guarantee that 

would continue once he is out of office. 

Another change in recent months is that 

the County has approved a measure to 

raise the minimum wage which does not 

have an effect on the City. This has caused 

concern for many business owners in the 

unincorporated SCV areas, several of 

whom are starting to raise the annexation 

question as a possible panacea to avoid 

that wage increase. Although, the City will 

not be immune from a possible minimum 

wage hike in the future, especially with the 

political makeup of our valley evolving. 

And finally, the City of Santa Clarita will 

likely move to district representation at 

some point. Doing so would provide a 

more equitable arrangement for the diverse 

areas that make up the city presently 

and in the future. There is a confluence of 

changes coming in the next few years. 

That is why this may be an opportune 

time to look at jump starting annexation 

negotiations for the Westside with all these 

changes unfolding. When I say negotiate, I 

am talking about guarantees that some of 

the tax revenue from The Old Road stays in 

the West Ranch communities by way of increased 

services. 

Examples of additional services might 

include more sheriff deputies dedicated to 

the West Ranch area and possibly a sheriff 

sub-station. Increased parks and recreation 

programming as well as grandfathering 

in the Rioux Park 4th of July fireworks 

show so that it will continue into the 

future. The landscape maintenance districts 

(LMDs) need to be looked at for efficiencies 

and also interchange/common 

area beautification projects. 

There are many other aspects of the 

community that need to be examined with 

a reasonable and pragmatic eye during an 

annexation discussion. But the important 

thing is that there is a productive dialogue 

and everything be placed on the table for 

discussion. Some items may not be practical 

while others are completely doable. It 

is also important for all to know that if 

there isn’t a willingness to have positive, 

productive dialogue, then any annexation 

effort will be futile. 

The planets seem to be aligning in the 

coming months for a meaningful and fruitful 

discussion of annexation for the West 

Ranch communities. That’s of course if the 

city of Santa Clarita leadership realizes that 

the Westside is within their reach, provided 

that they are willing to negotiate for it. WR 

Dave Bossert is a community volunteer 

who serves on a number of boards and 

councils. He is an award winning artist, filmmaker 

and author. His commentaries represent 

his own opinions and not necessarily 

the views of any organization he may be affiliated 

with or those of The Westside 

Reader. Dave writes a regular weekly column 

online at www.thescvebeacon.com


s C ot t w i l k 

unclaimed property 

treasure hunt 

by Assmemblyman Scott Wilk 


There is nothing better than stumbling 

upon cash in the pocket of 

your jeans or lying around the 

house that you forgot about. Have you 

ever wondered if you have more money 

floating around from a closed bank account 

or a previous job that you are unaware 

of? Well, you just might be in luck. 

The state of California is currently 

holding onto $7.1 billion of Unclaimed 

Property, which belongs to approximately 

27.9 million individuals and organizations 

in California. Unclaimed 

Property can be anything: inactive bank 

accounts, safety deposit box contents, 

stocks, mutual funds, bonds, certificates 

of deposit, dividends, matured insurance 

policies, just to name a few. 

After learning about this program, I 

thought I’d give it a go; sadly, I was not 

one of the lucky 27.9 million folks with 

hidden money. The overall process was 

extremely easy — and fun! So I thought 

hey, why not make an event of this and 

try to reunite others with their unclaimed 

property. 

I hosted an event called “Refund Friday” 

at the Santa Clarita Senior Center 

and kicked off with donuts, coffee and a 

brief overview of the program and how 

to use it. Once word got out, we had over 

30 people drop by. The lowest amount 

found by a person was 20 cents and the 

highest amount was $3,600! All together 

about $6,000 in Unclaimed Property was 

reclaimed. The look on attendees’ faces 

when they discovered money was priceless, 

but nothing compared to the moment 

when a man who was down and out 

found $126 dollars and wept with joy. 

That was easily the highlight of the morning 

for me. 

The process took each participant 

about five minutes, tops, and for the 

lucky individuals who found money, 

checks were received seven to ten days 

after completing the claims process. 

After the positive response from the 

first “Refund Friday” event, I partnered 

with the Santa Clarita Valley Latino 

Chamber Business Alliance to host an 

event at their recent Networking Breakfast. 

The room was packed and roughly 

$3,200 was found. 

Each year, the State Controller’s Office 

sends out notifications to people, in 

hopes of linking the rightful owners to 

their property before it’s sent to the State 

for safekeeping. If you have missed, or 

failed to respond to, a notice regarding 

unclaimed property, you can find it on 

the State Controller’s website. There is no 

official time limit to when you can claim 

your property from the State, but the 

sooner you search, the quicker you will 

receive your money. 

If you are interested in learning more 

about unclaimed property or are curious 

to see if you have anything to claim, you 

can visit the State Controller’s website at 

http://www.sco.ca.gov/upd_msg.html to 

use the simple search tool. 

In an effort to help constituents, I will 

be hosting more events like these to 

hopefully find more homes for more unclaimed 

property. 

This is one instance where I can rightfully 

say, “I’m from the government and 

I’m here to help.” WR 

Assemblyman Wilk represents the 38th 

Assembly District, which encompasses 

Simi Valley, the northwestern section of 

the San Fernando Valley and most of the 

Santa Clarita Valley. 

win $100 Cash 

identify the artwork below from one of the 

advertisements in this publication 

You Think it 

You Write it 

We Print it 

l e t t e R s 

Readers are encouraged to submit their views, reviews and questions as 

letters to the editor for publication in the Westside Reader. Submissions may 

be sent by mail or email. Letters are subject to being edited due to space 

constraints. Letters to the editor must include the author’s name, town 

and phone number for verification. 

Email: 

Info @westsidereader.com 

Mail To: 

25876 The Old Road 

Suite 66 

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and be entered into a drawing to win $100 

Cash. email the name of the advertiser, the 

page number the ad is on, and your city. 

to: info@westsidereader.com



thursday, sept. 3 

FC Valencia Youth Soccer League 

(Recreational), 6 p.m. College of the 

Canyons Upper Soccer Field, 26455 Rockwell 

Canyon Road, Valencia, CA 91355. 

Recreational Soccer League conducted by 

professional FC Valencia club coaches and 

elite college players. Ages 4-8 years old. 

Cost: $200 for the season Sept. 3-Nov. 11. 

Thursday training 6 p.m., Saturday games: 

9 a.m.- noon. Contact: 

Info@fcvalenciaysl.com. Registration: 

www.fcvalenciaysl.com. 

ArtSLAM and JAM Session, a monthly 

art and music happening, 6-10 p.m. in Old 

Town Newhall on Main Street between 6th 

Street and Market Street. ArtSLAM features 

an open air gallery of various mediums of 

art, which is both on display and interactive. 

JAM Sessions is a participatory gathering 

centered on cultural movement and music . 

The event also includes food trucks and 

hands on activity booths. Info: www.oldtownnewhall.com. 


Revved Up, a monthly gathering for car 

enthusiasts held 7-10 p.m. in Old Town 

Newhall on Main Street between 8th Street 

and Market Street. Revved Up is a gathering 

of automotive enthusiasts showing classics, 

hot rods, and exotic cars as well as niche 

genres such as Model A’s, VW’s, and 

Corvettes. Each month will feature a particular 

automotive genre or style of car. The 

event also includes a live DJ, food truck, and 

beer and wine garden. Revved Up is held 

March to October on the second Thursday 

of the month. Info: 

www.oldtownnewhall.com. 

saturday, sept. 12 

Route 66 Classic Car Show, 5-9 p.m. 

Route 66 Classic Grill, 18730 Soledad 

Canyon Road, Canyon Country, CA 91351. 

Ongoing 

The Castaic Town Council meets on 

the third Wednesday of each month in the 

Board room of the Castaic Union School 

District, 28131 Livingston Avenue in the 

Valencia Commerce Center. The next meeting 

is Sept. 16. Info: www.castaicareatowncouncil.org. 

West Ranch Town Council meets the 

first Wednesday of every Month at 6:30 

p.m. at either the new Stevenson Ranch Library 

- LA County Library, 25940 The Old 

Road, Stevenson Ranch or at the Tournament 

Players Club, 26550 Heritage View 

Lane, Valencia. The West Ranch Town 

Council’s next meeting will be held Sept. 2 

at the Stevenson Ranch Library Meeting 

Room. For more information visit 

www.westranchtowncouncil.com. 

REMO Kid's Rhythm Club, Saturdays, 

9:30-10 a.m. The REMO Kid's Rhythm Club 

at SCVi is a fun exploration of music and 

rhythm for people of all ages. No experience 

necessary, no reservations required, 

just come join the fun. Free for children, $5 

for adults. SCVi Charter School, 28060 

Hasley Canyon Road, Castaic, 91384, 

Strolling through more than 135 of Southern 

California's coolest classic cars and 

trucks. Car of the Year announced. Car 

Shows are free to spectators. To enter a 

classic (1975 or older) registration is $10 

paid directly to SCV SAFE RIDES. Trophies 

awarded in 18 categories, raffle prizes, as 

well as a 50/50 drawing. Entertainment by 

classic rock bands. Info: George Thomas 

661-298-1494, or visit www.route66classicgrill.com 

tuesday, sept. 15 

A Pet Preparedness Workshop, 6- 7:30 

p.m. at Old Town Newhall Library, 24500 

Main St., Santa Clarita, 91321. This free 

workshop stresses why it is important to 

have plans in place to protect your pets 

when disasters occur. Topics include: Developing 

an evacuation plan; assembling pet 

emergency kits; preparing to take your pet 

to a pet shelter; and animal behaviors in disasters. 

Presenters: Animal Response & Rescue 

Coalition, PET-PAC, Kazzi Dog Training 

and City of Santa Clarita. Info: 661-250- 

3708, or emergencymanagement@ santaclarita.com 


SENSES, a themed monthly block party, 

7-10 p.m., free, Old Town Newhall, Main 

Street between 6th Street and Market 

Street, Newhall. The August theme is 

“Woodstock.” Entertainment, activities, 

food trucks and adult drinks. Sept. 17 – Hot 

Havana Nights and Oct. 15 – Sports of All 

Sorts. Info: Visit www.oldtownnewhall.com. 

friday, sept. 18 

Cocktails on the Roof, 7-10 p.m. Cost: 

$75 General Admission, $55 Designated 

Driver, $95 at the door. Top level of the 

Town Center Parking Garage near the 

Macy's Bridge, 24201 Valencia Blvd., Valencia, 

91355. SCV restaurants serve signature 

www.facebook.com/pages/REMO-Kids- 

Rhythm-Club-at- 

SCVi/1582967038623158?sk=timeline 

Old Town Newhall Farmers Market, 

Saturdays 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the 

Newhall Community Center, 22421 Market 

St., Newhall, 91321. California farmers and 

specialty food purveyors come together 

each Saturday, rain or shine, to bring you 

the finest in fresh and seasonal fruits and 

vegetables, including organic, baked 

goods, flowers, herbs, cheeses and prepared 

foods. Info: 

www.SantaClaritaArts.com 

Ventura County Certified Farmer's 

Market, Sundays 8:30 a.m. – noon. College 

of the Canyons Parking Lot 5, 26455 Rockwell 

Canyon Road, Valencia, 91355. The 

Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market 

in Santa Clarita takes place year-round 

every Sunday, rain or shine. Fresh from 

the fields to the table, the Certified California 

Farmers bring the freshest fruits, vegetables, 

free range ranch eggs, nuts, honey, 

potted plants and freshly-cut flowers, all at 

the peak of the season. Info: 805-529- 

6266. Visit the website at http://vccfarmersmarkets.com/santa-clarita/ 

cocktails and food pairings in an outdoor, 

rooftop party atmosphere to benefit the 

WiSH Education Foundation, www.wishscv.org, 

661-799-9474. Sponsorships available, 

benefitting Wm. S. Hart School District. 

Over 21 only. 


Friends of Castaic Lake Night Float 

Tube Fishing, 6 p.m.–midnight, Castaic 

Lake Lagoon, 32132 Castaic Lake Drive, 

Castaic, CA 91384, check-in starts at 6 p.m. 

on the BISQ patio at Paradise Cove. Fee: $20 

includes glow stick. Float tube rental $20. 

Open to float tubes, kayaks and inflatable 

boats without motors. Info: 257-4050 or 

www.castaiclake.com or 

www.castaiclake.com/focl.html 

Santa Clarita Century Ride, 7 a.m., 

Mann Biomedical Park, 25104 Rye Canyon 

Loop, Santa Clarita. Santa Clarita Child & 

Family Center presents the Seventh Annual 

Santa Clarita Century Ride. This year features 

new routes, BBQ lunch at completion 

of ride, live bands, raffles and more. The cycling 

event features routes for all levels of 

riders: 100, 50 and 25 miles. Departures are 

staggered, beginning at 7 a.m. Start and finish 

will be at the Mann Biomedical Park. All 

proceeds benefit Child & Family Center. 

Info: www.santaclaritacentury.com or call 

661-255-6847 ext.3018. 

Bunco Tournament, 1:30-6 p.m. Come 

play a fun game with dice and be a part of 

history as Special Olympics Santa Clarita 

and Tri-Valley try to establish a record for 

the World's Largest Bunco Tournament in 

2015. The goal is to have 288 Bunco players 

competing to raise awareness and funds for 

individuals with intellectual disabilities. The 

tournament will include dinner, a no-host 

bar, an auction, and prizes. Cost: $40 donation 

per person. Location: Residence Inn 

Marriott, 25320 The Old Road Santa Clarita, 

91381. Info: Laura Mayo, email 

lmayo@sosc.org, 661-253-2121. 

Michael Hoefflin Foundation for Children's 

Cancer 22nd Annual Evening 

Under the Stars, 6-11 p.m. Tickets start at 

$150. An evening of dining, auction and entertainment 

at Robinson Ranch Golf Club, 

27734 Sand Canyon Road, Canyon Country, 

91387. Info: 661-250-4100 or www.mhf.org 


An Evening with Tracy Newman and 

The Reinforcements, 8 p.m. Repertory 

East Playhouse, 24266 Main St., Newhall. 

SCVTV Presents The OutWest Concert Series. 

Cost: $20. In the early 70s, Tracy Newman 

is a founding member of the 

Groundlings. Her sister, Laraine Newman 

was the first Groundling to be discovered by 

Lorne Michaels for Saturday Night Live. 

Newman and her TV writing partner, 

Jonathan Stark worked on Cheers, as wells 

as Bob (Bob Newhart), The Nanny, Ellen, 

The Drew Carey Show and Hiller and Diller 

(Richard Lewis and Kevin Nealon.) In 1997, 

they won the Emmy and the prestigious 

Peabody Award for writing the groundbreaking 

“coming out” episode of Ellen. She 

has been writing songs and is performing 

full-time and has three CDs. Her music is essentially 

acoustic folk. It is a funny, moving 

and memorable show. Advance ticket sales: 

OutWest Hotline: 661-255-7087, or visit 

their http://www.outwestmktg.com/ 

events/live-music.cfm 

The ARTree 2015 Speaker Series, 6:30- 

9 p.m., free, Old Town Newhall Library – 

Community Room, 24500 Main St., Newhall, 

CA 91321. The ARTree 2015 Speaker Series 

presents lectures plus free-form discussions 

with influential artists and leaders 

who bring art, arts education, and exceptional 

projects to the diverse Santa Clarita 

Valley community. It is held January to October 

on the fourth Thursday of the month. 

For more information and a list of speakers 

visit www.TheARTree.org. 

friday, sept. 25 

VIA Bash, 6-11 p.m., Hyatt Regency Valencia. 

24500 Town Center Drive, Valencia, 

91355. The Valley Industry Association's 

Annual VIA BASH Event to support the VIA 

Education Foundation and Connecting to 

Success. The event also recognizes VIA 

members of distinction through the "VIA 

Awards." Tickets $100 - $125. Sponsorships 

$1,500 - $4,500. Contact: Kathy Norris, Valley 

Industry Association. 661-294-8088 or 

by email: kathy@via.org. 


The Eighth Annual TPC/West Ranch 

Art & Wine Gala — Supporting the Arts in 

the Santa Clarita Valley, 6-10 p.m. Cost: $300 

per person. Tournament Players Club, 

26550 Heritage View Lane, Westridge. 

Champagne reception, dinner, silent and live 

auctions, Dave Bossert, Co-Chair, 818-599- 

6065. 

Samuel Dixon Family Health Center, Inc 

13th Annual Rubber Ducky Festival, 11 

a.m. - 2 p.m. Bridgeport Park, 23520 Bridgeport 

Lane, Valencia, 91355. Exhibitors, local 

performances, food trucks and a race track 

waterway provides for several regatta heats 

throughout the day during this fun-filled, 

family event. A Kid Zone area provides a 

bounce house, rock wall, face painting, and 

more. Raffles also occur throughout the day. 

Every duck adopted helps support health 

care within our community. Individual rubber 

ducks are available for adoption at $5 

per duck. Other adoption opportunities include: 

Quack Family (5 ducks plus 1 free 

duck for $25); Quacker’s Dozen (10 ducks 

plus 2 free ducks for $50) and Duck Flock 

(20 ducks plus 4 free ducks for $100). All 

proceeds go toward patient care at Samuel 

Dixon Family Health Center, Inc. (SDFHC), 

which offers affordable, quality primary 

health care for residents of the Santa Clarita 

Valley. Info: Katie Simers, 661-257-2339, ext 

302. Email: Katie@sdfhc.org. 

Box City 2015, 3 p.m.- 7:30 a.m. Cost: 

$25 for registration, guests and visitors are 

free. Valencia Heritage Park, 24155 Newhall 

Ranch Road, Santa Clarita, California 91355. 

Family Promise of Santa Clarita Valley's 5th 

annual Box City will raise money and awareness 

for local homeless children and their 

families. Register, get sponsors, bring a cardboard 

box and spend the night in the park. 

Info: www.FamilyPromiseSCV.org or contact 

Chris at contact@familypromisescv.org. WR


RestauRant ReView 

The Oaks Grille at TPC Valencia 

New Executive Chef 

Payton Poulsen offers 

a new take on farm-totable 

at TPC Valencia 

By Michele E. Buttelman 

Features and Entertainment Editor 

The Oaks Grille is a comfortable, but elegant 

restaurant inside the clubhouse 

at the Tournament Players Club in Valencia. 

When Daniel Otto, the long-time executive 

chef at The Oaks Grille, left in April to pursue 

a career in culinary education at the Institute 

Ahi Tuna Crudo with sushi grade tuna, cucumbers, tomatoes, avocado 

mousse, green onion, peanuts, sweet soy vinaigrette, Sriacha 

paint with Togarashi wonton strips. ($17). 

of Culinary Education (iCUE) at College of the 

Canyons, Sous Chef Payton Poulsen took 

charge of the kitchen. 

Now that Poulsen is The Oaks Grille’s new 

Executive Chef, he is eager to bring his farmto-table 

culinary viewpoint to the TPC dining 

room. 

Poulsen’s journey to Executive Chef started 

at The Oaks Grille almost eight years ago 

when he started as a buser. He realized he 

was interested in working in the kitchen and 

Otto offered Poulsen the opportunity to work 

in the kitchen at The Oaks Grille, but only if 

he also attended culinary school. 

Poulsen attended Le Cordon Bleu in Hollywood 

and started his career at The Oaks in 

January 2008. 

He worked his way up from prep cook to 

pantry cook before leaving The 

Oaks Grille for three years to follow 

his future wife, who was attending 

school at Cal Poly San 

Luis Obispo. 

He held a variety of kitchen 

jobs, including one at an Italian 

restaurant, before returning to 

The Oaks Grille in 2011. 

His journey through the 

kitchen hierarchy continued as 

he progressed from pantry cook 

to line cook to lead cook to sous 

chef. 

“I want to transform this to a 

farm-to-table restaurant,” he said. 

“I am currently working with Underwood 

Farms in Moorpark, but 

hope that the club will eventually 

own its own plot of land and farm it. 

That’s the end goal.” 

His stated philosophy is “farm-totable 

fresh ingredients, giving people 

the options they are looking for 

and changing the menu throughout 

the year.” 

“I want food to be fresh, to keep 

the dining experience new and to 

conform the menu to the seasons,” he said. 

Poulsen was born in Anaheim, but his family 

moved to the Santa Clarita Valley when he 

was 12. He is a graduate of Saugus High 

School and has been married four years to 

wife Caylee who works as a veterinarian. 

The Oaks Grille is open to the public and 

also offers a bar and meeting room facilities. 

Not only does the restaurant offer gourmet 

cuisine, but it also offers breathtaking views 

of the entire Santa Clarita Valley. After the 

sun goes down I enjoy hanging by the outside 

fire pit and watching the lights of the SCV 

twinkle in the distance. 

Left: The Oaks Grille Executive 

Chef Payton Poulsen with his 

signature pan seared Arctic 

Chair over gold beets, new 

potatoes, pancetta and beet 

tops with a port balsamic and 

lemon oil ($30.) 

Below: The perfect pairing with 

an after golf beer: Lamb Sliders 

with chorizo, farmhouse cheese, 

water cress, date ketchup and 

caramelized onions ($15) and a 

side of “skin on” fries ($7). 

The current menu contains about half the 

options from the previous menu and should 

be good for another month. 

Poulsen said he will begin his fall/winter 

menu at the end of September. 

Among the summer entrees is a “to die for” 

Arctic Char which is pan seared over gold 

beets, new potatoes, pancetta, beet tops and 

finished with port balsamic and lemon oil 

($30). This divine dish is a spectacular example 

of the chef’s art. The skin of the fish is 

cooked to a glorious crunch and the flesh is 

See The Oaks Grille, page 34 

15% OFF 

Dinner Sunday through 

Thursday 

Excludes tax & gratuity. Not valid with other 

offers or on holidays.

Big Sur Bixby 

Creek Bridge 

Downtown Ventura 

Solvang 

10 Quick Getaways to Celebrate the End of Summer 

by Michele E. Buttelman • features and entertainment editor 

Las Vegas, San Francisco, Palm Springs… 

everyone thinks of those obvious destinations 

when planning a three-day weekend getaway. 

This Labor Day why not mix it up and choose a 

destination less predictable? Surprise yourself, 

your family and your friends by heading out of 

town on a whim (and a prayer that accommodations 

are still available)… and find fun and 

adventure in a new setting. 

Downtown Ventura 

1. Ventura 

Ventura is the perfect spot for a romantic couple’s getaway. 

Walk on the beach, or take in movie in the quaint 

downtown area. Historic downtown Ventura is a great 

place to grab a bite, from the Cajun Kitchen Café to Dargan’s 

Irish Pub and Restaurant, there’s something for 

everyone. 

The Cinemark Century 10 Downtown is a modern theater 

complex featuring new releases, 3D films, print-at-home 

tickets and arcade games. I was thrilled to find old-school 

pinball and Ms. Pacman among the games. 

To enjoy the beach head over to San Buenaventura State 

Beach, 901 San Pedro St, Ventura, CA 93001. This is a great 

family-friendly state beach with picnic sites, a parking lot, 

snack bar, bike paths and rental shop. 

Another option is Emma Wood State Beach, Pacific Coast 

Hwy, Ventura, CA 93001. This is a picturesque oceanside 

26 

spot for surfing and fishing with fire pits and RV camping 

available with advance reservation. If you want to catch a 

wave, or watch surfers catch a wave check out Surfers 

Point Park 

Park, Shoreline Drive, Ventura, CA 93001. This is a small 

destination beach for surfers and windsurfers, with picnic 

tables, showers and restrooms. Nature lovers will enjoy 

Mandalay County Park, 301-383 S. Harbor Blvd, just a few 

miles south in Oxnard. This oceanfront preserve with a 

beach features a variety of plant and animal life. 

From the Santa Clarita Valley Ventura is less than an hour 

away via CA-126. 

2. Ojai 

Another “couples” destination Ojai is a beautiful retreat with 

lovely parks, oak-shaded paths, golf courses and spas. It’s where 

musicians, artists and health enthusiasts come out to play. 

Ojai is surrounded by mountains that create an evening 

glow the locals call the “the pink moment.” 

If you golf, line up a tee time at Soule Park, an affordable 

public course with exceptional views. Visit 

www.soulepark.com. 

Ojai is a special place to relax, rejuvenate and unwind. Try 

taking a walk, a jog, or a bike ride along the Ojai Valley 

Trail. A favorite among rail-trail enthusiasts, the Ojai Valley 

Trail extends about 9.5 miles north of Ventura from Foster 

Park in Oak View to the southwestern outskirts of Ojai. 

Visit www.traillink.com/trail/ojai-valley-trail.aspx. 

If you are adventurous, mount up for a one or two hour 

horse ride through the Ventura River Valley, or up into the 

Enchanted Forest. Only a few miles from downtown Ojai, 

Oso Ranch has riding opportunities available from beginner 

to expert. Visit 

www.ojaivalleytrailridingcompany.com/day-rides.html. 

From the SCV Ojai is about an hour and half 

away via CA-126. 

3. Solvang 

The Danish Village of Solvang is a great place to enjoy boutique 

shopping, craft beer tasting, and unique museums. 

It’s also the perfect jumping off point for wine tasting in 

the vineyards of the Santa Ynez Valley. 

If wine is your “thing” then you can appreciate central 

coast wines while visiting any of the 18+ wine tasting 

Big Bear Alpine Zoo 

Ayla and Harley 

rooms in Solvang and 100-plus wineries in the Santa Ynez 

Valley. 

A craft beer enthusiast? Download the Santa Ynez Valley 

Beer Trail map here: www.visitsyv.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/2014-Craft-Beer-Trail-Map.pdf. 

Just want to take it all in? Take a Solvang walking tour and 

meander through the tidy, flower-lined streets of this 

pedestrian-friendly village to view the Danish architecture 

and large European style windmills, a clock tower plus statues 

of Hans Christian Andersen and the Little Mermaid 

fountain. You can spend a peaceful day just strolling along 

the streets of Solvang, or you can rent a “surrey cycle” to 

“roll” through the village. Sample the Danish bakeries and 

foods and shop for art and antiques. Learn about history at 

the Elverhøj Museum of History & Art or visit the 1804 Old 

Mission Santa Inés. It’s a great place to just “get away from 

it all.” Visit www.solvangusa.com. 

From the SCV Solvang is about two hours away via CA-126 

and US-101N. 

4. Big Bear 

Big Bear isn’t just a winter getaway. It can be an affordable 

family destination, too. Even better many of Big Bear's activities 

during the summer are reasonably price, or free. 

Here’s a short list to get you started on your Big Bear family 

adventure: 

1. Go stargazing: This is perhaps the best free option in Big


Ojai Soule Park 

Santa Barbara Mission & State 

Idyllwild Tahquitz Rock 

Ojai Downtown Trolley 

Bear. Living in the light-polluted Santa Clarita Valley we 

rarely get to experience the night sky in all of its majesty. 

You’ll need to bring a few items: A jacket, a blanket to sit 

on or lie down, binoculars and a star chart (there are lots 

of great apps available on your Smartphone) and a flashlight 

to help you get to your end destination, but bring 

along some red paper to cover the end of the flashlight because 

red light will affect your night vision much less than 

white light. There are lots of great places in and around Big 

Bear for stargazing, just look for an area away from lights 

and with a wide view of the sky. 

2. Go fishing: You will need a fishing license and some 

equipment, but Big Bear Lake offers one of the top rated 

fishing spots in Southern California. Along with trout and 

bass, you will also find catfish, crappie, blue gill and sunfish. 

You don’t even need a boat; you can fish from the shoreline 

on the Stanfield Cutoff bridge or Grout Bay. 

3. Visit the Big Bear Alpine Zoo: The Big Bear Alpine Zoo is 

a rehabilitation facility offering injured, orphaned and imprinted 

wild animals a safe haven; temporarily while they 

heal or permanently as they are unable to survive on their 

own. Visitors are able to see a broad variety of alpine 

wildlife, such as bald eagles, wolves, black and grizzly 

bears, bobcats and an arctic fox. Tickets are $12 for adults 

and $9 for seniors and children between the ages of 3 and 

10. Children 2 and under are free. 

4. Take a walk: The Big Bear Discovery Center's free 30- 

minute Nature Walks are on Saturdays at 1p.m. and 2 p.m. 

and Sundays at 11 a.m. and noon. The walks provide visitors 

an opportunity to learn about the local plant life, wildlife 

and interesting historical facts about Big Bear. This activity 

is ideal for families and the nature walks are not strenuous 

and designed for all hiking skill levels. 

5. Kayaking or Canoeing on Big Bear Lake: Kayaking in 

many of the bays on Big Bear Lake is a fun way to experience 

the lake. Kayak rentals at many of Big Bear's Marinas 

start at around $20. 

From the SCV Big Bear is about two and a half hours away 

via CA-18. 

5. Santa Barbara 

You might not think of Santa Barbara as a family fun destination, 

but you would be wrong. Try a few of these different 

and fun activities: 

1. Take a bike ride along the beachfront path beginning at 

Andree Clark Bird Refuge (1400 E. Cabrillo Blvd., Santa 

Barbara, CA 93108), a 32-acre expansive sanctuary that 

provides a safe haven for a diverse bird population including 

ducks and geese. Bike rentals are nearby. 

2. Enjoy a spin on the classical carousel at Chase Palm 

Park, (323 E. Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara, CA 93101), a 10- 

acre waterfront park dedicated to children. Also, make sure 

to check out the Shipwreck Playground, Great Meadow and 

beautiful Pacific view. 

3. Head south to Stearns Wharf, where State Street meets 

the sea. Make a stop in the Santa Barbara's Museum of Natural 

History's Ty Warner Sea Center, (211 Stearns Wharf, 

Santa Barbara, CA 93101), where kids can crawl through a 

tunnel inside a 1,500-gallon tide-pool tank. Just taking a 

stroll down State Street in downtown Santa Barbara is also 

great fun. 

4. Soak up the sun, build a sandcastle and watch the kids 

splashing in the surf at Leadbetter Beach, just west of the 

Harbor, (402 E. Ortega St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101). 

5. Ride the zoo train and feed the giraffes at the Santa Barbara 

Zoo, known for rarities like its pair of Amur leopard or 

stroll through the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (1212 Mission 

Canyon Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105), and enjoy exhibits 

of California native plants set in beautifully designed 

landscapes. 

From the SCV Santa Barbara is about an hour and a half 

away via CA-126 and US-101 N. 

6. Idyllwild 

To really get away and wind down, why not head up to Idyllwild? 

Idyllwild is a place we’ve all heard of, but never visited. 

It is a small town (less than 4,000 residents) nestled in 

the San Jacinto Mountains. Visit the tall pines, majestic 

cedars and the rocks. 

The town has kept its "small town" atmosphere. Locally 

owned shops and restaurants are all you will find here. This 

is the definition of “peace and quiet.” 

You might have noticed the reference to “rocks” in the first 

paragraph. That’s because rock climbing is a favorite past 

time in Idyllwild. With many boulders and the legendary 

Tahquitz and Suicide Rocks, Idyllwild attracts beginners as 

well as seasoned rock climbing professionals. 

Mountain biking is another popular activity in Idyllwild. 

If you aren’t an experienced rock climber you will find 

"bouldering" a good alternative. The best part of bouldering 

is that many rocks are only several feet of the ground 

and falling can cause fewer injuries. 

Be aware that Idyllwild is called "Mile-high Idyllwild" because 

the mountain resort is about one mile in altitude. 

One of Idyllwild's attractions is that it is only an hour's 

drive down to the desert on the Pines to Palms Scenic 

Byway, (SR 74). 

Idyllwild is all about nature so a visit to the Idyllwild Nature 

Center (25225 Highway 243, Idyllwild, CA 92549), should be 

considered. 

From the SCV Idyllwild is about three hours away via I-210 

and CA-210. 

7. Newport Beach 

Newport Beach offers a variety of activities that should appeal 

to nearly everyone in the family. There’s nature, shopping 

and family fun. 

The estuary on Back Bay is a birder's paradise, while the 

protected beach at Crystal Cove is favored by hikers. 

Surfers catch the best breaks on The Wedge and families 

enjoy the Fun Zone on Balboa Peninsula. 

1. Take the Balboa Island Ferry. You can drive, or walk on, 

for the short, inexpensive trip. Since 1919, Balboa Island 

Ferry has provided continuous service for drivers and passengers 

in vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians between Balboa 

Island and Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach. The 

crossing is only about 800 feet but it saves you about six 

miles of driving via bridges and the alternate route. 

On Balboa Island be sure to taste the island’s two famous 

desserts, the Balboa Bar and Frozen Banana. The local 

sweet tooth treasures have been mainstays for nearly 75 

years, 

2. Locals know the three-mile-long stretch with the harbor 

on one side and broad, sandy California beaches on the 

other as “the Peninsula.” The Balboa Peninsula features a 

view of the shoreline, surfers and sunbathers spanning for 

miles. 

3. A trip to the Peninsula wouldn’t be complete without a 

visit to the Balboa Fun Zone, where the Ferris wheel has 

stood for more than 80 years. 

4. As you come over the Newport Channel Bridge from 

Newport Boulevard or Pacific Coast Highway, you can see 

Cannery Village. Waterfront restaurants offer stunning harbor 

views while dining on fresh seafood. 

Art of all varieties abounds in the Cannery Village. The village 

has been nicknamed the “Montmartre by the Sea.” 

5. Balboa Pier. The Balboa Pier was constructed in 1906. It 

See Labor Day Getaway, page 30



“Blind Spot” 

“Grandfathered” 

“The Grinder” 

“Code Black” 

“Quantico” 

“Limitless” • Tuesday, Sept. 22 10 p.m. 

Inspired by the movie, LIMITLESS is a visually creative action 

thriller about a man who discovers a mysterious drug 

that allows him to access 100% of his brain and ends up 

using his new abilities for the greater good. 

“Code Black” • Wednesday, Sept. 30 10 p.m. 

This intense medical drama is set in the busiest ER in the 

nation, where Code Black situations, when there are more 

patients than personnel or resources to treat them all, 

occur an unimaginable 300 days a year. 

by Michele E. Buttelman 

features and entertainment editor 

We usually associate Spring as the season 

of new beginnings, but Fall brings a new 

school year and a fresh crop of television 

programs. True, there are several new 

“TV Seasons” during the year in the 

“New World Television Order,” and most 

debuts now occur in October instead of 

September, but the sense of anticipation still builds as Fall 

approaches and viewers await new episodes of old favorites 

and the excitement that a new “favorite series” 

might just be a “click” of the remote away. 

Frankly, most new shows are doomed almost before they 

hit the airwaves, but, in truth, we have to have something 

to watch while we await the new seasons of House of 

Cards and Game of Thrones! 

This year, more than ever before, it appears that the rollout 

of new series is being done very slowly and spread out 

through September, October and November. 

One of the most interesting experiments will be “Heroes 

“The Muppets’’ 

Reborn” set as a 13-week “event” series. A traditional television 

series usually runs 22-26 weeks. 

I’ve long advocated for more “event” limited run series. I 

think it makes for more compelling television and allows 

the writers to craft a beginning, middle and end. 

Get ready for your newest guilty pleasure, “Scream 

Queens.” It sounds like a fun ride. 

First new show to be cancelled? My money is on “Blood & 

Oil” or “Quantico.” For these losers ABC cancelled “Forever?” 

Here are the premiere dates (where available) and a rundown 

of new series that are scheduled on the major networks 

this fall: 

ABC 

“The Muppets’’ • Tuesday, Sept. 22 8 p.m. 

The Muppets return to primetime with a contemporary, 

documentary-style show. For the first time ever, a series 

will explore the Muppets’ personal lives and relationships, 

both at home and at work, as well as romances, breakups, 

achievements, disappointments, wants and desires. 

“Blood & Oil” • Sunday, Sept. 27 9 p.m. 

Billy and Cody Lefever dream of a new life and move to 

"The Bakken" in North Dakota, booming after the biggest 

oil discovery in American history. They’re soon pitted 

against a ruthless tycoon who forces them to put everything 

on the line, including their marriage. Starring: Don 

Johnson. 

“Quantico” • Sunday, Sept. 27 10 p.m. 

A diverse group of recruits has arrived at the FBI Quantico 

Base for training. They are the best, the brightest and the 

most vetted, so it seems impossible that one of them is 

suspected of masterminding the biggest attack on New 

York City since 9/11. 

“Dr. Ken” • Friday, Oct. 2 8:30 p.m. 

Doctor turned actor/comedian Ken Jeong plays Dr. Ken, a 

brilliant physician with no bedside manner. He is always 

trying to be a good doctor, as well as a good husband and 

dad to his two kids. Luckily, his therapist wife Allison is 

just the right partner to keep things sane. 

“Wicked City” • Tuesday, Oct. 27 

“Wicked City” follows a unique case set in a noteworthy 

era of L.A. history, starting with a murder case from 1982 

centered on the rock ’n’ roll, cocaine-infused revelry of the 

Sunset Strip. Alliances are formed to solve a serial murder 

case. 

CBS 

“Life In Pieces” • Monday, Sept. 21 8:30 p.m. 

A smart, relatable and laugh-out-loud comedy about one 

family—uniquely told through four separate stories each 

week. This warm and loveable clan, spanning three generations, 

finds humor in life’s everyday absurdities. 

“Supergirl” • Monday, Nov. 2 8 p.m. 

From DC Comics comes SUPERGIRL, a contemporary, action-packed 

adaptation of the timeless story of one of the 

greatest female superheroes. 

“Angel From Hell” • Thursday, Nov. 5 9:30 p.m. 

Allison, a doctor, is organized and perfect, but her life is 

derailed when she meets brash, outspoken Amy, who 

claims to be her guardian angel in this irresistible comedy 

about an unlikely friendship. 

“Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris” 

NBC 

“Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris” 

Tuesday, Sept. 15 10 p.m. 

Five Emmy Awards and a Tony Award make multi-talented 

Neil Patrick Harris the perfect star for this live one-hour 

show that is unlike any other on American television. Anything 

can happen on "Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris," 

which will feature appearances by A-list stars, stunts, 

comedy skits, incredible performances, mini game shows, 

audience giveaways and hidden camera pranks. 

“Blindspot” • Monday, Sept. 21 10 p.m. 

Why her? Why him? A beautiful woman is found naked in 

Times Square, covered in fresh tattoos and with no idea who 

she is. So why is FBI Agent Kurt Weller's name on her back? 

“Heroes Reborn” • Thursday, Sept. 24 8 p.m. 

From Creator/Executive Producer Tim Kring, who imagined 

NBC's original critically acclaimed 2006 "Heroes" series, 

comes "Heroes Reborn," an epic 13-episode event series 

that chronicles the lives of ordinary people who discover 

they possess extraordinary abilities. 

“The Player” • Thursday, Sept. 24 10 p.m. 

Wesley Snipes stars in this action-packed Las Vegas thriller 

about a high-stakes crime-fighting game. 

“Chicago Med” • Tuesday, Nov. 17, 10 p.m. 

Executive producer Dick Wolf delivers the newest installment 

of the compelling Chicago franchise, an emotional 

ride through the day-to-day chaos of the city's most 

explosive hospital and the courageous team of doctors 

that holds it together. They will tackle unique new cases inspired 

by topical events, forging fiery relationships in the 

pulse-pounding pandemonium of the emergency room,


and through it all, familiar faces from the “Chicago PD” and 

“Chicago Fire” departments will intertwine as this third team of 

Chicago heroes hits the ground running. 

“Rosewood” 

“Truth Be Told” • Friday, Oct. 16 8:30 p.m. 

If you can think it, they will most likely say it in this unabashed new 

comedy about two diverse couples - Mitch (Mark-Paul Gosselaar, 

"Saved by the Bell") and Tracy (Vanessa Lachey, "Dads"), and Russell 

(Tone Bell, "Bad Judge") and Angie (Bresha Webb, "Hung"). 

This is a fearless foursome who are both neighbors and best 

friends. As they navigate through life side by side, they can't help 

but analyze and obsess about everything. From sex and race to 

anything else your parents told you never to talk about, absolutely 

no topic is out of bounds for this wildly outspoken group. 

FOX 

“Minority Report” • 

Monday, Sept. 21 9 p.m. 

“Minority Report” 

The future is coming. Based on 

the international blockbuster 

film by executive producer 

Steven Spielberg and the first 

of his films to be adapted for 

television, the series follows 

the unlikely partnership between 

a man haunted by the 

future and a cop haunted by 

her past, as they race to stop 

the worst crimes of the year 2065 before they happen. 

“Scream Queens” • Tuesday, Sept. 22 8 p.m. 

(two-hour premiere), Tuesday, Sept. 29 9 p.m. 

(time period premiere) 

The girls of Kappa House are 

dying for new pledges. “Scream 

Queens” is a new killer comedyhorror 

series from award-winning 

executive producers Ryan Murphy 

(“Glee,” “American Horror Story”), 

Brad Falchuk (“Glee,” “American 

Horror Story”) and Ian Brennan 

(“Glee”). Kappa House, the most 

sought-after sorority for pledges, 

is ruled with an iron fist (in a pink 

glove) by Chanel Oberlin (Emma 

Roberts, “American Horror Story: 

Freak Show,” “Scream 4”). But 

when anti-Kappa Dean Cathy Munsch 

(Jamie Lee Curtis, “Halloween,” 

“A Fish Called Wanda,” 

“True Lies”) decrees that sorority 

pledging must be open to all students, 

and not just the school’s silver-spooned 

elite, all hell is about 

to break loose, as a devil-clad 

killer begins wreaking havoc 

across the campus. An over-thetop, 

biting satire, this is part black 

comedy, part slasher flick and a 

modern take on the classic whodunit, 

in which every character 

has a motive for murder…or could easily be the next victim. The 

series has an all-star cast, including Emma Roberts, Jamie Lee 

Curtis, Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award nominee Lea Michele 

(“Glee”), Academy Award nominee Abigail Breslin (“Little Miss Sunshine,” 

“Zombieland,” “August: Osage County”), Nasim Pedrad 

(“Mulaney,” “Saturday Night Live”), Oliver Hudson (“Nashville,” 

“Rules of Engagement”), Skyler Samuels (“American Horror Story: 

Coven”), Keke Palmer (“Akeela and the Bee,” “Masters of Sex”), 

newcomer Billie Lourd, Diego Boneta (“Rock of Ages”), Glen Powell 

(“The Expendables 3”), Lucien Laviscount (“Episodes”), Niecy Nash 

(“Getting On,” “The Soul Man”), pop superstar and actor Nick 

Jonas (“Kingdom”) and Grammy Award nominee and actress Ariana 

Grande. 

“Scream Queens” 

“Rosewood” • Wednesday, Sept. 23 8 p.m. 

Meet the Beethoven of private pathologists… Set against the vibrant 

backdrop of one of the world’s hottest cities – Miami – new medical 

procedural from executive producer Todd Harthan (“Psych,” “Dominion”), 

this is the story of Dr. Meaumont Rosewood, Jr. (Morris 

Chestnut, “Nurse Jackie,” “The Best Man” franchise), the city’s top 

private pathologist. Brilliant, cool with tons of charisma, Rosewood 

teams up with a tough-as-nails detective (Jaina Lee Ortiz, “The 

After”), to uncover clues no one else sees and help the Miami PD 

solve the city’s most challenging cases. 

Plagued with his own set of medical ailments, 

Rosewood believes that every moment 

of life, no matter how small, should be 

embraced and lived to the fullest. 

“Grandfathered” 

Tuesday, Sept. 29 8 p.m. 

What’s the fastest way to put the brakes 

on a cruise-controlled bachelor lifestyle? 

Fatherhood? Guess again. Television icon 

John Stamos (“Full House,” “ER”) stars in 

a new comedy about the ultimate bachelor who discovers he’s not 

only a father, but a grandfather. 

“The Grinder” • Tuesday, Sept. 29 8:30 p.m. 

Starring Emmy Award nominee Rob Lowe (“Parks and Recreation,” 

“The West Wing”) and Emmy Award and 

Golden Globe Award nominee Fred Savage 

(“The Wonder Years”), this is a new 

comedy about two brothers: one a spotlight-grabbing 

actor who plays TV’s 

most popular lawyer and the other, a 

real-life, small-town attorney who has 

yet to find his spotlight. Dean Sanderson, 

Jr. (Lowe) spent eight seasons playing 

the title role on the hit legal drama 

“The Grinder.” When his series ends, he 

decides to move back to his hometown 

of Boise, Idaho, where his brother, Stewart 

(Savage), is poised to take over the 

family law firm. Despite having no law 

degree, no license to practice and no experience 

in an actual courtroom, Dean’s 

charisma and flair for the dramatic 

make him absolutely certain he has 

something to contribute to the firm. 

THE CW 

“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” 

Monday, Oct. 19 8 p.m. 

The series will follow Rebecca Bunch, a 

single woman and her elusive pursuit of 

her longtime soul mate Josh, who 

“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” 

dumped her while they were dating in high school in 2005. It's now 

2015 and after being inspired by a TV commercial for a butter 

spread, she restarts her pursuit of Josh after she spots him in New 

York City. When he tells her that he is moving to West Covina, Calif. 

(“Just two hours from the beach, four hours in traffic”), Rebecca 

decides to move there as well, hoping that it will give her a fresh 

start and hopefully bring her closer to the still-elusive Josh.



Gold Country Helwig Winery 

is located in a part of Newport Beach called the Balboa 

Peninsula. It is a popular fishing spot and a great place to 

take in the view. 

From the SCV Newport Beach is (my preferred route) about 

two hours away via I-201 and I-605 S. 

8. Morro Bay 

The town's most striking feature is Morro Rock, a 576 foot 

high volcanic plug which stands at the entrance to the harbor. 

Originally it was surrounded by water, but the northern 

channel was filled in to make the harbor. The Rock, as locals 

call it, was quarried from 1889 to 1969. Public access is 

Finding accommodations for the long holiday weekend 

might be a challenge, but they can be found. 

Once you get to Big Sur here’s a few ideas on what to do. 

1. Want a short hike with a huge reward? The ½-mile/1-km 

round-trip Waterfall Overlook Trail at Julia Pfeiffer Burns 

State Park could be the biggest-bang-for-not-much-work. 

McWay Falls is an 80-foot waterfall located in Julia Pfeiffer 

Burns State Park that flows year-round. 

Originally the waterfall cascaded directly into the ocean but 

after a 1983 fire and 1985 landslides, the topography of 

McWay Cove was altered, forming an inaccessible beach. 

5. Just chill. Seriously. Turn off the Smartphone, iPad and 

Kindle and just … “be.” 

10. California Gold Country 

A visit to Columbia State Historic Park (11255 Jackson St., 

Columbia, CA 95310) is like traveling back in time to the 

1850s and the California Gold Rush. 

This park presents the Gold Rush in living, breathing color. 

Costumed docents lead tours of this carefully preserved 

Mother Lode town, the state’s second largest city at the 

peak of the Gold Rush. In addition, these folks live and work 

here in a variety of period-appropriate shops and trades. 

Big Sur McWay Falls 

Big Bear Kayaking 

Morro Rock 

restricted, as the rock is peregrine falcon reserve. However, 

the area around the base of Morro Rock can be visited. 

The rock is also sometimes called “The Gibraltar of the Pacific.” 

There’s lots of wildlife from otters to birds to be spotted 

around Morro Bay. 

In addition, Morro Bay offers miles of unspoiled beaches, 

nature trails and Morro Bay National Estuary. 

Plan to visit Morro Bay State Park (60 State Park Road, 

Morro Bay, CA 93442) and The Museum of Natural History. 

From the SCV Morro Bay is about three, to three and half 

hours, away via US-101. 

9. Big Sur 

Getting to Big Sur takes a while, but it is worth the long 

drive. From the SCV it should take you about five and 

a half hours without fuel or rest stops if you go 

straight up the I-5 then bounce over to the 101. (Follow I-5 

N to Kern County. Take exit 278 from I-5 N, Get on 

US-101 N in Paso Robles from CA-46 W, Follow US-101 N to 

Abbott St in Monterey County. Take the Abbott St 

exit from US-101 N, Take CA-68 W and CA-1 S to your destination. 

The waterfall now meets the ocean when the tide is in. For 

directions visit 

www.hikinginbigsur.com/hikes_mcwayfalls.html. 

2. Drive over the Bixby Creek Bridge, a bridge you’ve seen 

in dozens of movies TV shows and commercials. The bridge, 

opened in 1932, is located along State Route 1. It is one of 

the tallest single-span concrete bridges in the world and 

one of the most photographed bridges along the Pacific 

Coast. 

3. Love lighthouses? Visit Point Sur State Historic Park and 

Lighthouse. Pt. Sur Lighthouse and its supporting lightstation 

buildings, stand atop a dramatic volcanic rock just offshore 

in Big Sur. This historic aid-to-navigation has a 

modern aero-beacon which still guides ships along the 

treacherous Central California Coast. It is on the National 

Register of Historic Places and a California landmark. Pt. 

Sur can be visited by guided walking tours year round. 

4. Drive down the Old Coast Road. However, make sure you 

have the car for this adventure. This is mostly a dirt road 

with ruts, high rocks and other obstacles. The views are 

amazing, but it can be a white knuckle experience for the 

timid. It is best to have AWD at least, if not a 4x4. The recommended 

route is just near the Bixby Bridge toward Andrew 

Molera State Park in Big Sur. 

Catch a ride on an authentic stagecoach, order a cold, locally 

made sarsaparilla soda in a Western-style saloon, or 

feel the heat in a working blacksmith's forge. There’s also a 

Wells Fargo express office and other relics of California's 

early mining days. No cars are allowed inside the “town.” 

Free historical tours of the park depart from the museum 

weekends at 11 a.m. (weekdays too, mid-June until 

Labor Day). 

Other adventures in California Gold Country include wine 

tasting along the way. Nestled in the Sierra Nevada 

Foothills is the unique wine district of Gold Country. Wineries 

litter historical Highway 49 and it is a great way to sample 

the distinct flavors of the region. Gold Country is home 

to more than 40 wineries, many of them family-owned and 

producing celebrated vintages. Generally smaller than their 

Napa-Sonoma counterparts, Gold Country wineries attract 

fewer visitors and consequently provide more access to information 

about the winemaking process, insights that are 

sometimes shared by the vintners themselves. The atmosphere 

is low-key and laid-back, and tasting fees are typically 

non-existent. For a wine tasting map visit 

www.californiatouristguide.com/gold-country-wineries/. 

From the SCV Columbia is about five hours via CA-99 N.


Owner Peyman Karbalia 

serves up a vanilla soft 

serve sundae with Reese’s 

Pieces at Rita’s Ice 

Custard Happiness in 

Stevenson Ranch. 

A variety of Gelati options 

await you at Rita’s in 


The Yogurteria storefront in 


light and their rich, creamy custard is spectacular. The only problem is that right now, because of the widespread 

egg shortage in the United States, Rita’s is not serving authentic custard. I’ve been assured that 

this is a temporary situation. There’s just nothing that can compare to the mouth feel and the divine decadence 

of authentic Rita’s custard. The “soft serve” option they currently offer is not bad, it’s just not quite 

the “real deal.” 

Rita’s is still the best option for the tastiest frozen treats in the SCV. 

While “custard” or “soft serve” is available in classic vanilla and chocolate and usually one other flavor, 

from coffee to strawberry, the dozen or so Italian ices available on a daily basis vary from the always on 

hand Mango to include Strawberry-watermelon, Juicy Pear, Root Beer, Cantaloupe, Cotton Candy, Chocolate 

Chip, Pineapple, Passion Fruit, Pina Colada, Swedish Fish, Key Lime and dozens of others. 

Owner Peyman Karbalia is a huge supporter of nonprofits in the SCV and Rita’s can be found donating to 

many food-related events including Taste of the Town and the Vine2Wine Classic. They also offer school 

fundraising opportunities. 

“This is such a great community and everyone has taken us in,” Karbalia said. “I just don’t understand how 

you can’t give back. Everyone is very family oriented and works together, and we love providing ice custard 

happiness to the community.” 

There are two locations 

of Rita’s in the SCV. 

25802 W. Hemingway Avenue 


661-714-6841 

Santa Clarita’s Best Ice 

Cream, Frozen Yogurt 

and Gelato 

Sweet and sticky, it’s time to 

enjoy a hot weather treat 

by Michele E. Buttelman • features and entertainment editor 

There’s nothing that can make you feel like a kid again more than a 

frosty, cold, sweet and sticky summer treat. Ice cream, frozen yogurt, 

gelato or shaved ice, this is the season to indulge your inner 

child and throw calorie caution out the window. 

Here’s a rundown on the best frozen treats in the Santa Clarita Valley. 

Remember that any particular flavor might, or might not, be available on 

any given day as many of these stores change flavor selections on a daily 

basis. 

Best of the Best 

Rita’s Italian Ice 

Rita’s Italian Ice is the clear winner of “Best Frozen Treat” in the SCV. I first 

learned of Rita’s “Ice Custard Happiness” on a trip to Florida. I was devastated 

to return to the SCV to find that frozen “custard” was nowhere to be 

found. When I heard that a Rita’s would be opening in the SCV I was beside 

myself. Rita’s has never disappointed. Their best-selling Mango ice is a de- 

26773 Bouquet Canyon Road 


661-414-3734 

Best Ice Cream 

Baskin-Robbins 

Maybe I’m just fond of those little pink tasting spoons, but I think Baskin-Robbins rocks the ice cream 

world. I like options, and Baskin-Robbins is the king of options. They also make spectacular ice cream 

cakes. 

My current favorite ice cream is salted caramel and the Baskin-Robbins version offers a salty caramel ribbon 

that cuts through creamy vanilla and caramel flavored ice cream. 

Another great flavor is Lemon Custard. Rich and cream, with a soft lemon flavor, this is decadence in a cup 

(or cone). 

And who doesn’t like Mint Chocolate Chip? The top 5 selling Baskin-Robbins ice cream flavors are Vanilla, 

Chocolate, Mint Chocolate Chip, Pralines 'n Cream and Chocolate Chip. 

I’m a huge fan of both Mint Chocolate Chip and Pralines ‘n Cream, so clearly I am their target audience. 

Baskin-Robbins "31" was created to represent a different ice cream flavor for each day of the month. The 

"31 Flavors" concept was introduced into marketing efforts in 1953. 

There are five Baskin-Robbins 

locations in the SCV. 

31826 Castaic Road 

Castaic, CA 91384 

661-775-0999 



661-284-1331 



661-297-2131 

23432 Lyons Ave. 

Newhall, CA 91321 • 661-255-5131 

18827 Soledad Canyon Rd 

Canyon Country, CA 91351 

661- 298-3131 

The newest Tutti Frutti 

Frozen Yogurt store 

recently opened 

in Canyon Country. 

A scoop of mint chip 

ice cream at the 

Baskin-Robbins store 

in Castaic. 

The “Sweet 8” promise 

at Yogurteria. 

See Best Ice Cream, page 32 

The Castaic Baskin- 

Robbins location 

along Castaic Road.



A bowl of watermelon 

frozen yogurt at Tutti 

Fruitti Frozen Yogurt. 

Cold Stone Creamery 

Cold Stone offers not only great ice cream but also shakes, 

smoothies and frappes. They make great ice cream cakes 

and practically invented the entire “mix-in” concept where 

customers “customize” their ice cream experience by 

adding in a variety of nuts, fruits, candy pieces and other 

flavors. 

I am a huge fan of the cake batter ice cream with marshmallows, 

coconut and chocolate chips. 

I was thrilled to find black licorice ice cream one summer, 

many moons ago at Cold Stone. Of course, I was the only 

person in the country that bought that flavor and I’ve 

never seen it again. However, I remember it with great 

fondness. 

There are two Cold Stone Creamery 

locations in the SCV. 

27071 McBean Parkway 


661-253-4123 

18740-A Soledad Canyon Road 


661- 252-1300 

Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor Restaurants 

21516 Golden Triangle Road 


661-253-4386 

Ben & Jerry’s 

23630 Valencia Blvd 


661-253-1666 

Dairy Queen 


Saugus, CA 91350 

661-263-0786 

Best Frozen Yogurt 

Planet Yogurt 

Adjacent to the Regal Edwards Theater on Town Center 

Drive, next to Salt Creek Grille Planet Yogurt wins my loyalty 

because of the Dole Pineapple and Orange soft serve 

(yes, this is the same Dole Pineapple served at Disneyland) 

. Also, the owners, Robert and Peggy Catrini, are usually 

on the premises. I like to support small business that cares 

enough to work the business, not just turn the keys over to 

a 16-year-old working his or her first job. In addition to the 

great selection of frozen yogurt and topping options they 

also offer protein shakes for the folks working out at the 

nearby Gold’s Gym. The quality offered at Planet Yogurt is 

obviously from the first taste. I also like the toys set up on 

the patio to entertain young children. These folks “get it.” 

Clean, comfortable and friendly, this is the place to go for 

frozen yogurt. Check out which movie will earn you a discount 

on your purchase, too, it is always posted prominently 

in front of the store. 

24415 Town Center Drive 

Valencia, CA 91355 

661- 254-2471 

Yogurtland 

I was very impressed with Yogurtland, not only do they 

have 16 flavors “on tap” they also had a mind-blowing 48 

toppings. The salted caramel yogurt was thick and dreamy. 



661- 291-6530 

Yogurteria 

This is another impressive frozen yogurt shop. I liked the 

“Sweet 8,” frozen yogurt that is fat and cholesterol free, 

contains active yogurt cultures, safe for most diabetics and 

those with lactose intolerance, no artificial sweeteners, 

gluten free, contains calcium and fiber and is only eight 

calories per ounce. Sweet 8 flavors include vanilla and 

Fudge Brownie. Traditional frozen yogurt offerings included 

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, Salted Carmel Corn, Mango 

Sorbet, Vanilla Custard, Blueberry, Marshmallow Crème, 

Cake Batter, Strawberry Banana, Coffee, Nutella and Pomegranate 

Raspberry Sorbet. There is a stellar selection of 

toppings, including those strawberry, mango and yogurt 

poppers that I adore. 



661-255-5085 

Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt 

24244 Lyons Ave 


661-260-3928 

19401 Soledad Canyon Road 

Canyon Country, CA 91351 

661- 367-4733 

Golden Spoon Frozen Yogurt 

24921 Pico Canyon Road 


661-753-9788 

24317 Magic Mountain Parkway 


661- 253-2021 

A bowl of Dole 

Orange soft serve 

at Plant Yogurt 

next to the Regal 

Edwards Theater 

on Town Center 

Drive in Valencia. 

Lulu’s Froyo 

26555 Golden Valley Road 


661- 254-2130 

Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt 



661-260-3900 

28273 Newhall Ranch Road 


661- 678-0753 

Best Alternative Treat 

Gelado 

This store, located on Newhall Avenue in Newhall is in the 

same shopping center as Savia, Dollar Tree and Starbucks. 

It offers gelato, ice cream, frozen yogurt and other 

desserts. 

This is gelato taken to the next level. It is gourmet, adventurous 

and exciting. 

The store is open daily from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Owners Karina 

and Francisco Aguilar, and their son Christian, can be found 

at the shop scooping up rich and delightful gelato, sorbet 

and other tasty treats in very unique flavors. 

I recently experienced the rich, dense and delightful pistachio 

gelato. It makes you close your eyes and just savor the 

experience. 

I also tasted several other flavors including “Hemp” (Yes! 

Hemp!) and Gansito (think of it as a Mexican Twinkie covered 

in chocolate). 

There wasn’t a bad taste in the bunch. 

Other flavors include Green Apple, Fresh Cheese, Tiramisu, 

Rocky Road, Milk Chocolate, Stracciatella, Chocolate Mint, 

Cap’n Crunch, Popcorn, Gingerbread, Coconut, Oreo and 

more. They also had mango and strawberry sorbet. A 

freezer case full of fruity paletas was hard to resist. Flavors 

included watermelon, chocolate banana, Mexican pecan, 

mango and mint, strawberries and cream, kiwi limeade and 

papaya and chia. 

Gelado bills itself as offering “frozen and spicy treats.” 

I did not try the habanero chocolate, but I’ve heard from 

others that it is very good and not too spicy. 

Francisco is the creative force behind these unique and 

wonderful flavors. I urge you to check out this great addition 

to the frozen treat landscape. 

23762 Newhall Ave 

Newhall, CA 91321 

661- 291-1483 

Open daily from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. 

Milkshake Mania 

Yes, it is all about the milkshake here. The concept is simple, 

to make your shake choose from ice cream, non-dairy 

ice cream or frozen yogurt, choose your size, choose your 

flavor (prices include syrup and one flavor) and add a top 

or bottom to your milkshake (like blue raspberry pop rocks 

or mini marshmallows). A few of the flavors offered include 

Nutella, Oreo, peanut butter, Pop Tarts, red velvet cake, 

cookie dough, glazed donut , cherry, coconut, mango, Milky 

Way, Almond Joy, Kit Kat and dozens more. You can add 

malt, mocha, protein or chocolate protein powders, too. 

Syrups include coffee, caramel, chocolate, raspberry and 

strawberry. 

If you prefer you can order 

one of the suggested milkshakes, 

I tried the Pink 

Monkey, which is a strawberry-banana 

milkshake. It 

was thick, rich and delicious. 

Among the other options: 

Tropical Paradise (pineapple, 

coconut and banana), 

Wake Up Call (glazed donut 

and mocha), Everything 

(peanut butter, Oreo, Rice 

Krispies), Chucky Monkey 

(banana, chocolate chips, mocha), Cereal Killer (Apple 

Jacks, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, PB Cap’n Crunch) and Black 

‘n White (cookie dough and Oreos). 

They also offer floats that combine ice cream with your 

choice of Classic Coke, Dr. Pepper, Root Beer, Cherry Coke, 

Orange Fanta or Vanilla Coke. 

Gelado owners Karina and 

Francisco Aguilar with their 

son, Christian, center. 

27530 Newhall Ranch Road 


661- 607-0690 

Shave It 



661-254-0423 

Located next to the Tokyo Japanese Lifestyle store in the 

Westfield Valencia Town Center. 

This store has great Hawaiian-style shave ice, but is consistently 

understaffed. It’s almost if they feel that “island 

time” is part of the entire shave ice experience. If you need 

to work on learning patience, this is your place. However, if 

you “hang in there” the reward is great.


Westside People 

PRofile: saRa and todd tisdell 

Castaic family opens craft brewery 

By Michele E. Buttelman 

Features and Entertainment Editor 

It was a gift of coincidence that found Castaic resident Todd 

Tisdell, and his brother-in-law Geoff Pocock, developing a 

taste for making craft brew. 

Tisdell gifted Pocock with a craft beer making kit for Christmas 

and Tisdell’s mother-in-law gave him the same gift. 

“She thought it was something that Geoff and I could do together,” 

he said. 

The serendipity of that Christmas gift has led Castaic residents 

Sara and Todd Tisdell and Geoff Pocock and Lauren 

Cook to join forces to open the Santa Clarita Valley’s second 

craft beer tasting room. 

Located on Avenue Tibbetts in the Valencia Industrial Center, 

Pocock Brewing Company is still a month away from opening. 

Holiday Light Tour winners 

The Tisdells are receiving a lot of attention in the SCV for 

their brewing efforts, but the couple is not unfamiliar with the 

limelight. 

Their previous obsession, an “over-the-top” holiday light 

display in the front yard of their Hasley Canyon home, earned 

them the grand prize in 2008 and 2011 local holiday light tour 

contests, as well as “must see” recommendations from hundreds 

of SCV residents. 

The brewery project, however, found the Tisdells unable to 

command the time and effort to mount their annual light display 

last holiday season, to the disappointment of many families 

who made the trek out to their Castaic home. 

“Last year we had a lot of disappointed people drive up the 

street,” said Todd Tisdell. “They would drive up, turn off their 

lights, wait 45 seconds, turn their lights back on and drive 

away. I am so sorry. I had such guilt about it.” 

Sara Tisdell echoed her husband’s feelings. 

“It was so sad, so heartbreaking for us, but it is a huge time 

comittment, and so is this,” she said. “We couldn’t do both.” 

Todd Tisdell said it is unlikely that the mammoth and intricate 

lighting display will return this year, either. 

“Here it is almost September and we still need to get the 

brewery up and running and the Christmas lights need to be 

started in October,” he said. “So I don’t think it will happen this 

year, maybe next year.” 

Sara and Todd Tisdell 

The Tisdells were married at the Queen Mary in 1999 and 

moved to Castaic in 2005. 

Todd Tisdell was raised in Anaheim and Yorba Linda and 

Sara Tisdell grew up in Riverside. 

The couple met in 1996 in a film production class at Chap- 

It’s a family affair for Pocock Brewing Company. From top, left to right, 

Spencer Tisdell, Emma Tisdell, Lauren Cook, Geoff Pocock and Sara and 

Todd Tisdell. 

man College. They have two children, Emma, 11, and Spencer, 

8. The children attend Live Oak Elementary School. 

After Tisdell received his Masters degree in producing from 

Chapman, he went to work in the entertainment business. 

At one time he worked simultaneously on four shows in the 

“docutainment” genre. In the summer of 2001 all four shows 

ended their runs and he waited for a new batch of shows to 

spin up in the fall. 

However, after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, “docutainment” 

production shifted to news and he turned to a real estate 

career. 

“I had been doing some real estate investing so I got my real 

estate license and opened up Citrus Grove Real Estate and 

Lending,” he said. “There’s two ‘mes,’ there is one that likes to 

build and make things, that’s the guy who loves to do the 

Christmas lights and why I was in the TV business, then there’s 

the me that is this serial entrepreneur.” 

Tisdell said he has always been self-employed. 

“Real estate is satisfying, but in a different way than having 

a project,” he said. “Christmas lights gave me a project and so 

has craft beer.” 

Loving Castaic 

“We moved out here in 2005 from West Hills,” said Sara Tisdell. 

“We moved out here for the kids. We wanted to be in a 

place where they could have space, have the good schools and 

the community.” 

The Tisdells looked at property in Sand Canyon, but decided 

they preferred the less dense community of Halsey Canyon. 

“We moved out here right before Emma turned 1,” said Sara 

Tisdell, a stay-at-home mom. “We fell in love with the community.” 

Sara Tisdell said Castaic residents have been very supportive 

of the brewery project. 

“Castaic is a very close knit community,” she said. “Once we 

started talking about doing the brewery we’ve received a huge 

amount of support from the community of Castaic. Everybody 

wants to know how it is going, they ask, ‘What can we do to 

help?’ Can we come over and help paint?’ ‘Can we do anything?’ 

It’s just a genuine desire to help each other out, which 

is appealing.” 

Pocock Brewery 

“We’re a big team,” said Sara Tisdell. “Pocock is my maiden 

name.” 

She comes by her interest in craft beer honestly. Her grandparents 

ran the British Volunteer pub, in Ashford, Kent, England 

for decades. 

Todd Tisdell said one of Pocock’s beers (an English bitter) is 

named British Volunteer, in honor of the pub. 

“My brother (Geoff Pocock) and I were raised on English 

beers, that is what we were exposed to first and we developed 

an appreciation for English beer,” said Sara Tisdell. 

Todd Tisdell and Pocock are the primary beer “chefs” at 

Pocock Brewing Company, but Sara Tisdell said she also 

throws in her ideas from time to time. 

“Geoff and I have been home brewing for a long time,” Todd 

Tisdell said. “At first we used the recipes in the kits, then we 

started inventing our own recipes and sometimes they were 

good, and sometimes not so good.” 

The beer brewing soon moved from hobby to passion. 

“Two to three years ago our friends told us we should sell 

this beer. They told us ‘this beer is good enough to sell.’ But 

they are friends and you don’t really believe friends when they 

tell you that kind of thing.” 

But Pocock and Tisdell soon took their beer “on the road” to 

corporate parties, weddings and other events. 

After pouring their beer for strangers they discovered that 

the beer received the same response it had from friends. 

“It was mid-2013 when we decided to go down this road 

and then we were brewing every weekend,” he said. “Now it’s 

grown to this (the Pocock Brewing Company tasting room).” 

What appeals to Todd Tisdell is that brewing is “an interesting 

blend of cooking and science.” 

“I have one of those brains that like to do both left and right 

brain (activities),” he said. “Brewing beer satisfies both sides of 

my brain.” 

Craft beer 

“Geoff and I are the brewers, we create the recipes,” said 

Todd Tisdell. “And we don’t just make one kind of beer. We are 

the driving force behind the flavors and we have a variety of 

beers.” 

Tisdell describes being a craft brewer as more “chef” than 

“mass producer.” 

“We are constantly playing with recipes and tweaking things 

here and there,” he said. 

Currently Pocock Brewing Company has developed a few 

“staples” including the British Volunteer (an English bitter), 

an American pale ale, called First 13 and a beer called Nuptials, 

which is a mango pale ale. 

“That’s a very popular beer that we made for a wedding,” he 

said. “Lots of people like that one.” 

Also offered will be two IPAs, a single and double IPA, a West 

Coast Red, a chocolate stout and an imperial stout. 

“Our vibe here is going to be really casual and mellow, a 

‘come in, hang out, taste some beer,’ kind of place,” said Tisdell. 

“This is beer for people who like beer, not beer to get 

drunk. This is beer for people who want one or two interesting 

tastes for the evening.” 

After the tasting room opens Tisdell is planning on inviting 

food trucks to hang out on the weekends. 

“The tasting room is not a huge space,” he said. “But we want 

Todd Tisdell, and his brother-in-law Geoff Pocock, test a batch of beer in 

the middle of the brewing process to determine if the beer is developing 

properly. See Profile:Tisdells, page 36


o u t & a B o u t i n t h e sCV 

The kids are now back in school and 

the Santa Clarita Valley is alive with 

the sound of fundraisers. August 

has been a busier than expected month 

with fundraisers to benefit the Friends of 

Hart Park, Circle of Hope, Inc., Henry 

Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital and 

Carousel Ranch. 

Silents under the Stars 

The Friends of Hart Park celebrated 

their 20th annual Silents Under the 

Stars on Aug. 8. Seen at the event were 

Patty and RJ Kelly, Bob and Diane 

Benjamin, Diana Vose and Ernest 

Guaderrama, Charles Epting and 

Hadley McGregor of Huntington 

Beach in vintage dress, Richard 

Green (of Green Landscape Nursery), 

Patti and Charlie Rasmussen, Evie 

Leslie, Marsha and Dale McLean, Laurene 

Weste and James McCarthy and 

Linda Lambourne. 

Vine2Wine Classic 

The Vine2Wine Classic relocated this 

year to the Santa Clarita Activities Center 

while their home in the Main Gallery 

of Cal Arts undergoes renovation. I 

rather enjoyed the ample seating and 

smaller crowd. It was a classy and sassy 

event, enjoyed by all. Seen at the event: 

Jimmy Carnelli, Dante Acosta, Judy 

Penman, Beth Heiserman, Sharon 

Lindquist, Ellen Como, Oriana John, 

Cheryl Gray, Carolyn Lodes, Lois 

Bauccio, Danise Davis, Adele 

Macpherson, Chris Miller, Laina Mcferren, 

Mike and Ann Marie Bjorkman, 

Gloria Mercado-Fortine and 

Bruce Fortine, Scott and Vanessa 

Wilk, Ray Tippet, Tami Edwards, Janice 

Murray, Laura Kirchoff, Chris and 

Tom Hough, Amanda Etcheverry, 

Pam Ingram, Marc Winger and Eileen 

Mann and Pam Ripling. 

Shelley Hann Visits SCV 

Former Westridge resident Shelley 

Hann (currently living in San Francisco) 

recently returned 

for a 

brief visit to 

her old 

stomping 

grounds. 

She was 

sighted at 

Larsen’s 

Steakhouse 

in Valencia, 

sharing a 

copy of the 

Westside 

Reader 

with her 

Chris Aldieri, Mike Lebecki 

and Shelley Hann 

friends 

Mike Lebecki and Chris Aldieri. Hann 

all hot august nights this 

month in the sCV 

by Michele E. Buttelman 

Features & Entertainment Editor 

said she plans more frequent trips to 

the SCV to visit in the future. Hann was 

well-known in the SCV for her support 

of SCV nonprofits and her elegant party 

and event planning skills. 

Jimmy Carnelli offers up Sinatra 

standards 

On the first and third Thursday of the 

month you can find SCV singing sensation 

Jimmy Carnelli channeling his 

inner Sinatra at Casa de Pizza, (16161 

San Fernando Mission Blvd, Granada 

Hills, CA 91344, 818-366-6311). The 

family-run restaurant has been a staple 

for 50 years and once entertained a 

visit from Frank Sinatra himself. In 

other news, Carnelli recently traveled to 

Australia for a month with the band, 

Player (biggest hit “Baby Come Back”). 

Carnelli is the band’s new drummer. 

Look for Player and Ambrosia to join 

forces for a possible West Coast Tour. 

Who’s ready for Cocktails on the 

Roof? 

The WiSH Education Foundation will 

be hosting Cocktails on the Roof to benefit 

the William S. Hart School District 

on Friday, Sept 18. Tickets are $75 general 

admission with $55 designated 

drive tickets also available. Buy your 

tickets early because the price goes up 

to $95 at the door. The event features 

SCV restaurants serving signature cocktails 

and food pairings in an outdoor, 

rooftop party atmosphere. Cocktails on 

the Roof will be held 7-10 p.m. on the 

top level of the Town Center Parking 

Garage near the Macy's Bridge. For information 

or tickets visit www.wishscv.org, 

661-799-9474. 

Michael Hoefflin Foundation for 

Children's Cancer 

The 22nd Annual Evening Under the 

Stars to benefit the Michael Hoefflin 

Foundation for Children's Cancer will 

be held Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Robinson 

Ranch Golf Club. The event, one of 

the stellar nonprofit events in the Santa 

Clarita Valley, is held in memory of 

young Michael Hoefflin, the son of 

Chris and Sue Hoefflin, who died at 

age 11 from brain cancer. 

This year’s Gala Dinner and Charity 

Auction is chaired by Tim and Jenny 

Ketchepaw, and Brenda Neilson. This 

year’s entertainment will be a country 

music performance by the Kelly Rae 

Band. Tickets start at $150 each. For 

more information call 661-250-4100 or 

www.mhf.org. 

Michele E. Buttelman is the features 

and entertainment editor of The Westside 

Reader. She can be reached by email 

at Michele@WestsideReader.com. 

Oaks Grille 


moist, mild and reminiscent of salmon. The 

beets and potatoes add a touch of sweetness 

to the dish with the pancetta offering a 

slightly salty note. I highly recommend this 

entrée, especially if you enjoy salmon. 

Also on the summer menu is a Summer 

Risotto with beets, summer squash, wild organic 

mushrooms, cipollini onions, roasted 

corn and finished with shaved Parmigianino 

Reggiano ($23); Cioppino with Manila clams, 

prawns, fish, spicy tomato broth, fresh herbs 

and served with charred bread ($27); 10 oz. 

Cold Water Lobster Tail (market price) and 

Chilean Sea Bass with white asparagus 

risotto, orange segment and a wild arugula 

and blood orange vinaigrette (market price). 

For those seeking heartier fare the entrée 

menu also includes Durham Ranch Bison NY 

with smashed fried potatoes, a wilted 

arugula salad of roasted corn and heirloom 

tomatoes and finished with a chimichurri 

sauce ($47); Flame Grilled Wild Boar Rack 

with potato puree, balsamic cipollini onions, 

roasted apples, blackberry jam with a wine 

reduction ($38). 

An Angus Filet ($42) and Free Range “Airline” 

Chicken ($28) complete the entrée 

menu. 

The three pastas on the summer menu include 

Beef Cheek Ragu with Casarecce pasta, 

Fire Cracker Duck Drumettes are flash fried and 

tossed in a spicy hoisin sauce with fresh cilantro and 

lime ($15). 

($24); a gluten free Penne Pomodoro ($17) 

and Clam Pasta with squid ink pasta ($28). 

Burgers and sandwiches range in price 

from $13 to $19 and include the Oaks Burger, 

Smoked chicken Avocado Melt, Pacific Rim 

Turkey Burger, Open Faced Rib Eye Sandwich, 

Traditional Club Sandwich, Chicken 

Bon Mi, Grilled Salmon Sandwich and Fish 

Tacos. 

Salads include a Spinach Salad with strawberries, 

Marcona almonds, goat cheese, cranberries 

and an apple poppy seed vinaigrette 

($10). This is one of my favorites because the 

almonds add a nice crunch and the goat 

cheese lends a nice balance to the sweet of 

the strawberries. The salad is perfectly 

dressed and well composed. 

Other salads include a traditional Caesar 

($11); Iceberg Wedge ($10); Farro Salad 

($16) and the Oak’s Salad with organic 

greens, Asian pear, candied pecans, red 

grapes, dried cranberries, fried shallots with 

a Champagne vinaigrette ($12). 

Poulsen has crafted the Oakmont Cobb 

salad for TPC’s nearby neighbors in the Oakmont 

neighborhood. The salad features baby 

greens and iceberg lettuce, heirloom tomatoes, 

cucumbers, egg, duck fat potatoes, 


Spinach Salad with strawberries, Marcona almonds, 

goat cheese, cranberries and an apple poppy seed 

vinaigrette. ($10). 

bacon, avocado, grilled wild salmon and buttermilk 

herb dressing ($18). 

I often order from the appetizer or starter 

menus at restaurants because it allows me to 

chose a variety of tastes rather than commit 

to just one protein or style of food. 

The starters at The Oaks Grille include 

something for everyone. Among the standouts 

are the Fire Cracker Duck Drumettes 

($15) with are flash fried and tossed in a 

spicy hoisin sauce and garnished with fresh 

cilantro and lime. Duck is among my favorite 

foods and Poulsen has treated this duck with 

serious respect. The spicy hoisin sauce is hot, 

but it is the “right” kind of heat, the kind that 

builds to a perfect plateau and enhances the 

flavor the duck. 

I also enjoyed the Ahi Tuna Crudo ($17) 

which features sushi grade tuna with cucumbers, 

tomatoes, avocado mouse, green onion, 

peanuts, a sweet soy vinaigrette and topped 

with Togarashi wonton strips. If you want to 

add a little heat, run the tuna through the 

Sriracha paint on the side of the plate. This is 

fresh, light and very satisfying. The presentation 

is a true work of art, as well. 

You can never go wrong with the Street 

Pork Tacos ($13). Braised pork, soft corn tortillas, 

salsa verde, red onion, cilantro and 

lime. What’s not to love? 

The Lamb Sliders plate ($15) gives guests 

three sliders with chorizo, farmhouse cheese, 

water cress, date ketchup and caramelized 

onions. 

Starters also include Ceviche ($18), Southwestern 

Egg Rolls ($12), Coconut Shrimp 

($17), Chicken Tenders ($10) and a Charcuterie 

plate with the chef’s choice of daily selections 

($17). 

I do miss the cheese plate that used to be a 

staple of the starters menu. Poulsen said the 

cheese plate is still available, but only for 

members of TPC. He believes in giving the 

members a “special” menu to enhance the 

value of their membership status. 

Not a bad idea, but I still miss the cheese 

plate. 

The heavily-laden “old school” dessert tray 

that used to be presented to guests is gone, 

replaced with a small dessert menu (subject 

to change) that currently features: Big Fat 

Chocolate Cake ($10); New York Cheesecake 

($9); Chocolate Lave Cake ($10); Chef’s Selection 

Crème Brulee ($9); Chocolate Chip 

Bread Pudding ($10) and a seasonal selection 

that rotates frequently. 

The Oaks Grille also serves breakfast Friday 

through Sunday. The menu includes a variety 

of egg dishes, Belgian waffles/French 

toast and other breakfast favorites. 

The Oaks Grille at Tournament Players Club, 

26550 Heritage View Dr., Valencia, CA 91381, 

661-288-1995. Hours: Tuesday 11 a.m. – 4:30 

p.m. (bar open until 6 p.m. with Happy Hour 

menu); Wednesday – Thursday 11 a.m. – 9 

p.m.; Friday – Saturday 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Sunday 

7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (bar open until 6 p.m. with 

Happy Hour menu.) WR


g a R d e n g at e s 

designing the ‘new 

Climate’ landscape 

is the new chic 

by Jane Gates 

Staff Writer 

Sometimes fashion styles seem frivolous. 

Other times they are driven by 

practical demands. In the case of 

landscaping, the current lack of rain — 

following a series of hard drought years 

over the past few decades — is defining a 

whole new style of gardening. Even if we 

do enjoy a generous ‘El Nino’ year in the 

near future, it will take a long-lasting radical 

turnabout to return the ground 

water and our storage areas to predrought 

levels. Yet a garden built for the 

current new climate will thrive and look 

gorgeous whatever the weather sends us 

— a trend setter for long-lasting style. 

Fear has people worrying that they can 

only have Arizona-type cactus and rock 

gardens. Or worse, flat seas of dull gravel 

(which, ironically, is a non-living version 

of the blank seas of lawn we are addicted 

to). But the truth is that water-wise landscapes 

can be designed in any style you 

want. All it takes is some creativity, imagination 

and a willingness to break away 

from limited thinking. The new fashion is 

making front yards of boring green lawn 

look dated and unattractive. Instead, liberation 

from the thirsty “emerald sward” 

that has held us imprisoned for nearly a 

century is allowing us to play with textures, 

colors and materials that open a 

limitless opportunity to design works-ofart 

landscapes that are interesting, glamorous, 

unique and in harmony with our 

environment (which means less maintenance 

and pollution — good-bye gasoline-stink 

mower-blowers). 

So…where to begin? There is enough 

information on this subject for another 

book — or two, but for the moment, let 

me tease your thoughts with some ideas. 

Let’s start off with non-living materials 

that require neither fussing nor irrigation 

and can last for decades. 

One direction to go is to add some enjoyable, 

useful space to your yard. Extend 

your living space outdoors by adding a 

sport court, a putting green (of easy-care 

synthetic lawn), a patio for entertaining, 

a meditation nook, a child or pet play 

area, an outdoor room or some other 

space that pays you back for the taxes 

you spend on your property. Make your 

yard as valuable and decorative as your 

house, then enjoy more time outdoors 

getting vitamin D and releasing your 

everyday stress. (Create your own easy 

and comfortable home therapy garden!) 

You can even design your space to echo 

your favorite vacation spot. Use bamboo, 

wicker (or durable vinyl look-alike materials) 

to create a tropical theme. Use 

areas of gravel and sand, a boulder or 

two and some cast cement décor to build 

a Japanese garden. Or add a white picket 

fence, an archway, a romantic swing or 

bench and a drought-tolerant garden to 

invent an English cottage garden in your 

This Asian shed not only offers storage, but a focal 

point to set the mood in a Japanese style garden. 

yard. Color can also be a theme as in an 

all red, yellow, purple or white garden, a 

garden of soft pastels, cool colors (blues 

and purples) or hot hues (reds, oranges 

and yellows). 

Then there are the plants. Some 

drought-tolerant plants bloom with 

showy, colorful flowers — like the Desert 

Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinea gilesseii) 

or the native Wooly Blue Curls (Tricostemma 

lanatum) or the Matilija 

Poppy (Romneya coulterii) while others 

offer green color year round. Some have 

short-lived brilliant flower shows 

whereas others flower more demurely 

for longer periods of time. Some have foliage 

as colorful as flowers, others have 

interesting leaves or textures. The trick 

is to plant the right plants in the right 

place and to coordinate them with their 

colors or textures so you have a concert 

of beauty — areas that blaze up like the 

trumpet section or the woodwinds in a 

symphony — then slip into the background 

while another section (like the 

strings) take over. This creates shifting 

focal points and a garden that maintains 

interest all year round. 

Blend your non-living materials with 

the living members of your landscape 

and you can design a work of art that is 

totally unique, fits into your own taste 

and lifestyle, yet consumes little water 

and demands minimal upkeep. You might 

be surprised at how many interesting — 

and sometimes free — materials you can 

use to build your water-wise garden. The 

drought doesn’t have to be bad news for 

home landscapes at all; it’s an opportunity 

to upgrade your garden to the new 

chic! WR 

Jane Gates, owner of Gates & Croft Horticultural 

Design, author of “All the Garden’s 

a Stage” (Schiffer Books) and 

“Design a Theme Garden” (Amazon.com), 

is a professional garden speaker, landscape 

designer/consultant and a practicing 

artist and illustrator. An avid gardener 

here in Santa Clarita, you can find her at 

www.gatesandcroft.com and www.gardengates.info.


w h at a Pa i R! 

Muscat grapes among 

the most versatile 

There are more than 200 varieties of Muscat 

grapes that produce wines from dry to sweet. 


by Beth P. Heiserman 


There are wine 

snobs, aficionados 

of fine wine, individuals 

who love wine, 

and those who just enjoy 

wine. There is no right or 

wrong in wine, it’s what 

appeals to your palate that 

matters. 

When sampling a flight 

of wine in a tasting room 

make sure you sample the 

wines from light to dark, 

then to sweet or sparkling 

for the best experience. 

Always remember 

when tasting wine at a 

winery, or a wine bar, you 

don’t have to drink all of it; 

there are usually 

spit/dump buckets on the 

counter. Drinking bad 

wine may hinder your experience. Wine is 

subjective. Everyone has different tastes. 

What I like, you might not. 

I recently went with a friend for her first 

wine tasting experience to Solvang. 

I had gone to a winery where they knew 

my father and they would pour us more than 

the normal amount. She had no idea you didn’t 

have to drink everything in her glass after 

the first winery she commented she already 

felt a bit drunk. 

She also said she didn’t really like the taste 

of some of the wine and she preferred the 

whites. I told her “feel free to dump the ones 

you don’t care for.” She had no idea that it was 

“okay” not to finish her glass. 

We ended up going to a little Danish market…and 

$100 later; well… you know how it 

is at little Danish markets... I have learned 

through the years not to shop when you are 

hungry, because everything looks good. 

My mom always said I have “big eyes and a 

little stomach.” But on this jaunt we bought 

cheese, mustard, jam, fruit, chocolate. You 

name it, we bought it! 

When tasting wine make sure to eat crackers, 

which help for two reasons, first it helps 

to clear your palate in between wines and 

second it helps to keep something in your 

stomach. 

Drinking on a full stomach is a good choice. 

Occasionally, crackers or other food that pairs 

well with a vineyard’s wines, are available. 

Pairing food with the wine you taste will 

enhance the flavor and give you a better experience. 

In the tasting room at Reyes Winery, I always 

have goodies that vary each week. One 

of our local markets, which has a bulk section 

and one of my favorite pairings are lemon 

crème almonds to pair with Reyes’ 2011 

Muscat. This is a lighter tasting Muscat with 

aromas of Meyer lemon and orange blossom. 

The Muscat grape has more than 200 varieties. 

These grapes are grown all over the 

world and come in a variety of colors. 

Muscat grapes ready for harvest at Reyes 

Winery in Agua Dulce. 

The most familiar of 

the varieties of Muscat 

is Muscato Asti from 

the Piedmont region of 

Italy used for sparkling 

wine. 

In Spain, they fortify 

the grapes and call 

them Moscatel. 

Muscat can be dry to 

very sweet. History 

tells us these grapes 

have been around at 

least from 2000BCE. 

The Muscat name 

might have originated 

from the Italian word 

mosca meaning fly. 

These grapes have high 

levels of brix, or what 

we call sugar levels. 

They attract fruit flies 

and bees because of the sugars. Every year, 

about two weeks before harvest, we start to 

see them in the fields at Reyes Winery. When 

we harvest the grapes, I love to sample a few. 

They taste just like the wine. Our Muscat 

grapes have a lemony floral taste, as does our 

Muscat wine. 

Shrimp Lemon Pepper Linguini 

Ingredients 

1 (8 ounce) package linguine pasta 

1 tbsp. olive oil 

6 cloves garlic, minced 

1/3 cup chicken broth 

1/3 cup Reyes 2011 Muscat 

1 lemon, juiced 

1/2 tsp. lemon zest salt to taste 

2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 

1 pound fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined 

1/4 cup butter 

3 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley 

1 tbsp. chopped fresh basil 

Directions 

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water 

to a boil. Add linguine, and cook for 9 to 13 

minutes or until al dente; drain. 

2. Heat oil in a large saucepan over 

medium heat, and saute garlic about 1 

minute. Mix in chicken broth, wine, lemon 

juice, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Reduce 

heat, and simmer until liquid is reduced by 

about 1/2. 

3. Mix shrimp, butter, parsley, and basil in 

the saucepan. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, until 

shrimp is opaque. Stir in the cooked linguine, 

and continue cooking 2 minutes, until well 

coated. Serve. WR 

Beth P. Heiserman is the sales and marketing 

director for Reyes Winery in Agua Dulce. She is 

also the event director for the Sierra Pelona Valley 

Wine Festival. Heiserman has spent her life 

in a “food and wine” family and working in 

restaurants and in the sale of “spirits.” 

Todd Tisdell, and his brother-in-law Geoff Pocock, test a batch of beer in the middle of the brewing process to 

determine if the beer is developing properly. 

Profile: Tisdells 


people to know that they can talk to the 

brewers, we will be here on weekends, brewing. 

We will offer tours, too.” 

“People are so excited by the idea of craft 

beer,” said Sara Tisdell. “We get people who 

just stop by and want to see what we’re 

doing.” 

Todd Tisdell said he is surprised by “people 

who follow our blog, people who we’ve 

never met, they stop by here and offer to 

help.” 

The long and winding road 

The Tisdells decided in 2013 to open 

Pocock Brewing Company. 

“It’s a long arduous process to get a brewery 

up and running, especially in California 

and Los Angeles County,” said Todd Tisdell. 

“There’s federal and state licensing, but I have 

to say state licensing was very easy and I didn’t 

expect that. The ABC is terrific, however 

the federal licensing was a nightmare, it took 

eight months for us to get our license.” 

After finding the location in late 2014 and 

obtaining permits for the brewery, the brewing 

equipment finally arrived on site just a 

few weeks ago. 

However, some of the equipment was manufactured 

incorrectly and a local welder has 

been hired to make the required fixes. 

Tisdell and Pocock know that transiting to 

a larger brewing system will be learning 

curve. 

It takes between three to six weeks to brew 

a batch of beer. 

“Every system has its own quirks,” said Tisdell. 

“We won’t know until we start brewing 

on the system how our recipes will translate. 

But we expect we won’t be too far off, we 

hope we don’t have to do too much tweaking.” 

Tisdell said the four fermentation vessels 

will allow the brewery to always have a good 

variety of beers on tap in the tasting room. 

The brewery will also work to put beer 

into area bars and restaurants. 

“We will probably just concentrate on Los 

Angeles County at first,” he said. 

Plans include a move to bottling the beer 

after the first of the year. 

Tisdell said the craft beer community has 

been very helpful in getting Pocock Brewing 

Company off the ground. 

“We are competitors, but everybody really 

Geoff Pocock and Lauren Cook and Sara and Todd 

Tisdell in front of their Pocock Brewing Company on 

Avenue Tibbetts in Valencia. 

thinks it is us versus the big (multinational) 

beer producers,” he said. “All of us little guys 

work together and collaborate.” 

The Tisdells said as a couple they have 

worked together on many projects since their 

first collaboration in film class at Chapman 

College. 

“This isn’t a far stretch for us,” said Sara 

Tisdell. 

“Sara and I can actually be a dangerous 

combination,” said Todd Tisdell with a grin. 

Sara Tisdell said she has a lot of experience 

with “projects.” 

“Geoff and I grew up in a do-it-yourself environment,” 

she said. “We were encouraged 

to jump in and get our hands dirty.” 

For Sara Tisdell this new chapter in their 

lives has many benefits. 

“Being able to do this with Todd and my 

brother and Lauren and showing the kids 

how to start a business from scratch has been 

important to me,” she said. “To learn the 

value of community, the value of family, it’s 

been a big deal for us.” WR 

Follow Pocock Brewing Company at 

www.pocockbrewing.com.

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