Westside Reader March 2016

f you have a wild West heart, legs that can
curve around a saddle, or just a cowboy hat
and boots you need to break out of the
closet — you might want to block out April
20-24 on your calendar. That’s when the
Cowboy Festival will kick up dust all
around the SCV and beyond, and opportunities
to wear, watch, taste, listen to and in-
BY JIM WALKER • STAFF WRITER
teract with the old West will abound.
This, the 23rd year of cowboy celebration
in Santa Clarita, brings the festival
back to Old Town Newhall and Hart Park
for the second year in a row. It’s a perfect
setting, featuring a western atmosphere
and history, as well as comfortable theaters
in which to enjoy featured acts.
Numerous related events, including special
performances on Friday night at the
Canyon Theatre Guild, Repertory East Playhouse
and Hart Mansion, will usher in the
big weekend — but on Saturday and Sunday,
April 23 and 24, the Cowboy Festival
See Cowboy Festival, page 9
MakerSpace:
Woodshop to
Tech Hub
17
Crazy Otto’s
Diner comes to
the SCV
23 26
Easter Traditions:
Meet Easter Fun
in the SCV
Plus . . . Town Council coverage • Opinion • Schools • Columnists • Community Calendar • Features . . . and much more!

March 2016 THE Reader • 3
Laemmle theater project could open to public in 2018
By Robb Fulcher
Staff Writer
Athree-part Old Town Newhall revitalization
project — consisting of a
Laemmle art-house theater, a six-level
parking structure, and mixed-use buildings
with retail and housing — could open to the
public in 2018.
The projects have won formal approval by
the Santa Clarita City Council, clearing the
way for design work, followed by permits
and permissions, followed by construction.
City officials said those processes could be
complete in about two years.
The projects will be built on a large vacant
block across the street from the Old Town
Newhall Library, bounded by Railroad Avenue,
Lyons Avenue, Main Street and Ninth
Street.
City Manager Ken Striplin said the combination
of projects will “create a lot of energy
for the revitalization of the area.”
He cited projects stretching back two
decades in Old Town Newhall, including a
Metrolink station to bring people to the area,
a streetscape project, the $25 million library,
and aid for businesses to replace their facades.
“It’s really starting to all come together,”
Striplin said.
“I believe the project will be an injection of
new life into Old Town Newhall, and it will
help the entire area from an economic development
standpoint,” Councilman Dante
Acosta said. “It will go from a vacant lot to a
vibrant, exciting development. It will be a
shot in the in arm for the area.”
The movie theater, which will show a mix
of Hollywood blockbusters and smaller films,
will feature seven screens and include some
retail space. Under an agreement with the
city, Laemmle must operate the theater for at
least 15 years.
The two mixed-use buildings will consist
of ground-floor retail with 46 housing units
upstairs, and 85 underground parking
spaces.
The parking garage will be 55 feet tall, and
park at least 400 vehicles on six levels, including
one underground.
The Santa Clarita City Council formally approved
the projects on a 3-1 vote, with Councilman
TimBen Boydston dissenting.
Councilwoman Laurene Weste, who owns
property near the project site, did not participate,
citing a conflict of interest.
Lyons Avenue elevation
Main Street elevation
Raising objections
In the discussion that preceded the council
vote, Boydston made a last-ditch pitch for
a stripped-down alternative with no
Laemmle theater, and a municipal parking lot
instead of a six-story parking structure.
Boydston said he welcomes the addition of
a Laemmle to Old Town Newhall, but not at
the cost of a $3.4 million subsidy the city will
give the theater.
City officials earlier said that Glendale
spent $5.1 million and North Hollywood $3.3
million to land Laemmle theaters.
Boydston unsuccessfully pushed for a surcharge
on theater tickets that would help pay
back taxpayers for the theater subsidy. He
also balked at the $15.2 million price tag for
the parking structure, unsuccessfully arguing
for a 150-space parking lot instead.
See Laemmle, page 5
Santa Clarita PubliC library
By Patti Rasmussen
Staff Writer
The Santa Clarita Public Library is encouraging
all residents to pick up a
book and get reading: “One Story One
City” is the second annual project by the libraries
to engage people of all ages to read a
selected book, hold discussions and meet the
author.
This year’s selection is “Mary Coin,” a novel
by Marisa Silver that follows the lives of two
women — a migrant mother who flees the
Dust Bowl during the Depression and heads
to California with her family, and the other
who captures her image in a photograph. The
fictional book is based on the famous Works
Progress Administration photograph by
Dorothea Lange entitled “Migrant Mother.”
The idea behind the “One Story One City”
program came from a 1998 NPR campaign
entitled, “If All Seattle Read the Same Book.”
Karen Cruze, community outreach coordinator
for Santa Clarita Libraries, said the
book selection process involves all staff members
who nominate titles. Books are then nar-
rowed to five that meet certain criteria such
as availability in different formats and appealing
to a variety of people. Those books
are then read and each reader gives a book
report of sorts.
Cruze was thrilled when “Mary Coin” rose
to the top.
“I like historical fiction,” she said. “This
book talked about different types of people
and their problems. I love that it’s about California.
It’s perfect for our community.”
Cruze said the book lends itself to a lot of
discussion on many subjects. For example,
both the migrant mother and the photographer
have child care problems. A contemporary
character in the story has similar
parallels and all three lives come together at
the end of the book. There are several twists
and turns in the story and a very familiar
community plays a minor role.
One Story One City also has age-appropriate
and themed-related books for the
younger readers. “Esperanza Rising” and
See One Story One City, page 16

4 • THE Reader
March 2016
Table of Contents
Brand new, turnkey Canyon Country listing located
in the quiet, peaceful community of Stetson
Ranch with 4 large BD and 4 bath, including one
guest suite with full bath on main floor. The main
floor also includes a formal sitting room with
French doors leading out to the front yard, a formal dining room great for entertaining
family and friends, an open kitchen with beautiful granite counter
tops, dark cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and a large center island. Second
floor loft central to all bedrooms can be used as office or upstairs family
room. Huge master suite with a large master bath complete with dual sinks,
large soaking tub, separate shower, a walk in closet, and access to a cute
little balcony located on the front of the house. Plantation shutters on every
window keep the home well insulated. Spacious backyard with no rear neighbors,
an amazing built-in BBQ, and gorgeous, serene views.
Contact Gary Drive for information 661-607-3397
Contact Jim Marshall for information 661 -212-9428
29798 Wisteria Valley $445,000
Great open floor plan with kitchen in center of
home - a family kitchen. Corner lot. Large walk in
closets, oversize family room, laundry in garage,
driveway will hold small RV. Assessor records
show 6 BD, but this is a 4 BD home. Street sign
spelling is Wistaria Valley Road. Shadow Pines area. Parks and transportation
close. Perfect house for work at home with bedrooms split floor plan with
plenty of room to use bedrooms as office. Home ready for DIY or fix and flip.
Addition by previous owner may be without permits
Contact Many Prybyla for information 661 -904-3046
16670 Soledad
Canyon Road
Canyon Country, 91387
661-299-5570
29370 Gary Drive $619,000
FORMER MODEL HOME LARGEST FLOOR PLAN! Senior Resort Style
Living. Gorgeous home in the Friendly Valley Homeowners Community.
This was the model home and is located in most prestigious part of the
community with 2 BD, a den/office and 2 bath. Fabulous VIEW from all windows.
Private location with only one neighboring home. Travertine marble
floors throughout entry, living room, dining room, kitchen, and hallways.
New carpet in bedrooms and new tile in master bath. Deluxe cabinetry
throughout the home with multiple linens in the hallways. Whole house vacuum
for easy maintenance with reduced noise and exhaust in the garage.
Crown molding in most rooms. Separate laundry room with deep sink and
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cart, also custom cabinets and lighting. Covered patio and gas stub-out
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CalBRE #01290507
26364 Sierra Highway
Suite C
Newhall, 91321
661-252-3942
19319 Avenue of The
Oaks, Suite C
Friendly Valley, 91321
661-252.9000
Call Kellar-Davis at any of
the numbers above
Or visit: www.kellardavis.com
Saddle Up… It’s Cowboy Time Cover
Laemmle theater project could open to the public in 2018 3
One Story One City 3
Opponent claims violations of state open meeting law 6
SCV Economic Outlook event March 10 6
Santa Clarita shines a blue light on traffic violations 6
City Manager Ken Striplin: Earth Arbor Day event coming to Central Park 6
Bermite Development Agreement expiring this month 7
Cemex Bill calls for re-opening of permitting process 8
Alleged Canyon Country thief found in storm drain 8
Saddle Up, Cowboy Festival preview 9
2016 Cowboy Festival Schedule 9
West Ranch Town Council: Freeway beautification talks continue 10
Don’t judge a book by it’s cover…or title: 10
Chiquita Canyon parent seeks merger 11
Hilton to build hotel in Santa Clarita 11
The St, Francis Dam Disaster: 13 Things you Probably Don’t Know 12
Congressman Steve Knight: A Day in the Life 13
Ray the Realtor: Preparing Your Home for Sale 13
John Boston: Mr. Santa Clarita valley 14
Whyte’s World: Road Trip Journal: A Beer and a Burger with
Cheerleaders; Drag Queens 15
Cowboy Festival- Other Events 15
Mayor Bob Kellar: Thursdays@Newhall 16
Man arrested for sexual assault 16
Reader Education: Hartmann named new executive director 17
MarketSpace: 60’s Woodshop to Tech Hub 17
Privacy opt out deadline looming 17
Our View: Laemmle Deal an investment in Old Town Newhall
Community Should reserve Judgement on CLWA-NCWD Merger 18
Reader Opinion: Dave Bossert: Horticulture Death has descended
onto Stevenson Ranch 18
Opinion: Cameron Smyth , Key Supreme Court Cases Could End in 4-4 Tie •
Assemblyman Scott Wilk, Public Utilities Commission needs reform 19
Reader Sports: Girl’s & Women’s Basketball 20
Celebrate the Luck of the Irish, St. Patrick’s Day 21
Restaurant Review: Crazy Otto’s Diner 23
March Calendar 24
Easter Traditions: Meet Easter Fun in the SCV 26
Purim Fun for everyone! 29
Reader People: Margo Hudson, Santa Clarita’s Icon of Style 30
Michele Buttelman: Out & About in the SCV 32
Garden Gates: Design: The Most Important Landscape Tool 33
What A Pair! Everyone’s a ‘Little Bit Irish’ on St. Patrick’s Day 34

March 2016 THE Reader • 5
Laemmle
continued from page 3
Boydston said his plan, which would include
the mixed use buildings, would cost a
total of $1.6 million instead of $18.6 million.
He said the city would recoup its investment
in 11 years instead of 97 years.
He said the savings could be used for projects
across the city for seniors, parks, libraries
and hospitals, sheriff’s facilities, and
road projects such as a planned $38 million
extension of Via Princessa.
‘Wrap it up’
The length of Boydston’s detailed counterproposal
occasionally irked Mayor Bob Kellar.
“We try to adhere to a rule that we complete
our meetings no later than 11 p.m., and
your fellow council members have had no opportunity
to weigh in on this,” Kellar said.
“And I just respectfully ask that you have respect
for your fellow council members, and
try to wrap up and be more concise with your
questions, with maybe a little less dialogue,
so that we can move forward.”
Toward the end of a roughly hour-long
pitch by Boydston, Kellar interposed again to
say:
“Mr. Boydston, I’m going to respectfully ask
that we go and give our fellow council members
an opportunity, and not monopolize the
entire time.”
And a bit later:
“Sir, wrap it up in five minutes…we’ve got
to be responsible in how we conduct these
meetings.”
To the defense
Acosta said there is a pressing need for the
additional parking that the parking structure
will provide. He said the retail spaces, anchored
by the movie theater, will help revitalize
the area.
“I love how we want to go back to 1985
and build strip malls again, with no anchor
tenant, no economic partner, no financial
analysis by any professionals, nothing,”
Acosta chided Boydston.
Acosta said the cost of the parking garage
“gives me heartburn. It really does. But if you
think that’s expensive, you wait 10 years until
we absolutely have to build a parking structure
down in Old Town Newhall, and see how
much that costs.”
On the subject of the city subsidy to
Laemmle, Acosta said the city spent money
— $567,000 at current value — to help the
Canyon Theatre Guild relocate to the area.
Boydston is the Canyon Theatre Guild’s executive
director.
Timing
Boydston said he made his last-minute
pitch to the council after he was prevented
from raising his objections at an earlier council
meeting.
At that meeting, City Attorney Joe Montes
advised that Boydston might have had a conflict
of interest because the Canyon Theatre
Guild is located near the project site.
Montes had sought the advice of the state
Fair Political Practices Commission, which
did not come in time for that council meeting.
See Laemlee, page 16

6 • THE Reader
SCV Economic Outlook
event March 10
By Tammy Marashlian
Staff Writer
Tickets are still available for the March
10 SCV Economic Outlook, a unique
event that gives the Santa Clarita Valley
community an in-depth look at the local
economy for
the year ahead.
The yearly
event, organized
by the SCV
Economic Dev
e l o p m e n t
Corp. and College
of the
Canyons, features
Dr. Mark
Schniepp of the
California Economic
Forecast, Dr. Mark Schniepp
Wells Fargo
economist Mark Vitner and Amy Lemisch, executive
director of the California Film Commission.
The event is scheduled 1:30 to 5 p.m.
March 10 at the Hyatt Regency Valencia. The
conference, with capacity for about 300 people,
typically sells out. Topics include the international
economy, especially involving
China, oil prices and global markets, the national
economic forecast, and data on the
housing market,
commercial
and industrial
developments.
“The event is
geared at the
business leaders
and decision
makers in
the Santa
Clarita Valley,”
said Holly
S c h r o e d e r ,
SCVEDC President
and CEO. “The presentations by the two
economists will give good perspectives on
the economy, both on the international level
and all the way down to the Santa Clarita Valley
economy. We get a local look and that is
distinct.”
Unlike previous years, this year’s outlook
includes specific discussion on filming and its
role in the SCV, Schroeder said.
“She’ll talk a bit about the industry in California,
as well
as in the Santa
Clarita Valley,”
Schroeder said.
“Since filming in
the Santa
Clarita Valley is
one of our priority
industries,
we thought that
p e r s p e c t i v e
would be very
Mark Vitner
interesting to
the attendees.”
Amy Lemisch
I n c l u d e d
with the price of admission, attendees will
take home an in-depth report with economic
data and the SCV forecast. While there are
other economic outlook events across Los
Angeles County, none focus so specifically on
the local community, Schroeder said.
“It’s a lot of information,” Schroeder said.
“It’s a data-packed event.”
Tickets can be purchased online at
scvedc.org/outlook. R
water merger
March 2016
Opponent claims violations of state open meeting law
By Robb Fulcher
Staff Writer
Acritic of a potential merger of two valley
water agencies alleges that officials
broke the state’s open meeting law as
they discussed the possible merger.
The allegation was denied by officials considering
the merger.
The idea of merging the valley’s water
wholesaler, the Castaic Lake Water Agency
(CLWA), with retailer Newhall County Water
District (NCWD), gained momentum early
last year, as representatives of the two entities
met to try to settle legal disputes between
them.
In a letter to the Los Angeles County District
Attorney’s Office, Lynne Plambeck, an
NCWD board member and critic of the possible
merger, accused the NCWD board of violating
state law when it met in closed session
Jan. 14 “as to whether or not the district
should proceed with consolidation” with
CLWA.
“No report of the action taken was made
after the end of the closed session,” Plambeck
wrote.
Plambeck also alleged that an ad hoc committee,
made up of representatives of the two
agencies, broke the law by failing to notify the
public that it was discussing a potential
merger.
The public meeting law limits the topics
that can be discussed behind closed doors. If
prosecutors find that a public agency improperly
made a decision in a closed session,
they typically direct the agency to make the
decision over again in an open session.
The law does not reverse the decisions of
public agencies, but is designed in part to
help the voting public monitor the practices
of public agencies.
Plambeck cited a notice for a Feb. 4 public
workshop on the potential merger, which
stated that for “roughly one year” representatives
of the two agencies “have been discussing
ways to enhance regional
collaboration, benefit ratepayers and advance
water reliability across the region.”
Plambeck argues that under the state law,
the ad hoc committee constitutes a “committee
of a legislative body,” that is governed by
the law.
Officials defending the merger discussions
said the ad hoc committee, and the NCWD
board, had been meeting to discuss ongoing
lawsuits between the two agencies, which is
allowed under the state law. The merger idea
developed as a way to settle the lawsuits, they
said.
Discussions of pending litigation are allowed
in closed session under the state’s
open meeting law, the Ralph M. Brown Act.
Plambeck contends the discussions “have
been about consolidation, not settling a lawsuit.”
NCWD General Manager Steve Cole denied
that the open meeting law had been broken.
“We’ve gone above and beyond what’s required.
We firmly stand behind our process,”
blue light SPeCial
Santa Clarita shines a blue light on traffic violations
New traffic enforcement tool
installed at seven intersections
In an effort to improve traffic safety at
seven major intersections, the City of
Santa Clarita has installed new blue light
enforcers which serve as red light violation
detectors on traffic signals at each site.
The seven locations were chosen due to
their high incidents of red light violations. A
total of 15 blue lights have been installed at
the following intersections: Bouquet Canyon
Road and Newhall Ranch Road, McBean
Parkway and Valencia Boulevard, McBean
Parkway and Magic Mountain Parkway,
McBean Parkway and Newhall Ranch Road,
Bouquet Canyon Road and Seco Canyon
Road, Soledad Canyon Road and Whites
Canyon Road and Lyons Avenue and Orchard
Village Road.
The blue light allows sheriff deputies to
observe the status of a red light from across
the street. The light illuminates when a traffic
signal changes to red, allowing the sheriff’s
deputy to safely and easily monitor and
address motorists running the red light,
without having to pursue a vehicle through
an intersection. The blue lights are not red
light cameras.
The installations of these traffic engineering
tools were added as part of the City’s
focus this year to improve traffic safety which
also includes working with the Santa Clarita
Valley Sheriff’s Department on more enforcement,
and increasing education and outreach
to encourage safer driving.
The City of Santa Clarita has installed new blue light
enforcers which serve as red light violation detectors
on traffic signals at each site.
“We’re embarking on increased traffic enforcement
and to combat issues that are the
cause of the majority of traffic accidents in
Santa Clarita, such as speeding, failure to
yield, distracted driving and various other
unsafe driving habits,” said Mayor Bob Kellar.
“The new blue lights are a traffic enforcement
tool that we hope will ultimately improve
traffic safety,” he added.
For more information about this project,
please contact Andrew Yi, City Traffic Engineer
at (661) 255-4326 or at AYI@santaclarita.com.
he said.
He said no vote was taken at the Jan. 14
meeting.
“The heart of the matter has been, and continues
to be, settling litigation between public
agencies,” Cole said.
Cole said a response to the letter would be
prepared.
Joan Dunn, a former NCWD board member,
and her husband Ed Dunn, a former CLWA
board member, said they follow board meetings
closely and were surprised to find that
discussions of a potential merger had been
going on for so long, prior to the Feb. 4 workshop.
At the workshop, the Dunns spoke in opposition
to a merger. The two have called for
a forensic audit to determine the state of the
agencies’ finances.
Robert Sagehorn, former general manager
of CLWA, spoke in favor of a merger. In an interview,
he said the intricacies of managing
imported water, local groundwater and reclaimed
water would be better navigated by a
larger, more coordinated agency.
Officials involved in discussions of creating
a new agency have emphasized that no decision
has been made.
Proponents of a merger say it would save
money, secure more state grants for water
projects, and better coordinate a complex
web of water transmission issues. Critics say
a merger could bring rate hikes, and would
create a water “monopoly” too large and remote
for consumers to control. R
Earth Arbor Day event
coming to Central Park
By Ken Striplin
Santa Clarita city manager
Presented in partnership with the SCV
Family of Water Supplies, Earth Arbor
Day is a fun, festive and free way to learn
about new eco-friendly products, programs
and local organizations, as well as to increase
your family’s environmental awareness.
The 2016 Earth Arbor Day event will be
held on Saturday, April 16, from 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. at Central Park, located at 27150 Bouquet
Canyon Road. The event will include six
interactive zones including; the Community
Zone, the Eco Zone, an Alternative Transportation
Car Show, the Children’s Zone, the
Tree Zone and the Water Conservation Zone.
Entertainment, hands on activities and educational
displays, together with creative recycled
art exhibits and decorated residential
recycling carts make for a very green day in
Santa Clarita!
If that isn’t green enough, you will also be
able to take home a bag of garden mulch created
from last year’s Christmas trees. And if
you are bringing the young ones, they can
tour the City’s Community Gardens, learn
about how helpful ladybugs are for the garden,
make scarves from old t-shirts and bring
home an herb plant.
The Castaic Lake Water Agency is offering
guided tours of their Conservatory Garden
located above the park site. Live musical entertainment
and animal show, plus an interactive
water conservation demonstration are
also included. For more information on the
City’s Earth Arbor Day event, check out:
GreenSanta Clarita.com.

March 2016 THE Reader • 7
SauguS
Bermite Development Agreement expiring this month
Specific Plan remains
By Josh Premako
Staff Writer
While the development agreement
expires later this month for the
nearly 1,000-acre former Whittaker-Bermite
property in the center of Santa
Clarita, it is not expected to have an effect on
the ongoing cleanup efforts of the contaminated
land.
Located between Railroad Avenue and
Golden Valley Road, the property was for
much of the 20th century home to munitions
manufacturing and testing. Decades of contamination
necessitated groundwater and
soil cleanup work that is expected to continue
for years.
Nearly 21 years ago, in May 1995, the
Santa Clarita City Council approved the Porta
Bella Specific Plan for the sprawling property.
The following March its accompanying development
agreement was signed. That development
agreement expires on March 28.
Over the past two decades, the property has
changed hands several times, and current
ownership is divided among multiple entities
that have interests in the site. Financial responsibility
for cleanup, however, remains
with the Whittaker Corp. and its successors,
according to Tom Cole, Santa Clarita’s director
of community development.
In addition to the development agreement
allowing for more than 1,200 single-family
homes, nearly 1,700 multi-family units and
96 acres of commercial property, the specific
plan calls for 407 acres of dedicated open
space and 42 acres of recreational-use space.
With the development agreement expiring,
any proposals by a developer in the future
would need to undergo a full environmental
review and public hearing process. City officials
have said there are no development
plans on the horizon for the site.
While the development agreement is expiring
at the end of the month, Cole said the
specific plan for the property will remain in
The former Whittaker-Bermite property is visible in this photo, looking southwest from near the intersection of Golden Valley Road and Centre Pointe Parkway. The California
Aqueduct is visible at the lower right. PhoTo By DAn FAinA/FoR The READER
place indefinitely, either until it is amended
by the City Council or replaced with another,
amended development agreement sometime
in the future. The agreement’s expiration will
not affect cleanup, a state official said.
“We don’t anticipate that this will affect
cleanup,” said Russ Edmonson, spokesman
for the California Department of Toxic Substances
Control.
The site is divided into several Operable
Units, or OUs, as part of a remedial action
plan that was approved by the DTSC in 2010.
Edmonson said cleanup in OU5 is 95 percent
complete, work continues in OU2 and construction
of a groundwater treatment facility
Women assemble fuses at the Bermite Powder Co. in the mid-1950s. The company produced an array of explosive devices and fuses for the
U.S. military. PhoTo CoURTeSy oF SCVhiSToRy.CoM
in OU7 is continuing.
The chief contaminant on the property has
been perchlorate, a byproduct of rocket fuel
that has been linked to human thyroid problems,
which has polluted groundwater and
soil on the property.
Since 2006, more than 41 million gallons of
groundwater from the northern alluvium area
near the Metrolink station on Soledad Canyon
Road have been extracted and treated, according
to a February report by project coordinator
Hassan Amini. Additionally, in
January, the DTSC began testing a storm water
filtration system for the property.
The DTSC estimates construction of
groundwater cleanup
infrastructure could
take close to a year,
and officials have estimated
complete
groundwater cleanup
could take nearly 20
years total.
Of the 996 acres,
only about 500 are developable,
according to
past reports by DTSC
officials, due in part to
ridgelines and streams
on the property.
After the development
agreement for
the site was approved,
a concerned citizens
group filed a lawsuit,
with concerns that
only the least-contaminated
parts of the
property would be
cleaned up prior to development.
As part of
the lawsuit’s settlement,
a condition
called DS12 was included,
requiring full
site cleanup by DTSC before any development
can be carried out.
Edmonson said DTSC officials are still
awaiting a response from city officials on
whether that condition will apply for future
development agreements. Cole said that
DS12 expires along with the development
agreement. He referred questions about how
its expiration could affect future development
agreements to DTSC officials, who responded
to the Reader: “DTSC does not have
jurisdiction on planning or redevelopment
ordinances. DTSC is responsible for overseeing
the cleanup of the site and for making
sure the property or portions of the property
are safe for the intended use.”
The site’s future holds not just development
potential, but the opportunity to improve
local infrastructure with the extension
of several roads as part of Santa Clarita’s general
plan, including connecting Via Princess
to Wiley Canyon Road. While the city has
been moving ahead with work to extend Via
Princessa between Sheldon Avenue and
Golden Valley Road, city officials have maintained
that cleanup must be completed on
the former Whittaker-Bermite site before
road extensions through the site will take
place.
Site cleanup is funded by insurance proceeds
from various parties. While Whittaker’s
insurance policy for the property
reportedly expires at the end of the decade,
officials have maintained they are committed
to site cleanup. Whittaker’s general counsel
Eric Lardiere declined to comment last
month on any questions related to the insurance.
As recently as several years ago, he
stated: “Many millions of dollars have been
spent already, and we will continue to do so.”
Cole added: “Whittaker Corp. (or their successors)
has the responsibility to pay for any
cleanup that might not be covered by the insurance.
The city is not taking any action that
would change this responsibility.” R

8 • THE Reader
Canyon Country
Cemex Bill calls for re-opening of permitting process
Assemblyman Scott Wilk, R- Santa
Clarita, introduced AB 1986, which
would re-open the permitting process
of CEMEX’s proposed mega-mine.
CEMEX’s mega mine would be larger than
Irwindale and would wreak havoc on our environment
and quality of life,” stated Wilk.
“Our children and seniors won’t be able to
breath, our roads will be choked daily with
an additional 1,200 18-wheelers and the
mega-mine will soak up our most precious
resource, water. I’m committed to killing this
project.”
In 1990, the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) issued two 10-year contracts to mine
56-million tons of aggregate from a site near
Soledad Canyon Road and the 14 Freeway.
Through the years there have been a number
of owners, but the current owner is CEMEX.
Last August, under pressure from Rep.
Steve Knight, R-Palmdale, and California’s
two U.S. Senators, the BLM announced it had
canceled CEMEX’s Soledad Canyon mining
contracts. However, CEMEX has appealed
that decision and it could take as long as two
years to get a final adjudication.
Although a federal issue, there is a role for
the state to play in the permitting process of
the mega mine. Back in 1991, CEMEX’s predecessor-in-interest
(Transit Mix Concrete)
filed an application with the California State
Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) for
a water appropriation permit. The application
requested 322 acre-feet of water per
year from the Santa Clara River for use related
to mining and industrial operations.
Assemblyman Scott Wilk, R- Santa Clarita, introduced AB 1986, which would re-open the permitting process
of CeMeX’s proposed mega-mine.
Under current law, the administrative
process allows for a protest period and the
SWRCB is required to hold a hearing as long
as a protest remains unresolved or there is a
disputed material fact.
No hearing was held and the SWRCB has
essentially suspended activity on the application,
although the status of the application
is still considered active.
Existing law requires the publication of a
notice of application to appropriate water
and requires protest to be filed within a certain
period of time after publication of a notice
of application.
AB 1986 would amend the water code to
require the publication of a new notice of application
if the SWRCB has not rendered a
final determination on an application within
20 years from its original filing date. The
new notice would re-open the protest period
and any other administrative processes, as if
it were being undertaken for the first time.
Wilk declared, “I’m hopeful that our community
will prevail at the federal level to kill
this ill-conceived project. AB 1986 is a ‘Plan
B’ that would allow us to make the case with
state regulators on why this mega mine doesn’t
work in our community.”
March 2016
Alleged car thief Josue hernandez was found stuck
in a storm drain in the 1800 block of Walnut Springs
Avenue, after being chased by an off-duty Ventura
County sheriff's deputy. hernandez was arrested
after being extricated by firefighters.
Alleged Canyon
Country car thief
found in storm drain
Aman who fled from a deputy in Canyon
Country after allegedly trying to steal
a car was found stuck in a storm drain
and later arrested according to Lt. Derek
Sabatini with the Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station.
The alleged thief was spotted by an offduty
Ventura County sheriff's deputy attempting
to steal a vehicle in the 1800 block
of Goodvale Road, Sabatini Said.
The man fled and the deputy chased after
him, only to find him stuck in a storm drain
in the 2700 block of Walnut Springs Avenue.
The suspect, identified as Josue Hernandez,
was extricated out of the drain by firefighters
and then arrested.

March 2016 THE Reader • 9
Cowboy FeStiVal PreView
Saddle Up
By Jim Walker
Staff Writer
2016 Cowboy Festival
Schedule
The Cowboy Festival proper is two
days of Old West fun at William S.
Hart Park and nearby venues. However,
many related events and performances
are scheduled during the days
leading up to that weekend, some nearby
and others offsite. For more event details
visit http://cowboyfestival.org/schedule.
Tickets
A Single Day ticket to the festival includes
free parking and round trip shuttle
service to and from William S. Hart Park.
The VIP Package includes admission to
the William S. Hart Park event area both
Saturday and Sunday, plus VIP Shuttle
Service to and from William S. Hart Park
and the shuttle site. It also includes access
to the VIP Cantina both days from 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m., and complimentary beverages
and snacks with lunch served each day
from noon to 3 p.m. You also get one
Buckaroo Buck – one piece of Cowboy
Festival merchandise (not redeemable for
performer merchandise).
If you have a wild West heart, legs that can
curve around a saddle, or just a cowboy
hat and boots you need to break out of the
closet — you might want to block out April
20-24 on your calendar. That’s when the
Cowboy Festival will kick up dust all around
the SCV and beyond, and opportunities to
wear, watch, taste, listen to and interact with
the old West will abound.
This, the 23rd year of cowboy celebration
in Santa Clarita, brings the festival back to
Old Town Newhall and Hart Park for the second
year in a row. It’s a perfect setting, featuring
a western atmosphere and history, as
well as comfortable theaters in which to
enjoy featured acts.
Numerous related events, including special
performances on Friday night at the
Canyon Theatre Guild, Repertory East Playhouse
and Hart Mansion, will usher in the big
weekend — but on Saturday and Sunday,
April 23 and 24, the Cowboy Festival will really
fan the hammer at William S. Hart Park.
Select acts will perform free on four stages,
while visitors interact with historical figures
such as buffalo soldiers, or watch blacksmiths
at work.
There will be old West food (and other
food) for sale, as well as shopping for western-style
items and Native American jewelry.
Shuttles will take folks up the hill all day for
free tours of the William S. Hart Mansion, and
children’s activities will be plentiful. There
will even be a cowboy encampment, as might
be found on a cattle drive, complete with a
chuck wagon.
Festival Director Mike Fleming said filming
of “Westworld” continues to occupy Melody
Ranch, the former location of the Cowboy
Festival, but that the Old Town Newhall location
is actually better in many ways.
“Ticketed shows, such as those that will be
held at the CTG and REP, were part of the
original model of the festival,” he said. And he
added that many people have expressed their
appreciation for live performances occurring
PhoToS CoURTeSy CiTy oF SAnTA CLARiTA
in such comfortable venues, with air conditioning
and great sound systems.
In addition to the theaters on Main Street,
Fleming said Old Town Newhall, itself, is part
of the experience. “For example, OutWest
(Boutique and Cultural Center) is a really cool
Western store and a big part of the festival,”
he said.
This being the second year of the festival
taking place in Old Town Newhall and Hart
Park, Fleming felt things would be even more
efficient than last year. Regarding that, he
See Saddle Up, page 14
Saturday, April 23
William S. Hart Park
10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tickets: VIP Package $75. Single Day
Adult, $10. Single Day Child (ages 3 to 12),
$7. Children under 3 free.
There will also be separately-ticketed
performances at various times at nearby
venues including the Canyon Theatre
Guild and Repertory East Playhouse.
Sunday, April 24
William S. Hart Park
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tickets: Single Day Adult, $10. Single
Day Child (ages 3 to 12), $7. Children
under 3 free.
There will also be separately-ticketed
performances at various times at nearby
venues including the Canyon Theatre
Guild and Repertory East Playhouse.
See, Eat and Do
The Cowboy Festival offers shopping
for Old West-style items on Sutlers Row
and Mercantile Row, and you can get a feel
for the old days when you visit with living
See Schedule, page 14

10 • THE Reader
weSt ranCh town CounCil
Freeway beautification talks continue
By Josh Premako
Staff Writer
The West Ranch Town Council continued
discussion last month of proposed
changes to the area’s landscape maintenance
districts and beautification work
near Interstate 5 — a project that has been in
the works for several years.
County officials discussed the planned
beautification work around the Pico Canyon
Road/Lyons Avenue off-ramp on the west
side of I-5. In late 2011, the city of Santa
Clarita — along with county officials and
members of the Town Council — broke
ground on a similar project that was carried
out on the east side of the freeway.
The roughly 3-acre freeway work site is in
the California Department of Transportation’s
right of way, and Caltrans has yet to give
full approval to the project, said Lisa Woung
with the county Public Works Department,
and program manager for the design of the
project. County officials expect the project to
cost approximately $250,000, funded by the
county budget with maintenance handled by
local landscape maintenance district (LMD)
fees.
To ensure funding is sufficient, the county
is eyeing increases to the Stevenson Ranch
area’s landscape maintenance district (LMD)
assessments. For example, while the current
assessment for District 1 is approximately
$24 per parcel, it could increase to a maximum
possible rate of $44 per parcel. That
would, however, be a decrease from the existing
approved maximum rate of $47.
“You’re going to have to make your best
case that it benefits (the community),” council
member Rick Ryan told county officials.
In addition to ensuring any landscaping
done does not use excessive water, Caltrans
wants assurances that the budget allows for
the project completion and any future maintenance,
Woung said.
“The first thing we want to do is beautify
the area,” she said during the meeting. “To
give it a signature look that says, ‘You’re in
Stevenson Ranch.’”
The project could potentially take shape in
the form of gravel mulch, decorative concrete
elements and drought-tolerant trees massed
together to minimize water use.
Woung said Caltrans has requested a thorough
review process for the project including
assurances that LMD funds will be sufficient.
As part of the process, public meetings will
be held. In a best-case scenario, she said, construction
could start by late 2018.
Also during the February meeting, the
council received local crime updates from
Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Duxbury and California
Highway Patrol Officer Christopher
Crocker. Duxbury urged residents to not leave
valuables in unattended vehicles, as burglaries
persist. Crocker noted that while CHP officials
have seen a decrease in law
enforcement-related stops, they have seen increases
in service stops such as helping
stranded or lost motorists. R
The West Ranch Town Council meets the
first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at
the Stevenson Ranch Library, located at
25950 The Old Road in Stevenson Ranch. For
more information visit www.westranchtown
council.com
Help us Build a Great Community News Magazine
The Reader is looking for Reporters & Sales Account Executives
Email Richard@WestsideReader.com
By Pearl obispo
Staff Writer
Don’t let the title of the book fool you.
“The Baby Boomer’s Motivational
Guide to Losing Weight” is not your
typical diet book. It’s not only for Baby
Boomers and you definitely won’t find
recipes.
But what you will find are tips and ideas
for weight loss that, co-authors and siblings
Scott “Q” Marcus and Cindy Marcus said, can
be used by anyone wanting to lose weight —
no matter what generation you’re from.
“References are baby boomer references,”
Scott said. “Anything from the late ’60s to
early ’70s — songs, television, movies, music,
March 2016
Co-authors Scott "Q" Marcus and Cindy Marcus greet attendees at the book signing of, "The Baby Boomer's
Motivational Guide to Weight Loss." PhoTo By PeARL oBiSPo
Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover…or Title
clothing. But the knowledge, information and
insights, are relatable to anybody who’s ever
battled weight.”
The brother and sister team recently unveiled
the guide at a book signing in Santa
Clarita. The pair said they've struggled with
weight loss their whole lives, but now have it
under control and wanted to share their journey
to motivate and empower others.
“There is so much misinformation about
weight loss,” Scott said. “I have a different approach.
I look at eating as the symptom. Not
the problem.”
Scott, who is a professional speaker by
trade, said he wanted a book that focused on
what you say to yourself, what you do with
yourself, as opposed to what you eat.
“What you say and do to yourself affects
what you weigh,” Scott said. “If you change
that, problem solved.”
The book also discusses the challenges that
occur once people hit their goal weight —
challenges that Cindy Marcus says many
weight loss programs rarely tackle.
“Weight loss programs are great at helping
someone take the weight off,” Cindy said. “But
diets aren’t helping once someone reaches
their goal. There’s a struggle in losing the
weight. But once it’s gone, now what? And I
feel like the book really addresses that.”
Cindy, who runs Showdown Theater, a local
theater program to empower teens, said the
most important thing to remember for anyone
wanting to lose weight is to have fun.
“Enjoy the journey,” said Cindy, who, since
hitting her goal weight, has gained only 4
pounds in the last 18 years. “Stop beating
yourself up and have fun. You won’t do it if
you don’t have fun.”
And that’s exactly why one of the attendees
at the book signing decided to give the book
a try.
Ann Harris drove out from Pasadena because
she said she was looking for something
different in a diet book.
“I won’t diet,” Harris said. “I refuse to diet
because diets don’t stick. But I like what the
book has to offer. It’s different and judging by
the (weight loss) success of the authors,
might just work.”R

March 2016 THE Reader • 11
Chiquita Canyon parent seeks merger
By Brandon Lowrey
Staff Writer
The Texas-based company that owns
the Chiquita Canyon Landfill is seeking
Canadian citizenship. Waste Connections
Inc. is asking for shareholder and governmental
approval to merge with Canadian
waste hauler Progressive Waste Solutions
Ltd. in an all-stock deal that would leave
Waste Connections shareholders with 70
percent of the combined company, and five of
seven seats on the board.
The proposed deal is structured as a reverse
merger. This means that on paper, Progressive
Waste is acquiring Waste
Connections. But Waste Connections shareholders
and executives will be in charge of
the combined company (which will, of
course, be named “Waste Connections Inc.”)
The move would grow Waste Connections
in a big way, allowing it to take over Progressive
Waste’s operations in 14 states and six
Canadian provinces. The combined company
would have projected revenue of $4.1 billion
and maintain its U.S. headquarters in The
Woodlands, Texas, and its Canadian headquarters
in Ontario, Canada, according to
forms filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission.
“Under our leadership, we believe we can
instill the corporate culture, safety focus, operational
excellence and accountability that
have served us so well and which we believe
are necessary for long-term success within
Progressive Waste's complementary markets.
These improvements, together with expected
immediate synergies and other cash
flow benefits, should accelerate value creation
for both companies' shareholders,”
Waste Connections CEO Ronald J. Mittelstaedt
said in a prepared statement about the
proposed merger.
“Put simply, we believe this combination
creates a company uniquely positioned with
industry-leading operating and free cash flow
margins, together with the balance sheet
strength, to drive further growth and increase
the return of capital to our shareholders."
Its service area is not the only thing that
Waste Connections wants to expand. The
company has been fighting to keep the Chiquita
Canyon Landfill operating until 2037,
which would grow it out significantly and
double the amount of trash it can take in,
much to the chagrin of local environmental
groups.
Those groups, including Santa Clarita Organization
for Planning and the Environment,
Citizens for Chiquita Canyon Landfill
Compliance and other Val Verde residents
lodged a complaint with the county in June,
alleging that the county deprived Spanishspeaking
residents of a chance to participate
in the approval process by withholding Spanish
translations of documents related to the
proposed expansion project. County officials
and the landfill owners denied those allegations.
The groups want the 639-acre landfill to
close by 2019 or when it reaches 23 million
tons of trash, under a 1997 agreement between
the unincorporated community of Val
Verde and the landfill's previous owner, The
Newhall Land and Farming Co. The ink dried
on that deal long before Waste Connections
bought the landfill in 2009, and the groups
argue that the agreement is still binding.
Waste Connections now wants to expand
the landfill’s footprint from 257 acres to 400,
and double its trash intake to 12,000 tons per
day.
Chiquita Canyon had previously been expanded
in the late 1990s. Waste Connections
won an expansion and 30-year extension for
its Lancaster landfill in December 2011.
The merger would not affect the company’s
plans for the landfill, said Chiquita
Canyon District Manager Steve Cassulo.
“It is business as usual,” he said. R
Hilton to build hotel in Santa Clarita
hilton hotels corporation will build a 107 room hotel under its brand of extended-stay homewood Suites hotels
in Santa Clarita The hotel will be built between West Rye Canyon Road and Vanderbilt Way at the edge of
the Valencia industrial Center next to embassy Suites and The Courtyard. Construction is expected to start
next month with a completion date in July 2017.

12 • THE Reader
March 2016
loCal hiStory
The St. Francis Dam Disaster: 13 Things You Probably Don’t Know
by John Boston
Staff Writer
Quiet San Francisquito Canyon in
Saugus is infamous for being the site
of the 11th-worst manmade disaster
in American history. Just before midnight,
on March 12, 1928, the St. Francis Dam
burst, sending a nearly 200-foot tidal wave of
water down the canyon. For 55 miles, the
flood carved a watery path of destruction all
the way to the Pacific Ocean and killed between
500-to-600 people.
This epic flood nearly bankrupted Newhall
Land & Farming Co. It devastated the thinly
populated Santa Clarita Valley, wiping out entire
families, destroying farms and casting a
pale of tragedy that would be felt for decades.
It turned a beautiful canyon, lined with great
trees, meadows, flowers and grassland into a
nightmarish landscape. Family members
noted the break probably crushed the soul of
its builder, William Mulholland, who had
green-lighted the dam’s soundness just 12
hours earlier.
Mulholland retired shortly after the disaster,
went into seclusion and died a few years
later, a broken man.
After the 1906 San Francisco fire, which
followed the epic earthquake, the St. Francis
Dam is the worst disaster in California history.
There are many stories about the dam,
ill-fated (the dam was built at the convergence
of three earthquake fault lines) even
before the first shovel of dirt was removed.
Here are 13 things you probably don’t know
about our valley’s forever-dark chapter in
American history…
13) The day of the break, dam keeper Tony
Harnischfeger had a home near the base of
The disaster is heartbreaking, when you put young
faces to it. Two of the first casualties were little girls
Marjorie and Mazie Curtis, and their father,
Lyman. The little boy, their 3-year-old brother
Danny, managed to survive, with his mother, Lillian.
PhoTo CoURTeSy oF SCV hiSToRiCAL SoCieTy.
the monolith and called Mulholland that the
dam was springing enormous leaks. The
DWP employee was also the dam’s first victim.
They found half his body several miles
downstream. About two years later, they
found the second (and lower) half of his body
with his wallet and ID intact..
12) Mulholland was fully exonerated in
Mulholland, without any tests, oversight, calculations or widening the base, added an additional 13-feet to the
height of the dam, making it 187-feet tall. Shortly after the disaster, the DWP blew up this monolith as a PR move.
PhoTo CoURTeSy oF SCV hiSToRiCAL SoCieTy.
1995 by geological engineer J. David Rogers
68 years later. Rogers published that Mulholland
didn’t have the technology to know
the dam was built on ancient fault cracks.
But, local newspaper reports noted that even
before construction, many locals warned
Mulholland the ground was unstable and
L.A.’s chief engineer ignored them.
11) Local mail carrier W.T. Stonecypher
also warned Mulholland. Months earlier, the
rural deliveryman noted that 500-feet of
road was drastically sinking (about four feet)
from the weight of the water and concrete.
Stonecypher refused to continue that portion
of his route and people had to come into
town for their mail.
10) Newhall’s Ed Adkins was in charge of
collecting corpses. He delivered hundreds of
dead bodies to various spots, including the
Hap-a-Land Hall (where the Courthouse
Building on Market St. is today). The hall was
the SCV’s social center, where they held most
big community parties, movies and dances.
After serving as a morgue, it was never used
as a social spot again. Adkins had the stomach
for his job. He had been in China during
the Boxer Rebellion and had witnessed hundreds
of beheadings.
9) Easily the most supernatural of all stories
involves famed movie star Harry Carey.
He had a huge ranch in the canyon and employed
about 100 Navajos to run it. A few
days before the dam burst, Carey was in New
York City, starring in a Broadway play. The
tribe’s medicine man called and reported he
had a nightmare of impending and epic disaster
and said he would be moving the entire
village back to Arizona. They left and avoided
certain death.
8) Southern California Edison set up a
work camp near Castaic by the Santa Clara
River. Camping out in tents, many of the men
drowned. But about one-third were saved
when their tents acted as air pockets. Survivors
were able to float to safety.
7) Author Charles Outland noted that the
City of Los Angeles settled all claims without
much question. But, if you were a person of
color, you received less money for your suffering
and loss than white victims. Outland
wrote “Man-Made Disasters” and was a boy
in Santa Paula when the dam burst.
6) One of the aspects of the disaster was
that it changed a beautiful, scenic canyon
with trees and meadows into a gutted valley.
Gone were most of the shrubbery, trees and
wildflowers and the topsoil to grow more.
5) Several local survivors planted signs
around the valley, reading: “Kill Mulholland.”
4) Lifetime resident Bailey Haskell was a
teen who rushed in the dark to help rescue
victims. As a shiveringly cold dawn broke, he
spotted a 12-year-old girl clutching to the
higher branches of an oak. The flood had
completed tore all her clothing away. Haskell
got a ladder, climbed the tree, threw a blanket
around her and carried her down to
safety. He noted she was so embarrassed that
for 50 years after, she never looked at him or
acknowledged her rescuer’s presence.
3) Superstar Wm. S. Hart was part of the
rescue. He found the body of a little boy,
about 6, near Piru and could never find the
family. Hart arranged for the child to be
buried in a cowboy outfit and be buried in
the Ruiz family cemetery in San Francisquito.
The unknown boy’s tombstone reads: “The
Littlest Wrangler.”
2) While it’s the Ruiz family cemetery, to
this day it’s called the Chinese Graveyard.
The SF Canyon resident Henry Ruiz would
later grow to manhood and ironically work
for the DWP. He lost eight members of his
family in the flood and never talk about that
night again.
1) When 12 billion gallons of floodwaters
reached the Pacific around dawn on March
13, Ventura fishermen reported a gruesome
sight — an apocalyptic shark feeding frenzy
on corpses — animal to human — washed
out to sea and floating on the surface. R
(Left) newhall’s dance hall and
community center, the hap-a-
Land hall, became a makeshift
morgue. Before sunrise, volunteers
were already setting up
slats to stack bodies. PhoTo CoUR-
TeSy oF SCV hiSToRiCAL SoCieTy.
(Below) This is the last
known photo of dam
keeper Tony harnischfeger.
he and his wife
divorced in 1927 and he
lived alone at the base of
the dam. PhoTo CoURTeSy oF
SCV hiSToRiCAL SoCieTy.

March 2016 THE Reader • 13
a Day i n t h e l i F e
listening to People’s
ideas and Putting them
into action
r ay t h e r e a lto r®
Preparing your home
for Sale
by U.S. Rep. Steve Knight
Contributing Writer
by Ray the Realtor® Kutylo
Contributing Writer
It’s a cool January Thursday morning in
the Antelope Valley when I wake up. I
check my phone and learn that Washington,
D.C. is preparing for a blizzard, and I’m
pretty thankful to be far away this week.
I get ready and head out for my first appointment
of the day, which is a visit to Universal
Pain Management, a clinic in Palmdale
that specializes in pain relief. I take a tour of
the facility and chat with Dr. Riegler, one of
the clinic’s founders, about how federal regulations
affect their operation. This was especially
interesting for me because I sit on the
Congressional Bipartisan Task Force to Combat
the Heroin Epidemic, which is developing
best practices on reducing addiction to
heroin as well as prescription pain killers.
After the visit wraps up, I head over to the
Salt Creek Grille in Santa Clarita, which is
about a fifty minute drive. There, I have a
lunch meeting with auto dealers from around
the Santa Clarita Valley. We discuss the challenges
their businesses face in the current
regulatory climate, which makes selling cars
particularly difficult. It was a very frank
group, which is refreshing. I love meeting
with small business owners like them because
I always walk away with a human, indepth
perspective on issues that I wouldn’t
otherwise have. After a great conversation
and delicious lunch, I pay my bill and hit the
road again.
This time my destination is the Honor Rancho
natural gas storage facility, located near
the Wal-Mart off Newhall Ranch Road. This
site has been the topic of much discussion recently;
it is a smaller version of the Aliso
Canyon natural gas storage facility near
Porter Ranch, which began leaking last October.
Since I heard about the leak, I started
gathering information on natural gas storage
with the goal of ensuring that a similar situation
could never happen in our communities
again. After speaking with officials from local,
state, and federal agencies and touring Aliso
Canyon, I wanted to make sure that Honor
Rancho was not susceptible to the same dangers.
I arrive at the facility gate with a member
of my staff and we are greeted by representatives
from the gas company. They escort us
to a building at the core of the facility and I
begin asking the workers about the pipes and
storage wells onsite. This is not my first time
at Honor Rancho, in fact I took a tour last August,
but in light of recent events I had some
very specific questions. After I have all of the
information I need for now, we get on with
our tour. Our guide drives us to a storage well
and explains the safety measures they have
in place as well as their process for testing for
leaks. I ask more follow up questions, and
after about an hour the tour wraps up. When
I get back to my car, I jot down some notes
and debrief with my staff member.
The next and final event on my schedule is
a California State Assembly Hearing on the
Aliso Canyon gas leak, which is being held in
Granada Hills. At this point, we are facing
rush hour traffic, so this is roughly forty
minute ride. As my staff member drives, I
field calls from some local reporters who are
interested in my site visit, the hearing, and
the efforts to prevent further leaks. I give
them a run down on everything I know at this
point, and tell them that I am going to draft
some legislation based on all my research,
tours, and conversations with agency officials.
When we arrive in Granada Hills, the hearing
is just about to start. I take a seat at the
witness table at the front of the room, and listen
to testimony by various elected officials
about the effects of the leak and the need to
stop it quickly. When it is my turn to testify, I
talk about the challenges that the people of
Porter Ranch are facing, about what my office
is doing to assist them, and again highlight
the bill that I am working on to stop future
leaks. After I am done speaking, I sit and listen
to nearly two hours of statements and
pleas by residents of the surrounding areas
and other people interested in the response
to the leak.
By the time the hearing concludes, it is
about 8:30pm. I get in my car and begin the
hour-long journey back to my house. I’ve
gathered a lot of helpful information over the
past twelve hours, and as I cruise up Highway
14 I start to process all of it. A big part of
being in Congress is listening to peoples’
ideas and finding ways to put them into action.
Today was all about doing the first part.
Now it’s time to turn those ideas into reality.
R
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.
Readers are encouraged to
submit their views, reviews and
questions as letters to the editor
for publication in the SCV
Reader/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
Stevenson Ranch, CA 91381
What people see first matters!
Remember the last time you drove
by a house that looked great from
the outside? Without thinking about it you
probably assumed the inside looked just as
good, or better! In selling a home to get anywhere
close to your price, you need to pay attention
to the buyers’ first impression. Make
the yard and front exterior welcome the
prospective buyers in. Trim the lawn and
overgrown bushes and trees. Defy the water
police and green it up, or put in drought-resistant
plants. Put in colorful flowers along
walkways and planters leading to the entry,
which should be sparkling clean. The door
latch should work easily, and any squeaks in
the hinges should be oiled. Paint or refinish
the door and entry so they look fresh, and if
your front exterior needs painting, do it.
In the home and around the property, most
of the time sellers just need to de-clutter. If
you are serious about selling and moving,
think of it as ‘pre-packing’. Excess furniture,
collections, personals and family photos on
the walls, kitchen countertop appliances and
Trusted and referred since 1978
knick-knacks, stuffed closets and cabinets,
out-of-season clothing, and all the rest of the
things that won’t be used before you move
should be packed up and stored. I know it is
tough, but we want the home to appear as
spacious as possible to prospective buyers
since they will be thinking ‘does this house
have enough space for my stuff?’ If it looks
like the home isn’t big enough for your stuff,
many buyers will think it isn’t big enough for
their stuff either. Moving is an excellent time
to get rid of things you haven’t touched in
years. Think yard sales, relatives, charities, to
some extent the garage, and finally, temporary
storage units if you really want to keep it
all.
The interior of the home should be spotlessly
clean. If yours isn’t the cleanest of
households, get a once-over by a professional
cleaning crew, and include carpets and floor
cleaning too. A professional cleaning will set
the new standard for the duration of the marketing
and escrow period before you move,
See Real Estate, page 16
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3

14 • THE Reader
March 2016
m r. Sa n ta C l a r i ta Va l l e y
Polish lives matter
by John Boston
Reader Columnist
Recently, I spotted a headline most vile
and potentially racist in a local media
outlet. I won’t name names. But this
certain anonymous news organization is also
famous for their two-song music library: the
stirring “Horse With No Name” by the band,
America, and anything by the Carpenters.
This anonymous SCV AM hometown radio
station — OH NERTZ!! I DIDN’T MEAN TO
TYPE THAT!!
Oh well.
I hate rewrites more than revealing a
source. I suppose no one is going to die if I
name names. The culprit, normally the champion
of both eye-wateringly bad music and
holder of this valley’s heart, penned this
racist story on their website recently:
VEHICLE STRIKES POLE IN SANTA CLARITA,
POLE FALLS ON SECOND VEHICLE.
Being Polish, this just peeves me to no end.
Well. Actually, I’m half-Polish. I’d like to tell
you which side — front, back, top or bottom
— where I’m Polish. Sadly and recently, I underwent
a procedure where I was gerrymandered
and I can no longer point to the body
parts that are actual, pure Polska. Still. In the
politically correct climes, I must ask: How
often does this systemic violence occur with
Polish people as the victim?
Sitting at my computer, I clicked on the offending
KHTS screamer. I’ve been in journalism
many weeks now and I’ve never seen a
headline this long before. Well. One that long
without using German words. The hed, read:
A VEHICLE REPORTEDLY HIT A POLE
WEDNESDAY AT SIERRA HIGHWAY
AND GOLDEN VALLEY ROAD IN
SANTA CLARITA, CAUSING THE POLE
TO FALL ON ANOTHER VEHICLE,
AUTHORITES SAID.
Boy howdy. You need a smoke after reading
that aloud. I don’t know if KHTS was using
the Internet as some sort of strange, millennial
performance art. But when you clicked
on the headline, the entire story seemed
eerily similar to the headline:
A vehicle reportedly hit a pole
Wednesday at Sierra Highway
and Golden Valley Road in
Santa Clarita, causing the pole
to fall on another vehicle,
authorities said.
Did local radio station KhTS recently underplay a
possible hate crime when it reported a “Vehicle
Struck a Pole?” haunting and disturbing photo courtesy
of KhTS.
Maybe there was a stutterer working the
KHTS copy desk that night.
But, excuse me and throw in a stern,
“ahem” to hide my outrage — “hit a pole?”
“pole?”
Lower-case?
Was it KHTS’ desire to demean all the Polish
people in the SCV (names and cell phone
numbers of wonton divorced Polish sisters
available on request)?
This riparian Santa Clarita Valley was built
almost entirely on the labor, sweat, inspiration
and vision of Polish people. Henry Clay
Needhamski, Newhall’s three-time failed Prohibition
Party presidential candidate in the
1920s? Polish. Newhall town founder Henry
Mayo Newhallowitz? Polish. Current SCV
Sheriff’s Captain, Roosevelt Johnsonowski?
Polish. Our local hospital foundation president,
Marlee Laufferk? Polish.
Do you realize the maelstrom that would
incinerate the planet if KHTS conveniently
forgot to capitalize “korean” or “hispanic”?
When did the good people whose roots can
be traced, via crayon, to Poland, deserve to
not have their first letter capitalized?
I also take KHTS to task for their terrible
and shallow reporting. Was the Pole hurt
after the vehicle hit him or her? (Probably
not. We are a resilient people.) Was the driver
of the Pole-striking vehicle arrested, or, at
least shot? What was the motive behind the
vehicle hitting the Pole? Was this a hate
crime? Could the vehicle have been driven by
Poland’s arch-enemies for centuries, the
Samoans, who really have no business having
their name capitalized and have been obsessed
with expanding their unreasonable
boundaries from Polynesia to the Polish
steppes?
This is also part of a pattern of aggressive
racism on the radio station’s part. How many
of us Santa Claritaninskis have been called, at
all hours of the night, by KHTS? When you answer
the phone, the mysterious caller with
the threatening voice comes right out and
confesses: “We’re taking a Pole...”
Well let me tell you something KHTS.
Should the SCV’s population of Polish people picket
KhTS for its stance on striking Poles?
Saddle Up
continued from page 9
said, “We had a 21-year template that
changed very quickly. I’m so proud of the
staff, who turned what could have been a
negative into a positive.”
“I think people get into the pastoral setting
of Hart Park and enjoy the ticketed theater
seating,” Fleming said. “I think it was already
a good transition, and we are still going.
That’s the best part.”
Fleming said that about 8,000 people are
expected to attend the festival over the two
days. “All the hotels are full. I would have to
say it’s beneficial for the city. I think it’s our
largest regional and national event by far.
People from all over the U.S. come to it. So
come on out. Plan on spending a day or two
enjoying some western culture that you can’t
get anywhere else.” R
For more information visit the event website
at http://www.cowboyfestival.org/.
Not… On my … Watch.
Clearly, we must organize a boycott of the
radio station’s Main Street headquarters. I
call upon students from CalArts (founded by
a local, Walt Disneykowskiowiczskiski), who
have remained dormant protesting anything
for decades, to rise up. Protest, you passionate
students, in front of KHTS. We shall have
our Occupy Wall Street moment and camp
out on the sidewalks of Downtown Newhall
to raise awareness of the secret plight of
KHTS victimization of Polish people everywhere.
(I think it would be ducky to commandeer
the plucky CalArts modern dance
department to perform, in slow motion,
dancers wearing cardboard-box car costumes
bumping into locals wearing traditional
Polish folk costumes.) Issue bumper
stickers: I BRAKE FOR POLLACKS. Play polka
music in front of the station. Stop, what little
of it there is, capitalism on Main Street!
Schedule
continued from page 9
history performers. You can stroll through
Hart Park and treat yourself to traditional
cowboy food, and you can watch blacksmiths
at work, meet Buffalo Soldiers or
even take a free tour of the Hart Mansion,
home of early western film star William S.
Hart.
Free Performances
The acts below will be performing free
shows on four stages at Hart Park at various
times on Saturday and Sunday.
The Vivants
Carolyn Sills Combo
Old Salt Union
California Band of the Battalion
Wild Horse Singers and Dancers
Joey Dillon (gun slinger)
Sourdough Slim
Syd Masters & The Swing Riders
Carin Mari
Buckaroo Girl Adrian
Mikki Daniel
The Devil’s Box String Band
Ventucky String Band
Shuttle Service
The Cowboy Festival free parking lot is located
off 13th Street, just east of Railroad
Avenue in Newhall. Free shuttles will take
you to and from the festival site. On Friday,
April 22 these shuttles run from 5:30 p.m.
to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, April 23 they run
from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. and on Sunday,
April 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. R
Furthermore, I feel KHTS’ owners, Carl
Goldman and Jeri Seratti-Goldman
(Samoans?) owe this valley and its large Polish
population an explanation. And, an apology.
And, maybe 20 bucks and a large, steaming
hot plate of Golumpkis (lightly boiled cabbage
leaves wrapped around minced pork
and beef) as reparations.
All of you, please.
Join me.
At the very least, the next time you pass
Carl and Jeri on the street, lower your head
and raise a fist in solidarity…
“Złość na radio!”
Or, in Polish — “Rage Against the Radio!” R
Author and humorist John Boston has
earned more than 100 major awards, writing
about the Santa Clarita Valley. For more of his
work, visit thejohnbostonchronicles.com.

March 2016 THE Reader • 15
w h y t e’S w o r l D
road trip Journal: a beer and
a burger with Cheerleaders
and Drag Queens
by Tim Whyte
Reader Columnist
Cowboy Festival – Other Events
If you can’t get enough “cowboy” on the
main weekend of the festival, you might
enjoy one or more of the special events
leading up to it or held simultaneously. As
far away as Lone Pine or the Reagan Library,
and as close as Main Street in Old Town
Newhall, here are your choices. Visit
http://cowboyfestival.org/schedule/ for
details, and purchase your tickets early.
Sat., april 16 – Sun., april 17
Lone Pine Film Tour
Sunday, april 17
John Michael Montgomery
Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at College
of the Canyons, 7 p.m.
wednesday, april 20
SCVTV Presents The OutWest
Concert Series
Repertory East Playhouse, 8 p.m.
thursday, april 21
SENSES (Wild West theme)
Downtown Newhall, 7 to 10 p.m.
Walk of Western Stars – Induction
Ceremony
Honorees: TBD
Main Street, Old Town Newhall, 7 p.m.
Movie Night
Hart Hall, William S. Hart Park, 8 p.m.
Friday, april 22
California Fiesta De Rancho
Camulos with Dave Stamey
Rancho Camulos Museum, 11 a.m.
Reagan Library and Paramount
Ranch Tour
Departure from Cowboy Festival
Shuttle Site
1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Quebe Sisters/Carin Mari
Canyon Theatre Guild, 8 p.m.
Ramblin’ Jack Elliot
Repertory East Playhouse, 8 p.m.
Don Edwards
Hart Mansion, William S. Hart Park, 8 p.m.
Saturday, april 23
Brenn Hill/Andy Nelson
Canyon Theatre Guild, 3 p.m.
The Messick Family
Repertory East Playhouse, 4 p.m.
Hot Club of Cowtown/Sourdough Slim
Canyon Theatre Guild, 7 p.m.
James Intveld
Repertory East Playhouse, 8 p.m.
Wyatt Earp – The Life Behind
the Legend
Hart Mansion, William S. Hart Park, 8 p.m.
Sunday, april 24
Cowboy Church
Master’s College, 8 a.m.
Santa Clarita Valley Historical Bus
Tour
Departure from Cowboy Festival Shuttle Site
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cow Bop/Mikki Daniel
Canyon Theatre Guild, 1 p.m.
Calico the Band
Repertory East Playhouse, 2 p.m.
Don Edwards/Carolyn Sills Combo
Canyon Theatre Guild, 4 p.m.
The Americans
Repertory East Playhouse, 5 p.m. R
This is my story about the time I took
my dad to a gay bar. And I’m sticking to
it.
It started out innocently enough. It was a
Sunday, smack dab in the middle of the NFL
playoffs. On that day, my 14-year-old daughter
Brooke and her Saugus High School
cheerleading squad were competing at the
state cheer championships in Ontario at the
Citizens Bank Arena.
My wife took Brooke down early in the day
to prepare with the team, so my dad and I decided
we would drive down in his Corvette,
and on the way we’d stop somewhere, preferably
a sports bar with lots of giant TVs, so we
could grab a beer and a cheeseburger and
catch part of the AFC Championship game.
Corvette. Beer. Cheeseburgers. Sports bar.
Football.
Sounds like a good
Sunday road trip for a
pair of straight white
guys.
So we ventured
down to Ontario, and
took the exit for the
arena figuring there’d
be plenty of options,
since there’s an arena,
an airport and a giant
mall — all within one
9-iron shot of each
other. We pulled into
the first commercial
center we saw and it featured several restaurants
that looked promising.
There was an El Torito, but we weren’t in
the mood for Mexican. This was definitely a
cheeseburger mission.
There was a Black Angus, which sounded
about right. But, across the parking lot, there
was a burger joint that was advertising beer
specials, and I didn’t recognize it as any of the
major chains you see in every commercial
district of every city in every state.
It looked like a mom ’n pop place.
“Hey,” I suggested to my dad, thus rendering
everything that ensued to be my fault,
“let’s give that place a try. Looks like a mom ’n
pop. Could be different.”
“Sure,” he answered, ensuring that whatever
happened, even though it was my fault,
he got into this willingly. “I always prefer a
good mom ’n pop over a chain.”
Turns out, it would be different. I guess my
first clue should have been that they misspelled
Budweiser on their promo for the Friday
night “Power Hour.”
Or maybe my first clue should have been
the pink paint scheme. Or the fact that the
place was named “Hamburger Mary’s,” and
their slogan was, “Eat, drink and be Mary.” Or
the fact that just inside the entrance there
was a wall decorated, floor to ceiling, with
stiletto heels. Or the fact that they checked
our IDs and put wristbands on us as we
walked in.
“They must have a helluva crowd here for
football,” I said, still clueless. “Who checks IDs
“What kind of bar
doesn’t have the
football game on?” I
wondered, somehow
STILL managing to
remain clueless.
and uses wristbands just for a Sunday football
bar crowd?”
We went into the bar area, and took a seat
at a table, and the place was packed, and
noisy. Most of the folks in there were impeccably
dressed, not quite as casual as I’d expect
for a Sunday football crowd. “Must be
Patriots fans,” I thought.
There were plenty of TVs on the walls. But,
I was dismayed to find that not one of them
was tuned in to the AFC Championship game,
featuring the highly anticipated matchup of
Peyton Manning (representing all that is
good) and Tom Brady (representing the Evil
Belichik Empire).
“What kind of bar doesn’t have the football
game on?” I wondered, somehow STILL managing
to remain clueless.
It was a strange form
of denial. In my mind, it
just did not compute:
We’re in a burger bar.
On a Sunday. It’s playoffs.
Playoffs!
What kind of bar
doesn’t have THAT
game on the TVs?
Then it hit me: The
kind of bar that doesn’t
have the football game
on the TVs during playoffs
is the kind of bar
that has a drag queen
show every Sunday.
And we’d walked right into the middle of it:
“Sunday Drag Queen Brunch with the
Brunchettes,” featuring bottomless mimosas
(as if there’s any other kind of mimosa) and
“crazy drag queens.” No cover charge!
The show was going on in the next room,
and if memory serves correctly, they had it
playing on the TVs in the bar. I thought
about asking them to put the game on one
of the TVs but then I thought better of it. I
wouldn’t want them to think I was some
kind of freak.
So what did we do? You know what we did.
We slipped out of Hamburger Mary’s and
went next door to Black Angus where everyone
was wearing flip flops and shorts and the
game was on every single TV. We had a good
laugh over our Hamburger Mary’s side trip,
and we got to the arena in time to see Brooke
and her team absolutely nail their routine.
When it was all done, I thought about how
we must have looked to the staff at Hamburger
Mary’s. Me, 49-ish, and, let’s just say,
a little stockier than I was in my prime.
And my dad, in his 70s, still trim, driving a
brand new Corvette to the gay bar with a big
guy who’s young enough to be his son.
What a pair we must have made. R
Tim Whyte is a public relations consultant,
a member of the award-winning team at Mellady
Direct Marketing, and a part-time faculty
member in the Journalism Department at California
State University, Northridge. Find him
on Twitter @TimWhyte.

16 • THE Reader
March 2016
Thursdays@Newhall
By Mayor Bob Kellar
City of Santa Clarita
Old Town Newhall is
the place to be on
Thursday nights
from March through October,
when Main Street is
transformed into a true
arts and entertainment
venue
with
Thursdays@Newhall!
We are continuing our
most popular Thursday
night events and offering
some new and fun happenings
in the coming year to
bring all kinds of free entertainment
to enjoy in Old
Town Newhall. No need to travel “over
the hill” to experience a great night life.
On the first Thursday evening of the
month between March and October, residents
can enjoy the 10 by 10 variety night
at the Repertory East Playhouse from
7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. where ten performers
have ten minutes to share their
improv, music or theatre pieces. Meanwhile
on Main Street, participants of all
skill levels can learn how to move to the
beat at JAM Sessions, presented in partnership
with the Ford Theatre Foundation.
Entertainment planned for JAM Sessions
in 2016 includes: Swing Dance on
March 3; Celtic Dance on April 7; Mexican
Folk Dance on May 5; Japanese Folk
Dance on June 2; Pacific Islander Dance
on July 7; African Dance & Drums on August
4; Salsa/Rueda Dance on September
1; and Zydeco Dance on October 6.
On the second Thursday of the month,
Note by Note will fill the
Newhall Refinery with
local songwriter’s music
from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00
p.m.
Meanwhile on Main
Street, Revved Up is back,
bringing together automotive
enthusiasts for a
cool car show between
8th Street and Market
Street. Revved Up’s
themes include: Classic
VW’s on March 10; Best
of Britain on April 14;
Traditional Rods and
Customs on May 5; Mustangs on June 9;
Corvettes on July 14; Tuners on August
11; Lowriders on September 8; and offroad
vehicles on October 13.
And on the third Thursday evening of
the month is the wildly-popular SENSES;
a themed block party featuring popular
performers, gourmet food trucks, and a
variety of activities in a fun and festive
adult setting. The 2016 themes include:
Wild, Wild West on April 21; Oh Snap! It’s
the 90’s on May 19; Rockabilly on June
16; Margaritaville on July 21; Olympics on
August 18; Electro Glo on September 15;
and Zombies Outbreak on October 20.
For more information on everything Old
Town Newhall, including partnership
events, new programs and projects, visit us
online at: oldtownnewhall.com.
Real estate
continued from page 13
so keep it clean. Buyers like clean houses, and
discount dirty fixers, which leads us to upgrades
and repairs.
Each home is individual, but dated and
worn out homes tend to be discounted by
prospective buyers, who nearly always overestimate
the cost of repairs and upgrades. As
a rule of thumb, if the carpet and flooring are
worn out and the paint is way overdue, have
it done in neutral colors and you will generally
recover the cost in your sales price. If
kitchens and bathrooms are dated and appliances
old, but working, and you plan on selling
this season, you generally won’t recover
the costs of a full renovation but will make
selling the home much easier and quicker. If
appliances and systems don’t work, yes, either
repair or replace them since you will
need to disclose non-operable items anyway.
One Story One City
continued from page 3
“Our California,” both by Pam Munoz and illustrator
Rafael López, were chosen for their
story lines on migrant workers, the Depression
and California history.
With sponsorship from the
City of Santa Clarita and
Barnes and Noble, several
events are planned around
this year’s One Story One City.
A special reception will be
held for author Marisa Silver
on March 12 at the Old Town
Newhall Library, hosted by the
Friends of the Library.
A book discussion will be
held at the Senior Center on
March 11 and participants are
encouraged to bring items
from the 1930s to share.
Illustrator Lopez will be at
the Valencia Library on March
19. “Our California,” featuring his illustrations,
was chosen as the official Read Across
America picture book in 2013.
Photographer Dorothea Lange (portrayed
That said, call your favorite Realtor today
to get a professional evaluation of your
home’s value in today’s market and get their
suggestions on preparing your home for sale.
LET’S MOVE IN 2016! R
Ray the Realtor® Kutylo is associated with
the SCV Home Team at Keller Williams VIP
Properties in Santa Clarita. My team and I are
ready to provide you with the best in professional
representation from start to finish,
whether you are a home seller or a home buyer.
All homeownership is personal, and we will
treat you just like we would like to be treated if
our roles were reversed. Call us.
Ray the Realtor® and the SCV Home Team.
Call or text us at 661-312-9461 or email at
Ray@SCVhometeam.com. Our Mobile App is at
www.mobile.SCVhometeam.com CalBRE license
number 00918855
by a volunteer) will make an appearance at
the Newhall Library on March 5 thanks to the
American Association of University Women
and their Women in History
program. The Canyon Country
Jo Anne Darcy Library
will also present a two-hour
documentary film on the life
of Lange.
Cruze said she hopes to expand
the committee next
year and get more people
and age groups involved. In
the meantime, she has enjoyed
the feedback from the
community with this year’s
selection.
“Everything fell into place,
and we are really happy with
how all these programs came
together,” she said.
For more information regarding One Story
One City, times and locations of events, log
onto the library website at santaclaritalibrary.com.
R
Laemmle
continued from page 5
Later, the FPPC responded that Boydston
need not have stood down.
‘Lopsided’
Members of the public appeared to favor
the project by wide margins, proponents said,
and Boydston said his emails from the public
were “lopsided” in favor as well.
Going forward, Boydston said he will push
for an income stream from the parking structure
that will help recoup the city’s costs. He
said guests of the mixed-use housing units
will use the structure along with other visitors
to the area. The underground parking
provides less than two spaces per residential
unit.
“I’m going to do everything I can make sure
the movie theater is a success from here on
out,” Boydston said. “There are a lot of tax
dollars in this.”
Boydston also expressed disappointment
that the length of his council presentation on
“a project of this magnitude” drew complaints
from Kellar.
“I was opposed to the size of the subsidy
to the Laemmle theater because it is a private
entity,” Boydston said. “I was looking for a
way to make the taxpayer whole, a way to
make it a loan instead of a gift.” R
Man arrested for
sexual assault
Richard Sanchez, 29, has been arrested
for attempted sexual assault and burglary.
It’s alleged Sanchez attempted to sexually
assault a woman in her Newhall apartment
last month.
Shirley Miller, spokesperson for the Los
Angeles Sheriff’s Department. said the attack
was interrupted by the victim’s son.
A Sheriff’s Deputy spotted Sanchez and
he was taken into custody with the aid of a
K-9 unit from the Department.

March 2016 THE Reader • 17
Reader Education
SCV eDuCation FounDation
Hartmann named new executive director
By Pearl obispo
Staff Writer
Alocal resident who’s known for her
long-time dedication to worthwhile
causes, such as the Special Olympics,
was recently named the new executive director
of the Santa Clarita Valley Education
Foundation.
Jackie Hartmann brings her 30 years of experience
in the human resources field to the
foundation, where her duties will include
overseeing daily operations, core educational
programs, staffing, fundraising efforts, sponsorships
and volunteer recruiting, just to
name a few.
In addition to her experience as a career
professional, Hartmann has also been involved
with numerous local nonprofits, including
her long-standing commitment to the
Special Olympics for the past 20 years.
Hartmann and her husband of 31 years,
Dan Hartmann, serve the Special Olympics as
coaches, event coordinators, chaperones and
committee members.
“Our favorite, though, is coaching,” Hartmann
said. “There’s nothing better than
working with our athletes and seeing them
learn a new skill or improve their performance.
We look forward to weekly practices.”
Wendy Ellet, regional sports manager for
the Special Olympics Santa Clarita and Tri-
Valley Regions, said Hartmann’s hard work
and dedication is unparalleled.
“Jackie embraces the mission of the Special
Olympics,” Ellet said. “She is passionate about
advocating for individuals with intellectual
disabilities, not only on behalf of the Special
Olympics, but on behalf of the community, as
well.”
Hartmann, the mother of two adult children,
will be bringing that same passion to
her new role as she seeks to broaden the
foundation’s reach.
“I would like for the foundation to increase
Privacy opt out deadline looming
By Pearl obispo
Staff Writer
The deadline is looming for parents
wanting to opt out of a recent court decision
that paves the way for the release
of their children’s private information
to two nonprofit groups in Northern California.
The decision was handed down by a federal
court judge and has angered some parents.
“I think it’s insane that this organization
could get access to all this personal information,”
said Kimmy Cavallo, a parent whose
children attend Charles Helmers Elementary
School. “I am perplexed and don’t want them
to have my kids’ information.”
Cavallo also questioned why the nonprofit
groups have the right to gain access to such
private information.
The Morgan Hill Concerned Parents Association
and the Concerned Parents Associa-
Jackie hartmann was recently named the new executive
director of the Santa Clarita Valley education
Foundation.
its name recognition and of course be able to
fund additional education-based programs in
conjunction with the 54 schools in this valley,”
Hartmann said. “I’m not sure how aware
the community is that the foundation is the
driving force behind such programs as the
Teacher Tribute, where we have the privilege
of recognizing one teacher from each public
school in Santa Clarita.”
The SCV Education Foundation is a nonprofit
organization that provides support,
programs and scholarships to benefit K-12
public schools in Santa Clarita.
James S. Backer, president of the Education
Foundation, is looking forward to working
with Hartmann and continuing the organization’s
mission.
“Education is critical to our community’s
well-being and its future,” Backer said in a
press release. “And the Education Foundation
is thrilled to have Jackie Hartmann to help
us continue our service to the Santa Clarita
Valley.” R
tion, advocacy groups for kids with special
needs, filed suit against the California Department
of Education, claiming the department
was non-compliant with special
education laws.
The group argued the access to the
statewide database is needed to monitor
compliance with federal law.
The release of this data, which dates back
to 2008, includes the names, addresses, social
security numbers, assessment results
and disciplinary records of all California public
school students.
The CDE tried to fight the release of student
information, but to no avail.
Judge Kimberly Mueller of the Eastern District
of California addressed security concerns
in her ruling by not allowing the
distribution of the information to outside
sources. She also ordered the nonprofit
groups involved to “return or destroy” the
See Privacy, page 29
School officials, parents, and students attend the unveiling of Arroyo Seco Junior high School's, MakerSpace.
PhoTo By PeARL oBiSPo
arroyo SeCo Jr high
MakerSpace: ‘60s woodshop to Tech Hub
By Pearl obispo
Staff Writer
Who would have thought a small
woodshop from the 1960s could be
transformed into a 21st century
gathering place where students and teachers
come together to solve real world challenges?
That’s exactly what happened at Arroyo
Seco Junior High School’s new MakerSpace, a
place where, as Principal Rhondi Durand describes,
students can apply STEM (Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
concepts to their everyday lives.
“I’ve been following the Maker movement
for the past few years,” Durand said. “I
wanted to convert our wood shop into a place
where students could use technology, engineering
skills and creativity, and make things
out of paper, plastic, metal, wood.”
The opportunity to transform the space
presented itself when the school’s woodshop
instructor retired last June.
“We jumped at the opportunity to take the
space and the courses taught there to a new
21st century level,” Durand said.
As part of the statewide ESTEME network,
which creates a K-16 STEM pipeline, Arroyo
Seco now offers courses in engineering and
science, in addition to the courses already in
place before joining the network, such as
music, art and culinary art.
With the improvements to the woodshop,
Durand said students are now provided with
a strong foundation to further STEM learning
in high school and beyond.
That transformation was recently unveiled
at an open house, where students showcased
their designs and findings in fields including
wind and flight, math through art, and energy
and the environment.
One such student was 8th grader Azariah
Beaugard, who was a math through art presenter.
“I personally love this,” Beaugard said. “The
fact that we get to work with electronics in
class makes it super fun.”
Beaugard, a self-proclaimed “sports dude”
who loves football, said a resource like MakerSpace
would definitely make him a better
student.
“I want to get a degree in cooking and engineering,”
Beaugard said. “I think having this
space will make it easier for me to achieve my
goals.”
Seventh grader Hannah Watson agreed.
“When I came to this class, I wasn’t sure
how it will go because I wasn’t interested in
it,” Watson said. “But after taking the class
(energy and the environment) it became a lot
of fun and I really enjoyed it.”
Durand, who worked closely on this opportunity
with Dr. Marianne Doyle, director
of College Career Readiness, which provides
students with work-based learning and career
guidance, said plans are in the works to
allow the general public to utilize the space.
But improvements still need to be made and
funds (through sponsorships and grants) are
still being sought.
“My vision would be to open it up for folks
to come in and build whatever they want, use
the machines and equipment,” Durand said.
“But we need to make sure they are safe and
supervised.” R
hannah Watson, 12, demonstrates the energy efficiency
of Wind Turbines at Arroyo Seco Junior high
School's open house to celebrate MakerSpace. Photo
by Pearl obispo

18 • THE Reader
Reader Opinion
o u r V i e w
leases as well as alternative and independent
films that don’t often find
their way into the Santa Clarita Valley.
Also included are a six-level public
parking structure and mixed-use
buildings with retail spaces and 46
housing units.
Absent from the vote was Councilwoman
Laurene Weste, who recused
herself from the proceedings because
she owns property near the
project, which would create a conflict
of interest.
The lone dissenter was Councilman
TimBen Boydston, who is employed
as executive director of the
nearby Canyon Theatre Guild. He objected
to the public expense of $15.2
million for the 400-space parking
structure as well as the project’s $3.4
million subsidy for the theater.
State officials had cleared the way
for Boydston to participate, saying
his role with the nonprofit CTG did
not constitute a legal conflict of inlaemmle
Deal an investment in
old town newhall
DaV e b o S S e r t
by Dave Bossert
Contributing Writer
March 2016
horticulture Death has
descended onto Stevenson
ranch
What kind of Old Town
Newhall do you want?
We’d like to see an Old
Town Newhall that serves as a hub of
community activity for decades to
come, a haven for arts and entertainment,
with great alternatives for
shopping and dining.
That, fortunately, appears to be the
kind of Old Town Newhall that the
majority of our City Council wants,
too. Many steps have already been
taken, from the addition of live theater
and new shops and restaurants,
to the construction of the city’s signature
library.
The latest step came as the council
voted 3-1 in favor of a project that is
likely to become a major anchor for
a revitalized historic downtown, and
it represents a major public investment
in helping Old Town Newhall
secure its role as a long-term community
centerpiece.
The highlights include a sevenscreen
Laemmle art-house theater,
which will show mainstream film re-
Community Should reserve Judgment
on Clwa-nCwD merger
See Laemmle, next page
Let’s all take a deep breath. When
the Castaic Lake Water Agency
and Newhall County Water District
announced they were in discussions
about joining into one agency,
you could have predicted the kneejerk
reactions from CLWA’s critics.
Those predictions would have been
accurate, as evidenced by the critics’
testimony at a Feb. 4 workshop held
jointly by the two agencies.
Do the critics have some valid
gripes? Perhaps. But they, and the
rest of the community, would be
wiser to reserve judgment – because
it’s possible CLWA and NCWD just
might be onto something. Ironically,
that “something” could address
many of those same critics’ long-running
concerns about public control
over the way our valley’s water is
managed.
Here’s a Reader’s Digest version of
how it works now:
We get water from two primary
sources: Local groundwater, and imported
supplies, led by the State
Water Project. CLWA is our local
wholesaler of imported water.
Water is provided to customers by
four retailers, each with its own service
area. The NCWD is one. The other
three include a small L.A. County
water district serving Val Verde, the
Santa Clarita Water Division (which
used to be a private company but
was acquired by CLWA, which now
operates it) and the Valencia Water
Co., founded by The Newhall Land
and Farming Co. as it developed Valencia.
CLWA is overseen by a board that
is mostly elected by the public, but
also includes one appointed representative
from each retailer. CLWA
acquired Valencia Water a few years
ago, meaning it now owns the two
largest retailers, and that’s one of the
issues that resulted in litigation between
NCWD and CLWA.
That litigation led to settlement
talks starting last year. From there, it
Over the last several weeks I have taken
special notice of the trees along
Stevenson Ranch Parkway in Stevenson
Ranch. A few of the trees are starting to
bloom but many look like the skeletal remains
of once vibrant trees. Drip irrigation
lines have been hastily added around these
trees recently, likely when the Landscape
Maintenance District (LMD) realized that the
trees might be dying.
It is heartbreaking to see a horticultural
genocide playing out in our community especially
since, as residents, we are all paying
LMD and HOA fees to maintain the common
areas. It is appalling to see dead or dying
ground cover that has been sprayed with a
green substance masking its hideousness. A
center median that is filled with weeds that
occasionally gets mowed. Remind me, why
are we paying these fees?
The community common areas as a whole,
look tattered; an unkempt mess of weeds and
dying trees. Long gone are the days when
driving into Stevenson Ranch felt like driving
into a beautifully landscaped environment
that was lush; a dreamy corridor of well
groomed shrubs, manicured lawns, healthy
trees, and center medians capped with lavish
flowers bursting with color. I’m forlorn for
those days.
To may dismay, the community evergreen
tree, a majestic forty footer that becomes a
holiday tree adorned with lights during the
Christmas season has succumbed to neglect.
Those responsible have murdered what was
a healthy vibrant tree. They have in essence
killed a Christmas tradition, for if lights were
strung on the bare branches of this dead tree
it would likely turn into a momentary vertical
Yule log; a brief holiday funeral pyre. Replacing
such a mature tree will be prohibitively
costly.
If all of these trees are dead, then who is
responsible? The LMD, which has done an exceedingly
poor job and is responsible for the
was kind of like a new couple meeting
for the first time at a nightclub:
One thing led to another…
The negotiations led to discussions
of the agencies’ common goals
and principles. Evidently, they have
more in common than they once
thought.
Fast forward to early-2016, and
the agencies have jointly announced
they are in discussions that could
lead to the creation of a new valleywide
water agency that would oversee
wholesale and retail operations.
They’ve made no formal decision,
and if a new agency is to be created,
it will almost certainly need approval
from both the state Legislature and
the Los Angeles County Local Agency
declining quality of the landscaping over the
years, which is evident of that deteriorating
service. Or should we point to the HOA and
the lack of leadership in directing the LMD
service? Either way it continues to spiral
down with no indication of a plan or even signage
hinting that plan is underway.
I’ve been hearing that there is a plan for rehabilitating
the landscape but none has been
revealed to the community. This has been
going on since last year and nothing meaningful
has been disseminated to residents, instead
all we see is continuing degradation of
the common areas, a gardening massacre,
which is having an impact on the esthetics of
the Stevenson Ranch neighborhood. The lack
of visual curb appeal has a direct correlation
to home prices.
We all want to live in a community that is
well taken care, which has curb appeal; a
community that you are proud to call home.
Look at Valencia Blvd in Westridge or the Pico
Canyon medians, they have draught tolerant
plants. How long does it take to make a similar
choice for the Stevenson Ranch medians?
It doesn’t and there is no plausible reason at
this point as to why it has taken as long as it
has to get the landscaping fixed.
The state of the common areas in Stevenson
Ranch is abysmal in comparison to the
home values and what homeowners are paying
in LMD and HOA fees. It’s time that both
the LMD and the HOA step up and get the
community common areas back in order. If
they can’t do that then it’s time for new leadership
that can actually get that job done. R
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
Formation Commission, which oversees
government agency boundaries.
They’ve promised an open, transparent
process, and it will take time
— we’d guess it will go into 2017.
There are many details to sort out,
and the LAFCO approval process, in
particular, should provide the community
ample opportunity to review
the concept and weigh in on it.
Is a new valleywide water agency
a good idea? Maybe, maybe not. It’s
too soon to know for sure, so it would
be irresponsible to rely on knee-jerk
reactions. Community members
should reserve judgment, and render
informed opinions when all the details
are — if you’ll pardon the expression
— flushed out. R

March 2016 THE Reader • 19
C a m e r o n S m y t h
key Supreme Court Cases
Could end in 4-4 tie
S C ot t w i l k
in wake of aliso Canyon gas
leak the Public utilities
Commission needs reform
by Cameron Smyth
Contributing Writer
by Assmemblyman Scott Wilk
Contributing Writer
If the upcoming Presidential election wasn’t
important enough, the recent death of
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has
put a spotlight on one of the most critical
functions of the President and the Senate —
the appointment and confirmation of the
members of the Supreme Court. This appointment
is even more critical as the Court
was viewed as a “center-right” body by a slim
5-4 margin with Scalia. The loss of the most
conservative member now puts the court at
4-4 with several key decisions pending before
it. What happens in the case of a tie
vote?? The lower court’s ruling stands and in
the current session that can mead heart ache
for both Liberals and Conservatives.
Here are a few of the cases court watchers
feel are most likely to end up 4-4 along with
the ruling of the previous court:
Abortion: In what many are calling the
most significant abortion case in decades, the
court will hear a challenge to a Texas law in
that in effect eliminates 75% of the abortion
clinics throughout the state as a result of Legislative
restrictions on abortion services...
Lower court upheld the restrictions, thus the
closures would proceed
Immigration: A case that has received national
attention, the court will consider
whether the Obama Administrations executive
order which protected undocumented
workers from deportation and to allow them
to continue to work.
Lower court ruled against Administration
meaning deportation can proceed
Union Dues: Initiated by a case involving
the California Teachers Association, the court
is to decide whether public employees who
choose not to join unions are still required to
pay dues for the union’s collective bargaining
activities.
Lower court ruled in favor of Unions, requiring
support for bargaining activities
Laemmle
Voting Districts: The 14th Amendment
sets that each legislative district must contain
approximately an equal number of people.
However, what is being challenged is
whether districts should have the same number
of people or the same number of eligible
voters. A ruling for eligible voters would
have significant impact in California as undocumented
residents would not be counted,
thus diluting heavily democratic urban districts.
Lower court ruled in favor of counting ALL
residents, not just eligible voters
Along with the fate of these and several
other major cases to be decided by the
Supreme Court, the greater debate is now
whether President Obama should nominate a
replacement or leave a vacancy for the next
President. I expect Obama will make a nomination
and the Senate will simply not hold a
hearing, which is their right as a co-equal
branch of Government. And if you think this
is some Republican ploy with no precedent
look no further than the following quote from
Vice President Joe Biden, who is now ironically
the President of the Senate, where he
said in 1992 on the Senate floor: “As a result,
it is my view that if a Supreme Court Justice resigns
tomorrow, or within the next several
weeks, or resigns at the end of the summer,
President Bush should consider following the
practice of a majority of his predecessors and
not — and not — name a nominee until after
the November election is completed”.
Can’t you just picture the Presidents reaction
when that CSPAN video surfaced. . . .
Priceless. R
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.
continued from previous page
terest, which ironically received approximately
a half-million dollars in
city assistance to relocate to downtown
Newhall.
Boydston staged what amounted
to a late-night filibuster, speaking for
about an hour regarding his opposition
to the Laemmle plan and his
suggestion for a stripped-down project
for the site, across the street from
the Old Town Newhall Library. His
long-winded soliloquy tested the patience
of Mayor Bob Kellar, who
twice urged Boydston to be more
concise.
Fortunately, the other three council
members recognized that this
project — which guarantees
Laemmle will operate the theater for
at least 15 years — will provide
major economic and social benefits
to Old Town Newhall.
The parking structure will be for
the use and benefit of everyone who
visits Old Town Newhall and all of its
business, and the subsidy for
Laemmle represents an investment
in Old Town Newhall’s future. It has
become a fact of life that governments
assist projects like this one,
and the costs of the subsidies are recouped
via future sales tax revenue.
In the long run, the city will come
out ahead — and so will the community.
R
Do you recall the last movie you rented
from Blockbuster? I know I don’t!
Today everyone is using Netflix, HBO
GO, and ‘the cloud’ to get the latest and greatest
shows and movies. But that’s how society
works – huge companies and organizations
become outdated and obsolete over time,
eventually being surpassed by something
new and innovative.
As families move back in their homes after
the Aliso Canyon gas leak disaster, it’s clear
that the California Public Utilities Commission
(CPUC) is one of these old authoritative
bodies — we need something new and improved
to protect Californians.
Back in 1911, California voters established
a Railroad Commission and in 1912, the same
year California Governor Hiram Johnson was
the vice presidential nominee with Theodore
Roosevelt on the Bull Moose Party ticket, the
Legislature expanded the Commission’s regulatory
authority to include things like natural
gas, electrical power, telephones, water
companies, and of course it still regulated
railroads. In 1946, this commission was simply
renamed the California Public Utilities
Commission, or CPUC. But it also expanded
its regulatory power to include taxis, limousines,
marine transportation and other commonly
used things in the hopes that one
regulatory body could best oversee these
mixed services.
In the century since its establishment, the
utilities and industries under the oversight of
the CPUC have grown and evolved to the
point where the current structure of the
CPUC is ineffective at best, and obsolete as
worst. Ultimately, this leaves Californians
without the proper regulatory protections
that we all pay to have — and recent disasters
highlight this.
In September of 2010, a natural gas
pipeline exploded into flames in a residential
neighborhood in San Bruno, two miles from
the San Francisco International Airport. The
roar was so loud and shaking so severe, residents
initially believed it was an earthquake
or a jetliner had crashed. The explosion and
fire killed 8 people, injured 58, destroyed 38
homes and damaged 70 more.
And after the radiation leak in 2012 at the
San Onofre nuclear power plant, a state investigator
is now looking into criminal
charges against the former CPUC president,
Michael Peevey, over backdoor meetings and
unreported communications. Specifically, Mr.
Peevey worked behind public view to push
the idea that Southern California Edison, who
owns the San Onofre nuclear power plant,
would fund $25 million of greenhouse gas research
at UCLA as a part of the $4.7-billion
settlement.
Most recently, Porter Ranch experienced
the worst natural gas leak in U.S. history.
87,000 metric tons of methane has been released
into the atmosphere, and thousands of
families have been displaced due to obvious
health concerns. The cause of the natural gas
leak was due to a breached metal pipe, however
the safety valve that was removed in
1979 was never replaced and Porter Ranch
residents have paid the price. In SoCal Gas’
2014 General Rate Case Application to the
CPUC, SoCal Gas testified for increasing customer
rates in order to pay for safety and risk
considerations, specifically to older 1940’s
era wells at the Aliso Canyon facility. In other
words, the CPUC already knew there were serious
safety and risk concerns with older
wells at Aliso Canyon.
These disasters are evidence of the CPUC’s
inefficiency and failures in being a regulatory
body. Privately owned electric, natural gas,
telecommunications, water, railroad, rail
transit, and passenger transportation companies
present a very diverse portfolio of industry.
Should the agency regulating UBER
and hot air balloons be the same agency regulating
California’s systems of natural gas and
nuclear power plants? It’s become evident
that the CPUC is not able to adequately juggle
regulating these varied interests.
This is why I joined Assemblymeber Mike
Gatto, D-Los Angeles, in coauthoring an Assembly
Constitutional Amendment, the Public
Utility Reform Act of 2016. This bill will
place an initiative before voters to strike Article
12 from the California Constitution,
which would remove constitutional protections
the CPUC so regularly enjoys. This
would also require the California Legislature
to reassign the regulatory functions of the
CPUC by 2018.
This constitutional amendment recognizes
the 21st century presents different challenges
that those of the 20th century. The
CPUC should no longer be enshrined in the
California Constitution, but instead ought to
allow reform in order to reassign regulation
of industries to more appropriate state bodies
to provide greater accountability.
The California Legislature understands the
current structure of the CPUC is in dire need
of modernization, and this legislation will ensure
CPUC reform so all Californians get the
21st century protections they pay for. R
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.
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
Stevenson Ranch, CA 91381

20 • THE Reader
Reader Sports
March 2016
SCV S P o r t S
girls & women’s basketball
by Steve Pratt
Sports editor
Two local products have led the College
of the Canyons women’s basketball
team to one of the finest season’s in
school history. With a record of 23-6, the Lady
Cougars, led by 24th-year coach Greg Herrick,
captured their first Western State Conference
South title since 2011-2012 for the program’s
15th overall WSC South title.
But there was no joy in coach Herrick’s
voice when he learned of his team’s No. 9
seeding for the Southern California Community
Playoffs, meaning the Cougars would
have to hit the road, and potentially face the
No. 1 team in the following round.
“It’s kind of bittersweet,” Herrick said just
days before the team was to face Palomar College
in the first playoff game. “You can still
hear the shock in my voice. We go 13-1 and
win the conference and then when the seedings
come out we’re No. 9. It’s like some of the
other coaches in the room were just looking
out for themselves. We feel a little disrespected.
But you’ve got to play them all. I’m
just not real pleased with the way it looks.”
Back in 1997, Herrick led his team to the
state championship game and a 33-6 record.
“Historically that’s the benchmark for us,”
said Herrick, whose team managed a solid
17-game winning streak during the year.
“That team won 21 games in a row. After that
team I’ll put us up against any of the top
teams I’ve had. You’ve got to put them in the
group of one of the best teams ever.”
The Cougars have been led by 6-foot-tall
sophomore wonders Monica Friedl (Canyon
High) and Hannah Green (West Ranch High).
Friedl was the leading scorer this year and an
all-conference performer last year while
The Cougars’ sophomore Monica Friedl (Canyon high) leads the team in scoring this year and an all-conference
performer last year.
Green began at Sonoma State before transferring
to College of the Canyons. She led the
state in blocked shots this year and was third
in rebounds. In one game, she had 15 blocked
shots.
“The chemistry amongst the players is really
good this year,” Herrick said. “The kids
come to practice and play hard. It’s fun to go
to practice with this type of team.”
Herrick turned 63 a couple weeks ago, but
said he plans to keep coaching for another six
or seven years. “I enjoy what I’m doing and
I’m passionate about it,” he said. “I plan is to
go to 70 and then evaluate it. If I’m still motivated
to go to practice then I’ll keep doing it.”
Herrick retired from teaching two years
See Basketball, page 34

Celebrate the Luck O’ the Irish
St. Patrick’s Day is Thursday, March 17
by Michele E. Buttelman • features and entertainment editor
St. Patrick’s Day is traditionally a day to drink green beer and eat corned
beef and cabbage.
However, the day is firmly rooted in Christian tradition. Saint Patrick's
Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick is a cultural and religious celebration
held on the traditional date of the death of Saint Patrick (c. AD 385–
461), the patron saint of Ireland.
Who was St. Patrick? St. Patrick was a 5th-century Christian missionary
and bishop in Ireland. According to tradition, he came to Ireland to convert
the pagan Irish to Christianity.
On St. Patrick's Day it is customary to wear shamrocks and/or green
clothing or accessories (the “wearing of the green”).
St. Patrick is said to have used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to
explain the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish.
A common myth is that St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland. In
truth, Ireland never had snakes and it is believed that the term “snakes”
in reference to St. Patrick refers to his efforts to convert the population
to Christianity.
Saint Patrick's Day was made an official Christian feast day in the early
17th century and is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion
the Eastern Orthodox Church, and Lutheran Church.
Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol are lifted for the day, which
has encouraged and propagated the holiday’s tradition of alcohol consumption.
Large numbers of Irish people came to the United States during the
Great Irish Famine of the 1840s. Because of this large wave of immigration,
about 33.3 million Americans, 10.5 percent of the total population,
reported Irish ancestry in the 2013 American Community Survey conducted
by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Irish dancers entertain on stage in the
Parish Hall at Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Catholic Church during the annual Corned
Beef and Cabbage dinner.
Lyons Ave., Newhall, 91321. Tickets
are also available at the Pastoral
Center, 661-259-2276. Tickets: $30
adults, $15 children under 12. At 6
p.m. the Knights of Columbus will
host their 40th St. Patrick's Day
Celebration, with a dinner (starts
about 7 p.m.) of corned beef and
cabbage, Irish potatoes and carrots,
Irish soda bread and desserts.
Entertainment will be provided by
Irish musicians, dancers and singers.
Featuring: The Fulcos.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in
the SCV • March 12
St. Patrick’s Day Dinner/Dance
and 5K Run
The Knights of Columbus will
sponsor the annual St. Patrick’s
Day Dinner/Dance and St.
Patrick’s Day 5K Run on
Saturday, March 12.
Enjoy a fun-filled weekend of musical
entertainment and a delicious
corned beef and cabbage dinner.
Tickets will be available from
Knights of Columbus members
after Masses at Our Lady of Perpetual
Help Catholic Church, 23405
Guests to the Knights of Columbus annual
Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner
wait for dinner to be served.
Knights of Columbus 34th Annual
St. Patrick’s Day 5K run, Saturday,
March 12, 9 a.m. Registration at
8 a.m. Mentryville, 27201 Pico
Canyon Road, Newhall, 91381. The
Knights of Columbus will sponsor the
34th St. Patrick's Day 5K race at the
historic oil drilling town of Mentryville
Corned beef, cabbage, Irish soda bread and dessert will be
featured at the annual Knights of Columbus St. Patrick’s Day Dinner/Dance on
Saturday, March 12.
in Newhall, near Stevenson Ranch. The race is an “out and back” course
that begins at Mentryville Park and takes runners in front of Charles Mentry’s
grand 13-room mansion, a one-room school house, and a period barn.
The course is mostly on newly paved asphalt and the elevation climb is
about 330 feet. Due to this elevation gain, the course is considered moderated
to difficult.
The Knights of Columbus Council #6016 of Newhall is a local non-profit
charitable organization and the race is a community and family event. Race
day registration starts at 8 a.m. The 5K run begins at 9 a.m. Awards and
raffle will follow shortly after 10 a.m. Info: kofc6016.org.
March 17
SENSES in Old Town Newhall, Main Street, Newhall, 91321.
May your day be touched by the Luck o’ the Irish. SENSES is
going green in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day on Thursday,
March 17 from 7-10 p.m. Shamrocks, pots of gold, and lucky
charms will fill Main Street in Old Town Newhall at this free
evening of entertainment. Dance a jig to Celtic rock music by Ken
O’Malley and the Twilight Lords, grub on gourmet food trucks,
and enjoy the libations of green beer and
whiskey. Info: oldtownnewhall.com/thursdaysatnewhall/senses/
St. Patrick’s Day Eats March 17
Tournament Players Club, The Oaks Grille, 26550 Heritage View
Lane, Stevenson Ranch, 91381, 661-288-1995 ext. 109, will offer the St.
Patrick’s Day Specials on March 17. Celebrate all day with these Irish inspired
specials: Corned Beef, Cabbage and Potatoes ($18); Corned Beef
Sliders, ($13); Beer Cheese Soup, Cup ($5), Bowl ($7).
Salt Creek Grille, 24415 Town Center, Drive, Valencia, 91355, 661-
222-9999, features a special St. Patrick’s Day menu featuring Corned
Beef Sliders ($13.95); Guinness Corned Beef Soup ($7.95); Corned Beef
and Cabbage entrée ($22.95) with slow cooked corned beef and
braised cabbage served with boiled red potatoes and buttered carrots.
Finished with a whole grain mustard sauce. Dessert ($11.95)
is Irish Coffee Cheesecake.
Egg Plantation, 24415 Walnut St., Newhall, 91321, 661-
255-8222, will have live Irish music from 5-9 p.m. The
menu will include Corned Beef and Cabbage, Fish and Chips,
Irish Stew, Irish soda bread, a burger and desserts.
Green beer is a tradition for
St. Patricks’ Day celebrations.
See St. Patrick’s Day, page 28

22 • THE Reader
November 2015

March 2016 THE Reader • 23
reStaurant reView
Crazy Otto’s Diner
Makes SCV Debut
Antelope Valley institution
opens outpost in Canyon
Country
By Michele e. Buttelman
Features and entertainment editor
Crazy Otto’s Diner was founded on
Sierra Highway, adjacent to the train
tracks, in Lancaster in 1975 by Otto
Lindsel. The diner, which started with only 12
seats, now has five locations. Canyon Country
Just because it’s a diner doesn’t mean you can’t get a
spectacular salad. The Cobb Salad ($10.99), with lettuce,
tomato, turkey, bacon and blue cheese crumbles
includes a thinly sliced hardboiled egg, as well.
Crazy otto’s Diner in Canyon Country is decorated in “diner kitsch” with old license plates and a replica of
the famous numbered wheel to be spun every time a train passed at the diner’s original location in Lancaster.
The seat corresponding to the number on the wheel won a free meal.
hosts the newest member of the Crazy Otto’s
family and joins locations in Lancaster, Acton
and Rosamond.
The diner serves breakfast and lunch 5
a.m.-2 p.m. daily.
The restaurant is located on Soledad
Canyon Road in part of the location that once
housed the El Chaparral Mexican Restaurant,
a fixture in Canyon Country for decades.
The cozy, brightly lit diner is decorated in
“diner kitsch” with old license plates lining
the walls and a variety of posters and other
“memorabilia” on display. Behind the counter
is a replica of the famous numbered wheel
that was spun every time a train passed at the
diner’s original location in Lancaster. The
seat corresponding to the number on the
wheel won a free meal. The original location
was so close to the tracks that the restaurant
building would shake as trains passed by.
After the 1994 Northridge Earthquake
Metrolink expanded rail service to the Antelope
Valley and Crazy Otto’s had to give up its
original location.
Crazy Otto’s is famous for their huge
omelettes, and has held the world record for
The Club house sandwich at Crazy otto’s ($10.99) is
a huge mouthful of ham, turkey, bacon, lettuce and
tomato on toasted white bread. Choice of sides.
making the world’s biggest omelet several
times.
If you are a breakfast aficionado then this
is your place.
In June of 1993 Crazy Otto’s Diner broke
the world record for the largest omelette creating
an omelette that measured 1,364
square feet.
The omelette gauntlet had been thrown,
though, and Japan broke enough eggs to steal
the “World’s Largest Omelette” crown.
In October of 2002, Crazy Otto's Inc.,
brought the “World’s Largest Omelette” title
back to the U.S. More than 200 volunteers, we
were able to assemble an omelette consisting
of 34,000 eggs, 200 pounds of cheese, 50
gallons of milk, 500 pounds of bell peppers
and 75 gallons of crushed tomatoes. The
omelette was prepared on 11 portable grills
and took approximately 6.5 hours to create.
The omelette measured 1,850.9 square feet.
Unfortunately, in 2012, chefs in Portugal
created an omelette weighing 14,225
pounds, 6 ounces and made using 145,000
See Restaurant Review, page 28

24 • THE Reader
March 2016
March Calendar
ongoing
Santa Clarita City Council Meetings, 6 p.m. City Hall - City Council Chambers, 23920
Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita, CA 91355. The five-member Santa Clarita City Council holds
regular meetings on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month (except during summer
hiatus which is the second meeting in July and the first meeting in August. In addition,
there is no Council meeting Christmas week). City Council meetings March 8, 22. Info:
www.santa-clarita.com.
thursdays, march 17, 24, 31
Start Your Own Business – “Entrepreneurship
Series!” Noon-1 p.m. at College of
the Canyons, Canyons Hall, Room 201,
26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Valencia,
91355. This event is free and open to students
and the public. Limited seating, first
come, first serve. Learn the steps to start a
business; generate income and cash flow;
and explore how to develop a business
model to bring your vision to life. Participants
will also be introduced to resources to
help you take the next step in starting or
growing your business, or transitioning
from current activity into a formal business.
Event Contact – Career Center, 661-362-
3286, career_services.tech@canyons.edu
Sunday, march 6
Gentlemen for a Cause, 5:30 p.m. Santa
Clarita Activity Center, 20880 Centre Point
Parkway, Santa Clarita, CA 91350. Dinner,
entertainment and a cash bar. Bid on professional
services, dates with some of the SCV’s
most talented gentlemen and raise money
for a great cause. A portion of the proceeds
will benefit local charities. Event sells out
early. Tickets: Single Tickets $75 each. Includes
dinner, 1 drink ticket and one raffle
ticket. SPECIAL: Purchase before Feb. 19,
and receive 2 drink tickets. Info:
http://siscv.org/events/gentlemen-for-acause/
wednesday, march 9
JCI of Santa Clarita will host its first Politics
On Tap mixer of the year, 6-8 p.m. JJ's
Bar & Grill, 25848 Tournament Road, Valencia,
91355. At 7 p.m. U.S. Rep. Steve Knight-
R, Palmdale, will attend to review what is
transpiring in the Santa Clarita Valley and
his plans to support his local constituency.
Info: Lindsay Schlick, 661-313-3907, lindsay@schlickart.com.
thursday, march 10
Note by Note Singer/Songwriter Series,
7-10 p.m. at Newhall Refinery, 24258
Main St., Newhall, 91321. Note by Note
songwriter’s night is a chance for professional
and aspiring songwriters to showcase
their songs in front of a live audience and an
opportunity for fans to hear new music.
Each songwriter selected will perform four
original songs of their own composition. Interested
performers can apply at:
http://oldtownnewhall.com/thursdaysatnewhall/note-by-note/.
For more information
about this event or other
Thursdays@Newhall events happening in
Old Town Newhall, visit www.oldtownnewhall.com.
Revved Up: A monthly gathering for
car enthusiasts will be held 7-10 p.m. in
Old Town Newhall on Main Street between
8th St. and Market St. Revved Up is held
March to October on the second Thursday of
the month. March 10 – Classic VWs. Shine
up your buckets and dime pieces for the
Classic pre-1980’s VW car show and see a
collection of Beetles, Buses, Karmin Ghias,
and Things and enjoy the live band, food
truck and adult beverages provided by Persia
Lounge. Owners interested in submitting
an automobile for the Revved Up car show
can apply online or contact the City’s Arts
and Events office at aeo@santa-clarita.com.
There is no fee to enter. Revved Up applications
must be submitted at least one week
prior to the event in which the applicant
wishes to participate. Eligible winning vehicles
will be submitted for consideration in
the annual OTNA Classic Car Show. Info:
www.oldtownnewhall.com.
wednesday, march 16
Santa Clarita Chamber of Commerce
Business After Hours Mixer, 5:30-7:30
p.m., Logix Federal Credit Union, Golden
Valley Branch, 19085 Golden Valley Road,
91321. Cost: Members $10 Nonmembers
$25. The monthly Business After Hours
(BAH) event is the premiere networking
event hosted by the Chamber. Info: Chris
Donald, email cdonald@scvchamber.com.
thursday, march 17
SENSES — A themed monthly block
party, 7-10 p.m. in Old Town Newhall on
Main Street between 6th St. and Market St.
Santa Clarita’s favorite block party,
SENSES, presented by Galpin Subaru, features
a new theme each month to engage
festival-goers in an evening of entertainment,
activities, great food trucks, and adult
drinks. March 17 – Luck o’ the Irish. May
your day be touched by the Luck o’ the Irish!
SENSES is going green in celebration of St.
Patrick's Day. Shamrocks, pots of gold, and
lucky charms will fill Main Street in Old
Town Newhall at this free evening of entertainment.
Dance a jig to Celtic rock music by
Ken O’Malley and the Twilight Lords, grub
on gourmet food trucks, and enjoy the libations
of green beer and whiskey. Info: Old
Town Newhall, visit
www.oldtownnewhall.com.
Saturday, march 19
Up With the Birds, 8-10 a.m., Ed Davis
Park in Towsley Canyon, 24255 The Old
Road, Newhall, 91321. Free Program, parking
$7. Check out unique migratory birds
as they travel through Southern California.
Join us on this morning hike that reminds
us to remember to look up.
Beginners are welcome on this easy walk.
Binoculars optional. Meet at Towsley
Canyon’s front parking lot. Info: 310-858-
7272 ext. 131.
2016 SCVi Castaic Charter School Benefit
Dinner, 5:30 p.m., SCVi Campus, 28060
Hasley Canyon Road, Castaic , CA 91384.
$100 per meal ($1,500-$2,500, table sponsors
available). Benefit Dinner Fundraiser
Reception, Dinner, Live and Silent Auction.
Honorees: Carl and Jerri Goldman of KHTS.
Contact: Charlene Spiteri at charlene.spiteri@ileadschools.org.
College of the Canyons Silver Spur Celebration
Honoring Jill Mellady, 6 p.m. Sheraton
Universal Starview Room, 333
Universal Hollywood Drive, Universal City,
California 91608. The College of the
Canyons Foundation's Silver Spur Award for
community service is one of the Santa
Clarita Valley's most prestigious honors.
Info: 661-362-3434 or cocfoundation.com.
Sunday, march 20
Temple Beth Ami will have a urim carnival
on Sunday, March 20, from 10 a.m to 1
The Castaic Town Council meets on the third Wednesday of each month in the Board
room of the Castaic Union School District, 28131 Livingston Ave., Valencia Commerce Center.
The next meeting is March 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, CA 91381.
The West Ranch Town Council’s next meeting will be held April 6 at TPC.
Info: www.westranchtowncouncil.com.
p.m. The address is 23023 Hilse Lane, Santa
Clarita, CA 91321. For more information call
661- 255-6410.
Soroptimist International of Greater
Santa Clarita Valley's 6th Annual Fashion
Show and Boutique, Hyatt Regency Valencia,
24500 Town Center Drive, Valencia,
91355. Boutique Opens at 10 a.m.; Fashion
Show at noon. For tickets contact Sue Tweddell,
661-373-4222 or
stweddell1@gmail.com or visit
www.sigscv.org.
thursday, march 24
An Evening with Mike Beck, 8 p.m.
Repertory East Playhouse, 24266 Main St.,
Newhall, CA 91321. Mike Beck is an engaging
acoustic solo artist who consistently
performs in the United States and Europe.
He is a regularly featured performer at The
National Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering.
He has six albums under his belt with
original songs that have been recognized as
some of the finest compositions on Western
Americana. The Western Horseman magazine
picked “The 13 Best Cowboy Songs,”
and included two compositions by Beck,
putting him alongside other writers such as
Ian Tyson, Tom Russell, Lucinda Williams,
and Gene Autry. SCVTV Presents The Out-
West Concert Series. Hosted by Jim and
Bobbi Jean Bell of OutWest. Cost: $20-25.
Advance ticket sales: OutWest Hotline: 661-
255-7087, or visit their http://www.outwestmktg.com/events/live-music.cfm
Saturday, march 26
Fifth Annual Special Olympics &
Hoops of Hope Shoot-a-Thon, 10 a.m.-4
p.m. Santa Clarita Sports Complex (Gymnasium),
20880 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa
Clarita, 91351. Make a basket and raise
money. Special Olympics athletes and
coaches, community members and students
will attempt to make more than 12,000 baskets
during the Shoot-A-Thon benefiting
Special Olympics Santa Clarita & Tri-Valley
and Hoops of Hope. All are welcome.
Whether you are a former basketball star or
you haven't picked up a ball in years, we invite
you to join the fun and raise money for
charity. For more information and to register,
visit http://bit.ly/1nwcrUI
Eighth Annual Splash and Dash Egg
Hunt, 10 a.m. Santa Clarita Aquatic Center,
20850 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita,
91351. Ages 10 years and under. Bring your
little ones to collect eggs with prizes in the
waterslide pool. A parent must accompany
all small children and are encouraged to
swim with their child. Life jackets are available
at no charge. Participants will be admitted
in groups of 200 and everyone will
get a chance to participate. Free. There is no
charge for this event, but participants are
encouraged to bring nonperishable or
canned food items with them to be donated
to the Santa Clarita Food Pantry. Info: Santa-
Clarita.com.
Eggstravaganza, 10 a.m. Central Park,
27150 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita,
91350. City of Santa Clarita egg hunt for
ages 1 to 10 years. The “Egg Scramble” begins
at 10 a.m. Central Park will be divided
into different areas by age. Free. There is no
charge for this event, but participants are
encouraged to bring nonperishable or
canned food items with them to be donated
to the Santa Clarita Food Pantry. Limited
parking. Info: Santa-Clarita.com.
Egg Hunt at Castaic Sports Complex, 10
a.m., Castaic Sports Complex, 31230 Castaic
Road, Castaic, 91384. Ages 12 and under.
Bring your Easter basket. Info: 661-775-
8865
Egg Hunt Richard Rioux Park, 10 a.m.-
noon, the egg hunt begins at 10:30 a.m.
Richard Rioux Park, 26233 West Faulkner
Drive, Stevenson Ranch, 91381. The event
includes an egg hunt, moon bounce and the
Easter Bunny will be available for photos
with children. Info: 661-222-9536.
Saturday, march 26,
Sunday, march 27
Vasquez Rocks Easter Sunrise Celebration,
Saturday, March 26, Matinee 2 p.m.,
Sunday, March27, promptly at 5 a.m. Gates
open at 4:10 a.m. Vasquez Rocks Natural
Area County Park, 10700 W. Escondido
Canyon Road, Agua Dulce, 91390. Limited
seating fills up early, bring a blanket. The
resurrection is timed to coincide with sunrise.
This dramatic presentation of the life
of Jesus Christ includes a reenactment of
the crucifixion with more than 60 costumed
actors. Dress warmly. Info: thesunriseservice.com,
661-268-0840.
Saturday, april 9
Women in Service Celebration, 9 a.m.,
Robinson Ranch Clubhouse, 27734 Sand
Canyon Road, Canyon Country, 91387.
Zonta Club of SCV will hold its annual
Women in Service Celebration brunch.
Women nominated by local non-profits will
be honored, and the top volunteer will receive
the Carmen Sarro Women in Service
Award. Tickets to the event are $45 per person
if postmarked and paid before March
25, and $50 thereafter. All nominees are
guests of Zonta. Payment can be made online
at www.scvzonta.org. For information
or reservations, call the Zonta message line
at 661-252-9351.
To add your event to the Westside Reader
Calendar please email Michele@Westside
Reader.com.

March 2016 THE Reader • 25

Easter Traditions
Meet Easter Fun in the SCV
From Eggstravaganza to Easter Brunch, enjoy a colorful and tasty holiday.
by Michele E. Buttelman • features and entertainment editor
This year, Easter is on Sunday,
March 27. Is your inner Easter
Bunny dyeing to fill a plethora of
Easter baskets with hip-hoppity
fun?
Easter celebrates the resurrection
of Jesus Christ, and the date
of Easter changes each year. The
date is calculated as the first
Sunday after the first full moon
following the vernal equinox (the
first day of spring).
As Easter approaches it is now
time to “hop” to it!
Fill your Easter baskets with a variety of goodies, and don’t
forget the simple joy of munching on a chocolate bunny
this season.
In addition, I’ve always enjoyed filling Easter baskets for my family. I love creating a
nest with fake Easter grass and placing jelly beans, candy eggs and chocolate bunnies
into the basket with a few other treats, as well, (movie tickets, gift cards and small
trinkets).
Is there any better way to start Easter morning than a backyard egg hunt? Or chomping
the ears of the chocolate Easter bunny nestled in your Easter basket?
Some traditions are just too much fun to ever give up, no matter what your age! In
our neighborhood we hold a multi-family egg hunt where everyone participates,
young and old.
It’s a great chance to share Easter with
neighbors whose children have outgrown
Easter Egg hunts, and don’t yet have grandchildren.
Dyeing Easter eggs is a fun tradition in my family. We usually buy several different
egg dyeing kits from traditional, pastel colored eggs to glitter eggs. This year I’ve
spied a “golden egg” kit that I think will be different and fun.
Create special Easter memories by dyeing your own
eggs and hiding them in the backyard.
Fun Easter Facts:
The tradition of decorating eggs dates back to the
ancient Persians, known as Zoroastrians, who
painted eggs for Nowrooz, their New Year’s celebration
during the spring. On the first day of spring,
they would give each other an egg dyed red.
Thirteenth-century Macedonians were the first
Christians known to use colored eggs in their Easter
celebrations. Crusaders
returning
from the Middle
East spread the
Decorate blown eggs and hang them
on branches arranged in a vase for a
special Easter Egg Tree.
Children will love to make “stained
glass window” art.
custom of coloring eggs, and Europeans then began
to use colored eggs to celebrate Easter and other
holidays.
The ancient Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Romans
all used colored eggs to celebrate spring. Among
the Chinese, parents of newborn children still present
gifts of colored eggs to their friends as a sign
of new life.
Easter Egg hunts and egg rolling are also longstanding
traditions. The first White House Easter
Egg Roll occurred in 1878 and the tradition continues on the Monday after Easter.
Easter Crafts:
A fun family craft project is to create an “Easter Egg Tree.”
First “blow out” your eggs. This can be accomplished in many ways.
You can find dozens of YouTube videos demonstrating tricks and
techniques for egg blowing.
As a child I remember using a hobby knife and piercing a small hole in the large end
of the egg. This was followed by inserting the end of a large paper clip that had been
straightened to make the hole a little larger. Next, I did the same procedure at the
small end of the egg. Then, I would put my mouth to the egg and actually blow the
contents out into a bowl.
Today, I just use one of those blue, bulbous baby aspirators to push the egg contents
out of the egg. I placed the aspirator over one hole and squeezed repeatedly until
the egg emptied into the bowl.
After you have collected your empty eggs, dye the shells a variety of festive colors.
You can also add decals, ribbon and sparkles, too.
Next, you need to affix something that will allow the egg to hang from your tree.
I’ve seen videos and online suggestions using needle and thread (making use of a
magnet to get the needle out the bottom of the egg), as well as fancy and expensive
“hangers.” I just glue some ribbon or string on top of the egg, cover it with a decorative
decal and I’m done.
Next, find a clear vase and fill it with sturdy dead branches. Make sure there are
enough branches to hang plenty of eggs. I like to spray paint my branches white, gold
or silver, depending on the color scheme I am using. One year I painted each branch
a different pastel color.
Fill the vase with colored glass pebbles (sometimes called glass jems, or glass
“blobs”), washed pebbles or small river rocks to hold the branches in place.
Hang your eggs.
Viola! You now have a beautiful and colorful Easter table centerpiece.
Another fun Easter craft project for children is to construct tissue paper “stained
glass windows.”

Hop to it! There are numerous Easter Egg hunts
scheduled for parks in and around the Santa
Clarita Valley on March 26, the day before Easter.
When their “window” is complete, place another
piece of clear contact paper on top
and remove from the table.
Cut a black construction paper “frame” to
fit the “window” and glue, or tape it all together.
Display the colorful artwork on a window
where the light can shine through the
pieces and give the effect of a stained glass
window.
Family Easter Fun
To complete this project you will need various
colors of tissue paper cut into geometric
shapes, black construction paper, clear
contact paper, tape and scissors.
First, tape a piece of clear contact paper
sticky side up onto a table.
Next, have your children pick out the colors
and shapes of tissue paper they want to use
on their “window” and press the pieces
onto the clear contact paper.
Central Park on Bouquet Canyon Road in Santa
Clarita hosts the annual Eggstravaganza event
on Saturday, March 26.
Eighth Annual Splash and Dash Egg Hunt
10 a.m. Saturday, March 26
Santa Clarita Aquatic Center, 20850 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita, 91351.
Ages 10 years and under. Bring your little ones to collect eggs with prizes in the waterslide
pool. A parent must accompany all small children and are encouraged to
swim with their child. Life jackets are available at no charge. Participants will be admitted
in groups of 200 and everyone will get a chance to participate.
Free. There is no charge for this event, but participants are encouraged to bring nonperishable
or canned food items with them to be donated to the
Santa Clarita Food Pantry. Info: Santa-Clarita.com.
Eggstravaganza
10 a.m. Saturday, March 26
Central Park, 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, 91350.
City of Santa Clarita egg hunt for ages 1 to 10 years. The “Egg Scramble” begins at
10 a.m. Central Park will be divided into different areas by age. Free. There is no
charge for this event, but participants are encouraged to bring nonperishable or
canned food items with them to be donated to the Santa Clarita Food Pantry. Limited
parking. Info: Santa-Clarita.com.
Egg Hunt at Castaic Sports Complex
10 a.m., Saturday, March 26
Castaic Sports Complex, 31230 Castaic Road, Castaic, 91384.
Ages 12 and under. Bring your Easter basket. Info: 661-775-8865
Egg Hunt Richard Rioux Park
Saturday, March 26, 10 a.m.-noon, the egg hunt begins at 10:30 a.m.
Richard Rioux Park, 26233 West Faulkner Drive, Stevenson Ranch, 91381.
The event includes an egg hunt, moon bounce and the Easter Bunny will be available
for photos with children. Info: 661-222-9536.
Vasquez Rocks Easter Sunrise Celebration
Saturday, March 26, Matinee 2 p.m.
Sunday, March27, promptly at 5 a.m. Gates open at 4:10 a.m.
Vasquez Rocks Natural Area County Park, 10700 W. Escondido Canyon Road, Agua Dulce, 91390.
Limited seating fills up early, so bring a blanket. The resurrection is timed to coincide
with sunrise. This dramatic presentation of the life of Jesus Christ includes a reenactment
of the crucifixion with more than 60 costumed actors. Dress warmly. Info:
thesunriseservice.com, 661-268-0840.
For a special Easter meal hop onto the Fillmore &
Western Easter Lunch Train.
Easter Eats
For a unique take on “Easter Brunch” take the
Fillmore & Western Easter Lunch Train Sunday,
March27. The train departs the depot , 351
Santa Clara St, Fillmore, 93015, at noon and
returns at 2:30 p.m.
Enjoy a scenic ride
through the Heritage
Valley. The Easter
Bunny will also be
aboard to pass out
treats. The adult
lunch menu includes
Black Forest ham, rice pilaf, vegetable, garden
salad and dessert; child’s menu includes
sliders, macaroni and cheese, fresh fruit and
dessert.
Salt Creek Grille offers unlimited complimentary
champagne, hand-carved meats, chilled seafood,
steamed snow crab legs, pasta bar, made-for-you
omelet bar, chef-prepared salads, fresh fruit
spread, aebleskivers and more for Easter Brunch.
Salt Creek Grille offers a special Easter Brunch with an omelet station and other
special treats.
Adults $50; Youth 4-12 $29; Children
2-3 $25, 23 months and under are
free. Reservations required: 805-524-2546,
www.fwry.com.
Le Chene French Cuisine, 12625 Sierra Highway,
Agua Dulce, 91390, 661- 251-4315. Le
Chene offers an elegant brunch every Sunday,
but on Easter they always add a few
special menu items.
Brunch is served from
10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Reservations recommended. Visit www.lechene.com for the full
Easter menu.
Salt Creek Grille, 24415 Town Center Drive, #115, Valencia, 91355,
661- 222-9999. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Salt Creek Grille offers unlimited
complimentary champagne, hand-carved meats, chilled seafood,
steamed snow crab legs, pasta bar, made-for-you omelet bar,
chef-prepared salads, fresh fruit spread, aebleskivers, farm and
bakery favorites including smoked sausage, and gourmet selections
including Eggs Benedict and chicken and mushroom-stuffed
crepes, blackened salmon and hand-crafted desserts. My favorite
has always been the aebleskivers, Danish pancake puffs that resemble
donut holes. Add strawberries and whipped cream and I
can’t think of anything better on my Easter brunch table! $39.95
for adults, $14.95 for kids 12 and under.
Aebleskivers are Danish pancake puffs that resemble
donut holes. Salt Creek Grille serves aebleskivers
at Sunday brunch.
Celebrate with a
Mimosa cocktail as
you enjoy your Easter
Brunch.
The 38th Annual Lenten Fish Fry. St. Clare’s Catholic Church is the host of the
Santa Clarita Valley’s best Lenten Fish Fry. You still have several chances to enjoy this
annual treat as the fish fry continues on March 4, 11, and 18. Beer Battered Alaskan
cod, French fries or rice pilaf, coleslaw and rolls are available for dine in or take out.
Dinner is served from 4:30- 8 p.m. Cost: $9 for a 2-piece dinner, $10 for a 3-piece
dinner. All proceeds benefit local charities and families in need.
This year they’ve opened up a separate room for take-out service.
St. Clare is located at 19606 Calla Way in Canyon Country.
Info: 661- 252-3353 or www.st-clare.org.

28 • THE Reader
Restaurant Review
continued from page 23
eggs, 880 pounds of oil and 220 pounds of
butter. The title of “World’s Largest Omelette”
now resides in Portugal.
If you like omelettes, stop by Crazy Otto’s
and try one of the restaurant’s 15 signature
omelettes, or make your own ($15.50) using
any five omelette ingredients.
All omelettes come with toast, or biscuits
and gravy.
Omelettes are priced between $10.50 and
$15.50 for a full omelette or $9.50 to $11.99
for a half omelette.
Choices include Scotty’s Chili Cheese Dog
Omelette, ham and cheese, turkey and
cheese, Crazy Otto’s Burgermeat, Spanish,
Denver, bacon and cheese, cheese, bacon and
chicken liver, sausage and cheese, vegetarian,
Ortega beef, avocado, crabmeat and The Popeye.
A full selection of Breakfast “Specials” includes
just about any breakfast entrée your
heart desires. All are served up with hash
browns and your choice of toast or a biscuit
and gravy.
The Eggs Benedict ($11.50) includes two
poached eggs on sliced ham atop two grilled
English muffins smothered in rich Hollandaise
sauce.
Two eggs (any style) and your choice of top
sirloin, pork chops, country fried steak, ham
steak, sausage patty, bacon, chorizo or burger
patty costs between $15.99 and $10.99.
For the adventurous try the Hobo Eggs,
($12.50), scrambled eggs, hash browns,
onions, bell peppers, tomatoes and mushrooms,
all cooked together, the Machaca and
Eggs ($12.50), eggs scrambled together with
shredded beef, tomatoes, onions and bell
peppers, topped with your choice of cheese,
Diced Ham Scrambled with Onions ($10.99)
or the Crazy Combo ($12.50) one-half ham,
bacon, sausage and two eggs any style.
Crazy Otto’s also features homemade
corned beef hash with two eggs ($11.99).
There is also the traditional Breakfast Burrito
($10.99) and a Breakfast Sandwich
($10.99).
If you like your breakfast sweet ($10.50)
you can order a stack of three pancakes,
French Toast or two Belgian Waffles, add
your choice of bacon, sausage or ham and
two eggs for a total bill of $11.99.
If you stop by Crazy Otto’s on the weekend
or a holiday you can order Prime Rib and
Eggs (10 oz. $16.50, 14 oz. $20.50) or the
Prime Rib Sandwich ($14.50).
Breakfast sides include everything from
cottage cheese to oatmeal.
Servings are large, and if you want to order
one entrée and split it, you can get an empty
plate for $1.
There’s also a good selection of lunch items
including burgers, salads and sandwiches.
Crazy Otto’s burgers half pound USDA
ground beef and served with mayonnaise,
mustard, Thousand Island dressing, onions,
tomatoes and lettuce on a sesame seed bun.
You can choose from the Chuckburger
($7.99); Cheeseburger ($8.99); Avocado
Cheeseburger ($10.50); Ortega Jackburger
($9.99); Hickory Mushroom Cheeseburger
($9.99); Bacon Cheeseburger
($10.50) or the Garden Burger
($8.99).
Hot sandwiches include diner
favorites: Turkey, Melt, Patty Melt
or Tuna Melt ($9.50); Grilled
Cheese ($6.75); Grilled Ham and
Cheese ($8.50); Grilled Bacon and
Cheese ($9.50) and Grill Chicken
($10.50).
Specialty hot sandwiches include
the California Roast Beef
which is served with Ortega chilies
and jack cheese on sourdough
($10.50); Philly Cheese Steak
($10.50); Pastrami and Jack
($10.99) and the Chiliburger,
served open faced and topped
with home-style chili and your
choice of cheese and onions
($10.50).
Other options include a French
Dip ($10.50) and Fillet of Fish
($9.50).
Class sandwiches include: Club
House ($10.99); Chicken Salad
($8.50); Cold Cut ($8.99); BLT ($8.50) and
Egg Salad ($6.99).
Guests can also opt for the Half and Half,
where you can select any two items for $8.99.
Options include a cup of soup, French fries,
side salad and one half a ham, tuna, egg salad,
turkey, roast beef or chicken salad sandwich.
“Lighter Side” options include:
Grilled Chicken Breast, Chef or Cobb Salad
($10.99); Two Scoop (Egg Salad, Chicken
Salad, Tuna or Cottage Cheese) served with
tomatoes, sliced hardboiled egg, jack and
March 2016
The cover of Crazy otto’s Diner menu pays tribute to otto Lindsal
who opened the original Crazy otto’s Diner adjacent the train
tracks that run adjacent to Sierra highway in Lancaster.
cheddar cheese on a bed of leafy green lettuce
($10.99) or the Patty Platter ($9.99)
which offers a ground beef patty ,sliced tomatoes
and cottage cheese.
Crazy Otto’s offers lots of good food in an
authentic diner atmosphere. Canyon Country
welcomes this new addition to the foodie
scene. R
Crazy Otto’s Diner, 19132 Soledad Canyon
Road, Canyon Country, 91351, 661-299-6886.
Open seven days, 5 a.m.-2 p.m., crazyottosdiners.com.
St. Patrick’s Day continued from page 21
Rose and Crown British Pub, 24246 Lyons Ave., Newhall,
91321, 661-255-5048, will feature spicy Guinness Chili,
Corned Beef and Cabbage and Stout.
Wolf Creek Restaurant and Brewing Company, 27746 McBean Parkway,
Valencia, 91354, 661-263-9653, will serve up Corned Beef and
Cabbage and green beer.
Out of the SCV
Saturday, March 12
Ventura Elks Lodge #1430 will present the 28th annual St.
Patrick's Day Parade down Main Street in downtown Ventura
at 10 a.m. The 2016 Theme: Honoring our troops. 2016 Grand Marshal:
Descendants of Ventura's Historic Families including: Chumash,
EP Foster Family, Olivas Family and Smith Hobson Family. Info: venturastpatricksdayparade.com.
South Bay St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival. The annual St.
Patrick's Day parade in Hermosa Beach will be held
Saturday, March 12, 11 a.m. The intersection of Pier andValley drive, west
to Hermosa Avenue then South on Hermosa to 9thStreet. Festival at Pier
Plaza. Metered street parking. Info: southbayevents.com/events/saintpatricks-day-parade-hermosa-beach.asp.
Thursday, March 17
St. Patrick's Day Noontime Celebration at Pershing Square. A parade and
free outdoor lunchtime concert with a Celtic-rock band. Food trucks and a
beer garden will be available. The Parade route will start at 4th and Hill, proceeding
south on Hill Street past the park to 7th, west on 7th and north on
Olive back to the Pershing Square. Thursday, March 17 with parade at 10:30,
concert at noon. Free event at Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive St., Los Angeles,
90013. Parking: Paid parking lots. The Metro Red Line runs to Pershing
Square from North Hollywood. Info: laparks.org.
Friday, March 18
Shamrock ‘n’ Roll Aboard
the Queen Mary. The St.
Patrick's Day celebration on
the Queen Mary is a 21+
party that features two simultaneous
Celtic entertainment
venues on the
Promenade Deck in
the Grand Salon and
Royal Salon featuring
Hoist the Colors,
California Celts,
Craic Haus and more.
There will be traditional and
modern Irish food, pub games, trivia
contests and a full bar at each venue. Friday,
March 18, 5-11 p.m. Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, 90802.
Tickets: $15 advance, $20 at the door, $5 validated parking. Info:
queenmary.com
March 19-20
Celtic Fair at the Fairplex in Pomona.
The biggest Irish event of the month, the Celtic Fair in Pomona, will happen
after St. Patrick's Day this year. The event includes carnival rides, historic reenactors,
several stages of Irish music from rock to traditional, dance performances
and social dancing, casual and fine dining, Irish and other Celtic
product vendors, children's crafts and more. The event will be held at Plaza
of the States, Expo Hall 10 and Plaza de las Américas, March 19-20, 2016, 10
a.m.-6 p.m. The Fairplex in Pomona, 1101 West McKinley Ave., Pomona, 91766.
Cost: $10, $5 Children 6-12, Children 5 and under are free. Check Goldstar for
discount tickets. Parking: $10 at Gate 17. There are MetroLink trains from
Union Station to the Fairplex. Info: fairplex.com/fp/

March 2016 THE Reader • 29
Purim fun for everyone!
By Lauren Budman
Staff Writer
Like most people, when I think of holidays
in March, I think of St. Patrick’s
Day. This year, even Easter falls during
the month of March. But another fun-filled
holiday that also lands around other March
celebrations is not always highlighted or
talked about as it should — Purim!
Purim is often celebrated by throwing carnivals
and parties, wearing fun costumes, and
giving gifts of food to friends and neighbors.
It is essentially the Jewish version of Halloween,
and perhaps one of the most joyous
celebrations of the year. In a common facet of
Jewish tradition, giving to the less fortunate is
another way that Purim is celebrated.
Another tradition of the holiday is to read
the story of Purim, which is in the Biblical
book of Esther, or the “Megillah." A rabbi usually
reads the story in a synagogue at sundown
and again on Purim morning. Part of
the tradition is that when the name of
“Haman” is read, the congregants often use
noisemakers or boo to show disgust.
Haman was the anti-Semitic prime minister
of the Persian Empire in 4th century BCE.
In the story of Purim, King Ahasuerus orchestrated
a beauty pageant to find a new
queen after he had his wife executed for failing
to follow his orders. The winner of this
pageant, Esther, became the new queen while
hiding the fact that she was really Jewish. Esther’s
cousin, Mordechai, was the leader of
Privacy
continued from page 17
private data once their analysis is complete.
But parents like Cindi Lim, whose child attends
Highlands Elementary School, are worried
the information could still be breached.
“My concerns are that once this information
is released, once it’s put out there, there’s
no way to retrieve it,” Lim said “And there is
no certainty that it won’t end up in the wrong
hands. After all, clerical errors happen all the
time.”
However, not all parents are concerned
about the judge’s ruling.
Danielle Bendrat, whose children attend
Rosedell Elementary and Arroyo Seco Junior
High School, said she’s OK with the ruling.
“I’m not worried about this information
going to the nonprofits,” Bendrat said. “From
what I’ve read, they are trying to help children
with disabilities. After they are done,
they need to return or destroy the information.”
the Jews who refused to bow to Haman.
Haman then convinced the king to issue a decree
ordering the killing of all the Jews on the
13th of Adar. The Jews then fasted and
prayed, and Esther finally revealed her Jewish
identity to the King. She convinced the
King to save the Jews, and have Haman
hanged. Mordechai was appointed Haman’s
position of prime minister, and new decree
was issued — granting the Jews the right to
defend themselves against their enemies. The
Jews of Persia celebrated on the 14th of Adar,
the day after they were supposed to be annihilated.
Purim is celebrated to recognize and
honor the bravery of Esther and Mordechai
and the deliverance of the Jewish people
from the cruelty of oppression.
Purim occurs every year on the 14th day
of the Jewish month of Adar. This year, that
begins at sundown on Wednesday, March
23rd, and goes to Thursday evening, Mar.
24th. An interesting side note is that the Jewish
month of Adar occurs twice on a leap year,
such as this one. Adar I is the 12th month of
the year, while Purim lands in Adar II this
leap year.
If you’d like to hear the Megillah reading
and partake in the festivities for yourself, you
can visit Temple Beth Ami on Wednesday,
March 23, at 7:00 p.m. Temple Beth Ami will
also have a Purim carnival on Sunday, March
20, from 10 a.m to 1 p.m. The address for
both events is 23023 Hilse Lane, Santa
Clarita, CA 91321. For more information call
661- 255-6410. R
The deadline to opt out of the release is
April 1, 2016. Parents must complete an objection
form for each child. The form can be
downloaded on the website below:
http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/di/ws/
documents/form2016jan26.pdf
The completed forms must then be mailed to:
United States District Judge Kimberly J.
Mueller
c/o Clerk of the Court
Robert T. Matsui United States Courthouse
501 I Street, Room 4-200
Sacramento, CA 95814
Attn: Document Filed Under Seal
For more information about the lawsuit,
visit:
http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/di/ws/
morganhillcase.asp
Parents who have additional questions can
call: 1-916-319-0800. R
win $100 Cash
identify the artwork from one
of the advertisements in this
publication and be entered into
a drawing to win $100 Cash.
email the name of the advertiser,
your town and the page
number the ad is on to:
info@westsidereader.com

30 • THE Reader
Reader People
March 2016
ProFile: margo miller huDSon
Santa Clarita’s Icon of Style
Known by nearly everyone simply as, ‘Margo,’ for decades she dressed the SCV.
By Michele e. Buttelman
Features and entertainment editor
Margo Miller Hudson was born on a farm in Granby,
Quebec Canada as Margo Leduc, and still speaks with
a charming French Canadian accent.
Her mother died two months after Hudson was born. She
was raised by her father, a farmer, her aunt Elsie, and her stepmother
Marie Berthe.
Hudson said Granby was an industrial town, with lumber,
textiles, dairy and tobacco as major industries.
“It never grew that much, but it is adorable,” Hudson said.
Hudson’s family, on her mother’s side, arrived in Canada
from Liverpool, England, when her grandfather was only between
8 and 10 years of age.
“His father left him at an orphanage after his mother died
and in those days they would send children to work on farms
in Canada to earn a living,” she said. “His father said he would
come back for him, but he never did.”
Hudson’s mother was an English Protestant and her father
a French Canadian Catholic.
“Neither one spoke the other’s language,” said Hudson. “But
somehow they met, fell in love and married.”
When Hudson’s mother, Ruby, knew she was dying she
asked her sister Elsie to “take care of my baby (Hudson).”
“And she always did take care of me,” said Hudson. “Until
she died in 1998, my aunt taught me how to cook, how to sew,
how to set a table, manners, everything.”
Hudson’s father soon found he needed to supplement his
farm income by taking a job in a steel factory in Montreal.
Hudson was left in the care of a woman, named Maggie,
until she was 2 1/2 when her father remarried.
“My stepmother, who died in 1975, was wonderful,” said
Hudson. “She treated my older sister and I the same as she
treated her own children. I never saw a difference in how she
treated us, never.”
Hudson said she is has been “been very blessed meeting
people who have been giving and mentoring to me.”
Coming to California
When she was 19 her fiancé, Georges deSeve, asked her if
she would like to live in California after he was invited to follow
his boss who had been transferred to Glendale, CA.
“I said, ‘Are you kidding me? You mean where Rock Hudson
A newspaper clipping from 1978 shows “Margo deSeve” welcoming a
crowd to a fall fashion show in the Plaza Posada in newhall.
Margo and Bob hudson arrive at the hyatt Regency Valencia for the henry Mayo
hospital 40th Anniversary Gala.
lives?” said Hudson. “I was 19. As a teenage I was in love with Rock Hudson.”
In May 1960 the couple moved to the Cadillac Apartments on Glendale
Avenue in Glendale.
“It had a swimming pool and was furnished,” she said. “I thought I was
in total hog heaven.”
The couple was married June 4, 1960.
Even in 1960’s Los Angeles, Hudson stood out.
“I would go to the supermarket wearing gloves,” said. “I was like an oddity
even in 1960, because for me, when you go out you wear gloves.”
Hudson didn’t want to have children until she was 21.
“I didn’t want to be a child, having a child,” she said.
But soon she became bored and applied for a job at Sears.
“In no time at all I went from being a salesgirl to a manager,” she said.
Part of her success in selling jewelry and watches she attributes to her
exotic French Canadian accent and the fact she was well dressed and polite.
Sears offered her a position in the women’s department but Hudson
became pregnant and left Sears a few months later.
Hudson became an American citizen in 1966.
Moving to the SCV
In 1968 Hudson and Georges moved to the second phase of Orchard
Village in Valencia.
Immediately Hudson became involved in philanthropy
in the Santa Clarita Valley.
In 1969, she co-chaired the development of the
Foster Parent Organization in Valencia Valley.
Hudson ultimately fostered 11 children. In the
same year, she became a founding officer of the
Adoption Guild of Valencia Valley.
Through a friend who had contacts with a Los
Angeles modeling agency Hudson soon began
doing tea room modeling at World Fashions in
Santa Monica for nearly two years in the 1970s.
“It was a popular way to sell clothing at that
time,” Hudson said. “I met a lot of celebrities; I met
Steve McQueen, Ali MacGraw, Barbra Streisand...”
In 1974, Hudson became a business partner in
Aggi’s, an upscale boutique in Newhall.
“Aggi Lewis asked me to become her partner,”
Hudson said. “So I went to the bank, this was in
1974, and I applied for a loan.”
Hudson visited the bank without telling her
husband her plans.
“I wanted to have all my ducks in a row before I
approached him about this business opportunity,”
she said.
In 1974, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act
(ECOA) was passed by Congress that allowed
women equal access to credit. However, the finer
points of the law were apparently yet to reach the
SCV.
“The bank called my husband and told him that
I had been in to ask about a loan,” Hudson said.
“When I came home Georges asked if I had been to
the bank. I told him about the store. He thought
about it and then said yes. We had to take a loan
out against the house.”
Hudson said she appreciated Georges’ faith in
her.
“That’s what he gave me. He believed in me,” she
said.
After a few years Lewis asked Hudson to buy
her out so Lewis could pursue other interests.
Hudson purchased the store in 1978 and renamed
it Margo in 1982.
“I named the store M-A-R-G with a heart replacing
the ‘O’, I always wanted to do things a little
differently,” Hudson said.
Margo Fashion
Making the store a success was not without difficulty,
said Hudson.
However, Hudson persevered and the store
found a niche catering to SCV women who wanted
high quality, timeless fashion with the eye on current
trends.
Hudson said customer service was extremely
important to her success.
“We dressed our customers from head to toe,”
she said. “As we became bigger people began to
rely on us for sportswear, weekend wear, business
wear, formal wear, they really didn’t want to shop
elsewhere.”
Hudson said her fashion philosophy was to “sell
timeless fashion.”
“Shopping at Margo’s was an amazing experience,”
said Marlee Lauffer, President, Henry Mayo
Newhall Hospital Foundation, Vice President,
Marketing and Communications Henry Mayo
Newhall Hospital. “It was a comfortable yet elegant
respite; an escape from everyday retailers; a

March 2016 THE Reader • 31
Margo Miller hudson was named the SCV Woman of
honor in 2012. Cameron Smyth was named SCV Man
of honor.
safe place to explore fashion. I half jokingly
called it a ‘club house for women.’ Many Saturday
afternoons were spent at Margo’s
browsing or buying, sipping coffee or champagne,
catching up with friends that worked
there or shopped there.”
Lauffer said Hudson “is a true icon, of style,
graciousness, independence and success. I
miss her store, but am so glad she is still my
friend.”
Long time customer, Shelly Hann, said she
heard about Margo in Newhall when she
worked as a hairdresser in the San Fernando
Valley.
“One of my clients told me it was very expensive,”
Hann said. “When I moved to the
SCV I didn’t go to the store for 10 years. One
day I walked in and I wanted to move in. I fell
in love with Margo and the store.”
Hann worked with Margo bringing Margo
fashions to the runway to benefit SCV charities
including Soroptimist International of
Santa Clarita Valley and the Henry Mayo
Newhall Hospital Foundation.
“She is a classy woman. From the minute
you walked into the store the staff was always
there to help you. It was like going to a
friend’s house and shopping in their closet,”
said Hann. “The thing I loved most about
Margo was that she had her own style, but
she helped everyone else develop their own
style. I have clothes I still wear that I bought
from Margo 20 years ago. When you buy the
best, the classics never go out of style.”
Celebrity and Charity
In 1980 Hudson founded the first Miss
Santa Clarita Valley Beauty Pageant. She continued
to dress beauty pageant contestants
when the store was contacted in 1975 to
dress a young women vying for the Miss California
USA crown.
Summer Bartholomew not only won the
Miss California USA title in 1975, but also
went on to win the Miss USA crown. She competed
at the Miss Universe 1975 pageant held
in El Salvador and was named second-runner
up.
Other celebrities dressed by Hudson have
included Mary Hart of “Entertainment
Tonight” and movie star Tippi Hedren (“The
Birds”).
Through the years Hudson has supported
many charitable events such as the Rocking
Horse Derby, Santa Clarita Child and Family
Center, Carousel Ranch and Boys & Girls Club
of SCV.
She still has a program from the very first
Boys Club Auction (before it became the Boys
& Girls Club of SCV) held at the Ranch House
Inn in 1972.
In the early years Hudson frequently participated
in the Newhall Fourth of July Parade.
Hudson closed Margo in the Plaza Posada
in 2010.
Because of her long involvement with community
service in the SCV Hudson was nominated
for 2015 SCV Woman of the Year and
2012 Zonta Club of SCV Women in Service
Carmen Sarro Award.
In 2012 Hudson started volunteering at
Single Mother Outreach, a nonprofit which
empowers single parents and their families.
January 2013 Hudson founded Closet on
Main, a resale shop on Main Street in downtown
Newhall, with the help of volunteers
which included three of her former employees
Maria, Terry and Maggie.
In November 2015 Hudson passed the
Closet on Main baton to Laurie Auger.
“I hope Closet on Main continues the tradition
of quality, ambiance and camaraderie
in the spirit of Single Mothers Outreach,”
Hudson said.
Profits from donated clothing, shoes, handbags,
jewelry and other small items benefit
the programs of Single Mothers Outreach.
Each month every member of Single Mothers
Outreach client families receives eight
pieces of clothing from The Closet on Main.
“That is what got me involved in founding
Closet on Main, helping families,” said Hudson.
“I knew this would make mothers feel
good about themselves. That is probably the
biggest reason I became involved.”
Hudson said founding Closet on Main is
Margo Miller hudson, seen in 1977, top right, in the newhall Fourth of July Parade. “i made my own costume
of gold satin,” she said.
her proudest accomplishment.
Currently Hudson is mentoring girls ages
13-19 seeking to pursue their dreams.
In 2012 Hudson and Cameron Smyth were
named the SCV Woman and Man of Honor at
a gala event held at the Hyatt Valencia Regency.
Hudson said she has lived “a very interesting
life.”
Hudson has two children, Lisa and Steven
deSeve and three grandchildren. She and
Georges divorced in 1978 and Hudson married
Jay Miller in 1980. That marriage ended
in 1984. She married C.R. “Bob” Hudson in
2008.
“Life is unplanned, sometimes things just
happen,” she said. “I love my life. It was not
easy. I took a lot of risks. But I was lucky to be
at the right time, at the right place with the
right people.” R

32 • THE Reader
March 2016
o u t & a b o u t i n t h e SCV
an early Spring has
Sprung in the SCV
The 2016 Sierra Pelona Wine
Festival will be held at Reyes
Winery in Aqua Dulce on Saturday,
April 23 and benefit the
SCV Senior Center.
Iam still waiting for El Niño. And waiting.
And waiting. While the temperate Southern
California climate can be lovely, 80 degrees
and higher, even into the 90s is not my
idea of February! Spring is my favorite season
and I am delighted to see some green in
the hills surrounding the Santa Clarita Valley.
It remains to be seen how long the green will
remain, but I’m enjoying it while it lasts. I was
expecting more wildflowers to be in bloom,
but perhaps we are still a few weeks away
from those delicate, white, yellow and purple
flowers dotting the hillsides. It is distressing
to think that the “monster” El Niño we were
promised might not materialize, but the silver
lining is that there is some beautiful
scenery to take in all around the SCV. Take a
hike, get out and enjoy the natural beauty before
summer rears its ugly head.
Kudos to Women in Service Nominees
Twenty-three outstanding community volunteers
have been nominated by local nonprofit
organizations to be honored at the
annual Women in Service Celebration sponsored
by Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley.
This year's event is scheduled for Saturday,
April 9, at Robinson Ranch Golf Clubhouse,
and tickets are now available for members of
the nominating organization or friends of the
nominees who would like to attend in support
of the honorees.
This year's nominees, and the organization
which nominated each of them, include: Jill
Bondy, Circle of Hope; Chris Bratzel, LARC
Ranch; Charlotte Briggs, Domestic Violence
Center of SCV; Jill Broline, Assistance League
of SCV; Mary Ann Colf, Samuel Dixon Family
Health Centers; Rebecca Corona-Nickerson,
American Association of University Women;
and Sharon Dawson, Help the Children.
Also, Rebecca DeLuca, JCI Santa Clarita;
Sue Endress, Rotary Club; Amanda Etcheverry,
Soroptomist International of SCV; Kim
Goldman, SCV Youth Project; Terry
Kanowsky, SCV Scholarship Foundation; Jessica
Lee, Sheriff's Youth Foundation; Mitzi
Like, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Foundation;
Delaney Marbach, Boys & Girls Club of
Santa Clarita Valley.
Also Patti Massman Neuwirth, Children
of the Night; Brenda Neilson, Michael Hoefflin
Foundation; Linda Pippin, SCV Senior
by Michele e. Buttelman
Features & entertainment editor
Christine Sexton,
daughter of the
late Carmen
Sarro, will present
the 2016 Carmen
Sarro Community
Service Award to
the Zonta Club of
SCV Women in
Service winner on
April 9.
Recent rains have given the SCV an “emerald” hue in
the surrounding open spaces.
Center; Michelle Roberts, Girl Scouts of
Greater L.A.; Deborah Rocha, Straightening
Reins; Diana Sevanian, American Cancer Society;
Phillis Stacy-Brooks, Mothers Fighting
for Others; and Doris Marie Zimmer,
College of the Canyons Foundation.
The April 9 event includes a plated lunch,
prize drawings, a marketplace featuring vendors
whose merchandise supports women's
causes, and presentation of all 23 nominees
and their nominating organizations. At the
end of the program, one of the honorees will
be named the 2016 Carmen Sarro Community
Service Award winner, representing outstanding
service to her organization, to the
community as a whole, and to Zonta's goal of
improving the lives of women and girls.
The award is named for the late Carmen
Sarro, a longtime Zonta member whose wide
range of community service epitomized the
well-rounded community volunteer. Sarro’s
daughter, Christine Sexton, will make the
presentation in honor of her late mother.
Tickets to the event are $45 per person if
postmarked and paid before March 25, and
$50 after. Payment can be made online at
www.scvzonta.org. Info: http://scvzonta.org/
calendar/public_events.php.
Wine Festival Benefits SCV Senior Center
I can’t help but think how much the SCV
Senior Center will miss the efforts of Duane
Harte. I know he would have supported the
Fourth Annual Sierra Pelona Wine Festival to
The beauty of a single yellow rose has been a favorite
Zonta symbol for decades. yellow rose corsages are
giving to the honorees at the annual Zonta Club of
SCV Women in Service nominees.
Ray and Janey
Tippet. Ray Tippet,
of Circle of hope,
inc., is among the
recent nonprofit
executive directors
who have announced
retirement
plans.
benefit the SCV Senior Center. I would have
expected Duane to be on hand directing traffic,
delivering ice to the vendors and helping
set up. He was always the SCV’s volunteer “go
to” guy. The Wine Festival, featuring more
than 80 wineries, food purveyors and more,
will be held Saturday, April 23 at Reyes Winery
in Aqua Dulce. It’s a first class event with
swag bags and as many tastings and food
samples as you want for one price. Get your
$100 VIP tickets before they’re gone (only
100 available). General admission tickets are
$75 before April 10. The event opens at 11
a.m. for VIP, noon for general admission. It
runs until 4 p.m. in the picturesque vineyard
of Reyes Winery. This year’s event will benefit
the SCV Senior Center. For more information
visit reyeswinery.com or call
661-268-1865.
Robert Reyes, of Reyes Winery, right, speaks about
the upcoming Sierra Pelona Valley Wine Festival to
be held on April 23.
Silver Spur Celebration Honors
Jill Mellady
The College of the Canyons Foundation's
Silver Spur Award for community service is
one of the Santa Clarita Valley's most prestigious
honors. This year’s honoree, Jill Mellady
has been a tireless advocate for College
of the Canyons. She will be honored March 19
at 6 p.m. at the Sheraton Universal Starview
Room, 333 Universal Hollywood Drive, Universal
City, 91608. For more information contact
661-362-3434 or cocfoundation.com
Executive Directors on the Move
I’ve been surprised at the number of nonprofit
executive directors on the move recently.
I knew last year that Tim Davis, of
Bridge to Home, was planning to retire in
2016. But I am surprised that February has
seen several other well-known nonprofits
lose executive directors as well including
Rachelle Dardeau from the SCV Senior Center,
Ray Tippet of Circle of Hope, Inc. and
DaAnne Smith of Single Mothers Outreach.
Nonprofits are among the heart and soul of
the SCV, (despite cranky grumblings from
some who think there are too many outstretched
hands). I make the case that the
SCV would not be the awesome place it is to
live without the numerous nonprofits in our
landscape. It is nice to live in a place where
people do care about others, and dig deep
into their pockets to help. It’s what makes the
SCV such a special place to live. With the
changing of the guard at so many SCV nonprofits
recently, the charity landscape will
soon have a very different look, hopefully as
vibrant as in years past.
The Titanic, 104 Years Later
The story of the Titanic still enthralls, even
104 years after it sank to the bottom of the
ocean and took so many lives with it. Meet Titanic
expert and local author Bill Blowers at
2 p.m. Thursday, March 10 at the SCV Senior
Center, 22900 Market St., Newhall, 91321.
Discover little known facts about many aspects
of the Titanic and her tragic demise.
Blowers will present fascinating expanded
information and explain the “story” behind
his novel, “Dangerous Betrayal – the Vendetta
That Sank Titanic.” On display will be a scale
model of the famed ship. Info: myscvcoa.org.
Welcome Home to the SCV
Congrats to all the new SCV moms and
dads (and grandparents, too!) After months
of following the pregnancy of Deanna Rivetti-Reid
on Facebook, it is hard to believe
that the big day finally arrived (Feb. 13) and
Giselle Josephine Reid (7 lbs., 13 oz. and
20.75 in. born at 4:22 a.m.) was welcomed
into the loving arms of her mom and dad,
Deanna Rivetti-Reid and Kevin Reid, as
well as grandparents Mardi and Dominick
Rivetti, of Canyon Country.
Also arriving, on Feb. 19, was Lucy, born to
Martha Aguilera (and let’s not forget Phil!)
of Kokolita Cakes & More. Have you checked
out Kokolita’s new location? It’s a little tricky
to find, 24623 Arch Street, Newhall, 91321,
but well worth the visit. (I was fortunate that
I was able to get my Kokolita’s empanada fix
at the Ventura Farmer’s Market on a recent
Sunday morning at College of the Canyons
parking lot 5).
At a Loss…
I’m at a loss for words. We’ve had so many
of our best taken from us in the past few
months including Duane Harte and Frank
Kleeman. Kathy Fortine, daughter of Bruce
and Gloria Fortine, and graduate of William
S. Hart High School, recently died at age 56.
Too much loss and all too soon. R
Michele E. Buttelman is the features and
entertainment editor of The Westside Reader.
She can be reached by email at Michele@
WestsideReader.com.

March 2016 THE Reader • 33
g a r D e n g at e S
Design: the most
important landscape tool
by Jane Gates
Staff Writer
Since it looks like the grand
promise of El Niño rain
seems to be offering an
ever-shorter season of hope in
our part of California, our
reservoirs, water table, gardens
and open lands are still not getting
the water they need. Without
a long winter season of
precipitation to reverse the impact
of years of drought, reducing
water usage will be more
important than ever in the
coming dry season. (If we do
have a lot of rain in the two remaining
winter months, much
is likely to wash off without the
time to sink deeply into the
ground.) So let’s be prepared
for anything and look at how to
design our gardens to look
beautiful and function better
than ever — regardless of what
happens with rainfall.
The best tool you have to
create a successful water-wise
garden is a design. Seriously. It
may seem like an unnecessary
waste of time or money, but,
the more effort expended on
planning and preparation, the
better final product you will get
— financially, practically and
aesthetically. Whether you
sketch it out on a napkin, have a full architectural
scale plan done or draw it out in some
fashion in-between, a plan will help you control
the whole process.
Winter months are the perfect time to put
together all the aspects of the water-wise
garden into a plan. Once you have considered
what elements, materials, special features
and some of your must-have plants, you can
start designing. You will want to design with
your individual tastes and lifestyle in mind as
well as respecting your budget and the style
and functionality of your house and lot.
The idea is to get the biggest bang for your
buck and the highest efficiency from your
outdoor property. This means thinking of
your garden with the same mind-set as you
do when renovating the interior of your
house. Place things where they function well
and look great. It isn’t really a hard thing to
do; look at your whole garden as a single entity
— the big picture.
Put yourself in control of your landscape
design. Make sure you have all the measurements
for where your house sits in the lot
and any permanent structures or trees you
intend to keep. You can sketch it out on grid
paper or use a simple landscape software. If
you need things simplified, it is better to do a
rough, not-to-scale drawing on a piece of
paper or on your computer than to do nothing
at all. You can also hire a professional to
help you or to provide anything from a hand
sketch to a detailed architectural plan. The direction
you take will depend on how you
want handle the creation of your landscape.
(How much control do you want over the finished
product? Do you plan to stay in your
house for a long period of time? How much
time do you want to invest? Do you want to
install it yourself? Do you want to put the design
out for bids? What kind of budget do you
realistically have to spend for both the design
and the finished landscape?)
A good design will offer easy access to all
parts of the garden for maintenance, careful
positioning of useful permanent structures
(hardscape), good drainage, efficient irrigation,
appropriate plant choices, a smooth visual
flow and a major focal point for a
primary point of interest.
1. Start with a layout of the basics of your
property including property lines and all permanent
features from house to trees to cement
and anything else that you will be
working around.
2. Add essential areas like patios, walkways,
garden beds, fencing, trees, orchards or
vegetable areas, swimming pools, outdoor
rooms/bars/kitchens, sports/play/child/pet
areas, etc.
3. Lay out utility lines, drainage and irrigation
— make sure you are thorough since
adding these subterranean lines after the
landscape is installed will be intrusive and
expensive.
See Garden Gates, page 34

34 • THE Reader
w h at a Pa i r!
everyone’s a ‘little bit irish’
on St. Patrick’s Day
Enjoy this baked corned beef
and cabbage hash recipe
by Beth P. heiserman
Contributing Writer
March 2016
Have you ever had an Irish wine?
Many people are familiar with Irish
whisky, beer and even Irish
liqueurs. Who doesn’t love Irish crème
liqueur and coffee? However, the Irish do
make wine, too!
They grow varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon,
Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer,
and many others. They also
produce apple and pear hard cider and
even mead (honey wine).
The European Commission has now officially
listed Ireland as a wine producing
country. We know from history that in the
5th century, the monks planted a vineyard
at the Cistercian monastery in County
Kilkenny.
In 1300 an Irish Dominican friar, Father
Geoffrey, who spoke many languages,
wrote about viniculture and fermentation.
As time passed, fewer monks were
needed for the production of wine because
many wine-educated Irish started to commercialize
the industry. Today we have
many winemakers in America and other
parts of the world which had ancestors
who made wine in Ireland.
Did you know that the traditional St.
Patrick’s Day dinner of corned beef
and cabbage started
in the early 1900’s in
New York?
This dish was
originally made
with bacon and
cream. Many Irish in
the United States realized
that corned beef was a less expensive
choice than using the traditional bacon. In
Ireland, pork was very economical, but in
America it was pricey.
Americans ate beef which was very affordable.
The Irish middleclass frequented
many Jewish delis and markets where they
would enjoy eating corned beef.
Corned beef and cabbage became so
popular it was served at President Lincoln’s
inauguration dinner in 1862.
My grandmother always made casseroles
for dinner in her CorningWare or Pyrex
dishes, which I still have. Casseroles are
comfort food and remind us of good memories.
She would tell me stories of my
grandfather’s stepfather George, whom
was Irish.
Every year my grandmother would make
corned beef and she would wear a silver
leprechaun pendant for St. Patrick’s Day.
Even though we weren’t Catholic, she
would celebrate this holiday for George’s
memory because he was Irish.
And isn’t everyone a “little bit Irish” on
St. Patrick’s Day?
Baked Corned Beef and Cabbage Hash
Recipe by Beth P. Heiserman
Ingredients
1 cabbage, chopped
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup Reyes 2013 Sauvignon Blanc
1 lb corned beef
3 cloves garlic, chopped
8oz. carrots, sliced
8oz. parsnips, sliced
1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 cup nonfat milk (you can use any type
of milk or cream)
1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 lb Yukon potatoes, cut into chunks
6 oz. Dubliner cheese, shredded
1/4 tsp. Kosher salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
Directions
1. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over
medium heat. Add the onion, salt and pepper
and Reyes 2013 Sauvignon Blanc and
cook, covered, stirring occasionally,
until tender, 8 to 10
minutes.
3. Add the corned beef and
garlic and cook,
sear on both sides,
for about 4 minutes.
4. Remove from heat and fold in
the cabbage, carrots, potatoes,
parsnips and parsley.
5. In a bowl, whisk together the milk and
mustard.
6. Pour the cream mixture into pan.
7. Cover the Dutch oven with lid or foil,
and bake for 45 minutes.
8. Uncover, sprinkle with the cheese, and
bake until the potatoes are tender and the
top is golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes
more. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
R
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, as well as working in restaurants and
in the sale of “spirits.”
Garden Gates
continued from page 33
4. Add plant choices and construction material
preferences.
5. Fill in the details from final finishes to
furniture and décor.
There are two really big reasons to do a
plan. The first is so you can avoid making expensive
mistakes. The second is to keep control
over the whole process. Whether you
intend to do the work yourself, bring in some
consulting or help or hire someone to do
everything for you, you want to end up with
your garden, not someone else’s. You will
want a landscape you’ll love living in for
The Cougars’ hannah Green (West Ranch high) began at Sonoma State before transferring to College of the
Canyons. She led the state in blocked shots this year and was third in rebounds. in one game, she had 15 blocked
shots.
Basketball
continued from page 20
ago at the William S. Hart Union High School
District after 37 years. He spent the last seven
years of his teaching career at the Academy
of the Canyons and has also taught and
coached basketball at Hart High.
COC freshman Marina Rojas has been a
strong asset for Herrick as she runs the floor
from the point guard position and led the
team with 15 points and two steals in its final
home game of the year.
In 2014, Herrick won his 500th game as
head coach. He currently has an overall
record of 514-223.
-----
The Valencia High girls’ basketball team
beat West High of Torrance by 30 points in
the first game of the season. So you would
think it wouldn’t take much effort to at least
record a win against the same team in the
CIF-SS 1AA quarterfinals. But West High rallied
for a 43-41 comeback win in the playoffs
to upset the No. 2-seeded Vikings and end its
season, much to Valencia head coach Jerry
Mike’s dismay.
The Vikings were outscored 17-9 in the
fourth quarter and ended the year with a 23-
7 record.
The Vikings won the Foothill League with
a perfect 10-0 record and were led by the
play of Kenadee Honaker, and Kayla Konrad,
who finished the night against West with 13
points. They received clutch long-distance
shooting from Sabrina Thompson all season
long.
many years.
A plan breaks everything down into understandable
pieces and can keep you from
feeling overwhelmed. You can even do your
installation a little at a time in accordance
with your time and budget and still be confident
all the pieces will fit together in the end.
Drawn or printed designs offer you control of
your over-all budget by allowing you to plan
ahead and prioritize.
Start with basic design principles, make
sure everything works practically, consult experts
to avoid making major mistakes and
have that physical landscape plan in hand before
breaking soil. This will be your most important
tool in creating a landscape you can
love for years — with or without a lot of rain.
The Vikings won their second-round game,
63-28, over Downey High after receiving a
first-round bye.
----
The Hart girls’ basketball team made it to
the second round of the CIF-SS Division 2A
playoffs before a road loss ended their season
against Dos Pueblos of Goleta, 68-65.
Coached by Terra Palmer, the Indians ended
the year at 15-13. Nicole Benz led the team
with 25 points and seven rebounds in the
final game.
----
Trinity Classical Academy fell in the quarterfinals
of the CIF-SS Division 5A girls’ basketball
quarterfinals, 48-41.
Trinity junior point guard and co-captain
Taylor Oshiro led her team with a game-high
31 points in the loss. Trinity head coach Jessica
Bethke’s Knights ended the year 16-6
and advanced to the division quarterfinals for
the first time.
The only other player to score for Trinity
besides Oshiro was JaNasjia Bethke, who had
10 points.
----
Santa Clarita Christian girls’ basketball
team did much of the same as Hart, falling in
the second round of the 5A playoffs in a 49-
28 loss to Avalon of Catalina Island. Payton
Schwesinger led SCCS (13-8) with 20 points.
R
Steve Pratt reports news and notes and from
in and around Santa Clarita Valley press boxes,
locker rooms and coach’s offices.
Don’t balk at spending a little money and/or
time here. It will be worth whatever you invest
and could end up saving you thousands
of dollars. R
You can find Jane locally at Gates & Croft
Horticultural Design where she offers garden
consultations and quick-sketch or formal landscape
plans (www.gatesandcroft.com). A professional
artist and writer, she is the author of
“All the Garden’s a Stage” and “Design a Theme
Garden”. She is a licensed landscape contractor
and a member of the Association of Professional
Landscape Designers, Garden Writers
Association and Great Garden Speakers. Jane
is a resident and avid gardener here in Santa
Clarita.