Michael Picarella: My 5-year-old and skunks

My son: Hey Daddy, why do skunks stink? Pause. I try to decide if I should just say, "because," and end what could be a really long, pointless conversation ... or if I should answer the question and educate my son. Me: Well, you see, skunks don't stink. They spray a liquid that stinks. My son: Why do they do that? Me: They do that to anyone who looks dangerous. My son: But I'm not ...

Faith calendar

Classes on church history Who: Oak Hill Bible Church What: 2009 Institute Classes for new Christians, or Christians who wish to fully understand Church history and their place in it. "It's a great opportunity to affirm what you believe, and why you believe it," said Mark Giganti, executive director of the church. When: From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. beginning Thursday Where: 28613 Oak Hill Court in Castaic Contact: The church's Web site is <a ...

A heritage of tradition

After 24 years of service, Pastor Pete Mothershead resigned as senior pastor. Basolo recently moved from Idaho, where he served as a youth pastor, to Saugus. His position as senior pastor at Santa Clarita Baptist will be his first full-time pastorate. "I'm ecstatic about the opportunities that lie here in the Santa Clarita Valley and particularly at Santa Clarita Baptist Church," Basolo said. "It's an excellent church that has great, rich heritage of focusing on ...

The-Signal.com's Daybreak: Jan. 17, 2009

Hello, Santa Clarita Valley! Welcome to The-Signal.com's Daybreak, your point of entry for the day, and a quick journey through the past, present and future. Let the adventure begin: First Word

Robert Lamoureux: Don’t take shortcuts with contractor’s insurance

Hello Robert, I represent an HOA and we have received a few bids from different contractors. The prices are night and day. One contractor is more along the lines of what we want to spend but does not have HOA insurance. Our question would be, is this something we should be concerned with? Thank you. Mary B. Hello Mary, Yes. This should be one of your primary concerns. When it comes to HOA properties, never ...

Canyon Country Advisory Committee meeting Jan. 21

The first Canyon Country Advisory Committee meeting of 2009 will be held Wednesday, Jan. 21 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the George A. Caravalho Activity Center Banquet Room, 20880 Centre Pointe Parkway,

McGrath Project rocks Roast House tonight

The McGrath Project will perform tonight at the Roast House from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The line up will include Gary McGrath (vocal, guitars) Tim Bogert (bass guitars), Dean Minnerly (piano and keys) and Mike Dupke (drums and percussion).

McKeon Statement on Passage of SCHIP

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following Wednesday's House passage of H.R. 2, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009, Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-Santa Clarita) made the following statement: "While thousands of our poorest children in America remain without health coverage, Democrats passed legislation that circumvents the issue and expands the State Children's Health Insurance Program to include higher-income children and a growing number of adults. "I have supported the SCHIP program since its ...

City invites residents to participate in commuter parking meeting Saturday

Santa Clarita's Transit Division is inviting residents to a public participation meeting on commuter parking on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 11 a.m. at City Hall.

Newhall Redevelopment Committee Seeking New Members

The City of Santa Clarita is encouraging community members 18 years of age or older to apply for one of seven available positions on the Newhall Redevelopment Committee.

'Horizon Line' compassion play shows adolescents importance of cultural learning

The City of Santa Clarita is presenting the final live performance for A Season of Diversity, bringing the 2008-2009 program near to its close.

Antonovich calls for nursing home grading system

LOS ANGELES COUNTY - To ensure the health and well-being of the county's senior population, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion by Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich to encourage the Governor and State Health officials to require nursing homes to display publically their five-star rating issued by the Federal Government's Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

City invites community volunteers to participate in 2009 AT&T Champions Golf Classic

The City of Santa Clarita is looking for volunteers to participate in the 2009 AT&T Champions Golf Classic at the Valencia Country Club from March 9-15.

City to host 2009 Job Fair

The City of Santa Clarita is hosting a job fair for summer, part-time and seasonal employees Saturday, Jan. 17 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Santa Clarita Aquatics Center.

Fire danger flares up again

Tie your mother, brother and all others down -- Santa Ana winds blow through the Santa Clarita Valley again today and into the early evening.

AP CEO calls records seizure unconstitutional

WASHINGTON (AP) - The president and chief executive officer of The Associated Press on Sunday called the government's secret seizure of two months of reporters' phone records "unconstitutional" and said the news cooperative had not ruled out legal action against the Justice Department.

Angels' Vargas goes 7 scoreless against Chisox

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Jason Vargas kept throwing strikes and catcher Chris Iannetta kept taking his walks - a winning formula for the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday.

Braves rally with 4-run 8th to sweep Dodgers

ATLANTA (AP) - Ramiro Pena got a fierce wakeup call with the bases loaded and the scored tied in the eighth inning.

College of the Canyons football adapting to slew of changes

COC Insider: Cougars close season with two state titles

Tornadoes hit Kansas and Oklahoma; no injuries reported

EDMOND, Okla. (AP) - A powerful storm system rumbled through the Plains and upper Midwest on Sunday, spawning tornadoes that damaged homes and buildings near Oklahoma City and put the Tulsa area on high-alert.

Tejay van Garderen wins Tour of California

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) - Always close to the front but never first at the end, Tejay van Garderen would often wear himself out wondering if he could swap the white jersey that goes to the best young rider for the yellow one that goes to the winner.

Officer shot in Marathon showdown wants to work

BOSTON (AP) - With a bullet still in his body, the police officer who survived a showdown with the Boston Marathon bombing suspects said Sunday he's determined to return to duty.

UPDATE: Shooting victim identified

Officials with the County Coroner's office have identified the Canyon Country man shot and killed Thursday as 53-year-old Juan Mejia.

OJ Simpson lawyers say he is closer to freedom

LAS VEGAS (AP) - The latest high-stakes court hearing for O.J. Simpson in the glitzy capital of big gambles has come to a close with the former football star's defense team feeling confident that their client is closer to getting out of prison.

Tip leads to the arrest of a Canyon County man sought in shooting

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station deputies arrested a man who allegedly shot his father in the head late Thursday night in Canyon Country thanks to a tip supplied by a citizen, a sheriff's spokesman said.

'Trek' does $70.6M but falls short of studio hopes

LOS ANGELES (AP) - "Star Trek: Into Darkness" has warped its way to a $70.6 million domestic launch from Friday to Sunday, though it's not setting any light-speed records with a debut that's lower than the studio's expectations.

Tea party looks to take advantage of moment

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Is the tea party getting its groove back? Shouts of vindication from around the country suggest the movement's leaders certainly think so.

2 Calif. Powerball tickets have five of six numbers

SAN JOSE (AP) - California Lottery officials say two Powerball tickets sold in California have five of the six winning numbers. Officials say those tickets win $1 million each.

Fate of LA pot shops left to voters

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Los Angeles politicians have struggled for more than five years to regulate medical marijuana, trying to balance the needs of the sick against neighborhood concerns that pot shops attract crime.