After largely spending much of last year sheltering in place, children lost precious quality time in the classroom and with their extended family members. However, there’s still a number of
By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer If broken and worn-down crayons are showing up in drawers, backpacks, art-supply tubs and even the car, don’t throw them out! Instead, collect them
By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer Except for stray pine needles hiding between sofa cushions and underneath area rugs, our holiday decor with all its warm scents, glitter and glow
By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer Just when it seems your young child has drifted off to sleep for the night, a plaintive voice echoes through the hallway. “Mom! I
The coronavirus crisis intensified the challenges many faced before the pandemic, but the challenges also spurred several initiatives that helped bring the community together. Perhaps most encouraging, many of those
By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer Put “Snowflakes Sunny-Side Up” on your breakfast menu and the nutritious surprise will brighten even the darkest of wintry mornings. Made with colorful slices
By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer Turn holiday photo cards into a matching game for toddlers and preschoolers. They’ll enjoy playtime trying to pair up the faces and settings in
By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer Building a strong family is like building a house: We do it brick by brick, one day at a time. Here are some “bricks”
Sharlena Sarmast’s true affinity for horses began to show through when she was a little girl. “It’s the funniest thing: I’d take her to those pony rides at the pumpkin
By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer As traditional recipes poured out of family cookbooks over the holidays, I went on a quest for the “best” Swedish pancake recipe from my
By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer Here’s a rich-tasting, family-friendly recipe of hearty butternut squash soup that you simply won’t want to pass up. No need to precook the fresh
By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer Whether we’re children or adults, we all like to feel useful and part of the holiday festivities. Now’s the time to enlist the kids
Like most things this year, winter break is sure to look a bit different as COVID-19 remains at the forefront of everyone’s minds, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get
By Michele Lutes Signal Staff Writer Candles will begin to be lit on Thursday evening around the world to celebrate the eight nights of Hanukkah from Dec. 10-17, continuing a
By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer “When the calendar turns to December, we’re a blended family as far as holiday traditions go,” said professional caterer and mom, Carole Blumenberg Garrigos.
As the weather in the Santa Clarita Valley begins to cool, it’s finally time to get into the holiday spirit. It’s become a tradition for many to start decorating for
By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer Hosting the Thanksgiving feast usually means a variety of leftovers tucked away in the refrigerator for building piled-high sandwiches. If you’re ambitious, you might
Saugus resident Wyatt Leiby, 19, and his family have known since the day he was born that one day, he’d need a kidney transplant. “Once they (delivered) me, the cord
By Donna Erickson Signal Contributing Writer It was autumn a few years ago when Lisa and Gareth Hedges and their two children moved to America from New Zealand. Sure, they
With the coronavirus pandemic still at the forefront of everyone’s minds, it’s guaranteed that Thanksgiving will look a bit different this year. This year, as public health officials urge people