Campfire program, 8-9 p.m. Saturday at Placerita Canyon Nature Center, 19152 Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall. Call (661) 259-7721. To submit an event for the Things To Do calendar, contact Sharon Cotal two weeks prior to the event at (661) 257-5256, fax her at (661) 257-5262, e-mail her at sharon.cotal@dailynews.com or write to her at 24800 Avenue Rockefeller, Valencia, CA, 91355.160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREThe joys and headaches of holiday travel: John PhillipsTesoro Adobe Historic Park is open to the public, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Saturday with guided tours of the Harry Carey/Farmer John Ranch House, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Call (661) 702-8953. Family Nature Walk, 11 a.m.-noon, and an animal presentation, 1-2 p.m. every Saturday at Placerita Canyon Park and Nature Center, 19152 Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall. Call (661) 259-7721. Classic Wine Benefit for the Senior Center Home-Delivered Meals and other programs that serve the homebound, 11 a.m. Saturday at Le Chene French Cuisine, 12625 Sierra Highway, Canyon Country. Tickets: $60. Call (661) 259-9444. Night hike, 7-9 p.m. Saturday at Towsley Canyon, 24255 The Old Road, Newhall. Call (661) 255-3606. Comedy Concert to benefit families and soldiers, 7-10 p.m. Saturday at VFW Post 6885, 16208 W. Sierra Highway, Canyon Country. Call (661) 252-6885. Golf Ball Drop to benefit the Santa Clarita Valley Special Olympics, 4 p.m. today at the conclusion of the annual charity golf tournament at The Players Club, Valencia. Tickets: $5. Call (661) 253-2121. International Family Film Festival will feature films, seminars and award shows, Friday through Sept. 30 at Regal Entertainment Group Theatres, 24435 Town Center Drive, Valencia. Call Patte Dee McKee at (661) 257-3131 or visit www.iffilmfest.org. “Proof” will be presented, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 28 at the Repertory East Playhouse, 24266 San Fernando Road, Newhall. Tickets: $16 for adults and $14 for students and seniors. Call (661) 288-0000. Native American Heritage Pow-wow will feature storytelling through dance performed by 50 different Native American Nations in their respective costumes, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday at William S. Hart Park, 24251 San Fernando Road, Newhall. Admission is free. Call Maryline Schultz at (661) 255-9295. 
read more
– Barry Levy Redondo Beach Deluxe travel Re “Ramsey suspect in L.A.” (Aug. 21): What do we taxpayers have to do to get the treatment John Mark Karr, JonBenet’s alleged killer, got on the plane back to the States? Carr got business-class seating, and was drinking champagne and watching a movie – at the taxpayers’ expense. – Lois Rochetti West Hills Smart move, GOP Re “GOP moves to back Lieberman” (Aug. 20): I don’t blame Republican officials for backing someone other than the Republican in the Connecticut senatorial race. Given the Republican record of corruption, incompetence, wasteful spending and selling out the American people to international corporations, they should back someone other than the Republican in every race. I know I will. – Joan Easley Woodland Hills 9-11 Republicans Re: “Liberal `base’ emboldens Republicans” (Viewpoint, Aug. 20): The foiled plot to bomb U.S.-bound jetliners is proof of our failed War on Terror. Following 9-11, the clear front on the War on Terror was al-Qaida and its state sponsors, the Taliban government of Afghanistan. Both were quickly routed, but not destroyed. It is this failure that led to the London bombing plot. Al-Qaida is reborn and the Taliban continue the fight in Afghanistan. “9-11 Republicans” need to look no further than the war in Iraq for the failure to destroy both the Taliban and al-Qaida. The threat from al-Qaida is in the mountains of Afghanistan and Pakistan, not Iraq. – Gavin Feehan Granada Hills Trashy stories Re “Trash fee for cops? Not!” (Aug. 19): I’m mad as you-know-what and I don’t want to take it anymore! The mayor tells us that the trash tax is needed to get us more police officers. The City Council tells us that it has a better use for some of those dollars. Then the mayor tells us that it’s OK; he’ll find the money somewhere else in the city’s coffers. If there was money somewhere else in the city’s coffers, why did the trash tax have to be as high as it is? I think that we need more police, and I think that we should do a better job with anti-gang programs. But what happened to telling the taxpayers exactly what our money is being taken for before it is being taken? – Eleanor Brooks Sylmar Distracted councilman Re “Money flows to council coffers” (Aug. 20): Now that we know that Los Angeles City Councilman Tony Cardenas spends so much time on fund raising, we can understand why the quality-of-life issues continue on a downward spiral in the 6th City Council District. Councilman Cardenas, stop the fund raising and please concentrate on the real issues of your district. – Candido Marez Northridge160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! Re “Condo crazed” (Our Opinions, Aug. 16): First, property owners are taxed to death, while rent-control laws hamper their ability to adequately improve and maintain their properties. And now the city wants to strip them of their rights as property owners to convert their units to condos. Is this “free enterprise”? The city owns plenty of property that can be used to provide affordable housing. This burden should not be put on the private sector. Not all property owners are wealthy tyrants as the public is being led to believe. The vast majority of structures being demolished are old, dilapidated and at times unhealthy. Replacing blight is called “progress.” – Eileen Johnson AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREWhy these photogenic dumplings are popping up in Los AngelesWoodland Hills Rush to judgment? For the last week, the supposed killer of JonBenet Ramsey has been the major news story. But I am interested in how the media squares this man’s story about picking her up after school with the fact that she was not in school that day. How come the toxicology reports don’t match what he said occurred? And how does one accidentally kill a person with a fracture to the skull and strangulation? Just wondering if this “news” story will be similar to the Richard Jewell story – convicted by the papers of planting the bomb at the Atlanta Olympics – only to be exonerated and paid a great deal of money by the same media for their headlong rush to judgment. 
AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREWhy these photogenic dumplings are popping up in Los AngelesThe government stamped 14.2 million pages “top secret,” “secret” or “confidential” at a cost of $7.7 billion, compared with a record 15.6 million in 2004. “Every administration wants to control information about its policies and practices, but the current administration has restricted access to information about our government and its policies at unprecedented levels,” said Patrice McDermott, director of OpenTheGovernment.org. WASHINGTON – Federal officials unsealed more classified documents in 2005 but shrouded data elsewhere by claiming more legal privileges in court, a coalition of watchdog groups reported Saturday. The study by OpenTheGovernment.org shows modest improvement from record 2004 levels in which Americans were kept in the dark about information they should be able to access. Overall government secrecy remained high, it said. Federal agencies spent $134 creating and storing new secrets for each $1 spent to declassify old secrets. That’s down from the record $148 in 2004, but up from the $17-to-$1 ratio spent in 2000. Overall, the number of pages declassified in 2005 was 29.5 million, up 1.1 million from the previous year, to post the first increase in five years. Still, the figure was significantly lower than the 75 million unsealed in 2000, the year before the Sept. 11 terror attacks. 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set!
Eddie Vallavares of Palmdale was the winner of the $34,000 Chrysler.160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! LANCASTER – Century 21 Yarrow and Associates has raised $26,000 so far this year for Easter Seals with another event still on the horizon. Joy Murphy, chairwoman of Easter Seals fundraising for the office, Will and Kim Guerrero, and Chuck Linn led the yearlong effort that included a Junior Home Run Derby, a car raffle, and auction. A charity golf tournament is planned for Oct. 2. The international Century 21 Real Estate organization has been the national sponsor of Easter Seals for decades. AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREWhy these photogenic dumplings are popping up in Los AngelesCentury 21 Yarrow and Associates, owned by Al and Midori Yarrow, is the biggest single contributor to Easter Seals out of 150 Century 21 offices in the region. The Junior Home Run Derby, which was also sponsored by First American Title, followed an Aug. 5 game at Clear Channel Stadium between the Lancaster JetHawks and the Lake Elsinore Storm. At the game Yarrow and Associates agents sold raffle tickets for a Chrysler 300C sedan, as well as chances for other prizes including gift certificates to local restaurants and retail shops, a Lancaster JetHawks photo autographed by manager and former Dodger Brett Butler, signed baseballs, Steve Garvey bobble-head dolls, and picnic baskets. In addition, Easter Seals got half the proceeds from admission tickets purchased through the Yarrow and Associates office. Banks, mortgage companies and title insurance firms were other sponsors of the event. 
But the most compelling consideration was giving area players a chance to get exposure they otherwise wouldn’t. “We don’t always get a lot of attention here, so anything we can do to get our kids some exposure helps,” Lenaway said. “A lot of people don’t even know we’re up here.” Litchfield, a fourth-year player who’s never lost a league match, is ranked No. 65 in Southern California in the USTA’s 18-and-under division. Quartz Hill (5-1, 1-0) is also led by singles standouts Carolyn Smith and Renuka Rudra. Lenaway said Rudra will likely compete in doubles. Other top local players include Highland doubles partners Alex Ruiz and Rachel Kubel and Lancaster doubles partners Linda Reickgenannt and Jesica Abraguin. Development minded: Lenaway said sophomore doubles standout Navolito Ikahihifo will likely play singles in the freshman/sophomore division. Ikahihifo and Rudra are defending league doubles champions. “One of the things we’re trying to do is grow kids for the future who eventually might be really good singles players,” Lenaway said. Also: Highland placed second at Saturday’s Hesperia tournament. Ruiz placed second in singles, and Stephanie Lemus and Kubel place third in doubles. Quartz Hill opened the defense of its 18th consecutive league championship with a 13-5 victory over Lancaster on Tuesday. Litchfield won all three of her matches, improving her all-time league record to 102-0. Lancaster’s Reickgenannt/Abraguin team won all three doubles matches. gideon.rubin@dailynews.com (661) 267-7802160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREThe joys and headaches of holiday travel: John PhillipsThe 11-team team individual tournament features six Golden League programs (Quartz Hill, Lancaster, Highland, Palmdale, Antelope Valley and Knight) and five out-of-area teams (Hart of Newhall, Alemany of Mission Hills, Moorpark, Burroughs of Ridgecrest and Serrano). The tournament will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday and conclude about 4 p.m. at Quartz Hill High, 6040 W. Ave. L. Each team fields two singles players and two doubles teams on the varsity level, and two players in the singles-only freshman/sophomore division. Quartz Hill is the defending champion, and its senior standout Ashley Litchfield is the reigning singles champion. Lenaway said raising funds for his program, giving area players an opportunity to complete against top-level competition and building relationships with programs from outside the area factored into his decision to keep a local tournament going. QUARTZ HILL – It’s easy to completely ignore the Antelope Valley tennis scene. With Southern California’s coastal regions and the San Fernando Valley featuring some of the nation’s top high school programs, it’s no wonder many Southland teams have little interest in heading north on the Antelope Valley Freeway to play what’s perceived to be lesser talent. Quartz Hill High coach Bill Lenaway believes they might not know what they’re missing, and that consideration figured prominently in his decision to take over boys’ and girls’ tournaments Palmdale had hosted for more than 20 years. On Saturday, Quartz Hill plays host to the one-day girls’ tournament for a second consecutive year. 
AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREThe joys and headaches of holiday travel: John Phillips“I said you mean my kids have been working for five months on this quilt and there’s nowhere to put it?” said Hill, who later decided to enter it in the state fair. “I had figured they could easily win the \ county Fair, but suddenly I had to try not to get my hopes or the kids’ hopes up.” Hill said the quilt was on display for three weeks during the August fair in Sacramento but that results were not sent out until recently. Principal Richard Brown said the project utilized skills learned in school and is a favorite of the children’s school year. The quilt was also submitted with a notebook that documented their work, Brown said. “The project was part of their arts and crafts projects, but it was also tied into math and history,” Brown said. “They had to calculate how much material they needed and do the research. They each had their own square to work on. Then they sewed it together.” The children were presented their awards Wednesday. Each received a ribbon as a teamwork recognition award. pam.wight@sgvn.com (562) 698-0955, Ext. 3029160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! SANTA FE SPRINGS – Shocking even their teacher, a class of fourth-graders won first prize in the quilt-making category at the California State Fair in Sacramento this year. The 21-piece handmade quilt depicts the history of all of the missions in Southern California, using cut-out cloth and hand-drawn pictures. Tammy Hill, the class’s teacher, said out of the seven years she’s been doing quilt projects, this year was the first state-level competition her students had entered. Hill had planned on entering the quilt in the Los Angeles County Fair last year, as she did each year, but in March officials told her they did not have room for children’s work. 
NEWHALL – A brush fire erupted Friday in the Newhall Pass, but 200 firefighters and nine helicopters were en route before it could rage out of control. Under a red flag warning signifying a high fire danger, fire officials jumped on the blaze, holding it to 40 acres, said German Aguilar, spokesman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. “We fight all our brush fires aggressively, especially in conditions like these,” Aguilar said. “We don’t want to be out there for two weeks.” The fear was that conditions were prime for a major fire – hot, dry air and rugged terrain that’s tough to access, he said. 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREThe joys and headaches of holiday travel: John PhillipsThere were no injuries or damage, but the fire did prompt the closure of The Old Road, an alternate route to Interstate 5. Spectators also caused a miles-long traffic jam on the freeway. Flames broke out shortly before 1 p.m. in Weldon Canyon, near the junction of I-5 and the Antelope Valley Freeway. The fire moved uphill east of I-5, and was still burning four hours later, although firefighters were gaining control. Aguilar said a cause had yet to be determined.
1 Chelsea have signed Tiemoue Bakayoko from Monaco on a five-year deal, the Premier League champions have announced.The once-capped France international, 22, is reported to have cost the Blues around £40m following his superb season in Ligue 1.Bakayoko helped ASM win their domestic title and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League; he played 51 games in all competitions, scoring three goals.An all-round central midfielder, Bakayoko is expected to partner N’Golo Kante at the heart of Antonio Conte’s 3-4-3 system, with Nemanja Matic set to depart Stamford Bridge this summer as his game time will now be limited.So, how do Chelsea fans feel about the signing of Bakayoko? talkSPORT have collected some of the best social media reaction, which you can see below… Tiemoue Bakayoko has officially signed for Chelsea 
1 Tottenham are closing in on their first signing of the summer after agreeing a deal with Ajax for defender Davinson Sanchez.According to The Independent, the north London club reached a breakthrough in negotiations for the Colombian international on Thursday afternoon.Spurs are set to pay the Eredivisie outfit £28million for Sanchez as well as a potential £14million in add-ons.LISTEN: ‘Raw and quick’ Davinson Sanchez would be a hit in the Premier LeagueReports on Wednesday suggested Spurs were struggling to agree a fee with Ajax, with Sanchez later being named in the Dutch side’s Europa League squad to face Rosenborg.But with a breakthrough in negotations, Sanchez has since been removed from the 18-man squad as he prepares to complete his switch to north London.The 21-year-old had been a target for Barcelona and Real Madrid, but he looks set to play alongside former Ajax defenders Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld. The north London club have agreed an initial fee of £28million 
1 Transfer rumours and paper review – Sunday, August 27 Here are the top transfer-related stories in Sunday’s newspapers…Arsenal are prepared to meet a £75m buyout clause to sign Real Madrid’s Spain midfielder Marco Asensio, 21, before Thursday’s transfer deadline. (Sunday Express)Everton will move for £40m-rated Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, 30, who is also wanted by Chelsea. (Sunday Mirror)West Ham’s proposed club record move for £38m-rated Sporting Lisbonand Portugal midfielder William Carvalho, 25, has been placed in jeopardy by their poor form. (Sunday Times)Arsenal are set to lose defender Kieran Gibbs, 27, midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 24, forward Lucas Perez, 28, and defender Shkodran Mustafi, 25, before the transfer window closes. (Sunday Telegraph) Liverpool are pushing to sign Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has also been linked with Chelsea. (Sunday Mirror)Liverpool have set a Monday deadline for Barcelona to agree a fee for 25-year-old midfielder Philippe Coutinho. (Onda Cero)Manchester City are close to completing a £30m move for West Bromwich Albion and Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans, 29. City’s French defender Eliaquim Mangala, 26, will join the Baggies on loan for the rest of the season as part of the deal. (Sun on Sunday)Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez, 28, reportedly wants Arsenal to make him the Premier League’s highest earner if he is to sign a new deal. (Daily Star Sunday)Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has not given up hope of signing Monacowinger Thomas Lemar, 21, and Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk, 26, although it might be next season before they finally complete a move. (Sun on Sunday)Paris Saint-Germain are continuing negotiations to sign teenage forward Kylian Mbappe for £166m before the transfer window closes on Thursday, but Monaco would prefer to sell the 18-year-old to Real Madrid. (Sunday Telegraph)If Mbappe does leave Monaco, the French club see Leicester City’s Algerian striker Islam Slimani as a potential replacement, with Newcastle and Watford also weighing up a move for the 29-year-old. (Sky Sports News)Bayern Munich midfielder Renato Sanches, 20, asked to be left out of the squad to face Werder Bremen in order to resolve his future, with both Chelsea and Liverpool linked with a move for the Portuguese. (Metro)Juventus want to sign Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes, 24. (Marca)Valencia owner Peter Lim has landed in Manchester to begin talks over signing 21-year-old midfielder Andreas Pereira from Manchester United. (Sunday Express)Everton want £8m for Oumar Niasse, with Brighton a possible destination for the 27-year-old Senegal striker. (Mail on Sunday)Ex-England goalkeeper Rob Green, 37, is having a medical at Huddersfieldbefore joining them from Leeds. (Sky Sports)Brighton and Hove Albion have offered £12m for Cardiff City’s 23-year-old Danish striker Kenneth Zohore. (Mail on Sunday)And here are the latest talkSPORT.com headlines…?Juventus are confident of beating Liverpool to the loan signing of World Cup winner Benedikt HowedesItalian giants Inter Milan have re-entered the race to sign Tottenham and Juventus target Keita Balde, according to reportsHead coach Tony Pulis wants Jonny Evans’ future resolved as he looks to press on with West Brom’s recruitment driveEverton boss Ronald Koeman remains keen on adding a striker to his squad and would welcome a loan arrangement for Chelsea outcast Diego CostaBarcelona are close to wrapping up a £46million move for former Manchester United and Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria