The Signal from Santa Clarita, California • 5

Thursday, August 2, 2001 THE SIGNAL A5 Santa Clarita Valley IMAX a la 3 I I 111 OMTi I oMat ION ALENCIA i property," theater spokeswoman Ann Julsen said in April. Edwards once operated 90 theaters with 725 screens in three states, but has trimmed back by about one third since it declared bankruptcy. The company was founded in Newport Beach in 1930 and opened the first-ever multi-screen movie house in 1939. Edwards opened its first IMAX theater in 1996, but the format popular in museums and observatories never really caught on in a commercial setting, industry experts said. Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations Co.

which tracks box-office performance, said the trouble was that the public was being forced to choose between two things that cannot fairly compete entertainment from films and education from IMAX offerings. But "teachers were getting in the habit of taking their classes," lamented filmmaker Greg MacGillivray, whose 1998 IMAX film "Everest" took in $110 million worldwide. "With the closures, they'll have to go to Los Angeles or San Diego. It's pretty profound." "Three things come into play," said IMAX Chief Executive Richard Gelfond. "Location, film programs and marketing." Signal staff writer Patti Shea and news services contributed to this story.

Continued from page A1 Edwards operates three locations in Santa Clarita: the 11-. screen Grand Palace on Town Center Drive with the IMAX; a 10-plex in the Valencia Town Center mall that was converted to stadium seating; and another, newer 10-plex that is the chief tenant in the Soledad Entertainment Center in Canyon Country. Edwards leases the Valencia facilities from The Newhall Land and Farming Co. and brings in about 16 percent of the Town Center's' retail revenues. The Canyon Country property is owned by a partnership headed I by the Sulphur Springs Union School District.

Gill said Edwards' 15-year lease for the Grand Palace loca-; tion js up to date, but the lease for the 10-plex in the mall is not. "At this point, the leases are I affirmed for Grand Palace, and I we're still negotiations for the Town Center site," he said. School district officials in Canyon Country have said their location is profitable for the the- ater chain. Edwards officials could not be reached Wednesday night for comment. Earlier this year they said all SCV locations were on i the "no decision yet" list as to closure.

"(Edwards officials have) not yet determined what action they will take with respect to that 9 Supported Children and Youth of Santa Clarita and The Child Family Center. Monday, August 6, 2001 VAL ENCIA COUNTRY Club Auto'tion Valencia Presents me Child if family Center ineitationa! Monday August 6, 2001 fyw fore? iv A IP-) at Valencia Country Club pm VA ioY i i Mlnn rail MJjfi Program Continued from page A1 Adding to her concern, she i says, is the fact that after a sui-; cide occurs, the friends and fam-! ily of the suicide victim are at a high risk of suicide The Yellow Ribbon program started in 1994 by a Colorado couple who lost their son to suicide. Since then, 80 official chapters have spun off in all 50 states and in 47 countries. Barbara Oliver first got the idea to start a local chapter after watching a talk show about its formation. The program, Barbara said, seeks to educate communities, particularly its youth, about the suicide epidemic.

Volunteers regularly speak at junior high and high school assemblies, and they hand out business cards, decorated with a yellow ribbon, to high school students. The cards contain the words "this ribbon is a lifeline" across the top and were printed to enable despondent teens to ask for help. The back of the card contains instructions detailing what to do if anyone is given the card by someone else. "The cards are a nonverbal way for someone to ask for help when they are in so much pain that they cannot say the words Barbara said. One of the goals of the program, she said, is to provide the cards, to teens free of charge.

To reach that goal, the local branch will be participating in International Yellow Ribbon week from Sept. 16 to 23. During the awareness week, Barbara said, the nonprofit organization will hold local fundraisers for its awareness activi- ties. "Although statistics show us that (suicide) is the second-leading cause of death in young people under the age of 24, most people are totally unaware that it is a national epidemic," Barbara said. "It is important to keep in mind that it is only when people are made aware of the problem that anything can be done about preventing it." For more information about the Yellow Ribbon Program, call the SCV Chapter at 670-0444 or go online at www.yellowribbon-scv.org.

To reach the 24-hour, confidential suicide prevention line, call (800) SUICIDE. Signal Staff Writer Margie Clark coritributed to this story. 1 1 VI I llCl Tournament Format: Modified Scramble Partner Best Ball Scoring 1 44 Players Max. Player Participation Includes: Golf cart green fees, free range tee prizes, team prizes, breakfast, refreshments on course, lunch, and awards party Suicide Continued from page A1 Young of the SCV Sheriff's According to Young, there were at least two witnesses to the incident. Paramedics pronounced I Lopez dead the scene at about 3:20 p.m., said Scott Carrier, spokesman for the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office.

An autopsy is sched uled to determine if alcohol or drugs or other factors played a role in the teen's death. Lopez, officials said, would have celebrated his 17th birthday on Sundays It "is still unclear why the teen apparently committed suicide, officials said, and an investigation is ongoing by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Unit and by officials from the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office. Gold Sponsor $1500 4 player spots Recognition in event advertising 3 Tee Signs Program Recognition Silver Sponsor $700 1 1 Bronze Sponsor $300 2 player spots I I 1 Tee Sign 1 player Program Recognition spot 3 j. 1 1 J. Platinum Sponsor: THE SIGNAL Tichenor Continued from page A1 especially nice for young i people, who are usually too young to play in bars this gives them an opportunity to experience playing in front of a crowd while getting some posi-' tive feedback." Jam Night events are free and open to the public.

World Music owners Javier and Lori Martinez started the Jam Night nearly a year ago. "We provide a P. A. system and a house band. Musicians of any level are welcome to play all styles of music.

We're very casual and laid back here," Amison said. For more information about "Jam Nights" at World Music, call, 288-2616. Gold Sponsors: fclencia Bank Trust ITT Aerospace Controls Valencia Acura Staats Construction Import Stone, IncAnna Ott Blue Barrel Western Airparts Good Neighbor Pharmacy R.C Becker Son, Inc. Newhall Land Crane HydroAire Pennfield Smith China Manufacturers Alliance WRA Engineering LA. Times Aquafine Corp.

Creekside Collision Pacific Bell Bill Rose The Signal Tri-Signal Integration "You Won't Be Hungry? Silver Sponsors: WEIGHT MANAGEMENT Pacific Bay Homes Morgan Stanley Lunch Sponsor: BOQ Club Grill Breakfast Sponsor: RSVP Catering Medical Center. iter 1 Over 30 years Experience 2 "The Diet Shot" New Program RFNFPITTIMr. rSTEPYOUR WAY TO SUCCESS" J5P THE 0 Child Center iiMttll 1 Call today for Call Cheryl Jones 661-255-6847 ext 3018 i. (BQ0)B24m4 ENCIND AGOURA HILLS SIMI VALLEY CAMARILLO.