The Signal from Santa Clarita, California • 6

THE SIGNAL. Sunday, March 26, 2006 Denial, Humor Buoy Residents Living on Hayward Fault Line By Scott Lindlaw ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER HAYWARD The cracks in Elke DeMuynck's ceiling appear every few weeks, zigzagging across her living room. creeping toward the fireplace, veering down the wall. Month after month. year after year.

she patches. paints and waits. "It definitely lets you know your house is constantly shifting." DeMuynck said. So does the gate outside that now swings uselessly 2 inches from its latch. And the strange bulges in the street, and the geology students who make periodic pilgrimages to her cul-de-sac.

DeMuynck could throw a putty knife from her front stoop and hit the Hayward Fault. the most dangerous in the Bay Area, if not the nation. Like others who live here, she gets by on a blend of denial, hope and humor, putting earthquake anxiety on a long list of modern-day worries. It's the geologists, emergency planners and historians who seem to do most of the fretting, even in this year of heightened earthquake awareness, when the region is marking the 100th anniversary of San Francisco's Great Quake on April 18. Several faults lurk beneath this region, but geologists say the Hayward is the most likely to snap.

"It is locked and loaded and ready to fire at any time," said U.S. Geological Survey seismologist Tom Brocher. The Hayward Fault runs through one of the country's most densely populated areas, slicing the earth's crust along a 50-mile swath of suburbia east of San Francisco. Experts say 2 million people live close enough to be strongly shaken by a big Hayward quake. It runs directly under thousands of houses, from exclusive hilltop manors overlooking the bay to Hayward's humble flatlands.

It snakes beneath interstate bridges, strip malls, nursing facilities, retirement centers, and it splits the uprights of the University of California, Berkeley's football stadium, official capacity 67.537. "A lot of these structures are going to come down," said David P. Schwartz, the chief of the USGS's Bay Area Earthquake Hazards Project. He spoke with one foot on either side of the fault, straddling a thin crack that snaked through a parking lot in Hayward's business district. Before San Francisco's Great Quake of 1906, on the San Andreas fault, there was the Great Quake of 1868 on the Hayward, a magnitude 6.9 rumbler that killed five people.

Severe quakes have happened on the Hayward Fault every 151 years, give or take 23 years, meaning it is now into the danger zone. Experts forecast the next big one will be in the potentially lethal 6.7 to 7.0 range. The Association of Bay Area Governments estimates it would wipe out some 155,000 housing units, 37,000 in San Francisco alone. It's a time bomb waiting to go off. Historically, severe quakes have occurred on the Hayward LARGE SCRAPBOOKING STORE Timeless Memories 24922 Anza Drive Located in the Valencia Industrial Ctr (661) 295-8490 www.TimelessMems.com Come in to crop or shop Check web or call for hours specials Millions live on or near Hayward fault Scientists say the Hayward Fault, which runs directly underneath the densely populated East Bay, has a higher probability of causing an earthquake than its famous neighbor, the San Andreas fault.

Fault zones White indicates urban areas 80 Hayward fault Berkeley 680 580 80 San Francisco Oakland 580 San Francisco Bay 880 San Andreas fault Fremont 5 mi 0 5 km SOURCES: USGS; ESRI J. Gamier AP Fault every 151 years, give or take 23 years, meaning it is now into the danger zone. Experts forecast the next big one will be in the potentially lethal 6.7 to 7.0 range. In a big quake, the earth on either side of the fault could shift three feet. Two objects sitting on different sides before the quake could be abruptly carried a total of six feet apart, he said.

"You can visualize what would happen if it moves six feet." Schwartz said, gesturing toward the telltale asphalt crack, which disappears underneath businesses. The Hayward Fault runs directly beneath Eden Jewelry and Loan, but the men working in the pawn shop shrugged when asked whether they fear a quake. "I better get a new job!" said Saul Gevertz, 64, flashing a smile at his co-worker. "Honest- ly, it's a nonissue." One of the building's co-owners, Darrell Davidson, 47, said that ever since a renovation and retrofit about five years ago, the structure is essentially an enormous steel cage, designed to flex in an earthquake. "I'm not worried-worried.

I've thought about it," said Davidson, his eyes scanning the steel beams. "I think we're in good shape. I hope to God we are." Nickey Avila, 23, confessed. some alarm when a reporter informed him the fractured pavement outside his house was the fault. Avila had just returned from a tour with the U.S.

Army in Iraq; the "welcome home" banner and balloons still hung from the house. "I knew I was close to the fault, but I didn't know I was this close," Avila said. NEED A TUTOR? JOIN THE CLUB! One-On-One Tutoring in Your Home! All Subjects, PreK-Adult Study Skills Qualified Teachers Affordable Rates FT WEEK OF FREE TUTORING! CLUE Call for details. Not to be combined with other offers. In Home Tutoring 661-775-8888 www.clubztutoring.com service between Santa Clarita 8 and Sulmar 7 days a week ROUTE 8 sylmar Sulmar Metrolink (8 we're.

Station Hubbard going (8 Glenoaks over (8 Glenoaks Roxford the hill College of the Canyons $1 each way $25 a month Santa Clarita TransitTransfer (8 santaclaritatransit.com Station (661) 294-1BUS (santa clarita Committee Acts as Community Watch Program for SCV Group represents specific area, serves as a liaison between residents and the police. By Serena Maria Daniels The committee has also sent letSIGNAL STAFF WRITER ters to the city and to the Sheriff's Department to address concerns Residents concerned with they feel may be missing in the crime in the Santa Clarita Valley municipalities, Callas said. usually turn to the sheriff's station While the group is independent to address their issues. When they of deputy influence, they do need help in addressing crime receive guidance from Lt. Diane concerns, the Community Advi- Walker, who offers assistance sory Committee was established when needed.

to serve as a liaison between resi- "It helps me get better insight dents and police. from community members," said Like a neighborhood watch for Walker, who does not live in the the entire city, committee mem- Santa Clarita Valley. bers represent specific areas in the Since the committee started, it valley, addressing issues unique to has grown from a small group of their neighborhoods. Unlike a typ- four to 14 active members, ical community watch program, Callas said. While the group has committee members must pass a been known to coordinate probackground investigation before motional events such as the being considered for membership.

Haunted Jailhouse, each member Some of the issues the group comes into the organization with talks about in their monthly meet- their own set of agendas, offerings are problems with vandalism ing deputies unique insight into and reported gang activity, said their communities. chairperson Nick Callas. In a One area of interest with the recent meeting, Don Rodriguez, committee is the city's burgeoncommander of the custody opera- ing Hispanic community, who tions division, addressed the com- Callas said is at times afraid to ask mittee to discuss some of the for help from the Sheriff's struggles the department has been Department, concerned that their dealing with in the jail system. immigration status may come Such topics have brought about into question. change in the community.

The "Sometimes people think they committee formed Teen Court, can't ask for help," said Callas, inspired by Estelle Foley, a for- who said the committee plans to mer committee member and hold a town hall meeting on the works closely with the station's issue in April. "We want to let' COBRA Team, which investi- everyone know that they have the gates juvenile and gang issues. same rights to ask for help." SANTA CLARITA BUILDERS EXCHANGE FREE CONTRACTOR REFERRALS www.SCBX.US 888-757-7229 Vituaries Memories RoseMary Goodwin First Sunland RoseMary Goodwin died peacefully in her sleep and went to be with her Lord on March 18, 2006. She was born 91 years ago in Alliance, Nebraska, and raised on a ranch her parents homesteaded around Torrington, Wyoming. She started teaching in a one room school in Nebraska when she met and married the love of her life, Charley Goodwin.

They moved to Los Angeles in 1943 where she became a teacher for L.A. City Schools in Sylmar. While raising 3 children, she went back to night school to get her Master's degree, and finally at age 52 became a library co-ordinator for LACSD. She loved her job of setting up libraries in elementary schools. When her husband was forced to take an early medical retirement for heart problems at 55, she also retired.

They traveled the country for the next 7 years until his death in 1979. They were married 41 years. RoseMary became interested in genealogy and wrote three family books as well as volunteered at the Burbank Geological Society. She was very active in the Brenna Morgan Laws INFANT Brenna Morgan Laws, died after a brief illness on March 20, 2006 in Santa Clarita, CA. She was born on August 6, 2004 in Los Angeles, CA and resided with her parents in 1 Castaic, CA.

She is survived by her parents, Jay and Laurell Laws; sister, Maranda Laws; grandparents, Dale and Juanita Hunt, Mike and Julie Laws; uncle, Jay Hunt; aunt, Jody Laws; great grandparents, Isabel Vogel, Bob Lois Hire TELEVISION WRITER Lois Hire, 89, passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in Stevenson Ranch after a short illness, on Sunday, March 5, 2006. Mrs. Hire was born Lois Elkins on May 24, 1916 in Selma, AL. During World War 11, Lois moved to Los Angeles and took a job on the Hughes Aircraft Assembly line manufacturing planes for the war effort. It was at the Hughes that she met a handsome, young pilot, Jack Hire.

As the World War II was ending, Jack joined the Army Air Corp, married Lois, adopted Meredith and soon had their own child, a son, Stuart. In 1954, the family moved to North Hollywood. Lois at the age of 44 took the opportunity to enroll in an Adult Extension Course in script writing at Hollywood High School, a course in which she excelled. On a whim, her teacher passed one of her assignments to an acquaintance on the Loretta Young "US Steel It was accepted and produced, Lois was soon writing scripts from her home and before long started a very successful career as one of the first female television writers during Baptist Church of where she attended for 54 years. RoseMary always tried to live her life so others would know she was a Christian.

Job well done! RoseMary is survived and well loved by her two daughters, Pearl (Jerry) Chandler, and Gwen (Jim) Hougo, both of Canyon Country and son, Chuck (Sandy) Goodwin of Oklahoma City, OK. She has 12 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Charley, her grandson, Bob Schauer, and her great grandson, Wesley Schauer. A memorial service will be held Monday, March 27th, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Sunland.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be made to The First Baptist Church of Sunland. The Signal, Santa Clarita, March 26, 2006 Chavers, Pluma Porter and loving aunts, uncles, and cousins. Services will be held on Monday, March 27, 2006 at 12:00 p.m. at Eternal Valley Mortuary, Newhall, CA. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Children's Gauchers Research Fund, PO.

Box 2123 Granite Bay, CA 95746-2123; website: The Signal, Santa Clarita, March 26, 2006 the 1960's and 1970's. Her credits included numerous episodes of as well as, many scripts for "My Three "The Beverly "Gilligan's Island" and "The She also penned additional scripts For "The Loretta Young "Pistols 'n' "Half a "Bound for "Hello Larry" and "Family Lois made substantial income writing and also had a long and successful run with the "The Brady sharing a close and collaborative relationship with its producer, Sherwood Schwartz. Lois is survived by three children, Meredith Stevens of Ventura, CA. Stuart Hire of Ventura, CA and Shannon Koczera of Newhall, CA. She leaves behind 8 loving grandchildren which include 3 local grandchildren, Erin Corona, Dorian Koczera, Riley Koczera and 6 adoring great grandchildren.

She will be deeply missed by all those who have come to know, respect and love her. www.santa-clarita.com Metro Services were already held. Contributions may be made in her name to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10001 The Signal, Santa Clarita, March 26, 2006.