SANTA CLARITA HIP: The yuppies are coming,...

SANTA CLARITA HIP: The yuppies are coming, the yuppies are coming! That may not be the cry in Santa Clarita yet, but the recent opening of the Valencia Town Center shopping mall may be pointing the way to an upscale future. . . . Now, in nearby Newhall, the appearance of two European-style coffeehouses may be part of a trend toward catering to the tastes of a wealthier and more white-collar population (B1).

BATHING BEAUTIES: The American dream may start with a comfortable home in the suburbs, but for many people the dream reaches fulfillment only with the reddened eyes, accidental sunburns and water-clogged ears that come with the enjoyment of a back-yard pool. . . . These days, that dowdy rectangular basin of chlorinated water is undergoing a dramatic change as more and more Valley residents opt for horizon-stretching pool designs that once were reserved for the more thick of wallet (B1).

SPIRIT OF ‘76: The spirit of 1776 was all over Southern California on Sunday’s Fourth of July holiday. . . . It drifted in the air with the rich smell of barbecue served to 650 disabled veterans and their families at a North Hills veteran’s hospital. . . . And it cavorted in a San Fernando park, where Mexican folk dancers proved that the tapestry of American life is stitched with thread from many cultures. Brad Accosta, above, shows off his spirit at Newhall Memorial Park (B1).

STREET SMART: Readers shift their imaginations into overdrive trying to solve Los Angeles’ legendary traffic problems. . . . A Tarzana reader thinks telecommuting is the answer to roadway snarls, while a Reseda reader would empty all the high-rises downtown and send the lawyers and insurance executives to Panorama City and Calabasas. . . . Another reader thinks a lot of highway confusion could be eliminated by posting the street numbers of parallel roads on the freeway (B1).