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April 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4

A CONVERSATION WITH

Sarah Wood

LOCAL WOMEN IN BUSINESS FEATURE Sarah Wood, Owner, Allegiance Heating, Air & Solar SEE PAGE 12

Mother’s Day Sale 25%-50% OFF

April, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4

LOCAL AUTHOR RICHARD FARRELL SHARES HIS DEBUT NOVEL: The Falling Woman

San Diego author Richard Farrell grew up obsessed with flying, and he began taking flying lessons at 16. He spent countless hours staring at vapor contrails in the sky, identifying airplane silhouettes, and listening to the trembling whir of turboprops on winter nights, he explains. Well on his way to achieving his dream, however, he suffered a seizure in the cockpit of a Navy training jet, and his flying career ended at 23. The loss of his pilot’s wings eventually led him to writing fiction, and THE FALLING WOMAN emerged from his journey as a fledgling aviator, and from the deep and rich mythology of aviation. His exhilarating debut novel THE FALLING WOMAN a deeply moving look at the tensions between family loyalty and personal desires, and a provocative examination of the value of privacy in this age of saturation media. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Farrell drew from historical incidents of passengers surviving impossible plane crashes, and from his own experience as a pilot, to craft this propulsive, complex tale. Tense, thrilling, and deeply profound, THE FALLING WOMAN examines what it means to be singled out by luck or destiny, and explores what we owe to our loved ones in our final days, and what we owe ourselves. We had a chance to sit down with Rich and talk about his critically acclaimed novel. Q: What made you decide to write a novel rather than a memoir about your own experiences as a pilot? A: The memoir is still in the works! The truth was, I wanted to write about the obsession some young people feel toward flying. When I first started The Falling Woman, I intended it to be a short story, but the complexity of the plot and the characters made condensing it into a story form harder. Eventually the story grew. I did give the protagonist, Charlie Radford, some of my youthful ambition. Radford dreamed of becoming a pilot, and as happened to me, Radford suffered from a medical condition that prevented him from flying. At some point though, our stories diverged dramatically. In the story, Radford is still trying to sort out what to do with his stifled ambition. Q: How did you decide to make the protagonist female? A: The original idea for this story came from an actual event. A young woman survived a fall from an airplane that was struck by lightning in Peru. So, in an early draft, I was trying to imagine my way into that real person’s experience. But as the book changed and grew, the character of Erin evolved. I enjoyed spend-

ing time with her. I enjoyed watching her make difficult decisions about her future. Her struggle to make authentic choices pushed me out of comfortable places as the writer. Q: What was your process in writing this novel? A: Panic, frustration, more panic, desperation, followed by a lot of time at the desk! Somewhat a truthful answer. I was working on a collection of short stories when I started writing The Falling Woman as a novel. The publishing world was not that interested in short stories, and I kept hearing that for a first book to sell, I would need a novel. At some point in the late summer of 2016, I went to a three-week residency at Ragdale outside of Chicago. I was surrounded by other writers, poets, dancers, painters, etc. The ambient worth ethic in

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that space really helped me crank out a semi-solid draft. When I came back to California, I promised my agent a more complete draft by the following spring. So, in many ways, just the pressure of a deadline helped a lot. Writers can spend a lot of time procrastinating, so working toward a specific goal and date was wonderful. Q: How much did your own experience as a pilot and aviation expertise help in writing this novel? A: Some but not much. I spent a fair amount of time on the National Transportation Safety Board website. I pulled out old flight manuals and did research on aircraft investigations. I have not been a pilot for more than twenty years, so my interest was more important than any ancient expertise. Research filled in the @LocalUmbrellaMedia

gaps. There were a few books on accident investigations, but commercial flying is so incredibly safe these days, a lot of my research was historical. Q: What advice do you have for aspiring novelists? A: Try to be diligent but patient. Writing is a skill, but because we use writing day to day, we tend to think that we can just sit down and crank out stories. I studied the craft for years (I still do!) I also was willing to seek and listen to tough feedback. A lot of new writers need permission to dream, but the work and the dedication have to come in at some point too. At least for me, I make a lot of mistakes when I work, so there is a tremendous amount of failure that enters into the process. New writers can mistake talent for effort. Effort outweighs whatever innate skill a person may have when the start writing. Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? A: What was it that Walter Brooke said to Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate? “Plastics!” No, the best writing advice I’ve ever been given was to tell the truth. At first glance, this seems obvious, but in writing dramatic stories, the writer has to overcome a lifetime of conflict avoidance behavior. I remember writing a story in graduate school where all of my characters were stumbling around, afraid to speak the truth, and my advisor said (rather emphatically), “Just have the characters stop screwing around and tell the truth.” He may have even used more colorful language to make his point! And when I want back and revised this story, and simply had the main character’s truth evident at the beginning, the whole story changed. Because I teach writing workshops, I see this scenario played out again and again. Writers come in with a brilliant story idea, but they obfuscate, hoping to generate interest later on when the core idea is revealed. Their truth, their story concept, may be hidden until a hundred (or more) pages into the story. Part of what a teacher can attempt to do is reverse that pattern of behavior. I fail more often than I succeed, but fiction writing (and narrative writing in general) demands an intimacy between the story and the reader. So, in addition to “plastics,” the best advice I’ve ever heard is tell the full truth as early as you can in a story. In The Falling Woman, page one starts with Erin falling out of a stricken airplane. I assure you, that was not always the case. But by getting that truth up front, I have to trust that the reader will be interested enough to keep reading, versus holding on to that dramatic fact until later.

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VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4 | April, 2021

NEW LOCAL SEARCH DIRECTORY DEBUTS IN SAN DIEGO LOCAL UMBRELLA MEDIA ADDING DIGITAL SERVICES THROUGH AGREEMENT WITH TOWNE POST NETWORK

an Diego based monthly direct mail publication company Local Umbrella Media announced their partnership with the Towne Post Network (TPN), an Indiana-based crossplatform publishing company. Through their agreement, San Diego businesses will be able to post their online listings to TownePost.com, a free local search directory. Additionally, the two companies will launch monthly neighborhood and special edition magazines throughout California during spring and summer 2021, with the first publications scheduled in select San Diego neighborhoods and Butte County in Northern California. “After multiple discussions with Brad Weber, CEO and Founder of Local Umbrella Media, it was clear his success with hyperlocal direct mail and digital publishing throughout California and TPN’s robust social and local search directory would be of great benefit to California small businesses,” said Tom Britt, Founder and CEO of the Towne Post Network. Recently featured in Editor & Publisher Magazine for “reinventing the community magazine model”, TPN has developed an online search directory with complimentary monthly magazines which are direct mailed to businesses and residents in numerous communities across the Midwest. “Everyone at Local Umbrella Media is excited about the introduction of TPN’s

social media tools and local search directory,” said Weber. “Combining those tools with our recently launched Umbrella SmartMail system, our valuable advertisers will have many opportunities to reach consumers and maximize foot traffic and sales. The timing couldn’t be better, as we all continue to recover from the pandemic.”

TPN publishes the sponsored-content on each community’s Website and magazine and then creates a seven-day social media campaign on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

With TPN’s system, local businesses/ advertisers can purchase an affordable sponsored-content story about their newly launched or existing business. To readers, these stories appear no different than articles about local events and people; it is more news about what is occurring in the community.

Successfully disrupting old and obsolete business models is not bound by geography. Fishers, Indiana, a suburb of Indianapolis, has proven to be fertile ground for Britt.

TOWNE POST NETWORK BACKGROUND

He and his team have developed a comprehensive integration of print, digital and social for his franchise system of local community magazines in Indiana, Kentucky – and now to California. Achieving entrepreneurial success is never an easy road, but Britt had his a-ha moment during 2003 when he launched a community Website for the Indianapolis suburb of Geist where he lives. The site generated considerable traffic from the community primarily because the content was short articles, announcements of local events and free classified ads. With that early success, he quit his day job as a publishing consultant during early January 2009 and focused all his time to develop and expand his concept. The essence of his success was the addition of a complementary print magazine nine months after the launch of the Website. Instead of trying to digitize an existing print publication, he reversed-engineered the process. This counterintuitive approach is often misunderstood by many major print publications, newspapers and magazines. “To the best of my knowledge, no other magazine system in our space does business this way. We have always leveraged digital and social to give our monthly magazines life all month long,” added Britt. Recently, TPN was recognized as the “Most Innovative Media Franchise System for 2020” by Corporate Vision Magazine. TPN was recognized for its “expertise within its given field; dedication to client service and satisfaction; and a commitment to excellence, quality and innovation.” In 2020, Britt decided to tackle one of the oldest challenges for print media: how to present accurate audience reach data for advertisers. He and his team developed its Real-Time Analytics Report, which combines print distribution; Facebook, Twitter and Instagram impressions; and Web analytics. Britt also opened an online “store” to purchase print, digital, and social

Co-founders and husband/wife team Jeanne and Tom Britt started the Towne Post Network in 2003.

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Since this article was written – Tom Britt reports that the April 2021 editions of their TPN magazines reported all-time record sales. “This is pretty remarkable, considering the impact of COVID on the print industry in general. It certainly is a testament to the strength of our model and our team. We’re excited to add Brad Weber to allow us to help California small businesses gain access our powerful marketing program. I’m expecting by Summer to have established several territories in California with Brad and his local team in San Diego and elsewhere in the Golden State." marketing packages from TPN publications. “Not only do we put our analytics out there, but we also put our product inventory and pricing out there for the world to see,” added Britt. “It’s a reflection of our commitment to transparency, not only with our small business customers, but the public as well.” TOWNEPOST.COM LOCAL SEARCH DIRECTORY Like other paid review websites, TownePost. com is a free location-based listing service that gives local businesses a way to generate more local customers. Simply visit the website and click on the “Submit Listing” link at the top of the page. From there, business owners can submit a description of their business, key in their Google address for geo-tagging, add categories, keywords, store hours, social media links, website backlinks, phone number, and even an image gallery to help give the listing page life. Once approved, the business owner can manage their listing page and make updates whenever they wish, including the addition of digital coupons and events. “What makes TownePost.com unique is our analytics dashboard for small businesses,” said Britt. “Not only can businesses manage their listings, but they can see how many views they have had, how many leads have come through the website, and even receive inbound inquiries through TownePost.com. It’s a true lead generation platform.” San Diego area business owners are encouraged to visit TownePost.com to submit their online listing. For print advertising information, contact Brad Weber with Local Umbrella Media at (619) 3001732 or brad@localumbrella.com.

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March, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 3

April, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4

THE MT. HELIX ARTISTS’ COLONY: THE EXTRAORDINARY PLACE WHERE PEOPLE VISIT, AND LUCKY ONES STAY By Carol Holland Lifshitz Imagine a location so filled with heritage, historical significance, and cultural wonder that it draws people to it on a regular basis. Now, pretend that someone could actually LIVE there, surrounded by all the things that make it special. There’s no need to merely dream about it because one CAN inhabit this idyllic landmark, along with the many others who call it home! The Mt. Helix Artists’ Colony is among the most beloved and scenic spots in San Diego, right in La Mesa, California. Often recognized by the nearby towering cross that can be seen from miles away, it lies nestled in the mountain tops, as though reaching for a supreme being above. The center is, in itself, rather unworldly. Perhaps that’s the reason why it’s often referred to as “God’s Garden.” More than a century ago, the site was just a boulder-filled hillside -- untraversable, let alone inhabitable. Together, two entrepreneurs changed that in 1903. They came from distinctly different backgrounds which made their eventual collaborative undertaking even more remarkable. William Gross was a visiting theatrical agent and actor from Pennsylvania. He had dreams of establishing an artists’ colony, something that was very much in fashion at the turn of that century. The other gentleman was Edward Fletcher, a California produce salesman. A modest man, Fletcher is said to have sold apples from a horse and wagon with a rooster perched upon his shoulder. The two unlikely partners met in 1901 during a chance encounter while each was visiting Yellow-

stone National Park. This serendipitous crossing of paths would soon change the face and fate of East County’s La Mesa. Both self-made men, the two quickly bonded through friendship and their shared entrepreneurial dreams. Gross told Fletcher of his desire to achieve two goals: to make some kind of major profitable investment, and to find a peaceful place to retire. Fletcher had similar aspirations. They quickly joined forces and invested under $12,000 in the land, which included just one single property, the Villa Caro Ranch. It was surrounded by forty acres of citrus trees, but otherwise “useless,” rocky hills. This turned out to be the beginning of an incredibly lucrative real estate deal and business for the duo. Appreciating the views from the panoramic vista, and seeing enormous potential, they built the first street ten years later. But what would they do with the mostly barren acreage? An obvious priority was using the territory for anything that would lead to financial reward. Coupled with that was their vision to establish a “colony” of artistic, musical and literary figures. They set upon the task of dividing responsibilities, each taking advantage of their respective strengths. Fletcher handled the business end of promoting the region, while Gross used his popularity with renowned individuals (and his broad list of contacts) to spread the word to those with possible interest in this lifestyle. This was the start of the development, which at the time was mockingly called “Fletcher’s Folly.” Far from those who thought of it as a foolish spot

By Carol Holland Lifshitz

THE MT. HELIX ARTISTS’ COLONY: THE EXTRAORDINARY PLACE WHERE PEOPLE THE MT. HELIX ARTISTS’ COLONY: THE VISIT, AND LUCKY STAY EXTRAORDINARY PLACEONES WHERE PEOPLE “Coming Soon” Secluded Paradise in the VISIT, Heart of the Artist Colony in AND Mt. Helix LUCKY ONES STAY

Imagine a location so filled with heritage, historical significance, and cultural wonder that it draws people to it on a regular basis. Now, pretend that someone could actually LIVE there, surrounded by all the things that make it special. There’s no need to merely dream about it because one CAN inhabit this idyllic landmark, along with the many others who call it home! The Mt. Helix Artists’ Colony is among the most beloved and scenic spots in San Diego, right in La Mesa, California. Often recognized by the nearby towering cross that can be seen from miles away, it lies nestled in the mountain tops, as though reaching for a supreme being above. The center is, in itself, rather unworldly. Perhaps that’s the reason why it’s often referred to as “God’s Garden.” More than a century ago, the site was just a boulder-filled hillside, untraversable, let alone inhabitable. Two entrepreneurs, together, changed that in 1903. They came from distinctly different backgrounds, which made their eventual collaborative undertaking even more remarkable. William Gross was a visiting theatrical agent and actor from Pennsylvania. He had dreams of establishing an artists’ colony, something that was greatly in fashion at the turn of that century. The other gentleman was Edward Fletcher, a California produce salesman. A modest man, Fletcher is said to have sold apples from a horse and wagon with a rooster perched upon his shoulder. The two unlikely partners met in 1901 during a chance encounter while each was visiting Yellowstone National Park. This serendipitous crossing of paths would soon change the face and fate of East County’s La Mesa. Both self-made men, the two quickly bonded LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

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to set down roots, others recognized its potential. Associates of Gross began building dream homes in this subdivision, which eventually came to be called the Grossmont Artists’ Colony. The name “Grossmont” was actually suggested by Bess

himself, was built in 1910 on El Granito Avenue. The street name reflected the area’s granite-piled landscape. By contrast, the structure itself was a wooden bungalow. Surrounding property himself, in sale; 1910 the on El Granito Avenue. was thenwas putbuilt up for cost per acre was The street name reflected the area’s granite-piled $2,500 and up. landscape. By contrast, the structure itself was Famous painters, ceramicists, singers, musiacians, wooden bungalow. Surrounding property authors, and poets from all over the world was put in. upAfter for sale; the the costearliest per acre was soonthen moved Gross, dweller, $2,500 and up. properly referred to as “Madame,” was Ernestine Famous painters,the ceramicists, singers, Schumann-Heink, opera singer withmusithe socians, authors, and poets from all over the world norous contralto voice. She was well-known for soon moved in. After the troops earliestDuring dweller, travelling overseas to Gross, entertain properly referred as “Madame,” was Ernestine World War 1. Hertocomfortable “old world” style Schumann-Heink, the opera singer with thepart sodwelling reflected her complex personality: norous contralto voice. She was well-known for diva, part homemaker supreme. travelling entertain Anotheroverseas celebritytowas Carrie troops Jacobs During Bond, the World War 1. Her comfortable “old “I Love You Truly” ballad writer. Sheworld” joinedstyle her dwelling her complex neighbor,reflected Schumann-Heink, inpersonality: a campaign part to diva, homemaker buildpart a local music andsupreme. art center, hoping to creAnother celebrity Jacobs the ate a festival like thewas oneCarrie in which theBond, German “I Love You Truly” ballad writer. She joined her singer had earlier performed. Their efforts never neighbor, Schumann-Heink, in aacampaign did pan out, but they did create blueprintto for build a local music and art center, hoping to crefuture music festivals. ateCharles a festival like the Cadman, one in which theofGerman Wakefield “Land Sky singer had earlier performed. Their efforts Blue Waters” composer, also relocated here.never The did out, but they did create a blueprint manpan with the deep interest in Indian musicfor was future festivals. knownmusic to have said “This is the only place in the Charles Cadman, “Land of SkyIt was world thatWakefield makes you forget Hollywood.” Blue Waters” composer, also relocated here. The an interesting comment, indeed, coming from man with the deep interest in Indian music was someone who was now surrounded by Hollyknown to have said “This is the only place in wood royalty. But his famous neighbors, too, the world that makes you forget Hollywood.” It was wanted a more private, down-to-earth hideaway. an interesting comment, indeed, coming from Other people who called this turf theirs includsomeone was now surrounded by Holly-and ed: Teresawho Carreno, a Venezuelan composer wood royalty. But his famous neighbors, too, pianist; the poet John Vance Cheney; Johanna wanted a more private, down-to-earth hideaway. Gadski, another German contralto; and bariOther people who called this turf theirs includtone singer Charles W. Clark. ed:Probably Teresa Carreno, a Venezuelan composer and the best known transplant to this pianist; the poet John Vance Cheney; Johanna Gadski, another German contralto; and baritone singer| Press@LocalUmbrella.com Charles W. Clark. ADVERTISE Probably the best known transplant to this

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March, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 3

VOLUME | ISSUE | April, 2021 2021 VOLUME 66 | ISSUE 3 |4March,

community was Owen Wister, the American novelist who created thehad cowboy genre 1902. Fletcher, Ed’s sister, who become thein object Set in the Wild West, “The Virginian” was his of William’s affections. debut novel. From that popular book stemmed Gross was, not surprisingly, the first resident a franchise of His similarly named productions in the colony. lodging, which he designed including a stage adaptation, five movies,Avenue. and himself, was built in 1910 on El Granito a hit TV series. Deservedly, several streets were The street name reflected the area’s granite-piled named in Wister’s honor. roads bearwas thea landscape. By contrast, theMany structure itself name of bungalow. his book, asSurrounding well as characters from it. wooden property was then put up forwho sale;shared the costWister’s per John Wayne, love of all acre was $2,500 and things Western, shotup. many movies at the Mt. Famous painters, ceramicists, singers, musiHelix Artists’ Colony. Most appropriately, he cians, authors, and poets from all over the lived on Virginian Lane while making hisworld Westsoon moved in.locale After Gross, the earliest dweller, ern films. This also became a huge mecca properly to as “Madame, ” was Ernestine for silentreferred filmmaking. Allan Dwan was a pioSchumann-Heink, the opera singer with150 thesilent neer in the genre. His 1911 film about sonorous contralto voice. She was well-known “flickers” introduced the public to the concept for travelling overseas entertain troops during of strong visual actiontowith no accompanying World War 1. Her comfortable “old world” style sound. dwelling reflected her complex personality: part diva, part homemaker supreme. Another celebrity was Carrie Jacobs Bond, the singer-songwriter of such pop music gems as “I Love You Truly”. She joined her neighbor, Schumann-Heink, in a campaign to build a local music and art center, hoping to create a festival like the one in which the German singer had earlier performed. Though their efforts never did pan out, they did create a blueprint for future music festivals. Charles Wakefield Cadman, composer of “Land of Sky Blue Waters”, also relocated here. The man with the deep interest in Indian music was known to have said, “This is the only place in the world that makes you forget Hollywood.” It was an interesting comment indeed, coming from someone who was now surrounded by Hollywood royalty. But his famous neighbors also wanted a more private, down-to-earth hideaway. Other artists who called this turf their own included: Teresa Carreno, a Venezuelan composer and pianist; poet John Vance Cheney; Johanna Gadski, another German contralto; and baritone singer Charles W. Clark. Probably the best known transplant to this community was Owen Wister, the American novelist who created the cowboy genre in 1902. Set in the Wild West, “The Virginian” was his debut novel. From that popular book stemmed a franchise of similarly named productions, including a stage adaptation, five movies, and a hit TV series. Deservedly, s everal streets were named in Wister’s honor; many bear the name of his book, as well as characters from it. By CarolWayne, Hollandwho Lifshitz John shared Wister’s love of all The roster celebrities who flocked toMt. GrossImagine aof location so filled with histhings Western, shot many movies atheritage, the Helix Artists’ Most appropriately, mont saw it asColony. a refuge from the pressures torical significance, and cultural wonder he that it lived onpeople Virginian making his Westofdraws their professional lives. In the days before to itLane on awhile regular basis. Now, preern films. locale also became a LIVE huge mecca television (and a half-century before the Intertend thatThis someone could actually there, for silent filmmaking. Dwan wasconcert a pionet) performers travelled nonstop surrounded by all theAllan things that for make it speneer thepublic genre. His to 1911 filmAn about 150 tours and appearances. exhausting cial.in There’s no need merely dream about it silent “flickers” introduced the to the pace made theCAN need for a peaceful country-like because one inhabit thispublic idyllic landmark, concept of strong visual action with nomoved retreat paramount in their lives. They along with the many others who call itaccomhome! panying sound. The roster of celebrities who next door toHelix equally eminent painters and The Mt. Artists’ Colony is among the flocked to Grossmont saw it as ain refuge from filmmakers, all and seeking quietude and most beloved scenic spots Sannurturing Diego, the pressures of their professional lives. In the simpatico. right in La Mesa, California. Often recognized days before television (and a half-century before The reflectedcross a burgeoning reinby themigration nearby towering that can be seen the Internet) performers travelled nonstop terest the away, arts, all aesthetic, the from in miles it matters lies nestled in the and mountain for concert tours and public appearances. An desire to provide a supportive work environtops, as though reaching for a supreme being exhausting pace made the need for a peaceful ment forThe fellow residents. Unlike growing above. center is, in itself, rather unworldly. country-like retreat paramount inother their lives. hubs around the world, this one seemed to lack Perhaps that’s the reason why it’s often referred They moved next door to equally eminent sophistication and citification. But that was part to as “God’s Garden.” painters and filmmakers, all seeking quietude of its appeal and what made it unique. Many More than a century ago, the site was just a and nurturing simpatico. ofboulder-filled the properties owned by the original inhabihillside, untraversable, let alone The migration reflected a burgeoning reintants remain intact to this day, side-by-side with inhabitable. Twoall entrepreneurs, together, terest in the arts, matters aesthetic, and the brand new structures, as physical reminders changed that in 1903. They came from distinctdesire to provide a supportive work environ-of ly different backgrounds, which other made growing their ment for fellow residents. Unlike eventual collaborative eventomore hubs around the world, undertaking this one seemed lack remarkable. and citification. But that was part sophistication of its appealGross and what it unique. Many of William was amade visiting theatrical agent the properties owned by the original and actor from Pennsylvania. He hadinhabitants dreams of remain intact an to this day,colony, side-by-side with brand establishing artists’ something that new as physical reminders of thecentuwasstructures, greatly in fashion at the turn of that early beginnings of this historical place.Fletcher, ry. The other gentleman was Edward the Artists’ Colony is stillAa modest one-of-a-kind aToday, California produce salesman. man, environment in which tosold live.apples This rich, re-a horse Fletcher is said to have from nowned community is tranquil, and conducive and wagon with a rooster perched upon his to everything from pottery to music. Galleries and shoulder. The two unlikely partners met in 1901 studios abound. People actively engage in what during a chance encounter while each was visisiting for some a profession, and for others avocaYellowstone National Park. Thisan serendiption. Some individuals prefer to focus on selling itous crossing of paths would soon change the the end-products of these efforts. Creativity and face and fate of East County’s La Mesa. commerce go hand-in-hand in this idyllic enclave. Both self-made men, the two quickly bonded

the early beginnings of this historical place. Today, the Artists’ Colony is still a one-of-akind environment in which to live. This rich, renowned community is tranquil, and conducive to everything from pottery to music. Galleries and studios abound. People actively engage in what is for some a profession, and for others an avocation. Some individuals prefer to focus on selling the end-products of these efforts. Creativity and commerce go hand-in-hand in this idyllic enclave. There are also residents who don’t specifically identify themselves as involved with creative activities. They love living here anyway, and prefer to engage in different sorts of things, like meditation, or taking daily walks across the stunning terrain. And walk is what they do throughout the 600 rocky acres that overlook the El Cajon valley. San Diegans flock to this observation point to see the vast spectacle below. Nature’s untouched beauty is a large part of the appeal of this region. But far from living a cloistered life, homeowners and renters also have access to everything needed for a full 2021 existence. Even gifted, multi-talented people must eat and put clothing on their backs. So, restaurants, grocery stores, and shopping malls can be found nearby. And education’s important, too. How will today’s kids paint the next masterpiece, create the next concerto, or write their generation’s greatest novel if they don’t learn how to? This remarkable part of Mt. Helix is home to those looking for architecture with character, and a neighborhood small enough to provide a sense of community, yet large enough to offer what’s needed for a modern, happy, and productive life. It’s close enough to the rest of San Diego to enjoy all that it has to offer, while maintaining its own rural feeling up near the clouds. Gross and Fletcher would be thrilled to know that the big gamble they took, despite derision from their contemporaries, turned out to be a massive accomplishment. It helped change the fate of San Diego real estate, culture and the arts in one fell swoop

THE MT. HELIX ARTISTS’ COLONY: THE EXTRAORDINARY PLACE WHERE PEOPLE VISIT, AND LUCKY ONES STAY

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through friendship and their shared entrepreneurial dreams. Gross told Fletcher of his desire to achieve two goals: make some kind of major profitable investment, and find a peaceful place to retire. Fletcher had similar aspirations. They quickly joined forces and invested under There are alsoland, residents who don’t specifically $12,000 in the which included just one identify themselves involved creative single property, theasVilla Caro with Ranch. It wasactivities. They love living here anyway, and prefer surrounded by forty acres of citrus trees, but tootherwise engage in“useless,” differentrocky sorts hills. of things like mediThis turned out tation, or taking dailyof walks across thelucrative stunning to be the beginning an incredibly terrain. And walk is what they do throughout real estate deal and business for the duo. Apprethe 600 acres of rocky elevation that overlook ciating the views from the panoramic vista, and the El Cajon valley. San Diegans flock to this obseeing enormous potential, built the first servation point to see the vastthey spectacle below. road ten years later. Nature’s untouched beauty is a large part of what they do the mostly theBut appeal ofwould this region. Butwith far from living a barren acreage? An obvious priority cloistered life, homeowners and renterswas alsousing have the territory for anything that would lead to access to everything needed for a full 2021 exisfinancial reward. Coupled with that was their tence. Even gifted, multi-talented people must eat vision establish “colony” ofSo, artistic, musical and putto clothing onatheir backs. restaurants, and literary figures. They set upon the task of digrocery stores, and shopping malls can be found viding responsibilities, taking advantage of each nearby. And education is important, too. How of their respective strengths. handled will today’s kids paint the next Fletcher masterpiece, crethethe business end of promoting thegeneration’s region. Gross ate next concerto, or write their greatest if they don’t learn how?individuals, used hisnovel popularity with renowned Thishis remarkable of Mt. Helix is home and broad list part of contacts, to spread theto word those looking architecture with character, and to those withfor possible interest in this lifestyle. a neighborhood smallofenough to provide awhich, sense This was the start the development ofatcommunity, yetmockingly large enough to offer what’s the time, was called “Fletcher’s needed for afrom modern, and productive Folly.” Far thosehappy, who thought of it as alife. It’s close spot enough to the restroots, of San Diegorecognized to enjoy foolish to set down others all that it has to offer, while maintaining its own its potential. Associates of Gross began building rural feeling up near the clouds. dream homes in this subdivision, which evenGrosscame and Fletcher would thrilled toArtists’ know tually to be called thebe Grossmont that their big gamble, despite derision from Colony. The name “Grossmont” was actually their contemporaries, turned out to be a massuggested by Bess Fletcher, Ed’schange sister, who had sive accomplishment. It helped the fate become the object of William’s affections. of San Diego real estate, culture, and the arts in was, not surprisingly, the first resident oneGross fell swoop. in the colony. His lodging, which he designed

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himself, was built in 1910 on El Granito Avenue. The street name reflected the area’s granite-piled landscape. By contrast, the structure itself was a wooden bungalow. Surrounding property was then put up for sale; the cost per acre was $2,500 and up. Famous painters, ceramicists, singers, musicians, authors, and poets from all over the world soon moved in. After Gross, the earliest dweller, properly referred to as “Madame,” was Ernestine Schumann-Heink, the opera singer with the sonorous contralto voice. She was well-known for travelling overseas to entertain troops During World War 1. Her comfortable “old world” style dwelling reflected her complex personality: part diva, part homemaker supreme. Another celebrity was Carrie Jacobs Bond, the “I Love You Truly” ballad writer. She joined her neighbor, Schumann-Heink, in a campaign to build a local music and by artBryant center, Photography hoping to crePhotos ate a festival like the one in which the German singer had earlier performed. Their efforts never did pan out, but they did create a blueprint for future music festivals. information For More Charles Wakefield Cadman, “Land of Sky Blue Waters” composer, also relocated here. The on the Mt. Helix Artists’ man with the deep interest in Indian music was free knownColony, to have saidincluding “This is the only place in the world that makes you forget Hollywood.” It was registration for event an interesting comment, indeed, coming from someoneupdates, who was nowadditional surrounded by Hollywood royalty. But his famous neighbors, too, wanted a more private, down-to-earth hideaway. historical articles, homes Other people who called this turf theirs includfor sale and more, composer go to: and ed: Teresa Carreno, a Venezuelan pianist; the poet John Vance Cheney; Johanna www.JeweloftheHills.com Gadski, another German contralto; and baritone singer Charles W. Clark. Probably the best known transplant to this

For more information on For Mt. More information on the the Helix Artists’ Colony, Mt. Helix free Artists’ Colony, including registration including free registration for event updates, for event updates, additional additional historical articles historical articles, homes for and more, gogoto:to: sale and more, www.JeweloftheHills.com

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April, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4

Photos by Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

COVID-19 PANDEMIC STYLE BASEBALL FOR THE SAN DIEGO PADRES

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

Our San Diego Padres kicked off their 2021 baseball season April 1st during a historic event for them---playing in front of fans, in a reduced capacity, during a pandemic. Last season no fans were allowed at Petco Park. When San Diego County moved to the red tier, a COVID-19 blueprint for reopening and allowed activities, the Padres’ organization opened up seats to the public but only a certain percentage – 33% of capacity. Being a season ticket holder was one of the few ways to get into Petco Park in April. That should change after Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the COVID-19 color-coding system may be lifted June 15th. But there are caveats on the full reopening: how many will be vaccinated, and hospitalizations must remain low. Masks will still be required. Fans were enthusiastically awaiting the season and so much so that there was a surge in season-ticket holders. “I’m happy to be back in the ballpark no matter where I’m sitting,” said San Diegan Trevor Haumschilt. Haumschilt, a SDSU college student and opera singer, rolled with the changes from assigned seating to alt seating arrangements as a blue group member attending during the segment 1 pandemic Padres’ COVID-19 reopening plans. Some are already fully vaccinated and welcome sitting in sections with others like them. “I would be for a vaccinated only section because I would feel safer in an area that all are vaccinated,” said La Mesa resident Cesar Luna. Luna was wearing a mask that said “vaccinated.” The San Diego Padres sent out emails to season ticket holders after the switch from red to orange tier was announced. A survey was included that asked if members would sit in sections where all fans were vaccinated. Fully vaccinated sections were not available in April, but season ticket holders were broken down into groups, such as the blue group, who had to scramble to buy back their seats during segment 1. There was no shortage of takers. AvailLOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

La Mesa resident, Cesar Luna, let’s all know he is vaccinated.

able seating was snapped up in hours. Online buybacks were held the end of March to obtain seats for the season opening series. The Padres’ roster this season is promising ---Fernando Tatis, Jr., Manny Machado, Yu Darvish, Blake Snell and more. Tatis Jr. suffered a shoulder injury on April 5th and was placed on the 10-day injury list. His recovery will be closely watched. A couple things to keep in mind before you go – have your cell phone at 100% full battery or take a small recharging gadget. Petco Park is now 100% cashless and your cell phone is the only way to order food and beverages. All ticketing is digital. Food and beverages are both ordered, and can be delivered to your seat, using the San Diego Padres app/MLB app. Orders are placed on an MLB /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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app/San Diego Padres app and then picked up at the chosen food station. In April, there were snags in the system and some seating sections experienced pauses in availability due to the large volume of orders. Ordering early after being seated can help to ensure the process goes smoothly. Of note was the pre-game announcements alerting fans of a way to report abusive fans by calling a designated phone number. Purses will be restricted to the size of fanny packs or clutches. The June 15th reopening date, if the criteria are met, should allow non-season ticket holders the ability to attend. The Padres team looks promising, and all are hoping for a spot in the play-offs.

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VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4 | April, 2021

MENTAL HEALTH TIPS FOR THESE TRYING TIMES

Hugging a pet is a great way to immediately make you feel better. By J.C. Cross

Loneliness, anxiety, and distressing thoughts are part of life in the age of COVID-19. I’m among those afflicted during this season of woe. Dread sometimes intrudes on ordinary daily life. These thoughts have, at times, been disorganized and racing. There are many qualified professionals offline, like your local healthcare provider, and online, such as pay services like tenpercent. com or joincoa.com who can help. I want to pass along some behavioral practices that I have learned over the past two decades to help with this growing need. 1. Redirect negative thoughts and feelings, practice simple thankfulness, and step out – I have had dreams of a tsunami sweeping me away; yet I have wakened every time. Life sometimes seems to overcome me like a roaring ocean, but then when I remember that I have been through this before, I realize that I will survive. Acting on this belief is what I call “pushing past.” When all seems lost, we have to be brave against negative emotions and thoughts and keep our eyes on the prize of peaceful thoughts. That will result from our daily conquering. If you have to speak to someone about troubling thoughts, do so. But don’t let thoughts or voices bring you down and be thankful for life! This redirecting can be extremely difficult. You may even feel cornered in your thoughts, that there’s no way out. But remember when all seems lost, that you have made it thus far. It’s one of the most powerful lessons I have learned. I conquered my fears of going back to school, of getting my first full-time job, of flying to interviews, of just meeting new people--all by stepping out, in spite of what may have been going on with me at that time. After all this turmoil, I realized that I was spinning my wheels. I evenLOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

tually earned awards for my work, made new friends and reclaimed my abilities and myself. Don’t be down on yourself if you fail at this— just get up and keep going! 2. Combat shame and press through the pain – If you are troubled with shame, even shame about being in your situation or shame that is unexplained, continue to be thankful and do your best to cope using the practices here. Continue to press through, remembering how far you have come and that others care about you. A professional counselor or a friend can also help. 3. No longer idealize the past – I thought when I first became ill that I had lost everything. In a sense I was right. I did not finish my second major, college friends disappeared, I did not have a job and I was living with my grandparents. I visited my undergrad college and it was empty. College has changed and so have I. I will make a new life. 4. Fight withdrawal – Assuming you, your friends or your family have been vaccinated or are certain that COVID-19 is not an issue, try to spend time with them. If spreading the virus is a concern, then video conference. Blogging or chatting online is better than doing nothing socially; we are social animals. People sometimes have difficulty dealing with family members and perhaps lose patience with or are generally uncomfortable with them. But even if you feel a gaping chasm between yourself and family or friends, step out in courage and just be with them. The things you were anxious about, have a good chance of just dissipating. Achieve your social quota for the day and you will feel accomplished. Self-care is an important practice – Get up, shower, eat and get on a schedule of any sort. /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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You will notice a change with a day that is even partly-planned. Secondly, get physical, that is, get out of the house each day for exercise of some sort, walking, sunbathing or anything. Fight your fear of being outside and get out even for a little while each day. The time will fly by and you will feel that you have accomplished your social quota for the day. Friends and family are of course the best companions. Any little outing will do. I will not kid you, this is one of the most difficult things for me to do consistently. But you can’t beat the endorphin rush and you will feel like the thoughts or experiences are behind you. Medications don’t have to be scary – When I first became sick, I was alarmed at taking even a common antidepressant such as Prozac. Now that I’ve run the tables of psychiatric medications, I can tell you that meds are not as scary as not taking them, if your doctor prescribes them to you. Journal – Sometimes writing/typing your struggles can help. The healthy life of the mind can be yours by writing our experiences down. Above all, get up and keep going. Your life may be like one of ours who are on the hard road, but you are not alone. “Nothing which is true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; therefore we must be saved by faith. Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore we must be saved by love.” -Reinhold Niebuhr Your friends, family, and health professionals are thinking of you. You are loved. Again before anything, if you are thinking of harming yourself immediately call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.

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April, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4 April, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4

MAN OF THE YEAR, A LIFETIME OF SERVICE: GREG COX PART 2: Family Man and Early Political Career

By Ari Pintado

Being surrounded by people you truly care about has been a constant in Greg’s life. Many of his oldest friends stood by him for several ventures, running events for the community and for the exciting moments that life brings. When Greg decided to enter politics, those very same friends were right there by his side. One of these people is one of Greg’s longtime friends, Larry Cunningham. Greg and Larry first met in the 70s while they were both a part of the Chula Vista Jaycees. The Jaycees was a service organization made up of young men who ran several community events, including the Fiesta De La Luna parade and carnival, the Miss Chula Vista and Jr. Miss contests. Larry recalls them both being single at the time and were roommates on a property they had bought on F Street. Greg graduated from San Diego State in 1970 and joined the Sweetwater Union High School District as a teacher at Montgomery Middle School. He taught driver training in the morning and was in class in the afternoon. He transferred to Bonita Vista High School midyear and became its Dean of Student Activities. Greg had long been interested in politics. He was appointed to the city of Chula Vista’s Parks and Recreation Commission and along the way met Cheryl Willett. Both were teachers and both were interested in local politics. After four years of dating, they married in December 1975. Two weeks later, Greg asked Cheryl what she thought if he ran for City Council. She offered to help him campaign. Larry remembers being a part of Greg’s team when he decided to run for City Council and later on his run for Mayor. The group consisted of a small group of friends. In addition to Larry, Jerry LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

Prior, Ken Weimer, Jim Biddle, Hal Coupar, Mike Bailey and Cheryl ran his campaigns. “That was the first time any of us had ever been involved in politics,” said Larry about their experience. “It was hard work but we had lots of fun.” Greg ran for City Council in the April 1976 primary. He came within three percentage points of winning out right. More precinct walking, sign posting, neighborhood coffees and fundraisers later, Greg was elected in June and was sworn /LocalUmbrellaMedia /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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in the following week at age 27. His first vote was for a sculpture, the Sea Shanty, on the grounds of the new Library at Fourth Avenue and F Street, the former site of the F Street School that he attended as a little boy. It did not take long for Greg to realize once you become a public figure the famous saying, “you have a reputation to protect” really does apply. Larry remembers a story about the first time Greg almost had a public relations nightmare. Greg was on his first term as a Councilman when he and Larry decided it was time to do some cleaning in the backyard of a rental they owned. While combing through the backyard, they discovered several large marijuana plants growing throughout the yard. These plants had belonged to the current renters, but the property belonged to Greg and Larry. Without a second thought, the two men quickly began pulling out every single plant. They were gone within a few hours. Greg and Larry acted fast before any one got the wrong idea about the Councilman. “It was not a good look for a newly-elected Councilman,” said Larry, or for Larry, who later served several terms on the Chula Vista Elementary School District Board of Education. Fast forward a few years later and Greg was elected mayor in 1981. One of his favorite Sunday drives was along the alleys of older Chula Vista. He kept a log of unpaved alleys on a whiteboard in his office—projects on a to-do list. Dredging began on San Diego Bay near J Street and Bay Boulevard, a necessary but questionably fragrant task. He enjoyed taking Cheryl and their daughter Elizabeth for a Sunday drive to watch as the dredging took place. The first drive ADVERTISE | Press@LocalUmbrella.com ADVERTISE | Press@LocalUmbrella.com

VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4 | April, 2021 VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4 | April, 2021 was interesting. The second was a repeat of the first. And by the third week, even Elizabeth scowled her disapproval. The city delivered Council agenda packets in manila envelopes on Friday evenings. During Greg’s tenure as mayor they grew in size to fill a briefcase, then a suitcase. Greg used highlighters on almost every document. His family knew what to get him for Father’s Day, his birthday and Christmas: a package of 24 yellow highlighters. Someone asked Elizabeth what her dad did when he was at home in the evening. She answered, “He goes Pssht. Pssht. Pssht.” That is the sound a highlighter makes as it’s drawn along printed text. The Montgomery annexation south of L Street in Chula Vista in 1985 was the largest annexation ever recorded of a populated region in California. Greg also worked on annexing into the city a smaller portion of county property near Hazel Goes Cook’s historic home in the Pepper Tree neighborhood. Knocking on doors and introducing himself occupied several Saturday afternoons. One experience was especially memorable. A resident came from preparing dinner to the front door, carrying a butcher knife in her hand. She invited Greg in. “Not until you put the knife down,” he said! Corky McMillin’s Rancho Del Rey housing project was accessible from newly widened East H Street. It protected hillsides and canyons while providing homes. At one time it was said that half the people who lived in Chula Vista either lived in or had lived in a house that Corky had built. In the early 80s, the Eastlake Development Company approached the City Planning Department with plans for a 3,000 acre development in what is now Eastlake. Never having approved such a plan, the City turned the Company away. In a subsequent meeting with the Mayor Greg, using his skills as a high school ASB Advisor accustomed to juggling football, basketball and activity schedules and working with ever-ambitious students, the company concurred that a framework of the project’s various neighborhoods could be phased in more suitably. Neighborhoods would be linked to one another, and include preserved open space, recreation facilities, business and commercial centers and areas for schools, churches and parks: Eastlake Hills, Shores, Greens, Vistas and Woods. Eastlake has been long recognized statewide as one of the best communities in the region. In 1976, the city of Chula Vista presented a plan for a hotel and convention center on Gunpowder Point to the California Coastal Commission, who rejected it. A nature center was also included. As mayor, Greg worked with the City Council and submitted a new plan to the Commission in 1983. Outreach to the public was plentiful, with Greg loading a screen, projector, slides and fliers into the trunk of a car he affectionately called the Mayor Mobile. One mid-November Saturday, Cheryl informed Greg that she was close to delivering their second daughter. “Can you wait ‘til I finish the 10 am presentation?” he asked. “No,” she answered. Off they went, driving west on J Street to the home of an aide who helped him move the equipment from Greg’s car to his so the presentation could go on as planned. Emily was born about an hour later. As for the Local Coastal Plan, it was approved in 1984. One of Greg’s favorites was the construction of the Chula Vista Nature Interpretive Center. Groundbreaking took place in 1986. Opening was July 4, 1987. Later renamed the Chula Vista Nature Center, it transitioned into an independent 501(c)3 non-profit with a new name, the Living Coast Discovery Center, in 2010. Although temporarily closed during the pandemic, when the Center reopens Greg and Cheryl urge people to visit on their birthdays and take a friend on the friend’s birthday. The Center relies on admission to stay alive. During Greg‘s early years as mayor, new opportunities presented themselves along San Diego Bay, and especially the J Street Marina. Jake’s Restaurant on Marina Parkway was one of his favorites. He would go there at least twice a week for lunch and throughout his being seated in a LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

booth, individuals would stop by, ask questions or propose an idea or two. They found Greg as he always was: approachable, professional and understanding. The Galley at the Marina was also a favorite. In the 1980s, the upstairs management office provided a fine place for viewing fireworks permitted at that time. It remains open, serving delicious fish and chips. Many projects saw their way to conclusion during Greg’s mayoral tenure, including the Blue Line trolley from San Diego to San Ysidro, the most heavily used line in the system, the California Yacht Marina and Chula Vista RV Resort. Greg relentlessly steered progress one section at a time on the Bayshore Bikeway, a 24-mile bicycle circuit through Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Coronado and downtown San Diego. Greg doesn’t talk about his efforts to build consensus. He just did it. He knows he can’t make 100% of the people happy 100% of the time, but he made every effort to encourage people to see other points of view. /LocalUmbrellaMedia /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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Greg’s term as mayor concluded in 1990. By then Chula Vista was San Diego County’s second largest city. In that year, Greg signed a Joint Powers Agreement with San Diego County and the City Of San Diego to set aside space in the Otay Valley Regional Park where they shared borders. The cleanup of the OVRP was an incredible undertaking. More is to come on Greg’s efforts to create a Scout Camp in the OVRP in the final installment of this series. Larry shares that in his 50 years of friendship with Greg he has always seen him constantly serve his community. “He has always been involved in his community, from Jaycees to city government and county government,” said Larry. “Chula Vista and San Diego are very lucky to have had Greg working for the betterment of the community.” It is no secret that Greg has created many memories with his friends, family and with the people of Chula Vista.

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April, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4

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honor our military members, veterans and their families! We will have a Facebook Live Kick-Off event on the USS Midway in downtown San Diego to get all our participants motivated to start the walk and to show our gratitude for those who serve. We’d love you to show your support by posting images, words of inspiration and videos as we participate in “PROUD to Walk” for Those Who Serve. Hashtag #proud2walk and #PROUDfoundation on your event social posts and mention Navy Marine Corps PROUD Foundation to show your support! Also follow us on Facebook where we will be posting and sharing your content throughout the week. https://navymarinecorpsproudfoundation.org/ proud2walk Navy Marine Corps Foundation Website About Navy Marine Corps P.R.O.U.D. Foundation P.R.O.U.D. stand for - Please Remember Our Unwavering Devotion The Navy Marine Corps P.R.O.U.D. Foundation is a nonprofit organization providing financial and in-kind support to San Diego County’s Navy Marine Corps Relief Society programs & local active duty Sailors, Marines, Veterans, Retirees and their families in need.

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VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4 | April, 2021

HELP THE KIDS COVID-19 PUSHED EVEN FURTHER BEHIND

By Nancy L. Sasaki

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that our most marginalized communities are not included in the American Dream. The public health and economic crisis brought on by COVID-19, combined with the social justice movement sparked the George Floyd tragedy, have illuminated this truth. This past year, San Diego children whose families were already struggling have faced unprecedented challenges and have fallen further behind as the pandemic continues to impact their lives. It is a known fact that, in order for children to succeed across the Nancy L. Sasaki, president and CEO of education continuum, their basic United Way of San Diego County needs – such as food on the table and a roof over their heads – must this and if there›s instability in the be met. United Way of San Diego household it can impact a child›s County (UWSD) brings together ability to learn and thrive. community partners so together Black and Hispanic students are we can identify barriers to learntwice as likely as white students to ing and align the solutions to have received no live contact with ensure that every student has the teachers while learning remotely. opportunity to thrive – regardless Students on average could lose of race, ethnicity, income, or zip five to nine months of learning by code.\ the end of June 2021; students of It’s not just the digital divide, or color could be six to 12 months beunequal access to distance learning hind, compared with four to eight technology, keeping kids behind months for white students. either. In San Diego County, many 31% of San Diegans are food entrenched systemic barriers insecure. When families don’t have have led to racial and economic access to food, that becomes their inequities keeping many families first priority and daily stressor, in poverty. Family stability plays making it difficult to focus on otha critical role in early childhood er important tasks like finding a development, while adverse childjob or getting their kids to school. hood experiences (ACEs) such as If parents or guardians don’t know long-term parental unemployment where their next meal is coming cripple their ability to learn and from, this can also significantly imsucceed emotionally, socially,Stay andSafe San pact a student’s education success. Diego VOL. 5 ISSUE 5 17 academically. These data points are evidence Some sobering statistics that that today’s pandemic has a vastly Construction, Inc. has been building illustrate the gaps created K-Co by these disproportionate impact on our homeowners’ dreams in the Clairemont neighborhood for over disparities: Black and Brown kids. For the 20 years. We believe in fair pricing for a high quality product 80% of White and Asianbuilt third pasttime. 100 years, UWSD has been in a reasonable graders read at grade level, committed to ensuring every child, CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED but only 50% of their Brown and younginadult, and family the If you have a project mind, please visit us has online or Builder of Your Dreams call us at 858-274-0005 schedule an appointment. Black classmates do. chance totosucceed. But for this to Nearly 24,000 students in grades happen, it’s clear we must harness K-12 live in households that are every resource available to rebuild doubled up with family or friends the systems that have kept so because they are unable to mainmany kids behind. tain housing on their own. This That’s why we’ve adopted a new can be uncomfortable, make it dif- strategy for improving San Diego’s ficult to learn, and can impact edfuture, “Mind the Gap: EDICT ucation success. It’s not just about 2030.” EDICT stands for “Ending BATHS KITCHENS a ADDITIONS child not reading at grade level. Disparities In Communities not Students are| facing challenges like Thriving.” At UWSD, our “superCA. Lic # 706173 Bond & Insured | info@kcoconstruction.com | www.KcoConstruction.com | 858-274-0005

power” is bringing together partners, leveraging their expertise, and using data to find the best ways to support early childhood success and family stability. However, we need our community’s help to make this vision a reality. Some ways you can help us end systemic inequity include: Volunteer your time. From packing hygiene kids for families in need to reading virtually to kids, there are so many ways to get involved safely. Get your company involved. Become a corporate partner, and harness the power of many employees giving time, talent, and treasure to improving their community. Donate. All donations of money are 100% tax deductible and go toward efforts that help children from cradle to career.

As our country works to recover from the pandemic, we must also reimagine our future, and partner to rebuild our communities in ways that ensure a more just and equitable society where all children have the chance to thrive and succeed. EDICT 2030 is a vision of what could be, and we are all going to have to work together to achieve it. Nancy L. Sasaki is the president and CEO of United Way of San Diego County. She is a proven changemaker focused on the immense and complex social challenges within the San Diego region and works to build a positive future for children, young adults, and families experiencing inequities. Learn more about United Way of San Diego County’s work at uwsd.org.

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April, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4

The women of Allegiance Heating, Air & Solar.

LOCAL WOMEN IN BUSINESS:

A CONVERSATION WITH SARAH WOOD ALLEGIANCE HEATING, AIR & SOLAR

By Molly Galliher

In the face of great challenges, it is easy to get caught up in the negative side of things and let them overwhelm you. This line of thinking is completely foreign to Sarah Wood. Originally involved in the escrow business, Sarah had a blossoming career in the early 2000s. In 2008, she gave birth to her second daughter and, while enjoying maternity leave with her new baby, the market crashed. After returning to work, everything was quiet: nothing seemed maintainable. Everything was up in the air. Not long after, Sarah’s father suddenly passed, leaving behind Allegiance Heating and Air Conditioning Inc., his one-man home-based business that he had founded in 1988. With little room to grow in escrow and no experience in HVAC, Sarah made a risky decision. Instead of attempting to continue in the escrow business during the recession, she made the leap to continue her father’s legacy. Utilizing her office management skills and ability to make connections, Sarah hired a technician and began to work on expanding her father’s business. Twelve years later, Allegiance Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. now employs a team of 17 and has vastly expanded its operations. Undoubtedly, Sarah has continued her father’s legacy and made her own mark on the community. Sarah didn’t stop there. After joining multiple trade associations, she obtained her contractor’s license and made a name for herself in the trades. Sarah has continued to enrich the San Diego community through her work as the former president of the Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning Association of San Diego and as the founder of the Santee Young Professionals group. She is one of the few female leaders within the trade industry and is highly respected within the community. Crediting her motivation to her two young daughters, she has paved the way for women in the trades and regularly works to encourage other women to join these male-dominated spaces without fear. With her LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

Sarah Wood

positive attitude, incredible work ethic, and amazing adaptability, Sarah is an inspiration to those looking to start their own businesses. Q: Tell us a little bit about Allegiance HVAC. What do you do? A: We work anywhere from single-family homes to light commercial buildings, apartment buildings, townhomes, property management. We are a full-service HVAC company that includes service, repair, installation, and replacement of your heating and air conditioning system. Other services we offer include indoor air quality testing, attic insulation, cleaning air ducts, cleaning chimneys, janitorial services, and solar work. This is all-encompassing of what the company offers. Q: What is your typical workday like? A: As an owner, my job has changed dramatically over the twelve years I’ve been running this company. When we started, it was just /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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me. There has been an evolution of what my job entails. First, it was everything: the office operations, HR, hiring manager, scheduling, dispatching, whatever it was, I did it all. As we’ve evolved, my job is to create positions and put the right people in them to help the company grow. I find people smarter than me to do tasks more efficiently. As an owner, I find employees and handle a lot of marketing and networking while acting as the face of the company. Before COVID, much of my job was sitting on boards, running associations, attending networking events, creating marketing content, and managing the company. Q: Can you talk about your work as part of the Plumbing Heating and Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC) of San Diego? A: The PHCC is nationwide. There is a state chapter in Sacramento, and then there are local chapters. These local chapters consist of contractors from these two industries and are where best practices and standards are set. There is also an academy side to this group where around 140 students go through an apprenticeship to become plumbers and heating and air conditioning technicians. I’ve sat on the board for the last five years. I was president two years in a row and currently sit on the board as past president. I now act as a director or advisor. When I was transitioning and working on growing Allegiance, I was looking to put myself around other contractors that have been in my position. I joined the PHCC to pick the brains of contractors that have gone through the same thing. Now I help make decisions over there. Q: What is the Santee Young Professionals Group? A: About three years ago, I founded the Santee Young Professionals group with the Santee Chamber of Commerce. It allows young entrepreneurs to come in and see the benefits of in-person business to business networking and community involvement while getting to learn about what the chamber does. Community outreach is great for young entrepreneurs and

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VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4 | April, 2021 businesses as people look to see what they are doing for the community. Q: What is it like to be a woman in such a male-dominated field? A: Surprisingly, the men I’ve interacted with have been some of the most welcoming people I’ve encountered. No matter what, you’re going to have people that don’t want to see you succeed whether female or male, but those I’ve encountered have been some of my biggest cheerleaders. I don’t really have any negative things to say about being in a male-dominated industry as I’ve gotten a lot of support. I have nothing but positive experiences. Q: Has your gender impacted how you interact with clients? A: Being a female-owned business is not a bad thing these days. Sometimes people call specifically because we are a female-owned business. In a service-based business like this, the majority of workers that come into your home are men. Women who are home alone may have some doubt or feel uncomfortable because of this but, as a female-owned business, we can provide these clients with a sense of security that other companies don’t. The people I send to my clients’ homes are people I would invite into my own home. I have a different perspective as a female in this industry, and I think people appreciate that. These days, people are cheering more for me than against me. Q: Do you have any advice for other women looking to get into the field? A: Involve yourself. Join a local member association, become an active member in your community, make your face and name known, set a better standard. It’s all about surrounding yourself with the right people. That is why I joined local networking groups, chambers, and the contractors’ group. I don’t think many women grow up thinking they’ll own a contracting company one day. Typically, they fall into it. My father started this company. I took it over after he passed away and have grown it from there. I can’t stress to women enough: there is room in this industry. Other women have paved the way and it’s much more open than one might think. If there is anyone who wants to be a part of this industry, I’m a great resource because I have access to schooling and can point you in the right direction. Q: What was it like to pivot from a career in escrow to a career in the trades? A: It was scary. When I worked in real estate in the early 2000s, the market was crazy. I was working 60 hours a week. In 2008, I was on maternity leave after having my daughter when the market crashed. When I went back, it was so quiet and had become something I couldn’t see maintaining long-term. My father passed the following year and I didn’t have much time to think. I called some of his clients and tried to see if I could keep his business alive and his legacy going instead of going back to escrow. It

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was scary and exciting, but I’ve never done anything that was a little scary and come to regret it, especially since I started this business. In fact, if it isn’t a little scary, it probably isn’t worth it. Q: You just recently purchased a second business; can you talk about that? A: It’s called Absolute Duct and Chimney Services. My husband joined after retiring from the union. Good friends of mine were selling their business and we decided to take it over. There’s much less overhead. Heating and air conditioning is a very skilled trade in comparison so this just made sense. It was an opportunity to expand Allegiance even further. Q: What is your greatest source of motivation? A: I know this is a cliché, but of course, family. I have two daughters and I like to show them I can succeed in this predominantly male field. Along with this, I hope my father is proud to see how his business has grown from one man to now seventeen employees. Q: What part of your job do you enjoy the most? A: I enjoy seeing the personal growth of my employees. I’ve known a lot of them pre-mar-

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riage, pre-home and it’s just great to see them grow and transition. I like providing these jobs and putting people in positions where they can succeed. Personal growth like this is huge for me, especially with how tough it is in California. Q: What is the best part about working in the San Diego community? A: Having a heating and air conditioning company in San Diego is very hard. The weather here is perfect all the time so it’s kind of fun to play that game and it’s interesting to see how many people use their heating and air conditioning all the time regardless of the perfect weather. I’m a native. I’m from San Diego and having a business out here and being able to prosper and provide jobs is great. I’ve lived in Santee my whole life and in my position, I get to be involved in a lot of community outreach and get to give back to the community as a whole. Thank you Sarah Wood for sharing your story and inspiring our readers. Visit https://allegianceheatingandairsd.com/ or call (619) 4492469 for more information.

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April, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4

PUBLISHER’S PICK

Local finds and observations by our publisher

“WE’RE JAMMIN’, WE’RE JAMMIN’ (JAMMIN’). Jammin’, jammin’ (hope you like jammin’ too)” - Bob Marley

Rolling Stone Magazine listed Bob Marley as #11 on its list of “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”. -- I love Bob Marely! Little did I know when I first listened to the Jamaican legendary singer, songwriter, pioneer of Reggae, that 40 years later I would be singing the praises of jammin’ in a whole new way. This jam is in a tasty jar. You see, the Jammin’ I’m obsessed with now is made right here in San Diego. Normal Heights residents David and Risa Baron bought a fledgling local homemade jam company called Jackie’s Jams in 2007. At the time Jackie’s Jam could be found at select Farmers Markets in the area which is how David Baron was first introduced to this product. “I tasted it and was instantly impressed by the flavor and freshness,” stated David Baron. “I’m a foodie and I am pretty picky at times, but I really thought Jackie’s Jams was a special product. I was looking at a career change and at the time and Risa and I decided to jump in and make an offer.”

Less than 15 years later, after a lot of hard work making and selling Jackie’s Jams at the same markets where it was discovered, Baron Family Foods has a beautiful new kitchen of their own in El Cajon. While Jackie’s Jams can still be found at local Farmers Markets, it can be found at numerous local markets in and outside of San Diego County including Whole Foods, Sprouts and more. “Jackie’s is served at numerous local restaurants here in San Diego, and also is incorporated into signature dishes at many local fine dining establishments here in the area,” said David Baron. “It has not always been easy,” said Risa Baron, the other half of the husband and wife team. “But we’ve established a brand that not only do consumers love, but that restaurants can count on for consistent high- quality and flavor.” I first tasted Jackie’s Jam back in

2008 and I too was impressed, not only with the fresh taste, but also with the wide variety of unique flavors like Spicy Jalapeño, Triple Citrus, Balsamic Fig, along with the standards like Strawberry, Cherry, Meyer Lemon Marmalade and more. To this day I make sure our pantry at home has at least a couple of “backup” jars so I never run out. Not only do I eat it the traditional way - on toast, bagels, etc. - but

in a variety of our favorite family recipes. I always make sure out-of-town guests get a taste and inevitably go home with a jar - or a case! It makes a great unique gift. People enjoy receiving gifts that they can really use. I’ve also made Jackie’s Jam a traditional gift to corporate clients over the years. The feedback I get is always positive and very often results in requests for more, especially with the more exotic flavors that have chili peppers in them. If you haven’t tried Jackie’s Jam yet – I suggest you do – and soon. I do think you’ll like Jammin’

Brad Weber

Local Umbrella Media Publisher

I’ve learned Jackie’s Jam is a great “secret ingredient”

too!

Jackie’s Jams AT A GLANCE

Owners: David and Risa Baron Location: 1444 Pioneer Way #11 El Cajon, CA 92020 Phone: 619-884-5093 Website: Jackiesjams.com Description: We craft jams and jellies the oldfashioned way, by hand and using only natural ingredients. Our jams are created with locally grown fruits whenever possible from farmers throughout Southern California. We take time preparing our small handmade batches of jams, jellies, and marmalades by slow cooking each to fully extract the exceptional flavors and gem-like hues real fruit has to offer. You’ll never find any artificial flavors or high fructose corn syrup. Visit our jam shop to learn about our 30 plus flavors!

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VOLUME 66 || ISSUE ISSUE 44 || April, April, 2021 2021 VOLUME

15 15

I’M LOCAL! with LAUREN LAWLESS AND CLARISSA SWIKARD CO-OWNERS AND FOUNDERS OF CHEESE ME CHARCUTERIE & MORE Profiles of Local People by Local Umbrella Media Tell us a little bit about yourselves please. We both grew up in the Eastlake/ Rolling Hills Ranch area. We met in elementary school and have been together attending the same schools ever since. We’re both proud Eastlake High alumni and are finishing up our final college days at SDSU. Eastlake is an amazing family friendly and supportive community which has definitely shaped our lives. How did you get this idea to start a business? When did it start? We truly have always been interested in creative activities and planning parties and get togethers with our friends. This business grew out of those passions. During the pandemic shut down last year, we had lots of time to think about business ideas that would cater to people being in lockdown. We did some boards for friends and family for fun, and then it dawned on us there was a market for charcuterie and cheese boards that people could enjoy while locked down at home. How did the quarantine affect you? Everyone has been touched by the COVID pandemic in some shape or form, and we’ve had friends and family go through painful times. It’s been a tough year for sure, but at same time, it gave us the inspiration and idea to start this business, so that’s one positive we take from the unfortunate situation we all faced in 2020. What kinds of skills did you have to develop to be successful? I think early on, the creative side came naturally to us both, but we needed to learn how to actually run and manage a business. Part of that is understanding that you

need to learn from your missteps and realizing that being owners means you will have to make sacrifices in your personal lives in order to build a business the right way. Looking back, the mistakes and lessons learned have made us stronger businesswomen. How did you balance the business and being college students? We mentioned making sacrifices, but one area we both decided early on, was that school always comes first. We’re so incredibly lucky to be SDSU students, and getting our degrees was as important to ourselves as it was to our parents. They didn’t need to remind us, graduating was both our goals. We’ve been able to effectively balance both goals...

being students and starting a business, we are proud of that probably most. Why is everyone so crazy for charcuterie boards? What makes yours special? Charcuterie’s popularity has definitely increased. Everyone likes being a foodie. As for why ours are special, we feel it’s because all of our charcuterie boards are unique, so that no customers have the same board design, unless they request something they’ve seen before on Instagram or the website. This customization is part of what we think our customers appreciate, every board is specially made for them. That includes personal touches with stenciling and other decorations to fit the occasion. What is one thing that surprised you about this business? The biggest surprise has been the tremendous growth in such a short time, less than a year. We started with friends and family, and then it’s just blossomed from there. Now

we have business accounts and do large events that we never would have imagined. What advice do you have for others who want to start their own business? Listen to those you trust for sure. The advice from our parents was to think of the customer and work backwards from there. There is nobody more important than the customer and meeting their expectations and reacting to their needs. Don’t compromise or take shortcuts in trying to please them, a happy customer creates exponential good will and business. How has the Eastlake community supported you? Eastlake has shaped who we are throughout our lives. Our friends, families, teachers and other local businesses in the community have been both our inspiration and our biggest cheerleaders. We wouldn’t trade our Eastlake roots for anything, and hope we can pay that forward as well. What is your favorite activity to do for fun in Eastlake? We both have many hobbies that Eastlake is perfect for, especially enjoying the outdoors. However, nothing is more enjoyable for us than to spend some down time enjoying time with friends at the many unique and locally based restaurants like Novo, Savoie and Karinas at the mall. You have to support your community’s businesses, especially in these challenging times. How can people order one for you and what is the price range? People can order from us on our website (www.cheesemecharcuterie.com), email us at cheesemecharcuterie@gmail.com or find us on instagram (@cheesemecharcuterie) to place an order with us. Our price range starts at $25 and can get up to a few hundred when it comes to booking an event! Thank you for sharing your story with our readers. We are so proud to see your business grow and your entrepreneurial dreams develop!

Cheese Me, Please!

Charcuterie for Every Occasion. Order yours TODAY! www.cheesemecharcuterie.com / @cheesemecharcuterie LOCAL NEWS NEWS || LocalUmbrellaNews.com LocalUmbrellaNews.com LOCAL

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April, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4

SUPERHERO EXTERIORS REWRITES THE ROADMAP FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT

By Mia Bertelsen

Home improvement is on our minds now. After over a year of just seeing the inside of the same house day after day and noticing all the parts you wish you could improve or change, we are ready to take some action. We all have a friend with the cautionary tale of the contractor who did them wrong. My neighbor has her backyard halfway finished and he left with part of her money too. Consumers want an easier way to start a project and a company who can carry out their promises of creating something special. No kidding, we need a superhero! That is where Superhero Exteriors makes their landing. They took the standard way that home improvement companies run, and turned it all around. Grant Ouzts, General Manager of Superhero Exteriors, explained, “I wanted to start a boutique exterior company focused on providing the best possible product for our clients’ needs. We really wanted our primary focus to be trying to help potential customers solve a need, with many options, as opposed to pushing a singular product.” After a lot of hard work and dedication to change the way they serve customers, they found their winning formula-- it is easy, straightforward and no pressure for the homeowners. The homes they have transformed are stunning. They work on all kinds of homes. It could be older homes that really need some updating up to newer builds that need some improvements to let the light shine inside with their amazing bifold doors that are the size of the entire wall. Read on so you can see that there is a better way to improve your home and avoid the villain in home improvement. Kyle and Tatiana Beebe, who live in Coto de Caza, Califoria, are just beaming about the recent transformation of their home. “Every step of the process was fantastic,” said Kyle Beebe. “They didn’t try to upsell me doors and push LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

Brad Schmidt and Grant Ouzts of Superhero Exteriors.

certain decisions.” The Beebe family knew that they wanted to have the huge bifold doors to open up their living space to see the backyard pool. They moved from the East coast six years ago and he added, “When we think of what it means to live in California, the indoor/outdoor lifestyle is what makes it so special. To put these doors in has helped to take advantage of everything California has to offer.” He also was so pleased how Superhero Exteriors was able to coordinate and work together with another general contractor he had at his house to repair flood damage. Grant Ouzts shared with Local Umbrella Media the beginnings of his company. Please tell us how you started Superhero Exteriors. I was formally a sales representative for the parent company (Superhero Contractors) and a list of events brought along the opportunity for myself, with the close guidance of the upper brass, to build my vision of what I felt a home improvement company should be. Brad /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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Schmidt, A longtime associate and close friend, shared the imperative business sense and work ethic that was needed to structure what would become Superhero Exteriors. We had an opportunity to lean on each other to bring these ideas, concepts, and goals to a reality. Along with our investors, who are valuable mentors, we found ourselves in a place to run with the opportunity of building Superhero Exteriors into what we believe will be a huge staple in the industry here in Southern California. What were some of your challenges when you first began to build the company? I think our biggest challenge was building a company that doesn’t operate like most of the window and door companies out there. Most stem from the “find a product, train 20 reps and put them on the road with the ‘today and today only’ special promo – then stare at the board and see who hit their sales goals. We wanted to focus on what will change the client’s idea of what a contractor is, then prove them RIGHT in their decision. Remove the client dynamic of ‘race to get you to sign on the dotted line’, to ‘hey, how are you? What’s going on and how can I help you?’ That idea, this challenge of building a company rooted from the individual, and not just a product, has been an ENORMOUS undertaking. We have had to completely restructure the entire industry norms when it came to marketing, setting appointments and redefining that the experience should be about the CLIENT. Finding completely new expectations and standard operating procedures not only in the back office but also out in the field was our goal. We did not want to run a company that was solely about getting a signature because of internal management demands. This thought-making process and company structure is completely against all industry norms. And even though it has been the big-

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VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4 | April, 2021 gest challenge of our professional lives, we love it. We love ‘swimming upstream’ because it now means we can meet new clients in a more relaxing consultative style. The way anything in home design should be. With zero sales pressure, an open mind and a desire to help. And the feedback from our customers has been astounding. We believe they FEEL the difference – and the results are proving it to be true. How did the COVID-19 lockdown affect you? How? Well, as candid as I can be, it kicked us in the teeth. In-home sales had a long pause with people nervous to have outsiders in their home for product demonstrations. Like any small business, we had to also consider cutting our losses due to the 12 months + complete economic shut down. However, we were able to find a positive in the situation by completely rethinking our marketing and offering Zoom meetings for proposals. While our business slowed dramatically, we are pleased to say that we were blessed with enough referral business that kept us moving through the obstacles. With life starting to slowly come back to normal (ish) – we are starting to grow faster than we could have expected. What is your most popular renovation? Why? Our most popular renovation is the bifold door systems. A home in Calabasas Hills, which is featured on our website, shows how we removed both corner walls of their living room and created a stunning effect by converting their walls into bifold door systems. This allowed their living room to seamlessly transition into the backyard and pool area. This is a huge hit for the family who entertains frequently. The projects keep getting bigger and more imaginative. Our custom door systems allow us to do some pretty amazing things to your home. Customers can’t stop talking about the transformation it brings to their home. Nothing can make you happier than seeing the natural light flood the inside of your home and feeling the closeness to nature while inside your living space. It is priceless. What kinds of homes do you work on? The majority of our work is with existing homes. Whether it’s a simple retrofit window, replacement windows and doors, or a custom, high-end door system that requires modification to the home, we are a one-stop shop. However, we do coordinate with local builders and developers who have custom door requests for their clients.

K- CO CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED

Builder of Your Dreams

ADDITIONS

Tell us more about the custom doors that you create for homes? Why is it a good investment? The door systems we offer are stunning. We work with a few local manufactures that can provide anything you will need to accommodate your living style, creative eye or desires in converting your home with today’s green technology. From bifold doors, multi-stacking doors or even a pocket door that disappears into the wall, these systems allow us to modify your home to create a smooth indoor/outdoor living space. Whether your goal is to increase your home’s value or curb appeal, or to increase the quality and comfort of your home life, these systems are always a conversation piece when completed. It’s funny – my fiancé is in real estate and she will get asked all the time: “what city was that home in… the one with the doors?” They always remember the doors - I love that one and so do our customers. Could you briefly walk us through the process of working with you? Absolutely – and you are getting right to where we try to focus our energy when presenting Superhero Exteriors. These are huge projects, and as candid as can be, they are not always cheap. Our line is always open to just ask questions if you just simply want to get into the mindset of what you are looking to undertake. You will find that most of the time you can’t get information from the appointment setter (because they just call and book) and getting any numbers over the phone is never a reality. You’re told “a sales rep must come to the home for a project review” and always my personal favorite “and at a time when both decision makers

are home together” - infuriating. First – we are going to answer any questions YOU have about what YOU are looking for. Because after all, who knows better what you want than YOU? After we have gathered the information you need about your project’s desires, we will review some general questions about your project and what you should expect in home. Any construction needs, product options and yes… even a general idea of what pricing you should be expecting should you decide to gather a bunch of quotes on similar products/services. We find we are always competitive in numbers--never the cheapest and rarely the most expensive. We want our clients to understand our vision, our services, and the industry as a whole. You should feel a bit more educated on the logistics of your project before you ever even take a meeting with us – and we will accomplish that on the first phone call. We have been known to have conversations with people who don’t end up working with us as we may not be the right fit for their needs. I was pleasantly surprised we still manage to receive a wonderful review on yelp from a gentleman who went another direction. We will always be able to suggest a local company who can provide what you are looking for– and we feel that should always be the case. Many homeowners want to renovate and improve their homes after being quarantined at home for over a year now. Where is a good place to start? Our website is a great place: www.SuperheroExteriors.com – you’ll find links to all our work including Instagram and YouTube with in-depth project videos.

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VOL. 5 ISSUE 5 17

K-Co Construction, Inc. has been building

homeowners’ dreams in the Clairemont neighborhood for over 20 years. We believe in fair pricing for a high quality product built in a reasonable time. If you have a project in mind, please visit us online or call us at 858-274-0005 to schedule an appointment.

BATHS

KITCHENS

CA. Lic # 706173 | Bond & Insured | info@kcoconstruction.com | www.KcoConstruction.com | 858-274-0005

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April, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4

HAPPY 20 BIRTHDAY, OPERATION THIN MINT ! TH

Celebrating two decades of sending “a taste of home” to military troops Girl Scouts, San Diegans and deployed military personnel have something extra sweet to celebrate this year: Operation Thin Mint’s 20th anniversary. Since 2002, local Girl Scout troops and their generous cookie customers have teamed up to send more than 3.25 million packages of America’s favorite cookies and countless handwritten notes of support to military troops overseas and local veterans. U.S. Navy, Marine, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Guard personnel have received “a taste of home and a note to show we care” while deployed. Troops stationed in places like Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, and Diego Garcia, and Sailors and Marines aboard ships patrolling the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Red Sea, Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean have all enjoyed America’s favorite cookies. Coast Guard personnel aboard an icebreaker in the Arctic Circle have received cookies, and local veterans sometimes receive them as well. During this anniversary year, Girl Scouts San Diego has set a goal of 200,000 packages of “OTM” cookies. As of March 23, nearly 147,000 had been donated. Operation Thin Mint is a popular component of San Diego’s Girl Scout Cookie Program. For 104 years, the cookie program has been helping Girl Scouts develop confidence and learn valuable life skills like goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics. The program will end on Sunday, April 18, however, online you still can donate after that date. Visit sdgirlscouts.org/otm. All proceeds from the local Girl Scout Cookie Program stay here in San Diego and Imperial counties to keep Girl Scouting available and affordable for more than 31,000 girl and adult members, regardless of their financial circumstances. Cookie proceeds fund troop service projects, field trips, and travel, as well as programs, camps and volunteer training in the two counties. “OTM Sendoff” event revamped for 2021 During an annual Operation Thin Mint Sendoff ceremony, held since 2005 aboard the USS Midway Museum, several thousand Girl Scouts, military personnel and members of the public gather to celebrate the success of that year’s OTM campaign and reveal how many packages of cookies military troops will receive. This year, because of health restrictions, a press conference with a limited number of participants was held on Midway on Friday, April 9, to observe the anniversary. Girl Scouts’ current CEO, Carol Dedrich, unveiled a pop-up exhibit about Operation Thin Mint that is displayed in Midway’s hangar bay through April. All this month, the museum also will provide free admission to current Girl Scouts in grades K-12. Find details at sdgirlscouts.org. Operation Thin Mint’s history Girl Scouts San Diego launched Operation Thin Mint in the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks and the anthrax incidents that ended the custom of mailing overseas care packages addressed to “Any Service Member.” That first year, San Diegans donated three shipping containers full of cookies, accompanied by colorful notes of encouragement. “When the Pacific Fleet got underway for Operation Enduring Freedom in 2002, nearly everyone in town had a friend, family member or neighbor deploying to the Middle East,” recalls Jacob. “Operation Thin Mint became the perfect way for San Diegans to demonstrate their appreciation for our troops. Nothing is as All-American as a Girl Scout Cookie!” LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

(Left to right) Michael Feddersen, Hailee Wong, Makayla Soto and Laurie Dexter

Over the next 19 years, Operation Thin Mint has continued to bring a welcome reminder of home to those who serve our country. Excerpts from Operation Thin Mint thank you notes

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• Grown men do cry. The Thin Mint cookies brought back memories of home. With all our hearts, thank you for thinking of us. — Deanna Moore, Supply Officer, USNS PATHFINDER (T-AGS-60) • When we received a shipment of your Operation Thin Mint cookies, suddenly the bad times here weren’t so bad. When I eat them, I feel like I’m home again! — SPC Jermaine Webb, USA (Afghanistan) • Everyone has a smile on their face because of the Girl Scout cookies! — STS2(SS) Benjamin Dukleth, USN (Iraq) • I am happy to report to you that your mission was accomplished—the warm reminders from home brightened our days. — CMC Wayne Smith, USN (Japan) • Thank you for the support . . . It makes all the difference in our lives and makes the jobs we do worth it. Semper Fidelis! — SGT Samuel Garcia, USMC (Afghanistan)

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VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4 | April, 2021

NATIONAL NURSES WEEK CONTEST SPONSORED BY LOCAL UMBRELLA MEDIA

Emergency Department nurses have energy at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center. Photo by Leslie Aquinde

Nursing professionals have never been more important to the health of our nation than the past year and it’s our pleasure to thank every nurse this National Nurses Week. The week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. The week is designed to celebrate and honor nurses for the valuable work they do in our communities. It also educates the public about nurses’ roles in health care. Nurses work in many settings such as hospitals, senior communities, clinics, schools, Navy ships and more. Local Umbrella Media would like to invite our readers to recognize local nurses in our next issue. Please email us a picture and a short description of why this nurse is a stand-out in their profession. Make sure to say their full name, job title and where they work. What does he or she do tirelessly to help our local community? We will select two entries to receive a special prize of Desert Diamond Earrings for the lady and a variety case of Jackie’s Jams for the gentleman. Email the photo and description to: Brad@localumbrella.com

www.desertdiamondbar.com Jackiesjams.com

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April, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4

BUILD A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR DOG THROUGH COMMUNICATION Featuring: Davin Griffith, Dog Trainer By Henri Migala

“Growing up, my family had a black lab, named Lilo. At a very young age, I began to notice human-like qualities and an unconditional amount of love coming from her, that taught me how much more than a pet, a dog could be,” reflected Dog Trainer Davin Griffith. Davin Griffith, like many of us, has been around dogs his whole life. He couldn’t wait to one day have a dog of his own. In his early years, due to a friend having a short-haired German Shepherd, Davin was set on getting one too. He began watching videos about dogs, learning about the different breeds, their habits, behaviors and temperaments. Through all of his research, he stumbled upon the breed he decided he was destined to own. The breed that intrigued him the most was the Belgian Malinois. Their intelligence, abilities, performance and protection/sport work became something Davin desired. According to the American Kennel Club, the Belgian Malinois is a “well-balanced, square dog, elegant in appearance with an exceedingly proud carriage of the head and neck. The dog is strong, agile, well-muscled, alert, and full of life.” Davin then found any way he could to get closer to the breed. Whether it was through research, chats or online groups. He even went to Facebook and found a group called Oceanside Working Dogs Club. There, he started volunteering with and learning from them. He later became what’s known as a “decoy” for their training programs. A “decoy” is an extremely important part of training for sport dogs. This person wears a protective suit (aka a bite suit) in order to play out various exercises that train LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

the dog for one thing or another. In protection sports, a good decoy is as responsible for the training of the dog as well as the handler. Soon after that, he adopted his first rescue dog, Declan. Lucky for them both, scrolling through Facebook, he stumbled across a post about Declan. This post was a cry for help that a Malinois was in need of a home or else was due to be euthanized. The dog was previously adopted out once, but was brought back with the claim that he had issues with aggression. Davin scrambled to find a dog rescue to help him save Declan and with a glimmer of hope, a rescue finally contacted Davin back. With the rescue’s help, and not even a 24 hour notice before euthanasia, Davin was on the road headed to pick him up. The dog “looked super friendly” and Davin thought to himself, “this poor thing, it doesn’t belong in a shelter.” Declan then became his first of many foster dogs. Foster dogs are dogs that are rescued from an inappropriate environment, or circumstance and live with a caretaker until a forever home can be found for them. While fostering Declan, Davin got to try his hand at training his dream breed, a Belgian Malinois. However, he was not the only one persuaded by Declan to start training. A childhood friend since grade school, Angelee, also became very close to Declan and got involved in his training. Seeing the progress and drive from Declan, she became interested in training dogs too. This led them to become dog training partners and even to start their own business. After three months, Declan was rehomed and “it was heartbreaking,” said Davin. But the experience was life-changing because that was /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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the beginning of Davin fostering and training dogs full-time. Seeing this dog go from fearful and having a bleak outlook on life, to confident and ready for anything, had a profound effect on Davin. Soon after, Davin started posting videos about training dogs on social media. As people started learning that he was working with dogs, he started getting requests from friends and strangers alike, asking “Can you please help me with my dog?” One thing led to another, and before long, Davin was beginning to make a living doing what he loved – caring for and training dogs, all the while, helping the owners build a better bond with their dogs. What is the most prevalent issue that dog owners need help with? “Regardless of the problems that people come to me with, the problem I see most owners have is with being consistent. You need consistency with your instructions, consistency with your rewards and consistency with your corrections. That is one piece of advice I could share with anyone who wants to train a dog, just be consistent. “Whether it’s a reward or a correction, owners need to be consistent in their application. Think about this situation. If I decide I don’t want a dog on the couch, every single time he tries to get up on the couch, I tell him no and prevent him from getting up there. He will eventually learn that getting on the couch is an unacceptable behavior to me and will no longer even try. Now, let’s say I still don’t want him on the couch, but occasionally I let him on there to cuddle. So, I only tell him no most of the time. ADVERTISE | Press@LocalUmbrella.com

VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4 | April, 2021

He now has the issue of knowing when it is a good time to get on the couch and when it is not a good time to get on the couch. This gets very confusing for the dog and you may now find the dog constantly testing when it’s acceptable to be on the couch. Remember, they don’t speak our language, so we have make training very black and white for them.” What recommendations do you have for new dog owners to choose a dog? “I get this question daily! The most important thing is, before you adopt a dog, to heavily research the breed you want to get. Learn everything you can about the dog’s behavior and needs to make sure it will be a good fit for your personality and lifestyle. Also, a good rule of thumb is to try to visit the dog first, if you can. Not all dogs are going to be an exact match to their breed’s standard, but it’s good to be prepared and to know what you are looking for. “And just be honest with yourself as to what fits your lifestyle and your circumstances. Do you live in a house or apartment? Every single breed is different. They’ll be good at some things and bad at others. It’s finding what you want and what kind of dog you will be the best parent to. Do you want a cuddly, lazy lap dog (even if it is bigger than they think they are) or a dog that runs around your house all day, demanding your attention when you’re trying to have a lazy day? “People look at extreme activities some dogs do online, or even the work we do with our dogs, and they think, ‘Hey! I want one of those!’ The problem with that though, is that they don’t see all the constant, every day, hard work that goes into working with these very highdrive dogs. Really, most dogs aren’t even capable of the things the dog videos show and leave the owners with too high of expectations for their dogs.” What about adopting puppies? “People need to have more patience and manage their own expectations when working with puppies. People tend to forget that they’re only puppies and really don’t know anything. This whole world is new to them, the same as a newborn child. “We don’t do any corrections until a puppy is at least 6 months old. Until then, it’s all reward-based training. Making everything as fun as possible, especially the exercises dogs find boring, with a perfect example being, sitting. In this very young stage, a puppy is still deciding what they want to put all their energy into. So training needs to be as rewarding as possible so they actually want to do whatever it is we want them to! We’re not in the business of forcing a dog to do things they do not want to do, so we have to show them just how great it is for them to do it. “Remember, it is never too early to start training, but in the first few months, it’s very important to keep everything reward-based. The first 6 months is a crucial time for a dog’s development, similar to human infants and their window of early development.” What behaviors are the most difficult to fix? “This issue is honestly more with people than their dogs. The problem is getting the perception of the ‘alpha’ mentality out of their minds. LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

The ‘alpha’ mentality is when people think that dogs see you as part of their pack and you are their leader- their ‘alpha.’ This was the predominant approach years ago, and unfortunately, it’s still around with some people today, although we’ve learned it isn’t effective. “The problem is that people, trying to be the ‘alpha’ adopt behaviors that the dogs just don’t understand. The dog actually doesn’t have a clue as to what their owners are even trying to do, which leads to the owners reprimanding the dog for simply not understanding. Sadly, in addition to being confusing, a lot of those ‘alpha’ behaviors are related to punishment and can force the dog into violence. “For example, some people believe that, ‘I have to eat before the dog so that he sees I’m the alpha.’ This actually doesn’t make a difference to the dog. I could share every one of my meals with a dog, let him eat right next to me at the same time, and that would not have a negative effect on our training. What it would do, is strengthen our bond. A lot of these ‘alpha’ practices can cause many missed opportunities for bonding. As we know, if I have a good bond with my dog, they will want to work that much harder to ensure that I’m happy. “With dogs, the most difficult behaviors to fix are fear and aggression. The fear can come from genetics, but usually comes from the dog’s past experiences. It could be bad interactions/ associations with things or little to no socialization when they were puppies. Sadly, fear likely leads to aggression and that whole ‘alpha’ approach can definitely lead to both fear and aggression issues down the line, depending on the punishments used.” Where does the aggression in dogs come from? “Typically, it stems from fear. Fear-based aggression, the kind that comes from negative past experiences, are the most difficult to address. Typically we will do a lot of confidence building and trust exercises with the dog to overcome these hurdles. The cool part is that the earlier this is addressed, the easier it is to fix.” Is there such a thing as a ‘damaged’ dog? “It’s like going back to ‘fear-based aggression.’ Negative experiences can result in a ‘damaged’ dog. This dog just needs a special approach and maybe their needs tend to a gentler way. Some dogs, because of their experiences, might need more quiet time and less stimulation. They could even require the complete opposite. It’s important to know the needs of the dog, to be patient with them and to not give up on them. “A dog requiring a special type of care, needs an owner willing to work with them and who is willing to put in a lot of time. That isn’t cut out for just anyone, so again, the most important part is being honest with yourself and what you’re willing to do for your dog.” What are your thoughts on crating? “Crate training can be an excellent tool for both you and your dog. Crate training, for me, allows my dog a safe space to go to when they want to. I also never use the crate as a punishment because you want to avoid the dog associating the crate with anything bad. Another thing is that it is very important that all my crates be kept inside a safe temperature-controlled environment. /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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“The process in which I use to crate train starts by putting rewards in the crate, basically by throwing treats in there in front of the dog. The dog then gets rewarded when they go into the crate and later rewarded more at various times while they behave inside of the crate. It’s all about showing them their crate is a place of calmness and it’s rewarding for being in there. This is a skill that the dogs have to learn, so it’s best to work slowly while they get better at it. “Through my experience, dogs can be destructive around the house because they have so much energy. So, it’s actually safer for the dog to be in the crate during the puppy stage, if I am unable to directly supervise him at the moment. But, like everything else, it depends on the individual dog and training. Once the dog is trained and/or can be trusted in the house by themselves, then I think it’s generally fine to let them roam. Their crate can always be their own little spot though.” Any final recommendations for dog owners? “It always comes back to consistency. Not only with rewards and corrections, but words and cues as well. If you say ‘come’ when you want the dog to come, you should be consistent with that specific word. Just because we know that ‘get over here’ may mean the same thing as ‘come,’ the dog has no idea. They often learn through association. “Never punish a dog for a behavior it doesn’t understand. If a dog is just learning to sit, it doesn’t really understand what that is yet, so it’s going to take some time. If you corrected them for not understanding you, then it will make the dog reluctant or afraid to want to learn to sit. It’s just the same as if I were trying to learn French. If I got slapped for getting the definition of a word wrong, I would dread the next French question.

“If you’re training a dog correctly, the dog wants to do what you’re trying to teach it and more importantly they are excited for your approval. Again, it is important to manage your own expectations of your dog. If you want a dog to cuddle with, don’t get the dog with high anxiety, from a bad past, who doesn’t like cuddling. Do your research and get a dog that matches your needs and you can meet all theirs! “Remember to love and reward your dog constantly. Don’t ever hold back from telling your dog you like what they are doing! Above all, have fun with them! Training should never be a chore, and whether it is 5 minutes or 5 hours, getting out there is rewarding for both you and your furry friend.” Thank you Davin for sharing all your expert advice with our readers! ADVERTISE | Press@LocalUmbrella.com

April, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4

DOWNTOWN CHILDREN’S MUSEUM TO REOPEN AFTER YEAR-LONG PANDEMIC CLOSURE

After being closed since March 16, 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, The New Children›s Museum downtown has announced that it will reopen to the public May 21, with special “members only” days beginning May 7. Due to the nature of its highly interactive, high-touch installations, the arts-based children’s museum will be reopening in phases. The first phase includes the Main Level of the Museum, which features toddler favorite Wobbleland, (by artist Marisol Rendón), its outside Paint and Clay Studio and several drop-in art activities. The Museum is also introducing an old favorite Missing Links (aka the Rainbow Jumpy) by Felipe Dulzaides. The colorful 10’ x 25’ jumpy has made many appearances since first being introduced for the 2009 Animal Art exhibition, including at other U.S. children’s museums. Two new murals were created during the closure, which guests will now be able to see in person. Energized by Regan Russell (unveiled in October, 2020) covers the large windows of the Museum’s makerspace, the Rosso Family Foundation Innovators LAB, which faces Front Street and is visible from the outside. Brian and the Bugs by Katie Ruiz was completed last month (March, 2021). Inspired by her children’s book Brian the Wildflower, the mural adorns a large wall and windows on the Museum’s Main Level, which will welcome guests as they enter the 50,000 square-foot building. The Museum is also introducing a new “outdoor experience” on Island Avenue and the adjacent Museum Park. With Island Avenue closed to traffic, the Museum will be featuring multiple activities including the Apex Chariots (by Roman de Salvo, also from Animal Art) along with other vehicles for children to ride in the street. Other activities for children include bubbles, LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

a flowy muslin maze and a toddler area with books and other activities. There will be food trucks and seating for outdoor dining. For the month of May, the Museum will be open three days a week - Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. There will be two sessions each day, morning 9am-12pm and afternoon 1-4pm, with the noon hour (12-1pm) being reserved for cleaning and resetting. Reserved tickets are required for all guests, including members, to allow the Museum to limit capacity per guidelines. media contacts Kerri Fox 619 795 1524/ 301 404 8921 (cell) kfox@thinkplaycreate.org Toni Robin 858 483 3918 tr@trprsandiego.com With the health and safety of its guests and members as a top priority, the Museum has instituted health and safety protocols including capacity limits, mask requirements and social distancing guidelines. For details, see its COVID Safer Play Policy. The Museum plans to reopen its Upper Level in June, which will open up visitor-favorites Whammock (by Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdam), tikitiko (by Tanya Aguiñiga), the Rain House /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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(by Ernest Silva) and The Wonder Sound (by Wes Bruce) available for play. In late June or early July, the long-anticipated El Más Allá by Panca will open on the Museum’s Lower Level. The immersive El Más Allá will span the entire Lower Level, and will be accessible via a 40-foot slide from the Main Level. Panca will be at the Museum finishing the installation off and on throughout the month of May, giving visitors the opportunity to see the art come to life. For more details, visit the Museum’s Plan Your Visit page. The New Children’s Museum (opened 2008) is a new model of children’s museum whose mission is to stimulate imagination, creativity and critical thinking in children and families through inventive and engaging experiences with contemporary art. The Museum closed due to the pandemic on March 16, 2020 and provided virtual experiences and creative activities online for a full year. The Museum is reopening to the public on May 21, 2021. To learn more, visit thinkplaycreate.org or follow them on Facebook or Instagram.

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DESERT VIEW TOWER IN JACUMBA HOT SPRINGS WILL HOST AN EARTH DAY CELEBRATION ON APRIL 24 FROM 10 A.M. TO 5 P.M.

Local residents are invited to come experience Earth in the high desert including an Earth blessing ceremony and Sacred black Star Eyed Eagle Dancer, an array of live music, healthy natural foods including vegan options, and a wildflower and plant walk. There will also be alternative healers, local arts and crafts, nature art, native plants for sale, herbal products and essential oils, EMF awareness, nutritional counseling, natural beauty, country collectibles and more. The historic landmark Desert View Tower and Boulder Park is located off I-8 at In-Ko-Pah Park Road in Jacumba Hot Springs. For more information on the Desert View Tower, visit https:// www.facebook.com/desertviewtower. Earth Day admission is $7.50 for adults, $3.50 for kids ages 8-17 and free for children under 8.

SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL APPROVES DEAL TO MARKET GET IT DONE TO OTHER CITIES AND AGENCIES The San Diego City Council this week approved an agreement, which would allow the sale of the City’s Get It Done software to other cities and government agencies who wish to use the software to help streamline requests for services from their residents. The three-year marketing agreement between Deloitte and the City allows the sale of the City’s Get It Done software, built on the Salesforce platform, to other cities and organizations. Depending on the number of sales, this could provide more than $1 million in additional revenue to the City. “Since the launch of Get It Done, we’ve received interest from other cities to deploy similar programs,” said Alex Hempton, technology and innovation deputy director with the City’s Performance and Analytics Department. “With this marketing agreement in place with Deloitte, we’ll be able to help provide a path forward for other cities and generate revenue for the City.” The Get It Done website and

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mobile app were launched in May 2016 with the goal of making it easier for residents to request City services or report issues in their neighborhoods. Originally, the app focused on services provided by the Transportation and Storm Water Department with the capability for users to submit reports for 20 different non-emergency issues. Today, the program includes 24 different internal functional areas and dozens of services including case management, container sales and inventory, code enforcement, inspections and work order management, among others.

DWAIN WOODLEY APPOINTED ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN SAN DIEGO

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan has appointed Chief Deputy District Attorney Dwain Woodley as her office’s new assistant district attorney, making him the first African American to hold the number two spot in the DA’s Office. Woodley takes over for ADA David Greenberg, who retired in March. Woodley helped develop and lead the DA’s Community Partnership Prosecutors program which has been connecting the public with much-needed services around domestic violence, child abuse and hate crimes during the COVID19 pandemic. A former public defender, Woodley joined the DA’s Office as a deputy DA in 2001. He began his management track in 2008 serving as assistant chief of Central Pretrial and Disposition Division, assistant chief of Superior Court Division, chief of Superior Court Division, chief of the Juvenile Branch, and chief of the South Bay Branch. In 2018, the first appointment newly-elected DA Stephan made was elevating Woodley to chief deputy DA.

VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 3 | March, 2021

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more than 100 establishments for beer enthusiasts and educate everyone about the programs available to keep breweries, brew pubs and tasting rooms operating throughout the COVID 19 pandemic. “San Diego remains one of the country’s Top 5 craft beer cities, and we want to make sure this important industry remains informed, supported and resilient as it continues to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Christina Bibler, director of the city’s Economic Development Department. “This interactive website is an innovative one-stop shop for beer manufacturers and beer enthusiasts, both locally and nationally, showcasing the spirit to brew and buy local during these challenging economic times.” Features of the Business is Brewing website include: • An interactive map with business and market information about the 110 operating breweries, brew pubs and tasting stores within City of San Diego limits. • An economic report on the $1.2 billion San Diego regional beer cluster, which has supported 6,500 jobs (countywide) and $848 million in revenue. • An interactive map showing the operating status of 144 breweries. • Information about the city’s economic development programs that can assist breweries with launch, expansion and economic relief. • A map tour of 23 breweries that produced award-winning beers at the Great American Beer Festival and the San Diego International Beer Festival in 2020. Photo: Longship Brewery won a gold medal at the 2020 San Diego International Beer Festival. (Credit: City of San Diego)

CALIFORNIA SETS JUNE 15 GOAL FOR FULL REOPENING CITY OF SAN DIEGO SHOWCASES LOCAL CRAFT BEER INDUSTRY WITH NEW WEBSITE

The City of San Diego is launching a Business is Brewing website to provide beer breweries in San Diego with helpful market information and city economic development resources they can use to support and grow their businesses. The website, created and managed by the city’s Economic Development Department, is designed to promote the benefits of being a local beer manufacturer, showcase

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California’s collective year-long ordeal spent shuttered and sheltered-in-place finally has a tentative expiration date: June 15. Assuming all goes as planned, that’s the day that California will finally retire its color-coded tier system and let businesses and other gathering places open back up at full capacity. Gov. Gavin Newsom: “We are seeing a bright light at the end of the tunnel and on June 15, all things being equal…we will be opening up this economy and business-as-usual.” But — and you knew there was a “but” — conditions apply. • The mask-mandate isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. • The new June deadline only applies if hospitalization rates stay low and there’s more than enough @LocalUmbrellaMedia

vaccine to go around • Schools are still a maybe. Why the announcement now? Because there was more good news Tuesday. California officially exceeded the 20 million dose mark — a symbolic benchmark, but a good reminder of just how far the state’s vaccination distribution program has come from its bumpy early rollout. State public health officials also say they’ve delivered 4 million of those doses to California’s most disadvantaged communities. Photo: Two visitors dance underneath a ‘Welcome Back’ sign at Six Flags Magic Mountain on its first day of reopening in Valencia April 1, 2021. (Photo by Jae C. Hong, AP Photo)

NORTHROP GRUMMAN’S MULTISENSOR AIRCRAFT DEMONSTRATES OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY

Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Firebird multi-sensor aircraft showcased the versatility of the optionally-manned autonomous system as it flew from San Diego to various locations across the United States last month. The ability of Firebird to be flown manned through national airspace is a demonstration of its unique operational flexibility for self-deployment and its rapid relocation ability to adapt to specific user needs and operational requirements, the company said. The company flew Firebird almost 9,000 miles around the U.S. with stops in Dayton, Ohio; Washington D.C.; Patuxent River, Md.; as well as Tampa, Miami and Key West, Fla. “Our flights showcased one of its key differentiators – the ability to position the system in a manned configuration, then convert to autonomous operations for persistent ISR in under two hours,” said Jane Bishop, vice president and general manager, autonomous systems, Northrop Grumman. “At each stop, plane-side briefings provided customers the opportunity to see first-hand the operational versatility of the platform, its large sensor bay, and rapid configurability for changing mission needs.”

SDSU ECOLOGISTSLED CLIMATE ADAPTATION PROJECT LAUDED AS MODEL

A tremendous amount of planning goes into mitigating wildfire risk, supporting sustainable water sources, and protecting communities and biodiversity. Stakeholders at the city, county and state levels rely on comprehensive data backed by science to make informed decisions that will affect how communities and ecosystems adapt to climate change. This is where conservation ecologists Megan Jennings and Rebecca Lewison and their interdisciplinary team of 15 researchers at San

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March, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 3

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Diego State University come into the picture. Collaborating closely with the Climate Science Alliance, they analyze field data and develop scientific recommendations used by planning agencies and policymakers to shape California’s climate adaptation response. The Connecting Wildlands and Communities (CWC) project they spearhead, funded by the California Strategic Growth Council’s Climate Change Research Program through a $1.8 million grant, has been lauded as a model for bringing together science and planning to explore how connected landscapes can support adaptation and resilience to climate change, for both ecosystems and local communities.

THERESA GRADY PROMOTED TO CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF JAMUL CASINO

Theresa Grady has been promoted to chief financial officer of Jamul Casino. Her advancement comes after nearly four years with the casino as its former director of finance, where she was involved in building the casino’s Finance, Audit, Vendor Payments, Payroll, and Count Operations teams, and in helping spearhead the completion of the Casino’s recent refinance in January 2021. Grady has nearly 25 years of experience in finance, with more than 14 of those years in a casino setting. In her new role as Jamul Casino’s CFO, she will add oversight of the Compliance, Procurement, and Cash & Club Services department to her existing responsibilities. Grady was involved in the finalization of the recent refinance of the casino, a process that was initiated in 2019 and completed in 2021 due to pandemic delays. Prior to joining Jamul Casino, Grady worked for 11 years in finance for another Southern California casino, and for nearly 10 years in finance for other industries. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Accounting from San Diego State University.

SAN DIEGO REPERTORY THEATRE MANAGING DIRECTOR LARRY ALLDREDGE TO RETIRE AFTER 13 YEARS San Diego Repertory Theatre announced the impending retirement of Managing Director Larry Alldredge, who has led the Downtown theater through multiple construction projects and financial successes the past 13 years. The theater company has contracted with a search firm to find a successor. Alldredge will remain on the job until the new managing director is in place. “Larry is a one-of-a-kind managing director and a true hero of the arts in San Diego theater history.” says REP Artistic Director Sam Woodhouse. “There are so many

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ways that Larry has made it possible for us to reach for our artistic dreams and climb to new heights of quality and inclusiveness.” Alldredge previously lead a successful career in satellite communications at Qualcomm before retiring as vice president of technology. His lifelong love of theater began with Community Theatre of Terre Haute, Ind. Along with his wife and eventual REP Board President Dawn Moore, Alldredge became a patron of San Diego REP, coming to be its greatest advocate, largest donor, a member of the board of trustees, and eventually managing director.

RESILIENCE FUND PROVIDES CASH GRANTS TO SUPPORT SMALL RESTAURANTS, EMPLOYEES

Restaurants Care, along with many corporate donors including SDG&E, is funding the Restaurants Care Resilience Fund which provides cash grants to support small restaurants and employees. Currently, eight counties across California are eligible, including San Diego County. San Diego County businesses that have less than 50 employees, lost 20 percent of revenue (2019-2020), and are still open, can apply for $2,000 grants. Applications will open April 1118.

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responsible for shelling out unemployment claims to millions of jobless Californians, is still a mess. But as CalMatters’ Lauren Hepler reports, that year-long mess has been very lucrative for a handful of tech companies and consulting firms. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the department has spent $236 million on contract workers, software upgrades and other patches to its overburdened and frayed system. With a little digging, Hepler found that nearly half of that — $103.8 million — went to just five vendors, some in the form of no-bid contracts. The international consulting giant Deloitte has been the biggest beneficiary, taking in at least $69 million. The contract bonanza is part of a “nationwide unemployment gold rush,” as companies have rushed to the rescue of public agencies unable to meet the unprecedented demand for unemployment assistance — and a surge in fraudulent claims. At last count, 150,658 Californians have spent at least three weeks waiting for their payment. Another 906,744 claims are pending verification.

EVONEXUS TEAMS WITH QUALCOMM AND VERIZON TO SAN DIEGO COUNTY ACCELERATE 5G USE WINERIES SUFFERED CASE INNOVATIONS A 19.6 PERCENT EvoNexus, a California nonprofit DECLINE IN WINE technology incubator, and Verizon Communications Inc., have SALES IN 2020 joined forces to develop innovative 5G use case solutions. Verizon is positioned to take advantage of this partnership through the incubation of startups that uniquely leverage 5G to enable smart networks, to commercialize novel 5G relevant use cases, applications, and technologies. Early-stage ventures admitted into the 5G & AI program will have the opportunity to benefit from Verizon 5G Labs and direct introductions to Verizon Ventures. Verizon 5G Labs provides startups the opportunity to test their prototypes and accelerate the development of their minimum viable product that leverages the 5G network. Through Verizon Ventures, early-stage startups will have an opportunity to engage with the venture team at Verizon as they search for innovation using devices, content, commerce, data, and cloud that leverages 5G.

AMID CALIFORNIA’S UNEMPLOYMENT CRISIS, A TECH GOLD RUSH

By Ben Christopher | CalMatters This much is not news: California’s Employment Development Department, the state agency

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San Diego County wineries realized about $37.1 million in gross sales in 2020, a 19.6 percent decline from an all-time-high of sales reached in 2019 ($46.2 million), according to the 2021 San Diego County Economic Impact of Wineries report. Simultaneously, the number of winerie rose to 150 in the region over the same time. The report, produced by the San Diego County Vintners Association, also said wine industry jobs saw a slight increase with 720 wine industry jobs in 2020, an increase of 2.6 percent over 2019 and 17.7 percent higher than the 2018 gtotal. San Diego County vineyards harvested 3,596 tons of wine grapes in 2019, generating a $5.58 million production value, with a sales price of $1,552 per ton, a record amount achieved in the region. The top five varietals grown, cultivated and/or sold in the region were Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. “Even with challenges from the pandemic, we saw innovative sales strategies among local wineries such as curbside pickup and outside service reservations – demonstrating the innovation and resilience of our wineries in the face of unprecedented times,” says San @LocalUmbrellaMedia

Diego County Vintners Association President Ed Embly, owner of Hungry Hawk Vineyards in Escondido. “We continue to see the number of wineries grow in the county and a bright future for the industry in our region.”

STUDENT-DRIVEN BRIGHTSIDE PRODUCE RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD

BrightSide Produce delivers fresh fruits and vegetables to stores located in underserved communities. (Photo: Fowler College of Business) BrightSide Produce, a student-driven enterprise within the Fowler College of Business, has been recognized with a 2021 Innovations That Inspire award from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. BrightSide Produce delivers fresh fruits and vegetables to stores located in underserved communities where residents experience a lack of access, availability and means to purchase healthy food. “On behalf of myself, the students, and the partners who have contributed to BrightSide Produce’s activities and have supported its efforts, we are honored to be recognized for the work that has gone into the organization and the good it has done for the community,” said SDSU marketing professor Iana Castro, a renowned expert in the area of food retailing. AACSB International, which sets the standards of excellence for more than 840 accredited business schools worldwide, honored BrightSide Produce for its work in “cultivating a position at the intersection of academia and practice.” Now in its sixth year, the Innovations That Inspire initiative has highlighted more than 160 business school efforts that exemplify forward-looking approaches to education, research, community engagement or outreach, entrepreneurship, and leadership.

STUDY SAYS 2 COVID-19 DEATHS A DAY COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IN SAN DIEGO

Scripps Health data experts have teamed with Columbia University infectious disease modeling scientists to estimate how the number of coronavirus deaths and hospitalizations at Scripps might have been different had a 25-day reopening of businesses not occurred in San

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■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Diego County last summer. The researchers concluded that 45 deaths, or nearly two deaths a day, could have been avoided at Scripps’ five hospital campuses alone had the pandemic restrictions remained in place. These findings mirror recent conclusions by some experts nationally that more lives could have been saved had restrictions been put in place earlier and for a longer period during the pandemic. The findings also validate efforts that help to minimize the spread of the virus, such as wearing masks, practicing social distancing and avoiding large gatherings.

COUNTY LIBRARY OPENS DIGITAL, AUDIO BOOKSHELVES TO LOCAL STUDENTS

Thousands of local students in 19 schools and districts have a whole new world of digital and audio books to read and listen to, thanks to the County Library — and they won’t even need a library card. The County Library has signed on to make its thousands of digital and audio books available to “Sora,” an app used by many school districts for its students and libraries. Because of that, students at the schools and districts — using just their students IDs — can check out the County Library’s wider collection of age-appropriate digital materials. County Library Director Migell Acosta said the collaboration will give students a lot more to read, whether it’s to borrow educational materials or books for their own personal reading pleasure. “This collaboration aims to promote literacy and education,” Acosta said, “by providing a wide range of resources to students who don’t have a library card yet but could greatly benefit from the San Diego County Library’s vast collection. We are excited to open up our digital collection to young residents who couldn’t previously take advantage of it.”

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human behavior goes awry,” says Lisa Stowers, PhD, a neuroscientist and professor at Scripps Research who led the study. “It’s giving us clues to how information is organized in the brain, and how different features of information can be separated out in different brain regions.” New scholarship to reduce barrier for most promising medical students

NEW SCHOLARSHIP UC SAN DIEGO MEDICAL STUDENTS GET HAND-ON EXPERIENCE IN THE CENTER FOR THE FUTURE OF PATIENT CARE

Philanthropist gifts $1.1 million to UC San Diego With a gift of $1.1 million, philanthropist Ann Bedell Hunt has established The Bedell Family Endowed Medical Scholarship at University of California San Diego School of Medicine in memory of her father, Omar Jaspering, and in honor of Dr. Simerjot K. Jassal, a primary care physician at VA San Diego Healthcare System and director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at UC San Diego School of Medicine. This scholarship is intended to help ensure that the cost of attendance does not prevent the most promising and deserving medical students from choosing UC San Diego School of Medicine. “I am so pleased to have the opportunity to recognize Dr. Jassal, who provided excellent care to my father, Omar Jaspering, for many years before his death at age 102,” Hunt said, “as well as open more doors for would-be doctors, no matter their backgrounds, who might not otherwise get the opportunity to attend medical school.” Hunt is based in Tucson, Ariz.

NEWLY DISCOVERED NODE IN BRAIN COULD HELP SCIENTISTS UNDERSTAND DYSFUNCTIONAL SOCIAL BEHAVIOR BANK OF SOUTHERN What’s the difference between a CALIFORNIA giggle and a belly laugh? Or a yelp and an all-out scream? In many PROVIDES species, including humans, the $229 MILLION volume and duration of a verbal sound conveys as much informaIN PAYCHECK tion as the noise itself. PROTECTION LOANS A group of scientists discovered a node in the brains of male mice that modulates the sounds they make in social situations. This discovery, published in Nature, could help identify similar locations in the human brain, and potentially lead to a better understanding of social disorders such as autism or depression. “Identifying this node gives us signatures of what to look for when

Bank of Southern California N.A., a commercial bank headquartered in San Diego, reported that as of March 31, 2021, it has funded a total of $229 million in First Draw and Second Draw Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. These results, which reflect the most recent round of government-allocated PPP funding, provided 1,578 local small businesses impacted by

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the COVID-19 pandemic with vital financing. Bank of Southern California is continuing to receive and process PPP applications for eligible Southern California businesses in accordance with the programs extended deadline of May 31, 2021, made possible by the PPP Extension Act of 2021.

BAJA NORTE BECOMES BAJA CALIFORNIA — AGAIN

The State of Baja California is unveiling a new name, logo and website effective April 6, 2021. Previously known as Baja Norte, the northern region will return to its historic name of Baja California. In addition to the updated branding, the state anticipates moving to the green phase of reopening in the next few weeks. Encompassing seven tourist destinations, including its capital of Mexicali, along with Tijuana, Ensenada, San Felipe, Rosarito, San Quintín and Tecate, the state of Baja California occupies the northern half of the Baja California peninsula. The name was changed to Baja California Norte in 1974 to distinguish it from the southern state of Baja California Sur, but by 1979 it was officially called Baja California again. However, all of its tourism efforts continued to fall under the moniker of Baja Norte. The rebrand allows the state to

finally move back to its true name.

THERESA GRADY PROMOTED TO CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF JAMUL CASINO

In her new role as Jamul Casino’s CFO, she will add oversight of the Compliance, Procurement, and Cash & Club Services department to her existing responsibilities. Grady was involved in the finalization of the recent refinance of the casino, a process that was initiated in 2019 and completed in 2021 due to pandemic delays. Prior to joining Jamul Casino, Grady worked for 11 years in finance for another Southern California casino, and for nearly 10 years in finance for other industries. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Accounting from San Diego State University.

SAN DIEGO REPERTORY THEATRE MANAGING DIRECTOR TO RETIRE AFTER 13 YEARS

San Diego Repertory Theatre announced the impending retirement of Managing Director Larry Alldredge, who has led the Downtown theater through multiple construction projects and financial successes the past 13 years. The theater company has contracted with a search firm to find a successor. Alldredge will remain on the job until the new managing director is in place. “Larry is a one-of-a-kind managing director and a true hero of the arts in San Diego theater history.” says REP Artistic Director Sam Woodhouse. “There are so many ways that Larry has made it possible for us to reach for our artistic dreams and climb to new heights of quality and inclusiveness.” Alldredge previously lead a successful career in satellite communications at Qualcomm before retiring as vice president of technology. His lifelong love of theater began with Community Theatre of Terre Haute, Ind. Along with his wife and eventual REP Board President Dawn Moore, Alldredge became a patron of San Diego REP, coming to be its greatest advocate, largest donor, a member of the board of trustees, and eventually managing director.

NORTHROP GRUMMAN’S MULTISENSOR AIRCRAFT DEMONSTRATES OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY

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March, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 3

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almost 9,000 miles around the U.S. with stops in Dayton, Ohio; Washington D.C.; Patuxent River, Md.; as well as Tampa, Miami and Key West, Fla. “Our flights showcased one of its key differentiators – the ability to position the system in a manned configuration, then convert to autonomous operations for persistent ISR in under two hours,” said Jane Bishop, vice president and general manager, autonomous systems, Northrop Grumman. “At each stop, plane-side briefings provided customers the opportunity to see first-hand the operational versatility of the platform, its large sensor bay, and rapid configurability for changing mission needs.”

SDSU ECOLOGISTS LEAD CLIMATE ADAPTATION PROJECT LAUDED AS A MODEL

The Connecting Wildlands and Communities project will be featured at the Southwest Adaptation Forum this week. Story Keywords: Arts and Letters, Engineering, Professional Studies and Fine Arts, Sciences, Community, Faculty, Staff, Students, Biology, California, Ecology, Environment, Geography, Natural Disasters, Public Administration, Research, Sustainability, Climate Change, News A tremendous amount of planning goes into mitigating wildfire risk, supporting sustainable water sources, and protecting communities and biodiversity. Stakeholders at the city, county and state levels rely on comprehensive data backed by science to make informed decisions that will affect how communities and ecosystems adapt to climate change. This is where conservation ecologists Megan Jennings and Rebecca Lewison and their interdisciplinary team of 15 researchers at San Diego State University come into the picture. Collaborating closely with the Climate Science Alliance, they analyze field data and develop scientific recommendations used by planning agencies and policymakers to shape California’s climate adaptation response. The Connecting Wildlands and Communities (CWC) project they spearhead, funded by the California Strategic Growth Council’s Climate Change Research Program through a $1.8 million grant, has been lauded as a model for bringing together science and planning to explore how connected landscapes can support adaptation and resilience to climate change, for both ecosystems and local communities. The CWC project will be the focus of the first day at the 2021 Southwest Adaptation Forum (SWAF) virtual conference, held April 6-8. “There is a tremendous opportunity now to work together for integrated solutions and gather new information and put it in the hands of people who need it,” said Jennings, senior research scientist who co-directs SDSU’s Institute for Ecological Monitoring and Management with Lewison. “We are at a crossroads, with a new adminis-

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tration and climate change is on everyone’s mind.” At SWAF, the SDSU team will highlight interactions with stakeholders, and demonstrate to decision makers across the southwestern U.S. a template to advance the planning process. These efforts have received a boost from the Biden administration’s support for climate change initiatives which aligns well with California’s own forward looking policies that lead the nation. It enables climate scientists to focus not just on mitigation but also adaptation and better collaboration. The Climate Change Research Program is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work. Focus on Three Critical Areas The SDSU team has focused on three key areas that are critical not just for California but also the entire southwest. Wildfire risk: To help manage wildfire risk, a fire subgroup team led by geographer Doug Stow focuses on how frequent fires change the ecosystem from shrublands such as chaparral — which protects soil from erosion — to non-native grasses that are lighter and more likely to ignite. “This research helps stakeholders understand where to focus attention, on prevention and education, and by placing concrete barriers along highways to harden road sides where ignition happens commonly,” Jennings said. Watershed risk: Another team led by environmental engineer Alicia Kinoshita focuses on watershed risk in built environments where flash floods happen. They study flow rates in streams and connect it with changes in land use, climate and post-wildfire conditions. Preserve natural landscapes and support resilient communities: A subgroup led by Lewison and Jennings is looking at how natural landscapes interact with communities. “Natural lands need to exist and function,” Lewison said. “People also want to use them for recreation so we need to think about how to support mental and physical health while ensuring our landscapes are healthy and resilient. We’re integrating this data for planners, and mapping refuges that have been protected from fire and drought, to see where they’re located and how to protect them.” To support resilient landscapes, Lewison emphasized it’s not just the natural world but also built environments that need to be studied, to better understand how natural landscapes can support climate resilient, vibrant communities in cities, rural areas, and tribal lands. City planning expert Sherry Ryan, director of SDSU’s School of Public Affairs, also plays a critical role on the CWC team as one of the central goals of the project is to ensure the scientific findings from all the subgroups can be used by planners to support climate readiness for the region. End Users: How Policymakers Use these Recommendations The researchers are currently

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working on case studies and developing a menu of recommendations for adaptations and actions for end users - local jurisdictions, cities, and agencies such as the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). SCAG develops long range transportation plans and sustainable strategies for Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. Its plans include ways to reduce the region’s greenhouse gas emissions, as well as adaptation strategies that direct growth towards already urbanized areas, so fewer new homes are built in high fire risk areas. The agency has relied on valuable datasets generated by the SDSU team to help inform its decision making, particularly about the vulnerability of chaparral lands to drought in the region.

NEW STUDY ILLUSTRATES LARGE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF CAL STATE SAN MARCOS

At Cal State San Marcos, that return is even more striking. For every dollar invested by the state in the campus, $8.45 in statewide industry activity is generated. When the impact of the enhanced earnings of CSUSM alumni is factored in, the figure is even greater – $24.78 in total economic activity for every dollar invested – demonstrating the ripple effect that each dollar of spending by CSUSM and its students has on the state. Some of the other notable examples of CSUSM’s annual statewide economic impact include: • $780.9 million in industry activity throughout the state ($721.6 million in San Diego County alone) • $297.7 million in labor income ($278.8 million in San Diego County) • $46.2 million in state and local tax revenue ($43.3 million) The creation of 6,178 jobs (5,917)

UC SAN DIEGO JACOBS SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING JOINS PROGRAM TO DIVERSIFY ENGINEERING FACULTY

The University of California San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering has partnered with University of Michigan to strengthen a program that addresses the lack of diversity in the engineering academia. The program, NextProf Pathfinder, is a two-day program developed at Michigan Engineering and aimed at first and second-year Ph.D. students, as well as students in masters programs, in an effort @LocalUmbrellaMedia

to keep them pursuing careers in academia. It’s the newest program in a larger effort that began in 2012 as NextProf. To date, more than 144 women and people from underrepresented groups who attended its workshops have achieved tenure-track faculty positions. And UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering is the third institution to partner with Michigan Engineering on a NextProf program. The two schools will partner on the NextProf Pathfinder program going forward, with the institutions swapping hosting duties each year. This year, the program will be in Ann Arbor, from October 17-19. The conference will be in San Diego in 2022.

INTEL’S HABANA LABS TO SUPPLY AI CHIPS FOR NEW UC SAN DIEGO RESEARCH COMPUTER

Intel Corp.’s Habana Labs unit said that it will provide hundreds of artificial intelligence chips to the University of California at San Diego, which will incorporate them into an upcoming research supercomputer called Voyager. Voyager will be used by scientists for projects such as analyzing data from particle accelerator experiments. Intel acquired Habana Labs for $2 billion in 2019, a mere two years after the startup had exited stealth mode. Habana Labs offers a pair of AI chips, called Gaudi and Goya, for training machine learning models and performing inference, respectively. Habana claims its silicon can run AI workloads more cost effectively than graphics processing units in some cases thanks to a number of efficiency-boosting capabilities built into the architecture. The main highlight is a set of 10 100-gigabit Ethernet ports included in each chip. As part of the project, Super Micro Computer Inc., UC San Diego’s technology partner, will incorporate the chips from Habana Labs into two sets of computing modules. Those systems will form the basic building blocks of Voyager.

U.S. MARIJUANA RETAIL MARKET WORTH $45.9 BILLION BY 2025

The newly released Annual Marijuana Business Factbook, 9th Edition, forecasts U.S. sales of recreational and medical marijuana to reach $45.9 billion by 2025. Other key findings from the report: • In 2021, U.S. cannabis sales are expected to reach $22 billion-$26.4 billion. • 100 percent of investors expect the industry to do better in 2021 than in 2020. • The cannabis industry will offer over 400,000 full-time jobs in 2021. • The new, adult-use market in New York should reach sales of $2.5 billion by year five.

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VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4 | April, 2021

ALCOHOL, NOT CANNABIS, IS ASSOCIATED WITH CHANGES IN BRAIN MORPHOLOGY

By Michael Patterson NHA, OTR/L, CEAS

According to a new study published in PubMed through the US National Institutes of Health and the Journal of Biological Psychiatry, alcohol consumption, but not cannabis use, is associated with changes in brain morphology. The links to the study are below: The Effects of Alcohol and Cannabis Use on the Cortical Thickness of Cognitive Control and Salience Brain Networks in Emerging Adulthood: A Co-twin Control Study - Biological Psychiatry (biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/33726938/ The theory has been impairments with inhibitory control and its underlying brain networks are associated with substance misuse. To study this theory, researchers with the University of Minnesota assessed the relationship between alcohol and cannabis exposure during young adulthood on brain morphology in a population-based sample of 436 twins aged 24 years. Dimensional measures of cannabis use and alcohol use across emerging adulthood were measured. These dimensional measures were frequency of use, density of brain cortexes, quantity of product consumed, and number of intoxications of use. From the data, the authors reported, “Greater alcohol, but not cannabis, misuse was associated with reduced thickness of prefrontal and frontal medial cortices, as well as the temporal lobe, intraparietal sulcus, insula, parietal operculum, precuneus, and parietal medial areas.” Neuroimaging research indicates that a human’s intellectual ability is related to brain structure, including the thickness of the cerebral cortex. Investigators concluded: “No significant associations between cannabis

use and thickness were observed. The lack of cannabis-specific effects is consistent with literature reviews, large sample studies, and evidence that observed cannabis effects may be accounted for by comorbid alcohol. “This study provides novel evidence that alcohol-related reductions in cortical thickness of control/salience brain networks likely represent the effects of alcohol exposure and premorbid characteristics of the genetic predisposition to misuse alcohol. The dual effects of these two alcohol-related causal influences have important and complementary implications regarding public health and prevention efforts to curb youth drinking.” The findings are consistent with those of several other studies – such as this 2017 study and this 2015 study – indicating that the use of alcohol, but not cannabis, is associated with negative changes in brain morphology. According to the findings of a literature review of 69 studies published in JAMA Psychiatry, “Associations between cannabis use and cognitive functioning in cross-sectional studies of adolescents and young adults are small and may be of questionable clinical importance for most individuals. Furthermore, abstinence of longer than 72 hours diminishes cognitive deficits associated with cannabis use. Results indicate that previous studies of cannabis youth may have overstated the magnitude and persistence of cognitive deficits associated with marijuana use.” Analysis This study destroys a strong perceived bias that legal products (alcohol, prescription drugs, etc.) are more safe than illegal products (cannabis, psychedelics, etc.). As a society, we have begun looking at cannabis through the “lens” of science and data, rather than

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ideology and political lies and theater. Through objective data, we are realizing that cannabis can be a safer alternative than alcohol for responsible adult consumption and as a prescribed or recommended medication. As cannabis becomes easier to study in the United States, we expect to see many more studies showing the efficacy of cannabis use for many medical reasons. However, we also expect to see multiple

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studies on cannabis related to low dose THC cannabis being used as a daily health supplement. The future of mass adoption of cannabis for wellness/health related reasons is coming. As more countries legalize cannabis and the ideology of cannabis being a “bad drug” starts to fade with more objective scientific data, more people will use cannabis and see the benefits and safety of plant-based medicine firsthand.

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April, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4

JEFF BERKLEY

Under Cover

Music is just now beginning to ramp up again, but producer / musician Jeff Berkley already has a full plate of projects ready for 2021 and beyond. Berkley has worked with the likes of Jackson Browne, David Crosby, Jason Mraz, Indigo Girls and many more, but is perhaps best known as one half of acoustic duo, Berkley Hart, alongside long time friend Calman Hart. That may be changing soon, as one of Berkley’s earliest projects, The Cry, a post punk quartet that released a cassette only album in 1990, is receiving belated attention amongst music aficionados. The album was recently reissued by Dowd Records, but original copies are still going for upwards of $75 to collectors. The renewed attention has brought the band back into the studio for new recordings, with six tunes recently posted on Spotify. “What a pleasant surprise to have had such a great response from folks,” Berkley said. “I’m so happy for my mates in The Cry, Blaise Spiteri (vocals), Jeff Cirka (bass) and drummer David Nilson. They’ve been drawn back into the music world and it’s so great to work together again.” Based in Ocean Beach, in addition to working on his own music, Berkley spends his days behind the board at Ohm Grown Studio, located on Jason Mraz’s North County Mranch. “I’m there 5 or 6 days a week. I’m blessed with lots of great artists who want to make records with me,” Berkley said good naturedly. “The studio and the folks that are around up there have changed my whole life! It’s the first studio I’ve worked in where the outside and light are just as much a part of the vibe as the mics and room and instruments and all that. I’m surrounded and encircled by light. Even at night.” He feels lucky to have found the right mix of location and people. “The folks that live and work around the Mranch are full of love and have taken me in as one of their own,” Berkley said. “It’s been an incredible

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time of growth and healing in my life and everyday gets better. I’m honored to be there. Also, there’s a Neve console and my chair spins,” he joked. Amongst the new recordings being worked on now are a new Berkley Hart album (“we’re writing songs for that now”), a collection of artists covering Berkley Hart tunes and a thirteen track duets album, Under the Covers. “It’s me and a bunch of amazing San Diego artists covering songs that made a difference in my musical life,” Berkley said. Singers joining him on the album include Singers joining him on the album include Rebecca Jade, Lauren Leigh, Cathryn Beeks, Astra Kelly, Shawn Rohlf, Allegra Duchaine, Barbara Nesbitt, Veronica May, Heather Janiga, Marcia Claire, Cici Artemisia, Stacy Antonel (Ginger Cowgirl) and Kibria Sarkisian.

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First up however is the release of his solo version of “This Land is Your land,” which will also have a new video produced for it. “It’s a bluesy/dreamy version that conveys the sadness and fear of the last year,” Berkley said. “The video is meant to hold a mirror up to our country and say “this land is your land” here’s who we are and what we do. This land can only be saved by you and me.” After more than three decades as a musician, Berkley is clear on his motivation to keep making music. “It’s the songs and the people,” he said. “The art of making records is infinite in its possibilities and in the ways records can be made. Every group and session is different,” Berkley considered. “There’s not much time to feel bored or uninspired.” www.facebook.com/JBSDmusic

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VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4 | April, 2021

ACQUIRES

Spectrum Audio Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego is already a major player in the area’s music scene, but their recent acquisition of events company, Spectrum Audio takes things to a new level. Established in 1990 by the late, legendary sound engineer Joe D’Amico, Spectrum’s live event production capabilities now join a long list of services that Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego provides, including livestreaming, rehearsal studios, equipment rentals, repairs and music lessons According to RNRSD founder, Mark Langford acquiring Spectrum Audio was a natural progression for the company. “Joe and I go way back,” Langford said. In addition to running RNRSD, Langford is also an acclaimed guitarist. He’s now known for his solo acoustic work, but back in the day was a hard rocker. “I have known Joe since 1982, when he and I performed with Mark Stevens during the early 80’s,” he recalled. “After Joe’s passing his wife reached out to me and was going to liquidate the company. I suggested taking it over and continuing his legacy. I ran a very successful sound company for many years and actually many of Joe’s clients I had served in the past, so it was a perfect opportunity and I am proud to keep his work going.” For the moment the Spectrum name will be kept, but everything will eventually be assimilated. “It will happen eventually, as we want to keep our branding tight. We will however use ‘Spectrum Audio’ in the interim and continue to give Joe his due honor for building the company.” For his part Langford feels adding Spectrum to RNRSD is “actually a natural growth for us,” he said. “Having already spent many years in the event production business I feel very comfortable expanding our (business). It completes our main goal of servicing musicians and event clients.”

For the moment the plan is to work one festival at a time. “We want to give our full attention to each event,” Langford remarked. “But we can handle multiple stages at festivals and so on. We are prepared to handle about six stages at this point.” While the return of live music will help RNRSD as a business, Langford is most excited getting back on stage with his own music. “I’m

really looking forward to having fun again being on stage,” he said. “It has been very hard on all of us this last year, since we are musicians, all we really want to do in life is perform live,” Langford remarked good naturedly. “It’s in our DNA, and makes life worthwhile for us.” www.rockandrollsandiego.com

WONDERBUS

Music On The Move San Diego has many unique music venues, but nothing tops the Infinium Spirits Wonderbus, a literal concert on wheels. Essentially a double decker bus with a full stage on top and a VIP section below, it’s complete with bar, TV’s and other amenities. Each trip around San Diego county will generally feature two bands, performing at scheduled stops along the way, as well as lulls in traffic. “Bands will play at different established locations, but also as we travel along in certain areas at five to ten miles an hour,” said organizer Ernie Hahn of Dream Hahn Marketing. Hahn is also part of the team behind the Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival, which debuted in 2019. Meanwhile, Chad Waldorf, of the Belly Up Tavern books the talent for Wonderbus. With such perks as in ear monitors for musicians and great sightlines for anyone watching, it’s a fun, state of the art way to take in music from some of San Diego’s best artists. “We look at it as a great way for people to hear new bands as well as some old favorites,” Hahn said. He point’s out that “this is open to all genre’s, we’re planning to feature all types of bands.” Recent travelers have included rock-a-billy and cumbia favorites, The Sleepwalkers and tribute band, The Fooz Fighters. Originally envisioned as a way to host music events in a socially distant manner, with music beginning to happen again, plans are to expand LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

to a fleet of buses, perfect for outdoor, concerts festivals or pop-up events. In the meantime, music fans should look for the Wonderbus to operate weekly, Friday – Sunday, with each trip taking approximately four hours. Wonderfront 2020 was cancelled due to the pandemic and there is no word yet on when the next event might take place. But in the meantime the Wonderbus is a great idea, perfect for San Diego’s sunny weather. “We’re bringing music to the people,” Hahn said. https://linktr.ee/WonderBus /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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April, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4

Local Music Notes The 2021 San Diego Music Awards nominees will be announced via a special SDMA Live Stream program on Sunday, May 2, 2021 at 5pm. You can get more details on the event at www.sandiegomusicawards.com The Beat Farmers Glad ‘n’ Greasy is reissued on July 17, in a limited edition of 1,000 copies by Blixa Sounds.

The Nights.” Record Store Day releases this year include a Jim Croce 12” 4-track EP, “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim” / “Operator (That’s Not The Way It Feels),” on tangerine vinyl, and a 5-track 12” EP from Queen + Adam Lambert, Live Around the World, featuring tracks recorded in concert, 2014 – 2018.

sic songs such as The Beatles “Got To Get You Into My Life,” and Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Desafinado.” “The guitar is an orchestra and when you start to improvise the whole solar system of sound is right at your fingertips,” Sprague said. “I like taking songs that we all know and then filtering them through my musical viewpoint, hopefully arriving at a new place that still has strong ties to the original.” North County guitarist Gregg Douglass is part of a vintage live album out on May 14, Steve Miller Band Live! Breaking Ground: August 3, 1977. Featuring a seventeen-song set, the album is packed with Miller’s hits and will be available on CD, double vinyl, and digital platforms, while a film of the concert will stream on Amazon Prime Video’s The Coda Collection. Douglass’s hit co-write, “Jungle Love” is included.

Legendary San Diego bassist Nathan East makes an appearance (at 3:15) in a new mini-doc from Ringo Starr, The Making of the Zoom In EP, with Starr referring good naturedly to him as his “second favorite bassist.” East performs on two songs featured on the EP, “Waiting For The Tide To Turn” and “Here’s To

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The Josh Rosenblum Band drops a new album, Green Eyed, on April 30. The first single will be “Drive,” featuring Richie ‘LaBamba’ Rosenberg (trombone) and Mark Pender (trumpet) of the Miami Horns / Conan O’Brien fame.

Slightly Stoopid’s new album, Live At Roberto’s TRI Studios, is due June 12. Recorded at Bob Weir’s (Grateful Dead) TRI Studios, guests include Weir, Karl Denson, and Don Carlos, as well as Ivan and Ian Neville. The album will be numbered, with a silver foil cover plus ‘silver and black smoke’ colored vinyl. Guitarist Peter Sprague has released a new album, The Secret Chord, featuring new solo acoustic guitar versions of clas-

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A documentary on iconic punk band The Zeros is in the works. Producers are looking for footage, photos and memorabilia for possible inclusion.

New Singles: Ryan Valenzuela with dreamy pop tune “Catch The Fade,” a new hip-hop tune from Miles Cartier & Colleen Wang – “Better Off (Violin Remix),” Tolan Shaw returns with the beats and grooves of “Slide Away,” dark synth driven pop combo Glass Spells with “Empty Road” New Albums: a hip-hop / rap collection from C-Siccness - Unreleased Traccz Vol.1, metal trio Beekeeper with their album Slaves to Nothing (May 7), power metal quintet Nightshadow with Strike Them Dead, rapper Ryan Anthony with Barely See the Beach 3.

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VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 4 | April, 2021

ENDANGERED THORNMINT PLANT RESTORATION PROJECT AT MISSION TRAILS REGIONAL PARK By Mark Berninger

Natural Resources Manager, City of San Diego

The City of San Diego is home to some of the most rare and special plants in the Southern California region. One of those rare plants is San Diego Thornmint (Acanthomintha Ilicifolia). The City started monitoring these plants more that 20 years ago as part of a groundbreaking Rare Plant Monitoring Program, which is part of the Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP), enacted in 1997 to preserve habitat and help conserve the region’s spectacular biodiversity. The Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP) Foundation has been a critical partner in the MSCP, and they partnered with the City once again to help improve habitat and increase the park’s populations of San Diego Thornmint. The MTRP Foundation applied and was awarded a grant from the TransNet Program at SANDAG, and these funds allowed the Foundation to engage local rare plant expert Mark Dodero and RECON Environmental to expand the park’s San Diego Thornmint populations. After three years, the project reached the end of grant funding and it was a smashing success! The population of plants that once numbered under 100 individuals in 2017 blossomed to over 800 plants in spring of 2020. This is great news for this population at Mission Trails, but the work is far from over. Preserving each population and their genetic diversity is critical for a robust regional conservation effort. The partnership that the MTRP Foundation has with the City of San Diego is a great example of the collaboration it will take to bring San Diego Thornmint and other rare and endemic plants back from the brink of extinction. Sharing the story of this success will hopefully lead to more opportunities to develop secure funding to expand and enhance conservation efforts across Mission Trails and, in doing so, boost the resiliency of the rare plants across the entire Southern California region. Overview of Thornmint Restoration Project at MTRP Mark W. Dodero, RECON Environmental San Diego Thornmint is found only in San Diego County in the United States and in northwestern Baja California. Populations of San

Diego Thornmint are declining throughout San Diego County, and are threatened by pressures from urban development, habitat disturbance, and invasion of non-native species with as many

as one-third of historical occurrences believed to have been lost. Thornmint typically grows in open areas with little competition with shrubs and other plant species. The initial focus San Diego Thornmint Expansion Project in 2017 was to get the non-native weeds under control so that the Thornmint plants would have less competition for light and water. Also, during that first year, the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research’s Native Seed Bank began growing out additional Thornmint plants to produce as many seeds as possible. Prior to any seeding efforts, monitoring of the plant population in the spring of 2018 revealed the presence of 43 Thornmint plants in the natural population. In the second year of the project the weed control efforts continued and the first lot of bulked Thornmint seed was provided for dispersal. Fenced cages were constructed at the site to protect the seedlings from rabbits and rodents. The seeds were dispersed a few days prior to heavy rainfall, grew well and flowered in the spring. A total of 374 Thornmint flowered and set seeds successfully. Of those 374 plants 319 plants were found in the natural population and 55 plants were found in the seeded plots. Each year of the project, weeding reduced the cover of non-native species and this led to an increase in flowering native species. In the project’s final year, additional Thornmint seeds were produced by the Zoo, and seed collected by the project biologists from the seeded and natural population were dispersed throughout the area. Because of dry conditions, the project biologist and maintenance crew gave supplemental water to the seedlings. This supplemental water allowed the seedlings an opportunity to survive until natural rainfall began again, enabling the plants to grow and successfully flower in the spring of 2020. A total of 846 Thornmint plants grew at the site in 2020. This represented an increase of over 800 plants from the beginning of the project. Through partnerships between public agencies such as the City of San Diego and SANDAG and private groups like the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation and San Diego Zoo, good conservation outcomes are possible.

CITY OF SAN DIEGO CELEBRATES EARTH DAY WITH DRAWING CONTEST FOR KIDS Contest challenges young people to imagine a sustainable San Diego April 22 is Earth Day and the City of San Diego is encouraging kids to celebrate this year with a coloring contest that imagines what the future holds for a sustainable San Diego. Are there more community gardens and green spaces? Are people carpooling to work and school? The City wants to see what young people can dream up. The contest is open to children ages four to 13 who live in the City of San Diego. To enter,

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they need to draw their vision of a sustainable San Diego in the Climate Action Plan children’s activity booklet “Our Climate, Our Future.” Children are encouraged to use crayons, colored pencils, markers or any other art medium to illustrate their vision. The entry form and booklets are available at San Diego Public Library locations offering in-person services. They can also be downloaded online in English and Spanish. The deadline to

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submit entries is April 30, 2021. Two winning entries will receive an environmentally friendly prize package courtesy of Think Blue. The winning drawings will also be shared on City social media channels and the City’s website. The City’s Environmental Services, Library and Sustainability departments collaborated on the coloring contest to encourage children to think and live sustainably.

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