Beyond the Bridge November 2022

Kelly Ann Young SDUSD Teacher

LIVING IN THE CITY: WALK THIS WAY WITH STEFAN CALVARUSO

By Ron Donoho San Diego Sun

“Living In the City” is the San Diego Sun’s feature Q&A with downtown San Diego residents. It’s a way to get to know the city by meeting the people who live here. This is number 23 in an ongoing series.

Name: Stefan Calvaruso (pictured above at Fault Line Park in East Village)

Location: Broadstone Makers Quarter in East Village; formerly lived at The Rey, Entrada, and 900 F Street

Personal deets: Hometown is New York City. I’ve lived in downtown San Diego for 10 years. I need to live in a city environment. Gotta be able to walk to supermarkets, restaurants, etc.

Work deets: Owner/operator of the Foodelicious Tour Company. It’s a brand-new food tour business focusing on East Village, Little Italy, Barrio Logan and North Park. My tours focus on San Diego neighborhoods named the “hippest” (North Park, by Forbes) and “coolest” (Barrio Logan, by Time Out). We’re expanding every day. The intention is to support local businesses.

Funny moment: I was leading a tour in the Gaslamp Quarter during a Halloween weekend. In the middle of a spiel to my group, a young lady dressed like Cinderella jumped up on me and asked if I would be her Prince Charming.

Working from home: Most days I get up and lead a tour. On off days, I wake up around 8 a.m. and focus on the “fun” paperwork needed for Foodelicious. When I can’t sit in front of the computer anymore, I go to the gym or jump in the pool.

Why live downtown: Location, location, location. We have so much to do around us and the environment is constantly changing. I’ve met fantastic people downtown and the energy is amazing.

Worst part of downtown: Unfortunately, the homelessness problem. It could affect my life and business. I do tours throughout the downtown area. The homeless population is a terrible look for the city and has the possibility to create drama during tours. I also pay a lot of money in rent. It’s not fair to downtown residents to have to step over a homeless person when we walk out of our buildings.

Dinner spot: Sovereign Modern Thai in East Village is the best Thai restaurant and one

of the best overall restaurants in San Diego. I normally get the Thai Fried Chicken, Thai Sausage or the whole rockfish. They have amazing specials every day. The decor is simple and the staff and owners create an incredibly friendly environment. I come here regularly on my East Village Foodelicious tour and guests love it!

Lunch place(s): My favorite places vary depending on what I’m in the mood for. I love Mezé Greek Fusion because the food is fantastic and the staff makes you feel at home. And there’s nothing like grabbing a beer at Half Door Brewing Co. or Knotty Barrel. I’m all about places with good food, booze and a welcoming atmosphere.

Coffee shop(s): I take pride in my own coffee making skills, but some of the best local coffee is at Dark Horse Coffee Roasters in Golden Hill and Amplified Ale Works in East Village.

Go-to bar(s): Knotty Barrel and Half Door Brewing to sit back relax and grab a beer. If I’m looking for an interesting evening, I make a pit stop at Tivoli Bar & Grill.

Food shopping: Ninety-nine percent of the time, I use Instacart and get the majority of my groceries from Sprouts.

Transportation breakdown: I do my best to never drive. About 95 percent of the time, I walk or use my e-Bike.

Scooters: No problem with scooters--if they’re handled and regulated correctly. I wasn’t keen on walking on the sidewalk and tripping on a scooter. But they are great for people to use to go to areas of the city they’ve never seen before.

Places to avoid: The Gaslamp Quarter has become San Diego’s Bourbon Street. There’s so much more to the city! If you see me in the Gaslamp I’m probably checking out a new restaurant.

Favorite event: There’s never a dull moment in downtown San Diego on St. Patrick’s Day.

Comic-Con: I love seeing people dressed like Spiderman trying to climb walls.

Padres: Ten years ago, Petco Park often had more fans in it from the rival teams. But things are changing and the Padres fan base is growing.

Podcasts: I listen to Tourprenuer. Also, Joe Rogan and sports shows like Fantasy Football Now, and The Michael Kay Show.

Parting advice: If you want insider advice on downtown, ask a local. Especially on bars and restaurants. There are a lot of hidden gems in the city that are not widely broadcasted.

Foodelicious guide/owner leads some of the hippest and coolest tours in San Diego

Stefan Calvaruso

A Foodelicous tour

Chicano Park in Barrio Logan

BRAD WEBER

619-300-1732

IS THAT CANDY OR FENTANYL?

will be consumed, resulting in dependence, serious harm or death.

Already, the proliferation of phony prescription pills and other illicit drugs made with deadly fentanyl is at an all-time high. Illicit fentanyl – a synthetic opioid –comes in a variety of forms, including powders and pills. The pills are most often made to look exactly like legitimate medication such as OxyContin, Percocet, and Xanax. These counterfeit pills, however, contain none of the legitimate medication and instead contain varying amounts of fentanyl.

lives of 12 children, some as young as 13.

At the District Attorney’s Office, we have a dedicated team of prosecutors whose mission includes prosecuting the dealers who furnish the fentanyl that is causing overdose deaths. We can’t rely on just prosecution as that often comes after the damage is done.

CORONADO

MEDIA

C. CHRISTIE

SHESS

MANAGING

SARAH MORGA

MUSIC EDITOR

MENDOZA

COMMUNITY

NATIONAL MICHELLE WESTBERRY

CONTRIBUTORS

JEN COBURN | MANNY CRUZ

JENNY WERTH | KINSEE MORLAN

LINDEE ROCHELLE MARLISE KAST-MYERS

RON DONOHO

CAROL HOLLAND LIFSHITZ

J.C. GROSS | MOLLY GALLIHER LULU ACOSTA

PHOTOGRAPHY

DAWN SEBAUGH NICKY INCANDELA

FARIMA TABRIZI

SOCIAL MEDIA FARIMA TABRIZI

By District Attorney Summer Stephan

This time of the year, when mystery and excitement culminate at Halloween parties and other celebrations, parents and teens need to be more aware than ever of how deadly narcotics are playing out in the illegal drug supply with illicit fentanyl and its latest trend called “rainbow fentanyl.”

Colorful pills that closely resemble candy, such as Smarties or SweeTARTS, have been found in 21 states, including California. The pills have markings consistent with generic oxycodone pills, however, they do not contain any the actual medication. Instead, the drugs contain potentially lethal amounts of fentanyl.

There is a real danger that the pills, in their varied pastel colors, will be perceived by children, youth, and young adults to be less harmful than they are, increasing the likelihood they

When people turn to cheap street drugs as an alternative for pharmaceuticals, the possibility for death is high because of the unregulated amount of fentanyl used to make the drug. Using pills that don’t come from a doctor or pharmacy is a gamble akin to Russian roulette.

The danger is not limited to only those who use drugs regularly. I tell the public all the time that the risk for fentanyl overdose deaths is for anyone. The days of thinking an accidental overdose can only happen to those addicted to drugs or those who use regularly is over. This crisis has arrived even for someone who experiments for the first time. From class valedictorians, star athletes to anxious teens with mental health issues to party revelers who want to experiment. One pill can kill.

Last year, more than 800 people died from fentanyl overdoses. It is the leading killer of people between 18 and 45 years of age. Last year fentanyl claimed the

We are also focusing on prevention by educating the community about the dangers of fentanyl. We partnered with medical professionals and treatment providers so that we can attack this problem from as many angles as possible. No one thing is going to solve this problem, but the hope is a coordinated response by dedicated members of the community with varying areas of expertise will improve our chances of preventing our kids from ever trying fentanyl in the first place and reducing the number of overdose deaths we’re experiencing in our community.

If you are with someone who you believe is experiencing an overdose, call 911. Naloxone/Narcan is the best tool available to save the life of someone experiencing an opioid/fentanyl overdose and will not harm a person if it turns out they were not experiencing an opioid overdose. Please educate yourself and your family about the dangers of illicit fentanyl today.

As your District Attorney, I’m committed to increasing communication and accessibility between the DA’s Office and the public. I hope these consumer and public safety tips have been helpful.

VETERANS DAY

Veterans Day is Friday, November 11, 2022. This day is an opportunity for us all to pay tribute to the men and women – living or dead – who have served our country; but specifically to honor those living veterans who served to protect our freedoms.

San Diego is home to over 240,000 veterans, one of the nation’s largest concentrations of veterans. And with roughly 100,000 active service members, San Diego is a highly desirable destination for active and retired service members from all branches of the military.

With such a large population of military members and their families, programs like the VA Homemaker/Home Health Aide Program, In-Home Respite Care Program, and the Aid and Attendance benefit program can play a significant role in caring for our veterans.

The VA Homemaker/ Home Health Aid Program will pay a partnered in-home care agency for non-skilled assistance services with activities of daily living (ADLs) provided directly to the veteran. Theses ADLs include things such as:

• bathing and personal care

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• assistance with dressing and grooming (i.e., shaving, brushing teeth, hair care)

• verbal medication reminders

• meal preparation and feeding (if needed)

• light laundry related to incontinence care

This program is very specific to services provided directly to the veteran and does not include the following:

• Companionship services

• Travel services or mileage reimbursement

• Heavy or non-essential housekeeping

• Yard care

• Medication dispensing

• Services when veteran is away from home

• Services outside of the veteran’s place of residence

• Services provided for other persons or pets in the residence

Eligibility for this service is assessed and determined by VA staff and a VA social worker will coordinate with the veteran and/or family member to set up services once approved.

The VA In-Home Respite Care Program provides much needed respite (a break) for an unpaid family caregiver, who is often the significant other or spouse of the veteran. The veteran is eligible

journey has a roadmap and we are here to help you find it.

619.789.1839

619.789.1839

to receive up to 30 days of 6 hours per day respite per calendar year. A VA Social Worker will initiate this service and the approval process is the same as the VA Homemaker/Home Health Aid Program. Additional respite days can be requested, and approval will be determined by VA staff.

The VA Aid and Attendance benefit provides veterans or surviving spouses monthly financial assistance to help pay for the costs of in-home care (assistance with activities of daily living) or offset the cost of an assisted living home or community. The Homebound allowance provides financial assistance for those veterans who are receiving a VA pension and spend most of their time at home due to a permanent disability.

To find out more about any of these veteran benefits, contact your local VA representative or call us. We can help find an VA approved vendor who can assist with eligibility and the application process. Often, these VA approved vendors can get applications submitted and benefits approved in a fraction of the time the process typically takes. Get the help you need. Get the help you deserve. You answered the call to serve our country; now it’s time to make the call and make your

well-being a

DEALING WITH CHRONIC PAIN

An estimated one in fi ve US adults suffers from a chronic pain condition of a duration of six months or more and requiring medical intervention. Nearly half of these patients report that their pain persists despite the use of conventional pain medicines, such as NSAIDS and opioids. Health economists estimate that the annual cost of chronic pain in the United States is $635 billion in health care costs and lost productivity.

Cannabis and cannabinoids – as well as specifi c fl avonoids (phytonutrients) in the plant — are well documented to possess pain-relieving properties. Recent reviews of the clinical literature identify dozens of controlled studies, involving thousands of patients, documenting the safety and effi cacy of cannabinoids in pain management. A 2017 review of over 10,000 peer-reviewed scientifi c papers by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine acknowledged, “In adults with chronic pain, patients who [are] treated with cannabis or cannabinoids are more likely to experience a clinically signifi cant reduction in pain symptoms. … There is conclusive or substantial evidence that cannabis is effective for the treatment of chronic pain in adults.”

Numerous gold-standard (randomized, placebo-controlled) trials document the ability of either inhaled or vaporized herbal cannabis to signifi cantly mitigate pain in various populations as well as in healthy volunteers exposed to laboratory-induced pain. Specifi cally, several trials report clinically significant reductions in pain in patients with HIV, diabetes, spinal cord injury, or with severe treatment-resistant neuropathy (nerve pain), among other chronic conditions. These positive results have been replicated in clinical trials utilizing relatively low doses of cannabis as well as in trials using plant-derived cannabis extracts.

Longitudinal data further shows that cannabis provides patients with continued pain relief long term without producing signifi cant adverse side effects, including among elderly populations.

The co-administration of either smoked cannabis or oral cannabinoids has been documented to augment the pain-relieving effects of opioids. In one study, vaporized herbal cannabis was demon-

strated to enhance the pain-relieving activity of morphine and oxycodone in chronic pain subjects, therefore potentially allowing “for opioid treatment at lower doses with fewer side effects.” Another study reported similarly enhanced analgesic effi cacy when low doses of oral THC were combined with hydromorphone (aka Dilaudid). Authors reported, “These data … are indicative of [the] possible opioid-sparing effects” of cannabinoids. These synergistic effects have also been documented in settings where subjects were provided with only sub-therapeutic doses of cannabis and opioids.

Numerous studies of various patient populations, including those with chronic pain, cancer, fi bromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and other conditions, consistently fi nd that subjects taper or even eliminate their use of prescription pain medications following the

use of cannabis. There are now dozens of peer-reviewed papers documenting this trend. Some observational studies have similarly reported reductions in opioid-related mortality following the enactment of marijuana access.

Not surprisingly, among patients enrolled in state-specifi c medical cannabis access programs, over 65 percent are registered to use the substance for the treatment of chronic pain. This is the most commonly reported qualifying condition among active US cardholders.

The use of cannabis for pain, and as a potential substitute for opioids and other prescription analgesics, is rapidly becoming more accepted among clinicians, with a coalition of physicians in 2020 issuing “consensus-based recommendations surrounding the safe introduction and titration of cannabinoids in concert with tapering opioids.”

FISH FOR LIFE COMES TO SAN DIEGO

FISH FOR LIFE COMES TO SAN DIEGO

By Vince Meehan

By Vince Meehan

Jim Holden is the founder of Fish for Life, a non-profit based here is Southern California. Holden is a life-long fisherman who fished off the shores of New Jersey until he relocated to San Clemente where he now resides. Here in California, Holden had an epiphany about how he was going to spend the rest of his life. He was going to help disabled youngsters have the time of their life on a day fishing trip, and at no cost to the kids. Fish For Life is that foundation, and they now have plans to expend here to San Diego.

Jim Holden is the founder of Fish For Life, a non-profit foundation based here in Southern California. Holden is a life-long fisherman who fished off the shores of New Jersey until he relocated to San Clemente where he now resides. Here in California, Holden had an epiphany about how he was going to spend the rest of his life. He was going to help disabled youngsters have the time of their life on a day fishing trip, and at no cost to the kids. Fish For Life is that foundation, and they now have plans to expend here to San Diego.

“In 2009 I was just at that time of life where I was looking for a calling – a way to serve – and at that time I was taking a good friend of mine’s son out to lunch about every two months,” recalled Holden. “His name is Jeffery and he’s a box boy, so I’d pick him up and we’d go across the street and have lunch at McDonald’s and just talk about life. And in those conversations, we’d certainly talk about fishing. And one time after lunch, I asked Jeffery, ‘Hey, let’s go do something, what would you like to do?’ And he just lit up and said, ‘I’d love to go fishing!’ And that was the inception of Fish For Life. After Lunch, I dropped him off at one point I had to pull over because I was just overwhelmed with the clarity of the calling to take a whole boatload of kids out. I then went and spoke to the local president of United Cerebral Palsy and explained my vision, and they loved it! I then went to the Dana Wharf and explained my vision to Don Hanson who is the founder of The Dana Wharf, and they were all in as well! So our first events have been at Dana Point.”

“In 2009 I was just at that time of life where I was look ing for a calling – a way to serve – and at that time I was taking a good friend of mine’s son out to lunch about every two months,” recalled Holden. “His name is Jeffery and he’s a box boy, so I’d pick him up and we’d go across the street and have lunch at McDonald’s and just talk about life. And in those conversations, we’d certainly talk about fishing. And one time after lunch, I asked Jeffery, ‘Hey, let’s go do something, what would you like to do?’ And he just lit up and said, ‘I’d love to go fishing!’ And that was the inception of Fish For Life. After our fishing expedition, I dropped him off at his house and drove back to my office. At one point I had to pull over because I was just overwhelmed with the clarity of the calling to take a whole boatload of kids out. I then went and spoke to the local president of United Cerebral Palsy and explained my vision, and they loved it! I then went to the Dana Wharf and explained my vision to Don Hanson who is the founder of The Dana Wharf, and they were all in as well! So our first events have been at Dana Point.”

Holden needed a source for finding guests for his fishing trips, so he chose the United Cerebral Palsy foundation due to their stellar reputation for helping disabled youth.

Holden says Fish For Life has sought out kids with cerebral palsy, Downs syndrome and autism for the free fishing trips he offers. Autism is a condition that stands out to Holden because of the prevalence of cases he sees.

Holden needed a source for finding guests for his fishing trips, so he chose the United Cerebral Palsy foundation due to their stellar reputation for helping disabled youth. Holden says Fish For Life has sought out kids with Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome and Autism for the free fishing trips he offers. Autism is a condition that stands out to Holden because of the prevalence of cases he sees. The number of kids with autism has dramatically increased over the years since I started. When I first started out, it was like one in every hundred kids were born with autism, and now its one in every 30 something kids. So, we’ve had a lot of autistic kids aboard.”

“Autism has really – the number of kids with autism has dramatically increased over the years since I started. When I first started out, it was like one in every hundred kids were born with autism, and now its one in every 30 something kids. So we’ve got a lot of autistic kids.”

The program can also accommodate both deaf and blind passengers as well as 4 or 5 wheelchairs. The ages range from 8 to 21 years old and a chaperone is required for each guest on board. A platoon of volunteers is also on hand to help with food, staging and activities.

Holden can accommodate both deaf and blind passen gers as well as 5 or 6 wheelchairs. The ages range from 8 to 21 years old and a chaperone is required for each guest on board. A platoon of volunteers is also on hand to help with food, staging and activities.

The event is fairly simple; Fish for Life takes the guests out on a fishing boat to experience catching a fish. Along the way, there are many fun as well as educational activities to take part in. Holden wants the kids to learn about the ecosystem and marine biology of the ocean as they fish.

The event is fairly simple; Holden takes the guests out on a fishing boat to see what they can catch. Along the way, there are many fun as well as educational activities to take part in. Holden wants the kids to learn about the ecosys tem and marine biology of the ocean as they fish.

“The premise of the program is a fishing trip unlike any program available, it’s about giving the kids a fun time, but also educating them,” Holden noted. “Were loaded with many details to accommodate their specific needs. The program is extremely feature rich, and the benefits are absolutely tremendous. The trips we go on with the kids – its more so in-shore bottom fishing, you know? And it’s real easy for them.”

“The premise of the program is a fishing trip unlike any program available, it’s about giving the kids a fun time, but also educating them,” Holden noted. “Were loaded with many details to accommodate their specific needs. The program is extremely feature rich, and the benefits are absolutely tremendous. The trips we go on with the kids – its more so in-shore bottom fishing, you know? And it’s real easy for them.”

The first Fish for Life voyage was in May of 2010, and since then, he has been able to expand the program buy opening up other chapters including one here in San Diego. The first San Diego voyage of Fish For Life will take place on Sunday November 13 at Fisherman’s Landing aboard the 85 foot Dolphin fishing boat. The space on the boat is limited to the fishermen and their chaperones, but family members and anyone else are invited to attend the opening ceremonies, which take place at 9am on the pier. The boat will be backed into the marina and the ceremonies will take place on the stern of the ship. Dignitaries and athletes will give speeches and one of the kids will sing the national anthem. After that, a red carpet will be rolled down the gangplank and each guest will be introduced over the speakers one-by-one as they board the ship. Then it’s off for sea-faring fun.

Holden’s first voyage of Fish For Life was in May of 2010, and since then, he has been able to expand the program buy opening up other chapters including one here in San Diego. The first San Diego voyage of Fish For Life will take place on Sunday November 13 at Fisherman’s Landing aboard the 85 foot Dolphin fishing boat. The space on the boat is limited to the fishermen and their chaperones, but family members and anyone else are invited to attend the opening ceremonies, which take place at 9am on the pier. The boat will be backed into the marina and the ceremonies will take place on the stern of the ship. Dignitaries and athletes will give speeches and one of the kids will sing the national anthem. After that, a red carpet will be rolled down the gangplank and each guest will be introduced over the speakers one-by-one as they board the ship. Then it’s off for sea-faring fun.

Holden has added on to the activities over the years and his foundation keeps growing as more and more happy kids get to participate. “The model has been developed over the years, we keep adding all kinds of attractions and fun things, added Holden. “All trips are free; it doesn’t cost anyone, anything. We gather sponsors and we do fundraisers to be able to afford this.”

Holden has added on to the activities over the years and his foundation keeps growing as more and more happy kids get to participate. “The model has been developed over the years, we keep adding all kinds of attractions and fun things, added Holden. “All trips are free; it doesn’t cost anyone, anything. We gather spon sors and we do fundraisers to be able to afford this.”

Fish For Life has now grown to include fishing trips in Long Beach, New Jersey and even Ensenada, Mexico. He is currently working on getting a chapter up and

Fish For Life has now grown to include fishing trips in Long Beach, New Jersey and even Ensenada, Mexico. He is currently working on getting a chapter up and running in Pompano Beach, FL. Holden says the vision of the program is to have it

in multiple ocean bearing ports throughout the country.

running in Pompano Beach, FL. Holden says the vision of the program is to have it in multiple ocean bearing ports throughout the country.

Fish for Life will now be a regular event in San Diego with hopefully three or four events a year currently. Hopefully. that will grow to the six yearly events that Holden has been offering up at Dana Point. For the November event in San Diego, Chula Vista Internet Company Wyyerd.com will be the sponsor ensuring that the San Diego kids get to have the time of their life.

Holden will need other sponsors to step up and support future trips, so any companies interested in becoming a sponsor can log on to www.fishforlife.org to apply.

Fish for Life will now be a regular event in San Diego with hopefully three or four events a year currently. Hopefully. that will grow to the six yearly events that Holden has been offering up at Dana Point. For the November event in San Diego, Chula Vista Internet Company Wyyerd.com will be the sponsor ensuring that the San Diego kids get to have the time of their life. Holden will need other sponsors to step up and support future trips, so any companies interested in becoming a sponsor can log on to www.fishforlife.org to apply. This website is also where parents of special needs children ages 8-21 can register for a possible spot on one of the future trips. Holden is hoping that

San Diego will step up to support his unique foundation and make it a permanent fixture here in San Diego.

Fish for life is all about getting the special needs kids out fishing!”

This website is also where parents of disabled youth can register for a possible spot on one of the future trips. Holden is hoping that San Diego will step up to support his unique foundation and make it a permanent fixture here in San Diego.

“Bringing Dignity, Inclusion and New Possibilities to Special Needs Children”

“I’ve been a fisherman all my life! Fish for life is all about getting the special needs kids out fishing!”

At a Glance: Fish For Life www.FishForLife.org Sunday November 13

At a Glance: Fish For Life www.FishForLife.org Sunday, November 13

Fisherman’s Landing, San Diego CA Opening Ceremonies at 9am

Fisherman’s Landing, San Diego CA Opening Ceremonies at 9am

BILL WALTON VERSUS SAN DIEGO MAYOR TODD GLORIA

By Ron Donoho San Diego Sun

It was a wild scene when basketball superstar Bill Walton shot, scored and committed a few fouls while charging hard at San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria.

Let’s recap the “highlight reel.”

On September 27, 2022, the 69-yearold NBA and NCAA champion mercilessly pounded the mayor in a press conference held by the nonprofit Lucky Duck Foundation at the University of San Diego’s Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice.

Walton was fired up about the state of homelessness in San Diego. He was focused on the proliferation of people experiencing homelessness near his home on the east side of Balboa Park.

The 6-foot-11 native son and graduate of Helix High School has been a winner throughout his storied sports career. He led the UCLA Bruins on an 88-game winning streak while netting three NCAA titles under legendary coach John Wooden.

From 1972-74, Walton was named the NCAA Basketball Player of the Year three years in a row.

In the NBA, Walton won two championships--with the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977 and the Boston Celtics in 1986. He was named to the NBA’s 50th- and 75th-anniversary teams.

After his career ended, Walton became a studio analyst and color commentator for ESPN and other networks.

One reason Walton’s playing career came to an end was a string of foot injuries that required numerous surgeries.

He walks with something of a limp and often bicycles around town. Walton says he frequently rides on roads and bike paths near Balboa Park. And that’s where, he says, unsheltered people have harassed and attacked him.

Reaching Out

Walton made his concerns known to Mayor Gloria in a series of emails, which were made public by Voice of San Diego.

Subsequently, Walton spoke at the September 27 press conference and unleashed on the mayor.

Famously a devotee of the rock band Grateful Dead, Walton essentially labeled Gloria a “Friend of the Devil.” Walton said the mayor was “less than useless” on the issue of homelessness. He nicknamed homeless encampments “Todd Gloria-villes,” and called on the mayor to “step aside.”

Walton’s celebrity status helped his “we’renot-going-to-take-it-anymore” message hit a nerve.

On social media and in conversations all over downtown San Diego, residents aligned with Walton’s frustration.

On East Village sidewalks, in particular, the number of camping tents and small-to-medium-sized encampments has ballooned.

Without exaggeration, 92101 is currently experiencing the worst state of homelessness over the last three decades.

Monthly polling done by the Downtown San Diego Partnership counted 1,623 people living unsheltered (just in the city) in September. That’s a record high. And there’s no way it’s

undercounted; some believe the number could be twice as large.

The problem is real.

Walton’s primary focus was on enforcement of legal methods to curtail public homelessness.

While some applauded Walton’s broadside on the mayor, others expressed dismay at Walton’s lack sympathy for people within the unsheltered population.

He had nothing to say about those with addictions, mental or physical health issues, or individuals who have suffered financial or personal setbacks and are in legitimate need of assistance.

Concurrently, opinions expressed about what exactly the mayor has done, and what he plans to do to combat the problem, drew a mix of responses.

Mayoral Response

The mayor’s communications department went on a full-court offensive after Walton’s verbal shooting spree.

A mayoral tweet described Walton’s press conference as “a tantrum of self-aggrandizing hyperbole and outright lies.” That post concluded, “It’s unfortunate Bill Walton is quitting on San Diego, but you can be damned sure Todd Gloria never will.”

That’s some hard-lined political smack. You can be damned sure. It’s on par with notorious NBA trash-talker Draymond Green, who famously called LeBron James a “bitch” during the 2016 NBA Finals.

Low-bar war of words aside, it’s not accurate to say Mayor Gloria has been sitting on the sidelines of the homelessness fray during the two years he’s been in office.

Recent tweets from his offi ce refer to legitimate action steps. Last month, an 18-part Twitter thread pointed to: outreach, shelter and housing policies; a new 150-bed shelter in Midway; efforts to convert the Old Central Library into housing; extended hours for a safe-parking program; and other specifi cs (and some generalities) about initiatives to address homelessness.

Mayor Gloria is not “useless” on homelessness; but he could be more useful. On the daily. Especially regarding his oft-stated number-one priority for the city.

To reiterate: The mayor is not doing nothing. He’s more engaged than his predecessor.

Unfortunately, that’s faint praise.

A hepatitis-A outbreak in 2017 (primarily within the homelessness community), gave previous Mayor Kevin Faulconer a national black eye. Twenty people died; nearly 600 were hospitalized.

The negative publicity served to goad his administration into the bare minimum of proactive measures (more public bathrooms, handwashing stations, etc.).

Faulconer turned minor accomplishment into a major platform plank in a run for governor in the 2021 recall election. (That gall deserves admission into the Political Campaign Marketing Hall of Shame.)

Back to present day: In October, Mayor Gloria directed the San Diego Police Department to renew a policy of demanding homeless tent dwellers take their tents down during the day. During the day.

This is a policy based on city encroachment laws--and a similar action that was implemented during Faulconer’s administration. During the hep-A outbreak.

It’s an approach that was criticized by Gloria when he ran for office in 2020.

At best, you could see that 48 hours after the “No Day Tents” policy was re-introduced, some areas of downtown were noticeably clear of sidewalk obstructions.

However, during an afternoon check on October 5 in the “Low Bottoms” section of East Village (on Sixteen and Seventeenth streets), tents were still omnipresent.

That night, tents were observed back in place on several other urban streets.

At worst, No Day Tents is a public relations façade. The homelessness problem still exists. It just may be less visible in the light of day.

Resorting to enforcement of No Day Tents can be viewed as a passive admission that homelessness has swelled to an issue of epic proportion.

It’s time for the mayor to coach the city toward a realistic, comprehensive, winning game plan. One that’s elucidated regularly and is both urgent and long-sighted.

At the moment, everybody’s losing. SDSun

OPINION: The NBA legend publicly dunked on the mayor--who clapped back–but nobody’s winning this battle over homelessness

Bill Walton

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria

Bill Walton and Lucky Duck Foundation’s Dan Shea and Drew Moser

BLUE OCEAN

WINDOW CLEANING SERVES SAN DIEGO

By Vince Meehan

Paul Pate is the owner of Blue Ocean Window Cleaning, which has been operating in San Diego for close to 13 years. Pate’s company provides window-cleaning service for both residential and business clients, and he prides himself on a commitment to excellence, which sets his firm apart from the rest. The company has grown immensely since its start in 2010, but things were not always so rosy for Pate. A lot of hard work and perseverance was needed to get the firm off the ground, but luckily Pate possesses the grit and determination needed to overcome anything that is thrown at him.

In 2009, Pate had been working for a company up in Riverside County for three years, but that company folded due to the “great recession” as he calls it, and he found himself unemployed at 65. “Nobody was hiring and nobody certainly was hiring an old man, and I had no skills because I had been a landscaping contractor and worked for myself for all those years prior to working for my friend. So I was at probably the most difficult time of my life. No work and no work prospects,” recalled Pate. “We were behind on house payments and it was a dire situation, and I was really concerned that we were going to lose our house.”

Pate was able to make a few dollars here and there in a sales position, but it wasn’t paying anything near what he needed. But he did have some prior experience with window cleaning so he decided to give that a shot.

“I thought, ‘you know what? I can put out a little flyer and maybe get a few window cleaning jobs just to somehow survive. Along with the $600 a month coming from my sales work.’ So I made a little flyer and started putting them on my neighbors doors.”

Within a day he landed one job, which turned into more and he felt this was the best way for him to get back on his feet. So he went and purchased some pro gear and started a small marketing strategy while working out of his car. Eventually things began to really take off and he was able to purchase a truck with ladders and everything else he needed to do business with as a legitimate window cleaning business. He worked by himself for the first 3 years until he had enough business where one by one, he could start building a crew.

“First, I hired a guy named Danny Brown who came to work for me, who is still in my employ. He’s now my operations guy and since then, we’ve had company growth year over year. We operated out of my garage and master bedroom for 9 years, but three years ago we were able to move into commercial space in Clairemont.”

Blue Ocean Window Cleaning is a fully insured family owned business with over 13 years of contracting experience. Blue Ocean specializes not only in window cleaning, but also in solar panel, and gutter cleaning for residential and commercial buildings. Clogged gutters can result in severe water damage to your home and your property, and nobody wants to get up on the ladder for that dirty job. As for the solar panels, builtup dirt and mineral deposits can reduce their effectiveness by up to twenty percent. Typically, solar panels need to be cleaned every six months and Blue Ocean Window Cleaning can once again save you that trip up to the roof. They have all the proper equipment and techniques to clean your panels properly.

Another service offered is screen repair and rebuilding. Blue Ocean can repair or replace damaged window screens and sliding screen doors on the spot at your home with no waiting. Or, they can rebuild them from scratch, which eliminates any tedious trips to the big box hardware store. But Pate is the most excited about a new service being offered that can save homeowners a lot of trouble.

“One of the most recent developments has been what we call ‘solar skirts’. They are about a four-inch wide rubberized/galvanized strip that gets attached to the whole outside edge of the solar panels and this keeps birds or rodents out of the solar panel area. It also keeps leafy material from blowing under there because that is a fire hazard and can also short circuit the electrical equipment. We are one of the few companies in San Diego that are doing that.”

The issue with solar panels is birds or rodents setting up shop under your set up. Also, leaves can build up under there as well which invite the pests in the first place, so the solar skirts are a solution to the problem. Small pests often use the space to create their nests and the size of the panels keeps them dry and protected from the elements. Also, the heat generated by the panels can create a warm and cozy environment for the pests. When these creatures move in, it can create a lot of mess on your roof as well as being increasingly smelly and noisy. On top of that, the longer they remain living there, the higher the chances of serious damage to your solar panels. The guards feature small mesh holes that prevent animals from crawling through and nesting, but still allow for maximum airflow. This mesh also prevents debris from building up underneath the panels, preventing a potential fire risk.

Now, Blue Ocean Window Cleaning is one of the most successful window cleaning companies in San Diego. Pate lives with his wife in a charming house atop the Point Loma peninsula. He enjoys being able to relax at home knowing things are going well with his company, but even his house comes with a story of being at the right place, at the right time.

“It’s a gift to be in Point Loma, and one could say that we shouldn’t be here – but, every once in a while in life you catch a break that’s significant and to be in Point Loma happened because of a significant break,” Pate noted.

Pate used to landscape for the gentleman that formerly lived at his house, so he knew him quite well. He and his wife were looking to move into the area, but found it almost impossible given the prices of the houses. The owner passed away and Pate asked the estate manager if it would be possible to rent the house until they found a buyer. Pate noted that the house was an eyesore and in need of a lot of repair, officially a one-story, 1200 square-foot “super fixer-upper”. The estate manager asked him point blank, “Hey, why don’t you make an offer?” Pate figured there was no way he could afford a house in Point Loma, but the Estate Manager convinced him to submit an offer anyway. The result was an offer that Pate refers to as “doubly ridiculous”, it was a ridiculous amount of money for Pate to offer given his income at the time, and on the other end, a ridiculous amount of money for the estate to accept for a property in Point Loma. But apparently the heirs to the estate were up in San Francisco and were eager for a quick sale, so the offer was accepted and Pate still lives in his dream home. It’s now a beautiful, yet modest home, which serves as a perfect metaphor for the way Pate has led his life.

Resilience and a good solid work ethic has been the key to success for Pate and Blue Ocean Window Cleaning. Customer service and satisfaction are paramount for Pate and he will not compromise when it comes to that. “I’m a farm boy from Southern Indiana! So I know farm life and I know hard work and I’ve known it since I was probably 8, 9, 10 years old! We had animals to care for and responsibilities. I come from a family of 13 children; my mom had one baby per year for thirteen years! My dad worked three jobs so I know about hard work, and my parents encouraged character development and honesty and integrity.”

Pate utilizes this ethos into his business model and insists that his employees follow suit. He says he wants his customers to feel that they’ve been given their money’s worth and come away fully satisfied. “They should expect the best possible service, a company that stands behind their work – if there is something no quite right, I want to know about it. And we will make it right, even to my loss, and I want them to know that we have reliable background-checked individuals in their homes. And they are very conscientious about the environment; they are there with booties and protecting surfaces in the house when they are inside, and protecting plants when they are outside. They are all personable and dedicated individuals that are committed to really making the window cleaning experience for someone an experience that is markedly different that what you would normally see. These are all farmland, Midwest values that were instilled in me at an early age, and that’s how I’ve run my business ever since.”

Blue Ocean

Paul Pate is the Founder of Blue Ocean Window Cleaning

MEALS ON WHEELS SAN DIEGO COUNTY ANNOUNCES

NEW BOARD MEMBERS TO SERVE FROM 2022-2025

Eight community leaders to join nonprofit board to support the organization’s mission to deliver meals to local seniors in need

Meals on Wheels San Diego County announces new board members who will serve three-year terms from 2022-2025. The new members were voted into service on Sept. 27, 2022 and have already begun supporting

David Cohn Co-Owner, Cohn Family Restaurants

David is the President and Founder of the Cohn Restaurant Group, which owns and operates 27 restaurants in Southern California and Hawaii. David and his wife, Lesley, began their family of restaurants 40 years ago with one small diner. He has been honored as San Diego Restaurateur of the Year, San Diego Press Club’s Entrepreneur of the Year, Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics, California Restaurateur of the Year, Hillcrest Hero, Gaslamp Quarter Vision Award and the National Restaurant Association’s Good Neighbor Award. David serves on the Fundraising Committee.

Drew Deckman

Chef and Owner, Deckman’s Restaurant Group

Drew is the Chef and Owner of the Deckman’s Restaurant Group. He is dedicated to local, sustainable ingredients, is Regional Governor for Slow Food International, and has been the culinary consultant for Casa de Piedra Winery, Paralelo Winery, Estacion por Venir Winery and La Contra Vinos. Chef Drew is also an active participant in various Culinary Festivals and Events, including the Baja Culinary Fest, Baja Bash, and Chefs al Rescate. He serves on the Fundraising Committee.

the nonprofit by bringing in fresh perspectives and passionate ideas, all in support of the nonprofit’s mission to deliver hot meals and warm smiles to local seniors who need it most.

Bobby Fitzsimmons

Program Scheduler, Fleet Readiness Center Southwest

Bobby is a Program Scheduler for the Fleet Readiness Center Southwest located onboard Naval Air Station North Island. He schedules maintenance for Navy and Marine Corps F-18 aircraft. Bobby is proud to represent his family who is one of the most impactful and engaged supporters in our agency’s history. He’s excited to put San Diego senior needs at the forefront in our community. Bobby serves on the Services Committee.

Rick Gentry

Retired, Former President and CEO, San Diego Housing Commission

The President & CEO of the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) from September 19, 2008 to March 31, 2022, Richard C. Gentry led an agency with more than 350 employees and a budget of more than $604 million. In October 2017, Rick received the Outstanding Professional of the Year Award from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment O cials (NAHRO) for lifetime service to the a ordable housing industry. He serves on both the Audit and Services Committee.

Shane Harris

President, People’s Association of Justice Advocates and CEO of S Harris

Communications

Shane Harris is the CEO of a communications and public a airs firm and founder of the national bi-coastal civil rights nonprofit organization and policy institute “People’s Association of Justice Advocates”. Shane brings an important equity lens and will assist with the creation of Meals on Wheels’ first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee to expand the reach, increase clientele, and strengthen partnerships in communities that have been historically marginalized across San Diego County. He serves on the Fundraising Committee.

Nancy Lazarski

President and Owner, Crosscut LLC

Nancy is President and CEO of Crosscut, LLC and addresses corporate-level needs in federal and commercial healthcare, as well as outreach for corporate entities with business interests benefiting community needs. Her background is in counseling psychology with experience in private practiceindividual and group; sports psychology; psychological assessment in neuropsychology; psychological stress and resiliency; reintegration.

Nancy is the Board Chair and serves on the Executive Committee.

Margaret Malowney

Retired, Former Director, Civilian Human Resources for the Space and Naval Warfare Command

Before she retired from the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (formally Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command) in December 2018, Margaret served as the Director of Civilian Human Resources for the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command. Prior to that, she was the Director of Civilian Human Resources for the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command. As Director of Civilian Human Resources, Margaret represented the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command and Naval Special Warfare Command at the Navy level and was accountable to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Civilian Human Resources. Margaret is the Vice Chair and will be serving on both the Executive and Board Development Committees.

Partner and Chief Compliance O cer, GlobeFlex Capital

Pamela Pendrell is the Chief Compliance O cer of GlobeFlex Capital, an investment adviser serving institutional clients. She has been with the firm since 2004 and held marketing and client service roles prior to focusing on compliance. In her free time, Pam is a vocalist, singing with a couple of local cover bands and performing periodically with renowned jazz guitarist, Peter Sprague. She serves on the Fundraising Committee as Co-Chair, as well as the Executive Committee.

“We’re excited to have these wonderful community leaders join our team to not only help take our organization into the next three years of growth, but also provide fresh perspectives on the work we do to support local seniors in need of nutrition,” says Brent Wakefield, president and CEO, Meals on Wheels San Diego County. “In collaboration with our long standing board members, staff, and volunteers, we look forward to continuing to support our senior clients every day of the year.”

For information on ways to get involved and support Meals on Wheels San Diego County, visit sandiegomealsonwheels.org.

About Meals on Wheels San Diego County

The impact Meals on Wheels has on the seniors they serve goes far beyond the wholesome meals provided. Daily friendly contact provides important socialization for those who may be isolated with little or no connection to the outside world. Lives are often saved in the course of delivering meals when a person does not respond to a knock on the door, has fallen, or may have become ill. For over 60 years, Meals on Wheels San Diego County has contributed to the overall well-being of seniors by providing regular nutrition and daily contact with a caring volunteer. Learn more at sandiegomealsonwheels.org or call 800.5.SENIOR.

NEW BOARD MEMBERS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING (in alphabetical order):

Pam Pendrell

INVESTING — OVER TIME, IT’S WHAT YOU KNOW

By LinDee Rochelle

Write about what you know ... start a business in what you know ... invest in what you know. These are not idle suggestions. Many of us don’t realize our power and that “what you know” could be your key to success.

But if “you don’t know what you don’t know,” especially when it comes to investing your hard-earned dol-lars for future security, you need an expert who loves the job of helping others invest successfully. Are you curious about investing but don’t know where to start? We have tips ...

When Rainier Trinidad at Parabolic Asset Management is on your side, anyone who comes to him will soon realize they’re in good hands. Can Rainier get intensely technical? Absolutely. But to understand the intricate management process of investing, let us introduce you to just a slice of what he knows about his chosen profession.

Inves�ng in the Art of You

Lately, we’ve felt like the world’s economy is on the head of a bobblehead doll, wobbling so erratically it threatens to pop off.

With unstable economies, people who never thought about investing before or were too intimidated to try are now more interested in it as a way to help stabilize their future personal finances.

That’s when it’s good to know someone like Rainier. He’s “in the know” when it comes to stabilizing your assets. He has been managing investments for 23 years, through four bull markets and bear markets, and even profitably steered clients through the 2008 Financial Crisis.

The stock market, says Rainier, is a constantly evolving puzzle, and just when you think you understand it, something changes to make it all different again. Rainier admits that every unexpected turn is a learn-ing experience, no matter how long you’ve been in the business.

“I’m still learning,” said Rainier, “and I keep and review a journal of the lessons I’ve learned.” He feels strongly that “... the day we stop learning is the day we die.”

Learning what you know

Rainier has long had a passion for the stock market. While in a college foreign exchange program to Ja-pan, he was introduced to the stock market during the dot-com days of the 1990s. “Everyone was excit-ed about it,” said Rainier, “and I got excited too. The bug bit me, and that’s when I started reading every-thing I could about the stock market.” After graduating with a degree in Economics and Japanese, he knew he wanted to be an investment manager. ”When you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work,” said Rainier.

Youth ~ Asset meets obstacle

Finding your life’s passion when young is certainly an asset; but that very attribute can turn into an ob-stacle ... Rainier learned early that age doesn’t matter if “you know your stuff” and can prove it.

“I inherited some very youthful genes from my mom, and when I first started in my twenties, I looked like I was ten! People told me, ‘I’m sorry, but I just can’t work with you—you look too young!’”

Turning to a senior portfolio manager for help, Rainier asked what he could do to overcome his too-youthful image. His colleague said, “Rainier, you need to get something called the CFA (Chartered Fi-nancial Analyst).”

The CFA exam is one of the hardest tests on Wall Street to pass. Eight out of ten people fail to get it on the first try. Rainier recalled, “It’s a three-year program and you have to pass eighteen hours of exams on a pass/fail basis; if you fail, you don’t get partial credit and you have to take that exam all over again!”

Rainier studied intensely, determined to pass. He did—all three tests—the first time. “It was literally the best feeling in the world.”

Once he “got his letters” it opened up a lot of possibilities. People realized he had what it takes and felt more comfortable trusting their portfolios to him. In his forties now, youthful appearance is finally, an as-set.

Reali�es of Responsibility

Rainier’s growth to managing large investment portfolios came nearly as quickly as shedding his youthful obstacle. When asked how he learned to handle the responsibility that comes with investing others’ hard-earned dollars, he put it in perspective.

“When I first entered the business, I thought, ‘Oh, wow, a million dollars, that’s a lot of money.’” At Wells Fargo’s Wealth Management team in Seattle, Rainier quickly scaled up and managed portfolios totaling $100 million dollars. ”After a while, you get comfortable with the numbers.”

It wasn’t long before Rainier’s reputation for savvy investing attracted the attention of another senior portfolio manager, who approached him about a hedge fund he was starting and invited Rainier to join. “It was a lot of intense analysis and trading,” said Rainier, “and it was nothing like the banks and institu-tions, where they were more focused on selling, gathering client assets, and sticking to investment mod-els that were approved by a committee.”

Hedge funds can add a more complex element to trading, with risk management techniques that aim at improving performance. “In the hedge fund world, you live and die by your performance ... we had very consistent returns for about a decade, and even had our best year during the financial crisis.”

The elephant in the inves�ng room

We spent some time talking about losing. No one likes to lose. But Rainier likes to quote those wise guys in Aerosmith, a highly successful, now iconic band of the 1970s, “You got to lose to know how to win.” (“Dream On,” 1973.)

Of course, it’s more fun to win than lose, but losing generates valuable lessons that can boost your win-ning ratio.

Yes, losing is scary, and so Rainier advises, “If you’re investing in the market, it needs to be money you’re comfortable having a loss in.” (Good advice for any risky move.) Two-thirds of the time it goes up, and one-third of the time it falls; so says Rainier, “Over time, it generally moves up.”

As a financial analyst and investment manager, how does he navigate the market to make your invest-ments work to your advantage? “Throughout my career, I have come to rely on a handful of key factors to help improve results, and it’s important I use them in combination with each other. One mistake people make is they’ll look at just one factor and focus on it. You need to look at all the pieces like a mosaic.” Only when you fit all the pieces together, does it complete the artwork.

The “sell discipline” says Rainier, is “very, very important.” Some good advice if you’re managing your own portfolio:

“Learn to get out when something breaks a trend and shows a loss; don’t try to make money in a falling market. Psychologically, there are a lot of reasons that stop people from selling at a loss, but some of the biggest disasters you’ll ever hear about are from people who don’t sell their losers. It means you’re wrong, and people don’t like to admit they’re wrong; but you can always buy something back, after it has stopped falling.”

Eenie, meenie, minie, moe

What stocks do you choose, and how do you know? Besides his own book, “Once Upon a Trade: Les-sons From 15 Years Of Trading Through The Greatest Booms And Busts Of Our Generation,” which he wrote so he could teach the lessons he learned to his children, Rainier suggests new investors pick up a copy of Peter Lynch’s One Up on Wall Street.

Like collecting art or antiques for yourself and choosing what you like best—when stepping into the stock market, says Rainier, “It’s best to choose a company whose products you often use or know a lot about.”

Another of his favorite sayings is, “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.” Recognizing when that’s about to happen plays a primary role in successful investing. A couple of Rainier’s investing rules to live by:

• The investor’s job is to find and own appreciating assets. Don’t buy it if it’s in a downtrend. The key is to invest in them only after the appreciation has begun.

• Never put all your eggs in one basket ... diversify your risks so you can come back from a big loss in one of your investments.

• Learn to size your bets. When your odds for winning are higher, increase your bet size; when your odds for winning are lower, shrink your bet size.

• Patience is key to winning in investing. Rainier states, “The market has a way of being forgiving if you are patient enough and give it enough time.”

Your Bo�om Line

You may have noticed, Rainier punctuates many of his comments with the phrase “over time.” In relation to investing, he states further, “By having a longer time horizon, over time, you’re tipping the odds in your favor. We want people to have that association to long-term investing, which means letting the process work itself out over time, and ideally, to grow your portfolio in a parabolic direction.”

Rainier suggests that it’s the recently retired, or those thinking about retiring, who would most benefit from Parabolic’s strategic planning.

People often have just a vague idea of when they can retire ... that’s why Rainier has powerful software that can calculate your probability of retiring successfully, whether in five years, ten years, or even to-day...

When should you retire? When you have all the money you need, or while you have enough health and life and vitality to enjoy it? Striking that balance of money, time, and energy can be difficult. Rainier’s fi-nancial insights can help you put it all in perspective.

As his website mentions, “We can create your financial plan so you have a detailed road map for where you will be financially in the future with a high degree of certainty.” Is it time to give it some thought?

At a Glance: Parabolic Asset Management Rainier Trinidad rainier@parabolic.us (619) 888-4070

7565 Charmant Drive # 502, San Diego CA 92122 https://parabolic.us/

Every BODY is Di erent

By LinDee Rochelle

We all know that bodily aches and pains are part of life. At different stages, sports injuries, a serious fall, or the natural aging process, can lay you up for a while. Despite standard treatment, do you experience stubborn, chronic pain that just doesn’t want to go away? Are you considering an alternative approach?

Shawn Robek, DC, CCSP, ART, TPI, founder of FIX Medical Group, knows just how you feel. It was his own injury and persistent pain a couple decades ago that set him on a path to helping others get back to doing what they love.

“I got into the business,” said Shawn, “because I suffered a bad snowboarding injury twenty-seven years ago, and thought I was going to be left paralyzed. Though I recovered, the injury made me realize how horrible my quality of life would be without the ability to do the things I love with the people I love”.

Because of that painful experience, the mission for Shawn’s medical offices is based on “Getting people back to doing what they love.” For some, in relation to medical treatments, “That premise can be confusing,” said Shawn, “but once they get our purpose, commitment and passion, they understand what we are trying to accomplish.”

What Shawn and his elite staff of medical professionals are working to achieve is easier said than done. But their actions behind the words address a growing number of issues that plague the medical industry.

It’s no secret that our health system is in shambles. With so much misinformation, conflicting statistics, and wild claims professing miracles, how can you determine what health methods will work for you and your specific health goals? After all, “every body is different,” and no two people will receive the same exact results from any given product or treatment.

Rising above standard medical services

FIX Medical Group is an integrated team of medical professionals working with patients and addressing their needs to help them reach their goals. They FIX your body from the inside out, working with you to understand and listen to the messages your body is sending. As their website mentions, “This isn’t a quick fix, it’s a permanent one.”

Shawn has guided his organization in this manner since opening his first location in San Diego, in 1999. Since then, it has grown into four locations, with two each in San Diego, California and Scottsdale, Arizona.

As well as treating the general population in all locations, they also work with many professional athletes from the NHL, NFL, MLB, and PGA.

What is it that makes their services “well-rounded”? “We’re unique,” says Shawn, “blending multiple specialties to change the face of patient care. We believe that doctors should act like coaches, working side by side with patients to help reach their health and wellness goals.”

In traditional medical treatments, a patient may exhibit three areas of concern, yet each specialist in those areas is wearing blinders, looking only for the problem they have been trained to treat. In reality, our bodies are not compartmentalized. They’re made up of interconnected parts to create a whole, like pieces of a puzzle. With current primary care services, however, we’re schlepped from one specialist to another, searching for answers until someone yells, “Eureka!”

But Shawn doesn’t see patient needs in that way. His clinics are comprised of clinicians, chiropractors, medical doctors, physical therapists, nurse practitioners and others, all working as a team to understand what your health goals are and help you to achieve them.

S�rring up a pot of special�es

“Very few clinics,” says Shawn, “offer an experience of so many specialists under one roof that all have the same mindset for the good of the patient.” They’re a unique, dedicated team, providing a premiere concierge field of

treatment to facilitate getting you to a healthier destination, and back to doing what you love.

Some of the core areas of expertise in FIX Medical Group include:

• Structural care: an athletic blend of physical therapy and chiropractic treatment. It has been described as “aggressive but fun.” As a chiropractic doctor, Shawn knows the value of blending these two areas of treatment for maximum benefit.

• Wellness care: This area incorporates their Restart Wellness Program which works on your internal and external imbalances, enhances your mood, helps you sleep better, addresses weight issues, and provides results that last.

• Regenerative medicine: Perhaps you’ve heard of PRP (platelet-rich plasma) or stem cell treatments? They’re the latest in medical advancements responsible for cell growth and repair for some injuries and illnesses. Though not yet flowing into mainstream medicine, Shawn’s organization is equipped to provide these innovative, and well-tested treatments.

• Aesthetics: Shawn noticed in his patients, that there are times when after all the hard work for three to six months in an internal wellness plan, some patients wanted to also rethink areas of their external body for aesthetic reasons. To accommodate, he created this area utilizing “truSculpt iD,” a body-sculpting product that aids in muscle sculpting and fat reduction.

With a team of providers, FIX members have access to all services when needed. Whatever area of health change you choose—one or all—“Your clinician ‘walks shoulder-to-shoulder’ with you,” Shawn said. “We will encourage you through the tough parts, hold you accountable to your commitment, and be there to listen whenever you need.”

What does “team” mean?

Each FIX Medical Group location relies on the clinic director and exceptional staff to treat their esteemed clients. However, above-average treatment is not limited to your health. “We really live by, and all of our decisions are made, according to our core values, says Shawn. This is especially true when hiring:

• Clinic directors must have been with the organization at least five years and know how to create an environment where both patients and staff can thrive. They will also be an incredible practitioner that drives patient results, with extraordinary leadership skills.

• • Providing fanatical customer experience is expected of the elite staff, as well. Along with the

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clinic director, they must understand what that means and work diligently to make sure each client or potential patient has that experience—”not simply doing their job.”

• Any provider who is hired must also be selfless and do for others without expecting anything in return.

• Demonstrate radical transparency. “We’re an open office organization,” says Shawn. “We speak to one another in a way that we feel the person needs to hear the information. No worries about hurt feelings from miscommunication. We speak freely.

• Everyone hired is expected to realize how much suffering there is in the world and how little they have likely suffered in comparison. “We want our doctors (especially), to be excited to truly ‘see’ people,” says Shawn, “and be as passionate as they are about their goals.”

• Show unconditional gratitude. Each staff member is expected to understand that everyone there is very lucky to be on this earth, doing what they’re doing. “So,” said Shawn with a chuckle, “there is very little whining in our offices.”

While that stringent list may seem a big ask, Shawn is aware that the professionals who come to them pay with the energy they provide, which was based on their efforts outside of the office. That reality is respected, and gratitude is shown for choosing to work there.

Shawn’s fourth quarter goals are to redefine the patient experience and to spread their doctor-coach approach throughout the medical industry, one patient at a time.

Unlike traditional medicine, “We stay in touch with people whether they’re in care, or not,” says Shawn. “We know it’s typically difficult to get answers from doctors, but we’re here for them if they need consulting or guidance, by phone, email, text, or face-to-face, regardless of if they’re an active patient.”

The FIX Medical Group difference is their commitment to clients and patients that extends beyond the initial recovery.

At a Glance: Shawn Robek, DC, CCSP, ART, TPI

*619.295.9791/phone | 619.297.6901/fax https://www. xmedicalgroup.com/

• Mission Valley 5030 Camino De La Siesta Suite 404, San Diego, CA 92108

• Rancho Bernardo 11717 Bernardo Plaza Ct. Suite 102, San Diego, CA 92128

• Scottsdale 11333 N Scottsdale Rd. Suite 140, Scottsdale, AZ 85254

• Scottsdale – Inside Gainey Village Health Club & Spa 7477 E Doubletree Ranch Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85258

Shawn Robek, DC, CCSP, ART, TIP

Hemisphere / Unity Album Release!

Hemisphere celebrates the release of their latest album, Unity, with a special event at Humphrey’s Backstage Live on October 22. Produced by acclaimed guitarist Peter Sprague, Unity, is the second part of a trilogy that began in 2020 with the release of American Dreams. For this concert the group will be expanded from a quintet to a ten-piece band, set to feature Don Bowman (vocals/EWI/sax), Rob Shinno (guitars/ vocoder/vocals), Mike McQuilken (drums), Max Zape (keys), Grant Clarkston (bass), Paul Perez (percussion), Chris Klich (sax), Paul Seaforth (trumpet), Leonard Patton (vocals) and Janet Hammer (vocals).

Hemisphere has actually been around for several decades, in various incarnations. “In the 80’s, we were really pop-rock focused, driven by Mike McQuilken and myself,” said Shinno. “In later decades, we were more of a contemporary jazz and fusion band driven by Don Bowman, Max Zape and myself. I guess we took our early experiences and put them in a time blender with our jazz heyday and voila, the new Hemisphere 2.0 was born! It all felt very natural.”

Unity is the third album by Hemisphere to be produced by acclaimed producer Peter Sprague, according to Shinno, “it was an easy choice to come back to work with Peter as he is a true musical shaman and force de major in San Diego and beyond. It’s great to work with Peter as he has an incredible jazz and music theory background as well as an organic way of engineering and mixing.,” he continued. “We on the other hand would probably be doing a straight up jazz-rock-pop production that could feel over-produced or heavy-handed left to our own devices, so it really is a great match and I think you hear it on the albums.”

How would he describe Hemisphere’s music? “We really work hard at song writing, as we do believe that it is all about the song and its message that’s important for us to communicate with an audience” Shinno said. “Hemisphere these days works hard to make every song a unique mash-up of two genres or styles that don’t normally go together. That’s why you hear something like Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel” in a reggae-ska style with horns replacing the classic guitar riff. If we have to name a style, I guess we are an Album-Oriented-Rock (AOR) group, we’d rather do an album than any one single release or EP. We are often considered to be ‘eclectic’ since we tend to cover so many styles and genres and the music reviewer David

Franklin called our American Dreams and Unity albums ‘wide-ranging, eclectic, funky and timeless’... so that seemed to fit.”

What sets Unity apart from your previous releases? “Well, the string quartet playing live on the album is probably the first thing that comes to mind, powered by Peter Sprague’s soulful arrangements,” Shinno said good naturedly. “We were able to combine the live strings with the horn arrangements on songs like “Mr.

What inspired you to cover “Rebel Rebel”? “I’d been wanting to re-work that track since I was fourteen years old,” Shinno remarked. “In my younger days, I did covers of that song. It had a certain effect on me, growing up in Detroit during the time when the song came out and being gay in that day and age, but not out. David Bowie was there in front of everyone, in broad daylight as a clearly gay man but no-one cared since he was doing glam rock. That made me want to perform at a young age where I could perhaps hide in a musical persona. Now fast forward decades later, as a proud LGBTQ+ artist writing for Hemisphere, the band wanted to do justice to a song that had such an influence on us.” The reggae feel was suggested by Mike McQuilken on drums and Max Zape on keys, “who often suggests new mash-up arrangements for the band.”

Moonbeam” that I think give the Unity album it’s timeless and floating feel.” Another slight change sees Shinno sing a few of the lead vocals this time out, including “Open Your Eyes” and “Rebel Rebel.”

“Having two lead vocalists gave us more range than our previous album, American Dreams, and we plan to extend that on the final part of the trilogy, Power to the People, in 2024.

When can we expect the third part of the album trilogy? “It’s something we have been talking about, but we already have a third of the material for the third installment, the Power to the People album,” Shinno said. “If we want to close out the trilogy correctly then we need to build on what we did on American Dreams and Unity but make it special. In a way, one might expect a more focused album, after all, on the first two albums we give listeners credit as we shuttled them thru quite a few different rooms and musical genres.” Look for Hemisphere to expand their musical horizons even further with future projects. “We are building on the music content from the three albums to write a musical , with award-winning screen-play writer Laura Preble,” Shinno said. “We are super excited to be opening new doors and giving a longer lens to the music of Hemisphere.” Post release show, the band will work on more recordings and concerts, including a performance at SXSW 2023.

If the band had a theme, what would it be? “Unity, Diversity and Equality are themes that we seem to do organically,” Shinno said. “We don’t start the day saying ‘gee we are going to write a happy song’ but we do believe that upbeat inspiring music can be harder to come by as a writer.” He notes that he and McQuilken always had the tag line ‘Believe in Yourself, Believe in a New World’ on their previous releases from the 80’s, “so Unity, Diversity and Equality may be an extension of that direction,” Shinno remarked.

Electric Dream Machine / EDM

Showing the possibilities of electronic dance music as a live music experience, Electric Dream Machine is a new six-piece EDM band, set to raise the limits for audience fun and interaction. This is no mere DJ led playing of tracks on a computer. Electric Dream Machine has the sounds and songs you love for pure dance music but performed by live musicians. The idea is to create the mood, sights and auditory sensations of an EDM rave, but as a full show. It’s a thrilling mix of beats and vision, taking things to the next level with a fully immersive dance concert that puts just

as much into the visual aspect of the performance as the musical side. Alongside a mix of hits and amazing new sounds, there is a full range of costuming, lights and projections all adding up to one of the most exciting live shows on the road today.

The band includes Ian Patrick Cler (band leader, show designer, tech guru and electronic drummer), Jazmine Rogers (lead vocals, choreography), Diana Lynne Ferrer (lead vocals, light show designer), Matt Giles (sound design, song arrangements and synth player), Jacob “Cubby” Miranda (bass, synth bass) and David Yuter (synths and keytar).

Electric Dream Machine is almost two bands in one. “We are building one show for a general/corporate” audience,” said the projects executive producer Michael Twombly. “This will consist of EDM material that is somewhat well-known by a wide spread of the public between the ages of 18-45. This show will feature the most popular Electronic Dance Music of all-time. Well, from the 1990s to present anyway. The band will be presenting their take on such EDM artist as Calvin Harris, Deadmau5, Zedd, Swedish House Mafia, Alice DJ, Avicii and similar. If Apple or Samsung threw a party, this is the show we would give them. Same for casinos, fairs, wineries and bar venues.”

Meanwhile hardcore dance fans will also find much to enjoy. “We also are building a set for true hardcore EDM fans. This show will not likely include songs you have heard on the radio. This version will showcase more underground artists, as well as original songs and remixes that we create. This will be so that Electric Dream Machine can perform in a side tent at Electric

Daisy Carnival, Hard Summer or any of the other large multi-day EDM festivals that are so popular now.”

How important are visuals with this show? “Almost equal to the audio,” Twombly said. “We are developing choreography for each song that includes all sorts of LED lighting elements. One song the singers may be using fiber-optic whips, on another song they may have LED Angel Wings, on another they have LED Po Balls and so on. We are also developing interactive backwall video that will sync with the music, as well as have live camera feeds of the audience and band entwined into the flashing motion imagery on the video screen.”

Depending on the size of the event it’s possible for the show to incorporate lights, lasers, smoke and even hologram Go-Go Dancers. Electric Dream Machine is a unique dance experience sure to energize audiences and raise the limits of what a night on the dance floor can be. “EDM music really lifts my spirits, but a DJ just can’t deliver to the audience what live performers can,” said Twombly. “This is going to be EPIC!”

www.edmband.com

Jason Hanna / Chet Baker Tribute & Hot Dogs!

In a music scene crowded with great players, trumpet player Jason Hanna is a standout. It doesn’t matter which combo you catch him with, if you see Hanna on any stage, a good time is guaranteed. On November 23, Hanna and his band, The Swinging Bananas, will celebrate their 13th Anniversary at the Riviera Supper Club. Up first however, on November 11, he has put together a special show, A Tribute to Chet Baker, set to take place at Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU). For this performance he’ll be joined by Jason Littlefield (bass), Alex Ciavarelli (guitar), Ed Kornhauser (piano) and Chris Cancelliere (drums).

It was clear from childhood that Hanna was destined to a life in music. “My influences in jazz, came early in my life,” he said. “My parents would play Herb Alpert albums and all kinds of music when I was growing up, but later I would discover Miles Davis and Chet Baker on my own. Especially Chet for playing and singing. All three of these trumpet players, Herb,

Miles, and Chet, were so cool with the way they played and especially their trumpet tones. Not to mention, their album covers always had them dressed in sharp suits with beautiful women hanging around them - I love that stuff,” he said good naturedly. As for the trumpet itself. “Not to sound corny, I feel like the trumpet chose me,” he said. “I probably would’ve chosen guitar or bass but it’s what was available at my house as a kid. My father played as a youth and kept an old cornet around the house. For some reason, I could always play it since I first picked it up and because I could “make a sound” on that cornet, I joined the school band. Also, I was very fortunate to have elementary and middle school band directors that were trumpet players, so they encouraged me to play and showed me things to practice, in order to get better.”

He cites a particular schoolteacher. “A big inspiration was my high school band director, Mr. Roy Anthony (Valhalla High School). He kept me interested in trumpet and pushed me to continue studying. I am very thankful he came into my life when he did. He got me connected with Charles Lauer, a private trumpet teacher, who also taught Mr. Anthony’s son, Ryan, who was a world-renowned trumpet player. There I learned the fundamentals of the trumpet, which enabled me to study with Gilbert Castellanos for a short while, before landing an audition with the Navy Band, where I truly honed my trumpet skills.”

How did Hanna choose Chet Baker as a tribute subject? “I mostly perform standards and found that I play and sing

a lot of “Chet Tunes,” songs that Chet Baker used to play and made popular in the 60s. I’ve always been reluctant to do a tribute to Chet concert because I couldn’t find the right venue, until the PLNU venue came serendipitously via, Bruce Mansfield, who is building the jazz program there. He’s had me and the band over for clinics and asked me if I’d be interested in playing a concert at PLNU. So, I finally had the perfect venue and time of year to play some “Chet Tunes”.

As for the Riviera, Hanna is happy to celebrate the 13th anniversary, on the way to many more. “My favorite thing about playing the Riviera is playing Jazz for all the loyal locals and patrons weekly. All walks of life are mixed in every Wednesday to enjoy hot wings and straight-ahead Jazz. Nothing fancy or pretentious, just good old-fashioned fun to break up the work week. It has always been my pleasure to play for these diverse audiences,” he said. “Most times you’ll see clubs full of musicians listening to other musicians. Not at the Riviera, it’s for everybody. Jazz night on Wednesdays is the place where you bring your grandma to when she comes to visit from out of town. She can dig the tunes, food, and the good vibes. The band

and I share this same love of playing for anyone and have a blast every week.”

Hanna heads back into the studio this fall, with more shows and collaborations ahead. In the meantime, he has also unveiled a new project. “As you may or may not know, I love hot dogs,” he noted. “A longtime dream of mine has been to open a hot dog stand. Well, I’ve done it and my stand is called, “Horn Dog.” It will be located at my friend

Andy Hannegan’s brewery, Hannegan’s House in National City, on Thursdays 6pm-9pm. And like most things I do, I’ve incorporated my trumpet and silliness into this. You’ll have to stop by have a wiener and a beer to find out!”

www.pointloma.edu/events/jason-hannasjazz-combo-tribute-chet-baker

Eric Clapton / Catalog Moves To Surfdog!

Iconic British guitarist Eric Clapton’s entire Warner Brothers Records catalog, 1983 – 2010, is moving to Encinitas based label, Surfdog. The deal includes fifteen studio and three live albums, including several Gold, Multi-Platinum and Grammy winning releases, notably 1992’s “Unplugged,” which won “Album of the Year” and has been certified Diamond for sales in excess of 10,000,000 copies in the U.S.

Surfdog had previously issued several Clapton titles, as well as material from Slowhand & Van, a collaboration with Van Morrison. “Eric has enjoyed working with many individuals at Warner over the years, but with the greatly changed landscape of the music business and the increasing

significance of streaming income, it has been decided to take a different approach to the marketing of the catalog,” the label posted in a statement. “In recent years Eric has collaborated with and been impressed by Dave Kaplan and Surfdog on several new record releases in North America, including his last four studio albums, and is also now looking forward to working with Surfdog worldwide in relation to this catalog.”

In addition to digital releases, “Surfdog will also be handling physical LP’s and CD’s,” said Scott Seine, President at Surfdog/Dave Kaplan Management. Does this open the door to releasing expanded editions of these albums in the future?

Concerts Top 5

October 24 – Yes / The Magnolia, El Cajon. 7 p.m.

With guitarist Steve Howe still aboard, the classic rock legends will play a set heavy on their

1970’s prime material, including the complete Close to the Edge album.

October 29 –

Soul Ablaze / Rosie O’Grady’s, Normal Heights. 9 p.m.

Soul and blues guitarist Verdell Smith performs material from his brand new EP, By Glance.

October 29 – Warrior Foundation Fundraiser / Winstons, Ocean Beach. 2 p.m.

8th Annual Warrior Foundation Freedom Station Music Fundraiser featuring performances from Triple Threat, Chet Cannon & Friends, Zavala

San

Recent and Upcoming Albums / EP’s: J. Andrew - Drain

Simeon Flick - Dans Ta Visage, Howlin Rain

“Yes, we will be looking at rolling out special editions and reissues wherever it makes sense in the future,” Seine said.

“There won’t be any promotional activities specifically related to the catalog move to Surfdog, but we have exciting plans around limited edition releases of some of Eric’s legendary catalog.”

Studio Albums: (1983) Money and Cigarettes, (1985) Behind the Sun, (1986) August, (1989) Journeyman, (1994) From the Cradle, (1998) Pilgrim, (2001) Reptile, (2004) Me and Mr. Johnson, (2004) Sessions for Robert J, (2005) Back Home, (2006) Road to Escondido – Eric Clapton & JJ Cale, (2010) Clapton. Live Albums: (1992) Unplugged, (2002) One More Car One More Rider (Live Staples Center LA),

Soul, Fuzzy Rankins and Eppler & The Curb Feelers.

November 10 – Steve Poltz / Belly Up Tavern

Gifted singer-songwriter Poltz performs in support of The Adapt Functional Movement Center, a neurological rehabilitation and recovery center. Ryan Hiller opens.

November 11 – San Diego Music Hall of Fame / Newbreak Church, Ocean Beach. 7:30 p.m.

The 4th Annual ceremony inducts Gustavo Romero, Chris Hillman, Alex DePue, The Cheathams, Larry Zeiger and The Marine Band San Diego.

(2016) Live at San Diego 2007 www.surfdog.com

The

from Pioneertown, Katie Ladubz – Pressure, Robert Leo – Lessons Learned (tbd), Manual Scan – Shooting Stars (tbd), Stephen Pearcy – Legacy (tbd), DJ Pnutz - Trick R Beat 2: The Halloween Drum and Bass Remixes, Jim Ryan – 555, Ricky Schmidt – Pure Fun, Slack Key Ohana – Live (tbd), Verdell Smith – By Glance, Jackie Starr – Wu Wei, Story & Scene – s/t (tbd), Joshua Taylor –Unscene (tbd), Gary Wilson – Marshmallow Man (tbd),

Recent and Upcoming Videos: Liquid Blue – “Earth Passport,” The Locust – “Cruel Compensation,” miniaturized –“It’s Science,” Omar Musisko (Peripherals) - “Before Stella,” Quor – “Twiddle in the Middle,” Ricky Schmidt – “Africa,” “Grand Hole,” Slack Key Ohana – “Coming Home”

Recent and Upcoming Singles: -16- “Misfortune Teller,” Ariel Levine – “Closure, Roaches and Ghosts,” Blink 182 – “Edging,” Clance + Imes - “Set the Break,” Just In Case – Delayed Reaction, Lauren Leigh - “Black Rose Canyon,” Lions & Ghosts – “Gurl I Love You,” Skyler Lutes – “Stab Me,” Aaron Markland – “Hundred Dollar Boulevard”

San Diego Music News

Don’t forget to submit your albums, videos and songs for the 2023 San Diego Music Awards! You can register your tracks online, it’s fast, easy and free, but you only have until December 31. The awards will take place on Tuesday April 25 at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay. www.sandiegomusicawards.com/submissions

-16-, featuring Barney Firks, heads out on tour with opener Doc Hammer, opening November 12 at the Tower Bar and wrapping up on November 26 in Prescott, Az.

Pop punk trio, Blink 182 has released a new single, “Edging,” ahead of a new album and tour.

Back to the core trio of Tom DeLonge, Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker, the band’s world tour will hit 25 countries over the span of a year, opening in Tijuana on March 11, 2023 and wrapping up on Feb. 26, 2024 in New Zealand. Hometown fans won’t be left out. Blink 182 will play San Diego shows on June 19 & 20 at Pechanga Arena.

Meanwhile in unrelated Blink-182 news, young pop punk fans will love the new album, Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of Blink-182, due out November 25 from Rockabye Baby Music. The album features twelve of the bands’ hits, including “What’s My Age Again,” transformed into soothing tunes for the toddler set.

Also new in 2022 for collectors, all of Blink182’s classic 1990’s era albums, plus a hits compilation, have been reissued on colored vinyl: Blink (1994 / blue, red, & yellow tri-stripe or blue & white haze), Cheshire Cat (1995/ blue translucent), Dude Ranch (1997 / clear red), Enema of the State (1999 / Transparent Blue w/ White Marble) and Greatest Hits (2005 / black vinyl).

Jim Croce’s #1 1974 album, You Don’t Mess Around With Jim, is being reissued for it’s 50th Anniversary, with the album cover now sporting a gold border. Limited pressings on vinyl, CD and cassette are available.

The Taryn Donath Trio, featuring Laura Chavez, will take part in The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise happening on Oct 29-Nov 5. The ship sails from San Diego to Loreto, Mexico, with headliners set to include Taj Mahal, Booker T and Elvin Bishop.

The Drabs new ten track disc, Hurry Light, was recorded by Ben Moore with guests including horn player Andy Geib (Slightly Stoopid), singer Shelbi Bennett (Midnight Pine), and pianist Ed Kornhauser

Bassist Nathan East performs on Ringo Starr’s latest release, EP3. He can be heard on the songs “Let’s Be Friends” and “Free Your Soul.”

Celebrate New Years Eve with The Greyboy AllStars! The band will play a three night stand at The Casbah, December 29 -31. All–Star Fun Facts: Saxophonist Karl Denson also performs with The Rolling Stones, keyboardist Robert Walters can also be heard on tour with Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) and guitarist Elgin Park is also an acclaimed

film composer (Donnie Darko, The King of Staten Island etc). In related news, on September 29, Denson joined Kansas City guitarist Samantha Fish for a jam at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay

Congrats to La Jolla’s Alicia Keys who earlier this month had nine singles certified Gold and Multi-Platinum, including: “Doesn’t Mean Anything” (G), “Underdog” (P), “You Don’t Know My Name” (P), “Unthinkable” (3XP), “Fallin’” (3XP), w/ Usher “My Boo” (4XP), “If I Ain’t Got You” (5XP), “Girl On Fire” (6XP) and “No One” (8XP)

Guitarist Marc Intravaia (Listen, Back to the Garden) has joined The Soul Persuaders Meanwhile on October 8, his band Back to the Garden, performed his classic song, “Can’t Go Back To Cardiff” live for the first time. Written and performed by the trio of Gary Hyde, Marc Intravaia, Tom Boyd the song was first released on the 1977 KGB-FM sponsored, Homegrown V album and was the “Featured Classic” on Staring at the Sun XI (2014)

Saxophonist Dave Koz & Friends new album, Christmas Ballads (25th Anniversary Collection) sees him joined by pianist David Benoit, trumpeter Rick Braun and guitarist Peter White. Notably, the album’s first single, a cover of John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over) / Imagine,” features singer Rebecca Jade

Landis St. hosts an album release show for their latest, Window, on November 12 at the Black Cat Bar

80’s era rockers Lions & Ghosts debut album, Velvet Kiss, Lick of The Lime (1987), has been digitally reissued by the label, Deko Entertainment, complete with bonus b-sides and vintage era remixes. The band recently reunited for a new single, “Gurl I Luv You,” though without founding bassist Todd Hoffman

Liquid Blue has released a new video for their song “Earth Passport,” originally issued in 2010. The song reached #3 on the Billboard Dance Charts. “The song is a plea for world peace and is dedicated to World Citizen #1, Garry Davis,” said the bands founder, Scott Stephens. It is featured in the documentary film “The World is My Country,” produced by FutureWAVE and notably the song received a Guinness World Record for “Hit Song Sung in the Most Languages.” The lyrics are sung in all the official UN languages, including English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish, as well as Hindi, German, and Tagalog. “It was written with a “one-world” perspective from a band that has travelled to over 100 countries,” Stephens said. Fun fact: Liquid Blue had performed in more than 500 cities in over 100 countries.

The Locust have released a video to go with their remix of Danny Elfman track “Cruel Compensation.” The song was originally heard on Elfman’s 2021 album, Big Mess.

OB based reggae artist Aaron Markland is rebranding as “Seawall Prophet” and has signed to Pacific Records. His first single, “Hundred Dollar Boulevard,” is out now.

Award winning combo Marujah have a new album, Henry 619, out October 31. It was produced by John Avila (Oingo Boingo) with recording taking place at Brandos Paradise in San Gabriel.

Pacific Records News: The label recently placed SLO based band, The Moonjacks, song “Bummer”, on the Fox-TV series, “Welcome to Flatch.” Meanwhile Pacific Records has begun work on a compilation of seasonal tunes, intended to be an annual release. The label also recently signed Monroe, from NYC, releasing his latest single, “Side A.”

Garage rockers The Loons will head to Spain for a string of dates starting October 23 in Toledo, ending up at the Funtastic Dracula Festival taking place in Benidorm on October 29. The band has a new 7” vinyl four track EP due later this year.

Congrats to reggae rock trio Pepper who scored a Gold single for their song “Stone Love” this month from the RIAA

Rock favorites Pierce the Veil will wrap up the years touring with a pair of shows at SOMA on December 30 – 31. Their current road trip kicks off October 22 in Las Vegas, ending on December 10 in Leeds, England.

New band alert! Rogues of Chaos, features guitarist Jerry Flack (Cardiac Kidz), bassist Sppike Mike Muellenberg (Spice Pistols), drummer Zakaria Albannia and singer Tamara Harrison. The band makes their debut on October 29 at the annual Halloween bash thrown by online radio station, Whatever68. So far, the Rogues of Chaos set consists of Cardiac Kidz songs, plus covers of The Monkees and The Runaways.

Jim Ryan (The Cardiac Kidz) releases his third album of the year on December 16. Titled, 555, the album includes a cover of The Beatles 1967 classic, “All You Need Is Love.”

Singing songwriter-producer Sven Erik Seaholm hosts an album release event on November 16 at Humphrey’s Backstage Live Oxford, Comma is his first album in seven years.

On December 20, The Tourmaliners will host a combination 10th Anniversary Surfin’ Christmas Party / Album Release Show, celebrating their new album, Surfidia, at Tio Leo’s. Opening the show will be their Pacific Records label mates, Slack Key Ohana, and the Alter Billies. “We will be raffling off a brand-new Gordon & Smith Surfboard and many other cool items for charity,” said Tourmaliners guitarist Deven Berryhill. Music Scene SD editor Bart Mendoza will host this event.

Blues guitarist Johnny Vernazza (Elvin Bishop, Van Morrison etc.) was recently at Pacifi c Records guesting on a track for True Stories upcoming EP, with Brian Witkin producing.

Tom Waits fans will want to pick up the 20th-anniversary limited edition colored vinyl re-issues of his albums, Alice (Blue) and Blood Money (Red), both originally released in 2002. The deluxe digital versions of the albums include five bonus live tracks each.

CHULA VISTA BREWERY TO HOST BREWS & GROOVES

By Vince Meehan

Chula Vista Brewery in Eastlake is the unofficial city hall according to founder Tim Parker, who owns the brewery along with his wife Dali. “We actually have a lot of people who are running for city council or mayor and they all come down here just to meet the customers and talk to them,” Parker said. “We definitely try to be a neighborhood brewery, and we cater to our community. We just focus on our neighborhood, and we give back to the neighborhood.”

In part of the giving back theme, Chula Vista Brewery will be hosting a fundraiser called “Brews & Grooves” which will be a collaboration with SD Craft Masters, a new video program which focuses on San Diego’s booming craft beer scene. SD Craft Masters is hosted by journalist and craft beer enthusiast Vince Meehan, and is a show featured on San Diego Metro Magazine, an online publication that focuses on San Diego’s diverse business community. The event takes place on Saturday November 12th at Chula Vista Brewery and will showcase Chula Vista Brewery’s collection of beers as well as a few guest breweries. The grooves will be supplied by prominent singer/songwriter Rebecca Jade as well as a few surprise guests.

Parker opened his original brewery five years ago on Third Street while he was still in active duty in the navy doing search and rescue. His brew house was the first on that Downtown strip which now features many more breweries and restaurants. The place is still there as a tasting room, but the production has been moved to the much bigger Eastlake location which he opened after he retired.

“We got a whole lot going on here that we can’t have going on at my original location,” noted Parker. “Obviously it’s a lot bigger than my original brew house, we can hold up to 300 people here verses 80. We have live entertainment, we have DJs and bands, and we hold events here and a whole lot of fundraisers. Parker recently held a celebration for a local Chula Vista football player who got drafted into the NFL.

The Brews & Grooves event will serve as a launch party for SD Craft Masters, which started production on its series early this year, and plans to do more of these events in the future. SD Craftmasters visits our top breweries for a behind the scenes look into the workings of our craft beer scene. On the program, brewery staff discusses the business side of the craft as well as how the breweries support our community and get support from the fans as well.

They also chat with the head brewers who make the magic about how they create their recipes and include tasting notes of select beers. Breweries such as Fall, Second Chance, Eppig and of course Chula Vista Brewery are represented in the episodes that are fun as well as educational.

Rebecca Jade will be the first artist to be featured at the Brews & Grooves event and will be performing her renowned soulful approach to R&B. Jade is a San Diego singer/songwriter who has been performing music as a career for over 20 years. Jade has performed onstage with many top music artists from around the world. She has toured with Sheila E., and sang for Sir Elton John at the 2020 Academy Awards, and appeared in the Emmy-nominated show, “Let’s Go Crazy: The GRAMMY Salute to Prince” that aired on CBS in April 2020. In 2019, she opened for Jeffrey Osborne for the Thornton Winery Summer Concert series, and has done several shows at Spaghettini in Seal Beach.

Jade won two San Diego Music Awards in 2022 for “Best Music Video” and “Best R&B/Funk/Soul Song” for What’s It Gonna Be, her first single off of her latest album. In 2021 she won “Song of the Year”, and in 2020 she walked away with “Artist of the Year”. Jade recently dropped her new album, A Shade of Jade, which features both Dave Koz and Eric Darius on two of the songs, and she put on a sold-out album release concert at Sycuan’s Live & Up Close Showroom. Her sound is very polished and refined in a style that brings back the days when A&R records ruled LA. Her vocals are rich and effortlessly pitch perfect without any need for autotune, which creates an authentic recording, not heard in quite some time.

For more details on Brews & Grooves, monitor www.chulavistabrewery.com or @SD_Craftmasters on Instagram for details as they develop. To watch current episodes of SD Craftmasters, go to: https://www.sandiegometro. com/category/video/vodcasts/sdcraft-masters/

At a Glance: Chula Vista Brewery

www.ChulaVistaBrewery.com

SD Craft Masters

Instagram: @SD_Craftmasters

Rebecca Jade

www.RebeccaJade.com

tickets for the event can be purchased at www.concerts.cafe

Photo by Vince Meehan

Beer Dudes: Tim Parker, Founder of Chula Vista Brewing and David Favela, CEO of Border X Brewing at a recent event

Rebecca Jade

Photo by Vince Meehan

Brew Master

Ignacio “Nacho” Cervantes chats with Vince Meehan