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2

May, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 5

Did you know that last year alone there were 8,445 reports of child abuse right here in Central San Diego?

343 of those children were placed in foster care

40% of foster children will be separated from their siblings These children need your help!

Be that hope these children are looking for with as little as $25/mo.

Your gift will ensure that siblings living apart in foster care can reunite each month; foster youth have the guidance, skills and resources to complete their higher education; foster children can enjoy the same extracurricular activities as their peers; and have a place to go where they feel safe and cared for.

For 40 years, Promises2Kids has been creating a brighter future for foster children in San Diego.

Become a Promise Maker by mail or at give.classy.org/promisemaker

YES! I want to help create a brighter

future for foster children in San Diego

Name _____________________________________ Address ___________________________________ City ___________________ State _____ Zip ______

❑ $100 ❑ $50 ❑ $25 ❑ Other__________ ❑ One-time Gift ❑ I prefer to make a monthly contribution of $ ______________________

Phone ____________________________________

Please charge my Credit Card:

Email _____________________________________

❑ Visa ❑ MasterCard ❑ AmEx Card # ________________________________

Mail to:

CVV ____________ Exp. Date ______________

9400 Ruffin Court, Suite A San Diego, CA 92123 Phone: (858) 278-4400

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VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 5 | May, 2021

3

SAN DIEGO NICE GUYS HOLD AUCTION TO GIVE A HAND UP

For 42 years, the San Diego Nice Guys have been giving help to San Diegans in need of a hand up - those who have somehow fallen through the cracks and have no

place else to turn. Whether it is a medical bill, a car repair, clothes after a house fire, a wheelchair...whatever it takes to help get them back on their feet and their lives back on track.

“Every cent the Nice Guys raise goes to these individuals and families who have fallen on hard times. We have no overhead and no paid staff and all administrative costs to run the organization are donated by our members” states John Jensen, vice president of the Nice Guys and chair of the upcoming Midnight in Paris auction. “We hold two major fundraisers each year: our Nice Guy of the Year gala in the fall and our auction in the spring.” The theme of this year’s auction was inspired by Jensen’s frequent trips to the ‘city of lights’ and his fascination with the 2011 Woody Allen movie Midnight in Paris which he has watched 72 times and counting.

The auction will give you an opportunity to contribute to one of San Diego’s most deserving charities and bid on fantastic items such as fabulous nights on the town, weekend getaways, a lease on a new Mercedes from Mercedes of Escondido, jewelry, purses, wine/ whiskey, sports packages, and tropical vacations. Our auction is renowned for offering outstanding bargains on a plethora of unique items. We hope you can join us to support this worthwhile cause.

Upon arrival guests will be greeted with a glass of chilled French champagne, serenaded with vintage French music performed by

one of San Diego’s most renowned accordion players, and amused by a classic French mime while bidding on silent and live board items.

The live auction portion will feature a dozen unique and fantastic items. Dinner, paired with French wines will be served by The French Gourmet. A hosted bar is also included. The evening will feature a screening of the 2011 romantic, whimsical, time travel fantasy “Midnight in Paris”. “Un temps splendide est garanti pour tous” – a splendid time is guaranteed for all!

SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021, 5:30 PM Sheraton Four Points San Diego 8110 Aero Drive, San Diego, CA 92123 Free Self-Parking Hosted Bar/Dinner by The French Gourmet SILENT, BOARD, AND LIVE AUCTIONS Individual Ticket with open seating: $150 Reserved table of 8: $1,200 To Purchase Tickets: Visit: www.sdniceguys.com or Mail Checks to: The Nice Guys Robert Patterson/Treasurer c/o Patterson Capital Investment Group, Inc. 402 West Broadway, Suite 2600, San Diego, CA 92101 The event will be held outdoors ‘on the green’ - appropriate footwear is suggested.

SAN DIEGO NICE GUYS NICE GUYS 42nd ANNUAL CHARITY AUCTION ANNUAL CHARITY AUCTION SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021 5:30 PM

Sheraton Four Points San Diego 8110 Aero Drive San Diego, CA 92123 For more information contact John Jensen: jjensen@hwfi.com

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May, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 5

POST-PANDEMIC LIFE FOR SENIORS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME That can be a good thing

By Simona Valanciute, President and CEO, San Diego Oasis

Seniors have been hit hard by the pandemic. Highly effective COVID-19 vaccines now offer hope of a return to a more normal life, but many of our institutions might be changed forever.

However, this can be a good thing. Life for many people post-pandemic will likely never be the same—but seniors can and should re-engage with a changed world safely.

Recently, San Diego Oasis hosted an “After Your Shots” webinar, featuring advice from local experts including Dr. Daniel Hoefer of Sharp Healthcare and psychologist Dr. Ken Druck. Here’s what they said seniors can do post-vaccination, how they can cope with the changes in our world and why lifelong learning and social connections are so important for their health post-pandemic.

What Can I Do Now That I’m Vaccinated?

First things first: all eligible adults should get vaccinated against COVID-19 (you can call 211 for help scheduling an appointment over the phone).

According to Dr. Hoefer, socializing with another fully vaccinated person unmasked and inside is very low-risk once you’re fully vaccinated. If you’d like to visit unvaccinated family members, friends or grandchildren, you will likely pose minimal risk to them, but it’s safest to wear masks. In the meantime, we should all continue to wash our hands, wear masks and keep our distance in public, to protect those who may be immune-suppressed or have not had a chance to be vaccinated yet.

If you’re vaccinated, you can get haircuts, massages, manicures and pedicures, go shopping at local stores, do errands and travel domestically. Just be sure to make appointments ahead of time, and follow all mask and distancing rules they may have. If you plan to travel, laminate your vaccination card, take it with you and have a picture of it on your phone for back-up—and confirm any travel restrictions your destination may have.

Changed for Good The past year has been traumatic for everyone, so trepidation about resuming some activities is normal. But according to both Dr. Hoefer and Dr. Druck, staying socially connected, physically active and mentally curious was key to survival for most of their senior patients throughout the pandemic, and will be crucial for them post-pandemic too.

The past year-plus has been a trying time, starkly highlighting the health risks of social isolation for all of us, especially older adults.

The top predictor of early death among retirees and older adults is social isolation, according to Dr. Hoefer. Over the past year, his patients who were socially isolated experienced more diabetes complications and heart failure than those who had strong social connections, whether through online classes and volunteering or regular chats with friends and family.

At San Diego Oasis, which offers lifelong LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

learning classes for older adults, we observed the same phenomenon in many of our students—those who stayed engaged with classes and friends reported better health than those who withdrew. Throughout the pandemic, San Diego Oasis has focused on building a “senior center without walls” where older adults can find learning and connection, even at home, through a wide variety of free or low-cost classes. Our students and instructors, most of whom are 65 and older, have eagerly adapted to online learning, and can now attend class both virtually and in a hybrid, part-online, part /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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in-person format.

Humans are social creatures, and we thrive on positive mental challenges. Dr. Druck put it best: life may never be the same, but we can use the challenges of this past year and the challenges ahead of us to try new things, engage with the world and build a healthier, more fulfilling life.

Simona Valanciute is the President and CEO of San Diego Oasis, an award-winning nonprofit organization serving people age 50 and better, who pursue healthy aging through lifelong learning, active lifestyles, and community service. Learn more at www.sandiegooasis.org.

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VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 5 | May, 2021

5

HEALTH FROM HOME: Q&A WITH JON CARDER

By Molly Galliher

Like many of us, Jon Carder noticed a general deterioration in his health as he started to get older. After over a decade in a highly demanding job, he observed a decline in his memory and a lowered quality of sleep. At first, he chalked this up to aging. When this continued, Jon turned to medical professionals to find a solution to his problems. After a lot of research, doctor visits, weeks of testing, and thousands of dollars spent, the issue was finally identified: nutrient deficiencies.

With such a simple solution, Jon began to wonder if there was a better way to track his wellness. Using his previous experience creating companies, Jon started Vessel Health, a wellness company that allows users to test nutrient levels at home and provides them with personalized health plans for a fraction of the cost and time of traditional medical testing. Vessel Health works from the comfort of your own home and gives immediate accurate results and ways to improve your wellbeing. Health is now accessible from anywhere.

Q: What is Vessel?

Vessel is a lab + nutritionist in your hand.

It’s a combination of a test card you can do at home that instantly measures multiple nutrient levels, hydration, cortisol and more. Combined with the Vessel app that poses a series lifestyle questions, you get a personalize wellness plan that helps you feel your best, especially regarding sleep, energy, immunity and mood. If you need support along the way, you can chat with licensed nutritionists right in the Vessel app, without an appointment.

What made you decide to start this company?

I started noticing my health was declining a bit in my thirties. It was little things. I wasn’t sleeping as well, I had energy fluctuations, I had a little bit of brain fog- my memory wasn’t as sharp as it used to be and I thought I was just getting older.

I think that’s what most people do, blame it on aging. I decided to go to a doctor and I got some lab work done. After a few weeks and a few thousand dollars spent, I learned that I had some basic changes I needed to make. For one, I was eating too much sushi so my mercury levels were too high- that’s what was causing some of that brain fog. My B12 levels were low which was having an impact on my energy, and my magnesium was low, impacting my sleep. A normal American diet is generally low in these areas so I supplemented it with vitamins and lifestyle changes. It was incredible.

It basically changed my life. I had consistent energy, I was sleeping better, and I got rid of the brain fog. In general, I think a lot of people don’t know about that and just chalk it up to them getting older. When I found out about all this, I was blown away. At Vessel, our mission is to take my experience, which cost thousands of dollars and took several months, and make it affordable and bring it into the home.

Can you talk about why accessibility is so important?

With the pandemic, people are realizing how convenient it is to have things done at home.

Health, in general, is moving in that direction.

Convenience doesn’t just stop at being able to test at home, it’s also so much cheaper because you can track these health markers without having to pay a lab. It’s cheaper and faster. Vessel doesn’t entirely replace going to the doctor and getting labs done though. We test about ten health markers that give you a good idea of where you are but you still want to go see a LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

functional medical doctor if you’re sick. We are here to help you dial in your wellness and help improve your day-to-day functioning.

How do the test cards work?

From a user perspective, you pee on the bottom of the test card for about 3 seconds. You wait about 3 and a half minutes and then scan the card with your smartphone. What’s happening is, we’re taking your already amazing smartphone camera and using a combination of computer vision and machine learning to accurately read your test card. This is very similar to what would happen if you went to a lab. They would use a test card and stick it into a machine that would read the card using a camera in a controlled lighting environment.

We can provide similarly accurate results using our technology. In fact, we perform similarly to most FDA-approved readers.

From there, you receive tailored recommendations and a health plan to help improve your wellness.

How were the test cards created?

Pretty much every test on the test card was personally developed by Vessel. We have about ten markers right now including tests for magnesium, cortisol, and ketones a and b. Many of those tests aren’t available anywhere else and when we looked into potentially buying some of those that were from partners, the accuracy wasn’t there. We’ve built almost everything on the test card.

How long does it take to notice an improvement after starting Vessel?

Usually within a matter of weeks, you start to feel a difference. For example, most of us are deficient in magnesium. Just simply testing your levels and taking a good magnesium supplement can make a world of difference. Within a week or two we’ve had people sleeping better than they have in their entire adult life because they had no idea their magnesium levels were impacting their sleep. Some changes, like cortisol, for example, take a bit longer, but there are a lot of early wins that people get when using Vessel.

Can you tell us about Vessel Health’s partnership with Vitamin Angels?

Vitamin Angels provides nutrients to those in need in developing countries. While we focus on wellness, typically they focus on life-saving nutrients. Every time you buy a test card from Vessel, we donate money to Vitamin Angels who deliver vitamin A to a child in need. Every time you work to improve your wellness, you are providing life-saving nutrition to those in need. We wanted to find an organization that correlated with what we were trying to do to /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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help people and also made us feel good about doing it. Vitamin Angels was the perfect fit.

As a serial entrepreneur, what is your source of motivation?

It’s changed over time. Today, the source of my motivation is our goal to get a lab in every hand within ten years. It’s such an exciting thing to think that we could help people experience the improvement I experienced and be able to operate at a higher level. That is a life-changing experience to go through and can really make a difference in everything you do day-in and dayout because when you have more energy and your brain is functioning at a higher level, you can do more of whatever it is you do and you can do it better than you were before. The kind of impact that calculates to is potentially enormous, and is so exciting. With Vessel, I have been able to take a personal experience and help share the solution with others experiencing similar issues.

The problem I’m solving is so true to who I am that it’s incredibly motivating to work on. You tend to work a bit harder than when you’re just trying to solve somebody else’s problem.

Do you have any advice for people looking to start their own company?

You want to be true to yourself. There is a lot of “cool factor” around the idea of entrepreneurs right now but I think, ultimately, if that’s not what you were born to do then you might not be happy being an entrepreneur even if you achieve a high level of success financially. I think a good question to ask yourself is “If you had fifty million dollars in your bank account but you still had to work from nine to five, what would you do?” I think ultimately that’s what you should start working on now even without the money, because you’ll be a lot happier if you do.

If you gave me a billion dollars today, I would work on exactly what I’m doing right now. I would still be focused on wellness and longevity because those are two things that are incredibly important to me because of my challenges around wellness. It took me a while to get to my true calling as an entrepreneur but I’ve had the entrepreneur bug since I was a kid. I had a hot dog stand at the end of my parents’ driveway when I was twelve years old. I don’t know why I did, but it just kind of fit with me. The things you did as a kid are probably close to the kinds of things you should be working on as an adult.

What is your favorite part about working in the San Diego community?

I think San Diego is the best-kept secret in terms of a city to live and work in. It is a place where people are happier and healthier because of the time you get to spend outside and the general health-focused culture in the area. I can’t imagine any other place that tops it in terms of a place to build a company. It’s a little bit of a secret still for some reason but I don’t mind that. I love being here.

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6

May, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 5

PatientPartner HealthTech Platform Matches Patients with Peers for Personalized Pre-Surgery Support

Two San Diego entrepreneurs and childhood friends are changing the way patients prepare for surgery. Since 2017, PatientPartner has helped more than 300 bariatric weight-loss and orthopedic surgery patients by connecting them with past patients who now serve as ‘surgery mentor’ volunteers. It’s the first program of its kind that connects pre-surgical patients with fully recovered patients from the same type of surgery to share experiences, questions and concerns.

PatientPartner currently matches patients in California, Texas, Nevada and Arizona who are preparing for orthopedic and bariatric surgery, with plans to expand to the areas of fertility, spine and plastic surgeries in the future. Using simple video communication technology, the mentor-matches are designed to help pre- and post-surgery patients share experiences, ask and answer specific questions about what to expect from surgery and the recovery process, and provide emotional support to relieve anxiety and fear. The free service has helped patients like Allie, who connected with a PatientPartner volunteer before her sleeve gastrectomy.

“Bariatric surgery is extremely sensitive, emotional and intimate. Patients are often ashamed, self-conscious and feel ignored and alone on their decision-making journey,” said George Kramb, co-founder and CEO, PatientPartner. “PatientPartner gives them the opportunity to share those vulnerabilities and feelings with someone who’s gone through the experience themselves.

That connection is powerful.”

PatientPartner is powered by volunteers like Yesenia, who experienced chronic pain and sleep apnea before her gastric bypass surgery. Another volunteer, Dave, received knee replacement surgery after years of running. Posts-surgery, he was back to playing golf just four weeks later. Yesenia and Dave share their personal surgery experiences with pre-op patients to help reduce stress and minimize the fear that patients experience before surgery.

It’s free to sign up for PatientPartner and get matched with a ‘surgery mentor.’ Patients who are preparing for surgery or considering it in the future can sign up online.

It only takes a few minutes to answer the screening questions and get matched with available volunteer mentors. Patients pick which mentor profile fits best and schedule a video call through the PatientPartner portal. Each volunteer is carefully screened by the company before their first match.

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information they are providing is unbiased, but PatientPartner donates to the charity of each volunteer’s choice in support of their efforts. There are more than 100 active volunteers on the platform today.

“We’re using technology to add a personal touch. Most patients know very little about the surgery they’re considering,” said Kramb.

“PatientPartner is all about patient advocacy, to provide the most comprehensive and individualized approach to connecting patients to share experiences.”

Based in San Diego, PatientPartner founders George Kramb and Patrick Frank also created Rightdevice to help educate and guide patients through medical decisions. /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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Kramb is a former medical device sales representative who has sat in on hundreds of operations to help walking surgeons through complex new medical technologies.

He saw firsthand how the healthcare system works and identified a major gap between patient information and surgery scheduling.

“Simply put, the healthcare industry is designed to keep patients out of the loop.

The terminology is tough to comprehend, finding quality and reliable information is nearly impossible, and patients have no idea about the actual product that will live inside them. PatientPartner fills some of those gaps with one-to-one sharing of information,” he says.

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VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 5 | May, 2021

7

MORE CANNABIS DISPENSARIES = FEWER OPIOID DEATHS A recent study in the British Medical Association Journal (BMJ) shows increasing access to marijuana dispensaries is associated with a significant reduction in opioid-related deaths. (link below) Association between county level cannabis dispensary counts and opioid related mortality rates in the United States: panel data study | The BMJ Researchers reviewed opioid mortality and cannabis dispensary prevalence in 23 US states from 2014 to 2018. The study concluded that counties where the number of legal marijuana shops increased from one to two experienced a 17 percent reduction in opioid-related fatalities. Increasing the dispensary count from two to three was linked to an additional 8.5 percent decrease in opioid deaths.

“Higher medical and recreational storefront dispensary counts are associated with reduced opioid related death rates, particularly deaths Michael Patterson is the CEO of US Cannabis Pharmaceutical Research and Development LLC (US Cannabis), a privately-held developmental consulting firm which was established in 2014 with the mission of moving society forward through legalized cannabis. US Cannabis develops the legal cannabis/hemp/ cbd markets globally across all platforms (education, cultivation, production, dispensing, research and development, management operations and compliance, and physician services).

US Cannabis currently works with national, state, and local governments, sovereign nations, and public/private companies in all aspects of the cannabis/hemp/CBD industry throughout the United States and Internationally.

Mr. Patterson is President and Executive board member of MGMC-Pharma Group, an international medical cannabis pharmaceutical corporation with EU-GMP cannabis cultivation, production, and export/distribution licenses in 6 East African Countries (Lesotho, Tanzania, Malawi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Uganda) and offices in Australia, Italy, and the United States. MGMC Global | The African Medical

associated with synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.” Per the study, it’s a finding that “holds for both medical and recreational dispensaries.”

“While the associations documented cannot be assumed to be causal, they suggest a potential association between increased prevalence of medical and recreational cannabis dispensaries and reduced opioid related mortality rates,” the researchers wrote. “This study highlights the importance of considering the complex supply side of related drug markets and how this shapes opioid use and misuse.”

“Our findings suggest that increasing availability of legal cannabis (modeled through the presence of medical and recreational dispensary operations) is associated with a decrease in deaths associated with the T40.4 class of opioids, which include the highly potent synthetic opioid fentanyl. This finding is especially important because fentanyl related deaths have become the

most common opioid related cause of death.”

Analysis This study is one of many that continues to demonstrate that cannabis is a benefit to society not a detriment. Most states that have legal medical cannabis programs allow use of cannabis as a substitute for the use of opiates.

Opiate addiction and deaths in the USA have destroyed countless lives, families, and communities.

The lies regarding the safety of opiate use by Pharmaceutical companies are now coming out in litigation across the country by US States demanding restitution from the many effects of the opioid plague.

There has never been a single

recorded death in human history associated with the use of cannabis, and it is still illegal based on US federal law. Meanwhile, the opiate death toll for this year is expected to exceed 70,000 people, and opiates are legal via prescription.

Society is tired of being lied to about cannabis. They are tired of politicians protecting the illegality of cannabis, and pharmaceutical companies pitching drugs that have side effects worse than the disease or condition for treatment.

As more and more facts and data emerge on the positive benefits to society and health that cannabis offers, the legalization trend of cannabis will continue in the USA and globally.

Cannabis Company | Maseru (mgmc-group. com) Michael is an internationally recognized speaker, subject matter expert in the global cannabis/hemp/cbd industry, and published author.

Michael is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board for Akers Bioscience, a NASDAQ listed biotechnology company, International Cannabis/Hemp/CBD SME for Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG)- an International Investment Consulting Group, Advisory Board member for Integrated Compliance Solutions (icslv. com), and Editorial Board Member for AJEM-American Journal of Endocannabinoid Medicine (the world’s first peer-reviewed printed scientific journal dedicated to the study of endocannabinoid science and medicine) (ajendomed.com) Mr. Patterson is also a board member for the Medical Cannabis Society, Tourette’s Syndrome Awareness Foundation, Cannabis/Hemp/CBD industry writer for Florida MD Magazine, Orlando Medical News, licensed Occupational Therapist and Nursing Home Administrator in 4 states (NJ, NC, VA, FL), and podcast host for “The Cannabis Report with Michael Patterson”

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8

May, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 5

LOCAL AUTHOR PITCHES TENT FOR WRITERS IN INNOVATIVE NEW SERIES “Authors in the Tent” adds modern twist to ancient tradition

His nonfiction and journalism appear regularly in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today and have Why are award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors clamoring to hang won five Nevada Press Association out under a canvas roof ? Because of a new awards and has series of one-of-a-kind interviews held in been widely anthola tent where the conversation starts with books but ends with a host of favorite indul- ogized, including in Best American Esgences. says. Tod is also the In the celebrated One Thousand and One co-host of Literary Nights, storytelling equals life. Literally.

Disco, along with Rider Strong & Julia PisThrough her nightly, cliffhanger tales, legendary Persian queen, Scheherazade, avoids tell, named one of the top literary podcasts by the Washington Post and the Guardian, death, the fate of her predecessors, by narand is a Professor of Creative Writing at the ratively holding the interest of a king who University of California, Riverside, where would otherwise do her in. founded and directs the Low Residency One of those stories, involving a magical tent that expands to fit an army or contracts MFA in Creative Writing & Writing for the Performing to the size of a pocket, resonated with author and educator, Ona Russell, as she strug- Arts.

University City’s gled with extreme writers’ block during the Patricia Santana’s Covid-19 pandemic. first novel, MotorcyDesperate to find her way out of her cle Ride on the Sea of imaginative rut, Russell purchased an outTranquility (Univerdoor tent, which wound up wielding its own sity of New Mexico kind of magic. Not only did it help her write Press, 2002), was again, it taught her to be in the present moselected as a Best ment and encouraged her to think about the Books for Young importance of space in the creative process.

Adults 2003 by the That magic continues with her new projAmerican Library Services Association and ect, AUTHORS IN THE TENT. In the spirit is San Diego Magazine’s 2003 Book Award of Scheherazade, the interviews will focus winner in fiction. Her novel is part of the on the authors’ own stories, their biogCalifornia Readers’ Collection 2003. In raphies and books as well as the pressing manuscript form, Motorcycle Ride on the literary question of subjectivity, of who can Sea of Tranquility was the 1999 winner of speak for whom. They will be informative the University of California Chicano/Latibut also whimsical, as each author will no Literary Contest. Patricia’s second novshow-and-tell a hobby related to their writel, Ghosts of El Grullo (University of New ing. Think pie-baking and bourbon-drinkMexico Press, 2008), is the winner of the ing for a start.

Before Columbus American Book Award, Russell’s own biography prepared her for the San Diego Book Award in Fiction, and this moment. She comes from a long line the Premio Aztlán Award. Both novels of storytellers, her suffragette grandmother being the most influential. Her essay, “In the have been required reading in colleges and Tent,” was recently performed by the San Di- universities. They have also been selected ego Decameron Project, and her award-win- as book club reads by a variety of literacy ning historical mysteries as well as her other programs as well as numerous organizations dealing with at-risk students. She is writing gives voice to the silenced or overthe eighth of nine children of Mexican looked, to those whose stories were waiting immigrant parents and her fiction is based to be told. AUTHORS IN THE TENT comon her family life growing up in San Dibines many of Russell’s passions and skills.

Connecting with people on a deeper level is ego.

North Park’s Denthe driving force behind her work as aunis K. Crosby is the thor, teacher, public speaker, and mediator.

Amazon Bestselling Keenly interested what makes writers tick Author of Death’s Legand the power of story, she seeks to provide an environment where authors feel comfort- acy (Acorn, 2020) , an urban fantasy novel able offering insight on both. published in NoThe interviews will be professionally provember 2020. With duced and available on a variety of online a degree in Criminal platforms.

Justice, he spent six AUTHORS TO BE FEATURED years working as a Private Investigator IN THE PILOT SEASON and during that time Tod Goldberg is the New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen books, includ- developed an affinity for writing poetry.

While working on a master’s degree in Foing The Low Desert, Gangsterland (a finalist rensic Psychology, Dennis transitioned into for the Hammett Prize), Gangster Nation, social service. Dennis now works with adult The House of Secrets (which he co-authored men and women experiencing challengwith Brad Meltzer), and Living Dead Girl (a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize). es with mental health, homelessness, and LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

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addiction. With a lifelong passion for writing, Dennis wrote dozens of short stories, tapping into his creative side, but did not pursue the finer points of the craft until later in life. After leaving Chicago and transitioning to San Diego, California, Dennis had the opportunity to get more involved in the writing community where he strengthened his skills. After attending the workshops of San Diego Writer’s Ink, and regular attendance at the Writers Coffeehouse, an open workshop for writers of all genres, Dennis slowly learned to find his voice and direct it into long-form writing.

South Park resident, Amy Wallen is the author of When We Were Ghouls: A Memoir of Ghost Stories (University of Nebraska Press, American Lives Series 2018), and the bestselling novel MoonPies & Movie Stars (Penguin 2007).

Her forthcoming collaboration with illustrator Emil Wilson, How to Write a Novel in 20 Pies: Sweet & Savory Secrets from the Writing Life, will be published by AMP Fall 2022. More of her essays are published in The Gettysburg Review, The Normal School, The Writer, Country Living, and other anthologies. She is the associate director of the New York State Summer Writers Institute and the founder of DimeStories featured on NPR. She co-facilitates a book-length manuscript workshop and teaches personal narrative to disenfranchised youth at Ocean Discovery Institute.

Orange County resident Quan Huynh has been described as a mighty warrior, a magician, and a mountain of goodness. He is the bestselling author of Sparrow in the Razor Wire: Finding Freedom from Within While Serving a Life Sentence (Lioncrest, 2020). His book was written for men that are doing long or life term sentences, and in it, he shares how he found his freedom years before he was even paroled. He works as the senior post release program manager for Defy Ventures, a nonprofit helping those with a criminal past transform their lives through the journey of entrepreneurship. After spending twenty-two years in and out of correctional institutions, Quan was paroled from a life sentence in 2015 and created his first company six months later. The following year, he received the Peace Fellowship Award for his work with the Alternatives to Violence Project. Quan has been featured in Entrepreneur, PBS Newshour, Talks at Google, and numerous other publications and podcasts.

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VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 5 | May, 2021

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MEET THE ARTIST GURI STARK Life is like a camera and I see beauty in everything

By Barbara Mortkowitz

Guri Stark describes himself as trapped – an artist and musician who is trapped in the body of an engineer. Now that he’s supposedly semi-retired, he’s a man on top of the world, living in a place he loves and doing all the things he loves to do. Using both the analytical and creative sides of his brain, who knows what he’ll do and accomplish next.

After a long career in the engineering field –he’s still CEO of CorTechs Lab which is located in

San Diego—he’s continuing to live his motto: “Life is short, do the things you are passionate about.” And one of the things he’s extremely passionate about are his watercolor paintings.

With his distinctively strong and brilliant watercolors, Guri’s art has shown in galleries and exhibitions in Israel, Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. His style is distinctively his own and he has a thriving art business selling his original watercolors and affordable prints. See http://www.guristark.com It all began in Haifa, Israel, where he was born to parents who were Holocaust survivors. All his life, he focused on the future, determined to not let the past define him or his life. It was only after he turned 50, and perhaps when he came to the States, that he started reflecting on the Holocaust and his parent’s past, that he realized he had many stories to tell. Thus a writer was born. He has published two of these stories, with possibly six or seven more in the works.

And because he’s a storyteller, not only in his paintings, as well as in his writings, he devotes a considerable amount of time researching subjects he’s profoundly interested in. For example he studied the lives of artists such as Picasso, Chagall, Modigliani, Klimt, and he developed his research into art history lectures which he calls “Bringing Art to Life.”

His lectures describe the artist’s works and styles, places them in the various art moveLOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

ments, and in the historical context of their times. He has lectured in culture clubs, schools, senior citizen centers, cruise ships, cor-

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porations and private groups. “I have provided a few hundred lectures to many thousands of people in three continents in an attempt to democratize and popularize art awareness,” said Guri.

He’s also a musician, and music is a constant theme in his paintings. Guri explained, “My passion is to capture unique moments and portray feelings and emotions. In my paintings I attempt to convey my combined love of art and music. I find inspiration in the beauty of the shapes of music instruments and of the human figure.”

Guri’s talent and passion make him an artist to watch. http://www.guristark.com

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May, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 5

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WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD “COMPROMISE?”

By Daniel Allen

If you’re like most of the individuals and couples I’ve partnered with in Soul Expansion, that word alone brings up the opposite of feeling joyful. Blah!

In fact, people’s eyes usually glaze over at the mere mention of the word. It’s old-fashioned. The kind of thing you hear from preachers, parents, and especially from people who seem to have dreadful relationships.

Compromise has negative connotations. It makes us believe that we have to give up something - that you have to shave off parts of yourself for another person or interaction.

And there’s a reason for this.

This is the first definition listed for “compromise” in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: A way of reaching agreement in which each person or group gives up something that was wanted in order to end an argument or dispute.

The cultural and historical norm tells us that once you get into a relationship, you can’t have everything you want. From this perspective, a relationship seems like a difficult landscape. The underlying belief is, “When I get into a relationship, I have to make myself smaller to fit into it.”

Fundamentally, you’re losing.

Society tells us that we have to do this to have a successful relationship. That you must conduct your partnership like a business, and make sure both parties are getting their fair share. This becomes transactional, and barely represents what I would consider Love.

After decades within my private practice working with individuals, couples, families - and even within my own relationships - I have witnessed that this kind of thinking does not deliver what is expected.

Instead, I prefer to show you how to have fun in your relationships; how both people get what they need in a way that makes your connection better and deeper than ever.

This is one of the foundational aspects you’ll learn through Soul

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Expansion programs.

What is it? A No-Compromise Relationship.

I much prefer a relationship that combines the qualities of the two individuals and creates something greater and more alive than either could have become on their own.

I encourage you to think of a relationship as a meadow or backyard that’s big enough to roam around freely and relate (instead of the self-imposed prison “compromise” requires).

The idea is that you can have it all when you get into a relationship. In fact, you can have more!

You can work on your own individual path - your career, your interests, your friends, and your personal growth - and still be connected to your partner.

It’s about creating a context that allows both of you to be creatively fulfilled individually and at the same time enjoy all the treasured benefits of being in a relationship.

As it turns out, not compromising is precisely what helps you have a better relationship!

When you learn how to stop compromising, here’s what happens: Your relationship becomes exciting again, and you get more excited about your own life!

The passion you once knew together returns, and stronger than ever.

You experience more feelings of joyfulness - more freedom, lightness, happiness - as if you’re finally fulfilling your own purpose and being “You.” But where do you start? How do you break out of the current beliefs and routine of compromise when you’ve been doing it that way for so long? To use your individual fulfilment to further enrich the Love and connection you share with each other without behaviors and techniques such as guilt, shame, or manipulation.

Well, the programs I mentioned above Soul Expansion programs are the best place to start. Let’s break it down!

Soul Expansion (Conscious Loving & Living) is a great fit if @LocalUmbrellaMedia

you are seeking to really transform yourself and life! It’s our flagship program - the one that laid the foundation for all others - and over twelve session process you will playfully discover how you have been holding yourself back from the relationships and life you really desire, and then connect and align with them with You! Conscious Dating offers a focused four session process; getting clear about the way you have been approaching intimate relationships, acquire the skills to obtain a deeper understanding of how you have really (and likely unconsciously) been sabotaging what you want, and then learning how to easily create the intimate relationship that you DO want!

Born. Romantic. is another unique Soul Expansion offering that in just four sessions gently invites you to dispel archaic beliefs about romance and get connected to this truly innate quality that everybody possesses - women and men alike. You will learn about the three types of romance, but more importantly you’ll instantly infuse any relationship!

Soon you’ll realize that you won’t have to give up anything to enjoy lasting Love. You’ll reach your deepest levels of emotional and physical intimacy together without losing yourself.

You are cordially invited to the rest of your life! Take the next step towards Soul Expansion with the gift of a Complimentary Session by visiting www.SoulExpansion.com or call (619) 832-2750.

Learn how this innovative practice bypasses common bottlenecks faster than traditional therapy to celebrate your purpose with clarity, awareness, and personal strength!

Daniel Allen is a writer, speaker, and spiritual & emotional counselor on the subject of relationships (including the one we hold with ourselves), and an advocate for Love and raising consciousness. For more information or article suggestions please visit www.SoulExpansion.com, email info@SoulExpansion.com or call (619) 832-2750.

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VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 5 | May, 2021

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AVOIDING THE HACK IN THE AGE OF COVID

By J.C. Cross

Many work from home, play at home, so you have to be aware of cybersecurity. Ninety-six percent of all targeted cyber attacks start with attempts to expose your personal information.

You should try to keep your personal information -- name, social security number, driver’s license number, email, address, phone number, place of work, position -- as private as possible.

If your data is exposed to a level that you are comfortable with (you trade off some privacy for convenience), hackers can still try to get your info through “social engineering.” That is getting users to release personal or business data or perform actions that they will only later realize are harmful. A piece of data you disclose may seem inconsequential by itself, but this data can later be pieced together into an attack. Whether working from home or the office, know these attacks and recommended security practices.

Email Security Seventy-eight percent of users claim to be familiar with the risks of clicking links in unsolicited emails. Yet, ninety-seven percent of users are unable to recognize a sophisticated phishing email – having your bank’s or credit company’s logo, asking you to log in to your account or respond to an alert -- and click on the links anyway. Common subject lines for other malicious emails are healthcare products, dating apps and invites, adult products and stock picks.

Sadly, if only .001% of users clicked on links in these emails, a spammer could make over $270,000 from one email that has been sent out to millions of users. But mobile users open 34% of phishing emails, and twelve percent of these targeted users click on the malicious link or attachment. These users are on the go, but should learn to notice spam when they see it.

Clicking on email links can install malware (malicious software); trojans, spyware, ransomware, and other compromises are common. The number of phishing emails that contain some form of ransomware has risen to 97.25% since 2016. Ransomware is particularly nasty: after the victim clicks on an email link attackers gain access to a network, encrypt the computers’ files and demand a ransom to unlock the files. Sometimes the ransom is demanded again after being paid, others bad actors threaten to publish the files or sensitive data. The recent ransomware hits include the Texas-New York pipeline this month.

Email Best Practices - Double-check for unusual sender email addresses, dates or language problems before opening an email.

- Do not open attachments or click any links from people who you don’t know.

- Do not click if “tech support” sends you an email saying you need to reset your password by clicking “here.” Even if the email uses your correct name and appears to come from someone in IT support whose name you recognize. This could be another type of phishing attack and 95% of all attacks on enterprise networks are caused by successful spear phishing.

- Do not respond to suspicious emails.

Mobile Security However, mobile users are not only vulnerable to email phishing. Eighty-one percent of all mobile attacks on iOS and Android devices are due to app vulnerabilities, instant messaging and texts. Hackers now communicate over local networks and the Internet and do not need physical access to the device. User beware: eighty-nine percent of mobile vulnerabilities can be exploited only by users downloading malicious apps.

Apps that are free can work as advertised, but can also send your data to the hacker’s server.

By far the most common issue with mobile devices is insecure data storage, but users generally keep passwords, financial information, personal data, and correspondence in an unsafe manner.

Practice: You should not store your credit card, banking, or other personal information on your smartphone or tablet. Spyware – software that transmits your online behavior, personal data, or location – can also be downloaded along with LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

apps without your knowledge. Some apps could ask for broad permissions before use. Make sure you are OK with each of these permissions.

Other Attacks Smishing: Cybercriminals also use texting to trick people to download malware, click on malicious links, or disclose sensitive information.

Practice: Anything that asks for your personal or financial information through a text is suspect; no matter how legitimate it looks, financial institutes or merchants will never contact you to make important changes like update your account or to enter your account PIN or other data. Watch out for “act now,” which causes people to act rashly, and look out for suspicious numbers like “8000.” These numbers are used by scammers to hide their actual phone numbers.

Your devices, like Amazon Echo (Alexa), Google Home, smart light bulbs, cameras, thermostats, and appliances, can be exploited to expose physical information like the geolocation of your network or can act as entry points to your larger home network or for use as bots in larger attack campaigns on the Internet.

Practice: Create harder passwords, change default passwords, turn off/disable any unneeded features, only use legitimate applications from your device’s vendor, and updating the device’s firmware and applications.

“Tech support” calls you and uses your real name, asking for details about another employee, or for you to perform some task on your computer.

Practice: Tell tech support you will call them back or ask them to come to your desk.

“Your bank” calls you and asks you to call to speak with a representative or you get a text message alert from the bank with a phone number to call. The recorded voice says to enter your social security number or account number to be connected with a representative.

Practice: Do not click, do not call.

A fired employee may have sabotaged or created a vulnerability in a shared app to become active after a set time.

Practice: Contact security and your supervisor about any unusual behaviors.

At the Starbucks a malicious user can intercept your browsing or communications. You may even see a network named “Starbucks Pro” or some such harmless name. That user may “record” your transactions (like a bank login) and use your session later to access your accounts.

If you’re doing bank or other sensitive work, switch to mobile data and turn off your device’s wifi.

Practice: Do not connect.

Outside your house, malicious user is driving by scanning your home office network for openings.

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password. Disabling the SSID Broadcast (hiding name of your network) is not considered a strong measure by itself. Outside your house, a malicious user may have also told the world about your wireless network with chalk marks on your sidewalk. Be alert.

As you are walking in a parking lot, or even outside your house, you find an old-looking USB flash drive on the sidewalk.

Practice: Do not plug that in.

Your phone is getting unwanted messages popping up or you may get your data stolen through bluetooth.

Practice: Disable bluetooth when not in use.

Someone may have plugged in a USB hardware device (dongle) into your USB port without your knowledge. The “keylogger” records all your key strikes.

Practice: Occasionally check your physical computer ports at work or home.

At work your colleague has set up his own wifi router without your knowing, a “rogue access point.” Perhaps he just wants to have his own network (against company policy), but could be doing something malicious.

Practice: Do not connect, alert management.

Also beware of: - Walking into work, another person rushes up behind you and asks that you hold the door open for them (maybe they “lost their badge”).

You’ve just been “tailgated.”

- At work or a public place, someone is peering over your shoulder to get your data. “Shoulder surfing.”

- In line at the register, someone bumps you from behind. They’ve just clicked their phone to yours accessing it using NFC, the protocol for some short-range electronic transactions.

- A waiter swipes your card in a device, a “skimmer,” and records your card for later use.

- Some men are jumping into the company dumpster and pulling out old desktop calendars, sticky notes, company procedural manuals and handbooks (“dumpster diving”).

- Two men are walking confidently through the corporate building and walk into the CFO’s office when he is out of town. When asked, they say they are with building services or IT. They dump the office trash into a receptacle they are carrying or they make a call to IT from the office to ask for help logging in. They act like they belong, but are targeting an important person at the company.

- Phone tactics for dropping your guard: making you laugh, having a sensible reason for the action, portraying confidence, maybe even displaying anger and asking to speak to your supervisor (though they never call back), but then evading or diverting if asked specific questions.

In addition to the aforementioned measures, a comprehensive antivirus and malware detection software should help. I like MalwareBytes.

Happy computing!

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May, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 5

CALI BBQ SURVIVES AND THRIVES WITH DIGITAL HOSPITALITY Once a thriving East County barbecue-oriented sports bar, owner Shawn Walchef has discovered the potential of a more digital-oriented business.

In the midst of the 2008 financial crisis, San Diegan Shawn Walchef didn’t listen to naysayers when he opened the doors to Cali Comfort BBQ in Spring Valley.

Learning to adapt from day one, Walchef was determined to turn his large (5,700-squarefoot) but out-of-the-way location into a thriving destination. Now Cali BBQ has opened a new kitchen in San Diego with more “Friendly Ghost Kitchens” on the way.

However, success at Cali BBQ didn’t exactly meet the potential he had envisioned.

“We had 18 employees when we opened,” Walchef says. “We did about $300,000 in sales that first year, struggled to pay our bills and to figure out our menu.”

They say that in the heart of every struggle lies an opportunity to grow, and Walchef seized the opportunity to make a key move by rebranding as a barbecue concept about a year after the restaurant’s opening, when it hosted an amateur barbecue contest for the community.

Cali BBQ officially tacked “BBQ” onto its name in 2010 and sales started to grow immediately and eventually the company turned a profit for the first time in 2015.

While the food at Cali BBQ has earned rave reviews, one of the brand’s secret weapons is its status as a media company.

In 2017, Walchef started a barbecue and business podcast called “Behind the Smoke”, and later launched another solo podcast called “Digital Hospitality,” covering the ways businesses in the hospitality industry can leverage digital tools.

Soon he will debut his next audio/video podcast project called “Restaurant Influencers.” “[The podcast] forces you to ask questions and to understand that there are so many people out there who are doing so many incredible things in different industries at different levels,” WalLOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

chef says. “Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg — all these people who have built all these incredible companies, give us the possibility to share our story with anyone who is willing to listen.”

Before the 2020 pandemic, Cali BBQ focused on growing the media side of its brand through social media, an effort that did boost its digital presence and profits.

When COVID-19 made indoor dining an

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impossibility, sales plummeted 50 percent overnight, and Walchef had to make tough choices that included laying off nearly 30 employees.

Fortunately Walchef’s experience with digital platforms prepared him to take immediate action.

“I went with my iPhone to the top of our restaurant, made a video for Twitter, made a video for Instagram and a video for Facebook, and basically told everybody, ... ‘We’re going to be doing delivery and takeout only. We really hope you support us,’” Walchef says. “We got many thousands of views on all those different platforms, showing us how powerful these platforms can be when you build a community.”

Cali BBQ adapted by shrinking its menu and focusing on its barbecue prowess and delivery, reducing food and labor costs.

The new menu retained popular items like the Cali BBQ Tailgater BBQ Feast, which became the most popular digital order, and California’s relaxed alcohol laws also allowed the brand to put its liquor license to use, selling house-made alcoholic beverages off-premises.

Cali BBQ has emerged from COVID-19 prov-

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VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 5 | May, 2021

13

ing that a digital-centric, off-premises approach is crucial for its future. Walchef says the brand is repurposing 60 percent of its restaurant into a commissary kitchen and media center, and Cali BBQ already has its first no-seating restaurant in the works.

Local Umbrella Media caught up with Walchef recently to discuss these and other subjects: Tell us about your business.

Cali BBQ serves slow food — fast. We opened our Spring Valley Cali BBQ restaurant in 2008 during the height of the Great Recession at a location that many people thought was undesirable. We proved the naysayers wrong. After digging in and learning everything we could about owning and operating a restaurant — and giving back to our community — we grew our brand thanks to the power of the internet and the cell phone. We’re now a digital restaurant and media company (Cali BBQ Media) with expansion plans for ghost kitchens all over the San Diego area and beyond with the eventual goal of becoming the “Amazon of BBQ.” What are some of your most popular items?

The most popular item we serve is The Tailgater’s BBQ Feast, a huge meal that’s perfect for a family or group. It includes all of our slow-smoked barbecue meats and classic sides, including Wedding Beans and our Homemade Jalapeño Cornbread. Our Cali Wings are also very popular and so are our shareable Fishbowl Cocktails.

How long are meats smoked at Cali BBQ? We make Low and Slow Barbecue. Our pitmasters smoke tri-tip, brisket, chicken, ribs, and other craft BBQ meats multiple times every 24 hours in order to maintain the quality and freshness of our food. Our brisket, for example, is smoked for 12 hours in Ole Hickory Pits. Cali BBQ is cooked fresh each day. We’re open from Noon to 8 pm in Spring Valley and from 4-9 pm in Barrio Logan San Diego. Once we sell out of a meat, we’re out until the next day.

Tell us about the Digital Hospitality podcast?

Every week I interview people I find inspiring and interesting on Digital Hospitality. We are almost on episode 100 and it’s been an amazing journey learning from all the thoughtful guests we’ve had on the show — from restaurant owners, sports professionals, media personalities, and more. You can subscribe to Digital Hospitality on any podcast player and on YouTube.

Just search for Digital Hospitality and Cali BBQ Media anywhere online. Cali BBQ Media produces and publishes the podcast and other free digital content online including the upcoming Restaurant Influencers podcast. Our Digital Hospitality specialists also help other businesses do the same with consulting and content creation services.

What’s next for Cali BBQ Media?

We want to make sure people can order our slow-smoked barbecue, classic sides, Wicked Peach Cobbler, and craft cocktails online, whenever they want. With advancements in technology, we’ve been able to make that process as easy and efficient as possible. Our second location, a 200-square-foot Friendly Ghost Kitchen opened this year at the Barrio Food Hub in Barrio Logan, San Diego. We’re planning to open more of our “Friendly” Ghost Kitchens for takeout and delivery soon so we can get more slow-smoked barbecue to more hungry people.

Our Digital Hospitality concept is more like a quick-service restaurant than a full-service one.

We are integrating easy-to-use technology to reduce friction in the operations, such as QR codes for ordering and instead of physical menus.

What’s a piece of wisdom you’ve learned?

My grandfather told me to always stay curious and to always be learning. The truth is that even a master must also be a student. The answers you’re looking for are right there to find, you just have to be willing to stay Curious, get involved, and ask for help. For us at Cali BBQ Media, every day is a new chance to get better.

We couldn’t be more excited about the opportunities that lay ahead.

Shawn Walchef is Founder of Cali BBQ Media, Digital Hospitality Podcast Host, Restaurateur, New Dad and a Sports Entertainment Fanatic. Learn more and get in touch at https://calibbq.media LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

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May, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 5

Grieving the Loss of a Mother on Mother’s Day

By Sharon Sardina

Mother’s Day can be a pretty painful day for those grieving the death of their mother, and certainly can be bittersweet when you are a mom yourself. I lost my mom when I was 26 years old, and she was only 62 years old. I was newly married and we weren’t even planning on kids yet when I lost her. It’s crazy to me that she never met my three boys. She never LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

had a chance to know I was pregnant or be that Grandma she would have loved to have been.

The same year she died, just a few months later we found out I was pregnant. I know my mom had a hand in picking my sweet boy who just became a teenager. I’ll always remember my first Mother’s Day without her as I was celebrating my own first Mother’s Day to a newborn baby. Talk about having many high emotions. I had my first born on May 2, 2008 and Mother’s Day was just a few days later. I was still healing, trying to figure out breastfeeding, and dealing with the grief that my mom was not here to be celebrated like she should be. Yet here I was, as a new mother and very blessed that we had a baby boy in our lives. I went from being so sad to be so happy all in one breath.

I’ll always remember how much my motherin-law wanted to help but I couldn’t receive it because I felt like I was dishonoring my own mother. I was so sad and lonely without my mom and at a time I should have been on a new mommy “high” I was going through so many raw emotions.

Every year that Mother’s Day approaches I can’t help but look at my sweet boys and thank the Lord I am their mother and that he handpicked each one of them for me. Yet on a day that I should be pampered, and be stress free, I can’t help but miss my own mother and imagine what life would be like if she were still here.

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knows it’s so bittersweet for me. He reminds me she’s with me, she’s watching me and she’s so proud of me. Yet he also gives me the space I need to remember her like I should and for us without mothers, on this day we are not sure how to feel. It’s good to recognize that we might need a moment or a day to just remember her and all the great memories these wonderful ladies left us.

Each year has gotten a little better as it has been 14 years without her. I always love to remember the last Mother’s Day we did have together. My mother loved baseball and her favorite team were her beloved Angels. Every year we would go to brunch in the morning, and then head to an afternoon game at the Angels stadium to watch her favorites like Tim Salmon.

I remember how happy she was relaxing in the sun, cheering her boys on. This is how I like to remember her. Some of my own Mother’s Days have been spent at the Angels game as well, just like we did when I was little. I always feel her presence and can’t help but wonder if she’s smiling down at me saying “that’s my girl”.

It’s ok to feel sad on this day if you have lost your mom, and you are a mom as well. Its ok to want to take a moment for yourself and grieve, and it’s ok to also enjoy and celebrate the day with your family. This is what our moms always wanted for us. For us to be mothers and to be loved. Your mom is always with you!

Xoxo Sharon ADVERTISE | Press@LocalUmbrella.com

VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 5 | May, 2021

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A MURDER MYSTERY THAT ADHERES TO A STRICT “NO GUNS OR KNIVES” POLICY?

It’s not only possible but has led San Diego author Mikel J. Wilson to the bestseller list with his Mourning Dove series.

Tell us a bit about A LIGHT TO KILL BY.

A LIGHT TO KILLY BY, the third in the series is out on August 3, and we had a chance to sit down with Wilson and talk about his book, process, and the new wine created for the release!

A Light to Kill By is the third novel in my Mourning Dove Mysteries series, which also includes Murder on the Lake of Fire and Death Opens a Window. Novels in this series feature the cases of Mourning Dove Investigations, a private investigation firm in the Smoky Mountains region of Tennessee.

During each case, the Morning Dove private investigators – Emory Rome, Virginia Kennon and Jeff Woodard – encounter colorful suspects with aberrant secrets that twist the path to the truth.

A Light to Kill By is the “haunted house” entry in the series. Moments after construction tycoon Blair Geister’s death, a mysterious wandering light kills someone on her Southern estate. Is the avenging spirit of the millionairess on a killing spree, or are other forces threatening those in her inner circle?

As the will is read, suspicion and jealousy arise, and fingers point to the heirs of her fortune. The Mourning Dove PIs accept an invitation to stay at Geisterhaus and unravel its secrets before more lives are lost.

How did you decide to write mysteries?

I’ve always loved puzzles – from crosswords and logic problems to brain teasers and mystery novels. When I was a kid, I read whatever mysteries I could find in the library, including all the books in the Nancy Drew and The Three Investigators series.

By junior high, I was buying every Agatha Christie novel I could find and had subscriptions to Alfred Hitchcock and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazines. I couldn’t read enough, and I eventually wanted to create my own worlds of mystery.

The first book I ever wrote was actually a dark adventure novel featuring a fifteenyear-old boy in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. I never did anything with that book, but a few years later, I began wondering what that boy would be up to today. I decided, after what he went through in that book, Emory Rome would now be in law enforcement, and that was the genesis for my Mourning Dove Mysteries. Throughout the series, I’ve been weaving in some of Emory’s past from that first book, leading up to the fourth mystery, which will reveal all the secrets he’s been hiding.

Tell a bit about how you develop your characters?

The most difficult task for me when it comes to creating characters is naming them. I try to choose a name I think sounds cool, is not very common and will stick with the reader throughout the book so when that character appears in later chapters, the reader isn’t scratching their head trying to remember who they are.

Once I have the names, I spend weeks and sometimes months getting to know my characters before I start writing the book. I keep a profile spreadsheet of every character in the series, and it makes me ask important questions of each one to learn more about them – kind of like dating. The first items I get out of the way are the physLOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

ical attributes, followed by mannerisms, intelligence, sense of humor and general likeability. After that, I answer questions about their world – where they live, what car they drive, weapon of choice, favorite drink and background. Finally, I delve deeper into their personality to discover their motivations, sexual desires and ultimate goals in life. Once I’ve completed all that, I know how each character will interact with others in the book and what role they’ll play in the story.

My favorite character, besides my leads and core recurring ones, is the Crick Witch from Death Opens a Window. I actually created her for a fairy tale I wrote, in which she had real magical powers, but when adapting her for the mystery novel, I grounded her professed powers in the real world of Appalachian folk healers.

You have a no guns, no knives policy. Tell us a bit about how you came to that decision.

When the murderer’s weapon is a gun or knife, it’s usually apparent the victim has been shot or stabbed (or sliced) and, therefore, murdered. I wanted the instigating murders in the Mourning Dove Mysteries to include the WTF factor. The books’ bizarre murders have a seemingly supernatural but ultimately scientific explanation – like The X-Files if Dana Scully were always the one proven right instead of Fox Mulder.

Before they can begin searching for who killed the victim and why, the Mourning Dove PIs must first determine how the deaths were actually murder. How did a frozen lake in the woods erupt in flames to kill a teenage ice-skater? How did a man fly into a thirty-story window when there are no other tall buildings around for him to have come from? How could a ball of light bulge out from a TV screen and kill a man?

I love science, and I love to research. When I come up with the mysterious instigating murder, I spend a great deal of time on research to figure out how on Earth I can make the murder possible and scientifically feasible. I have /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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envisioned a few strange murders that I just couldn’t explain, even after weeks of research, so I had to abandon them and think of something else. Once I have my “how,” I begin plotting the book.

What would you like your readers to come away with after reading your books?

At the end of a book, I want my readers to feel like they’ve just completed a satisfying puzzle. Whether they had unmasked the killer ahead of the investigators or not, hopefully, I’ve done enough throughout the book to justify the ending. As the author, it’s my job to seed in enough clues throughout the book to allow the reader to figure out whodunit if they recognize the seeds as important information. I also have an obligation to downplay many of those clues and misdirect the reader’s attention to make the puzzle more challenging. Agatha Christie was a master at crafting the perfect mystery novel, so when a reviewer called my books a “modern take on an Agatha Christie style story,” it was absolutely the greatest compliment ever.

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May, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 5

SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?

By Elisa Pool

Travel is an excellent teacher. One fun fact about me is that I was fortunate enough to have visited 44 countries by age 44 - and most of them were in the first 21 years of my life. (And yes, in case you’re wondering, the title is a reference to the song by The Clash.)

You see, my dad was a Navy pediatrician who intentionally requested international stations, which we’d use as home base for our travels.

Every school vacation, we’d pack up our pop up top VW camper named Harvey and go, with my dad driving and my mom navigating (back in the days when paper maps were all we had). If we couldn’t drive, we’d fly standby. The result: my brothers and I were exposed to multiple countries, people and cultures at very young ages. I was the youngest, and I can say that those travels and years living internationally certainly shaped who I am, my worldview and my approach to living. I continued traveling myself in high school and college through study abroad programs. I personally believe those years were among the most valuable education I’ve had.

Once I became a mom, the pull to provide my kids with that same kind of education, exploration and exposure tugged hard at my heart!

The thing was, I was gainfully employed as a public school teacher in a district I loved, full of diverse, talented students. I had been a teacher for 18 years; I considered teaching a noble and purposeful calling. However, I was burnt out, wanted to be present for my own kids, and had a deep yearning for more time freedom so that my children could experience life to the fullest.

Thankfully, eight years ago I had started working as an independent contractor with an online health and wellness company, and through consistent effort and activity, was able to build an online business that provided for our family.

My husband and I opened two CrossFit gyms and loved co-creating those amazing communities of support. However, the desire to travel with my kids kept tugging at me, and I was still working part-time at the school district. I was torn - should I stay, or should I go? Cue the chorus, “If I go, there will be trouble”... “if I stay it will be double.” It was exciting to consider leaving it all and going, and nerve-wracking to think about leaving a career I had dedicated my energy and efforts to for nearly two decades.

I decided to GO! I resigned from teaching in 2019, with the vision of giving my kids the kind of childhood I had. Our original plan was to travel around Europe for 90 days, to visit friends, family and explore. After a return to the Pacific Northwest for holidays with our families, we were going to move to Mexico for six months and enroll the kids in school there.

Then COVID happened, and there went those plans! However, our house was already on the market, and my inventive husband devised a Plan B: buy an Airstream Interstate van (he’s always wanted one), then tour the country visiting as many national parks and family along the way. Since it was a fully-contained vehicle and it was easy for us to stick to ourselves, we thought that was a great alternative and went with that idea.

We spent nearly three months on the road, starting from Portland, Oregon and driving as far east as Niagara Falls, then south and back across the country via a central route. In total, we visited 18 national parks, 30 states, had a great time and learned a lot!

We returned home for the holidays, and then planned a five month trip heading through the south of the country, then back up the Eastern seaboard. It was going to be epic!

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Day 1 of our trip, we left Oregon and drove to San Francisco to stay with my oldest brother and his family for the weekend.

The morning of Day 2, while my husband and kids were still sleeping in the back of the van, I saw a post in a Facebook Worldschooling group, /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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and my jaw dropped. A woman was looking for 5-7 year old kids to join a learning pod with her daughter in Popoyo, Nicaragua. A teacher was already there. It included: bilingual education, surfing, horses, outdoors, swimming, sun, friendship, in person and more. It was almost identical to what I had envisioned for my kids in Mexico, just in a different country!

So, what did we do? Day 3, we turned the van around, drove back to Portland, and one week later we arrived to Popoyo, Nicaragua!

Call us crazy, but we were open to whatever the universe had in store for us, and apparently Nicaragua was it. We came in almost blind. We didn’t know the layout of the land. We didn’t know we’d need a car, because there’s no public transportation.

We didn’t know the housing structure or various villages, how far away our home was from the school, or that the original schooling situation would dissolve and we’d have to find a new option. We didn’t know how we’d get our food in such a rural place, or how we’d make friends. But we knew we’d make it work.

And it has! My kids are going to bilingual school with 16 other kids, and learning Tae kwon do in a local village. My husband and kids are learning Spanish, going surfing, horseback riding and swimming almost daily. We are tasting and finding new favorite (and not-so-favorite) foods. We are meeting new people and finding new best friends. We are learning about new allergies, bugs and bites.

We’re hiking in cloud forests, zip lining through the canopy and visiting active volcanoes with bubbling lava. We’re feeding monkeys on islands, jumping off rocks and swimming through ADVERTISE | Press@LocalUmbrella.com

VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 5 | May, 2021

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so why should it be, you and I should get along so awfully?” I believe the more we can help our kids learn we are all human, the better our world will be.

There’s truly so much this world has to offer.

You don’t need to move to Nicaragua (though I recommend it) to provide this type of learning.

It really is a small world after all (yes, I am singing the Disney ride in my head as I type). We can find “other” people, learn to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, and make contributions in any city we find ourselves.

No matter your focus or your trajectory, remember we all have our own stories, visions, and desires for our children. We are all on a grand adventure, and in fact, we are in this together, regardless of our location, stage of life, or age.

Whether you choose to stay or go, let’s keep being intentional, keep loving our kids, and keep exposing them to new people, places, and ideas.

One of our family mottos we live by, that perhaps might serve you, too, is: “Everything works out for us.” And it does, because we make it so.

Happy Mother’s Day. About the author: Elisa Pool is a mom, wife, and lifelong learner and lover of life. She holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction, was a CrossFit Level 2 coach, and is a health and wellness advocate and coach. She is a Regional Vice President and Independent Consultant with Arbonne International. Elisa belts out song lyrics from the 80s and 90s as conversation topics demand. She writes a blog about her travels and thoughts on life at thepoolsparty.com and welcomes you to visit to catch some inspiration and make it yours.

canyon rivers. We’re driving along rocky, dusty dirt roads, waving at cattle and horses walking along the sides and feeling the wind in our non-air conditioned faces. We have no TV, no Amazon, no traffic.

What we do have are beach walks, peaceful and colorful sunsets, and bright, starry skies. We have new friends, incredible fresh produce, and outdoor activities all day long. We have new adventures, skinny dipping in swimming pools and lots of smiles and laughter. We have the gift of presence every single day.

Do our kids love it? Well, if you ask them, they might say no. But they do. What they miss is their cousins they left in Oregon (the ones we moved in with after our house sold and in between road trips). But if their cousins were here? They’d never want to leave.

That said, every day is not idyllic. We have meltdowns, power outages on a semi-regular basis and no mail service. Overall, however, we have life, with all the emotions that make us human. We have opportunities to grow and chances to expand our comfort zone, or as I’ve heard it described and prefer: our familiar zone.

This week, we extended our visas for the first time. I know there will be future extensions. I want to stay in this magical place longer. Let it linger. (The Cranberries, anyone?) Sometimes, as a mom, I wonder if my decisions are selfish.

Did I do this really for me? After all, I’m the one who speaks Spanish and loves Latino culture.

I wonder: am I providing a good, constructive life for my kids? I worry: will my kids love our amazing Nica Nanny more than they love me? I question: Does my husband *really* like it here as much as he says he does? What will happen if we move here on a more permanent basis? How will I keep their education levels high? Will I be able to maintain - and grow - my business that supports us? Can we use this as a home base for future travels?

I don’t know. What I do know, however, is that our children will learn that even when people look, sound, or smell different, when they eat, act, or live differently, we are all precious people who want to be valued. We all want to be part of a community, to be loved, and impact others.

As Depeche Mode stated, “People are people, LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

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May, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 5

MAY 2021

BY BART MENDOZA © MUSICSCENESD // MUSICSCENESD.COM

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THE LATEST MUSIC SCENE SD INSIDE

San Diego Music Awards August 24 The local music scene’s biggest event of the year, The San Diego Music Awards, will take place on August 24 at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay. Now in its 30th year, the celebration will feature live music, tba, amongst the handing out of trophies, with proceeds going to the San Diego Music Foundation, helping bring music to classrooms throughout the county.

This year’s nominees are coming out of a difficult year, but still managed to make music, providing the rest of us with welcome respite from a troubled world.

“Totally excited to be nominated,” commented guitarist Lando Martinez of indie rockers Hocus. “2020 wasn’t too kind to us musicians, but it was nice to still be productive during these challenging times.” Jazz pianist Ed Kornhauser notes the high talent ratio involved. “It’s a humbling thing to get nominated like this, especially when you see the rest of the nominees,” he said. “I’m thrilled to be in their com-

amongst all my peers.”

First time nominee Audrey Callahan is also happy to be included in good company. “It’s such an honor to be nominated for an award in my hometown,” she said. “I remember

pany.” For him, the social aspect looms large. “I’m very much looking forward to the big night and seeing so many familiar faces in, hopefully, an air approaching normalcy. It’ll be quite the thing.” Reggae singer/guitarist/producer Skyler Lutes concurs “I’m looking forward to seeing all my friends that I’ve made over years in the San Diego scene.

It feels like a reunion especially after all the lockdowns.” He considers the night special. “Being a born and raised San Diegian and a musician from a very early age, I have looked up to a lot of the SDMA bands,” he said. “It is super special for me personally and without a doubt one of the biggest honors to be nominated.”

“It feels great to be nominated again for an award,” said rapper Bloodstone the Preacher. The acclaimed wordsmith has been previously nominated six times. “It’s definitely an honor and a blessing. I’m very grateful to be recognized for my work.” For him the events highpoint is meeting up with fellow musicians.

“I’m looking forward to just being in the presence of so many talented people from the San Diego music community, it’ll be a blessing to be

first hearing of the San Diego Music Awards, back when I was dreaming of one day being a “real” singer and here we are!” This is her first Christmas album. “I put so much love into this project. Many sleepless nights and hours upon hours of marketing to bring it into the world in a meaningful way. So to see these efforts come full circle just fills me with joy and gratitude. I feel extremely honored, especially considering the amount of talent we have here in San Diego.”

Blues singer Casey Hensley’s latest album has been garnering international attention, with the SDMA nod a wonderful hometown boost. “It’s

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always a great feeling to be nominated and to know that people enjoy the music that you write and put your heart and soul into,” she said. Hensley is happy to be getting back to making music, with the SDMA’s a near future bright spot ahead. “I just can’t wait to see everyone!,” she said, echoing universal sentiment amongst the nominees. “It has been so long since I’ve seen so many of my favorite people and it will be such a blast to hang out with everyone. I can’t wait! www.sandiegomusicawards.com

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PALAPALOOZA

VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 5 | May, 2021

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Tiki Hut Podcast Over the past year and a half, the lack of live music performances was mitigated somewhat by the explosion of podcasts, keeping everyone entertained as well as informed. One of San Diego’s best, Palapalooza, actually started pre-pandemic, it’s first episode airing September 27, 2018 and as of May 2021 topping 155 episodes.

The program actually has two components, an audio interview and a video portion, featuring the guest artist performing live. It’s a fun, fast paced conversation, with both sections taped poolside in a tiki hut, aka palapa, located in the podcast creator, Troy Cook’s, backyard. “With the exception of one or two weeks, I am proud to say that, even during Covid, I have consistently released an episode every week since our first episode. Exhausting!” Cook said good naturedly.

“The podcast was actually my brother Byron’s suggestion,” he recalled. “I have always loved music. I started playing piano at the age of six and have performed in local bands since the age of seventeen, currently with (indie rockers) Ready Set Survive, so I certainly have a history with our amazing local music scene. Meanwhile I have a tiki hut (palapa) in my backyard, and one day while swimming with the family I recall my brother suggesting that I should start a music podcast. The rest is history.”

What does he look for in a guest? “I can honestly say that I will take any band, any genre that reaches out to me. Punk, hip hop, indie, country, blues, metal. We’ve done it all.” He notes that the pandemic has brought some small changes. “Since Covid we have gotten an influx of submissions,” he said. “So I decided to be just a little more selective with the bands I book.

Presently, I tend to look for groups that are hungry and really trying to get their name out there, and that also have a good sound that would translate well acoustically.” The latter is important. “Yes, I do require bands to perform one or two acoustic songs after our interview, to showcase their talent. I feel like going “unplugged” is a great way to challenge most bands and push them out of their comfort zone.” Anyone interested

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in being a guest on the show can check the website or DM Cook on Instagram (@palapaloozapodcast). “95% of the bands featured on the podcast are from San Diego, but we have included bands from outside of the county as well,” Cook points out.

Amongst the artists to take part so far are P.O.D, Unwritten Law, The Locust and Sprung Monkey with upcoming guests set to include: Chris Armes (Agent 51), Ricky Schmidt (Western Settings), Aloha Radio, Skyler Lutes and Whitney Shay. “On my bucket list are Blink 182, Jewel, Jason Mraz and Switchfoot. Other than that, I just want to continue and support locals, give them a platform. I truly do enjoy dis-

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covering new talented local bands. I love it when a young band comes on the podcast and is really excited because it’s their first podcast,” Cook said. Palapalooza is booked weekly through September 2021.

A true labor of love, for Cook, Palapalooza is all about the love of music. “I do really love it when a tight band comes on and puts on a great performance; Aviator Stash comes to mind,” he said. “Second to that, I do genuinely love to meet new musicians with whom I share similar interests and passions. I feel like musicians have an unspoken connection to one another, especially local musicians striving to be heard. We’re all in it together. I feel that musicians can communicate with one another on a different level. They put out a vibration and aura that I have been attracted to since I was a child.

So I enjoy connecting with these types of personalities.”

He considers a family connection to be an inspiration as well. “Lastly, I enjoy the video and audio post production. It brings me back to my years in radio when I would edit commercials and audio clips with my Dad, the host of “Hooked on Trivia: The Radio Gameshow” for 25 years in San Diego.”

How does Cook’s family feel about the steady stream of musicians visiting his home? “My wife and daughter have been very supportive and accepting of having strange musicians over to our house,” he said good naturedly. “Some of the bands they have become true fans of. The palapa is about 80 feet away from my house, so if they don’t like the band they can just go inside and shut the windows,” he joked. “Occasionally, my neighbor will yell at us to keep it down, but that only happens during the occasional night session and just makes for a funnier podcast.” www.palapalooza.com ADVERTISE | Press@LocalUmbrella.com

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May, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 5

SPICE PISTOLS

Hit The Road west. Originally set to take place pre-pandemic, the new set of shows will now kick off July 31 at The Casbah, wrapping up on August 21st in Pacifica.

The Spice Pistols, who perform recast Spice Girls songs Sex Pistols style while dressed in drag, haven’t been able to tour over the past year and a half, however they have kept busy, with a new album imminent. “We’ve all been very diligent with respect to precautions, but we tried to use the time as constructively as possible,” said bassist Sppike Mike Muellenberg, aka Hairy Scary Spice. Notably the band also includes guitarist Maybe Baby Spice (aka Michael Fairchild), drummer Shorty Sporty Spice (aka Doug Walker) and singer Ginger Binger Spice (aka John Risdon). “We’ve been writing a ton With restrictions easing, music events are starting to pick up steam. One of the first area bands to head out on tour will be tongue-in-cheek rockers, The Spice Pistols, who will hit the road this summer with punk icons Agent Orange for a three week jaunt through the Pacific North-

of material for records beyond our next release, Spice Train, which is in the final stages of mixing and mastering right now. We hope to have it available by the tour.” Although the Spice Pistols haven’t played before a live audience in many months, they did perform a livestream concert at the Casbah to support the staff, ironically last July 31. “It was wonderful to help generate funds for our friends there and it also reminded me how much I miss performing,” Muellenberg said. “That said there is nothing like the energy of an audience, that interaction is really important to this band.”

In advance of the album and tour, the title track will be released as a single. “We’re looking forward to taking our show on the road,” Muellenberg said. “At the same time, we’re really proud of this album, which I’d like to think shows our growth as musicians and songwriters,” he continued. “This record is going to show that we’re not just pretty faces in fishnets and go-go boots.” www.spicepistols.com/band

NEW SOUNDS!

Upcoming Releases

San Diego’s music scene is coming back in a big way this summer! Indeed, look for an explosion of new tunes as the cobwebs get shaken off.

Here are some of the new releases and titles to look forward to.

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New Albums Include: Jonathan Karrant - “Shadows Fall,” with jazz pianist Joshua White (May 21), Jesse Pruett – “Brighten Up The World,” Nathan Raney (date TBD) “Season of Serenity.” The Skinny Mulligans

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– “1966,” guitarist / songwriter Sluka unveils a new album, “Figure It Out” (May 28), you’ll find “good old-fashioned retro / Sci-Fi / pop / punk music riddled with conspiracy theories and cryptic innuendo” on Sonic Descent’s upcoming album “Full Throttle” (August), new wave pop from Temporex – “Bowling” (June 18), New Singles Include: alternative rockers Almost Monday with “hailey beebs,” Dapoolparty with “Take A Sin,” The Dreamcoats – “I Wanna Believe,” Safety Orange “You Don’t Owe Me (feat. Burkey),” Sonic Descent’s “Luna Tick,” quirky new wave pop from Temporex - “U Open Up A Window,” dreamy acoustic pop from Gabriela Warren with “Wave by Wave” New Videos Include: deathcore combo Carnifex’s cover of Korn’s “Dead Bodies Everywhere,” the Mikertones – Breakdown, quirky pop rock from The Skinny Mulligans with “Endless Summer,” The Strawberry Moons – “Love In The Time of Virus,” Anna Vaus’s radio friendly country tune, “Girl In A Bar,” has two clips out, including full band and acoustic version, The Vaquitos with jangly rocker “California” including footage shot at the San Diego County Fair

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Local Music Notes Authentic Sellout’s video for their song “Cemetary,” took home the trophy for “Best Music Video” at last months 2021 Vegas Movie Awards. Meanwhile they’ve also recorded a theme song for local soccer team, the San Diego Loyals.

Former Whirl / The Loons member Gary Strickland has a new band, The Bad Vibrations. “I am playing drums for the first time in a band,” he noted. “Three of us were in another band called Seafang that was doing pretty well, but it started getting hard to get everyone in the same room. The three of us that kept showing up switched instruments for fun and those jams became The Bad Vibrations,” he said good naturedly.

The San Diego music community was dealt a devastating blow last month with the passing of musician and empresario, Van Bates. Also known as Black Hesher, Bates had many projects percolating, with an E.P. imminent from his San Diablo All-Stars, 3 Piece Combo. “We are all heartbroken with the loss of Van Bates,” said Jason Nichols of label Cult Muzic, “but he managed to leave us with a final gift.”

New Band Alert! Big Sky Moon plays original country and Southern Rock genres, with a few choice covers. Featuring Jason Estu (guitar/ vocals), Dave Farrell (Pedal Steel/harmonica/ vocals), Steven Brundege (bass/vocals) and Mel Hintz (drums/vocals), the band release their debut album Rye’s N’ Shine this month.

San Diego punk pioneers, The Cardiac Kidz, have a new documentary out soon, Over the Brink, produced by filmmaker, Ace Davis.

Singer-songwriter Nisha Catron is starring in a short science fiction indie film, Voyager 2150, directed by Tane McClure. “In 2150, a Gantarian Space Traveler from a faraway galaxy, discovers NASA’s 1977 Voyager One with a Golden Record full of music. Hearing music for the very first time, the Gantarian is compelled to seek out Planet Earth.” www.mcclurefilms.com/voyager-2150

Alternative rockers Evenings Empire have their song, “Tonight” featured in the new film, Eat Wheaties. The film is directed by Scott Abramovitch and stars Tony Hale and Elisha

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Cuthbert. The band includes Shannon Woods of The Dinettes.

Instrumental metal duo Fermentor has signed with Metal Assault Records. Their first album for the label, Continuance, will be out on July 2.

Lots of folks may have a Rolling Stones “tongue” tattoo, but Chris Leyva’s is special.

On a recent visit to Hawaii the Falling Doves guitarist had Ruby Mazur, designer of the Stones iconic “Tumbling Dice” sleeve, sketch the logo on his right arm, complete with signature. “They make me so happy that great rock ‘n’ roll is back with Falling Doves, Mazur said. Anyone heading to Hawaii this summer should check out Holle Fine Art Gallery, where Mazur will be hosting meet and greets throughout the season Indie rock quartet, the New Kinetics have a posthumous four song release out this month, “The Red EP.” The quartet, featuring singer Birdy Bardot, guitarist Brian Reilly, bassist Josh Kmak, and drummer Jon Bonser, split in 2015. “(The E.P.) was recorded as the band shook itself to pieces,” Reilly said.

Dave Lombardo and Justin Pearson of Dead Cross have joined forces with Luke Henshaw of Planet B and Satanic Temple’s Lucein Greaves to form a new group Satanic Planet. Their debut, self-titled debut album is out on May 28, with the first single, “Baphomet,” out now.

Collector’s alert! Top robot / human duo, Satanic Puppeteer Orchestra has once again put together an AMAZING, limited edition pressing for their latest release, Race to Space. #5 in a series of 20 themed albums, it includes a

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vinyl 12” plus a bonus 7”, both clear and laser etched. “The 12” etching is of made up constellations, and the 7” lays on top of it and its etchings decodes / gives names / makes sense of the constellations. There’s also an embroidered mission patch and liner notes by an astrophysicist, Dr. David C. Collins (Astrophysicist, Florida State University),” explained the duo’s human, Professor B. Miller. While all the songs are original, “the song “You Can Call Me HAL” mashes up lyrics from Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al” and HAL’s lines from the movie 2001 to tell the story of why humans are unsuitable to make first contact with aliens,” Miller said. www.satanicpuppeteer.com Rapper and baseball fan, Rob Stone has released a single celebrating the San Diego Padres, “All Nine Innings”

Ahead of a new album, Switchfoot will live stream a concert from the U.S.S. Midway on May 27. The band released a new single, “I Need You (To Be Wrong)” earlier this month. Meanwhile, frontman Jon Foreman recently released a solo album, Departure, on vinyl and CD, with the first single, “Side By Side” featuring Madison Cunningham.

Nickel Creek’s mandolinist Chris Thile releases a solo album, Laysongs, on June 4, via Nonesuch Records. Featuring “just Thile, his voice, and his mandolin,” the album focuses on spirituality.

Thea the Band, featuring Thea Tochihara (ex- Social Club) is releasing a series of five music videos, “all live single takes shot in one day in various parts of Ramona,” said Tochihara.

Covers of “The Glory of Love,” “Red Red Wine” and “Blue Moon,” join new originals “The Way We Fly” and “Cry Baby”

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May, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 5

ART NEWS Complied by Arts Editor Barbara Mortkowitz

WILD AND BEAUTIFUL

It is now featured at the San Diego Botanical Gardens. The Oceanside Museum of Art/Artist Alliance, in partnership with San Diego Botanical Gardens, present an exhibit of 13 juried sculptural works throughout its 37 acre gardens. The sculptures, all created by local SoCal artists, is spread out among its scenic trails for family and friends to discover. Ask for the complimentary site map to identify the pieces identifiable by signage plaques but sometimes hard to distinguish among the natural botanical sculptures.

A longstanding tradition, juror Kay Colvin, has paired each piece in a specific spot “to compliment the beauty of its botanic setting within an environment that enhances its aesthetic character.”

Reservations and masks required during COVID-19 www.oma-online.org/wild www.sdbgarden.org/sculpture.htm

BARRIO GLASSWORKS

cluding son and glass artist Drew.

Located in the Barrio the owners, Mary, Gary, and Drew, are incorporating creative opportunities for education, entertainment, and outreach.

Located in the back of the glassblowing area, is a large retail space and a gallery. The gallery is having its first installation show by San Diego County modern glass artist Nic McGuire. The show features “Monarch Flutter” a wall installation of glass butterflies whose colors and shadows dance all over the walls. In the words of the artist, “Monarchs are a masterpiece in creation that often reminds us of the delicacy of life itself.”

The Raskin/Devlin’s realized their family dream when they landed on the famous glassblowing island of Murano, Italy. Their glass blowing studio has its roots in the American studio glass movement, and the owners/artists/ want to focus on “innovative contemporary work by artists who work with glass in unique and innovative ways.”

Future programs will include community events, artist residences, live demonstrations and instruction, and studio rentals. info@barrioglassworks.com www.barrioglassworks.com Masks required 3060 Roosevelt St. Carlsbad

LUX ART INSTITUTE

Live glassblowing, gallery, retail store, visiting artists, classes and lessons Barrio Glassworks opened its doors December 2020 by the very talented Raskin/ Devlin family. The beautifully designed 3,500 square foot space designed by Gary Raskin, is a public access studio where you can watch glass blowers work, inLOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

A museum and working studio, with gardens, trails, outdoor sculptural art installations art classes for adults and programs for children and teens The gallery space is currently featuring “Familial Landscapes” of 5 large graphite on paper works by artist Iana Quesnell.

Her magnificent work has its roots in map making, technical drawings and blue prints.

Once you leave the gallery space, go onto the landscaped trail, up the hill toward the artist residency building and see sculptural works done by the six residency artists, all from different cultures and backgrounds, whose work reflect and share their understanding of what the theme [GLYPH] represents.

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beginning in April, one of which is free by Teaching Artist, Yasmine Kasen “What the Heck is Contemporary Art.” info@luxartinstitute.org www.luxartinstitute.org Reservations and masks required Thursday – Saturday: 2:00-5:00 p.m.

NORTH COUNTY ARTS NETWORK

NCAN, North County Arts Network is a non-profit organization that supports regional artists and arts organizations. It was established to serve, advance, and lead the diverse network of organizations and individuals who work in the arts in North County San Diego. Its goal is to “invigorate the arts community and encourage prosperity in our region to maximize support for the arts.”

Amanda Ecoff is the Executive Administrator with a board consisting of eleven arts professionals and leaders from across North County. NCAN is currently looking to partner with members of the business community who believe that the impact of the arts is crucial to the economic development of the county.

Source: Richard L. Schultz, Cultural Arts Manager, City of Carlsbad, Carlsbad Business Journal, February 2021 ADVERTISE | Press@LocalUmbrella.com

VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 5 | May, 2021

23

PERSONALIZED PET NUTRITION: Q&A WITH ROGER MORGAN, CEO OF PAWTREE

By Molly Galliher

Roger Morgan is a pet professional with over 15 years in the business. In 2012, Morgan founded PawTree to create premium quality food, treats, and supplements as part of a customized nutrition plan for pets. Morgan is a life-long animal lover and built this brand with his pets in mind. PawTree is about enabling pets and their people to live long and happy lives together.

Visit www.pawtree.com for more information.

What is PawTree and what makes it different?

Some people mistakenly think that what we do is sell pet nutrition or pet stuff. While this is true, it’s not what we do. We make a difference in the lives of pets and people through nutrition. We improve the lives of pets by improving their conditions and when we solve those issues, we make a positive impact on the pet parent’s life. It is a wonderful labor of love.

A lot of PawTree’s messaging references educationcan you elaborate on that?

I’ve been in the pet industry for about 15 years and based on my experience working with consumers, people genuinely want to do the right thing for their pets. Often the problem is they don’t know what the right thing is. It’s hard to get this type of information. Veterinarians and other animal care providers are wonderful, but they’re not generally trained in nutrition specifics. Usually, when a pet family makes a nutrition decision, they keep that routine for the rest of the pet’s life. When we talk about educating pet parents, we do it through relational marketingthrough the people that pet parents know and trust. That might be a parent, a neighbor, a trainer, or a breeder. We tap into those relationships and provide accurate information that enables them to educate the people they know. Whether it’s on our website, in print, or somewhere else, this is truly life-changing for the pets and their families in a way advertising isn’t. Advertising is not education.

We empower people called petPros, people who join our cause, to make a difference.

Can you talk about petPros?

It’s another way we impact the lives of pets

and people: through the business opportunities we provide. People can sign up to be a petPro with PawTree and can earn an income while helping others. What’s remarkable is there is not only a financial reward, but the positive impact in the community that these petPros make feels great. That’s what these petPros are all about. They get the great satisfaction that comes with helping others.

Is there a client story that stands out to you?

There are so many. What comes to my mind when you ask this question- before COVID, I would travel a lot meeting with petPros and customers where we would discuss pet nutrition. I always like

to start out by sharing personal experiences about how PawTree has impacted them. Without fail, there’s always someone that has a story to tell and they’re unbelievable. It might be simple to some but it really means something to those we helped. One woman told me about how her dog had struggled with digestive issues for its whole life. It had been a problem for

years. I recommended she try the PawTree pet reset- about 30 days of only PawTree products.

A few weeks later she reached out and told me this was the first time her dog’s condition had improved. All it took was changing her dog’s nutrition.

On your website, you discuss how PawTree has allowed you to move from profit to health-based work.

How has this change impacted you?

I think we all get to a point in our lives where we realize our existence is about a lot more than ourselves and there are opportunities to give back to the community we’re a part of. That’s at the core of me starting PawTree. It gives me incredible joy to know that we’re helping pets and these stories that I refer to are a part of that.

We all need to make an income and provide for our families, that goes without saying but, there are countless ways to do that. As the founder of PawTree, I’ve created a way to provide this livelihood for my family and so many others in a way where we truly give back and that is incredibly rewarding. It goes far beyond a job and a paycheck.

What is your routine with your pets, Bella and JoJo? Bella is a Cavalier King Charles and JoJo is a rescue. We think she is a black lab/ Australian Shepherd mix. We got Bella before we started PawTree but JoJo has been a PawTree dog all 7 years of her life. We feed both their customized PawTree food recipes as the foundation of their meal. For their meals, in addition to supplements, we use a squirt of wild Alaskan salmon oil and sprinkle on some of our pawPairing superfood seasoning. We pop the lids open and let them decide what they want to be put on top. They care! Just like people, our pets don’t want every meal to be the same. The last thing we do to prepare for their meals is to sprinkle one of these seasonings on top.

It’s like making a meal for your pet. Meal planning is fun around our place.

When did your passion for animals develop?

I’ve always had a passion for animals ever since I knew what a passion for animals was.

I had all kinds of pets as a child. On Saturdays, sometimes my mom would drive me to the pet store so we could look at and hold the animals. That stuck with me.

What’s a fun fact about yourself?

I love music. I play the drums and piano and love to sing and write songs. Another thing at the heart of myself and my passions is my family. I’ve been married for about 28 years. We have three wonderful daughters- I love being a father of daughters. In fact, Bella and JoJo are both female so I have three human daughters and two pet daughters and I just love the time I get to spend with them.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT YOUR LOCAL INDEPENDENT PAWTREE PRO http://www.pawtree.com/kathigillespie 760-213-1826

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FEATURED LISTINGS 1437 Robinson, San Diego Hillcrest 2bd/2.5ba | 1,073 sq ft | Built in 1999 Listed for $670,000 Villa Madrid, on one of Hillcrest’s nicest streets. Meander through the courtyard to the townhome entrance. Beautifully updated with hardwood flooring throughout the main living areas, with a cozy gas fireplace. Adjacent you’ll find an updated 1/2 bath. The dining area is open to an updated kitchen with builtins, granite and SS appliances. Large outdoor area off of the dining/kitchen.

Up the stairs and there is an enclosed stackable electric washer & gas dryer, 2 generously sized bedrooms, both ensuite with thoroughly updated bathrooms with the finest of materials, quartz and Kohler. This home is welcoming and impressive.

Listed by Kevin Eads DRE #01863573 c. (619) 512-7700

4209 Madison, San Diego Kensington 4bd/2.5ba | 2846 sq ft | Built in 1926 Listed for $1,100,000

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Listed by Kevin Eads DRE #01863573 c. (619) 512-7700

8145 Buckthorn Trl. Pine Valley, CA 91962 2bd/2ba | 1,444 sq ft |16,058 sq ft Lot List Price $484,000 - $539,000 Picture this…. Mountains, peacefulness, rustic charm and heritage. First time on the market in almost 5 decades, just minutes from the hustle and bustle of San Diego life. Imagine a snowy Christmas or a heartfelt Thanksgiving. This and more await you in the charm of this rural mountain retreat. Featuring large open spaces, soaring wood beam ceilings in the family room with lots of natural light, inviting kitchen perfect for that Thanksgiving gathering and Christmas dinner. Spacious family room with direct access to a large and open backyard with natural landscaping. 2-Car direct access garage. Remove yourself from the ordinary and enjoy this extraordinary mountain retreat.

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In 2021 the Ken Pecus Group has 37 transactions that have sold or are in escrow and almost $50,000,000 in sales so far. When selling your property, you should rely on a team with their thumbs on the pulse of the market!

If you would like to learn more about different San Diego neighborhoods, listings or our team, check out our brand new website www.KenPecusGroup.com.

Ken Pecus Realtor®

Metro Mission Hills Resident

(619) 977-8419

ken@kenpecus.com DRE# 01056969

Your Real Estate Experts in Kensington!

Kevin Eads Realtor®

Kensington Resident and Homeowner

(619) 512-7700

kevin@kevineads.com

DRE# 01211241