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| VOLUME 9 WINTER 2023 A Publication of Local Umbrella Media

25% OFFUT23

California Center for the Arts, Escondido December 21 – 23 858-272-8663 • www.cityballet.org

N Code:

Awarded ‘Best Nutcracker’ in San Diego -San Diego Tommy Awards

The Nutcracker Photo by Chelsea Penyak

PURE HOLIDAY MAGIC with The City Ballet Orchestra

Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky • Choreography: Elizabeth Wistrich

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San Diego Blood Bank and Broken Yolk Cafe once again partnered to help keep our community’s blood supply at safe levels as we head into the holiday season. During the holidays, the local blood supply typically drops to low levels due to schools being out of session and seasonal illnesses like the ffu.

Take inspiration from Keely, who survived a life-threatening 30-foot fall from a ski lift. She underwent 7 surgeries and received over 30 units of blood products to save her life. Keely’s experience inspired her to become a blood donor and a passionate advocate for San Diego Blood Bank. Today, you can still find her on the slopes, and she is pursuing a career in the medical field. Your support makes life-changing

stories like Keely’s possible.

SDBB’s mission is to connect diverse communities to save and improve lives through blood and biotherapies. Our vision is to be an integral leader in advancing health and wellness through medical innovation and we are leading the way to the future of transfusion medicine with Precision Blood™. By analyzing the DNA of a diverse population of donors through next-generation sequencing, we can identify better matches, which may improve results. Patients like Ella and Kamila depend on blood transfusions throughout their lives. San Diego Blood Bank is on a mission to improve the standard of care and ensure Ella, Kamila, and millions of others like them survive and thrive.

The programs and services provided by SDBB

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are made possible through your generosity. Make a one-time gift or, to make a lasting impact, consider monthly support for our lifesaving mission. On behalf of everyone at SDBB and the patients we serve, we wish you and your family a peaceful and joyous holiday season.

BROKEN YOLK CAFE HELPS KEEP LOCAL BLOOD SUPPLY STABLE DURING HOLIDAY SEASON Vouchers for Free Entrée Provided to All Blood Donors

Through December 10, anyone who donated blood at a San Diego Blood Bank donor center or mobile blood drive received a voucher for a free entrée at Broken Yolk Cafe (up to $18 value). Broken Yolk Cafe will also hosted blood drives at many of their San Diego and Orange County locations during this time period.

This is the seventh year that San Diego Blood Bank and Broken Yolk Cafe have partnered during the holidays to encourage blood donation in our community. Since 2017, the Broken Yolk Cafe’s sponsored blood drives, and promotions have collected 39,311 lifesaving units of blood, equating to nearly 18,000 Southern California hospital patient lives saved.

To be eligible to donate blood you must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in general good health. Eligible blood donors are encouraged to schedule an appointment at sandiegobloodbank.org/brokenyolk or by calling 619-400-8251.

About San Diego Blood Bank San Diego Blood Bank (SDBB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization also operating as SouthLOCAL NEWS | www.LocalUmbrellaMedia.com

ern California Blood Bank. The Blood Bank serves hospitals throughout Southern California with more than 150,000 units of blood each year. San Diego Blood Bank’s mission is to connect diverse communities to save and improve lives through blood and biotherapies. Dedicated to advancing health and wellness through medical innovation, SDBB has provided an essential service since 1950.

San Diego Blood Bank currently operates nine fixed-site donation locations and 10 bloodmobiles, with blood drives running daily. For more information about SDBB, visit www.SanDiegoBloodBank.org and follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin.

meal for every day, we are pioneers in a segment that continues to grow in popularity.

Broken Yolk is more than just a place to eat; it’s a gathering spot for friends, families, and communities. Our cafes are designed to be comfortable and inviting, providing a relaxed atmosphere where conversations flow, and memories are made. We’re proud to be a part of your mornings, whether it’s a casual weekday breakfast or a leisurely weekend brunch. www. thebrokenyolkcafe.com

About Broken Yolk Founded in 1979 in sunny California, where surfers rise early to catch the morning break, Broken Yolk was one of the first full-service restaurants to find success in breakfast and lunch—no dinner required. Reclaiming brunch from the special occasion category and making it a /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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| VOLUME 9 WINTER 2023 A Publication of Local Umbrella Media

Splendor at the Lafayette Hotel in North Park

A Second Round of New Venues Are On Tap Within the Historic Property

By Frank Sabatini Jr.

Just when you thought renovations at the 77-year-old Lafayette Hotel on El Cajon Boulevard hit their peak this summer, along comes a second wave of themed venues scheduled to open inside the 139-room property in the coming months.

The hotel in July unveiled a dramatic $31 million redo by its newest owner, CH Projects.

The locally based hospitality group, known for creating Instagram-worthy establishments such as Born & Raised in Little Italy, Polite Provisions in North Park, Raised by Wolves in UTC, and several others, has outpaced itself at The Lafayette in terms of high design and budget.

Phase one of the project resulted in complete upgrades to the rooms as well as five new venues for eating and drinking on the property.

Each venue is distinguished by separate designs showing off impressive details.

Where We’ve Been Indulging Beginner’s Diner within the hotel captures a 1940s era, when tall milkshakes and hearty American grub ruled the day. The restaurant is open 24/7, and customers are greeted by a roomy lunch bar trimmed in shiny chrome, plus ample booths marked by old-style lamp posts.

The diner exceeds its culinary promise with gourmet twists in some cases, such as meatloaf made with Wagyu beef and breakfast hash using duck confit. Other noteworthy dishes include a mondo chicken schnitzel sandwich, a Reuben stacked with house-roasted pastrami, and crinkle-cut “disco fries” served with commendable veal gravy.

Sitting just outside the diner is The Lobby Bar, a circular construct that took over the hotel’s former conservatory area. The stunning glass dome overhead remains intact, thus adding an elegant feel to the wrought-iron lamps and detailed woodwork appointing the bar.

Consider this ground zero for enjoying classic cocktails and hobnobbing with San Diego’s movers and shakers.

A stone’s throw away in the back of the hotel is the more-intimate outdoor Pool Bar, which looks out to the property’s original now-retiled swimming pool. The pool is open to the public via single-day or weekend passes that can be booked online (www.lafayettehotelsd.com).

Check the site for current prices.

Quixote is the other restaurant that opened this summer. It replaced the longstanding Red Fox Steakhouse, which has since moved across the street. The transformed vibe is decidedly Gothic, which was achieved with materials and design elements reclaimed from an old decommissioned Catholic church in Mexico. Expect an Oaxacan-inspired menu flaunting dishes such as crab-corn donuts, whole grilled fish, chili-garlic shrimp tacos, and more.

The fifth venue that arose from phase one is The Gutter, a stylish cocktail bar and game room that pays homage to American industrialist Henry Frick. The millionaire’s mansion housed a personal bowling alley, hence The Gutter offers two alleys that allows bar patrons to test their bowling skills for $49.99 per game.

Chicken schnitzel at Beginner’s Diner (By Frank Sabatini Jr.)

Bowling lanes at The Gutter (By Frank Sabatini Jr.)

Step back in time at Beginner’s Diner. (By Frank Sabatini Jr.)

Classic king room (By Kimberly Motos)

Quixote restaurant (By Arlene Ibarra)

New life awaits inside the Lafayette Hotel. (Courtesy photo)

Rendering of the upcoming new spa (Courtesy image)

elegance. The restaurant aims to capture 20th-Century fine dining from some of Europe’s fanciest hotels that were pioneered by Swiss hotelier Cesar Ritz and acclaimed French chef Auguste Escoffier.

Starched table linens, roving cocktail carts, and prime rib cut tableside are expected. The arrival of Le Horse will mark the property’s seventh new food-and-drink establishment inside the hotel.

Up and Coming The final phase of Lafayette’s remodel will usher in a couple more restaurants and a brand new spa, which hasn’t yet been named. But it will supposedly feature Roman or Turkish-style elements and artistic accents. A rep for the hotel said it’s due to open “sometime in 2024.”

In late January, look for the opening of Lulu’s Jungle Room. The venue will take on a vintage supper-club atmosphere complete with a shell-shaped stage for live jazz performances.

This is where the old Mississippi Room stood inside the hotel back in its original glory days.

And it is where Bob Hope performed many LOCAL NEWS | www.LocalUmbrellaMedia.com

Lafayette Hotel Info The Lobby Bar (By Frank Sabatini Jr.)

years ago. (Note: Hope was among the first overnight guests at the hotel when it opened in 1946.)

Lulu’s menu has yet to be finalized, but it will offer a chef ’s table and rum-focused drinks.

Then by the middle of next year, Le Horse will deliver a finale of upscale European /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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The Lafayette Hotel is located at 2223 El Cajon Blvd. in North Park. It sits on 2.5 acres of urban grounds.

Room, bar and dining reservations can be made online at www.lafayettehotelsd.com or by calling 619-296-2101.

Parking is valet-only, although street parking throughout the neighborhood can usually be found. Valet parking rates are $38 per night, and $15 for daytime visits.

Check-in time for rooms is 4 p.m. Check-out is 11 a.m., although exceptions are made.

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Trinity Theatre Company opens in Mission Valley Artist Director invites aspiring actors to follow their dream

By Vince Meehan All photos by Vince Meehan

The acting bug has come to Mission Valley in the form of the Trinity Theatre Company, a local grass-roots theater group that has been operating in San Diego since 2012. The theater not only serves as an entertainment venue, but more importantly as a school for aspiring actors to learn the craft and cut some chops.

Sean Boyd is the Artist Director and CEO at Trinity Theatre Company (TTC) and runs the group with his brother Connor who serves as the Associate Artistic Director. Both brothers got into acting at a very early age and fell in love with the craft. “I started doing youth theater at age 10 with my brother over at the Salvation Army Joan Kroc Center, and just knew right there, this is it!” Boyd said. “This is the environment I need to be in – a quirky little kid like myself, having those quirky little people around me I think was exactly perfect; and that bug never wore off!”

The theater is located on the west end of the Westfield Mission Valley shopping center near the Outback Steakhouse and Target. The shopping center was built over 60 years ago, so it comes with abstract old-school ideas such as ample parking and easy access. This makes the TTC one of the most convenient theaters to attend. Not only that, but there are numerous places to grab a bite before or after the show.

This makes for a win/win situation for both the theater and the mall.

Boyd feels blessed to have been in the right place at the right time in securing this unorthodox locale for a theater, but he also has a “why not?” mantra that has served him his entire life. “Luckily, we use a PO box right here and every time we were walking by and saw an empty venue we said ‘Why not? Why not that space?’ And everybody complains about parking in San Diego, well, we’ve got the best parking in San Diego! We just moved into this space on May 22nd, and started programing on June 14th. So it was a pretty fast turnaround in terms of getting the space ready to go for our youngest campers. And truly it’s been a nice synergistic opportunity, I think all the companies around us are happy to have us, we’re happy to be around them, the gelato shop right in front of us is just delighted to serve gelato during the intermission break so it works well with them! Trinity Theater started back in 2012 – while I was still a senior in high school – and for a long time we would work with our communities to find venues that we could use as performance space. We performed with Community Actors Theater in City Heights, the Swedenborg Hall in University Heights, and the Tenth Avenue Arts Center in East Village Downtown; so we’ve been all over the map!

The venue includes a stage that is 32 feet wide by 10 feet deep. It also features 62 seats, which will be mounted on risers for optimal viewing. TTC operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit and includes education as a big part of its mission statement. It operates as a theater school for the community as much as a performance venue. “Our mission is to unify friends, famiLOCAL NEWS | www.LocalUmbrellaMedia.com

Sean Boyd mans the soundboard at the theater.

Brothers Sean and Connor at the concession stand.

Trinity Theatre Company Artistic Director Sean Boyd.

The stage is where the magic happens!

ly and the community using theater and arts education as our facilitator,” Boyd added. “And we believe that anyone who has an interest and a passion for the arts should be able to participate regardless of past experience, so we’ve been very fortunate to merge the talents of the seasoned professional with the aspiring newcomer.”

Boyd is Irish, and seeing as how he and his brother and father were so instrumental in getting the company off the ground, they decided to adopt the Celtic Trinity Knot design as their logo. The trinity idea refers to the three pillars they aim to bring together through their programming: friends, family, and community. This is a big part of their mission statement, as well as focusing on both youth and amateur theater fans that are looking for a way to break into the theater scene. Boyd says he makes it a point to reach out to under-represented areas of San Diego to find students that might slip through the cracks otherwise.

“We really think about the geographic barriers as a big piece and so a lot of our programs push out into different communities and areas.

We’re very fortunate to have partnerships with the South Bay Union School District, the Escondido Union School District, we’ve worked with San Diego Unified with the Level Up program through the San Diego Foundation so we can go directly into the schools and provide students with the access right there without needing to drive to Mission Valley here. We also try to provide financially accessible opportunities so we

do offer a number of programs for adults free of charge – our Living Room Readers Theater is one of our favorites – it allows artists to show up on Sunday with no reservation required. We’ll put all of our characters into a hat for a random show that we’ve picked usually that day. So as artists arrive we say ‘Read this, this is your character for today and good luck to ya!’ And that’s always a fun experience.”

TTC is currently putting together a production of Charlotte’s Web, which will be ready to open on December 14. This promises to be a very popular play with unique costumes and sets, and the turnout is expected to be very robust.

Community participation is highly encouraged by Boyd in many different aspects. “So we’re a 501(c)(3) organization and we rely heavily on contributions so that we can continue to provide these free programs that give right back to the community,” Boyd noted.

As with any non-profit, the need for donations is often matched with the need for volunteers who are key to making the program work.

Trinity is now seeking dedicated volunteers to help with administration, front of house, lobby decorations, set builds, strikes, and more. Anybody interested can reach out to connor@trinityttc.org to learn more about getting involved.

Boyd’s answer to anyone who is interested in theater is to stop on by and talk to him. “Come!

Come! And even if you’re thinking maybe this isn’t for you, try it! Try it! And we’ll tell you that you should be here!”

For info go to: www.TrinityTTC.org

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Over the past several years, I have can report a suspected the names of the • Sexual orientation names, addresses and telephone warned the public of scammers• Learn Does the contractortrying have • Gender numbers. to get their hands on your This month San Diego County • Disability • Write down as many facts money using a wide variety of me they witnessed in police officers and prosecutors is participating in the statewide • Victim’s association with any about the incident as you can methods. Butof one type of scammer ess card? Does the name United Against Hate Week camabove group remember. who does tremendous damage is go County.

The tool was working the and keep in ego paign, an anti-hate In 2020, Ion set up an online case • Seek a therapist to assist with a faceless strangerawareness who con- efon you are dealing not with fort you to call for Internet, local civic reporting form and hotline the emotional aspects of the tacts on the byaction text to stop the hate and biases that on our public website where attack. n response to reports touch with them. message, or phone call. This threat pose a dangerous threat to the anyone can report a suspected • Learn the names of the with a friendly, often familhe name associatedcomes with safety and civility of neighborhate crime they witnessed in police officers and prosecutors iar, face. It’s your friendly, neighrelated incidents aimed • Get copies of police reports hoods, towns, and cities.

UnforSan Diego County.

The tool was working on the case and keep in borhood life insurance agent. nse number? tunately, hate crimes have inpartly in response to reports touch with them.

While the majority of life insurcreased across our nation, state, check of hate-related them incidents aimedfor• Get copies of police reports Asian community across and accuracy. ance agents are ethical and upand region.

By learning about at the Asian community across and check them for accuracy.

Check the personnelstanding, list there are unscrupulous, hate crimes and how to stand the nation in the wake of the • Attend necessary court hearunethical agents who pose a serious on in the wake of the • Attend necessary court hearion against them and report them, COVID-19 pandemic.

The onings, whether you are subpoethreat to consumers, particularly icense for additional qualwe can make everyone safer. line reporting tool, email and naed, including arraignment, to seniors. Fraudulent life agents For those who don’t already number are available for bail review and sentencing.

-19 pandemic.

The onings, whether you are subpoetarget seniors because many seniors phone know, prosecuting and preventreporting of any type of suspect• If possible, make a statement mployees. Is the address of have accumulated wealth over ing hate crimes is a priority ed hate crime. in court to the judge about decades of working and saving -orting tool, email and naed, including arraignment, for me as District Attorney.

In We know that people often threats, direct or indirect, and money they plan to use for their restruction business local? recent years, we’ve tripled the don’t report hate crimes bepossible fears. tirement, or to pass on to their benumber are available for number ofLife hateagents crimes prose-to bail review and sentencing. cause of fear or shame, and we The public can find the DA’s loved heirs. looking cutions, sending an unwaverwanted to provide a direct aveonline reporting form by If there is a discrepancy bemake a quick buck scam the public ing message that hate crimes nue to encourage victims or witsearching for hate crimes at in a variety of ways, including • butIf possible, make a statement ng of any type of suspectwill not be tolerated.

Last year nesses to hate crimes to report. www.SanDiegoDA.com.

The not limited to the following: he business card, invoice, alone, we prosecuted 30 hate People can and should continue Hate Crimes email address is Misrepresentation of terms crime. in court to the judge about crimes cases, up from 21 in to report hate crimes to their hatecrimes@sdcda.org and the Premium theft and the CSLB’s webpage, 2020. local police departments and phone number is 619-515-8805.

Twisting/Churning We recognize the distincSheriff ’s Department.

This adForgery/identity theft threats, direct or indirect, and now that number people often tive fear and stress suffered by ditional reporting mechanism Ponzi schemes business listed victims of hate crimes, includwill act as a safety net and help The magnitude of the problem port hate crimes bepossible fears. ing the potential for reprisal, ensure reports are reviewed and eport posed by bad actor life insurance CSLB page to confirm all escalation of violence, and the shared by law enforcement. agents is better understood when far-reaching negative conse-The If public you have been a victim of find the DA’s one realizes that life insurance polifare fear or shame, and we can quences that hate crimes have hate crime, here are tips on Diego who have been victimized cies include not only the common- to minimize the risk of being known to each other. on our community. to do: by life insurance agents or forly-understood policies with a death what scammed by unethical life insurto provide a direct reporting Aavehate incident an online act, • If agents. you are seriously injured, form mer agents.by The Life and Annuity benefit, but also theiscountless ance A con artist will frequently which is bias-motivated, but call 911 or get to the hospital Consumer Protection Program annuity policies that are offered by Contact the California Departdoes notwitrise to the as level of immediately. provides funding for insurance companies a searching low-risk ment of Insurance to check an encourage victims or for hate crimes atthe investigaa hate crime.

For example, • Whether or not you are in- for tion and prosecution of unethical investment that provides an inagent’s insurance license history me similar to a reputable if someone uses racial slur jured, report the crime. life insurance agents. The San come stream to thea policyholder. previous complaints or discipline, o hate crimes to report. www.SanDiegoDA.com.

The against another it probably • To help yourself, it is importDiego District Attorney’s Office The financial risk posed by Never give your premium to the ction firm and sometimes isn’t a hate crime, ratheragents a hate ant to Mail do atitleast some of the com- has prosecuted many cases under unscrupulous life insurance agent. to the insurance incident.

It’s important to unfollowing: can andindividual should continue Crimes email address is have the program, and defendants not disappear once theHate agent pany instead. derstand the life difference between •Get Seeand a doctor treatofand received lengthy prison sentences. retires.

Former agents often have retain to copies all censed isdoes foran act lists thatofisclients understandably even minor physical In addition, we have seized and lengthy they hatecrimes@sdcda.org have accu- document relevant documents, applications, rt hate crimes to their and the upsetting, and an act motivated injuries. sold defendants’ properties and mulated over the years of working in policies, etc. ployee of the reputable to have atheminimum by industry. hate or bias that isunscrupuarequired crime.

•Consider Take pictures of anya policy physical returned well over $1 million to the Sometimes not buying Aagents hate crime against an injuries orpitched damages to property, olice departments lous and phone is 619-515-8805. victims as restitution. solicit is previous insurance day it number was to you by the individual or private property that is even police already did so.

AsAsyour District I’m $25,000 surety bond. your DistrictAttorney, Attorney, I’m clients for risky investments agent.ifTake time to evaluate it. substantially motivated by bias • If the crime is vandalism, let committed to increasing commucommitted to increasing commuthat are not offered by an established Be suspicious of any “private” or s Department. adagainst the victim’s: the policeinvestment see and photograph nication nicationand andaccessibility accessibilitybetween between company, nor regulated “special” opportunity contractors Check references.This Ininsurance San • Legitimate the damage before you clean the DA’s Office the DA’s Officeand andthe thepublic. publicI in and not insured. that’s not produced by an estab• Race/ethnicity/nationality and/or repair. company. hope these consumer and Ipublic lou reporting mechanism order to keep you safe. hope these Anyone considering investing lished insurance • Religion • If possible, get witnesses’ safety tips have been helpful. can also check the San should not ask for more than a consumer and public safety tips in life insurance products should Thankfully, there is a resource have been helpful. remember the suggestions below available to consumers in San as a safety netfilings and help uperior Court for 10% deposit upfront. reports are reviewed and l and criminal cases.

Although thisamay seemDay! like Clean Windows Feel Like New by lawindividual enforcement.

If the has no quite a bit of effort up front, it have been a that victim of presence, then is also will save you time, money and me, on le redhere flag.are Is ittips a new heartache. Victims of unscrupuy,do: joint venture or new lilous contractors rarely recoup areask seriously injured, fuso, how much experi- their financial losses from the get to the e or contractor hashospital with your criminals and always wish they ately. had spent more time researching ther orget nota you are in-of Always minimum their contractor. eport the job. crime. ds for any If the quote These crimes are not rare in Calelp to yourself, is importSeniors ood be true,itask why. ifornia, the CSLB Military even& maintains a o at the least some of be the do Will contractor “Most Wanted” list. If you suspect gng: alone or have employees? you have been the victim of conaare doctor to treat andto see struction fraud or an unlicensed employees check

By District Attorney Summer Stephan

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A Publication of Local Umbrella Media VOLUME 9 | WINTER 2023 |

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Santa Is Ready To Visit San Diego

And He’s will be excited to be here.

In the midst of this festive Christmas season, we had the incredible opportunity to sit down with the beloved Mr. and Mrs. Claus, the dynamic duo behind the magic of Christmas.

With their twinkling eyes and warm smiles, Santa and Mrs. Claus shared insights into their enchanting world and delivered a heartwarming message to the children of San Diego. As they prepare for the most magical night of the year, Santa and Mrs. Claus take a moment to reflect on the joy they bring to families around the world.

Local Umbrella Media (LUM) Santa, Mrs. Claus, it’s a real treat to speak with you both! How do you prepare for the busiest night of the year?

Santa: Ho ho ho! It’s always a joy to spread the Christmas spirit. Mrs. Claus and I start our preparations months in advance. We double-check the naughty and nice lists, ensure the reindeer are in top shape, and, of course, make sure the toy workshop is bustling with activity.

Mrs. Claus: Absolutely! And I must say, the elves have been working tirelessly to make this year extra special for the children of San Diego.

We›ve got some surprises up our sleeves!

LUM: Speaking of surprises, any hints about this year’s must-have toys?

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Santa: Ah, that›s a secret! But I can guarantee there will be something for everyone. We›ve been keeping a close eye on the wishes of the children in San Diego, and the elves have been working their magic to make their dreams come true.

LUM: Mrs. Claus, as the unsung hero behind the scenes, what role do you play in making Christmas magical?

Mrs. Claus: Well, my role is multi-faceted. I ensure that Santa is well-fed with cookies and milk, even though he’ll get more along the way.

I oversee the elves to make sure the toys are just right and spread joy with my own touch of magic. Plus, I offer a listening ear to anyone who needs it.

LUM: Now, Santa, what message do you have for the children of San Diego this Christmas?

Santa: To all the children of San Diego, I want you to know that you are loved.

Christmas is a time of joy, kindness, and togetherness. Always be good to one another, cherish your family and friends, and always believe in the magic of the season. Mrs. Claus and I are looking forward to visiting your homes and spreading the magic of Christmas!

LUM: Any final thoughts before the big night?

Mrs. Claus: Just remember, the true magic of /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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Christmas lies in your hearts. Keep spreading love and joy, and may your holidays be filled with laughter and warmth.

LUM: Can you tell us what is your favorite thing about San Diego?

Santa: Well San Diego is a very exciting place to visit and for me, like many people out there, it has to be the weather. As we start out from the North Pole, we work our way west from the International Dateline, and most of the places we stop at are snowy and cold, sort of like the North Pole, which of course is where we live. By the time we get to San Diego, it’s much warmer and the skies are clear, something to really look forward to after that long night in the sleigh. In fact, every now and then, Mrs. Claus and I slip down here for a short vacation, I think it’s our favorite place to visit and we really love it at the Hotel Del Coronado.

As Santa and Mrs. Claus prepare to embark on their sleigh ride, their infectious spirit of generosity and love spreads across our county awaiting their arrival, promising to make this Christmas in San Diego truly special. The enchantment of the Christmas season lives on in the hearts of those who believe and can last throughout the year. The magic of Santa and Mrs. Claus always brings heartfelt smiles of joy to children of all ages, all you have to do is believe. From all of us here at Local Umbrella Media, A Very Merry Christmas to you all.

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| VOLUME 9 WINTER 2023 A Publication of Local Umbrella Media

Tierrasanta Local Heroes: Firehouse Station #39

In the town of Tierrasanta where Camp Elliot once stood, a very important staple of the community lies.

Fire Station #39. Opened in June 1976 after Tierrasanta was established as one of San Diego’s first planned communities (in the late 1960s to early 1970s). Station #39 is said to be one of the smallest Fire Stations in San Diego.

Fire Captain McLaughlin, husband and father of 2, calls the station “a home away from home”.

It operates 24 hours, 7 days a week hence why they are also called “Fire Houses”. The crew holds many responsibilities in preparation to respond to any and all emergencies in the community. The Captain’s duties, oversees daily responsibilities, manage administrative tasks such as scheduling, keeping timecards, logging incoming and outgoing calls, and making sure every firefighter is up to date on their required training. Daily morning meetings overview recent past and present events making plans for the new day. Afterwards a daily run and physical training is essential.

Engineers drive the fire engine, check the fire engines daily making sure all mechanics are functioning properly at every given moment.

During the day, firefighters handle day-to-day “house” chores cleaning the station including bathrooms, floors, kitchen, windows. Crew must be “response ready” at all times. Cooking is vital to the station’s success as you can imagine feeding a crew breakfast, lunch and dinner, and it may need to be done fast at times when emergency calls. “Got to learn how to cook pretty good”, said new to the team EMT Jesse Cordova, who admitted he knew “not much”. “You need to learn to make 3-5 meals within a small budget for lunch and dinner”, stated paramedic Richie Giesen, who joked that “you’ll get very honest feedback” about the quality of your meals so they better be edible. On a more serious note, Fire Captain McLaughlin stated the importance of “stop at any time because you could get a call at any time, and come back to a meal that isn’t totally ruined”, although he did acknowledge that it can happen at times.

Given its wonderful location directly next to Tierrasanta’s cherished Library, Fire Station #39 is a vital part of the Tierrasanta Community.

“We’re the only station within close range of thousands of homes and businesses, so when anything happens in this area, we are the ones to respond fast”, Captain McLaughlin explains.

McLaughlin pointed out that the next closest stations are near Montgomery Field and Snapdragon Stadium in Mission Valley, making it necessary for crews of other divisions to support Station #39 if ever the need arose.

As we know, Station #39 has had to deal with their fair share of significant fires, including wildfires, house fires and more. Cal Coast Credit Union was burned down last year, and more recently, Captain McLaughlin and his crew had to deal with a vehicle running into a home, as well as an accident on CA-52 on a windy night when significant winds blew fire towards Tierrasanta.

It’s not just putting out fires that makes Fire station #39 heroic. For example, complicated matters in an accident referenced above, the driver in the accident was also going through cardiac arrest at the time, requiring emergency medical assistance from the fire crew.

Fire station #39’s hard work and selfless acts for the community don’t go unnoticed. Far from it, Captain McLaughlin points out how many in the Tierrasanta Community show their deep appreciation of what they do and show it. McLaughlin describes the support the firefighters receive from the community as “almost unrivaled”. The support they receive is very wide-ranging, from gifts to an open invitation at community events.

McLaughlin and his crew elaborated on a local business owner who goes by “TK” having the station’s front yard “totally re-done”, raising “a bunch of money” for the station, and even getting them a new smoker! Glenn, employee at the local Smart and Final is another that shows loyal support. “Glenn goes out of his way to LOCAL NEWS | www.LocalUmbrellaMedia.com

Firefighter Mason Hill, and Captain Will McLaughlin

know us. He and his wife bring us donuts on the 1st Sunday of every month!”, McLaughlin elaborates.

The Hall family from Boy Scouts of America have provided a Christmas Eve dinner for the station every year for the past 23 years, and one Thanksgiving added 22 pies, joking that they still might have some in the freezer.

The military is also extremely grateful for the firefighters’ service to the community. Driver and engineer Eli Majors, a self-described “army brat” from a military family himself, stated “The military is very supportive and very thankful for what we do. As an army brat myself, our crew is very sympathetic and understanding of what the kids of military families have to go through sometimes”. The crew was even gifted a challenge coin of Medal of Honor recipient Robert J. Modrezewski. “Not every day do you get to know a Medal of Honor recipient on a first-name basis. Pretty cool”, remarked Majors.

The presence of the crew is welcomed, and celebrated at various local events throughout the year. The crew noted that the Tierrasanta Town Council reserved spots for them at the eight nights during the summer where there were “Concerts at the Park” at the Community Center.

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both ways. Recognizing the importance of staying engaged with the youth in the region, the crew offers school and group tours, which they explain can be scheduled either by invitation to the school (as well as groups such as local Boy and Girl Scout Troops). Neighborhood families also regularly bring their children and grandchildren for tours of the station.

The Department’s Cadet program offers local youth, beginning at age 18 (or 16 with parental approval) to 21, the opportunity to learn things such as how to put on & clean equipment, perform drills such as throwing ladders & tying ropes, and generally learning about the daily life of a firefighter and how things work at the station on a typical day. The crew cites the reasoning for this program as a way to get the youth involved, as youth can get their EMT in this process and it can provide a pathway to becoming a firefighter.

Providing crucial services with selfless dedication and genuine appreciation for the community has made the crew of Firehouse Station #39 a vital part of the Tierrasanta neighborhood. With mutual appreciation for each other, Firehouse Station #39 and the Tierrasanta community have benefited each other greatly from this long time friendship.

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A Publication of Local Umbrella Media VOLUME 9 | WINTER 2023 |

Santa Is Coming! Santa Is Coming!

Stocking Stuffers and Safety Tips For The Holidays.

By Bob Morey With Spliff the Elf

Happy Holidays to all you big kids out there.

I’m Spliff, Santa’s go-to elf (wink wink…you know what I mean). My friend Bob has graciously offered to help write this to ensure your Christmas goes as smoothly as planned. Now that we are into our Christmas season, I’m here to give you some ideas for stocking stuffers and some tips so little Johnny or Karen don’t get into something they shouldn’t.

Let’s start with your stockings. Usually, most folks hang their stockings across the mantle if they have a fireplace or are just strung along the wall. Now, if you’re considering giving or receiving any cannabis or CBD products, you’re going to want to hang those stockings a little higher up so the kiddies can’t reach them. This is also like a code to your friends in the know that those kinds of gifts are cool and appreciated. It’s like the code when you were in college when you hung a sock on the doorknob of your dorm room door to let your roommate know you had a ‘special’ guest over and needed a little privacy for a while.

Once Santa gets in your house, it’s pretty common for him to find a glass of milk and some munchies on a table near the tree. While Santa is always good for a glass of egg nog or milk, please…please hold off on the cookies and brownies – especially if you have hopped them up a little <wink>. Wrap those goodies up, put a bow on them (maybe a green one), and save them for your like-minded friends.

Besides, Santa is sort of on a diet, and the reindeer will appreciate not having to pull around the extra weight. And don’t forget, little Johnny or Karen might sneak out to see if Santa has come yet, and we would hate for them to snag them, like they would mack on Santa’s snacks – right?

The same applies for leaving Santa a toke or two, while Santa really enjoys kicking back and getting mellow while watching the college bowl games and NFL playoffs after Christmas (His favorite is the Holiday Bowl; he believes it was created to honor him and the Christmas season).

The real reason is Santa can’t spark up while flying in the sleigh, and besides, he needs to get all the presents out to the right homes before daybreak, and that would be super hard if he got high, and then we come back to the munchies y’all leave out. Oh…insider tip: vape pens are best when flying in an open sleigh.

In the past, some of you have left reindeer bags out for the guys pulling the sleigh (sort of like the doggie snacks some places have when you bring your poochies out – and – yes, Rudolph always seems to get the biggest bags). I get it. Some of you have fur babies, and you give them Scooby Snacks. Save the reindeer bag for your furry ones, and – here’s another tip: give the furriers a snack or two before everyone comes over so they can be a little chilled too, like while y’all are having a drink or two. Also, Rudolph and the team have a lot of flying to do, taking off and landing on slippery snow-covered roofs all night takes a lot of skill, and they need to stay sharp.

Last month, I was told y’all were given some holiday recipes which can be used again for Christmas. Just remember to take some care and tell your guests what they are eating so no one overdoes it. Faceplanting is never fun, and you don’t want to wake up to pictures on social media with a face that has been drawn all over it.

Now that we have covered some essential safety tips, you should have a good feel for all the do’s and don’ts (and remember, if it feels like a bad idea, it probably means it is – But – that doesn’t always mean it won’t be fun!). From all of us here at the North Pole and my friends at Local Umbrella Media – May You All Have A Very Merry Christmas - and Santa will see you soon.

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|| VOLUME October2023 2022A Publication A Publication of Local Umbrella Media A Publication of Local Umbrella Media VOLUME 8 | DECEMBER 2022 | VOLUME 79 |WINTER of Local Umbrella Media

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A Publication of Local Umbrella Media VOLUME 9 | WINTER 2023 |

ACADEMIA AWARDS HONORS CHAMPIONS OF EDUCATION

IQ Podcasts hosted 3rd Annual San Diego Academia Awards with Attorney King and Chairman Cody Martinez of Sycuan.

On Saturday December 2nd, 2023, San Diego based IQ Podcasts hosted the highly anticipated third Annual San Diego Academia Awards Gala. This extraordinary event aimed to honor and celebrate the remarkable contributions of outstanding Champions in Education.

The dinner gala has established itself as one of San Diego’s most prestigious teachers events. It was hosted at the exquisite Sycuan Heritage Ballroom with an attendance of over 350 esteemed guests.

A delectable gourmet dinner was prepared

by Sycuan’s award-winning chefs followed by performances from talented and award winning entertainers.

This event serves as a unique platform to unite San Diego’s influential leaders, educators, and diverse community members, all joining forces to acknowledge and appreciate the outstanding efforts of San Diego County educators.

Founded by Brett Davis and Sarah Morga, the organization brings community together. Preparations for the next year’s Academia Gala are already underway. They are expecting a sold-out venue.

Media is encouraged to attend. Coordinate with the IQPodcasts team for future inquiries.

Media Contact: Sarah Morga: (619) 734 - 1507 Listed in no particular order are the names of the San Diego Academia recipients: Legends Award - Gregory Winston, Mary Jean (Mimi) Test, Dr. Mark Arapostathis (Mayor of La Mesa) Academia & Educator Awards 1. Alysia Smith, Principal Holly Drive Leadership Academy 2. Julie Nguyen, Perkins Elementary 3. Troy Forester, Aviara Oaks Elementary 4. Farah Mendoza, Sweetwater High School 5. Martha Plumb Protzman, Silver Strand Elementary 6. Kathy Ordaz, Willow Elementary 7. Michelle Saflar, Mueller Charter 8. Isabel Silva, Kimball Elementary 9. Gregory George, Mueller Charter 10. Chad Kavanagh, Mar Vista High School 11. Eric Esperon, Sweetwater High School 12. Mariana Hughes, Eastlake High School 13. Georgianne Rivera, Mueller Charter Custodian of the Year - Oscar Carillo, Fahari Jeffers Elementary Cafeteria Team of the Year - Arcelia Luecke, Irma Nieto, Christina Salazar, Otay Elementary Secretary of the Year - Patricia Montoy, Harborside Elementary Superintendent of the Year - Dr. Eduardo Reyes, Chula Vista Elementary School District Lifetime Distinguished, Teaching & Mentorship Award - Leigh Steinberg, (The Real Jerry Maguire, Super Sports Agent) Champion for Community and Education Award -Tad Seth Parzen, President & CEO Burnham Center for Community Advancement

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| VOLUME 9 | |WINTER 2023 A Publication of Local Umbrella Media AAPublication Publicationof ofLocal LocalUmbrella UmbrellaMedia Media VOLUME VOLUME77| |NOVEMBER NOVEMBER2022 2022| | December, 2021 VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 12

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A Publication of Local Umbrella Media VOLUME 9 | WINTER 2023 |

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| VOLUME 9 WINTER 2023 A Publication of Local Umbrella Media

Nevermind Aging—Get out there and have fun

by Pamela Tames

You don’t have to do much more than look around you to see how our society is aging.

In the US, older adults will soon outnumber youth under 18 for the first time in our history.

It makes you wonder, what are we older adults going to do with all our extra time? Here’s an idea: have fun. As a motorcycle rider myself, I can’t think of a better way to do that than to get out there on a bike and experience the world.

When it comes to doing just that, few do it better than the people at Nevermind Adventure Tours. Since 2011, Matt Natonewski, owner of Nevermind Adventure Tours has been offering off-the-beaten track rides in some of the world’s most exotic locations, including Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Patagonia, Tasmania, and Rajasthan, India.

I talked with Matt and his American-based tour leader, Bill Savage, about what makes Nevermind Adventure Tours so special and yes, so fun.

Matt, you took a leap over a decade ago and left a highly paid full-time job to start Nevermind Adventure Tours. What drove you to do it?

I grew up south of Melbourne, Australia and have been riding since I was 10 years old. Before I started Nevermind, I was living in Perth, in Western Australia, working as an environmental engineer with some of the major construction and mining companies. I got to a stage in my career when I was asking a lot of questions and reading philosophical works. I got some strange ideas in my head that maybe there’s more to life than earning the big construction dollars.

My work wasn’t rewarding the soul and I wasn’t happy. Something was missing.

Then one day I’ll never forget–it was between Christmas and New Year–I just walked into work, sent an email to my manager, walked out and went home. I was home at 10 AM. My wife asked me what I was doing at home, and I told her, “That’s it. I’m done.” We had a $500,000 mortgage and 2 kids in primary school. She wasn’t overly impressed with that decision especially since I hadn’t consulted her. She cried for a few days, and I retreated to my basement and did a lot of meditation. I thought, Well, I don’t know how I’m gonna do it, but I’ll work it out.

It’s been a very interesting journey since then.

Motorcycles have taken me to a lot of places.

Matt Natonewski, owner of Nevermind, and his Americanbased tour leader, Bill Savage.

dia, where I’d got the handmade leather satchels.

His card would become more significant later.

I bought more leather goods and sold them on eBay. The business grew from there. When I was opening up a permanent shop at the local market, I needed a business name to put on the lease. I looked down at Dinesh’s business card and it read, Dinesh Leather, Once for, Never worry. I looked up and saw Nirvana’s album, Nevermind. In my head, I was thinking, ‘once, for, never worry, nevermind’…and that was it.

Eventually, people started asking me if they could join me when I went to India to purchase more bags. It was like the light bulb went off and I realized taking people to India could be another way to bring in a little extra income to basically fund buying more stock for the shop.

Before I knew it, I had 10 to 15 people from all over Australia ready to pay up front to go on a motorcycle trip to India.

How did that first motorcycle tour go?

Everybody loved it. I’d never taken people on a motorcycle tour. I’d only traveled solo before. I got a real kick out of sharing places with people.

It felt amazing. You could just see how excited people were, anticipating the fun and adventure.

That really resonated with me. I realized, This is what I’m here to do, taking people from Western or first world countries into less developed countries so they can connect with the local people and learn about different cultures. I have a real passion for making those connections. You see people go from sometimes negative attitudes about a country to getting hooked once they’re there and experiencing how we’re all the same.

You were on Australia’s Shark Tank. How did that opportunity come up and what did you get out of that experience?

I had been riding Royal Enfield motorcycles in India. They’ve got this beautiful classic design, single cylinder, low power, but so much fun and so easy to ride. They’re like the Harley Davidson’s of India. If you’re riding a Royal Enfield Bullet in India, you’re like a god. People will just stand around and stare. It’s incredible.

When I came back to Australia I thought, maybe there’s a market for selling these bikes in my hometown. I started looking into setting up a dealership. There were a lot of expenses involved so I researched how to get a business loan. I was on Google one day and the Shark Tank ad popped up. I thought–I think I might have had a couple of beers at the time–I’ll just fill out the application and see what happens. Sure enough, a week later, I got a call from the Shark Tank producers, saying, We love your idea, and we’d love to have you on the show.

The day the show filmed, I was nervous as hell but I had it in my head, just get out there and have some fun. I was loaded up with my leather

Nevermind has to be one of the more curious and memorable names for a motorcycle adventure tour company. How’d you come by that name?

Matt: After I left my job, I started out selling some old guitars, surfboards and toys on eBay. I had this leather satchel, a sort of Indiana Jones looking leather bag, that I had made in India. I figured I didn’t need it anymore since I wasn’t working so I put it on eBay. Straight away, a guy contacted me, asking me if I could get more of the leather bags. I had a business card from Dinesh, the owner of the shop in Rajasthan, InLOCAL NEWS | www.LocalUmbrellaMedia.com

gear and rode a Royal Enfield onto the set. It was so cool. They asked some tough questions, but for the most part, it was a really positive experience. I did get a deal for the $200,000 I was looking for but never went through with it. That money comes with a lot of strings attached and you lose control. I still wanted to call the shots.

It was an incredible experience though and a great networking opportunity. I still get emails and messages from people who see the video on YouTube.

Do you still have the dealership?

During Covid I went through a really tough patch and I let go of the motorcycle dealership.

That turned out great though because it allowed me to focus on what I’m really passionate about–running incredible motorcycle tours.

Bill, you’re a lead tour guide for Nevermind. How did you and Matt first connect?

And, is this a full-time job because that’s one heck of a job.

Bill: I first met Matt at a motorcycle show in Australia in 2017. Both my wife and I rode and I had done tours for other companies as well as custom tours of my own. I’d also been training riders of all levels, including those wanting to become instructors themselves. Matt and I struck up a conversation and starting riding together. The synergy was there in terms of our approach to bikes and life.

For me, riding has been about more than achieving a high level of skill on a bike—it’s also a portal for self-discovery and building human potential. I offer transformational coaching and healing through my cutting-edge wellness center called Sedona Photon Light in Sedona, Arizona.

I like to share my knowledge in strength and movement, mindfulness and wellness if needed. For instance, I might bring in some simple movement exercises to help anyone shake off stiffness, for instance. Or we’d do cold water plunges where possible.

Matt, there are many motorcycle companies doing tours. What’s unique about Nevermind tours?

For a start, we’ve kept our team deliberately small. There’s myself, Bill and “The Bob” leading tours. If you could see my headquarters here, I have old school maps with pins everywhere. It’s very raw and organic. We don’t look at what other operators are doing and there’s no corporate board we need to answer to. I call our approach to marketing, anti-marketing. We’re not perfect.

We’re a bit rough around the edges, but we run a damn great motorcycle tour and that really resonates with a certain type of person who’s looking for something more spontaneous and fun.

We offer an authentic and genuine experience.

It’s the real deal. We get down in the dirt. We really want people to experience a place, to have it get under their skin, and to connect with the local people. We stay in incredible places—we

don’t skimp on that. But you know, you’re on a motorcycle and that’s the beauty of it. You’re right in the environment, part of everything.

You’re creating the adventure story. And that’s what we want to maintain. We’ve got the checks and balances in place to keep things safe so you don’t have to worry about logistics. We’ve got highly trained tour leaders. We have a system for everything with every contingency for every sce/LocalUmbrellaMedia

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A Publication of Local Umbrella Media VOLUME 9 | WINTER 2023 | nario worked out. Months ahead of a tour, I run every detail through in my mind—exactly where we’re going, which roads, what could go wrong, and how to ensure things run smoothly.

Bill, you’ve led tours with bigger touring companies. What’s your take on what makes Nevermind tours different?

I like the fact that Matt runs his tours a bit looser compared to the more corporate, structured tour companies I’d been riding for. One of the big differences that I enjoy, is that because it’s such a passion for Matt and I, we become part of the experience with riders. Even though our riders look to us for leadership and to keep them safe, we embrace the experience with them. We’re all just a group of mates out there on our motorcycles. My experience with other outfits was more of a us-and-them separation and that set up a different energy. Not good or bad, just not what I or Matt prefer. It’s not a job for us. It really is a passion. You get to be with people from other cultures for two to four weeks, all while sharing a passion for motorcycling. It’s a great time. You learn a lot and it’s a lot of fun.

Talking with both of you reminds me how motorcycling can be so freeing—the perfect escape from being stuck behind a screen.

Bill: The rider’s perspective is unlike any other. You’re in the scene, feeling and smelling every part of it. You become part of it—the landscape, the culture, everything. You’re not just looking at it. We say to people, you’re gonna get lost, and you’re probably gonna fall off your bike at some point. Just ride at our own pace so you feel comfortable. If you think you’ve taken a wrong turn, stop and we’ll find you and then come together and laugh it off. We know these places like the back of their hands. You never have to worry that it’s not safe. We know what we’re doing.

What kind of riders do your tours attract?

Matt: We make motorcycling, particularly adventure motorcycling, accessible to anyone.

Sometimes riding can be a bit of an exclusive thing, We’re not that–we’re all about the fun of it. If you say you’ve never rode a motorcycle and you want to do it, we’ll make it happen and you will have the most amazing time of your life.

About half of our customers don’t even own a motorcycle. We also want the travel thing to be accessible. A lot of people aren’t comfortable going to the places we go on their own. We offer people that level of comfort to take the plunge.

We just got back from Sri Lanka, which is my new favorite place. We had a bigger group there, very diverse with a range of ages from 20’s to 70’s. Typically in the past, it’s been people aged 40 to 70. Probably more men but we encourage women. It takes courage to do something like this–to step into another country like Sri Lanka and on a motorcycle. Just by doing this, you really set yourself apart.

What do people say about your tours?

Matt: I’ve probably taken thousands of people LOCAL NEWS | www.LocalUmbrellaMedia.com

on motorcycle tours over the years, and overwhelmingly, the feedback is incredible. One guy sat me down and told me, “You are miles ahead of what anyone else is doing.” I think we’re really good at giving people that sense of achievement where they’re not just a part of the experience, they’re creating it. For us, it’s really about the customer and making them feel empowered.

Anything people should do to prepare for a Nevermind tour? How should we frame our expectations?

Matt: The people who have the best time are the ones who come with no expectations. They say, You know what? I’m just gonna do this. Let these guys handle all the logistics. All I have to do is ride and have a good time. If you come in with ideas–it should be like this or that–like anything in life, you’re probably gonna get disappointed at some point. As for preparing for a trip, you want to have a bit of fitness to enhance your experience overall. You don’t have to be an athlete. Just get in some walking. As long as you’re comfortable in the saddle, for an hour at a time, you’ll be fine.

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tours open your world to a whole other group of people that you’d likely not meet otherwise.

They give you something to look forward to, too. It gets you out of bed. You’re excited about life again.

Bill: The oldest people I recall being on tour with were a couple in their late 70’s, early 80’s.

What I’ve noticed about aging and motorcycles is that the riders just have a different attitude toward life. They still have this passion for life.

They smile a lot more. They’re a lot more peaceful. Riding gives them a reason to stay in shape as they age, a reason to keep going. They want to stay on the bike as long as they can. One old guy told me that riding was his saving grace and that the day he’s not riding is the day he won’t be around much longer.

Any new tours you’re planning?

Next year we’ve got Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Patagonia, which we’re taking bookings for now. A trip around Ireland in May 2024 is fully booked. Beyond that we’re looking at opening up another Himalayan ride and New Zealand. Potentially some Eastern Europe trips–Romania, Bulgaria, Poland.

Are Nevermind tours open to all levels of riding experience?

Matt: Absolutely. It’s suitable for all riding abilities. If you’re new to riding, you can select an easier tour like Sri Lanka where the roads are incredible and not busy. On the last couple trips we had riders who had just got their licenses along with people who had been riding for 40 years. Everyone had a great time. The experienced riders mentored the new riders. If you need a break because your bum is getting sore, we have a support vehicle. You can jump in the van and have a rest. By the time you finish a trip like this, you’re a better rider. You’re a better person in general and you’ve got a bunch of new friends.

Compare two things for me: aging versus aging with a motorcycle.

Matt: On one of my Rajasthan, India, tours, probably almost 10 years ago, there was a guy from Perth, Australia, in his mid-sixties. We’re riding along through the desert. There’s a big sand dune up ahead with a narrow goat track through it. We look at each other, look at the dune, nod and take off through the sand, falling off, getting on, and having a blast. I could hear him laughing. And he goes, “Maddy, I feel like I’m 20 again. This is brilliant.” The other thing I see on our trips is that social networks are really important. A lot of people, especially guys, lose track of their mates when they get older. These /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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Favorite motorcycle books to get people inspired?

Bill: Jupiter’s Travels and the sequel, Jupiter Revisited by Ted Simon. It’s a fascinating pair of books separated by about 30 years that inspired an entire culture around the world. Another one I’ll throw in is Ghost Rider by Neil Peart, the drummer from Rush. That one holds a special place for me because of our similar stories. Peart actually passed away the week before my wife died. He took off on his journey when he lost his daughter, his wife, and his dog in the same year. It’s a remarkable healing journey on a motorcycle.

Matt: Embrace the Chaos by Bob Miglani, and I know it’s cliche, but Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig. Just an incredibly thought provoking, inspirational book.

Three words that come to mind when you think about motorcycling?

Matt: Fun is the most important word in the English language. Excitement and beauty.

Bill: Joy, peace and purpose.

To Learn more about upcoming tours, email Matt@nevermindadventuretours.com. au, visit www.nevermindadventuretours.com. au or find them on Facebook (Nevermind Adventure Tours).

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Thank Thank Y 6 16

| VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 1 | VOLUME 9 WINTER 2023 A Publication of Local Umbrella Media

The entire team TimeWise Wise J ntire team atatTime to thank our community fo thank our community fo support us at our 40th An upport us at our 40th An

If Glittering you missedGratitude the sale, know th for ou missed the sale, know th serviceCommunity and low prices everyday Spirit

ce and low prices everyday store would close. “It was difficult from day one,” admitted Stephanie. “Even though there was no going-out-of-business ads, it took me all of 2019 to convince the community that we’re still open and it’s just a change of ownership.

And then the pandemic hit.”

By LinDee Rochelle

During the Holiday Season, all that glitters may not be gold ... it might be ruby, sapphire, silver, a glittering watch face, or a simple, gilt-edged thank-you. These are a few of our favorite things ...

Is jewelry on your gift list? If not, give it a thought.

Buying jewelry is always personal, whether it’s for yourself or someone else. It represents milestones, special occasions, and tongue-tied feelings. It helps you make or preserve a memory, share a special moment, and often incites excitement.

Although you might consider buying online for convenience, the best deals and value for your dollars is likely right in your local community. Whatever the reason or the season, knowing your local jeweler makes the buying more fun and secure, and supporting local shops keeps your community thriving.

Stephanie Langlois, owner of Time Wise Jewelry in Clairemont, feels she owes this Holiday Season to her local customers, and feels the immense gratitude of the season.

Community Spirit More than a Word

“We were able to stay open and still be here, because of the community,” Stephanie emphasized. “Locals would come in and shop during the pandemic, saying ‘You are a staple in this community, we want you here, we want you to stay, and that’s why we’re here today.’ We are so fortunate to have such great customers. We would not have survived LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com LOCAL NEWS | www.LocalUmbrellaMedia.com

the past two years without their support.”

That doesn’t mean it was easy. Stephanie purchased the thirty-eight-year established, Time Wise Jewelers in late 2018, with her first day as new owner, on January 1, 2019. She wasn’t really new to the family-owned business, as she’d been groomed by the retiring owners for more than eight years.

However, hot off their 2018 Holiday “retirement sales,” many local customers assumed the

Sincerely, Stephanie and all at Time Wis

/LocalUmbrellaMedia /LocalUmbrellaMedia

Sincerely,

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sale, know that we have the best ces everyday so come and see us!

VOLUME 7 | ISSUE A Publication of Local Umbrella Media VOLUME 9 | WINTER 20231 ||

in for a bright surprise.

A Little Sparkle Here, A Little you’re “The best deals are in our estate case,” said Stephanie.

“There’s a wide selection, with really cool, unique and There ... quality pieces from all over the world. I make sure each Stephanie made good use of their pandemic down-time, though, to give the store a glittering makeover. “I did a lot.

The store was a little dated (it had been there for many years under the same family ownership) so I completely repainted the inside. The store location was once a fake flower shop, so everything in the back was painted green.”

She installed a chandelier in the center which makes a great store centerpiece to reflect the brilliance of the diamonds and gemstones. Stephanie continued, “There was a lot of clutter and extra inventory.” Cleaning out the clutter gave her extra room. “I made a little seating area with a little table, installed pretty, mirrored wall décor, and eliminated the central sales area electric pole to open the space even more.” Time well spent.

Through her vendor connections, she learned that more than sixty family-owned and small community jewelry stores in California closed, in just the first year of the pandemic. This was her dream, and she wasn’t going to give up easily.

piece is restored to ‘new’ condition—they’re polished, deep cleaned, and stones replaced, or the piece expertly repaired.”

That isn’t even the best part ... “I literally figure out what it is worth at full retail, then sell it for half. It’s like buying a brand-new piece for half the price.” And there’s just some-

Wrapping Up the Season

“I’m grateful to be here,” says Stephanie. “I’m so thankful for my customers, and because of them, I get to keep doing what I love, my passion, that I’ve been doing for the past sixteen years. There is no doubt, we wouldn’t be here if we didn’t have such loyal customers.”

But Stephanie and Time Wise likely wouldn’t have such loyal customers without her artful dedication to designing one-of-a-kind pieces and serving her community with pride.

While jewelry is the obvious focus in the store, you can also stop in to say hello. “Recently,” said Stephanie, “a customer came in and brought me flowers, ‘just because’.”

At-A-Glance Time Wise Jewelers Stephanie Langlois https://www.timewisejewelers.com/about/

thing seasonally nostalgic about vintage jewelry.

From a simple watch battery to custom designing a personal and unique item, the mission of Time Wise as your local, go-to jewelry store, is to give each customer extraordinary service and an unbeatable experience.

Besides the standard affordable sale cases of jewelry, Stephanie is thanking the Clairemont community with a Holiday special of 25-50% off all items, store wide. “The

Sincerely, ie and all at Time Wise Jewelers

858-560-5503 5643 Balboa Ave, San Diego, CA 92111 (Von’s shopping center) TimeWiseSanDiego@gmail.com Hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 10 am – 6 pm

5643 Balboa Ave., San Diego, CA 921 (858) 560-5503 timewise@pacbell.net

Thank You

The entire team at Time Wise Jewelers wo to thank our community for coming o support us at our 40th Anniversary s

If you missed the sale, know that we have t service and low prices everyday so come and

Holiday Cheer with a Twinkle

Sincerely, Stephanie and all at Time Wise Jewelers

Stephanie’s looking forward to greeting first-time shoppers and thanking her loyal customers, during a Holiday Season filled with glittering good cheer.

“We have a new case of jewelry that features $500 and under pieces,” to make glittery gifting even more affordable. “There’s a nice mix of pendants, rings and earrings, for great stocking stuffers.”

But if you’re looking for the best bang for your buck, take a gander at their top selling estate jewelry. If you’re thinking it’s just a tray of grandma’s tarnished old rings, LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com LOCAL NEWS | www.LocalUmbrellaMedia.com

store is fully stocked and we’re ready for the holidays. Get acquainted with us by getting a free jewelry cleaning and inspection while you shop!”

‘Tis the Season to make a trip to Time Wise Jewelers.

See what’s new, what’s old, what’s on sale, and what Stephanie can do for you in a beautiful custom gift.

For the Pure Pleasure of It

Stephanie thrived in jewelry sales as a seventeen-year-old starting out in the business and learned the ropes on her way up to an assistant manager.

Okay, got that part down. Then she found herself in a small watch and jewelry repair shop. “That’s where I learned more of both—jewelry and watches—and the back end of the business in repairs and maintenance,” said Stephanie.

It was when she stepped into a position at Time Wise Jewelers that she excelled. She worked her way up for eight-plus years, “... learning ever more about both jewelry and watches, and much more on the repair end,” Stephanie recalled. Now, with a well-rounded and comprehensive background, she still does “... a lot of clock and watch repair, and small jewelry repairs.”

It’s the jewelry designing, however, that she truly loves. “I like working with the customers, figuring out what they want. Designs and tastes are so different.”

She enjoys the mystery of conception-to-completion and helps the customer create one-of-a-kind pieces to express their personality, or their sentiment for another.

As she described a particularly interesting and unique request, I was struck by the customer’s depth of feeling.

“I made a ring for this gentleman,” Stephanie began, “to give to his wife for their 20th anniversary. It had a lot of meaning—from the design to how many stones used—everything was very symbolic of something. It was very personal; he didn’t let me in on all the details. It was all so mysterious. That ring was like two years in the making. He bought stones as he went, because it did have quite a few diamonds in it. I kind of went on this journey with him, finding stones, putting them together, designing the style. To this day his wife still comes in for its deep cleaning, and tells us how much she loves it, and gets compliments on it all the time.”

Sometimes though, you simply must have a piece of jewelry that makes your own statement. “Another woman we did a ring for a couple months ago,” said Stephanie, “brought in a bunch of her grandmother’s jewelry and we took certain stones out of it and came up with a really cool, asymmetrical design to make it her own style.” A great compromise expressing her personality, while still honoring the sentiment of her grandmother.

Of course, for several decades now, Jewelry hasn’t been coveted just by women. There is a fair share of guys who have come to enjoy its many facets for themselves, from a little sparkle to big bling. And nothing feels better than real gold.

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5643 Balboa Ave., S (858) 560-5503 timewise@pacbell.n /LocalUmbrellaMedia /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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When we ask our members why they give, the answers are pretty simple.

“I believe in your mission.”

“I personally need what you’re offering.”

“Oasis literally saved my life during a difficult time.”

“I love knowing my donations are helping people in my own community.”

“I have come to know amazing people who share my interests and love of learning.”

“Seniors are primary targets of scams - Oasis teaches technology to keep me safe and confident.”

The reasons for giving come from core convictions.

The benefits come when we take those convictions to heart and act on them.

During this season of giving, we encourage you to consider your core convictions and put your heart into your year-end giving.

• • •

Do you have aging parents who could benefit from involvement in mental, physical and social activities?

Do you know friends or neighbors who struggle with social isolation?

Do you need a place to stimulate your mind, strengthen your body, and enjoy time with people who share your interests?

If these convictions resonate, we encourage you to act: • Become an Oasis member (it’s free!)

• Tell family and friends about our programs • Make a tax deductible gift; it’s an investment in you!

• Give a gift of healthy longevity to the most important seniors in your life - gift certificates are available for the Holidays!

San Diego Oasis We are changing the way people think about aging.

Learn | Donate | Join Scan the QR code Visit our website: SanDiegoOasis.org Call: (619) 881-6262 (La Mesa) or (858) 240-2880 (Rancho Bernardo)

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Is It Really 2024 Already?

By Bob Morey

I

t seems like just a couple of months ago I was writing about ringing in 2023, and it’s just sinking in how fast this year has passed by. As I reflect over the last year on all the great shows I saw, I feel humbled by the staggering amount of talent up on our stages and the performers who came through here. It is often forgotten that San Diego has become a worldclass city when it comes to the performing arts. Our city can boast about having world-class Symphony, Theatre, and Ballet Companies. We grow a great amount of talent here in our fair town, but we have also become a destination for performers from not just across our country, but from around the world.

Yes, we are truly blessed and have much to be proud of. And rightly so, but it’s the dedication and growth over the decades of our performing arts companies and their supporters that we should be grateful and thankful too.

While it’s still the Christmas season for the next couple of weeks, before we break out the campaign and start ringing in 2024, let me quickly recap what we can still see to close out a very strong and entertaining 2023 season.

The Old Globe has a pair of family fun shows, Running through December 30th is Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and through the 24th is Ebenezer Scrooge’s BIG San Diego Christmas Show!

Down the hill in Old Town, The Cygnet has A Christmas Carol, you can bring the family and sing along with them through December 30th as well.

Across the bay, The Lamb’s Players are singing through the holidays with Respectfully Christmas, another family-friendly show that ends on December 24th.

screening of Disney’s timeless holiday classic with GRAMMY®-winning composer Danny Elfman’s musical score performed live to the film. The film is rated “PG” and parents should gauge if it is appropriate for their younger children.

Now that you’re all caught up until the Big Ball Drop, here is a look at what we’ll ring into.

The North Coast Rep is wasting no time and kicks off the new year on January 10th with Intimate Apparel, Written By Two-time Pulitzer Prizewinning dramatist Lynn Nottage and Directed by Jasmine Bracey. This is a powerful tale with an array of characters whose intertwining relationships are told with humor, heartbreak, and resiliency. In this deeply affecting story, we are taken into the world of a lonely, talented Black seamstress, living in a Manhattan boardinghouse in 1905 but dreaming of a more fulfilling life. Intimate Apparel runs through February 4.

Broadway SD brings us the Tony Award-winning musical The Wiz, adapted from The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. The highly anticipated Broadway revival of The Wiz returns “home” to stages across America in an all-new Pre-Broadway tour, the first one in 40 years. This groundbreaking twist on The Wizard of Oz changed the face of Broadway—from its iconic score packed with soul, gospel, rock, and finger-snapping 70s funk to its stirring tale of Dorothy’s journey to find her place in a contemporary world. Enjoy the epic grooves of such beloved, timeless hits as “Ease on Down the Road,” which became the show’s break-out single, and the bona fide classic “Home” in this spectacular revival. You can get on down the road to the Civic Center from January 9th through the 14th.

The North Coast Rep is pounding out a lot of fun with 2 Pianos 4 Hands, which is back by popular demand! Jefferson McDonald and Matthew McGloin, take us on a musical comedic journey about their would-be careers as concert pianists.

The talented duo trade stories about piano lessons, pushy parents, and eccentric teachers while playing everything from Bach to Billy Joel. The ivories get tickled from December 15th through the 31st.

The San Diego Symphony moves back indoors to the Jacobs Music Center On January 13th and 14th as Canadian pianist Jan Lisiecki, whose style is lauded as “pristine, lyrical and intelligent” performs Mozart’s sublime Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor. Rising star conductor Tianyi Lu takes the podium for this program, which opens with Anna Clyne’s propulsive This Midnight Hour, inspired by the poetry of Juan Ramón Jiménez and Charles Baudelaire. Written when the composer was just 22 years of age, Aus Italien brings this mid-winter program to a close with Richard Strauss’ vivid depiction of the culture, landscape, and sunshine of Italy. On the 26th and 27th, Music Director Rafael Payare takes the podium to lead two timeless masterworks by Mozart and Bruckner, composed more than one century apart.

Mozart’s Symphony No. 29, a charming piece written during his time in Vienna, has delighted audiences since its premiere. The second half of the program features Bruckner’s transcendent Symphony No. 7, considered by many to be among the composer’s preeminent masterworks.

The San Diego Symphony is back at The Shell with a pair of shows, one traditional, and one different. First up is the family-friendly Noel Noel, from December 15th through the 17th. Next up on December 23rd is Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas In Concert, featuring a

As you can see, January is a fairly quiet month after a very busy December. But don’t fret, by the time we get to February, the stages around town will be packed and running at full throttle. From all of us here at Local Umbrella Media A very happy holidays and new year to you all.

The singing continues at The San Diego Musical Theatre with another family-friendly show with Forever Plaid - Plaid Tidings, the tidings ends on December 24th as well.

The tradition continues at The City Ballet of San Diego as they bring San Diego’s favorite seasonal classic ballet The Nutcracker back to The Center for the Performing Arts for 4 performances from December 21st through the 23rd.

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| VOLUME 9 WINTER 2023 A Publication of Local Umbrella Media

Pacific Records Fest / 20 Years of Great Music!

DECEMBER 2023

BY BART MENDOZA © MUSICSCENESD // MUSICSCENESD.COM

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On January 7 Point Loma-based label, Pacific Records, celebrates its 20th Anniversary with a special live showcase at the Music Box. The multimedia event will feature a mix of videos, guest emcees and live performances from Shane Hall, Skyler Lutes, Manual Scan, The Moonjacks, Kela Sako, Sandollar, Seawall Prophet, Slack Key Ohana, The Spice Pistols, Jonny Tarr, Sean Witkin, izzy delan and The Tourmaliners. Notably the concert has an early run time of 4 – 9 p.m. and is an all-ages event.

How does label founder and CEO Brian Witkin feel about the label making it 20 years? “It’s been a journey for sure,” he said good naturedly. “I feel lucky I’ve been able to do what I love for so long and I’ve learned lots of lessons over the last twenty years. I’m proud of where we are as a company, but we still have a long way to go!”

Pacific Records has scored numerous successes, ranging from providing the entertainment at the Stella Artois Lounge in Pechanga Arena to scoring #1 Spotify albums for Lindsay Perry, Shane Hall, and Slack Key Ohana, in addition to San Diego Music Awards for the latter, as well as Jonny Tarr and The Tourmaliners. A single released

by Rebecca Jade with Jason Mraz, “Bad Wolves,” won the 2021 SDMA for “Song of the Year.” “Anytime one of our artists receives an award it feels great because it validates what we are doing as a brand. It helps with credibility as well,” Witkin said.

The label has also been able to place its music on television and in films.

“We’ve had a lot of great sync placements over the years with studios like Marvel, Netflix, Fox, and other national cable networks,” Witkin remarked.

“Sandollar had an important placement on the Netflix series, Outer Banks, that helped launch them as a band and the Moonjacks were recently placed on Welcome to Flatch.” His favorite Pacific Records screen-related moment to date?

“Watching O-Town perform our single “Off” on CBS-TV’s The Late Late Show with James Corden was a standout for me too. The feeling of hearing our music on television never gets old!”

Witkin points out that Pacific Records is a group effort. “We have a team that helps in various aspects. Pretty much all of us are also musicians/creators. For example, Patricio Pickslay runs the studio side of our business, while Martin Guigui is based in LA and helps us with our A&R and special projects. Mike Dobrovic is our CFO, he’s on the East Coast. My dad, Joe Witkin, is our tech guy and has helped us set up the sound system inside the Stella Artois Lounge.

Drake Williams helps run the venue at the lounge, and also helps run the dayto-day operations. Andrew Scholnick is our publicist and Natasha Gemine is our in-house graphics designer. And a special shoutout to Chris Hobson, who is an engineer/producer I’ve worked with for well over a decade.”

Do artists signed to Pacific Records have to be from San Diego? “How we discover artists depends,” Witkin said.

“We get a lot of submissions every day.

However, we always prefer a referral from an artist we already work with.

Also, the bands we work with do not have to be from San Diego. In fact,

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many of our artists are from around the country.” Does the label have a preferred format? “Streaming revenue is at the top for us, however, vinyl is making a huge comeback and vinyl is definitely the format I prefer.”

Sandollar’s album, Under the Water, took home the 2023 San Diego Music Award for “Best World Music Album, as well as headlining this year’s Ocean Beach Street Fair. “Pacific Records is a huge supporter of the local San Diego music scene and all things San Diego,” noted the bands drummer Henry Ortiz.

“Through Brian and Pacific Records we’ve had the opportunity to perform at several quintessential San Diego events like The Farmers Open at Torrey Pines, the Del Mar Racetrack, the VIP lounge at Pechanga Arena, and The Caddyhack Celebrity Golf Tournament where [former Padres pitcher] Trevor Hoffman poured us all a beer and the legendary surfer, Rob Machado, cheered us on. Awesome.”

Bassist Sppike Mike Muellenberg of the Spice Pistols concurs. “Pacific Records has the ability to help artists reach a wider range of listeners. That’s really the name of the game as an artist. And

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with Pacific’s success in helping artists find placement in films and movies it opens the door for more possibilities.”

Meanwhile, for guitarist Deven Berryhill of The Tourmaliners, past experience counted. “We wanted to be a part of a broader musical team here in San Diego,” he said. “Certain members of our band had already worked on other projects released on Pacific Records and had a good experience. We also liked that many of the artists on Pacific were more beach or ocean-oriented sounds. We thought that our take on instrumental surf music would fit well in their catalog.” Their album, Surfidia, took home the 2023 San Diego Music Award for “Best Rock Album.”

Witkin and company are already looking forward to the next twenty years of making music, with 2024 jam packed with new releases. “We’re going to have a busy year! We have multiple albums, singles and videos lined up already from a lot of our artists including The Moonjacks, Seth Loveless, Sandollar, Slack Key ‘Ohana, The Tourmaliners, Kela Sako, Shane Hall, and izzy delan, to start.”

For his part Witkin is happy with the label’s positive impact on the community at large and the artists in particular.

“Well, I’m proud of what we release as a label,” he said. “Being a musician, I always put the music first. I suppose it’s a feat to still be in existence for so long.

The business has changed so much since we started, and we’ve had to do a lot of adapting over the years.”

What are his hopes for Pacific Records? “Well, to keep creating and releasing music while growing as a company,” he said. “I can’t think of a more fun way to have spent the past two decades.” https://pacificrecords.com

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Eric Sage / Tennis Like A Rockstar San Diego based singer and guitarist Eric Sage has established himself as a topflight musician over the last several decades. It’s been a truly amazing career that’s seen him release a string of acclaimed solo albums of his original music, tour nationwide as a member of Ian Mitchell’s Bay City Rollers and establish several popular tribute shows; Young Guns (country rock) and Eric Sage’s Ultimate Rock Show (classic rock), as well as fronting performances in Bon Jovi and Keith Urban tributes. He’s even done a bit of acting. The early voice of Young Sprout of Green Giant commercial fame?

Eric Sage. His most visible role to date?

Likely as the music store salesman who famously stops Mike Myers from playing “Stairway to Heaven” in iconic film, Waynes World (1992). It’s been amazing career. And it all began with tennis.

Sage started as a young tennis pro in Toronto, Canada and is now going full circle with his new television program and YouTube series, Tennis Like A Rockstar.

“My music journey is unique,” Sage said good naturedly. “I started playing tennis at the age of five and became a highly ranked junior. After playing tennis at San Diego State University, I then turned pro and traveled the globe where I achieved a world ranking as a touring tennis professional.” A severe car accident at the age of 23 caused a change of plans. “After 2 years of grueling physical therapy, I was not able to get back to pro level,” Sage said.

“This ended 18 years of work and my career as a professional tennis player.” He soon decided to head to Los Angeles and uses his skills to teach tennis.

“While in LA I landed roles in hit films like Wayne’s World and did a lot of commercials. I also went on to become the “Tennis Teacher To The Stars”. I coached many celebrities including George Clooney, and Alec Baldwin, as well as famous rock stars, NFL owners, world-ranked juniors, and adults. I also taught physically and mentally disabled children and kids of all ages. However, I always had a dream to be a professional singer, pianist, and composer.” When the experts in their respective fields told him it was too late for him to succeed

in music, he decided “This is my life, and no one can tell me what I’m able to accomplish until I am done trying.”

Ultimately, I spent the next twelve years teaching tennis eight hours a day while studying music five hours deep into every night. After reaching a professional level as a musician, I have been blessed to be performing ever since.”

What’s the philosophy behind Tennis Like A Rockstar? “It’s the title of my TV show and YouTube series, as well as the name of my new book, but it’s also a concept,” Sage commented. “After the car accident that ended my tennis career, it was a transformational time. While teaching, I developed the 1 Through 10 Tennis System to help my students of all levels. I then wrote a book called, Tennis Like A Rockstar. It’s not only for tennis players but is also a self-help book about going after one’s individual dreams. So, even though I was a tennis pro, now I am a professional singer and musician. I believe humans can achieve great things and master more than just one thing in a lifetime. In my case, sports and the arts. The hope is that the show and the book will inspire and motivate the viewer or reader to reach their own goals. I believe that through discipline and intelligent practice, anyone can achieve their aspirations. If I can help inspire people to their dreams, then the

philosophy of Tennis Like A Rockstar is a success.

How much crossover does Sage feel there is between sports and music? “I really believe there is a lot, beginning with the dedication it takes to become a professional at either,” Sage said. “It all starts with discipline, and without that neither is possible. Another area that there are connections, is with the physical aspect of both. We all know that an athlete is very entrenched with the body. However, for me to break through as a singer it was a brilliant opera teacher who was the only instructor that said, “For you to be great, you are going to need to rework and rediscover your entire body alignment.” The reason I was able to develop a three-octave range was that he had me study the Alexander Technique (an intense body alignment discipline), 90-minute sessions of hot yoga (I studied Bikram Yoga), as well as developing a powerful diaphragm

through massive running, training, and breathing drills.” Sage notes one benefit of going from sports to music. “People often ask me if I get nervous before big shows or auditions. To be able to avoid this roadblock I can draw from my years of pro tennis. All the years of training to be calm and to stay in the moment paid off. Once you have played big matches in front of large crowds in a pair of shorts, everything else feels easy!” Both sports and music involve pressure, “but that’s when we feel most alive and connected to our dreams! It would be hard to say which is my favorite, but music touches the soul in a unique way.”

What does Sage enjoy most about Tennis Like A Rockstar? “I get to do two of my favorite passions: tennis and music.

I love teaching and interviewing great athletes and artists. When people tell me that they watched my show and learned a lot about technique, or shot selection, or mental toughness, that is great.” He considers another aspect of the program.

“However, when someone says, “You helped me see what it takes to fight through adversity and reach my dreams,” it is the most rewarding part of the show.”

Look for new episodes of Tennis Like A Rock Star soon. “I truly appreciate everyone that takes the time to watch the series, and all of the very kind comments from the viewers,” Sage said. “I feel very blessed for their support!” https://ericsage.com

Riston Diggs / People of the World Multiple Best Hip Hop / Rap artist SDMA winner (and actor) Riston Diggs releases his latest EP, People of the World, this month. “It’s been a long time coming!” said Diggs. “The album was written by myself and completely produced / engineered by Sly Beats. Meanwhile Oladipo Efunkoya Jr. gets the credit again for executive producing and the cover art for the project was painted by my very talented friend, Brian Meyer.”

What sets this EP apart from his previous releases? “Overall, People of the World makes me feel at peace when I listen to it,” Diggs said.

“Every instrumental that Sly Beats created makes me feel like I’m in a dream of me listening to an album that I didn’t create, but completely applies to my life. Every lyric makes me reflect on my battles with

money, time, and the world we all live in. Unfortunately, some of the same battles we all face daily. I would have to say this album is my attempt at making my reality sound beautiful. It’s also a very short project, five songs in under 10 minutes.”

Diggs has left the choice of the

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EP’s first single to a friend. “DJ Roob from KKSM’s Not So Serious radio show has picked his favorite song from the project, “Soldier” after listening to People of the World a few times,” he said. “He is going to be spinning it on his radio platform, which I am very grateful for. @LocalUmbrellaMedia

Based on his experience & level of expertise I think I’m going to agree to the single being “Soldier” as well, so thanks to DJ Roob for the assist there.”

He notes it’s been a busy 2024.

“The end of this year has been pretty jam packed for me as far as releases,” he said. “I had an album release in September, titled Phantom’s Back produced by Banyon Bachman and Nigel Dean. Then on November 17, my band, The Gravities released a live album in collaboration with The Music Company for their Beachbreak Sessions series recorded at their beautiful studio located in Pacific Beach. There’s a lot of content for my supporters to listen to!” https://music.apple.com/us/album/people-of-the-world-ep/1713269404

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Top 5 Concerts

ry, with its core members in place since 1973. A national treasure, seeing this band live should be on every music fans bucket list.

December 24 – Exile on Kettner / The Casbah, Little Italy One of San Diego’s finest holiday traditions, Exile on Kettner, returns on Christmas Eve. What started as a get together for musicians and friends with nowhere to go on the night, has now become a beloved local institution. As always, the night features a host of the city’s finest musicians playing the music of the Rolling Stones. Best of all it’s free.

December 29 & 30 - Thee Sacred Souls / The Sound, Del Mar The biggest success story from San Diego in recent years, Thee Sacred Souls, plays a two-night stand at The Sound in support of their two 7” 45’s released this year, “Future Lover” and “Runaway.”

December 19 & 20 – A Very Sinatra Christmas Special / The Coaster Terrace, Belmont Park A night under the stars with music from iconic singer Frank Sinatra’s music catalog. His biggest hits such as “Fly Me To The Moon” and “New York, New York,” will be joining holiday favorites such as “White Christmas” and “Let It Snow.”

December 20 – A Berkley Hart Christmas / The Music Box, San Diego Top singer songwriters Jeff Berkley and Calman Hart join forces for a holiday musical extravaganza, with special guests Eve Selis, Tim Flannery, Shawn Rohlf, Julia Sage and Lindsay White.

December 23 – Los Lobos / The Belly Up Tavern, Encinitas The iconic band celebrates its 50th Anniversa-

New San Diego Music Releases

New and Upcoming Singles:

Far From Ya Average - “Woosah,” The Goodies – “The Maze,” “Around The World”, “Runnin” (December 1),

John January – “Tanglewood Road”

Bully & J-2 of FantomOpra), Sandi

(tbd), K-Rock Tha Fantom- “Chas-

King – “Frozen Heart,” Manganis-

ing That Moment” (featuring Chi

ta – “Human Being,” MohaviSoul

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– “The Way” (Fastball cover), Reggae Hit Masters – Blueberry Fago (produced by Sol Turpin), Smoke + Mirrors Soundsystem featuring Christopher Gordon Dowd and Zoe Devlin Love – “Band of Gold” b/w “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” (7” vinyl), Stone Horse – “Cherry Devout,” “Children of Freedom,” “A Place In The Sun,” Thea the Band – “May Your Burdens Be Mine” (co-write with Ben Allen), Thee Allyrgic Reaction – “Small Steps” (7” vinyl), Thee Sacred Souls - “Future Lover” & “Runaway” (both 7” vinyl) New and Upcoming Albums & EP’s: The Brothers Burns – Nearly Extinct: The Tales of the Emcee, Creepxotica – The Legend of Chico Baker (on 180g volcanic lava vinyl), Riston Diggs – Phantoms Back, Riston Diggs – People of the World, Dusty and The LoveNotes – Quarter Horse, The Goodies – tbd (January 2024), grampadrew - Greatest Hits, The Gravities – The Beachbreak Sessions, The Nathan Hubbard Trio - Seeds of Rivers, Katie LaDubz – Temporary, The Plagues – s/t, The Psychlops – Here Come The…, Dave Preston - Sniffin N’ Scratchin, Marcelo Radulovich / Mike Keneally – Bask, Julia Sage – Entre Las Venas, Sometimes Julie - Seven Wishes, Jackie Starr – From the Darby Hotel, Various Artists – Our Ramona (with Doug Walker, Jon Hasz, Ashley E Norton, Thea the Band, Dusty Recor and 11 others), Various Artists - Surfin’ Kitty X-mas 4 (with The Tourmaliners) New and Upcoming Videos: Mrs. Magician – “There is No God” (video directed by John Reis, assistant director McHank), Matthew Phillips – “Till It’s Over”

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San Diego Music News and more.

The Brian Jones Rock and Roll Revival will release their next album, XXX, in March. “It will include a wide range of all-star musicians and friends, two special covers, from the legends Hound Dog Taylor and Bo Diddley, and yes, seven original Brian Jones Rock ‘n’ Roll tunes about lust, trust, disgust, love, perception, ceremony, fire, dark foggy nights, political power, psychological ghosts, Egyptian mysticism, ancient times, death and adventure, celebration, dancing, taxes, CIA, FBI, modern miseducation, propaganda, money, and so much more!” said Jones.

phine,” has been moved to December 29, at the Golden Island, Dim Sum Restaurant (10660 Camino Ruiz) in Mira Mesa, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Latin jazz favorites, The B-Side Players celebrate their 30th Anniversary with a show at the Music Box on February 2.

Submissions are open for the 2024 San Diego Music Awards - it’s free and takes just a few moments. Submissions must be released between January 1 and December 31, 2023, to be considered. Artist must be a San Diego resident to qualify. Stay tuned for details on event date and location! www.sandiegomusicawards.com The Casbah Presents has a new podcast, SoundCheck Flix. “SoundCheck Flix (SCF) is where movies meet music backstage at the World-Famous Casbah San Diego. Every week, Tim Pyles and Graham Stevens sit down with the musicians we love to discuss the movies we love.” Almost two dozen episodes are available online now, including #1 Lety Beers (Schizophonics) / Rock ‘n’ Roll High School and #20 Ake Arndt (Operation Mindblow) / Apocalypse Now, with #21 being Music Scene SD Editor Bart Mendoza / That Thing You Do. Available where you get your podcasts or https://soundcheckflix.podbean.com

Marcelo Radulovich (ex-Playground Slap) has released a second, ten track album in collaboration with Mike Keneally (Frank Zappa, Dethklok), Bask. “Really happy with how it turned out, a bunch of catchy, funky songs, most of them featuring Bill Ray on drums,” Radulovich said.

The Nathan Hubbard Trio has a new album out, Seeds of Rivers. “(It’s) seven of my new compositions, plus a solo drum track, recorded

by Jeff Forrest, mixed by myself, mastered by Steven Langdon, with band photos by Dan Chusid and if you buy the files/CD you get a poem Adrian Arancibia wrote about the music,” said Hubbard.

Singer Sandi King has signed with Pacific Records. Her first single “Frozen Heart,” is produced by Jonny Tarr.

Pacific Records is celebrating its 20th Anniversary with a special all-ages multi-media event at the Music Box on January 7. In addition to video segments and MC’s, performers will include Shane Hall, Skyler Lutes, Manual Scan (with guest Laurie Beebe Lewis), The Moonjacks, Kela Sako, Sandollar, Seawall Prophet, Slack Key Ohana, The Spice Pistols, Jonny Tarr, and The Tourmaliners. The show has an early run time of 4 – 9 p.m.

In the tradition of the late great Homegrown album series, a new various artists album, Our Ramona: Written by the Folks Who Live There, celebrates hometown musicians celebrating their hometown. In this case sixteen Ramona based musicians contribute to the album, including Cathryn Beeks, Doug Walker, Ashley E Norton, Thea the Band, John Hasz, Dusty Recor LOCAL NEWS | www.LocalUmbrellaMedia.com

Schizophonics fans won’t want to miss a two night stand this month at The Casbah. On December 29, The Schizophonics Soul Revue will perform with Creepxotica, while on the 30th they’ll play as the Schizophonics with The Creepy Creeps. “The Friday we play with our alter egos, then go full rock fury on Saturday,” said drummer Lety Beers.

Surf fans won’t want to miss an appearance by iconic 1960’s era combo, The Surfaris at Humphrey’s Backstage Live on February 13.

Best known for classic tunes such as “Wipeout,” “Surfer Joe” and “Point Panic,” the band still features original guitarist Bob Berryhill alongside his son, Deven Berryhill, also of The Tourmaliners. Fittingly, Italian guitarist, Surfer Joe, will open.

Sometimes Julie have released their fifth album, Seven Wishes. The seven tracks were recorded at Pacific Beat Recording and BigRock Studios. Band members Monica Sorenson, Rick Walker, Anthony Sarain, Bruce Paul Allen and Dave Fuller are joined this time out by special guests, Andy Machin, Laura Chavez, Roger Friend, Yvonne Fuller, and Larry Grano. Also notable, this is the first time Sorenson is featured not only as lead vocalist but also as an instrumentalist, contributing keyboards.

Events surrounding the 60th anniversary of Los Angeles’s famed Whiskey A Go Go include a special performance on January 11 from 1960’s garage rock legends, the Chocolate Watchband.

For this show the band will consist of original singer Dave Aguilar, alongside Mike Stax, Anja Stax, Marc Schroeder, Chris Marsteller and Chris Cancelliere, aka The Loons!

The release party for Sue Palmer & Her Motel Swing Orchestra’s new 7” vinyl single, “Looking For A Parking Place” / “Ode to Jose/LocalUmbrellaMedia

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Switchfoot will be touring with Creed in 2024! Dates booked so far include July 17 (Green Bay, WI) through July 23 (Simpsonville, SC), with Finder Eleven opening.

The Tourmaliners are included on the new compilation album, Surfin’ Kitty X-mas 4, with their version of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” Funds raised by the album go to the Pinetree Gables Cat Sanctuary in Grand Bahamas ADVERTISE | Brad@LocalUmbrella.com

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Perfect for the Holidays!

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