Sorbet - a SoCal Senior Publication July 2020 Issue

By Becky Lomaka, MA, CT Director of Grief Support and Education

Relax with “Guaranteed Peace of Mind” Adult Dentistry

WHY is “ Guaranteed Peace of Mind” Adult Dentistry so important?

Mature adults who have complex dental problems, need a doctor like Dr. Löberg, who listens carefully first, and then uses his 16 years of experience and advanced training to dramatically improve his patients’ appearance, dental health and their ability to chew naturally.

What problems can be treated with Adult Dentistry? • Gum Disease/Bone Loss • Root Canals • Dental Implants • Broken/Missing Teeth • Smile Makeovers Crown & Bridges

PRINT IS ALIVE AND WELL

Just ask these local business owners and professionals ...

Publisher

Community

Editor

DONNA SCHUSTER

South Coast Shutter and Shades Laguna Niguel

“I was apprehensive about investing in advertising during the pandemic not knowing whether it would generate response. But Jody’s calming approach and positive attitude helped me make the decision to participate in the April 2020 issue. I was very pleased with the resulting calls, scheduled appointments and new clients! The May edition yielded similar response and by the time the June edition came out, I was incredibly busy keeping up with the calls and resulting appointments. I believe being consistent in advertising is key. Thank you Jody for your loyalty and helping my business take off again!”

ENZO SCOGNAMIGLIO

Brio Tuscany Grill Dana Point

Advertising Partner since 2012

”Brio Tuscany Grille has been advertising since 2012. We have been consistently participating in every issue and are very pleased with the experience of working with Community Publications over these many years. Jody and her team truly care about helping our business continue to succeed and often create added-value opportunities - at no additional cost - to help maximize our exposure in the publication. If you are interested in reaching South County community, I am absolutely thrilled to recommend Jody and her fabulous team!”

STEPHANIE FRISCH

Insurance 101 San Juan Capistrano

Advertising Partner since 2011

“I know that my business wouldn’t be as successful as it is today if I hadn’t started advertising with Community Publications. I have established relationships with hundreds of clients over the years, and then those clients also refer friends and family to me as well. It was one of the best business

Jody Robinson jody@southcountymag.com

Media Sales Director

Laura Campbell

Account Executives

Marlo Andersen

Nicole Martin

Kim Reed

Advertising

Contributing Photography

Diana Schmitt, Accent Portraits by

San Juan Capistrano

Advertising Partner since 2011

“Our involvement has been a true partnership over these many years in that the publication team continually strives to create added-value opportunities - at no additional cost - for our business to generate ROI - from the editorials to the monthly mixers. I would highly recommend Community Publications for any local business looking for exposure in

We make the wig look like it’s growing out of your scalp, not sitting on it!

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What to Expect at Your Next Visit to City of Hope Newport Beach

As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, what kinds of precautions is City of Hope Newport Beach taking to keep patients safe, and what can you expect when you visit?

With decades of experience in treating and protecting patients with compromised immune systems, City of Hope is among the nation’s most prepared organizations to help patients through the COVID-19 crisis – and is one of the best and safest places to receive cancer care. City of Hope Newport Beach continues to provide lifesaving treatment while taking every

measure necessary to protect patients, families, and staff.

“Patient health is our number one priority and our COVID-19 protective measures are an extension of the high-quality care we provide,” says Tingting Tan, M.D., Ph.D., a medical oncologist at City of Hope Newport Beach who specializes in thoracic cancers. “We remain focused on protecting our patients and their

loved ones while making sure they get the care they need.”

Since cancer patients are particularly vulnerable to infection, protecting them means that safety measures need to start before they arrive at the front door. With limited exceptions, visitors need to wait for patients outside the building during this crucial period. Visitors are welcome to walk with patients, or bring wheelchairs, to the door, where staff greets them and begins the check-in process.

City of Hope recognizes the importance of involving family in your visits

and treatments during this time. There are several ways visitors can participate in appointments. Patients can conference them in on a video call or a phone call while they’re in the doctor’s office, or the doctor can come outside the building before or after the appointment to speak with the patient and visitor together.

If you’re a patient, here are some other ways you’ll be protected when you come in for an appointment:

As you enter the lobby, the first thing that will happen is a temperature check. It’s quick and easy. A staff member will hold an infrared thermometer to your forehead to make sure your temperature is under 100 degrees Fahrenheit. You’ll receive a colored wristband that lets everyone that you’ve been cleared for temperature.

You won’t be surprised to learn that you will also be given a mask. Masks are one of the best ways to shield each other from respiratory droplets, so every patient receives a disposable surgical mask to wear for the duration of their appointment; you can be certain that our staff also will be wearing masks at all times. If you brought your own mask, you may continue to wear it underneath the mask we provide.

Next stop: the reception desk, for the normal check-in process. You’ll find the waiting area inviting, clean, and safely uncrowded, with signs posted asking that social distancing be maintained, and seating that has been appropriately spaced.

If you have a physician appointment, you’ll wait on the first floor for a medical assistant to take you back for your visit. If you have come for an infusion, an additional temperature check will be performed when you arrive at the second-floor infusion clinic. Everyone in the clinic wears a face mask and either a face shield or goggles, and gloves are worn by every clinician providing infusion care. In addition, every infusion bay is physically distanced.

To further ensure safety, City of Hope frequently and meticulously sanitizes all areas of the facility, including but not limited to waiting rooms, hard surfaces, and high-traffic and high-touch areas. Hand sanitizing stations are located throughout the building.

Patients can take comfort in City of Hope’s continued commitment to provide them with exceptional cancer care.

Cancer hasn’t stopped for COVID-19, and neither has City of Hope. To make an appointment with a physician at City of Hope Newport Beach, please call (949) 763-2204. For more information, please visit cityofhope.org/orange-county.

The Hidden Risks and Costs of Selling a Home in Uncertain Times

As virtually all businesses have been forced to re-think how they operate during this global pandemic, real estate stands out as an industry which has seen significant change amid the economic fall-out of the past few months.

Stay at Home orders caused many sellers to either take their homes off the market, or postpone listing their properties. Now, as restrictions are lifting, many homeowners are wondering how to “safely” approach the home selling process during the ongoing health crisis.

Senior Home Purchase Program (SHPP) offers a unique service which addresses the hidden risks and costs which homeowners face with the traditional home selling process.

Rob Perkins, SHPP co-founder, is seeing many would-be sellers who are concerned with the health and safety issues now at the forefront when listing a home for sale. “Selling a home, even in ‘normal times’ can be overwhelming, especially for seniors who have been in their homes for years. In addition to the emotional attachment involved, now they have to worry about the health risks of having strangers in and out of their home during the sales process.”

Senior Home Purchase Program, based in San Diego and now serving Orange County, operates very differently from the traditional method of home selling. SHPP has found that many homeowners don’t realize the true costs involved in the home sales process. “The ‘SOLD’ price of the house down the street does not reflect all the expenses charged to that seller in a typical sale,” Perkins points out. “These hidden costs significantly affect the net proceeds to the seller.”

Some of these costs include:

• Preparing the home for sale- decluttering, carpet cleaning, professional deep cleaning, window washing

• Real Estate agent commissions (5-6% of sales price)

• Closing costs (approx. 1.5% of sales price)

• Repair costs/credits to buyer

• Termite repairs

• HOA/City/County Transfer Fees

• Notary/Document fees

• Holding costs while home on market

In addition to these hard costs to sellers, Perkins has seen that the many unknowns inherent in the process- strangers in and out viewing the home, buyers backing out of escrow, time on the market, logistics of next purchase- all contribute to high anxiety and stress levels for many home sellers, especially seniors who often need to move quickly into senior living communities.

Rob and his sister Corinne Ross experienced all of this first- hand with grandparents who had lived in their homes for decades, could no longer live by themselves, but were overwhelmed with the moving process. “It took a small village of relatives to manage their home sales,” remembers Perkins. “Corinne and I thought there has got to be a better way to handle this situation.”

After a decade in residential real estate investing, Perkins and Ross created the Senior Home Purchase Program (SHPP) in 2015, a niche service which offers seniors a transparent and simple solution to transition from one home into the next, with the least amount of stress and worry. SHPP purchases homes directly from homeowners in as-in condition, alleviating the stress, risk, and costs associated with a traditional home sale.

With SHPP, there are no real estate agents required, no home preparation, no showings, and no fees to the seller. Homes are sold “as is” with clutter, unwanted furniture, and all. The seller does not have to worry about failed es-

crows, commissions, closing costs or repair credits. Instead SHPP “guarantees a certain sale, at a certain price.” SHPP offers the best price possible, and also provides a flexible timeline for moving. “Our seniors are often in a position where they don’t know the exact date of their move into a community,” Ross shared. “This can be very stressful, so we provide flexibility with closing dates, as well as a leaseback option if needed.”

The SHPP process has been streamlined into a staggeringly simple one compared to selling on the open market. “The first step is a home visit where we gather details about the home, and learn about the client’s needs and timelines,” Perkins said.

Next, SHPP copiously reviews the local market in comparison to the home. “We then meet and present our absolute best offer based on our careful evaluation. We encourage the homeowner to invite others to this meeting,” Perkins said.

He adds, “SHPP purchases the home in its current condition, and covers 100 percent of any costs associated with the sale, in addition to saving the homeowner an incredible amount of time, and greatly reducing their stress.”

“We are transparent in illustrating how an SHPP offer differs from a traditional offer,” explains Perkins. “With no costs or fees, our offer is very compelling to the homeowner.”

SHPP aims to make sure the homeowner is fully informed and completely comfortable throughout the process. “More than half of our customers are referrals, so the trust factor is big for us,” Ross explains. Stella, a former client, shared, “Their honesty, transparency, and diligence made me feel completely comfortable with them. They made the process exceptionally easy and stress-free. I can’t say enough about them.”

“This is both an emotional and a significant financial decision that our customers are making,” Ross said. “We encourage them to discuss our offer with family, friends, and financial advisors, and to weigh all their options.”

With the success of SHPP in San Diego, “we are excited to offer our simplified and safe home selling program in Orange County, especially during the current health crisis,” says Perkins. “SHPP can alleviate many of the additional concerns and stresses of home selling that have arisen due to the pandemic. Our goal is to offer a certain, safe, and stress-free solution to our clients during this very uncertain time.”

Medicare Part A & B Sign Up and Pitfalls to Avoid:

hen you’re first eligible for Medicare, you have a 7-month Initial Enrollment Period to sign up for Part A and/or Part B. For example, if you’re eligible for Medicare when you turn 65, you can sign up during the 7-month period that begins 3 months before you turn 65.

If you are already taking Social Security prior to age 65 you will be automatically enrolled into Medicare. If that isn’t the case then you will need to enroll in Medicare either online through the SS.gov website or over the phone with Medicare.

Important to note! If you wait until the month you turn 65 (or the 3 months after you turn 65) to enroll, your Part B coverage will be delayed. This could cause a gap in your coverage.

In most cases, if you don’t sign up for Medicare Part B when you’re first eligible, you’ll have to pay a late enrollment penalty (For life). An exception to this would be if you have employer group health coverage (larger than 20 employees).

IMPORTANT FACT! COBRA and retiree health plans aren’t considered “credible” coverage. You’re not eligible for a Special Enrollment Period when that coverage ends. The consequences are a lifetime Part B late enrollment penalty and a gap in your medical coverage.

I?) In Control: Managing Our Uncertainty

By Becky Lomaka, MA, CT Director of Grief Support and Education O’Connor Mortuary

My colleague and mentor, Dr. Bill Hoy, and I have been doing several virtual grief workshops over the past few months since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We’ve talked with funeral directors, hospice clinicians and healthcare professionals, educators, faith leaders, and the community at large. One thing that has struck us are the familiar questions, concerns and fears that are almost universal amongst these diverse groups of individuals. Some common themes include how to provide support and care with new regulations and restrictions, how to be present for others while managing our own fears, how to keep ourselves healthy and safe, concern about what the future will hold, wonder about how long things will “be this way”, and a general sense of uneasiness about the uncertainty of our world.

Much like the grief we experience when someone we love and care about dies, the loss- stacking we have experienced both individually and collectively as a community has left many people feeling uncertain and anxious. Yet fear, uncertainty and discomfort can be our compass for growth.

The truth is... we were never guaranteed certainty; not now and not before COVID-19, protests and riots. I talk with grieving people whose lives have changed in an instant. None of us are promised tomorrow.

We tend to grieve like we live. Dr. Ken Doka, a leading expert and author on death and bereavement, examines styles of grief. Intuitive grievers experience grief in waves of feeling while instrumental grievers are more likely to talk calmly and describe more physical symptoms of their grief. There is no right or wrong, no better way to grieve. Most of us fall somewhere on this spectrum of intuitive and instrumental grievers. Dr. Doka goes on to state that there are differences not deficiencies. There is no best way to grieve. We all approach it differently, and that is okay.

Just like everyone grieves differently, we all react to stress and uncertainty differently. Have compassion for others who may be at a different point in coping from where you are right now. The level of anxiety each of us feels

now and how we are able to cope with it, mirrors our ability to cope with anxiety prior to the unrest we’ve felt in our world and communities over many recent weeks. Internalizing the uncertainty is what creates our anxiety.

So, what CAN we do to manage the uncertainty we feel?

Make a mindset shift: expect change. As Greek philosopher, Heraclitus wrote “Change is the only constant in life.” Focus on what you can control, rather than what you cannot. Limit your news intake, move your body, eat healthy foods, get enough sleep, build in time for relaxation, and practice being in the moment. Notice your emotions and reactions. Allow yourself to feel

all emotions and try not to label them as “good” or “bad”, rather “I’m feeling overwhelmed” or “I’m feeling scared” or “I’m feeling like I’m moving forward”. Know the facts and challenge your self-talk. As Dr. Hoy states, “facts override fear”. The more information we have, the better we are able to manage and cope with our fears.

I leave you with this inspiring quote from Dr. Maya Angelou that is so perfectly apropos for the time in which we are living: “A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.” What a beautiful thought...in the midst of uncertainty, go out into the world and sing your song.

An Interview with Daniel R. Lara,

CEO/Broker - Regal American Mortgage

By Jody Robinson

Defining Certainty in Uncertain Times

I’d love to see how many times the words mortgage forbearance has been looked up in the past three months, while the world has been on lockdown. It’s most certainly one of those I had to check with Mirriam-Webster for a sense of assurance on. Sure enough, it comes up with a great many results: “forbearance in loans,” “forbearance COVID-19 mortgage,” “forbearance vs. deferment.” More questions than answers come up and Google trends showed it was one of the top searches over the last few months. As we slowly emerge from our homes and return to work, the daily draw of our lives presents an alarming list of new challenges. Recovering financially is at the top of the list for most Americans.

A near 20% unemployment rate is nothing to shake a stick at, combined with the current climate of social unrest. Regal American Mortgage has the solution to at least one of the issues plaguing Americans at night, where Google just provides more questions: Your finances.

“Forbearance is not the answer,” says Daniel R. Lara, CEO/Broker. “Not paying your bills and losing your home is not the answer. If you have renters who are not making payments, the mortgage on the investment property is still your responsibility. Refinancing the property could be the option that makes more sense than putting your credit and investment at risk.”

If you are gainfully employed, or being pulled off furlough or have a fixed income, this qualifies you for payment relief through a Regal Refinance. “We are helping homeowners qualify at historically lower interest rates. Through the refi we are able to defer two monthly payments (July and August or August and September) and return the escrow balance. Lowering the rate adjusts the monthly payments over the long term. Saving upwards of sometimes hundreds of thousands over the life of the loan. We are literal-

Photography by Diana Schmitt, Accent Portraits by Diana

ly putting thousands into the hands of homeowners during these financially difficult times – we are doing this in as quickly as two to three weeks!”

"Individuals and families finding their way out of the quarantine is a huge priority right now for the team at Regal American, and homeowners all over are qualifying for interest rates that are historically low,” says Dan. "Not only are rates low (2.879% APR 30 years fixed), but the costs to accomplish keeping one’s head above water, despite the crushing wave that has passed over us recently, are historically low, and 79% of the time we are not even requiring an appraisal. I think of mortgage lending like a game of chess. Strategy will ensure we execute as promised, unsurpassed attention to details and focus on our trade ensures we deliver on our word.” Consider it a stimulus check, without the paper notice in your mail to accompany it.

If you have served in the US military, you have even more benefits due to you for your service."

If you have served in the US military, you have even more benefits due to you for your service. No income documents, no appraisal, and usually two deferred payments to lock in a record low-rate loan. Regal American is holding a financial lifeline for many families during these turbulent times. That’s a concept I understand. And security, confidence, assurance? Those are words I know the definitions for.

Art Gallery &Framing

10-6

10-5

closed

Living with Lymphedema

Benefits of Quality Medical Compression Garments

The lymphatic system delivers nutrients to body tissues and removes waste products. It operates similarly to the circulatory system but is a separate system.

While the circulatory system relies on the heart to pump blood around the body, the lymphatic system relies on routine movement of the muscles and joints to push lymph fluid through the body. If a section of the lymphatic system is blocked or damaged, normal drainage may be slowed or stopped, resulting in swelling or lymphedema.

The word “lymphedema” means swelling (edema) that results from the pooling of too much lymph fluid in areas of the body. This swelling occurs most often in the arms and legs, but it can also affect the face, neck, abdomen, or genitals. It is estimated that 5 million Americans suf- fer from

lymphedema – resulting from cancer treatment - or other risk factors, in- cluding genetics, being overweight or obese and other health problems like heart or circu- lation issues. Lymphedema can be complicated to treat, which is why you should see your medical professional for appropriate options as there are many variables, techniques and specialized treatments for lymphedema.

TREATMENT OPTIONS

The most common procedure for managing lymphedema is called Complex or Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT).

CDT has two phases: phase l, reduction and phase ll, maintenance, each consisting of four elements. All the elements have specific contributions and can only be effective if applied together. The four elements of CDT are:

 Skin Care

 Manual lymph drainage (MLD)

 Compression therapy

 Exercise therapy

What Else Can You Do About Your Lymphedema?

The following recommendations apply only to the area of your body affected by lymphedema.

 Keep the affected area very clean.

 Avoid injuries to the skin that can lead to infection, such as scratches or bites from pets or bites or stings from insects.

 Avoid other activities that can cause more exten- sive trauma to the delicate lymphatic vessels, such as excessive strain during ex- ercise, restriction of blood and lymph circulation by blood pressure cuffs, tight bra straps, waist bands, etc.

 Avoid temperature ex- tremes that can stress the lymphatic system.

Short stretch bandaging is used in the reduction phase. Once the swelling is reduced and stabilized, the limb can then be fitted for a special compression garment, such as the FarrowWrap® OTS Arm for extremity edema/ lymphedema and the FarrowWrap® 4000 compression leg piece. These garments will help control your condition.

Livia

Multi Slide Dutch Doors

By Jody Robinson

When I was younger, my Mom loved to read me the book “If You Give A Mouse A Cookie.” The plot essentially revolves around an ever-growing list of to-do’s that had to be accomplished, all set into motion by the simple act of giving a mouse a cookie. This tale came back to me recently when I purchased a new television at Best Buy.

What was a simple shopping trip ended up being an adult’s version of that circular tale. If you give a grownup a television, they’ll have to measure their wall. When they measure the wall, they’ll realize they may actually

have room for a bigger television. When they buy the bigger television, they’ll find out they have no idea how to mount it to the wall. When they start mounting it to the wall, they’ll see that the power outlets are all in the wrong places. When they realize

the outlets need to be moved, they’ll call an electrician. (This could go on forever.)

Luckily for clients who have been on the receiving end of ReelTime’s patient, intelligent, and personalized

service, the rabbit hole of home automation doesn’t have to swallow you entirely. With the help of their independent certified Control4 dealer, it’s easy to update your home without upending your entire life. After all, the true luxury of an integrated entertainment system is really dependent on its ability to deliver seamless entertainment. By placing every control at your fingertips, the team at ReelTime helps homeowners manage everything from how brightly lit your family room is, to your streaming devices - all with a single remote. And best yet? You can control your whole home from the comfort of your couch- even seeing who is at the front door, without ever leaving your seat. Simple, clean, and uncluttered.

And on the home entertainment front … when you started planning for your ultimate home theater set-up and sound system, could you find the right media cabinetry for your particular space – cabinetry that wouldn’t catch on fire from the heat of the equipment, or that would simply look good in the room? Did you understand half of what the televisions, receivers and other devices could

do, and did you have anyone to hold your hand to make sure you weren’t overspending for what you wanted?

Big box retailers, the professed champions of value, are happy to sell you any home theater and sound equipment you think you might like,

and send you off to figure it out at home. That’s what they do. And that’s all they do.

If you want the home theater system that you envision, seek the services of Skip Myers and his team of experienced professionals at ReelTime to take you from start to finish for the home theater or sound system of your dreams.

“Usually there is a part of the job that you find you just can’t do by yourself,” says Skip, who has overseen the design and installation of thousands of home theater and sound systems over the course of 40-plus years in the business. “You get your brand new television home, you’re so excited, then you realize you need to move an outlet or none of the cabinets you can find will fit your space. We’re here to make sure you get the equipment that will give you what you want and the system that will work with that equipment, without leaving you to fend for yourself.”

We’re here to make sure you get the equipment that will give you what you want and the system that will work with that equipment, without leaving you to fend for yourself.

Skip opened the doors at ReelTime in 1983. Today, the technicians and designers that Skip assigns to clients are all ReelTime employees, knowledgeable in all home theater and sound technologies. First, they work closely with you to determine what you’re looking for. Then they custom design every aspect of the project, from wiring to custom-built cabinets, frames, or built-in wall designs. Finally, licensed, in-house contractors install your entertainment system with care and precision.

There are a couple of things that people may not think about when they embark upon the road to their own home entertainment system.

“You need to think about your home theater goals,” says Skip. “You don’t have to do everything at once – you can do it bit by bit – but if you know where you’re going, you’ll save money and when it’s all said and done, you’ll have exactly what you want and what you will actually use. We’re here to help you determine your goals.”

Skip is also an advocate for getting what you’ll use, which is part of the design and planning process.

“You can buy everything you want to, but if you can’t operate it, what’s the point?” he says. “There’s the television, DVD and Blue-ray; there’s the receiver, there’s Apple TV… it’s all great, but how do you get them to work together? We’re big advocates of the universal remote. Not everyone knows how to get the most out of their systems with one powerful remote – they’re not expensive, but the best ones are computer-based. We’ll set that up for you so you’re getting the most out of your custom system.”

It’s easy to assume that personal service is expensive, but a conversation with Skip and the experts at ReelTime is free. Ultimately, in planning your purchases for the right outcome, you’re likely to save money while avoiding chilling setbacks. The only chilling you want to be doing is in front of your fantasy home theater system.

Kristy

Fleming, MD, Board-Certified Dermatologist

FLEMING DERMATOLOGY & AESTHETIC CENTER 23141 Moulton Parkway, Suite 110, Laguna Hills | (949) 916-5956

There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Because each has many different appearances, it is important to know the early warning signs.

Look especially for change of any kind. Do not ignore a suspicious spot simply because it does not hurt. Skin cancers may be painless, but dangerous all the same. If you notice one or more of the warning signs, see a board-certified dermatologist right away, preferably one who specializes in diseases of the skin.

ACTINIC KERATOSIS

An actinic keratosis (AK) is a crusty, scaly growth caused by damage from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. An AK is considered a precancer because if left alone, it could develop into a skin cancer. AKs are the product of a lifetime accumulation of UV damage and typically appear on areas most commonly exposed sun, such as the backs of the hands, forearms, face, neck, and scalp.

SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells arising in the epidermis, the skin’s outermost layer. SCCs often look like scaly red patches, crusty bumps, warts, or elevated growths with a central depression. SCCs may appear suddenly and some forms are tender to touch. They can become disfiguring and sometimes deadly if allowed to grow. More than 1 million cases of SCC are diagnosed each year in the U.S., which translates to about 115 cases diagnosed every hour. Incidence has increased by 200 percent in the past three decades in the U.S., and more than 15,000 Americans die each year from this type of skin cancer.

BASAL CELL CARCINOMA

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequently occurring form of all cancers, with more than 4 million cases of diagnosed in the U.S. each year. BCCs may look like open sores, red patches, pink growths, shiny bumps, or scars. Any skin lesion that doesn’t heal, or bleeds with even gentle trauma, such as drying with a towel, is concerning for a BCC.

MELANOMA

Melanoma is a very dangerous form of skin cancer. Melanoma is caused mainly by intense, occasional UV exposure (frequently leading to sunburn), especially in those who are genetically predisposed to the disease. An estimated 178,560 cases of melanoma are diagnosed in the U.S. each year and is fatal for an estimated 9,320 of these patients. Fortunately, if melanoma is recognized and treated early, it is almost always curable.

WHAT PATIENTS NEED TO KNOW

1. Everyone needs to perform a self-skin exam once a month.

2. Melanoma can appear anywhere on the skin, including the palms/soles, under your nails, and places...for most, have never seen the light of day (genitalia). For this reason, it is important to look everywhere. Lock the bathroom door, get out a hand mirror, and check, it could save your life.

3. What to look for: ABCDEs, and an ugly duckling

A - Asymmetry: If I draw a line down the middle, do the sides match?

B - Border: Is there a nice crisp border, or does the mole melt into the surrounding skin?

C - Color: Moles should be one color, one shade of brown. Is there a variety of shades or additional colors, such as black, red, white, or blue?

D - Diameter: Any mole larger than 6mm, ie the head of a pencil eraser, has a higher risk of becoming melanoma.

E - Evolution: Has it changed?

F - The Ugly Duckling Sign: Most people have a “signature mole,” their own personal mole appearance and architecture. Is there a mole that seems different from all the others?

4. Everyone needs a full body skin exam by a board-certified dermatologist once a year, more frequently if you have a family history of skin cancer, a personal history of skin cancer, or live in an area with substantial sunshine.

Salon Capistrano is OPEN for Hair, Nails & Skin

By Jody Robinson

Beauty has certainly changed a lot over the years. At the risk of dating myself, I’ve lived through trends like mini-buns, barrettes, chunky highlights in non-traditional hair colors. Blue eyeshadow. Half-hair up with cornrows. Thankfully, I’ve moved on (even though I was sadly unable to ever achieve “the Rachel”). I’m grateful for cutting-edge salons (pun intended) like Salon Capistrano where seasoned professionals keep up with the rapidly evolving trends to deliver world-class service to their customers.

Voted “Best of San Juan Capistrano” eight years in a row, Salon Capistrano is a full service salon that offers hair services, facials, chemical peels, waxing, nails and makeup/airbrush application. Since the salon opened its doors in 2012, Owner Paula Guerena and her team have strived to ensure that each of their clients “shine.”

“We want to make the special events of your lives even better - from weddings and proms to class reunions, galas and teens/ ladies/men’s night out,” says Paula, whose personal area of expertise since 1994 has been in anti-aging facials and chemical peels to help keep her clients’ skin youthful and healthy.

Paula and her team pride themselves on keeping up with the latest techniques and products in the industry through continuing education classes, and never let their standard of service falter. “Our clients continue to tell us how warmly received they feel the moment they walk in the door, and that the salon has a ‘great vibe.’” A fact that can surely be directly attributed to the kind and considerate group of independent contractors who truly work together here in harmony as a team. No egos ... just exceptional service.

“We all come from different backgrounds, but our passion for making people look and feel their best is what led each of us to the beauty and customer service industry,” says Paula.

SALON CAPISTRANO

32241 Camino Capistrano, Suite A103 San Juan Capistrano (949) 212-6262

saloncapistrano.com

PRECAUTIONS TO STAY SAFE

Disinfecting Surfaces Before and After Each Client

Six Feet Apart or Screens Between Insisting Masks Be Worn

Hand Washing Upon Entering

Appointments Only

Staff Wearing Face Shields or Masks

Taking Only One Client at a Time

Can Send You a Text to Enter Salon

July 4th Fireworks

SC: 622 Avenida Del Mar

DP: Doheny State Beach (at time of publication)

San Clemente Farmers Market

200 Block of Agenda Del Mar SC • 9 am - 1 pm

San Clemente Farmers Market

KidCreate Summer Art Camps Ages 4 - 9 + 7 -12

Small Groups 34233 PCH, Ste. 113

• (949) 545-7091

200 Block of Agenda Del Mar SC • 9 am - 1 pm South Coast Conservatory Virtual Dance Classes (949) 367-0099 scconservatory.com

Ladera Ranch Farmer’s Market

Ladera Ranch Middle School 29551 Sienna Pkwy. Every Sun. 9 am - 1 pm

South Coast Conservatory

Online Summer Camps & Intensives (949) 367-0099 scconservatory.com

Tuesdays! $2.25 each In-House Dining + Curbside Pickup Villa Roma Restaurant 25254 La Paz Rd. • LN (949) 454-8585

Taco Tuesday! In-House Dining, Delivery + Takeout Ricardo’s Place 32082 Camino Capistrano • SJC (949) 493-4941

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San Clemente Farmers Market

200 Block of Agenda Del Mar SC 9 am - 1 pm

KidCreate Summer Art Camps

Ages 4 - 9 + 7 -12

Small Groups

34233 PCH, Ste. 113

DP • (949) 545-7091 kidcreate.com/dana-point

Cheer Food Pantry Corner of Camino Capistrano & La Zanja Every Tues. 11 am - 2 pm While supplies last

selannesteaktavern.com

In-House Curbside Casanova 33585 Del Call casanovaristorante.com

In-House Curbside Brio 24050 Camino Call

CALENDAR

VIEJO + LADERA RANCH

WEDNESDAY

Selanne Steak Tavern

Penalty Box Pop-Up

Outdoor Dining on Its Garden Terraces Coast Hwy. • LB

Weds • 11 am - 3 pm selannesteaktavern.com

In-House Dining + Curbside Pickup

Roma Restaurant 25254 La Paz Rd. • LN (949) 454-8585

Virtual Ballet and Dance Classes Center for the Arts and ability levels! SCFTA.org

In-House Dining + Curbside Pickup

Casanova Ristorante Obispo St. • DP

Call for Reservation (949) 496-0992

2020 www.southcountymag.com

In-House Dining + Curbside Pickup

Casanova Ristorante 33585 Del Obispo St. • DP (949) 496-0992 casanovaristorante.com

In-House Dining, Delivery + Takeout

Ricardo’s Place 32082 Camino Capistrano • SJC (949) 493-4941

Mission SJC Digital Resource Center Interactive Programming missionsjc.com

In-House Dining

The Tea House on Los Rios 31731 Los Rios Street • SJC 11 am - 3 pm (949) 443-3914

In-House Dining + Curbside Pickup

Brio Tuscany Grille 24050 Camino Del Avion • DP (949) 443-1476 www.briorestaurant.com

In-House Dining + Curbside Pickup Call for Reservation 31761 Camino Capistrano • SJC (949) 800-9145

Dana Point Farmers Market and Crafts Vendors 34111 La Plaza La Plaza Park

Casa Romantica 415 Avenida Granada SC • 7 pm

casanovaristorante.com Jazz Vocalist Nancy Sanchez

In-House Dining + Curbside Pickup

Brio Tuscany Grille

Camino Del Avion • DP

Call for Reservation (949) 443-1476

www.briorestaurant.com

In-House Dining + Curbside Pickup

Villa Roma Restaurant 25254 La Paz Rd. • LN (949) 454-8585

Casanova Ristorante serves up some of the best Italian dishes this side of Venice

By Jody Robinson

If you’re in the mood for delicious, authentic Italian fare served in a romantic atmosphere where the owners and staff make you feel like a personal guest in their home, look no farther than Casanova Ristorante.

My husband Tim discovered the Dana Point restaurant while vacationing in Venice, Italy over 15 years ago. Strolling by a quaint eatery, he noticed its sign showcased a sister establishment in Southern California not far from his San Clemente home. His experience of what he calls “truly terrific” culinary dishes prompted him to seek out Casanova Ristorante in the hopes that the “authentic Venetian” specialties served up stateside would rival its Italian counterpart.

The popular Dana Point restaurant apparently more than delivered because Casanova Ristorante has consistently been the eatery of choice when deciding on where to go on “date night.”

I can’t speak to the cuisine at its sister establishment in Venice, but I can tell you that literally everything I’ve tried on the menu here has been nothing short of superb. The service is excellent – attentive and unobtrusive – the ambiance is warm and friendly and its

popular cocktail lounge featuring specially selected wine list (and full bar) has a loyal following among locals and visitors alike.

Start with the Mozzarella Caprese, which arrives with slices of fresh tomato topped with creamy buffalo mozzarella cheese and basil and served with virgin olive oil. Another popular pick is the antipasto misto made up of a selection of cured meats and complementary cheeses and my personal fave: the Carpaccio al Salmone defined by crisp romaine, capers, radicchio topped with smoked salmon, lemon and olive oil.

For the main course, Tim’s favorite dishes include the “Pink Lady Fettuccine” made with chicken and sundried tomatoes tossed in a creamy Alfredo sauce and a flavorful Rigatoni Mamma Rosa with Italian sausage and mushrooms in a tomato sauce with a touch of cream. My favorites include the Lasagne al Forno which arrives with layers of perfectly al dente pasta, ricotta cheese and meat sauce baked with mozzarella cheese.

A seafood aficionado? Options abound – ranging from the Linguini Vongole Veraci (long, flat pasta with baby Manila clams sautéed in a white wine sauce) and Farfalle al Salmone (bowtie pasta with smoked salmon tossed in a cream and tomato sauce with a touch of vodka) to the Linguini alla Pescatora (long, flat pasta with fresh fish of the day, shrimp, calamari, mussels and clams in a light tomato sauce.

Portions are generous, but if you’ve saved room for a little something sweet … try the crème brulee with its perfectly carmelized top or the homemade tiramisu, a traditional favorite or an equally delicious warm chocolate cake accompanied by vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and drizzled with a rich chocolate sauce.

Casanova Ristorante 33585 Del Obispo St. Dana Point (949) 496-0992

casanovaristorante.com

Owners Chris Lagaris (R) and Stefano Xenos

Dream Driving, the LA Way with Exotics

By Tim Robinson

Racing - The Supercar Driving Experience

As a dad and longtime auto enthusiast, I have to say that my wife outdid herself this last Christmas when she gifted me with one of the most memorable - and more importantly, memory-making/ bonding experiences with our 13-year-old son: a half-day Exotics Racing “Supercar Driving Experience” for a unique tour of the City of Angels.

But instead of spending what feels like half your life on a double-decker bus bound for the spectacle of BelAir, Beverly Hills, Malibu and the super scenic Santa Monica via panoramic Pacific Coast Highway, the LA-based Exotics Racing sends its guests out on an exclusive guided tour in a fantasy car lineup that’s enough to turn even a celebrity’s head.

Since 2009, Exotics has been pumping its customers full of adrenaline on the track, by taking the wheel of one incredible machine or another, and pushing performance to its outside limits.

Exotic’s professionally designed Las Vegas racetrack offers the best straights and double apexes over its 1.2 mile length. Many auto enthusiasts, myself included, have taken the risk on open stretches of highway and country roads a time or two, pushing the pedal down a little too far, watching for the red and blue lights as highway patrol catches on. Here, you can rip around the same curve over and over without fear of a ticket or

getting arrested. And there is a team of incredible professional instructors to guide you through the true capacity of the cars, as well as the basics you thought you learned in Mario Kart, but never actually tested out on paved road. In fact, these professionals aren’t there to rein you in or hold you back in any way … just the opposite. They want you to experience the thrill of the ride to full effect.

Understeer, oversteer, progressive throttle. What 640 horsepower really feels like.

The largest fleet of exotic supercars awaits: from Italy, you’ve got Ferrari and Lamborghini - from Britain, the Aston Martin, and the cream of Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Nissan’s crop as well. First in safety and service in the industry, Exotics Racing is the origi-

nal supercar experience, designed to keep you dreaming about the drive far beyond your last lap on the track. Let’s be honest, we all have that vision of some valet accidentally tossing over the keys to a Ferrari 458 Italia after dinner out one night, but the chances of that actually happening are about as good as my first 911 winning a head-to-head with its 2019 counterpart. Plus, just handing over the keys like that is asking for trouble. The team of professional at Exotics take each driver through safety instruction, and then a side-by-side ride along.

Launched last year, the company’s Supercar Driving Experience takes touring to an entirely new level. The trip originates and concludes on sunny Ocean Avenue at the Santa Monica Pier, and travels across west Los Angeles winding along PCH through the Pacific Palisades - hugging the ocean along the way - into Beverly Hills before cruising past multi-million dollar mansions down Sunset Boulevard, along the iconic Rodeo Drive and finally the peaceful canopy of trees at Fox Studios. Except that each of the driving teams follows their guide (in the lead car - a Maserati GranTurismo and narrating along the way) behind the wheel of an alternating array of well … ultimate, luxurious supercars: a Ferrari 488 Spider, a Corvette C7 Z06 and my personal favorite - a Lamborghini Huracán Spyder.

At each stop along the tour, there was plenty of time to swap cars, take photos to document the ride, and wax poetic with the other enthusiasts over some of the most spectacularly fun road to drive in the world. The best part? All you need is a pair of sunglasses, a driver’s license, and a passion for some of the most amazing machines out there. Exotics Racing takes care of the rest.

Ode to Joy

Developing Memories with Accent Portraits

by Diana and San Juan Photo & Digital

By Jody Robinson

“People ask us all the time what we specialize in,” says Diana. “‘Life’ is what we respond with. We want to be there for you and your family every step of the way, from preschool portraits, to beach days, to weddings and pets. Private homes, debutante balls and birthdays for ages 1-101!”

I was at a retail store the other day, when a group of tourists asked me to take a photo of them in front of the window display - an incredible arch made solely out of the pages of reclaimed books from a library that had mostly burned down. An ode to what had been once. The photo? An ode to an ode. We’ve all heard the saying, “a picture is worth 1,000 words.” How many words are your memories worth? Diana and Scott Schmitt believe that those photos, those odes, are priceless. At the San Juan Capistrano-based Accent Portraits by Diana and San Juan Photo & Digital, the couple have devoted the last three decades to taking and developing memories for their customers.

Giving clients the best quality covers much more than a simple photo. Using a lifetime of skills, Diana and Scott set out in 1989 to get each client the product they wanted. With each person’s shifting needs come the full range of services that Accent Portraits and San Juan Photo & Digital can provide: $30 specials, a birthday club, portrait memories in a fun, easy fashion. “We’re like a family here. We are taking photos now of kids whose parents came in to see me almost thirty years ago!”

Thirty years ago, not many could predict that film photography would al-

Scott and Diana Schmitt

most go extinct. The rise of the digital age overwhelmed analogue, nearly to the point of no return. Yet, many amateur and professional photographers still swear by old-fashioned chemistry. The new problem? Almost nobody develops photos anymore. Short on your own dark room like the rest of us? Luckily, the wide range of services Diana and Scott offer covers everything from film to phones - and has been busy uniting the digital and analogue worlds for its customers in a fun, easy fashion. “We’re still the only lab that processes film,” says Scott, “and it’s making a huge comeback. Everyone has photos on their phones that would otherwise never be printed. San Juan Photo to the rescue!”

The last man standing, as it were, Accent Portraits and San Juan Photo & Digital are out to change the photography game entirely. Not just film, or portraits, or product development. “It isn’t just better services: it’s better service.” Cheryl Wayland, long-time employee and staple of the South County shop, knows the name and story behind almost every client Scott and Diana have.

“We take care of our own here,” says Diana. “That means free portraits for seniors at the community center each year, donated portrait certificates to

each charity and school that asks, and free event coverage for animal rescue organizations. It’s good for everyone.” While Diana and Scott have plenty to do in their free time, from walking the family dog to riding horses, the real hobby lies in the time they dedicate to each client that walks in their doors.

But being award-winning photographers and the developers of quality photos at an award winning custom lab isn’t where the fun stops with Diana and Scott. That joy you felt when you developed a roll of film after a family vacation? Could you describe

that feeling, those memories with 1,000 words? You could certainly try. Or, you could make some new memories, and experience that feeling again and again and again, simply by walking into Accent Portraits and San Juan Digital Photo & Digital.

Connect with Diana and Scott by calling (949) 661-6465 or stop by their studio and lab located at 32281 Camino Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano. For more info, visit www.accentportraitsbydiana.com

Morena Tile & S tone: Your Local Source from Concept to Completion

“At Morena Tile & Stone we specialize in imagination and fun.”

“As a family owned business, we focus on customer service and getting to know our clients while we help bring their projects to life. From mild to wild, traditional to modern we’ll help you find the perfect tile and stone for your dream kitchen or bath.”

Mr. John Schrab, a fourth-generation stone fabrication and tile contractor took over Morena Tile five years ago and fulfilled his dream of owning his own tile store. Since then, Morena Tile has become a trusted resource for local contractors, designers and homeowners supplying natural stone, porcelain tile and engineered stone to projects both big and small in scope. Offering an abundant 5000/sf showroom with over fifty top manufacturers to choose from and a top-notch staff, Morena tile has reached the pinnacle amongst the ubiquitous onslaught of “big box design” options.

“Treating our customers like family is the first step. We invite all our customers to our showroom to look around and meet our staff, discuss their project or join us for a little lunch and conversation around our kitchen island. We’re here to help.” Says John.

Morena tile’s showroom proudly displays one of the largest selections of tile, natural and engineered stone in South Orange County. Morena Tile’s designers are on hand to help customers navigate the myriad of choices to get their project started - and serve as a resource every step of the way from concept to completion.

Whether your Kitchen, Bathroom, Flooring , Fireplace or BBQ project calls for granite, marble, travertine, limestone or Natural Quartzite, you can find it all at Morena Tile & Stone.

The future craftsman pictured here with father, grandfather and great grandfather.

John and Linda Schrab

Doggie Dental Care

Just like people, your furry friends need dental care to prevent tooth decay

By Lynlee Fluent, DVM

Just like proper nutrition and regular exercise, dental hygiene is a key component to your pet’s overall health and well-being.

Some people just expect their pets to have bad breath, but just like their owners, cats and dogs can suffer from periodontal disease, oral pain, and tooth loss as a result of poor (or nonexistent) dental care. From the American Veterinary Dental College: “Periodontal disease is the most common clinical condition occurring in adult dogs and cats, and is entirely preventable. By three years of age, most dogs and cats have some evidence of periodontal disease. Unfortunately, other than bad breath, there are few signs of the disease process evident to the owner, and professional dental cleaning and periodontal therapy often comes too late to prevent extensive disease or to save teeth. As a result, periodontal disease is usually under-treated, and may cause multiple problems in the oral cavity and may be associated with damage to internal organs in some patients as they age.”

PREVENTING DENTAL DISEASE IN YOUR CAT OR DOG

Tooth brushing and regular dental prophylaxis (ultrasonic scaling above and below the gumline, polishing and full-mouth x-rays under general anesthesia) are the best preventive measures. Brushing should be daily and should start with the puppy and kitten to create good habits, using a small pediatric toothbrush or a pet-specific toothbrush. Dental prophylaxis performed by a veterinary professional should be done regularly based on your vet’s recommended schedule, usually at least once a year once the pet reaches about 3 years of age. Home dental care in the form of dental chews and toys that mimic a toothbrush are recommended as well, of course always under the guidance of your veterinarian. Beware of “anesthesia-free” dental procedures that only address above the gumline, and not under the gums where most of the bacteria and disease lies.

REGULAR CHECKUPS AND PROFESSIONAL CARE

Your vet will examine your pet’s teeth during routine exams, so visit your veterinarian every 6 to 12 months for a wellness check-up. As your pet ages, it may need more frequent dental care in the form of anesthetic dental prophylaxis and oral surgery as it becomes more susceptible to periodontal disease. Most surgical procedures can be performed right in your regular vet’s office, while some complicated procedures may require referral to a veterinary dental specialist. Catching and treating the disease early (and prevention!) greatly reduces the need for oral surgery for your pet.

Lynlee Fluent, DVM is the co-owner of Ortega Animal Care Center located at 27341 Ortega Highway in San Juan Capistrano. For more information, visit www.oaccpets.com or call (949) 487-7600.

Pets of the Month

This handsome guy is Seamus, a two year old Husky mix who loves to have fun. Seamus has lots of energy and likes long walks and chasing after toys in the yard. His ideal adopter would enjoy outdoor activities and be committed to his continued obedience training.

Two year old Linda is a quiet kitty who is still learning how to trust. Found as a stray with her kittens, Linda had to start from scratch when it came to figuring out things like comfy beds, petting, and toys. She is slowly starting to show more of her personality. Linda gets along well with other cats and would do best with a patient owner who will help her to settle into her new environment.

Noble is an easy-going dog with a very sweet personality. At six years old, Noble is active but prefers to be a bit of a couch potato. If given the chance, he’d probably spend all day snuggled by your side. Could this gentle giant be your new cuddle buddy?

If you are interested in adopting an animal listed here, please visit www.PetProjectFoundation.org/Adoptions/AdoptADog or www.PetProjectFoundation.org/Adoptions/AdoptACat to download an adoption application form. Completed forms can be emailed to AnimalServices@scdpanimalshelter.org and you will be contacted about making an interaction appointment.

PLEASE HELP!

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS IS LOOKING FOR THE FATHER OF THE BRIDE WHO OWNED THIS DRESS.

Afew weeks ago, a lovely gentleman came into our store with a wedding dress in his arms, looking down at the floor.

"I love your windows. Could you please feature my daughter's wedding dress in one? I would love to see it up there for all to see.”

Getting excited, I happily exclaimed "YES!”

Then the man looked up at me and explained that he lost his daughter and this was her wedding dress. Thinking of my kids, I could not imagine what he was asking and how much it must hurt him. When I looked up to meet his eyes, he was already halfway out of the door, tears in his wake.

I never got his name. I never got his daughter's name. I want to know about her and to tell my customers about her and this lovely man who gave me the honor of sharing her memory in this town of ours.

PLEASE help me find this man! I hope this window brings you some peace. It was my honor, sir!” - Diane Silverstein, Absolutely Fabulous (714) 842-1608

ARE ONLINE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS FOR URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS ACCURATE?

Robert

Pugach, MD

One of the aftermaths of the COVID-19 pandemic is the increased use of Telehealth Medicine. At Pacific Coast Urology Medical Center and Western States HIFU, that is nothing new.

We have been offering telehealth (communications) for more than 5 years! In fact, we are the first urology practice in the United States to do so.

As telehealth availability expands, it’s important to keep in mind its limitations. Recently, a trusted associate sent me a link for a home use Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) diagnostic test. While I cannot attest to the accuracy or validity of this particular home UTI test, I do have some important points to give you.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT UTI’S AND TESTING

1) If the test results are valid, they are only appropriate for the occasional, UNCOMPLICATED UTIs that women get.

2) It is NEVER appropriate for a man – all male UTIs are typically due

to incomplete bladder emptying that is most often related to an enlarged prostate, requiring further evaluation. This condition is called BPH.

3) For the women that we see in our practice, they usually have a history of COMPLICATED UTIs with underlying causes including:

a. Narrow urethra - the mechanical obstruction of a narrow urethra at any age that prevents complete bladder emptying.

b. Underlying medical conditions like diabetes, kidney stones, etc.

c. Spinal cord problems – that prevent proper communication

between the brain and the bladder.

d. Having repeated UTIs – infections that resolve with antibiotics, but reoccur.

e. Having unresolved infectionsinfections that are not resolved with antibiotics.

f. Being peri-menopausal, menopausal or post-menopausal. Hormone changes dramatically increase the likelihood of UTIs.

g. Inadequate fluid intake.

h. Being overweight.

i. Urinary leakage (urinary incontinence) – the presence of urine in your underwear or “protective” garments can be an area of bacterial growth.

j. Sexual activity.

k. Stool leakage (fecal incontinence) – the presence of bacteria from feces can travel up into the bladder and cause infections.

l. Pelvic radiation history.

m. Where you live – if you are in an assisted living facility, the rate of recurrent infections is dramatically higher.

While these are just a few of the factors that can cause a UTI, please know that recurrent urinary tract infections:

a. Can cause damage to your bladder and kidneys

b. Can result in hospitalization

c. Can increase antibiotic resistance

RECOMMENDATIONS

If you have an uncomplicated UTI, talk to your primary care doctor about home-based tests.

If you have complicated UTIs, call us for an in-person or telehealth appointment because earlier interventions can prevent longterm complications.

www.pacificcoasturology.com

How Women Can Prepare For Retirement A practical financial checklist for the future.

Provided by Ken Earwood

When our parents retired, living to 75 amounted to a nice long life, and Social Security was often supplemented by a pension. The Social Security Administration estimates that today’s average 65-year-old woman will live to age 86½. Given these projections, it appears that a retirement of 20 years or longer might be in your future.1,2

Are you prepared for a 20-year retirement? How about a 30-year or even 40-year retirement? Don’t laugh; it could happen. The SSA projects that about 33% of today’s 65-year-olds will live past 90, with approximately 14% living to be older than 95.2

Start with good questions. How can you draw retirement income from what you’ve saved? How might you create other income streams to complement Social Security? And what are some ways you can protect your retirement savings and other financial assets?

Enlist a financial professional. The right person can give you some good ideas, especially one who understands the challenges women face in saving for retirement. These may include income inequality or time out of the workforce due to childcare or eldercare. It could also mean helping you maintain financial equilibrium in the wake of divorce or death of a spouse.

Invest strategically. If you are in your fifties, you have less time to make back any big investment losses than you once did. So, protecting what you have may be a priority. At the same time, the possibility of a retirement lasting up to 30 or 40 years will likely require a growing retirement fund.

Consider extended care coverage. Women have longer average life expectancies than men and can require significant periods of eldercare. Medicare is no substitute for extended care insurance; it only covers a few weeks of nursing home care, and that may only apply under special circumstances. Extended care coverage can provide a huge financial relief if the need arises.1,3

Claim Social Security benefits carefully. If your career and health permit, delaying Social Security can be a wise move. If you wait until full retirement age to claim your benefits, you could receive larger Social Security payments as a result. For every year you wait to claim Social Security, your monthly payments get about 8% larger.4

Retire with a strategy. As you face retirement, a financial professional who understands your unique goals can help

you design a wealth management approach that can serve you well for years to come. Please give me a call to review your current retirement plan or to get one started.

Ken Earwood may be reached at (800) 250-3029 or kenearwood@titanfinancial.net www.TitanFinancial.net

This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note - investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All indices are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment.

Citations.

1 - cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db355.htm [1/20]

2 - ssa.gov/planners/lifeexpectancy.htm [2/25/20]

3 - medicare.gov/coverage/skilled-nursing-facility-care.html [2/25/20]

4 - investopedia.com/retirement/when-take-social-security-complete-guide/ [11/24/19]

Loaded Inheritance: Safe Gun Storage, Ownership and Disposal with California Gun Services

By Ann Laurence

My grandparents owned a beautiful three bedroom casita in Solana Beach. Just up the road from the train station, their home was built in the twenties, and renovated completely when I was in high school. When my grandfather passed away, I moved in with my grandma, doing chores around the house for her and helping to maintain the garden. One day, I was looking for my grandfather’s whetstone, to sharpen an old pair of shears, and I stumbled across his Colt Python 357 Magnum. I had to look it up - I thought it might be a relic from one of the movies he worked on in the 50’s, but according to my grandma, it was just “one of those things your grandpa just insisted on having.”

Jeff McCabe has gotten more of his fair share of calls from people like myself, who accidentally come across family firearms in their home and don’t have the first idea of what to do with them. The owner of California Gun Services, Jeff is in the business of safe gun storage, ownership and disposal. The first step? Following California gun laws. I had zero clue that by driving the Colt to the Army Navy to try and turn it in I’d be breaking a couple laws. According to Jeff there are laws restricting gifting or selling a gun, receiving a gun, borrowing a gun, transporting a gun, even storing guns. New laws come out every year, and it is almost impossible for anyone, even aficionados to keep up with them. Jeff and his team work closely with local law enforcement to ensure the process is easy and safe.

My grandma hadn’t touched the revolver in years, though my grandfather had made sure she shot it at some canned tomatoes on a desert trip when they were younger. “I’m afraid the grandkids might find it,” she told me that day. “I’d feel safer without it.” A sentiment shared by Jeff’s friends, family and fellow church parishioners - many of whom have sought his assistance over the years to ensure the proper storage or disposal of firearms they found themselves in possession of upon the passing of a loved one.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

What initially started as a favor for a friend has grown into a bonafide side business as word has spread about Jeff’s particular skill set and confidence in handling firearms. As the owner of the Orange-based One Way Painting, Jeff often encountered situations whereby he would come across a firearm when moving furniture around for a client prior to starting a painting project. “Many times, the firearm belonged to my client’s father, grandfather or late husband and she never touched it because she was afraid of guns, but didn’t know how to get rid of it safely. So many times these guns are loaded and just stuck in a nightstand or stored under the bed.”

Raised in a family that had firearms for hunting and sporting, Jeff was taught early on how to handle, be respectful and always be safe when handling firearms. I believe that we as Americans have a great privilege to be able to own a firearm, but with that comes an even greater responsi-

bility to not only protect ourselves legally by complying with Federal and State laws, but to protect ourselves, our neighbors and most importantly, our children from all possible dangers associated with firearms.”

San Clemente resident Rhonda Murphy couldn’t agree more. “There are many things to deal with when a loved one dies. In 2010, when cleaning out my husband’s closet, I came across several of his guns. I didn’t want to keep them and was unsure of what to do with them. My daughters didn’t want the guns and I didn’t want to deal with the hassle of storing them as my grandkids are often at my house. A friend suggested I should call Jeff. He was very nice, easy to talk with, trustworthy and knowledgable. He came to my house, checked all the guns to make sure they were unloaded and removed them. Jeff also told me that one of the guns was a collector’s item and was able to sell it for me. One less thing to have to worry about. I can’t recommend Jeff enough.”

As part of their auditing procedures, California Gun Services gives clients the option of a Voluntary Registration Form (in the case where the weapon was inherited). Many of Jeff’s clients are like my grandma who just prefers that the gun is destroyed. Jeff holds a Federal Firearm License and as such, is able to take possession of firearms without a Gun Transfer. He can also inspect firearms to ensure they are still in working order, and even tell you if the gun, or guns, you have are California Compliant.

“Most people are unaware that firearms that were purchased legally from a gun shop just a year ago may now be illegal in California,” says Jeff. “If we find a firearm that is out of compliance with the law, you’ll receive solid advice on how to make it compliant, sell it out of state, or potentially dispose of it. Our process is approved and certified by local law enforcement, it’s legal, safe and adheres to all state and federal firearms laws.

“Since firearms last more than a lifetime, families often have small and large collections of guns in their home. Knowing what you have and what to do with those firearms is important. Whether it’s from a death in the family, inheritance, or just a need for clearing out some that you know you will never use, we can help. Following California gun laws is essential. We come to you. It’s a safe, easy and professional process.”

California Gun Services’ processes are approved and certified by local law enforcement and adheres to all state and federal firearms laws for the following services:

GUN AUDIT

Jeff will come to you and inspect your firearms to make sure they are in proper working order and that they are California Compliant. If your firearm is not compliant with the California Law, you will receive solid advice on how to make it compliant or possibly dispose or sell it out of state.

GUN DISPOSAL

If a firearm is found to be unsafe to use, cannot be repaired and has no historical value. California Gun Services will permanently destroy it by torching the receiver or frame into three parts or cutting it with a saw into five parts. Jeff will document this with photos and log it for the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and email you the proof of destruction.

GUN TRANSFERS

Private Party Transfers happen between two individuals and will need to take place at a Federal Firearm Licensed Dealer. Since this needs to be done at a Gun Shop, Jeff cannot offer this as an in-home service. If you have inherited or legally obtain a firearm, he can provide you with a Voluntary Registration form or you can download it from the California Department of Justice which is NOT required to do at a gun shop. California Gun Services has a Federal Firearm License and can legally come to you and take possession of a firearm without a Gun Transfer.

GUN PURCHASES OF UNWANTED FIREARMS OR COLLECTIONS

California Gun Services will come to you and appraise a single gun or an entire collection of any size. You will receive an explanation of how guns are legally sold and transferred. California Gun Services can then make you a fair market value offer and/or explain how a gun can be put up for sale on consignment.

To connect with Jeff directly, call (714) 639-9608 or for more information, visit CaliforniaGunServices.com.

AMMUNITION AUDIT

California Gun Services will make sure you are using the right ammunition for the firearms that you have and that it is legal in the State of California. Jeff will inspect the ammunition to make sure that it has been stored correctly, is in good condition and will ensure that the ammunition is being stored properly, using the right type of container and stored in the right location in your home.

Making the Right Connections with Steve Carter Electric

By Jody Robinson

The average American household has 45 lights in it. Cup lighting, recessed, portraiture; indoor, outdoor. Incandescent, CFL, LED. There are likely as many types of fixtures and functions in the residential electrical world as years Steve Carter Electric has been in business.

Astaple in south Orange County for the last thirty years, it isn’t hard to imagine why someone might call in the professionals at Steve Carter Electric for help wiring and all things electrical.

Dedicated to providing the best quality on every job, and investing in long-term service is the backbone of the business, and what Steve Carter himself carries into every job.

“We know that your home is more than a tangle of wires: its not the fixtures, its the connections made inside and out.” Specializing in whole house fans, lighting and electrical upgrades, repairs, back-up power, panel upgrades, landscape lighting, E.V charger installs and general

troubleshooting, there isn’t a job too complex to take on.

One of the perks of publishing South County Magazine is being able to give testimonials for local businesses that our family has personally utilized.

As a San Juan Capistrano resident blessed to live in coastal OC, I realize it’s ridiculous to refer to the unseasonable warm weather we experienced in September and October as uncomfortably “hot.” But warm air rises and our bedrooms are upstairswhere the temperature would get to the mid-80s, which would make it a little warmer than we’d like when trying to get to sleep at night.

My husband had been hankering to have a whole house fan installed after

we experienced the benefits for ourselves while visiting family friends in Northern California. With 10 minutes of turning the whole house fan on, all of the warm air had been evacuated from the home, replaced with the cooler ambient air from outside - dropping the temperature in the house by 10 degrees! He was sold. In researching local companies, we came across the Yelp 5-Star rated San Clemente-based family-owned Steve Carter Electric. We couldn’t be happier with the QuietCool whole house fan we had installed - and equally importantly, the service provided by Steve and his team of professionals and are now all set to make quick work of the warm air during our next “hot” spell.

“I knew back in high school that I wanted to learn the trade and become an electrician,” says Steve. “My Dad taught me to take pride in my workmanship, and I’ve carried that through until today. We don’t cut corners because we’d like to be your electricians for life.”

It’s Not Epoxy, It’s SpartaFlex!

For nearly 40 years, southern California homeowners have used Epoxy for garage and industrial floor coating projects despite its tendency to yellow, it’s soft and easy to scratch surface and it’s tendency to be permanently damaged by the hot, high performance tires found on most cars in the OC area.

Today OC homeowners don’t have to settle for Epoxy and all of its flaws anymore. SpartaFlex is an advanced, next generation 100% solids polyaspartic floor coating that gives your garage a beautiful finish that is 3x harder than epoxy, resists yellowing while also resisting permanent damage from hot tires. Perhaps best of all, SpartaFlex comes with a much better warranty than Epoxy.

Perkins Custom Coatings has been installing SpartaFlex on OC garage floors for nearly 12 years and has completed over 8,000 floors during that period of time. Its CEO and owner, Paul Frankel is considered by many to be the most knowledgeable contractor in the local market. “Unlike many of our competitors, we strive to do an onsite assessment including a moisture test for every floor coating project we install and instead of using the ‘one size fits all’ approach, we develop a coating solution that we believe will last for decades not just for a few years.”

Perkins uses only the most advanced surface preparation methods available and will either diamond grind or shot blast every floor that he installs. Old, failing, yellowed ep-

oxy coatings can also be removed during this same process. “Despite the fact that Coatings Industry requires concrete to at least be diamond ground before installing a new coating system, many of my competitors will install their coatings right over raw or pressure washed concrete just to save a few bucks - I will never do that” says Paul.

Perkins also is known for its professional and unique approach to repairing concrete cracks. “Anyone can slap some crack repair paste to cosmetically fix a crack” says Paul. A year later, when the concrete moves again and damages their brand new floor coating, the devastated homeowner will learn that this damage is not covered by the typical Epoxy warranty. “We are the only company that I know of that uses a ‘structural crack repair’ technique to fix cracks. The process is so effective we can offer our customers a warranty that can cover future damage from cracks!” says Paul.

After the surface prep is completed, a very effective moisture control primer is applied to the concrete. “This is extremely important” says Paul because for many homes built in Socal before 2005, elevated moisture vapor levels in the garage concrete can have a detrimental impact on floor coatings. Paul does a fast and non-destructive moisture test for every one of the pre-2005 homes he visits and develops a unique installation plan for each home. For newer homes, Paul and his crew can use a basic primer that dries a bit faster allowing installation of a garage floor in as little as one day!

The color chips that give the Perkins floor its legendary appearance are sandwiched between this primer and finish coat. Perkins carries the widest selection of colors and sizes in the market and uses a ‘full chip broadcast’, not a partial sprinkling of chips like many of its competitors. “The full chip broadcast gives the floor a consistent appearance and makes the floor much more durable and helps hide dirt better than the partial broadcast finish” says Paul.

Finally, Perkins installs the SpartaFlex polyaspartic finish coat and the finished garage comes to life. “Epoxy & SpartaFlex floor coatings are virtually identical in appearance when they are first installed” says Paul. “However, when you will really begin to appreciate your SpartaFlex floor is a few months down the road when you start to see problems develop with your Epoxy floor. If there was a better material on the market, I would be selling it, but there isn’t and that is why we love selling SpartaFlex.”

For more information or to see for yourself the advantages of SpartaFlex over Epoxy, you can call Perkins Custom Coatings, at 866-330-1DAY (1329) or visit their informative website at www.perkinscustomcoatings.com.

We Install Whole House Water Filtration Systems

*No cash value. This $25 coupon can be used in-store only. Valid through 08.30.2020. Minimum purchase of $50 required. Not valid with any other offer or for the purchase of gift certificates. Coupon must be presented at time of purchase.

Massage as the Body’s Workout

CAN BODYWORK SOMETIMES MAKE YOU SORE?

You’ve just had a wonderful massage, and you go home feeling both relaxed and rejuvenated. But later that night you feel like you’re coming down with something. Or perhaps the next morning, you wake up with twinges of muscle soreness, maybe some fatigue, and you just don’t feel yourself. What happened? Chances are it’s the massage, and it’s perfectly OK.

It’s very much like doing a workout. If the muscles aren’t used to it, they often respond with some soreness. A professional massage is more than an ordinary backrub. Your massage therapist can find all the kinks that have built up from daily stress and too little or too much exercise. The whole point of a therapeutic massage is to release that tension, work out the kinks, and help your body relax so it can function at an optimal level. All of this work stretches muscles, pushes blood into them, and gets things working again.

MINIMIZING OVERLOAD

So what can you do to minimize the sometimes uncomfortable side effects? It’s important to communicate with your massage therapist regarding your expectations, as well as your current state of health. Your therapist can then tailor the massage to your personal needs and desires, and make adjustments in intensity or technique as the session proceeds. In some cases, a shorter or more soothing session may be more appropriate. In others, the therapist may need to change the kind of technique used. Much of this can be judged by how the person is feeling and responding during the massage.

In addition to communicating clearly with your practitioner throughout the session, following a few simple steps will help ease tenderness and maximize benefits:

Maintain good health practices. This means keeping your mind free of negative clutter.

Drink plenty of water immediately following your treatment. Continue to do so for the next day or two. This will rehydrate your tissues and ease the effects.

Take it easy after your massage. Go home, relax and just allow your body to find its balance naturally.

Getting a massage can do you a world of good. And getting massage frequently can do even more. Taking part in this form of regularly scheduled self-care can play a huge part in how healthy you’ll be and how youthful you’ll remain. Budgeting time and money for bodywork at consistent intervals is an investment in your health. Consider massage appointments a necessary piece of your health plan, and work with your practitioner to establish a treatment schedule that best meets your needs.

Like exercise, making bodywork a habitual practice is good for your health. And if you wake up the next morning a little sore, it’s probably because you had a really good massage.

This article was provided by Michelle Bryant, owner of The Massage Associates. The Massage Associates is located at 31952 Camino Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano. She can be reached by calling (949) 489-7924.

Asthma, Back Pain, Bleeding, Broken Bone, Bruising, Chest Pain, Confusion, Dizziness, Extreme Abdominal

Home Financing Solutions

Pain, Fainting, Fatigue, Fever, Joint Pain, Labor and Delivery, Loss of Balance, Mammogram, Muscle

Weakness, Nausea, Prenatal Care, Seizures, Severe

Headache, Shortness of Breath, Unexpected Lump, Asthma, Back Pain, Bleeding, Broken Bone, Bruising, Chest Pain, Confusion, Dizziness, Extreme Abdominal

Pain, Fainting, Fatigue, Fever, Joint Pain, Labor and Delivery, Loss of Balance, Mammogram, Muscle

Weakness, Nausea, Prenatal Care, Seizures, Severe

Headache, Shortness of Breath, Unexpected Lump, Asthma, Back Pain, Bleeding, Broken Bone, Bruising, Chest Pain, Confusion, Dizziness, Extreme Abdominal Pain, Fainting, Fatigue, Fever, Joint Pain, Labor and Delivery, Loss of Balance, Mammogram, Muscle

Weakness, Nausea, Prenatal Care, Seizures, Severe

Headache, Shortness of Breath, Unexpected Lump, Asthma, Back Pain, Bleeding, Broken Bone, Bruising, Chest Pain, Confusion, Dizziness.

We’re here. Just like we’ve always been. For care that’s close to home. Especially now, after homes changed overnight into restaurants. Offices. Schools. We’re here. With wellness. With every protection and precaution. Because your health won’t wait. No matter the symptom or emergency, seek care when you need it—virtually or in-person. Because we’ve always been, we always are, here.