January 4, 2024
Volume 54 - No. 1
by Sean Dietrich Morning. The lobby of my hotel is crowded. It’s breakfast time. The lobby is decorated for Christmas. This is the moment of day when guests emerge from rooms with messed-up hair, bedroom slippers, and wrinkled clothes. They shuffle through corridors toward Bunn coffee machines like the living dead. I’m eating processed “scrambledegg-like” matter, and sausage that has been labeled “100% real meat.”
There is an elderly man in line who uses a mechanical wheelchair. He wears a green ballcap with “Vietnam” printed on the front.
the old man’s plate. The old man thanks him. “What else do you want on your plate?” Junior asks.
The boy points to the sausage. “Would you like some of this stuff?”
He cannot reach the buffet serving spoon because his wheelchair is too low.
The old man says, “Oh, don’t worry about me, I can help myself.”
“How much would you like?”
Behind him in line is a boy. The kid has reddish hair and freckles. He is full-faced and friendly. “Here,” says the boy, “allow me.” The kid uses the serving spoon to dish the “eggish” abberation onto
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“I don’t mind. I’ll help you.” The old man just smiles at the kid. This man is perfectly capable of fixing his own plate, but sometimes an act of service isn’t about the servee. “Okay,” says the old man.
“Yes, please.”
“I’ll say ‘when.’” The boy “When?”
wrinkles
his
face.
“It’s what people say whenever they’ve had enough of a good thing.” The boy still doesn’t understand.
Morning
See Page 2
The Paper • Page 2 • January 4, 2024
they are waiting for the toast, the kid speaks. “Were you in a war?”
Morning from page 1 “They say ‘when’?” “That’s right.”
“Yes.” “The Vietnam War?”
The boy starts dishing up the fauxmeat patties until the old man says, “When.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Would you like an apple or banana?” the boy says.
“Well, it certainly wasn’t soft.”
The old man shakes his head. “Only fruit I eat comes in a wine glass. But I’ll take some orange juice.” The boy removes a plastic cup from a stack. He fills it from the Star-Trek-like juice dispenser. “How about some bread?” asks the kid. “A bagel. And I want it toasted.” The boy fetches a bagel from the acrylic breadbox. Then he carefully splits the bagel, using his bare hands. He manhandles the bagel like a kid playing with Play Dough. “Don’t worry,” says the kid. “I washed my hands.” “How reassuring.” The boy places the mangled bagel halves into the conveyor toaster oven. A marvelous machine. As
Give Us This Day Our Daily Chuckle This week, a compendium of wit, wisdom and neat stuff you can tell at parties. Enjoy! I just finished talking with my friend in Minneapolis. He said that since early this morning the snow has reached nearly waist high and is still falling ... His wife has done nothing but look through the kitchen window. He says that if it gets much worse, he may have to let her in...
“Was it hard?”
The boy smiles politely. He realizes he’s asked too much. His parents have raised him not to probe. So he falls quiet.
“I did.”
“Not your fault.”
“What did all the other people do?”
The kid uses the complimentary tongs to place the bagel onto the man’s plate. He carries the old man’s plate and orange juice to a table in the dining room.
“Six out of seven guys during Vietnam served on bases, or worked intelligence. Some were stationed in Germany, or Japan, or here in America. They were cooks, typists, drivers, paper runners, and REMFs.” “What’s a REMF?” “Never mind.” The man’s bagel is ready. His slices fall from the chute of the conveyor toaster. A marvelous machine.
“Thirteen.”
“What I mean is,” the old man says, “everyone was important in Vietnam. The soldiers who carried the gear in the rear made it possible for us to take hot showers. The guys who brought food and beer kept us alive.”
The old man nods. “I was six years older than you when I went over.” “To Vietnam?” “Cambodia.” “Did you fight?” “Yes.” The boy says nothing. “But people don’t understand,” the old man says. “Most folks thinks we all carried rifles and patrolled the jungles, and got shot at. But it wasn’t like that for everyone. Some of us saw combat. Some didn’t.”
The kids were nothing to look at either. ••• After a tiring day, a commuter settled down in her seat and closed her eyes. As the train rolled out of the station, the guy sitting next to her pulled out his cell phone and started talking in a loud voice: “Hi sweetheart. It’s Eric. I’m on the train.” “Yes, I know it’s the six thirty and not the four thirty, but I had a long meeting.” “No, honey, not with that blonde from the accounts office. With the boss.” “No sweetheart, you’re the only one in my life. Yes, I’m sure, cross my heart.”
••• An Invisible Man marries an Invisible Woman.
Eric doesn’t use his cell phone in public any longer.
I didn’t make it to the gym today. That makes five years in a row.
“I’m sorry.”
The old man breaks the awkward silence. “Tell me, how old are you?”
Fifteen minutes later, he was still talking loudly, when the young woman sitting next to him had enough and leaned over and said into the phone, “Eric, turn that phone off and come back to bed.”
•••
“Did you see combat?”
The old man follows, whirring his wheelchair forward. The kid asks if the old man needs anything else. The old man tells him he’s okay from here. The kid smiles. He presents his young hand like a grown up. Good manners. The old man pumps the boy’s hand and says, “Thanks for your help today, son.” “No, sir,” says the kid sincerely. “Thank you for your service.” When.
“You had beer over there?” “Oh yes.” “I bet you were glad to come back home.” The old man nods. “Yes.” “Did you get hurt over there?” “I did.” The boy goes silent. Then he says,
Cell phone etiquette, ya think? ••• Life Gets Better With Age I’ve learned that I like my teacher because she cries when we sing “Silent Night.” Age 5 I’ve learned that our dog doesn’t want to eat my broccoli either. Age 7 I’ve learned that when I wave to people in the country, they stop what they are doing and wave back. Age 9 I’ve learned that just when I get my room the way I like it, Mom makes me clean it up again. Age 12 I’ve learned that if you want to cheer yourself up, you should try cheering someone else up. Age 14 I’ve learned that although it’s hard to admit it, I’m secretly glad my parents are strict with me. Age 15 I’ve learned that silent company is often more healing than words of advice. Age 24 I’ve learned that brushing my child’s hair is one of life’s great
Sean Dietrich pleasures. Age 26 I’ve learned that wherever I go, the world’s worst drivers have followed me there. Age 29 I’ve learned that if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it. Age 30 I’ve learned that there are people who love you dearly but just don’t know how to show it. Age 42 I’ve learned that you can make some one’s day by simply sending them a little note. Age 44 I’ve learned that the greater a person’s sense of guilt, the greater his or her need to cast blame on others. Age 46 I’ve learned that children and grandparents are natural allies. Age 47 I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. Age 48
Chuckles continued on page 4
The Paper • Page 3 • January 4, 2024
Artists Color Taos’ Past
Oodles!
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San Francisco de Asis church, Taos, New Mexico By Igor Lobanov and Silvia Shepard-Lobanov TAOS, N.M. — Our earliest remembrance of this small town in northern New Mexico is of a quiet, dusty village that was a lodestone for painters, writers, and other free spirits. The year was 1940 and our family was spending the summer at a modest inn just off the main plaza. The clear air and bright sun at 7,000-feet on this high-desert plateau at the base of the Sangre de Christo Mountains produces an extraordinary quality of light. Except when a rain squall sweeps in. One such remains in sharp memory. We had driven some 20 miles north of town on a dirt road that wound up a forested mountain slope to a fiveroom cabin 8,500 feet up. We were to have tea with Frieda Lawrence, widow of the controversial English novelist and poet D.H. Lawrence. The couple had lived on this peaceful forested slope for the portions of several years until shortly before his death from tuberculosis a decade earlier in France. The ranch was the author’s respite for a troubled soul. He enjoyed cutting wood, hammering repairs to the building, baking bread, and galloping his horse through the woods. He even looked forward to milking his recalcitrant black-eyed cow, Susan, that would run away if he showed up wearing pants it did not like. Each morning, he could be found sitting under a tree, pen in hand, doing his writing. “Lorenzo,” as Frieda called him, could be moody, joyful, loving or hateful — all in the same short period of time. Though he had traveled and lived over much of the world, his time here with the coterie of worldrenowned people his presence drew
— from Lillian Gish to Leopold Stokowski and Alduous Huxley to Margaret Sanger and many more — brought an ongoing artistic and intellectual richness to the community. When we headed back to town, rain pelted the rutted track and our slipping and sliding car barely made it to the valley floor. On a return trip here in the winter of 1952, nighttime temperatures dropped below zero (Fahrenheit) making for chilly strolls through unheated galleries in the homes of some of its better known artists. To warm up there was the cozy bar in the Taos Inn where young novelist and former Korean War veteran Walter J. Sheldon played his guitar at one time to unwind from daily writing stints. Taos has managed to weave its centuries-old Spanish and Native American cultures with a nationally recognized art colony. Painters Ernest Blumenschein and Bert Phillips arrived here from Paris in 1898 and founded the Taos Society of Artists that celebrates the community’s standing in the art world with annual festivals. This has created an expensive element that include a sprinkling of upscale shops, well-lit galleries, fine restaurants, and ski resort said to equal Colorado’s Vail and Aspen. One local official offered that Taos has “two industries – tourism and poverty.” The waiter who served you dinner last night may have created the art you purchased today. South of town, you’ll find the 18th century adobe-walled San Francisco de Asis church celebrated in a series of Georgia O’Keeffe paintings. Three miles north of the central plaza is the 1,000-year-old Taos Pueblo, a World Heritage Site with small art colony of its own.
Woman’s Club of Escondido General Meeting January 8 • 10:30am 751 N. Rose, Escondido
at the Park Avenue Community Center and is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10:00-12:00. Phone Number 760 294-1851
The Woman’s Club of Escondido will start their first meeting of the New Year on Monday, January 8th, at 10:30am, at their clubhouse, 751 No. Rose Street (corner of Mission Avenue), Escondido. During the meeting a nominating committee will be appointed for this year. The guest speakers start at 11:15am.
*** El Camino Quilt Guild January 9 • 9:30am 3302 Senior Center Dr. Oceanside
The speakers will be Klara Pkozdi and/or Jose Gonzalez from the Escondido Community Child Development Center. They will bring us up to date with the activities of ECCDC, an organization that the Woman’s Club has helped over the years. Guests are welcome and we are looking for new members who would like to join us and work on projects that the Club supports. This Club was started here in November 1910 and has been active all these years with projects to support our community. Lunch follows the meeting; reservations are necessary by Friday, January 5th, by calling the Clubhouse at 760.743.9178 and leaving your name and phone number. Someone will return your call. Lunch is $20/person. We hope to see you there! *** Escondido Senior Travel Monthly Meeting January 8 • 1pm Park Avenue Community Center Escondido Senior Travel’s next monthly meeting is January 8, 2024 at the Park Avenue Community Center at lpm. Upcoming trips are Wheel of Fortune, February 22; 2024; Taste of Los Angeles, March 26, 2024 ; From the Desert to the Farm, April 6, 2024; Coastal Tour, May 15-17, 2024 ; and Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash presenters June 12, 2024. The Senior Travel Office is located
El Camino Quilt Guild meets at 9:30 AM on Tuesday Jan. 9, 2024 at El Corazon Senior Center, 3302 Senior Center Dr. Oceanside 92056. Guest fee $10. Our January guest speaker is Anne Sonner https:// annesonnerquilts.wordpress.com. Her topic is Family History Quilts. She will show us memorial quilts and quilts about her ancestors and tell the stories that go with them. Her Photo Transfer Workshop is Jan 10th at Quilt In A Day. Great way to start the New Year! For more information elcaminoquilters.com or email info@elcaminoquilters.com. *** California Retired Teachers Assoc. Area 11, Div. 63 Just for Fun Lunch January 10 • 11:30 - 1:30 Aria Restaurant 1650 Descanso Ave San Marcos, CA 92078 Getting together just for fun. Contact: Pat Bavender 760 550 4023 *** Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce Second Friday Breakfast January 12 • 7 - 9 am Westin Carlsbad 5480 Grand Pacific Dr., Carlsbad Explore the exceptional benefits of building your Emotional Intelligence with talent development expert, Andria Taylor. You’ll take an assessment to identify your EQ strengths and you’ll leave with practical EQ Habits to Oodles continued on page 12
HOME INSURANCE NON-RENEWED? DON’T WORRY ~ CALL R.D. HANSON INSURANCE AGENCY 760-747-8882 RICKHANSON12@GMAIL.COM
The Paper • Page 4 • January 4, 2024
Local News
Apply for County’s Civil Grand Jury
Chuckles from page 2
Residents interested in acting as a watchdog over local government agencies can now apply to serve on the County’s 2024-25 civil grand jury.
I’ve learned that singing “Amazing Grace” can lift my spirits for hours. Age 49
Nineteen people are selected every year for a term that starts July 1 and runs through June 30.
• Over age 18. • A county resident for at least one year. • Able to speak and write English. You cannot apply if you:
The civil grand jury isn’t the same as a criminal grand jury. Prosecutors will summon people for a criminal grand jury to decide whether there is enough evidence to press criminal charges.
• Serve as an elected public officer. • Serve as a trial juror in any California court. • Have been a grand juror in a California court since July 1. • Have been convicted of malfeasance in office, a felony or other high crime.
The civil grand jury monitors county and city governments, special legislative districts and joint powers agencies. The civil grand jury may also investigate public complaints.
From the applications, Superior Court judges will nominate a pool of grand jury members. Nineteen grand jurors and 11 alternates will be selected in a random drawing in June.
Jurors work Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The pay is $25 a day, plus mileage and free parking.
Anyone interested in serving on the civil grand jury must apply by Jan. 12.
Applicants must meet several qualifications. Among them they must be: • A U.S. citizen.
http://sdcourt.ca.gov/sites/default/files/SDCOURT/JURY2/ G R A N D J U RY / G r a n d % 2 0 Jury%20Application%20Packet%202024-2025.pdf
come a cruising aficionado, taking two to three cruises a year. Via Facebook, he sends us photos that make us landlubbers fairly drool at the sights of food, drink, entertainment, and scenic views.
Man About Town Now I Understand . . . Never cared much for Christmas after my two sons learned about Santa Claus . . . Christmas became my least favorite time of year. I dreaded it. Then my son Kenny presented me with a granddaughter - a little over 12 years ago. Alex . . . (Alexandrea) is a charmer and had grandpa and grandma wrapped around her little finger. She spent Christmas Eve with us. All day. Now I understand. •••• Justin Salter, publisher of the Valley Center Roadrunner and the Escondido Times Advocate, has be-
I discovered cruising several years ago after my business partner, Evelyn Madison, insisted we go on one. We went on a four day cruise on the Mississippi River aboard a paddle-wheel steamer . . . and I was hooked. It is a lifestyle that one only normally dreams of. Later, we went on a seven day Mexican Riviera cruise on board the Holland America cruise ship, “Oosterdam.” Think of it ladies . . . on a cruise there are no meals to prepare, no tables to set, no dishes to wash, no beds to be made, no laundry to do, you are waited on hand and foot, you are a Queen for as long as the cruise lasts. (And gents . . . do you have any idea of how loving and affectionate that special lady in your life can be when she is pampered morning, noon, and night?) I had argued long and hard, unsuccessfully, as it turned out, that I could not possibly be away from The Paper for more than three days, because of our deadlines. Well, we were and it worked out so well that when we pulled back into San Diego Harbor, I turned to her and said, “Let’s turn around and go
I’ve learned that motel mattresses are better on the side away from the phone. Age 50 I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a man by the way he handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. Age 51 I’ve learned that keeping a vegetable garden is worth a medicine cabinet full of pills. Age 52 I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you miss them terribly after they die. Age 53 I’ve learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life. Age 58 I’ve learned that if you want to do something positive for your children, work to improve your marriage. Age 61 I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. Age 62
back out again tonight.” (The ship disembarked us, then made ready to sail again that very night for a repeat seven day trip. We didn’t go back out, of course. But the desire to do so was still there). Justin does this cruising adventure on a regular basis. Yes, I envy him. •••• My new Christmas Toy: Santa smiled upon me and dropped a lovely gift over the holidays. An Amazon “Echo” electronic gadget that does a bit of everything. One has to merely invoke the magic words, “Alexa” to wake the machine up, followed by a question. “Alexa,” I say, “what is the population of Windom, Minnesota?” (Where I was born). Alexa promptly answers, “the population of Windom, Minnesota, is 4,650.” Good friend, Dick Jungas, owner of California Funeral Alternatives, was born about 20 miles away from Windom - another small town named Mountain Lake, Minnesota. “Alexa,” I say, “what is the population of Mountain Lake, Minnesota?” Alexa says, “the population of Mountain Lake is about 2,100.” Smart girl, that Alexa. (I have fun with Dick Jungas, point-
I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back. Age 64 I’ve learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But if you focus on your family, the needs of others, your work, meeting new people, and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you. Age 65 I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with kindness, I usually make the right decision. Age 66 I’ve learned that everyone can use a prayer. Age 72 I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one. Age 82 I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touchholding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. Age 90 I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn. Age 92. ••• In the Jello®-sponsored beauty contest, she was named, Miss Congealiality.
ing out he’s from the only town I know that has neither a mountain nor a lake but calls itself Mountain Lake.) I reckon Alexa is going to be of great help to me in researching stories that I write. •••• I know a lot of other folks are probably Merry and warm and happy and glad it’s the holiday season. Not me. I sit here shivering in our bitterly cold 64 degree weather, watching innocent little children out in their yards, playing with their Christmas toys in this terrible weather. Why, the day after Christmas I nearly broke out in tears at the pitiful sight of the neighbor kids trying to put on a happy face as they played with their new toys but still were sweltering in the winter heat of 83 degrees. Life just ain’t fair. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this afternoon we were to suffer from a blinding snowstorm, icy sleet and rain. I’m going to go see if any stores here sell ear muffs, mufflers (which folks out here call ‘scarves’, and Man About Town continued on page 5
The Paper • Page 5 • January 4, 2024
Memories of Omaha . . . by lyle e davis lyle’s log #57 Monday, December 31, 2018 Mr. Sang was arrested, tried, convicted and sent off to prison. For rape. That left Mrs. Sang a single parent with two sons to raise, Bill and Jim. And to pay bills such as rent, food, utilities. I knew Bill and Jim fairly well. Both went to my high school, Benson High. Jim, as I recall, became fairly prominent and well known in school. I seem to recall him wearing a green Letter jacket though I don’t know what sport he lettered in. Both were good looking kids. Jim, in particular, seemed to shine Dark hair, horn rimmed glasses, a ready smile, always hanging with a good crowd. We never discussed their dad with them. Not once. We all knew about it but kept our yaps shut. We didn’t want to embarrass them or hurt their feelings. After all, we can’t visit the sins of the father on the sons. Or the wife. Don’t know how the wife survived. It had to have been a horrific amount of financial and emotional pressure. Not sure where she worked or what she did, or
Man About Town from page 4 mittens. I’ve given up years ago on finding galoshes. I asked for them several years ago at a local store and the idiot thought I wanted some type of pastry.) I’m going off to sit in my gloomy and glum corner and hold a pity party. And you’re not invited. I vant to be alone. •••• Like many of you, I’m foot-balled out. There are just way too many “bowl games,” so much so that bowl games no longer mean a whole lot. Like you, I would channel surf and see a “bowl game” that featured two teams I have seldom heard of, and of which I had no interest as to who won or lost. Further, many of the “stars” opted
what her source of income was. They had a very small house in the middle of the block, about a block away from our home. All the neighbors seemed very sympathetic to the family and none, to my knowledge, ever broached the subject of the family’s father. That was just how we did things in our neighborhood. Our neighborhood was in a suburb known as Benson, on the west edge of Omaha. In the early years, while living at the Binney address, I went to kindergarten and the early elementary grades at Benson West Elementary school. I still remember Mrs. Babcock, our kindergarten teacher, and Mr. Beck, the custodian and, I think, he also served as the bus driver. Across the street was the Hattie B Monroe Home for Crippled Children. The students I remember from Benson West were Marge Wolf, whom I would later date when she was attending Nursing School, Carla Anderson, Nina Hill and Allen Jones. Carla and Allen are both gone now but Marge, who married Allen Hendricksen, and Nina Hill, are both with us and active in the community. About two blocks south of the Binney address, on Maple Street, was the Royal Dairy. Marge Wolf’s dad was an executive with this company. Great ice cream and a good place to gather
and kibbitz with other kids and the counter guy. One counter guy was Ejner Jensen, an incredibly handsome young man, always with a ready smile and a spotlessly clean white tee shirt. He’d visit with us kids and was ‘one of the crowd.’ Very popular. Several months ago I managed to track Ejner down. He had retired as a very distinguished professor of literature at Carleton College in Minnesota; still a very handsome man but he has aged considerably. (Unlike you and me. We’ve retained all of our youthful good looks, energy, and stamina). Originally, we had moved to 6934 Binney St. from Minnesota. A small but more than adequate house - plus the house came with about 8 or 10 residential lots which dad eventually sold to provide the funding for our new home that we built at 6945 Wirt, at the corner of 70th & Wirt. We had moved to Omaha from Windom, Minnesota, where I was born, so dad could take a job at the Martin Bomber Plant at what is now Offutt Air Force Base. Mom worked for an office in downtown Omaha, as a secretary. Dad worked on the Enola Gay, the bomber that hit Japan. I remember him telling the story of how a new employee would get into the cockpit of the aircraft they were working on, grab a tube and speak into it, “Pilot to bombardier, pilot to bombardier,
out of playing in bowl games and entered the NFL draft. You take the major play-makers out of a bowl game and the luster of that game just got tarnished . . . considerably.
That’s my two cents regarding football . . . what’s yours?
While I’m on my soapbox, I don’t like the “Transfer Portal.” A kid gets a scholarship to play football then decides to transfer to another school. The school made a commitment to that kid . . . the kid should keep his commitment, and loyalty, to the school that gave him the scholarship.
This Pretty World
And, finally, does anyone else find it disconcerting to hear a woman as the play by play announcer? For a football game? It grates on my ears. Bring back the guys to do play by play . . . and sideline interviews? Interviews in the stands? Nope. I wanna watch football . . . the game . . . not some pretty face talking to someone on the sideline or in the stands. Half the time you can’t hear them anyway . . . too much crowd noise . . . and boring subject matter to begin with . . . with sophomoric questions.
Welcome to 2024! ***
I have developed a new technique for meeting people. It seems to work well and, so far, I have not gotten punched in the nose. When we are out dining I will pick out one or two elderly women who are either dining alone or with a gentleman whom I assume is her husband. I walk up to the table, bend down and say, “We have taken a poll and the vote was unanimous. We’ve decided you are the prettiest girl in the restaurant.” That’s all. Invariably, her eyes light up and she thanks me or gushes forth with girlish comments. She’s young
we are over target. Release the bombs. Bombs Away!” The other mechanics, and dad, had a good laugh. They new guy was talking into the ‘relief tube,’ where the pilots would urinate while on a long flight. One house east of our Binney residence was the Emke house. Charles Emke and his two sons, Billy and Charles. Can’t remember the mom’s name. We played together often. Mr. Emke worked at Cargill. They eventually moved to Texas and the kids acquired a heavy Texas accent. The next house east, after a large vacant lot, was house owned by the White family, a deaf husband and wife with a passel of kids, one of whom was Mary Ann White. I remember her because she was the one who slashed my chest open with a razor blade when I was about 10 years old. I and a couple of pals had been playing on the sidewalk with a garden hose, building a dam and then letting the water build up a lake behind the dam. Mary Ann came up and wanted to play and I told her she couldn’t. She got mad and hit me in the chest, probably forgetting that she had picked up a razor blade somewhere in her house and held it in her hand. I bled like a stuck pig. Probably wasn’t a life threatening wound because the sternum would have prevented the blade from reachOmaha continued on page 10
again. Someone noticed her and said something nice about how pretty she is. She probably hasn’t had anyone tell her how pretty she is for some time. Sometimes, she’s not all that pretty. But she loves to hear that, to someone, she is pretty. I reckon we all want to believe we’re pretty . . . at least a little bit. And, if you think about it, every woman is pretty. You just have to sometimes look a bit harder to really see the prettiness. The smiles I get sure are pretty. And, usually, the gentleman smiles as well. He’s probably glad to be in the company of such a pretty lady. So far, it works. No punches in the nose by irate husbands or significant others. I shall keep you posted.
The Paper • Page 6 • January 4, 2024
5th District Supervisor
Jim Desmond
2023 District Office Update Navigating the state’s bureaucracy, even figuring out which agency to contact, can be a big headache. Pointing constituents in the right direction and assisting with staterelated issues is an important function of my District Office (DO). During 2023, we were able to help over 400 district residents resolve issues involving state agencies. People are still having problems reaching the Employment Development Department (EDD), and last year my DO staff was contacted by over 100 constituents having problems accessing EDD benefits. That’s a big drop from the peak of the pandemic when we handled over three thousand cases. There were also dozens of other “resolved” EDD cases that we had to re-open again and again due to ongoing glitches or other issues. We’re always glad to help, and frequently we’re able to resolve vexing issues in just a couple of days. In addition to helping constituents get their EDD benefits, last year we handled hundreds cases involving the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Franchise Tax Board, licensing delays for nurses, long delays for background checks, and many more. Government is very complex, and
we frequently get inquiries about non-state issues. Over the past year we’ve received inquiries about border security, comments about Ukraine and Gaza, county land use policies, city zoning and many other topics. These types of issues are outside state jurisdiction, but If you’re not sure who to contact, feel free to give us a call and we’ll point you in the right direction. Another important DO responsibility involves updating me regarding the opinions of constituents. Emailing or calling the DO to register an opinion on an important issue or piece of legislation will help guide me as I review bills in Sacramento. To share your opinion, please visit my website at https://ad75.asmrc. org/ or call my DO at (858) 5667538. My staff and I take our responsibility to assist residents of the 75th Assembly District seriously. We look forward to continuing to serve you in 2024. Assemblymember Marie Waldron, R- Valley Center, represents the 75th Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes the cities of Poway, Santee, portions of the City of San Diego, and most of rural eastern and northern San Diego County.
A Word from San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones
Explore San Marcos Parks And Trails To Start Off Your New Year The City of San Marcos would like to wish the community a Happy New Year! San Marcos has the perfect new year resolution for you, adventure out into the beautiful parks and trails the City offers to its residents. There are many recreational spaces for our community members to enjoy, including: 25 community parks, 14 neighborhood parks, 3 recreation centers and a growing 72-mile trail network!
City. It gives me and other community members a place to appreciate the beautiful environment. Recently, Foothills Park located at 881 Avenida Abeja, San Marcos, installed new playground equipment which includes a net climber and spinner for children ages 2-12. Whether you want to explore the City’s trail system or various parks, San Marcos offers opportunities to discover new ways of enjoying the outdoors.
One of my favorite things about For more information, visit the San Marcos is its proximity to rec- Parks and Recreation webpage at reational activities throughout the www.san-marcos.net.
Tell Us Now As your County Supervisor, advancing government programs that promote efficiency and accessibility for the residents of North County is among my top priorities. If you have a problem that needs County assistance our Tell Us Now! phone app provides an efficient and convenient way to report issues directly to the County. Available to iPhone and Android users, the County’s Tell Us Now! app builds on the County’s commitment to customer service by making County systems more efficient. It is a user-friendly app where constituents can report non-emergency problems to the County. Through the app you can contact many County Departments to report a variety of issues, such as County Code Compliance to report graffiti; and the County Department of Public Works to report road maintenance, signs and traffic issues.
It’s easy to use—See a problem, take a photo, add some text and send! The app will alert someone to clean up the mess, repair the sign or fix that error! If you see a pothole, send it in on the app and we will get it repaired shortly. Be sure to download the app today and participate in making your neighborhood and our County a better place to live! As always, if we can be of assistance or answer any questions, my team and I can be reached at (619)531-5555 or via email at Jim. Desmond@sdcounty.ca.gov. We are still happy to help with any of these issues too! San Diego County District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond, 1600 Pacific Highway, #335, San Diego, CA 92101, United States http:// www.supervisorjimdesmond.com/
Problem Solved by Christopher Elliott
My BMW doesn’t work! Why won’t they fix it? Jim Ogden’s new BMW is a lemon, but he can’t get his dealership to fix it or take the car back. What are his options? Q: I purchased a used 2023 M240i Coupe with 3,200 miles and a full factory warranty recently from Stevens Creek BMW in Santa Clara, Calif. After completing the transaction, but before even leaving the lot, the technician who was demonstrating the operation of the car was not able to connect the car to my BMW “ConnectedDrive” account. The dealer advised me to wait another day for BMW to connect my account and see if the problem resolved itself. It did not. Fast forward to today. The car has been in the service department for the last six weeks. Since taking the car to the shop, the problems have gotten almost infinitely worse. The dealer has replaced the instrument console and other electronic modules. The current status, according to the service department, is that “the car has four modules that will not code,” including the new instrument panel. They have been unable to repair the vehicle and have turned the car over to BMW, where it has been for several weeks. There is no ETA
for a fix. The dealership has made it crystal clear that it will not take any responsibility for the car and that this is between me and BMW. The general manager at the dealership advised me that the car meets all the requirements for a buyback and advised me to contact BMW and start the buyback process. I made the buyback request to BMW last week and am supposed to hear back this week but am not optimistic. Since then, I have contacted several reputable lemon lawyers for advice dealing with BMW. To my surprise, all told me variations of the same thing: I’d have a great case if the car were brand new, but they will not take on any cases of used cars, and my odds with BMW are very low. Can you help? ~ Jim Ogden, Los Gatos, Calif. A: The M240i Coupe is a gorgeous car, and I commend you on an excellent choice. A non-working M240i Coupe, however, is not an excellent choice. But you had a red flag or two before you even drove the vehicle off the lot. Problem Solved continued on page 12
The Paper • Page 7 • January 4, 2024
Historically Speaking
America’s Forgotten Aviator In its first year, using seven 10passenger Stinson tri-motors on an hourly daytime schedule between Washington, D.C., and New York, Ludington became the first purely passenger air carrier to show a profit.
emy, resigned his commission in 1926 to become assistant general manager of Transcontinental Air Transport (later to become Trans World Airlines).”
By Tom Morrow Here’s a bit of American history nearly forgotten. South Dakota native Eugene Luther “Gene” Vidal was born April 13, 1895. He was an early pilot and advocate for commercial aviation. Vidal was one of President Franklin Roosevelt’s “New Deal” officials. For eight years, from 1929 to 1937, he worked closely with pioneer aviatrix Amelia Earhart in a number of aviation-related enterprises, and was President Roosevelt’s top civil aviation director from 1933 to 1937. In his obituary, Time magazine noted: “Eugene Vidal, 73, pioneer promoter of civil aviation and father of noted author Gore Vidal ... starred in football at West Point and competed in the decathlon in the Antwerp Olympic Games of 1920. He later taught aviation and coached football at the acad-
Vidal was a versatile athlete. At the University of South Dakota from 1913 to 1916, he was a letterman in football, basketball, baseball, and track. Vidal participated as an athlete in the 1920 Olympic Games and as a coach in the 1924 Games. In 1920 he had one first-place finish in competing in the decathlon, in heat eight of the 100 meter dash, and placed seventh overall in the event. In 1921, Vidal received his U. S. Army Airplane Pilot rating. On Jan. 11, 1922, Vidal married Nina Gore, daughter of U.S. Sen. Thomas Gore. It was alleged Gene Vidal had a long-standing romantic relationship with Earhart. It began in 1929 when they worked together for Transcontinental Air Transport, lasting until her ill-fated trans Pacific disappearance in 1937. Years later, his son, noted author Gore Vidal, confirmed the story of their romance. In 1924 in Paris, Vidal was an assistant track coach in charge of the modern pentathlon and decathlon squads. Vidal also played briefly for the American Professional Football Association’s
Luther “Gene” Vidal Washington Senators in 1921, appearing in one game. In 1929, after coaching college football Vidal joined Transcontinental Air Transport (TAT), where he rapidly rose to assistant general manager in its St. Louis, Missouri, office. In February 1930, Vidal and veteran airmail pilot Paul Collins organized the first commuter airline, the New York, Philadelphia and Washington Airway Corporation, better known as the “Ludington Line.” Vidal became a company vice president and general manager. Earhart made an investment of $30,000 and was made a vice president in charge of publicity.
In 1933, Vidal joined the U.S. Department of Commerce, appointed by newly-elected President Franklin D. Roosevelt as assistant director for Air Regulation in its Aeronautics Branch. With Earhart’s recommendation to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Vidal soon was promoted to Director of Aeronautics. After his appointment he appeared on the Dec. 18, 1933, cover of Time magazine and was recognized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as one of the “12 Outstanding Young Men of America.” In 1938, he became a partner in Boston & Maine Airways, which merged with National Airways in November, 1940 and became the future Northeast Airlines. During the Great Depression, Vidal’s term as a federal director was a rocky one. In November 1933 he made public a proposal to develop a safe mass-produced light aircraft, the aviation equivalent of the Ford Model T automobile, that would Historically Speaking continued on page 16
Travel Troubleshooter by Christopher Elliott
Hertz hit me with an $850 repair bill six months after I returned my rental car. Hertz hits Joseph Meisinger with an $850 bill six months after he returns his rental car. Wait, six months? Yes, six months. Does he have to pay? Q: My wife and I rented a car from Hertz in Arizona for a couple of days with our kids. The rental went fairly seamlessly, we didn’t notice any damage to the car when picking it up. The representative did not give us anything to document damage, which was sort of atypical. We returned the car without any damage, and Hertz did not note anything when we returned the vehicle. Six months later, I received a claim notification from Hertz that the car had $850 of damage during our rental period. There is no description of any damage, no evidence of repair -- just a request for our insurance information or credit card number.
I told Hertz that we did not incur any damage during our rental and that it was concerning to us that nearly six months after returning the vehicle without damage, we received a bill for damage. Can you help?
the odometer reading reported by Hertz and the one on your return. That means Hertz might have rented the car to someone else who damaged the vehicle and that the company was holding the wrong renter accountable.
~ Joseph Meisinger, Elkhorn, Neb.
Hertz did not send you any of the repair documentation or explain the 600-mile gap. So what then? A brief, polite appeal to Hertz might have helped. I list the names, numbers and email addresses of the Hertz customer service executives on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org.
A: Hertz should have noted any damage to your vehicle when you returned it. That way, it could have shown you the problem, and you could have signed off on it and agreed to pay for the repairs. Sending a bill when there’s no clear documentation of damage is problematic. And six months later? That invites a lot of questions. It turns out you had a lot of questions, too. You sent them to Hertz in writing. What kind of damage? Where did they have the car repaired? There was one more problem -- a 600-mile gap between
It turns out Hertz has done this kind of thing before. I’ve mediated cases like this one, and Hertz normally takes anywhere between two months and three months to send the paperwork. A representative told you it had a backlog of damage cases. You could have gotten this dropped
if you had “before” and “after” photos of your rental car. Always, always take pictures of the exterior and interior to prove your innocence just in case your car rental company decides to send you a late bill. (I have more information in my free guide on renting a car, which I also include on my site.) I contacted Hertz on your behalf. You received a message from Hertz’s executive customer service department. “I have received notification from our corporate claims team that the claim has been closed at this time, and you will not be held liable for the damages to the vehicle,” it said. Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help by contacting him on his site. © 2024 Christopher Elliott.
The Paper • Page 8 • January 4, 2024
Twelve Places You Absolutely Have To See In 2024 There’s no shortage of fascinating places to visit in 2024. I know because I’m on the road 365 days a year, and in 2023, I visited a few destinations I can personally recommend.
of Seoul’s famous neighborhoods, and you’ll find an almost endless variety of coffee shops and restaurants where you can stop and enjoy the view. Sure, there are irresistible cultural sites, such as Gyeongbokgung Palace and Jogyesa Temple. But I will always remember Seoul for its vibrant coffee-shop culture and friendly people.
I don’t just parachute into these places for a few days with my reporter’s notepad. I spent several weeks in almost all the cities on my list. I shopped in the markets, explored the city and befriended the locals. Sometimes, I also brought my college-age sons along for the adventure. You’d think “What’s your favorite destination?” would be the question people ask me the most, but it’s not. (I’ll share the number-one question in just a minute.) First, here’s my list of the 12 best places to see in 2024, along with the best time to visit. January: Antarctica You’ll want to sail down to Antarctica during the Southern Hemisphere summer. Temperatures are relatively mild and the normally tempestuous Drake Passage is calmer. I flew to Ushuaia, Argentina, and boarded the Hurtigruten Expeditions MS Fridtjof Nansen for a 10-day cruise down to Antarctica in late December and arrived in the White Continent just before the New Year. It was spectacular. Even though it looks a little risky, you should not miss a hike on the ice to see the penguins. If you’re really brave, try the polar plunge into subfreezing water. Unfortunately, we missed our chance to dive into the Antarctic because the glacier was calving, sending large sheets of ice crashing into the water. Go see it before it’s gone. February: Doha, Qatar Qatar is one of the most underrated destinations in the world. The weather in late winter is nearly perfect -warm days, cool nights. My sons and I spent time wandering around the world-famous Souk Waqif, a crowded market where you can buy almost anything, but the main activity seems to be drinking coffee and smoking vanilla-scented shisha (we tried the coffee, but skipped the shisha). Highlights of our visit included an afternoon spent at the National Museum of Qatar, which explains where this gleaming metropolis came from, and a journey to the desert to see the monoliths by American sculptor Richard Serra. March: Christchurch, New Zealand Christchurch, on New Zealand’s South Island, feels like a different planet. March is early fall in the
The MS Fridtjof Nansen near González Videla Antarctic Base in Antarctica. Photo by Christopher Elliott Southern Hemisphere, but even then, the hills remain a brilliant shade of green. You’ll recognize this place if you’ve ever seen one of the Lord of the Rings movies, but there is so much more to it than the striking cinematic scenery. Christchurch is a welcoming city with terrific coffee shops (my favorite was Espresso Studio by Fushoken) and great dining options that are easy on the wallet. I spent days wandering around Hagley Park in the middle of town and admiring the Christchurch Botanical Gardens. Make sure you get out of town to hike up in the mountains. You don’t have to love Middle Earth to enjoy New Zealand’s South Island. April: Kyoto, Japan If you can get to Kyoto in April, you should do it. The cherry trees bloom in mid-March and usually reach their peak in early April. But even if you miss Sakura season, you really need to see this place. The former Japanese capital is filled with ancient temples and shrines. This is also the place to go to learn how to make sushi from the artisans at Kyoto Sushimaking or, as you are struggling to adjust to the new time zone, find a place that serves authentic ramen. My sons and I kept coming back to Kyoto Engine Ramen, hidden down a narrow alley and always crowded with jet-lagged expats. May: Hoi An, Vietnam Vietnam was the biggest surprise during my 2023 travels. I spent a long weekend in Hoi An, in the central part of the country, and I’m still processing the natural beauty of the place, with its steep green mountains and postcard-perfect beaches. Hoi An is an ancient city filled with temples and a rich history of vari-
ous cultural influences, including Chinese and French. Make sure you get down to the marketplace and out on the Thu Bon River at dusk, when the boats drift downstream with their colorful lanterns. And check out the pho for dinner over at the Anantara Hoi An Resort. June: Fukuoka, Japan If you’re looking for something different in Japan, outside of Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo, you should check out Fukuoka. It is easily the most friendly of the Japanese cities I visited. If you make this a second stop in Japan, I highly recommend getting there via the Shinkansen (bullet train), which is an engineering marvel. Fukuoka also has excellent shopping. We stocked up on green tea before heading back to the States. If you can catch the hydrofoil out to Iki Island, it’s well worth it. Don’t miss dinner at the Iki Retreat if you go. It’s worth the trip.
The historic Santa Monica Pier Carousel in Santa Monica, Calif. Photo by Christopher Elliott September: Los Angeles I returned to the States for a few weeks this fall. I stayed in Marina Del Rey, Calif., but spent some time along the beach in Venice and Santa Monica. And there’s one takeaway from talking to shopkeepers and tour operators. Early fall is really the best time to visit L.A. Hotel rates, particularly in touristy areas, tend to slip during the shoulder season. I love L.A. during the early fall, and if you find yourself near the beach, you should check out Santa Monica’s A Walk Through Pier History tour, which tells the backstory of this iconic attraction. And who doesn’t love an old merry-go-round?
July: Santiago, Chile Chile has some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the world, and there’s no better time to visit than during the middle of the Southern Hemisphere winter. Some of the top resorts, such as Portillo, are only a short drive from Santiago. Even if you visit Chile during the summer, you can still look at the snow-capped Andes mountains and think about the world-class skiing in the southern hemisphere. August: Seoul, South Korea I know this is going to sound strange, but the best part of visiting Seoul was taking long walks in Gyeongui Line Forest Park, a three-mile-long urban park that used to be an old railroad line. It takes you through some
Elephants enjoying dinner at the Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort near Chiang Rai, Thailand. Photo by Christopher Elliott October: Chiang Rai, Thailand The Golden Triangle region, where Myanmar, Laos and Thailand meet, used to be known for its opium trade. Today, it’s all about tourism. Although the rainy season is over, it still isn’t too busy here, so you’ll practically have all the temples to yourself and can take long walks Travel continued on page 12
The Paper • Page 9 • January 4, 2024
Happy New Year
Laura Strickler HAPPY NEW YEAR! What will 2024 bring us? Of course, I hope we are all blessed with health and happiness. What are your hopes for the New Year? Do you have financial concerns for yourself or your family members? Now that the holidays are over and we all get back to normal, we have to get back to taking care of business. That business may mean that you review your finances and see the need to make some decisions. Did you know that rising home values have created $6.5 TRILLION in tappable equity for homeowners aged 62 and over. With that in mind, I’d like to tell you about a new loan program called EquityAvail. It is designed to be an innovative solution for homeowners who:
*Age 55+ who don’t want to refinance into a 15 or 30 year loan *Seeking an alternative to a HELOC/home equity loan *Wishing to age in place *Wanting to reduce their current monthly mortgage payment *Looking to reduce work hours and financial stress How does the program work? *Significantly reduces monthly mortgage payments for 10 years *Year 11+, no monthly payments are required What are the key features? *No FHA insurance *Loans up to $4 Million *Non-recourse loan (the loan is secured by the home only) What are the borrower obligations? *Use property as primary residence *Pay all property charges including property taxes, fees and insurance *Maintain property Who is eligible? *Age 55+ *Median credit score of 680+ *Must be short to close on a reverse mortgage *Must have 10+ years remaining on an existing forward mortgage *Debt-to-income ratio of 43% or residual income Meet Winnie, age 69, home value $475,000. She is currently raiding savings to cover significant credit card debt and survive. She doesn’t
qualify for a reverse mortgage since she is short to close by $37,794.
uityAvail loan to pay off some credit card debt.
She has 22+ years left on her forward mortgage and will pay until age 91. Her current monthly mortgage payment is $2,096.
Then after 10 years, she no longer has ANY mortgage payment! What a relief for Winnie!
By getting the EquityAvail mortgage, she has monthly mortgage payments of $593, for 120 months, 10 years. She also received $13,989 in cash when her loan closed. The outcome of her obtaining the EquityAvail loan is a 71% reduction in her monthly mortgage payment. She has 150 fewer monthly mortgage payments. She is able to reduce her work hours and she has increased her retirement funds. She stopped raiding her savings and used some of the $13,989 cash she received from the Eq-
This loan program is another example of how the reverse mortgage industry adapts to the marketplace. So, if you have checked on a reverse mortgage before and would like to find out if you meet the criteria for this unique loan, please call me! I wish you all a Happy New Year filled with peace, health and joy! Laura Strickler Retirement Mortgage Advisor NMLS #315848 760-518-9839 Laurastrickler1@gmail.com www.laurastrickler.com
The Paper • Page 10 • January 4, 2024
Omaha from page 5 ing any vital organs . . . but, boy, did I ever bleed! Mom and dad rushed me to the doctor’s office. Don’t remember why they didn’t call the Rescue Squad. I remember the doctor was an old bald headed guy who was so intent on listening to the Omaha Cardinals baseball team that he’d make a stitch, then walk over to the radio to hear the next 1/2 inning, then come back and make another stitch. I think I wound up with six stitches, which left me with a keloid scar that I carry to this day. I have no idea who won the baseball game. Nor do I care. I was not fond of that doctor. Two houses west of the Binney address, in one of the houses built on one of the lots dad had sold, was a guy, Shorty, and his wife, Jean. Shorty worked for ADT, the alarm company, at nights; he’d come home, sleep for a couple hours and then head to AkSarBen, Omaha’s famous race track. (If you haven’t figured it out already, AkSarBen is Nebraska, spelled backwards). He got to know the jockeys, trainers, and owners and, in time, they’d tell him which horse should win in which race. Shorty made a lot of money at AkSarBen with this inside information. Often, a jockey,
leaving the stable area would tap his foot five times with his riding crop. That was a signal the #5 horse should win that race. And so it went throughout the day. Eventually, Shorty would clue me in on these tips and I, too, began to make money at AkSarBen. Then my big mouth got me in trouble. I’d begun to pass along these “sure things” to my pals and they’d bet the winning horse. Word got back to Shorty and I was cut off from any further tips. “Look, kid,” he said, “the more people that bet the winning horse the less the odds are and the less money I make. You’re interfering with my income.” I learned a lesson the hard way. The money dad made from selling off the residential lots gave us the money to build our brand new house at 6945 Wirt, only a half block away from the old Binney address. We sold the Binney house to the Paulson family. Mr. Paulson was a mousy type of guy, very quiet, short. He and his wife had a son, Floyd, who became a student at
Benson High. Floyd had almost white hair, was slender, like his dad, very quiet, and a high pitched voice. I’d say ‘hi’ to him in the school halls but otherwise had very little social action with him. I remember mom wanting me to play the trombone so I could be in the band and ‘get in to see the football games free.’ Big deal. I didn’t like the trombone, wasn’t much good at it, and didn’t really want to be in any marching band, and I don’t think it cost very much to go to the football games. In fact, as a student, I think we got in free. Maybe not. The biggest benefit I got from playing trombone was carrying the case home and using the case as a cover to shoplift cartons of cigarettes at the local Red and White grocery story. Yes, I started smoking at a very early age. (I finally wised up and quit about 30 years ago). We never once got caught shoplifting.
San Diego Humane Society is supporting families and their pets who need a little extra help. Through the Community Pet Pantry, anyone can visit our campuses to pick up a bag of dog or cat food, and other supplies, as available. No appointment is needed for this service. Hours are Tuesday-Sunday from 10am to 6pm.
When the weather was good we’d usually walk to and from school. A long walk by today’s standards but a rather pleasant experience back then. Landmarks on our walks were Louis’ Market, The Five and Dime, was it WoolOmaha continued on page 12
El Cajon 373 N. Marshall Ave. Escondido 3500 Burnet Drive Oceanside 572 Airport Road San Diego 5480 Gaines Street
Pet Parade
Pet of the Week
Eden
Stella
Eden is Rancho Coastal Humane Society’s pet of the week. She’s a 2-year-old, 7-pound, male, Domestic Short Hair cat with a Calico coat. She was a stray in Riverside County before being rescued. Eden was transferred to Rancho Coastal Humane Society through Friends of County Animal Shelters (FOCAS.) She’s a little adventurer ready to explore her new home. The $100 adoption fee for Eden includes medical exam, spay, up to date vaccinations, and registered microchip. Visit Rancho Coastal Humane Society in Encinitas or log on to www. SDpets.org. Open 11 to 4, Friday through Monday, and by appointment Wednesday and Thursday.
Meet Stella! This wiggly little love has a zest for life and unlimited joy to share! Stella is only seven months old and is still growing into the stellar dog we know she’ll be, so she will benefit from a family who can commit to continuing her training and giving her lots of positive outlets for her puppy energy. She loves to play and has shown interest in being friends with both dogs and cats. What she wants the most is a devoted human to give her love, toys, treats and a cozy place to feel safe. Is she the perfect puppy you’ve been dreaming of? Stella (882753) is available for adoption at San Diego Humane Society’s Escondido Campus at 3500 Burnet Dr. Through Dec. 31, adoption fees are just $24 for all dogs 7 months and older! If you have questions about the adoption process, you can visit sdhumane.org/ adopt or call 619-299-7012. Online profile: https://www.sdhumane. org/adopt/available-pets/animal-single.html?petId=882753
The Paper • Page 11 • January 4, 2024
Are we part of the most transformative period in human history? Part II - Conclusion Intelligence) and at the dawn of the 21st century we linked, it up with the broadband Internet creating universal access to the sum of human knowledge. The marriage of AI and broadband Internet in 2001 introduced us to the “IW” (Intelligent Web).
The Computer Factory 845 W. San Marcos Blvd. 760-744-4315 thecomputerfactory.net
Last week we began a discussion on the question above. There is mounting evidence that humanity may be at a crossroads in human evolution. Since proto-humans first climbed down from the trees, our genus has survived and thrived by our wits. We banded together to share our knowledge in tribes, civilizations and eventually the entire World. We developed language, writing and libraries to preserve and build upon our accumulated knowledge. We immersed ourselves in specific fields of learning and became doctors, lawyers, physicists and plumbers. With our accumulated technology we were able to build pyramids, bridges, airplanes, nuclear bombs and eliminated smallpox. In the mid nineteen hundreds we began the development of AI (Artificial
The possibility that the evolving IW will replace human intelligence as the primary driving force behind our specie’s culture and evolution seems more probable with each day. With its infinite data storage and ever evolving AI, the IW already successfully outperforms us in many erstwhile cerebral endeavors. It writes music, essays, and term papers. It performs complex advanced mathematics and finds patterns in large data samples. With ever improving artificial intelligence, robotics and access to all of human knowledge and technology, it is difficult to envision a future that is not dominated by these man-made innovations. Already we see the younger generation’s willingness to integrate the knowledge base and artificial intelligence of the IW as a substitute for their own internal cognizance.
endurance, so the IW has supplanted the survival imperative for internal data storage and reasoning power. Since the AI enhanced IW’s answers and problem solving capabilities are typically superior to any individual “stand alone” capability. It makes sense to use the IW rather that to spend time and energy arriving at inferior solutions using our own limited internal resources. The downside of relying on the AI capabilities of the IW is the cognitive equivalent of the “use it or lose it” syndrome we encountered as modern technology reduced our
need for physicality and stamina. Using machines instead of muscles makes us weaker just as using the IW instead of our own cognitive “muscles” makes us dumber. To combat the modern day decline in the need for strength and endurance we humans created an entire industry based on physical fitness. As the AI and the IW erode our “mental muscles,” will we find ways to maintain or even increase our cognitive powers? Let’s hope so because, if the lights ever go out, we humans will be in a “world of hurt”.
Recent standardized intelligence tests reveal that, for the first time in the hundred year history of IQ testing, scores have reversed their steady climb and started a decline that is most notable in the younger generations. Just as technology reduced the survival imperatives for physical strength and
John Van Zante’s Critter Corner
It’s 2024. Do We Really Still Need Animal Shelters? ers, and people who didn’t get their pets altered then had “Oops!” litters.
This question came up before, so I looked back and found an article from January of 2012. Has anything changed in 12 years? That story began with a guy who asked, “Are there really too many pets? Don’t most people get their pets fixed? Do we really still need animal shelters?” Someone at the grocery store recognized me and said, “Hey! I know you! You’re the Dog Guy from TV.” If you don’t remember my name, but you remember that I’m The Dog Guy, that’s okay. He told me about his family’s dog and cat. Then said, “We would never give them back to the shelter. Aren’t most people that way? Do we really still need animal shelters?”
Yes. Now, like then, there are too many pets. These aren’t rejects that nobody wants. Some belonged to people who didn’t plan for their pets’ care after they died. Some belonged to military personnel who were deployed. There are pets rescued from domestic violence through Rancho Coastal Humane Society’s Animal Safehouse Program. And others who were transferred from our crowded rescue
Twelve years after that first article was written, we still need animal shelters.
partners through Friends of County Animal Shelters. (FOCAS) Most pet owners in our area “get it” that having their pets spayed or neutered helps to control the population, and that altered pets live longer. In San Diego County a pet must be altered before it leaves a shelter. But only about 20% of the pets in the country come from shelters and rescues. Others come from puppy mills, backyard breed-
If the time ever comes when we no longer need shelters and all of us shelter workers get fired, there’s going to be a huge celebration! If we’re no longer needed, that’s success! But, for today, there are too many pets, not everyone gets their pets altered, and we still need shelters to provide care, comfort, and medical treatment. Until we’re not needed anymore, thank you for your support.
The Paper • Page 12 • January 4, 2024
Travel from page 8 through the rainforest or along the rice fields without having to dodge busloads of visitors. There are elephants here, and there may be no better place to see them than at the Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, which also offers dramatic views of the Ruak River and beyond it, Myanmar and Laos. November: Siem Riep, Cambodia Words fail me when trying to describe the experience of watching the sun rise over Angkor Wat, the largest religious structure in the world. It’s an historic landmark of breathtaking scale that is being devoured by the jungle. I’ve never seen anything like it, and I probably never will again. Go to the main temple complex just before dawn and watch the sun come up. Getting to Siem Riep is much now easier thanks to a new international airport, and there is plenty to do in the city. But this destination is all about the temples. You’ll need at least three days to even get a sense of the scale of Angkor Wat, but it will be something you’ll never forget. December: Hobart, Tasmania There may be no better place to spend the end of the year than in Hobart, Australia. It is the peak of the Southern Hemisphere summer, and Hobart is one of the coolest Australian cities in which to enjoy it. You can watch the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race from the suburb of Battery Point or catch the ferry out to the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) to see one of the most bizarre art museums in the world. If you can get out of town, check out Cradle Mountain and visit with the Tasmanian Devils at Devils@ Cradle Sanctuary. So is there an answer to the question, “What’s your favorite destination?” With so many places to see, I can’t pick just one favorite. I love all these places. And yet, this isn’t the most frequently asked question. My friends have stopped asking me how I am; now they ask me where I am. Given the fact that I don’t have a permanent home, it’s a fair question. So where am I now? Santiago, Chile, for the next few days, and then headed to Uruguay. By the way, you can follow all of my adventures and catch my podcast on my free newsletter, Elliott Confidential. I can’t wait to see where else 2024 takes me. If you have any South American destinations you’d like to recommend, please send me an email (I’m at chris@elliott.org). I’d love to hear from you.
Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can reach him here or email him at chris@elliott.org.
Problem Solved from page 6
I run into this issue with rental cars all the time, and my advice is the same: If something is wrong with the car, do not accept it. You could have ripped up the contract and walked away, and maybe you should have. I’ve purchased a few cars in my lifetime, and the fact that they were selling you a vehicle with just 3,200 miles on it should have also raised a red flag. I would have wondered what BMW used the car for. Was it a courtesy vehicle? Or did someone return it after driving 3,200 miles because something was wrong with it? I might want to get a straight answer -- as well as any relevant repair records -- from the dealership before buying the car. You can get a deal on a used car from time to time. I once bought a car with just 1,000 miles for a price that seemed too good to be true. I found out later that the dealership owner’s wife had used it as her personal car and just didn’t like it. The likely reason? The model was being discontinued. The fact that your car was preowned should have had no bearing on its warranty, which would have covered all your repairs. But clearly, BMW should have taken the car back if it was so deeply flawed. We’ve had a few complaints about BMW in the past, including one customer who had a problem with her title. But they are few and far between.The company fixes most customer service problems when you appeal to one of the executive customer service contacts at BMW, which I publish on my advocacy site, Elliott.org.
Oodles from page 3
Omaha from page 10
build meaningful relationships, create partnerships, and create a better 2024! https://web.carlsbad.org/atlas/ events/first-friday-breakfast-second-friday-in-january-3478/register
worths,? with the lunch counter, the Benson Theater, Steve’s Grill, the Post Office, Kremer Funeral Home, Benson Baptist Church, and Benson West. I remember in the very early years going to the Saturday movies at the Benson Theater. Serial movies with Lash Larue, Perils of Pauline, Hopalong Cassidy . . . heavy stuff. And it costs a whole 9 cents to get in.
*** Escondido Elks Mardi Gras Magic Show Fundraiser January 20 • 5pm - 10:30pm $50 per person 2430 S. Escondido Blvd. Escondido Don your best Mardi Gras attire or just come as you are for an evening of full bar, food, live band, dancing, costume contest, magic show, raffle prizes, fun games and photo booth. Magic Mike from the famous Magic Castle will mesmerize you with his magic calling on folks from the audience. For tickets, call the Lodge office at 760-803-0703. The Elks pay physical therapists to go up and down the state of California assisting children 18 years and under. They also teach the parents and guardians their techniques *** Lake Hodges Native Plant Club Meetings 17110 Bernardo Center Drive Lake Hodges Native Plant Club Meetings. (lhnpc.org) Are you Interested in California Native Plants to save money on water, bring more birds and butterflies to your yard? Meet people who love plants and gardening! Upcoming Meetings: Monday Jan 22nd Presentation: Restoring California by Vincent Bellini Monday, Feb. 26th Presentation: Next to Nature by Joseph Rivera Presentations start promptly at 6:30pm. For more information please visit our website: lhnpc.org *** Cardiff Farmer Market Every Saturday • 10am - 2pm
I contacted BMW on your behalf. The company agreed to take your car back and offered a discount on a new vehicle, which you accepted.
Cardiff 101 Mainstreet Association is hosting a weekly Farmers Market every Saturday from 10am to 2pm.
Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy (https://elliottadvocacy.org), a nonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help by contacting him at https://elliottadvocacy.org/help/
Located at MiraCosta College San Elijo Campus, the new farmers market is a Certified California Farmers Market, featuring locally sourced produce sold by local farmers. The Cardiff Farmers Market will also have an array of related food products and prepared food vendors, along with a curated group of makers and craft vendors.
© 2023 Christopher Elliott.
I don’t think I’ll ever forget the delicious aroma of hamburgers, french fries, and fried onions that filled the air at Steve’s Grill. Steve’s Grill, I understand, has gone through several ownership changes but the restaurant is still there. Dunno if I”ll ever get back to Omaha but if I do you can bet I’ll head for Steve’s Grill and order a burger and fries. Later on, Grandpa Jesse Davis died and left me his 1942 blue Ford coupe. I was one of his favorite grandsons and I could not have been happier at inheriting his car. It still had the paper wrapped around the steering column, from the factory, when I received it. Many happy memories in that car. Spent the better part of high school dating a girl from North High, Karen Hemphill. I can remember how she’d scrape up a quarter, I’d scrape up a quarter and we’d go put 50 cents worth of gas in the car and we’d drive all over town (every so often we’d slow down and park somewhere). Karen passed away about 10 years ago but we kept in touch, over the years. I only recently learned that several school mates had lived fairly close to me and I didn’t know it. Kay Davis, the beautiful red head, lived, maybe two blocks from me. Vicki Henderson often visited mutual good friends of ours, Bill and Beulah Cole, 1/2 block away. I had a crush on Vicki while in high school but never pursued it as I was pretty much attached to Karen. I’d see both Kay and Vicki in the halls and say ‘hi’ but we didn’t know each other well till after the school years. Vicki, in fact, had visited us on several occasions here in Escondido, CA. This, then, was my neighborhood . . . some of its people . . . its traditions . . . its memories. Perhaps this little essay has triggered your memory banks about your neighborhood and neighbors? If so, fire away. We’d love to hear about your younger years. Happy New Year to all. lyle, Evelyn, and Mary
The Paper • Page 13 • January 4, 2024
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First, I discovered America, then I discovered The Paper Ever since I can remember I’ve had the burning desire to discover new places, new adventures. Because of this, I set out to discover a new country . . . and I was successful. I even ventured inland a great many miles where I discovered a place I called Minnesota. “This,” I thought, “would be a great place for Scandinavians.” So I headed back to Norway to recruit settlers. While I was gone, some clown named Columbus claimed he discovered America. Life ain’t fair. Except life also give us The Paper. I read it whenever and wherever I go exploring and only buy from those who advertise in The Paper. It’s a Viking thing. Your friend, Eric the Red
The Paper • Page 14 • January 4, 2024
Humane Society Offers Classes In Person And Online If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to help your pet better navigate social situations, we can help. Here are four tips to start working through these challenges and build confidence! 1. Take it slow and pay attention to details! Your pet is always using their behavior and body language to communicate. Take note of what you observe or have a friend film you both while walking. This will help you identify and understand the behaviors you need to address and will reveal how behavior changes based on context or specific triggers. 2. Be objective! We can’t know what our dogs are thinking and feeling, but they do their best to show us. Many behaviors are miscategorized as “aggressive,” so practice noticing specific details to share with a certified professional. For example: “When a stranger approaches, my dog freezes, their eyes widen, their fur gets stiff and their tail goes down. Their mouth gets tighter and sometimes they puff their cheeks before they bark.” These details will help to determine the underlying cause of the behavior, like fear, in the example above. 3. Join a class. Reactive or anxious behaviors are challenging, even if they’re mild, and it’s important to work at a pace your pet is ready for. Working with a professional can help. 4. Why online if the behavior happens in person? Your dog can’t learn when they’re stressed, and humans retain only 10% of what we hear. Online training in a safe and familiar environment sets your pet up for success to learn foundational skills, and having access to the class recordings helps you work through the material at the pace your dog needs. Class Formats In-Person: Designed for social pets who are comfortable and able to focus around other people and pets. Class availability varies by location. Please check the location carefully before enrolling, as space is limited. Online (via Zoom): These classes are appropriate for ALL pets! Lowdistraction learning environments like your home are often the most effective. They’re especially critical for pets experiencing high arousal (stress, high excitability, fear, shyness, reactivity, etc.). Students consistently share stories of excellent progress with behavior challenges. Most classes are recorded live each week so you can review the material. Online (on-demand): These classes are appropriate for ALL pets and are designed for maximum schedule flexibility. Enroll in the next upcoming session, but start anytime that is convenient for you! Trainers hold a weekly live Q&A session over Zoom
If the word “vet” makes you and your pet cringe, this class is for you! Designed to swap fear for fun and anxiety for calm, this class teaches practical, gentle and force-free skills to help with pet handling and care both at home and when heading to the veterinary office. Learn how to give your pet medication, nail trims, dental and ear care and more, and how tools like muzzles and carriers can make handling safe and less scary! See some examples of what you’ll learn here! Dog & Puppy Classes
(also recorded for flexibility). The posted start date is just a suggestion! Pre-registration is REQUIRED for ALL classes and typically closes 24 hours before the first session. Dogs & Storks Webinar Wednesday, Jan. 24 5:30 - 8 p.m. Online (via Zoom) Dogs of all ages $40 per couple If you or someone you know has a fur baby in the home and a human baby on the way, join us for the Dogs & Storks webinar! This unique webinar is taught by a licensed trainer through the Family Paws program and offers positive, practical and fun solutions to prepare your family for life with a dog and a new baby! We strongly recommend taking this webinar 4 months before welcoming the baby into the home. Space is limited. Register Now at https:// www.sharp.com/health-classes/ dogs--storks-class-preparing-families-with-dogs-for-life-with-baby-46?utm_source=scoop&utm_ medium=email&utm_ campaign=storks Private Services Walk & Trains Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Friday and Saturdays San Diego Campus (in-person) Dogs 16 weeks and up $55 per 45 min session Meet with a trainer for a private inperson session to discuss on-leash behavior! During a walk with your dog, you’ll get customized feedback and training tips to make your walks more successful. Learn to notice nuances of your dog’s body language as they interact with the environment around them, discuss how to get their attention when distracted, improve your leash-handling skills and more. Private Training Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays San Diego Campus (in-person) OR Virtual (via Zoom) Pets 16 weeks and up
$100 per 60 min session Meet with a trainer for a private inperson session to discuss concerns about your pet’s behavior. In addition to helpful training tips, we may also provide you with referrals to other trainers or continued work with our team, as appropriate! All cat consults are hosted virtually over Zoom. Please note: These sessions are not designed to address severe behavior concerns such as resource guarding, aggression toward people or pets with intent to harm or moderate to severe separation anxiety and distress. Cat & Kitten Classes The Trainable Cat: Level 1 Online (via Zoom) Kittens and cats of all ages $80 for 3 weekly 1 hour sessions Learn the basics of how to train your cat to perform behaviors like come and sit. We’ll also cover how cats learn, behavioral troubleshooting, clicker training, cat care and handling related to grooming and vet visits and leash/harness training. Kitten Kindergarten graduates can continue building their skills in this class! Dog & Cat Classes Well-Socialized Pet Chat Sundays Online (via Zoom) Pets of all ages FREE 30-minute sessions Pets need to be socialized (here’s a checklist for puppies and one for kittens) with various people, animals, sounds, handling, objects and experiences. Ideally this will happen before they’re 16 weeks old, but socialization is possible at any age! We discuss six socialization topics (one per weekend) and provide tips to develop well-rounded dogs and cats. Register for each! These are an excellent supplement to training classes. Cooperative Care & Handling Online (via Zoom) Pets 12 weeks and up $215 for 6 weekly 1 hour sessions
Puppy Preschool Online (via Zoom) Dogs ages 16 weeks $190 for 6 weekly 1 hour sessions Puppies are full of energy! This class will help you manage common puppy behaviors and develop some basic training skills. This is the ideal class to meet the training needs of your new pup. Awesome Adolescence Online (via Zoom) Dogs ages 16 weeks to 1 year $190 for 6 weekly 1 hour sessions As puppies develop into young adults, they become more independent. Their energy levels increase while their focus seems to decrease. This class teaches basic training skills and troubleshoots adolescent behavior to set pets and their people up for success. Level 1: Marvelous Manners Online (via Zoom) Dogs ages 12 months and up $190 for 6 weekly 1 hour sessions This introductory-level class teaches the basics of positive reinforcement training, giving you the tools to teach your dog good habits and build a strong foundation in basic behaviors. Dog Specialty Classes Control Unleashed: Foundations Online (via Zoom) Ages 6 months and up $215 for 6 weekly 1 hour sessions Your dog communicates with their behavior and it often feels like we need a dog Rosetta Stone to decode it! Control Unleashed: Foundations gives you tools to better understand and meet your dog’s needs using fun pattern games to build more control, skills and appropriate responses to their environment. Control Unleashed is a program by Leslie McDevitt that promotes handler attention and self-control around environmental distractions in a fun, easy-to-learn format for both dog and owner. Simple but powerful pattern games help learning stick and strengthen your relationship with your pet. For more information, visit https:// www.sdhumane.org/
The Paper • Page 15 • January 4, 2024
LEGALS
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9022983 The name of the business: Munn LLC, Everest Coast, located at 2712 Locker Ave West, Suite 1121, Carlsbad, CA 92010. Registrant Information: Munn LLC, 2712 Locker Ave. West, Suite 1121, Carlsbad, CA 92010. This business is operated by a Limited Liability Company. First day of business: N/A /s/ Adolf Singh, Managing Member with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/13/2023 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023401 The name of the business: Jeff The Solar Guy, located at 721 Arthur Ave., Oceanside, CA 92057. Registrant Information: Jeffrey William Massidda, 721 Arthur Ave., Oceanside, CA 92057. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 11/15/2023 /s/ Jeffrey William Massidda with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/20/2023 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023612 The name of the business: Romel Taxi, located at 3439 Northwood Dr., Oceanside, CA 92058. Registrant Information: Romel Karmouche, 3439 Northwood Dr., Oceanside, CA 92058. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 11/22/2023 /s/ Romel Karmouche with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/22/2023 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023610 The name of the business: Stella Cab, located at 525 Avennida Verde, San Marcos, CA 92069. Registrant Information: Antoine Abikhalil, 525 Avenida Verde, San Marcos, CA 92069. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Antoine Abikhalil with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 11/22/2023 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023604 The name of the business: AV CAB, located at 3108 Jacqueline Lane, Oceanside, CA 92056. Registrant Information: Alberto Venegas, 3108 Jacqueline Lane, Oceanside, CA 92056. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 11/22/2023 /s/ Alberto Venegas with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/22/2023 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023750 The name of the business: Speakers Inc., Wespeak Global, located at 1902 Wright Place, Carlsbad, CA 92008. Registrant Information: Hesketh Media LLC, 1902 Wright Place, Carlsbad, CA 92008. This business is operated by a Limited Liability Company. First day of business: 11/04/2021 /s/ Duncan Hesketh, Managing Member with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/27/2023 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/2023
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023915 The name of the business: North Cab, located at 13139 Russet Leaf Ln., San Diego, CA 92129. Registrant Information: Zabie Wahab, 13139 Russet Leaf Ln., San Diego, CA 92129. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Zabie Wahab with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/29/2023 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023968 The name of the business: Exray, located at 1847 Jamaica Way, Vista, CA 92081. Registrant Information: Connected Threads LLC, 1847 Jamaica Way, Vista, CA 92081. This business is operated by a Limited Liability Company. First day of business: 11/27/2023 /s/ Brennan Cassidy, COO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/29/2023 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9024214 The name of the business: R3 Investigative Services, located at 2110 Hawley Dr., Vista, CA 92084. Registrant Information: Rachel Uchida-McCord, 2110 Hawley Dr., Vista, CA 92084. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Rachel Uchida-McCord with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/01/2023 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9022798 The name of the business: Desert Flower Crochet, located at 36236 Old Wilson Road, Ranchita, CA 92066. Registrant Information: Nicole Suzanne McClanahan, 36236 Old Wilson Road, Ranchita, CA 92066. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Nicole Suzanne McClanahan with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/8/2023 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/2023 NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF QINGHAN WANG Case No. 37-2023-00025973 PR-PL-CTL SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO 1100 Union Street San Diego, CA. 92101 CENTRAL (Probate) To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate or both, of Qangwen Ji; Charmaine Ji;; Susanna Segobiano. A petition for probate has been filed by Charmaine Ji in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, 1100 Union Street, San Diego, CA. 92101. Central Courthouse, Probate Division. The Petition for Probate requests that Charmaine Je be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Es-
tates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed actions.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: Date: January 2, 2024 Time: 10:30am. Dept: 504 Address of court: Same as noted above. If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in Section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: Russell M. De Phillips 2163 Newcastle Avenue, Suite 200, Cardiff by the Sea, CA. 92007 760.943.7103 DOP: 12/14, 12/21 & 12/28/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023429 The name of the business: Zak’s Clothing & Uniform, located at 620 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025. Registrant Information: Tuff Wear Inc., 620 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025. This business is operated by a Corporation. First day of business: 10/01/2023 /s/ Hussain Alenazi, President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/20/2023 12/14, 12/21, 12/28, 1/4/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023401 The name of the business: Jeff The Solar Guy, located at 721 Arthur Ave., Oceanside, CA 92057. Registrant Information: Jeffrey William Massidda, 721 Arthur Ave., Oceanside, CA 92057. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 11/15/2023 /s/ Jeffrey William Massidda with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/20/2023
12/14, 12/21, 12/28, 1/4/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9024207 The name of the business: Kirras Tutoring Services, located at 1019 San Juan Street, Oceanside, CA 92058. Registrant Information: Kirra Hope Press, 1019 San Juan Street, Oceanside, CA 92058. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Kirra Hope Press with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/1/2023 12/14, 12/21, 12/28, 1/4/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023545 The name of the business: Dhong Thanh Nguyen, 537 Rush Dr., Apt 148, San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant Information: Dhong Thanh Nguyen, 537 Rush Dr., Apt 148, San Marcos, CA 92078. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 11/21/2023 /s/ Dhong Thanh Nguyen with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/21/2023 12/14, 12/21, 12/28, 1/4/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023545 The name of the business: Phong Thanh Nguyen, 537 Rush Dr., Apt 148, San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant Information: Phong Thanh Nguyen, 537 Rush Dr., Apt 148, San Marcos, CA 92078. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 11/21/2023 /s/ Phong Thanh Nguyen with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/21/2023 12/14, 12/21, 12/28, 1/4/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9024540 The name of the business: Smith Cab, llocated at 3579 Surf Pl., Oceanside, CA 92056. Registrant Information: Bradley H Smith, 3579 Surf Pl., Oceanside, CA 92056. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Bradley H Smith with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/6/2023 12/14, 12/21, 12/28, 1/4/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9024200 The name of the business: Softcom Company, located at 4418 Mount Lindsey Ave., San Diego, CA 92117. Registrant Information: Motomi Ito, 4418 Mount Lindsey Ave., San Diego, CA 92117. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 2/1/1984 /s/ Motomi Ito with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/1/2023 12/14, 12/21, 12/28, 1/4/2023 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME 37-2023-00053052-CU-PT-NC TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Ana Maria Morales Gonzalez filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: Luis Enrique Villa Morales to Proposed name Henry Meza. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objections that includes
the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: 1/26/2024, 8:30 am, in Dept. 25 No hearing will occus on above date. The address of the court is: 325 S. Melrose, Vista, CA. 92081. A copy of the Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: San Marcos News Reporter, dba, The Paper, 845 W. San Marcos Blvd, San Marcos, Ca. 92078. Dated January 30, 2023 /s/ Brad A. Weinreb, Judge of the Superior Court 12/14, 12/21, 12/28, 1/4/2024
Bernardo Center Dr. suite 150, Rancho Bernardo, CA 92128. Registrant Information: Prince Ali Foods Inc, 16588 Bernardo Center Dr. Suite 150, Rancho Bernardo, CA 92128. This business is operated by a Corporation. First day of business: 12/11/2023 /s/ Ali T Ahmed, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/28/2023 12/28, 1/4, 1/11, 1/18/2024
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9024894 The name of the business: Top Tier Contracting, located at 4985 Eucalyptus Ln., Carlsbad, CA 92008. Registrant Information: BD Young Enterprise Inc., 4985 Eucalyptus Ln., Carlsbad, CA 92008. This business is operated by a Corporation. First day of business: N/A /s/ Dezarae Young, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/13/2023 12/21, 12/28, 1/4, 1/11/2024
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME 37-2023-00055375-CU-PT-NC TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner James Russell Booth filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: James Russell Booth to Proposed name Boothy James Russell Booth. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objections that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: 2/9/2024, 8:30 am, in Dept. 25 The address of the court is: 325 S. Melrose, Vista, CA. 92081. No hearing will occur on above date: see attachment. A copy of the Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: San Marcos News Reporter, dba, The Paper, 845 W. San Marcos Blvd, San Marcos, Ca. 92078. Dated December 22, 2023 /s/ Brad A. Weinreb, Judge of the Superior Court 12/28, 1/4, 1/11, 1/18/2024
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9024691 The name of the business: Rad Jammer Designs, located at 2492 Longstaff Ct., San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant Information: Calista Mikel Mejia, 2492 Longstaff Ct., San Marcos, CA 92078. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 12/7/2023 /s/ Calista Mikel Mejia with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/8/2023 12/21, 12/28, 1/4, 1/11/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023811 The name of the business: St. Malo Apartments, located at 1741 S. Myers Street, Oceanside, CA 92054. Registrant Information: HILP-Apartments, LLC, 10490 Camino Del Venado, Valley Center, CA 92082. This business is operated by a Limited Liability Company. First day of business: 3/4/2019 /s/ Harold C.J. Coyledall with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/28/2023 12/28, 1/4, 1/11, 1/18/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9024696 The name of the business: KC’s Cab, located at 1905 Maxson St., Oceanside, CA 92054. Registrant Information: KC’s Dessert First LLC, 1905 Maxson St., Oceanside, CA 92054. This business is operated by a Limited Liability Company. First day of business: 3/4/2019 /s/ victor Cruz, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/8/2023 12/28, 1/4, 1/11, 1/18/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9024836 The name of the business: Giant Pizza NY Style, located at 16588
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9024694 The name of the business: Ride Taxi, located at 1905 Maxson St., Oceanside, CA 92054. Registrant Jonathan Cruz, 1905 Maxson St., Oceanside, CA 92054. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Jonathan Cruz with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/88/2023 12/28, 1/4, 1/11, 1/18/2024
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9025581 The name of the business: Feelgood Design, located at 967 Calle Pilares, Chula Vista, CA 91913. Registrant Henry Van Truong, 967 Calle Pilares, Chula Vista, CA 91913. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 12/21/2023 /s/ Henry Van Truong with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/88/2023 1/4, 1/11, 1/18, 1/25/2024
The Paper • Page 16 • January 4, 2024
Historically Speaking from page 7 cost only $700, calling it the “Poor Man’s Airplane” project and part of a “New Deal for Aviation.” The “$700 airplane” became an object of ridicule that would haunt Vidal’s remainder of time in government. After TWA Flight 6, a Douglas DC-2 carrying 13 persons, crashed in northern Missouri, on May 6, 1935, Vidal came under severe criticism. The airliner had become lost in fog, missed its approach at the airport in Kansas City and was unable to find the secondary airport at Kirksville because the radio beacon there was not operating properly. In the face of criticism Roosevelt moved to dismiss Vidal and his two assistant directors. However, the president was compelled to reinstate Vidal when Earhart advised Mrs. Roosevelt, she would publicly withdraw her support for FDR’s re-election if he did not. Vidal directed the establishment of the first air traffic control centers in the United States. Vidal’s experiments with the durable waterproof plywood material, said to have a greater tensile strength than a comparable thickness of aluminum, evolved into a small business. Vidal patented the process as “Vidal Weldwood,” variously described as “cooked wood” or “molded plywood.”
Top 10 Pet Names At Humane Society In 2023 Luna & Max Most Popular Shelter Animal Names Across SDHS’s Campuses As the year draws to a close, San Diego Humane Society unveils the most popular names for its shelter animals in 2023. Topping the list for female names are Luna, Bella and Daisy, while Max, Milo and Zeus take the lead for male names. The graphic on the right shows you the full Top 10 list. Many of the names are still going strong from their popularity last year. Luna, Bella, Daisy and Lucy were also the top four female names in 2022. Max and Milo were the top two male names in 2022. San Diego Humane Society currently has 443 pets available for adoption — animals waiting and hoping to have a family by 2024. A special dog named Luna Mae has been with the organization for 707 days and another dog named Daisy for 405 days. San Diego Humane Society is
open for walk-in adoptions Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at its campuses in Escondido, El Cajon, Oceanside and San Diego. Visit sdhumane.org/adopt to view animals available for adoption. About San Diego Humane Society San Diego Humane Society’s scope of social responsibility goes
Walla Walla Winds Through Washington History Indian land, is the Hanford Atomic Energy Reservation that played a key role in the development of the world’s first atomic bomb in the 1940s. The Columbia River Exhibition of History, Science and Technology Museum in Richland showcases the area’s role in World War II’s Manhattan Project that produced the bomb as well as tells the story of the Columbia River basin and surrounding region. Exhibits deal with laser technology, robots, hazardous wastes, and the power of the harnessed atom.
After the United States was drawn into World War II, Vidal obtained contracts to manufacture war materiel, primarily deck houses for U.S. Navy PT boats, pontoons and aircraft drop tanks then earned him the wealth that had eluded his earlier entrepreneurial attempts. Vidal wanted to re-enter military service in the Army Air Corps during the war but, in July 1942, he suffered a massive heart attack which prevented him from serving again. He continued to make products out of Weldwood in his home workshop. In 1969, Vidal died of complications from kidney cancer at the age of 73. His ashes were scattered at Fort Belvoir, Va., which was his first posting after graduation from West Point. Gene Vidal is remembered as a member of the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame. He was portrayed by actor Ewan McGregor in the 2009 Hollywood film “Amelia.” And, most notably, each year the “Gene L. Vidal Memorial Award” is presented at the U.S. Military Academy to the graduating cadet who has the “Most Significant and Practical Suggestion Adopted for Future Benefit of the U.S. Military Academy.”
beyond adopting animals. We offer programs that strengthen the human-animal bond, prevent cruelty and neglect, provide medical care, educate the community and serve as a safety net for all pet families. Serving San Diego County since 1880, San Diego Humane Society has campuses in El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside, Ramona and San Diego. For more information, visit sdhumane.org.
By Sandy Katz WALLA WALLA, Wash - This city of “many waters,” the name it got from the Cayuse Indians, sees itself as the cradle of Northwest history, partly because the state’s constitution was drafted here in the historic Reynolds Day. It’s also the 2001 winner of the Great American Main Street Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Sunset Magazine’s “Best Main Street in the West” title. The frontier-era days are preserved in the Fort Walla Walla Museum. Situated on the 19th century military reserve, it showcases a life-size Lewis & Clark diorama, a 33-mule team, panoramic 1920s harvest mural, and a pioneer settlement of 16 buildings. Five large exhibit halls display a range of domestic,
agricultural, commercial, and military items used by early residents. On Sundays, the museum features living history re-enactors in period costumes portraying lives of prominent Yakima Valley residents from the 1800s. Nearby Dayton, an historic agricultural town, features the state’s oldest courthouse and depot, and has 83 homes on the National Historic Register. An hour’s drive west of Walla Walla are the tri-cities of Pasco, Kennewick and Richland nestled in the heart of the state’s wine country. More than 50 wineries are clustered in a 50-mile radius at the southern tip of the 1.4-million acre Yakama Indian Reservation, known officially as the Yakama Nation. Just east of the reservation, on former
Toppenish, 12 miles south of Yakima and the administrative center of the Yakama Nation, touts the slogan “Where the West Still Lives.” Once a center of Native American life until it was displaced by cattlemen, settlers, railroads, and farming, the town depicts its history in some 60 murals on the sides of buildings and walls. The Yakama Nation Museum and Cultural Heritage Center features life-size dwellings of the Plateau People, dioramas, and exhibits augmented by narratives, music, and sound effects. The museum has a mannequin exhibit, “The Great Native American Leaders” and, through the nearby restaurant, can arrange tasting parties to sample such native food as fried bread and luk-a-meen (fish soup). A halfdozen tribal gatherings, known as powwows, held each year are open to the public