March 7, 2024

GAMES PEOPLE PLAY

by Don Logay

Every year, casinos invite millions of gamblers to try their luck. But while those who play may know how to gamble, most actually know almost nothing about gambling per se’.

Things like: Why are there bars and fruit (like cherries, oranges and lemons) on slot machines? Who are those Kings and Queens on playing cards? Why is Roulette called Roulette? And that the popular sayings, “the buck stops here” and “passing

the buck” are actually Old West gambling terms. How about “Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner?”

Gambling has a rich history filled with fascinating knowledge and lore – typically passed from person to person by word of mouth – that once learned, will make you the one of most interesting gamblers on the casino floor.

Name of the Game

No matter how far one goes back in time, some form of gambling was taking place. Artifacts were found in Ancient Egypt (3000 BC), with

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recorded mentions in Ancient China (2300 BC) and later in both Rome and Greece (700 BC).

Truth be told, there was probably even some form of Three-Card Monte being played by Stone Age cavemen millions of years ago wagering for dinosaur meat and animal hides.

Today’s popular wagering has gone through many iterations – both in name and process – and it adds a bit of interest (and snobbery) when one is playing a game.

Some names are quite logical, such

as with “Roulette”. Introduced in Paris in the 1700s, it was named after the French word for “wheel” –“Roue” – and then, because of the small numbered “pockets” around the outer rim of the revolving wheel, the name soon became “Roulette,” so named after an invention of the day.

Around this time, a local machinist invented a small wheel with tiny blades and punches positioned around the outer edge – called a Roulette – used to make mini-perforations in paper for ease of separation. In 1847, it also became the

Games from page 1

tool used to create perforations for U.S. postage stamps.

Today, ask any printer, philatelist (stamp collector) or person that sews or works with leather, and they’ll tell you this process is still known to this day as “Rouletting.”

Chinese Whispers

Other games, such as “Craps” earned today’s name over hundreds of years in a spoken evolution, much like the “Chinese Whispers” game, where players line-up and pass a whispered phrase from person-to- person and the phrase announced at the end differs greatly from that whispered at the start. Craps originated in 1788 as a game called “Krabs” derived from an earlier dice game called “Hazard” that dated back to the Crusades. In Hazard, the two-and three-spots were referred to as “crabs.” Why? Who knows.

While “Crabs” could be played both formerly on table layouts in early casinos or informally as “street crabs” using a sidewalk curb or brick wall as a backboard, it was the passed-along name for the popular street version that eventually morphed into the French word “crapaud” – meaning “toad” – referring to the appearance of those crouched down to play the game in

Give Us This Day Our Daily Chuckle

This week, a compendium of wit, wisdom and neat stuff you can tell at parties. Enjoy!

A 6 year old and a 4 year old are raking the yard.

The 6 year old asks, “You know what? I think it’s about time we started learning to cuss.” The 4 year old nods his head in approval.

The 6 year old continues, “When we go in for breakfast, I’m gonna say something with hell and you say something with ass.”

The 4 year old agrees with enthusiasm.

When the mother walks into the kitchen and asks the 6 year old what he wants for breakfast, he re-

the street or over a floor.

Thus, the old “Chinese Whispers” game ultimately coined the name “Craps.”

Bluffing and Marketing

Poker is the culmination of many card games that emerged over the ages. One was a French card game called “Poque.” Another was a German variation called “Pochspiel” derived from the German word “Pochen” meaning “to brag or bluff.”

plies, “Aw, hell, Mom, I guess I’ll have some Cheerios.”

WHACK!

He flies out of his chair, tumbles across the kitchen floor, gets up,and runs upstairs crying his eyes out, with his mother in hot pursuit,slapping his rear with every step.

His mom locks him in his room and shouts, “You can stay there until I let you out!”

She then comes back downstairs, looks at the 4 year old and asks with a stern voice, “And what do YOU want for breakfast, young man?”

“I don’t know,” he blubbers, “but you can bet your fat ass it won’t be Cheerios!”

***

Show and Tell

A kindergarten teacher gave her class a “show and tell” assignment. Each student was instructed to bring in an object that represented their religion to share with the class.

The first student got up in front of

French colonists brought Poque to America – namely to New Orleans – where, in 1829, a local named Joseph Cromwell mistakenly bragged that “Poker” was rapidly gaining in popularity. As the game continued to spread throughout an emerging nation, the mispronounced name stuck and for many years after it was still alternately referred to as “bluff.”

As for Blackjack, while there are many early variations tracing back to the early 1500s, it is another French card game from the 17th

the class and said, “My name is Benjamin and I am Jewish and this is a Star of David.”

The second student got up in front of the class and said, “My name is Mary. I’m a Catholic and this is a Rosary.”

The third student got in up front of the class and said, “My name is Tommy. I am Methodist, and this is a casserole.”

Goat for Dinner

The young couple invited their elderly pastor for Sunday dinner. While they were in the kitchen preparing the meal, the minister asked their son what they were having.

“Goat,” the little boy replied.

“Goat?” replied the startled man of the cloth, “Are you sure about that?”

“Yep,” said the youngster. “I heard Dad say to Mom, ‘Today is just as good as any to have the old goat for dinner.’

My 70-year kindergarten reunion is coming up soon and I’m worried

Century – called “vingt-et-un” (or 21) – that is the direct forefather of our modern game.

Today’s “Blackjack” however, is purely Vegas. In the 1930s, local casinos introduced a promotion whereby players were rewarded an extra 10-to-1 odds if their “21” was won with the combination of a black Jack of Clubs or Spades and an Ace of Spades. Over the years,

Games continued on page 3

about the 200 pounds I’ve gained. I didn’t make it to the gym today. That makes five years in a row.

Some days the best thing about my job is that my chair spins.

If you love someone, let them go. If they come back, no one else wanted them.

I’ve finally figured out the problem with my brain. On the left side there is nothing right; on the right side there is nothing left.

I’m practicing speed reading by using a strobe light.

Today I was in a store that sells sunglasses, and only sunglasses. A young lady walked over to me and asked, “What brings you in today?”

I looked at her and said, “I’m interested in buying a refrigerator.” She didn’t quite know how to respond.

Games

from page 2

the promotion faded away... but the name “Blackjack” remained.

Tools of the Trade

Gambling is facilitated by only a few age-old hand-held items: Cards, Dice, Chips and a tiny white ball.

Playing cards were first found in Ancient China in the 9th Century and various forms spread worldwide over the ages. Around the 14th Century, playing cards for the upper classes in Italy were the very first adorned with hand-painted images that included a King on a horse, a Queen on a throne and a standing Prince (later known as a Jack).

Once again, it was the French who developed the icons of hearts, spades, diamonds and clubs – derived from things like acorns and leaves – and divided the four suits into red and black. They also adorned court cards with famous royalty, such as King David of Isreal (Spades), Alexander the Great (Clubs), Charlemagne (Hearts), and Julius Caesar (Diamonds) representing the four empires of Jews, Greeks, Franks and Romans. The same for famous Queens and Princes.

While the 16th Century French are the primary influence for today’s playing cards... it is America that introduced the lovable court jester “Joker” in 1875 as a wild card.

Luck be a Lady (or is it Math?)

Today’s pair of six-sided dice are the oldest gaming implements known to man and can be traced back to Ancient Egypt and through the ages in China, Greece and Rome. While dice are widely used for many games, they are also generally misunderstood...as many believe the odds of throwing any number between two and twelve is simply a matter of luck. Actually, not so.

The odds on rolling a particular number differ greatly and knowing the combinations actually govern one’s “luck.” There are three different ways to roll a seven ( 6+1, 5+2, 4+3). There are three combinations for six and eight as well. However, there are only two ways to roll a four (3+1/2+2), a five (3+2/4+1) or nine (4+5/6+3) and only one way to roll a two (1+1) a twelve (6+6) or a three (2+1). Is luck just a roll of the dice? Not always. Just do the math.

Outsmarting Those Who Watch

The use of “chips” for gambling originated in Ancient Rome. Seems both Greek and Roman citizens were prone to wagering in excess on virtually anything. So much so, that gambling for money was eventually outlawed to encourage gainful employment and if one was caught, a stiff penalty of four-times one’s wager was imposed. To sidestep this daunting law, players introduced the first gambling chips

Games continued on page 5

Oodles!

Looking for things to do? Places to go?

Check out Oodles every week for listing of civic and service club meetings, and more! Have an event you need publicized?

Email it to: Lisa.ThePaper@gmail.com

The Paper goes to print on Tuesday morning. You are more likely to get published if you:

• Submit your press release by the previous Friday.

• Keep It Simple: who, what, where, when, why.

• Send us something we can copy/paste. Please no brochures or flyers.

• Send photos as attachments, not embeded in the document.

Queens Court Luncheon

Council Chapters announced and crowned their queens. They are as follows from left to right: Susie Denno from Epsilon Nu Master, Patty Cline from Gamma Rho Master, Mary Ann Lapating from Laureate Alpha Kappa and Alice Marshall from Preceptor Omicron Tau. Congratulations!

Weekday Wellness & Fun for Seniors

11am - Noon McClellan Senior Center

Calling all seniors! Looking for a way to add some excitement to your weekdays? Look no further!

From 11 am until noon, join us at the McClellan Senior Center for a variety of engaging activities designed just for you!

• Unleash your creativity in our lively art class on Mondays.

• Test your luck and socialize with friends in a thrilling game of bingo on Tuesdays.

• Enjoy some friendly competition with games and cards on Wednesdays.

• Keep your mind sharp with trivia and brain games on Thursdays.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to connect, have fun, and make new memories with fellow seniors. Mark your calendars and join us for a fulfilling and enjoyable time at McClellan Senior Center! For more information, call 760.643.5288.

***

Escondido Library Events

239 S Kalmia St, Escondido

2nd Saturday Concert

March 9 • 3pm to 4:30pm

Turrentine Room - All Ages

Oodles continued on page 13

The Hidden Valley Vista City Council of Beta Sigma Phi International held its’ Queens Court Luncheon, “Crowns of Flowers.” on February 10, 2024, at Meadowbrook Village Christian Retirement Center, Escondido, CA.

Palomar Health Board Approves Deal with Mesa Rock Healthcare Management To Keep Healthcare a Community Asset

On February 29, 2024, the Palomar Health Board of Directors approved a management services agreement with Mesa Rock Healthcare Management to guide and strengthen Palomar Health’s ability to continue providing essential healthcare services in San Diego County.

In a 5-2 vote, the Palomar Health Board took the first step toward creating lasting strategic partnerships with other health systems and service providers. With Mesa Rock as a partner, Palomar Health will improve its ability to compete against private and for-profit hospital systems and strengthen its financial future, ensuring its public mission of providing healthcare without regard for ability to pay. With Mesa Rock, Palomar Health will be able to affiliate with regional healthcare partners and hospitals systems to:

Drive primary medical care growth and integration;

Expand medical and surgical oncology care;

Man About Town

A New Management Team at Palomar Health

I was pleased to see the Palomar Health Board of Directors approved a management services agreement with Mesa Rock Healthcare Management

This is an important step forward as now Palomar Health will be able to actively and quickly pursue recruitment of more top talent in medicine, both at the physician level, the nurse level, and staff level. They will also be able to pursue exciting fund raising and grant possibilities to help increase Palomar’s financial position.

We had a chance to sit down in an exclusive interview and chat with Palomar’s President and CEO, Di-

Bring top-quality pediatric care to North San Diego County;

Stabilize relationships with hospital-based physician groups;

Expand access to laboratory medicine; and

Improve Palomar Health’s ability to negotiate rates with health plans.

Palomar Health is the largest public healthcare district in the state— operating hospitals in Escondido and Poway, and other care facilities throughout the region. At a time when more than half of all health care districts throughout the state have closed, and the rest are experiencing financial hardship, privatization, sale, and reduction in services, the Palomar Health Board of Directors took proactive steps to ensure that healthcare is sustainable in the district. The agreement with Mesa Rock will position Palomar Health to keep healthcare a community asset by meeting financial challenges and facilitating novel investments.

ane Hansen, last week and she enthusiastically endorsed the agreement.

“We will have a new, five member board.” she said. “We will be able to appoint board members and seek out board members with expertise in health management systems, in finance, in legal, any number of key disciplines we need to have a strong and active board.” Hansen will be one of the five board members.

Diane Hansen Palomar’s President and CEO

“I’m looking forward to putting together this board and begin plans as soon as possible. We’ve already made great progress by reducing contract labor costs by 50%! For the first time in a long time we have no contract labor in the Emergency Department. We

Letters to the Editor

Yesterday afternoon we were visiting Escondido from nearby Valley Center and noticed some people dining outside in the front patio area of the Burger Bench with The Paper cover story “Reagan’s Secret Visit Panicked Secret Service!” Went to lunch at Charlie’s Restaurant and picked up some copies there. What a great story! The Paper is an amazing source of information I never see anywhere else!

Anthony

Logan, Valley Center.

are looking to staffing up with staff nurses, rather than contract labor, in the Obstetrics Department, the Operating Room, and the Intensive Care Unit.

With this new flexibility and ability to move quickly, we will be able to become even more effective!”

The regular Palomar Health Board has been beset with problems . . . largely because of unwieldy restrictions on the election of qualified members with expertise in health management problems.

For example, when election time rolls around the electorate has to not only identify qualified candidates but then find those qualified candidates in specific districts.

Then the problem, once the candidates have been identified, is to persuade them to run for election. It has been a thankless job. Very little compensation, particularly when you weigh the amount of time and effort a board member has to commit to. Not a lot of incentive to run for election for such an unforgiving office.

Another major problem in recruiting and electing qualified individuals for the board position is that the general public does not seem to know or care all that much about the Palomar District’s board and its mission. This, to me, is shocking, given the huge budget they

Editors Note: Great news! You can now pick The Paper up in Valley Center too, at The Community Pharmacy and Valley Center Oil.

***

Your story on President and Mrs. Reagan at the Hollywood Magic Castle is one of the best ever!

James Solrac, Oceanside

***

Fantastic cover story on Ronald Reagan’s secret visit to The Magic Castle! Such an exciting story that made me feel as though I was actually there! Beautifully written!

From Caroline Douglas North San Diego County

***

We picked up a couple copies of The Paper at J&M Restaurant and just finished reading the Reagans visit that panicked the U.S. Secret Service. The Paper is the ONLY source that runs full page exclusive reporting such as this! This is why we are such fans!

Patrick Flannigan, San Marcos

develop and require the district to operate within, and the huge area the district encompasses.

So, with an electorate that seldom has any idea as to who the candidates are and what their qualifications are, you tend to wind up with several board members who get elected that often are nay-sayers and/or may have a conflict of interest, or who may just be holding on to their board seat for prestige purposes.

We know and admire several of the Palomar Health District board members. Some good, dedicated people. We also know of several board members who probably could better serve this community by retiring from office

Under the new management contract the non profit organization has a board that knows health care management and can appoint, not elect, qualified candidates. The working atmosphere should be greatly enhanced.

Says Diane Hansen . . . “I’m delighted the board approved this agreement and can’t wait to begin working on new, exciting, and productive projects!”

***

Games from page 3

to avoid the appearance of playing for money.

The little white ball used in Roulette is not as simple as it may appear. As there are many who, over the years, have devised various schemes, theories and systems to outsmart when and where the little ball may drop, casinos worldwide often use different sizes and weights to foil their plans. Roulette balls (called Pills) can be Ivory or a white ceramic material and depending on the size of the Roulette wheel (yes, they differ) balls can vary in size from 10mm to 22mm.

The size and weight of a Roulette Ball also determines the number of revolutions and when and where gravity will cause it to drop. To foil crafty players who study and calculate such performance... some casinos will switch between balls of various sizes.

Next time you are at a Roulette table, notice the little indentation on top of the wheel. That’s where an alternate ball is kept in plain sight, should a casino so choose.

More Fascinating Facts

“The buck stops here” and “passing the buck” are Old West Poker terms from the 1800s. Players put a “buck-handle” knife on the table that was used as a marker to indicate who would deal. Either the “buck stops here” and you dealt... or you “passed the buck” to the next player. Today, it generally signifies accepting responsibility.

If you add up all the numbers on a Roulette wheel it totals 666. A dreaded biblical symbol that also has a name for those who fear this number. Its one of the longest words in the dictionary: Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia.

Playing cards also have a unique and mystical heritage that reflects many aspects of the calendar. Four suits represent the four seasons, a 52-card deck reflects the weeks in a year and there are twelve face cards that represent the twelve months. If you add up all of the numerical values in a deck (using Aces as one and continue the Jacks, Queens and Kings as 11, 12 and 13) it totals 364. Add in today’s American Joker card and you get the 365 days in a year. Wondering about Leap Year? Many decks bear two Jokers for that occasional happening.

Whether you are a local or a visitor, it’s fun to throw around a few Las Vegas facts to impress those around you.

Such as, the famed 4.2-mile neon-drenched Las Vegas Strip isn’t in Las Vegas. It’s actually in the unincorporated town of Paradise in Clark County.

The City of Las Vegas proper really begins at Sahara Avenue and a new lighted archway over Las Vegas Boulevard at that location officially welcomes you to the city.

Slot machines were invented by Charles Fey in 1895. As gambling was outlawed in the U.S., early models rewarded players with chewing gum and the symbols (cherry, orange, lemon, etc.) determined which flavor you won. Today’s manufacturers still continue the fruit symbols as tradition and the bars you see were originally sticks of gum signifying a bonus win.

Back in the 1950s, a full three-

piece chicken dinner costing $2.00 was a casino staple. The average bet at that time was also $2.00. When a player won at a table, dealers shouted “Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner” to attract attention and promote business.

No need to make the five hour drive to Vegas to practice all you have learned about different forms of gaming . . . you’ve got a beautiful casino with great staff right here in San Diego County at Valley View Casino.

A great casino experience . . . and superb dining as well!

Finally, is it Gambling or Gaming? Simply put, gambling can be done pretty much anywhere unsupervised... while the term “Gaming” means it is officially regulated by law... as with the Nevada Gaming Commission.

“Gambling” can be done pretty much anywhere unsupervised... while the term “Gaming” means it is officially regulated by law... as with a State’s Gaming Commission.

Either way, you still know more about the games people play than they do. So there.

Don Logay is an award-winning journalist and former Editor-inChief of three national magazines. Today he writes luxury lifestyle articles for numerous publications. He can be reached at (949) 240-4444 or press@ donlogay.com.

Reprinted from Vegas Legal Magazine

5th

District Supervisor Jim Desmond Prop 1 Healthcare Priorities

I am a strong advocate for expanded access to healthcare, including mental health and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatments. These issues frequently come before the Assembly Health Committee, where I serve as Vice Chair.

This session I introduced Assembly Bill 1944, which seeks to create a safe pathway for patients with rare and ultra-rare diseases seeking investigational treatments designed just for them, despite the usual costly and extremely timeconsuming FDA approval process.

I also supported SB 496, which requires health insurers including Medi-Cal to cover biomarker testing that results in targeted therapy for diagnosis and treatment, therapies that have proven very effective for cancer patients.

I serve on the Select Committee on Fentanyl, Opioid Addiction, and Overdose Prevention. Thousands of lives lost in San Diego County, many from accidental overdoses, could be saved if antidotes were readily available. Last year I introduced AB 1233, which facilitates the availability of opioid antagonist drugs (antidotes) in tribal communities, many of which have been ravaged by the fentanyl crisis.

California’s mental health needs are staggering, but the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) hasn’t been

significantly changed in 20 years. Almost one in seven adults (about 4.4 million people) and one in 14 children (about 621,000) experience some form of mental illness. One in 26 adults and one in 14 children have trouble functioning in their daily activities. Necessary MHSA updates include expansion of services for those suffering with SUDs, allowing MHSA funding for SUD treatments, and additional community support for prevention and early intervention.

Mental health and SUDs are major contributors to homelessness and crime. Expanding care may be costly up front, but societal benefits of less crime and recidivism, reduced homelessness and restored lives will be incalculable. We have to get a handle on these problems --- there is no alternative. During my remaining time in the Legislature, those efforts will continue.

For an electronic version of this article, please visit: https://ad75. asmrc.org/

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 Let the Spring Festivities Begin

To kick off the month of March, the City of San Marcos invites you to the free Star Walk XXVIII on Sunday, March 10 from 7:30-9 p.m. at the Mahnita Boyden-Wofford Amphitheater at Double Peak Park, 910 Double Peak Drive. Become an expert in astronomy and learn the following:

• What is a new moon and where is it located?

• What is an Equinox and when is the Eclipse happening?

• Locate the Orion complex and the bright Hexagon of Winter/Spring Constellations.

Don’t forget some warm clothes, a blanket, binoculars and a LED flashlight with a red filter or lens cover to explore the night sky

On Wednesday, March 13 at 3 p.m. at Bradley Park, 1587 Linda Vista Dr., Parks and Recreation is hosting a free Pop-up Rec event where our youth will have the opportunity to use their creativity to craft their own pot of gold. No registration necessary and the activity is open to all while supplies last.

For more information, visit the Parks and Recreation webpage at www.san-marcos.net.

During our January 23 Board of Supervisors meeting, we delved into the details of Proposition 1, which is on the March ballot. I wanted to provide a recap of our discussion.

I expressed reservations about Proposition 1’s approach despite recognizing some potential benefits. The proposal seeks to rearrange funds from the county and give them to the state. This reallocation would decrease funding to our county, as highlighted by the analysis from the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office.

I emphasized the importance of resources for individuals grappling with addiction, a group previously overlooked under the Mental Health Services Act. While acknowledging the necessity for additional support in areas such as housing and infrastructure, I voiced skepticism about the proposed $6.4 billion bond. I am concerned about the long-term financial burden on taxpayers, estimated to reach approximately $10 billion over 30 years.

I believe the rise in homelessness is from failed policies rather than a lack of money, as the State of Cali-

fornia has spent over $20 billion on homelessness yet has seen it rise dramatically. I believe that the root causes of homelessness are linked to ineffective policies hindering access to essential assistance. Additionally, I am apprehensive about the potential loss of local control, with decision-making authority shifting to the state, which may not adequately address the unique needs of San Diego County.

Furthermore, I raised concerns about the proposed housing-first approach and its applicability to all scenarios, particularly those involving individuals with severe mental illness. I fear a potential reduction in funding for crucial county services such as outpatient care, crisis response, prevention, and suicide services.

In summary, while I recognize some positive aspects of Proposition 1, I doubt its overall impact, particularly its financial implications and the potential loss of local control.

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

American Queen Voyages canceled my cruise but kept my $10,126

Carolyn Hoke has been waiting more than a year for her refund from American Queen Voyages for a canceled cruise. Why is it taking so long -- and how can she speed up the process?

Q: I booked a seven-night river cruise from St. Louis to Minneapolis with American Queen Voyages. But it was canceled in November 2022. I requested a full refund, but as of today, I have not received it.

The American Queen Voyages representatives are very apologetic when I call them. I’ve escalated my request to the cruise line’s accounting department and have written to the American Queen Voyages contacts listed on your consumer advocacy site. I’ve also complained to the Florida Division of Consumer Service, since the company is headquartered in Florida. It has forwarded my request to the company.

I would like a full refund of the $10,126 I paid to American Queen Voyages. I have been waiting more than a year. Can you help me?

~ Carolyn Hoke, Dallas

A: American Queen Voyages should have promptly sent you a refund for the canceled cruise.

American Queen Voyages has a reputation for taking its time with refunds. I’ve had multiple cases where refunds that should have taken a few days extended for months.

Why? The company won’t say. (I’ve asked numerous times). The innocent explanation -- and the one I hope is true -- is that the company simply has a backlog of refund requests and is taking

By Tom Morrow

If you enjoy rich stories of history, then try the background of these somewhat obscure American cities. Wisconsin’s second-oldest, Prairie du Chien, was so named by French explorers and missionaries because they thought the clearing along the water’s edge where the Illinois River dumps into the mighty Mississippi River looked like a flat dogs’ meadow.

At that time, the area was the home of the Fox Native Americans. Today Prairie du Chein is one of our nation’s historically rich cities located in southwest Wisconsin.

The first known Europeans to reach Prairie du Chien were French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet, who arrived by canoe on June 17, 1673.

After Elaine Simmons’ flight reservation is lost, she pays an extra $1,796 to get to her NCL cruise. Why won’t the cruise line help her recover the money?

Q: I recently took a Western Mediterranean cruise with my family, which included flight arrangements made through Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). On the morning before our scheduled departure, we tried to check in online, but the first leg of our flight was not showing up on the Delta Air Lines app.

We contacted the NCL air department. A representative said they needed to reissue the outbound tickets and send us new air confirmations. She told me to go to the airport in the morning and resolve the situation at the Delta check-in desk.

When I arrived at the airport, the agent could not find our reservation. At that point, Delta only had four seats remaining on the flight, so I purchased the tickets so I would not miss the rest of the flight and the cruise.

I have asked NCL to reimburse us

Historically Speaking

Downtown Battle Creek, Mich. Towns With Rich, Obscure Historical Heritages

In 1763, after Great Britain defeated France in the French and Indian War, the British had taken possession of all French territory in North America east of the Mississippi River, including the furtrading center of Prairie du Chien. During the American Revolutionary War, the city was used as a meeting point for British troops and their Native American allies. It was only after the American victory of the War of 1812, did the city become fully Americanized.

The U.S. was slow to present any authority over Prairie du Chien, but in 1814, when the government realized the importance of holding the site to prevent British attacks from Canada, the Army began construction of Fort Shelby, but in July of that year, British soldiers captured the fort during the “Siege of Prairie du Chien.” The British maintained control over the city until the war’s end in 1815. Not wanting another invasion through the territory surrounding Prairie du Chien, in 1816, the Army constructed the

John Jacob Astor Fur Warehouse, making it an important center in the regional fur trade.

A key historical point: Years later, Colonel Zachary Taylor, who became the 12th U.S. president, was the commanding officer at Fort Crawford during the Black Hawk War of 1832. Taylor oversaw the war chief’s surrender in Prairie du Chien. Lieutenant Jefferson

by Christopher Elliott

for the $1,796 we had to spend. NCL asked us to file a claim with AON, the travel insurance we had purchased through NCL. AON has turned down our claim. We’ve also disputed the charge on our credit card, but lost.

At this point we have exhausted all of our known options in resolving this case ourselves. We would be very grateful if you would consider mediating on our behalf.

~ Elaine Simmons, Walnut Creek, Calif.

A: NCL’s Air Sea program, which allows you to book your flights with your cruise, promises “greater peace of mind” when you’re traveling. Unfortunately, you got the opposite of that when you booked your flights to Europe.

Needless to say, NCL should have given you valid airline tickets. And if there was a last-minute glitch, it should have taken care of you instead of sending you to the airport to negotiate with Delta.

My advocacy team and I have been getting quite a few com-

plaints about airline tickets booked through a cruise line. They look a lot like yours. There’s a ticketing glitch, and passengers have to buy new tickets to get to their cruise or to get home. The cruise line refuses to cover the extra costs, pointing to the strict terms and conditions on its site.

In your case, there were also some crossed wires. As I reviewed the correspondence between you, the cruise line and the travel insurance company, it’s clear there was a misunderstanding of what happened -and who was responsible.

NCL was acting as your travel advisor when it booked your tickets. It is responsible for ensuring that the tickets actually get booked. And when it fails, it needs to find a way to get you to your destination at its expense. Again, leaving you to fend for yourself at the airport is not my idea of excellent customer service.

But should you have booked your tickets on your own? If you hadn’t, you probably would have missed the start of your cruise. NCL would have attempted to rebook you on

Davis, who later became president of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War, was stationed at Fort Crawford during that same time. There, Davis met Taylor’s daughter, Sarah “Knoxie” Taylor, whom he married in 1835.

An interesting, somewhat more obscure side note: For a short time during the Black Hawk War, Abraham Lincoln was appointed captain to lead a unit of the Illinois militia.

Meanwhile, next door … Mention the name “Battle Creek” and one gets the urge to have a big bowl of crunchy corn flakes and milk.

Battle Creek, Michigan is a middle-sized city originally settled in 1831, that by the 2020 census had a population of approximately 52,731. It is located in southern Michigan at the joining of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek rivers

a flight that would have allowed you to catch up to your cruise at the next port of call. That’s an inelegant solution and a shorter cruise, but you would have incurred no out-of-pocket expenses.

It looks like you tried to contact one of the NCL executives I list on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott. org. You also reached out to your credit card company for help. Your card’s dispute department should have tried to help you, instead of simply denying your claim.

You reached out to my advocacy team. I contacted NCL on your behalf. NCL contacted you, asked you for receipts for the additional flights, and worked with Delta to reimburse you for the extra flights you had to book. “We are very grateful to you and your staff for the advocacy work you do,” you said. “You get results!”

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.

Downtown Battle Creek, Mich.

You Took Care of Your Home

Now it’s Time for Your Home to Take Care of You

by Laura Strickler

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful and safe holiday! Are you ready to start on a new year? Maybe 2023 was a little rough for you? I think we can all agree that finances occupied a lot of space in our brains last year. It’s not over and we will see our world change a lot this year.

Before I go any further, I have to apologize for the HUGE photo in one of the last issues! That will teach me to write a short column!

I’ll try not to do that in the future, or have the column printed in EXTRA LARGE TEXT!

Since the economy is front and center these days, I would like to remind homeowners of the amount of equity you are sitting in. Your home was probably the largest investment you made in your lifetime.

With the passing of each year, you paid down your mortgage and you created a nest egg of equity. We are living in a period for which that nest egg was created. As I’ve often said in the past, you took care of your home all these years, now it’s time for your home to take care of you.

If you currently have a mortgage and you are over 62 years old, you have an amazing opportunity to retire that mortgage and the payments that go with it. In effect, you then may be able to retire yourself if you are still working. With property values so high, it is a season ripe for checking into how the reverse mortgage could

change your finances and your life. Imagine, not being required to send out that monthly mortgage payment each month. With the reverse mortgage, you are not required to make a monthly mortgage payment. You can, but you are not required to make any mortgage payment.

If you do not have a mortgage on your home, you have even more equity to unlock! In your case, you would have access to a loan amount based on the youngest borrower’s age and be able to take cash, create a line of credit and even possibly receive a monthly amount.

Any line of credit created with a reverse mortgage will never be locked or canceled by your lender. That line of credit will also grow over time. That’s an amazing feature of the reverse mortgage. How many of us have had home equity lines of credit only to have our bank cancel them when property values decline? That is something you never have to worry about with a line

of credit created with a reverse mortgage.

These features are what makes a reverse mortgage the perfect financial tool to take advantage of when you are over 62 years old. Each year, the industry evolves with new loan programs to help older Americans age in place. I told you about the EquityAvail, the loan program that is open to those 55 years old and helps those homeowners with a mortgage reduce their mortgage payment, After 10 years, it converts to a reverse mortgage with no mortgage payment.

With the variety of loan programs available today, it’s entirely possible to find the right one for you. Call me today! Let me help you determine the best way to get your 2024 off to a less stressful start!

Laura Strickler Retirement Mortgage Advisor NMLS #315848

769-518-9839

Laurastrickler1@gmail.com

Air Travel May Be About to Get Better Here’s what it means for your next flight.

Your next flight may get an upgrade.

No, not as in a bigger seat in the front of the cabin. It’s bigger than that -- much bigger.

Air travel in the United States could soon improve dramatically. Here’s how:

New federal protections for air travelers. The U.S. Senate passed new rules that require better fee disclosure, free family seating, and new ticket refund rights. It also proposed appointing a new Assistant Secretary to handle airline service problems.

Better seats. Southwest has announced ambitious plans to overhaul its cabin interiors. It joins other carriers, including Japan Airlines, LOT, and Swiss in rolling out new and more comfortable seats.

Upgraded airline performance. Air carriers have canceled fewer flights lately. For the first 11 months of last year, domestic airlines canceled only 1.4 percent of flights, according to the Department of Transportation (DOT). That’s way below the 2.5 percent cancellation rate for the first 11 months of 2022 and significantly better than the same period in prepandemic 2019.

“There’s a sense of optimism for the future of U.S. air travel,” says Duncan Greenfield-Turk, the chief travel designer for Global Travel Moments, “The airline industry has an opportunity to rebuild and reimagine air travel, potentially ushering in a new golden age marked by superior service, innovation, and passenger satisfaction.”

Is it time to start celebrating a new golden age of air travel?

Hang on, hang on. We’re not there yet.

In fact, economy class passengers are still pretty unhappy with their

travel experience, according to the latest J. D. Power North American Airline Satisfaction Study. In categories such as ease of travel, onboard experience, and trust, the airlines scored lower than they did last year.

“We’re seeing signs of weakening consumer satisfaction,” says Mike Taylor, J.D. Power’s managing director for travel and hospitality.

The silver lining: Amid declining fares, passengers say they got more value for their money when they flew compared to 2022.

Hey, it’s a start.

www.laurastrickler.com

But passengers say change is in the air. Alex Beene, a community coordinator from Nashville and a frequent air traveler, says his last few flights were on time and went smoothly. And he hardly had to wait at the TSA screening area.

“I’ve never felt as good about air travel as I have the last few months,” he told me.

He’s not alone. I’ve spoken with many air travelers who share his sense of optimism. It feels like for the first time in years, the stars are aligning for airline passengers.

But are they really?

Reality check: This new golden age could turn out to be fool’s gold.

The new luggage fees announced last week felt like a splash of cold water on all that optimism. This year, four domestic airlines have raised their checked baggage fees. United Airlines is the latest to announce an increase. You’ll pay $40 for your first checked bag, or $35 if you pay online at least 24 hours before your flight. That’s an increase of $5.

And the new Senate provisions for air travel, while positive, still have to be reconciled with the House

Illustration by Aren Elliott

Interfaith Community of Escondido Receives Donation

Members of Escondido Host Lions Club are donating 50 back packs, each filled with hooded sweaters, shirts, caps, chips, water bottles, granola bars, hand sanitizers and candies. All this back packs where taken to the offices of Interfaith Community of Escondido, to be given to the Homeless February 29th.

Your Neighbors Love Gems N Loans

“I love this store. I go here for so many different reasons. They have such a random variety of items for sale and are great when you need a loan! Very welcoming and friendly.”

~ Suzanne

“I was very pleased with the workmanship of everybody who works here. I gave my phone number 2 weeks ago and they got what I needed. Remarkably friendly, remarkable quality.”

~ Hannah

Escondido: 340 W. 2nd Avenue • 760.747.7117

Oceanside: 3753 Mission Avenue #111 • 760.722.2762

Vista: 925 S. Santa Fe Avenue • 760.732.3999

Temecula • Dana Point

WWW.GEMSNLOANS.COM

The Pastor Says . . .

Text or Talk

Can you imagine living in a world where people don’t talk? I have a great-grandson who will be a year old on March 10. I am anxious to hear him speak. His first word, hopefully, will be mommy or even daddy. Such excitement! There have been times when children, in their development, don’t talk. Things could be better in the developmental process. Much has been spent to have a word said. Once a child starts to speak, there is often an adult reaction, such as my dad used to say,” Children are to be seen but not heard.” I have no idea where that came from, but I have always remembered it.

The problem of children talking too much has all but bypassed our time. People, especially grandparents, want to hear children talking. A resident in my living complex recently told me how much she enjoyed hearing children laughing and talking. Yet there is another side to it, with adult communities wanting no children around.

Either way, we are confronted with little or no talking. Instead, we live in the era of texting, not talking. We use our cell phones to mainly communicate by texting. Often, people ask me if I text, as if somehow, I can’t just talk. Most of my present contacts are by text, either where someone speaks into the phone, leaving much desired because the messages often need to be more transparent, complete, and seldom identified as to the originator.

The thing I miss the most in the present way of communication is personal contact, a voice with some expressions of personality. Hearing a voice with emotion, interest, and even love is nice. Teachers tell me that because students are texting constantly, they are losing the ability to talk, make willful sentences, and express themselves. Talking is a discipline; the more one does it, the better one can communicate. When you want to contact me, please call and talk. I like to hear your voice.

Spiritually, the Bible says God talked to the Jews. The Christian Faith says the word became flesh and dwelt among us. We long for God’s voice and the written word in the Bible. He wants us to hear, not just read the text. “He who has ears, let him hear.”

Pet Parade

Hadley

Hadley is pet of the week at Rancho Coastal Humane Society. She’s a 6-year-old, 67-pound, female, Shepherd mix.

Hadley was a stray. When her owner was not able to take her back, she was transferred to Rancho Coastal Humane Society through Friends of County Animal Shelters (FOCAS). She loves people. She would sit at your feet for hours if you let her.

The $145 adoption fee for Hadley includes medical exam, spay, up to date vaccinations, registered microchip, and a one-year license if his new home is in the jurisdiction of San Diego Humane Society.

For more information visit Rancho Coastal Humane Society in Encinitas, call 760-753-6413, or log on to www.SDpets.org.

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.

El Cajon

373 N. Marshall Ave.

Escondido

3500 Burnet Drive

Oceanside

572 Airport Road

San Diego

5480 Gaines Street

Pet of the Week

Milo

Meet Milo! This handsome 7-month-old terrier is positively exploding with love! (And he’s like to give some to you!) He is looking for a new best friend to provide him with affection and care as he grows into the fantastic adult dog he’s destined to be. Milo will benefit from a family who can be devoted in training and guiding him as he learns more about the wide world around him. Going on walks, playing together and learning tricks are all activities that will help you bond with this sweet pup, making him your loyal companion for life! Milo (894480) is available for adoption at San Diego Humane Society’s Escondido Campus at 3500 Burnet Dr. If you have questions about the adoption process, you can visit sdhumane.org/adopt or call 619-299-7012.

Online profile: https://sdhumane.shelterbuddy.com/animal/search. asp?task=view&animalid=894480

Pastor Huls

Pastor Huls

Teachers, lawyers and doctors are only a few obvious examples of professions threatened by the ever growing power of the IW. The Internet’s access to the great majority of human knowledge combined with AI’s rapidly improving ability to logically process it threatens any occupation characterized by the need for an extensive learning process. Traditional preparation for these careers involve years of rote learning. Educators are trained to supervise the orderly process of education by building their young charges knowledge base bit by bit from the bottom up. For thousands of years the educated human mind has been the most efficient engine for storing and processing knowledge. Today the IW, with the combined power of the Internet and AI, promises to provide more accurate and complete solutions to problems faster and more efficiently than our educated minds.

The IW is already starting to change

With K-9 Veterans Day coming up March 13, I’m reminded of a day more than ten years ago that still touches my heart.

You could tell that he had been a powerfully built man in younger years. Even now, with his thin hair and thick waist, he was impressive.

The Military Working Dog Memorial was in Cricket’s Corner Dog Park at Rancho Coastal Humane Society. The memorial is still there, but the dog park is no longer open to the public. Then it struck me. He was at the dog

Has the IW (intelligent Web) made teachers obsolete? Part 2

us. From the early 20th century through 2008 the IQ test scores of America’s youth had steadily increased by around 3% per decade. The increase was named the “Flynn effect” after political philosopher Dr James Flynn. IQ test scores taken after 2008 began to show the first ever decline (the reverse Flynn effect). IQ tests (intelligence quotient) measure reasoning ability by gauging how well the subject can use information and logic to answer questions or make predictions. Most experts attribute this decline in IQ test scores to the ubiquity of IW use among younger generations.

The recent drops in IQ test scores don’t mean that America’s younger generations are getting dumber or that their brains are shrinking. They are genetic and, physical equals of older generations in every respect.

The declining IQ scores are a result of the different ways younger and older generations use their brains.

The generations of Americans who became adults prior 2001 (the birth of the IW) had no other choice, they had to rely on developing the reasoning power and storage capacity of their own brains as their primary decision making source. They used their cognitive powers constantly and as a result their minds through practice became adept at using their on-board “brain muscles” and data storage (memory) to reason, answer questions and make predictions. Those are parameters the IQ test measures.

The generation that grew up with the IW (AKA “Internet Natives”) have an alternative to the constant use of their internal cognitive abilities. The have smart phones, tablets, PCs, smart speakers and other “smart” devices that allow them to spend nearly half their waking hours connected to the IW. They quickly learned that the IW could reason, answer questions and make predictions quicker and more accurately than they could using their own limited data storage and cognitive powers. In many ways the IW is faster, more efficient and provides more reliable information than that available from their own internal resources. Using the IW as an alternative to internal cognition is a rational choice providing better solutions and less energy. It’s a win/win.

Today folks from all generations rely on the IW for fast, reliable solutions. Nome and I ask our IW connected “smart speakers” for help several times every day. We of the older generations (AKA digital immigrants) developed our cognitive powers (IQs) the “old school way” prior to the influence of the IW. As a result, we score higher in IQ tests. Like physical fitness, mental acuity is a “use it or lose it” resource. The comparative loss of mental acuity among “digital natives” will cease to be an issue later in this century when the last of we “digital immigrants” exit the planet. Will mankind’s reduced mental acuity ever be a problem for future generations? Probably not - unless the IW goes down!.

Before you give up on your “old” PC, check out the cost of an upgrade.

Solid State Drive (SSD) - windows 10/11 - more memory (RAM) - Faster Internet - Bluetooth/Wifi, better/biger monnitor - external speakers - external CD/RW - wireless keyboard and mouse - etc.

John Van Zante’s Critter Corner

Honoring Those Who Served…On Four Paws

park, without a dog.

You don’t need a dog to visit a dog park. Some people go to meet friends or pet other peoples’ dogs. This man was there to visit the memorial.

Rancho Coastal Humane Society’s Military Working Dog Memorial is the only private memorial of its kind west of the Mississippi. The base of the memorial reads:

He noticed that I was watching him. He walked by me on the way to his car and said, “I’m a veteran. Lost a lot of buddies in Vietnam. Some of them were damned fine handlers who died with their dogs. I’ve always heard about this place. I came to show them the respect they deserve. I owe them.”

No uniforms. No speech-

es. No politics. Just a man paying tribute to the dogs and handlers who stood in harm’s way protecting others. Those who had saved his life.

The United States K9 Corps was formed on March 13, 1942. Each year K9 Veterans Day is celebrated on March 13 by friends and supporters including your Rancho Coastal Humane Society.

We hope you’ll visit the Military Working Dog Memorial at Rancho Coastal Humane Society this fall when the construction around it is completed. You don’t need to be a veteran. All you need is gratitude for those who bravely stood together in combat boots and on four paws protecting others.

Some paid the ultimate price.

Rancho Coastal Humane Society Proudly Honors the Military Working Dog. Dedicated to All Military Working Dogs and Their Handlers, Past, Present, and Future. Your Deeds and Sacrifices Will Always Be Remembered.

Man About Town from page 4

Dr. Seuss and kids . . .

I grew up and went to school in Nebraska. Little town called Omaha.

Don’t know what their school system is like in Nebraska today but I’m hoping it’s not as wacky as California’s.

Lemme ‘splain you:

Dick Huls is a retired pastor and close friend of mine. So, when Dick asked me if I’d drop by Miller School in Escondido on Monday at 8am and read a Dr. Seuss book to some young ‘uns I agreed in a nanosecond. It was all part of “Read Across America,” a nationwide exercise where community members would come in and read to the kids. In this case, the subject was Dr. Seuss.

I showed up on time, had a cup of coffee and a donut and then did my reading. Second-graders. Lovely kids. The session went smoothly.

Then, afterwards, I had a chance to talk to a number of school staffers. Also, very pleasant. But in the course of conversation I learned some things that concerned and upset me.

I mentioned that a member of my Hidden Valley Kiwanis Club, a brilliant retired CPA and close friend, Kevin Camperell, had set up a similar program on an ongoing basis at Rose School in Escondido. I had been a volunteer tutor in that program and, naturally, fell in love with the kids. You just can’t help it. It happens.

One problem, I pointed out, is that I’m a hugger and that’s a no-no within the school system. Generally, I agree with that rule. But, on several occasions several students, uninvited, came up and hugged me. And I couldn’t hug them back. Against the rules. I remember Joshua, a very affectionate kid, who just spontaneously gave me a big hug one day after class. Another young lady, I think her name was Ana, did the same. I mentioned it to the teacher and said it put me in a very awkward position and maybe Ana should be assigned another tutor. The teacher said she’d arrange it but the next session, there was Ana, in my class. At the end of the session Ana impulsively leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. Probably saw me as a Father Figure . . .or, more likely, a Grandfatherly Figure.

Still, while I loved both these kids . . it put me in an awkward uncomfortable position. You can’t hug them back or show any affection . . . but at the same time, you don’t want the kids/students to feel that you are rejecting them and their affection.

And here’s where my education kicked in.

“Oh, yes,” said one staffer. “There are very strict rules. We are not allowed to touch the students. If a student comes toward me in a threatening manner, I’m not allowed to put my hands up in a defensive manner and/or touch him or her. I have to turn my back, walk away, or leave the room.”

“In one case,” the staffer went on, “a third-grader utilized a karate technique known as a “side-kick” and kicked a staff member with absolutely no provocation. The staffer’s hand was broken and she is still recuperating.” A third-grader!

In another case we had a young girl that became violent and we had to empty the classroom of all students, and move this girl into a room that is, essentially, a padded cell and let her scream and beat the walls and do whatever she wanted. It’s not uncommon to empty the classroom when one of the students becomes violent or otherwise misbehaves.”

What”!? I shook my head incredulously.

To my mind, some of these kids, the violent ones, should not be in a public school classroom. They should be isolated and either assigned to a school or a class designed to deal with behavior issues.

I never heard of such goings-on when I went to school. I can remember a glaring look from Lucille Barbe, one of our high school teachers, and the student receiving the glare would promptly shut the hell up or knock off any misbehavior. And that was at the high school level!

We’re talking here about 2nd and 3rd grade students! What has our school system in California come to?

Our teachers are at risk! And that simply is not fair. Nor does it smack of common sense.

I guess I’m of the old school but I think teachers need to control the classroom . . . not some legislators in Sacramento. The legislators are not at risk of harm. The teachers are.

Let me be clear. This criticism is NOT directed at the teachers. Nor at the students. It is aimed at the wacky legislators who come up with some weird ideas about what classroom and school discipline is.

We have some of the best and brightest and most dedicated teachers and staff you could ask for. But the legislators are not only placing them at great risk . . .they are allowing our kids/students to learn the wrong lessons about discipline and appropriate behavior.

End of rant.

For now.

Problem Solved from page 6

a while to work through them. But I’ve also seen this type of foot-dragging with other cruise lines, and it was a precursor to a bankruptcy filing.

How do you get your refund faster? By being persistent and polite (two essential ingredients of the Elliott method for fixing a consumer complaint). It looks like you found a way to escalate your complaint to the accounting department. You might have also applied gentle and continuous pressure on the American Queen Voyages executive contacts I publish on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org.

Another possible way to get your money back is a credit card dispute. If you paid by credit card, you can push for a quick refund by contacting your credit card provider. If you show them a written promise to refund the cruise, your bank will regard that as a credit memo and might issue a refund.

Executives do read their emails, and if they see someone popping up again and again, asking for a refund, they might eventually call the right person and say, “Cut Carolyn a check!”

I contacted American Queen Voyages on your behalf. A few weeks later, I received an update from you. You had received a check for $9,126 from the cruise line. But where was the rest? You reached out to Florida regulators and to the company to find out.

“It took a couple of weeks, but the balance is pending on our credit card account as of today,” you reported.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of the story. A few weeks after I wrapped up this case, American Queen Voyages ceased operations.

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/

© 2024 Christopher Elliott.

Historically Speaking from page 7

and is best known as a city producing food products, namely those of the W.K. Kellogg Company and the C.W. Post company.

How the town got its name is a bit of a puzzle. The most popular legend has Battle Creek being named after an 1824 clash between a federal land survey party and two Potawatomi Native Americans. The U.S. Army had been late in delivering supplies promised to the natives under the 1821 Treaty of Chicago. After the hungry Potawatomies allegedly tried to take food by force one of the surveyors shot and seriously wounded one of them. The next year the issue was settled and white farmers began to move into the region, calling the nearby stream the “Battle Creek River,” Another folklore tale has Native Americans calling the river “Waupakisco,” supposedly a reference to an ancient battle once fought between area tribes. Westward European migration from New York and New England had increased to Michigan following the 1824 completion of the Erie Canal in New York.

William (W. K.) Kellogg had worked for his brother in a variety of capacities at the Kellogg Sanitarium. Tired of living in the shadow of his brother, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, W.K. struck out on his own. While working at the sanitariums’ laboratory, W.K. spilled liquefied cornmeal on a heating device that cooked the product and rendered it to flakes. He tasted the flakes and added milk to them. He was able to get his brother to allow him to give some of the product to patients at the sanitarium, and the patients’ demand for the product exceeded his expectations to the point that W.K made the decision to leave the sanitarium. Along with some investors, he built a factory to satisfy the demand for his “corn flakes.”

Inspired by Kellogg’s innovation, a former sanitarium patient, C.W. Post, invented Grape-Nuts and founded his own cereal company across town in Battle Creek. After Post’s death, his daughter Marjorie Post took over the company building it into one of the world’s first great female-owned and operated firms expanding into what today is the giant corporate conglomerate known as General Foods.

But the story of the Kellogg and Post families was told in a previous column. Because of these two enterprising families’ success, today Battle Creek is known around the world as “the Cereal City.”

Weeks to come: More obscure city history.

Receivables • Payables

QuickBooks

Oodles from page 3

Beth Folsom (violin), Kathy Link (flute), and Sheila Jaffe (harp and keyboards) will take you on a musical tour of the misty isles, featuring Celtic music from Wales, Ireland, Scotland, and England.

Artify Your Life

Thursday, March 28, 2024 • 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Turrentine Room • Adults

Local artist Lisa McCague of Beautiful Day Calligraphy will teach new artistic skills using a brush and paint to customize a household object to take home. Registration is required. To register, visit https:// library.escondido.org/register.aspx

Nowruz:

Persian New Year Celebration

March 30 • 3 to 4pm

Turrentine Room • All Ages

The Persian Culture Center partners with the Escondido Public Library to celebrate Persian New Year. Learn about Nowruz and Persian culture with traditional Persian live music by Niloufar Shiri, dance performances from the Iranian School of San Diego dance academy, crafts, and Persian refreshments.

½ Price Sale in the Friends Bookshop

March 29th & 30th

All items in the store 50% OFF marked price (25¢ minimum) Only cash payment accepted.

All events generously sponsored by the Friends of the Escondido Public Library

***

LIFE at MiraCosta College

1831 Mission Ave., Oceanside In The Board Room Trailer T200

A Lifelong Learning Group

Meetings will be held in person at the Mira Costa College Oceanside Campus at 1:00 pm in the Board Room Trailer T200 by the Police Station and by the Internet Application ZOOM.

March 8: 1:00 To Be Announced March 8: 2:30 Architectural History of San Diego Eileen Magno M.A.

Her book, “Forgotten San Diego” uncovers the city’s hidden stories and lost past presented via a blend of vintage postcard images and expert narrative.

March 15: 1:00 SONGS Decom-

missioning Update, (San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station) Kevin Sheek Emergency Preparedness Advisor This presentation will cover the operation and current decommissioning of SONGS as well as what the community can expect in the short and long-term for the site.

March 15: 2:30 Theatre Design and Technology: Tradition Meets Innovation Sean Fanning, MCC Faculty Theatre Design and Technology Professor Sean Fanning discusses his career as a freelance theatrical scenic designer and showcases the work being done with student interns in the Theatre program.

March 22: NO SESSION

– SPRING BREAK – MCC

CLOSED

March 29: 1:00 Content Creation in a Changing World Steven Breen, Cartoonist Currently at Inewsource Steve Breen will discuss the changing world of journalism, his new home at Inewsource and what the future looks like for cartooning and visual storytelling.

March 29: 2:30 Heart of the Zoo: All About Chuck Kathi Diamant, Director of Publishing San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and Georgeanne Irvine, Author Kathi

Diamant will talk about her awardwinning book “Heart of the Zoo: How San Diego Zoo Director, Chuck Bieler Earned His Stripes”. Accompanying Kathi will be Chuck Bieler and Georgeanne Irvine who will share an entertaining PowerPoint about Chuck’s history with the zoo.

To join a Zoom meeting, LIFE must have your email address in order for you to receive the invite link. Meetings will start at 12:45 pm (you can join 15 minutes earlier) and the speaker will start at 1:00 pm.

Email: life.miracosta@gmail.com

To Donate to the LIFE Scholarship Fund: Write a check to MiraCosta College Foundation; Mail it to: 1 Barnard Dr., MS 7; Oceanside, CA 92056. In the memo area put: LIFE Scholarship Fund. Or go to: https://foundation.miracosta.edu/ donatenow and you can donate online. There is a “drop down” box to indicate the donation will be credited to the LIFE Scholarship Fund.

* Speaker has books or CDs for sale.

Better Flight

from page 8

version of the FAA Reauthorization bill this spring. That probably means some of the more pro-consumer provisions will get stricken by the airline-friendly Congress.

How about those new airline seats?

Generally, new aircraft interiors improve the flying experience. But Southwest’s new interior design, which debuts next year, has been a little controversial. Critics have hammered its new seats for looking too thin and uncomfortable. One popular TikToker called them “lawn chairs.”

That may be unfair. True, the seats cut a slender profile, but they are the result of “careful and extensive” research, according to the airline. Also, none of the critics have sat in one of the seats yet, so there’s that.

What about the airline industry’s performance? Yes, it’s impressive, and the government wastes no opportunity to take full credit for it. But it will only last until the next computer outage or bad weather plunges an airline hub into total chaos.

“Let me be blunt,” says Bill McGee, a senior fellow for Aviation at the American Economic Liberties Project. “The airline industry is still broken.”

How to Have a Better Flight Anyway

Golden age or not, there’s only one thing that really matters: How is your next flight? None of the trends and statistics really matter if an airline cancels your flight and leaves you sleeping on the airport floor. Here’s how to sidestep bad service:

Book a ticket on an airline that offers excellent service. There’s a reason airlines like Delta, Southwest and Alaska keep winning customer service awards. If you cheap out and buy a ticket on a discount airline, you will get what you pay for. No golden age for you!

Avoid chaos. Try to avoid weekends and especially the days before and after major holidays. And always try to book the first flight of the day so that if something goes wrong, you won’t be stranded at an airport waiting for a connection. If you have to fly on a busy holiday, pack your patience and a good travel insurance policy.

Know your rights. Whether Congress passes new laws or not, you still need to know your rights as an air traveler. (Yes, you have some.) For domestic flights, the DOT’s Fly Rights page is an excellent resource. You can fly during a dif-

ficult time and still get decent service if you know your rights and can advocate for yourself if service goes south.

But perhaps the best advice of all is to keep your expectations modest. No one is turning the clock back to the 1960s, when even the economy class seats had plenty of legroom and the service was stellar. In a deregulated, post-pandemic airline industry, take nothing for granted -- and focus on the basics.

“The greatest service of all,” says MIT management professor Arnold Barnett, “is getting you to your destination safely.”

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 email him at chris@elliott.org.

Chuckles from page 2

I was thinking about old age and decided that old age is when you still have something on the ball, but you are just too tired to bounce it.

••••

When people see a cat’s litter box they always say, “Oh, have you got a cat?” Just once I want to say, “No, it’s for company!”

••••

Employment application blanks always ask who is to be called in case of an emergency. I think you should write, “An ambulance.”

••••

The older you get the tougher it is to lose weight because by then your body and your fat have gotten to be really good friends.

••••

The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.

••••

Did you ever notice: The Roman Numerals for forty (40) are XL.

••••

The sole purpose of a child’s middle name is so he can tell when he’s really in trouble.

••••

Did you ever notice that when you put the 2 words “The” and “IRS” together it spells “Theirs?”

Oodles

from page 13

El Camino Quilt Guild Meeting March 12 • 930am

El Corazon Senior Center

El Camino Quilt Guild meets at 9:30 am on Tuesday March 12, at El Corazon Senior Center, 3302 Senior Center Dr. Oceanside 92056. Guest fee $10.

Our March guest speaker is Pam Hadfield www.mamapquilts.com

She will do a trunk show of her quilt designs. Her workshop, “Crazy Christmas Trees” will be March 13 at Quilt In A Day quilt shop in San Marcos.

For more information visit elcaminoquilters.com or email info@elcaminoquilters.com .

El Camino Quilters is a non-profit group. We donate hundreds of quilts and other handmade items to a variety of groups including Rady Children’s Hospital, Senior centers, hospitals, police and military groups. ***

Cardiff Farmers Market

Every Saturday • 10am - 2pm

Cardiff 101 Mainstreet Association is hosting a weekly Farmers Market every Saturday from 10am to 2pm.

Located at MiraCosta College San Elijo Campus, the new farmers market is a Certified Califor-

nia 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.

***

Chess at Park Avenue Community Center

Wednesdays from noon to 3pm

Home of Escondido Senior Center 210 Park Avenue, Escondido

Chess players of all skill levels are welcome every Wednesday in the shuffleboard building from Noon to 3 pm. Large boards and pieces provided. Follow the signs or ask at the front desk for directions.

Free Tax Filing Help

Our IRS sponsored program offers free tax-filing help low income seniors. We’re looking for compassionate and friendly folks to join our team of volunteers preparing taxes for the upcoming season at the Escondido Sr Center. You’ll receive training and continued support in a welcoming environment. You will not only learn new skills, but also get a great feeling from helping someone else. We also need computer tutors and receptionists to help our local seniors. Call 760 480-0611 if you are interested.

Hidden Valley Community Concert Association Concert Sunday March 17th

San Diego County.

Mission Bay High School’s music department...one of the best west of the Mississippi will be performing 2 pm Sunday, March 17 . The wood-wind quintet, chamber orchestra and swing choir will be playing everything from classical to jazz. at the First Congregational Church , 1800 North Broadway, Escondido. Doors open and single concert tickets on sale at 1:30 pm. Children 12 and under are free, students thru college $10.00, seniors, veterans, military. $20.00 and adults are $30.00. www.hiddenvalleyCCAescondido.info. Hidden Valley Community Concert Association has presented over 300 concerts since 1945 in Escondido. They have the best season ticket prices in

2/22, 2/29, 3/7, 3/14/2024

NOTICE

Time: 1:30 pm

Dept: 503

Address of court: Other https://sdcourt.ca.gov/sdcourt/probate2/probatevh 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:

Kimberley V. Deede

Chhokar Law Group, P.C. 10945 Vista Sorrento Parkway, Suite 100 San Diego, CA 92130 858-384-5757

DOP: 2/18, 2/22, 2/29, 3/7/2024

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF JACKSON R. BURNS

Case No. 37-2024-00002942 PR-PL-CTL

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO 1100 Union Street San Diego, CA. 92101 Central Courthouse

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate or both, a notice of petition to administer estate of Jackson R. Burns, Jackson Raymond Burns has been filed by Samuel Burns in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, 1100 Union Street, San Diego, CA. 92101 Central Courthouse. The Petition to Administer Estate requests that Samuel Burns be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

PR-PW-CTL

The Petition to

Estate requests that Doreen Heintschel be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

The petition requests the decendent’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 Estates 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 tey have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) 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: April 18, 2024

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: Barbara Fischer 950 Boardwalk, Suite 201 San Marcos, CA 92078 760-471-1100

DOP: 2/18, 2/22, 2/29, 3/7/2024

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF ROBERT KEGLEY SCHMORLEITZ

Case No. 37-2023-00040309- PR-LA-CTL SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO 1100 Union Street San Diego, CA. 92101 Central Courthouse

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate or both, a notice of petition to administer estate of Robert Kegley Schmorleitz, a Petition for Probate has been filed by Erin K. Schmorleitz in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, 1100 Union Street, San Diego, CA. 92101 Central Courthouse.

The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates 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 tey have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) 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: April 18, 2024

Time: 1:30 pm

Dept: 503

Address of court: Same as noted above.

The petition requests the decendent’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 Estates 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 tey have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) 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: March 22, 2024

Time: 10:00 am

Dept: 503

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

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

92101, in Case No. 37-2023-00040309-PR-LA-CTL, and mail a copy to Randolph W. Ortlieb, Esq., attorney for Petitioner Erin Schmorleitz, at 225 E. 3rd Avenue, Escondido, CA 92025, within the later of four months after February 22, 2024 (the date of the first publication of notice to creditors) or, if notice is mailed or personally delivered to you. A claim form may be obtained from the court clerk. for your protection, you are encouraged to file your claim by certified mail, with return receipt requested.

Randolph W. Ortlieb, Esq., at 225 E. 3rd Avenue, Escondido, CA 92025.

2/22, 2/29, 3/7, 3/14/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9003578

The name of the business: Flynn Real Estate Group, Coast to Coast ADR, located at 100 E. San Marcos Blvd., #400, San Marcos, CA 92069. Registrant Robert H Flynn, 100 E. San Marcos Blvd., #400, San Marcos, CA 92069. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 2/1/2024

/s/ Robert H Flynn with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 2/15/2024 2/22, 2/29, 3/7, 3/14/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9003682

The name of the business: Oceanside Cab, Oceanside Taxi, located at 459 Vandergrift Blvd., Apt. 92, Oceanside, CA 92057. Registrant Kweli Jeuri Hall, 459 Vandergrift Blvd., Apt. 92, Oceanside, CA 92057. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A

/s/ Kweli Hall with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 2/16/2024 2/22, 2/29, 3/7, 3/14/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9002922

The name of the business: S&E Cleaning Services, located at 920 Sagewood Dr., Oceanside,

Diego on 12/9/2024

2/22, 2/29, 3/7, 3/14/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9003686

The name of the business: Chuck’s Tire Center, located at 6221 Yarew Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92011. Registrant Tires By The Sea LLC, 6221 Yarrow Dr., #E, Carlsbad, CA 92011. This business is operated by a Limited Liability Company. First day of business: 2/13/2024

/s/ Darryle Fernandez, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 2/16/2024

2/22, 2/29, 3/7, 3/14/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9003784

The name of the business: Escanor Academy, locatd at 5094 Caspian Drive, Oceanside, CA 92057. Registrant Donovan Dustin Del, 5094 Caspian Drive, Oceanside CA 92057. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 2/20/2024 /s/ Donovan Del with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 2/20/2024 2/29, 3/7, 3/14, 3/21/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9003675

The name of the business: Max Services Group, located at 2160 Coast Ave., San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant Peter C Whittet, 2160 Coast Ave., San Marcos, CA 92078. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 10/1/2011 /s/ Peter C. Whittet with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 2/20/2024

2/29, 3/7, 3/14, 3/21/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9003638

The name of the business: Homeland Real Estate Brokerge, Inc., located at 411 E. Carmel St., San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant Homeland Real Estate Brokerage, Inc., 411 E. Carmel St., San Marcos, CA 92078. This business is operated by a Corporation. First day of business: 5/1/1989 /s/ Sandra Blaney, Vice President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 2/16/2024

2/29, 3/7, 3/14, 3/21/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9003453

The name of the business: La Costa Seashore Apartments, located at 7552 Gibraltar Street, Carlsbad, CA 92009. Registrant

Bernardo Center Drive, Ste 7, San Diego, CA 92128. This business is operated by a Corporation. First day of business: 2/6/2014 /s/ Eric Farrar, Vice President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 2/22/2024 2/29, 3/7, 3/14, 3/21/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9003466

The name of the business: AA Fine Finish Painting, located at 4173 Kimberly Lane, Oceanside, CA 92056. Registrant Andrew Anthony Garcia, 4173 Kimberly Lane, Oceanside, CA 92056. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A

/s/ Andrew Anthony Garcia with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 2/14/2024

2/29, 3/7, 3/14, 3/21/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9004493

The name of the business: Official Fiesta Imports, Officialfiesta.com, Little Mexico Shop, Sidrey, Official Fiesta Wholesale, Of Boutique, Shop Memo Thrift, located at 815 W. San Marcos Blvd., San Marcos, CA 92102. Registrant Isidro Reyes, 2801 B St., PMB 204, San Diego, CA 92102. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 2/29/2024

/s/ Isidro Reyes with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 2/29/2024

3/7, 3/14, 3/21,