Oodles!

San Diego Museum Month 2023

San Diego Museum Month is back. Take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy half-price admission during the month of February at over 60 museums in the San Diego area. Passes are now available for pick up at any of the public service desks at Escondido Public Library while supplies last. Passes are valid from Feb. 1 – 28 only. ***

Library Holiday

Hours & Closures

All Library facilities will be closed on Monday, February 20, 2023 for Presidents Day. ***

StoryBox Kamishibai

Paper Theater

Tuesday, February 14 6:00–6:40 p.m.

Turrentine Room • Ages 2–12

Kamishibai is the Japanese art of combining live storytelling with painted pictures and written words. Join us for a riveting storytime with a professional actor from Write Out Loud and their storybook in a box.

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CSUSM Presents California Youth Team S.T.E.M. Challenge

Tuesdays, February 14, 21, & 28 4:15–5:30 p.m.

Turrentine Room

Students in Grades 4–6

Join students from California State University San Marcos in a S.T.E.M. challenge to learn about designing and coding with Scratch and Lego Mindstorms to address real-world problems. Pre-registration is required. Visit https://library.escondido.org/register.aspx

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Teen Art Studio

Wednesday, February 15 4:00–6:00 p.m.

Turrentine Room • Ages 12–18

Join us every month to express yourself through art. This month we will use a tiny canvas to create a tiny, but mighty, masterpiece. All materials provided, but supplies are limited.

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Emerging Leaders Program

California Emerging Leaders is a free program that networks moderate and conservative leaning high school and college students who are interested in learning more about (and getting actively involved in) public service and politics.

The program includes free training workshops on a range of topics, valuable internships, and fun social events where students can meet other like-minded students.

After an initial training course on leadership, project management, communications and issue-advocacy, students will be included in our network and will be invited to a number of free programs such as:

Social Networking Events: Through a series of mixers, meet-ups, pizza parties, beach days, and BBQs, the Emerging Leaders Initiative brings together young leaders from a number of schools in a region for fun networking opportunities. You can also attend informative events on a wide-range of current political topics with community leaders and elected officials.

Internships and Paid Jobs: California Emerging Leaders offers a wide-range of internship opportunities and paid jobs to learn while working in a public policy organization or campaign in your area. You can also receive a letter of recommendation and put your resume into our job placement bank to be considered for future opportunities.

Club Support and Speaking Events: Most schools are openly hostile to conservative groups holding events or inviting speakers on campus. The Emerging Leaders Initiative will defend the rights of students to form clubs and host events. We help students organize on campus

The Pala Casino Express Has Begun

Why drive yourself when for $20 you can get safe, round-trip shuttle service to Pala Casino. Pay $20 for round-trip shuttle service and receive $20 - $60 back in Free Slot Play.

Service routes are available throughout San Diego County, with new routes being added each week!

For a full list of upcoming pickup/ drop off locations or to make reservations, visit https://bit.ly/PalaSDShuttle or call (800) 254-3423

Escondido City Council Appoints Christian Garcia to Vacant Council Seat

On Monday, January 30, 2023, the Escondido City Council appointed Christian Garcia to fill its District 3 vacancy after interviewing 10 candidates.

The vacancy was created as a result of the adoption of new district boundaries that were created by the Independent Redistricting Commission in 2022. The term of the vacant seat is from the date of the official swearing-in on February 1, 2023 until December 11, 2024.

Christian Garcia is a resident of Escondido for the past 4.5 years, and works as a teacher. He holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the University of Southern

California, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine. Mr. Garcia has served in the Peace Corps and has been a trustee at Palomar College since 2020.

Mr. Garcia shared his top three priorities for the City are to draw more housing development for median income families; provide investment opportunities for new and developing industries to increase employment and raise wages; and to increase safety by funding the police, providing services to/shelter our current homeless population, and improve partnerships with anti-gang organizations.

All Escondido City Council meetings are streamed live on www. escondido.org and on-demand at https://escondido.org/city-council. Meeting agendas and more information available on the same page.

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San Marcos Offering Grant Rebates for EV Charging Stations

The City of San Marcos has launched an Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS) Grant Rebate Program as part of the Climate Action Plan. The program encourages residents and businesses to switch from gas vehicles to electrical vehicles by providing grants for the installation of electrical vehicle charging stations within the City.

Two grant types will be available for the community including resi-

Two months later he gets a call from a police station. “This guy was found dead and among his personal effects was this business card with your name and number and you’re listed as ‘next of kin.’

“I barely knew the guy,” I said.

“Tough luck,” says the cop. “You’re his next of kin.”

Man About Town

A Great Story . . .

I have a very good friend who told me a story recently that almost made my teeth fall out (and they’re real, not falsies)!

My friend has been sober for 45 years and does a lot of work for AA.

“One evening this guy comes in, a drunk; I gave him my card and said, ‘the only thing you need from this card is my phone number and name. If you ever need help, call me, night or day.’

A very short time later I learn this guy left $14 million dollars. To me, his ‘next of kin.’

I went home and told my wife, “I can’t take this. It just isn’t right.”

Wife said, “Why don’t you give it a 12 month time line and diligently search for any legitimate next of kin.” dential rebates and commercial/ non-residential rebates. Residential applicants can apply for Level 1 or Level 2 chargers and commercial applicants can apply for Level 2 or Level 3/DC Fast Chargers for the EVCS Grant Rebate Program. To complete and apply, visit the EVCS Grant Rebate Program Application webpage.

I did just that.

Nine months later I located a distant nephew of the guy, living the the San Francisco area.

I called him and told him the story. “Say that again?” he says. “You’ve inherited $14 million,” sez me.

The program supports residential rebates of up to $900 per charger and commercial rebates up to $1,800 per charger. For more information, visit the City’s Sustainability webpage.

For any additional questions, contact Saima Qureshy, Sustainability Program Manager at squreshy@ san-marcos.net or Song LeBaron, Sr. Management Analyst at slebaron@san-marcos.net.

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Clean Energy Alliance - the New Power Provider for San Marcos

On April 1, San Marcos residents and businesses will have a new default energy provider, Clean Energy Alliance (CEA). CEA, a locally controlled not-for-profit entity, offers clean energy options at competitive rates to power your home or business. CEA currently serves the cities of Carlsbad, Del Mar and Solana Beach. Along with San Marcos, CEA becomes the default energy provider in Escondido this month followed by Oceanside and Vista in April 2024.

CEA was formed to help meet

I arranged for the funds to be transferred. Just three months before the deadline would have expired and I would have ‘inherited’ all the money. The long lost nephew didn’t even know his uncle.

Then, if you can believe this, the sonofabitch sues me for $6000! He said I had taken $6000 from the estate.

I went to my attorney; he said, ‘give me $500 and I’ll take care of this.’ I did, he did, and the rest is history.”

I told my pal he should have kept the money (he doesn’t need it. He sold his business for multimillions). He could have distributed all $14 million to worthwhile non-profits - so much of that money could have gone to solve so many problems . . . or at least help out.

Were it to happen to me? I’d keep the money and do exactly what I outlined above. I don’t need that much money. I’m comfortable financially (oh, I might keep $500K or $1 million for myself. Just for giggles. Maybe), so I would distribute it all to charity.

I can’t believe the guy in San Fran- the goals of its member city’s Climate Action Plans by providing electricity with a higher renewable content than San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E). The program is locally controlled and supported by ratepayers, with no taxpayer subsidies. Because CEA is locally managed and a not-for-profit, any excess revenue is reinvested into the member communities through on-bill savings and innovative energy projects and programs, including rebates and other incentives, low-cost energy programs, job training and more. cisco suing my pal. Amazing, the kinds of people we have on this planet.

CEA is governed by a Board of local elected officials from member agencies, who oversee decisions regarding power purchasing, programs and rate setting, and are directly accountable to the people who elected them.

How It Works: CEA follows the community choice energy model allowing local governments to purchase energy directly from power providers to meet their community’s electricity needs, offering an alternative to investor-owned utilities. SDG&E will continue to handle customer billing, transmission and distribution to homes and businesses.

A How it Works on the Clean Energy Alliance: Local control allows CEA to make better investments in clean power purchasing.

To learn more about the Clean Energy Alliance, visit TheCleanEnergyAlliance.org.

Some good, some great, some pure assholes.

GOAAAAAL!

Things have a habit of coming around several times.

Received a phone call and subsequent email with a request to publish a legal notice for a Fictitious Business Name. The client? NCYSA. North County Youth Soccer Association. That rang a bell with me.

Have any idea who founded NCYSA?

It was ME! (He said modestly).

It was around 1975 or 76. A neighbor, Rolf Krause, a friend, Jack Wood, and a guy from Argentina (sorry, don’t recall his name) were recruited to serve on the board of directors as they had all played soccer and understood

Chuckles from page 2 how to use this.” She bowed her head and asked God to send her some HELP.

Within 5 minutes a beat-up old motorcycle pulled up, driven by a bearded man who was wearing an old biker skull rag.

He got off of his cycle and asked if he could help. She said: “Yes, my daughter is sick. I’ve locked my keys in my car. I must get home. Please, can you use this hanger to unlock my car?”

He said, “ Sure”.

He walked over to the car, and in less than a minute the car was open. She hugged the man and through tears said, “Thank You, God, for sending me such a very nice man.”

The man heard her little prayer and replied, “Lady, I am NOT a nice man. I just got out of prison yesterday; I was in prison for car theft.”

The woman hugged the man again, sobbing, “Oh, thank you, God! You even sent me a Professional!”

The Coyote Principle

CALIFORNIA: The Governor of California is jogging with his dog along a nature trail. A coyote jumps out and attacks the Governor’s dog, then bites the Governor.

The Governor starts to intervene, but reflects upon the movie “Bambi” and then realizes he should stop because the coyote is only doing what is natural.

He calls animal control. Animal Control captures the coyote and bills the state $200 testing it for diseases and $500 for relocating it.

He calls a veterinarian. The vet collects the dead dog and bills the State $200 testing it for diseases.

The Governor goes to hospital and spends $3,500 getting checked for diseases from the coyote and on getting his bite wound bandaged.

The running trail gets shut down for 6 months while Fish & Game conducts a $100,000 survey to make sure the area is now free of dangerous animals.

The Governor spends $50,000 in state funds implementing a “coyote awareness program” for residents of the area.

The State Legislature spends $2 million to study how to better treat rabies and how to permanently eradicate the disease throughout the world.

The Governor’s security agent is fired for not stopping the attack. The state spends $150,000 to hire and train a new agent with additional special training for the nature of coyotes.

PETA protests the coyote’s relocation and files a $5 million suit against the state.

TEXAS: The Governor of Texas is jogging with his dog along a nature trail. A coyote jumps out and attacks his dog.

The Governor shoots the coyote with his state-issued pistol and keeps jogging. The Governor has spent $.50 on a .45 ACP hollow point cartridge.

The buzzards eat the dead coyote.

And that, my friends, is why California is broke and Texas is not. ***

Peek-a-boo underwear isn’t as sexy if the reason it’s see-through is because it’s really old.

Spanish women don’t like me, even though I’m only pointing out their mustaches to be helpful.

Once watched a woman buy: Gas-X, lice shampoo and birth control. I speak for the world when I say: I hope they all worked.

If white supremacists love their skin color so much, why do they cover themselves with tattoos?

When a man makes an hourglass shape with his hands to represent a woman, I assume he has never seen a woman.

Trust me you want ‘heels over head’ in love. ‘Head over heels’ in love is just, like... standing.

I must have an amazing butt. I say this because everytime I walk away from someone they always whisper, “what an ass!” ***

A guy comes into a bar, and sits down. The bartender asks, ‘Would you like a drink?

The guy says, ‘I tried alcohol once. I didn’t like it.’

The bartender says, ‘Would you like a pretzel?’

The guy says, ‘I tried a pretzel once. I didn’t like it.’

The bartender then asks, ‘Do you want to watch the baseball game?’ The guy says, ‘I tried watching baseball once. I didn’t like it. ‘I’m just want to sit here and wait for my Son!’

The bartender says, “Let me guess! Your only child?”

Henry, died, and he felt as though the moon and the stars had fallen upon him.

The trauma, torment, and confused pain, all pressed upon his young psyche, and shredded it.

Surely, he thought, God’s long judgmental hand eagerly swatted him.

Yet, Twain seemed to differentiate his qualms between the Olde and New Testament as reflected in his own handwriting: “God, so atrocious in the Old Testament, so attractive in the New – the Jekyll and Hyde of sacred romance.”

To his way of thinking, it is little wonder he turned with reckless abandon, to rough-housing, cursing, smoking, and a taste for liquor early-on and which persisted through later years.

But surely, Livy -- now his newlywed wife -- could save him from his irreverent ways. Part him from his taste for liquor, cigars, and profanity. Smoking and liquor can be modified, she reasoned, but the profanity had to go.

Once, when Mark Twain was getting dressed he blew his fuse when he found a missing shirt button.

He launched into irreverent language, cursing that would have caused the Seventh Fleet to blush! Unknown to him at the time, Livy had heard his every curse word from behind a door.

Lifting her petite and tiny voice as best she could, she aimed at shaming her husband by repeating his every word back to him.

“Livy,” Twain said, very shocked, “did it really sound like that?” the game. I knew it was a game with a ball and you were supposed to kick it. That’s about the extent of my knowledge at the time.

When his wife answered, “Of course it did, only worse. And I wanted you to hear just how it sounded.” Mark Twain stood straight, to his full height, pulled down on his shirt, cleared his voice, and said, “Livy, it would pain me to think that when I swear it sounds like that. You got the words right, Livy, but you don’t know the tune.” (“A Family Sketch,” unpublished.)

PERSONAL TRAGEDY HARDENED HIS HEART. Again, disaster was close behind. Livy gave birth to a little boy (Landon Clemens, 1870) and they all soon moved to Hartford, Connecticut.

Out riding with the baby on a frigid day, Mark accidentally let the blanket slip from the baby’s legs, unnoticed, and the infant caught cold. Diphtheria set in, and he died soon after. Mark forever blamed himself for bringing such a curse upon his only son.

He never forgave himself. Nor the God, overhead, who oversaw everything.

At times, Mark Twain felt at rope’s end. But, the drama unfolding in his private life was not through with him yet.

Over time, his daughters were the beacon in his life: Susy, Clara, and Jean.

But wife, Livy, she was the valve, the pump, the ventilator which kept his heart going, and for a while, life seemed good. His family was his everything.

My late father-in-law, Hughie Holden, a product of bonnie Scotland, was visiting and we took him a championship Little League game in which my eldest son, Scott, participated, (and made the final out, playing shortstop, to seal the win). As we were joyously leaving the field I asked Hughie, “so, Hughie, what do you think of the American game of baseball.”

“Aye,” he said, in his heavy Scots brogue, “what they boys need is a soccer pitch.”

And thus the idea, and the NCYSA, was born.

We ran NCYSA for, I believe, six years. We attended coaches clinics, worked with the kids and had a couple of championship seasons (because of the talented kids, not because of the coaches).

Many, many happy memories. All the kids are grown now. Indeed, the lady that submited the Fictitious Business Name may well have played in NCYSA herself. Not sure if I coached her or not, but I may have. We coached a couple of girl’s teams along with the late Larry Littlefield, former columnist for the old Times Advocate.

One benefit of growing old - a lot of great memories come rushing back.

Safety is Government’s Responsibility

Public safety should be government’s top priority. That’s why I’m supporting a new legislative initiative in Sacramento that will enhance public safety by restoring felony penalties for many crimes now plaguing California.

Obviously, serious crimes demand serious consequences. One day last week, Border Patrol agents seized fentanyl, cocaine and heroin valued at $4 million from smugglers on I-8 in San Diego County, and near the Murrieta Border Patrol checkpoint in Riverside County. In 2021 fentanyl was responsible for over 6,000 deaths in California alone. Unbelievably, the Sacramento majority has rejected legislation imposing severe penalties on purveyors of these poisons, including bills I introduced, even when drug trafficking results in death. People are dying, and our leniency is facilitating those deaths.

Proposition 47, which reduced many drug and property crimes to misdemeanor status must be repealed if we ever want to get a handle on fentanyl and other narcotics, on smash and grabs, and street crimes. In addition, sentencing enhancements for criminals using firearms while committing their crimes, including 10-20-life terms for persons who brandish, discharge or inflict great bodily harm during the commission of a violent felony, must be restored. Other new legislation would require the Office of Emergency Services to host and update a website with resources for domestic violence victims. Another bill requires notification of crime victims when parole hearings for their victimizers are being scheduled to help ensure that dangerous criminals remain behind bars. To view the entire package of proposed legislation, please click here .

Public safety should be non-partisan -- criminals usually don’t care about politics. The upsurge in drugrelated deaths, property crime and street violence, affects all of us and can be reduced by commonsense measures that keep violent criminals and purveyors of deadly poisons off the streets.

An electronic version of this article is available at: 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 Select San Marcos for your Next Special Event

street fairs, 5K events, jog-a-thons, beer fests, festivals, bike rides, etc.

Block Party Permit: For neighborhood block parties that are not open to the general public.

Youth Sports Council Member Permit: Only available to YSC Member Organizations and covers events such as opening/closing day and tournaments.

Are you looking to use San Marcos as your next special events location? To get started, you’ll need to submit a special event permit which is needed for any event that is outside the scope of normal services offered by the City. Below is a helpful breakdown of permit types you would need for your event:

Special Event Permit: Covers events such as parades, art/

Making Housing Affordable

Workforce housing and affordable housing for seniors are both vital. I want to give you an update on some progress we’ve made in this realm.

The Alvarado Senior Village is a proposed senior housing project in Fallbrook. This week, the County awarded $6.1 million to partner with constructing this 54-unit facility. This is vital as this project will house very low-income seniors in need.

Also, late last year, we voted unanimously to establish a rental subsidy pilot program for seniors who are at risk of becoming homeless.

The Pilot Shallow Rental Subsidy Program will provide a monthly rental subsidy of $500, paid directly to the landlord of a low-income senior San Diegan.

To qualify, an applicant must be at least 55 years old and the head of household. The applicant’s household income may not exceed 50% of the area median income, and the household must be severely rentburdened, which is defined as paying more than 50% of household income towards housing.

The application window is now open. In order to get an application, send an email to HSEC.OHSHHSA@sdcounty.ca.gov or call 619-980-4168.

Back in 2021, I was on hand for the groundbreaking of Villa SerenaNational Core's workforce housing project in San Marcos. The 85 affordable housing units included 8 units for young adults along with those aging out of the foster care system within the affordable housing development.

Phase 2 is will begin construction soon and this week the County announced they will be allocating $6.6 million to help construct this 63-unit project.

Finally, the Breezewood Apartments is an existing housing development that will be receiving project-based housing vouchers to support the residents to remaining stability housed. The housing voucher allows the residents to pay 30% of their income for rent with the voucher covering the balance of the rent.

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 new GE range shattered. Do I have to wait two months for a repair?

When the door on Lauren Butcher’s new GE range shatters, the company makes her wait two months for a repair. She wants a new oven. Who’s right?

Q: I purchased a new GE electric range. I had it for 12 days. On the 13th day, the door glass shattered.

period, to GE’s supply chain issues. My situation is not the same as purchasing a product where a part eventually goes bad. This stove was fundamentally defective when I bought it. I have two renters living with me. They pay me to have access to certain basic amenities, including an oven. One of my roommates is in culinary school. Can you help me?

Film Permit: Filming that takes place in or would impact any city parks, city facilities, or city streets or alleys (street closures, lane closures, traffic control, or impact to parking) requires a filming permit.

Find permit applications online by visiting www.san-marcos.net. Completed applications can be sent to SpecialEventPermits@sanmarcos.net.

When a technician came out, he discovered that there was no insulation in the door. All oven doors are supposed to have insulation. There was a product defect.

GE says it is covering the replacement part. It has been two months, and the insulation is backordered. I have been without a working oven for two months.

I paid $800 for a range that never should have made it off the production line. They took my money and gave me a fundamentally defective product. Now I am a hostage, for an indefinite

-- Lauren Butcher, Bentonville, Ark.

A: You’re right, this is not a warranty case. GE should have quickly replaced the unit, which should have never passed inspection at the factory.

When you told them you had a housemate in culinary school, GE should have double-timed it. But, of course, it didn’t. Instead, it treated your case like an ordinary warranty case.

Problem Solved on page

Travel Troubleshooter

by Christopher Elliott

AeroMexico Canceled My Flight I Want a Refund, Not a Ticket Credit

AeroMexico cancels Patrizia Azzellini’s flight and offers her a ticket credit. She’d prefer a refund. Who’s right?

Q: I recently booked a ticket on AeroMexico from Sacramento, Calif., to Sao Paulo, Brazil, with two stops in Mexico.

The airline canceled my flight three weeks later and rebooked me on a different flight. The new itinerary added a ten-hour stopover and no longer met my needs, so I asked for a refund.

I called AeroMexico three times to ask for my money back. Although the representatives were very friendly, they were unable to help me. When I ask for a supervisor, there was never one available.

AeroMexico has given me two options: Either I accept a flight voucher or I take the new flight. But I thought when an airline cancels a flight or makes substantial changes to someone’s itinerary, I’m entitled to a full refund -- even for nonrefundable tickets. Can you help me? -- Patrizia Azzellini, Sacramento, Calif.

A: You’re correct, if an airline cancels your flight, you get a refund. That’s a Department of Transportation (DOT) regulation. And not only that, but the airline must reimburse you within a week if you paid by credit card, which you did.

Ah, but wait -- does that apply to an AeroMexico flight to Mexico City? As a matter of fact, it does. DOT regulations affect any commercial aircraft operating in the United States, regardless of destination.

Airlines would prefer you accept their new flights or a ticket credit. And you certainly can do that if you want. But you don’t have to. We had a problem with airlines pushing vouchers on passengers during the pandemic. Airlines said they couldn’t offer refunds because of “extraordinary” circumstances. But the DOT would not allow that and reminded airlines that they were required to offer refunds.

It looks like you tried to call AeroMexico to resolve this. Then you sent a formal request in writing -- first through the airline’s website and then to one of the executive contacts at AeroMexico that I publish on my consumer advocacy website. The airline ignored you.

Asking for a supervisor in a phone call rarely works. Chances are, they will pass you off to a colleague pretending to be a supervisor and tell you “no” in a hundred different ways.

You also told an agent that you would take legal action against AeroMexico if you didn’t get a refund. I understand your frustration, but if you do that, your complaint may get routed to the airline’s legal department, which is often a dead end.

I have some more tips on my site for resolving an airline complaint. Remaining calm and polite and reminding the airline of its requirements under the law would have been more effective than threatening a lawsuit.

You could have also filed a complaint with the DOT. The agency would have contacted AeroMexico, and I’m sure you would have had a refund quickly.

But none of that was necessary. I reached out to the airline on your behalf, and it agreed to refund your ticket.

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.

© 2023 Christopher Elliott.