January 11, 2024

January 11, 2024

Volume 54 - No. 2

North to Alaska

by lyle e davis Editor’s Note: The following story and sidebars were written based on a trip my then-wife, Mary, and I had taken sometime in the mid to late 1990’s. This was before Mary developed dementia and we were able to travel and enjoy life together. At this time we were just your average, ordinary married couple.

Granted, we were coming late in the season (post Labor Day) and most of the major tourist attractions had shut down for the sea-

son. Still, off peak season travel has its advantages. There are less tourists thus less crowds. Off peak rates prevail and if you get lucky with the weather you can have great adventures at substantial savings.

Initially, we weren’t that lucky with the weather. It rained.

We arrived at 1:15am, 2:15am California time and the hotel had lost our reservation. We had our confirmation number but to no avail. They were sold out. No problem. We found lodging at

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a Days Inn Hotel. Clean rooms, reasonable rates, prompt service.

We’ve never had a bad stay at a Days Inn. We’d make do.

The next day we tried to rent a motor home. Our motor-home rental company had closed for the season. No problem.We found another one. Nice folks. Got our motor-home...left, stopped to get groceries. No brake pads. Return to motor-home place, got new motor-home, they were chagrined and gave us one days free travel to make up for the inconvenience and the embarrassment of send-

ing a dangerous vehicle out. We accepted.

The road we planned on taking south to the Kenai Peninsula was washed out due to rain and there had been a declaration of emergency. We decided to head north.

Good move. We met family in Wasilla, north of Anchorage; had coffee, chatted, headed for bed in our motor-home. Slept like a rock till 4am then was awakened by a steady downpour of rain. We had plans to drive to Fairbanks today...and the weather did not look promising. This trip was not starting off well.

Alaska

See Page 2

The Paper • Page 2 • January 11, 2024

Alaska from page 1 Back to sleep and finally got up at 8am. Headed north. The weather had broken. Through Denali Park, on to Fairbanks where they were having a record setting heat wave; temperature was 78 degrees. Unheard of in September!

We take the side trip through Denali park looking for moose and/ or grizzly bear. Mary asks me to stop, she sees something. “What is it?”, I ask excitedly.

“Looks like some kind of big white chicken,” she says. “Kinda like a quail, only bigger. And white.”

“Probably a ptarmigan,” I said.

“I don’t stop to look at ptarmigans. I only want to see grizzlies or moose.”

“What’s a ptarmigan?,” she asks.)

“Big white bird, kinda like a chicken, white,” I says.

“That’s what it looked like,” she says.

“Ptarmigan,” says I. We call home and find that one of our son’s close pals, Lorin McCorkindale, has been killed in an accident in Fairbanks, Alaska.

His first day on the job. He was

Give Us This Day Our Daily Chuckle This week, a compendium of wit, wisdom and neat stuff you can tell at parties. Enjoy!

Long live the Queen! Elizabeth has been on the throne for 60 years. Man, after 10 minutes on the throne my legs fall asleep.

••• My girlfriend and I walked past a swanky new restaurant last night.

“Did you smell that food?” she asked. “Incredible!”

Being the nice guy I am, I thought, “What the heck, I’ll treat her!”

So we walked past it again.

••• If my house were on fire and I could only take one thing? I’d probably take a new house with waterfront property.

•••

training to drive a truck and the road gave out from under him, the truck rolled and killed him.

Our son Ken is shaken. Mary and I knew the boy. He was a great kid. Handsome, shy, eager to please. We feel the sense of loss.

We finally see our moose, about 5 miles before we hit Fairbanks.

Mary spots it. It’s a female, walking, calm as you please, along the freeway. If Mary had not seen it we would have missed it as I had my eyes on the road. We had traffic behind us so didn’t have time to stop and take a photo.

Trust me. We saw it.

We again call Ken and ask him to contact McCorkindales’ family to see if there is anything we can do to help while we are in Fairbanks. We are not anxious to get involved as it is a very sad time; but we would want someone to be there to help us if we were to be in this situation.

We find a campsite next to the Chena River. Rivers in Alaska are not pretty. They are full of fish but not particularly pretty.

They are full of silt and have an ugly gray look to them. The silt is caused by the tumbling action that glaciers have on rocks. As the glacier melts it forms tiny rivulets that grow to be creeks and then rivers. As it moves along it gathers up rocks of every size and tumbles them into what Hurricanes are named after women Because they start on the very same plan Start up over nothin’, make a whole lotta noise, And can’t be controlled by man.

••• Before we lose our autonomy And our economy crumbles into dust We should attack Japan, lose the war And let Japan take care of us.

••• There comes a time when a woman just has to trust her husband... for example...

A wife comes home late at night and quietly opens the door to her bedroom.

From under the blanket she sees four legs instead of two. She reaches for a baseball bat and starts hitting the blanket as hard as she can. Once she’s done, she goes to the kitchen to have a drink.

As she enters, she sees her husband there, reading a magazine.

“Hi Darling”, he says, “Your parents have come to visit us, so l let them stay in our bedroom. Did you say ‘hello’?”

•••

is known as “glacier flour”, microscopic particles of rock that blends with the water to give it a grayish cast.

I am amazed that I haven’t grabbed rod and reel and headed for the nearest stream. There are hundreds if not thousands of streams, rivers, lakes and sloughs throughout Alaska, all beckoning the fisherman. Arctic grayling, trout, turbot, pike, salmon. . .all are out there. I don’t have the same drive to fish that I used to.

Perhaps its because I’m in the business now and can fish whenever I choose, for free. Perhaps it’s just that I’m getting older and don’t enjoy roughing it quite as much as I used to.

We stopped in Talkeetna, a small town at the foot of the Denali Mountain. One of my ancestors, Tom Tollefson, was a pioneer founder of Talkeetna and is buried there. We saw his homestead and the lovely cabin he had built on a beautiful lakefront.

We marveled at the tales of how he’s walk all the way into Talkeetna, pick up roofing shingles at the train station, then walk all the way back, his shingles on his powerful shoulders. It was probably a 3 to 5 mile walk. Pioneers were hardy folk!

We chartered a small plane and flew around Mount Denali, looking to spot a Grizzly or two. No luck, but we had a nice and scenic plane ride.

China Acquires Naming Rights to US; Will Rename Nation ‘Panda Garden’ ••• The computer swallowed grandma.

Yes, honestly it’s true!

She pressed ‘control and ‘enter’ And disappeared from view.

It devoured her completely, The thought just makes me squirm.

She must have caught a virus Or been eaten by a worm.

I’ve searched through the recycle bin And files of every kind; I’ve even used the Internet, But nothing did I find.

In desperation, I asked Mr. Google My searches to refine.

The reply from him was negative, Not a thing was found ‘online.’

So, if inside your ‘Inbox,’ My Grandma you should see, Please ‘Copy, Scan’ and ‘Paste’ her And send her back to me.

(This is a tribute to all the Grandmas and Grandpas who have been fearless and learned to use the Computer.They are the greatest!)

••• What is the secret of eternal youth?

We stopped at a bar in Talkeetna where they offered showers for 50 cents. It gave Mary a chance to freshen up and have a leisurely, hot shower. While she showered I ordered a glass of white wine.

Men don’t normally drink wine in Talkeetna. Whisky? Yep. Rum? Yep. Beer? Yep. Wine, not so much.

There were two Talkeetna women at the bar, one of whom was rather loud. Her language would have made a sailor blush.

I noticed beards and mustaches are very common in Talkeetna... none of which are particularly well trimmed. And that’s just the women!

Later, after arriving in Fairbanks, we looked up a distant cousin.

He and his wife were hardy folk, rough and tumble type. They invited us to stay for supper, which we agreed to. We had beans and frankfurters and white bread with butter . . . a simple meal but we were comfortable, knowing they had little to share but it was important to them to share it with visiting family.

We had plans to go halibut fishing out of Seward or Homer but, given the terrible weather condiAlaska continued on page 3 The answer is easily told; All you gotta do if you wanna look young Is hang out with people who are old.

••• If you ever go out with a schoolteacher, You’re in for a sensational night; She’ll make you do it over and over again Until you do it right.

••• The East is buried in snow leaving people with no place to go.

In nine months hence, as a consequence, The birth rate will surely grow ••• Politics, they say, is a game Within which one can achieve fame Make promises galore And act like a whore Each Party is exactly the same ••• My Imaginary Friend thinks you have Serious Mental Problems.

••• Middle names exist so kids have a clear indication when they are in big trouble.

••• Chuckles continued on page 14

The Paper • Page 3 • January 11, 2024

Alaska from page 2

It’s good to be home.

tions, we put those plans on hold.

Further, it’s $175 per person per day to fish for halibut and you’re out for 8-10 hours in tossing seas.

If we catch 200 lbs of halibut, maybe it’s worth it. If we come back with 20 lbs. of halibut it’s been a horrific waste of money and I will probably have gotten seasick as well. Better I should buy 30lbs at $5 per lb from the fishmarket, freeze it and ship it home. We love halibut but it sells for $10 per lb. in San Diego. That’s the plan. Buy and ship. We won’t even lie about it and say we caught them.

Alaska Update - a sidebar story to our trip to Alaska:

Bad idea. I check on the idea of buying halibut and shipping it home. It was $6 per lb. and would cost $47 to ship it home fresh, more if frozen. Would wind up costing about $9-10 per lb., which is what I can buy it for in San Diego.

One of the few attractions remaining open is the “El Dorado Gold Mine Tour”. Fantastic. I’ve been in many entertainment venues in my life but this one ranks near the top. They take you on a train ride through a working gold mine, give all kinds of interesting information about different types of gold mining, and you wind up with the chance to pan for gold.

We got $16 worth of gold between us (Mary, as usual, got the most. She had $10, I got $6) and it only cost us $40! (It was worth every bit of the $40 - one of the best shows I’ve ever seen and I’ve been in the entertainment business for over 25 years).

We return to Anchorage and stay with a cousin. We turn in the rental motor-home and she takes us to the Portage Glacier.

Impressive. But then everything in Alaska is impressive.

Our flight “outside” leaves at 2am. “Outside” is the term Alaskans use for the lower 48 and Hawaii. We plan on flying to Seattle, spending 2 or 3 days with friends and family there, and then return to San Diego on Saturday.

We wait in the airport from 11pm till 2pm; it’s a 3 hour flight to Seattle and we get very little, if any, sleep. Upon arrival at Seattle I get ready to go rent a car and Mary says. . “Let’s forget the rental car. Let’s just get the next plane for San Diego”.

She did not have to work real hard to persuade me. We are both bone tired. We return home and sleep from 2pm Tuesday till 6:30am Wednesday morning.

••••

It is true what they say about Eskimos in Alaska.

They *do* give you their wives if they like you!

I have just returned from Anchorage, Wasilla, Fairbanks, Talkeetna, and North Pole, Alaska.

Upon arriving at North Pole I was surrounded by Eskimo men telling me what a nice guy I was and wouldn’t I enjoy taking their wives. “Please”, said one, “take mine!” “No,” said another, “take my wife! Please!”

Well, the least I could do was accept their kind offer. I now have six wives. A set. They are Umlaut, Omkee, Omloo, Kiwatamee, Susitana and Yukonanee. Instead of “She Who Must Be Obeyed” I now have “They Who Must Be Obeyed”.

Ah, yes. About “She Who Must Be Obeyed”. I haven’t spoken of her yet. That’s because we’re kinda on the outs right now.

I get so angry with her! She just doesn’t understand the niceties of life. I patiently explained to her that the least I could do was to return the offer to these very kind and generous Eskimo men and that she shouldn’t worry, I’d come back to Alaska one day to pick her up. Maybe.

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 If you submit photos do not embed them. Send them as jpg, tif, or pdf attachments only.

The Paper comes out on Thursdays. Deadline is the previous Friday.

Simple press releases are the best: who, what, where, when, why.

Please no brochures or flyers. Keep it simple You’ll get more ink!

Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce Second Friday Breakfast January 12 • 7 - 9 am Westin Carlsbad 5480 Grand Pacific Dr., Carlsbad Explore the exceptional benefits of building your Emotional Intelligence with talent development expert, Andria Taylor.

You’ll take an assessment to identify your EQ strengths and you’ll leave with practical EQ Habits to build meaningful relationships, create partnerships, and create a better 2024! https://web.carlsbad.org/atlas/ events/first-friday-breakfast-second-friday-in-january-3478/register *** The Good LIFE at MiraCosta College 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.

In spite of her protestations I went ahead and offered her to the village men as my demonstration of international goodwill and understanding. The kindly old gentlemen of the village accepted my offer contingent upon me throwing in a snowmobile, a box of soda crackers, two tins of soup and $20.

Jan 12 1:00 The Flower Fields Joni Miringoff, Group Sales & Special Events Director In early March the “Majestic Ranunculus” will again bloom at the Carlsbad Flower Fields. Joni Miringoff and George Roswell will highlight what it takes to accomplish this annual spectacle and what innovations are in store for visitors.

The deal was struck and we shook hands on it.

Jan 12 2:30 To Be Determined

When I left the quaint little Eskimo village I was pleased to see the Eskimo gentleman eagerly gathering around Mary and remarking favorably on her blonde hair and laughing heartily at her Scottish brogue. Mary’s brogue becomes particularly strong when she is agitated or angry.

She must have been agitated this day as her brogue was very thick.

It pleased me to know she would be in the company of such fine

Alaska continued on page 5

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. *** Escondido Library Events 239 S Kalmia St, Escondido Law Library Services January 18 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Adult Services Business Center Reference librarians from the San Diego Law Library will be on site to guide you to resources to better understand and research common legal issues, assist with using the new legal databases, show you free legal websites, and make referrals to legal aid organizations. Law Librarians cannot give you legal advice or perform legal research for you.

2nd Saturday Concert: Sunny Side Strings January 13 • 3:00–4:30 p.m.

Turrentine Room • All Ages An all-acoustic bluegrass/Americana bandbased out of North County that formed more than 10 years ago and tours throughout the region.

Artsy Adults: Spin Art January 24 • 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Turrentine Room • All Ages Join us for the next quarterly craft time for adults where you can experiment with the wonders of spin art. Squeeze various colors of paint onto a spinning canvas and see how your unique art turns out! Supplies will be provided and are limited.

Oodles continued on page 12

HOME INSURANCE NON-RENEWED? DON’T WORRY ~ CALL R.D. HANSON INSURANCE AGENCY 760-747-8882 RICKHANSON12@GMAIL.COM

The Paper • Page 4 • January 11, 2024

Local News

Tax Hikes On The Ballot In The Upcoming Election It is difficult enough to make ends meet in San Diego county without the politicians will finding ways to extract more funds from your hardearned money. Unless you vote in the next election you will never know if your vote counted or not.

Below is a list of measures that will be on the ballot: Repeal of Prop 13: California politicians have placed two measures on the November 2024 ballot (ACA-1 and ACA-13) to gut Prop 13 and make it easier to raise your taxes.

Sales Tax: Local politicians have placed a massive sales tax measure on the ballot that would give most residents a sales tax near 10%!

This will crush working families already struggling to survive so we are also leading the campaign to defeat this measure.

Utility Tax: California politicians have decided to give your private tax returns to your utility company so they can set your electricity rates based on your income.

Sean Dietrich’s “My Blind Dog” and thank heavens I continue to wear water-proof mascara!

I shall keep in touch and may 2024 be a prosperous year for you and rich in cruise memories for you and Mary. So be it!

If you “earn too much” you will be required to pay more for your electricity.

Additional Tax Hike Proposals While these are not yet on the ballot, we fear they may soon be. We’re working hard to block them.

Mileage Tax: Politicians are already imposing a 6-cents per mile tax costing an average of $900 per car per year!

Healthcare Tax: Politicians propose to double California state taxes to fund government-run healthcare – costing average of $16k per household per year. These are the same politicians that just recklessly gave illegal immigrants billions in free taxpayer-funded health insurance!

Exit Tax: Politicians want a new tax for up to 10 years on residents who move out of California Savings Tax: Politicians want a new tax on your personal savings and investments

Semper Fi, Patricia Parker Weise Temple, Texas

Letters to the Editor Dear lyle: Your December 14th “The War” article and memories was brilliant!

I clutched the side of my dining room chair with your opening paragraph describing your outside Saigon-Tan Son Nhut Air Base! I felt as though I was part of an Indiana Jones movie! Wow! You are still the most handsome war correspondent I’ve ever seen!

Each word , each insight was mesmerizing! What an incredible mental and emotional trip!

That is the second time that I read

We love your letters!

To submit a letter to the editor, please email thepaper@cox.net.

Please limit your letter to a maximum of 300 words and include your full name, e-mail address, town, and a valid phone number where you can be reached. Letters will not be published anonymously. Letters are subject to editing.

Please no hand written letters.

kennels. Yes, I talk to dogs. I talked to the late Cindi . . . and I talk to Amber/Trixie. (Evelyn Madison, my long time partner in The Paper calls her Amber, I call her Trixie.)

Man About Town I’m a soft touch when it comes to dogs.

I’d love to have another dog in my life . . . but I just can’t. I can neither adopt or foster a dog. I have an ex-wife, Mary, who has dementia and as her primary caregiver I just don’t have the time to give a dog the care and attention it deserves; also, we have a modest tract home in Escondido with a traditional lot... not a lot of room for a dog to run and play and do all the fun things a dog does.

But I may have a solution.

We live about a mile from the Escondido Humane Society. So, perhaps I could become a volunteer and visit the Humane Society daily, or several days a week... and just talke to the various dogs in the

The dogs in the kennel welcome the attention. Many of them are lonely . . . . often, they have been surrendered by their owners. The dogs don’t understand why; nor do they understand where their owners have gone. Suddenly, they are alone . . . in a strange new kennel.

True, the kennels are clean, the food is good, and staff are kind... but they have been thrust into a new and lonely world.

For someone to sit and talk to them, or read to them, is often a comfort.

I was distressed to learn a number of dogs were surrendered in December . . . several of them on December 23rd . . . two days before Christmas. Ouch! That’s gotta hurt!

Jessica, one of the senior managers at the Escondido Humane Society explains that there is often a back story to why dogs are surrendered.

Often, it’s because the owners have to move and can’t take the dog with them. The new property owners won’t allow dogs ... or perhaps they are moving out of state. I hate it when dogs are surrendered!

I can’t imagine the pain and suffering the dogs go through.

So ... that’s my plan. Even before

lyle e davis and Leo . . . (Leo is on the right; he really is a whitish/brown dog . . . he just needs a shampoo. Remember, he hangs around in a very busy garage at 9th Avenue Auto Service at 336 W. 9th in Escondido.)

I retire, I plan on visiting the dogs regularly. And talking to them.

If you think you might also be interested in becoming a volunteer, just go to the Escondido Humane Society website (https://www.sdhumane.org/) and follow direc-

tions to apply for attendance at a volunteer orientation class. Lots of areas for volunteers ... you can walk the animals . . . talk to the animals . . . or perhaps help out in Man About Town continued on page 5

The Paper • Page 5 • January 11, 2024

lar. She told him she loved him, then gave him a shoulder touch.

It was the classic motherly goodbye.

She told him to remember to call his daddy sometimes.

The kid was vaping. The air smelled like strawberry. “I will,” said the kid.

“Your dad worries about you.”

The kid mumbled something.

“And don’t forget to text me,” said Mom. “Just let me know how you’re doing. I know you can’t tell me everything, but, tell me what you can.”

“Okay.”

by Sean Dietrich I saw them at the airport. The loading zone. The kid was standing there.

Wearing his uniform.

OCP fatigues. Boots. Patrol cap.

His backpack was about the size of a Buick. His face was youthful and round. His cheeks were rosy. He Man About Town from page 4 the office and/or kennels.

Speaking of dogs, my good friend, Mo Sadooghi, owner of the 9th Avenue Auto Service at 336 W. 9th 9th Street , is as big a softie as I am when it comes to dogs. He has eight that hang out at his garage . . . Leo, a large white male poodle, Lilly, a large white female poodle, are the mommy and daddy to four new puppies, only about three or four weeks old, and Snowflakce, a small white poodle ... and there is a new arrival, a beautiful Belgian Shepherd. . . very pretty, very friendly Seems Mo can’t turn down a dog that needs help and affection.

•••• Dumbest thing I ever did.

A little over 15 years ago I had to put down my first Trixie. She was old (15 years of age) and suffering.

I made a pledge then that I would never own another dog. It was just way too painful to say goodbye.

Dumb mistake.

For the next 15 years I denied myself the pleasure, the loyalty, the devotion, the dedication, the wor-

looked like Wally Cleaver.

Beside him was his mom, waiting by the idling car. An SUV. One of those small Japanese SUVs, about the size of a roller skate, only with less legroom.

At least I think it was his mom. The mom was probably in her fifties. Although it’s hard to tell when a mother

ship, and the love of a good dog.

Then one day a close friend, Tim Cunning, saw a small puppy running loose near 9th and Redwood.

A waitress at the restaurant said, “that pup is gonna get hit and killed by a car.”

“Not this time,” said Tim, as he gathered up the pup and tried to locate the owner, unsuccessfully.

He stopped by our house and asked if we might keep the pup “for a few days.”

Those “few days” turned out to be 15 years. Evelyn calls her Amber, I call her Trixie . . . and she is still with us, but getting on in years and has some health issues.

When Trixie joined our home the laughter doubled; still later we acquired Cindi a “chug”. (Chihuahua/Pug mix). Then our laughter quadrupled.

Sadly, we had to put Cindi down about a month ago . . . major health issues.

I think often of those 15 years that I stupidly denied myself the pleasure of a dog . . . and am grateful for the past 15 years that the pups brought us.

Perhaps I’ll see you at the Escondido Volunteer Orientation meeting?

has gray hair. Which she did.

Airports are sterile, ugly places.

There is nothing romantic about goodbyes. Not in an airport, when you know TSA employees are about to touch you inappropriately without first buying you dinner.

The mom straightened the kid’s colAlaska from page 3 gentleman, that she would have lovely igloos in which to live, and that she needn’t worry about dusting furniture and all as igloos have very little dust. They also have very little furniture.

Mary must have been happy too as I noticed she was saluting me as I left with my entourage of new wives. She was waving at me as I left and it touched me greatly that she still considered me number one in her heart as she so indicated to me by hand signal.

At least I’m pretty sure that’s what she was signalling.

•••• Getting Acquainted I felt it necessary to reach an understanding of sorts with my new wives.

“Ladies,” I said, “about conjugal visits. We need to set up some priorities here. We also need to understand that I might think and act like a man in his mid-twenties but I am, in fact, some 85 winters old, as you Eskimos say. Therefore, it will be necessary to restrict your access to my bed chamber to every other night.”

A long silence. The kid let go a cloud.

Travelers came and went. Young passengers hauled expensive luggage inside. Uber drivers dropped people off and hustled for their tips.

The Mom smiled at her boy. It was the kind of smile only mothers can give. It’s an I’ve-known-you-sinceyou-were-in-diapers smile.

“You, alright?” Mom said.

Mom continued on page 12

The ladies covered their mouths and giggled, looking at one another knowingly.

One of them, Umlaut, stepped forward and said, “We will draw lots, Oh Mighty Hunter. We will anoint our skins with the oil of the Beluga whale and dance for you with the flickering light of the candle reflecting on our oiled bodies. I should point out also, Oh Mighty Hunter, Father of the Sun, Brother of the Moon, Possessor of the Great Cuspidor, that nights in Alaska are often six months long.” At this comment the girls all commenced to giggling again.

“Well,” says I, “that’s another thing. We don’t have a whole lot of beluga whales in Southern California. Those we do have are at Sea World, Marine World and other aquatic parks. I suspect they would take a dim view of you trying to kill their whales.”

“But, Mighty Hunter,” said Omloo, “what are we to eat? Where are we to get the oils with which to anoint our bodies for you?”

“Well,” says I, “I am a good provider. I will introduce you to the miracle of a magic food called Alaska continued on page 13

The Paper • Page 6 • January 11, 2024

5th District Supervisor

Jim Desmond

Economic Report Card I have operated my own small business for 30 years, and eliminating burdensome regulations that get in the way of business formation and success were major reasons I first ran for public office. These efforts have continued throughout my time in the Legislature, and I am very proud that my voting record last year put me at the top of the California Chamber of Commerce’s (CalChamber) list of pro-business Assemblymembers.

Last year, I was joined by only 4 of my colleagues (out of 80) who voted in accord with CalChamber’s position on 13 important bills that can significantly impact California’s business climate.

These include mandates that California businesses engage in “climate tracking” and auditing for greenhouse gas emissions generated in-state or by their out-ofstate supply chains. Other legislation imposed new business costs by nearly doubling existing sick leave requirements. And it will now also be harder for citizens to use referendums to overturn laws passed by the Legislature, partly reversing California’s 100-yearplus experiment in direct democracy.

California’s economy is the fifth largest in the world, just after Ger-

many. 99.8% of our businesses are defined as “small” – companies with less than 500 employees. For San Diego County, it’s 99.5% -- 80% of those have less than 20 employees. While large corporations can probably cope with new regulations and costly mandates, small businesses can’t.

During the pandemic, the burden fell heavily on small businesses, closing many, while their large “essential” competitors remained open. Many of the small businesses that survived are still recovering, and the last thing they need are more government-imposed mandates.

Protecting California’s business community can be an uphill battle in Sacramento. Even so, my efforts will continue in 2024.

To view CalChamber’s legislative vote record for 2023, please click: here For an electronic version of this article, please visit my website 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

Start your business in San Marcos With a constantly changing economy, it can be difficult to start or maintain a successful business. For this reason, the City of San Marcos implements strategies to make starting and owning your business easier.

If you’re a business owner looking for a new home, San Marcos is ready for you! New business owners should first identify their type of business, that is either a home business, commercial, industrial or retail business or an out of the city business. Outlined on the website at www.san-marcos. net/work, business owners can find a step-by-step guide to help them through the process.

After multiple visits with a variety of business, it is amazing to see the innovative developments that exist within the City and I am inspired by the partnership between San Marcos and business owners every day.

Border Visit I wanted to update you on the immigration crisis, which continues to overwhelm our Border Patrol agents and cause a major strain on our local resources.

Last week, I visited the border and migrant encampments in Jacumba.

The chaos continues with dozens of people camped out, waiting for Border Patrol to take them to a resource center, paid for by county taxpayers.

While I was there, I saw a suburban speed towards the fence on the Mexico side, drop off about a dozen people, and rush away. The migrants then walked through an opening and entered the United States.

Equally disturbing was coming across an abandoned campsite filled with tents, food, drinks, and campfires. The area has become a temporary holding site before migrants are then processed into our country.

We have never seen anything like this at our border before, and our federal government is nowhere to

be found. Over 70,000 migrants have entered our County in the past three months.

In December alone, there were over 276,000 migrant encounters nationwide at the southern border, marking the highest single month ever recorded. Since October 1st, Border Patrol has logged over 760,000 migrant encounters across the southern border, and in November, 17 individuals on the FBI’s terror watchlist were arrested at the Southern Border.

The County of San Diego is now expending over $1 million per month on migrant services from local tax dollars earmarked for housing and homelessness. While I’m opposed to allocating local tax dollars, the situation is only getting worse. If you oppose our current border policy, I encourage you to contact your federal representatives and voice your concerns.

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

I couldn’t see P!nk because of a foul-ball net. Can I get a refund from Ticketmaster?

Becky Taylor’s view at a P!nk concert is obstructed by a foulball net. She wants her money back from Ticketmaster. Does she have a case?

spending $607. I have emailed Ticketmaster and asked repeatedly for a refund. But they refuse.

Can you help me get my money back?

Q: I purchased three concert tickets for P!nk at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. I spent $607 for them.

~ Becky Taylor, Covington, Ky.

The seats were not marked as “obstructed view.” But when I got to the concert, I noticed that the seats had an extremely limited view because of the foul-ball net from the baseball field. It blocked a whole side of the stage.

There were also two large towers with speakers and a cameraman blocking the middle for a view of the performance. Even the big screens had foul ball net squares on them.

This is not what I expected after

A: You paid good money for a P!nk concert and ended up not seeing most of it. Well, that’s just perfect!

So what does Ticketmaster have to say about an obstructed view?

It defines an obstructed view as either an incomplete view or something will be in your line of sight because of the position of the seats — like a pole, speakers or the sound board — and you won’t be able to see the entire stage. “Don’t worry,” it adds. “Obstructed view Problem Solved continued on page 12

The Paper • Page 7 • January 11, 2024

Historically Speaking

The Nation’s First Businesswoman Dynamo ing the Kellogg brothers’ breakfast food company just down the street in Battle Creek, Michigan.

By Tom Morrow Here’s some history we all live with in our daily lives … it’s hard to escape even one of the many labels of this woman-built giant corporation.

It’s hard to determine whether Marjorie Merriweather Post was America’s first businesswoman dynamo or the nation’s truly great female philanthropist. The first begat the latter – nonetheless she was truly outstanding.

She was the daughter of breakfast cereal mogul Charles William “C. W.” Post. Born March 15, 1887, Marjorie Post took up the company’s leadership in 1914, when her father passed away at the early age of 59. Marjorie and her father had worked side-byside. Together they were American pioneers in manufacturing corn flakes, (Post Toasties), rival-

The Post company became a pioneer in the prepared-food industry. When she inherited the company, Marjorie became the innovator and developer of what turned into General Foods, one of the world’s largest business empires.

In 1895, C. W. Post founded his company after attending the Kellogg health clinic. Post was inspired by John H. Kellogg’s health diet. After investing $78, Post set up operations in a barn in Battle Creek, developing his own breakfast recipe producing “Grape Nut Flakes.” His next product was “Postum,” a breakfast beverage alternative to coffee made from wheat and molasses. The first Post cereal was Grape-Nuts developed in 1897.

In 1904 he began producing corn flakes and in 1908 he renamed the product “Post Toasties.”

In 1924, when C.W. died from appendicitis, his firm was known as the “Postum Cereal Company.” Marjorie became the wealthiest woman in the nation, inheriting $20 million (equivalent to $526 million in today’s

Marjorie Merriweather Post

C.W. Post

dollars.) In 1929. Following several food corporations she renamed the company “General Foods.” Later, along with her second husband, financier E.F. Hutton, Marjorie began expanding the business and acquiring other American food companies such as Hellmann’s Mayonnaise, Jell-O, Baker’s Chocolate, Maxwell House Coffee and many other well-known brands. While taking a voyage on her private yacht, she came across the revolutionary innovations of Clarence Birdseye, who had developed a new way of preserving food by freezing. Post foresaw the fu-

ture advantages of frozen food and bought Birdseye’s company which eventually became the leading producer in its category.

She led the General Foods conglomerate to the point in 1985, Marjorie sold General Foods to the Philip Morris Companies for $5.6 billion, the largest private non-oil acquisition to that time.

Marjorie became a leading socialite and philanthropist using much of her fortune to collect art Historically Speaking continued on page 14

Travel Troubleshooter

by Christopher Elliott

Booking.com suspended my account. Can you help me get it back?

After discovering two fraudulent reservations, Booking.com suspends David Hendrick’s account.

How can he get it reinstated?

Q: I write to express my disappointment and distress with my recent experiences at Booking.com.

I travel frequently, as do my wife and family. I always recommend Booking.com, and we all use it almost exclusively.

Recently, while traveling, I discovered two fraudulent attempts to make bookings on my account.

I canceled them immediately, contacted customer service, and a representative told me to change my password. I did this, and yet the next time I tried to log in using my email address, I received a message that my account had been disabled.

I contacted Booking.com customer service. A representative assured me the company was investigating the problem and that I should set up a new account and import my existing bookings.

I did this, but when I contacted Booking.com, a representative told me I couldn’t import my existing bookings. Now I have another problem: I can’t reactivate my old account because I have too many cancellations. The only cancellations in recent history were the two fraudulent ones.

I feel like I am being punished for reporting fraudulent behavior. Can you help me get my Booking.com account reinstated? ~ David Hendrick, Charlottesville, Va. A: Booking.com should have fixed your account without making you set up a new one, and transfer your existing reservations. And if a Booking.com agent told you to do that, they should have also helped you restore your account.

But that’s difficult. You can ask for the agent’s name and extension, but often the agent will only offer a first name, which makes it hard to find the person again. (You had part of the conversation in writ-

ing from a representative named “Ahmed M.” How do you contact Ahmed M.? Who knows. There’s no direct phone number or email for him.)

It looks like something went wrong -- very wrong -- with your account. First, someone gained access to your personal information and made fraudulent bookings. But then Booking.com flagged your account for fraud after you reported the bogus bookings. And then, adding insult to injury, it wouldn’t help you fix it and instead effectively banned you.

You needed to appeal this above the chatbot level at Booking.com. A human being needed to review your case and figure out a way to fix it.

I publish the names, numbers and email addresses of those humans at Booking.com on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org You could have reached out to them. I would recommend doing so in writing and using my proven methods for fixing a consumer problem.

You asked my advocacy team for help, and after we reviewed your case, I reached out to Booking. com. According to the company, it was a combination of your booking history and the fraudulent bookings that triggered the review of your account.

Booking.com disabled your account “to ensure your security” and told you to create a new one. However, it ran into trouble when you tried to transfer your loyalty status and points to the new account.

After I asked Booking.com for help, the company worked with you to find a way to secure your account.

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help by contacting him on his site. © 2024 Christopher Elliott.

The Paper • Page 8 • January 11, 2024

Here’s What Travelers Should Expect In 2024 If you’re planning to travel somewhere in 2024, you probably have lots of questions. Like, how much will it cost? Is it safe? Are there places I should avoid? Should I just stay home?

the last. But most of the travel industry has been focused on AI as a travel planning tool. Here’s the space to watch: For years, travel companies have been using AI to squeeze the most money out of you using programs that predict demand and set prices. The latest AI promises to turn tables on that equation. In 2024, travelers could use AI to help them find the lowest rates and the best times to book -- and it could save them billions of dollars collectively.

And chances are, you’ve probably heard a lot of answers in the last few days. It’s hard to miss the talking heads on TV who sound so sure of themselves. But the truth is, no one has any idea what will really happen for the most part.

So what do we know? We have a pretty good idea of travel prices (they’ll be mixed, but generally affordable). We also know that some major new travel requirements have been delayed, but not for long. We know travel can be risky and that there are some places you should absolutely avoid in 2024.

The rest is pure conjecture -- but oh boy, is it ever fun.

What We Know About Travel In 2024 Forecasts that are based on hard data like advance bookings or future contracts are fairly reliable. So here’s what we know about travel prices in 2024: Domestic airfares will fall. Airfares will slide 16 percent this year compared to 2023 for U.S. flights, according to Kayak. The average round-trip ticket will cost $461.

Internationally, fares will rise 10 percent from last year.

Car rental rates will climb. American Express projects car rental prices will increase by 5 percent this year in the U.S. and Canada.

But some destinations, such as Mexico and Chile, won’t see any change in prices.

Fuel prices will drop. Gas prices will slide almost 5 percent, to an average of $3.36 in 2024, according to projections from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That should make spring break and summer driving trips more affordable.

Hotel rates will rise. Lodging rates will increase almost 7 percent on average in 2024, according to research by BCD Travel. But it will vary by city and time of year.

Overall, travel should be affordable in 2024, barring any big surprises. But it depends on where you go and when you go.

If you’re traveling to Europe, you could spend $8 a gallon on gas.

And don’t even think about getting an affordable hotel room in Paris this July. Average hotel rates

Illustration by Dustin Elliott during the Olympic Games are up from $187 a night to $764, according to the Paris Tourist Office.

Coming Soon New Travel Requirements It looked like 2024 would be a big year for new travel requirements.

But some of those have been postponed.

No Europe travel authorization for U.S. travelers. Europe’s ETIAS travel authorization, a new entry requirement for visa-exempt people traveling Europe, was supposed to launch this year. Authorities have delayed it until 2025.

Some observers say it won’t be in place until mid-2025.

But mind Europe’s new Entry/Exit System (EES). The new system, which collects biometric information on travelers, could slow down your next airport transit. You’ll want to give yourself a little extra time when leaving from a European airport so you won’t miss your flight.

You can still fly domestically with your old ID. The TSA’s requirement that your driver’s license or other state photo ID meet the new REAL ID standards has been extended to mid2025. But this may be the year to get one of the new IDs. Still, some countries are implementing new travel requirements in 2024, so make sure you check before you leave. For example, you’ll need a visa to enter Brazil after January 10. There’s an option for an e-visa for qualified applicants. Don’t wait until the last minute to make arrangements.

Travel Will Be Safer & Cheaper Except Here The experts may want you to think that travel hasn’t been this safe and affordable since the pandemic.

But they probably say that because they want you to book more travel in 2024.

If you’re traveling domestically, you’ll probably want to steer clear of the political conventions this summer in Milwaukee and Chicago. Paris in summer is also a no-go (wait until fall for prices to come back down). Plus, there are the big holidays around the world, like Diwali, Eid and Christmas, which reliably translate into huge crowds and high rates.

And as for safety -- sure, visiting your closest national park in 2024 will be a pretty safe bet. But the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Hamas-Israel conflict show no sign of ending any time soon, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see another major conflict or two next year.

All the more reason to study those State Department advisories before you book -- and to consider buying a comprehensive travel insurance policy from a reputable company.

And Here’s What Could Happen To Travel In 2024 Now comes the fun part, which is making informed predictions about next year.

Artificial intelligence will change the way you travel. I’m probably not the first person to say this, and I know I won’t be

More airlines will merge. The merger between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, announced late last year, took almost everyone by surprise. I don’t think we’re done. There’s still the pending merger between JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines, which will be decided by a court in early 2024.

And something tells me there will be more airline mergers in 2024, if not in the United States then abroad.

Buying a competitor, laying off employees and raising prices is just too tempting for the average airline CEO to resist. Passengers have two choices. Either complain to government regulators and ask them to stop these anticompetitive mergers, or accept the higher fares and reduced service.

Travel fees will increase. Alaska Airlines has already raised its checked baggage fees from $30 to $35, effective January 2.

A second bag will cost $45, a $5 increase. Other domestic airlines are certain to follow. And it’s not just airlines. Hotels will quietly increase their mandatory “resort” fees this year unless the government adopts a new rule limiting these junk fees, which it is considering. Fees like these are found money for the hotel.

The actual cost of providing the service is often close to zero. So it’s all just a clever way of raising prices.

This is shaping up to be one of the most interesting years to travel, but let’s not mince words. Despite the affordable prices, you’ll find more fees, new rules -- and danger. Now more than ever, you’ll have to deploy the latest technology to stay safe and avoid rip-offs.

Oh, and don’t forget to have fun.

I’ll see you out there.

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.

The Paper • Page 9 • January 11, 2024

Ready For A New Year 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.

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 homeLaura Strickler owners with a mortgage reduce their mortgage payment, After 10 years, it converts to a reverse mortgage with no mortgage payment.

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 With the variety of loan programs available today, it’s entirely possible that go with it. In effect, you then may be able to retire yourself if you to find the right one for you. Call me today! Let me help you determine are still working. With property values so high, it is a season ripe for the best way to get your 2024 off to a less stressful start! checking into how the reverse mortgage could change your finances and your life. Imagine, not being required to send out that monthly Laura Strickler mortgage payment each month. With the reverse mortgage, you are not Retirement Mortgage Advisor required to make a monthly mortgage payment. You can, but you are NMLS #315848 not required to make any mortgage payment.

769-518-9839 Laurastrickler1@gmail.com If you do not have a mortgage on your home, you have even more www.laurastrickler.com

The Paper • Page 10 • January 11, 2024

The Pastor Says . . .

Happy New Year

Pastor Huls

Every year, most of us give and receive the greeting, “Happy New Year!” for the most part, there is sincerity to it. Someone puts forth the effort to add something to a person’s life, which is nice to know. The new year is evident. New calendars are purchased and hung, and it is time to redate the checkbooks. We could plan for new and exciting things such as a trip, vacations, or a home move. In some ways, though, the resolutions seldom work, so we play a game with them. Most of my last year’s goals were changed by circumstances, as I just gave up.

San Diego Humane Society is supporting families and their pets who need a little extra help.

The oversized item in our greeting is happiness. We want people to be happy, so we wish them happiness. Can we give happiness? Is it a product we can measure? Or is it something within us? Does it take something from someone else to make us aware that we can be happy?

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.

Biblically, Jesus contradicts most, if not all, of the values we humans call happiness. A person’s wealth gains nothing for the soul. Honor and power are used to control but are not the building blocks for a stronger character. Having a house full of goods and great treasures leaves the envy of others who plot to steal. True happiness is having treasures in heaven.

No appointment is needed for this service. Hours are Tuesday-Sunday from 10am to 6pm.

El Cajon 373 N. Marshall Ave.

Jesus outlines the course for happiness in the Beatitudes or sermon on the Mount. He begins by saying, “Happy are you.”

Escondido 3500 Burnet Drive

What is it that we want to convey to those for whom we wish a Happy New Year? It would be the more intangible, deeper, and spiritual values. Health, prosperity, long life, and the world’s goods are blessings, but do not compare with what God offers.

Oceanside 572 Airport Road

Pastor Huls

San Diego 5480 Gaines Street

Pet Parade

Pet of the Week

Latke

Lil

Latke is pet of the week at your Rancho Coastal Humane Society. She’s a 2-year-old, 44-pound, female, Pit Bull mix.

Latke was a stray dog in Orange County before being taken to an animal shelter. She was transferred to Rancho Coastal Humane Society through Friends of County Animal Shelters (FOCAS). She’s a sweet girl, named after a potato pancake.

The $145 adoption fee for Latke includes medical exam, spay, up to date vaccinations, registered microchip, and a one-year license if her new home is in the jurisdiction of San Diego Humane Society. For information about adoption or the foster-to-adopt program visit Rancho Coastal Humane Society in Encinitas, call 760753-6413, or log on to www.SDpets.org.

Meet Lil! This 8-week-old German shepherd pup is looking for a new best friend to help him learn about the world and grow into the amazing canine he’s meant to be! All puppies can benefit from structure and positive reinforcement training, and Lil is no exception. His new family should be dedicated to helping him build confidence and learn positive behaviors.

With you by his side, he’ll be ready to discover new places, meet new people and try new activities. Think of the lifetime of beautiful memories you can make with this special pup by your side! If you’re ready to bring a deserving, devoted dog into your life, Lil (891123) 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://www.sdhumane.org/adopt/available-pets/ animal-single.html?petId=891123

The Paper • Page 11 • January 11, 2024

The “PC Age” is Over mainframe computer industry in the 1960s and were involved with PCs (personal computers) from their introduction in the late 1970’s. When we opened The Computer Factory in mid-1995, PCs had already been around for nearly twenty years. Advancements in computer hardware technology (Moore’s Law) continued to dominate PC development.

The rapidly growing power, speed and data storage allowed applications developers to continue the processes of automating ever more business and personal activities.

The Computer Factory 845 W. San Marcos Blvd.

760-744-4315 thecomputerfactory.net

In 1965 Gordon Moore, Director of Research at Fairchild Semiconductor, posited “Moore’s Law.” The “Law” actually predicted that advances in engineering technology would halve the cost and double the number of transistors in an integrated circuit every year for the next ten years. He later revised the doubling forecast from one to two years. “Moore’s Law” became loosely interpreted to mean that computer speeds capacities and power would double every two years. Moore’s original prediction was limited to the period between 1965 and 1975 and referred to mainframe computers. It eventually became a general rule for the entire computer industry and, for PCs was relevant for almost forty years, well into the first decade of the 21 st century.

Nome and I became part of the

In large installations employing LANS (local area networks), the PC was basically an I/O (input/output) terminal.

The LAN servers performed the “computing” functions. Small business and home PCs continued to perform as stand-alone computing, storage and communications devices.

Stand-alone PCs were responsible for program and file storage, data processing and communications.

Then the IW (Intelligent Web) began to change everything.

the IW. The “PC Age” was over.

So if PC sales are in the tank and the “PC Age” is history, why are there more PCs in use today the ever before?

There are two main reasons why PCs are still hanging around. The first reason is that nearly any PC built since 2010 is completely capable as an IW terminal so they have remained in service. As terminals they are also easy to upgraded and and repair. The second reason PCs are popular as IW terminals is that their large screens and convenient keyboard and mouse I/O devices make them a fast, easy and comfortable way to surf the IW.

Additional features like printers and full quality web cams and speakers make them even more attractive.

So if you thought your ten year old PC is getting “too long in the tooth” to be effective, bring it in and let us check it out. It might need only some relatively low cost upgrades to get it back in the game. If you need a new PC, avoid the shoddy “retail” PCs sold in the “Big Box” stores like Best Buy. Stop by The Computer Factory and trade “old sparky” in on a high quality, late model Windows 11 “enterprise refurb.”

If you have questions feel free to stop in or give us a call at 760-744-4315.

Dell “Enterprise” Specials

The serious growth of the IW (high speed, broad band Internet linked with artificial intelligence) began in 2001.

That year only 9% of households had IW access. By 2011 the number was over 70% and today is over 95%.

Since 2011 PC sales (desktop and laptop) have been in decline. The IW had become the computing and storage device and the PC was merely an access device. PCs had become nothing more than I/O terminals on

John Van Zante’s Critter Corner

The Nights Are Too Doggone Cold For Man And Beast Hypothermia – Short haired dogs and cats, especially those with low body fat, get cold quickly. Same with older pets and pets that have been sick or are on medication. Keep them in or provide warm shelter outside. Consider a sweater or jacket.

It’s about safety, not fashion.

January nights in San Diego remind me of the line by W. C. Fields in the movie “The Fatal Glass of Beer.”

He said, “It ain’t a fit night out for man nor beast.”

It’s not really that cold. But, for pets who are not accustomed to rain, wind, snow, and temperatures in the 20’s and 30’s, it can be miserable, if not deadly.

It’s our responsibility to keep pets safe. The best thing is keep them indoors. But even indoor pets are at risk when they go outside.

Frostbite – Exposure to low temperatures can lead to frostbite of the feet, nose, or ears. Ice can form between the toes. That won’t happen indoors.

Undernourishment and Dehydration – For pets who spend lots of time outdoors, increase their food, particularly protein.

Outdoor pets can become dehydrated if their water freezes. Make sure their water stays water and doesn’t turn to ice.

Wind Chill – The doorway to a dog’s outdoor shelter should face

away from the wind and be covered.

It should be well-insulated and large enough for your dog to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably.

Cats and Engines – Outdoor cats often crawl under the hoods of cars for the warmth. Knock on the hood or honk the horn to warn cats before starting an engine.

Antifreeze – Antifreeze tastes sweet. It can kill dogs, cats, and other animals. Keep antifreeze containers sealed and out of reach.

If you spill antifreeze or your radiator overflows, clean it up right away.

Tongue Injuries – When it’s freezing, pets’ tongues can get stuck to metal bowls. Use plastic or ceramic bowls outdoors.

Fire Danger – Don’t leave pets alone with portable space heaters or fireplaces. If your dog likes to lie by the fireplace, protect it from hot coals with a metal grate or glass screen.

The Paper • Page 12 • January 11, 2024

Problem Solved from page 6 tickets are clearly labeled as such at time of purchase.”

Only, yours weren’t.

What we have here, as this notlegally-trained consumer advocate would say, is a breach of contract. But there are mitigating circumstances. The foul-ball net is retractable, and someone should have pulled it back before the concert. The camera operator could have positioned himself so that you could see Alecia get this party started on stage.

Although Ticketmaster isn’t responsible for the foul-ball net or the guy blocking your view, it is responsible for fixing it, since it sold you the ticket.

You left nothing to chance. You took pictures of your obstructed view and sent it to Ticketmaster, which showed that you had only received half a concert. That’s excellent work, and I believe it made a difference in the resolution of your case.

Ticketmaster is a burr in my saddle when it comes to consumer complaints. The company even threatened me when I told readers which Ticketmaster executives to contact for a faster resolution of their complaints. But threats won’t stop me from helping consumers. Ticketmaster will have to pry my cold, dead hands from my keyboard. (In the meantime, I’ve bumped their customer responsiveness rating down to a 1 out of 5 for trying to bully a consumer advocate.)

Could you have avoided this?

I think this is one of those rare times when the answer is no. You thought your ticket had an unobstructed view, and to be honest, so did Ticketmaster. I think Ticketmaster’s only goof was not reading your complaint a little more closely -- maybe letting an AI or chatbot deal with it instead of a human. That seems to be happening more and more. A sober review of your grievance shows it was legit and deserved some consideration.

I reached out to Ticketmaster on your behalf. A short while later, you heard back from the company with some good news -- it would refund all three of your tickets.

Mom from page 5 “I’m good.”

Mom nodded.

“I know you’re going to do great,” she said.

More mumbling. The kid didn’t want his mom pep-talking him. He’s in the Army now.

“I better go,” he said.

“Yeah.”

The kid gave her a hug. The hug evidently meant more to her than it did him. You could tell by the looks on their faces. He was impassive. She looked like she was undergoing a kidney operation.

“Is your phone charged?” she asked.

“Yeah.”

“Make sure you eat enough. It’s a long flight.”

“I will.”

He walked inside. He tugged open a door and simply walked away.

Just like that. No turning back. The American soldier, leaving home.

She stayed in the same place, watching. She covered herself like she was cold. And even I knew which phrase the kid had forgotten to say.

Mom was turning back to go to her car. Long faced.

That’s when the kid came back. He threw open the door and surprised her. His bag on his shoulders. His cheeks, so very smooth.

“Mom,” he said.

She turned. “Did you forget something?”

“I love you, Mom,” said the kid. His voice seemed about 20 years younger. “I just love you.”

“I love you more,” she said.

He smiled back. Then he was gone.

And I think Mom was dead wrong.

Cardiff Farmer Market Every Saturday • 10am - 2pm

Succulent Swap January 27 • 2:00–4:00 p.m.

Library Portico • All Ages Love succulents? Bring clippings of your favorite succulents to pot, trade, and share with fellow plant lovers. Small containers and dirt will be provided while supplies last. ½ Price Sale in the Friends Bookshop January 26 & 27 All items in the store 50% OFF marked price (25¢ minimum) Only cash payment accepted. *** Escondido Elks Mardi Gras Magic Show Fundraiser January 20 • 5pm - 10:30pm $50 per person 2430 S. Escondido Blvd.

Escondido Don your best Mardi Gras attire or just come as you are for an evening of full bar, food, live band, dancing, costume contest, magic show, raffle prizes, fun games and photo booth.

Magic Mike from the famous Magic Castle will mesmerize you with his magic calling on folks from the audience.

For tickets, call the Lodge office at 760-803-0703.

The Elks pay physical therapists to go up and down the state of California assisting children 18 years and under. They also teach the parents and guardians their techniques *** Lake Hodges Native Plant Club Meetings 17110 Bernardo Center Drive Lake Hodges Native Plant Club Meetings. (lhnpc.org) Are you Interested in California Native Plants to save money on water, bring more birds and butterflies to your yard? Meet people who love plants and gardening!

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 California Farmers Market, featuring locally sourced produce sold by local farmers. The Cardiff Farmers Market will also have an array of related food products and prepared food vendors, along with a curated group of makers and craft vendors. *** 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 4800611 if you are interested.

Advertise your Legal in The Paper

Upcoming Meetings: Monday Jan 22nd Presentation: Restoring California by Vincent Bellini

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/ © 2023 Christopher Elliott.

Oodles from page 3

Monday, Feb. 26th Presentation: Next to Nature by Joseph Rivera Presentations start promptly at 6:30pm. For more information please visit our website: lhnpc.org *** Sean Dietrich

CALL 760 747-7119

The Paper • Page 13 • January 11, 2024

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(760) 747-7119 Advertise Your Business & Services Alaska from page 5 Big Macs, Whopperburgers, french fries, Pizza. It requires great hunting instincts for me to secure these prized foods for you but it shall be done. . .because you please me greatly.”

“One thing,” I went on, “there are giant trading posts in Southern California called malls. You are to avoid these. They are filled with powerful and angry polar bears, hungry wolves, ferocious wolverines. It is better that you tell me your needs and I, the Brave Hunter, will enter these malls and shop for you.”

“But Mighty Hunter,” says Omkee, we have no furs, no oils, no candles with which to dance before?””how are we to dress for you?. Where do we find our furs? How are we to make ourselves beautiful for you if “Candles I can handle,” says I. “As to furs. . .well, in Southern California you won’t need them. We have a dress tradition there that you will be expected to follow as it is our custom. You will wear a fine style of clothing called. . .”bikini”.”

“Bee-keen-eee”? the girls asked in unison.

•

www.thecommunitypaper.com

“Yes,” says I. “I will keep you in bikinis, Big Macs, Whopperburgers, french fries, and even salads, for so long as you please me.”

“And tell us about our pillow talktalk, Oh Mighty Hunter. Who is to be first to please you?”, asked Kiwatamee.

•

760-747-7119

First, I discovered America, then I discovered The Paper

“I shall choose in due course,” I said. “But, again, I ask you to consider my age. I am 85 years old. We will necessarily restrict ourselves to the missionary position. In my younger years we might have experimented with the Orange Butterfly position, the Peaceful Lotus position, the Restful Repose position. But now, after 85 winters, I grow weary. We shall invoke the missionary position.”

Yukonanee stepped forward, giggled, and said, “Your wives and I have consulted, oh Mighty Hunter,” she said. “We would all like you to teach us the Orange Butterfly position”.

I’m not sure I can stand all this stress and strain. A man can do only so much to please his wives.

And, remember, I have 85 winters behind me.

I wonder if Mary would consider coming back home?

Ever since I can remember I’ve had the burning desire to discover new places, new adventures. Because of this, I set out to discover a new country . . . and I was successful. I even ventured inland a great many miles where I discovered a place I called Minnesota. “This,” I thought, “would be a great place for Scandinavians.” So I headed back to Norway to recruit settlers. While I was gone, some clown named Columbus claimed he discovered America. Life ain’t fair. Except life also give us The Paper. I read it whenever and wherever I go exploring and only buy from those who advertise in The Paper. It’s a Viking thing.

Your friend, Eric the Red

The Paper • Page 14 • January 11, 2024

Historically Speaking from page 7

Chuckles from page 2

which is now on display at Hillwood, the museum, formally her estate in Washington, D.C. Post also was known for her luxurious home mansion, Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida, now the home of former President Donald Trump.

The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness.

Think of your three best friends -- if they’re okay, then it’s you.

••• Today’s soup is . . . beer.

••• The Quotes of Steven Wright:

During World War I in 1917, Marjorie funded a U.S. Army hospital in France. Starting in 1929 and throughout the Great Depression, she financed and personally supervised a Salvation Army feeding station in New York. She also donated the cost of the Boy Scouts of America headquarters in Washington, D.C. In 1971, she was among the first three recipients of the “Silver Fawn Award,” presented by the Scout organization. The 425acre Lake Merriweather at Goshen Scout Reservation in Goshen, Virginia, is named in her honor.

Among her many philanthropic gifts, she donated $100,000 to the National Cultural Center in Washington D.C., which today is known as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. In 1955, she contributed $100,000 to the National Symphony for free concerts that led to the beginning of the “Music for Young America” concerts.

The Merriweather Post Pavilion, an outdoor concert venue in Columbia, Maryland, is named for her.

Some of Post’s personal jewelry is historic and legendary. She bequeathed the jewels to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., which is now on display.

Among the collection is the Napoleon Diamond Necklace and the Marie Louise Diadem, a 275ct (55 g) diamond-and-turquoise necklace and tiara that Napoleon I gave to his second wife, Empress Marie Louise. Also a pair of diamond earring weighing 14 caret and 20 caret, once belonging to Marie Antoinette; the Blue Heart Diamond, a 30.82-caret heart-shaped blue diamond ring; and an emerald-diamond necklace and ring, once belonging to Mexican emperor Maximilian.

Marjorie Merriweather Post died Sept. 12, 1973 at the age of 86. Add up all of the company brands she acquired, developed and owned out of the American daily life there would be left a big domestic hole. She died as one of America’s most successfuland fascinating businesspersons. She didn’t just “inherit,” she “built” an American dynasty.

Now, go eat your Post Toasties!

1 ­ I’d kill for a Nobel Peace Prize.

2 ­ Borrow money from pessimists ­­ they don’t expect it back.

3 ­ Half the people you know are below average.

4 ­ 99% of lawyers give the rest a bad name.

5 ­ 82.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

6 ­ A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good.

7 ­ A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

8 ­ If you want the rainbow, you got to put up with the rain.

9 ­ All those who believe in psycho kinesis, raise my hand.

10 ­ The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

11 ­ I almost had a psychic girlfriend, but she left me before we met.

12 ­ OK, so what’s the speed of dark?

13 ­ How do you tell when you’re out of invisible ink?

14 ­ If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.

15 ­ Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.

16 ­ When everything is coming your way, you’re in the wrong lane.

17 ­ Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.

18 ­ Hard work pays off in the future; laziness pays off now.

19 ­ I intend to live forever ... So far, so good.

20 ­ If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?

21 ­ Eagles may soar, but weasels don’t get sucked into jet engines.

22 ­ What happens if you get scared half to death twice?

23 ­ My mechanic told me, “I couldn’t repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.”

24 ­ Why do psychics have to ask you for your name 25 ­ If at first you don’t succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.

26 ­ A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.

27 ­ Experience is something you don’t get until just after you need it.

28 ­ The hardness of the butter is proportional to the softness of the bread.

29 ­ To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research.

30 ­ The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard.

31 ­ The sooner you fall behind, the more time you’ll have to catch up.

32 ­ The colder the x­ray table, the more of your body is required to be on it.

33 ­ Everyone has a photographic memory; some just don’t have film.

34 ­ If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you.

35 ­ If your car could travel at the speed of light, would your headlights work?

••• Adopt a Terrorist Adopt a Terrorist.- Too Good to Miss. The Canadians know how to handle complaints. Here is an example.

A Canadian female liberal wrote a lot of letters to the Canadian government, complaining about the treatment of captive insurgents (terrorists) being held in Afghanistan National Correctional System facilities. She demanded a response to her letter.

She received back the following reply: National Defense Headquarters M Gen George R. Pearkes Bldg., 15 NT 101 Colonel By Drive Ottawa , ON K1A 0K2 Canada Dear Concerned Citizen, Thank you for your recent letter expressing your profound concern of treatment of the Taliban and Al Qaeda terrorists captured by Canadian Forces, who were subsequently transferred to the Afghanistan Government and are currently being held by Afghan officials in Afghanistan National Correctional System facilities.

Our administration takes these matters seriously and your opinions were heard loud and clear here in Ottawa .. You will be pleased to learn, thanks to the concerns of citizens like yourself, we are creating a new department here at the Department of National Defence, to be called ‘Liberals Accept Responsibility for Killers’ program, or L.A.R.K. for short.

In accordance with the guidelines of this new program, we have decided, on a trial basis, to divert several terrorists and place them in homes of concerned citizens such as yourself, around the country, under those citizens personal care. Your personal detainee has been selected and is scheduled for transportation under heavily armed guard to your residence in Toronto next Monday.

Ali Mohammed Ahmed bin Mahmud is your detainee, and is to be cared for pursuant to the standards you personally demanded in your letter of complaint. You will be pleased to know that we will conduct weekly inspections to ensure that your standards of care for Ahmed are commensurate with your recommendations.

Although Ahmed is a sociopath and extremely violent, we hope that your sensitivity to what you described as his ‘attitudinal problem’ will help him overcome those character flaws. Perhaps you are correct in describing these problems as mere cultural differences. We understand that you plan to offer counseling and home schooling, however, we strongly recommend that you hire some assistant caretakers.

Please advise any Jewish friends, neighbors or relatives about your house guest, as he might get agitated or even violent, but we are sure you can reason with him. He is also expert at making a wide variety of explosive devices from common household products, so you may wish to keep those items locked up, unless in your opinion, this might offend him. Your adopted terrorist is extremely proficient in hand-tohand combat and can extinguish human life with such simple items as a pencil or nail clippers. We advise that you do not ask him to demonstrate these skills either in your home or wherever you choose to take him while helping him adjust to life in our country.

Ahmed will not wish to interact with you or your daughters except sexually, since he views females as a form of property, thereby having no rights, including refusal of his sexual demands. This is a particularly sensitive subject for him.

You also should know that he has shown violent tendencies around women who fail to comply with the dress code that he will recommend as more appropriate attire. I’m sure you will come to enjoy the anonymity offered by the burka over time.

Just remember that it is all part of ‘respecting his culture and religious beliefs’ as described in your letter.

You take good care of Ahmed and remember that we will try to have a counselor available to help you over any difficulties you encounter while Ahmed is adjusting to Canadian culture.

Thanks again for your concern. We truly appreciate it when folks like you keep us informed of the proper way to do our job and care for our fellow man. Good luck and God bless you.

Cordially, Gordon O’Connor Minister of National Defense

The Paper • Page 15 • January 11, 2024

LEGALS

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023612 The name of the business: Romel Taxi, located at 3439 Northwood Dr., Oceanside, CA 92058.

Registrant Information: Romel Karmouche, 3439 Northwood Dr., Oceanside, CA 92058.

This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 11/22/2023 /s/ Romel Karmouche with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/22/2023 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023610 The name of the business: Stella Cab, located at 525 Avennida Verde, San Marcos, CA 92069.

Registrant Information: Antoine Abikhalil, 525 Avenida Verde, San Marcos, CA 92069. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Antoine Abikhalil with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 11/22/2023 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023604 The name of the business: AV CAB, located at 3108 Jacqueline Lane, Oceanside, CA 92056.

Registrant Information: Alberto Venegas, 3108 Jacqueline Lane, Oceanside, CA 92056.

This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 11/22/2023 /s/ Alberto Venegas with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/22/2023 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023750 The name of the business: Speakers Inc., Wespeak Global, located at 1902 Wright Place, Carlsbad, CA 92008. Registrant Information: Hesketh Media LLC, 1902 Wright Place, Carlsbad, CA 92008. This business is operated by a Limited Liability Company. First day of business: 11/04/2021 /s/ Duncan Hesketh, Managing Member with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/27/2023 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023915 The name of the business: North Cab, located at 13139 Russet Leaf Ln., San Diego, CA 92129.

Registrant Information: Zabie Wahab, 13139 Russet Leaf Ln., San Diego, CA 92129. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Zabie Wahab with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/29/2023 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023968 The name of the business: Exray, located at 1847 Jamaica Way, Vista, CA 92081. Registrant Information: Connected Threads LLC, 1847 Jamaica Way, Vista, CA 92081. This business is operated by a Limited Liability Company. First day of business: 11/27/2023 /s/ Brennan Cassidy, COO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/29/2023 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9024214

The name of the business: R3 Investigative Services, located at 2110 Hawley Dr., Vista, CA 92084. Registrant Information: Rachel Uchida-McCord, 2110 Hawley Dr., Vista, CA 92084.

This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Rachel Uchida-McCord with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/01/2023 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9022798 The name of the business: Desert Flower Crochet, located at 36236 Old Wilson Road, Ranchita, CA 92066. Registrant Information: Nicole Suzanne McClanahan, 36236 Old Wilson Road, Ranchita, CA 92066. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Nicole Suzanne McClanahan with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/8/2023 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/2023 NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF QINGHAN WANG Case No. 37-2023-00025973 PR-PL-CTL SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO 1100 Union Street San Diego, CA. 92101 CENTRAL (Probate) To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate or both, of Qangwen Ji; Charmaine Ji;; Susanna Segobiano. A petition for probate has been filed by Charmaine Ji in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, 1100 Union Street, San Diego, CA. 92101. Central Courthouse, Probate Division. The Petition for Probate requests that Charmaine Je be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

The petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of 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 they have waived notice or consented to the proposed actions.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: Date: January 2, 2024 Time: 10:30am.

Dept: 504 Address of court: Same as noted above.

If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal

representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in Section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for petitioner: Russell M. De Phillips 2163 Newcastle Avenue, Suite 200, Cardiff by the Sea, CA. 92007 760.943.7103 DOP: 12/14, 12/21 & 12/28/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023429 The name of the business: Zak’s Clothing & Uniform, located at 620 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025. Registrant Information: Tuff Wear Inc., 620 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025. This business is operated by a Corporation. First day of business: 10/01/2023 /s/ Hussain Alenazi, President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/20/2023 12/14, 12/21, 12/28, 1/4/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023401 The name of the business: Jeff The Solar Guy, located at 721 Arthur Ave., Oceanside, CA 92057.

Registrant Information: Jeffrey William Massidda, 721 Arthur Ave., Oceanside, CA 92057.

This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 11/15/2023 /s/ Jeffrey William Massidda with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/20/2023 12/14, 12/21, 12/28, 1/4/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9024207 The name of the business: Kirras Tutoring Services, located at 1019 San Juan Street, Oceanside, CA 92058. Registrant Information: Kirra Hope Press, 1019 San Juan Street, Oceanside, CA 92058.

This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Kirra Hope Press with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/1/2023 12/14, 12/21, 12/28, 1/4/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023545 The name of the business: Dhong Thanh Nguyen, 537 Rush Dr., Apt 148, San Marcos, CA 92078.

Registrant Information: Dhong Thanh Nguyen, 537 Rush Dr., Apt 148, San Marcos, CA 92078.

This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 11/21/2023 /s/ Dhong Thanh Nguyen with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/21/2023 12/14, 12/21, 12/28, 1/4/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023545 The name of the business: Phong Thanh Nguyen, 537 Rush Dr., Apt 148, San Marcos, CA 92078.

Registrant Information: Phong Thanh Nguyen, 537 Rush Dr., Apt 148, San Marcos, CA 92078.

This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 11/21/2023 /s/ Phong Thanh Nguyen with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/21/2023 12/14, 12/21, 12/28, 1/4/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9024540 The name of the business: Smith Cab, llocated at 3579 Surf Pl., Oceanside, CA 92056. Registrant Information: Bradley H Smith, 3579 Surf Pl., Oceanside, CA 92056. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Bradley H Smith with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/6/2023 12/14, 12/21, 12/28, 1/4/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9024200 The name of the business: Softcom Company, located at 4418 Mount Lindsey Ave., San Diego, CA 92117. Registrant Information: Motomi Ito, 4418 Mount Lindsey Ave., San Diego, CA 92117.

This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 2/1/1984 /s/ Motomi Ito with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/1/2023 12/14, 12/21, 12/28, 1/4/2024 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME 37-2023-00053052-CU-PT-NC TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Ana Maria Morales Gonzalez filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: Luis Enrique Villa Morales to Proposed name Henry Meza. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted.

Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objections that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: 1/26/2024, 8:30 am, in Dept.

25 No hearing will occus on above date.

The address of the court is: 325 S. Melrose, Vista, CA. 92081. A copy of the Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: San Marcos News Reporter, dba, The Paper, 845 W. San Marcos Blvd, San Marcos, Ca. 92078. Dated January 30, 2023 /s/ Brad A. Weinreb, Judge of the Superior Court 12/14, 12/21, 12/28, 1/4/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9024894 The name of the business: Top Tier Contracting, located at 4985 Eucalyptus Ln., Carlsbad, CA 92008. Registrant Information:

BD Young Enterprise Inc., 4985 Eucalyptus Ln., Carlsbad, CA 92008. This business is operated by a Corporation. First day of business: N/A /s/ Dezarae Young, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/13/2023 12/21, 12/28, 1/4, 1/11/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9024691 The name of the business: Rad Jammer Designs, located at 2492 Longstaff Ct., San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant Information: Calista Mikel Mejia, 2492 Longstaff Ct., San Marcos, CA 92078. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 12/7/2023 /s/ Calista Mikel Mejia with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/8/2023 12/21, 12/28, 1/4, 1/11/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023811 The name of the business: St. Malo Apartments, located at 1741 S. Myers Street, Oceanside, CA 92054. Registrant Information: HILP-Apartments, LLC, 10490 Camino Del Venado, Valley Center, CA 92082. This business is operated by a Limited Liability Company. First day of business: 3/4/2019 /s/ Harold C.J. Coyledall with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/28/2023 12/28, 1/4, 1/11, 1/18/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9024696 The name of the business: KC’s Cab, located at 1905 Maxson St., Oceanside, CA 92054. Registrant Information: KC’s Dessert First LLC, 1905 Maxson St., Oceanside, CA 92054. This business is operated by a Limited Liability Company. First day of business: 3/4/2019 /s/ victor Cruz, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/8/2023 12/28, 1/4, 1/11, 1/18/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9024836 The name of the business: Giant Pizza NY Style, located at 16588 Bernardo Center Dr. suite 150, Rancho Bernardo, CA 92128.

Registrant Information: Prince Ali Foods Inc, 16588 Bernardo Center Dr. Suite 150, Rancho Bernardo, CA 92128. This business is operated by a Corporation. First day of business: 12/11/2023 /s/ Ali T Ahmed, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/28/2023 12/28, 1/4, 1/11, 1/18/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9024694 The name of the business: Ride Taxi, located at 1905 Maxson St., Oceanside, CA 92054. Registrant Jonathan Cruz, 1905 Maxson St., Oceanside, CA 92054.

This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Jonathan Cruz with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/88/2023 12/28, 1/4, 1/11, 1/18/2024 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME 37-2023-00055375-CU-PT-NC TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner James Russell Booth filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names

as follows: Present name: James Russell Booth to Proposed name Boothy James Russell Booth.

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objections that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted.

If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: 2/9/2024, 8:30 am, in Dept.

25 The address of the court is: 325 S. Melrose, Vista, CA. 92081.

No hearing will occur on above date: see attachment. A copy of the Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: San Marcos News Reporter, dba, The Paper, 845 W. San Marcos Blvd, San Marcos, Ca. 92078. Dated December 22, 2023 /s/ Brad A. Weinreb, Judge of the Superior Court 12/28, 1/4, 1/11, 1/18/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9025581 The name of the business: Feelgood Design, located at 967 Calle Pilares, Chula Vista, CA 91913. Registrant Henry Van Truong, 967 Calle Pilares, Chula Vista, CA 91913. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 12/21/2023 /s/ Henry Van Truong with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/22/2023 1/4, 1/11, 1/18, 1/25/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9025753 The name of the business: Lilac Beauty By Mahshid, located at 12004 Carmel Mountain Rd., #19, San Diego, CA 92128. Registrant Mahshid Mirafzal, 1824 Castle Glen, Escondido, CA 92150.

This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Mahshid Mirafzal with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/27/2023 1/11, 1/18, 1/25, 2/1/2024 STATEMENT OF WITHDRAWAL FROM PARTNERSHIP OPERATING UNDER FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9000049 Fictitious Business Name, Waring Court Pediatric And Adult Medical Group, located at 3230 Waring Court, Ste J, Oceanside, CA 92056. The original statement of this fictitious business was filed in San Diego County on 1/6/2020 and assigned file no. 2020-9000342.

The following partner has withdrawn: Victor Michael Dalforno, 3500 Bedford Circle, Carlsbad, CA 92008. /s/ Victor Michael Dalforno with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 1/2/2024 1/11, 1/18, 1/25, 2/1/2024

The Paper • Page 16 • January 11, 2024

January is National Train Your Dog Month We’ve all heard that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but this actually couldn’t be further from the truth! No matter the age, most dogs are highly receptive to positive reinforcement training. If your pooch has developed poor manners, gets anxious when left alone or is in the critical puppy socialization period, this is your sign to put training at the top of your resolutions list.

January is National Train Your Dog Month, and if you and your pup are ready to start out on the right paw or turn a new leaf, San Diego Humane Society is here to help. Behavior challenges are incredibly common, but with time, patience and understanding, most owners can overcome these challenges with the right support.

Available Resources We have developed a robust Behavior & Training program that includes classes and resources for every budget, schedule and unique need. We offer: More than 40 in-person and online classes, including puppy and kitten socialization, foundational skills, special interests like scent work and private lessons for oneon-one advice and training.

Free “Ask a Trainer” resource and Behavior Helpline that connects you with certified professionals to discuss your unique needs.

Online articles, resources and monthly emails with tips and tricks that address a variety of behavior topics.

Pet Training Assistance Fund that provides free or reduced-cost training to underserved pet owners in need.

Helping Animals in the Shelter and in Homes This program has been essential in helping us Stay at Zero euthanasia of healthy or treatable shelter pets by providing support that goes

above and beyond what is typically offered in shelter environments and diverting owner surrenders.

Pet guardians have found great success by applying what they learn in class to help their animals at home.

Lauren is one such owner who initially sought support to manage her dog Penny’s reactivity and separation anxiety. After taking San Diego Humane Society’s “Reactive Rover: Mat Work” class, Lauren reports that Penny is much calmer around the house and that she has

The Paper

learned to check-in with Lauren when a trigger is present. By proactively addressing Penny’s challenging behaviors in a constructive and positive way, Lauren reduced stress for both her and her beloved pet. And here’s the good news — you can too!

Visit sdhumane.org/behavior to view the resources available to you and begin improving your relationship with your pet, minimizing stress and guiding your dog toward the behaviors you’d like to see.

Owned & Operated by a Veteran lyle e davis US Army, Entertainment Director 1957-1959 Brooke Army Hospital Fort Sam Houston, Texas “The state of Texas was never invaded while I was on duty at Fort Sam. You could look it up!”

War Correspondent South Vietnam - 1967-68 Assimilated Grade/Rank Lt. Colonel, MACV (Military Assistance Command, Vietnam)