2-16-2023

By Cecil Scaglione

Reporting for a daily newspaper has been described by news folk of high rank as recording the first draft of history.

As such, the daily tidbits, whether it’s a three-column-inch recounting of a drunk-driving court case or a three-page thumb-sucker on the state of pollution in the Great Lakes, can be viewed as the first draft of history.

In some cases, a reporter’s story can be the first draft that changes history. Such was my case in the late 1950s at the Kitchener-Waterloo Record in Kitchener, a bustling twin-city complex about an hour over the western horizon from Toronto.

It was a minor court case that had a major impact on the daily life of everyone in Ontario, Canada’s most populated province.

Up to that time, the liquor laws

were abstemious and archaic, although not followed religiously nor enforced rigorously.

If you came to visit me, I couldn’t give you a drink legally because I could be charged with giving liquor to someone in a place other than their residence. You could be charged with drinking in a place other than your residence. You couldn’t bring your own booze because you’d be breaking the same law.

Alcohol of any sort – beer, wine or liquor -- could not be served in restaurants because of the all-encompassing laws requiring everyone to drink at home or in designated licensed hotel quarters.

At that time, Ontario had licensed beverage rooms that we called beer parlors – they served beer only, draft by the glass mostly, and were in most hotels. There was one for “Men Only” and another for “La-

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dies and Escorts,” which men could enter only with at least one female on their arm. Women were not allowed in the men’s drinking area. Everyone had to be at least 21 years old.

There were no public liquor or wine emporiums. The only place you could legally drink wine or liquor was at home.

Beer was sold in warehouses operated by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. Liquor and wine were sold in different outlets but operated by the same agency.

Beverage rooms opened at noon, closed at 4 p.m. and reopened from 6 p.m. to midnight. They closed for that two-hour period to make sure men went home to dinner with their wives and families.

Until this unobtrusive court case shattered the Puritanical atmosphere promoted by prohibitionists in Canada’s richest province, there was nowhere anyone could legally buy alcohol or drink in public from Saturday midnight until Monday noon.

Bootleggers fattened their retirement funds on the weekends. Most of them were cab drivers.

When you went visiting on Sunday – yes, people visited each other before television – you would take a case of beer with you.

Give Us This Day our Daily Chuckle

This

At the same time, you could skip across the border into Quebec –think of Ottawa overlooking Hull across the river -- and pick up a beer in the corner grocery store. If you lived close to the U.S. border, that’s where you headed on the weekend.

Or you stayed home and broke the law.

Also, everything was closed on Sunday. No movies. No sports. No shopping. Restaurants took turns to open for the after-church crowd and close the rest of the day. Downtown when I grew up was deserted on Sundays. That’s why people went visiting.

The time-bomb that obliterated all these barriers was ignited on a balmy Easter Sunday morning.

According to custom, an Eastern European family had gathered at a relative’s home. Because it was a such a nice day, the meal was served at a picnic table in the back yard.

A neighbor peeking out a secondstory window spotted a man giving a young girl -- she was about 10 at the time– a glass of wine amidst the family gathering enjoying the springtime holiday and called the police. It turned out to be the son of the owner of the house giving his daughter the wine.

(As part of our Italian way of life, we broke the law most Sundays because my brother and I were allowed a glass of wine with Sunday dinner after church.)

room? The batroom.

What do you call a pony with a sore throat? A little horse.

What did the left eye say to the right eye? Between you and me, something smells.

What did the mama tomato say to the baby tomato? Catch up!

Why didn’t the melons get married? Because they cantaloupe.

The initial draft of this historic change was a brief roundup paragraph I pulled off the Easter Sunday police blotter.

As it turned out, the gent broke several laws. Not only did he give a minor an alcoholic drink, he gave someone a drink while not in his domicile since the crime occurred at his parents’ house, and he gave alcohol to someone who didn’t live there.

When the accused was arraigned on Monday morning, his court-appointed lawyer urged leniency because the action was an acceptable family tradition at such festive occasions.

The man responsible for pulling the trigger that shot down the dozens upon dozens of arcane blue laws that governed the lifestyle of more than one-third of Canada’s population was Crown Attorney Harold Daufman, the Canadian counterpart to a U.S. district attorney.

Daufman prosecuted the case with his usual vigor. The accused pleaded not guilty but admitted giving his daughter the wine. His attorney’s defense elaborated upon and emphasized that family was simply following the customs and traditions of their homeland.

All that didn’t apply in Ontario and the verdict from the bench was guilty of breaking those dust-crusted laws and a fine was levied.

When the magistrate – equivalent to a municipal judge in the U.S. –

Why did the cow jump over the moon? The farmer had cold hands.

A termite walks into a bar and says, “So, is the bar tender here?”

How does an octopus go into battle? Well-armed.

What do you call a pudgy psychic? A four-chin teller.

rapped up the case with his gavel, Daufman asked for a recess, took the convicted and confused father by the elbow, and walked out of the courtroom. Then he lapelled the defense attorney and told the two men to appeal the conviction because the laws he’d just fought to uphold were absurd.

The attorney agreed and, to persuade the still-addled father who was just convicted of contributing to his daughter’s delinquency, committed to do it for free to help untangle the twisted legal views of Demon Rum.

As details of the court case were picked up from our initial reporting by news organizations and politicians across the land, the appeals process picked up speed. It took only a few months to have the case processed. And the convictions overturned.

Many a toast was raised to that and a new way of life opened up for the 10-plus million men, women and children in Ontario.

Restaurants began opening on Sunday and serving libations with their meals. Cocktail bars sprang up. Sunday laws crumpled and families could pack in their groceries and sales items on Sunday. Or go to the movies. And you could take a case of beer on your Sunday visit without breaking the law.

All because of a little pre-history incident I happened to witness and record for posterity.

How did the student feel when he learned about electricity? Totally shocked.

What do you call a bee that can’t make up its mind? A Maybe.

Why was six afraid of seven? Because 7-8-9.

If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring? Pilgrims.

Which is faster, hot or cold? Hot, because you can catch cold.

What did one plate say to the other plate? Dinner’s on me.

Why do oranges wear sunscreen? So they don’t peel.

My wife told me to stop acting like a flamingo, so I had to put my foot down.

What do you call a pig that does karate? A pork chop.

Where does Batman go to the bath-

What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta.

How did the pig get to the hogspital? In a hambulance.

I’m so good at sleeping I can do it with my eyes closed!

Why does Humpty Dumpty love autumn? Because he had a great fall.

What happens when a strawberry gets run over crossing the street? Traffic jam.

What do you get when you mix a cocker spaniel, a poodle, and a ghost? A cocker-poodle boo.

How do celebrities stay cool? They have many fans.

What does a pickle say when he wants to play cards? “Dill me in!”

How much money does a pirate pay for corn? A buccaneer.

Where do young trees go to learn? Elementree school.

Why do bees have sticky hair? Because they use a honeycomb.

I tried to catch fog yesterday. Mist.

What do you call a hippie’s wife? Mississippi.

Two peanuts were walking down the street. One was a-salted.

How can you tell it’s a dogwood tree? By the bark.

What did the buffalo say when his kid went to college? Bison.

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

Chuckles

What did the mayonnaise say when the refrigerator door was opened? Close the door, I’m dressing.

A woman gets on a bus with her baby. The bus driver says: “Ugh, that’s the ugliest baby I’ve ever seen!” The woman walks to the rear of the bus and sits down, fuming. She says to a man next to her: “The driver just insulted me!” The man says: “You go up there and tell him off. Go on, I’ll hold your monkey for you.”

I said to the Gym instructor “Can you teach me to do the splits?” He said, “How flexible are you?” I said, “I can’t make Tuesdays.”

Police arrested two kids yesterday, one was drinking battery acid, the other was eating fireworks. They charged one – and let the other one off.

Doc, I can’t stop singing the ‘Green Green Grass of Home’. He said: “That sounds like Tom Jones syndrome.” “Is it common?” I asked. “It’s not unusual” he replied.

I’m on a whiskey diet. I’ve lost three days already.

My therapist says I have a preoccupation with vengeance. We’ll see about that.

A priest, a rabbi and a vicar walk into a bar. The barman says, “Is this some kind of joke?”

A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse. “But why?” they asked, as they moved off. “because,” he said “I can’t stand chess nuts boasting in an open foyer.”

I was in Tesco’s and I saw this man and woman wrapped in a barcode. I said, “Are you two an item?”

I was having dinner with Garry Kasporov (world chess champion) and there was a check tablecloth. It took him two hours to pass me the salt.

When you die, what part of the body dies last? The pupils… they dilate.

Why is England the wettest country? Because the queen reigned there for decades.

You know there’s no official training for trash collectors? They just pick things up as they go along.

What’s the difference between a golfer and a skydiver? A golfer goes whack “darn” and a skydiver goes “darn” whack.

A friend of mine went bald years ago but still carries around an old comb. He just can’t part with it.

I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather did. Not screaming in terror like the passengers in his car.

What sits at the bottom of the sea and twitches? A nervous wreck.

What do you call a woman who sets fire to all her bills? Bernadette.

I was kidnapped by mimes once. They did unspeakable things to me.

I saw Usain Bolt sprinting around the track shouting, “Why did the chicken cross the road?” It was a running joke.

What did the full glass say to the empty glass? “You look drunk.”

Is it ignorance or apathy that’s destroying the world today? I don’t know, and I don’t care.

Did you hear about the Italian chef who died? He pasta-way.

Why can’t you explain puns to kleptomaniacs? They always take things literally.

They all laughed when I said I wanted to be a comedian. Well, they’re not laughing now! Wait…

You’re not completely useless. You can always serve as a bad example.

Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? He’s all right now.

What’s the difference between a hippo and a Zippo? One is really heavy, and the other is a little lighter.

Two guys walk into a bar. The third guy ducks.

And God said to John, “Come forth and you shall be granted eternal life.” But John came fifth and won a toaster.

“I stand corrected!” said the man in the orthopedic shoes.

Oodles!

Hidden Valley Community Concert Association Concert

The fourth concert of the 20222023 HVCCA 76th season will be Sunday at 3 pm in the Ritz Theater at the Grand 301 East Grand Avenue, Escondido.

Highland Way, a 6-member Celtic Band will be performing.

Tickets are available at www. theGrandescondido.org or calling (760) 309-7609.

Adults are $30.00, Seniors, Veterans, and Military $20.00. Students thru college $10.00 Children 12 & under are free.

For more information visit www. hiddenvalleyCCAescondido.info.

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Artists Invited to Apply for Exhibition

The City of Encinitas Cultural Arts Division is seeking visual artists to feature in revolving, individual and group exhibitions of three-dimensional (3D) artworks to be displayed in the second half of 2023. Emerging and professional artists are invited to apply.

Artists who create three-dimensional artwork and live or work in San Diego County may apply.

There are no fees to apply. Exhibition applications must be received by Monday, April 3, 2023, 8:00am.

Exhibitions will be on view for approximately three months between July 2023 and January 2024 and include an artist reception with Art Night Encinitas.

Visit https://www.encinitasca.gov/ community/cultural-arts/artist-call for more information and to download an application.

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California Main Street Conference

February 21-23

Commercial district revitalization professionals and community

stakeholders from around the state have chosen Downtown Oceanside as the location for their first in-person California Main Street Conference since 2018. The threeday event, titled “A Vision For Success,” is planned for February 21- 23 at SpringHill Suites at 110 North Myers Street in downtown Oceanside.

The conference will feature educational sessions on the Main Street Approach–a time-tested framework for community-based revitalization efforts–as well as best practices, key trends, and economic development strategies that local leaders can use to help transform their Main Streets, historic downtowns, and neighborhood commercial districts. Amanda Elliott, Senior Program Officer and Director of California Main Street programs stated that “the California Main Street conference will be a rare opportunity for Main Street practitioners to network in person and share best practices and strategies to create more vibrant downtowns and commercial districts.”

Sessions will focus on some of the most pressing issues in Main Street revitalization including housing and real estate development, local tourism, entrepreneurship ecosystems, farmers’ market management and legislative advocacy. Presenters include Dionne Baux, Vice President of Urban Development at Main Street America; Rachael Snedecor, Founder of RootsUp Collective; Michelle Geller, Economic Development Manager for the CIty of Oceanside; Catt Fields White, Founder of Farmers Market Pros; and Andria K. Taylor, Chief Talent Officer, TalentXponential. A pre-conference workshop on disaster preparedness will also be presented by the National Park Service on February 21.

Attendees will also have many opportunities to explore their surroundings via a historic walking tour curated by the Oceanside His-

Man Arrested for Over $50K in Stolen Goods

In early November, Industrial Liquidation Plus was burglarized of approximately $60,000 in tools, including a concrete tamper. Escondido Police Detective Martinez was assigned the case and discovered a man was selling the stolen concrete tamper on OfferUp. Through further investigation, the same man was found to have sold hundreds of items; new, like new, or in the original packaging, using OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace. The items were mostly tools.

SANDAG Invites Input for North County Corridor

The North County Comprehensive Multimodal Corridor Plan (CMCP) will identify integrated transportation solutions that enhance the way people travel throughout North County. These solutions will be tailored to North County travel needs and connect the five vibrant cities and unique parts of unincorporated areas of North San Diego County. Adoption of the plan is expected early this year.

Escondido Detectives

Martinez and Dixon continued the investigation and worked with Organized Retail Crime investigators from Home Depot, Lowes, and the California High Patrol task force. Through this investigation, it was discovered that the same man had been selling other known stolen tools.

On February 2nd, 2023, detectives were able to contact the man via OfferUp and set up a time to meet him. He was arrested successfully when he arrived with the stolen concrete tamper from the Industrial Liquidation Plus burglary. A search warrant at two locations tied to the man were conducted with the joint teams from CHP, Lowes, Home Depot, and Escondido Police Department. The team located over 230 stolen items from Home Dept, totaling over $50,000 in merchandise.

The man was identified as David Martinez, a 38 year old Sand Diego resident. He was arrested for PC 496(a) Receiving Stolen Property and PC 182(a)(2) Conspiracy and booked in to Vista Detention Facility. If you have any information on this case, please contact Detective Mike Martinez at (760) 839-4739.

Follow the Escondido Police Department on social media @EscondidoPolice.

To report any suspicious activities in your neighborhood, you may contact the Police Department directly, or you may make an unidentified call on our “Anonymous Tip Line” at 760-743-TIPS (8477) or via our Web site at police.escondido.org

a very hoity toity part of Omaha called Benson, a northwestern suburb. Benson also had a high school which some very creative person had named Benson High School. Being in the hoity toity part of Omaha it attracted a great many rich kids.

Man About Town

Growing Up . . .

I grew up in a place called Omaha, Nebraska. The city was named after a local Indian, Barney Omaha, in recognition of his many contributions to modern day society which included his building of, and dedication to the city, of both Fontanelle Hotel and Fontenelle Park, named after a distant cousin who had earned many merit badges for scalping.

But that was long before my time. I lived in Omaha long after the tents and wikiups and hogans of the Indian were gone. We lived in

My family and I were not rich, but middle class. My valet, for example, was not particularly well trained, not even knowing how to mix a decent martini (sniff). I only had one valet, most Benson High School students had at least two. Unlike many other of my fellow students, I did not have an entourage. Couldn’t afford it, being of modest means.

I recall many a morning when my baby blue T-Bird would face the daunting challenge of climbing the steep hill on Maple Street from about 69th to 63rd, before finally reaching that lovely level stretch of land through downtown Benson. I have to compliment my chauffeur, Nicky, for the always comfortable, sometimes very scenic drives. I always enjoyed viewing the colorful Benson Baptist Church (where I was later to marry a Countess

North County is the gateway between regional destinations in San Diego County and the communities to the north—especially communities in southern Riverside County. North County mobility, transportation, and quality of life will be affected by a series of unique observations: strained system, continued population growth, and need to adapt and be resilient. These factors make it necessary for SANDAG, Caltrans, local communities, and the people who regularly travel through the area to make progress towards the vision of a technologically- advanced, balanced, and integrated multimodal transportation system.

North County is home to 1 in 5 (20%) of the region’s residents and jobs and by 2050 is expected to grow by 13% in population and

Are you ready for this?

I got a notice from SDGE that our gas rates would be higher this year. I received my bill today. The gas rate in Feb of 2021 was 0.38 cents (my bill was $78 using 22 therms + electricity), then in 2022 the gas rate jumped to 0.86 (my bill was $139.70 using 30 therms + electricity), and now ... hold your breath ... the gas rate is $3.44. My Feb. bill for using 30 therms plus electricity would have been $178 ( gas $103 + elec $75).

Would have been $178 but I purposely endured indoor temps of 47 degrees just for kicks. My actual bill was $105 (gas $30, elec $75). So I saved $73. But I heard from a local gal who kept her temp at 71

from Scotland, the lovely Mary (sorry, don’t quite recall her last name. I’m bad on names). I also recall the excitement as I passed Kremer Funeral Home, the Benson Post Office, Steve’s Grill, Feierman Jewelers, and the Benson Theater (where we used to always scrape together $0.09 cents for every Saturday morning and see both cartoons as well as exciting adventure movies, including my favorite hero, Lash Larue). Those were wonderful times.

Arriving at Benson High School, I was met every morning by a smiling John “Pinky” Aronson, the Vice Principal, who would open the door to my T-Bird, shake my hand, wave at Nicky, and welcome me to the school. I remember one day I suggested to my fellow classmates that we all honor “Pinky” Aronson by dressing in completely pink clothing. I wore pink trousers, pink socks, a pink shirt, white belt and white shoes. I was a sight to behold. The entire school turned out in pink that day. Mr. Aronson, I’m sure, was amused.

As we walked together up the

sidewalk leading to the building I was often approached by other students who did not have transportation and had to walk to school. They would compliment me on my T-Bird and mention how it would be nice if, maybe sometime, I could give them a ride, seeing as how I was going in the same direction. I always made it a point to shake their hand or give them a friendly wave, show a warm smile and say, “what a perfectly grand idea. Do let me give it some thought and get back to you!” (I have always found it to be a good idea to treat those of a different social class kindly. Even though a majority of us were middle class, some of these forsaken kids didn’t have so much as a valet to their name. I tried to brighten their lives by being kind to them and favoring them with, at the very least, my wonderfully contented smile).

I soon joined the rest of those from my social class and we would tell marvelously funny stories, describe our valet’s hilarMan About Town continued on page 10

Want to get away from it all? You can’t get much farther than Western Australia

It’s the year of the far-cation, and almost no place is farther from the United States than Western Australia.

Perth, Western Australia’s capital, is halfway around the world from the East Coast. To get there from Washington, D.C., you’ll spend a day on a plane and endure a mindbending 13-hour time difference.

It’s not easily accessible, but it’s perfect for visitors like Darren Butts, who plans to fly to Australia’s largest state in May with his wife, Pamela. They’ve been to Western Australia before, but this time they’re headed to Broome and Kununurra, both in the northern part of the state.

“Western Australia is unique,” says Butts, a retired facilities director from Green Valley, Ariz. “And it’s deeply rewarding.”

Long-distance international trips are “in” this year -- and for adventurous travelers like Butts, the farther, the better. Flight searches to Perth during the region’s autumn season, which runs from March to May, is nearly 180% ahead of the same period last year, according to Expedia.

That’s quite a rebound from just a year ago, when Western Australia reopened its borders after the worst of the pandemic ended. Tourism Western Australia estimates that international flights into Western Australia from all global markets will return to 85% of pre-COVID levels between now and July.

But what can you do in Western Australia, an obscure destination that became even more so during the pandemic because the state sealed its borders? It turns out there’s more than meets the eye, including options for visitors who are interested in culture, history, and cute mouse-like marsupials.

What to do in Western Australia

A glance at the map suggests there’s not much happening in Western Australia, when it comes to tourism. It’s vast and sparsely populated. But look closer and you’ll find:

Cool beaches. If you’re looking for powdery white sand and turquoise water, there are plenty of beaches that check all the boxes. Popular spots in Perth include Cottesloe Beach, Scarborough Beach, and City Beach.

Famous wineries. Margaret River, considered one of Australia’s premium wine-growing regions, has more than 150 wineries. Cullen, Leeuwin Estate and Vasse Felix

call Margaret River home. Best of all, they’re just a quick three-hour drive from Perth.

The great outdoors. Western Australia offers a selection of natural landscapes, from Eucalyptus forests to red-rock deserts to white sand coastline. There’s hiking, camping, and wildlife watching in places like Nambung National Park, home of the famous Pinnacles rock formations.

But what sets Western Australia apart from other places is that the few things to do are remarkable, according to visitors. Margaret Ghielmetti, author of the book Brave(ish): A Memoir of a Recovering Perfectionist, says Western Australia’s beaches are as close to perfect as she’s seen. Her favorite, Yallingup, is a three-hour drive south of Perth.

“There’s an espresso truck overlooking the crystalline turquoise water,” she recalls. “I would fly back to Australia just for that view -- and brew.”

Western Australia is ready for international visitors

For the last three years, Western Australia has been cut off from international visitors -- which has only made the state even more intriguing to outsiders. But tourism operators are anticipating an influx of visitors soon.

Paul Clark, general manager of the recently opened boutique Samphire Rottnest hotel on Rottnest Island, says he sees more arrivals from Singapore, the U.K., India and the United States every week.

“Rottnest used to be popular with locals, but we’re seeing more interest from international visitors now,” he says.

With good reason. Rottnest Island -- or Rotto, as the locals call it -doesn’t just have a new hotel. It also has miles of biking trails, postcard-

perfect beaches, and quokkas, the friendly marsupials that look like giant rats (hence the name Rottnest). Quokkas are listless during the day, but if you spend the night, you can see them at dusk, and they are quite animated and completely unafraid of humans.

A short ferry ride away, there’s another signature attraction: Fremantle. The port town escaped the developers’ wrecking ball in the 20th century and now has one of the largest collections of restored colonial architecture. Plus, there are indoor markets, the famous Fremantle Prison, and Cappuccino Strip, where you can get some of the best coffee and Italian food in Western Australia. It attracts visitors by the boatload -- literally.

“The cruise ships come in here, and three thousand passengers come ashore,” says Michael Deller, owner of Fremantle Tours, a local tour operator. “It increases the town’s population by 30% for one day.”

Exploring Aboriginal Western Australia

Human civilization dates back 45,000 years in Western Australia,

and there are many opportunities to explore that aspect of the state. At the Western Australian Museum’s Boola Bardip campus in Perth, you’ll find exhibits exploring the state’s fascinating and often troubled relationship with the indigenous Nyunga people.

You can also tour Kings Park with Nyungar Tours and hear ancient stories about what Australia was like before colonization. The park, which overlooks Perth, was once a sacred site where women came to give birth. European settlement changed Western Australia permanently, but the memory of a quieter place that was in harmony with nature lives on in the stories told by the aboriginal guides.

In Nambung National Park, a two-hour drive north, there is another sacred site, also said to be used for “women’s business” by the Nyunga. But in this place, where the desert meets the sea, you can also experience the surreal rock formations known as pinnacles. It’s easily accessible as a day tour from Perth. One operator, Autopia Tours, also offers a stargazing tour in the park after sunset.

The limestone rocks, many of them as tall as a school bus, are thought to be the remains of an ancient forest. They stand in the reddish sand, casting long shadows on a hot summer afternoon. The Nyunga say young men wandered into this sacred palace and were turned to stone as punishment.

Is Western Australia worth a visit?

So should you plan a visit to Western Australia this year? If you love being outdoors and learning about ancient cultures, and you like getting out of town -- way out of town -- then it’s worth considering. If you have young children who could tolerate such a long plane trip, it’s better to wait until the little ones are older. And a visit takes time, not just to get there, but also to adjust to the time zone.

But there’s no question about it -Western Australia is worth adding to your bucket list.

“It’s truly a special place,” says Carolyn Turnbull, managing director of Tourism Western Australia.

Christopher Elliott is the chief advocacy officer for Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@ elliott.org or get help with any consumer problem by contacting him on his site.

Perth Australia

A Quokka

For years California has had the nation’s highest energy costs. Recent price increases for natural gas have added to the misery, and have led to renewed interest in the California Public Utilities Commission, which has held hearings on the price increases under its authority to regulate and oversee utilities.

The CPUC was created in 1911 when voters approved a constitutional amendment to reorganize the Railroad Commission. Commission authority was expanded in 1912 to cover utilities such as gas, electric and telephone companies, and in 1946, voters approved renaming the Railroad Commission the California Public Utilities Commission. The CPUC’s commissioners are appointed by the Governor and approved by the Senate. All five current commissioners were appointed by Governor Newsom.

The CPUC has sole authority to establish rates charged by investorowned utilities through its “revenue requirement,” based on the costs of maintaining, operating and financing utility operations. This requirement is the basis for determining rates paid by customers. However, decisions by the Governor and other policymakers outside the CPUC can have a huge impact on utility costs. For example, between 1985 and

2021, California’s natural gas production decreased by 72%. We now import over 90% of our natural gas, making us vulnerable to price spikes that result from decreased national production, pipeline interruptions, weather fluctuations, and federal policies that export gas overseas, despite current shortages.

California has vast reserves of natural gas and oil, mostly in the Central Valley. Over the years, state policymakers have limited exploitation of those resources, policies that have accelerated in recent years. Shortages and cost increases are the inevitable result.

Obviously, we need to protect the environment. But we can do that without cutting local production that results in self-induced shortages. It makes no sense to reduce production here, limiting supplies and driving up costs, only to purchase more expensive oil and gas that we must have, elsewhere. California’s hard-pressed ratepayers can’t be squeezed any more.

Assemblymember Marie Waldron, RValley 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 Emergency Preparation for San Marcos

several items to add to your family’s emergency go-bag.

• First aid kit

• Flashlight

• Battery-powered or hand crank radio

• Nonperishable food and water

• Personal documentation

• Cash

• Toiletry items

5th District Supervisor Jim Desmond

Help for Seniors

While there are many layers to homelessness, one group I’m focused on preventing from becoming the next in line is seniors. Inflation and rising utility prices are crushing seniors on fixed income, and we don’t want our seniors being priced out and ending up on the street. Last week, I mentioned the affordable senior housing we are building across North County, but this week I want to talk a new program.

Last year, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to establish a rental subsidy pilot program for seniors who are at risk of becoming homeless. In order to qualify applicants must, have a household income at or below 50 percent of the area median income, be using more than half of their income toward housing, have their name on the lease or rental agreement, have a landlord willing to participate in the program, not be receiving any other rental subsidies and sign

consent forms to participate in the program.

The senior Shallow Subsidy Pilot Program is designed to improve housing stability for low-income older adults who, without financial assistance, may be at risk of losing their housing. The program will serve approximately 220 households by providing a $500 monthly subsidy over a period of 18 months.

To join the application list, email HSEC.OHS-HHSA@sdcounty.ca.gov or by calling 619980-4168. Application packets will then be sent to those on the list. Pilot program participants who meet the eligibility criteria will be selected at random.

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

Lyft charges Peter Leung $80 for spilling a drink in one of its cars. But he says he didn’t drink anything. Does he still have to pay?

Q: Lyft charged me an $80 damage fee for spilling a drink in one of its cars. However, my friend and I certainly did not bring any drink -- not even water -- on the ride. We are not responsible for the spill.

The driver has sent me photos that show liquid on a floor mat. But I’ve asked Lyft multiple times to provide evidence of when it took the picture. Lyft has ignored my request.

the damage occurred, including the time and date. And they have to include two clear photos of the damage. Unlike Uber, however, drivers do not need to show a receipt for the cleaning.

But here’s the problem with your damage claim: First, the photos did not have any metadata attached to them, which would have shown when they were taken. And second, Lyft did not give you access to the driver’s incident report, which would have helped you argue your case.

The City of San Marcos recognizes the importance of emergency preparedness. We value our community’s safety and well-being and take the utmost care in supporting resiliency and recovery efforts after an emergency.

An emergency go-bag is a helpful tool to have prepped and ready to take if a disaster strikes. Here are

To better prepare yourself for any form of emergency, I encourage all community members to have an emergency go-bag on hand. Following a disaster, you could potentially be without immediate help for up to 72 hours while emergency personnel respond to the situation. Take steps now to prepare and help your family stay safe in case of an emergency.

For additional information on emergency preparedness, please visit Ready San Diego at www. readysandiego.org.

I don’t know how to appeal this to Lyft. The company keeps giving me the same reply and will not share the driver’s damage report. Can you help me?

~ Peter Leung, Etobicoke, Canada

A: Lyft needs to send you the evidence that you spilled a drink in one of its cars. If it can’t, it shouldn’t charge you for the damage.

But that’s not how Lyft works. Its drivers can report damage to their cars and receive $20 to $150 in compensation. Drivers must submit a written report noting where

The only option you had was to deny the report was true. Lyft responded to your denials by saying it had conducted an investigation and found that you were responsible. But that didn’t make any sense. Had it investigated the matter, it would have asked you more questions and gathered more information. Instead, it just reiterated its position.

You could have refused to pay Lyft’s charges, but then Lyft would

Travel Troubleshooter

by Christopher Elliott

There is a Musty Smell in Her VRBO Can She Get Her Money Back?

When Maureen Entwistle and her husband check into a Vrbo rental in North Carolina, they can’t breathe. Can they check out and get a refund?

Q: My husband and I recently booked a stay through Vrbo in Lake Tuckasegee, North Carolina. When checked in, we noticed a strong, musty smell. My husband and I began to cough, and my husband felt a constriction in his chest.

We contacted the manager and Vrbo. The manager did not respond and Vrbo put us on hold twice for nearly an hour. A Vrbo representative promised to call us back but did not.

We had no choice but to leave. We felt our health was threatened if we slept there. We booked a hotel for that night and found a new rental nearby. Our breathing cleared up after leaving the unit and we had no problems during our stay in the hotel or in the new rental.

Vrbo says this is an issue between the owner and me, that their guarantee did not address the cleanliness of the unit. They would refund me only for the one-night stay at the Hampton Inn. They have made that one refund. Vrbo has also suggested I take it to my credit card company as a dispute. This was not a cleanliness issue but a health issue. I’m hoping you can help us get a refund.

~ Maureen Entwistle, Clermont,

Fla.

A: If you can’t breathe in your vacation rental, you should check out immediately. But do you deserve a full refund?

Vrbo’s Book With Confidence guarantee promises to help you with major problems. Those include being unable to access your property or discovering the owners “significantly misrepresented” the property online. The company promises to find you new accommodations so you can continue your trip.

But there’s no mention of a musty smell or unsafe air quality. So Vrbo could have kept your money. But a review of the correspondence between you and Vrbo suggests it didn’t. The company helped you find a new rental and reimbursed you for one night at a hotel. But it didn’t refund the stay in the mustyair home.

Vrbo is sending a confusing message -- that it is responsible for what happened to you, but that it isn’t.

Is it possible to avoid an air quality problem at a rental? Maybe. Pay attention to the reviews, and especially any comments about smells or odors. That can be evidence of a bigger problem. I’ve seen vacation rental owners try to mask smells with air fresheners or plug-ins, but those can make the problem worse if you’re sensitive to scents.

Although Vrbo doesn’t explicitly guarantee the air quality in its rentals, I believe there’s an implied warranty. It’s understood that you should be able to breathe the air in a rental.

You might have reached out to one of the Vrbo executives whose contact information I publish on my advocacy website, Elliott.org. I also have a free guide to renting a vacation home on my site that will help.

I contacted Vrbo on your behalf. A representative contacted you and apologized for the experience. “While this is not eligible for coverage under our Book With Confidence Guarantee program, we believe it is appropriate to reimburse,” the representative said. You received a refund of $3,183.

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

© 2023 Christopher Elliott.

To Advertise in The Paper

call 760-747-7119

Speaking

by Tom Morrow

Who’s Buried in Grant’s Tomb?

just a few feet from his brother, Robert F. Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery. Up a gentle sloping hill from the Kennedys is the mansion of Confederate general Robert E. Lee, whose plantation Arlington Cemetery is sited. (That’s a story for another time).

Of those I visited there were “libraries” at four sites: Reagan, Eisenhower, Ford, Truman filled with historic papers and artifacts, all open to the public.

In the year 2000, historians Richard Norton Smith and Douglas Brinkley compiled a book, “Who’s Buried in Grant’s Tomb?” With the help of Brian Lamb and his CSpan staff, the book lists the locations of each presidential gravesite. Among their notes are the “final words” of many presidents before they passed. Here are some of the more interesting comments:

Thomas Jefferson uttered as he lay dying: “Is it the fourth?”

Hours apart on the same day, July 4, 1826, John Adams laid on his deathbed saying, “Thomas Jefferson still survives.”

President Ulysses S. Grant

It began in the early 1950s on the “You Bet Your Life” radio program starring the late great Groucho Marx. By the end of the program if the contestants hadn’t won any money, Groucho would ask as a final question, “Who is buried in Grant’s Tomb?” Surprisingly a good many didn’t know the answer, losing out on fifty bucks.

Locating and visiting the various gravesites is an interesting, educational and fun thing to do. Such an activity is not only rewarding but when you take along your children and grandchildren it gives you a feeling of not only being a part of our nation’s history but a realization each grave represents a man who rose to our highest political position from being an ordinary citizen like the rest of us.

I’ve had the honor of visiting and paying homage to seven presidential gravesites: Ronald Reagan, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald Ford, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Herbert Hoover, Harry S. Truman, and John F. Kennedy. All of these men lived, served, and died during my lifetime. I voted in six of the elections that resulted in their presidency. All Gravesites are impressive, but President Reagan’s in Simi Valley, Calif., is at the top of my list. The simplest site: President Kennedy’s Kennedy lies with an eternal flame

The ironic point of history is their two deaths mark the day which was the 50th anniversary of our nation’s birth. Adams and Jefferson were the two key figures that pushed through the Declaration of Independence. In spite of some bitter conflicts, they ended their lives as good friends. Adams was aged 90 and Jefferson was 83, exactly 50 years to the day.

As James Madison lay dying, he said “Tiz nothing more than a change of mind.”

Andrew Jackson, who is buried at his beloved Hermitage plantation near Nashville, Tenn., said: We shall all meet in heaven.”

Martin Van Buren: “There is but one reliance.”

While he was only president for 30 days, William Henry Harrison caught pneumonia from a down pouring rainstorm while giving a long-winded inaugural speech. As a result, our ninth president had the most to say at his end. Harrison uttered, “I wish you to understand the true principles of government. I wish them carried out. I ask for nothing more.” You could say President Harrison died from talking too much.

President John Tyler on his death bed: “Perhaps it is best.”

James K. Polk: “II love you, Sarah, for all eternity, I love you.”

Historically

New Park Coming to Oceanside

El Corazon is a City-owned parcel of 465 acres located in the heart of Oceanside, bounded by Rancho Del Oro Drive on the east, Oceanside Boulevard on the south, El Camino Real on the west, and Mesa Drive on the north.

An ongoing planning process relating to the property began in 2003 and was facilitated by dedicated citizen’s committees. Through their work, the El Corazon Specific Plan was developed, and eventually adopted in 2009 to guide the land use decisions created through public outreach and master planning efforts. The plan calls for specific areas of commercial and residential development to fund the construction of community park areas and nature trails. The El Corazon Specific Plan, in part, divided the park land at El Corazon into nine park sites. Park Site 1 will be the first of the nine park sites to developed.

A Park Site 1 Study was launched that is analyzing existing site conditions, evaluating site opportunities and constraints, and collecting input from the community. Based on City needs and public input, concepts and design options for Park Site 1 have been identified and ultimately, a

recommended design option will be brought to the Parks and Recreation Commission, and then to the City Council for review and approval.

This Park Study included two public outreach meetings. The first of those meetings was held in September 2022, via Zoom, to gain an understanding of what the community would like to see at El Corazon Park Site 1, given the site constraints.

The second public outreach meeting was held in person on February 2, 2023, to determine a conceptual plan that best suits the needs of the community.

The City would love your comments on these conceptual plans. Please take the survey by March 12th at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ElCorazonParkSite1

As a member of the Oceanside community and user of these facilities, your input is critical to the success of the study. If you would like to be added to an interested parties list, please contact project manager Kymberly Corbin at (760) 435-3534 or KCorbin@ oceansideca.org. By requesting to be part of this list, you will receive periodic email updates.

Man About Town

from page 4

ious shortcomings and/or great accomplishments. Being of modest means, my valet, Nicky, had to double as my chauffeur. Several times I thought of giving Nicky notice but she was such a strikingly lovely creature that I found it hard to part with her. Besides, she was often of great comfort to me in times of sorrow, like when our cook would forget both Brie and a sufficient amount of caviar in my box lunch she had prepared for me daily. Nicky (short for Nicole) would put her arms around me and murmur soft things in my ear. I always felt so much better; sometimes, to the point of skipping school for several hours to be with Nicky, the more to enjoy her comforting.

In late morning I would always head for gym class, presided over by Art Harris, our football coach. Mr. Harris was a strapping 3’ tall but he was a human dynamo, often running around in circles, clapping his hands and yelling, “Let’s go! Let’s go!” to no one in particular. I was very fond of Mr. Harris, however. I suppose it might have been because I went to him one day, very sad, and told him my favorite pet rabbit, which I had called “Bunny” had passed away. I suggested to Mr. Harris that we might memorialize Bunny by naming the school, and in particular, its football team, the Benson High School Bunnies.

Mr. Harris slapped his thighs, and exclaimed, “that’s a wonder-

ful idea! It shall be done!”

And so, to this day, members who attended, and who still attend, my alma mater, are known as The Benson High School Bunnies.

All good things, however, must come to an end. After four years of absolute bliss, my high school days came to an end. I graduated (flipped my tassle, as we say) and went on to a brilliantly successful career in business and also became a highly successful and adored international spy.

That, too, is all behind me now. Nicky is still with me. She stays in the spare bedroom here at the Davis Mansion, still chauffeurs me about town, still mixes me my martinis, still performs as a valet, and is always there to offer me comforting words, thoughts and deeds whenever mean ol’ Evelyn says or does something to wound my sensitive ego.

Mrs. Madison recognizes that Nicky is simply my valet, nothing more, (at least, that’s what she believes) someone with whom I would find living life to be particularly difficult.

Nicky was even with me during my exciting and adventuresome years as an international spy.

But that, as we say, is another story.

Buy me a drink sometime . . . maybe I’ll tell you. (Some parts, however, are still classified. Those parts would take two drinks).

Pet Parade Toby & Simba

Toby and Simba are pets of the week at your Rancho Coastal Humane Society. They’re 2-1/2year-old, male, Domestic Short Hair Cats with Orange and White Tabby coats.

Toby and Simba are brothers. They were adopted together as kittens, then returned after two years when their family moved. They need to be adopted together, again.

As a bonded pair, one adoption fee covers both. The $100 adoption fee for Toby and Simba includes medical exams, neuters, up to date vaccinations, and registered microchips.

For more information or to sponsor a pet visit Rancho Coastal Humane Society at 389 Requeza

Street in Encinitas, call 760-7536413, or visit www.SDpets.org.

Open 11 to 4, Friday through Monday, and by appointment Wednesday and Thursday.

Local News from page 4

26% in jobs. By 2050, 43% of North County Corridor residents and 67% of jobs are anticipated to reside within mobility hubs. Of North County trips, 70% stay within North County and 50% are less than 5 miles. Large employment centers are miles away from regional transportation facilities, exacerbating network congestion. Regional north-south facilities are separated by over 17 miles and limited to I-5, I-15, and COASTER/Amtrak. Consequently, major arterials provide the predominant mobility option for North County users. These factors make it necessary for SANDAG, Caltrans, local communities, and the people who regularly travel through the area to progress the vision of a technologically advanced, balanced, and integrated multimodal transportation system.

SANDAG invites public input on the plan on its website by March 12.

To view the plan and provide input, visit https://sandag.mysocialpinpoint.com/northcounty

Bobcat Believed to Have Been Struck By Car Returns to Wild

A bobcat, who spent three weeks in care with San Diego Humane Society’s Project Wildlife team, returned to the wild this afternoon. The adult male was released by Project Wildlife staff in Mission Trails Regional Park, not far from

where he was initially found on Jan. 18, 2023 by a good Samaritan who called San Diego Humane Society’s Humane Law Enforcement for help. Humane Officers responded and transported the injured cat to the Veterinary Emergency Group in Encinitas where he was triaged and given supportive care overnight.

The bobcat arrived to San Diego Humane Society on Jan. 19, 2023 with injuries indicating he had likely been hit by a car. Project Wildlife’s veterinary team at the Pilar & Chuck Bahde Wildlife Center in San Diego immediately administered pain medication, performed radiographs and treated the bobcat for abrasions and minor contusions.

continued on page

Pet of the Week

How beautiful is Margeaux?!

This gorgeous German shorthaired pointer mix has the richest chocolate coat and soulful eyes to match. Margaux is a lovely young pup who is looking for a home full of love and humans to share her life with. Margaux will need a secure yard at home, as she likes to go visit the neighborhood on her own from time to time. She does also enjoy long walks with her people, followed by some snuggle time on the couch. Margaux will be happiest in a home where she is the only good girl to spoil, as she prefers not to share her toys or treats with other dogs. If you would like to meet Mar-

gaux, meet her at the Escondido Campus at 3500 Burnet Drive!

If you have questions about the adoption process, you can visit sdhumane.org/adopt.

Margaux online profile: https:// www.sdhumane.org/adopt/ available-pets/animal-single. html?petId=829015

The Times They Are A-Changin Conclusion Part V of V “Seniors”

The last column in this “times they are a changing” series is devoted to our favorite people, the oldest living Americans, collectively known as “Senior Citizens.” By consensus, and according to Pew Research, there are six commonly recognized American generations. “Senior Citizens” were born into one of the first three. Today there are fewer than 300,000 survivors of “The Greatest Generation” (born before 1929), about 25 million “The Silent Generation” (1929- 1945) and 70 million Baby Boomers (1946-1964). Combined, the three “senior” generations total

is 95 million or 29% of the total US population of 332 million.

The three generations that encompass “Senior Citizens” are defined by human events, not by human characteristics. The dwindling members of “The Greatest Generation” lived through the Great Depressions and fought World War II. Their children were the men and women of “The Silent Generation” and grew up safe and secure in an America dominant in science, technology, culture and wealth. The “Baby Boomers”, children of the “Silent’ Generation” also grew up in relative peace and security. Free from foreign threats and major economic problems, domestic movements aimed at establishing equality for women, minorities and others were the dominant themes during their formative years.

For the most part, “Senior Citizens” shared an era of unprecedented peace and prosperity and presided over the establishment of the least biased, most tolerant major culture in modern World history. Among “senior’s” achievements were, harnessing the atom, went to the moon, codified human rights, invented computers, pioneered the smart phone and probably the most impactful development of all, they gave the World the Internet. Nearly every new technology, institution, edifice, transportation system, power grid, communications system, and commercial product in common use in the 21st century was developed and introduced by today’s “Senior Citizens.” Younger generations will certainly have their day in the

sun but today’s heroes are still all around us.

“Seniors” are more diverse than any other age or generational group. Most grew up on farms, in small towns or urban neighborhoods. As they grew into adulthood, their primary “influencers” were parents, neighbors, schools and events. Neighborhoods, events and schools were local and small, communications were direct. People were physically “connected.” News and events filtered in from the outside world via TV, radio and newspapers but the World was not important in their day to day lives. Local events and people were their lives.

Recent generations grew up less connected to parents, neighbors and local events. They’ve suffered the efficiencies of larger more impersonal schools and standardized teaching methods and curriculums. Recent generations enter adulthood with less diversity of thought and more uniform belief patterns as a result of their more structured educational experience.

The absence of a uniform structure in “senior’s” smaller and more local educational and social environments created a tolerance for diversity of thought. More recent generations grew up with progressively less local influence and more uniformity in the structure of educational curriculums and social philosophy. For these younger generations the Internet has become a major vehicle in the application of social pressure to encourage conformity and acceptance of prevailing social “truths”.

As seniors we have come to enjoy the easy sociability of our contemporaries. In addition to having the most diverse belief and thought patterns of any living age group, here are some other significant attributes that make us fun to hang out with. We rarely have a hidden agenda, no easily bruised egos, absence of sexual tension allows men and women to be genuine buddies, we have a keen sense of humor, are non judgmental, we actually listen, we hardly ever lie and were pretty smart. What’s not to like?

John Van Zante’s Critter Corner

Why do Dogs Love Us?

As I’m writing this, my dog is napping beside me, snoring. I like that sound. Dogs like our sounds, too. They like our voices and the sound of our breathing. Your dog can tell your mood by the tone of your voice. They wag when we sound happy.

aren’t right. Dogs can predict epileptic seizures long before they happen. Scientists don’t understand how.

Do dogs like us because we’re so smart? That’s probably not it. An average dog has the intelligence of a human 2-year-old and is capable of learning 165 words. In math, dogs are equal to a 3- or 4-yearold. In social skills, they’re about like teenagers.

It’s easy to figure out why we love dogs. But why do they love us back? We look different. We walk funny. We can’t speak their language. Where are our tails?

Why do they love us back? I read some studies and asked some friends.

One study exposed dogs to the smells of other dogs and to their owners’ smell. The smell of their owners made their tails wag.

Our dogs trust us the same way baby people trust their parents. A frightened dog will run to its owner. Most animals run away when they’re scared.

My dog stares at me. We can be nose-to-nose. It’s like he’s looking into my soul. Sometimes, just by looking back at him, it makes his tail wag. Dogs only lock eyes with humans, not other animals.

Dogs can be trained to detect lung, breast, skin, bladder, and prostate cancers. They can smell cells that

Out of all the stories I read and all the people I spoke with, what made the most sense was that dogs have empathy for us. They know when we need special care and attention. Then, they don’t ask. They just give.

They seem to understand our feelings. Maybe that’s why they love us back.

They know how much we need them.

Letters from page 4

degrees through January and her bill was over $600. Mine would have been as high if I had done the same. Small comfort to receive a $20 or $40 bill credit next month to placate SDGE customers.

Now let’s look at the inflation rate for the last two years of gas prices. Feb 2021: $0.38; Feb 2022: $0.86; Feb 2023:$ 3.44. Are you ready for this? 900% since Feb 2021. Remember, this is in the warm climate San Diego, not Buffalo, New York. I hate to think what North Easterners face.

What could possibly justify that outrageous 900% inflation: maybe natural gas prices shot up so high? Let’s take a closer look at wholesale costs because I have this old feeling we’re being snookered as usual.

Maybe utilities are playing catchup for past high prices. But the average price in February for the past four years was $12 (extreme high of $35, and an extreme low $8.45. Even allowing for a median price of $22 over the last four years, that amounts to no more than a 257% gain over the low ... not a whopping 900%.

Please, someone, explain the 900%

Community Pet Pantry

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

Through the Community Pet Pantry, anyone can visit our campuses to pick up a bag of dog or cat food, and other supplies, as available.

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

inflation increase, other than opportunistic corporate greed camouflaged with platitudes of caring concern for customers and measly credits to appease irate customers.

Private businesses that gouge the public in times of distress are heavily fined. Don’t hold your breath waiting for bribed govt officials to prosecute our local utility. Contact your state representative about this outrage.

Richard M.Dell’Orfano

Local News from page 10

Once stabilized, the bobcat was moved the next day to the organization’s Ramona Wildlife Center, where Project Wildlife’s staff specialize in caring for native apex predators such as bobcats, coyotes and bears. In Ramona, the team conducted additional medical tests including a dental exam, which included an extraction of the bobcat’s broken tooth. Once healed and cleared medically, wildlife care specialists monitored the bobcat to ensure he was able to feed on his own and met the criteria for release.

“Seeing this bobcat return to the

wild is what it’s all about for us,” said Andy Blue, campus director of San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center. “Bobcats play an important ecological role in our region and we are glad to see this one back where he belongs. I am grateful to the citizen who found the bobcat, our Humane Officers, Veterinary Emergency Group and our staff for collaborating to save his life.”

San Diego County is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the United States with the greatest number of endangered species. People from all over the county bring wildlife patients to San Diego Humane Society’s Project Wildlife program for rehabilitation and care. Each year, SDHS gives nearly 13,000 injured, orphaned and sick wild animals a second chance. In 2020, SDHS announced the Ramona Wildlife Center, where they specialize in caring for native apex predators and birds of prey, including hawks, owls, eagles, coyotes, bears, bobcats and, under special pilot authorization, mountain lions.

Vista Irrigation District Scholarship Contest

Vista Irrigation District (District) invites local high school seniors

to compete for scholarship(s) from the District. Up to six scholarships may be awarded in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $3,000. The purpose of the scholarship program is to increase knowledge and awareness of how water related issues influence our daily activities.

Students who compete for a scholarship must complete an essay and provide a one page personal statement related to their background and/or goals. Selection criteria also include community involvement or volunteer service, and letters of recommendation from high school faculty.

Students may download a fillable pdf application package by visiting https://www.vidwater. org/2023-vista-irrigation-district-scholarship-contest-af4b0c4, or by contacting Brent Reyes at (760) 597-3107 to have the materials sent to them. Applications are also available through their high school counseling offices.

Applications must be received via e-mail or at the District’s office by 5:00 PM on Friday February 24, 2023.

Eligible students must live or go to school within the Vista Irrigation District service area.

First, I discovered America. Then, I discovered The Paper!

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

Your friend, Eric the Red

Problem Solved from page 6

have blocked you from using its app again. You needed to fight this charge and win. I list the names, numbers and email addresses of the Lyft executives on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org. Also, check out my free ridesharing guide, which shows you how to avoid these pesky Lyft charges.

If you’re using a rideshare, especially Lyft, you might want to take “before” and “after” pictures of the back seat of the car. If your driver files a claim, you can show photos of the vehicle to dispute the charges.

I contacted Lyft on your behalf. A representative responded quickly. “The best way to handle these issues is to contact customer care by submitting a help request through the app or via Lyft Help and go through the process,” she told me.

But you had already done that, and you appeared to be stuck in a loop of denials. Lyft needed to look at your case again and decide who was telling the truth. I asked Lyft to review your complaint one more time. It fully refunded your $80.

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

©

2023

Christopher Elliott.

“Old Rough and Ready” Zachary Taylor: “I’m sorry I’m about to leave my friends.”

Millard Filmore: “The nourishment is palatable.”

Rutherfort B. Hayes: “I know I’m going where Lucy is.”

James Buchanan: “Oh Lord God Almighty, thou wilt.”

James A. Garfield, who was shot in a Washington railroad station: “Oh Swaim there is a pain here. Oh, Swaim!” (… to David Gaskill Swaim, his chief of staff).

Grover Cleveland: “I’ve tried so hard to do right.”

Benjamin Harrison: “Are the doctors here? Doctor, my lungs.”

William McKinley: “It is God’s way. His will be done, not ours. We are all going … oh dear.”

Theodore Roosevelt: “James, would you please put out the light.”

Woodrow Wilson: “The machinery is worn out … I am ready ... Edith.”

Warren G. Harding: “That’s good. Go on, read some more …”

Franklin Delano Roosevelt: “I have a terrific headache.”

Dwight David Eisenhower: “I am ready. God take me.”

John F, Kennedy: “My God, I’ve been hit!”

For those presidents not listed here, their final words were not known. But for the Army general lying in Grant’s Tomb, his final word was “Water.”

The Mighty Mojo Page

Oodles

from page 3

torical Society and a Sunset Happy Hour hosted by MainStreet Oceanside at Oceanside Museum of Art.

The California Main Street Conference is presented with support from Main Street America, National Park Service, California Office of Historic Preservation, Square, Civitas Advisors, Small Business Majority, City of Oceanside, Visit Oceanside, and Main Street Oceanside.

To learn more and register, visit www.californiamainstreet.org/events.

***

Interfaith Community Services Presents Change Your Mind

Interfaith Community Services is proud to host our Second Annual Change Your Mind festival, in partnership with the City of Oceanside on Saturday, May 6, 2023 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Oceanside Junior Seau Pier Amphitheater.

The goal of Change Your Mind is to encouraging candid conversations about mental health in a fun and stress-free environment. Attendees of all ages can participate in a full day of workshops, performances, and wellness-related experiences.

This free event is open to the entire North County community with activities for people of all ages. Please bring your family and friends as you help change the conversation around mental health — one mind and one life at a time! Tickets are free but pre-registration is requested. Secure your spot today by visiting www.interfaithservices.org/change/

***

Save Lives in Our Community | Host a Blood Drive

Hosting a blood drive is one of the most impactful ways to help families in Southern California.

Did You Know...

• Giving blood a single time can help save up to three lives?

• Blood cannot be manufactured. It must be voluntarily donated by a human?

• San Diego Blood Bank serves hospitals in Southern California, including trauma centers and neonatal intensive care units?

We are here to support you every step of the way to make your blood drive a success.

From the day you say “yes!” we will work with you to make the blood drive a great experience for you and your donors.

To get started, please call (619) 400-8124 or email hostablooddrive@sdbb.org.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9000283

The name of the business: MV Cleaning, located at 606 Flora Dr., Oceanside, CA 92057 Registrant Information: Gebran Morales 606 Flora Dr., Oceanside, CA 92057 & Jose Vazquez, 201 Cananea St., Vista, CA 92084 This business is operated by Co-Partners. First day of business: N/A

/s/ Gebran Morales Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 1/06/2023 1/19, 1/26, 2/2, 2/9/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9000445

The name of the business: Real Soundproofing, located at 4169 Galbar St., Oceanside, CA 92056 Registrant Information: Randall Sieg, 4169 Galbar St., Oceanside, CA 92056. This business is operated by an individual. First day of business: 07/05/2019 /s/ Randall A. Sieg Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 1/09/2023

1/26, 2/2, 2/9, 2/16/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9000450

The name of the business: California Smiles Family Dental, located at 925 E. Pennsylvania Ave., Ste F, Escondido, CA 92025 Registrant Information: Irene Bodjanac Bozir DDS Inc., 2924 Capazo Ct., Carlsbad, CA 92009. This business is operated by a corporation. First day of business: 06/01/2013 /s/ Irene Bozir, President Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 1/09/2023 1/26, 2/2, 2/9, 2/16/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9000394

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9001434

The name of the business: Tamales La Herencia, located at 938 Taylor St., Vista, CA 92084 Registrant Information: Pedro Medel Marquez & Maria Medel, 938 Taylor St., Vista, CA 92084. This business is operated by a married couple.

First day of business: 01/20/2023

/s/ Pedro Medel Marquez Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 1/20/2023

2/2, 2/9, 2/16, 2/23/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9001151

The name of the business: The Letter Bee, located at 1159 Montura Rd., San Marcos, CA 92078 Registrant

Information: Brooke Elyse Karras, 1159 Montura Rd., San Marcos, CA 92078. This business is operated by an individual. First day of business: N/A

/s/ Brooke Elise Karras Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 1/18/2023

2/2, 2/9, 2/16, 2/23/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9000640

The name of the business: Sustainable Valor, located at 159 Warner Street, Oceanside, CA 92058 Registrant

Information: Erik Orezechowski, 159 Warner Street, Oceanside, CA 92058. This business is operated by an individual. First day of business: N/A

/s/ Erik Orezechowski Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 1/11/2023

2/2, 2/9, 2/16, 2/23/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9000745

The name of the business: Perfection Remodel, located at 312 South Freeman St., #A, Oceanside, CA 92054 Registrant

Information: David Villarreal, 312 South Freeman St, #A, Oceanside, CA 92054. This business is operated by an individual. First day of business:

01/01/2023

/s/ David Villarreal Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 1/11/2023

2/2, 2/9, 2/16, 2/23/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9001262

The name of the business: Leasha’s

K-9’s, located at 1151 Privet Street, San Marcos, CA 92069 Registrant Information: Alicia Marie Armstrong 1151 Privet Street, San Marcos, CA 92069. This business is operated by an individual. First day of business:

01/19/2023

/s/ Alicia Marie Armstrong Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 1/19/2023

2/9, 2/16, 2/23, 3/2/2023

1/26, 2/2, 2/9, 2/16/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9028034

The name of the business: TLM Porter Service, located at 2292 Faraday Ave., #100, Carlsbad, CA 92008 Registrant Information: Terri Lee Mendivil, 2705 Via Juanita, Carlsbad, CA 92010. This business is operated by an individual.

First day of business: N/A /s/ Terri Lee Mendivil Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 12/29/2022

1/26, 2/2, 2/9, 2/16/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9001808

The name of the business: A Place To Grow Psychotherapy, located at 4675 Spinnaker Bay Court, Oceanside, CA 92057 Registrant Information: a Place To Grow Psychotherapy Couple Family And Individual Psychotherapy, 4675 Spinnaker Bay Court, Oceanside, CA 92057. This business is operated by a corporation. First day of business: 01/17/2023

/s/ Elizabeth Grace Dutcher, CEO Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 1/25/2023

2/9, 2/16, 2/23, 3/2/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9002199

The name of the business: Onepeople, located at 1726 Catalpa Rd., Carlsbad, CA 92011 Registrant Information: Andre Charles Shmoldas and Chelsea Michele Shmoldas, 1726 Catalpa Rd., Carlsbad, CA 92011. This business is operated by a married couple. First day of business: N/A

/s/ Andre Charles Shmoldas Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 1/30/2023

2/9, 2/16, 2/23, 3/2/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9002638

The name of the business: Keep It Local, Keep It Local Valley Center, Keep It Local VC, Valley Center Keep It Local, VC Keep It Local, located at 30590 Rock Rose Lane, Valley Center, CA 92082 Registrant Information: Lisa Scarpello, 30590 Rock Rose Lane, Valley Center, CA 92082. This business is operated by an individual. First day of business: 2/1/2010

/s/ Lisa Scarpello Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 2/3/2023

2/9, 2/16, 2/23, 3/2/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME

STATEMENT 2022-9027785

The name of the business: KG Property Management, KG Home Services, located at 3595 Emma Ln., Vista, CA 92084 Registrant Information: Convenient RV Storage Inc., 3595 Emma Ln., Vista, CA 92084. This business is operated by a corporation.

First day of business: 3/1/2022

/s/ Gin Kazla, CEO Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/23/2022

1/19, 1/23, 2/2, 2/9/2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

37-2023-00003076-CU-PT-NC

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS:

Petitioner Stephan Guiseppe LoTiempo filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: Stephan Guiseppe LoTiempo to Proposed name Giuseppe LoTiempo.

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: 3/14/2023, 8:30 am, in Dept.

N-25

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 25, 2023

/s/ Brad A. Weinreb, Judge of the Superior Court 2/9, 2/16, 2/23, 3/2/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9001171

The name of the business: Autoglass & Tint of Oceanside, located at 3588 Mission Ave., Oceanside, CA 92058 Registrant Information: I & J Corporation, 3588 Mission Ave., Oceanside, CA 92058. This business is operated by a corporation. First day of business: 01/18/2023

/s/ Firas Jebo, President Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 1/18/2023

1/26, 2/2, 2/9, 2/16/2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

37-2023-00000944-CU-PT-NC TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS:

Petitioner Jose Eduardo Hernandez filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: Jose Eduardo Hernandez to Proposed name Eddie Hernandez Leon. 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: 2/28/2023, 8:30 am, in Dept.

N-25

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 10, 2023

/s/ James E. Simmons Jr., Judge of the Superior Court 1/26, 2/2/2023, 2/9, 2/16/2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME 37-2023-00003778-CU-PT-NC

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Jamie Lee Twyne filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: Haven Lee Ayer to Proposed name Haven Lee Twyne. 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: 3/21/2023, 8:30 am, in Dept. 25

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 2/9, 2/16, 2/23, 3/2/2023

The name of the business: Double 3 Tree Service, located at 712 Grapvine Road, Vista, CA 92083 Registrant Information: Berto R. Sanchez Ortega, 712 Grapevine Road, Vista, CA 92083. This business is operated by an individual. First day of business: 10/17/2022

/s/ Sebastian Mauricio Sanchez Canseco Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 1/30/2023

2/16, 2/23, 3/2, 3/9/2023

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME: 2023-9002719

Share The Wealth Records, located at 1281 Via Contessa, San Marcos, CA 92069 The Fictitious Business Name referred to above was filed in San Diego County on 2/5/2019 and assigned file no. 2019-9003250.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IS BEING ABANDONED BY: Ismael Edwardo Pohlert, 305 Belmont Court, San Marcos, CA 92069 and Faroug Osman Fardan, 1281 Via Contessa, San Marcos, CA 92069. This business is conducted by a general partnership. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1000).

/s/Ismael Eduardo Pohlert

This statement was filed with the San Diego Recorder/ County clerk on 2/6/2023. 2/16, 2/23, 3/2, 3/9/2023