1-19-2023

By Cecil Scaglione

We’ve all read about or seen on TV some out-of-the-norm animals us humans claim as pets – reptiles, raptors, farmyard critters, jungle denizens, insects, you name ‘em.

Some folks claim they’re “comfort” beasts and take them on vacations, airlines flights and trips to the supermarket. If this keeps up, I’m thinking of getting myself a comfort crocodile.

The Paper • 760.747.7119 website: www.TheCommunityPaper.com email: thepaper@cox.net

We have had a diverse set of animals over the years. My sister killed one of them. It wasn’t my pet. I’m not comfortable enough to turn my back on spiders. This was a spider –a black widow.

A couple of my kids spotted it under a stairwell and argued about its identity. To stop the arguing, my wife got a jar and went and captured it. Sure enough, it was a full-blooded black widow, the first poisonous creature we could call our own.

The kids popped a popsicle stick into the jar to give it something to crawl on and tossed in live flies, dead moths, tidbits of meat and even some hardboiled yolk. It prospered somehow and even took the time to produce a couple of wisps of a web between the stick and sides of the jar.

My sister came to visit on a weekend and, when the kids showed her our latest pet, her reaction was natural.

She went screaming back out the

Nervous

front door and said she wasn’t returning “until that thing is flushed down the toilet.”

She finally was talked back to earth when the boys assured her the beast was contained tightly in a well-screwed-down Mason jar and tucked high on a window sill where she could watch it to make sure it didn’t get close to her.

Curiosity overcame her cowardice the next day as she began asking

questions about the care and feeding of a black widow spider. One of the boys swatted a fly and joined his brother as they gave her a short course on the housing and handling of their pet.

They unscrewed the top of the jar and were about to dump in the dead fly when she got nervous and knocked the glass out of their hands. It smashed into pieces when it hit the floor and she was shrieking and scampering and scooted out of the area. The two boys got a broom and began to police the area carefully. But it was too late. In her jumping and jostling, my sister had stepped on the critter and it was ground into the linoleum.

She never apologized for the death nor did she offer to get the kids another pet spider.

It’s a good thing she wasn’t around when he had a pet caterpillar. It was rusty brown in the middle and black at both ends. We had trouble figuring out which end was its head.

It spent its days in an empty fishbowl out on the back porch and we fed it lettuce. Then one day it was gone.

We didn’t have a cat or dog around the railroad shack I spent much of my pre-school life in but we did have a pet crow.

On his way home from the railroad section house a five-minute walk down the tracks, my father stumbled onto a nest that had fallen out of a tree. Squawking under it were five scrawny chicks.

He brought them home and, to appease his boss, gave a couple to his daughters. Those chicks died within days so dad gave them another two chicks. He kept one for me.

It grew rapidly and soon claimed its perch on our clothes line, which gained my mother’s attention immediately, because it used to crap all over her clean laundry when she pinned it to the line.

Mother would swing and swat at the bird that would hophophop down the line and back up again to avoid the broom and caw-cawcaw at her for trying to knock it off its perch. Somehow, mother managed to keep the laundry a lot cleaner than the dialogue she had with that bird.

As fall grew, the bird disappeared. We moved that winter to a larger house down the road a

piece and, when spring arrived, the only person who saw that crow again was my father.

It would fly to meet him when he got off work at 5 p.m. and then fly off in the direction of our former household. The only time I saw it again was one day when I went to meet dad as he quit work.

On another occasion during one of his regular tours to check his rabbit snares in the nearby bush, my father heard a small animal scrunching through under the brush. He chased it down and found a squirrel, It was a flying squirrel with one of its “webs” ripped. That stopped it from gliding from tree to tree on its scavenging nut hunts.

Dad brought the animal home and quickly fashioned a small house for it so it could be protected from other animals while it recuperated.

We fed it peanuts and let it out periodically to walk around the clothesline stand so it could regain its strength and get used to us and its surroundings. One day it scratched its way up the clothesline post and tried leaping out to a nearby bench but fell short. We picked it up and placed it back in its little house.

It stayed with us until late summer when it scuttled off to a nearby tree, climbed up high and launched its body to another nearby tree. It spread out its legs and the webbing on both sides of its body held up. That was the last we ever saw of it. It never came back to say good bye.

The only other “pets” I had as a kid in the country were garter snakes. They were good looking and not too big and easy for us kids to catch them. Once you got one, all you had to do was put it in your pocket and it would curl up and stay warm. We had to let them go before we got home so we wouldn’t get swatted for keeping such dangerous beasts in our pockets.

I almost had a chipmunk for a pet. I was staying with a buddy and his family at their lakefront cottage when we spotted the little critter as we were preparing to get our canoe ready for a water ride. We chased it through the brush for a good 15 minutes. I got it but didn’t want to squeeze it to hard so John pulled of his T-shirt to form a sack bag we could keep it in. As I handed it to him, the chipmunk bit into his finger, making him lose his grasp and my vision of having a chipmunk for a pet vanished in the underbrush.

Give Us This Day our Daily

Chuckle

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

Here is old age at its best

Frank and Fred, two friends, met in the park every day to feed the pigeons, watch the squirrels and discuss world problems.

One day Frank didn’t show up.

Fred didn’t think much about it and figured maybe he had a cold or something. But after Frank hadn’t shown up for a week or so, Fred really got worried. However, since the only time they ever got together was at the park, Fred didn’t know where Frank lived, so he was unable to find out what had happened to him.

A month had passed, and Fred fig-

ured he had seen the last of Frank, but one day, lo and behold!--there sat Frank! Fred was very excited and happy to see him and told him so.

Then he said, ‘For crying out loud Frank, what in the world happened to you?’

Frank replied, ‘I have been in jail.’

‘Jail!’ cried Fred. What in the world for?’

‘Well,’ Frank said, ‘you know Sue, that cute little blonde waitress at the coffee shop where I sometimes go?’

‘Yeah,’ said Fred, ‘I remember her. What about her?

‘Well, the little gold-digging witch figured I was rich and she filed rape charges against me; and, at 89 years old, I was so proud that when I got into court, I pleaded ‘guilty’.

‘The judge gave me 30 days for perjury.’

A Sensitive Husband

A man is sitting at home alone when he hears a knock on the front door. He opens it to find two sheriff’s deputies there. He asks if there is a problem.

One of the deputies asks if he is married. He says, “Yes, I am.”

The deputy then asks if he could see a picture of the man’s wife.

The guy says, “Sure,” and gets a photo to show them.

The deputy says, “I’m sorry, sir. But it looks like your wife’s been hit by a truck.”

The guy replies, “I know, but she has a great personality and is an excellent cook.”

Never Question a Drunk

A Lady Writes:

I was shopping at the local supermarket where I selected: A halfgallon of 2% milk, a carton of eggs, a quart of orange juice, a head of lettuce, a 2 lb. can of coffee and a 1 lb. Package of bacon.

As I was unloading my items on the conveyor belt to check out, a drunk standing behind me watched as I placed the items in front of the cashier.

While the cashier was ringing up the purchases, the drunk calmly stated, ‘You must be single.’

I was a bit startled by this proc-

lamation, but I was intrigued by the derelict’s intuition, since I indeed had never found Mr. Right. I looked at the six items on the belt and saw nothing particularly unusual about my selections that could have tipped off the drunk to my marital status.

Curiosity getting the better of me, I said, ‘Yes you are correct. But how on earth did you know that?

The drunk replied -- ‘Cause you’re ugly.

I Would Have Given Him 100%

Student Who Obtained 0% on an Exam

Q1. In which battle did Napoleon die?

* his last battle

Q2. Where was the Declaration of Independence signed?

* at the bottom of the page

Q3. River Ravi flows in which state?

* liquid

Q4. What is the main reason for divorce?

* marriage

Proud Senior

Thinking back on all this reminded me that all the dogs we had while I was growing up were named Happy. My mother said that made it easy to call any dog we had. She called every cat we had Minnou, which we were told means pussycat in French.

That’s what she called the cat from my early teens that had 33 toes – seven on each front paw, eight on its right rear limb and 11 on the left hind foot, which it discovered was great for digging.

It was also the name for the cat that never grew. Someone stepped on it was when it was about 10 weeks old and it just never grew anymore. It didn’t even change its “mew” from that of a 2 ½-month old kitten.

Among our more normal pets was the budgie that spat bird seed at anyone who visited its cage. Except my mother.

The bird spat bird seeds at her one day while perched on her shoulder. Mother gave it a back hand that sent it tumbling to the floor. It quivered awhile and then stopped. We all thought it was dead. Then it ruffled its feathers a bit and tottered back onto its feet so we put it back in its cage. It must have figured it came close enough to death that it never again spat birdseed my mother.

Much later, we got our kids a black Labrador retriever they named Bull. It swatted birds flat with its paw for fun. The dog would feint a rush at a bird in the yard in one direction, switch field as the bird took flight and slam it into the ground with its right paw. I never saw it try a left-paw attack. But Bull never missed with the right.

It also was the only animal we ever had that enjoyed a drive through the car wash. We just opened the car door and shouted “Car Wash” and Bull would come hurtling from wherever it was and haul into the back seat. It always laughed through the process, especially when the big heavy brushes came down and washed the hood and windows, and made it fun for us, too.

Earlier, there was the straw-colored mixed breed German Shephard dog that refused to bark. It was about eight months old when we got it from the Humane Society.

About three days after its arrival at our rural digs, a handful of hounds came galloping down

the road and our newly adopted watchdog must have decided to teach them a lesson.

It darted off the porch, flew down the driveway and just as the bark was about to clear its throat, the dog miscalculated distances and slammed its shoulder into the bumper of my car. All anyone heard was its yip.

I ran to it quickly, rubbed its shoulder and walked it around a bit to get rid of the hurt.

And it never ever barked after that.

Whenever this event is recalled at family gatherings, we get to wondering why car companies didn’t make use of more animal names.

They have used several of course —Jaguar, Beetle, Barracuda, Mustang, Pinto, Cougar, Cobra, Cricket, Colt, Stingray and Viper are a few that come to mind quickly. But they’ve missed some obvious choices, like the Elephant, with all that trunk space. The Hippo that’s roomy inside while the Lion would make you king of the road. People who give a hoot could acquire the Owl. For the soft sell, try the Kitten -- listen to it purr. And then there’s the “lively and speedy” Chipmunk.

Despite our several moves over the years, we’ve enjoyed a few memorable pets. Like Cheech and Zia, the father and daughter Siamese cats. We got the male when it was smaller than my wife’s hand and it grew up into a handsome feline, crossed blue eyes and all. It also became our watchdog. Any critter that strayed into our yard would hop away quickly when it heard Cheech growl from its windowsill perch.

One day, as visitors who had dropped by were saying their farewells and pouring out the front door, Cheech took a fullclawed swipe at one of the folks for whatever reason. The gent gave the cat a slap that sent it flying from the top of the sofa by the door to the middle of the living room floor.

The embarrassed cat licked its whiskers – AND IT’S FACE TURNED RED!!! WE ALL SAW IT.

It was then we decided the cat need a pal so we lent it out for stud for pick of the litter. Our choice was a slinky little piece

Oodles!

Looking for things to do? Places to go?

Check out Oodles every week for listing of civic and service club meetings throughout the area.

Have an event you need publicized?

Email it to: Oodles.ThePaper@gmail.com If you submit photos do not embed them. Send them as jpg, tif, or pdf attachments only.

Simple press releases are the best: who, what, where, when, why. Please no brochures or flyers. Keep it simple You’ll get more ink!

Republican Women Luncheon

The Rancho Bernardo Republican Women Federated invites all Republican women to our first of 2023 luncheon/meeting at The Heights Golf Club, 16066 Bernardo Heights Pkwy, San Diego 92128 at 11:00 - 1:45 PM on Friday, January 20th. Cost $35.00 for a 2 course lunch.We are happy to have the popular and dynamic San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones as our featured speaker. Mayor Jones will discuss her thoughts on SANDAG, Affordable Housing and Homelessness. She also hosts the podcast “The SheEO Lead in” highlighting women in leadership by exploring their professional journeys, powerful stories, success and failures. Please RSVP by January 13th, 9 PM at rbrwf.org. Please join us and to start the year on a high note enjoying a great lunch and meeting our members.

***

Escondido Chamber Leadership Luncheon

Please join us for an educational presentation and relevant conversation on Leadership on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, from noon to 1:00pm at the Greater Escondido Chamber of Commerce. Fix Auto Escondido is the event sponsor, and lunch will be provided. We are bringing together leaders from entry-level positions, middle management, and senior management levels to provide all attendees with a wealth of resources for maximum impact.

Our Guest Speaker is Richard D. Marks, author of Expect Great Things to Happen, and CEO of RDM Management Group. Richard specializes in professional development, sales, leadership training in both the public and private sector, and developing teams to achieve high performance levels.

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Widows & Widowers Events

Enjoy a social network and uplifting events with members of Widow and Widowers of North County, open to new and prospec-

tive members who have lost a spouse. Join in the fun at various get togethers including Friday, Jan. 27 dinner dance at the Vista and Oceanside Elks, Sunday, Jan. 22 brunch at the Oceanside Broiler and lunch on Tuesday, Jan. 24 at the Brigantine Restaurant in Escondido. See http://www. WidowsAndWidowersNC.com. RSVP 760-420-3775.

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Scripps Ranch Theatre Announces Lucky Stiff

A Musical by Ahrens and Flaherty, Directed by Kathy Brombacher. A co-production with Oceanside Theatre Company

January 27th - February 19th at Scripps Ranch Theatre

March 3rd - 19th at Oceanside Theatre Company

Harry receives the unexpected news that he has inherited a fortune from his late Uncle Anthony, on the condition that he takes Anthony’s dead body on a special trip to Monte Carlo. If Harry fails, the money will go to the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn. However, also hot on the tail of Uncle Anthony’s money is Rita, Anthony’s lover with whom he embezzled $6 million behind her husband’s back. And hot on Rita’s trail is her brother Vinnie, who has been blamed for the crime! With mistaken identities, love interests, disguises, farcical chases, and an omnipresent corpse, Lucky Stiff is an offbeat musical murder mystery. This life-affirming musical will keep you entertained and enthralled as the story of a dead man’s holiday is played out in front of your eyes.

The cast includes talented San Diego actors Kenny Bordieri, Beatrice Crosbie, Kelly Derouin, Bob Himlin, Cody Ingram, Ralph Johnson, Ted Leib, Bryce Nicastro, Olivia Pence, Audrey Ward and Erica Marie Weisz.

To reserve seats for Lucky Stiff you can contact Patron Services

San Marcos Traffic Alert Storm Drain Construction Activity

Storm drain construction activity is expected over the course of four nights, beginning on Tuesday, Jan. 17 through Friday, Jan. 20 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Impacts include:

• Twin Oaks Valley Road: South bound and north bound travel will be reduced to one lane between North City Drive and East Barham Road. Access to East Barham Road will only be available for northbound drivers.

• East Barham Road: A full closure from June Way to Twin Oaks Valley Road will be in effect. Detours will be in place.

Residents can expect typical construction noise and lights, and drivers can expect slight delays in traffic and flaggers will be present to guide those traveling throughout the area. We encourage drivers to utilize alternative routes during the construction activity.

For additional information, please contact Hazen Alkire, construction manager, City of San Marcos at halkire@san-marcos.net. ***

Serious Injury Traffic Collison, Faraday Ave. at College Blvd.

CARSLBAD-Calif. – On January 12, 2023, at 5:54 p.m. the City of Carlsbad Police Department was

called to the intersection of Faraday Avenue and College Boulevard due to a traffic collision, involving a vehicle and a pedestrian.

On arrival, officers found a 58 year old male pedestrian injured near the intersection of Faraday Avenue and College Boulevard. The injured pedestrian was alert and communicating with officers and fire personnel at the scene. Per witnesses, the pedestrian was reportedly pushing a bicycle in the crosswalk when he was struck by a Lexus sports utility vehicle.

The driver of the Lexus, a 59 year old female, remained at the scene and was cooperating with investigators.

Man About Town

TO SHAVE OR NOT TO SHAVE. THAT IS THE QUESTION.

After one month of doing battle within the medical community including Covid-19, a Battle Royale with Shingles -- one of the most painful maladies to ever hit mankind (I’ve screamed like I’ve never screamed before for 3 nights in a row), being in and out of urgent care centers, emergency rooms, and hospitals, and even spendingChristmas eve and Christmas

The identity of the injured pedestrian is being withheld at this time.

The cause of the collision has yet to be determined. Drugs or Alcohol are not considered to be a factor in the collision. The intersection of Faraday Avenue and College Boulevard will be closed for several hours so investigators can process the scene of the collision.

The Carlsbad Police Department is seeking additional witnesses to the collision.

For more information: Accident Investigator, Officer Adam Bentley, 442-339-5559 or adam.bentley@ carlsbadca.gov ***

Pedestrian Killed in Crash

On January 14, 2023 at 5:22 p.m., police received reports of a pickup truck vs. pedestrian accident at the intersection of Broadway and Washington Avenue. Officers arrived within minutes and per-

day in the hospital . . . well, suffice to say I was not able to shave in that period of time so I developed a rather aggressive growth on the chinny-chin-chin.

The question then became: Should I shave it or off, or do I leave it on? A number of people told me it was attractive and looked good on my face but I wasn’t really happy with it. This past Wednesday I went to the Southern California College of Barber and Beauty in downtown Escondido and decided to have all whiskerse whacked. Upon entry into the emporium of hairstyle learning I immediately made an executive decision to not let one student come anywhere near me. He was an impressive enough looking lad, but he had the poor judgement to dye his hair green and I didn’t want anybody touching me who had exercised such poor judgement.

I was lucky enough to have a very nice young man by the name of

formed CPR on the unidentified female. However, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The pickup truck driver remained on scene and cooperated with investigators. Alcohol and/or drugs are not believed to be a factor in the crash.

Anyone with information is asked to call traffic investigator Officer Paul Smyth at (760) 839-4423. ***

Local News Letters to the Editor

Humane Society Experiencing Canine Distemper

All San Diego Humane Society campuses (including San Diego, El Cajon, Escondido and Oceanside locations), which are currently at capacity, are not scheduling appointments for owner relinquished animals until Feb. 1, except in cases of emergency.

They are currently experiencing incidents of canine distemper virus, a canine respiratory disease, in their shelters. In accordance with appropriate disease management practices, they have quarantined all animals who have either tested positive or been exposed to the virus, and are temporarily limiting dog intake to stray animals.

The Humane Society has a wide range of tools and resources available that can help you hold onto your pet a little longer or rehome them directly to an adopter.

For more information visit: https:// www.sdhumane.org/services/giveup-a-pet/

Juan, who was selected to shave my face. Big change. Last time I had a shave at the Barber & Beauty college it was $5. The price has now doubled: it is now $10. And it takes over an hour. As an added filip, if anyone can screw up a simple face shave, it’s the state of California. It used to be that your jovial barber would put hot towels on your face then apply enormous amounts of hot shaving soap. He would then use long smooth strokes to remove any unwanted whiskers. That was a pleasant experience, but, no, the state of California had made the decision that soap is no longer allowed, so now the barber has to apply oil. Oil! And then the barber unceremoniously removes your whiskers. one is the beauty, the romance!

But life moves on. And I am clean shaven once again. Incredibly handsome. I can barely resist when passing a mirror to pause, look at my reflection, and swoon.

Is Mr. Friedrich Gomez still writing for The Paper? Several issues now and his byline is missing. Have seen your “For Sale” ads announcing that The Paper is on the block for being sold. Is this any reason Mr. Gomez hasn’t written a cover story since late Nov. 2022 or has he moved on to another newspaper? This is not a trivial question as he has a wide following and we’re naturally curious.

In addition, I work at a very large corporation where several employees in our breakroom had good intentions to start several subscriptions to The Paper, but that notion has now been scratched as their favorite writer seems out of the equation.

Would appreciate your response in Letters to the Editor as there are countless others who haven’t taken the time to ask this question but would like to know an answer.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Mr. Terry Kenneth Galloway, Sr. North Coastal & Inland San Diego County

Hi Mr. Galloway:

Thanks your for your letter and thank you for being a loyal reader of The Paper.

Friedrich Gomez, like most of us, needs to rest from time to time. He is a prolific writer, but he needs time to refresh himself. You will be pleased to know that we have a new story scheduled from Mr. Gomez this month.

Thanks so much for your interest.

Best, Lyle ***

Hi lyle:

Was Dec 29 the final issue? Can’t find a Jan 5 copy at my pickup point. Good luck.

Ray C.

Q5. What is the main reason for failure?

* exams

Q6. What can you never eat for breakfast?

* Lunch & dinner

Q7. What looks like half an apple?

* The other half

Q8. If you throw a red stone into the blue sea what will it become?

* It will simply become wet

Q9. How can a man go eight days without sleeping ?

* No problem, he sleeps at night.

Q10. How can you lift an elephant with one hand?

* You will never find an elephant that has only one hand.

Q11. If you had three apples and four oranges in one hand and four apples and three oranges in other hand, what would you have?

* Very large hands

Q12. If it took eight men ten hours to build a wall, how long would it take four men to build it?

* No time at all, the wall is already built.

Q13. How can u drop a raw egg onto a concrete floor without cracking it?

*Any way you want, concrete floors are very hard to crack.

The Polish Divorce

A Polish man moved to the USA and married an American girl. Although his English was far from perfect, they got along very well. One day he rushed into a lawyer’s office and asked him if he could arrange a divorce for him.

The lawyer said that getting a divorce would depend on the circumstances, and asked him the following questions:

Have you any grounds?

Yes, an acre and half and nice little home.

No, I mean what is the foundation of this case?

It made of concrete.

I don’t think you understand.

Does either of you have a real grudge?

No, we have carport, and not need one.

I mean what are your relations like?

All my relations still in Poland.

Is there any infidelity in your marriage?

We have hi-fidelity stereo and good DVD player.

Does your wife beat you up?

No, I always up before her.

Why do you want this divorce?

She going to kill me.

What makes you think that?

I got proof.

What kind of proof?

She going to poison me. She buy a bottle at drugstore and put on shelf in bathroom.

I can read English pretty good, and it say: Polish Remover.

Nervous from

of silky fur that we named Zia. They became fast friends and we immediately had two watch cats. Animals that came trotting down the street would cross to the other side when they saw our two beasties in their perches.

This pair should have been around when we acquired a pair of Burmese casts my sister gave us as a housewarming gift. One was a dark chocolate and the other was more chocolate milkshake. Both were handsome and athletic. They could jump straight up onto our shoulder from the floor without having to dig in their claws to remain aloft.

But they weren’t too smart. We named one Ding and the other Bat. They enjoyed romping out in the yard but began taking leaps out into the open space behind our home in Santee, a San Diego suburb.

First one disappeared. And a few days later, so did the other. Coyotes got them.

Which brings to mind the coyote our kids nursed back to health at our Baja beachfront home.

It was a youngster when it limped onto our property. Its right front paw was distended and distorted. It looked like it might have been mashed by a car.

The boys set out a dish of water and it limped up to it and drank for several minutes. Then it stood there on all threes and just looked at them. They walked over to it and, as one held it, the other examined the injured limb. And they became friends.

We took the adoptee with us back to Santee. It was always quiet and always had that coyote stare. It stayed in the garage at night, roamed the yard during the day and enjoyed heading back down to our Baja site a couple of dozen miles below Tijuana. But it never looked or behaved like it was part of the family.

After much discussion, we decided it would be better to take it back to where it came from. So the lads walked it across the highway one a summer afternoon, took it off the leash, and walked away. It didn’t follow them or ever show up at our beach house again. It just stared at them as they walked away. And we never saw each other again. It was just as well because we never gave it a name either.

We also had a betta – a fighting fish -- in a bowl on the mantel for a couple of years. They sorta grow on you, even though they don’t make any noise, can’t be petted and don’t jump onto your lap. But it was always there, nosing itself quietly in and out of the roots of the plant that kept its water livable. As the months passed, it seemed to develop an awareness that we were part of its world and would occasionally come to our side of the glass to say hello.

We called it Sushi and it didn’t seem to mind.

At this stage of life, our only pets are plants – succulents that take the heat and very little watering to survive. They don’t have any names yet because we haven’t had them long enough but we talk to them regularly to let them know we know they’re alive.

San Diego Humane Society Offers Resources to Re-Home Your Pet

Facing the decision to give up your pet can be devastating and we know it’s not easy. Sometimes there are circumstances that may prevent you from being able to keep your pet, and San Diego Humane Society is here to help.

Consider using the free websites Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet (cats and dogs only) or Home To Home (all species) to find a new home for your pet yourself, rather than taking them to a shelter.

If you’re interested in keeping your pet, you’ll find alternatives and resources on the Humane Society’s website (listed at the end of this article) that can help you address medical, behavioral and other concerns.

Society campuses (including San Diego, El Cajon, Escondido and Oceanside locations), are not scheduling appointments for owner relinquished animals until Feb. 1, except in cases of emergency.

If you need to bring your pet to San Diego Humane Society, please call 619-299-7012 to make a preadmission phone appointment so they can provide you with instructions on how to give up your pet safely.

Due to the unique housing and husbandry needs of livestock, San Diego Humane Society is only able to admit a limited number of livestock at any given time. For owners seeking to surrender livestock, we recommend first exploring rehoming resources and rescue partners.

Have questions about giving up a pet? Email rehome@sdhumane. org for assistance.

Give up your pet without taking them to a shelter

Tips for Rehoming Your Pet

• Don’t rush! Take time to find your furry friend the best new home.

• Increase your pet’s adoptability by having them spayed/neutered, groomed and vaccinated.

• Tell your friends, family, coworkers and social networks that your pet is looking for a new home. The more people who know you need help, the better your chances of finding your pet a new family.

• No one knows your pet better than you do! While interviewing potential adopters, be sure to share your expectations for your pet’s new home and be sure to ask questions to identify a home that will be a good fit for your pet.

• Create a listing for your pet on the following websites, which specialize in connecting pets who need a good home with families looking to adopt!

• Rehome.adoptapet.com

• Home-Home.org

• Getyourpet.com

Rehoming platforms connect people looking to rehome their pets with

Currently All San Diego Humane

California’s

Budget ~ The Debate Begins

Last week, the Governor introduced his proposed budget for the coming Fiscal Year. The final budget must be approved by the Legislature no later than June 15th, and must be signed into law by June 30th. The new 2023-2024 Fiscal Year begins July 1st.

Budget bright spots include funding for mental health services, including preventing cuts for service providers for the Developmentally Disabled. The budget increases safety net services for individuals like those with autism spectrum disorders and continues funding for foster youth services through the state’s Regional Centers.

In an improvement over past budgets, most multiyear wildfire funding commitments continue, including programs to reduce the risk of wildfires and provide additional fire protection and response resources. The budget also invests in flood preparedness and response to reduce the risks of urban flooding, reinforce levees and protect the Central Valley.

The Encampment Resolution Grant Program which partners with local jurisdictions to help them clean up homeless camps and transition individuals into housing is also funded. The new Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE)

Courts program, which allows courts to order persons into treatment, when necessary, along with programs for mental health facility construction/expansion are funded, though amounts are inadequate to address current needs.

The budget projects a deficit of $22.5 billion and operating deficits through Fiscal Years 20262027. Tapping the budget reserve of $35.6 billion will be avoided through temporary funding delays or fund shifts, but the budget contains no real long-term solutions for our fiscal problems.

We can do better. The Governor’s proposed budget is just a proposal and discussions will now begin. I will be seeking commonsense solutions for long festering problems that have tarnished California’s reputation and forced thousands to pack up and leave. Getting our fiscal house in order is a must if we’re going to make California the Golden State once again.

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.

Jack’s Pond Nature Center Grand Reopening

until 4:30 p.m. All are invited to explore the ten reimagined rooms with hands-on nature study areas, live animals and more.

Jack’s Pond Nature Center promotes understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of nature by using the Jack’s Pond Nature Park and Trail for hands-on, educational programs. The City would like to thank the Friends of San Marcos nonprofit organization for their continued support and generous funding to improve our beloved community spaces.

The City of San Marcos is thrilled to welcome the community to one of its family-favorite destinations, Jack’s Pond Nature Center, for a grand reopening event on Wednesday, Jan. 18. Join San Marcos Mayor and councilmembers for the ribbon cutting at 3:30 and then stay after for Pop Up Rec activities

The Center offers a welcoming space for everyone to enjoy nature and learn San Marcos’ environment. With a 23-acre park, picnic area and playground, you’ll be surrounded by native flora and fauna. To learn more about Jack’s Pond Nature Center, visit the www.sanmarcos.net.

Sexually Violent Predators and Homeschooling

Over the past year, I’ve been working to stop the placement of Sexually Violent Predators (SVPs). While we’ve been successful at stopping most from being placed in our communities, the State continues to try and dump more SVPs in San Diego County.

There are certain stipulations when it comes to the proposed placements of SVPs. Currently, SVPs are not allowed to be placed near public or private schools but can be placed near a homeschool. I believe homeschools should be treated exactly the same as other schools not be forced to have an SVP live next door.

At our upcoming Board meeting, I have put forth legislation along with Supervisor Anderson to oppose any proposed placement of a sexually violent predator near a public or private school, including homeschool sites.

5th District Supervisor Jim Desmond Problem

This is incredibly important, especially with the pending placement decision of Douglas Badger in Borrego Springs. Terrie Kellmeyer lives right across the street from this proposed placement. Terrie has three kids including two who are deaf and homeschooled.

I’m hopeful that my colleagues will support this legislation and that we can continue to find ways to stop these SVP’s from being placed in San Diego County.

As a reminder, to be classified by the state as a sexually violent predator a person has to have been convicted of a violent sex crime against at least one victim and be diagnosed with a condition that makes that person likely to re-offend. These are the worst of the worst and they should be allowed back in our community.

Solved

by Christopher Elliott

My Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Refunded My Vacation Rental, and Then it Didn’t

When Warren Yue cancels a vacation rental for a church retreat before the pandemic, he initially gets a refund from his Chase Sapphire Reserve card. But then it backtracks, deducting half his money. What gives?

Q: I paid for a vacation rental in Oceanside, Calif., for our church fellowship group before the pandemic. I used my Chase Sapphire Reserve card, which has travel insurance.

We had to cancel the trip because of COVID. The vacation rental management company offered a full refund but then changed its offer to a credit. I wanted my money back because we were unlikely to take the trip. I disputed the charge on my Chase Sapphire Reserve card and received a full refund. Now, Chase has taken half my refund back ($1,370). Chase says it has no choice because the merchant has sued it.

I told Chase the merchant kept changing its policy. First, it said my stay was 100 percent refundable. Then it only offered a credit. And then it was 50 percent refundable after 30 days. I am the victim since I did not choose to cancel. I

was complying with a government order. Chase has been making big bucks for not paying the cardholder, which I think is unethical. Can you help?

~ Warren Yue, Monterey Park, Calif.

A: Your vacation rental manager should have refunded every last penny, as promised. But there’s a little more to your case.

First, you mention that Chase offers travel insurance coverage on its Sapphire Reserve card. Yes, it does. But you didn’t file a claim on your benefits. Instead, you filed a credit card dispute to get your refund. And Chase sided with you -- at least initially.

Understanding the difference between a credit card dispute and an insurance claim is essential. The latter should happen any time you have to cancel a trip. The former is the last resort when the merchant refuses to deliver a promised refund.

Chase told you that the merchant sued it and then reversed its de-

A Word from San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones

Travel Troubleshooter

by Christopher Elliott

Kimberli Eicher and her daughter just experienced the worst Amtrak train ride imaginable. It was so bad that they canceled their return trip and flew home. Do they deserve a refund?

Q: I took my seven-year-old daughter on our first Amtrak trip, from Chemult, Ore., to Oklahoma City to visit her cousins this summer.

The trip was a nightmare. Amtrak delayed our first train by seven hours. It failed to provide all the meals on our 26-hour trip. I had paid for a sleeper, but Amtrak seated us in the wrong section of the train. An employee yelled at me for “taking his seat” on a coach train where there were no assigned seats.

I canceled our return trip and paid almost $1,000 for airfare to get home. The airfare wiped out my savings.

When I canceled our Amtrak return trip and explained why, a representative assured me that I’d receive a “full refund for my purchase.” That promise was six weeks ago, and now they’re saying I’m not eligible for a refund.

In my view, I purchased services that were never delivered (i.e., meals and bedroom accommodations for three days), and as a result of Amtrak not providing the services promised with my purchase, they forced me to have to spend money I don’t really have in order to transport my daughter and myself back home.

~ Kimberli Eicher, Bend, Ore.

A: I’m sorry you had such a difficult trip to Oklahoma. Amtrak

Letters from page 4

Hi Ray,

Thanks for your email but if you’re going to report the absence of papers at your favorite delivery spot it helps us if you give us the address. That way we can stock more papers at that particular location.

In the mean time you can get current and past issues of the The Paper at not cost from the Computer Factory in San Marcos

should have done better -- no delays, putting you in the right section of the train and treating you with dignity.

None of these issues rises to the level of qualifying for a refund. Amtrak doesn’t provide refunds for late trains. It does refund part of your ticket for an involuntary downgrade. But it does not offer your money back because of rude employees.

But taken together, these complaints add up. You also furnished me with a detailed trip report that you sent to your bank when you disputed the charges for your train fare. You were not exaggerating when you called it a traumatic nightmare. I would have fought for a refund, too.

Technically, Amtrak was entitled to keep your money. After all, it had provided you with transportation from Oregon to Oklahoma. But a representative had already agreed to refund half your fare, so it’s reasonable to expect Amtrak to do what it promised. Instead, Amtrak reneged and insisted on keeping your money.

As I already mentioned, you filed a credit card dispute to recover your money after Amtrak told you it would not refund your ticket. You can file a chargeback for a service that you paid for but did not receive, so I think you had a case. You contacted me before the dispute was resolved, asking me to intervene.

I think you may have missed a step. When a company says “no” you can always appeal to an executive. I list the names, numbers and email addresses of the Amtrak executives on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org. I would have tried that before disputing your charges.

I reached out to Amtrak for you. A representative reviewed your file and agreed that your trip did not go as it should have. Amtrak refunded your ticket and offered you a credit for a make-good trip -- just in case you want to try Amtrak again.

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.

Historically

The earlier “Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo,” which ended the Mexican-American War, contained a guarantee the United States would protect Mexicans from cross-border raids by Comanche and Apache Native American tribes.

Speaking

by Tom Morrow

The Controversial ‘Gadsden Purchase’

Imagine the Mexican cities of Mexicali, Juarez, Tijuana, Tecate, Ensenada, La Paz, and Cabo San Lucas all being part of the U.S. The northern Mexican states along with the peninsula of Baja California nearly became part of the United States.

The 1854 “Gadsden Purchase” was a 29,670-squaremile region of present-day southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. The proposal was made to Mexican President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna by James Gadsden, U.S. ambassador to Mexico. Gadsden’s original proposal included the entire Baja California peninsula. The U.S. wanted the entire chunk of Mexican territory to build a railroad between El Paso and San Diego.

The financially strapped Mexicans finally agreed to a partial sale which amounted to $10 million (equivalent to approximately $300 million in present-day dollars). Santa Anna thought it was better to yield territory by treaty and receive payment rather than have the territory simply seized by the U.S. Army which happened as a result of the 1848 War with Mexico.

Ambassador Gadsden and business-oriented U.S. southerners knew a railroad linking the South with the Pacific Coast would expand trade opportunities. However, the southern portion of the then-existing U.S. border was too mountainous for a direct route.

President Franklin Pierce, strongly influenced by Secretary of War Jefferson Davis, a southerner, saw an opportunity to acquire significant territory of northern Mexico, but there was a fierce Congressional debate whether any new territory would be slave or free.

President Pierce appointed Ambassador Gadsden to Mexico with specific instructions to negotiate the acquisition of additional territory. Mexico was going through political and financial turmoil and President Santa Anna was willing to deal with the United States because he needed money to rebuild his army for defense against (who else) the Americanos.

As originally envisioned, the Gadsden Purchase would have encompassed a much larger region, extending far enough south to include most of the current Mexican states of Baja California Norte, Baja California Sur (south), the northern border states of Coahuila, Chihuahua, Sonora, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas. But, Mexico opposed Gadsden’s proposed boundaries, as did northern anti-slavery U.S. Senators who saw the purchase as acquisition of more slave territory.

Santa Anna rejected the extension of the border and insisted on reparations for the damages caused by American Indian raids but agreed to let an international tribunal resolve this problem. President Pierce finally authorized Gadsden to purchase any of six proposed parcels.

Ironically, the amount of $15 million was the price President Thomas Jefferson has paid France for the “Louisiana Purchase” a half-century earlier. Gadsden’s orders were to buy the 38,000 square miles of desert necessary for the railroad plans. However, his “antagonistic manner” alienated Santa Anna, who balked at any large-scale sale of territory. The Mexican President felt threatened by U.S. Army renegade William Walker’s bold attempt to capture Baja California and annex the northern state of Sonora – all with only 50 troopers.

Ambassador Gadsden disavowed any U.S. government backing of Walker, who ended up being cashiered by the Army and placed on trial as a criminal.

Even the sale of a relatively small strip of land angered the Mexican people, who saw Santa Anna’s actions as a betrayal of their country. They watched in dismay as he squandered the funds generated by

After a “Traumatic Nightmare” on Amtrak, Can I get My Money Back?

SDG&E Offers Cost-Saving Resources

With the cost of natural gas doubling in price, it might be less expensive to use electricity, and the obvious choice for people with solar.

SDG&E predicts that winter bills could soar due to extraordinary market conditions nationally. Their website offers customers no-cost and low-cost bill-saving and energy resources.

3 Ways to Cut Your Natural Gas Winter Heating Bill

Control Humidity:

Dry winter air pulls moisture from your skin, making you feel colder. Instead of reaching for the thermostat, use a humidifier to keep your home humidity between 30 and 50%. You’ll feel warmer with some humidity in the air.

Heat Efficiently:

You can save as much as 10% per year on heating and cooling by turning your thermostat down 7-10 °F for 8 hours a day in the fall and winter.

Use Space Heaters:

Make sure your space heater has a tip-over safety switch, is operated on a hard-level surface, and is turned off when you leave the

room. Don’t use the heater to dry clothes, and plug the heater directly into the wall to avoid overloading an extension cord.

Energy-Saving Tips for Your Home

Upgrade Your Lighting:

The sun sets earlier in the winter, prompting you to use more lighting. Along with LED light bulbs, use ENERGY STAR light fixtures, which use less energy.

Keep Your Furnace Clean: Check furnace filters once a month and replace them regularly. A dirty air filter can increase your energy costs and cause problems with your equipment.

Power Off: Turn off lights, computers, TVs and other electronic devices when not in use. Use a smart power strip to make powering off even easier.

Don’t Get Burned by Hot Water: Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120°F, if possible. You’ll save energy and avoid scalding your hands.

SDG&E continued on page 15

Spring Break ~ What to Expect & How to Have a Smooth Trip

Ready for spring break? So is everyone else.

And that’s the problem.

“My phone is ringing off the hook,” says Shane Mahoney, CEO of Lugo’s Travel. “There’s such a pent-up demand for travel and people can finally travel wherever they want without restrictions.”

Experts predict this spring break -typically from late February to the end of March -- will be busier than last year’s and maybe busier than 2019. But this won’t be your typical travel season. Not even close.

The holiday air travel meltdowns and this week’s FAA computer outages have cast a long shadow across the spring break travel season. And there are other uncertainties: inflation, a soft economy, and wars. Travelers are not sure what to do.

So what does that mean? Well, there are places everyone wants to go, which you might consider avoiding this spring break. And there are mistakes travelers will make, but you can avoid these, too.

Where’s everyone going this spring break?

When it comes to popular destinations, think warm. Many travelers want to head south to catch a few rays -- and maybe waves. Here are Priceline’s most popular domestic destinations, along with the percent increase in bookings from last year, for dramatic effect:

St. Thomas, Virgin Islands (+299%)

Kailua Kona, Hawaii (+235%) Sacramento, California (+173%)

Gulf Shores, Alabama (+152%)

San Diego, California (135%) Colorado Springs, Colorado (+120%)

Galveston, Texas (+112%) Phoenix, Arizona (+112%)

But this year, for the first time since 2019, Americans are also considering traveling internationally for spring break.

“The strength of the dollar, coupled with lifted or lessened COVID restrictions, is leading to an uptick in searches for international travel destinations throughout Europe and even Asia,” says Priceline spokeswoman Christina Bennett. “So while inflation is driving up costs overall, your dollars are going further with current conversion rates.”

Travel insurance company World Nomads reports that for the 2023 spring break season, 42% of its U.S. sales are for European destinations, 15% for South America and 14% for Asia. The rest are domestic trips.

“Travelers are seeing 2023 as the year to take the big trips they had postponed due to COVID-19 and border restrictions,” says Christina Tunnah, general manager of marketing and brands for World Nomads.

What are some spring break travel trends?

The new travel trends driving travel spring break 2023 focus on outdoor activities, fuel efficiency and predictability, according to experts.

Spring camping

The Dyrt’s 2022 Camping Report, which surveyed thousands of campers and members of the general public, found that spring is one of the fastest-growing camping seasons. “Spring camping is up 27 percent from pre-pandemic levels,” says Sarah Smith, founder of the camping information app. “Spring break can be an excellent time to snag more competitive campsites before the summer season gets into full swing.” But she says don’t wait too long to book, or you might not find a site for your RV or tent.

Closecations

Booking patterns for spring break suggest Americans prefer a “closecation” -- traveling to a region within three to four hours’ driving distance from home. A softer economy is driving this trend, according to Noël Russel, chief experience officer for Whimstay, a vacation rental platform. “These closecations will be an increasing trend for travelers who want to experience the joy of a vacation while staying within their budget and maintaining more control over their experiences,” she says.

Return to “normal”

Christopher Falvey, co-founder

of Unique NOLA Tours, a ghost tour company in New Orleans, has been analyzing the bookings for spring break. His conclusion: It’s looking a lot like 2019. “Our seasonal ebb and flow has come back to normal,” he says. “Finally, predictability!” But that means all the travel tricks you learned during the pandemic, like waiting until the last minute to find a deal, will no longer work.

Expert advice for your spring break trip

What’s different about this spring break? Experts say this year, everyone is pushing the boundaries a little. They’re waiting until the last minute, trying to squeeze more time into their vacation and taking more risks. Here’s my free guide to holiday travel.

Don’t wait until the last minute

“Book early,” advises Melanie Fish, a travel expert at Expedia. “Lastminute deals are becoming exceedingly rare.” When is the best time to book? At least a month before domestic flights and six months before international flights will save you about 10%, according to Expedia’s latest research. To find out if it’s a good time to buy, Hudson recommends setting up a fare alert online. Expedia uses machine learning to identify patterns in historical data and forecast price changes.

Spring Break continued on page 13

Pet of the Week

Peanut is pet of the week at your Rancho Coastal Humane Society. She’s a 3-1/2-year-old, 10-pound, female, Domestic Short Hair cat with a Torbie (Tortoiseshell/Tabby) coat.

Peanut’s owner gave her up when she could no longer afford to care for her and her five kittens. The kittens have been adopted. Now this mommy is ready to start her new life.

The $100 adoption fee for Peanut includes medical exam, spay, up to date vaccinations, and registered microchip.

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

call 760-753-6413, or log on to www.SDpets.org.

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

Meet

Sprinkles!

Lovely three-year-old Sprinkles is the epitome of a “Good Girl!” She can be a bit shy when first meeting new people, but has warmed up to her caregivers and can’t wait to make some new friends. Sprinkles is one smart cookie, and needs a home that can provide her with enrichment to stimulate her mind and body.

If you’re looking for a sweet soul to share your life with, come adopt Sprinkles at the Escondido Campus at 3500 Burnet Drive! If you have questions about the adoption process, you can visit sdhumane.org/adopt.

Sprinkles’ online profile: https://www.sdhumane.org/adopt/available-pets/animal-single.html?petId=771674

Pet Parade

Peanut

The Computer Factory

845 W. San Marcos Blvd. 760-744-4315

thecomputerfactory.net

The Times They Are A-Changin

Bob Dylan wrote and recorded it in 1964. Everyone from Peter, Paul and Mary (1964) to Flogging Molly (2012) recorded Dylan’s iconic rant and today it serves as the theme for our next series of columns.

As a Senior Manufacturing Engineer with Systems Engineering Laboratories (SEL) in 1970, my annual salary was $12,000. The dollar in 2023 has the same buying power as 12.5 cents did in 1970. Another way of putting it is that it takes $8 today to purchase what one dollar could in 1970. That correlates well with my 1970 salary level. According to Salary.com, a

Senior Manufacturing Engineer today can expect an annual salary of $97,000, almost exactly eight times my 1970 salary. For those of us old enough to remember the 1970s, this is not at all surprising. In 1970 an evening at the movies cost $1.50, gasoline was 36 cents a gallon, eggs sixty cents a dozen, bacon 95 cents a pound, bread 24 cents a loaf and a ten pound sack of potatoes was 90 cents.

A lot of things were a different in the 1970. Color TV was just getting affordable, there were no cell phones or personal computers and the ARPA net, forerunner of the Internet, was in early development. In 1970 America’s five most profitable corporations were General Motors, Exxon Mobile, Ford, GE and IBM. These companies employed hundreds of thousands of Americans to process, manufacture and distribute their American products.

This year’s list of America’s five most profitable companies is quite different. Apple tops the list followed by Microsoft, Google (Alphabet), JP Morgan Chase and the only holdover from 1970’s top five, Exxon Mobil. The different business models of these leading companies from different eras are striking. In 1970 the top five companies made and marketed products in America. Today only Exxon Mobile sells tangible products manufactured or processed in the USA. Apple sells computing and communication equipment made in China. Microsoft profits mostly from the sale of operating systems, computer applications

and service. Microsoft’s hardware products, the Xbox and Surface, are manufactured in China. Google (Alphabet) provides cloud services. JP Morgan provides financial services.

The pattern here is clear. The USA economy has changed from one based on the production of manufactured goods to one based on providing services. Nearly all of 1970’s top ten employers were manufacturers of durable goods. Of the top ten American employers in 2022, none are engaged in manufacturing. They engage in distribution, retail sales or services. The two largest non-government employers in the world are based in the USA. They are WalMart (2.3 million employees) and Amazon (1.6 million employees) the remaining eight are Home Depot, Fed Ex, Target, Kroger, UPS, Starbucks, Berkshire Hathaway and United Health Group. None manufacture products.

In the last 50 years Corporations in the developed nations of North America and Europe facing high labor costs and ever increasing safety and environmental regulations began to move their industrial production to countries where labor was cheap and worker safety and environmental controls were non-existent, mainly China. While these efforts led to local improvements in air and water quality and worker safety in developed Western nations, the World- wide impact on the environment has been negative. Moving industry from nations with environmental regulations to nations without has had the predictable consequence of hastening the degradation of our planets biosphere while elevating China to a World power.

Next week we discuss the impact of the Internet and technology on America’s culture and our day to day lives.

John Van Zante’s Critter Corner

Be A Frog

in a store window. Then they got home and realized what a mistake it was. Before you get a pet, have a plan.

Three frogs are sitting on a log. One of them decides to jump off. How many frogs are left? There are still three. The frog decided to jump…but he hasn’t done anything.

If 2023 is your year to begin help animals, don’t be afraid to jump. Get your new pet from a shelter or rescue. How does this help? You’re saving a life instead of supporting the puppy mills and backyard breeders.

We all know someone who bought a puppy or kitten they saw

Volunteer. There are more opportunities than excuses. Allergic to cats (like me)? Work with dogs. Allergic to dogs? Work with cats. Allergic to dogs and cats? Help with a Humane Education program, a pet food bank, or in the office. If you can dial a phone, you can call a donor to say thank you.

Open your wallet. We’re not asking for your life savings. You can sponsor a pet or buy a ticket to a fundraiser. “Fundraising” is not a dirty word. Dollars buy dog food. Hold a pet food drive. Kids can ask guests at their birthday parties or Bar Mitzvahs to bring pet food instead of presents. Church groups and civic organizations

ask members to bring food. Scout troops hold pet food drives.

One of my favorite examples ever is from ten years ago when Kaden Rutherford of Carlsbad visited a shelter and saw the dogs lying on the floor. That was the beginning of “Project Kennel Komfort.” With his mother’s help, Kaden collected 3,500 blankets and 3,000 towels then delivered them to animal shelters. Kaden was 12 years old when he started this.

This kid who made a difference is now a young man who continues to help others. I still talk to his mom once in a while. We’re both still so proud of him.

Be a Kaden. Don’t be afraid to jump.

Rehoming from page 5

interested adopters. The pets featured are not animals at San Diego Humane Society and require direct communication with their caregivers through the platform itself.

It is the responsibility of the individuals who express interest in a particular pet listed on these pages to obtain and verify information about the pet’s medical, behavior and bite history. The information on the pet has been provided by their caregiver. San Diego Humane Society does not verify the accuracy of the information provided.

Please, never abandon your pet!

Whether it’s a behavior problem, a housing issue or another kind of crisis, many pet-related problems are solvable and the San Diego Humane Society is there to help you find solutions that allow you to keep your pet.

For additional resources call 619299-7012 or visit: https://www.sdhumane.org/services/give-up-a-pet/

Jim Desmond Outlines Second Term Priorities

Tribes have proven to be good neighbors and their commercial endeavors are an economic engine to our region. Collectively, they have created more than 10,000 jobs, resulting in a $1 billion industry.

I’ve officially begun my second term on the County Board of Supervisors. For the ceremony, I was able to choose who I wanted to swear me into office and I was honored to have Bo Mazzetti, Chairman of The Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians. One of the most rewarding and meaningful parts of being a Supervisor over the last four years has been getting to work with our tribal governments.

With 18 Tribal Governments, our County is home to the most Tribes of any County in the nation. These

After the swearing-in ceremony, Chairman Mazzetti presented me with an eagle feather, which is an incredible gift. In the Native American culture, eagle feathers are given as a mark of honor. I’m so grateful for this gift and have it displayed proudly in my office.

While we’ve accomplished a lot in the past four years, we know there is more work to be done. Here are some of my top priorities that I will be focused on for my second term in office.

1. Safety: I will do everything I can to protect North County. We are going to make sure our law enforcement officials are funded and have the resources and tools they need. My office will continue to work to stop the placement of Sexually Violent Predators in our region.

Stop California Politicians from Imposing a New Mileage Tax

California politicians have imposed the highest gas tax and car tax in the nation on drivers, and now they want to impose a new mileage tax to charge us per mile we drive to get more of our money.

The California Mileage Tax proposal would require tracking every driver’s mileage and charging them four cents per mile they drive. That is the equivalent of an 80-cent-per-gallon hike in the gas tax.

The typical California driver will be forced to pay $600-800 a year in higher taxes just to drive on poorly maintained freeways they already paid for with the original gas and sales taxes. When you add the new mileage tax to the existing gas tax and car tax, the typical two-car family will end up paying more than $3000 in taxes a year for just the privilege of driving in California – not including the cost of the car itself.

The Mileage Tax is also an invasion of our privacy – as it would include a tracking requirement that is still being determined by government bureaucrats. Proposed tracking methods include using transponders installed on every car to use of tracking Apps to be installed on cell phones of every

driver to simply requiring individuals get their odometer readings inspected annually.

Reform California is leading the campaign to block the California Mileage Tax.

The first battle in blocking the tax statewide is to oppose the pilot phase of the Mileage Tax that is being conducted in San Diego County. The goal is to generate a massive rebellion of taxpayers and drivers to punish any politician that backs the imposition of the Mileage Tax – even as a pilot project.

If we create a public uproar during the pilot phase, California politicians will likely back down from imposing the tax statewide.

At the same time as we are fighting the pilot phase, we are organizing a grassroots rebellion statewide to oppose the Mileage Tax. We plan to make the Mileage Tax a key issue in every close race for local and state office in the upcoming election.

You can sign the petition at StopTheMileageTax.org.

For more information about Reform California, visit https://reformcalifornia.org/

2. Homelessness/Mental Health: It’s simply inhumane to allow people to live on the street. As a society – we can do better. We need to be able to help those people who can’t help themselves. I’m going to do everything I can to find solutions for homelessness so that we get people into treatment and make our streets safe and clean.

3. Roads/Freeways/Infrastructure: It is time for SANDAG to come back to the table with a regional transportation plan that is beneficial for everyone in San Diego County. Their top priority must be the SR-78 HOV lanes and an interchange at the I-5. And, they should not tax people out of their vehicles by charging them for every mile they drive.

4. Housing: We need to make housing more affordable, especially for our young families. It’s nearly impossible for people to afford to live in San Diego and that is unacceptable. I would like to see the Board of Supervisors take a stand of not adding any more fees for new housing.

Hosting A Blood Drive Saves Lives in Our Community

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?

Partner with San Diego Blood Bank - Host a Blood Drive.

The San Diego Blood Bank is here to support you every step of the way to make your blood drive a success.

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

San Diego Blood Bank (SDBB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization also operating as Southern California Blood Bank.

If you are interested in hosting a blood drive, call (619) 400-8124 or email hostablooddrive@sdbb.org.

There are many more issues that need to be addressed, but these are just a few of the ones I’m focused on to start the year.

I believe our country and our greatness is achieved by the people and not the government. Government should provide the tools, safety, and infrastructure to allow all people to live up to their Godgiven potential and then get out of the way.

It is an absolute honor to be on the County Board of Supervisors. This is not a job I take for granted and I will do everything I can to make San Diego County an even better place to live, work and play.

San Diego County District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond http://www.supervisorjimdesmond.com/ 1600 Pacific Highway, #335 San Diego, CA 92101

You can also keep up with San Diego County District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond on Twitter or Facebook.

Problem Solved from page 6

cision. That’s highly unusual. A credit card company’s relationship with a merchant is none of your concern. But it’s even stranger to have a dispute reversed this way. This is the first time I’ve seen a case like this. I have more information about chargebacks in my ultimate guide to credit card disputes.

I think this might have gone differently if you’d filed a claim under your Chase Sapphire Reserve card’s travel insurance benefits. It would have probably covered your cancellation as a trip interruption. I list the names, numbers and email addresses of the Chase executives on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org. A brief, polite email to one of them might have yielded a more favorable outcome.

I contacted Chase on your behalf. The company refunded the $1,370 it had taken without offering an explanation.

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.

“the Purchase.” Today, some historians believe the Gadsden Purchase partially contributed to the negative relationship that has existed since between our two countries.

The final “Purchase included the Arizona cities of Tucson, Yuma, Bisbee, Douglas and Tombstone. For many years an outlaw band known as “The Cowboys,” frequently robbed stagecoaches and brazenly stole Mexican cattle in broad daylight, scaring off Mexican ranchers who were watching over their herds. Accordingly, Mexican authorities complained to the U.S. about those “Cowboy” raids. The 1880s conflict, known as the “Cochise County War,” came to an end by the Earp and Clanton families with Tombstone’s historic Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and Wyatt Earp’s infamous “Vendetta Ride” against the “Cowboys.”

The included Arizona counties did not follow the northern boundary of the Gadsden Purchase. Pima County, which includes Tucson, is Arizona’s second most populated county. Four of these area also contain land north of the Gadsden Purchase, but they have relatively low population densities, with the exception of northeastern Pinal County’s towns of Apache Junction and Florence. Maricopa County south of Phoenix also extends into the area of the Purchase, but this area also is thinly populated. Tucson is the largest city in the Gadsden Purchase.

In 2009, it was estimated the purchased land had not been profitable for the United States. Historical accounts take it for granted the Purchase has been a boon to the United States, but today that region produces very little tax rev-

enue and most minerals are on Indian reservations which receive all royalties. The federal government spent a great deal of money during the 19th century to defend the territory from Apaches which might not have been necessary without the Purchase.

Today the Gadsden Purchase remains a little-known nugget of U.S. history.

Give yourself plenty of time to get there and back

“Spring break is a pretty tight window, usually one week with a weekend on each end to get to your destination and back,” says Michael Rust, a professor at Western New England University. Rust helps plan educational trips during spring, and knows there isn’t a lot of margin for error. “It doesn’t leave much time for changing travel plans if something unexpected happens,” he says. Understand the risks

Borden, a product strategist for travel insurance company Seven Corners.

So for spring break 2022, the only thing we know with absolute certainty is that we know nothing.

Manager Dani DeCarlo at the box office at (858) 395-0573 or online at www.scrippsranchtheatre.org ***

Vista Garden Club Presentation

The Art & Practice of Creating Healthy Soil and Why It’s Important will be the topic of a presentation at 1:45 p.m. February 3, in the Azalea Room at the Gloria McClellan Senior Center, 1400 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista CA.

The Speaker is Craig Kolodge Ph.D, owner of San Pasqual Valley Soil. Fingertip lunch is at noon followed by business meeting at 12:30, and program at 1:45 p.m.

Visit https://www.californiagardenclubs.com/vistagardenclub/ or email Vistagardenclub@gmail. com.

Spring break can be dangerous. After all, you’re headed to the beach with thousands of other people. If you have travel insurance -- and you probably should -- take a few minutes to read the exclusions related to high-risk behaviors. “It’s especially important to understand the alcohol-related exclusions of your insurance policy,” says Narendra Khatri, principal of Insubuy, a travel insurance company. Put differently, if you overindulge during spring break and get into a moped accident on the way back to your hotel, you might not be covered.

I’ve never understood the spring break travel phenomenon. School districts give their students a week during spring; everybody drives to Florida or flies to Cancun. High prices and chaos follow. That’s no way to spend your vacation. And this year, with all the air travel problems we’ve had, you might not even get to your destination.

So what will happen this spring break? It’s too early to know for sure. And it may be impossible to predict, say experts.

“The unpredictability of travel, including flight cancellations, labor shortages, the impact of inflation, and potential illness, is unlikely to let up by springtime,” says Angela

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers consumers to solve their problems and helps those who can’t. He’s the author of numerous books on consumer advocacy and writes weekly columns for King Features Syndicate, USA Today, Forbes and the Washington Post. He also publishes Elliott Confidential, a critically acclaimed newsletter about customer service. If you have a consumer problem you can’t solve, contact him directly through his advocacy website. You can also follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, or sign up for his daily newsletter.

Gadsden

Oodles from page 3

The Mighty Mojo Page

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

37-2022-00047734-CU-PT-NC

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Lillian Rae Wintersteen filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: Lillian Rae Wintersteen to Proposed name Lisa Rae Wintersteen. 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: 1/17/2023, 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 November 29, 2022 /s/ James E. Simmons Jr., Judge of the Superior Court 1/19, 1/26, 2/2/, 2/09/2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME 37-2022-00047702-CU-PT-NC

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Marvin Lamont Harris Jr. filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: Marvin Lamont Harris Jr. to Proposed name Mickk Ray Harris. 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: 1/17/2023, 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 November 29, 2022 /s/ James E. Simmons Jr., Judge of the Superior Court 1/19, 1/26, 2/2/, 2/09/2023

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 1/19, 1/26, 2/2/, 2/09/2023

1/19-1/26/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME

STATEMENT 2022-9027734

The name of the business: International Academy Of Traditional Medicine, Center For East Asian Medicine, located at 603 Seagaze Drive, #735, Oceanside, CA 92054 Registrant

Information: Georgette Young 603 Seagaze Drive, #735, Oceanside, CA 92054 This business is operated by an individual. First day of business: 12/22/2022

/s/ Georgette Young Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 12/22/2022 12/29, 1/5, 1/12, 1/19/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9000089

The name of the business: Infinite RV & Marine, located at 1269 Linda Vista Drive, San Marcos, CA 92078

Registrant Information: DZ CustomZ LLC, 1269 Linda Vista Drive, San Marcos, CA 92078 This business is operated by a Limited Liability Company. First day of business: N/A /s/ David Polanco Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 1/3/2023 1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9027501

The name of the business: Rancho California Apartments, located at 528 W. California Avenue, Vista, CA 92083 Registrant Information: Donald Jack Brown, 1136 Lee Ann Cir, San Jacinto, CA 92582 This business is operated by an individual. First day of business: 6/1/1985

/s/ Donald Jack Brown Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 12/20/2022 1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9000034

The name of the business: Delta Electrical, located at 4625 Sun Valley Rd, Del Mar, CA 92014 Registrant Information: Gregory Madaoui, 4625 Sun Valley Rd., Del Mar, CA 92014 This business is operated by an individual. First day of business: 10/15/2022

/s/ Gregory Madaoui Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 1/03/2023 1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9028024

The name of the business: G&N Global LLC, located at 620 Landmark Pl., San Marcos, CA 92069 Registrant Information: G&N Global LLC, 620 Landmark Pl., San Marcos, CA 92069

This business is operated by a Limited Liability Company. First day of business: N/A /s/ Ghassan Hamoudeh Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 12/29/2022 1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9027865

The name of the business: G.O.A.T. Sports Bar, G.O.A.T. Bar, located at 1510 Rancho del Oro Blvd., Oceanside, CA 92056 Registrant Information: Wasim Ballo, 13643 Summer Glen Vista, El Cajon, CA 92021 This business is operated by an individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Wasim Ballo Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 12/27/2022 1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9028186

The name of the business: Trademarx Construction, located at 613 Robby Way, Fallbrook, CA 92028 Registrant Information: Mark Andrew Nagel, 613 Robby Way, Fallbrook, CA 92028 This business is operated by an individual.

First day of business: 10/02/2022 /s/ Mark A. Nagel Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 12/30/2022 1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9028046

The name of the business: Joe Dellinger Drywall, located at 4930 Luna Drive, Oceanside, CA 92057 Registrant Information: Joe Dellinger, 4930 Luna Drive, Oceanside, CA 92057 This business is operated by an individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Joe Dellinger Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 10/29/2022 1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2/2023

LEGALS

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9026214

The name of the business: Ramm Restoration, located at 310 Via Vera Cruz, #107, San Marcos, CA 92078

Registrant Information: Monaco and Fitch Building Incorporation, 310 Via Vera Cruz, Ste. 107, San Marcos, CA 92078 This business is operated by a corporation. First day of business: 12/02/2022 /s/ Shaun Fitch Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 12/02/2022 12/29/2022, 1/5, 1/12, 1/19/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9028046

The name of the business: Joe Dellinger Drywall, located at 4930 Luna Drive, Oceanside, CA 92057 Registrant Information: Joe Dellinger, 4930 Luna Drive, Oceanside, CA 92057 This business is operated by an individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Joe Dellinger Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 10/31/2022 1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9026976

The name of the business: Mameiner Companies, MMRE Ventures, located at 879 Antilla Way, San Marcos, CA 92078 Registrant Information: Marc Meiner, 879 Antilla Way, San Marcos, CA 92078 This business is operated by an individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Marc Meiner Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 12/13/2022 1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9027254

The name of the business: Grand Venture, located at 910 E. Grand Avenue, Ste F, Escondido, CA 92025 Registrant Information: Robert Todd McMaster, 1520 Richland Road, San Marcos, CA 92069, John H. Dow, 11042 Cadence Court, Escondido, CA 92026 This business is operated by a general partnership. First day of business: 9/25/1996 /s/ Robert Todd McMaster Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 12/15/2022 1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9028066

The name of the business: Pro Handy Service, located at 139 Del La Rondo, Oceanside, CA 92057 Registrant Information: Sanchez Corporation, 139 De La Rondo, Oceanside, CA 92057 This business is operated by a corporation. First day of business: N/A /s/ Bartolome Sanchez-Ambrocio Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/30/2022 1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9000284

The name of the business: Liliana Luna VO, located at 4670 Desmond Circle, Oceanside, CA 92056 Registrant Information: Liliana Sampica, 4670 Desmond Circle, Oceanside, CA 92056 This business is operated by an individual. First day of business: 1/5/2023

/s/ Liliana Sampica Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 1/06/2023 1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9000111

The name of the business: Goose USA, located at 2772 Roosevelt Street, Carlsbad, CA 92018 Registrant Information: Goose USA, 2772 Roosevelt Street, Carlsbad, CA 92018 This business is operated by a corporation. First day of business: N/A /s/ Daniel Lawler Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 1/04/2023 1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9027667

The name of the business: Pua Mana Flower Essences Registrant, located at 963 San Pablo Dr., San Marcos, CA 92078 Registrant Information: Rebecca Balogh, 963 San Pablo Dr., San Marcos, CA 92078 This business is operated by an individual. First day of business: 12/03/2022 /s/ Rebecca Balogh Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 12/21/2022 1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9027054

The name of the business: Rubesha Porcelain Jewelry, located at 1276 Bear Valley Pkwy., Escondido, CA 92027 Registrant Information: Rubesha Properties, LLC, 1276 Bear Valley Pkwy., Escondido, CA 92027 This business is operated by a Limited Liability Company. First day of business: 1/04/2004 /s/ A. Kathleen Rubesha Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 12/14/2022 1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9000117

The name of the business: iremae. shops, located at 2268 California St., Oceanside, CA 92054 Registrant Information: Cheyanne Krueger, 2268 California St., Oceanside, CA 92054 This business is operated by an individual. First day of business: 1/04/2023

/s/ Cheyanne Krueger Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 1/04/2023 1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9000343

The name of the business: Rollintino, Rollintino Music & Ent., located at 10633 Caminito Manso, San Diego, CA 92126 Registrant Information: Rodrigo Tolentino, 10633 Caminito Manso, San Diego, CA 92126 This business is operated by an inidividual. First day of business: N/A /s/ rodrigo Tolentino Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 1/06/2023 1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9027814

The name of the business: The Lotus Of Longevity, The Lotus Of Longevity Wellness Center, The Lotus Of Longevity Advanced Nutrition & Herbal Medicine, located at 138 Civic Center Dr., Suite 204-222, Vista, CA 92084 Registrant Information: Karen M. Yost, 1718 El Rosal Place, Escondido, CA 92026 This business is operated by an individual. First day of business: 12/23/2002 /s/ Karen M. Yost Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 12/23/2022 1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2/2023

Wash with Cold Water: Using warm water instead of hot can cut a load’s energy use in half; using cold water will save even more energy. Plus, cold water helps your clothes last longer.

Stop the Breeze: Caulk and weather-strip around drafty doors and windows. Use a door sweep, door sock or towel at the bottom of doors with a gap.

SDG&E has many programs and services to help you manage energy bills.

See if you qualify for debt forgiveness, one-time payments, monthly bill discounts and more at sdge. com/assistance.

Additional Ways You Can Save Energy and Money

Sign Up for Bill Assistance:

We also offer bill assistance programs for those that may need help paying their bill. You can explore options by visiting our assistance page and see if you are eligible for a monthly discount, energy efficiency improvements, or use certain medical devices and need help.

Sign Up for Level Pay: You can have a more predictable energy bill simply by signing up

for our Level Pay Plan. It automatically evens out the monthly highs and lows so your energy bills are more consistent. When you know what to expect, it’s easier to plan your budget. Visit sdge.com/lpp

Enroll in a Demand Response Program:

Check out our Demand Response Programs that can help you save money while saving energy. You can choose to participate with SDG&E or a third party provider.

Visit sdge.com/MyEnergy

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9028185

The name of the business: Dream Team Youth Track and Field Club, located at 131 Taylor St., #B, Vista, CA 92084

Registrant Information: John Dante Gibbs, 131 Taylor St., #B, Vista, CA 92084 This business is operated by an individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ John Dante Gibbs Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 12/30/2022 1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9025718

The name of the business: Oxifresh Carpet Cleaning, located at 663 S. Rancho Santa Fe Rd., #638, San Marcos, CA 92078 Registrant Information: Be Different LLC, 663 S. Rancho Santa Fe Rd., #638, San Marcos, CA 92078 This business is operated by a Limited Liability Company. First day of business: N/A /s/ Dawn Gast, CEO Filed with Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 11/23/2022 12/1, 12/8, 12/15, 12/22/2022

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

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

Only the Bold, he Best and the Brightest read The Paper

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