December 23, 2023

December 21, 2023

Volume 53 - No. 51

Gold! Silver!

How to buy . . .

How to sell by lyle e davis Many of our readers are interested in increasing their wealth, protecting their wealth they have . . . and feeling financially sound.

But where to begin?

Should you invest in gold?

Silver? Platinum? Collectible coins?

We have consulted with the best minds in the business and offer the following primer to

help guide you in making the right decisions.

In North County we know and have been doing business for years with several businesses that specialize in the buying and selling of gold and other precious metals as well as buying, selling, grading, trading in coins. We deal with Jim Ellis and his sister, Tonya, owners of Escondido Coin, with Mack Hembree, owner of Gems N Loans, who has three locations in North County, Escondido, Vista, and Oceanside, Paul Smith, the new owner at Kings Pawn on East

The Paper • 760.747.7119 online: www.TheCommunityPaper.com

email: thepaper@cox.net

Valley Parkway, Escondido.

We consulted them on many aspects of this week’s cover story.

The value of gold has continued to grow since 1939. In 1959 it had only grown to $35.40 . . . but then in 1969 it jumped to a then-whopping price of $563! Ten years later, in 1979 it dropped to $404.60, then in 1989 it dropped to $287.80, but began to climb again ten years later.

In 1999 gold had jumped to $1096 an ounce, in 2020 to $1499, and, as of this writing, to $2017.60!

Increase in wealth from investing

in precious metals often does not come overnight. It is most often an investment to buy and hold and liquidate judiciously.

Jim Ellis, Vice President of Escondido Coin, 760-745-1697 recommends 5 to 10% of your investment portfolio be represented by precious metals and most of that investment in gold bullion. Jim and his sister, Tonya, the store manager, have owned and operated Escondido Coin for over 33 years. Their now retired dad, Ray, is still President of the company but has trained them well. They

Gold

See Page 2

The Paper • Page 2 • December 21, 2023

Gold from page 1

an exceptional experience. Gems N Loans is a family and veteran owned organization.

know the precious metals market and are a good source of information and supply. They’ve been in business since 1959 and are the oldest family owned and operated coin shop between San Diego and Riverside. They have an excellent website at: https://www.escondidocoin.com/precious-metals/

All of the dealers we contacted for this article agree that for thousands of years, precious metals like gold and silver have been used as currency, an investment, and a symbol of wealth. The key points that draw investors to these metals are their long history as a store of value, their low correlation to often volatile financial markets, and their utility as a hedge against inflation.

Mack Hembree, of Gems n Loans, points out that gold is both a hedge against inflation and an economic insurance policy.

All dealers in gold agree that gold relates to the strength of the US dollar.

Mack Hembree invested heavily in Gems N Loans, a group of pawn shops that have upgraded to a bright, airy, spacious and attractive series of business locations that buys and sells precious metals as well as deals in collectible coins. He owns Gems N Loans locations in Escondido, Vista, and Oceanside, all in North San Diego County, as well as locations in Riverside County and in Texas.

Throughout all his stores Hembree and Gems n Loans broke the concept of the traditional pawn shop “look” and replaced it with

Give Us This Day Our Daily Chuckle

King’s Pawn, 1010 E Valley Pkwy, Escondido, 760-432-9411 has been in Escondido for over 20 years; until recently it was owned and managed by Heidi Hancox, a second generation owner. Paul J. Smith, the new owner, brings years of experience to the business.

Paul agrees that on the downside, investors in precious metals may have to deal with liquidity issues and a lack of yield generation. Precious metals may well increase in value but they do not pay interest or annual dividends . . . and you often have costs associated with storage.

3. Australia lost the Ashes. (Cricket) 4. The Pope died.

Lesson to be learned: The next time Charles gets married, someone should warn the Pope. ***

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

A blonde goes to the post office and asks if she may buy 50 Christmas stamps.

“What denomination?,” the clerk asks.

“God help us. Has it come to this?

Give me 22 Catholic, 12 Presbyterian, 10 Lutheran and 6 Baptists.”

Just a holiday tip from me . . . for those of you who like Eggs Benedict, I suggest that the next time you have them, try serving them on a chrome plate.

I’ve been told “There’s no plates like chrome for the hollandaise.”

Touching.....

•••• I was reading an article last night about fathers and sons and memories came flooding back of the time I took my son out for his first drink.

Off we went to our local bar, which is only two blocks from the house.

Two Interesting Years

I got him a Guiness Stout. He didn’t like it – so I drank it.

1981 & 2005 – Two Interesting Years

Then I got him an Old Style; he didn’t like it either, so I drank it.

Interesting Year 1981 1. Prince Charles got married.

2. Liverpool crowned soccer Champions of Europe.

3. Australia lost the Ashes. (Cricket) 4. The Pope died.

It was the same with the Coors and the Bud.

Interesting Year 2005 1. Prince Charles got married.

2. Liverpool crowned soccer Champions of Europe.

•••• In a dark and hazy room, peering into a crystal ball, the Mystic delivered grave news:

By the time we got down to the Irish whiskey. . . . I could hardly push the stroller back home.

Precious metals still have their place in a savvy investor’s portfolio in modern times. But which precious metal is best for investment purposes? And more importantly, why are they so volatile?

There are many ways to buy precious metals like gold, silver, platinum, and a host of good reasons why you should give in to the treasure hunt.

Gold We’ll start with the granddaddy of them all. Gold is unique for its durability (it doesn’t rust or corrode), malleability, and ability to conduct both heat and electricity.

It has some industrial applications in dentistry and electronics, but we know it principally as a base for jewelry and as a form of currency.

Its value is determined by the market 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Gold trades predominantly as a function of sentiment—its price is less affected by the laws of supply and demand.

Mack Hembree of Gems N Loans: Several factors account for an increased desire to hoard the shiny yellow metal:

“There’s no easy way to tell you this, so I’ll just be blunt. Prepare yourself to be a widow. Your husband will die a violent and horrible death this year.”

Visibly shaken, Laura stared at the woman’s lined face, then at the single flickering candle, then down at her hands.

She took a few deep breaths to compose herself and to stop her mind racing. She simply had to know.

She met the Fortune Teller’s gaze, steadied her voice and asked, “Will I be acquitted?”

For some reason, women tend to like this joke........ *** PASTOR: “Praise the Lord!”

CONGREGATION: “Hallelujah!”

PASTOR: “Will everyone please turn on their tablet, PC, iPad, smart phone, and Kindle Bibles to 1 Cor. 13:13. And please switch on your Bluetooth to download the sermon.”

P-a-u-s-e......

“Now, Let us pray committing this week into God’s hands. Open your Apps, BBM, Twitter and Facebook, and chat with God”

• Systemic financial concerns.

When banks and money are perceived as unstable and/or political stability is questionable, gold has often been sought out as a safe store of value.

• Inflation. When real rates of return (RoR) in the equity, bond, or real estate markets are negative, people regularly flock to gold as an asset that will maintain its value.

• War or political crises. Conflict and political upheaval have always sent people into a goldhoarding mode. An entire lifetime’s worth of savings can be made portable and stored until it needs to be traded for foodstuffs, shelter, or safe passage to a less dangerous destination.

The United States has the world’s largest reserves of gold, amounting to 8,867.72 tons as of February 2021.

Silver Unlike gold, the price of silver swings between its perceived role as a store of value and its role as an industrial metal. For this reaGold continued on page 3 offerings, please have your credit and debit cards ready.”

“You can log on to the church Wi-Fi using the password ‘Lord909887.’ The ushers will circulate mobile card swipe machines among the worshipers: a. Those who prefer to make electronic fund transfers are directed to computers and laptops at the rear of the church.. b.Those who prefer to use iPads can open them. c. Those who prefer telephone banking, take out your cell phones to transfer your contributions to the church account.”

The holy atmosphere of the Church becomes truly electrified as ALL the smart phones, iPads, PCs and laptops beep and flicker!

“Final Blessing and Closing Announcements.. a. This week’s ministry cell meetings will be held on the various Facebook group pages where the usual group chatting takes place. Please log in and don’t miss out. b. Thursday’s Bible study will be held live on Skype at 1900hrs GMT. Please don’t miss out.

S-i-l-e-n-c-e

c. You can follow your Pastor on Twitter this weekend for counseling and prayers

“As we take our Sunday tithes and

God bless you and have nice day.”

The Paper • Page 3 • December 21, 2023

Gold from page 2 son, price fluctuations in this market are more volatile than in the market for gold.

Jim Ellis, Escondido Coin: While silver roughly trades in line with gold as an item to be hoarded, the industrial supply/demand equation for the metal exerts an equally strong influence on its price. That equation has always fluctuated with new innovations, including: • Silver’s once predominant role in the photography industry (silver-based photographic film) has been eclipsed by the advent of the digital camera.

• The rise of a vast middle class in the emerging market economies of the East created an explosive demand for electrical appliances, medical products, and other industrial items that require silver inputs. From bearings to electrical connections, silver’s properties made it a desired commodity.

• The use of silver in batteries, superconductor applications, and microcircuit markets.

One fact remains: Silver’s price is affected by its applications and is not just used in the fashion world or as a store of value.

Platinum Like gold and silver, platinum trades around the clock on global commodities markets. It often tends to fetch a higher price (per troy ounce) than gold during routine periods of market and political stability simply because it’s much rarer. Far less of the metal is actually pulled from the ground annually.

There are also other factors that determine platinum’s price: • Like silver, platinum is considered an industrial metal. The greatest demand for platinum comes from automotive catalysts, which are used to reduce the harmfulness of emissions. After this, jewelry accounts for the majority of demand. Petroleum and chemical refining catalysts and the computer industry use up the rest.

• Platinum prices are influenced heavily by the geopolitical conditions in the countries where mining takes place as well as the supply and demand equation. In this respect, prices have been determined, in large part, by auto sales and production numbers.

The drop in vehicle production and curtailed demand for autocatalysts (which accounts for a third of platinum demand) during the COVID-19 pandemic pushed prices down. Supplies dropped

by 5% and demand increased by 21% during the first quarter of 2021 (primarily driven by the automotive industry), which could lead to an upward tick in the metal’s price. Demand in 2022 also increased, but by a marginal 2%.

Keep in mind, though, that the rise in no-emission vehicles could put pressure on prices.

• Platinum mines are heavily concentrated in only two countries: South Africa and Russia. This creates greater potential for cartel-like action that would support or even artificially raise platinum prices.

Oodles!

Looking for things to do? Places to go?

Check out Oodles every week for listing of civic and service club meetings, and more!

Have an event you need publicized?

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

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

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

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

San Diego Zoo Jungle Bells Through January 1, 2024

Filling Up Your Treasure Chest

Experience the magic and spirit of the holiday season at the world-famous San Diego Zoo! Join us for Jungle Bells as we light up the night until 8 p.m. (except December 24) with amazing entertainment—including the end-of-the-evening spectacular, Aurora. Bring the whole family, and enjoy all the fun and warmth of this joyous annual celebration.

Jim Ellis, of Escondido Coin: Let’s take a look at the options available to those who want to invest in precious metals.

Jungle Bells is included with all admission tickets and memberships.

• Platinum carries less demand than gold and may be more difficult to liquidate if and when necessary.

Investors should consider that all of these factors serve to make platinum the most volatile of all precious metals.

• Commodity Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs): Exchange-traded funds are a convenient and liquid means of purchasing and selling gold, silver, palladium, or platinum. Investing in ETFs, though, doesn’t give you access to the physical commodity, so you don’t have a claim on the metal in the fund.

You will not get the actual delivery of a gold bar or silver coin.

• Common Stocks and Mutual Funds: Shares of precious metals miners are leveraged to price movements in the precious metals.

Unless you’re aware of how mining stocks are valued, it may be wiser to stick to funds with managers with solid performance records.

• Futures and Options: The futures and options markets offer liquidity and leverage to investors who want to make big bets on metals. The greatest potential profits and losses can be had with derivative products.

• Bullion: Coins and bars are strictly for those who have a place to put them like a safe deposit box or safe. Certainly, for those who are expecting the worst, bullion is the only option, but for investors with a time horizon, bullion is alwas fairl easy to redeem.

• Certificates: Certificates offer investors all the benefits of physical gold ownership without the hassle of transportation and storage. That said, if you’re looking for insurance in a real disaster, Gold continued on page 7

*** Parkinson’s Support Group Meeting January 2 • 10am to noon 17252 Bernardo Center Drive, Rancho Bernardo January 2nd - Parkinson’s Support Group Meeting for all North County Inland Communities. Free monthly meetings for people with Parkinson’s and their care partners are held from 10 am until Noon at San Rafael Church, 17252 Bernardo Center Drive, Rancho Bernardo, in the Parish Hall.

Our featured speaker for Tuesday, January 2nd is Kat Hill, Author of “Resilience with Parkinson’s“. Separate breakout sessions for People with Parkinson’s and care partners will follow the presentation to discuss successes and challenges.

Come learn, share, meet, and enjoy the free refreshments with other involved Parkinson’s persons. Please call (760) 7498234 or (760) 518-1963 if you have any questions.

*** Escondido Library Events All Library facilities will be closed on December 25, 2023 for Christmas and January 1, 2024 for New Year’s. The Library will also close at 5:00 p.m. on December 23 and December 30, 2023. *** Chess at Park Avenue Community Center Wednesdays from noon to 3pm Home of Escondido Senior Center 210 Park Avenue, Escondido Chess players of all skill levels are welcome every Wednesday in the shuffleboard building from Noon to 3 pm. Large boards and pieces provided.

Follow the signs or ask at the front desk for directions. *** Free Tax Filing Help Our IRS sponsored program offers free tax-filing help low income seniors. We’re looking for compassionate and friendly folks to join our team of volunteers preparing taxes for the upcoming season at the Escondido Sr Center. You’ll receive training and continued support in a welcoming environment.

You will not only learn new skills, but also get a great feeling from helping someone else.

We also need computer tutors and receptionists to help our local seniors. Call 760 480-0611 if you are interested.

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

The Paper • Page 4 • December 21, 2023

Local News

Assault with a Deadly Weapon Investigation CARLSBAD, Calif. — On Dec. 13, at 9:20 p.m., the City of Carlsbad Police Department responded to a report of a vehicle collision on Alga Road between El Fuerte Street and Xana Way. Additional callers reported hearing gunfire.

Responding officers located a single vehicle collision with one occupant who had suffered a gunshot wound. Carlsbad Police and Fire Department personnel rendered medical aid and transported the victim to a local area hospital where he was admitted for care.

A second occupant of the vehicle who had also been struck by gunfire fled the area with a third uninjured occupant of the vehicle prior to police arrival. Both were located at another area hospital. None of the injuries were life threatening.

None of the identified occupants associated with the vehicle were Carlsbad residents. Evidence suggests that the involved vehicle was fired upon from a second vehicle and that the matter may be gang related. The investigation is ongoing and there is no further information for release at this time.

Investigators are seeking additional information. Anyone with information about the incident should contact Detective Chris Collier at 442-339-5569 or christopher.collier@Carlsbadca.gov Police media contact Eric Kovanda, Police Lieutenant, 442-339-2146 or eric.kovanda@ carlsbadca.gov

Felony Hit-and-Run Suspect Arrested CARLSBAD-Calif. – On Dec. 12, 2023, at 3:30 p.m., the City of Carlsbad Police Department responded to the intersection of Chestnut Avenue and Highland Drive regarding a vehicle that had struck a pedestrian and fled the scene. Upon arrival, officers found a 15-year-old female pedestrian with serious injuries.

The Carlsbad Fire Department transported the injured pedestrian to a local area hospital.

The investigation revealed that the pedestrian was crossing the street in an unmarked crosswalk at the intersection of Chestnut Avenue and Highland Drive. The suspect vehicle was driving southbound on Highland Drive and making a left turn to go eastbound on Chestnut Avenue. The vehicle collided with the pedestrian in the unmarked crosswalk. Following the collision, the driver exited his vehicle, moved the pedestrian off the roadway onto the sidewalk, and fled the scene before officers arrived.

Through investigative techniques, officers identified Joshua Weber, 42, from Winchester (CA), as the driver of the vehicle. On December 14, 2023, at 12:45 p.m., Joshua Weber was taken into custody in San Diego and is being booked into the San Diego County Jail for felony hit-and-run.

The Carlsbad Police Department is asking anyone with information about this incident to contact Officer Ricardo Huerta at 442-3395621 or ricardo.huerta@carlsbadca.gov.

Police media contact: Travis Anderson, Traffic Sergeant, 442-3392208 or travis.anderson@carlsbadca.gov

Letters to the Editor I walked by the tables that The Paper was on while going to my exercise class at the San Marcos Senior Center. I don’t think my mind processed the headline until the third table - and then I picked it up to bring home Reading this article had me flabbergasted!! I worry about Dementia because I’ve had migraines all my adult life and that can make me more likely to have Dementia..... but babies, children and teenagers???? I read the article and was so amazed at the information -(thank you Fredrich for the research).

I had my DNA testing done by one Letters continued on page 14

Merry Christmas From Lyle and everyone else at

The Paper

To coin a phrase, the folks at Escondido Coin in Escondido hope you have a joyful and

Merry Christmas!

Escondido Coin & Loan 241 E. Grand, Escondido 760.745.1697

From all the staff here at San Marcos Dental Center to you and your families, we wish you a very, merry and happy Christmas!

Peace on Earth. Please!

Marcia and Richard Jungas

California Funeral Alternatives “Our Family Serving Yours” 760-737-2890 Escondido

Dr. Gregory Hurt

FD1624

and the San Marcos Dental Center

FD1994

San Marcos, CA • 760.734.4311

858-842-3000 Poway

The Indian Store Your Home for the Holidays and the Gifts that come with them!

From Management and Staff

Have a Merry Christmas and a Much Happier New Year!

1950 Hacienda Drive • Vista, CA • 760-639-5309

The Paper • Page 5 • December 21, 2023

did; we always do), and (c) we’d all be home before dark (we were).

Worked like a charm. Lots of good food and drink . . . and lots of lively conversation between family members and close friends.

Indeed, we were able to make it home before dark and Mary immediately laid down on the couch and took a nap.

She had enjoyed her 84th birthday but, sadly, due to her memory problems (dementia), she likely won’t remember this wonderful day.

Man About Town

*** It’s been a traumatic couple of weeks for our Friedrich Gomez.

And so she sleeps.

My precious Mary had a busy day this past Friday. It was her 84th birthday and I threw a celebratory party at Dominic’s Restaurant in downtown Escondido. Mary’s two sisters and youngest brother and his wife, Mary, attended . . as well as ever faithful Friedrich Gomez.

Mary and I rounded out the list of rascals that assembled to wish Mary well.

Clever rascal that I am, I booked a table for seven of us for 2pm Friday afternoon thinking (a) it would not be crowded (it wasn’t), (b) we would have top notch service (we

His beloved Hyundai Sonata’s engine blew up on him.

We arranged to have his car towed to Joor Muffler in Escondido where they confirmed the engine had blown up and that it would probably run close to $6000 to replace.

Meanwhile, Don Martin, the main squeeze of our Managing Editor, Lisa Scarpello, and one of North County’s top mechanics, looked at the VIN number on Friedrich’s car and told him his car was under a recall order and he probably would

Our Greatest Wish is that you and your family enjoy peace and comfort this Christmas Season and that it carries over into 2024!

Merry Christmas Escondido Coin & Loan 241 East Grand Avenue Escondido, CA 92025 (760) 745-1697

Mary’s sister Isabel Gilmour, left, Mary right

get a new engine at no cost.

The folks at Joor Muffler checked the records and confirmed the recall.

We then had Friedrich’s car towed to Escondido Hyundai and they, too, confirmed the recall and authorized a new engine to be installed at no cost to Friedrich . . . and they’d provide him with a loaner until the car was repaired.

It’s nice to know we have some very talented and knowledgeable

people in North San Diego County . . . and some honest and reliable business people as well!

To Don Martin, to the Joor Muffler staff and to Escondido Hyundai . . . well done!

And thank you. Friedrich has, literally, shed tears of joy at your helping him out with the necessary research and confirmation of a recall. He no longer has to worry about coming up with $6000 which he doesn’t have.

He will soon have his beloved car back . . . thanks to you!

The Paper • Page 6 • December 21, 2023

5th District Supervisor

Jim Desmond

Fiscal Responsibility?

Two years ago, California had a surplus of almost $100 billion --no state in history had ever amassed such a huge surplus.

But we spent that money on things like high speed rail, billions to solve homelessness that only got worse, and at least $30 billion in fraudulent unemployment claims.

Despite the fact that our sales, income and gasoline tax rates are among the highest in the nation, our massive surplus has now morphed into a $68 billion deficit, with $30 billion annual shortfalls projected to continue years into the future.

This precarious financial situation has been analyzed by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO), which forwards its analysis to the Legislature for use in debates over drafting the final budget plan. Under California’s Constitution, the Governor must introduce a budget by January 10th, the Legislature must pass it by June 15th, and it must be signed into law by June 30th. But how to overcome such a huge deficit? Here are a few solutions offered by the LAO: • Tap into the Rainy Day Fund (the Governor would need to declare a budget emergency)

• Do not exceed Prop 98 minimum guarantees for education funding • Cost shifts and special fund loans • Pull back one-time limited term spending • Overall spending cuts In past fiscal emergencies, the state has taken other steps as well, including reducing state employee costs through furloughs and even cutting court funding and spending on higher education.

State leaders and policymakers must agree on priorities and focus on those. Actual needs must be prioritized over politically expedient wants. The cuts proposed by the LAO will be considered along with other proposals likely to be introduced, including the Governor’s budget in January. Putting our fiscal house in order will be priority number one next year.

Assemblymember Marie Waldron, R- Valley Center, represents the 75th Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes the cities of Poway, Santee, portions of the City of San Diego, and most of rural eastern and northern San Diego County.

A Word from San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones San Marcos Encourages A Sustainable Joyful Season • Recycle Christmas cards and wrapping paper as mixed paper.

• Recycle glass jars and bottles (all colors), steel, aluminum cans and plastic bottles in your blue cart (make sure to rinse out any food or liquid particles).

• Flatten gift and cardboard boxes before placing them in your blue cart.

The city wishes our community a safe and happy holiday. As families come together, let’s remember to safely remove and dispose of holiday trees and decorations.

Proper disposal of holiday trees will help the city prevent dangerous fires. Remove lights, ornaments and other holiday materials from your tree before discarding.

Don’t forget these additional recycling holiday tips:

• Recycle wreaths and Christmas trees as green waste.

Also, remember to dispose of your organic waste in your green cart!

Items such as food scraps, landscaping and pruning, non-hazardous wood cuttings and food-soiled paper waste go in the green cart.

Together, we can keep San Marcos green and clean to end the holiday season.

If you have any questions, please call EDCO at (760) 744-2700.

Two Items At our last board meeting, I proposed legislation for the County to take a stand against the incomebased fixed-rate electricity proposal. Unfortunately, my colleagues voted against this and are in favor of charging people based on their income.

The proposed fixed-rate bill fundamentally operates on an incomebased charging model, where the more one earns, the higher the flatrate electricity charges, even if you have solar. I’m completely against this proposal for several reasons, one of the biggest is that the utility companies will have access to your tax return, and your energy bill will be based on income and not usage.

Here’s a breakdown of what this could mean for San Diegans: • Households earning between $28,000 to $69,000 would face a monthly charge of $34.

• Those with incomes ranging from $69,000 to $180,000 would see a monthly charge of $73.

• Households earning above $180,000 would encounter a monthly charge of $128.

On a separate issue, but also important we passed crucial action regarding homelessness.

The escalating crisis of homelessness has reached a critical point, not just within San Diego County but across the entire State of California. This multifaceted issue has led to over 10,000 people living on the streets, often in conditions that

hinder their ability to make sound decisions for their well-being. Take a drive through downtown, and you will see the stark reality of individuals caught in the grip of substance abuse, causing harm to both themselves and the community at large.

The responsibility for this situation lies, in part, with the State of California and its lenient stance on crime and homelessness.

Thankfully, enough people have spoken out, and it’s time for a change. The state has responded to public outcry by providing a tool our county is poised to implement.

This policy allows law enforcement officers to place individuals who are gravely disabled due to severe substance use disorder on an involuntary hold.

At its best, this policy will force people to get the help they need.

Although the initiation of this program prompted some debate regarding the timing, there is a collective eagerness to see it commence as swiftly as possible.

The careful execution of this initiative is crucial, as we must avoid overwhelming our emergency rooms. Striking the right balance is paramount, but I am committed to launching this program promptly, envisioning a positive transformation that will enhance the quality of life in San Diego.

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

Travel Troubleshooter

by Christopher Elliott

Cunard Canceled My Cruise, But It Won’t Give Me A Full Refund Cunard cancels Jacque Ewing-Taylor’s transatlantic cruise and promises to reimburse her expenses. But it doesn’t. How can she make Cunard do the right thing?

Q: My husband and I were booked on the Queen Mary 2 sailing from Southampton to New York earlier this year. The cruise line canceled the sailing just before our departure.

A Cunard agent told us to stay on board that night and depart the following day. The cruise line gave us a form to fill out that said, “For

any incurred expenses with your onward travel arrangements, these will be covered by Cunard.”

The agents we spoke with three different times could give us no information beyond that statement.

So we went ahead and canceled our New York hotel and first-class flight from New York to San Diego, and we booked a flight home on British Airways.

I emailed Cunard with the necesTravel Troubleshooter continued on page 14

The Paper • Page 7 • December 21, 2023

Historically Speaking

Arizona’s ‘Rough-Riding’ Legend perience the local saloons before taking a job with The Tombstone Epitaph newspaper. By early 1882, he was back in Phoenix working as a deputy marshal. Later that year, O’Neill moved to Prescott, which would be his home for the next 15 years.

By Tom Morrow Out of the untamed Wild West came several tales, legends, and an equal number of true stories.

Few of those accounts would top the ones told about William Owen “Buckey” O’Neill – newspaperman, town marshal, judge, county sheriff, local militia leader, city mayor, and, captain in the famed “Roosevelt Rough Riders” of 1898.

O’Neill was born the first of four children on Feb. 2, 1860, in St. Louis, Missouri. During the first part of 1879, when he was 19 years old, O’Neill answered an item in the Washington Star newspaper calling for men to migrate to the Arizona Territory. He arrived in Phoenix riding a burro in September that same year. Upon arrival he was hired as a printer by the Phoenix Herald. By late 1880, O’Neill had become bored and sought to experience the “Real West” in the notorious town of Tombstone in southern Arizona.

O’Neill took the opportunity to exGold from page 3 certificates are just paper. Don’t expect anyone to take them in exchange for anything of value.

Are Precious Metals a Good Investment for You? Mack Hembree, Gems N Loans: Precious metals offer unique inflationary protection. They have intrinsic value, carry no credit risk, and cannot be inflated. That means you can’t print more of them. They also offer genuine upheaval insurance against financial or political/military upheavals.

From an investment theory standpoint, precious metals also provide a low or negative correlation to other asset classes like stocks and bonds. This means even a small percentage of precious metals in a portfolio will reduce both volatility and risk.

Precious Metals Risks Every investment comes with its

O’Neill arrived in Prescott, continuing in his journalistic career, starting as a court reporter. He soon founded his own newspaper, Hoof and Horn, a paper for cattlemen and ranchers. In 1886, O’Neill became captain of the Prescott Grays, a local unit of the Arizona Militia. In 1888, while serving as Yavapai County judge, O’Neill was elected county sheriff, running on the Republican ticket.

After his term as county judge was up, O’Neill was unanimously elected mayor of Prescott. In 1894 and 1896 he ran for Delegate to the Legislature of the Arizona Territory.

During this time, one of his best friends was the infamous cattle regulator Tom Horn, who was hanged for committing murder during Wyoming’s “Johnson County War.” In 1897, O’Neill helped introduce a bill in the Territorial Legislature allowing women to vote in municipal elections, however the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed that piece of legislation. own set of risks. Although they may come with a certain degree of security, there is always some risk that comes with investing in precious metals. Prices for metals can drop due to technical imbalances (more sellers than buyers), changes in supply and demand, geopolitical issues, and other related factors. That said, during times of economic uncertainty, sellers benefit, as prices tend to shoot up.

What Are the Best Ways to Invest in Precious Metals?

Mack Hembree, Gems N Loans: The best way to invest in precious metals is either to buy the metal outright and hold the physical form or to purchase ETFs that have significant exposure to precious metals or companies involved in the precious metals business.

What Is a Disadvantage of Investing in Precious Metals?

Precious metals have no cash flow so an individual will receive

down his troops. His men begged him to lie down, and one of the sergeants yelled, ‘Captain, a bullet is sure to hit you.’”

As the story was told by his men, O’Neill took his cigarette out of his mouth, and blowing out a cloud of smoke laughed and said, “Sergeant, the Spanish bullet isn’t made that will kill me.” Soon after making that remark a bullet struck O’Neill in the head killing him instantly.

In 1898, war broke out between the United States and Spain. O’Neill joined Teddy Roosevelt’s all-volunteer Rough Riders, becoming Captain of Troop A. The Rough Riders landed at Daiquiri, Cuba on June 22, 1898. On July 1, 1898, the Rough Riders and the U.S. Army’s 10th Cavalry were stationed below Kettle Hill where O’Neill was killed. Col. Theodore Roosevelt, commander of the Rough Riders, wrote in his report about the death of his captain: “The most serious loss that I and the regiment could have suffered befell the captain just before we charged. O’Neill walked up and no income. If an individual holds the outright metal, there is also a storage cost associated with the investment.

The Bottom Line Precious metals provide a useful and effective means of diversifying a portfolio. The trick to achieving success with them is to know your goals and risk profile before jumping in. The volatility of precious metals can be harnessed to accumulate wealth. Left unchecked, it can also lead to ruin.

How to Invest in Gold and Silver Learn what it takes to Invest in gold and silver

By Michael Sacchitello Updated June 28, 2023 Investing in Gold and Silver ETFs and Mutual Funds Buying silver and gold through financial instruments changes some of the risks–storage and insurance is someone else’s problem–but it also means you no longer have an

O’Neill’s men buried him on the slope of San Juan Hill. After the war, his family and friends asked the War Department to find and recover his body. Despite it being eight months since his death, O’Neill’s well-preserved body was found, exhumed, placed in a coffin, and returned to the United States.

He was reinterred in Arlington National Cemetery. The epitaph on his gravestone reads: “Who would not die for a new star on the flag?”

On July 3, 1907, a monument by noted sculptor Solon Borglum was dedicated to O’Neill and the other Rough Riders in their memory on the lawn of the Yavapai County courthouse in Prescott. Some 7,000 people gathered to witness the unveiling. Borglum’s dynamic sculpture of O’Neil depicts a “Rough Rider” on horseback. This monument is a “must-see” when visiting Prescott, the one-time capital of the Arizona Territory and the adopted home of the city’s favorite son. investment you can touch. There are numerous gold and silver funds that investors have access to today, many of which can be purchased using traditional brokerage accounts.

Some funds are proxies for direct ownership of silver or gold, holding only bullion of those specific metals, while others cover the sector more broadly with some percentage held in other precious metals. The goal of these funds is to mimic the price movements of a specific precious metals index or a specific metal’s price. Some funds are mainly holding physical gold and the price moves up and down in sync with the benchmark price. Other funds may try to mimic the benchmark price of silver or gold using a mix of physical gold, options, and futures.

The performance of these funds will, of course, be reduced by the expense ratio of the fund and the more active a fund’s strategy is, the more it will cost.

Gold continued on page 12

The Paper • Page 8 • December 21, 2023

The Paper • Page 9 • December 21, 2023

The Reverse Mortgage Program Federal Housing Administration (FHA) requires that lenders obtain a collateral review on all Home Equity Conversion (HECM) loans prior to closing. Upon review of the lender’s assessment, FHA might require that the lender obtain a second appraisal prior to approving the loan. Where a second appraisal is required, the lower of the two appraised values must be used.

Laura Strickler The Reverse Mortgage Program (HECM-Home Equity Conversion Mortgage) can be used by homeowners aged 62 and older on their own home. That home can be: • Single family home • Two to four unit property (as long as borrower lives in one of the units) • Townhome • Condominium (HUD Approved Condominiums or Single Unit Approved) • Planned unit development (PUD) • Modular home • Manufactured home-must own land Each home will require an appraisal performed by an FHA approved appraiser. This cost is typically paid by you, the borrower. Cost ranges from $450 up. You are contacted by the appraiser and you determine the scheduling of the inspection.

We have a few manufactured home developments in the area where the homeowner owns the land.

That is THE number one requirement when you own a manufactured home. I have recently worked with some homeowners who successfully obtained a reverse mortgage on their manufactured home.

There are some important requirements that must be met if you own a manufactured home.

1) You must own the land 2) Have a floor area of at least 400 square feet 3) Be constructed after June 15, 1976 4) Be built and remain on a permanent chassis 5) Have axles and tongue removed 6) Have permanent utilities installed 7) Meet county and HUD requirements for any additions 8) Be designed to be used as a dwell-

ing with a permanent foundation built to FHA criteria 9) Be on the original site. The unit must not have been installed or occupied previously at any other site or location 10) Be classified as real estate (but need not be treated as real estate for purposes of state taxation) 11) Have all HUD tags on the outside of the house, multi-wide units display a label on the outside of each unit Additionally, manufactured homes require a Structural Engineer’s Report. A licensed professional engineer must inspect the property and provide a certification attesting that: 1) The property complies with the Permanent Foundations Guide for Manufactured Housing, dated September, 1996. Note: The inspection must be less than twelve months old at the time of closing.

2) Any structural changes or additions to the property were in accordance with HUD Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards.

I understand that is a lot of information. What is great for homeowners living in land-owned communities is that they can take advantage of this loan program. And with home values as high as they are for even manufactured homes, there is a lot of financial freedom locked up in that equity.

These manufactured home developments offer a great alternative for homeowners looking to downsize.

Not only do they offer freedom from maintenance on a larger home, they typically offer a lot of camaraderie.

I lived in Champagne Village for a bit and I thoroughly enjoyed living there! There are so many activities to participate in if you like. Anything from cards to pool to the gym, from A to Z! I know the same is true for the many manufactured home communities in our area.

While it may seem complicated to get a reverse mortgage on a manufactured home (and it can be), it’s important to know the steps. It’s also important to know that you can take advantage of this program and use the equity in your home to take care of you now. Give yourself the freedom to enjoy this season of your life!

As always, please reach out if you have a specific question. I’m only a phone call away!

Christmas is almost here! Are you ready?

Laura Strickler 760-518-9839 NMLS #315848 Reverse Mortgage Advisor Laurastrickler1@gmail.com www.laruastrickler.com

The Paper • Page 10 • December 21, 2023

The Pastor Says . . .

What Is Christmas About?

For me, as a child, Christmas was always a big event. We children looked forward to the tree, helping my dad to find and cut it, bring it home, and decorate it with our mother’s decorations. We usually selected gifts early in the fall from a Sears Roebuck catalog and then waited until Christmas morning when we kids would be up long before our parents, checking to see what gifts were ours. We always found a sock filled with candy, nuts, one small gift, like a comb, and an orange. Added to all this was the Christmas church program the night before, where we had a part, along with the other kids of the community, to perform either in song or with a recitation.

After the program, someone rewarded us with a box of hard candy or cherry chocolates. Then it was home and waiting through the night with our imagination of Santa Claus coming to share the presents. For us children, it was all a mixture of legend, fantasy, Bible stories, acting biblical parts, and excitement. The meaning was within our minimal awareness.

Contrary to our experience was that of the first participants in the socalled Christmas experience. The very first actor was Mary. “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen.” said the angel.

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.

Pastor Huls

The meaning of the season was found by listening. Do we listen, or is there so much noise that we can’t hear?

The message was that Mary was to give birth to a son named Jesus, who would be great. Greatness is in the person, not a tree, gifts, or food. God will miraculously deliver That greatness through the Holy Spirit with power and an extraordinary name, the Son of God. This message is a lot to put into the Christmas Day meaning. After all, who wants to break up the fun and festivity to ponder a miraculous birth and the son of God? And yet, if we don’t take at least some time to ask and pursue what the Christmas season is all about, we end up with only a holiday. At the very least, we can take the word – holiday – and realize it is a “holy” day because of the birth of Jesus, the son of God, who came to this world from heaven to bring the blessings of love and salvation to our world. We need these more than a tree, decorations, gifts, and food. It is good to ponder the deeper meaning of the biblical story and know what Christmas is all about.

Now, when someone asks you what Christmas is all about, You have an answer.

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Handsome beagle Dominic is sure to fetch your heart! (And he’ll play fetch with a ball all day if you let him!) This charming canine companion values quality time with his favorite people, and will need some time to build trust with a new family. Once he’s settled in, you’ll see his vibrant personality and gentle soul shine. This darling dog certainly deserves a lot of love and care – and he hopes he can find that with you! Dominic (888352) is available for adoption at San Diego Humane Society’s Escondido Campus at 3500 Burnet Dr. Through Dec. 17, adoption fees are just $25 for all dogs and cats, like Dominic. If you have questions about the adoption process, you can visit sdhumane.org/adopt or call 619-299-7012.

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

Online profile: https://www.sdhumane.org/adopt/available-pets/animal-single.html?petId=888352

Mack is Rancho Coastal Humane Society’s pet of the week. He’s a 7-year-old, 10-pound, male, Domestic Short Hair cat with a Grey and White Tabby coat.

His owner surrendered Mack to a shelter. He was transferred to Rancho Coastal Humane Society through Friends of County Animal Shelters (FOCAS.) He’s a low-key, cuddle buddy.

The $75 adoption fee for Mack includes medical exam, neuter, up to date vaccinations, and registered microchip.

The Paper • Page 11 • December 21, 2023

Now We’re All “Geniuses”

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My grandfather, Oscar Hepburn, was the Sage of Davis, West Virginia. Gramps wasn’t known outside of Tucker County but town folks knew him as the local go-to guy when you needed advice or help with a problem. In my college days, the fount of classical and practical wisdom could be found on the NE corner of 15th and E streets in Richmond, Indiana. Connie (Constantine) Marker AKA “The Golden Greek” was the owner of Connie’s Tavern. At a large book strewn table near the back wall of the Tavern, Connie’s dad, Aristotle AKA “The Olden Golden Greek” shared his wit and wisdom with those privileged regulars invited to sit at his table.

Most of us have known a wise man with a local reputation. Typically he was a quiet, well read older man who listened carefully,

asked pointed question and spoke softly but with authority. We all remember the names of past icons of wisdom like Solomon, Confucius, Plato, Aristotle and Socrates. In the modern world we no longer have the intellectual “generalists” that dominated the past. Today the span of human knowledge far exceeds any individual’s ability to encompass even a significant fraction of it. Our intellectual icons of today are confined to one or two narrow disciplines. Einstein, Schrodinger, Heisenberg, Feynman and Marie Curie are the names of geniuses we recognize for their lifelong work in the field of Physics. Genius status is awarded to some who devote their lives to the pursuit of excellence in Music, Geology, Medicine and dozens of other disciplines.

Genius does not come easily.

to any of the past’s great minds.

The SW is in its infancy and destined to evolve in unimaginable ways connecting human intelligence with the SW’s universe of knowledge and AI. Today over 90% of Americans access the SW with PCs or smart phones but only 30% use a DA (digital assistant or smart speaker). The DA costs about $40. In our home we have “Hey Google” in the bedroom and “Alexa” in the living room. We use them constantly. The DA can answer nearly any question from “what’s the low temperature tonight” or “what’s today’s closing price of my GM stock” to “what was Hitler’s dog’s name”. From

any room in the house, we can shout a question to either of these DAs and hear their answer. We love our DAs. We can only guess what kind of SW interface we’ll be using ten years from now, but for now the standard equipment for your home or workplace is a PC (desktop, tower, All- in- One, micro or notebook), a smart phone (Android or iOS) and a DA (Alexa, Google or Siri) Staying connected doesn’t cost a lot these days and unless your chosen lifestyle is “hermit/recluse”, the easiest way to keep up with what’s going on in the World is through connection to the SW. If you need any help or advice on the SW give us a call or stop in.

Most of us are not blessed with the kind of passion that creates genius.

We appreciate their lifetime of dedication and are enriched by the fruits of their genius. Radium has 88 electrons, 88 protons and 138 neutrons. It took Marie Curie more than twenty years to figure that out yet I made the same discovery in five seconds simply by asking “Alexa”.

Thank you Marie Curie for your genius and years of hard work.

The SW (Smart Web) became available to us with the introduction of broadband Internet in 2001.

It contains the bulk of common and written knowledge. The SW continuously grows its data base and improves its AI (artificial intelligence). Already the SW gives users instant access to more knowledge and intelligence than was available

John Van Zante’s Critter Corner

You Can’t Buy a New Best Friend For Someone Else This Christmas

One of my first conversations with Lyle E. Davis, Editor and Publisher of The Paper, was about whether it’s okay to give a pet as a gift. I’ve always believed that you can’t buy a new best friend for someone else.

Lyle pretty much agreed, and, as Humphrey Bogart told Claude Rains in Casablanca, “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

I’m not saying it never works when someone gives a pet as a gift. Especially when Mom and Dad gift a

family pet for their kids. But most people want to pick their own pets. If you surprise someone with a puppy or kitten, you’re making a 10-to-20year commitment for them. Remember that puppies and kittens are only babies for a short time. After that they’re adolescents, then adults, then seniors, then geriatrics.

This Critter Corner reminds me of a neighbor who got his kids a new puppy every Christmas. A few months later, the puppies disappeared. I asked what happened to them. He said, “We only like puppies. We don’t want dogs.” We had a conversation (Okay…. I barked at him) and explained what happened to the puppies he dumped in the Cleveland National Forrest. As far as I know, he

Whether it’s for yourself, your family, or someone else who wants a pet for Christmas, consider breed characteristics, your housing situation, how much time you have, and your activity level. Then get the pet that fits your lifestyle.

never got another puppy. GOOD! Many breeders and pet stores sell puppies as young as five weeks old.

Experts agree that pups need at least eight weeks with their mom and littermates or a trained puppy raiser to avoid problems later.

Training your pet also means training yourself and your family. Make sure you’re all committed before taking or giving the responsibility of pet ownership.

If you’re still serious about giving someone a pet for Christmas, take them to a shelter or rescue. Invest the time for them to select their new best friend. Then pay the adoption fee and wish them Merry or Meowy Christmas.

The Paper • Page 12 • December 21, 2023

Gold from page 7 Gold and silver funds can be thought of as an investment in precious metals without the actual hassle of storing, buying, or selling them. The fund structure allows for more liquidity in that you can easily add or subtract from your gold or silver holdings without having to get items verified and physically shipped around the dealer network. Gold and silver funds aren’t direct investments, however, and they sometimes will not track exactly with the price of physical gold.

That said, they do still provide investors with the diversification of physical gold or silver without the carrying costs.

When we talk about gold and silver funds, we are speaking specifically about funds that provide exposure to physical gold and silver bars but are much more liquid because of the ability to trade shares across global markets.

There are also funds that invest in the stocks of companies mining deposits of these precious metals.

We will take a closer look at these investments next.

Investing in Gold and Silver Mining Stocks Gold and silver mining stocks are heavily influenced by the market price of the deposits they are mining, but the connection isn’t always exact. Miners are judged by the quality of the deposits they’ve assayed and the feasibility of getting the metal out of the ground, and this complex judgment is being recalculated every time the market value of those deposits changes.

There is also a significant segmentation within the mining industry, with junior mining companies that are in the development and exploration phase. These companies prospect for land with a higher chance of uncovering large mineral deposits. Junior mining stocks tend to be more volatile than those of major mining companies, which tend to track more closely to metals prices based on their proven deposits. Major mining companies are also more likely to be in a position to pay dividends along with modest appreciation when prices are strong.

Although there are pure gold and silver plays in both the junior and major categories, investors looking to invest in gold and silver mining stocks may be better served by a sector ETF like the VanEck Gold Miners ETF (DGX) or iShares MSCI Global Silver Miners ETF (SLVP). Like the stocks themselves, the ETFs can offer a mix of dividend yield and appreciation. If you are set on investing directly in particular

stocks, it is important to understand the industry and get familiar with the preliminary feasibility studies, reserve estimates, and valuation methods you can apply with this information.

Investing in Physical Forms of Gold and Silver Jim Ellis, Escondido Coin: Physical gold and silver are, of course, the original ways people invested in these popular precious metals.

Wearable wealth like jewelry was followed by coins and more standardized forms of physical gold and silver. Today, investors have two categories of precious metals to choose from: bullion and jewelry.

Buying physical gold and silver in either of these forms generally involves going through a dealer.

This can either be done online or in person, with reputation being the key factor in choosing, followed by markup and fees. The structure of the physical gold and silver market means dealers play an important role in verifying the purity of the metal being purchased and usually offer complementary services like storage and insurance.

Investing in Gold and Silver Bullion Mack Hembree, Gems N Loans: Gold and silver are both mined from deposits in the earth’s crust.

This raw form is then extracted and refined before being alloyed.

The amount of alloyed metals depends on the application. Gold, for example, is alloyed with silver or copper to give it more strength when being formed into jewelry, while gold bullion should contain the bare minimum of alloys needed to keep it firm.

Bullion is a term that encompasses physical bars and coins, but we’ll deal with the bars first. Bars are formed rectangles of gold or silver that are 99.5% or higher in terms of purity. Bars vary in size from under an ounce all the way up to 400 ounces. Bars have a stamp that is the equivalent of the manufacturer’s label indicating the weight and purity. One of the reasons a reputable dealer is essential is because there are many ways to create counterfeit forms of physical goods like a gold bar.

Gold bullion was once considered to be strategically important to national governments because some currencies followed a gold standard, where the currency was backed by a physical equivalent of gold and could, in theory, be traded in for gold. Since the 1970s, however, we have been operating in a fiat currency system. Therefore, when people are turning to gold as the last store of value in fear of a financial crisis, they are usually looking at gold bars as a way to

protect against fiat currencies.

Regardless of individual reasons for wanting to invest in gold and silver bullion, bullion bars come with some of the highest barriers. For instance, they have to be stored securely, should have insurance, and must be physically sold to realize gains. A major risk with gold bars is that they can be stolen. They can also be hard to liquidate in larger sizes. This means investors have to think about the size of the bar—10 one-once bars are easier to parcel and sell than one 10-ounce bar—and where it is kept.

Outsourcing this to a service provider is a natural solution, but it becomes an ongoing cost and a drag on eventual returns. Moreover, although bars are the purest form of physical gold or silver, they are still value-added, formed products with a markup over melt value and dealer-specific fees or charges (shipping, storage, insurance, etc).

What’s the Best Way to Invest in Gold?

There is no one best way to invest in gold. If you are looking to own physical gold, bullion bars are the most cost efficient way as the aesthetics matter less than the purity and weight, so the markup is reduced. If you are looking for exposure to gold as a financial hedge in a portfolio, it is hard to beat an ETF for liquidity and ease of purchase. If you are looking to trade off the gold price action, then options on gold futures require the least amount of capital and bring leverage to the table. The only ways of investing gold that can be considered “bad” are bullion coins and jewelry, as the aesthetic angle makes them more of a collectible than an investment.

Should I Invest In Gold?

Investors looking to enjoy the touch, feel, and security of owning gold may wish to buy gold bars instead of intangible investments such as gold exchangetraded funds (ETFs).

Physical, investment-grade gold, also referred to as gold bullion, can be purchased at spot price, which is the price of unfabricated gold plus additional costs, which vary depending on the seller. One of the reasons many investors buy physical gold is that it can be liquidated in the unlikely event of a total economic collapse.

Key Takeaways • The most standardized way of directly owning physical gold is by acquiring bullion bars.

• Before purchasing, buyers should research reputable dealers and check the bars’ purity, form,

size, and weight.

• Purchasing gold bars comes with extra costs, including storage, insurance, and a sales markup.

• Online dealers may have a larger selection, but additional shipping and insurance costs exist.

• Gold buyers should also be aware of the cost of storing gold safely or paying for third-party storage.

When you receive the gold bars, it may be a good idea to keep them in their packaging to prevent scratches and store them in a home safe or safety deposit box.

You will likely be responsible for paying for delivery fees and insurance.

Considerations When Buying Gold Storage Potential investors should also consider how they plan to store their gold bars. While it is possible to keep gold bars in a safe at home, many investors prefer to keep their gold in a safe-deposit box or with a custodian. These services typically charge a fee but provide better security than a home safe.

Insurance If you choose to store gold at home, you should consider taking out an insurance policy. In the event of theft, flooding, or other disasters, you may be unable to retrieve your gold.

Unlike bank deposits, safe deposit boxes are not federally insured.

Purity Investment-quality gold bars should be at least 99.5% (995) pure gold.1 The rest is an alloy, usually silver or copper, that makes smelting possible.

People who purchase gold bullion as an investment should only buy a bar with its manufacturer’s name, weight, and purity, usually expressed as 99.99% stamped on its face. Popular mints that produce gold bars include the Royal Canadian Mint, Perth Mint, and Valcambi.

Size Gold bar buyers should consider the ease with which they can liquidate the bars as part of the buying process.

For example, if gold is selling at $1,400 per ounce and an investor has $14,000 with which to buy gold bullion, they will usually

Gold continued on page 13

The Paper • Page 13 • December 21, 2023

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Gold from page 12 have an easier time selling the gold down the road if they buy 10 bars that weigh 1 ounce, rather than one 10-ounce bar. They can sell the 1-ounce bars one at a time as needed, while they might have a harder time finding a buyer for the 10-ounce bar if they need to sell quickly. Conversely, considering the tiny size of gram gold bars, investors sometimes save up to buy bars of a more substantial size.

Gold Bars vs. Investing Some investors may want collector’s items, while others may wish for plain gold bars, which typically are the easiest to hold longterm and convert to cash. For this reason, plain gold bars tend to be a popular choice among investors seeking gold as a safe haven investment.

Stock and gold prices tend to move in opposite directions, which is why many investors use gold to store value during stock price drops.

However, gold bars do not pro-

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Comparing Gold Bar Sellers When browsing the bullion market, investors should be aware of gold’s spot price. Finance websites that display stock tickers usually display the daily price of gold.

Gold is relatively easy to buy, but prices vary significantly as sellers include their desired profit margin plus additional costs such as authentication certificates, shipping and handling, and payment processing fees. A price comparison, including the different sellers’ charges, is critical to getting the best price on gold bars.

What to Look for in a Seller Gold bar buyers should review websites like the Better Business Bureau and Ripoff Report to learn more about a gold seller’s reputation. In general, reputable gold sellers must disclose all the fees required to close a transaction upfront.

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Buyers in the U.S. should also do their due diligence before buying gold from sellers abroad. Even when the gold bars are authentic, seller charges may be excessive, and buyers might face issues clearing the gold through customs, depending on the quantity purchased.

Investors should know that gold as a commodity tends to perform well during economic recessions.

During periods of economic turmoil, many investors may be inclined to look to gold as an investment opportunity. These are periods in which potential gold scammers may also be most active.

How Much Does It Cost to Buy Gold Bars?

The price of gold bars fluctuates with demand. Its price on June 17, 2023, was $1,961 per ounce.

Is Gold a Better Investment Than Silver?

As precious metals, gold and silver have many common qualities, and their prices often move together. However, they do have differences. Silver tends to be more volatile than gold, and its

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industrial applications mean the price is more closely linked to commercial activity. Gold tends to be more stable and has a better track record as an anti-inflation hedge.

The Bottom Line While gold is a popular hedge against inflation, that doesn’t always mean it’s a good investment. Physical gold incurs large additional costs related to transportation and storage. Moreover, authenticating a gold bar can add to your transaction costs.

Investments in other types of precious metal bullion, such as silver, provide another means of diversification beyond gold bars.

What Is the Most Precious Metal?

There are two metrics used to determine what is the most precious metal, those being price and rarity. The most expensive precious metal is rhodium. As of June 2022, rhodium carries a price tag of $14,000 an ounce. Compare that to around $980 for platinum and around $1,850 for gold.

The Paper • Page 14 • December 21, 2023

Travel Troubleshooter from page 6 sary documentation. I received an email in return, saying the refund process would take some time and asking that I be patient. A few weeks later, Cunard refunded $4,544, yet the cost of the cruise was $6,872. The difference of $2,328 is still owed.

Can you help me get the rest of my refund? ~ Jacque Ewing-Taylor, Chula Vista, Calif.

A: I’m sorry about your canceled cruise. Most cruises are canceled long before guests arrive at the port, but it looks like yours was canceled at the last minute after you had flown from San Diego to London. What a disappointment that must have been.

Cunard did the right thing by promising to reimburse your expenses.

But it should have refunded you for everything instead of shorting you $2,328. The paper trail between you and Cunard offers no clue about the $2,328 shortfall.

I have a few theories. At the time of your cancellation, Cunard wanted to ensure everyone got home safely and stress-free, so its offer to cover your expenses made sense. But then the accountants got involved, and they had to decide which expenses were legit and who was taking advantage of a situation. (For example, a passenger who flew to London in economy class but then decided to book first-class tickets home after the cancellation.)

I think it’s important to be as specific as possible when making an offer to reimburse a traveler’s expenses. Based on the information you sent, Cunard was perhaps short on detail.

Still, a promise is a promise. When the company failed to pay up, you could have reached out to one of the Cunard executives whose names I publish on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org. I also have some practical tips on how to fix the issue yourself using the Elliott Method.

You tried the executive contacts, but unfortunately, they did not respond. Then you reached out to my advocacy team and we checked in with Cunard on the status of your refund. In response, Cunard sent you a polite email.

“We are truly sorry that you were not able to experience your cruise vacation due to the voyage cancellation,” it said. “Please know the circumstances are unusual and never what we anticipate for our guests.”

Cunard refunded everything -- the cruise and both your plane tickets.

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.

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LEGALS SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE ADOPTED ORDINANCE NO. 2023-1539 Ordinance No. 2023-1539 – An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of San Marcos Amending Title 20, Chapter 20.340 of the San Marcos Municipal Code, adding Chapter 20.350 to Title 20, and removing Chapter 12.36 from Title 12, codifying the Transportation Demand Management Ordinance. Ordinance No. 2023-1539 was introduced on November 11, 2023, and adopted by the City Council of San Marcos, California, on December 12, 2023, by the following roll call vote: AYES: SANNELLA, MUSGROVE, JONES, JENKINS, NUÑEZ. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. A certified copy is posted in the office of the City Clerk at 1 Civic Center Dr., San Marcos, CA. Phil Scollick, City Clerk, City of San Marcos.

PD: 12/21/2023 INTRODUCED ORDINANCE NO. 2023 - 1540 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS APPROVING A SPECIFIC PLAN FOR THE RESTAURANT ROW SPECIFIC PLAN AREA CONSISTING OF 202 MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL UNITS, 10,400 SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL SPACE, AND A 1.1ACRE PUBLIC PARK. Ordinance 2023-1540 was introduced on December 12, 2023, and will be presented to the City Council for adoption on January 9, 2024.

A certified copy is posted in the office of the City Clerk at 1 Civic Center Drive, San Marcos, CA. Phillip Scollick, City Clerk, City of San Marcos.

PD: 12/21/2023 ORDINANCE NO. 2023 - 1541 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS APPROVING A REZONE OF 10.5 ACRES FROM MIXED-USE 1 (MU-1) AND LIGHT INDUSTRIAL (L-I) TO SPECIFIC PLAN AREA (SPA) ZONE. Ordinance 2023-1541 was introduced on December 12, 2023, and will be presented to the City Council for adoption on January 9, 2024. A certified copy is posted in the office of the City Clerk at 1 Civic Center Drive, San Marcos, CA. Phillip Scollick, City Clerk, City of San Marcos.

PD: 12/21/2023

Letters from page 4 of those heritage websites....but would that be enough to find these genetic diseases? I’m stunned.

And thank you to Renee Staska of Australia for being brave enough to ‘lay out’ her life, feelings and prayers to the world!!

Thank you Anita Bunting San Marcos, CA *** Lyle, your cover story on Childhood & Teenage dementia written by your wonderful scribe Friedrich Gomez was truly groundbreaking!

You’re the ONLY North County publication that not only brings us regional-connected storylines but you also bring the national and world news to our North County doorsteps! It is little wonder that your weekly magazine has a powerful online readership far beyond our San Diego County region, which is something all other publications lack and pale in comparison! The childhood dementia saga which kills a child every 11 min-

utes needed to be told for wider legislation for funding research to stop this horrifying and unspeakable scourge that is mercilessly slaughtering our young ones! My family met Friedrich Gomez at the Encinitas Oktoberfest a couple months back and he respectfully introduced us to his gorgeous girlfriend, Kimberly. Friedrich is such a wonderful, sweetheart of a human being as we read in his dementia cover story that he is even a dementia caregiver to an elderly Scottish woman he refers to as Mary Queen of Scots. Lyle, is the Scottish woman Friedrich refers to in his cover story your ex-wife?

Some of our neighbors and friends have said that she is your ex-wife.

Regardless, it brought tears to our eyes reading how Friedrich lovingly takes care of her and brings her such joy and happiness! God bless you Lyle and your precious writer Friedrich Gomez! We’ve all fallen in love with Friedrich, the world needs more people like him!!! ~ Caroline Douglas, Encinitas, California.

The Paper • Page 15 • December 21, 2023

LEGALS

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9022118 The name of the business: Tina’s Too, located at 938 S. Andreasen Dr., #A, Escondido, CA 92029.

Registrant Information: Tots And Eggs Inc, 938 S. Andreasen Dr., #A, Escondido, CA 92029.

This business is operated by a Corporation. First day of business: 4/1/2023 /s/ Christopher S. Nelson, President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 10/27/2023 11/23, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9021707 The name of the business: PPMC, Priceless Production Promotional Management Clothing Company, located at 11221 Canyon Park Drive, Santee, CA 92071.

Registrant Information: Jonathan Price, 11221 Canyon Park Drive, Santee, CA 92071. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 10/24/2023 /s/ Jonathan Price with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 10/24/2023 11/23, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9022496 The name of the business: Fancy Plantings, located at 10990 Magnolia Avenue, Carlsbad, CA 92008. Registrant Information: Patricia Lynn Phaneuf, 1090 Magnolia Avenue, Carlsbad, CA 92008. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Patricia Lynn Phaneuf with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/3/2023 11/23, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023203 The name of the business: Bach And Boujee, located at 2483 J Street, San Diego, CA 92102.

Registrant Information: Gabrielle Marie Dwyer, 2483 J Street, San Diego, CA 92102. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Gabrielle Marie Dwyer with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/16/2023 11/23, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023092 The name of the business: Tile Art, located at 1339 Corte Lira, San Marcos, CA 92069. Registrant Information: Armando Esteban Aguirre, 1339 Corte Lira, San Marcos, CA 92069. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Armando Esteban Aguirre with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/14/2023 11/23, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9022456 The name of the business: Sign Shop San Diego, located at 1330 Keystone Way, Ste D, Vista, CA 92081. Registrant Information: Scott Drake Worrell, 415 Auburn Ave., San Marcos, CA 92069.

This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 10/26/2023 /s/ Armando Esteban Aguirre with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/2/2023 11/23, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023370 The name of the business: Nichole’s Nest, located at 77 Via Larga Vista, Bonsall, CA 92003.

Registrant Information: Nichole

Schaffer, 77 Via Larga Vista, Bonsall, CA 92003. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Nicholle Schaffer with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/17/2023 11/23, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023160 The name of the business: Phoenix Scientific, Next Gen Of Work, located at 251 N. City Drive, Suite 127, San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant Information: Ridge Diversified Holdings LLC, 251 N. City Drive, Suit 127, San Marcos, CA 92078. This business is operated by a Limited Liability Company. First day of business: 3/10/2010 /s/ James R. Ridge, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/15/2023 11/23, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023104 The name of the business: Circle Home Improvements and Remodels, located at 1403 Fremont St., Vista, CA 92084.

Registrant Information: Call Craig The Handy Helper, 1403 Fremont St., Vista, CA 92084. This business is operated by a Corporation. First day of business: 9/22/2023 /s/ Craig A. Hanes, President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/15/2023 11/23, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023151 The name of the business: EMA Therapy, located at 334 Via Vera Cruz Ste 255, San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant Information: Ellie Anne Messinger-Adams, 1544 Sapphire Ln, Vista, CA 92081. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Ellie Anne Messinger-Adams with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/15/2023 11/23, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023629 The name of the business: San Diego Special Education Advocates, San Diego SEA, located at 1094 Cudahy Place Suite 112, San Diego, CA 92110.

Registrant Information: San Diego Special Education Advocates LLC, 1094 Cudahy Place Suite 112, San Diego, CA 92110. This business is operated by a Limited Liability Company. First day of business: 1/4/2023 /s/ Sarah Tira, President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/22/2023 11/30, 12/7, 12/14, 12/21/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023505 The name of the business: Zia Cab, located at 43151 Camino Caruna, Temecula, CA 92592. Registrant Information: Ahmad Zia Fazli, 43151 Camino Caruna, Temecula, CA 92592. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Ahmad Zia Fazli with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/21/2023 11/23, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9022983 The name of the business: Muna LLC, Everest Coast, located at 2712 Locker Ave West, Suite 1121, Carlsbad, CA 92010.

Registrant Information: Muna LLC, 2712 Locker Ave. West, Suite 1121, Carlsbad, CA 92010.

This business is operated by a

Limited Liability Company. First day of business: N/A /s/ Adolf Singh, Managing Member with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/13/2023 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023401 The name of the business: Jeff The Solar Guy, located at 721 Arthur Ave., Oceanside, CA 92057.

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

This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 11/15/2023 /s/ Jeffrey William Massidda with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/20/2023 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023612 The name of the business: Romel Taxi, located at 3439 Northwood Dr., Oceanside, CA 92058.

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

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

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

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

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

Registrant Information: Zabie Wahab, 13139 Russet Leaf Ln., San Diego, CA 92129. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Zabie Wahab with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/29/2023 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT 2023-9023968 The name of the business: Exray, located at 1847 Jamaica Way, Vista, CA 92081. Registrant Information: Connected Threads LLC, 1847 Jamaica Way, Vista, CA 92081. This business is operated by a Limited Liability Company. First day of business: 11/27/2023 /s/ Brennan Cassidy, COO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/29/2023 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9024214 The name of the business: R3 Investigative Services, located at 2110 Hawley Dr., Vista, CA 92084. Registrant Information: Rachel Uchida-McCord, 2110 Hawley Dr., Vista, CA 92084.

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

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

The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed actions.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

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

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

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

If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 11/21/2023 /s/ Dhong Thanh Nguyen with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/21/2023 12/14, 12/21, 12/28, 1/4/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9024540 The name of the business: Smith Cab, llocated at 3579 Surf Pl., Oceanside, CA 92056. Registrant Information: Bradley H Smith, 3579 Surf Pl., Oceanside, CA 92056. This business is operated

by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Bradley H Smith with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/6/2023 12/14, 12/21, 12/28, 1/4/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9024200 The name of the business: Softcom Company, located at 4418 Mount Lindsey Ave., San Diego, CA 92117. Registrant Information: Motomi Ito, 4418 Mount Lindsey Ave., San Diego, CA 92117.

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

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

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

25 No hearing will occus on above date.

The address of the court is: 325 S. Melrose, Vista, CA. 92081. A copy of the Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: San Marcos News Reporter, dba, The Paper, 845 W. San Marcos Blvd, San Marcos, Ca. 92078. Dated January 30, 2023 /s/ Brad A. Weinreb, Judge of the Superior Court 12/14, 12/21, 12/28, 1/4/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9024894 The name of the business: Top Tier Contracting, located at 4985 Eucalyptus Ln., Carlsbad, CA 92008. Registrant Information: BD Young Enterprise Inc., 4985 Eucalyptus Ln., Carlsbad, CA 92008. This business is operated by a Corporation. First day of business: N/A /s/ Dezarae Young, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/13/2023 12/21, 12/28, 1/4, 1/11/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9024691 The name of the business: Rad Jammer Designs, located at 2492 Longstaff Ct., San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant Information: Calista Mikel Mejia, 2492 Longstaff Ct., San Marcos, CA 92078. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 12/7/2023 /s/ Calista Mikel Mejia with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/8/2023 12/21, 12/28, 1/4, 1/11/2024

The Paper • Page 16 • December 21, 2023