December 26, 2024

December 26, 2024

Volume 54 - No. 52

STOLEN HISTORY OF GERMAN-AMERICANS

THE UNTOLD STORY LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

By Friedrich Gomez It may come as a complete surprise to most that the largest single ethnic group in America today are not the English – as many might surmise -but German.

Yes, England is still historically referred to as our “Mother Country,” and our Founding Fathers were, in large numbers, English, as were most of the early presidents of the United States who claimed English ancestry. Academics on this subject are more surgically precise: “The extent of English heritage varies with earlier presidents being pre-

dominantly of colonial English Yankee stock.”

Perhaps a broader and more accurate ethnic analysis would be to surmise that the lineage of most early American Presidents to have been predominantly of British origin. In essence, all of our U.S. Presidents were/are of multi-ethnic origin, such as Richard Nixon who was of Scots, Irish, English, and German lineage.

Today’s current U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is Scottish on his maternal side (his mother was Mary Anne MacLeod), but German on his

The Paper • 760.747.7119 online: www.TheCommunityPaper.com

email: thepaper@cox.net

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

ALBERT EINSTEIN

father’s side. Trump’s grandfather, Friedrich, was the first to emigrate to America, but Donald Trump and his father both downplayed their German roots. Donald Trump personally comments on the reason later in this exclusive report to The Paper – but we’re getting ahead of our storyline.

Maryland, Massachusetts, Georgia, Virginia, etc. were named after counterparts in England. And though America has no official language (as most other countries have) our “unofficial” language which is most widely-spoken today is, of course, English. And to tie a bow around it all, England remains our closest ally.

Nevertheless, the early British influence has long permeated the DNA of America.

But the train of similarity comes to a screeching halt after that.

Additionally, a surplus of our cities and states and even large regional areas, such as New England, New York, Boston, New Hampshire,

Our “lost history” and our true and proud cultural identity has accurately “re-emerged,” and yet many Americans today “continue to get it wrong.”

Silent Majority See Page 2

The Paper • Page 2 • December 26, 2024

Silent Majority from page 1 According to the latest American census reports, over 55 million Americans now claim German ancestry, which officially makes them the largest single ethnic group in the United States.

And once again, the news media feels compelled to remind us of this “hidden,” often forgotten segment of our population aka “The Silent Majority,” which are the GermanAmericans. As a matter of fact, just weeks ago, on 6 December 2024 the esteemed and powerful Washington Post ran the following headline in bold type: “WHAT’S AMERICA’S LARGEST ETHNIC GROUP, AND WHY DID WE GET IT WRONG FOR SO LONG?” The Washington Post prepares the reader by first firing an antithetical cannonball over the bow of conventional thinking: “The identity of America’s largest ethnic group has long seemed cut and dried.”

If you divide Hispanics into Mexican-Americans, Cuban-Americans, Puerto Rican-Americans, et

Give Us This Day Our Daily Chuckle

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

In 1972, Joe Miller was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from Tulsa Junior College.

On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed, so Joe approached it very carefully. He got down on one knee, inspected the elephants foot, and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it. As carefully and as gently as he could, Joe worked the wood out with his knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot.

The elephant turned to Joe, and with a rather curious look on its face, stared at him for several tense moments. Joe stood frozen, thinking of nothing else but being trampled.

Eventually the elephant trumpeted

al, then it’s not even a close horse race.

German blood and German people are, officially, the most dominant ethnic group, by far, in America today . . . and have been (which shall be explained later in this investigative report).

And as we prepare to stride into the 2025 New Year, the burgeoning number of German-Americans continues to increase.

Unlike other ethnic groups, German-Americans keep a relatively lower-profile.

Italian-Americans are quick to identify themselves – just ask Sylvester Stallone, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro. Equally vocal are the Irish-Americans and other hyphenated American groups such as the English, the Greeks, the Jews, Russians, French, well, just about everyone else.

that is only 0.5% of the entire German-American population in this country that are fluent in their own language.

9. Russian 10. German

This was not always so.

Ironically, the largest ethnic group in all America . . . is now been relegated to being the “Silent Majority.”

GERMAN WAS ONCE THE MOST WIDELY-SPOKEN LANGUAGE IN AMERICA, 2ND ONLY TO ENGLISH. There existed an earlier time in America when the German culture openly flourished before it was curtailed.

Unknown to many people today, German was once the most widely-spoken language in all America, second only to English.

Today, the once-pervasive German language, second only to English, has plummeted to a lowly 10th place. Today the 10 most widelyspoken languages in America are, in transmission order, as follows:

If there is any downside to this hyphenated ethnic coin it is that out of the 55 million German-Americans who claim such ethnicity on their census forms, only 1.38 million actually speak German in the United States. Sadly, for me (who speaks this beautiful language),

1. English 2. Spanish 3. Chinese (incl. Mandarin) 4. Tagalog (Filipino language) 5. Vietnamese 6. French & French Creole 7. Arabic 8. Korean

loudly, turned, and walked away.

Joe never forgot that elephant or the events of that day.

survey their land in order to track a nearly endangered species.

Thirty years later, Joe was walking through the Tulsa Zoo with his family. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and walked over to near where Joe and his family were standing. The large bull elephant stared at Joe, lifted its front foot off the ground, then put it down The elephant did that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring at the man.

Remembering the encounter in 1972, Joe could not help wondering if this was the same elephant.

Joe summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing, and made his way into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder. The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of Joe’s legs and slammed him against the railing killing him instantly.

The letter requested use of the landowners’ creek to document the amphibian life represented, specifically the foothill yellow-legged frog which is noted to have recently declined in population. I love this response.

“Dear Mr. Niemela: Thank you for your inquiry regarding accessing our property to survey for the yellow-legged frog. We may be able to help you out with this matter.

We have divided our 2.26 acres into 75 equal survey units with a draw tag for each unit. Application fees are only $8.00 per unit after you purchase the “Frog Survey License” ($120.00 resident / $180.00 Non-Resident).

••••

You will also need to obtain a “Frog Habitat” parking permit ($10.00 per vehicle). You will also need an “Invasive Species” stamp ($15.00 for the first vehicle and $5.00 for each add’l vehicle) You will also want to register at the Check Station to have your vehicle inspected for non-native plant life prior to entering our property. There is also a Day Use fee, $5.00 per vehicle.

Oregon ranchers, Larry and Amanda Anderson received a letter from the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife asking for permission to

If you are successful in the Draw you will be notified two weeks in advance so you can make necessary plans and purchase your “Creek

Probably wasn’t the same elephant.

This is for everyone who sends me those heart-warming bullcrap stories.

(Source: U.S. Census Bureau)

Early German immigrants had moved in great numbers to New York and Chicago and many who resided in countless small Midwestern towns spoke German almost exclusively. German-language newspapers, movie theatres and even churches grew in leaps and bounds. As American historians note: “In some of these areas, the German influence was so pervasive that other non-German settlers ended up learning German so they could communicate with fellow residents.

Germans helped establish General Electric and designed New York’s Brooklyn Bridge. They dominated the beer industry and that influence lingers in name brands like Busch, Miller and Pabst.”

Silent Majority continued on page 3 Habitat” stamp. ($18.00 Resident / $140.00 Non-Resident). Survey units open between 8am and 3pm but you cannot commence survey until 9am and must cease all survey activity by 1pm.

Survey Gear can only include a net with a 2″ diameter made of 100% organic cotton netting with no longer than an 18″ handle, nonweighted and no deeper than 6′ from net frame to bottom of net.

Handles can only be made of BPAfree plastics or wooden handles.

After 1pm you can use a net with a 3″ diameter if you purchase the “Frog Net Endorsement” ($75.00 Resident / $250 Non-Resident).

Any frogs captured that are released will need to be released with an approved release device back into the environment unharmed.

As of June 1, we are offering draw tags for our “Premium Survey” units and application is again only $8.00 per application. However, all fees can be waived if you can verify Native Indian Tribal rights and status.

You will also need to provide evidence of successful completion of “Frog Surveys and You” comprehensive course on frog identification, safe handling practices, and self-defense strategies for frog at-

Chuckles continued on page 14

The Paper • Page 3 • December 26, 2024

Silent Majority from page 2 In Pennsylvania, which has a large German-American population, German was long allowed as the language of instruction in schools and, according to state records: “State documents were available in German until 1950.”

So, what happened?

Why has the Germanic language dwindled to near-extinction in proportion to its majority population of self-professed German-Americans as reported in U.S. Census reports and the American Community Survey Data (ACS)?

And why did German-Americans become the “Silent Majority”?

At the onset of World War I, extreme anti-German feelings surfaced in America and, as a result, the fluency of the language decreased from one generation to the next until, today – as previously cited -- only a small fraction of people with German ancestry are actually fluent in the German language.

IN AMERICA IT WAS AGAINST THE LAW TO EVEN SPEAK GERMAN IN PUBLIC. The level of suppression of the language was so extreme during World War I that it was not only a social taboo but, in some instances, a legal issue: “Many states forbade the use of German in public schools to the point where speaking German in public was against the law in some regions.”

This anti-German hysteria during the First World War rose to such a crescendo that the widespread use of the language became limited to Amish and Olde Order Mennonite communities.

This linguistic debacle under the spectre of the First World War saw the German language lose its position as the second most widelyspoken language in the United States. This once-strong German influence would soon end abruptly.

And the German-American communities would recede into the silent majority.

World and domestic upheavals in history were the authors of this demise on American soil.

Often unjustly.

That residual is still felt and remains the primary reason behind the paltry number of fluent German-speakers today -- it is because the language was greatly suppressed by our country.

Historians quickly note that “Dur-

ing the First World War, parts of America grew hysterically antiGerman. Some Germans were spat at in the streets. The teaching of their language was banned in schools.”

This anti-German sentiment stayed on in some respects during that time. “German language books were burned or taken out of schools and libraries, Dachshunds (dogs) were kicked and GermanAmericans were forced to buy war bonds to prove their patriotism.”

Author, Erik Kirschbaum, in his enlightened book, “Burning Beethoven: The Eradication of German Culture in the United States During World War I,” gives further reasons for this decay.

“They (German-Americans) wanted to preserve their culture and keep it intact as long as they could.”

However, as Kirschbaum points out, historical events prevented this from happening, so the culture and language did not remain intact and cultural preservation flew out the window.

GERMAN-AMERICANS STOPPED SPEAKING GERMAN EVEN AT HOME & REFUSED TO TEACH THEIR CHILDREN. In short, German-Americans stopped speaking German even in their own households, nor did they teach their children during and after the First World War. As one report noted, “German-Americans not only stopped speaking German, they stopped reading German newspapers and they became whole-hearted Americans.”

They, understandably, tried their best to avoid unjust prejudice and persecution.

GERMAN-AMERICANS WERE KILLED & HANGED BY VIGILANTES & LYNCH MOBS. German surnames were poison at America’s theatre box office and, also, to the ears of the non-German populace which became inflamed with patriotism to the point of becoming dangerously jingoistic.

America’s largest and most powerful single ethnic group, suddenly, became suspect.

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 The Paper goes to print on Tuesday morning.

You are more likely to get published if you: • Submit your press release by the previous Friday.

• Keep It Simple: who, what, where, when, why.

• Send us something we can copy/paste. Please no brochures or flyers. Send a press release.

• Send photos as attachments, not embeded in the document.

Trump Victory Car Parade January 5 • 12:30pm Trump Victory Car Parade followed by free Popcorn and Movie: Fentanyl: Death Inc. at 2:00 pm at Christ Community Reformed Church 777 West Felicita Ave., Escondido CA 92025 to celebrate an epic comeback victory.

Salt and Light Council, RSVP: ops@saltandlightcouncil.org *** Parkinson’s Support Group Meeting January 6 • 10am to noon 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 Monday, January 6th is Kendra French from 101 Mobility who will be presenting “Creating a Safe Home”. 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) 749-8234 or (760) 5181963 if you have any questions. *** Queens Court Luncheon February 8 • 11:30am

“A lot of people thought the country was filled with spies and saboteurs and actually 30 German-Americans were killed (and hanged) by vigilantes and lynch mobs,” said Kirschbaum, whose own grandfather grew up speaking German but refused to speak it in his later years.

The Hidden Valley Vista City Council of Beta Sigma Phi International will hold its’ Queens Court Luncheon, “Cheers to the Queen of Hearts” on February 8, 2025, beginning at 11:30am at Meadowbrook Village Christian Retirement Center, 100 Holland Glen, Escondido, CA.

(The book, “Burning Beethoven,”

Cost is $38.00 per person. Menu choice is Cobb Salad.

Silent Majority continued on page 5

RSVP by calling Susie at 760-889-

3552 by January 30, 2025.

Chapter Queens will be honored.

Beta Sigma Phi is a social, cultural and philanthropic International Sorority, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, with chapters throughout the world. If you are interested in belonging to a special organization and make many new friends, call Sue at 858-484-8752. *** Music Men Chorus Looking For Guys Who Love To Sing A Cappella Do you like “a cappella” singing?

(No Accompaniment). Want to sing in a chorus that sings 4-Part, Close-Harmony Songs with beautiful ringing chords?

If you answer “Yes!”, come visit the Music Men at a Tuesday evening rehearsal and try Barbershop Style singing. We always welcome visitors to sing with us.

We sing a variety of song styles romantic ballads, patriotic songs, pop tunes, songs from movies and musicals, gospel/inspirational songs, and Holiday music - at public events and private venues in North County.

The Music Men rehearse most Tuesday evenings from 7:00-9:30 p.m. at San Marcos Lutheran Church, 3419 Grand Avenue, San Marcos 92078, in Luther Hall.

Contact Joe Pascucci at (760) 8453593 or joevalp@cox.net. Or check our website, musicmenchorus.org. *** Chess at Park Avenue Community Center Home of Escondido Senior Center 210 Park Avenue, Escondido 760-839-4688 Chess players of all skill levels are welcome every Wednesday in the shuffleboard building from Noon – 3 p.m. Friendly games with large boards and pieces provided. Follow the signs or ask at the front desk for directions.

The Paper • Page 4 • December 26, 2024

Local News

Sentencing for Man Who Killed Dog in Road Rage Incident A man has been convicted of one felony count of crimes against animals after brutally killing a 17year-old Bichon Frise mix named Benny during a road rage incident.

Todd Schuster maliciously and intentionally kicked the small senior dog, and subsequently ran him over with his vehicle before leaving the scene. On Dec. 16, he was sentenced to two years in prison and denied probation.

The incident occurred on April 22, at approximately 7 p.m., near Merrimack Avenue and Fond Du Lac Avenue in the City of San Diego.

The victim contacted San Diego Humane Society’s Humane Law Enforcement team to report the circumstances of Benny’s death.

Humane Officer S. Hill responded to investigate the case, canvass the neighborhood to locate and take statements from witnesses, and take custody of the dog’s remains. San Diego Humane Society’s medical team then assisted with the examination of Benny’s remains to document the extent of his fatal injuries.

Following the incident, Benny’s owner continued to receive threatening and obscene messages from Schuster. When Officer Hill was off-duty, she spotted Schuster’s vehicle and was able to alert the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) so that Schuster could be located and arrested.

Benny’s owner addressed Schuster in a victim statement provided to the court. “You affected my life

profoundly,” a portion of the statement reads. “Benny was my emotional support. He was the reason I made it out into the neighborhood, interacted with others… It’s not too much to say he gave me a reason for living when my depression threatened to take over… With one kick you took that away from me.”

Now that Schuster has been convicted and sentenced, San Diego Humane Society will be coordinating and covering the cost of private aftercare services for Benny, so that his owner can have his ashes back.

“While no measure of justice can erase the suffering caused to Benny and his owner, the fact that Schuster has been sentenced two years in prison helps bring closure to this investigation,” said San Diego Humane Society Humane Law Enforcement Lt. Regina Price.

“We hope this case serves as a reminder that justice will be pursued for those who cannot speak for themselves.”

San Diego Humane Society’s scope of social responsibility goes beyond adopting animals. We offer programs that strengthen the humananimal bond, prevent cruelty and neglect, provide medical care, educate the community and serve as a safety net for all pet families. Serving San Diego County since 1880, San Diego Humane Society has campuses in El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside, Ramona and San Diego. For more information, please visit sdhumane.org.

Letters to the Editor Lyle, we’re a bit behind the times and by that I mean we’ve been hearing raves about Valley View Casino for quite some time now from extended family members, neighbors, and even coworkers but we never took the plunge. Those beautiful full page color ads of Valley View which you run in The Paper finally became too irresistible to ignore and we got off our caboose and “discovered” it for ourselves! Wow! Our only regret is that we waited this long in turning a deaf ear to everyone and now we’re “regulars” at this beautiful resort that’s only a 20 minute drive from mid-Escondido (11.6 miles) which is by far the closest casino and one which has been voted repeatedly as number one by the public.

A great story is that we have friends staying with us from south Florida and they’re big fans of CountryRock (same as us) and tomorrow, December 21, we’re all “gung ho” in making plans to see one of our

jokes on its Chuckles page, great columns by experts in their field . . . and a round up of daily news.

One might even call it a news magazine. (I know the editor/publisher personally and he said it was okay to say that).

Man About Town Hi kids, this is Batman, the old Caped Crusader. Y’know, the ‘60s was a glorious era. I could still fit into my suit, Robin and I could hang out together without those rumors spreading, and even though the Batmobile got two miles a gallon, gas was still cheap enough that I could still afford Alfred.

I have retired from crime-fighting.

Oh, I’ll take an occasional gig . . . but, generally, I’m a retired gentleman.

I now serve as a mild-mannered reporter for a terrific weekly news magazine in North San Diego County.

As a Christmas Gift for those you love (and this includes yourself Love thy neighbor as you love thyself, I always say) nothing would make a better Christmas gift than a gift subscription to The Paper, a wildly successful weekly news magazine that features dynamite cover stories as well as hilarious

Whether you live in Gotham or sunny California, this weekly news magazine is just the ticket and would make a great gift.

Trust me. Those on your Christmas gift list will go bat-crazy for it.

Batman out. *** Will you give this to my Daddy?

As a Company, Southwest Airlines is going to support ‘Red Fridays’.

Last week I was in Atlanta , Georgia attending a conference. While I was in the airport returning home, I heard several people behind me beginning to clap and cheer. I immediately turned around and wit-

favorite Country Rock bands called Nitro Express which has amazing former band members from the Righteous Brothers and Dwight Yoakum! Then as a post-Christmas treat we’re all heading back to Valley View Casino & Resort on December 28 for another live performance to dance the night away, this time from the hugely popular group “Upstream” which features Caribbean and steel drum music that brings to life Reggae and Calypso music (our house guests have seen them off the Florida Keys and went crazy over them!).

Anyway, Lyle, just wanted to thank you for making our lives so exciting with not just live concerts, but also for incredible slot machine action, gaming tables, and an exciting array of restaurants and eateries from Asian cuisine (The Stix restaurant) to deep dish pizzas, handcrafted burgers, killer shakes, locally brewed draft beers, and cocktails (at Patties & Pints) as well as upscale dining with lobster and steaks at the Black & Blue Steakhouse (our favorite!).

As you can see, we’re dyed-in-thewool fans and we wish to thank you Lyle and The Paper for bringing a bit of “heaven on earth” with your Valley View Casino ads! Even though it took us stubborn mules a while to finally listen to all the fanfare from even our friends and coworkers! And God bless you Lyle for your U.S. military service to our country in defending our flag, our freedom, our way of life.

You’re a true American as are all our veterans.

Letters continued on page 14 nessed one of the greatest acts of patriotism I have ever seen.

Moving through the terminal was a group of soldiers in their camos.

As they began heading to their gate, everyone (well almost everyone) was abruptly to their feet with their hands waving and cheering.

When I saw the soldiers, probably 30-40 of them, being applauded and cheered for, it hit me. I’m not alone. I’m not the only red-blooded American who still loves this country and supports our troops and their families.

Of course, I immediately stopped and began clapping for these young unsung heroes who are putting their lives on the line everyday for us so we can go to school, work and home without fear or reprisal.

Just when I thought I could not be more proud of my country or of our Man About Town continued on page 5

The Paper • Page 5 • December 26, 2024

Silent Majority from page 3

Germanic root-names beneath the alterations.

ibid, by Erik Kirschbaum, 2015.)

It is duly recorded that during World War I, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson required about 250,000 German-born men, aged 14 and older, to register their address and employment to their local post office. As documented at the time: “About 6,000 of these people were arrested and 2,000 of them were deemed ‘dangerous,’ and were sent to internment camps.”

GERMAN NAMES “ANGLICISED” & U.S. CENSUS (INACCURATELY) SHOWED HIGHER NUMBER OF ENGLISH-AMERICANS. As a consequence of widespread U.S. suspicion and jingoism during both World Wars, many German surnames were “anglicised” to avoid suspicion and hatred.

Schmidt became Smith, Mauer and Mueller changed to Miller, and Braun morphed to Brown, to cite only a few examples.

Even first names were anglicised and Johann changed to simply John; Franz became Frank, Fritz became Fred, and Friedrich changed to Frederick, etc. As a consequence, U.S. Census reports (inaccurately) reflected a higher percentage of citizens with English surnames such as Smith, Jones, etc., instead of the

There were legions of great German-American patriots during both world wars but, sadly, many were callously treated and wrongly rushed to judgment.

To this day, such wrong-doings remain hugely unacknowledged. For example, it has long been highlypublicised in the print and visual media (both here and abroad) that the unjust internment of JapaneseAmericans and Italian-Americans during World War II was, in the opinion of many historians, a shameful act and, yet, the same

Man About Town from page 4

‘your daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and he is coming home very soon.’

service men and women, a young girl, not more than 6 or 7 years old, ran up to one of the male soldiers.

He kneeled down and said ‘hi.’

The mom at this point was crying almost uncontrollably and as the young soldier stood to his feet, he saluted Courtney and her mom. I was standing no more than 6 feet away from this entire event.

The little girl then asked him if he would give something to her daddy for her.

The young soldier, who didn’t look any older than maybe 22 himself, said he would try and what did she want to give to her Daddy. Then suddenly the little girl grabbed the neck of this soldier, gave him the biggest hug she could muster and then kissed him on the cheek.

The mother of the little girl, who said her daughter’s name was Courtney, told the young soldier that her husband was a Marine and had been in Iraq for 11 months now. As the mom was explaining how much her daughter Courtney missed her father, the young soldier began to tear up.

When this temporarily single mom was done explaining her situation, all of the soldiers huddled together for a brief second. Then one of the other servicemen pulled out a military-looking walkie-talkie. They started playing with the device and talking back and forth on it.

After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, ‘I spoke to your daddy and he told me to give this to you.’

He then hugged this little girl that he had just met and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He finished by saying

As the soldiers began to leave, heading towards their gate, people resumed their applause. As I stood there applauding and looked around, there were very few dry eyes, including my own. That young soldier in one last act of selflessness, turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney with a tear rolling down his cheek.

We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their families and thank God for them and their sacrifices. At the end of the day, it’s good to be an American.

RED FRIDAYS ----- Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The

plight which patriotic GermanAmericans suffered remains an asterisk in our academic history books.

In this regard, the silent majority descended even further from “silent majority” to virtually “invisible majority.”

And so it remains in 2024, a surprise to many that during the Second World War up to 10,000 German-Americans were forced into internment camps as “enemy aliens.”

Political scholars give a peek into the high-ranking U.S. Government’s attempt to subdue some of these expressions of anti-German extremism: “President Franklin Roosevelt conspicuously appointed military commanders with names like Eisenhower and Nimitz to fight the Axis powers. But the Holocaust gave German-Americans yet another reason to hide their origin.”

As recently as 2017, Germany’s Ambassador to the United States reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the ‘silent majority’. We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers.

We are not organized, boisterous or over-bearing. We get no liberal media coverage on TV, to reflect our message or our opinions. Many American, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of Americans supports our troops.

Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -and continues each and every Fridayuntil the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that..

Every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar will wear something red.

By word of mouth, press, TV -let’s make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers.

at the time, Peter Wittig, weighed in with his own thoughts regarding the unfair treatment of GermanAmericans in contrast to other ethnic groups: “They (German-Americans) have assimilated and prospered without any political help specifically tailored for their ethnic group.

The Greeks and the Irish have a far stronger support network and lobby groups than we do.”

The largest influx of Germans set foot on American soil during the mid-1800s. The steady stream has continued to this day. Still, they remain America’s Great Silent Majority.

According to The Economist Magazine: “Yet despite their numbers, they are barely visible.

Everyone knew that the Kennedy clan hailed from Ireland and (threeSilent Majority continued on page 12

If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and family. It will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once ‘silent’ majority is on their side more than ever; certainly more than the media lets on.

The first thing a soldier says when asked ‘What can we do to make things better for you?’ is...We need your support and your prayers.

Let’s get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example; and wear something red every Friday.

The Paper • Page 6 • December 26, 2024

‘Tis the Season for Scams The holiday season is prime time for scammers, with thousands of older adults scammed each year in San Diego County.

San Diegans over the age of 60 often become victims of scams, on average losing over $30,000, according to the FBI’s 2023 Elder Fraud Report. Older adults are often retired with no way to recover their life savings, whereas younger adults have more time to remedy their financial situation.

For years, local law enforcement lacked the tools and resources to investigate these cases and there was less connection between the FBI and the County’s Adult Protective Services (APS), which was receiving thousands of suspicious reports a year. In 2021 the law changed, allowing the agencies to share that vital information.

That same year, County Aging & Independence Services (AIS), the District Attorney’s Office and law enforcement representing jurisdictions throughout the region teamed up with the FBI to create the Elder Justice Task Force to investigate older adult scam cases and bring criminals to justice. To date, the task force has helped recover $3.3 million and both the District Attorney and U.S. Attorney’s office have successfully prosecuted the criminals involved.

Experts say scammers use layered schemes and fool people in different ways. Phone calls, texts, email and pop ups that appear to be legitimate communications from a bank, family member or government agency are ultimately tricks to steal money. They also note that no government agency will urge anyone to pay something immediately, especially with a wire transfer, gold, bitcoin or gift cards.

If you feel like you’re falling for a scam, follow these guidelines: • Stop engaging • Hang up, or close the device window • Look up the business online and call that number • If it’s a friend or family member, call them directly using a number you have used before.

“No one should be embarrassed if they fall victim to a scam, it can happen to anyone,” said Jessica Salazar, supervisor for the financial abuse unit at the County’s Adult Protective Services. “It’s important as soon as you realize something is wrong to call your financial institution and let them know in detail what happened.

That is the best way to try and get your money back.”

Salazar is part of a team focused on investigating older adult scam cases. Her team is busy with a steady flow of cases and collaborates with other teams in APS to manage the heavy caseload.

The County provided 33 Don’t Get Hooked trainings for more than 700 San Diegans across the region between July 2023 and June 2024.

Older adults, caregivers, family and friends of those most at risk learned about common scams, protection strategies, what to do if scammed, and signs to watch for to determine if a loved one is being scammed.

“Every day in San Diego more than a dozen seniors are likely walking into their banks after being traumatized by scammers and are trying to withdraw their life savings, convinced that their financial accounts have been compromised,” said Scott Pirrello, deputy district attorney.

If you know someone who has been scammed, report the case to local law enforcement and file a report with the FBI at www.IC3.gov.

To report any type of suspected financial elder abuse, please contact the APS Hotline at 800-339-4661. ***

A Guide to Avoiding Financial Scams While financial scams and fraud happen throughout the year, the holidays are a predictable time to see an increase. More online shopping and phone or email donation appeals means more opportunities for fraud. It is also an emotional time of year for many people, especially those who may feel lonely or isolated, which scammers can exploit.

Common Scams Targeting Older Adults Scams targeting people age 60 and older resulted in over $3.4 billion in losses in 2023 alone, according to the FBI. Here are some of the most common types of scams and fraud, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

• Charity: Scammer pretends to represent a real or made-up organization and asks for donations.

• Non-Delivery: A person buys something online but never receives the item.

• Grandparent: Scammer pretends to be a grandchild or relative in trouble and asks for money or gift cards.

• Tech Support: Scammer pretends to be a computer expert offering technical support to trick

5th District Supervisor

Jim Desmond

Battery Storage Facility Update Over the past year, we’ve discussed extensively the challenges and risks associated with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), particularly their safety concerns when located near homes and sensitive areas. This week, the Board of Supervisors took an important step toward addressing these concerns.

This year alone, three BESS facilities have caught fire in San Diego County, including the Otay Mesa facility, which burned for over two weeks. These incidents underscore the urgency of improving safety measures for these projects.

In response to these events, the Board voted to receive the “San Diego County BESS Best Practices Report” and implement interim guidelines based on its recommendations. These measures aim to make BESS projects safer for our communities while ensuring we stay ahead of evolving technology.

Key Highlights of Today’s Decision: • Interim Guidelines Implementation: County Fire will adopt updated standards, requiring technical studies, plume modeling, and safety measures such as 100-foot setbacks between project sites and property lines.

• Enhanced Collaboration: County Fire will continue working

people into giving access to their computers and personal information.

• Romance: Scammer pretends to be romantically interested in someone, develops trust and then asks for money or a loan.

• Blackmail: Scammer threatens to release personal information unless the victim sends money using wire transfer or gift cards.

• Investment: Scammer pretends to be a financial professional with urgent investment opportunities that are fake, including offers to teach you how to invest in cryptocurrency.

Suspected Scams What You Can Do Reporting financial scams or fraud can feel intimidating. Here are resources you can turn to for help.

• Eldercare Locator: Trained staff can connect you with local fraud reporting organizations in your community.

• Emergency 911: If you or some-

with industry leaders to refine best practices as technology advances.

• Future Statewide Fire Codes: With state-level fire codes for BESS expected next year, these interim guidelines provide a critical bridge to protect public safety.

• Procedural Clarifications: The Fire Chief has the authority to implement these guidelines without needing further Board action, allowing for prompt and effective implementation.

Safety for our residents remains our top priority. These updated regulations are a step forward in protecting our communities while continuing to research and improve the safety of BESS technology.

As always, we remain committed to balancing innovation with public safety and will revisit this issue as new information and technologies become available.

Thank you for your engagement in this vital matter. Together, we are working to safeguard our neighborhoods and ensure a safer future.

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

one you know is in immediate danger due to suspected financial fraud or abuse, then contact the police right away.

• National Elder Fraud Hotline: People age 60 and older who are victims of financial fraud can contact 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). A case manager will assist with the reporting process at the federal, state and local levels.

• Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker: A free tool to report or look up suspected scams which helps others avoid similar cons.

• National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA): Contact your state’s NAPSA office about suspected cases of elder abuse, including financial exploitation.

• Pass It On: A Federal Trade Commission (FTC) program with tools to share experiences of fraud and help prevent others Scams continued on page 7

The Paper • Page 7 • December 26, 2024

Historically Speaking

Christmas of Yesteryear in the Middle-West

By Tom Morrow Today’s anticipated Christmas booty would never appear on the dreamscape of most youngsters during the 1940s or early 50s.

What toy land wonders we didn’t know about in those days weren’t missed.

Comparatively speaking, postwar vintage toys were, at best, primitive. After the War, plastic was hard to get and metal of any kind was expensive. After the War, toys were, shall we say, fragile.

Fighting off Indians and robbers trying to win the American West. The biggest problem with six-shooters of the last half of the Scams from page 6

from being victims.

• Identity Theft: An FTC platform allowing victims to report identity theft, develop a personal plan to recover.

• Long-Term Care Ombudsman: People who live in licensed nursing homes or assisted living facilities and suspect they are victims of elder or financial abuse can contact a state or local LongTerm Care Ombudsman to act as advocate and provide information about licensing, monitoring and regulatory agencies to help residents stay safe.

10 Tips to Avoid Scams Here are some of the things you can do to prevent getting scammed or becoming a victim of financial fraud. Learn more from the FBI and CFPB. 1. Be wary of someone offering you a “great deal” that seems too good to be true or pressuring you to act quickly.

2. Do not be afraid to say “no” or hang up if you feel uncomfortable or suspicious about a phone call solicitation or to ignore suspicious emails or text solicitations.

3. Never send money using a gift

fourth decade (1940s) many toys, especially pistols, were made of compressed sawdust.

We had to lay our pistols down on the ground ever so gently lest it break apart. More than one occasion Mom came to the rescue, but got the barrel glued back a bit crooked … sometimes she glued the barrel upside down.

Roy, Gene and Hoppy would be shocked.

The only gift Santa might bring that would be close to that of today were “Tinker Toys” … the “Legos” of yesteryear.

Gift ideas for Santa was limited because there was no television.

Surveying hints for the big guy, as well as Mom and Dad were found primarily in store windows or in the annual Sears, Wards, or Spiegel catalogs. Somehow our requests were hinted to Mom and Dad. Of course, a little help from the U.S. Post Office was our backup for direct requests. Being “good” was always part of the

card or wire transfer directly to a seller or unknown person.

4. Do not click on suspicious links or attachments in text messages, emails, websites or social media.

5. Be suspicious of a company asking you by phone or email to update your password or account information. Look up the company’s phone number on your own and call the company to find out if the request is real.

6. Keep personal information in a safe and secure location that unauthorized individuals cannot access.

7. Do not share numbers or passwords for accounts, credit cards or Social Security.

8. Monitor your financial accounts by setting up alerts for unusual activity and reviewing statements more frequently during the holidays.

9. Build a strong support network and keep in touch with others to prevent social isolation. This can decrease the chances that you will experience financial exploitation and the likelihood that it goes unnoticed.

10. Stay informed about current scams and keep older family members up to date on official warnings about current scams or fraud.

Visit https://www.usaging.org/ h4h2024resources for more information.

honor unwrapped displayed among a pile giftwrapped goodies. On lean years, Mom would increase the gift count by separately wrapping socks, making the big day seem more abundant than it really was.

The ‘Lego’ of the 1940s bargain. Those items of joy neatly on display in stores had price tags. The price of $3.95 seemed to be the most popular number.

As it happened, the price was just a tad out of our Dad’s budget range.

Having lots of presents under the tree measured the amount of joy you expressed. If you were lucky enough to get a “biggie,” then it occupied a place of

Electric trains were high on the lists for most-coveted items. While Lionel train sets were the most popular, no self-respecting railroad man would be satisfied with anything but an “American Flyer.” Lionel train sets were powered via a “center” track — three total. “American Flyers” mimicked the real thing with just two rails. ‘Flyers” were authentic-looking in every respect. Mom didn’t understand such things. Dad did, but had trouble with a more expensive price tag. A Lionel set was around $14.95; An “American

Historically Speaking continued on page 14

The Paper

Owned & Operated by a Veteran

lyle e davis

“The state of Texas was never invaded while I was on duty at Fort Sam. You could look it up!”

US Army, Entertainment Director 1957-1959 Brooke Army Hospital Fort Sam Houston, Texas War Correspondent South Vietnam 1967-68 Assimilated Grade/Rank Lt. Colonel, MACV (Military Assistance Command, Vietnam)

The Paper • Page 8 • December 26, 2024

Airline seats are too small. What should we do about it?

Pamela Vetter deals with small airline seats like a lot of passengers: she pretends they don’t exist.

stead, let me tell you a story about a trip that brought this problem into sharp focus for me.

“I have a fully charged phone, and I just watch a movie,” says Vetter, the vice president of a networking organization in Los Angeles. “I immerse myself in it to distract me from the small seats.”

I recently flew from Helsinki to Copenhagen. As I boarded the aircraft, I noticed the uncomfortably thin and narrow seats. Like Vetter, after sitting down I could feel the seat in front of me pushing against my knees. There was no room to lean back. Then I saw the passenger behind me struggling to fit into his seat.

But lately, it’s been getting harder to make believe small airline seats aren’t a problem. On her recent flight from Chicago to LA, the economy seats felt narrower and offered less legroom than ever.

“My knees nearly touched the seat in front of me,” she recalls. “Then, when the person in front of me reclined, it got even worse, so it was challenging to lower my tray table when the fight attendants offered us drinks.”

She’s right. Planes don’t just feel more cramped than ever -- they are more cramped. There’s also a growing realization that small seats pose a real threat to our health and safety. And while there are ways to beat the system, the ultimate fix isn’t up to passengers.

Why are airline seats getting smaller?

Only 25 percent of airline passengers can now reasonably fit in

I turned and saw him protruding into the aisle.

A passenger on the author’s recent flight from Helsinki to Copenhagen.

(Photo by Christopher Elliott.) seats, according to FlyersRights, a nonprofit organization that closely tracks airline seat sizes.

“Airlines continue to shrink passenger space to force more people to pay more to upgrade to more legroom or larger seats,” says Paul Hudson, president of FlyersRights.

But why are the seats tighter than ever? There’s one obvious explanation: Back in 2022, Congress asked the Federal Aviation Ad-

ministration to set a minimum seat size, but that didn’t happen. Airlines interpreted that as a license to squeeze their seats closer together -- and so they did.

Is there a solution? Yes, but it won’t be easy.

The Flight That Changed Everything For Me We could have a polite discussion about shrinking seat sizes, but in-

I felt sorry for the traveler and for the guy next to him. I also empathized with the passengers who had to squeeze around this traveler when they tried to access the lavatory.

And clearly, there were some safety issues here -- a lot of safety issues.

Imagine if we had to evacuate the plane? Would he have been able to make it to the exit? Would he have blocked other passengers from getting out of the plane?

That flight changed the way I feel Seats continued on page 14

Happy New Year Tasty Ribs that fall off the bone, delicious side dishes, plenty to drink . . . all make for a New Year’s Eve Party at

Happy New Year!

Cosmic Solar serves all of N. San Diego County with your needs for solar & roofing.

Call! We’ll be happy to meet with you and give you a no obligation estimate!

760.749.1111

1356 W. Valley Parkway 760.746.4444 Grocery Outlet of San Marcos wishes each and every one of you a

Happy New Year!

We are happy to supply you with food and drink for this great holiday. Come See us!

125 S. Rancho Santa Fe Rd San Marcos, CA 760.571.5855

Marcia and Richard Jungas

California Funeral Alternatives “Our Family Serving Yours” 760-737-2890 Escondido FD1624

858-842-3000 Poway FD1994

From all the staff here at San Marcos Dental Center to you and your families, we hope you have a joyful and Happy New Year!

May the good things in life be yours in abundance, not only on this New Year’s Day, but throughout the years.

Dr. Gregory Hurt

ALLEN BROTHERS MORTUARY, INC.

San Marcos, CA • 760.734.4311

San Marcos Chapel Vista Chapel FD-1378 FD-1120 760-744-4522 760-726-2555

and the San Marcos Dental Center

www.allenbrothersmortuary.com

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

Escondido Coin & Loan 241 E. Grand, Escondido 760.745.1697

The Paper • Page 9 • December 26, 2024

Ready to Unlock Your Home’s True Value?

Are you 62 or older? A reverse mortgage can turn your home’s equity into a powerful income stream for retirement.

Here’s how it can boost your golden years: Monthly Payments

Line of Credit

Lump Sum

Reduce Mortgage Expenses

Opt for regular monthly payments to supplement your retirement income, helping to cover living expenses and maintain your lifestyle.

Receive a lump sum of cash to pay off debts, make home improvements, or cover unexpected expenses, freeing up your monthly budget.

Establish a line of credit that you can draw upon as needed, providing financial flexibility and peace of mind.

With a reverse mortgage, you’re not required to make monthly mortgage payments, potentially reducing your monthly expenses.

Laura Strickler Reverse Loan Consultant NMLS# 315848

C: (760) 518-9839 O: (949) 214-2805 F: (949) 606-7050 laura.strickler@nafinc.com www.laurastrickler.com Equal Housing Opportunity. This is not a loan commitment or guarantee of any kind. Terms and conditions apply. Subject to borrower and property qualifications. Not all applicants will qualify. Rates and terms are subject to change without notice. All mortgage loan products are subject to credit and property approval. © New American Funding, LLC. NMLS #6606. nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Corporate office 14511 Myford Rd., Ste 100, Tustin, CA 92780. Phone: (800) 450-2010. Borrower is responsible for paying taxes, insurance, and other property expenses. Borrower must occupy home as their principal residence. A new loan will require a new credit check, appraisal, title search, initial mortgage insurance premium, closing costs and fees. Consult your tax advisor. NMLS ID #6606. Licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act 11/2024

The Paper • Page 10 • December 26, 2024

The Pastor Says . . .

Joy and Envy A record of the making of the first Christmas card is in Matthew 2, where it tells the story of the Magi who take a long trip from their home in the East to journey to Judea in search of the newly born King of the Jews.

This card has all of the drama traditional Christmas cards have, with a desire to share the happy news of hope and expectation of this birth. The mystery of a star has led this entourage of astronomers across the desert to this land of the Jews. We don’t know how long this has been in preparation, more than what preparations have been in the cards we receive in the holiday season. We hope that we find some fulfillment on the part of those we seek to share with. While we don’t ask what has happened in Pastor Huls other’s lives, we want some word of knowing what we hope will satisfy our search. Thus, our cards often inquire about our desire to learn just as the magi desired. This card of the Magi is filled with good news and seeks a positive response from the receivers. It has all the elements of joy, peace, hope, and expectation. The card’s recipient is Herod, the puppet king of the Jews in Judea. He shares the excitement of the news with his closest friends. They even researched to help the Magi locate the King of the Jews. This is a great Christmas card, similar to the cards and letters we receive about travel, discovery, and family involvement, with a desire to share what has happened and continue with this good news with further participation. Isn’t this what our Christmas cards are all about? - travel, family, good news, a desire to share in the experiences of others. Of course, there is the element of the spiritual with quotes from the Bible and the story of the newly born King of the Jews.

But primarily, it is the story of our experiences, just like the Magi.

When we get the story, where does it all lead? Are we filled with joy? Are we happy others have had so many great experiences, including travel, family affairs, and an exciting year? Herod was not pleased with the story of the Magi. He fell prey to the vice of envy. His envy robbed him of the joy of the Magi. That Christmas card of the Magi lost its wonder and joy. Now, instead of sharing the joy of a newborn King, it became anger, frustration, and a life of sordidness. I wonder how many who receive those cards and letters with all the sharing of travel, hikes, family affairs, and successes fall prey to envy. There are times when I envy all that others have experienced. I must correct that with the spirit of the Christ who said I am to rejoice with those who rejoice. It is certainly not to envy them but to share their joy and happiness. Herod’s envy destroyed him. He sought to take away joy and, in so doing, died an envious and miserable person.

The meaning of Christmas cards and personal letters share the news that a King has been born, not only for the Jews but also for the entire world. The birth of Christ is our cause for joy and not envy.

Please call 760-746-6611 for more.

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

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

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

Pastor Huls

El Cajon 373 N. Marshall Ave. Escondido 3500 Burnet Drive Oceanside 572 Airport Road San Diego 5480 Gaines Street

Pet Parade

Pet of the Week

Slim Chicken

Klaus

Slim Chicken is the pet of the week at Rancho Coastal Humane Society. He’s a 2-year-old, 52-pound, male, Hound mix.

Slim Chicken was a stray.

When nobody claimed him, he was transferred to Rancho Coastal Humane Society through FOCAS – Friends of County Animal Shelters. He’s very friendly and he loves dog toys.

The $145 adoption fee for Slim Chicken includes medical exam, neuter, up to date vaccinations, registered microchip, and a one-year license if his new home is in the jurisdiction of San Diego Humane Society.

Visit Rancho Coastal Humane Society in Encinitas or log on to www.SDpets.org. Kennels are open 11 to 4 every day but Tuesday.

Looking for a big personality to match your active lifestyle? Meet Klaus! This robust and energetic dog thrives on adventure and would love to be your one-and-only furry companion.

Klaus needs a home that can provide plenty of enrichment, exercise and love to keep him happy and healthy. If you’re ready for an active buddy who’ll always keep you on your toes, this handsome, fun-loving friend might just be your perfect match! Klaus (932853) is available for adoption at San Diego Humane Society’s Escondido Campus at 3500 Burnet Dr. If you have questions about the adoption process, you can visit sdhumane.org/adopt or call 619299-7012.

Online profile: https://www.sdhumane.org/adopt/available-pets/ animal-single.html?petId=932853

The Paper • Page 11 • December 26, 2024

Christmas 2024 jority of Americans spent most of their lives living among the people they knew. The Church was often the center of social as well as spiritual life in the community and a source of help and comfort when residents or their neighbors needed a helping hand. We lived, worked and socialized among people they knew. Mutual respect, acceptance, sociability and civility came naturally in the close knit communities where neighbors were an integral part of everyday living.

The Computer Factory

The second half of the 20th century brought technological revolutions in transportation and communications. It broadened our horizons and made us less physically and socially connected.

The holiday song we know as “Over the river and through the woods” was originally a poem written in 1844 by author, abolitionist and civil rights activist Lydia Marie Child. Originally it told of a Thanksgiving Day sleigh ride to “grandfather’s house” for a joyful family reunion. Later put to music, it came to symbolize the traditional coming together of families and friends to celebrate the Holiday season.

Inexpensive and convenient land, air and ocean travel combined with telecommunications, broadcast media, the Internet and artificial intelligence to make us less dependent on one another. We could find answers and solutions by using the resources available through the Internet without needing help from others. The fact that the information we use to conduct our day to day lives is available from the Internet reduces the time spent in direct human contact seeking information.

Studies show that the substitution of “machine time” for human contact has measurably eroded “social skills” among the younger generations following the principle of “use it or lose it” The exercise of “social skills” are irrelevant in the pursuit of Internet based information.

845 W. San Marcos Blvd.

760-744-4315 thecomputerfactory.net

Through the first half of the 20th century, holiday celebrations for most American families were local and traditional. The limits of transportation and communications technologies kept holidaycelebrations centered largely within their urban neighborhoods and rural communities. The vastma-

Increasing urbanization and efficiencies of scale are other factors in reducing our social interaction.

Many jobs once performed by friendly local businesses like auto maintenance or plumbing are now the province of a faceless franchised specialist like Jiffy Lube or Mr. Rooter. Even routine shopping is often done without human contact. Product options are reviewed and selected on the Internet, payment is by credit card and the product magically appears on our doorstep.

In the name of efficiency and reliability we have been replacing people with machines and automated processes for many years but early in this century AI and high speed Internet combined to create the IW (Intelligent Web) and dramatically accelerate the pace of automation.

The IW appears to threaten many high paying occupations requiring years of education and experience.

Doctors, lawyers, educators, physicists and engineers are among those that appear to be particularly vulnerable to IW technologies. AI equipped applications on the Internet can access an infinitely larger data base with infinitely faster processing speed than that of any human.

It seems that we’ve created an Internet technology that is not only smarter than us, but also able to design a future that meets all of our physical needs like food, shelter, recreation and health care without any assistance from us. That in itself is somewhat disturbing, but if my PC ever asks me to take it to Church, I’m pulling the plug.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year THE COMPUTER FACTORY 845 W. SAN MARCOS BLVD • 760-744-4315 www.thecomputerfactory.net

John Van Zante’s Critter Corner

Things We Do That Annoy Our Dogs a perfect reason why I saved the report.

Here are some of the things we do that annoy our dogs.

You have that file folder full of random papers tucked away in a desk drawer, a box of mostly forgotten files in the closet, and several documents on your computer that you’re afraid to get rid of.

This week’s Critter Corner comes from a report I read online in 2015.

Every time I come across it on my computer, I reach to click “Delete,” then remember that I might need it someday. That day is today.

It came from a website where people “ranted” about their dogs. The site doesn’t exist anymore. That’s

• We come home smelling like another dog. Our dog rants, “You cheater” or “Why didn’t you take me along?”

• I hear this one at Rancho Coastal Humane Society. Mom and Dad and kids are walking through the kennels when a dog or cat decides to “groom” its private parts. “That’s gross! Don’t do that in front of my kids.” Chill out. It’s just hygiene.

• Don’t sleep on their spot. I get up to start the coffee and by the time I get back to bed, my dog has claimed the warm spot. Now it’s HER spot. Never sleep on her spot, once she’s claimed it.

• Never throw away their favorite toy. It’s chewed to pieces and smells yucky. It’s still their favorite.

• Don’t ever watch movies with

doorbells or barking dogs or meowing cats. Want to make a million bucks? Invent something that mutes these sounds on TV. • Never go to work. I promise my dog that I’ll come back. But she knows I’m lying and I’m never coming back.

• You yell at them for “saving your life.” They saved you by barking at the delivery driver, a lawnmower, and a plastic bag. For dog’s sake,

show some appreciation!

• This is a big one. NEVER use the vacuum monster. It’s evil!

• Likie little pirates, they have hidden treasures in secret places.

We reveal these hiding spots and expose their life’s work every time we move the furniture. Months, or even years of work, down the drain.

We’re so annoying!

The Paper • Page 12 • December 26, 2024

Silent Majority from page 5 time New York Governor) Mario Cuomo was an Italian-American.

Fewer noticed that John Boehner (the 53rd ) Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Rand Paul, senator from Kentucky with presidential ambitions, are of German origin.

Back in the February 2015 edition, The Economist Magazine further noted: “Companies founded by German-Americans tend to playdown their roots. Think of Pfizer, Boeing, Steinway, Levi Strauss or Heinz. Buried somewhere on their websites may be a brief note that Steinway & Sons was founded in 1853 by German immigrant Henry Steinway in a Manhattan loft on Varick Street.”

But for German-Americans, this is quickly changing, according to more recent U.S. Census Forms and the American Community Surveys as both indicate that the emerging German-Americans are not only claiming their ethnicity, proudly, but are more vocal in their wish to preserve their cultural heritage.

And further good news for America’s proud German-American culture is that such pride has been mounting.

Recently, a small German-American Heritage Museum opened in Washington, D.C. According to the new museum’s director, Petra Schurmann:

“Germany has never been as popular as it is today. German fests and Oktoberfest have sprung up all over the country, and they are not only about brats and beer, but also about tracing genealogy and displaying traditional dress and craftsmanship.”

This silent majority is now speaking up and claiming their roots. As Petra Schurmann says: “Stuff made by Germans sells! And Americans travel to Germany in droves – the young travel to ‘hip’ Berlin and older folks go to pretty Heidelberg.”

Many of America’s most notable individuals were/are of German ancestry, including our 34th U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The family surname was originally “Eisenhauer,” which is German for “iron hewer/miner” but later anglicised to Eisenhower. The “Eisenhauer” family emigrated from Karlsbrunn, Germany to America, then migrated to York, Pennsylvania in 1741.

President Eisenhower would later be born in Denison, Texas, the third of seven boys.

There were other notable Americans with a healthy dose of German DNA, such as that paragon of dancers, Fred Astaire (maternal grandparents were German); Mae West (mother was an immigrant from Germany); movie legend Ingrid Bergman (mother emigrated

from Germany); actress Sandra Bullock (mother was an immigrant from Germany); popular actor, Christopher Walken (father emigrated from Germany); mega movie star, Tom Cruise (both parents of German ancestry); Oscar-winning actor, Leonardo Di Caprio (paternal grandmother was of German descent); American movie actress, Grace Kelly, who became Princess of Monaco (mother was of German ancestry); actress Meryl Streep, cited by the media as “the best actress of her generation” (father of German-Swiss ancestry and mother was part German); baseball legend Babe Ruth (parents George Herman Ruth, Sr. and Katherine Schamberger, both of GermanAmerican ancestry); exotic beauty and American Oscar-winning actress, and fashion model, Halle Berry, is ¼ German on her mother’s side; and the list goes on and on.

origin to Sweden. According to The New York Times and The Boston Globe, Trump’s father said he made up the Swedish ancestry after World War II as a matter of cultural survival: viz., so he wouldn’t have problems selling apartments to Jewish buyers on account of his German heritage. Fred Trump not only passed himself off as Swedish amid anti-German sentiment sparked by World War II but he also denied knowing German and, in fact, purposely did not teach it to his children (which included Donald Trump).

The silent majority today is prevalent and no longer silent.

In his 1987 book “The Art of the Deal” Donald Trump perpetuates the Swedish myth, however, according to John Walter – Trump was a most reluctant participant and often remarked, “Do I have to do this Swedish thing?”

Current U.S. President-elect, Donald Trump, is of strong German ancestry, but for the longest time both Donald Trump and his father Fred (Fritz) Trump hid the fact that Donald’s paternal grandfather (Friedrich), was born in Kallstadt, a small German town which borders France.

Instead, both Donald and his father paraded the myth that their family’s ethnicity was Swedish and the Trump family roots traced their

John Walter, cousin and the Trump family historian said Fred Trump’s refusal to speak German was an effort to not offend his Jewish customers. “He said, ‘You don’t sell apartments after the war if you’re German,’” Walter told the Boston Globe, “So he’s Swedish, no problem.”

Donald Trump eventually acknowledged and embraced his German heritage, serving as the Grand Marshall of the annual GermanAmerican Steuben Parade in New York City in 1999.

Silent Majority continued on page 13

A Christmas Story The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in urban Brooklyn, arrived in early October excited about their opportunities. When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve.

business was having a flea market type sale for charity so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted table cloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a cross embroidered right in the center.

It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church.

They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc.and on Dec. 18 were ahead of schedule and just about finished. On Dec 19 a terrible tempest - a driving rainstorm hit the area and lasted for two days. On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sunk when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 6 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high.

By this time it had started to snow.

An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus. She missed it.

The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later. She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area. Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet.

“Pastor,” she asked, “where did you get that tablecloth?” The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right cor-

The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home.

On the way he noticed that a local

ner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted into it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria. The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten the tablecloth.

The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria.

When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week.

She was captured, sent to prison and never saw her husband or her home again.

The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth; but she made the pastor keep it for the church. The pastor insisted on driving her home, that was the least he could do. She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job. What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the spirit were great. At the end of the service,the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at

the door and many said that they would return. One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood, continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he wasn’t leaving. The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike? He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to free for her safety, and he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in a concentration camp. He never saw his wife or his home again or all the 35 years in between. The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier. He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman’s apartment, knocked on the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.

The Paper • Page 13 • December 26, 2024

MIGHTY MOJO PRINTING

HANDYMAN SERVICES

SOLAR & ROOFING

ALOHA PRINTING

Top Grade Printing of All Types BROCHURES • LETTERHEAD POSTERS • BANNERS BUSINESS CARDS

(760) 471-1006

CABINETS COINS & LOANS

APPLIANCE REPAIR

760-745-1697 Escondido Coin & Loan, Inc. 241 E. Grand Avenue

Washer & Dryer Repair Kenmore • Whirlpool • Roper Estate • Maytag • Admiral

To Advertise in The Paper call 760 747-7119

760.274.4766

HNL Appliance Repair Advertise Your Business & Services

Silent Majority from page 12 In a video message for the subsequent 2011 Steuben Parade, Trump touted his grandfather’s immigration story and recalled the earlier parade. Trump recalled being Grand Marshall in the video and recalled the following, recorded in his own words: “We passed Trump Tower, 69 stories. I looked up and I said, ‘This is a long way from Kallstadt,’” he said, referring to his grandfather Friedrich’s hometown in Germany.

“I’m a proud German-American,” Donald Trump added with great conviction.

Today there exists a “German Belt” which extends all the way across the length and width of the United States of America. From eastern Pennsylvania to the Oregon coast it is most pervasive, but in truth, it permeates all sectors north to south, east to west. The concentration of German-Americans in the United States are as follows: STATES WITH HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF GERMANAMERICANS (PER RATIO TO POPULATION): 1. North Dakota 46.8% 2. Wisconsin 44.5% 3. South Dakota 43.8%

•

www.thecommunitypaper.com

4. Nebraska 42.7% 5. Minnesota 38.7% U.S. STATES WITH LARGEST (OVERALL) POPULATION OF GERMAN-AMERICANS: 1. California 6,517,470 2. Pennsylvania 4,491,269 3. Ohio 3,231,788 4. Illinois 2,668,955 5. Texas 2,542,996 (Source: Official U.S. Census Demographics and American Community Surveys.)

TODAY THE GERMAN CULTURE SATURATES & OFTEN AFFECTS OUR DAILY EXISTENCE. Americans often use German words in their conversations, not realising that they are, in essence, “speaking” German. German words we often use as English words – are in fact, German.

Anytime we say: Kindergarten, Hamburger, angst, poltergeist, wanderlust Gesundheit, Dachshund, Rottweiler, doppelganger, Uber, Antifa, zeppelin, hinterland,Volkswagen, Neanderthal, hamster, Porsche, Audi, Zeitgeist, Reuters (which is an international news outlet) and so on, to give just a short sampling, we are using German words mixed in with our daily English words.

Also, you may have done your grocery shopping at a German store

without realising it, such as at Trader Joe’s or Aldi which are owned with world headquarters in Germany. These major German chains are hugely popular worldwide and are in eleven countries. The average person is unaware that these markets originated and remain popular in Germany -- and now across the United States, as well. I shoppe quite regularly at two Aldi stores here in Escondido and have asked – many times – various employees if they are aware that they are working in a German chain store, with world headquarters in Germany and most every time they look at me with surprise and say: “Really! Are you serious? I never knew that, even during my interviewing process!” Then they smile as if they feel, perhaps, special.

Currently there are 15 Aldi stores in San Diego County and more to come. Trader Joe’s are popping up everywhere and the latest just had a ribbon-cutting in Vista in North San Diego County. I frequent the Escondido Trader Joe’s.

www.escondidocoin.com Coins•Gold•Silver•Vintage Watches

•

760-747-7119

about me and I am never worthy of all your wonderful comments and attention. And even though I have not met all of you in person, I wish to thank you from the recesses of my heart for – at times – being so ferociously protective of me as was recently revealed in your Letters to the Editor which filled a few pages.

Often times, during the course of a day, someone will recognise me from my photo in The Paper and will take the time to approach me and talk with me as if I were a member of their family.

At such times, I truly feel so humbled and unworthy of their attention and affection.

To all of you here and my “faraway online fans,” I ask God to always bless and keep you safe.

Love & hugs, always.

CONCLUSION I’ll never tire of expressing my sincere thanks to all of you for not just your story suggestions (which I need to keep busy), but for all the beautiful and affectionate emails you send me expressing your love and support – all of which brings tears to my eyes.

I truly mean that.

There is absolutely nothing special

Friedrich Gomez

The Paper • Page 14 • December 26, 2024

Chuckles from page 2

Historically Speaking from page 7

tacks. This course is offered online through an accredited program for a nominal fee of $750.00.

Flyer” commanded $19.95. Dad never made more than $2,500 a year, such extravagances at our house were out of the question.

Please let us know if we can be of assistance to you. Otherwise, we decline your access to our property but appreciate your inquiry.

Sincerely, Larry & Amanda Anderson” •••• 30 Days hath September, April, June and November, all the rest have 31, except for 2020 which hath 5328.

•••• I had an unfortunate traffic accident this morning. I rear-ended a car.

The driver jumped out. He was a dwarf!

He ran up to me and said, “I’M NOT HAPPY!” “Well which one are you,” I said.

Ironically, today if you could find either a Lionel or an American Flyer, they’d probably command a collector’s price tag in the hundreds of dollars. But, the Holy Grail on nearly every boy’s wish list was a “Red Ryder” air rifle. Mom said what nearly every mom did: “No! You’ll shoot your eye out.”

Remembering Mom and Dad at Christmas could be a bit of a challenge. Weekly allowance didn’t go very far. I got .50 cent a week, and my sister got a quarter. (So much for equal opportunity). If you had any money, it wouldn’t be enough to buy more than one item. For Mom there was always “Evening in Paris” perfume – for 50 cents it certainly wasn’t “Chanel No. 5” – more like Kids’ No. 001. (years ago when my sister was helping our Mom close up her house, a number of “Paris” bottles had been stashed away in keepsake manner. Ironically, the traditional kids’ parental gift of choice is still being made.

As for Dad, we somehow managed to buy him a necktie … for a man who only wore one for weddings and funerals. Mom usually helped by giving us a dollar or three to buy him something. Dad went through a number of fashion seasons.

One year late in their married life, they had made some huge expenditure, causing Mom to tell Dad not to worry about getting her a gift for Christmas … you can see this one coming. Dad took Mom at her word, causing a very tense Christmas morning. Of course, as she always did, Mom remembered Dad with at least two or three presents. From that year forward, my sister and I made sure Dad had something for Mom under every tree. Throughout my years a home, I don’t think Dad ever shopped for anything at Christmas or birthday. Mom took care of that sort of thing.

For those who annually watch Jean Shepherd’s movie, “A Christmas Story,” you get a good picture of what Christmas was like in my hometown of Seymour, Iowa during the ‘40s and ‘50s. (On a personal note, in that movie, the 1937 Pontiac parked in the family’s driveway is exactly like my Dad’s car. Memories?

You bet!

Hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

Letters from page 4 Also, we credit your hugely popular writer Friedrick Gomez whose cover stories are magnets for your readership, all of which brings huge exposure for all your advertisers.

Anthony Logan, family & friends, Escondido & Valley Center.

Seats from page 8 about seat size. Small seats are a safety hazard and it’s just a matter of time before people die.

The FAA Failed Us In the United States, we had a chance to address shrinking seat sizes, according to Bill McGee, a senior fellow for aviation at the American Economic Liberties Project.

“But the FAA defied logic with a study that concluded tighter airline seats do not impede evacuations during an emergency,” he says.

McGee says the problem is that the government hasn’t updated its testing methodologies to reflect egress from airline cabins in the 2020s -- particularly because tighter seats are now coupled with larger Americans and record-high passenger loads.

“Tighter seats are uncomfortable, a financial rip-off, and a health threat due to blood clotting issues,” he adds. “But worst of all, they present a danger to safe evacuations.”

So is there a way to survive your next flight without getting cramped, suffering a blood clot -or worse?

How To Find Space On A Flight Even as the amount of personal space shrinks, there is a way to find more room. But it’s not easy.

Look for the “secret” seats. If upgrading isn’t in your budget, try getting an aisle or emergency exit row seat. Exit row seats have more legroom but are not wider than the average economy class seat. (As a bonus, there are no young children in the exit row seats, so you might be able to sleep better.)

Improvise. Look, economy class seats were not designed for your

comfort. They’re designed for airlines’ profit. So channel your inner MacGyver, says Andy Abramson, a frequent air traveler who runs a communications consultancy in Las Vegas. “I try to make myself more comfortable by putting my coat behind me like a pillow,” he says. “I’ve also found that rolling up a magazine or newspaper and placing it in the small of my back offers some relief.” But for long flights, it’s still pure torture.

There just isn’t enough space.

Pay for it. If you can afford a seat in economy “comfort” or “plus” -- which gives you about the same amount of seat pitch as economy class a few decades ago -- then experts recommend that you do.

“Especially on long flights, if you can swing it, you should,” says travel coach Ariel Figg. Of course, that’s what the airlines want you to do. No one should have to make that choice, and every seat should have a humane amount of space.

But these are imperfect ways around a flawed system. Fact is, we’re getting bigger and the seats are getting smaller.

Airlines Are Wrong About Seat Size Maybe the U.S. government and other aviation enforcement bodies lack the courage to set minimum seat standards. But airlines must know that they are on the wrong side of history.

We’ve been here before. In the 19th century, greedy landlords in New York could rent tenements with poor lighting, inadequate ventilation and no indoor bathrooms. The cramped apartments were breeding grounds for disease, but highly profitable to owners.

But in 1901, a progressive government passed laws that set minimum size requirements for tenements and required adequate lighting, ventilation and indoor bathrooms.

And today, even the most ardent airline apologist couldn’t imagine living in a rental without these basic amenities.

Passengers can continue trying to beat the system by booking the secret seats with a little extra legroom or angling for an upgrade.

But maybe this problem just needs clear-headed, thoughtful government regulation.

And airlines need to do the right thing -- before someone gets hurt.

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/

The Paper • Page 15 • December 26, 2024

LEGALS

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9022224 The name of the business: Aprios Custom Mfg, located at 1333 Keystone Way, Vista,.

CA 92081. Registrant, DPI Holdings, Inc., 1333 Keystone Way, Vista, CA 92081. This business is operated by a Corporation. First day of business: 6/28/2024 /s/ Alex Danzberger, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/6/2024 11/21, 11/28, 12/5, 12/12/2024 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME: 2024-9020129 Senior Care Directory, Lead Orchid, located at 15108 Lincoln Loop, San Diego, CA 92127. The Fictitious Business Name referred to above was filed in San Diego County on 2/6/2020 and assigned file no. 2020-903383.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IS BEING ABANDONED BY: JD3 Websites, LLC, 15108 Lincoln Loop, San Diego, CA 92127. This business is conducted by a L.A .Limited Liability Company. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1000). /s/James Delapa III, Managing Member This statement was filed with the San Diego Recorder/County clerk on 10/7/2024.

11/21, 11/28, 12/5, 12/12/2024

11/28, 12/5, 12/12, 12/19/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9023011 The name of the business: Hormone Upgrade & Wellness Center, located at 7529 Draper Ave., Suite D, La Jolla, CA 92037.

Registrant, Deborah Wainwright NP Nursing Corp., 7529 Draper Ave., Suite D, La Jolla, CA 92037. This business is operated by a Corporation. First day of business: 10/24/2024 /s/ Deborah Wainwright, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/19/2024 11/28, 12/5, 12/12, 12/19/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9022778 The name of the business: New Rainbow Spa, located at 470 S. Rancho Santa Fe Rd., San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant, Jianlan Shu, 470 S. Rancho Santa Fe Rd., San Marcos, CA 92078.

This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 11/15/2024 /s/ Jianlan Shu with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 11/15/2024 11/28, 12/5, 12/12, 12/19/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9022410 The name of the business: Collisions Plus, located at 240 N. Andreasen, Escondido, CA 92029. Registrant, Fleet Collision Specialist, 240 N. Andreasen, Escondido, CA 92029.

This business is operated by a Corporation. First day of business: N/A /s/ Thomas McMurdo, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/8/2024 11/28, 12/5, 12/12, 12/19/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9021577 The name of the business: Oceanside Pharmacy, located at 3601 Vista Way Ste 103, Oceanside, CA 92056. Registrant, Anjaneya RX, 3601 Vista Way Ste 103, Oceanside, CA 92056.

This business is operated by a Corporation. First day of business: 2/4/2013 /s/ Tarun Shyam Wadhwa, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 10/29/2024 11/21, 11/28, 12/5, 12/12/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9023192 The name of the business: Lucky Foot Massage, located at 754 S. Rancho Santa Fe Rd., San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant, Linying Wang, 754 S. Rancho Santa Fe Rd., San Marcos, CA 92078. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Linying Wang with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 11/21/2024 11/28, 12/5, 12/12, 12/19/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9020985 The name of the business: All Things Hospice, located at 330 Rancheros Drive, Suite 208C, San Marcos, CA 92069-2909.

Registrant, Alternative Hospice Care, 330 Rancheros Drive, Suite 208C, San Marcos, CA 92069. This business is operated by a Corporation. First day of business: 9/23/2024 /s/ Raychell Jones, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 10/18/2024 11/21, 11/28, 12/5, 12/12/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9023331 The name of the business: Anew Plan Designs, located at 635 Camino Magnifico, San Marcos, CA 92069. Registrant, Amy Micheal Lauffer, 635 Camino Magnifico, San Marcos, CA 92069. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 9/14/2024 /s/ Amy Micheal Lauffer with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/22/2024 11/28, 12/5, 12/12, 12/19/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9022410 The name of the business: Collisions Plus, located at 240 N. Andreasen, Escondido, CA 92029. Registrant, Fleet Collision Specialist, 240 N. Andreasen, Escondido, CA 92029.

This business is operated by a Corporation. First day of business: N/A /s/ Thomas McMurdo, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/8/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9023304 The name of the business: Welcome Back Foundation, Do Gooders, located at 762 E. Mission Rd., Fallbrook, CA 92028.

Registrant, Welcome Back Foundation, PO Box 502, Fallbrook, CA 92028. This business is operated by a Corporation.

First day of business: 1/2/2020 /s/ Dawn Williams, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/22/2024 12/5, 12/12, 12/19, 12/26/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9022793 The name of the business: Vital Vibes, located at 5139 Weymouth Way, Oceanside, CA 92057. Registrant, Steven Sanders, 5139 Weymouth Way, Oceanside, CA 92057. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Steven Sanders with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 11/15/2024 12/5, 12/12, 12/19, 12/26/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9023091 The name of the business: RV World Storage San Marcos, located at 1101 W. San Marcos Blvd., San Marcos, CA 92078.

Registrant, Episodic Ventures LLC, 1101 W. San Marcos Blvd., San Marcos, CA 92078.

This business is operated by a Limited Liability Company.

First day of business: 9/9/2010 /s/ Eugenia Lipets, Managing Member with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/20/2024 12/5, 12/12, 12/19, 12/26/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9023109 The name of the business: Celestial Sea Thoroughbreds, located at 38987 Highway 79, Warner Springs, CA 92086.

Registrant, Richard Eugene Cornwell, PO Box 418, Warner Springs, CA 92086, Gail Tammy Cornwell, PO Box 418, Warner Springs, CA 92086.

This business is operated by a Married Couple. First day of business: 11/25/2019 /s/ Richard Cornwell with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/20/2024 12/5, 12/12, 12/19, 12/26/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9023028 The name of the business: Anyplace Realty, located at 940 Melaleuca #G, Carlsbad, CA 92011. Registrant, Jeffrey William Talani, 940 Melaleuca #G, Carlsbad, CA 92011. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 11/19/2024 /s/ Jeffrey William Talani with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/19/2024 12/5, 12/12, 12/19, 12/26/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9023338 The name of the business: Gunk and Junk, Junk and Gunk, located at 4850 Concho Cir, Oceanside, CA 92057. Registrant, Gunk and Junk LLC, 4850 Concho Cir, Oceanside, CA 92057.

This business is operated by a Limited Liability Company.

First day of business: N/A /s/ Isaac C. Dailey Jr., CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/22/2024 12/5, 12/12, 12/19, 12/26/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9023942 The name of the business: Steep & Sourdough, located at 750 Pebble Beach Drive, San Marcos, CA 92069. Registrant, Daniel Allen Paris, 750 Pebble Beach Drive, San Marcos, CA 92069. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Daniel Allen Paris with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego

on 12/4/2024 12/12, 12/19, 1/2/2025

12/26/2024,

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9024067 The name of the business: Weekend Savvy Travel, Cork & Cruise, located at 10395 Tioga Lake Drive, Escondido, CA 92029. Registrant, Weekend Savvy LLC, 10395 Tioga Lake Drive, Escondido, CA 92029. This business is operated by a Limited Liability Company. First day of business: 11/15/2024 /s/ Mary Ann Erdos, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/6/2024 12/12, 12/19, 12/26/2024, 1/2/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9022718 The name of the business: Acman Quality HVAC, located at 695 Cortez Ave., Vista, CA 92084. Registrant, Guadalupe R. Alfaro Zurita, 695 Cortez Ave., Vista, CA 92084. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 11/14/2024 /s/ Guadalupe R. Alfaro Zurita with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/14/2024 12/12, 12/19, 12/26/2024, 1/2/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9023630 The name of the business: Burns Ministries, located at 6840 Urubu Street, Carlsbad, CA 92009.

Registrant, Open Heavens Church, 235 Mar Vista, Vista, CA 92083. This business is operated by a Corporation. First day of business: N/A /s/ Pamela Burns, CFO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/27/2024 12/12, 12/19, 12/26/2024, 1/2/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9021586 The name of the business: West Land Coffee Roasters, located at 3243 Roberta Lane, Oceanside, CA 92054. Registrant, Martin Michael O’Dea, 7258 Ponto Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92011, Daniel Vincent Jacobs, 3243 Roberta Lane, Oceanside, CA

92054. This business is operated by a General Partnership. First day of business: 10/28/2024 /s/ Martin Michael O’Dea with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 10/29/2024 12/12, 12/19, 12/26/2024, 1/2/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9023337 The name of the business: Express Debt Recovery LLC, located at 2170 S. El Camino Real, Oceanside, CA 92054. Registrant, Express Debt Recovery LLC, 2170 S. El Camino Real, Oceanside, CA 92054. This business is operated by a Limited Liability Company. First day of business: 10/1/2014 /s/ Payman Zeal, President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/22/2024 12/19, 12/26/2024, 1/2, 1/9/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9024436 The name of the business: Teddy’s Treats and Teddy’s Sweet Treats, located at 13200 Kirkham Way, Ste 115, Poway, CA 92064-7126. Registrant, Kenneth James Rose, 13200 Kirkham Way, Ste 115, Poway, CA 92064-7126. This business is operated by an Individual.

First day of business: N/A /s/ Kenneth James Rose with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/12/2024 12/19, 12/26/2024, 1/2, 1/9/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9024147 The name of the business: Jeg’s Modern Plumbing, Jegs Modern Plumbing, located at 39120 Rising Hill Drive, Temecula, CA 92591. Registrant, Johnny Eugene Gange, 39120 Rising Hill Drive, Temecula, CA 92591. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Johnny Eugene Gange with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/9/2024 12/19, 12/26/2024, 1/2, 1/9/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9023996

The name of the business: Hormones And Health Wellness, located at 1901 4th Ave., 100W, San Diego, CA 92101. Registrant, WW NP Nursing Inc, 1901 4th Ave., 100W, San Diego, CA 92101. This business is operated by a Corporation. First day of business: N/A /s/ Wytoshery Williams, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/5/2024 12/19, 12/26/2024, 1/2, 1/9/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9024701 The name of the business: La Lonchera, located at 3775 San Ramon Dr., Apt 276, Oceanside, CA 92057. Registrant, Jazmin Guadalupe Ortiz, 3775 San Ramon Dr., Apt 276 Oceanside, CA 92057 . This business is operated by an Individual.

First day of business: N/A /s/ Jazmin guadalupe Ortiz with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 12/17/2024 12/26/2024, 1/2, 1/9, 1/16/2025 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME: 2024-9023994 California Faith Alliance and CACFA, located at 616 Banjo Court, San Marcos, CA 92069.

The Fictitious Business Name referred to above was filed in San Diego County on 10/30/2024 and assigned file no. 2024-9021721.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IS BEING ABANDONED BY: Brian Kent Smith, PO Box 500126, San Diego, CA 92199-9709 and Lisa Ann Smith, PO Box 500126, San Diego, CA 92199-9709. This business is conducted by a Married Couple. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1000). /s/Brian Kent Smith This statement was filed with the San Diego Recorder/County clerk on 12/5/2024.

12/26/2024, 1/2, 1/9, 1/16/2025

First, I discovered America, then I discovered

The Paper

Ever since I can remember I’ve had the burning desire to discover new places, new adventures. Because of this, I set out to discover a new country . . . and I was successful. I even ventured inland a great many miles where I discovered a place I called Minnesota. “This,” I thought, “would be a great place for Scandinavians.”

So I headed back to Norway to recruit settlers. While I was gone, some clown named Columbus claimed he discovered America. Life ain’t fair.

Except life also give us The Paper.

I read it whenever and wherever I go exploring and only buy from those who advertise in The Paper. It’s a Viking thing.

Your friend, Eric the Red

The Paper • Page 16 • December 26, 2024