12-29-2022

By Richard “Pete” Peterson

Major league baseball starts March 29 this year. All 30 teams will play on that date, the first time this has happened since 1968. This is also the sixty-first season since Jackie Robinson became the major leagues first black player, opening the door for such future Hall of Famers as Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks and Willie Mays. Robinson also paved the way for 3 brave women – Toni

Stone, Connie Morgan and Mamie Johnson - to play in the male-dominated Negro Leagues.

When Hank Aaron left the Indianapolis Clowns for the majors, he was replaced by a female, Miss Connie Morgan. That’s right. A girl took over for Hank. However, it is Marcenia Lyle Stone, of St. Paul, Minnesota, who became the first woman to play professionally in a men’s league.

Miss Stone signed with the Clowns in 1953, after excelling against men for years. One of four children, Stone’s parents believed strongly in a good education. When at age 10 their daughter showed more interest in baseball, track and field and ice skating than studies, they made her sit down with a priest, Father Keith.

The priest aimed was to convince

press. On May 19, 1954, the AfroAmerican reported she “electrified over 6,000 fans when she ranged far to her right to make a sensational stop of a hard-hit ball, flipped to shortstop Bill Holder and started a lightening double play against the Birmingham Barons.” When the Monarchs travelled to New York to play a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium, The New York Amsterdam News praised Morgan, Stone and Johnson, “These girls take a back

Miss Stone to give up baseball. It didn’t happen. After the get together the priest asked the strong-minded young lady to play on his team in the Catholic Midget League. By age 15, Stone had gained a reputation as a baseball phenom. Using her dazzling speed and outstanding bat control, she became a member of Twin City Colored Giants, a travelling men’s team. She also played on several teams in the highly-competitive meatpackers league.

In early 1940’s, Stone moved to San Francisco to help an ailing sister. She arrived in the California city with 50 cents in her pocket, sleeping in the bus station until she found work, first in a cafeteria, and later as a forklift operator. She underwent a personal transformation at this time, changing her name to Toni, and dropping ten years off her real age, so to be more recruitable by male teams.

She was soon playing for the American Legion, where she gained her nick name, ‘Tomboy.’ She then signed with the San Francisco Sea Lions of the West Coast Negro Baseball League. Her pay? A princely $200 a month, but it exposed her abilities to high profile managers and team owners.

According to Buck O’Neil, the famous chronicler of black baseball, this is when Toni became a skilled bunter. Speaking in 1993, shortly after Toni was inducted into the Woman’s Sports Hall of Fame in Long Island New York, O’Neil is quoted as saying, “She made her living with the swinging bunt. She’d lay a pitch down hard enough to get by the pitcher, but soft enough the second baseman couldn’t get to it. If he did field it, which was rare, they’d never throw Toni out with her speed.”

It was not an easy life for a black female ball player. She endured racist and sexist slurs and thrown bottles for ruining the ‘men’s’ game. Jim Crow attitudes were everywhere present in the America of the late 40’s as well. Toni, and other black players, had to patronize black run businesses and room at hotels that catered to blacks only.

Toni’s baseball skills ameliorated the hatred somewhat. Once after a game, as she ate lunch alone in the stands, a group of white girls brought her a soft drink and pie. But, that was the exception, not the rule.

In 1953, the Indianapolis Clowns signed Toni, as they developed into ‘showy’ team, not unlike what the basketball Harlem Globetrotters would become. They needed a boast in attendance since Robinson’s rise to the big leagues caused

a drop off in fans willing to fork out green backs to see black baseball. Also, other star players like Hank Aaron left for the majors.

Syd Pollack, the Clowns owner, was quoted as saying he’d do anything to “get a seat in a seat, if that means free hot dogs and peanuts or a kiss from my momma.” Pollack hoped that signing Toni would improve attendance. This was not to be though she played well. In one game, she singled off legendary pitcher, Satchel Paige, promptly stole second base, and came home on a team mate’s single. Her opponents showed little deference to her being a woman, sliding hard into second base with spikes high. She was traded to the Kansas City Monarchs in 1954 and retired before the season began in 1955, hobbled by sore legs, the resentment of teammates and disappointed bosses. She died in 1996.

Still, this courageous woman carved out a legacy as the first female to play professionally in a man’s league.

Picture: Shot of Toni in Clowns uniform

On March 13, 1954, the Cleveland Call and Post newspaper ran an article stating the Indianapolis Clowns Baseball Team had signed Connie Morgan, (Constance Enola) a 19-year-old girl, to join Toni Stone and Mamie ‘Peanut’ Johnson in the Negro Leagues.

The black press treated Morgan, Johnson and Stone as box office draws, and talented players. They noted that Morgan had been personally scouted by the Clowns manager, Oscar Charleston, who would be inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1976. Charleston noted, “Morgan throws across the diamond rank on a par with many major leaguers.”

Connie Morgan had played 5 years as a catcher for the North Philadelphia “Honey Drippers,” hitting .338. With the Clowns, she was a second baseman, the same position the fabled Hank Aaron when he was with the team. Morgan also excelled at basketball, playing for several highly-competitive area teams.

She was quite attractive and feminine when not in uniform. The Baltimore Afro-American newspaper ran a picture of her in a baseball uniform next to one of her in a white dress, complete with long white gloves. The caption read, “Miss Connie Morgan: The baseball player and the lady.” This illustrates the dichotomy she and the other female baseball pioneers faced - - how to express their athleticism and their femininity, and still be one of the ‘boys.’

She was a darling of the black

Give Us This Day our Daily

‘OLD’ IS WHEN...

Your sweetie says, ‘Let’s go upstairs and make love,’ and you answer, ‘Pick one; I can’t do both!’

‘OLD’ IS WHEN...

Your friends compliment you on your new alligator shoes and you’re barefoot.

‘OLD’ IS WHEN...

Going bra-less pulls all the wrinkles out of your face.

‘OLD’ IS WHEN.....

You don’t care where your spouse goes, just as long as you don’t have to go along.

‘OLD’ IS WHEN... You are cautioned to slow down by the doctor instead of by the police.

‘OLD’ IS WHEN

‘Getting a little action’ means you don’t need to take a laxative today.

‘OLD’ IS WHEN....

‘Getting lucky’ means you find your car in the parking lot.

‘OLD’ IS WHEN...

An ‘all nighter’ means not getting up to use the bathroom.

‘OLD’ IS WHEN.... Your spouse offers you super sex, and you reply, “I’ll have the soup.”

‘OLD’ IS WHEN....

You’re not sure if these are facts or jokes.

***

An old man stops by a cafe for breakfast. After paying the tab, he checks his pockets and leaves three pennies for a tip.

As he strides toward the door, his waitress muses, only half to herself, “You know, you can tell a lot about a man by the tip he leaves.”

The old man turns around, curiosity getting the better of him. “Oh, really? Tell me, what does my tip say?”

“Well, this penny tells me you’re a thrifty man.”

Barely able to conceal his pride, the man utters, “Hmm, true enough.”

“And this penny, it tells me you’re a bachelor.”

Surprised at her perception, he says, “Well, that’s true, too.”

“And the third penny tells me that your father was also a bachelor.” ***

Homer

Homer, a handsome dude, walked into a sports bar around 9: 58 P.M. He sat down next to a blonde at the bar and stared up at the TV.

The 10: 00 news was now on. The news crew was covering a story of a man preparing to jump off a ledge of a tall building.

The blonde looked at Homer and said, “Do you think he’ll jump?”

Homer said, “You know, I bet he’ll jump.”

The blonde replied, “Well, I bet he won’t.”

Homer placed 20 dollars on the bar

and said, “You’re on!”

Just as the blonde placed her money on the bar, the guy did a swan dive off of the building, falling to his death.

The blonde was very upset and handed her 20 dollars to Homer, saying, “Fair’s fair. Here’s your money.”

Homer replied, “I can’t take your money; I saw this earlier on the 5 o’clock news and knew he would jump.”

The blonde replied, “I did too, but I didn’t think he’d do it again.”

Homer took the money. ***

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

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

From under the blanket she sees four legs instead of two. She reaches for a baseball bat and starts hit-

seat to no one on the field.”

One-time team mate, Gordon Hopkins in The Washington Post said, the women were “No joke. You hit a ball to Toni, she’d gun you out. Connie had a great bat. She could play shortstop or third base, even the outfield. Mamie, if that little peanut didn’t whiff you, she’d get you to roll out to second.”

In a story on Morgan in 1954. The Philadelphia Tribune, her home town paper, noted, “Before she lit up the Clowns, she graduated from John Bartram High School. In the off season, she’ll attend William Penn Business School.” On July 24 ,1954, the Tribune reported that in her first appearance in Philly, the Clowns swept a doubleheader against the Monarchs at Connie Mack Stadium, with Morgan getting 3 hits in 7 at bats.

After her first season with Kansas City, a Norfolk Journal and Guide story reported Morgan had “switched from baseball to books and resumed her accounting classes at William Penn.” Alas, game statistics and records in the Negro Leagues were often poorly maintained, thus much of Connie Morgan’s career remains a mystery. She died October 14.1966.

Did she hit a home run off Sam Bankhead, the future Brooklyn Dodger pitcher, then pitching for the New York Black Giants? Probably. But there’s no valid documentation to back this claim. That she played in the male dominated Negro Leagues with the Indianapolis Clowns is a fact. For that achievement alone, she deserves special recognition and a place of honor in the annals of baseball.

Picture: Shot of Connie in Clowns Uniform with Jackie Robinson

He was a big man, a feared longball hitter for the Carpenter’s union team. He pointed his bat menacing at the 15-year old girl, who looked no more than 12, standing maybe 5 feet and weighing 90 pounds if her pockets were filled with rocks.

“If I can’t hit that little peanut, I’ll quit the game,” the big guy boasted.

Mamie Johnson, the little peanut, went into her wind up and arched a slow curve toward the plate. The big batter swung and missed. Surprised and embarrassed, he yelled. “Throw me that again. I’ll hit it a mile.”

After he’d fouled off two fast balls, the young pitcher did indeed throw him that same pitch. The big man swung and missed. Again. Strike three.

this incident that purportedly occurred on a fine summer day in Long Branch, New Jersey, we know two things are true. One, a male opponent saw Mamie’s diminutive size and called her ‘Peanut.” This nick name stuck with her throughout the rest of her life.

Secondly, we know that Peanut Johnson had a devastating curve ball to go with her exploding fast ball. According to Buck O’Neil, her curve floated until, “Six or seven feet from home plate, like a hummingbird going for a flower, it darted left or right so sudden it fooled the hitter, the catcher, and sometimes the umpire.”

Ms. Johnson herself bristled when a reporter suggested she learned her curve ball from Satchel Paige. “I knew how to throw it before Mr. Paige worked with me. He just helped me perfect it.”

Mamie ‘Peanut’ Johnson’s achievements have been honored at the White House, and at the Negro Leagues Museum in Kansas City. A book and a play have been written about her. A neighborhood park near her home, was named for her. Johnson was just 17 years of age when she began with the Clowns. During her three years with them, she complied a record of 33 wins and 7 losses, but due to incomplete records and poor preservation of those that were kept, many claims made about her cannot be confirmed. That she had pin point control of her fastball and curve is a given.

But, did she throw 76 straight strikes in one game? That’s dubious for several reasons, the most obvious being that most great pitchers pride themselves on getting hitters out with pitches not in the strike zone, so this is a doubtful claim.

Ms. Johnson told the New York Post in 2001, she began playing the game in her native South Carolina, making balls from rocks, twine and black tape. “I threw anything that I could throw. I was knocking birds off the fence with rocks, honey.”

“We played ball every day,” she said. “Boy against boy or boys and girls playing side by side.” While living in New Jersey, she recalled being the only girl and the only African-American on her team. When she settled in the District of Columbia, she played on otherwise all-male church and semipro teams.

When she was 17, she and another young woman travelled to Alexandria, VA to answer a call for tryouts with the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The

Oodles!

Looking for things to do? Places to go?

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

Have an event you need publicized?

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

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

Register for Carlsbad Chamber’s First Friday Breakfast

Join Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce Friday, January 6, for their monthly First Friday Breakfast from 7-9 a.m. at the Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa, 5480 Grand Pacific Drive. Wade Blair is the First Friday speaker for January. Wade will be talking about A Business Plan for a right-now paycheck.

Enjoy breakfast, structured networking, and meeting someone new! The cost is $39 for Chamber members who register before Tuesday, January 3.

About the Speaker: Wade Blair is the Team Leader of The Blair Group Real Estate Team with over 12 years of real estate experience in both Texas and California. He has assisted 100’s of families in their next steps and has experience in short sales, foreclosures,

probate, divorces, and in all property type homes. His Mission is to help as many families as possible achieve the opportunity of home ownership. Wade is also a mentor and coach to a large number of real estate agents at Keller Williams Realty in Carlsbad and has a passion for supporting his agent’s goals and success in production.

To register, go to https://web.carlsbad.org

Give the Gift of Hope

Operation HOPE North County offers a safe, caring, and supportive environment to families with children and single women experiencing homelessness as they rebuild their lives and reclaim independence.

Please consider making a end of the year, tax-deductible donation

Tis’ the Season for Holiday Scammers

Be Aware

Many of us spend the holidays relaxing and sharing in goodwill with friends and family. But some bad actors use the holidays to take advantage of people’s generous spirits. Scammers frequently target the older and other more vulnerable members of our communities. They pretend they are from Social Security or another government agency to steal your money or personal information.

Caller ID, texts, or documents sent by email may look official, but they are not. Fraudsters are calling to verify information about the 2023 cost-of-living adjustment for people who get benefits. Remember, this adjustment is automatic and a beneficiary does not need to verify anything. Social Security won’t ask you to provide information or money to get your benefit increase. Know that how we do business with you doesn’t change because it’s the holidays. We may email or text you about programs and services, but we will never ask for personal information via email or text.

Recognizing the signs of a scam can help you avoid falling victim to one. These scams primarily use the telephone to contact you, but scammers may also use email, text messages, social media, or U.S. mail. Scammers pretend to be from an agency or organization you know to gain your trust. Scammers say there is a problem with your Social Security number or account. Scammers pressure you to act immediately. Scammers tell you to pay in a specific way.

Know what to look for and be alert. Scammers don’t take days off and neither should you… when it comes to making sure you identify suspicious communications and report it. If you receive a questionable call, text, or email, hang up or don’t respond and report it at oig.ssa.gov/report. Scammers frequently change their methods with new tactics and messages to trick people. We encourage you to stay up to date on the latest news and advisories by following SSA’s Office of the Inspector General on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook or subscribing to receive email alerts.

Local News

Carlsbad Bank Robbery

CARLSBAD, Calif. — On December 21, at 2:41 p.m., the City of Carlsbad Police Department responded to US Bank located at 770 Carlsbad Village Drive for a bank robbery. A male entered the bank and demanded money from the teller. The suspect left the bank on foot with an undisclosed amount of money and was last seen walking north on Jefferson Street. The suspect was described as having a light complexion with short dark hair and wore a white long-sleeve quarter zip sweatshirt, dark colored pants, a dark colored baseball cap, and a black face mask. Officers were unable to locate the suspect in the area. Detectives and FBI agents responded to the bank to conduct further investigation and process the scene for evidence.

If you believe that you have information that can assist with this investigation, please contact Detective Jordan Walker at 442-3395674 or Jordan.Walker@carlsbadca.gov

The Carlsbad Police Department would like to thank the Federal Bureau of Investigations for their assistance.

Police media contact: Lieutenant Eric Kovanda, 442-339-2146 or Eric.Kovanda@carlsbadca.gov

Arrests Made in Fatal Shooting

On December 11th, 2022, at around 5:45pm, numerous 911 calls were received by the Escondido Police Dispatch Center reporting gunshots heard in the area of the flood control channel at Hickory St. A 16-year-old victim was found in the flood control channel. The victim was transported to the hospital and unfortunately was pronounced dead around 6:45pm.

On December 22nd, 2022, a 17year-old male, two 15-year-old males and a 15-year-old female were arrested and charged with murder. All four juveniles are currently in custody. The suspects are all Escondido residents. The murder was gang related. The victim had no affiliation with any gangs.

If you have information on this crime, please contact Detective Michelle Mayfield (760) 839-4926

Follow the Escondido Police Department on social media @EscondidoPolice.

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

Simplified Path to Solar

Our warm California sunshine offers more than year-round outdoor activities; it can also supply energy for your home. If you’re looking to tap into the sun’s energy, the process just got a whole lot easier in San Marcos!

The Building and Code Compliance Division is now offering an online system for applicants to complete an eligibility checklist and submit a permit application and plans for residential rooftop solar systems. Thanks to our new method, solar panel installers may use City-provided standard plans

Letters to the Editor

Dear Mr. Lyle Davis:

Thanks for all your service thru the years and for turning out a good, honest paper that’s intresting and fun to read!

Add in a shout out to all your helpers and writers.

We hope you can hang in there with us a while longer.

Keep up the good work for all us believers.

Local continued on page 6

Yours truly. US Army Retired, (Korea) W. Doug Prager)

A Special Tribute to Mauldin

the military newspaper; Mauldin’s drawings of his muddy, exhausted, whisker-stubble infantrymen Willie and Joe were the voice of truth about what it was like on the front lines.

Mauldin was an enlisted man, just like the soldiers for whom he drew; his gripes were their gripes, his laughs their laughs, his heartaches their heartaches. He was one of them. They loved him.

celebrating the fighting men, lampooning the high-ranking officers to stop. Now!

“I’m beginning to feel like a fugitive from the’ law of averages.”

The news passed from soldier to soldier. How was Sgt. Bill Mauldin going to stand up to Gen. Patton? It seemed impossible.

Man About Town

Remembering Willie & Joe

He meant so much to the millions of Americans who fought in World War II, and to those who had waited for them to come home. He was a kid cartoonist for Stars and Stripes,

He never held back. Sometimes, when his cartoons cut too close for comfort, superior officers tried to tone him down. In one memorable incident, he enraged Gen. George S. Patton, who informed Mauldin he wanted the pointed cartoons

Not quite. Mauldin, it turned out, had an ardent fan: Five-star Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, SCAFE, Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe . Ike put out the word: “Mauldin draws what Mauldin wants.”Mauldin won. Patton lost.

If, in your line of work, you’ve ever considered yourself a young hotshot, or if you’ve ever known anyone who has felt that way about him or herself, the story of Mauldin’s young manhood will humble you. Here is what, at 23 years old, Mauldin accomplished:

“By the way, wot wuz them changes you wuz gonna make when you took over last month, sir?”

He won the Pulitzer Prize & was on the cover of Time magazine. His book “Up Front” was the No. 1 best-seller in the United States.

All of that at 23. Yet, when he returned to civilian life and grew older, he never lost that boyish Mauldin grin, never outgrew his excitement about doing his job, never big-shotted or high-hatted the people with whom he worked every day.

Mauldin roamed the hallways of the Chicago Sun-Times in the late 1960s and early 1970s with no more officiousness or air of haughtiness than if he was a copyboy. That impish look on his face remained.

He had achieved so much. He won a second Pulitzer Prize, and he should have won a third for what

ting the blanket as hard as she can. Once she’s done, she goes to the kitchen to have a drink.

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

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

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

Hurricanes are named after women Because they start on the very same plan Start up over nothin’, make a whole lotta noise, And can’t be controlled by man.

Dan and Stan were sitting on a bench, wondering what to do. They only had $5 between them and they wanted to do something fun. Five dollars wasn’t enough to go to the movies, get drinks at a bar, eat a nice meal or anything they liked to do.

Exasperated, Stan says “just give me the $5, I’ll go in that Rite-Aid and find something. Just trust me, I’ll figure something out.” Dan gives him the five and waits outside.

A few minutes later, Stan emerges with a huge smile on his face. “Dan! I found the perfect thing! It’s so awesome, you’re never going to believe it!”

“OK...what did you get?” Stan proudly holds out a box of tampons. Dan says “What the hell did you get those for?!”

Stan says “Dude, read the side of the box. With these, we can go swimming, we can go horseback riding, we can play tennis....”

A Sign in a Shoe Repair Store: “We will heel you We will save your sole We will even dye for you.”

At an Optometrist’s Office: “If you don’t see what you’re looking for, you’ve come to the right place.”

On a Plumber’s Truck: “We repair what your husband fixed.”

On an Electrician’s Truck: “Let us remove your shorts.”

On another Plumber’s Truck: “Don’t sleep with a drip. Call your plumber.”

At a Car Dealership:

“The best way to get back on your feet – miss a car payment.”

Outside a Muffler Shop: “No appointment necessary. We hear you coming.”

In a Veterinarian’s waiting room: “Be back in 5 minutes. Sit... Stay...”

At the Electric Company: “We would be delighted if you send in your payment on time. However, if you don’t, YOU will be de-lighted.

In the front yard of a Funeral Home: “Drive carefully. We’ll wait.”

In a Chicago Radiator Shop: “Best place in town to take a leak.”

Sign on the back of a Septic Tank Truck: “Caution - this truck is full of Political Promises.”

Tech support for marriage

The young woman who submitted the tech support message below (about her relationship to her husband) presumably did it as a joke. Then she got a reply that was way too good to keep to herself. The tech support people’s love advice was hilarious and genius! The query:

Dear Tech Support,

Last year I upgraded from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 and noticed a distinct slowdown in overall system performance, particularly in the flower and jewelry applications and intimacy, which operated flawlessly under Boyfriend 5.0. In addition, Husband 1.0 uninstalled many other valuable programs, such as Romance 9.5 and Personal Attention 6.5, and then installed undesirable programs such as: NBA 5.0, NFL 3.0 and Golf 4.1.

Conversation 8.0 no longer runs, and House cleaning 2.6 simply crashes the system. Please note that I have tried running Nagging 5.3 to fix these problems, but to no avail. What can I do?

Signed, Desperate

The response (that came weeks later out of the blue):

Dear Desperate,

First keep in mind, Boyfriend 5.0 is an Entertainment Package, while Husband 1.0 is an operating system. Please enter command: I thought you loved me.html and try to download Tears 6.2. Do not forget to install the Guilt 3.0 update. If that application works as designed,

Baseball from page

3

1992 film, “A League of Their Own” was based on this group. Although major league baseball was integrated by then, the women’s league was all white. “Those girls looked at us like we were crazy,” Mamie recalled. “They wouldn’t even let us try out. That’s the same discrimination that black players faced before Mr. Robinson broke the barrier.”

While Ms. Johnson was pitching for a team sponsored by St. Cyprian’s Catholic Church in Washington, D.C, a scout saw her dominate a men’s team. Asked to try out for the Clowns, she made the team, becoming a regular. “I worked just as hard as the fellas,” Mamie told The Post.

“I pitched nine innings, just like our other guys. Some fellas acted ugly to me at first, but when they found out I was a ballplayer instead of some gimmick, they accepted me, and the other girls as well.”

She regarded her rejection by the women’s league as a blessing. In an interview with the Kansas City Star she said, “If I’d played with the women, I’d have missed out on the opportunity to play with the men like I did. With them, I’d be just another skirt. With the men, I stood out.”

In her time with the Clowns, she earned $5,000 a season, enough to buy a house for herself and her son. She retired in 1955 to care for him. The Negro Leagues drew up a playing schedule for that year but folded before the season began.

After her retirement, Ms, Johnson studied nursing at North Carolina A&T State University and worked for thirty years at Sibley Memorial Hospital. She died December 18, 2017, at a Washington D.C. hospital, due to a heart ailment. She was 82. Her numerous survivors included 6 stepchildren and nineteen grandchildren.

A baseball field at Rosedale Recreation Center in Northwest Washington, D.C., was named for her in 2013. She met Mo’ne Davis, the

Philadelphia girl who gained fame as a pitcher in the Little League World Series in 2014.

“She reminds me of myself,” Ms. Johnson said. “I wasn’t no baby doll. No girlie girl. Baseball was all I knew. And I loved it.”

Toni ‘Tomboy’ Stone, Connie Morgan and Mamie ‘Peanut’ Johnson, played a man’s game against hardened men, endured grueling travel, less than commodious living conditions and low pay, all for love of the game. On March 19th, 2018, as the new baseball season starts, let’s tip our hat to these brave young women and give them a bow for their sacrifice and contributions to our national past time.

About the author: R.L. “Pete” Peterson has a number of writing credits.

Pete Peterson’s quest for Baseball’s Hall of Fame ended when he could hit neither the fastball nor the curve. His writing has appeared in many newspapers and publications. He empty nests in Escondido with his Bride of Many Summers and facilitates a Read and Critique group at his local library.

As a Marine he had a few all expenses paid vacations to such exotic locations as Central African Republic, (formerly Belgian Congo), Tehran, Iran, and Beirut, Lebanon, courtesy of our Federal government. He was assigned embassy duty which only goes to the best and the brightest. He carries his Marine experience proudly.

A prolific writer, he has written essays, short stories, and poems:

“Sir Walter Raleigh, Nude Chickens, Pretty Girls and A&W Rootbeer” @ thecharlescarter- a Working Anthology, (illustrated by Alexa Gaffaney);

short story, “Embers That Linger So”@ Ravensperch.com;

poems @Baseball Bard.com; “After Midnight” @ stoneslidecorrective.com.

Blog: petersonwriter.tumblr.com

Web: pete-peterson.squarespace.com

A Beautiful Capitol Christmas Tradition

Holiday celebrations began in the State Capitol in1869. Though the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Washington DC is well-known, many may not be aware that a similar ceremony continues to take place each December in Sacramento at our State Capitol.

Past Governors decorated the Capitol with wreaths and their offices with trees, but in 1931 the tree was moved from the Governor’s office to the Rotunda and later to a spot near the Lt. Governor’s office, where it remained until 1984. Concerns about fire safety resulted in the tree being moved outside, where it has remained ever since. Despite a brief hiatus as a `Holiday Tree’ under former Governor Gray Davis, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who succeeded Davis, decided the tree was indeed a `Christmas Tree,’ and so it remains.

On December 1st, Governor Gavin Newsom and Jennifer Siebel Newsom hosted the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the State Capitol’s West Steps. This year’s tree is a 65-foot white fir donated by the U.S. Forest Service from Camino California, which is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in El Dorado County.

The ceremony also honored eight-year-old Layla Datskyy. Layla was selected by the California Department of Developmental Services and the Alta California Regional Center to represent almost 400,000 Californians living with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Layla, who helped light the tree, is a third grader at O.W. Erlewine Elementary School in Sacramento.

The tree is illuminated by 14,000 LED lights and is decorated with about 250 traditional ornaments along with 250 handmade ornaments made by adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Ceremonies included performances by singer/ songwriter/dancer Tinashe, the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, UC Davis acapella groups, and many more.

And so, our Capitol Christmas Tree remains a beacon of peace, unity and joy in tumultuous times.

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

5th District Supervisor Jim Desmond

Checking Your Home While You’re Away

With many people out of town during the holidays (although how could you leave San Diego) it’s important to make sure your home is secure. While we’ve increased the budget for the County’s Sheriff’s Department, including adding more deputies out on patrol, the threat of criminal activity is still possible.

As your County Supervisor, I support initiatives that promote the public safety for residents in North County. The County Sheriff’s Department offers free home vacation checks year-round. If you let the Sheriff’s Department know when you are leaving, they’ll send a Sheriff’s Department Senior Volunteer Patrol to keep an eye on your home while you are away. I encourage you to take advantage of this program.

The Sheriff’s Department Senior Volunteer Patrol will check your home for broken windows, open doors, garages, or other suspicious activity. They will hide newspapers and packages away from public view and they will call for a deputy’s assistance if there is a problem. When you return, you will receive a letter listing the dates your home was checked and any observations made during their visits.

Find more information at https://www.sdsheriff.gov/ community/home-vacationcheck or call your local Sheriff’s Station. As always, if we can be of assistance or answer any questions, my team and I can be reached at (619) 5315555 or via email at Jim.Desmond@sdcounty.ca.gov.

from page 4

and a self-certification checklist to receive an over-the-counter permit. This process will reduce the time to acquire these permits since City staff will not need to review plans

With solar permits accounting for approximately 30% of permits issued by the City within the first

Problem Solved

Jason Blanke’s Samsung dishwasher stops working after less than three years. And Samsung can’t seem to repair it. Can he get an exchange or a refund?

Q: My Samsung dishwasher, which is less than three years old, recently started to leak and would not operate.

I called Samsung, and although the dishwasher is out of warranty, they agreed to cover any parts needed so long as I pay for the $200 service call. I agreed.

A Samsung technician came to my home and replaced a part. However, after a couple of weeks, the dishwasher stopped working again.

A technician returned, inspected the appliance, and told me the dishwasher needed “a few additional parts.” He said he would come back to install them.

But nobody came. When I called the service company handling the installation, a representative said Samsung had canceled the service call. Samsung said they could not get the parts.

I then asked to be transferred to the department handling exchanges. A representative told me Samsung couldn’t exchange the dishwasher because it was out of warranty.

I am demanding Samsung give me a refund or exchange. I agreed to pay for the service call because they agreed to cover the parts. Otherwise, I would have just bought a new dishwasher. Can you help me

-- Jason Blanke, Parsippany, N.J.

A: Your dishwasher shouldn’t have broken down after just three years. The average dishwasher lasts about a decade, with some minor re-

pairs needed after five years. Even though your Samsung appliance was out of warranty, the company should have found a way to get you a working dishwasher quickly.

When you notified Samsung that the dishwasher broke again, it should have kept you posted on the parts instead of canceling your service visit without telling you.

Technically, Samsung is right. Your dishwasher is out of warranty, and the company owes you nothing. It repaired your dishwasher as agreed and had it working, and then the appliance broke again. Samsung has no liability.

But you don’t have to be a consumer advocate to look at this situation and know that it’s wrong. The dishwasher should have lasted longer than three years. The repair you paid for should have given you

half of 2022, the City anticipates this expedited process will create a better experience for the solar industry doing business in San Marcos.

To learn more about the solar permit process, please visit www.sanmarcos.net.

another eight years of life on the appliance -- not a few weeks. Who cares what the warranty says?

A brief, polite email to one of the Samsung executives I list on my consumer advocacy site might have convinced the company to help. I also publish a few exclusive strategies on how to fix a consumer problem that might be helpful.

I contacted Samsung on your behalf. A representative reached out to you and agreed to refund the $700 you paid for your ailing dishwasher.

Christopher Elliott is the chief advocacy officer for Elliott Advocacy. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help with any consumer problem by contacting him at http:// www.elliott.org/help

2022 Christopher Elliott.

by Christopher Elliott

My Samsung Dishwasher Stopped Working Again. Can I Get a refund?

©

Local

Travel Troubleshooter

by Christopher Elliott

Princess denied us boarding because of a positive COVID test. Where’s our refund?

When Princess Cruises denies Linda Martin and her husband boarding on a cruise of the British Isles, it promises to take care of them. But then it doesn’t. What do they have to do to get a refund?

Q: My husband and I booked a cruise of the British Isles with Princess this summer. Before we boarded in Southampton, a cruise line representative gave my husband a rapid COVID test because his PRC test (taken in the USA) had not yet been sent to his email. My husband tested positive. Princess would not let us board.

We had purchased insurance for this cruise, and we have submitted to the insurance company the letter we received from Princess. But the insurance company requires a doctor’s note or other documentation of the test and results in addition to the letter.

We have asked Princess for that documentation, but so far, it has been unresponsive. In my last call with Princess, I waited four hours, only to be given incorrect information and no verification from the ship’s doctor.

Princess also promised to compensate us for meals and lodging while we waited for a flight home, but that has not happened either. Please help!

-- Linda Martin, Anacortes, Wash.

A: Princess was correct to deny you boarding. But the way it handled your insurance claim and expenses was incorrect. The cruise line should have done what it promised -- cover your expenses and help you file an insurance claim.

So why didn’t it? Well, we’re still picking up the pieces from one of the busiest summer travel seasons in recent memory. Everyone wanted to go somewhere. As a result, there’s a backlog of travel insur-

ance claims and long hold times for customer service. Princess is hardly alone.

The cruise line has already refunded you $1,051 for the shore excursions. But you were still out your cruise fare and the extra expenses of having to quarantine in the U.K.

I like the way you kept careful records of your expenses. You saved every receipt and then presented them to your travel insurance company. Nice work! Unfortunately, your insurance company needed a letter from Princess verifying your husband’s COVID-positive status when you boarded.

I guess it’s come to this: If you’re bumped from a cruise or a tour because you’re sick, you need an official test result. A doctor’s letter would be even better. Don’t wait until you get home to ask for the letter -- get it right then and there. Otherwise, you may not be able to file a successful travel insurance claim.

I think a polite, written appeal to one of the company-contacts/princess-cruise-lines I publish on my advocacy site, Elliott.org, would have helped. I also publish a free guide to cruising, which includes a section on how to resolve any cruise problem.

I contacted Princess on your behalf. A representative called you and agreed to reimburse you for the cost of meals, lodging, a transfer, and an additional $500 to cover the amount that the insurance would not cover. It also furnished you with the necessary documentation for your insurance. Princess will pay you $2,954, and after you file your insurance claim, you will get $3,700 back.

Christopher Elliott’s latest book is “How To Be The World’s Smartest Traveler” (National Geographic). Get help by contacting him at http://www.elliott.org/help

Historically Speaking

by Tom Morrow

dows 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 bargain. Those items of joy neatly on display in store windows had price tags. The price of $3.95 seemed to be the most popular numbers. As it happened, the price was just a tad out of our Dad’s budget range.

Christmas of Yesteryear in the Middle West

By Tom Morrow

Another Christmas has come and gone which takes me back more than eight decades of my life. I recall the anticipated booty that never appeared on the dreamscape during my 1940s and early ‘50s. Of course, in those days what toy land wonders we didn’t know about weren’t missed.

Comparatively speaking, post-war vintage toys were, at best, primitive. After World War II, plastic was hard to get and metal of any kind was expensive. After the War, toys were, shall we say, “fragile.”

The biggest problem when fighting off Indians and robbers trying to win the American West was with six-shooters. Many toys, especially pistols, were made of compressed sawdust. When told to do so by an opponent we had to lay our pistols down on the ground ever so gently lest they 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’ve been shocked.

The only gift Santa might bring that would be close to that of today’s Christmas morning booty was “Tinker Toys” … the “Legos” of yesteryear.

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 honor unwrapped and displayed among a pile of 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.

For every boy I knew, electric trains were high on the lists for mostcoveted items. While Lionel train sets were the most popular, no selfrespecting “Junior” railroad man would be satisfied with anything but an “American Flyer.” Lionel train sets were powered via a “center” electric track … three in 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 Flyer” commanded $19.95 and beyond. In those days Dad never made more than $2,500 a year so such extravagances’ at our house were out of the question.

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. However, the Holy Grail on nearly every boy’s wish list was a “Red Ryder” air rifle. But Mom always said what nearly every mom did: “No! You’ll shoot your eye out.”

The “Legos” of yesteryear

Gift ideas to Santa were limited because there was no television or Internet. Surveying hints for the big guy, as well as Mom and Dad, were found primarily in store win-

Remembering to gift for Mom and Dad could be a bit of a challenge. Weekly allowances didn’t go very far. I got .50 cents 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 produced, but not for .50 cents.

I Booked the Wrong Airport -- Can I Get a Refund for My American Airlines ticket?

© 2022 Christopher Elliott.

What To Do if You’re Arrested Abroad

By Christopher Elliott

Albert Schilf did not think the small can of pepper spray in his jacket would become such a big problem when he drove from D.C. to Quebec City in September.

“When I emptied my pockets to go through security at the provincial capital, I notified the guards about the spray,” he says. “I thought they might confiscate it, which they did. But they also arrested me.”

Pepper spray is an illegal weapon under Canadian law. Violators can face up to 10 years in prison. Schilf, a retired federal employee from Columbia, Md., says police released him after questioning. But it doesn’t always end so well.

For example, there is the case of Marc Hilliard Fogel, the American teacher arrested in Russia for possessing medical marijuana. And, of course, there’s Brittney Griner, the WNBA star finally released last week in a prisoner exchange after being detained in Russia for about 10 months.

Griner had been arrested for having vape cartridges with a small amount of cannabis oil. Many of these cases involve countries with regimes hostile to the United States, including Iran, Russia and Venezuela.

Every year, experts say, thousands of Americans like Schilf are arrested abroad for unknowingly violating another country’s laws.

Dick Atkins, a Philadelphia-based attorney who specializes in helping people resolve legal problems abroad, says no one tracks the number of Americans arrested outside the country in a systematic way. The State Department does not publish the number of U.S. citizens who are detained or arrested abroad, a spokesperson confirmed.

Atkins estimates that about 5,000 Americans are detained yearly for serious violations. And with international travel growing, he expects this number to grow next year.

But even minor violations can have serious consequences, he adds. “And what appears to be minor often is not.”

In Schilf’s case, he says he brought pepper spray to Canada for self-defense. “I carry it in my pocket when my wife and I go for walks,” he says. “Happily, I have never had to use it.”

The experience with Canadian authorities was not unpleasant, he says. “They

were very polite,” he recalls. “They took me into a small room, where I was detained and questioned for more than an hour, so they could get information for their report.”

Schilf says police told him they would probably drop the charges but would notify him by mail. The process, he adds, could take months.

“I don’t know what will happen,” he says, “but I think people should be warned: Always check your pockets before you cross the border.”

What to do if you’re detained overseas

If you get arrested, ask local authorities to contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. It can send you a list of English-speaking attorneys and reach out to family or employers to let them know about your situation.

State Department representatives visit detained U.S. citizens to ensure they are getting adequate medical care and provides reading material and vitamin supplements where appropriate. You can find a full list of services on the State Department site.

But the State Department generally can’t get you out of jail or cover your legal expenses, experts say.

“Only in extraordinary circumstances is it possible that they will help with the expenses,” says Richard Brandenstein, a New York attorney specializing in administrative law.

You should always remain calm if you’re detained.

“If you are arrested, be respectful,” says Bob Bacheler, managing director of the medical transport service Flying Angels. “As a rule, unless there is a reason for the local authorities to make an example of someone, they are looking to clear their docket.”

If authorities can collect a fine and send you home, that’s usually their prefer-

ence. That’s particularly true for countries that host a lot of foreign students. The last thing they want is a reputation for arresting visitors for minor violations, he says.

Under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, you have the right to have your home consulate notified when you’re detained.

“Usually, this means that the arresting state will call the consulate and let the home state know the person is under arrest,” says Michael Benza, a senior instructor at Case Western Reserve University’s law school.

What could get you arrested while abroad

Atkins, the attorney in Philadelphia, recently handled two cases where Americans were arrested at the airport in Mumbai because of their phone. Possessing certain satellite phones without approval is illegal for foreign nationals under Indian law. He says that, without immediate legal assistance, both travelers would have faced long incarcerations.

Even having cannabis remaining in your bloodstream is illegal in some countries. For example, in the United Arab Emirates, the presence of drugs in a blood or urine test is treated the same as possession.

A minor traffic accident can also land you in jail. For example, if you get into an accident with your rental car in Mexico and there’s a physical injury, authorities may arrest the drivers of both cars. An innocent tourist could be jailed until authorities could sort out the case, Atkins says.

How to avoid legal problems on vacation

You can take a few steps to prepare for legal problems abroad. One is to register for STEP, the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. Sharing a few details about your trip allows the

government to contact your next of kin if you’re arrested.

Some travel insurance plans offer personal liability coverage that can pay for third-party bodily injuries and property damage that you cause. They may also include 24/7 legal consultation and referral to a local attorney for arrests or other legal problems. An umbrella insurance policy can help cover your defense costs when someone sues you for damages to their property or injuries caused to others in an accident.

“But read the policy carefully to make sure it doesn’t exclude claims from abroad,” says Chiranth Nataraj, founder of the insurance company Visitor Guard.

There are international travel legal assistance services that can help. A basic plan from Legaroo costs $5 a day and includes five hours of legal assistance for up to two events.

Alex Thompson, CEO of Legaroo, says his company kept busy during the pandemic dealing with fake coronavirus tests. Now that the pandemic has eased, the problems have returned to normal.

“It’s traffic tickets, car crashes, loss of documentation, smoking marijuana, bar fights,” he says.

But the best way to avoid legal trouble is by following the law. The State Department’s country information pages list most rules and regulations that could land you in prison.

Research your destination’s laws, paying close attention to restrictions on medications, the amount of cash you can bring in and out of a country, and cultural norms.

“No jumping in Roman fountains or naked photos at temples,” warns Christina Tunnah, a general manager in marketing and brands at World Nomads.

Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can reach him through his consumer advocacy site or email him at chris@elliott.org. This story originally appeared in the Washington Post.

© 2022 Christopher Elliott.

San Diego Humane Society In Need of Community’s Help

With shelter locations over capacity, community is asked to assist in caring for animals

SAN DIEGO — This holiday season, San Diego Humane Society (SDHS) is facing unprecedented challenges in housing animals who need help and is turning to the community to assist in creating muchneeded space in their shelters.

On top of being at- or over capacity at its locations in Escondido, El Cajon, Oceanside and San Diego, recent cases of canine distemper virus (CDV), are adding to the challenge. CDV is a contagious and sometimes fatal viral infection in dogs and some wild animals such as raccoons, foxes and skunks. Vaccinated dogs are immune to CDV but unvaccinated dogs are not. Shelter dogs who have either tested positive or been exposed to CDV, are being quarantined, according to appropriate disease management protocols. In order to prevent and minimize further exposure, the organization has temporarily suspended the intake of owner-surrendered dogs until Jan. 15, 2023.

San Diego Humane Society currently has 1,201 animals in care. More than 600 of them are avail-

able for adoption. “For every dog we adopted out in 2022, we took in two more who needed our help,” said Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO of San Diego Humane Society. “Now, with our shelters full we are calling on our community to help us create additional space to house animals in need. And while there is never an ideal time to face these challenges, CDV, as well as reduced capacity due to construction at our San Diego Campus, is making our appeal for adopters and fosters more urgent than ever.”

Here are five ways community members can make a direct impact:

1. Foster. SDHS has a critical need for foster homes for dogs, especially those who have been exposed to CDV and are under quarantine. Getting these deserving pets into foster care will reduce the spread of disease, increase the quality of life for dogs during their quarantine period, and free up space in atcapacity shelters. Support will be provided to fosters every step of the way. Learn more or sign up at sdhumane.org/foster

2. Adopt. If you have been considering adding a pet to your home, now is a great time to adopt. In addition to giving a deserving animal a home for the holidays, you’ll cre-

ate much-needed shelter space for animals with nowhere else to turn. Visit sdhumane.org/adopt

3. Seek support. If you are considering relinquishing your animal, we have resources to keep pets with their families through challenging times. Visit sdhumane.org/ supportservices

4. Rehome pets. If a community member cannot keep their pet, we ask they try rehoming them before bringing them to the shelter. SDHS offers rehoming resources that can help. These tools allow pet owners to create a profile for their adoptable pet and place the animal directly in their new home — eliminating the need for a shelter stay.

5. Reunite stray animals with their owners. Many stray pets are found close to home! If you find a stray animal, there are steps you can take to reunite them directly with their owner, skipping a trip to the shelter. Visit sdhumane.org/found

For up-to-date information about the temporary modifications at SDHS during canine distemper virus, visit sdhumane.org/distemper. You can also call 619-299-7012 or email info@sdhumane.org

Mr. Glitter

Mya

Don’t Go into 2023 Without Considering These 5 Small Business Trends

(Source / SBA, November 2022)

With 2023 just around the corner, you need solutions that account for the latest industry insights. The SBA can help you find them.

It’s difficult to understate all the changes the business landscape has seen in the past few years, and yet entrepreneurs have responded with incredible adaptability. Perhaps that is one of the biggest reasons small business owners are optimistic about the future. In fact, 66% expect revenue increases and more than half plan to expand their business in 2023.

Plenty of challenges and opportunities lie ahead, both in day-to-day operations and in the long-term. It’s impossible to predict exactly what will happen next year. However, having well-informed expectations can help you stay ahead of the curve. Here are the trends the SBA is monitoring as we head into 2023:

• E-commerce and social commerce will continue to boom.

There’s no denying e-commerce’s place in the market. More than half of global internet users buy something online every week. It doesn’t look like those numbers will be going down anytime soon. Experts forecast that the global ecommerce industry will grow to

$8.1 trillion by 2026. Social media has also emerged as a serious player. With customers now buying directly on platforms such as Facebook and Pinterest, it could be time to adjust your sales model accordingly.

• But that doesn’t mean you should forget about brick and mortar.

Our way of life may be increasingly digital, but the statistics don’t lie: 61% of customers still want to try products in person before buying. It’s all the more reason to

Pet Parade

Willie is pet of the week at your Rancho

He’s an

Willie was found stray with another dog. They were taken to a local shelter, then transferred to Rancho Coastal Humane Society through Friends of County Animal Shelters (FOCAS.) He likes to chat when he has something on his mind.

The $75 adoption fee for Willie 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’s Department of Animal Services. For information about adoption or to become a Virtual Foster visit Rancho Coastal Humane Society at 389 Requeza Street in Encinitas, call 760-753-6413, or log on to www.SDpets.org.

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

think about your strategy from an omnichannel perspective. If you have a website, consider installing chatbot technology or optimizing for voice search. In-store, you can cater to customer expectations with services like self-checkout. After all, more than half of surveyed retail shoppers in North America have used it.

• Safety is important to your customers.

Data collection is a real customer concern. Shoppers want to know that their information is secure, es-

Chuckles from page 5

Husband 1.0 should then automatically run the applications Jewelry 2.0 and Flowers 3.5.

However, remember, overuse of the above application can cause Husband 1.0 to default to Grumpy Silence 2.5, Happy Hour 7.0, or Beer 6.1. Please note that Beer 6.1 is a very bad program that will download the Farting and Snoring Loudly Beta version. Whatever you do, DO NOT, under any circumstances, install Mother-In-Law 1.0 as it runs a virus in the background that will eventually seize control of all your system resources.

In addition, please do not attempt to re-install the Boyfriend 5.0 program. These are unsupported applications and will crash Husband 1.0. In summary, Husband 1.0 is a great program, but it does have limited memory and cannot learn new applications quickly. You might consider buying additional software to improve memory and performance. We recommend Cooking 3.0.

pecially as online transactions become commonplace. You can protect your customers and build brand trust by doing the right things: using reputable payment providers, investing in fraud prevention tools, and installing a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate on your website — to name a few.

• So is sustainability.

Environmental responsibility matters to today’s customer. In fact, consumers from every generation are willing to pay more for sustainable products. Furthermore, 76% say they’ve made a conscious effort to shop more sustainable products in the past year. Brainstorm ways to make your processes more sustainable, such as using low-waste packaging for your products.

• Customer experience is still king.

Research shows that customers value experience over both price and product quality. Whether online or in-person, the customer experience has to be the focus of your strategy. Think of fun ways to personalize your in-store profile, such as hosting pop-up events. Online, it’s about creating an immersive experience. For example, if you sell clothes, you might invest in technology that allows customers to try on clothes virtually.

Why Go to Church?

One Sunday morning, a mother went in to wake her son and tell him it was time to get ready for church, to which he replied, “I’m not going.”

“Why not?” she asked.

I’ll give you two good reasons,” he said. “(1), they don’t like me, and (2), I don’t like them.”

His mother replied, “I’ll give you two good reasons why you SHOULD go to church: (1) You’re 59 years old, and (2) you’re the pastor!”

I didn’t make it to the gym today. That makes five years in a row.

Some days the best thing about my job is that my chair spins.

I’ve finally figured out the problem with my brain. On the left side there is nothing right; on the right side there is nothing left.

I’m practicing speed reading by using a strobe light.

Coastal Humane Society.

8-1/2-year-old, 56-pound, male, Siberian Husky mix.

The Computer Factory

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

Olden is Golden

Aging is a relative concept. When I was twenty- five I recall being amazed that our “ancient” forty year old neighbor not only rode his bicycle for fun, but could also do twenty push-ups! As we busied ourselves with careers and raising families we saw our own relatives and neighbors grow ever older eventually becoming “senior citizens” a one size fits all group of folks moving slowly and inexorably to their death and decay. How sad for those of us in the midst of life to see the loved ones, so important in our lives, becoming old useless and irrelevant. Suddenly, time

has swept us past the threshold into that vortex circling the drain at life’s end. We no longer face thirty or forty years of productive living. Actuary tables tell us we can expect perhaps a decade or so of slow decline and then the grave. Is that depressing or what? Not really. Most of us have learned to take life a day at a time living in the present and enjoying each day as a gift and an opportunity.

There is a tendency for younger generations to see seniors as a one dimensional demographic, but we are as diverse as any other age group. We can be whip smart or stump dumb, sugar sweet or junkyard dog mean, angels or assholes and everything in between. What really defines us as the “older generation” and sets us apart from younger generations is that we were shaped by events and times shared only by those of us old enough to have lived them. While advancing age may slow us down a bit, most of us still have our wits about us. We’ve shared a lifetime of being around. We’ve known what it’s like to be young, brave and strong. We’ve felt the emotional power of love, hate and desire. We’ve lived through our country at war and suffered through economic downturns. “We’ve been there, done that and have the T-shirt.”

That lifetime of experience has made most of us a better person. We understand and accept that we are not all alike in our appearance, ways and beliefs. Our inter-

actions tend to be honest, friendly and constructive. These days we listen more carefully and are less driven by ego or a personal agenda. Untainted by sexual tensions, friendship between men and women is much easier for us now. While we don’t run as fast or jump as high as we did when we were younger, life has compensated by giving us the wisdom, grace and temperament to be comfortable in our own skin and able to enjoy the company of others. We’ve experienced and remember the progression of life from childhood through careers, raising families and beyond and we’ve lived through the events and times that shaped younger generations. It’s only natural that we have deeper understanding of

them than they do of us because we’ve lived their lives and shared their times.

While typically we seniors easily relate to younger folks, we do have much more in common with our own peers. Just as each generation finds its closest relationships within itself, so we seniors like to hang out with one another. In clubs, churches, political and social events etc. you’ll usually find a group of old codgers hanging out together. As a matter of fact we even have our own bars. If you don’t believe it, join us for happy hour in the bar at The California Mining Company in San Marcos’ Restaurant Row. It won’t take you long to notice that we never really grew up.

John Van Zante’s Critter Corner

Why Would Anyone Regret Getting a Dog?

One dog owner told Forbes that, when the family got a dog, everyone agreed to help take care of it. But the responsibility eventually fell to that one person.

Another owner said having a dog is like having a baby. They had to plan if they were going away. That’s true. Babies grow up and learn to take care of themselves. Pets need us their whole lives.

fur, and nose print artwork on the car windows. They also mentioned training, doggie day care, and veterinary expenses.

If you love pets, but now isn’t the right time for you to become a full-time dog or cat parent, there are plenty of opportunities to feel some fur. You can volunteer with a shelter or rescue, foster pets temporarily in your home, and donate your used towels and blankets.

“54% of Dog Owners Have Regrets About Getting a Dog.” That Forbes Magazine headline hit me like a punch! After working with animals for more than two decades, I can’t imagine that half of the dog adopters regret their decisions. (Forbes did not break down adopted pets versus those bought from pet stores or puppy mills.)

In their survey of 2,000 dog owners, 27% said they “Strongly” agree that they regret getting dogs and 27% “Somewhat” agree. Okay. That’s a little easier to understand.

More than two thirds of the dog owners in the Northeastern United States regretted getting dogs. When it’s pouring rain or the snow is two feet deep, who wants to take the dog for a walk?

On the other paw, here in the Southwest less than 40% of owners had any regrets about getting dogs. We take our dogs with us almost everywhere and we do it year-round. It’s more fun to have a dog here. Saying they had regrets doesn’t mean these people don’t love their dogs. Their regrets had more to do with picking up poo, cleaning up

Whatever you do to lend a paw, helping an animal is something you’ll never regret.

The Friends of Steve McQueen Car and Motorcycle Show is an automotive gathering and a commemorative dinner held every first weekend in June to raise funds for Boys Republic, a private, non-profit, nonsectarian community for atrisk boys and girls ages 13-17. Established in 2008 by members and friends of the (Porsche) 356 Club of Southern California, the event attracts automobile, motorcycle and off-road motorsports enthusiasts from throughout the world.

In addition to the show, the Friends of Steve McQueen host an annual rally before the main show. Join a passionate group of individuals on a docent led drive through scenic Southern California. We have wonderful stops and events planned along the route, all raising money for a wonderful cause.

Learn more about the Rally, going to https://stevemcqueencarshow.com

Champion

Steve McQueen Fans Look Forward to this Car Show Every Year

The Paper is For Sale

After 23 joyous years, due to health issues, it is time.

I would prefer to sell to someone local but she, my baby, is on the market.

We are profitable, and we are willing to finance. With our finance plan you should be easily able to handle debt service out of monthly profits and still have enough left over for a hearty bowl of ice cream!

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As for Dad, we somehow managed to buy him a necktie … that was for a man who had just one tie which he only wore for weddings and funerals. Mom usually helped by giving us a dollar or three to buy him something.

One year our parents had made some huge expenditure for the household 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 gifts. From that year forward, my sister and I made sure Dad had something for Mom under every tree. Throughout my years at home, I don’t think Dad ever shopped for anything at Christmas or for birthdays.

For those who annually watch Jean Shepherd’s movie, “A Christmas Story,” you can get a 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!

Have a Happy New Year!

SERVICE DIRECTORY

Let HELP WANTED Drivers Wanted Part Time! Monday-Friday Split Shift $16.63 an hour CALL TODA?Y 760-721-1706 Or APPLY at www.teriinc.org

Maria and Margarita Make your house spotless and your windows shine. Yes,

Oodles from page 3 we do windows. Excellent references. Call Maria cell 760-613-7482

to support families with children experiencing homelessness.

For more information about this very worthy organization, to volunteer, find a shelter or to donate, go to their website at: https://operationhopeshelter.org

S.D. Humane Society Behavior & Training Lecture

Finding a trainer can be ruff! With so many options, opinions and approaches, how do you choose?

Check out these four quick tips to get started, and join the San Diego Humane Society on Jan. 9 for our Behavior & Training Lecture: How to Pick a Pet Trainer 101 to learn more.

1. Loving animals isn’t enough! Your trainer should be qualified, educated and use scientifically supported methods. What is their background and education? Do they have professional training affiliations and verified training certifications? Additionally, the trainer you select should be qualified to handle your pet’s specific behaviors.

2. Ask folks who know! Look for trusted recommendations from folks who have firsthand experience with vetted and professional trainers. We will be launching a professional trainer directory in January that can help!

always mean better training! If a trainer is asking for large sums of money up front or guaranteeing behavior outcomes, be cautious. Behaviors can be predicted, but never guaranteed, and large payments without options for refunds are a big red flag.

Low-distraction learning environments like your home are often the most effective. They’re especially critical for pets experiencing high arousal (stress, high excitability, fear, shyness, reactivity, etc.). Some classes are only offered in online formats for this reason, and students consistently share stories of excellent progress with behavior challenges. Most classes are recorded live each week so you can review the material.

Online (on-demand): These classes are appropriate for ALL pets and

are designed for maximum schedule flexibility. Enroll in the next upcoming session, but start any time that is convenient for you!

Trainers hold a weekly live Q&A session over Zoom (also recorded for flexibility).

Pre-registration is required for all classes and typically closes 24 hours before the first session.

Class Formats: In-Person: Designed for social pets who are comfortable and able to focus around other people and pets. Classes may be offered at our San Diego, Escondido or Oceanside campuses. Class availability varies by location. Please check the location carefully before enrolling, as space is limited.

Online (via Zoom): These classes are appropriate for ALL pets!

The Mighty Mojo Page

“Th’ hell this ain’t th’ most important hole in the world. I’m in it.”

Mauldin is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The kid cartoonist made it onto a first-class postage stamp. It’s an honor that most generals and admirals never receive.

not feel so alone. Soon, more than 10,000 cards and letters had arrived at Mauldin’s bedside.

What Mauldin would have loved most, I believe, is the sight of the two guys who keep him company on that stamp. Take a look at it. There’s Willie. There’s Joe.

may be the single greatest editorial cartoon in the history of the craft: his deadline rendering, on the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, of the statue at the Lincoln Memorial, slumped in grief, its head cradled in its hands. But he never acted as if he was better than the people he met. He was still Mauldin, the enlisted man.

Better than that, old soldiers began to show up just to sit with Mauldin, to let him know that they were there for him, as he, so long ago, had been there for them. So many volunteered to visit Bill that there was a waiting list. Here is how Todd DePastino, in the first paragraph of his wonderful biography of Mauldin, described it:

“Almost every day in the summer and fall of 2002, they came to Park Superior nursing home in Newport Beach, California, to honor Army Sergeant, Technician Third Grade, Bill Mauldin. They came bearing relics of their youth: medals, insignias, photographs, and carefully folded newspaper clippings. Some wore old garrison caps. Others arrived resplendent in uniforms over a half-century old. Almost all of them wept as they filed down the corridor like pilgrims fulfilling some long-neglected obligation.”

And there, to the side, drawing them and smiling that shy, quietly observant smile, is Mauldin himself. With his buddies, right where he belongs. Forever.

What a story, and a fitting tribute to a man and to a time that few of us can still remember. But I say to you youngsters, you must most seriously learn of, and remember with respect, the sufferings and sacrifices of your fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers in times you cannot even imagine today with all you have. But the only reason you are free to have it all is because of them!

I thought you would all enjoy reading and seeing this bit of American history.

During the late summer of 2002, as Mauldin lay in that California nursing home, some of the old World War II infantry guys caught wind of it. They didn’t want Mauldin to go out that way. They thought he should know he was still their hero.

“This is the’ town my pappy told me about.”

Gordon Dillow, a columnist for the Orange County Register, put out the call in Southern California for people in the area to send their best wishes to Mauldin. I joined Dillow in the effort, helping to spread the appeal nationally, so Bill would

One of the veterans explained to me why it was so important: “You would have to be part of a combat infantry unit to appreciate what moments of relief Bill gave us. You had to be reading a soaking wet Stars and Stripes in a waterfilled foxhole and then see one of his cartoons.”

LEGALS

FICTITIOUS

BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9027734

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

Registrant Information: Georgette Young 603 Seagaze Drive, #735, Oceanside, CA 92054 This business is operated by an individual.

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