June 29, 2023

San Marcos Vista Carlsbad

By Cecil Scaglione

It’s extremely difficult to see ghosts in a ghost town in the middle of the hot desert afternoon.

Goldfield Ghost Town isn’t really a ghost town, we were told, until all the merchants leave at 5 p.m.

It used to be pretty well ghostlike every summer until this one, “because we’re staying open as an experiment,” according to Trail Mas-

ter “Sandman” who was taking a coffee break between tourist tours around this 130-year-old mining community at the foot of the loreladen Superstition Mountain, about 90 minutes east of downtown Phoenix.

The community was renamed Youngsberg during a resuscitation begun in 1910 and ended a decade and a half later.

While the site is the original town

of Goldfield, the buildings are replicas because most of the vacated town was razed by an errant military training flare back in World War II.

Its revival as a tourist-attraction Old West memorial was launched in the 1980s and it is now listed among the more than 3,800 ghost towns scattered across the land. Not all are in Cowboy Country. Pennsylvania has more than 100, about 70 of them within an hour’s drive from Pittsburgh.

Arizona and California each have 300 of these supernatural settlements, most of them abandoned mining towns. Jerome, up the road a piece, is the biggest in the country. That gold, silver, zinc and copper mining community had a population of 15,000 at the end of WWII. When the last copper mine closed in 1953, the remaining members of the community -- somewhere between 50 and 100 people -- began promoting it as a ghost town.

Ghost Towns

Ghost Towns from page 1

Goldfield’s ranking among these paranormal precincts is boosted by its proximity to the 3,000-foot monolith that rumors and reports have it housing the Lost Dutchman Mine. It’s not the Dutchman who was lost – his mine was and is because it’s never been found.

Locals claim the mountain that looms over Goldfield Ghost Town has swallowed more than 600 lives. Not all of them have been lost by the lure of gold.

A recent death was that of a 21year-old hiker in January 2022. He fell some 700 feet in broad daylight when he lost his footing trying to take a selfie.

This monolith adds to Goldfield’s ghost-town legend and lore.

While there is gossip galore of prospectors, explorers, pioneers and many other sorts losing their minds after getting disoriented in the deserts of this region, there are those who swear by reports of early Spanish gold seekers finding beheaded colleagues strewn throughout the labyrinthine rock. Stories abound of crazed partners stabbing their colleagues in the back. Simple greed was not the case, according to tale tellers. It’s the curse of the mountain, which has come to be called Supe by modern generations.

Vortexes, time displacement, mag-

Give Us This Day our Daily Chuckle

netic fields, alternate dimensions and gateways to unfamiliar sites are all sworn to be part and parcel of this mysterious monolith.

The Apache warrior Geronimo reportedly used these gateways to vanish and elude his pursuers.

There is at least one ghost domiciled there. It’s been described as a skeleton bearing a lantern and goes about whatever-its-business-is in complete ignorance of what happens around and to it, including being shot at.

Echoes of all these and other happenings bounce of the buildings in the ghost town at the base of the mountain that brings visitors back to the Old West.

Strolling through the dust on the hill that forms Goldfield’s Main Street makes it easy to picture yourself climbing down heroically from your saddle to take in steak and suds in

a whale could not swallow a human; It was physically impossible. The little girl said, ‘When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah’.

The teacher asked, ‘What if Jonah went to hell?’

The little girl replied, ‘Then you ask him’.

***

A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing..

the mid-town Mammoth Saloon that looms visually almost as large as the nearby mountain.

You might even evoke a spaghetti western film by ordering an espresso or cappuccino, which might be a form of protection because no selfrespecting ghosts of the miners of long ago would deign to appear. You might try the sarsaparilla.

Or you can just drive a couple of hours north to the former mountain mining community that once was called “The Wickedest Town in the West.” The community built over and around rich copper ore deposits that attracted miners, merchants and madams more than a century ago kept its bordello but has acquired a heliport.

The catastrophic fires and violent deaths that have led to Jerome’s “ghost town” status can be experienced on evening ghost tours and

***

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.

After explaining the commandment to ‘Honour’ thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, ‘Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?’

Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, ‘Thou shall not kill.’ ***

spectral spirit walks.

Since it’s just eight hours away, making it a weekend pastime for most Southern Californians, it’s worth taking a few minutes to take a closer look at this largest ghost town in the land.

Jerome’s rough-and-tumble spirit was not been completely tamed by the few dozen folks who helped the town narrowly escape the fate that befell so many other similar communities – falling into ruin after their linchpin mines closed.

The structures girdling the hillside still whisper tales of the past to the thousands of visitors swarming through the shops that house the histories of the Verde Valley’s mines, wines, fine arts and, of course, its ghosts. Tracking them down is difficult these days because tourism has taken over and it looks like a comfortable suburban site.

Downtown’s streets weave strollers through several tasting rooms and bottle shops that showcase local wines and ciders. Stairways are everywhere because the town is on the side of a slope, which is part of Cleopatra Hill. As the town prospered, everyone built a home with a view higher and higher up the mountain.

Underground mining and open-pit excavation have taken their toll as sections here and there keep sliding down. A prominent example of this

Ghost Towns continued on page 3

one of my hairs turns white.’

The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, ‘Mummy, how come ALL of grandma’s hairs are white?’

The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture.

Reasons Not To Mess With Children

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.

The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.

The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.

Irritated, the teacher reiterated that

She would occasionally walk around to see each child’s work.

As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.

The girl replied, ‘I’m drawing God.’

The teacher paused and said, ‘But no one knows what God looks like’.

Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, ‘They will in a minute’.

One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink.

She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head.

She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, ‘Why are some of your hairs white, Mum?’

Her mother replied, ‘Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy,

‘Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, ‘There’s Jennifer, she’s a lawyer,’ or ‘That’s Michael, He’s a doctor.’

A small voice at the back of the room rang out, ‘And there’s the teacher, she’s dead.’ ***

A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood.

Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, ‘Now, class, if I stood on

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

The Lost Dutchman Mine located somewhere in Superstition Mountain.

Ghost Towns

from page 2

shift is the sliding jail. The concrete structure is about 10 feet by 20 feet and has slid across a street and more than 220 feet from where it was built. And it’s still slip-sliding away.

Testifying to the claim that artists and craftspeople saved Jerome, the former high school is now the Jerome Art Center, where some three dozen artists rent studio space. Furniture, photography, art work, jewelry and more are showcased in storefronts and former houses scattered up and down the hillside.

The copper mines may be gone, but they’re not forgotten.

Just above the former Little Daisy mine, what once served as the imposing Douglas family mansion has been converted into the museum and visitors center for Jerome State Historic Park, It’s now home to displays, demonstrations and tours recalling the town’s heydays.

You not only have to look for ghosts in Pithole, PA, you have to look for the town.

In early 1865, oil was struck at the base of a wooded hillside in Western Pennsylvania that became the first oil well in America. Within nine months, 15,000 fortune-seekers stamped out a bustling town on that hill.

It was named after nearby Pithole Creek, which was named after a nearby stinking crack in the ground that was generally assumed to be a portal to hell. That pithole is still

here, although it’s off-limits on private property.

The city of Pithole has vanished within three years. The price of oil dropped to $4.50 a barrel, the hopedfor underground ocean of oil turned out to be more like a puddle, the fortune-seekers left, and the buildings were burned down or broken up for scrap. Trees once again cover the hillside. Now, the forest is mowed where the city named Pithole once perched.

You can travel the world to visit legendary and exotic ghost towns. Peru’s Machu Picchu, Italy’s Pompeii, Teotihuacan in Mexico, and Turkey’s Ephesus, which once was the 2nd largest city in the Roman empire, are just a few. There are dozens and dozens of others.

If those are too far, you can brush by a half dozen ghost towns on a pie-pickup shopping trip to Julian. Huddled around this hub of a mid-19th century gold rush are half a dozen mining relics called Branson, Cuyamaca City, Eastwood, Stonewall, Stratton and Coleman City, also called Emily City. In true ghostly fashion, there is no trace of the post offices, dance halls, saloons, shops and dwellings that once stood there.

If you’re still not satisfied, you can buy your own ghost town.

The West Texas town of Lobo is for sale. A group of friends in Germany who own the place have it listed at $100,000.

Stay alert. You may be buying something you can’t see.

San Marcos Wins Statewide Award for Excellence in Economic Resiliency & Recovery

On Thursday, June 22 at the 2023 California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) Success Luncheon, the City of San Marcos won an Award of Merit for their Covid-19 Business Sustainability Program. CALED is California’s premier economic development association and is one of the largest economic development associations in the country. The Merit Award recognizes an innovative project, program or collaboration implemented within 2020 –2022 as a response to an economic disruption.

Merit Award Details

The award was presented to the city as a result of their quick thinking in providing economic relief for businesses during the height of COVID-19. San Marcos launched their Business Sustainability Program, with approval from City Council on March 24, 2020, and was able to assist 120 businesses by providing $2,944,800 in low interest loans through the city’s general

Oodles!

Beginning Genealogy Workshop

June 29 • 6:30 –7:30 p.m.

Escondido Library

Pioneer Room

Discover tips and tricks to learn more about your family history with free Library tools like Ancestry.com and FamilySearch. Beth McIntyre, Pioneer Room volunteer and genealogy researcher of more than 30 years will get you started with a free four-generation chart and other helpful materials.

Want to get ahead? Write down any information you find from items in your home, like family Bibles, birth certificates, and photo albums. Registration is required to use a computer for this event. register at https:// library.escondido.org/register.aspx

***

A Walking Tour of Escondido

Thursday, June 29, 2023

11:00 am–12:30 pm

Escondido Library

Pioneer Room Room

A leisurely paced walking tour of the heart of Escondido’s Commercial District. Learn about the history of the buildings and storefronts and the stories of the shopkeepers who once worked at this historic intersection. ***

We will be learning about our Feathered Friends - Birds, Nests, and Feathers. Birds have so many special adaptations that help them survive! We see a wonderful variety of birds at the Gardens and all around us!

We’ll follow up with a walkabout through the Gardens.

Adults will stay with their kids. Class fee is $5 per person which includes entry and time to enjoy the Gardens till closing at 5:00 pm!

Class is FREE if family has a family membership. Grandparents who have family memberships may bring their grandkids.

If you would like to attend this class, you will need to PRE-REGISTER with Farmer Jones by noon on July 7.

** Provide your child’s name and age for our check-in roster and indicate if you are family members.**

The Gardens are located at 1270 Vale Terrace Drive in Vista, at the top of the hill inside Brengle Terrace Park.

farmerjonesavbg@gmail.com

(760) 822-6824 ***

funds. In the end, the city forgave 100% of those loans with money received from the federal CARES Act. Out of the 120 businesses the city funded, 95% of them are still open today.

“Receiving the Merit Award for our program is a huge honor and reflects our reputation of being a business-friendly city” said Community & Economic Development Director Tess Sangster, who attended the luncheon with Senior Management Analyst – Economic Development, Amanda Boudreault, on behalf of the city.

“Whether it’s through the OpenCounter platform or our various business concierge services, we work hand in hand with businesses to make sure their needs are met. Our commitment to the community is what continue to solidify San Marcos as a North County leader.”

For more information on CALED, go to their website at https://caled. org/.

Escondido Chamber

Installation and Awards Dinner

June 30 • 5pm to 9pm

California Center of the Arts

340 N. Escondido Blvd. • Escondido

Join the Greater Escondido Chamber of Commerce in honoring business excellence in Escondido at our 112th Annual Installation & Awards Dinner. We will be celebrating our new Board of Directors & Ambassadors. Let’s have a roaring good time with food, drinks, and festive entertainment! The dress code for the evening is flapper dresses and jazz suits, and the theme this year is...a drum roll, please...The Greater Gatsby Gala! For more information visit greaterescondido.org

***

Kids in the Garden with Farmer Jones

July 8 • 10am - noon

Alta Vista Botanical Gardens

1270 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista

El Camino Quilt Guild Meeting

July 11 • 9:30am

El Corazon Senior Center 3302 Senior Center Dr. Oceanside

El Camino Quilt Guild meets at 9:30 AM on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at El Corazon Senior Center, 3302 Senior Center Dr. Oceanside 92056. Guest fee $10.

Our July speaker is Lauretta Crites https://laurettacrites.com. Her topic is “Create! Keys to Unlocking Your Creative Power.” Learn the AMAZING power hiding in your passion for quilting. Lauretta believes that creativity is a path to joy, and that everyone is creative.

On Wednesday, July 12th, join her at Quilt In A Day for “Painted Tyvek Koi Fish” workshop. You’ll learn how to take tyvek and paint and make these stunning fish come

Fireworks In Escondido

The City of Escondido is excited to be hosting a free, professional fireworks show to celebrate Independence Day. The California Center for the Arts, is also hosting free activities in Grape Day Park leading up to the fireworks. The community is welcome to enjoy the fireworks show from anywhere in central Escondido including Grape Day Park. The fireworks will be launched from their typical location in the Woodward Avenue parking lot at 9 p.m. Grape Day Park will be open past dusk with traditional regulations in place – no dogs, BBQs, or alcohol. Learn more about the Independence Day celebration at artcenter.org/ event/independence-day-concert-fireworks/

***

As the Fourth of July holiday approaches, residents and visitors are reminded that all fireworks are illegal to purchase, possess or use in Escondido and throughout San Diego County. That includes firecrackers, cherry bombs, bottle rockets and even sparklers.

“Fireworks are extremely dangerous and their use can easily cause serious injuries and start fires” said Escondido Fire Chief, Rick Vogt. “Everyone needs to remember that ALL fireworks are illegal in San Diego County, and for good reason. Considering the dry grass and brush in and around Escondido, anyone

thinking about buying and using illegal fireworks needs to understand that negligently causing a fire can result in criminal and financial consequences.”

In addition to property damage, fireworks can also cause serious injuries. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), thousands of people, including children and teens, are injured every year while using consumer fireworks. Even something as “harmless” as a sparkler, which burns at over 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, can cause critical injuries and pose a serious fire hazard. Additionally, the NFPA states that nationally two out of five fires reported on Independence Day are started by fireworks.

The Escondido Fire Department is holding its annual Fireworks Collection Campaign where Escondido residents can turn in fireworks, no questions asked, from Saturday, June 24 until Wednesday, July 5 at any Escondido Fire Station. The purpose of the Fireworks Collection Campaign is to reduce the number of fires and injuries caused by illegal fireworks. For more information, Escondido residents are encouraged to call the Escondido Fire Department at 760-839-5400. Residents of other cities are encouraged to contact their own local Fire Departments for more information about fireworks in their jurisdictions.

Be Aware Of Gift Card Scams

By Summer Stephan

You’ve likely seen the rows and rows of colorful gift cards at the supermarket. There’s practically one for every retailer and the ability to purchase a gift card while grocery shopping is the epitome of convenience.

But as with anything, there is a dark side to having gift cards hanging within easy reach of fingertips and scammers have found a way to exploit the convenience through card skimming or card swapping. Before you buy that graduation or wedding gift card, keep reading.

Card Skimming

For this scam, the fraudster has already copied the unique gift card bar code number and PIN from the gift card. When an unsuspecting consumer buys and activates that gift card, the fraudster, who already has the barcode number and PIN, uses those funds before the legitimate consumer makes a purchase or the fraudster siphons the funds from the card.

Tip: Make sure the PIN number on the card you purchase has not yet been scratched off.

Card Swapping

Card swapping involves a scammer stealing a stack of physical cards from the retail store outlet and then replacing original barcode with a counterfeit barcode sticker. The scammer will then return the cards to the store

and re-hang them on the rack. When a consumer purchases and loads one of the cards with cash, the money goes directly into the fraudster’s bank account rather than the gift card. When the consumer tries to use the gift card the balance is $0.

The consumer will have no idea the funds they loaded were stolen until they attempt to use the card. The business will show the funds were loaded on the card but be unaware it was actually loaded to a counterfeit account.

Tip: When buying a gift card, opt for the ones that are kept under lock and key by the retailer.

Always check that the barcode is original and does not appear to be tampered with.

There should not be a sticker on top of the original barcode.

The DA’s Consumer Protection Unit is composed of Deputy District Attorneys, Investigators and Paralegals dedicated to protecting consumers and law-abiding businesses from fraudulent or unfair business practices. To report a consumer complaint, you can call (619) 531-3507 or email consumer@sdcda.org.

As your District Attorney, I’m committed to increasing communication and accessibility between the DA’s Office and the public in order to keep you safe. I hope these consumer and public safety tips have been helpful.

Man About Town

By Paul Van Middlesworth

Last week our beloved publisher, Lyle Davis, asked me to help out by writing this week’s “Man About Town.”

Lyle is an Escondiddler and I’m a San Marxist and there are differences in our styles. I told him I would never be caught dead in a straw “boater” and white “spats.” Lyle indelicately pointed out

that I possess the only two real requirements, long term residency and advanced age. He did have a point. I have spent more than half my life in San Diego’s North County and most of it right here in San Marcos. Lyle got me thinking about all the interesting people we’ve met and the changes we’ve witnessed through the years in San Marcos. There are plenty of old timers who’ve lived their entire lives in San Marcos and consider us “newbies” but watching San Marcos change as it quadrupled in size and meeting the players along the way during the past four decades has been a hoot.

When we moved to the “village” of San Marcos the population was under 20,000. The San Marcos business district was the area between Rancho Santa Fe Drive and San Marcos Blvd as the two streets diverged from their intersection all the way where each passed under Hiway 78. In those early days, for breakfast we could choose IHOP or Denny’s or from a handful of local favorites like Rogo’s, Grampa Allens,

Heintschels and The San Marcos Family Restaurant. Among “cocktail hour” dinner choices were The Quails, Camelot, Longshot Saloon, Leo’s Little bit O Country, Carmela’s and a half dozen restaurant/bars in Restaurant Row. In recent years most of those places have disappeared, changed names or found new owners. Grampa Allens is Mama Kat’s, The Camelot is Churchill’s and Quails is Amalfi. A few places, like The Fish House Vera Cruz in restaurant row, have survived intact but change was in the wind as “The Village” grew to 95,000 by 2016.

Along the way Mission Hills High School was born, San Marcos High got a face lift, the city Government built an integrated complex at its present location, and a few crafty local politicians secured for San Marcos, CSUSM, California’s newest addition to the Cal State University system. Lee Thibadeau and Corky Smith loved to regale us with stories of the byzantine manipulations they employed to outmaneuver their North County rivals and secure

this priceless educational coup for San Marcos. Education and health care replaced chickens and silkworms as main components of the San Marcos economy. In recent years The Regal Theater complex, Grand Plaza, and the Creekside Market Place came to life in the traditional commercial center of “downtown” San Marcos. Life was good on San Marcos Blvd.

Then, as San Marcos continued to grow, things began to change for “downtown” San Marcos. Rapid business and population growth in the San Marcos neighborhoods of San Elijo Hills, the University District and North City began to compete with the San Marcos’ historic “downtown” commercial center. Long term vacancies became commonplace along San Marcos Blvd in the traditional as well the newer shopping centers. A large “downtown” residential housing development was built using San Eli-

JULY 4th • INDEPENDENCE DAY

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.

~ Erma Bombeck

Chuckles

from page 2

my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face.’

‘Yes,’ the class said.

‘Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn’t run into my feet?’

A little fellow shouted, ‘Cause your feet ain’t empty’. ***

The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic Elementary School for lunch.

At the head of the table was a large pile of apples.. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray: ‘Take only ONE . God is watching.’

Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies.

A child had written a note, ‘Take all you want. God is watching the apples’. ***

The ability to speak several languages is an asset, but the ability to keep your mouth shut in any language is priceless.

Be decisive. Right or wrong, make a decision. The road is paved with flat squirrels who couldn’t make a decision.

Happiness is not having to set the alarm clock. When I get a headache I take two aspirin and keep away from children just like the bottle says.

Just once, I want the prompt for username and password to say, “Close enough.”

Becoming an adult is the dumbest thing I’ve ever done.

If you see me talking to myself, just move along. I’m self-employed. We’re having a meeting.

“Your call is very important to us. Please enjoy this 40-minute flute solo.”

Does anyone else have a plastic bag full of plastic bags or is it just me?

I hate it when I can’t figure out how to operate the iPad and my tech support guy is asleep. He’s 5 and it’s past his bedtime.

Today’s 3-year-olds can switch on laptops and open their favorite apps. When I was 3, I ate mud.

Tip for a successful marriage: Don’t ask your wife when dinner will be ready while she’s mowing the lawn.

So, you drive across town to a gym to walk on a treadmill?

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

I decided to stop calling the bathroom “John” and renamed it “the Jim”. I feel so much better saying I went to “the Jim” this morning. Old age is coming at a really bad time.

If God wanted me to touch my toes, He would’ve put them on my knees.

Last year I joined a support group for procrastinators. We haven’t met yet.

Why do I have to press one for English when you’re just going to transfer me to someone I can’t understand anyway? ***

Commandments for Seniors...

Your people skills are fine. It’s your tolerance for idiots that needs work.

“On time” is when you get there.

Even duct tape can’t fix stupid –but it does muffle the sound.

It would be wonderful if we could put ourselves in the dryer for ten minutes, then come out wrinklefree and three sizes smaller.

Lately, you’ve noticed that people your age are much older than you. “One for the road” means peeing before you leave the house. ***

The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize.”

—Clairee Belcher (Olivia Dukakis), Steel Magnolias

“I’m at a place in my life when errands are starting to count as going out.”

—Anonymous

“A good rule to remember for life is that when it comes to plastic surgery and sushi, never be attracted by a bargain.”

—Graham Norton

“I’m not good at the advice. Can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?”

—Chandler (Matthew Perry), Friends

From all the staff here at

5th District Supervisor Jim Desmond

Affordable Homeowners Insurance? San Onofre Power Plant

As Vice Chair of the Assembly Emergency Management Committee, I participated in a Joint Informational Hearing with the Assembly Insurance Committee on June 14. Discussions involved the current crisis facing the state’s insurance industry, specifically related to wildfires and the usefulness of Catastrophe Modeling to assess risks for homeowners. Catastrophe modeling is a combination of modeling catastrophe footprint on exposures and linking them to insurance and reinsurance business activities. The process uses computerassisted calculations to estimate the losses that could be sustained due to a catastrophic event, such as a wildfire or earthquake. This technique can be useful in creating pricing and underwriting plans that recognize mitigation measures for individual properties, reducing premium increases and cancellations.

In addition to Assembly committee members, participants included representatives from California Office of Emergency Services (OES), representatives from the California Department of Insurance (CDI), the Acting State Fire Marshal, CalFIRE, along with experts on Catastrophe Modeling, who were front and center at the hearing.

This is one of the most consequential issues facing California, especially in our fire-prone region here in San Diego County. Increased understanding of conditions that produce

destructive wildfires need to be included in risk assessment. Modeling techniques similar to those used locally by SDG&E that accurately predict conditions likely to produce wildfires in any 24 hour period, should be implemented statewide.

Many constituents have contacted my office about ongoing insurance horror stories, including cancellations (my insurance has been cancelled multiple times – I’ve been on the Fair Plan twice), and rate increases in the thousands of dollars –including increases for many HOAs. Some constituents reported their communities have not experienced a wildfire in over 50 years. Their neighborhoods were never identified as Very High Fire Risk Severity Zones until recently, but now they are. Why, what has changed?

Following announcement of the Committee’s June 14 hearing, CDI announced a public workshop on July 7 to explore insurers’ use of risk assessment tools, including Catastrophe Modeling. Without changes, the housing market will crash, and so will our economy. The status-quo is not an option.

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

A Word from San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones Green efforts in San Marcos

I strongly believe it is important that our city takes intentional action when it comes to protecting our planet. It is essential to take these steps to improve the quality of life for our future generations.

The importance of removing spent nuclear fuel cannot be overstated. The safe and responsible management of this hazardous material is paramount for protecting public health, the environment, and future generations. Spent nuclear fuel is safely being stored at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), but that is not a permanent solution.

Over the past four and a half years, I have served as the County of San Diego representative on the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Community Engagement Panel. This quarterly meeting has been instrumental in informing the public about the dismantlement process of the generating station and the onsite storage of spent nuclear fuel. Recognizing the importance of finding a long-term solution, I was appointed co-chair of the Spent Fuel Solutions (SFS) working group two years ago. The SFS comprises stakeholders, including local governments, elected officials, utilities, environmental groups, labor leaders, Native American leaders, and business organizations, all committed to relocating spent nuclear fuel to a federally licensed facility away from our coastline.

The ultimate goal of SFS is to advocate for off-site storage and permanent disposal options for spent nuclear fuel at SONGS and other nuclear sites throughout the state and country. I’m happy to report that we have made significant

progress.

Last Friday, my office met with the United States Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm, who announced $26 million in community engagement funding to find a consolidated interim storage (CIS) facility for spent nuclear fuel. Consent-based siting was emphasized, drawing inspiration from successful models in other countries. Progress has been made with updates to the Department of Energy’s siting process, aiming to secure CIS sites within 10 to 15 years.

Taxpayers have already paid over $9 billion for onsite storage and continue to pay approximately $2 million daily. That is why we need help from our communities and constituents. We need everyone who wants to see the spent fuel removed from SONGS to make their voices heard at the local, state, and federal levels.

Ultimately, removing spent nuclear fuel is a matter of addressing immediate concerns and a moral obligation to safeguard the well-being of our communities and the environment. It is an investment in the future, ensuring we leave behind a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable world for generations.

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

Problem Solved

by Christopher Elliott

I want to cancel my ADT contract. Can I get out of this $527 fee?

With various factors impacting the conditions of our planet, San Marcos strives to maintain an environmentally sustainable community by implementing a variety of programs and initiatives. Within these first few months of 2023, the city has introduced the Electrical Vehicle Charging Station Grant Rebate and the Clean Energy Alliance, allowing the San Marcos community to apply for the installment of EV charging stations and obtain a new power provider.

Our current recycling program is a great example of how you can start or improve your environmental efforts. Start by reducing single-use plastic items and invest in reusable containers and utensils to take with you wherever you go! Residents can also find out how to properly dispose of hazardous waste by visiting the “Where Can I Take It?” webpage at https://www.sanmarcos.net/work/trash-recycling/ where-can-i-take-it.

For more information on other city sustainability efforts, visit the Sustainability webpage at https://www.san-marcos.net/departments/development-services/ sustainability.

When Robertann Usher’s home security company merges with ADT, he discovers he has a five-year contract with a higher price. Getting out will cost him $527. Is that legal?

Q: I have a problem with my ADT bill and was hoping you could help me. I had a home security system through Ackerman Security, which recently merged with ADT. I recently received my first bill with ADT and decided to discontinue my service.

I paid $63 quarterly for security service with Ackerman Security. ADT’s prices are higher. When I called ADT, a representa-

tive told me I was under a five-year contract with ADT and that I could not cancel.

This is a mistake. My agreement is with Ackerman Security. I appealed to a supervisor who said that in order to end the contract, I would have to pay a $527 cancellation fee. The representative placed me on hold and promised me a call back in 48 hours. I have not heard anything back in weeks.

I am requesting that I not be charged a $527 cancellation fee for

Problem Solved

By Tom Morrow

For as much as she became known as ‘Hollywood’s most beautiful woman, there was much more to the glamorus Hedy Lamarr than just her stunning good looks. Put it this way: without her there might not be any of today’s WiFi, Bluetooth and even smartphones as we know them … not to mention her contribution to winning a world war.

Born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler to a Jewish family on Nov. 9, 1914, the world would come to know her as the beautiful and sultry “Hedy Lamarr.” Her early and brief film career in Germany included controversial nude and love-making scenes in the 1933 film “Ecstasy,”

In the 1940s, Lamarr was one of Hollywood’s most sought-after leading ladies. But away from the cameras, her passion for innovation spawned the wireless communication technology we take for

granted today. She is credited with inventing what we know today as WiFi for our Internet services.

Lamarr was one of the great beauties on screen but became an important inventor that greatly aided the Allied effort during World War II. The basic electronic premise of her communications system is still in use today.

In 1933, Lamarr married her first of six husbands, Max Mandl, a wealthy Austrian military arms merchant, who was very controlling. She often would accompany Mandl to business meetings where he conferred with scientists involved in military technology. These conferences became her introduction to the field of applied science that nurtured her talent in the scientific field. Mandl, himself half-Jewish, often entertained Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini at dinner parties, as well as selling arms and munitions. After escaping her husband in 1937, Lamarr fled to Paris where she met MGM’s mogul head Louis B. Mayer, who signed her to a contract. Wanting to make her name more appealing to American audiences Mayer changed it from Eva Maria Kiesler-Mandl to “Hedy Lamarr.” With MGM she made 25 films. After leaving MGM in 1945,

she had her biggest success in Cecil B. DeMille’s 1949 Paramount film “Samson and Delilah,” with Victor Mature.

She would go to star opposite some of Tinseltown’s most iconic leading men and socialized with the likes of U.S. President John F. Kennedy and business magnate Howard Hughes.

As with many female roles at the time, Lamarr’s celluloid career often depended on her looks. She is still famed for performing what is regarded as being cinema’s first ever on-screen depiction of a female orgasm in one of her earliest

Travel Troubleshooter

by Christopher Elliott

movies, the 1933 film Ecstasy. It was a film banned in America for decades.

Of all the many parts played by Hedy Lamarr during her glittering Hollywood career, none can be quite as inspirational as the one which most people know least about … her life away from the cameras. At the beginning of the World War II, Lamarr helped the U.S. war effort by selling War Bonds, but more importantly by using her scientific knowledge. Lamarr co-invented technology

Historically Speaking continued on page 14

My brother died. Can I get a refund for my airline tickets?

After Debbie Schembri’s brother dies, she cancels her Alaska vacation. Can she get a refund for her airline tickets?

Q: I had tickets on United Airlines to fly from San Jose to Anchorage last summer. In August, my brother died unexpectedly, and we canceled our travel plans.

I reserved my airline flights through Booking.com and followed all their instructions regarding a refund. I sent my brother’s death certificate and obituary. Booking.com asked for more proof that we were related and finally, they asked for his birth certificate. They kept asking for more documentation. Then they denied our claim.

I appealed to United Airlines and it graciously agreed to refund our tickets even though we booked through a third party. Shortly after that correspondence from United, Booking. com also agreed to refund our tickets.

As of now, I still have not received the refund to my credit cards even though they say they have refunded me. I have sent numerous emails to all the people listed on your consumer advocacy site, and I continue to get the runaround about waiting for Booking.com to receive responses from the airline. I don’t know where to turn! I’m so frustrated at this point. I hope you can help me.

~ Debbie Schembri, San Jose

A: My condolences on your loss. Airlines will almost always refund a ticket if a passenger dies or if the travel companion of a passenger dies. But when it comes to relatives like brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles, it depends on the carrier.

Online agencies like Booking. com, the online agent you were using, have a special department that handles waivers and favors. United Airlines turned down your request through an intermediary but then

agreed to refund your ticket when you contacted it directly. By the way, excellent job on the self-advocacy. You worked your way up the ladder, first contacting your online agency and then your airline -- and you didn’t take “no” for an answer.

You might have avoided this with a reliable travel insurance policy. Insurance would refund your prepaid, nonrefundable expenses such as airline tickets and hotel rooms, in the event a close relative dies.

I like the way you kept all of your correspondence in writing instead of calling. Too often, people try to phone the airline or online agency, hoping that they can get a quick resolution. But they don’t have a record of the conversation, so when they don’t get the outcome they want, they have to call again and explain the situation all over. That’s so frustrating and it rarely fixes the problem.

What made this case a slam-dunk was that you had a promise from United in writing that it would refund your ticket. But here’s where things went off the runway. Although you booked your ticket on Booking.com, it was actually made by a third party called GoToGate (you can find executive contacts for GoToGate on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org). It looks like there was a miscommunication between United, Booking. com, and GoToGate, which led to the delay.

I contacted GoToGate on your behalf, and you received a full refund, as promised.

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

© 2023 Christopher Elliott.

Hedy With Victor Mature in Samson and Delilah.”

Chuckles from page 5

“Here’s all you have to know about men and women: Women are crazy, men are stupid. And the main reason women are crazy is that men are stupid.”

—George Carlin

“When I’m in social situations, I always hold onto my glass. It makes me feel comfortable and secure and I don’t have to shake hands.”

—Larry (Larry David), Curb Your Enthusiasm

“As you get older, three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can’t remember the other two.”

—Sir Norman Wisdom

“That’s why New York is so great, though. Everyone you care about can despise you and you can still find a bagel so good, nothing else matters. Who needs love when you’ve got lox? They both stink, but only one tastes good.”

—Midge Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan), The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

“Here’s some advice: At a job interview, tell them you’re willing to give 110 percent. Unless the job is a statistician.”

—Adam Gropman

“Does it disturb anyone else that ‘The Los Angeles Angels’ baseball team translates directly to ‘The The Angels Angels’?”

—Neil DeGrasse Tyson

“I never forget a face—but in your

case, I’ll be glad to make an exception.”

—Groucho Marx

“Here’s something to think about: How come you never see a headline like ‘Psychic Wins Lottery’?”

—Jay Leno

“A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.”

—Steve Martin

“My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far I’ve finished two bags of M&Ms and a chocolate cake. I feel better already.”

—Dave Barry

“Never do anything out of hunger. Not even eating.”

—Frank Semyon (Vince Vaughn), True Detective

“What do you mean, he don’t eat no meat? That’s okay, that’s okay. I make lamb.”

—Aunt Voula (Andrea Martin), My Big Fat Greek Wedding

“You know you’re getting old when you stoop to tie your shoelaces and wonder what else you could do while you’re down there.”

—George Burns

“To call you stupid would be an insult to stupid people!”

—Wanda (Jamie Lee Curtis), A Fish Called Wanda

“Instead of the mahi mahi, may I just get the one mahi because I’m not that hungry?”

Pet Parade Vader

Vader is pet of the week at your Rancho Coastal Humane Society. He’s a 6-year-old, 65-pound, male, English Bulldog mix.

Vader’s owners gave him up when they couldn’t afford the medical care he needed. Now he’s been treated and he’s ready to start his new life. He likes people, walks, the beach, and napping. Vader does not like bicycles or skateboards.

The $145 adoption fee for Vader includes medical exam, neuter, up to date vaccinations, registered microchip, and a one-year license if her 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.

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

—Shelley

Darlingson (Anna Faris), The House Bunny

“Accept who you are. Unless you’re a serial killer.”

—Ellen DeGeneres

Francois: “Do you know what kind of a bomb it was?”

Clouseau: “The exploding kind.”

—Francois (André Maranne) and Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers), The Pink Panther Strikes Again

“My ability to turn good news into anxiety is rivaled only by my ability to turn anxiety into chin acne.”

—Tina Fey, Bossypants

“There is one word that describes people that don’t like me: Irrelevant.”

—Anonymous

“Why do they call it rush hour when nothing moves?”

—Robin

Williams

“I remember it like it was yesterday. Of course, I don’t really remember yesterday all that well.”

—Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), Finding Dory

66. “I don’t have to take this abuse from you; I’ve got hundreds of people dying to abuse me.”

—Dr. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ghostbusters

Police officer: “Pull over.”

Harry: “No, it’s a cardigan. But thanks for noticing.”

—Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels), Dumb and Dumber

Oodles

from page 3

to life. No machine needed. Come and learn this exciting technique. Open to non-members. For more information – elcaminoquilters. com or email info@elcaminoquilters.com.

El Camino Quilters is a non-profit group. We donate hundreds of quilts and other handmade items to a variety of groups including Senior centers, hospitals, police and military groups. Thank you.

***

Almost Famous Flying’s Second Best July 11 • 11:30am - 1:30pm

The Heights Golf Club 16066 Bernardo Heights Pkwy San Diego

Please join us for a great lunch and then hear informative and inspirational stories from Dr Maud Rao of the Air and Space Museum, who can entertain and enlighten us with his knowledge and experiences.

How many of us have known folks who were “almost famous?” If we think back on our ives, or even read about the common man of history, we’ll find plenty of instances where the story could have gone quite differently.

The meeting opens at 11:30 at The Heights Golf Club, 16066 Bernardo Heights Blvd, Rancho Bernardo, with lunch from 12:00 noon until 12:30. Cost is $37 for lunch

Oodles continued on page 13

Pet of the Week

Looking for a large, lovable, fluffy companion? Look no further than Mountain! This handsome husky is nothing but a big softy once you get to know him. He enjoys spending quality time with his people and brings “best day every” energy to everything he does! Whether you’re going for a scenic sniff adventure, playing fetch in the yard or just soaking up the sun with Mountain, he’s sure to make you smile. If you’re ready to provide this wonderful dog with a cozy home and lots of love, come meet Mountain at San Diego Humane Society’s Escondido Campus at 3500 Burnet Dr. This weekend, June 24-25, adoption fees are just $20 for all adult dogs and cats (7 months and older), like Mountain! If you have questions about the adoption process, you can visit sdhumane.org/adopt or call 619-299-7012.

Online profile: https://www.sdhumane.org/adopt/available-pets/animal-single.html?petId=862076

The Computer Factory

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

thecomputerfactory.net

“Idiocracy” is a movie that Twentieth Century Fox released half heartedly in 2006. The 2.5 million dollar movie grossed less than a half million in box office receipts but subsequently has become a cult classic. Luke Wilson and Maya Rudolph starred as Joe and Rita. Joe is a very average Army corporal, and Rita is a prostitute fleeing from her angry pimp. They “volunteer” for a top secret, one year, government “hibernation” experiment. In mid-year the government project gets defunded and forgotten. Joe and Rita are roused from their “hibernation” 500 years later as the building is being razed. In the intervening centuries, technology has completely eliminated the need for intelligence among the earth’s population. Joe and Rita are by far the smartest people on earth. Their hilarious misadventures with the childlike citizens could herald the eventual fate of our own civilization.

Early in the last century, the developed western civilizations began measuring the cognitive functions of the younger generations with standardized “IQ” tests. Test results throughout the 20th century showed a three to five point gain in IQ per decade, a phenomenon known as the “Flynn Effect” named after American born Intelligence researcher Dr. James Flynn. Since the beginning of the 21st century, those same standardized test have recorded the “Negative Flynn Effect”, a word wide decline of 2 points in three of the four test categories that determine IQ. Our younger generations appear to be experiencing a decline in their IQs (cognitive functions and ability to reason).

Advocacy groups have seized upon the falling IQ phenomenon as evidence supporting their often conflicting agendas. The education industry, air and water pollution, climate change, nutrition, racism, television, social media, cell phones and the Internet are a few of the leading candidates for blame. Scientist, educators and other “experts” offer endless theories concerning the cause, origin, importance and long term effect of the present cognitive decline on the future of planet Earth’s human residents.

Not wanting to be left out, we pose “The Computer Factory theory on the genesis and impact of incipient human IQ decline”. The fact that decline in human IQ level is contemporaneous with the rise of three other major developments is more than coincidence. The 21st

century also marked to phenomenal growth of Broadband Internet, accessible Human Knowledge (the Buckminster Fuller Curve) and Artificial Intelligence.

Before the arrival of broadband Internet we attacked problems by exercising our very own somewhat limited knowledge and intellect. We might make the energy and time consuming effort to consult an external data base (reference book or library) as an aid in formulating our own sometimes flawed solutions. Problem solving was a time consuming, hit or miss effort involving a lot of mental energy. Today, instead of using our own valuable time and energy we simply hand the problem to the broadband Internet. The Internet will ask AI (Artificial Intelligence) to scan the Internet’s access to the entirety of Human Knowledge and select

the data required to calculate a solution.

Much of the time AI already has the solution because somebody else previously had the same question.

So what’s the problem? I got a good solution to my problem and I didn’t need to wrack my brain or go to the library right? The time and energy I would have wasted working out a solution on my own was spent productively playing Donkey Kong on my smart phone. I may not be exercising my mind and my IQ may be a couple points lower than my dad’s but so what? I know everything I need to know in order to get along in the world and if I need a quick answer, I’ve got Hey Google, Alexa and Siri.

“Idiocracy” is available on Hulu, Amazon, Google Play, iTumes, Tubi and Vudu

Refurbished “Enterprise” Grade PC VS New “Retail” PCs

Half the Price.

Twice the reliability.

Higher quality components. Windows 10 or 11 Pro or Home.

Why pay twice as much and get half as much?

Over 60 notebook, desktop, All-in-One & Micros in stock

While we’re celebrating our independence, keep in mind that the 4th of July is one of the most dangerous days of the year for pets.

One of my reporter buddies said, “Everybody knows they need to keep their pets indoors during fireworks.” A few days later I sent him a link to a story on HIS television station, about shelters crowded with pets who ran away on the 4th.

Let’s get this straight. More

American pets run away on the 4th of July than any other day of the year.

Pets don’t like fireworks. It’s loud. The sky flashes and the ground rumbles. If a dog or cat gets out, no matter where it goes, there’s more noise. It keeps running, and the farther it runs, the more lost it becomes.

The best solution is prevention.

• DO NOT leave pets outdoors during fireworks…even in a fenced yard. A small dog can climb a tall fence if it’s scared.

• Leave pets indoors in a secure area.

• Turn on the radio or TV to mask the sound.

• Some pets need medication to deal with the stress.

Many pets escape by pulling out of their collars. Mom always said not to leave home without an I.D. If your dog or cat pulls out of its collar and the tag is gone, your best hope of getting it back is a microchip.

Make sure your contact information on the microchip registry is up to date.

Take a selfie with your pet. A photo of you and your pet together can help identify it.

If all else fails and your pet does get away on the 4th of July, in the city of San Diego, call the San Diego Humane Society. For the rest of the county, contact the agency that handles local animal services. It’s their busiest day of the year. Be patient.

Hang signs with a photo in your neighborhood and post on Craig’s List, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Give enough information to identify your pet, but not so much that it sets you up to be scammed.

Hacker Fares Are Wrong - But Not As Wrong As This

Would you break a rule for a cheaper airline ticket?

Susan Stevens did when she booked a hacker fare from Vienna to Frankfurt. A round-trip ticket costs hundreds of dollars less than a one-way ticket. So she bought a round-trip fare.

“After I landed, I threw the return ticket away,” recalls Stevens, a retired publicist from Philadelphia.

What rule did she break? Airlines claim throwaway ticketing is illegal, and they sometimes prosecute customers they catch, confiscating loyalty points, suspending their frequent flier program memberships, or even suing them.

But with airfares up 5% from prepandemic levels, many travelers are asking themselves the same question as Stevens: Should I book a hacker fare?

Hacker fares are wrong, of course. The airline has placed restrictions on how to use its product, and you’ve agreed to obey the rules when you buy your ticket. But it is not nearly as wrong as the complicated and convoluted fare rules the airlines have created to squeeze more money from their customers.

What are hacker fares?

Hacker fares are any type of ticket that helps you save money but may violate airline policy. For example:

Throwaway tickets. Airlines sometimes price one-way tickets higher because they are used by business travelers, who have more money to spend. You can buy a roundtrip ticket for less and then just throw away the return.

Hidden city tickets. Booking a flight with the intention of disembarking at a connection instead of flying to the final destination can also save you money. Airlines may discount the destination but charge more for a flight to your connection city.

Back-to-back tickets. Airlines sometimes charge more for midweek round-trip flights than those with a Saturday night stay. By booking two consecutive round-trip flights with overlapping segments, you can get around that rule.

These ticketing practices can save air travelers lots of money. But they infuriate airlines, which see them as violating their ticket contract and stealing revenue.

Why are hacker fares wrong?

Airlines claim that hacker fares are illegal. That’s not true. They violate the airline’s contract, which customers agree to when they book their tickets, but they don’t violate any laws.

“Most airlines forbid these practices in the contract of carriage, which customers rarely read,” explains John Hooker, a professor of business ethics at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business.

Hooker says there’s a moral aspect to hacker fares. Using throwaway ticketing or hidden city ticketing may involve deception, which is causing another party to believe something you know is false.

Some frequent travelers say hacker fares are a red line they won’t cross.

“I don’t think it’s ethical to book a flight that you don’t intend to take,” says Barry Graham, a sales manager based in Washington, D.C. He says hacker fares have other unintended consequences, such as making the seats unavailable to other travelers or possibly raising prices for them.

What’s even worse? These crazy airfares.

What’s worse than booking a hacker fare? The way airlines have set their ticket terms and prices, say experts.

“Airlines have created this situation,” says Dan Gellert, chief operating officer for Skiplagged,

a site that helps travelers find hacker fares.

Gellert says airlines take advantage of the lack of competition in the industry by raising fares in cities where they have a dominant market share, and overcharging customers. What’s more, airlines practice their own form of deception by overbooking their flights and hoping some passengers don’t show up.

“The idea that a traveler has an obligation to board the flight when the airline has no official obligation to seat them on a flight is hypocritical,” he adds.

David Kazarian, a pharmacist from Tampa, Fla., says he has used hacker fares in the past with no remorse.

“Did I feel that it was unethical?” he asks. “Well, I felt the airline was unethical -- and I was just settling the score.”

Should you book a hacker fare?

So what should you do? If you answered, “I’ll book a hacker fare,” you’re in good company. More than two-thirds of Americans (67%) will also book a hacker fare this summer, according to a recent survey by ValuePenguin.

In a sense, hacker fares are how the market is supposed to work, according to Cathy Mansfield, a law professor and consumer protection expert at Case Western Reserve University.

“Consumers who shop around for the lowest travel fares by

any means are actually playing the role economists imagine for them in an unregulated, fully functioning consumer economy,” she says.

Anyone who takes the time to educate themself, find the best flight options and choose the least expensive one is driving prices lower and helping other passengers, she says.

Hacker fares are still not right, but …

The bottom line is that hacker fares -- as the name implies -- are still not entirely right. You’ve agreed to the terms of your ticket, and you should adhere to those terms.

But the solution isn’t for everyone to become a travel hacker. Instead, airlines should hold themselves to a reasonable standard, when it comes to how they set their fares -- and fare rules.

When a one-way ticket costs more than a roundtrip ticket, when a flight to an intermediate city is more expensive than one to a more distant final destination, then it’s time to bring some reason back to airfares. And if airlines don’t do it voluntarily, well, we can always try to regulate some common sense into them.

Elliott’s tips for being a fare hacker

You may be able to save a lot of money by hacking your next flight. But here are a few things you should definitely avoid:

Don’t ask your travel advisor to book a hacker fare. Airlines could hit your agent with a debit memo, asking for the fare difference.

Don’t give the airline your frequent flier number. If you use a hidden city or back-to-back ticket, you could hear from the airline, and it might ask you for more money.

Don’t check luggage. Airlines will transport your luggage to your final destination. If you get off at a stopover, you will lose your bags. And remember, if you’re a no-show for one segment of your flight, airlines will cancel the rest of your flights.

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

Illustration by Christopher Elliott

SERVICE DIRECTORY

HELP WANTED

Drivers Wanted Part Time!

Monday-Friday Split Shift

$18.00 an hour

CALL TODAY 760-721-1706

Or APPLY at www.teriinc.org

Let Maria and Margarita

BOOKKEEPING

THOMPSON BOOKKEEPING

Receivables • Payables

Financial Reporting

Bank Balancing • Clean-Ups • Etc.

Oodles from page 10

and in-depth discussion with Maud Rao, Docent of the San Diego Air Museum.

Registration can be done with this invitation, by phone to Blair Lawson at 858-217-6996 or email blawson@san.rr.com.

Please register by Saturday, July 8.

The Bernardo Heights CC needs our count of attendees and luncheon selections by then!!

If you cannot attend in person, Zoom attendance is also available. You will be notified on Monday, July 10th with the Zoom instructions.

Call For Artists Escondido Art Association

The Escondido Art Association announces their show for the month of July at the EAA Gallery, 121 W. Grand Avenue, Escondido. The Theme for the show is “Escondido.” EAA members and non-members are encouraged to enter. The judge is the highly respected artist, Kate Joiner.

Entry fees will apply: Members $20 1st entry, $5 ea. 2nd & 3rd; Non-members $30 1st entry, $5 ea. 2nd & 3rd, Students $10 1st entry, $5 ea. 2nd & 3rd.

Take-in of art will be on Saturday, July 1st from 11:00am – 4:00pm.

Find more information at www.escondidoartassociation under FAQ.

“Escondido” will run through Friday, August 4th. All artwork must be picked up by Saturday, August 5th, between 11:00am-4:00pm.

Thursday, July 6th, the public is invited to attend a free artist demonstration by artist Kate Joiner at the Fusion Restaurant, 201 East Grand Ave., Suite A in Escondido from 2pm-4pm.

Saturday, July 8th, the Artist Gallery will host an Artist reception open to the public from 4:00 pm until 6:00pm with a chance to meet and talk with the exhibiting artists. Refreshments will be served.

***

Carlsbad’s TGIF Concerts in the Parks

Carlsbad’s TGIF Concerts in the Parks series, one of the city’s most popular summer activities, is back in person this summer and celebrating its 36th anniversary with an exciting lineup of performances that will have crowds dancing the night away.

Stagecoach Community Park

July 7: Band Overboard (Yacht Rock)

The smooth grooves, four-part harmony vocals, killer guitar solos, and overall lush, full sound will take you back to the late 70s/early 80s.

July 14: B.I.G. (R&B, Soul & Funk)

B.I.G. (Brothers Igniting A Groove) performs a mix of R&B, smooth jazz and old school funk, including covers and original music.

Poinsettia Community Park

July 21: Young Guns (Country)

This band plays all of the best country songs from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s through today.

Calavera Hills Community Park

July 28: Jungle Fire (Afro/Latin/ Funk)

An Afro/Latin Funk band creating a melting pot of Afro-Caribbean and West African rhythms with a heavy break beat funk.

Alga Norte Community Park

August 4: Betamaxx (1980s)

A high-energy, nostalgia-filled rock concert that keeps the dance floor packed from beginning to end with an 80s music experience.

August 11: The FABBA Show (A Tribute to ABBA)

An homage to pop sensation ABBA that will take you on a glittery, sparkling, and truly magical journey back to the disco and the 70s.

We’ve received some questions about why there will only be six concerts this year. As we were planning for this summer’s concerts, it became clear that our bud-

Make your house spotless and your windows shine. Yes, we do windows. Excellent references. Call Maria cell 760-613-7482

get would not cover nine concerts. The cost for hosting the concerts has doubled since 2019, before COVID, and inflation has added to that cost. Reducing the number of concerts this summer was the least disruptive way to address this shortfall this year.

Staff are evaluating options for the 2024 TGIF season and will present those to City Council before any decisions are made about next year’s concerts.

Summer Movies In The Park

Summer Movies in the Park is the largest free and family-friendly outdoor movie series in San Diego County, with dozens of hosting sites and over a hundred screenings. It launched in 2007 as a ‘take back our parks’ initiative – in sync with the County’s Live Well vision to sustain safe, healthy and thriving communities.

Shows run May through October, in neighborhoods from the beach to the desert, and everything in between. Each movie event gives residents a reason to visit their local parks after dark, deterring inappropriate loitering and park use, and bringing additional safety and security to residents’ favorite locales.

Events begin as early as 6 p.m., though actual movie start times are 15 minutes after sunset. Before the movie, many locations provide additional entertainment like arts and crafts, games, costume contests, music, dancing and food trucks.

Movies, dates and locations are subject to change. For more information, visit summermoviesinthepark.com. ***

Bates Nut Farm Craft Fairs

Bates Nut Farm hosts a variety of craft fairs throughout the year, all of which prove to be very popular.

Crafters are encouraged to sign up for vendor space now before spaces are all taken. These upcoming

events still have spaces available:

Pumpkin Festival

September 30th - October 1st

Filling up fast but there are still a few spaces left. This very popular craft fair runs during the opening of Valley Center’s largest event of the year, the Bates Pumpkin Patch.

Christmas on the Farm

November 4th & 5th

This craft fair is for vendors who want to participate in a holiday craft fair but don’t want to spend their Thanksgiving weekend selling their wares. There will be great food and live music. East County Cruisers Car Show is November 5th so there are a lot of visitors coming to the farm this weekend.

Santa’s Coming

November 24th - 26th

Santa pays a visit during this great holiday event, and there will be lots of other family-friendly activities as well.

A craft fair application is available online at www.batesnutfarm.biz or stop by a pick one up in the office Monday-Friday from 9-5.

***

Get Ready to Rock at The Moonlight

Moonlight Amphitheatre’s second annual Summer Jam takes place

June 29-July 8 with top-flight tribute bands. Gates open at 6pm, concerts begin at 7pm.

Concert Lineup

June 29: Mick Adams & The Stones

June 30: Adventures in Parrotdise

July 1: Dead Man’s Party

July 2: TUSK: Tribute to Fleetwood Mac (very limited seating available)

July 6: Queen Nation

July 7: Yächtley Crëw

July 8: Who’s Bad

Receive a discount for purchasing multiple concerts! Your discount will automatically be applied when ordering online. Questions - Contact the VisTix Box Office - 760724-2110

The Mighty Mojo Page

Coins & Loans Printing Solar & Roofing

760-745-1697

Escondido Coin & Loan, Inc.

241 E. Grand Avenue

www.escondidocoin.com

Goins•Gold•Silver•Vintage Watches

Historically Speaking from page 7

for “Spread Spectrum” and “Frequency Hopping” communications with music composer George Antheil. The new technology became important to America’s military during the War because it was used primarily in controlling torpedoes.

The script in the film “Bombshell,” ironically called for Lamarr to comment about inventions. “Inventions are easy for me,” the Austrian-accented LaMarr says. “I don’t have to work on ideas, they come naturally.”

Among Lamarr’s earliest inventions was an improved traffic signal and, something seemingly out of central casting, she developed a carbonated beverage. The U.S. Navy used her WWII version of frequency hopping in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Today, Lamarr’s inventions have been incorporated into the modern Wi-Fi, CDMA and Bluetooth technology. In 2014, Lamarr and Antheil were

ALOHA PRINTING

inducted into the National Inventor’s Hall of Fame.

Off-screen, Hedy’s life was sometimes turbulent and often shrouded in scandal – she was married and divorced six times. But when the camera’s stopped rolling, her passion was for science, innovation and invention.

Lamarr’s later years were not happy ones. In 1966, she was arrested for shoplifting in Los Angeles and again in Florida. She died in Casselberry, Fla., on Jan. 19, 2000, at age 85, Her ashes were spread in the Vienna Woods of Austria. In 2014, she was given an honorary grave in Vienna’s Central Cemetery.

Today, Hedy Lamarr continues to live on the Internet streaming Hollywood films of yesterday. It’s fun to watch them and marvel at how her legacy still contributes to our world.

Problem Solved

from page 6

a contract I know nothing about and ensure my service is canceled. Can you help me? -- Robertann Usher, Snellville, Ga.

A: You’re right. Your agreement was with Ackerman Security. Even though ADT acquired Ackerman, that does not give it the right to start charging you more and impose a $527 cancellation fee.

Or does it? Contracts like these can be filled with consumer-unfriendly clauses that allow the company to raise rates without notification and impose cancellation fees. I’m sure the ADT lawyers reviewed the Ackerman contracts before they signed off on the acquisition. So maybe they shouldn’t have raised your rates, but they probably could.

Still, this doesn’t look right -- and it isn’t right. A business must notify its customers before raising its rates, and it should give them a way to opt out of its services if the cost is too high. A $527 cancellation fee seems outrageous.

I publish the names, numbers and

Man About Town

from page 4

jo’s successful theme where the upper floors were for residents and the first floor reserved for commercial tenants. Today, after several years, the ground floor units stand mainly unoccupied. Commercial destination superstar “Restaurant Row” home to twenty thriving eateries in 2000 now holds only a handful and is destined for demolition in favor of low cost housing next year.

The slow decline of “downtown” San Marcos is no one’s fault and is no tragedy, indeed it has been anticipated for years. It is a totally natural effect of growth and change as the baton passes from one generation to the next. The community leaders who created today’s San Marcos did a great job. The names of those past community leaders are rarely heard today, but those of us who knew them will remember them with fondness and affection. Some have passed on, but people like

email addresses of the ADT customer service executives on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott. org. A brief, polite email to one of them might have helped.

Your case is a cautionary tale for anyone who is interested in a home security system. These can certainly be worth it if you live in a high-crime neighborhood or need a sense of security, but the contracts can be tricky. You need to read them from front to back before signing, and be sure to monitor your monthly bill for price increases. If you don’t, the systems can quickly become unaffordable, as they did for you.

I contacted ADT on your behalf, and it agreed to cancel your account without penalty.

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy (https://elliottadvocacy.org), a nonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help by contacting him at https://elliottadvocacy.org/help/

© 2023 Christopher Elliott.

Rick Gittings, Betty Fergusson, Lee Fulton, Pia Harris, Vince Andrade, Lee Thibadeau and Corky Smith are a few among the leaders who built modern San Marcos. We had the honor to know and work with them and we’ll never forget their contribution. They’ve been replaced by contemporary leaders in San Marcos’ city government, school, commerce, church, civic, social, business and service organizations. These leaders will take us to the next level and someday and perhaps, a generation or two from now, a couple of old farts similar to Lyle and me, will reminisce about the debt the community owes to Jim Desmond and Rebecca Jones. After a beer or two, perhaps they will even mention the long dead and mostly forgotten cantankerous old goat, Lyle Davis, editor of The Paper The might even fondly remember Nome and Paul, that brilliant, sweet old couple who owned The Computer Factory.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

37-2023-00020036-CU-PT-NC

TO ALL INTERESTED PER-

SONS: Petitioner Erin Carr and Chris Carr filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: Courtney Carr to Proposed name Paige Courtney Carr. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objections that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING:

Date: 6/30/2023, 8:30 am, in Dept.

25

The address of the court is: 325 S. Melrose, Vista, CA. 92081. A copy of the Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: San Marcos News Reporter, dba, The Paper, 845 W. San Marcos Blvd, San Marcos, Ca. 92078. Dated May 11, 2023

/s/ Brad A. Weinreb, Judge of the Superior Court 5/25, 6/1, 6/8, 6/15/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME

STATEMENT 2023-9011731

The name of the business: Jasmine Thai Massage And Spa, located at 261 Flores Ln., Vista, CA 92083.

Registrant Information: Jarawi Norkhuntod, 261 Flores Ln., Vista, CA 92083. This business is operated by an individual. First day of business: 5/18/2023

/s/ Jarawi Norkhuntod with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 5/30/2023

6/8, 6/15, 6/22, 6/29/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT 2023-9011436

The name of the business: Spices Of Himalaya Indian Cuisine, located at 15731 Bernardo Heights Pky, #103, San Diego, CA 92128.

Registrant Information: Spices Of Himalaya Corporation, 372 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA 91910. This business is operated by a corporation. First day of business: 5/25/2023

/s/ Dhavalkvmar Jani, President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 5/25/2023

6/8, 6/15, 6/22, 6/29/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT 2023-9011408

The name of the business: EB Medical Planning, located at 3738 Via Del Rancho, Oceanside, CA 92056. Registrant Information: Erika Dickerson Browning, 3738 Via Del Rancho, Oceanside, CA 92056. This business is operated by an individual. First day of business: 5/14/2023

/s/ Erika Dickerson Browning with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 5/24/2023

6/8, 6/15, 6/22, 6/29/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT 2023-9010149

The name of the business: Trealee8, located at 2120 W. Mission Rd., #240, Escondido, CA 92029. Registrant Information: Marylee Reasononer, 232 Treasure Drive, San Marcos, CA 92078. This business is operated by an individual. First day of business:

N/A /s/ Marylee Reasononer with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 5/8/2023

6/8, 6/15, 6/22, 6/29/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT 2023-9012905

The name of the business: Dr. Leann Nguyen Acupuncture & Herbs, located at 811 W. San Marcos Blvd., San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant Information: Leann Nguyen Dr., 309 sunbird Ct., San Marcos, CA 92069. This business is operated by an

individual. First day of business:

N/A

/s/ Leann Nguyen Dr. with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 6/15/2023

6/22, 6/29, 7/6, 7/13/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME

STATEMENT 2023-9012582

The name of the business: Chin Up!, Pencil Me In!, located at 425 Prarie Rose Way, San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant Information: Nathan Williams, 425 Prarie Rose Way, San Marcos, CA 92078. This business is operated by an individual. First day of business: 6/12/2023

/s/ Nathan Williams with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 6/12/2023

6/22, 6/29, 7/6, 7/13/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME

STATEMENT 2023-9011744

The name of the business: Happy Paws & Tails LLC, located at 4145 Alabar Way, Oceanside, CA 92056. Registrant Information: Happy Paws And Tails LLC, 4145 Alabar Way, Oceanside, CA 92056. This business is operated by a limited liability company.

First day of business: N/A

/s/ Sarah Sidney Gomez, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 5/30/2023

6/22, 6/29, 7/6, 7/13/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT 2023-9012163

The name of the business: AAI, Alco Alert Interlock, located at 3145 Tiger Run Court Ste 104, Carlsbad, CA 92010. Registrant Information: Clear2drive LLC, 16597 N. 92nd St., Suite A111, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. This business is operated by a limited liability company. First day of business: 5/1/2023

/s/ Daneil Rhodes, Manager with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 6/5/2023

6/22, 6/29, 7/6, 7/13/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9012359

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 name of the business: Discount Drain.Net Inc. located at 1031 Palm Ave, #4, Carlsbad, CA 92008. Registrant Information: Discount Drain.net, 1031 Palm Ave., #4, Carlsbad, CA 92008. This business is operated by a corporation. First day of business: 3/9/2023

/s/ Demetrio Escamilla, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 6/7/2023

6/22, 6/29, 7/6, 7/13/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME

STATEMENT 2023-9007985

The name of the business: In the Cut Barber and Beauty Lounge, located at 918 Mission Ave., Unit 115, Oceanside, CA 92054. Registrant Information: Kristy Rogers, 29538 Major League, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 and Tatyanna Lackritz, 6779 Heath Ct., Carlsbad, CA 92011. This business is operated by a general partnership. First day of business:

3/1/2023

/s/ Kristy Rogers with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 4/11/2023

4/27, 5/4, 5/11, 5/18/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME

STATEMENT 2023-9012899

The name of the business: D’ Reyna Boutique, located at 205 W. 5th Ave., Ste. #202, Escondido, CA 92029. Registrant Information: Reyna L. Tello, 827 Hidden View Lane, Escondido, CA 92027. This business is operated by an individual. First day of business: 11/8/2009

/s/ reyna L. Tello with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 6/15/2023

6/22, 6/29, 7/6, 7/13/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME

STATEMENT 2023-9012623

The name of the business: Waterline Pools And Spas Services, LLC, located at 741 Santa Barbara Dr., San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant Information: Waterline Pools And Spas Services LLC, 741 Santa Barbara Dr., San Marcos, CA 92078. This business is operated by a limited liability company. First day of business: 5/1/2023

/s/ Holly Dreeuws, Managing Member with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 6/12/2023

6/22, 6/29, 7/6, 7/13/2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

37-2023-00022822-CU-PT-NC

TO ALL INTERESTED PER-

SONS: Petitioner Eva Heimana Alo filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: Eva Heimana Alo to Proposed name Eva Heimana Cabacungan-Alo. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objections that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING:

Date: 7/21/2023, 8:30 am, in Dept.

25

The address of the court is: 325 S. Melrose, Vista, CA. 92081. No hearing will occur on above date see attachment.

A copy of the Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: San Marcos News Reporter, dba, The Paper, 845 W. San Marcos Blvd, San Marcos, Ca. 92078. Dated May 31, 2023

/s/ Brad A. Weinreb, Judge of the Superior Court 6/8, 6/15, 6/22, 6/29/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME

STATEMENT 2023-9013025

The name of the business: Rethink Opex, located at 1756 Merriam Rd., San Marcos, CA 92078.

Registrant Information: 3 Putt Bogey LLC, 1756 Merriam Rd., San Marcos, CA 92078. This business is operated by a limited

liability company. First day of business: 6/1/2023

/s/ Harry Glazer, Managing Member with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 6/20/2023

6/29, 7/6, 7/13, 7/20/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME

STATEMENT 2023-9013089

The name of the business: Tile Countertop Solution Repair, located at 429 Daisy Lane, Suite C, San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant Information: Tile Countertop Solution Repair LLC, 429 Daisy Lane, Suite C., San Marcos, CA 92078. This business is operated by a limited liability company. First day of business: N/A

/s/ Jose Luis Mendoza Sanchez with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 6/20/2023

6/29, 7/6, 7/13, 7/20/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME

STATEMENT 2023-9012992

The name of the business: Redwing Audio, located at 2703 Via Festivo, Carlsbad, CA 92010. Registrant Information: Ryan Tyler Robins, 2703 Via Festivo, Carlsbad, CA 92010. This business is operated by a General Partnership. First day of business: N/A

/s/ Ryan Tyler Robins with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 6/16/2023

6/29, 7/6, 7/13, 7/20/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME

STATEMENT 2023-9013041

The name of the business: Jasmine Masssage Center, located at 313 Killgore Street, Oceanside, CA 92058. Registrant Information: Ramida Herridge, 313 Killgore St., Oceanside, CA 92058. This business is operated by an Individual company. First day of business: 11/17/2014

/s/ Ramida Herridge with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 6/20/2023

6/29, 7/6, 7/13, 7/20/2023

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