April 2, 2026

CHILDHOOD SUICIDES

NOW 2ND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH!

By Friedrich Gomez

PARENTS & TEACHERS ACROSS AMERICA MAKING THEIR VOICES KNOWN IN NATIONAL CRISIS:

It is an unspeakable horror that affects just about every single person reading this right now.

INCREASING LEVELS OF CHILDHOOD SUICIDE IN THE

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that rates of pre-teen suicide (ages 8-12) have been increasing by approximately 8% annually since 2008.

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL & PREVENTION.

Using 2001-2022 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals web-based

injury and U.S. youth suicides (ages 8-12) are rising at a startling level.

Also, according to the Court Appointed Special Advocacy for Children, in their 28 July 2025 official report: “Urgent Prevention is needed as youth suicide reaches a crisis level in America.”

One report was sadly titled: “Too Many, Too Soon” in their 25 August 2025 report. The term “Too Many” sadly denotes the startling

rise in childhood suicides today; and the words “Too Soon” laments at how their innocent childhood was cut short before they could even embark on life’s promising journey.

And because of their young ages (8-12), hanging and suffocation were the most common suicide methods, as well as jumping off high places to their death. However, firearms are now the most rapidly increasing suicidal method.

Suicides from page 1

If you are newlyweds, parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents, then the exploding reality of rising suicides among children concerns you, and virtually everyone else.

And what makes matters worse is that prevention and intervention is challenging and more difficult today because there are vastly different and complex reasons behind childhood suicides.

Here is just one, singular, example.

IT HAPPENED ONE YEAR AT THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY FAIR.

Several years ago, a magician told me of a personal experience that we both shall never forget as long as we live. Magician Jim Burns performed annually at the San Diego County Fair and he was a popular attraction at the Bing Crosby Pavilion Hall there. A standing crowd of perhaps 20 to 30 people would usually gather to watch him perform magic shows, periodi-

Give Us This Day Our Daily Chuckle

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

Mensa is an organization whose members have an IQ of 140 or higher. A few years ago, there was a Mensa convention in San Francisco, and several members lunched at a local café. While dining, they discovered that their saltshaker contained pepper and their peppershaker was full of salt. How could they swap the contents of the bottles without spilling, and using only the implements at hand? Clearly this was a job for Mensa! The group debated and presented ideas, and finally came up with a brilliant solution involving a napkin, a straw, and an empty saucer.

cally, throughout the day, 7 days a weeks, for the duration of the fair.

Except, one day would prove to be very different than any other day he had ever experienced before. So much so, that it changed his life.

The day started out like any other day. Magician Jim Burns was busy performing his daily ‘miracles’ before another thunderstruck crowd!

“Wow!” was a frequent chant, usually followed by a hearty exclamation, “Whoa! Now how did he do that?!”

In short, Burns had a crowd of enthused onlookers eating out of the palm of his hand, and the residual impact would always result in many spectators purchasing plenty of his magic tricks after the show.

But, as magician-extraordinaire Burns segued seamlessly from his bag of tricks, he noticed a man standing in the middle of the crowd, periodically explaining all of his precious magic secrets to his young daughter standing by his side. Perturbed, Burns continued to dazzle the receptive audience as miracle after miracle was laid out before their disbelieving eyes. But, again and again, the tall stranger

They called the waitress over to dazzle her with their solution.

“Ma’am,” they said, “we couldn’t help but notice that the peppershaker contains salt and the saltshaker—”

“Oh,” the waitress interrupted. “Sorry about that.” She unscrewed the caps of both bottles and switched them.

FaceBook Explained

This is for those of my older generation who do not really comprehend why Facebook exists:

Presently, I am trying to make friends outside of Facebook while applying the same principles.

Therefore, every day, I go down on the street and tell the passersby what I have eaten, how I feel, what I have done the night before and what I will do tomorrow night. Then I give them pictures of my family, my dog, and me gardening and spending time in my pool.

I also listen to their conversations, and I tell them I like them.

And it works:

I already have six people following me: two police officers, an investigator from the NSA, a re-

leaned over to his petite daughter, and continued to explain how all these wonders were done. And each time, the young girl’s eyes continued to widen as she giggled and clapped her hands in delight. Finally, enough was enough.

Burns told me he felt supremely insulted! How dare a person hold such a callous disregard for his magic profession. Indeed, how dare this stranger continue to expose his art form, and do it openly, with no sense of compassion or respect!

Burns finally exploded in anger! He took the man to task, chastising him for revealing his magic secrets and for not – at least – allowing the young girl to experience and appreciate the wonder and mystery of what she was seeing. All of this, Burns loudly and angrily vocalized his remarks – all directed at the stranger.

Quietness fell heavily upon the scene. The “Ooohs!” and “Aaahs!” suddenly became cathedral silent. Anger flushed in Burns’ face, as he met the accused man’s gaze and locked eyes with him.

The little girl stood, fixed in gaze,

porter from the National Inquirer, a lonely homeless man, and a psychiatrist. Six friends!

Q: Where can men over the age of 60 find younger women who are interested in them?

A: Try a bookstore under fiction.

Q: What can a man do while his wife is going through menopause?

A: Keep busy. If you’re handy with tools, you can finish the basement. When you’re done you’ll have a place to live.

Q: How can you increase the heart rate of your 60-plus year old husband?

A: Tell him you’re pregnant.

Q: How can you avoid that terrible curse of the elderly wrinkles?

A: Take off your glasses.

Q: Why should 60-plus year old people use valet parking?

A: Valets don’t forget where they park your car.

Q: Is it common for 60-plus year olds to have problems with short term memory storage?

A: Storing memory is not a problem, Retrieving it is the problem.

Q: As people age, do they sleep more soundly?

A: Yes, but usually in the afternoon.

as though in shock. Her smile no longer was visible. Fear now took hold of her face.

Finally, the stranger spoke.

Calmly. Gently. He softly explained in front of the crowd: “I’m so very sorry,” he said in a slightly trembling voice. “But, well, my young daughter here is blind. She is unable to see. So, I was only describing to her of each wonderful trick you were doing.

We do not know how your magic is done. I was only telling her how amazing each trick looked.

And she fell in love with what I was telling her. And she fell in love with your magic.”

Burns told me of this true story which happened at the San Diego County Fair. And he said the humiliating experience was lifechanging for him. And he vowed to never again judge anybody in such a reckless fashion, and without just cause.

But, the damage had already been done.

Suicides continued on page 3

Q: Where should 60-plus years old look for eye glasses?

A: On their foreheads.

Q: Leading cause of diminished sex drive among senior citizens?

A: Nudity

Q: What is the most common remark made by 60-plus year olds when they enter antique stores?

A: “Gosh, I remember these!”

I couldn’t hear you so I’ll just laugh and hope it wasn’t a question.

I want to be like a caterpillar. Eat a lot, sleep a little, wake up beautiful.

I can’t believe how old people my age are.

If you weight 200 lbs. you’d only be 75 lbs. on Mars. You’re not overweight. You’re just not on the right planet.

***

My superpower is holding on to

continued on page 7

Chuckles

Mensa

Suicides from page 2

The little girl felt personal anguish and feelings of guilt.

We found out later that she became more distraught and more focused on her disability. She blamed her own human flaw (her blindness) for causing such an embarrassing situation.

It was her blindness, she felt, that caused problems and misunderstandings in the world about her. She hated herself. She hated her blindness as the source of pain and discomfort it caused for other, normal people. She felt solely responsible.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. She was not at fault, nor should she have been made to feel so. It was all a horrible misunderstanding. If anyone was at fault, it most certainly would have been my magician friend, who was greatly humbled by his error in judgment.

AVERTED SUICIDE.

This story has a happy ending. Burns made sure of that. To the little girl’s unending delight, he befriended her and her family, and she felt extra-privileged and extraspecial to have such a “star performer” as a source of endless fun. His funny tales and stories escorted her into helpless, uncontrollable spasms of laughter. Today, that little girl reached resolution and clarity of thinking and is quickly growing into a model citizen with a happy outlook in life, along with excellent grades in school. She has immovable self-esteem and confidence.

Her goal in school?

Today, she wishes to teach counseling and psychiatric rehabilitation to people on the verge of suicide, including those afflicted with blindness, and other disabilities. She feels inherently qualified since she was briefly suicidal herself . . . from that one solitary day, while innocently watching a magic show.

LESSON TO BE LEARNED.

There is an indelible lesson to be learned here. As with the case of the little blind girl, just how prevalent is misunderstanding in the context of worldwide suicides today, in 2026? Many experts believe that such scenarios are often the “triggering response” which causes deep remorse, rejection, and sadly: self-ending suicide.

The feelings of being misunderstood and the pain of isolation,

especially in the formative years of growing up are crucial. Persons who have low self-esteem because they feel they do not “fit” into their world (as with the young blind girl) is a major cause in teenage depression and subsequent suicide today. So much so that, according to one study, 90% of suicidal teenagers believed they were grosslymisunderstood and unappreciated by those around them.

“A FOREVER” LESSON IN LIFE.

A ‘forever lesson’ in life: Always be careful what you say to anyone. One cruel word out of anger to a depressed, afflicted, or abused individual might “set off” a chain reaction of emotional events that have long been accumulating – all of which could lead to self-annihilation.

“THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF BULLYING-SUICIDE WE’VE EVER SEEN!”

Bullying by one’s peer group is yet another reason for young children – who lack the maturity and resilience of adult years – to commit suicide.

For every childhood suicide in the U.S. today . . . there were 100 attempted suicides that failed!

Televised newscasts, such as Eyewitness News (CBS-12) in Florida reported that bullying across the entire United States is “The highest we’ve ever seen!”

Making matters worse is that this mental cruelty has become a “silent” and emotional epidemic which carries an increased risk of youth suicide.

The newscast added, “Of the 40 percent who were bullied, 55 percent of the children never told an adult about it.”

Not telling parents is yet another complex obstacle for preventative measures.

Parents today must make their children comfortable and secure in having sensitive self-effacing discussions at home. In this regard, parents need to be proactive in creating a “safe environment” in which their offspring can be open and candid in relating deeply embarrassing experiences at being bullied in school or being bullied over the internet (which is known as “cyber-bullying”) or both.

AT ITS HIGHEST LEVEL EVER RECORDED IN AMERICA.

In-school and cyber-bullying is now at the highest levels ever re-

Oodles!

Looking for things to do? Places to go? Check out Oodles every week for listing of civic and service club meetings, and more!

Have an event you need publicized? Email it to: Lisa.ThePaper@gmail.com

The Paper goes to print on Tuesday morning.

You ar E mor E L ik ELY T o g ET P ub L is HE d if Y ou:

• Submit your press release by the previous Friday.

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

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

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

Table Tennis at the Park avenue Community Center

Calling all seniors age 50 and over, join us every Monday and Wednesday 1-3 pm. Everyone welcome – beginning to advanced level players. No sign-ups, no registration, just show up, play for free, and have fun!!

Park Avenue Community Center 210 E Park Avenue Escondido, 92025

***

Parkinson’s support group meeting April 7th • 10am - Noon

Parkinson’s Support Group. Free monthly meetings for people with Parkinson’s and their care partners are held from 10 am until Noon at San Rafael Church, 17252 Bernardo Center Drive, Rancho Bernardo, in the Parish Hall. Our featured speaker for Tuesday, April 7th is Naureen Imam who will be presenting “Physical Therapy for Parkinson’s”. Separate breakout sessions for People with Parkinson’s and care partners will follow the presentation to discuss successes and challenges.

Come learn, share, meet, and enjoy the free refreshments with other involved Parkinson’s persons. Please call (760) 749-8234 or (760) 5181963 if you have any questions. *** Writers Workshop April 18th • 1-3pm

Do women writers bring a distinctive emotional depth to their fiction? Is it a conscious craft or something more instinctive?

Join author Marsha H. Lupi for an engaging discussion on voice, influence, and the subtle forces that shape our writing. Through a series of brief, guided prompts, participants will explore their own

creative influences and share insights in a supportive setting. Marsha H. Lupi, EdD, is a retired professor of special education and former college dean, with a 45-year career in New York City and Jacksonville, Florida. She is the author of two mystery novels featuring strong female protagonists and is currently at work on her third.

Vista Library, 700 Eucalyptus Avenue. Online registration is required. Visit sdcl.org/vista to sign up.

***

Hidden Valley Vista City Council of beta sigma Phi int. founder’s day April 25th • 10:30am

The Hidden Valley Vista City Council of Beta Sigma Phi International will celebrate its 95th Founder’s Day, “SISTERS ARE DIFFERENT FLOWERS FROM THE SAME GARDEN”, on Saturday, April 25, 2026, beginning at 10:30am, Shadowridge Golf Club, 1980 Gateway Drive. Vista, CA.

All Beta Sigma Phis – active, inactive, on leave, transferees are invited to make a reservation by calling Susie 760-889-3552 by April 16th. Cost is $36.50 per person. Menu Choices: Classic Cobb Salad, Chicken Alfredo, or Caprese Sandwich with Tomato Basil Bisque.

HVVC Chapters will be honoring and celebrating the recipients for the Silver Circle, Golden Circle and Diamond Circle Rituals, Women of the Year and the installation of the 2026-2027 HVVC officers will be conferred.

Beta Sigma Phi is a social, cultural, and philanthropic International Sorority, headquartered in Kansa City, Missouri, with chapters throughout the world. If you are interested in belonging to a special organization Oodles continued on page 14

Suicides from page 3

corded in America, leaving in its wake countless children who will silently suffer from lingering issues of emotional trauma, future mental health issues, and higher risks for eventual death by suicide.

A new survey by the Boys & Girls Club of America shows bullying is on the rise across the United States. According to the organisation’s 2026 “Youth Right Now” survey: 40 percent of students report that they were verbally or physically bullied on school property.

LITTLE IRISH GIRL FROM ENGLAND BRUTALLY TAUNTED FOR BEING DIFFERENT & HAVING A PECULIAR ACCENT.

Adults must see things through the lenses of a child in order to truly understand and comprehend what is important to them -- whether we agree with their problems or not.

Remember, what may seem like a trivial and unimportant aspect of bullying may, in fact, be of vast importance to a little boy or little girl – their personal self-image,

Man About Town

Two Grown Men ... Weeping

So we were driving to the VA Hospital in La Jolla, me, my star writer, chauffeur, valet, and close personal friend, Friedrich Gomez.

I told Friedrich of my concern about my wife, Mary, and her dental problems. “I checked her lower front teeth last night and was concerned at how far her gum line had receded; I could see the roots of her teeth. . . and at least two of them are loose. I suspect she’s gonna need some extractions. I don’t want her to wind up with an infection because of bad teeth.”

self-worth, and their own unique ‘bank of values and reasoning.’

Peer pressure and acceptance for a child can be of universal importance in trying to ‘fit in’ and ‘just being accepted.’

DATELINE: MASSACHUSETTS.

She was born Phoebe Nora Mary Prince, in Bedfordshire, England of Irish ancestry. Her parents later relocated from England to Ireland.

Looking at her photo, she was exceptionally beautiful.

To her great excitement, little Phoebe Nora Prince was now moving to America with her family!

She could barely contain her excitement and her dreams of actually coming to America made it hard for her to sleep at night.

Only 5 months after moving here from Ireland to the United States and enrolling at South Hadley High School in Massachusetts, she became the victim of both school bullying and cyber-bullying.

Phoebe would be bullied and persistently taunted and harassed at school, in the library, and in the school auditorium. One of her

I thought for a minute and then said, “Friedrich, if Mary passes before I do, I don’t know how I could carry on. I can’t imagine life without her. We laugh a lot, we tease each other, we flirt with one another . . . I enjoy her company and she seems to enjoy mine; even with her dementia, she’s a very special person . . . .” and my voice broke.

And tears welled up in my eyes.

The car grew silent.

I looked over and saw tears streaming down Friedrich’s cheeks as well.

We continued on . . . quietly, while we both sought to compose ourselves.

Two grown men . . . weeping.

Finally, I said, “I’m also worried what will happen if I pass before Mary. I’ve asked Kenny for his solemn promise to keep Mary at home as long as possible. She’s happy here. We have two great caregivers, Rochelle and Diane . . . Mary is happy in her own home - it’s her own little world - her special place . . . and I want her here as long as possible. If she is moved into an assisted living facility, a new, different, strange living space, no matter how nice, she won’t survive

bullies followed her home from school in a friend’s car, and then threw an empty ‘energy drink’ can at her, and yelled an insult.

It was after this final incident that Phoebe died by suicide by hanging herself in the stairwell leading to the second floor of the family apartment.

Her body was discovered by her 12-year-olde sister, who remains traumatised to this day and often wakes up in the middle of the night in a state of stark terror at seeing her beloved sister’s body -hanging dead and lifeless at such a young age.

To show how callous, unremorseful, and relentless bullies can be today even at a very young age -after Phoebe’s death, many crude comments about her were posted on her Facebook Memorial page, all of which were removed.

Her parents chose to have her buried in Ireland.

It bears repeating, this all happened just 5 months after Phoebe moved to the United States from Ireland.

Phoebe Nora Mary Prince was only 15-years-olde when she took her own life. A mere child.

three months.”

Kenny made the commitment . . . but no one can care for Mary the way I do.

Being the primary caregiver for someone with dementia is not for the faint of heart. It is a demanding job, along with managing a weekly newspaper, with lots of ups and downs.

We had about four separate issues to deal with . . . alcohol, which has been dealt with; no longer a problem; nutrition: 10 years ago, when I first moved back home and began as Mary’s primary caregiver she weighed, maybe, 90 lbs. Skin and bone. We began ensuring she had excellent nutrition for breakfast, lunch, dinner . . .and snacks. Housekeeping. We have our two wonderful caregivers who keep the house tidy, dishes washed, laundry done, beds made Incontinence . . . an inconvenience, nothing more. It has been handled. It took some time and effort . . . but Mary is today a quite happy lady. I want to keep it that way . . . .so we spoil her. A lot.

I tell Mary 20-30 times a day she is beautiful.

I fib a lot. She’s not. But positive reinforcement is important. I also

News of her death in America caused an international outcry.

The U.S. state of Massachusetts created an anti-bullying task force and a new, stronger anti-bullying law to help protect other students from being bullied in the future.

But for the once-beautiful 15-yearolde Phoebe, the little Irish lass –who once trembled with girlish excitement over the prospects of coming to America . . . such laws are too late.

And she no longer has a future.

Personal Note: This was a most difficult and painful story for me to report, as are all stories of childhood suicide. In having early ties to Europe and having a host family during my Middle School years, I must confess that I broke down multiple times and cried regarding little Phoebe. Being a writer covering such assignments and topics can be extremely punishing, to say the least. And I am not above confessing my feelings, for there is no shame in that. This scourge must stop and stop now!

continued on page 5

tell her . . “I’ve got the best wife in the whole wide world!” Another little fib. Positive reinforcement. (Incidentally, your spouse or significant other does not have to have dementia for you to reinforce them. Try it. Betcha you get an occasional smile. Maybe even a kiss on the cheek. That’s a sign it’s working. Everyone likes to hear they are special).

Dementia patients tend to let themselves go. They stop brushing their hair, will often wear the same clothes day after day, will stop doing cleaning, household tasks, washing dishes, clothes, cooking . . . all that is taken over by the caregiver(s). Mary will spend hours, literally, hours arranging and re-arranging 100 pennies in different geometric formations . . . and we encourage her. It keeps her mind and hands busy. It’s a whole new, challenging lifestyle, caring for someone with dementia.

But I often remember Mary from back when she was still Mary . . . and I was still me. Happy memories. Fun memories.

And I think that’s what got to me . . . and Friedrich, as we rode to-

Suicides

Man About Town continued on page 12

Let’s sink these antiquated shipping laws for good.

by Christopher Elliott

Outdated federal restrictions are an anchor that could be a drag on your next cruise. Here’s why these laws need to walk the plank.

After Richard Karwic left his cruise early to check on his elderly mother-in-law, he was shocked to receive a $300 fine from his cruise line.

It turns out Karwic had inadvertently violated a set of federal laws meant to protect domestic

Suicides from page 4

“BULLYCIDE” A NEW & DEADLY TERM ADDED INTO TODAY’S VOCABULARY & DICTIONARIES.

The new term “bullycide” is a hybrid of cyber-bullying (internet bullying) which leads a victim to actual suicide.

In today’s modern technological world of computers, bullycide is now rampant, ubiquitous, and knows neither boundaries of distance, gender, age, nor reason.

And today’s bullies do not just attack normal, innocent children, but, they ruthlessly target kids who they perceive to be weak or “different” or “geeks” or “nerds” or simply “shy” or “socially awkward.”

Anyone can become a target for bullying.

Bullying also compounds the life of children who are already struggling as “slow learners in class,”

shipping. He’d boarded a foreign-flagged vessel in Los Angeles and disembarked in San Francisco, where the ship was only scheduled to pick up passengers.

“What they did may have been legal,” says Karwic, a financial advisor from Wethersfield, Conn. “But it was certainly not moral, ethical—or fair.”

It only took a war in Iran for the government to agree. Last week, President Trump suspended the Jones Act amid the Iran conflict in an effort to ease energy supply disruptions. For the sake of people like Karwic, maybe rules like these need to stay suspended.

Current law effectively prohibits foreign-flagged ships from trans-

or who have “attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder” (ADHD), or autism, or have “special needs” such as with the erstwhile and now toxic terms: physically and mentally handicapped.

Such children are easy targets for taunting, ridicule, and being ostracised from everyone else.

According to the Mind Institute Studies, a staggering 3.2-million school-aged children are victims of bullying each year.

While in-school bullying statistics are at an all-time high across the nation, cyber-bullying presents a horrific new calculus to an alreadynightmarish scenario: e.g, while a record level of 40 percent of U.S. students reported being (severely bullied) – a staggering 82 percent of school students were electronically bullied via their computer (cyber-bullying)!

Even if such victims of in-school and cyberbullying survive, they have a higher rate of clinical depression, low self-esteem, making poor decisions in life, and possible lifelong mental illness issues.

porting passengers between two different U.S. ports without first visiting a distant foreign port. The Jones Act, which the president suspended, applies to cargo. Another law, the Passenger Vessel Services, imposes similar restrictions to passengers.

These limits are often inaccurately referred to as the Jones Act even though the laws are separate and distinct. But there’s no question about the consequences of violating them. I see the effects too often at our consumer advocacy organization, where readers face massive civil penalties for boarding at the wrong time.

Travelers who have to disembark a ship early because of a sudden illness have faced fines of nearly $1,000 per person. One couple was required to pay $1,882 just to leave a ship in Alaska.

Circumstances beyond your control are not enough to avoid Jones Act penalties. Passengers who miss their initial departure because of flight delays and try to catch up with their cruise at the next U.S. port have been denied boarding or charged $300 to $800 per person. In one instance, a family had to pay $1,600 for two

Shipping Laws continued on page 7

Also, the spectre of possible suicide may haunt them in the shadows and still remain a viable danger when life becomes too challenging in their adult years.

DATELINE: LAKELAND, FLORIDA.

12-year-olde Rebecca Ann Sedwick was a student, a 7 th - grader at Crystal Lake Middle School in Lakeland, Florida. She was an innocent victim of both in-person and cyberbullying for one-and-ahalf years of her childhood life.

Two girls, ages 12 and 14 bullied and taunted her and encouraged others to physically assault and fight with Rebecca. They sent her electronic messages on her computer (cyberbullying) encouraging her to commit suicide because she was told that the world would be a better place without her.

Little Rebecca’s mother, Tricia Sedwick, said that her daughter would, “come home in tears every single day.”

On 9 September 2013, little 12year-olde Rebecca Ann Sedwick

committed suicide by jumping from a high concrete silo tower to her grisly death below.

Just imagine, in her last seconds of life, as terrifying as that jump from the high silo tower must have been in her little girl’s mind – her life was far more horrific and painful than the final terrifying embrace of death.

Sadly, for little innocent 12-yearolde Rebecca Sedwick . . . she preferred death over life.

Because she came to believe that she was, indeed, a “mistake in life.” And that her tormentors were right: “That the world would be a better place without her, and she would be better off dead.”

She is now forever gone.

And her parents will be forever traumatised and emotionallyscarred that they will never again see her once-happy and joyful little face.

5th District Supervisor • Jim Desmond

We don’t Need another bond.

We Need to Help People buy the

Nine out of ten families in San Diego County cannot afford to buy a home. Not because homes aren’t out there — because the gap between what people earn and what a home costs has become a canyon. And Sacramento’s answer is always the same: spend more money, float another bond, create another program. It hasn’t worked. It’s time for a different approach.

The median home in our county now costs a million dollars. A family needs to earn nearly $244,000 a year just to qualify. The median household income is about

$113,000 — less than half. Home prices surged over 30 percent in five years while incomes grew less than 10. The average family here spends 51 percent of monthly income on the mortgage alone, making us the third least affordable metro in the country. That’s the teacher who grew up in Escondido and can’t afford to stay. That’s the young firefighter commuting two hours because it’s the only way to make the math work.

I know what some of you are thinking: “Great, another politician telling me we need more apartments in my neighborhood.” That’s not what I’m arguing. Cramming massive complexes into established neighborhoods isn’t the answer, and neither is another multi-billion-dollar bond that sticks taxpayers with the bill while bureaucracy takes years to move a single unit off paper. Statewide, nearly 40,000 affordable units are fully designed and permitted right now and not being built because Sacramento’s funding system is so tangled they sit in limbo for years. More money for a broken machine just means a more expensive broken machine.

There’s a smarter way, and it starts with helping people buy

San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones

Welcome back to the san marcos senior Center

We’re excited to welcome you back to the San Marcos Senior Center on Monday, April 6. After being closed for HVAC upgrades, the Senior Center will be ready to reopen, offering cleaner air and a more comfortable space for our community to come together no matter the season.

On any given day, you can stop by the Senior Center and see what community looks like firsthand. Participation in our programs has grown tremendously. Over the last year, through a partnership with AARP, we hosted more than 800 appointments to help residents prepare their taxes. Additionally, our senior transportation program has grown over 20%, providing more than 5,400 trips, and the lunch program has nearly tripled in size since 2021, serving almost 14,000 meals a year.

Come spend April with us at the Senior Center and enjoy engaging activities that bring the community together. We can’t wait to see you back in our community space and share all that the Senior Center has to offer.

Visit us at 111 Richmar Ave., San Marcos, CA 92069 or online at sanmarcosca.gov/seniors

Homes

That already Exist.

homes that already exist. I recently brought forward a proposal called Restoring Homeownership for San Diegans — a locally funded, locally controlled pilot program built around down payment assistance, interest rate buy-downs, and public-private partnerships with financial institutions. No new taxes. No bonds. Just a practical hand up for first-time buyers who’ve been doing everything right but can’t save fast enough to keep pace with prices.

There’s another piece that doesn’t get talked about enough. Thousands of seniors across San Diego sit in four-bedroom homes their kids grew up in. They’d love to downsize, but selling triggers a federal capital gains tax bill that can run into the hundreds of thousands. So they stay, the home sits underutilized, and the young family down the street keeps renting. I passed a Board Letter directing the County to advocate at the federal level for eliminating that tax on primary home sales for seniors. I worked with County Assessor Jordan Marks on this because the data backs it up. Free up those homes and you get real inventory on the market — without a single new permit or a single fight at a city council meeting.

just finished your article about your medical situation.

I know where you are coming from. A while back and after a month of

Help seniors move on their own terms. Help families move in. Put money back in people’s pockets instead of taking more out. That’s how you solve a housing crisis — not with more government spending, but with common sense. I’ll keep fighting for policies like these because families in San Diego County deserve better than what they’ve been getting. If you agree, call your state and federal representatives and tell them it’s time to stop taxing people out of their own homes.

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

radiation that did not take, I had throat cancer. I had just retired, and was thinking about returning to one of my old pastimes of coaching football. I made it through the operation where they removed my voice box. That kind of wiped out my dreams of returning to the field.

I like you am a Veteran, US Army. I did a stint with AFKN , TV & Radio in Korea. And I have learned one thing from it all.We are survivors with a capital S.

We have a long ways to go!

Richard Sarmiento

We Love Your Letters

To submit a letter to the editor, please email thepaper@cox. net. Please be respectful, limit your letter to a maximum of 300 words and include your full name, e-mail address, town, and a valid phone number where you can be reached. Letters will not be published anonymously. Letters are subject to editing. Please no hand written letters.

Hello Mr. Davis

Suicides from page 5

Young, severely bullied children are particularly vulnerable to suicide because of their early formative years as a child, which – to repeat -- lacks maturity and resilience which adults grow into.

Peer pressure is unusually powerful and they, innately, only wish to ‘fit in’ and be accepted by their peer group.

Bullying can cause irreparable damage to their young developing ego and psyche, causing confusion and systemic feelings of being unworthy and a failure in life.

And although they may fear death, life can be more fearful, painful, and – seemingly – suicide may appear to be the only way to stop the deep, unrelenting, and tortuous pain they are experiencing in their innocent, childhood mind.

In their confused, young state of mind, they may be bullied into believing that they are, indeed, a ‘mistake in life’ – and that self-destruction (suicide) is the answer.

Adults often do not fully comprehend the depth of their pain, or their orbit of social values that are crucially important to them.

In their childhood world, the (os-

Shipping Laws from page 5

people to board after missing their start because of bad weather.

Even death isn’t a good enough reason to avoid the Jones Act. One couple forced to disembark to attend a funeral after a family member passed away was charged $600.

Cruise lines can’t waive these penalties. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection fines the carrier, and then the cruise line bills its customers.

The Laws Don’t Work

The Jones Act, originally passed in 1920 to bolster domestic shipbuilding, has failed its original mission. Today, fewer than 1 percent of the world’s ships are made in the United States. Instead of protecting a thriving industry, the law is nothing more than zombie regulation that limits travel flexibility and drives up costs for everyday citizens.

Similarly, there’s no evidence that the Passenger Vessel Servic-

tensible) rejection by the world around them may lead them to believe that they are, indeed, a burden in life and that they are unfit to live.

A burden to their own mommy and daddy -- as their tormentors persistently tell them.

It is obscenely wrong.

As psychiatrists warn: “Suicide is (wrongfully) a permanent answer to a temporary problem.”

These precious, irreplaceable childhood lives are worth salvaging from the dustbin of life.

POSSIBLE SIGNS THAT A CHILD IS BEING BULLIED.

Look for changes in the child. However, be aware that not all children who are bullied exhibit warning signs.

Here are some signs that may point to a bullying problem.

1. Unexplained injuries.

2. Lost or destroyed clothing, books, electronics, or jewelry.

3. Frequent headaches or stomach aches (feeling sick or faking illness) to not attend school.

4. Changes in eating habits, like suddenly skipping meals or binge eating. Kids may come home from school hungry as they did not eat lunch because

es Act is making cruising better or more affordable for American travelers. Instead, it leads to tortured itineraries to foreign ports like Nassau or to cruises where passengers can’t even get off the ship in port.

The Benefits of Permanent suspension

A permanent end to these restrictions would transform the American travel experience. Travelers facing medical emergencies or family tragedies would no longer be forced to pay thousands in penalties or be held captive on ships because they need to change their arrival or departure port.

A suspension of Jones Act restrictions could also lead to a surge in domestic routes. Lifting the foreign port stop requirement would allow for more direct coastal cruises and short-haul travel between American cities, a market currently choked by 140 years of regulation.

Repealing the Jones Act—the one limiting cargo—would save U.S. consumers nearly $769 million per year on petroleum alone, according to a 2023 academic

their lunch or lunch money was taken from them. Or they were simply too emotionally upset, from being bullied, to eat.

5. Difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares.

6. Declining grades, loss of interest in schoolwork, or not wanting to go to school.

7. Sudden loss of friends or avoidance of social situations.

8. Feelings of helplessness or decreased self esteem.

9. Self-destructive behaviour such as running away from home, harming themselves, or talking about suicide.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY: YOUNG SUICIDE LEVELS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED 56% FROM 2022 TO 2023.

Suicide rates for youth aged 10–24 in San Diego County saw a significant 56% increase from 2022 to 2023, with roughly 50–60 youth suicides annually in recent years, including 53 in 2024 (38 male, 15 female).

(Source: Data from 2024 and 2025 often covers the prior year, as seen in the San Diego County News Center’s 2025 report and the 2026 report.)

PREVENTION & RESOURCES.

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available:

study. These savings would ripple through the economy, potentially lowering the fuel costs that drive up plane tickets and cruise fares.

But mostly, repealing these two outdated laws is the right thing to do. Americans’ ability to move between their own country’s ports should not be an indulgence granted only during international conflicts or natural disasters. And cargo having to travel extra miles for no good reason just wastes time and energy.

These laws have outlived their usefulness. To protect travelers from bureaucratic traps and to modernize the American economy, this suspension must be extended to passengers—and it should stay in place forever. ***

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 email him at chris@elliott.org.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call or text 988.

San Diego County Access and Crisis Line: 1-888-724-7240

SPECIAL THANKS

Once again, I am blessed to have all your cover story suggestions streaming in and regarding very important topics today that need discussion and wider public awareness. Through such cover stories we can all change our world, a wee bit at a time. And to all of you who follow me online, my rabid fan base here and in Europe (viz. UK, Germany, Austria), you’re the best.

Chuckles from page 2

junk for years and then throwng it away just before I need it. ***

I wonder if clouds ever look down on us and say, “Hey! Look! That one is shaped just like an idiot!” ***

Top Rejected International Sports Team Names

Brussels Sprouts

Cannes Openers

Amsterdam Yankees

Vienna Sausages

Belgium Waffles

Manila Folders

Czech Bouncers

New Delhi Catessans

Buenos Airheads

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Friedrich Gomez

Car rental rage: Why everyone’s losing it at the counter right now.

by Christopher Elliott

Marcy Schackne is mad.

She recently waited 2½ hours at LAX just to talk to a car rental agent. After completing her paperwork, she inspected three vehicles that were “beyond dirty” before finding one suitable to drive.

A one-off? Nope.

A few weeks later, when she tried to rent a sedan at Washington Dulles, she waited 45 minutes for a car in her reserved category. The agent’s attitude was “take it or leave it.”

“Both experiences made me feel undervalued as a customer,” she says.

Schackne, a marketing executive from Hollywood, Fla., was understandably upset. And she’s got company.

There’s a new kind of travel fury that’s erupting at counters everywhere: car rental rage. It’s the result of several unfortunate car rental problems, including hidden fees, cleaning charges that would make a hotel manager blush, and service that feels more adversarial than accommodating.

And drivers aren’t just getting mad. They’re getting even.

Why are travelers angry about car rentals?

Why is car rental rage so rampant right now? Three words: frustration, deception -- and powerlessness.

Thomas Plante, a psychology professor at Santa Clara University, points to the “frustration-aggres-

sion hypothesis” to explain what’s happening.

“Anger typically unfolds as a response to frustration and stress,” he says. “Travel has become more and more stressful in many ways. We seem to be getting less and less service for more and more costs and hassles. It’s a perfect recipe for frustration and stress that leads to aggression.”

The triggers are everywhere:

Aggressive upselling. Daniel Oppliger, a travel agency owner, encountered an agent at Phoenix who launched into a “10-minute spiel about insurance” despite his repeated refusals to purchase. “I said I would go elsewhere if she mentions insurance again,” he says. She did -- and he left.

Bait-and-switch pricing. “Nothing is more irritating than the advertising done by car rental companies where they show the total price, only to find out it’s the total price before they add all the junk fees and taxes,” says Mark Beales, a retired mortgage banker from Mill Creek, Wash.

Unfair damage charges. Some car rental companies are using AI to scan every inch of your rental and bill you for even the smallest damage. “There is no set process to mutually determine what might be pre-rental damages,” says Sam Toles, a media consultant from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “So I spend 20 minutes filming the car and photographing each portion of it in the event I return the vehicle and get dinged for a pre-existing ding.”

Car Rental continued on page 12

Happy Easter!

Illustration by Dustin Elliott

by Sean Dietrich

Dogs know stuff. Yes, I know they’re just animals. I know their brains are only about the size of tangerines. But I’m telling you.

Take my dog Otis Campbell. I don’t often write about him, but I should. Because he’s our main dog. Our other dogs are his supporting actors.

Otis is the alpha of our family pack, ranking just below my wife. I am ranked somewhere near the rear of the pack. I eat supper last.

I wish you could see Otis right now.

Dogs Know Stuff

He is half awake, half asleep, sort of standing watch over me. That’s what he does whenever I write. He watches me, without moving.

And I’ve always wondered how dogs can remain deathly still, watching you, without falling asleep.

It reminds me of a guy my father once knew. The man could sit on the front porch without moving a muscle for days. The only way you knew he was alive was by his cigarette—it moved occasionally. My father said the man had been told by doctors to drink spirits to steady his nerves. It worked. Sometimes he got so steady he couldn’t move.

That’s who Otis reminds me of. So that’s who we named him after.

Otis is a good dog. He has witnessed every random emotional event we’ve ever undergone in this household. He has been present for our entire lives.

It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly eight years since Otis came to us from an adoption center. We found him when a local pet shelter had a meet-and-greet.

The place was a circus. You couldn’t hear what any of the volunteers were saying because of the collec-

tive noise. Each kennel had a fanciful poster with the dogs’ names emblazoned in theatrical letters. Some of the puppies were dressed in little costumes to look like lion tamers and tiny Little Bo-Peeps. The volunteers referred to these costumes as “curb appeal.”

My wife and I split up and zeroed in on dogs we couldn’t live without. My wife selected the sickest and most health-compromised puppy in the room. Meanwhile, I had selected a dog with a severe case of diarrhea.

Still, none of these dogs turned out to be The One.

You’ll know The One when you meet it. There is a soul-mate-dog for every dog lover. In fact, owning a dog is a lot like being married, the only difference being that husbands don’t get treats for peeing in the backyard.

After a full day of loving puppies, we still hadn’t found The One. We were about to leave when, on our way out, we noticed a kennel against the rear wall.

Inside the cage was a black-andwhite puppy lying with his paws beneath his chin. It was the classic “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” pose.

The volunteer glanced at her clipboard and said, “This puppy doesn’t have a name. They found him wandering the streets of DeFuniak.”

He didn’t wag his tail when we came near, he never nuzzled our hands. It was as though he knew nobody wanted him. “Why bother?” he was probably thinking.

But when a volunteer opened the kennel door, the rest was history. Otis has been in our family ever since.

And I’ll never forget when we arrived home from burying my wife’s mother, one of the first to greet us at the door was Otis.

He sprinted straight for my wife. Instinct led them directly to her— somehow he knew she was grieving. Otis showered my wife with kisses. He gleefully tackled her and wedged his body so tightly against hers that she had no choice but to love him.

And when she began to cry, I saw him clean salty tears from her face until she started laughing. It was genuine laughter, too. The first smile I’d seen on her face in weeks. And it was put there by him. I still don’t know how he pulled off such a feat.

But I’m telling you, dogs know stuff.

The Pastor says . . . motivation

As I sit to write this article. Many factors make this article possible. Only one word is necessary. It is called motivation. I am motivated because I told Lyle, the publisher, that I would write it. I don’t want to disappoint him or his readers. That is motivation. There are other readers, and those who want to know what I am writing about. I tell them that I write based on an idea. I am motivated to fulfill their curiosity. The biggest motivation is myself. It is an innate need to do something beyond myself. It is getting outside of myself. It would be easier to take my time and do nothing, or perhaps find something pleasurable to do, like sitting on the beach watching the waves. I must admit, however, that even watching the waves, getting out, and enjoying wave watching takes motivation.

The reality is that everything we do takes motivation. Even getting up in the morning to face a new day takes motivation. When I was recovering from my accident, I had a room partner who did not want to get out of bed. His therapist told me he would die in that bed. Even that did not motivate him. As far as I know, that is where he died. It is difficult at times to do boring things, put effort into things we don’t want to do, or do things we don’t want to do. I am not sure when the transition from laziness to activity in our childhood takes place.

Young people seem to have boundless energy, but a day comes when there is little motivation to study, practice musical instruments, or excel in sports. At times, there is motivation to win a prize, get a trophy, or even please someone. Reward is a prime motivator. The retired community often struggles with motivation, as there is little effort to excel, and only degeneration results. For a woman who has been a baker or cook, there is little motivation unless someone acknowledges the taste, sight, and appreciation. It is difficult to motivate when there is no praise, appreciation, or recognition. There is the question, why do it? If there is no payback, that would be true for most of what we could do.

Motivation continues to play itself out in our religious lives. We ask, why should we pray? What is the motivation? We want results from God. Many don’t pray because nothing happens. Reading the Bible is often neglected because it seems to produce little for many. Even going to a worship service takes motivation. For many, it is the social contact with family and friends that gives, and the prosperity preachers motivate people with the assurance that God will give them much more than they donate. The truth is that everything takes mo-

Pastor Huls continued on page 12

Nala is a 5-year-old, 12-pound, female, Domestic Shorthair cat with a Grey Tabby coat. She’s a shy cat. When her owners got a dog who was too rowdy for Nala, they surrendered her to Rancho Coastal Humane Society to find a home, more to her liking.

She will need a safe space while she settles into her new home. She will also need access to all of the living essentials.

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

For more information visit Rancho Coastal Humane Society in Encinitas, call 760-753-6413, or log on to www.SDpets.org. Open from 11 AM to 4 PM every day but Tuesday.

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

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

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

El Cajon 373 N. Marshall Ave.

Escondido 3500 Burnet Drive

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san diego 5480 Gaines Street

Pet of the Week

Meet San, a sweet, tenderhearted pup in search of a loving new home! San can be a bit shy with new faces and places, and appreciates some patience while he warms up. He enjoys getting out for walks, sniffing and exploring along the way. San is looking for a compassionate owner who can provide a stable and calm environment, helping him build confidence at his own pace. Due to his shy nature, he may thrive best in a home without young children under 10. Adopting San (974292) means giving him a chance to flourish and show the loyal, affectionate companion he can truly be! Visit San Diego Humane Society’s Escondido Campus at 3500 Burnet Drive to adopt him today. If you have questions about the adoption process, you can visit sdhumane.org/adopt or call 619-299-7012.

Online profile: https://sdhumane.org/adopt/available-pets/animalsingle/?petId=974292

Pastor Huls

The Computer factory

845 W. san marcos blvd. 760-744-4315 thecomputerfactory.net

It appears that we are in the final decade of the “Personal Computer Age”. Oh sure there will always be high speed, stand-alone stationary and portable computers for special applications like gaming or single purpose applications, but for the vast majority of us business and home users, the PC increasingly has become just another way to connect to the Internet. Today’s IW (Intelligent Web) has all the functions and features that we once relied upon in our stand-alone PCs, and a lot more. We are now solidly into what many experts call

the “Internet age”. In coming years most of us will have no reason to use our PCs as stand-alone devices at all. The IW will have everything we need for communication and information.

That puts us squarely in the middle of a major transition point in human history. For us senior citizens, the world today is a much different place than the world in which we grew up. This is true also for those over forty who became adults before AI (artificial intelligence) and high speed Internet joined forces to create the IW (Intelligent Web) in the first decade of this century.

For over 300,000 years our ancestor Homo Sapiens saw very little change in a lifetime. Almost all of what a man or women learned from a lifetime of living and learning was as true the day they died as it was the day they were born. The “Buckminster Fuller Curve” represents the sum of mankind’s knowledge. Until recently human knowledge grew at a glacial pace. Communication was local, written material was rare and broadcast media was nonexistent. By 1900, thanks to advances in communication, the BFC was doubling every 150 years. By WWII it was doubling every 50 years, and by the

beginning of the 21st century, the BFC was doubling many times in a human lifetime. The accelerating curve tended to make the knowledge base of older generations obsolete and favor the newer data of younger generations. Younger folks were exposed to the latest “truths” without the burden of unlearning the past. This has given new meaning to the “generations gap”. It may be of some consolation to seniors that the younger generations are doomed to suffer the same late

life obsolescence. The “Buckminster Fuller Curve” shows no sign of slowing downs. It is destined to obsolete the knowledge base of the younger generation as they grow older for the foreseeable future.

We are living in a time of an unprecedented expansion of human knowledge. We cannot predict its course or our chart our own future. Our only option is to hang on and enjoy the ride.

5-10-$15 Tables • Half Price Items

Clothes, wine glass sets, wet suits, paint spray kits pottery, dinnerware sets, picnic sets, China, fishing tackle & more.

Things You don’t Want to say to Your dog Trainer

A group of dog trainers was having a discussion. “You don’t have to leave. If you promise not to interrupt you can Sit and Stay.”

The conversation quickly turned to the things clients say that make them mad.

They hate when people call them Dog Whisperers. “I am not a Dog Whisperer. I’m a certified trainer who uses scientifically proven, positive training methods.” If you think your trainer is a dog whisperer, don’t say it out loud.

Another said it drove him bonkers when people accept poor behavior

because their pets were adopted.

“There was a guy at the dog park with an out-of-control dog. His excuse was, ‘He’s a rescue.’ As if that made it okay. Adopted dogs can be trained just like any dogs. It’s harder to train stupid owners.”

“One of my clients refuses to use training treats. He said his dog should obey out of respect…not for food.” Another trainer grumbled, “Yeah. So should my teenager.” When the laughter died down, they agreed that training treats work. You tell your dog to sit, and it sits. Give it a treat. You say lie down. It lies down. Treat time. One trainer added, “Food works way better than a prong collar, for dogs and teenagers.”

“My dog’s the boss.” You could almost feel the temperature rise in the room when one of the trainers quoted a new client. It’s not the dog being dominant. It’s the owner letting the dog get by with whatever it wanted. They also hear, “Our dog doesn’t listen to me, but does whatever my husband / wife says.” Why? Maybe your dog understands one person better than the other. Plus, they

react better to the person who is consistent.

“If you can’t stop my dog from doing this in a week…I’m taking him to the pound.”

One of the trainers said, “This makes me sad, not mad. What do you say to someone who thinks

they’re out of options?”

They turned to the senior member of the group who had been sitting quietly. “I tell them this isn’t TV. Magic doesn’t happen in 30 minutes. The longer your dog has been allowed bad behavior, the longer it usually takes to change it. Grab your leash. Let’s get to work right now.”

Man About Town from page 4

gether and thought of Mary.

To know Mary is to love Mary. Those thoughts and memories were enough to make two grown men weep. ***

Many of us either grew up or lived in the midwest at one time . . . and now we enjoy California ... with all her warts California is still a nice place to live. Expensive. But nice.

A few days ago I called a lady I had not talked to in . . 70 years.

She lives in Rochester, Minnesota. Darla is a first cousin and I have not seen or talked to her since she was, maybe, 12 or 14 years old. As we recalled our youthful years memories came flooding back . . . memories that many of you who have exprienced the midwest can quite possibly relate to . . . like standing in a cornfield just before a thunderstorm and literally smelling the ozone in the air ... hearing wind hitting the cottonwood trees - and the dried corn stalks . . .watching the lightning flicker through the sky ... and hearing the rumbling of thunder in the distance. There’s nothing quite like a good, old-fashioned midwestern thunderstorm to get your attention.

Other memories might include the sight and sound of a meadowlark singing in the fields . . . or the early morning calls of a pheasant rooster greeting the sun . . . or the sweet, clean smell of a beautiful Minnesota morning.

I spent many a summer driving with my family from Omaha to Windom, Minnesota, visiting my cousin, Doug, (Darla’s brother) as he and I would wade up and down irrigation ditches catching minnows and putting them in a handy bucket . . . and, before electricity came along, enjoying the warmth and glow of kerosene lamps in the living room of Grandma Tollefson’s house ... and before modern plumbing arrived trudging out to the privy ... the ‘outhouse.’

It’s a good life I have led . . . if it ends tomorrow, it’s been a great ride! I’m glad you were part of my life.

You may want to poke your nose into The Computer Factory in San Marcos, 845 W. San Marcos Blvd, and say hello to Paul “Skinny” Van Middlesworth. That rascal has lost 30 lbs over the past three months and he really looks

good. (Though I, and he, notices that his trousers are now a bit too big for his suddenly flat belly . . . and want to slide down his hips. It may be time to buy a whole new wardrobe! Tell “Slim” I said “Hey!”)

Car Rental from page 8

You don’t have to suffer all three to be furious at your car rental company.

How to Know if You have Car rental rage

One sign that you’re mad: You’re making car rental reservations you don’t intend to keep out of spite.

Car rental companies typically allow you to cancel reservations without a penalty. If you’re angry, that’s how you inflict damage on them. You make several reservations, which ties up their inventory and costs them money. Ouch!

In fact, if you find yourself arguing with a car rental employee after you return your car, it might be a sign of car rental rage.

Sociologist Deborah Cohan, who has researched rage, notes that rental counter staff report “a noticeable increase in hostile exchanges” with customers arguing aggressively over fuel policies, cleaning fees, and mystery charges.

“There’s a lot of anger,” says Alen Baibekov, CEO of the car rental booking platform Economy Bookings.

Car rental Companies are Hitting back

The anger goes both ways. Rental companies are fighting back with their own arsenal:

Stricter cleaning standards. Bai-

bekov explains that “cleaning standards were raised so sand, pet hair, glitter, or vaping smells can trigger deep clean fees.”

Massive security deposits. Deposits are tiered by vehicle class at some locations, typically $300 to $1,000.

More surveillance technology. Tila Lee, a design consultant from Calgary, found a tracking device in her rental recently. When she asked a representative, he was baffled. “Not that I was being tracked,” she says, “but that I had found out.”

If the car rental rage starts to cost companies money, experts predict they’ll invent new fees to make up for the lost revenue. It’s a pattern that repeats itself in the travel industry all the time. But you can stop it.

How to Break the Car rental rage Cycle

Don’t get mad. It won’t help. Start by reading the contract -- that’s the agreement between you and the car rental company.

“Your arrangement with the car rental company is a contractual one,” explains attorney Danny Karon, who represents victims in consumer fraud cases. “If the company didn’t keep its end up, you could have a breach-of-contract claim, whether individually or as a class action, if your rental agreement doesn’t contain a forced-arbitration clause.”

Knowing your rights in advance can help, too.

For example, you’re not obligated to buy the car rental company’s expensive insurance, regardless of what a car rental salesperson claims. “There’s a common misconception that travelers have to purchase auto insurance offered by rental car providers or even use their personal auto insurance for rental cars,” says Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Partners USA. In fact, travel insurance companies like Allianz sell standalone policies that cover rental cars and are significantly cheaper than insurance sold by car rental companies.

You can also rent from a company with a reputation for treating its customers well. Several of the drivers I interviewed for this story said they preferred renting through blue-chip rental companies like Avis or Enterprise. It’s a little bit more expensive, but they don’t play games -- and they won’t tick you off.

Finally, take a deep breath. Plante, the psychologist, says if you sched-

ule a little extra time, you can get a little breathing room. And that might reduce the stress that leads to anger.

The road ahead for Car rental rage

Car rental rage isn’t going anywhere until the industry addresses its biggest problem: treating customers like suckers instead of human beings.

Louis Ducret, founder of the digital insurance platform Eprezto, says the best way forward is full transparency.

“Show the customer up front exactly what they’ll pay, what they’ll get,” he says. “Remove the guesswork.”

Until that happens, we may be stuck in this cycle of mutual antagonism. Customers will keep fighting back with dirty returns, unused reservations and hostile reviews. Companies will respond with stricter policies and higher fees. And the rest of us will keep taking photos of rental cars like crime scene investigators.

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 email him at chris@elliott.org.

Pastor Huls from page 10

tivation. We have only to find the reward for getting up and doing anything. This is especially true in one’s religious life. If there are no rewards, there is little or no action. Jesus made that clear when he said, “Ask that you might receive, seek that you might find, and knock that the door might be opened.” Even more, he said, “Believe that you might have eternal life, and confess that you might be forgiven.” His ministry was one of motivation. It follows a basic principle. Motivation is to do something for results. Every day is a call to be motivated to do something, and hopefully it is worthwhile.

Pastor Huls

Oodles

from page 3

and make many new friends, call Sue at 858-484-8752. ***

oceanside High school foundation

First Annual “Promoting the Future” Fundraiser Dinner & Live Auction

April 25th • 6pm to 8pm

Join us for an unforgettable evening that blends the excitement of a live auction with a powerful “Fund the Need” oppurtunity designed to directly impact the lives of OHS students and staff. The event takes place on Saturday April 25th at the Oceanside Elks Lodge 444 Country Club Lane, Oceanside.

The Oceanside High School Foundation presents this Night with Purpose Mission to enhance the high school experience, affirm the undeniable value of education, and nurture the powerful sense of our Pirate community.

Evening highlights include dinner, inspiring speakers, live auction bidding for: Wine tasting, Exclusive golf opportunities, Vacation packages, Local attractions and experiences, and much more.

Ticket price $25 per person. Purchase yours at website https:// www.ohsfoundation.org/newsand-events/promoting-the-futurefundraising dinner.

***

The good LifE at miraCosta College

Meetings will be held in person at the MiraCosta College, Oceanside Campus, at 1:00 pm in the Board Room, of the Administration Building (Building 1000) and by the Internet Application ZOOM.

April 3 1:00 Balboa Park History in Post Cards David Marshall * AIA Architect & Author David Marshall will present high-

lights from his book, San Diego’s Balboa Park. His postcard images of the park offer a rare look at San Diego’s cultural and recreational heart.

April 3 2:30 The Botanical Building Restorations Wayne Donaldson, Architect

The Botanical Building in Balboa Park was constructed for the 1915 Panama California Exposition to display flora native to California. Mr. Donaldson tells us how it was faithfully restored from the ground up.

April 10 1:00 MCC Theater Production, “The Book Club Play” Eric Bishop and Students

This side-splitting comedy follows Ana and her fellow book lovers as they navigate friendship, literature and the absurd situations that unfold when cameras start rolling.

April 10 2:30 China Camp---One Family, 100 Years of Shrimping Russell Low Author, Researcher &Asian American Historian

On San Pablo Bay’s tidal shores, Chinese immigrants built China Camp, a vibrant shrimping village rooted in Pearl River traditions. Despite hardship and prejudice, families thrived, with the Quan family sustaining shrimping fishing for generations.

April 17 1:00 How and why I became a Palestine Refugee Jamal Kanj, Author

Mr. Kanj will trace his life as a Palestinian refugee, discuss myths surrounding the Palestine question and how managed media narratives collide with his lived experience, history, justice, memory and enduring dispossession.

April 17 2:30 San Diego Ballet Javier Velacso, Artistic Dir SD Ballet

Mr. Velasco will talk about the history of the San Diego ballet and upcoming ballets.

April 24 1:00 AI, Philosophy

and Language Elizabeth Rohwer, Speech Technology Advisor

Ms. Rohwer will explore how modern AI sheds new light on Ludwig Wittgenstein’s early work in logic and language.

April 24 2:30 Whales and Porpoises Cory Hom-Weaver Ocean Science Analytics Dive into the hidden world of ocean sound and discover how scientists use underwater acoustics to detect, track, and study marine mammals, revealing their behaviors, migrations, and responses to a changing environment.

To join a Zoom meeting, LIFE must have your email address in order for you to receive the invite link. Meetings will start at 12:45 pm (you can join 15 minutes earlier) and the speaker will start at 1:00 pm. Email: life.miracosta@ gmail.com.

***

East Valley Parkway business association meeting 2nd Wednesday • 2pm

June 10th, April 8th, July 8th, May 13th and August 12th. At Elote Restaurant, 1760 E. Valley Pkwy, Escondido. Visit www. evalley-parkway.com for more information.

***

sing for The Health of it Try barbershop singing!

Singing in a chorus has many physical and cognitive benefits:

• You pay attention to your posture to improve your breathing.

• You strengthen muscles used in breathing, allowing you to breathe more deeply so you can support and sustain notes.

• You actively listen so that you match others in your voice part and are in harmony with other parts.

• Singing releases endorphins which make you feel good too.

LEGALS

NoTiCE of PETiTioN To admiNisTEr EsTaTE of kevin Wesley Heimlich Case No. 26PE000772C suPErior CourT of CaLiforNia, CouNTY of saN diEgo

1100 Union Street, Room 331 San Diego, CA. 92101

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate or both, of Kevin Wesley Heimlich. A Petition for Probate has been filed by Alan Heimlich in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego. The Petition for probate requests that Alan Heimlich be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils,

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

The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.)

The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows:

• In an acappella chorus, which has no accompaniment, you memorize the notes. (In a barbershop a cappella chorus, you also memorize lyrics).

The Music Men Chorus (Palomar Pacific Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society) is a men’s acappella choir that performs 4-part, close-harmony songs arranged in the “Barbershop” Style, known for its ringing chords. We sing a variety of song genres (romantic ballads, movie and show tunes, Great American Songbook selections, patriotic songs, inspirational numbers, and Christmas holiday favorites), performing at both public and private venues in North County.

Our members believe that singing in our chorus keeps them healthier, both physically and mentally. We have 3 members in their 90’s who regularly attend rehearsal.

If you are a male, high school age or older, who loves to sing and is interested in joining a chorus, we invite you to attend one of our Tuesday evening rehearsals, learn more about us, and see how singing can enhance your life. Previous musical experience is helpful but not a requirement. We meet at 7 pm at San Marcos Lutheran Church, 3419 Grand Avenue, in the Luther Hall. For more information, contact Bill at (760) 5856315 or visit our website, www. musicmenchorus.org.

Chess at Park avenue Community Center Home of Escondido senior Center 210 Park Avenue, Escondido 760-839-4688

Adults of all skill levels are welcome. Drop in anytime Wednesday OR Friday noon-3pm to play or watch in the shuffleboard building. Follow the signs or ask at the front desk for directions. Friendly games with large boards and pieces provided. No fees or reservations.

Date: 05/06/2026

Time: 1:30 pm

Dept: 502

Address of court: Same as noted above.

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

If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the

California Probate code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. you may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner: Gadi Zohar

2211 Park Blvd Palo Alto, CA 94306

(650) 493-9200

4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE

STATEMENT 2026-9004298

The name of the businesss: Chick-Fil-A San Marcos, ChickFil-A Escondido, located at 587 Grand Ave., San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant, The Brave LLC, 587 Grand Ave., San Marcos, CA 92078. This businesss is operated by a Limited Liability Company.

First day of business 2/12/2026 /s/ Jordan Ciervo, President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 2/24/2026

3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE

STATEMENT 2026-9003406

The name of the businesss: Cali Crooner Entertainment, located at 4083 Hidden Hollow Dr., Wildomar, CA 92595. Registrant, Drum Brigade LLC, 33361 Hidden Hollow Dr., Wildomar, CA 92595. This businesss is operated by a Limited Liability Company.

First day of business N/A /s/ Korey Tyan Horn, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 2/17/2026

3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE

STATEMENT 2026-9004255

The name of the businesss:

Daniel’s Produce, located at 135 N. Pacific St., Ste B, San Marcos, CA 92069. Registrant, JB Freshsource Distribution Inc., PO Box 2797, Vista, CA 92085. This businesss is operated by a Corporation.

First day of business N/A /s/ Jordan Ciervo, President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 2/24/2026

3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE

STATEMENT 2026-9004555

The name of the businesss:

Light of Light Lutheran Church, located at 2010 W. San Marcos Blvd., Unit 67, San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant, William Carl Mack, 2010 W. San Marcos Blvd., Unit 67, San Marcos, CA 92078. This businesss is operated by an Individual.

First day of business 2/1/2026 /s/ William Carl Mack, Pastor with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 2/26/2026

3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE STATEMENT 2026-9004255

The name of the businesss:

Daniel’s Produce, located at 135 N. Pacific St., Ste B, San Marcos, CA 92069. Registrant, JB Freshsource Distribution Inc., PO Box 2797, Vista, CA 92085. This businesss is operated by a Corporation.

First day of business 2/12/2026 /s/ Jordan Ciervo, President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 2/24/2026 3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE STATEMENT 2026-9004478

The name of the businesss:

Villa’s Auto Repair, located at 474 West Mission Rd., 353, San Marcos, CA 92069. Registrant, Pablo Villagomez, 474 West Mission Rd., 353, San Marcos, CA 92069. This businesss is operated by an Individual.

First day of business 2/25/2026

/s/ Pablo Villagomez with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 2/25/2026

3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE STATEMENT 2026-9004940

The name of the businesss: J-KA Custom Tile, located at 573 Carrie Cir, San Marcos, CA 92069. Registrant, Juanka Gonzalez, 573 Carrie Cir, San Marcos, CA 92069. This businesss is operated by an Individual. First day of business 1/15/2019 /s/ Juanka Gonzalez with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 3/4/2026

3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE

STATEMENT 2026-9003515

The name of the businesss: MEM Autosales LLC, located at 524 W. Calle Primera, Suite 1005-H, San Ysidro, CA 92173. Registrant, MEM Auto Sales LLC, 524 W. Calle Primera, Suite 1005-H, San Ysidro, CA 92173. This businesss is operated by a Limited Liability Company.

First day of business N/A /s/ Sergio Martinez Flores, President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 2/17/2026

3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE

STATEMENT 2026-9005090

The name of the businesss: Pet Lovers Real Estate, Pet Lovers Realtor, located at 410 Vista Village Dr., Vista, CA 92083. Registrant, Pet Lovers Real Estate Corp, 29627 Pamoosa Lane, Valley Center, CA 92082. This businesss is operated by a Corporation.

First day of business N/A /s/ Omar Jesus Gonzalez with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 3/5/2026 3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE STATEMENT 2026-9004184

The name of the businesss: Elite Environmental Consulting of I.E., located at 202 Avenida Chapala, Lake San Marcos, CA 92069. Registrant, Environmental Consulting LLC, 202 Avenida Chapala, San Marcos, CA 92069. This businesss is operated by a Limited Liability Company.

First day of business 11/24/2025 /s/ Robert William Davignon, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 2/23/2026 3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE STATEMENT 2025-9017574

The name of the businesss: Julie Skin Reset, located at 390 Oak Ave., Carlsbad, CA 92008. Registrant, Julie Bacue Cortinas, 390 Oak Ave., Carlsbad, CA 92008. This businesss is operated by an Individual. First day of business N/A /s/ Julie Bacue Cortinas with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 9/11/2025 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/9/2025

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE STATEMENT 2026-9005184

The name of the businesss: Pizzabar, Pizzabar San Marcos, located at 342 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd., #143, San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant, AKBC Restaurants Inc., 342 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd., #143, San Marcos, CA 92078. This businesss is operated by a Corporation. First day of business 2/25/2026

/s/ Brannon William Ciora, President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 3/5/2026 3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2/2026

LEGALS

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE

STATEMENT 2026-9005384

The name of the businesss: Banksford Pet Co, located at 3793 Via Cabrillo, Oceanside, CA 92058. Registrant, Warewoof House LLC, 3793 Via Cabrillo, Oceanside, CA 92058. This businesss is operated by a Limited Liability Company.

First day of business 3/10/2026 /s/ Tanya Ware, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 3/10/2026

3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE

STATEMENT 2026-9004449

The name of the businesss: Lesli Esthetics, located at 830 E. Vista Way, Suite 102, Vista, CA 92084. Registrant, Lesli Maira Ojeda, 830 E. Vista Way, Suite 102, Vista, CA 92084. This businesss is operated by an Individual.

First day of business 2/20/2026 /s/ Lesli M. Ojeda with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 2/25/2026

3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9/2026

ordEr To sHoW CausE for CHaNgE of NamE 26CU000245N

TO ALL INTERESTED PER-

SONS: Petitioner Alina Brechka Javier Gutierrez filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: Elliot Thiago Gutierrez to Proposed name Elliot Thiago Gutierrez Brechka. 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: May 1, 2026, 8:30 am, in Dept. N-25

No hearing will occur on above date. Please see attachment

The address of the court is: 325 S. Melrose Dr., 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 March 12, 2026 /s/ Brad A. Weinreb, Judge of the Superior Court 3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE

STATEMENT 2026-9005608

The name of the businesss: Kenney Relic Sign Company, located at 2560 Jason Ct., Oceanside, CA 92056. Registrant, Kenney Signs, 2560 Jason Ct., Oceanside, CA 92056. This businesss is operated by a Corporation.

First day of business 12/1/2024 /s/ Nichole Hamelback, Secretary with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 3/11/2026 3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE

STATEMENT 2026-9005713

The name of the businesss:

Amuri Cucina Italiana, Amuri Osteria Italiana, located at 677 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd., Apt 355, San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant, Amuri LLC, 677 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd., Apt 355, San Marcos, CA 92078. This businesss is operated by a Limited Liability Company.

First day of business N/A /s/ Antonio Zammataro, Managing Member with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 3/12/2026

3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4 /9/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE

STATEMENT 2026-9002690

The name of the businesss: SP Health & Wellness, located at 3985 Mission Ave., Oceanside, CA 92008. Registrant, Christa Joy McQueen, General Delivery, Carsbad, CA 92008. This businesss is operated by an Individual.

First day of business N/A /s/ Christa J. McQueen with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 2/5/2026

2/19, 2/26, 3/5, 3/12/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE

STATEMENT 2026-9003874

The name of the businesss: Hotel Solea, Solea Hotel, located at 5420 Grand Pacific Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008. Registrant, Grand Pacific Carlsbad Hotel Inc General Partner of Grand Pacific Carlsbad Hotel LP, 5900 Pasteur Court Ste. 200, Carlsbad, CA 92008. This businesss is operated by a Limited Partnership.

First day of business N/A /s/ David S. Brown, Secretary with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 2/19/2026

3/26, 4/2, 4 /9, 4/16/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE

STATEMENT 2026-9003876

The name of the businesss: Verise, located at 5420 Grand Pacific Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008. Registrant, Grand Pacific Carlsbad Hotel Inc General Partner of Grand Pacific Carlsbad Hotel LP, 5900 Pasteur Court Ste. 200, Carlsbad, CA 92008. This businesss is operated by a Limited Partnership. First day of business N/A /s/ David S. Brown, Secretary with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 2/19/2026

3/26, 4/2, 4 /9, 4/16/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE STATEMENT 2026-9003946

The name of the businesss: Frank & Dean’s Osteria Bar, located at 12265 Scripps Poway Parkway #113, Poway, CA 92064. Registrant, Gaetano Thomas Ventimiglia, 11339 Rose Garden Ct., San Diego, CA 92131, Darlene Frances Ventimiglia, 11339 Rose Garden Ct., San Diego, CA 92131. This businesss is operated by a Married Couple.

First day of business N/A /s/ Gaetano Thomas Ventimiglia with Jordan Z. Marks, SD

County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 2/20/2026

3/26, 4/2, 4 /9, 4/16/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE

STATEMENT 2026-9005315

The name of the businesss: Karinas Sparkle Shop, located at 984 E. Vista Way Suite C, Vista, CA 92084. Registrant, Karina L. Mendoza, 984 E. Vista Way Suite C, Vista, CA 92084. This businesss is operated by an Individual.

First day of business 3/9/2026

/s/ Karina L. Mendoza with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 3/9/2026

3/26, 4/2, 4 /9, 4/16/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE

STATEMENT 2026-9006249

The name of the businesss: Keepsymags, located at 3140 Palm Crest Terrace, San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant, John Philip Hall, 3140 Palm Crest Terrace, San Marcos, CA 92078. This businesss is operated by an Individual.

First day of business N/A /s/ John Philip Hall with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 3/18/2026

3/26, 4/2, 4 /9, 4/16/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE

STATEMENT 2026-9006498

The name of the businesss: M&A Firearm Care & Accessories, located at 15 Quintard St., Chula Vista, CA 91911. Registrant, Donald Maybery Wilburn, 15 Quintard St., Chula Vista, CA 91911, Nikki Ann Wilburn, 15 Quintard St., Chula Vista, CA 91911. This businesss is operated by a Married Couple. First day of business N/A /s/ Donald Maybery Wilburn with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 3/20/2026

3/26, 4/2, 4 /9, 4/16/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE

STATEMENT 2026-9005896

The name of the businesss: Bongiorno Construction Inc., located at 1910 Northstar Way #221, San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant, Bongiorno Construction Inc., 1910 Northstar Way #221, San Marcos, CA 92078. This businesss is operated by a Corporation. First day of business 3/1/2026 /s/ Michael Bongiorno, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 3/16/2026 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE STATEMENT 2026-9006473

The name of the businesss: Mr. Appliance - Encinitas, Carlsbad, San Marcos, located at 1581 Dawson Dr., Vista, CA 92081. Registrant, Lucen Partners LLC, 7220 Trade St., Ste 252, San Diego, CA 92121. This businesss is operated by a Limited Liability Company. First day of business N/A /s/ Anang Chokshi with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/

Recorder of San Diego on 3/20/2026

4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE

STATEMENT 2026-9006841

The name of the businesss: Driveo, Driveo.Com, located at 400 N. Johnson Ave., El Cajon, CA 92020. Registrant, CSS Services LLC, 400 N. Johnson Ave., El Cajon, CA 92020. This businesss is operated by a Limited Liability Company.

First day of business 1/13/2020 /s/ Stanislav Shabalin, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 3/25/2026

4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE

STATEMENT 2026-9005768

The name of the businesss: Julie Skin Reset, Skin Reset, located at 390 Oak Ave., Suite I, Carlsbad, CA 92008. Registrant, Julie Baclie Cortinas, 390 Oak Ave., Suite I, Carlsbad, CA 92008. This businesss is operated by an Individual.

First day of business N/A /s/ Julie Baclie Cortinas with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 3/12/2026

4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE

STATEMENT 2026-9005211

The name of the businesss: Sage And Navy, located at 2609 Fallsview Rd., San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant, J And J Premier Management LLC, 2609 Fallsview Rd., San Marcos, CA 92078. This businesss is operated by a Limited Liability Company.

First day of business N/A /s/ Jimmy Sunga Hsia, President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 3/6/2026

4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE

STATEMENT 2026-9005582

The name of the businesss: Roof Medics, located at 560 Copper Dr., Apt 10, Vista, CA 92083. Registrant, Diego Israel Galicia, 560 Copper Dr., Apt 10, Vista, CA 92083. This businesss is operated by an Individual. First day of business 3/10/2026 /s/ Diego Galicia with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 3/11/2026

4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23/2026

fiCTiTious b usi NE ss NamE STATEMENT 2026-9006122

The name of the businesss: Aloha Printing, Royal business Cards, located at 133 Newport Dr., Ste B, San Marcos, CA 92069. Registrant, Aloha Enterprises, Inc., 133 Newport Dr., Ste B, San Marcos, CA 92069. This businesss is operated by a Corporation. First day of business 3/23/2015 /s/ George Burrola, President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 3/17/2026

4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23/2026