Her Last Voyage
by lyle e davis
It was a sunny afternoon on that 9th day of November, 1975.
The captain and crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald knew full well that November is referred to as “The Month of Storms” on the Great Lakes but, at the time, under the warming sun, they didn’t seem to be too concerned.
Little did the 29 man crew know
that they would soon face one of the biggest and worst storms that their Captain had ever seen. Nor would they know that they would soon perish beneath the cold, angry waters of Lake Superior and become part of a legend.
The legend of the Edmund Fitzgerald remains the most mysterious and controversial of all shipwreck tales heard around the Great Lakes. Her story is surpassed in books, film and media only by that of the Titanic.
Canadian folksinger Gordon Lightfoot inspired popular interest in this vessel with his 1976 ballad, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.”
The 729 foot Edmund Fitzgerald left Superior, Wisconsin, heavy with 26,918 long tons of iron ore (taconite) pellets. She was bound for the steel mills of Zug Island, just off Detroit. Shortly after leaving, she made radio contact with the Arthur M. Anderson, a sister ship, soon to
leave the same port, and bound for the steel mills of Gary, Indiana.
Eyewitnesses recall that it was an unseasonably beautiful day, and recall seeing the Fitz pass with off duty staff sunning themselves on the Fitz’s always pristine decks. They were the last from shore to see the ship afloat.
On November 9 at 7 pm the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a
Edmund Fitzgerald from page 1
gale warning for Lake Superior. In a gale, the wind speeds range from 34-40 knots. At about 2:00 am November 10 the NWS upgraded the gale warning to a storm warning (winds 48-55 knots) with a prediction of “northeast winds 35 to 50 knots becoming northwesterly 28 to 38 knots on Monday, waves 8 to 15 feet.”
November 10 - 1:00 AM - Weather report from the Fitzgerald. The report from the Fitzgerald shows her to be 20 miles south of Isle Royale. Winds are at 52 knots, with waves ten feet in height.
7:00 AM - Weather report from the Fitzgerald. Winds are at 35 knots, waves of ten feet. This is the last weather report that the Edmund Fitzgerald will ever make.
3:15 PM - Captain Jesse Cooper, (J.C.) of the S.S. Arthur M. Anderson watches the Fitzgerald round Caribou Island and comments that the Fitzgerald is much closer to Six Fathom Shoal than he would want to be.
3:20 PM - Anderson reports winds coming from the Northwest at 43 knots.
Give Us This Day Our Daily Chuckle
This week, a compendium of wit, wisdom and neat stuff you can tell at parties. Enjoy!
An old Doberman starts chasing rabbits and before long, discovers that he’s lost.
Wandering about, he notices a lion heading rapidly in his direction with the intention of having lunch.
The old Doberman thinks, “Oh, oh! I’m in deep shit now!”
3:30 PM - Radio transmission between the Fitzgerald and the Anderson. Captain McSorley (C.M.) to Captain Cooper (C.C.): C.M.:
“Anderson, this is the Fitzgerald. I have sustained some topside damage. I have a fence rail laid down, two vents lost or damaged, and a list. I’m checking down. Will you stay by me til I get to Whitefish?”
C.C.: “Charlie on that Fitzgerald. Do you have your pumps going?”
C.M.: “Yes, both of them.” Also around this time, the storm’s fury had closed the Sault Ste. Marie locks. What had happened was the wind had carried the Fitz’s radar away and she was flying blind.
Popular consensus was that she had drifted dangerously close to Six Fathom Shoals off the coast of Michipicoten Island, Lake Superior, and opened a welded seam in the hull. The Fitzgerald was equipped with two 7,000 gallon per minute pumps, and four 2,000 gallon per minute pumps. McSorley (the captain of the Fitzgerald) was asked if he had his pumps running. He replied that he had them all going. And yet the ominous list was still present. Not good in a raging hurricane.
4:10 PM - The Fitzgerald radios the Arthur M. Anderson requesting radar assistance for the remainder
Noticing some bones on the ground close by, he immediately settles down to chew on the bones with his back to the approaching cat.
Just as the lion is about to leap, the old Doberman exclaims loudly, “Boy, that was one delicious lion!
I wonder, if there are any more around here?”
Hearing this, the young lion halts his attack in mid-stride, a look of terror comes over him and he slinks away into the trees.
“Whew!,” says the lion, “That was close! That old Doberman nearly had me!”
Meanwhile, a squirrel who had been watching the whole scene from a nearby tree, figures he can put this knowledge to good use and trade it for protection from the lion. So, off he goes.
The squirrel soon catches up with the lion, spills the beans and strikes a deal for himself with the lion.
The young lion is furious at being made a fool of and says, “Here,
of the voyage.
Fitzgerald: “Anderson, this is the Fitzgerald. I have lost both radars. Can you provide me with radar plots till we reach Whitefish Bay?”
Anderson: “Charlie on that, Fitzgerald. We’ll keep you advised of position.”
About 4:39 PM - The Fitzgerald cannot pick up the Whitefish Point radio beacon. The Fitzgerald radios the Coast Guard station at Grand Marais on Channel 16, the emergency channel.
Between 4:30 and 5:00 PM - The Edmund Fitzgerald calls for any vessel in the Whitefish Point area regarding information about the beacon and light at Whitefish Point. 63 year old Ernest McSorley of Toledo, Ohio, the captain of the Fitzgerald, made radio contact with another ship, the Avafors, a Swedish ship anchored in the relatively calm safety of Whitefish Bay.
They reported that they “had a bad list, had lost both radars, and was taking heavy seas over the deck in one of the worst seas he had ever been in.”
Captain McSorley was a seasoned sailor of the Great Lakes with 44 years of experience.
They receive an answer by the saltwater vessel Avafors that the beacon and the light are not operating.
Estimated between 5:30 and 6:00 PM - Radio transmission between the Avafors and the Fitzgerald:
Avafors: “Fitzgerald, this is the Avafors. I have the Whitefish light now but still am receiving no beacon. Over.”
Fitzgerald: “I’m very glad to hear it.”
Avafors: “The wind is really howling down here. What are the conditions where you are?”
Fitzgerald: (Undiscernable shouts heard by the Avafors.)
“DON’T LET NOBODY ON DECK!”
Avafors: “What’s that, Fitzgerald? Unclear. Over.”
Fitzgerald: “I have a bad list, lost both radars. And am taking heavy seas over the deck. One of the worst seas I’ve ever been in.”
Avafors: “If I’m correct, you have two radars.”
Edmund Fitzgerald continued on page 3
squirrel, hop on my back and see what’s going to happen to that conniving canine!”
Now, the old Doberman sees the lion coming with the squirrel on his back and thinks, “What am I going to do now?,” but instead of running, the dog sits down with his back to his attackers, pretending he hasn’t seen them yet, and just when they get close enough to hear, the old Doberman says “Where’s that squirrel? I sent him off an hour ago to bring me another lion!”
Moral of this story…
Don’t mess with the old dogs... Age and skill will always overcome youth and treachery!
Bull Shit and brilliance only come with age and experience. ***
Husband: “The nerve of that doctor! He insults my age be referring me to an archeologist.”
Wife: “Audiologist, dear. You can’t hear worth a damn!”
Did a push-up today.
Well, actually, I fell down. But I had to use my arms to get back up so . . you know, close enough. I need chocolate.
Do you know why cute people are always busy?
I’ll tell you later. I am busy.
Me: “How much is the rent for this gorgeous apartment.”
Man: “Sir, this is a liquor store.”
I read, by law, that you have to turn on your headlights when it’s raining in Sweden.
continued on page 7
Chuckles
Fitzgerald: “They’re both gone.”
Sometime around 7:00 PM - The Anderson is struck by two huge waves that put water on the ship, 35 feet above the water line. The waves hit with enough force to push the starboard lifeboat down, damaging the bottom.
7:10 PM - Radio transmission between the Anderson and the Fitzgerald.
The Fitzgerald is still being followed by the Arthur M. Anderson. They are about 10 miles behind the Fitzgerald.
Anderson: “Fitzgerald, this is the Anderson. Have you checked down?” (Means ‘reduced speed’).
Fitzgerald: “Yes we have.”
Anderson: “Fitzgerald, we are about 10 miles behind you, and gaining about 1 1/2 miles per hour. Fitzgerald, there is a target 19 miles ahead of us. So the target would be 9 miles on ahead of you.”
Fitzgerald: “Well, am I going to clear?”
Anderson: “Yes. He is going to pass to the west of you.”
Fitzgerald: “Well, fine.”
Anderson: “By the way, Fitzgerald, how are you making out with your problem?”
Fitzgerald: “We are holding our own.”
Anderson: “Okay, fine. I’ll be talking to you later.”
They never did speak later. The 29 men onboard the Fitzgerald will never again speak with anyone outside of the ship.
Morgan Clark, first mate of the Anderson, kept watching the Fitzgerald on the radar set to calculate her distance from some other vessels near Whitefish Point. He kept losing sight of the Fitzgerald on the radar from sea return, meaning that seas were so high they interfered with the radar reflection.
The radar signal, or “pip” of the Fitzgerald kept getting obscured by sea return. And around 7:15 pm the pip was lost again, but this time did not reappear.
Clark called the Fitzgerald again at about 7:22 pm. There was no answer.
According to Captain Cooper, about 6:55 pm, he and the men in the Anderson’s pilothouse felt a “bump,” felt the ship lurch, and then turned to see a monstrous wave engulfing their entire vessel from astern. The wave worked its way along the deck, crashing on the back of the pilothouse, driving the bow of the Anderson down into the sea.
“Then the Anderson just raised up and shook herself off of all that water - barrooff - just like a big dog. Another wave just like the first one or bigger hit us again. I watched those two waves head down the lake towards the Fitzgerald, and I think those were the two that sent him under.”
7:15 PM - The Fitzgerald enters a squall while still on Lake Superior; the squall obscures the vessel from radar observation by the Anderson; this is normal when in a squall.
Sometime between 7:20 and 7:30 PM - It is estimated that this was the time period when the ship vanished and sank.
7:25 PM - Edmund Fitzgerald disappears from the radar of the S.S. Arthur M. Anderson, prompting a call to the Coast Guard to inform them of the situation.
7:55 PM - The Anderson calls again and informs the Coast Guard that they have lost the Fitzgerald both visually and on radar.
9:00 PM - The Coast Guard, with no available search ships, radios the Arthur M. Anderson requesting assistance.
C.G.: “Anderson, this is Group Soo. What is your present position?”
Anderson: “We’re down here, about two miles off Parisienne Island right now ... the wind is northwest forty to forty-five miles here in the bay.”
C.G.: “Is it calming down at all, do you think?”
Anderson: “In the bay it is, but I heard a couple of the salties talk-
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.
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• Submit your press release by the previous Friday.
• Keep It Simple: who, what, where, when, why.
• Send us something we can copy/paste. Please no brochures or flyers. Send a press release.
• Send photos as attachments, not embeded in the document.
Parkinson’s support group August 4th • 10am to Noon
Free monthly meetings for people with Parkinson’s and their care partners are held from 10 am until Noon at San Rafael Church, 17252 Bernardo Center Drive, Rancho Bernardo, in the Parish Hall. Our featured speaker for Monday, August 4th is Kristy McLean from Supernus Pharmaceuticals, who will be presenting “Onapgo – Subcutaneous Parkinson’s Medication.” Separate breakout sessions for People with Parkinson’s and care partners will follow the presentation to discuss successes and challenges.
Please call (760) 749-8234 or (760) 518-1963 if you have any questions.
***
El Camino Quilters sell Your stash sale August 12th • 10am to Noon
Members of El Camino Quilters Guild will have a “Sell Your Stash” Sale from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesday August 12th, at El Corazon Senior Center, 3302 Senior Center Dr. Oceanside 92056. Open to the public.
The Sell Your Stash Sale will offer loads of fabric bargains, tools, and craft items. (Cash only.) Themed Friendship Baskets will be raffled off in a silent auction.
Cash, check, or credit cards will be accepted for baskets.
For more information elcaminoquilters.com or email info@elcaminoquilters.com. ***
senior service Council of Escondido Needs Volunteers
The Senior Service Council of Escondido is looking for volunteers to help seniors with technology,
includes computers, laptops and smartphones. Volunteers meet with seniors in one-hour sessions at the SSCE computer lab. The schedule is flexible. If you are proficient in these technologies, and would like to make a difference in the lives of seniors by volunteering, please contact the SSCE by calling 760-480-0611, or email us at info@sscescondido.org.
***
senior service Council smart Phone & Computer Tutoring
The Senior Service Council Escondido is currently accepting reservations for smart phone and computer tutoring. SSCE is located at 728 N Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025. The phone number to use for making appointments is 760-480-0611.
1 to 1 tutoring for PC, Tablet, and smartphones (Android and iPhone)
$5 per one hour meeting. Appointment required.
Visit https://escondido-seniorservices.org/
***
Chess at Park avenue Community Center Wednesdays & Fridays
Home of Escondido Senior Center, 210 Park Avenue, Escondido, 760-839-4688.
Chess players of all skill levels are welcome every Wednesday AND NOW EVERY FRIDAY in the shuffleboard building from Noon – 3 p.m. Friendly games with large boards and pieces provided. No fees or reservations. Follow the signs or ask at the front desk for directions.
Edmund Fitzgerald continued on page 5
Edmund Fitzgerald from page 2
Edmund Fitzgerald from page 3
ing up there, and they wish they hadn’t gone out.”
After much more conversation and a request by the Coast Guard to return to search for the ship, reluctant to go out, the S.S. Arthur M. Anderson agrees to “give it a try” but claims that that is “all we can do.”
The sinking of the Fitzgerald was very rapid and it is likely they did not know the seriousness of their condition. Indeed, after the wreck two severely damaged life boats were found.
The conditions of these lifeboats suggests that no attempts were made to leave the ship. No distress signals were ever issued.
Not a single body was found, nor recovered.
November 11, 1975, morning a Reverend by the name of Richard Ingalls prays in his church and holds a memorial service for the twenty nine men lost. This service becomes an annual service and is
mentioned in the song, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” by Gordon Lightfoot.
1976 - The song, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” is released by Gordon Lightfoot to the public commemorating the shipwreck.
May - The wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is OFFICIALLY identified.
1995 The bell of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald is raised, restored, and replaced on the ship by a new bell with the names of the twenty nine men lost. This is the last time the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald will ever again be legally dived upon.
The Fitzgerald now rests, broken in 3 pieces in 529 feet of water, some 15 miles outside Whitefish Bay, in Canadian waters. She has been documented and photographed. Human remains have been located and left to rest at the families’ request, and it has been put forth that the site remain private, and off limits.
At the request of family members surviving her crew, Fitzgerald’s 200 lb. bronze bell was recovered by the Great Lakes Shipwreck His-
torical Society on July 4, 1995. This expedition was conducted jointly with the National Geographic Society, Canadian Navy, Sony Corporation, and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
The bell is now on display in the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum as a memorial to her lost crew.
Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum website: http://www.shipwreckmuseum.com/fitz.phtml
Gordon Lightfoot read the story in McLeans Magazine (A Canadian publication) while on a flight, and wrote his classic song in a short time.
Lyrics
The Wreck of the Edmund fitzgerald
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they called ‘Gitche Gumee’
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy
With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more Than the Edmund Fitzgerald
Problem solved by
Christopher Elliott
weighed empty.
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the gales of November came early.
The ship was the pride of the American side
Coming back from some mill in Wisconsin
As the big freighters go, it was bigger than most
With a crew and good captain well seasoned
Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland
And later that night when the ship’s bell rang
Could it be the north wind they’d been feelin’?
The wind in the wires made a tattle-tale sound
And a wave broke over the railing
And every man knew, as the captain did too,
T’was the witch of November come stealin’.
The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
When the Gales of November came slashin’.
Edmund Fitzgerald continued on page 7
my uber driver took me on a terrifying ride. is this $5 credit enough compensation?
An Uber driver takes Andrew Greenman on a wild ride through the Washington, D.C. suburbs. Does the company owe him anything for the stressful experience?
Q: I took an Uber home from Washington D.C. to Ashburn, Virginia, late one Saturday night. During the trip, my driver stopped at a gas station to use the restroom, but it was locked.
He then started driving erratically -- speeding and driving in circles -- while seemingly looking for another restroom. I asked him to end the ride, but he ignored me.
I contacted the Uber Safety Team through the app, and they offered to contact the police. I wasn’t sure what to do because I didn’t want to overreact.
The driver eventually stopped at an intersection in the middle of nowhere and ran into the woods. He left me locked in the car. When he returned, I asked him to let me
Illustration by Dustin Elliott
out, but he ignored me and ran away again! When he came back, I pounded on the door, and after a few minutes, he finally unlocked the car. The driver chased me after I left the car and only left after I gestured at him to go away.
I was shaken and scared. I called another Uber to take me home.
I contacted Uber the following Monday to report the incident. A representative apologized and said they would investigate and
issue a refund. However, all I received was a $5 credit.
I tried to explain the situation to Uber through the app, but they were unhelpful and insisted $5 was all I would receive.
This was extremely stressful for me, particularly because I am deaf and have stage 4 cancer. Can you help me get a refund and make sure Uber understands the seriousness of this situation?
~ Andrew Greenman, Ashburn, Va.
A: What a horrifying experience! A $5 credit and a half-hearted apology is definitely not enough.
Your driver’s behavior was unacceptable and potentially dangerous. You did the right thing by contacting the Uber Safety Team and reporting the incident.
You also followed the right pro-
Edmund Fitzgerald from page 5
When afternoon came it was freezin’ rain
In the face of a hurricane west wind.
When suppertime came, the old cook came on deck sayin’. Fellas, it’s too rough to feed ya.
At Seven P.M. a main hatchway caved in, he said Fellas, it’s been good t’know ya The captain wired in he had water comin’ in
And the good ship and crew was in peril.
And later that night when his lights went outta sight
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Does any one know where the love of God goes
When the waves turn the minutes to hours?
The searches all say they’d have made Whitefish Bay If they’d put fifteen more miles behind her.
They might have split up or they might have capsized; May have broke deep and took water.
And all that remains is the faces and the names
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters.
Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings In the rooms of her ice-water mansion.
Old Michigan steams like a young man’s dreams;
The islands and bays are for sportsmen.
And farther below Lake Ontario Takes in what Lake Erie can send her,
And the iron boats go as the mariners all know
With the Gales of November remembered.
In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed, In the Maritime Sailors’ Cathedral.
The church bell chimed till it rang twenty-nine times For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call ‘Gitche Gumee’.
Superior, they said, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early!
40 years after the Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior, the song
Man About Town from page 4 is still a classic.
It tells the story of what happened on that stormy November 10. Some factual inaccuracies in the song: First, although the Fitz was indeed leaving with iron ore pellets from Superior, Wisconsin, it was headed to Detroit, not Cleveland; Second, the song suggests that the crew knew they were about to sink and perish - in fact, the storm and waves that finally sank the Fitz (it had been taking on water for some time) - were likely sudden and swift, and the crew were likely in the water before they knew they were in grave danger.
The day after the wreck, Mariners’ Church in Detroit rang its bell 29 times, once for each life lost. The church continued to hold an annual memorial, reading the names of the crewmen and ringing the church bell, until 2006 when the church broadened its memorial ceremony to commemorate all lives lost on the Great Lakes. After the death of singer Gordon Lightfoot on May 1, 2023, the church bell was ceremonially rung 29 times in memory of the crew, plus an additional ring in memory of Lightfoot who committed their deaths to posterity.
5th District Supervisor • Jim Desmond
sacramento’s Housing Policies are failing Young families
You may have seen recent headlines suggesting the State of California is finally making it easier to build housing.
Don’t be fooled.
Despite the spin from Sacramento, the so-called “reforms”, just signed into law by the Governor, do nothing to make it easier for young families to own a home, raise kids, or stay in the neighborhoods they grew up in.
In fact, these new laws double down on the same failed approach that got us into this crisis—prioritizing high-density apartment blocks over single-family neighborhoods.
Here in San Diego County, we understand the real problem: it’s not a lack of land, it’s a lack of common sense. Extra-burdensome state laws, endless red tape, costly mandates, and lawsuits weaponized by special interests have made it nearly impossible to build affordable homes outside urban cores.
The results speak for themselves. Homeownership in California is near the lowest in the nation.
The cost of a modest two-bedroom home now requires a six-figure income. Over 500,000 young people have left the state in just four years. And yet, Sacramento’s answer is less local input and control, combined with more regulation, more mandates, and more subsidies for apartment complexes that cost up to $600,000 per unit—sometimes for a studio. That’s not sustainable,
covering and enjoying life and its adventures that they had neither time nor inclination to join gangs,” said davis.
This initiative reportedly helped nearly 2,000 young people find better paths in life.
The Paper is distributed free every Thursday, with a mission to inspire its readers. “Wow, there’s still good people in the world and there’s still good deeds in the world and I can make a difference,” Gomez said, describing the reaction he hopes to elicit from readers.
you can view the video by going to cbs8.com/zevelyzone.
By clicking on the link you will see the video as it appears in local broadcasts on tv8.
The
Snakes Among Us . . .
Rattlesnake season is here and I’m worried about it. A fella who used to be our Sales Manager once told a story of how both his dogs were bitten last year. $1800 in anti-venom saved the dogs. Right in his own backyard. I shudder to think about walking our pups in our front yard or back yard . . . they love to chase the little lizards . . . snakes hang around in the same habitat. They don’t know any better.
and it’s certainly not helping the next generation of Californians.
We don’t need luxury “affordable housing” projects that include gyms, cafes, and pet spas. We need starter homes—on real plots of land, with a front yard and room for a family.
Here in the County, I’m pushing for policies that get back to basics: cutting burdensome regulations, supporting and incentivizing single-family housing developments, protecting local control over land use, and making it easier—not harder—for working families to stay in California.
It’s time to stop the political theater and start delivering real results. Our kids deserve the chance to chase the American Dream without leaving their home state to find it.
San Diego County District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond, 1600 Pacific Highway, #335, San Diego, CA 92101, United States http:// www.supervisorjimdesmond.com/
Recently saw a story about a gal in Oceanside that also got bit. They had a color picture of her foot, all red and swollen. I’ve seen worse bites (with big bags of pus that had to be debrided - cut away) . . .
Growing up in the midwest (Omaha) we seldom worried about snakes. We’d see garter snakes and bull snakes but never saw a rattler. Out here in LaLa land they are fairly common. Same with coyotes. There are a lot of them out here as well . . and they are losing their fear of humans and often come right close to human habitation . . . often jumping a fence to kill and eat pet cats or dogs.
Evelyn often takes the pups for walks. They love it, so does she. But I often worry about them coming across a snake or being ambushed by a coyote. Both are very quick to strike. Normally, they say a rattler will avoid you and you almost have to step on it or come very close (like a curious dog does, always wanting to sniff things out) . . .and then they strike.
Hope we make it through the summer without being bitten by either creature.
The Nation’s Highway System ‘Ike’ Built
By Tom Morrow
If you could determine the person most responsible for our nation’s massive highway system it would have to be Henry Ford, but the history books will credit to President Dwight D. Eisenhower, (19531961).
Early in the 20th century Ford made cars affordable for the average working man but there was a limited number of roadways in which to travel. Few roads in the Southwestern and Western states were nothing more than a twotrack mud or dusty pathway cut through the landscape connecting one city or town with another.
Travel in the West was a real challenge, In 1919 and 1920, two future U.S. presidents were involved in the development of our crosscountry highway system. In 1920, the first major highway in the U.S. was built by the “Old Trails Road Association, a private organization that built a Missouri roadway connecting St. Louis and Kansas City. The Association’s president, at that time was Jackson County Judge Harry S. Truman of Independence, Mo. Later, in 1926, the Association determined road be split into several “numbered” highways throughout the nation. A portion of the “Old Trails Road” from Chicago to Los Angeles would later become the iconic U.S. Route 66.
The “Lincoln Highway” became the first coast-to-coast roadway running from New York’s Times Square to L.A. The Old Trails Association proposed automobile manufacturers donate 1 percent of their annual revenue to building the various national roads. All the major company heads complied except one … Henry Ford. He declared highways were the responsibility of the national government and not private enterprise. Ol’ Henry was a known miser. He “made” money, he didn’t spend it.
In 1919, before there was any real organization connecting the West to the East, the U.S. Army mounted a car and truck convoy to travel the
length of the new Lincoln Highway to determine viability of the road. The convoy was headed by Lt. Col. Dwight D. Eisenhower. Results of the Army’s mission encouraged Congress to pass the “Federal Aid Highway Act of 1921, which greatly increased matching state funds. Various states contributed to building and improving roadways connecting to the Lincoln Highway.
Eisenhower reported the Lincoln Highway through Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana were in “fairly good shape,” much of it paved, but the roadway from Illinois on to the West, was mostly dirt. It became nearly unpassable during bad weather, especially rain, leaving much of it little more than a deep two-rutted roadway.
Until roads were built in the various western states, the “Oregon Trail” often was used by early motorists, especially those driving tall-wheeled vehicles like Model T Fords.
After the Army convoy excursion, young Eisenhower (“Ike”) vowed to do everything he could to improve the nation’s roadways. Years later President Eisenhower would oversee the creation of our modern Interstate Highway system. He fashioned the system after the German autobahn he witnessed during the end of WWII.
Today, much of the old Lincoln Highway still exists as U.S. 30, which follows nearly the same route between Lincoln Park in San Francisco and Times Square in New York City. Today much of U.S. 30 parallels Interstate 80.
Germany’s autobahn was started in the mid-1920s, but its construction did not make progress beyond
the planning stage due to the Great Depression. One of the sections was planned as a “car-only road” crossing Germany from Hamburg south through Frankfurt then on to Switzerland. When Adolf Hitler became chancellor in 1933, sections were completed by the late 1930s and early 1940s, but construction eventually was halted because of World War II. Interestingly, the first autobahn section was completed in 1932 between Cologne and Bonn, officially dedicated on Aug. 6, 1932, by Konrad Adenauer, Lord Mayor of Cologne and future Chancellor of West Germany.
Today, the “Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate & Defense Highways,” using the German scheme as a network of controlled-access highways, connects most principal cities across the nation. The Interstate system extends throughout the contiguous United States and has routes in Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico.
After Eisenhower became president in 1953, his administration developed plans for the interstate
system. Construction began in 1956 and was proclaimed completed in 1992. The cost of construction was approximately $114 billion (equivalent to $521 billion in 2018).
The Interstate system uses a numbering scheme in which primary Interstates are assigned one- or twodigit numbers and shorter routes are assigned three-digit numbers where the last two digits match the parent route. Example: Interstate 805 bypass for the I-8 and I-5 in San Diego.
One-quarter of all miles driven in the U.S. use the Interstate which has a network of 48,440 miles. Because of its heavy use, especially by truck traffic, the system is constantly under restorative construction. However, many Interstate sections are in serious need of repair.
Thanks to “Ike,” our lives have been greatly changed because of the Interstate … for both good and bad … good for travel, bad for the futures of dozens of small towns which were by-passed.
How in the hell am I supposed to know when it’s raining in Sweden?
Life is too short for fake butter, cheese, or people.
A priest and a rabbi were sitting next to each other on an airplane. After a while, the priest turned to
the rabbi and asked, “Is it still a requirement of your faith that you not eat pork?”
The rabbi responded, “Yes, that is still one of our laws.”
The priest then asked, “Have you ever eaten pork?”
To which the rabbi replied, “Yes, on one occasion I did succumb to temptation and tasted a ham sandwich.”
Chuckles from page 2 Chuckles continued on page 9
Henry Ford
Dwight D. Eisenhower
by Christopher Elliott
should i cancel my summer Vacation?
Is the thought of going on summer vacation too much for you? Too much money, too much hassle, too much everything?
Well, you’ve got company.
Americans are having second thoughts about their summer vacations, according to Stephen Day, director of Virginia Commonwealth University Center for Economic Education.
“People think their vacation dollars won’t take them very far,” he says.
But their biggest worry might be the crowds.
“We’ve seen the anti-tourism protests in countries like Greece and Spain,” says Elaina Vieira, a travel agent with Mind Over Matter Travel in Phoenix. One destination worries them above all others: always-crowded Rome, which is having its Jubilee year.
As a result, travelers are thinking of canceling their summer vacations perhaps more than any other time since the pandemic.
Should they? The answer is yes -and no. There’s no requirement to take a summer vacation. But there are also good -- and not so good -reasons to cancel this year’s summer vacation.
You don’t Have to Take a Vacation this summer
You may feel some pressure to go somewhere this summer, but experts say that’s nonsense.
“There’s nothing wrong with staying home,” says Susan Sherren, who runs Couture Trips. “I respect a client who says, ‘We just can’t afford a trip this year.’ I appreciate that kind of honesty. Financial stress can spoil a vacation.”
The best reason to postpone or cancel a summer vacation is your personal circumstances -- health issues, job loss, or personal crises. Friends and family can put a lot of pressure on you to go somewhere. Maybe there’s that moment next to the water cooler after Labor Day where you’re comparing your vacation stories with your colleagues, and maybe it fills you with dread.
So I’ll let you off the hook. If someone gives you an eye-roll when you admit you stayed home this summer, show them this column. Read Sherren’s quote. Hold your head high, my friend.
summer Vacation is Not mandatory
There are legitimate reasons to call off your summer vacation.
It’s Too Expensive
Face it, traveling this summer is far from affordable. Airfares and hotel rates are trending higher in many popular places. “It’s massively expensive,” says Sarah Davies, who works for a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C. She’s thinking of canceling her summer trip to Italy. “Is it a wise use of our finances?” she wonders. (Typically, if you have to ask that question, you already know the answer, which is to cancel.)
It’s Too Crowded
Crowds will probably be a serious problem this summer. Maria Szandrach has already canceled her summer vacation in Portugal. “I had everything planned -- days wandering through Lisbon’s historic streets, exploring the stunning cliffs in the Algarve, and indulging in way too many pastéis de nata,” says Szandrach, who runs a technology company in San Francisco. “But after reading about how crowded things were going to be, I decided to cancel.” She says she didn’t want to spend her entire vacation “packed like a sardine at every major site.” And that’s a legitimate concern.
It’s Too Dangerous
Sebastian Garrido, a marketing manager for a tour operator based in Mexico City, says he’s canceled
his summer vacation to visit his family in northern Mexico because he’s worried about security. “Northern Mexico is not the safest place,” he says. That may be an understatement. The U.S. State Department has warned of gun battles, murder, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, forced disappearances, extortion, and sexual assault along parts of the border with the U.S. Better choose a safer summer vacation destination.
bad reasons to Cancel Your summer Vacation
But there are also reasons people are calling off their summer vacation that don’t really hold up. Those include:
“I can’t leave my pet alone.”
Oh, for heaven’s sake! Get a friend to stop by your place to feed or walk your dog, or to house sit while you’re away, and enjoy a little time off. If you can’t bear to part with your furry friend, then find a petfriendly summer vacation.
“I’m too busy for a vacation.”
What nonsense! If you don’t take a little time off, you’re going to burn out. Everyone needs a little downtime away from the phone and laptop and spent with friends or family. You have to make the time.
“I’m not a good traveler.”
Guess what? No one is a good traveler. Travel is uncomfortable, expensive and inconvenient -- but once you get to your destination, it’s usually worth it. So don’t give
me any excuses about being a bad traveler, please.
Warning: If you cancel your vacation, you will have to deal with this:
If you decide to cancel your summer vacation plans, be prepared for a few things. First, there will be fallout from the rest of your family or travel companions, who were really looking forward to seeing Rome or Lisbon this summer. You may have to promise them a do-over during the fall, when travel will be less expensive and crowded, so that’s a real win-win.
But second, and equally important, is that you could face some steep cancellation penalties. If you’ve already prepaid for airfare and hotels, you may lose some money. (That’s one reason I sometimes recommend travel insurance, especially “cancel for any reason” travel insurance. Because stuff happens.)
I’m having second thoughts about my summer travels, too. I’m going to be in Europe, but I’m avoiding the popular places, and I’m staying flexible just in case things take a turn for the worse. You never know.
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.
Illustration by Dustin Elliott
by Jim Ellis Escondido Coin & Loan
Lots to discuss here concerning ratios. Gold, Silver, Platinum Rhodium!? What gives? Sometime around the year 2000 dad and I needed to cover about 75K in debt we accumulated. Not sure how we got so far off on our books, but something went south and we needed the 75K. After scratching the remainder of the hair off my head, we gathered our thoughts and agreed to sell our Rhodium to cover our reduction of inventory.
Chuckles from page 7
The priest nodded in understanding and went on with his reading.
A while later, the rabbi spoke up and asked the priest, “Father, is it still a requirement of your church that you remain celibate?”
The priest replied, “Yes, that is still very much a part of our faith.”
The rabbi then asked him, “Father, have you ever fallen to the temptations of the flesh?”
The priest replied, “Yes, rabbi, on one occasion I was weak and broke my Faith.”
The rabbi nodded understandingly and sat in silence for several minutes as he pondered the priest’s response.
Finally, the rabbi turned to the priest and said, “Beats the hell out of a ham sandwich, doesn’t it?”
What do you call a snowman with a six-pack?
An abdominal snowman.
What happens when you witness a ship wreck?
You let it sink in.
What do you call a group of musical whales?
An orca-stra.
Why did the stadium get hot after the game?
All the fans left.
What do you call a pig that does karate?
A pork chop.
Why did the hipster burn his tongue?
He drank his coffee before it was cool.
ratios are back!
Dad and I owned 27 ounces and netted $2500 per. We had our $$. What happened next brings me to this story.
Rhodium went from $2500 to $3000 and back to $2000 prior to climbing to 12,000! Yes, twelve thousand per ounce! 12K per ounce was insane! Leaving $9500/ oz on the table – it didn’t take me long to do the math. What if!? What if we held? What if we just waited etc, etc. Long story-short 12K was nothing. Capping off several months later at/near $26,000/
What do you call a bee that can’t make up its mind? A maybee.
Why did the banker switch careers?
He lost interest.
What did the ocean say to the beach?
Nothing, it just waved.
Why don’t seagulls fly over the bay?
Because then they’d be bagels.
Why was the computer cold? It left its Windows open.
What do you call a cow with no legs?
Ground beef.
Why don’t crabs give to charity? Because they’re shellfish.
What do you call a sleeping bull? A bulldozer.
What do you call two birds in love?
Tweethearts.
What do you call a dinosaur with an extensive vocabulary? A thesaurus.
How do you make holy water? You boil the hell out of it.
Why was the belt arrested? For holding up a pair of pants.
Why did the banana go to the doctor?
Because it wasn’t peeling well.
What do you call a bear with no teeth?
A gummy bear.
ounce I started to dislike math and grew a bit ill.
I’m sharing this story because we will see something similar in the near future. The question remains where. Which metal, which stock, which crypto? Will it be silver? Platinum? Palladium? We shall see. Lately we’ve seen silver trading in the high 30’s creating a strong mid30’s base it seems. Once this new floor is established, we can expect gains into the mid/high 40’s into the 50’s. When this happens will you be ready?
Currently silver is trading sub $40 and gold is sticking above $3300. It’s been an extremely interesting quarter when it comes to precious metals. 105/1 ratios down to 85/1 and currently 87/1 silver has been at top of discussion. Where do we go next!? Stay tuned!!
Meanwhile bring this week’s coupon in for discounted rates in silver bullion. Come see us. Bring this article and receive special discounts!!
Chuckles
The Pastor says . . . Too Late
We live in a world of time. When were you told you were late for an appointment? When have you used the excuse that time got away from you? When was the last time you heard that the “late” person is always late? I have heard these expressions hundreds of times. With all of this, we live in an amazing period of history when it comes to time. Most of us have timepieces, some worth thousands of dollars. The cost of the timepiece has nothing to do with being on time. Most people with cell phones have instant access to the correct time. In fact, we can program our cell phones to tell what time it is, what time we should be at an appointment, what time to wake up, and even what time we should go to bed. One could say that time controls us. It is the master of our lives. In all, it is a good thing. We can get more done because it pushes us to meet deadlines. It can also be our undoing as we try to be at a responsible meeting, but end up in an unfortunate accident. We also see time as a threat. We use the expression ‘the passage of time’.
We use it to describe our age. A friend was talking about her age and how fast all her time had passed. When I asked her about the last birthday that she celebrated, she exclaimed how terrible it made her feel. I then suggested she stop having birthdays. That way, she would have no time frame. Why not just exist? We human beings can’t do that. Why not? What did we do before the advent of clocks and calendars? We lived each day with the rising and setting of the sun and remembered significant natural events. I doubt if there were birthday celebrations.
Today, we live with the mantras of being or not being on time. I remember a magazine published by the Billy Graham Association called “The Hour of Decision.” The emphasis was to decide for Christ Today. “The Hour of Decision” was highlighted in a sermon he preached at one of his crusades when he urged people to accept Christ before they left the stadium, lest they get killed on the way to their homes without Christ. The matter of timing is essential. Being too late can be costly. The problem is always knowing what to do before that time comes. Sometimes, people tell us about their fortune by just being there at the right time. The thief on the cross who was crucified next to Jesus was told, “Today you will be with me in paradise”, because he acted on an opportunity to recognize the truth of Jesus. Sometimes, being at the
Pastor Says continued on page 14
Pet Parade
Chakapuli
Chakapuli is Rancho Coastal Humane Society’s pet of the week. She’s a 2-year-old, 8-pound, female, Domestic Short Hair cat with a Brown Tabby coat.
Chakapuli was a stray before being taken to a crowded shelter. When nobody claimed her, she was transferred to Rancho Coastal Humane Society through Friends of County Animal Shelters – FOCAS. She’s friendly and playful but also enjoys quiet time.
The $100 adoption fee for Chakapuli includes medical exams, spay, up to date vaccinations, and registered microchip.
Visit Rancho Coastal Humane Society in Encinitas or log on to www.SDpets.org. Open 11 to 4 Wednesday through Monday. Special summer hours, open until 6:00 Thursdays.
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
oceanside 572 Airport Road
san diego 5480 Gaines Street
Pet of the Week
frankie
Meet Frankie, a cautious but sweet gal who’s learning to navigate this great big world! She can be a bit shy with new faces and places, but once she feels safe, she enjoys gentle petting, tasty treats and zooming around the yard. Frankie is looking for a quiet, low-traffic home without young kids (under 10) or other dogs, where her humans will respect her space and help her build confidence at her own pace. While she may not be up for crowded markets or meeting strangers, she’s ready to form a deep, trusting bond in the comfort of her new home. If you have a soft spot for a sweet but sensitive pup, Frankie might just be the one for you! Frankie (938223) is available for adoption at San Diego Humane Society’s Escondido Campus at 3500 Burnet Drive. 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=938223
Pastor Huls
The Computer factory
845 W. san marcos blvd. 760-744-4315 thecomputerfactory.net
Son-in-law Pat sat across the table from us at the Olive Garden in Carlsbad last Friday. We were celebrating Pat’s youngest son Joe’s twenty-first birthday. I told Pat I was working on part III of my column “The evolution of today’s IW”.
I had ended part II with – “next week we’ll speculate on the impending extinction of we DIs (45 and older) in this century and the future fate of mankind”. Pat shrugged his shoulders, “who cares what happens, I’ll be dead and so will you”! Pat was right. The future fate of mankind is only a topic for idle speculation and not in the top ten concerns for most folks. I made a note to thank Pat for his sage advice and got to work on re-writing this column.
The combination of AI (artificial intelligence) with man’s knowledge
“Oh, no! I found a flea. MY DOG HAS FLEAS!”
Finding one flea doesn’t mean your pet “has fleas.”
Fleas are little hitchhikers, hopping from one place to another looking for food. A flea can jump 100 times its own height. You take your dog for a walk. A flea senses a possible meal, so it jumps. You get home then your dog feels that itch of a flea looking for its new hotel.
Fleas are like little vampires. They live on blood.
The Evolution of Today’s iW ~ Part 3 of 4
base on the WWW ( World Wide Web) in 2001 gave us the IW (intelligent web). The IW is still in its infancy, but it is responsible for significant differences between DIs who grew up prior to the IW, and the DNs who were extensively exposed to the IW as they grew up. It is not possible to overstate the significant of the IW. For the first time ever, mankind has instant access to his entire knowledge base linked to AI (artificial intelligence). The AI stoked IW is the present superstar of science and technology. Nations around the globe are spending billions on support infrastructure for the IW.
Today we stand in awe at the power and capabilities of the IW just as our ancestors marveled at the first gasoline powered “wagons” or their town’s first electric street light. Folks living at the time couldn’t begin to imagine how these inventions would evolve to impact the future. The same is true of the IW today. In two decades today’s IW hardware will be in the dustbin and replacement technology will be unrecognizable. What will future IW iterations look like? Will it be internal? Will it incorporate human assets like creativity, emotions and adaptability? Will the IWs intelligence and massive data bases replace our meager internal cognitive resources? Will we become zombies kept alive by our robots or will we incorporate the IWs positive aspects and move on to a higher consciousness? Who knows? Nobody knows!
Pat was right, speculating on mankind’s future beyond our lifetime is a “fool’s errand”.
We DIs will gradually yield to our DN progeny and quietly shuffle off. We DIs are the last generations to grow up outside the influence of the IW. To us the IW as an incredible, ever expanding external source of information, knowledge and communication. The younger DNs spent their formative years in the presence of the IW. Their entertainment, education and interpersonal relationships were influenced by the Omni-present IW. They incorporate the IW as a component of their internal cognition. IQ tests on DNs show declines in their internal cognitive abilities, most likely because of their reliance on the IW and AI as an alternative to using internal resources to “figure things out”. DN’s social skills also suffer from diminished person to person “face time” resulting from their increased Internet usage. These “lost skills” are examples of the “use it or lose it” effect stemming from reliance on Internet resources instead of internal cognitive resources.
We DIs established our internal memory and cognitive resources prior to the arrival of the IW. To us the IWs combination of information and AI is an amazing and wonderful external resource. But is there a darker side to it? There is evidence that the IW has negatively affected the internal cognitive development of DNs. Ever evolving AI technology and constant expansion of Internet information base is likely to accelerate DNs cognitive decline. We DIs can’t help being concerned about the IWs negative impact on future generations. Early signs like dropping IQ scores and reduced social skills among DNs are alarming to us. Are these only the first signs of the destructive impact that the IW is visiting upon the future of mankind. What other horrors does the IW hold for future DNs? Should DIs do something to rescue the DNs? Tune in next week to find out.
Experts say to make your pet taste yucky to fleas. How? Add a bit of garlic to every one of our dog’s meals. Some vets say that sulfur once a week will do the trick. And others swear by Black Walnut Hull to repel fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. This doesn’t work overnight. It takes 4 to 6 weeks to be effective.
How do you know if it’s fleas? Separate the hair on your pet’s back or flanks until you see the skin. You might see fleas, but it’s more likely that you’ll see “flea dirt” (Poo). It looks like small, black pebbles. If you’re not sure, take a wet paper towel and wipe the area. If it turns red like blood, you have a flea problem.
You’ve got fleas. Now what?
Tuesday-Friday 9-5 • Saturday 9-1
Full sized (6 x 3 foot) bank safe, wet suits, sleeping bags, back packs, seat cushions, luggage, suit bags, spray paint kits, periodicals, stuffed animals, hard cover/paperback books, china, dishware, glassware, National Geographics, speakers, commemorative platters, wine kits, SLR film cameras and lenses, wifi/cordless phones, umbrellas, onyx animals, music and game CDs/DVDs, insulated drinking cups, flower vases, LED lanterns, desk top files, art glass, camp chairs, cots, tote bags, fridge magnets, wooden shoes, lanterns, and lots more. Come and get yours before somebody else snatches it!
Repairs, Upgrades & Components • Since 1995 845 W. SAN MARCOS BLVD • 760-744-4315 www.thecomputerfactory.net 1000 square feet of “granny’s
You can take your pet to a groomer or do it yourself.
When the dog gets wet, fleas run for a dry spot. The head. Don’t douse your pet’s head with water. Instead, pour a thick layer of
shampoo around the head and neck area before wetting the dog. Get as close to the top of the head and under the chin as you can get.
Pour small amounts of water with your hand onto the soapy area. Build up a thick, soapy barrier that will kill the fleas trying to escape. Then wet down and lather up the rest of the dog. Leave the shampoo on for at least 15 minutes while you massage the soap. Then rinse the dog thoroughly and dry it off.
What about the fleas in your house? You can find all kinds of organic treatments on the internet. My advice? Hire somebody to treat your house for fleas. By now you’ll be itchin’ to get back to normal.
Will of James V. Valenti
I, James V. Valenti, a resident of the State of California, San Diego, declare that this is my will. My Social Security number is 076-302321.
I revoke all wills and codicils that I have previously made.
I am married to Barbara E. Valenti
I have the following children now living: Ashleigh C. L. Valenti, Gregory V. Valenti, Liza M. Valenti, Matthew C. Valenti and Scott J. Valenti.
I have the following grandchildren now living: Eric J. Valenti.
If I do not leave property in this will to one or more of my children or my grandchild named above, my failure to do is intentional.
All beneficiaries must survive me for 45 days to receive property under this will. As used in this will, the phrase “survive me” means to be alive or in existence as an organization on the 45th day after my death.
All personal and real property that I leave in this will shall pass subject to any encumbrances or liens placed on the property as security for the repayment of a loan or debt.
If I leave property to be shared by two or more beneficiaries, it shall be shared equally be them unless this will provides otherwise.
If I leave property to be shared by two or more beneficiaries, and one of them does not survive me, I leave his or her share to the others equally unless this will provides otherwise for that share.
“Entire estate” means all property I own at my death that is subject to this will.
I leave my entire estate to my wife Barbara E. Valenti. If my wife Barbara E. Valenti does not survive me, I leave my entire estate to Scott J. Valenti, Matthew C. Valenti, Ashleigh C. L. Valenti, Carver L. Pugh, Mark Nichols, Carlee D. Pugh, Gregory V. Valenti, Eric J.Valenti, Grace Episcopal Church – San Marcos, CA, Kathleen E. Hutson, Patricia L. Hornbach, Teresa A. Hutson, Martha E. Nichols and Donna Lee Wegemer in the following shares: Scott J. Valenti shall receive a 1/8 share, Matthew C. Valenti shall receive a 7/32 share. Ashleigh C. L. Valenti shall receive a 1/16 share. Carver L. Pugh shall receive a 1/8 share. Mark Nichols shall receive a 1/32 share. Carlee D. Pugh shall receive a 3/32 share. Gregory V. Valenti shall receive a 1/32 share Eric J. Valenti shall receive a 3/32 share. Grace Episcopal Church – San Marcos, CA., shall receive a 1/32 share. Kathleen E. Hutson shall receive a 1/32 share. Patricia L. Hornbach shall receive a 1/32 share. Teresa A. Hutson shall receive a 1/32 share. Martha E. Nichols shall receive 1/32 share. Donna Lee Wegemer shall receive a 1/16 share.
Beneficiaries and Trustees
All property left in this will to Carlee D. Pugh
first,
LEGALS
shall be held in a separate trust for Carlee D. Pugh until he or she reaches age 25. The trustee of the Carlee D. Pugh trust shall be Carver L. Pugh. If Carver L. Pugh is unwilling or unable to serve, the trustee shall be Matthew C. Valenti.
Administration of an Individual Child’s Trust
The trustee of an individual child’s trust shall manage and distribute the assets in the trust in the following manner.
Until the trust beneficiary reaches the age specified for final distribution of the principal, the trustee may distribute some or all of the principal or net income of the trust as the trustee deems necessary for the child’s health, support, maintenance and education. Education includes, but is not limited to, college, graduate, postgraduate and vocational studies and reasonable living expenses.
In deciding whether or not to make a distribution to a beneficiary the trustee may take into account the beneficiary’s other income resources and sources of support.
Any trust income that is not distributed by the trustee shall be accumulated and added to the principal.
An individual child’s trust shall also be governed the General Trust Administration.
Provisions in this will
Termination of an individual child’s trust
An individual child’s trust shall terminate as soon as one of the following events occur:
a. The beneficiary reaches the age stated above in which case the trustee shall distribute the remaining principal and accumulated net income of the trust to the beneficiary.
b. The beneficiary dies, in which case the principal and accumulated net income of the trust shall pass under the beneficiary’s will, or if there is no will, to his or her heirs, or
c. The trust principal is exhausted through distributions allowed under thee provisions.
General Administration Provisions
All trusts established in this will shall be managed subject to the following provisions:
a. Bond: No bond shall be required of any trustee.
b. Court Supervision. It is my intent that any trust established in this will be administered independently of court supervision to the maximum extent possible under the laws of the state having jurisdiction over the trust.
c. The interest of any beneficiary of all trusts established by this will shall not be transferable by voluntary or involuntary assignment or by operation of law and shall be free from the claims of creditors and from attachment, execution, bankruptcy, or other legal process to the fullest extent permitted by law.
i discovered
america,
Then i discovered The Paper
Ever since I can remember I’ve had the burning desire to discover new places, new adventures. Because of this, I set out to discover a new country . . . and I was successful. I even ventured inland a great many miles where I discovered a place I called Minnesota. “This,” I thought, “would be a great place for Scandinavians.” So I headed back to Norway to recruit settlers. While I was gone, some clown named Columbus claimed he discovered America. Life ain’t fair. Except life also give us The Paper. I read it whenever and wherever I go exploring and only buy from those who advertise in The Paper. It’s a Viking thing. Your friend, Eric the Red
Powers of the Trustee
In addition to the other powers granted a trustee in this will, a trustee shall have the power to:
1. Invest and reinvest trust funds in every kind of property and every kind of investment, provided that the trustee acts with the care, skill, prudence and diligence under the prevailing circumstances that a prudent person acting in a similar capacity and familiar with such matters would use.
2. Receive additional property from any source and acquire or hold properties jointly or in undivided interests or partnership or joint venture with other people or entities.
3. Enter, continue or participate in the operation of any business, and incorporate liquidate, reorganize or otherwise change the form or terminate the operation of the business and contribute capital or lend money to the business.
4. Exercise all the rights, powers and privileges of an owner of any securities held in the trust.
5. Borrow funds, guarantee or indemnify in the name of the trust and secure any obligations, mortgage pledge or other security interest, and renew extend or modify any such obligations.
6. Lease trust property for terms within or beyond the term of the trust.
7. Prosecute, defend contest or otherwise litigate legal actions or other proceedings for the protection or benefit of the trust; pay, compromise, release, adjust or submit to arbitration any debt, claim or controversy and insure the trust against any liability with respect to other people.
8. Pay himself or herself reasonable compensation out of trust assets for ordinary and extraordinary services and for all services in connection with the complete or partial termination of this trust.
9. Employ and discharge professionals to aid or assist in managing the trust and compensate them from the trust assets.
10. Make distributions to the beneficiaries directly or to other people or organizations on behalf of the beneficiaries.
Severability
The invalidity of any trust provision of this will shall not affect the validity of the remaining trust provisions.
Forgiveness of Debts
I wish to forgive all debts specified below plus accrued interest as of the date of my death:
Ashleigh C. Valenti
January 1, 2015
$6000
Gregory V. Valenti
January 1, 1982
$2200
Executors
I name Matthew C. Valenti and Carver L. Pugh to serve together as my joint executors. If Matthew C. Valenti or Carver L. Pugh are unwilling or unable to serve as executor, the other executor shall continue to serve.
If Matthew C. Valenti and Carver L. Pugh are both unwilling or unable to serve as executor, I name Martha E. Nichols to serve as executor.
No executor shall be required to post bond.
Executor Powers
I direct my executor to take all actions legally permissible to have the probate of my will done as simply and as free of court supervision as possible under the laws of the state having jurisdiction over this will, including filing petition in the appropriate court for the independent administration of my estate.
I grant to my executor the following powers to be exercised as he or she deems to be in the
best interest of my estate:
1. To retain property without liability for loss or depreciation.
2. To dispose of property by public or private sale, or exchange, or otherwise, and receive and administer the proceeds as a part of my estate.
3. To vote stock, to exercise any option or privilege to convert bonds, notes, stocks or other securities belonging to my estate into other bonds, notes, stocks or other securities, and to exercise all other rights and privilege of a person owning similar property.
4. To lease any real property in my estate.
5. To abandon, adjust, arbitrate, compromise, sue on or defend and otherwise deal with and settle claims in favor of or against my estate.
6. To continue or participate in any business which is a part of my estate and to incorporate, dissolve or otherwise change the form of organization of the business.
The powers, authority and discretion I grant to my executor are intended to be in addition to the powers, authority and discretion vested in him or her by operation of law by virtue of his or her office, and may be exercised as often as is deemed necessary or viable without application to or approved by any court.
Payment of Debts
Except for liens and encumbrances placed on property as security of the repayment of a loan or debt, I want all debts and expenses owed by my estate to be paid in the manner provided for by the laws of California.
Payment of Taxes
I want all estate and inheritance taxes assessed against property in my estate or against any beneficiaries to be paid out of all the property in my taxable estate, on a pro-rata basis.
No Contest Provision
If any beneficiary under this will contests this will or any of its provision, any share or interest in my estate given to the contesting beneficiary under this will is revoked and shall be disposed of as if that contesting beneficiary had not survived me.
Severability
If any provision of this will is held invalid, that shall not affect other provisions that can be given effect without the invalid provision.
I, James V. Valenti, the testator, sign my name to this instrument this 28th day of October 2018 at San Marcos, CA. I declare that I sign and execute this instrument as my last will, that I sign it willingly, and that I execute it as my free and voluntary act. I declare that I am of the age of majority or otherwise legally empowered to make a will and under no constraint or undue influence.
S James “V. Valenti
Witness:
We, the witnesses, sign our names to this instrument, and declare that the testator willingly signed and executed this instrument as the testators’s last will.
In the presence of the testator, and in the presence of each other, we sign this will as witnesses to the testator’s signing.
To the best of our knowledge, the testator is of the age of majority or otherwise legally empowered to make a will, is mentally competent and under no constraint or undue influence.
We declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct, this 28th day of October 2018, San Marcos, CA.
Witness #1: Signed Matthew C. Valenti, residing at 929 Riverview Drive,, Morgantown, WV
Witness #2: Signed Martha E. Nichols, 57 Grozier Rd., #2, Cambridge, MA 02138
Problem Solved from page 5
cedure for filing a complaint with Uber and documented all communication. Your detailed account of the incident provides evidence of what happened.
Uber specifically forbids its drivers from “threatening and rude behavior.” It notes, “Aggressive, confrontational, or harassing behavior is not allowed. Don’t use language or make gestures that could be disrespectful, threatening, or inappropriate.” Your driver clearly violated that rule!
I’ve been trying to make sense of your story. Why would a driver ride around erratically? I think he probably was urgently looking for an open bathroom. At the same time, he didn’t want to lose his ride. That became increasingly difficult as your driver failed to find an open restroom. It looks like he was also having some trouble communicating with you.
None of that is an excuse for how this ended. Nor is there any reason Uber should have been so dismissive.
If Uber’s support team doesn’t help you, it’s time to escalate your case. Try emailing one of the Uber executive contacts whose names I publish on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org.
I contacted Uber on your behalf and urged them to review your case again. Uber issued a full refund for both rides and a $50 credit. They also assured you they are investigating the driver.
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/ © 2025 Christopher Elliott.
MIGHTY MOJO
Letters from page 4
the details and excitement on Facebook we saw you both on the TV 8 evening news!! Lyle you are really something about creating an organization to keep young kids off the street and away from gangs, drugs, etc after hearing about fatal driveby shootings in Escondido that killed two young children! And Friedrich Gomez looked so adorable!!!! And the way Friedrich spoke about hope and good news and that one person can make a difference in the world brought tears to our eyes! What a humongous publicity for The Paper!! And I’m glad the camera showed past examples of Friedrich’s cover stories, all of which dealt with current events and important topics and by promoting public awareness on these worthy topics!! Lyle what a team you and Friedrich make!! Sooo very proud of you both, and The Paper!
Jennifer Townsend, North San Diego County
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.
Wild bat in oceanside Tests Positive for rabies
By Fernanda Lopez Halvorson, County of San Diego Communications Office
County public health officials are looking for people who may have come in contact with a bat found on a sidewalk in Oceanside, on Westport Dr. between Point Sur and Marina Del Rey Ave. on July 18, 2025 that later tested positive for rabies.
If you or someone in your family or group were in the area and had direct contact with the bat, or you know of someone who may have touched the bat, you are urged to contact County Public Health Services as soon as possible at (619) 692-8499.
“Human rabies is usually fatal without prompt post-exposure vaccine and treatment,” said Dr. Sayone Thihalolipavan, County public health officer. “Rabies transmission can happen from a bat bite or if a bat’s saliva comes in contact with a cut or abrasion, or with mucous membranes, such as the eyes, nose or mouth. Although bats can
carry rabies, they are an important part of nature in San Diego County. It is important to respect the space of wildlife and do not touch them.”
So far in 2025, the County has detected seven rabid bats in the county. There are many species of bats found in San Diego County that
feed on insects such as mosquitos. Other bat species feed on nectar from plants and pollinate them in the process. You may see bats occasionally around sunset when they are most active.
It is important to appreciate wildlife from a safe distance and not touch them. If you do come in contact with a bat, wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical advice immediately.
Rabies is a preventable viral disease that is most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal.
Symptoms of rabies in people can take weeks to months to develop after being exposed to a rabid animal. Once symptoms develop, rabies is almost always fatal. However, prompt post-exposure treatment following exposure to the virus will prevent the disease.
Find more information about bats and rabies on the County’s website at sandiegocounty.gov.
LEGALS
NoTiCE of PETiTioN To admiNisTEr EsTaTE of sharon Yaeko Takabayashi
Case No. 25PE001929C
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO
1100 Union Street 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 Sharon Yaeko Takabayashi. A Petition for Probate has been filed by Mark Ishida in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, 1100 Union Street, San Diego, CA. 92101 Central Courthouse. The Petition for probate requests that Mark Ishida 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:
Date: 8/28/2025
Time: 1:30 pm Dept: 503
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: Suzan A. Colgan, Esq. Vanguard Legal Group, P.C. 16935 W. Bernardo Dr., #155 San Diego, CA 92127
888-995-6014
DOP: 7/24, 7/31, 8/7, 8/14/2025
NoTiCE of PETiTioN
admiNisTEr EsTaTE of alexander Jitsutaro Takabayashi
Case No. 25PE001957C
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO 1100 Union Street 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 Alexander Jitsutaro Takabayashi. A Petition for Probate has been filed by Mark Ishida in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, 1100 Union Street, San Diego, CA. 92101 Central Courthouse. The Petition for probate requests that Mark Ishida be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. 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:
Date: 8/20/2025
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
Pastor Says from page 10
right place at the right time is what it takes. Being too late could miss that opportunity. I have been too late several times, too late to give compliments, to say thank you, to avoid mistakes, to say no, or to say yes. I could have avoided so much if I hadn’t waited too long.
It reminds me of a friend who had a boat that I often fished from. The name of the boat was Carp a Deim, which means “Seize the Day.” It takes a lot to seize the day with its opportunities and responsibilities. Before we know it, some things will be too late. Jesus said that each day has enough troubles of its own. So, please pay attention to each day and its own needs, if you don’t mind. For sure, we cannot undo the past. Living with regrets is a waste of time. What time we have in the present is the now of our lives. We have heard the expression, “the time of our lives.” For the best time of one’s life, we make use of our time for the best in thought, deed, and faith.
Pastor Huls
SPOUSAL PROPERTY
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:
Suzan A. Colgan, Esq. Vanguard Legal Group, P.C. 16935 W. Bernardo Dr., #155 San Diego, CA 92127
888-995-6014
DOP: 7/24, 7/31, 8/7, 8/14/2025
suPErior CourT of CaLLiforNia, CouNTY of saN diEgo 1100 Union Street San Diego, CA. 92101
Probate Case Number 25PMOO1503C
PETITION
Petitioner Barbara Ellen Valenti requests determination of property passing to the surviving spouse or surviving registered domestic partner without administration (Fam Code :297.6 Prog. Code : 13500).
Petitioner is surviving spouse of the decedent.
Decedent died on 4/24/2025.
Decedent was a resident of the California County named above. Testate and a copy of the will and any codicil is affixed as attachment 4(C).
Decedent is not survived by a stepchild or foster child or children who would have been adopted by decedent but for a legal battle. (See Prob. Code :Sec 6454.)
Attachment 7b contains the legal description of the community or quasi-community property petitioner requests to be determined as having belonged under Probate Code sections 100 and 101 and Family Code section 297.5 to the surviving spouse or surviving registered domestic partner upon the deceased spouse’s or partner’s death, subject to any written agreement between the deceased spouse or partner and the suriviving spouse or partner providing for a non pro rata division of the aggregate value of the community property assets or quasi-community assets, or both.
The names, relationship, ages, and residence or mailing addresses so far as known to or reasonably ascertinable bh petitioner of (1) all lpersons named in decedent’s wlll and codicils, whether living or deceased, and (2) all persons checked in items 5 and 6 are listed below:
Name and relationship Age Residence or mailing address
Ashleigh C. L. Valenti age 32 5603 Madrid Road, Ap. 6, Isla Vista, CA. 23117
Gregory V. Valenti age 62 23286 S. Moonlight Road, Spring Hills KS 66083
Liza M. Valenti age 53 500 Redland Court, No. 204, Owikngs Mills, MD 21117
Matthew C. Valenti age 55 929 Riverview Drive, Morgantown, WV 26502
Scott J. Valenti age 65 23286 S. Moonlight Road, Spring Hills KS 66083
The names and addresses of all persons named as executors in the decedent’s will and codicils or appointed as personal representatives of the decedent’s estate are listed below: Matthew C. Valenti, 929 Riverview Drive, Mograntown, WV 26502
Carver L. Pugh, 4667 Beechwood Road, Ellicott City, MD 21043
A petition for probate or for administration of the decedent’s estate has not been filed and is not being filed with this petition..
Date: 5/24/202
/s/ Alan L. Geraci, Esq. SBN 108324
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct. /s/ Barbara Ellen Valenti Date: 5/24/2025
summer movies in the Park season begins
By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office
This year marks the eighteenth year for the Summer Movies in the Park Program. The schedule includes 128 movie events to be held between May and early November at dozens of parks across the county—neighborhoods stretching “from the beach to the desert.”
The events give people a great way to enjoy County and city parks at night, under the stars when they are normally closed—and a chance to see a great movie outdoors as well.
Attendees are encouraged to wear warm clothes and bring blankets as the weather can turn chilly when the sun goes down.
This year’s list of movies includes something for everyone, animated and live-action films ranging from comedies to musicals, action-adventure, superhero, science fiction, and romance.
There are old-time classics includ-
ing “The Wizard of Oz,” “The Sound of Music,” “Hocus Pocus,” “City Slickers” and “Goonies.” And there are dozens of recent releases, from “The Wild Robot,” to “Mufasa: The Lion King,” “Inside Out 2,” “Despicable Me 4,” “The Incredibles 2” and “Arthur the King.”
The list of movies can be seen on the Summer Movies in the Park website. Movies, dates and locations are subject to change.
The 2025 Summer Movies in the
Park series is presented by San Diego Foundation and sponsored by the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Live Well San Diego, the Child and Family Well-Being Department, First 5, the San Diego County Parks Society, Bill Howe, Empower Language Academy, the San Diego Mojo Volleyball team, Project Clean Water and Rose Tausaga Realty.
For more information about all County of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department, its parks and events, go to sdparks.org.
Chuckles from page 9
Why did the grape stop in the middle of the road?
It ran out of juice.
Why did the coffee shop close early?
Because it couldn’t espresso itself.
What do you call a fish without eyes? Fsh.
Why did the scarecrow get promoted?
Because he was outstanding in his field.
What did the zero say to the eight? Nice belt!
Why couldn’t the leopard play hide and seek?
Because he was always spotted.
Why was the stadium so cool? It was filled with fans.
How do cows stay up to date? They read the moos-paper.
“The state of Texas was never invaded while I was on duty at Fort Sam.
