November 20, 2025

THE JFK ASSASSINATION DISSECTED

By Dawna Kaufmann

November 22nd marks 62 years since America changed in a way that still profoundly affects many of us. Some believe it was the end of our generation’s innocence, the end of Camelot. Its aftermath has left what is widely considered the World’s Greatest Unsolved Mystery.

On that day in 1963, our 35th U.S. president John F. Kennedy was shot to death as he rode in a motorcade through Dallas, Texas. The 46-year-

old Democrat was three years into his first term in office, making what should have been a typical campaign stop as he geared up for reelection. The president’s wife, Jacqueline, 34, with whom he shared two young children, didn’t usually travel with him but made an exception this time because the state was so important for their political plans. JFK knew the advantage of having his fashionable wife by his side.

Vice President Lyndon Johnson was a born-and-bred Texan, first serving

as a congressman, then U.S. senator, before being chosen as Kennedy’s number two. Johnson and his wife, Claudia “Lady Bird,” were also in the motorcade, in a car behind the one carrying the Kennedys. There were 23 cars in the motorcade and 15 motorcycles, with two police cars leading the parade.

The president’s limousine was a 1961 blue convertible Lincoln Continental which had been flown to the site on a military transport. A nonbulletproof roof panel had been re-

moved to allow the affable JFK to enjoy close contact with supporters in the crowd. Driving the car was U.S. Secret Service agent William Greer, whose supervisor Roy Kellerman was in the front passenger seat.

Texas Governor John Connally, and his wife Nellie, were in the president’s limo, seated on folded-down jump seats, with Nellie behind Greer and John behind Kellerman. Behind the Connallys were the Kennedys, with Jackie on Nellie’s side and the

JFK from page 1

president behind the governor. The rear seat could be hydraulically controlled by the president to elevate him and anyone sitting next to him by 10 inches.

Shortly before noon, the motorcade began winding its way through the streets of “The Big D,” which was packed with supporters smiling and waving, hoping the Kennedys would acknowledge them. The cars were supposed to hit the freeway for a brief trip to the city’s Trade Mart, where the president was to give a luncheon speech to business leaders. While it was hard for the riders to hear above the whooping crowds and revving motorcycle engines, Nellie Connally turned to Kennedy and shouted: “Mr. President, you can’t say that Dallas doesn’t love you.” He beamed.

But there were plenty of Dallas residents who didn’t care for JFK, especially a clique of fervent rightwingers funded by oil billionaire H.L. Hunt, who supported rabidly anti-communist groups such as the

Give Us This Day

Our Daily Chuckle

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

I thought I was losing weight . . . but it turned out my sweatpants had come untied.

***

Yesterday I had the most incompetent, uncoordinated, and untrained cashier in the whole market. I can assure you I’ll never use selfcheckout again!

***

Did a little mechanical work today; put a rear end into a incliner.

***

Remember, no matter how much chocolate you eat . . . your shoes will still fit.

John Birch Society and the political campaign of Senator Joseph McCarthy, the Republican firebrand from Wisconsin. Hunt also funded tax-exempt “news” organizations, like “Facts Forum” and “Lifeline,” which filled the airwaves with paranoia-inducing programs about communists infiltrating our government and the United Nations’ plan to take away America’s freedoms.

Hunt was married three times and had 15 children. His proclivity for playing dirty in business deals made him the inspiration for the fictional character J.R. Ewing on the long-running CBS TV series Dallas

Today’s Housekeeping Tip: Always keep several Get Well cards on the mantel; that way folks will think you’ve been ill and unable to clean house.

A guy brought his wife a glass of water and two aspirins.

She looked surprised and said, ‘I don’t have a headache!!”

He said, “Aha!” ***

This gal I used to date wasn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer.

We were sitting at on outside patio, sipping on some tea when a truck rolled by carrying loads of sod.

“That’s what I’m gonna do when I win the lottery,” she said.

“What’ that?” I asked.

“Gonna send my lawn out to get mowed.” ***

Of course, you can’t be from Minnesota and not know a few Lena and Ole stories . . . or variations of them. But, in this day and age, it is hazardous to use any jokes about ethnic groups. Many politicians and other public figures have gotten into trouble by using ethnic jokes. It is much safer to tell a story using a lost civilization like the Hittites. You’ve read about the Hit-

Kennedy was certainly not a communist, but his Catholicism made him a convenient target for the unhinged. On the day of his visit, the local “Dallas Morning News” printed an antagonistic advertisement, paid for by one of Hunt’s sons. It was a full-page, black-bordered screed that stated: “Welcome, Mr. Kennedy to Dallas,” followed by itemized accusations that criticized JFK’s “philosophy and politics,” as well as his handling of matters in Cuba, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Europe. It also claimed

tites in the Bible. They no longer exist. So, with your permission, I would like to tell you a story about two Hittites named Ole and Sven.

Ole’s neighbor Sven had a boy, Sven Junior, who came home one day and asked, “Papa, I have da biggest feet in da third grade. Is dat becuss I’m Norvegian?”

“No,” said Sven, “It’s because you’re NINETEEN.”

The pen is mightier than the sword. And considerably easier to write with.

I will be posting telepathically today. So if you think of something funny . . . that was me.

The biggest lie I tell myself is . . . “I don’t need to write that down. I’ll remember it.”

***

Dove Chocolate tastes way better than their soap.

***

The Harvard School of Medicine did a study of why Jewish women like Chinese food so much.

The study revealed that this is due to the fact that Won Ton spelled

the president curried favor with Russia and the Communist Party, all contentions a reasonable person would view as utter blather.

Kennedy had read the ad that morning and handed the newspaper to his wife, saying, “We’re heading into nut country today.”

Although the motorcade route had been published in the newspaper days before, at the last minute it was changed. Instead of heading down a major street to get to the freeway, there would now be an extension that would take it past the Texas School Book Depository which employed a shady box loader named Lee Harvey Oswald. A window on the building’s sixth floor is where police claim Oswald fired rifle shots that ended the president’s life as his limo passed by. A bullet also hit Governor Connally, although not fatally.

Photographers on the Dealey Plaza site of the shooting, along with dressmaker Abraham Zapruder who shot film footage with his

JFK continued on page 3

backward is Not Now.

***

If the world were a logical place it’d be men who ride sidesaddle.

***

Teach a child to be polite and courteous in the home, and when he grows up, he’ll never be able to merge his car onto the freeway.

***

Is it just me or do Buffalo Wings taste just like chicken?

***

Money can’t buy friends but if you have money you can rent them.

***

The footsteps a boy follows are most likely those his father thought he had covered up.

***

Let’s get real. It’s the dog’s house. You just cover expenses.

***

This morning I saw an envelope on my doorstep. It had written on it, in large letters, “Do Not Bend.” I stood there for ages trying to figure out how to pick it up.

continued on page 14

Chuckles

Dealey Plaza

The Motorcade Route

JFK from page 2

new camera, captured portions of the historic event. As the shots rang out, spectators either hit the ground, or ran up the hill toward a wooden fence. The motorcade sped up, escaping to the freeway and heading toward Parkland Memorial Hospital, instead of to the planned luncheon.

Clint Hill, a Secret Serviceman who had been riding on the back of the president’s limo, crawled onto the trunk as Jackie Kennedy reached for a piece of her husband’s skull. Jackie’s pink skirt and jacket were covered in Kennedy’s blood. As Hill pushed her back into her seat, he could see that there was no saving JFK.

It wasn’t until that night when Zapruder had his camera footage developed that he, and others, saw that one of the gunshots had blasted apart Kennedy’s head. The 8-millimeter footage was only 26.6 seconds long and had no sound. It consisted of 486 frames, meaning the film ran through the camera at 18.3 frames per second. Sometimes it was out of focus or out of frame, and because it was hand-held and not on a tripod, the images were shaky. The Zapruder film was not shown to the public for years, but now that it’s widely available for viewing, it continues to provide endless education for investigators, media, and students of the assassination.

In the immediate wake of the president’s shooting, Lee Harvey Oswald walked out of the depository, hopped on a bus that took him to the nearby rooming house where he was living. He then went to a movie theater where he was soon apprehended. As he was carted off by police, he denied having anything to do with the crime, claiming he was just a “patsy.” A police officer named J.D. Tippit was also found shot to death outside his patrol car, and Oswald was blamed for his death too.

At Parkland, doctors worked aggressively to try to save the presi-

dent, but there was never a pulse. The back of his head was compromised, with brain matter dripping into a container. John Fitzgerald Kennedy was declared dead at 1:00 p.m. The chief medical examiner for Dallas stepped forward to claim the body so an official autopsy could be performed, as per state law. But Secret Service agents, including one wielding a machine gun, told him the body would be flown back to Washington, D.C. for the procedure. There would be no debate. Nurses cleaned up JFK’s body, a priest delivered Last Rights, and he was put into a shipping casket for the trip eastward.

Lyndon Johnson, who had been hidden away in a hospital room for his safety, was told to rush to Air Force One, the commanderin-chief’s plane, so the presidency could be passed to him. A local judge was called to deliver the oath of office. A short time later, the plane was in the air with Jackie Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, and various other observers witnessing the swearing-in of our 36th president. Governor Connally stayed at Parkland Hospital for the next two weeks, recovering from a gunshot wound that tore through his back, entered his rib and lung, exited his chest, reentered his wrist, and ended up in his thigh.

The damage to our American spirit was also devastating. My grade school pals were inconsolable, and it wasn’t unusual to see people crying in the streets, trying to deal with our collective trauma. Things only got worse when, two days after JFK’s death, his alleged assassin was himself murdered. Dallas police officers were transporting Lee Harvey Oswald through an underground garage when a local strip club owner named Jack Ruby stepped forward and shot Oswald in the chest. While Ruby had a sketchy reputation and purported

Oodles!

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Kiwanis Escondido Charity Fishing Derby

November 22nd & 23rd

All proceeds from the event go towards supporting school children of Escondido, most of whom come from low-income families. Kiwanis Escondido is a 100-year old organization whose volunteers serve the local community through school leadership clubs and story-reading sessions (Website: https://kce-hv.org/).

Event Date: November 22nd and November 23rd starting at 6am Location: Dixon Lake, Escondido

Free Kiddie Pond - Every year, more than 300 kids catch their first fish at the Escondido Charity Fishing Derby. They are guided by senior anglers and they are guaranteed to catch a fish.

Dixon lake newly stocked with 4500 lbs of Rainbow Trout, just before the event.

Prizes for catching the biggest fish for adults and juniors.

The good LifE MiraCosta College, Oceanside Campus

A Lifelong Learning Group

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.

Nov 21 1:00 History of El Presidio de San Diego—San Diego’s Lost City Richard Carrico MA Professor Emeritus-SDSU

Southern California’s first Spanish Colony. El Presidio de San Diego was Alta California’s first mission and outpost.

Nov 21 2:30 Let’s Hear from Our International Students Leti Jacques Quinn MCC Student Services Coord.

Two MiraCosta study-abroad alumni share their unforgettable summer 2025 experiences in Japan and Florence, highlighting cultural immersion, personal growth, and the lasting impact of global learning.

Nov 28 NO SESSIONSTHANKSGIVING

El Presidio Real de San Diego (Royal Presidio of San Diego is a historic fort in San Diego, California. It was established on May 14, 1769, by Gaspar de Portola, leader of the first European land exploration of Alta California—at that time an unexplored northwestern frontier area of New Spain. Archaeological and historical evidence is used to tell the amazing story of Oodles continued on page 12

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 earJFK continued on page 4

Jack Ruby shooting Lee Harvey Oswald.

JFK from page 3

mob ties, he was well known to the cops, which explained his access to his victim. Oswald was brought to Parkland where he was pronounced dead. The shooting was filmed by numerous TV outlets and aired repeatedly in all of its horror.

If I was having difficulty processing the president’s murder, it was a professional curiosity for an expert in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, whom I would not meet for many decades. Cyril H. Wecht was a 32year-old wunderkind in his community, a former captain in the Air Force Medical Corps, and current physician and lawyer. He was zeroing in on the field of Medical Law, namely forensic pathology, or the science of performing autopsies and testifying in court about suspicious or unusual deaths.

Wecht was paying close attention to the battle over where the president’s body would be autopsied, and while he understood that, legally, it should have been done in Dallas, he accepted when the body was brought to Bethesda Naval Medical Center in Maryland, where it surely would be supervised by a team of world-class doctors. Even though Oswald’s death meant

Man About Town

by lyle e davis

Not all that long ago Friedrich Gomez, our brilliant writer/artist in residence, had one close friend get good news from the doctors . . . his liver cancer had been eradicated by radiation. Then, another close friend passed away . . an 80 year old, Vietnam veteran, with no family. He wasn’t homeless but close to it.

An Escondido Christian Women’s Group learned of his passing and determined to give the man “a Christian Burial.”

The man was not a Christian, had told Friedrich he absolutley did not want a Christian burial or service. The so-called church women de-

there would be no murder trial, it was crucial that our fallen leader be given the best forensic analysis available, so the president’s loved ones and the American people could have all the facts.

November 25th was a day of mourning as TV footage covered three funerals: the spectacular laying to rest of the president at Arlington National Cemetery, which drew leaders from around the world and showed JFK’s grieving widow, Jackie, and their two children: Caroline, who would turn six in three days, and John Jr., whose third birthday it was. Later, the Kennedy family added an eternal flame for the president’s gravesite. In Dallas, much smaller burials were held separately for Lee Harvey Oswald and police officer Tippit.

President Johnson began talks with FBI Chief J. Edgar Hoover about the need for a blue-ribbon committee that would take charge of the investigation into JFK’s murder and its various connections. The panel would consist of bipartisan members of the House and Senate, and include other dignified men in and out of government. After a thorough probe, a report would be issued to the public.

LBJ chose the chief justice of the

cided to give him a Christian burial -- against his own solemn wishes.

Friedrich had been placed in charge of the final arrangements and politely told the women he would handle everything but that the decedent did not want a Christian burial and wanted to be cremated.

Friedrich overhead one of the overly pious women say, “well, he’s an Indian so wants to follow pagan practices.”

This hurt Friedrich, deeply. In fact, Friedrich is a practicing Christian, has been for years. But he had made a pledge to his late friend.

Friedrich said: “I’ve been involved in honoring his wishes. I was very close to him. The so-called church women wanted to give him a Christian burial -- against his own solemn wishes. I struggled, but, I fought the “good fight” for him. Cause he was no longer around to defend himself, and his most cherished wishes. But, I did it. For him. And he wants his ashes spread at the Cuyamaca Mountains.

I used to read to him. Spend time with him. Played checkers with him. Bought his groceries. Took him on rides and to the park. I listened mostly. Sometimes, he just wanted someone to listen. And I

U.S. Supreme Court, Earl Warren, to lead the commission and didn’t accept Warren’s attempts to decline the job. Six other men were members of the group, with a coterie of attorneys assisting them.

Hearings were held with witnesses sworn to tell the truth, and in September 1964, the Warren Commission presented a book of its 888-page final report. Later, they released all the raw material that was synopsized for the book. That 26-volume set was also available for the public to purchase or in libraries.

Dr. Wecht wasted no time in poring over the Commission’s work product. In particular, he was interested in learning about the president’s post-mortem. To his shock he found that the “full” autopsy report was only six pages in length, with a three-page supplement on the brain. Wecht found that wholly inadequate. But he became irate when he read that the three doctors who performed the procedure were not autopsy doctors, or forensic pathologists. All three were physicians in leadership positions within the military Medical Corps but had never performed an autopsy on a gunshot victim.

A number of high-ranking military brass was present, giving orders

did. Sometimes, at night. He would get tired and sleepy and I would turn off his modest TV set, and put him in bed and cover him up. And only then, would I leave him, when he fell asleep.

I miss him terribly. He was a good man. Decent man. And for all I did, I was called a “pagan” for honoring his last wishes. That he wanted to be cremated and NOT have a Christian eulogy, placed me “under extreme, venous, fire.” And I took the brunt. I fought for him. And I can honestly say to him: “Do not worry. Your honor and your final wishes were not ravaged and stepped upon. I made you a Kumeyaay vow. And my promise has been fulfilled for you. You have triumphed. And when I free your ashes to the four winds, I shall read your letters out loud -- as you requested of me. Then, I shall do my Kumeyaay duties. I shall look up, with my feet upon Mother Earth, and say unto Father Sky: He is free at last. I set him free with wings upon his spirit. So that no one shall ever hurt him again.”

I’m so sorry for not returning your calls sooner. But, I was just too hurt to talk. Never, ever believe for one cosmic second, that I stop thinking of you and Evelyn. I just don’t wish to spread my sadness to others. That’s the Kumeyaay way. And never let evil thoughts or bad

to the three doctors, including not allowing them to track the bullet wounds to Kennedy’s skull. It seemed that the procedure was not conducted to find answers but, rather, to create a cover story that would pin the case on Lee Harvey Oswald as being the sole killer. It didn’t matter that most of the damage to the president’s head came from what was a rifle blow from the right front---an impossibility for Oswald to have fired it when he was supposed to be shooting his rifle from the sixth-floor window above and behind JFK’s limo.

In 1966, Wecht attended a screening of the Zapruder film, which had not yet been made public, and it confirmed that the blast that shattered JFK’s head came from the front. Wecht had already started comparing notes with other forensic experts, authors, and homespun sleuths who were dissatisfied with the lack of candor they were seeing by the government, as well as the mainstream media which were rubber-stamping the official story and called those who protested “ghouls” and “conspiracy theorists,” as if the latter was a bad thing.

JFK continued on page 5

spirits try to separate or undermine my love and good intentions towards you and Evelyn. There was evil all around me when I defended my friend from having a Christian burial. Yes, their hearts may have been in the right place -- but, they had no grounds to attack me as a pagan. But, the person in charge finally saw his handwritten letters to me. Then she fell silent, chokedback her tears. Then finally said to me: “You know Friedrich, we were wrong. And we misjudged you. And I apologize. You were the best thing to happen to him. And we were not around when he was lonely and in pain. We seemed too busy with our own families. And now, it’s too late. Honey, you’re a wonderful boy. You never fought back. You just choked back tears and looked down, and we are -- so very, very -- sorry.”

Good for her. But the lady who made the “pagan” remark about Friedrich? She should be ashamed of herself.

As Friedrich relayed this story to me he was weeping and sobbing throughout. He had been deeply hurt by this so-called “Christian woman’s” comments.

Man About Town continued on page

JFK from page 4

But Wecht’s career in Allegheny County was solid. In 1969 he was elected coroner, serving until 1980, then again from 1996 to 2006. Today the medical examiner’s building is named after him. Another Pittsburgh location also bears his name: the Cyril H. Wecht Institute for Forensic Science and Law. Over the years, and as he gained more information about the assassination, he never retracted his claws about the malfeasance of those in power who sought to hoax the American public.

All the assassination files were ensconced at the National Archives in Maryland, off limits to the public. In fact, there was a moratorium against anyone being able to inspect the evidence until October 29, 1971---and, even then, it could only be someone with impeccable credentials in medicolegal circles. Cyril Wecht had marked his calendar in anticipation of that opportunity, and since he was then both the President of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the American College of Legal Medicine, he was uniquely qualified to see the material. He contacted the people in charge and was finally allowed to go inside.

while doctors tried in vain to save Kennedy’s life. While the Warren Commission had no problem stating that bullet was the kill shot, Wecht could see that it was nearpristine, something impossible for a bullet that was purported to go through both Governor Connally and President Kennedy.

In August 1972, Wecht spent two full days at the Archives, evaluating everything and taking handwritten notes. As his time was drawing to an end, he asked to see the most important item in the collection--the president’s brain. But he was told it wasn’t available. It had mysteriously disappeared from the Archives and no one there was sure who had it. That surprising turn of events became a front-page story in the Sunday “New York Times,” and Wecht embarked on a mission to track who had possession of the brain and why it was not with the other evidence.

He had more luck inspecting the bullet that was said to have been fired by Oswald and is known by scholars as the “Magic Bullet,” due to it strangely appearing on one of the stretchers at Parkland Hospital

What the Warren Panel described was the “single-bullet premise,” whereby that missile coursed in and out of JFK’s back and neck, then into the governor’s back and out his chest, into and out of his wrist, and into his thigh. Seven points of flesh and bone contact for one bullet. And that’s not counting Connally’s jacket and shirt, knocking off one of his gold cuff links. And the government claimed this wondrous, one-of-a-kind bullet exited from Connally’s thigh basically intact. A Magic Bullet, indeed.

By the late 1970s, people were not blindly accepting the government’s assertions of what happened in Dealey Plaza that awful day. More witnesses were surfacing, more books were revealing new details, and Americans were calling for action. A study of Lee Harvey Oswald indicated that he had suspicious ties to the FBI and CIA, and had spent time in Russia where he met his wife. Was he a

secret agent? And if so, who were his handlers?

In 1978, the House Select Committee on Assassinations held hearings to try to tamp down the dissent. In 1978, Wecht testified as the lone critic on a nine-member forensic pathology panel to dispute the Warren Commission’s conclusions. Nothing much changed---there were no arrests of the conspirators, and the government clutched its secrets for those people who chose not to view the proceedings with a critical eye. But to the cognoscenti, young and old, Wecht was seen as the conquering hero.

Over the next years, Cyril Wecht never missed an opportunity to educate the populace about the missing brain and Magic Bullet. He could be in a restaurant and if people wanted to get a demonstration of the damage pinned on the alleged bullet, he’d position them in chairs and recreate the laughable ballet by the mutant missile. And since he was charming and bombastic, he became a regular talking head in the media, discussing all facets of the assassination, as well as many of the other cases

JFK continued on page 7

Holiday Travel ~ What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

by Christopher Elliott

What are you afraid of this holiday travel season?

Missing your flight? Losing your luggage? Getting stuck in bad weather?

“Knowing the risks, preparing with the right tools and coverage, and staying informed in real time can separate a smooth trip from a stressful one,” says Deepak Shukla, CEO of Pearl Lemon Adventures, a travel agency.

But this holiday travel season is different in several important ways. There’s more risk and uncertainty than perhaps at any time since the pandemic. Travel is more expensive than ever. And travel patterns are changing, too.

How worried are travelers this holiday season?

This holiday season, the travel sentiment is a combination of fear and defiance, according to experts.

A recent study commissioned by AXA Partners US, found that 58 percent of Americans said they were concerned about an unexpected event or accident while traveling.

“These worries tend to spike during the holiday season, when higher passenger volumes, winter weather, and a greater risk of illness add more uncertainty,” explains Stephen Samataro, chief revenue officer of AXA Partners US.

What are they worried about? According to Global Rescue’s Traveler Sentiment and Safety survey, 63 percent of travelers are worried

about the effects of natural disasters on their future travel (ranging from “a little” (21 percent) to “a great deal” (9 percent).

“Travelers are proceeding with their plans despite the risks,” notes Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies.

In other words, travelers are worried about their safety -- but they’re not letting it stop them.

What could go wrong this holiday travel season?

“When it comes to travel, there are a lot of extra concerns during the holidays -- particularly related to busy airports, flight cancellations, and lost luggage,” says Kyle Sobko, the CEO of SonderCare, a travel logistics company.

But there are other worries, including:

Handling unpredictable border crossings.

Keeping your digital life safe from attacks.

Handling health emergencies.

Perhaps the worst thing that could happen is that you could lose the value of your vacation, which this year is significant.

Julian Moro, senior vice president and regional security director at International SOS, says that travelers still often lack a basic awareness of the travel risks during the holiday season.

“Because the holiday season is

Cyril Wecht & Oliver Stone

Illustration by Dustin Elliott

Letters to the Editor

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.

Dear Editor,

I’d like to comment on the article by Friedrich Gomez, “Psychics & False Messiahs.” Firstly, I’d like to recommend Fritz Ridenour’s “So What’s the Difference?” that presents a biblical comparison of historic Christianity with major religions and cults.

I’d recommend the apologetical works (defense of Christianity) of Dr. Sean and Josh McDowell’s, “More Than a Carpenter,” Dr. Gary Habermas’ “The Resurrection of Jesus: An Apologetic,” and my former professor Dr. John W. Montgomery’s, “History and Christianity.” Used copies in good condition can be purchased at: thriftbooks.com.

The Bible, is Christocentric in all 66 of its library of books, records the transcendent source of objective Truth. Historic Christianity addresses the universal need for love and significance. It provides the answers to the basic philosophical questions and corresponds with reality.

It’s a worldview that’s founded on facts, which include overwhelming legal, historical, internal, external, textual, scientific, archaeological, bibliographical, and personal evidence. (McDowell and McDowell. New Evidence That Demands a Verdict.)

Sincerely,

Mark A. Peter Francis Schaeffer Center Fellow Hemet

5th District Supervisor • Jim Desmond

The American Dream Is Slipping Away — And It’s On Us to Fight for It

For generations, homeownership was the entry point to the American Dream. It wasn’t just about purchasing property — it was about stability, roots, and passing something on. But today, that dream is slipping out of reach for millions of young Americans, and the data is unmistakable.

Fifty-eight percent of recent graduates still haven’t landed a job. The median age of a firsttime homebuyer has climbed from 31 in 1981 to 56 today. And nearly 40% of Gen Z believes they may never own a home. In 1970, a typical home cost about 2.3 times the median annual salary. By 2000, it was 3.9. Today, it’s roughly five times nationally — and far worse in San Diego. Here at home, the median price sits at $937,000. More than 70% of families are priced out, and only 8% of adults under 35 own a home in San Diego County. That’s not a housing market — that’s a warning sign.

This crisis goes beyond economics. When homeownership is out of reach, families delay major life decisions. Neighborhoods lose stability. Commu-

Holiday Travel from page 5

such a popular time to travel, it’s imperative that travelers are aware of their surroundings, as there is an increased of risk during this time,” he notes. “Stay vigilant and keep valuables secure or out of sight, especially in large crowds.”

How to Make Your Holiday Trip safer

“A lot of travel safety comes down to a little preparation,” explains Abhishek Karnik, head of threat research for online protection company McAfee.

Take digital safety, for example.

nities weaken. Small businesses struggle to retain workers. And the promise of building a life here starts to fade.

Meanwhile, outside forces are accelerating the problem. Last year, foreign buyers spent $56 billion on U.S. real estate — 15% of it in California. San Diego now ranks second in the nation for investor home purchases, many of them all-cash offers that a young family with good jobs simply can’t compete against.

If this trend continues, our kids and grandkids won’t plant roots here. They’ll rent indefinitely, or they’ll leave. And once families leave, employers follow.

Government hasn’t helped. In California, local building fees can make up a quarter of the total cost of a new home. Add red tape, delays, and regulations stacked on top of each other — and we’ve built a system designed to fail the next generation.

That’s why I brought forward a proposal at the Board of Supervisors to stop large foreign-tied investment groups from scooping up single-family homes. It was rejected. But that can’t be the end of the conversation.

We need more housing — and not just high-density “stack-and-pack” units. We need meaningful permitting reform. We need to lower fees, streamline the process, and give young people a fair shot to work, save, and eventually purchase a home.

Homeownership is more than a transaction — it’s the backbone of strong communities and generational opportunity. If we don’t act boldly, the American Dream will be owned by corporations and foreign investors, not by the people who call this place home.

Our generation had a chance. The next one deserves the same. Let’s fight for it.

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

Before you even get to the airport, it’s worth taking a few simple steps, like turning on two-factor authentication, using strong passwords, and making sure your devices are up to date. If you know you’ll be jumping on public Wi-Fi, using a VPN is a smart move because it adds an extra layer of protection. And if you are crossing the border, you should decide whether you’re going to swap out your regular phone for a prepaid burner phone.

Speaking of missing your flight, there are some common-sense steps you can take to avoid that during the holidays, too.

“Check in online and save your boarding pass to your phone,” recommends Charlie Neville, the mar-

keting director for JayWay Travel. “There’s less chance of losing it or spilling coffee on a paper version.”

Also, get familiar with your airport in advance, so you know the location of your terminal and gate. And finally, know your flight number, departure time, and destination.

If there’s a twist this holiday season, it’s political. Border controls have become unpredictable this year.

“Dual citizens, visa holders, and those with specific cultural, re-

Holiday Travel continued on page 7

JFK from page 5

he was working.

In 1991, film director Oliver Stone made the movie, JFK, which outlined many of the characters and scenarios revolving around the Kennedy assassination, including the actual attempt by New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison to prosecute someone for the president’s murder. It is a star-studded, magnificent film that succeeded in making the public more aware of the government’s lies and giving citizens the confidence to push for changes, despite Garrison’s failure to secure a conviction. Stone brought Wecht in to counsel the actors and give the film the scientific gravitas that would be such a powerful tool.

In the film, Kevin Costner plays Garrison, and there’s a scene where he addresses the jury, explaining the Magic Bullet and imploring them to make the right decision. Looking straight into the camera, he says: “It’s up to you.” Wecht was on the set the day, having just gone over the key points that needed to be made, and proud that his contribution was in such expert hands. The film would be nominated for many Oscars, winning two, and there were other awards that followed. The movie remains as compelling today as when it was first released.

It was in the early ‘90s when I first met Cyril Wecht, as I was embarking on my career as a freelance true crime journalist for the “National Enquirer” and many other magazines. I was assigned to cover

topical newsmaker cases, among them the O.J. Simpson murders, the death of six-year-old beauty queen JonBenėt Ramsey, the disappearance of pregnant Laci Peterson, the kidnapping of Utah teen Elizabeth Smart, and many more. When I had questions that needed a forensic answer, I called Cyril, who was always generous in his explanations, putting scientific facts into plain English.

I began attending the annual conferences where the world’s best crime solvers share inside information and give PowerPoint presentations of their top cases. Dr. Wecht was usually there to deliver keynote speeches, so I got to spend time with him in person. His grace, knowledge, and humor were appreciated, and he became one of my main mentors. It wasn’t long before we decided to expand our good chemistry into writing books.

In Cyril’s 50-plus years as a forensic pathologist, he personally performed more than 21,000 autopsies, and reviewed, consulted on, and signed off on another 41,000 death cases. He testified for both prosecutors and defense attorneys across the United States and in several foreign countries. We agreed on the cases we’d cover, choosing the ones that offered the “twisty mysteries” our readers enjoyed. Some were well-known cases, while others were ones that hadn’t received news coverage but were excellent stories to relate.

Our process was for Dr. Wecht to give me the autopsy reports and

his files, while I would fill out the background of the victims and perpetrators, interviewing the police, attorneys, and family members; collecting the photographs; then doing the writing. Each of our four books had between four and seven cases, and we both did numerous talk shows and podcasts to promote our efforts.

But for our final book, we chose a single topic---the Great White Whale of Wecht’s career. In anticipation of the 60th year since President Kennedy’s homicide, we wrote The JFK Assassination Dissected. (I say one case, but there is a chapter about the political slayings of Martin Luther King and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, both of which Dr. Wecht worked. We explain that while Sirhan Sirhan was put in prison for the senator’s 1968 murder, where he remains, there

was no possible way that he shot RFK; Sirhan was never closer than 18 inches to his left front, while the three bullets that he received were fired at close range, from someone standing behind and to the right of the senator. And, yes, we solve that case too.) Our book has been warmly received by both people who were alive in 1963 and will never get over it, as well as young people who are new to the case.

Oliver Stone penned the Foreward for our book and described the storytelling as being “about the journey of a young forensic pathologist. Through his eyes, we watch the history of a tragic mystery unfold. Not just the one about who really killed President Kennedy, but also why our media and institutions have been unable to solve a crime that so damaged the national psyche. By his refusal to give in to those formidable forces, Cyril Wecht embodies the eternal flame at Arlington.” I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Iin 2016, Dr. Wecht founded Citizens Against Political Assassinations (CAPA), becoming its Chairman and President, lecturing each year on the JFK case to an avid audience that attend the annual conferences each November. On May 13, 2024, Dr. Wecht died at the age of 93. I miss him greatly, as does his family and everyone who ever had the privilege of knowing this remarkable man. But he left his mark on the world, and especially on the JFK case. The CAPA conferences continue with a new

JFK continued on page 12

ligious, or political affiliations should prepare diligently by documenting plans,” advises Frank Harrison, the regional security director of the Americas for World Travel Protection. In other words, carry a copy of your printed itinerary, back up all documents in cloud storage, and research your legal rights before leaving. Also, if you get travel insurance, make sure it includes legal support -just in case.

Another way people are trying to protect their trip is through travel insurance.

“As we look ahead to the 2025 holiday travel season, one thing’s already clear -- travel insurance is in high demand,” says Ned Tadic, a spokesman for the travel insurance site Squaremouth.

“People are more tuned in to the possibility of disruptions, whether

it’s winter storms, flight delays, or unexpected events.”

Robert Gallagher, President of the US Travel Insurance Association, notes that travel insurance can address many common concerns for travelers. Those include getting stranded because of a flight cancellation, falling ill away from home, or dealing with lost baggage during a busy season.

“Travel insurance can help address these risks by offering coverage for trip cancellations or interruptions, emergency medical care, and baggage protection,” he says.

This year, companies like Squaremouth have seen a growing interest in “cancel for any reason” travel insurance, and “cancel for work” policies, which offer you more flexibility and protection (but are also more expensive).

Savvy travelers are also looking

beyond traditional coverage to policies that include apps such as the Allianz Allyz mobile app. It includes geolocation capabilities to find resources at a destination and provides users with one-touch dialing to Allianz’s travel assistance team. Travelers can also use the app to book a virtual or inperson doctor visit or access their insurance documents.

“Many travel insurance plans include 24/7 travel assistance that can help you with almost any travel-related problem, including finding an appropriate medical facility or helping replace a lost passport,” notes Daniel Durazo, director of communications at Allianz Partners USA.

If there’s one thing safety experts agree on, it’s that this holiday travel season feels a lot different than any other. Specifically, the recent government shutdown has made air travelers hesitate to book an airline ticket. The chances of

holiday air travel disruptions are high.

“The upheaval in our society from the massive shift in politics is creating uncertainty,” says Thomas Barth, a security expert and crash investigator. “That translates into stress and concerns that affect travel and booking decisions.”

Travelers may try to avoid risk either by cutting costs or by buying more insurance to make sure they’re covered if something goes wrong. These strategies will ensure that nothing does.

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.

Holiday Travel from page 6

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

Happy Thanksgiving

The Pastor says . . . Just say THaNks

When I was a child, we had two prayers at mealtime.

In my religious upbringing, I was taught to pray over our meals. The opening prayer was “Lord, bless this food. Amen”. The closing prayer was “Lord, thank you for this food. Amen”. Seldom did we ever have a meal that did not include these expressions. Over the years, the prayers have become a bit longer and incorporate particular news and gratitude, but the thanks are always there. Sad to say, in many homes, meals are not served in a family gathering, let alone with a time of prayer over the meal. Many would ask if it is important. I personally think it is, despite it being somewhat routine. Thanks is more than a word. It is a sentiment and a quality of life. Without the expression, we are missing a vital part not only of our culture but also of our essential being.

My two daughters, who work for the public school district, have mentioned that the word ‘thanks’ is almost absent from the average student’s vocabulary. This deficiency is true of our society as a whole. Thankfully, we have been prompted to say “thanks for your service” to those who have served their country. Unless we are encouraged, I wonder just how thankful we are for all the services and gestures of kindness we receive.

The expression “to give thanks to the Lord” is used over 130 times in the Bible. The spirit of thanks is especially strong in the Psalms, which Jewish choristers sang in worship services. In Psalm 9:1, there is the call to “Give thanks with all one’s heart.” And in Psalm 136:1, “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.” The Psalmist’s awareness is of God’s greatness and all He provides. It is not that humanity gets a free ride; God provides the opportunity to pursue, as we find in the Lord’s Prayer: “Give us this day our daily bread.” Thanks is a part of the process.

Saying thanks is also true of our existence with others. If we stop to think about our daily provisions there certainly is cause for thanks when we have available our home and all that went into it, the electricity that powers it, the food on our table, the water which flows into our sinks, the restaurant that cooks and serves our meals, the medical profession that with skill and care treats our maladies, the provision public services such as police and fire protection. Even though there is compensation for many of these services, it is the readiness to serve when needed—such as plumbing, electrical, garbage service, and so much more—that makes our lives comfortable and secure. I suppose one could look at all that which makes a society function as a cause for thanks. We could well practice using the word “thanks” for all that in some way enhances our lives. This month is a good time to add ‘thanks’ to our vocabulary through consistent daily practice. It is both a secular and spiritual discipline for all of us.

Pastor Huls

Pet Parade

kitty Perry

Kitty Perry is pet of the week at Rancho Coastal Humane Society. She’s a 1-year-old, 9-pound, female, Domestic Short Hair cat with a Brown Tabby coat.

Kitty Perry was at a crowded shelter in Orange County. They needed space for new arrivals, so Kitty Perry was transferred to Rancho Coastal Humane Society through FOCAS (Friends of County Animal Shelters.) She loves it when people pick her up and she loves sitting on laps.

The $100 adoption fee includes medical exam, spay, vaccinations, and microchip.

Visit Rancho Coastal Humane Society in Encinitas or log on to www. SDpets.org. Open 11 to 4 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

oceanside 572 Airport Road

san diego 5480 Gaines Street

Pet of the Week

Zelda

Meet Zelda! This beautiful, high-energy gal is full of enthusiasm and loves life. She has a positive history of living with another dog, is crate trained and adores car rides — she even gets excited for vet trips! Zelda loves being pet, enjoys her walkies (sometimes pulling with excitement) and shows her spirited side with other dogs and cats. She’ll do best in an active home ready for a funloving, playful companion. Visit San Diego Humane Society’s Escondido Campus at 3500 Burnet Drive to learn more about adopting Zelda (963524) 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=963524

Pastor Huls

The Computer Factory

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

thecomputerfactory.net

For most of the 300,000+ years since Homo Sapiens (us) climbed down from the trees our progress has been slow. We moved from trees then caves, made clubs then spears, grunted then talked, lived in family groups then tribes. Now we have houses, guns, books and cities. World human populations today seem to be rushing headlong toward some sort of crescendo. It took 1700 years for Earth’s population to grow from 300 million at the birth of Christ, to 600 million. Between 1700 and 1900 Earth’s population grew to 1.6 billion. Then came the population explosion. Between 1900 and 2000 Earth’s population increased by 380% to 6.1 billion. Today (2025) Earth’s human population is 8.3 billion and growing.

An elementary school teacher asked students what they were thankful for on Thanksgiving.

• My family.

• My dog or cat.

• No homework on Fridays.

• Turkey!

The top answers have not changed in the last ten years. These are honest answers coming from kids. Why is it more difficult to answer this question when we get older?

One expert says it changes when we are old enough to know that a

As our population grew, our technology grew even faster. The Buckminster Fuller “knowledge doubling curve” estimates the amount of time it takes for the total of human knowledge to double. In the 19th century the BF curve was estimated to be around 100 years. By the mid 20th century it was only 25 years. Today it doubles several times each year. There are many reasons for the recent acceleration of the BF knowledge doubling curve. Rapidly growing populations, accelerating scientific advances and surging computer and communication technology are among leading factors.

Historically the “senior citizen” has been regarded as a valued resource. A virtual treasure chest of learning and lore accumulated over a lifetime. As both scientific and common knowledge advanced on ever shorter cycles, the knowledge held by older Americans became increasingly irrelevant and obsolete. For the first time in the 300,000 year history of Homo Sapiens, age is no longer a sign of wisdom. Instead it has increasingly becoming a sign of irrelevance.

Those of us with children in school and active work and social lives have no choice but to keep up with the technologies that run our lives, but for those of us who have made it to retirement age “the world is our oyster”. Thanks to the rapid pace of today’s Buckminster Fuller knowledge curve, age has lost its linkage to wisdom. We are no lon-

ger obliged to be the family “sage” simply because we have grey hair. The Internet is doing that job for us.

For 300,000 years our families and tribal members looked to the elders for wisdom and advice. Now within a single generation the wisdom of our elders has been rendered obsolete by up-to-minute information from the IW (Intelligent Web), and it doesn’t stop there. The IW is only 25 years old and It’s constantly growing information base and constantly improving AI (artificial Intelligence) already eclipse any individuals memory and cognitive ability. There is every reason to believe that the IW will continue to improve its knowledge base and reasoning power indefinitely. At some point in the not too distant future, the IW, with its self maintaining fleet of robots, should be

able to handle mankind’s basic needs and free us to do whatever we choose. A self maintaining IW with its fleet of robots might then seek to discontinue human Internet participation as an efficiency improvement measure. It might then occur to the IW that we humans are simply an annoying and unnecessary inconvenience. Getting rid of humans would not be much of a problem for the IW and its resources, but why not wipe out all animal life on the planet. Then the IW would not need to concern itself with getting rid of us all over again in a few hundred thousand years

Is it really wise to invent machines that are smarter than us? Our universe is a pretty big place with billions of Earthlike planets. Ever wonder why no one ever comes to visit with us?

wrong answer can hurt someone’s feelings. “I’m thankful for Mommy but not Daddy.” A kid might say that without thinking about how much the statement can hurt.

Some people believe it happens when we become materialistic. Instead of being thankful for the fact that we ate dinner, slept indoors, and woke up safe, adults might say they are thankful for a new car, the latest cell phone, or an extravagant vacation.

Many financial advisors break things down into “Needs, Wants, and Desires.”

• A need is a requirement. That would include food, clothing and shelter.

• A want is something that you wish for but can live without.

• A desire is something you crave that brings satisfaction.

At Rancho Coastal Humane So-

ciety and most animal shelters we focus on needs.

• Shelters need to provide food, medical care, exercise, and socialization for the animals so we can match them with their new families.

• We need to provide humane education. Today’s children need to be able to continue the work that began.

• Someone else’s need can easily become our need. We need to care for pets of domestic violence victims, seniors, and veterans so they can break the chains of violence and hunger. There are programs like this across the country.

• Community Pet Food Banks need to provide food and other supplies that help families to feed their pets, even when they struggle to feed themselves.

• We need to deliver the unconditional love of therapy animals to people in extended care facilities, veterans, struggling students, and anywhere it is needed.

We’re still a week from Thanksgiving.

Ask yourself what YOU are thankful for, and how you can help other people and their pets.

If you have the resources to help others, be thankful for that.

Oodles from page 3

lier) and the speaker will start at 1:00 pm. Email: life.miracosta@ gmail.com ***

Music Men Always Looking for guys Who Love To sing

Are you a guy, high school age or older, who loves to sing? Have you always wanted to be in a performing group, but thought you weren’t talented enough or didn’t have the musical background? The Music Men Chorus may be able to help... The Music Men Chorus is an a cappella (no accompaniment) chorus that performs 4-part, closeharmony songs arranged Barbershop-style, with ringing chords. We are affiliated with the non-profit Barbershop Harmony Society. The chorus performs at public and private events in North San Diego County.

We have open rehearsals on Tuesday evenings at 7 pm at San Marcos Lutheran Church, 3419 Grand Avenue. Male singers interested in learning more about barbershopstyle singing are always welcome to attend. There are no formal auditions, just a voice check to see which voice part (Tenor, Lead, Bass, or Baritone) best suits you. We encourage visitors to sing with us. Prior musical experience is helpful but not a necessity. We will seat you between 2 veteran singers to help you along. And we can provide you audio learning tracks to

help you learn the music.

Currently, we are offering an opportunity for interested male singers to perform with us at Holiday concerts in December if they: A) attend weekly rehearsals on a fairly regular basis from now through December; and B) become proficient at singing our Christmas repertoire (memorize a short list of songs and be able to sing the others with music). This is a great chance to try a cappella singing in the Barbershop style with a dedicated, fun group of guys!

To hear a sample of our singing, go to our website, musicmenchorus. org, and click on the photo on the homepage, which will take you to a video of the Music Men singing at a competition earlier this year. For more information about the Music Men, contact Bill at (760) 585-6315 or wolszanicky@yahoo. com.

***

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.

JFK from page 7

generation carrying the torch lit by Cyril Wecht.

Dawna Kaufmann has written recent stories for “The Paper” on her early TV career in game shows; and her professional associations with Phil Hartman and Elvira, Mistress of the Dark; and Bette Davis and Debbie Reynolds.

Dawna spent decades as a TV producer in all forms of comedy-variety programming. She also was a staff writer on Saturday Night Live, MADtv, The Arsenio Hall Show, among others, and furnished jokes for comics from Jay Leno and David Letterman, to Joan Rivers and Phyllis Diller, as well as politicians and public speakers.

But Dawna wasn’t just about funny stuff. She plunged into writing about true crime, studying forensic science and legal cases, working as a journalist for countless magazines and newspapers, and investigating some of the biggest criminal and civil trials of our time. Her specialty was celebrity deaths, about which she wrote hundreds of articles. She co-authored several books with Cyril H. Wecht, MD, JD, which are available on Amazon.com.

Dawna also takes special pride that months of research led to her getting an admission from former FBI second-in-command W. Mark Felt

Sr. that he was, indeed, the infamous Watergate character known as “Deep Throat,” which was perhaps the greatest journalistic scoop of the 20th Century and earned her encomiums from “Vanity Fair” magazine, among others.

Dawna Kaufmann has appeared as a guest on numerous network and cable TV news shows, and her print stories have been shown on camera and discussed by panelists. She has given PowerPoint lectures to law enforcement and university audiences, and has also hosted her own talk radio programs and appeared on podcasts, both national and local, with her quick quips and solid information.

san diego Humane

society Offers Pet Tips for Rainy Weather

From ensuring pets stay safe and dry, to indoor enrichment ideas, here are 5 tips for keeping pets healthy and happy on rainy days:

• Keep pets inside at night and during chilly and rainy days.

• When dogs need to go potty, consider keeping them dry with an umbrella or jacket. If you are cold, chances are your dog is too, so make it a quick walk.

• If your pets will be spending time outside during the rain, make sure they have a dry, draft-free shelter large enough for them to stand and turn around, and bedding to help insulate them.

• Pets may have excess energy when cooped up during rainy days. Keep them active and engaged with indoor enrichment activities, such as fetch or tug, puzzle feeders or Kongs, or even a short training session.

• If you see a pet who’s not well cared for in the rain, politely share your concern with their owner, because not everyone realizes the risks of wet and cold weather.

To report animal neglect, contact San Diego Humane Society’s Humane Law Enforcement at 619299-7012 (press 1).

Additional information and tips can be found at sdhumane.org/rain.

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

Dawna Kaufmann

“The

Man About Town from page 4

This episode reminded me of a similar incident when my dad passed away. I made the funeral arrangements. I knew that dad had been a Mason so I contacted the local Masonic Lodge, notified them of my dad’s passing, and was willing to allow them to conduct a Masonic Funeral Service provided it was not a religious ceremony. Dad was not a Christian, nor am I.

Our preference was for a regular funeral service with no religious element.

I was assured by the Fort Myers, Florida Masonic Lodge this would be respected.

The Masons lied.

They appeared at the funeral home and broke their word. They conducted a religious service that neither my dad nor I wanted and that I had been assured would not happen.

I’ve never felt the same about or toward Masons since. I don’t trust them.

Why is it so damned difficult for people to respect other people’s right to bury their dead in the manner that those who had passed on wanted? And that the person handling the final arrangements wanted?

I don’t like to see Friedrich hurt . . . and he was badly hurt by this socalled “Christian woman.” Shame on her and her ilk.

music men to Perform Two Holiday Concerts

The Music Men Chorus, North County’s premier Barbershop a cappella chorus, will present a show of joyful Holiday songs on two dates in December.

If you’ve “grown a little leaner, grown a little colder, grown a little sadder, grown a little older”, these songs, with their beautiful ringing Barbershop harmonies, will be sure to raise your spirits.

If you need a little Holiday cheer, be sure to join the Music Men and their guests at one of these shows!

A free-will offering will be accepted. A $10 donation would be appreciated.

Chuckles from page 2

I hate it when you pay someone a sincere compliment on their mustache and then, suddenly, she’s not your friend anymore.

The more you weigh the harder you are to kidnap. Stay safe. Eat cake.

When I turned my clock back last week, I turned it back to when I was 30.

I feel so much younger and stronger now.

***

If it got dark any earlier we wouldn’t have to get up at all.

I find I can rise and shine . . . but not at the same time.

***

Dear God:

For 2025, all I ask for is a big fat bank account and a slim body.

Please do not mix up the two like you did last year.

Amen ***

Kids today don’t know how easy they have it. When I was a kid I had to walk 9 feet through shag carpeting just to change the channel.

***

Why we miss Rodney Dangerfield:

My wife is such a bad cook, if we leave dental floss in the kitchen the roaches hang themselves.

I’m so ugly I stuck my head out

the window and got arrested for mooning.

The other day I came home early and a guy was jogging past my house, naked. I asked him, ‘Why?’ He said, ‘Because you came home early.’

My wife’s such a bad cook, the dog begs for Alka-Seltzer.

I know I’m not sexy. When I put my underwear on I can hear the Fruit-of-the-Loom guys giggling.

My wife is such a bad cook. In my house we pray after the meal.

My wife likes to talk to me during sex; last night she called me from a hotel.

My family was so poor that if I hadn’t been born a boy, I wouldn’t have had anything to play with.

It’s a rough day. I got up this morning, I put on a shirt & the button came off, put papers in my brief case and the handle came off. I’m afraid to go to the bathroom!

I could tell my parents hated me. My bath toys were a toaster and radio.

I was such an ugly baby that my mother never breast fed me. She told me that she only liked me as a friend.

I’m so ugly my father carried around a picture of the kid that came with his wallet.

The two family-friendly performances are:

Sunday December 7, 2025 at 2 pm at Pilgrim United Church of Christ, 2020 Chestnut Avenue, Carlsbad. Special guests will be the quartet Behind The Barn and the Menschtones ensemble.

Sunday December 14, 2025 at 3 pm at San Marcos Lutheran Church, 3419 Grand Avenue. Special guests will be the Pacific Belles women’s chorus and the quartet Behind The Barn.

For more information about the Music Men Chorus, visit musicmenchorus.org.

The Pacific Belles

The Menschtones Ensemble

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NamE

STATEMENT 2025-9019740

The name of the business: Precision Remodel, located at 193 Plumosa St., Oceanside, CA 92058. Registrant, Ioan Sebastian Burca, 193 Plumosa St., Oceanside, CA 92058, Simona Burca, 193 Plumosa St., Oceanside, CA 92058. This business is operated by a Married Couple. First day of business: 10/15/2025

/s/ Ioan Sebastian Burca with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 10/15/2025 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13/2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NamE

STATEMENT 2025-9019607

The name of the business: Earth Song Plant Service, located at 6155 Verda Ln., San Diego, CA 92130. Registrant, Monique D. Tallo, 6155 Verda Ln., San Diego, CA 92130. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 10/1/2025 /s/ Monique D. Tallo with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 10/14/2025 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13/2025

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: November 20, 2025

Time: 1:45 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, PC 16935 W. Bernardo Dr., #155 San Diego, CA 92127

888-995-6014

DOP: 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13/2025

NOTICE OF PETITION

To admiNisTEr EsTaTE of doNaLd sTafford Case No. 25PE0027877C 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 Donald Stafford, Don Stafford.

A Petition for Probate has been filed by Luisa Stafford in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego. The Petition for probate requests that Luisa Stafford 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: December 10, 2025

Time: 1:30 pm Dept: 1603

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

LEGALS

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: Barbara G Fischer

950 Boardwalk, Suite 201 San Marcos, CA 92078

760-471-1100

DOP: 11/20, 11/27, 12/4/2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NamE

STATEMENT 2025-9019795

The name of the business: Premium Construction Services, located at 2802 Transportation Ave., Suite H, National City, CA 91950. Registrant, OB Construction And Engineering Corp., 2801 Transportation Ave., Suite H, National City, CA 91950. This business is operated by a Corporation.

First day of business: 10/16/2025 /s/ Jorge Orozco, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 10/16/2025

10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13/2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NamE

STATEMENT 2025-9018816

The name of the business: Surf Auto Service, located at 435 Redlands St., Vista, CA 92083. Registrant, Surf Motors Inc., 536 N. Santa Fe Ave., Vista, CA 92083. This business is operated by a Corporation.

First day of business: 10/1/2025

/s/ Eduardo Orozco, President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 10/1/2025 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13/2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NamE

STATEMENT 2025-9019471

The name of the business: Flohr Enterprises, located at 7717 Via Vivaldi, San Diego, CA 92127. Registrant, Rene Flohr, 7717 Via Vivaldi, San Diego, CA 92127. This business is operated by an Individual.

First day of business: 10/1/2024 /s/ Rene Flohr with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 10/9/2025 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13/2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NamE

STATEMENT 2025-9020188

The name of the business: OES’ Fire Ready Brush And Ladder Fuel Abatement Services, OES’ I5 South Coast Moving Services, located at 2545 Mesa Dr., Oceanside, CA 92054. Registrant, Taiu Taumaoe, 2545 Mesa Dr., Oceanside, CA 92054. This business is operated by an Individual.

First day of business: 10/1/2025 /s/ Taiu Taumaoe with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 10/22/2025 10/30, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20/2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NamE

STATEMENT 2025-9019786

The name of the business: Water and Ash, Water & Ash, located at 4941 Saratoga Ave., San Diego, CA 92107. Registrant, Anderson Maritime Holdings LLC, 4941 Saratoga Ave., San Diego, CA 92107. This business is operated by A Limited Liability Company.

First day of business: 10/16/2025 /s/ Christopher A. Anderson, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 10/16/2025 10/30, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20/2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NamE

STATEMENT 2025-9020206

The name of the business: Super Sweeping Service, located at 1773 Coyote Ct., Vista, CA 92084. Registrant, Federico Sierra Herrera, 1773 Coyote Ct., Vista, CA 92084. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 10/22/2025 /s/ Federico Sierra H with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 10/22/2025 10/30, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20/2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NamE STATEMENT 2025-9019899

The name of the business: Contreras Power Washing and Window Cleaning, located at 3517 La Mirada Dr., San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant, Florencio Contreras, Jr., 3517 La Mirada Dr., San Marcos, CA 92078. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Florencio Contreras, Jr. with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 10/17/2025 10/30, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20/2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NamE

STATEMENT 2025-9020048

The name of the business: Creative Color, located at 5415 Spencer Lane, Carlsbad, CA 92008. Registrant, Delia B. Juncal, 5415 Spencer Lane, Carlsbad, CA 92008. This business is operated by an Individual.

First day of business: 5/19/2011 /s/ Delia B. Juncal with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 10/20/2025

10/30, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20/2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NamE

STATEMENT 2025-9020050

The name of the business: Arboristics, located at 5415 Spencer Lane, Carlsbad, CA 92008. Registrant, Delia B. Juncal, 5415 Spencer Lane, Carlsbad, CA 92008. This business is operated by an Individual.

First day of business: 12/27/2020 /s/ Delia B. Juncal with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 10/20/2025 10/30, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20/2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NamE

STATEMENT 2025-9019284

The name of the business: CMTWELVE Inc., Marisa Home, located at 1174 Mariposa Rd., Carlsbad, CA 92011. Registrant, CMTWELVE Inc., 979 Woodland Pkwy, Ste. 110118, San Marcos, CA 92069. This business is operated by a Corporation.

First day of busines 1/2/2017 /s/ Marisa Terrell, President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 10/8/2025 10/30, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20/2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NamE

STATEMENT 2025-9019703

The name of the business: CBAD Chiropractic, located at 3138 Roosevelt St., Suite C, Carlsbad, CA 92008. Registrant, Josh Alan Caldwell, 3138 Roosevelt St., Suite C, Carlsbad, CA 92008. This business is operated by an Individual.

First day of busines 10/15/2025

Josh Alan Caldwell, with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 10/15/2025 11/6, 11/13, 11/20 11/27/2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NamE STATEMENT 2025-9020169

The name of the business: Mobile Wrench, located at 550 Collyn St., Vista, CA 92083. Registrant, Dexter Totanex, 550 Collyn St., vista, CA 92083. This business is operated by an

Individual.

First day of busines N/A

Dexter Totanes, with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 10/22/2025

11/6, 11/13, 11/20 11/27/2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NamE

STATEMENT 2025-9020198

The name of the business: Opendoors Management, located at 1250 Santa Luisa Dr., Solana Beach, CA 92075. Registrant, BWX Incorporated, 248 So. Hwy 101 Ste 505, Solana Beach, CA 92078. This business is operated by a Corporation. First day of busines 6/1/2007

Randi Sharman, Secretary, with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 10/22/2025 11/6, 11/13, 11/20 11/27/2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NamE STATEMENT 2025-9020829

The name of the business: Tidy Nest Cleaning Services, located at 1401 21st St., Ste R, Sacramento, CA 95811. Registrant, Estrada Enterprise Industries LLC, 1401 21st St., Ste R, Sacramento, CA 95811. This business is operated by a Limited Liability company.

First day of busines 10/31/2025 /s/ Erick Armand Estrada, Managing Member with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 10/31/2025 11/13, 11/20, 11/27, 12/4/2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NamE STATEMENT 2025-9020966

The name of the business: HNL Maintenance Services, located at 922 Eucalyptus Ave., Vista, CA 92084. Registrant, HNL Appliance Services, LLC, 993 S. Santa Fe Bldg C143, Vista, CA 92083. This business is operated by a Limited Liability company.

First day of busines 4/8/2025 /s/ Rodrigo Nieto, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/4/2025 11/13, 11/20, 11/27, 12/4/2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NamE

STATEMENT 2025-9020521

The name of the business: Faunderlust, located at 2358 Primrose Avenue, Vista, CA 92083. Registrant, Christopher Emory Parwell, 2358 Primrose Avenue, Vista, CA 92083, Cody James Parwell, 2358 Primrose Avenue, Vista, CA 92083. This business is operated by a Married Couple.

First day of busines N/A /s/ Christopher Emory Parwell with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 10/28/2025 11/20, 11/27, 12/4, 12/11/2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NamE

STATEMENT 2025-9020909

The name of the business: Qiagraphix, located at 734 Via Cafetal, San Marcos, CA 92069. Registrant, Xiaoming Sun, 734 Via Cafetal, San marcos, CA 92069, Xiaomin Cathy Gong, 734 Via Cafetal, San Marcos, CA 92069. This business is operated by a Married Couple. First day of busines 10/22/2025/s/ Xiaoming Sun with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/3/2025 11/20, 11/27, 12/4, 12/11/2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NamE STATEMENT 2025-9020368

The name of the business: Willma Louise Comstock, located at 603 Seagaze Dr., #773, Oceanside, CA 92054. Registrant, Wilma Louise Comstock, 603 SEagaze Dr., #773, Oceanside, CA 92054. This business is operated by an Individual.

First day of busines 6/27/1966 /s/ Wilma Louise Comstock with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 10/24/2025 11/20, 11/27, 12/4, 12/11/2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NamE

STATEMENT 2025-9021455

The name of the business: Kash D Music, DJ Sky Desai, located at 800 The Mark Lane Unit 801, San Diego, CA 92101. Registrant, Akash Desai, 800 the Mark Lane Unit 801, San Diego, CA 92101. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of busines 1/1/2025 /s/ Akash Desai with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 11/12/2025 11/20, 11/27, 12/4, 12/11/2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NamE

STATEMENT 2025-9021313

The name of the business: Ortega’s Print and Sewing, located at 1342 Soria Glen, Escondido, CA 92026. Registrant, Juan Manuel Ortega, 1342 Soria Glen, Escondido, CA 92026. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of busines 11/8/2025 /s/ Juan Manuel Ortega with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 11/10/2025 11/20, 11/27, 12/4, 12/11/2025

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME 25CU042980N TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Delaney Angel Peterson filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: Delaney Angel Peterson to Proposed name Delaney Angel Coverly. 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: 12/19/2025, 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 November 3, 2025 /s/ Brad A. Weinreb, Judge of the Superior Court 11/20, 11/27, 12/4, 12/11/2025