October 9, 2025

STILL MORE ADVENTURES

IN SHOW BUSINESS!

By Dawna Kaufmann

This latest column won’t be my typical gossipy romp about the talented people I’ve known -- even though it’s about one of the funniest folks I’ve ever worked with. A more fitting title to this story might be “Murder/Suicide in Encino,” and it breaks my heart to even think about it.

Phil Hartman was a “comedian’s comedian.” A master impressionist

whose voice and mannerisms could shift effortlessly from Bill Clinton to Jack Benny, from Barbara Bush to Frankenstein. He found fame on late-night television, sitcoms and in movies. On the surface, he had it all: a beautiful wife, two adorable kids, and more material wealth than he ever imagined.

But it all ended for Hartman on May 28, 1998, when his drunken and coked-out missus, Brynn, blasted him three times as he slept -- then

turned the gun on herself. The deadly consequences left their children orphans, and family, friends and fans distraught and puzzled -- including this author, who knew both Phil and Brynn.

Married since 1987, the Hartmans made a striking couple -- 49-yearold Phil who resembled a young Jack Nicholson, and his tall, blonde ex-swimsuit model Brynn, who had just turned 40. But the marriage was often troubled, fueled by Brynn’s

raging temper and Phil’s refusal to engage in confrontations. When arguments began, he’d leave the house or tune her out. Whatever happened in their final encounter we’ll never really know, but it is possible to get a picture of what led up to it.

Phil Hartman first gained fame in 1986 on NBC’s Saturday Night Live, where he stayed for eight seasons, playing a variety of characters. Executive producer Lorne Michaels considered Phil the “glue” that

PHIL HARTMAN

Hartman from page 1

held the cast together. The most versatile, Phil appeared in several sketches per 90-minute show, utilizing his amazing gift for mimicry and steely nerve to perform on live TV, in front of a studio audience and millions of viewers. He could be elegant or goofy, whatever the part called for, and because of his writer’s sensibility, he knew how to present the jokes. The oldest member of the cast, Phil was their emotional center, the one that young pups like Adam Sandler, Dana Carvey, David Spade, Chris Farley, Jan Hooks, Julia Sweeney and Chris Rock, most respected. In a world where bruised egos frequently were displayed, and clamoring for camera time was the norm, Phil was never disparaged when he got more airtime than the others -- they understood that just by appearing in sketches with him, their own work would be elevated. I know this because I was one of the show’s writers during some of that time.

Philip Edward Hartmann (then with two ‘n’s’) was born in Ontario, Canada, on Sept. 24, 1948, part of a large family that moved to Southern California in the 1960s. Phil became a beach bum, a quality that never left him. As a preteen, he realized he had an ear for imitating voices and drawing cartoons, which delighted his schoolmates. At Westchester High, he was voted Class Clown. One ofhis classmates was Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, the Manson Family girl

who later fired a gun at President Gerald Ford, although she had few dealings with Phil.

After college and a brief marriage, Phil worked as a graphic artist, creating notable album covers for bands managed by his brother, John. By the age of 28, Phil wanted more -- and a visit to the Groundling Theatre gave him new direction. The Groundlings were (and are) a Los Angeles-based improvisational comedy group which featured soon-to-be famous performers like Paul “Pee-wee Herman” Reubens and Cassandra “Elvira, Mistress of the Dark” Peterson. Not content to just yell out suggestions from the audience for the comics to perform, an ampedup Hartman jumped onstage and began interacting with the troupe. He soon was taking improv classes and became a regular member, one who never showed a hint of hesitation onstage. Whether he was spitballing funny song lyrics off the top of his head, or crafting on-going characters, Phil’s work was always hysterically funny. He supplemented his income by doing minor voice-over work for cartoons and even appeared as a contestant on The Dating Game, a common gig for actors seeking exposure. And he continued working with the Groundlings every weekend, for years.

In 1980, I was a fledgling TV producer, having just worked on a CBS series that got canceled because the naïve bosses thought they could air smut in late-night. They couldn’t. The experience made me think about pitching my own se-

one thought about me.

At 40 I stopped worrying about what others thought about me.

At 50 I realized nobody was thinking about me in the first place.

***

PUSH . . . if that doesn’t work, PULL.

If that doesn’t work, we must be closed.

***

Personally, I think it is far wiser to strike when the iron is cold.

***

My parents always taught me, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all!”

ries, one that looked innocent on the surface, but would have a rebellious underbelly. I envisioned an original stage musical with a strong punk ethos, the hottest upand-coming bands, cartoons and training films, puppets, and a cast of talented improvisers. I touted the project as a “live TV pilot” and “big kid comedy show for kids of all ages” and just needed a host to anchor the idea and a place to do it.

Cassandra invited me to attend a Groundlings’ show to see Reubens’ Pee-wee character. He had the look, the costume, the brattiness, and the ambition, and it made sense for us to join forces. Paul convinced the manager of the 99-seat theatre to let us take over with our production for midnight shows on Fridays and Saturdays. And as we began to imagine a storyline and script, he suggested casting ideas with several Groundlings, including Phil.

Already working a full-time job, I knew the workload I’d be taking on if I went forward with our production, so Paul dropped by my home with Phil, to talk me into it. Phil explained that his character would be a grizzled sea captain who would sail up to Pee-wee’s Playhouse to woo his girlfriend and give Peewee dating advice. Seeing I still wasn’t sold, Phil improvised a sea shanty to seal the deal: “Ohh, a sailor travels to many lands, anyplace he pleases. And he always remembers to wash his hands, so’s he don’t get no diseases!” He ended the song by wiping his hands on Pee-wee’s face. I doubled over in laughter and didn’t look back. Phil sweetened the pot by telling me his

***

My whole life I never read a warning label telling me not to eat laundry detergent or put glue in my hair. Somehow, I just knew.

***

An invisible man married an invisible woman.

I don’t know what they saw in each other…

Plus, their kids were nothing to look at either!

***

Turn any sofa into a sofa bed by simply telling your wife to “calm down.”

***

Apparently I snore so loud that it scares everyone in the car I’m driving.

***

Tip on how to keep brownies fresh:

character would be named Kap’n Karl, named for my dad, Karl, who had just died.

The play became an overnight smash at the Groundlings, bringing in a never-ending audience of A-list producers, directors, and actors, all of whom I gave free tickets to keep the buzz going. After a few months we went prime-time, moving uptown to Hollywood’s Roxy Theatre, where our final performance the next year was taped as an HBO special. Later, the show evolved into Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, a Saturday morning series that ran for years on CBS, TV specials, and a couple feature films.

At some point I was over at Phil’s home where we were smoking pot in his living room before going out to dinner. He asked if I wanted to see his “toys.” Sure, I said. He went into his bedroom and brought out three handguns that he set on the coffee table. I was flabbergasted. I thought he was a peacenik hippie like me, not Dirty Harry. Those weren’t toys, I scolded, and announced I was leaving and wouldn’t be back. He seemed genuinely shocked. We maintained our friendship, but I didn’t return until December 1982, when I attended his backyard wedding to an artist and furniture maker named Lisa Strain.

Over the next years, Phil’s career was zooming. In 1983-’84, I was a producer on a rock-and-roll game show and gave him the job of an-

Hartman continued on page 3

We want to take over the government . . .and then leave you alone.

***

Friendly reminder: In 1492 Columbus did NOT discover America.

In 1492 A bunch of Indians discovered a bunch of white dudes that were lost at sea.

***

Yesterday, I dreamed of bacon. Today, I ate bacon.

Follow your dreams!

***

It is better to wake up and pee than to pee and wake up.

***

These shoes are too tight!

Salesperson: “Try it with the tongue out.”

“Ith thtill thoo thight!”

***

At 20 I worried about what every-

And some people wonder why I’m always so quiet around them.

***

Too many people spend money they haven’t earned on things they don’t want to impress people they don’t like.

Eat them all in one sitting.

***

You might as well go ahead and pronounce the “L” in salmon. Nothing matters anymore.

***

Have you heard about the vast Libertarian conspiracy?

Some days you feel like you’re surrounded by idiots. Then you realize, it’s not just some days.

***

Some days being king of the castle means drinking wine in my pillow fort.

***

If you see your glass as only half full, pour it into a smaller glass and stop your bitching.

Hartman from page 2

nouncer, and he and Reubens wrote a movie script titled Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, in 1985. While Phil only had a small bit in that film, more roles followed, including Jumping Jack Flash, with Whoopi Goldberg. Steve Martin cast Phil in his 1986 comedy The Three Amigos, which also starred Chevy Chase and Martin Short. Phil’s dazzling wit, on and off camera, made the elite in the comedy world take notice, and those connections would pay off nicely.

Phil’s personal life wasn’t quite as blissful. His wife Lisa complained that the extrovert Phil portrayed publicly was not who she saw -with her, he was emotionally aloof and seemingly incapable of a deep relationship. When problems occurred, he wouldn’t engage in conversation; he’d head out to sea on his boat and stay there until things blew over. It was as if Kap’n Karl, the character he was now regularly playing on the CBS kids’ show, became Phil’s alter ego. The couple divorced in 1984 but remained close. Lisa stated, “We couldn’t keep the marriage alive, but we kept the love alive.”

Having a gorgeous woman on his arm was important to Phil, and while he dated many actresses, it wasn’t until 1986, when he met Brynn, that he fell head over heels. He called several friends, myself included, bragging about how a “paunchy guy” like him could score such a babe. “She has zero body fat,” he gushed, which was true and handy in her sometimes job as a runway model. Obsessed, he spent a fortune on jewelry and gifts for Brynn, ignoring wellmeaning friends who tried to intercede when they saw signs of Brynn’s quick temper. Cassandra Peterson begged Phil not to marry her -- but he replied it was too late, showing her the engagement ring, then cutting out Peterson of his life for the next two years.

Brynn’s story began on April 11, 1958, in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, where she was born Vicki Jo Omdahl, to a working-class family with two other children. An imaginative child who wrote and illustrated stories, she grew into a long-stemmed lovely who turned the head of every guy around.

But the small-town girl had big dreams, and by the time she was 17, she had already dropped out of high school for a brief marriage and divorce. By 1980, she headed for Tinseltown with plans to become an actress or model. Along the way she changed her name a few times until she settled on Brynn and acquired a dangerous taste for Hollywood’s high life. Although she

got scant modeling work and few acting jobs, she made headway as a party girl. Along with plenty of alcohol, cocaine was her drug of choice, even freebasing it at one point. There were numerous attempts to dry out at clinics for chemical dependency.

A love affair ended with director and former All in the Family star Rob Reiner, who would later give her a one-line role in his film, North. Infatuations with Steve Martin and Bill Maher went nowhere.

Her attraction to “professionally funny” men made sense as she still fancied a showbiz career for herself and had a natural flair for humor. With better luck, she might have landed a sitcom or movie role.

Brynn said she met Phil on a blind date, set up by a trendy Beverly Hills’ restaurateur -- but Phil told radio host Howard Stern he saw Brynn’s photo in a lingerie ad and sought her out. Whatever kismet brought them together, for a while their future looked rosy. She moved to Manhattan with him when he joined the cast of SNL. Over the next years, as his paychecks increased, so did their wild spending. A ritzy apartment, artwork, designer clothes, and for Phil, fast cars, boats, and eventually a plane. Saving up for a rainy day wasn’t in Phil’s vocabulary. He figured he’d be making a good living for a long time, so why not have the creature comforts that made him happy?

The Hartmans wed in a private ceremony in 1987, in New York City. Neither side’s family attended, but Brynn told her friends that with all the creative people in their social circle, it shouldn’t be long before her own acting career got off the ground. She already appeared on SNL, albeit in a non-speaking role. In the opening sequence, where the cast is introduced via voice-over, Phil is seen sitting in a restaurant with a blonde whose face can’t be seen, but whose earring is swinging. That’s Brynn. The director made her turn away from the camera to keep the focus on Phil. She quickly got used to basking in his reflected glory, being the nameless “and wife” who was seen in countless paparazzi shots. “Your turn will come,” Phil promised her, and she had no reason to doubt him.

By 1989, Phil had gotten good reviews in movies like Fletch Lives and Blind Date, won an Emmy as a writer on SNL, and signed a lucrative contract to do voices on The Simpsons, the sweetly subversive FOX animated series. Simpsons’ creator, Matt Groening, a fan of Phil’s from his Pee-wee days, fashioned pompous actor Troy McClure and shyster attorney Lionel

Hartman

continued on page 4

Oodles!

Looking for things to do? Places to go?

Check out Oodles every week for listing of civic and service club meetings, and more!

Have an event you need publicized?

Email it to: Lisa.ThePaper@gmail.com

The Paper goes to print on Tuesday morning.

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

• Submit your press release by the previous Friday.

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

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

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

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.

oct 10 1:00 Human Trafficking David Jarman/ Katherine Adams, Deputy DA/ Investigator, San Diego Human trafficking is a multi-milliondollar industry. Learn where and how traffickers recruit their victims and how the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force combats trafficking efforts and raises public awareness. oct 10 2:30 Lions, Tigers & Bears Rescue Sanctuary Kathy Halligan & Linda Rausis

Learn about the accredited nonprofit sanctuary which saves exotic animals from situations where they have been abused, trafficked, etc. We offer them a forever home.

oct 17 1:00 A Look at Modern Fire Prevention Medi Maldonado, Vista Fire Marshall

Learn how modern fire prevention and education is constantly evolving as our cities grow. How an aging population can require more services and the impact of climate change on wildfires.

oct 17 2:30 Frida Kahlo: Symbolism Amid Suffering Kim Wakefield, MA in Spanish Language and Culture

Frida Kahlo, world renowned artist and feminist icon, painted self-portraits full of symbolism. Learn more about the underlying messages and multi-cultural connections she embedded in her art.

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

Ms. Williams will help us climb aboard “The Yellow Boat”, based on a true story, and which will give us insight into the resilience of the human spirit and healing power of love and expression.

oct 24 2:30 Little Saigon, San Diego Tram Lam

Learn about the Vietnamese Community in San Diego including cultural events and festivals. As the Vietnamese community commemorates 50 years, we invite you to be part of a special reflection— an opportunity to honor the journey, resilience, and humanity of those who lived it.

***

senior anglers meeting October 10th • 9:30am

The Senior Anglers of Escondido will hold its regular monthly meeting on Friday October 10 at 9:30am at the American Legion Post 149, 230 E Park Ave, Escondido CA 92025.

Our guest speaker will be Mr Scott Manson who will talk about the coffee table books he has written,” A history of Tady Lures” and “A History of Southern California Surface Iron”. Scott is an Izorline Pro-Staffer and sits on the board for the CCA Chapter in Orange County. Bring your old jigs and questions to make ite presentation more interactive

Admission is FREE! Suggest that you come early for the best seats. If additional info is needed, please contact Ron C. at 760-214-0196

***

2025 oceanside High school foundation Hall of fame Ceremony October 11th • 10am

Six Alumni to be inducted in a Public Ceremony at the Oceanside High School Performing Arts Center located at 1 Pirate Cove, Oceanside, CA on Saturday, October 11th at 10:00 a.m. A complimentary reception to follow immediately afterwards in the school’s

oct 24 1:00 “The Yellow Boat” Tracy Williams, MCC Theater Dir. Oodles continued on page 12

Hartman from page 3

Hutz as on-going characters on the show, and Phil enjoyed flying back and forth to Los Angeles to record his vocal contributions. “I’m a kid in a candy store,” he told me. “Most actors would be lucky to have one successful series, but I have two.”

That same year the first of the Hartmans’ two children was born, a son named Sean. Deliriously pleased to be a dad, Phil doted on the baby but didn’t seem to notice Brynn’s increasing discontent.

Even though she had a nanny for the child, and could have scheduled casting calls and acting auditions, Brynn didn’t want to struggle on her own -- she wanted Phil to open doors for her. But he was gone for long stretches, and when he came home, he wanted respite, not a rival. Daughter Birgen came along in 1992, heralded by a mention at the end of an SNL episode hosted by Susan Dey. The audience cheered, and Phil’s eyes filled with tears. It was a winsome, human moment.

With Phil the toast of both coasts, appearing in films from CB4 and Coneheads, to So I Married An Axe Murderer and National Lampoon’s Loaded Weapon I, trophy wife Brynn privately seethed and turned again to drugs. Like many

Man

About Town

Am delighted to see Laura Strickler back in The Paper with another outstanding column.

Laura is not only one of the five most beautiful women on this planet but she is also smart. Very smart. She is an expert on reverse mortgages and gives a spell binding presentation during her legendary seminars.

She has another “Happy Hour” seminar on October 15th from 2 to 3:30 pm at Charlie’s Restaurant, 210 N. Ivy, Escondido. She’ll be offering coffee and pie as well as a lot of education on what reverse mortgages are, how they work, and how you might be able to easily tap into your asset and make your

December 1982, cast and crew of The Pee-Wee Herman Show. Reubens is kneeling on the far left; Kaufmann, kneeling on the far right. Hartman is in the middle in the back, wearing a white hat.

creative types of that era, Phil was an inveterate pot smoker who briefly dabbled with cocaine and Quaaludes but never considered himself addicted. He had little experience handling someone whose substance abuse problems were as deep-rooted as Brynn’s.

When she went into calamity mode, he packed her off to rehab and hoped for the best.

My introduction to Brynn came when I was a staff writer during SNL’s 1992-’93 season, and we’d hang out during rehearsals or at

life a lot more comfortable. She’ll gladly answer any and all questions. Bring your notebook and learn . . . all while enjoying pie and coffee and companionship with others, just like you!

***

All Over One Lousy Hamburger!

I love food. Good food. Wendy’s Chili is one of my favorites. But I’m not thrilled with Wendy’s Customer Service.

Let me ‘splain.

Thursday, October 2nd . . .about 3pm. We pull into Wendy’s at 1530 W. Valley Parkway . . me, Friedrich Gomez, and my wife, Mary. We order one hamburger

the after-show parties. If I saw her do cocaine on occasion, it never registered as surprising; in the show’s long history drugs were as much part of the tapestry as were costume fittings or catered meals. From my perspective the only person who appeared to have a coke “problem” was Chris Farley. I was a bit uncomfortable to see Brynn flirting rather shamelessly with the cast and crew members, wearing revealing outfits and sitting on different guy’s laps, cooing at them as Phil looked on, seemingly humiliated and exhilarated. It was a complex relationship, apparently, but

with everything, one hamburger with no onion, (for Mary) one chocolate shake, one vanilla shake and one large chili, no cheese, lots of onions. The order taker reads back our order and we confirm it is accurate. We present our credit card at the window and receive our food.

Only one chocolate shake, no vanilla shake. We tell the attendant the order if wrong. “Oh, well, we didn’t charge you for two, only one.” I hand over my credit card, have him charge us for the 2nd shake, which we then receive.

We pull over in the large parking lot, park the car and begin to have our late lunch.

Ooops! No hamburger with no onions for Mary.

Frustrated, we decide to return to the store, explain they made a mistake, and reclaim our hamburger, with no onions.

We get to the store. I ask Friedrich to go in, ask for the manager, explain the situation. He goes into the store and is gone for much too long. Finally, he returns and explains that the staff ridiculed him, insulted him and treated him like a child. And no hamburger for Mary.

all I knew was they were devoted parents, affluent and busy, and any adversity flew over my head.

During the season’s end wrap party, a lavish affair held in the coveredover ice-skating arena outside 30 Rockefeller Plaza, I told Phil that I had taken a job in Los Angeles and wouldn’t be in New York for the next SNL season. He had one year left on his contract and was eager to leave the show. Tired of carrying too much of the show’s burden, the stress of doing a live show was getting to him. It was a drill of five days of intense rehearsal, script changes up to the last moment, and live broadcasts where millions of people could see him soar or sweat -- all for late-night money. The real dough was in prime-time, and he had a cushy offer from NBC to develop and star in a prime-time series.

After 153 episodes, Phil graduated from SNL in 1994 and wasted no time packing up his family and moving westward. He bought a $1.4 million Tudor-style house in Encino, a posh community in the San Fernando Valley, and Brynn set about decorating it. I ran into them at a party, and they seemed in lively humor, so much so that

Hartman continued on page 6

Mary has dementia and asks very little of life. A hamburger without onions would please her.

“Did you ask to speak to the manager?” I asked.

“Yes, but he’s in his office and won’t come out.”

Angered, I opened the car door and, with Friedrich’s help, headed for the store (I am disabled and have great difficulty walking. Friedrich is my guardian angel and caregiver. So here is a crippled Army veteran . . . barely able to walk, headed for a store manager for a discussion, with assistance from another (Navy) veteran.)

We enter the store and I spot someone who looks like he might be in charge.

“I need to speak to the manager, NOW!”

Turns out he was, in fact, the manager. Fella by the name of Carlos Vargas.

What he should have said: “Mr. Davis, I’m so sorry for the inconvenience we have caused you and

Man About Town

Laura Strickler

a mystery guest ~ Try & guess Who This is

Yes! We have a winner. First one to correctly identify our first Mystery Guest is Steve Lee. The mystery guest is Paul from The Computer Factory. Best regards, Steve Lee ***

Coming in a close second is Mike Albanese: Hello lyle, Here’s my guess - Paul Vanmiddlesworth. Thanx and have a great one, Mike Albanese ***

Dear Mr. Davis, This young lad looks like Lawrence Welk to me. Rozanne Jakovac ***

My guess entry to name your Mystery Guest is Paul Vanmiddlesworth. I hope that’s correct. I enjoy reading The Paper every week. Susan L Davis ***

Adina saw the picture I previously guessed incorrectly about & said: Well that looks like Lyle to me. I would’ve guessed it was him. So, my beautiful wife had an uncanny knack for frequently being correct. So submitting her guess turns out to be a Win-Win situation for me: Either I get her to take me to Charlie’s or I get to witness one of the rare occasions where she is incorrect. HA!! Chuck Voelker

Thanks for playing everyone!

And now . . . . here’s our second Mystery Guest!

This mystery guest is all grown up and even cuter today than when she was this toddler!

Travel insurance companies are adding new post-departure benefits. Here’s what you can expect.

by Christopher Elliott

When Alexandra Lauren developed an ear infection while scuba diving in Hoi An, Vietnam, the diagnosis was unexpectedly serious: Her hospital recommended a two-week stay connected to an IV drip.

But she was skeptical. “I heard that in Vietnam, health care providers will often give rigorous medical treatment to tourists to rack up a medical bill,” she says.

Lauren’s travel insurance came to the rescue. A specialist from her insurance company spoke with her hospital and advised her to get a second opinion. She had a telehealth consultation with another doctor, who offered her an alternative.

Lauren says she had no idea travel insurance could do that. And it turns out, neither do other travelers.

“Most travelers don’t realize that in addition to the insurance benefits in a travel insurance plan, most trip cancellation plans will also offer 24/7 global travel assistance,” says Stan Sandberg, co-founder of TravelInsurance.com. “A plan’s global assistance services are essential if you find yourself in a travel or medical emergency.”

Travel insurance is getting an upgrade

Travel insurance is undergoing a dramatic change from a bare-

bones product that covers cancellation and hospitalizations abroad, to a full-featured product with everything from a 24-hour concierge to virtual doctor visits.

“What most consumers don’t consider when they buy travel insurance is what is known in the industry as post-departure benefits,” explains Daniel Durazo, a spokesman for Allianz Partners USA. “Those are the benefits that kick in after you depart for your trip.”

The most popular post-departure benefit is travel delay coverage, which can reimburse you for those extra costs you may incur, such as meals at the airport, if you’re significantly delayed. Travel delay coverage may even reimburse you for the tour you missed. But there are other benefits, and the list is growing.

Telemedicine, the benefit Lauren used, is one of the more popular recent additions, according to Andrew Jernigan, CEO of Insured Nomads. For example, one plan he’s selling through Insured Travelers offers unlimited consultations with no co-pay or fee for both telemedicine and mental health therapy sessions anytime from a physician.

What other new post-departure benefits are available?

“Travel insurance is more than just financial protection,” says Stephen Samataro, chief revenue officer at AXA Partners US. “It’s about having the right support when it matters most.”

What You Can Expect from Your Next Travel insurance Policy

24/7 Assistance

Most major travel insurance companies now offer 24/7 assistance. For example, Travel Guard has a full suite of services, including medical assistance, translation, security assistance, and a 24/7 concierge. “Each of these critical services is included in all of our plans to help make your trip safer and more enjoyable,” says Scott Adamski, head of global product development at Travel Guard.

Coverage for Layoffs and Work interruption

Here’s another lesser-known benefit that many travel insurance companies offer: coverage for layoffs. “In the wake of recent federal employee layoffs and ‘return to office’ mandates, many people may not know about the benefits of employee layoff Insurance and ‘cancel for work reasons’ coverage,” says Ned Tadic, a spokesman for Squaremouth. Employee layoff insurance provides coverage if you need to cancel your trip because of an involuntary layoff or termination of employment. The “cancel for work” reasons benefit protects you if your time off is revoked or you’re required to commute to a new work location.

id Theft Protection

John Beck, an attorney with the law

Illustration by Dustin Elliott

Hartman from page 4

I suggested they turn their good chemistry into showbiz fodder.

They were a step ahead of me, though. Phil was already developing an idea he called The Phil Show; a variety show in which they’d both appear in sketches, as well as playing themselves behind the scenes, modeled after the old Jack Benny Show, which Phil and I adored. Over the next few weeks, I worked with them to write characters and scripts and saw firsthand that Brynn had distinct comic chops. Phil brought in a producer who budgeted the show, and they presented the package to NBC, with Phil as executive producer. However, what should have been a cheery and artistic venture ended up crumbling, and the concept never made it to a pilot stage. My guess is that Phil wanted all, yet none, of the responsibility. Perhaps there were dynamics at home that I was not aware of that made him get cold feet about working with his wife. As quickly as the idea arose, it was abandoned and Phil, who eschewed unpleasantries, never explained what went awry. To me, it was just another gig, and we went on our merry ways. I didn’t realize what a turning point that was for Brynn.

Phil made two films, Greedy and Houseguest, and continued his voice work on The Simpsons. In 1995 he struck pay dirt when he was cast as Bill McNeal, the buffoonish anchor of the NBC sitcom NewsRadio. The series, which also starred Dave Foley, Maura Tierney, and Andy Dick, became an instant hit, assuring Phil the kind of earning power and access he had coveted. Movie roles in Sgt. Bilko, Jingle All the Way, and Small Soldiers followed, and there was no letting up for the next three years. Phil was a frequent guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, playing Bill Clinton in numerous sketches, some of which I wrote. He’d tell stories about his gifted kids who followed their old man’s path: Sean was an introspective doodler, seldom seen without his sketch pad, and Birgen was an extrovert, dressing in costumes and talking in accents.

When I’d see the Hartmans at events, they’d arrive in limousines, dressed to the nines, bragging good-naturedly about their $20,000 per month Malibu summer beach rental or Phil’s latest boat.

While rumors flew that the pair had a rocky marriage, I didn’t witness any trouble. Perhaps because

I related to Brynn as a performer or someone who had talent, she was always affectionate with me. Others who didn’t have that same friendship found her manipulative and moody. Brynn had partnered with a girlfriend to write a film script entitled Reckless Abandon, an ironically dark tale about infidelity and drugs. She hoped Phil would help her sell it, but he refused to show it to his agent, even though that would have been easy for him to do. Phil was just not someone who helped out his friends, as I can attest: When I showed up at SNL, he asked how I got the job. “Kevin Nealon went to bat for me,” I said, adding, “No thanks to you.” In 1997 Brynn was cast in a small local production called Spoiled Women at a small local theatre, but dropped out before the play opened, telling cast members she needed to spend more time at home.

I observed Phil undermining Brynn’s confidence in ways I found disconcerting. The woman he once touted as having an ideal physique was now being told by him that she needed endless plastic surgeries: breast implants, body sculpting, liposuction, and five separate rhinoplasties until he deemed her nose was satisfactory. He told me

5th District Supervisor • Jim Desmond more Taxes Coming?

At our last Board of Supervisors meeting, my colleagues voted to take the first step toward putting a new tax on the people of San Diego County. I voted “no” but the motion passed 3-2. By approving a study of so-called “fiscal mechanisms,” the Board is laying the groundwork for higher sales taxes, property tax increases, and new fees. Let’s be honest—this is the opening move to put a tax hike on the ballot.

Instead of cutting waste, streamlining bureaucracy, or prioritizing essential services, some on the Board want the easy way out—digging deeper into your pocket. That’s not leadership, it’s government greed.

We’ve seen this playbook before in Sacramento and at City Hall. New taxes are always sold as the solution, but the results are the same: bigger government, higher costs, more debt, and no relief for working families, seniors, or small businesses. Now they want to drag San Diego County down that same reckless path.

San Diegans are already dealing with soaring energy bills, skyrocketing grocery prices, and housing costs that are pushing seniors out of their homes and young families out of California. Adding another tax will only crush people further.

Government should focus on core services—keeping deputies on patrol, firefighters on call, and our neighborhoods safe—not creating new commissions, hiring consultants, or chasing pet projects.

I cannot and will not support this effort. San Diegans deserve relief, not more government schemes to take money out of their pockets.

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

he didn’t see this as a problem and confessed to having the bags under his own eyes surgically removed -- it’s just what performers do. But Brynn wasn’t a performer, per se. And while he enjoyed being around his children, he increased his distance from his spouse, spending more time on his boat or flying off to who knows where. This was the same aggravation his second wife, Lisa, spoke of.

The last time I saw the Hartmans was at a 1997 Christmas party, two nights after Chris Farley died in Chicago. We compared notes about what we’d learned on the news and from personal sources.

The toxicological reports weren’t back yet, but it wasn’t a stretch to assume Chris had died of an overdose. The rotund funnyman had left SNL to pursue a movie career but had come back to host an episode just weeks before. He had recently been released from rehab and was so woozy, canisters of oxygen were placed offstage to help him breathe. We later learned 33-yearold Chris died from hemorrhagic pulmonary edema, brought on by a massive binge with vodka, heroin, cocaine, and “Liquid G,” an illegal chemical akin to cleaning fluid that gives the kick of alcohol without a hangover. He had reportedly been with a call girl, who took photos of his collapsed body on his floor before leaving. Like his hero John Belushi, whom Chris emulated on SNL and off-camera, drugs and cheap thrills took hold of Farley’s flame and squelched it.

Phil hadn’t seen or spoken to Chris for several months, but the younger comic’s passing left him unnerved. Almost defensively, Phil blurted, “Everyone tried to help Chris fight his compulsions, but he couldn’t win. He had left me a phone message that I hadn’t returned. Now I’m wondering if I could have saved him.” “No, hon,” Brynn comforted, “the sad truth is Chris was doomed.” The irony of her comments escaped me at the time, but surely not Phil. Unbeknownst to me, Brynn was back on coke and booze, and Phil was days away from checking her into rehab again. As with Chris, sobriety didn’t last.

I had traded my comedy writing duties for a job as a true crime journalist, working on the headline-worthiest homicides. My habit was to write all night, and that’s what I was doing on the morning of May 28, 1998, with the local TV news muted in the background. I saw the Chyron: “Murder/Suicide

An interview with Brian a Valuable fixture at the Escondido Coin shop

• How did you get involved with Escondido Coin?

About half a century ago, when I got started with precious metals, I would travel from town to town looking for places to buy and sell. That’s when I met Ray Ellis and his COIN shop.

• Tell me about your history with Escondido Coin?

Well, Ray Ellis was a no-nonsense businessman with a shop (at that time) on Broadway in Escondido. He would have many interesting things in his glass cases that I wished to acquire. I would then spend my efforts in negotiating the purchase prices with him. One time, I bought a cluster ring with diamonds, but we weren’t sure how much diamond weight it had. I purchased the ring anyway. When I got home, I dismantled the ring. The diamond weight was greater than we had previously discussed! I returned to the shop the next day and gave Ray more money for the ring. After that, we continued to do business for decades.

• What is your favorite thing about Escondido Coin?

They give accurate information and offer fair prices; and as an added bonus, they are friendly and provide you with full service.

• So, tell me a little bit about Jim?

Hartman from page 6

at Actor’s Home,” and recognized Phil’s house. I turned up the sound, but Bill Smith, the stalwart KTLA reporter, wasn’t offering many details. Because of my encounter with Phil’s “toys,” I assumed he was the gunman and called Cassandra to tell her the gut-wrenching possibility. Soon I could see the six-and-nine-year-old children exit the home, being held by officers who had woken them up from a deep sleep (thank goodness). Cops were walking in and out of the house, and later Smith told me that while the police weren’t talking to the press, they were giving their fellow officers lookie-loo access. At one point, Bill counted 30 cops inside the home, which could not be good from an investigative point of view since this was a crime scene. Detectives on the scene failed to notify the County Medical Examiner to come to the location for several hours.

Coroner’s reps had to call them, asking if there was something they should know. Eventually they arrived and the news footage showed a gurney with a sheet-covered body

When I was first doing business with Escondido Coin, Ray Ellis had a young family. Ray’s son, Jim, showed an interest in the business. Jim was surrounded by knowledgeable people in the industry and became an expert in the field. Jimi, as I call him, has been at the helm at Escondido Coin now for many years. Over time I have delt with a lot of people in the business, but I can only think of a small handful of people who are as ethical, conscientious, fair and knowledgeable as Jim Ellis.

• How can someone get started with precious metals? Typically, you’re either mentored, interned, or employed by someone knowledgeable in the business. That’s why someone like Jim and his coin shop are so invaluable.

• What intrigues you most about precious metals?

Purchasing coins or bouillon involves two different facets: investing and hedging. Doing either one of these in bouillon is a financial choice. Collecting can also be a hobby as well as a business. Collecting anything always involves “The Holy Grail”. It can be the one thing that you really want, can’t find, or only hear about. It’s basically a treasure hunt! Every once in a while you may stumble upon something that really appeals to

being wheeled to the van.

In due time, the terrible facts were revealed. Brynn had gone to dinner with a girlfriend, then came home to find Phil asleep in their second story bedroom. Using a Smith & Wesson .38 caliber handgun, she shot him three times: a fatal contact wound to his central forehead, with the bullet landing in his left skull; a close-range, non-fatal wound to his right neck, with the bullet remaining in his left shoulder; and a close-range, fatal wound, with the bullet entering and exiting his right arm, then traveling into his right chest, passing through several vital organs and coming to rest in his left kidney area. All the blows were delivered while Phil was still alive. While the exact time of death was undetermined, the enormous damage and blood loss would surely have killed him quickly.

Brynn drove to the home of a male buddy and told him she had killed Phil. He didn’t believe her, but she opened her purse, and he saw the gun, which he confiscated. He drove her home, walked upstairs to confirm Phil’s death, then went downstairs to call police. Brynn locked the bedroom door and got in bed next to Phil. Police officers

you, but you may know very little about it. Doing your due diligence to learn about it can become your reward. I can’t tell you about my personal "prize purchase" though, being under confidentiality rules and all that. LOL.

• Which is your favorite precious metal, gold or silver?

If you ask a parent “which is their favorite child”, you will get the same response from me if asked to choose between SILVER or GOLD, “I don’t have favorites”

• From your perspective, where do you see gold and silver going in the near future?

I’ll give you the same answer that was given me by a high-end dealer, “If I knew what the price (of precious metals) was going to be tomorrow, you wouldn’t even know me”

• What is your opinion on the state of the economy?

When measured by my daily life, the current state of the economy seems stable. Yes, there are highs and lows, but the American economy is a tested and proven success. America’s economy is based on freedom. Less government intrusion allows for capitalistic and individual success.

Without a free market, how can

yelled at her to come out, then broke a window to make their entrance. This must have frightened her as, using a Charter Arms .38-caliber revolver, she put the barrel of the gun into her mouth and fired, with the bullet tearing through her skull and landing in the headboard of the bed. With all the cops on the scene, and knowing from an eyewitness that Phil was deceased, not one of them considered calling a crisis negotiator to try to reason with the barricaded woman. They had plenty of time to do so. Instead, they crashed through the window and caused her to kill herself, making a horrible situation even worse and leaving the Hartmans’ young children parent-less. She could have gone to trial, served jail time, then be released to her kids and family. The gun Brynn used on herself was a present Phil had given her for her 40th birthday, exactly one month before.

Toxicology tests revealed that while Phil had only an over-thecounter antihistimine in his system, Brynn’s had cocaine and alcohol, as well as Zoloft, a prescription anti-depressant. While the makers of Zoloft clearly mark their product as not to be used with alcohol or recreational drugs, and that the

anyone profitably sell their services or wares? Without it, we would just be another run of the mill “Third World Country.” Some politicians would love to control your life and not let you have those freedoms. Think about that carefully next time you vote!

• Do you believe that people can protect and preserve their wealth by investing in precious metals?

Yes! Precious metals, on an economic level, have one important caveat to them. They are traded equally all around the planet. That is huge! I, being a student and observer of modern history, have witnessed paper currencies ultimately become worthless; being heaped in piles in the streets and blown about by the wind. All printed currencies of countries will come to an end, but, as the commercial says, “GOLD has never been worth Zero”. In my opinion, any good portfolio should always include precious metals. “Hands On” ownership will always give you a great sense of stability and security.

The team here at Escondido Coin can help and assist you.

Good luck to you all!

Brian

amount in Brynn’s system was a “therapeutic dosage,” they quickly settled for a nominal amount a lawsuit filed on behalf of the Hartman children. Sean and Birgen were taken in by Brynn’s sister and brother-in-law for life in a loving mid-west environment. Adults now, they’re faring well as they make their place in the world.

The night of the shootings, Cassandra and I went to Jon Lovitz’s home where a few of Phil’s pals exchanged fun stories. Jon would later join the cast of NewsRadio to fill the void left by Phil, but after a year the series was cancelled. Following a private memorial service at Hollywood’s Forest Lawn Mortuary, the Hartmans’ cremated ashes were scattered at sea, near Santa Catalina Island, where the couple and their kids had spent precious time sailing on Phil’s boats. Saturday Night Live sponsored a sendoff to Phil at Paramount Studios, which I attended, and the series later dedicated a prime-time episode to his greatest sketches. And the Groundling Theatre renamed itself in his honor. I’ll forever mourn the loss of Phil and Brynn but prefer to reflect on the many joyous moments of my friendship with them both.

Airlines are switching planes more frequently. What are your rights?

by Christopher Elliott

Do you have any rights when an airline changes your seat assignment? That’s what Jay Libove wanted to know after he lost his assigned seat on a recent flight from Philadelphia to Barcelona.

His airline changed his plane -and his seat assignment -- twice without telling him.

“The last one was the worst,” says Libove, an IT consultant who lives in Barcelona. “I had carefully chosen an aisle seat near the front of the cabin, and they re-seated me in the last row of the cabin in a window seat.”

Although no one systematically tracks the number of these switches or the passengers affected by them, there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence that they’re occurring more frequently. (They tend to happen a lot when demand suddenly changes.)

“When an airline switches planes, passengers often lose their previously chosen seats,” explains Vlad Polyanskiy, chief marketing officer at FlightRefunder, a company that helps passengers negotiate compensation from airlines.

He says the two most common issues related to these plane swaps, also called equipment changes, are being downgraded to a lower class or losing your specific reserved seat.

“These changes in themselves create considerable stress for passengers, especially those who intended to travel for work or have special needs,” he adds. “Passengers are

frequently unaware of their rights and do not receive compensation.”

What are your rights when you lose your chosen airline seat?

You have some rights if you lose your seat, but probably not as many as you thought.

Airlines aren’t required to notify you or to get your approval if your assigned seat has changed.

In North America, if you get downgraded to a lower class of service, your airline typically must refund the price difference between the ticket you purchased and the lower class you were reassigned to.

In the EU and UK, getting downgraded means the airline has to compensate you anywhere from 30 percent to 75 percent of the price you paid for the ticket, depending on the flight distance.

If it’s just a seat change, but you’re in the same class of service, the requirements are different. In Canada, the EU and UK, if you paid extra for the seat assignment, you’re entitled to a refund and possibly compensation, depending on the airline’s policy.

In the U.S., a change of seats within the same class of service means you get a refund of your seat reservation fee.

Libove’s seat swap happened within the same class of service, and the price of a seat assignment was included in his premium economy seat, so American Airlines could make the change without notifying him, and it owed him nothing.

ment,” he says.

Airlines are legally shielded by their contracts of carriage -- the fine-print terms that most people skim over when they book a ticket.

“In those contracts, airlines like to include language that gives them the right to change seat assignments and change planes without notice,” explains David Gammill, a lawyer based in Los Angeles. “Legally, there’s not much in federal law that entitles you to keep a particular seat. It doesn’t matter if you paid extra for more legroom or a spot by the window. That ticket buys a preference, not a guarantee.”

How to get compensation for a switched seat.

You don’t have many rights when an airline changes your seat. Getting an airline to honor those rights can be an even bigger challenge, say professionals.

Whether you’re downgraded to a lower class or your seat assignment is changed, it’s essential to act quickly.

Contact the airline as soon as possible to get reimbursement. Typically, the longer you wait, the harder it will be to get a refund.

Always keep a record of your booking, including receipts and seat details. Don’t assume your airline will retain these records.

Know your rights. Airlines may offer vouchers or other compensation. But remember, you may be entitled to a full refund, particularly if the changes caused a significant delay.

Speaking of which, there’s a growing consensus that air travelers don’t have enough rights when it comes to seat changes.

Do we need a law on seat changes?

Consider what happened to John Udemezue, who lost his seat assignment on a recent flight from New York to Chicago. “It just disappeared,” says Udemezue, a digital marketing entrepreneur from New York. He received a new seat, but not the one he had wanted.

“I think travelers should push for clearer policies and fair treat-

The best solution would be for airlines to voluntarily commit to notifying their customers of any seat changes. They could do so on the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Customer Service Dashboard. While this wouldn’t be legally binding, it would represent a step toward improving customer service.

Passengers need more control of their seat assignments.

Ideally, there would also be a mechanism for accepting or rejecting a new seat. No one likes to be blindsided with a new seat assignment, and the technology exists to implement a system that would allow airlines to get consent from their passengers when there’s a seat change.

Above all, there should be a system for refunding seat assignment fees when airlines switch planes. Last year, the DOT announced a new rule that refunds should be automatic. But, based on what I’ve been hearing from airline passengers, it hasn’t worked out that way. Passengers report that when airlines reseat them, they keep the fees because they’re still in a “preferred” seat (read: not a middle seat).

If airlines can’t commit to being up front about their seating changes, maybe we need new regulations. But we should give airlines an opportunity to do the right thing on their own first. And now they know what the right thing is.

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

Unlocking the Power of Home Equity

Join me for a reverse mortgage seminar

As we move through retirement, one of the most common concerns I hear is: “Will I have enough money to live the life I’ve worked so hard for?” For many homeowners, the answer may already be sitting in their greatest asset: their home. That’s why I’m excited to invite you to an educational seminar on Reverse Mortgages, designed to give you the facts, answer your questions, and help you make informed decisions.

The seminar will take place on Wednesday, October 15th, from 2:00 – 3:30 PM at Charlie’s Family Restaurant in Escondido. Over a cup of coffee and pie in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere, we’ll break down how reverse mortgages work, who they are best suited for, and what to expect from the process.

We’ll cover topics such as:

• How reverse mortgages can supplement your retirement income.

Benefits from page 5

firm Beck & Beck, has handled numerous travel insurance cases, and he says one new benefit consistently surprises his clients: ID theft protection. One of his clients was on a trip to Italy when their wallet was stolen, along with their ID and credit cards. “They assumed their only option was to cancel their cards and deal with the mess when they got home,” he recalls. “But their travel insurance actually included identity theft protection, which provided immediate fraud monitoring, legal assistance, and even emergency funds. They were able to get back to enjoying their trip much faster than expected.”

Pet Coverage

“For many people, their pets are a part of their family,” says Terry Boynton, president of Yonder Travel Insurance. “If their pet needed care due to an injury or suddenly passed away, being able to cancel their trip without repercussions brings much-needed financial peace of mind.”. He’s right. Buried deep within the terms of some policies you’ll find coverage for pet-related issues, including trip cancellation or trip interruption benefits if your pet becomes sick, injured, or passes away.

Coverage for adventure activities

Thinking of going heli-skiing or base jumping? Most traditional travel insurance won’t cover high-

• Options for eliminating monthly mortgage payments while remaining in your home.

• The protections in place for you and your heirs.

• Common myths and misconceptions that often cause confusion.

This seminar is not about a sales pitch—it’s about education. My goal is to provide clear, straightforward information so you walk away with the confidence to explore whether this option makes sense for you or someone you love.

As a licensed Reverse Mortgage Professional (NMLS 315848) since 2003, I’ve worked with many seniors who found peace of mind and financial flexibility through this program. For some, it meant extra breathing room each month. For others, it meant the ability to travel, help grandchildren with college, or

risk activities, but a growing number of policies are bucking the trend, according to Dean Van Es, CEO of Fast Cover, an Australian travel insurance company. The activities range from off-piste skiing to technical scuba diving. “Check with the insurance to see if they offer coverage for the activities you will be participating in and if their policy meets your needs,” he recommends.

esims to stay Connected abroad

An eSIM lets you stay connected when you’re abroad instead of having to pay roaming charges with your U.S. carrier. “Some travel insurance companies are offering an eSIM as part of, or in addition to their policy,” says Peter Smith, the senior vice president of travel and mobility at Cover Genius. eSIMs, which you can download from an email, stretch the definition of travel insurance, but they can also save travelers hundreds of dollars in roaming fees on their next trip.

The post-departure benefits aren’t limited to travel insurance. For example, Global Rescue, a company that provides emergency medical evacuations, offers a mobile app that allows members to browse destination reports and alerts, activate emergency assistance, and schedule real-time virtual health visits.

simply enjoy life without the stress of mortgage payments.

I encourage you to come with your questions, your curiosity, and maybe even a friend who could benefit from this knowledge. Space is limited, so please RSVP by October 14th by calling 760-518-9839 or emailing lauras@equitysmartloans.com.

This could be the most important conversation you have this year about your financial future—I look forward to seeing you there!

Laura Strickler

Reverse Mortgage Professional

The Pastor says . . . That mysterious moon

Every month, a full moon greets us. The Farmer’s Almanac assigns a monthly moon a corresponding animal or other expression of nature. There is no significant connection, but it helps to distinguish the various months for most of us. Of course, certain cultures, such as the Chinese, have created holidays and even seasonal significance with the moon.

Before any of these seasonal identities, we have a Biblical account and purpose for the moon. In Genesis 1:1415, the author describes the act of creation as an act of God, using these words. God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and they shall serve as signs for the seasons, and for days and years; and they shall serve as lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on earth; and it was so.” God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night.” And it was so. Our understanding is that the greater light is the sun and the lesser light is the moon.

The important thing about this story is that God made the moon and will continue to be under His control even until the end of time, Joel 2:30:” I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth. The sun will turn into darkness, and the moon into blood.” These verses are sometimes taken literally but often figuratively. The moon has been around for a long time and has been a part of history’s lore.

But what really is the moon? Scientists tell us, both with their fabled instruments and more recently, through an actual visit, that it is no more than an inanimate chunk of rock with no life forms, covering an area of 14,644,855 Square miles, and receiving its reflective light from the sun. By itself, it is just a dark mass.

It is its history that intrigues humans, including me. There is little that is as impressive as a full moon, which occurs every month. It has acted as a source of belief and worship for ancient man. It has been the source of timing agricultural plantings. It has been the source of romances around the world. It has

Pastor Huls continued on page 13

Pet Parade

Plaid Pumpkin

Plaid Pumpkin is pet of the week at Rancho Coastal Humane Society. He’s a 3-yearold, 12-pound, male, Domestic Short Hair cat with a Black and White coat.

Plaid Pumpkin was lost when a good Samaritan picked him up and took him to a shelter. After nobody claimed him, Plaid Pumpkin was transferred to Rancho Coastal Humane Society through FOCAS (Friends of County Animal Shelters.)

He’s a low-to-medium energy cat. He’s chatty when he has something to tell you. Plaid Pumpkin is almost always ready for a cuddle and a cat nap.

His $100 adoption fee includes medical exam, neuter, 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 bond

Meet Bond, a handsome guy with an active yet gentle nature! Bond walks well on a leash, takes treats gently and enjoys playtime with balls. He can be a bit shy with new faces, but with a patient and gentle approach, he warms up in no time! Bond has been known to have big feelings around other dogs, so although he may not be a candidate for dog parks or other offleash venues, there are lots of other activities you can do together. He will thrive with plenty of exercise and mental enrichment. If you’re looking for a playful pup with a zest for life, Bond (959834) could be your guy! He 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 619-2997012.

Online profile: https://www.sdhumane.org/adopt/available-pets/animal-single.html?petId=959834

Pastor Huls

The Computer factory

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

The Computer Factory was barely six years old when it happened in late 2001. AI (artificial intelligence) and broad–band Internet merged to create the IW (intelligent web). The IW linked the Worlds data bases with a high speed broadband connection and provided AI to parse the data bases for solutions. In 2000 the average Internet user spent about a half an hour per day accessing the Internet with a PC. Today, A quarter century later, the average Internet user spends up to ten hours each day accessing the Internet via PC, smart phone, tablet and other devices. As the IW continued to expand its world wide data bases and improve the effec-

“What the heck?” Those were his words when a man visited the Cattery at Rancho Coastal Humane Society and saw eight cats with a whole lotta extra toes.

We had just received a mommy cat with her five kittens and two brother kittens who were still less than six months old.

The mommy cat had six toes on each paw. Her babies also had six toes on each paw. That’s a total of 144 toes.

Normally cats have four or five toes on each paw. Four and a dew claw. This mommy and her babies should have had between 96 and

What could possibly go wrong?

tiveness of its AI, the world took notice and usage patterns changed

The IW changed not so much what we do, but rather how we do it. The IW allows instant access to product information, pricing, payments and fast delivery to our home or business location. News, entertainment and movies are available when we want them and not on a fixed “network schedule”. The IW provides comparative product and price reviews allowing us to “shop” more efficiently. We may spend a lot more time on our home and portable Internet connection than we did twenty years ago but we get a lot more done with a lot less time and effort. Things like price comparisons, driving places in order to shop, searching reference materials for answers and solutions, planning activities around TV and movie schedules, paying bills, E-mail communications with friends, relatives and businesses entities. All these things and many more are much easier and faster than they were in the days before the broad-band IW arrived. To some it may seem that the ever increasing amount of time we spend on the Internet is problematic, or even an addiction. In reality the IW provides a faster, more efficient and less costly way to conduct many of our day to day activities.

The IW and its AI are only a quarter century of old and improving every day. There is the possibility that re-

liance on the IWs massive knowledge base and ever improving AI might have a negative impact on our internal intellectual resources. For over 300,000 years we have steadily built our ability to “figure things out” by building our intellectual resources. Americans born after 1994 were heavily exposed to the knowledge base of the IW and the intellectual resources of AI during their “formative years”. It appears that the availability of the knowledge base of the IW and its AI may have been internalized by the younger generation at a young age acting as a substitute for the development of natural internal cognitive resources. The possible

stunting of natural internal cognitive resource development has been indicated by a modest drop in the IQ test results among Americans under thirty.

We humans have developed a system that potentially provides near instant access to the sum of mankind’s knowledge. We have combined it with an AI that has the potential to dramatically exceed our internal cognitive resources. We invented this system that is already smarter than any individual and totally unfettered by human frailties like, love/hate, joy/sadness, generosity/greed, good/evil. What could possibly go wrong

october 14th is the

“End Of Life” for Windows 10

End of Life (EOL) is the date Microsoft stops providing free software and security upgrades for Win10. Win 10 will continue its “business as usual” operation past the EOL date but will no longer have Microsoft’s upgrades or “Windows Defender” for security. If your PC was built in 2018 or later you are entitled to an upgrade to Windows 11. The upgrade labor and file transfer typically runs between $120 and $160. PCs built prior to 2008 usually don’t qualify for an OS upgrade. With these PCs you have two options. Either stay with Windows 10 ($120-$160) or upgrade to a system that supports Windows 11 ($475-$575) Call or bring in your PC and we’ll help you figure out what option works best for you. “Enterprise refurbs” are getting scarce and many California PC shops have closed in the past year. So call us ASAP if you need help.

Refurbs, Custom Builds, Repairs, Upgrades Since 1995 845 W. SAN MARCOS BLVD • 760-744-4315 www.thecomputerfactory.net

120 toes. They had two to four dozen more than that.

The two brother cats had seven toes on each paw! SEVEN! They would have had 56 toes, but one of them had a leg amputated, so they only had 49 toes.

How did this happen? Authorities in Orange County removed 124 cats from the home of a hoarder. The cats were healthy and social, but because of years of inbreeding, there were a lot of polydactyl cats. Polydactyl translates “Many Toes.”

Rancho Coastal Humane Society had completed lots of adoptions that week so we had a few empty enclosures. The fact that the mom and kittens could share one enclosure and the two brothers could share another made it a bit easier. Orange County was overcrowded

and needed help. We transferred these cats to Rancho Coastal Humane Society through FOCAS - Friends of County Animal Services.

Polydactyl cats have long been considered a source of good luck. In the days of the tall masted sailing ships, there was less illness among the crew and less damage to cargo when there were polydactyl cats on board.

Sailors believed that it was because the cats brought good luck. It was later determined that the cats with larger paws were better at catching mice and rats, resulting in less illness and damage.

They’re also known as Mitten Cats because of the size of their paws and Hemingway’s Cats, because Earnest Hemingway preferred Polydactyl cats.

No matter how many toes or paws they have, there are cats who need homes right now. Visit a shelter or rescue. You’re sure to find good luck.

Oodles from page 3

Multi-Purpose Room. All students, current and former, and the general public are invited to attend. No RSVP required. For more information, please refer to the Foundation Website: www:ohsfoundation.org.

The nonprofit Oceanside High School (OHS) Foundation was founded in 1986 to serve the students, staff and alumni of OHS. The Foundation provides funds for student programs, scholarships and faculty grant awards to help lessen the disparity between student’s needs and District funding while also serving as a liaison and database for alumni.

***

El Camino Quilters guild meeting October 14th • 9:30am

El Camino Quilters Guild meets at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday October 14, 2025 at El Corazon Senior Center, 3302 Senior Center Dr. Oceanside 92056. Guest fee $10. Our October guest speaker is Kristie Naranjo. Her lecture is entitled “Scrappy Applique”. Her workshop, “Scrappy Applique” will be October 15, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Quilt in a Day quilt shop in San Marcos. Workshop fee: $55. For more information elcaminoquilters.com or email info@ elcaminoquilters.com. El Camino Quilters is a non-profit group. We donate hundreds of quilts and other handmade items to a variety of groups including Rady Children’s Hospital, Senior centers, hospitals, police and military groups.

***

senior service Council of Escondido Needs receptionist

There is an urgent need for reception volunteers. Responsibilities include handling phone and email inquiries, appointment scheduling, and personally greeting and directing visitors. Please call, email and/ or complete an application at the SSCE website shown below. Shifts are 9-noon Monday & Friday, and 9-noon and noon-3 Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. 760480-0611; info@sscescondido.org, https://escondido-senior-services. org/volunteer

***

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.

Man About Town from page 4

your party. Clearly, we made a mistake. We are human and humans make mistakes. Let us provide you with a hamburger, no onions, for your wife, with our compliments and apology. No charge.”

He didn’t say that. He denied all responsibility and would not budge.

I told him we clearly were not making any progress so I would file a complaint with corporate.

“Fine,” he said. And that’s where we are. Indeed, I shall file a written complaint with corporate. I shall continue to order Wendy’s Chili . . .which I love . . . but I shall avoid any and all contact with Carlos Vargas. He is, in my humble opinion, not a nice man.

I love good food . . . but I do not tolerate shoddy customer service. ***

Fort

Ord

by lyle e davis

Boarded up windows, dry yellow grasses where once was neatly manicured lawns. Empty milk carton, wind driven and tumbling over the asphalt strip where once, a long time ago, freshly polished combat boots held firm, at attention, as a young basic trainee would stand in formation, awaiting the Sergeants permission to break for breakfast in the nearby mess hall, at about 5:30am.

I think I may know that young basic trainee.

I drive by the old KD (Known Distance) range, a series of sand dunes that would create a barrier between the sea and the firing positions of thousands, if not tens of thousands, of young military trainees.

Stillwell Hall, the enlisted men’s club that stood proudly on an eroded bluff overlooking the mighty Pacific, now reduced to a boarded up building that could fall into the ocean in two weeks, or in two years. Or twenty.

A Ghost Town.

Went up to Marina, near Monterey, California, on a business trip Monday night. Had a 10am for Tuesday in Marina.

After the meeting I drove through Fort Ord, which is where I took my basic training as a young trainee back in January of 1957.

They had a special inducement for youngsters in Nebraska. Join the Army this month and you’ll do your basic training at Ft. Ord, California (instead of Ft. Leonard

Wood and/or Ft. Chaffey, Arkansas - each vying for the title of “Armpit of the World”).

About 5 of us signed up and headed for Ft. Ord. They flew us out, then put us on buses. We marveled at how attractive and well manicured the lawns were at Ft. Ord. Later, we were to learn that *we* were the reason that the lawns were so well maintained.

Six weeks of basic training. Company E, 4th Battalion, Infantry.

Not an unhappy memory. An exciting and interesting experience that I’m glad I went through. . .though I would not be anxious to relive it now. PT (Physical Training), great food, plenty of hiking (marching) out in the open air, great food, weapons training, learn how to bayonet someone, great food, learn how to throw a grenade, great food, learn how to say “Kill!!!!” real loud, great food.

A bit of a nostalgic feeling came over me as I toured the old grounds, the old buildings. Kinda liking watching “12 O’Clock High”. Most of us weren’t in England during WWII but as we watched the program most of us felt as though we *had* been.

It wasn’t depressing. That’s too strong a word. Sad, perhaps. To see a beautiful military base reduced to boarded up windows, silent buildings with not even an echo of a memory, dead or dying grass, an absence of people. Plans are afoot to make it a college campus (probably a pretty good idea. They’ve already started it. Beautiful grounds, right on the beach, sand dunes, mountains, hills, plains. . .you name it, the land pattern is there).

Acres of prime land just waiting to be developed. I would imagine the real estate developers in Monterey County are fairly drooling at the idea.

I had been back to Ft. Ord once before since I attended basic training in 1957, some 68 years ago. I think it was around 1977. It was still an active military base then and my old barracks stood proudly. Clean, well maintained. The husky noise of young men filled the halls, the showers, the squad rooms.

I found myself wondering how many young men went through here during the Vietnam War and never came back. . .or came back maimed.

I decided this was all stuff that was in my past. . .and life is for the present.

I left the base and headed back to San Jose to catch my plane home to San Diego.

I never looked back.

Benefits from page 9

“You can also keep track of the people you care about with GPS tracking and messaging,” adds Harding Bush, Global Rescue’s security operations manager.

How Travel Insurance rescued a scuba diver

So what happened to Lauren, the woman with the ear infection? Her travel insurance company connected her with another doctor in Vietnam, who said her diagnosis wasn’t that serious.

“They actually were with me throughout the entire ordeal -from the surgery needed to trying to find the correct antibiotics,” she says. Lauren was only in the hospital for a few days and was soon back to traveling and blogging about her adventures.

“Needless to say, I now always look for travel insurance with this feature,” she adds. “It is something that most travelers often overlook.”

Robert Gallagher, president of the US Travel Insurance Association, agrees.

“Many travelers don’t realize that their travel insurance policy may include a range of assistance services beyond trip cancellation and emergency medical coverage,” he says.

Gallagher says travel assistance benefits can help with lost or stolen passports, emergency cash transfers, or even arranging for replacement prescriptions and eyeglasses. Translation support in medical emergencies, security alerts for high-risk destinations, and concierge services for lastminute travel changes are also common features.

So the next time you’re traveling and you run into trouble, you might want to call your travel insurance company. Chances are, it might be able to help. You did buy travel insurance, right?

Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can email him at chris@elliott.org.

Pastor Huls from page 10

moved billions of gallons of water with its tidal power and influenced the reproductive cycles of both humans and numerous lower forms of life. The moon has been the source of inspiration for the creation of imaginary creatures, such as the werewolf. It has also influenced the development of religious cults. The very word for the moon, which comes from the Latin, is Luna and has been used in our modern world to describe such behavior as lunatic, lunacy, and loon, from which the expression has come, “crazy as a loon.”

Many religions have found their expressions in the moon. One of

MIGHTY MOJO

God’s severest judgments against the Israelites was their worship of the moon (Deuteronomy 4:19). Due to the mystery surrounding the moon, many have been captivated by its allure in their own religions. The ancient Babylonians, Buddhists, Muslims, Chinese, and even some modern religious movements. To quote from a newsletter of the OU, Open University, in Scotland, which featured an article on the moon, “The moon remains a timeless cultural symbol deeprooted in our customs and traditions.” All of us can enjoy our moment of romance with the moon by singing “By The Light Of The Silvery Moon” by Edward Madden.

Pastor Huls

The Paper

“The state of Texas was never invaded while I was on duty at Fort Sam. You could look it up!”

County adds Tiny Homes on Wheels to Housing options

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

A new housing option is now eligible to roll into unincorporated areas of the County of San Diego — Tiny Homes on Wheels.

The County’s Department of Planning & Development Services said after review, Tiny Homes on Wheels, also known as THOWs, could fit under the County’s current Zoning Ordinance that sets building standards in the unincorporated areas.

The ruling is a “significant shift” that means Tiny Homes on Wheels could qualify to be used as standalone homes on properties, or as Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) alongside existing homes in unincorporated communities.

Officials said the County is continuing to support finding new and innovative ways to create more housing and address the region’s housing shortage — while maintaining safety and neighborhood character. The addition of Tiny Homes on Wheels lines up with the County’s Housing Blueprint.

Tiny Homes on Wheels are built

like regular houses, only they’re a fraction of the size of a standard home. And unlike Accessory Dwelling Units that are built on existing properties, tiny homes, even though they are built to be stationary, can be towed to a location.

County planning officials said the addition of Tiny Homes on Wheels would help both existing homeowners and developers.

Homeowners will have more options to add flexible living space to family members, renters and senior homeowners looking to stay in their homes. Developers will have a new innovative housing option that could be built faster and more affordably than current single-family homes.

some of the County’s guidelines for Tiny Homes

• Must be used for residential dwelling and not as hotels, boarding and lodging houses.

• Cannot be larger than 430 square-feet, measuring from the inside face of their walls, and no taller than one-story.

• Cannot have slide or pop-out features that increase the square footage of their living space.

• Must adhere to the County Zon-

ing Ordinance’s allowable density — the number of homes allowed on a single lot.

• Must include permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation, and have only one kitchen.

• Shall be connected to electric, water and sewer utilities and receive the required building permits.

• Must meet fire-safety regulations: be made with non-combustible exteriors including stucco, masonry, cement fiber board, or metal; be built with dual-glazed windows, Class A roofs.

• Must include residential fire sprinkler systems, unless they’re being used as Accessible Dwelling Units rather than standalone homes and qualify for the ADU exemption.

• Cannot move under their own power.

• Be parked or installed on paved pads that include bumper guards, curbs or other installations necessary to prevent it from moving.

A complete list of the County’s Tiny Homes on Wheels requirements can be found on the County Planning & Development Services’ website at sandiegocounty.gov

Over the last 38 years, the San Marcos Community Foundation has given almost $2 million, over 830 grants to more than 330 different organizations. But they still have only just over $1.3 million in the endowment. In 1987 San Marcos had around 19,000 residents but today almost 100,000 people call San Marcos home. We have grown from being a farming community with lots of chickens and cows to host two universities, a new Kaiser hospital, biotech firms, and so much more. But those new residents don’t know anything about the San Marcos Community Foundation, even thought they, or their parents or their children have likely been beneficiaries of those grants through organizations like The Boys and Girls Club, Feeding San Diego, Mama’s Kitchen, The Elizabeth Hospice, and so many more.

The Foundation is looking to create a donor base, which they have never had, and even identify people who will name us in their estate plans so that they can continue to support the great work that so many non-profit organizations do in our San Marcos community.

first, 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

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9016208

The name of the business: LVR

Cyber Tech, located at 150 E. Rancho Santa Fe Rd., Spc 83, San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant, Leonardo Velasquez, 150 E. Rancho Santa Fe Rd., Spc 83, San Marcos, CA 92078. This business is operated by an Individual.

First day of business: N/A /s/ Leonardo Velasquez with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 8/22/2025

9/4, 9/11, 9/18, 9/25/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9016457

The name of the business: V&M Tax Services, located at 744 Grand Ave., Suite 101, San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant, Veronica Infante, 722 Rena Dr., Oceanside, CA 92057. This business is operated by an Individual.

First day of business: 7/1/2025 /s/ Veronica Infante with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 8/27/2025

9/4, 9/11, 9/18, 9/25/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9016680

The name of the business: AllStar Smog Oceanside Inc., located at 2017 Oceanside Blvd., Ste A, Oceanside, CA 92054. Registrant, All-Star Smog Oceanside Inc., 2017 Oceanside Blvd., Ste A, Oceanside, CA 92054. This business is operated by an F.A. Corporation.

First day of business: 7/21/2025

/s/ Thomas Dotts, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 8/29/2025

9/4, 9/11, 9/18, 9/25/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9016590

The name of the business: Rea Creatives, Rea-Rachel Ames Photography, Rea Talent, Rea Coaching, located at 3331 Lile Street, Oceanside, CA 92056. Registrant, Rachel Elizabeth Ames, 3331 Lile Street, Oceanside, CA 92056. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 1/2/2007 /s/ Rachel Elizabeth Ames with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 8/28/2025

9/4, 9/11, 9/18, 9/25/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9016935

The name of the business: Sarabia Clean & Haul Solutions, located at 305 W. San Marcos Blvd., Apt 69, San Marcos, CA 92069. Registrant, Erica Sarabia, 305 W. San Marcos Blvd., Apt 69, San Marcos, CA 92069, Ruben Sarabia, 305 W. San Marcos Blvd., Apt 69, San Marcos, CA 92069. This business is operated by a Married Couple.

First day of business: 9/4/2025

/s/ Erica Sarabia with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 9/4/2025

9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9017051

The name of the business: Allied Financial Network, Voyager Marine Insurance, located at 2736 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, CA 92106. Registrant, AFN Inc., 2736 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, CA 92106. This business is operated by a Corporation.

First day of business: 9/4/1990 /s/ Steven Bonner, President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD

County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 9/4/2025

9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9015964

The name of the business: Ritz Cleaners, located at 4645 Frazee Rd., Ste B, Oceanside, CA 92057. Registrant, Yvonne McLaughlin Gomez, 788 Carnation Lane, Fallbrook, CA 92028. This business is operated by an Individual.

First day of business: N/A /s/ Yvonne Gomez with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 8/20/2025 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9016861

The name of the business: HValley Tools, located at 929 Poinsettia Ave., Suite 101, Vista, CA 92081. Registrant, American General Tool Group, 929 Poinsettia Ave., Suite 101, Vista, CA 92081. This business is operated by a Corporation.

First day of business: 9/2/2025 /s/ Altaf Godil, Secretary of Corporation with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 9/3/2025 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9016850

The name of the business: The Stu., located at 3439 Royal Rd., Vista, CA 92084. Registrant, Liz Ream Inc., 3439 Royal Rd., Vista, CA 92084. This business is operated by a Corporation. First day of business: 9/3/2025 /s/ Virginia Elizabeth Anne Ream, President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 9/3/2025 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9015077

The name of the business: Eversun Beauty & Wellness, located at 1784 La Costa Meadows Drive, Ste 101, San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant, Itan Franchising Inc., 1784 La Costa MEadows Drive, Ste 101, San Marcos, CA 92078. This business is operated by a Corporation.

First day of business: 4/11/2025 /s/ Faraje Kharsa, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 8/6/2025 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9015969

The name of the business: Antone Strategic Insurance Solutions, located at 701 Palomar Airport Rd., Ste 300, Carlsbad, CA 92011. Registrant, The Antone Financial Group Inc., 701 Palomar Airport Rd., Ste 300, Carlsbad, CA 92011. This business is operated by a Corporation.

First day of business: 7/15/2025

/s/ Gary Antone, President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 8/20/2025 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9016752

The name of the business: African Buffalo, located at 1182 High Bluff Ave., San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant, Jingli Guo, 1182 High Bluff Ave., San Marcos, CA 92078, Xiguan Zhang, 1182 High Bluff Ave., San Marcos, CA 92078. This business is operated by a Married Couple.

First day of business: N/A

LEGALS

/s/ Jingli Guo with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 9/2/2025

9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9016189

The name of the business: Curry Express, located at 215 S. El Camino Real, Suite G, Encinitas, CA 92024. Registrant, Curry Express Encinitas LLC, 215 S. El Maino Real, Suite G, Encinitas, CA 92024. This business is operated by a Limited Liability Company.

First day of business: N/A /s/ Ransit Singh, Manager with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 8/22/2025 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9016754

The name of the business: Snacky Nails, located at 2000 S. Melrose Dr., Apt 105, Vista, CA 92081. Registrant, Rddi Corp., 2000 S. Melrose Dr., Apt 105, Vista, CA 92081. This business is operated by a Corporation. First day of business: N/A /s/ Dina Kuchmenova, President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 9/2/2025 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9015004

The name of the business: North County Auto, located at 515 Oceanside Blvd., Oceanside, CA 92054. Registrant, North County Auto, 515 Oceanside Blvd., Oceanside, CA 92054. This business is operated by a Corporation.

First day of business: 8/1/2018 /s/ Abdullah Karimi, President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 8/5/2025 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9016078

The name of the business: The Painting and Wallpaper Collective, located at 527 N. Highway 101, Ste E, Solana Beach, CA 92075. Registrant, The Wallpaper Collective, 527 N. Highway 101, Ste E, Solana Beach, CA 92075. This business is operated by a Corporation.

First day of business: N/A /s/ Nir Berkovich, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 8/21/2025 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9017235

The name of the business: Olive Speech & Language Therapy, located at 549 West Bobier Drive, #205, Vista, CA 92083. Registrant, Olive Speech And Language Therapy PC, 549 West Bobier Drive, #205, Vista, CA 92083. This business is operated by a Corporation.

First day of business: 6/12/2024 /s/ Janelle Mills, President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 9/8/2025 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9015365

The name of the business: The Green Nook Collection, Gaia’s Garden, located at 2319 E. Valley Parkway, Ste A., Escondido, CA 92027. Registrant, K2C Consulting, 2205 Weatherby Ave., Escondido, CA 92027. This business is operated by a Limited Liability Company. First day of business: 7/24/2025

/s/ Christina Adams-Harris, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 8/11/2025 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/9/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9017569

The name of the business: SoCal Slavic Hair Extensions, located at 4426 Springtime Dr., Oceanside, CA 92056. Registrant, Tetiana Sysoyev, 4426 Springtime Dr., Oceanside, CA 92056. This business is operated by an Individual.

First day of business: 9/11/2025

/s/ Tetiana Sysoyev with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 9/11/2025

9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9018104

The name of the business: Select Tooling & Consultiong, located at 3587 Seafarer Dr., Oceanside, CA 92054. Registrant, John Jury, 3587 Seafarer Dr., Oceanside, CA 92054. This business is operated by an Individual.

First day of business: 9/19/2025 /s/ John Jury with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 9/19/2025

9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9017593

The name of the business: bird Rock Mortgage, located at 2184 Opal Ridge, Vista, CA 92081. Registrant, Gilberto Lebron Ramos Jr., 2184 Opal Ridge, Vista, CA 92081. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Gilberto Lebron Ramos Jr. with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 9/12/2025

9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9017774

The name of the business: Door Dorks Inc., Door Dorks, located at 968 Rancheros Drive, Unit R, San Marcos, CA 92069. Registrant, Door Dorks inc., PO Box 460163, Escondido, CA 92046. This business is operated by a Corporation.

First day of business: 3/14/2022 /s/ Jason Elliott Cessna, President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 9/16/2025

9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9017831

The name of the business: The Beetroot Company, located at 895 Park Blvd., Unit 344, San Diego, CA 92101. Registrant, CK Commerce US, Inc., 895 Park Blvd., #344, San Diego, CA 92101. This business is operated by a Corporation.

First day of business: 9/16/2025 /s/ Kostyantyn Cherednychenko, CEO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 9/16/2025 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9016755

The name of the business: America’s Fund, Semper Fi Fund, located at 1951 Plaza Real Circle, Oceanside, CA 92056. Registrant, Semper Fi And Americas Fund, 715 Broadway St., MCB Quantico, VA 22134. This business is operated by a Corporation.

First day of business: 5/17/2004 /s/ Thomas Benoit, CFO with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 9/2/2025

10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9017141

The name of the business: San Diego Closet Pros, located at 120 N. Pacific Street, Suite B-2, San Marcos, CA 92069. Registrant, Miller Millworks Inc., 120 N. Pacific Street, Suite B-2, San Marcos, CA 92069. This business is operated by a Corporation.

First day of business: 9/5/2025

/s/ Timothy Miller, President with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 9/5/2025 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9018627

The name of the business: Vedic Horizon, located at 10915 Bonjon Ln., San Diego, CA 92131. Registrant, Sethumadhavan Ravichandran, 10915 Bonjon Ln., San Diego, CA 92131. This business is operated by an Individual.

First day of business: 9/25/2025

/s/ Sethumadhavan Ravichandran with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 9/26/2025 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9017113

The name of the business: Alluvial Design Studios, D I G Landscape Maintenance, located at 4454 Santa Monica Ave., San Diego, CA, 92107. Registrant, Martin Armstrong, 4454 Santa Monica Ave., San Diego, CA 92107. This business is operated by an Individual.

First day of business: 9/1/2025 /s/ Martin Armstrong with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 9/5/2025 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9017938

The name of the business: Palace Cabinetry, located at 430 Cribbage Lane, Suite C, San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant, Rafael Reyes, 430 Cribbage Lane, Suite C, San Marcos, CA 92078. This business is operated by an Individual.

First day of business: 7/20/2015 /s/ Rafael Reyes with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 9/18/2025 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9018263

The name of the business: LD Landscaping, located at 3709 Linda Vista Drive, San Marcos, CA 92078. Registrant, Rigoberto A. Juarez Paredez, 3709 Linda Vista Drive, San Marcos, CA 92078. This business is operated by an Individual.

First day of business: 9/22/2025

/s/ Rigoberto A. Juarez Paredez with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 9/22/2025 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9018434

The name of the business: Earthly Glow Esthetics, located at 576 E. Mission Rd., San Marcos, CA 92069. Registrant, Yesenia Felix, 576 E. Mission Rd., San Marcos, CA 92069. This business is operated by an Individual.

First day of business: N/A /s/ Yesenia Felix with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 9/24/2025 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9016877

The name of the business: Gratefully Recovering, located at 4603 Sheridan Road, Oceanside, CA 92056. Registrant, Julianna McCoy Mansfield, 4603 Sheridan Road, Oceanside, CA 92056. This business is operated by an Individual.

First day of business: N/A /s/ Julianna McCoy Mansfield with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 9/3/2025 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9018823

The name of the business: North Colunty Excavation, located at 7237 Columbine Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92011. Registrant, Anthony Mark Tyrone Beckett, 7232 Columbine Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92011. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: N/A /s/ Anthony Beckett with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/ Recorder of San Diego on 10/1/2025

10/9, 10/16, 10/23/ 10/30/2025

sTaTEmENT of abaNdoNmENT of usE of fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE: 2025-9018822

Checked Right Services, located at 7232 Columbine Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92011. The Fictitious Business Name referred to above was filed in San Diego County on 5/16/2025 and assigned file no. 2023-9009751. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IS BEING ABANDONED BY: Anthony Mark Tyrone Beckett, 7232 Columbine Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92011. This business is conducted by an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1000).

/s/Anthony Beckett

This statement was filed with the San Diego Recorder/County clerk on 10/1/2025. 10/9, 10/16, 10/23/ 10/30/2025

fiCTiTious busiNEss NamE

sTaTEmENT 2025-9018755

The name of the business: Madelein’s Produce, located at 13250 Civic Center Dr., Apt 3, Poway, CA 92064. Registrant, Madelein Nunez Ayala, 13250 Civic Center Dr., Apt 3, Poway, CA 92064. This business is operated by an Individual. First day of business: 9/30/2025 /s/ Madelein Nunez Ayala with Jordan Z. Marks, SD County Clerk/Recorder of San Diego on 9/30/2025 10/9, 10/16, 10/23/ 10/30/2025