Friday to Sunday Jan 12-14, 2024

January 12-14, 2024

San Juan

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Giants vs Criollos: Winter League Baseball Finals to Open in Carolina P27

‘We Do Not Have the Necessary Tools’ Photo: Griselle Rosario

Police Bureau Psychologist Calls for More Mental Health Resources for Officers

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Senate Approves Incentive for Tax Year 2023

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NOTICIAS EN ESPAÑOL P 16

Governor Ascribes Dearth of Trauma Care in the West to Shortage of Specialists, Funds for Unit Upgrades P5

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The San Juan Daily Star

GOOD MORNING 3

January 12-14, 2024

The San Juan Daily Star, the only paper with News Service in English in Puerto Rico, publishes 7 days a week, with a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday edition, along with a Weekend Edition to cover Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Police Bureau psychologist calls for more mental health resources for officers

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psychologist at the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB) said the agency has few resources to help police officers deal with working conditions that make them prone to stress and anxiety, among other mental conditions.

Juan Carlos Centeno López, director of the PRPB’s Psychology and Social Work Division, spoke at a hearing of the House Public Safety Committee on House Resolution 663, which calls for a probe into the working conditions of police officers.

Public Safety Department (DSP by its Spanish initials) officials appeared at the public hearing chaired by Rep. Luis “Narmito” Ortiz Lugo.

Centeno López stated that current working conditions have adversely affected personnel. ‘’These working conditions make them prone to experiencing stress, depression, anxiety, and many other situations that require the best treatment available in response to the commitment and responsibility of these officials,” he said. ‘’The State must provide them with the best tools for help, rehabilitation and crisis management, without their being singled out for the situation they are going through,’’ he added.

Given the situation, Centeno López said, the Psychology and Social Work Division only has 21 employees serving 11,500 police officers.

‘’There are 17 psychologists, three social workers, and a secretary, and we do not have the necessary tools or [sufficient] personnel to conduct periodic evaluations effectively,” he said. “Currently, each psychologist has around 40 to 50 referrals.”

Likewise, Centeno López noted that the division he heads also administers the Employee Assistance Program, which is designed to help employees and their immediate family. The program is divided into four sections: Central, Northeast, South and East.

Centeno López emphasized that thousands of police officers have received services from the Psychology and Social Work Division. ‘’In 2020, there were 1,309 referrals; in 2021, 1,394; in 2022, 1,253; and in 2023, 1,564,” he said. ‘’We are committed to addressing issues related to the employment conditions of police officers and the civilian personnel who support them, so we actively work by carefully reviewing each of the services or benefits that assist them,” Centeno López said. “We support the discussion and analysis of proposals that not only allow access to mental health services, but we are also firmly committed to making efforts to improve them. We will do justice to our police officers given the high risk of their work.”

Ortiz Lugo stated that it is “necessary to continue looking for the necessary alternatives in favor of the uniformed police and in that direction be fair to these officials who encounter so much risk and deserve healthy working conditions.”

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Rep. Luis R. Ortiz Lugo, chairman of the House Security Commission (Tammy Olivencia)

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The San Juan Daily Star

January 12-14, 2024

Senate approves incentive for tax year 2023

By THE STAR STAFF

T

he island Senate on Thursday approved House Joint Resolution 583, which allocates $250 million to the Treasury Department from the General Fund in order to finance the costs related to providing an incentive to certain individuals for the 2023 tax year.

“We downloaded the measure because it is simple and we want to approve it as soon as possible so that the Secretary of the Treasury can make the necessary changes,” Senate Finance Committee Chairman Juan Zaragoza Gómez said in a written statement. “This allocates $250 million, and establishes the methodology for people to file their returns and the Secretary of the Treasury to make a hypothetical calculation of how much that contribution would have been if the tax rates included in the Reform bill that is on the governor’s desk and it has not been signed.”

Zaragoza Gómez also noted that the amount that people

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Juan Zaragoza Gómez will receive depends on each person’s taxable income. In general terms, if your taxable income is less than $100,000, you receive a refund of 8 percent of your tax liability; if it is more than that

amount, you receive a 4 percent refund.

“The tax liability is what they took from you during the year, plus what you paid,” the senator added.

At the same time, the second conference report on House Bill 1593 was approved, which proposes amending the “Gaming Machines Law” to provide retirees from the Puerto Rico Police with a payment of at least 50% of their income. Likewise, it seeks to regulate the number of gambling machines per business and their prizes. In addition, it seeks to establish the period in which wholesale owners will be able to pay for all the machine licenses to which they are entitled.

As established in the measure, through the approval of this Law, “the public policy regarding the withdrawal for the Police is expanded, in accordance with the collections received from gambling machines in the street.”

“Government collections are not affected, since the income would be available in the trust created to grant the corresponding benefits,” the bill reads.

Lawmaker running for mayor in Arecibo sounds alarm on coastal erosion

By THE STAR STAFF

R

ep. José “Memo” González Mercado, a candidate for mayor of Arecibo, asked Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience of Puerto Rico (COR3) Executive Director Manuel Laboy Rivera on Thursday to expedite the disbursement of some $35 million allocated for projects to mitigate the effects of coastal erosion, including in the Arecibo community of Radioville.

The legislator also filed a resolution to order the Committee for the Development and Oversight of the Northwest Region in the island House of Representatives to investigate the status of the project to mitigate the effect of coastal erosion in the aforementioned

community.

“The families who reside in the Radioville de Arecibo urbanization urgently need the development of a coastal erosion mitigation project,” González Mercado said. “We have been working on this issue for five years now.

In 2022, COR3 finally began the process to receive proposals for this project, one of the most important in our municipality, at a cost of $34 million; however, work has not yet begun. We need agility now. There is no reason not to act.”

If the issue of erosion is not addressed, the lawmaker said, a new sanitary trunk developed and installed in the area five years ago could collapse due to the undermining of the land.

“It is common knowledge that residents of the Municipality of Arecibo have been im-

pacted by the problem of coastal erosion,” he said. “The situation has evolved in such a way that it adversely affects the safety and quality of life of our citizens. An example of this was

the dramatic case reported in the community of Radioville, where erosion impacted the storm drain system and its roads in 2019. It’s time to act now.”

Part of the $35 million allocated for projects to mitigate the effects of coastal erosion is needed in the Arecibo community of Radioville, says Rep. José González Mercado.

The San Juan Daily Star

January 12-14, 2024

5

Governor ascribes dearth of trauma care in the west to shortage of specialists, funds for unit upgrades

By THE STAR STAFF

G

ov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia on Thursday expressed concern about the shortage of medical specialists in the Mayagüez Trauma Center.

“I understand that the biggest obstacle to having a comprehensive trauma center is the lack of specialized medical personnel who want to work in that area,” the governor said.

“That is the information that reaches me. It comes to me, for example, from the hospital itself that is operating right there in Mayagüez and that has limited trauma facilities and that has difficulty attracting doctors to work in that area. That is why the main trauma center we have is the Medical Center [in Río Piedras] and that is why patients are transported by air, by helicopter to the Medical Center.”

He noted that there are other complications such as the lack of funds to improve the facilities of the Mayagüez Trauma Center. While the Legislature allocated funds, the former mayor of Mayagüez used them for other purposes.

“We are taking measures to prevent the emigration of

Gov. Pedro Pierluisi

doctors and to attract more doctors,” Pierluisi said. “We have increased the number of medical residencies in Puerto Rico by more than 40; an increase of 100 additional residencies is already planned. We have increased the payment given to residents in these medical residences, requiring them to care for Plan Vital patients for two years after completing

their residencies.”

He also noted improvements in the payments to doctors under the Vital Plan.

“We are making strong, assertive efforts with the secretary of Health of the United States, Javier Becerra, to improve the charges or pay that Advantage plans receive subject to improving the rates they pay to doctors,” he added.

Andrew Rodríguez Vega complained about the lack of a neurosurgeon to treat his gravely ill mother, who had internal brain bleeding.

“No neurosurgeon wants to take her case,” he said. “It hurts very much,” he said.

The STAR reported on Wednesday that Evelyn Vázquez Nieves, who is bidding to become the first female mayor of Mayagüez next November, announced that she had met with island Health Secretary Carlos Mellado López regarding “the most important issues at the Mayagüez Medical Center.”

“He agreed, at our request, to include the Mayagüez Medical Center in the new network of trauma centers in Puerto Rico,” the former senator said.

Pool safety for toddlers promoted in House

By THE STAR STAFF

I

n an effort to strengthen safety measures in homes with swimming pools and prevent tragedies related to the drowning of minors, Rep. José “Ché” Pérez Cordero on Thursday filed House Bill 1900, which establishes the “Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act in Puerto Rico.”

The proposed legislation, which came the day after the tragic death of a three-year-old girl in Gurabo who drowned in a swimming pool -- the most recent of such incidents in Puerto Rico -- aims to establish minimum safety standards for homes with swimming pools on the island, especially those where one or more children under the age of 6 reside.

The bill calls for the installation of security fences with alarms, as well as the development of an intervention protocol by the Institute of Forensic Sciences in cases of apparent drowning of children under 6 years of age in swimming pools.

Pérez Cordero emphasized the importance of adult shared responsibility in preventing swimming pool-related accidents

and tragedies.

“We have witnessed recent cases of accidents and deaths of minors in swimming pools, which motivates us to legislate to ensure greater safety and prevent such unfortunate incidents,” he said. “It is important to look for alternatives that have been effective in other jurisdictions and that have had the result of preventing these situations, thus safeguarding the lives of minors.”

The legislation sets specific requirements for swimming pool safety fences, considered the most effective way to prevent the accidental drowning of young children.

Fences must have an automatic safety lock, ensuring that they cannot be left open by carelessness. In addition, the opening and closing system must not be accessible for manipulation by a child, and the minimum height of the fence around the pool must be 48 inches. The preparation of such regulations will fall to the Department of Public Safety, the legislator added.

Failure to comply with the proposed requirements could result in fines of up to $5,000 and would be considered an

aggravating circumstance of liability under the proposed legislation.

The measure is before the House Committee on Public Safety, Science and Technology.

Rep. José Pérez Cordero

Roadwork renewal completed at Ponce airport

By THE STAR STAFF

P

uerto Rico Ports Authority (PRPA) Executive Director Joel A. Pizá Batiz announced Thursday that after an investment of $547,600, the roadway rehabilitation project at Mercedita International Airport in Ponce has been completed.

Pizá Batiz said the project, which involved the main thoroughfare and access road at the airport, also impacted the access road to the cargo, general aviation and Air Rescue Unit areas. Among the benefits

of the project, he emphasized that it improves road safety, promotes the rapid response of the Air Rescue Unit to incidents on the airport premises, as well as of the personnel who work at the Police Headquarters attached to the airport.

In addition, it allows the airport operator to raise the level of service to passengers and airlines.

“These roads are of particular importance to the economy of the southern region, as they are the access to passenger and cargo operations, as well as other services offered from this airport,” the Ports chief said.

“I thank all the parties involved in achieving this project of vital importance for the aviation industry, tourism and for the people in general.”

The work, which took three months and was performed by contractor A&M Solution, consisted of the rehabilitation of the asphalt pavement by milling some 1,200 cubic meters of the existing layer and laying 3,000 tons of new asphalt. Base sections were also restored in certain areas. In some spots, the base was rebuilt to improve the structural capacity of the pavement.

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January 12-14, 2024

The San Juan Daily Star

Island EV infrastructure to benefit from $51 million federal injection

By THE STAR STAFF

T

he U.S. Department of Transportation approved a grant of $51.48 million for the development of charging and alternative fuel supply areas for electric vehicles in Puerto Rico, Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia announced Thursday.

“This allocation of funds to create a network infrastructure of chargers for electric vehicles on public roads is great news for the goal we have set for ourselves of having a cleaner and more resilient Puerto Rico,” the governor said. “This is the result of the teamwork between the Department of Transportation and Public Works [DTOP by its Spanish acronym], the Highways and Transportation Authority [HTA] and the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration in Washington that together managed to get a proposal approved so that the island would have access to this money.”

“I thank President Biden’s administration for this grant, and we will make sure to expedite the use of these funds,” he added.

DTOP Secretary Eileen Vélez Vega said the new federal grant will allow the establishment of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and the supply of alternative fuels in public places such as public roads, schools, parks and

Transportation and Public Works Secretary Eileen Vélez Vega

public access parking lots.

“This is part of the Freight and Refueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program, a new grant program created

by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Act,” she said.

HTA Executive Director Edwin González Montalvo added that “we continue to be focused on executing Governor Pierluisi’s vision for safer, more resilient and

eco-friendly roads for all Puerto Ricans.” “This initiative from the federal government reaffirms the affirmative steps that this administration has taken to create a network of long-distance electric chargers to promote a more eco-friendly Puerto Rico for everyone,” he said.

DTOP and its attached agencies have been successful in obtaining other federal grants through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act from the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, and Federal Aviation Administration. They are competitive grants that Puerto Rico is maximizing to continue transforming transportation infrastructure and services in Puerto Rico, Vélez Vega said.

“We have developed close communication with the Federal Department of Transportation, which helps us identify and maximize the use of available federal funds,” she noted.

Separately, the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (PREB) ordered LUMA Energy in 2022 to evaluate EV adoption in Puerto Rico. PREB told the private operator of the island’s transmission and distribution system to focus on low-income customers and develop a plan that considers the unique mobility challenges of low- and moderate-income households, ensuring that the benefits of clean transportation are broadly shared.

Economic Development Bank rebounds, and then some, from 2021 deficit

By THE STAR STAFF

T

he Economic Development Bank of Puerto Rico (EDB) has rebounded since its bleak outlook in 2021, when the possibility of closure of the institution, which since 1985 was the main financing alternative for small and midsize entrepreneurs, had been raised, EDB President Luis Alemañy González said Thursday.

By February 2021, when he assumed the presidency, Alemañy González, who opposed the execution of the closure plan, decided along with his work team to rebuild the EDB, which had been responsible for the success of so many Puerto Rican entrepreneurs.

At the end of 2023, Alemañy González shared the formula for the radical turnaround of the institution, which previously had a deficit of $44 million and now is at $133 million in the black. The EDB has already recovered its financial stability and capitalization, increased its loan portfolio and projects itself as a real alternative for access to capital for new entrepreneurs and startups, among others.

It also has extremely attractive interest rates, which represents a competitive advantage, since the institution is not affected by the increase in interest rates imposed by the Federal Reserve.

In addition, the bank has obtained a significant reduction in the nonperforming loans (NPL) ratio, “from 60% in 2021, to 18% in 2022 and 7% in 2023,” the EDB

president noted.

Alemañy González added that the EDB is being more aggressive in the analysis of the financing cases in process that are currently in the pipeline for a total of some $65 million, some of which exceed a historical borrowing margin of $1 million.

“It is with great satisfaction that today we see the result of a plan that we established and was executed in an excellent way and with the effort of all the staff, bearing in mind our commitment and responsibility toward entrepreneurs who have the desire to establish their businesses and need an alternative that adjusts to their particular realities,” Alemañy González said.

He also emphasized that among the achievements that contributed to the EDB’s liquidity and stabilization was the work done to achieve a million-dollar restructuring of the bank’s debt.

It also contributed to capitalization, a request they submitted to the U.S. Treasury Department for which they received a historic allocation of funds, through the State Small Business Credit Initiative program.

During 2023, under a matching program with other financial institutions, the EDB impacted some 20 small and midsize merchants and new entrepreneurs by helping sectors such as restaurants, tourism, retail, services, agricultural production, agritourism, biosciences and renewable energy, among others.

Economic Development Bank President Luis Alemañy González

The San Juan Daily Star

January 12-14, 2024

7

Conservatives revolt anew over Johnson deal to avert shutdown

By CATIE EDMONSON

C

onservatives thrust the House back into chaos earlier this week, grinding business to a halt in protest of the spending deal Speaker Mike Johnson struck with Democrats to avert a government shutdown and leaving the funding package in limbo.

A dozen hard-line Republicans defected from the party line to tank a routine procedural measure, blocking consideration of a pair of GOP bills in what amounted to a warning shot by members of the ultraconservative Freedom Caucus that they would not stand for the agreement. As the measure failed, members of the group could be seen in animated discussion with Johnson and his deputies on the House floor.

The Republican revolt underscored Johnson’s predicament in trying to steer the spending deal through the closely divided House, where it has enraged a sizable bloc of Republicans, while keeping his grip on his job. The upheaval came as it was becoming clear that Congress would most likely have to resort to yet another short-term spending patch — something Johnson had previously ruled out — to buy time to push a bipartisan deal to fund the government.

The scene on the House floor Wednesday was a procedural protest that was once seen as all but unthinkable in the chamber but that right-wing lawmakers used repeatedly last year against then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy to protest his spending deals before they eventually deposed him.

Now, Johnson, R-La., finds himself facing the same kind of challenge just three months into his speakership, as he searches for a way to avoid a politically disastrous shutdown. Right-wing lawmakers say they would prefer a shuttered government to funding bills that keep spending essentially flat, rather than slashing it as they have demanded.

“We’re making a statement that the deal as has been announced — that doesn’t cut our spending and is going to be passed apparently under suspension of the rules with predominantly Democrat votes — is unacceptable,” Rep. Bob Good of Virginia, the chair of the Freedom Caucus, told reporters.

The agreement announced over the weekend by Johnson and Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the majority leader, essentially

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) at the Capitol in Washington, on Jan. 10, 2024. A dozen hard-line Republicans ground business to a halt in protest of the deal Speaker Mike Johnson struck with Democrats to avert a shutdown, leaving the funding package in limbo.

(Kenny Holston/The New York Times)

have a two-vote margin in only one chamber,” he said. “Only in the House is where we have the majority. And so we have to work with the numbers we have and get the best we can.”

The blowup on the House floor Wednesday came as Johnson is laboring to figure out how to translate the agreement into legislation that can be passed into law in just a matter of days, before a pair of shutdown deadlines that begin Jan. 19.

Lawmakers on the Senate and House appropriations panels are now trying to break down the total spending agreed to into 12 individual spending bills that fund the government.

In any year, it is an arduous process.

This year’s work has become all the more complicated because House Republicans filled their funding bills with deep spending cuts and conservative policy dictates that Democrats refused to entertain.

Publicly and privately, lawmakers in both parties have conceded that it is unlikely those 12 bills can be negotiated, written and passed before the first shutdown deadline — meaning that lawmakers would need to pass a temporary stopgap spending bill, known as a continuing resolution or CR, to prevent a partial government shutdown.

“The obvious question is how long does the CR need to be?” Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the minority leader, said Tuesday.

Johnson previously pledged that he was “done” with such stopgap measures — the type of bills the right flank of his conference detests — after he passed one in November using Democratic votes to avert a shutdown.

He refused on Wednesday to tip his hand on whether he would put such a bill on the House floor.

“We’re going to advance this, we’re going to push it aggressively, and I’m very hopeful we meet the deadlines,” he said.

hews to the bargain that President Joe Biden it’s the best possible deal that conservatives struck with McCarthy last year to suspend and Republicans could get under these the debt ceiling. The hard right angrily circumstances.” opposed that measure, which passed the But conservative hard-liners in his House with mostly Democratic votes, and conference were livid about the deal and had hoped to scale back. It also includes vented their frustration at a closed-door $69 billion in spending that was added in a meeting Wednesday morning, claiming that side agreement, which conservatives sought Johnson had surrendered to Democrats by to block altogether. honoring the deal McCarthy had negotiated.

Johnson has argued that the deal is the “We cannot fight and fold at the same best Republicans could hope for, given their time,” said Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, tiny majority in the House and Democrats’ who was visibly furious as he left the meeting. control of the Senate and White House.

In an interview on Fox News, Johnson He has pointed to measures on which said he shared the irritation of his ultraconRepublicans insisted to help offset the cost of servative colleagues but was not in a position the package, including speeding up $10 bi- to deliver what they were demanding. llion in cuts to IRS enforcement and clawing “I’m frustrated too, but remember we back $6 billion in unspent COVID dollars and other •Venta • Instalación y Servicio emergency funds, and SU CENTRO DE PIEZAS PARA PUERTAS called the agreement “a down payment on resY PORTONES ELÉCTRICOS toring us to fiscal sanity Contamos con la línea más completa de Operadores in this country.”

Industriales, Comerciales y Residenciales.

APROVECHA “It was a tough neVentas al por mayor y al detal.

LOS ESPECIALES DE NUESTRO gotiation,” Johnson said 30 ANIVERSARIO Wednesday at a news conference in the Capitol.

Ave. Muñoz Marín C-12 • Urb Caguax • Caguas, P.R. • www.lacasadelosportones.com “We got it done. I think

787-258-1400 • 743-2780

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The San Juan Daily Star

January 12-14, 2024

As DeSantis and Haley tore into each other, Trump emerged unscathed

By JONATHAN WEISMAN

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who needs a strong showing in Iowa before the nomination contest shifts to New Hampshire, where Haley is on the rise and the Florida governor has slid far behind. To that end, DeSantis repeatedly accused his rival on the stage of being a “mealy-mouthed,” untrustworthy Republican who failed to enact conservative policies as South Carolina’s governor and who embodies “the pale pastels of the warmed-over corporatism” of an antiquated brand of Republicanism.

Haley repeatedly referred viewers to a website called DeSantisLies.com to parry his jabs, and used his campaign’s struggles for altitude to push back, saying “he’s lying because he’s losing.”

“You’re so desperate, Ron,” she said after he attacked her for favoring a higher retirement age for Social Security and Medicare.

“You’re just so desperate.”

Going head-to-head on television at the same time as his rivals’ debate, Trump had an hourlong town hall on Fox News, also broadcast from Des Moines, where he faced a largely friendly audience and looked past the nomination fight to the general election.

The entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who did not qualify for the CNN debate, has been campaigning furiously but remains a remote fourth place in the Republican field. He instead held a live podcast taping Wednesday at his Des Moines campaign headquarters with Tim Pool, the right-wing commentator, which lasted over 2 1/2 hours.

or two hours, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and former Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina shared a debate stage in Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday night, trading jabs, calling each other liars, and taking some significant shots at the man who was not in the building, former President Donald Trump.

Five days out from the Iowa caucuses, DeSantis and Haley articulated some sharp policy differences on the government’s role in business, the future of Social Security and how to counter China. Both have spent months battling for second place in the first state to cast votes in the 2024 campaign, and tempers flared at each other more often than vitriol was directed at the absent front-runner.

But prodded by CNN’s moderators, Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, both took sharp issue with Trump’s claim in court this week that a president is immune from prosecution for criminal actions beyond a congressional impeachment. Haley condemned Trump’s false and continuous claims that the election of 2020 was stolen from him: “That election, Trump lost it. Biden won that election,” she said, stating clearly something many Republican voters have indicated they do not believe. DeSantis warned that a “liberal jury” in Washington is likely to convict Trump for trying to overturn the election.

“I don’t think he gets through that,” he said of the looming trial, before asking, “What are we going to do as Republicans if Trump is the nominee” and he has been convicted of a felony?

The withdrawal on Wednesday of former Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey from the Republican presidential race shook up the nomination fight just before the debate. With Christie out, many of his voters Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican presidential are expected to shift to candidate, greets the crowd after delivering remarks at Haley. the Associated General Contractors of Iowa conference That put the im- in Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 10, 2024. (Ruth Fremson/The perative on DeSantis, New York Times)

The San Juan Daily Star

January 12-14, 2024

9

Trump delivers final words of his closing arguments in fraud trial

By JONAH E. BROMWICH, BEN PROTESS and KATE CHRISTOBEK

F

ormer President Donald Trump on Thursday delivered abrupt remarks in his own defense on the final day of his civil fraud trial in Manhattan, attacking the New York attorney general, who brought the case, insulting the judge to his face and declaring himself “an innocent man.”

Trump’s remarks were chaotic and emotional and lasted only minutes, during which he impugned the attorney general, Letitia James, a Democrat, saying she “hates Trump and uses Trump to get elected.”

He also took aim at the judge, Arthur Engoron, remarking, “You have your own agenda, I certainly understand that.” He added, as the judge stared stonily at him, “You can’t listen for more than one minute.”

Engoron instructed the former president’s lawyer to “control your client.” But Trump continued until the lunch break, at which point he stopped as suddenly as he had started.

The episode ushered in a dramatic conclusion to a monthslong trial that has enraged the former president and threatens his family business.

Trump’s lawyers had initially put forward his plan to speak in his own defense last week, but the judge imposed limits on his remarks. Engoron ruled that the former president could not deliver “a campaign speech” or attack the judge, his staff or James. Trump’s legal team objected, apparently scuttling his plan to speak, until one of his lawyers renewed the request at the end of the defense’s closing arguments Thursday and the judge permitted it.

But despite the judge’s objections and restrictions, the former president appeared to speak his mind exactly as he had planned, reiterating that he “did nothing wrong,” and arguing that the attorney general “should pay me” for what he’s gone through.

Trump’s lawyers kicked off the closing arguments Thursday with an attack on James, who brought the case accusing Trump of fraudulently inflating his net worth. Painting James as a rogue official, Trump’s legal team argued that she had no actual evidence buttressing her claims, only partisan talking points.

“This entire case is a manufactured claim to pursue a political agenda,” said Christopher Kise, one of Trump’s lawyers, as the former president looked on from the defense table. “It has always been press releases and posturing, but no proof at all,” adding that “not one witness came into this courtroom” to say that “there was fraud.”

Lawyers for James are now expected to counter that the former president violated state laws by exaggerating his net worth to obtain favorable loans and other financial benefits.

The accusation strikes at the heart of Trump’s presentation of himself as a real estate visionary and has made James one of his chief antagonists.

James’ lawyers will highlight internal emails and the testimony of onetime Trump employees to assert that Trump’s actions warrant a severe punishment. James wants to extract a $370 million penalty, and to oust Trump from his own company and the wider world of New York real estate.

Trump’s lawyers on Thursday began to offer a competing narrative: that James fell woefully short of showing that the former president had orchestrated a fraud.

Kise argued that the documents at the heart of the case — Trump’s annual financial statements containing values of his properties — were essentially irrelevant to loans the former president received. He noted that Trump’s banks were hardly victims — they profited and extolled the former president as a reliable borrower during the trial.

“That’s unrebutted!” Kise repeatedly exclaimed of testimony favorable to the former president, adding that the bankers “rolled out the red carpet” for Trump.

Here’s what else you need to know: — Early Thursday morning, authorities in Nassau County, New York, responded to a bomb threat at Engoron’s home. The threat came the morning after Trump again attacked Engoron on Truth Social, his social media site, saying that the judge and James were trying to “screw me.”

— The trial has been contentious, with Trump and his lawyers frequently attacking James, the judge, and the judge’s chief law clerk, Allison Greenfield. After the former president attacked Greenfield on social media, Engoron barred him from

Chris Kise, an attorney for former President Donald Trump, sits with him in court for closing arguments in Trump’s civil fraud trial at the State Supreme Court building in Manhattan, Thursday, January 11, 2024.

(Jefferson Siegel/The New York Times) commenting on court staff, and fined him $15,000 for twice violating that limited gag order.

— Engoron, who will decide the verdict alone — there is no jury — has been persuaded by James’ arguments in the past.

Even before the trial, he ruled in her favor, finding that Trump had committed fraud by inflating his assets and thus his net worth.

The bulk of the trial concerned whether his conduct had violated other New York laws, as well as the potential punishments.

— Trump is not the only defendant. His adult sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., are also on trial, as is the Trump Organization itself. The Trump sons were also called to testify

by James and distanced themselves from the drafting of the financial statements. In his own testimony, Trump attacked James as a “political hack” but acknowledged helping to assemble his financial statements, remarking, “I would look at them, I would see them, and I would maybe on occasion have some suggestions.”

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10 January 12-14, 2024

The San Juan Daily Star

Regulators approve new type of bitcoin fund, in boon for crypto industry

By DAVID YAFFE-BELLANY

F

ederal regulators earlier this week approved a new financial product that tracks the price of bitcoin, a landmark moment for the cryptocurrency industry that proponents hope will increase investment in the technology.

The Securities and Exchange Commission authorized 11 applications to offer exchange-traded funds tied to bitcoin, a potentially simpler way for people to invest in digital assets. Some of the largest financial firms in the world, including the asset managers BlackRock and Fidelity, were approved to offer the products, known as ETFs, which could begin trading as soon as Thursday on traditional platforms such as the Nasdaq.

The approvals were hailed as a sign that mainstream financial institutions remain willing to deal in digital currencies even after 18 months of market crashes and high-profile bankruptcies. Since the fall, bitcoin’s price has surged more than 60%, as traders bet that approval of the new crypto products would give the industry an imprimatur of regulatory legitimacy, drawing fresh investment from professional wealth managers and amateur traders.

The price of bitcoin shot up Tuesday after a post appeared on the SEC’s official X account announcing the approval of the ETFs, but dropped swiftly when Gary Gensler, the SEC chair, said the agency’s account had been hacked.

Crypto enthusiasts had to wait only until Wednesday, when the SEC authorized the products in a regulatory filing. Bitcoin’s price rose slightly after the announcement.

In a statement, Gensler, a fierce critic of fraud and volatility in the crypto markets, said the approvals should not be construed as an endorsement of the technology. “We did not approve or endorse bitcoin,” he said. “Investors should remain cautious about the myriad

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The Securities and Exchange Commission building in Washington, Nov. 9, 2022.

Federal regulators on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 202, approved a new financial product that tracks the price of Bitcoin, a landmark moment for the cryptocurrency industry that proponents hope will increase investment in the technology. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/The New York Times) risks associated with bitcoin and products whose value is tied to crypto.”

Still, the long-awaited authorizations bring a pillar of the mainstream finance system into the experimental world of digital money.

Widely offered by financial firms such as Charles Schwab and Vanguard, ETFs are baskets of assets divided into shares that can be bought and sold on the open market — a form of investment popular among wealth managers who control trillions of dollars in capital.

Rather than storing bitcoin in online wallets, investors in bitcoin ETFs would own shares in funds containing the digital currency.

Investors would gain exposure to the market without some of the risks and inconveniences historically associated with crypto, a loosely regulated technology that allows people to ex-

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change digital funds outside the supervision of banks or other traditional intermediaries.

“It creates a bridge to the traditional financial market,” said James Seyffart, a Bloomberg intelligence analyst who tracks ETFs. “Long term, I think money’s going to come in.”

Crypto proponents had pushed for the introduction of a bitcoin ETF for years, hoping it would accelerate adoption of cryptocurrencies more broadly. In 2021, the SEC approved funds that track the fluctuations of bitcoin without holding the currency itself. But the agency argued that a fund that contained bitcoin would pose big risks to consumers, citing illegal manipulation of crypto prices, among other issues.

Those arguments failed in court. In August, the SEC lost a legal battle with the crypto asset manager Grayscale Investments, one of the firms that applied to offer the product, clearing the path to a bitcoin ETF. Bitcoin’s price soon skyrocketed, and this month reached nearly $47,000, its highest value since a series of bankruptcies sent the industry into a meltdown in 2022.

On social media, speculation raged about the timing of an approval by the SEC. The fake announcement Tuesday prompted 15 minutes of celebration before Gensler intervened. An official X account for the platform’s safety resources said the agency had not

enabled two-factor authentication, a common digital security tool, to protect its account.

Anticipation for the new crypto products had built for months. In November, BlackRock filed paperwork to create an ETF tracking the price of ether, the second-most-valuable cryptocurrency behind bitcoin, prompting further excitement.

But skeptics argued the new products wouldn’t solve any of the fundamental problems in crypto, such as fraud and volatility.

A market crash in 2022 drained the savings of millions of ordinary investors. Critics said many crypto firms weren’t offering much practical utility.

In a public letter last week, the nonprofit advocacy group Better Markets said the approval of bitcoin ETFs would be a “historic mistake almost certainly leading to massive investor harm.” Others have argued that the products won’t provide much of a boost to crypto prices.

The growing prominence of companies like BlackRock in the crypto world also flies in the face of the renegade industry’s early promise to provide an alternative to mainstream financial behemoths.

“There’s so much irony and hypocrisy,” said John Stark, a former SEC official and a longtime critic of crypto.

In his statement Wednesday, Gensler said the court ruling in August had made approving the ETFs “the most sustainable path forward.” But he said the decision “should in no way” signal that the SEC was prepared to authorize similar products tied to other cryptocurrencies. He called bitcoin a “speculative, volatile asset” used in money laundering, terrorist financing and other crimes.

Still, the industry celebrated.

“Today will be remembered in crypto history,” Richard Teng, CEO of Binance, the world’s largest crypto company, posted on X. Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of the crypto firm Ripple, said on X that the “significance of this moment cannot be overstated.” He added, “Today’s news is further legitimization of crypto as an asset class.”

The companies authorized to offer bitcoin ETFs — which also include Grayscale, Franklin Templeton and several others — have already begun competing for customers. A few of them adjusted the management fees they plan to charge for the bitcoin ETFs this week, looking to undercut the competition. BlackRock lowered its fee to 0.25% from 0.3%.

The San Juan Daily Star

January 12-14, 2024

11 Stocks

Regional bank ETF’s options draw defensive plays with earnings ahead T

raders in the U.S. equity options market are guarding against a drop in shares of the biggest regional bank exchange-traded fund, days before reports from lenders are set to kick off the corporate earnings season.

The $3.8 billion SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF, which tracks regional bank stocks, was recently down 2.3% at $50.56. The S&P 500, by contrast, was down around 0.2%.

The defensive options bets are likely from investors guarding against possible declines following earnings report from the sector, market participants said. JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo are all set to report on Friday, with other big banks to post results in the following days.

“If the big banks sneeze, the smaller banks catch cold, so playing defense in KRE is not unreasonable from that viewpoint,” said Steve Sosnick, chief strategist at Interactive Brokers.

While the positioning is not “overwhelmingly” defensive, general investor disinterest in hedging with put options in the broader market may be throwing the bearish trading in KRE into sharper relief, Sosnick said.

On Thursday, some 134,000 KRE options contracts changed hands by 1:30 p.m. (1830 GMT), or 1.8 times the usual volume. Volume in put contracts, typically bought to protect against a drop in a share price, was twice its daily pace, according to data from options analytics service Trade Alert.

The IPO is expected to take place after the Securities and Exchange Commission completes its review process, subject to market and other conditions, the company said.

The company had previously said it was valued at $9 billion, in a 2022 deal to go public via a special-purpose acquisition company. It ended that deal in December 2022. Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire said at the time that he was disappointed that the proposed transaction “timed out,” but that the company still intended to go public.

USDC is the second-biggest stablecoin, after Tether, and the seventh-biggest cryptocurrency overall, according to crypto market tracker CoinGecko. The tokens are backed by cash and cash equivalents, including shortterm Treasury bonds.

There are around $25 billion worth of USDC tokens in circulation, down from a peak above $56 billion in mid2022, according to CoinGecko.

After a period of rapid growth, the crypto industry slumped in 2022 and token prices dropped as investors grew more cautious and various high-profile crypto firms collapsed, including crypto exchange FTX. Circle announced layoffs in July 2023 and said it had ended investments in non-core business areas.

Circle’s move to become a publicly-traded company comes after a prolonged slump in dealmaking amid high interest rates and market volatility. Clearing firm Apex

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12 January 12-14, 2024

The San Juan Daily Star

Ecuador buckles under gang violence, and fear

By ANNIE CORREAL and GENEVIEVE GLATSKY

A

sense of dread took hold in Ecuador earlier this week, with the streets empty, schools closed and many people afraid to leave their homes after the disappearance of two gang leaders set off prison riots, police kidnappings and the on-air storming of a TV station.

Even for a country accustomed to violence, the events that have rocked Ecuador this week were shocking.

“I feel like the world I knew before is gone,” said María Ortega, a schoolteacher in Guayaquil, a sprawling coastal city. “You can know how things start, but not how they’ll end.”

It began with violence erupting in prisons across the South American country as soldiers surged into a penal compound in Guayaquil, after the disappearance of a powerful gang leader, Adolfo Macías, from his cell over the weekend. Inmates at various prisons took guards captive, and dozens of detainees escaped, including another prominent gang leader.

The violence soon spilled over into cities and towns, where drug gangs run rampant. Explosions were reported, police officers were kidnapped, hospitals were seized and cars set on fire. People scrambled to get home, jumping on the back of trucks as bus service stopped in Guayaquil, and the police and armed people exchanged gunfire, including near a school.

By the end of a bloody day, at least 11 people had died throughout the country, according to authorities, including a well-known musician, Diego Gallardo, 31, who was in his car on the way to pick up his son from school in Guayaquil when he was hit by a stray bul-

let.

The unrest peaked on Tuesday afternoon, when armed men briefly took over TC Televisión in Guayaquil during a live broadcast, taking anchors and staff hostage and demanding to deliver a message to the government not to interfere “with the mafias.”

Not long after, the country’s president, Daniel Noboa, declared an “internal armed conflict” and directed the military to “neutralize” the country’s two dozen gangs, which the government labeled “terrorist organizations.”

Noboa framed the declaration as a watershed moment.

“We are fighting for the peace of the nation,” the president said Wednesday in a radio speech, “fighting also against terrorist groups that today are made up of 20,000 people.

They want me to call them groups of organized crime because it is easier. When they are terrorists, and when we live in a state of conflict, of war, other laws apply.”

In Ecuador, the presidential declaration was widely seen as a turning point in the crisis that has subsumed the once-peaceful nation over the past two years, as the country of nearly 18 million has been dominated by an increasingly powerful narco-trafficking industry.

International drug cartels from as far as Albania have joined forces with local prison and street gangs, unleashing a wave of violence unlike anything in the country’s recent history. Homicide rates have soared to record levels.

Noboa signaled the start of a new fight to push back against the gangs and to bring peace back to Ecuador.

“We are not going to let society die slowly,” he said.

The commander of Ecuador’s armed forces, Jaime Vela Erazo, said criminal groups,

which he called terrorists, had become military targets. He made clear the government’s intention to apply a heavy hand.

“We will not back down or negotiate,” he said in a statement. “Good, justice and order cannot ask for permission or bow their heads to terrorists.”

Later on Wednesday, Vela announced that since the armed conflict was declared, police and armed forces had killed five people with links to gangs and had arrested 329.

Around the country, many were divided over what the government’s move might mean, with some expressing support and calling it a much-needed step to crack down on gang violence, and others viewing it as a slippery slope to a militarized state that targets innocent civilians.

“The declaration of internal conflict worries me enormously,” said Katherine Casanova, a 28-year-old social worker who said her family had recently been attacked by armed men near Guayaquil. “Although in the midst of pain I want to cling to something that makes me feel a modicum of security, I fear the repercussions of declaring an internal conflict, of militarizing. It will probably be my people who, once more, are among the dead.”

Noboa’s declaration came on the heels of a proposed referendum that would lengthen sentences for crimes like murder and arms trafficking, target money launderers and create a special court system to protect judges.

Many have compared Noboa’s proposed referendum and enhanced security moves to President Nayib Bukele’s autocratic campaign in El Salvador against drug gangs — a comparison Noboa has made himself.

The government’s measures are “much more aggressive” than previous steps to quell gang violence, said Fernando Carrión of the Latin American Faculty for Social Sciences,

a regional research and analysis group, who studies violence and drug trafficking.

“The population looks favorably on this decision,” he said, but added that tackling such large and entrenched gangs would be challenging.

Drawing the military into the conflict, experts said, could lead to prolonged violence and bloodshed, as it did in Colombia, where Plan Colombia, a U.S.-backed policy that took hold some 20 years ago, has been criticized for treating much of the population as internal enemies.

On Wednesday, even as the streets grew mostly quiet, the country’s prisons had not yet been secured, with dozens of guards and staff still held hostage, according to the prison authorities.

On the streets, people were divided over the government’s vow to confront the gangs and retake control of prisons that have been incubators of so much of the country’s upheaval.

“I’m scared, I’m anxious,” said María José Chancay, a music producer in Guayaquil, whose friend, Gallardo, died while caught in crossfire on Tuesday. “I feel that the measures taken by the authorities are not going to do any good and are going to bring more violence.”

But others said the government needed to take a firm hand if the country was going to stop the bloodshed. Videos posted Wednesday and shared on social media showed shoppers in a grocery store in Guayaquil clapping and cheering as a procession of soldiers entered.

“I have mixed feelings” about the security measures, said Ortega, the schoolteacher. “I must admit that even though it is terrifying, I am relieved. And I feel horrible for thinking and feeling that.”

The San Juan Daily Star

January 12-14, 2024

13

After Red Sea barrage by Houthis, US and allies weigh retaliation

By ERIC SCHMITT, THOMAS FULLER and EDWARD WONG

T

he United States and its allies are weighing how to stop attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea after American and British officials said earlier this week that their navies had intercepted one of the largest barrages yet of drones and missiles fired from an area controlled by the Houthis, an Iranianbacked group in Yemen.

The attacks, which the Houthis say will go on until Israel ends its campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, are threatening maritime traffic in one of the world’s most crucial shipping lanes.

They have also raised concerns in the Middle East, Europe and the United States about the prospect of the war in Gaza spreading to new fronts, and with new combatants.

On his latest tour through the region, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday warned of repercussions for the Yemeni-based militants while still trying to prevent the conflict from growing.

“What I can tell you is that, as we made clear, and many other countries made clear, there’ll be consequences for the Houthis’ actions,” Blinken said at a news conference in Manama, Bahrain, though he declined to say what the Biden administration was considering.

British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps delivered a similar message, hinting at further action as he described the missile barrage Tuesday as the largest perpetrated by the Houthis since the start of the war in Gaza.

“This cannot continue and cannot be allowed to continue,” Shapps said in remarks to British media. “If this doesn’t stop, then action will be taken. So I’m afraid that the simplest thing is to say, ‘Watch this space.’”

Gen. Charles Brown, the chair of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke Wednesday with his British counterpart, Adm. Sir Tony Radakin, about “the ongoing illegal Houthi attacks on commercial vessels” in the Red Sea, according to a statement from Brown’s spokesperson.

The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday passed a resolution that called for an immediate halt to the attacks. Russia, China, Mozambique and Algeria abstained in the vote.

The attacks have forced some of the world’s largest shipping companies to reroute vessels traveling to and from Europe via the Suez Canal. Some vessels are now traveling around Africa, which can add an extra two weeks and higher costs.

So far, the United States has held back

Gen. Charles Q. Brown, President Joe Biden’s senior military adviser, speaks at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington, Va., Sept. 29, 2023. (Kenny Holston/ The New York Times) from hitting Houthi bases in Yemen, in large part because it does not want to undermine a fragile truce in Yemen’s civil war, military officials said. Pentagon officials have drawn up plans for striking missile and drone bases in Yemen, as well as facilities that harbor the fast boats the Houthis use to attack ships.

At the same time, the Biden administration has said it will hold the Houthis responsible for the attacks, a warning that suggested the government may be considering retaliatory strikes in Yemen.

“We’re going to do everything we have to do to protect shipping in the Red Sea,” the U.S. National Security Council spokesperson, said at a news conference Wednesday. Like the secretary of state, Kirby did not describe what the White House was considering, saying instead that it would coordinate with allies and that “the United States does not seek conflict.”

Blinken, speaking Wednesday during the latest stop on his tour through the Middle East, said the United States and other nations had repeatedly made clear to Iran that its support for the Houthis’ actions had to stop.

The United States and a dozen allies issued an ultimatum to the Houthis last week to cease their near-daily attacks. “Last night proved they really are not listening,” Shapps said, referring to the latest Houthi barrage.

European Union nations, many of which rely on the Suez Canal for oil supplies and other trade, appear divided on how to counter the attacks, which began in November when the Houthis seized the Galaxy Leader, a Japaneseoperated cargo ship that remains anchored off the coast of Yemen.

Denmark, Greece and the Netherlands have joined the United States in their operations in the Red Sea, but others, including France and Italy, have kept ships under their

own command, said Luigi Scazzieri, an analyst at the Center for European Reform, a research organization.

“There isn’t a cohesive EU position on this at all,” he said.

The U.S. military’s Central Command described the drone and missile barrage fired from Houthi-controlled territory late Tuesday as “a complex attack.”

Fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier and four other warships intercepted 18 drones, two anti-ship cruise missiles and one anti-ship ballistic missile, Central Command said in a statement. No injuries or damage were reported, the command said.

A Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Sarea, said in a statement Wednesday that the group’s forces had used “a large number” of missiles and drones to target an American ship “that was offering support to the Zionist entity.” It was not immediately clear if he was describing the attack Tuesday.

Sarea said the attack was in response to an assault by the U.S. Navy 10 days ago that sank three Houthi boats, killing their crew members. The Navy has said the boats fired on American helicopters coming to aid a Maersk cargo ship.

The Houthis, who have taken over much of northern Yemen since they stormed the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, in 2014, have been gaining popularity across the Middle East and building regional clout with their attacks in the Red Sea. Sarea said they would “continue to prevent Israeli ships or those headed to the ports of occupied Palestine from sailing in the Arabian and Red seas until the aggression stops and the siege on our steadfast brothers in Gaza is lifted.”

Israeli officials have said they expect the

war in Gaza to go on for many months, though they report making progress toward their goal of uprooting Hamas, which led an attack on Israel on Oct. 7 that killed an estimated 1,200 people. Benny Gantz, a member of the Israeli war Cabinet, said Wednesday that in large parts of Gaza, Hamas had “effectively lost its ruling capabilities.”

On Monday, the Israeli military spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said the war had entered a new phase, with Israel drawing down its troops, focusing on southern Gaza and decreasing the number of airstrikes.

United Nations officials say the bombardment of the territory remains intense. The World Health Organization said Wednesday that it had canceled a planned medical aid mission to Gaza over security concerns, the sixth cancellation in two weeks.

“Intense bombardment, restrictions on movement, fuel shortage and interrupted communications make it impossible for WHO and our partners to reach those in need,” the agency’s director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said in a briefing Wednesday.

Sean Casey, the agency’s emergency medical team coordinator in Gaza, told reporters this week that the territory’s health system was collapsing “at a very rapid pace.”

On visits Sunday to Al Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza and Nasser Hospital in the south, Casey said, he found that 70% of the medical staff had fled in recent days because of Israeli orders to evacuate and intense fighting in the area. That left a handful of medical staff to treat large numbers of seriously injured people, including many children.

“I’ve been in Gaza for five weeks,” he said. “I have not seen a lowering of the intensity of the conflict.”

14

The San Juan Daily Star

January 12-14, 2024

Iranian navy says it seized an oil tanker off the coast of Oman

By JENNY GROSS and FARNAZ FASSIHI

I

ran’s navy said it had seized a tanker loaded with crude oil off the coast of Oman on Thursday, apparently in retaliation for the United States confiscating oil from the same ship last year.

A British government maritime agency said the ship was reportedly boarded by four or five armed people wearing uniforms and black masks. Iranian forces said the boarders arrived by helicopter, and released video that they said showed the men descending from a craft hovering above the ship’s deck.

The U.S. government diverted the same vessel last year and confiscated its cargo, Iranian oil that was being transported in violation of U.S. sanctions. The ship, then called the Suez Rajan, was later renamed the St. Nikolas.

The Iranian navy claimed on Thursday in a statement that the tanker “stole Iran’s oil under the order of the U.S. and transported it to American shores,” and said it had impounded the ship with an order from the Iranian judiciary.

Iran claimed that the ship was American, but the St. Nikolas is registered in the Marshall Islands, and the company that operates it, Empire Navigation, said it was not American. U.S. court documents state the ship is leased by a Marshall Islands company, and that Empire is also incorporated there, and operates in Greece.

The ship was taken to Bandar Jask, a small Iranian port on the Sea of Oman, where the crew — 18 Filipino nationals and one Greek national, Empire said — will remain on board, according to an official from Iran’s Oil Ministry, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. Empire said the tanker was carrying about 1 million barrels of Iraqi crude oil and was headed for Turkey.

John Kirby, the Biden administration’s national security council spokesman, fields questions at the White House in Washington on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. Kirby condemned what he called the apparent seizure of an oil tanker off the coast of Oman, and called on the Iranian government to immediately release the ship and its crew.

(Pete Marovich/The New York Times) Iran plans to hold the ship and the crew until Iran is repaid for a similar amount of oil — valued at about $75 million at current prices — that the United States seized from it last year, according to the Oil Ministry official and a Iran-based oil dealer who works with the ministry and was also not authorized to speak publicly. The official said Iran sees the U.S. confiscation as theft.

Iran has seized tankers before, and declared last summer that it would retaliate for the American taking of the Suez Rajan.

But the seizure of the St. Nikolas by Iran comes at a particularly sensitive time, just as the United States and its allies, including Israel, are confronting Iranian-backed militias in the Red Sea, the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Syria and in Iraq.

While the United States, Britain and other Western countries are trying to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from spreading on other fronts, they are also weighing whether to carry out military strikes against the Iranian-backed Houthi militia, which has been attacking Red Sea shipping.

Last year, U.S. federal

prosecutors filed a criminal case against Empire Navigation and Suez Rajan Ltd., incorporated in the Marshall Islands and described as the “bareboat charterer” — the entity that effectively leases the ship, but then hires an operator like Empire to manage it.

The U.S. government charged that in 2022, the Suez Rajan took on about 980,000 barrels of Iranian crude from another tanker, in violation of sanctions, and that shipping and financial records were falsified to conceal the origin of the oil and the fact that the seller was Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.

Cooperating with the prosecution, the ship diverted to American waters, and sat off the coast of Galveston, Texas, for several months while the government looked for a company willing to offload the oil and incur the risk of Iranian retaliation.

Suez Rajan Ltd. pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate sanctions law and agreed to pay a fine of almost $2.5 million, and Empire accepted joint liability for the fine.

The ship was renamed and resumed sailing.

The Iranian Oil Ministry official said the navy had carried out the raid, rather than the Revolutionary Guard, and had emphasized the judicial order — it was unclear

from what court — to minimize resulting tensions with the United States. The message, the official said, is that Iran sees its actions as commercial rather than political, and wants to be repaid and to deter further seizures of its oil.

The Pentagon spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder, called on Iran “to release the tanker and the crew immediately.”

“This activity is contrary to international law,” he added. “It’s another example of Iranian malign activity, threatening security and stability in the region.”

On Wednesday, U.S. and British officials said they had intercepted one of the largest barrages yet of drones and missiles fired from an area in Yemen controlled by the Houthis. The Houthis have refused to back down, despite threats of retaliation from Washington and its allies.

The St. Nikolas was seized Thursday morning off the port of Sohar on Oman’s northern coast, near the Strait of Hormuz, according to the British agency, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.

“Unknown voices” were heard over the phone, along with the captain’s voice, according to the group, which sends maritime security information to merchant vessels. The ship then changed course to head toward Iranian territorial waters, and communication was lost, the group said.

Empire Navigation said its last contact with the St. Nikolas was at about 6:30 a.m. in Athens, Greece, and it had not been able to reach the vessel since then. The vessel had departed from the Iraqi port of Basra and was headed to the Turkish port of Aliaga.

“There have been many efforts to establish communication, but with no success,” said Dimitris Roulias, an Empire spokesperson. “There is no information on what exactly is happening on board the vessel.”

He said he had no information about the ship’s current location and could not confirm how many people had boarded the vessel.

Ambrey, a maritime risk firm, said the tanker was heading in the direction of Bandar-e-Jask, Iran, before its location information was turned off.

In past periods of heightened tensions in the Middle East, ships in the Gulf of Oman have been targeted, including several attacks in 2019 that U.S. officials attributed to Iran, which is just 100 miles across the gulf from Sohar.

The San Juan Daily Star

January 12-14, 2024

15

The truth about airplane safety

By ZEYNEP TUFEKCI

I

t was only when I attempted to make small talk with my visibly squirming seatmate on a Raleigh-Durham to New York flight that I realized it was me causing that look of horror on his face, rather than the slight turbulence we had been experiencing since takeoff. A friendly chat, I had thought, might help distract him from flight anxiety. But then I noticed his eyes — wide with fear — were fixed on my computer screen, which displayed an investigative report on an airplane crash I had been reading.

I slammed the laptop shut, stammered an apology and mumbled about how these detailed crash reports were, in fact, highly comforting, and it had just slipped my mind where I was, and it hadn’t been my intention to spread worry …

Well, never mind.

But it’s true. A National Transportation Safety Board investigation report reads like a how-to book for pulling off miracles and achieving seemingly incredible levels of safety.

These reports renew one’s faith in what humanity can achieve if we apply our brainpower and resources to it.

But they also remind us that, much like liberty, these exceptional levels of commercial airline safety require eternal vigilance against the usual foes: greed, negligence, failure to adapt, complacency, revolving doors at regulatory agencies and so on.

Someday, I’ll have two more reports to read (one by the Japan Transport Safety Board) from two incidents in just one

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week — but both events are already full of lessons.

On Jan. 2, a Japanese coast guard plane and an arriving Japan Airlines Airbus A350 collided. The Airbus turned into a fireball as it sped down the runway before stopping about a half-mile away. Remarkably, all 379 people aboard the Airbus got out safely before the entire plane was engulfed in flames and reduced to a smoldering wreck. (Five of the six people on the coast guard plane died.)

And then on Friday, a plug on one of the unused emergency exit doors on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 plane blew out a few minutes after takeoff, causing the plane to undergo rapid depressurization. Passengers told news outlets that the child sitting near the hole had his shirt torn off by the force of the wind while his mother clung to him. The plane turned around and landed safely in Portland, Oregon, and no serious injuries have been reported.

Both incidents could have been much worse. And that everyone on both airliners walked away is, indeed, a miracle — but not the kind most people think about. They’re miracles of regulation, training, expertise, effort, constant improvement of infrastructure, as well as professionalism and heroism of the crew.

But these brave and professional men and women were standing on the shoulders of giants: competent bureaucrats; forensic investigators dispatched to accident investigations; large binders (nowadays digital) with hundreds and hundreds of pages of meticulously collected details of every aspect of accidents and near misses; constant training and retraining not just of the pilots but the cabin, ground, traffic control and maintenance crews; and a determined ethos that if something has gone wrong, the reason will be identified and fixed.

Consider the Japan Airlines evacuation.

Commercial airliners carry a lot of combustible fuel, and quick evacuations are essential to avoid trapping everyone in a fireball if something goes wrong. Fairly little is left to chance.

Some of this is visible to us passengers, and even a little annoying. But it’s actually a federal law that all tray tables must be put up and seats made upright during takeoff and landing. While accidents are really rare, statistically, takeoffs and landings are the most dangerous stages of flight, so you don’t want anything preventing passengers from moving quickly. That’s why large items have to be put away, as well: to clear the potential evacuation path.

As images of the passengers in Japan evacuating without reaching for their luggage show, it might be good if more airlines followed Japan Airlines’ lead and used its safety videos for explaining the logic behind the rules — as its own does for why luggage must be left behind in an emergency.

Still, the evacuation took longer than the 90 seconds that Airbus had to demonstrate as possible to get certified. And on that day, the obstacles were many. Only three of the eight emergency exits were usable, and the plane was filling with smoke. The plane had tilted forward because the nose landing gear had collapsed, the steep angle hindering passengers’ progress. The intercoms were inoperable, the crew reduced to using megaphones to direct passengers. And yet the crew

evacuated all the passengers.

The passengers had other allies, too: These days, planes are designed to slow fires’ spread — many such improvements, including seats that can withstand impacts and fire-retardant designs and materials, are painful lessons learned from the accidents of the 1980s and 1990s. Indeed, the plane resisted the worst effects of the flames much longer than 90 seconds, until everyone was out.

The Boeing 737 Max line holds other lessons. After two eerily similar back-to-back crashes in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people total, the planes were grounded. At first, some rushed to blame inexperienced pilots or software gone awry.

But the world soon learned that the real problem had been corporate greed that had taken too many shortcuts while the regulators hadn’t managed to resist the onslaught.

On the surface, there is little reason to assume the failure of the exit door plug on the Alaska Airlines flight is related to the previous crashes. The plane is very new, about eight weeks in service, and the incident happened at relatively low altitude, which suggests a manufacturing and assembly problem or oversight — in which case, corporate culture might come under scrutiny again. For the actual facts, though, we will await that safety board report.

But what happened after the door fell out is textbook: The pilot declared an emergency, the air traffic control quickly arranged a clear runway, the plane circled right back and landed in just about 15 minutes.

We’ve since learned all this may not have been a complete surprise. The NTSB told reporters that a pressurization warning light in this plane had come on three times before, at least once in flight, during its short time in service. The maintenance crews had checked and cleared the light, but Alaska Airlines thankfully restricted the plane to flying over land so it could return rapidly to an airport if it came on again.

Whew. If the door had blown out at high altitude and over the ocean we may not have had the same happy ending.

And it wasn’t all smooth sailing back to the airport. The cockpit door flew open from the depressurization, jamming against a bathroom door, and one pilot lost her headset.

Still, you’d hardly know all that from listening to the communication between the pilots and the ground: just composed, competent professionalism on the way back to the gate.

As the facts come in, there will be more questions as to what went wrong — United Airlines and Alaska Airlines have both found loose bolts on the grounded Boeing airliners.

That coast guard plane in Japan was in the wrong place. But progress comes by acknowledging these failures and working to make them even less likely in the future.

Those NTSB investigation reports that I cherish reading represent just that kind of accumulation. Year by year, investigation by investigation, incident by incident, commercial flying has become remarkably safe despite the complexity of operation with so many moving parts at a global scale: humans, software, weather and metal objects flying through the sky.

Most of the time, it works so well that we don’t notice it — which is perhaps the true miracle of infrastructure that works well: It becomes invisible. Sometimes, it’s good to make visible the invisible many who keep us safe.

16 January 12-14, 2024

The San Juan Daily Star

Colocan primera piedra para trabajos de rehabilitación de la PR-3 en Fajardo y Luquillo POR CYBERNEWS

F

AJARDO – El gobernador Pedro Rafael Pierluisi Urrutia, junto al alcalde de Fajardo, José Aníbal Meléndez; la secretaria del Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas (DTOP), Eileen Vélez Vega y el director de la Autoridad de Carreteras y Transportación (ACT), Edwin González Montalvo, anunciaron el jueves, el inicio del proyecto de rehabilitación de pavimento y reconstrucción de la carretera PR-3 en Fajardo con una inversión de cerca de 19 millones de dólares, provenientes de fondos estatales y federales.

“Reconstruir y revitalizar nuestras carreteras ha sido y sigue siendo una prioridad en mi administración. Por eso, estamos enfocados en unir esfuerzos entre nuestro gobierno y nuestros municipios para que la infraestructura vial se encuentre en óptimas condiciones. Hoy anuncio los trabajos de rehabilitación de pavimento y reconstrucción de la PR-3, desde el kilómetro 42.5 al kilómetro 47.6 entre los municipios de Luquillo y Fajardo. Este proyecto de obra permanente de gran envergadura comenzó este pasado diciembre. El mismo se estima que esté completado para finales del año próximo 2025 y beneficiará a las comunidades de los municipios de Río Grande, Luquillo

Camera Mundi Innovación, Servicio y Compromiso L

a consideración de cada detalle y la comunicación efectiva con nuestros clientes es parte fundamental de nuestra filosofía. Estamos dedicados a superar las expectativas y a brindar soluciones que, ulteriormente satisfagan a quienes servimos y también deleiten a quienes han de disfrutar del resultado final de nuestros esfuerzos.

Cada interacción es una oportunidad para mostrar nuestro compromiso con la calidad y la atención personalizada. Nuestro trabajo consiste en atender las necesidades de nuestros clientes y dar lo mejor de cada uno de nosotros para que alcancen sus metas, que también son las nuestras; por eso y más, Camera Mundi es SERVICIO.

y Fajardo”, sostuvo el gobernador en declaraciones escritas.

Los trabajos consistirán en la rehabilitación y reconstrucción del pavimento existente de la carretera PR-3 desde el kilómetro 42.5 al kilómetro 47.6, en los cuales también se harán trabajos de asfalto, depósito de hormigón y mejoras a la seguridad vial. Como parte del plan de trabajo, se realizarán mejoras adicionales, tales como utilidades eléctricas, mejoras a los semáforos y puentes peatonales existentes. Además, se harán mejoras al drenaje de la vía, mantenimiento de áreas verdes, ornato y otros trabajos misceláneos.

The San Juan Daily Star

January 12-14, 2024

17

Goodbye, Peachtree Road: Elton John to auction 900 artworks and memorabilia

By ZACHARY SMALL

E

lton John is downsizing — and the superstar’s former penthouse residence in Atlanta has been emptied for a series of auctions at Christie’s starting Feb. 21. The items are expected to bring in an estimated $10 million.

Want the Yamaha conservatory grand piano where the Rocketman plunked the keys of his Broadway shows “Billy Elliot” and “Aida?” It will cost roughly triple what similar models sell for online, with a high estimate of $50,000.

How about Julian Schnabel’s portrait of the superstar dressed in a gown and ruffled collar? The auction house is seeking $300,000.

Detail of the textile designer Annie Reavey’s disco-era touring costume for Elton John, covered with multi-colored crayon “Elton” signatures, at Christie’s warehouse in Brooklyn on Jan. 9, 2024. The 900 items from John’s Atlanta home include blue-chip art

by Julian Schnabel and Richard Avedon, Versace dinnerware and flamboyant costumes. (Vincent Tullo/The New York Times) And the most expensive object, a 2017 Banksy painting of a masked man hurling a bouquet of flowers, secured directly from the anonymous artist, is expected to sell for nearly $1.5 million.

John declined to comment on the auction. (Agostino Guerra, a Christie’s spokesperson, cited “long-planned scheduling conflicts.”) However, the singer’s husband and manager, David Furnish, discussed the sale in

Banksy’s “Flower Thrower Triptych,” signed and dated “Banksy 2010,” estimated at $1 million-$1.5 million, at Christie’s warehouse in Brooklyn on Jan. 9, 2024. The 900 items from John’s Atlanta home include blue-chip art by Julian Schnabel and Richard Avedon, Versace dinnerware and flamboyant costumes. (Vincent Tullo/The New York Times) a recent interview.

“As time went on, the walls got more full,” Furnish said. “Elton never put things in drawers; he bought them to live with his art.”

But the sale of their 13,000-plus-square-foot Atlanta residence, on the 36th floor, for more than $7.2 million last fall gave the couple an opportunity to consolidate their collection of artworks and mementos, which includes the singer’s famous sunglasses, silvery platform boots and one of his first sets of stage clothes — an ivory and gold ensemble made by textile designer Annie Reavey in the 1970s.

“I met Elton John and we just hit it off,” Reavey said in a 2007 interview in a Nevada newspaper. “I had purple hair, he had green hair. I had rhinestones, he had diamonds.”

The condominium on Peachtree Road symbolized a turning point for the British singer. He bought the two-story abode in the 1990s. It served as his American headquarters during tours and a hideaway for staying sober through the 1990s. But the walls were soon populated with dozens of photographs — part of an extensive collection of images by modern masters including Dorothea Lange, whose Depression-era images of despair include “Migrant Mother,” and Hungarian photographer Andre Kertesz. John also collected works by Andy Warhol, Cindy Sherman, Robert Mapplethorpe and others that now have museums clamoring for donations.

Above his bed, he displayed “Noire et Blanche,” images by surrealist photographer Man Ray.

“I love living with my collection,” John said in a video promoting an exhibition of his works at the Tate Modern in London in 2016.

“I’m seeing these wonderful images on the wall that people took a long time ago that still have relevance and still scream out at you.”

When part of his collection was exhibited at the Tate Modern, “what surprised most was its depth,” said Shanay Jhaveri, head of visual arts at the Barbican Center in London. “For someone whose public persona has been so indelibly associated with excess and kitsch, a collection of predominantly black-and-white, modestly scaled Western modernist photographs seemed inconsistent.

Perhaps the revelation was this apparent irreconcilability.”

Atlanta was where John cultivated that love of photography, thanks largely to a local gallerist, Jane Jackson. (In 2003, she became the director of the Sir Elton John Photography Collection, which now includes thousands of images.) Some highlights featured in a 2000 exhibition, “Chorus of Light” at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, are being offered at the Christie’s auction, including works by Irving Penn, Richard Avedon and Andres Serrano.

“The collection was very disciplined,” said Ned Rifkin, who curated the High Museum exhibition and developed a working relationship with the singer. “It wasn’t just about acquisitions but the beauty of having art.” Rifkin, now retired, added: “I remember there were times he would go to auction and he was genuinely frustrated when he couldn’t

get something. I’m disappointed to hear he is selling, but on the other hand, he has so much.”

The singer’s husband said it was time to start pruning the collection. “You have to reach a stage where you can’t just continue to accumulate,” Furnish explained. “Elton hates parting with things. It is a very emotional decision.”

To that end, Furnish has been the one to primarily handle the auction, which is the first time that a major selection from John’s collection has been offered to the public since a 2003 Sotheby’s sale of items from his London home (it brought in $1.67 million). In 1988, another Sotheby’s auction in London presented a hodgepodge of artworks and oddities — including a René Magritte painting of a blue fish wrapped in pearls, a chamber pot and a pair of Cartier silver baskets that John once used as soap dishes — fetching $8.2 million, or about $21 million in today’s dollars.

Furnish said the John sale was meant to start their own thinking about the singer’s legacy, as John stepped back from performing to spend more time with their sons, Elijah and Zachary.

“That could mean more sales, gifts to institutions, gifts to friends,” Furnish said.

“One reason we have been able to collect is because artists know that when they sell to us, their work is going to a home,” Furnish added. He acknowledged: “As our sons get older, they might have connections to pieces.

We need to elegantly find a way of bringing them into that process.”

Elton John’s silver leather platform boots, circa 1971, with the red leather letters E and J, $5,000-$10,000, at Christie’s warehouse in Brooklyn on Jan. 9, 2024. (Vincent Tullo/The New York Times)

18

The San Juan Daily Star

January 12-14, 2024

SAG Award nominations 2024: It’s a ‘Barbenheimer’ rematch

By KYLE BUCHANAN

Danielle Brooks, “The Color Purple” Penélope Cruz, “Ferrari” Jodie Foster, “Nyad” Da’Vine Joy Randolph, “The Holdovers” Stunt Ensemble in a Movie “Barbie” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” “John Wick: Chapter 4” “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One” TELEVISION Ensemble in a Drama Series “The Crown” “The Gilded Age” “The Last of Us” “The Morning Show” “Succession” Ensemble in a Comedy Series “Abbott Elementary” “Barry” “The Bear” “Only Murders in the Build-

B

ox office behemoths “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” led this year’s nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Awards, which were announced Wednesday. Each film picked up four nominations, including ones for the guild’s top ensemble prize.

In addition to that nomination, “Barbie” earned additional nods for lead actress Margot Robbie and supporting actor Ryan Gosling, as well as for its stunt ensemble.

The other three nominations for “Oppenheimer” were for lead actor Cillian Murphy and supporting performers Robert Downey Jr. and Emily Blunt. Both Murphy and Downey prevailed in their categories during Sunday’s Golden Globes.

Other nominees for the top award included “American Fiction,” “The Color Purple” and “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

Still, the latter movie was dealt one of the morning’s biggest snubs when star Leonardo DiCaprio failed to crack the bestactor lineup. “May December” received the coldest shoulder, going zero for three with contenders Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore and Charles Melton.

Rarely do actors win the Oscar without first scoring a nomination from their own guild. Last year, the entire quartet of SAG winners went on to repeat at the Oscars, while the SAG ensemble winner, “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” also took the Oscars’ best picture prize.

But there is still some wiggle room in each category for a SAG-snubbed actor to earn an Oscar nomination, as the likes of Paul Mescal (“Aftersun”), Michelle Williams (“The Fabelmans”), and Andrea Riseborough (“To Leslie”) managed last year. And since the SAG ensemble award favors films with large casts, more intimately scaled movies like “Past Lives” and “The Holdovers” shouldn’t be counted out.

The awards will be handed out Feb. 24 and in a twist be broadcast live on Netflix.

Here is the complete list of nominees: FILM Outstanding Cast “American Fiction” “Barbie” “The Color Purple” “Killers of the Flower Moon” “Oppenheimer”

Jennifer Aniston, “The Morning Show” Elizabeth Debicki, “The Crown” Bella Ramsey, “The Last of Us” Keri Russell, “The Diplomat” Sarah Snook, “Succession” Actor in a Comedy Series Brett Goldstein, “Ted Lasso” Bill Hader, “Barry” Ebon Moss Bachrach, “The Bear” Jason Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso” Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear” Actress in a Comedy Series Alex Borstein, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” Rachel Brosnahan, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary” Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear” Hannah Waddingham, “Ted Lasso” Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series Matt Bomer, “Fellow Travelers” Jon Hamm, “Fargo” David Oyelowo, “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” Tony Shalhoub, “Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie” Steven Yeun, “Beef” Actress in a TV Movie or Limited Series Uzo Aduba, “Painkiller” Kathryn Hahn, “Tiny Beautiful Things”

Margot Robbie in “Barbie” and Cillian Murphy in “Oppenheimer.” Each was nominated for a SAG Award.

Actor in a Lead Role Bradley Cooper, “Maestro” Colman Domingo, “Rustin” Paul Giamatti, “The Holdovers” Cillian Murphy, “Oppenheimer” Jeffrey Wright, “American Fiction” Actress in a Lead Role Annette Bening, “Nyad” Lily Gladstone, “Killers of the Flower Moon” Carey Mulligan, “Maestro” Margot Robbie, “Barbie” Emma Stone, “Poor Things” Actor in a Supporting Role Sterling K. Brown, “American Fiction” Willem Dafoe, “Poor Things” Robert De Niro, “Killers of the Flower Moon” Robert Downey Jr., “Oppenheimer” Ryan Gosling, “Barbie” Actress in a Supporting Role Emily Blunt, “Oppenheimer”

ing” “Ted Lasso” Actor in a Drama Series Brian Cox, “Succession” Billy Crudup, “The Morning Show” Kieran Culkin, “Succession” Matthew Macfadyen, “Succession” Pedro Pascal, “The Last of Us” Actress in a Drama Series

Brie Larson, “Lessons in Chemistry” Bel Powley, “A Small Light” Ali Wong, “Beef” Stunt Ensemble in a TV Series “Ahsoka” “Barry” “Beef” “The Last of Us” “The Mandalorian”

SOCIAL

Puerto Rico January 12-14, 2024 19

The San Juan Daily Star

Museum of Art of Puerto Rico Christmas Party

By JUDY GORDON-CONDE and JENNIFER CONDE-POWERS

T

he Museum of Art of Puerto Rico celebrated its spectacular Christmas Party, now in its third year, with guests sashaying about in festive outfits to celebrate the special evening. Guests also partook in a delectable local Puerto Rican “criollo” banquet, including the traditional suckling pig and savory side dishes by the renowned Chef Marisoll. A silent auction was also conducted featuring limited edition luxury items, including a bottle of the Macallan No. 6 Prestige Collection in a magnificent Lalique glass bottle, 18k gold, and .22 ct diamond earrings designed by the fashion brand Edalou Paris, and a heartshaped piece was manufactured by Coubert, a high-quality ecological jeweler in famous Place Vendome, Paris, with its respective digital collectible (NFT). Also, a pair of tennis shoes painted by the artist Alexis Díaz was among the signature pieces. During the event, guests said goodbye to 2023 and did not leave the dance floor until midnight.

Luisa Wert, Cristina Cruz, Patricia de la Torre, Denise Gutiérrez and Lucy Bou

Margarita Serapión, Anna Di Marco, Cristina Cruz and José Salvatella

Sandra Mata, Annie Astor, María Chapel and Katie Shoen

María Cristina Gaztambide, executive director, Museum of Art of Puerto Rico, Gilberto Marxuach Ada and Gilberto Monzón and Ana María Rodríguez

Alex Cerda and María Picart

Viviana Mercado and Francisco Feliú

20 January 12-14, 2024

The San Juan Daily Star

How to define a good wine? It’s complicated.

By ERIC ASIMOV

W

hat makes a wine “good”?

The answer seems self-evident: If it tastes good, it must be good. But as with so many things involving wine, it’s never that simple, starting with the word “good.”

Good can be a complicated idea. Does it mean, as I suggested, a wine that tastes good? Or maybe a wine that’s good for you? Wine is not just a product in a bottle on a store shelf. It’s the culmination of a long process with many elements that all must coalesce to create a delightful, surprising beverage.

Does a good wine need to come from a good terroir, that winning combination of place, climate and culture?

Does it have to come from a grape variety judged among the best? What about the vintage, the farming and the winemaking, not to mention the environmental, labor and social practices of the winemaker?

Everybody who loves wine has their own way of answering these questions. Since I spend a lot of my working life judging and recommending wines that I think are good, you might rightly want to know more precisely what I mean when I say a particular bottle is a “good wine.”

So, must a good wine taste good?

Of course. Who wants a wine that doesn’t? It’s not merely the flavor of a wine but its texture, liveliness and vibrancy, elements that all must balance out. They should invite you in, not smack you over the head.

But good wines don’t taste good all the time. Some bottles are intended to be aged at least for a few years. It’s become a bit of a wine cliché to say that wines should taste good at all stages of their life, but a young Bordeaux or Barolo, intended to age and evolve for 20 years or more, is simply not going to be delicious after three years, unless you enjoy an astringently tannic mouthful. So, sometimes evaluation is a projection into the future.

How a wine tastes also depends on the occasion and the context in which you drink it. If you are sharing a casual meal at home with family or friends, an easygoing wine will taste great. That same wine might feel out of place at a more meaningful, celebratory or solemn occasion, or even at a meal that took a lot of thought, effort and creativity to put together. These moments would benefit from wines that match their importance.

Although the occasion is not directly related to the quality of what’s in the bottle, the context in which you open wine will affect how you perceive it. Some may see this as wine heresy, but after many years of opening bottles, I’ve come to believe that matching a wine to the occasion is more important than precise pairings with specific foods.

Terroir Does a good wine have to come from a good terroir?

This is not a simple answer. We may understand terroirs like Burgundy that have been studied for centuries, but we also enjoy wines made in other places without a long history, or

Yes, a wine ought to taste good — but there’s much more to consider, including farming, winemaking and intent. (Eric Asimov/The New York Times) that have not been evaluated as intensively. This means that we don’t always understand the quality of terroirs in lessfamiliar places.

That said, good terroir is never a guarantee. It merely indicates the potential of grapes grown there. Great terroirs can make profound wines, but not if the farming or winemaking was poor, or if the bottles have been stored badly. In the same way, wines from lesser terroirs can make delicious wines, although they may not have the potential to be great.

But we don’t always need great wines. Sometimes, an easygoing wine is preferable.

Jean and Pierre Gonon make the highly coveted Pierre Gonon wines in St.-Joseph, in the Northern Rhône Valley of France. Jean once explained to me the difference between Gonon’s St.-Joseph, made from an excellent terroir that requires arduous farming, and its Les Îles Feray, a wine from the easier-to-farm flatlands in the Ardèche. The Îles Feray tasted like syrah, he said, while the St.-Joseph, also made from syrah, tasted like the place in which it was grown. The wines provide different experiences for different occasions.

Grape varieties Grape varieties are also important, but not in the way that was long assumed. Wine people used to speak of “noble grapes,” as if a small group of familiar grapes were inherently better than the rest. But in recent years we’ve come to understand that grapes long dismissed as mediocre, such as aligoté or silvaner, can make fascinating, delicious wines when grown in better terroirs and farmed and made with care.

Grapes should not be underestimated because of stereotypes or conventional wisdom, nor should they be judged harshly because you once drank a bad bottle. As with terroirs, we don’t yet understand the potential of many varieties. Even grapes that have long been scorned can make the sort of wines you want to keep drinking because they are so enjoyable.

Vintages Vintages are undeniably important to the character of wines, but “good” or “bad” vintages mean different things to different people and in no way define what’s in the bottle.

Some of my favorite recent vintages, like 2021 in Burgundy or 2011 in Napa Valley, are conventionally thought to have been poor because the weather made farming difficult and kept yields low. But, from good winemakers, the wines were superb.

I am always going to be more interested in the producer than the vintage. Good producers find ways to work in harmony with vintage conditions, never trying to force an outcome in years that will not naturally yield the desired style. Because good producers assess what nature gives them rather than dictating styles, they are far less prone to resort to technological manipulation to achieve what does not come freely.

Climate change Farming and winemaking practices are issues that go beyond simply making the best possible wine. Can you make good wine if you farm chemically, using poisons to control weeds and pests? Yes, of course. But that wine could be even better if the grapes were farmed with less invasive techniques — say, organically, biodynamically, regeneratively or in that constellation of sustainable techniques.

How we treat the environment, particularly in this critical era of climate change and diminished resources, directly affects other people as well as the natural world. I find it difficult to enjoy wine that I know is made in ways that are damaging or in conflict with all we now know about our fragile habitat.

Similarly, we are far more aware today of the plight of many agricultural workers around the world. Farming is grueling, and often the only ones who choose to do it are easily exploited migrant workers. In 2023, for example, French authorities were investigating allegations of human trafficking in Champagne. It’s not easy for consumers to monitor working conditions at wineries, but it’s something that I am aware of and want to keep in mind.

Is wine good for you?

A side issue for me is whether wine is good for you. I don’t drink wine because I think it is healthful — although I find it delicious and life-enhancing, which I imagine offers some psychological benefit. But recently we’ve seen many articles asserting that consuming even a small amount of alcohol is harmful to your health.

Nobody ought to deny that alcoholic beverages can be dangerous if abused. If people wish to take a dry week or dry month, that’s great. I’ve certainly decided on occasion to drink less wine, as I might occasionally cut down on desserts.

Life is full of risks, and each of us individually must decide what’s right for us, whether drinking a glass of wine or cycling on busy urban streets. If that means fewer glasses or occasional dry spells, fine. But no need to demonize what many people find so appealing and enjoyable.

The San Juan Daily Star

January 12-14, 2024

21

Vulcan rocket aces its first launch

By KENNETH CHANG

A

brand-new rocket lifted off early Monday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, sending multiple payloads on journeys into space.

Hours after the debut of the Vulcan rocket, a moon lander it carried built by a private company faced malfunctions that imperiled its mission. That did not diminish the launch itself, which was flawless and set up future missions of the vehicle, which was built by United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

Tory Bruno, CEO of ULA, summed it up tersely in a post on the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Launched on the open of the window.

Perfectly nominal mission. Dead on bullseye orbital insertion,” he wrote.

For ULA, the successful launch of the Vulcan Centaur rocket was crucial. Vulcan is designed to replace two older rockets, and the U.S. Space Force is also counting on it to launch spy satellites and other spacecraft that are important for U.S. national security.

The Vulcan is also the first of several new rockets that could chip away at the current domination of the space launch market

by Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX. SpaceX sent nearly 100 rockets into orbit last year.

Other debut orbital launches in the coming months could include the Ariane 6 rocket from Arianespace, a European company, and New Glenn from Blue Origin, the company started by Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder.

Through the night, the countdown for the Vulcan rocket proceeded smoothly, and the weather cooperated.

At 2:18 a.m. Eastern time, the rocket’s engines ignited and lifted off from the launchpad, heading up and east over the Atlantic Ocean.

“Everything looking good,” Rob Gannon, launch commentator at United Launch Alliance, said repeatedly as the Vulcan headed to space.

“Yee-haw,” Bruno said after the deployment of the lunar spacecraft. “I am so thrilled. I can’t tell you how much.”

United Launch Alliance was formed in 2006, and for nine years it was the only company certified by the U.S. government to send national security payloads into orbit. Until now, it has used two vehicles: the

Delta IV, developed by Boeing, which will complete its final flight later this year, and the Atlas V, developed by Lockheed Martin, which is also to retire in a few years.

Seventeen Atlas V launches remain, but the rocket uses Russian-built engines, which became more politically untenable with the rise of tensions between Russia and the United States. That led ULA to begin development of the Vulcan, which replaces the capabilities of both rockets at a lower cost, United Launch Alliance officials said.

“What’s unique about Vulcan, and what we originally set out to do, was to provide a rocket that has all the capabilities of Atlas and Delta in one single system,” said Mark Peller, the ULA vice president in charge of Vulcan’s development. “Because we do have that adjustability, its configuration can be really tailored to the specific mission.”

Vulcan can be configured in a variety of ways. Its core booster stage, the main body of the rocket, is powered by two BE-4 engines manufactured by Blue Origin. The engines, which emit deep blue flames from the burning of methane fuel, will also be used on Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket.

Up to six solid rocket fuel boosters can be strapped to the core’s side to increase the amount of mass it can lift into orbit. Its nose cone comes in two dimensions — a standard size of 51 feet in length and a longer one, 70 feet, for larger payloads.

“The launch market is more robust than it has been in decades,” said Carissa Christensen, chief executive of Bryce Tech, a consulting company in Alexandria, Virginia.

“And anticipated demand is likely to be sufficient to support multiple launch providers, including Vulcan.”

ULA already has a backlog of more than 70 missions to fly on Vulcan. Amazon bought 38 launches for deployment for Project Kuiper, a constellation of communications satellites that will compete with SpaceX’s Starlink network to provide highspeed satellite internet.

Many of the other launches will be for the Space Force. ULA and SpaceX are currently the only companies that are approved for launching national security missions.

Monday’s launch is the first of two demonstration missions that the Space Force is requiring to gain confidence in Vulcan before it uses the launcher for military and surveil-

An undated photo provided by Celestis shows technicians preparing the payload of capsules of human remains for the launch of the Vulcan Centaur rocket. Celestis memorializes people by sending some of their ashes or DNA into space.

(Celestis via The New York Times) lance payloads.

The second launch is to lift Dream Chaser, an uncrewed space plane built by Sierra Space of Louisville, Colorado, on a cargo delivery mission to the International Space Station. That could then be followed by four additional Vulcan launches this year for the Space Force.

The main payload for the first launch of Vulcan was Peregrine, Astrobotic’s lunar lander. Astrobotic, founded in 2007, is one of several private companies aiming to provide a delivery service to the surface of the moon.

Its primary customer for this trip is NASA, which paid Astrobotic $108 million to carry five experiments. No American spacecraft has made a soft landing on the moon since 1972.

That is part of the scientific work the space agency is conducting to prepare for the return of the astronauts to the moon under the Artemis program. Unlike in the past, when NASA built and operated its own spacecraft, this time it is relying on companies such as Astrobotic to provide the transportation.

That spacecraft probably will no longer be able to attempt a moon landing. But Vulcan also lifted a secondary payload for Celestis, a company that memorializes people by sending some of their ashes or DNA into space. Two toolbox-size containers attached to the Vulcan’s upper stage house 268 small cylindrical capsules.

Among the people whose remains are

on this final journey are Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek; his wife, Majel Barrett, who played Nurse Chapel on the original television show; and three other actors on the show: DeForest Kelley, who played medical officer Leonard “Bones” McCoy; Nichelle Nichols, who played Uhura, the communications officer; and James Doohan, who played Montgomery Scott, the chief engineer.

One of the capsules contains samples of hair from three American presidents: George Washington, Dwight Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy.

A final brief engine firing sent the second stage and the Celestis memorial into orbit around the sun.

While Vulcan has many payloads to launch over the next few years, its longerterm prospects are less clear. Other aerospace companies are looking to win some of the Space Force business, and Amazon could in the future shift many more of its Kuiper launches to Bezos’ Blue Origin.

Another factor affecting Vulcan’s future is that SpaceX lands and reuses its Falcon 9 boosters, which is likely to give it a sizable price advantage over ULA. By contrast, the whole Vulcan rocket is used just once. Blue Origin is also planning to reuse the New Glenn boosters.

ULA is developing technology that could be used to recover the two engines in the booster, the most expensive part of the rocket, but that is years away.

22 LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE SAN JUAN

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO Demandante Vs.

JOSE MARIA GARCIA BLANCO, SHARON ENID GONZALEZ MALDONADO Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS

Demandados Civil Núm.: KCD2015-1469.

(508). Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE GARANTÍAS. EDICTO DE SUBASTA.

AL: PÚBLICO EN GENERAL. A: JOSE MARIA GARCIA BLANCO, SHARON ENID GONZALEZ MALDONADO Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS; ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO- DEPARTAMENTO DE HACIENDA, POR TENER EMBARGOS ANOTADOS A SU FAVOR POR LAS SUMAS DE $102,099.83 Y $100,629.43.

Yo, EDWIN E. LÓPEZ MULERO, ALGUACIL AUXILIAR, Alguacil de este Tribunal, a la parte demandada y a los acreedores y personas con interés sobre la propiedad que más adelante se describe, y al público en general, HAGO SABER: Que el día 24 DE ENERO DE 2024, A LAS 9:00 DE LA MAÑANA en mi oficina, sita en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior de San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Rico, venderé en Pública Subasta la propiedad inmueble que más adelante se describe y cuya venta en pública subasta se ordenó por la vía ordinaria al mejor postor quien hará el pago en dinero en efectivo, giro postal o cheque certificado a nombre del o la Alguacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia. Los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al procedimiento incoado, estarán de manifiesto en la Secretaría del Tribunal de San Juan durante horas laborables. Que en caso de no producir remate ni adjudicación en la primera subasta a celebrarse,

@

se celebrará una SEGUNDA SUBASTA para la venta de la susodicha propiedad, el día 31 DE ENERO DE 2024, A LAS 9:00 DE LA MAÑANA y en caso de no producir remate ni adjudicación, se celebrará una TERCERA SUBASTA el 7 DE FEBRERO DE 2024, A LAS 9:00 DE LA MAÑANA en mi oficina sita en el lugar antes indicado. La propiedad a venderse en pública subasta se describe como sigue: “URBANA: Solar radicado en la Urbanización “Monteverde Real”, localizado en el Barrio Caimito de Río Piedras, del término municipal de San Juan, Puerto Rico, que se describe en el Plano de Inscripción, con el número, área y colindancias que se relacionan a continuación: Número del Solar: cuarenta y cinco (45). Área del Solar: cuatrocientos sesenta puntos dos mil ciento noventa y siete (460.2197) metros cuadrados, equivalentes a cero punto mil ciento setenta y una (0.1171) cuerdas. En lindes: por el NORTE: en una distancia de veinticuatro punto setenta y ocho (24.78) metros lineales, con el Solar número cuarenta y cuatro (44) de la Urbanización; por el SUR en dos (2) distancias que suman veintiséis punto noventa y siete (26.97) metros lineales, con el Solar número cuarenta y seis (46) de la Urbanización; por el ESTE: en dos (2) distancias que suman veintidós punto setenta y dos 22.72) metros lineales, con terrenos pertenecientes a Jaime Rivera Vázquez; y por el OESTE: en dos (2) distancias que suman dieciséis punto cincuenta y nueve (16.59) metros lineales, con la Calle Vereda de la Urbanización. Sobre dicho Solar enclava una casa de concreto para fines residenciales. El expresado Solar se halla afecto a la(s) siguiente(s) servidumbre(s): Servidumbre Telefónica: franja de terreno de cinco (5’) pies de ancho que discurre al o largo de su colindancia Oeste. Servidumbre de Equidad (Mantenimiento) y de ocupación de espacio aéreo: Franja de terreno de cero punto noventa y un (0.91) metros de ancho por once punto veintitrés (11.23) metros de largo, localizada en la colindancia Norte del solar antes descrito como predio sirviente y a beneficio del Solar cuarenta y cuatro (44) (predio dominante), la cual área podrá utilizar el propietario del predio dominante para pintar, repara, proteger la pared y/o cualquier reparación necesario y/o darle el debido mantenimiento a la pared de su vivienda. Además, en dicho

espacio de terreno, tiene el predio dominante, una “cornisa” de su vivienda que ocupa “espacio aéreo” del predio sirviente, la cual ocupación está autorizada por esta servidumbre. Inscrita al folio 105 del tomo 796 de Río Piedras Sur, Registro de la Propiedad de Puerto Rico, Sección IV de San Juan, finca número 21,910. La dirección física de la propiedad antes descrita es: Urbanización Monteverde Real, Calle Vereda, Solar 45, San Juan, Puerto Rico. La Subasta se llevará a efecto para satisfacer a la parte demandante la suma de $408,770.74, intereses al 6.875% anual desde el 1ro. de diciembre de 2014, lo cuales se acumulan diariamente hasta su total y completo pago; $836.35 por cargos por mora; mas $50,925.00 por concepto de costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado hipotecariamente asegurados., todas cuyas sumas están líquidas y exigibles. Que la cantidad mínima de licitación en la primera subasta para el inmueble será de $509,250.00 y de ser necesaria una segunda subasta, la cantidad mínima será equivalente a 2/3 partes de aquella, o sea, la suma de $339,500.00 y de ser necesaria una tercera subasta, la cantidad mínima será la mitad del precio pactado, es decir, la suma de $254,625.00. De declararse desierta la tercera subasta se adjudicará la finca a favor del acreedor por la totalidad de la cantidad adeudada si esta es igual o menor que el monto del tipo de la tercera subasta, si el Tribunal lo estima conveniente.

Se abonará dicho monto a la cantidad adeudada si esta es mayor. La propiedad se adjudicará al mejor postor, quien deberá satisfacer el importe de su oferta en moneda legal y corriente de los Estados Unidos de América en el momento de la adjudicación y que las cargas y gravámenes preferentes, si los hubiese, continuarán subsistentes, entendiéndose que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate. La propiedad hipotecada a ser vendida en pública Subasta se encuentra afecta a los siguientes gravámenes posteriores: Embargo a favor del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, contra José M. García Blanco, seguro social número xxx-xx-9817, por la suma de $102,099.83, por concepto de Contribuciones sobre Ingresos, según Certificación de fecha 14 de agosto de 2023, número de Embargo CAR-24-0047, anota-

staredictos@thesanjuandailystar.com

do el día 18 de agosto de 2023, al Asiento 2023-006948-EST del Sistema Karibe, Registro de la Propiedad de San Juan, Sección Cuarta. Embargo a favor del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, contra Sharon E. González Maldonado, seguro social número xxx-xx-5725, por la suma de $100,629.43, por concepto de Contribuciones sobre Ingresos, según Certificación de fecha 14 de agosto de 2023, número de Embargo CAR-24-0051, anotado el día 23 de agosto de 2023, al Asiento 2023-006947-EST del Sistema Karibe, Registro de la Propiedad de San Juan, Sección Cuarta. La propiedad a ser vendida en pública subasta se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores. Podrán concurrir como postores a todas las subastas los titulares de créditos hipotecarios vigentes y posteriores a la hipoteca que se cobra o ejecuta, si alguno o que figuren como tales en la certificación registral y que podrán utilizar el montante de sus créditos o parte de alguno en sus ofertas. Si la oferta aceptada es por cantidad mayor a la suma del crédito o créditos preferentes al suyo, al obtener la buena pro del remate, deberá satisfacer en el mismo acto, en efectivo o en cheque de gerente, la totalidad del crédito hipotecario que se ejecuta y la de cualesquiera otro créditos posteriores al que se ejecuta pero preferente al suyo. El exceso constituirá abono total o parcial en su propio crédito. EN TESTIMONIO DE LO CUAL, expido el presente Edicto para conocimiento y comparecencia de los licitadores, bajo mi firma y sello del Tribunal, en San Juan, Puerto Rico, 20 de diciembre de 2023. EDWIN E. LÓPEZ MULERO, ALGUACIL AUXILIAR, ALGUACIL, DIVISIÓN DE EJECUCIÓN DE SENTENCIAS, TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA, SALA SUPERIOR DE SAN JUAN.

Friday, January 12, 2024 PARTNERSHIP D/B/A EL ELEFANTE BAR & GRILL

Defendants Civil No.: 17-02244. (JAG). FORECLOSURE OF MORTGAGE AND PLEDGE - IN REM. NOTICE OF SALE.

To: DEFENDANTS AND GENERAL PUBLIC.

On March 22, 2023, the Court entered Default Judgment in favor of plaintiffs, Edgar Arquelio Ferrer Hernández, his wife Sofía Rivera Díaz and Their Conjugal Partnership (“Plaintiffs”) and against defendants, José Enrique Pastor García, Adissely Menéndez Ojeda, and their conjugal partnership d/b/a El Elefante Bar & Grill (“Defendants”). As of September 1, 2022, Defendants owe Plaintiffs, under the Loan Agreement, the sum of $161,750.15 in principal; interests in the amount of $87,843.79 which continues to accrue, even postjudgment as per the agreement of the parties, until full payment of the debt at $21.34 per diem; accrued late charges in the amount of $774.53; other expenses in the amount of $2,979.00 and any other advance, charge, fee or disbursements made by Plaintiffs, as well as under the other loan documents, plus costs and agreed attorney’s fees in the amount of $20,000.00. The amounts owed will be satisfied only with the proceedings obtained from the judicial sale of the Property. Pursuant to said judgment and/or the Order of Execution of Judgment, the undersigned appointed Special Master was ordered to sell, at public auction for U.S. currency in cash or certified check, without appraisement or right to redemption, to the highest bidder, at the office of the Clerk of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Room 150 - Federal Building, Carlos Chardón Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, or at any other place designated by LEGAL NOTICE said Clerk, to cover the sums IN THE UNITED STATES DIS- adjudged to be paid to the TRICT COURT FOR THE DIS- plaintiffs, the following property: URBAN: Urban: Commercial lot TRICT OF PUERTO RICO identified with letter B, located EDGAR ARQUELIO in Américo Miranda Avenue in FERRER HERNÁNDEZ, the low floor of the Caribe TropiHIS WIFE SOFÍA cal Condominium, San Juan, RIVERA DÍAZ AND Puerto Rico, with irregular shape, with a superficial area of THEIR CONJUGAL 1354.09 square feet, equivalent PARTNERSHIP to 125.80 square meters. BounPlaintiffs V. ded by the North, that is the JOSÉ ENRIQUE front with access to the public PASTOR GARCÍA; way in 34’4.5” long, equivalent HIS WIFE ADISSELY to 10.48 meters long; by the MENÉNDEZ OJEDA South, with the Doña Ana AND THEIR CONJUGAL creek, in a distance of 40’ 9.37”, equivalent to 12.43 meters; by

(787) 743-3346

the East, with commercial lot A, in a distance of 27’6’” equivalent to 8.38 meters, and by the West, with common stairs, in a distance of 30’5” long, equivalent to 9.27 meters. This local have open space, kitchen, two bathrooms, bar, storage in the baseman that have a superficial area of 334.86 square feet, equivalent to 31.11 square meters. This place corresponds the parking areas number 2, 3, 4 y 5, and 50% in the common limited elements.” The property described above is recorded at page 108 of volume 923 of Monacillos, property number 26,463, Registry of Property, Third Section of San Juan. Physical Address: 1116 Caparra Terrace Dev., Américo Miranda Avenue, Reparto Metropolitano, San Juan. The Property is described in the Spanish language as follows: URBANA: PROPIEDAD HORIZONTAL: Local comercial marcado con la letra B, localizada en la Avenida Américo Miranda en la planta baja o terrera del Condominio Caribe Tropical, en San Juan, Puerto Rico, siendo de forma irregular teniendo un área superficial de 1354.09 pies cuadrados, equivalentes a 125.80 metros cuadrados, teniendo los siguientes linderos: por el Norte, el cual es su frente que le da acceso a la vía pública en 34’4.5’’ de largo, equivalentes a 10.48 metros de largo; por el Sur, con la quebrada Doña Ana, en una distancia de 40’9.37’’, equivalentes a 12.43 metros; por el Este, con el local Comercial A, en una distancia de 27’6’’, equivalentes a 8.38 metros; y por el Oeste, con escalera común, en una distancia de 30’5’’ de largo, equivalentes a 9.27 metros. Consta de un espacio abierto, cocina, dos baños, barra, área de almacén en el sótano, el cual tiene un área superficial de 334.86 pies cuadrados, equivalentes a 31.11 metros cuadrados. A este local le corresponde los estacionamientos marcados con los números 2; 3; 4 y 5, en los planos de inscripción. Le corresponde una participación equivalente a 50% de las comunes limitados.”

The property described above is recorded at page 108 of volume 923 of Monacillos, property number 26,463, Registry of Property, Third Section of San Juan. Dirección Física: 1116 Caparra Terrace Dev., Américo Miranda Avenue, Reparto Metropolitano, San Juan. The property is subject to the following liens: By its origin: Easements; Restrictive Conditions of Edification and Use. By itself: MORTGAGE in guarantee of note in favor of Doral Bank, or

The San Juan Daily Star to its order, in the principal amount of $200,000.00, with an annual interest rate of 9.75% and due on presentation, as per Deed No. 198, executed on June 25, 2007, before Notary Public Carlos Manuel Rivera Corujo, recorded at page 108 of volume 923 of Monacillos, 3rd inscription. COMPLAINT ANNOTATION: The subject of this annotation is the Mortgage in favor of Doral Bank for the sum of $200,000.00 arising from the third inscription. Plaintiff: Bautista Cayman Asset Company; Defendants: Holders; El Elefante Bar and Grill, amount owed $161,750.15 of principal plus interest, according to the Complaint of the US District Court for the District of PR in civil case #17-2244 on October 13, 2017, recorded in volume Karibe de Monacillos, Annotation A dated April 2, 2018. Potential bidders are advised to verify the extent of preferential liens with the holders thereof. It shall be understood that each bidder accepts as sufficient the title and that prior and preferential liens to the one being foreclosed upon, including but not limited to any property tax, liens, (express, tacit, implied or legal), shall continue in effect. It being understood further that the successful bidder accepts them and is subrogated in the responsibility for the same and that the bid price shall not be applied toward their cancellation. The lien executed is over the property, and for the purposes of the first judicial sale the minimum bid amount is as follows: a. The amount of $200,000.00, as set forth in the mortgage deed, shall serve as the minimum bidding amount for the first public sale. Should the first public sale fail to produce an award or adjudication, two-thirds of the aforementioned amount or $133,333.33 shall serve as the minimum bidding amount for the second public sale. Should there be no award or adjudication at the second public sale, the minimum bidding amount for the third public sale shall be $100,000.00.

Said sale to be made by the appointed Special Master is subject to confirmation by the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and the deed of conveyance and possession to the property may be executed and delivered after the judicial sale. Upon confirmation of the sale, an order shall be issued canceling all junior liens. THEREFORE, public notice is hereby given that the appointed Special Master, pursuant to the provisions of the Judgment herein before refe-

rred to, will, on the 9TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2024, AT 10:30 A.M., in the Office of the Clerk of the United States District Court, Federal Building, Room 150 - Federal Building, 350 Chardon Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, will sell at public auction to the highest bidder the property described herein, the proceeds of said sale to be applied in the manner and form provided by the Court’s Judgment. Should the first judicial sale set hereinabove be unsuccessful, the SECOND JUDICIAL SALE of the property described in this Notice will be held on the 16TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2024, AT 10:30 A.M., in the Office of the Clerk of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Room 150 - Federal Building, 350 Carlos Chardón Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. Should the second judicial sale set hereinabove be unsuccessful, the THIRD JUDICIAL SALE of the property described in this Notice will be held on the 23RD DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2024, AT 10:30 A.M. in the Office of the Clerk of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Room 150 - Federal Building, 350 Carlos Chardón Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. The records of the case and of these proceedings may be examined by the parties at the Office of the Clerk of the United States District Court, Federal Building, 350 Chardón Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico.

In San Juan, Puerto Rico, this 14th day of December, 2023.

AGUEDO DE LA TORRE, APPOINTED SPECIAL MASTER.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE PONCE

EDWARD MADERA OLIVERA Peticionario

EX PARTE

Caso Número: PE2023CV00075.

Sobre: EXPEDIENTE DE DOMINIO. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS EE.UU., EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS. POR LA PRESENTE se le notifica que el peticionario de epígrafe ha presentado una Petición para que se declare a su favor el dominio de la siguiente finca: RURAL: Solar cabida Dos Mil doscientos siete puntos tres mil doscientos noventa y dos metros cuadrados (2,207.3292 m/c), equivalentes cero puntos cinco mil seiscientos dieciséis

The San Juan Daily Star cuerdas (0.5616 cda) en el Bo Macana, Sector Calichoza, del término municipal de Peñuelas, Puerto Rico. Linderos: Norte, con calle municipal existente, terrenos propiedad de José Ortiz, por el Sur, terrenos propiedad de Juanita Rodríguez, por el Este, con calle municipal existente y terrenos de José Ortiz y Lidia N. Pacheco, y por el Oeste, con Quebrada. Enclava una estructura de cemento y bloques de tres habitaciones, sala, cocina, un baño y balcón.

Este Tribunal ordenó que publique la pretensión de tres (3) veces durante el término de veinte (20) días, en un periódico de circulación general diaria para los que tenga algún derecho real sobre el inmueble descrito, las personas ignorada quienes pueda perjudicar la inscripción y en general a toda persona que desee oponerse dentro del término de veinte (20) días de la última publicación del presente edicto debe notificar con copia de sus alegaciones a la representación legal del promovente, Lcdo. Luis M. Barnecet Vélez, Urb. Paraíso de Coamo, 608 Calle Paz, Coamo, PR 00769, Tel. 787-603-2396 email: barnecet@hotmail.com.

EXTENDIDO BAJO MI FIRMA y el sello del Tribunal, hoy 16 día octubre de 2023. CARMEN G. TIRÚ QUIÑONES, SECRETARIA REGIONAL. DAISY QUIÑONES VÁZQUEZ, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR DEL TRIBUNAL. ***

Friday, January 12, 2024 AMBOS. Direcciones conocidas: Urb. Garden Hills, Calle Jardín R-4, Guaynabo, P.R. 00966; 1 Calle Santa Ana San Juan, P.R. 00911; 5434 East Hinsdale Crcle, Centennial, CO 801222538.

Por la presente se les notifica que se ha radicado en su contra una Demanda de Cobro de Dinero a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://unired.ramajudicial. pr. Se le emplaza y requiere para que notifique a: Ferraiuoli LLC Luis G. Parrilla Hernández RUA Núm. 16,736 Angélica S. Vázquez Lozada RUA Núm. 21,742 PO Box 195168 San Juan, PR 00919-5168 Tel.: 787-766-700 / Fax: 787-766-7001 lparrilla@ferraiuoli.com / avazquez@ferraiuoli.com Abogados de la parte demandante, con copia de respuesta a la Demanda dentro de los treinta (30) días siguientes a la publicación de este edicto y radicar el original de dicha en este Tribunal en donde podrán enterarse de su contenido.

Si dejaren de hacerlo, podrá anotárseles la rebeldía y se les dictará sentencia concediendo el remedio solicitado sin más citarles ni oírles. EXPEDIDO bajo mi firma y con el sello del Tribunal. DADO hoy LEGAL NOTICE en Bayamón, Puerto Rico, 13 ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO de diciembre de 2023. LCDA. DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU- LAURA I. SANTA SÁNCHEZ, KATHERINE NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SECRETARIA. RODRÍGUEZ, SALA SUPERIOR DE BAYA- SANTIAGO SUB-SECRETARIA. MÓN

CONDADO HOTEL SERVICES GROUP, INC. Y CONDADO DUO LA CONCHA CASINO SPV LLC D/B/A CASINO DEL MAR

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE CAGUAS

LCDO. JOSÉ R. GONZÁLEZ RIVERA - RUA 13105 LCDO. JUAN A. SANTOS BERRÍOS - RUA 9774 P.O. BOX 10242 HUMACAO, PUERTO RICO 00792 TELÉFONO: (939) 545-4300 EMAIL: rab@agslegalpr.com o jrg@ agslegalpr.com POR LA PRESENTE se le emplaza para que presente al tribunal su alegación responsiva, con copia a la representación legal de la parte demandante, dentro de los 30 días de haber sido publicado este emplazamiento, excluyéndose el día su publicación. Usted deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https:// unired.ramajudicial.pr/sumac/, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación responsiva en la secretaría del tribunal. Si usted deja de presentar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el tribunal podrá dictar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra y conceder el remedio solicitado en la demanda, o cualquier otro, si el tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente. Extendido bajo mi firma y Sello del Tribunal, en Caguas, Puerto Rico, hoy día 28 de diciembre de 2023. LISILDA MARTÍNEZ AGOSTO, SECRETARIA. MARTA E. DONATE RESTO, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE AGUADILLA SALA SUPERIOR

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO Demandante V.

A: “JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE” COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESION DE JOSUE TORRES DE JESÚS.

POR LA PRESENTE se le emplaza para que presente al Tribunal su alegación responsiva a la demanda dentro de los treinta (30) días de haber sido diligenciado este emplazamiento, excluyéndose el día del diligenciamiento, notificando copia de la misma al abogado de la parte demandante. Si usted deja de presentar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el Tribunal podrá dictar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra y conceder el remedio solicitado en la demanda, o cualquier otro, si el Tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente.

Se le advierte, además, a los herederos que, conforme al caso de Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria vs. Latinoamericana de Exportación, Inc., 2005 TSPR 50, Op. De 22 de abril de 2005; tienen la opción de aceptar o repudiar la herencia del causante, dentro del término de 30 días a partir de su emplazamiento. De no expresar su intención de aceptar o repudiar dicha herencia dentro del término que se le fijó para contestar a la demanda incoada en su contra, la herencia se tendrá por aceptada, así como el presente emplazamiento.

ABOGADOS DE LA PARTE DEMANDANTE: Lcdo. Reggie Díaz Hernández RUA NÚM.: 16,393 BERMUDEZ & DIAZ LLP Attorneys at Law Suite 209 500 Calle de la Tanca San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901 Tel.: (787) 523-2670 Fax: (787) 523-2664 rdíaz@bdprlaw.com EXTENDIDO BAJO MI FIRMA y el Sello del Tribunal, hoy 29 de diciembre de 2023. Sarahí Reyes Pérez, Secretaria.

Nathalie I. Acevedo Quiñones, Sub-Secretaria.

SUCESIÓN DE JOSUE TORRES DE COOPERATIVA DE JESÚS COMPUESTA Demandantes V. AHORRO Y CRÉDITO POR “JOHN DOE Y TIMOTHY M. HAGER, AGUAS BUENAS LEGAL NOTICE RICHARD ROE” COMO SU ESPOSA ANGELA Parte Demandante V. ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO POSIBLES HEREDEROS LYNN HAGER Y LA ERIKA ISABEL DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUDESCONOCIDOS DE SOCIEDAD LEGAL SÁNCHEZ QUIÑONES NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA LAS SUCESION DE Parte Demandada DE GANANCIALES SALA SUPERIOR DE CACivil Núm.: CG2023CV02545.

JOSUE TORRES DE COMPUESTA ENTRE GUAS Sala: 801. Sobre: COBRO DE JESÚS; CENTRO DE AMBOS MORTGAGE ASSETS DINERO. EMPLAZAMIENTO RECAUDACIONES DE Demandados MANAGEMENT, LLC POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNICivil Núm.: BY2023CV05872.

INGRESOS MUNICIPALES Demandante V. DOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRE(403). Sobre: COBRO DE DI(C.R.I.M.) - PARTE CON VIRGILIO CORDERO SIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS NERO. EMPLAZAMIENTO INTERÉS UNIDOS, EL ESTADO LIBRE SOTO, TAMBIÉN POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDemandados ASOCIADO DE PUERTO CONOCIDO DOS DE AMéRICA, EL PRECivil Núm.: AG2023CV02065.

RICO, SS. SIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS COMO VIRGILIO Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO A: ERIKA ISABEL UNIDOS, EL ESTADO LIBRE CORDERO; MARÍA Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTESÁNCHEZ QUIÑONES. ASOCIADO DE PUERTO ELIGIA RODRÍGUEZ CA. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR POR LA PRESENTE se le emRICO. EDICTO E INTERPELACIÓN. TORRES, TAMBIÉN A: TIMOTHY M. HAGER, plaza y requiere para que noti- ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉCONOCIDA COMO fique a: ANGELA LYNN HAGER RICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE AGS LEGAL COLLECTIONS, LLC. MARÍA E. RODRÍGUEZ LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, EL Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL ABOGADOS DE LA PARTE TORRES, COMO DEMANDANTE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE GANANCIALES MARÍA RODRÍGUEZ LCDO. RICARDO A. ACEVEDO DE PUERTO RICO, SS. COMPUESTA ENTRE BIANCHI - RUA 20637

TORRES, MARÍA ELIGIA RODRÍGUEZ, MARÍA E. RODRÍGUEZ Y COMO MARÍA RODRÍGUEZ; LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS, ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA

Demandados Civil Núm.: CG2023CV03252.

Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS.

23

ción, lo entiende procedente.

Además, se le apercibe que, en los casos al amparo de la Ley Núm. 57-2023, titulada Ley para la Prevención del Maltrato, Preservación de la Unidad Familiar y para la Seguridad, Bienestar y Protección de los Menores, entre los remedios que el Tribunal podrá conceder se incluyen la ubicación permanente de un (una) menor fuera de su hogar, el inicio de procesos para la privación de patria potestad, y cualquier otra medida en el mejor interés del (de la) menor. (Artículo 33, incisos b y f de la Ley Núm. 57-2023).

Se le advierte de su derecho a comparecer acompañado(a) de abogado(a) en los casos que proceda. Expido este edicto bajo mi firma y sello de este Tribunal, hoy 3 de enero de de 2024. LISILDA MARTÍNEZ AGOSTO, SECRETARIA GENERAL. SANDRA J. TRINIDAD CAÑUELAS, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR.

A: MARÍA ELIGIA RODRÍGUEZ TORRES, TAMBIÉN CONOCIDA COMO MARÍA E. RODRÍGUEZ TORRES, COMO MARÍA RODRÍGUEZ TORRES, MARÍA ELIGIA LEGAL NOTICE RODRÍGUEZ, MARÍA E. ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO RODRÍGUEZ Y COMO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUMARÍA RODRÍGUEZ, NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA POR SÍ Y COMO CENTRO JUDICIAL DE GUAYREPRESENTANTE DE NABO SALA SUPERIOR LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL BANCO POPULAR DE DE GANANCIALES QUE PUERTO RICO Demandante Vs. COMPONE CON VIRGILIO VERÓNICA DEL CORDERO SOTO, MANZANO HAEDO, TAMBIÉN CONOCIDO JAYDENISE TORRES COMO VIRGILIO GONZÁLEZ CORDERO.

Queden emplazados y notificados que en este Tribunal se ha radicado Demanda sobre Ejecución de Hipoteca en su contra. Por la presente se le emplaza y notifica que debe contestar la demanda dentro del término de treinta (30) días a partir de la publicación del presente edicto y deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), el cual podrá acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://unired.ramajudicial.pr, salvo que el caso sea de un expediente físico o que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación responsiva en la Secretaría del Tribunal y notificar copia de la misma al licenciado Andrés Sáez Marrero, 1541 Calle Ponce de León, Box 203, Urb. El Caribe, San Juan, PR 00926, Tel. (561) 338-4101, correo electrónico, asaez@tmpllc.com, dentro de los treinta (30) días siguientes a la publicación de este Edicto.

Si usted deja de presentar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el tribunal podrá dictar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra y conceder el remedio solicitado en la demanda, o cualquier otro sin más citarle ni oírle, si el tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discre-

Demandados Civil Núm.: GB2019CV00474.

Sala: 201. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA (VÍA ORDINARIA).

EDICTO DE SUBASTA. El Alguacil que suscribe por la presente CERTIFICA, ANUNCIA y hace CONSTAR: Que en cumplimiento de un Mandamiento de Ejecución de Sentencia que le ha sido dirigido al Alguacil que suscribe por la Secretaría del TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE GUAYNABO, SALA SUPERIOR, en el caso de epígrafe procederá a vender en pública subasta al mejor postor en efectivo, cheque certificado en moneda legal de los Estados Unidos de América el 6 DE FEBRERO DE 2024, A LAS 9:00 DE LA MAÑANA, en su oficina sita en el local que ocupa en el edificio del TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE GUAYNABO, SALA SUPERIOR, todo derecho, título e interés que tenga la parte demandada de epígrafe en el inmueble de su propiedad que ubica en: 1 CALLE VILLEGAS APT. 6408, CONDOMINIO PÓRTICOS DE GUAYNABO, GUAYNABO, PR 00971 y que se describe a continuación: URBANA: PROPIEDAD HORIZONTAL: Apartamento residencial de forma

irregular localizado en la cuarta planta del edificio número seis del Condominio Pórticos De Guaynabo, situado en el Barrio Santa Rosa III, del término municipal de Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Apartamento número: seis raya cuatro, cero, ocho (6408). Area neta del apartamento: mil quinientos veinticuatro punto veintitrés (1524.23) pies cuadrados, equivalentes a ciento cuarenta y uno punto sesenta y ocho (141.68) metros cuadrados. En lindes por el OESTE, con el espacio aéreo y área común en una distancia de 38 pies, equivalentes a 11.58 metros; por el SUR, colinda con pared medianera que lo separa del apartamento 6-407, en una distancia de 14 pies, equivalentes a 4.27 metros y con el vestíbulo del edificio en una distancia de 18 pies con 1 pulgada, equivalentes a 5.51 metros; por el ESTE, colinda con el espacio aéreo y área común en una distancia de 34 pies con 1 pulgada, equivalentes a 10.79 metros y con el vestíbulo del edificio en una distancia de 3 pies con 10 pulgadas, equivalentes a 1.16 metros; y por el NORTE, con el espacio aéreo y área común en una distancia de 30 pies con 6 pulgadas, equivalentes a 9.30 metros. El inmueble antes descrito consta en su planta primaria de tres habitaciones dormitorios, dos baños, cocina, comedor, sala y área de escalera que conduce a una terraza en su nivel superior de 420.98 pies cuadrados, equivalentes a 39.124 metros cuadrados la cual tiene facilidades de agua, desagua sanitario y electricidad. Le corresponde a este apartamento en los elementos comunes generales el 0.6665 por ciento. También le corresponde dos estacionamientos rotulados con el numero 6-408.

La propiedad antes relacionada consta inscrita al Folio 270 del Tomo 1,165 de Guaynabo, bajo la finca número 40,689, en el Registro de la Propiedad de Guaynabo. El tipo mínimo para la primera subasta del inmueble antes relacionado, será el dispuesto en la Escritura de Hipoteca, es decir la suma de $140,409.00. Si no hubiere remate ni adjudicación en la primera subasta del inmueble mencionado, se celebrará una SEGUNDA SUBASTA en las oficinas del Alguacil que suscribe el día 13 DE FEBRERO DE 2024, A LAS 9:00 DE LA MAÑANA. En la segunda subasta que se celebre servirá de tipo mínimo las dos terceras partes (2/3) del precio pactado en la primera subasta, o sea la suma de $93,606.00. Si tampoco hubiere remate ni adjudicación en la segunda subasta se celebrará una TERCERA SUBASTA en las oficinas del Alguacil que suscribe el día 20 DE FEBRE-

RO DE 2024, A LAS 9:00 DE LA MAÑANA. Para la tercera subasta servirá de tipo mínimo la mitad (1/2) del precio pactado para el caso de ejecución, o sea, la suma de $70,204.50. La hipoteca a ejecutarse en el caso de epígrafe fue constituida mediante la escritura de hipoteca número 273 otorgada en San Juan, Puerto Rico, el día 21 de noviembre de 2012, ante el Notario Rafael F. Morales Cabranes, inscrita al folio 82 del tomo 191 de Guaynabo, bajo la finca número 40,689, en la inscripción quinta (5ta). Dicha subasta se llevará a cabo para con su producto satisfacer al Demandante total o parcialmente según sea el caso el importe de la Sentencia que ha obtenido ascendente a la suma de $127,247.10 por concepto de principal, desde el 1ro de agosto de 2017, más intereses al tipo pactado de 3.50% anual que continúan acumulándose hasta el pago total de la obligación. Además, la parte demandada adeuda a la parte demandante los cargos por demora equivalentes a 4.00% de la suma de aquellos pagos con atrasos en exceso de 15 días calendarios de la fecha de vencimiento; los créditos accesorios y adelantos hechos en virtud de la escritura de hipoteca; y las costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado equivalentes a $14,040.90. Además, la parte demandada se comprometió a pagar una suma equivalente a $14,040.90 para cubrir cualquier otro adelanto que se haga en virtud de la escritura de hipoteca y una suma equivalente a $14,040.90 para cubrir intereses en adición a los garantizados por ley. Por razón de dicho incumplimiento, y al amparo del derecho que le confiere el Pagaré, el demandante ha declarado tales sumas vencidas, líquidas y exigibles en su totalidad. Que los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al Procedimiento incoado estarán de manifiesto en la SECRETARIA DEL TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE GUAYNABO, SALA SUPERIOR durante las horas laborables. Se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titulación del inmueble y que las cargas y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes, si los hubiere, al crédito del ejecutante continuarán subsistentes entendiéndose que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio de remate. La propiedad está sujeta a gravámenes anteriores y/o preferentes según surge de las constancias del Registro de la Propiedad en un estudio de título efectuado a la finca antes descrita, y se describe como sigue; Sujeta a Con-

24 diciones a favor de la Autoridad para el Financiamiento de la Vivienda de Puerto Rico, bajo el Programa Mi Nuevo Hogar, por conceder la suma de $7,150.00 para gastos de cierre, por el término de 10 años. Surge de un estudio de título que, sobre la finca descrita anteriormente, pesa el gravamen posterior a la hipoteca que se ejecuta mediante este procedimiento que se relacionan a continuación: Sentencia dictada el día 4 de octubre de 2019, por el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Bayamón, en el caso civil número DPE2016-0815, seguido por Edgardo Correa Muñiz, demandante versus Verónica del Manzano Haedo y otros, por una cuantía de $74,758.00, más intereses, presentada el día 10 de diciembre de 2019 e inscrita el día 4 de mayo de 2022, al tomo Karibe de Guaynabo, finca número 40,689, Anotación B. Por la presente se notifica a los acreedores desconocidos, no inscritos o presentados que sus derechos sobre los bienes hipotecados con posterioridad a la inscripción del crédito del ejecutante o acreedores de cargos o derechos reales que los hubiesen pospuesto a la hipoteca del actor y a los dueños, poseedores, tenedores de o interesados en títulos transmisibles por endoso o al portador garantizados hipotecariamente con posterioridad al crédito del actor que se celebrarán las subastas en las fechas, horas y sitios señalados para que puedan concurrir a la subasta si les conviniere o se les invita a satisfacer antes del remate el importe del crédito, de sus intereses, otros cargos y las costas y honorarios de abogado asegurados quedando subrogados en los derechos del acreedor ejecutante. La propiedad objeto de ejecución y descrita anteriormente se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores una vez el Honorable Tribunal expida la correspondiente Orden de Confirmación de Venta Judicial. Y para conocimiento de licitadores del público en general se publicará este Edicto de acuerdo con la ley por espacio de dos semanas en tres sitios públicos del municipio en que ha de celebrarse la venta, tales como la Alcaldía, el Tribunal y la Colecturía. Este Edicto será publicado dos veces en un diario de circulación general en el Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, por espacio de dos semanas consecutivas. Expido el presente Edicto de subasta bajo mi firma y sello de este Tribunal en Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, hoy día 8 de enero de 2024. Alg. Hugo Bascó Medina, Alguacil De Subastas, Tribunal De Primera Instancia, Centro Judicial De Guaynabo, Sala Superior.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE HUMACAO SALA SUPERIOR

ORIENTAL BANK COMO AGENTE DE SERVICIO DE THE MONEY HOUSE, INC. Demandante Vs.

JUAN CRUZ PEREZ ALVARADO, MARIA INES CLAUSELL DELGADO Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS

Demandados Civil Núm.: HU2023CV00387.

Sala: 205. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA (VÍA ORDINARIA).

EDICTO DE SUBASTA. El Alguacil que suscribe por la presente CERTIFICA, ANUNCIA y hace CONSTAR: Que en cumplimiento de un Mandamiento de Ejecución de Sentencia que le ha sido dirigido al Alguacil que suscribe por la Secretaría del TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE HUMACAO, SALA SUPERIOR, en el caso de epígrafe procederá a vender en pública subasta al mejor postor en efectivo, cheque certificado en moneda legal de los Estados Unidos de América el 20 DE FEBRERO DE 2024, A LAS 11:00 DE LA MAÑANA, en su oficina sita en el local que ocupa en el edificio del TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE HUMACAO, SALA SUPERIOR, todo derecho, título e interés que tenga la parte demandada de epígrafe en el inmueble de su propiedad que ubica en: BARRIO PALO SECO, #204 CALLE 3, MAUNABO, PUERTO RICO 00707 y que se describe a continuación: RÚSTICA: Parcela marcada con el número doscientos cuatro en el Plano de Parcelación de la comunidad rural Palo Seco del Barrio Palo Seco, del Barrio Palo Seco del término municipal de Maunabo, Puerto Rico, con una cabida superficial de cero cuerdas con dos mil setecientos cuarenta diez milésimas de otra, equivalente a mil setenta y seis punto ochenta y tres metros cuadraos. En lindes por el NORTE, con calle número uno de la comunidad; por el SUR, con parcela número ciento cinco de la comunidad; por el ESTE, con la parcela número doscientos cinco de la comunidad; y por el OESTE, con calle número dos de la comunidad.

La propiedad antes relacionada consta inscrita al Folio 180 del Tomo 54 de Maunabo, bajo la Finca número 2,165, en el Registro de la Propiedad de

The San Juan Daily Star

Friday, January 12, 2024

Guayama. El tipo mínimo para la primera subasta del inmueble antes relacionado, será el dispuesto en la Escritura de Hipoteca, es decir la suma de $104,030.00. Si no hubiere remate ni adjudicación en la primera subasta del inmueble mencionado, se celebrará una SEGUNDA SUBASTA en las oficinas del Alguacil que suscribe el día 27 DE FEBRERO DE 2024, A LAS 11:00 DE LA MAÑANA. En la segunda subasta que se celebre servirá de tipo mínimo las dos terceras partes (2/3) del precio pactado en la primera subasta, o sea la suma de $69,353.33. Si tampoco hubiere remate ni adjudicación en la segunda subasta se celebrará una TERCERA SUBASTA en las oficinas del Alguacil que suscribe el día 5 DE MARZO DE 2024, A LAS 11:00 DE LA MAÑANA. Para la tercera subasta servirá de tipo mínimo la mitad (1/2) del precio pactado para el caso de ejecución, o sea, la suma de $52,015.00.

La hipoteca a ejecutarse en el caso de epígrafe fue constituida mediante la escritura número 68 otorgada en Carolina, Puerto Rico, el día 27 de febrero de 2020, ante el notario Carlos Montañez Olmo y consta inscrita al tomo Karibe de Maunabo, bajo la finca número 2,165, en el Registro de la Propiedad de Guayama, inscripción Quinta (5ta). Dicha subasta se llevará a cabo para con su producto satisfacer al Demandante total o parcialmente según sea el caso el importe de la Sentencia que ha obtenido contra la parte demandada ascendente a la suma de $100,614.31 por concepto de principal, desde el 1ro de febrero de 2022, más intereses al tipo pactado de 4.00% anual que continúan acumulándose hasta el pago total de la obligación. Además, la parte demandada adeuda a la parte demandante los cargos por demora equivalentes a 4.00% de la suma de aquellos pagos con atrasos en exceso de 15 días calendarios de la fecha de vencimiento; los créditos accesorios y adelantos hechos en virtud de la escritura de hipoteca; y las costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado equivalentes a $10,403.00.

Además, la parte demandada se comprometió a pagar una suma equivalente a $10,403.00 para cubrir cualquier otro adelanto que se haga en virtud de la escritura de hipoteca y una suma equivalente a $10,403.00 para cubrir intereses en adición a los garantizados por ley. Por razón de dicho incumplimiento, y al amparo del derecho que le confiere el Pagaré, el demandante ha declarado tales sumas vencidas, líquidas y exigibles en su totalidad. Que los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al Procedimiento

incoado estarán de manifiesto en la SECRETARIA DEL TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE HUMACAO, SALA SUPERIOR durante las horas laborables.

Se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titulación del inmueble y que las cargas y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes, si los hubiere, al crédito del ejecutante continuarán subsistentes entendiéndose que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio de remate. La propiedad no está sujeta a gravámenes anteriores ni preferentes según las constancias del Registro de la Propiedad. Por la presente se notifica a los acreedores conocidos y desconocidos que tengan inscritos, no inscritos, presentados y/o anotados sus derechos sobre los bienes hipotecados con posterioridad a la inscripción del crédito del ejecutante o acreedores de cargas o derechos reales que los hubiesen pospuesto a la hipoteca del actor y a los dueños, poseedores, tenedores de o interesados en títulos transmisibles por endoso o al portador garantizados hipotecariamente con posterioridad al crédito del actor que se celebrarán las subastas en las fechas, horas y sitios señalados para que puedan concurrir a la subasta si les conviniere o se les invita a satisfacer antes del remate el importe del crédito, de sus intereses, otros cargos y las costas y honorarios de abogado asegurados quedando subrogados en los derechos del acreedor ejecutante. La propiedad objeto de ejecución y descrita anteriormente se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores una vez el Honorable Tribunal expida la correspondiente Orden de Confirmación de Venta Judicial. Y para conocimiento de licitadores del público en general se publicará este Edicto de acuerdo con la ley por espacio de dos semanas en tres sitios públicos del municipio en que ha de celebrarse la venta, tales como la Alcaldía, el Tribunal y la Colecturía. Este Edicto será publicado dos veces en un diario de circulación general en el Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, por espacio de dos semanas consecutivas.

Expido el presente Edicto de subasta bajo mi firma y sello de este Tribunal en Humacao, Puerto Rico, hoy día 9 de enero de 2024. Jennisa García Morales, Alguacil Regional. Wilnelia Rivera Delgado, Alguacil De Subastas, Tribunal De Primera Instancia, Centro Judicial De HumACAO, SALA SUPERIOR.

NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA por la cantidad de $6,085.04 SALA SUPERIOR DE CARO- (piggyback), lo cual no genera intereses, así como todos aqueLINA LEGACY MORTGAGE llos créditos y sumas que surjan ASSET TRUST 2019-PR1 de la faz de la obligación hipotecaria y de la hipoteca que la Parte Demandante Vs garantiza, incluyendo una suma SUCESIÓN DE JOSE equivalente al 10% de la suma RAMON CORREA principal ($8,000.00), por conCORREA, ET AL cepto de costas, gastos y honoParte Demandada rarios de abogado todo según Civil Núm.: LO2023CV00173. pactado. La parte Demandante Salón Núm.: 403. Sobre: EJE- presentará para su inscripción CUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA Y en el Registro de la Propiedad COBRO DE DINERO. EM- correspondiente, un AVISO PLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. DE PLEITO PENDIENTE (“Lis ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉ- Pendens”) sobre la propiedad RICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE objeto de esta acción cuya proLOS EE. UU., EL ESTADO LI- piedad es la siguiente: URBABRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO NA: Solar número treinta y dos RICO, SS. (32) frente a la Calle Betances A: FULANO Y SUTANO del Municipio de Loíza, con una cabida superficial aproximada DE TAL COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS de 135.116 metros cuadrados y en lindes por el NORTE, en DESCONOCIDOS DE 6.80 metros cuadrados con el LA SUCESIÓN DE solar municipal; por el SUR, en JOSE RAMON CORREA 6.80 metros cuadrados con la Calle Betances; por el ESTE, CORREA. POR LA PRESENTE se les en 19.87 metros cuadrados emplaza y requiere para que con un lote número 84 (antes conteste la demanda dentro de Zenón Ciares); y por el OESlos treinta (30) días siguientes TE, en 19.87 metros cuadraa la publicación de este Edicto. dos con lote numero 80 (antes Usted deberá radicar su ale- Benjamín Hernández y Roberto gación responsiva a través del Agosto). Esta es la descripción Sistema Unificado de Manejo y luego de rectificada la cabida Administración de Casos (SU- por el Agrimensor Jesús Conde MAC), al cual puede acceder Rodríguez, Lic. 9187, mediante utilizando la siguiente dirección escritura número 14, otorgada electrónica: http://unired.rama- en Canóvanas, Puerto Rico, el judicial.pr/sumac/, salvo que se día 13 de febrero de 2006, ante presente por derecho propio, el notario Juan Del Valle Rodríen cuyo caso deberá radicar el guez, inscrito al tomo Karibe de original de su contestación ante Loíza, inscripción 3ra. Consta el Tribunal correspondiente y inscrita al tomo Karibe de Loínotifique con copia a los abo- za, finca número #18,282, Regados de la parte demandan- gistro de la Propiedad de Puerte, Lcdo. Roberto C. Latimer to Rico, Sección III de Carolina.

Valentín, al PO BOX 9022512, SE LE ORDENA a ustedes a San Juan, P.R. 00902-2512; que dentro del término legal Teléfono: (787) 724-0230. En de treinta (30) días, contados dicha demanda se tramita un a partir de la fecha de notifiprocedimiento de cobro de di- cación de la presente Orden, nero y ejecución de hipoteca acepten o repudien la particibajo el número mencionado pación que le corresponda en en el epígrafe. Se alega en di- la herencia de la SUCESIÓN cho procedimiento que la parte DE JOSE RAMON CORREA Demandada incurrió en el in- CORREA. De no hacerlo dencumplimiento del Contrato de tro de dicho término, se dará la Hipoteca, al no poder pagar las herencia por aceptada. SE LE mensualidades vencidas co- APERCIBE que de no hacer rrespondientes a los meses de sus alegaciones responsivas a julio de 2023, hasta el presente, la demanda dentro del término más los cargos por demora co- aquí dispuesto, se les anotará rrespondientes. Además adeu- la rebeldía y se dictara sentenda a la parte demandante las cia, concediéndose el remedio costas, gastos y honorarios de solicitado en la Demanda, sin abogado en que incurra el te- más citarle ni oírle. Extendido nedor del pagaré en este litigio. bajo mi firma y sello del TribuDe acuerdo con dicho Contrato nal en Carolina, Puerto Rico. de Garantía Hipotecaria la par- A 09 de enero de 2024. LCDA. te Demandante declaró vencida KANELLY ZAYAS ROBLES, REGIONAL. la totalidad de la deuda ascen- SECRETARIA dente a la suma principal global LILLIAM ORTIZ NIEVES, SEde $72,661.16, la cual se des- CRETARIA AUXILIAR.

Demandante Vs.

SUCESIÓN DE EVANGELINA LEBRÓN HERNÁNDEZ T/C/C EVANGELINA LEBRÓN T/C/C EVA ANGELINA LEBRÓN HERNÁNDEZ COMPUESTA POR KRESLYANN LÓPEZ LEBRÓN, KRESLANN LÓPEZ, FULANO Y SUTANO DE TAL COMO MIEMBROS DE NOMBRES DESCONOCIDOS, CENTRO DE RECAUDACIÓN DE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES, Y LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA

ros que componen la Sucesión de Carmen Antonia Martinez Centeno t/c/c Carmen Martinez t/c/c Carmen Santiago. En Bayamón, Puerto Rico, a 9 de enero de 2024. LCDA. LAURA I. SANTA SÁNCHEZ, SECRETARIA GENERAL. LUREIMY ALICEA GONZÁLEZ, SUBSECRETARIA.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE OROCOVIS

COMPU-LINK (COMPULINK CORPORATION DBA CELINK) Demandante Vs.

SUCESIÓN DE ANTONIO BERRIOS BURGOS COMPUESTA POR MARÍA DE LOS ÁNGELES Demandados BERRIOS MORALES, Civil Núm.: BY2024CV00068.

Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE HI- LYDIA ODALIS BERRIOS POTECA - IN REM. MANDAMORALES, MARÍA MIENTO DE INTERPELAANTONIA BERRIOS CIÓN. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE MORALES, AMNERIS AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, BERRIOS MORALES, LA EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIA- SUCESIÓN DE REINALDO DO DE PUERTO RICO. POR ANTONIO BERRIOS CUANTO: En el presente caso MORALES COMPUESTA se ha dictado la siguiente OrPOR RAYMOND BERRIOS den: “ORDEN DE INTERPEGONZÁLEZ, ZADIMIL LACIÓN: Vista la Demanda BERRIOS MARTÍNEZ, presentada por la parte demandante solicitando la interpelaCRISTINA BERRIOS ción judicial de la Sucesión de JOSIAH, FULANO DE Evangelina Lebrón Hernández TAL Y SUTANO DE TAL t/c/c Evangelina Lebrón t/c/c COMO MIEMBROS Eva Angelina Lebrón HernánDE NOMBRES dez compuesta por Kreslyann DESCONOCIDOS, LA López Lebrón, Kreslann López, Fulano y Sutano de Tal como SUCESIÓN DE BEATRIZ miembros de nombres descoBERRIOS MORALES nocidos, conforme al Artículo COMPUESTA POR 1578 del Código Civil de PuerTERESA ALMONTE to Rico edición de 2020. Se BERRIOS, ANTHONY Ordena a los herederos de la BERRIOS MORALES, Sucesión a que dentro del término legal de treinta (30) días FULANO DE TAL contados a partir de la notificaY SUTANO DE TAL ción de esta Orden, acepten o COMO MIEMBROS repudien la participación que DE NOMBRES les corresponda en la herencia DESCONOCIDOS, LA del causante. Se le Apercibe a SUCESIÓN DE JESÚS los herederos antes mencionados que: (a) de no expresarse MANUEL BERRIOS dentro del término de treinta MORALES COMPUESTA (30) días en torno a su aceptaPOR LYDIA ESTHER ción o repudiación de la herenMORALES REYES T/C/C cia; o (b) de no solicitar término adicional para ello dentro del LYDIA ESTER MORALES REYES T/C/C LYDIA término de treinta (30) días; la herencia se presumirá por ESTHER, FULANO DE aceptada, respondiendo con TAL Y SUTANO DE TAL ello por las obligaciones, por COMO MIEMBROS los legados y por las cargas heDE NOMBRES reditarias hasta el valor de los DESCONOCIDOS, LYDIA bienes hereditarios que recibe, ESTER MORALES según dispone el Artículo 1587 del Código Civil de Puerto Rico REYES T/C/C LYDIA de 2020. NOTIFÍQUESE. Dada ESTHER MORALES, glosa a continuación: una suma en Bayamón, Puerto Rico, a 8 LEGAL NOTICE FULANO DE TAL Y principal de $66,576.12 más de enero de 2024. KARLA S. SUTANO DE TAL COMO intereses a razón del 6.875% ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO MELLADO DELGADO, JUEanual, desde el 7 de junio de DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU- ZA”. POR TANTO, en vista de MIEMBROS DE NOMBRE 2023, hasta el presente, y los NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA la Orden dictada, se libra este DESCONOCIDO; LYDIA LEGAL NOTICE que se continúen acumulando SALA DE BAYAMÓN Mandamiento de Interpelación ESTER MORALES ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO hasta su total y complete pago, FINANCE OF AMERICA a ser diligenciado por la parte REYES T/C/C LYDIA DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU- más una suma principal diferida REVERSE, LLC demandante sobre los herede-

The San Juan Daily Star

ESTHER MORALES POR SÍ Y COMO MIEMBRO DE LA SUCESIÓN DE ANTONIO BERRIOS BURGOS; CENTRO DE RECAUDACIÓN DE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES, ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA

desde su fecha hasta su total y completo pago a razón de la tasa de interés de 3.70% anual, la cual será ajustada mensualmente, obligándose además al pago de costas, gastos y desembolsos del litigio, más honorarios de abogados en una suma de $13,600.00, equivalente al 10% de la suma principal original. Este pagaré fue Demandados suscrito bajo el affidávit número Civil Núm.: OR2023CV00234.

496 ante el notario Laura Mía Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE HIGonzález Bonilla. Lo anterior POTECA - IN REM. EMPLAsurge de la hipoteca constituida ZAMIENTO POR EDICTO E mediante la escritura número INTERPELACIÓN. ESTADOS 90 otorgada el 18 de marzo UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL de 2009, ante el misma notario PRESIDENTE DE LOS EE. público, inscrita bajo la ley 216UU., EL ESTADO LIBRE ASO2010, al folio 195 tomo 220 de CIADO DE PUERTO RICO, Orocovis, finca número 5,148, SS. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR inscripción 7ma. La hipoteca EDICTO. grava la propiedad que descriA: SUCESIÓN DE be que describe a continuación: ANTONIO BERRIOS RÚSTICA: Predio de terreno BURGOS COMPUESTA radicado en el Barrio Botijas número UNO (1) del término POR MARÍA DE LOS municipal de Orocovis, comÁNGELES BERRIOS puesto de MIL (1,000) metros MORALES, LYDIA ODALIS cuadrados, y en colindancia por BERRIOS MORALES, el NORTE, SUR y OESTE, con MARÍA ANTONIA la finca principal de la cual se segrega propiedad de Pedro BERRIOS MORALES, Berrios Burgos; y por el ESTE, AMNERIS BERRIOS parcela dedicada para uso MORALES, LA SUCESIÓN con público. Enclava una casa en DE REINALDO ANTONIO concreto y bloque de una planBERRIOS MORALES ta una unidad residencial, con COMPUESTA POR valor de $40,000.00, construida por Antonio Berrios Burgos y RAYMOND BERRIOS su esposa Lydia Esther MoraGONZÁLEZ, ZADIMIL Reyes, según la escritura BERRIOS MARTÍNEZ, les número 56, otorgada en BayaCRISTINA BERRIOS món, Puerto Rico, el día 4 de JOSIAH, FULANO DE mayo de 1981, ante el notario TAL Y SUTANO DE TAL José R. Fournier Torres, suscrita al folio 264 tomo 115 de COMO MIEMBROS Orocovis, inscripción 3ra. Finca DE NOMBRES número 5,148, inscrita al folio DESCONOCIDOS, LA 263 del tomo 1158 de OrocoSUCESIÓN DE BEATRIZ vis. Registro de la Propiedad BERRIOS MORALES de Puerto Rico, Sección de Barranquitas. Se apercibe y adCOMPUESTA POR vierte a ustedes como personas TERESA ALMONTE desconocidas, que deberá preBERRIOS, ANTHONY sentar su alegación responsiva BERRIOS MORALES, a través del Sistema Unificado FULANO DE TAL de Administración y Manejo de Y SUTANO DE TAL Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede accesar utilizando la siguiente COMO MIEMBROS dirección: https://unired.ramaDE NOMBRES juducial.pr, salvo que se repreDESCONOCIDOS, LA sente por Derechos Propio, en SUCESIÓN DE JESÚS cuyo caso deberá presentar MANUEL BERRIOS su alegación responsiva en la MORALES COMPUESTA secretaria del Tribunal De no POR FULANO DE TAL contestar la demanda radicando el original de la contestación Y SUTANO DE TAL ante la secretaria del Tribunal COMO MIEMBROS de Primera Instancia, Sala de DE NOMBRES San Juan, y notificar copia de DESCONOCIDOS. la contestación de esta a la POR LA PRESENTE, se les parte demandante por conducemplaza y se les notifica que se to de su abogada, GLS LEGAL ha presentado en la Secretaria SERVICES, LLC, Atención: de este Tribunal la Demanda Lcda. Genevieve López Stipes del caso del epígrafe solicitan- Dirección: P.O. Box 367308, do la ejecución de hipoteca y San Juan, P.R. 00936-7308, el cobro de dinero relacionado Teléfono: 787-758-6550, denal pagaré suscrito a favor de tro de los próximos 60 días a The Money House, Inc., o a partir de la publicación de este su orden, por la suma principal emplazamiento por edicto, que de $136,000.00, con intereses será publicado una sola vez en computados sobre la misma un periódico de circulación dia-

Friday, January 12, 2024 ria general en la isla de Puerto Rico, se le anotará la rebeldía y se dictará sentencia, concediendo el remedio solicitando en la Demanda sin más citarle ni oírle. INTERPELACIÓN: Se les ORDENA a ustedes a que dentro del término legal de TREINTA (30) días, contados a partir de la fecha de la notificación de la presente Orden, acepten o repudien la participación que les corresponda en la herencia de Antonio Berrios Burgos a saber: Lydia Ester Morales Reyes t/c/c Lydia Esther Morales; María De Los Ángeles Berrios Morales, Lydia Odalis Berrios Morales, María Antonia Berrios Morales, Amneris Berrios Morales, la Sucesión de Reinaldo Antonio Berrios Morales a saber: Raymond Berrios González, Zadimil Berrios Martínez, Cristina Berrios Josiah, Fulano de Tal y Sutano de Tal como miembros de nombres desconocidos, la Sucesión de Beatriz Berrios Morales a saber Teresa Almonte Berrios, Anthony Berrios Morales, Fulano de Tal y Sutano de Tal como miembros de nombres desconocidos, la Sucesión de Jesús Manuel Berrios Morales a saber Lydia Esther Morales Reyes t/c/c Lydia Ester Morales Reyes t/c/c Lydia Esther, Fulano de Tal y Sutano de Tal como miembros de nombres desconocidos. Se les APERCIBE que de no expresarse dentro de ese término de TREINTA (30) días en torno a su aceptación o repudiación de herencia, la herencia se tendrá por aceptada. También se les APERCIBE que luego del transcurso del término de TREINTA (30) días antes señalado contados a partir de la fecha de la notificación de la presente Orden, se presumirá que han aceptado la herencia de los causantes Antonio Berrios Burgos; y de la herencia de los causantes Reinaldo Antonio Berrios Morales; Beatriz Berrios Morales; Jesús Manuel Berrios Morales como miembros de la Sucesión de Antonio Berrios Burgos y, por consiguiente, responden por las cargas de dicha herencia conforme dispone el Artículo 1578 del Código Civil de Puerto Rico de 2020, según enmendado. Se ORDENA a la parte demandante a que, en vista de que la sucesión de Antonio Berrios Burgos a saber: Lydia Ester Morales Reyes t/c/c Lydia Esther Morales; María De Los Ángeles Berrios Morales, Lydia Odalis Berrios Morales, María Antonia Berrios Morales, Amneris Berrios Morales; la Sucesión de Reinaldo Antonio Berrios Morales a saber: Raymond Berrios González, Zadimil Berrios Martínez, Cristina Berrios Josiah, Fulano de Tal y Sutano de Tal como miembros de nombres desconocidos; la Sucesión de Beatriz Berrios Morales a saber Teresa Almon-

te Berrios, Anthony Berrios Morales, Fulano de Tal y Sutano de Tal como miembros de nombres desconocidos; la Sucesión herencia de Jesús Manuel Berrios Morales a saber Lydia Esther Morales Reyes t/c/c Lydia Ester Morales Reyes t/c/c Lydia Esther, Fulano de Tal y Sutano de Tal como miembros de nombres desconocidos; proceda a notificar la presente Orden mediante publicación de un edicto a esos efectos una sola vez en un periódico de circulación diaria general de la Isla de Puerto Rico. Expedido bajo mi firma y sello del Tribunal hoy 9 de enero de 2024. ELIZABETH GONZÁLEZ RIVERA, SECRETARIA. SONIA I. ORTIZ HERNÁNDEZ, SUB-SECRETARIA.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE HUMACAO.

PAULA LÓPEZ

PETICIONARIA V.

EUGENI LÓPEZ

PETICIONADO CASO NÚM: HUL-1482023036. SOBRE: VIOLENCIA SEXUAL (LEY NÚM. 148-2015).

EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA EL PRESIDENTE DE LO ESTADOS UNIDOS EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO. SS.

A: EUGENI LÓPEZ

Por la presente se le emplaza y se le notifica que la parte peticionaria ha presentado ante este Tribunal una Petición en la cual se solicita el siguiente remedio en su contra: Violencia Sexual (Ley Núm. 148-2015).

Dentro del término de treinta (30) días desde la publicación del presente edicto usted, la parte peticionada, deberá presentar ante este Tribunal original de su contestación a dicha petición y notificar con copia de la misma al Lcdo. Carlos J. Rodríguez Beltrán y/o Lcdo.

Gabriel J. Pagán Sánchez, cuya dirección es la siguienteː 10 Teodomiro Delfaus, Juncos, Puerto Rico. Su número de teléfono es el 787-734-7000 y su correo electrónico crodriguez@ lawyer.com, gabrielpagan. law@gmail.com . Se le apercibe que de no hacerlo, se le anotará la rebeldía y se podrá dictar sentencia en su contra, concediendo los remedios solicitados o cualquier otro, si el Tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente. Expedido bajo mi firma y sello del Tribunal en Humacao, Puerto Rico hoy 10 de ENERO de 2024. EXPEDIDO bajo mi firma y sello del Tribunal, hoy día 10 de ENERO de 2024. Evelyn Felix Vazquez, Sec Regional.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE BAYAMON.

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO DEMANDANTE V.

ANTONIO ORTIZ HERNANDEZ

DEMANDADO Civil Núm. BY2021CV05130.

Sobre: cobro de dinero Y Ejecución de Hipoteca por la Vía Ordinaria. AVISO DE VENTA EN PÚBLICA SUBASTA. Yo, EDUARDO ELIAS VARGAS SANTANA, Alguacil Supervisor de la División de Subastas del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Bayamón a los demandados y al público en general les notifico que, cumpliendo con un Mandamiento que se ha librado en el presente caso por el Secretario del Tribunal de epígrafe con fecha 29 de junio de 2023 y para satisfacer la cantidad adeudada de $105,155.24 de principal mediante Sentencia dictada en el caso de autos el 9 de septiembre de 2022, notificada y publicada mediante edicto en el periódico “The San Juan Daily Star” el 16 de septiembre de 2022, procederé a vender en pública subasta, al mejor postor en pago de contado y en moneda del curso legal de los Estados Unidos de América, mediante efectivo, giro o cheque certificado a nombre del Alguacil de este Tribunal todo derecho, título e interés que hayan tenido tengan o puedan tener los deudores demandados en cuanto a la propiedad localizada en el Municipio de Bayamón, Puerto Rico, el bien inmueble se describe a continuación: 3 Calle 4, Apt. 312 Colinas del Sol I, Bayamón Puerto Rico 00957.

RUSTICA: PROPIEDAD HORIZONTAL: Apartamento número tres doce (312) localizado en el primer piso del Edificio #3 del Condominio Colinas del Sol I, el cual está situado en el barrio Buena Vista del municipio de Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Unidad individual de vivienda residencial de un nivel de altura construida de hormigón reforzado y bloques de concreto, con puertas de madera y ventanas de aluminio y cristal, compuesto de sala-comedor, cocina, cuarto de lavandería (laundry) con closet, baño en el área de pasillo, dos dormitorios con closet cada uno y un dormitorio principal (master bedroom) con closets con pasillo (walkin-closet). Según se detalla en el plano de este apartamento colinda al Norte, con área común general, en una distancia de 30’ 4” equivalentes a 9.25 metros; al Sur, con área común general, en una distancia de 30’

25

4” equivalentes a 9.25 metros; al Este, con pared medianera que lo divide del apartamento 411 en una distancia de 34’ 10” equivalentes a 10.62 metros y al Oeste, con área común general, apartamento 311, escaleras, pasillo (hallway) y entrada en una distancia de 35’ 00” equivalentes a 10.67 metros.

La entrada principal de este apartamento está localizada en su lindero Oeste, la cual conecta la sala-comedor del apartamento con el pasillo (hallway) del primer piso del Edificio #3, que a su vez conduce al área de entrada del Condominio Colinas del Sol I, el cual es un elemento común general del Condominio Colinas del Sol I. Este apartamento consta de un área de construcción bruta de 1,027.22 pies cuadrados, equivalentes a 95.43 metros cuadrados, como área privada de vivienda. Le corresponde a este apartamento, como anejo al mismo y como un elemento común privado, un espacio de estacionamiento al descubierto de tamaño sencillo identificado #312 con una cabida de 159.30 pies cuadrados, equivalentes a 14.80 metros cuadrados y dimensiones aproximadas de 2.81 metros de ancho y 5.33 metros de largo. A este apartamento le corresponde una participación de 0.333333% en los elementos comunes generales del Condominio Colinas del Sol I. Consta inscrita al Tomo Karibe, Bayamón Sur, Finca 81,863 Registro de la Propiedad de Bayamón, Sección I. Con el importe de dicha venta se habrá de satisfacer a la parte demandante las cantidades adeudadas, en el caso de epígrafe, que se desglosan de la siguiente forma: $105,155.24 principal, 3.25% de intereses, los cuales continúan acumulándose hasta el saldo total de la deuda; $405.93 de gastos por mora, los cuales continúan acumulándose hasta el saldo total de la deuda; más la cantidad de $11,105.00 en concepto de costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado. El tipo mínimo para la subasta será la suma pactada, la cual es $111,050.00 según la escritura de hipoteca para la propiedad descrita. De declararse la subasta desierta, se procederá a una segunda subasta y servirá de tipo mínimo de 2/3 del precio mínimo antes mencionado; $74,033.33.

Si tampoco hubiere remate ni adjudicación en esta segunda subasta, se procederá a una tercera subasta, en la cual regirá como tipo mínimo ésta la 1/2 del precio mínimo antes mencionado; $55,525.00. La primera subasta se llevará a cabo el 30 de enero de 2024, a las 10:00 de la mañana. De no comparecer postor alguno se llevará a efecto una segunda subasta el 6 de febrero de

2024, a las 10:00 de la mañana. De no comparecer postor alguno se llevará a cabo una tercera subasta el 13 de febrero de 2024, a las 10:00 de la mañana. La subasta o subastas antes indicadas se llevarán a efecto en mi oficina, localizada en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Bayamón.

Del Estudio de Título realizado surgen los siguientes gravámenes: Servidumbres a favor de la Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados de Puerto Rico, Autoridad de las Fuentes Fluviales de Puerto Rico, Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica de Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico Telephone Company, Municipio de Bayamón y condiciones restrictivas. Se advierte a los licitadores que la adjudicación se hará al mejor postor, quien deberá consignar el importe de su oferta en el mismo acto de la adjudicación en moneda de curso legal de los Estados Unidos de Norteamérica y para conocimiento de la parte demandada y de toda(s) aquella(s) persona(s) que tengan interés inscrito con posterioridad a la inscripción del gravamen que se está ejecutando, y para conocimiento de los licitadores y el público en general y para su publicación en un periódico de circulación general, una vez por semana durante el término de dos (2) semanas consecutivas con un intervalo de por lo menos siete (7) días entre ambas publicaciones, y para su fijación en tres (3) lugares públicos del municipio en que ha de celebrarse la venta, tales como, la Alcaldía, el Tribunal y la Colecturía y se le notificará además a la parte demandada vía correo certificado con acuse de recibo a la última dirección conocida.

La propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores, previa orden judicial dirigida al Registrador de la Propiedad de la sección correspondiente para la cancelación de aquellos posteriores. Se les advierte a todos los interesados que todos los documentos relacionados con la presente acción de ejecución de hipoteca, así como la de la subasta, estarán disponibles para ser examinados, durante horas laborables, en la Secretaría del Tribunal. Se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titularidad y que las cargas y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes, si los hubiere, al crédito del ejecutante, continuarán subsistentes; entendiéndose que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate.

Y para conocimiento de los demandados, de los acreedores posteriores, de los licitadores, partes interesadas y público en general, expido el presente

Aviso para su publicación en los lugares públicos correspondientes. Librado en la Sala de Bayamón, Puerto Rico, a 9 de enero de 2024. EDUARDO ELIAS VARGAS SANTANA, ALGUACIL.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE BAYAMÓN.

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO DEMANDANTE V.

FOTO GAR INC. y GREGORIO IGNACIO GARCIA DE LA FUENTE t/c/c GREGORIO I. GARCIA DE LA FUENTE t/c/c GREGORIO GARCIA DE LA FUENTE

DEMANDADOS Civil Núm. DCD2015-0812 (501) .Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y Ejecución de Hipoteca por la Vía Ordinaria. AVISO DE VENTA EN PÚBLICA SUBASTA. Yo, EDUARDO ELIAS VARGAS SANTANA, Alguacil Supervisor de la División de Subastas del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Bayamón a los demandados y al público en general les notifico que, cumpliendo con un Mandamiento que se ha librado en el presente caso por el Secretario del Tribunal de epígrafe con fecha 12 de enero de 2022 y para satisfacer la cantidad adeudada de $133,719.65 de principal mediante Sentencia dictada en el caso de autos el 20 de febrero de 2018, notificada y archivada en autos el 6 de marzo de 2018, procederé a vender en pública subasta, al mejor postor en pago de contado y en moneda del curso legal de los Estados Unidos de América, mediante efectivo, giro o cheque certificado a nombre del Alguacil de este Tribunal todo derecho, título e interés que hayan tenido tengan o puedan tener los deudores demandados en cuanto a la propiedad localizada en el Municipio de Bayamón, Puerto Rico, el bien inmueble se describe a continuación: Calle 25 Bloque 50-18, Urb. Santa Rosa, Bayamón, PR 00959. URBANA: Solar radicado en la Urbanización Santa Rosa, situada en el Barrio Juan Sánchez de Bayamón, que se describe en el plano de inscripción de la Urbanización, con el número dieciocho (18) de la Manzana cincuenta (50), con un área de trescientos cuarenta y seis punto cincuenta metros cuadrados (346.50 m/c.). En lindes por el NORTE, en veintiún metros (21.00), con el solar número diecinueve (19); por el SUR, en veintiún metros (21.00), con la calle número diecisiete (17); por el ESTE, en dieciséis punto

26 cincuenta metros (16.50), con el solar número diecisiete (17); y por el OESTE, en dieciséis punto cincuenta metros (16.50), con la calle número veinticinco (25). Consta inscrita al folio 207 del tomo 200 de Bayamón Sur, finca número 9083, Registro de la Propiedad de Puerto Rico, Sección Primera de Bayamón.

Con el importe de dicha venta se habrá de satisfacer a la parte demandante las cantidades adeudadas, en el caso de epígrafe, que se desglosan de la siguiente forma: $133,719.65 principal, 6.250% de intereses, los cuales continúan acumulándose hasta el saldo total de la deuda; $131.88 de gastos por mora, los cuales continúan acumulándose hasta el saldo total de la deuda; más costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado. El tipo mínimo para la subasta será la suma de pactada, la cual es $134,411.96 según la escritura de hipoteca para la propiedad descrita. De declararse la subasta desierta, se procederá a una segunda subasta y servirá de tipo mínimo de 2/3 del precio mínimo antes mencionado; $89,607.97 Si tampoco hubiere remate ni adjudicación en esta segunda subasta, se procederá a una tercera subasta, en la cual regirá como tipo mínimo ésta la 1/2 del precio mínimo pactado.; $67,205.98. La primera subasta se llevará a cabo el 30 de enero de 2024, a las 10:30 de la mañana. De no comparecer postor alguno se llevará a efecto una segunda subasta el 6 de febrero de 2024, a las 10:15 de la mañana. De no comparecer postor alguno se llevará a cabo una tercera subasta el 13 de febrero de 2024, a las 10:30 de la mañana. La subasta o subastas antes indicadas se llevarán a efecto en mi oficina, localizada en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Bayamón. Del Estudio de Título realizado surgen los siguientes gravámenes: Servidumbres de mantenimiento y uso de un camino, servidumbre a favor de P.R. Railway Light and Power Co., servidumbre a favor de alcantarillado para beneficio del Hospital de Distrito de Bayamón. Aviso de Demanda dictado el 30 de marzo de 2015 en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia Sala de Bayamón caso civil #DCD2015-0812 sobre Cobro de Dinero y Ejecución de Hipoteca seguido por Banco Popular de Puerto Rico vs. Foto Gar, Inc. donde se solicita el pago de la deuda garantizada con la hipoteca de la inscripción 11ma reducida a $133,719.65 o la venta en pública subasta, anotado al folio 209 del tomo 1949 de Bayamón Sur, finca #9083 el 9 de junio de 2015, anotación “B”. Se advierte a los licitadores que la adjudicación se hará al mejor postor, quien

deberá consignar el importe de su oferta en el mismo acto de la adjudicación en moneda de curso legal de los Estados Unidos de Norteamérica y para conocimiento de la parte demandada y de toda(s) aquella(s) persona(s) que tengan interés inscrito con posterioridad a la inscripción del gravamen que se está ejecutando, y para conocimiento de los licitadores y el público en general y para su publicación en un periódico de circulación general, una vez por semana durante el término de dos (2) semanas consecutivas con un intervalo de por lo menos siete (7) días entre ambas publicaciones, y para su fijación en tres (3) lugares públicos del municipio en que ha de celebrarse la venta, tales como, la Alcaldía, el Tribunal y la Colecturía y se le notificará además a la parte demandada vía correo certificado con acuse de recibo a la última dirección conocida.

La propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores, previa orden judicial dirigida al Registrador de la Propiedad de la sección correspondiente para la cancelación de aquellos posteriores. Se les advierte a todos los interesados que todos los documentos relacionados con la presente acción de ejecución de hipoteca, así como la de la subasta, estarán disponibles para ser examinados, durante horas laborables, en la Secretaría del Tribunal. Se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titularidad y que las cargas y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes, si los hubiere, al crédito del ejecutante, continuarán subsistentes; entendiéndose que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate.

Y para conocimiento de los demandados, de los acreedores posteriores, de los licitadores, partes interesadas y público en general, expido el presente Aviso para su publicación en los lugares públicos correspondientes. Librado en la Sala de Bayamón, Puerto Rico, a 9 de enero de 2024. EDUARDO ELIAS VARGAS SANTANA, ALGUACIL.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE BAYAMON.

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO DEMANDANTE V.

DAMARIS ENID MARTINEZ SANCHEZ; GENE MARTIN MARTINEZ ARROYO

DEMANDADOS Civil Núm. BY2021CV02271.

The San Juan Daily Star

Friday, January 12, 2024

Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y Ejecución de Hipoteca por la Vía Ordinaria. AVISO DE VENTA EN PÚBLICA SUBASTA. Yo, EDUARDO ELIAS VARGAS SANTANA, Alguacil Supervisor de la División de Subastas del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Bayamón a los demandados y al público en general les notifico que, cumpliendo con un Mandamiento que se ha librado en el presente caso por el Secretario del Tribunal de epígrafe con fecha 7 de septiembre de 2023 y para satisfacer la cantidad adeudada de $200,228.14 de principal mediante Sentencia dictada en el caso de autos el 2 de abril de 2022 , notificada y archivada en autos el 6 de abril de 2022, y publicada mediante edicto en el periódico “The San Juan Daily Star” el 13 de abril de 2022, procederé a vender en pública subasta, al mejor postor en pago de contado y en moneda del curso legal de los Estados Unidos de América, mediante efectivo, giro o cheque certificado a nombre del Alguacil de este Tribunal todo derecho, título e interés que hayan tenido tengan o puedan tener los deudores demandados en cuanto a la propiedad localizada en el Municipio de Bayamón, Puerto Rico, el bien inmueble se describe a continuación: 830 Km 5.2 B Santa Olaya, Bayamón, Puerto Rico 00956. RUSTICA: Lote B: Predio de terreno que radica en el barrio Santa Olaya del término municipal de Bayamón, Puerto Rico, con una cabida superficial de 882.05 metros cuadrados, en lindes al Norte, en 20.19 metros, con un camino dedicado a uso público, en el caso #5-71-0593LS; al Sur, en 21.26 metros, con el remanente de la finca principal de la cual se segrega; al Este, en 38.00 metros, con la parcela #10 segregada en el caso #571-0593LS y al Oeste, en 40.46 metros con el solar rotulado “A”, segregado en este caso.

Enclava una casa de concreto para fines residenciales. Consta inscrita al folio 131 del tomo 1174 de Bayamón Sur, finca 52,043, Registro de la Propiedad de Bayamón, Sección I. Con el importe de dicha venta se habrá de satisfacer a la parte demandante las cantidades adeudadas, en el caso de epígrafe, que se desglosan de la siguiente forma: $200,228.14 principal, 4.50% de intereses, los cuales continúan acumulándose hasta el saldo total de la deuda; $2,106.64 de gastos por mora, los cuales continúan acumulándose hasta el saldo total de la deuda; más costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado. El tipo mínimo para la subasta será la suma pactada, la cual es $219,296.00 según la escritura de hipoteca para la propiedad descrita. De decla-

rarse la subasta desierta, se procederá a una segunda subasta y servirá de tipo mínimo de 2/3 del precio mínimo antes mencionado; $146,197.33.

Si tampoco hubiere remate ni adjudicación en esta segunda subasta, se procederá a una tercera subasta, en la cual regirá como tipo mínimo la 1/2 del precio mínimo antes pactado; $109,648.00. La primera subasta se llevará a cabo el 30 de enero de 2024, a las 10:15 de la mañana. De no comparecer postor alguno se llevará a efecto una segunda subasta el 6 de febrero de 2024, a las 10:15 de la mañana. De no comparecer postor alguno se llevará a cabo una tercera subasta el 13 de febrero de 2024, a las 10:30 de la mañana. La subasta o subastas antes indicadas se llevarán a efecto en mi oficina, localizada en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Bayamón. Del Estudio de Título realizado surgen los siguientes gravámenes: Condiciones Restrictivas de venta por el término de 10 años impuestas por la Autoridad para el Financiamiento de la Vivienda de Puerto Rico por haber concedido la suma de $10,000.00 para sufragar gastos de cierre, según Esc. #21 en San Juan el 17 de febrero de 2012 ante Miguel A. Rivera Rosendo, inscrita al folio 126vto del tomo 1857 de Bayamón Sur, finca #52043 inscripción 12da. de Demanda dictado el 21 de julio de 2017 en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Bayamón, caso civil #DCD2017-0879 sobre Cobro de Dinero y Ejecución de Hipoteca por la Vía Ordinaria, seguido por Banco Popular de Puerto Rico vs Damaris Enid Martínez Sánchez donde se solicita el pago de la deuda garantizada con la hipoteca de la inscripción 13ra reducida a $200,228.14 o la venta en pública subasta, anotado al tomo Karibe el 15 de agosto de 2017, finca #52043 de Bayamón Sur, anotación “A”. Se advierte a los licitadores que la adjudicación se hará al mejor postor, quien deberá consignar el importe de su oferta en el mismo acto de la adjudicación en moneda de curso legal de los Estados Unidos de Norteamérica y para conocimiento de la parte demandada y de toda(s) aquella(s) persona(s) que tengan interés inscrito con posterioridad a la inscripción del gravamen que se está ejecutando, y para conocimiento de los licitadores y el público en general y para su publicación en un periódico de circulación general, una vez por semana durante el término de dos (2) semanas consecutivas con un intervalo de por lo menos siete (7) días entre ambas publicaciones, y para su fijación en tres (3) lugares públicos del municipio en que ha de cele-

brarse la venta, tales como, la Alcaldía, el Tribunal y la Colecturía y se le notificará además a la parte demandada vía correo certificado con acuse de recibo a la última dirección conocida.

La propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores, previa orden judicial dirigida al Registrador de la Propiedad de la sección correspondiente para la cancelación de aquellos posteriores. Se les advierte a todos los interesados que todos los documentos relacionados con la presente acción de ejecución de hipoteca, así como la de la subasta, estarán disponibles para ser examinados, durante horas laborables, en la Secretaría del Tribunal. Se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titularidad y que las cargas y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes, si los hubiere, al crédito del ejecutante, continuarán subsistentes; entendiéndose que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate.

Y para conocimiento de los demandados, de los acreedores posteriores, de los licitadores, partes interesadas y público en general, expido el presente Aviso para su publicación en los lugares públicos correspondientes. Librado en la Sala de Bayamón, Puerto Rico, a 9 de enero de 2024. Eduardo Elias Vargas Santana, Alguacil.

DE NOMBRES DESCONOCIDOS; CENTRO DE RECAUDACIÓN DE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES; Y LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA

Demandados Civil Núm.: JD2023CV00391.

Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA - IN REM. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO E INTERPELACIÓN. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS EE. UU., EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO.

A: BRENDA MELÉNDEZ TORRES, FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANO DE TAL COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DE NOMBRES DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESIÓN DE AGUSTÍN MELÉNDEZ RENTAS T/C/C AGUSTÍN MELÉNDEZ RENTA T/C/C AGUSTÍN MELÉNDEZ.

POR LA PRESENTE, se les emplaza y se les notifica que se ha presentado en la Secretaria de este Tribunal la Segunda Demanda Enmendada del caso del epígrafe solicitando la ejecución de hipoteca y el cobro de dinero relacionado al pagaré suscrito a favor de The Money House, Inc., o a su orden, por la LEGAL NOTICE suma principal de $198,000.00, ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO con intereses computados soDE PUERTO RICO TRIBUbre la misma desde su fecha NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA hasta su total y completo pago SALA DE JUANA DIAZ a razón de la tasa de interés COMPU-LINK (COMPU- de 3.495% anual, la cual será LINK CORPORATION ajustada mensualmente, obligándose además al pago de DBA CELINK) costas, gastos y desembolsos Demandante Vs. SUCESIÓN DE AGUSTÍN del litigio, más honorarios de abogados en una suma de MELÉNDEZ RENTAS $19,800, equivalente al 10% T/C/C AGUSTÍN de la suma principal original.

MELÉNDEZ RENTA T/C/C Este pagaré fue suscrito bajo AGUSTÍN MELÉNDEZ el affidávit número 3567 ante el notario Laura Mia Gonzalez COMPUESTA POR AGUSTÍN MELÉNDEZ Bonilla. Lo anterior surge de la hipoteca constituida mediante TORRES, BRENDA la escritura número 638 otorMELÉNDEZ TORRES, gada el 23 de octubre de 2009, FULANO DE TAL Y ante la misma notario público, SUTANO DE TAL COMO inscrita al folio 213 del tomo POSIBLES HEREDEROS 536 de Juana Díaz sección I de Ponce, finca número 13,867, DE NOMBRES inscripción 2da. La hipoteca DESCONOCIDOS, grava la propiedad que descriSUCESIÓN DE be que describe a continuación: MARGARITA TORRES “URBANA: Parcela de Terreno RIVERA T/C/C que radica en el Barrio AmueMARGARITA TORRES las del término municipal Juana Diaz, con una cabida superficial COMPUESTA POR mil ciento ochenta y cuatro AGUSTÍN MELÉNDEZ de punto dos mil cuatrocientos dieTORRES, BRENDA ciocho (1,184.2418 m.c) metros MELÉNDEZ TORRES, cuadrados, equivalente a cero punto tres mil trece (0.3013 c.)

FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANO DE TAL COMO cuerdas. En lindes por el Norte, con parcela dedicada a uso

POSIBLES HEREDEROS

público; por el Sur, con terrenos de Roque uso público; por el Sur, con terrenos de Roque Uriel Rivera Sosa; por el Este, con el remanente de la finca principal; y por el Oeste, con terrenos de la Sucesión de María Ciuro. Enclava una casa”. Finca número 13,867, inscrita al folio 34 del tomo 353 de Juana Diaz. Registro de la Propiedad de Puerto Rico, Sección I de Ponce. Se apercibe y advierte a ustedes como personas desconocidas, que deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Administración y Manejo de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede accesar utilizando la siguiente dirección: https://unired.ramajuducial.pr, salvo que se represente por Derechos Propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación responsiva en la secretaria del Tribunal De no contestar la demanda radicando el original de la contestación ante la secretaria del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de San Juan, y notificar copia de la contestación de esta a la parte demandante por conducto de su abogada, GLS LEGAL SERVICES, LLC, Atención: Lcda. Yadira López González Dirección: P.O. Box 367308, San Juan, P.R. 00936-7308, Teléfono: 787-758-6550, dentro de los próximos 60 días a partir de la publicación de este emplazamiento por edicto, que será publicado una sola vez en un periódico de circulación diaria general en la isla de Puerto Rico, se le anotará la rebeldía y se dictará sentencia, concediendo el remedio solicitando en la Demanda sin más citarle ni oírle. La Demanda sin más citarle ni oírle. INTERPELACIÓN: Se les ORDENA a ustedes a que dentro del término legal de TREINTA (30) días, contados a partir de la fecha de la notificación de la presente Orden, acepten o repudien la participación que les corresponda en la herencia de Agustín Meléndez Rentas t/c/c Agustín Meléndez Renta t/c/c Agustín Meléndez a saber: Brenda Meléndez Torres, Fulano de Tal y Sutano de Tal como posibles herederos de nombres desconocidos. Se les APERCIBE que de no expresarse dentro de ese término de TREINTA (30) días en torno a su aceptación o repudiación de herencia, la herencia se tendrá por aceptada. También se les APERCIBE que luego del transcurso del término de TREINTA (30) días antes señalado contados a partir de la fecha de la notificación de la presente Orden, se presumirá que han aceptado la herencia del causante Agustín Meléndez Rentas t/c/c Agustín Meléndez Renta t/c/c Agustín Meléndez y, por consiguiente, responden por las cargas de dicha herencia conforme dispone el Artículo 1578

del Código Civil de Puerto Rico de 2020, según enmendado.

Se ORDENA a la parte demandante a que, en vista de que la sucesión de Agustín Meléndez Rentas t/c/c Agustín Meléndez Renta t/c/c Agustín Meléndez a saber: Brenda Meléndez Torres, Fulano de Tal y Sutano de Tal como posibles herederos de nombres desconocidos; proceda a notificar la presente Orden mediante publicación de un edicto a esos efectos una sola vez en un periódico de circulación diaria general de la Isla de Puerto Rico. Expedido bajo mi firma y sello del Tribunal hoy 9 de enero de 2024. Carmen G. Tirú Quiñones, Secretaria Regional. Mariely Félix Rivera, Sub-Secretaria.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE PONCE SALON DE SESIONES SALON 605 CIVIL SUPERIOR.

GLADYS CHETRANGOLO MALDONADO Demandante V.

ERLINDA CLAVELL CHETRANGOLO

Demandado(a) Caso Núm.: PO2O21CV02618.

Sobre: DIVISION O LIQUIDACION DE LA COMUNIDAD DE BIENES HEREDITARIOS. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: ERLINDA CLAVELL CHETRANGOLO

(Nombre de las partes que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 31 de AGOSTO de 2023, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha 01 de SEPTIEMBRE de 2023. En PONCE, Puerto Rico, el 01 de SEPTIEMBRE de 2023. Carmen O Tiru Quiñones, Secretaria. F/Brenda Santiago Lopez, Secretaria Auxiliar Del Tribunal.

The San Juan Daily Star

January 12-14, 2024

27

Carolina vs Caguas: Winter baseball finals open Friday

By THE STAR STAFF

T

he Carolina Giants defeated the Ponce Lions, 4-3, in the seventh and decisive game of the winter baseball B semifinal series held at Roberto Clemente Walker Stadium in Carolina on Wednesday night.

With the victory, the Giants advance to the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League finals against the Caguas Criollos. The best-of-9 series opens Friday at 7 p.m. in Carolina (WAPA Deportes).

With the game tied at 3-3 in the sixth inning, the Giants’ Jonathan Rodríguez greeted reliever Alirio Negrette with a line drive to left field to drive in Delvin Pérez for the eventual game-winning run.

Import pitcher Eduardo Rivera (1-0) picked up the win with two innings in relief in which he kept the Lions off the

bases. Connor Sadzeck took over for Rivera in the eighth and ninth innings to earn his third save in the series.

Yoanys Quiala took the loss for Ponce, allowing one run in 2.1 innings of work.

The Giants scored first with three runs in the second inning, getting RBIs from Gabriel Cancel, Pérez and Bryan Torres.

Starting with a solo homer by J.C. Escarra, the Lions responded two innings later with three runs to pull even. Brian Rey’s sacrifice fly to center drove in Edwin Díaz, and Calvin Estrada singled home Anthony García for Ponce’s second and third runs, respectively.

Torres went 3-for-4 on the night for Carolina with a walk, a stolen base and an RBI. Pérez went 2-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI. For the Lions, Ozzie Martínez was 2-for-4 and Escarra was 1-for-5 with a home run, a run and an RBI.

The Carolina Giants edged the Ponce Giants 4-3 on Wednesday night to advance to the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League finals against the Caguas Criollos.

The best-of-9 series starts Friday at Roberto Clemente Walker Stadium in Carolina.

UPR Mayagüez hosting 3rd indoor sports championship

This year’s Wilfredo Maisonave Indoor Sports Championship will be dedicated to Carlos Acosta and Nilsa Paris Millán, former collegiate athletes who achieved national and international triumphs and today work as jumping and speed coaches at the University of Puerto Rico.

By THE STAR STAFF

T

he Athletic Activities Department at the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus (RUM by its Spanish acronym) will hold the third edition of the

Wilfredo Maisonave Indoor Sports Championship on Saturday at Rafael A. Mangual Coliseum.

This competition includes the weight and hammer throws, as well as long, triple, high jump and pole vault events. This year,

the public and private high schools category has been added, along with the open category, which includes national athletes and participants from the universities affiliated with the Inter-University Athletic League, as announced by RUM Athletic Director José F. “Tito” Estévez Pérez in a written statement.

“This event is not only a competition, but a meeting of athletic excellence where skill, effort and talent converge,” Estévez Pérez said. “It is an honor for us to welcome athletes from various categories, from high schools to university representatives, in an event that highlights the greatness of sport in Puerto Rico and that is unique in its class on the island.”

He added that this year the competition will be dedicated to Carlos Acosta and Nilsa Paris Millán, former collegiate athletes who achieved national and international triumphs and today continue as

jumping and speed coaches at the University of Puerto Rico.

“Both are glories of our country and have represented the green and white colors of our institution, as well as the Puerto Rican flag,” Estévez Pérez said. “For this reason, it fills us with great satisfaction to be able to honor them in this activity that bears the name of another glory of the sport: Wilfredo Maisonave.”

Around 150 athletes from all over Puerto Rico are expected to participate in the competition, an event that also serves as an ideal opportunity for prospective athletes to learn more about the venue on the RUM campus.

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The San Juan Daily Star

January 12-14, 2024

‘Motorita’ Feliciano is among 5 chosen for Caribbean Series Hall of Fame Class of 2024

By THE STAR STAFF

T

he Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation (CBPC by its Spanish initials) announced this week the names of the five former players who will be inducted into the Special Class of the Caribbean Series Hall of Fame Class of 2024.

Those elected, by direct vote of an international group of baseball historians, journalists and writers, were Mexican pitcher Francisco Campos, Puerto Rican outfielder Jesús “Motorita” Feliciano, Dominican pitcher Julián Tavárez, Venezuelan outfielder César Tovar and American pitcher Odell Jones.

“I feel pleased with this choice of yours, and for the Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation, it is very proud to have great names such as César Tovar, Jesús Feliciano, Francisco Campos, Julián Tavárez and Odell Jones,” said CBPC Commissioner Dr. Juan Francisco Puello Herrera said. “I saw most of them play, and for me it is an honor to give them this great news. … This exaltation means a lot for the CBPC and for Caribbean baseball.”

At the induction ceremony scheduled for Feb. 8 in Miami, the CBPC commissioner will present three gold buttons to an equal number of people, whose names will be known in the coming days, who have contributed significantly to the progress and prestige of the Caribbean Confederation and the Caribbean Series.

1st selection: Francisco Campos Known in the baseball world as “Pan-

Mexican pitcher Francisco Campos, Puerto Rican outfielder Jesús “Motorita” Feliciano, Dominican pitcher Julián Tavárez, Venezuelan outfielder César Tovar and American pitcher Odell Jones have been elected to the Caribbean Series Hall of Fame Class of 2024 by direct vote of an international group of baseball historians, journalists and writers. cho Ponches,” Campos participated in six Caribbean Series and was champion twice, with Tomateros de Culiacán in 2002 and with Venados de Mazatlán in 2005, the year in which he was also named most valuable player.

In the 2005 Mazatlán Caribbean Series he joined the All-Star team as a pitcher after winning two games and leading the way in innings pitched, win-loss average and strikeouts.

2nd selection: Jesús ‘Motorita’ Feliciano An outfielder recognized for his offensive and defensive qualities, Feliciano participated in six Caribbean Series, five of them consecutively, representing the Gigantes de Carolina and Leones de Ponce once each, and, wearing the uniforms of the Indios de

Mayagüez and Criollos de Caguas two times each. He compiled a batting average of .326, with 38 hits in 32 games.

In the 2010 Caribbean Series he was the leader in hits and average, while in 2012 he was co-leader in doubles. In both series, the Puerto Rican player was a member of the All-Star Team as a center fielder.

3rd selection: Julián Tavárez Tavárez participated in eight Caribbean Series. He represented Águilas Cibaeñas six times and Tigres del Licey twice, becoming champion five times.

With Águilas Cibaeñas he lifted the trophy in 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2007, while with Tigres del Licey he did so in 1994. The winner of five games and with a historical WHIP of 1.13, Tavárez was part of the Caribbean Series All-Star Team in 1994 and 1998.

4th selection: César Leonardo Tovar Tovar, who died on July 14, 1994, stood out for his ability to combine offense and defense. Among his four appearances in the Caribbean Series, the one in 1970 stands out, when he was a member of the Navegantes del Magallanes team that won the first crown for a Venezuelan team, coinciding with the beginning of the so-called second stage of the Caribbean Series, an event in which he also joined the All-Star Team as a center fielder. He also represented the Tigres de Aragua, Leones del Caracas and Águilas del Zulia.

Tovar, who was also named to the AllStar Team in 1973 as a right fielder, posted a historical average of .305, with 25 hits, 13 runs scored and 14 RBIs in 20 games played.

5th selection: Odell Jones Jones saw action in five Caribbean Series with teams from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, representing teams such as the Vaqueros de Bayamón, Tiburones de La Guaira, Águilas Cibaeñas and Tigres del Licey, the team with which he captured a championship in 1997.

Jones, who also had a standout career in the Major Leagues, in the 1977 Caribbean Series was the leader in wins and losses, earned run average and strikeouts, while in 1978 he led the way in innings pitched, WHIP and, again, earned run average.

In the Caribbean Series historical lists, the Tulare, California native is first in earned run average and third in WHIP and games started.

Specialized baseball schools tournament commences its 6th edition

By THE STAR STAFF

T

he sixth edition of the DRD Baseball Academies Tournament (DRDBAT) specialized baseball schools tournament began this week with the participation of 13 schools.

For the second consecutive year, the initiative of the Department of Recreation and Sports (DRD by its Spanish initials) will produce the championship team that will represent Puerto Rico in the IMG National Classic in Tampa, Florida from March 25 to March 29.

“We continue with our mission to provide our student-athletes with the tools so that they can continue developing in the sport that they are so passionate about and, in this way, find study opportunities at the

university level,” DRD Secretary Ray Jones Quiñones Vázquez said in a written statement. “With this tournament, we directly impacted nearly 500 young people from all over Puerto Rico. Furthermore, we always try to raise the tournament to the highest standards. This is why we implemented a statistics system through the Game Changer and PowerBi platforms so that followers can obtain play-by-play statistics.”

The current edition of the tournament has a new competition format. Games will be played in the afternoons on weekdays, with doubleheaders on Saturdays. The round-robin format will be maintained, allowing 12 games in the regular season, where the best eight will advance to the gold division. This series will be divided 3-2, which ensures a minimum of 14 games

and a maximum of 23 games for the teams that reach the final series.

Tournament Director Ángel Herrera added that the 9th- through 13th-place teams will go on to play in the silver division.

“These teams will play for the silver division, a double-elimination bracket or key,” he said. “In this way, these teams will also have the opportunity to play a minimum of 14 games and a maximum of 17 games for those who reach the final. The championship team and the most valuable player of this division will also be awarded. Additionally, the most valuable player of the tournament and the gold gloves will be awarded by position.”

The specialized schools are: the International Baseball Academy (IBAHS), of Fajardo; Carlos Beltrán Baseball Academy

(CBBA), Florida; B-You Academy (B-You), Caguas; Leadership Christian Academy (LCA), Guaynabo; El Shaddai Christian Academy (ESCA), Dorado; Manuel Cruz Maceira (MCM), Comerío; Olympic Baseball Academy Hostel (AOBA), Salinas; ProBaseball Academy (PBA), Cayey; Puerto Rico Baseball Academy & High School (PRBAHS), Gurabo; Presby National Baseball Academy (Presby) and Christian Military Academy (CMA), Vega Baja.

This year the Ernestina Méndez Specialized School of Arts and Sports (ESCAED), from San Sebastián, will compete for the first time, as will The Palmas Academy of Humacao.

For fans who cannot make it to the venues, some games will be streamed on the DRD’s YouTube and Facebook pages.

The San Juan Daily Star

GAMES

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January 12-14, 2024

Sudoku

How to Play:

Fill in the empty fields with the numbers from 1 through 9.

Sudoku Rules: Every row must contain the numbers from 1 through 9 Every column must contain the numbers from 1 through 9 Every 3x3 square must contain the numbers from 1 through 9

Crossword

Wordsearch

Word Search Puzzle #X259CB

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Answers on page 30

Fuller

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Patch

Pleasantry Proxies Quail

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Ruddiest Shaved Sheen

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Sojourn Spindly Sprout Stroke

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HOROSCOPE 30 Aries

The San Juan Daily Star

January 12-14, 2024

(Mar 21-April 20)

Good news from a distant state or foreign country could make your day, Aries. You could well spend the rest of the day basking in the glow of what you’ve heard. However, this isn’t going to affect your relations with others or your work on whatever projects you’re involved with right now. This is a good day to get out in the sunshine. Take a walk or drive in the country! Enjoy your day.

Libra

(Sep 24-Oct 23)

You’ve been working very hard for a long time, Libra, and now you might be thinking of ways to reward yourself. A trip that you might have dreamed of taking might suddenly seem to be more attainable. Today you might decide to actually make the arrangements. You could well decide to stay for a long time, for there is much that you can learn through this trip.

Taurus

(April 21-May 21)

Scorpio

An increase in money could bring a lot of happiness and good feeling into your home. You might be a bit concerned as to how to keep the energy going, but don’t worry about it, Taurus. All signs are that your success and good fortune are going to be around for a while. You could, however, explore the idea of making a few cautious investments. This way you’ll feel more financially secure than you have in the past.

Scorpio, visitors in your home might include partners in business activities, members of a group with which you’re affiliated, or creative people with great ideas. Therefore, you’re likely to enjoy some intense discussions today and a lot of intriguing exchanges of information.

Love and romance should also go well, particularly since you’re feeling so enthusiastic about life. Take the time to share your dreams with your guests. They might have some good ideas for making a dream a reality.

Gemini

(May 22-June 21)

Sagittarius

(Nov 23-Dec 21)

Cancer

(June 22-July 23)

Capricorn

(Dec 22-Jan 20)

The prospect of future business opportunities could have you spending a lot of time on the phone today in discussion with friends or acquaintances who might have information you need, Gemini. Perhaps someone you know has been very successful at an activity he thinks might interest you. All should go very well, but you’ll definitely want to be thoroughly informed. You’re doing the right thing by securing the facts before plunging on ahead.

A rosy glow over your recent career successes could cause you to congratulate yourself over your growing bank account. This trend should continue for a while, Cancer, if you keep on working as you have and maintain a positive and optimistic attitude. Your relationships with others around you, particularly the opposite sex, should be especially warm and loving right now. This should prove to be a thoroughly gratifying day. Use it to your advantage.

Leo

(July 24-Aug 23)

Recent successes in your career might inspire you to throw a celebration of some kind with a few close friends, Leo. You’re feeling especially positive and particularly charming at this time, and your confidence is likely to contribute to a new sense of closeness to those around you. Love and romance should also go very well. You’ve worked hard and it’s time to reward yourself. Have a successful day and an enjoyable evening.

Virgo

(Aug 24-Sep 23)

Relations with those closest to you should be warm and rewarding, Virgo. Financial matters are going so well for you right now that you’re apt to be feeling that everything will be perfect from here on out.

This optimism and enthusiasm, however, doesn’t mean you’re taking your good fortune for granted.

Rather, it is likely to give you the impetus to continue as you have been, only with more serenity than before.

(Oct 24-Nov 22)

Get-togethers in your neighborhood should prove enjoyable right now, Sagittarius. Communication with others, particularly about possible new business interests, should bring a lot of positive information your way that you’re apt to put to work for you.

The level of respect that you get from those around you could be particularly gratifying. Your hard work has not only enriched your socioeconomic standing but your friendships as well. Enjoy your day.

This is a good day for meditation or spiritual studies of some kind, Capricorn. Your intuition should be operating at a very high level and thus it’s going to be easier for you to tune in to the thoughts, feelings, needs, and desires of others, particularly the opposite sex. You might even experience psychic insights or visions that shed light on some questions you’ve been asking yourself for a while. Write down your thoughts. You’ll want to remember them.

Aquarius

(Jan 21-Feb 19)

Your relationships with just about everyone - friends, lovers, children, colleagues, and even strangers - should be smooth, warm, and supportive today, Aquarius. Feelings are easily expressed, although more on a subtle than a verbal level. New business opportunities may open up through contact with new and interesting people. Social events and group activities should therefore contribute more to your personal growth and emotional well-being than they usually do. Make the most of them!

Pisces

(Feb 20-Mar 20)

Reflections on your recent success and good fortune with regard to career matters are likely to have you feeling strong, optimistic, and enthusiastic for the future, Pisces. Creative projects are going very well, as are relationships with the opposite sex. This should be a very gratifying day for you, full of warm and loving contact with those closest to you, and signs of continued progress. Enjoy your day, and treat yourself to an evening out.

Answers to the Sudoku and Crossword on page 29

January 12-14, 2024

31

CARTOONS

Herman

Speed Bump

Frank & Ernest

BC

Scary Gary

Wizard of Id

For Better or for Worse

The San Juan Daily Star

Ziggy

32 January 12-14, 2024

The San Juan Daily Star