5-2013 Village Voice

villagevoiceoceansidecc@gmail.com

Vol. XXII, No. 5 | May 2013

Editorial “Where’s All The Grass?”

With the extensive reshaping of our landscape, particularly at the “Park” and on Cannon Road, many have questioned why? What has happened to all the grass?

For 30 years, we have enjoyed the great expanse of luxurious turf that covered our campus. Now we are experiencing a new look replacing the grass with shrubs, boulders, ground cover and palm trees. What’s the story behind these changes?

It was in 2009, when members of the Master Board along with the General Manager met with the City of Oceanside. During that meeting our representatives were faced with a mandate that our water consumption be reduced by 20%. How we were to accomplish this formidable task was left to us. Tom Hogan, Director of Landscape Operations, was faced with the daunting task of reducing water consumption or incurring severe penalties.

The turf areas utilize a major portion of our water usage. It was decided that certain areas of turf could be replaced with drought resistant plants, so plans were drafted to augment the reduced usage. The area of the “Park” and the Cannon Road Frontage were selected as the sites. Fortunately for OHCC, the Cannon Road Project was heavily subsidized by the Metropolitan Water District and the City of Oceanside.

EDITORIAL, CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Grass replaced with drought-tolerant plants.

Most New Homeowners Are From Southern Calif.

Last year the Master Board authorized our Marketing and Communications Committee (MCC) to conduct a survey of new homeowners. They wanted to know where people moved from, why they chose OHCC, what they liked and don’t like, now that they’re here. Beth Brewer, a member of the MCC reported the findings from the first 49 respondents to the April Master Board Meeting. This reporter found those findings interesting.

It was only a few years ago, when we were in the depth of the recession, there were about 60 homes on the market.

Currently, there are about a dozen available and many sellers have been faced

with multiple offers. Last year alone there were about 150 sales when the economy became brighter.

Just who are these “newbees” and where did they come from? Beth took a survey and discovered that nearly half came from California and most of them were from local towns and cities. Several homeowners considered OHCC as their second homes, with residences in various other states. The survey also revealed that one of the primary reasons for locating here was that OHCC was an active community. Not only did it offer a wide and diverse range of activities, the residents HOMEOWNERS, CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

The Village Voice is a publication of the OHCC Journalism Club

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EDITORIAL, Cont’d. from Page 1

And we can’t ignore the recently installed computerized sprinkler system that incredibly monitors the condition of the soil and controls the necessary moisture needed in various locations. This state-of-the-art system provides up-to-the-minute condition of the soil throughout the entire Village.

Currently, we are safely above the minimum 20% water reduction level. Tom realizes that in order to continue this level, he must shift the allotment of water from one area to another. Thus, some slopes may suffer in order that highly visible areas may look better. It becomes a juggling act. Many residents have urged the return of turf. As far as returning those areas to turf once again, Tom says that we can certainly do that. Of course that means that our current annual water bill of $500,000 will be increased by a penalty of 80% to a monumental figure of $900,000. And on top of this, our water bill will increase in June 2013, when Oceanside water rates go up by 6%. That’s not all: should our water usage exceed our water allocation for any year, we would be penalized by the 80% increase for all following years in the future. It would be impossible to imagine the impact on homeowner’s fees, both yours and mine, but more importantly, future home buyers. Further, the water authorities can restrict our irrigation water and even turn off the tap!

Anything is possible. We again can have lawns everywhere and lush tropical plants at every turn, as long as homeowners are willing to pay the price... and possibly suffer the consequences!

More grass, anyone? ********

HOMEOWNERS, Cont’d. from Page 1

and neighbors were very friendly, hospitable and social. This created an atmosphere not found in other senior communities.

And of course, the eternal spring-like weather was another attraction. At an elevation of 700 feet above sea-level and at a distance of about 5 miles from the Pacific Ocean, the weather is such that we don’t experience snowstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes or floods that occur with such regularity in the Midwest or the Eastern seaboard. The presence of hot and humid weather is rare although we do experience Santa Ana winds on occasion.

Many commented that they enjoy the quiet neighborhood.

There are no sirens, police car chases or loud blaring music from cars.

There are no salespeople knocking at doors at all hours of the day. And most felt the presence of the Community Patrol at the entrance, and the car patrol of the streets 24/7, provided a safe and Moving vans, a common sight in secure feeling. Others the Village. mentioned that the landscape was spectacular and reminded them of a park-like setting of ample trees, spacious lawns and flowering bushes.

But another selling point was the transparency of our organization where there were open meetings at which homeowners could express their opinions. Remodeling homes appeared not to be a problem as about 300 architectural changes were requested and all were granted. Groups can be formed by people with common interests. (The latest groups being formed are a Mah Jong Group and a Book Club. See Beth Brewer for information).

With all things considered, OHCC is a great place to live with almost every amenity one could wish for. And the people are wonderful, too. ********

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Editor: Bob Wong, 806-1310 villagevoiceoceansidecc@gmail.com Office address: 4935 Thebes Way, Oceanside, CA 92056 Distribution Coordinator: Jack Collar, 598-0580

Village Coordinators Upper Cordoba . . . . . . John Hanna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 940-1874 Cyrus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Betty Theel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .945-4588 Hydra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seymour Prell, Ruth Leader . 945-7631 Majorca . . . . . . . . . . . . Betty Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 758-1960 Mykonos . . . . . . . . . . . Betty Collar . . . . . . . . . . . . . 598-0580 Portofino . . . . . . . . . . . Werner Rind, Mary Duarte Santorini . . . . . . . . . . . Chuck Barlow . . . . . . . . . . . .758-0625 Zante . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alan DeCarle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 631-0179 Advertising:

Richard Travis, 724-4091 • Email: ohccvillagevoice@gmail.com Production: Sandra Powers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 579-9330

Mary Jane Matthews, President Gilda Barnard, Vice President Charlotte Pichney, Secretary Bob Wong, Editor Russ Butcher, Managing Editor Marileen Johnson, Director Debbie McCain, Director

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Ira Landis Andy Truban Dan Neilson Gilda Spiegl Joan Buchholz Joe Ashby Phyllis Ward Tom Lynch Tom Fuller

Selma Leighton Charlotte Pichney Russ Butcher Beverly Nickerson Peter Russell Jack Shabel Bob Barnes Marileen Johnson Ellen Kippel

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Village Voice 4716 Agora Way, Oceanside, CA 92056 Advertising E-mail: OHCCVillageVoice@gmail.com For information, call Richard Travis For information, call Sandra @ 760-295-1993 Ad Rates: Full Page $140 (Add $75 for color) Half Page $85 (Add $50 for color) Classifieds (3 lines) Quarter Page $45 (Add $25 for color) $9 Residents Eighth Page $25 (Add $10 for color) $12 Others ($3 addl line)

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The Electorate Fails to Amend CC&Rs on Capital Improvements

Bill Smith, who served as Chief Inspector of Election for the vote, revealed that while the quorum requirement was met, passage of the amendment failed. The vote for the change of the CC&Rs was 547 and the count opposing was 534. In order to pass, the amendment needed 67% of votes cast in favor.

A proud moment for our graduates.

CERT Welcomes Eight New Graduates

20% Discount Every Wed. 4-9pm ENTREE ONLY

In April, the Oceanside Police and Fire Commission congratulated eight new members of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). The graduates are: Lyle Bergeson, Ellen Kippel, Tim Lynch, Nancy Daniels, Dennis McNabb, Raul Granillo, James Willis and Jim Wright, all of whom completed a 10-week course of intense study. The ceremony was held at the Oceanside City Hall with Fire Chief Darryl Hebert & Councilman Jerry Kern, who congratulated the grads and handed out certificates.

Commissioner Bill Harms coordinated the event and Joanne Harms videotaped it for KOCT. The CERT program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

Ocean Hills Country Club is proud to have Bill and Joanne to help lead and organize our own CERT Disaster Preparedness and Response Program. The OHCC CERT office is located in the Clubhouse adjacent to the pool locker rooms. ********

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OHCC to Celebrate Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, 2013

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s military service. It was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868, by General John Logan, when flowers were placed on graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. Moina Michael, in 1915, inspired by the poem, “In Flanders Fields,” conceived of an idea to wear red poppies to honor those who died serving our nation. She sold poppies to her friends and with the money earned she benefitted servicemen in need. Until recently, the tradition continued for many decades.

Traditional observance of Memorial Day has diminished over the year. Many have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. Many towns and cities still hold Memorial Day parades, but many have not held a parade in decades. When Congress made the day into a three-day weekend in 1971, it made it easier for people to be distracted from the spirit and meaning of the day. Many think it’s the start of the summer season, while others think of it as a day to honor all those who have died. As the VFW stated in its 2002 address, “No doubt, this has contributed greatly to the general public’s nonchalant observance of Memorial Day.” At OHCC, however, with our large number of war veterans, we

Grave markers for our fallen heroes. will have a memorial display in the lobby with a floral wreath honoring those military who gave their all to the service of this nation. ********

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More on Quarry Creek Project

By Russ Butcher An estimate reveals that development of the Quarry Creek project with 656 housing units, as approved on April 2 by the Carlsbad City Council, will generate more than 5,000 vehicle transits daily from and to this new, densely packed residential area in Buena Vista Creek Valley. Such a large addition of motor vehicles cannot help but cause increased congestion and even gridlock from and to Marron Road and Haymar Drive at College Boulevard and related streets and intersections, all in Oceanside.

“The impact is going to be devastating,” said Oceanside Mayor Jim Wood. He and Councilwoman Esther C. Sanchez urged that Oceanside file a lawsuit challenging the unmitigated traffic impacts of the Quarry Creek project. Nevertheless, Deputy Mayor Jack Feller and Councilmen Gary Felien and Jerome Kern voted on April 3 against legally challenging the City of Carlsbad’s decision.1 Even though Oceanside’s council has decided not to file a lawsuit, concerned homeowners and other residents may nevertheless wish to express their views by e-mailing a message. E-mail address council@ci.oceanside.ca.us, or address individuals separately: the first letter of the first name, the last name, @ci.oceanside.ca.us (all without spaces). Or via the Postal Service: Oceanside City Council, 300 N. Coast Highway, Oceanside CA 92054. ********

Master Board Supports Participation at Oceanside Freedom Parade

At the April Master Board meeting, Jim Kaminsky was appointed chairman of the ad hoc committee for Ocean Hills Country Club’s participation in the City of Oceanside Freedom Parade, a 1.2-mile trek along Oceanside’s Coast Highway scheduled for Saturday, June 29. Banners will proclaim our group of marchers as Ocean Hills Country Club residents. Oceanside limits each entry to 150 participants, and Jim will contact our clubs asking for three or four volunteer marchers from each.

Jim also hopes three OHCC residents can drive their classic convertible decorated as Past, Present, and Future, the theme of the Oceanside Freedom Parade. Anyone with a convertible who is willing to participate, please contact Jim at 295-8792. ********

Water Rates Go Up

It was announced last year that water rates for the residents of the City of Oceanside would increase for the year 2013. This rate would go up in two increments, one of 6% in January, then another 6% in June.

For most residents whose water usage rate is one (1), this means that $2.15 per unit will now be $2.28. For those who use say, eight (8) units, the price for water climbs to $18.23, an amount which doesn’t sound like much until you realize that auxiliary charges that constitute 67% of your water bill will also increase by 6%.

With all things considered, it may be cheaper to drink gin and tonic than water. ********

Say you saw it in The Village Voice!

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Ocean Hills Resident Honored

by City of Hope

On April 20, 2013, Robyn Hina, the regional director of City of Hope, along with several current chapter members, Back row (L-R): Regina Aulisio, Rona honored longtime Cole, Robyn Hina. Seated: Phyllis Ward, Ocean Hills resiBetty Beck. dent, Betty Beck, for her longstanding and devoted commitment to the charity.

In 1991, Betty had moved to Ocean Hills from the San Fernando Valley and wanted to volunteer for City of Hope, a charity she had supported in the past. Upon discovering there was no local chapter, Betty started one in Ocean Hills. She invited residents to respond and so many people responded, the event had to be moved to the street. Eventually 100 people became members

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and Betty became the first president of the chapter.

Over the years, others namely Gloria Griffiths and Gilda Spiegl, were also early presidents of the chapter. One of the founding members, Phyllis Ward, was on hand at the Ventana Restaurant to honor Betty, as was Rona Cole (current fund raising chairperson) and Regina Aulisio (chapter president).

Betty, now in her 90’s, is returning to the San Fernando Valley, to be closer to her family. She will be missed by the many friends she made here and her many contributions to City of Hope. We all wish her well! ********

Ocean Hills Rose Garden

At the urging of the Garden Club, the plot of land adjacent to the swimming pool had been designated as a rose garden several years ago. This year, the growth of the rose blossoms has been outstanding. Thanks to rose garden chairperson, Else Offersen and members of the Garden Club, the roses are pruned early in the year to ensure healthy growth and flowers for the remainder of the year.

They also take care to dead head the blossoms that have faded. A catalogue chart showing the pictures of various specimens makes identification easy.

The majority of these roses are hybrids bred for their flowers.

Some roses are grown for scented foliage, others for the showy blossoms. Ornamental roses have been cultivated for thousands of years, with the earliest known cultivation from at least 500 B.C. in

Else Offersen with a garden of roses.

the Mediterranean countries, Persia and China.

Our roses are grown in the open soil, subject to all the hazards of gardening. However, thanks to O’Connell, who have taken on the responsibility of spraying our roses to reduce the presence of insects and fungus.

That leaves the residents to admire and smell the roses. ********

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features Watching Wildlife

By Russ Butcher

Our Friend, the Honeybee

Most of us give little thought to bees – unless they buzz too close and we’re afraid of getting stung. But honeybees are among the most vital parts of the ecosystem that sustains human life on planet Earth.

Of the roughly 20,000 kinds of bees in the world, a mere seven species are honeybees. One of these, the common, domesticated honeybee (Apis mellifera), has long been widely used for the pollination of such commercial crops as apples, peaches, cherries, almonds, melons, soybeans and onions. To meet the needs of vast expanses of commercial crops, growers in California alone spend more than $200 million annually to rent more than a million bee hives that are brought here by commercial beekeepers.

A honeybee colony typically contains a fertile female known as the queen bee, several thousand fertile males known as drones, and a substantial and seasonally varying population of sterile females

The honey bee, a vital pollinator. known as worker bees. It is the workers who gather nectar from plants and trees and bring it back to the hive for storage in honeycombs as a protein-rich source of food for the colony. It sounds like a perfect example of social teamwork.

But something is happening to the Common Honeybee.

Massive numbers of this vitally important insect are dying off, and scientists are uncertain what is causing such devastating losses.

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While sizable mortalities have been occurring over the past several years, this past year has seen a dramatic increase in honeybee deaths, resulting in the destruction of as much as 40 to 50 percent of the hives essential for pollinating fruit and vegetable crops across America. Scientists call this phenomenon “colony collapse disorder.” Many beekeepers have been hit with heavy economic losses and the farmers who depend on the bees are, in turn, producing smaller crops, which then translate to higher prices of fruits and vegetables for us consumers.

So, what’s happening to the honeybee? Some researchers and beekeepers believe there is increasing evidence that a potent new

category of chemical pesticides may be to blame. Known as neonicotinoids (nicotine-derived), or “neonics,” their chemicals are actually absorbed into the plants and become embedded in the seeds. Consequently, many of the bees (and other insects) that gather nectar from these plants are killed.

Unlike other types of pesticides, which degrade relatively rapidly, neonics remain chemically viable for weeks or even months, making it possible for pollen containing neonics residue to be repeatedly consumed over an extended period of time — even by succeeding generations of bees. Researchers are also discovering that the widespread growth in the use of neonics approximately parallels the increasing honeybee mortality.

Other scientists and beekeepers believe the massive honeybee mortality should be blamed on the ever-increasing “stew” of chemical pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. Individual pesticides are certified by the government, but critics point out that there has been far less research into the combined impacts of the chemicals, how they react on each other and their collective impacts on insects and other wildlife.

Does all of this sound complicated? Well, it is. We can only hope that further scientific research will soon reveal what is happening to our friend, the honeybee, before it is too late. ********

The Movie Scene

By Joan Buchholz

42

No, it’s not “42nd Street.” It’s the number on the back of Jackie Robinson’s jersey. For the newer generation, Jackie Robinson was the first African-American to play baseball in the major leagues. So they might ask, so what?

So what? I’ll tell you what. In 1947, unlike today, there were no African-Americans playing in the major leagues. It was an allwhite American game, so when Jackie Robinson takes the bat, you

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can imagine all the controversy it stirred. He encounters racism from people from the opposing team, from locals from various towns and even from his own teammates. But he is stoic and rebuffs the bigots and proves he is well qualified to play in the major leagues. (The movie does not exploit the fact that Robinson was a local man, having lettered in four sports at UCLA: baseball, basketball, football and track.)

There are people who support Robinson: Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford), the man who signed him, his reporter friend Wendell (Andre Holland) and his wife, Rachel (Nicole Beharie).

The film provides some inspirational scenes on and off the field. Some say they’re cliché but they are exciting and wonderful where the hero shows his stuff and the crowd goes wild. Yes, there were scenes that were probably contrived for dramatic impact, but I was inspired and so was the viewing audience that gave the film a rousing applause at the end. I give it a whopping 4 smiles (out of four). Caution: Be prepared to brace yourself, as this film is filled with many racial epithets, including the “N-word.” I am sure the script incorporated those additional words to provide the necessary impact needed for the audience to empathize with the hero.

director of an “alternative” New Quest School known for its hippy environment and non-mainstream education. John has an exceptional student, Jeremiah (newcomer Nat Wolff), in attendance and wants him to attend Princeton. He invites Portia to come to his school for a recruitment visit. Portia finds New Quest shocking, meets with Jeremiah who probably doesn’t fit with the Ivy League standards, but is somehow very exceptional.

John has reason to suspect Jeremiah, who was given up by his mother at birth, is actually Portia’s child. He wants to make the connection, but he also has other connections in mind.

Yes, there are splashes of humor involved, but despite appearances of Lily Tomlin and Michael Sheen, I found this so-called comedy unfunny. And it’s certainly not exciting, not even at the end. Lastly, I did not find any chemistry between Paul Rudd and Tina Fey. I regard it as one of the several dozen movies Hollywood grinds out each month primarily for the bland after-market consumption. I give it one smile (out of four). For all you Tina Fey fans, why don’t you wait until it comes out on DVD in a few months? ********

Admission

Tina fey makes her first movie role after having been famous in her many TV appearances. She plays Portia, an unmarried Princeton University admissions officer. She is meticulous at her job and at home. John (Paul Rudd), who is just the opposite, is a

Patronize the businesses you see in the Voice!

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Village Happenings

By Selma Leighton Most people, myself included, love Ocean Hills. Two of the many reasons, are ballroom dancing and THE FOLLIES. Ballroom dancing was started in 1987 by Ron and Melvina Terry. It was taken over in 2006 by Miriam and George Mozes. It is held the second Friday of every month in Abravanel Hall, and ladies, it gives you an opportunity to dress up and maybe, just maybe, get your guy into a jacket.

Couples and singles are invited and there is a singles table. The music is live and refreshments are served. (George and Miriam also give free dance lessons every Wednesday afternoon. Come join them, to learn or to watch. It is a sight to behold.)

Ballroom dancing is a very sociable evening. Sy and I have a fun group. Shirley Rock and Bob Germann, Judy and Bob White, Virginia Webb and Alfred DeLeo, and Joan and Walter Melnyk.

And, if we are lucky, George tells one of his jokes. Yes, most of the time they are funny. I asked George if he had any funny stories to relate. He remembered that more times than he could count, women have used the same exact words “Can you fix my husband?” Hopefully they mean his dancing. George says he is not

equipped to fix anything else.

The follies, on the other hand, is a once a year event. It is now sponsored by the “can do club,” and for the past four years has been produced and directed by Kate Butler, herself a professional entertainer. The Follies raised over $5,000 this year. Half goes to OSHPA and the other half goes to CERT (Community Emergency Response Team). This year’s show was written by Lyn Asaro (our own mama Lyn). Amazingly they had only two rehearsals, and yes, there were a few shaky moments, like when the curtain opened and there was no one on the stage. No matter, all the more laughs for the audience.

I was lucky enough to be asked by Marylen Naimark to do makeup. What a blast! Especially when we made up our three “queens,” Mike Graham, Dave Mowery and Bill Vogel. They were gorgeous in their flowing blue gowns. They did argue over who would wear the best jewelry and nearly came to blows over who got the pink wig (just kidding). But personally, I thought Mike looked better in pink than the other “girls.” What great sports all the performers and back stage people were. I’ve been thinking about next year. I was a drum majorette in high school.

Maybe next year I’ll twirl my baton, although I’m not sure about the short skirt and white boots. But it might be fun, and you know, I like fun-ny. ********

The Crusty Curmudgeon

By Bob Wong

Mother’s Day 2013

Somehow Mother’s Day irks me. I realize that it’s a western civilization event honoring all mothers. I have no object to honoring mothers, but my mother passed away years ago and I’m still obliged to honor mother... this time it’s my wife. And she’s not my mother, but I still have to provide her with some token of affection or I’ll hear about it for the next 364 days.

For self-protection, I went out to the mall and shopped for See’s Candy. Now, a box of See’s Candy costs an arm and a leg,

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not to mention the deed to our house. Well to be practical, if you break the cost down, twenty dollars divided into 12 months isn’t really too bad. So I asked the smiling clerk if I could buy maybe three month’s worth. We negotiated and I got the cost down to a manageable price although I actually had to pay cash.

To provide additional protection, I decided that I should augment my homage with a bunch of roses. So I went to the local flower shop and spotted a bunch in a glass vase.

“You want how much for those flowers?”

“That’s $75 sir.”

“I don’t want to buy the store; all I want is a bunch of roses.”

“You see, these long stemmed roses have been cleaned, dethorned and the card and vase come with it. I’ll even put a bow on it.”

“No thank you, I’ll get a better deal elsewhere.”

And so I went shopping to find something more practical. And I found it.

So on Sunday, Mother’s Day, during our breakfast together and after reading “Peanuts” in the comic strip, I presented my offerings to my “one and only.”

“Happy Mother’s Day, dear. I have something to show my love and affection for you.” I handed her four See’s Candy chocolate with chewy centers.

“How sweet of you to remember. But honey, chewy centers stick to my teeth so I avoid them. But don’t worry, I’ll give them to the cleaning lady.”

“Well then, I have something else for you. I know how much you like roses, so I have this for you: a package of bare root roses.”

Well, Mother’s Day was a few days ago and the lump on my head is healing quite well. I’ll be out of bed by the weekend. ********

Kippel’s Pet Korner

By Ellen Kippel

Foster Home for Pets

For those individuals who love animals but do not want a fulltime commitment of pet ownership, opening your home temporarily to an animal from the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA is a special way to show your passion for helping animals. Many of the animals looking for foster homes face challenges that can best be overcome with the loving support of fantastic foster volunteers.

Foster homes also provide the Humane Society the opportunity to free up more kennels to help even more animals that are in need of immediate care.

As a foster volunteer you may host animals with special medical or behavioral needs, puppies or kittens under eight weeks of age and in need of special feeding and socialization or mother animals with nursing litters. By fostering a homeless animal you are providing rehabilitation in a nurturing home environment and

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directly preparing them for adoption into a loving home.

The other great program is the Humane Society’s Seniors for Seniors program that offers to waive the adoption fee for any animal to qualified senior citizens, 55 years of age or older.

Studies have shown that pet companionship may actually improve senior citizen health and outlook on life. Lowered blood pressure and stress reduction are among the benefits of pet ownership. In addition, seniors acquiring pets through the program report feeling happier and safer.

To apply for the program, please contact the San Diego Humane Society to complete a pre-adoption questionnaire. You should bring a photo ID for age verification. Adoption counselors will advise you about the background information on the animal you are interested in. All animals in our adoption program are spayed/neutered, have current vaccinations, permanent microchip identification and more!

The location of the Oceanside Humane Society is North Campus: 760-757-4357 main, 760-757-3547 fax San Luis Rey (dogs only): 2905 San Luis Rey Road, Oceanside, CA 92058 Airport Road (cats & small animals only): 572 Airport Road, Oceanside, CA 92058 ********

Bridge

By Dan Neilson

Transfer Bids

Transfer bids seem glamorous and pretty simple, so many people add it to their bidding arsenal. Partner opens with a No trump and you show a five card or longer major suit by bidding one suit less than your possession.

This allows the opening lead to be received by the strong hand.

With a two Diamond bid, partner responds two Hearts and two Hearts fetches two Spades. Minor suit transfers can be made, but are not recommended. Playing 16-18 No Trumps, there are three point ranges to consider for responder. If you are playing 15-17, responder requires one more point.

0-7 points. Make a transfer bid and then pass. If you have seven points and a six card suit, raise to the three level.

8-9 (bad) points. With 5-4 or 5-5 in the majors do not transfer.

Bid Stayman and raise to the three level if the response is in a major suit. If partner bids two Diamonds, bid your five card major.

If you are 5-5 in the majors, bid Spades first and then bid your Hearts. Partner is required to have three cards in one of those suits for a proper No Trump opener. With only a five card major do a simple transfer and then raise in No Trump. With a six card suit raise partners response to the three 9 (good)-13 points. The bidding here is the same as the above paragraph. But with this quality hand you must force to game.

With a five card suit bid three No Trump while with six cards bid four in the major.

Hands holding 14 points or more should be heading for slam and I leave that sequence to your imagination. The good and bad nine point hands referred to above, should be mentally adjusted.

Add a point for a sequence and subtract one for an unprotected honor. ********

Out & About in San Diego County

By Jack Shabel If there is one thing that seems to define Southern California and Oceanside beach communities, it is surfing.

Located about two blocks from the iconic Oceanside Pier is the California Surf Museum. I have never surfed a day in my life being a landlocked The Surf Museum reflects the Midwesterner, but I did California surf culture. find this museum to be very interesting. They have permanent displays of the history of surfing, including a very large display of surfboards through their

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history, ranging from boards as big as a cathedral door to today’s small lightweight boards. Also on display is the surf board of the young Hawaiian girl, Bethany Hamilton, who lost a portion of her board as well as her left arm to a tiger shark. There is also a very interesting video and display on downhill skateboarding which looked like a totally insane sport to me.

When we visited, there was a display of the various enterprises of Hobie Alter who started out making surfboards then kept expanding into all sorts of recreational fields, most notably the Hobie Cat sailboat. The Hobie exhibit and the downhill skateboarding exhibits closed on May 5, but being installed in May will be “Windansea Five-0: Fifty Years of Surf & Service,” telling the story of the legendary Windansea Surf Club in La Jolla. Also being installed is a small display showcasing Oceanside’s early lifeguards, a past mayor’s surfboard, and a couple of Oceanside’s favorite surfers, all in recognition of Oceanside’s 125th Birthday.

During the exhibit changeover, the gift shop will be open.

While you are visiting the museum, don’t miss going out the back door to the “Secret Spot” where you can take your picture while riding a big wave. After the museum, take a walk towards the water and stroll down the Oceanside Pier for a first hand look at the local surfers and maybe even a meal at the end of the pier at Ruby’s or at the base of the pier at the new Tin Fish.

Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and until 8 p.m. on Thursdays. There is free parking right in front of the museum,

which is always a nice bonus in downtown Oceanside. The address is 312 Pier View Way, Oceanside, CA 92054. For more information, the phone number is 760-721-6876. The web page for the museum is at www.surfmuseum.com.

I don’t think that I am of an age or an inclination to take up surfing at this point in my life, but I did find this museum very interesting. If you want to discover a lot more about our Southern California surf culture, this is a great place to do it. ********

These ladies have a plan; enjoy the game.

The Golf Game

By Pete Russell This game is amazing! You start out with a small ball that YOU brought with you, place it on a tee that YOU placed in the ground just the height YOU chose, then YOU select a club from YOUR bag, stand anywhere YOU want, swing the club at the ball anyway that YOU want, and then complain about the weather, the club, or even the ball if it doesn’t go exactly where YOU wanted it to go.

All of which YOU chose in the first place. YOU even chose to come golfing on this particular day! Golfers must be crazy, don’t you think? Is this really a mental game? I think o...

In any event there are a few things that can make your few hours of fun a lot more interesting and effective as far as golf is concerned. And these are all things that YOU have complete control over from start to finish. For instance, Place the tee in a position that is in line with the pin, or your planned flight path, by selecting something just in front of the ball placement. Use this alignment during your practice swing and get the feel of the swing THROUGH that object that you’ve selected for alignment with the hole. There is an old saying that “YOU have to have a plan” and this is it.

Select a club that you have used in practice; and this is another part of the plan, the practice part, and have a feel for the distance you have determined to be needed for this particular shot.

Keep your eye on the ball, and it is much easier if you are NOT looking up the long distance but at your near target, and keep your eyes there until AFTER you strike the ball and finish the follow through. It is almost incomprehensible to think that we cannot

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keep our eyes still for those few parts of a second that it takes to stroke the ball.

And still another thing that you have complete control over on every shot you make during a round of golf. For instance, you do not have to try to hit the green on every PAR 3 hole (like most of ours here at OHCC). It might be more productive to hit the ball straighter even if it is shorter, and leave the next shot to be a GREAT pitch and a good PUTT. I know that you can do it!

After watching the Masters this last month it is obvious that even the best golfers in the world have trouble getting on the green in regulation EVERY TIME THEY TRY! Even short putts are elusive for the very best. So don’t beat yourself up when things don’t go the exact way you want them to, each time you play. The operative word is “PLAY” in any event. Enjoy the outing but don’t forget to practice the sport. You will enjoy yourself much more in the long run. ********

Adra is a seaside resort.

The Street Where You Live: Adra Way

By Dora Truban Adra: another southern city in Spain with namesake places in faraway India, Syria and Estonia. Adra’s mild climate — both in winter and summer — has attracted a large colony of English residents. During the 1960s, its semi-arid landscape was featured in many Western films such as, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, A Fistful of Dollars, portions of Patton, etc.

Born as a Phoenician trading colony under the name of Abdera, Adra’s cultural legacy encompasses the Phoenician and Roman civilizations. Adra — the last stronghold of the Moors in Spain – rejoined a unified Catholic Spain in 1492 after the defeat of Andalusia’s Islamic Sultan.

Adra is situated in the famed province of Andalucía, known worldwide for its gifted artists, Velázquez, Murillo, Pablo Picasso, and classical guitar master, Andrés Segovia.

Visit Andalucía and enjoy its flamenco dancing and colorful bullfights, but live on Adra Way. ********

Travels with Joe

By Joe Ashby

Norway

“Marit” is the name of our tour guide who had been waiting for us for our tour through Oslo. It was a beautiful sunny day. She pointed out the city hall where every December 10, the Nobel Peace Prize is given. She pointed out the city is a port for cruise ships and we noted there happened to be three moored that day. There were various museums in the city, The Vigeland Sculpture has many containing specimens 600 nude figures. from the Viking days. We approached the Royal Palace with a statue of King Karl Johans, a Frenchman who never learned Norwegian. At 1:30 sharp, there was the changing of the guards that attracted the tourists armed with cameras. One of the most interesting features of Oslo was the Vigeland Sculpture Park, with a huge sculpture of 600 nudes rep-

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Oslo, a busy city by the river.

resenting life from birth to death. The famous spindle of life was a monolith of a mixed confusion of body forms surrounded by massive granite sculptures.

The morning tour ended at our hotel where Judy and I shared a sandwich along with a couple of Cokes ($20). The afternoon promised to continue to be clear and beautiful as we headed out to the Resistance Museum. Suddenly, the weather turned for the

worse, raining, thunder then hailing, but it let up as we entered the massive fortress leading to the entrance of the museum. We learned about the Norse experience during the Nazi invasion in 1940.

Norway was under the rule of Vidkun Quisling who will always be remembered as a traitor. Displays explained the secret operation by the Germans and the American raid on the heavy water plant at Vermork. We were able to see clips of the movie “Operation Swallow” that One of the giant figures at the dramatized the event. park.

Back at the hotel on our last day, our guide provided us with a brief history of the Vikings. The Swedish Vikings traveled mostly east, the Danish Vikings southeast, and the Norwegian Vikings south to raid the cities of Paris, London and Dublin.

Under the leadership of Leif Erickson, they emigrated to Greenland, Iceland and America. He said that now the Swedes go forth mostly to France, the Danes choose to eat, drink and smoke in Germany and the Norwegians have a strong attachment to their American cousins.

After a short flight to Helsinki, then an unbelievably long flight home via New York, we were totally exhausted. Nothing felt better than collapsing into our own bed. ********

Call Richard @ 760-724-4091 to advertise in the next Village Voice Newsletter!

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Aria

3744 Mission Ave (Strip mall on North West corner of El Camino) Oceanside, CA, 92054 760-967-4090 What was a former hamburger place, is now ARIA, a Korean BBQ and Sushi bar.

Unfortunately not much effort was made to convert the décor to an Asian restaurant. A few scattered pictures on the wall simply do not change the ambience.

Booths and tables can accommodate a very large crowd, although when we were there on a week day evening, only three or so tables were occupied. The menu was quite extensive with pages of appetizers, soups and Japanese and Korean dishes. Lunch specials ranged from $8 to $12 and included pork, salmon and beef teriyaki and tempura.

For dinner the menu was much more extensive. Our guests ordered bento boxes with teriyaki chicken, the other with beef.

Both said they were please with their selection. Fred ordered the tempura ($12) selection that included shrimp, potatoes, onion and sweet potatoes. The tempura was hot and lightly coated and he said it was one of the best he has tried in any local Asian restaurant.

I tried the BBQ beef ($20) and it came sizzling on an iron plate.

Slightly sweetened with Korean spices, the sliced beef was accompanied with a mélange of vegetables underneath. A bowl of rice accompanied the dish. This was far more than I could eat and was glad to share some of it with our guests. They agreed it was very tasty.

The entire meal was accompanied with a variety of a half dozen small dishes containing kim chee, potatoes, pickled vegetables and other tasty morsels.

A sample starter of a variety of tasty dishes.

The waitress was very efficient and courteous and was able to describe the various items on the menu and gave us some suggestions. Curiously, there is a red button on the table.

Instead of waving for help, the button will herald help. It works.

The prices for their BBQ meats hovered around $30 while most other dishes were under $20. They list an extensive variety of sushi ranging in the $12 range.

Wine is offered, A Bento box of tempura, salad and parking is plentiful and rice.

ARIA is open daily from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. ********

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By Charlotte Pichney

Vista ICEBOX Jr.

2260 Oak Ridge Way, Suite B (Between Melrose Dr. & Park Center Drive) 760-599-8874 Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat 7:30-4 p.m.

This unpretentious deli is located in a business park area one block behind The Home Depot on Melrose Dr. Sandwich mavens will be pleased with View of an unpretentious shop. the variety of sandwich combinations, breads and Half BLT sandwich fresh, healthy ingredients offered. Highlighted is a with tomato soup. chicken ($5.95). Or one of the other salads (all $5.95) variety of bread selections: squaw, rye, wheat, soursuch as Postal -turkey, jack cheese, avocado and tomadough, plus pita wheat or white. Icebox steams the bread to ensure to, Cobb – turkey, bacon, avocado, jack cheese, Chef – egg, ham, softness and increase flavor. In addition to sandwiches, there are turkey, jack and cheddar cheese, tomato, or an Antipasto – ham, breakfast burritos ($4), egg sandwiches ($3.45), bagels – plain pastrami, tomato, provolone cheese, genoa and cotto salami, pep($1.25), with cream cheese, bacon and avocado ($2.95), and peroncinis, and black olives. Side salads ($2.75) include dinner, muffins or pastries ($1.75). pasta, macaroni and potato.

If you are craving a salad, try the Caesar ($5.70) add grilled Featured daily are two soups of the day available in sizes: cup

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($2.75), bowl ($3.60) and harness ($4.75). Depending on the day of the week, soup choices could be one of these: loaded baked potato, chicken tortilla, artichoke chicken Florentine, cheesy broccoli, Baja chicken enchilada, tomato, clam chowder or chili.

Icebox signature sandwiches are rated: Really Good Sandwiches, whole ($5.25/half $3.75), Better Sandwiches, whole $5.95/half $4.10), Best Sandwiches, whole ($6.70/half $4.25) and their Finest Sandwiches, whole ($7.20/ half $4.50). All come with sprouts and/or lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and their own Italian dressing. Orders can be customized to accommodate your preferences.

Because I like crunchy, I choose the half BLT with avocado (bacon, lettuce, avocado, mayo and tomato on toasted sourdough) and a cup of tomato soup. The generous half sandwich came stuffed with tasty fillings and was more than ample for me. Adding extra texture to the soup were large chunks of whole tomato floating in the broth. Now, here is where I say, “Have we got a deal for you!” This combo only cost $4.50 because I took advantage of their coupon that ran in last month’s Voice.

Really Good Sandwiches offerings are Turkey Terrific on squaw bread, “Charlie’s Pride” - Tuna on wheat bread with peanuts, Just Beef on sourdough, Egg Salad on squaw bread, Crab Salad on wheat bread and Four Cheese – provolone, Swiss, cheddar and jack on sourdough.

Finest Sandwiches list spotlights California Split with Turkeyturkey, bacon, avocado, melted jack on sourdough, Reuben – sauerkraut, pastrami, Swiss cheese, 1000 Island on grilled rye,

Dakota – beef, bacon, avocado, melted cheddar on sourdough, Hero – genoa and cotta salami, ham, provolone cheese on a French roll, and the BLT. Just for Kids menu ($4.50) pick from grilled cheese, turkey or cheese quesadilla. Besides coffee and tea ($1.25), other drink choices are “A cooler full of drinks” ($1-$2.50) and fountain sodas come in four sizes – sm. ($1.24) to extra lg. ($1.89).

Check out Icebox Deli when you want a quick lunch; its menu is filled with reasonably priced delicious entrees, and there is a helpful, friendly staff to greet you. ********

Health, Exercise and You

By Andy Truban

Exercise for Chronic Disability Conditions

For people with chronic health conditions, exercise might seem like a low priority, or something to avoid altogether. However, clinical trials have established the safety and effectiveness of exercise for people with chronic disabling conditions including: asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease, arthritis and Parkinson’s disease.

Ongoing research repeatedly shows regular exercise is not only safe for most people with chronic illnesses, but is an important

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treatment that can boost vigor, increase longevity, and reverse some symptoms of many conditions. In some cases, it can even reverse the course of the disease—for example by reducing coronary plaque.

Here are the researchers’ answers to some of the inquiries they received regarding how to get and stay active with a chronic illness.

How Do I Start Even without a chronic illness, it can be hard to get started on an exercise routine. “For example, many old adults cite muscle and joint pain as reasons for not exercising; but exercise doesn’t have to be uncomfortable or strenuous to provide significant benefits,” states Carol Ewing Garber, Ph.D., a professor of Movement Sciences at Columbia University. Garber explains, “the most important thing is to start with a small amount of exercise. Even a little can make a difference.”

If you are inactive, start at a comfortable level, even if it is only five minutes a day, and gradually buildup over time. Ultimately, you should aim for the equivalent of 30 minutes of moderately intense aerobic exercise five days a week, plus two 20-minute sessions of strength training with weights, exercise bands, or resistance machines. Do not worry if you can’t achieve those levels.

Garber says “what matters is that you try to do as much as you can without causing undue fatigue or discomfort.”

How Do I Avoid Injury Only a few conditions make exercise too risky: such as, spinal instability, a recent heart attack, extremely advanced heart failure, or detached retina. Otherwise, nearly everyone can safely begin training at moderate intensity.

Consult your doctor first and go over concerns specific to your disorder. For example, diabetics might need to adjust their medication and diet to keep their blood sugar from falling too low.

In addition, follow these tips: • Wear well-fitting athletic shoes with good traction to protect against slips.

• Before starting aerobics or strength training, always warm-up with five to ten minutes of walking or light calisthenics.

• Drink water during and after exercising. If you take diuretics, have kidney disease, heart failure or have been instructed to limit fluids, consult your doctor about the right amount.

• Stop if you feel dizzy or nauseated, break out in a cold sweat, or experience muscle cramps in your joints, feet or legs. Get medical attention right away if you have pain in your chest, jaw or neck, shortness of breath, dizziness or racing heart beat.

Remember, exercise can still be your friend, despite chronic health conditions.

Reference: Consumer Report on Health, Vol.24, Number 4, April 2012.

Running a Classified Ad in the Village Voice Classified ads are $9 for 30 words for residents; $12 for 30 words for non-residents.

Each additional line (approx. 10 words) is $3 each.

Write out your classified ad and make your check for the appropriate dollar amount to Journalism Club and send to: Richard Travis 4716 Agora Way, Oceanside, CA 92056 ALL CLASSIFIEDS ARE PRE-PAY ONLY.

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Mothers

By Tom Fuller

They come in all colors And they are all true-blue; If you are a mother Then someone loves you.

Mothers are caring — More understanding than dads; They comfort the little ones, Both lassies and lads.

They're up bright and early Tending everyone’s need; They shop, wash and clean And the family they feed.

Mothers have visions Of their children’s success; And when it all happens They truly feel blessed.

They’re not only visionary But practical as well; They teach the children life lessons Besides helping them spell.

Mothers are priceless And we owe them a lot; If there were no mothers We all would be not!

Shopping Around

By the Phantom Shopper

Pork Chops to Disappear This Summer

Yes, that’s true, you won’t Bye bye pork chop, hello be able to find pork chops in porterhouse. your market’s meat case.

Instead you will find a plethora of pork cuts with strange sounding names.

After 18 months of research, the National Pork Board and the Beef Checkoff Program collaborated and discovered that consumers were often confused with the names of pork cuts. Research showed home cooks do not know how to cook a variety of cuts.

According to the NPB, they will now have an easier time selecting and preparing pork with the basic usage and preparation information on the package. New pork names include: • Porterhouse Chop (Loin Chop with Bone –In) • Ribeye Chop, Bone-In (Rib Chop, Bone-In) • Ribeye Chop (Rib Chop, Boneless) • New York Chop (Top Loin Chop, Boneless) • Sirloin Chop (Sirloin Chop Boneless) • Boston Roast (Pork Butt) ********

Join the Journalism Club JOIN NOW! Dues are $15 per household.

Make checks payable to: Ocean Hills Journalism Club and mail to 4961 Lerkas Way, Oceanside, CA 92056

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Book Review

By Tom Lynch (Email lynch27@cox.net for long version) Grand Theories and Every Day Beliefs: science, philosophy, and their histories, 2011, by Wallace Matson, Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley.

Matson forthrightly states the leading idea of his book: “What if instead of propositions, we consider beliefs? And instead of verifiability, actual verification?” (p. 4). Further he decided to have two bins regarding beliefs: “...the first, those describing beliefs that we have at least some reason to think correspond to the way things really are; the second, all the rest.” Bin number one he labels “low beliefs”; bin number 2, “high beliefs.” As examples, low beliefs certainly include all mathematical sentences proven in their rigorous ways, vertical angles are equal, equal added to equals remain equals, and the like. If you trust someone, you can easily believe the person will not take advantage of you, and usually these beliefs hold up or are quickly corrected with future experience. High beliefs form when imagination enabled by language developed.

Zeus was behind lightning strikes; comets, which were rare, foretold disasters; earthquakes were God’s displeasure – these beliefs could persist before someone came up with a more credible explanation that could be empirically evaluated.

Matson takes an evolutionary approach and would accord that all gregarious mammals, at least, have beliefs, beliefs that enable them to survive and reproduce and therefore are not only right but

almost wholly true beliefs. Part One of Matson’s book is devoted to a history of coping: the evolution of life forms in the face of environmental changes. Those with beliefs, say mammals, have beliefs that are mostly true, seeing they were forged in reality. With our species, however, language developed, making believing vastly different beliefs could be passed on without being personally developed. We lived in small groups, and the beliefs the group believe in could persist through testimony even in the face of the lack of experience. Matson speculates these beliefs the group found edifying and strengthening group cohesion even if the beliefs were false empirically. These beliefs were right in that they increased the coping power of the group.

Matson uses the bulk of his book tracing the rise of philosophy in the West from the time of Miletus in Ionia in the sixth century BC. Throughout, Matson’s point of view holds, namely that basic morality evolved in some life forms way before we acquired language, and remains a foundation available even if high beliefs crumble. And he concludes the intellectual quality of high beliefs is rapidly being undermined by scientific findings. We face a crisis in high beliefs continuing to be edifying.

Matson was also aware some of those who agree with him about the nature of important high beliefs think we need the high beliefs to base our morality upon. Modern biology and social sciences may arrive at a different assessment, but if so, will this understanding of ourselves be viable as a foundation for moral development for most humans? His opinion: maybe.

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barbeque). Cook on second side 4 to 5 minutes until meat is not pink in the center.

While beef is cooking, heat Kaiser rolls (together but cut) on a cookie sheet in a pre-heated 300° oven about 4 to 6 minutes.

Remove, open buns and place about 1/2tablespoon butter over the top of the bottom half of the bun. Place cooked beef patty on bottom half and spoon 1/4th of the Mushroom Sauce on top of the beef patty. Cover with top of the bun. Repeat with the others and serve at once. ********

Mushroom sauce on a hamburger is a new treatment.

Cooking With Beverly

By Beverly Nickerson We often went to Derf’s Café located in Santa Barbara, sat on their outdoor deck and enjoyed their special hamburgers. My favorite was the MushroomSour Cream Burger. After we moved, I re-created this favorite which we still enjoy.

Derf’s Hamburger with Mushroom Sauce 1 lb. ground beef 2 tablespoons butter Salt and Pepper 1/3 cup chopped onion 4 plain Kaiser rolls, cut in half.

10 medium-small fresh mushrooms, 2 tablespoons soft butter sliced (about 1/3 lb.)

1/2 cup sour cream, near room temperature.

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Special Equipment: 9- and 11-inch skillets, spray with “Pam.” Temperature: 300º Servings: Four.

Prepare Mushroom Sauce: Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a 9 inch skillet, add onion and sauté over low heat about 10 minutes until soft stirring often. Add mushrooms, turn heat to medium-high, stir and cook 2 minutes.

Add sour cream, stir to combine and turn off heat before it comes to a simmer. Salt and pepper to taste.

Form ground beef into four patties and place in the hot large skillet, salt and pepper beef. Cook over medium-high heat about 5 minutes. Never press meat down with a spatula, this forces juice out from the beef. When medium brown on under side, turn meat over. Only turn meat ONCE (whether cooking in a skillet or on a

Real estate appraisals are needed to determine market values.

The Real Estate Corner

By Tom Brennan

Appraisal and Valuation

Property valuation is often viewed as the heart and soul of all real estate activity.

Perhaps the question most frequently asked of a real estate agent is “what do you think the property is worth?” This inquiry may be made in connection with proposed sales, purchases, refinancings, estate and divorce settlements, taxes or collateralizations of mortgage loans.

A real estate appraisal helps establish a property’s market value which is normally the sales price it would bring if offered in a “competitive and open market between a willing buyer and a willing seller after proper marketing and where the parties had each acted knowledgeably, prudently and without compulsion.” It should be noted that a comparative market analysis (“CMA”) is not an appraisal. CMA’s are often prepared by real estate brokers to help sellers determine a realistic asking price for the property but are not nearly as detailed as an appraiser’s report and, consequently, are not considered by lenders in connection with a potential loan.

The most common appraisal method used for mature residential properties, such as in Ocean Hills, is the sales comparison

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approach. In this method, the appraiser estimates the subject property’s market value by comparing it to similar properties that have recently sold in the same geographic area (“comps”). Since real property is unique, the appraiser must compare the comps to the appraised property and make adjustments to the comps in order to balance their differing features with that of the subject property.

The net result should show what price the comparable property would have garnered in the marketplace if it had the same components as the appraised property.

Perhaps the greatest fear that the seller and buyer have is that a lender’s appraisal will be lower than the agreed upon sales price between the parties. The lower appraisal could be the result of any of a number of factors, including an abundance of inventory, overpricing by the seller (a frequent problem), fallout from excessive

short sales and foreclosures in the immediate area, incorrect evaluation by the underwriter or an inexperienced appraiser (not familiar with the area or, where appropriate, does not include pending sales data, etc.). In the event of a low appraisal, the parties have several options, such as reducing the purchase price, the buyer increasing the down payment (the lender’s main concern with an appraisal is the loan-to-value ratio and, therefore, the more cash paid by the buyer at the closing the better the ratio), the seller can offer to carry a second mortgage for the differential or, if appropriate, the parties can order a second appraisal.

Consequently, to avoid any unfortunate surprises, it may be

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prudent for a potential seller to obtain an appraisal report from a licensed appraiser prior to marketing the property. Such an engagement would provide a solid foundation for pricing the property and minimize the chances of a subsequent low appraisal with its negative consequences (it also could provide a basis for rebutting a lower appraisal). The cost of an appraisal is usually between $350 to $500 depending on the size and location of the property.

Tom has been involved in all aspects of real estate for more than 40 years, both as a lawyer and as a realtor. Currently, he is associated with Ocean Hills Realty. ********

The Financial Page

By Bob Barnes

Fractional Life Settlements and Investments

Over the past months we’ve looked at ways to diversify investment risk by using momentum modeling, rotational modeling, portfolio balancing of bonds and equities, investing in currency ETFs and, most recently, commodity ETFs. This month’s approach to risk management looks at an investment utterly non-correlated with the financial markets. Previously

marketed under the term viaticals, life settlements are an interesting insurance based product that offer attractive rates of return if you’re willing to lock up your investments funds for a minimum of five years. A life settlement is defined as the purchase of an existing life insurance policy by a third party. The underlying insured individual is typically an elderly individual who no longer wants or needs the policy and who is not terminally ill.

What makes such an investment attractive? Most importantly, the face value of these policies is not affected by the ups and downs of the stock market, completely avoids the daily volatility of the stock and bond markets, is not related to currency fluctuations, is not affected by commodity prices, and offers a known payout in the future. These policies are backed by the full faith and credit of the most financially secure life insurance companies — companies that are members of the US Legal Reserve System.

Since the inception of the US Legal Reserve System in 1845, no member company has failed to pay a death claim due to the company’s financial inability to pay the claim.* What’s the background on these policies? The secondary market for life insurance policies exists because life insurance companies historically have offered policy holders low cash surrender values when the owners want to divest their policies. Life settlement companies have taken advantage of this disparity and offer policy owners higher purchase prices for their policies. A 2010 study by the federal government reported that owners receive up to eight times the cash surrender values offered by insurance carriers

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when they sell their policies rather than let them lapse or surrender them to the issuing insurance companies for their cash values. As insureds increasingly choose to sell their policies into the life settlements market the reservoir of policies available to investors has increased substantially within the past few years.

In turn, the lure of a fixed return independent of the financial markets has prompted acceptance of the life settlement asset class by investment banks and institutional investors and has caused the demand for life settlements by individual investors to skyrocket, although in the past access to this asset class was limited to very high net worth individuals who could afford to acquire these policies.

Several innovative companies have harnessed the strength of the US Legal Reserve life insurance companies to create one of the most unique new asset classes by fractionalizing these life insurance policies into attractive life settlement portfolios, and these companies now provide an avenue for the individual investor to participate in this financial product and to achieve diversification previously reserved for institutional and well heeled investors.

What’s even more exciting are life settlement based ETFs and mutual funds now in the development pipeline that will enable retail investors to precisely control investment funds on a daily basis and will not require a commitment of five years to receive settlement. *(http://aging.senate.gov/letters/gaolifesettlements.pdf, page 112.) ********

“I Love A Mystery”

By Ira M. Landis Another new Scandinavian mystery writer has captured my attention. The Andalucian Friend, Alexander Soderberg’s first novel, is an off-beat thriller about rival gangs fighting over an international drug-smuggling route. The action occurs mostly in Sweden, but the turf war pits Spanish mobster against a German gang with a backup crew of Russian muscle. Gunilla Strandberg and her police task force are just as ruthless as the mobsters.

However, the overall violence is not too extreme.

It’s the world of the mind that seems to hold Soderberg’s special interest He writes with special feeling about the crushing psychological stress that both cops and criminals are going through.

The sole face of sanity in this neurotic crowd is a nurse named Sophie Brinkmann who is driving all the guys crazy, from the mob boss who takes her to a poetry reading, to the the unhinged detective who becomes her stalker. Sophie is a nurse, a widow, a single mother, who is leading an uneventful life until she meets Hector Guzman, the head of an international crime (drugs and weapons) ring that extends from Europe to South America. She quickly learns that his smooth façade masks something much more sinister.

Soderberg has announced that this is the first in an anticipated trilogy. Can a movie be on the horizon?

I have been a long-time reader of Alex Berenson’s novels and find his central character the epitomy of super-CIA rogue

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agents/spies. The Night Ranger is his seventh thriller featuring John Wells. The opening scenes could be straight from the evening news. Four young Americans, working at a giant refugee camp for Somalis in Kenya, decide to head off for a short holiday. They never arrive. Kidnapped by bandits, they are taken to Somalia.

Their best hope for rescue is John Wells, the only American to infiltrate the high ranks of Al Queda. He is a practicing Muslim which helps him infiltrate various African enclaves.

Although no longer with his former agency, he maintains contacts that provide invaluable assistance with his rescue efforts in the form of information from U.S. satellites in the sky and weapons assistance from drones. However, there is much doubledealing—it is difficult to find anyone who can be trusted among the captors or the captives. Berenson provides excellent background information about recent historical events in Kenya and Somalia. He is quite informed about terrorists operations and the local security infrastructure. The Night Ranger is both a thriller and informative. ********

Oceanside Museum of Art, a place for inspiration and fascination.

Outside Our Gates

By Marileen Johnson, Community Reporter

Oceanside Museum of Art

In 1995, a group of loyal volunteers initiated a blueprint for a Museum of Art (OMA) in our city. Today, it is a growing organization contributing to our vibrant cultural life and economic development in Oceanside and the region.

The OMA is here to “help North San Diego County be more creative and a better place to live.” Through its exhibits, collections and educational programs, OMA fosters and promotes study, appreciation and understanding of art. There are drawings, paintings, sculptures, architectural structures and other objects that project poignant messages and personal reflections of all kinds. The enthusiastic curator and staff along with volunteers make a visit to the museum a highlight at any season of the year.

Opened in 1997, OMA occupies the former Oceanside City Hall. The Central Pavilion was opened in 2008, having four rotating galleries with more than 4,500 square feet for collections, an auditorium and an outdoor terrace. In addition to the local and regional art, there are special travelling exhibits.

Programs this summer have something for everyone to enjoy.

Art After Dark is a “Mash-up” of everything artistic and entertain-

ing with great food, music and fun. The 333 Pacific Restaurant is partnering with the museum to present free lively jazz concerts with appetizers, desserts and fine wines.

Imagine, about 40 programs a year from which to choose, highlighted by 4 to 5 major exhibitions and 8 to 10 small rotating exhibits annually. Visitors may even meet one of the diverse and talented artists, living and working right here in the region. So, get ready to be inspired and fascinated by the Oceanside Museum of Art. ********

Driving Tips For Seniors

Fog can be thought of as a cloud at ground level. It forms when the temperature drops to the dew point (the temperature at which air is saturated), and invisible water vapor in the air condenses to form suspended water droplets. Fog can reduce visibility to 1/4 mile or less, creating hazardous driving conditions. If you can't postpone your trip until dense fog lifts -- usually by late morning or the afternoon -- follow these tips: • Drive with lights on low beam. High beams will only be reflected back off the fog and actually impair visibility even more.

• Reduce your speed -- and watch your speedometer. Fog creates a visual illusion of slow motion when you may actually be speeding.

• Listen for traffic you cannot see. Open your window a little, to hear better.

• Use wipers and defrosters as necessary for maximum visibility.

• Use the right edge of the road or painted road markings as a guide.

• Be patient. Do not pass lines of traffic.

• Do not stop on a freeway or heavily traveled road. If your car stalls or becomes disabled, turn your vehicle's lights off, and take your foot off of the brake pedal. People tend to follow tail lights when driving in fog. Move away from the vehicle to avoid injury.

(Sources: National Weather Service, Wisconsin Department of Transportation.)

********

How To Guard Against Scams

By Ira M. Landis With many going on vacations, here are some tips on avoiding scams at home or on your trip while you are away that are recommended by AARP. The goal is to avoid theft of your money and identity.

1. Be sure to stop mail delivery. An overstuffed mailbox is a clue you’re not home, and identity thieves could steal your bank and credit card statements.

2. Tell your credit card companies when and where you’re going. This helps them to better spot fraudulent charges and reduces the chances of your cards being frozen because of what the companies perceive as unusual activity.

3. Choose your ATMs wisely. ATMs in bank lobbies or other places of camera surveillance are much less likely to have devices placed by scammers that are designed to capture your card infor-

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mation.

4. Eliminate nonessential items from your wallet. For example, you don’t need to carry your Social Security card on vacations. If you are going to a place with a high crime rate, carry a second wallet with just a few dollars and some useless plastic cards. Hand that one over if mugged.

5. Be skeptical of calls at hotels asking for financial information. A late night call, supposedly from a hotel employee seeking to confirm your credit card information,may be a scam. Hang up and call the front desk to confirm. ****

The Federal Trade Commission has mailed refund checks to more than 500 people who were victimized by a common scam in which people are told they have won cash prizes but must pay the taxes upfront. In this case, the FTC collected the refund money from the operators of the Prize Information Bureau which contacted people through mailings that included fictitious government agency names. More than $180,000 was refunded to victims of the scam. The FTC said no legitimate sweepstakes will ask for money upfront.

I have been advised by OHCC residents that they have been contacted by similar fraudsters who forward a legitimate-looking check for amounts over $6,000 with the request that they send a check for an amount to cover various fees. By the time their check bounces your check has cleared.

calls, including one where I crossed the street while talking to a New York radio reporter—probably one of the more dangerous things I have ever done in my life.”

It took Motorola another decade before it could commercialize cell phones in the form of the DynaTAC, which was to be the first mobile phone ever sold to the public. From then on, the mobile industry would grow by leaps and bounds to the point where there are now more mobile phones active around the world than there are humans alive to use them.

Motorola’s early lead in the mobile race soon grew into an enormous patent portfolio, which proved too good for Google to pass up when it acquired the handset maker in 2011. With more than 25,000 patents and patents pending, it’s safe to say the Motorola has continued developing mobile technology with as much focus as (if not more than) any other company on the planet. It’s also been an industry leader. Before the rise of smartphones, Motorola’s RAZR line of flip phones sold more than 130 million units, making it the best-selling example of the design in Mobile history.

potpourri Happy Birthday, Cell Phone

By Jim Kaminsky April marks a very significant birthday: the 40th birthday of the cell phone. The world’s first cell phone call was made on April 3, 1973. On that day, 44 year-old Motorola executive Martin Cooper stepped out onto the streets of New York City with a bulky, brick-like cellular-phone prototype.

His first call went through to AT&T’s Bell Labs, where he got in a bit of gloating to rival researcher Joe Engel for having won the mobile-phone race. After this oneupmanship was over, Cooper decided to keep going. He recalled that morning in an interview 38 years later with London’s The first cell Daily Mail: phone celebrates “As I walked down the street while talk- its 40th birthday. ing on the phone, sophisticated New Yorkers gaped at the sight of someone actually moving around while making a phone call. Remember that in 1973, there weren’t cordless telephones, let alone cellular phones. I made numerous

Len Rosen and the bronze “Dancing Spirit.”

Now You Know: The Story Behind the Bronze Sculpture

As a dentist in St. Louis, MO, Len Rosen has seen plenty of mouths, first as a general dentist, then a pediatric dentist, and finally as an orthodontist. He retired in 1987 and he and his wife Shirley came to OHCC to enjoy their years of leisure.

Len was an artist at heart. One day he saw a

Figure of a ballet dancer with arched back gave Len inspiration.

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The Village Voice — May 2013

photograph of a famous Russian ballet dancer, her body arched backwards with her arms extended. He sculpted a small image of her, then decided to make a small bronze abstraction. He called it “Dancing Spirit.” It was inspiring and Len decided to create a six foot replica. With the help of the staff at Palomar College and a close friend who had experience in welding, Len created a full-size model that was then cut into 10 sections and molded and bronzed using the lost wax method. The sections were then welded together, smoothed and polished to a fine patina.

When it was completed after three years of work, he offered it to the Village. It was gladly accepted and the sculpture was installed onto a base where it now stands.

On many mornings, you can see the Clubhouse staff carefully polishing the piece. “Dancing Spirit” has graced the campus for nearly 25 years. We offer our gratitude to Len and honor him for his contribution to the beauty of our community. ********

ANNOUNCEMENTS Village Veterans Meeting

The Kennel Club will join us in presenting the May program of “Freedom Dogs” for Wounded Warriors. Freedom Dogs is devoted to helping wounded military members returning from armed conflict.

In May 2009, Freedom Dogs completed a pilot program at Camp Pendleton with several Marines of the Wounded Warrior Battalion - West. This pilot paired Specialty Service Dogs and their trainers with selected Marines as an adjunct to their rehabilitation.

The success of this pilot now has the non-profit organization growing at a rapid rate.

There will be a service dog with its trainer at the meeting. The program will start at 3 p.m. Thursday, May 23, 2013 at Abravanel Hall. All are invited to attend. Refreshments will be served. ********

Choral Society’s Spring Concert

Sunday, May 19th at 2 pm in Abravanel Hall is the Choral Society’s Spring Concert. The theme of the concert is a “USO Show.” There will be lots of surprises and the Chorale has really been working hard practicing but also having fun! We even laugh at ourselves and we know you will have a few laughs as well! We think you will like the way we look and the way we sound! Where else can you go to be entertained for 90+ minutes, never pay a cent, enjoy some light refreshments and you never have to leave the village? Yes, as always, our concerts are free and although Bob Hope will not be here, we have the next best person! Boogie on down to the Clubhouse; don’t sit under the apple tree, and we’ll meet again.

See you on Sunday! ********

Buena Vista High School Presents Annual POPs Concert

The Rancho Buena Vista High School will present their annual POPs Concert on Friday, May 24 and Saturday, May 25. It will be held in their gym. The event will cover two days: • Friday, May 24: Gala Dinner Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Concert at 7. Tickets $25 per person. Bleacher seating $10 at 6:45.

• Saturday, May 25: Children’s Matinee 2 p.m. Tickets: $10 table seating (with juice and cookies). Bleacher seating $5.

• Saturday, May 25: Evening performance. Doors open 6:30 p.m., Concert at 7. Table seating with dessert and coffee $15.

Bleacher seating $10.

For reservations, call Ruth Leader at 760-945-7631. ********

Looking For a Few Good Cars...

Convertibles, actually, to take part in the Oceanside Freedom Parade that takes place on June 29. If you have a vintage or classic convertible, are willing to have it decorated for the parade, and are then willing to drive it in the parade as part of the Ocean Hills Country Club entry, please contact Jim Kaminsky at 760-2958792. Many may apply, but only a few will be chosen! ********

Causes of Hearing Loss

Loud Noise Can Cause Hearing Loss One of the most common causes of hearing loss is loud noise.

Loud noise can permanently damage the inner ear. Loud noise also contributes to tinnitus, which is a ringing, roaring, clicking, hissing, or buzzing sound in the ears.

Approximately 15 percent (26 million) of Americans between the ages of 20 and 69 have high frequency hearing loss due to exposure to loud sounds or noise at work or in leisure activities.

Avoiding Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Lower the volume on personal stereo systems and televisions.

When you are involved in a loud activity, wear earplugs or other hearing protective devices. Be sure to protect children’s ears too.

Other Ways to Prevent Hearing Loss • If earwax blockage is a problem for you, ask your doctor about treatments you can use at home such as mineral oil, baby oil, glycerin, or commercial ear drops to soften earwax.

• If you suspect that you may have a hole in your eardrum, you should consult a doctor before using such products. A hole in the eardrum can result in hearing loss and fluid discharge.

• The ear infection otitis media is most common in children, but adults can get it, too. You can help prevent upper respiratory infections — and a resulting ear infection — by washing your hands frequently.

• If you take medications, ask your doctor if your medication is ototoxic, or potentially damaging to the ear. Ask if other medications can be used instead. If not, ask if the dosage can be safely reduced. Sometimes it cannot. However, your doctor should help you get the medication you need while trying to reduce unwanted side effects.

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The Village Voice — May 2013

Ocean Hills Country Club Garden Tour 2013 The biennial garden tour, sponsored by the Garden Club, was held in May. Despite the threat of rain, the tour was conducted without a hitch as the clouds parted for the long-awaited event.

All the gardens demonstrated the clever use of potted flowers, the dramatic use of color and of course, the display of drought-resistant plants.

While we live in a semi-tropical climate, most of the gardens seen required constant care and maintenance in order to create an environment suitable to the owner’s need.

This year’s tour was highlighted by the use of potted plants. Some had been hung from the patio roof tops, others had been placed in a floral arrangement. Many had utilized outdoor garden figures and animals to create a novel approach.

We saw fences adorned with metal or ceramic figures.

Sego palms continue to be a favorite among our homeowners. These palms require low maintenance and their large size often points to a focal point. Again, rocks and pebbles were used generously. Such ground cover not only provided a delightful pattern but it also conserved water in an era when the scarcity of water has become a foremost issue.

A few of the gardens are pictured.

All gardens, however, were very interesting and featured varied aspects of gardening in OHCC.

Burgess. n. Margaret e rd a g e th r in A riot of colo

Above: Low mai nt nance yard. Bar ebara Afonso and Joe Bradshaw. e garden Left: Cottag ls. ra with wall mu . ss a W Linda

A shady an d peaceful

garden. Na ncy and C raig Powe rs.

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The Village Voice — May 2013

classifieds DENNIS "THE COMPUTER DOCTOR" Computer Repair at your home. Servicing Ocean Hills for over 10 years. Hundreds of happy customers. 760-598-6222.

COMPUTER PROBLEMS? NEED HELP? LESSONS? Audio/Video/TV/DVD. Call Tim O'Bryan: 760-305-8095 or my cell 619-955-3646. Resident of OHCC. EXPERIENCED HOME CARE PROVIDER Includes personal care, driving, cooking, light housework.

Village refs. Flex. hours. Ann, 760-431-9338

FIRST CLASS PROFESSIONAL AUTO DETAILING RAPHAEL 760 453-3057 Mobile Service 7 Days A Week.

Say you saw it in The Village Voice!

Remembrances David Cullen

Florence Pinto 97, a long time resident who moved to another facility, passed away in March 2012.

Helen Kent, a former long time resident of Ocean Hills, passed away on April 19th in Granada Hills, California.

SOURCE: Ocean Hills Community Patrol (To acknowledge the passing of the deceased, a family member or close neighbor is requested to report the name of the deceased to the Community Patrol.)

To all my friends and our community Thank you for great conversation for your companionship for embracing and caring for your understanding for your respect for amazing memories for always being there for sharing the joy of our lives And most of all Thank you for being you I will miss you Until we see each other again Live, Laugh, Love Gloria Griffiths May 2013

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The Village Voice — December 2012

A Hidden Landscape Gem

By Russ Butcher Anyone with an interest in landscaping is urged to take the halfhour drive northward from Ocean Hills to Fallbrook and visit the astoundingly beautiful Grand Tradition Estate & Gardens – truly a hidden landscape gem.

For years, this property was open only for weddings and other special events. But late last year, the owners decided to invite the public to tour their 15 acres of gardens. A network of paved pathways leads around the shore of a lake and winds throughout the landscape of breathtakingly colorful flower beds and lush plantings of shrubs, palms and trees.

A major highlight of the gardens is the sight and sound of a recycling stream bordered by boulders, as it plunges through several creative groupings of exquisite waterfalls. Everywhere you look, there is inspiring beauty! Leisurely walks through all of the gardens take roughly an hour. Garden passes, which cost seniors only $5 per person, are obtained at the concierge desk in the Beverly Mansion.

When I exclaimed over the magnificent landscaping, Don B. McDougal, president and CEO of Grand Tradition, explained that he and his family had been so inspired by the beauty of the fabulous Butchart Gardens near Victoria, British Columbia, that they decided to create something similar on their own property. And so they have! But that’s not all.

After exploring the gardens, visitors may then enjoy a delicious

luncheon on the broad veranda of the Victorian-style Beverly Mansion, overlooking the lake with its grand fountain and picturesque gazebo.

Luncheon is served Above: Veranda Restaurant of Beverly at the Veranda Mansion. Left: Flower-bordered waterRestaurant from 11 falls. a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays through Fridays. The menu selections include half a dozen appetizers, two soups, five salads, nine types of sandwiches, and half a dozen desserts. On weekends, brunch is served from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Reservations are advised. For information or to make reservations: 760-728-6466.

The most direct route from Ocean Hills is northward by way of E. Vista Way, right onto State Route 76 to Bonsall, and left onto S. Mission Road (State Route 13), and continuing northward about 5 miles. Look for the Econo Lodge on your right. The driveway to Grand Tradition is on your right — immediately beyond the motel.

If you love beautiful landscaping and would like to experience a delightful and delicious day’s outing, head for the Grand Tradition. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

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The Village Voice — May 2013