ADAMS AVENUE NEWS - NORMAL HEIGHTS EDITION

ADAMS AVENUE NEWS NORMAL

HEIGHTS

EDITION Vol. 25 No. 6 June 2016

MidCityNewspaperGroup.com

WHAT’S INSIDE?

VINYL IS KING

Community Mourns the Loss of the Mariposa “Ice Cream Man” Normal Heights has lost a legend.

Dick Van Ransom-Magana, better known as the “Ice Cream Man,” was an Adams Avenue icon and his famous Mariposa Homemade Ice Cream was legendary. PG. 4

Nickelodeon Record’s vinyl record collection includes everything from quirky to the very rare

Nickelodeon, a 30-year old Adams Avenue landmark, houses thousands of collectible vinyl’s spanning typical and atypical musical genres. While large sections of the long and narrow album container are filled with rock ‘n roll, folk, jazz and musical soundtracks, it’s the peculiar that will attract the vinyl junkie. Read Lucia Viti’s story on PAGE 10

Reality Changers Helping kids get the most out of school Christopher Yanov is a gang leader in City Heights. But Yanov’s gang is different than most. Instead of drugs and crime, this one deals in education and achievement with intense focus on college admission.

PG. 19

Art, Music, Craft Beer and More The all-day Festival of Arts in North Park on May 21 attracted thousands.

“We’ve created a unique experience that is beyond any typical arts festival,” said Angela Landsberg, executive director of North Park Main Street, which produces the festival. Photographer Jim Childers captures the sights. PG. 17-18

CONTACT US EDITORIAL/LETTERS Betsy Scarborough (left) and Ruth Bible share many strange but true stories about some of the customers who visit their Adams Avenue store. (Photo by Jim Childers)

The Nickelodeon Records store is a 30-year-old Adams Avenue landmark.

Manny Cruz manny@sandiegometro.com ADVERTISING

Brad Weber ReachLocals@MidCityNewspaperGroup.com

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| JUNE 2016 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP

MOVIES

WINNIE’S

PICKS! THE CHOICE - By Nicholas Sparks - Benjamin

Walker, Theresa Palmer. Ladies, a good romantic JOHN WICK - Keanu Reeves. A really wild and movie for us. A real love story with a few tears shed bloody film. A real shoot ‘em up. When senseless, and a feel good movie. Just the kind we ladies love. young thugs attack John Wick, they have no idea that they have awakened the boogeyman. It takes HYENA ROAD - Inspired by true events, this epic place in New York and Wick embarks on a merciless takes place in the heart of Taliban territory in rampage to get even.

Afghanistan. A powerful look at modern warfare.

THERESE - It is the true-life story of legendary MISCONDUCT- Josh Duhamel, Al Pacino and track star, Steve Prefontaine. This movie will keep Anthony Hopkins. An ambitious lawyer finds him- you on the edge of your seat and very involved. A self in a power struggle between the pharmaceutical WINNER! magnate and the senior partner of the company. It is a case of him knowing too much. The big owners SISTERS OF WAR – A French movie with are trying to get rid of him. It’s all about money. English subtitles. A woman’s fight for love against This has a very good cast. the social norms of French provincial life. The woman marries a very rich man, but soon finds EAST-SIDE SUSHEA - A dad, a young mother out she comes in second in the couple’s life and and a little girl that are all very close. This movie is their family. Therese seeks love like we all wish to about family values and never giving up on your have in our lives. A very beautiful film and surdreams. This is a lot of fun to watch, so don’t miss roundings. it.

SEE YOU NEXT MONTH -- Winnie

Kensington-Normal Hts. Branch Library June 2016 Events Baby-Toddler SIGN Story Time

Jun 13th & 27th (ever 2nd & 4th Monday) 12:30 – 1 p.m. Expert baby sign language instructor, Joann Woolley, will delight little ones with signing story time. You'll learn signs through favorite stories and rediscover nursery rhymes through signing. Music always sparks a baby’s interest, just imagine what signing songs will do! Curious to see what the buzz is about? Here's your chance to find out! Held in the park adjacent to the library - bring a blanket and have fun! Held in the park adjacent to the library – bring a blanket!

Baby-Toddler YOGA Story Time

Sign-up online at sandiegolibrary.org or at your local library Hullabaloo – Baby-Toddler Woodstock

June 15th 10:30 – 11:15 a.m. Hullabaloo - fun music event for babies/toddlers. Do your little ones like to wiggle and shake and laugh and sing? Then this is for you!!! Held outside in the park adjacent to the library - bring a blanket or towel if you’d like. (Appropriate for babies-4 yrs.)

Book Discussion Group

June 18th (every 3rd Saturday) 10-11 a.m.

Gain insight into books by group discussions of plot, characters and theme. Kathi Diamant will facilitate the discussion. You can come to one or all of the discussions and new people are encouraged to join in. We’ll be discussing The Bookman’s Tale by Charlie Lovett. Copies of the book are available to pick up while supplies last.

June 9th, 18th & 23rd (every 2nd & 4th Thursday; every 3rd Saturday) 10:30 – 11:10 Yoga Story Time is filled with stories, practice of animal-yoga poses, songs, relaxation, and breathing techniques. It promotes literacy, self-awareness, social relations, creative representation, and communication for toddlers. A wonderful environment is created for toddler and parent/caregiver bonding and fun! USA JUMP STARS – SUMMER READHeld in the park adjacent to the library - bring a ING EVENT! June 21st 6 p.m. USA Jump Stars promotes jump blanket, towel, or yoga mat. rope as a means for creating a healthy body and San Diego Book Arts mind. Our focus is fighting childhood obesity and June 14th & June 21st (every 2nd (ages 7 & up) heart disease while developing personal values, and 3rd Tuesday (Adults only) Ages 7 & up: San team spirit and sportsmanship through competiDiego Book Arts: In this monthly class you will cre- tion and live performance... and, of course, fun! ate a variety of simple handmade books. The USA Jump Stars will perform an amazing variety designs are simple yet engaging. You will learn a of jump rope techniques! Held in the park adjacent few different spine methods. All supplies are pro- to the library – bring a blanket! vided. You just need to bring your creativity! Adults Class: In this monthly class you will create a variety LIVING COAST DISCOVERY - SUMMER of handmade books. The designs range in com- READING EVENT! plexity from simple to moderately complex. You June 28th 6 p.m. Living Coast Discovery brings will learn a variety of spine methods. All supplies native animals and habitats up close and personal. are provided. You just need to bring your creativity! At the hands-on discovery tables you will have upClass is limited to 10 – to register call 619-533-3974 close animal encounters and learn how about or come in. ADULTS only class Registration is amazing adaptations that help animals survive.

Lots of movement too, as you learn how to crawl required for both classes 619-533-3974 like a tortoise, slither like a snake and fly like a SUMMER READING PROGRAM “READ bird!!

FOR THE WIN” STARTS TODAY!

MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | JUNE 2016 |

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NEWS

| JUNE 2016 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP

Community Mourns Loss of ‘The Ice Cream Man’

BY MISHA DIBONO | FOX 5

Dick Van Ransom-Magana was larger-than-life Normal Heights has lost a legend.

Dick Van Ransom-Magana, better known as the “Ice Cream Man,” was an Adams Avenue icon and his famous Mariposa Homemade Ice Cream was legendary.

The Ice Cream Man passed away June 3, according to the ice cream shop’s Facebook post. The loss was still too raw to express by his nephew, Tim Rose, who worked at the Mariposa Parlor since he was a teenager.

“It’s hard. Everybody loved him so much.

He was just this larger-than-life personality,” said Rose, holding back the tears. “My uncle grew up on a dairy farm in upstate New York, so he's making ice cream his whole life.”

At 74, Van Ransom-Magana didn’t discover his life’s passion for making ice cream until he was in his 50s — starting out by selling at local street fairs which is how he discovered Adams Avenue.

“He’s just a great guy,” said longtime associate Scott Kessler. “One of those guys that everybody loved.”

Kessler is the executive director of the Adams Avenue business association where Van Ransom-Magana was very active, the two met when “The Ice Cream Man” was still a vendor at the Adams Avenue Street Fair.

“Dick did not have a mean bone in his body,” Kessler said. “If he appeared to come off gruff it was just his grizzly bear size!”

As news of his passing spread through the community. Hundreds took to social media to post their condolences and share memories.

Hundreds more showed up at the parlor leaving flowers and signing a giant card for his wife Anna, his partner in making people smile for more than 25 years.

“He loved making the best ice cream he could make,” Rose said. “And he love sharing it with people.”

It was not just the locals who came back for the “self-described” best ice cream in the world; the walls of The Mariposa are covered with celebrity endorsements.

For no reason other than Anna’s love for The Beatles, the walls are covered with memorabilia given to the family over the years by their customers.

“He just loved what he did,” said his nephew.

“He loved being here, he loved serving ice cream and seeing all the happy faces that came in to get ice cream.”

Funeral services and memorial are planned for later in the month.

Dick Van Ransom-Magana

Hillcrest Wind Ensemble Celebrates ‘Blast from the Past’ Concert gives tribute to three decades of pop music

Hillcrest Wind Ensemble

The Hillcrest Wind Ensemble takes a “Blast to the Past,” celebrating pop music from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s on Friday, June 24, at the Mississippi Room in the historic Lafayette Hotel, 2223 El Cajon Bld. There will be a complementary fruit

and cheese table at 7:30 p.m. and concert at 8 p.m. A no host bar will also be available as well as a 50/50 raffle.

The band welcomes special guests,Kevin Cavanaugh and Blue Velvet, a dynamic retro act which has performed in numerous night clubs in

San Diego.

These three decades had some of the best pop music ever produced.

The ensemble will perform a symphonic tribute to the Beatles as well as music ranging from Queen to The Carpenters. A highlight of the night

will be a special tribute to the late Prince. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at The Windsmith, 3875 Granada Ave. in North Park, at sdartstix.com, or at the door.

The 45-piece Hillcrest Wind Ensemble is in its 30th year of per-

forming and is a program of the LGBT Center acting as a musical ambassador to the community as a whole. For information, (619) 6922077, Ext. 814. www.hillcrestwindensemble.com

MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | JUNE 2016 |

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| JUNE 2016 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP

Financial Tips for Women

Making smart money decisions

In recent decades, women have made incredible strides, both professionally and personally.

According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, more women are attending college and taking on greater responsibilities and leadership roles in the workplace.

A 2013 Pew Research study said women are the leading or solo breadwinners in 40 percent of households.

With increasing numbers of women taking the reins on the family finances, it is important that women stay aware of changing needs so we are able to make smart financial choices.

Single

Single women should develop smart financial habits as soon as they begin working and supporting themselves. Start by establishing an emergency fund that will provide protection in case of a job loss, a costly medical issue, or other unforeseen circumstance. Learn how to create a budget and live within your means. Establish a record-keeping system and get in the habit of paying bills on time. Pay off credit cards and student loans as quickly as possible and avoid getting further into debt. Open a savings account and make regular deposits. Learn about investing to grow your savings, and if your employer offers a 401k or other retirement plan, be sure to take full advantage of this and other benefits.

Marriage Couples should have a serious discussion about finances before marriage. Talk about your financial goals and habits to get a sense of how compatible you are in this area. Consider getting financial counseling.

With about 40 percent of all marriages end-

Robbin Narike Preciado is a regional president for Union Bank for Southern California.

ing in divorce and with women typically living longer than men, it is critical that women take an active role in the household finances. Develop a household budget together and get into the habit of communicating regularly about goal setting, budget and cash flow, insurance and investing. Create a will and purchase adequate insurance coverage to protect yourself financially in the event of an accident, death or disaster. Meet as a couple with your banker, accountant and financial planner, and know where all of your accounts and investments are held and where all of your important documents are kept.

Establishing a will and/or living trust becomes increasingly important once you start a family. Review your insurance policies and make changes to reflect your new beneficiaries.

Family According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it will cost the average family about $235,000 to raise a child to the age of 17, and that figure doesn’t include the cost of a college education. If you plan to pay for some or all of your child’s college education, begin exploring 529 College Savings Plans and other options that may offer tax advantages. If you are faced with the choice of paying for college or saving for retirement, most financial advisors warn against delaying funding your retirement savings to pay for college. College-aged children can get summer jobs and part-time employment to help foot the bill, or consider a student loan or other financial aid.

Some women find themselves caring for their children and aging parents, and in many cases this support involves not only time and emotional capital, but financial support. Talk to your parents early about their estate planning and long-term care plans. If you have siblings, discuss ways to help each other share the responsibility.

Divorce If you are facing a divorce, pay close attention to any accounts or assets that you hold jointly with your spouse. Cancel any joint credit cards and begin establishing accounts in your name only. Amend your will and insurance policies to change your beneficiaries if necessary. Ask trusted friends and advisors for referrals for a qualified family law attorney. If your ex-husband was the primary bread winner, seek alimony, especially if you left the workforce to care for children. While alimony has historically been a benefit provided to women after a divorce, if you are a high earner, you may be

Small Business Refinance Program to Launch June 24 Opportunity to lighten debt burden for thousands of companies Small business owners feeling the pressure of commercial mortgage debt and facing the specter of rising interest rates can get relief starting June 24 when a new refinance program is launched by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and provided by CDC Small Business Finance.

“This is a game changer for small businesses that need financial breathing room to grow and create new jobs,” said Kurt Chilcott, president of CDC Small Business Finance, a leading non-for-profit SBA lender offering the new refinance loans.

Under the new refinance program, small businesses can take advantage of lower rates, fixed for 20 years, to lighten their monthly debt payments, improve cash flow and stabilize operations. The program allows for refinancing commercial real estate debt as well as other business debt and expenses.

The current SBA-504 loan rate is 4.31 percent.

Between $100 billion and $200 billion in commercial real estate debt is projected to mature nationwide in 2016 and 2017. Much of this debt is owed by small businesses still struggling in a lukewarm economy.

The new SBA-504 Refinance program reprises a successful pilot initiative that in 2011-2012 helped more than 2,700 small businesses refinance nearly $7 billion in high-interest debt.

“The SBA Refinance program provided a way to refinance my buildings and use the equity to completely pay off my commercial bank debt,” said Kirk Butler, owner of Cactus Stone and Tile in Phoeniz and 2012 refinance loan recipient.

If interest rates begin to rise, many small businesses will be challenged to qualify for a conventional refinance loan versus an SBA loan. With the new SBA-504 Refinance loan, a bank and SBA-certified lending partner will provide 90 percent financing, leaving a 10 percent down-payment by the small business owner.

Small business owners can find out more by visiting SBA-504 Refinance. They can also discuss prequalification with a CDC Small Business Finance loan expert in California or Arizona.

CDC Small Business Finance is a not-forprofit lender that provides capital to small businesses so they can expand, grow and create jobs in California, Arizona and Nevada.

The company specializes in SBA lending, but also offers the Community Advantage loan for working capital, equipment, inventory, tenant improvements and business acquisition. In 38 years, CDC has helped create over 170,000 jobs by leveraging more than $12 billion in loans to over 10,000 small businesses. Visit www.cdcloans.com or call (800) 611-5170.

BY ROBBIN NARIKE PRECIADO

required to pay alimony. Meet with a financial advisor who can help you transition.

Meet with a financial adviser to make adjustments to your investment portfolio, and begin planning for changes in cash flow and budgeting so you are able to live on your retirement income. Housing needs may change and downsizing your home may be a consideration.

Seek information about Social Security income you may have coming and when you should start claiming benefits. If you have outstanding debt, work to pay it down or off. Evaluate your medical insurance, and consider purchasing long-term care insurance to cover healthcare expenses should you require personal assistance later.

Widowed Avoid making any major decisions while still grieving and turn to your trusted financial advisers for guidance. Your attorney can also guide you and make modifications to your will and powers of attorney to reflect your new circumstances. Contact your insurance agent to discuss life insurance coverage you may have, and apply for any other benefits that you may be entitled to, such as Social Security, employer or veterans’ benefits. Contact your bank and other financial institutions to make changes to your jointly held accounts, and meet with your financial planner to assess your current needs and assets.

This article reflects the thoughts and opinions of the author and is being provided for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be considered financial or tax advice.

Please consult your financial or tax advisor about your situation.

MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | JUNE 2016 |

Sperm whale, courtesy of Brandon Cole.

WHALES: GIANTS OF THE DEEP NEW INTERACTIVE EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS WHALE BIOLOGY AND DIVERSITY Visitors to the San Diego Natural History Museum can explore “Whales: Giants of the Deep,” an interactive exhibition featuring the latest in international cetacean research.

Whales, which will be on view at the Museum through Sept. 5 and is included with the price of general admission, has a unique blend of science, storytelling, and innovative exhibits giving visitors the opportunity to discover more about the world of whales.

“Our fascination with and affinity for whales was one of the many reasons we decided to bring ‘Whales: Giants of the Deep’ to San Diego,” said Dr. Michael Hager, president and CEO at the San Diego Natural History Museum. “The exhibition allows guests to explore these magnificent creatures with a series of informative and hands-on exhibits that allow you to take a deeper dive into our vast oceanic ecosystems. It also gives us the opportunity to highlight the whale research we’re doing here at the Museum.”

At 7,000 square feet, Whales showcases amazing and rare specimens from the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa’s whale collection, one of the largest in the world. Visitors will see life-size and scale

Wahaika (short-handled weapon), maker unknown, made of whale bone and paua shell. Collection of Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, 2007.

models of whales common to the South Pacific as well as contemporary whalebone treasures such as weapons and chiefly adornments. They’ll also learn about whale biology, the evolutionary journey of whales from land to sea, and the history of whaling in New Zealand. Through this exhibition, adults and children alike will gain new perspectives of these majestic underwater giants.

Additional Exhibition Highlights: • See a beaked whale skull and two fullyarticulated sperm whale skeletons, including a massive 58-foot male.

• Children can crawl through a life-size

replica of the heart of a blue whale — the Earth’s largest living creature.

• Encounter whales through video portholes, be transported into their underwater world via two immersive projections, and enjoy a moving film experience that tells the stories of three whale-riding traditions in New Zealand, including the famous story of Paikea featured in “Whale Rider.”

• Tune in to a range of whale sounds and discover how scientists and amateur trackers identify individual whales on their migration through the Pacific Ocean.

• See ancient and contemporary works

of art and hear stories from people of the South Pacific illustrating the powerful influence these creatures have had on human culture.

• Gain a true appreciation of the physical and behavioral traits that enable whales to make a living in the challenging and dynamic marine environment.

• Walk among the giant — and not-sogiant —articulated skeletons of an astoundingly diverse collection of whale specimens, and then explore the evolutionary paths that gave rise to this unique group of mammals.

“As a scientist, I am thrilled the museum is bringing this exhibition to San Diego for our guests to enjoy,” said Tom Deméré, curator of paleontology at the San Diego Natural History Museum and a leading expert on whales and whale fossils. “There is so much to be learned from these amazing creatures. Hosting an exhibition like ‘Whales: Giants of the Deep’ only further enhances our ability to raise awareness about the importance and distribution of these mammals. We hope the exhibition helps pique visitors’ interest in whales and helps them realize their extensive diversity and the innate wonder they possess.”

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| JUNE 2016 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP

BALBOA PARK

Artist’s impression of Kutchicetus minimus. Carl Buell 2007.

Pätaka taonga. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, 2008.

Blue Whale Heart. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, 2008.

Whale riders theatre experience. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, 2008.

Stylised model of the maihi (barge boards) from Whitireia meeting house, Whangara, East Coast, New Zealand. The central tekoteko (carved figure) is Paikea, the famous whale-riding ancestor of the local tribe.

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, 2008. Reproduced with the generous support of Ngäti Konohi, 2007

A visitor learning about whale anatomy at the ‘Build a Dolphin’ interactive in the Whale Lab of the Whales | Tohorä exhibition. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, 2008.

Two articulated sperm whale skeletons are a highlight of the Whales | Tohorä exhibition. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, 2008.

MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | JUNE 2016 |

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By Bart Mendoza June 22 Commanding Vocals and Soul-Inflected Guitar Work

Ariel Levine

One of the most visible musicians in San Diego, Ariel Levine is known for his soul-inflected guitar work and commanding vocals. To date he is best known for playing as a sideman and in tribute groups to Elvis Costello, Prince and Marvin Gaye, as well as taking part in celebrations of the Ramones and the recent David Bowie tributes at the Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. On June 22 at the Office, Levine finally shifts the focus on to his own music, with his solo debut show, featuring songs from the upcoming album, “Let The Machine Get It.” Levine shares much with the acts he’s paid tribute to, penning concise, classic sounding songs in the tradition of latter-day Bowie.. www.theofficebarsd.com

June 25 One of the Hottest Bands in the U.S. The biggest band based out of San Diego right now? It’s post-hardcore rockers, Pierce the Veil, who perform at the Observatory on June 25. Formed in 2006, the band’s new album, “Misadventures,” entered the Billboard Top 200 Charts on May 23 at No. 4, with over 60,000 copies sold in less than a month, effectively making them one of the hottest bands in the U.S. today. This San Diego homecoming date is part of a world tour that will see the band playing in 14 countries through Dec. 6 and promises to be more of a party than a concert. Indeed, this is a band with plenty to celebrate. www.observatorysd.com Pierce The Veil

Peter-Sprague

July 2 Virtuoso Fretwork by Sprague and Benedetti On July 2, two of San Diego’s best guitarists, Peter Sprague and Fred Benedetti, come together to perform the music of the three of the world’s best songwriters — aka The Beatles — at Dizzy’s.

Sprague, the 2015 San Diego Music Award Lifetime Achievement Award winner, is a jazz legend, touring with the likes of Dianne Reeves as well as producing hundreds of recordings over the course of his career. Meanwhile Benedetti is a lynchpin of the local music community, performing with numerous combos while teaching several generations of local musicians. Whether you are a fan of the Fab Four or simply like virtuoso fretwork, you’ll love every note from these two fantastic performers. www.dizzysjazz.com

June 25 Baby I Love Your Reggae Reggae favorites Big Mountain perform at the Music Box on June 25. Currently touring behind their latest album, “Perfect Summer,” only frontman Joaquin “Quino” McWhinney and keyboardist Michael Hyde remain from their early ’90s beginnings, but under McWhinney’s musical direction the sound has kept it’s spirit and uplifting, rhythmic songs. Most remembered for their No. 6 hit, “Baby, I Love Your Way,” the band’s new disc will please both novices to Big Mountain’s island sounds or longtime fans, with songs like the title track custom-made for summer time and driving with the top down. www.musicboxsd.com Quino of Big Mountain The Dickies

July 1 and July 22

July 17

Unplugged and Full Electric Sets

by Country Rockin’ Rebels

The Dickies, Bringing the Fun Back

There is no better description of the Country Rockin’ Rebels music than the band’s name itself. In honor of the release o f their new album, “Ride Rebel Ride,” the group will host two distinct CD release shows in July. Lead by singer Tristan Luhrs and guitarist Michael Head, on July 1 the six-piece band will perform an acoustic unplugged set at Rosie O’Grady’s in Normal Heights, while on July 22 they will play a full electric set at Mother’s Saloon in Ocean Beach. Either show will please any fan of roots rock Americana, but the nod goes to the rare acoustic set where you’ll be able to hear their fun tunes such as “Too Rock For Country,” in a different light. www.rosieogradyspub.com Country Rockin Rebels flag photo 2016

Cartoon punks, the Dickies perform at the Casbah on July 17.

Formed in 1977, the band made a far bigger chart impact in the UK then they did in the U.S., but it’s a testimony to their take-noprisoners performing style that four decades after their beginnings, the Dickies are still a headline club and festival act. With props including hand puppets, sped up hard rock favorites and tonguein-cheek songs such as “You Drive me Ape, You Big Gorilla,” the Dickies bring the fun back to live music. It’s been 15 years since they’ve released new tunes, but with their early works now considered classics of the punk era, fans will be thrilled with what is essentially a greatest hits set. www.casbahmusic.com

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COVER STORY

| JUNE 2016 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP

Nickelodeon Records — A Rare Find Adams Avenue News Bay Park Connection Clairemont Community News Hillcrest News • IB Local News Ken-TAL News • The Boulevard News North Park News • South Park News

northparknews.biz/digital MidCityNewspaperGroup.com Serving San Diego’s Premier Mid City Communities Chairman/CEO Bob Page BobPage@sandiegometro.com Publisher Rebeca Page RebecaPage@sandiegometro.com Associate Publisher Brad Weber ReachLocals@ MidCityNewspaperGroup.com Editor Manny Cruz Manny@sandiegometro.com

Music aficionados Ruth Bible and Betsy Scarborough take huge pleasure in vinyl record collectibles

BY LUCIA VITI PHOTOS BY JIM CHILDERS

Move over digital music downloaders and live-streamers. Vinyl is back.

Resurrected from its 1983 slaughter by the miniature, jeweled-cased compact disc (CD), the 13 x 13-inch PVC analog is once again rearing its quality head.

Expensive — even by today’s standards — the average $25 LP is rising in sales as CD sales plummet. Turntables are sold everywhere — including IKEA — and most artists produce at least one press run of a new record-

ing.

But ask Ruth Bible and Elizabeth “Betsy� Scarborough, owners of Nickelodeon Records, about vinyl’s new allure and consider yourself schooled — “vinyl never left.�

Nickelodeon, a 30-year old Adams Avenue landmark, houses thousands of collectible vinyl’s spanning typical and atypical musical genres. While large sections of the long and narrow album container are filled with rock ‘n roll, folk, jazz and musical soundtracks, it’s the peculiar that will attract the vinyl junkie. Categories cover the gamut of 45s, and 33s from the ’50s,

’60s, ’70s and ’80s.

Bible and Scarborough buy and sell records from collectors or “people find us because their musical tastes have changed,� said Bible. “We prefer to buy volume collections that were purchased new and cared for by the same person because they’re usually in good shape. We pride ourselves on selling quality records. Nothing we sell is unplayable. Even our 50-cent records sound great.�

Sorting through Nickelodeon’s library is fun but not fast. Mixed within the multitudes one may be lucky enough to find “Spoken Word�

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Art Director Chris Baker cbaker@sandiegometro.com Marketing/Advertising Brad Weber ReachLocals@ MidCityNewspaperGroup.com -----------------------------Writers/Columnists Bart Mendoza Delle Willett Anna Lee Fleming Sara Wacker Media Consultant Tom Shess Social Media Ali Hunt Photography Manny Cruz Sande Lollis Jim Childers Letters/Opinion Pieces North Park News encourage letters to the editor and guest editorials. Please address correspondence to manny@sandiegometro.com or mail to Manny Cruz. Please include a phone number, address and name for verification purposes; no anonymous letters will be printed. We reserve the right to edit letters and editorials for brevity and accuracy.

Story ideas/Press Releases Do you have an idea for an article you would like to see covered in this newspaper? We welcome your ideas, calendar item listings and press releases. For breaking news, please call us at (619) 287-1865.

For all other news items, please email manny@sandiegometro.com.

ADDRESS PO Box 3679, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067 PHONE (858) 461-4484 North Park News distributes copies monthly to residents and businesses of North Park, South Park, Golden Hill and Normal Heights.

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recordings of legends the likes of Ernest Hemingway, Dylan Thomas and Carl Sandburg. San Diegans can feast their ears on “The Sea World Water Fantasy,� or mood music performed by locals or, better yet, former high school choir performances, complete with their photos plastered on the back cover sleeve. “I love buying choirs,� Bible said. “The bigger the better. But they must have a picture, or a listing of names.

For value, take the size of the group times two. That’s how many grandchildren will be looking for this album.�

Meandering requires notetaking. “We’re into the unusual,� Scarborough said. “We have politics, advertising, comedy, magazine ads, yoga, dance instruction, exercise, diet, adult board games, cooking, food, dry cleaning, and anything/everything odd. People love odd.�

Among the legends, locals, popular, one-hit wonders and almost made-its reign the surprising.

According to Scarborough, Wienerschnitzel, the hot dog chain, produced records emblazoned with its logo that attracts collectors for the sheer sake of the logo. Allstate Insurance, Tupperware, Budweiser, Squirt Soda and Taco Bell Presents the Tijuana Taxi follow suit.

And nestled comfortably within the famous are productions of drag queens and transgenders. Gogensen — noted as the first American transgender to undergo surgery to become a woman — is among the selected few. “Try to find a collection like that!� said Scarborough. “People get mad because we won’t sell those records.

But I’m not willing to let go of such a different art form. One customer even asked if we knew what the transgender records were all about. Imagine that?� “People think, ‘Oh those two old ladies don’t know what they have,�

Bible said. “But we know exactly what we have. One customer came in as my nephew was working and said, ‘This is a great store. Why don’t we ship the two old dolls to Palm Springs and take over?’ And for the customers who leave the store with a ‘You take care of yourself dear and God Bless,’ I flip the bird. Because what they’re really saying is ‘I hope you make it through the night.’�

The partners spoke reverently of record sleeves — cover art — as art. “Cover art is an art still used for so many things,� said Scarborough. “We see a lot of coasters — even menus — made from record sleeves. People like to hold and read a cover’s liner notes while they listen to the music.

It’s cool. I think it’s one of the reasons why CDs didn’t make it. You can’t study CD packaging. Many records were never even made into CDs.� “We sold CDs for 15 minutes but they were too easy to steal,� added Bible. “It was a nightmare.�

SEE VINYL, Page 15

MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | JUNE 2016 |

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COVER STORY

VINYL

CONTINUED FROM Page 10

What began as selling records from a “bunch of milk crates,” has evolved into housing the masses, even in storage. “But every time I go into the store’s back room, I’m reminded that I need to be more careful with the records that I buy,” Bible said. “I have two shelves of records that I threw in the trash and bought them back from street people; three shelves of ‘yesterday’ and ‘today’ albums that I think ‘maybe’, and three boxes of records that I bought because had a good rapport with the seller. I felt sorry for him.

He traveled and transferred on three buses to bring me his stack of records.”

Prices are marked according to desirability. “We sell records for 50 cents, $3, $10, $20, or $1,000,” Bible said. “Values, influenced by trends, other countries, availability and subjective value, change like the stock exchange. One customer telephoned to say he would pay top dollar for a certain record where you could hear coughing on the second track.”

“Sales change because everything we sell is out of print,” added Scarborough. “Some recordings are re-pressed in new packaging but they’re expensive and the quality of the vinyl isn’t as good. Why pay $40 for an LP when you can buy original for $7?”

Bible explained that some dealers will buy a slew of records — reasonably priced — thinking they can triple

their resale price. “People trash records thinking they have no value or they think they’re so valuable they should be put in a vault or in a museum under glass,” she said. “Collectors want hundreds of dollars while people cleaning their garages give them to us for free. Some even leave them by the front door like they’re dropping a newborn in front of a hospital. There’s no happy medium.”

Sales are conducted on-site and online through their website and eBay. Specialty items — classical and westerns — sell “really” well internationally on eBay. Both agree that every day is different and fun. “Vinyl is a passion and a drug,” they said. “We’ve reinvented ourselves a thousand times and have made mistakes. But we don’t make the same mistake twice. We either make enough money to buy champagne and celebrate for a week — with a hangover — or we hang on a rope.”

Bible’s path to purchase is filled with a levity for the unusual. “If you have records from the early ’80s with freaky looking people on the cover and cussword lyrics, we’ll buy them,” she said.

“But don’t bring in Lawrence Welk records and tell us that they’re valuable because they’re a psychedelic big band or that Kate Smith is folk psych. If the record is unfamiliar or an aberration — the songs sound like folk songs but the artists look as though I’ve seen them on ‘American’s Most Wanted’ — I buy them.”

Bible made clear that judging peo-

ple by their looks, their body language or the tone of their voice via the telephone can be deceiving even in the world of buying vinyl. “Nine times out of 10, I’m wrong,” she said. “A 93-year old will bring in her 80s punk collection while a 23-year brings his Hopalong Cassidy Collection. I’ve had people come in and I threw my watch and rings on the floor and held my arms up only to have them ask, ‘Do you have any opera records?’ And yet, why do we think people buying opera records wouldn’t rob us?”

Scarborough nicknamed a thieving 70-year old couple Harold and Maude after catching them in the act. “They changed dozens of price tags by switching record sleeves,” she said.

“They’d switch a $7 record with a $3 sleeve until we caught on. The entire store now has serial numbers and Ruth has the entire inventory in her head.”

Ask the duo about Nickelodeon’s quirkier sections and Bible’s response will set the “record” straight. “Aberrations make money,” she said. “People contact us for a strange soundtrack they’ve been looking for — for a thousand years, and we have it! Nothing is out of reach. I’ve even found love letters in sleeves that have brought me to tears.”

“One client, a priest no less, loves Lavender Art cover sleeves that were popular in the ’50s,” said Scarborough.

“The tasteful art — no nudes — was sold beneath counters at cigar stores.

We capitalize on the nostalgic and

MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | JUNE 2016 |

move with the times. No rap, though.

No rap.”

A tapestry of memorabilia is proudly displayed among the array of vinyl.

Original everything — movie posters, Roy Roger postcards, Coca-Cola soda fountains, Coca-Cola and 7-Up ads, bread signs, high school yearbooks, original photographs (including one of the Brooklyn Dodgers and the country’s first Jack in the Box) are among the mementos not for sale.

Although Bible remains adamant about no longer buying photographs to sell.

“I’m absolutely not buying any more candid, unprofessional snapshots of rock stars,” she said. “I sold what I thought was a picture of Karen and Richard Carpenter posing at a picnic. But it turned out to be the Wilsons from Spring Valley, California.”

Light-hearted tales align themselves with each artifact. “Oh do we have stories,” Bible nodded. “One gentleman brought in five boxes of 45s to sell. As I looked through these fantastic records, I couldn’t help but notice his expensive suit, Rolex watch and diamond ring. Dreading to broach the sales price conversation I finally asked his price and he said, ‘A penny a piece.’

I was flabbergasted. Even today, I don’t know if he was generous, had a great sense of humor or was downright nuts.”

Another tale could have made them both TV legends. A man sharing a barstool in Pacific Beach insisted that Bible and Scarborough immediately

15

visit his record collection. “I don’t like surprises so I called him the next day — a Monday — and said we’d come on Wednesday,” said Bible. “The following night we saw him on the 6 o’clock news in handcuffs. Chopped up body parts had been found in his freezer.”

Friends since high school, Bible, a San Diego native and former corporate and loan bank officer, is a talented musician and singer. Scarborough transplanted from Corsicana, Texas in 1959 and taught high school English for almost four decades. Both were “really into records.” Nickelodeon was the perfect progression into second careers.

The name Nickelodeon — the original name for a jukebox — was also a perfect collaboration. Bible chose the name from Teresa Brewer’s 1950 hit “Music! Music! Music!” with its opening line singing, “Put another nickel in the nickelodeon,” and Scarborough selected it in recognition of the Parisian street the Rue de l’Odeon, home to the famous English bookstore, Shakespeare and Company founded by American ex-patriate Sylvia Beach.

Ask the musical aficionados about retirement plans and be prepared to chuckle. “Retirement?” asked Scarborough. “We just signed a new lease.

We’ll be here forever.”

‘We prefer to buy volume collections that were purchased new and cared for by the same person because they’re usually in good shape,’ said Bible. ‘We pride ourselves on selling quality records. Nothing we sell is unplayable. Even our 50-cent records sound great.’

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| JUNE 2016 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP

Meet the Plant Detective

BY COLEEN L. GERAGHTY | SDSU NEWSCENTER

Michael Simpson is a master sleuth in the field of evolutionary plant biology Move over Sherlock Holmes. In mysteries involving the discovery and classification of the flora around us, the legendary fictional detective would be no match for evolutionary biologist Michael Simpson.

Simpson and his students and colleagues at San Diego State University are credited in the field for unearthing six new plant species and two new varieties and for “rediscovering” another species thought to be extinct.

Moreover, his formidable sleuthing talents aren’t limited to botanical analysis. Simpson has served as an expert witness in two local murder trials, a distinction that may be unique among SDSU faculty.

Most days, though, his work doesn’t make the tabloids. Simpson and his gumshoe students use DNA sequencing and high resolution scans to find missing links in the centuries-old stories of plant species migrations.

Evolutionary history

They can reconstruct what are called “phylogenetic trees” of plant groups, which depict the pattern of an evolutionary history that spanned millions of years. From these trees, they can estimate the timing of divergence — that is the splitting of one ancient population into two.

Evolutionary History

They can reconstruct what are called “phylogenetic trees”of plant groups, which depict the pattern of an evolutionary history that spanned millions of years. From these trees, they can estimate the timing of divergence--that is the splitting of one ancient population into two.

Simpson and one of his former students discovered evidence that species of a plant genus called Cryptantha, more commonly known as popcorn flowers, may have been dispersed thousands of miles in the past, likely carried by birds that migrated long distances in a single flight.

They also found indications that after Cryptantha dispersed from North to South America, some species became perennials and developed a rare type of reproductive biology called cleistogamy.

These flowers do not open up as most cross-fertilized flowers do, but always self-fertilize, perhaps an adaptive response to the initial absence of pollinators in their new South American home.

Back from Extinction

“At the heart of our work is the investigation of evolutionary history,” Simpson said. “We ask why species diversified only at certain times. For example, species of the plant genus Pogogyne or mesa

mints, three of which are endangered, live only in vernal pools, and so we can infer that its group, known as a clade, didn't diverge until vernal pools were formed.”

Simpson continues to have a special affection for Cryptantha, the popcorn flowers and is currently working on naming and classifiying the North and South American members. This group of more than 100 species is mostly ignored by botanists because identifying them requires meticulous scrutiny of their tiny fruits, called nutlets.

One North American species, Cryptantha wigginsii, was assumed to be extinct for more than 80 years until Simpson and his students discovered specimens close to home — in San Diego and Riverside counties and on Catalina Island. News of their find was published in the journal Madroño.

In the Courtroom

Simpson’s extensive knowledge of taxonomy, so valuable in the classroom, occasionally finds an audience in the courtroom as well.

Called as an expert witness in a murder case, he was asked to analyze a one-inch sliver of wood found on the victim’s skull.

By studying the wood cell structure under a microscope, he identified it as ash and later learned that the murder weapon was a baseball bat — manufactured from ash.

In a second case, police asked Simpson to identify samples of three desert plants found on the molding and inside the trunk of a car owned by a missing San Diego woman. He told police where the plants grew, they peppered that area with flyers, and hikers found the woman’s body a few days later.

nets where they’re housed.

“Keep away moisture and insects, and these plant specimens can remain in good shape for hundreds of years, and the DNA inside them can persist for decades,” said Simpson.

For each new sample, students create a high-resolution scan, georeference it and add it to online databases. Simpson and his crew are also taking high resolution photographic images of the tiny popcorn flower nutlets and posting them online with detailed information.

All of these images aid in the identification of species and constitute an important resource for professional botanists as well resource managers.

Given that San Diego County has the greatest diversity of plant species in the country, Simpson and his intrepid students still have a lot of detective work to do. “We have at least three new species waiting to be described,” he said, “and many more to properly classify.”

Cryptantha, more commonly known as popcorn flowers. (Photo: Tom Chester, Plants of Southern California)

The SDSU Herbarium

Simpson came to San Diego 30 years ago after earning a Ph.D. from Duke University. He has taught Economic Botany, Plant Systematics, and Taxonomy of California Plants in addition to curating the SDSU Herbarium, a treasure trove of nearly 22,000 plant specimens.

The collection, classification, and preservation of plants is a neverending task for evolutionary biologists. Simpson and his students have searched the length of California and beyond for new and unusual species, and Simpson recently received a grant from the National Geographic Society to extend his search to Chile and Argentina.

The specimens are pressed, mounted, and finally stored in the herbarium, a climate-controlled room containing plants collected over more than a century. The oldest specimen dates from 1874.

Twice annually, the specimens are frozen to kill any insects that may have breached the giant metal cabi-

Michael Simpson and his students on a plant hunt. (Image: SDSU)

Evolutionary biologist Michael Simpson. (Image: SDSU)

FESTIVAL OF ARTS

MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | JUNE 2016 |

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FESTIVAL OF ART ROCKS! North Park’s annual celebration attracts thousands PHOTOGRAPHY BY JIM CHILDERS

Art, music, craft beer and a whole lot more set the tone for the 20th anniversary of North Park’s Festival of Arts on Saturday, May 21.

The all-day festival featured local art, a popular array of live music and dance performances, interactive experiences, artisan items for sale, delicious locally-driven dining options and no admission fee.

“We’ve created a unique experience that is

beyond any typical arts festival,” said Angela Landsberg, executive director of North Park Main Street, which produces the festival. “We have created daytime and evening experiences for every local and visitor to North Park to enjoy.

Sponsors of the event are San Diego County Credit Union, AT&T, West Coast Tavern and The Observatory North Park, Ron Oster Realty and the Lafayette Hotel.

Amanda Gardner of Ceramic Heights and customer Molly Downs making pottery.

Bands played throughout the day.

The San Diego County Credit Union Building on University Avenue appears to tower over the Festival of Arts. The credit union was the principal sponsor of the event.

Brad Weber, associate publisher of Mid City Newspaper Group, publisher of the North Park News, hawks one of the issues during the festival.

8-year-old Seven James brought his own transportation to the festival.

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| JUNE 2016 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP

FESTIVAL OF ARTS

Vendors along the street attract attention from festival visitors.

Strapped in tightly, 5-year-old Keira Lavelle enjoys a giant swing at the Festival of Arts children’s area.

Michelle Currier was the winner of the Festival of Arts poster contest.

Peter Noll and Myra Pelowski attended the festival to get signatures on a petition asking for the creation of a permanent memorial to 144 victims of PSA Flight 182, which crashed in North Park on Sept. 25, 1978, after colliding with a small plane.

Sharon Turner manages the North Park Historical Society booth.

Street vendors offered everything from jewelry to paintings to hats and just about everything in-between.

Kenny Shelton doing his juggling act on the street.

A festival worker adjusts lights that will be turned on during the evening festival hours.

EDUCATION

MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | JUNE 2016 |

The Reality Changers Program rescues youths from gangs and poverty

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BY JENNIFER COBURN

Reality Changers by the Book

(Barbara Davenport. University of California Press, June 2016)

Graduates of Reality Changers proudly announce their final college decisions. This year the program will see 300 graduates throughout San Diego County.

Christopher Yanov is a gang leader in City Heights. Over the last 16 years, he’s initiated 1,000 young people into his ranks, teaching the older members how to recruit younger ones and making sure they stay involved. His gang is like a second family to many, giving them a place where someone’s always got their back.

But Yanov’s gang is different than most. Instead of drugs and crime, this one deals in education and achievement with intense focus on college admission.

Eyes on the Prize

Yanov’s nonprofit Reality Changers has two programs: College Town and College Apps Academy. The first identifies eighth graders with grade point averages between 0.0 and 2.0, and offers them academic support and community service opportunities. The goal is to help students get the most out of their middle and high school experience, and develop a competitive resume which they can use when they start College Apps Academy in 12th grade. This component of Reality Changers, which students can participate in even if they have not been through the College Town program, provides SAT and ACT tutoring, essay writing support, interview preparation, and guidance through financial aid and scholarships for students who will be the first in their families to attend college.

Ninety-seven percent of Reality Changers’ graduates attend college,

with students having attended most Ivy League schools and all nine of the University of California campuses. They’ve sent students to all but one of California State University’s 23 campuses.

One expects these type of stats coming from affluent San Diego communities, but the organization is headquartered in a community where 26 percent of households are at the poverty line and the median family income is just over half of what it is for San Diego County. In City Heights, the probation capital of San Diego, gang activity is high and only 3 percent of adults have a college degree. Students are twice as likely to drop out of high school than their peers across the county.

Yanov, Reality Changers founder and president, spent the early years of his career in gang prevention, which gave him experience working with young people, but also served as a catalyst for his shift in methodology. He says the traditional approach to gang prevention spends too much time talking about negative behavior, and not enough highlighting positive alternatives. Yanov and his staff of more than two dozen want to change the conversation among young people in City Heights. Instead of kids asking each other what gang they’re in, Reality Changers hopes they’ll discuss colleges they’d like to attend.

“If someone’s walking a tightrope and I tell them not to look down, that’s probably where they’re going to look, and they’re going to fall,” he

said. “But if I tell that person to keep their eyes on reaching their goal on the other side, they’ve got a much better chance of making it.”

Walking the Tightrope Eduardo Corona was on that tightrope in the fall of 2006. He had just started ninth grade and was in a gang with his friends when they decided to break into a school and steal equipment, including computers and laptops. “We had been drinking and we were bored,” he explained of the break-in. Soon, the police surrounded the school and arrested Corona and his friends. “It was like a movie scene with police cars and dogs,” said Corona. He was facing a six-year sentence that would begin in Juvenile Hall, where both his brother and sister had also spent time.

Corona called Yanov to tell him that he wouldn’t be able to continue in Reality Changers because he “wouldn’t be around,” he said, having resigned to doing time in jail.

“The really difficult part was disappointing him,” Corona said. To the young man’s surprise, Yanov showed up at his court hearing and told the judge about Reality Changers. The judge gave Corona a second chance with the condition that he continue in the program, then asked Yanov for several brochures.

Throughout high school, Corona was determined to stay out of juvenile hall, but equally motivated to do right by Yanov. He said he doubled his GPA in a month, and enrolled in a mechanical engineer-

ing program at UCSD the following summer, an opportunity Reality Changers offers high school students who want to spend three weeks living on campus experiencing life as a student. “I disappointed (Yanov) once and wasn’t going to let it happen again,” said Corona, who now works as a Reality Changers achievement coach while he finishes his degree in sociology and psychology at San Diego State University.

Focusing on First-Generation College Hopefuls

Reality Changers serves students throughout the county, but focuses on first-gens, a population that typically faces greater economic hardship than most. Take Michael Gaulden, a San Diego teen who spent 10 years homeless. He slept in shelters, on the streets, and in cars, begging for spare change from strangers downtown. Both his great grandfather and grandfather were murdered; his father was convicted of murder. “I was up next,” he told an audience of Reality Changers students. “According to statistics, I should be selling drugs, I should be incarcerated, I should be dead.”

Instead, he graduated from UCLA and is now working with homeless youth at San Diego’s Monarch School.

Addressing an audience of San Diego educators, Reality Changers SEE REALITY, Page 21

“Grit and Hope” tells the story of five inner-city Hispanic students who start their college applications in the midst of the country’s worst recession and of Reality Changers, the program that aims to help them become the first in their families to go college. This year they must keep up their grades in AP courses, write compelling essays for their applications, and find scholarships to fund their dreams.

One lives in a garage and struggles to get enough to eat. Two are academic standouts, but are undocumented, ineligible for state and federal financial assistance. One tries to keep his balance as his mother gets a life-threatening diagnosis; another bonds with her sister when their parents are sidelined by substance abuse.

The book also follows Christopher Yanov, the program’s youthful, charismatic founder in a year that’s as critical for Reality Changers’ future as it is for the seniors.

Yanov wants to grow Reality Changers into national visibility. He’s doubled the program’s size, and hired new employees, but he hasn’t anticipated that growing means he’ll have to surrender some control, and trust his new staff. It’s the story of a highly successful, yet flawed organization that must change in order to grow.

Told with deep affection and without sentimentality, the students stories show that although poverty and cultural deprivation seriously complicate youths’ efforts to launch into young adulthood, the support of a strong program makes a critical difference.

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| JUNE 2016 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP

FUN & GAMES

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REALITY

CONTINUED FROM Page 19

teen Lucerito Gutierrez recalled her earliest memories scavenging for recyclable bottles and cans in dumpsters with her mother when she was 5-years-old. Today she is a Gates Millennium Scholar studying computer science at UCSD. She hopes to design systems to deliver clean water to one billion people across the world.

Paying for College

Former gang member Corona says when he was a teen he never thought about attending college because “that was for rich people.”

Today, part of his work as a Reality Changers achievement coach is sharing information about the many scholarships and financial aid opportunities available, especially for first-gens and students of color.

Reality Changers recently reached the $100million mark in scholarships earned by students, including the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship, which offers a blank check for minority students for their college and graduate studies in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. This was a banner year with students earning $25 million through

various scholarship awards.

“With the support of our no-cost, comprehensive college prep program, traditionally under-served students are excelling in high school, performing well on entrance exams, writing compelling personal essays, and successfully interviewing with college admissions representatives. But an equally important component is being able to afford college tuition,” said Yanov. “We are proud to help these hardworking students make higher education a reality.”

Social and Economic Impact Attending college can transform the lives of students and their families, but it may also offer a significant social and economic impact on the community at large. According to The Economics of Education, a joint report by the U.S. Departments of Treasury and Education, a college graduate can expect to earn 64 percent more than a high school graduate. The College Board reports far-reaching community benefits like increased tax revenues, and better public health and safety. In the study, “It’s Not Just the Money,” Philip Trostel and Margaret Chase Smith of the Policy Center & School of Economics at University of Maine list numerous social and economic benefits of college attendance, from dramatically reduced risk of being

incarcerated to significantly higher rates of overall happiness.

“There is no better return on investment than what you get out of these kids,” said Chad Nelley, Reality Changers board member and executive at ESET, a San Diego cybersecurity firm.

He says his business supports Reality Changers as a way to give back to the community, but the economic impact is hard to ignore. “The economic lift of a college education is tremendous. And imagine the impact on the other side,” he said.

The “other side” that Nelley refers to is what might happen to students who do not have access to a program like Reality Changers. Of course, not all young people would end up in a gang or drop out of high school without Reality Changers. But many would. Reality Changers and its supporters like Nelley believe these young people deserve a chance at the upward social and economic mobility a college education offers. And so does the community.

According to the San Diego Police Department, there are currently 4,100 gang members and 88 local gangs who perpetrate crime ranging from vandalism to murder. Reality Changers cites the California state budget, which reports that taxpayers spend $252,000 a year to incarcerate one youth. “Reality Changers invests

21

$4,000 in each high school student per year until senior year when it’s $1,500,” said Yanov.

“You don’t need a degree from Stanford to know what the better deal is.”

One Generation to Change Reality

The Reality Changers motto is: “College changes everything.” And it only takes one generation to make that change. Back when Yanov worked in gang prevention, a term he considers a misnomer, he was stabbed by a 20-year-old gang member he knew from the streets. The young man has been in and out of prison, but his son is now enrolled in Reality Changers, and is working hard to further his education.

When juvenile arrestees are asked why they join gangs, nearly half say it offers a support network that is not available to them anywhere else. Yanov is looking to change that. His challenge is broadening access to the program through increased funding. “We have hundreds of young people on our waitlist right now,” said Yanov.

“Gangs don’t have waitlists,” he lamented, but says he and his staff are committed to creating new opportunities for student who wants to change their reality.

Chris Yanov, founder and president of Reality Changers.

Once facing time in Juvenile Hall, Eduardo Corona has gone from gang member to college student and Reality Changers achievement coach.

Reality Changers graduate Jessie Sanchez excelled at Harvard College.

Reality Changers graduate Lucerito Gutierrez shares memories of dumpster diving as a young child. Today she is a Gates Millennium Scholar attending UCSD.

Michael Gaulden went from homelessness to UCLA with the support of Reality Changers.

Jessie Hernandez and family. UCSD.

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| JUNE 2016 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP

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